Snowy and Frosty ❄️❄️

Hi everyone, I couldn’t let a year go by without binging my favourite ever Christmas stamp, Penny Black ‘Snowy’, out to play. He is just so adorable he melts my heart, and he is also ideal for quick and simple cards as he really doesn’t need much else. 

For my first card I die cut a wavy stitched square of white card, stamped Snowy, then blended Elements inks through a snowflake stencil in the corners. I coloured Snowy with Zig pens (first time I’ve done that!) and Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen on his hat, then ‘grounded’ him with some blended ink and torn paper. I added a couple of small stamped snowflakes and a stamped sentiment, then matted the finished piece onto a card blank - job done!

Here’s an angled pic to show the sparkle.

Stamps: Penny Black Snowy (2521K), Joy, Hope (3898F); Visible Image Let It Snow;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Della Blue, Pink Elephant); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Blue Belle, Arctic); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Craft Addictions UK  Wavy Double Stitched Square die; Crafter’s Companion Winter Sparkle stencil.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Craftlandia #25 - Snowflakes (2nd entry)

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (December) - Use a Stencil (2nd entry)

Die Cut Divas (December) - Christmas/Winter with a Die Cut (4th entry)

Double D - Santa and/or Snowman

Four Seasons (December) - Anything Goes Winter (3rd entry)

Make My Monday #267 - A CAS Quickie Christmas Card (3rd entry) - TOP 3

Papercraft Challenges #125 - Festive Sparkle (3rd entry)

Passion for Markers #818 - Mega Christmas Challenge: Add a Sentiment (2nd entry)

Penny Black Saturday (December) - Anything Goes with option Snow/Snowmen

Simon Says (Monday) - Sparkle and Shine

Word Art Wednesday #730/733 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

For my second card I followed the same process, just using a different stencil and sentiment.

All supplies as per card 1, except sentiment stamp is Penny Black A wish... (3502F), and stencil is Visible Image Frosty.

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #129 - Anything Goes Christmas (4th entry)

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick a Previous Theme (2nd entry)

(I picked February - Masculine Christmas)

Crafts Galore Encore #142 - Anything Goes (2nd entry) - DT FAVOURITE

Creative Crafting Uncles #72 - Christmas and/or Happy New Year (3rd entry)

Inkspirational #357 - Cold (2nd entry)

Little Red Wagon #838 - Christmas Card (2nd entry)

Peace On Earth #102 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Christmas (3rd entry)

Stamps & Fun = Creativity #347 - Snowman

Apart from my husband’s card these are absolutely the last Christmas cards for 2025! 

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Snowflake Wreath ❄️

Hi everyone, I’ve been trying to make a few last minute Christmas cards, so have been seeking designs which are effective without being too complicated. I decided on a snowflake wreath as they are straightforward, but in my opinion very pretty with the Lavinia snowflake stamps. 

I die cut a square of white stamping card using my wavy stitched square die, and created a circle by blending Stormy Sky Distress Oxide ink around a circle mask. I then stamped a variety of snowflakes to form a wreath, using various shades of blue and pink Versafine Clair. At the start I hadn’t decided what I would put inside the wreath, but I decided on a focal sentiment by Penny Black. Finally I added some teeny gems to the snowflake centres, and matted the finished piece onto a card blank.

Stamps: Lavinia Large Snowflakes, Small Snowflakes, Snowflakes; Penny Black

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Stormy Sky); Versafine Clair (Medieval Blue, Bluue Belle, Very Peri, Arctic, Baby Pink, Hawthorn Rose;

Tools: Craft Addictions UK Wavy Double Stitched Square die.

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #129 - Anything Goes Christmas (3rd entry)

613 Avenue Create (December) - Anything Goes with option Sparkle and Shine (2nd entry) - FRONT PORCH WINNER

A Place to Start (December) - Anything Goes with option Winter Things (2nd entry)

As You Like It - Festive Creations

Cardz 4 Galz #265 - Christmas Sparkle - TOP 3

Christmas Kickstart #105 - If It’s Christmassy Link It Up! (3rd entry)

Crafts Galore Encore #142 - Anything Goes

Crafty Calendar (December) - Winter/Christmas (2nd entry)

Four Seasons (December) - Anything Goes Winter (2nd entry)

Girlz Creative Christmas #154 - Anything Goes Christmas (2nd entry)

Peace On Earth #101 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Sparkle and Shine

Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Christmas

Word Art Wednesday #728/729 - Anything Goes (4th entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Joy, Hope and Wonder

Hi everyone, a pretty simple Christmas card from me today. I hadn’t made a wreath card in a while so I hunted out my Mini mistletoe and cracked on!

