Valentine's Bunnies

Please click HERE if you are visiting for Ellibelle's Crafty Challenge.

Hello and welcome! I have one more Valentine's card to share (which I just finished this morning), so I decided to do a quick post.

Most of the items I used today are retired and no longer available. The cute image is a rubber stamp from LOTV. I stamped it with  Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink and then used my Faber Castell Polychromos pencils for coloring. I created a CAS scene by adding a die cut "hill" using one of Whimsy Stamps' Stitched Trio die and retired paper from Stampin Up. 

The sentiment is also by Stampin Up, heat embossed on black card stock. I don't remember which stamp set it belongs to...The little "love you" with butterfly is *I believe* from the Stampin Up set "Happy Heart Day", also retired years ago. The white card stock is by Neenah, and the light blue is Stampin Up's Soft Sky. The image has been fussy cut using my Cutterbee scissors to add to the card. 

I am sharing with these challengs: 

Aud Sentiments Challenge- Love Or Valentine Sentiment 
Craft Rocket Challenges - Feb- Valentine
Crafting With An Attitude - Always Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Wings
Crafting By Designs  - Love is in the Air

Crafty Creations  - Always Anything Goes 
Moo-Mania & More - Love
The Crafty Addicts  - Anything Goes
Die Cuttin' Divas - Love
Always Fun Challenges- Love/ Valentines
Crafting from the Heart -  Anything Goes
CuteNCrafty Challenge Blog- Valentines/ Love 
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes w/Optional Twist: Critter
AAA - CAS + Optional twist: Love 
Dare 2B Artzy Challenges - Love
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

And that is all for today! Thank you so much for visiting! I will be back again on Saturday with my weekly card for Allsorts challenge. 

This post contains some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Allsorts Challenge 489: Christmas

It's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge, Susan is our host and she picked the theme of  Christmas.  We have a great prize to give away from StickerYou , and hope to see you joining in for your chance to win!

LOTV Carolers // Penny Black Nature's Gifts // Penny Black Woodland Beauty // Penny Black Christmas Story Background Stamp // Zig Clean Color Markers // Zig Detailer Brush // Versafine Onyx Ink // Clear Embossing Powder // Peeled Paint Distres s Ink //  Bristol Vellum Paper //
Whimsy Stamps Postage Stamp Sentiment and Die (no longer available)

This was totally not the card in mind when I started, but one thing led to another and this is what it turned out to be...

I started by heat embossing the cute image on   Bristol Vellum paper, then watercolored with my Zig Clean Color markers.Originally I wanted to create a mountain scene in the background by masking, but thought it would be too complicated to fussy cut a mask for the image. So instead I took the pine needle stamp from the Penny Black set Nature's Gifts and stamped it all around the image. But then I thought there was too much white in the background and I decided to use another stamp from the Nature's Gifts Set. I did end up needing a mask, but it really didn't take long to cut out since these masks don't need to be perfect, and just serve to cover up the image. It's hard to see in the photo, but I also used a pine tree stamp from Penny Black's set Woodland Beauty while I had the mask in place. Still thought it needed something else, and that's when I got out the Penny Black background stamp Christmas Story. I first went with antique linen ink, but I wanted it to show up more, so I used Versafine Onyxink instead.

The little postmark sentiment and die I've had for a long time, it's by Whimsy Stamps but no longer available : (  I added a holly leaf button with some natural jute twine. Framed with Stampin Up's Old Olive card stock then used Neenah Linen textured card stock as my card base. Maybe I need to start thinking about using a darker background with the photo tent I purchased, I feel like it's so hard here to see the edges of the card. Wish it came with a vanilla colored background as well....

When I bought this image it was still available as a single rubber stamp, but there were some changes at the LOTV shop and I thought it wasn't available any longer, as they retired so many of their wonderful stamps.  I did find this stamp as part of their Vintage Christmas set, but it looks like it is currently out of stock.


I am also playing along here:
Christmas with the Cuties - For a Child
Daring Cardmakers - Weekly  – Pets
C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Christmas

The Merry Christmas Challenge - Christmas
 Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'  - Anything Goes Christmas

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz -  Anything Goes
Pause Dream Enjoy   - Any CardsCreative Fingers - Anything Goes

QKR Stampede – Anything Goes 

Crafting With An Attitude - Anything Goes

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes


Thanks so much for visiting! Hope you have a good weekend. It's gotten really chilly over here. Hubby brought a cold virus home from work this week, and as much as I tried to avoid getting sick, I still woke up with a sore throat yesterday and we'll see what today brings.

