Monday Morning Challenge / Winner and Info

Happy Monday everyone!

 Huge apologies for not posting sooner, it hasn't been a fun week for me. Just hoping things go back to normal soon. For now I have decided to take a break from my Monday Morning Challenge, and hopefully I will continue again in Fall. 

A huge "Thank You" to all of you that have played along in my challenges these last few months!

I wanted to announce last month's winner, random.org chose #25

That is Jennifer S.

Congratulations Jennifer! Please email me you address at ellibelle_blog at yahoo dot com, so I can get the prize shipped to you.

Thank you all again for your support. I should be back with a card later this week.

Hope you all had a wonderful long Holiday weekend!

Pretty Flowers for Monday Morning No. 6

Happy Monday and Welcome to another Monday Morning challenge! Huge thanks to everyone that played along in my last challenge! It was wonderful seeing all your gorgeous colorful creations! The winning number - selected by random.org - is No. 14. That would be


Gloria Shirr

Congratulations, Gloria. Please email me your mailing address at
ellibelle_blog at yahoo dot com
so I can get the prize shipped to you.

************************

For this month I have chosen a very simple theme, and very fitting for this time of the year...

*Pretty Flowers*

They don't have to be the focal point of you card, just be sure there are some flowers somewhere on your creation.

Feel free to use any stamp maker, and you may combine this with any other challenges. 

Just remember these simple rules:

It must be a new creation
You must mention my challenge and link back here in your post

You may enter up to 4 times

Please note, winner will be chosen from US entries due to postage cost and lack of tracking overseas. 

 For this month I inked up the stamp Divine, which was one of the large beautiful floral stamps released by Penny Black earlier this year.

The blooms on this stamp are large enough to paper piece. It's what I had in mind when I purchased this stamp. I used some polka dotted paper from my stash, but also used a gray copic to add some shadows on the paper. The background was masked off using washi tape, then watercolored. The words stamped on the bottom were done with a clear set from Whimsy Stamps.  After removing the washi tape, I stamped the image and then added the fussy cut blooms. 

Product List: 

Divine, Snippets
(both are available in my Stamp Shop)
basic backgrounds and borders (Whimsy Stamps)
mixed media card and neenah card stock
striped vellum, designer paper from stash
watercolor paints, button, hemp twine


This month I am giving away this beautiful stencil to one randomly selected winner.

Now it's your turn to get inky. To play along simply link your creation below. If inlinkz is not available, simply leave a comment with your post link below.

You have until Sunday May 24th 8AM to play along.

Happy stamping :-)

ETA 5/20/18:
To protect the privacy of those who entered this challenge, the linky tool has now been removed.

Colorful Creations for Monday Morning Challenge No. 5

Happy Monday and welcome to another Monday Morning Challenge :-)

Thanks so much everyone for playing along last month, it was nice seeing so many spring themed cards! And hope you get to enjoy some spring weather where ever you are! It's been really cold here last week, but I *think* it's finally going to warm up here too :-)

It's time to announce last month's winner.

Random.org chose no. 18

Stamping Smiles Designs.

Congratualions, please email me your complete address at ellibelle_blog at yahoo dot com  so I can get the prize mailed to you.

---------------------------------------------

For this month, the challenge theme I chose is

Colorful Creations

You don't have to use all colors of the rainbow, just as long as there are at least two different colors used on your project, it's good to go :-)

Feel free to use any stamp maker, and you may combine this with any other challenges. 

Just remember these simple rules:

It must be a new creation
You must mention my challenge and link back here in your post

You may enter up to 4 times

(As always, due to postage cost, I will have to choose the winner from USA entries - so sorry!)

For today I decided to show you two creations. I just recently received my "Bring on the Happy" Penny Black order  (stamps are available in my Etsy *Stamp* show now)  and I couldn't decide which one to use. 

The floral stamp I used on the first card is definitely my favorite floral stamp from this release.

I used watercolor paints on watercolor paper for the background. Then I added a stenciled design, using the new Penny Black stencil "Hypnotic". After stamping the flowers, and adding the fussy cut blooms, I randomly stamped the sentiment over the background using distress ink.

Products list:

Demure, Sprinkles and Smiles

(both stamps/set by penny black avail. in my shop) 

Hypnotic stencil  

watercolor paint, copic markers, versafine ink, memento ink, distress ink

button, twine, ribbon, glitter, white pitt marker

Next up is another birthday card using the fun stamp "Sweet Delivery". This was another have to have stamp for me, because I think the image works so well for masculine cards, but can also  be used for cupcake lovers and cat lovers, so it's perfect :-)

I stamped this image onto neenah card stock and colored using Faber Castell Polychromos pencils. The "tire" marks were made with a brand new Penny Black stencil (there are actually 3 different designs on this stencil). I gave the card some extra color by inking it with yellow distress ink. Sentiments are from the set "Bring on the Happy" and "Snippets", both also from the same release and available in my stamp shop. 