I created a soft inky circle by blending Green Parrot Elements ink around a circle mask, then stamped my Mini mistletoe multiple times using Grass Green VFC to form a wreath. I added stars around the outside stamped in 2nd generation Morning Mist VFC, then coloured the mistletoe berries and added highlights to the leaves and stars using a clear Stardust pen. Lastly I stamped the focal sentiment (which is one of my favourite old PB stamps), then matted onto pale green glitter card and my card blank.

Here’s an angled pic to show the sparkle.

Despite this being essentially a simple card it turned into a bit of a palaver, as I managed to stamp the sentiment crooked (it’s an old wood-mounted stamp and isn’t perfectly aligned with the image on the block, and I got it even more crooked … oh dear!) Anyhow I managed to rescue it by cutting the card panel down slightly at an angle on all 4 sides, which resulted in a larger border around the matting than originally anticipated but I’m ok with that!

Stamps: Lavinia Mini Mistletoe, Stars 1 Mini; Penny Black Joy, Hope (3898F);

Media: Lavinia Elements ink (Green Parrot); Versafine Clair (Grass Green, Rainforest, Mornings Mist); Sakura Stardust pen (clear).

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #127 - Anything Christmas Goes with option Snowfall (2nd entry)

Addicted to Stamps & More #502 - Christmas (3rd entry)

Classic Design Challenge #9 2025 - Anything Goes with option Trees and/or Leaves (2nd entry)

Everybody Art #586 - Stars and/or Stripes

Girlz Creative Christmas #145 - Anything Goes Christmas (2nd entry)

The Holly and Ivy #193 - Anything Christmas Goes 

Little Red Wagon #827 - H is for Holidays (2nd entry)

Merry Little Christmas #64 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

Moving Along With the Times #182 - Sentiment as Focus

Peace On Earth #97 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

Sweet Stampin’ - Feature a Sentiment (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #718/719 - Anything Goes (4th entry)

That’s all from me for today - take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Double Trouble #172 Guest Designer - Partnering with If You Give a Crafter a Cookie.

Hi everyone, I was thrilled to be asked to be a “Crazy Cousin” (aka Guest Designer) for Double Trouble Challenge for the month of August. I even have my own personalised “Crazy Cousin” clip art created for me by the lovely Suzanne … how cool is that?

So here I am with my first Crazy Cousin make for Double Trouble Challenge #172 which runs until August 15th, partnering with If You Give a Crafter a Cookie Challenge.

Let the Troubles begin!

Full details of all the “Things” and inspiration from the Design team can be found over on the Double Trouble blog, where you can also link up your entries.

In brief, to join in, simply:

1. Follow the theme of Thing 1 Trouble Maker: What Makes You Happy

2.  You can stop there, OR you can also play along with Thing 3 Twisted Sister Optional Twist: Include a Smile to earn another chance in the random draw

3. Double Dare: If you have made a Happy card (whether or not you have included a smile) you are eligible to enter your project over at the  If You Give a Crafter a Cookie Challenge #195 - Be Happy … and earn another chance in the Double Trouble random draw. 

Note:  If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #195 is open until the end of August, but partnering with Double Trouble ends on August 15th. 

Here’s my card for the challenge.

I went a bit off piste with this one, as I think the adorable vintage PB stamp “Snowy” is possibly the only one I have that includes a smile. I really thought he was suitable for this challenge though, as he fills my heart with joy… and I also reflected the idea of joy with the sentiment. I read somewhere that Snowy is Penny Black’s best ever selling stamp and I think it’s easy to see why … just look at his adorable smiling face!

