Fan-tastic Tuesday challenge 60

It's time for Fan-tastic Tuesday challenge 60 which is anything goes with a twist ... add one butterfly. Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and we would love to see your entries.

For my design card I used Sparkle n sprinkle 'dahlia' and 'dahlia bud half opened', kindly supplied by the challenge sponsor, using an edge cutter digitally around the latter image so that I could merge both one behind the other and then print with the digitally added sentiment, colouring with spectrum noirs. I then stamped and coloured the Inca 'queen of Spain' butterfly.

This is also for:

CAS on Sunday 45: one layer wonder
A little bit crafty November: CAS
Artistic inspirations 166: anything goes/happy birthday
Country view November: bugs, bees & butterflies
Digitally sweet 112: anything goes (everything except the stamped butterfly was produced digitally)
Digistamps4Joy 103: anything goes
Divas by design: anything goes
Brown sugar 118: anything goes
Catch the bug November anything goes
Treasured times 28: anything goes
A girl who crafts November: anything goes
Cards galore November: anything goes
Mema's crafts November: anything goes
Sisters of craft November: anything goes
V's sweet 28: anything goes
Crafty catz 253: anything goes
Scrappers delights 34: anything goes
613 avenue 96: anything goes
Sentimental Sundays 231: anything goes
Ppinky dolls 5: anything goes
Papertake weekly: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
4 crafty chicks: anything goes
Sister act 81

Cheerful stamp pad challenge 98 week 2

This is the second week of the Cheerful stamp pad challenge 98 anything goes using fall colours. Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and join in the challenge here.

For my design card I used Stitchy Bear's My Heart Pieces 'sunflower summer' digi kindly supplied by the sponsors, colouring with spectrum noir pens and die cutting using one of the Spellbinder's marvellous squares, with gold gems at the corners. The main background matt gold card was embossed with Embossalicious floral vine folder run through the eBosser and a piece of copper mirror card embossed with a polka dot folder.

This is also for Cupcake inspirations 285:

This is also for:

Stitchy Bear Stamps FB November challenge: anything goes
Scribbles designs 22: fall impressions
Try it on Tuesday (Tuesday taggers): colours of autumn
The stamping boutique: fall colours
Hiding in my craft room 172: fall colours
PumpkinSpice 90: anything fall
Craft and smash November: autumn
Paper pretties 334: polka dots
Crafty cardmakers 126: cut it out (die cut) - 15 challenges
Eclectic ellapu November: leaves and foliage
Paradise of stamps 5: halloween or autumn
Card mania 59: use your dies

Does anyone have sunscreen?

It was Lorraine's turn to choose the theme for this fortnight's Christmas Card Club challenge and she asked us to use snowmen.

I used a digital image that I've had for ages - Broken Boxstock 'snowman cartoon - it still makes me smile. Papers are offcuts of DCWV papers - you can just about see that the background snowmen are glossy.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Christmas card challenges 49: no embellishments
My perfect life festive 48 week 43
Perfectly rustics 34: holidays - Christmas
Fab n funky 235: Christmas
My craft creations: anything goes
The pink elephant 274: anything goes
4 crafty chicks: anything goes
Sister act 81

CHNC challenge 201: sparkle

For my CHNC challenge 201 this week I'm asking to see some Christmas sparkle.

For my card I used a topper and frames and a sentiment from a 'road to Bethlehem' Hunkydory kit, a background piece of card that I've had for years and some glitter tape and sparkly ribbon from Marks & Spencer.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Christmas card challenges 48: anything goes
Perfectly rustics 34: holidays - Christmas
Fab n funky 235: Christmas
Moving along with the times: winter themed
My craft creations: anything goes
The pink elephant 274: anything goes
4 crafty chicks: anything goes
Sister act 81

Completely Christmas 36: anything goes with a twist ... add a robin

It's time for a new challenge for Completely Christmas and challenge 36 is asking for anything goes (Christmas) with a twist ... add a robin. My robin is a felt decoupaged one from Hobbycraft that sits nicely on the printed out Paper Pretties 'deck the boughs' with one of the greetings that came with the digi. Colouring was done with spectrums and art institute glitter added to the bauble.