Product List:

Sweet Delivery, Sprinkles and Smiles, Snippets

Oscillations Stencil

(all avail. in my shop)

DCWV card stock, neenah card stock

faber castell polychromos 

versafine onyx ink, washi tape, glitter

The prize for this challenge is this cute little set,

 sponsored by my shop.

To play along in my challenge, simply link directly to your blog post. If inlinkz is not available, just leave a comment below.
You have until April 25th 8pm central time to play along.

ETA 5/20/18:
To protect the privacy of those who entered this challenge, the linky tool has now been removed.

New Stamps / Stencils Just Arrived

If you are looking for the Monday Morning challenge link up, simply scroll down, or click HERE.

Happy Weekend!!

The NEW 2015 Penny Black stamps have finally made it to my house too :-) :-)

These are from the *New* "Bring on the Happy" release.

Just listed them in my Etsy *Stamp*  shop. 

 

 

Aren't they gorgeous!! 

Not sure yet which one of these from my own collection I will ink up first :-)

Happy Stamping everyone!!

Bees and Bunny

Yesterday I had some time to color up this cutie and create a water color wash sky for it, and then today I decided to make a card with it. I also had water color painted grass for my background, but decided to use some diecuts instead for the grass part.

I used water color paper for the background. The cute image has been stamped on xpress blending card and I used copic markers for coloring. It's been fussy cut and glued to my watercolor paper.

Sentiment is from a Penny Black clear set.

A little closeup...

This stamp is currently available brand new in my Etsy *Stamp* Shop for $8.50.

Also, don't forget to play along in this month's Monday Morning challenge. The theme is "Think Spring". I have a set of 12 Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils to give away to one lucky participant (USA entry).

Product List:

Bees and Bunny, Wonderful

(both by Penny Black)

stitched border trio die set (whimsy stamps)

Prima flower, glitter, brads

Papers by SU, xpress, and watercolor paper

copics, watercolor paints

I am playing along here:

DoubleClick Skittles F - Use a Bunny, Basket or Easter
 Crafter's Cafe - F,  What Season Are You In?

Wonderful Wednesdays -    Always Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - Easter Critters

 Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes 

Bunny Zoe's Crafts -  Spring Colours

 Card Mania -  Spring

 Cards in Envy - Spring

 Crafting from the Heart - Always Anything Goes

 Craft Your Passion - Always Anything Goes 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge -  Animals

Thanks so much for visiting,

Happy Stamping!!

PS: I just listed this card for sale in my Etsy *CARD* Shop. Link on sidebar. 

Monday Morning Challenge No. 4 - Think Spring

Happy Monday!
Can you believe it's already the last week of February?! Spring is right around the corner :-)

Last Monday of the month,  also means it's time for a new Monday Morning challenge! But before I get to the new challenge, it's time to announce the winner of the last challenge.

Random.org chose No. 50, that is

Maggie S.

Congratulations, Maggie! You won the 2 sheets of stickeroos. Please email me your complete mailing address at ellibelle_blog at yahoo dot com, so I can get them mailed out to you.

*      *     *

This time the challenge topic I have chosen is

Think Spring

Think springtime animals, birds, bugs, flowers, spring trees...lots of possibilities here - whatever makes you think of spring goes!  I hope you'll play along! 

I decided to ink up the cute stamp Bunny Friends by Penny Black, available in my Etsy Stamp Shop Timeless Stamp.

It's been colored using copic marker. A simple sketch has been used. Sentiment is an old one from Stampin' Up. I embellished with a couple punched out butterflies and some sticky rhinestones.

 Product List:
Bunny Friends, Gifts of Spring (sentiment)
memento black ink, copics for coloring
xpress blending card, SU card stock
washi tape, designer paper from stash
MS butterfly punch, sticky rhinestones, stickles glitter


 I'd also like to play along in a few challenges:
Sister Act Card Challenge -  Anything Goes
Simply Create Too - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Use A Spring Or Easter Sentiment
Throwback Thursdays -  Anything Green

And here is this month's prize.

 
A starter set of Faber Castell Polychromos pencils (my favorite brand of colored pencils - I own the 120 count). You can easily extend your collection of these, as they are available for purchase as single pencils in every color. 

Happy Stamping and Good Luck!!

Update 3/22
I finally received the stamp order from Penny Black's newest Release
"Bring on the Happy".
If you'd like to take a peek simply visit my
 Etsy *Stamp* Store.

A few things to remember:

It must be a new creation
You must mention my challenge and link back here in your post
Combine with other challenges as you wish

You may enter up to 4 times

(As last month, unfortunately due to postage costs, winners will be chosen from USA entries only.)

