Butterfly Thank You

Today's card features a lovely Stamps by Chloe butterfly stamp called 'Butterfly Cascade' that I got for Christmas. I stamped it onto smooth white card using Versamark ink, along with a sentiment using a  stamp from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual, then heat embossed them using 'Metallic Silver' embossing powder form WOW. I coloured the butterflies using a mixture of Cosmic Shimmers watercolour paints, and Cosmic Shimmers pigments mixed with a little water, then matted it onto some silver mirror card before adding it to a white card blank.

Here's another angle that shows the shimmer a little better:

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes + a Sentiment
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Something New (The butterfly stamp is new)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Something New (The butterfly stamp is new)
• Stamping Sensations - Something Beginning with 'B' (Butterflies)
• We Love Stamping - Something New (The butterfly stamp is new)

Good Luck Cats

Today's card features another old Lili of the Valley stamp called 'Good Luck Cats'. I stamped it, along with a sentiment from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual', on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Party Day' pad by Crate Paper, distressing the edges, and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Aud Sentiments - Glitter & Bling or St Patrick's/Green & a Sentiment
• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Just Us Girls - Green
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - A Bit O' Green
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesdays) - A Bit O' Green
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Shades of Green

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.

Star Gnome

Today's card features a stamp that I recieved for Christmas...'Star Gnome' by Woodware Stamps. He's intended to be a Christmas stamp, but I added a Birthday sentiment (from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascal) instead of using one of the ones that came in the set. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I paired the image with papers from the 'Fresh Florals' pad by Craft Sensations...distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Birthday) - Anything Goes
• Inkspirational - Celebrate
• Krafty Chicks - All Occasions

Rambling Ted

Today's card features a Penny Black stamp called 'Rambling Ted' that I got for my birthday last week...he matches this one (called 'Rambling Rose') that I found in a charity shop last month. I 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 all of the edges, then adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Big Sentiments' set by Paula Pascal.

Challenges for this card:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Watercolour) - Anything Goes (Optional 'Happy')
• I Spy With My Little Eye - Something for Boys or Men
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Your Favourite Technique (Faux stitching)
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Stamped
• We Love Stamping - Masculine

Hello

Today's card features a cute little puppy stamp by Anita's. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then cut him out. I though that he looked like he should be peering ver the top of something, so cut a fence (using my Die-namics 'Picket Fence' die) from a snippet of kraft card, adding a 'hedge' behind it (cut from a snippet of green card using one of my Die-namics 'Grassy Edges' dies) to hid the fact that he has no body! For the background, I used a piece of 'cloudy sky' paper from the 'Mystery Marbles' pad by Craft Sensations, then matted it all on to a piece of kraft card before adding it to my card blank. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes

Big Butterfly Notecards

I have another set of simple one layer notecards to share today. These ones feature the 'Big Butterfly' stamp by Indigo Blu. I stamped it on to kraft card blanks using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed the butterflies using WOW Vintage Amethyst, Midnight, Silent Night and Vintage Peacock embossing glitters. The sentiments are from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascal.

Challenges for these cards:

• Corrosive - Anything Goes
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Sparkle & Shine')
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes

Dandelions Mini Striplet Notecards

I have another set of simple notecards to share today...these ones feature a Creative Expressions stamp called 'Dandelions Mini Striplet', that I stamped using Versamakr Ink direcrtly on to kraft card blanks, then heat embossed in gold. I added sentiments (from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual), embossing them in gold to match

Challenges for these cards:

• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (CAS) - One Layer Cards
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

...for a Spin!

Today's card features another of the bargain stamps (5 for £1!) I found in a charity shop recently...this one is by Penny Black and is called '...for a Spin!'. I stamped it onto watercolour paper along with a sentiment from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Happy Day' pad by My Mind's Eye...distressing the edges a little then adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes
• My Time to Craft - Travel/Transport
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It!

Meeting Shelty!

Today's card features another recent charity shop find...this adorable Penny Black stamp called 'Meeting Shelty'. The wooden stamps were all on offer (5 for £1!) and there were lots of lovely ones, including some more Penny Blacks, so it would have been rude not to fill a basket! I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using waterolour pencils, and added a sentiment from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual. The papers are from the 'Bright Freshness' pad by Craft Sensations...I lightly distressed the edges before adding some faux stitching using my CuttleBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - All Stitched Up
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Stamping Sensations - Any Celebration
• Sweet Stampin' - Feature an Animal

