A Gem of a Challenge DT Card - Three Bs

We have a new challenge for you at A Gem of a Challenge, this time our theme is "Add At Least Three Things Beginning With The Letter B".  I added a bunny, buttons, butterflies, blooms and blue to my card for my "Bs"; and used a super cute digi called Bunny with Flowers, from the Pink Gem store, which I coloured with my Promarkers, fussy cut and stuck to the card with foam pads.

 The patterned papers are from a seriously elderly Papermania pad called Venetian Skies, to which I added a hint of kraft and some light blue paper for a fresh look.
I stamped a sentiment with a stamp from a Personal Impressions set, and embellished very simply with a couple of buttons and a trio of butterflies punched from dark blue paper.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Allsorts - #405 - Spring Inspiration - Flowers and spring animal
The Paper Shelter - #283 - Animal Magic
The Crazy Challenge - #243 - We Love Animals
QKR Stampede - #233 - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps and More - #231 - Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge DT Card - Add a Butterfly

We have a new challenge for you today at A Gem of a Challenge, this fortnight our theme is "Add a Butterfly".  You can add one or loads, it's up to you, as long as we can see at least one butterfly on your project.
I decided to make a start on my Easter cards with my DT card, using the super cute Bunny With Carrots from the Pink Gem store on my card.  I coloured him with my Promarkers and added some colourful punched butterflies to the garden scene.

The papers, patterned and plain, apart from the dark blue and green, are from Dovecraft's Hoppy Easter range, the sentiment die and flower dies are from that range too; the flowers match the blooms on the paper exactly.  The foliage was cut with a Crafter's Companion die and the little garden tools were made with First Edition dies.

The final touch was to add some light blue pearls to the corners.

 I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Passion for Promarkers - #380 - All Creatures Great and Small 

Scrappers Delights - #63 - Anything Goes

Use Your Stuff - #249 - Animals

Cuttlebug Mania - Hobby - Gardening - See main post for dies used

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 - #105 - Sketch

A Gem of a Challenge DT Card - Celebrate Something New

We're back with the first challenge of the year at A Gem of a Challenge, this fortnight our theme is "Celebrate Something New".  I decided to make a new home card as my DT project, using Snail Home from the Pink Gem store, which I coloured with Promarkers and added some paper piecing for the shell.

 The patterned papers are Papermania, Hot Diggedy Dog, to which I added some black card for matting.  They've been in my stash of ages but I still like the pretty pastel colours, and they make a nice change from all the Christmas papers I've been using recently.
To embellish, I added a sentiment stamped with a Lili of the Valley stamp, and I made a large flower with my Heartfelt Creations, Enchanted Mums die, and foliage with Sue Wilson Petite Vines dies.  The flower centre was made a lovely micro bead and glitter mix from Stix 2 Anything.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Crafty Calendar - Something New
Sweet Stampin' - Something New
Brown Sugar - #232 - Anything Goes
Simply Create Too - #123 - New Beginnings
Craft Rocket - #30 - Something New
Crafty Sentiments - Something New
Passion For Promarkers - #367 - Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge DT Card - Christmas

It's the last challenge of the year at A Gem of a Challenge and this time our theme is "Christmas".  I chose to use Cheers Chilly from the Pink Gem store, which I coloured with my Promarkers.  I love this fun image, I think it's perfect for male cards; this card is for my son's swimming teacher who is a young twenty-something lad.

 The papers are Crafter's Companion, from the Sara Davis Collection; I inked the edges with dark blue ink and added light blue card for the die cuts.
The sentiment panel was cut with a Sue Wilson die and stamped with a Papermania stamp, and the snowflakes were cut with Sweet Dixie dies and topped with crystal gems.  To finish, I added a few blobs of Nuvo Crystal Drops.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Crafty Catz - #350 - Non Traditional Christmas Colours 

Creative Corner - Christmas Time
QKR Stampede - #221 - Non Traditional Christmas Colours
CRAFT - #393 - Winter
Through the Purple Haze - #114 - Winter / Christmas Colours
If You Gave a Crafter a Cookie - #58 -  I was inspired by the colours and snowflake motif
Fab 'n' Funky - #330 - Make Someone Smile
Passion for Promarkers - #375 - Use Dies / Punches
Crafty Boots - Christmas
Dream Valley - #146 - Christmas

A Gem of a Challenge DT Card - Autumn Colour Inspiration

We have a new challenge for you today at A Gem of a Challenge; this fortnight it's a colour challenge and we have a beautiful photo to inspire you.

