Penny Black Challenge #64 - Christmas

Ok, so it's time to 'fess up .... who's well ahead with their Christmas card makes ?? Hmmm .... thought not lol! Well now's your perfect opportunity to put a dent in that deficit, because this week we have a great new Penny Black Saturday Challenge for you, which is

Christmas

Yep! It's time to look out those Christmas stamps and papers if you haven't done so already :-) The only rule is that we would like to see a Penny Black stamp or sticker somewhere on your creation.

This week we have a fabulous Christmassy prize for you from our regular sponsor - Dick at PB Stamps.

It is this gorgeous cute PB stamp - "Happy and Cool".
The DT have been as busy as Santa's little helpers, weaving some Christmas PB magic ... so please do pop over to their blogs for a look see. And don't forget to check out who won last week's prize .. there were as always some wonderful creations for last week's challenge and not a dropped stitch in sight !!

Here's my card - I thought I would try a "highlight" image, though if I'm honest when I come to look at it, this particular image doesn't have enough colour contrast to make the most of it ... but I was carried away by the nestie shape which I thought looked quite like the carolling sheets.

Recipe:
Main image: Penny Black "Carolling hedgehogs" which was an RAK:
Sentiment: Craftwork Cards "Oh My Words" (I seem to be really into these at the moment!!)
Supplies: flowers & leaves from Prima "Christmas bubble"; Papermania pearl brads & red gemstones; paper and ribbon from my stash.
Tools: Nestabilities curved rectangles.

As always we look forward to seeing your creations - hope you all have a great weekend, and a good bank holiday if you're here in the UK .... fa la la la la ...la ... la ... la ... la !!

Henry does the combo (again!) ... and 3 lovely awards

Last night I managed to make a card that I'd like to enter into four challenges.

1. I followed the sketch for Papertake Weekly #22 which was great to work with.
2. Whiff of Joy #45 is bling - I have used glitter card for my swirls, and also Papermania silver gems for decoration and Stickles to decorate the cupcake (now I have a little confesion here .... I had a couple of little accidents with this card and so there is rather more bling on it than I originally intended to cover up my mistakes lol!)
3. BasicGrey #2 is a colour combo - pink, brown and yellow. Given that my colour scheme is pretty much pink & brown, I just thanked God that Henry is holding a lit candle !!
4. Stamp Something this week is Birthday Somethings

Recipe:
Main image: WOJ "Henry Mouse" which was an RAK from Marcea - coloured with watercolour pencils and Stickles;
Sentiment: Craftwork Cards "Oh My Words!";
Papers: BasicGrey "Bittersweet";
Supplies: Flowers by Poppicraft, Papermania and from stash; Papermania silver gemstones; heart charm from Dolls Made Up;
Tools: Sizzix swirl.
I have also been lucky enough to receive the following 3 fabulous awards from my blogging friends. I'd love to pass them all on to everybody, and I'm totally confuddled by now as to what the rules are for which one, so I've just kinda leapt in regardless lol!!

The first one is from Lyn (Spyder) .....


I would love to pass this one on to all the wonderful members of the PBSC DT - that is Beth, Carole, Debbie, Domi, Jackie, Jacqui, Kath, Marcea, Nat & Tracie.

The second one from Helen ....
.. which I would love to pass on to Linda, Sharon, Lyn, Elaine,

... and the third from Lovely Linda
which I would like to pass on to all the blogging members of a little friendship club I'm in ... namely Helen, Squirrel, Carol, Karen , Cathy, Samantha and Jo.


Woo hoo - I'm really thrilled - so thanks :-)

Penny Black Challenge #63 - Stitching

Another week gone, and it's time for another Penny Black Saturday Challenge. Thanks everyone for your entries for last week's colour challenge - an unusual colour combo, and there were some fabulous cards. Hope you will check back with the challenge blog later to see who has won last week's yummy prize pack by Simply Create.

This week we have a change of pace, as we would like to see a particular feature on your projects, namely

Stitching

This can be real or faux, so it's time to get out your needles and pins (or pens!) and see what you can produce. The only other rule is that we must be able to see a PB stamp or sticker somewhere on your project to qualify for the prize .... talking of which, this week's prize is 2 fab sets of PB stickeroos kindly donated by Tracie.

Here's my card for this week. Don't forget to check out the other DT members' cards for some brilliant inspiration.

