Allsorts Challenge ~ Summer Delights

Ellie has chosen the theme of Summer Delights for the new Allsorts Challenge.  This time it's a two week challenge, so plenty of time to join in.  When I think of summer, it reminds me of strawberries.  A friend celebrated a big birthday recently and she loves anything with strawberries on, so I made her this card.  

I used a free strawberry cross stitching design I found HERE.  The stitching was done with crochet cotton on a Marianne Designs cross stitch die cut.  The circle and scalloped mats were die cut using stitched Memory Box dies.  I added a panel of spotty red and white patterned paper and a computer generated sentiment.

The prizes this time are three dies from Tonic Studios.

Oh Christmas Tree.....

Five months until Christmas Day, so time for the Rudolph Days July Challenge.  A very quick and easy CAS to share today.

The patterned paper was from my snippets drawer, where it's been sat for probably 10+ years.  It originally came from one of those sheets of patterned paper which has various patterned horizontal panels.  There were just two panel left,  one with the trees and one with the text.  I cut the tree panel to fit the red mat and decided to use just a short part of the text panel. (I now can't get the carol out of my head! "♬O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, How lovely are thy branches...... ♬". I added clear gems to the top of three of the trees to add some Christmas sparkle.  

I am joining in the following challenges:

Rudolph Days July Challenge

Snippets Playground Challenge #485

ABC Christmas Challenge ~ N is for No Stamping

Crafty Gals Challenge #257 ~ Anything Goes w/Twist - Christmas

Hanging Basket

A CAS birthday card to share today for a friend who recently celebrated her birthday.

The image is Woodware 'Succulent Display' stamp, stamped with Memento 'Tuxedo Black' and coloured with Promarkers.  The sentiment is a stamp from the Stampin' Up 'Best Year' set, stamped with Versafine Clair 'Nocturne'.  The mats were die cut with Creative Dies 'Wonky Stitches' dies. I finished off my card with a tiny pink pearl at the the top of the image.

I am joining in the following challenges:

We Love Stamping July Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations July Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Allsorts Challenge ~ Flowers

Lynn has chosen the theme of  'Flowers' for this week's Allsorts Challenge.  It would be lovely to see the challenge blog flooded with flowers.  If flowers aren't your thing, you can always go with the Anything Goes option.  I recently watched Sam Calcott's video HERE showing how to make a 'Double Interlocking Concertina Card'.  I tweaked the measurements and this is my version.

This is the front of the card.  The patterned paper is from The Range... (Oops! edited to say that papers are from The Works).  The flower was made with dies from the Creative Expressions  'Daisy Blossoms'.  The sentiment is a stamp from the Stampin' Up 'Humming Along', stamped with Versafine Clair 'Warm Breeze'.

The belly band is removed to open the card.

This is the inside of the card.  The back of the card is left plain for writing the message.

Prizes are from Highlight Crafts,  AALL and Create and Stampendous.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases Challenge #87

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #19 ~ Anything Florals Goes 

Triple B July Challenge ~ Birds, Butterflies, Blooms

Love Those Pretty Papers July Challenge

AAA Birthday Game #63 ~ Fabulous Flowers

Tic Tac Toe Challenge #252 ~ Layers, Free, Flowers

The Flower Challenge #93 ~ Make a Birthday Card

Interlocking Circle Peek-A-Boo Card

It's our daughter's birthday tomorrow and this is the card I've made for her. (I'm pretty sure she won't look at my blog before the morning. 😉)  I saw this fold on Debbie Mageed's blog HERE and this is my version.  I changed the measurements so that the card measures 5" x 7" when it's closed.  

The patterned paper is from The Range.  I covered the front of the card with the patterned paper and die cut a circle to create an aperture.  The butterfly was made with Memory Box 'Pippi Butterfly' and 'Isabella Butterfy' die cuts, layered on Memory Box 'Stitched Circle Layers' die cuts.  The sentiment is computer generated.

The die cut circles were attached to the inside of the card, lining them up with the aperture in the card front.

I used Memory Box 'Stitched  Rectangle Layers' dies to created a panel inside for the message.

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:

Memory Box Challenge #109 ~ Anything "Bugging" You?

Triple B July Challenge ~ Birds, Butterflies, Blooms

Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge ~ Use Patterned Papers

Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases Challenge #86

While I had the papers out, I decided t make a second card with the orange card and daisy patterned paper snippets left over.  

The daisy circle came from the card above when I die cut the aperture.  I layered it on a Memory Box scalloped circle die cut.  I looked through my snippets of embossed card and found this white strip which was just the right size to cover the top half of the card. I raised up the circle on foam pads to add some dimension. 

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:

Snippets Playground Challenge #484 ~ Use snippets

Little Red Wagon Challenge #765 ~ Raid Your Scrap Bin

Allsorts Challenge ~ Circles

Lorraine has chosen the theme of 'Circles' for this week's Allsort Challenge.  For my DT card, I've used lots of circles cut in half.

