Violet

 Good morning, there's a new challenge beginning today over at Fab'n'Funky, it's my turn to host and choose a theme so I went with an easy one- Think Spring- so anything to do with spring- flowers, birds, baby animals, Easter etc.

Hasn't our spring been lovely so far, so much sunshine and beautiful blue skies, makes me feel glad to be alive!

I used a previously made background, blended distress inks and a leafy stencil, it has a lovely shimmer as I've added something like Pixie Powder or Nuvo shimmer powder- made it a while ago so can't remember- but it's very pretty!  I stamped the violet (A&C) directly onto the background and then again onto a scrap of ink blended card which was left over from another project, die cut a circle containing the flower heads, coloured with water-colours and adhered in place. I die cut the frame from purple cardstock, stamped the sentiment in purple to match. 

I hope you can find the time to join in with this challenge, if you need inspiration there are some lovely creations from the rest of the team over at Fab'n' Funky Challenge Blog.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

Allsorts #820

creativecraftinguncles #63

do-allkreatives #100

letscreate #218

papercraft #116

theflowerchallenge #101

thefourseasons April challenge

Reasons to be happy

 Good morning, the April Challenge at Stamping Sensations begins today, the theme is 

Anything Goes with an option of Nature- flowers, birds, animals etc.

There are 2 prizes of Lavinia Stamps to be won.

I have used stamps from Aall and Create, stamped onto one of their ready made backgrounds, coloured with water colour pens.

Please hop over to Stamping Sensations to enjoy the beautiful creations from the rest of the team and for full details of how to join in.

Thanks for visiting -enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Chris

x

Challenge Entries

allsorts #820

mytimetocraft #557

CRAFT #752

ellibelles garden party #1

beautifulblossoms #27

tripleb April challenge

18th Birthday!

 Good morning, today sees the start of our April Challenge at Crafty Calendar, 

the theme is FEMININE. 

There's a lovely prize of  a Heffy Doodle stamp set for our lucky winner.

I'm sharing the card I made for my niece's 18th Birthday which was back in November. The image is a digi stamp from Polkadoodle, printed onto a square of white cardstock, coloured with copics and then masked. I printed the large numerals onto copy paper, cut them out and used them to mask over the already masked image...if that makes sense... then used a Lavinia stencil with pink and green distress inks to create the background. The dots are Nuvo Stone Drops, which have a pretty shimmer. Finally I added the large die cut sentiment. 

As always there's some lovely inspiration over at the Challenge Blog, hope you have the time to check it out.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

creativefingers #298

kraftychicks #762

digichoosday #3

stencilfun. #April Challenge

seizethebirthday #302

Fairy dreams

 Good morning, today sees the start of a new Anything Goes challenge at Crafty Catz.  

There is no sponsor or prize this fortnight, we're playing just for fun, but still an opportunity to win one of our Top 3 badges for anyone who joins in. 

I indulged in a bit of colouring therapy to make this card, the gorgeous image from Aurora Wings is coloured with copic markers, lots of sparkle added- which of course doesn't show up! I kept the design very simple, added a stamped sentiment and some sparkly gems. Please check out the challenge blog for some lovely inspiration from the rest of the team.

While I'm here a quick heads up for a great new challenge coming very soon- something a little different 

Here's the link https://tag-alongandatc.blogspot.com/

A new challenge blog is always good news!

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

craftygalscorner #265

ellibelle's crafty wednesday April Challenge

conjurerofdreams #7

mirtillamente #42

morgansartworld #87

creativecrafters #86

aplacetostart - fairy tales

aaabirthday #72

All things grow...

 Good morning, this is a scheduled post as all being well I will be in London on Saturday for lunch and a show- a combined birthday and Mother's Day treat from my daughter. I'm really looking forward to it, the best part being a day spent with my daughter, she is the best company anyone could wish for. 

We've had some lovely spring weather this week, on Thursday we took Marvin to the beach- his first dip of the year (if you don't count ginormous puddles that is!).  I thought it might be a bit cold by the sea but it was so warm I was casting off layers as we walked- perfectly comfortable in a t shirt, Marv was mega excited to see the sea and rushed straight in - we didn't let him swim for too long as I'm always worried that he'll get limber tail again as its happened a few times now, but the sea was so calm he was fine- and very happy. A real bonus to have a day like this in March and I'm so glad we made the most of it.

