New Squirrel and the Fox Challenge - Ribbon and Lace

We've got a new challenge today on the Squirrel and the Fox challenge blog and our theme is 'ribbon and lace'.  For all the details about the challenge and to see the cards from the rest of the Design Team, have a look here on the challenge blog.

Our sponsor for the challenge is:

For my card I've used one of the new digi stamps from Pink Gem - this one is called 'Ballerina Owl' and you can find her here on the Pink Gem website.  The paper I've used is from my stash (no name on it) and the little sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

We Do Doobadoo Challenge - 'spotty and dotty'

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge Blog - 'for the birds'

Crafting for All Seasons - 'tic tac toe' (ribbon, square, pink)

Divas by Design - 'things with wings'

I Love Promarkers - 'things with wings'

New Little Claire Challenge - Summertime

We've got a new challenge today on the Little Claire blog and this month our theme is 'summertime'.  For all the details about the challenge and to see the cards from the rest of the Design Team, have a look here on the challenge blog.

There's a great prize on offer for the challenge winner:

I've made a little box and set of notelets for my project using a combination of Little Claire stamps.  Here's another view of the box:

It's based on a box I designed for my recent Little Claire 'Sparkle and Shine' class - the 'shine' was the acetate I've used in the circular aperture on the lid.

And here's one of the little notelets together with the matching envelope:

On the box I've used the 'to beach' sign from the 'Beach Huts' set which is here and one of the stamps from the 'Postcard Sentiments' set which is here.  On the little notelet I've used the digi 'Beach Hut' stamp which is here and the sentiment from the new 'Silhouette Lighthouse' stamp which is here.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Simon Wednesday Challenge - 'let's be clear'

Crafty Little Fairies - 'summer fun'

Fab'n'Funky Challenges - 'summer'

Inky Impressions Challenge - 'summer fun'

Passion for Promarkers - 'oh I do like to be beside the seaside'

Daring Cardmakers - 'we are going on a summer holiday'

Natalie and Amy's Challenge - 'summertime'

Allsorts Blog Challenge - 'splish, splash, splosh'

We Do Doobadoo Challenge - 'spotty and dotty'

Just Inspirational Challenge - 'anything but a card'

New CSAYL Challenge - Recipe

We've got a new challenge for you on the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge blog and this week it's a recipe - 2 cardstock, 1 image, 2 embellishments and 1 sentiment.  For all the details about the challenge and to see the cards from the rest of the Design Team, have a look here on the challenge blog.

Our challenge is sponsored by:

For my card I've used a digi stamp from Eureka called 'Santa on Skis' - you can find it here on the Eureka website.  

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Winter Wonderland - 'spots and stripes'

Completely Christmas - 'anything goes'

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'make your mark'

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles - '12 months of Christmas link up'

Craft Your Passion Challenge - 'on the move/transport'

Simply Create Too - 'Christmas in July'

Crafts 4 Eternity - 'sport'

Delightful Challenges - 'hot, hot, hot'

Imagine That Weekly Inspiration Post

This is my card for the Weekly Inspiration post on the Imagine That blog here.  I've used the gorgeous 'Ballerina' digi stamp which you can find here - the sentiment I've used comes with the main image stamp.

I've made a little easel card using one of my favourite colour combinations of pink and kraft and have rounded all the corners with a punch.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

OLLCB - 'an easel card'

Corrosive Challenge - 'forever young'

Charisma Cardz - 'anything goes'

Moving Along With the Times - 'girls just wanna have fun'

Creative Fingers Challenge - 'anything goes'

Sister Act Card Challenge - 'anything goes'

A Girl Who Crafts - 'anything goes'

New CRAFT Challenge - Inspired by a Book

We've got a new challenge for you today on the CRAFT challenge blog and this week our theme is 'inspired by a book'.  For all the details about the challenge and to see the cards from the rest of the Design Team, have a look here on the challenge blog.

This week we're sponsored by:

and

and

For my card I've used a digi stamp called 'Ballet Shoes' from QKR Stampede - you can find it here on their website.  So you will have guessed that the book I was inspired by is 'Ballet Shoes' by Noel Streatfeild.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments Designs - 'anything goes'

Love to Scrap Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

613 Avenue Create - 'anything goes'

Sweet Stammpin' Challenge Blog - 'pretty in pink'

Dream Valley Challenges - 'inspired by a movie, song or book' ('Ballet Shoes')

4 Crafty Chicks - 'inspired by a song' ('I Could Have Danced All Night' from 'My Fair Lady')

New from Little Claire - Silhouette It's a Pleasure ....

