A little Llama Drama

We have a new theme for "Baby or Child" at Everybody Art Challenge and we would love to see your creations. Do check out the wonderful inspiration of my teamies and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

I found this Wild Rose Studio Birthday Llama stamp in my stash and thought it would be perfect for a soon to be 5 year old.  Coloured with Copics to give it a fluffy texture (one that I'm not sure I could achieve a second time) and with lots of bright colours and the obligatory birthday number, it was fun to make.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafter's Cafe - #316 ATG with optional spots or stripes

Love Those Pretty Papers - Feb The Colour REd

Polkadoodles #3 - Always Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday#299 - Add a heart (or a full set of banners with hearts in my case)

Birthday Love Flamingo

Mo’s Digital Pencil's "Patreon" Page HERE has four levels of Patron to choose from.  The lowest tier is absolutely FREE and my image today (which comes full length with an absolutely adorable fairy) was January's FREE digi image available for a limited time to every member. I cropped it for my polaroid style framing and used just the head of the flamingo. I always ask and receive Mo's permission to alter her already perfect images in any way.  You can join Mo's Patreon group at the lowest tier for FREE.   Paid membership starts with a minimum of just $2.50 per month, plus tax where applicable, and offers additional free images and coupons too.  It's sooooooo worth it to get your hands on some of Mo's highly acclaimed images.  This one called "Every Day is a Gift" is not currently available in Mo's shop.

There are lots of Valentine's challenges around but I decided to go with a Birthday Love theme rather than romantic love.  I coloured the image with Polychromos pencils and I  stamped the leaves around the die cut frame.  A ribbon and a little Papertrey Ink die cut tag with a kraft heart and stamped "Love" were the finishing touches. 

By the way, if you would prefer to see my cards on Facebook, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

Just as a reminder of the other challenge where I am on the Design Team... our theme is "Dies or Punches" at Everybody Art Challenge 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #151 Always Anything Digital Goes

The Color Throwdown #826 pink brown (I used kraft) and white

Crafter's Cafe - #315 Anything Goes optional Birthday

Just Us Girls #761 Dies - Add a Heart

Krafty Chicks #754- Birthday

Make my Monday -#245 Love

Passion for Markers -#774 All About love

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Love is in the air

 

Bandaids and X-rays - Knee & Ankle

Just over four weeks ago, the Hubster underwent full knee replacement surgery.   This is the card I made for him.  He is now recovering nicely although it's been a pretty hectic time for me because the poor guy has been so limited in what he can do safely for himself.  He has needed help with even the most basic things like washing and dressing and his pain at night has kept us both from sleeping.  Fortunately we have turned a corner and whereas I am still the shopper, food preparer, driver and carer, he is able to do more for himself and we are both looking forward to continuing improvements.

We have a new theme for "dies or punches" at Everybody Art Challenge and we would love to see your creations. I used this stitched frame die which I cut out of design paper and mounted on several cardstock frames, together with a bandaid and heart die from Papertrey Ink.   My spatters and hearts stamped in the background are Stampin Up and I think the sentiment is Simon Say Stamp.  Do check out the wonderful inspiration of my teamies and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

The above is one card in a series of bandaids and x-ray cards.  The knee x-ray came from a Recollections vellum paper back. The foot is a digital image from the internet printed on vellum.  Below is a card I made when the recipient broke her ankle.  The stamped diecut frame is Papertrey ink, the tags are a Stampin Up punch and the bandaid is Lawn Fawn.   I also stamped the envelope.

I have a Facebook page if you are interested... look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

I am entering one or both of my cards into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #141 Always Anything Digital Goes (the foot xray is digital)

Creative Inspirations - Jan - Something Old Something New - I have used all older products for my cards 

Cupcake Inspirations - #610 Add a tag

Dragonfly Dreams - Feb - CAS

Krafty Chicks #753 Anything Goes

the Male Room #194 CAS

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Anything Goes

Edited to add my gratitude to Lori and the lovelies at Cupcake Inspirations for selecting my broken ankle card in the top picks.  Thank you!  

 

Girly Girl Candy!

For today's card I have used this lovely Girly Girl Candy image from Mo’s Digital Pencil

She is just so darn cute!    I'm pretty sure the papers are First Edition and my sentiment is Taylored Expressions.   I coloured Candy with Copics.

