Spots and Stripes in a Clean and Simple Way

Hello and welcome! A new challenge starts today at Allsorts and it's Lorraine's turn to host. For her optional theme she selected "Spots and Stripes" or you can choose the "Anything Goes" option. We have prizes from Stampendous for weeks 780 and 782. Next week we are celebrating Allsorts' 15th birthday and we'll have a special prize package for the special event :)

Thought this challenge was a good opportunity to use up some of my patterned papers that seem to be multiplying so I selected a few dotted and striped papers to see what I'd come up with. But in the end I went with just 2 thin strips of papers and made a CAS style card to keep the focus on the mice.

These cute mice are from the set So Sweet by Colorado Craft Company. I purchased it about a year ago but this is only my second time  using it. 

The critters were stamped with Memento Tuxedo ink and colored with Copic markers then I used a small circle die to cut each one out and added to the card with foam tape. The sentiment is part of the same stamp set. Before adhering the card front to the base I tied some jute twine around it. Some stickles glitter makes the treats sparkle. 

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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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Just a heads up that we will celebrate Allsorts' 15th Birthday on May 18th (next Saturday!!), with some special prizes. Please help us spread the word with the logo below.

I plan to share with these challenges:

• 613 Avenue Create - For the Kids
• A Gem of a Challenge - AG
• Crafty Animals - Animals
• Crafty Calendar - AG
• Creations in Pink - mostly pink
• Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters
• Daisy Chain Challenges - Not Square
• FarmQuest HomeStyle Kitchen Challenge - Food (these farmhouse mice enjoying some treats!!)
• Incy Wincy Designs - Animals
• Simon Says Stamp - use die cuts
• Simply Clean and Simple - CAS
• Stamping Sensations - AG option
• We Love Stamping - AG option

Graduation Card with More Than One Fold

Happy Saturday and welcome!

A new theme starts today at Allsorts challenge and Liz is hosting this week. For her optional theme she selected "More Than One Fold" but it's just an option as all of your new crafty makes (up to 3) are welcome and we'd love to see them. All will be entered into the prize drawing or considered for the Top 5. Prizes for weeks 778 and 779 come from Oakwood and Highlight Crafts. Look for the winners post on the last Friday of the month. 

I don't often make cards with more than one fold but there is no denying that there is something special about those fancy folds. And since my daughter is graduating from Highschool later this month I thought she would appreciate a fancy fold card so that is what I made :)

I combined stamps from Visible Image and Aall and Create.

My image panel was started with a smooshed background using Picked Raspberry and Blueprint Sketch Distress inks. Next I stamped the clocks from the Aall and Create set Clocks and Flowers using SU's Bashful Blue ink. The typewriter and "...next chapter" stamps are from the Visible Image set One Kind Word. The Aall and Create bird from the set Follow Your Own Path was stamped on a separate piece of card stock then colored and fussy cut. I wanted to stay with a blue and pink color combo so I only used those colors along with black soot ink to color the bird. I added a circle die cut for a little more interest then added the bird with foam tape. The little bird on the right side is also from the Aall and create set Follow your own path.

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"Congratulations" and "Happy Graduation" sentiments are oldies from Whimsy stamps.

A view from the side:

And here is the inside. I managed to get a small ink blodge inside while inking around the edges and so I decided to use a stencil by Stampers Anonymous to add more blodges :) I also used another stamp from the Follow Your Own Path set on the bottom right stamped with light blue ink. 

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 sure most of you are familiar with the Easel card fold, but if you're looking for instructions you can find them here at Splitcoast Stampers. Mine is a little larger than the card in the tutorial and measures 6" square when closed so I started out with a 6x12 inch cardstock piece for the base which I scored at 6" and 3", then added my card front and the inside. I definitely think the easel card style is one of the easier "fancy folds" so if you have never tried it I do recommend giving this one a try.

>>>>>>>>>>>>International Scrapbooking Day Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

Just a heads up that we will celebrate Allsorts' 15th Birthday on May 18th, with some special prizes. Please help us spread the word with the logo below.

