A bit of sparkle

Well we're drying out now after the leak in the kitchen thank goodness, but the gremlins are still about, my printer is their latest target. I've been promising myself a new printer for a while so its a good excuse to get one, this time I think I'm going to get one with a CISS so If anyone can recommend one that will print on card I'd be grateful :-)

I love some messy crafting and I've been playing with starburst stains. I love their shimmer but they are so hard to photograph. I decided to use this beautiful image from Michelle Perkett, she's called 'Fire' and she's available in Michelle's etsy store here.

Fire is coloured with promarkers and I'added some ultrafine glitter to the trim on her clothes and the flowers. The layers of card and the K&Co bp are all embossed around the edges with gold EP. Red organiza ribbon is from my stash , the red butterfly is a die cut with a Marianne die. The flowers were made using some of the bps I made with starburst stains which were sloshed around liberally on copier paper and scrunched for some texture. Once the paper was dry I attached it to some grungepaper and let it dry. I wasn't sure if my little cuttlebug would cut it but I popped it through with a marianne flower die and it cut fine :-)

I'm entering Fire in the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers: Spotlight Water (my starburst stains)

Crafty Emma's Challenge: Bold and Bright

I did it creations: Red

Just us girls: make your own flowers

Do you stack up? : Patterned paper

Paper Playtime: Digi Monday,, anything goes

Stampfairy: Homemade flowers

Thanks for calling by today, make sure you check out the new challenge at Michelle Perkett Studio, its Jan and her team's turn to host the challenge this week and I'm sure they'll have a fab theme as always. I'm back at work this week so things are a bit hectic but I had a little good news this morning - my Fairytale Fairies card made using Michelle's 'Juniper and Cecilia' was picked as one of this weeks 'Ginger Gems' over at Gingersnap Creations :-)

Claire xx

Rosie is in the Spotlight this week

Hi folks, just a quick post today as I'm having one of 'those' weeks again with gremlins in the house!! This time there is a mysterious leak in the kitchen, hopefully from the washer as I'd hate to think its from under the floor so we're spending the morning investigating. Before my mop and wellie duties start again though, I have a card to share

This week's spotlight image at Michelle Perkett Studio is the lovely Rosie, I adore all Michelle's digistamps but Rosie is a special favourite as she was one of the very first of Michelle's images to arrive in my collection. This week you can find her in Michelle's Etsy Store with 20% off :-)

I've coloured Rosie with promarkers and embossed her wings with some clear sparkle EP. The green gingham paper is from my stash, the  other bps are from DCWV Floral stack, punched with a MS punch and distressed. The ribbons are from Crafty Ribbons, flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and little pink buttons from the Stampman.

I'm entering Rosie in the following challenges:

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge: Flowers

Delicious Doodles: Spots and/or Stripes

Do you stack up: patterned paper 

Some odd girl: Scallops galore

Top Tip Tuesday: Fabulous Flowers

Tuesday Throwdown: Distressing

You still have a few days left to enter this weeks 'All that bling' challenge at Michelle Perkett Studios too for a chance to win one of Michelle's gorgeous stamps!

Thanks for visiting today

Claire xx

Digi's with Attitude!! Go Digi People!!

Where has this month gone?? Here is my last GDT card for Digi's with Attitude! but it won't be the last card you see with these gorgeous images thats for sure lol. This week the challenge at Digi's with Attitude! is 'Go Digi People' so its a nice easy one this week. I've used the stunning Disco Tween for my GDT card, isn't she a beauty?

I've coloured Disco 'Tween with promarkers and cut her out. The bp is from my stash, I think it was a magazine freebie but I thought the colours would be perfect with the pretty Disco Tween. I' ve used a MPS punch and added pink ribbon, lace and a zingy lime green floradoodle flower with a centre made from a pink button and some lime memory thread.

