Arianna in green

Hellloooooo, don't you just love the weekends?? I'm planning a day in my craft room today as hubby is going to watch the football but before I go and get inky I wanted to share this card. Arianna is one of Michelle Perkett's gorgeous digi stamps, and I thought she'd be perfect for all the 'green' challenges around at the minute. You can find her in Michelle's Etsy Store here

Arianna is coloured with promarkers and cut out. I've layered her up over a doiley and some white ribbon and lace. I added some white flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and as I'd coloured the flowers in her hair red I added a few little red rose buds for some extra colour. The beautiful bp is a from the mottled stone collection at  Crafty Ann's and I've stamped a swirly border with a HOTP border stamp and embossed it with white EP. The green gems are from my stash

I'm entering Arianna in the following challenges:
Allsorts: Luck of the Irish
Crafty Purple Frog: Thinigs with wings

Creative inspirations paint: Gone green

Corrosive Challenge: green
Delicious Doodles: Use green for St Patricks Day

Kaboodle Doodles: go green

Little REd Wagon: St Patty's day - green
Meljen's Designs: Green

House of Gilli: Green
Paperplay: green/good luck
Patties Creations: go green

Penny's Paper Crafty: going for the green

Scrap Creations: Going green

The Shabby Tea Room: Luck of the Irish

Thanks for calling by. You still have time to enter our fab Ribbon and Lace challenge over at Michelle Perkett Studio this week so if you haven't got any of Michelle's gorgeous images grab a freebie from Michelle's groups on PCP, SNR and CDAC and join in for the chance to win one of Michelle's images :-)

Right I'm going to go and potter around in my craft room before I'm tempted to start some housework lol. Hope you are having a good weekend

Claire xx

A little reminder ....

There's still time to enter the latest challenge over at Let's Ink It Up

There's a fab prize from Inky Impressions up for grabs so don't miss out!!

The theme is 'Show us your embossing' so get out those heat guns, embossing folders etc and have a play!!

Claire xx

Spring or a sketch this week at Crafty Ann's

This week there is a choice at Crafty Ann's Challenge blog, you can follow the sketch, use the theme of 'Spring' or do both. I've done both but rotated the sketch

I've used a pastel pink mottled stone BP and a pastel green polished stone bp. The Morning Glory image is one of Crafty Ann's new stamps, you can find it and the beautiful bps at Crafty Ann's Digi Store. Pop over and have a peep as Ann has some gorgeous new images, including some fab oriental designs.

The image is coloured with promarkers and dusted around the edges with spun sugar Distress ink. The flowers are decoupaged to give a bit of depth. I've punched the borders with a MS punch and used a nestie to cut an aperture in the green panel. The sentiment stamp is from Paperartsy. The flower is from my stash and the green and white button is made from shrink plastic stamped with an Elusive images heart stamp. I've added some faux pearls with a viva pearl pen to finish off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Digi Doodle Shop's Best: Pearls

For Fun Challenge: Spring

Incy Wincy: Pastel Colours

KB Cute Monday: Pink

Paper Playtime: anything goes

Simon Says Stamp: anything goes

Thanks for visiting today, I hope you're going to play along with Crafty Ann's fab spring and/or sketch challenge this time :-) I'm going to get myself ready for work now, ah well its nearly weekend and i've got a short week at work next week :-)!!

Claire xx

Best friends at Rainbow Lady's challenge

Good morning, time for a new challenge at Rainbow Lady's challenge blog and this week our theme is 'Best Friends' and we the DT were lucky enough to be able to use images from our lovely sponsor Chi Chi Memories.

The image is coloured with promarkers and I inked in a cloudy sky before attaching the buttons to make the number '3'. The bps are from my scrap box. I've used a MS border punch and scraps of ribbon for the border. I hardly ever use this border punch for some reason so it was good to give it an airing.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Catch the Bug: Anything goes

Craft your passion: anything goes

Creative Card Crew: No flowers

Fairytale Challenge: something for a child

Floweret: Play or child birthday party

Paper Sundaes: Stripes

Send a smile 4 the kids: Anything goes

The Crafty Pad: Use ribbon

Thanks for calling by. Its great kite flying weather here today, we're definitely getting our fair share of March winds :-)

Claire xx

Embossing at Bah Humbug

Here's a very quick and easy addition to the Christmas card box for this weeks challenge from Bah Humbug where the theme is embossing.

The Christmas tree and sentiment are stamps from Elusive images, stamped and embossed with clear EP on black card and then i've added lots of brilliance Galaxy gold ink over the top. The embossing acts as a resist and although the photo is pretty bad it looks quite nice in real life (honest lol)

To finish off I've added a gold bow, some gold gems and matted it on some gold mirri card. I made quite a few cards using this technique last year as its so quick and easy.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges

Crafty Hazelnut's challenge: Embossing

Die Cut Dreams Christmas Club: Inspired by a song (Oh Christmas Tree )

Thanks for popping by today.

