It'll be all white on the night

This is a card for sketch challenge 41 on the sweetest thing:



Colour Create 30 calls for 'all white' and Penny Black 73 is 'white on white' - and I've used a gorgeous PB stamp, just colouring the back of the music book with orange and the stand and flute with C1 grey copics.

I think the card also fits the bill for day 214 on 365 cards (a bit of a stretch of the sketch there, but I think it's just about recognisable!).

My heart is full of thanks

Pile it on challenge 12 this week is a colour combo: blue, green and yellow (just to explain that the card is definitely yellow - it's been sprayed with 'lettuce' colorwash). The idea of 'pile it on' is that you see how many challenges you can combine with theirs. If you have a peep further down my blog, you'll see that I've done a lot of that already this week!

This card is also for sketch 139 on CPS:



and also for Get Sketchy challenge 12:



With this sketch we were also asked to use spray ink, so I've used Adirondack lettuce colorwash (I tried to use stream, but the nozzle was blocked, which is why there is a different patch of colour - and I decided to leave it).

These sketches are so similar that even one of the DT members went for both of them, so I know it's OK for me to do so.

Stampin' Sisters for Christ challenge 10 this week says: 'Make a card that expresses your thankfulness for someone or something they have done, or that encourages someone to be thankful.' - so this is it! Crafty Creations 39 also has the theme of 'thanksgiving/gratitude'. Gingersnap Random redhead challenge 28 is 'thankfulness' too.

'Thank you' seems to be a common theme atm because it's also challenge 22 on My Grafico - and to include dry embossing - mine was done with d'vine swirls cuttlebug folder.

Day 145 on 365 cards was an 'ad inspired' challenge with a picture supplied (you can see it if you click on the link) - I was inspired by the colours and also the butterflies. And talking of butterflies, this is another link for Flutter by Wednesday 81. It's also another one for My time to craft 83: 'rip it up'.

After all that, here is my card (which looks more 'busy' on here than irl for some reason!):

In my thoughts

This card is for sketch 65 on Cutie Sunday this week:



I've used red paper, sentiment (both HOTP), a square image and three buttons, the ingredients for the recipe this week on 2 red bananas.

It's also one for 'kind thoughts' Tanda Teaser 121.

It's fall y'all

The challenge on Stamptacular this week (it's just still this week - last minute one) is 'it's fall y'all' - use fall colours and stamping.

I used an orange base card, I can't identify this brown paper (it's been in my box for a long while, unknown), Dovecraft ribbon and the ATC that I made for the October swap on BF. The idea is that we make an ATC for everyone in the swap, which means we also get one of our own back, so I decided to use it on this card. There is stamping on the ATC - you can see my original post about it here.

Tropical bouquet

I used to take part in HS:MS and show photos on a fairly regular basis, but I haven't shown many photos for a while. I thought I would just share some pictures of a tropical bouquet that I got yesterday with my online grocery shopping:

Skateboarder 'whoosh'

The image on this card is a download called 'whoosh' from Mo's Digital Pencil where challenge 4 is to make a card with a different fold - I hope this gatefold is different enough.

I coloured the image with copics, mainly keeping to shades of grey, C1, C3, C5 and C7, which is OK for Copic creations challenge 14.

The Secret Crafter Saturday challenge is 'orange + 1 other colour' and 'orange and black' are the colours for challenge 23 on C.R.A.F.T. (I chose not to do the halloween option). The colours also fit day 216 on 365 which was an 'ad inspired' challenge (more details if you click on the link).

There is a 'male' theme for Crazy Amigo, Die Cuts R us 'the boyfriend challenge' and on Polka doodle , where 3 brads are also asked for. 3 Clovers 37 asks for a card suitable for a teenager.

The punched corners make this suitable again for DCM 'getting punchy with it'.
The papers used are BG ambrosia.

Traditional Christmas colour

EBKewl colour challenge 9 is 'handsome hunter (green), whisper white and real red' with a Christmas theme.

Today's challenge on DCM is 'getting punchy with it', hence the corners of the card - also another one for Flourishes Timeless 39' border punches'.

Today's challenge 59 on Sukkersott is to use anything between 4 and 9 inches, so I've used a Whispers stamp that has nine background inch squares - stamped with versamark and clear embossed (sorry, doesn't show up here as well as irl).

And it's another card for the open theme on Winter Wonderland challenge 22 (have you guessed that I quite like making Christmas cards?).

The circular chipboard pieces are ones that have been in my Christmas box since last year (or perhaps even the year before) - I think they are Brenda Pinnick, but not absolutely sure. The textured card is DCWV.

I haven't used any patterned backing papers, so I'm linking for Charisma Cardz challenge 43.

