Four Seasons Challenge June - Summertime!!

Hello everyone and happy June!! A new month means the start of a new challenge at the Four Season challenge blog and it's time to switch seasons! We are now celebrating Summer for the next 3 challenges! That means Anything Summer goes but of course there is a fabulous mood board to inspire you which is totally optional.

As usual the mood board helped inspire my card and as you can see below I used the top left image for inspiration. I used a mix of brands here, the bicycle was part of a Hero Arts stamp kit from a few years ago, the sand/shells are from an old Stampin Up set and the Palm tree die is another oldie by Provo Craft and came with a matching embossing folder. The birds were part of another set by Hero Arts also a few years old. 

Here is the mood board in case you need a little inspiration for your next creation. 

Before building the scene I used painter's tape to mask the edges, then used distress ink to ink up the background. Sentiments are from one of Tim Holtz's sticker sentiment sets - an older one. The tiny flowers were done with a Martha Stewart punch and you guessed it, it's another oldie. 

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I struggled a bit lining up the palm tree exactly with the embossing folder and inking it up was a bit tricky too. I almost left it white but I managed somehow on my 3rd try LOL. Does anyone else get stressed out when making cards or am I the only one??  I also wanted to use a white fence which is part of the mood board image but the die was nowhere to be found!

We'd love to see you joining us with your Summer themed creations wether you use the mood board or not! The challenge ends on June 25th so there is plenty of time.

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>.Die Cutting Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

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'd like to share with these challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp - AG
• The Paper Funday - Emboss (embossed palm trees)
• Daring Cardmakers - Seashells on the sea shore
• A Perfect Time To Craft - AG
• Classic Design  Challenge - AG

I'm also linking it with the Encouraging Heart and Home link party at Slices of Life.

Pineapple Girl for Four Seasons Challenge - Summer

Hello and welcome! Happy August! Hard to believe it's August already! School starts here in less than 3 weeks! Summertime always seems to fly by so fast!! But luckily summer weather does stick around over here until the end of September usually so at least we can still enjoy some nice weather!

I'm so excited to share the news that I have joined the the Four Seasons Challenge Blog design team! I discovered this blog late last year and have used it so many times over these months whenever I needed a bit of inspiration. I wasn't really planning on joining another full time design team but couldn't help giving this one a try. With just one card commitment a month and a beautiful mood board each month I know it won't be hard to do! Many thanks to the Four Seasons team for allowing me to be part of it! Really looking forward to all the wonderful mood boards and challenges to come! And I hope some of my blog readers will join in the fun too :)

For those of you unfamiliar with Four Seasons Challenge: This is a monthly papercraft challenge starting on the 1st and ending on the 25th of each month. As the name suggests, the themes follow the four seasons (in the northern hemisphere) and each month the theme will be Anything Goes with the current season in mind.  

Each month will also have a new mood board as inspiration but it is totally optional to use the mood board. 

Below is this month's mood board and I am sure you will be able to tell what inspired my card. 

In fact I used this as an excuse to purchase this beautiful Mo Manning Pineapple Girl digital image. Not that I didn't already have plenty of products I could  have used, but I always loved this image just never actually purchased it. What a joy it was to color with my Faber Castell Polychromos!!

After coloring I fussy cut her using my Cutterbee scissors. On the background paper I used the Circle Explosions stencil to add some interest. The die cut circle and butterflies are from a newer Penny Black die set Soaring which I seem to be using a lot because I absolutely love this set, especially the butterflies. I cut them out on white card stock then used Squeezed Lemonade and Mustard Seed Distress inks to give them color. 

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The summer sentiment is from an old Whimsy Stamp set (Summer Letter Seals) but it's many years old and no longer available. "Sweet Life" is a sticker from Tim Holtz Metallic sticker set. 

I used a Wonky Stitches rectangle die to cut out the image panel.

The patterned papers are all scraps from my scrap box. Green jute twine is by May Arts in Parrot Green.

Hope you will join in the fun at The Four Seasons challenge this month! And thank you 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 plan on linking up here (I found so many this time but ensured they all allow unlimited entries to other challenges):

We Love Stamping - Hot Sunny Colors // We Love 2 Create - Anything Creative // 2 Sisters On The Blog - AG // Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned Papers // Creatalicious Challenges - AG // Pearly Sparkles Challenge - AG // International Art & Soul - Happiness //  Double Trouble Challenges - Add Extra Layers, Frames or Die Cuts (The circle die cut wasn't originally planned but it was laying around my desk so I added it // Incy Wincy Designs  - Food and/or Drink // Fab n Funky - AG // Little Red Wagon - Stitching (hope faux stitching is ok?) // Paper Shelter - AG // Simon Says Stamp - AG // Digi Choosday Challenge - AG // Everybody-Art-Challenge - Sunny Greetings // Cutie Pie Challenge - Little Cuties // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG // 

Always AG and Link Parties:

A Place To Start - AG // Taylor Made Cards 4 U // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Creative Moments // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // 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 //  Travel Tuesday. // 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 //  Wonderful Wednesday // My Corner Of The World //Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life //  Funtastic Friday //   Link Up On The Edge

Summer Flowers

Hello and welcome! 

