Fly Free

Hello everyone, it's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge and Liz is hosting this week. She picked the optional theme of "Things that Fly" or you can go with Anything Goes. All entries following our simple rules will be entered into the prize drawing and considered for the top 5 so hope you'll come join us this week with either option. We have prizes from  AALL and Create and Aldridge Crafts, they are for challenges 769 and 770. This challenge ends in March so look out for the winners post on the last Friday of March. Oh, and if you haven't already, be sure to check out yesterday's winners post where the February winners were announced!

This theme was the perfect opportunity for me to ink up this beautiful butterfly stamp from Aall and Create called Spread Your Wings, another set I purchased when they had their super sale. 

I started out by masking the edges of the image panel using washi tape and brushed some clean water onto the Bristol Vellum paper. Then I added diluted Distress ink with a brush. I used Broken China and Cracked Pistachio ink. The beautiful image was stamped onto the paper using Broken China ink then onto scrap paper using Versafine Onyx ink. Distress inks were then used to color both butterflies and then fussy cut along with the circle. "Fly Free" is from the same set. I layered the image panel on inked cardstock (using Cracked Pistachio ink) then a white card base. 

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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!

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I plan to link up with these challenges:

• A Gem of a Challenge - AG
• Ally's Angels - AG
• A Perfect Time To Craft - AG
• Krafty Chicks - All Occasions
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - AG
• Path of Positivity - AG Positive
• The Crafty Addicts - AG
• The Paper Funday - No Patterned Papers
• Triple B - Blooms, Birds or Butterflies
• We Love Stamping - AG Option

What you may have missed this week:

"I spy with my little eye" Challenge 12

I Spy With My Little Eye...Something Beginning with B" (Challenge No. 12)

Hello and welcome! Today is the start of a new "I spy with my little eye" challenge which takes place right here on my blog. Pauline and I are back with a new theme and we hope you'll join us this month! We had lots of fantastic entries last month so be sure to scroll down to see who made the top 2. Remember, our top picks are invited to join us as guest designers for a future challenge.

But first let's announce our new theme. It was Pauline's turn to select a theme and she chose....

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

"Something beginning with B".

So many options here and I am sure you will have some fun ideas for this one. We can't wait to see what you'll share with us!

Here is the Design Team work.

My Card (Ellie)

B for Bunnies, Blossoms and Blue

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!

For my card I decided to ink up this cute bunny image from the set In the Wild by Aall and Create. I was lucky to get it at a discounted price but it's back to normal price now. I made the background with Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide ink where I applied the ink with a brush onto a wet background for a simple watercolor look. Next I stamped the image using SU's Bashful Blue ink, stamped it again using Versafine Onyx ink on scrap paper and fussy cut after coloring with my Zig Clean Color markers. The blossom has been stamped, colored and fussy cut again to add with foam tape. Before adding the image and circle die cut to the card I stamped an image from Aall and Create set Seeds of Hope in bashful blue ink on the watercolor background, then stamped the little bunnies from the set Miniatures. "Happy Easter" is an oldie from Penny Black. Stickles glitter was applied to the flower centers.

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I plan to share with these challenges:

• Crafty Animals - Animals
• Creative Knockouts - Die Cuts
• Stamping Sensations - Animals (3rd entry)
• The Paper Funday - No Patterned Papers
• Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Top Row: Bunny, Die Cut, Sparkle

Pauline's Card:

B for Bubble Bloom, Birthday and Butterfly

What a beautiful and unique blossom and gorgeous colors! Be sure to stop by Pauline's blog to find out how she made this card!



We're excited to have not one but two guest designers joining us this time - Jennifer and Pia, thank you both so much for accepting the invitations!

 

Jennifer's Card

B for Butterfly, Blue and Birthday

Absolutely beautiful in these wonderful shades of blue! Please visit Jennifer's blog to find out how she made this card.

 

Pia's Card

B for Boy, Ball, Birthday, Balloon, Bling and Black

A fantastic masculine make from Pia with lots of "B". Did you find them all? Be sure to visit Pia's blog to find out how she made this card.

Top 2 from Challenge No. 11 - Hearts and/or Roses

We had lots of wonderful entries last month, many thanks to every who join in the fun! We really enjoyed visiting your blogs. Selecting favorites is never easy but we finally managed and here they are 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. 13 starting March 20th ! Of course it's not a requirement but we would love to have you as guests!!

No. 41 Irene M. (Ellie's Pick)

No. 53 Elaine (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. 13 starting on Wednesday March 20th. 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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Scrapbook.com Exclusives on Sale/Ad

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 Beginning with B".

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 project is allowed.

