Way to Grow for Allsorts Challenge 787

Hello everyone, another Saturday is here and that means a new theme starts at Allsorts challenge. It's Gail's turn to host and she chose the fun theme of "Way to Grow". This could be gardens, plants or children so there are many options or you can choose "Anything Goes". 

We have prizes from Highlight Crafts,  AALL and Create and Stampendous for challenges 787, 788, 789 and 790. Winners will be announced on the last Friday of July.

I thougth this stamp by Aall and Create was a perfect choice for the Ways to Grow theme, it is called Seeds of Hope, a large (A4) set and I was lucky to get it while it was on a sale last year. 

I made a simple inky background using water and distress inks then stamped the image directly onto the background. The group of carrots was stamped again and used as a focal point. The sentiment is from the same set. I distressed the edges and added staples and green burlap string for some interest. 

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Thanks so much for visiting and hope you'll join us this week!!

Try it on Tuesday Guest Designer: Here Comes Summer

Hello and welcome! I don't usually post on Tuesdays but a couple of months ago I was invited to be a guest designer at the Try it on Tuesday challenge and today I get to show you my card made for their theme of "Here comes the Summer" which starts today and runs for 2 weeks.

This is another scheduled post so hopefully blogger behaves and posts as planned.

I thought this cute hedgie by Penny Black (Lazy Days) was a perfect choice as a focal point. It has been quite some time since I last used this stamp. He's been colored with Zig Clean Color markers and Faber Castell Polychromos pencils. His parasol was stamped again on patterned paper from my stash then fussy cut.

After coloring I added some sun rays using a stencil by Vicki Boutin then stamped the flowers from the Aall and Create set Hexapetalistic. The main sentiment is an oldie from Whimsy Stamps and the sentiment stamped in blue is from the set Foliage by Aall and create. Before adding the summer sentiment I adhered a banner (cut by hand so it's not perfect) using the same patterned paper I used for the flower parasol. To complete the card I added the butterflies (made with the Penny Black die Soaring). 

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 hope to get a chance to link up here:

• Penny Black Saturday - PB stamps

Thanks so much for visiting!

Bees, Blooms and Butterflies for Allsorts Challenge 786

Happy Saturday! It's time for another new theme at Allsorts challenge and Mervi's turn to host. She would like to see Bees, Blooms or Butterlies for her optional theme but there is always "Anything Goes" if  this theme isn't for you. Prizes come from Craft Stash, Highlight Crafts and AALL and Create so hopefully you'll get  a chance to join us for a chance to win!

This is another scheduled post and hopefully it will go live as planned.

I love bees and so I made a bee themed card using a new-ish to me stamp set by Visible Image Bee Happy. I did just recently use the set on this card along with another Visible Image stamp set. 

It was a pretty simple card to make. On the background I used a honeycomb stencil. Sorry I don't remember the brand. It was a prize I won and is possibly by Aall and Create but I could be wrong. Next I stamped the bees, honeycombs and bee happy in black ink which are all part of the same stamp set. 

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Stickles glitter was applied to be bees wings and then I decided something else is needed so I used my favorite script stamp (an oldie from Whimsy Stamps) for some encouraging words. Matted with black cardkstock and then added to a white card base.

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!

Thanks so much for visiting!

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I Spy With My Little Eye: Something Blooming Lovely (Challenge No. 16) - 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 theme a couple of  days earlier than usual and we are so excited to be partnering with the fun Double Trouble challenge once again 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 Blooming Lovely

Lots of inspiration currently found in nature as so much is blooming lovely right now so we hope you will take on the challenge and join us!

And now for the extra fun part, if you make your "blooming lovely" card a slimline or mini slimline card then you are invited to join the Double Trouble challenge as their main theme is "Long and Skinny Cards"with their optional twist of blooming flowers.

Double Trouble challenge runs for 2 weeks, so that option only applies for that time frame. Our challenge here will continue running until mid July. 

And here is what we came up with this time around to inspire you.

My Card (Ellie)

All info is right below the card.

Mini slimline cards are easier for me to make than the larger slimline so that is what I went with. The inky yellow splashes were made with Brusho powders, the old script stamped in yellow is a stamp from a company called Just for Fun Rubberstamps (no longer in business). The main stamps are by Visible Image (Daisy Grunge and Bee Happy). Words stamped in black are by Whimsy Stamps and the sentiment is a sticker from Tim Holtz's Small Talk booklet. I distressed the edges before adhering to the card base. I also applied clear Wink of Stella shimmer on the flower centers and bee's wings but it is not showing up in the photo.

Pauline's Card

Such wonderful stamping and inking on this fabulous card full of blossoms! Please visit  Pauline's blog to find out how she made this card.

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We're so excited to have Diane of Nellie's Nest joining us this month as our guest designer, her beautiful creation is below.