The patterned papers are from The Works.  The thin strip of card across the middle is raised up on foam pads and tiny pearls added across for added interest.  The sentiment is a stamp from the Stampin' Up 'Humming Along' set, stamped with Versafine Clair 'Warm Breeze'. 

Prizes are from Highlight Crafts,  AALL and Create and Stampendous.

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:

Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Making this style of card leaves two lots of semi-circles left over, so I made a second card.

Allsorts Challenge ~ Romantic Occasions

This is my second post today.  Please scroll down to see my Crafty Calendar Challenge DT card.

It's my turn to introduce this week's Allsorts Challenge and I've chosen the theme of  'Romantic Occasions'.  I have already made several Golden Wedding Anniversary cards this year and still have a couple to make.  I can't believe that my hubby and I will be celebrating ours in September.  Where have the years gone!

I use this Marianne Design heart cross stitch die a lot for anniversary cards.  I die cut the heart shape into a Memory Box ' Stitched Circle Layers' die cut.  The stitching was done with crochet cotton. The mat is a  Memory Box 'Stitched Scalloped Circle' die cut.  I used a Creative Expression 'Heart Lattice' embossing folder for the raised part of the easel card and also on the base.  The sentiment was typed on the computer and I added two die cut hearts from the Sue Wilson 'Mr & Mrs' set. 

Prizes from Highlight Crafts,  AALL and Create and Stampendous

Please hop over to the Allsorts Challenge blog to see the beautiful creations the DT have made for inspiration.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Heart's Quest Celebrations of Love Challenge #7 ~ Engagements, Weddings, and Anniversaries

Double Trouble Challenge #170 ~ Embossing - Dry or Heat/Stencilling 

We Love to Create Challenge #6 ~ Anything Mixed Media/paper crafting Goes

Crafty Calendar Challenge ~ Add a Sentiment

The July Crafty Calendar Challenge begins today with the theme 'Add a Sentiment'.  Our generous sponsor this month is SheepSki Design.

For my DT I used the SheepSki Designs 'Huddle' digi stamp, coloured with Promarkers.  I used a mistletoe embossing folder to frame the image.  It was a preloved one I bought which I think may be a Sheena Douglass folder.  I'm using the embossing folder for the first time, so I'll be sharing my card over in the NBUS Challenge.

The Crafty Calendar Challenge ends on 28th July, so please pop over to the challenge blog to see all the beautiful creations the DT have made for inspiration.

I am joining in the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge #64 ~ Use Never-Before-Used-Schtuff

SheepSki Designs Challenge #88 ~ Anything Goes

Crafty Animals Challenge #85 ~ Include an Animal

Creative Crafting Uncles Challenge #54 ~ Embossing heat or dry

Double Trouble Challenge #170 ~ Embossing - Dry or Heat/Stencilling 

The Holly and Ivy Challenge ~ Anything Christmas Goes

Daisy Chain Challenge #87 ~ Christmas in July

Jingle Belles Challenge ~ Include Embossing

Eclipse Card

A second post from me today, so please scroll down to see my earlier post.  I have continued to multitask, crafting and watching England play football.  Phew!.... what a tense game at the end.

I saw the Eclipse card that Val put on her blog today HERE and decided to have another go using this technique.  I've only made one Eclipse Card before and that was HERE in 2017, so it was about time I tried it again. Back in 2017 is was often called Hidden Word, Camouflaged Word or Steganography, but the same technique now seems to be called Eclipse.  A friend celebrates her birthday this week, so this will be for her.

 

The patterned paper was from The Range.  I used a preloved Happy Birthday die a bought a while ago.  There was no packaging, so I'm not sure of the brand.  I put tiny foam pads of the back of the die cut to raise it up.  I felt the card needs something extra, so I punched out a few flowers for the corners.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Krafty Chicks Challenge #722 ~ All Occasions

Poppies

I've been multitasking this weekend, with a small craft table set up in front of the television so I can craft and watch the football (soccer) at the same time.  I have a growing box of part finished projects, stamped images and die cuts which I decided I should start using up. This image was coloured up ages ago and I thought it was about time I used it on a card.  

The stamp is one of my favourite poppy stamps,  a stamp from the Hero Arts 'Delicate Blossoms' set. The image was coloured with red Promarkers and a sparkly green pen.  I layered the image and the panel of patterned paper on black mats.  The sentiment is a stamp from the Stampin' Up ' Best Year set, stamped with Versafine Clair 'Nocturne'.  Three black flower gems finished off my card.

I am joining in the following challenges:

We Love Stamping June Challenge ~ Fabulous Florals

Stamping Sensations June Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Sweet Stampin' Challenge ~ Fabulous Flowers

My Time To Craft #537 ~ Summer Florals

I Spy With My Little Eye Challenge #16 ~ Something Blooming Lovely

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge ~ In the Garden

Allsorts Challenge ~ Way to Grow

A new Allsorts Challenge begins today and Gail has chosen the theme 'Way to Grow'.  How will you interpret this theme?  Gardens/plants/children..... or something else?  As always, there is also the 'Anything Goes' option.