I stamped Snowy onto Neenah Crest stamping card and coloured him with Promarkers, then die cut him out with a deckle edge rectangle die,  edged the piece with blended Elements ink, and stamped some snowflakes in the top corner with various pastel shades of Versafine Clair.  I layered up some gorgeous but very old designer papers on a 6” square card and attached the image panel slightly off centre. I die cut two snowflake corners from pearlised white card and attached, then stamped, cut out and attached the sentiment.  Finally I decorated Snowy’s hat and the ground with Stickles to add sparkle, and added a few iridescent gems to the centres of the stamped snowflakes.

Stamps: Penny Black Snowy (2521K), Joy, Hope (3898F); Lavinia Snowflakes, Snowflakes Large;

Media: Memento ink (Tuxedo Black); Versafine Clair (Arctic, Very Peri, Hawthorn Rose, Lilac Bloom, Medieval Blue); Promarkers; Lavinia Elements ink (Della Blue); Stickles (Stardust); Posca pen (white);

Papers: LotV Frozen Snowflakes; Crafter’s Companion Ombré Glitter card;

Tools: Memory Box Snowflake Corner die; unbranded deckle rectangle die.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Dragonfly Dreams (July) - Christmas in July (2nd entry)

Dream Valley #319 - Christmas In July

FarmQuest Country Christmas #10 - Anything Goes Outdoors Christmas (2nd entry)

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #166 - Anything Christmas Goes

I ❤️ Promarkers #563 - Anything Goes - WINNER

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #195 - Be Happy

(I was inspired by the smile)

Little Red Wagon #767 - Christmas In July

Peace On Earth #68 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

Penny Black Saturday Challenge (July) - Anything Goes - TOP 3

{PIN}spirational #316 - Die Cuts

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday #659/660 - Anything Goes

Looking forward to seeing your makes. Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Daffy Duckling

Hi everyone, I’m still in the groove with springtime images and colours, and I see that this week’s challenge at Allsorts is to use yellow, so I decided to make an Easter card with this adorable Penny Black duckling stamp …  I’ve had him forever and he still has an outing most years! Sadly the weather here today is anything but spring-like - it is really dark and miserable, so please excuse the rather dull picture! 

I cut a small square of stamping card, stamped my duckling and coloured him with Zig pens, then added some soft cloud stencilling using Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide ink. I cut a stitched square frame and applied soft yellow stencilling using my Lavinia Leaf Trails stencil and Sundance Elements ink. I attached my image panel behind the aperture and attached the whole frame to a 6” square card blank, then added some die cut flowers and foliage and a stamped and cut out greeting.

Stamps: Penny Black Duckling (3347H), Happy Easter (2855D);

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Tumbled Glass); Lavinia Elements ink (Sundance); Versafine Clair (Nocturne); Kuretake Zig Clean Colour watercolour brush pens;

Tools: Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched Squares dies; Joy! Crafts flower die 6003/0024; unbranded foliage die; Lavinia Leaf Trails stencil; home made cloud stencil.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Allsorts #771 - Use Yellow

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (March) - Use Stencils with option Easter/Spring

Creative Moments #256 - Flora and Fauna

Cutie Pie #192 - Easter/Mother's Day

Double D - First Signs of Spring (2nd entry)

FarmQuest Country Store #14 - Anything Farm or Country Goes

Make My Monday #221 - Spring - Flowers, Weather, Young Animals etc. - TOP 3

Paper Funday #63 - Anything Goes with option The Dies Have It

Penny Black Saturday Challenge (March) - Anything Goes with option Easter

Simon Says (Monday) - Bright and Cheerful (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Add a Sentiment (2nd entry)

Stamping Sensations (March) - Spring (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #637/638 - Anything Goes (7th entry)

Worldwide Crafters and Colourists #14 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Here’s hoping the weather will soon pick up to match the spring vibes! Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

I Spy With My Little Eye #11

Hi everyone, it may seem like only the blink of an eye since Christmas, but already it's the third Wednesday in the month which means it's time for a new I Spy With My Little Eye... challenge over at Ellibelle's Corner.  Thanks so much to everyone who joined in last time … please do check over on Ellie’s blog to see if you are one of our top picks. 

Ellie has chosen the challenge theme this month, and it is

I Spy With My Little Eye 

 Hearts and/or Roses 

We hope you will agree this is a perfect theme with Valentine's Day just around the corner, and of course it is also suitable for anniversaries and various other loving occasions, so we hope you can join us. Please do pop over to Ellie's blog to see her fab creation and link up your entries here. 