I'm entering Disco 'Tween in the following challenges:

Corrosive challenge: recycle (button from my button tin)

Crafty Pad: Somthing girly

Gem of a Challenge: ribbon and lace

Little Red Wagon: Lace

Sisterhood of Crafters: Anything goes

Top Tip Tuesday: Fabulous flowers

Thanks for visiting today, i hope you're going to join our Go Digi People challenge this week :-)

Claire xx

A colour challenge at Crafty Ann's

The new challenge at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog is a colour challenge set by my lovely teamie Kym who has chosen the colour combo of Silver, Gold and White. Well this one really taxed my poor overworked brain cell lol but I decided to start this years Christmas cards using Crafty Ann's gorgeous delicate Holly Wreath (you can find it here in Crafty Ann's store)

I made the background using gold and silver Eco green paints just splodged on to the card and brushed around randomly, when this was dry I added loads of gorgeous silver and gold firework ink for lots of shimmer. The corners and sentiments are stamps from Elusive Images.

I printed Crafty Ann's beautiful Holly Wreath on some acetate and glittered the back using my quickie glue pen and silver, gold and white ultrafine glitter. I made a frame from my old Stamp'n'around frame stamp and then layered the image on some white pearl card with shaker tape and added a bow to finish off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Christmas Card Challenges: No colouring

Crafty Creations: Heat it up (heat embossing)

Die cut dreams: Use a digi stamp and rubber stamp together

Fab'n'Funky : Use a digi

My time to craft challenge: Emboss, emboss, emboss

One stitch at a Time: As you like it (+Christmas Club)

The Shabby Tea Room: Winter Wonderland

I hope you're going to join us for our colour challenge this time around, if you need some more ideas make sure you have a wander around the rest of the DTs blogs as they have some amazing ideas for you

Claire xx

Fun with flowers at Fairy Knoll

This week our challenge at Fun at Fairy Knoll is 'Flower's so its a nice easy one for you, who doesn't love flowers?? I've used Brandi's beautiful digistamp, which is actually a freebie over at Fairy Knoll so pop over and grab it and check out the gorgeous new stamps available while you're there!!

As usual the image is coloured with promarkers, I really enjoyed colouring this image as I love colouring hair and eyes! I've used some pink and gold card from my stash and for a change I've used gold mirri card to mat and layer. The paper flowers are from The Stamp Man and the ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers: floral

Creative Belli: the letter 'p' (Pink and my old embellies are the paper flowers, they've been lurking in my stash for years )

Fab'n'Funky: Use a digi

OOh La La: 3 of a kind

Sisterhood of Crafters: Anything goes

Truly Scrumptious: Pink, brown and green

Thanks for popping by

Claire xx

A Beary Good challenge at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog

Hi there, I can't believe its nearly the end of January! This month seems to be whizzing by and its already time for another challenge at Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog and this week Cynthia has chosen the theme of 'Beary Good' and the DT have all been lucky enough to use one of the supercute teddies from our sponsor Purple Panda Designs. He's called 'Bearey' and I think he is adorable. Kayla the designer is still just 16, isn't she a talented artist??

I've coloured little Bearey with promarkers and used some bps from a C&C kit that i got years ago (I knew they'd come in handy one day lol). The bps are distressed with my craft knife and vintage photo ink. The brown satin ribbon is from my stash and the buttons are from the same kit.

I'm also entering Bearey in the following challenges:

Allsorts: For a male

Aly's Sunday Challenge: for the guys

Crafty Purple Frog Challenge: Distressing

Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge: anything goes

I did it creations: Card for a child

Paper Sundaes: Distressing

StampsRUs: Animals

Simon Says Stamp: Animal Antics

Stamp with Fun: Blue and Brown

Thanks for calling by today.

Claire xx

Cooking it up with Katie

Wednesday already so its time for another great recipe from Cooking it up with Katie and this weeks fabulous sponsor GingerLoft. I chose this beautiful romantic silhouette image from GingerLoft for my DT card this week and of course our recipe ingredients which are 'TEXTURE, SKETCH, PUNCHING'

I've used this weeks sketch from 'Sketch'n'Stash', I love this sketch and thought it would be perfect for the image. I've used black card and made an 8x8 base card, red bp from K&Co stamped with some HOTP swirls and embossed with black EP. The main image is coloured with promarkers and triple embossed, matted on some red glitter card. The glitter card has been in my stash for years, its gorgeous in real life as the glitter is under a layer of shimmery film but it doesn't seem to like having its photo taken lol.

