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Please click HERE to join in "Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday" challenge.


Please click HERE to join in "I Spy With My Little Eye" challenge.


Feb 5, 2025

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - February Challenge

Hello and welcome to the February editition of Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday challenge taking place right here on my blog. I'm so glad you stopped by today and hope you'll join the fun too! There were some fabulous entries last month - thank you everyone for joining in - so be sure to scroll down to see the Top Picks. 



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 :) The linky tool is at the end of this post.

  

As there is a new challenge blog in town blogland (Neglected Stuff Challenge) I thought why not  look through my stash to see what I can find that's been neglected. And I found plenty of items, most included on this card are neglected.


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While I didn't have this Penny Black stamp - Sweet Love 2292K - for many years, I did purchase it over a year ago from eBay, absolutely love it but somehow I just haven't reached for it until now. I stamped with Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. Then I also found the Heart Embossing Folder by Cuttlebug which I've had in my stash for many MANY years and I've last used it in April 2020. That doesn't really sound too long ago to me but it was almost 5 years ago. Time flies!! The Ticket Sentiment set is an absolutely neglected item from my design team time at Whimsy Stamps - The Fun Life Ticket sentiments and Ticket Die. The last time I used this particular sentiment set was 2015, the die a few years ago with another ticket sentiment set. I actually don't think I have ever used this particular quote from the set!! also found some very neglected ribbon in my stash, the lilac grosgrain ribbon. I'm not sure I've ever used this! Oh, and not to forget the fancy die -Curved Stitch, this was a "had to have" Penny Black item when newly released several years ago but I only used it once in 2018 (I did a search on my blog to find out :)

Well, I'm really happy how this turned out using mostly neglected items. 

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 share with these challenges:


 
     Colourful Options                            If you give a crafter a cookie


January Top Picks with a Twist:

 
Now it's time to announce the Top Picks with a twist from the January entries. Thank you all again for joining in the fun, I really enjoyed visiting your entries and selecting a "twist". The twist I went with is "Furry Friends" meaning all three Top Picks have featured a furry friend :)

   No. 20 Carol Gill 

who featured this pretty Stamperia paper with the adorable bunny.


No. 50 Helen F.

who stamped an sweet scene using Colorado Craft Company stamps.

No. 66 Mary Marsh

who used these cute Cottage Cutz puppies on this sweet Valentine.


Congratulations to each one of you for your well deserved recognition. The Top Pick logo is below, you may post this 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.


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To join in this month's challenge please use the linky tool below. You have until the last Wednesday of February to join in (February 26th 11:59pm CST). 


A few things to remember:
  • You may combine with any other challenges.
  • You may use any brand of stamps/digis/dies/papers (no company restriction as long as copyright laws are followed).
  • Please note: entries using pre-colored digital images will no longer be selected as top picks. 
  • A short description of products used is expected, most importantly the source of focal point.
  • This linkup is for sharing handmade projects of any kind not limited to papercrafts.
  • 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.
You can read more about the Guidelines/Copyright info here.

Feb 1, 2025

Romance and Music for Allsorts Challenge

I am back with a second post today. My first post was scheduled to go live just a couple of hours ago, you can see it here or simply scroll down.

Today is the start of a new Allsorts challenge. Our host is Gail who selected the theme of Romance and/or Music, along with the option of Anything Goes. Our prizes for this challenge are a wonderful selection of stamps and stencils from AALL and Create




Right around Christmas Lily of the Valley Stamps (LOTV) had a sale I couldn't resist, where you purchased the newly released set of digis and then receive ALL of their previously released digital stamps. I had an old wishlist with several of their stamps on it, I hadn't purchased them because I sort of quit using digis for the most parts, but I could not resist this sale. So today's card features the first digi I decided to color up from this sale and I thought it was the perfect choice for the theme. Birds and music go hand in hand along with romance, don't you think?


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I used Copic markers for coloring and then I used Lavinia's Feather Leaf stencil around the image with Peacock Feathers Distress ink. I found the little die cut heart in my box of extra die cuts but I can't remember which die set it came from. Probably something from Penny Black as most of my dies are by PB. The sentiment was computer generated. I have this same quote as a stamp but it didn't work for this layout as it's a larger stamp and I wanted it to be just one line. The music notes are from a retired Hero Arts stamp kit. I used a corner rounder punch at the bottom for some interest and added stickles glitter to the flowers and hearts for some sparkle. And I used some coordinating twine to finish off the card.


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 a reminder, Allsorts challenge now runs for 2 weeks so you have a little extra time to make something and join us. You may also enter up to 5 times now. The linky tool for this challenge can be found at the challenge blog.
 


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I plan to share with these challenges:

Thanks so much for visiting!