As is usually the case with a mainly white card, it was difficult to get a photo that showed the card to full advantage - looks much brighter in real life.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Christmas card challenges 48: anything goes
Perfectly rustics 34: holidays - Christmas
Fab n funky 235: Christmas
The paper shelter 180: is it too early for Christmas?
Moving along with the times: winter themed
Cute as a button 3: Christmas/winter
Sparkle n sprinkle November: anything goes - used loose glitter
Crafters cafe 88: things with wings
Time out 17: birds of a feather flock together
My craft creations: anything goes
The pink elephant 274: anything goes
4 crafty chicks: anything goes
Sister act 81

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' challenge 53

For Suzy Bee's Bloomin' challenge 53 the theme is 'anything goes with a twist ... add layers. Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and join in our challenge.

For my card I used Paper Pretties 'a tail of two hearts', kindly supplied by the sponsors of the challenge, colouring with spectrum noir pens. I die cut this and the other mats using Spellbinder's marvellous squares run through the eBosser. The sentiment was part of the digi download. Everything then layered on to the Congratulations sentiments paper, so that the card would be suitable for engagement, wedding or anniversary.

This is also for:

My craft creations: anything goes
The pink elephant 274: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
4 crafty chicks: anything goes
Sister act 81

CCAYR November 2nd card

This is my second design card for CCAYR November challenge: no patterned paper.

The background was created with some stardream card that has a sparkly finish, like a mix of blue with hints of purple. The topper and sentiment are from a Hunkydory kit. Other elements from stash.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Christmas card challenges 48: anything goes
Perfectly rustics 34: holidays - Christmas
Fab n funky 235: Christmas
Moving along with the times: winter themed
Totally Gorjuss 260: non traditional Christmas colours
My craft creations: anything goes
The pink elephant 274: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
4 crafty chicks: anything goes
Sister act 81

CCAYR November challenge: no patterned paper

This is my first design card for Christmas cards all year round November challenge where the theme is 'no patterned paper'. Please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and we would love to see you entries there.

The shimmery pearlescent card was embossed with a Craftwell embossing folder run through the eBosser, then matted on to a piece of copper mirror card and then red mirror, likewise the sentiment panel. The lovely 3D felt robin was from Hobbycraft.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Christmas card challenges 48: anything goes
Perfectly rustics 34: holidays - Christmas
Fab n funky 235: Christmas
Moving along with the times: winter themed
Time out 17: birds of a feather flock together
Crafters cafe 88: things with wings
Totally Gorjuss 260: non traditional Christmas colours
My craft creations: anything goes
The pink elephant 274: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
4 crafty chicks: anything goes
Sister act 81

Buckwells crafty challenge 2: use ribbon

It's the beginning of a new month and time for Buckwell crafty challenge 2 for November. This challenge is being sponsored by A Lil Digi Heaven. Please click on the challenge link to see the lovely designs of others in the team and we would love you to use some ribbon and join in.

also at  Buckwell Craft Supplies there has been a price drop on all Cutting Dies plus an extra 10% Off all the Cutting Dies in stock from the 1st to the 8th November.

For my design card I used Buckwell Craft Supplies 10 mm lilac and red ribbons and A Lil Digi Heaven's Olivia image kindly supplied by the sponsor - I coloured this with spectrum noir pens. Papers are some very DCWV ones that I've had for some years. Accordion flowers and sentiment circle from my craft supplies.

I apologise that my card for this November challenge is similar to the one I did for October, using red and purple ... in my defence, I sooooo love those colours together!

