Gruffies and Guest Challenge Blog - February 2015 - Anything goes or the option of LOVE IS ALL AROUND

Today it is time for me to show you another card for the Gruffies and Guests Challenge Blog.  The topic for January 2015 is "anything goes with the option of love is all around".  This obviously could mean Valentine's Day, Engagement, Wedding, Anniversary or even sending someone some love on their birthday.  Normally it would be my turn in a fortnight but I have done swapsies with a team mate.

The sponsor for this month is Di's Digi Stamps and the prize is to spend $10 in their store.

 I decided to make a very special "with love and best wishes on your birthday" card and box for a very special friend.  She also has a LOVE of House Mouse, Happy Hoppers and the Gruffies!!

 I have used various decoupage sheets that I got from Joanna Sheen that I just couldn't bear to use but have taken a deep breath and cut them out!!

 For the page to write our message on I have used a House Mouse birthday stamp on the corner and coloured in with my Graph't it pens.

 As you can see I have used a diverse array of different images.

 I have used lots of different embellishments like die-cuts, flowers, beads, ribbon, Papermania Glitterations, sentiments and flowers from Polkadoodles CD, pearls, doilies, brads, flowers from a paper set called "Funky Flowers" by Buckwell Craft Supplies.

As it was a large 8x8 concertina card there was no chance it would go in an envelope so I have made a box for it to go in.

I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist to use some doodling

Paper Creator - Love is in the air

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Ooh-la-la Creations - Love

House Mouse and Friends - Love is in the air

Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper February Challenge - Anything goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything goes and optional extra to use bookprint or newsprint

Creative Moments - Anything goes/love

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

The Crafter's Cafe - Birthday card

Inspiration Destination - Anything goes

Crafting by Designs - Anything goes

Simon Says - All things bright and beautiful

CRAFT - Technique challenge - decoupage

Brown Sugar Challenge - Anything goes
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Birthdays
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Crafts 4 Eternity - With love
Fussy and Fancy Friday - All about love

Buckwell Craft Supplies, Buckwells Crafty Challenge Blog and Facebook Group

If you want some crafting goodies why not pop on over to Buckwell Craft Supplies.

At Lozzy's on-line shop you will see items from Creative Expressions, Spellbinders, Couture Creations, Crafter's Companion, Rangers and Tim Holtz.  She is also stocking some gorgeous ribbons.  I have to say the organza ribbon is the best quality I've ever used!!!

Postage and packaging is £2,45 for standard UK delivery for any order under £20.

Any order £20 and over will be entitled to free delivery.

The shop can be found at:  http://buckwellcraftsupplies.co.uk/

The variety of items that can be found in the shop are:

Ribbon (10mm, 15mm and 25mm)
Flowers
Stamps
Backing papers on a CD
CD-Roms
Die-cut shapes
Die-cutting dies
Embossing folders
Embossing powders
Glazes and finishes
Glitters
Glues, tapes and tools
Inks and ink pads
Lace ribbon, net and twine
Liquid Pearls and Stickles
Misters
Pearls, gems and sparkly things
Pens
Sale items
Spiral stamens
Sweet Pea Stamps.

Lozzy can be contacted for any questions at:  buckwellcrafts@yahoo.co.uk

Why not pop on over and take a look at Buckwell Craft Supplies.

Each month there is a monthly challenge on the Buckwell Crafts Challenge Blog. 

The blog can be found at: http://buckwellscraftychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

There is also now a Facebook Group for Buckwell Craft Supplies and Challenge Blog.  The Facebook Group can be found HERE.

Buckwell Craft Supplies

If you want some crafting goodies why not pop on over to Buckwell Craft Supplies.

You will see items from Creative Expressions, Spellbinders, Couture Creations, Rangers and Tim Holtz.  Soon the shop will stock items from Crafters Companion.  She is also stocking some gorgeous ribbons.  I have to say the organza ribbon is the best quality I've ever used!!!

