Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 192

This time, at Crafty Cardmakers, we're playing Tic-Tac-Toe. Although were I come from, that's known as xs and os. The grid allows lots of possibilities, and you can follow any horizontal, vertical or diagnonal line.

I've followed the left-hand vertical line, so my card includes gems, stitching and has a summer theme.

I started with a Tonic Sew Pretty die. Now, I really like this range, but I can't help but think that whoever designed them hadn't done much embroidery on paper (or maybe they're just really, really clever.) That's because, to me, the obvious way to start and finish your thread on the back of paper embroidery is to use sticky tape, and these gorgeous dies just don't have enoough solid area to do that. So, after cutting out the shape, I stuck the die cut to a contrasting piece of card, and then used a paper-piercer to follow the holes through both thicknesses. I stitched the holes with stitches 2, 3 or 4 holes long depending on the degree of curvature using my usual machine embroidery thread. (I don't own a sewing machine and any attempt at using one would probably end up with a visit to Accident and Emergency.) I then accented some of the swirls with stichy gems. for the background, I got out a punch I've had for a long time - in fact, I think I used it in my first ever DT card at Crafty Cardmakers in July 2010. If you're at all interested, the post is here.

Anyway, you can see I've got stitching and gems. What about summer? Well, the summer theme is the butterflies, of course!

Apart from that, all I've added is some matting. I had intended to add some flowers, but when I saw how these elements combined, I decided to leave well alone!

I hope you can join us this fortnight.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 102

This time, our challenge at Crafty Cardmakers was set by Betty, and she's chosen Shabby Chic. Our sponsors are:

See the challenge blog for details.

Now, when I started this, I had no idea what shabby chic meant. (I'm not sure I get it now, either, but I've tried to follow suggestions from my team mates.) I see people using the description about their own creations, and I can't say I've seen a common thread. Some are very heavily embellished and feminine, others much plainer and obviously distressed in some way. But, I decided to set off on a journey of discovery.

My first attempt had me looking through my stamp collection, and I finally came up with this:

I stamped an Inkylicious image with a Big and Juicy Mountain Meadow stamp pad, arranging it so the leaves towards the bottom were green, while the flowers above shaded from blue, through purple to red. I used some cut and dry foam and Ink Dusters to edge and distress the background using the same ink pad. Again using the Mountain Meadow pad, I created a background paper using Ink Dusters and some Tapestry stamps I've had for years but rarely use. I added a couple of lengths of wide lace and put a finished with a punched border top and bottom with added glitter glue.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Happy Campers where they want us to 'show our flowers',
Addicted to Stamps and More where anything goes,
Lady Anne where anything goes,
Brown Sugar where anything goes,




My second attempt uses an image from our sponsor, Milk Coffee.

I coloured the image with Promarkers before cutting it out. The background paper is from my all-time favourite digital set. I've had it for a couple of years now. It's from Panda Bear Designs via the Stitchy Bear shop, and I just love the rainbow shades over beautifully fluffy clouds in this one. I lightly sanded the paper, giving it a slightly scuffed appearance. (I'm not mad about things that look really 'shabby' or 'distressed', so it's fairly subtle.) I gave the image a little shaping before attaching it using glue gel. I created a frame using some lace, and finished with some punched flowers centred with glitter glue.

I hope you can join us this time.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Artistic Impressions where they want us to 'make it girly',
4 Krafty Girlz where anything goes,
My Heart Pieces where anything goes,
Sister Act where anything goes.

One Stitch at a Time Challenge 184

This week at One Stitch at a Time, our challenge is to use a digi. Other than that, anything you like!


Our sponsors this week are:

This week, my image was chosen by my team mate Shell, and it's Window from My Heart Pieces.

I coloured with Promarkers before matting. The paper is from the Papermania Persimmon collection - a really unusual combination of blues browns, golds and oranges. I edged that paper, and some coppery pearlescent paper with a Martha Stewart border punch, and that's it! Another fairly simple design.

I hope you can join us this week.

I'd like to wneter this card into the following challenges:

Creative Craft Challenges where anything goes,
Crafting by Designs where anything goes,
Divas by Design where they want CAS,
Moving Along with the Times where anything goes,
Crafty Catz where anything goes,
Sister Act where anything goes,
Catch the Bug where anything goes,
Paper Creators where  they want dies and punches.