Valentine Cupcake

Hello and welcome! It's time for my weekly card share for Allsorts challenge. Dena is our host this week and she selected the theme of "Pink" for her option. If pink isn't your thing then you are welcome to select the "anything goes" option. All will be considered for the top five and will be entered into the prize drawing. Prizes come from AALL and Create and Lavinia, they are for weeks 767 and 768, winners will be announced the last Friday of the month.

It was Valentine's week and so I decided to make a Valentine's card. I made two identical cards to give to the kids with some sweet treats :) And I made cupcakes for Valentine's Day as a dessert so I thought this cute mouse with cupcake image was a perfect choice. 

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 was so busy this week (which seems like a weekly pattern for me) so I had to come up with a quick design. I find a stencil plus image usually works so well for a quick card so that I what I did. I selected a "rays" stencil. This particular one came in a set of 3 by Vicki Boutin. I used Picked Raspberry Distress ink then stamped the image from the Penny Black set Loads of Love using Memento Tuxedo ink and colored with Copic markers. Some stickles glitter in Stardust was added to the cupcake. The sentiment  is an oldie from Stampin Up (I think). I mounted the image panel onto card stock inked with Raspberry ink and then a white card base. 

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I plan to share with these challenges:

• As You Like It Challenge - Digi or physical stamp (physical stamps - I find them much quicker to use)
• Crafty Catz - Valentine
• Crafty Gals Corner - Add a Heart
• Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! - Stencils and Love
• Creations in Pink - AG in mainly pink
• Creative Fingers - AG
• Creative Inspirations Challenge - AG
• Critter Crazy Challenges - Critter
• Double D Challenges - Hearts
• Heart's Quest Celebration of Love - Valentine's Day
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Little Red Wagon - Show some Love
• Moving along with the Times - Hearts
• Passion For Markers Challenge - Sparkle
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - PB Stamps
• Simply Clean and Simple - CAS w/ option of pink
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Love
• Stamping Sensations - Creatures

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Banner of Love

Hello and welcome! It's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge and Mervi is hosting this week. For her optional theme she selected "Hearts" and we would love to see your creations including at least one heart but as always there is the anything goes option and all your handmade creations are welcome for a chance to be entered into the prize drawing or to be selected for the Top 5. We have prizes from  AALL and Create and Lavinia, they will be for challenges 767 and 768 and winners will be announced on the last Friday of February. 

Here is what I made and I includes lots of hearts :)

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 cute image is Penny Black's Banner of Love. It's an oldie but  new to me. I purchased the stamp last year along with several other Margaret Sherry designs for Penny Black as I am still collecting those wood mounted stamps. This is my first time using this one :)

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The die cut trees were cut with Penny Black die Beneach the Birches. Lightly inked them with Spun Sugar Distress ink.  Then on the bottom I used Penny Black die Love Always. The image has been colored with Copic markers. It had been so long since I used my copics, I accidentally used the wrong ink pad so I had to be careful when coloring as it can smear and did smear right around his cheek but I added some white dots with a white Sakura gel pen in that area so it's not as visible anymore. 

I used a cloud and grass stencil both by MFT and Spun Sugar Distress ink for a pink scene. Hard to see but I stamped xoxoxo on the top left and bottom right, then the sentiment from the PB set Furry Affection which didn't end up centered between the trees so I added some tiny die cut hearts ont the right side of the sentiment. 

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You have until Friday to join us wether you add a heart or not we'd love to see your creations! 

Planning to share with these challenges - I found lots of them!!

• A Place To Start - Monochromatic
• Aud Sentiments Blog Challenge - Use Dies
• Crafty Animals - AG with Animals
• Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! - Love and Hearts
• Creations in Pink - Mainly Pink
• Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters
• Daisy Chain Challenges - AG
• Double D Challenges - Heartfelt
• Dragonfly Dreams - Hearts
• Paper Shelter - Hearts
• Passion For Markers Challenge - Hearts
• Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Love
• Penny Black Saturday - AG with PB Stamps
• Simon Says Stamp - Love is in the Air
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Fun with Stencils
• Stamping Sensations - Animals
• The Crafty Addicts - AG
• The Paper Funday - No Designer Papers
• We Love Stamping - Romance

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Stamping and Mixed Media Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - February Challenge

Hello and welcome to Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - February challenge taking place right here on my blog. I'm so glad you stopped by today and hope you'll join in too for a chance to be featured next month. There were many fabulous entries last month, thank you all so much for joining in. My Top Picks with a Twist are at the end of the post.

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 the next month! The linky tool is at the end of the post.