I think it's also suitable for ABC G for green (as the main colour). And as there are a lot of circles on here, I'm linking again for Alphabet C is for ... circles.

Unfortunately, the scan has chopped a couple of the corners a bit, but irl they are fine!

Christmas blues ... and silver

This card is for the sketch for Stamp, Scrap & Doodle 12:



It's also for Fashionista Friday 8 on If the Shoe Fits, which is a colour challenge: blue, white and silver. The same colour combo is challenge 86 on Paperminutes this week, also on Stampavie and more challenge 67 the combo is blue and silver.

On Alphabetchallenge blog, B is for ... blue.

Challenge 15 on Paper Cutz calls for the use of stars.

As this is a Christmas card, it's another one for the open theme for Winter Wonderland challenge 22. It's also another one for Papertake weekly: spots and/or stripes - stripes on one of the strips across the card.

I'm wondering whether this can be counted as a 'furry friend' for challenge 24 on Allsorts? And hopefully OK too for 'cute and fuzzy somethings' on Stamp Something this week. I'm not sure that the stamped image could be called 'fuzzy', but I definitely think it's cute.

The base card was covered with blue mirror card, which was then covered with vellum (most of which is covered up with the different strips across the card). The stamped image is one that I got when we had a 'stamp in the post' event on CBC last year.

BF October ATCs

The subject for the October ATC swap on BF was 'orange' and I received these fab little crafting compositions - amazing what different results there were from just 'orange' - thanks, girls.

Crazy!!! never again!

I came across this challenge: Royal challenge 1
'SO HERE IS YOUR CHALLENGE: I WANT TO SEE COLOR PINK - a bit of pink/ lots of pink/ any shade of pink- all other colors are good as far as you have pink too!! COMBINE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CHALLENGES TOGETHER WITH MY " PINK" ONE IN ONE SINGLE PROJECT AND ALL OF THEM ARE RELEVANT FOR THE DAY YOU LINK IT TO MY COMMENT SECTION. IT CAN BE THIS WEEK CHALLENGES+ MONTHLY CHALLENGES AS FAR AS THEY STILL RUN ON WEB ON THE DAY OF LINKING'

I'm always up for a challenge. I had a peep at what others had done for this and could hardly believe what I saw - so many challenges all rolled into one.

Well, here goes - this is the sketch (Little Paper Shop) and card:







and this is the list of challenges covered:

