Ellibelle's Corner: January 2023

Jan 28, 2023

Fox and Owl

Hello and welcome!

It's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge and this week it's my turn to host. I selected the theme of "For Boys or Men", this can be for any occasion as long as it's suitable for a boy or man. I hope you'll join us for your chance to win.

I used some new to me Lavinia stamps on this card.

Red Pine Large, Fox Set 1 and Brodwin & Maylin stamps all by Lavinia. The birthday greeting background is also new to me from My Favorite Things. I created the scene using a torn paper mask and a circle die cut for a moon. Distress inks/oxides used are Speckled Egg, Dusty Concord and Chipped Sapphire. I used a Sakura Stardust glitter gel pen for some highlights. The small "happy birthday" sentiment is from Penny Black set Snippets.

>>>>>>>>Stamping 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!

As you may remember, prizes are now announced just once a month but are still chosen as before from the weekly challenges. This month's prizes come from WOWVOW, Craft Stash, AALL and Create and Ruth Hamilton Design, they will be for challenges 713, 714, 715 and 716.

I plan to share with these challenges:

Little Red Wagon - birthdays
Simon Says Stamp - AG
AAA Birthday - Birthday Cards
Get Creative Challenges - something new (new to me stamps)

These 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

Jan 21, 2023

Hedgehog Delights with Spots and Stripes

Hello and welcome!

A new theme starts today at Allsorts challenge with Dena hosting. She chose the fun theme of Spots and/or Stripes and hope you'll join in with us for your chance to win one of our fabulous prizes on offer this month! They come from Oakwood, Stamp Addicts, Sizzix and AALL and Create. As a reminder, these prizes are for challenges 710, 711 and 712 as they are now announced just once a month but winners will still be selected from each of the weekly challenges.

I wanted to use some of my patterned papers so I went looking for a sketch to use and found one that was right up my alley.

The sketch is from the current Try Stamping on Tuesday challenge.

The image is a Penny Black wood mounted stamp Delights (sorry I don't have a link), stamped with Versafine Onyx ink and colored with Zig Clean Color brush markers. The patterned papers are very old, from Stampin Up. The white background paper is embossed, if anyone recognizes this folder please let me know in the comments. I added a sticky sentiment from Tim Holtz' Small Talk sticker sentiment set. I finished off the card with some natural jute twine and a touch of glitter in the flower centers.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Mixed Media and More by Ranger on Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

Take a look at the cute resin hedgehogs I found at a kitchen supply shop in an "After Christmas" sale! I just love their smiling faces! I'm definitely keeping them out at least until Winter is over but maybe even after that! They are so cute!!

I plan to link up with these challenges:

Try Stamping on Tuesday - Sketch

Can You Handle the Pressure - Embossing Folders, twist "Dots"

Penny Black Saturday - PB Stamps

Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters

Crafty Animals - Animals

Double Trouble Challenges - AG

A Place To Start - AG

Path of Positivity - AG

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - 4 legged animals

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

Jan 14, 2023

Winter Blues

Hello and welcome! A new challenge starts today at Allsorts challenge and it's Lorraine's week to host. She chose "Winter Blues" as her theme but it's an optional theme this week so feel free to link up all your new crafty creations for a chance to win!

Here is what I made, a CAS card with the sketch inspired by the current My Favorite Things sketch challenge.

With my new (to me) rectangle stencil by MFT in place as well as torn paper mask to create a "hill" I inked up the sky using Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide ink. Then I used a white Posca pen to flick some "snowflakes" onto the sky.

After removing the masks, I stamped the silhouette image and sentiment using Versafine Onyx ink. The image is from Penny Black set Spread Cheer. Maybe I should have done the ink spatter after stamping the image and I also wish I had added some footprints in the snow. Why don't I think of these things before photographing the card!!?? The sentiment is an oldie from Whimsy Stamps and no longer available. I finished the card off by adding die cut snowflakes (Penny Black Dancing Snowflakes die set) which I applied Stardust Stickles glitter to.

Related Products:

As you may already know, we are still having weekly prizes at Allsorts but are now announcing them just once a month. This month's prizes come from Oakwood, Stamp Addicts, Sizzix and AALL and Create.

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

I'm linking up here:

MFT Sketch:

Stencil Fun Challenge - AG opt. Winter

Sisterhood of Crafters - Something New (Rectangle Stencil)

Stamping Sensations - Sparkle

Little Red Wagon - Cold Outside

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - PB Stamps

Beyond The Blue - Something New (Rectangle Stencil)

Crafty Catz - AG opt. Critter

Cardz 4 Galz - CAS

Craft Rocket Challenges - Not Square

Crafty Gals Corner - Winter Fun

Crafty Calendar - Add a Sentiment

Jan 9, 2023

Homework for Snippets Playground

Hello and welcome!

