In the Spring Garden

I'm back again a second time today as it's also time for a new theme at Allsorts challenge. It's my turn to host and I selected the optional theme of "in the spring garden". Lots of choices there and I'd love to see all those garden things but if you're currently working on another theme we'd love to see those too! Btw. this theme runs for two weeks to cover the Easter holiday so I won't have a Saturday post next week. We have a new selection of prizes for the April challenges, this month they come from Oakwood, AALL and Create, Stamp Addicts, Ruth Hamilton Design and Aldridge Crafts. Winners will be drawn from each challenge and all will be announced on April 28th on the challenge blog. 

Another Penny Black stamp for my second project today, this time I chose the beautiful stamp Bird's Eye View which I stamped using Versafine Onyx ink and colored with Distress watercolor pencils. I wanted to add a spring quote but don't have many to choose from especially not it a font I wanted so I googled spring quotes and loved this one by S. Brown and I typed it up on my computer using the American typewriter font.

To add some interest to the background I used a graph stamp by Darkroom Door (you have to look really closely to see it). Also used a Lavinia Stencil and added some ink spatter onto the background. The bird was stamped a second time and fussy cut then added with foam tape.

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The outer paper looks black but is Stampin Up's Night of Navy which always looks black in photos. I haven't added this piece to a card base yet. I think this might make a nice spring wall decoration so I might get a frame for it. 

Those butterflies and spatter weren't intentional LOL but I got some ink marks from my fingers onto the piece shortly before it was finished and didn't want to start over with it. So I decided to add the butterflies and spatter to "hide" the imperfections. I do like how it turned out :)

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Thanks so much for visiting. If you'd like to read my other post I shared a couple of hours ago simply click on the card below. It's for the April Four Seasons challenge where the theme is Spring.

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

I would like to share my Spring Garden creation with these challenges:

Penny Black Saturday - PB Stamps 

Craft Rocket Challenges - For the Girls

Simon Says Stamp - AG

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Stencil it

Use Your Stuff - Animals/Birds

These below are Always Anything Goes, I may not share with all but hope to link up when possible:

A Gem of a Challenge unlimited entries
A Perfect Time To Craft unlimited entries
Classic Design  Challenge unlimited entries
DL.Art Linky Challenge unlimited entries/ once per day
LeAnn’s World 101 unlimited entries
We Love 2 Create (creative/mixed media) unlimited entries
A Place To Start 8 entries max
613 Avenue Create 8 entries max
Path of Positivity 7 entries max
The Paper Funday 6 entries max
Word Art Wednesdays 5 entries max
The Corrosive Challenges 4 entries max 
Through The Craft Room Door 4 entries max
Crafty Catz 3 entries max
Creative Fingers 3 entries max
Ally's Angels 3 entries max  
Arty Divas 3 entries max
Crafts Galore Encore 3 entries max
Creatalicious Challenges 3 entries max
Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday (my own challenge) 3 entries max  
Let's Craft & Create Challenge 3 entries max 
QKR Stampede 3 entries max
The Creative Crafters 3 entries max
World Wide Open Design Team Challenge 3 entries max
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends 3 entries max
Taylor Made Cards 4 U 3 entries max

Chick to Chick

Hello everyone and happy April Fools Day! Hopefully April starts with some sunshine in your corner of the world. We're expecting rain, snow and wind today and chilly weather in the next few days. Yesterday it was a bit over 70 degrees F (above 20 degrees C) then we had some storms move through the area which brought the cold weather. Typical April weather!! 

A new month means it's time for another challenge at the Four Seasons challenge blog and we want to see all your new spring themed cards and crafts! As always there is a fabulous optional mood board too if you need a starting point.

I can't believe Easter is just about a week away!! I haven't made many Easter cards this year but I was inspired by the cute chick on our mood board so I got out my Chick to Chick stamp set from Penny Black. 

I stamped on  Neenah 80lb card stock and colored with my Faber Castell Polychromos pencils then used a circle Nestabilities die to cut it out and layered onto a scalloped circle die cut which I inked with Squeezed Lemonade Distress Oxide ink. 

Green patterned paper is from my stash. On the white background I used a Lavinia Stencil with the same yellow ink. The sentiment is an oldie wood mounted stamp also by Penny Black. I embellished with a butterfly die cut (Penny Black die Soaring), sticky pearls and green jute twine.

