ABC Christmas - J & K are for?

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

'J is for Jingle Bells'

&

'K is for Kissing'

(underneath the mistletoe)

The prize on offer for one lucky winner is these Fizzy Moon stamps:

For my 'Jingle Bells' card, I took inspiration from the words of the song, and picked a cute Penny Black stamp called 'Coming Your Way'...a 'one hedgehog' open sleigh, rather than 'one horse'! I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I paired it with papers from the 'Ho Ho Ho Christmas' pad by Polkadoodles, distressing the edges and adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment is from an old Pollycraft set.

For my 'K is for Kissing' card, I used stamps from the 'Christmas Hugs' set (also by Penny Black), again stamping them on to watercolour paper, and colouring them using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Happy Colours' pad from The Works...not specifically Christmas, but the colours matched! I distressed the edges, and added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment is from a Lili of the Valley set.

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

• Christmas with the Cuties - Something Hand Coloured
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Inspired by Music (First card only)
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Include a Sleigh (First card only)
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes

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

PBSC February - Anything Goes (Optional 'Paper Piecing')...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
'Paper Piecing'

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

Prize - a $20 voucher!

This time, I CASED one of my own cards, and used one of my all time favourite Penny Black stamps...'Snowy'. I stamped him on to watercolour paper, then coloured him using watercolour pencils, paper piecing his hat and scarf. The paper for that, and also the 'snowy' background is from the 'Pastel Pinks' pad from The Works. I cut around the top of the image, then added it over the background...doodling a simple border, and adding a sentiment from the Pollycraft/C. C. Designs set.

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

• Corrosive - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Snowmen
• Use Your Stuff - Favourites ('Snowy' is one of my all time favourite stamps)

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - U & V are for?

We have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...the themes this month are:

'U is for Upcycle'

&

'V is for Velocity'

And the prize for the lucky winner:

(Paper pad & Lili of the Valley stamp)

For my 'U is for Upcycle' card, I used the inside of the cover of a Christmas gift guide (from 2010!) as the background for my image. 

I paired it with a cute pup from the 'Wintertime Cheer' set by Penny Black, which I stamped on to watercolour paper, and coloured using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment (from a set by Pollycraft for C. C. Designs), then distressed all of the edges before assembling my card and adding some adhesive pearls.

For my 'V is for Velocity' card, I picked another Penny Black image...this time a snowboarding chicken stamp called 'Snowboard Ride'. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, added in a slope for him to ride down using a black gel pen, then coloured him using watercolour pencils and carefully cut around the top of the image. I made a simple background using a falling snow die from the Tim Holtz/Sizzix 'Winter Wonderland' set and a snippet of navy card. I layered it over a snippet of silver glitter card, then matted it all on to some red glitter card.

Challenges for these cards:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Everybody Art - Use Dies (Just the second card)
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets (Just the second card)
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Getting Ready for Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Distressed (Just the first card)
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - P, Q & R are for?

We have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...I'm the host, and we have three fantastic themes this month:

'P is for Penguins'

'Q is for Quarters'

&

'R is for Reindeer'

There are three prizes on offer for three lucky winner (three 6x6 paper pads):

I made a card for each of the three themes (the more cards for the box the better!), and picked a cute Lili of the Valley penguin stamp called 'Present Pile for my first card. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, added a sentiment (from a set by Pollycraft for C.C.Designs) and a simple doodled border, then simply popped it on to my card blank using 3D foam pads.

For my second card, I divided my background into quarters...using squares of papers from the 'Ho Ho Ho' pad by Polkadoodles...with a little bit of faux stitching added using my CutterBug and a black gel pen. The image and sentiment stamps are from the 'Christmas Hugs' set by Penny Black...and is again coloured using watercolour pencils.

My third card feature another Penny Black image...called 'Deer in Skates'...I stamped it directly on to a kraft card blank, along with a sentiment (from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous), then coloured it using watercolour pencils, but without any water.

