New Pink Gem Challenge - For the Boys

It's time for another challenge at A Gem of a Challenge and this time our theme is - 'for the boys'.  You can find all the details about the challenge and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the blog.

For my card I've used the 'Josh on Bike' digi from Pink Gem which you can find here - the background is one of the designs from the 'Background Papers' digi pack which you can find here.  Finally the backing paper is from the 'Sugar Kraft' digi collection which you can find here.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge Blog - 'young card for a little one'

Stampin for the Weekend - 'happy birthday'

Charisma Cardz - 'it's a boy thing'

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - 'use any sentiment'

Just Inspirational Challenge - 'children'

Dream Valley Challenges - 'boys/men'

Winter Wonderland - 'use a dog on your creation'

Cardz 4 Guyz - 'happy birthday'

New from Little Claire - Hot Air Balloons

Another two brand new stamps have been launched this week by Little Claire and today I'm sharing a card made with one of them 'Hot Air Balloons'.  You can find the stamp here on the Little Claire website.

The great thing about the stamp is that it comes in four separate pieces - the three balloons and the grass at the bottom so it can be stamped in lots of different combinations.  Plus it's perfect for a bit of masking which is what I've done with my card - I've masked the two largest balloons and then stamped one of the medium sized ones and two of the smallest.  I've also used the sentiment from one of the other new stamps, the very cute 'Up, Up and Away' which is here.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Sister Act Card Challenge - 'anything goes'

Red Rubber Inspirationals - 'make a scene'

Crafting for All Seasons - 'all things bright and beautiful'

Without Words Challenge - 'spots and/or stripes'

Totally Gorjuss - 'manly'

Dream Valley Challenge - 'boys/men'

Charisma Cardz Challenge - 'it's a boy thing'

New CRAFT Challenge - Decoupage

This week on the CRAFT challenge blog we've got a technique challenge for you - we want to see decoupage on your projects.  You can find all the details about the challenge and see the projects from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

Our challenge has been sponsored by:

and

and

and

For my card I've used 'Funky Flower' from Floppy Latte Designs which you can find here on their website.  I printed the digi three times and used one as my base with two further layers on top.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion Challenge - 'cool colours'

Crafty Sentiments Designs - 'anything goes'

Country View Challenges - 'monochromatic

Robyn's Fetish Challenge - 'no patterned paper'

Digi Galore Challenge - 'monochrome'
The Stamping Chef - 'anything goes'
Paper Pretties - 'monochromatic'
Top Tip Tuesday - 'clean and simple'
As You Like It Challenge - 'favourite CAS style and why' (I like to layer my image with card which matches my design and white card so the focal image 'pops' - I find this more effective than using patterned papers)
Milk Coffee Challenge - 'monochromatic'

Nutcrafters Challenge Reminder

There's still time to enter our current challenge at Nutcrafters - our theme, as chosen by me, is 'anything goes'.  You can find the original challenge post here and the reminder post here.

I've used one of the Nutcrafters digis plus some pearls and a piece of white card which I embossed.  I've added some pink ribbon across the middle of the card.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - 'emboss it'

Inky Impressions Challenge - 'pink and girly'

Divas by Design - 'use ribbons'

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - 'favourite colour combination' (pink and brown)

Robyn's Fetish Challenge - 'no patterned paper'

Allsorts Challenge - 'use a ribbon but not bows'

Top Tip Tuesday - 'clean and simple'

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - 'add texture'

The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge - 'anything goes'

New Penny's Challenge - Embellishments

We've got a new challenge for you at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog and this week our theme is 'embellishments'.  You can find all the details about the challenge and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

This week we're sponsored by:

For my card I've used 'Bubble Jolly Elf' from Lacy Sunshine which you can find here in their shop.  My paper is from Dovecraft and my embellishments are punched snow flakes, gems, Card Candi and glitter glue.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

ABC Christmas Challenge - 'a is for anything Christmas'

Christmas Cards All Year Round - 'anything goes'

Crafty Sentiments Designs - 'anything goes'

Clear It Out Challenge - 'patterned paper/layer it up'

Through the Craft Room Door - 'anything goes'