Claire xx

Ribbon and Lace at MPS

Hi there, Tuesday again so its time for a new challenge over at Michelle Perkett Studios and this week our theme is 'Ribbon and Lace'. I've used the beautiful 'Enchanted Slumber' image from Michelle's Etsy Store for this card.  If you'd like to enter but don't have any of Michelle's lovely images you can visit Michelle's groups on PCP, CDAC and SNR to pick up a goregous freebie or two!

I've coloured enchanted slumber with promarkers and embossed the wings and sun with clear sparkle EP. The bps are all from Raspberry Road Designs and the pink satin ribbon and rosebud ribbon are from Crafty Ribbons.

The lace and flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and added a little pearl and diamante butterfly charm from my stash to finish off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Aly's Sunday Challenge: anything goes

Challenge up your Life: Fairytale

Design Dollies: Pink with a splash of yellow

Dream Valley Challenge: New beginnings

Flutter by wednesday: Open challenge with butterfly angel or fairy

Gingerloft: Use those flowers

Incy Wincy: Pastel Colours

Little Claire's: flowers

Magical Monday: Spring colours

One Stitch at a time: Use a charm

Phindy's Place: Oh Baby

Stamp Something: something digi

the Crafty Pad: Ribbon

Totally Papercrafts: Pearls and Lace

Pop over to my teamies blogs and check out their gorgeous work this week, its the first challenge for some of our lovely new mermaids today so give them a big warm welcome :-)

thanks for calling by

Claire xx

A new challenge at LIIU!

Don't forget to check out the new challenge over at Let's Ink It Up today ... no card from me though as don't forget we are having a new challenge every 2 weeks now and my team will be making their debut for our next challenge.

The theme for the latest challenge is 'Show us your embossing' so pop over to Let's Ink It Up and have a look at the gorgeous work from our talented DT - we have some fab new teamies making their debut today and they have come up with some amazing creations!!

Claire xx

Welcoming our new mermaids and another card

Hi there, I'm sooooo pleased its the weekend, not just because it means some time off work but also because its time to introduce our fabulous new mermaids at Michelle Perkett Studios!!

We are so pleased to welcome Irene, Jenn, Karen, Elenor and Sharon to our team. They are all amazingly talented crafters so pop over to their blogs (links in my sidebar) and check out their gorgeous cards. I'm also pleased that some lovely friends from the DT are staying on, Marion, Shelley, Andrea, Mari and Pauline are continuing as Michelle's mermaids :-)

I was hoping to make a welcome card for my new teamies using one of Michelle Perkett's gorgeous mermaid stamps but unfortunately its been another one of 'those' weeks at work so the love Eva the glam mermaid is still waiting in my craft room but here is a card I made for my son's 21st birthday. I always  make him a card from our pets (I'm sad I know lol) and this fab image from Michelle's Etsy Store was perfect for his birthday card. Woofie's first birthday is such a fun image and I love the way Michelle has put the sentiments on the balloons.

The image is coloured with promarkers and matted on some blue card. The bps are from one of my cricut paper pads and the blue ribbon is probably from Crafty Ribbons but I'm not sure as its been in my ribbon stash for ages.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Stamp Something: March digi day

Charisma Cardz: 4 legged friends

Crafty Sentiments: birthdays

Creative Belli: Animals + old/forgotten embellies

You still have time to enter our 'buttons and bows' challenge at Michelle Perkett Studios this week, if you don't have any of Michelle's images yet the stop by her groups on PCP, SNR and CDAC and pick up a fab freebie :-)

Thanks for calling by today. Have a good weekend. I'm so tired after such a hectic week at work I'm going to have a pj day today and hopefully lots of crafting time too.

Claire xx

Masked Ball at Rainbow Lady's Challenge

Hi there, i've had a really hectic week so far and I can't believe its Thursday already! My feet don't seem to have touched ground, I've been a real 'manic bird' lol. Anyway Thursday means a new challenge at the lovely Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog and our theme this week is 'Masked Ball'. We also have a generous sponsor, our lucky winner will receive a prize from Joanna Sheen!!

For my card this week I've used a beautiful stamp from Debbi Moore Designs, I love this elegant lady, she is such a 'glamour puss' lol. She is fab to colour, i've used promarkers and added a little glitter. The beautiful background scene is from Debbi Moore's 'Evergreen' CD as is the bp. The ribbon is from Crafty ribbons, the flowers are from my stash and the beautiful feather was kindly donated by my gorgeous Yellow Crowned Amazon Parrot 'Sammy'.