It's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge and this week Dena is hosting. Her theme for this week is "Summer Flowers" and as always we hope you'll join in the fun! There are two prizes up for grabs this time, a beautiful floral stamp set and a choice of 3 digis from Ruth Hamilton Design who has some equally beautiful floral images (and others) to choose from!

Here is what I made using one of Ruth's digis - Cosmos.

I printed on Neenah 80lb card stock and then colored using a few Copic markers. I also used a Faber Castell Polychromo pencil for some more shading. The image was fussy cut. 

I used a small envelope die I've had for many years, this exact one came from Whimsy Stamps but it's no longer available. Alternative options might be available here. 

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After die cutting the envelope on white card stock I used a MFT dotted stencil which I also used on the card base with Wilted Violet Distress Oxide ink. The patterned paper is from my stash, probably by DCWV.

The sentiment is from Penny Black's Set Blooming Sentiments, I bend it on a clear block to make it work on this banner die (from Avery Elle Wonky Stitches set). To finish it off I added a small button with some twine and Stickles glitter in the flower center. 

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!

Sharing with these challenges:

Cardz 4 Galz - Die Cuts // Crafty Gals Corner - AG // Simon Says Stamp - Add a Sentiment // 

Beach Themed Masculine Card with Summer by the Sea from Stampin Up

Hello and welcome! 

It's Saturday already and I'm am back today with a new card to share for the new theme at Allsorts challenge! Lorraine (Lolo) is hosting this week and she picked the theme of "Masculine". Our prize comes from Helping Hands Craft and hope you can join us for your chance to win!

I shared a Christmas card on Wednesday but my brain is definitely in Summer mode and I made a beach themed card today using an oldie from Stampin Up as my focal point and I build up the scene using stamps from more recent years by Hero Arts.

 

I started by stamping the boy on Bristol Vellum paper, then stamped again on a post it note, fussy cut this to use a a mask. As mentioned this set is long retired from Stampin Up, but it's usually found on eBay or Etsy, it's called Summer by the Sea.

Next I build the ocean scene (with the post it mask in place) using Color Layering Waves from Hero Arts. 

Next I stamped the boat silhouette from the Hero Arts set Color Layering Sea and Sky also from Hero Arts using Versafine Onyx ink, placed a small die cut circle over the boat and inked up the sky portion using Tumbled Glass Distress ink. 

The silhouette birds are also part of Hero Arts Color Layering Sea and Sky, and the "sandy feet" sentiment is part of the Color Layering Waves set. 

I stamped the boy once again, this time on some tropical themed patterned paper to paper piece his shirt. 

I also used a stamp from Stampin Up's set Itty Bitty Backgrounds (this is another oldie) on the sand for a sandy texture. 

Hero Arts Color Layering Waves

Color Layering Sea and Sky

A closer view below...

I colored the rest of the boy using Zig Clean Color markers with my Zig Detailer brush and a couple of Faber Castell Polychromos pencils for the hair. 

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!

You may also like:

• Summer Scene
• Summer by the Sea
• Season's - What's Your Favorite?

I'm linking up here:

Inspiration Station No.9 - Sun, Sea, Sand // A Gem of a Challenge  - AG // Catch The Bug - AG // Challenge Up Your Life - Beach Time // Crafter's Castle - AG // Crafty Calendar - AG // Craft Rocket Challenges - Summer // Cute Card Thursday - AG // Crafty Gals Corner  - For the Boys // Creative Moments - AG // Fab n Funky - AG // The Paper Funday - Summer Fun // Beyond The Blue - AG // Crafty Catz - AG // 

Always Anything Goes and Link Parties:

Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // 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 // 

Dare to Share //   Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // 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 // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Welcome Wednesdays // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life

Sun, Sea and Sand

Hello and welcome! Happy July!

I wish I could tell you I am currently enjoying a beach getaway with sun, sea and sand, but that is not so and I am just here inviting you to our new summer themed Allsorts challenge :-)

It's Lynn's week to host and she picked the theme of "Sun, Sea and/or Sand"! 

Some time ago I was the lucky winner of a challenge where I won a gift certificate to Bugaboo stamps, and this cute digi was one of the images I selected. I just love all the summer themed images on this collage digi and thought it was so perfect for Lynn's theme this week!

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!