 ETA 5/20/18:
To protect the privacy of those who entered this challenge, the linky tool has now been removed.

Heart Balloons and Roses

I had some time last night to color up this cutie, and decided to turn it into a card today.

The cute cat is from one of Penny Black's new stamp sets from the Love and Friendship collection "Share a Hug", available in my Etsy shop. 

I used my Faber Castell Polychromos pencils blended with baby oil on this image, and then fussy cut. The background was quickly made by masking off a hill and inking it up with distress inks. I used a couple cloud masks to create clouds. 

The "happy birthday" sentiment is from an old Penny Black stamp set, the "Love" circle is from the new "Posted with Love" sentiment set, also available in my Shop.

I would love to play along here:

Crafter's Cafe - Birthday card
Crafting for all Seasons - Have a Heart
Fab 'n' Funky - Hearts and/or Flowers
Fresh Brewed Designs -Pink, Hearts or a Valentine
Inspiration Destination - Always Anything goes 
Wonderful Wednesdays -Always Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays -  Anything Goes
Cards in Envy -2 or more Hearts (Heart shaped balloons)
Crafting from the Heart -  Always Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Always Anything Goes

Product List:

Share a Hug, Posted with Love

distress ink (broken china, mowed lawn)

versafine onyx ink

Faber Castell Polychromos pencils, baby oil  

Thanks so much for visiting!! 

PS: There is still plenty of time to play along in my Monday Morning Challenge. 

Simply click here to find the original challenge post with inlinkz.

Monday Morning Challenge No. 3

Happy Monday everyone, and welcome to another Monday Morning challenge. I can't believe the month of January is almost over!

Thanks to everyone that played along in last month's "New Somethings" challenge. It was fun seeing all your entries.

Last month winner, selected by random.org, was No. 51, that is

Dorothy S. 

Congratulations! Please email me at ellibelle_blog at yahoo dot com with your complete mailing address, so I can get the prize mailed to you.

--------------------------------------------------------

I am making it very easy this month, as the theme is simply

"anything goes".

A few things to remember:

It must be a new creation
You must mention my challenge and link back here in your post
Combine with other challenges as you wish

You may enter up to 4 times

(As last month, unfortunately due to postage costs, winners will be chosen from USA entries only.)

I have two cards to show you today. 

The sketch above (which I found on pinterest) is perfect for using up paper scraps. Each scrap is a 1" square. The cute postman hedgie has been fussy cut after coloring.

Stamps used:

Share a Hug, Posted with Love, So Very Much

(all 3 from the  NEW Love and Friendship collection
available in my shop)

I went with a springtime theme on the card above. The cute bunny stamp is a wood mounted rubber stamp from Penny Black, also available in my shop. It's been colored with copic markers.

Stamps used:

Bees and Bunny, sentiment from older clear Penny Black set (Wonderful)

This month I am giving away two cute sheets of Stickeroos to one lucky, randomly selected winner. 

You have until Saturday, Feb. 21st 10PM central time to play along. A new challenge will be posted on Monday, February 23rd. 

Simply link your card using in-linkz below. If in-links in unavailable simply leave a comment with link to your blog.

Happy Stamping!!

ETA 5/20/18:
To protect the privacy of those who entered this challenge, the linky tool has now been removed.

Share a Hug

Hello and thanks for stopping by!

I had some time this morning to do a little coloring, and then I decided to create a card with this cute stamp. I am sure some of my followers know that I love squirrels. They love our oak tree in the backyard and I love watching them out the window. It is also a lot of fun watching my cats chase after them. Of course it always results in them coming back to the door with a sad look on their faces because the squirrels always get away. (Thank goodness and I hope it will stay that way!). They are such smart little critters! 

When I saw this new stamp set being offered by Penny Black, of course I had to get a set for myself. It is also for sale in my Etsy stamp shop, along with the sentiment set that I used on today's card. (The stamps in my shop are of course brand new!) 

 The image has been stamped onto xpress it blending card, then colored with copics and fussy cut. I used an old hearts embossing folder for the background. Designer paper scrap is from my stash.

The image has been adhered to the card with pop up dots. 

Product List:

Share a Hug, So Very Much

kraft card stock (SU), blending card (xpress it)

designer paper from stash

black memento ink, copics for coloring

old cuttlebug Embossing folder, twine

I am playing along here:

Crafty Ribbons -  Let's Get Sentimental
Throwback Thursdays -  Valentine
Addicted to Stamps and More -  Coloring
Crafty Gals Corner - Sweetheart (I stamped a heart flourish over the sentiment)
Fab 'n' Funky - Something New

Cuttlebug Mania -  It takes two...   

