Anything goes at NMWC

Hello my lovelies, and a big warm welcome to my new followers :-) I hope you're having a good weekend and enjoying the sunshine. We've got a new challenge starting at No Matter Which Challenges and its a nice easy one for you, the theme is 'Anything goes' but sadly its our last challenge .



We're going out in style though as there is a fab prize for our lucky winner, a $10 gift certificate from our lovely sponsors at Sweet Stamps.

I've used an image and papers from the Cherryblossom Lane CD by Polka Doodles, I adore this cd! I've made quite a few cards and I had a heap of scraps so I used them to create the background and to make the roses. The image is coloured with Graph'it Markers.

Ive added a cute little ticket sentiment from the same cd and some die cut swirls, some little heart shaped pearls and some ribbon.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Addicted to stamps and more:colouring

CRAFT: Here comes the bride

Creative Fingers: anything goes

Divas by Design: cute

Incy Wincy: summer lovin

Stamp with fun: Celebrate

My teamies have come up with some gorgeous projects for our last challenge so do pop over and check them out. Thank so much for popping by today, 

Claire xx

Christmas at CRAFT

Good morning my lovelies, I usually make Christmas cards all year round but I've got to confess this is my first one this year! I've got to thank the lovely gang at CRAFT challenge for giving me a kick start as   I'm joining the team as GDT this month and our theme for this weeks challenge is 'Christmas'. As always there are some fab prizes up for grabs, with goodies from Bugaboo, Floppy Latte, Gingerloft  and QKR Stampede. I've used an image from QKR Stampede for my GDT card

I've used a MS punch to create the card front, I never get these quite straight lol so I've added some buttons and bakers twine to cover the slightly dodgy bits. The supercute image is from QKR Stampede, perfect for a boys Chrismtas card. I've coloured with promarkers and glittered with glamour dust. I've used a bp from my Christmas stash box, added some ribbon and a couple of little bells with a stamped sentiment. The bells were a real bargain, I got a wreath made of bells from the pound shop just after Christmas!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Crafty Sentiments: for a male
Creative Moments: Weather
LEJ Designs: something for the boys
Papertake Weekly: hello boys
Whimsy Inspiration: shaped cards
Use it Tuesdays: Masculine

If you've got a min, check out the CRAFT challenge blog for some inspiration from the team.
Well as usual I'm rushing off to work so have a good day and thanks for popping by today
Claire xx

Peacock Summer Party

Good morning and Happy Wednesday, if you squint you can nearly see the weekend lol. Today's card features some of the new Peacock Stamps from Chocolate Baroque, pop over and have a look as they are on special offer this month! 

I've used a backing paper from the Peacock Summer PArty Cd. I've stamped the peacock on Neenah cardstock and coloured with promarkers and flexmarkers. I've stamped the edges with a feather stamp from the same stamp set using distress inks. I've matted the image and the backing paper on card coloured with distress inks. I've added some die cut branches and blossoms die cut with spellbinders dies.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's: wings

CD Sunday: fine plumage

Paper Playtime: anything goes

Sweet Pea Stampers: birds of a feather

Totally Papercrafts:punches/dies

Thanks for calling by today, if you've got a minute pop over and check out the Chocolate Baroque DT blog, its chockablock with gorgeous projects from my lovely teamies

Claire xx

Mr Darcy

Good morning my lovelies, my project this morning is my entry for this months challenge at Indigo Blu where the them  is 'Backgrounds Galore'. I had a lovely messy time with lots of gesso, Flitter Glu and gilding flakes making my project.

On one side I've used Mr Darcy from the stamp set 'Mr Darcy', he's been coloured with promarkers. I painted the heart with black gesso and once that was dry I stamped around the edges with Flitter Glu and added gilding flakes. I've added some hearts made with Maimiri Light Modelling Paste coloured with PanPastel and highlighted with treasure gold. I also decorated the back, I think I got a bit carried away with the gilding flakes on the background lol.

