Hidden Word challenge and Xmas card #2!

I saw this beautiful card over on my buddy Cheryl's blog, so thought I'd have a go.  The technique was last week's option on Darnell's NBUS challenge.  My unused shtuff was my new Penny Black image; and also this StickIt adhesive sheets which made sticking down the sentiments a bit handier - don't know if I'd rush back to buy more though!

My card was a quickie - well, when I say quickie, the background and colouring took a matter of minutes.  The sentiment a lot longer!!!  I love how it turned out though, even if it was a bit of a faff!

• NBUS challenge #10 
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Crafty Creations #333 - anything goes
• Penny Black Saturday January - anything goes

This Christmas one was inspired by this week's Featured Stamper over at Splitcoast - here's Carolyn's lovely original.

I won this lovely stamp recently over at the Pixie's Snippets Playground challenge, so this is it's first inking.  I think next time I'll use black embossing for it.  I added a wee touch of colour to match my twine and also highlights of sparkle - this one had loads of black and hints of blue in it so it was perfect for my colour theme.

• ABC Christmas - A is for anything goes and B is for blue
• Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday December - use something new (my stamp)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge #318 - anything goes

Balloons and stars

We had a beautiful bright sunny day today, spring is on it's way for sure :)  I actually got out to the garden this morning, despite the heavy frost, and got some of the old stuff pulled out and leaves lifted so it's looking a bit tidier and now I can actually see my bulbs with their heads up.

This might or might not be Greg's birthday card, I'm not sure if it turned out a bit too girly?  If I get a chance I might have another go.
I've used an ooold Penny Black stamp - coloured with watercolour pencils and popped up on dimensionals.  Clear gloss added to the balloons and sparkle to the purple dots on his shorts.

• Layout from CAS(e) this sketch #296
• Creative Inspirations #267 - cute critters
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Penny Black Saturday January - anything goes
• Less is More #313 - balloons

This one uses no stamping (other than the sentiment) and I've actually managed not to use ink splatters on it LOL.  I hadn't intended to use so many little silver sequins but I'd a couple of gluey marks that needed hiding ;)  Stripey stars popped up on dimensionals.  Dienamics star dies.

• Layout from Freshly Made Sketches #272
• Crafting when we can #136 - spots and stripes
• Creative Knockouts #178 - in stitches
• Tuesday Throwdown #327 - anything goes

Spring flowers calendar

Well I hadn't decided what to spend my $50 winnings on at Simon Says Stamp until I made this card.  I made a hash of stamping the yellow flowers and had to stamp them again over the top, so my winnings are going on one of the new Tim Holtz stamping platforms!  Well I always figure a 'present' should be something you would never buy yourself, and I would never have spent so much on something that wasn't a stamp or dies!
Anyway, I was so late with Mum's calendar page last month (I was at least a week late!) that I thought I'd get ahead of myself with February.  I used my Simon Says Stamp flowers and coloured them in nice bright colours to look like crocus blooms.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and then I went over my flowers with my clear glitter pen to give them a nice shimmer.  I've used my lovely MFT alpha set again, reckon this one is going to be a firm favourite!

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything but a card
• Word Art Wednesday #266/267 - anything goes
• CASology #233 - glisten
• Power and Spark - Winter blooms
• Crafty Calendar January - something new (my alpha set)

Some good news and Xmas Card #1

I've had 2 lots of great crafty news today!  First off I woke up and found that I was this week's Featured Stamper over at Splitcoaststampers!  I've played in this challenge for years, so I can't wait to see what everyone creates!  If you're on Splitcoast, I'd love it if you played along too :)
AND I won the Be Square challenge at Simon Says Stamp with this card, so I've a $50 dollar spending spree coming up! Yippee! :) :) :)

It's been such Brrrrr chilly weekend that I was inspired to make my first Christmas card of 2017!  I've used Snowman (assembled) from Eat Cake Graphics, and my gorgeous new alpha set from MFT.  I'd been on the lookout for a 'grown up' alpha set for such a long time, that as soon as I saw this one in their new release I had it in my shopping basket!  I inked up my background and added some Paper Smooches snowflakes cut from a snippet of silver card that was knocking round my table.  Sparkle added to the snowman's hat and scarf, and clear gloss to his nose and buttons.

• The Craft Barn - song challenge
• Pixies Snippets Playground - weeks 265/266
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - chill out
• Die Cuttin Divas #300 - silver and blue
• AAA Cards #82 - Winter chill
• Retro Rubber #54 - let it snow (my snowman is over a year old)

Think Pink

Just a wee quickie card from me this evening.  It was a beautiful bright day and I was super busy, between shopping, housework, laundry, bathing the dog (and therefore cleaning the entire bathroom top to bottom!), and a wee Saturday snooze snuggled up with Ruby in between ;)

Anyway, this card uses these cuties from an older MFT set - coloured with watercolour pencils, fussy cut and popped up on dimensionals.  I also got out some of my old embossing folders, and this stencil was lying about my table so it got used too!