Here is what I made and this time I was inspired by one of the January top picks :)

I heat embossed the flower and birds from the Aall and Create set Friendship Florals (#648) using Versamark ink and Gold embossing powder on black card stock. The floral image was colored with Faber Castell Polychromos pencils. Next I used TCW Tile stencil and Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide ink for some interest on the background. The sentiment is from the set Foliage (#496) also by Aall and Create. I thought it needed something else white in the top corner to coordinate with the sentiment snippets so I added a die cut butterfly (Penny Black Soaring) which I embellished with some clear "candy" dots. 

Unfortunately my coloring didn't turn out as vibrant as the one I was inspired by but had lots of fun with the technique. Lighter colors definitely show up better on black card stock and I should have known that as this wasn't my first try coloring on black card stock, but I had the idea to use black, red and white on the card with the gold embossing. 

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!

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I plan to link with these challenges:

Stencil Fun - Use Stencils

Dream Valley Challenges - Add a sentiment

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Fun with Stencils

Stamps & Fun = Creativity  - Beginning with B (Blooms, Birds, Black, Butterfly)

Beautiful Blossoms - Flowers

Triple B - Blooms, Birds and/or Butterflies 

We Love 2 Create - Anything Creative/Mixed Media

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Stamping and Mixed Media Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

January Top Picks with a Twist

As always I had a hard time selecting the top picks with a twist but it is a part of the challenge I enjoy as it gives me extra time to study the linky tools gallery, and I finally decided on the Twist of: Beautiful Blooms. That means each one of my top picks features flowers this time. I could have chosen at least another 3 but finally narrowed it down to these.

They are listed in the order of entry:

No. 65 Helen F.

No. 74 Jackie C.

No. 76 Loopyloo

Congratulations everyone! Well deserved recongnition! Your top pick logo is below, you may place it on 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 Wednesday February 28th 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 but I may not be able to visit your entries after the 3rd.
• 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

We're Playing Bingo at Allsorts Challenge

Hello and welcome! It's been a busy February on my blog so far and I am back for the 3rd day in a row. Today is the start of a new Allsorts challenge and Brenda is our host. She created a fun Bingo Board and we hope you will join in with us this week. Lots of great options with the theme but as always you may select our "anything goes" option if you're not up to the challenge. We have prizes from  Stampendous and all entries will be entered into the prize drawing as long as our simple rules are followed. Winners will be announced on the last Friday of the month.

Here is our bingo board:

And here is what I made:

From the first look at the bingo board it was clear that I was going to select the bottom horizontal row as it includes some of my most favorite things: Stencils, Twine and Flowers. I also knew I was going to use one of my new Aall and Create stamp sets and decided on the beautiful Textured Florals set which I was lucky enough to get while it was on a sale, this is my first time using it. I did notice it has sold out but I found it on  Amazon USA from a private seller and it might be available from other retailers as well.

The background is a "smooshed" background using distress inks. I did add more green ink (I think Pine Needles ink) with an ink applicator tool. Next I used Aall and Create stencil "Doily" on the background. The flowers were first stamped directly onto the background then again on scrap paper and fussy cut. I was going to leave them white but decided to add just a touch of purple and then some glitter using Stickles glitter glue in Stardust. I also used Wink of Stella on each flower petal but that sparkle didn't photograph well. Next I stamped the text and bee from the Aall and Create set Miniatures. Thought I was done with the card front when I realized I had completey forgotten about the twine and wasn't sure how to include it at this point. I finally decided on adding a couple of buttons with white twine. Not sure I like this addition but a challenge is a challenge and at least the buttons match the background so well, so maybe they were meant to be included :) I do wish I had used more twine but I just couldnt find a way to add more of it without it looking "off". So the small pieces of twine will have to do. 

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I mounted the card front onto purple cardstock (inked with Wilted Violet ink) then I created the base by using a chickenwire stencil (which is meant to represent honeycombs in this case) using a light touch of Wilted Violet ink once again. The flowers are large so this card measures about 6.5 x 6.5 inches. 

Another view below:

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!

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I plan to enter these challenges:

• Creative Fingers - AG
• Creative Inspirations Challenge - AG
• Krafty Chicks - Use Stamps
• Addicted to Stamps and More - Die Cut or Stencil (I used 2 stencils)
• Paper Shelter - Something beginning with F (Flowers)
• Simon Says Stamp - AG
• The Crafty Addicts  - AG
• Crafting From the Heart - AG
• Beautiful Blossoms - AG with Flowers
• Triple B - Blooms, Birds or Butterflies

Recent posts you may have missed:

   
February Four Seasons Challenge   Card Chain Challenge Reveal

January Card Chain Challenge Reveal Day

Happy Friday!! It's the second of the month and that means it's time for the January reveal at the Card Chain Challenge - who sent what to whom! My January card went to Renata in the NL. As usual we were given a variety of challenge options to choose from, I went with the theme of "Magical" and also tried to go with the colors Aqua, Slate and Amethyst, but instead of Slate I used Black so it's not an exact match.

