Paper Roses

This week Frankie's challenge at Dragon's Dream Tag it On is ' Paper Roses', Frankie has found an amazing tutorial for grungepaper roses at Lynne Forsythe's blog and her challenge is to have a go. I had a bit of a serendipity moment with this challenge as postie delivered Glenda's fab new CD 'Essence of Nature' which has the most gorgeous papers AND some fab artistic elements including some  tags. I've based this tag on one of the tags from the cd, its so beautiful it seemed a shame to cover any of it up really lol

I stuck the printed tag onto a large tag from Graphicus (perfect size!), edged it with silver EP  and then stamped my favourite tree (Glade from Elusive images) to the side of the tag and embossed with silver EP, also stamped one of the leaf stamps in brilliance pealescent lilac and white and embossed with sparkly EP (Glenda used this technique on her blog and it looks fab). I also added some lilac and icicle stickles. I stamped the sentiment under the tree and some hearts down the side ( both from Elusive images 'Lace rose heart')

I followed the tutorial from Lynnes blog to make the roses and used glimmer mists and starburst stains to colour them and added some more stickles. Now my roses are nowhere near as neat as Lynne's or Frankie's, but I sweated blood making these lol. Everytime I got one finished and glued, it sprang apart and trying to get a little strip of grungepaper covered in glossy accents back in to shape is no mean feat I can tell you. I loved making them though, and will persevere until I get them right, honest!! To finish off the tag, I added some lace leaves and to make a loop for the tag.

If you've got Glenda' s new cd. pop over to her blog as she has a little competition running to win a Graphicus voucher!

Have a good weekend and thanks for popping 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

A little heads up for CSSC....

There's a new challenge over at Cowgirls Sunday Stampen Challenge on Sunday and to celebrate a whole load of fab new 'Animals and Bugs' images at CJs shop (with 25% off!!) the theme is ..... guess what? Yes, Animals and Bugs. I've used CJs image 'Bee home', how cute is this little fella?

The image is coloured with promarkers and matted on some black card, I made a little bee using seed beads and wire as an embellishement. I've used bp from my stash, distressed with my craft knife and lots of black soot DI. I used lemon and black velvet ribbon to make the stripes - bees are so fluffy I though the velvet would be great for this. The flowers are made using small punched flowers and some cheapie diecut flowers I got from the pound shop, they were coloured with Daffodil glimmer mist and scrunched up. Once they were dry, I've layered them up, secured them with a little brad and then added some black seed beads to the centres using silicone glue. I've written the sentiment with a black promarker, my friend has a little girl called Honey so I may use this for her birthday lol.

I'm also entering this little bee in the following challenges:

Allsorts: Card for a baby/child

Sentimental Sundays: Its all fun and games

Crafty Cardmakers:Recipe - stickers/punches, orange/yellow, animals/fish (I hope my little bees count)

Sketch Saturday: Sketch

Paperplay: Anything goes

Don't forget to check out the new challenge on CSSC this Sunday, we have a fab sponsor - the lucky winner will get 5 images from Whimsy Stamps and the winners badge and the top 3 will get to choose one of CJs images and also be able to display the Top 3 badge on their blogs too!!

Thanks for popping by,

Claire xx

On the beach

This card is made for a Round Robin I'm taking part in, I know its been received now so its safe to blog lol. Its the first round robin I've taken part in and I think its a great idea. In fact until recently i didn't know what  a stamping round robin was. For any other novices, you make a card using  and send the card and stamp on to the next person on the list etc etc until it gets back to the person who started it off. We're using a stamp by Pink Cat Studio, isn't it fab - just perfect for summer cards.