I've linked to the products available on Amazon for those of you interested. Please note, affiliate links were used, meaning I might earn a small commision if purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thanks so much for your support!

Allsorts 484: Bears

Good morning and happy Saturday! Hope your weekend is off to a great start! We've had A LOT of rain with flooding these last few days, funny how I had just mentioned a heat wave in my last post, but that's how quickly weather changes sometimes here in Illinois...it does look like we'll be back to sunshine and warm weather again next week :)

It's time for another fun theme at Allsorts challenge and this week Kath picked the theme of

"Bears - Any Type of Bears". 

It's been a while since I used a bear stamp, and had lots of fun looking through my stamps to pick the one I wanted to use for today. Did you know ... my very first stamp was actually a teddy bear stamp by PSX :-) And while I don't have that stamp anymore, I still have the first card I ever made with it, because I had made it for my husband many many years ago!


For today's card I used a rubber stamp by Lili of the Valley. Unfortunately this stamp is no longer available.

LOTV stamp (old, sorry no link) // Sweet Wishes by Penny Black // Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Die // Zig Clean Color Markers // Zig Detailer Brush // Bristol Vellum Paper // Versafine Onyx Ink // Clear Embossing Powder // Scotch ATG Glue Gun // Neenah Linen Cardstock

I heat embossed the image on Bristol Vellum Paper using Versafine Onyx Ink and clear embossing powder. Coloring was done with Zig Clean Color markers and my Zig Detailer brush. As you can see the card is CAS. I just added a small strip of patterned paper from my stash, heat embossed the image and finished off with a polka dotted bow. The card front was cut out using Avery Elle's Wonky Stitches Die and then mounted on a white Neenah Linen Cardstock base. The sentiment is from the Penny Black set  Sweet Wishes, also heat embossed.

A little close up ...

Isn't this bear the cutest!!! I don't know why stamp companies decide to retire things, especially when they are this cute, but I guess they need to make room for new things...although I feel like LOTV retired too many of their designs!!

I know my coloring is pretty simple, but as much as I enjoy sitting there and spending time coloring, I just don't have the time for a long coloring session which is the reason why I love these Zig markers. I'm pretty sure this image was colored in about 10 minutes or less.

We would LOVE for you to join us this week at Allsorts challenge! This week we have this cute stamp by Penny Black to give away to one very lucky participant!

My card also fits these challenges:
The Paper Girls

Stamping Sensations - Something beginning with "B" (Bear, Blossoms, Bow, Bird and Bricks)
Little Red Wagon - CAS or One Layer
Simon Says Wednesday - Stamp on it
Simon Says Stamp Monday - Stamp it On
Sisterhood of Crafters -  Blooming Flowers
Alphabet Challenge -  L is for Leaves
Brown Sugar – All Creatures Great and Small
Sunny Day Crafting  - Any Animal
Simply Create Too - Stitching: Real or Faux
CAS on Friday – Flowers
Crafting with Dragonflies - Spring has Sprung (little bear just woke up from a long winter's nap :)
Send a Smile for Kids - Anything Goes for Kids 
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
 If You Gave A Crafter A Cookie... - Anything Goes this time 
Crafty Catz -  Anything Goes 
Dragonfly Dreams - Anything Goes

I am linking to some of the products I used today available at Amazon.com for those of you interested. Please note these are affiliated links, meaning I may earn a small commision if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you!



Thank you so much for visiting!

Allsorts 475: In My Garden

Hello everyone, I have officially returned from a family visit to Germany and also spent some wonderful days in the Austrian Alps with my family. Enjoyed some good food, good company and beautiful scenery, but now it's time to get back to daily life here in the States.

Today is the start of a new challenge at Allsorts, the lovely Brenda is our host this week and she picked the theme of "in the garden".

I forgot to ask Brenda if mythical garden creatures could be allowed for this challenge, but knowing that Brenda loves fairies I am confident that they are allowed :)

This cute fairy is a rubber stamp by Lili of the Valley. Unfortunately they discontinued all of their rubber stamps and only carry a fraction of their older images, so I am not sure if this image is still available. She's been heat embossed on Bristol Vellum card stock then colored with my Zig Clean Color markers. The little sentiment is from Penny Black's set Snippets, this time I heat embossed it in white on black card stock. The script background paper is from my box of scraps, probably from Prima Marketing . I distressed the edges and added some May Arts Jute Twine to finish off the card. If you look closely, then you will notice a subtle design on the image panel. That was done with Penny Black's Oscillations Stencil, which is currently available in my Etsy Shop. By the way, all stamps and supplies from my shop will now ship for FREE (US only). Note, I only carry a limited amount of stamps. 

