Love and Adoration

Hello and welcome! It's Saturday again and that means it's time for my Allsorts card share. This week Gail is our host and for her optional theme she selected Food and/or Drink. Of course you are welcome to share all your other crafty makes (up to 3 per entrant) for our Anything Goes option. So please do join us for your chance to win. We have two beautiful Card-io stamp sets to give away. 

And here is what I made:

I originally wanted to use an old PSX grapes and wine stamp but I found that the rubber completely hardened and I was unable to use it. Now to find a way to soften it up so I can use it again!! My second choice was this cute stamp from the Penny Black set Love & Happiness. I stamped with Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. I inked the edges with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo ink. On the background I used the Aall and Create mini set Define Love (sold out from the A&C site but should be available through some of their retailers). Then I used patterned paper scraps from my stash to add to the top left and bottom right. Still thought it needed something else so I got my sewing machine out and stitched around the edges. A button and jute twine finish it off. I also added stickles glitter to the roses and bubbles inside the glasses, better seen in the photo above.

Related Products:

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 this card with the following challenges:

• A Gem of a Challenge - AG
• Crafty Calendar - AG
• Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters
• Cutie Pie Challenge - Special Occasions 
• Heart's Quest Celebration of Love - Anything Love Themed
• Path of Positivity - Power of Words
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Use PB Stamps
• Stamping Sensations - AG
• The Creative Crafters - AG
• Try It On Tuesday - Sparkle All The Way

I wanted to remind you that the linky tool for the Papercrafters Year in Review sign up is now open. 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.

Love Gives Us a Fairy Tale (and some Japanese Garden pictures)

Hello and welcome! 

It's Saturday again and that means it's time for a new challenge at the Allsorts challenge blog.I'm also sharing a few photos I took at the Japanese Garden I recently got a chance to visit. 

At Allsorts it's Mervi's turn to host this time around and she chose "Anything But Birthdays". We have 2 prizes this week -  a Paper Boutique 8x8 Sunflowers paper pad and a Tattered Lace Cut & Emboss plate. Hope you will join in for your chance to win! You have one week to link up with us, but do remember it has to be a new creation so the post can't be dated before the challenge start date.

When I was working on this card I was thinking our theme was any celebration but birthday, so in order to make a celebratory card I decided on a wedding card even though I don't need it. I really should make some use of the planner I purchased!!! It always works out so beautifully in the beginning, but as time goes on I get lazy and don't fill in my planner, instead I think I remember what the upcoming themes are. At least it worked out perfectly this time as it does fit the actual theme of "Anything but Birthdays". 

So here is the wedding card I made in a monochromatic way.

I started out by trying to create a moonlit sky using Stormy Sky and Chipped Sapphire Distress ink with a circle die cut as a mask for the moon. I also used my white Posca pen to flick some "stars" onto the background.

The silhouette couple is a rubber stamp I won a few years ago, I think it was through Lost Coast Designs but I could be totally wrong. If anyone recognizes the stamp please do let me know. It didn't come in a package. 

Related Wedding Themed Products You May Like:

Using a stamp platform, I stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed with black embossing powder. The willow I stamped along the top is from Lavinia stamps. 

The sentiment is a real oldie from Whimsy Stamps and was part of a wedding themed set but no longer available. It was also heat embossed. I framed the image panel with SU Night of Navy paper and then mounted onto a white card base. To finish it off I decided to add a few sticky rhinestones. 

I'm sharing with these challenges:

Krafty Chicks - All Occasions // TIME OUT Challenges - Quote Prompt below (I made a moonlit sky) // Double D Challenges - Monochromatic // Fab n Funky - Anything But Square // Paper Shelter - Add Embellishments (I added rhinestones) // Simon Says Stamp  - AG // The Paper Funday - AG // Unicorn Challenge - Bling // Crafting Happiness Challenges - AG // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG // Path of Positivity - AG // 

These are Always Anything Goes:

Taylor Made Cards 4 U // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Creative Moments // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends // 

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 mentioned, here are a few photos from our visit to the Japanese Garden. We live less than 3 hours away but somehow never managed to visit. So glad we finally did as it is absolutely beautiful and tranquil. 

