Another Challenging Challenge.

You know, I'm happy when a challenge challenges me in new ways.

This time I had to create a patterned paper with stamps, which sounds interesting since papers are difficult to find here (unless you order them from somewhere) and not so cheap (plus shipping costs...).

I had an idea in my mind of colors and theme and I had a go.

Here's the card:

I had just received a new set of Lawn Fawn stamps and I was looking forward to using them. I made my patterned paper using a dusty pink ink and the flower stamp of the Sew Lovely set on a grey paper.

I had already stamped the dress form on white paper and the dress only on a patterned paper (another "new" thing for me) and I wanted to keep this grey-pink color scheme.

I was lucky enough to find the perfect pink tone for the ribbon in my stash and a metal charm which is perfect for the theme.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Lawnscaping Challenge # 7 which says "make your own patterned paper with stamps",

Papertake Weekly Challenge which says "Anything Goes"

and

Sir Stampalot April Challenge which says "Ladies and Fashion"

I have another challenging challenge waiting for me and this time it'll be even more difficult...

A Lovely Stamp

The fact that neglected stash are a common theme in Challenges helps me feeling not too guilty when I discover some neglected - and forgotten - treasures in my stash...

When I discovered that Tina Wenke had released some clear stamps through Stampavie I felt so excited! I've always loved her cute characters since I bought some clip-art kits at pcCrafter years and years ago. I've used them mainly in the colored version to make cards and tags but a few weeks ago I realized that there was a black and white version too.

And I had my own Tina Wenke stamps!

Unfortunately, not all the kits have black and white images so my possibilities are reduced but at least I could try my hands on coloring them and maybe I'll buy some clear stamps in the next future.

I colored two images and yesterday I finally had some time to make a card with one of them . Then I had a look around to see if it could fit any challenge and - lucky me - I can enter it in 4 of them.

But let's start with the card:

I wanted to make a very pretty feminine card with a friend in mind and I added the most feminine embellishments: a lovely (and neglected) floral paper from Me and My Big Ideas I bought years ago, my new paper flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, two hearts punched from glittered paper and again this lovely ribbon bought at my local haberdashery. And, of course, glitter and pearls...

I'm entering this card in the following Challenges:

Cute Card Thursday Challenge # 158: they ask for couples

Paper Sundaes Challenge # 63: they want to see Spring Blossoms

Pollycraft Monday Challenge # 87: the challenge is to use an old or neglected stamp/image

Karen Doodles Challenge: where the theme is Fancy and Feminine

I think I'll keep it under my eyes for a while before storing it safely in my card box!

P.S.: most of the cards I feature in my blog will be available in my Etsy shop but it may take a while before I list them. If you are interested in a card, send me a convo through my Etsy shop (see button on the right) or through the blog and I'll list it for you.

It's Time for Another Hambo Hoedown Challenge!

Time really flies.

It's Tuesday again... it seems like yesterday when I posted my card for the Hambo Hoedown Challenge and a week has passed.

I know, I know... I'm a bit lazy these last few weeks, I don't blog so often as I used to do in the past few months but I promise I'll be back on track soon!

For today, I have my card for the Hambo Hoedown Challenge ready to be posted:

Isn't it a lovely image??

They gave it for free to all participants in last week challenge to be used this week with a green and hot pink color theme.

These bright colors suggested me a girly card, with rhinestones, ribbon and floral papers.

I love this little Caterpillar!!



Tomorrow we will be given another image and I always look forward to their email and new image!

My daughter...

... made the Top Three at 

I think she'll be delighted that her first card for a challenge has been chosen among the Top Three. I'm looking forward she's back from school to tell her!

Pretty in Pink.

It seems I'm really in need of coffee these days as I've just finished another card with the same theme: coffee!

This card is for a challenge and we were given a recipe (1 color + 3 buttons) but not a theme and I chose COFFEE!

This is the card:

This lovely digi is called Perfect Blend and it's from the new collection Coffee Time at Bugaboo Stamps.

I chose a hot pink color to make this card which I colored with watercolor pencils and some paint for the dots.

The ribbon is again from my local haberdashery, they have a wonderful range of these ribbons!

This card is for Bugaboo Catch the Bug Challenge which wants a monochromatic card with 3 buttons.

