Winter in Paris at Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Hello there my lovelies, we've got a new challenge starting at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and this time around our theme is 'Winter in Paris'. Our lucky winner will receive a $20 voucher for Flonzcraft and of course the DT will be voting for the Top 3 too.

I've made a little scenic card for my DT project. I began by creating a background using a mask from Clarity and distress inks to create the sky and the skyline. I used Silver PanPastel to give the moon a bit of a shimmer and added some snow with a white Graph'It Shake pen. The sentiment and santa stamps are both from Flonzcraft, I've embossed the sentiment with Gold EP and added a little colour to Santa and the reindeer with Lyra pencils.

The lady is one of the fabulous flappers from Chocolate Baroque, I've coloured her with pencils, cut her out and added her with 3d foam pads. To finish off I've applied white texture paste and glitter around the edges of my scene and popped a little bow and a snowflake charm in the top corner.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Allsorts: ribbons and bows

Crafting with Dragonflies: Let it snow

Crafty Catz: Winter

Ooh La La: embossing

Southern Girls: Twine tape or ribbon

Sweet Stamps: anything goes

Thanks so much for visiting today

Claire xx

Autumn Colours at Polkadoodles

Good morning folks, its time for a new challenge at Polkadoodles and our theme is 'Autumn/Fall Colours'. As always there's a fab prize for our lucky winner who will receive a $10 voucher for the download store at Polkadoodles! 

 I've used elements from the Autumn/Fall digi bundle (which you can find here, what  bargain!!) to create my little canvas. I've used my Lyra pencils to colour them. I'm sooooo loving my Lyras at the minute. I ended up with an arch shaped image as one of the dogs drooled on it lol. I've mounted the image on some recycled corrugated card and added die cut leaves, raffia, berries and topped them off with ribbon, a button and a twine bow.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner: Autumn hues

Incy Wincy: Anything goes

Paper Shelter: layer on layer

Papertake Weekly: anything goes

Sisterhood of Crafters: Fall

Southern Girls: Twine, tape or ribbon

The Crafty Addicts: Anything goes/ use a die cut

Thanks so much for visiting today

Claire xx

Vintage Christmas at Flonzcraft Vintage Stamping Challenges

Good morning folks, we're feeling festive at Flonzcraft Vintage Stamping Challenges as our theme this month is 'Vintage Christmas'. It's hard to believe its November already so it certainly won't be long until Santa is here! As always we've got a $20 voucher  to spend at Flonzcraft up for grabs for our lucky winner but you do need to ink up those stamps to play along. We're a stamping challenge so no digi stamps are allowed.

I've used papers and die cuts from Craftwork cards along with some gorgeous Christmas stamps from Flonzcraft to make my card. I've cut some slits in the backing paper to pop my topper in - I didn't want to cover up the corners on this gorgeous paper lol. I've used kraft card to mat and layer everything and added lots of distressing with Gathered Twigs distress ink.

I've used three stamps from Christmas Songs (which you can find here) for this card. I stamped them with Memento Rich Cocoa ink onto dictionary paper and added some colour with Lyra Polycolour pencils. I've also highlighted the Christmas tree with lots of stickles and a little glamour dust too.

I've added red seambinding, some reindeer trim and a little brass charm. To finish off i've added lots of die cuts, a couple of sentiments and some card candi from Craftwork Cards.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Allsorts: Christmas

A Snowflakes Promise: anything winter/Christmas

Crazy 4 Challenges: Christmas

Fab'n'Funky: Christmas

The Crazy Challenge: Vintage

Winter Wonderland: Anything Christmas

Thanks for popping by today, 

Claire xx

Balloons Banners and Bows at Eclectic Ellapu

Evening all, I'm running late today (just for a change lol). To add to the usual chaos my lappy is playing up so I'll keep this post short and sweet just in case it decides to die on me again. Its time for a new challenge over at Eclectic Ellapu and the Pink Team's theme is 'Balloons, Banners and Bows'

I've made a little bowl for my DT project. Where are the balloons, banners or bows I hear you ask lol. Ta daaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I used texture paste splodged onto a balloon to create the shape for my bowl. I used a fairly thin layer of Fine Texture Paste and then trowelled on loads of Coarse (both from Indigo Blu) and left it to dry. I left it for ages (about 3 days) as I didn't want to muck it up but it actually felt dry after about 24 hours. Once it was dry I popped the balloon, with fingers crossed and my little bowl didn't break! 

I painted it with Pink acrylic paint (also from Indigo Blu) and dusted over mica powders and added a little glamour dust while it was still wet.

Once the paint was dry I decorated the inside which was lovely and smooth. I applied flitter glu and then used Manchester Tart Gilding flakes, sooooooooo pretty.