Our wonderful prize this week is a pretty floral stamp by Chocolate Baroque. I hope you'll find some time to join us! 

Thank you so much for visiting!!

This post contains affiliate links, this means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! 

Allsorts 473: Sweet Treats

This is a scheduled post, so if you read this then blogger behaved as I hoped :-)

This week at Allsorts challenge Susan is our host and she would like to see "Sweet Treats". We have a great prize to give away this week by Marianne Designs, so do come join us if you'd like to be entered into the drawing.

I used a Lili of the Valley stamp - Rosie with Cake, it's been colored with my Faber Castell Polychromos pencils on Neenah card stock.  The sentiment is Penny Black's Sprinkles and Smiles. 

A really quick and easy card to make as you can see.  One of Avery Elle's Wonky Stitches dies was used to frame the image panel with. The paper strip is from my box of scraps. 

Thanks so much for visiting, I hope you have a great weekend! 

This post contains affiliate links, this means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Love is in the Air and Papercrafters' Linky Party 2

Hello crafty friends, if you are here for the Papercrafters' Linky Party, you can find the linky at the end of this post, simply scroll down.

Are you ready for another "Love" themed card? This week it's my turn to host the challenge at Allsorts, and with Valentines Day coming up later this week, I selected the theme of "Love is in the Air".

You don't have to make something Valentines Day specific, anything with a 'love' theme goes, so anything with hearts, love sentiments, weddings, anniversaries or engagements and I am sure many more occasions that I can't think of.

I recently saw this super adorable card made by my blogging friend Mervi and I just had to have this cute image! Sadly it is no longer available as a rubber stamp and the only way it is now available is as a pre-colored print. Well, I loved it so much that I decided to get it, even though I prefer to color my own images. I am hoping they will make it available as an uncolored digi sometimes in the future, I did sent them an email requesting it, so who knows...

So since there wasn't any coloring needed here, my card was pretty quick to make. I simply printed the image on Xpress It Blending Card , which is my go-to paper when coloring with copics, but the smooth texture and white bright works really well with pre-colored images as well. I cut it out using a circle die and layered it onto a scallop circle. The patterned papers are from by Prima Marketing, I purchased it over a year ago and can't find a link to it anywhere. The sentiment is from the set So Very Much by Penny Black. A little bit of natural jute twine finishes off the card. Stampin Up card stock was used for the card base and scallop circle.

Speaking of Love, in case you're interested... Scrapbook.com currently has a 15% off sale for all things Love themed, this weekend only.


Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I might earn a small commission if you purchase from the links.

 We're giving away a great prize package at Allsorts challenge, sponsored by Marianne Design. I hope you'll come join us for a chance to win!

I am also entering my card here:

• Brown Sugar –  February - Valentine's Day
• Crafty Catz  -  Anything Goes option/Love Is In The Air
• Crafting-With-Friends - Anything Goes 
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Cut it Up -  - Layers of Love
• Pattie's Creations - Love Is In The Air
• Quick Quotes -  - Love
• Aud Sentiments Challenge -Valentine Or Love Sentiment 
• Craft Rocket Challenges - Feb- Love
• Crafting With An Attitude - Always Anything Goes
• Moving along with the Times- Love
• Fab 'n' Funky -  Words Related to Valentine's Day
• Moo-Mania & More -  Love/Valentines 
• Paper Shelter Challenge -  For the One You Love
• Simon Says Wednesday - Love
• Color Throwdown -  Color Inspiration

ETA: If you're interested in purchasing this card, I do have it listed in my Etsy shop.

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Welcome to Papercrafters' Linky Party No. 2!

It was nice to have some of you joining in and  sharing some of your recent makes. Thank you for the wonderful inspiration! My top choice this week was....................................

Mindy

I just fell in love with the delicate florals and the pretty background. 

Congrats Mindy, the top pick logo is below, feel free to post it to your own blog if you like.

And now it's time for another Linky Party, please use the linky tool below to share what you made! I'm looking forward to seeing what you've been up to in the craftroom/studio!