We also have two guest designers this month - that's Helen and Rosi - so please do click on their names to visit their posts and see their wonderful interpretations of this month’s challenge theme.

Here's my card for the challenge.

This theme immediately made me think of Valentine's Day, but in one respect that was a bit difficult as I never publish cards for my husband on here before I have given them to him. The obvious and neat solution to this was to make him a generic romantic card just because I can!

I cut a square of white stamping card and stencilled the heart frame using Elements ink. I stamped the cute pup and coloured him with Zig watercolour pens, then added a little Wink of Stella to the rose. I stamped the sentiment onto separate card, cut out and attached popped up on foam tape, then stamped a few roses onto a separate snippet of card, coloured with Zig pens, fussy cut and attached with silicone glue to give a little dimension. Pretty simple really, but I think men like that!

Here's a closeup to show the sparkle on the roses.

Stamps: Penny Black clear sets Critter Party, Every Which Way; sentiment - Lavinia Rose Set;

Media: Lavinia Elements ink (Blue Lagoon); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Medieval Blue); Kuretake Zig watercolour brush pens; Wink of Stella;

Tools: Heart stencil from The Range;

Challenges I would like to enter:

Allsorts #763 - Make Your Own Background

Art Impressions #366 - Anything Goes

Crafty Animals #79 - Anything Goes With an Animal

Crafty Catz #663 - Anything Goes with option No Designer Paper

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (January) - Use a Stencil (2nd entry)

Daisy Chain #81 - No Design Paper (2nd entry)

Double D - Sparkle and/or Shine

Inkspirational #307 - Use Stencils - TOP PICK

Penny Black Saturday Challenge (January) - Anything Goes

Simon Says (Monday) - Sparkle and Shine

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Cute Critters (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #631/632 - Anything Goes

The I Spy challenge will end on the Sunday before the next challenge starts at 23:59 US Central Time - so this time that is Sunday February 18th, and the next challenge will begin on Wednesday February 21st. 

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Dream Factory #123 - GDT spot

Hi everyone, following a recent win I was delighted to be asked to be a Guest Designer for the December challenge over at The Dream Factory - a challenge blog where the themes are always based on movies.

The Design Team would love for you to head over to the current challenge, where this month the inspiration film is

Cobalt Blue

The challenge this time is based purely on the film title, so the theme is

*** Anything Goes with the Colour Blue ***

I love using the colour blue in crafting and especially at Christmas time, so this theme was right up my street! Here's my GDT card - I have tried to stick as close to cobalt blue as possible!

I stamped my beloved old faithful Penny Black stamp "Snowy" onto a square of Neenah super-smooth card and coloured him with Promarkers, then added sparkle to his hat with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen. Snowy is one of my oldest stamps and is still a favourite - he gets an outing every year. I added background stencilling using a fabulous new AALL & Create stencil that I just had to have after noticing it being used in an inspiring recent post by Brenda, then stamped another old favourite Penny Black sentiment. I added a few teeny gems to the snowflake centres and matted the panel onto cobalt blue card stock.

Stamps: Penny Black Snowy (2521K), A wish... (3502F);

Media: Promarkers (China Blue, Cobalt Blue, Powder Blue, Cool Grey 1-3); Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Blueprint Sketch); Memento ink (black); Versafine Clair (Medieval Blue); 

Tools: AAL & Create stencil #221 Snow Crystals.

Challenges I would like to enter:

ABC Christmas - Y is for Your Choice (Anything Goes) - TOP 10

Allsorts #758 - Something Beginning With “B” (3rd entry) 

(blue, bobble hat!)