I made a frame using black mirri card and and little swirl stamps embossed with firework red EP. The red and black glittery layer adds the texture and punching for this weeks recipe. I made it using the glittered lace technique - really easy and fun but pretty messy. I stuck double sided film to some card and laid a strip of broad lace over the top and then tipped a load of black glitter over the top and brayered it with an old hard rubber brayer. The lace acts as a resist so when you remove the lace you are left with the pattern in glitter. Next you cover the card with a contrasting colour glitter, I used red and when you tip off the excess the lace pattern is all sparkly and glittered!!

I punched the bottom of the glittered lace card with an EK success scallop punch. A word of warning though, I nearly broke one of my Martha Steward punches trying to use it so if you have a try make sure you use a strong punch. To finish off I added some dots of ranger black enamel accents, some black velvet ribbon and some rose from Wild Orchid Crafts

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

A Spoonfull of Sugar: Valentine

Craft Your Days Away: Love

Crafts and me: Monochrome

Everybody Art Challenge: My favourite things (triple embossing and glitter

are two of my all time faves!!)

A Gem of a Challenge: Ribbon and Lace

Passion for Promarkers: Let it shine

Totally Papercrafts: Add a heart

Paperplay: Back to black

Thanks for visiting today, I'm off to dust the glitter off everything now lol.

Claire xx

All that Bling at MPS

We all love to see some bling and for this weeks challenge at Michelle Perkett Studio we want to see 'All that Bling!'. I've used Camille, one of Michelle's stunning mermaids (you can find her here in Michelle's Etsy Store) for this card. I love the way Camille's hair looks to be moving around in the water!

Camille is coloured with promarkers and has lots of stickles on her tail. I've used one of my favourite  bps from K&Co, punched with a MS border punch, aqua velvet ribbon and some sparkly organza ribbon which i've pleated for the borders. I used some very blingy gems which I got from the pound shop and lots of tumbled glass distress ink around the image.

I'm entering Camille in the following challenges:

The Crafty Pad: something girly

Our Creative Corner: Analogous colour scheme (blue, turquoise and lime) 

Mami Doodles: Mostly blues

Simon Says Stamp: Bingo (gems, glitter, ribbon)

Daring Cardmakers: A card for yourself

Woodware USA : anything goes

Kaboodle Doodles: Bling it up

Thanks for popping by today, if you want to join our challenge at Michelle Perkett Studio you can pick up a gorgeous freebie or two over at Michelle's groups on CDAC, SNR and PCP

Claire xx

Nautical but nice (can you tell I was struggling for a title for this post lol)

I don't often make cards for men but its my lovely Father in Law's birthday coming up so I thought i'd better get cracking. I've used my all time favourite stamp sheet for mens cards to make this card, its the Nautical sheet from The Stamp Man and I never get fed up of it (the men in the family probably do though as I use it again and again, lol). I thought this would be a good card for the latest challenge from the Stamp Man Challenge Blog where the theme is distressing.

I love to make a card from scratch and get inky making backgrounds so i had a lot of fun making this card. All the stamps are from the Aspects of Design Nautical stamp plate. I stamped the large ship/map image randomly on white card with stormy skies distress ink and then did the same with the ship stamp using Tumbled glass distress ink. I sprayed the background lightly with Moonshadow inks in Bucaneer Bay Blue and Golden Dubloons.  I repeated this on the back of the card and then cut an X where the background would lie over the main image. I distressed all the edges with tumbled glass and vintage photo DI and attached the folded back corners with little brads.

The main image was stamped and embossed with walnut stain distress EP on a left over scrap of the background card. I painted the image with a little Bucanner Bay blue and Golden Dubloons inks and attached the background over the image.

The sentiment is stamped and embossed with the same EP. The little brass button is from my stash and the hinges are grungeboard basics die cuts coloured with vintage photo DI and more Golden Dubloons Moonshadow Ink.

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

Allsorts: Male/boy

Aly's Sunday Challenge: for the guys

C.R.A.F.T challenge: Martial arts/sport - I hope sailing counts :-)

Crafty Sentiments: Vintage

Paper Sundaes: Distressing

One Stop Crafty Challenge :More than one fold

Pixie Dust:  Buttons

Sweet Stampin Challenge: Clear as mud (Brown + 1 other colour, I chose blue)

Simon Says Stamp: Bingo challenge (my line is brads, button, die cut)

Thanks for visiting today,

Claire xx

Sleepytime Fairy

Hi there, this weeks Spotlight Image at Michelle Perkett Studio is the adorable 'Sleepytime Fairy' so you can pick her up in Michelle's Etsy Store with 20% off!!

