Four Seasons August Challenge - Never Stop Exploring

Hello everyone, today I am sharing 2 separate posts, they are due at different times so I didn't combine.  It's the first of August (how time flies!!!) and of course that means it's the start of a new Four Seasons challenge. This is our last month of summer for this year and hope you'll join us. As always it's Anything Summer Goes but we do have a wonderful mood board to inspire you if you need a starting point. 

And here is my card inspired by the sealife and colors. 

I still had the Silent Sea paper pad by Stamperia out on my desk and thought these small squares from one of the pages would work well with the moodboard in mind. They were glued onto a piece of smoky blue cardstock and then onto a stenciled background. I used Lavinia's Feather Leaf stencil, the pattern reminds me a little bit of water droplets. Inks for stenciling are Stormy Sky and Anique Linen (Distress inks/oxides) but it looks like the colors got mixed up a bit as it's hard to tell a difference. I found a perfect shade of red cardstock to coordinate with the crab and coral and I used my sewing machine along the edges. Card base is by Stampin Up but not sure which color. Probably retired as it's been a long time since I purchased colored cardstock and I no longer sort by color name. 

The small words are stamps from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Tiny Text Stamp set.

I am sharing the card with these challenges:

• A Perfect Time To Craft - AG
• Ally's Angels - AG
• Classic Design Challenge - AG
• Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! - Stencils
• Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters
• DL.Art Linky Challenge - AG
• Do-Al(l) Kreatives - AG
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Stitch It
• Simon Says Stamp - AG

Some of the links included are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no extra cost to you.

You can click here to see my second post of the day (will be live at 2am US central time/8am UK time). 

Four Seasons June Challenge: Sunset over the Sea

It's hard to believe that June has arrived but here we are and it's time to switch seasons at the Four Seasons challenge blog. We have a fun summer-themed mood board this month and as always the use of moodboard is just an option as Anything Summer Goes!

And here is what I made, inspired by the bottom right image. 

For some reason I struggled with this card, I think this was my fourth try but at that point I was ready to call it "done". 

I started out with the negative of a circle die cut as a mask and inked up the seascape using Distress inks (Peacock Feathers, Antique Linen, Carved Pumpkin and Crackling Campfire. I used stamps from a retired Hero Arts set. The rays were done using a Tim Holtz stencil.

I plan to share with these challenges:

• Alphabet Challenge - C for Circles
• A Perfect Time To Craft - AG
• Ally's Angels - AG
• Creative Fingers - AG
• Fab n' Funky - Stencils or embossing
• Just Us Girls - Stencils
• Simon Says Stamp - AG
• Try It On Tuesday - Circles
• Word Art Wednesday - AG

Please visit the challenge blog to see what the rest of my teammates came up with and to share your own summertime creation. The challenge is open until June 25th. Hope to see you there :)

Purple Delights at the Four Seasons Challenge

Hello everyone, it's a new month and that means the start of a new The Four Seasons challenge. It's all about Spring so come join us with your Spring themed creations. If you need a starting point then check out our wonderful moodboard for your inspiration. As always, the use of the mood board is totally optional as Anything Spring Goes.

Here is what I made following the overall color scheme of the mood board and the small blossoms on the top right. 

I was happy to use another one of my woodblock stamps for today's card. They get overlooked so easily because I keep them separate from my cling and clear stamps. This is a stamp by Penny Black Scented Message 4293K. 

After coloring the image using my Faber Castell Polychromos pencils I used a rectangle stencil/mask by My Favorite Things (no longer in business) for a purple border around the image, then I used the Plaid stencil set by Lawn Fawn to add a pattern to that border. Inks used for stenciling are Dusty Concord and Villainous Potion Distress inks/oxides. A white gel pen was used to add tiny dots around the flower centers.

This post includes 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 your support!

A tiny white silk bow finishes off the card along with a white card base.

I plan to share the card with these challenges:

• A Perfect Time To Craft - AG
• Beautiful Blossoms - Blossoms
• Classic Design Challenge - AG
• Crafting from the Art Challenge - AG
• Crafts Galore Encore - AG
• Creatalicious Challenges - AG
• Creative Moments - Blooms or Bunnies
• DL.Art Linky Challenge - AG
• Fab n' Funky - Spring or Easter
• Just Us Girls - Stencils
• Kleuren Met Potloden - AG with Colored Pencils
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - PB stamps
• The Creative Crafters - AG
• The Paper Funday - AG
• We Love 2 Create - Anything Creative
• Word Art Wednesday - AG

The challenge runs until April 25th and I hope to see you there!

