CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge for June.

What a busy month May has been! Sorry for my lack of posts but I was really really busy making party decorations for little girls... I should start posting some of them here on the blog too!

 

Anyways, June 1 means a new CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge!

 

This is my card:

 

 

I used Have a 'Beary' Sweet Day digi stamp from Gerda Steiner and papers from Docrafts. A little card for a super-sweet friend!

 

Have a look at all the lovely cards made by our DT: you can find them all here!

 



CraftyHazelunt's Christmas Challenge Extra for June - Mid-Month Inspiration.

Welcome to our mid-month inspiration for CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.

 

As usual, I chose a digi image from our sponsor, Bugaboo Stamps:

 

 

It's called Christmas Bear Trio (at the moment is not yet available in the new shop). I colored it with Copics and glitter and positioned it on patterned papers.

Three wooden buttons decorate the card.

 

Have a look here in our blog to see all the cards our DT made for this mid-month and don't forget we're halfway through Christmas!



Hello Friend!

Hello firends!

 

I'm here today for my monthly card for the April Challenge over at Gerda Steiner Designs!

 

This month we have this cute Pen Pal Bear for our projects!

 

This is my card:

 

 

I used papers from Peebles. The sentiment is also from the same paper pad.

The bear is colored with Copics.

 

A sweet little card for the sweetest of friends!

 

I'd like to enter the following challenges.

Gerda Steiner April Challenge

Crafty Friends Challenge # 56: Anything Goes

CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge: Anything Goes with Patterned Paper

 

Christmas Card Challenge # 5 - Snow.

Happy Sunday!

Welcome to a new Christmas Card Challenge!

 

This week we have a word prompt for you: SNOW!

 

 

This is my card:

 

I chose Snow Time Bear from 2CuteInk and colored it with Copics and lots of glitter!

Background paper is from DCWV.

 

Although we are freezing here in my hometown, we haven't seen snow yet and I miss it a bit!

 

Have a look here to see if you're a winner and, of course, to be inspired by our DT's creations for this new challenge!

 

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round January Challenge: Add Snowflakes

Sparkles Christmas Challenge # 72: Lots of Glitter

Rudolph Days January Challenge: Christmas



Sweet Bears.

One of the things I wrote in my new year resolutions was to use as many stamps from my stash as possible.

I found lovely little stamps in a magazine a looong ago, perfect for various occasions and I realized I could make the cutest tags ever!

 

This is the first set:

 

For a baby girl:

 

 

and for a baby boy:

 

I love this little bear with its smiling face!

Simply colored with a touch of Copics and mounted on pink or light blue punched cardstock with matching bows.

Very sweet!!

 

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting from the Heart Challenge # 106: Anything Goes

Crafty Friends Challenge # 28: Anything Goes

In The Pink Challenge # 91: Dies and/or Punches

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge # 31: Anything Goes

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge # 272: Anything Goes

 

These tags are for sale in my Etsy shop. If you are interested, please contact me and I'll be happy to help!



CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Card Challenge extra for January - Mid-month Inspiration.

Believe it or not, we're already on January 15!

 

And mid-month means some great inspiration from the CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra DT!

 

This is my card:

 

 

I've chosen this adorable Candy Cane Bear from our great sponsor, Bugaboo Stamps, colored with Copics and tons of glitter and mounted on a paper from Cartabella.

 

Isn't it sweet?

 

My teamies have prepared some great cards to inspire you, have a look here and start working on your first Christmas cards for 2016!

 

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

ABC Christmas Challenge: A is for Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge # 176: Anything Goes

Create and Inspire Challenge # 37: Anything Goes

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge # 260: Anything Goes

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up: Anything Goes



C.R.A.F.T. Challenge # 333 - Christmas.

I'm late again, I'm sorry but this morning I left too early to write a post and I've just come back home.

 

Well, this week we have a Christmas challenge here at C.R.A.F.T.!

 

This is my card:

 

 

I used this adorable bear digi stamp from Stitchy Bear Stamps: it's called Cartoon Polar Bear Holding a Gift colored with Copics and glitter. The background paper is from Bella Boulevard.