365 cards 202 once upon a time: the fairy story is 'The Christmas Fairy on the top of the tree'
Sparkle creations Christmas card challenge week 47 - some kind of cooked/baked holiday goodie - Dottie is holding a Christmas pud
Corrosive 35 shaped like ... not a square or rectangle - make a shaped card
Dottie's world: child's play - a card for a child - I used a Charmed download (Christmas fairy)
Paper Maniac Inspirations - make a project for a child
Winter Wonderland: 22 - open Christmas theme
My Creative Clutter: special Sunday challenge 3D - there are a few 3D elements on the card (built up flowers, raised chipboard, brads, raised snowflakes etc
Creative Inspirations 19: special card with a number on it - Baby's 1st Christmas
Fab's Big Christmas 43: scalloped edge
Forever friends: Christmas (the Christmas pud, snowflakes and sentiment are FF elements)
Incy wincy designs 15: favourite embellishments - flowers and brads
Little Paper shop 39: gettin' around to our next challenge - round sketch
Sophisticat 8: colour combi - pink and brown, plus flowers
Artful inkables 'think ink Tuesday': use any technique you have never tried before - I daubed the chipboard swirl with Adirondack acrylic paint and sprinkled with glitter
Creative card crew 34: snowflakes
Flourishes Timeless 39: border punches (hope the cricut counts - did also use a corner rounder punch on the cuttlebug embossed snowflakes
Jacksonbelle Tuesday: 1, 2, 3 - 1 stamp (the Charmed digi), 2 embellishments (brads and flowers), 3 papers - three BG eskimo kisses papers on the front of the card
My Time to Craft 83: rip it up - the paper across the middle of the card
Papertake weekly: spots 'n' stripes - spots on the fairy's wings and on the snowflakes BG eskimo kisses paper
Spoonful of sugar 75: kitchen/cooking - Dottie is carrying the Christmas pud
Follow your heart: Try it out Tuesday: 41 metal musings - the brads
Tuesday taggers - bursts of colour like fireworks - the Stickles fairy dust being spread by the fairy's wand
Copic colour 37: R20, YG06, E33 (I used the nearest I had to colour the Dottie fairy)
Creative Belli: 77 raffia or twine (the bow around the top of the card)
Cuttlebug challenge: Be inspired 55: something that has your favourite on - I used the snowflakes embossing folder - and also fav embellishments of brads and flowers
Flutter by Wednesday 81: open theme - include a butterfly or fairy
Funky Fairys 40: touchy feely - texture (the cuttlebug embossing, flowers, glittered chipboard etc
La la land: 10 ribbon (across the middle of the card)
Paper Blooms: a circle card
Simon Says: all that sparkles (the fairy dust Stickles, the glittered chipboard, the brads)
Cooking it up with Katie 4: start with Christmas theme, add some sparkle, finish with a border (the scalloped edge)
Elzybells 30: glitter, sparkle and shine (things already mentioned)
Hand full of stamps: Looking for some layers: 2 - layers, layers, layers - three of the same layer - three BG eskimo kisses papers, 3 flowers layered
Ildi Co 3: in stitches (stitching on the ribbon across the middle)
Mo's digital 4: a fancy card fold
Theme Thursday: favourite colours - pink/brown
Crafty Catz 5: buttons or brads (both on the card)
Dare U to digi 24: no squares allowed - shaped card (used a digi: Charmed download)
Daring Cardmakers: favourite things - these are a few of my favourite things: pink, cricut 'wild card' doiley, BG papers, brads, flowers, distressing, cuttlebug embossing, copics to colour, Dottie image, ribbon
Frosted designs: make it pop - use pop dots, foam dots, something 3D, something layered
Bee crafty 16: distressing - the torn paper across the middle (and I've used a digital image, which is necessary for this challenge)
Paper cutz 14: 3 kinds of patterned paper
Crazy 4 challenges 8: it's all geometric - at least three different shapes - circular card, rectangles - the image and layer, diamonds on the cirlce of BG eskimo paper
Lots to do 43: a recipe - stamping (digi), paint (on the chipboard, which was then glittered), metal (the brads)
One stop craft: 52 celebration - Christmas!
Our Creative Corner: card inspired by a book or movie - the fairy story: 'The Christmas fairy on the top of the tree'
Cook up a card (monthly challenge for October) - recipe: 2 rectangles (the image and the mat underneath), 1 button (in the middle of the flower, 1 ribbon (across the middle) and 4 patterned papers - the 3 BG eskimo kisses on the front and the BG on the inside
Paper Garden Projects - fourth Friday fun challenge: October - bring on the bling (the brads, glitter, Stickles fairy dust)
The crafting pot: 'thinks pink' (extended to 31 October)
Dream girls 38: embrace the negative (the 'punched out' bits around the edge of the cricut Wild card 'doiley card' and the shadow through from the middle
Pixie Cottage 2: celebrate - Christmas!
Alphabet: C is for circles
Creative Craft 1: the first one - nclude the number 1 (on the inside)

Never again!! It took almost as long to list all the challenges as it did to make the card (although, admittedly, that took quite a long time too)

You might like to look at the post below this one details of a PIF - why not join in?

Paying it forward

I visited Pauline's blog and saw that she was taking part in a crafty 'pay it forward' challenge. I thought I'd give it a try and join in - well, I have a year to do it!



The rules are:

1. I will make a little something for the first three people who comment on this post. It will be a surprise and it will arrive on your doorstep when you least expect it!

2. I will have 365 days to do it in.

What’s the catch? To get a handmade prezzie from me, you have to play too.

1. You must have a blog.

2. BEFORE you comment here, you must post about your Pay It Forward on your blog to keep the fun going, and display the Pay It Forward button

So, come on, who's going to join in?

Salt: Serving for God's glory

It's time for a new Salt challenge and Kim chose the topic - you can read what she had to say here.

I marvel that God has entrusted me with any gifts to use for Him - it is such a humbling thought and one that I find difficult to get my head round - and yet, He has told us in scripture that if we desire the gifts that He has for us, and ask for them, He will give them to us - so it is my prayer that I use such gifts to minister to others for His glory.

The cardstock is DCWV textured and the other bits and pieces of paper are BG wisteria; Prima pearls and crystals. The picture I've used is one I found on the internet (sorry, can't remember where) - I changed the colour to suit the LO.

As usual, you can see the LO better if you click on the picture. There are stamped and embossed hearts on the card beneath the picture.

In stitches

I used to do a lot of cross stitch, but found that it hurt my back too much to sit doing it and I had to give it up. The piece on this card was made quite some time ago and was just left in a book, waiting to be used some fine day!

Day 220 on 365 cards was 'in stitches' - 'How do you feel about cross-stitching? Well, that's what I'm going to ask you to do. There doesn't have to be much, but if there are any cross-stitchers out there, we'd love to see what you can do on a card!'

