DANCE

Morning Crafters! Well, here we are again - it's time for Passion for Markers Mega Christmas Challenge and the theme is 'Add A Sentiment' 

We have some fabulous sponsors and prizes  this year and we can't wait to see all your projects - please pop in to the PFM blog to get all the details

This time it's all about the sentiment and I've been waiting for a chance to use this one. I realised that I hadn't used a Penny Black image for some time and apologies to readers of my blog as this isn't the first time I have used this stamp, but it is one of my most favourite ones and goes perfectly with my sentiment:) 

For my DT card I followed an old sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday (they have some good ones on their blog - perfect when you need some inspiration!)

Image - 'The Sensations' - Penny Black coloured with Promarkers

Papers - 'Perfect Partners' (mint and white) - The Paper Boutique

I used John Next Door's 'Layering Dies' for all my elements

Challenges:

'Anything Goes' - I Love Promarkers

'Anything Goes' - Dream Valley

'Anything Goes' - We Love Stamping

'Anything Goes' - Penny Black Saturday

Thanks for visiting!

Natxx

Surprise!

 It's my turn to set the theme for this week's challenge at Passion for Markers and I have chosen a nice easy one - 'Animal Antics'

Don't forget to pop into the blog to find all the details and get some inspiration from the Team 2 girls

I have used a Penny Black stamp that I have used for DT cards more than once before, but I do  love it, it stamps so well and is easy to colour.  I have made a centre panel card inspired by Sam Calcott's Youtube video:

Inside:

Image - 'Surprise! - Penny Black

Papers - Crafter's Companion 'Garden of Love' 12 x 12 pad

Green 'Adorable Scorable' card - Hunkydory

Finished off with enamel dots and mini wooden ladybirds

Challenges:

'Anything Goes/Cute' - Penny Black Saturday

Thanks for visiting!

Natxx

Flower Power

 Morning crafters! I'm here to let you know that we have a new challenge starting today at Passion for Promarkers, this week's theme is 'Flower Power' - so you can use any image so long as your projects feature some flowers somewhere. I have chosen to use the rather aptly named 'Flower Teddy' stamp from Penny Black - he's so cute! I have used flowery paper and flower embellishments, so I think I've covered the theme quite well!

Image - 'Flower Teddy' - Penny Black

Paper - 'Paper Posies' 6 x 6 pad - Dovecraft

Sentiment - LOTV

Pearls - The Hobby House

Bow & flowers from stash

Dies used - Sue Wilson's 'Double Stitched Squares'

Challenges: 

'Summer Fun' - Creative Inspirations

'Anything Goes' - Cute Card Thursday

'Summer' - C.R.A.F.T.

'Add Gems or Pearls or both' - Dream Valley

'Say it with flowers' - Penny Black & More

'Anything Goes' - Penny Black Saturday

Thanks for visiting and stay safe!

Natxx

Playing Favourites

Oh boy, do we have a fab challenge for you this fortnight at Passion for Promarkers! It's both easy and hard at the same time - 'Use your Favourite Stamp or Digi'. So why is that hard? Well, I have so many favourites!!  I adore stamps from LOTV, Whimsy, the list goes on and on! But when I really thought about it - I had to use a stamp from my first love Penny Black and then to narrow it down to one - well here it is! - the stamp I have used the most, you can check my blog if you don't believe me

Image - 'Hedgehog Visit' - Penny Black

Papers- 'Vintage Rose Garden' 8 x 8 pad - The Paper Boutique

Sentiment - LOTV

Bow and pearls from my stash

Dies used: Border die from Tattered Lace 'Mini Starter Kit', Spellbinders 'Classic Circles', Cheery Lynn's 'Small Exotic Butterflies'and I'm not sure where the frame is from (I'm a right one for throwing away packaging!)

Challenges:

'Easter Wishes and / or Animals' - Creative Inspirations

'Spring' - Penny Black and More

'Blossoms, Butterflies, Bugs' - Allsorts

'Fresh Spring Colours' - Penny Black Saturday

Thanks for visiting!

Natxx

Buttons and Bows

At last, it seems as though spring may be here! It's so wonderful to see the sun - I hope it's not just a flash in the pan

We have a new challenge at PFP - Buttons and/or Bows, a lovely easy one! I decided to 'dust off' my Penny Black stamps for this one, I just adore their cute hedgehogs Don't forget to pop into PFP and get some inspiration 

Image - 'Message from Above' - Penny Black

Papers - Craft Creations

Flowers - Hobbycraft

Buttons from stash

Dies used: Spellbinders ' Curved Borders One' and 'Classic 3D Itty Bitty Bow' from Creative Expressions

Challenges:

'Anything Goes with a Twist' - Incy Wincy

'Springtime' - Creative Inspirations

'Spring Flowers or Showers' - Allsorts

'At Least 2 Buttons' - Dream Valley

'Anything Goes' (option of spring flowers) - Penny Black Saturday

'Animals' - Sweet Stampin'

Thanks for visiting!

