Allsorts 278/279: Tags (and Christmas in July)

Today is the start of a new challenge at Allsorts ... this week it's Susan's turn to host and she picked the theme of "Tags". This can be an actual tag by itself (like a gift tag) or a tag as part of the card. I am not sure why, but I did struggle a little bit with this theme. I am blaming the weather for it, but maybe it's just me overthinking :)

I did end up with a couple of extra creations while trying to make something for this challenge and decided to share all 3 of them in today's post as I wanted to join in Simon Says Christmas in July Blog Hop and Challenge.

So this is what I finally came up with for Allsorts "Tags" challenge. 

Loads of Love // Sprinkles and Smiles // Copic Markers 

I stamped the image using Memento Tuxedo ink on Copic Xpress It blending card then colored with my copic markers. The image has been fussy cut using my Cutterbee scissors by EK Success. The tag was die cut using an old Whimsy Stamps stitched die set (now retired).

The cute image is part of the set Loads of Love by Penny Black (currently available in my Etsy shop with free US shipping) and the sentiment is from the Penny Black set Sprinkles and Smiles. I added some May Arts jute twine in parrot green to the tag. The dotted paper is from my stash. The green background paper has a "watercolor" type design on it, it was part of a set by Basic Grey that I've had forever. I did stencil some swirls over the paper using Stampers Anoymous "Flourish" layering stencil to add a little more interest to that corner of the card. Framed with Stampin Up's Espresso card stock then added to a  Neenah linen textured card base. 

Also sharing this card here:
AuroraWings Challenge - Anything Goes this week
Make My Monday - Colored Image 
Paper Shelter Challenge - Anything Goes 
Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes this week
Sunny Day Crafting - Any Animals
Cardz 4 Galz - Food and/or Drink
Crafty Catz -  Anything Goes
Little Miss Muffet Challenges - Always Anything Goes
Crafting By Designs -  Anything Goes
Crafty Creations -  Always Anything Goes 
The Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes/Optional Pets

Next up is a Christmas card I also ended up making (my first one of the year). I made this one to join in Simon Says Stamp Monday Christmas in July Blog Hop

Cones and Berries // Brush Pines // Christmas Story Background Stamp

The Penny Black set Cones and Berries stamp has been inked using distress markers and a Zig Clean Color Marker (mid gray) and stamped on Bristol Vellum paper with the help of my Tonic Stamp platform.

 By the way, if you've been thinking about purchasing the Tonic Stamp Platform, you may want to do it soon, as there was an announcement that production will be discontinued and then no longer available for purchase in the US and Canada.

The words on the background were done using Penny Black's Christmas Story  background stamp and Antique Linen distress ink. Using some diluted marker ink and a waterbrush, I flicked some ink onto the background. Edges were inked using antique linen ink and an ink applicator. I finished off the card with a red gingham ribbon scrap and May Arts natural jute twine.
The sentiment is from the set Brush Pines, stamped using Walnut Stain distress ink.

Also sharing my Christmas card here:

Simon Says Stamp Monday- Christmas in July Blog Hop
Fab 'n' Funky - Christmas in July
Mod Squad Challenge- Christmas In July
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Christmas In July & Sentiment)
Dragonfly Journeys -  Christmas in July 
We Love 2 Create - Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes *
C.R.A.F.T.  Christmas 
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes Christmas
Crafty Gals Corner - Christmas in July 
Creative Moments -  Always Anything Goes
That's Crafty! Challenge- Close to Nature

And then finally this was my first attempt at a "tag" creation for Allsorts. As you can guess I wasn't completely happy with it so I ended up with the first card in this post using a tag. But I decided it's still ok to share on my blog :)

Crystal Drops //  Christmas Story Background Stamp // Brush Pines

I started out stamping the Penny Black Christmas Story Background Stamp on the tag using Antique Linen distress ink. The wood mounted Penny Black stamp Crystal Drops was then inked using distress markers and stamped directly over the words. My Crop-A-Dile  was used to set the eyelet and I tied some May Arts natural jute twine through it. More of the red gingham ribbon and jute twine finish off the tag. Oh, and the sentiment is once again from Penny Black's set  Brush Pines. To and From are from Penny Black's set Holiday Snippets.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and don't forget our Allsorts challenge is once again running for two weeks to allow everyone a little extra time during the Summer season. This time our prize is a store voucher by Lost Coast Designs. Hope you can join us :)

This post contains affiliate links, this means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! 

