Forever Smile …

Hi everyone,

My card today is for all the cat lovers. How cute is this delicious birthday cake delivered by an adorable kitty! The stamp is from Penny Black and I stamped it on a scalloped stitched circle die cut. As the image is so sweet I just layered it on a pink floral background and embellished the card with a few die cut balloons. The sentiment is stamped on a smaller die cut circle. I finished off with a few silver gemstones. Hope the card will bring a lot of happiness to the receiver.

I entered my card in the following challenges:

• Scrapy Land Challenges #118 (ends 08/04)- Anything Goes with a die cut from a brand that Scrapy Land sells (Die: Tutti Designs die “Scalloped Stitched Nesting Circles” (TUTTI-419))
• Dies R Us Challenge #125 (ends 07/28) – Birthday (Dies: Tutti Designs die “Scalloped Stitched Nesting Circles” (TUTTI-419) — Marianne Design die “Balloons” (PP1401))
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #28 (ends 07/25) – Anything Goes (must feature a critter)
• Crafty Animal Challenge #28 (ends 07/27) – Anything Goes
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge #July (ends 08/02) – ‘Anything Goes’ or
  ‘Food and/or Drink’

The adorable cat with the forever smile!

The sentiment

The “heart” balloons

A peep at the inside

Project details

White, pink, green and blue cardstock — My Mind’s Eye “Pretty Please Spring paper” — Penny Black stamp “Forever Smile” (4251K) — Kanban Crafts sentiment stamp (Stamp 9022) — Tutti Designs die “Scalloped Stitched Nesting Circles” (TUTTI-419) — Marianne Design die “Balloons” (PP1401) — Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils for coloring — Tim Holtz Distress Inks “Victorian Velvet” ; “Stormy Sky” ; “Mowed Lawn”

I hope you enjoy today´s card. If you do, please share your thoughts in the comments. I love to read them! Enjoy a wonderful day and have fun creating beautiful things.

Regards,

Amelia

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Feeling Green …

Hello friends,

Today’s creation is a cute card, inspired by the new challenge at Double D Challenges. The theme is “Feeling Green” and with a lovely inspiration photo (see bottom of my post) you can create anything in shades of green and can even add an optional pop of red. For more information about the challenge and the lovely prize visit the Double D Challenge blog and get inspired to link up your creation.

I love this stamp from Crafter’s Companion’s “Strawberry Kisses” range. The kitty is so cute taking a nap in the tea-cup! I did the coloring with my Derwent Inktense water-color pencils, add a strip of polka dot paper and a bow – I think that is enough to do justice to this adorable image. The sentiment is cut with a Penny Black word die.

Challenges:

• A Bit More Time To Craft Challenges #15 (ends 03/15) – Anything Goes
• Card Mania Challenge CMC#78 (ends 03/31) – Polka Dots and/or Stripes
• Sisters of Craft March Challenge (ends 03/31) – Anything Goes
• 613 Avenue Create Challenge #165 (ends 03/06) – Anything Goes
• ABC Challenges (ends 03/15) – C is for Cute
• Inspiration Destination Challenge #75 (ends 03/08) – Anything Goes
• Scrapy Land Challenge #37 (ends 03/13) – Anything Goes plus use any brand of low profile or steel ruled die Scrapy Land sells (I used a Penny Black creative  word die – For You)
• Paradise of Stamps Challenge #37 (ends 03/15) – Card for a Girl/Woman
• Crafting for All Seasons Challenge #121 (ends 03/16) – Add Some Sparkle (Gemstones and polka dot glitter paper)
• Creative Moments Challenge #88 (ends 03/15) – Anything Goes, Optional twist “place a sentiment on the front of your project”

A close-up of the image

The sentiment

A peep at the inside

The inspiration picture

Project details:

• White card-stock
• Green polka dot paper
• Crafter’s Companion “Strawberry Kisses” stamp “Cutie”
• Penny Black creative die “For you” (51-105)
• Derwent Inktense water-color pencils
• Wax cord
• Gemstones

I hope you like this card – I had a great time coloring the cute image. Thanks for visiting today, I appreciate it so much.

