Pages
Wednesday, 8 July 2026
Noel
Sunday, 5 July 2026
Bees and blooms
The theme for July is SUMMERTIME or Anything Goes.
There are 2 fabulous prizes, Lavinia Stamps and watercolours.
I used several Lavinia stamps to create my card, Bumble and Hum, Flower Divine and Forest Creeper, the background is Distress Oxide Inks and a honeycomb stencil, I also used a sunray stencil but doesn't show up very well. The sentiment is a sticker.
Check out the challenge blog for full details of how to play along and to enjoy some beautiful summery creations from the rest of the ladies.
Thanks for visiting- have a good day.
Chris
x
TIOT In the garden
mmmchallenge #291
allsorts #853
Saturday, 4 July 2026
Birthdays at Crafty Calendar
Christmas in July at Sweet Stampin'
These two cute little guys are Mo Manning, available from the old shop. I've used Copics to colour. Snow added with Ink spatters. The falling snow EF is one of my favourites, but no idea of brand. The die cut is an old one from Memory Box, it's been very well used over the years I've had it.
There's more inspiration over at The Challenge Blog, it's easy to play along- just remember to include stamping and follow the theme.
Chris
x
Challenge entries:
alphabet E for embossing
creativeknockouts. #574
hollyandivy #207
pearlysparkles #121
aperfecttimetocraft. JulyCh.
crittercrazies #112
Friday, 3 July 2026
The Legend!
I'm sharing the card I made for my brother. The idea for this is unashamedly nicked from my lovely teamie, Chrissy, who's brilliant design can be seen here! As soon as I saw it I knew it would be perfect for my brother- he really can turn his hand to anything. Thanks so much for the inspiration Chrissy.
The image is a digi from QKR Stampede, sadly no longer trading. I've used my Copics to colour and used a brick wall stencil for the background, the papers are I think from Do Craft? Computer generated sentiment.
Hope you can find the time to join in this fortnight, for more inspiration please check out the fab creations from the rest of the team here.
Thanks for visiting
Chris
x
Challenge entries
kraftychicks #827
digichoosday #7
themaleroom #212- DIY and woodwork are just 2 of his hobbies.
carlinskaartenparadijs #96 (July)
MAWTT #191
dreamvalley #364
Wednesday, 1 July 2026
Merry Christmas to moo
Wednesday, 24 June 2026
Something beginning with B
'Something beginning with B'
My B's are Bear, bloom, bee , bow, brown, blue.
The stamp is from a set by Anita Jeram (Colorado Craft), coloured with pencils, sentiment from same set, I've used kraft card and an odd scrap of DP, no idea of brand.
There's more inspiration from my lovely teamies, so please hop over to F'n'F to take a look, hope you can find the time to play along with the challenge.
It's very hot here... seems wrong to be hiding indoors when the sun is shining but you can have too much of a good thing. Poor Marvin's routine is totally disrupted- he's still getting his early morning walk but has to wait until it's cool enough (if it is cool enough!) to go out again. The heat has not affected his appetite in the slightest though...and he still wants to play with his ball, I'm not keen on indoor ball games but it's too hot in the garden!
Keep cool everyone!
Chris
x
Challenge entries:
craftyanimals. #106
daisychain #108
creativecrafters #101
allsorts #852
asyoulikeit Blue and brown is my favourite combo, aways looks good together and works well for both masculine and feminine cards.
CRAFT #782
lilredwagon #864
Friday, 19 June 2026
We want cake!
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Good for the soul
I made a set of ATCs, using Distress Oxides for the backgrounds and to colour. Some of the stamps used are Visible Image, Drag & Drip and Make Me Smile sets, no longer on their website. I've also used stamps from A&C, Indigo Blue and Kelly Panacci.
As always, there is loads of inspiration over at We Love Stamping- so go enjoy! You will also find full details of how to play along and the prizes on offer.
I'm home now after a very enjoyable holiday cruising on the Rhine, we visited some beautiful places, enjoyed watching the scenery go by and ate too much! The ship was great, very comfortable, good food and pleasant, helpful staff . We made new friends too which was a bonus. The only downside was the journey home. I never ever want to go anywhere near Frankfurt airport again!!! Complete and utter chaos- totally disorganised -queues everywhere, automated machines not working, hardly any security desks open so queues didn't move, just got longer and longer, people stressing everywhere over missing their flights and trying to push in! Luckily we did get through in time but I personally have no intention of going anywhere in Europe until they sort out the EES and get rid of the ridiculous queues.
Thanks for stopping by, and thanks to everyone who kindly left comments on my scheduled posts.
Have a good day
Chris
Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Summer Flowers
Sunday, 7 June 2026
New Design Team
Anyway back to the reason for the post- this is my first DT card for We Love Stamping, I was honoured to be invited to join this fabulous team.