My card today is for this fortnight's challenge at Sweet Stampin',  the theme is FEMININE, so plenty of scope if you'd like to join in, and we hope you will. 

I used a digital stamp this time, one of my older favourites from Mo Manning, this one is available in the shop. I've used Copic markers to colour, added a stamped sentiment and matted the image onto a square of pink cardstock, adding the dots with a white gel pen. 

While I remember, there's a gorgeous freebie up for grabs over on Mo's Patreon page.  

Don't forget to check out the inspiration from my lovely teamies over at Sweet Stampin' Challenges

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely weekend.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

dragonflydreams March Challenge

ilovepromarkers #579

PFM #781

crafterscafe #317

Double trouble!

 Good morning, hope you're all enjoying a good week so far. Today's card is my DT make for this fortnight's challenge at Fab 'n' Funky. 

Our lovely Pat is hosting this week and her theme is ONE FOR THE BOYS, which was a great opportunity to colour up this fabulous Mo Manning image that I've had for some time. This cute pair look as if they were made for each other, so happy together, sitting on the step planning their next adventure!

I've used my Copic markers to colour, the papers are from stash, I added the ball because Marvin said that every dog needs a ball, the sentiment is from a very old set of Nitwit stamps.

There's more to see over at Fab'n'Funky, some fabulous cards from the rest of the team, do hop over for a look, hope you'll be inspired to join in.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

addictedtostamps #489

unicorn #107

dreamvalley #333

avenue613 March challenge

MAWTT #176

aaabirthday. #71

Spring Time

 Good morning,  a spring -themed card today, my DT make for this fortnight's challenge at Crafty Catz.

our lovely sponsor for this challenge is 

THE PAPER SHELTER

The theme is Anything Goes with an option of Spring Greens.

I used a sweet sponsor image, Sophie in the country,  kindly given to the team, thanks!

To make the background design I stamped the larger clock (Stamperia) onto a square of white card, then masked it to stamp the smaller clock behind it, then masked both clock faces to add some stencilling, script stamp and the leaf sprigs. 

I printed the image, coloured with Copic markers and fussy cut her and placed in front of the large clock. The sentiment is stamped and embossed with white EP. 

There is more inspiration to be found  from my lovely teamies over at Crafty Catz.

We'd love for you to join us this fortnight, 

hope to see you there.

Have a good weekend

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

cardz4galz.#246

craftrocket #123

creativeknockouts #543

ilovepromarkers #579

thepapershelter #630

thesisterhoodofcrafters Shades of green

PFM #780

TIOT Spring Fling

Crocus

 Good morning, a little reminder of our March challenge at Stamping Sensations. The theme for anyone who wishes to use it is Spring but it's optional- you can enter with anything Goes as long as there is a stamped element on the front of your card/project. Full details of how to join in as well as details of the prizes on offer can be seen at Stamping Sensations Challenges- there are also some wonderful inspiration cards from the design team, so it's well worth popping over to have look.

My card is made using a lovey Crocus stamp from Aall and Create,  I coloured it with water colour pens, it had to be yellow to match the ones in my front garden which were in glorious full bloom at the time of making the card, sadly most of them have finished now but they really did brighten my day every time I went past. The background is blended using Distress and Elements Inks, 2 different stencils and a splash of water. 

I'm looking forward to the lovely spring weather forecast for the rest of the week, let's hope we all get to enjoy it!

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

beautifulblossoms #27

classicdesign #3

thefourseasons March Challenge

papercraft #116

tripleb. March Challenge

welovestamping March Challenge

Happy Day

 Hello, I've been huddling indoors for the last few days, not really enjoying the cold snap after the taste of spring we had last week.

I was doing a bit of half hearted sorting out when I came across some previously coloured up images I had forgotten about, so I decided to use some of them to make cards- much better than tidying up!

This sweet Mo Manning digi had been cut into a small rectangle so I looked for some ideas of how to use it, I found this lovely sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday -

I cropped the tulip from the image and pasted it x 3, coloured it with my markers and cut it into a small strip. the little bird on the other strip is a stamp and the smiley snail (looking forward to a feast of yummy tulips, no doubt) is hand drawn copied from a cartoon I found online.

I added 6 tiny flower brads and stamped the sentiment.

Thanks for visiting, hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

sweetsketchwednesday2 March Challenge

CRAFT #750

Ellibelle's Garden Party #1

2sisters#95

creatalicious #287

dragonflydreams March Challenge

Udderly fantastic!