One Stitch at a Time Challenge 183

This week at One Stitch at a Time, our challenge is to make something Autumn-themed. If you're like me, the cooler days (and nights) are very welcome, so thinking about Autumn is very welcome!

Our sponsors this week are:

See the challenge blog for more details.

This week, I worked with an image from Barbara Jensen called Butter Blue, which I decided to colour in Autumn shades instead of blue!

I coloured with Promarkers. The image is cut using a Spellbinders die, and the frame is one of the Fleur de Lis rectangles. The background paper is from the Papermania Persimmon collection, and it's faintly patterned although that doesn't show clearly in the photo. I edged the paper using a Martha Stewart border punch. and mounted everything onto a cream card.

I hope you can join us this week.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Lady Anne where they want 'things with wings',
Digi Makeover where anything goes,
Love to Create where they have a picture for inspiration,
Bearly Mine where anything goes,
Die Cutting Divas where they want Autumn colours,
Party Time Tuesdays where anything goes,
Oldie but a Goodie where they want dies and punches (both the die and punch used in this project are over a year old.)
A Creative Romance where they want winged creations,
2 Sisters where anything goes,
CMC where they want Autumn colours.

One Stitch at a Time Challenge 159

This week at One Stitch at a Time, we want you to create something bright!

Our sponsor this week is:

See the challenge blog for more details.

This week, I chose a set of papers and images from Reese's Scrap Pieces called Sweet Treats. There are digistamps, papers, and pre-coloured images. I chose to use one of the pre-coloured images and a paper to make a birthday card for a colleague who's known for baking.

I printed the image several times, then layered the cake, giving each layer a little shape. I added the sentiment in Photoshop Elements before printing. The die cut is from Spellbinders, and I used a Tonic Border punch. I finished with a little glitter on the cake, and some pretty lace.

I hope you can join us this week.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Card Mania where they want die cuts or punches,
Sparkle and Sprinkle where they want us to use a digital image,
Bearly Mine where anything goes,

A Couple of Birthday Cards

I had to make a couple of cards for upcoming birthdays. The first is for my nephew who's turning 21. He's into bikes, so this decoupage from Imag e nation seemed idea.

I used a small version of the image to tile into a background paper over some Photoshop Elements generated stripes, and a larger version to print onto some shrink plastic. I've personalised the card inside, but won't show because I'm very wary of putting other people's names online. The ribbon is one of those pre-sticky ones from Tiger.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Digital Tuesday where they want something masculine,
LEJ Designs where they want us to 'show us your ribbons',



The second card is for a colleague. I made this one a while ago. While the card was being passed around at work for signatures, one person implied that she'd like to keep the card for herself rather than passing it on. So, her birthday's coming up now, and so I did something similar.

I made it into an 8 by 8 card because these image from the Enchanted Dreams CD are too detailed to print any smaller. The paper is from the CD too, and I've used a Martha Stewart border punch and butterfly dies from Spellbinders, and Marianne. To give them some sparkle, I sprayed the butterflies with Crafter's Companion Spray and Shine in irridescent.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday where the theme is 'Butterfly Kisses',
Creative Moments where they want 'things with wings',
Flutterby Wednesday where it's an open challenge,
Catch the Bug where anything goes,

Getting Started Early

I make a lot of Christmas cards every year - and I'm often asked when I start. The answer is generally, 'Easter!' Since I work in a school, I've normally got a break at this time of year, and many of the other cards I need to make are are normally up to date.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought some bits from a colleague who's giving up her card-making, and among that lot was a Dovecraft Christmas paper pack. It uses a fairly limited range of colours, so I picked out some Promarkers to match, and got stuck in to some colouring. Then, once I had a decent number of images, I assembled.

Last year, I won a few stamps from Whimsy Stamps, and this is one of those. Bearing in mind that I need to post a lot of Christmas cards, I try to keep the designs fairly flat, and I'm finding I prefer fairly simple designs anyway. I edged the image with Distress Ink and I've used dies from Spellbinders and Sizzix as well as some pre-sticky lace from Tiger.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Digi Stamp 4 Joy where anything goes,
Sparkle and Sprinkle where they want a digi image,
Catch the Bug where anything goes,

Another Whimsy Stamps image, again coloured with Promarkers and edged with Distress Ink. I've added a bit of sparkle to her wings with a Sakura Stardust pen. Dies used were by Spellbinders, and the border punches are from Tonic.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
CRAFT where the theme is Christmas,
Creative Moments where they want 'things with wings',
Card Mania where they want die cuts and punches,
Totally Gorjuss where 'anything goes with sparkle',