This is also for:

City crafters 235: stripes
Just inspirational: occasions
Digi choosday 42: birthdays
Crafty creations 275: brads, buttons or bows
My craft creations: anything goes
The pink elephant 274: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
4 crafty chicks: anything goes
Sister act 81

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper November challenge

This is a quick card I made for my Patterned Paper November challenge starting today - if you haven't discovered this challenge blog yet, please click on the link and join in the fun, using up some of your hoarded patterned paper ... or new ones if you can bear to cut them!

For this A5 card I used a piece of unknown paper from my offcuts box, a vintage piece of ephemera taken from an old pack and some Hobbycraft flowers.

This is also for:

Take a word: vintage
My craft creations: anything goes
The pink elephant 274: anything goes
Penny's 201: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
4 crafty chicks: anything goes
Sister act 81

CHNC challenge extra for November

This is my card for CHNC challenge extra for November - please click on the link and have a look at the lovely crafting of my team and join us with your Christmas creations - we'd love to see what you make.

For my card I used Christmas cupcakes - lights kindly supplied by Bugaboo Stamps, sponsors of the challenge. Papers and decorative strips were digitally produced from freebies from Far far hill and flowers, swirls etc from Hobbycraft.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Christmas card challenges 48: anything goes
Perfectly rustics 34: holidays - Christmas
Paperminutes 345: Christmas and red
Fab n funky 235: Christmas
The paper shelter 180: is it too early for Christmas?
Moving along with the times: winter themed
Paper pretties 334 polka dots
Catch the bug November anything goes
Digitally sweet 112: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
The paper nest dolls 22: anything goes
The pink elephant 274: anything goes
Digistamps4Joy 103: anything goes
Penny's 201: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
4 crafty chicks: anything goes
Sister act 81

WOYWW 282

I missed taking part in WOYWW for a couple of weeks because we were having our carpets taken up and laminate flooring laid instead. All my boxes had to be moved out and then back again - I didn't even do any crafting for a week.

Anyway, I am gradually getting back to normal, but it's always a tussle between organising everything and getting necessary crafting done - quite a lot of design team stuff and also I have a sale for Tearfund here on 8 November (help ... that's soon!).

So here I am for WOYWW 282 - click the link and join in the fun!

This is what's to the left of where I sit - there are some cards I made last night, seven of them - broadband was down, so I had no distractions! And some other bits for potential cards.

On the other side, some more bits and pieces that might be used on future cards - and, no, there's no chocolate in the bag, just scraps of paper.

But the 'piece de la resistance' today is what was delivered this morning - I've just assembled them:

They are to replace this, which is a bit broken in parts, but will be moved up to the summerhouse so that when I craft up there in the summer I'll be able to house a few things.

This means I'll need to empty out all the little boxes stored in this and change things around to use the drawers in the new units. I'm planning on swapping some stuff from the boxes in my other units to put in the drawers. Oh, if only there was more time and no other things to do in life!!

When everything is sorted (ha ha!!) I'll show photos of the whole room. Atm you can see glimpses of the new flooring - much more practical than the carpet.

Fan-tastic Tuesday 59: anything goes with a twist: monochrome

This is my design card for Fan-tastic Tuesday challenge 59 using Stitchy Bear whispering trees, an image kindly supplied by the sponsor. Please click on the challenge link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and we would love you to join in with your monochromatic entries.

This is one of those cards that I almost wished I hadn't started, but the further I went the more I felt I should persevere - it's by no means perfect, but I tried my best! The lovely image with sentiment is Stitchy Bear's whispering trees, kindly supplied by the sponsor of Fan-tastic Tuesday 59 - I changed the colour of the black and white image into brown and white in Publisher and cut out with one of the Spellbinder marvellous square ties run through the eBosser (such an improvement to cut since I bought the additional metal adapter). Having cut a grid using my Scan n Cut when I first got it - I was just experimenting with it - more information here - having found an svg file on Birds Cards and then used Scan n Cut canvas to convert. I made life more difficult to myself than I needed to because I cut a square out of the middle of the lattice, thinking the die cut would fit into it, but it didn't quite, so I had to cover the hole with the die cut instead, which by then I'd already stuck on to the offcut of paper used for the background. With a bit of lifting at the edges I got there in the end. By this stage I was all for abandoning it and starting again, but tbh I hadn't got the heart to do so.