I'm also entering this project in the following challenges:

Crafting Musketeers: Stamped image

Crafting when we can: mad for markers

Marker POP : Love theme

Seemacrafts: mixed media

Thanks so much for calling by today, 

Claire xx

Super detailed floral framer from SplodgeAway

Good morning, isn't it nice to have some better weather?  I'm always up with the lark and I feel so much more human when the sun is shining lol. My card this morning features the beautiful Super Details Floral Framer mask from SplodgeAway, I've used the mask to create a frame for this gorgeous digi stamp from Saturated Canary.

I've used distress ink to create the frame, through the mask and also added in some detail with a waterbrush. The image is coloured with promarkers (sorry about the slightly blurred pic) and i've added a sentiment using a clear stamp from Chocolate Baroque. To finish off i've added faux gems to the flower centres, a bow and a paper flower.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Allsorts: here come the girls

Crafty Friends: anything goes

Corrosive Challenge: I've been framed

Divas by Design: tie a ribbon

Fab'n'Funky: Girly

Sparkles Forum: Monochromatic

Stampin for the weekend: Monochrome

Thanks for popping by

Claire xx

Childhood at Vintage Stamping Challenges

Good morning folks, well I'm not sure that its a good morning as i'm back at work this morning after my week off so I'm a wee bit grumpy today. Today's project is for our new challenge at Vintage Stamping Challenges where our theme is 'Childhood'. As always our lucky winner will receive a fab prize from our generous sponsor Flonzcraft so get those stamps inked up and play along for a chance to win.

I've made an inky background using distress inks and stamps from Indigo Blu. The focal image is from Flonzcraft, I just love this lovely image of Mum reading to her little ones. I've coloured the image with promarkers and dir cut it with nesties.

I've created a border using an Indigo Blu Stamp and also used a sentiment from Indigo Blu. I've added a heart shaped doily, some seam binding flowers, a bow and some pretty pearl pins

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Crafting by designs: anything goes

Crafty Catz: Story book/nursery rhyme

Creative moments: lots of layers

Passion for Promarkers: ribbon/lace or twine

The Ribbon Girls: Add a die cut

Simon Says Stamp: anything goes

If you've got a minute do pop over and check out my teamies beautiful projects, they are such a lovely talented bunch of ladies.I'd better get my skates on and go earn some pennies, have a lovely day and thanks for popping by today.

Claire xx

Tag time at Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Hi there, its a busy blogging weekend for me with another new challenge starting at Fashionable Stamping Challenges where our theme this time around is 'Tag time' chosen by my lovely teamie Silvia. As always we've got a fab $20 voucher from our generous sponsor Leo at Flonzcraft for the lucky winner so ink up your stamps and play along for a chance of winning. I've made a tag card for my DT project:

The cover is stamped with a Graphic 45 stamp, die cut and letter pressed with a spellbinders die. Inside I've used a selection of gorgeous quirky stamps from Flonzcraft 'Vintage Fashion Ladies' All the images are coloured with Graph'It and promarkers, I've embossed around the images and added a little colour with PanPastels. The backing papers are all downloads from Chocolate Baroque. i've added ribbon, lace, some tiny brads and lots of paper flowers

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Art Impressions Stamps: brads or eyelets

Card Making Mamas : rubber stamps

Creative Belli: flowers

Die cutting divas: shaped card

Milk Coffee: load on the flowers

Paper playtime: Two or more ribbons

thanks for popping by today

Claire xx

Bingo Challenge at No Matter Which

Hello there, hope you're having a good weekend so far. My project today is for our new challenge over at No Matter Which challenges where we have a Bingo Challenge, i've got a 'full house' with my project but I won't say anymore, you'll have to pop over to the challenge blog and find out more! While you're there check out all the gorgeous projects from my talented teamies! 

I've used a gorgeous digi from our generous sponsor Delicious Doodles,Terri is kindly giving our lucky winner 4 of her beautiful images! 

