65th Wedding Anniversary

  Hello, back again with a second card today. This one is for this fortnight's challenge at

Fab'n' Funky.

The theme is Graduation OR Anniversary, chosen by Buffy.

I made this card for my dear friends' 65th Wedding Anniversary, which is Sapphire - so is 45th Anniversary so a bit confusing! Anyway went with blue and white and added some bling to the stamped, embossed numerals. I cut out the numbers and popped them up on foam for a little dimension. the stamped, embossed sentiment banner was treated the same way. The numerals are part of a clear stamp set- Rufus Rabbit Decorates, they are pretty large the card base is 7 x 7 inches. 

There's more inspiration from my teamies at Fab'n'Funky Challenge blog, and of course we'd love to see what you can create for this challenge

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:

alphabetchallenge E for embossing

aperfecttimetocraft June Challenge

paper-rocks-scissors #5 (numerals &sentiment banner cut out with scissors)

craftrocket #126

lilredwagon #812

justusgirls

I don't go crazy

 Good morning, I'm here with a reminder of our June Challenge at

Stamping Sensations,

there's still plenty of time to join in.

 The theme is 

Our Furry Friends or Anything Goes, 

there are some lovely prizes of Penny Black stamps from Buddly Crafts

I recently had a little shopping spree over at Aall & Create and couldn't wait to use my new goodies- just had to buy the crazy grinning dog stamp! He's coloured with Copic markers, fussy cut and sitting on a washi tape rug! the background is blended Dioxides stencilled using my new favourite A&C stencil- the blue bit is Nuvo stone drops squished through it. If you can't read the tiny print on the sentiment strips it says: I don't go crazy. I am Crazy. I go normal from time to time. A perfect description of our dog! 

As always there's plenty to see over at Stamping Sensations- fabulous inspiration cards from the rest of the Design Team so head on over and check it out!

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenges:

PFM #793

unicorn #110

allsorts #825 Dogs make me happy- especially mine!

avenue613 June Challenge

cutitup #332 (Die cut frame)

crafterscafe #320

CCC #99

daisychain #97

Coffee...or wine

 Hello, a quick post today to share an ATC I made to enter into this month's Tag Along and ATC Challenge.

I started with a lightly smooshed base- the card is glossier than I'm used to so a bit tricky to stamp on. The sentiment and images are from a set I won some years ago from Newton's Nook. Sentiment, wine glass and coffee beans stamped directly on to card, the cup and grapes stamped onto card scrap coloured and cut out. A little stencilling using A&C stencil (my new favourite) and a doodled border.

Thanks for looking!

Chris

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Challenges- 

tag-along and atc.

allsorts #825 - Coffee, wine and stamps make me happy!

atcaroundtheworld #126

firstcupchallenges #3

Summer is back!

 Good morning, hope the sun is shining where you are, it's so good to have the warm weather again after the cooler spell. 

This fortnight's challenge at Crafty Catz begins today, our lovely sponsor is

  Di's Digistamps

Janet has picked the optional twist of  HOT COLOURS.

I've had this sweet mermaid digi (Mo Manning- I think it's a Patreon image) for some time and finally found time to colour her up. I've used my markers for the image and Distress Oxides for the sea and sky plus a touch of white gel pen. Sentiment is a stamp- old magazine freebie. I used a punch to make the border.

Well that's it from me, don't forget to check out the beautiful cards from the rest of the team over at Crafty Catz.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend with plenty of sunshine

Chris

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Challenge entries:

ilovepromarkers. #585

thepapershelter. #642 The little mermaid

addictedtostamps #494

dreamvalley #338

HQFCB #6/25

SAS4kids June challenge

Add a sentiment at Crafty Calendar.

Good morning, the June challenge starts today at Crafty Calendar,  I've scheduled this post as, all being well,  I 'll be going wild in the aisles at the Kent Stamperama show. We get very few craft shows locally so it's a real treat! 

This month our theme is to ADD A SENTIMENT- as simple as that!

There's a prize of some lovely Heffy Doodle stamps and dies for our lucky winner.

