I Spy With My Little Eye: Something From or On a Farm/ Challenge No. 7 - Partnering with Double Trouble Challenge (Optional)

Hello and welcome to a new "I spy with my little eye" challenge taking place right here on my blog! Pauline and I are back with a new fun theme a couple of  days earlier than usual and we are so excited to be collaborating with the fun Double Trouble challenge this time for some Triple Fun - more details below.

Of course it is optional for our participants to join Double Trouble challenge so lets first get started with our theme here.

I spy with my little eye....................

Something on or from a farm.

Lots of fun options there, that includes things like animals you may find around a farm, any kind of crops, farm scenes, tractors, farmers and so much more!! We can't wait to see what you will come up with!

And now for the extra fun part, if you use a die or punch on your card then you are invited to join the Double Trouble challenge as their main theme is "Any Way you Punch it" - use die cuts or punches. With their optional twist of "Farm Animal". 

And here is what our little design team came up with:

My Card (Ellie)

I started with another inky background previously done this time in shades of orange. Then I stamped the "wheat" silhouette (old, by Hero Arts) onto the background using Distress Inks. And I wanted to use another stamp from my new Aall and Create set The Great Outdoors which I am sure is supposed to be a flower but on today's card I decided it could be a vegetable just the same so I stamped it in black for some interest on the background :) I had lots of choices for a farm animal but decided to finally ink up my new Colorado Craft stamp I purchased earlier this year from the set "Veg Out".Colored and fussy cut to add to the card. The sentiment at the top is also from Colorado Craft Company from the set Veggie Stacks". "Dance in the Breeze" at the bottom is part of that same stamp by Aall and Create. Thought it was very fitting as this rabbit happily hops (or dances) away from the field with his carrot :) For my die cut piece to follow the Double Trouble challenge I added some die cut butterflies done with a Penny Black die set. I wanted to bring in a little more black on the top so I used a torn piece of patterned paper and added a button with twine to finish it off. 

Related Products:

I plan to share the card above with these challenges:

Colourful Options - outrages orange

Crafty Animals - Animals

Critter Crazy Challenges - Critter

Mix It Up Challenge - Make your own background

Stamping Sensations - AG or Garden Delights

Pauline's Card:

Isn't it just adorable and so beautifully done! You can find out all about how she made this by visiting her blog.

We're so exited to have a guest designer this month and that is Lynda aka Loopyloo. So glad you've joined us this month, Lynda!

Lynda's Card:

How wonderful is this with these sweet creatures complete with a red barn! To find out how she made this cute card please be sure to visit her blog.

Top Picks from Challenges No. 6

Many thank to all of you who played I spy with us last month. While it wasn't a super popular theme there were some fabulous entries and as usual a bit of a challenge to select our top favorites. But something that needs done so here they are:

*To be in compliance with GDPR, Top Pick photos and links will be removed after the start of the new challenge. 

Remember, both Top Picks are invited to join us in the next challenge if you like to. That would be for challenge no. 8 starting October 18th! Of course it's not a requirement but we would love to have you as guests!!

No. 4 Maxine (Ellie's Pick)

No 10 - Anke (Pauline's Pick)

Congratulations to both of you!! Your top pick logo is below to display on your own blogs if you like to.

You are both invited to join us as guest designers (optional of course!) for challenge no. 8 starting on Wednesday October 18. If you are interested in taking part, please message me (Ellie) at ellibellescorner at gmail dot com so I can give you all the details for our upcoming theme.

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Now it's time to link up YOUR creations for the new theme! Anyone is invited to join us with your crafty makes following our theme - I spy something on or from a farm.


A few things to remember:

• You may share up to 5 different projects
• You may combine with as many other challenges as you like to
• No fully digital projects please
• Please include a link back to this blog
• Challenge ends Sunday October 15th
• If you have used a die or punch you may also link up with Double Trouble challenge for the next two weeks 

The Journey is the Destination

Hello and welcome! I have a new post to share today as it's time for a new optional theme at Allsorts challenge. This week we'd love to see "Masculine" creations but of course the Anything Goes option is there for those who just want to share their new creations with us so come join us for your chance to win one of our prizes. This month we have prizes from Craft Stash, Anna Marie Designs, AALL and Create, Oakwood and Wowvow which will be for the weekly challenges ending in September and then announced in our winners post the last Friday of the month.