A Winter Owl for The Four Seasons January Challenge

Happy New Year to all my blogging friends, followers and visitors!!

Hello everyone, I am here bright and early sharing my first card of the new year for the January Four Seasons challenge. We're in the midst of winter and we would love to see all your winter themed creations. We do have a fabulous mood board (see below) but it is just for your inspiration as "Anything Winter Goes". 

My card features a beautiful designer paper from the Stamperia 8x8 paper pack called The Owl's House. Unfortunately it appears that it's been discontinued but available here in 12x12 size for US shipping. I'm not one to normally use a lot of patterned papers but I fell in love with some Stamperia papers when I saw them featured somewhere in the blogging world. I purchased 3 other paper packs at the same time and hope they won't just be hoarded!!  But I do have another card to share with you soon from this particular paper pack.

This was really easy to make too, I simply stamped the sentiment (from the Penny Black set Holiday Snippets) directly onto the designer paper then added the diecut snowflakes (Penny Black Dancing Snowflakes). I added stickles glitter onto the snowy branches and sewed around the card before adhering it to a kraft 110lb card base from Michaels. 

This post includes 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 your support!

I am sharing with these challenges:

• A Perfect Time To Craft - AG
• C.R.A.F.T. - AG
• Crafts Galore Encore  - AG
• Crafty Animals - Animals
• Creatalicious Challenges - Winter Animals
• Creative Fingers - AG
• Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters
• Cut It Up - AG with a die cut
• DL.Art Linky Challenge - AG
• Everybody-Art-Challenge - Christmas/New Years
• FarmQuest Country Christmas Challenge - Outdoor Christmas
• Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment

PS: The "Year in Review - Favorites of 2025" linkup is still open and I would love for you to link up your own "Favorites of 2025" post :)

Thanks so much for visiting and hope to see you at the challenge blog!

Witching Hour

Hello everyone! October is here and it's the start of a new challenge at the Four Seasons challenge blog. Autumn is all around us here in the Northern Hemisphere and we have another wonderful mood board to inspire your autumnal creations. But as always, you don't have to use it as "Anything Fall Goes".

I was inspired by the bottom right image from the mood board (see below) to use this gorgeous Marcie from Lavinia Stamps. She is from last year's release but I only just purchased her. I usually get my Lavinia stamps from ASC Supplies on Etsy and Joggles also has a nice assortment. Of course if you are in the UK you can get them directly from Lavinia for the best selection.

The background was done with one of Lavinia's hill's stencils but this can easily be done with a handmade paper mask using copy paper by tearing or cutting with scissors Then I stamped the witch  and cat  using Versafine Onyx ink along with the branches on the left and right side using Lavinia's Seasonal Tree stamp. 

Next I stamped the moon and the leaves from the set Creeping Vine. Finally I thought it needed something else so I chose Orchard Grass. Besides black ink I used Distress inks Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge and Aged Mahohany. For some sparkle I used a Sakura Stardust glitter pen on her hair, broom, dress and around the moon but unfortunately the sparkle isn't showing up well in the photos. 

Sentiment is also from Lavinia stamps - Witching Hour.

Below is a peek at our mood board. Isn't it just fabulous??!!

This post includes 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 your support!

I plan to share my card with these challenges:

1. A Perfect Time To Craft - AG
2. Ally's Angels - AG
3. A Place To Start - Leaves and Circles
4. Classic Design Challenge - AG opt. Leaves
5. Crafts Galore Encore - AG
6. DL.Art Linky Challenge - AG
7. Double D - Mood Board (below)
8. Dream Valley Challenges - Autumn 10
9. Make My Monday - Autumn
10. Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - Autumn/Halloween 10

PS: I also have another post today for my monthly Crafty Wednesday challenge. Click here to read the post and to link up your own creation over there.

Hello Summer Days from a Cool Cat

This is another scheduled post so hopefully it will go live as planned!

It's the first of the month and that means today starts a new challenge at The Four Seasons challenge blog where we are in the midst of Summer and we have another fun mood board to help inspire your creativity. As always, the mood board is optional as Anything Summer Goes! 

