Just Add Snow

I have a Christmas card to share today...this one features a stamp from the 'Snow Bunnies' set by Anita Jerum for the Colorado Craft Company. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, along with one of the sentiments from the set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Glittering Snowflakes' pad by Crafter's Companion...matting the layers on to some co-ordinating purple card. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. I cut the snowflake from some more of the purple card using my Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, then added it to the card using an ancient BasicGrey brad.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Christmas Craft Creations - Non-traditional Colours
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Christmas - Non-traditional Colours
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Sketched Flowers

Today's card features my lovely 'Sketched Flowers' stamp by Simon Says Stamp. I stamped it a couple of times on to a piece of watercolour paper, along with one of the sentiments from the set, using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using 'Metallic Gold Rich' embossing powder from WOW. I watercoloured the flowers using Distress Inks (Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Victorian Velvet, Seedless Preserves, Dusty Concord, Mowed Lawn & Peeled Paint), then splattered some gold Cosmic Shimmers mica pigment mixed with water over the top. I used my Cuttlebug 'Olivia' die to cut the '80' from some snippets of gold mirror card then added those to the card front. I matted the panel on to some more gold mirror card, distressing all of the edges a little, before adding it to a cream card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Aud Sentiments - Watercolour and/or Spring & a Sentiment
• Everybody Art - Numbers
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Spring Flowers
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Showers or Flowers
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes (Optional 'Spring')

Have a Ball!

Today's card features one of the dogs from the 'Watch This!' set by Anita Jerum for the Colorado Craft Company. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, along with one of the sentiments from the set, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. For the background, I embossed a plain-ish piece of paper from the 'Vintage Dreams' pad by Craft Sensations using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder, then lightly sanded over the raised areas to reveal some of the white core. I distressed all of the edges, then matted the layers on some teal card before adding it ot a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Calendar - Embossed
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Fab 'N' Funky - Add a Sentiment
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes
• The Male Room - Embossing

ABC Christmas Challenge - H & I are for?

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Carol is the host, and the themes are:

'H is for Hats'

&

'I is for Inky'

The prize for the lucky winner is this die set:

For my 'H is for Hats' card, I stamped as many of the animals from the 'Christmas Hats' set by Anita Jerum for the Colorado Craft Company as I could fit on to a DL kraft card blank, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. The sentiment is made from a couple of stamps from the 'Wintertime Messages' set by Hero Arts.

For my 'I is for Inky' card, I started by smooshing some Distress Inks in various shades of blue (Speckled Egg, Salvaged Patina, Peacock Feathers, Stormy Sky, Broken China and Uncharted Mariner) on to a large acrylic block, spritzed it with a little water, the stamped it on to smoe watercolour paper. Once dry, I stamped snowflakes around the edges using stamps from the 'Snowflake Edges' set by Simon Says Stamp, and 'Broken China' Distress Ink. I cut the sentiment from snippets of white card using a Creative Expressions die...layering up three die cuts to get a more 3D effect, then added that to the centre. 

I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'Animals') (First card only)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

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

James Big Heart

Today's card features a Lili of the Valley James the Bear stamp called 'James Big Heart'. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I paper pieced the heart using a snippet of paper from the 'Vintage Dreams' pad, then added a sentiment from the 'Champagne Anniversary Silhouette'. I added a layer of (barely) patterned paper from the same pad...distressing the edges a little before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• As You Like It - Cute or Floral (Cute stamps for me...they were what first got me hooked on stamping!)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

PBSC April - Anything Goes (Optional 'Numbers')

It's the first Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'

or

'Numbers'

As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I used 'Scooting Along' by Penny Black...stamping it on to watercolour paper, then colouring it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Happy Day' pad by My Mind's Eye...this is my second one of this gorgeous pad, and I still have some little snippets from the original...the one I used to paper piece the balloon is probably one of those! This card is for the daughter of one of my friends...and as she turns 11 in a couple of days time, I used one of the number stamps from the 'Birthday Bears' set (also by Penny Black) to add her age to the balloon. I distressed the edges of all of the layers, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascal.

