CCAYR mid-month inspiration

As we're almost halfway through the month of July it's time for some mid-month inspiration from the team at CCAYR for the July challenge: non-traditional Christmas colours. Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of other members of the team and click here to join in with your own creations.

For my card I've used the same image as I used for my CHNC challenge 184, where I said that I hoped to add one with some zentangle. Well, I didn't manage to show it that week, but here it is now ... my faltering attempt to do some zentangle. The original image is Robyn's Fetish gilded Christmas dove  (click the link to see what it looked like before I did some zentangle). I coloured with spectrum noir pens.

All papers are from the double sided Echo Park winter wishes, all apart from the main background are from scraps and a piece of torn washi tape added. The tag is one left over from last Christmas - much more silvery in real life.

Colours for Colour 250 (using the black and white with the turquoise):

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Robyn's fetish 220: Christmas in July
Timbro scrap mania 98: Christmas in July
Whoopsi Daisy: Christmas in July
Inky chicks 33: Christmas in July
Crafty boots: Christmas in July
Crafty sentiments: Christmas in July
Sparkles 58: Christmas in July
Fitztown 43: pick a holiday - Christmas!
Dare to be sassy Thursdays 237: Christmas in July
Going grey with Scrap Creations: Christmas in July
Jingle belles: shopping our stash - everything used is more than a year old
Shopping our stash: bonus challenge with Jingle Belles
Deep ocean 82: lots of layers
613 avenue create 80: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Glitter n sparkle 93: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
PumpkinSpice 78: anything goes
Treasured times 20: anything goes
Sister act 65
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes

Fan-tastic Tuesday 44: anything goes

This is my design card for Fan-tastic 44: anything goes - I used Bugaboo Stamps 'rainy day bears 'rain rain' coloured digitally in Microsoft Paint. (Bugaboo Stamps are the sponsors for this challenge).I tore round an oval perspex and edged with a matching spectrum noir. Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the team and we'd love you to join in our challenge.

The background is actually Christmas paper (I'd been using some for a Christmas card that will be shown next Sunday and I had this offcut ready on the work surface and it seemed to go so well with the image that I thought, 'Why not use it?' - it's from a 12 x 12 piece of Graphic 45 Christmas past collection 'glad tidings'.

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets week 133
Allsorts 267: splish, splash, splosh
Open-minded 14:water, water, everywhere
4 crafty chicks 202: inspired by a song - Raindrops keep falling on my head
CRAFT 267: inspired by a book - Once there was a raindrop
Mark's finest papers speedy fox and friends 220: red
Crazy 4 challenges 244: teddy bear
Pink gem 123: animals (teddies included!)
Paperminutes 330: 3 colours - red, orange, yellow
613 avenue create 80: anything goes
Red rubber inspirationals 128: anything goes
Artistic inspirations 100: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 27: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Glitter n sparkle 93: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
PumpkinSpice 78: anything goes
Treasured times 20: anything goes
Sister act 65
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes

CHNC challenge extra mid-month inspiration

The seventh month of the year is now almost halfway through ... that means it's time for some more design inspiration for CHNC challenge extra for July - please visit here to see the lovely crafting of some of the team and click here to join in with your own Christmas creations - you've got until 20:00 UK time on 31 July to do so.

This is my card, which uses the sketch given for the Sunday challenge for Catch the bug's Christmas in July week, so I'm entering this there. Why not go over to Catch the bug and take part in the challenges - there are lots of prizes to be won. There's a blog hop as well.

The background paper is from a magazine freebie as is the piece that has been mounted behind the image - both were torn around perspex oval templates. The little ho ho ho have been in my Christmas stash for a long time, as has the sentiment. The card across the bottom is Hunkydory. The image was coloured with spectrum noir pens.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Robyn's fetish 220: Christmas in July
Timbro scrap mania 98: Christmas in July
Whoopsi Daisy: Christmas in July
Inky chicks 33: Christmas in July
Sweet stampin: Christmas in July
Crafty boots: Christmas in July
Crafty sentiments: Christmas in July
Sparkles 58: Christmas in July
Fitztown 43: pick a holiday - Christmas!
Dare to be sassy Thursdays 237: Christmas in July
Going grey with Scrap Creations: Christmas in July
Graph it markers week 28: Christmas colours
Jingle belles: shopping our stash - everything used is more than a year old
Shopping our stash: bonus challenge with Jingle Belles
613 avenue create 80: anything goes
Red rubber inspirationals 128: anything goes
Artistic inspirations 100: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 27: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Wags n whiskers 133: anything goes
Glitter n sparkle 93: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
PumpkinSpice 78: anything goes
Treasured times 20: anything goes
Sister act 65
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes
DL.ART July anything goes

Cheerful stamp pad challenge 90 week 2: using a digital background

It's time for inspiration for week 2 of  the Cheerful stamp pad challenge 90: use a digital background - please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and join in the challenge with your entries here.