 

Did you play with us last week? Have a look here to see if you're one of our winners!

 

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting From the Heart Challenge # 81: Anything Goes

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for October: Anything Goes

CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge for October: Anything Goes

 

 

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge # 303 - Mother's Day/Female.

Good morning!

Ready for a new C.R.A.F.T. Challenge?

 

We have a very sweet theme for you this week: Mother's Day or Female.

 

Today it's Father's Day here in Italy and there are a couple of months before Mother's Day so there's plenty of time to create cards for our mums!

 

This is mine for today:

 

 

This cute bear is Kiki Bloom from Little Miss Muffet, colored with Copics and mounted on a dotted card from Ikea.

My mum loves flowers, she has just bought me some pansies and I'm can't wait to bring them home!

 

Have a look here to see the winners and Top 3 for challenge # 302 and don't forget to have a look at all the beautiful cards from the DT!

It's Time for a new Freebie from 2 Cute Ink!

Have you registered for the 2 Cute Ink Newletter?

 

Each month you' ll receive a freebie!

 

This is the one for February:

 

 

Isn't it the cutest bear on the block?

 

For me, it was perfect for tags to be added to flowers or tied to a gift:

 

Pretty pink striped paper (from Pink Petticoat), some ribbon (one of my fav) and of course, the shamrock bear!

 

For a closer look:

 

Remember: to have this cute February freebie it's enough to join 2 Cute Ink newsletter. 

For even more inspiration, have a look here on 2 Cute Ink Facebook page!

 

 

 



C.R.A.F.T. Challenge # 290 - New.

Hello!

Are you ready for a new C.R.A.F.T. Challenge?

 

This week the theme is very exciting: let's celebrate something NEW!

A new baby, a new job, a new home and, of course, the new year if you're still in the holidays mode!

For me it was healthy to make something different from a Christmas card and I opted to celebrate a new baby:

 

 

My image comes from Inky Impressions and is called Lizzie's Bundle of Joy.

Papers are from First Edition.

Aren't they cute?

 

Click here to check all the fab cards made by the DT this week!

I can't wait to see what you create!

 

I'd like to enter the following challenge:

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge # 208: Anything Goes

Sentimental Sundays Challenge # 237: Anything Goes



Pink, Brown & White at Christmas Card Challenges.

Although I like unusual color combos for my Christmas cards, I wasn't too happy when I read I had to use Pink, Brown and White to make my DT card for this week's challenge at Christmas Card Challenges.

The only thing I managed to think about was a dog or a bear stamp I could paint brown... yes, not very original.

I ended up with two digis painted brown with pink and white accents and I asked my daughter to choose the best one for a Christmas card:

This digi is again from the CIJ 2013 set from Doodle Dragon Studios, a real mine for Christmas images with cute animals!

A kraft card and some light brown, pink and white details here and there and the card was done.

I actually love this color combo!
I didn't add too many embellishments because I wanted to make a card suitable for boys too. Do you think that the pink accents are too many for a male card?

Have a look at my fellow DT cards, you'll certainly get plenty of inspiration!

Alanna

Anne C

Heather

Jenn

Jovita

Karen

Margo

Sabrina

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Chistmas Challenge #146: Make It Square
Bearly Mine Challenge #107: Ribbon/String/Twine
Stampin for the Weekend Challenge: Anything Goes
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' Challenge: Cards for the Men
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra: Anything Goes

I'm Not Happy...

The ends of summer brings the beginning of the new soccer season, a thing I'm definitely not happy about.

It means that most Sunday afternoon are spent at home because my husband has to watch his fav team. Of course, sometimes my daughter and I do something else but I have to plan our weekends carefully.

In addition, we live near the stadium so when our local team plays at home, I have to plan invitations and car trips.

Despite my dislike of soccer, I've just finished a card with soccer as a theme:

I've used a Crafter's Companion stamp from the Mulberry Wood collection and colored it with Copics. I wanted a fresh look for these cute bears and this striped paper printed from a Pink Petticoat set is just perfect! It reminds me of summer days gone by...