Natxx

Oops!

 Oh dear, calling this post late is a definite understatement! I have been sticking to my New Years Resolution of being more organised, but because I finished my card so early and have been out and about a lot recently, the post went completely out of my head! Anyway, enough waffling, lets get on to the important stuff - this fortnight at Passion for Promarkers our theme is CAS ( not my favourite, but I was pleased with my effort in the end)

The cute little image is 'Mimi and Friend' from Penny Black

Papers - 'Snow Princess' - Nitwit Collections

Bow & gems from stash

The pretty scalloped border was made using Spellbinders 'Curved Borders 1' die

Challenges:

'CAS' - Inky Chicks

'CAS' - I Love Promarkers

Thanks for visiting

Natxx

New challenge at Passion For Promarkers

We have another fab challenge for you this fortnight at PFP and the theme is - 'Inspired By A Song Title (not Happy Birthday!) check out the challenge blog for all the details and some fab inspiration

I'm in a bit of a Penny Black 'phase' at the moment  and this image has always made me smile! and reminded me of Orville singing' I Wish I could fly! ' Not sure I would want to be under a flying cow though!

Image(coloured with Promarkers) - 'Party Bound' - Penny Black

Papers - 'Tea House' & ribbon & bow  - Dovecraft

Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts

Pearls & cow charm from my stash

Dies used: Spellbinders Ovals & Grand Ovals, Creative Expressions - 'Faux Quilled Leaves' and the swirls are Sizzix ' Decorative Swirls' Sizzlits

Challenges:

'Summer Colours' - Dream Valley

'Flower Power - Penny Black & More

'Birthdays' - Penny Black Saturday

Thanks for visiting! 

Natxx

Easy Peasy!

We are being very kind to everyone lately and  have another wonderfully easy challenge theme this week at Passion for Promarkers - ' Four-Legged Friends'. Having said that, I struggled to choose an image to use for my DT card as I have so many that would fit the theme! In the end I opted for another Penny Black stamp, this one is so cheeky and always makes me smile I made a centre stepper card, although the photo doesn't really show that. sorry about the shadows too ( at least we had sunshine to make shadows!)

Don't forget to visit PFP for inspiration and to see what fab prizes are  on offer!

Image - 'Uplifting Occasion' - Penny Black coloured with my promarkers - what else!

Papers -Me to You 'With Love' pad

Ribbon & bow - Hobbycraft

Card candi - Craftwork Cards

The pretty flowers are actually scented clay from my local garden centre!

No dies used ( wow, that's a first, lol) , butterfly punch from Hobbycraft

Challenges:

'Butterflies and Flowers' - Whoopsi Daisy

'Colour Me Wonderful (use your favourite colouring medium) - Incy Wincy

'Anything Goes' - Little Miss Muffet 

'April Fool or Humorous' - Allsorts

'Girlie' - Dream Valley

'Anything Goes' - Simon Says Wednesday Challenge

'One for the Girls -'Sir Stampalot Stamping Sensations

'Birthdays' - Penny Black and More

Thanks for visiting

Natxx

Spring Has Sprung Yay!!

I must admit, when this challenge title was suggested a while ago, I thought maybe it was a tad optimistic, however, the weather does seem to be on the turn at last and it really does feel as if spring is on the way - thank goodness! So, get your crafty hat on and dust off your spring themed stamps and get entering our challenge this fortnight. As usual, all the details and inspiration can be found at Passion for Promarkers

For my DT card, I have dug out an old Penny Black favourite - one of many!

I tried for ages to cut a pretty edge onto a card blank, but for some reason it just didn't come out right and so I opted for the easy option and found some pre-cut card blanks at Hobbycraft!

Image - 'Duckling' - Penny Black
Sentiment - LOTV
Flowers - a mixture from my stash
Butterfly charm - I can't remember where I got these!
Gems - Anita's

Tools used: Spellbinders 'Floral Oval' die and Dovecraft 'Floral Muse' embossing folder


Challenges:

'Flowers' - The Crazy Challenge

'Anything Goes' - Little Miss Muffet


'All about Birthdays' - Dream Valley

'Bingo' March Challenge  - Catch The Bug  (embossing/ribbon/sentiment and bird if you count the duck!)


