Birthday cake

 Good morning, it's time for a new  'Anything Goes' challenge at Crafty Catz.

This is the card I made for Jessica, my friend's 6 year old granddaughter.

The cute stamp is by Stamping Bella, coloured with copics, I added a little stencilling and placed her in the arch shaped aperture, The sentiment stamp is part of the same set. I die cut some bunting (no idea of die brand- lost the packaging many years ago!) and wrote the greeting with a black glitter pen. Added some glittery dots in the corners to match the block glittery borders. Not the best photo for the colours, it's more pink than purple IRL.

Thanks for stopping by- don't forget to check out the lovely creations from the rest of the team over at Crafty Catz, hope you can join us this fortnight.

Have a great weekend- we've been promised sunshine in the UK- a welcome change  for a Bank Holiday weekend!!!

Chris

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Challenge entries:

CRAFT #780

digichoosday #4

thesisterhoodofcrafters banners

ilovepromarkers #607

girlzcreativecrafts #68

PFM #838

aaabirthday. #85

Last reminder for Stamping Sensations

 Good morning, a bit sad today as this is my last card for Stamping Sensations Challenges, it's been an honour to be part of the team for the last 3 years, working with such lovely, talented and supportive ladies.

There is still time to join in with this, our very last challenge, you can see all the details here. 

The theme is CUTE CREATURES, or of course you can enter using the Anything Goes option as long as there is visible stamping on the front of your entry.

I used A&C dies to cut the focal panel and black frame, smooshed some Distress Oxide ink in shades of pink onto the white panel,  added some stencilling using stencils  from various companies and the same shades of ink stamped Tallula in her tutu, (Stamping Bella) directly onto the panel, then stamped again onto white card, coloured with copics and fussy cut, adhered in place. I added a little pink stencil butter frosting in two of the corners, some black sequins and a stamped and embossed sentiment. 

Thanks for visiting

Have a good week.

Chris

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Challenge entries:

polkadoodle #5

crafterscafe May challenge

daisychain #107

craftyanimals #105

sparkles #200 ( 3 Sequins, 3 stencils )

dreamvalley #362 (embossed sentiment)

creativefriday. #411

creationsinmostlypink #93

Funky Flowers

 Good morning, there's a new challenge at FAB 'n' FUNKY, 

Pat K, our lovely host for this fortnight, has chosen the theme of

 MONOCHROMATIC 

(shades of one colour)

I love the look of monochromatic designs, there's something so 'together' about them! I  chose to use brown tones and several floral stamps from different companies. 

First I smooshed the background with D. Oxides and added some stencilled leaves and grasses along the bottom edge. I stamped the funky flowers (Hobby Art) stems and leaves  using brown Versafine Clair and coloured them with watercolour markers, adding some details with a white gel pen, masked them where necessary to add the swirl stamps ( a company called Autumn Leaves) and second generation stamping of some TH silhouette stamps to fill the spaces.  The little bees are from Lavinia. I doodled the border to finish.

There are loads of the Hobby Art  and Autumn Leaves stamps still uninked although both sets are far from new so I'm planning to make similar cards in different colours. One day.

There's more to see over at Fab'n' Funky from my lovely teamies and we'd be delighted to have you play along 

Thanks for visiting.

Chris

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Challenge entries:

4-seasonchallenge #104

do-allkreatives #113

mirtillamente #55

avenue613 May Challenge

allsorts #849

lilredwagon #858

Things with Wings at Sweet Stampin'

 Good morning, this fortnight the challenge theme at Sweet Stampin' 

is 

THINGS WITH WINGS

I was looking through my stamp collection waiting for inspiration to strike when I can across this beauty, unopened in the packet, she has wings...so perfect! Not sure why a mermaid would need wings and pretty sure that these would be too small to be much use but I really enjoyed colouring her with my Copics, then  added loads of Wink of Stella to her wings, fins, tail and the bubbles. I  fussy cut her and popped her up with foam onto some layered backing papers (The Works) The sentiment is part of the stamp set, The Card Hut.

