Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - October Challenge

Hello and welcome to Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - October challenge taking place right here on my blog! I'm so glad you stopped by and hope you decide to link up too! There were many wonderful creations last month, thank you all so much for sharing! As always my top picks are at the end of the post. 

As a reminder, the theme now is always................

Anything Crafty Goes,

and instead of a challenge theme I will choose a Top Pick Twist but nobody knows what the twist will be (not even me) until the challenge closes as it will be inspired by your creations. So feel free to link up all your new or recently made crafty creations for a chance to have YOUR project featured next month! 

Here is what I'm sharing this month. My husband and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary at the end of last month and this is the card I made for him :) 

Penny Black Buddy and Duck // Avery Elle Heart Frame Die // Versafine Onyx Ink // Distress Inks Stormy Sky, Hickory Smoke, Fired Brick, Walnut Stain // Tim Holtz Small Talk Sticker Set // Washi Tape for Masking

I started out by using washi tape around the edges of my card front and a piece to separate the two colors on the background. I inked with Stormy Sky and Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide inks, flicked some water onto the "stormy sky" part. 

The hearts frame die and tiny hearts are part of this Avery Elle die set but it may have been discontinued. 

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The image is from Penny Black's set Buddy and Duck, I used Distress inks to color the dog (Walnut Stain for his spots, Stormy Sky for his nose and Fired Brick for the Umbrella). He's been fussy cut and I used foam tape on the umbrella. 

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 sharing with these blogs:

Unicorn Challenge - Spooky or Cute // A Place To Start - AG opt. circles // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG // Path of Positivity - AG // We Love 2 Create - AG Creative // Di's Digis Designs - Animals // Penny Black Saturday Challenge - PB stamps // Colour Crazy Challenge - Coloring // Krafty Chicks - AG // Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters // Crafty Animals - Animals // Crafty Friends Challenge - use more than 1 die (I used 2: tiny hearts and heart frame) // Creatalicious Challenges - AG // 

Always AG:

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 // 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 // Wonderful Wednesday // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life //  Funtastic Friday //   Link Up On The Edge

Last Month's Top Picks with a Twist:

As mentioned previously, there is now a Top Pick Twist when it comes to my selection of Top Picks. Nobody knows what the twist will be - not even me - until the end of the month as the twist will be totally inspired by YOUR creations. This means the top picks will all have something in common.

The Top Pick Twist from the September entries is ............ Fun with Embossing Folders, meaning each one of my top picks shared a great way to use an embossing folder. It wasn't an easy choice as there were several entries using embossing folders so it's a top 4 this time.

And here they are listed in the order of entry:

No. 38 Jan

No. 47 KraftyKards

No. 49 Liliane

No. 52 Donna W.

Congratulations to each one of you! Fabulous work! 

Your Top Pick logo is below. Feel free to post it to your own blogs if you like to.

I will continue to pin the top picks to the dedicated Pinterest board, but will also include photo and link back to the original blogs/sites here. These will be removed at the start of the new challenge to stay in compliance with GDPR.

To join in this month please use the linky tool below. You have until October 30th 11:59 CST to play along!

A few things to remember:

• 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 so I can manage to visit each entry.
• Please do include a link back here to my blog in your blog post.
• Backlinking to a recent post IS allowed.
• Digital products are allowed and very welcome but the final piece has to be a physical handmade creation, not just digital.

Gardener's Delight

Hello and welcome!

This is my second post for today, they needed to be scheduled at different times so I couldn't combine them. I'll post a link to today's first post at the end of this one, so you can visit it if you like to.  

Today is the start of a new theme at Allsorts challenge. It's Lynn's turn to host this week and she chose the theme of "Gardener's Delight". I always love a garden theme as there are so many options and I had a few stamps on my mind to use for this week but decided on one I haven't used before. Thought it was quite perfect for this time of the year when many of us are thinking of planting a few spring bulbs so you can look forward to spring blooming :) I planted lots of bulbs last fall and it was wonderful to see them in spring. It did take quite some time though, our spring was late to start and maybe I planted a later blooming variety. At one point I thought I did all the work for nothing and planted bad bulbs but the wait was well worth it when they finally bloomed! I think I had planted about 50 daffodils and 50 tulips, plus 25 grape hyacinth.  

This stamp is from a stamp set I purchased from eBay a couple of years ago, by Flourishes. The company is no longer in business so it will only be found on secondary markets occasionally. I'm pretty sure the artist behind this stamp set is Marcella Hawley, and you can find some of her current work on her site Power Poppy where she sells digis as well as traditional stamps.

I stamped the image using Versafine Onyx on Bristol Vellum paper then colored with Zig Clean Color markers. You've seen me using the script border stamp many times before, it's an oldie and retired from Whimsy Stamps. The Audrey Hepburn quote is from Penny Black set Blooming Sentiments. 

       >>>>>>>>>>World Cardmaking Day Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

I tied some natural jute twine around the image panel then used foam tape to adhere it to the embossed card front. Embossing folder is Sizzix by Stampin Up but several years old.

Hope you get some time this week to join us. Our prizes  come from  Oakwood Direct and Ruth Hamilton Design! 

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!

As mentioned, this was my second post for today. 

If you would like to see my first post simply visit this link or click the image below. 