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch Club #316
• CASology #232 - Cut
• The Card Concept #65 - I took my pink / orange / white / grey colour theme from the inspiration pic
• Word Art Wednesday #166/7 - anything goes
• Crafty Creations #333 - anything goes

Engagement in blue

Ack I'm struggling with my mojo this evening, this card took aaaaages to make and it's so simple!
Anyway, I've used my new Stamping Bella wedding stamp - Aileen (who has a fab blog, you should pop over!) gave me the suggestion that this could be used as an Engagement card if you colour the dress differently.  I had a scrap of blue card on my table, so blue it was!  (though I do wish I'd got up off my butt and got a better colour to work with!)
Coloured with watercolour pencils, and I used my clear glitter pen on the ruffle bit at the bottom.  Clear gloss and glitter on the roses, some splatters and a bit of bling and that's it!

• Layout from CAS(e) this Sketch #205
• Crafty Catz #354 - anything goes monochrome twist
• Simply Create Too #123 - new beginnings
• Cute Card Thursdays #461 - cool colours
• Word Art Wednesday #266/7 - anything goes

A kitty and a coffee

LOL I could do with a week off work to get my stash up to date, it's a bit sad looking after the Christmas rush!

This first one is a real quickie using Kitty Sebastian has very long whiskers from Eat Cake Graphics.
I coloured him with watercolour pencils and then added in some highlights with a regular pencil.  It's not too often my cats turn out well, but I'm lovin this guy!  Oh and bonus points for me for using some oooooooold DP!

• Penny Black at Allsorts January - anything goes
• Sugar Pea Designs #27 - anything goes
• Penny's challenge #311 - anything goes

This one is for a friend of my Mum - she's a great one for going out for coffee so I thought this old LOTV stamp would be perfect!

I also used my Lawn Fawn cloud die on this one for the fancy border.

Coloured with watercolour pencils.  Clear gloss added to the tea set and gold sequins from stash.  Simon Says sentiment die.

• Colour theme from Cupcake Inspirations #390
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - chill out
• CASual Fridays #165 - everything turns to gold
• Inky Chicks #77 - anything goes

Big birthday wishes

Wow, half way through the month already ... January always seems to be a bit of a long stretch, and an even longer stretch to Pay Day!  Anyway, it's reminder time over at Naughty or Nice - this month's theme is 'new' - so new baby, new job, new stash, etc.  Add your card over at the blog and have a peep at the Troublemakers' creations.

For my card I've used some new stash ... this fab birthday image from Penny Black :)

Coloured with watercolour pencils, sparkle added to the icing, and clear gloss to the candles.  I inked up my BG and then added a few splatters for good measure.

• Simon Says Stamp Monday - be square
• Crafty Calendar January - something new 
• Penny Black and More January - anything goes
• Dream Valley #147 - something new

A summer lolly and some bouncing

Well our weathermen were proved to be over-excitable as usual, the 'snow storm' turned out to be about an inch that's been since washed away by the rain ;)  Rubydoo LOVES the snow and had a great time sticking her head in it and having a good roll, but I can't say it's that much fun trying to get the snow dried off her - it sticks to her wee short legs like solid clumps of cotton wool!

So for a taste of summer, I've used this cute set from MFT.  I popped my little penguin up on dimensionals and added some sparkle to his shorts and to his lollypop.  I also decoupaged the leaves.  Gold peel off line and some matching gold sequins to finish.

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch Club #315
• Inspiration Destination #119 - anything goes
• Allsorts #398 - wings on things (though now I think of it, do penguins have 'wings'? Maybe they're flippers?) 
• CASual Fridays #165 - everything turns to gold

I always love to colour these Tiddly Inks stamps, they have the most fabulous hairdo's!  I've always fancied having long hair, but I've always been a shortie and even when I try to grow it, it's no length before I get it whacked off again!

Coloured with watercolour pencils and I added in more highlights to her hair with ordinary pencils.  Clear gloss added to the pogo stick.

• Layout from Freshly Made Sketches #270
• As you like it - favourite hair colour - brown is my 'go to' colour and this one's quite like mine, so I'd say this is 'Dark Natural Blonde' ... or at least that's what it says on the bottle anyway hahahaha
• Sugar Pea Designs #27 - anything goes
• Get creative #54 - anything goes

Mailbox Bears

Here's a wee quickie Thank You card using my new bears from Eat Cake Graphics:
Nell and Wylie (mailbox bears)
Thanks (text)
Coloured with watercolour pencils, and clear gloss added to the little red flag.  I chalked some clouds to the background, some red enamel dots and then finished with a doodled border.