Hope you can find some time to join in this fortnight, the theme gives you so much scope, if you need inspiration there are some beautiful cards from the Sweeties over at the challenge blog. It's easy to join in with our challenges- just remember to follow the theme and include some stamping- 'real stamps' or digital, both are fine.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:

leighsbdesigns #52

kraftychicks #819

aperfecttimetocraft #5

conjurerofdreams #20

morgansartworld #100

Yellow Snow!

 Good morning, it's the start of a new challenge over at CRAFTY CATZ, the theme is always ANYTHING GOES.  I had a play with my Lavinia Stamps and made a Christmas card. A lot of masking and manipulating of the stamps went on... getting the layers to match up was a bit fiddly. I was happy with how it turned out though until I added the 'snow' some glittery paste stuff, meant to be white but looks yellow to me and makes me think of the Frank Zappa song! The stamps I used are a mix of old and new, the little houses and snowy pines are new, the small pines are older. I used watercolours to colour the houses. 

There's more inspiration to get you started over at Crafty Catz.

Today is also my granddaughter Emily's birthday, 12 today and growing up too fast. I won't see her until Sunday when they're all coming over for a meal and a family get together, so looking forward to that.

Thanks for visiting,

have a good weekend.

Chris

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Challenge entries:

CRAFT #779

LTCCB #92

girlzcreativechristmas #175

POE #111

daisychain #107

hollyandivy #204

Big Happy Birthday

 Good morning,  this is my DT card for the May Challenge at Stamping Sensations.

The theme for this month is CUTE CREATURES or Anything Goes, there are some lovely prizes from Highlight Crafts.

I made this card for a friend's upcoming BIG birthday, I very kindly haven't splashed her age all over it, although sorely tempted, as I know she can be a bit sensitive about it!

The image is by Anita Jeram (Colorado Crafts) coloured with Copic markers, I chose to use blue/green as much as possible as they're her favourites. The stamped sentiment is part of the same set.

Sadly, this challenge will be the last one, after 16 very successful years Brenda has had to make the very difficult decision to finally close its doors. It would be great to see it go out with a final flourish and a bumper crop of entries so please do take the opportunity to join in one last time. 

There's plenty of inspiration over at the Challenge Blog, full details of how to join in and the lovely prizes to be won.

Hope to see you there

Chris

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Challenge entries:

welovestamping May Challenge

addictedtocas #307

kraftychicks #818

simonsaysstamp Monday Challenge

allsorts #848

classicdesign #04

crittercrazy #110

Feeling 'all white'.

 

Good morning, it's time for our May Challenge at Crafty Calendar, the theme for this month is 

ALL WHITE.

This is way out of my comfort zone - I tried but not loving this card! I  think White on White cards can look elegant and beautiful and tend to think of weddings or Christmas so as I don't need a wedding card I went for Christmas. I used an embossing folder (came with magazine) a snowflake ribbon die from Poppy Stamps and TH sentiment dies. I distressed the edges of the focal panel and added some faux stitching with a white gel pen- it's white so it doesn't show up in the photo. Finished with a few little gems. 

The prize this month is 2  digi images of the winner's choice from LOTV

Now the rest of the team have absolutely smashed this theme so if you need some inspiration hop over to Crafty Calendar and take a look- wish I'd seen theirs before I made mine! 

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:

CRAFT #779

MLCCB #68

Pretty in pink

 Good morning, it's time for a new fortnightly challenge at 

Fab'n' Funky, 

we have a colour theme for you this time-

Use PINK, BLUE, and/or YELLOW

I coloured this sweet Conie Fong image using my trusty Copics. This little girl reminds me of my eldest granddaughter when she was small and the dress looks very similar to one I made for her... it was even pink... not a colour I would usually choose but it did really suit her colouring. No way would she wear a hat though and the basket of flowers probably wouldn't have survived for very long!!! I framed it using a piece of DP with an aperture torn out and distressed, and doodled around the edges.

There's some lovely inspiration from the rest of the Team so do head on over to Fab'n' Funky to check it out. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge.