And a third Whimsy image. Dies and punches from Spellbinders and Tonic.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Forever Friends where they want die cuts/punches,
Whimsy Stamps where the theme is 'Pretty in Pink',
Lacy sunshine where anything goes,

This is a Mo Manning image that was a freebie several years ago. I've used it several times before, but it seemed perfect for this paper which is printed with the names of various Christmas carols and songs. Dies used all from Spellinders.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Bronte and Bella where they want 'Things with Wings',
In the Pink where they want 'things with wings',
Kaboodle Doodles where they want pink,

And finally, an image from Milk Coffee. I've used dies from Spellbinders and Tonic punches as before, as well as an embossing folder from the embossalicious range.

There are a few more that I've made, but they were made for specific DT requirements, so they'll appear in due course.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
ABC Christmas where the theme is 'Girl or Guy',
I Love Promarkers where they want embossing,
Whimsical Designs where they want embossing,
Die Cuttin' Divas where they want pastels,


I may be along later to link to some challenges ...

One Stitch at a Time Challenge 157

This week at One Stitch at a Time, we're celebrating spring. We want to see your spring-themed creations.

We're sponsored by

This week, I worked with an image from one of the newer Stitchy Bear artists - BB Cakes and an image called Flower Boy 1.

I coloured the image with Promarkers and cut and matted it using Nestibilities. The background paper is from Me to You. I border-punched the edge of the paper and a separate piece of blue card using Tonic border punches and finished with some sticky gems.

I hope you can join us this week.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Pause, Dream, Enjoy, where anything goes,
Squigglefly where anything goes,
The Paper Shelter where anything goes,
Simon Says Stamp where anything goes,
A Gem of a Challenge where they want us to 'make it cute',
613 Avenue Create where they want flowers,

Creative Inspirations Ink where anything goes,

Lacy Sunshine where anything goes,

Angels ...

A colleague of mine has a mum who loves angels, and she's got a birthday coming up. As a result (and without too much persuading) I headed over to the Crafts and Me site and picked up a few Sarah Burrier images. I coloured up a couple and took them, along with some other images I had stamped to see what she'd prefer.

The first image is one I've nearly bought many times. I love celtic knotwork, and it's such a pretty image. I printed it a bit smaller than I should have. (I've got a batch of cards that are a bit smaller, and I'm still working out the best size to print.) I coloured with Promarkers and mounted it on some sparkly black card and some pearlescent vellum. The paper is from my stash, and I've added a Spellbinders decorative circle and a doily.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Digi Haven where the theme is 'green',
LEJ Designs where they want 'things with wings,

I love this image. Again, coloured with Promarkers with some glitter added to the wings. I've finished with some borders cut using Tonic punches, and added even more glitter. The paper is from Papermania.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sparkle and Sprinkle where anything goes with gilitter,
Bunny Zoe where they want 'girly',
Tuesday Alchemy where anything goes,

And this is the one she chose! It's a Molly Harrison image from a Crafts and Me stamp. Again, coloured with Promarkers with glitter added to the wings and the star. The background is Coredinations Black Magic which I embossed using an Embossalicious folder and sanded. Although it's not obvious, I also added some glitter to the flower centres to break up the black a bit more. I've used a different pair of Tonic border punches, and finished with some sticky gems.

Fairies and angels are favourites with a number of people I make cards for, so I'm sure the other two won't be around for very long!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts where they want us to 'punch it',
Emerald Faerie where they want bling,
Paper Playtime where anything goes.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 79

This fortnight's challenge at Crafty Cardmakers is an easy one. It's been set by my team mate Betty, and she would like to see something created using at least two punches or die cuts.

We have two sponsors this time. First there's Hobby Art

and also

 (see the Challenge Blog for details of both prizes.)

I was lucky enough to work with an image from our sponsor Milk Coffee. Isn't it sweet? I coloured the image using Promarkers, and added some sparkle with Glamour Dust to the snow falling, and to the ground with a Sakura Stardust pen. I cut the image using a Spellbinders Label die in my wizard, and matted it onto card I cut with the equivalent decorative label - a recent purchase which I think is gorgeous!