Through the Purple Haze Challenge - 'anything goes'

Pile It On Challenge - 'holidays/celebrations'

Passion for Promarkers - 'just a fairytale'

New Sparkles Challenge - Show Us Your New Stash

We've got a new challenge today on the Sparkles Challenge Blog and our theme is 'show us your new stash'.  You can find all the details about the challenge and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

Our challenge is sponsored by:

and this is the great prize on offer to the winner:

For my card I've used another of my new Little Claire stamps - this one is called 'Sweetest Wishes' and you can find it here on the website.  I've used it with a Craftwork Cards card blank and some gingham paper.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - 'new stash'

Crafty Sentiments Designs - 'anything goes'

Through the Craft Room Door - 'anything goes'

Creative Craft Challenges - 'new'

Through the Purple Haze Challenge - 'anything goes'

A Creative Romance - 'something new'

Just Inspirational Challenge - 'children'

New from Little Claire - 'Tulip Bunny' and a Competition!

This is another of the latest stamp releases from Little Claire, the very cute 'Tulip Bunny' - you can find her here on the website.  I've also used one of the 'Dictionary Definition' stamps which you can find here.

There's a competition on the Little Claire blog today to celebrate the fact that the blog now has more than 900 followers.  A stamp that is normally priced at £5.50 will be on sale for £2.00 but you'll have to find it to buy it!  And don't ask me because I don't know which one it is!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges: 

Craft Your Passion Challenges - 'cool colours'

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge Blog - 'cute and sweet'

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - 'girly but no pink'

The Sisterhood of Crafters - out with the old, in with the new' (old twine and papers, new stamp)
Sweet Pea Stampers - 'anything goes'
Lexi's Creations - 'anything goes'
Through the Purple Haze - 'anything goes'
Love to Scrap Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

A Little Bit of Crackle

Today I'm sharing a card made with one of my favourite Little Claire stamps, the versatile 'Crackle'.  It creates wonderful background effects and is especially useful for men's cards.  I've used it to create part of the background on my card - stamped over a piece of white card inked with Hazelnut Adirondack ink - and also over the watch face.  

You can find the crackle stamp here on the Little Claire website and the 'Stopwatch' stamp here.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Dream Valley Challenges - 'boys/men'

Totally Gorjuss - 'manly'

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - 'monochromatic'

Charisma Cardz Challenge - 'birthdays'

Divas by Design - 'let's celebrate'

A Little Bit Crafty - 'celebrate'

Country View Challenges - 'monochromatic'

The Crafter's Cafe Challenge - 'anything goes'

Fantasy Stampers Challenge - 'your favourite stamp'

New Squirrel and the Fox Challenge - Show Us Your New Stuff

A new challenge has just been launched on The Squirrel and the Fox Challenge Blog and our theme is 'show us your new stuff''.  You can find all the details about the challenge and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here.

Our challenge is sponsored by:

I've used a digi from Hobbybook and my 'something new' is the paper I've used which is from Craftwork Cards.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Polkadoodles - 'anything goes/girly, girly, girly'

Crafty Catz Challenge - 'pretty in pink'

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Crafty Little Fairies - 'kraft'
Crafting By Designs - 'birthday challenge'
Charisma Cardz Challenge - 'birthdays'
Melonheadz Friends - 'birthday challenge'
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - 'make it girly'

New Little Claire Challenge - Thank You Card and Sketch

Today it's out first challenge of the year at Little Claire Designs and we've got a sketch plus a theme for you.

This is our sketch:

and the theme to follow is 'thank you'.  You can find all the details about the challenge and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.  There's a great prize on offer for the winner:

For my card I've used one of the new Little Claire stamps - this little guy is called 'Tulip Bunny' and you can find him here on the website.  The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sentiments Mix' set which is here.The papers I've used are from a Forever Friends pad.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Wags'n'Whiskers - 'anything goes'

Crafty Little Fairies - 'kraft'
Card Makin' Mamas - 'anything goes'
Delicious Doodles - 'flowers'
The ABC Challenge - 'c is for colourful'
Rhedd and Rosie's Challenge - 'going dotty'
Ladybug Crafts - 'give thanks'
Come and Get It Challenges - 'something new' (my stamp)

New from Little Claire - 'Let's Do Lunch'

Today I'm sharing a card made with another of the new Little Claire stamps - this one is called 'Let's Do Lunch' and you can find it here on the website.