Postage and packaging is £1.00 per order whatever you spend ie no minimum or maximum spend.

The shop can be found at:  http://buckwellcraftsupplies.co.uk/

Lozzy can be contacted for any questions at:  buckwellcrafts@yahoo.co.uk

Why not pop on over and take a look at Buckwell Craft Supplies.

Each month there is a monthly challenge on the Buckwell Crafts Challenge Blog. 

The blog can be found at: http://buckwellscraftychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

With Love

Here is a "with love" card that I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamps digital stamp by Concetta Kilmer called "The Candy Striper".  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers and coloured in the background with a light pink Pan Pastel and my white coarse pan Pastel to get a pearlescent effect.

The backing paper I have used were from a set from The Works.

I have finished the card off with some lace, punched out hearts, sentiment, ribbon and some pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Challenge - Anything goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

CRAFT - Valentine's Day/love
Aud Sentiments - Valentine or love sentiment
Simply Create Too - Happy Valentine's Day (or use hearts)
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

Natalie and Amy Challenge - All about the love
A Gem of a Challenge - Lots of layers
Sweet Stampin' - Love
Di's Digi Designs - Include a heart
Paper Creator - Love is in the air
Pan Pastel - Love is in the air
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional twist to do some doodling
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper February Challenge - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Emerald Faeries - All you need is love
Whoopsi Daisy - Pretty in pink
One Sweet Challenge - Love
Not Just Cards - Anything goes
Crafting Musketeers - Cute
Craft Your Passion - Anything goes
Melonheadz - Hearts/love
The Crazy Challenge - Love
Love to Scrap - Love is in the air
Ooh-la-la Creations - Love
Crafty Sentiments - Include a heart
Digi Choosday - In the pink
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes and optional extra to use book print or news print

Sweet Pea Stamps Facebook Progressive Challenge Part 2

This year over at the Sweet Pea Stamps Facebook Group they are having a Progressive Challenge.  For Part 1 it was anything goes and then if you enter you are provided with the image to use for Part 2.  The image for Part 2 is "Easter Daffodil" by Karen Middleton.  If you didn't enter Part 1 and got the free image you can always pop on over to Sweet Pea Stamps and purchase the image yourself so you can take part.

 I have coloured my image in with Promarkers. 

 I then used a Dutch Doobadoo Burlap mask and then used a green and yellow Pan Pastel through the mask to get some texture around the image.  I then inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Peeled Paint distress ink.

The backing papers, flowers and leaves were all from a freebie set of backing papers from Crafter's Companion back in March 2013.  All the papers, flowers and leaves have all been cut out and inked with Tim Holtz's Peeled Paint distress ink.

I have finished the card off with a stamped sentiment, stamped Easter eggs, spotty organza ribbon, pearl, faux stitching, wide yellow satin ribbon and some gorgeous crochet lace.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Sweet Pea Stamps Facebook Progressive Challenge Part 2 - Use the Easter Daffodil image

Simon Says Challenge - Anything goes

Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Inspiration Destination - Anything goes

4 Crafty Chicks - Anything goes

Brown Sugar Challenge - 3 different embellishments (flowers, ribbon and lace)

Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Winter Wonderland - Lots of layers

Crafty Catz - Stitching - real or faux

Polkadoodles - Flower power

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge - Anything goes and add faux or real stitching

Allsorts - Flower power

Deep Ocean - Lace and pearls
Scribble and Scrap - Anything goes
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional twist to do some doodling
Robyn's Fetish - Anything goes
Not Just Cards - Anything goes
Crafting Musketeers - Cute
Craft Your Passion - Anything goes
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - Springtime
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper February Challenge - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes and optional extra to use book print or news print

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps

Here is a weekly reminder to tell you that Ching-Chou Kuik's digital stamps are available from her Etsy Store.  You will see a wonderful array of beautiful images for all occasions and there will be more added on a weekly basis so remember to go and have a look.