Once again my design card was completely created digitally, this week using images and background papers from Digi Bear's Digi Outlet's Coosty Creations orchid beauty pack, kindly supplied by the sponsors. I added the image of the orchids with a candle floating on water with a reflection, changing the size and colour to tone with the background.

This is also for:

Through the purple haze: happy birthday
Creative inspirations 273: your favourite occasion (birthday, because everyone has one!)
Crafty catz 239: flowers
AnMaCreatief 34: flowers
Crafters corner July: flowers
Craft your passion 222: citrus/tropical colours
Charisma cardz 15: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 27: anything goes
Artistic inspirations 100: anything goes

Ahoy, me Hearties!

I can't remember where I got this digital treasure map that I printed out - it's been on my system for ages and ages. I mounted this on to a print out of a photo of the sea, adding the pirate's ship, hat etc and the sentiment banner.

This is for:

Digitally sweet 96: boys at play
Artistic inspirations 99: anything goes/going places
Craft your passion 221: on the move/transport
Creative card crew 65: masculine
Digistamps4Joy 96: for the boys
Allsorts 267: splish, splash, splosh
Craft and smash July: shells, sand and sea
The stamping boutique: fussy cut something (the map)
The paper shelter 166: birthday card with sentiment
Seema crafts July: child's birthday
Glitter n sparkle 93: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
PumpkinSpice 78: anything goes
Sister act 65
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes

Wishing you a wheelie good birthday

Yes, I've used this sentiment before, but I love using it with pictures of bikes, etc, so why not?! This card is made up with bits and pieces of Basic Grey cupcake papers, spotty ribbon, a Lili of the Valley picture from an one of their Art Pads and the bicycle paperclip from Tiger.

This is for:

Pixie's snippets week 133 (all pieces of paper - strategically placed!)
Artistic inspirations 99: anything goes/going places
 A creative need 21: vacation/travel
Craft your passion 221: on the move/transport
Creative card crew 65: masculine
Digistamps4Joy 96: for the boys
The paper shelter 166: birthday card with sentiment
The sisterhood of crafters: birthday
Seema crafts July: child's birthday
Corrosive 203: forever young
Animal friends 16: dog and/or cat
Pink gem 123: animals
Eclectic ellapu: furry friends
Hobbyhome12  anything goes summer challenge
Glitter n sparkle 93: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
PumpkinSpice 78: anything goes
Sister act 65
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes

Baking fun

A simply card made up of an unknown piece of background paper, a picture taken from a kit and a couple of cupcake stickers from Paperchase.

This is for:

Ruby's rainbow 83: summer treats
My Sheri 137: food, food & more food
Pink gem 123: animals
Great impressions July: animal friends
Eclectic ellapu: furry friends
Hobbyhome12  anything goes summer challenge
Glitter n sparkle 93: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
PumpkinSpice 78: anything goes
Sister act 65
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes

Teddy Bears' Christmas

Sue P asked the Christmas card club to use a 'Christmas teddy'. My two cards use supplies from Hunkydory's Magical Christmas 'a Christmas wish', mounted on to kraft card blanks (I chose kraft because that seems to be a 'teddy bear' colour).

I love the little spotlight circle added to this one:

These are also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48 week 27
Crafty boots: Christmas in July
Fitztown 43: pick a holiday - Christmas!
Dare to be sassy Thursdays 237: Christmas in July
Hobbybook: Christmas in July
Polka doodles 28: add a twinkle - Christmas
Left of center 36: sparkle
Eclectic ellapu: furry friends
Crazy 4 challenges 244: teddy bear
Pink gem 123 animals (including teddy bears)
Top tip Tuesday: magical
A little bit crafty July: it's magic
Crafting with dragonflies 30: CAS
Deep ocean 81: add a sentiment
Glitter n sparkle 93: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
PumpkinSpice 78: anything goes
Sister act 65
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes
DL.ART July anything goes

Girlie pink birthday

Shoes, flowers and butterflies for a girlie birthday. Background paper is actually kraft wrapping paper. The foiled image was rescued from an M & S gift card.

