Cat Carolers

I have another Christmas card to share today...featuring a Penny Black image from the 'Christmas Hugs' set. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment from a little Studio G set. I used paper from a pad by Craftwork Cards called 'Chalkboard Christmas' for the background...a single sheet, as it's really busy! I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and black and white gel pens. 

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Winter Wonderland - Use Red & Green

Party Pup!

I have another 'spritzed' card to share today...inspired by the 'Trio of Colours' challenge over at Simon Says Stamp (Mondays). I picked three colours of Distress Ink to make my background - Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves & Evergreen Bough. I dampened a piece of white card, then painted a stripe of each colour across it...allowing the colours to run into each other a little. Once it was dry, I spritzed each of the colours over the top, then trimmed it down. I added a cute Whipper Snapper dog image...'Party Pup'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils and the same Distress Ink colours, then fussy cut. I matted it on to white and then black card...to look like a Polaroid photo...and added a sentiment from a little Studio G set.

Challenges for this card:

• Less is More - Sprays/Mists
• Little Red Wagon - Clean & Simple
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Trio of Colours (Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves & Evergreen Bough)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Make it Colourful

One more thing before I go....first day back at school tomorrow...and lots do do! Despite what my blogoversary counter thingy says...today is my blog's 7th birthday! I shall be organising a little candy to celebrate...so keep your eyes peeled!

Pile It On! Challenge - Thinking of You

We have a new Pile It On! Challenge starting today...and the theme is:

'Thinking of You'

Our sponsor this week is Pickled Potpourri Designs:

Prize - $7 Gift Certificate!

I started by stamping a Hero Arts 'Music' background stamp on white card using 'London Fog' Memento Ink, then blended various shades of blue Distress Inks (Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, faded Jeans, Stormy Sky & Chipped Sapphire) over the top. The butterfly stamp is from the 'Social Butterfly' set by Penny Black...I stamped it using black Stazon Ink on to vellum, then carefully cut it out. I also stamped my sentiment (from a little Studio G set) on to vellum...then tore the edges before wrapping it around my blue background. The little adhesive pearls are by Papermania.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Thinking of You
• Allsorts - Add a Butterfly
• As You Like It - Favourite Single Colour (Blue...I love all shades of blue...it can be both calm and vibrant depending on the shade you choose)
• Card Mania - Anything Goes
• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Crazy Challenge - Monochrome
• Fab 'N Funky - No Patterned Papers
• Fussy & Fancy - Things with Wings
• Incy Wincy - Things with Wings
• Sister Act Cards - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Pile It On! Challenge.

Birthday Dog

I found a little time to play with my stash yesterday...and made a few cards, including this birthday card using one of my oldest (and most favourite) stamps 'Birthday Dog' by Penny Black. The papers are from the 'Cut & Paste Charm' pad by My Mind's Eye. I inked the edges with a little 'Tea Dye' Distress Ink, then added a Studio G Sentiment and some doodled borders.

Challenges for this card:

• Cute Card Thursday - Add a Brad
• Cutie Pie - Layer It Up
• Creative Inspirations - Celebrations
• Everybody Art - Happy Birthday
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch #268

Chalkboard Birthday

I have a card inspired by this week's 'Predominantly Black' challenge over at Less is More to share today. I used lots of birthday sentiment stamps...from far too many sets to mention, but there's a mixture of Hero Arts, Penny Black, Simon Says Stamp, Paula Pascual & Studio G. I heat embossed them in white, then added a doodled border using a white gel pen, before blending a little 'Picket Fence' Distress Stain' over the top to create a chalkboard effect.

Challenges for this card:

• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - Add a Sentiment
• Less is More - Predominantly Black
• Penny Black & More - Birthdays
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Happy Birthday

Monster Birthday!

I have a birthday card to share today...using a monster digi from Bugaboo Stamps, which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Cut & Paste - Charm' pad by My Mind's Eye...I doodled some borders around the edges, and added a little sentiment from a Studio G set.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - For the Boys
• Creative Card Crew - Birthday with a Sentiment
• Pink Elephant - Birthday
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday (Optional Topping of Arrows)
• Sparkles Forum - One for the Boys
• Sweet Stamps - Happy Birthday
• Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch #256
• Winter Wonderland - For a Child

Thinking of You

Today's card was made for a special bloggy buddy of mine. I stamped 'Summer Weeds' (by Woodware) in Versamark Ink on three different colours of card, before heat embossing them using clear embossing powder. I inked around the edges using 'Pumice Stone' Distress Ink, then distressed them a little too. I stamped the sentiment (from a little Studio G set) in 'London Fog' Memento Ink on to some torn vellum paper...heat embossing it to stop it from smudging.

Challenges for this card:

• 4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Stamping Mad
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Anything Goes
• Pink Elephant - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

And before I go...just a quick reminder that I have some candy on offer at the moment...it closes on Saturday...click here to enter the draw.

ABC Christmas Challenge - X is for...

We have a new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...it's my turn to host, and the theme is:

'X is for Xmas Music'

(Feature some music paper on your project...if you don't have any, try Google Images)

We are sponsored for this challenge by Zlatoena's Designs:

Prize - 2 Digital Images of the winner's choice!