I've stamped the image on to silk card and then masked it before brayering the sky, sea and beach using kaeidacolour ink pads.I then coloured the image with promarkers and added some highlights to the sun and beach - promarkers are so different to use on silk card. The image is matted on some blue card. The Elusive images sentiment is stamped on a scrap of card brayered with the same colours. Sorry the pic is a bit wonky, I need to get some batteries for my camera so I've had to scan it and my scanner is very temperamental.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Creations: Summer Lovin

Crafty Catz: Summer time

Bee Crafty: at the Beach

Alys Sunday Challenge: Under or by the sea

Gingersnap Creations GC63: Sunshine

Just looking at this card makes me wish I was sat on the beach, the weather here is so temperamental lately and work is so busy it would be bliss to escape. Thanks for looking, I hope this card brings you a little sunshine too

Claire xx

One stamp, 2 cards

This little cottage scene  is one of my favourite Christmas stamps from Elusive images, I used it for lots of cards last year and I've always fancied trying a brayered scene with it. When I saw this weeks challenge from the lovely ladies at Bah Humbug had challenged us to create a Christmas Scene I had to have a go. I ended up making 2 cards as I also wanted to try some of the inky techniques I saw Sheena Douglass demoing on C&C

To make the  easel card I embossed some dots on silk card using sparkle EP for snowflakes, masked the moon and brayered the sky using royal blue dye in and then memento tuxedo black ink very lightly over the top. I stamped the image and masked it with some eclipse tape and then added hills ink the background using memento London Fog ink applied with some cut'n'dry foam. I coloured the image with promarkers and added some glittery ep to the scene and to highlight the hills. I had a bit of a 'happy accident' doing this as I'd removed the post it moon mask but the EP stuck to the card where the sticky had been and left a lovely shimmery side of the moon. I matted the scene on some silver mirri card and attached it to a white pearlescent easel card base. I made the sentiment using the same techniques and a sentiment stamp from Elusive Images. I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments: Christmas sentiments

Delightful Challenges: No DPs or Embellishments

Stamptacular: Christmas in July

I've made the second card using this weeks recipe from Crafts 4 Eternity which is a sketch, make your own marbled paper and your own embellishment. I used the good old shaving foam technique to make the two pieces of marbled bp for this card, its ages since I've used this technique and I really loved it - such messy fun lol.

The marbled paper is made using tinkabella inks in orange and black using the shaving foam technique, once it was dry it wasn't quite dark enough so I added some spiced marmalade DI and then distressed the edges with brilliance copper ink and finally black soot DI. The main image is made by applying lots of distress inks to a piece of card using cut'n'dry foam - I used Spiced marmalade, antique linen, vintage photo and a little black soot. I blended them really well together and then  stamped the same cottage scene stamp and embossed with aniquities EP. I masked the image and stamped the Tim Holtz trees and embossed them with the same EP. I then used my water brush to wet the card inside the stamped cottage and dabbed it to remove some of the ink. I also splashed water on the background to look like falling snow and smoke coming from the chimney. I was struggling to remove enough ink so I ended up using some diluted bleach and that did the trick

To make my own embellishment I made a band of ruffled ribbon and beads - I had a bit of a job getting this right and found that by stitching a running stitch through the ribbon using beading thread, then passing the end of the ribbon through the bead, then passing the needle through the bead and pulling the thread to ruffle the ribbon worked the best. I also found it was best to start from the middle and work out from each side. I fnished off with a Christmas sentiment again from Elusive image stamped on the top corner of the image. I'm quite pleased with my spooky Christmas scene even though it is in halloween colours lol. I think it would be just the job for one of my male friends who is jokingly known as Bah Humbug as he hates Christmas, he'd moan if I didn't make him a card though

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

Burtonesque Dolls: The Nightmare before Christmas in July

Polka Doodles:  Christmas in July

Alphabet: M is for men

Thanks for looking, I've really enjoyed making both these cards, I hope you like them

Claire xx

Meow!

This is the first time I've actually made a card with this lovely sweet pea stamp (Cheshire cat Illusion by Ching  chou kuik).