I used a cute All Dressed Up image, coloured with markers, added sparkle to her rainbow wellies (I have been reliably informed by my youngest granddaughter that these are the best wellies to have.) The die cut panel looked a little bare so I inked the edges, some stencilling and stamped the sentiment.

The papers are from The Works.

There's more inspiration from the rest of the team over at Crafty Calendar- hope you can join in this month.

Enjoy the weekend

Chris

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Challenge entries:

Ellibelles GardenParty May Challenge

ilovepromarkers #584

alldressedup #162

New Home

 Good morning, our new challenge at Fab 'n' Funky begins today,

 this fortnight our theme is Use your Die Cuts, so nice and simple!

 I needed a new home card for my lovely hairdresser who recently moved house. I used Aall &Create frame and alphabet dies to cut the background and letters from a piece of card, the result of a session with the gelli plate with some added stencilling. The house is a Picture This stamp, coloured with markers and fussy cut.

There's more inspiration from my lovely teamies at Fab 'n' Funky- hope you can find the time to join us!

Thanks for visiting 

Chris

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Challenge entries:

Double D - Frames

craftsgalore #136

thecraftingchallenge  June Challenge

acutabove   June Challenge

cutitup #331

allsorts #824

For Emily

 Good morning, June has arrived, I wonder what the weather has in store for us this month- May was pretty amazing so fingers crossed we'll get more of the same.

The June Challenge at Stamping Sensations begins today, the optional theme for this month is 

Our Furry Friends, chosen by Anesha ,or you can take part using the Anything Goes option.

There are 2 lovely prizes of Penny Black stamps  from Buddly Crafts  to be won.

It was granddaughter Emily's 11th birthday last month, as part of her gift I decided to give her money as she likes to choose her own clothes now. I made this gift tag and holder to put it in. 

I made the holder first- a simple kraft card, folded down the corner , clipped the edges into curves and decorated with the tartan patterned DP. I added some faux stitching and a chipboard flower, glued the open side and bottom edge

The dog stamp is from Aall & Create, I stamped him to sit on the strips of DP and coloured him with pencils. I thought it looked a bit bare so added the candles- part of the same same stamp set-how lucky that there were 11! I made a tag from kraft to fit inside the holder, adding a pocket cut from the dp. 

As always there is plenty of inspiration from the rest of the team over at Stamping Sensations, so please do head on over to check it out and for full details of how to play along with our challenges.

Thanks for visiting

Happy Sunday

Chris

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Challenge entries

allsorts #824

inkspirational #342

alphabet D for dogs

creativeknockouts #547

MAWTT #179

crafterscafe #319

CCC #99

kleurenmetpotloden May Challenge

tag-along and atc June (atg)

Usual bedtime!

 Good morning, time for a new challenge at Crafty Catz,

sponsored  this fortnight by Dr Dig's House of Stamps.

Ginny is hosting this challenge and has chosen the optional twist of 

Make us smile but of course you can always enter  using the Anything Goes option.

 

The image I used is Netflix and Chill- this made me laugh out loud when I saw it, could definitely be me and hubby! (Although I like to think we're not quite that round!) 

I coloured using my markers, then fussy cut round the image and placed it the panel with the tasteful green wallpaper and wood floor, their 'room' looked a bit stark so I gave them a furry rug to keep their toes warm- still something missing...so I gave them a dog!- that's more like it.

(dog image is from Perfect Sunday- flipped and fussy cut)

The stamped sentiments are from a set with missing packaging so not sure of make.

There's plenty more inspiration to be found over at Crafty Catz! 

Thanks for stopping by- have a great weekend.

Chris

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Challenge entries

digichoosday #5

addictedtostamps #493

dreamvalley #337

kraftychicks #770

allsorts #824

Did someone say cake?

 Good morning, I'm back from my holiday and here to share my DT card for this fortnight's challenge at Sweet Stampin'-

 the theme this time is Boys, boys, boys

and this is the card I made for my boy who celebrated his 41st birthday at the beginning of this month. How can my baby possibly be that old???!!!

The image is a digital stamp from Beccy's Place, coloured with my markers and fussy cut. I  gave them a fence to lean on, stencilled the clouds and stamped the sentiments. 