I made my own music paper using a Hero Arts background stamp on kraft card. The image is 'Carollers' by Penny Black, which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I added a doodled border, and a Studio G sentiment...and then a few jingle bells tied on to some Baker's twine.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Crafting When We Can - Clean & Simple
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Any Holiday
• Less is More - Jingle All the Way

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Bicycle Giftwrap

I've just discovered a few draft posts that I'd forgotten about...so I thought I'd share one of them with you today. This is the wrapping paper for my flatmate's birthday present...I love using simple brown parcel paper to wrap gifts and dressing it up, either by using pretty ribbons, or washi tape...or (as in this case) by using stamps. I stamped my Hero Arts 'Bicycles' set using black ink randomly all over the paper, then made a matching tag using one of the bikes, and a Studio G sentiment, inking around the edges with 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink (to match his birthday card)...attaching it with some black and white baker's twine.

Challenges for this giftwrap:

• Allsorts - Anything but a Card
• As You Like It - Favourite gift wrapping (Brown paper...because you can dress it up in so many ways)
• Aud Sentiments - Sentiment on a Tag
• Craft Your Passion - Something Beginning with B (Bicycles)
• Crafting for All Seasons - Birthdays
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Fab 'N Funky - Happy Birthday

Bicycle Birthday

Today's card is for my bicycle obsessed flat-mate's birthday...I used stamps from a Hero Arts set simply called 'Bicycles'...heat embossing the images using clear powder on kraft card, before blending some 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink over the top to create a vintage feel. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Studio G.

Challenges for this card:

• C.R.A.F.T. - Embossing (All of the stamped bicycles and sentiment are heat embossed)
• Crafting When We Can - No Design Papers
• Delightful - Add a Sentiment
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Transport
• Stampavie & More - Birthdays

Thinking of You...

I have an inky kind of card to share today...I started by inking up an acrylic block with some Distress Inks (Salty Ocean, Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint & Forest Moss), then spritzing it with water, before stamping it on to smooth white card. I then stamped some grasses and flowers over the green area, and added a couple of dragonflies above (all stamps from the 'Just for You' set by Hobby Art)...colouring the dragonflies' wings using watercolour pencils. The sentiment stamp is from a little set by Studio G.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Inky Impressions - Anything Goes
• Less is More - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Take Flight

ABC Christmas Challenge - N is for...

We have a new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...it's my turn to host, and the theme is:

'N is for Numbers'

Our sponsor for this challenge is All Dressed Up:

Prize - 2 Digis of the Winner's Choice!

I've used a Penny Black image called 'Welcome Party', which I coloured using watercolour pencils to match the My Mind's Eye 'Blue Floral' pad...not really very Christmassy, but I thought they'd make for a good masculine card. I distressed the edges of the papers, and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The little numbered sentiment is from a set by Studio G.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Animal Friends - Cats or Dogs
• Christmas Cards All Year Round - Non-traditional Colours
• Completely Christmas - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas- Make Your Mark
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Christmas
• Gem of a Challenge - Animals
• One Crazy Stamper - Christmas
• Simply Create Too - Christmas
• Winter Wonderland - Spots & Stripes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Simple Gift Tag

Work has been rather busy this half-term, and I keep getting behind with my blogging...but it's half-term next week...so hopefully I'll have some time to play! Anyway...I made this tag to go on the present I gave my brother for his birthday last week. I started with a plain luggage tag (from Hobbycraft), and added some strips of washi tape (from Freckled Fawn, Hobbycraft & Tiger) to make a colourful background. I cut a star shape using one of my Nesties, then embossed it using my Cuttlebug 'Spots & Dots' folder...then attached a hand cut banner shape stamped with a Studio G sentiment using a staple. I inked around the edges of everything using a little 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink. I picked up the multicoloured twine in TKMaxx...but it has no brand on it.

Challenges for this tag:

• Aud Sentiments - Bingo (Die Cuts - Two Word Sentiment - Embossing)
• Corrosive - Banner Day
• Creative Inspirations - Birthdays
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Embossing

Pile It On! Challenge - Lamb or Lion

This week at Pile It On! our challenge theme is:

'Lamb or Lion'

(Sweet & Soft OR Bold & Bright)

We are sponsored for this challenge by Jelly Park:

Prize - 2 digis!

I went with 'Bold & Bright', and used papers from the 'Here & There' pad by Studio Calico, and 'Party Day' pad by American Crafts. The image is an old favourite of mine...'Birthday Dog' by Penny Black, the sentiment stamp is from a little set by Studio G, and the brads are Basic Grey.

Here are the challenges I piled on:

• Pile It On! - Lamb or Lion (Lion)
• Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - It's a Boy Thing
• Love to Create - Anything Goes
• Paper Crafting Journey - Make it Manly/Boyish
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Simply Create Too - Shop in Your Stash

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Pile It On! Challenge.

Crafty Little Fairies Challenge - Kraft

This week at the Crafty Little Fairies Challenge, our theme is:

'Kraft'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Delicious Doodles

 Prize: 4 Delicious Doodles images of the winner's choice!