The image is coloured with promarkers and I've added some highlights with a black sakura stardust pen. I masked the image to ink the background using black soot DI with a little cosmic shimmer powder added. I decoupaged one layer and added some perfect pearls to the toadstools. I really struggled colouring the hair!!! It looked such a big area i broke it up by doodling with one of the fine black promarker pens,

The image is matted on black card and then some canvas coloured pink with various inks and glimmer mists. I added some lace with red line tape. The bp is from a cd as it was in my 'printed papers' box - which cd? I have to confess I'm not totally sure but probably a freebie one as I don't have many cds. The mats and bps are all distressed with my craft knife and more black ink. I added a band of black tapestry card, some velvet ribbon and pink brads from my stash. I stamped a couple of flowers on a left over bit of pink canvas and embossed with black magic ep before rolling them round my pokey tool thingy for a bit of dimension. The centres of the flowers are tiny black buttons attached with lots of pink stickles.

At the last minute i remembered the sentiment which is also a Sweet Pea stamp and decided to stamp directly on the bp - it always scares me to death when I do this as half the time I don't stamp it properly and ruin the card but I was lucky this time lol.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Sweet Pea Stampers: Black, white + one other colour

Crafts and me: sketch

Tuesday taggers: Canvas 

Passion for Promarkers: Distressing

I love Promarkers: Buttons

I did it creations: Buttons and bows

Daring Cardmakers: Layer it up

Stamp something: Something flowery

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge: Fairytale

CD Sunday: Meow! (pop over and have a peep - a monthly challenge with a cd sponsor is starting soon!!)

Thanks for looking, the sun has come out here so I'm tempted to go and tackle the weeding this afternoon. Have a happy Sunday whatever you are up to

Claire xx

Cowgirl's Sunday Stamp'en Challenge - Anything Goes!!

Howdy!! Another week and another challenge over at Cowgirl's Sunday Stampen Challenge, an easy one this week - our challenge is "Anything goes" and this week we have a fabulous sponsor, Michelle Perkett who brings us the most gorgeous digistamps. I've used Eva the Glam Mermaid for this card:

Isn't Eva just gorgeous?? I have a lot of Michelle's images but this is definitely one of my favourites. You can find Eva and lots more at Michelle's store here

The lucky winner of this weeks challenge will recieve 3 images from Michelle Perkett and also 2 gorgeous images from Cowgirl Up . If you get a minute have a look round the posses' blogs as some of the DT have used fabby Cowgirl Up images for this weeks challenge. We will also have  a 'Top 3' who will be awarded a fab Top 3 badge for their blogs!!

Right, back to Eva. I'm really pleased with the way this card has turned out. I've used bazzill bling card and cut an oval out on my cricut, and a smaller white oval mat. These are layered over a 'sea' background made using the caught in crystal technique, I've used various glimmer mists, radiant rain paint dabbers, glitter, some teeny tiny stars and of course some floor polish on the acetate background. I've added some paper flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, a couple of shells and also made some flowers with the tissue paper I used to mop up the ink from the acetate background. I've added some tiny shells to these flowers. I've made some bows from some fab blingy turquoise ribbon I got at the local sewing shop and some net too. I found the net while I was rummaging in the shed for some plant ties and thought it would be perfect with this card (am I obsessed with crafting or what lol)

I'm entering Eva in the following challenges:

Die cut dreams: Acetate

Crafty Creations: Happy or sweet (I think Eva is both lol)

Papertake: Cutie Patootie

Polkadoodles: an extra challenge which is 'colouring' sponsored by Letraset who have some new aquamarkers for the lucky winners!!

Stampin Royalty: Splish Splash

I hope you're going to join us for our Anything Goes challenge this week at Cowgirl's Sunday Stampen Challenge. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your gorgeous cards

Claire

1,2,3..... Sing your song

Frankie's challenge this week at Dragon's Dream Tag it on is 'Say it with Numbers', I've used stamps from Elusive images and Paper Artsy for this tag

I had so much fun making this and of course got seriously messy lol. I painted the tag with copper Eco green paint and dabbed some black paint around the edge. Next I stamped the circles by using bubble wrap and more black paint. Once it was dry I stamped the bird on the branch and embossed it with black magic EP. then I stamped the paper artsy numbers and embossed with copper dreams ep. I cut out a tag shape from shrink plastic and coloured it with copper brilliance ink and stamped 'Sing your Song' with black versafine ink. Edged it with black ink and once I'd shrunk it added some blingy braid from Graphicus. I added a few more lengths of braid to finish the tag off.