'Feature A Creature' March Challenge - Penny Black & More

'Spring Colours or Easter' - Whimsy Stamps


Thanks for visiting and Happy Easter!

Cute Critters

I actually made this DT card well before the date of this challenge at Passion for Promarkers, trouble is, I was so organised that I completely forgot until today that I needed to post it!

It's a lovely challenge this week  - 'Cute Critters' and I defy any crafter not to have some stamp in their stash that will fit the theme this week! I have used one of my all time favourite 'cute' images:

Image :'Hedgehog Visit' - Penny Black

Paper s- LOTV

Dies used:   'Mini Filigree Heart' from XCut, 'Filigree 3d Itty Bitty Bow'from the 'Finishing Touches Collection' by Creative Expressions and  ‘Faux Crochet Border’ by Memory Box
I also used a mini  Hobbycraft butterfly punch
Gems - Anita's
Pearls from stash

Challenges:

'Green plus add a sentiment' - Whoopi Daisy

'Shades of Green' - Incy Wincy

'March Anything Goes' - Catch The Bug

Thanks for visiting!

Natxx

CAS Butterfly

It’s Tuesday and I’m back to share another card with you made from products from the J & C Creations shop. This rather gorgeous Penny Black stamp is so pretty that I decided piling on the embellishments (as I’m wont to do!) would be unnecessary, the focus should be be the butterfly, don’t you agree? So I’ve left my card Clean & Simple and let the image do the talking! If you pop over to the shop there is a fantastic 25% off this stamp at the moment along with lots more bargains to be had.

Products from J & C Creations
Penny Black Slapstick/cling stamp - ‘Soft Wings’
Tim Holtz distress ink pad - ‘Victorian Velvet’
Ribbon
Pearls
Cosmic Shimmer embossing powder - ‘True White’
Dies used: Spellbinders ‘Ovals’ & ‘Floral Ovals’

Challenges:
'Not Cute' - Sweet Stampin

Natx

Happy Birthday!

We have such an easy challenge starting today at Passion For Promarkers, there really is no excuse not to join in – the theme is ‘Birthdays’ – I said it was easy didn’t I ? There is some fabulous inspiration on the PFP Blog from the DT and we have a fantastic sponsor: LOTV who are offering the winner a £10 voucher to spend in their online shop. I’m so jealous!!!

The trouble with an nice easy challenge is that there are so many images to choose from and I had a hard time deciding which one to use, however I realised that I’ve been neglecting my Penny Black stash recently and so here is my card. I was quite pleased with my photo – wonders will never cease, lol! I’m not too sure about my wonky ‘stitching’ however!

Image – ‘Surprise’ Penny Black – J & C Creations coloured with Promarkers
Card & ribbon – Coredinations – J & C Creations
Paper - ‘Perfect Pair’ – LOTV
Red button from stash, green buttons – Dovecraft (part of Kim’s Lovely blog candy prize)
Dies used: SB ‘Labels 25’ & SB Borderabilities ‘A2 Scallloped Border One’, Marianne Designs Creatables ‘Fence’ LR0205 & ‘Layered Flowers’ LR0106 (leaves) & Cheery Lynn ‘Tags 4’

Challenges:
’A Stitch In Time’ – C.R.A.F.T
’No Squares Allowed’ – Dream Valley
’Sew Special’ – Penny Black & More @ Allsorts
’Anything Goes’ – Penny Black Saturday
’Put A Button On It’ – I ♥ Promarkers
’O’s & X’s’ – Crafty Bloggers Network (flowers/stamp/stitching OR ribbon/sentiment/tag)
'Shaped But Not Square' - Anything Goes
'Anything But Square' - Di's Digis

Thanks for looking!
Natx

Hug A Friend Day – 26th April

Today's card is another one for the J & C Creations calendar. 

26th of April is celebrated each year to cherish the feelings of love and understanding among friends. 

Hug a friend day is rejoiced with enthusiasm and affection, especially among the youth. For those people who are in struggling phases of their lives, having piles of official work and other businesses, this day provides an excuse to let their old pals know that you still love and care for them. Think about the difference that a single hug would make to your friend’s day or even life, and go on to spend this commendable day with your friends. You don’t have to think hard to do something special to celebrate, just hug your friends.

When I saw this Penny Black stamp I knew it would be perfect for this card!