Recipe:

Main image: Penny Black "Team Effort" (3980K);

Sentiments: Penny Black "Salutations" transparent set (front); Penny Black "great day" (3419D) inside;

Papers: K&Co "Wild Raspberry";

Supplies: ivory crocheted ribbon and "Friends" charm from Quixotic Paperie; flowers by Floradoodles; Doodlebug sugar coated brads; pearls from my stash;

Tools: pricking tool and ruler to make holes for faux stitching; Martha Stewart "Valentine lace" edge punch; main image shape cut using mega deckle rectangle nesties.

And here's the inside .... I decided to use a cute little charm to fill the space on my smallest mega rectangle, as it is a very long and narrow shape. I've never used a charm inside a card before, but I rather like it :-)

Hope you will find time to join in this week - look forward to seeing your creations. have a lovely weekend!

Sketch Saturday does Christmas in August

I've not been to work today as I've not been too well with stomach ache - pottered lazily around the house for most of the day, but later on I tried to make a card to take my mind off it (it didn't work lol!!)

I have made this card using the fab sketch for this week's Sketch Saturday Challenge #64.

It's also good for me that there are so many Christmas challenges around at the moment, as I'm very behind with my Christmas cards. There are also some fabulous prizes on offer right now! I'd like to enter this card for the following:

Christmas in August - this is the theme over at Our Creative Corner, Creative Card Crew #24, Simon Says Stamp and Dutch Dare #58

Papertake Weekly - this week they have reached their 100th challenge (well done ladies!) so have challenged us to take your pick from the previous 99 challenges - I have chosen Let It Snow... Let It Snow... Let it Snow (17/11/2008).

Pollycraft #22 - Favourite things ... I have used a Penny Black image - PB's are of course my all time favourites (as you will see all too well in my labels list!) , plus my nesties which are something else I can't manage without!

Pile It On #11 - oh boy! ... well it is blue and it's a snowman lol!

Woo hoo - that's 8 altogether!!

Recipe:

Main image: Penny Black (sorry don't know what it's called as it was an RAK) - coloured with watercolour pencils and decorated with diamond Stickles;

Sentiment: Craftwork Cards "Oh My Words!";

Supplies: snowflake papers, pearlised and holographic card, organza snowflake ribbon - all from my stash; sparkly brads by Doodlebug;

Tools: martha Stewart embossed snowflake edge punch; small snowflakes die cut using Cuttlebug snowflakes die.

Off to put my feet up now - hoping I feel a bit better tomorrow!

Penny Black Challenge #62 - colour scheme

Saturday has come around again so quickly, which means that it's time again for another Penny Black Saturday Challenge. Thanks so much to everyone who entered last week using Beth's fab sketch - there were some brilliant interpretations ... and of course not forgetting that if you check back on the challenge blog you may find you have won last week's prize from 1-2-3 Stitch!

This week we have a colour challenge for you - yes, we would like to see a card that primarily uses the following colours:

Blue, cream and tan

As always you can interpret this however you like in your project, so long as we can see a Penny Black stamp or sticker somewhere on your creation. Don't forget to check out the other DT cards - there are some totally gorgeous creations this week.

This week's prize consists of the following yummy selection of October Afternoon papers, alphabets, die cut stickers & rubber charms from Simply Create

Here's my card - I struggled a bit with this colour combo initially, but hopefully I got there in the end (gave me an excuse to buy some new paper and bazzill bling cardstock lol!!)

And the inside .....

Recipe:
Main image : Penny Black "Cheesecake Wish" (1652J), which was an RAK from my lovely friend Karen;
Sentiments: Penny Black "Happy Birthday" (2912D) (front); ge studio (inside);
Papers: BasicGrey "Granola";
Supplies: various shades of Bazzill bling and non-bling cardstock; flowers by Prima; paper tea roses from Hobbycraft; lace by Quixotic Paperie; butterfly charm from Dolls Made Up;

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend, and look forward to seeing your creations :-)

Take time to smell the roses

Just a very quick post from me this morning, as I'm a little last minute with this for a couple of challenges lol!

I have followed this week's sketch over at Sketch Saturday for this friendship card.

