My first ever sneaky peek.....

.....never had the notion to do a sneaky before but the DigiStamp Boutique's new October images are sooo cute I can't wait to show you my card!

They are released on Friday so check back then to see the full card in all it's glory!

eat, drink & be scary

Just popping on a quick card I made for the first challenge on the Ribbon Girl Blog, black, orange and white. I used a little Penny Black image coloured with copics and some twine bought, of course, from the Ribbon Girl.

A weekend in Northern Italy

Bergamo, to be exact. Here is the view from the upper town, reached by a ride in the funicular or for the less adventurous the city tour bus will take you the long way round.

On the Sunday Bergamo had lots going on. I suppose it was their equivalent of a gala day. There was a mini marathon, (we stood at the finish line and gave some runners a good Scottish cheer) a cycle race, a parade with marching bands and the medieval club doing their thing. Lots of stalls with nice things to eat and drink, in true Italian style.

This is the main thoroughfare, you can see the old town in the distance.....

As you might expect there are many spectacular buildings.....


We will definately go back. It is only just over 2 hours from our local airport (Glasgow, Prestwick) direct to Bergamo. Next time we will plan in a visit to Milan (45mins from Bergamo) or the northern lakes.

Indian Summer

Good Morning Penny Black fans!

Thanks to everyone who joined in last week, you sure loved Joey's sketch.

This week the challenge is....

Indian Summer

'An Indian summer occurs in autumn in the northern hemisphere. It is characterised by a period of sunny warm weather, after the leaves have turned following the onset of frost, but before the first snowfall.'

So now you know!

This week I used a Penny Black stickeroo. I thought the blues and browns and a few missing petals fitted the theme perfectly.

For all the info on this weeks prizes, last weeks winners and fabby inspiration from the design team visit the Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog.

biggest button in the whole wide world!

Today I thought I would share with you my final makes from this months pack of goodies from Simply Create. Isn't that the biggest button you ever did see? Makes quite a statement doesn't it? You should see what my teamie Kath did with hers, take a peek here.

I had quite a few stickers left after my cards were done so made these little post-it note holders. Cute, eh?

The papers and stickers are echo park. See you tomorrow for a new Penny Black challenge, don't these weeks just fly by?

Christmas Wishes

On a roll with the old Chrissie cards! Here's another, this time I have used a digi image, Francis, from the DigiStamp Boutique. I printed him on to white card then did the usual inking round the edges. Only this time I didn't stop at the edges and ended up inking nearly the whole of his background. Quite effective though, gives him a little 'ready brek' glow!

I stamped the hero arts 'dots' background on to whitewash core'dinations card with 'faded jeans' distress ink. The sparkly snowflakes are by papermania.

This fits two challenges....

Papertake Weekly....animal magic

Delightful Challenges....make it sparkle

have yourself a merry little christmas....

Well what can I say? I think this will be the first year ever that I am fairly well ahead of the Christmas cardmaking! Thanks in no small way to my gorgeous kit that arrived from Simply Create.

Again I used the Hero Arts stamp 'snowy house', but this time with non traditional colours to match the Echo Park papers. I was also sent a huge sheet of Echo Park stickers and have used some of them here to embellish, more from the sticker sheet tomorrow.

This card fits the challenge over on Charisma.....anything goes.

Merry Christmas

Remember last week I showed you what had arrived from Simply Create? Well, here is the first of my makes. In my kit I was lucky enough to get the Hero Arts stamp 'Snowy House' and Echo Park papers 'Everybody Loves Christmas'. Perfect! The papers are double sided, makes things a lot easier to match up, don't you think? I coloured the stamped image with Prisma pencils and added a touch of stickles.

This fits the challenge on A Spoon Full of Sugar...Anything Goes.

enjoy your day

Good morning Penny Black fans.

Thanks everyone for joining in last weeks men/boys challenge, see, not as difficult with PB Stamps is it?

This week we have a brilliant sketch for you to follow from our teamie Joey.....

And, we have a fabulous guest designer, Kathy Racoosin from Penny Black is joining us this week. Card making royalty indeed!

This weeks prizes are Carolling Penguins....

from....

and,
from Penny Black...
a stamp or stamp set of your choice from the Halloween 2010 catalogue.

So, take yourself over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.....

• See Kathy Racoosins fabulous card.
• Find out if you are last weeks winner.
• Get all the gen on this weeks challenge.
  

Love your Penny Blacks? Well, do I have a feast for your eyes! So, if you are here in the morning grab yourself a latte. Is it afternoon? Get yourself a mug of tea. Ah, you're here in the evening, a nice glass of red or a wee dram.

• The Penny Black Blog.
• Penny Black on Facebook.
• Penny Circle.
• Halloween 2010.

Gorgeous, eh!

born to shop!

Meet Lulabelle the sassiest shopper in town! She is one of the DigiStamp Boutiques new releases for September. I have coloured with Copics and the paper and embellies are by BoBunny.

If you decide to treat yourself, and why wouldn't you, any card you make using one of the Boutiques images can be entered into the monthly comp'. Pop over here for all the details.

and,whooooooo, look what's on special offer.....