The starting point for my card was a narrow-ish piece of previously inked cardstock where I had used green and blue inks, perfect for a masculine card. So this card came together quite quickly.

The harlequin stencil was right at the top of my stencil stash and I thought it would be a perfect choice on a masculine card. To decide on a focal image I looked through my box of mixed brand of masculine stamps, these are mostly old wood mounted single stamps I found at thrift stores over the years and and that's how I decided on the cowboy stamp by Magenta. It's actually just one stamp with the images horizontal on a wooden block but I cut them apart after stamping and assembled them in a vertical way. Before I did that I thought the background needed something more and once again I reached for my new Friendship Flowers stamp set by Aall and Create and used a stamp from that set. I then also used an old script stamp from Just for Fun Rubberstamps (company is no longer in business.) Mounted the image panel on navy card stock and then a white card base. The sentiment is from Stampers Anonymous Tiny Text.

Related Products:

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!

The card measures approximatley 4x8 inches and fits well into a legal envelope with a bit extra room lengthwise in the envelope. I'm not usually a fan of tall cards but somehow I really like how this one turned out :)

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I plan on sharing with these challenges:

• Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! - Stencils
• Everybody-Art-Challenge - AG
• Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG
• Path of Positivity - Anything Positive
• The Corrosive Challenges - AG
• We Love 2 Create - Anything Creative

You may also like this:

Feathered Friend

Hello everyone, it's time already for my new Allsorts card share. This week it's Lynn's turn to choose a theme and she selected the option of "Dies". If that's not for you then there is always the "anything goes" option so come join us this week for your chance to win! We have prizes from Craft Stash, Anna Marie Designs, AALL and Create, Oakwood and Wowvow which will be for the challenges ending in September and then announced in our winners post the last Friday of the month. 

And here is what I made:

I used my new Aall and Create stamp set Friendship Florals again (available here in the US or direct from Aall and Create if you are in Europe), this time I chose the bird from the set as my focal point. I thought the leafy frame die from Hero Arts (September 2018 stamp kit retired but can be found on eBay) was a perfect way to frame the bird. After die cutting, I inked with various Distress Oxides and inks and then flicked some water onto to background for that fun reaction. Before adding the fram I used a music note stamp on the image panel. The bird was stamped again on a piece of scrap paper then colored with Distress inks and fussy cut so his tail could be outside of the frame. Flicked some diluted distress inks and white paint from a Posca pen onto the card then stamped the Nature words from the Aall and Create set Miniature. Feathered Friend and the circle with number are all part of the set Friendship Florals.

Related Products:

Another view:

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!

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

I plan on sharing with these blogs:

• Triple B - Birds, Blooms or Butterflies
• As You Like It Challenge - Autumn or Winter (definitely Autumn - love the beautiful colors of the season and our mild autumn days usually until November and sometimes even November)
• Creative Inspirations Challenge - AG
• Krafty Chicks - use stamps
• Tic Tac Toe Challenge - I used the diagonal line left to right (ink blending, die cut and leaves)
• Fab n Funky - Wings or Scales
• Simon Says Stamp - Stamp it
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge -Stamp it
• Path of Positivity - AG
• Little Red Wagon - Square
• We Love Stamping - AG with option of trees or leaves
• Stamping Sensations - Garden Delights or AG
• Encouraging Hearts and Home

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - September

ETA: This post has been re-published as blogger is apparantly seeing my linky party and other card making posts as "spam" so the original post is under review. Has this happened to anyone else's cardmaking posts?? If you have previously commented on this post and don't see the comment here, then you know it's because I had to re-write the post. I apologize! Not sure what is going on with blogger...

Hello everyone and welcome to the September Crafty Wednesday challenge taking place right here on my blog! I'm so glad you stopped by today and hope you'll join in too! There were lots of lovely entries last month, thank you all so much for playing along! The "Top Picks with a Twist" are at the end of the post so be sure to scroll down.

I'm sure most of you know by now, the theme is now always............

Anything Goes

and instead of a challenge theme there will be a top pick twist, meaning the top picks will each have something in common. But nobody knows what the twist will be (not even me) and will be inspired by YOUR creations. So do link up all your new or recently created crafty makes (any type of craft) for your chance to have your project featured next month! The linky tool is at the end of the post.