I've coloured the image with Graph'it and Promarkers and layered the image up over some dp from my stash and an embossed piece of card. I've added flowers, some glitter, little pearls in the corners, a punched border, gingham ribbon, lace and a stamped die cut sentiment (from Whimsy Stamps, I just love these little stamp sentiments!!) The butterfly is also from Delicious doodles, i've  given him some sparkle and added some iridescent beads for his body.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Chocolate Coffee and Cards: Fantasy/fairies

Crafty Ribbons: anything goes with ribbon

Created with love: at least 3 layers

Digi haven: butterfly challenge

QKR Stampede: winged creatures

Thanks for popping by

Claire xx 

Decorative scalloped ornate framer from SplodgeAway

Hi there folks, its a beautiful sunny day here today so I'm off to sit in the garden for an hour but first here's another of my samples for the recent SplodgeAway Show on Create and Craft. This card features the beautiful Decorative Scalloped Ornate Framer mask.

I've used the mask over a patterned paper and inked with versamark before embossing with walnut stain distress EP. I've also inked the edges and around the scallop with walnut stain distress ink. The image is a digi from Sweet Pea Stamps, coloured with promarkers and layers up over a paper doiley. I've added some seambinding ribbon, lace, a paper rose and a little scissors charm to finish off. Here's another pic to show the image a little better:

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafts and Me: shabby chic

Crafty Sentiments: show us stitching

Deep Ocean: ribbon and lace

Passion for Promarkers: ribbon/lace/twine

Simon Says Stamp: anything goes

Thanks for popping by today, 

Claire xx

A Day for Daisies

Hello folks, bank holiday Monday and the sun is shining :-) Even better I've got a week off work so I'm one very happy bunny. I'm going to spend the evening catching up on some TV and doing a little blog visiting but first I just wanted to share this easel card made with a gorgeous digi stamp from A Day for Daisies. 

The image is coloured with promarkers, the colours have come out a bit weird in the pic for some reason. I've created the shape with a MS punch and used some music score distressed with walnut stain distress ink. The image is layered up over a doiley and I've added some paper flowers made with tattered florals, feathers, little pearl sprays and a die cut sentiment. 

Here's another pic of the image, I love this stamp!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Allsorts: Happy Birthday

A Day for Daisies: anything goes

Crafts and Me: lots of layers

Eclectic Ellapu: handmade flowers

I love promarkers: anything goes

Inky chicks: blue and brown

Lady Anne's Challenge: easel cards

Sweet Stampin: doilies and dies

Thanks for popping by and for your kind comments. 

Claire xx

Daisies and SplodgeAway

Good morning folks, hope you're having a good week so far. Its getting nearer and nearer to my holiday, it seems ages since I had any time off work so I'm really looking forward to a lazy week next week. Today's card features a mask from Beautiful Butterflies 1 from SplodgeAway, combined with a butterfly from Butterfly Creator and a Sheena Douglas Stamp.

I stamped the daisy stamp on SplodgeAway Elegance Card and coloured with promarkers, adding a   delicate background using the Butterflies 1 mask and a little Peeled paint distress ink. The butterfly was made using more distress inks and the Butterfly Creator mask, I added some little pearls for his body. I had  a lovely inky time making the background, using the same mask with distress inks and also with gesso to create a resist.

I've added paper flowers, die cut swirls, lace, yellow gingham ribbon and a gorgeous green dotty button to finish off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Anything goes: Handmade backgrounds

Crafty Sentiments: buttons

Created with Love: ribbon and lace

Eureka Crafts: white on white or no designer paper

Make My Monday: yellow and green

Pretty Little Ribbon shop: Lace

You've still got time to enter the fabulous giveaway over on the SplodgeAway Blog so don't miss out, there are some amazing goodies up for grabs.

Thanks for popping by and for your lovely comments

Claire xx

Alter it at Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Helllooooo, where on earth did the last two weeks go? They've whizzed by in the blink of an eye so that means its time for our new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges. This time our theme is 'Alter it' and our lucky winner will receive a $20 voucher from Leo, our lovely sponsor from Flonzcraft. So ink up those stamps and get altering :-), if you need some inspiration pop over to the challenge blog and check out the gorgeous samples from my DT sisters.

If you're anything like me, you'll have a huge heap of 'stuff' in the corner of your craft room waiting to be altered - i'm such a hoarder I don't think i'll get everything altered if i live to be 100 lol. Anyway I had a rummge in my heap of rubbish, i mean stuff and found this old gift box that Santa brought a couple of years ago.