The little flower stamp is part of the set - I've used it to stamp a border down one side of the card.  I've used one of my favourite colour combinations - kraft and pink and coloured my image and border with Promarkers.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Crafty Catz Challenge - 'pretty in pink'

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Wags'n'Whiskers - 'anything goes'

Sister Act Card Challenge - 'anything goes'

The Sisterhood of Crafters - 'out with the old, in with the new' (my 'something new' is my stamp)

Crafty Little Fairies - 'kraft'

Inky Impressions - 'something new' (my stamp)

One Crazy Stamper - 'anything goes'

Without Words - 'spots and/or stripes'

New CRAFT Challenge - Christmas

Today I'm very excited to be sharing my first project as a member of the CRAFT Challenge design team!  A big thank you to Jo and the ladies for inviting me to join you.

Our new challenge is Christmas - you can find all the details here and also see the cards from the rest of the Design Team

Our challenge is sponsored by:

and

and

and

Lots of great prizes on offer!

For my card I've used 'Jenn's Lantern' from Imagine That which you can find here.  The paper I've used is from the First Edition Nordic Christmas pad.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

ABC Christmas Challenge - 'a is for anything Christmas'
Christmas Cards All Year Round - 'anything goes'
Christmas Fun Challenge Blog - 'Christmas - anything goes'
Natalie and Amy's Challenge - 'one for the girlies'
Papertake Weekly - 'anything goes'
Stamp and Create - 'winter wonderland'
Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog - 'use a digi'
Di's Digi Design Challenge Blog - 'time to celebrate'
Daring Cardmakers - 'this little light of mine'

New Crafty Girls Challenge - Anything Goes

It's time for our first challenge of the year over at the Crafty Girls Challenge Blog and our theme this time is 'anything goes'.  You can find all the details about the challenge and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

For this challenge, we've been sponsored by:

We were able to choose a Bugaboo digi stamp to work with and I picked 'Bugaboo Bratz - Izzy Flowers' which you can find here on the Bugaboo website.  The sentiment I've used is from the current Little Claire club stamp 'Swirly Birds' which you can find here.  The paper I've used is from Dovecraft and I've added some faux stitching round the edges.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

In the Pink Challenge Blog - 'anything pink goes'

DRS Designs - 'girls and boys'

Delightful Challenges - 'use patterned paper'

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - 'anything goes'

Crafting by Designs - 'birthdays'

Papertake Weekly - 'anything goes'

Melonheadz Friends - 'birthdays'

Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog - 'use a digi'

Di's Digi Design Challenge Blog - 'time to celebrate'

New Penny's Challenge - Anything Goes

It's our first challenge of the year at Penny's and our theme is nice and easy - 'anything goes'.

For all the details about the challenge, have a look at the blog here.  Our challenge is sponsored by:

and

For my card I've used 'Allie and Angel' from StampArt Designs from Kathryne which you can find here.  The paper I've used is from a magazine freebie pack.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - 'anything goes'
Digi Choosday - 'anything goes'
Creative Creations Challenges - 'anything goes'
Digi Sketch Challenge - 'say it with flowers'
The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge - 'anything goes'
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - 'make it girly'
Pile It On Challenge - 'just because'
Robyn's Fetish Challenge - 'use a digi'
My Heart Pieces Digital Challenge - 'anything goes'
The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

New Ruby's Rainbow Challenge - Inspired by a Song or Film

It's time for another challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenge and this time our theme is 'inspired by a song or film'. You can find all the details about the challenge here on the challenge blog.

