'Distressing' inks

I decided to have a wee go with distress inks. I keep hearing about this 'smooshing' technique, so I gave that a go. I don't have any acetate but read that a clear stamp block could be used instead, so that's what I did and it didn't work at all. So I tried another technique I've seen, of just swiping ink pads onto a heat mat, spritzing with water and then dabbing the paper/card onto it a few times, heat setting in between. That didn't really work for me either, but I managed to get a couple of bits that looked half decent (well, maybe a quarter decent if I'm honest). This is the second bit. The first, and best, I managed to stick onto a card blank squint. I think I'll have to admit defeat and just use distress inks for the edges of paper.

Image stamp - Penny Black 'Snow-Board Ride'
Sentiment stamp - Lili Of The Valley 'Merry Christmas Words'
Colouring medium - Prismacolour Premier soft core pencils
Extras - Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Picked Raspberry, Scattered Straw, Seedless Preserves and Mowed Lawn), Spellbinders Nestabilites circle dies, Flower Soft and 'Icicle' Stickles

The Merry Christmas Challenge - Anything goes + Christmas
Craftaholics R Us - Anything goes
The Holly And Ivy Christmas - Anything goes
Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas goes
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Creative Craft Cottage - Anything goes
The Corrosive Challenge - Anything goes
Little Miss Muffet - Anything goes
Sparkles Christmas - Feature a creature

ABC Christmas Challenge - H & I

It's challenge time again, over at the ABC Christmas Challenge, and our host is Lorraine. This month the themes are -  

'H for Hat'

  and 

'I for Ice' 

Our sponsor this month is -

All Dressed Up

and the prize is two free digis from the shop

There's also rather a fab prize from Lorraine.  One lucky winner can choose either a £20 or $20 gift voucher to spend in the store of their choice!

My 'H for Hat' card

Image stamp - House-Mouse Designs 'Whee Flight'
Sentiment stamp - Lili Of The Valley 'Christmas Grungy Messages' set
Colouring medium - Prismacolour Premier soft core pencils
Extras - Spellbinders Nestabilites circle dies, Lawn Fawn 'Stitched Hillside' border die, Flower Soft and pearls

 

House-Mouse & Friends - Anything goes
The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes
The Merry Christmas Challenge - Anything goes + Christmas
Sparkles Christmas - Feature a creature
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned paper
Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas

My 'I for Ice' card

Image stamp - Penny Black 'Ice Dance'
Papers - First Edition 'Christmas Wishes'
Colouring medium - Prismacolour Premier soft core pencils
Extras - Spellbinders Nestabilites circle dies, Glossy Accents, and Glamour Dust

Mother's Day mouse

This is the card I made for my mum for Mother's Day. I chose a cute wee mouse stamp from Wild Rose Studio, as a change from the Penny Black hedgies I usually use for her cards, and I'm glad to say she liked it. This was my second attempt at colouring the stamped image. I had just finished colouring the first one when I dropped the paper stump and it left a pink splodge of Prismacolour pencil that I couldn't get off, or disguise. Eeek! It's just as well I enjoyed colouring it so was happy enough to start all over again!

Image stamp - Wild Rose Studio 'Mouse And Flower'
Sentiment - My own
Papers - Basic Grey 'Olivia'
Colouring medium - Prismacolour Premier soft core pencils
Extras - Pearls and lace

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything goes
The Sisterhood Of Crafters - Spring flowers
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Crafting From The Heart - Anything goes
Fussy And Fancy - Spring flowers
Cutie Pie Challenge - Spring cuties
Creative Inspirations - Any occasion
The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes/all about mums
Creative Craft Cottage - Make it feminine
The Corrosive Challenge - Anything goes
Through The Purple Haze - Anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned paper

Crazy dog

One of my rare non-Christmas cards This wee doggy looks shocked to find out how old the recipient of the card is!

Image stamp - Stamper's Anonymous/Tim Holtz 'Crazy Dogs'
Sentiment stamp - Lili Of The Valley 'Everyday Grungy Messages'
Papers - Basic Grey 'Marjolaine'
Colouring medium - Prismacolour Premier soft core pencils
Extras - Card Candi and twine

Little Miss Muffet - Anything goes
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything goes
Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Craftaholics R Us - Anything goes
Aud Sentiments - Bingo + a sentiment (patterned paper, digi or stamp and favourite colour - mine is green)
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Cardz 4 Guyz - Things with tails
Creative Inspirations - Any occasion
The Corrosive Challenge - Anything goes
Through The Purple Haze - Anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned Paper

Christmas quackers

Another Christmas card today. Unlike the sentiment I'm not dreaming of a white Christmas! The snow we had recently was enough to last me for a looooong time.

Image stamp - Penny Black 'Carolling Duck'
Sentiment stamp - Lili Of The Valley 'Christmas Grungy Messages' set
Music sheet stamp - Lili Of The Valley
Papers - Studio Light #44
Colouring medium - Prismacolour Premier soft core pencils
Extras - Spellbinders Nestabilities circle dies and gems

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas
Crafty Catz - Layer it up
Jingle Belles - Hark the herald angels sing
Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Creative Inspirations - Any occasion
The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes
The Merry Christmas Challenge - Anything goes + Christmas
The Corrosive Challenge - Anything goes
Penny Black Saturday - Anything goes
Through The Purple Haze - Anything goes
As You Like It - Single or multiple layers (multiple layers because I find it too easy to make mistakes with CAS cards)
Craft Rocket - Something new (the papers)
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned paper
Christmas With The Cuties - Anything goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - E, F & G

Time for another challenge over at the ABC Christmas Challenge and Carol's our host this month. There's a trio of themes this time, and they are -

'E for Emboss'
 'F for Frills'

  and 

'G for Glitter' 

It's up to you whether you make a card/project for only one theme, all of them or even combine them all into one super card/project.