I gave the whole thing a coat of gesso and covered the sides with tissue tape. I used a variety of masks and stencils with Maimeri light modelling paste on the front and on a sheet of card to frame the image. Once it was dry I added colour with PanPastels and Dylusions ink, finishing off with some Renaissance treasure gold. 

The focal image is 'Girl with bird on hand' from Flonzcraft, she's coloured with Graph'It and promarkers, the sky and grass were created with PanPastels. I just love this stamp, she's so sweet.

Here's a pic of the sentiment in the corner, stamp from Chocolate Baroque, flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and butterfly from the Ribbon Girl. The little frame is actually a die cut fob watch with the top bit cut off to make a little circular frame.

To finish off i've added a silky ribbon bow and a paper rose.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

By the cute and girly: flowers

Charisma Cardz: no digis allowed

Craft Stamper: paper tearing and stamping

Craft your Passion: children at play

Creatalicious: for the girls

Fab'n'funky: favourite embellishment

 (Mine is ribbon but tomorrow it could be butterflies or flowers lol)

Polkadoodles: spring colours/pastels

Simon Says Stamp: flowers

Sweet Pea Stampers: birds of a feather

Top Tip Tuesday: box clever

Thanks for popping by, have a lovely Sunday

Claire xx

Dahlia Heart

Good morning folks, in view of the fact that a certain puppy has made is his personal mission to destroy everything in my garden I don't think I'll have many flowers this year but with some stamps, ink and paint I can have some flowers indoors at least. 

My project today is an mdf heart, the background was made with acrylic paints, overstamped with text in gold stazon. I've used a large dahlia stamp from Sheena Douglass, coloured with PanPastels and promarkers. I've added some treasure gold around the edges and a scrap of pink ribbon to finish off.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Delicious Doodles: Anything but a card

Dream Valley: No squares allowed

Glitter and Sparkle: ribbons

Lacy Sunshine: anything but a square

My Sheri Crafts: flower power

Thanks for popping in, I really do appreciate all your kind comments

have a good day

Claire xx

Things with wings at NMWC

Good afternoon folks, hope your bank holiday weekend has got off to a good start. The weather is a bit iffy here but at least its not snowing so I shouldn't complain lol. We've got a new challenge starting over at No Matter Which Challenges and this month our theme is 'Things with Wings' . 

This month our lucky winner will receive a fab prize from My Creative Classroom so pop on over to the challenge blog and find out more, while you're there check out my teamies fab projects too as they are soooo talented! I've done a couple of courses with My Creative Classroom and they have been fab, so don't miss out on a chance to win.

Anyway back to my project, I've used a cog clock from Indigo Blu, primed with gesso and then created a background with acrylic paints in pastels colours. I stamped the flowers and butterflies, masking as I went along to create a circle around the clock and then masked them all to stamp the numbers. I've stamped the numbers and the cog design in the centre with Flitter Glu and gilded them with Royal Peacock gilding flames (the hands of the clock also got the same treatment.

I coloured the flowers with Promarkers and then used Broken China distress ink and a water brush around the flowers to give them a bit of dimension. You can see the detail a bit better in this pic:

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Crafts and Me: floral frenzy

Creative Corner: flowers

Natalie and Amy's : things with wings

The Cupboard Trilogy: Spring flowers

Totally Papercrafts: don't be square

Unruly Paperarts: 5 or more flowers

Saturday night is my night for putting my feet up in front of the TV, I think I must be getting old as  few years ago you'd never have caught me staying in on a Saturday night lol

Thanks for popping by, 

Claire xx

Flower challenge at indigo Blu

Good morning all, some slightly dodgy pics of today's project, its really shimmery and I do struggle to get a decent pic of anything with a bit of shimmer, hence the dodgy angles on some of the pics lol. I've made a hanging heart for my entry in to this months challenge at Indigo Blu where the theme is 'Flowers'

I began by painting the A5 mdf heart with black gesso and then stamped Blazing Poppies (just love this stamp, sooooo detailed and pretty) with versamark and embossed with Gold EP. I also stamped the image on Neenah card a couple of times too and coloured the flowers in with promarkers.