Ching-Chou Kuik's Etsy Store can be found at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/gjzcck

There is an Inspiration and Monthly Challenge Blog.  Here you will find a challenge topic for each month.  

There will be a Monthly Blog Challenge Winner who will get to pick two digital images as their prize from the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store.  This winner will be picked by Random.org.

There is also a Monthly "Artist's Choice Award" and this means that anyone that has entered the Monthly Blog Challenge using an image from Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Etsy Store will be in with a chance of winning 5 digital images of their choice award.  This winner will be picked by Ching-Chou Kuik herself.

The Monthly Blog Challenge Topic for February 2015 is "Torn to pieces" ie something torn on your card/creation eg paper, card, vellum etc.

Daily you will also find inspiration for Weeks 1, 2 and 3 from the Design Team members Alica, Anthony, Dianne, Karina, Linda, Vannessa and myself.

For Weeks 4 (and 5 if there is one) each day there will be a card/creation showcased that a crafter has entered into the monthly blog challenge or shared on the Facebook Group or entered into the monthly Facebook Challenge.

If you would like to have a look at these images made into cards why don't you join the Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Facebook Group.  This Group can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/721131444589832/

Here you will also find details of the monthly challenge they have. Anyone can also post cards/creations on here that they have made from Ching-Chou Kuik's digital stamps and you will see creations made by the Monthly Challenge Blog Design Team (Alica, Anthony, Dianne, Karina, Linda, Vannessa and myself) and the Facebook Design team (Collette, Fernanda, Helen and Sylvia).

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Monthly Challenge Blog - Kym's Inspiration Post - Monday 2 February 2015

Well it is time to show you my card and give you details on how I made my card for the Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Monthly Challenge Blog.  This month the challenge is "torn to pieces ie something torn on your card/creation".  This could be a torn image, backing papers, paper ribbons etc.

For my card I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamp called "Spring Bouquet".  I wanted to keep this card bright and cheery so I went with the colour scheme of mainly bright pink and yellow.

I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers and used two shades of yellow Pan Pastel and the blender to make the background.  I then used a paper tearing ruler with like a deckle edge and tore around the image and also some bright pink card and some yellow.  Around the image I highlighted the torn edge with a metallic gold Pan Pastel and the two pieces of card with a bright magenta.

The backing papers are from my stash and the patterned one I have torn and both have been edged with the magenta Pan Pastel.

I have finished the card off with a Tim Holtz Sizzix butterfly border die-cut (which I have coloured with the two yellow Pan Pastels and the blender and then rubbed over some Stickles glitter glue for some sparkle), some die-cut flowers with beads for the centres, Create and Craft tag and ribbon bow, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment, satin ribbon, organza ribbon, button and faux stitching.

I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

4 Crafty Chicks - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers - Garden Life
Simon Says Challenge - Anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
Brown Sugar Challenge - 3 different embellihsments (button, ribbon and flowers)
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Winter Wonderland - Lots of layers
Crafty Catz - Stitching - real or faux
Polkadoodles - Flower power
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge - Anything goes and add faux or real stitching
A Gem of a Challenge - Lots of layers
Allsorts - Flower power
Scribble and Scrap - Anything goes
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist to use some doodling
Robyn's Fetish - Anything goes
Crafts Galore Encore - Use a stamp or digi
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper February Challenge - Anything goes
Craft Your Passion - Always anything goes
Not Just Cards - Anything goes

Newsflash - New releases in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store

There have been some new releases in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store this week:

This image is called "The Wild Princess"

 This image is called "Key to my Heart"

 This image is called "Green Goth Maiden"

Look at this special offer from Ching-Chou Kuik.  You can get 15% of when you spend a minimum of $10 (ends 5 February 2015) so why not hurry on over to the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamp Etsy Store and have a look.

The Monthly Blog Challenge for February 2015 started today and is "torn to pieces" ie something torn like your image, backing papers, paper ribbons etc.

Don't forget that if you use a Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamp from her Etsy Store you get two entries into the Blog Challenge.  For the first link-up use your blog post and for the second link-up just do your main blog.