I plan to share with these blogs:

Can You Handle The Pressure? - Embossing with twist of leaves // Colour Crazy Challenge - Coloring // Krafty Chicks - AG // Crafty Gals Corner - Signs of Fall (a garden scene in fall) // Simon Says Stamp - AG // ...

Always AG:

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 // 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 // Wonderful Wednesday // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life //  Funtastic Friday //   Link Up On The Edge

The Four Seasons Challenge: Fall for October

October has arrived (how is that possible??), and with the first day of October also comes the start of a new challenge at Four Seasons challenge. We're still celebrating the beautiful fall season so anything Fall goes but we do have a fabulous optional mood board for your inspiration. 

Lots of great options here if you like to use it, I've had several ideas in my head just by looking at the mood board but went with the first idea inspired by the spooky tree on the bottom left.

Here is my card:

I started out by making the background scene using a circle mask to mask the moon and my new Lavinia Hills masks for some hills. I kept the background colors in a monochromatic dark blue shades using Chipped Sapphire ink and then I added a small amount of Black Soot  to the edges. '

After removing the moon mask I stamped Lavinia's Moon stamp right onto the circle using Antique Linen ink. Then stamped Lavinia's Seasonal Tree on the right side, turned the tree around and stamped just a few branches on the left side. 

Related Products:

The cute image I'm sure some of you will recognize as Stampin' Up's Halloween Hedgehogs. I have to mention Stampin Up's Halloween and  their Holiday Hedgehogs were the stamps that got me hooked to stamping and cardmaking in the first place, well before I discovered Penny Black hedgehogs so these hold a special place in my heart even though I don't use them much.

I colored with distress inks (didn't have the specific shade of purple I was looking for so I mixed a blue with a purple  (so easy to do with distress inks to make a custom color!) I fussy cut the image before adhering to the card and then used a clear Sakura Stardust glitter gel pen to add some sparkle and shine. It's not showing up well in the photo below but you can see the sparkle and shine in the first picture above.

The sentiment is part of the same stamp set (Halloween Hedgehogs) but I only used part of it cut apart to make it fit on the card. I will stamp the rest of it inside the card which will say ... "to wish you happy trick or treating". 

Thanks so much for visiting! You can check out what the rest of the Four Seasons team made here and then hopefully you'll join us too. The challenge runs until October 25th. 

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!

       >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Spooktacular Savings at Scrapbook.com/Ad

I'm planning to link up with these blogs:

Crafty Calendar - Halloween // Crafting Happiness Challenges - Trees // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG // International Art & Soul - Trees // Colour Crazy Challenge - Coloring // Crafty Catz - AG Opt. Blue (I used navy) // Krafty Chicks - AG // Moving along with the Times - Trees // 

Always AG:

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

Let Heaven and Nature Sing

Hello and welcome! 

The challenges are starting up again today at Allsorts challenge and it's my turn to host this week. I thought it would be fun to see your interpretation of the theme "Spots and/or Stripes".  You may use patterned papers, stencils, stamps, embossing and any other creative way to add spots or stripes. We have a wonderful prize from  Highlight Crafts (Perfectly Potted die set with co-ordinating Reflections and tickets to Crafting Live Peterborough) so hope you can join us for your chance to win!

Here is what I made adding both spots and stripes:

These stamps are all from Penny Black (Holly Berry Bird and Nature Sings - those two are new to me and were from more recent releases. The script I stamped on the bottom portion is Penny Black's Christmas Story large background stamp, this is several years old but comes in to handy, "let heaven and nature sing" is part of the Nature Sings stamp set. The large sentiment on the top left is Penny Black's Season's Gifts, my favorite Christmas sentiment set a few years old.

I decided to include some branches onto the card, that die set is also from Penny Black - Blustery. I left them white as if they were snow covered.

Related Products:

I colored with Distress inks but then used Faber Castell Pencils for some more detail. The card front was inked with Iced Spruce Distress Oxide ink and I flicked white Posca Pen ink onto the card for some more spots/ snow. 

The patterned papers I used on the right side I found in my box of paper scraps and I have no idea who the makers are. Gold cord and gold and silver sequins were added as embellishments. I love to mix metals (just ordered this pretty necklace for myself :) so I used both gold and silver sequins.

I once again used the Peace on Earth mood board as inspiration (the colors), this time in plenty of time to share with the challenge too :) I've also used inspiration from the back of Nature Sings stamp set by PB designer Jill Foster, she used both the holly berry stamp set and this cardinal on her card, I just added a few extra details to my card.  

I've also used inspiration from the sample on the back of Nature Sings stamp set by PB designer Jill Foster, she used the same cardinal on her card, and maybe even the same holly berry stamp. I just added a few more details to my card. Of course her card is stunning and beautifully colored like a painting!

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!

Recent post you may  have missed:

Christmas Mice

I plan to link up here:

Peace on Earth Christmas challenge //  We Love Stamping - Anything Stamping // Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Use PB Stamps // Aud Sentiments Challenge - Christmas with a Sentiment // Craft Rocket Challenges - Dots and Stripes // Krafty Chicks - All Occasions // Moving along with the Times - Leaves // Christmas Craft Creations - Ribbon or Twine // Paper Shelter - Woodland Creatures // Word Art Wednesdays  - AG // Paper Minutes - Stripes // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG // Path of Positivity - AG // 

Always AG:

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