The corner pieces and spotted flowers were from Hobbycraft and the burlap flowers from Poundland.

This is also for:

Creative cutting 41: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday challenge: get crafty and use kraft
Eclectic ellapu October: flowers
Card and scrap 84:flowers
Crafty cardmakers 126: cut it out 
Facebook Stitchy Bear challenge: anything goes with a Stitchy Bear product
The sailing pineapple 20: newsprint/wording/sentiment/quotation
Daring cardmakers: sentimental
The pink elephant: anything goes

Commissioned 80th birthday card

I was asked to make an 80th birthday card for a lady who loves flowers, so I thought Anna Griffin supplies would fit the bill. The A5 card blank isn't Anna Griffin - bought a pack of them some time ago and still have a few remaining. The centre rose and the small one at the bottom right are decoupaged. The gold foiled sentiment label was from Craftwork cards.

I've used flash photos as I needed to hand the card over and the first two don't show the more vibrant colours of the card, whereas the third one showing the inside is more true to life.

This is for:


Eclectic ellapu October: flowers
Card and scrap 84:flowers
Craft hoarders anonymous 18: layer it - I've had all of the supplies for ages
Crafty sentiments: use a sentiment
Dragonfly dreams 10: mainly pink
Miriam's crafting 17: at least two shades of pink
Paper pretties 333: happy birthday
Totally gorjuss 259: congratulations
Anything goes with a twist 4: anything goes with a touch of pink 
One stitch at a time 222: anything goes with a butterfly
The pink elephant: anything goes
Through the craft room door: anything goes
613 avenue create 95: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 30: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 80

Cheerful stamp pad challenge 98: anything goes with fall colours

This is my design card for Cheerful stamp pad challenge 98: anything goes with fall colours - please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and join in the challenge.

For my design card I used the Stitchy Bear's My heart pieces 'wine barrel' image, kindly supplied by the sponsors, coloured with spectrum noir pens and die cut using one of the Spellbinder's marvellous squares, brushing with spiced marmalade distress ink before releasing from the die. This was then mounted on to gold mirror card. All papers used were from my offcuts box, flowers from Hobbycraft.

This is also for Just us girls 264 photo inspiration:

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets week 148
Facebook Stitchy Bear challenge: anything goes with a Stitchy Bear product
PumpkinSpice 88: harvest or halloween
Baffies creative 37: fall & halloween
Paper sweeties 24: happy fall
Great impressions October: autumnal elegance
Sparkles 61: fall/autumn colours
Stamping sensations October: warm autumn colours
Stamp and create October: fall/autumn
Just inspirational: fall
CCEE 1443: fall colours
CRAFT 282: autumn/halloween/thanksgiving/bonfire night
Graph it markers 41: autumn colours
Pattie's creations 102: autumn colours in your image
Craftin desert divas 43: brown & orange
Craft your passion 237: trick or treat - give me something good to eat
Simon says Monday challenge: treats
Digi choosday 42: birthdays
Paper pretties 333: happy birthday
Fitztown 59: distress using digital elements
Inky impressions 182: checkmate
Eclectic ellapu October: flowers
Card and scrap 84:flowers
The pink elephant: anything goes
613 avenue create 95: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 30: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 80
DL.ART October linky

Rudolph day

Rudolph Day challenge started yesterday as it was 25 October (every 25th of the month) and I had two cards ready to blog, but had such a busy day that I didn't get them on here.

Two cards made with Hunkydory supplies, using one piece of A4 card with shepherds back and front to adhere to two white A5 card blanks (cheapskate or what? lol!):

These are also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Christmas card challenges 48: anything goes
Perfectly rustics 34: holidays - Christmas
Crafting by designs: get ready for Christmas
Hiding in my craft room 171: any holiday
Jingle belles: not a creature was stirring - animals
Simon says Monday challenge: anything goes
Sister act 80

The glory of Christmas challenge 45: St Nicholas/Santa/Father Christmas

This is my design card for the Glory of Christmas challenge 45 - we are asking you to include St Nicholas, Santa, Father Christmas. Please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and we would love you to join in with our challenge for the next two weeks.