Next came the Kroma crackle, coloured with turquoise PanPastel and a little spray of turquoise dylusions too. I absolutely adore Kroma crackle, such a fab-u-lous effect! Once it was dry I added a little Viva Precious Metal Paint and then higlighted the crackle with some gold ink (I'd blobbed a load on my craft mat while I was edging the heart with my krylon pen so waste not want not lol)

I've layered the flowers up, with a dewdrop and some black glitter in the centre of the poppies and a tiny dot of enamel accents in the centre of the forget-me-nots. 

To finish off i've added some turquoise ribbon and then a happy accident - I was sorting out a ginormous pile of bits and bobs on my worktable and had stuff everywhere, once it was almost put away I spotted that a tassel and a little chinese coin charm had ended up on this heart - serendipity as they say!

I'm also entering this project in the following challenges:

Crafts and Me: Floral Frenzy

Get Inky: Floral fun

Make my Monday: anything but a card

Word Art Wednesday: anything goes

Well I'm away to work again now (how boring)

have a lovely day and thanks for popping by

Claire xx

Sentimental Inspiration at Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Good morning folks, how's your week going? My card this morning is an inspiration project for our 'Sentimental' challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges, our lucky winner will receive a $20 voucher from our lovely sponsor Leo at 'Flonzcraft' so you've got to be in it to win it!!

I've created a fairly simple card using this beautiful stamp 'Girl on a Windy Hill' from Flonzcraft, she's been coloured with promarkers and matted up on some card, edges with a little picked raspberry DI. I made the background by running the lovely Fancier Lattice mask (from SplodgeAway) through my brand spanking new Grand Caliber, I inked the mask up first with some more picked raspberry using my brayer. I nearly didn't buy this ink as I wasn't sure if I'd use such a bright pink but its such a pretty colour with the brayer that I'm pleased I got it.

To finish off i've added a Chocolate Baroque Sentiment, a seam binding bow and a rolled paper flower made with spellbinders dies.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Boots: Stamped character

Die Cuttin Divas: anything goes

Happy Campers: mask or stencil

Paper Playtime: emboss wet or dry

Passion for Promarkers: dies/punches

Penny Black and more: blossoms and bows

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop: Spring is in the air

Stampin for the weekend: die cuts/punches

Well guess where I'm going today?? work, just for a change lol, still it keeps me in crafty stash so I shouldn't complain really.

Thanks for popping by, have a lovely day

Claire xx

Thank you Inspiration at Vintage Stamping Challenges

Good morning all, and a very happy Monday to you :-) I'm heading off to work in a minute but before I get  my nose to the grindstone I just wanted to share a card made for an inspiration post for our 'Thank you' Challenge at Vintage Stamping Challenges. Our lovely sponsor Leo from Flonzcraft has a $20 voucher up for grabs, so don't miss out!

I've used a bp from my stash, toned down with some watered down gesso and I've added faux stitching around the edges. The gorgeous image is from Flower Kingdom and i've used the pretty border stamp to create the border. The images have been coloured with promarkers and flexmarkers and i've used PanPastels to create a cloudy sky in the background. The sentiment is one of my favourite stamps from Chocolate Baroque. 

I've layered the image up over some cheesecloth, organza ribbon and lace. I've added lots of paper flowers, brushed with gesso and sprinkled with glamour dust.

 The beautiful vintage postcards are from the Gecko Galz and the butterfly charm is from the Ribbon Girl. To finish off i've added some faux pearls.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Art Impressions Stamps: Layer it up
Crafty Ribbons: anything goes with ribbon
Eclectic Ellapu: anything goes
Milk coffee: lace and pearls
Sweet Stampin: anything but birthday
Totally gorjuss: ribbon and pearls
Totally Papercrafts: flowers and lace
Word Art Wednesdays: anything goes

Have a good day, and thanks for popping by
Claire xx

Journalling on the catwalk at Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Hello there, I'm back again with my DT offering for Fashionable Stamping Challenges where our theme this fortnight is 'Journalling' chosen by my lovely teamie Ellie. You don't have to do a journal page, you  create something inspired by journalling, but of course you do need to include rubber stamping as we don't allow digi stamps. Our lucky winner will receive a generous prize from our lovely new sponsor Leo from Flonzcraft.