As a finishing touch I thought one of Crafty Ann's gorgeous Venetian Mask digi's would be  just the right embellie for this card. As usual I've coloured with promarkers and added green and gold glitter for some sparkle.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Catered Crop: I've chosen a few ingredients from the recipe -

patterned paper, ribbon and square

Flourishes Timless Tuesday: St Patricks or monochromatic green

Mami doodles: monochromatic green

Paperplay : Shabby Chic or Vintage

Stamptacular Sunday: You've been framed (I've used some gold hammered

card to frame the scene)

The Paper Variety: Let's see your green

Woodware USA: Anything goes

Thanks for visiting today, I hope you're having a good week. As usual I'm counting down to the weekend but it won't be long now :-)

Claire xx

Buttons and bows at MPS

White rabbits!! I don't know why you're meant to say that on the 1st but if it brings me luck then I'll say more or less anything lol. Anyway today is the day for a fab new challenge over at Michelle Perkett Studio and our theme is 'buttons and bows'! We will soon be announcing our new mermaids but we thought they'd need time to settle in so look out for their fab cards next week :-)

For this weeks DT challenge card I've used this stunning image from Michelle Perkett, she is called 'Vanessa the love goddess' but as a special treat Michelle did a stamp for each of the DT with our names on!!!!!! Thank you Michelle, its so kind of you!!

 I was so excited i couldn't wait to print her off and get colouring!!!

The image is coloured with promarkers and matted on some pale pink card. I've used a gorgeous bp from K&Co and layered the image over a heart shaped doiley colored with Adirondack Salmon dye ink. I've used some pink lace and green velvet ribbon and added some flowers and buttons from my stash.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments: Spring

Cute Card Thursday: Sketch

Freshly Brewed challenges: Ribbons and bows

Incy Wincy: Spring is in the air

One Stop Craft Challenge: Spring flowers

Paper Cutz: Spring

PaperPlay: Let's get sentimental

Passion for Promarkers: Sugar Rush

Sentimental Sundays: Anything goes

Stampin Sisters in Christ: At least 3 buttons

The Pink Elephant: buttons, lace and ribbon

Tellen's Place: Buttons

Thanks for calling by, don't forget to check out Michelle's Etsy store for Vanessa and lots more gorgeous images :-). We're finally getting sorted out after our leaky kitchen lol, we did have one more dis-a-ster yesterday when the chap who levelled the floor wasn't sure if it would be dry but after blasting out the heating all night it was fine today. Hopefully when I get in from work later the house will be back to normal, well as normal as things get at my house

Claire xx

Spring Sweet Pea card

I thought this stamp would be perfect for the challenge at Sweet Pea Stampers where the theme is use your favourite sweet pea image and also for In a Sweet Pea dream where the challenge is 'Warmer Weather'.

I love this stamp, 'Magical Springtime' by Elaine Cox although if I'm really honest whichever stamp I'm colouring is my favourite as I love all my Sweet Pea stamps lol. She is coloured in promarkers and has glittered wings. I've cut her out with a nestie and matted her on some lime card. The bps are from my stash and i've cut 2 doileys with a Marianne die from the floral bp. The paper flowers are from my stash and I've added some glittered circles to the centres. I love this limeade Martha Stewart glitter, is a really gorgeous colour (it was in my fabby parcel of blog candy from the lovely Audrey - she has some more amazing candy up for grabs so pop over to her blog and check it out!!). To finish off i've added a sentiment (stamp from HOTP) and some green faux pearls.

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

Crafty Creations: At the bottom of my garden lives.....

Crafty Purple Frog: A touch of magic

Hannah and friends: Purple + 1 other colour

Midnight Madness: Sketch

Oldie but goodie: Spring is in the air

Thanks for popping by today. Spring doesn't seem far away now as the trees in the garden have little green buds and the first daffodils are in bud so hopefully the long winter is nearly over :-) It won't be long and I'll be able to get out in the garden and get good and muddy! I wonder why I love messy things - inky/painty crafting, pottering round in the garden?? I suppose I'm just a big kid at heart lol.

Claire xx

Things that fly

This weeks challenge over at Bah Humbug is a nice easy one, 'Things that fly' and it was also a fab excuse to use one of my new Sweet Pea stamps. Rachel Anderson's 'Snow Fae' is such a beautiful stamps though so I didn't need much of an excuse lol.