There is lots of inspiration from my teamies on Mo's Dream Team Inspiration blog HERE and Mo has a Facebook page HERE.   It's a great place to hang out and ask questions about Mo's work, and some of my talented teamies have started producing videos of themselves working on Mo's images.     In even more news... Mo's "Patreon" Page is HERE. There are four levels of Patron to choose from.  The lowest tier is absolutely FREE and there are FREE digi images to be found!  Paid membership starts with a minimum of just $2.50 per month which gives you more FREE images and coupons too!  

By the way, if you would prefer to see my cards on Facebook, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

Just as a reminder of the other challenge where I am on the Design Team... our theme is "Anything Goes" at Everybody Art Challenge 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #150 Always Anything Digital Goes

Crafter's Cafe - #315 Anything Goes with optional Birthday

Creatalicious - #285 Anything Goes with optional love is in the air

Creative Inspirations - Sept - Always Anything Goes

Love Those Pretty Papers - Jan - Something Old or Something new

Polkadoodles #3 - Always Anything Goes

Edited to show my huge appreciation to the lovely team at CD Sunday where I love to play along for selecting this card in their top picks.   This winning smile was a winner!  

 

Thank You

My lovely teamies at Everybody Art Challenge surprised me with a change of date for our first challenge this year.  The speed at which I needed a card seemed like a good opportunity to go more CAS in styling, and I utilised a design introduced to me by Karen Telfer at a crafty class I attended almost 5 years ago.   Karen Telfer has a Facebook Page HERE and has You Tube videos HERE too.  

Our theme at Everybody Art Challenge is "Anything Goes".  Do check out the wonderful inspiration of my teamies and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

My card features a Toadstool/mushroom stamp by Lavinia in addition to the stencilled circle and Thank You stamp, and also an old Joy craft Autumn Toadstool/mushroom (from a border) die, and simple frame.

By the way, if you would prefer to see my cards on Facebook, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge - T is for Thank You 

Creative Inspirations - Jan - Something Old (Mushroom and Frame dies) or Something New

Krafty Chicks #751 - CAS

the Male Room #194 - CAS

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - CAS (featuring Hero Arts)

Sweet Stampin - Thank You cards

Edited to say a big thank you to the great team at Alphabet Challenge for selecting my Thank You card in their top picks lineup.  I'm delighted!  

 

New stash, New Year and New Baby

We returned from Florida on 31 December.  I came back with the same respiratory bug that I took with me and which is still plaguing me sadly.  The hubster had knee replacement surgery on 4 January so these last 10 days have been spent visiting him on a daily basis and then coming home to rest from my own exertions.   I'm hoping that in the words of the pop group D:Ream "Things can only get better"!

My friends at Everybody Art Challenge are still enjoying their Christmas vacation but challenges will recommence on 28 January 2025. 

Today I have used this sweet "Big Brother" image from Mo’s Digital Pencil which is available in her shop HERE.  Mo has a curly haired version HERE. And there are Big Sister versions too HERE.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE how inclusive Mo is with so many of her images.

My card was made to welcome baby Daisy Grace to the lovely family of some very dear friends of ours.  Daisy's big brother Jacob is thrilled with his new baby sister.  I used some old dies which had previously remained unused (so they were still new to me) in addition to this new stamp 

There is a Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations and we look forward to seeing you there. It's easy to become a member.  Just click HERE.  And check out Mo's Dream Team Blog HERE for inspiration from my teamies.    Mo now has FOUR levels of Patron to choose from - one of which is absolutely FREE and includes regular free digis.  Paid memberships start at just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) and include even more digi images plus coupons!  Please do go and check it out.  Remember you can access the lowest tier and a freebie for free!  You can find Mo's Patreon Page HERE

By the way, if you would prefer to see my cards on Facebook, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #149 Always Anything Digital Goes

Love Those Pretty Papers - Jan Anything Goes with optional Fancy Fold

Polkadoodles #1 - Always Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday #297 Use something New (the digi stamp)

Sweet Stampin - Jan - New

Time Out #279 - Beginnings

  

Wishing you all a wonderful, healthy, prosperous New Year filled with love and laughter!

Hugs, Lesley K

Edited to add a little happy dance celebrating a Top 3 choice from my friends at CD Sunday Plus 

Happy New Year!

It's the end of another year.  I hope, like me, you've had a wonderful holiday season.  My teamies at Everybody Art Challenge  are taking a well deserved vacation and will return on 28 January so I have an opportunity to enjoy playing along with lots of other challenges.   I am so grateful to the creative Blog teams who select new themes for their challenges and who showcase beautiful creations for us to enjoy throughout the year.  For my post today I have made a  (remarkably for me) CAS card using Cardinal from Mo’s Digital Pencil.  It's just $2, Peeps, and is available in Mo's store HERE.  I am going to be quite busy for the next couple of days so I'm posting my card on my Blog a little earlier than usual. 