I'm sooo excited.....

.....cos my first DT box of goodies arrived from Simply Create. Papers, ribbons, buttons and more, all supremely gorgeous. I am soo lucky and soo excited.

I have a few ideas birling about and have already made a start colouring some stamped images. Will probably share my makes at the weekend.

born to be mild

How cool does Snoopy look? Very, don't you think? I spotted a range of Snoopy stamps whilst I was shopping online at the Glitter Pot (still finding my way with my new HeroArts stamps and distress inks, but I'm sure I'll get there). I just had to have this one, for two reasons. My childhood dog was called Snoopy, an adorable Sheltie and I had a scooter during the long hot summer of '76, a Honda Melody.

The stamp is called Snoopy's Chopper by Stampabilities and the paper is Joy Ride by Cosmo Cricket. I coloured with Copics and finished off with a felt button.

I am entering into the challenge over on Cute Card Thursday....play on words.

Meet Winter Coco.....

.....brand new from the DigiStamp Boutique. You can buy the image I have used here, Coco and presents. Or, treat yourself to the offer of the month, all three Winter Coco images. That would be Christmas cardmaking sorted!

I paper pieced the sledge and his hat and coloured the rest with copics. The papers are Christmas Fancy by Dovecraft and the glittered chipboard shapes are the same brand.

I am entering Coco into two challenges.....

Digital Tuesday....dots and stripes

Papertake....a fabby sketch

For more gorgeous inspiration why not pop over to the DigiStamp Boutique blog? Oh, and while you are there have a peek at the monthly competition.

all I want for Christmas....

Good Morning Penny Black fans!

Big thanks to those who joined in the fun of last weeks colour challenge. If you entered a card pop over here and find out if you have been lucky enough to win one of the prizes.

This weeks challenge is.....

Men/Boys

I know in some parts this is known as a tricky challenge. But not in Penny Black world. There are so many PB images to suit male cards that I think you will find this challenge easy peasy!

I intended to squirrel this card away to give to hubby but I was very lax and he spotted it. Never mind, with over 3 months to go he will have forgotten what it looks like (although he had better not take the sentiment to heart, I have my eye on a new watch).

This weeks prize is a $20 voucher from 123 stitch to spend at their online store. For more info' on how to enter and some fabulous inspiration visit the Penny Black Saturday Challenge, see you there!

new home

It's been a while since I made a card using one of Sally-Ann's images but I came across this one whilst browsing through my collection. Doesn't it make a cute little new home card? A sweet and simple image, nice and easy to colour. You can find it here at the DigiStamp Boutique.

I coloured the image with Copics and the paper is by BoBunny.

It fits two challenges....

Allsorts....new beginnings

A Spoonfull of Sugar.....animal crackers

happy birthday

Just popping on to share this card. It is one of the projects I submitted to the Design Team call at Simply Create.

I used a Penny Black stamp from a transparent set and coloured with Inktense watercolour pencils. The papers are by BoBunny.

tis the season

Well, back to taking the pics in the 'feature' (that's what we call the small alcove in our hallway). It's really not pleasant at all outside and by the time I get a card finished in the evening there is not enough light to use the window ledge. Anyways, this is another for the old Crimbo box which is coming along slowly but steadily.

The image is from Bugaboo, won in a challenge a while back and never used, until now. I used Copics to colour. The papers are bits from my scrap box.

And what about that gorgeous twine? I got that (and more) from the Ribbon Girl.

Kath, my Penny Black teamie, designs for them so I had to check out the shop, soo glad I did, brilliant choice and excellent service.

I am entering this card into the sketch challenge on Sketch and Stash.

Sweet

Good Morning Penny Black fans!

Wasn't it lovely that the weather matched last weeks summer theme? This week we have a colour challenge for you....

Purple, Cream and Brown

I am not normally a big fan of purple but I have to say that on cards I do like it. I have used a Betsy Bluebell stamp from the transparent set. The spotty paper is by Doodlebug.

We have 2 fabulous prizes this week from Penny Black....

Hedgie Gift.....

and.... 'Join the Party'

For more info', brilliant inspiration from my teamies and to find out who is last weeks lucky winner visit the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

We hope you can join in the fun and look forward to seeing all your wonderful creations.

Crafty Calendar September Challenge

Thanks Crunchie it's Friday! And the first Friday of the month brings with it a fresh challenge from the Craft Calendar gang. This months challenge is....

Blue
(optional extra - flowers)

I have taken a bit of a minimilist approach to my card. I used kraft card for the background and two pieces of DP from my scrap box. The image is by Pink Petticoat coloured with copics. The sentiment is from a stamp set I came accross in TK Maxx. I also got some lovely papers in there the other day too.

We would love it if you could join in the fun this month. Oh, and I nearly forgot, we have a fabulous prize from our sponsor....

3 digi images of your choice

So, that's it for today. See you tomorrow bright and early for Penny Black Saturday, but please keep the noise down. I am off out with friends tonight to the local Italian for pasta and wine and may be a bit fragile!