The white background card was punched using my Tonic Border system and punch, and the corners of that, and the blue background card were rounded using a punch. I added some Quickie Glue to the snowflakes and sprinkled with Glamour Dust there too.

Hope you can join us this time.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Southern Girls where they want a Christmas project,
Papertake Weekly where anything goes (with an option of Christmas),
Sweet Stamps where the theme is Christmas,
Hooked on Craft where the theme is 'Christmas with no red or green',
Stamping with the Dragon where they want 'Christmas with no red or green',
Delightful Challenges where they want snowflakes,
Paperplay where they want snowflakes,
Dream Valley where anything goes,
Joanna Sheen where the theme is 'Cold and Frosty',
One Stop Craft where anything goes.

A Mega-Card

I've never really been seriously tempted to make big cards before. I usually go for about 6 by 6, or if I want a rectangular format, 5 by 7. Occasionally, I'll do an A5, although I rarely make A6 any more as I just think they look a bit basic. But, a few weeks ago, I bought a CDRom which has had me re-thinking, and when I was at Alexandra Palace a few weeks ago, I bought a pack of 8 by 8 cards. I think I might have to keep stocked up with them, too.

The CDRom is from Joanna Sheen using beautiful artwork from Josephine Wall. There's just so much detail in the images, that it seems mean to print them very small. Having said that I love the images, I've got to say that I'm less impressed with the backing papers supplied. Some are lovely, but some seem a bit insipid compared to the images. The one suggested for this image is very pale and washed out in appearance, and I wasn't sure how well it would work with such a vibrantly coloured image. So, I took a couple of sections of the image, and created a couple of papers by tiling them. The darker paper uses  section of the fairy's wings, while the paler one uses a section of one of the bubbles.

I matted using card from my collection, and edged it with a Martha Stewart punch. The butterflies were made using one of my newer Spellbinders dies - can't remember what it's called, but I love the fact that you've got a lacy version and another that's solid. It's not obvious from the photo, but while the solid butterfly shapes were still in the die, I spritzed with Glimmer Mist in Pearl so they've got a bit of shimmer.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafts and Me where anything goes,
Divas by Design where anything goes,
Simon Says Stamp where they want die cuts or punches,
Creative Craft Challenges where the theme is 'fantasy',
Top Tip Tuesday where they want 'things with wings',
Craft Your Passion where it's 'hit to be square',
Incy Wincy where anything goes,

One Stitch at a Time Challenge 131

This week at One Stitch at a Time, our theme is Autumn. Now, my mind did drift towards autumn colours and leaves, and then it did a right turn and ended up with something rather different. This time last year, our eldest was about to start his first permanent job after graduating from university. I searched for an image suitable for him, and couldn't find anything suitable for the occasion. So, when I saw this image and paper pack from Reece's Scrap Pieces, I thought it'd be perfect for any young woman starting on a professional career this Autumn.

The pack is called 'Business Like' and it's available from the Stitchy Bear shop.

I used two of the papers supplied, and I coloured the image with Promarkers. I used a Tonic border punch (one of the new geared style) and a Nellie Snellen die to cut the image. I added some colour around the image with Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick Distress ink.

Our sponsors this week are:

and

I hope you can join us this week.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Everybody Art where they want pink and black,

Paper Pretties where they want us to use paper punches.

Digi Doodle Shop's Best where anything goes,
My Heart Pieces where anything goes,
Shelly's Images where anything goes,

One Stitch at a Time Challenge 113

This week at One Stitch at a Time, we're challenging you to use your favourite! Doesn't matter what it is, but your creations should include a favourite something.

Our sponsors this week are:

 and

Now, you might recognise the image I chose this week - it's by Barbara Jensen and it's used a lot on the Stitchy Bear  site.

Of course, it looks quite different with different colours ... So, what's my favourite? Well, you've got lots of favourites here - I love colours - the brighter the better - and the best way I know to get them is to use Promarkers so there's two favourites. Then, there's the die cut and punched border. I love the clean look of punches and die cuts. You definitely won't find me tearing paper or distressing the edges unless I'm forced to - it's just not my style.

So, apart from the image and Promarkers, the paper is a Kate Knight design from a Totally Tropical pad, the die is from Nellie Snellen (I think ...) one I've had for a year or so, and the punches are from Tonic.