The image and sentiment are Bugaboo digistamps, which are sadly discontinued.  I coloured the image with Promarkers and added a little colour to the sentiment panel.  The dotty background paper is from The Range.  I die cut a Memory Box 'Fairytale Flower Border' in white, snippeted in half to fit, and coloured it with Promarkers, using the colours I'd used on the image.

Prizes from Highlight Crafts,  AALL and Create and Stampendous

I am joining in the following challenges:

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge ~ In The Garden

Make My Monday Challenge #228 ~ Outdoor Summer Fun

Sweet Stampin' Challenge ~ Fabulous Flowers

My Time To Craft Challenge #537 ~ Summer Florals

Christmas Gingerbread Man

I had an exciting evening yesterday..... photos at the bottom of this post.

A Christmas card today to join in with a few challenges.  The Rudolph Days June Challenge begins today which means it's only six months until Christmas. 😲

 

The Crafter's Companion 'Jolly Gingerbread Man' is one I won in the Snippets Playground Challenge and I used it for the first time today.  I used brown textured card for the gingerman and attached it onto a Sizzix 'Stitched Oval' die cut  I used the die again in black, white and red card and inlaid and the little pieces.  I wasn't sure what to do about a sentiment, so I decided to emboss the cream background with an Apple Blossom 'Merry Christmas' embossing folder.

Everything apart from the card base was snippets, so I'll be sharing my card over in the Snippets Playground.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Rudolph Days June Challenge 

Snippets Playground Challenge #483 ~ Use Snippets

NBUS Challenge #63 ~ Use Never-Before-Used-Schtuff (Gingerbread Man die)

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge # 165 ~ Anything Christmas Goes

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #724 ~ Christmas / First Christmas

Moving Along with the Times Challenge 167 ~ Early Christmas

So, yesterday evening I was finally able to use my Balloon Flight voucher.  The last date was cancelled at the last minute as the winds suddenly got stronger.  Yesterday was a perfect evening with light winds.

Allsorts Challenge ~ Bees/Blooms/Butterflies

This is my second post today.  Please scroll down to see my Craftlandia Challenge DT card.

Mervi has chosen the theme of  'Bees/Blooms/Butterflies for the Allsorts Challenge this week.  As usual there is always the Anything Goes option.  I watched a video on the Nifty Noodles Crafting Facebook page demonstrating this fold and I included bees and blooms on my DT card.

 

Patterned papers are from The Works and The Range.  I die cut the sentiment using Sue Wilson 'Mini Shadowed Sentiments Happy Birthday' dies.

The hive is from the Sweet Dixie 'Bee Happy' set of dies and I added grass with an MFT 'Fresh Cut Grass' die cut.   I used Creative Expression 'Daisy Blossoms' dies for the flower and leaf.

Prizes from Craft Stash, Highlight Crafts and AALL and Create

I am joining in the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts Challenge #524 ~ Fun Fold

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #256 ~ Anything Goes w/twist - Fancy Fold

The Paper Funday Challenge #66 ~ Anything Goes with Optional Twist: Fancy Folds

Craftlandia Challenge #19 ~ Sun and Seashells/Anything Goes

The Craftlandia Challenge #19 begins today and runs until 30th June.  Kim has chosen the theme of Sun and Seashells/Anything Goes.  Conjurer or Dreams is the generous sponsor for this challenge and the prize is 4 sets of your choice.

 

The image is one kindly given to us to use by our sponsor.  The background was was stencilled using Lavinia Stamps Elements 'Blue Atoll, Mermaid and Pine' inkpads.  I added a strip of beige burlap mesh lace ribbon across the middle to add some texture before attaching the layered image with foam pads.

Please hop over to the Craftlandia Challenge blog to see all the beautiful creations the DT have made. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

Cardz 4 Galz ~ #227 Summer Fun

Time Out Challenge #266 ~ Photo Inspiration - Sea

Thinking of You

A sympathy card today.  I usually to prefer to use the sentiment 'Thinking of You'.

 

I stamped the Lavinia 'Lilium ' stamp with Versafine  Clair 'Morning Mist'.  The sentiment is a stamp from the Happy Little Stampers 'Dandelion Wishes' set, stamped with the same stamp pad.  I added some subtle stencilling for a background using a Lavinia 'Feather Leaf' and pink Distress Ink.   I used the same ink to paint the image.  I mounted the image on a grey mat.

I am joining in the following challenges:

We Love Stamping June Challenge ~ Fabulous Florals 

Stamping Sensations June Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Creations in Pink Challenge # 71 ~ Anything Goes in MAINLY PINK

The Paper Players Challenge #694 ~ Sympathy or Encouragement