I was tempted to trim the top to a straight edge but I kind of liked the random edge - it looks a bit like a cracked dragons egg lol.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Altered Eclectics: Anything goes

Decorate to Celebrate: anything goes

Rhedd's Creative Spirit: anything goes

Simon Says Stamp: anything goes

Thanks so much for visiting today

Claire xx

Inspiration at We love 2 Create

Good morning folks, its inspiration time over at We Love 2 Create this week. You still have plenty of time to enter our 'Anything Mixed Media/Creative Goes' challenge to be in with a chance of winning some lovely goodies from Premium Craft Brands. You don't have to use our products to play along either so if you don't have any get your inks/paints or what ever you fancy out and join us!

I've coloured up this gorgeous little scene with my PanPastels (you can find links to the products i've used at the end of the post). I love to make housey themed projects so I couldn't resist this little beauty which is from the Polkadoodles 'Adult Colouring Book, Colour Therapy 1 Floribunda' collection (you can find it here or why not treat yourself to the whole collection here, you know you want to lol)

I experimented a bit and coloured my paper with Pans before I printed the image, using Ultramarine Blue Tint, White Pearlescent Medium and Bright Yellow Green roughly in bands across the paper. I added more colour once it was printed out and used Lyra Polycolour pencils for definition.

I layered the image up over some embossed white card and added lace, ribbon topped with a button and a twine bow. The letters were die cut with my trusty cuttlebug and coloured with Blue Pearlescent PanPastel.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Hiding in my Craft Room: Freestyle

Jo's Scrap Shack: anything goes

Not just cards: Anything goes

Shopping our Stash: go paperless

Sweet Stampin: dies or punches

Thanks so much for popping by today

Claire xx

Ultramarine Blue Tint	PanPastel Ultramarine Blue	Pearlescent Blue	Pan Pastel, White (fine) Pearlescent	PanPastel - Sofft Tools Kit
Bright yellow green	Bright Yellow Green Shade	Pearlescent red	PanPastel Turquoise Tint

Sparkle and Bling at Polkadoodles

Good morning folks, its time for some inspiration over at Polkadoodles as you've still got a week to enter our 'Glitter, Bling and Sparkle' challenge to be in with the chance of winning a gift certificate for the Polkadoodles Download Store!

Colouring this gorgeous fairy from the Serenity Collection and one of the gorgeous pages from Colour Therapy 1 Floribunda with my Lyra Polycolour pencils kept me amused for hours. I've added some sparkly beaded trim and given the fairy some sparkly wings with a little glamour dust.

I began by adding the sentiment (from Serenity)to the colouring page in Publisher. I printed the fairy separately and coloured them both us with my pencils.

Once the were coloured I took some corrugated card and gave it a wash of watered down gesso. I layered the coloured page up on one of the beautiful distressed wood backgrounds and added lace, pearls and some bead trim. I also popped some glossy accents on the 'bubbles' on the image and sprinkled them with glamour dust. I cut the fairy out and layered her up with silicone glue. I made a little hanger with seam binding ribbon.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Shabby chic

Crafty Creations: Colourful

Creative Artiste: Mixed media with lace and pearls

Creative Fingers: anything goes

Dream Valley: use blue

Fussy and Fancy: Flowers

Simon Says Stamp: anything goes

Thanks so much for visiting today

Claire xx

Exquisite Edges from Chocolate Baroque

Good morning folks, today's card has a bit of a spring theme and the way time is flying past it won't be long until Spring is here lol. I've used the beautiful 'Exquisite Edges', one of this months new releases from Chocolate Baroque and combined it with an old favourite from Elegant Spring Flowers.

I began by making a distress ink background, splodging Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters,Squeezed Lemonade and a little Scattered Straw distress inks onto my blending mat, spritzing with water and mopping up the in with my card, dabbing up any excess ink and then splashing with water. I stamped the edge stamp with Memento Bamboo Leaves ink and used part of the same stamp to create the corner motifs too.

The primula image was stamped with Memento London Fog ink,coloured with Graph'it markers and inked around the edges with distress ink left on my craft mat. I've added ribbon and pearls to finish off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Brown Sugar: flowers

Crafting with Friends: Anything goes

Crafty Gals Corner: anything goes

Fussy and Fancy: flowers

Simon Says Stamp: anything goes

Simply Papercraft: anything goes

Thanks so much for visiting today, if you've got a minute do pop over to the Chocolate Baroque DT blog as my teamies have some gorgeous inspiration for you,

Claire xx

Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge

Good morning folks, we've got a gorgeous colour palette to inspire you over at Chocolate Baroque Challenge this month, such lovely colours taken from Judith's stunning card. As always there is a £15 voucher for our lucky winner and the DT will be getting their thinking caps on to choose their top 3 too.

I've used two of the beautiful stamps from Carousel Horses, to create this project. I've used one of the fabulous wooden art blocks, also from Chocolate Baroque which you can find in lots of different sizes here. I began by painting the front and back of the block with white gesso leaving a gap around the edge. Once the gesso was dry I stamped the horses with Black Versafine ink and coloured them with distress markers. 