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I'd like to share with these challenges:

Tic Tac Toe Challenge It won't let me copy and paste the tic tac toe logo into my post but I am using the diagonal line from right to left (die cuts/free/circles)

Penny Black Saturday - use PB Stamps
Art Impressions Stamp Challenge - Easter
C.R.A.F.T. - Easter
Fab n Funky - Lots of Layers
Paper Shelter - For a child
Simon Says Stamp - AG
Double D - Easter
Paper Minutes - Easter
Cutie Pie Challenge - Beginning with B (Birds, Bow, Butterfly)
Use Your Stuff - Animals/Birds

Cut It Up - add embellishments

My Time to Craft  - Springtime

Pattie's Creations - AG

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

These below are Always Anything Goes, I may not share with all but hope to link up when possible:

A Gem of a Challenge unlimited entries
A Perfect Time To Craft unlimited entries
Classic Design  Challenge unlimited entries
DL.Art Linky Challenge unlimited entries/ once per day
LeAnn’s World 101 unlimited entries
We Love 2 Create (creative/mixed media) unlimited entries
A Place To Start 8 entries max
613 Avenue Create 8 entries max
Path of Positivity 7 entries max
The Paper Funday 6 entries max
Word Art Wednesdays 5 entries max
The Corrosive Challenges 4 entries max 
Through The Craft Room Door 4 entries max
Crafty Catz 3 entries max
Creative Fingers 3 entries max
Ally's Angels 3 entries max  
Arty Divas 3 entries max
Crafts Galore Encore 3 entries max
Creatalicious Challenges 3 entries max
Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday (my own challenge) 3 entries max  
Let's Craft & Create Challenge 3 entries max 
QKR Stampede 3 entries max
The Creative Crafters 3 entries max
World Wide Open Design Team Challenge 3 entries max
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends 3 entries max
Taylor Made Cards 4 U 3 entries max

It's Raining Daisies

Hello everyone, it's Saturday again meaning a new theme starts today at Allsorts challenge and this week Dena is hosting. She chose the optional theme of "Rain" so you may share anything related to rain and of course there is the "Anything Goes" option if a rain theme isn't your thing. It's supposed to be snowing here today. I'm ready for some warmer spring weather!! Looks like groundhog Phil was right with his prediction this year :)

Prizes this month come from  Oakwood, Highlight Crafts, AALL and Create and Craft Stash. As a reminder it's still a weekly challenge with weekly winners but winners will be announced just once a month now. 

 

This adorable image is an old wood mounted stamp from Penny Black (Rainin' Daisies) but new in my collection and I thought it was a great choice with the rain theme in mind. I stamped on Bristol Vellum paper then colored with Distress inks. I used my MFT cloud stencil (again) on the background using Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide ink and then inked the bottom portion with Twisted Lime. Sentiment is from Stampers Anonymous set Tiny Text . I found some papers in my scrap box that coordinate with the coloring and paper pierced along the image panel. Natural jute twine was added to complete the card.

I came across a new to me challenge called "Woodblock Wednesday" and this is my first time entering. I would also like to share with Simon Says Stamp challenge where the theme is Spring or Easter, Paper Shelter the colors of spring, at Sisterhood of Crafters it's rainbows or rainbow colors ( I used red, purple, orange, green and blue) and also sharing at Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game (as mentioned I used a cloud stencil), Unicorn Challenge wants to see dots or stripes.

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This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Perfect Pastels ~ Especially for You

Time seems to fly these days as it's another Saturday already so it's time for a new Allsorts challenge theme. Speaking of challenges, did you see I am hosting a new monthly challenge right here on my blog called "I spy with my little eye"? Just started on Wednesday! Hope you'll check it out :) I would love for you to join in!!

At Allsorts challenge we have another fun optional theme and it is "Perfect Pastels". Great prizes are up for grabs this week/month so hopefully you will join us! We have prizes from Prizes from Oakwood, Highlight Crafts, AALL and Create and Craft Stash.

Here is my card.

My husband recently found this gorgeous PSX stamp (K1695) at a thrift store and thought I might like to enjoy coloring it so he purchased it for me. He was right, it was a joy to color up and a perfect stamp to use this time of the year. It's retired but can usually be found on eBay.

I stamped with Memento Tuxedo ink on Neenah 80lb cardstock then used my Copic markers for coloring. Victorian Velvet Distress ink seemed to match my pink Copic colored tulips so I used that Distress Oxide ink to ink up the edges. Then I laid the outer Rectangle Extraordinaire stencil from MFT over the card and inked up the inside using Shaded Lilac Distress ink. Still I thought the card needed something else, when I looked through my stamps I found this small "crackle" background stamp which is part of this Stampers Anonymous stamp/stencil set and used it in each of the corners with the rectangle mask in place.  The sentiment is from the Penny Black sentiment set Blooming Sentiments. I use this stamp so often, I just love the font and it works so well for all occasions! I added a butterfly which was done with a Martha Steward punch. Stickles glitter was added to the tulips and butterfly to make them sparkle. 