I went a bit 'kraft' crazy...and used it for all of the elements on my card...even stamping and watercolouring my image (an un-named dog stamp by Home & Heart' that I received for Christmas) on kraft! For the background layers, I continued the doggy theme, using a Crafts Too 'Bone & Paw Prints' embossing foder, and Hobbycraft 'Paw Print' background stamp...stamped in 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink. I stamped my sentiment (from a Studio G set) onto a strip of kraft die cut tickets (by Craftwork Cards), then doodled a simple border, and inked around the edges of everything using more 'Brushed Corduroy' ink. I found a little bone shaped button in my stash, and tied that on using some button twine (from the Ribbon Girl).

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Card Makin' Mamas - Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - Let's Celebrate
• Heck of a Challenge - New (New stamp)
• Just for Fun - New (New stamp)
• Sweet Stamps - Kraft Paper

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Crafty Little Fairies Challenge.
 

Pile It On! Challenge - P is for...

We have an extra special month-long challenge starting today over at Pile It On! where the theme is:

'P is for...'

Simply include at least one thing beginning with 'P' on your project...and pile on the challenges!

Our sponsor for this challenge is Jellypark:

Prize - 2 Jellypark images!

My 'P' things are Pink, Purple, Puppies & Polkadots. I used a Penny Black stamp called 'Xmas Pilgrims'...which I coloured using watercolour pencils...adding some sparkle to the snow with some Stickles. The sentiment stamp is from a little Studio G set, and the ribbon is from Hobbycraft.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - P is for... (Pink, Purple, Pearls, Puppies & Polkadots)
• 2 Sisters - Anything Goes
• Addicted to CAS - Pets
• Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
• Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes
• Crafty Ribbons - Anything with Ribbon
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Creative Craft - Non-traditional Christmas Colours
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Fab 'n' Funky - Cute Critters
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Freestyle
• Paper Playtime - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Totally Papercrafts - Ho-Ho-Holidays 

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Pile It On! Challenge. 

Happy Birthday Rob!

It's my flatmate's 30th birthday today... so, while he's sleeping off the excesses of yesterday's celebrations, I thought I'd pop on and show you his card and the wrapping paper I made. He's bike obsessed...so that explains the theme. I created a little scene using papers from the 'Sweet Girl' and 'Party Day' pads by Crate Paper...then added lots of die cut shapes using circle Nesties, Memory Box 'Puffy Clouds', Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet, and a bike by Die-Versions. The sentiment stamp on the outside is from a little Studio G set...and on the inside it reads 'Happy 30th Birthday...it's all downhill from here!'...but I forgot to take a photo of that before I sealed it in the envelope.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Sisters - Anything Goes 
• Fussy & Fancy - One for the Boys
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday

I also stamped some bicycle wrapping paper for his gifts...using stamps from the 'Roll with It' set by Avery Elle, and Hero Arts 'Bicycles' and 'Classic Bike' sets:

I made a matching tag, and tied everything together using black and white Baker's Twine:

Challenges for the wrapping paper and tag:

• 4 Crafty Chicks - Crazy About Wheels
• Creative Corner - Anything but a Card
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Use a Rubber or Clear Stamp
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Boys

We have a brand new Oldie but a Goodie Challenge for you starting today...and the theme is:

'Boys/Men'

We are sponsored for this challenge by Robyn's Fetish:

 The prize is 5 digital products of the winner's choice from the Robyn's Fetish store.

I've used a Whipper Snapper image on my card...he's called 'Party Pup', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The paper is from the 'Max & Whiskers' pad by BasicGrey, and the sentiment stamp is from a little Studio G set. I distressed all of the edges using 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink and my distressing tool, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• CCEE Stampers - Masculine Birthday
• Dutch Dare - For a Child
• Joanna Sheen- Boy's Cards
• One Crazy Stamper - Birthdays
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Stitching
• Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch #217

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Oldie but a Goodie Challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge - J is for...

It's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge...Lacey is hosting, and the theme is:

'J is for Jingle Bells'

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

Wild Orchid Crafts

Prize - a £10 gift voucher!

I've used a Penny Black stamp called 'Carollers'...love these chickens...I can almost hear them sing 'Jingle Bells'! I coloured them using watercolour pencils...then added a sentiment from a little Studio G set. For the background, I embossed some plain card using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' & 'Snowflakes' folders and Sizzix/BasicGrey 'Snowglobe' folders.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Crafting When We Can - Lime Green & Pink
• Drunken Stampers - Farm Animals
• Jingle Belles - Bright Colours
• Papertake Weekly - Sound of Music
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Bird Pants

Today I have the gift tag I've made to go with my brother's birthday card...I've used an image from Hambo Stamps called 'Bird Pants', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I simply added some strips of washi tape (from Feckled Fawn), and a sentiment from a little Studio G set.

Challenges for this tag:

• Crafty Ribbons  - No Designer Paper
• Crafty Sentiments - Use a Sentiment
• No Matter Which - Things with Wings
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp - Things with Wings