 I plan to share with these challenges:

• Art Impressions Stamp Challenge - Birds of a Feather
• Cardz 4 Galz - Any Celebrations or Mother's Day
• Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! - Stencils (see inside the card)
• Crafts Galore Encore - AG
• Creatalicious Challenges - AG/ option something new (first time using bird and typewriter stamps)
• Creative Creases - Fun Folds
• Creative Fingers - AG
• Creative Inspirations Challenge  - AG
• Cut It Up - Add a Sentiment plus a die cut (circle behind the bird)
• Krafty Chicks - Use Stamps
• Simon Says Stamp - Feminine
• The Paper Funday - AG
• Triple B - Birds, Blooms or Butterflies
• Word Art Wednesdays - AG

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Double Easel Card

Lily of the Valley for Four Seasons May Challenge

Happy first day of May and thank you so much for stopping by! A new month means a new challenge starts at the Four Seasons challenge blog. I've also posted the May Crafty Wednesday challenge right below this post or you can click here if you're visiting for that challenge.

It's time for another beautiful spring moodboard at the Four Seasons challenge but its use is optional as Anything Spring Goes. 

Here is what I made inspired by the pretty pink Lily of the Valley looking image and I chose this opportunity to ink up the new to me stamp from Aall and Create.

I started out by smooshing green Distress Oxide inks onto the background (Twisted Citron and Rustic Wilderness) then stamped the Lily of the Valley from the Aall and Create set Elegant Spring Florals #623 for the focal point. For a little more background interest I used more stamps from Aall and Create (Foliage #496, Blackbird #530 and Elegant Spring Florals #623). The Lily of the Valley text is part of the Elegant Spring Florals set and sentiment "Especially for You" is from the Penny Black Set Blooming Sentiments.

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I added sticky enamel dots, matted onto black cardstock and then onto a white card base to complete the card.

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 to share with these challenges:

• Alphabet Challenge - B for Bird
• A Perfect Time To Craft - AG
• Beautiful Blossoms - Flowers
• Crafts Galore Encore - AG
• Creatalicious Challenges - Something New (New Lily of the Valley stamp)
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Feminine
• The Crafting Challenge - AG
• The Creative Crafters - AG
• We Love 2 Create - Anything Creative Goes

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Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - May Challenge

Hello and welcome to Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday May challenge taking place right here on my blog! I'm so glad you stopped by today and hope you'll share your own crafty make(s) this month too. The linky tool is at the end of the post. There were many wonderful entries last month so make to scroll down to see who made the Top 3!

As most of you know, the theme is now always ....

Anything Goes

and instead of a challenge theme there will be a "Top Pick Twist", meaning I will select a twist from all of the entries for the Top 3. Nobody will know what the twist will be (not even me) until the end of the challenge. So do link up all of your crafty makes, your entry might be the one inspiring the Top Pick twist :)

And here is my share for this month a little bit inspired by a top pick :)

I started with washi tape around the image panel then inked with Fired Brick Distress ink and a mini tile stencil by Stampers Anonymous (sorry I can't find a link). After removing the washi tape I stamped the poppy image (Penny Black Brilliant) and colored with Worn Lipstick Distress ink. I wanted to add a little more interest so I cut the frame with Penny Black's Frames die set then stamped and fussy cut that one blossom and added to the card with foam tape. The sentiment is from the Penny Black set Blooming Sentiments and I added black enamel dots along with some stickles glitter to finish it off. 

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!

Entering to these challenges:

• Double D Challenge - Pretty Florals
• Penny Black Saturday - AG with PB stamps


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Top Picks with a Twist 

There were so many FABULOUS entries last month and as always it wasn't easy to decide on the Twist but I finally managed and the top picks with a twist are below. The twist for the April Top Picks is: Any way you stitch it.

No. 34 Jan R.

No. 38 Kate

No. 59 Maxine

Congratulations to each one of you! Well deserved recognition! 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's challenge please use the linky tool below. The linky tool closes on the last Wednesday of the month at midnight so you have until Wednesday May 29th to join in. 

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A few things to remember:

• You may combine with any other challenges.
• You may use any brand of stamps/digis/products (no company restriction).
• Please try to limit to 3 entries per month - it's ok if you end up with more than 3 but I may not be able to visit your entries after the 3rd.
• 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