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You have until Friday morning UK time to join us. Remember the Perfect Pastels theme is optional so feel free to link up all your new crafty makes for a chance to win!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

       >>>>>>>>>>>>Cardmaking Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

I'd like to share with these challenges:

• Beautiful Blossoms #3 
• Triple B Challenges - Blooms, Butterflies or Birds
• Passion For Markers Challenge - Colors of Spring
• Stamping Sensations - Opt. Wings and Tails
• We Love Stamping - Spring is in the air
• Fab n Funky - Vintage
• Moving along with the Times - For a Lady
• 2 Sisters On The Blog -Spring or Easter
• Tic Tac Toe Challenge -  I used the middle vertical row of Pastels/Flowers/Spring

If you've made a card with a spring or Easter critter then I'd love for you to share at my "I spy with my little eye" challenge. Simply click to logo below to see the post.

I Spy With My Little Eye... A Spring or Easter Critter (Challenge No. 1)

Hello and welcome! 

I'm so excited to introduce a new monthly challenge taking place right here on my blog! I've had this idea for a challenge for quite some time now, I used to follow a photography challenge named "I spy" and thought it would be a cute idea for a crafting challenge. I kept putting it off as I wasn't sure I'd have the time for it, but now I decided to just "go for it". 

About the challenge:

• There will be monthly themes starting on the 3rd Wednesday of each month and ending on Sunday before the new challenge starts. 
• You may use any products you like, including digital stamps but the final project has to be a physical product, not just digital.
• You may share anything handmade, it doesn't have to be a papercraft.
• There will be a Top 2 selected from all eligible entries who will both be invited as guest designers in a future challenge. Totally optional of course as I know we all have busy lives.
• Backlinking to a recently created project will be allowed. 
• You may enter up to 5 different projects per challenge.
• Please be sure to leave a link back here to this blog in your blog post.

So here we are with challenge no. 1

I spy with my little eye....

A Spring or Easter Critter!

I can't wait to see what you will make and share with this theme in mind! I will be along to visit all your wonderful entries.

Today I am also introducing the first guest designer so be sure to scroll down to see her fabulous creation!

Here is my card:

I used Penny Black stamp Juggling Eggs, colored with Zig Clean Color brush markers and fussy cut the bunny. I used MFT Grass and Cloud stencils with Distress inks. Butterflies were done with Penny Black's Soaring die set. Sentiment is also by Penny Black. I hand cut around it in the shape of a banner. 

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I'm sharing the above card with these challenges:

Cutie Pie Challenge - beginning with B (Bunny, Butterflies) // Penny Black Saturday Challenge  - Easter with PB // Get Creative Challenges - Bunny Hop // We Love Stamping - Spring is in the air // 

I'm excited to introduce the lovely Pauline as the first guest designer. So glad you accepted the invitation, Pauline!  

Pauline 

Guest Designer

You can read all about how she made this beautiful card on her blog Passion for Papercraft.

And now it's on to you! The linky will remain open until Sunday April 16th 11:59 pm US Central time. 

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Three Little Party Pigs

Happy Saturday, it's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge. It's Lorraine's turn to host and she chose the optional theme of A Trio of Something. Lots of fun choices here and of course the option of Anything Goes is there too, so there is  no reason not to join us for a chance to win! There are prizes from Oakwood, Highlight Crafts, AALL and Create and Craft Stash for the March challenges.

I am currently on the hunt for a particular stamp from Penny Black and while I haven't been lucky yet to find that specific stamp, I did find some other "must haves" on eBay including this cute party pig stamp. And I thought it was the perfect choice to use for Lorraine's challenge. Unfortunately the stamp is no longer available and very rarely on eBay as I can't find it anywhere now to link to. It's No. 2605K Party Animals for those of you who want to go looking for it.

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I stamped the image with Memento ink twice, colored with Copic markers and fussy cut. I fussy cut the 2 heads and backside once again and added with foam tape then adhered each pig to a rectangle Nestabilities die cut. Pattered paper is from my stash. It's been ages since I used a punch but decided a scallop edge would be nice and I was thrilled that my punch still worked! (I have a few punches that unfortunately no longer work.)

The sentiment is from a new to me set by Colorado Craft Company (So Sweet). The flowers are part of Penny Black's Frames die set which I originally wanted to use but then didn't like the open spaces. I decided to still use the flowers from the set as I already had them cut out.

Thanks so much for visiting!!

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I'd like to share with these challenges:

• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - PB Stamps
• Stamping Sensations - AG Option Wings or Tails
• Word Art Wednesdays  - AG
• Passion For Markers Challenge - Animals
• Unicorn Challenge - Dots and/or Stripes
• AAA Birthday - Stripes or Dots
• Di's Digis Designs - Hand Colored Image
• Crafty Animals - Animals
• Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters (do pigs count as critters??)
• Die Cut Divas - AG

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

My Recent Amazon Prime Purchases

Happy Monday, 

I decided to join Tanya with her Prime Purchases link up this month. Tanya is having this as a monthly feature on her blog, but I only share mine about every 3 month. 