Mo's Facebook page can be found HERE, her Dream Team Blog is HERE and her "Patreon" Page, where there are four levels including a completely free membership, is HERE.  Mo posts digi images for all levels of membership even the Free one and with paid membership starting at a minimum of just $2.50 per month, plus tax where applicable, you get more FREE images and coupons too!  

By the way, if you would prefer to see my cards on Facebook, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

I made three of these, inking up my Joy Embossing folder in a different soft Distress ink each time and colouring the cardinal with my Copic pens.  I'm entering my cards into the following challenges:

Can you Handle the Pressure December - Anything using an embossing folder optional Winter twist.

CD Sunday Plus - #148 Always Anything Digital Goes

Creatalicious  #284 Anything Goes with optional Christmas or New Year

Creative Inspirations - Dec - Let it snow

Dragonfly Dreams - Dec - Christmas

Krafty Chicks #748 - All Occasions

the Male Room # 193 Anything Goes

Sweet Stampin - Christmas Creations

 

W is for Winter

I had two choices of cards for our new theme of "W is for..." at Everybody Art Challenge.  In the end I decided to opt for "W is for Winter" with this cute image from Mo’s Digital Pencil called "Snowflakes" which is available in her shop here.  Do come and play along with my delightful EAC Design Teamies and share some love with them by leaving comments on their blogs.  By the way the team will be taking a Christmas break until 28 January.

I actually used this same image very recently here, on that occasion colouring her basket of poppy flowers red as Mo intended but this time, I decided they were winter Hellebores in this ragged cutie's basket and made them white to tie in with the snowflakes falling in the background and to enable me to colour her coat poppy red!   I kept my card quite simple, using a much favoured stitched frame (MMM has a Stitch Theme this week), some DPs in the background, and a pre-printed sentiment.

Mo has a Facebook page HERE where members can upload their Mo Manning creations.  Mo's Dream Team Blog HERE has lots of fabulous inspiration from my teamies.  

In case you haven't yet heard the great news - Mo now has FOUR levels of Patron to choose from - one of which is absolutely FREE and includes regular free digis.  Paid memberships start at just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) and include even more digi images plus coupons!  Please do go and check it out.  Remember you can access the lowest tier and a freebie for free!  You can find Mo's Patreon Page HERE

By the way, if you would prefer to see my cards on Facebook, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge - S is for Silent Night

CD Sunday Plus - #148 Always Anything Digital Goes

Creatalicious #284 Anything Goes with optional Christmas or New Year

Creative Inspirations - Dec - Let it snow

Dragonfly Dreams - Dec - Christmas

Four Seasons - Dec - Winter

Krafty Chicks #746 - Christmas

Make my Monday -#241 Stitching Real or Faux

Passion for Markers -#769 Anything Goes (with bumper prizes!)

Sweet Stampin - Christmas Creations

Edited to proudly display my Winner Badge from the Lovelies at Creative Inspiration Challenge.  Thank you so much!

 

The Cat is in the Christmas Tree, again!

Oops, I'm late today sharing our new theme for "Home" at Everybody Art Challenge.  Do come and play along and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

Today I have used this fun "Cat's in the Christmas Tree" image from Mo’s Digital Pencil which is available in her shop HERE.  

This card is all about the image!  And I just love this funky frame from Aall & Create which I thought was perfect for the chaotic kitty scene!  I added glossy accents to the ornaments so there is quite a bit of shine on this Copic coloured card.

Please excuse the horrid lighting!  It's winter in England and it is dull, dull, dull outside!

There is a Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations and we look forward to seeing you there. It's easy to become a member.  Just click HERE.  And check out Mo's Dream Team Blog HERE for inspiration from my teamies.   In case you haven't yet heard the great news - Mo now has FOUR levels of Patron to choose from - one of which is absolutely FREE and includes regular free digis.  Paid memberships start at just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) and include even more digi images plus coupons!  Please do go and check it out.  Remember you can access the lowest tier and a freebie for free!  You can find Mo's Patreon Page HERE

By the way, if you would prefer to see my cards on Facebook, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #147 Always Anything Digital Goes

Creative Inspirations - Nov - Christmas Animals (I'm being cheeky with my Christmas cat)

Dragonfly Dreams - Dec - Christmas

Four Seasons - Dec - Winter

Krafty Chicks #744 - All Occasions

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Anything Goes 

 

Make A Wish

We have a new theme for "Blue" at Everybody Art Challenge.  Do come and play along and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

Today I have used this delightfully cute "Make a Wish" image from Mo’s Digital Pencil.  You can buy this image as a rubberstamp from Penny Black, and a digital version is also available in Mo's shop here.  It's a slightly older image and the digi is only $3!   What a bargain!