Since there is so much detail on this image I wanted to keep it simple otherwise, so after coloring (which did take quite some time), all I did was adhere to a card front, then repeatedly stamped "you make me smile" from Penny Black's set Snippets all around the card. The small heart is part of a Hero Arts set which included several stamps to be used on the back of cards, but it was a limited edition set and no longer available.

I did print the image twice and parts of the image were fussy cut and adhered with foam tape. 

I used my Faber Castell Polychromos pencils for coloring which I my personal favorite brand of colored pencils. 

Thanks so much for visiting!

Ad: Christmas in July  at Scrapbook.com!

I'm linking up here:

Themes:

2 Sisters On The Blog - Vacation // Clever Dexter Challenge - Hello Summer // Do-Al(l) Kreatives - Summer // The Crafting Challenge - Summertime // Craft Rocket Challenges - Summer // Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes // Colour Crazy Challenge - Coloring // Crafty Catz - Anything Goes // 

Always Anything Goes and Link Parties:

Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // 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 // 

Dare to Share //   Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // 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 // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Welcome Wednesdays // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life

Allsorts Challenge 585/586 - Summer Fun

Hello and thanks so much for visiting! It's time for a new theme at Allsorts challenge. Another theme running for 2 weeks to cover summer and Wendy wants to see something showing "Summer Fun". 

I'm using an older clear stamp set from Penny Black today called Critter Time. Stamped with Memento Tuxedo ink and colored with Copic markers. 

I used a tree stamp from Penny Black, called Snow Blanket stamped with Mowed Lawn Distress ink all around. The sentiment from the set Sprinkles and Smiles was stamped using Versafine Clair Nocturne ink. 

Thanks so much for visiting!! 

Please note: 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. Thanks so much for supporting this blog.

Penny Black and More - August Challenge

It's the first Sunday of the month, that means it's time for a new theme at Penny Black and More challenge. Say it with Flowers is this month theme and hope you'll decide to play along. Our prizes this month come from Penny Black and Stamp Addicts.



Please note: some affiliate links are used in this post (below), meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, but as always this is at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog.

I used Penny Black's slapstick stamp Light Touch, inked with Distress inks (regular, not Oxides) and Distress markers, lightly spritzed with water and stamped with the help of my stamp platform. Mine  has been discontinued but there are several options available.

I inked the edges using Antique Linen and (I think) Walnut Stain distress inks and stamped the open harlequin (not sure if this design has a specific name??) design to add some interest to the background. This stamp is an oldie from Stampin Up.

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The butterfly is part of Penny Black's Flowing Butterflies die. It's been cut out of white card stock then inked with distress ink. The sentiment is one from the set Blooming Sentiments, one of my newer favorite stamp sets ,with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink.

A closeup below...

Thanks so much for visiting!!



I'm linking up here:

Crafty Friends Challenge - Summer Colors // Penny Black Saturday Challenge - PB Stamps // Aud Sentiments Challenge - Wings // Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

All About Pets at Allsorts Challenge

It's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge where I am hosting this week. I selected a nice and easy theme about Pets. Hope you decide to join us for your chance to be featured as one of my top picks.

*Please note, this post includes some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, this is at no cost to you. As always thank so much for supporting this blog!

I used an old wood mounted stamp from Penny Black, but I've only just purchased it from Etsy last year and I'm pretty sure this is my first time ever using it.

The stamp is called Beach Hammock, I can't find it anywhere at the moment and it's one of those items hard to find but if you check ebay or etsy regularly it might pop up at one time or another. 

I heat embossed using  Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink and  Clear Embossing Powder then used Distress inks (Pumice Stone, Peacock Feathers, Blueprint Sketch, Antique Linen, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Fired Brick) and my  Zig Detailer Brush for coloring on  Bristol Vellum paper.

I added some gauze as an extra detail over the pattern paper which I've had for a long time. The dots in the sand were done with Stampin Up's old Itty Bitty Background stamp set and the sentiment is one from Tim Holtz'  Quotations Sticker Set.

Thanks so much for visiting!!

I'm hoping to link up with these blogs:

Cute Card Thursday - Summer // Pattie's Creations - Anything Goes // Simply Create Too- All Summer Long // Art Impressions Stamp Challenge - Make Me Laugh // As You Like It Challenge - Favorite: Digi or Rubber - I choose rubber stamps because I have more control and options on how I use the stamp and find it quicker and easier // Little Red Wagon - Animal Antics // Paper Shelter - Color It // Simon Says Stamp - Summer Fun // 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Critters // Ching-chou Kuik Digital Stamps - Fun in the Sun // Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Pattern Papers // Sweet Stampers - Beginning with B (Beach) // The Crafting Challenge - Summer // Artsystamper Challenge - Vacation // Make My Monday - Summer Activities // Penny Black Saturday Challenge - PB Stamps