A few things to remember:

• You may share any papercraft - new or recently made (within the last week or two).
• Anything Papercraft Goes
• Enter up to 3 times.
• Don't forget to leave a link back here in your blog post.

Happy Stamping and Creating!!

Little Bundle Of Love

Happy Saturday! Hard to believe it's September already, and it definitely looks Fall- like here in my area, although it's not quite fall yet. But squirrels have been busy throwing acorns down at us and especially at the cats, and when that starts happening then you know Fall is almost here. But we're still lucky enough to be able to enjoy Summer weather. 

Today is the start of the new Allsorts challenge. Our hostess this week is Tracy and she chose the theme of "New Beginnings" so baby, wedding, new home, new school, etc.

For my card today I used a digistamp set by LOTV (Baby Companion). Both the image and sentiment are part of the set. 

I went with the colors cream/light brown and blue because the starry wrapping paper reminded me of gift wrap for a baby boy. I colored with my Faber Castell Polychromos. Not my best coloring as I am still not able to be in the same position for a longer time, and not sure how soon my neck will feel 100% better. (But hopefully soon, so I can get to work de-cluttering my kitchen, craft room and closet, something I like to work on every fall and spring.)

I used two different embossing folders on the card and some cute bashful blue gingham ribbon. The sentiment was fussy cut and I put an eyelet through it for the twine. A pop-up dot keeps the sentiment in place.

This week we have two wonderful sponsors: Digistamp Boutique and Crafty Ribbons. We'd love for you to come join us for a chance to win!

Thanks so much for visiting!

Allsorts 423 - Magical and Mythical

Hi everyone, happy weekend! Hope it's a nice and sunny one for you!

This week it's my turn to host the challenge at Allsorts, and I would like to see "All things Magical and Mythical". Lots of possibilities here ... fairies, mermaids, gnomes,  dragons, and so much more! I do hope you'll play along this week. Brenda lined up some wonderful prizes, check them out on the challenge blog and see what other magical creations the Design Team is sharing! 

For my card this week I inked up Midsummer's Night by LOTV. This stamp is older but fairly new to me and my first time using it. It's been stamped onto Stampin Up kraft card stock and colored with Faber Castell Polychromos pencils. I inked the edges using versamark ink and sprinkled some white embossing powder onto the versamark and heat embossed to give the card a white edge.

Glitter was added to the wings, stars and the moon. I've had the birthday sentiment forever, probably picked up at Hobby Lobby, it's by Stampabilities. The Dare to Dream sentiment is from the retired set Dreams and Dragons by Stampin Up. 

Finished off the card by adding the prima flowers and a flourish die cut (Whimsy Stamps die). Not sure if I like the flowers though, I feel like they are taking away from the cute image...The pretty lace patterned paper is by Authentique. 

And that is all for today. Thanks so much for visiting and hope to see you over at the Allsorts challenge blog :)

Allsorts 413 - Embossing

This week at Allsorts we would like to see some embossing, heat or dry, it doesn't matter which you choose, you can even do both. We have a great prize up for grabs generously sponsored by Sizzix, I hope you'll come join us for a chance to win!

I decided to make two baby cards for today using a cute stamp from LOTV. This is a new stamp to me, so much for my new year's resolution of not buying new stamps ... oh well, maybe next year 😁

The image has been stamped onto xpress it blending card and colored with copic markers. A hearts embossing folder was used and I embellished with cotton crochet trim and silk ribbon. Wink of stella was brushed over the balloon. The sentiment is from a set by Whimsy Stamps. 

I also made a boy version of this same card:

Exactly the same, I just switched up the color and used gingham ribbon in place of white silk ribbon. Not so sure I like the bows, but I guess the do go well with baby themed cards.

And that would be all for today, I hope you enjoy your weekend. I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Started up again with my daily Pilates and Yoga routine this week and my body is so sore, but have really enjoyed getting back to it after a 2 months break (because I had a cough that just wouldn't go away).  And last weekend we planted 3 trees and some new flowers and so it will be nice to relax this weekend. Although a little bit of sunshine would be nice too, but I don't think it'll happen this weekend!

Birthday Cupcakes

Recently Kit & Clowder and LOTV had a fun Facebook giveaway and this cutie from LOTV was one of the stamps they offered to their followers in digital form. There was also a coloring contest, but I think that contest ended yesterday and I didn't get mine finished on time to enter into that drawing which ended yesterday.