 Good morning, time for a new challenge at Fab'n' Funky,

 Ginny is hosting this fortnight and she's chosen a real fun theme- 

Make It Punny -

I used a fun set of Art Impressions stamps, coloured the dancing cows with my markers, layered it onto a square of balloon patterned dp. I  added 3 die cut  balloons, coloured to match. The sentiments are part of the same stamp set. 

Please hop over to Fab'n' Funky Challenge Blog where you'll find some punny cards from the rest of the team to raise a smile...or make you groan! 

We're looking forward to seeing what you create for this fun challenge.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

addictedtostamps #488

PFM #779

mmm #247

craftyanimals #92

crittercrazy #97

daisychain #94

kraftychicks #758

ilovepromarkers #578

Enjoy life...

 Good morning, a new Challenge at Crafty Catz starts today-

 the theme is Anything Goes with an optional twist of Add A Sentiment, 

chosen by our lovely Ginny who is hosting this fortnight.

Our sponsor for this challenge is Di's Digi Stamps.

I made an easel card using some hoarded papers from Heartfelt Creations, not much of the pad left now but it's at least 10 years old. I cut a few extra flowers from left over scraps and layered them up for dimension. The sentiment, an Indigo Blue stamp, is stamped and embossed with white EP . I've added a die cut swirl ( very old TH Sizzix Bigz die), loads of tiny pearls and a large die cut 'celebrate' as this was a birthday card for my lovely daughter- I think the beautiful sentiment is just perfect for her! 

There's plenty more inspiration to be found over at Crafty Catz, some beautiful projects from the rest of the team. Hope you can find the time to join us for this challenge.

Thanks for visiting, have a good day.

xx

Challenge entries:

lilredwagon #797

retrorubber #249 - die cut, flowers heat embossing.

(I have had the stamp for at least 3 years)

TIOT - For a lady

aperfecttimetocraft #3

beautifulblossoms #26

girlzcreativefun #7

paper-rocks-scissors.#3

sparklesforum #185

dreamvalley #331

creative-creases #101

Signs of spring

 Good morning,  the March challenge at Stamping Sensations starts today, the theme this month is Anything Goes with an option of Spring. 

 There are two prizes of Lisa Horton products, Tetra embossing folder and matching stencil, Ruffled Lace, embossing folder, die and stencils.

To make my card I used a frame stencil and a mixture of DIs and Elements inks to create the background and a variety of Janet Klein stamps from various sets, coloured with watercolours. The sentiment stamp is Colorado Crafts.

As always , there's loads of fabulous inspiration from the rest of the DT so please check them out over at Stamping Sensations.

Thanks for visiting

enjoy your day

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

welovestamping March Challenge

I spy with my little eye #23

lilredwagon #796 -tiny bees

justusgirls #764

More than one fold at Crafty Calendar

 Hi, I'm back with my second card for today, the theme for our March Challenge at 

Crafty Calendar

is

MORE THAN ONE FOLD.

This is the lovely prize on offer for our lucky winner.

I needed a masculine card for a friend of ours who is an avid reader and this is what I came up with. I made this sort of folded pocket which is adhered to the front of  the same size card blank. There are 2  die cut tags inside the pocket, the larger of which can be used as a bookmark. 

empty pocket

The tags

The tags are die cut, the image on the right hand one is Aall & Create washi tape, you just layer it in strips to build up the picture. I've added a stamped sentiment. The smaller tag is cut from a piece of DP, I stamped the sentiment and added a book image cut from the washi tape

Inside the card.

The inside is decorated with the washi tape to match, plus another stamped sentiment.

There's more inspiration over at Crafty Calendar, so why not head over to check it out.

Thanks for visiting today,

have a great weekend

xx

Challenge entries:

creativeknockouts #541

kraftychicks #757

creative-creases #100

mytimetocraft #554 -1 button, 2 tags, 3 brads

cutitup #324  (tags are die cut)

thepapershelter. #627

Special Women

 Good morning, this is the first of two posts today, my DT card for this fortnight's challenge at 

Sweet Stampin'.

The theme is Special Women, celebrating International Women's Day (8th March).

This is the card I made for my youngest sister's birthday last month- she's very special to me- definitely a woman and knows how to celebrate, so hopefully it fits the bill!