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

Something Completely Different: Tag and Circles

Oh Alice: Ravens and Writing Desks

Lots to Do: Shapes

Thanks for looking. I hope you're having a good weekend, as usual I've got loads of things started and I really ought to finish them but I've got some gorgeous new beads today so I  may have a play with them later.

Claire xx

A burst of summer colour...

I love this stamp and used a little artistic license to colour the flowers so they look summery instead of spring flowers.

The image is coloured with promarkers and edged with green versamagic ink. I've used My Mind's Eye papers that were a freebie with this months Cardmaking and papercraft mag. The bow is recycled from a box of chocolates. Iv'e added some paper flowers and a beaded flowers. The beaded flower is made from size 11 seed beads using netting stitch with a beaded wire stem and a brooch pin on the back. Its a little pressie for my friend so Ive just pinned it to the card. I haven't added a sentiment yet as I've got the perfect stamp somewhere. it says 'Bouquets of Birthday wishes' and I thought it would be lovely with this image but can I find it? The craftroom gremlins have been at it again lol.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Penny Black at Allsorts: A burst of summer colour

Allsorts Challenge: Summer days

One stop Craft challenge: blue, green pink and a hint of red + flowers and bling

Paper Sundaes: Make your own flowers

Fab'n'Funky: Reuse or recycle (my choccy box bow)

Thanks for looking, the weekend starts here lol. I've had a really busy weekend at work so I'm looking forward to hiding in my craftroom for most of the weekend. Hope you have a good one

Claire xx

Blue, bows and buttons at Cooking it up with Katie

Good morning, where have the last 2 weeks gone? Its time for another challenge at 

       Cooking it Up with Katie and this week we've got another fab recipe for you AND a lovely sponsor too!

The recipe is an easy one this time around:

Buttons, Bows and Blue.

Our fab sponsor is Fairy Knoll and the DT were lucky enough to be able to choose a digi to work with for the challenge, I chose Marisa the Mermaid for this card:

Marisa is coloured with promarkers, then masked to ink the cloudy background and brayer the sea. I also added some glitter to the wave caps. I cut the 'porthole' from some glitter card on my cricut and added some aqua and blue eyelets. Marisa is matted on some blue ginham paper from my stash. I added some swirly flourishes dotted with baby blue stickles, blue gingham bows and blue buttons to embellish.

I'm entering Marisa in the following challenges:

Daring Cardmakers: We are sailing

Stamp Something: Something Digital

Crazy for Challenges: Buttons

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge: Summer holidays

One stitch at a time: Use a digi

My time to Craft: Check it out 

Everybody Art Challenge: Blue and White

Tanda Teaser: All At Sea

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you're going to cook something up with us this week

Claire xx

Brand new challenge blog starting soon

Hi everyone, have you seen the brand new challenge blog 'Craft your days away' starting on Saturday 7th August?

Pop over and have a look, the team have some fantastic candy to give away and apparently they have some nice surprises up their sleeve too lol

Claire xx

Happy Birthday Tiger

I've used a gorgeous digi from Stamp--n-Doodles for this card, which I think will be perfect for my BILs birthday

The main image is coloured with promarkers and glossy accents added to the eyes, I've distressed the edges with my craft knife, Vintage photo DI and Black soot DI. I added some faux stitching by pricking holes and drawing the stitches with a sakura stardust brown pen. The brown snakeskin BP is from my stash and the animal print one is from Joanna Sheens Eastern Treasures CD, it wasn't quite the right shade so i dusted spiced marmalade and Vintage photo distress inks over to colour it. The edges of the bps are also distressed with my craft knife. I added some ribbon from my stash, a couple of brass buttons and a sentiment stamped using a HOTP sentiment and the word 'tiger' using a paper artsy alphabet.