I've kept this card pretty simple, coloured the image with promarkers and stamped the sentiment with blue ink. I've used a pretty gingham paper from one of Joanna Sheen's backing paper pads and some blue card from my stash to mat the image. I''ve used a MS punch to make the border and added some yellow gingham ribbon.

I'm entering Sleepytime Fairy in the following challenges:

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

Fairy Fun Friday: Happy birthday

Simply Create: Use your punches

Wags'n'Whiskers: Use a Fairy

Delightful Challenges: Celebrate

I love promarkers: Keep it sweeet and simple

Aly's Sunday Challenge: Things with wings

Thanks for visiting today, you still have time to enter this weeks challenge at Michelle Perkett Studio where Jan and her lovely mermaids have set a sketch challenge this week.

We're still having internet problems here, its soooooo sloooooow and thats when it decides to work at all. So apologies if I haven't visited your blog for a wee while, I'll catch up when i've got rid of the gremlins :-)

Claire xx

A fun challenge at Digi's with Attitude!

Time for a new challenge at Digi's with Attitude! and this week we want to see you make it rain! This week's challenge theme is to make some raindrops, so you could use a rainy day image, a raindrop shaped card or maybe you have your own ideas for making some raindrops. This week my GDT card features the gorgeous KitKat (you can find her here in the Digi's with Attitude! store)

I made the background by stamping the lampost (from Tim Holtz) on some encaustic art card and embossing with black detail EP. I then used a shaving brush to dust on the yellow inks to create a glow around the lamp post. I used the same technique and shades of blue and black ink to create the dark sky and then used a wet paintbrush to lift some ink off to create a puddle which i then triple embossed with clear EP. Next I spritzed some water on my fingers and splashed it on the card, left it for a min and then blotted it with some kitchen roll to make the raindrops on the background. I used the same technique to make the base of the easel card.

KitKat is coloured with promarkers and then i added fur by colouring with derwent inktense pencils, its the first time i've combined promarkers and pencils and I  think I need to practice lol. I decoupaged the umbrella up and added some drops of crystal laquer for raindrops, I dragged the drops with a cocktail stick  to make them raindrop shaped.

I stamped the sentiment (from Elusive Images) on the base of the easel card and made a little umbrella embellie by colouring the top of another of Kitkats umbrellas, adding some raindrops and a handle made from a cocktail stick.

I'm entering KitKat in the following challenges:

Fab'n'Funky: Animal Magic

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge: anything goes

Crafty Cardmakers: Spotlight on pencils

Die cut dreams: Use digi and rubber stamp together

Crafty Emma's Challenge: No designer papers

Top Tip Tuesday: All sentimental

Digi Doodle Shop's Best: Anything goes

I did it creations: Brrrr I'm feeling blue

Karber Monthly : Digi + movies (Singing in the Rain!)

Delicious Doodles: Get well soon ( a card to cheer somebody up)

Thanks for calling by, I can't wait to see how you are going to make some raindrops for this weeks challenge at Digi's with Attitude!

Claire xx

Chocolate challenge at Fairy Knoll

Don't you just love chocolate? I love all kinds of chocolate so I've really enjoyed making my DT card for this weeks challenge at Fun at Fairy Knoll where the theme is.... yes, you've guessed it, CHOCOLATE! As its so cold here again lately, I decided to take inspiration from hot chocolate, the perfect drink on a cold winters evening. I've used Brandi's supercute digistamp 'Cup o' Bliss' from Fairy Knoll (the sentiment is also available at Fairy Knoll)

I've used a bp from Raspberry Road Designs, distressed with Tea Dye distress ink and i've highlighted the wording on the BP (which says 'Simple Pleasures') with a couple of heart shaped pearls. The image is coloured with promarkers and i've added stickles to the little fairy's wings. The flowers, lace and ribbons are all from my stash.

I'm entering this cup o' bliss in the following challenges:

Flourishes: Large cards (this one is 8x8)

Papertake weekly: ribbons and or pearls

Top Tip Tuesday: All sentimental

Karber Weekly Challenge: digi + ribbon

Corrosive challenge: Lace and pearls

Really Reasonable Ribbon: Hearts and ribbon (little heart shaped pearls)

Mark's Finest Papers: Hearts

Do you stack up: Think Pink

Thanks for popping by, if you need another chocolate fix check out my talented teamies blogs for some more inspirations ;-)

Claire xx

A highland fling with the Rainbow Lady

Hello there, its time for a new challenge at Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog and this week, Cynthia has chosen the theme of 'Highland Fling' in celebration of Burns Night!