'In stitches' is also the topic this week for Ildi Co's challenge 3

It's a bit spoiled, in that I mounted the piece of cross stitched aida on to a piece of black card first and then decided to trim it because the black card didn't look right, leaving the corners showing.

A touch of autumnal velvet

This card is for challenge 74 on A spoonful of sugar: sketch by Debbie:



I've used Laura Ashley papers - the squares being velvet flocked effects and the centre image one of their matching velvet rub ons - I wish you could feel them! They are definitely 'touchy, feely' so are just right for 365 cards day 188 'touchy, feely Friday' - to use felt or flocking on your card.

I hope the colours I've used are autumnal enough for challenge 43 on the crafty pad.

Crafty Calendar (a new monthly challenge blog) challenge 1 is also 'autumn', with the option of using plants or vegetation - well, there's no vegetation, but I think there's a floral feel to the card.

A new monthly challenge blog 'By the cute and girly' started this month (a new challenge will be held on 1st of each month) and the topic is 'autumn glory', so I'm linking this card.

Lastly, Belli challenge 76 is 'fall, thankgsgiving with a leaf ...' and there are definitely some leaves on here.

I have to confess that the velvet rub on didn't go quite as it should have done. I hadn't realised how brown the rub on would be and put it on brown card to match the card blank and it really didn't show up very well (although I might still use it some time). What I actually used on this card is the image that was left after the rub on had been done - in other words, the negative effect, which has a flock velvet feel, but the other way round - so, by accident, I've discovered that you can get two for the price of one from each rub on!

The velvet flocking gives a really nice embossed feel to the card, which is another one for the treehouse challenge 20.(faux embossing was allowed).



This is the rub on as it should have been used, but it really is quite dark on the dark card (it's difficult to tell from the pack how the rub on will turn out - now I've done one I know what to expect):

Sweet treat

Challenge 83 on Cute Card Thursday this week is 'candy corn's - making a 'sweet themed' card, so I hope this is sweet enough - card, paper and image are all Dena designs:

Delightful daisies

'Delightful' daisies' is challenge 42 on Charisma Cardz this week.

I just happened to find these embossed daisies in my box of odd bits - so I just chalked the centres with yellow.

It's another card for the treehouse 20: 'embossing'.

Get well soon

The theme for this week's challenge on Simon Says is to make a 'get well soon' card. I needed some extra ones for the mini market sale, so here are three of those I made.

The first image is a Dottie download from Charmed cards and crafts.

Most get well cards seem to be suitable mainly for women, so I've made sure that I've made some with a more masculine look (without being sexist), hence the ship on the third one.

I'm linking the first card for Secret Crafter Saturday challenge 54 'dig deep' - to use an old stamp or image - the Dottie image was one that I downloaded and used some time ago, printed off a few more and found them today in a box with other bits and pieces.

A special anniversary

This is another special card with a number on it for challenge 19 this week on Creative Inspirations:

On your wedding day ... with love

The challenge for day 112 on 365 cards 'everlasting love' was to make a wedding card with 'love' in the sentiment. This is a simple card, using an irridescent card blank with a soft lilac sheen:

Gatefolds

No time for stamping challenge 109 was to make a gatefold card and Get Sketchy 10 was this sketch, which led itself to making a gatefold:



This is what I came up with - both cards have an irridescent look to them. As the centre pieces of each card have paisley designs on them, I'm also linking for yesterday's 365 cards (day 236): 'pretty paisley'.

Haven't I seen that somewhere before?

I made lots of cards today - all sorts - birthday, sympathy, get well etc etc ... and some more Christmas cards, ready for the church mini market tomorrow. I got to the stage this afternoon where I just wanted to put a few more together and had one or two bits and pieces that were suitable to be used - don't often do this, but decided to do a bit of recycling, as called for on Saturday's Workout 77: 'recycle it'.

The theme this week on Die Cuts R us is 'an earth friendly challenge' - well, I'm not sure whether I've interpreted this in the way that was envisaged, but to my mind recycling is very 'earth friendly', so I'm linking for that.

The pictures used on these cards were all recycled - the rest of the materials used weren't.

The 'music' paper is English Paper Company, the paper on the 3rd card is Dovecraft, the fourth card background greetings is vellum (I ran it through my xyron so it stuck perfectly on the embossed card blank).

Challenge 9 on Stampin' sisters for Christ is based on Luke 2:11: 'Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.' 'The challenge is to make a card or project featuring the nativity or other religious theme about Christ's birth.' - most of these cards fit the bill for that.

The third card is good for challenge 19: 'winter wonderland' this week on Die Cut Dreams.