I'm entering  this tiger in the following challenges:

Stamp-n-doodle: Distressing

Passion for Promarkers: Animals (trying to sneak in at the last minute lol)

Dare U 2 Digistamp: Stitching

Sisterhood of Crafters: Mans card

Craftalicious: Birthdays

Sentimental Sundays: For men

The Pink Elephant: Brown

Cupcake Craft Challenge: Cats and Dogs

Cards for Men: a recipe challenge: 1 image, 2 bps, 3 embellishments (mine are the ribbon and 2 buttons)

Sketch and Stash: i've rotated this weeks lovely sketch

Thanks for looking in today,

Claire xx

Lets Ink it Up DT Call

Suzanne has a DT call out for her brand new challenge blog 'Lets Ink it up', a monthly challenge for rubber stampers which will start in September. How could I resist? Everyone who knows me will tell you I'm a rubber and ink addict so i've decided to try out for a place on the DT. Suzanne has asked people interested in a place on the DT to create a post highlighting 3 of their best work. I'll have to start with this card

A brayered background and assorted stamps from Elusive images, I was sooooooo happy when this card won the first challenge at Sir Stampalot and I was lucky enough to win a Cricut :-)

The original post is here

I was also really proud of my altered book, again made with stamps from Elusive images (I'm not on commission honestly lol)

Here's the front:

And the inside:

I really enjoyed making this, it was for my GDT spot over at Bah Humbug. I have to confess to a few happy accidents and making a lot of mess along the way. For more deets, the original post is here

For my third creation, I'm going to choose this note book, made with one of my favourite Sweet Pea Stamps

Another one I had loads of fun making and the first time I was brave enough to use my Bind it all. I also had a play with making some beads from baby wipes. The original post is here

I hope you're going to check out Suzanne's new challenge, she has some sponsors lined up already and of course we don't need an excuse to get inky do we lol?

Good luck to everyone else trying out for the DT

Claire xx

Under the sea ...

I've been having a play with starburst stains to make some background papers and I thought they'd be just the job with my new Underwater Kingdom stamps from Elusive images. I have to confess I can't remember which colours I've used as I made a huge batch of papers - I think these are using mostly the icicle creek set (you wouldn't want to see the state of the kitchen when I'd finished lol). I've used a greeny blue one using the scrunch technique (from Jill at the Stampman) which has been swiped with versamark and embossed with gold EP and then a panel of a pale bluey lilac scrunch paper and a couple of strips of shimmery blue ribbon down the centre.

The ovals were left overs from another project. I stamped and masked the scene using my new stamps and coloured the images with promarkers adding some stickles for a bit of bling. I dusted some blue green versamagic ink for the background using a marvy stipple brush and matted the scene on some bluey green bazzill bling cardstock. I took two small pieces of card I'd coloured with starburst stains, stamped one with the sentiment and embellished with some shimmery ribbon, paper flowers and little irridescent gems from my stash.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

The Stampman: Anything Goes

Gingersnap Creations GC 62  : Markers

OH Alice: Dancing under the sea

For Fun Challenges: Use your favourite colouring technique(mine is promarkers at the minute)

S2G challenges: Water, Waves , Wetness

Polka Doodles: Stamp away

Paperplay Challenge: Sketch

Thanks for calling in, I hope your week has got off to a good start

Claire xx

Got a rubber fetish??????

Rubber stamps that is lol! Suzanne has had a brilliant idea to start a challenge for rubber stamps but needs to know that it would be popular in blogland before she goes ahead with it. Have a look here   and become a follower if you think its a good idea

I think its a fab idea, I love digistamps and use them a lot but we don't want all our lovely rubber stamps to feel neglected do we?