Snowflake Wishes

February is here and that means it's the start of a new challenge at the Four Seasons challenge blog. It's still winter up here in the Northern hemisphere so we have another wonderful winter mood board to inspire you. As always, the use of the mood board is optional as Anything Winter Goes


And here is what I made:


I immediately had this Penny Black tree/fence stamp (Restful) in mind when I saw the mood board so that is what I used along with a really old little snowman stamp from Stampin Up. To go with the top left image I used mainly browns for my card but decided to color the birds red for a pop of color along with the snowman's scarf. I used waterbased markers and Distress ink to stamp the tree/fence image. A stamping tool was definitely a must-have tool here. After this step was complete I cleaned off the stamp while it was still on my stamp platform then stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed using clear embossing powder so I could add some ink to the sky with a blending tool. The snowman was stamped on a scrap piece and fussy cut. I wanted a little more interest on the background so I used one of my favorite winter word stamps - Snow Falls - from Lavinia stamps. 


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A couple of die cut snowflakes (Penny Black Dancing Snowflakes) and the small sentiment from the Penny Black set Holiday Snippets finish off the card. Oh, and I also used my white Posca pen to add some snow flurries but unfortunately some turned brown from sponging. I usually do this step after sponging (and I did that here too) but I decided to trim some more off of the edges and had to re-ink the edges. 

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 plan to share with these challenges:
Always Anything Goes Challenges/Link Parties


Jan 18, 2025

Close to Nature

Two weeks have gone by so quickly and it's time already for a new Allsorts challenge. Our theme for the next two weeks is "Close to Nature". Lots of options here and we can't wait to see you creations. As always there is the "Anything Goes" option too if the theme isn't for you. We have prizes from Aall and Create.

And here is what I made using retired stamps from Aall and Create. You may still find these at some of A&C's retailers but they are unfortunately no longer available directly from A&C.



I was inspired by the January Triple B  challenge mood board so I chose a simple green and white color combo and a snowdrop stamp from the set. I can't wait for my snowdrops to bloom but first we're expecting some frigid temperatures starting tomorrow (around -20 degrees celsius during the night and only a few degrees warmer in the daytime). The sets I used are Elegant Spring Florals (#623) and Miniatures (#756). 




I stamped the snowdrop, masking off the root part of the image, then used Twisted Citron ink to make a simple inky background. I stamped the bloom again on white cardstock and fussy cut. I also used a white Posca pen for some splatter. Wording is all part of the same set (Elegant Spring Florals). The little bee is from the set Miniatures. I used a Faber Castell polychromo pencil to color the leaves. 

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 share with these challenges:


Thanks so much for visiting!


Jan 15, 2025

I Spy With My Little Eye.......... Something With Feathers or Fur (Challenge No. 22)

Hello and welcome to the January "I spy with my little eye" challenge taking place right here on my blog. Pauline and I are back with a new theme and hope you will join in the fun too! Be sure to scroll down to see who our Top Picks from the last challenge were, both are invited to join us as guest designers in the next challenge.

This time it was my turn (Ellie) to select a theme and it is.............


I spy with my little eye....


Something with feathers or fur.


The choice is yours and you may even include both - feathers and fur. We can't wait to see what you'll share with us! The linky tool is at the end of this post.


And here is what we made to inspire you:

Ellie

(All details are right below the card.)

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 used two new to me Lavinia stamps, Swans and Field Grass. The background was done using Distress inks/Oxides. I first applied ink to a stamping block (Antique Linen in the middle, then Broken China and Chipped Sapphire on both sides. Spritzed with water and pressed the acrylic block onto Mixed Media cardstock. When this was dry (you can use a heating tool but I just used a paper towel to dry up the excess ink and waited a little bit) I added more of the same blue inks on each side using an ink blending tool and this time I also used a mask for the moon. There was too much blue ink on the moon part (you can't really control what you get when doing the acrylic block inking technique) so I decided to add a few clouds using a MFT stencil. Not really a fan of how the clouds turned out but at this point I didn't want to start over again. The little heart is part of a Penny Black die set and sentiment from Tim Holtz's Small Talk sentiment sticker book. 


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I plan to share the above card with these challenges:


Pauline

Such a beautiful design featuring these wonderful stamps! Please visit Pauline's blog to find out all the details.


We are so excited to have a guest designer this time and that is Amy of Amy's Creative Pursuits. So glad you've joined us Amy!!

Isn't that peacock just stunning!! To find out how Amy made this card please visit her blog.

 


Top Picks for Challenge no. 21

Many thanks to everyone who joined us in the last challenge which goes back to a starting day of mid- November as there was no new challenge posted in December. Selecting top picks is never easy. But we finally managed and they are listed in the order of entry. 