• Dream Valley #147 - something new (my stamp)
• Crafty Calendar January - something new

A wee quickie

Brrrr it's been such a cold cold day today, still no sign of the promised snow, but the weathermen are getting a bit excitable so we'll see!

This card is a wee 20 minute quickie!  I chalked the background with my giraffe print stencil and then splattered some purple paint over it.  My DP is a little scrap that was sitting on my table and my doggy is Callie's Looking Down from Eat Cake Graphics.  A few sequins and some bling, and doodled borders and that's it really!

• Layout from Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge #627
• Happy Little Stampers January CAS challenge - use a stencil
• Sparkles challenge #87 - Happy Birthday
• Seize the Birthday - Birthday
• Stamp Ink Paper #81 - black, white, plus one colour

Speedy Snail and some Guardsmen

We've had such a mild winter so far this year that the slugs are still out in full force in our garden, though I see we are due a bit of snow and some frost this week, so maybe that will sort a few of them out!

This card features the only type of snail I like ... the colouring in kind LOL  This is Speedy snail delivers the mail from Eat Cake Graphics.  I've added some clear gloss to his shell and some sparkle just beneath him for the slime {{yeuch}}

My general card theme and layout is based on this week's featured stamper over at Splitcoast - here's Pam's original.

• CAS on Sunday #99 - black, white and 1 colour
• Stamp Ink Paper #80 - cardmakers choice
• Inspiration Destination #119 - anything goes
• Pixie's Snippets playground #263/4
• AAA Cards #81 - hello

And this one uses a little pack of HunkyDoryCrafts printed papers I won from Pixies' Snippets Playground a while back - it got lost (a.k.a. tidied!) and reappeared as if my magic today!  I just decoupaged the central soldier, added a gold peel off border along the top/bottom, clear gloss to their belts, and some gold sequins and that was it finished! 

A rainbow hug

Here's a wee silly card this evening.  I came across this unloved washi tape in my stash in a recent tidy up effort and figured it was about time it was used!  I paired it with this rainbow DP and my sweet bunny from Stamping Bella.  Coloured with watercolour pencils.  Paper pieced her crown and added some glitter to the 'fur trim'.

• Layout from Mojo Monday #478
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge January
• Crafty Creations #332 - anything goes
• Love to Scrap #93 - anything goes
• Stamping Bella #34 - anything Stamping Bella

Wedding Confetti

This is one of my new Stamping Bella stamps - I've fancied a proper 'grown up' wedding image for a while and this one fitted the bill!
Coloured with watercolour pencils and I splattered some pale blue and pink in the BG thinking it might look like confetti :)
Some sparkle on my roses, a bit of bling and a doodled edge, and Ta Da, done!

• Simon Says Stamp Monday - start afresh
• Stamping Bella - anything goes
• Penny Black and More January - anything goes
• Word Art Wednesday #262/3 - anything goes
• CASual Fridays #164 - celebrations
• Cute Card Thursday #458 - anything goes

Two kind of the same but different

Ahhh boo hoo, I can't believe it's back to work tomorrow.  That time off just flew in!  Next time off to aim for is Greg's birthday at the start of Feb (it would be rude not to spend it with him LOL) and then I think St Patrick's Day is the next.  Not that I'm counting hahaha

I've 2 cards following the same techniques this evening.
This first one is based on this week's featured stamper over at Splitcoast - here's Tara's original.  I used a stencil instead of the zigzag lines, and a Simon Says Stamp floral stamp set.

• Inspiration Destination #118 - anything goes
• Penny's Challenge #309 - anything goes
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes

My second card uses this oldie from Lili of the Valley that seems to be one of my Go To stamps for sympathy cards.  Coloured with watercolour pencils.  I've also used one of my favourite techniques of inking up a stencil and then splattering it with watercolours (though I was kinda heavy with my splatters on this one)

• Happy Little Stampers January watercolour challenge - use a stencil
• Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday December- use something new (my stencil)
• 613 Avenue Create #193 - favourite technique
• Lili of the Valley facebook challenge - anything goes

Happy NEW year :)

Pinch, punch, it's the first of the month!  Happy New Year -  here's to a fab 2017!   We're celebrating all things new with our challenge over at Naughty or Nice - hope you'll get out your new stamps, new gadgets or try a new technique and play along.

For my card, I've used Lewis and Trudy's Wild Ride from Eat Cake Graphics and a cityscape die from Paper Smooches. 

• Stamp Ink Paper #79 - anything but Christmas
• Creative Inspirations #265 - anything goes
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Word Art Wednesday #262/3 - anything goes
• Cute Card Thursday #458 - anything goes
• Time Out #73 - inspired by words - I used the 'new beginnings' bit