Crafting from the Heart -  Always Anything Goes  

MarkerPOP Challenge - Anything Goes

Also, just a little reminder - there is still time to play along in my Monday Morning challenge. I have a stamp from my shop to give away.

Happy Stamping!!

Monday Morning Challenge No. 2

Happy Monday everyone and thank you for stopping by! It's already the last Monday of the month, in fact the last Monday of the year (where did this year go??!!), and so it's time for the second Monday Morning challenge. 

It was so nice to see so many of you join in and a warm welcome to all my new followers! I am not quite caught up commenting on all entries (I tried to spend less time online over the holidays) but will try to catch up in the next day. I do want to apologize, but I cannot comment on entries where a google plus account is required for commenting. 

Before I get to the new challenge, it's first time to announce last challenge winner. I used random.org to draw a number, and the winning number is No. 53.

That would be Jean C.

Congratulations Jean, please email me at ellibelle_blog at yahoo dot com with your mailing address so I can send you the prize.

************************************

I picked out another fun challenge this month...

New Somethings

This can be new crafty goodies, new baby, new home, new job, and probably many more new somethings. Simply link your creation below.

A few things to remember:

It must be a new creation
You must mention my challenge and link back here in your post
Combine with other challenges as you wish

You may enter up to 4 times

(As last month, unfortunately due to postage costs, winners will be chosen from USA entries only.)

Now onto my card using New Somethings. I used some brand new Penny Black stamp sets from the  2015 Love and Friendship collection. They are also available for purchase in my Etsy Stamp Shop.

Product list:

Mimi's Love, Posted with Love

copic xpress blending card, 

designer papers from stash

copics for colorin, clear button, twine

Have you recently tried the new Penny Black Transparent line of stamps? I just recently received them and I am very  happy to report that Penny Black now uses a different, quality material to create them. They no longer fall off the clear blocks and they stamp beautifully. Soooo happy about that, because I had quit buying their clear stamps, since I didn't like the quality of the first clear Penny Black stamp sets I purchased.

The prize for this challenge is once again sponsored by my shop Timeless Stamps.
One lucky winner will receive the beautiful cling stamp below.

 
  I would also like to enter my card to a few other challenges:

Sweet Stampin - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday -  Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp -  Anything Goes 

My Craft Creations - Always Anything Goes

Now it's your turn to get creative. You have until January 24th 10pm Central time to play along. If inlinkz is missing, simply leave the link in the comments. New challenge will start January 26th.

Happy Stamping!

ETA 5/20/18:
To protect the privacy of those who entered this challenge, the linky tool has now been removed.

Monday Morning Challenge 1

Happy Monday and welcome to my new monthly challenge right here on my blog.

Some of you probably remember that I used to host a challenge earlier this year and then took a break. I am back with a challenge again, and since I  had to change the day of the challenge, I couldn't keep the same name, so now I simply call it the

Monday Morning Challenge

As mentioned this is a monthly challenge, going live the last Monday of each month.

For the first challenge I picked out a very easy theme

***Anything Christmas or Winter***

Simply link your new creation with inlinkz below.

Just a few things to remember...

It must be a new creation
You must mention my challenge and link back here in your post
Combine with other challenges as you wish

And please note, due to high shipping costs overseas, prize winners will be chosen from USA entries only. I am very sorry about that, as I appreciate all my international blog visitors just the same, but sadly it would cost me almost $13.00 to ship the prize to Europe (in addition to the actual prize), and I find that too costly. Thank you for understanding!!

Now onto my projects for today. . . I made two cards. . .

Stamps used:
Dashing thru the Snow,  Winter Song
both are by Penny Black and limited available in my Etsy shop.  
Sentiment from clear Penny Black set Holly Jolly.

For the background I masked off the bottom portion of the large stamp ( Winter Song), and added snow by tearing white card stock and adhered it to the bottom portion of the card. Inked the top part of the card with distress ink leaving off the white trees by simply covering them up with scratch paper. The image has been fussy cut after coloring with copic markers. I embellished with some glitter, silver cord and a punched out snowflake.

And here is my second creation using one of my favorite snowman stamps.

Stamps used:
Skiing Snowman by Penny black and limited available in my Etsy shop.
old SU sentiment



Designer paper is from my stash. Colored with copic markers. Embellished with glitter, twine and snowflakes.

This month's prize is a cute stamp sponsored by me / my shop

Timeless Stamps.

And this is the stamp that will go to one lucky winner.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Can't wait to see all your wonderful Winter/Christmas creations! You have until December 26th to enter. New challenge will start December 29th.

Edited to add 12/5
***Christmas/Winter stamps in my Etsy Shop are marked down for a limited time ***

If inlinks is not visible simply leave  a comment with blog link.

ETA 5/20/18:
To protect the privacy of those who entered this challenge, the linky tool has now been removed.