Remember, Top Picks are invited to join us in the next challenge if you like to. That would be for challenge no. 23 starting Wednesday February 19th. Of course it's not a requirement but we would love to have you both as guests!!



No. 30 Emma T. (Pauline's Pick)


No. 51 Loopyloo (Ellie'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 for challenge no. 23 starting on Wednesday February 19th . 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 play along in the current challenge please use the linky tool below.

A few things to remember:

(Complete list of guidelines and copyright info can be found here.)

  • You may share up to 5 different projects.
  • You may combine with as many other challenges as you like to.
  • A short mention of products used whenever possible is expected, especially the focal point.
  • New: While you are free to link up your creations using pre-colored digital art (AI generated, digital pre-colored toppers/images, digital papers etc.), they will be excluded from top picks. 
  • Please include a link back to this blog.
  • Backlinking to a recent project is allowed.


Jan 4, 2025

A Matching Pair with a Winter Owl

We are back at Allsorts challenge with our first challenge of the year hosted by Brenda. She chose the theme of "Matching Pairs", so something extra to go with your card. It could be matching envelope, gift bag/box or tag, etc. And of course the Anything Goes option is there too. Prizes are from Lavinia Stamps and remember, each challenge now runs for 2 weeks.

For my set I made a card with a matching gift tag. 



I had the "Spring Trees" stamp on my Lavinia wish list for some time and this was a recent purchase along with a couple other Lavinia stamps. Although named Spring Trees I find it very suitable for Winter cards and that is what I made.

I started out by stamping the owl (from Lavinia's Brodwyn and Maylin set) and pine (Lavinia Red Pine Tall), then masked the edges using washi tape. Next I heat embossed the bare trees using Versamark ink and clear embossing powder. I added a mask at the bottom of the trees and over the owl for this step. My favorite US Lavinia Stamps retailer is ASC Supplies or you can get them directly from Lavinia if you are the UK/Europe.

After embossing, I used Speckled Egg, Tumbled Glass, Seedless Preserves and Chipped Sapphire inks (available here) on the background to make the sky and snow banks. I used a white Posca pen to add some spatter to the background and stamped the verse Snow Falls also from Lavinia onto the background. 


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Below is a closer look at the card. 

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 share with these challenges:



Jan 1, 2025

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - January Challenge

Hello and welcome to the January Edition of Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday challenge taking place right here on my blog! I'm starting the New Year off with 2 blog posts, this is the second one. If you missed the first post then I would like to wish you a Happy New Year!!!

Thank you all for joining in the last two months which was a combined linky party. I really appreciate your continued support to make this little "just for fun" challenge worthwile. Be sure to scroll down to see who made the top picks with a twist.

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 :) 

Here is what I came up with for the month of January:

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 made another winter themed card, this time using shades of pink/purple which I happen to love for winter cards. The stamp is by Penny Black, an oldie but new to me - Snowy Family. I colored with Copic markers then fussy cut. I created the background by using Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet inks then stamped Penny Black's Gorgeous Grove using Spun Sugar ink. I die cut a hill using an old die from Whimsy Stamps then adhered the snow family using foam dots. I already had the Dancing Snowflakes die out from today's first card so I cut out a few more to use on this card as well. Then a few more tiny flakes using a posca pen. I painted these on as I already had the sentiment in place and I didn't want any spatter on it. Sentiment is also by Penny Black - Snuggles Cut Out.

I plan to share the above card here:

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Now it's time for my Top Picks with a Twist. There are two sets of Top Picks for November and December so lets get right to them.



November Top Picks with a Twist:


For November I selected the Twist of "Christmas or Winter".

Congratulations.................


No. 12 Loopyloo



  No. 18 Jan R.



No. 38 Andrea La Vigne



December Top Picks with a Twist


For December I selected the Twist of In the Woods.

Congratulations.................

No. 68 Debbie


No. 69 Deanne


No. 78 Anke


 
Congratulations again to each one of you for your well deserved recognition. The Top Pick logo is below, you may post this 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.


PS: Are you planning on writing a "Year in Review" type post by December 5th? If so, then I would LOVE for you to share your post HERE (for papercrafts only). Join the fun in looking back at our favorite creations of 2024!


To join in this month's challenge please use the linky tool below. You have until the last Wednesday of January to join. 

A few things to remember:
  • You may combine with any other challenges.
  • You may use any brand of stamps/digis/dies/papers (no company restriction as long as copyright laws are followed).
  • Please note: entries using pre-colored digital images will no longer be selected as top picks. 
  • A short description of products used is expected, most importantly the source of focal point.
  • This linkup is for sharing handmade projects of any kind not limited to papercrafts.
  • 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.
You can read more about the Guidelines/Copyright info here.