Make sure you pop on over to the blog regularly.

Today sees the start of the new Facebook Group Monthly Challenge.  The topic is "lace romance".

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Inspiration and Challenge Blog - February 2015 Challenge - Torn to pieces

Thank you for all the entries into the January Challenge.  For those that entered I hope you enjoy colouring in and using your freebie image from Ching-Chou Kuik "The Wild Princess".  For those that missed the challenge the image will be available in the Etsy Shop very soon.

Today sees the start of another challenge over at the Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Monthly Challenge Blog.  This month the challenge is "torn to pieces ie something on your card/creation that has been torn some flowers and some ribbon".  This could mean tearing the image, papers, paper ribbons etc.

For my image I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamp called "Spring Bouquet".

You will have to wait until Monday 2 February 2015 to find out all the details about it as that is my inspiration day on the blog.

It would be lovely if you could play along with the challenge this month.

Buckwells Crafty Challenge - February 2015 - Love/Red

The first month of the New Year is over and it is time for another challenge at the "Buckwells Crafty Challenge".  The challenge topic for February is "Love/red".  Of course this could be for Valentine's Day but it could also be for a engagement, wedding or a wedding anniversary.

We have two sponsors this month.  

The first sponsor is Kenny K Downloads and this is a little bit of information about them:

Digi and rubber stamps from KennyK are a fun and edgy way to add the perfect dose of attitude and style to all of your creations! KennyK is a NYC-born professional illustrator who has brought his funky-but-slick, urban-influenced look to the cardmaking and papercrafts world. His signature style can be seen throughout his various collections of sexy pinup babes, sweet 'n sassy girls, cool rockin' dudes, kid’s stuff, retro characters and more at KennyKDownloads.com.

 The second sponsor is "Buckwell Craft Supplies".

For my card I have used the Kenny K image called "Mae Western".  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers and fussy cut the image.

The plain red paper and the checked paper are from the Buckwell Craft Supplies paper set called "Checkout".  I have inked around the edge of the papers and various die-cut shapes with Tim Holtz's Victorian Velvet distress ink.

I have finished the card off with some flowers from the Buckwell Craft Supplies "Funky Flowers" paper set and again inked around them with the Victorian Velvet distress ink, sentiment from a Debbi Moore CD, gems, some little wooden hearts, 10mm double-sided red satin ribbon and some 25mm ruby satin ribbon.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

As you Like It Challenge - Favourite matt or shiny and why? - I do on the odd occasion use mirri card but my preference is normal matt cardstock as you can always find a colour to match whereas gold or silver mirri card doesn't.  Some may feel that matt card looks boring but I beg to differ and if you want a bit of shine you can always add shiny embellishments eg gems, mirri card die-cut flowers/butterflies depending on the card/creation you have made
CRAFT - Valentine's Day/Love
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything goes
Aud Sentiments - Valentine of love sentiment
Eureka Stamps - Hearts
Craft Your Passion - Always anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Love/Valentine's Day
Tuesday Throwdown - Facets for crafting (I have used gems)
Simon Says Challenge - Anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
Simply Create Too - Happy Valentine's Day (or use hearts)
Brown Sugar Challenge - 3 different embellishments (buttons, gems and flowers)
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Winter Wonderland - Lots of layers
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Fairy Tale Challenge - Something with a heart
Natalie and Amy - All about love
A Gem of a Challenge - Lots of layers
Sweet Stampin' - Love
Di's Digi Designs - Include a heart
Paper Creator - Love is in the air
Lacy Sunshine - Have a heart
The Ribbon Girl - Romance is in the air
Scribble and Scrap - Anything goes
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes
Kenny K - Love
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist to use some doodling
Come and Get It - Texture (embossing, satin ribbon and wood)
Robyn's Fetish - Anything goes
Crafts Galore Encore - Use a stamp or digi
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper February Challenge - Anything goes
Emerald Fairies - All you need is love
Card Mania - Add some red