Beautiful Katya

Good morning my lovelies, long time no see! I've been without internet for a wee while but eventually Virgin media have sorted the problem and so I'm playing catch up now. My project today features the lovely Katya from Chocolate Baroque.

To decorate the plastic frame I applied gilding glue and then adding gilding flakes here and there and dusted mica powders over the rest.

I created a background with distress inks (bundled sage, Wilted Violet and Shaded Lilac) and overstamped using the Large Crackle Background stamp using purple chalk ink. I stamped Katya onto white stamping card and coloured her with alcohol markers. I also stamped her onto acetate with versamark and embossed with Gold Embossing Powder. I then cut Katya out and glued her to the background. I then cut her headdress out from the acetate and layered that up with tiny blobs of silicone glue. I added a few little gems here and there.

I then stamped the sentiment (from Artistic Expressions) with purple chalk ink on some gold vellum. I tore the strip out and rolled the edges around a cocktail stick to make a little scroll.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and more: make your mark

Creative Artiste : Anything Mixed Media

Sisterhood of Crafters: Stamp it

Tuesday Throwdown: Something clear

WOW Embossing powder: Anything goes with embossing powder

Thanks so much for visiting, hope to see you again soon

Claire xx

Things with Wings at Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Good morning folks, its challenge time at Fashionable Stamping challenges and our theme for the next two weeks is Things with Wings'. Don't forget to be eligible for the prize (a generous $20 voucher from Flonzcraft!) you need to use rubber or clear stamps as digis aren't allowed!

I've altered a little wooden box, I'd started making a pair of these months ago but never finished this one so I set to with my Stampbord to finish it off.

I used stamps from Premium Art Brands and PanPastels to create my background and added some texture with a chicken wire stencil and Maimeri Glassy Gel. I added some more stamping with memento inks and then gold embossed the edges of all the pieces. The butterfly was made by stamping the butterfly on acetate and embossing with WOW white pearl EP and then applying Pearlescent Red PanPastel over the top. I added some pearls to the centre of the butterfly. The catch and feet of the box are from Crafty Individuals.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Altered Eclectics: anything goes

Aud Sentiments: things with wings plus a sentiment

Craft for the Craic: things with wings

Crafty Calendar: things with wings

Creatalicious: embossing

Frilly and Funkie: stencil mania

Open Minded: Shabby Chic

Rhed's Creative Spirit: anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge:anything goes

If you've got a minute, pop over to the challenge blog and check out my teamies beautiful artwork!

thanks for visiting today, hope to see you again soon

Claire xx

Use Silver for Rainbow Lady's Challenge

Thursday again already and this week at Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog we have a 'Silver' theme in honour of our lovely Rainbow Lady's forthcoming wedding anniversary. I've made one of those camera shy cards - acetate and gilding flakes just don't like having their photo taken lol.

I've used one of Joanna Sheen's silhouette stamps for this card. I stamped the image on acetate and embossed with black detail ep, then used double sided adhesive film to attach the 'Frosted' gilding flakes. I die cut a frame from black card with nesties, made an acetate card and attached it to the front . I added some faux gems to the corners and some silver ribbon along the top.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Bling it on: No patterned papers

By the cute and girly: anything goes

Lollipop Crafts: No sentiments allowed

Our Creative corner: totally transparent

Polkadoodles: ribbon and bows

Stamptacular Sunday: You Choose

The Crafty Pad: monochromatic

Totally papercrafts: Use acetate

Thanks for calling by today, if you need some more inspiration pop over and check out my teamies fabulous projects :-)

Claire xx

Enchanted Love

This weeks Spotlight Image at Michelle Perkett Studio is the beautiful 'Enchanted Love' and that means you can get a fab 20% discount on this gorgeous image in Michelle's Etsy Store. I decided to make an acetate card for a change and to use greens and golds. I thought these colours would be great for a valentine card for a man.