And here is my September card:

I was inspired by the current {Pin}spirational challenge mood board. Thought the colors were beautiful but I wish I had added a bit more orange to my flower and also wish my blue was a bit more purple-ish!! It's been a cloudy day when I made the card (yesterday) so the lighting wasn't the best in my craft room so I ended up with the wrong colors.

The mood board also inspired me to choose the floral stamp Bejeweled by Penny Black which I inked with Distress Oxides/ inks. I always use my stamp platform when using brushstroke stamps as I can layer colors of ink multiple times. On the background I used a couple of my new Aall and Create stamps - The Great Outdoors and Miniatures. Sentiments are from the set Itty Bitty Basics by MFT. The diamond border die is also from Penny Black. I added a button with twine and some liquid pearls to finish it off. 

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!

Challenges I plan to share with:

Pinspirational -  birthdays w/leaves and  mood board above

Stamping Sensations - Garden Delights

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Stamp it

Path of Positivity - Tic Tac Toe (I chose the top row: Feminine/Button/Floral)

Crafty Calendar - AG

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

Top Picks with a Twist

There were so many fabulous entries last month and I had the hardest time deciding on a top pick twist. Finally made up my mind and the twist from the August entries is................Silhouettes! Meaning each one of my top picks included a silhouette image.

They are listed in the order of entry below:

No. 37 Pauline

No. 52 Jolanda

No. 82 Kraftikards

Congrats everyone, well deserved recognition! Your top pick logo is below. Feel free to post it to your own blogs if you like to :)

I will continue to pin the top picks to the dedicated Pinterest board, but will also include photo and link back to the original blogs/sites here. These will be removed at the start of the new challenge to stay in compliance with GDPR.

To join in this month's challenge please use the linky tool below. You have until Saturday September 30th to play along!

A few things to remember:

• You may combine with any other challenges.
• You may use any brand of stamps/digis/products (no company restriction).
• Please try to limit your linked up cards to 3 entries per month - it's ok if you end up with more than 3.
• Please do include a link back here to my blog in your blog post.
• Backlinking to a recent post IS allowed.
• Digital products are allowed and very welcome but the final piece has to be a physical handmade creation, not just digital

Sunflower

Happy Saturday! I'm hosting Allsorts challenge this week and selected the optional theme of Sunflowers. There are so many sunflower themed crafting products available and I'd love to see yours! Then there is always the Anything Goes option if Sunflowers aren't your thing and all are invited to join us for your chance to win or to be selected to be in my top 5! We have prizes from Craft Stash, Anna Marie Designs, AALL and Create, Oakwood and Wowvow for our September challenges. 

And here is what I made:

I'm so excited to finally have purchased 3 Aall and Create stamp sets, my very first from the company, all 3 are Tracy Evans designs. Trying to narrow the order down was the hardest part and I have a lot on my wishlist still, but I knew I wanted the rain boots set (The Great Outdoors) and something with flowers. Not that I needed another sunflower stamp but I did select this floral set (Friendship Florals) with my challenge in mind and I love all the other stamps included in the set. Then I also got the set Miniatures which includes a couple  text stamps, bunnies and bugs. I've used all three sets on my card today and absolutely enjoyed playing with my new goodies!!

I'm not sure that "The Great Outdoors" (rainboots) set is currently available anywhere in the US (pretty sure I bought the last set from Frantic Stamper and at that time no other store in the US had it in stock) but it's been restocked in the UK so you should be able to find it there and in other parts of Europe. Friendship Florals is still available at Frantic Stamper and probably from a few other US sellers (there aren't many) as is the set Miniatures. 

I created a smooshed background using Carved Pumpkin Distress Oxide ink for the card front. The boots and flower were stamped on separate pieces of bristol vellum paper and I used Distress Inks for coloring. Fussy cut the boots and flower. I used one of the stamps from the set Miniatures on the boots along with a little bug from the same set that looks like a blob of ink as I stamped it right over the words.

I used the same script stamp on the background and another stamp from the floral set. Grown with love is part of the boots stamp and the bird & "sunflower" word stamp are part of the large floral set. I can see so many options with these sets!! Now I just need some time to play some more!! I know I sound overly excited about the stamps so I wanted to mention that besides Allsorts challenge (where I am on the Design Team) offering some stamps from this company as prizes for our participants, I am in no way affiliated with Aall and Create or Frantic Stamper. Just very happy to finally have my hands on some of their stamps!!