I was inspired from lots of challenges this time:

Ready Teddy Go Challenge # 26: Summer Days

Crafty Calendar Challenge: Going on a Bear Hunt

The Cutie Pie Challenge # 53: A Cute One for the Boys

Crafty Caz Weekly Challenge # 198: Men's / Boys'

Creative InspirationsChallenge # 232: Clean & Simple

Love to Create Challenge # 83: Clean N Simple

Bunny Zoe Craft September Challenge: Something Blue

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge # 48: Anything Goes

No Embellishments??!

When I read the theme for this fortnight challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge I was pretty sure I wouldn't have entered.

No embellishments? How can I make a card without a little pearl, a shiny rhinestone or a lovely ribbon?

Then, while planning my future DT cards, I had a few ideas and this is the card:

I've used one of my treasured cards from Lasting Impressions with this lovely embossed border. Then, I've glued the image from Meljen's Designs colored with Copics in the middle of the card with a sweet sentiment.

Clean and simple, even without embellishments!

This card is for the following challenges:

ABC Christmas Challenge: N is for No Embellishments

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge # 133: Trees

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for July: Christmas

FAb'n'Funky Challenge # 179: Christmas in July

Inky Impressions Challenge # 116: Christmas in July

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge # 215: 11th of July Christmas

Paper Crafting Journey Challenge: Christmas in July

Cards for Boys - Part 1

I'm still pretty busy with commissions and I've just finished a couple of cards for a sweet lady who wanted cards for boy.

It's quite strange but cards for boy are rarely in my cards-to-do list, I always think about girly card, even when I make Christmas or Halloween cards.

This is one of the tow boy cards:

This image is Pilot Ted from Di's Digi Downloads and I think it's perfect for a sweet little boy!

I've treated myself with several Di's Digis in this period because I've had several commissions for Christening cards and her images are lovely!

I've used a very very old paper: I bought it so many years ago... I think it's from an Italian company but I'm not sure.

I slightly modified the digi stamp and put flags in the bear's hands instead of the bunch of flowers it came with.

I had some time this morning to check if there was a challenge to enter my card and luckily enough I can enter two:

Di's Digi Designs Challenge: Animals acting like People

and

Cards for Men Challenge # 20: Animal Magic

See you later for my second boy card!

Animal Antics.

A few days ago I decided to make something different out of one of my favourite stamps and opted for a small recipe notebook.

Here's what I created:

A sweet little spiral notebook with this adorable stamp from Lili of the Valley, sweet papers and lots of ribbons!

It's not the first time I color this stamp and I'm still in love with it, it's so sweet and the faces of these two little animals are so cute!

I decided to enter this creation in Lili of the Valley Challenge # 95 where the theme is "Animal Antics".

I should make one of these notebooks for my recipes, maybe I'd cook with a bit more enthusiasm...

Masculine colors.

I'm busy with a custom order, preparing decorations for a little girl's birthday and surrounded by pinks, pastel colors, glitter and by everything girly.

But...

...this week I WANTED to enter a card in Dustin Pike Challenge so I put girly things aside (I'm waiting for a new punch I've just ordered to make my decorations) and finish my new card:

I chose masculine colors: I started painting the digi and then looked through my stash of papers and found this set which I thought it was perfect for the look I had in mind.

This month Dustin Pike celebrates his blogiversary so the theme is birthday. I added a gift in the bear's hands with a little bow which maybe is not too visible in the picture. The look in the frog's eyes is just perfect: as a child in front of his presents!

I love Dustin Pike's images and I'm so sorry I've probably lost some retired images... I love his frogs and monkeys!

Well, fingers crossed new images will be posted so I can play with them!

This card will be entered in the following challenges:

Dustin Pike Challenge - It's a Party!

Karens Doodles Challenge - Happy Birthday

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge # 147 - All Creatures Great and Small

Happy Birthday Dustin Pike!

Relax...

One of my recent passions are stamps from Lili of the Valley. In particular, I love their bears and I treated myself with two stamps just before Christmas.

They are ADORABLE, the image is perfect once stamped, with many details, big enough for a card...

And I couldn't help but treating myself with another couple of stamps...

In particular, the one I'm about to show you has a long story.