Thanks for visiting 

Chris

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Challenge entries:

cdsunday+ #182

creativefingers #321

CRAFT #778

craftygalscorner #276

addictedtostamps #516

So many books....

 A new challenge starts today at Crafty Catz.

As always the theme is ANYTHING GOES.

I've had this image for quite a while, one of Mo Manning's Patreon digis. It makes me smile because it really could be me...the crazy hair - very similar to the style I sport when I get involved in a gripping story I tend to push it back resulting in a sort of tangled bird's nest. The dilated eyes and spaced out look are familiar too....

I've used my copics to colour the image, the book dp are long ago magazine gifts, and the sentiment stamp is Mama Elephant. 

I used this sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday

There's more inspiration from the rest of the ladies over at Crafty Catz, hope you can join us this fortnight.

Chris

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Challenge entries:

craftrocket #135

digichoosday #4

sisterhoodofcrafters make someone smile

sweetsketchwednesday April Challenge

craftingfromtheart April Challenge

neglectedstuff April Challenge The book dp and the brads.

Hug a tree

 Good morning, a quick reminder of our April Challenge at Stamping Sensations,

 the theme is The Beauty of Nature or Anything Goes.

 For me one of natures most beautiful creations are trees, spring buds and blossom, summer in full leaf -casting welcome shade, splendid autumn colours and the stark skeletons of winter. One of the most beautiful sights is to see a magnificent tree silhouetted against the skyline at sunset which is the inspiration for my card. 

The  tree stamp and sentiment are, from a set by Crafty Individuals which I've had for many years, stencil from Lavinia and Distress Oxide Inks.

For more inspiration and full details of how to enter and the lovely prize you could win please hop over to the challenge blog.

Thanks for visiting and have a good weekend.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

CRAFT #778

kraftychicks #816

addictedtostamps #515

daisychain #106

farmquestgeneralstore #39

CAS at Fab'n' Funky

 Good morning, it's time for another challenge at Fab 'n' Funky, our lovely Pat is hosting this fortnight, she's chosen one of my favourite themes, CLEAN AND SIMPLE.

It's the middle of April so the obvious choice was to make a Christmas card!

I used some Lavinia stamps and stamped onto a die cut panel of Kraft card using dark brown and red Versafine Clair ink, added the white highlights with a Polychromo pencil then stamped the sentiment, matted the panel onto white card then onto a kraft cardbase...and that's it, CAS and quick to make.

There's more inspiration over at Fab'n' Funky so please check out my teamie's lovely cards and I hope you'll be tempted to join us with a fabulous creation of your own. 

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:

FQCCCB #31

daisychain #106

MLCCB #67

dragonflydreams April Challenge

POE #109

allsorts #847

SCAS April 2026

hollyandivy #202

Favourite colour

 Good morning, this fortnight's challenge at Sweet Stampin' is up and running, the theme couldn't be easier...USE YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR... guess which mine is!

This cute fairy is a digi I 've had for ages, I think Funky Kits? Anyway, all coloured with my Copics, DP from stash, the dragonfly one is Polkadoodles, absolutely no idea of the green papers but they are very pretty! The dotty piece wasn't quite long enough so I played around with the scallop die and inserted the piece with the dragonflies, I finished with a scattering of tiny die cut flowers and stamped sentiment.

There's some lovely inspiration to be enjoyed over at the challenge blog, my teamies have been busy creating using their favourite colours. 

Thanks for visiting ,

Have a great weekend.

Chris

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Challenge entries:

ilovepromarkers #604

unicorn #119

aperfecttimetocraft #4

thecraftingchallenge April 2026

avenue613 April 2026 (atg)

HQFCB #4

A boy and his dog...

 Good morning, this is my DT make for this fortnight's challenge at Crafty Catz, which starts today, the theme is, as always, ANYTHING GOES. 

The image is one of Mo Manning's more recent Patreon digis, I think the look on the dog's face says it all. I've used my Copics to colour and kept the design very clean to keep the focus on the boy and his dog. The sentiment is an old rubber stamp- no idea of brand. 

