Penny Black Saturday #133 and 1st Crafty Calendar DT card

Good morning, and I hope you're having a great weekend. I have lots to share today, as not only is it the first challenge of 2011 for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge, but also today is my first DT card for the monthly Crafty Calendar Challenge!

So taking things one step at a time ......

Penny Black Saturday Challenge #133

Thanks so much to everyone who found time amongst the Christmas preparations to take part in the last challenge of 2010 - there were some stunning entries as always. Don't forget to check whether you won a prize on the main challenge blog.

The DT is now raring to go with a whole load of new challenges for 2011, and this week we would like to see projects on the theme of

New Beginnings

As always you can interpret his however you like - the only rules are that you must link to a new project which uses a Penny Black image, large sentiment or stickeroo as the main project focus.

This week we have not one but THREE fantasic prizes for three randomly drawn winners.

Firstly we have a new monthly sponsor - The Ribbon Girl


- who is offering the following prize.


Secondly our regular sponsor 1-2-3 Stitch is offering a $20 prize voucher to spend in their online store ...

And last but not least, I am offering a prize of this gorgeous Penny Black wooden stamp "Aspire"



(if you would like to see a couple of example cards using this stamp, click here and here ... the more observant amongst you may also notice that this stamp appears in my blog header :-))

The rest of the DT have made some gorgeous samples - hope you will visit them to have a look. Here is my card for this week.


Recipe:
Main image: Penny Black "Basket of Joy" (2075F), coloured with Promarkers;
Sentiment: LotV sentiment circles;
Papers: baby blue gingham by Craft Creations; floral patterned gingham free with an old craft magazine;
Supplies: heart buttons were a Christmas present from my dear friend Kaz; ribbon from my stash;
Tools: small, large and lacy circles nestabilities; Martha Stewart "eyelet lace" PATP.

I would like to enter this card for:

Simon Says - New Beginnings
Creative Card Crew - New Beginnings
Quirky Crafts #1 - New Beginnings
Order of the Opus Gluei #84 - It's a New Year, Baby
Stampin' for the Weekend - New & Blue
Cute Card Thursday #146 - Out With the Old
(I have used an old image from an image swap, old ribbon from stash and paper from a very old craft magazine)
Delightful Challenges - Buttons
Sketch & Stash #52

Crafters' Companion #8 - sketch + option of Something New(thanks to Lisa for the heads up on this one!)

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Crafty Calendar Challenge - January

I am really excited to have joined the Crafty Calendar DT for the New Year, and this is my first DT card.

The Crafty Calendar Challenge for January runs until 8pm GMT on Friday 4th February, and again is on the theme of

New Beginnings
with an optional extra of punched borders.

This month we have a wonderful prize from our sponsor and this month's guest designer Janet at Pink Gem Designs.

which is the pack of digi papers "Oh Boy"
It must be such a rare occurrence for two DT cards to fall due on the same day with the same theme, that I must admit I was tempted to combine both into one card ... but no!! I made the effort, and here is another baby card ... this time for a girl :-)

Recipe:
Main image: Penny Black "dream a dream" (3615H) coloured with Copics and Promarkers;
Sentiment: LotV sentiment circles;
Paper: from my stash;
Supplies: all flowers from Wild orchid Crafts; sparkly ribbon from Kaz; velvet ribbon and peel off corners from my stash;
Tools: small circles, large circles and labels nestabilities.

I would also like to enter this one for

Dutch Dare #94 - New BeginningsTuesday Taggers - A New Beginning
Creative Cottage #30 - Something New
(New baby, new WOC flowers, new LotV sentiment)
Rainbow Lady #134 - It's All New to Me
(new items as above)
Teddy Stampers #27 - Celebrations!
Secret Crafter #116 - Tons of Texture
Fab 'n' Funky #54- Anything Goes

Hope you will be able to join in both of these challenges - look forward to seeing your creations!

Have a great weekend.