Items from J & C Creations

Stamp – ‘Squeeze Til I Squeak’ – Penny Black coloured with Promarkers
Double sided paper – Best Creations
Ribbon & pearl
Dies used: SB ‘Heart Circles’, ‘Classic Circles’ ‘Tags’ & ‘Floral Doily Accent’ & Heartfelt Creations ‘Daisy Patch’

Other Items

Cream card & brad from stash

Challenges:
‘Blossoms & Bows’ – Penny Black & More @ Allsorts
’Bingo’ – Catch The Bug (ribbon/glitter/pearl)
’Use Circles’ – Whoopsi Daisy
'A Square Card With Something Round On It' - I ♥ Promarkers
'Die-cuts And/Or Punches' - Stampin For The Weekend
'Bingo' - Love To Create (flowers/die-cuts/ribbon)

Thanks for looking!
Natx

Humorous Day - 19th April

Today's card is another one for the J & C Calendar and is for 'Humorous Day'. Founded in 1976 by Larry Wilde the intent of the ‘Humorous Day’ is to focus on how  the "therapeutic value of laughter can improve health, boost morale, increase communication skills and enrich the quality of one's life."
I decided to make something other than a card this time and made a bookmark, the tutorial for which originally came from Lena Katrine's Blog. I believe that laughter is very therapeutic and have chosen to use this Penny Black stamp as it always makes me want to laugh when I look at it!

As the theme was humour I opted to pop some silly, but somehow funny (well, to me anyway!) jokes on the back of my bookmark.

Available from J & C Creations shop

Stamp – ‘The Sensations’ – Penny Black, coloured with Promarkers
Papers (double sided)
Flowers
Pearls

Other items
Pink card from stash
XCut Daisy border punch
Anita's Glossy Accents (on the pig's pearl necklace)

Challenges:
'Not A Square' - Whoopsi Daisy

'One Paper Taker' - Papertake Weekly
'Anything But A Card' - Dutch Dare
'Friendship' - Stampin For The Weekend

Thanks for looking!

Natx

Minding Shelty

The months seem to be flying past at such a rate of knots at the moment, here we are again on the 13th for a another challenge at J & C Creations. This month the theme is ‘Nurturing’ and we have a fab £20 voucher from the J & C Creations shop up for grabs.

When I first saw the theme I was a bit flummoxed as nurturing usually is from a parent to their child and I didn’t have anything suitable, so I have cheated a little as my image is a hedgehog looking after a pony!

Items available from J & C Creations shop

Stamp - ‘Minding Shelty’ – Penny Black coloured with Promarkers
Pink card – Coredinations
Double sided paper – Best Creations
White flower – Prima
Ribbon
Dies used: Spellbinders ‘Labels 2’ & Tim Holtz/Sizzix Alterations On The Edge ‘Brackets’

Other items

Brads from stash

Challenges:
’Friendship’ – Stampin For The Weekend
’Blossoms & Bows’ – Penny Black & More @ Allsorts
’Pretty In Pink’ – Whimsy Stamps Inspirations

Thanks for looking!
Natx

Sisterhood!

Wow, 4 cards in 4 days, I need a lie down, lol! Today’s card is for J & C Creations monthly calendar and I have chosen April 10th as it  is ‘National Siblings Day’. National Siblings Day is the brainchild of  Claudia Evart, who thought up the day as a way for siblings to honor, recognize and celebrate each other.
I knew I just had to use this fab stamp from Penny Black, not only do I love the characters, but the stamp is called ‘Sisterhood’ – perfect! I have been admiring the different card shapes I have seen on other Blogs and wondering where they can be bought and then whilst rummaging through my dies I had a light bulb moment and realised that I could re-produce one of the shapes using a Sizzix/Tim Holtz die and here is the result. Makes a nice change from my usual square scalloped cards!

Image - ‘Sisterhood’ – J & C Creations shop coloured with Promarkers

Sentiments printed on my pc
Green card – Coredinations – Crafter’s Companion
Double sided paper & flower – J & C Creations shop
Ribbon – The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop
Brad from stash
Dies used: SB ‘Classic Ovals’ & ‘Floral Ovals’

Challenges:
’Anything Goes’ – Crafty Bloggers Network
’Blossoms & Bows’ – Penny Black & More @ Allsorts
’Birthday Fun’ – Dutch Dare
’Happy Birthday – Dream Valley

Thanks for looking!
Natx

National Pig Day – 1st March

Here is another card made for the J & C Creations Blog. National Pig Day is an event held annually on the 1st March  in the United States to celebrate the pig. The holiday celebration was started in 1972 by sisters Ellen Stanley, a teacher in Lubbock, Texas, and Mary Lynne Rave of Beaufort, North Carolina. According to Rave the purpose of National Pig Day is "to accord the pig its rightful, though generally unrecognized, place as one of man's most intellectual and domesticated animals.” The holiday is most often celebrated in the Midwest.