I haven't been doing much crafting this week, the weather has been too beautiful to be indoors, a real taste of summer for a few days. My lovely new garden furniture was delivered yesterday...of course the weather changed straight away!!! 

Thanks for stopping by today, please check out the lovely creations from the rest of the ladies over at the Challenge blog.

Chris

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Challenge entries:

asyoulikeit I prefer a clean unfussy design when I use a digi stamp I really like, I can print the image larger making it better to colour.

ilovepromarkers #604

TIOT Cute

craftyanimals #104

crittercrazy #109

dragonflydreams CAS

SCAS April 2026 (atg)

The beauty of nature

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

Inspired by Nature

There are 2 prizes to be won, a $20 Voucher from Gina K

and a set of Aall & Create Stamps

To create my card I die cut an aperture from a panel of design paper (The Works), then added some stencilling, the stamped sentiment and the moth. I cut a slightly larger panel of black card and a smaller aperture to frame my image, then  stamped the focal image onto a scrap of white card and used gouache paints to colour it. They are new and this is the first time I tried them so not too unhappy with the result but could do with a bit more practice. 

As always there's some wonderful creations from the rest of the DT, sure to inspire you so just hop over and take a look. You will also find the full details of how to join in with the challenges.

Thanks for visiting

Enjoy the rest of the Easter holiday

Chris

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Challenge entries:

CRAFT #777 (ATG)

creativeinspiration #37

Ellibelle's Garden Party #13

addictedtostamps #514

letscreate #230

morgansartworld. #99

pickthree #3 Text/die cuts/wings

April Challenge at Crafty Calendar

Good morning and Happy Easter, hope you're enjoying the Easter break.

It's the start of a new challenge at Crafty Calendar, this month's theme is 

Die-Cuts/punches

There is a lovely prize of digital images from LOTV for our lucky winner.

This is the card I made for my friend's birthday last month, the first triple point card I've attempted- I've always thought the design looks impressive so was pleasantly surprised to find how easy they are to make. I used some pretty papers from a pad I bought ages ago from Hobbycraft, the cover was missing so I've no idea of the brand but it was a bargain price that I couldn't resist. The circle shutter die is new, bought it from Amazon, not branded. Tiny punched flowers, layered from whit card and vellum with pearl centres and  die cut leaves, die cut sentiment and numbers. 

There's plenty of lovely inspiration to be enjoyed over at Crafty Calendar, then why not get out those dies and punches and show us what you can create.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:
craftrocket #135

kraftychicks #814

classicdesign #3

aperfecttimetocraft.#4

crafterscafe #328

craftingfromtheart March Challenge

girlzrebel #50

tripleb April Challenge

Spring or Easter at Fab'n' Funky

Good morning, the lovely spring weather seems to have abandoned us at the moment, back to jumpers and coats but at least it isn't raining all the time so could be worse! I'm hoping that the sun will make an appearance again, the sooner the better.

Our challenge theme for this fortnight over at Fab'n'Funky is 

SPRING OR EASTER.

I've been making cards for my granddaughters so I can put some money inside them they will get some chocolate too but I don't like to spend too much on over-priced eggs so they will be fairly modest! 

This is Ruby's card- she may be bigger than me now (ok quite a lot taller! ) but she'll always be my little Ruby Rabbit. The image is from LOTV, coloured up with Copics, DP from stash. The die cut flowers are Memory Box. The tiny die cut tag is  a Sissix die.

The inside has a pocket to hold the cash. 

I've a busy weekend ahead, not only is it Easter but also my eldest granddaughter's birthday and one of my brothers' birthday immediately after. Two family meals out planned so lucky me- not a lot of cooking and lots of family time.

I hope you enjoy the Easter break whatever your plans are.

Thanks for stopping by and please don't forget to check out the F'n'F blog.

Chris

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Challenge entries:

TIOT make it cute

allsorts #846

PFM #831

Bored Bunny

 

Good morning, another Easter card, my DT make for this fortnight's challenge over at Crafty Catz. 