Today I'm sharing a card made with another of the new silhouette stamps from Little Claire.  This one is called 'It's a Pleasure ....' and you can find it here on the Little Claire website.  The little branch and birdhouse is separate from the main image which makes it really easy to use the set with different shapes.  For my card I die cut the circle first and then fitted the two stamps on to the die cut circle.

The paper I've used is from the Back to Basics Monochrome paper pack which you can find here from Little Claire.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday - 'anything goes'

Ladybug Crafts - 'summer flowers'

Love to Scrap Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Pile It On Challenge - 'add some flowers'

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - 'summer days'

Red Rubber Inspirational - 'anything goes'

Cute Card Thursday - 'pretty papers'

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

New Penny's Challenge - Anything Goes

It's time for another challenge at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog and this week our theme is 'anything goes'.  You can find all the details about the challenge here on the challenge blog.

Our challenge is sponsored by:

For my card I've used 'EmmiLou Boo Hopscotch' from Lacy Sunshine which you can find here on their website.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Kitty Bee Designs - 'spots and/or stripes'

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - 'pretty in pink'

Fairy Tale Challenge Blog - 'something with, to or from a child'

Inky Impressions - 'summer fun'

Fab'n'Funky Challenge - 'feels like summer'

The Stamping Chef - 'anything goes'

Fairytale Stampers - 'summer'

New Ruby's Rainbow Challenge - Summer Edible Treats

We've got a new challenge for you today on Ruby's Rainbow Challenge blog - this time our theme is 'edible summer treats'.  For all the details about the challenge and to see the cards from the rest of the Design Team, have a look here on the challenge blog.

For my card I've used 'Lenny Ice Cream' from Stamp Fairy.  I've coloured the image using Promarkers and used some paper from Craft Creations.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Come and Get It Challenges - 'cool things for summer'

Without Words Challenge - 'cute and fluffy'

Eclectic Ellapu - 'furry friends'

Robyn's Fetish Challenge - 'animals'

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - 'stars, stripes or both'

The Stamping Chef - 'anything goes'

New Nutcrafters Challenge - Christmas in July

We've got a new challenge today on the Nutcrafters challenge blog and this time our theme is 'Christmas in July.  For all the details about the challenge and to see the cards from the rest of the Design Team, click here to go to the challenge blog.

For my card I've used a Nutcrafters digi called 'Pudding Balloon' which you can find here on their website.  I've also used two star dies from Memory Box and papers from Craft Creations.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Winter Wonderland - 'spots and stripes'

Completely Christmas - 'anything goes'

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'make your mark'

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles - '12 months of Christmas link up'

Papertake Weekly - 'stars and stripes'

Craft Your Passion Challenge - 'on the move/transport'

Crafty Boots Challenge - 'Christmas in July'

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - 'stars, stripes or both'

Simply Create Too - 'Christmas in July'

New Cardz 4 Guyz Challenge - DIY

There's a new challenge today on the Cardz 4 Guyz challenge blog and this week our theme is 'DIY'.  For all the details of the challenge and to see the cards from the rest of the Design Team, have a look here on the challenge blog.

This card is one that I designed for my recent 'Memory Box Dies and Little Claire Stamps' class.  I've used the 'DIY' stamp from Little Claire which you can find here and also one of the sentiments from the 'Rebecca's Really Useful Male Sentiments' which you can find here.  The little tool dies are from Memory Box.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Hobby Cutz - 'use your favourite colour combination' (for male cards it's blue and kraft/brown)

Sweet Pea Stampers - 'for the boys/men'

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - 'layers'

Crafty Sentiments Designs - 'anything goes'

Through the Craft Room Door - 'anything goes'

New from Little Claire - Silhouette Lighthouse

Today I'm sharing another card made with one of the new silhouette stamps from Little Claire.  This one is called 'Silhouette Lighthouse' and you can find it here on the Little Claire website.

I've stamped the main image on to blue card using black Versafine ink and then added the word 'Dad' from 'Rebecca's Really Useful Male Sentiments' which you can find here - the words in the set work well with or without the circles.  The sentiment on the bottom of the card is part of the 'Silhouette Lighthouse' stamp.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Love to Create - 'fussy and fancy or clean and layered'

Lexi's Creations - 'black and white plus one other colour'

Through the Purple Haze - 'monochromatic'

Open Minded Crafting Fun Challenges - 'water, water everywhere'

That's Crafty Challenge Blog - 'all at sea'

Creative Blog Hop

Last week I was tagged in the Creative Blog Hop by Hazel - a big thank you for including me!

