2 Cards = 7 Challenges!

Happy Saturday everyone!  Ooooh, this has to be my most favourite day of the week.....work is over for a couple of days......I can chill and relax......no going to bed tonight worrying about Monday morning.....some decent easy-viewing on tv tonight......and it's Squirrel Stew for dinner!  What more could a small furry mammal want, apart from a little bit of crafting......so that's what I've been doing!

My first card for you started off with one challenge in mind, and then I went on a blog wander, and found a few more that I think it would fit nicely, so if you are sitting comfortably.....

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Buffet (choose 4 items from 6 to use) (papers, 3 flowers, 3 gems, metal charm)

Our Creative Corner - Let's Play Dress Up (a simple sketch to fiddle with)

Oldie But A Goodie - Bright And Cheerful (PB stamp Butterfly Wishes)

My Partner In Crafting Crime - Something New (papers and big, fat pearls)

Stamp Something - Anything Goes

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - With Love

I've used Penny Black's Butterfly Wishes stamp, watercolour painted with distress inks (it was a bit of a challenge to make him look rounded - I've still got more of a tum than he has!), the papers are from my latest purchase of Papermania Capsule Collections - these are Blueberry and Boysenberry, and for once, all the papers in each collection work together really well, Sizzlets photo corners die, EK Success retro flower punch, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, those huge fat pearls are new to my stash but the tiny ones have been with me a while, can't tell you who made the sentiment - I got it from Lakeland when they still did craft stuff in their shops, and the metal charm paw print was from stash too.

Before I go on to my second card, I've done something stupid........I signed up for the Crafty Blogs rankings.  Considering I started the week at 923, I am thrilled to see that I'm slowly crawling my way up but.... I'm getting obsessed with it!  I know I'll never reach the top, but I'd be dead chuffed with being in the 100s, so come on over and visit me as much as you can, pleeeeeeeeeeeease!

Right, serious stuff, here is my second card and this is for

Dutch Dare Card Challenge - All Stiched Up

Poor Henry (Whiff of Joy), this is the third time he's been used - and all three times have been for knee replacement operations for friends!  This one is for our dear friend Ken, from church, who goes in on Monday.  He's been waiting for ages for the op and I think it is going to make such a difference to his life.  Papers are from a masculine collection by Dovecraft that I've had a while but still think that they are fabulous - isn't it a shame when really good collections vanish?  Orange and brown cardstock is Papermania.  I've painted Henry with distress inks (fast becoming my favourite method, as if you'd not guessed - and yes, I know, I still owe you a tutorial - when the weather improves I promise I'll do it), Martha Stewart border punch to add some interest, Martha Stewart button punch and hole punch for the frilly bits.  I went around the image with my pokey tool again and a Marvy le Plume pen to create the faux stitching, loving this technique just know (and it's all Helen's fault - she'll have me distressing next!).

Sorry that I'm rambled on so much, hope you are still awake - if you are, there is a technical question I'd like to ask you clever bloggers - anyone know how to make the panel (the bit with all the posts on) of my blog wider?

Anyhoo, now off to link to all those challenges, hope to see you later.

Hugs, Sxx