ABC Christmas Challenge - F is for...

I've got another card to share with you today for the ABC Christmas Challenge...it's not a new challenge today, but I loved Carissa's sketch for our 'F is for Freebie' challenge so much, that I couldn't resist using it again. Here's a reminder of the sketch:

And here's what I did with it this time:

I've used a different Stamp Fairy image this time...so cute! The bright papers are from the 'Colourful Christmas' collection by My Mind's Eye, and I embossed some co-ordinating card with my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'Snow Dots' folders. The snowflake was cut using a Marianne Creatables die. 

Our sponsor for this challenge is the Stamp Fairy

 And, in order to be eligible for the prizes on offer, you need to use a Stamp Fairy image (as well as follow the sketch)...but don't worry if you don't have any...Gerda has created a 'Freebie' especially for us, and of course you, to use for this challenge:

 You can downlaod him from the Stamp Fairy blog.

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

• Digi Doodles - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy - Embossing
• PaperPlay - Embossing
• Paper Sundaes - Embossing
• Winter Wonderland - Embossing

Cuttlebug Spot - Buttons

We have another embellishment challenge for you this week at the Cuttlebug Spot...and this time we'd like to see you using:

'Buttons'

I've used 'Bruno Bear with Cupcake' by Whiff of Joy, coloured with watercolour pencils, and cut out using Nesties. The spotty papers are from the '72 & Sunny' and 'Hippity Hoppity' pads by We R Memory Keepers, and the brown paper is the reverse of a My Mind's Eye '29th Street Market' paper, which I embossed using my Cuttlebug 'Spots & Dots' folder, then sanded over the raised areas to reveal the detail. I distressed all of the edges, and added some faux stitching with using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. I cut the stars using Nesties, and then embossed them using a border folder from the 'Just My Type' set...the one with the cute little buttons, adding a real button on the top. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

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

• Crazy 4 Challenges - Pink, Kraft, Turquoise & Brown
• Stamp Something - Something Sweet
• Sweet Stop Sketches - Sketch with a Spin of 'How Sweet' 
• Teddy Stampers - Embossing
• Totally Gorjuss - Buttons
• Totally Papercrafts - Buttons
• Whiff of Joy - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my fabulous DT buddies, please visit the Cuttlebug Spot.

Bunny Bath

I'm going to warn you now...if you plan on visiting my blog again this week, you might want to wear your sunglasses next time...I have some VERY brightly coloured cards to share this week...starting now!

This one uses 'Bunny Bath' by Penny Black...and some fresh 'spring' coloured spotty papers from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad by We R Memory Keepers. I distressed all of the edges using my distressing tool, then added some faux stitching with my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The sentiment is from the CCSR set by Papermania, and the flower is one of the last from my Poppicrafts stash.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Sentiments - Animals
• Papertake Weekly - 3 of Something (3 Spotty Papers)
• Penny Black Saturday - Spring has Sprung
• Sir Stampalot - Spring (Green, Yellow & Pink)
• Sketchy Thursday - Sketch
• Wags 'N Whiskers - Spring

Birthday Beagle

I've used one of my current favourite stamps on this card...he's called 'Birthday Beagle' by Whipper Snapper...I have a bit of a thing for doggy stamps...and they make great images for men's cards too. I've kept the layout ultra simple...stamping my sentiment (from a Studio G set) directly on to the Kraft card base, and adding a strip of BasicGrey 'Max & Whiskers' paper along the bottom. I thought the white I'd stamped my image on to looked too stark against the Kraft, so I cut him out, and added another piece of Kraft behind him, which I'd embossed using my 'Spots & Dots' Cuttlebug folder. I did ink the edges...but only lightly...so I think it's still fairly 'clean' and simple! ;0)

Challenges for this card:

• Incy Wincy - Boys
• Less is More - Masculine
• Simon Says Stamp - Happy Birthday
• Sweet Stampin' - Slugs, Snails and Puppy Dog's Tails
• Top Tip Tuesday - Birthdays

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Anything but a Card

The theme of this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge is:

'Anything but a Card'

I've made a little tea-light cupcake, and a matching box to present it in.