For my project, I bravely made a start on my brand spanking new art journal that I bought recently from Chocolate Baroque. I created the background using shades of turquoise and magenta PanPastel and Winter Dawn gilding flakes over flitter glu applied through a crafters' workshop template.  The background was the easy bit, I didn't have a clue what to do then, but after I'd been chatting to a group at work about the fact that even when life is pretty crap, there are usually some things that bring a smile to your face - I came up with the idea of 'bubbles of happiness'. I stamped some rings with the bottom of a paint pot and then decided to add some flowers using more Maimeri Iridescent medium, magenta PanPastel and another Crafters' Workshop template.

I added some stamping with gorgoeus silhouette stamps from Flonzcraft, stamped on tissue paper and applied with Maimeri Matte medium to represent some of my bubbles of happiness:

I also stamped some dandelions and bees using Chocolate Baroque stamps. Now my little garden scene was finished I used a stampotique stamp to represent me and used derwent pastel pencils to add some shading the the 'bubbles'

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Craft Room Challenge: In the library

Creative Moments: things with wings

In the pink: Lets fly away

Simon Says Stamp and Show: anything goes

Visible Image: get stamping

Do pop over to the challenge blog as we've got a very special guest designer joining us for this challenge and of course lots of inspiration from my talented teamies.

thanks for visiting today

Claire xx

A colour challege at No Matter Which challenges

Good afternoon, I'm back with my second project of the day, this time my DT project for No Matter Which Challenges. This month we've got a colour challenge: Beige, Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink. 

We've got a fab prize up for grabs again this month: 

So do pop over to the challenge blog to find out more, and to check out my lovely teamies'  gorgeous creations .

Anyway back to my project, i've used a cute Bildmalarna (so hard to spell but such adorable stamps lol) stamp from Live and Love Crafts coloured with promarkers and cut with sizzix dies. 

I've made a door hanger using an MDF blank from Joanna Sheen, I created a brick effect background using a Crafters Workshop Template, Maimeri Light Modelling paste and my PanPastels. I painted the centre panel with acrylic paint and added the letters (cut with my Cricut). 

I've added some pretty pink braid, lace and some die cut leaves and little paper roses. Last but not least, I've used pink gingham ribbon to hang the project up.

I'm entering this project in the following challenge:

Happy Campers: flower power

Crafting for all seasons: floral delight

Crafts and Me: Spring flowers

I love promarkers: favourite colour (pink at the minute)

Papertake Weekly: anything goes

Sweet Stamps: spring pastels

I hope you're having a good weekend, I'm planning on an evening in front of the TV, Dr Who and The Voice, you don't get much better than that lol. I'm such a party animal :-)

Thanks so much for popping by

Claire xx

Elephants caught in crystal from Chocolate Baroque

Good morning, my card today features the beautiful Elephant stamps from one of the new stamp sheets 'Indian Elephant' and the silhouette stamp from  Indian Textiles (you can find them both here)

I've used promarkers and Graph'It Markers to colour the elephants and then cut them out. To create the background I used one of the lovely backing papers from the Leafy Brocade download collection and over that I added a die cut circle which frames the silhouette stamped on some 'Caught in crystal' acetate. I love this technique, it always creates some interesting effects (and messy hands lol). To finish off i''ve added a bow to the top of the frame.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Paper Shelter: anything goes

QKR Stampede: animal antics

Simon Says Stamp: anything goes

Simply Create too: animals

Songbird challenge: Oh what a circus

Sparkle and Sprinkle: glitter

My mega talented teamies have some up with some fab-u-lous projects with these gorgeous new stamps so do keep checking out the Chocolate Baroque DT Blog for lots of inspiration.

I'm really enjoying my long weekend off work, even the weather is being kind(er) that it has been for weeks. Hope you're enjoying some sunshine too

Thanks for popping by today

Claire xx