This is for:

Paperminutes 329: pimp it up, baby - repurposing, recycling from the M & S gift card
Eclectic ellapu: girly birthday with butterfly
The paper shelter 166: birthday card with sentiment
The sisterhood of crafters: birthday
Seize the birthday: anything goes/stars and/or stripes
Emerald faeries 57: hip hip hooray birthday
My mums craft shop 19: summer or bright colours
Take a word: butterflies
Deep ocean 81: add a sentiment
My craft creations: anything goes
PumpkinSpice 78: anything goes
Sister act 65
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes

Better late than never ...

... I hope!

I hope the girls at Christmas Card Club will forgive me that I am nearly two weeks late with my card for Maureen's 'angels' challenge. I am so sorry, but a combination of being away from home and then coming back unwell has meant I've got behind with some things and am still playing catch up.

I've made a clean and simple card (hope that doesn't sound as if I took the easy route because it wasn't that simple to actually achieve).  I used one of my favourite Inkadinkado angel stamps and the lovely Hampton Art 'thoughts and prayers' sentiment stamp, inking both of them with versamark and heat embossing with sterling silver powder (I can't find my detail silver powder - it isn't in the place where it should be, which I don't understand).

I based the card on the sketch for Atlantic hearts sketch challenge 63:

 I thought the card looked a little too plain and stark with just the angel and the sentiment, so I added some very quick faux stitching doodled roughly with a versamark pen, which I then heat embossed with the sterling silver.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Crafty boots: Christmas in July
Fitztown 43: pick a holiday - Christmas!
Dare to be sassy Thursdays 237: Christmas in July
Timbro scrap mania 98: Christmas in July
Sweet stampin: Christmas in July
Divas by design: things with wings
Just inspirational July: stitching real or faux
Sunday stamper 315: use a greeting
Sweet stamps 177: gold and/or silver
Deep ocean 81: add a sentiment
Scrappy hands 16: using stamps
Fantasy stampers 14: clean and simple
CAS on Sunday 37: one layer wonder
Flat friends 22: 1 layer cards
Sparkle n sprinkle July: anything goes (with embossing powder)
Treasured times 20: anything goes
Red rubber inspirationals 128: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
PumpkinSpice 78: anything goes
Sister act 65
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes

CHNC challenge 185: 'glam it up'

This is my card for my CHNC challenge 185: 'glam it up' - use sparkle, glitter, bling, shine ... anything to 'glam up' your Christmas creation - please click on the link, see what the challenge is all about ... and join in if you can, I'd love to see you there.

I've used some of my favourite Christmas papers - My Mind's Eye 'lost and found' Christmas - these are wonderfully glittered and textured - and they are so versatile as they are double sided. The 3D stickers are Express Yourself DIY - and these are equally 'glammed up'.

Colours and sparkle for Dazzling divas 33:

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
My perfect life festive 48 week 26
Crafty boots: Christmas in July
Fitztown 43: pick a holiday - Christmas!
Dare to be sassy Thursdays 237: Christmas in July
Jingle belles: shopping our stash - all supplies are at least a year old
Shopping our stash bonus challenge with Jingle Belles
Nutcrafters 72: Christmas in July
Simply create too 65: Christmas in July
Hobbybook: Christmas in July
Polka doodles 28: add a twinkle - Christmas
Left of center 36: sparkle
Eclectic ellapu: furry friends
As you like it: do you prefer images of animals or people & why - can't resist animals when they are as cute as this
Pink gem 123: animals
Great impressions July: animal friends
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Deep ocean 81: add a sentiment
My craft creations: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Penny's 185: anything goes
Crafty girls 22: anything goes
Wags n whiskers 133: anything goes
PumpkinSpice 78: anything goes
Sister act 65
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes
DL.ART July anything goes

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' challenge 37: anything goes

This is my design card for Suzy Bee's Bloomin' challenge 37, which is 'anything goes' - please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the team and join in with your entries.

For my card I used Bugaboo Stamps Beautiful Blocks 'thank you', colouring with spectrum noir pens and mounting on to a piece of matt silver card embossed using Embossalicious 'harlequin diamond' folder with my eBosser, mounted on to a DL card blank. I've added some flowers from Hobbycraft.