I would also like to enter for One Stop Craft Challenge #41 - roses, and ABC - A is for anything Goes, with the option of Animals

Recipe:

Main image: Penny Black from transparent set "Hugs", coloured with watercoloru pencils and roses decorated with Stickles;

Sentiment: Elusive Images;

Paper: BasicGrey "Sugared";

Supplies: Prima flower; paper tea roses from Hobbycraft; lace from Quixotic Paperie; pearls and ribbons from my stash;

Tools: pink pearlescent cardstock embossed using Cuttlebug "Birds & Swirls" folder; leaves punched using Leone Em "Ash Branch" punch.

Mum's birthday combo

Last night I made my mum's birthday card .. her birthday isn't until Thursday, but as she doesn't own a computer I think I'm fairly safe posting it on here lol!

This card is actually very similar to one I made about three weeks ago ... I love this particular stamp (whch I've never yet used to make my mum a card!) and these papers, also I thought my mum would like this kind of design;so I just went with it with a few small differences from my previous effort.

I'd like to enter this card for a few challenges:

Stamp With Fun #19 - Birthdays
Secret Crafter #44 - cute as a bug - well my paper is covered with dragonflies, and I have used a couple of cute dragonfly brads and a li'l silver butterfly charm :-)
Stamp Something - Charmed somethings - I'm really crossing my fingers with this one, as the prize is sponsored by Quixotic Paperie which has THE most fabulous lace and charms ... I was lucky enough to win some another time, but they're so lovely I'm quickly working my way through them lol!
Papertake Weekly - Four Seasons - this card makes me think of summer with the wisteria, dragonflies and butterfly ...

Here's a picture that tries to capture the shine and sparkle of the embossing and glamour dust, but sadly there wasn't a lot of light this morning.

And the inside ...

Recipe:

Main image: Penny Black "Fanfare"(3946K) embossed in detail silver, coloured with Marvey brushstroke pens and decorated with glamour dust;

Sentiments: Craftwork Cards "Oh my Words!"; letters cut from pearlescent white card using Cuttlebug "Hippie Chick" alphabet;

Papers: BasicGrey "Wisteria";

Supplies: mulberry paper flowers & pearl brads by Papermania; charm from Dolls Made Up; punched borders using Martha Stewart "doily lace" edge punch; dragonfly brads & ribbon from my stash.

Hope everyone is having a good evening, and thanks for looking :-)

Sugar Bowl #16 - Marlene's Sketch ... and Happy birthday to Heffa!

Here is my birthday card for my great bloggy friend Helen - I actually made it several days ago but didn't want to publish it until now because today (Monday) is her birthday and she is one of my most loyal visitors and commenters :-) (thanks hun!!)

So that being the case, it's a good job I chose to make this card in line with the theme for this fortnight's Sugar Bowl challenge #16, which is still open and is Marlene's sketch + the option of "doodling".

And here's a pic of the inside .....

Recipe:

Main image: Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girl "Sitting", coloured with watercolour pencils;

Sentiments: Craftwork Cards "Oh My Words!";

Papers: not sure but think they are My Mind's Eye;

Supplies: flowers - mixture of Prima and Floradoodle; charm from Quixotic paperie; Doodlebug sugar coated brad; ribbon and lace from my stash;

Tools: Leone Em "Ash Family" leaf punch; Martha Stewart "Doily Lace" edge punch.

Actually I was a bit embarrassed when I finished this card .. my white gel pen was acting up so Ikept going over it .. then I walked away and came back and found it had dried VERY white!! Oh dear! So my card does contain a bit of a grovelling apology but I hope we all agree it's the thought that counts (!)

Penny Black Challenge #61 - Sketch by Beth

Yippee! The weekend's here again, which means it's time again already for another Penny Black Saturday Challenge. You may have noticed (or maybe not!) that I didn't take part in the DT last week as I was on holiday the previous week ... too busy enjoying the summer to make a summer card lol!! But I hope all the fantastic summery entries you made last week have put you in the holiday mood - don't forget as always to check the blog to see who won last week's prize.

This week we have a special treat for you - a fabulous sketch by my teamie Beth. I totally loved working with this, and I'm sure you will too.

This week we also have a fantastic prize by our new regular sponsor:

a $20 gift certificate to spend in their online shop.

I strongly recommend you get over there regardless of whether you win or not ... I wasn't aware of this shop before but it has a humungous selection of Penny Black stamps including some unusual ones, and at very reasonable prices .. so what's not to like??

Anyhow .... onto my card. This is a friendship card I made for Karen, who I have been chatting to online for about a year but who I met last week for the first time when we both visited the Gitterpot. I tried to use some of the new stash I bought during my visit too, to remind us of a happy day.