The bunny is a digi from QKR Stampede, I think they've now closed their doors. I've printed it fairly large, coloured with Copics and fussy cut him. I've given him some die cut grass to hide his eggs in - not very good is he ? I think he looks a bit bored and hasn't made any effort at all. The eggs and sentiment stamps and the grass die cut are from Lawn Fawn. The card is for my friend's 8 year old grandson, there's a little pocket inside to hold some cash but I forgot to photograph it.

Thanks for visiting, don't forget to check out the rest of the DT's lovely cards over at Crafty Catz, would be great to see you join in this time, our challenges are now always 

ANYTHING GOES.

Have a good weekend

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

cardz4galz #272

Creative Moments #280

SAS4kids Animal cards

craftingfromtheart March Challenge

Double D

Relax...

  Hi. I'm back with a second card today- this one is for the new challenge at

 Fab'n' Funky, 

the theme is FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS chosen by our lovely Pat K.

Another CAS card, just one layer, a stencil and a couple of stamps. Just love this cute Anita Jeram doggy  (Colorado Stamps). He's doing what every dog I've ever owned has loved to do- rolling on the grass in the sunshine! I've used pencils to colour him to look like our Marvin. The card is for my son's birthday and he's besotted by our dog! He would love to have his own dog but the house is empty most days as both he and his wife are at work and the girls at school so it wouldn't be fair on the animal. It's ok- we let them share our boy for now until their circumstances allow them to get one of their own.

Thanks for visiting my blog today, please check out the Fab'n' Funky blog for more inspiration from the rest of the ladies, I do hope you can join in this fortnight.

Chris

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Challenge entries:

paperfunday #85

stencilfun March Challenge

scscards March Challenge

craftyanimals. #103

crittercrazy#108

Spring flowers

 Good morning, a quick reminder of our March Challenge at Stamping Sensations, 

the theme is Spring or Anything Goes.

I made a CAS card using a large stamp from Pink Ink, coloured it with Copic markers, stamped the sentiment (magazine gift) and that's about it! I know it's a bit early for lilacs yet but hopefully won't be long. 

Please check out the main challenge blog for lots of inspiration and full details of how to join in -

 thanks for stopping by

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

I spy... #35/6

simonsays CAS

addictedtostamps #513

TIOT Spring

PFM #829

creativeinspiration #36

beautifulblossoms #39

thefourseasons March Challenge

daisychain #105

Santa is coming (but not for a while...)

 Good afternoon, a little late but here's my DT card for the new challenge at Sweet Stampin',  I seem to have totally lost the plot this week and forgot all about it. 

The theme for this fortnight is GINGHAM/ TARTAN/PLAID. 

Tartan always makes me think of Christmas so I decided on a Christmas card- then picked gingham paper! The image is of course one of Mo's cute digis, which I've coloured using copic markers. 2 different papers from my left overs box which matched the colours, the gingham piece quite large and smaller strip of the the one with the red hearts which I cut with a scalloped border die to allow the gingham pattern to show through. I added the red die cut frame and tiny heart buttons to finish and stamped the sentiment combining stamps from 2 sets. 

Thanks for stopping by

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

kraftychicks #811

addictedtostamps #512

ConBC #18 (I-Christmas/ Free/Stamping)

MLCCB #67

hollyandivy #200

Birthday Girl

 Good morning, once again it's time for a new challenge at Crafty Catz, the theme is, as always -ANYTHING GOES.

March is rushing past at a fair old pace and my eldest granddaughter's birthday is coming up at the beginning of April so I thought I'd get ahead and make her card now. I'm finding it hard to believe that our sweet little Livvy is almost 19! She's away at uni at present but will be home for her birthday as it will be the Easter break, I know she is happy and doing well but I miss seeing her regularly so I'm looking forward to catching up with her adventures.

The image I've used is from Mirtillamente, I've coloured her to look like our girl with dark brown hair  and grey/green eyes. Both of the background panels are stencilled, the pink one using an A&C stencil and one from Uniko for the grey panel. The two sentiments are from LOTV. I've added some little die cut embellishments (I love the paperclip, it looks so realistic!) and tiny glossy dots. 

There's some lovely inspiration makes from the rest of the ladies over at Crafty Catz, so do check them out- hope to see you play along this fortnight.