I first saw it on a lovely card sold by an Etsy seller: I loved the little bear and how the card was made and I decided to buy it (well, yes, strange enough for someone who makes cards... but I love to send cards to my mom and I often buy them around the world).

Several months later, I decided that I had to have that stamp and here's my card:

Of course, I'm entering this card in the Lili of the Valley Challenge # 88.

They gave us this sketch to follow:

I'd really love to have time to sit down and relax like this bear is doing...

Some Sweetness...

This afternoon I'm having a couple of hours "just for me" and Custom orders being in stan-by, I've decided to make a card with a sweet image I painted some time ago.

This is the card:

This lovely little bear is a stamp from Lili of the Valley: I stamped it with black ink onto ivory paper decorated with light blue dots. As usual, I colored her with watercolor pencils and - stange enough for me and for such a girly card - I did not use glitter on her.

As for the papers, the little rose paper is a digi file Ive just bought from a lovely Etsy shop: MariekeVDesign, the other papers are from DCWV (the blue one is glittered!!!) and the gingham paper is from Wild Rose Studio.

The lovely rose... well, I don't know, I've just found a box full of flowers, saved from very old projects or from... who remembers? But I love to be able to find something old, unused but useful!

Of course, this is a sketch card. Here's the sketch:

It's from my beloved Sweet Sketch Challenge # 91 and I'm so happy I've managed to enter: last week I missed it and I was really sad. Although their sketches are really challenging, I love to enter a card and I have so much fun while trying the best matches to be used on my card.

I'm also entering this card to another lovely challenge: Incy Wincy Designs Challenge # 84: they ask for pastel colors, so I think this card is just perfect!

Well, my "just for me" time is over, time to be a mom again...

What a Warm Surprise... And a GREAT Surprise!

I've been buried at home since Tuesday when the school called to pick my daughter up because she had headache. These last few days have been so sunny and I really longed to breath some fresh air.

This afternoon I went to the doctor's and... it was WARM! Well, not warm as it's in spring but not so cold as I expected looking from the window with snow still melting along the streets. It was sunny and I didn't shiver!

Before going out, I finished and took the photo this WINTER card: it's been made to enter Pollycraft Challenge where the request was Brrrr... baby it's cold outside. I wanted to stop making either Valentine or Winter cards but this little bear is too lovely to remain in the computer until next year!

The image is from Pollycraft and he is the sweet Cuthbert skiing. I painted it with watercolor pencils and added lots of glitter!

The card is from DCWV and the paper... I'm sorry I don't remember. I bought it from the UK together with other paper scraps and I cannot tell which brand it is.

Although I don't love Winter, winter cards love me, in fact... I've just discovered that my Winter card was chosen as Top Three in last week's Incy Wincy Design Challenge. This is my second winter card chosen as Top Three and I'm so happy!!! As soon as I've finished this post I'll put my new badge on the sidebar!

Thank you for choosing my card!

Hearts...

With my daughter at home with a headache, I had a bit more crafting time. She loves to sit next to me to draw, paint or read and she wants me to sit down and craft!

Thanks to these bonus few hours I've had I managed to finish a card just in time to enter a Challenge which closes tomorrow. I planned to do it a few days ago but I didn't manage to finish it until this morning!

Here's my card:

I've used a lovely freebie from Meljen Designs at Whimsy Stamps and it's perfect for this challenge and for Valentine's Day.

I painted it using watercolors and adding rhinestone hearts and a heart die cut.

I've used a clear stamp from Lawn Fawn for the sentiment and to make the drawing pin, a pearl and a dotted satin ribbon.

I will enter this card to:

http://meljensdesignsdt.blogspot.com/2011/01/challenge-43-and-new-release.html: they ask to use hearts. I'm really happy I've managed to enter this challenge using a Meljen's digi. She is so nice and sweet, she has freebies every week and of course, she has lovely images!

There is another challenge asking for hearts:

http://bee-crafty.blogspot.com/2011/01/challenge-47-hearts-winner-of-46.html

I would have loved to enter this Challenge with one of their digis and I'm working on it so I'll probably enter it twice, later this month.

Ooohhh, I love to enter challenges!