While I'm here I'd like to say a huge thank you for all the lovely comments left by my lovely blog friends while I was away- very much appreciated.

I'll leave you with a photo of Marvin- he thoroughly enjoyed his holiday- lots of walks in woodland and several visits to the beach- no problems with his 'swimmers tail' this time thank goodness! 

We went for a peaceful forest walk... Marvin found a bog to play in... he was happy- I was not - particularly when he shook right next to me. We then took him to the beach for a cleansing swim...he was even happier...

Thanks for stopping by

Chris

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Challenge entries:

kraftychicks #769

addictedtostamps #493

PFM #789

craftyanimals #94

FQCB #71

girlzmakesguyzcards #27

welovestamping May Challenge

allsorts #824

Everyone was thinking it...

 Good morning, another scheduled post, this time for a new fortnightly challenge at Fab 'n' Funky, the theme this time is a simple one- ADD A SENTIMENT. 

I made a fairly CAS card, featuring a fabulous image from Art Impressions- these ladies just crack me up! She's coloured up with Copics,  I added two fun sentiments and some stencilling, so quick and simple today! 

Please do take the time to visit the Challenge Blog, you'll find some wonderful inspiration from the rest of the team and we'd love to have you join us.

Thanks for stopping by

Chris

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Challenge entries

PFM #789

TIOT Keep it simple

dreamvalley #337

snarkystampers #262

Deco Birthday

 Good morning, this is a scheduled post, a reminder for our May Challenge at

  Stamping Sensations. 

The optional theme for this month is FEMININE, but as always Anything Goes as long as there is visible stamping.

I used a stamp that I've had for years and remains a firm favourite, it's an unmounted rubber stamp, part of a set I think- but its packaging has disappeared and I cannot remember the brand. The image is coloured with Copic markers and various glitter/sparkle pens of different brands.( Never seem to have a lot of luck with these. I've tried so many different brands, I'm careful to replace the lids but lots of them seem to dry up/block up very quickly- with no rhyme or reason! Some of the pens in the sets are brilliant and go on for ages while others just give in and turn up their toes in no time at all. I've tried looking at UTube for solutions to the problem but no luck there either!  So if anyone can recommend glitter pens that don't dry/block up I'd be grateful!)

Anyway, back to the card, image was placed in a die cut frame- cut from glitter card. The background design is built up from strips of card which have been dry embossed. I inked the embossing folder first with Bermuda Elements ink (love that colour!) I matted the strips onto silver glitter card to match the frame, then matted onto the black card, then silver again. I added some very narrow strips of the glitter card with tiny square gems to finish my layout, stamped and heat embossed the sentiment onto black card.

Please head on over to Stamping Sensations Blog for lots of inspiration, full details of how to enter, and the lovely prize on offer.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:

aperfecttimetocraft May Challenge

letscreate #219

morgansartworld #88

creativecrafters #88

CRAFT #755

Epic!

Good morning, a new challenge starts today at over Crafty Catz, as always the theme is Anything Goes and Christine, our lovely host for this fortnight, has picked the optional twist of 

Use Blue and Green.

Our sponsor for this challenge is 

LeAnne's World

I used a cute image, Benjamin, courtesy of our generous sponsor. 

He's coloured up with Copic markers and fussy cut. I wanted a graffiti background, so drew my design onto white cardstock and used my markers to colour it- I added a little stamping too. I stamped the sentiment then embossed using a brick wall EF. Image is popped up on foam.

There are some fabulous creations from the rest of the DT to be enjoyed over at Crafty Catz so hope you have time for a visit- it would be great to have you join us.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:

classicdesign #5

daisychain #96

girlzrebel #40

paper-rocks-scissors #4 (fussy cut image)

hereisaplacetostart May challenge

Have a mice day...

Good morning, time for a new challenge at Fab 'n' Funky, I have no idea where that fortnight went! Probably spent far too much time reading...but that weather was wonderful while it lasted! 

The theme for this fortnight is HAVE A MICE DAY, chosen by our lovely Pat, she would like to see mice on your creations, I think it's a great theme and was spoilt for choice as I seem to have a lot of mouse-y stamps. 

