Birthday chicks

It's been a really yeuch rainy day today and now it's blowing a gale.  Definitely not gardening weather, more like a lazy sofa day looking out at the weeds ;)

I've been trying to re-ink some of my older stamps, and this Penny Black kitty was the first one to come out when I had a lucky dip into my box of stamps.  I've also used up some DP that's been sitting in my pile for ages ... it was a tight squeeze getting my diecuts from the scabby wee bit of dotty DP but I just made it and no more!

Penny Black Saturday February - hearts
613 Avenue Create #112 - birthday
Simon Says Stamp Monday - no rules
Layout from Papertake Weekly - take your pick - I used the sketch
Tuesday Throwdown #233 - anything goes
Penny's Challenge #216 - lots of layers
Cute Card Thursday #362 - fancy corners

High Hopes: Bunny with Tulip

Happy Monday peeps!  It's my day for posting over at the High Hopes blog :)

My card today uses Bunny with Tulip - isn't she a cutie!  She'd be perfect for Easter cards, but I've used her today on a Thank You card.
I've coloured her with my watercolour pencils and then used a pale grey marker to dot round my image.  I paper pieced my scarf as I didn't have any colours to match my DP, and then added clear gloss and glitter to the tulip.

Hope you're playing along with our Anything High Hopes Goes challenge this month - there's a free digi over at the blog if you haven't got any stamps, and there's 2 new stamps up for grabs :)

Other challenges...
Layout from Sketch Saturday #349
Sweet Stampin - spring flowers
CRAFT #299 - clean and simple
Addicted to Stamps #132 - make your mark
Penny Black and More February - make your mark
Creative Knockouts #77 - spots and dots
Simon Says Stamp Monday - no rules

Purrrfect Birthday

Well Spring isn't quite here yet ... after our lovely weekend last week, our weather didn't know if it was coming or going today between sleet and sunshine!  My snowdrops are out though, and it'll not be long before the daffodils are out too :)

I know it's not so long since I used this image ... I need to tidy up my table, she's just too handy to lift!
Coloured with watercolour pencils, clear gloss added to the cats' noses and then glitter added to the pompoms of her hat.

• Layout from Tiddly Inks #151
• Seize the Birthday - hearts +/or arrows
• Cute Card Thursday #361 - floral delight
• Top Tip Tuesday - rubber stamps only
• Creative Card Crew #81 - birthday with a sentiment
• Bunny Zoe's Crafts February - for the girls
• Dream Valley #100 - fave colour combo (pink and blue)

Blue Sympathy

Just a quickie post tonight ... the Comic Relief bake off is on and its usually a laugh, though you always end up hungry and looking in the cupboard for something nice!


I've no sympathy cards in my stash ... this image seems to be a 'go to' one for sympathy cards and it also seems to be turning in to a bit of a 'go to' sketch too!

Image from Whipper Snapper - coloured with watercolour pencils.  Old Cuttlebug embossing folder and silver peel offs from my stash.

• Layout flipped from Monday Lunchtime #354
• Creative Knockouts #76 - floral delight
• Simply Create Too #79 - anything goes

High Hopes: Hopeful Ant

Happy Monday peeps!
It's my day for posting over at High Hopes blog :)

Did you know that you can now help yourself to a free High Hopes digi of their famous ant?  You'll find him by clicking on the tab at the top of High Hopes blog

So if you haven't got any High Hopes stamps (or just haven't got this one!) feel free to use him to play along in this month's Anything High Hopes Goes challenge ... the winner gets 2 stamps of their choice :)

I've used the stamp version of this digi ... Hopeful Ant.  I've coloured him with my much loved Derwent Inktense pencils to match my scrap of DP.  Orange gems from stash.

Other Challenges:
Simply Create Too 79 - anything goes
CAS-ual Fridays CFC136 - watercolour
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - all creatures great and small
As You Like It - favourite CAS or fussy - I definitely prefer to make CAS cards, I've tried 'fussy' but mine always look rubbish!
Addicted to Stamps #131 - anything goes

Greg's Valentine Card

Happy St. Valentine's Day!  No romantic meal for 2 for me ... we were at a 5 year old's birthday party with chocolate cake and pass-the-parcel instead ... much better craic :)

Anyway this is the card I made for my other half.  As you know I'm not into 'mushy' cards, and had half an idea knocking about my head for a few days to use this little alien and that sentiment.   I had intended to stamp my sentiment on the moon, but I forgot myself and embossed my circles before I remembered.  Not to worry, I love how it turned out!

Alien from High Hopes - Alien Special Set
Moon from Paper Smooches - Smarty Pants
Sentiment from The Alley Way Stamps - More than Words
All coloured with watercolour pencils.  White paint splattered on BG and a few starry gems added. I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the moon using an old Ellison Design folder.

Stamping Sensations February - anything goes
Stamp and Create February - all you need is love
Crafty Cardmakers #132 - love love love
Papertake Weekly - hearts +/or flowers
Crafty Catz #266 - for the boys
Sweet Stampin' - inspired by a song ... well what about Frank Sinatra and "Fly me to the Moon" :)
Allsorts #298 - any occasion other than Birthday
Penny's challenge #214 - embossing
Tuesday Throwdown #231 - love is in the air
Cuttlebug Mania - I {heart} you
The Alley Way Stamps February - anything goes (I'm not sure if my card qualifies or not as I've used other manufacturers too)

Card for Alexandra #2

This card's for my Mum to give to my niece .. she was a St. Valentine's Day baby so of course I had to include a few hearts!
Image from Lili of the Valley - I think this one is possibly my favourite LOTV stamp :)  Coloured with watercolour pencils.