Always Anything Goes Card Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Crafts Galore Encore // Classic Design Challenge // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Not Just Cards (F) // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends // The Corrosive Challenges // Creative Fingers // QKR Stampede // Crafting With An Attitude // Brown Sugar (?) // Craft-Dee BowZ
Linky Parties:  
Artsy Fartsy // Thinking out Loud Thursday // Little Things Thursday // Thursday Favorite Things // Slices of Life (Encouraging Hearts and Home) // Creative Compulsions // Fridays at the Fire Station // Friday favorites //High Five for Friday // Friendship Friday // Funtastic Fridays // A Morning Cup of Joe // On the Edge // Friday Favorites // Best of the Month-- (first Friday/ month)
Party In Your Pj's // Tuesday Turn About // Wonderful Wednesday // Classy Flamingos // Welcome Wednesdays // Dare to Share // Inspire Me Mondays // Little Cottage Linkup // Love Your Creativity // Handmade Monday // Anything Goes with your Hosts (Mondays) // Craftastic Monday // Beautifully Made // The Happy Now // Hearth and Soul (starts Monday night)

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - June Challenge

Hello and welcome to the new theme for Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday challenge right here on my blog! A big thank you to all of you who joined in last month! There were some wonderful entries as always! Be sure to scroll down to the end of this post to see if you are the prize winner or if you were one of my top picks.

This Month's Theme

For the month of June the theme I selected is...................

In The Summer Garden

This means anything you might see in a summer garden - for example flowers, bugs, critters, birds, maybe even a garden gnome or a child playing in the backyard kids pool, etc.

I hope you'll decide to join in and share your creations this month! 

*Please note, this post does 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. Thanks so much for your support.

I first inked up the floral stamp At Grace using distress inks and markers (Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans,  Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron, Walnut Stain), then stamped using the stamp platform (Options).  After stamping, I used a damp Zig Detailer brush over the image for more of a watercolor look. Next I inked up the  Brick Wall stamp using Antique Linen ink and stamped it randomly over the background trying not to stamp over the flowers which clearly wasn't 100% possible. For the butterfly I created an inky background using Mustard Seed and Wild Honey  distress inks, then stamped the butterfly from the set Butterfly Garden directly onto this inky paper using Antique Linen ink. I fussy cut the butterfly with my Cutterbee scissors.

The sentiment from the new set Blooming Sentiments was stamped using Versafine Clair Nocturne ink. To finish off the card I inked the edges using more of the yellow inks and a blending tool then added three pearls as an embellishment. The words stamped on the butterfly came from an old Whimsy Stamps border stamp set.

Stamps: Penny Black At Grace // Penny Black Butterfly Garden // Penny Black Blooming Sentiments // Penny Black Brick Wall // 

Inks: Distress Ink Tumbled Glass // Distress Ink Faded Jeans // Distress Ink Marker Mowed Lawn // Distress Ink Marker Twisted Citron // Distress Ink Mustard Seed // Distress Ink Walnut Stain // Distress Ink Wild Honey // Distress Ink Antique Linen // Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink // 

Tools: Stamp Platform - Similar Options // Cutterbee Scissors // Zig Detailer Brush // Ink Blending Tool

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I'm linking up here:

Tuesday Throwdown with the color combo below // Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Make your own background // Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Nature and Flowers // Crafty Friends Challenge - Add Embellishments // 

Party In Your Pj's // Tuesday Turn About // Wonderful Wednesday // Classy Flamingos // Welcome Wednesdays // Dare to Share // Inspire Me Mondays // Little Cottage Linkup // Love Your Creativity // Handmade Monday // Anything Goes with your Hosts (Mondays) // Craftastic Monday // Beautifully Made // The Happy Now // Hearth and Soul (starts Monday night)

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Last Month's Winner and Top Picks

I use random.org to select a winner and this month the lucky number is.................

No. 22 Bunny

Congratulations Bunny, you may choose between a $6 gift certificate to Mo's Digital Pencil or Bugaboo Stamps. Please email me at ellibellescorner at gmail dot com by June 17th to claim your prize. Be sure to let me know in your email which company you prefer so I can get the prize sent to you. 

Selecting top picks is never easy but something that needs to get done so here they are in order of entry:

No. 20 Maxine D.

No. 36 Vikki W. 

No. 66 Valerija

Congratulations ladies, such beautiful work! Feel free to grab the logo below to place on your own blogs if you like to!

In order to be in compliance with GDPR I am not able to post links, but you can see these beautiful creations by visiting last month's post and linky tool and look for the entry number to see their wonderful creations. 

To play along in this month's challenge simply use the linky tool below. The usual rules apply:

• Enter up to 3 times with a new project.
• You may combine with any other challenges.
• You may use any brand of stamps/digis (no company restriction)
• Be sure to add a link back here to my blog