I've coloured the acetate with Alcohol Inks (Pesto, Lettuce, butterscotch and ginger' and stamped an Elusive Images leaf randomly with copper Stazon. I've also edged the acetate with copper stazon. The image is coloured with promarkers, cut out and then glittered with glitters from the Autumn Medallions set of Pee Wee glitters. The copper ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons and inside the card i've used a Marianne doiley diecut so there is somewhere to write.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Love is in the air

Cards for Men: valentine/love

C.R.A.F.T: Valentine

Crafty Catz: Valentine/Love

Incy Wincy: Love

Magical Monday: Love

Ooh La La: For someone special

Polka doodles: Thats Amore (my card is inspired by Frank Sinatra's "Fly me to the moon")

Papercrafting Journey: Love is in the air

Passion for Promarkers: Let there be love

thanks for popping by, sorry I'm a bit quiet lately i've been so busy at work and trying to get sorted out after the gremlins in the kitchen too so its pretty hectic at the minute. We are having the new flooring down soon and I decided it would be a good idea (???) to decorate the kitchen before the new floor was laid. Why does decorating always seem such a good idea until you start lol?? And why does decorating one room always mean that the whole house is a mess? I'm sure it will be worth it when its done though .

Claire xx

A new challenge at Crafty Ann's

We've got a fab challenge for you this time at Crafty Ann's, you can take your inspiration from Ann's fantastic sketch, use a Christmas theme or combine the two. I've used the sketch and made a Christmas card using Ann's gorgeous poinsettia faberge egg digistamp and tartan and poinsettia backing papers (you can find them all in Crafty Ann's shop here

I've matted and layered the bps on some gold mirri card and made a gold mirri frame for the focal image. I printed the poinsettia egg out onto acetate and they stuck some double sided adhesive film on the back so I could add lots of Judikins prisma glitter to the back of the image. I used 3d foam tape to attach the image to the card to let the glitter really sparkle. To finish off I added some paper flowers and one of Ann's fab Christmas ticket sentiments.

Here's a pic of the faberge egg, its such a beautiful image and I love the effect of the glitter, hope you like it too

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

ABC Christmas: Y is for Yuletide (+ red and green)

Thanks for visiting today. I love Fridays, not long till the weekend. I should think about doing some Christmas shopping really but it will have to wait till the weather improves a little

love and hugs

Claire xx

Autumn leaves

Hi I've had a lovely day so far and managed to get a couple of cards finished. Autumn is really here in my little corner of the UK, the trees are beautiful colours and as its been breezy today the leaves are falling quickly now. I've made another Autumn themed card, I love these colours and really enjoyed making this card. The main image is 'Earth' by Michelle Perkett, you can find Earth in Michelle's Etsy Store. This weeks challenge over at Michelle Perkett Studio is 'Autumn Leaves' so I thought this image would be perfect.

Its hard to see on the photo but I have used an acetate overlay behind the main image as i've used some pressed leaves as part of the background. The BP is from the gorgeous Artylicious CD, 'Essence of Nature'. I printed out the bp in an orange hue and distressed it with shabby shutters DI to add some green. I added a sheet of double sided clear film to the bp and attached the pressed leaves to the film and then popped a sheet of acetate over the top  to protect the leaves as they are pretty delicate.

Earth is coloured with promarkers and edged with a copper pentouch pen (as is the background and the sentiment). I made a couple of stitched ribbon flowers with pearls for the centres (the pearls are coloured with caramel alcohol ink) and added some punched vellum fern leaves. The leaves are coloured with brilliance ink pads (rust and green) and then sprayed with moonshadow mists. Mica sprays seem to make the vellum kind of crinkly which is perfect for autumn leaves. The sentiment and little flower head border are from Hero Arts,  stamped on a scrap of card coloured with the overspill from making the leaves.

I'm entering Earth in the following challenges:

Sunday Stamper: Green

OSAAT: All Celebrations (I chose birthday)

Sketch and Stash: Sketch although I used the pressed leaves instead of the two panels accross the card so please delete my entry if it doesn't count)

Double Dutch: Fall and embellishments from nature

City Crafter: Autumn leaves falling

Digital Tuesday: Use a non craft item (hope pressed leaves count!)

Simon Says: Punch em

Just add ink: Just add birthdays

Cute Card Thursday: so transparent

Polkadoodles: Autumn

Thanks for visiting today, I really ought to go and tidy my craftroom as i've been doing some seriously messy crafting and as usual have stuff everywhere . The only thing is if i tidy up, i won't be able to find anything so maybe I'll leave it and park myself on the sofa ready for Strictly and X factor. I do lead an exciting life lol

Claire xx

Full Moon Fever Blog Hop at MPS!!