The theme for this month is Sports/ Hobbies or Anything Goes.
There are 2 prizes of Visible Image Stamps
I went with the hobbies option, always intended to take up photography when I retired...but didn't, and created a circular card using dies from A&C. The main panel is cut from water colour paper, I used the Always & Forever stencil to mask off the centre and a sunburst stencil and Distress Oxides to stencil around it. The camera stamp and sentiment are also from Visible Image but no longer available on their website.
Check out the We Love Stamping Challenge Blog for full details of how to enter the challenge and to see the lovely creations from the rest of the ladies
Thanks for visiting
Chris
x
Saturday, 6 June 2026
All about the boys!
Man card
CARDS FOR MEN.
this is the card I made for my husband's birthday next week, I had to use the Anita Jeram (Colarado) dog stamp again as it's so like our Marvin. I stamped onto a panel of white card, then used the 'Happy' and 'Birthday' dies for the sentiment. Dog is coloured with markers. I used a cloud die and some waste to create the thought bubble, I'm sure he dreams about his precious ball! The ball is from a very old set of Nitwit stamps, and I stamped a few more to add to the corners of the z fold card. The DP is from The Works.
Hope you can join us at Sweet Stampin' this challenge, we all need to make cards for the men in our lives. If you need inspiration just hop over and see what my lovely teamies have created.
I'll be back later!
Chris
x
Challenge entries:
creative-creases #116
craftrocket #137
kraftychicks #823
classicdesign #05
Creative Moments #282
Friday, 5 June 2026
A snowman!
I made this card during the heatwave- trying to think cool thoughts! I added the two strips of patterned paper (very old!) to a panel of kraft card, then stamped the snowman (Woodware) in the centre, coloured him with pencils, stamped and embossed the sentiment. I used a white gel pen to add the 'snow'- quick and simple but another Christmas card for the box!
There's more inspiration at Crafty Catz, so please do hop over and take a look. Hope you can find some time to join us for this challenge.
Thanks for looking
Chris
x
Challenge entries:
kleurenmetpotloden (May)
Wednesday's Creative Inspirations (June)
shoppingourstash #575
hollyandivy #206
christmaskickstart #111
Monday, 1 June 2026
Nearly Frogot!
Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Not just for birthdays!
There's a new challenge at Fab'n' Funky, the theme for this fortnight is to
USE A STENCIL AND/OR EMBOSSING FOLDER.
I used an A&C stencil and DOIs to colour a square of white card, cut a circle from the centre and ran the rest through my Big Shot using a Lisa Horton water droplets EF. I stamped the image and sentiment (A &C) onto the circular piece, then stamped the image again onto white card, coloured with my markers, cut it out and adhered in place. I added the die cuts and gems and finished with a doodled border.
There's more inspiration for you over at F'n'F, hope you can join us this fortnight.
Thanks for visiting
Chris
x
Challenge entries:
addictedtostamps #518
stencilfun May Challenge
TIOT circles
audsentiments #337
allsorts #850
cyhtp May 2026
Friday, 22 May 2026
Birthday cake
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
x
Challenge entries:
CRAFT #780
digichoosday #4
thesisterhoodofcrafters banners
ilovepromarkers #607
aaabirthday. #85
Monday, 18 May 2026
Last reminder for Stamping Sensations
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Funky Flowers
Saturday, 9 May 2026
Things with Wings at Sweet Stampin'
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
x
Challenge entries:
leighsbdesigns #52
kraftychicks #819
conjurerofdreams #20
morgansartworld #100
Friday, 8 May 2026
Yellow Snow!
Sunday, 3 May 2026
Big Happy Birthday
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
x
Challenge entries:
welovestamping May Challenge
addictedtocas #307
kraftychicks #818
simonsaysstamp Monday Challenge
allsorts #848
classicdesign #04
crittercrazy #110
Saturday, 2 May 2026
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
x
Challenge entries:
CRAFT #779
MLCCB #68
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Pretty in pink
Friday, 24 April 2026
So many books....
There's more inspiration from the rest of the ladies over at Crafty Catz, hope you can join us this fortnight.
Saturday, 18 April 2026
Hug a tree
Challenge entries:
kraftychicks #816
addictedtostamps #515
daisychain #106
Wednesday, 15 April 2026
CAS at Fab'n' Funky
Saturday, 11 April 2026
Favourite colour
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
x
Challenge entries:
ilovepromarkers #604
unicorn #119
thecraftingchallenge April 2026
avenue613 April 2026 (atg)
HQFCB #4
Friday, 10 April 2026
A boy and his dog...
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
x
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)
Sunday, 5 April 2026
The beauty of nature
Inspired by Nature
.webp)




