For my card I've used 'Bathtime Nikki' from Ladybug Crafts Ink which was part of a prize for winning a challenge a while back.  The paper I've used is from Craft Creations and the sentiment is from a Greetings Farm set.  My inspiration is the film and song 'Pretty Woman'.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - 'anything goes'

LEJ Designs - 'anything goes'

Loves Rubberstamps - 'anything goes'

Crafty Boots Challenges - 'anything goes'

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - 'make it girly'
Through the Craft Room Door - 'anything goes'
Addicted to Stamps Challenge - 'shaped cards'
The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

New Nutcrafters Challenge - Anything Goes

It's time for our first challenge of the year on the Nutcrafters Challenge Blog - it was my turn to choose the challenge theme and I've picked 'anything goes'.  A nice easy start to 2014!

You can find all the details about the challenge here on the challenge blog.

For my card I've used a very cute Nutcrafters digi with some spotty paper which was part of a magazine freebie pack.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - 'anything goes'

Digi Choosday - 'anything goes'

LEJ Designs - 'anything goes'

Creative Creations Challenges - 'anything goes'

The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge - 'anything goes'
Through the Craft Room Door - 'anything goes'
Pile It On Challenge - 'just because'
Robyn's Fetish Challenge - 'use a digi'
My Heart Pieces Digital Challenge - 'anything goes'
The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Cutie Pie Challenge Blog - Candy!

We're taking a short break over at the Cutie Pie Challenge Blog - we'll be back on 20 January with a great new challenge.

In the mean time, we have some great candy on offer here - just leave your name at the bottom of the post and it would be great if you could post a photo on your blog too! 

New from Little Claire - 'Up, Up and Away'

Today I'm sharing a card made with another of the new Little Claire stamps - the very cute 'Up, Up and Away'.  You can find it here on the Little Claire website.  

I've kept my card lay out very simple - I've combined pink and kraft and paper pieced the three balloons.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - 'anything goes'

Passion for Promarkers - 'clean and simple'

LEJ Designs - 'anything goes'

Top Tip Tuesday - 'clean and simple'

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - 'anything goes'

Loves Rubberstamps - 'anything goes'

Crafty Boots Challenges - 'anything goes'

Creative Creations Challenges - 'anything goes'

Without Words - 'spots and/or stripes'

Allsorts Challenge - 'free and easy'

GDT Card for The Glory of Christmas Challenge

This is my GDT card for the new challenge at The Glory of Christmas Challenge.  The theme this week is 'holy three kings' and you can find all the details about the challenge and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

For my card I've used the 'We 3 Kings' stamp set from Little Claire which you can find here on their website.  I stamped the image and sentiment in black Versafine ink and then punched a circle from the top of a post-it note to put over the star.  Finally, I applied various shades of blue ink over the top of the image using cut'n'dry foam and the removed the post it note circle to give the 'light' round the star.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Christmas Cards All Year Round - 'anything goes'
Christmas Fun Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'
Card Makin Mamas - 'anything goes'
Country View Challenges - 'monochromatic'
Fantasy Stampers Challenge Blog - 'favourite stamp' (because it's so versatile - great for quick cards but also for using with inks)
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - 'anything goes'
Christmas Card Challenges - 'anything goes'
Crafting When We Can Challenges - 'outside'

New Crafty Calendar Challenge - Let's Celebrate

We've got a brand new challenge for you today on the Crafty Calendar Challenge Blog - our theme for January is 'let's celebrate'.  Have a look here for all the details and to see the cards from the rest of the Design Team.

Our challenge this month is sponsored by:

For my card I've used the very cute 'Little Girl Partying' from MilkCoffee which you can find here on their website.  I spotted it recently on Facebook and thought it would be perfect for this challenge.  The papers I've used are from First Edition and the die cut hearts are from Memory Box.  The circular sentiment I've used is from Little Claire - it's part of the 'Sunny Days' die cut sentiment set which is available here.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Crafting By Designs - 'anything goes'
Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog - 'party'
Milk Coffee Challenge - 'celebrations'
A Little Bit Crafty - 'celebrate'
Digi Galore - 'girly'
Natalie and Amy's Challenge - 'one for the girlies'
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - 'celebrations'
My Time to Craft - 'music or movie influenced' ('Celebration' by Kool and the Gang)
Open-Minded Craft Challenge - 'new toys or new techniques' (new digi)

Crazy for Challenges - 'photo inspiration' (I've used the celebration theme)

New Little Claire Club Stamp Set - Swirly Birds Part 2

Today I'm back to share another card made with the new Little Claire club stamp set for January 'Swirly Birds'.  You can find it here on the Little Claire website.