I decided to use some House Mouse stamps, and make some tags as these images are quite small. On the left we have Amanda, the first HM mouse I owned, it's wood-backed and still stamps as good as new. On the right is a much newer cling rubber stamp, this little guy with his huge stack of books is a mouse after my own heart, both coloured with markers and then masked so I could stencil the backgrounds. I die cut 4 tag shapes from white card, then cut apertures into two of them, inked and stamped the top layers and added ribbon to finish.  

 There's more to inspire from the rest of the ladies over at Fab'n' Funky -,hope you'll be tempted to join in this fun theme and share your mouse-y creations with us.

Thanks for visiting, have a lovely day

Chris

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Challenges entered:

craftyanimals #94

creativecraftinguncles #64

critter crazy #98

letscreate #219

tag-alongandatc May Challenge

HMFMC #439

welovestamping May Challenge

ATC x 3

 I made some ATCs to play along with the new Tag Along and ATC Challenge, it's great to have a new and different challenge to join in with. I didn't think I'd made any before but found a couple I'd made previously and forgotten all about, lurking in a drawer. I'm not sure but may have blogged them already so thought I'd better not use them!  I trawled through my stamps looking for inspiration and decided on an arty theme. It's amazing how many stamps you can use on a tiny piece of card! The background cards were all cut from left over pieces of card previously inked up during messy inky sessions, hate throwing them away so was pleased to find a use for them. So here's the result, I've used various different brands of stamp- some of them I've had for years, never used before. I've also used washi tape and stickers and added a bit of doodling here and there. It's made me look at my stamp stash in a different way and I think I could get addicted! 

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenges

tag-along and atc May- ATG

outlawz - atg in a card free zone May Challenge

welove2create #5

creativeartiste #115

atcaroundtheworld #125

One for the girls...

 Good morning, the May Challenge begins today over at Stamping Sensations. The optional theme for this month, chosen by Lynn, is FEMININE but as always you can choose the ANYTHING GOES option as long is there is visible stamping on the front of your card/project.

There is a prize of some lovely stamps and dies from 

 Grafton Crafts, 

I used a stamp from pre-used a set I bought as part of a job lot from Ebay. The packaging was incomplete so I can't tell you the make. There were two stamps, the same image but different sizes, I used the larger one. I stamped it onto piece of white cardstock which I'd cut with a shaped edge die. I  added the stencilling, Lavinia stencil, pink and mauve inks.

I stamped the image again onto white card, coloured with copic markers, fussy cut and attached over the image on the stencilled panel, then stamped the flowery bit a few times coloured and cut them out to add some dimension. I adhered it to a black card blank and added the tiny pearls.

There's some lovely creations from the rest of the team to be enjoyed over at the challenge blog.

Thanks for visiting today

Chris

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Challenge entries:

avenue613 May Challenge

neglectedstuff May Challenge- the die, had it for years and only used once before.

aperfecttimetocraft May Challenge

classicdesign #4

crafterscafe #318

creationsinpink #80

girlzrebelchallenge #39

paper-rocks-scissors #4 (fussy cut flowers)

For a child at Crafty Calendar

 Good morning, the May challenge at Crafty Calendar begins today, 

the theme for this month is FOR A CHILD.

There is a lovely prize of Polkadoodles stamps for our lucky winner.

I made a card for my friend's 8 year old grandson using a cute digi from Conie Fong, as usual I coloured the image with copic markers, I added a little stencilling using a brick wall stencil. I've teamed it with papers from my stash (mostly scraps) and added some star shaped brads and a stamped sentiment.

Do hop over to Crafty Calendar to check out the lovely creations from the rest of the team, hopefully you'll be inspired to join us this month.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:

creativeknockouts #546

kraftychicks #766

PFM#786

ilovepromarkers #582

polkadoodle #6

May Flowers

 Good morning,  a new challenge starts today at Crafty Catz, it's my turn to host and I chose the theme of May Flowers- seemed appropriate! As always the theme is optional, we're more than happy to see anything you create. We have a lovely sponsor for this challenge, ALL DRESSED UP Stamps, with a prize of 2 digis of the winners choice.