Woo hoo, blog hop time at MIchelle Perkett Studios and our theme is 'Full Moon Fever'. Not everyone celebrates Halloween so we're celebrating some gorgeous new images from Michelle Perkett and the full moon this weekend with a blog hop. As part of the blog hop we are sharing some of our national celebrations around this time of year too.

Well if you've arrived from Pauline's fab blog then you're on the right track, if not you need to start hopping at Michelle's blog. Michelle will be giving out some fab prizes along the way so you don't want to miss out!!  Here's the blog hop list in case you are lost along the way :-)


Michelle - (Sara) - http://michelleperkett.blogspot.com/
Pauline L - http://pritasheaven.blogspot.com/
Margie - http://creativityplace24.blogspot.com/
Melanie - http://fabulouscolorfulcraftsbymel.blogspot.com/
Jan - http://www.jans-gonestampin.blogspot.com/
Josie- http://josie-randomcreativity.blogspot.com/
Lynne http://www.doodlebuglynne.blogspot.com/
Lee http://stampingwithgrandmalee.blogspot.com/
Marilyn - http://marilynscardsandmore.blogspot.com/
Pauline G. http://paulineguttrey.blogspot.com/
Claire - http://clairescraftycreations.blogspot.com/
Elenor - http://www.metrobloggen.se/paltbarn
Rhonda - http://bluepoohbear753.blogspot.com/
Abby  http://abbyscreations.blogspot.com /
Andrea - http://andreasscraps.com/
Tammy - http://mycraftcentral.blogspot.com/
Marion - http://cardsbymarione.blogspot.com/
Shelley - http://shelleyscreations.blogspot.com/
Michelle Perkett Studios - http://michelleperkettstudio.blogspot.com/

I've used 'Some Enchanted Evening' from Michelle Perkett and made an acetate card with a brayered sky background. The image is coloured with promarkers, cut out and layered over the background with silicone glue. The background is made using dots of versamark pen for the stars and then brayered with the blue/green end of Mountain Meadow Big&Juicy Ink pad. I also stamped silhouette fairies from Stamp it Crazy on the acetate and on the background (to look like shadows)

I love to make these acetate cards, heres a slightly different view. The acetate and card back are held together with a couple of eyelets and I added some ribbon and beaded cord to the top so it didn't look too plain. I also added some dots of stickles to add some stars to the front of the acetate too

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Flutter by Wednesday: Open challenge but using a butterfly, angel or fairy

Fab'n'Funky: Things that go bump in the night

Paperplay: blue, orange and olive green

In the UK we don't really celebrate Halloween but on November 5th we celebrate Bonfire Night (or Guy Fawkes Night) which celebrates the failure of a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament back in 1605. We celebrate by having bonfires and burning a guy on the fire (a figure made from old clothes etc). We also have lots of fireworks and food such as toffee apples, bonfire toffee etc. A lot of people go to a public firework display but some still have a bonfire party in their garden. Unfortunately we don't get a day off work to celebrate lol.

Thanks for hopping by, your next stop on the blog hop is Elenor's fabby blog so hop on over and see her beautiful creation

Thanks for calling by

Claire xx

Crafty Ann's Challenge #20 'Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer'

Hi everyone, its time for another Challenge from Crafty Ann's Challenge blog and this time around we have a theme of 'Lazy Hazy Days of Summer'. I've chosen a theme of butterflies for my DTcard, I love to sit in the garden on a lazy summer day and watch the butterflies, they are so beautiful.

I've used one of Ann's beautiful Funky collection bps and her 'hands' digi - such a great image as you can use it with so many other stamps etc (you can check them out at Ann's store here). I've stamped around the edge of the BP with a HOTP swirl and brilliance pearlescent olive ink. I cut the image in a circle and coloured it with promarkers before dusting brilliance lilac ink around and stamping with the same swirl. The butterfly stamps are from Elusive Images, stamped on to acetate and embossed with gold EP. i glittered the backs, cut them out and attached them with silicone glue for some dimension. To finish off I added some gold fb gems and stamped the sentiment (again from Elusive images) in pearlescent olive ink.

I'm  entering this card in the following challenges:

Digital Tuesday: Dazzle me

Flutter by Wednesday: An open challenge

Thanks for looking, I hope you are going to join us at Crafty Ann's this time around, don't forget the winner gets some lovely goodies from Ann's digishop and there's a top 3 too :-)

Claire xx