I applied gold gilding wax lightly around the edges and then piled up lots of bows on the top. I dyed some white seam binding with distress inks to match the challenge colours and layered them up with some glue. To finish off I added some stickles and glamour dust to give the horses a little sparkle.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge: R is for ribbon

Colouring in Scrapland: Anything goes

Mixed Media World Challenge: Anything goes with wood

Shopping our Stash: go paperless

Whoopsi Daisy: Hand coloured image

Thanks so much for visiting today

Claire xx

We love 2 Create

Good morning folks, its challenge time again over at We Love 2 Create and we're keeping it nice and easy for you with our theme of 'Anything Creative/Mixed Media' goes. You don't have to use our products to play along either and our lucky winner will receive some gorgeous crafty goodies from Premium Craft Brands!! I've made a quick little scene using my PanPastels, Memento Inks and Lavinia Stamps. I love this fairy and use her every year, she's perfect for Autumn themed cards.

I used my Pans to create the background, masking the moon and using torn paper to mask the hills. Pans blend so beautifully it only takes a few minutes, soooooo much easier than brayering. I've used lots of different Lavinia Stamps to create my little scene. They've all been stampe with Memento Inks in various bright Autumnal colous. Memento Inks work a treat over PanPastels and the colours are lovely and vibrant too. 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Brown Sugar: anything goes

Creative Fingers: anything goes

Scrap and Crafts: autumn colours

Simply Papercrafts: anything goes

Sweet Stamps: anything goes

The Crafty Addicts: Anything goes/Autumn colour palette

Wags'n'Whiskers: Fall colours

Thanks for visiting today, hope to see you again soon

Claire xx

Neutral Grey Pan Pastel	Silver Metallic PanPastel	White PanPastel	Ultramarine Blue Tint	Bright Yellow Green Shade
Bright yellow green	Raw Umber PanPastel	Burnt Sienna

Autumn or Christmas at Graph'It Colouring Challenge

Good morning folks, its challenge time over at Graph'It Colouring Challenge and we've got a nice easy challenge for you, just choose one of the colours from the colour palettes over on the challenge blog and you can be in with a chance of winning a fab prize!! 

I've used the Christmas colour palette to colour up this adorable image from Oddball Art

. She's called Ellie the Elf and you can find her here. One lucky winner will receive 3 digis to play with and another will win a set of Graph'It Markers from Cult Pens (who have a fabulous offer on Graph'Its at the minute so pop on over and have a peek!!)

I usually do my background before I colour the main image in case of disaster lol but this time I forgot and coloured Ellie first so I went ahead to create the background without any major mishaps.

I'm soooooooo enjoying making backgrounds with my Graph'Its, this was made by just scribbling my markers onto the background not worrying too much about blending and then dripping on Mix'It Fluid using the end of the spray tube from the bottle. The White Graph'It Shake pen is perfect for adding snow and the Silver Shake pen gives a little frosty sparkle

I've just added a sentiment stamp from Chocolate Baroque, stamped in Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink and matted the image on white and then red card.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Addicted to stamps and more: make your mark

A Snowflake Promise: anything goes

Crafting by Designs: get ready for Christmas

Crafting with an attitude: anything goes

Paper Minutes: Snow

Southern Girls: Stripes

Star Stampz: add a sentiment

Thanks so much for visiting today

Claire xx

Anything Mixed Media/Creative Goes at We Love 2 Create

Good morning folks, its inspiration time over at We Love 2 Create and I've made a canvas using some of my favourite products from Premium Craft Brands. Our theme is 'Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes' so its a nice easy one for you. You don't have to use our products to enter and our lucky winner will receive some gorgeous goodies from Premium Craft Brands!

I began by rummaging through my scraps box and stuck lots of bits and bobs onto my 8x8 canvas with Maimeri Matte Gel Medium. I used lace, ribbon, pearls, die cuts, paper flowers, bits of old jewellery and some chunky tags from some new clothes. I gave everything a coat of Maimeri White Gesso and added some stencilling with Light Modelling Paste. I added another coat of matte gel and while it was wet dusted on Permanent Red Tint PanPastel and Pearlescent Red PanPastel using a duster brush. Once it was all dry I sponged on a little versamark ink and then dusted on some Coarse White Pearlescent PanPastel Medium and used a Sofft tool to add some Light Gold Metallic PanPastel. Its really shimmery in real life but it doesn't show up in the pic.

I stamped one of the tags with one of my favourite stamps from the Postcard stamp set from Premium Craft brands and dusted over with some Black Fine Pearl PanPastel Medium. I also use the fine black Pearl medium to add some shadows here and there too.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge: R is for ribbon

City Crafter: Paste it

Creative Artiste: Mixed Media with lace and pearls

In the pink: pink ribbon

Stamps and Stencils: Make it 3d

Thanks for visiting today, hope to see you again soon

Claire xx

White Blending Mop Brush	PanPastel - Sofft Tools Kit	Permanent Red Tint	Pearlescent red	White COARSE Pearl Medium for PanPastels
PanPastel Light Gold Metallic	Black fine Pearl	Premium Art Brands, Postcard stamp set