I decided to go with an autumn theme as well as autumn colours as this picture instantly made me think of Autumn Bella from the Pink Gem store.  I coloured her with Promarkers and cut her out with a Spellbinders Decorative Labels Twenty-Seven die.

 The papers, sentiment and tag are Papermania Tilly Daydream, to which I added a die cut circle of DCWV self adhesive cork behind the topper to add texture and another autumnal colour.  I also added some faux stitching to the leaf paper to work with the fabric look papers and stitched effect sentiment.
To embellish, I added some organza ribbon with a button topped double bow, some leaves made with Spellbinders Fall Foliage dies, and a button to the tag.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Crafty Catz - #342 - All Tied Up
Pattie's Creations - #127 - Halloween / Autumn
Craft Rocket - #26 - Happy Birthday
Through the Purple Haze - #110 - Birthday
Crafting By Designs - Add a Sentiment
The Crafty Addicts - #26 - Autumn Colours
Crafty Friends - #42 - Autumn Colours
My Sheri Crafts - #192 - First Day of Fall

A Gem of a Challenge DT Card - Female Birthday

We have a new challenge for you today at A Gem of a Challenge, this fortnight the theme is "Female Birthday", so nice and easy to play along with.  I chose to use Flower Power Emma from the Pink Gem store, colouring her with my ever faithful Promarkers.  I cut out the topper and the frame for it with Spellbinders Adorning Rectangles dies.

The glorious patterned papers are from a Craftwork Cards pad called Countryside; they were a birthday present from one of my crafty friends, along with a bag of the matching Card Candi, a piece of which can be seen on the sentiment tag.  The whole pad is in my fave colour combo of pink and green, so you can expect to see these papers popping up a lot!
To embellish, I added some lime green grosgrain ribbon and bow, a sentiment tag, cut with a Sizzix die and stamped with a Personal Impressions stamp, a flower made with Sue Wilson Cornflower dies, and foliage made with a Sizzix die.

 I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

 Passion For Promarkers - #363 - Favourite Colour Combo - Pink and Green 

Crafty Ribbons - #167 - Birthday 

Seize the Birthday - Birthday + Frame 

Broken Fairy - #11 - Anything Goes with Optional Twist of Girly 

Creative Fingers - #116 - Anything Goes 

QKR Stampede - #209 - Anything Goes 

Crafty Girls Creations - #25 - Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge DT Card - Summer Fun

We have anew challenge for you at A Gem of a Challenge, this time our theme is "Summer Fun".  I've used the very sweet Chloe With Ice Cream from the Pink Gem store, colouring her with my Promarkers.

 The patterned paper is Papermania Bellissima, to which I added some lilac pearl card.  I used Spellbinders dies to cut the frame shapes.
To embellish, I added blue-green organza ribbon with a matching double bow, some butterflies made with Xcut dies and decorated with Star Dust Stickles and gems, and an ice cream made with a Dovecraft punch, highlighted with mores Stickles and Glossy Accents on the cherry.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Crafty Calendar - Summer Fun
Crafty Gals Corner - #84 - Bingo - Ribbon, Hand Coloured Digi, Bling
Inspiration Destination - #99 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown - #307 - Anything Goes
Love To Scrap - #84 - Anything Goes
Ooh La La - #211 - 3 Embellishments - 3 Butterflies
Robyn's Fetish - #329 - Glitter and a Bow

Cutie Pie DT Card - Work, Rest or Play

It's time for a new challenge at Cutie Pie, this month our theme is "Work, Rest or Play", and we're sponsored by Pink Gem, who very kindly gave the DT an image each of our choice to work with.  I chose to use the very sweet, and playful Angelica with Snowman, colouring the image with Promarkers and highlighting it with Star Dust Stickles.  I used a Spellbinders Curved Rectangle to cut the image out.

