All Distressed at Sir Stampalot

Good morning. It is the first of September and that means it is time for another challenge at Sir Stampalot. The theme this month is All Distressed, and I did get rather inky and messy creating this one! My background papers are MME and Cappella, distressed around the edges with my Tim Holtz distressing tool and my scorebug, and of course lots of Walnut stain DI. The script (Hero arts old french writing) was stamped in Tumbled glass DI and the ornate corner (Elusive images) was stamped in Walnut stain DI. The border was made with a Martha Stewart Doily lace punch. My central flower was made using 3 layers of each of 3 shapabilities dies (Flower creations 3) the flourishes are a Marianne Designs die, and the roses and small flowers are woodware and x-cut punches with a few gems.Here is a close-up.

Now on to the prize. Take a look at these lovely goodies.

Fabulous prize, eh? So, if you want to be in with a chance to win this lovely lot, put your thinking caps on a pop over to the Sir Stampalot challenge. There are lots of fab projects this month by my wonderfully talented teamies.

A couple of challenges

Hi there! I've been a busy bee today, but I'm only showing you this card at the moment, as the others might be spotted by the people who are going to receive them! This is a birthday card for a friend, but I also made it with the new Penny Black at Allsorts challenge in mind, where the theme is 'A burst of summer colour'. I'm also entering it into the By the cute and Girly Challenge, where the theme is 'Warm Summer Days'.
Apart from a piece of orange paper used to mat the main image, every bit of this started life as a white piece of card. The stamps are all Penny Black as follows:
brushstroke flower - 2661K
corner - 3859H
paisley swirls - slapstick 40-011
This last one might be becoming my favourite stamp of the moment - it is so versatile. I used spiced marmalade, dried marigold, shabby shutters and mustard seed distress inks, and the leaves and flower are made using flower creations3 and assorted leaves shapeabilities. I hope the combination of colours meets the requirements for both challenges. Thanks for looking!
P.S. There is another week to go on my blog candy for followers and I've got 98 of you lovelies. Please pop your name into Mr Linky above if you would like a chance to win the two Tim Holtz stamps above x

Allsorts Challenge - Tags and labels

Here is my entry for this week's Allsorts challenge where Mummylade has asked us to include a tag or label on our creations. Now I regularly make tags, so thought I'd better include it on something and came up with this card. The flourish stamp is a Debbie Moore one I've had for a while and not used, the text and the daisy are from Crafty Individuals. I used my ribbon tag shapeablities for the tag at the bottom. I have seen lots of people using this colour combo and rather liked it. The colours on all of it are bundled sage and Victorian velvet distress inks. Thanks for looking!
Before I go I'll just share a little gem with you. I was talking about horse drawn vehicles in class and one little darling asked how the horse did that - did it hold the pencil in it's mouth!!!

By the Cute and Girly Challenge - Winter Wonderland

Here is my entry for this months By the Cute and Girly Challenge. Please check out this great challenge blog - there are lovely prizes on offer! I had been hoping to take photos of my project in daylight, but I couldn't wait! It has been such a long time coming, and I had planned it in my head almost as soon as the challenge was announced. Sunday allowed me about 3 hours uninterrupted craft time and then I put the finishing touches to it at about 11 last night! I made my own size exploding box (inspired by Elaine) and made the backing paper using versamark, Clear choice snowflake stamps, a whispers stamp and Tim Holtz faded jeans and dusty concord DI. The lid used my spellbinders shapeabilities snowflake dies and the other snowflakes were a variety of punches. I finished off with a few dots of stickles and a few gems. You slide off the lid and the snowflakes bob about! Cool! I think I've come up with something to follow my card last month...hope you like it and thanks for looking!

Wedding Anniversary

Today is my 20th Wedding Anniversary. This is the card I have made for Steve. I was really lacking ideas and certainly couldn't come up with something associated with China, so I got out my new wizard shapeabilities pendant die (I know, Lynne. I said I was going to wait!). The paper is from a 12x12 Penny Black sheet. Next time I have a go at this I will use card, I think. I just hope he likes it! I got some inspriration from Robert, but mine is no where near as good as his. I was trying for a masculine look, so didn't add any jewels or pearls, but I think it needs something.