This is also for:

Everybody art 286: monochrome
Pile it on 27: add some flowers
Crafty catz 239: flowers
AnMaCreatief 34: flowers
Crafters corner July: flowers
DL.ART thankful Thursday 136: thank you
Take a word: butterflies
LiaStampz 68: no patterned paper
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Deep ocean 81: add a sentiment
Creative fingers 43: anything goes
Paper makeup digi make over 148: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Penny's 185: anything goes
Crafty girls 22: anything goes
PumpkinSpice 78: anything goes
Sister act 65
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes

Completely Christmas 20: anything goes

This is my design card for Completely Christmas 20: anything goes - this is sponsored by Di's digi downloads. Please click on the challenge link to join in and also to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team.

For my card I've ued the pre-coloured Di's digi downloads 'Holly Christmas tree', using various offcuts of Hunkydory card with a sentiment from Craftwork cards.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Crafty boots: Christmas in July
Fitztown 43: pick a holiday - Christmas!
Dare to be sassy Thursdays 237: Christmas in July
Jingle belles: shopping our stash - all supplies, including the digi, are at least a year old
Shopping our stash bonus challenge with Jingle Belles
Hobbybook: Christmas in July
As you like it: do you prefer images of animals or people & why - I can't resist both together
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Deep ocean 81: add a sentiment
Fussy & fancy 118: it's all about girls
Moving along with the times: girls just wanna have fun
Corrosive 203: forever young
Fairytale 95: for/with children
We do doobadoo 10: spotty and dotty
DRS 130: big chill - cold theme
Cutie pie 73: use a cute digi
Creative fingers 43: anything goes
Paper makeup digi make over 148: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Penny's 185: anything goes
Crafty girls 22: anything goes
PumpkinSpice 78: anything goes
Sister act 65
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes

What an invention!

For this card I demolished two old cards that I made with backgrounds created with acrylic paint, masks and the gelli plate, using an offcut of shiny green paper with a bit of a texture and some pictures and a sentiment that I've had for ages - the sentiment says 'Birthday wishes' - difficult to see because it's sort of engraved in the matt silver.

You can see one of the cards here and read about how the background was created - and the other is here. I never used them - thought they were both a bit dull - so time to demolish them and put them to better use!

This is for:

Sandee & Amelie's steampunk challenge July: inventions & inventors - I wonder if the inventor of the microchip and computers ever envisaged how commonplace in all areas of life they were to become?
Paperminutes 329: pimp it up, baby - altered one of my own cards
Oddball art: alter something
Everybody art 286: monochrome
Through the purple haze 49: monochromatic
The sisterhood of crafters: birthday
The cupboard trilogy 24: birthday
Scrappy hands 15: create the background
Time 4 scrap 43: anything goes

Friends

This is a simple card made with some striped paper (an offcut from a 12 x 12) from Basic Grey cupcake papers, with another offcut piece used over the top, another offcut used to frame the picture which is from Lili of the Valley's vintage boys art pad.

This is for:

Pixie's snippets week 132

Catered crop: friendship

Eclectic Ellapu: furry friends

Animal friends 16: dog and/or cat

Great impressions July: animal friends

Robyn's fetish 219: animals

Pink gem 123: animals

As you like it: do you prefer images of animals or people & why - tough decision, so both is good!

Corrosive 203: forever young

Fairytale 95: for/with children

Crafty catz 238: stars or stripes or both

Fitztown 42: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 64
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes

From Valentine to Anniversary

When I made this card here I wasn't quite sure what to use it for - whether to give it to John for Valentine's Day.

This is the original card:

Anyway, I decided that it ought to be used, or part of it, so I cut off the front panel, mounting it on to blue mirror card. I found a peel off that was lurking from long ago which seemed to fit well. Everytrhing was then mounted on to a large white card blank.

This is for:

Paperminutes 329: pimp it up, baby - altered one of my own cards
Oddball art: alter something
Craft room: wedding, anniversary
CRAFT 266: anniversary/wedding
Everybody art 286: monochrome
Tok bobok 14: monochrome
Through the purple haze 49: monochromatic
Fitztown 42: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 64

Fan-tastic Tuesday challenge 43: anything goes

This is my design card for Fan-tastic Tuesday challenge 43 - please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the team and join in with us.

The background is from a 'woodland creatures' set by Dawn Bibby that I bought many moons ago (still have loads of it unused). The image is Paper Pretties 'Own always love you' (they are the sponsors of the challenge), coloured with copics and die cut with a Spellbinder marvellous squares, with another die cut from the set in gold mirror. The heart is from a Sizzix die set. The mirror card used for the die cuts were pieces from one of my offcuts box.