 

Such bright and cheerful blossoms on this gorgeous card! To find out how she made this be sure to visit her blog. 

Top Picks for Challenge no. 15

Many thanks once again to everyone who joined us in the last challenge with your  fabulous masculine makes. Our Top picks are below.

Remember, Top Picks are invited to join us in the next challenge if you like to. That would be for challenge no. 17 starting Wednesday July 17th! Of course it's not a requirement but we would love to have you both as guests!!

No. 17 Melanie H. (Ellie's Pick)

No. 36 Chris (Pauline's Pick)

You are both invited to join us as guest designers (optional of course!) for challenge no. 17 starting on Wednesday July 17th. 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.

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

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 Blooming Lovely". And remember, if you make a slimline or mini slimline card you may join us in partnering with Double Trouble challenge by linking up your card there too. Their challenge runs for 2 weeks so it does end at the end of the month.

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 (including AI generated projects).
• A short mention of products used whenever possible is expected.
• Please include a link back to this blog.
• Backlinking to a recent project is allowed for this challenge but please remember our challenge partner Double Trouble does not allow backlinking.

Something Masculine for Allsorts Challenge #785

Hello and welcome! It's time for a new theme at Allsorts challenge. Brenda is hosting this week and her optional theme is "Masculine/Father's Day". Hope you'll join in with us for your chance to win! Prize come from Craft Stash, Highlight Crafts and AALL and Create for challenges 784, 785 and 786.

As mentioned last week, all June posts are pre-scheduled as I don't plan to be on the computer much  to spend time with family visiting, so hopefully the post will go live as scheduled.

For my card I got out my gelli plate and brayered some masculine colored inks (Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire and Peeled Pained) onto it, then I pressed a harlequin stencil onto the gel plate at random and flicked some water before taking the print. 

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The image is from the Aall and Create set Bird Song #393, stamped with Night of Navy Stampin Up ink. I stamped the image again on scrap paper and fussy cut the bird then added to the card with foam tape. For a little more interest I used another stamp from the same A&C stamp set on the top, side and bottom corner.  I added a sticker sentiment from Tim Holtz's Small Talk sticker quote book and some brads to the wheels 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!

Thanks so much for visiting!!

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Flowers Galore for Allsorts Challenge #784

Hello everyone, a new challenge starts today at Allsorts and Lorraine's (Lolo's)   optional theme is "Flowers Galore". As always you may enter up to 3 times for more chances to win so hopefully you can join us with Flowers Galore or Anything Goes! Prizes come from Craft Stash, Highlight Crafts and AALL and Create for challenges 784, 785 and 786. 

Btw., all posts going forward until the end of the month are scheduled as I plan to spend quality time with family visiting us from overseas. There were several posts to do and hopefully I didn't mess up or forgot any of them! 

I thought this was the perfect time for me to ink up this beautiful stamp I purchased last year. It's an oldie from Penny Black (Scented Message 4239K) and it had been on my wish list for quite some time. When it finally showed up on eBay at a great price last year I had to get it. No idea why it took me this long to finally ink it up!! The stamp is not so easily found so I have no link, but does appear on eBay occasionally. 

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I made a CAS card with it. Simply stamped on the card front and colored with Faber Castell Polychromos pencils. Then I added a die cut frame. "Happy Birthday" is from the MFT set Bitty Basics and the circle sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps button sentiments (long retired). It came with a matching button die which I also used here. I tied some black and white gingham ribbon to the button before adding to the card. Edges were lightly inked with blue ink and glitter was added to the flower centers.

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 will try to link up with:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Penny Black Stamps


Thanks so much for visiting!

Ellibelle's Crafty Wedneday - June and July Challenge

Hello and welcome to the new Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday challenge which takes place right here on my blog. I'm so glad you stopped by and hope you'll link up too!

June is going to be a real busy month for me as I have family visiting until the end of the month so I won't be spending much time online. I am not taking a blogging break but all of my June posts are pre-scheduled. As I won't have time to visit all of your blogs before the July challenge would start I decided to combine June and July with one linky tool, so you have until the end of July to link up. July will be less busy so I will be visiting all your wonderful entries during that month and announce my top 6 (3 from each month) with the August post.

As most of you know, the theme is now always ....

Anything Goes

and instead of a challenge theme there will be a "Top Pick Twist", meaning I will select a twist from all of the entries for the Top 3. Nobody will know what the twist will be (not even me) until the end of the challenge. So do link up all of your crafty makes, your entry might be the one inspiring the Top Pick twist :)

And here is what I made:

Busy times right now so I made a simple card using stamps from Aall and Create. The Bird of Paradise stamp as well as focal sentiment are from the set Plant Your Dreams #320. After stamping I added some purple ink (Villianous Potion Distress Oxide) here and there. Next I stamped the Nature text randomly over the card from the set Miniatures #756 also by Aall and create. The ants are from the same set. The flowers were colored with Zig Clean Color markers. For some interrest I decided to distress the edges.