Thanks for visiting, have a good weekend.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

craftrocket #134

creativeknockouts #566

TIOT feminine

digichoosday #3

ilovepromarkers #602

aplacetostart -no squares

mirtillamente #53

Daisy tag

 Hello, some time to play and I finally managed to make something that isn't for a DT! I haven't managed to make anything for the ATC and Tag Along Challenge for a while and really wanted to join in this month. Walking back from the woods with Marvin, enjoying the sunshine and pogging into the neighbouring gardens (as you do ) I spied a lovely lush green lawn- covered with daisies, it was so pretty and inspired me to make this tag. The die cut tag is Studio Light, 2 layers cut from white card, the middle layer is a green striped cardstock. The daisy die and stamp set is Polkadoodles- I used the die to cut the daisy flower but fussy cut the leaf and stem as I really don't like the white borders the die leaves around the stamped image. I used a Visible Image stamp from a set called drag and drip to stamp the green strips behind the daisy in 3 shades of green Dioxides. The sentiment is a TH stamp. Sorry about the photo but the light wasn't great and it's the best I could get. 

thanks for visiting.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

tag-alongandatc #March Challenge

mmmchallenge #273

colorfuloptions March Challenge

daisychain #105

craftrocket #134

craftygalscorner #275

Spring bunnies

Good morning, first Saturday of the month means it's time for a new challenge at Crafty Calendar, the theme for March is SPRING.

The prize is some lovely digital stamps from LOTV

I needed to make some money holder cards for my friend's grandchildren, I always send them a little money gift as I don't think chocolate eggs would be the wisest thing to post! 

I found this cute Whimsy stamp that I bought a couple of years ago, a bargain buy at a Craft Show, never out of the packet before and thought it would appeal to a small girl. I've used Copics to colour. I also used a marker to colour a white ribbon as I didn't have any that matched. The little flower embellishments have been lurking in my 'scary cupboard' for many years- I knew they were in there somewhere and bravely delved into the depths- at least they are a perfect match so worth the effort.

There's a little pocket inside to hold the cash, the sentiment stamps are Lawn Fawn .

 I hope you can find the time to join in this month, please don't forget to check out the Challenge Blog for some lovely inspiration from the rest of the team.

Thanks for visiting, have a great weekend.

Chris

x

challenge entries:

CRAFT #775

lilredwagon #848

simonsaysstamp - make it cute

paperfunday #85

aperfecttimetocraft. March Challenge

critter crazy #108

girlzcreativecrafts #65

allsorts #844

Shades of green

 Good morning, I'm hosting the challenge at Fab 'n' Funky  for this fortnight- 

my chosen theme is 

SHADES OF GREEN - my favourite colour.

I love this time of year when every day brings new growth and the trees start to wear their fresh green leaves, everything looks so vibrant and beautiful- especially when we're lucky enough to enjoy some early spring sunshine as we have here for the past couple of days.

My card is one layer, stamped and stencilled directly onto the card blank, the only colour I've used, apart from the black silhouettes is green, apart from a few details picked out with a gold liner pen. The fairy's wings are coloured with green sparkle pens, which doesn't really show...all of the stamps and the stencil are Lavinia.

I'm so looking forward to seeing lots of lovely green creations so I hope you'll find the time to join us this fortnight. There's some lovely inspiration for you over at Fab'n' Funky so please do take a look.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenges entered:

colorfuloptions. March 2026

pinspirational #335

avenue613 March 2026

asyoulikeitchallenge - green is my favourite colour- makes me think of trees and spring.

Amongst the bluebells.

Good morning,  1st March- meteorological spring has arrived, so this month's theme challenge at Stamping Sensations is a great choice- SPRING, or of course there's the option of Anything Goes. 

There are some lovely prizes of Sweet Poppy Stamps and Stencil.

I used a mixture of old and new Lavinia Stamps to create my card, The catkins and fairy are new, the rabbit, robins, bluebells and grass are older. I've also used a couple of stencils to add some colour to the background. 