I hope you can join us this week, and I'm looking forward to seeing your favourites.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Oldie but a Goodie where they want die cuts and punches.
Creative Craft Challenges where anything goes,
Crafts and Me where they want die cuts and punches,
The Paper Shelter where anything goes,
Sweet n Sassy where they want feminine cards,
Crafty Emma where anything goes,

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 66 - Fantasy!

This week at Crafty Cardmakers we want to see your fantastic creations!

Our two fab sponsors are, firstly

CROP STOP

$15 Gift Certificate to the Crop Stop Store

 

and our second sponsor is

DI'S DIGI DOWNLOADS

$10 Gift Voucher

 It's probably not surprising that I decided to get out one of my Ching Chou Kuik Sweet Pea stamps. I used Promarkers to colour the image, and then decided to use one of my recent purchases. When I was at the Stitch and Craft show at Olympia a few weeks ago, I bought some Tonic border punches. These are the 'geared' punches and they are definitely easier to use than normal types. They're supposed to be able to cope with up to 300gsm card, although I haven't tried them with anything that heavy yet. I used both of a 'pair' I chose - one cuts only one edge, while the other cuts both to create a strip.

To finish, I've added some flowers from my embellishments box - and they've all been in that box for at least a couple of years!

On the subject of the Stitch and Craft show, I've got to say, I was disappointed. I've gone to that show on and off for years - first for stitching goodies, and later for the papercrafting things. This year, they decided to reorganise, and the papercrafting goods were moved from the first floor to the basement, with knitting taking over the first floor and stitching, as usual, on the ground floor. This meant that there was far less room for papercrafts, and I got the impression there were only about a quarter of the exhibitors that there would usually be. There were also far fewer visitors - whether that's because of the recession or because some papercrafters got wind of being edged out, I don't know. It's sad because this is the only really 'local' show around here. Alexandra Palace and Stevenage are the next two, but neither is easy by public transport - Olympia is a doddle from here. I may yet be forced into travelling to NEC!

Hope you can join us this week.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Use it Tuesday where they want flowers,

Sassy Cheryl where anything goes, 

Crafty Creations where they want flowers,

Paperplay where they want things with wings,

Prairie Fairy where anything goes,

Totally Papercraft where they want things with wings,

Paper Sundaes where anything goes,

Stamptacular Sunday where anything goes,

The Squirrel and the Fox where they want things with wings.

One Stitch at a Time Challenge 106

This week at One Stitch at a Time, our challenge is very easy - just use a digi!

Our sponsors this week are

who is offering a £10 voucher for her store. To be eligible for this prize, you must use an image/paper from Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps.

But, don't worry if you want to use something else - there's still a chance to win the runner up prize of a voucher from the Stitchy Bear shop!

This week, I had an image set from Digi Blessings called Flower Girl. There are actually four images in the pack, there's the girl, the table and the large flower as well as a pre-coloured version of the girl. I combined all the uncoloured images to produce my card.

First, I had to alter the png images so that the insides of the pictures weren't transparent, but white. I did that in Photoshop Elements. Then, I sized and placed the images as I wanted them. I used the flower at a range of sizes, and created a partial frame. I printed out the main image, along with three extra copies of the largest flower. I coloured everything with Promarkers, then layered the large flower. I cut a mat using a Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page set, and added the result to white card.

The result is a lot simpler than my usual style, but I didn't think it needed anything else.

Hope you can join us this week.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
House of Gilli where the theme is 'spring',
Going Grey with Scrap Creations where they want flowers,
Sassy Cheryl where they want us to 'think spring',
Crazy Amigos where the theme is 'spring',
My Mum's Craft Shop where they want us to 'go digital',
Whimsy Stamps where anything goes,
Poodles Parlour where anything goes,
Stamping for the Weekend where anything goes,
Pattie's Creations where anything goes.

A Variation on that New Stamp!

A couple of weeks ago, I showed off a new stamp that I'd bought. Well, I've had another play, and come up with something a little different.

 

As you may have guessed, it's impossible to photograph this card straight on!

I stamped the image in Memento ink in brown, then coloured it with Promarkers. I cut the image panels apart, then mounted them on bronze card, using Papermania background paper, and finished the inside with cream card edged with a Punch Around the Page set from Martha Stewart.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly where anything goes,
Craft Your Passion where anything goes,
My Craft Spot where it's 'for the birds',
Crafty Catz where they want us to use punches and dies,
Sparkles Forum where they want things with wings,
Do You Stack Up where they want things with wings,

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 58

This challenge at Crafty Cardmakers has been set by Tracy, and she wants us to use the same stamp/image three different ways. It could be the background, main image and a tag to match for example. (ie Christmas Wrapping Paper, Greeting Card and Gift Tag). Using different colourways is another way, and that's what I chose to do.