The questions that I was asked to answer are:

1. What am I working on?

I've just finished a big run of work for classes for Little Claire and am starting to think about the next one in September - I always promise myself I'll get ahead but it never seems to happen!  I'm also working on some sample cards and designs for the challenge blogs I belong to.

2. How does my work differ from others in my genre?

My style is fairly clean and simple although I do like layering papers.  I don't use a lot of embellishments and anyone who knows me will be know that I very rarely use ribbons because I'm hopeless with bows!

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

The simple answer is because I enjoy it!  Until a couple of years ago I had a very stressful job and found that card making helped me to de-stress.  Now I work in a residential home and can incorporate my card making into my job.  I also love teaching classes and getting feedback from the ladies who come along to my workshops.

4. How does your writing/creating process work?

I have to be fairly organised to get my stuff made for challenge and design team blogs and for classes but other than that, I tend to make stuff as I want to and when I see something that I like.

I'd like to tag the following ladies to take up the blog hop next:

1. Caz from Cazro's Crafty Corner

I first got to know Caz from the various Yahoo card making groups we both belong to.  Now we are on Design Teams together and Caz owns and runs the Cardz 4 Guyz challenge blog which I recently joined as a design team member.  She does a wonderful job running and organising the challenge as well as making gorgeous cards.

Here's a few words from Caz:

"My story is fairly normal - married to my best friend for many years, two sons, six grandchildren, retired from a full and happy life in nursing and management.  I am a late developer in to the crafting world, due to my career and I didn't start until my thirties.  I've progressed through many crafts, my passion now being stamping and card making.  I teach a small weekly card class and am a challenge blog owners and thrilled to be on several Design Teams"

2. Debs from Debs' Crafty Time

I first met Debs when I joined the Nutcrafters design team a few years ago and we're now on a couple of design teams together.  Debs makes gorgeous cards and projects and always has something inspiring to share on her blog.

Here's a few words from Debs:

"I live in the East Riding of Yorkshire with my husband of 20 years and I have a 19 year old daughter.  I am unable to work but over the years I have volunteered and worked with adults with learning/physical disabilities which I really loved.  I started out as a CD crafter but there is nothing I like better than to get out my inks and stamps.  I don't have a particular style, I like to dabble".

3. Heidi from The Crafty Goat Girl

Heidi and I have been part of the Little Claire design team since it started and we both teach workshops for Little Claire as well as taking it in turns to make cards (and pack all the materials) for their monthly club.  Heidi makes wonderful cards and keeps us all in line organising the Little Claire blog.

Here's a few words from Heidi:

"I'm a mum to Amy, Jess and Georgia and have a houseful of pets.  I've been crafting all my life and cardmaking and scrapbooking for about six years.  I love stamping and getting messy with inks and Promarkers but my passion is papers which I love to stroke and sniff lol.  I teach classes and demo at craft shows and I love to meet like-minded crafters and share my passion for stamping"

I hope you'll take the time to visit all these ladies and also check back next week when they post for the blog hop too.

Helen x

New Cutie Pie Challenge - Use a Cute Digi

It's time for a new challenge on the Cutie Pie Blog Challenge and this time we're asking you to 'use a cute digi'.  You can find all the details about the challenge and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

For my card I've used the very cute 'Primrose Kitty' digi stamp from 2 Cute Ink which you can find here in their etsy shop.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Stamp and Create - 'birthdays'

Digi Makeover Challenge - 'anything goes'

Love to Scrap Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Without Words Challenge Blog - 'cute and fluffy'

Electic Ellapu - 'furry friends'

Great Impressions - 'animal friends'

Robyn's Fetish Challenge - 'animals'

Animal Friends Challenge - 'cat or dog'

New from Little Claire - Silhouette Boat

Today I'm sharing a card I've made using one of the new silhouette stamps from Little Claire.  This one is called 'Silhouette Boat' and you can find it here on the Little Claire website.

I've stamped the main image on kraft paper using brown Versafine ink and then die cut it into a circle.  I've inked the edge of the circle and the other kraft paper I've used and layered the card with some patterned paper and dark brown paper.  The sentiment comes with the 'Silhouette Boat' stamp.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Love to Create - 'fussy and fancy or clean and layered'

Through the Purple Haze - 'monochromatic'

Fantasy Stampers - 'clean and simple'

Kitty Bee Designs - 'stars and/or stripes'

Open Minded Crafting Fun Challenges - 'water, water everywhere'

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - 'stars or stripes or both'

Sweet Pea Stampers - 'for the boys/men'

The Sisterhood of Crafters - 'monochromatic'

Word Art Wednesday - 'anything goes'

July Little Claire Stamps - Silhouette Gardening

This is the card I designed for this month's Little Claire stamp club - members get the stamp set plus the materials to make this card.  