Thanks for visiting today, please check out the main challenge blog for details of how to enter and some lovely inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

Chris

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Challenge entries:

avenue613 March Challenge

creativecrafters #97

Blossom

 Good morning,  I 'm not sure where the time went since I last posted- and that one was scheduled, but here I am again with my card for this fortnight's ANYTHING GOES challenge at Crafty Catz.

Many years ago I was on the Design Team for Delicious Doodles, sadly one of the many Challenge Blogs that have now disappeared, this lovely image is one that I coloured at the time and never got around to using so now I have! Image coloured with Copic markers, various papers from stash matted onto blue card- I printed the butterfly again to finish, coloured and fussy cut it (doesn't quite match the colours on main image as I had to try and guess which I had used). 

I followed this sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday

We had a wonderful taste of spring here on Wednesday- the sun shone all day and it was so warm and lovely- absolutely no rain at all - even saw a butterfly in the garden- spring is definitely around the corner.

Please pop over and check out the challenge blog to see what the rest of the ladies have created.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

cardz4galz. #270

paperfunday #84

addictedtostamps #511

PFM #826

classicdesign #2

crafterscafe #327

sweetsketchwednesday Feb challenge

Dies or Punches at Fab'n' Funky

 Last but not least, my third creation for today is my DT make for this fortnight's challenge at

Fab'n' Funky

the theme this fortnight is 

DIE CUTS OR PUNCHES

chosen by our lovely Pat K.

This is the card I made for my nephew's 21st birthday, I used die cuts from various companies, red, white and black cardstock and a piece of diamond patterned design paper.

As always there's more to see over at Fab'n' Funky, some fabulous inspiration from the rest of the team.

Many thanks for those of you visiting my blog, please scroll down for my earlier posts today.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

acutabove February Challenge

mmmchallenge #271

Guest Design for I Spy with my Little Eye

 I was delighted to be invited by the lovely Ellie of Ellibelle's Corner to Guest Design for the for her February Challenge at I Spy with My Little Eye, thank you Ellie!

The theme is SOMETHING YOU LOVE.

I thought for a while and decided I would make a page for my art journal, something I love doing but don't get around to often enough, and I would combine techniques that I really enjoy doing. I also love stories of magic and fantasy so that decided a theme for my page.

I started with a previously made background that had been stencilled and smooshed with inks and brushos in shades of brown and bronze, cut an arch shaped aperture from a square of it and stamped it with a Lavinia vine stamp in various shades of green. I cut a smaller arch from the remainder of the original background (it was just big enough!) and added some stencilling and more ink to darken it. I used my copic markers to colour the beautiful fae image, a Morgan's Artworld digi, added a little stencilling and inserted it behind the arched 'window'. The sentiment strips are stamped and gold embossed using stamps from various companies.

I took my time creating this page, but am happy to say I really enjoyed the time spent.

I hope you can find the time to join in with this lovely theme, just click the link above to hop over to the Challenge Blog.

Chris

x

Thanks for visiting

challenge entries:

craftingfromtheart. February Challenge

sparkles #197

welove2create #1

HQFCB #2

Outlaws-anythingbutacard Feb Challenge

aperfecttimetocraft. Feb Challenge

creativeinspiration Feb challenge

ilovepromarkers #601

More of my favourites...

 Good morning, this is the first of 3 posts today, all of them scheduled as I'm going to be in London for the day- dinner and theatre with my lovely daughter, a delayed birthday treat. 

This card is a reminder for our February Challenge at Stamping Sensations, the theme is Favourite Stamps or Anything Goes. Once again I'm using Lavinia Stamps, this time to make a CAS Christmas card. The stamps I have used are Fir Cone Branch, Mini Holly ,Thistlewhisk and Pipspell (without his lantern). I coloured with pencils and a white gel pen, Posca marker for the snow. 

Please check out the Challenge blog for details of how to join in, some great inspiration from the rest of the team and the lovely prizes on offer.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

craftyanimals #102

crittercrazy #107

thefourseasons Feb. Challenge

aplacetostart. February Challenge

hollyandivy #198

POE #106