Regards,

Amelia

Spring Bouquet

Hi everyone, My card today is for all the cat lovers  – a colourful spring bouquet delivered by an adorable kitty. I used the inspiration photo from The Shabby Tea Room’s latest challenge for my color choice  – it is so beautiful and bright. The stamp is from Penny Black and as the image is so striking I just layered it on a Sizzix die cut and embellished the card with a few sweet blossoms. The sentiment is stamped on a tiny die cut tag and tied with a little purple bow. Hope the card will bring a lot of happiness to the receiver. Challenges:

• The Shabby Tea Room Challenge Week #249 (ends 04/20) – Rainbow of colors
• Moving Along with the Times Challenge (ends 04/23) – Anything But a Square Card
• The Crafter’s Cafe Challenge #112 (ends 04/22) – Animal Antics
• Penny Black and More April Challenge (ends 04/29) – Birthdays
• The Crazy Challenge CCH#194 (ends 04/27) – Springtime
• Craft for the Craic April Challenge (ends 04/30) – Die-ing for Spring or an Easter theme.
• Inspiration Destination Challenge #29 (ends 04/22) – Anything Goes
• 2 Crafty Girls Challenge #1 (ends 04/27) – Spring Time
• Artistic Inspirations Challenge #129 (ends 04/25) – Anything Goes with a Twist of Spring
• Eureka Stamps Challenge #136 (ends 04/20) – Four Legged Friends

 A close-up of the adorable cat

The sentiment and bow

The blossoms and daisies

A peep at the inside with more daisies

Project details:

• White cardstock
• Prima designer paper “Sweet Fairy Collection” (Charmed)
• Penny Black slapstick stamp “Merci Bouquet” (40-063)
• Penny Black sentiment from “In the Garden” stamp set (30-044)
• Sizzix Thinlits die “Frame, Garden Lattice” (659004)
• Sizzix Framelits die “Tags” (659100)
• Sweet blossoms
• Hug Snug seam binding “Sky Mauve”
• Tim Holtz distress ink “Antique Linen”
• Memento Dye ink “Tuxedo Black”
• Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils
• Skwiglues “Crystal”

Thank you for visiting today – I appreciate it so much. Have a wonderful day and happy crafting. Regards, Amelia

Happy Together …

Hello blog friends,

I am back with another guest designer project for UnstampaBelles April Challenge today.  The theme this month is to create “Anything but a Card”.  As this is a “no stamps” challenge blog you can use chipboard, die cuts, paper punches, canvases, stickers, rub-ons, etc. I really enjoy doing challenges that stretches one’s creativity beyond the ordinary. Thanks so much Merry and the Unstampabelles design team for the chance to submit a project to your lovely inspirational blog. The UnstampaBelles April Challenge is sponsored by Sticker Store and there is a lovely prize to be won. You can see all the details and beautiful inspirational projects of the design team on the UnstampaBelles Challenge blog.

I decided to make a tag with two adorable chipboard cat silhouettes – I love those curly tails!. I punched the top and bottom of the tag with a Martha Stewart deep edge punch ” Scroll Hearts” and add two oval die cut layers “Spellbinders Floral Ovals and Petite Scalloped Ovals Small” to frame the cats. The flowers are from the Prima range “Soubrette C” and “Charme Rose MeadowLark” The cats are painted with gesso and dressed up with pink wax cord bows. The verso of the tag is also embellished with a  pink heart and an oval die cut to accommodate a short handwritten message for the recipient/s. I think this tag will be great on an engagement, anniversary or wedding gift bag or box.

I also entered my tag in the following challenges:

• Hiding in my Craftroom Challenge HIMCR#91 (ends 04/05) – Freestyle!
• Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #26 (ends 04/07) – Cute
• My Sheri Crafts Challenge #107 (ends 04/13) – Spring has Sprung
• Crafty Ribbons Challenge #42 (ends 04/ 10) – Anything Goes with Ribbon
• Simply Create Too Challenge #34 (ends 04/11) – Animals
• MilkCoffee Challenge (ends 04/11) – Anything But Square
• DL. ART Thankful Thursday Challenge #106 (ends 04/09) – Spring
• Paper Crafting Journey Challenge  (ends 04/04) – Ribbon or Lace

A close up of the bow, pearl heart and flowers on the top half

The cat silhouettes painted with gesso and dresses up with pink bows

A close up of the bottom of the tag with Prima flowers and punched edge. The flowers are dashed with gesso for the shabby look.