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 background was done with Distress Oxide inks. Stamps are Lavinia's Dancing til Dawn, Spiral of Spells and Fern Leaf. I added some  glitter on the fairy wings and around the edge of the card front to make it sparkle. The sentiment sticker from Tim Holtz's Small Talk sticker book was a perfect choice I thought. 

I was happy to hear that Renata loved the card as I surely enjoyed making it :)

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And below is the adorable card I received from Barbara in Switzerland. Love these cute little penguins!!

There is still time to take part in the February Card Chain Challenge if you sign up by February 6th. You can do so here. Any cardmaker is welcome to join as long as you are willing to make and mail a card to the person who signed up ahead of you to be received by the end of the month. 

I plan to share my fairy card with these challenges:

• Paper Shelter - Something beginning with F (Fairies)
• Simon Says Stamp - AG
• Try It On Tuesday - Add Some Text
• Crafting From the Heart - AG
• Double Trouble Challenge - AG

It's Still Winter: Four Seasons February Challenge

Hello and welcome! It's the first of the month and that means it's time for a new challenge at the Four Seasons challenge blog. It's still winter!!! And I am so over it after the arctic January we had!!! If you are living in the Midwest then I am sure you feel the same!! Luckily we're starting off February with 10 degrees above freezing and it feels like spring to me!!! I did totally enjoy making today's winter themed cards as I finally managed to use that bench stamp!!

As always we have a fantastic mood board to inspire you but you can share any of your new winter themed (or winter holidays) creations.

Here is our February mood board and I am sure you can guess I was inspired by the bottom right image.

I've had this Penny Black stamp set (On the Town) for a really long time, several years, but always shied away from using it and only used the tree from this stamp set once before. Well, this time I was determined to ink up that bench and light post. I did look for some inspiration online (more on that below) on how to use/stamp the bench. 

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 started with a hill mask cut from copy paper, then inked with Stormy Sky Distress Oxide ink. I did add a small spot of Antique Linen ink for the light from the light post. And along the edges of the sky I also used Chipped Sapphire ink. I decided to add a city skyline to the background using an old stamp from Whimsy Stamps and no longer available but I do like this one by Penny Black or maybe this one. Next I moved the mask down a bit to create a snow bank once again with Stormy Sky ink.

With the mask still in place I stamped the trees from the same "On the Town" set. Removed the mask and now came the (to me) complicated part - stamping the bench. I wanted the bench legs to be in the snow so I cut small pieces of paper to use as masks. It wasn't too easy to place them just right but somehow I managed. Then I stamped the lamp post behind the bench, masking off part of it. On the card above I used a stamp from the Penny Black set Spread Cheer, the boy or girl pulling a sled with a dog sitting on it. The little bunny is also from the same set. I inked a few more snowbanks using the same mask. For a little extra detail I stamped a few twigs next to the bench and bottom right (Penny Black Woodsy set). 

The snowflakes were done with a white Posca pen. I also used a white Sakura gel pen for a few highlights and then Frosted Lace stickles glitter for a bit of snowy sparkle.

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I am entering the card above to these challenges:

• A Perfect Time To Craft - AG
• Ally's Angels - AG
• Classic Design Challenge - AG
• Crafts Galore Encore - AG
• Crafty Animals - AG w/animal (dog and bunny)
• Critter Crazy Challenges - AG with Critter
• The Creative Crafters - AG
• Crafty Gals Corner - Winter Fun
• Double D Challenges - Sparkle and Shine (Sparkly Snowbanks)
• Simon Says Stamp - AG
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Winter Blues
• Double Trouble Challenge - AG
• Get Creative Challenges - Snow Much Fun
• Path of Positivity - AG
• Stamps & Fun = Creativity  - AG
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - AG with PB stamps

So the card right above was my original try but I thought it resembled my inspiration piece just a bit too much. I did add a city skyline and used the other set of people from the stamp set, plus the bunny and a few twigs too but I find it looks too similar to Penny Black designer Heather's card so I am sharing this just for inspiration but won't enter this one to challenges.

As there is a moon on this card (a little hard to see but it's in the top right corner) I thought the sentiment "Love you to the moon and back" was perfect and I will give this to my husband for Valentine's Day :) 

You have until February 25th to join us this month. Hope to see you there! 

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