Don't you just love Weeping Willow trees?

Lots of fish in the lakes and as you can see the wind blew in some blossoms.

One of the gorgeous waterfalls.

And here is a photo with the two of us in front of a beautiful pink dogwood tree. I had planned on wearing a pretty sleeveless blouse (as I like to dress up a bit when visiting Botanical Gardens) but it was way too chilly so instead I dressed more casually with this periwinkle colored fleece jacket I've had for a few years and my comfy Taos slip on sneakers. 

If you live close enough or have some time to spend in the Rockford, Illinois area, I highly recommend this garden (it's on place no. 4 of all US Japanese Gardens according to USCityTraveler.com), although sadly I don't recommend the on-site restaurant because my food arrived burnt and our waiter only checked on us when it was about time to leave.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Link Parties:

Dare to Share // Sunday Showcase - First Sunday with Ada and Mireille  //  Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge //  Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life // 

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - February Challenge

Hello and welcome to Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - February challenge taking place right here on my blog! I'm so glad you decided to stop by to check out the new theme and I'd love for you to join in too!

I can hardly believe it's February already, although time flies, January seemed to have been such a looooong month, it had been extremely cold here too and I am looking forward to hopefully better weather in February, although for today we're having a winter storm warning! But at least it's not so frigid now! Hope you are staying warm where-ever you are located! 

But lets get on with the challenge - be sure to scroll down to see if you were one of my Top Picks from last month! 

This month's theme

Fitting for the month of February I selected the theme of..................

Hearts or Flowers

As always the theme is for your inspiration (optional) and you may link up any of your crafty makes. This doesn't have to be a card, it can be anything creative as long as it's handmade by you!

And here is what I made:

All stamps are by Penny Black. I started out by stamping the fence (PB Snow Fence) using Ice Spruce Distress Oxide ink then inked along the edges/sky using the same ink. If you look closely you can see that I also used a circle mask when I inked up the edges and sky.

The white splatter was done using a Posca pen. Sentiment is from the Penny Black set Dream Love Sentiments stamped in Versafine Onyx ink. 

  Scrapbook.com Card Making Sale Going On Now! (Ad) 

The cute stamp - Penny Black Nose to Nose has been stamped on a separate piece of Bristol Vellum paper, colored and then fussy cut. They look white but were colored in a very light shade of gray and blush pink cheeks. 

  

Penny Black's  Berries die was used behind the bears and the heart is a die from Avery Elle's Heart Frame die set.

Penny Black Nose to Nose // Penny Black Snow Fence //  Dream Love Sentiments // Penny Black Berries die // Avery Elle Heart Frame Die Set // Ice Spruce Distress Oxide // Festive Berries Distress Ink // Versafine Onyx ink // Posca pen // 

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!

The color inspiration for my card came from this month's mood board from The Four Season's challenge, so will be entering my card there.

And also linking up here:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge // Simon Says Stamp - With Love // The Paper Funday - Hugs and Kisses // Dies R Us Challenge - Love// Paper Shelter - For the One You Love // Cardz 4 Guyz - Beginning with "P" (Polar Bears) // Ike's World - Love // Unicorn Challenge - Let's See Red // Double Trouble Challenges  - AG Thing 1 // A Gem of a Challenge - AG // Di's Digis Designs - Winter Fun // Crafty Catz - AG // DL ART Thankful Thursday Challenge - Valentine // Crafty Gals Corner - Snow Much Fun // Double D Challenge - Hearts

Always Anything Goes:

Taylor Made Cards 4 U // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Creative Moments // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends 

Link Parties:

Dare to Share // Sunday Showcase - First Sunday with Ada and Mireille  //  Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge //  Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life // 

 Last month's top picks

I will continue to add my favorites to the dedicated Pinterest board, but going forward I will once again showcase the top pick's creations with links to their individual blogs, which will be removed at the start of each new month's challenge to remain in compliance with GDPR.

Selecting just three is never easy but something that needs to be done and here they are from last month's theme of Something New or Anything Goes. They are listed in order of entry.

No. 9 Debbie M

No. 28 Pia

No. 30 Carole

Congratulations!! Well deserved recognition. Your Top Pick logo is below, feel free to post it to your own blogs if you like to :)

Can't wait to see what you will share this month!