The verso of the tag with pink heart and an oval for a short message

Project details:

• White and pink cardstock for card base and oval die cuts
• Prima designer paper “Meadow Lark” for background
• Chipboard cat silhouettes
• Spellbinders Nestabilities “Petite Scalloped Ovals Small “, Floral Ovals” and “Classic Hearts”
• Martha Stewart deep edge punch “Scroll Hearts”
• Prima flowers “Soubrette C” and “Charme Rose – Meadow Lark”
• Dala acrylic gesso
• Wax cord
• Hug Snug seam binding “Pink Tulip”
• Pearl heart
• Tim Holtz distress ink “Victorian Velvet”

A really busy weekend with the guest designer projects but I enjoyed every moment of making and sharing them on my blog. Thanks so much for your time visiting today – I appreciate and cherish every visit and comment so much. Enjoy your day and happy crafting.

Regards from South Africa,

Amelia

Yellow Bouquet

Hello friends,

Today is bitterly cold in Pretoria and the only warm, sunny spot is in front of the window in my craft room, for sure the best place to be! Hope you are enjoying what you do whether it is warm sunny weather or in the grip of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter days. It feels like ages since I last coloured a Penny Black stamp and they are my favourite stamps! Well, yesterday I dug through my storage bin with PB stamps and this card is the result. Oh dear, I love that cat with his adorable smile so much. I decided to do a “yellow” card for a change as I am stuck on pinks lately.

Challenges:

• Penny Black and More at Allsorts July Challenge (ends 07/27) – Summer Blooms
• Penny Black Saturday July Challenge (ends 08/02) – Summertime
• Card Makin’ Mamas Challenge #49 (ends 07/20) – Busting out the Rubber
• Craft Punked Challenge Week 28 (ends 07/20) – Summertime
• C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #163 (ends 07/19) – Summer
• Loves Rubberstamps Challenge #8 (ends 07/16) – Sweet Summer Days 

 

A peep at the inside

The adorable Penny Black cat

The marker signs cut with Cottage Cutz dies

 Project details:

• White and Sahara Sand cardstock
• Simple Stories designer paper “Country Garden”
• Penny Black slapstick stamp 40-015 “You Are The Bestest”
• Penny Black sentiment stamp
• Cottage Cutz die  “Marker Sign” CC-Mini-055(The Scrapping Cottage)
• Memory Box craft die “Puffy Clouds” 98172
• Martha Stewart border punches “Pop-up Butterflies” and “Floral Lace”
• Paper roses
• Skwiglues “Lemon Buzz”
• Tim Holtz Distress ink “Tea Dye”
• Lyra Rembrandt Aquarelle water-colour pencils

Hope you enjoyed what you see on my blog and thank you for visiting. I love to read your comments and appreciate each and everyone I receive. Happy crafting and may you have a wonderful and creative week.

Regards from South Africa,

Amelia

Hitchin’ A Ride

Hello blog friends,

Can’t believe it, but it is two weeks since I last posted a card. Most of my time is still devoted to physiotherapy since my knee replacement surgery. The latest news regarding the knee is that I am doing well although I still have a few stumbling blocks to overcome. With aggressive exercises and dry needling therapy last week the swelling is much better but bending the knee is still a huge problem. According to the orthopaedic surgeon the patella, that was injured during a previous sports injury, or the osteoarthritis that developed over years may cause the problem. Another knee operation to remove the patella or a manipulation of the knee under general anesthesia may be scheduled for me in future – I really hope this will not be necessary. Thanks to all my followers and blog visitors who so kindly leave messages and sent emails of support. This is so highly appreciated and a huge encouragement for me to keep on. Anyway, back to my card for today. This is my favourite of all the vintage cards I made this far. Just love the way the card comes together, hope you enjoy looking at this one.