The July set is called 'Silhouette Gardening':

You can find the stamp on the Little Claire website here.

I've kept to the black and white colour scheme for my card and used some polka dot paper for the back of the card.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Sisterhood of Crafters - 'monochromatic'

Cards Galore Challenges - 'use a stamp or a digi'

Creative Inspirations Challenge - 'anything goes'

Creative Corner Challenges - 'outdoors'

Pile It On Challenge - 'add some flowers'

New Glory of Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

It's time for another challenge on The Glory of Christmas Challenge Blog and this time our theme is 'anything goes'.  You can find all the details and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

For my card I've used the 'Sweet Deer' digi stamp from Imagine That which you can find here on their website.  I used it last Friday to make a new baby card but I thought the main image also works well as a Christmas design.  The paper I've used is also from Imagine That - it's part of the 'Rainbow Dots Digi Papers' collection which is here on the website.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'make your mark'

Completely Christmas - 'anything goes'

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles - '12 months of Christmas link up'

I Love Promarkers - 'anything goes'

Papertake Weekly Challenge - 'anything goes'

Great Impressions - 'animal friends'

One Card, Two Challenges!

I'm running a bit behind this week.  This is my card for the 'wedding/anniversary' CRAFT challenge which started last Thursday here and it's also a challenge reminder for the 'anything but square' challenge here at Nutcrafters.

I've used a digi called 'Once Upon a Dream' from Nutcrafters which is here on their website.  I've kept the card very simple and just used two peel off silver hearts and some pearls.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Milk Coffee Challenge - 'white on white'

Crafty Sentiments Designs - 'no patterned papers'

Loves Rubberstamps Challenge - 'anything goes'

Through the Purple Haze Challenge - 'no right angles'

Dream Valley Challenges - 'inspired by a song, movie or book' ("The Princess Bride")

Cards Galore Challenges - 'use a stamp or a digi'

New Pink Gem Challenge - Animals

We've got a new challenge today on A Gem of a Challenge blog and this time our theme is 'animals'.  You can find all the details about the challenge and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

For my card I've used a digi stamp from Pink Gem called 'Ella' - you can find it here on the Pink Gem website.  The papers I've used are from a magazine give away pack.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Digi Galore Challenges - 'anything goes'

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Addicted to Stamps Challenge - 'make your mark'

I Love Promarkers - 'anything goes'

The Pink Elephant Challenge - 'anything goes'

Cards Galore Challenges - 'use a stamp or a digi'

New Crafty Calendar Challenge - Summertime Fun

There's a new challenge on the Crafty Calendar Challenge Blog today and our theme for this month is 'summertime fun'.  You can find all the details about the challenge and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

For my card I've used a digi from Squigglefly called '50's Sunbather' - you can find it here on their website.  The paper I've used was part of magazine give away pack.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Wags'n'Whiskers - 'summer fun'

Crafty Little Fairies Challenge - 'summer fun'

Moving Along With the Times - 'girls just wanna have fun'

I Love Promarkers - 'anything goes'

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - 'pastel colours'

Lexi's Creations - 'at the beach'

Crafting Muskateers - 'summer time'

Sentimental Sundays - 'summer'

Imagine That - Weekly DT Inspiration

This is my GDT card for the weekly DT inspiration post on the Imagine That blog here - there's also a free digi stamp available too.

I was able to choose some digi stamp sets from the Imagine That store to make projects for the DT inspiration post and as soon as I saw this gorgeous image I knew it had to be one of my choices!  The set is called 'Sweet Deer' and it's available here on the Imagine That website.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog - 'stripes or dots'

Word Art Wednesday - 'anything goes'

Loves Rubberstamps - 'anything goes'

Through the Craft Room Door - 'anything goes'

Tuesday Throwdown - 'anything goes'

New Alphabet Challenge - K is for Kite

We've got another new challenge for you on the Alphabet Challenge blog and this time our theme is 'k for kite'.  You can find all the details of the challenge here.