A few things to remember:

• You may follow the theme or anything crafty goes.

• You may combine with any other challenges.

• You may use any brand of stamps/digis/products (no company restriction).
• No more than 3 entries per person please - no worries if you end up with more.
• Please do include a link back here to my blog in your blog post.
• Backlinking IS allowed.

A Masculine Valentine's Day Card with a Truckload of Hearts

Hello and welcome! 

I'm sharing another cute Valentine's themed card today, for Tracy's Allsorts challenge theme of "Love is..." and my sketch was inspired by this week's MFT sketch challenge. 

Love is...... hearts, hedgehogs and all things cute :-) and here is my card:

I started out by stamping the image from the Penny Black set Loads of Love onto Neenah 80lb card stock and colored with Copic markers. Then fussy cut.

Next I used Tim Holtz' Rays stencil on the top portion with Tumbled Glass and Blueprint Sketch Distress inks, and on the bottom I used part of Penny Black's stencil Oscillations with Pumice Stone Distress ink. Adhered the image using foam tape.

Related Products:

The sentiment from the same set was heat embossed on black card stock with white ultra fine embossing powder. I still had a few paper scraps laying on my desk and they were perfect for this card so I added them with a couple of staples. 

Products Used:

• Stamps: Penny Black Loads of Love
• Inks: Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide Ink , Pumice Stone Distress Oxide Ink, Memento Tuxedo Ink, Versamark Ink
• Embellishments: Ultra Fine White Embossing Powder
• Tools: Copic Markers, Rays Layering Stencil, Oscillations Stencil, Ink Blending Tool - Options, Cutterbee Scissors, Heat Gun, Stapler, Stamp Platform - Options
• Papers: Neenah 80lb for card front and image, Recollections 110lb for card base, patterned paper scraps from stash, Black card stock from SU
• Other: Foam Tape, Tombow Mono Multi Glue

Thanks so much for visiting!!

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'm linking up here:

Aud Sentiments Challenge - Sending Love // C.R.A.F.T. - Love // Cute Card Thursday // Moving along with the Times - Love // Little Red Wagon - Hearts // Mod Squad - Include word "Love" // Simon Says Stamp - Love is in the air // Sisterhood of Crafters - create your own background // The Paper Funday - Love // Fab n Funky // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // Penny Black Saturday - Use PB products

Double D Challenges - Valentines Mood Board below // MFT Sketch Inspiration below

 

Handmade Valentine's Card with Red, Black and Gray

Hello and welcome!

I decided to join in Hero Arts Stay Crafty challenge this month and their January theme is "Hearts". These cute images are actually part of a Christmas set, but when I purchased the set I intended to use these cats on a love/valentines themed card. I just never got around to doing it until now :-)  

The stamp set is called Meowy Christmas and there is also a matching die set available (separately). Unfortunately they are no longer available directly from Hero Arts, so I linked to Amazon. 

I started out by stamping the images on Neenah 80lb paper using Memento ink. The chair was  stamped  again on the red dotted paper to paper piece. Cats were colored with Copic markers and fussy cut using my Cutterbee scissors. (I do have the matching dies but wanted a closer cut for today's card.)

Related Products:

Using a circle die cut as a mask, I inked up the white card stock panel using Pumice Stone Distress Oxide ink. Removed the mask, stamped the little outline hearts (this is an ancient stamp from Stampin Up), then adhered the images.     

The tiny solid red hearts were die cut (these tiny dies are included in Avery Elle's Hearts Frame die set). I added the sentiment and a strip of striped black and white patterned paper for some interest and then the button where I tied a bow using natural jute twine. 

The sentiment is part of this Hero Arts stamp kit from a couple of years ago, but it's no longer available. I love the hand written font! 

I'm sharing my card here:

Hero Arts Stay Crafty Challenge - Hearts  // Path of Positivity - Look for the Positive // Crafty Calendar - Make it Cute

Thanks so much for visiting!!

You May Also Like:

 

Gold and/or Silver                                   Allsorts 505: Love

Some affiliate links are used in this post, that means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. This is at no extra cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting this blog!