 

 The flower stamp was a Craft Stamper freebie a while ago. I stamped it using a Big and Juicy pad in Mountain Meadow, using three different areas of the pad. I layered two of the flowers, and finished all three with sticky gems. I shaded the background with the same ink pad, applying the ink with an Ink Duster. Then, I kept things fairly simple - some matting, velour ribbon and a Martha Stewart border punch.

Our sponsor this time is Joanna Sheen who's offering a £10 voucher to the lucky winner.

Hope you can join us this time!

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Paper Creations where they want us to 'bling it up',

Samuel Taylor's Challenge where anything goes,

Corrosive Challenges where they want anything but Christmas.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 56

This time at Crafty Cardmakers, we want you to recycle something! It can be a box or container, or even something you add as an embellishment, so long as it's recycled. And make sure to mention what's been recycled too!

I decided to make something other than a card this time, and found a sturdy little box which originally had some jewellery in it. It was rather plain, except for the manufacturer's logo on the lid, so I decided to convert it for Christmas.

And, for a better view of the top,

The papers are from a recent Crafts Beautiful freebie, and I've added some ribbon, some mirror board cut with a Martha Stewart border punch, and a poinsettia cut with a Marianne Creatable die set in my Wizard. Unfortunately, I wasn't convinced I'd be successful, so I didn't take a photo of it in its original state.

It's a nice, solid little box, and I suspect I'll fill it with tablet as a gift, once I've made the tablet, that is!

Hope you can join us this time.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Top Tip Tuesday where it's 'anything goes Christmas'
Mami Doodles where the theme is Christmas,
Wags 'n Whiskers where the theme is Christmas
Totally Gorjuss where the theme is Christmas Traditions,
Pile it On where they want Traditional Christmas,
Karen's Doodles where they want anything but a card.

One Stitch at a Time Challenge 88

This week at One Stitch at a Time, we're challenging you to put your colours out of sight, and stick to Black and White!

If you want to enter this challenge, and need an image, head over to Stitchy Bear because there's a huge range of lovely silhouettes over there that would be perfect! I chose to use one of Stitchy's own silhouettes, or to be more exact, a set of two of them called Snow Angels.

Isn't that a pretty image? I added the words and made the background paper in Photoshop Elements, then printed and added some detail with Glamour Dust. I sprayed both the black and white card I used with Crafter's Companion Spray and Sparkle in irridescent, and embossed the white using a Papermania embossing folder. I cut the black border using the Tonic border punch system and a couple of punches and finished it with some clear sticky gems.

 And here's the second image, along with the rest of my sentiment. I put the insert together in Photoshop Elements.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Heartsong Inspirations where anything goes,
House of Gilli where the theme is monochromatic,
Stamps Plus Fun Equals Creativity where the theme is winter,
Papertake Weekly where the theme is 'First Christmas',
Top Tip Tuesday where it's 'anything goes Christmas'
Delightful Challenges where they want snowflakes,
Wags 'n Whiskers where the theme is Christmas.



Our sponsors for this challenge are Stamping Boutique,

and  I was lucky enough to get one of their images to work with too. It's called Smoochie the Fashionista.

I was worried at first, as this didn't seem to me to be the sort of image I'd choose for a black and white challenge, but I decided to have a go and was very pleased with how it turned out. I've coloured the images with Promarkers, using only black and various greys. I reinforced the white spots with a Sakura Souffle pen in white, and added some sparkle with a Sakura Stardust pen. I cut the image with a Nellie Snellen die, and added embellishments die cut with a couple Marianne dies I bought recently. The papers are from a CD called Flower Power.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges;
Digital Tuesday Challenge where anything goes,
Crafty Catz where they want a digital image,
2 Sisters where anything goes,
Stamptacular Sunday where they want a punch or die to be used,
Paper Sundaes where they want digital images.

And then I thought I'd have another go but use some skin tones this time.

This time, I used some paper I designed in Photoshop Elements, Promarkers, Sakura Souffle pen, some oval nesties, and Spellbinders borderabilities.

I hope you can join us!