The tea-light cake was so simple to do...I followed this tutorial over on Splitcoast Stampers. The papers are from the 'Bittersweet' pad by BasicGrey, and instead of using a punch for the scalloped circle on the top, I used one of my Nesties (available here at the Secret Crafter). I used ahesive pearls (available here at the Secret Crafter) to decorate the top. I used more of the same paper to decorate the box, adding a flower made using my Nesties again, following this tutorial on Joanne's blog. Here's a close-up of the flower:

I'm also entering this into the following challenges:

• Charisma Cardz - To 'Die' For
• Craft Us Crazy - Cupcakes and/or Celebrations

For more inspiration, please check out the fabulous projects by my lovely Secret Crafter DT buddies.

Jump for Joy!

It's looking very green on here today...this wee fellow is 'Jump for Joy!' by Penny Black...and he's been coloured with watercolour pencils. The papers are by We R Memory Keepers, from the 'Hippity Hoppity' and '72 and Sunny' pads, the flowers are by Prima, and the pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Card Crew - Green
• Creative Cottage - Spring has Sprung
• Delightful - Green
• Fab 'n' Funky - Green
• Penny Black Saturday - Green
• Scrapbook Sisters - Spring Flowers
• Stampavie & More - Spring or Easter

ABC Christmas Challenge - F is for...

This week it's Carissa's turn to host the ABC Christmas Challenge, which is:

'F is for Freebie (and a Fabulous Sketch)'

We have teamed up with the Stamp Fairy for this challenge, and Gerda has made a fabulous digi image which is she is giving away on the Stamp Fairy blog especially for the ABC Christmas Challenge! 

Here's a preview:

Isn't he cute???

If you want to grab this freebie, you'll need to head over the Stamp Fairy World, to download it.

The prize for this challenge is 3 digis of the winner's choice from the Stamp Fairy Shop.

In order to be eligible for the prize, you must use a Stamp Fairy image, and follow the sketch.

And here's Carissa's Fabulous sketch:

Phew...finally I can tell you about my card!

I couldn't resist using the adorable freebie, and coloured him with watercolour pencils to match the My Mind's Eye 'Countdown to Christmas' papers. I seem to be on a bit of a mission to make flat Christmas cards at the moment (for cheap postage), so I didn't add any embellishments, or use any 3D foam. I have a couple of other Stamp Fairy images, and plan to have another play with the sketch next week, so I may try something fussier then.

For more inspiration from my fabulous DT buddies, and some of the Stamp Fairy girls, please visit the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Cuttlebug Spot - Twine

We have another embellishment challenge for you this week at the Cuttlebug Spot...this time we'd like to see you using:

'Twine or String'

I've used string that I've 'recycled' from my flatmate's weekly Able & Cole veg box...it's a lovely mix of pale blue and white, and they tie masses of it around each box, so I've managed to gather quite a stash of it! :0)

I ordered some of the new Lili of the Valley stamps last week, and they arrived on Saturday, so I coloudn't resist inking one up and using him on this card. He's called 'Spring Swing', and I coloured him with watercolour pencils, then cut him out using one of my deckled edge Nesties. The papers are from the 'Marjolaine' pad, and I embossed the plainer one using my Cuttlebug 'Birds & Swirls' folder. The flowers are by Prima, and the brads are also BasicGrey, but from the Wisteria collection, although they match these papers quite well too. I tied my string across the centre, and then tucked a Tim Holtz 'Adage Ticket' behind it. I distressed all of teh edges, and then added some tiny adhesive pearls in the corners.

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

• Crazy Challenge - Eyelets or Brads
• Cupcake Craft - Up in the Air
• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch

For more inspiration, please visit the Cuttlebug Spot to see the fabulous creations by my lovely DT buddies.