And this card is so right for my own CHNC challenge 200 this week, so I'm showing it there - please visit and join in with my 'if you want to get ahead get a hat' challenge.

I suppose I've cheated a bit because I chose a favourite stamp - Penny Black's 'chill day' - that doesn't actually show the man himself because he is probably resting after a busy day, but he's washed his suit and hung it up to dry and this naughty hedggie has pulled the hat off the pegs and is running away with it ... The image was coloured with spectrum noir pens and I used a quickie glue pen and Art Institute glitter to make the white bits of Santa's suit sparkle.

The paper is from Cosy Christmas pad (free with Quick Cards a couple of years ago) - other items from supplies. Snowflakes were punched from snippets of gold mirror card and the little sentiment tags added with brads.

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets week 148
Penny Black and more at Allsorts October: get ahead for Christmas (PB stamp)
The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48: week 42
Christmas card challenges 48: anything goes
Perfectly rustics 34: holidays - Christmas
Oldie but a goodie: Christmas (have had tis stamp for over six months)
Crafting by designs: get ready for Christmas
Polka doodles 42 and 43: Christmas fun
Hiding in my craft room 171: any holiday
Fab n funky 234: in stitches - let's have a laugh
Art impressions 147: humour or puns
Lacy sunshine 45: include a hat
Red rubber inspirationals 143: stay focused on stamping
The house that stamps built DCC1022: leftovers (all papers used and the fibres)
As you like it: favourite style - sometimes cute - so many lovely cute images around including this stamp which is one of my favourites 
Use your stuff 158: pet/animal
Bunny Zoe October: animals
Let's craft and create 98: animal antics
Jingle belles: not a creature was stirring - animals
Art by Miran 17: anything goes
Amusing challenge (stamped blessings): anything goes
613 avenue create 95: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 30: anything goes
Brown sugar 117: anything goes
Creative fingers 54: anything goes
Simon says Monday challenge: anything goes
Sister act 80
DL.ART October linky

CHNC challenge 200: if you want to get ahead get a hat!

The theme for CHNC challenge 200 this week is 'if you want to get ahead get a a hat!' - for more info please click the link and I hope you will join in with my challenge - if you haven't started on your Christmas cards, NOW is the time!

For my card I used Whoopsi Daisy's sheet 380 snowman (Whoopsi Daisy is one of this week's sponsors). The paper is from Cosy Christmas pad (free with Quick Cards a couple of years ago) - other items from supplies. Snowflakes were punched from snippets of silver mirror card.

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets week 147
The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Allsorts 282: Christmas
Perfectly rustics 34: holidays - Christmas
Oldie but a goodie: Christmas (have had the digi for over six months)
Crafting by designs: get ready for Christmas
Polka doodles 42 and 43: Christmas fun
Christmas at sweet stampin October: snowflakes
The house that stamps built DCC1022: leftovers (all papers used and the fibres)
As you like it: favourite style - sometimes cute - so many lovely cute images around
Aud sentiments 118: 2 or 3 word sentiment
Brown sugar 117: anything goes
Creative fingers 54: anything goes
Addicted to stamps 89: anything goes
Simon says Monday challenge: anything goes
Sister act 80
My craft creations: anything goes
Crafting by designs: October anything goes

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' challenge 52: anything goes with a twist ... wedding

This is my card for Suzy Bee's Bloomin' challenge 52: anything goes with a twist ... wedding. Please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and we would love you to join in our challenge.