The stamp is an older one from Stamping Bella, stamped onto a rectangle of white card and coloured with Copic markers. I die cut the oval aperture, then popped it up using foam tape over the stamped and embossed. sentiment. I added a few sequins for a touch of sparkle. 

Hope you can find some time to join in with this challenge- after all we women deserve celebrating! 

If you're looking for some inspiration pop over to the challenge blog to see what the rest of the team have created.

I'll be back later this morning with another DT card.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

cardz4galz #244

ilovepromarkers #577

PFM #777

TIOT- Sentiment is heat embossed

Just a nap

 Good morning,  it's time for a new challenge at Fab'n' Funky, the theme for this fortnight is 

FANTASY, chosen by our lovely Buffy.

I made a card using a cute digi from The Paper Shelter, coloured with Copic markers. I printed the image twice so I could decoupage his leg and hand to add a little dimension. The papers are from The Works, matted onto kraft card, I've added a die cut leaf, some twine and a stamped sentiment.

As always, some beautiful cards from the rest of the team to be enjoyed over at the Challenge blog, so please go take a look! 

I'm hoping my kitchen will be finished today, The sink was plumbed in on Monday to my great happiness and relief, just the larder cupboard- hoping all the parts of it have been delivered as it came in separate deliveries- and a few finishing touches to go! 

Thanks for visiting, have a lovely day.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

cdsunday #152

lilpatchofcraftyfriends #248

HQFCB #2

creativefingers #295

cutitup #324

thepapershelter #627 (atg)

PFM #777

2sistersontheblog Feb Challenge

Belle of the ball

 Good morning, first I want to apologise to my lovely blogger friends if I have missed visiting and commenting. It's been a difficult couple of weeks here, kitchen still being sorted- you really don't want to hear me whinging on about all the mistakes on the plans, wrong items delivered, missing items etc etc. Going to be without sink/hob until after the weekend- getting on for 3 weeks now. On top of this husband has had surgery and needs looking after, and keeping an eye on in case he tries to overdo it. I honestly don't know if I'm coming or going most of the time! Moan over...it's only a few more days and people have a lot worse to cope with. 

Anyway- back to the card. It's my DT make for this fortnight's challenge at 

Crafty Catz, 

sponsored by LeAnns World 101. 

The theme is Anything Goes with an option of  'For the Girls'.

This sweet image is called Abigail, her lovely dress reminded me of Belle's ballgown in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, so I coloured her up with my markers to look like Belle, a huge favourite of my two older granddaughters when they were small.- oh the squabbles we had over who's turn it was to be Belle and wear THE dress! 

There's more to see over at Crafty Catz, where the rest of the DT have created some lovely girly cards. 

Thanks for visiting

Have a good weekend

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

craftrocket #122

digichoosday #2

ilovepromarkers #577

aperfecttimetocraft #2

Bronze Anniversary

 Good morning, I'm here today with a reminder for our February Challenge at

Stamping Sensations.  

The theme is Anything Goes with an option of Romance- Valentines/Anniversary/Wedding etc.

I needed two anniversary card, one for an 8th and one for a 19th, strangely (and conveniently!) they are both bronze anniversaries (?) so I made two the same just changing the numerals. 

I stamped the Indigo Blue heart onto cream coloured shimmery cardstock and embossed with bronze embossing powder- the photo does not do the colours justice, light not good), then die cut the numerals from the centre and popped them up on foam. 

Please visit Stamping Sensations Challenge blog for some fabulous inspirations from the rest of the team and for full details of how to join in and the lovely prizes to be won. 

Thanks for visiting

have a good week.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

scscards Feb Challenge

TIOT Boss it!

audsentiments #322

pearlysparkles #104

sparklesforum #185

All stitched up

 Good morning, is it just me or has it been a long week so far??? Probably something to do with the early starts- the kitchen fitters arrive at death o'clock in the mornings. I am not a morning person. Th novelty of doing the washing up in the bathroom has definitely lost its appeal... but not complaining, soon (please!!!) I will have a lovely new kitchen with a sink and taps and an oven and all those luxuries that we take for granted until we don't have them, so counting blessings!

Today sees the start of a new challenge at Fab'n' Funky, hosted this fortnight by our lovely and talented Pat K. who has chosen the theme of Stitching- real or faux.