Snow Flurry

I have another 'one-layer' (ie 'cheap to post'!) Christmas card today. I followed the 'Off the Edge' theme of this week's Less is More Challenge, stamping a flurry of snowflakes with a Hero Arts cling stamp...funnily enough called 'Snowflakes' that I bought in the post-Christmas sales...across a kraft card blank in Versamark, then heat embossed them with opaque white powder. I added a Penny Black sentiment stamped in black...and that's it...another really simple card...I did toy with the idea of adding some pearls or gems...but in the end decided to keep it totally flat.

Challenges for this card:

• Less is More - One Layer Card & Off the Edge
• One Stop Craft - Clean & Simple
• Paper Sundaes - Keep It Simple

Pile It On! Challenge - Recipe

This week's Pile It On! Challenge is a recipe:

'Use: 1 Image/Sentiment; Green & Orange; and Ribbon'

We are sponsored this week by St Rick Designs (I don't have the details of the prize yet, so will add them later).

They also very generously donated some digital images for the DT to work with...I chose a vase of shamrock/clover for 'Good Luck', which I coloured using watercolour pencils, then cut out using my Nesties...I cut around the pieces that wouldn't fit in the frame first by hand, so as not to chop them off! The papers I've used are all by We R Memory Keepers, from the '72 and Sunny' and 'Hippity Hoppity' pads. I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the border along the bottom, and added a simple bow using ribbon from my stash.

Here are the challenges I've Piled On!:

• Pile It On! - Recipe
• Allsorts - Luck O' the Irish
• Anything Goes - Die Cuts
• Card Makin' Mamas - Green
• Craft Us Crazy - Nature
• If the Shoe Fits...Scrap It! - St Patrick's Day
• Little Red Wagon - Green
• PaperPlay - Green/Good Luck
• Sew Many - St Patrick's Day
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
• Sketchy Thursday - Sketch

For more inspiration, please check out the fabulous samples form my lovely Pile It On! DT buddies.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Flowers for Mum

This week it's Kate's turn to choose the theme of the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, which is:

'Flowers for Mum'

Perfect timing, with Mother's day coming up soon here in the UK...and I did originally plan to make a Mother's Day card...but I couln't find my 'Mother's Day' sentiment stamp...must tidy my stamps!

The image I've used is 'Teddy with Bouquet' by Lili of the Valley, which I coloured using watercolour pencils to match the 'springy' colours of the 'Hippity Hoppity' papers by We R Memory Keepers. The sentiment is from the Hero Arts 'Cupcakes' set, and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. I used my Nesties (available here at the Secret Crafter) to cut out the image, sentiment and scalloped shapes.

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

• Crafty Ann's - Spring
• Crafty Calendar -Spring
• Creative Fridays - Spring Awakening
• For Fun - Spring
• Lili of the Valley - Flowers
• Pink Elephant - Spring
• Teddy Stampers - Sketch
• The Stamp Man - Mother's Day/Floral

For more inspiration, please visit the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge to see the fabulous creations by my lovely DT buddies.

Wee with Reindeer

I can't remember the last time I used this stamp...so I thought that it was about time I inked it up again. It's 'Wee with Reindeer' by Whiff of Joy, and I coloured it using watercolour pencils. The papers are all from the 'Eskimo Kisses' collection by BasicGrey (there's a mixture of 6x6 and 12x12 on this card). I used my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder to emboss the green paper, then sanded the surface to reveal the white core. I added a Penny Black sentiment stamped on to a shape cut using one of the Nestie label dies, and then distressed all of the edges.

Challenges for this card:

• Friday Sketchers - Sketch
• Bah! Humbug! - Embossing
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Embossing
• DCD Christmas Club - Christmas Song (Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer)

I tried to get this to publish this morning...but naughty Mr Blogger wouldn't co-operate, so I think I might have missed some of those challenge deadlines...ooops!