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

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Christmas Goes
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - L & M are for?

We have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...I'm the host, and we have two themes this month:

'L is for Little'

&

'M is for Masking'

There are a couple of prizes on offer for two lucky winners:

For my 'L is for Little' card...I used a 4 inch square card blank...and an old Hero Arts stamp called 'Winter Pup'. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut him out. I used a snippet of tartan paper (from the 'Chalkboard Christmas' pad by Craftwork Cards) as a background...with some faux stitching...and popped the pup on top using 3D foam pads.

I combined several Penny Black critter stamps for my 'M is for Masking' card...the mice in the parcel are from the 'Christmas Hugs' set, the other two mice are from the 'Jolly Friends' set, and the robin is from the 'Wintertime Cheer' set. I coloured them using watercolour pencils to match the pastel shades of the paper from the 'Peppermint Forest' pad by Craftwork Cards. I added some faux stitching, and a sentiment (from a set by Pollycraft for C. C. Designs).

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

• CAS Christmas - Gifts (Just the second card)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Christmas Goes
• Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• My Time to Craft - Use Kraft (Just the first card)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Hello Robin

I have another Christmas card to share today...featuring a really old image called 'Robin Hello' by Pollycraft which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I carefully cut around the top of the image, then used a piece of 'snowy' paper from the 'Mystery Marbles' pad by Craft Sensations for a simple background. I matted it on to pieces of white, then black card...so give a Polaroid photo effect. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Feathered Friends
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - Birds
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas
• Simon says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Cute
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Present Pile

Another day...another Christmas card! This one also features a Lili of the Valley image, but it's a James the Bear one this time called 'Present Pile'. I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then cut him out using one of my Nesties. For the background, I used a snippet of card left over from making this card...I made it using a Simon Says Stamp background stamp (called 'Mod Trees') stamped in a  white pigment ink, then heat embossed in white on kraft card. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitches using black and white gel pens. The sentiment (from a set by Pollycraft for C. C. Designs) is also heat embossed.

Challenges for this card:

• C.R.A.F.T. - Anything Goes
• Moving Along with the Times - Add a Sentiment
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - W & X are for?

We have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Sharon is the host and the themes are:

'W is for Wishes'

&

'X is for Xmas'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Fred She Said:

Prize - $10 Gift Certificate!

There's also a little prize from Sharon:

An adorable LOTV rubber stamp!

I made a card for each of the two themes...but kept used the same clean and simple design on both. I used Penny Black images, coloured using watercolour pencils, carefully cut out and mounted on my card blanks using 3D foam pads. On my 'W is for Wishes' card, the image is called 'Monkey See, Monkey Do' and the sentiment is from a set by Pollycraft for C. C. Designs.

On my 'X is for Xmas' card, the image is called 'Bedecked Antlers', and the sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous...I altered it slightly by masking off the 'Christ' part of the word 'Christmas', and drawing in an 'X' to replace it.

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

• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Goes (Optional CAS) 
• Less is More - Dimension
• Penny Black Inc - Holiday Cards
• Penny Black & More - Make Someone Smile (Who wouldn't smile at a cow with decorated antlers!?)
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, and for all the details of our Design Team Call, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Pile It On! Challenge - Pets

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

'Pets'

Are sponsor this month is Dr Digi's House of Stamps

Prize - 2 Digis of the winner's choice!

I used a cute Penny Black image from the 'Joy to the World' set, which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Merry Little Christmas' 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. I added a snowflake cut from kraft card using a die from a set by Tim Holtz for Sizzix...I popped a piece of Card Candi on it's centre as it looked  little bare. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Pollycraft for C. C. Designs.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Pets
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Pretty Papers
• Animal Friends - Winter
• Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
• Christmas with the Cuties - Wrap Up Warm
• C.R.A.F.T. - Winter
• Crafty Friends - Two or More Patterned Papers
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Anything Goes
• Penny Black Inc - Holiday Cards
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Get Ready for Christmas

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

Ice Christmas

I have another Christmas card to share today...this one uses a Lili of the Valley image called 'Ice Christmas' that I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Christmas Cheer' pad by Lily Bee Designs...I distressed all of the edges then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Pollycraft for C. C. Designs.