 I gave my patterned papers the day off and used plain blue, and white pearl flecked cardstock along with my Memory Box Frostyville Border die to create a background.  A liberal application of more Star Dust Stickles and some blue gems to the border pumps up the sparkle factor, well it is a Christmas card!
To further embellish, I added some layered ribbon with a matching button topped bow, a pair of mittens made with a Memory Box die and a sentiment stamped with a Papermania stamp.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Crafty Friends - #37 - Favourite Embellishments - Layered ribbon and die cuts
Aud Sentiments - #161 - For a Child + a Sentiment
Crafty Ribbons - #163 - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Star Stampz - Add a Sentiment
Inspiration Destination - #97 - Anything Goes
Passion for Promarkers - #357 - My Favourite Things - Layered Ribbon with a matching bow, handmade embellishments, and an image coloured with Promarkers
Artistic Inspirations - #162 - Anything Goes
Ooh La La - #210 - Ribbons and Bows

A Gem of a Challenge DT Card - Animals

It's time  for a new challenge at A Gem of a Challenge, this time our theme is "Animals", so nice and easy to play along.  I decided to use Little Millie's Birthday, from the Pink Gem store, for my DT card, colouring the image with Promarkers and highlighting it with a touch of Star Dust Stickles.

 The patterned paper is from a geriatric Dovecraft pack called A Piece of Cake, to which I added some dark brown and pink pearl cardstock.  The die used to cut the sentiment is Dovecraft too, I picked it up at The Range really cheap when I was on holiday.
The main topper was cut out with a Spellbinders Curved Rectangles die, and I inked the edges of this, the backing paper and some of the die cuts with Ground Espresso Distress Ink.  The cupcakes and balloon were die cut with dies from my Xcut Birthday Party set.
The final touch was to add three star shaped gems around the sentiment.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Colour Crazy Craft Challenge - #18 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments - #160 - Anything Goes + a Sentiment
Sisterhood of Crafters - Animals
Artistic Inspirations - #161 - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart - #121 - Anything Goes
Love to Scrap - #82 - Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge DT Project - Anything But a Card

We have a new challenge for you today at A Gem of a Challenge, this fortnight's theme is "Anything But a Card", I chose to alter a blank notebook using Cupcake Teddy from the Pink Gem store.

I coloured the digi with Promarkers, dusted in a sky with Salty Ocean Distress Ink using a Clarity brush, added a blob of red Nuvo Crystal Drops to the cherry on the cake, added yellow gems to the flower centres, added a sun and cloud made with First Edition dies from the Weather set and finished with a ribbon and a matching button topped bow.
I added this front panel to the blank chipboard front of the notebook, punching the holes with my Big Bite, using the original notebook holes as a guide.   I then covered the inside and back cover with pretty daisy pattered paper (Papermania, Daisy and Dandelion, Lovingly Yours) to hide the unsightly chipboard, and inked all the edges with Ground Espresso Distress Ink.
I then put the notebook together using the rings it came with, and decorated them with little scraps of ribbon in colours to match the image.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges -

Crafty Friends - #34 - Inspired by a Song - Chocolate Cake by Crowded House
Passion for Promarkers - #351 - Inspired by a Song - Chocolate Cake by Crowded House
CRAFT - #369 - Animals
Crafty Ribbons - #157 - Summer
Creative Moments - #96 - Anything Goes / Summer
Crafty Boots - Summer Time
Incy Wincy - Buttons and Bows

A Gem of a Challenge DT Card - Weather

We have a new challenge starting today at A Gem of a Challenge, this time our theme is "Weather".  I was inspired by rainy weather an used an older, but no less lovely Pink Gem digi called Milly in the Rain, which I coloured with Promarkers and highlighted with Glossy Accents on the puddle and raindrops.

 The papers are Lili of the Valley, Pastel Dreams, the edges of which I've inked with Ground Espresso Distress Ink and scuffed up with my Tim Holtz distress tool.  I also curled some of the corners and did a little bit of subtle tearing, adding a crystal gem behind a tear.  I also added a row of tiny dots made with Nuvo Crystal Drops in Carnation Pink down the right hand side.
To embellish, I added some crochet lace, stapling it into place with pink staples to add to the shabby look, a couple of rain clouds, cut with Joy dies from grey pearl card, a sentiment stamped with a Personal Impressions stamp, and some flowers and foliage made with Woodware punches.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - #110 - Bingo - Lace, Patterned Paper, Die Cuts
Aud Sentiments - #156 - Anything Goes + a Sentiment
Cardz 4 Galz - #23 - Vintage or Shabby
Crafting For All Seasons - #127 - Make It Girly
Crafty Gals Corner - #73 - Anything Goes
Deep Ocean - #129 - Shabby Chic or Vintage
Passion For Promarkers - #347 - Ribbon and/or Lace
Incy Wincy - Texture