Christmas with the Cuties #11 - Something Cute and Christmassy (2nd entry)

Crazy Is our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (December) - Use a Stencil with option Christmas - TOP 3

Ellibelle’s Crafty Wednesday (December) - Anything Goes - TOP PICK

Fab ‘n’ Funky #586 - Christmas

Festive Friday - Christmas (2nd entry)

Little Red Wagon #735 - Christmas

Lost Coast Portal to Creativity #180 - In the Deep Midwinter (5th entry)

Mix It Up #68 - Anything Goes with option Stamping (2nd entry)

Paper Funday #60 - Anything Goes with option Snowman and/or Birds

Passion For Markers #719 - Add a Sentiment

Penny Black Saturday Challenge (December) - Anything Goes with option Christmas

Sisterhood of Crafters - Christmas

Stamping Sensations (December) - Favourite Colours (2nd entry)

(I love blue, particularly for Christmas cards)

Word Art Wednesday #625/626 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Anything handmade that follows the theme is eligible for the challenge - eg. cards, ATC's, bookmarks, tags, art journal pages - so we hope to see you over at the challenge here - have fun!

I'd also like to thank Rosi for inviting me to be Guest Designer this time.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

I Spy With My Little Eye #7

Hi everyone, the last month has flown by, and it’s time again already for a new I Spy With My Little Eye... challenge over at Ellibelle's Corner.  Thanks so much to everyone who joined in last time … please do check over on Ellie’s blog to see if you are one of our top picks. 

Without further ado, our challenge theme for this month is 

I Spy With My Little Eye 

Something On or From a Farm

Please do pop over to Ellie's blog to see her fab farmyard creation and link up your entries here. 

We also have a guest designer this month so please feel free to visit Loopyloocards post to see her lovely interpretation of this theme. 

If you’re thinking that the new challenge seems to have come round very quickly you are right … we normally start on the 3rd Wednesday of the month but this time we are starting 2 days early on Monday. Why?? I hear you ask … well this month we are partnering with Double Trouble Challenge #148, so we are tying in with their timescale.

The 2 challenges are still separate, but you have the option that if you also follow the Double Trouble theme of using a punch and/or dies, you can enter the Double Trouble challenge #148 up to October 1st.

Here’s my card for the challenge.

When I had a root through my stash I was rather surprised to find only two stamps of farm animals, and one of those was an Easter themed duck!! That being the case the focal image for this card was a bit of a no-brainer for me, and is this adorable vintage Penny Black cow.

I decided that rather than stamp her onto white space I would incorporate her into a little countryside scene. In my imagination she is sitting in a field with rolling hills of the Derbyshire countryside in the background - though I have to say I can’t recall ever being presented with a bouquet by a cow when out on a countryside walk!!

I lightly marked the placement of the circle, then stamped the cow and masked her. I then used a Lavinia circle mask, hill masks and a home made cloud mask to create a background circle with blended Distress Oxide inks. I cut a paper version of the mask which enabled me to stamp to the edge of the circle, then added stamped trees with foliage, gate and fence, lavender, grasses and birds. I removed the mask and coloured the cow with Promarkers and Flexmarkers, then added a stamped sentiment and a hare in the opposite corner. I cut out the panel using a stitched square die, then matted onto a larger stitched square of green card stock and my card blank.

Stamps: Penny Black Bundle of Wishes (2612H); Lavinia Trees, Small Trees, Skeleton Tree Scene, Spring Trees, Gate and Fence, Wild Hares (large), Bird Collection, Birds; AALL & Create #533 Bring On the Sentiments;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Tumbled Glass, Mowed Lawn, Bundled Sage); Promarkers and Flexmarkers; Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Pinecone, Shady Lane, Verdant); Versafine (Vintage Sepia); Memento ink (Black); Lavinia Elements ink (Violet Chalk);

Tools: Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched Square dies; Lavinia circle and hill masks.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Corrosive Challenge #9 2023 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Crafting Happiness #146 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Crafts Galore Encore #115 - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers #261 - Anything Goes

Double Trouble #148 Things 1 & 3 - Punch/die and Use a Farm animal

(I always take a cup of tea into my craft room or my cards would end up all wonky!)

Penny Black Saturday Challenge (September) - Anything Goes (use Penny Black)

Simon Says (Monday) - What’s Your Favourite Colour?

  (I love pink, but then again I love the colours of nature blue and green (grass and sky) .. so they are all here!)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Make It Cute

Simply Create Too #194 - Use Stamps (2nd entry)

We Love Stamping (September) - Trees and Leaves (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #613/614 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

The I Spy challenge will end on the Sunday before the next challenge starts at 23:39 US Central Time - so this time that is Sunday October 15th, and the next challenge will begin on Wednesday October 18th. 

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,