For today's card I stamped my main image on the kraft paper using brown Memento ink and then coloured with Promarkers.  To create the background I used the branch with the heart on it (the first stamp in the picture below) and stamped it twice starting at the top right and bottom left of the patterned paper - the heart is covered by the image panel.  I then coloured the branches and leaves using Promarkers.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz Challenge - 'birthdays'

Inky Impressions Challenges - 'anything goes'

Rhedd and Rosie's Challenge Blog - 'going dotty'

I Love Promarkers Challenge Blog - 'frame it'

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Crafty Hands Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Simply Create Too - 'anything goes'

DRS Designs - 'seeing spots'

New Little Claire Club Stamp Set - Swirly Birds Part 1

New from Little Claire for January is the club stamp set 'Swirly Birds' - you can find the set here on the Little Claire website.  If you click on the 'gallery' link on the page, you'll be able to see all the cards from the Design Team using this set.

Today I'm sharing the first of two cards I've made using the stamp set - this one is the club card so all Little Claire club members will have received a pack of materials to make this card.

The first photo (above) shows the outside of the card - I've used two of the sentiment stamps with the main image and also decoupaged the bird cage.

This is the inside of the card:

I'll be back tomorrow with another card made from the same set.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

As You Like It Challenge - 'favourite main focus colour' (pink because it suits so many occasions and can be delicate as in this card) or a stronger more modern card if you use a darker shade)
Hiding In My Craftroom - 'anything but holiday'
Inky Impressions Challenges - 'anything goes'
Simon Says Stamp - 'something new' (wedding)
My Mum's Craft Shop Challenge - 'love'
Rhedd and Rosie's Challenge Blog - 'going dotty'
Crafty Little Fairies - 'starting over' (wedding)
Papertake Weekly - 'pick of the year' (12 February Challenge - Hearts and Flowers'
Bunny Zoe's Challenge - 'wings'

New Sparkles Christmas Challenge - More Than One Fold

We're starting early!  It's our first challenge of the year on Sparkles Christmas Challenges and my turn to pick the theme - I've chosen 'more than one fold'.  You can find all the details of the challenge and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

Our challenge is sponsored by:

For my card I've used the gorgeous 'Chloe With Sledge' which you can find here on the Pink Gem website.  The base card I've used is from Craftwork Cards and the paper is from a new pack I bought recently.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Through the Craft Room Door - 'anything goes'

Creative Craft Challenges - 'anything goes'

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'starting all over again'

Di's Digi Designs - 'anything Christmas'

Digi Haven - 'red and green'

Christmas Card Challenges - 'anything goes'
The Crafter's Cafe Challenge - 'animal friends'
Jingle Belles - 'something old (card base) and something new (paper)'

New Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Extra Challenge

Welcome to my first post as a DT member for Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Extra Challenge - our January challenge has just been launched and the theme, as always, is 'anything goes'.  For all the details of the challenge and to see the cards from the rest of the Design Team, have a look here.

The challenge is sponsored by:

and the prize on offer to the winner is $21 of digital stamps from their amazing range.

For my card I've used 'Brats - Winter Snowman' from Bugaboo which you can find here on their website.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Creative Craft Challenges - 'anything goes'

Hobby Cutz Challenge - 'anything goes'

Allsorts Challenge - 'brown with blue'

Di's Digi Designs - 'anything Christmas'

Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog - 'let it snow'
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'starting all over again'
Christmas Card Challenges - 'anything goes'

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone!  Hope you had a wonderful time celebrating last night whatever you were doing.

This is a very simple New Year card which I made earlier in the week using one of the 'New Year Word Art' images from DigiStamp Boutique which you can find here on their website.  I've layered it with black and silver paper and then added a bit of bling to finish the card.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Digi Choosday - 'anything goes/Happy New Year'

Fan-tastic Tuesday - 'Happy New Year'

The Crazy Challenge - 'celebrate the New Year'
A Little Bit Crafty - 'celebrate'
Creative Moments - 'anything goes'
Heck of a Challenge - 'new'