I used an older stamp from Wee Stamps, coloured with markers, papers from stash, one panel embossed with a heart EF. I added a stamped sentiment and a little wooden button tied with twine. The stitching is course faux- I am far too lazy for real stitching even though it does look lovely!

There's some fabulous inspiration from the rest of the team over at Fab'n' Funky Challenge Blog so do hop over for a visit, hope to see you play along this fortnight.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

shoppingourstash #541

crafterscafe #315

mmmchallenge #245

lovethoseprettypapers Feb Challenge

CRAFT #748

Guest Design for FQCCCB

 After winning a previous challenge I was delighted to be invited to Guest Design for 

Farm Quest Country Christmas Challenges,

I thought it would spur me on to get started with this year's cards, so thank you ladies.

The  Challenges are always 

Anything Goes with an outdoors farm/country Christmas theme. 

I used a lovely holly frame  stencil from Poppy Stamps together with Elements inks

The stamps are from various companies- the trees and lake are Stampscapes, the tiny deer and stars are Card-io, and a stamped sentiment.

There are some lovely inspiration cards from the talented DT to be enjoyed over at FQCCCB, so please do hop over and check them out.

Thanks for visiting and have a lovely weekend

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

abcchristmas A- anything Christmas

hollyandivy #176

MLCCB #60

girlzcreativechristmas #110

thefourseasons- Feb Challenge

POE #81

thecardconcept #213 Inspired by the deer and trees

Buttercup Cottage

 

Good morning, today sees the start of a new challenge at Crafty Catz

sponsored by 

Sheepski Designs

The theme is ANYTHING GOES, the optional twist is Use a die.

The team were given some of the Sponsor's lovely images to use, I chose Buttercup Cottage.

I used my dies to cut 2 rectangular panels with apertures from white cardstock, inked them in shades of green and stencilled some leaves, layered them together using foam pads and popped the 

 image, coloured with Copic markers behind the aperture. I added die cut grass, toadstools, squirrels and leaves to complete the little scene. 

I now have no kitchen- old one ripped out yesterday, new one to be delivered today, (please!!!) installation  work starting on Monday. Kind friends and family have invited us for meals most of the coming week, which is lovely as all we have at the moment is a temperamental microwave on a makeshift worktop...not even a sink or water in the kitchen. I'm sure we'll survive and it will be lovely when it's all finished. 

Thanks for visiting, have a great weekend

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

addictedtostamps #485

craftssgalore # February Challenge

LTCCB #84

creativecrafters #84

acutabove February Challenge

HQFCB #2

daisychain #93

A winter anniversary

 

Good morning, today sees the start of our February Challenge at

Stamping Sensations, 

the theme is Anything Goes with an optional twist of 'Romance'

There are 3 Romance themed prizes from Aall and Create

Once again, I went with an anniversary card, this one was for my son and DIL who had a December wedding- Jen was desperate for some snow on her wedding day, to make sure she wasn't disappointed her twin brother provided a snow machine, just as well because although it was a cold and frosty day the skies were bright blue and cloudless. 

I used a variety of stamps from different companies to create my card, the little sprites are Lavinia, the twigs are Card-io and the snowflakes are Crafty Roo Designs.

Please hop over to Stamping Sensations for some wonderful inspiration from the rest of the design team and for full details of how to join in. 

Have a good day

Chris

x

Challenge entries

avenue613. Feb. Challenge

MAWTT #175

craftygalscorner #263 (Snowflake)

sisterhoodofcrafters- snowflakes

PIP 2504

allsorts #816

Hearts

 Hello, back again with my second DT card for today- this time it's for

  Crafty Calendar,

the February Challenge starts today, the theme for this is

 'Hearts'.

This is the lovely prize on offer

I was going to make another anniversary card when  this cute Mo Manning Patreon image dropped into my inbox and I couldn't resist colouring her up straight away!

I printed the image onto a square of white cardstock , masked her and tore a heart shaped hole from the centre of a piece of copy paper, sponged pale grey distress ink over the torn out heart shaped hole, then stamped the script stamp (Lavinia) using grey Versafine Clair. I coloured the image with my markers.

I haven't added a sentiment, the card will be for one of my younger granddaughters to give to her Mum on Mother's Day or her birthday.

Please hop over to Crafty Calendar for more inspiration from the Design Team.

Thanks for visiting today, enjoy the weekend

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

kraftychicks #753

digichoosday #1

ilovepromarkers #575 (atg)

lilredwagon #792