Little Star

I'm feeling festive again...lots of Christmas cards this week! I've used 'Little Star' by Lili of the Valley on this card, with papers from the 'Countdown to Christmas' glitter pad by My Mind's Eye. The snowflakes were cut using Marianne Creatables dies, and ribbon is recycled from a Christmas gift.

Challenges for this card:

• Lili of the Valley - Sketch
• Sparkles Christmas - Red & Green
• Winter Wonderland - Snowflakes

Cuttlebug Spot - Charms

This week at the Cuttlebug Spot, we're continuing with our embellishment challenges, and our new theme is:

'Charms'

The image I've used is 'Doggy Pile' by Whipper Snapper, which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The stripey paper is from the 'Tis the Season' collection by Bo Bunny, and I embossed a piece of card with my Cuttlebug 'Diamond Plate' folder, then sanded the surface to reveal the white core. I used a piece of bone print ribbon to attach my cute little bone charm, and the sentiment is from a little Studio G set.

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

• Totally Gorjuss - Sketch
• Charisma Cardz - Four Legged Friends
• Paper Sundaes - Stripes

For more inspiration, please check out the fabulous creations by my lovely Cuttlebug Spot DT buddies.

Birthday Embrace

In complete contast to yesterday's ultra simple one layer cards, I've used loads of layers and papers on this one. The adorable image is 'Embrace' by Penny Black, which I coloured with watercolour pencils to match the 'Quite Contrary' papers by My Mind's Eye. I added a Cuddly Buddly sentiment, a couple of paper flowers, some organza ribbon, and used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch on the strip across the middle.

This is actually an easel card...I used more of the MME papers on the bottom part, and a sentiment from the CCSR set by Papermania, leaving room to write my message...here's a view from the side:

Challenges for this card:

• Sweet Stop - Sketch
• Crafty Ann's - Birthday Cards
• Crafty Sentiments - Birthdays
• Dutch Dare - Who's Who in the Zoo
• Penny Black Saturday - More than one fold
• Wags'n Whiskers - More than one fold

Bubble Tree

I'm back with some more CAS cards today...these ones are even more simple than the 'Three Little Cupcakes' card from Thursday...this time I stamped straight on to the card blank. I made quite a few one layer Christmas cards last year, and I resolved to make even more this year...I'm trying to reduce the amount I spend on postage this Christmas! I've used a stamp I bought in the post Christmas sales on these cards...it's called 'Bubble Tree' by Woodware...I've wanted this set since it first came out, but every time I've looked for it, it was always out of stock, so I was really pleased when I found it for half price! :0)

I used  the sentiment stamp from the same set, and coloured the 'bubbles' on the trees with watercolour pencils, then went over them with 'Seasonal Silver' Cosmic Shimmer pigment to make them sparkle. It gives a lovely irridescent sheen, which was quite difficult to get it to show in a photo, but you can just about see it in the close-up below:

Challenges for this card:

• Bling It On - Anything Goes
• Less is More - Pastels
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Patchwork Background

This week over at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, it's Jane's turn to choose the theme, which is:

'Patchwork Background'

This is a fab way to use up all those little bits of paper you've been saving 'cos you just couldn't bare to throw them away! :0)

I used a whole load of scraps from the BasicGrey 'Lemonade' pad (avaiable here at the Secret Crafter)...I love this pad so much, that all I have left are scraps! They were all different sizes, so I've created a random pattern, distressing all of the edges, and adding faux stitching with my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The colours of the papers are bright and zingy, so I've made an Easter card, using two of the bunnies on the 'Bunny Friends' stamp by Penny Black, cut out using one of my circular Nesties (available here at the Secret Crafter). The sentiment is a Hero Arts stamp, and the flowers are by Prima.