Layout from The Challenge #24
Papertake Weekly - hearts and flowers
Sweet Stampin - add a heart
A Gem of a Challenge #137 - lots of layers
Stamping Sensations February - anything goes

High Hopes: Beary Wishes

I'm posting for Monday Funday over at High Hopes blog today :)

Our February challenge is
Anything Goes
and it runs through to Monday March 2nd, so there's plenty of time to play along for the chance to win 2 stamps of your choice.  If you don't have any HH stamps, there's a free digi you can play with over at the blog.

My card today uses Beary Wishes from  High Hopes latest release.  I've coloured her with watercolour pencils and then popped up the bear and balloons on dimensionals.
I used my Cuttlebug to cut my new birthday sentiment die from Simon Says Stamp.
I also chalked in a few clouds in the background and stamped a few hearts.  Other than that, nice and simple, and bonus points for a flat card and cheap postage :)

Other challenges:
Sweet Stampin - add a heart
Crafty Catz #265 - birthday
Sister Act Card Challenge #92 - anything goes
Cuttlebug Mania - add a heart
Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Alexandra's Birthday card

It's been a funny old day today ... lots of fog and a little bit of sunshine.  But it definitely feels like Spring will soon be on its way ... the daffodils have their heads up out of the ground and the birds this evening were in full song at sunset.  (our snow is long gone thank goodness!)

This card is for my niece ... I can hardly believe she's gonna be 5 already!
I've used my new stamp from Tiddly Inks - coloured with watercolours and clear gloss added to the kitty balloon.  Black sparkly peeloffs from stash.

• Layout from Splitcoaststampers SC526 
• Less is More - pink and grey
• Penny Black and More February - anything goes
• Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Home Sweet Home

I was lucky enough to win a recent Sketch Saturday challenge, and the prize was a voucher to Simon Says Stamp.  This pretty heart border die was one of the goodies I picked :)
My image is an older SSS stamp - coloured with watercolour pencils.  I kinda stamped it a tad wonky, so it looks like there's a bit of subsidence LOL ;)  Door and windows popped up on dimensionals.

#simonsaysstamp

• Layout from Sweet Sunday #255
• 613 Avenue Create #110 - anything goes / colour bingo - I've managed to use most of the colours on the grid except purple!
• CAS-ual Fridays CFC136 - watercolour
• Simply Create Too #78 - Valentine or Hearts
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - H is for ... Hearts and Home

90th Birthday card

Oh yawn, I'm pooped tonight ... my eyes are sooooo tired, doesn't help that my daytime lamp has stopped working (hopefully it just needs a new bulb) and I think I need to go get my eyes tested too!
I was asked to make this card weeks ago, but of course I've left it till the last minute as per usual.  I had a couple of empty spaces in the top and bottom right corners and had embellies / flowers / corner dies / bling on and off like a yoyo but nothing looked right, so I've just gone with these little butterflies.  Their wings are slightly popped up in real life so I don't think they look as wishy washy as they do here.  I still think it needs 'something' but I haven't a clue what.  It will have to do!
Favourite flower stamp from Whipper Snapper - coloured with watercolour pencils.  Silver peel off letters from stash.

Sketch Saturday #346 - choice of sketch - I used #230, though I had to change the sentiment position as it was too big
Allsorts #296 - flower power
Clear it Out - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - all things bright and beautiful
Fab'n Funky #245 - hearts and/or flowers

High Hopes: Brutus

Time for our new challenge over at High Hopes, and we've changed things up ... every challenge is now Anything Goes and now lasts for a month.  Don't have any High Hopes stamps?  There's a free digi over on the blog, so help yourself and play along for the chance to win a new stamp of your choice :)

My card uses an older stamp, Brutus - coloured with watercolour pencils.  I also had a go at slightly shading my sky/grass with my pencils.
Silver bone charm and metallic silver bling from stash.  Clear gloss added to his nose and glitter to the dog tag.

Other challenges
Crazy for Challenges #271 - make it masculine
Sister Act #91 - anything goes
Seize the birthday - anything goes
As You Like It - Matt or Shiny - I like a bit of shine and sparkle to accent my cards so I'm definitely a Shiny girl!
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes

Happy Fourth Anniversary Paper Smooches!

If you're a fan of Paper Smooches stamps, they have a great giveaway on their blog for their Anniversary of a $50 shopping spree.  Now I'd love to win that!!

Chicken Party

I've only just realised that I've used another chicken stamp this evening. Ha!

This one is an oldie from Penny Black -  don't know why I don't use it more as I always love it!  Coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss added to their beaks.  Sentiments from The Alley Way Stamps.

Layout from Sweet Sunday #254
613 Avenue Create #109 - use some doodling
Penny Black Saturday - January - something new (my DP)
Stamping Sensations - February - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge - February
Seize the Birthday - anything goes

Cluck Cluck

I had a day off work today and it was too cold to go anywhere, other than a wee walk in the snow with Rubydoo this morning, so instead I did some Spring cleaning and then got crafty :)

This card uses my new stamp set from The Alley Way Stamps.  I seem to have a thing for chicken stamps, how cute is this one!
Coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss added to his eyes and beak, and then paper pieced his legs and comb.  Tag popped up on dimensionals.

Layout from Mojo Monday #383
The Alley Way Stamps February
A Gem of a Challenge #137 - lots of layers
Creative Knockouts #74 - animal antics
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - take your pick - I used the warm colour theme