I coloured her with my Copic pens.  My Design papers are by Prima and the Dandelion clock die is by Marianne.  Tags are cut with my favourite Stampin Up tiny tags punch and I've added some sparkle with the gems.

There is a Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations and we look forward to seeing you there. It's easy to become a member.  Just click HERE.  If you need more inspiration, do check out Mo's Dream Team Blog HERE.    Mo now has FOUR levels of Patron to choose from - one of which is absolutely FREE and includes regular free digis.  Paid memberships start at just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) and include even more digi images plus coupons!  Please do go and check it out.  Remember you can access the lowest tier and a freebie for free!  You can find Mo's Patreon Page HERE

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #146 Always Anything Digital Goes

Creatalicious #283 - Anything Goes with an option for Thanks or Thanksgiving

Just Add Ink  #728 Choose 2 from Pens, Pencils and Patterned Papers 

Penny Black -Nov - Always Anything Goes with the option to make a scene

Seize the Birthday #295 Focal One (use one stamp, stamped once for the focus)

Edited to add a happy dance for having this card make the Honors Roll from the lovelies at Just Add Ink and also Seize the Birthday.  I am thrilled and grateful for these honours!

  

Snowflakes and Poppies

We have a new theme for "Red or Blue plus Gold or Silver" at Everybody Art Challenge this week.  Do come and play along and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

It's the perfect opportunity to make Holiday cards but I chose instead to make a card with this coming Remembrance Sunday in mind - Armistice Day in the UK, and Veterans' Day in the USA.  

I used the beautiful "Snowflakes" image from Mo’s Digital Pencil which is available in her shop here.    Instead of using white for snowflakes, I wanted my image to appear in a flurry of Poppy petals.  She is coloured with Polychromos pencils on Kraft cardstock.  I absolutely need more practice with this media but I like how she turned out.  I think the pencils really work with Mo's delightful vintage style image. I used an inked Simon Says Stamp Poppy Stencil for my background and gold mirror card for the layering and the sentiment. 

There is a Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations and we look forward to seeing you there. It's easy to become a member.  Just click HERE.  And check out Mo's Dream Team Blog HERE for inspiration from my teamies.   In case you haven't yet heard the great news - Mo now has FOUR levels of Patron to choose from - one of which is absolutely FREE and includes regular free digis.  Paid memberships start at just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) and include even more digi images plus coupons!  Please do go and check it out.  Remember you can access the lowest tier and a freebie for free!  You can find Mo's Patreon Page HERE

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #145 Always Anything Digital Goes

Colorful Options - Nov - Red

Inkspirational #328 Layer It

Krafty Chicks #740 - Anything Goes

Polkadoodles #44 - Always Anything Goes

Edited to add my absolute delight that this card was in the top picks from the super team over at CD Sunday Plus.  Thank you, ladies!

 

Introducing FREEBIE Peter, and his spooky winged friends

We have a new theme for "Things with Wings" at Everybody Art Challenge.  Do come and play along and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs. I utilised wings in the background paper and also with these fun bat sequins.  I also added some Memory Box die-cut gravestones

Importantly I used this FREE fun image called Peter from Mo's Digital Pencil "Patreon" Page  which you can find HERE.   I masked Peter before ink blending his background.  Similar text is free with the image.  I repositioned it and overwrote it with a black glaze pen. I coloured Peter with my Copics in the same colours that Mo had chosen.  Mo now has FOUR levels of Patron to choose from - one of which is absolutely FREE and includes regular free digis.  Paid memberships start at just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) and include even more digi images plus coupons!  Please do go and check it out.  Remember you can access the lowest tier and this fun guy for free!