There are so many great ideas you can get from our mood board! I was inspired by the palm trees and drink, and I used this cute Penny Black stamp Beach Hammock 2089L. This is a real oldie and I am sorry but I could not find it anywhere at the moment. These older stamps do pop up on eBay occasionally, or Etsy.

I heat embossed the image on Bristol Vellum paper then colored with my Derwent Inktense pencils. On my mission to de-clutter my craft area I came across my small set of 12 Inktense pencils and as I've not really reached for them in the past I decided to give them another try before donating them. So this image has been colored using this small set of Inktense pencils and guess what?? It prompted me to purchase the set of 72 pencils!!! I think having a variety of colors to choose from will make such a difference and hopefully I'll get lots of use out of them. 

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I used a Sizzix Deckle die to cut out a window on the black cardstock to frame the image with. The die cut sentiment "Hello" is part of a Penny Black die and "Summer Days" is part of an old Whimsy stamp set. I used part of a circle for the die cut sentiment. The frame reminds me a bit of a vintage postcard. 

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!

If you like this post then I invite you to subscribe to receive post updates sent directly into your inbox. Simply add your email address below to be added to the list.

When I get a moment I will try to link up with these challenges:

• A Perfect Time To Craft - Always AG
• Ally's Angels - Always AG
• Crafts Galore Encore - Always AG
• Crafty Animals - Always AG with an Animal
• Critter Crazy Challenges - Always AG with a Critter
• DL.Art Linky Challenge - Always AG
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Use PB stamps
• The Creative Crafters - Always AG

As always thank you so much for visting. 

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Pink Lemonade

June has arrived and that means today starts the new Four Seasons challenge. It's hard to believe but Summer has arrived at the challenge blog and we are celebrating all things summer! Check out our fabulous mood board which of course is optional to use as Anything Summer Goes. 

How about some pink lemonade?? Of course I had to ink up this cute stamp when I saw the mood board. 

This is an old wood mounted stamp by Penny Black - Make Lemonade 1675K. I stamped it on watercolor paper and colored it with Distress inks. Also stamped it on a post it note which I then fussy cut to use as a mask. (Btw., although this stamp is an oldie, there are currently 3 listings for it on eBay so still a chance to purchase if you are in the US.) 

The pretty border stamp is part of a recent Penny Black Flower of the Month set. I used the same border stamp at the top of the card (second generation stamping) and added a bit of watercoloring around the edges so it's not as bold as at the bottom. The slice of pink lemon is from a set by Stampin Up a more recent thrift store find and probably retired - Lemon Zest. I cut this out and glued to the card then added the sentiment from Penny Black set Micey Day. This is an older set but still available online through Lighthouse Books and Crafts (a Wisconsin, USA based Christian gift and craft shop with an Amazon store front as well.) 

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Another look below. I'm not sure I like the watercolored textured paper and also not a fan of how the watercoloring around the edges appears on the photo. It does look a bit more blended in real life. I found the sequins in my stash while moving things around/decluttering. The colors were a great fit so I added them for some shine and interest.

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 found several challenges to enter so I will link up here:

• Ally's Angels - AG
• Crafts Galore Encore - AG
• A Perfect Time To Craft - AG
• Crafty Animals - AG
• Crafty Gals Corner - Something adorable (How sweet are these mice??!!)
• Creations in Pink - AG in mainly pink
• Cutie Pie Challenge - Cute
• Fab n' Funky - Add a sentiment
• FarmQuest General Store Challenge - AG Farm/Country
• FarmQuest Grocery Game Challenges Blog - Anything Food (Does a slice of pink lemon count?)
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - AG with PB Stamps
• Send a Smile for Kids - Punny Sentiments
• Simon Says Stamp - AG
• Stamping Sensations - Our Furry Friends
• The Creative Crafters - AG

Thanks so much for visiting and I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see what my teammates made for our first Summer 2025 challenge.

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Four Seasons April Challenge: Pansies and Clover

April is here and that means it's the start of a new challenge at the Four Seasons challenge blog. We have a new wonderful mood board to inspire you but as you probably know the mood board is optional as "Anything Spring Goes" to celebrate the current season in the northern hemisphere.

Below is our wonderful mood board for April. Isn't is just beautiful and so many great ideas to get from it!