I also partly replicated the sketch on the inside ...

Recipe:

Main image: Penny Black "bunny bath" (3616J) * coloured with watercolour pencils:

Sentiments: Penny Black - front - "...second self" (3386D); inside "...Smiling" (2909E);

Papers: My Mind's Eye "Bloom & Grow", decorated with faux stitching & a teeny bit of doodling; shimmery cardstock from Papermania "gemstones" pack;

Supplies: flower on front cut from MME paper and decoupaged, fixed with spacer from The Hobby House and pearl brad from stash; Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative strip - swirly * ; "Friends" charm from Quixotic Paperie; dragonfly brad and zoomz from my stash.

(Items marked * were from my trip with Karen to The Glitterpot)

Looking forward to see your creations - hope you will visit the other DT blogs too to check out their fabulous sample cards.

Have a great weekend!

Flowers, lace and sparkle galore!

Well, having got back from a week's holiday yesterday evening, I've had one more day off work today before getting back to business tomorrow ... so inbetween feeding the washing machine all day long I have been getting back to the business of cardmaking! I've been at it all day long and yet somehow have managed to make only 2 cards ... I'm normally pretty slow but not sure what's happened today!

The first card I made must stay behind the scenes for now as it is my PBSC DT card; but here's the second one I made, using stash both old and new including one of the stamps I bought last week on my visit to The Glitterpot.

For this card I followed the sketch over at Secret Crafter Challenge #43 ... it would be rude not to seeing as I found out this morning I won their monthly random draw whilst I was away ... woo hoo and thankyou!!
I would also like to enter this card for

One Stop Craft Challenge #40 - Swirls and Pearls: my floral stamp and paper both have swirly elements in the design, and my background embossing is using the Cuttlebug "Birds and Swirls" folder (first time out even though I've had it quite a while .. tut tut!!) I have used pearls both in the flower centre and edging decorations.
My Time to Craft #71 - floral frenzy
Dutch Dare #57 - lace on your card
Creative Inspirations #14 - Bling! and
Daring Cardmakers - Bejewelled Bliss! Both of these would like to see bling or sparkle - well I have got a few iridescent gems on the corners of the card, and it is also quite sparkly as I coloured my stamp with Twinkling H2O's and Cosmic Shimmer paints. Also my embossing is done onto iridescent pink card - fabulous how it changes colour when it catches the light!

And here's a close up to try to capture the iridescence and sparkle!

And the inside....

Recipe:

Main image: Penny Black "Day-Dreams", heat embossed with detail gold powder and coloured with Cosmic Shimmers and Twinkling H2O's;
Sentiments: Craftwork Cards "Oh My Words!";

Paper: Magenta; iridescent pink card from Edwin Allen;

Supplies: gold lace from Quixotic Paperie; gold spacer from The Hobby House; Papermania iridescent gems; flowers, pearls and dragonfly brad from my stash.

( Main image stamp, sentiments and paper all from The Glitterpot)

Well having done all this washing I guess I'd better get down to some serious ironing ... work tomorrow (sigh!). Have a good evening!

Happy holidays at the Glitterpot!

I've just got back today from a week's holiday in Kent - never visited that part of the world before: we had a lovely time, staying at a gorgeous boutique hotel in Royal Tunbridge Wells called the Brew House hotel , and visiting various places around Kent and East Sussex.

One of the highlights had to be the day that my husband went fishing, and I drove over to The Glitterpot, where I also met my crafty friend Karen for the first time. We have been online friends for over a year in a small friendship club started through a shared love of Penny Black stamps, so it was brilliant to finally get to meet. And what better place than the Glitterpot, which has got (amongst many other fabulous things) the biggest selection of PB stamps I have ever seen in one physical place. Karen is lucky enough to live about 20 miles from the Glitterpot so it wasn't her first visit, though I think I will probably have to revert to online ordering from now on lol!

So here we are - that's me on the left, and Karen on the right. You will notice that we had to get pictured surrounded by PB stamps - what you can see there is only a small selection of the whole!!

All in all we had a fab time - shopping ... chatting and getting to know each other .. and chatting with the lovely GP staff. All I need to do now is get going with some cardmaking to use my new acquisitions - hope to be back soon with my first post-holiday card, and also catch up with some blog hopping. Luckily I'm not back in work until Tuesday :-)

hope you've all had a great weekend!