Allsorts Challenge 559: Dies and/or Punches

Hello and thanks so much for stopping by! It's time already for our new theme at Allsorts challenge. This week it's my turn to host and I picked the theme of Dies and/or Punches. They don't need to be in the focal point of the card but they do need to be easily seen on your creation. Hope you can join us. We have a new sponsor this week - WowVow giving away a gift certificate to one lucky winner!

  *This post includes affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no cost to you! Thank you so much for your support!*

I'm sharing two cards today...

I needed a masculine birthday card, and this is what I came up with. I started out by inking the background using distress inks (I think I used Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers and Pumice Stone ) then stamped the tree stamp  (Winter Ledge by Penny Black) onto the background using Pumice Stone ink. Next I added the stitched "hill" done with an old die from Whimsy Stamps (this would be a similar set) and then adhered the die cut trees from the Penny Black die set Beneath the Birches.

Related Products:

To make the frame I first dry embossed a white panel using an old Cuttlebug embossing folder (I can't find this exact one, but there are alternative options) then I used a die from the Wonky Stitches die set, but used the "negative" instead of the stitched piece as a frame. The deer from the same Penny Black Beneath the Birches Die Set was die cut on brown card stock from Stampin Up then added to the card. Sentiment is from one of my Penny Black clear sets. 

Penny Black Winter Ledge // Penny Black Beneath the Birches Die Set // Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Die Set // Whimsy Stamps Stitched Border Die (retired - Similar Option) // Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Old - Alternative Options) // Sentiment from Penny Black (can't remember which set it came from) // Distress Ink Tumbled Glass // Distress Ink Peacock Feathers // Distress Oxide Ink Pumice Stone  // Bristol Vellum Paper // Ink Blending Tool

The card below was a last minute addition. I always like to make a Valentines card for everyone in the family, and when this one was finished I noticed it was perfect to use for this challenge as well, so  am sharing both.

The cute hedgehog image is from the Penny Black set Loads of Love heat embossed on Bristol Vellum paper then I colored with copic markers. I'm still on a mission to use up some of my pattern papers and I found these in one of my scrap boxes full of papers. Thought they were perfect for a Valentines Day themed cards although I have no idea what the script background is saying. Luckily the recipient won't know either :-)

The sentiment is from  a Valentines themed set by Penny Black - So Very Much, also heat embossed then die cut using a slider die (old from Whimsy Stamps) and I slid a strip of pattern paper and jute twine through the openings on the die cut. Next I added the die cut hearts (Penny Black Heart Bow die) and tied a bow through the heart. A Wink of Stella clear glitter brush was used on all of the hearts to make them sparkle.

Penny Black Loads of Love // Penny Black So Very Much // Penny Black Heart Bow Die // Bristol Vellum Paper //  Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink // Clear Embossing Powder // Copic Markers // Slider Die (Whimsy Stamps Retired) // May Arts Jute Twine // Wink Of Stella Clear Glitter Brush

Sharing with these blogs:

Card 1:
Seize The Birthday - Birthday // WaterCooler Wednesday - Occasions // Stinkin' Inkers - Embossing Folders // A Place To Start - Masculine Card // 

Card 2: 

(lots of love themed challenges)

CAS on Friday - Love // Colour Crazy Challenge - Coloring // Crafty Catz - Critters // Cut It Up - Love and die cuts // Pattie's Creations - Love // Simply Create Too - Red and One Other Color (Black) // Crafty Gals Corner - Add a Heart // Double D Challenges - Hearts // Fab n Funky - Love // Simon Says Stamp - 2 or more pattern papers // The Paper Funday - Valentines // Crafty Sentiment Designs - Red // Everybody-Art-Challenge - Color of Love // Always Fun Challenges - Love // Colouring in Scrapland  - Love is All Around // Crafty Cardmakers - Love is All You Need // Creativ Fusion Arts & Crafts Challenge - Love and Happiness // Get Creative Challenges - Hearts // Path of Positivity - Adoration // Crafty Calendar - Die Cuts // Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Love is in the Air // Inspire Me Mondays Linkup // ShareAllLinkUp

 

I've linked some of the things I used as found on Amazon for those of you interested. As a reminder, these links and some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, but at no cost to you.