And here is what I came up with, mainly inspired by the bottom left image and how fun that my image also included some forget-me-nots to go with the top right of our mood board :) 

This beautiful image is a digi by Power Poppy (Clover and Pansies). I've only used it once before several years ago but it came to mind immediately when I saw our mood board :)

I colored with my Faber Castell Polychromos pencils which took quite some time. I really need to rewatch my Pencil Coloring video tutorial I purchased a few years ago as I could use a refresher on layering colors but I still like how it turned out. 

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I kept the card CAS to keep the focus on the pretty image. I used part of the Happy Birthday background stamp by My Favorite Things (retired) at the bottom of the image panel and a sentiment from Penny Black (Sprinkles and Smiles) at the top. A tiny butterfly made with Penny Black's die set Soaring and a purple rhinestone finish off the card. I did add a little bit of stickles glitter to the flowers for some sparkle. Yellow DCWV cardstock as a mat and the card front was from a set of retired Stampin Up Paper Pumpkin kits I found at a thrift store a few months ago. 

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 the card with these challenges:

• A Perfect Time To Craft - AG
• Ally's Angels - AG
• Beautiful Blossoms - AG with Flowers
• Classic Design Challenge - Blooms, Bunnies or Butterflies
• Crafts Galore Encore - AG
• Crafty Catz - AG opt. Spring Green
• Creative Fingers - AG
• Cut It Up - Colors of Spring and at least one die cut 
• Die Cut Divas - Flowers
• DL.Art Linky Challenge -  AG
• Do-Al(l) Kreatives - Spring Birthday Card
• Simon Says Stamps - AG
• The Crafting Challenge - Favorite Color (LOVE purple!)
• The Creative Crafters - AG

Spring has Sprung at Four Seasons Challenge

The cold winter months are (mostly) over and we are switching seasons at the Four Seasons challenge blog. It's time for all things Spring!! As always we have a fabulous mood board to inspire you but it is  optional to use as Anything Spring Goes.

March Mood Board:

And here is what I made:

I was inspired by the bottom left image which was the reason I chose this cute digi stamp. This is another image from LOTV stamps which came as part of their Christmas Sale last December. 

I first colored with Copic markers then decided to add some shading using a colored pencil. That turned into me using even more colored pencils and took quite some time to finish too and I could have easily spent at least another hour adding more pencil coloring but it was getting late and I was getting tired. I really love the look of pencils over copics but it can be so time consuming!

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Around the bottom part of the image I used my most used stencil Feather Leaf by Lavinia. I cut the image panel out using an old die from Sizzix, framed with some dotted patterned paper and then mounted this onto green SU cardstock. The sentiment is part of a retired SU set and I used a retired Whimsy Stamps label die to cut it out but I trimmed the die cut on top and bottom to make it fit into that space. Jute twine is by May Arts. Butterflies die cuts are by Penny Black.  It's hard to see but I added Stickles glitter to all 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!

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I plan to share with these challenges:

• Alphabet Challenge - W for Wings
• Digi Choosday - AG
• Just Us Girls - AG with a Stencil

Always Anything Goes Challenges/Link Parties

• Ally's Angels 
• A Perfect Time To Craft
• Crafts Galore Encore
• DL.Art Linky Challenge
• Talk About it Tuesday at Slices of Life
• The Paper Funday

Thanks so much for visiting and hope to see you joining us at Four Seasons!

Four Seasons December Challenge - When Snow Falls...

Hello and welcome! It's hard to believe but December has arrived and we are switching seasons at the Four Seasons challenge blog. Winter has arrived over there and we are showcasing all things winter for the next 3 months. I do hope this post will go live as scheduled as I am currently on a blogging break until the 10th. 

Our mood board for December is below but as always, it is only for inspiration and you may share anything winter related.

Here is what I made:

The mood board inspired me to use the Christmas Cottage stamp by Penny Black and I was also inspired by the overall color scheme of the mood board and created this snowy card.

The sky and snow banks were inked with Stormy Sky Distress Oxide ink and I used a white Posca pen for some splatter. The sentiment is from the Penny Black set When Snow Falls and die cut snowflakes are from the Penny Black die set Dancing Snowflakes. 

Stickles glitter was applied for some sparkle.

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I will try to share my card here:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - use PB stamps

A little bit of time left still to sign up for the Papercrafters Year in Review hop happening at the very end of December. You can read all the details in this post or if you already know what it's all about and are interested then you can use the linky tool below to sign up. It's a fun and easy way for us papercrafters to share our favorite makes of the year with each other.

This linky tool is for the Year in Review blog hop sign up.