National Pig Day includes events at zoos, schools, nursing homes, and sporting events around the United States. It is also recognized at "pig parties" where pink pig punch and pork delicacies are served, and pink ribbon pigtails are tied around trees in the pigs' honour.

I’m not quite sure how eating pork delicacies is a tribute to pigs, lol! As this card was made for  the J & C Creations Blog, I have used one of the many Penny Black stamps which are available on their website.

Items available from J & C Creations shop 
Stamp – ‘Party Animals’ – Penny Black coloured with Promarkers
Paper – Craft Creations
Pink card – Coredinations
Pearls
Tools: Marianne Designs ‘Picket Fence’ die, SB M-Bossabilities ‘Whimsy’ embossing folder

Other items

Hunkydory’s Diamond Sparkles ‘Angel Whispers’

Challenges:
'Animals' - Allsorts
'Add A Sentiment' - Whoopsi Daisy
'Use Embossing' - CRAFT

Thanks for looking!
Natx

Public Sleeping Day – 28th February

Here is a card I made for the J & C Creations Blog. February 28th is the annual Public Sleeping Day. That means today, wherever you are, sleep, nap, doze, snooze, rest your eyes, inspect the back of your eyelids or watch a movie on the inside of your eyes. Today is your day! (Sounds like my kind of day!!)

All this cold weather makes me yearn for summer, as that is a long way off, I’ll have to make do with  a summery image of this cute cat in a rather novel hammock!

Items available from the J & C Creations shop
Stamp - ‘Uplifting Occasion’ – Penny Black, coloured with Promarkers and paper pieced
Paper – Craft Creations
Prima flowers
Fancy buttons (flower centres)
Spellbinders ’Labels 25’ die

Other items

Kraft card
Ribbon
Cheery Lynn ‘Fanciful Flourish’ die

Challenges:
'Add A Sentiment' - Whoopsi Daisy
'Paper Piecing' - Tammy's Scrapin Corner
'Birthday' - Creative Card Crew
'Mother's Day or Birthday' - Inky Chicks
'Anything Goes' - Divas By Design
'Something Old' - Cute Card Thursday (I've had these flowers for ever!)
'Animals' - Allsorts

Thanks for looking!
Natx

Friends Like Ewe!

Today’s card is for the new monthly challenge at J & C Creations Challenge where the theme is ‘International Friendship’, the challenge started on 13th February, but there is still plenty of time to get your entry in. In the meantime, if you pop over to the Challenge Blog you will see some more inspiration from the DT. So we want to see your creations based on any friendships, be they human, animal or a bit of both! The winner will receive a fantastic £20 voucher to spend in the J & C Creations Shop.

I have used a very aptly named stamp from Penny Black - ‘Friends’. I just love these cute sheep! It’s quite a big stamp, so I didn’t want to leave a lot of white around the image. I used distress ink for the grass, but I wasn’t brave enough to use it for the sky, so I went for some subtle (maybe too subtle – can’t see them very well!) clouds done with chalks. As the image takes up most of the card, I went easy on the embellishments!

Products from J & C Creations Shop 
Penny Black stamp - ‘Friends’ coloured with Promarkers
Pearls
Spellbinders ‘Labels 25’ & ‘Decorative Labels 8’
Tim Holtz distress ink pad ‘Bundled Sage’

Other products
Paper – Dovecraft’s ‘Back To Basics II’
Kraft card & ribbon from stash
Sentiment printed on my PC

Challenges:
'Anything Goes' - The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop
'Four Legged Friends' - I ♥ Promarkers

Thanks for looking!
Natx

(Lame) Duck Day 6th February

This is another card made for J & C Creations this time for Lame Duck Day. I mistakenly thought this would be a day celebrating ducks, however it's actually all about politics - not exactly a card friendly topic, so I cheated and made a cute and cuddly card!

Image – Penny Black ‘Duckling’ coloured with Promarkers
Yellow card – Coredinations
Paper - Docrafts 'Me To You 'Spring Chic'
Ribbon, pearls, leaf charms & flowers - J & C Creations
Dies used: Spellbinders ‘Decorative Labels 8’, Cheery Lynn 'Fanciful Flourish'
Duck buttons from my local wool shop and doily from stash
Hunkydory's Diamond Sparkles 'Angel Whispers'

Challenges:
’Ribbon and/or Lace’ – Whoopsi Daisy
’Tic-Tac-Toe’ – Dutch Dare (ribbon/buttons/pearls)
’Something Metal’ – Stampin For The Weekend
’Let’s Get Cute’ – Allsorts
'Monochrome' - Anything Goes
'Anything Goes' - Papertake Weekly

Thanks for looking!
Natx