Penny Black - 34 - Circle Card

A circle card is required by the Penny Black challenge this week. I love doing circle cards (most of my Christmas cards were circular this year). I used the largest scalloped nestie, embossed it with the Swiss Dot folder, attached flowers round the outer edge and placed the image (mounted on oval cut nesties) in the center. I haven't decorated the inside as yet as I not sure what to do (inspiration lacking) - I would be grateful for all suggestions.

Materials

White Bazzill Basic cardstock : Image - Penny Black : Derwent pastels : Leone Em ash leaf punch : Cuttlebug - Round & Oval nestabilities : Flowers & Pearls from stash

Friday Sketchers

An amazing sketch by Carole this week at Friday Sketchers - it is simple, elegant and an absolute dream to work with - so effective. I used Magnolia's Alf and coloured him with pastels and the paper is by Anna Griffin. I use the nestie labels as the center piece and sat Alf on a SU flower. The border is embossed with the Cuttlebug border folder and the corners with round nesties. I cut Alf out and placed him on the label, only to find his top half disappeared into the bp - der............. I gently lifted him and had to cut out a 'shadow' for him - talk about making work for oneself.

Materials
Brown Bazzill bc : Anna Griffin bp : Image - Magnolia - sitting Alf : Derwent pastels : Cuttlebug + border embossing folder & Label and round nesties : SU flower : Ribbon and brads from stash

Double Dutch Sketch Challenge

Get yout sunglasses out!!

This is a very bright card for me - I usually stick with more pastels/muted colours, but when I saw these Bo Bunny papers (Spelndour) I just had to have them.
This fortnight's challenge at Double Dutch is a superb sketch - simple but so effective.
I coloured the image with a mixture of pastels and watercolours. (I struggle to replicate reds - and then they don't seem to photograph too well - is it me, or does anyone else have this problem? I would love suggestion as how to overcome it).

Materials
Bazzill basic cardstock : Bo Bunny Splendour papers : Sugar Nellie image - Daisy : Derwent pastels : Cuttlebug and Stampabilities label dies (inside) : Rest from stash

Colour Create's First Challenge

This is my first card as DT for Tara's new Colour Create Challenge Blog - not my usual style, but I wanted to concentrate on the colours this week. I used a brown bazzill bling as the base card (and oh boy - was it difficult to photograph - it insisted on catching the light). I used the cuttlebug folder Divine Swirls and the flowers are cut from the Harmony alphabet set, which I mounted on a flourish as a stem. The butterfly is also Cuttlebug's cut and emboss set and I used the Martha Stewart punch on the edge of the green Basic Grey off beat collection. I cut the tag by hand and added a small butterfly charm.

I must say I tend to play safe with colours and this really stretched me and took me out of my comfort zone - but Hey ! - that's what challenges are about and I found it most rewarding. The cushions below are your colour inspiration for this week - come along and 'play' - we'd love to see what you could do with them

Materials Bazzil bling bc and Basic Grey Offbeat bp Cuttlebug - Divine swirls folder, Harmony alphabet set, butterfly cut & emboss set and Sizzix flourish die. Sentiment - free with magazine Ribbon, charm and gems from stash

TYI and Cuttlebug Challenges

I missed both these challenges last week - I had a stinking cough, cold and sore throat that my mojo went on a 'go slow'.
The TYI challenge was purple. I found some wonderful butterfly and script paper in my stash and created my tag around this. I actually ended up covering most of the butterflies up - silly or what?
When I'd finished this I decided to use the same paper for the Cuttlebug challenge which is distressing (ooh - I do love distressing). I was deciding what to use as an image and the Tag kept catching my eye - why not I thought they match perfectly.

The Tag

The card

And finally together

Materials
BC - bazzill : Papers - Imaginations Buttery Text : Cuttlebug & Spots & Dots folder, Textile folder and QuicKuts flourish : Butterfly stamp - Creative Stamping :
EK Success - Retro flower punches : Rest from stash