Blowing Bubbles

Today's card features an elephant stamp from Lili of the Valley called 'Blowing Bubbles'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual, then coloured it using watercolour pencils, adding some Glossy Accents to his bubbles. I paired it with some paper from the 'Peppermint Forest' pad by Craftwork Cards...distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'Something Pink')
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Just Us Girls - Spots and/or Dots
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Birthday Cupcake

Today's card features a House Mouse image called 'Birthday Cupcake', which I stamped on to watercolour paper, then coloured using watercolour pencils...adding a generous coating of Stickles to the frosting. I paired it with some paper from the 'Vintage Dreams' pad by Craft Sensations...distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Birthday Cakes or Cupcakes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• House Mouse & Friends - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Butterfly Cascade

Today's cards feature a new Woodware stamp called 'Butterfly Cascade'. I inked it using Distress Inks (Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey, Lucky Clover, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire & Dusty Concord), then stamped it on to watercolour paper. Once dry, I inked the stamp again, but with Versamark Ink, stamped over the top, then heat embossed it using 'Kaleidoscope' embossing powder by Stampendous. I added sentiments from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual, then distressed the edges a little before adding them to kraft DL card blanks.

These are really pretty and sparkly in real life, but so difficut to photograph...I tried with some artifical lights, and this is the best I could get!

Challenges for these cards:

• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampers - Things with Wings
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• We Love Choclate Baroque - Wings

Daisy Hedgie

Today's card features one of the hedgies from the 'Wonderful Day' set by Penny Black. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. I used an embossing folder called 'Crazy Daisy' (by Couture Creations) on a snippet of yellow card to make a simple background...layering it on to a snippet of orange care to echo the colours of the centre of the daisy. I stamped a sentiment (from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual) on to a die cut speech bubble (cut using a Sizzix die), then added that, along with the hedgie image, to the card using 3D foam pads.

Challenges for this card:

• Cute Card Thursday - Embossing
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Polkadoddles - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Oh So Cute

PBSC September - 'Anything Goes' (Optional 'Use Something Old/Neglected')...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
'Use Something Old or Neglected'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

The stamp I used on my card...'Magical Mimi' is both old and neglected. I won it back in 2011 as part of my prize for coming third in the Penny Black category...and as far as I can tell, have only used it once...on this card in February 2012! She is cute...but people stamps are not really my style, but I thought it was about time she saw some more ink! I stamped Mimi on to watercolour paper, along with a sentiment (from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual'), then coloured her using watercolour pencils. To carry on the 'old and neglected' theme, I paired Mimi with papers from an old BasicGrey pad called 'Hello Luscious', that I last used in 2013! In my defence, there's not a lot of it left...a couple of full sheets, and lots, and lots of snippets! I also added some pieces of Craftwork Cards 'Card Candi' to complete the 'old & neglected' theme!

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

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes
• Love to Scrap - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes

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

Dog-gone Sweet!

I have another set of cards to share today...this time featuring the pups from the 'Dog-gone Sweet' set by Penny Black. They're ultra simple...I stamped the pups directly on kraft card blanks, along with a sentiment from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual. I coloured the pups using watercolour pencils...but didn't use any water.

Some close-ups:

Challenges for these cards:

• AAA Cards - Up to One Third
• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Penny Black & More - Animals
• Shopping Our Stash - Dogs
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It

Floral Notecards

I have another set of floral notecards to share today...this time featuring stamps by Penny Black. I stamped the flowers stright on the card banks using grey ink, along with sentiments from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual, the coloured the flowers using watercolour pencils.

'Sun-kissed' and 'Sundail'

'Constellations' & 'Dotted Petals'

Challenges for these cards:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Stamp It
• Stamping Sensations - Flowers

It's Your Day!

Today's card features a trio of little mice from the 'It's Your Day' set by Penny Black. I stampeed them on to watercolour paper, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Pretty Please' pad by My Mind's Eye...adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiments are a mixture of Paula Pascul (from the 'Big Messages' set) and Penny Black (from the 'It's Your Day' set).

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Bright & Cheerful
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Pile It On! Challenge - Beverages

We have another fun Pile It On! Challenge starting today, and the theme this month is:

'Beverages'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Bugaboo Stamps:

Prize - 4 Digi Stamps of the Winner's Choice!

I used a cute Crafter's Companion image from the 'Moonbeam Meadow' collection called 'Time for Tea', that I found in a charity shop recently. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added a sentiment (from the 'Big Messages' set by Paula Pascual. I paired it with papers from the 'Happy Day' pad by My Mind's Eye...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Here are the challenges I piled on:

• Pile It On! - Beverages
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes
• Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
• Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
• Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes
• Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Incy Wincy - Coffee or Tea
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
• Time Out - Playful

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