My design card is CAS, using a pre-patterned DL card (one of my Hobbycraft bargains) The Anita's image stamp was inked with versamark and heat embossed with pirate gold embossing powder. The two sentiment stamps from Anna Griffin were likewise stamped and embossed. It's a pity that whatever I did to try and get a better photo, the embossing doesn't show up like it does in real life.

This is also for:

Deep ocean 89: just one layer
The stamping boutique: make a card/project that is congratulatory
Totally gorjuss 259: congratulations
Stamplorations October: stamps & embossing
Hiding in my craft room 170: embossing
Sparkle n sprinkle October: anything goes - used embossing powder
Red rubber inspirationals 143: stay focused on stamping
Addicted to stamps 89: anything goes
Simon says Monday challenge: anything goes
Sister act 80
My craft creations: anything goes
Crafting by designs: October anything goes
DL.ART October linky

Completely Christmas 35: anything goes ... add a sentiment

This is for Completely Christmas 35: anything goes with a twist ... add a sentiment. Please join in our challenge and click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team.

For my CAS card I used this background chopped down to make a square card with the Lacy Sunshine Christmas boo image added, having coloured it in Microsoft Paint - the challenge is being sponsored by Lacy Sunshine who kindly supplied the digi. I know that I've used this image on similar cards before, but I love it so much that I couldn't resist using it yet again.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Allsorts 282: Christmas
Perfectly rustics 34: holidays - Christmas
Oldie but a goodie: Christmas (have had the digi for over six months)
Crafting by designs: get ready for Christmas
Fitztown 57: anything goes using digital elements
Addicted to stamps 89: anything goes
Simon says Monday challenge: anything goes
Sister act 80
My craft creations: anything goes
Crafting by designs: October anything goes

Sweet pea stampers: think pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

As I'm sure most of my visitors know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, although I'm sure everyone will agree with me that every month should be. The challenge on Sweet pea stampers this fortnight is 'pink think for Breast Cancer Awareness' - please click on the link and see the delightful designs of the rest of the team and we would love to see your pink creations.

I used Karen Middleton's 'butterfly blue' digital image (also available as a rubber stamp) - yes, I know, it's called 'butterfly blue', but I changed the butterflies digitally to pink and then printed and coloured with spectrum noirs. This was then mounted on to an offcut piece of Hunkydory pink and silver foiled card and then on to silver mirror card. As the image was quite pale I chose a deeper pink card blank, on to which I added another offcut of a different foiled card and a piece of striped paper.

I can remember a time when it was all the rage to use fibres on cards and I had quite a lot of them in every colour, but in recent times they haven't been so much 'in fashion', but I decided that some eyelash pink fibre would be just right for this card, with a few Poundland pink burlap flowers.

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets week 147
Crafty calender October: bingo - I chose the top line: flowers, pink, sparkle
Creative craft cottage 28: bingo - the middle column: flowers, glitter, swirls
A creative romance: pink
Digi sketch challenge: pink & sparkly
Fairies in time: think pink
Paper makeup digi makeover 163: think pink
Anything goes with a twist 4: a touch of pink
In the pink 55: spots and/or stripes
Dragonfly dreams 10: mainly pink
Miriam's crafting 17: at least two shades of pink
Digi choosday 42: birthdays
Paper pretties 333: happy birthday
Creative moments 54: anything goes/fairytales
Di's digi designs: mystical creatures
Little miss Muffet 97: if you go down to the woods - fairy image
Eclectic ellapu October: texture
Spectrum noir October: use embellishments
Country view October: sparkle & shine
The house that stamps built DCC1022: leftovers (all papers used and the fibres)
As you like it: favourite style - cute or elegant - sometimes a mix of the two - like playing around with different styles
Aud sentiments 118: 2 or 3 word sentiment
Ppinky dolls 5: anything goes
Brown sugar 117: anything goes
Creative fingers 54: anything goes
Treasured times 27: anything goes
Addicted to stamps 89: anything goes
Simon says Monday challenge: anything goes
Sister act 80
My craft creations: anything goes
Crafting by designs: October anything goes
DL.ART October linky