If it looks like its going to take off, Suzanne will have a DT call too
Pop over and become a follower, its going to be great fun!!!!!
Claire xx

Finally, another Christmas card

The last two weeks cards for Bah Humbug have ended up in the bin but my festive mojo has returned and I've managed to come up with a card for this weeks challenge which is 'Christmas Stockings'. I thought I had a really funky stocking stamp but I couldn't find it anyway but I managed to find a little Penny Black hedgehog with a stocking and I've used him for this card

The music text bp is a freebie from Raspberry Road designs, the bingo ticket is from The Frugal Crafter. The hedgie is stamped on cream card and coloured with promarkers, the sentiment is from a See D's stamp set. All the layers are distressed with vintage photo DI (I used a Marvy stippling brush just for your research Ann lol). I added a couple of flourishes cut on my cricut (Home accents cart) and some little fb pearls to finish off. I've also added some faux stitching - pricked the holes and used a brown sakura stardust pen for the stitches.

I've also followed this weeks recipe from Crafts 4 Eternity which is a gorgeous sketch, coffee and cream and a bingo card.  I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Fab'n'Funky: Its Christmas

Ooh LaLa: Christmas in July

Shabby Tea Room: Christmas in July

Cute card Thursday: Get a head start ... make a Christmas card

Cards for men: Christmas in July

Thanks for looking in. Its pouring with rain here so I don' feel guilty about crafting instead of tacking the weeds. I hope you're having a good weekend

Claire xx

DDTIO Shabby Chic

As usual I've got about half a dozen things started and stuff all over my craftroom, please tell me I'm not the only to do this lol????? I've managed to finish my tag for this weeks challenge at Dragon's Dream Tag it On, the theme is Shabby Chic

I've used stamps from Elusive images and coloured the tag with Distress Inks in Aged Mahogony and Stormy Skies and distressed the edges with black soot DI. I added some white lace, blue ribbon and red ribbon from my ribbon bit box. I'd also been having a play with grungepaper, trying out different stamps to see how they worked. I quite liked this rose (some were total dis-ah-sters!! ) which is made with Aged Mahogany DI and a flower stamp from Elusive Images.

I'm also entering this tag in the following challenges

Sunday Stamper: Song sung Blue

City Crafter: English rose -  Red, white and Blue (+optional Roses)

Alphabet challenge: L is for Lace

Just Scraps: Love is in the air

Raise the Bar: Wedding recipe - Something old (the lace and ribbon from my bit box), Something new (my grungepaper rose), Something borrowed (the grungepaper rose idea), something blue (Stormy skies DI)

I hope you're having a good weekend, the weather is a bit temperamental today so I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon trying to finish one of the other unfinished projects cluttering up my craft room lol

Thanks for looking

Claire xx

Crafty Ann's Challenge 19, Sing along with Cliff

Where is this year going? I can't believe another fortnight has gone already and its time for a new challenge at Crafty Ann's Challenge blog. The theme for the latest challenge is to base your creation on a Cliff Richard song, set by Kym one of my teamies on Crafty Ann's DT. This one had me stumped as I'm not a Cliff fan but as I looked through lists of his songs (you can find some here if you're stuck for ideas), I did find myself humming 'Devil Woman' lol

After driving my family and friends mad with my tuneless humming I thought I better use it as inspiration for my card. I've used Crafty Ann's Mottled Stone paper in deep red (from Collection 1). I just love these bps, they are gorgeous colours and print out beautifully. In fact i love it so much i've used it for the card base (matted on some black card), to paper piece the lady's dress and also printed Crafty Ann's Short petal flower on the same bp. The lady is a real character isn't she? She is a rubber stamp from Stamp it Crazy and I thought she'd be fab as a 'Devil Woman'. The bits of her that aren't paper pieced are coloured with promarkers. I've stamped a HOTP swirl around the edges and matted her on a layer of red and then a layer of black card. The flowers are sprayed with black gold glimmer mist and the centres are made from black seed beads.