Our sponsor this month is -

  
Wild Orchid Crafts

and the prize is a £20 voucher

There's also a prize on offer from Carol

I don't have anything in my craft stash that would qualify for the frills theme so I've chosen to make a card for each of the other two.

My 'E for Emboss' card

Image stamp - House-Mouse Designs 'Carrying Mints'
Colouring medium - Prismacolour Premier soft core pencils
Extras - Creative Expressions 'Candy Burst' embossing folder and pearls

 

The Holly And Ivy - Anything Christmas goes
House-Mouse And Friends - Anything goes
The Corrosive Challenge - Anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas
Cute Card Thursday - Anything goes

My 'G for Glitter' card. I've put Glamour Dust on Henry's wings and the papers are glittery, but this hasn't shown up well on the photo.

Image stamp -Whiff Of Joy 'Angel Henry'

Papers- First Edition 'Winter Wishes'
Colouring medium - Prismacolour Premier soft core pencils
Extras - Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, Glossy Accents, Glamour Dust and a pearl

 

Dragonfly Dreams - All that glitters 

Crafting From The Heart - Anything goes
Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Through The Purple Haze - Anything goes

Penny Black And More GDT

I was chuffed to be asked to be a guest designer, for the second time, over at the Penny Black And More challenge. The theme for March is 'Feature A Creature', which is right up my street. I've used one of the very first Penny Black stamps I bought, and the first stamp I ever coloured.

Image stamp - Penny Black 'Swine & Roses'
Papers - Basic Grey 'Olivia'
Colouring medium - Prismacolour Premier soft core pencils
Extras - Spellbinders Nestabilities circle/scalloped circle dies, Sizzix 'Tattered Florals by Tim Holtz' Bigz die and gems

Craft Rocket - Something new (papers)
Cute Card Thursday - Anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned paper
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything goes
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Crafty Cardmakers - Floral delight
Crafting From The Heart - Anything goes
Little Miss Muffet - Anything goes
Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Penny Black Saturday - Anything goes
The Corrosive Challenge - Anything goes

Xmouse Ornament

Another stamp that I haven't used for ages. I should really put myself on a stamp buying ban until I've made cards with all my neglected stamps, but we all know that won't happen.

Image stamp - Penny Black 'Xmouse Ornament!'
Papers - First Edition 'Silent Night'
Colouring medium - Prismacolour Premier soft core pencils
Extras - Lace and a pearl

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas
Penny Black Saturday - Anything goes
Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes
Christmas At Sweet Stampin' - Anything Christmas goes
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
The Merry Christmas Challenge - Anything goes + Christmas
The Corrosive Challenge - Anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned paper

ABC Christmas Challenge - C & D

Time for another challenge over at the ABC Christmas Challenge and Wilma is the host this month. The themes are -

'C for Clean' 

  and 

'D for Distress' 

You can choose to do one or both themes, or even combine them. It's up to you.

Our sponsor this month is -

Lawn Fawn

and the prize is a £25 gift certificate

My 'C for Clean' card

Image stamp - Lili Of The Valley 'Party Pup'
Sentiment stamp - Elzybells
Colouring medium - Prismacolour Premier soft core pencils

 

Incy Wincy Designs - Clean and simple
Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas
Sweet Stampin' - Anything but a birthday 
Crimbo Crackers - Anything goes

My 'D for Distress' card 

Image stamp - Lili Of The Valley 'Ho Ho Ho!'
Papers - Basic Grey 'Marjolaine'
Colouring medium - Prismacolour Premier soft core pencils
Extras - Poppy Crafts 'Ho Ho Ho' word die and Tim Holtz 'Weathered Wood' Distress Ink

 

As You Like It - Favourite way to add stitching (with a pen - either a black fineliner or white gel pen - as it's so much easier, and quicker, than using a sewing machine)
Christmas At Sweet Stampin' - Anything Christmas
The Holly And Ivy Christmas - Anything Christmas
Crafty Calendar - Two or more layers

Party March

This card feels like a bit of a blast from the past. I've used a stamp that I've had for a very long time, but not used for ages, and papers that were my favourite brand years ago.

Image stamp - Penny Black 'Party March'
Sentiment stamp - Paula Pascual 'Big Sentiments'
Papers - Basic Grey 'Offbeat' and 'Oliver'
Colouring medium - Prismacolour Premier soft core pencils
Extras - Cuttlebug 'Allegro' embossing folder and pearls

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Crafty Calendar- Two or more layers
Penny Black Saturday - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes
As You Like It - Favourite way to add stitching (faux with a pen as it's much neater than my 'real' stitching, and there's also a lot less swearing doing it that way)
Cute Card Thursday - Anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned paper
Cardz 4 Guyz - Music
Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Little Miss Muffet - Anything goes
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes
Creative Inspirations - Something new (the papers)
Pile It On - 3D embellishments (the pearls)