I've got to admit this one had me baffled for a while but I decided to go with the 'fling' element and make a romantic card using some gorgeous tartan bp from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop. I love tartan, especially this fab colourway. I've stamped a frame from Joanna Sheen on some purple mirri card and cut out the oval centre. The sentiment is also from Joanna Sheen, stamped on some vellum. The vintage man and lady are from, you guessed it, Joanna Sheen. I stamped them both with black and coloured with promarkers, then I stamped the lady again on some purple bp and embossed with gilded ivory EP to give her a beautiful purple and cream dress. I don't often do any paper piecing but I quite like the effect on her dress. The flowers are from Jazzlins Designs and the ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Wags'n'Whiskers: With love

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge: With love

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: Anything but a square (ok a rectangle may not be the most exciting shape but at least its not a square lol)

Pile it on: anything goes

There She Goes: Wet embossing

Paper Pretties: Paper Piecing

The Stamp Fairy: Paper Piecing

Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Love is in the Air

Thanks for visiting today

Claire xx

Cute challenge at Cooking it up with Katie!

Time for another fab recipe challenge at Cooking it up with Katie, this week we want to see you use the following ingredients in your creations : Green, Brads and Cute! Our lucky winner will receive a prize from our fab sponsor, Meljen's Designs and you don't get much cuter than Meljen's images! I've used this gorgeous cupcake image for my DT card this week.

I've coloured the cupcake with promarkers, embossed the stars with sparkle EP and added some green glitter to the ribbon and the sprinkles on the cupcake. The bps are from my stash, i think they were free with a magazine. I've added some sparkly green brads, pink satin ribbon and some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts. The sentiment was printed with my new toy, I've just got a Xyron Design runner and so far I'm loving it! I may be brave enough to use it straight on the bp before long lol!

I'm entering this cute little cupcake in the following challenges:

The Crafty Pad: Something new (new stash - my design runner)

Gingerloft: celebrations

One Stitch at a time: New (new stash )

Paper Sundaes: Fav challenge from the last year (challenge #50 - something new)

Scrappy Frogs Challenge: Cupcakes

Sketch Saturday: sketch

Delicious Doodles: Use 3 colours (pink, green and yellow)

Sew Many challenges: Happy Birthday

Totally Papercrafts: Happy birthday

Thanks for calling by today, have fun with our recipe this week!

Claire xx

Lily in Pink

Its been so grey and dismal here for ages now, I thought i'd colour Michelle Perkett's gorgeous Lily, the Fairy of Enchantment to brighten up my day. Lily is one of my favourite images from Michelle but this is the first time i've coloured her in pink. You can find Lily here in Michelle's Etsy Store

I've coloured Lily with promarkers and embossed the moon with clear sparkle EP and then cut her out and attached her to the bp. The bps i've used are all downloads from Raspberry Road Designs. I used a MP border punch on two strips of bp and then added some dark green and rose pink velvet ribbon and some prima flower and pearls.

I'm entering Lily in the following challenges:

Pollycraft: sweet pastel colours

Quirky Crafts: In the spring garden plus pink and green

2 sisters: Flowers

Our daily bread: things with wings

Stamp, Scrap and Doodle: Anything goes

Daring Cardmakers: recipe challenge (I image, 2 ribbons, 3 papers)

Fairy Tale Challenge: Flowers

Yesterday I noticed some signs of spring on the way. There are quite a lot of green shoots peeping through in the garden and little buds showing on branches so I hope spring will be here soon. I  had a really lovely surprise last night when a delivery man arrived with what i thought was flowers but actually was a beautiful butler's tray with lots of pots of spring bulbs! It was from one of my friends at work, things have been pretty rough at work lately and she sent them to cheer me up!! Spring has definitely arrived early here lol. What a sweetie she is :-)

Thanks for popping by today, don't forget to check out this weeks challenge at Michelle Perkett Studios, Jan and her team have set a fab sketch challenge this week!!

Claire xx