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday and Penny Black and More Reminder

Happy Wednesday! I am sharing a super quick and simple card today, made for the Penny Black and More July challenge reminder and it also fits this month's "Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday" challenge so this card serves as a reminder for that challenge as well. (Simply scroll down to enter the Crafty Wednesday challenge, but do click here if you would like to join in at Penny Black and More challenge).

At Penny Black and More our theme this month is "Things with Wings". Several prizes to be won over there, hopefully you can find some time to join us if you haven't already!

As mentioned my card was super quick to make. I simply stamped the Penny Black image "Butterfly Suite" onto Neenah 80lb card stock using  Memento Tuxedo ink. Then I used some old solid circle stamps (The Shape of Things and Little Shapes - both long retired by Stampin Up) to highlight the butterflies and Hydrangea of the stamp using Distress Inks Tumbled Glass and Mustard Seed (this one stamped off twice before inking over the butterflies). I finished off the card by tying some gingham ribbon before adhering to a light blue card base. Oh, and the sentiment is from Penny Black's sentiment set Sprinkles and Smiles.

I found some fun challenges to join:

AuroraWings Challenge - Anything Goes this week

Paper Shelter Challenge - Ribbon, Lace or Twine

Stamping Sensations -  In my Garden

Moo-Mania & More -  Butterflies 
That's Crafty! Challenge - Close to Nature
Country View Crafts' Challenge - In the Summer Garden
Simply Create Too - M - No Patterned Papers
Penny Black Saturday Challenge  Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Think Summertime

Craftaholics R Us - Anything Goes
Crafting By Designs -  Anything Goes

If you are here to join in at my Crafty Wednesday challenge, simply use the linky tool below...one of the lucky entrants will win a cute Penny Black "Mimi" stamp (as seen here in the original July Crafty Wednesday post).  

My theme at Crafty Wednesday is "Summertime is Here" which means any summer activities, summer flowers, butterflies, summer festivals ... so anything that relates to Summer. 

This post contains affiliate links, this means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! 

Please remember: this is a public blog, meaning any papercraft you link up or any comments left on this blog will be visible and clickable by third parties. The blog owner is not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without permission. 

Allsorts Challenge: Flowers All Over

Hello everyone, it's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge. For the following few weeks our challenges will run for 2 weeks but we'll be back to weekly postings mid- August.

 Mervi is our host this time and she would like to see "Flowers Allover". Our prize this week comes from  Swedish House Crafts, hopefully you'll find some time to join in! Don't forget you have two weeks to link up :)

Bejeweled // Dance Sing Love //  Distress markers

I completed this card before I left for vacation last month, I was hoping to be able to make another one (not completely  happy with this card) but I haven't had time to make cards for challenges yet since I returned so this one will have to do. I think I will re-work it and add some ribbon where the two papers meet...I think that will pretty it up a bit. 

This card was simple to make, I just inked up Penny Black's brushstroke stamp Bejeweled using a Distress marker, then stamped the wood mounted Penny Black sentiment "Dance Sing Love" directly over the flowers. By the way, if you're interested, this stamp is currently available brand new in my Etsy shop and it ships for free within the US. 

The designer papers are from my stash by a pack I picked up at a local craft store. 

Happy crafting!!

This post contains affiliate links, this means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! 