There is a Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations and we look forward to seeing you there. It's easy to become a member.  Just click HERE or stop by Mo's Dream Team Blog HERE for inspiration

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #144 Always Anything Digital Goes

Colorful Options - October - Orange or Rainbow.  I opted for rainbow with red shoes, orange face, yellow mid background, green hoodie, blue jeans, indigo and violet upper sky

Creatalicious #282 Anything Goes with optional Halloween

Four Seasons October - Anything Fall

Inkspirational #327 Seasonal

Just Us Girls #749 Moodboard (see image below)

Love those Pretty Papers - October Halloween Colours/Papers 

Make my Monday -#237 Spooky/Halloween

Simon Says Stamp (Mon) - Spooky - Add some purple 

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Spooky/Halloween

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #255 H is for Halloween

     

Edited to show my appreciation for being in the winners' circle from the fabulous team at CD Sunday Plus!  Thank you so much! 

 

First you need a sheep (or Deconstructed Sweater)

We have a new theme for "Sweater Weather" at Everybody Art Challenge.  And what do you need to make a nice wool sweater?  You need sheep!  My card today utilises this fun "luv ewe" image from Mo’s Digital Pencil which is available in her shop here.  Now Mo only has the one sheep in her image but I copied it and merged the two images together for my card.  To add interest, I removed the knitting needles from the second sheep which I made a little smaller and added a personalised birthday banner where the knitted wool heart had been.  I always seek and receive permission from Mo before altering her already perfect images.  I just wanted this birthday card to look like it came from me and my husband so I wanted two sheep.   Oddly it reminds me of the famous American Gothic painting by Grant Wood.  I really want to make another version and include a pitchfork! Ha!

I used a Marianne Design knitted embossing folder and die and glued the left side of my card to the back panel for a slightly funky fold.  I also included some little wool ball dies (also by Marianne Design), and a grass verge which I believe is by Memory Box.  I Word processed the sentiment.   I never get tired of using this fun pun!  The clouds behind the sheep were stencilled using, I think, My Favorite Things cloud stencil.

Do come and play along and share some love with the Everybody Art Challenge Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

There is Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations and we look forward to seeing you there. It's easy to become a member.  Just click HERE.  And check out Mo's other sites where there is lots of inspiration from my teamies.

* Dream Team Blog HERE for inspiration

* Mo's "Patreon" Page HERE. There are three levels of Patron to choose from with a minimum of just $2.50 per month!  Mo is going to be opening a new Patreon shop soon so it's very worth looking her up on Patreon.  I'm pretty sure you can join for free at the moment but please don't hold me to that!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Can you Handle the Pressure Use a Sentiment

CD Sunday Plus - #143 Always Anything Digital Goes

Crafter's Cafe - #312 Anything Goes with the option to include an animal

Krafty Chicks #736 - Stamps

Polkadoodles #40 - Always Anything Goes

Happy Crafting!  Lesley xx

Opportunities for Embellishment

We have a new theme for "Fall Leaves" at Everybody Art Challenge.  Do come and play along and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

I used this adorable "Fall" image from Mo’s Digital Pencil which is available in her shop here.  I coloured the kitty who is looking at a drawn leaf in Mo's original image with my alcohol markers and then inked through some Martha Stewart leaf stencils around it.  I meant to cut around the drawn leaf above the cat's head before cutting with my oval die but I just forgot and cut right through the leaf.  I embossed the outer elements of the card with a Tim Holtz-designed leafy folder but having mounted the kitty on a scallop frame I then mistakenly proceeded to adhere it just off centre which left gaps around the scallop frame.  Duh!  Never mind.  Some larger stenciled die cut oak leaves and some inked and punched tiny maple leaves, all strategically placed, covered up all my unintended errors thus proving the old papercrafters' adage that  "there are no mistakes in cardmaking - only opportunities for embellishment"!

If you are looking to showcase your own cards made with images by Mo Manning, Mo has a Facebook page HERE.  More inspiration can be found on the Dream Team Blog HERE.  If you don't already know, Mo has a  great "Patreon" Page HERE. There are three levels of Patron to choose from with a minimum of just $2.50 per month!  

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Can you Handle the Pressure #Sept Anything Goes with a twist of Fall colours

CD Sunday Plus - #142 Always Anything Digital Goes

Crafter's Cafe - #312 Always Anything Goes, with an option to add an animal

Four Seasons September Fall

Make my Monday -#235 Create your own background (and a DT call btw)

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Make your own background

Stencil Fun Challenge - Sept - Anything Stencilled, optional Fall Frenzy 

Tic Tac Toe #256 - I've utilised an entire corner of this challenge - the left hand column - spring/fall, embossing and layers, and also the bottom row - layers, diecut and markers, and managed to capture the diagonal row too of spring/fall, free and pencils/markers.  Score!

 

Edited to add my delightful award from the lovelies at Four Seasons!  Thank you for selecting my card in your top three!