Well, time to go out and... have coffee!

I Need Coffee Today...

Last night I didn't sleep well - or maybe I didn't sleep at all - and today I feel a bit tired and I long for coffee, a lot of coffee...

The weather is ugly, it rains and it is dark, it seems to be back in the worst winter days and this doesn't help my mood.

Moreover, I spent the morning cleaning the house.

You can understand how I feel today.

BUT

I had some time to make a card and color some digis! And this makes me smile and be happy!

A coffee -themed card was perfect today:

This card is made using another Hambo stamp - Coffee Girl - we were given as participants in last week challenge.

We also had a sketch to follow:

I colored the digi with watercolor pencils as usual and used some paper from an old Sizzix paper pad. I glued some parts with 3D dots for added dimension.

This card will be entered in Hambo Hoedown Challenge # 8 Can Anyone Say more please?

I can, I can...

Crafty Sunday

Strange enough, I have a free Sunday.

And, of course, I'm crafting.

Custom orders shipped, mom healthy at her home, daughter ready to go to the park with her dad, I can dedicate some time to make cards and enter a few challenges.

 Actually, I'm not listening to wardrobes asking for some care after this long winter, washing machine ready to be loaded, dry laundry ready to be folded...

The first card ready to be entered in challenges this week is this one:

I found this lovely digi image at Amber Ink a while ago and I loved the engagement theme with these two simple yet adorable rabbits.

I colored them with watercolor pencils, added lots of papers from the Linen Closet Collection by DCWV, added a luxurious ribbon I found in the haberdashery near my home and two small paper roses bought at Wild Orchid Crafts.

Even if I prefer candy or pastel colors, I love the way it has turned out: elegant and simple.

I followed this sketch:

This card will be entered in the following challenges:

Sweet Sketch Wednesday Challenge # 94: they gave us the sketch

A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge # 144: they asks for ribbon, pearls/rhinestones and flowers

Cupcake Crafts Challenge # 134: they ask for monochromatic cards

Well, I still have time to make another card... if I pretend not to see what else I should be doing...

Relax...

One of my recent passions are stamps from Lili of the Valley. In particular, I love their bears and I treated myself with two stamps just before Christmas.

They are ADORABLE, the image is perfect once stamped, with many details, big enough for a card...

And I couldn't help but treating myself with another couple of stamps...

In particular, the one I'm about to show you has a long story.

I first saw it on a lovely card sold by an Etsy seller: I loved the little bear and how the card was made and I decided to buy it (well, yes, strange enough for someone who makes cards... but I love to send cards to my mom and I often buy them around the world).

Several months later, I decided that I had to have that stamp and here's my card:

Of course, I'm entering this card in the Lili of the Valley Challenge # 88.

They gave us this sketch to follow:

I'd really love to have time to sit down and relax like this bear is doing...

Another Sweet Sketch.

This week challenge at Sweet Sketch Wednesday was lovely and it was easy to make a card using a digi I painted a while ago.

The sketch is:

and this is my card:

The sponsor this week is DigiStamp Boutique so it was perfect to use this lovely girl, which I colored with watercolor pencils as usual. Papers are: the dotted one was free on a magazine, the daisy one was from one of those very old Sizzix pads I discovered tucked away in a box.

This card will be entered in the following challenges:

Sweet Sketch Challenge # 93

and

DigiStamp Boutique March Challenge

I'm so sorry I always have little time to dedicate to my post but at least I can have a bit more time to make cards!



Kona Kid Krafter's Challenge

(2nd post today...)

I have a few minutes and I'm happy to dedicate this post to one of my daughter's creations.

A couple of weeks ago I found out a card challenge just for kids: Kona Kid Krafter's Challenge # 19 and asked my daughter if she wanted to enter a card.

I let her choose one of my digis, folded a piece of paper for her and she made her card.

Here's what she created:

I let her choose amongst some of my cut shapes and embellishments, she added one of her stickers and made her own sentiment "Solo per Te" (Just for You). The digi is colored with pencils and embellished with some glitter (well, yes, I let her use MY glitters...).

The theme this month is "Anything Goes" and so she could choose something she liked.

She is very proud of her card and I think it's lovely!