I hope to get a chance to link up here:

• Beautiful Blossoms - Flowers
• Make My Monday - B is for ... Bird of Paradise
• Stamping Sensations - AG
• The Flower Challenge - Color your flowers
• We Love Stamping - Fabulous Florals

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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Top Picks with a Twist 

There were so many FABULOUS entries last month and as always it wasn't easy to decide on the Twist but I finally managed and the top picks with a twist are below. The Twist is: In Full Bloom, meaning each one of the Top Picks is featuring blooms.

No. 25 Elaine P. 

No. 40 Judy V.

No. 60 Pauline

Congratulations to each one of you! 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. The linky tool closes on the last Wednesday of next month at midnight so you have until Wednesday July 31st to join in. 

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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 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

Layers at Allsorts challenge

I am back with a second post for today as a new challenge starts today at Allsorts. It's Sarah's turn to host and she would like to see "Lots of Layers" and then there is always the "Anything Goes" option. Our prize this week is a Christmas bundle (12x12 DP pad, stamps, ephemera, chipboard and ribbons). 

I used to make very layered cards but not so much anymore and somehow this was pretty challenging to me. Still not sure if this qualifies as lots of layers but I did try my best. 

The image is an oldie by Penny Black (Botanical Notes) which I found already colored up in my box of unused images.  I am very thankful for as I spent so much time working like a mad crafter on all my June cards and posts as I will be taking a bit of a crafting break but didn't want the blog to be inactive so I had to get everything prepared. I am not traveling anywhere specific but have family visiting this upcoming week and staying with us until the end of June so crafting and blogging will be the last thing on my mind. 

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 this was already colored I have no idea what coloring medium was used. I added Stickles glitter for some sparkle. The sentiment is from the Tim Holz stamp set Tiny Text which comes with lots of inspirational quotes. I added a stripe of matching designer paper (Stampin Up - retired) on the a white card front which I used a Lavinia stencil on. Next I mounted that onto black card stock and finally a white base. I rounded the right side corners for a little interrest using an old Making Memories corner punch. I'm surprised that punch still works like new as so many of my old punches quit working but this one keeps going even though it's my oldest punch (20+ years old!!)

 

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Thanks so much for visiting!

Ps: If you would like to see my first post for today, please click here or on the image below.

I hope to link up with these challenges:

• Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - AG
• Retro Rubber Challenge - Lavender Love plus old stamp (this one is several years old)
• Shopping Our Stash - How Does Your Garden Grow
• Simon Says Stamp - AG

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Summertime at Four Seasons Challenge with a Pink Hibiscus

Hello and welcome! Another new month is here and that means it's the start of a new challenge at the Four Seasons challenge blog and it's time to switch from spring to summer. We have fun new mood board to inspire you but as always it is optional and you may share any of your new summer makes up to a total of 3. 

I was inspired by the top right image and actually my first idea was to use a set of flip flop stamps but I couldn't get the design to look like a "me" card. Or maybe it is because I am probably the only person on earth who cannot walk in flip flops LOL, it's true but I have never in my life owned a pair and never will. Too much work to keep them on my feet!!

Anyway, after leaving my flip flop card pieces overnight, I decided the next day that it wasn't worth the struggle anymore so instead I remembered this pretty Hibiscus stamp I purchased from a recent eBay lot and I used the colors from that image. This card is so much more my style than the flip flop card I tried to come up with. 

The stamp is Penny Black's Florescene.

I started by masking the edges with washi tape, spritzed the paper lightly with water then added color with distress ink (peacock feathers) and a paint brush. Removed the washi tape and then stamped the flower. I colored the image using Distress inks as well as Zig Clean Color brush markers. I did stamp the large blossom again on scrap paper and fussy cut after coloring. I selected the sentiment from the Penny Black set Blooming Sentiments and thought my music background stamp would be a good choice so there are a few music notes on the background if you look closely. The music notes are part of a large background stamp by Hero Arts (old) but I used only small parts of it. As it is cling mounted I was able to stamp the music notes at random without much trouble. I thought the card needed something else so I did some paper piercing around the inked square and added stickles glitter to the stamen. 

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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!

I plan to link up here:

• Ally's Angels - AG
• A Perfect Time To Craft - AG
• Beautiful Blossoms - AG
• DL.Art Linky Challenge - AG
• Fab n Funky - Square
• Krafty Chicks - All Occasions
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - PB Stamps
• Stamping Sensations - AG
• The Creative Crafters - AG
• Word Art Wednesdays - AG

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