Allsorts 475: In My Garden

Hello everyone, I have officially returned from a family visit to Germany and also spent some wonderful days in the Austrian Alps with my family. Enjoyed some good food, good company and beautiful scenery, but now it's time to get back to daily life here in the States.

Today is the start of a new challenge at Allsorts, the lovely Brenda is our host this week and she picked the theme of "in the garden".

I forgot to ask Brenda if mythical garden creatures could be allowed for this challenge, but knowing that Brenda loves fairies I am confident that they are allowed :)

This cute fairy is a rubber stamp by Lili of the Valley. Unfortunately they discontinued all of their rubber stamps and only carry a fraction of their older images, so I am not sure if this image is still available. She's been heat embossed on Bristol Vellum card stock then colored with my Zig Clean Color markers. The little sentiment is from Penny Black's set Snippets, this time I heat embossed it in white on black card stock. The script background paper is from my box of scraps, probably from Prima Marketing . I distressed the edges and added some May Arts Jute Twine to finish off the card. If you look closely, then you will notice a subtle design on the image panel. That was done with Penny Black's Oscillations Stencil, which is currently available in my Etsy Shop. By the way, all stamps and supplies from my shop will now ship for FREE (US only). Note, I only carry a limited amount of stamps. 

Thank you so much for visiting!!

This post contains affiliate links, this means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! 

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - July Challenge

Happy Wednesday and welcome to the July Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday challenge! I just returned from an overseas vacation on July first, I have lots of catching up to do and my brain is still on "vacation mode" half of me feels like I am still in a different time zone, so I am keeping this post sweet and simple.

We're in the midst of Summer so for this month the theme is

 "Summertime is Here". 

This means you may share anything summer related...summer activities, summer flowers, summer celebrations etc.

I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Fitting for today's Independence Day holiday, I created my Summer card using the cute image "Waiting for the Parade" by Mo Manning. Unfortunately Mo Manning just retired this cute image last month along with some others.
This cutie has been colored with Faber Castell Polychromo Pencils. The brick wall was done using a stencil, unfortunately I don't remember the brand of the stencil, but you can find several brands on Amazon if you're interested. The sentiment is from the Penny Black set Heartfelt.


This post contains affiliate links, this means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! 


The prize for this month's challenge is the cute Penny Black wood mounted stamp below....

And now it's time to announce last month's winner selected by random.org.

Congratulations Angie from Cimbacreativefun, you were the lucky prize winner!

Please contact me at ellibelle_blog at yahoo dot com by July 18th to claim your June prize!

Due to EU's GDPR regulations I decided to discontinue the top picks as is just too hard sometimes to find out where each blogger is located and I do not want to break any regulations.

To play along in this month's challenge simply link your creation below using the linky tool.

A few things to remember:

• You must follow the theme
• Enter up to 3 projects per challenge
• You may combine with any other challenges
• Please be sure to include a link back here in your blog post

Please remember: this is a public blog, meaning any papercraft you link up or any comments left on this blog will be visible and clickable by third parties. The blog owner is not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without permission. 

Things with Wings at Penny Black and More Challenge

This is another scheduled post so hopefully blogger behaves and does its job!

Our challenge this month at Penny Black and More is "Things with Wings". Some great prizes to be won again so do come join us for your chance to win!

I made  a card with these birds a couple of months ago, this was an image I had already colored and did not use at that time, but it came in really handy when I needed to make a quick card to work ahead. The birds are from the set "Enjoy Life" by Penny Black, not sure why but it seems to be retired. It's been colored with Zig Clean Color  brush markers on Bristol Vellum card stock then fussy cut using my Cutterbee scissors which are wonderful for detail cutting like this one. The white background and card base are both Neenah linen textured. Designer paper is a strip from my never ending pile of scraps and the green cards stock is one of Stampin Up's papers. Sentiment is also by stampin up, from a long retired set.

Thanks so much for visiting!!

This post contains affiliate links, this means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!