For my card I've used a digi from La La Land Crafts called 'Luca With Kite' which you can find here on their website.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Sister Act Challenge - 'anything goes'

Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog - 'stripes or dots'

Creative Knockouts - 'child's play'

Word Art Wednesday - 'anything goes'

Loves Rubberstamps - 'anything goes'

Melonheadz Challenge - 'for kids'

Little Claire Blog Project - Daisy Bear Gift Wallet

Today it's my turn to share a project tutorial on the Little Claire blog and I've chosen to make a little gift wallet.  For all the details and a step by step photo tutorial, click here.

I've used of the die cut squares from the 'Cute Animals' sheet which is here on the website.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Clear It Out Challenge - 'in the garden' plus ribbon

Through the Craft Room Door - 'anything goes'

Tuesday Throwdown - 'anything goes'

Craft Your Passion Challenges - 'ribbons'

New Just for Fun Challenge - Anything Goes

The challenge at Just for Fun will now always be 'anything goes' - nice and easy for everyone!  All the details of our latest challenge are here on the challenge blog.

My card is one that I designed for the recent Little Claire Sparkle and Shine class.  It's my version of a pop-up box card made using two folded pieces of card with the image panel sandwiched in between.

I've used a Little Claire outline sticker for the card - it's part of the 'Black Flower Pom Pom Dahlia' sheet which is here on the Little Claire website.  I've added Glossy Accents to the flowers - the outline stickers are perfect for doing this.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Sisters of Craft - 'anything goes'
Fitztown Challenge - 'shaped card'
The Kraftyhands Challenge - 'floral fancy'
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - 'anything goes'
Creative Corner Challenges - 'flowers'

New Sparkles Christmas Challenge - A Winter Scene

The beginning of the month means a new challenge on the Sparkles Christmas Challenge Blog and this month we want to see 'a winter scene' on your cards.  For all the details about the challenge, have a look here on the challenge blog.

Our challenge is sponsored by:

For my card I've used a Hobby House topper - it's part of the Wee Stamps 'Holly Time' sheet which is here on the Hobby House website.  The paper I've used is from Lili of the Valley.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles - '12 months of Christmas link up'

Completely Christmas - 'anything goes'

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'get sentimental'

Papertake Weekly - 'anything goes' 

Pile It On - 'outdoor fun'

Crazy for Challenges - 'summer/winter'

New Cardz 4 Guyz Challenge - Welcome Baby Boy

We've got a new challenge today on the Cardz 4 Guyz challenge blog and this week our theme is 'welcome baby boy'.  For all the details about the challenge, have a look here on the challenge blog.

For my card I've used one of the new Dinkies stamps from Little Claire - this one is called 'Baby Washing Lane' and is available here on the Little Claire website.  I've also used one of the 'middles' from the female set of 'Rebecca's Really Useful Sentiments' which is here.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

A Girl Who Crafts - 'anything goes'

Sisters of Craft - 'anything goes'

Oldie But Goodie Challenge - 'baby' (papers and card are more than 6 months old)

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - 'anything goes'

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - 'anything goes'

GDT Card for Imagine That - July Progressive Challenge

Today I'm very excited to be sharing my first card as a Summer Guest Designer at Imagine That!  I've been taking part in the progressive challenges on the blog for the last few months and it's great to be joining Kris and her team as a Guest Designer for the next two months.

The idea behind the Progressive Challenge is that Kris releases a set of digi stamps at the beginning of each month and if you make a card with that set and link it up to the blog, you will then receive the set for the next month free. 

All the details about the challenge and how it works are here on the challenge blog.

So for this month, the Progressive Challenge digi set is called "Meowy Mousemas" and is available here to buy if you haven't taken part in the challenge before.  Here's the set:

For my card I've also used some of the Imagine That digi paper from the Rainbow Dots collection which is available here on the website.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles - '12 months of Christmas link up'

Completely Christmas - 'anything goes'

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'get sentimental'

Always Something Creative - 'main colour - red'

Animal Friends Challenge - 'dog or cat'

Bearly -Mine Challenges - 'let's go digital'

Papertake Weekly - 'anything goes' 

Come and Get It Challenges - 'animals'

New Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra Challenge - Anything Goes

It's the beginning of the month which means another new 'anything goes' challenge at Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra Challenge.  For all the details, have a look here at the challenge blog.

As always we're sponsored by the wonderful:

For my card I've used the very cute 'Plush Reindeer Ornament' which you can find here on the Bugaboo website.  The paper I've used is from Lili of the Valley.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles - '12 months of Christmas link up'

Completely Christmas - 'anything goes'

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'get sentimental'

Bearly -Mine Challenges - 'let's go digital'

Come and Get It Challenges - 'animals'

My Time to Craft - 'Christmas in June'