Challenges for this card:

• Alphabet Challenge - P is for Penguins
• Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas Goes
• Fussy & Fancy - Things with Wings
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Winter Wonderland - Colour It

Guest Deisgner - C.R.A.F.T. Challenge

Last month, I was chosen to be a guest designer for C.R.A.F.T.Challenge...and today I'm sharing my card for that challenge, where the theme for the next two weeks is:

'Christmas'

The sponsor for this challenge is Crafty Sentiments:

Prize - 3 Digital Images from Crafty Sentiments!

I used an older Crafty Sentiments rubber stamp, called 'Bell and Present' from the Lollipop Dreams collection. I coloured her using watercolour pencils to match the traditional Christmas colours of the papers, which are from the  Helz Cuppleditch 'Special Delivery' collection. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Pollycraft for C. C. Designs...I heat embossed it in white on a snippet of red card.

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

• Crafty Sentiments - Add a Sentiment
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash - Christmas in July
• Sweet Stampers - Christmas

For more inspiration from the awesome design team, please pop over to the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge - H & I are for?

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Lols is the host, and the themes for this month are:

'H is for Hats'

&

'I is for Ice'

Our sponsor for this challenge is All Dressed Up:

Prize - 2 Digi Stamps of the winner's choice!

There's also an awesome bonus prize for one lucky winner from Lols...a $25/£20 gift certificate to a store of the winner's choice!

Looking through my stamp collection, I discovered that I had quite a lot of Christmas stamps featuring hats...but just had to go with 'Snowy' (by Penny Black). I coloured him using watercolour pencils, then paper pieced his hat and scarf using snippets of paper from the 'Recollections - Prince Charming' pad by Michaels (found at TK Maxx). I used some more of the papers for the background...distressing the edges a little, then adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Pollycraft for C C Designs.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes

Coming up with an image for 'Ice' was also fairly easy...I do have a few 'ice skating' images, but thought that little Lili of the Valley penguin on his iceberg (called 'Ice Christmas') would be perfect! I coloured him using watercolour pencils, and added a sentiment (from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous). I simply distressed the edges a little then matted it on to a couple of pieces of co-ordinating card.

Challenges for this card:

• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Feature a Creature
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
• Winter Wonderland - Animals

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

Bunny with Chicks

I have another Easter treat bag to share today...this one features a Lili of the Valley image called 'Bunny with Chicks', which I coloured using watercolour pencils. I used papers from the 'Hippity Hoppity' pad by We R Memory Keepers...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 a set by Pollycraft for C C Designs.

Challenges for this treat bag:

• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley - Spring Colours
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash - Easter
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Easter Inspired
• That's Crafty - Spring

Pile It On! Challenge - Circles and/or Squares

It's time for some more inspiration, and an additional theme for this month's Pile It On! Challenge...where the themes are:

'Circles'
and/or
'Squares'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Bugaboo Stamps:

Prize - 5 Digi Stamps of the Winner's Choice!

I combined the themes to make an Easter treat bag, cutting squares and circles from patterned papers (from the 'Happy Day' pad by My Mind's Eye), and layering them up. The image is called 'Hello World' by Penny Black...I coloured it using watercolour pencils, added a sentiment (from a set by Pollycraft for C C Designs), then cut it out using one of my circle Nesties. I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Here are the challenges I've piled on:

• Pile It On! - Circles and/or Squares
• Corrosive - Anything Goes
• Daring Cardmakers - Watch the Birdie
• Gem of a Challenge - Easter Time
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash - Put a Bird on it
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Easter/Spring
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Easter Inspired
• Sparkles Forum - Spring is in the Air
• Sweet Stampers - Spring/Easter

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