I've been a bit under the weather and took a break from sorting and organizing in the kitchen so I decided to enter Snippet's Playground's with a homework assignment instead. I don't mind homework when it means coloring, playing with scissors and making something cute :) So here is my card.

As part of the homework assignment we were to take a photo of our snippets. Below I had selected a few strips from one of my huge bags of patterned paper snippets, but I didn't end up using all. I also used the white card stock with the clouds stenciled, I had messed up the stenciling on a previous project but it's perfect for the little mouse which will be fussy cut.

I wanted to use a selection of different paper strips to follow this week's My Favorite Things sketch.

The little mouse with cupcake is from Penny Black set Loads of Love, it was released some years ago but still a favorite. After stamping with Memento Tuxedo ink I used my Copic markers for coloring then fussy cut. The sentiment is from My Favorite Things Itty Bitty Basics. I thought the card needed something a little extra so I added the tiny hearts and used Stardust Stickles glitter glue for some sparkle.

Related Products:

I am sharing here:

Snippets Playground - Snippets
My Favorite Things - Sketch Challenge
Penny Black Saturday - Anything with PB
Stamping Sensations - Sparkle

Thanks so much for visiting!

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

Jan 7, 2023

Something New for Allsorts Challenge

Hello and welcome! We are back this week at Allsorts challenge with our first new theme for 2023 and as always hope you will join us! It's Mervi's week to host and she selected the theme of "Something New". I am also announcing the winner for the Year in Review hop so be sure to scroll down.

I used a new (to me) stencil I just received in an order a couple of weeks before Christmas. (Can you tell I buy my own Christmas presents?? LOL)

The bear is from the Penny Black set Love and Happiness. Although I've had this stamp set for about a year, this is my first time using this particular stamp from the set. Stamped with Memento Tuxedo ink so I could color with Copic markers for a change. I fussy cut the image. On the background I used my new Lavinia stencil Feather Leaf with Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide ink.

Related Products:

The floor was done with Penny Black's Floor die. I used white card stock to cut it out then inked with Pumice Stone Distress Oxide ink. The side table is part of the cute bear stamp set which I also never used before. Using a copic marker, I added some color to a paper strip, then stamped the sentiment using Memento Tuxedo ink. Sentiment is part of a new set I got late last fall - Itty Bitty Basics by My Favorite Things. I have used another stamp from that particular set but not this one. A few sequins finish off the card.

>>>>>>>Storage and Organization Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

You may have heard already, going forward we're doing the prizes at Allsorts a little differently. There will still be weekly prizes but they will be announced just once a month on the last Friday of each month. Below are the giveaways for this month's challenges. The Top 5 will still be announced weekly as before.

They come from Oakwood, Stamp Addicts, Sizzix and AALL and Create. as noted these are for challenge weeks 710, 711 and 712 with winners announced on January 27th. Be sure to visit the challenge blog for all details on how to enter!

Year in Review blog hop prize winner:

Today I am also announcing the winner for my Year in Review prize giveaway from those leaving a comment on my post. Many thanks to each co-host who who took part to make it more fun! And many thanks to those of you sharing your own favorites with us too! Last but not least many thanks to those of you who took the time to leave a comment.

There were 23 commenters (it will show 24 on the post but one was from the same person due to the comment showing up as anonymous the first time).

The winner is.............

Kath from Handmade by Kath

Congratulations, you won a $10 gift certificate to Power Poppy. Please leave a comment here so I know to look out for your message (sometime they end up in my spam folder) and email me at

ellibellescorner at gmail dot com by January 14th to claim your prize. (Power Poppy is not affiliated with this giveaway, the prize is supplied by me.)

I plan to link up here:

Beyond The Blue - Something New
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T. - New
Craft Rocket Challenges - Not Square
Krafty Chicks - Use Stamps
Simon Says Stamp - Something New
Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! - Stencils
Passion For Markers Challenge - New
Pearly Sparkles Challenge - No Patterned Papers

Jan 4, 2023

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - January Challenge

Hello and welcome to Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - January challenge taking place right here on my blog! It's the first challenge of the year so I would like to wish all participants a Happy and Healthy New Year! Do you have any crafty resolutions this year? I'd love to hear if you do! I am once again hoping to use up more of my patterned papers, it's the same resolution I've had for a couple of years, maybe this year I will be more successful :)

There were many fabulous entries last month, thank you all for linking up! Be sure to scroll down to see what the Top Pick Twist was and who made my top picks!

As a reminder, the theme is now always.......

Anything Goes,

and instead of a challenge theme there will be a "Top Pick Twist" but nobody knows what the twist will be (not even me) until the challenge closes as it will be inspired by YOUR creations. So do link up all your new or recently created projects for a chance to be featured. Remember, you may share anything crafty, handmade by you. It doesn't have to be a card.

My January Card Sample:

I am making a good start with my New Year's resolution by using a little patterned papers from my stash that seems to be multiplying. I find it easier to incorporate patterned papers when following a sketch, so I found inspiration from the current sketch at Cheerful Sketches, although it's not an exact match of the sketch so I won't link up.