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

• Crafter's Companion - Easter
• Cute Card Thursday - Signs of Spring
• Delightful - Welcome Spring
• Everybody Art - Spring
• Fab 'n' Funky - Spring into Action
• Penny Black @ Allsorts - Welcome Spring
• Scrapbook Sisters - Spring
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Spring
• Sundays with Crissy - Stitching
• Top Tip Tuesday - Favourites (Lots of my favourite things on this card...PB stamps, BG papers, Prima flowers, distressing, faux stitching...)
• Wild Orchid Crafts - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, including our fabulous new team members, please visit the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

Three Little Cupcakes

It seems that practically the whole of crafty blogland has been bitten by Less is More bug...so I thought I'd join them. Their challenge this week is 'Three Squares'...and here's my interpretation:

I decided to draw my three squares on to the card blank to act as frames for my cute little cupcakes. I marked out in pencil where I wanted them to be, then drew the lines in free-hand to match the whimsical style of the cupcakes. The cupcakes are from the Hero Arts 'Cupcakes' set...I coloured them with watercolour pencils, added some Stickles to the frosting, cut them out and then popped them on 3D foam pads. The sentiment is from the same Hero Arts set.

This card is not my usual style...it's the kind of card I would have bought before I started making cards, but not something I would normally make. I'd never make it through my stash mountain if all my cards were as CAS as this one, but I think I might try to do it more often...as much as I love them, my cute cards aren't always the most appropriate thing to give!

Challenges for this card:

• Less is More - Three Squares
• Critter - Sentiments 
• Stamptacular Sunday - You've been framed

ABC Christmas Challenge - E is for...

We have anew ABC Christmas Challenge for you today...it's Dorte's first time as host, and the theme is:

'E is for Embossing & Embellishments'

You can use heat or dry embossing, or a mixture of both techniques, and we'd like to see 3 embellishments, this can be 3 the same, or 3 different types of embellishment.

We have two fabulous sponsors for this challenge...which means two wonderful prizes:

Simon Says Stamp - $15 shopping Voucher

and

The Stamping Boutique

1st Prize = 3 digi stamps

2nd Prize = 2 digi stamps

The lovely Tracey from The Stamping Boutique has also given the DT several images to work with this week...including my lovely 'Chubby Snowman' - thanks Tracey!

I coloured the image with watercolour pencils, and added some glitter to the snow on the ground. The papers I used are all from the '29th Street Market' collection by My Mind's Eye, and I went a bit Cuttlebug crazy, embossing the reverse sides of some of the papers with my 'Snowflakes', 'Ice Crystals' and 'Just My Type' folders. I sanded over the surfaces to reveal the white core of the papers, and then distressed all of the edges. The sentiment is a Penny Black stamp, and for my three embellishments, I used a snowflake (cut with my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystals' die), a brad and some adhesive pearls.

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

• Friday Sketchers - Sketch
• Fussy & Fancy - Embossing and/or Paper Piecing (I've just gone for the embossing)
• Prairie Fairy - Inspired by a Song (Mine's 'Let it Snow!')

For more inspiration, please check out the fabulous cards by my lovely ABC Christmas Challenge DT buddies.

Cuttlebug Spot - Hatpins

This month the Cuttlebug Spot Challenges are all about embellishments, and we're starting this week with:

'Hatpins'

Now, I've always been a little scared of using pins on my cards...so this is a first for me. I didn't have any ready-made hatpins, so made a couple using some of my beading supplies. If you'd like to have a go at making your own, one of my Cuttlebug Spot DT buddies,Theresa, has a fab tutorial. I've used a Penny Black image, 'Dream a dream' on my card, together with some gorgeously flowery 'Wisteria' papers by BasicGrey. I embossed (or rather 'de-bossed', as I put my paper in the folder upside down!) the plain paper using my Cuttlebug 'Floral Fantasy' folder, then sanded over the surface, and distressed all of the edges. I added some Prima flowers, a Hero Arts sentiment (from the 'Cupcakes' set), and a few adhesive pearls, before securing my hatpins with some organza ribbon.

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

• BasicGrey - Sketch
• Crazy Challenge - Here comes Spring
• Incy Wincy - Spring is in the Air
• One Stop Craft - Spring Flowers

For more inspiration, please visit the Cuttlebug Spot to see the fabulous creations by my lovely DT buddies.