To finish it off I added some glitter around the flower center and embellished with  a yellow button and some natural May Arts burlap string. Speaking of burlap string, if you' re in the UK you can find it from our patron Wowvow along with many other wonderful products for your DIY projects - ribbon, twine, sparkly papers and much more found in their DIY Wedding Stationary section but of course they'd be very suitable for any feminine card and not just for wedding crafts.

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

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!

Planning to link up with these challenges:

• Beautiful Blossoms - Flowers 
• Make My Monday - Hobbies (Gardening)
• Krafty Chicks - AG
• Double D Challenges - Sunflowers 
• Paper Shelter - Add a Sentiment
• Simon Says Stamp - AG
• The Paper Funday - AG
• Double Trouble Challenge - AG
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Sparkle and Shine
• We Love 2 Create - anything creative/mixed media goes
• The Crafty Addicts - AG
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - AG
• DL.Art Linky Challenge - AG

September Four Seasons Challenge - Everything Has Beauty

Hello everyone, September has arrived as hard as it is to believe. While I love the beauty of fall (before it gets cold!!) I'm always sad to see Summer come to an end as it makes me realize just how fast time flies!! So here we are, it's a new month and that means it's time for a chance of season at the Four Seasons challenge. Please come join us with all your autumn creations! As always we do have a fabulous mood board but it's optional as our theme is Anything Fall Goes!

I thought it was time to dust off this beautiful stamp kit from Hero Arts as it's been a long time since I've used it. (The kits is no longer available at Hero Arts but I did see a few listed on eBay. It was the September 2018 kit.) The background was done using a script border stamp from Whimsy Stamps (no longer available). And I flicked some diluted distress ink onto the background. I may have overdone it a bit, unfortunately.. I only had used the reddish brown first and should have left it at that but then thougth I'd like some darker splatter too and added Black Soot. That's when I ended up with more splatter than what I wanted. Which unfortunately takes away from my main focal point (script and flower/vase). Oh well... maybe next time I'll be more thoughtful.

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The "flannel" was done with a stencil set by Lawn Fawn. It's new to me and I haven't figured out yet how to make better looking flannel so this will do for now. Flower, vase and leaves are all part of the Hero Arts stamp kit including the matching die cuts. Sentiment is a sticker from Tim Holtz's Small Talk booklet. 

While I haven't picked a specific image from this month's mood board, my card was definitely inspired by it as I am sure you an tell :)

The challenge runs until September 25th, so there is plenty of time to join in the fun!

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

Challenges I'd like to share with - all Anything Goes

• Simon Says Stamp
• Krafty Chicks - AG
• The Crafty Addicts 
• The Paper Funday
• Double Trouble Challenge
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
• We Love 2 Create 
• Die Cut Divas 
• DL.Art Linky Challenge 

Themes:

• 2 Sisters On The Blog - Autumn
• Beautiful Blossoms - Flowers

Butterflies at Allsorts Challenge

Hello everyone, it's time already for a new challenge at Allsorts. Btw. we are back to our regular weekly schedule now that August is just about over. 

It's Dena's turn to host this week and she picked the fun optional theme of "Butterflies". This time of the year I have the most butterflies in my garden and always love seeing them! We mostly have Monarch butterflies and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, both very common in our area. Although this year there aren't as many butterflies because my Zinnias are taking forever to bloom!! (We had an extremely dry June).  Thank goodness for my butterfly bush!

Today's card features a butterfly resembling a Monarch butterfly a bit. It's a large stamp from the Visible Image set "Butterfly Effect".

Related Products:

I started out by using a Vicki Boutin stencil with Pumice Stone Distress Oxide ink for a faint pattern. Next I heat embossed the script (SU stamp - retired) onto black cardstock using Versamark ink and white embossing powder. The butterfly was stamped on an inky background which was done using the smooshing technique and Distress inks/oxides. Before adding the butterfly I decided to add a die cut circle for more interest. The quote is from Tim Holtz's Small Talk sticker booklet which includes lots of wonderful quotes. 

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!

