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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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