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

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Any Cute Critter')
• Creative Knockouts - Birthday Wishes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Happy Birthday
• Sweet Stampin' - Birthday Girls

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

Xmas Puppies

Today's card features a stamp that I picked up in a charity shop earlier this week, called 'Xmas Puppies' by Lawrence Designs for Stampavie. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Home for Christmas' pad by Violet Studio...distressing the edges before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Winter Wishes' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Christmas Craft Creations - Designer Paper
• Christmas with the Cuties - Two or More Papers
• Krafty Chicks - Stamps
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

April Desk Calendar

Today I'm sharing my desk calendar page for April...this time I used 'Rainin' Daisies' by Penny Black...stamping it on to watercolour paper, and colouring it using watercolour pencils before cutting the circle using one of my Nesties. I paired it with papers from the 'Pretty Please' pad by My Mind's Eye...distressing the edges before adding faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this calendar:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley - Spring Colours
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Hunny Bunny Easter Treat Bag

Happy Easter!

Today I'm sharing my final Easter treat bag...this one features an old Whipper Snapper stamp called 'Hunny Bunny'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from the 'Egg-cellent Easter Sentiments' set by C. C. Designs, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Happy Colours' pad from The Works...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this treat bag:

• C.R.A.F.T. - Not a Card
• Crafting Happiness - Bunnies
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Animal Antics
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Bunnies and/or Chicks

Snowflake Trees

I have a simple Christmas card to share today...made using one of the Christmas tree stamps from a set by Paper Artsy (Eclectica range 'EKC10'). I started by placing a strip of masking tape across a piece of watercolour paper, then stamped the tree over the top using a couple of blue shades of Distress Ink (Uncharted Marine & Broken China). Once dry, I removed the tape, then stamped a sentiment (using a stamp from an old Lili of the Valley set) in the void using 'Twilght' Versafine Clair ink. I distressed the edges of the watercolour paper a little, then added it to a kraft card blank. This was so quick and easy to do, I can see myself making more cards in this style with other stamps.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - All Occasions
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

Burst into Bloom

Today's card features an old Woodware Designs stamp called 'Burst into Bloom'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper using Versamark ink, along with a sentiment (from the 'Signature Greetings' set by Memory Box) then heat embossed them using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I coloured the flowers using watercolour paints, then distressed the edges a little before adding the watercolour panel to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'Keep It Simple')
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• My Time to Craft - Mixed Coloured Florals
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Easter/Spring
• We Love Stamping - Feminine

Easter Hares Easter Treat Bag

I have another Easter treat bag to share today...this one features a cute Happy Hoppers stamp called 'Easter Hares'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Charming' pad by My Mind's Eye...distressing all of the edges, then adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Egg-cellent Easter Sentiments' set by C. C. Designs.

Challenges for this treat bag:

• C.R.A.F.T. - Easter/Spring
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• House Mouse & Friends - All Stitched Up
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Spring/Easter

Orchid & Butterfly

Today's card features a couple of stamps from the Penny Black 'Happy Together' set...stamping the orchid and butterfly on to watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from the 'Signature Greetings' set by Memory Box. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - Anything CAS
• Addicted to CAS - Bloom
• Creative Moments - Flora & Fauna
• Incy Wincy - Birthday
• Inkspirational - CAS
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Little Red Wagon - Florals

Spring Bunny with Daffs Easter Treat Bag

I have another Easter treat bag to share today...this one features an adorable Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Spring Bunny with Daffs'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from the 'Egg-cellent Easter Sentiments' set by C. C. Designs, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Bright Freshness' pad by Craft Sensations...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this treat bag:

• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Easter/Spring
• Stamping Sensations - Spring
• Sweet Stampin' - Easter

Get Well Soon!

Today's card is a 'Get Well Soon' card that I made for my Dad who is recovering from a hip replacement operation. I picked a lili of the Valley bunny image called 'Get Well Bunny', stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I paired him with papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations...distressing the edges a little, before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Go To Words' set by Visible Image.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'Feathers and/or Fur')
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

PBSC March - Anything Goes (Optional 'Easter')...More Inspiration!