The cute image has been colored using copic markers and a circle die was used to cut it out. Embellishments here include cotton lace and twine, a little mulberry flower with stickyback pearl and I also did a little machine sewing. Designer papers are from my stash, card stock by SU and Neenah. Some stickles glitter was used on the dress, the flower on her hat and the cherries. 

The circle image panel has been popped up on dimensionals. Sentiment is part of the set Snippets, a fun sentiment set which includes lot of cute little sentiments. 

I don't usually do too much on the inside, but don't keep it blank either. On this card I used a white mat and stamped a few flowers and Happy Birthday. 

This card has been added to my etsy shop for US shipping, if you are interested. Card measures approx. 5.25 x 5.25 inches. 

Today I am playing along at Addicted to Stamps and More where the theme is Make Your Mark. (I used copic markers.)

Thanks so much for visiting.

 Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and hope you have a great week! We're having some really nice weather today, I will be doing a little garden clean up and hope I won't get ate up by mosquito. They seem really bad this year...

D is for Deck the Halls

Good morning everyone and thanks for visiting!

It's the 15th of the month and we have a new challenge for you over at ABC challenges. We're at letter D and our challenge is 

D is for Deck the Hall

We'd like to see your handmade holiday decorations, or use an image where someone is "decking the halls". Can't wait to see your creations! LOTV is our sponsor today, and who wouldn't want to win a LOTV prize??!!

Here's what I created using one of their super cute stamps, I think it's called "Woodland Christmas".

I decided to create a tree decoration using the Shape EZ Flip ornament downloadable cut file from Whimsy Stamps. I don't have an electronic cutter, so I printed out the pdf file and just freehand cut out the shape of the ornament.

Besides printing it on brushed gold card stock, I also printed it onto designer paper.
The image was colored  using Faber Castell Polychromos pencils. I added lots of glitter to the snowy hills. I just so much love this cute image with all those cute critters!
It's been embellished with a snowflake using one of the dies from the Layered Snowflakes Die set by Whimsy Stamps. Finished it off with some ribbon and a button with gold cord, and then added a few clear rhinestones. Please excuse my not so perfect cutting here, the gold card stock was a little bit heavy, so it wasn't very easy. Sometimes one of the electronic cutters would sure come in handy, but I don't think I would use one very much so I haven't gotten around buying one yet.

I am playing along in the following challenges:

• C.R.A.F.T. -  Winter
• Charisma Cardz - Christmas Makes
• Craft Us Crazy - ) Christmas/Winter and/or Favourite Embellishment
• Delightful Challenges -  Very Blingie
• Dutch Dare Card Challenge - Snowflakes
•  DRS Designs -  Ribbon

Thanks again for visiting.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

LOTV Challenge - something new

This is the first card I made in the New Year. I have been busy moving my craft area upstairs from the kitchen and I am still working on organizing things.

But last night I checked out the new LOTV challenge and thought I start by coloring the image. I ended up creating the card too, of course that meant staying up until past midnight...

Here is my card.

The challenge theme is "something new". I only have 4 LOTV stamps, two of which are Christmas stamps, so I decided to use the stamp "Window Box". I originally wanted to make it a "Welcome Spring" card, but since I couldn't find any spring related sentiments, I just turned it into a "New Home" card.

I stamped the image with memento ink, and colored with derwent coloursoft pencils. The designer paper is from my stash, I have no idea what company it comes from.

It's a pretty simple card again. I embellished with some polka dot ribbon and a bow, and added the sentiment with some silver cord. To finish it off I did some machine sewing.

A few challenges I am combining:

Lili's little fairies challenge - New Beginnings (new home)
Cute Card Thursday - What's new? (new home)
Dutch Dare - New Beginnings (new home)

And that's it! Hope you liked my card!

A Year in Review Blog Hop

Happy Friday!

I just came across Karin's blog "With an I for Paper", and saw that she is hosting a "Year in Review" blog hop.

What a fun idea and since I haven't had any time to make something new, I thought I'd look back at what I made this year and post some of my favorites here.

(using Whimsy Stamps)

(using Cuddly Buddly)

(using Lili of the Valley)
(using Penny Black)

(using Prairie Fairy)

(using Wee Stamps)

(using Whimsy Stamps)

(using Whimsy Stamps)

(using Mo Manning)

(using Cuddly Buddly)

(using Penny Black)

(using Penny Black)

(using Mo Manning)

(using Whimsy Stamps)

(using Whimsy Stamps)

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit my blog!

Wishing you all a
Safe and Happy New Year!