Challenges:

• Penny Black and More  @Allsorts April Challenge (ends 04/30) – Oh so Cute
• Vintage Cafe Card Challenge Mission #15 (ends 04/18) – Pearls
• Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenges #10 (ends 04/20) – Pearls and Lace
• Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #128 (ends 04/20) – Animals
• Crafty Purple Frog Challenge #38 (ends/17) – Let’s Get Distressed
• Rainbow Lady’s Challenge #200 (ends 04/19)  – Celebrate with a Touch of Vintage
• Moving Along with the Times Challenge #144 (ends 04/18) – Shabby Chic and/or Vintage
• Simon Says Stamp Challenge (ends 04/18) – April Showers Bring Spring Flowers!
• The Crafter’s Cafe Challenge #3 (ends 04/30) -Spring with Pastel Colors

The adorable little kittens, a Penny Black stamp I so much love

A close-up of the Lili of the Valley birthday sentiment

The heart embellishment decorated with pearls and hanging from a small rose wreath

The inside of the card decorated with ribbon and a postage mark

Project details:

• White cardstock
• Prima and K and Co designer paper
• Penny Black stamp “Hitchin’ A Ride” (1460K)
• Lili of the Valley sentiment stamp
• Hug Snug seam binding “Rose Petal”
• Crochet Lace
• Heart charm
• Pearls
• Paper roses
• Tim Holtz distress ink “Vintage photo” and “Victorian Velvet”
• Skwiglues glitter “Crystal Gold”
• Lyra-Rembrandt Aquarelle water-colour pencils

Thanks so much for stopping by and I would love to hear what you think of the card. Your visits and comments are always so appreciated. Have a wonderful day and happy crafting till we meet again in blogland.

Regards from South Africa,

Amelia

Flowers For You

Hello dear blog friends,

Hope you are well today and enjoying the change of seasons. For us in the southern hemisphere we are entering the first month of autumn (fall). Today I have a card with a springtime feeling (dedicated to my friends in the northern hemisphere) to share with you. Since my knee replacement surgery I must admit I can’t get myself inspired for card making. Usually my day started with light rehabilitation exercises  in the morning with more advances physio later in the day.  Healing is such a slow process  and I am delighted every time I made a millimetre progress in bending the knee. I am still walking with two crutches which make those ordinary tasks we do everyday a little bit more difficult. Well, something I have learned the past five weeks is to have a lot of patience! The only thing I am hoping for now is to get my enthusiasm back for my beloved hobby of rubber stamping and card making – maybe this adorable cat with the flower bouquet will provide the necessary inspiration.

Challenges:

• Penny Black and More March Challenge (ends 03/29) – Springtime
• Joanna Sheen March Challenge (ends 03/31) – Spring is in the Air / Easter
• Crafter’s Companion Monthly Challenge #22 (ends 03/31) – Spring
• 2 Sisters Challenge #82 (ends 03/17) – Spring colours
• Allsorts Challenge #145 (ends 03/17) – Say It With Flowers
• Totally Gorjuss Challenge #122 (ends 03/17) – Anything Goes with a Button
• Our Creative Corner Challenge (ends 03/17) – Papercraft Tic Tac Toe (Flowers, Yellow and Glitter)
• Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenges #8 (ends 03/23)  – Feathers and Fur
• Glitter Geeks Challenge #10 (ends 03/16) – Spring is in the Air

 A white daisy on the inside

A close-up of the adorable kitty and the pretty white daisies with dabs of glitter

Project details:

• Penny Black slapstick stamp “Merci Bouquet” 40-063
• Yellow and white cardstock
• Designer paper
• Hug Snug seam binding “Antique Gold”
• Natural cord
• Tim Holtz distress ink “Vintage Photo”
• Buttons
• K and Company daisy flowers
• Stickles glitter “Diamond”
• Lyra-Rembrandt Aquarelle water-colour pencils

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  I appreciate yor visit and each and every comment left. Have a wonderful and crafty week.

Regards from South Africa,

Amelia