Related Products:

The background was done with Brusho watercolor powders. Patterned paper is from my stash. The butterfly (Penny Black Butterfly Garden) was stamped with Memento Tuxedo ink and colored with Copic markers then fussy cut. I used a Quickie glue pen and loose glitter sprinkled onto the glue for some sparkle. There is glitter around the "itty bitty background" stamped area and some on the wings, but it was hard to capture all the sparkle.

I plan to link up here:

Stamping Sensations - Add Some Sparkle

>>>>>>>>>>>>>New Year's Weekend Clearance Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

December Top Picks with a Twist:

As mentioned previously, there is now a Top Pick Twist when it comes to my selection of Top Picks. Nobody knows what the twist will be - not even me - until the end of the month as the twist will be totally inspired by YOUR creations. This means the top picks will all have something in common.

The Top Pick Twist from the December entries is ............ Winter so you will see this twist reflected in each one of the top pick's cards.

No. 2 Janis Lewis

No. 26 Debbie M.

No. 42 Carole J.

Congratulations! 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 Sunday January 29th 11:59 CST 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).
No more than 3 entries per person please so I can manage to visit each entry.
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

Jan 2, 2023

December Card Chain Challenge Reveal Day

If you are visiting for the Year in Review Hop please click the link below:

Year in Review 2022 - Favorite Creations of the Year *Blog Hop* and a Small Prize Giveaway

Today is reveal day at the Card Chain Challenge! My December card went to Marianne in Greece. I do hope she received it as I haven't heard yet from her.

This is the card I made for her:

In December the challenge was this fun Tic Tac Toe Grid and I chose to use the fourth horizontal line.

I used washi tape around the card then inked the square with Evergreen Bough Distress Oxide ink. I stamped the tree line (an old PSX stamp) using the same ink. Then splattered some white paint onto the background.

The image is Penny Black's Jingle Friends, stamped using Versafine Onyx ink and colored with my Faber Castell Polychromos pencils, then fussy cut. As mentioned I heat embossed the image using the same Evergreen Bough ink sprinkled with super fine clear embossing powder. Before adding the image I removed the washi tape and then also added the die cut snowflakes (Penny Black Dancing Snowflake die set). Frosted Lace Stickles was applied to Santa's coat fur trim and the die cut snowflakes.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>New Year's Weekend Clearance Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

I received the GORGEOUS card below from Arlene in CA. So fun with the opening door die, cute elephants and easel style! So fun and cheerful!

BTW, the January link up for Card Chain Challenge is still open if you'd like to join. It is a card exchange challenge so you need to be willing to mail a physical card to one other participant in a timely manner. And you will receive one card in return.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Jan 1, 2023

A Frosty Farm Scene

If you are here to join in the Year in Review Bog Hop please click link below:

Year in Review 2022 - Favorite Creations of the Year Blog Hop* and a Small Prize Giveaway*

Good morning and HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I hope it will be a happy and healthy one for you!

I am here bright and early with my design team card for the Four Seasons January challenge where we are in the middle of "Winter" so come join us with all your winter themed creations! We have a fabulous optional mood board (see above), you may use it or not. Of course my card was completely inspired by it. Maybe I took it too literal but I love how it turned out!!

I created a farm like winter scene using stamps from Penny Black (Snow Blanket, Nature's Gifts) Lavinia Stamps (Seasonal Tree, Winter Magic) and a digi from Mo Manning. I've had this cute sheep image for a long time, somehow never used it before. This is one of her very early digis.

The fence and branches in the foreground were stamped using Pumice Stone ink and the tree on the right side using Ground Espresso ink. I fussy cut the sheep after printing (it is part of a hillside scene which I did not use here). The sheep on the image is holding flowers in its mouth, I cut those off but the stems are still there so lets pretend those are branches :)

The words on the background are by Lavinia. I used Hickory Smoke ink to stamp them. A few die cut snowflakes using Penny Black's Dancing Snowflakes die set were added along with some rhinestones. I used a clear glitter Sakura gel pen to highlight the snow on the fence and branches.

As always, the challenge runs until January 25th, so there is plenty of time to join us!

Thanks so much for visiting!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>New Year's Weekend Clearance Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

In case you haven't heard... I'm co-hosting a year in review blog hop along with a group of other crafters where we share our favorites of 2022 and I have a prize giveaway too. Hope you'll stop by to check it out! Prize giveaway ends on January 6th.

I am linking up here:

Cardz 4 Guyz - Winter Theme

Digi Choosday Challenge - AG

613 Avenue Create - Winter

Dare 2B Artzy Challenges - Winter

International Art & Soul - Winter

Double Trouble Challenge - AG

Krafty Chicks - AG

Paper Shelter - AG

Critter Crazy Challenges - Critter

Crafty Animals - Animals

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