I've coloured the image with promarkers and embossed the fairy's wings with clear sparkle EP. the snowflakes are glittered with Judikins prisma glitter and the little stars on the fairy's dress are coloured with sakura clear stardust. I've used a couple of scraps of backing paper from my Christmas stash and punched one with a MS border punch and distressed the other with Tumbled Glass DI. The sentiment is from the lovely Lynne at Sentiments 4 You To finish off i've added some gems, white organza ribbon and a crystal buckle.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Ai Factory: Monochromatic 

Bah Humbug: Things that fly

Challenge up your life: Fairy Tales

Christmas card challenges: Use punches

Crafts and me: things with wings

Craft us Crazy: winter theme

Crafty Purple Frog: A touch of magic

Paperplay: Get sentimental

Paper Romance: anything goes

Sketch and Stash: I've used the sketch but rotated it

Thanks for visiting today, I hope you've had a good weekend. I'm back at work after my holiday tomorrow so I'm not a happy bunny at all. Still I've made the most of the last few hours of my annual leave by getting inky and messy in my craft room :-)

Claire xx

Happy birthday Challenge at Crafty Ann's

This week at Crafty Ann's our challenge is an easy one for you as we have a 'Happy Birthday' theme. As usual the lucky winner will receive a fab prize from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop

As soon as I saw this cute little dachshund I knew he'd be perfect for one of my friends as he has a little dog just like this one! You can find him in Crafty Ann's shop. He is coloured with promarkers and then cut out and layered up on a couple of nestie layers. The mottled stone bp is also from Crafty Ann's of course and its one of my all time favourites, such a beautiful rich blue. To tie it in to the doggy theme I've stamped paw prints with brown versafine ink and layered it over some brown distressed paper from my stash. The little lead embellie is made with some brown grossgrain ribbon, a little charm and a brad.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

A spoon full of sugar: Birthday wishes

Cards for men: recipe : 2 ddps, 1 image, 3 embellies (ribbon, charm and brad)

Craft your passion: Male card/project

Crazy 4 Challenges: Die cutting

Do you stack up: anything goes

ECP Challenge: Somethiing for the boys 

Gingerloft challenge: our furry friends

One Stop Craft Challenge: birthday cards

Paper Sundaes: Masculine colours

Partytime Tuesday: Anything goes

Passion for Promarkers: One for the boys

Some odd girl: Handmade embellishment (my little pooch's lead)

Thanks for visiting today, make sure you stop by the rest of my teamies blogs and check out their beautiful creations

Claire xx

Recycled CD for Bah Humbug

The challenge at Bah Humbug this week is to use a CD, I always have loads of old cds laying around as my son is DJ and he gets through loads and loads of them. I decided to make a little hanging decoration with a cd.

The CD is covered with a bp from one of Joanna Sheens cds (I think, it was from a file of printed bps that I'm trying to use up so I'm not 100% sure which cd is was from). I sandwiched a doiley between the cd and the layer of bp on the back of the cd. I also wrapped a wide red satin ribbon around the cd and popped in a hanging loop before I covered the back of the cd (you don't want to know how many times I've forgotten to do this until after I've put the bp on lol)

I've added a Marianne die cut stamped with a Paula Pascuale greeting in red dye ink and cute little Tilda coloured with promarkers and glittered her wings and fur trim with some creamy glitter. To finish off I've added a big red bow and some red and gold stickles.

I'm entering this little project in the following challenges

Bah Humbug: Use a CD/DVD

CD Sunday: Get ahead, get a hat

Incy Wincy: Punches/die cuts

Top Tip Tuesday: Bling it on

Winter Wonderland: Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

One Stitch at a time: anything but a square

The cheerful stamp pad: Anything but a card

Paper Pretties: Glitter

Fresh Brewed Designs: Ribbons and bows

After all the hassle of decorating I've had a lovely crafty day and now hubby is cooking sausage and mash for tea! YUM SCRUM! I love sausage and mash :-)

I've been having an inky play making some backgrounds so after I've tucked in to my bangers I'll see how they've dried and maybe make a card or two.

Claire xx

Shabby Chic at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog

Hi there, Thursday means a new challenge at Rainbow Lady's Challenge and this week we have a fab 'Shabby Chic' theme and a wonderful sponsor, our lucky winner will receive a prize from Steph of crafting.co.uk

I struggle with Shabby Chic although its a style I really love. I've used embossed card from Hunky Dory for the background, distressed with my craft knife and Victorian Velvet Distress Ink. I've used a beautiful rose fairy image from Joanna Sheen, coloured with promarkers, cut out with a nestie and inked with distress ink. The rose bp is from one of Joanna Sheen's paper pads. The lacy frills are made with a strip of paper punched with MS doiley punch and pleated. The ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I'm entering this little fairy in the following challenges:

2Sisters: embossing

Cardmad Fairy's Digiday: Distressing

Corrosive Challenge: Magical Creatures

Crafts and me: Things with Wings

Crafty Creations: At the bottom of my garden

Crazy 4 Challenges: Use a die

Creative Card Crew: Fantasy

Lexi's creations: Flowers

Ooh La La: Pink Pink and more pink

Sparkles Forum Challenge: Fairies

Stamps R Us: for the girls

thanks for calling by, don't forget to check out my teamies fab blogs as they have some gorgeous Shabby Chic creations for you

Claire xx