It's the third Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for some more inspiration for this month's Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'

or

'Easter'

As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:

Prize - a $20 voucher!

I've decorated another Easter treat bag...this time using a couple of bunnies from the 'Bunny Friends' stamp. I stamped them on to watercolour paper, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Bright Freshness' pad by Craft Sensations...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Egg-cellent Easter Sentiments' set by C. C. Designs for Pollycraft.

I'm also entering this treat bag into the following challenges:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Crafty Animals - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes (Optional 'Easter')
• Cutie Pie - Easter or Mother's Day
• Everybody Art - Spring
• Fab 'N' Funky - Spring
• Stamping Sensations - Spring

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge - E, F & G are for?

It's the second Wednesday of a new month, so that means it's time for a new ABC Christmas Challenge! Lynda is the host, and the themes are:

'E is for Embossing'

'F is for Faux'

&

'G is for Gingerbread'

The prize for the lucky winner is these fab stamp sets:

For my 'E is for Embossing' card, I used a Penny Black stamp called 'Warm Reception'...stamping it on to a piece of kraft card using Versamark ink, then heat embossing it using white embossing powder. I added a heat embossed sentiment (from the 'Snowflake Edges' set by Simon Says Stamp), then inked around the edges with the Versamark ink pad and heat embossed that in white too before adding it to a kraft card blank.

FOr my 'F is for Faux' card...I went with faux stitching on some papers from the 'Pure Frozen' pad from Poundland...distressing the edges before adding the stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The snowflakes are a Stampendous stamp set called 'Delicate Snowflakes'...I stamped them on to snippets of navy, turquoise and aqua card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them in white before cutting them out using the matching dies. I layered them up using 3D foam pads, then added them to the front of the card. The sentiment stamp is from an old Lili of the Valley set.

I really struggled with the 'G is for Gingerbread' theme...but eventually found some paper with little gingerbread men on...it was a freebie from a magazine years ago...but just the job for this! I matted a strip of the patterned paper on to some gold mirror card, and placed it down one side of a card blank, then cut the sentiment (using a Creative Expressions die) from some more mirror card, then added that over the top.

Challenges for these cards:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Monochrome') (First card only)
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Jingle Belles - Use Dies (Second card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment (Third card only)
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Embossing (First card only)

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

Happy Mother's Day

Today I'm sharing the card and a notebook that I made for my Mum for Mother's Day. For the card, I picked an old Hero Arts floral stamp called 'Garden Bouquet'. I used the watercolour stamping technique, painting Distress Inks (Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick, Seedless Preserves, Blueprint Sketch & Mowed Lawn) directly on to the stamp, then spritzing with a little water before stamping on to watercolour paper. I added a sentiment (from the 'Sentiments' set also by Hero Arts), then distressed the edges and added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen, before adding it to a kraft card blank.

I decorated a notebook for part of my Mum's gift...a blank spiral bound one from Hobbycraft. I picked a couple of Penny Black mice images, and papers from a My Mind's Eye pad called 'Penny Lane'...this pad is really old (I bought it in 2010!), but I still have plenty of snippets! I stamped the images on to snippets of watercolour paper and coloured them using watercolour pencils. I distressed all of the edges, and again added faux stitching using my Cutterbee Bug and a black gel pen. The image on the front is called 'Literally Giant!':

And 'Everest Next' on the back:

Challenges for this card & notebook:

• As You Like It - Monochrome or Colourful (Colourful for me...I like too many colours to not use them all at once!)
• C.R.A.F.T. - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - Stamps
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets (Just the notebook)
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Bright & Cheerful
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Add a Sentiment (Just the card)
• We Love Stamping - Feminine (Just the card)

Leap for Joy!

Today's card features a Penny Black frog image called 'Leap for Joy!'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, coloured it using watercolour pencils, then cut out the circle shape using one of my Nesties. The papers are a mixture of 'Happy Colours' (from The Works) and 'Bright Freshness' (by Craft Sensations)...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Cut It Up - Colours of Spring
• Daring Cardmakers - Just Sew
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Bright & Cheerful
• Time Out - Photo Inspiration