Prizes for the Allsorts challenges ending in September (that includes this week's challenge) come from Craft Stash, Anna Marie Designs, AALL and Create and Oakwood. Lots of wonderful goodies to win!!

Will link up this card with the following blogs:

• Inspiration Station - Inspiration Photo above (I was inspired by yhe beautiful Monarch butterflies to color my butterfly in similar colors.)
• Moving along with the Times - Embossing
• Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! - Stencils and opt. Butterflies (you might have to tilt the screen a bit to see my faint stencil on the background using pumice stone ink!!)
• Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG
• Triple B - AG with Birds, Blooms or Butterflies
• Stamping Sensations - AG 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Die Cutting for Fall Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

I Spy With My Little Eye: Something for Boys or Men (Challenge No. 6)

Hello everyone, Pauline and I are back again with a new challenge for I Spy With My Little Eye taking place right here on my blog! So glad you stopped by today and we'd LOVE for you to join us too!

Just a heads up, for next month only we're going to start the challenge on the 3rd Monday (Sept. 18th) instead of 3rd Wednesday, there is a great reason behind it which we will announce with the next challenge. 

We had some wonderful entries over the last 2 months, thank you all for joining us. Be sure to scroll down to the end to see if you were one of our top 2. Remember, the top picks are invited to join us as guest designers in a future challenge!

It's my turn to choose a theme this month and I selected .....

I Spy With My Little Eye....

Something for Boys or Men

We all need a maculine card now and then so we hope you'll take on the challenge and join us.  Remember, you may share anything crafty, it doesn't have to be a card! As long as it fits the theme and is handmade we'd love to see it!

And here are our shares for your inspiration:

My Card (Ellie)

I love Lavinia fairies but their animal stamps are simply perfect for masculine cards and this was a great opportunity to ink up a couple of their animal stamps.

The inky background was done with an acetate sheet and distress oxide inks spritzed with water then "smooshed" onto the card. (Bundled Sage - all shades of green you see are a result from the Bundle Sage ink pad, Speckled Egg). 

The focal point are Lavinia stamps Maka (the wolf) and an owl from the set Brodwin and Maylin. I've done some background stamping with Darkroom Door's Grid stamp, the old script is from Just for Fun Rubberstamps (no longer in business I think), and some ink blotches with an old stamp from Whimsy Stamps and no longer available. I also flicked some diluted Distress Oxide ink onto the background for a little more interest. Sentiments are from the Penny Black Set "Let's Go Wild". I used a Sakura "stardust" gel pen for some highlights.

Related Products:

I'd like to enter my card (above) to the following challenges:

We Love Stamping - Masculine // Paper Minutes - no designer papers // AAA Birthday - Birthday Cards // Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Favorite Techniques (love creating inky backgrounds)

Pauline's Card

Isn't it fabulous!!! And I spy the same flying owl on here too :) Be sure to visit her blog to read all about how she made this card!

There are no guest designers this time so let's get straight to our Top Picks!

Top Picks from Challenges No. 4 and No. 5 (which was a combined challenge)

We had some fabulous entries sharing "A Sweet Treat" or "Warm and Sunny Colors". Many thanks to all of you who joined us!

Our top picks are below in the order of entry.

*To be in compliance with GDPR, Top Pick photos and links will be removed after the start of the new challenge. 

Remember, both Top Picks are invited to join us in the next challenge if you like to. That would be for challenge no. 7 starting September 18th! Of course it's not a requirement but we would love to have you as guests!!

No. 53 Lisa S. - Pauline's Pick

No. 56 Loopyloo - Ellie's Pick

Congratulations to both of you! Well deserved recognition! Your top pick logo is above, feel free to post it to your own blogs if you like to :)

As mentioned, you are both invited to join us as a guest designer. Please email me (Ellie) at ellibellescorner at gmail dot com if you would like to join us so I can tell you about our upcoming theme. *Please note, by accepting the guest designer post you agree to have your project and blog link posted here on this blog.

  >>>>>>>>>>>Countdown to Fall Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

Now it's time to link up YOUR creations! Anyone is invited to join us with your crafty makes following our theme.


A few things to remember:

• You may share up to 5 different projects
• You may combine with as many other challenges as you like to
• No fully digital projects please
• Please include a link back to this blog
• Backlinking to a recent post is allowed
• Challenge ends Sunday September 17th 

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!