I used a sweet sponsor image, Hedgehog Flower, coloured with Copic markers, and placed it beneath a square of white CS  stamped with an unbranded floral stamp then die cut a circular aperture in the centre. Originally I intended to colour the stamped background but decided to leave it uncoloured to keep the hedgehog as the focus. I added the die cut sentiment to finish.

Well, that's all from me today- hoping to spend most of it enjoying the sunshine and reading in the garden (as I have been doing for most of the week- determined not to waste this wonderful weather we've been enjoying)

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries;

cardz4galz. Flowers

craftrocket flowers

dreamvalley #335

alldressedup #161

New stamps make me happy!

 Hello, good morning and happy weekend. 

Today sees the start of a new challenge at Sweet Stampin', 

the theme for this fortnight is CAS. It came at a good time for me as I succumbed to temptation recently and bought a couple of Lavinia stamps that I've had my eye on for a while. It's a first outing for the bees and these beautiful flowers, a simple one layer card with a masked off panel of stencilling and a stamped sentiment. The bees and flowers coloured with watercolour markers. 

My lovely teamies have been busy creating some wonderful CAS cards, so please do take the time to check them out. Hope you'll be inspired to join in, just follow the theme and remember to include some stamping- digital stamps are fine! 

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the weekend.

Chris

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Challenge entries:

asyoulikeit -I like to create a variety of styles but am always happier with the more CAS ones.

CAS on Friday #307

scscards April (atg)

paperfunday #75

addictedtostamps #491

stencilfun April Challenge

mmm #250

Favourite colours

 Good morning, it's time for a new challenge at Fab'n' Funky and for this fortnight our lovely N'Eva would like to see your favourite colours.

Greens and blues are favourites of mine so I've combined both in this card. I cut a rectangle from a previously made inky background, and added some stencilling here and there. I worked out where I wanted to place the die cut circles, then stamped my images using a selection of Lavinia stamps. The flowers were stamped onto white cs coloured, and fussy cut, a little glitter and bling added to each one.

As always there's more inspiration from the rest of the team over at The Challenge blog- we hope you can join in this fortnight.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:

daisychain #95

letscreate #218

paper-rocks-scissors #3 (flowers are fussy cut)

creativecrafters #87

conjurerofdreams #7

unicorn #108

mmmchallenge #250

welovestamping #April (favourite stamps- Lavinia)

Cups and Books

 Hello, I'm back again with my second post for today.

This is my DT card for this fortnight's challenge at Crafty Catz,

 the theme is as always

 Anything Goes and Billie has chosen the option of Feminine Birthday for anyone who would like to use it.

our sponsor for this challenge is Last Minute Manda

I made an octagonal easel card using a pretty sponsor image,

 Shabby Chic Cups and Books, the image is greyscale so very easy to colour- I used my Copic markers.

I die cut the image using an octagonal die and matted it onto a larger purple layer, for the base I embossed the smaller octagon and added the die cut sentiment.

Thank you for stopping by today,

I hope you have a lovely Easter weekend.

Chris

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Challenge entries:

ilovepromarkers #581

lilredwagon #803

thepapershelter #634

aperfecttimetocraft #4

beautifulblossoms #28

classicdesign #4

daisychain #95

girlzrebelchallenge #39

There are always flowers

 Good morning and Happy Easter. I have two posts today. First up with my DT card for our mid month reminder for our April challenge at Stamping Sensations, 

the theme is Anything Goes with an option of  Nature/Flowers/ Birds/ Animals.

 There are two prizes of Lavinia stamps and stencil (photos not to scale). 

I made a fairly CAS card, blending distress inks onto a rectangle of white card and adding a little stencilling using the same colours. The flower stamp is Tim Holtz, the little bee is Lavinia, and the sentiment is part of an old set of Hobby Art stamps.

For full details of the challenge and lots of inspiration from the rest of the team head on over to Stamping Sensations.

Chris

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Challenge Entries:

creativeinspiration #25

Ellibelles Garden Party April Challenge

kraftychicks #764

paperfunday #75 (Bee)

avenue613. April Challenge

allsorts #821

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

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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

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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

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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