This is also for:

Pixie snippets week 132
Die cuttin' divas 173: wedding or anniversary - suitable for husband or wife to give
Craft room: wedding, anniversary
CRAFT 266: anniversary/wedding
The house that stamps built DCC72: fur or winged things
Just us girls 248: bird
Pink gem 123: animals (includes birds)
Graph it markers week 27: anything goes with a marker
Deep ocean 81: add a sentiment
Paper makeup digi make over 148: anything goes
Fitztown 42: anything goes
Aud sentiments 110: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 26: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 64
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes
DL.ART July: anything goes

Guest design slot for the Crazy challenge 175: My summer vacation

This is my design card for my second week as a guest designer for the Crazy challenge. The theme for challenge 175 is My summer vacation. Please click on the link to see the wonderful designs of the DT - and please join in the challenge with your summer holiday creations.

The challenge is being sponsored by Limited runs and I've used their 'beachy cupcakes' image on my card.

Papers are DCWV from a summer range that I've had for some time and the panel over the cupcake is acetate. The pair of die cut flip flops have been in a box for ages.

This is also for:

Craftin desert divas 35: it's summer time
Incy wincy: summertime activities
Hobbybook: summer
Little red wagon 244: summer
Chocolate coffee & cards 68: summer days
Fussy & fancy 117: summertime
Di's digi:s summer fun
Crafty little fairies July: summer fun
Natalie and Amy 22: summertime
Crafty calendar July: summer fun
Kort o mania 111: summer
Come and get it: cool things for summer
Hiding in my craft room 156: think summer
My mums craft shop 19: summer
City crafter 218: let's go to the beach
Digitally sweet 95: day at the beach
Eureka 97: vacation
Stuck on u: in the water die cut challenge (the flipflops are die cuts)
Paper makeup digi make over 148: anything goes
613 avenue create 79: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 22: anything goes
Fitztown 42: anything goes
Aud sentiments 110: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 26: anything goes
My crafty creations: anything goes
Sister act 64
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes

Awesome, fun, wicked!!

I used Hunkydory supplies to make these two quick cards - an up to date theme with the Tour de France taking place!

Colours and theme for Curtain call July:  inspiration: birthday bash:

These are for:

Emerald faeries 57: hip hip hooray, birthday
Artistic inspirations 99: anything goes/going places
Craft your passion 221: on the move/transport
A creative need 21: vacation/travel
Come and get it: cool things for summer (a cool way to travel!)
Wags n whiskers 132: summer fun
Crafty calendar July: summer fun
Scrappers delights 26: anything goes with summertime
Incy wincy: summertime activities
Creative card crew 65: masculine
Deep ocean 81: add a sentiment
613 avenue create 79: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 22: anything goes
Fitztown 42: anything goes
Aud sentiments 110: anything goes
Sisters of craft July: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 26: anything goes
My crafty creations: anything goes
Sister act 64
Crafting by designs July: anything goes
Just keep on crafting July: anything goes
DL.ART July: anything goes

Cheerful stamp pad challenge 90: use a digital background

It's time for Cheerful stamp pad challenge 90: use a digital background - please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and join in our challenge - you have two weeks to do so, but there will be more inspiration from the team next Monday, so please look in then as well.

My card was completely created digitally using images and background papers from Digi Bear's Digi Outlet's Coosty Creations coffee pack. Although I love papers, embellishments, etc, I sometimes like working with digital components, changing sizes and moving around until I've got the desired effect, so I really enjoyed working with these papers and images.

This is also for:

Digi galore: anything goes
Cards galore July: use a stamp or digi
Deep ocean 81: add a sentiment
613 avenue create 79: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 22: anything goes
Time 4 scrap 43: anything goes
Fitztown 42: anything goes
Aud sentiments 110: anything goes
Sisters of craft July: anything goes

The glory of Christmas 37: anything goes

The challenge for the next fortnight for the Glory of Christmas 37 is 'anything goes' (as long as it's Christmas). Please click the link to see the lovely crafting by the rest of the team and join in the challenge. If you haven't yet started to make your Christmas cards now would be a very good time - I can't believe it's July already!

For my card I used some lovely My Mind's Eye papers from their Lost & Found Christmas range (double sided, so extra value). The 3D stickers are Express Yourself DIY and the sentiment is a stray one that's been in a box with lots of others and seems to fit the colour scheme - it says 'with lots of love from Santa' (think that might refer to the gift that the little penguin is carrying - lol!).

This is for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up