Lots of random things I purchased over the last 3 months...

1. SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post

Back in December I decided to move the tall cat tower out of the living room as I noticed neither of the cats went on it much ever anymore but they did use the scratching posts which were part of the tall cat tower so I knew I needed to replace the scratching posts. Most scratching posts I always find too light weight especially for my over 10lb cat, so I went searching for the perfect one. And I found it! Both of my cats love this scratching post and it is very sturdy. 

2. Amazon Essentials Soft Cotton Yoga Tank

I was looking to add a couple of colorful workout tops to my closet in colors that compliment my skin tone and have not been very successful in local shops. I am very picky with my workout tops as I don't like racerbacks and it seems like that's the only style you can find in stores.

 

3. YYV Women's Workout Tank

Another color/style I purchased. I kept both!

4. All Out Of Grocery List Note Pad

Found this notepad recommended on a site and thought it was a good way to stay organized. Magnetic on the back so I keep this on my fridge and mark down each time I use a pantry staple or notice I need to replace something. Then when I do my weekly grocery shopping I tear the page out, fill in what else I need and go on my way.  

5. Stampers Anonymous Tiny Text Stamp Set

I love Stampers Anonymous Sticker sentiments and thought it was time to purchase a similar set in stamps so I can use them over and over. 

6. The Pink Stuff

So my daughter made huge mess with milk boiling over and then she told me that I need to get this stuff. She probably saw it advertised on tiktok because I've never heard of it before (I think it's a British brand), but it sounded like a miracle cleaner so I purchased it. It does seem to work some wonders! 

7. King Arthur Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour

My hubby is trying to go gluten free (he has been having digestive issues for many years) and I decided to join him for now. Being a bread addict myself, I of course wanted to try making my own homemade loaf of gluten free bread baked in my Dutch Oven. I've already used it twice (I am working to adapt my dutch oven bread recipe to this flour) but even though the taste of the bread was good both times it was quite sticky so I am still working on perfecting the recipe. It does say on the back of the package that this particular gluten free flour mixture is best used for non-yeast recipes like cakes and cookies, so I will be looking for King Arthur's other gluten free flour. The first time I added a lightly boiled shredded potato to the dough and the second time I added ground flax seeds. I think I need to bake it at a lower temperature and at least at twice the time. 

8. Neenah Classic Crest 80lb Card Stock

It was time to re-order my Neenah card stock which I like using for copic coloring and pencil coloring. I don't use this for card bases but there is a 110lb version available too. 

9. Stainless Steel Steamer

Not sure why I didn't already own one of these. So glad I finally do now!! It's adjustable in size to fit differently sized pots and the steamed veggies are so tasty!!

10. Throw Pillow Covers in Salmon Pink

I mentioned before that I love to get throw pillow covers instead of buying new decorative pillows and Amazon always has many to choose from. I wasn't sure what color scheme I wanted to go with but knew they needed to coordinate with my light gray pillow covers which I like to use year round as well as the navy and gray-ish blue rug so I chose this salmon pink above as well as hot pink below and yellow (this color is supposed to arrive today) to see what I like best.

11. Throw Pillow Covers in Hot Pink

Sooo hard to decide which colors to keep as I love both pinks!! Hubby and son both lean towards the Salmon Pink but Magenta Pink (which this color reminds me of) has been a favorite color of mine for a long time.... so I'm still not sure.... and then I may like the pretty lemon yellow...

12. Throw Pillow Covers in Lemon Yellow

This color is scheduled to arrive later today... I may decide to keep all 3 (they weren't very expensive) and it's always nice to change it up a bit. 

ETA: Just received the yellow pillow covers. I will return these as they are more "chrome" yellow than shown in the photo. I was hoping for a softer yellow :(

13. Bloch Performa Ballet Shoes

Some years ago my daughter switched to these ballet shoes for dance class and it's been her only style of flat ballet shoes since. Amazon had her size at a great price!

14. Big Toe Protector

My daughter is currently in the process of losing her big toe nail (something I hear can happen if you are dancing on pointe) and a friend had recommended these to her. They are currently on the way so she hasn't tried them yet herself but her dance friend is wearing hers with each class. Not just for dancers though but for anyone who needs to protect their toe due to injury, ingrown toe nails etc. 

Thanks so much for visiting!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

I'm linking up here:

Prime Purchases  // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // Curated by Jennifer // Thursday Favorite Things // Shelbee on the Edge Linkup // Sunday Showcase (first Sunday) with Ada and Mireille