A Gem of a Challenge DT Card - Favourite Colour Combo

It's challenge time again at A Gem of a Challenge, this time our theme is "Your Favourite Colour Combo", my favourite is pink and green, pink certainly seems to be popular with the team, I wonder if this will be the same with our challenge entrants?  I decided to use Yummy Mummy Emma for my DT card, colouring her with my Promarkers.

 The papers are from a DCWV pad that's been in my stash for years and is much neglected, I added some bright pink card for matting.
To embellish I added, some pink lace, lime green grosgrain ribbon with a matching button topped bow, a couple of sentiment tags made with Lili of the Valley stamps, a flower made with a Spellbinders die and inked with Distress Inks in Picked Raspberry and Twisted Citron, and a few pink gems.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Simply Create Too - #108 - Ladies Only
Cardz 4 Galz - #21 - Include a Button
Crafty Ribbons - #149 - Button it Up
The Crafty Addicts - #14 - Use Ribbon
Passion for Promarkers - #343 - Make it Digital

Cute Pie DT Card - Woodland Friends

It's challenge time again at Cutie Pie, this month our theme is "Cute Woodland Friends", and we're sponsored by Pink Gem, who very kindly gave the DT an image each to play with.  I'm a huge fan of Pink Gem digis, I'm on their DT, so I was delighted to use Cupcake Bluebell, one of Janet's cute bunny images on my card, colouring her with Promarkers, then adding micro beads and glitter for the sprinkles on the cupcake.

 The papers are from a bargain 12x12 pad that I bought in The Works, it's their own brand and surprisingly good quality, the paper is a really heavy weight.  I added some nice buttery cream pearl card from Anna Marie Designs for matting.
I used a Spellbinders Floral Ovals die to cut out the frame for the topper, the ombre paper is from the same Works paper pad mentioned before, the bunny was fussy cut and added to the topper with foam pads to create a bit of height.  The dies used to make the the roses and foliage are from an Xcut set that I don't use nearly enough, I always seem to overlook it in favour of more dimensional flowers.
To further embellish, I added some layered ribbon, a matching button topped bow, a sentiment stamped with a Lili of the Valley stamp, and some pink and lemon gems.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Addicted to Stamps - #124 - Pastel Colours
Through the Purple Haze - #99 - Layers
Seize the Birthday - Birthday
Robyn's Fetish - #311 - Add a Sentiment
Cupcake Inspirations - #355 - Patterns - I used the same patterned paper but in two sizes of print

A Gem of a Challenge DT Card - Anything But Square

It's challenge time again at A Gem of a Challenge, this fortnight our theme is "Anything But Square".
I decided to make a wine bottle shaped card for my DT project, using one of Janet's new digis, called Ernie With Wine, which I coloured with Promarkers, then fussy cut before sticking to the card with foam pads.

 I used a B-C-E template to create the shaped card, the bottle is more of a rich bottle green in reality, it hasn't photographed well at all.  I used some black card to give the effect of the black foil around the top of the bottle, and die cut some little loopy flourishes to go top and bottom of the large label, from the same green card as the bottle, to look like the embossed glass you often see on wine bottles, especially the more upmarket ones.
As luck would have it, I had a Creative Expressions wine label stamp that turned out to be exactly the right size for the bottle, I stamped it up in Rich Cocoa Memento ink on cream card and fussy cut it out.  I made a smaller label for the bottle using Spellbinders dies and a stamped 60, using the same ink.
The tag was stamped with a Papermania stamp twice, then inked, fussy cut, paper pieced, tied to the bottle neck with baker's twine, then held in place with foam pads.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Sweet Stampin' - How Old?
The Stamping Boutique - Masculine
Aud Sentiments - #152 - Birthday Sentiment or Number 6
Shopping Our Stash - #254 - For the Big or Biggest Boys
Get Creative - #35 - Must Use Green