I got so carried away with Ann's lovely flowers I didn't leave room for the sentiment so I've had to pop it on the inside of the card. I've use a Mae West quote "I  generally avoid temptation, unless i can't resist it" which will be perfect for my big sis. She lives at the other side of the country so we don't see a lot of eachother, hopefully this card will make her smile.

I'm also entering this card into the Stamp it Crazy One Year Blogaversary Challenge - congratulations Barb!!

I hope you're going to sing a long with us at Crafty Ann's. Cliff Richard has released squillions of songs so there's bound to be one to inspire you. I can't wait to see what you come up with, you never know you may make a Cliff fan of me yet!!!

Claire xx

Guess Who's Rainbow Lady's Guest Designer???

Yes its little old me!! How chuffed was I when Cynthia asked me to to be her guest over on Rainbow Lady's challenge blog. I love Cynthia's challenges, they are always a real inspiration.  I'm the worlds biggest ditherer though so choosing a theme for the challenge was a tricky one for me, until I came across a sprig of lavender while sorting out my craft room and thought that 'Lavender and Lace' would be a good theme. Heres my card

The background is made with Ecogreen paints - a base layer of silver, then homebase crackle glaze, then a layer of lilac. For the border, I squidged B&J Mountain meadow ink pad on my craft mat, added a spray of water to colour some white card. I then overstamped with a lavender stamp and dusted with cosmic shimmer mica powders in green and lilac. I added some lavender lace and some purple velvet ribbon. The image is a Crafters Companion Stamp, coloured with promarkers and jazzed up a little with some stickles. The mats are cut on my cricut and edged with promarkers.

I've used a sentiment from Elusive Images and added the lavender, some paper roses from my stash and a velvet bow. Isn't velvet ribbon hard to tie??? I love the stuff but always end up tying myself in knots trying to get a decent bow lol

Anyway,I'm entering my little lavender fairy in this months Sir Stampalot Challenge which is 'Lazy Hazy Days of Summer' as just the smell of lavender reminds me of summer days. The lavender in my garden is beautiful at the minute, the bees are really enjoying it too. And this weeks challenge at Flutter by Wednesday which is to use lots of layers - as well as layers of card, I've got layers of lace and layers of paint too!

Thanks for popping by, I hope you like my Lavender and Lace card and are inspired to join us this week at Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog.

Claire xx

Crafts and Me 'Crimson Rose'

Well ok, pink rose in this case lol. I've used one of my new stamps from Crafts and Me for this card - 'Crimson Rose' is one of a new range of stamps. They are all gorgeous, I'll definitely be back for more on payday lol. I've made this card for this weeks challenge from Crafts and Me which is a colour combo - Pink, black and white

I've used the sketch from this weeks challenge at Crafts 4 Eternity (the recipe this week also  includes using a file tab and making a thankyou card/gift). The bp is made with inkadinks and cosmic shimmer powders (can't get the shimmer to show in the pic). I stamped around the edge with a swirl from HOTP and distressed with my craft knife and black versafine. The main image is coloured with promarkers, the moon is also embossed with sparkle EP and the wings and flower glittered with Snowflake glitter from Artylicious. The images is layered on some distressed black card. I made the borders by stamping a Joanna sheen lace stamp on vellum and embossing with raspberry sorbet EP. I added a little more glitter to the edges. to cover the edge I added some narrow black velvet ribbon. The file tab is made with a scrap of card stamped with 'gratitude' from HOTP. I added some little black gems and a flower made from cotton lace, pink velvet ribbon and a glittered plastic top (I got a huge bag of these from our local scrap store - I knew they'd come in handy lol)

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

Stamp with fun: Fairies

Incy Wincy: Distress it

Papertake weekly: In the garden

Paper Sundaes: Lots of layers

Thanks for looking

Claire xx

A taste of the East

I've been having a play with the old brayer again, I always tend to use the same colours so this time I've used red and black for a change

I've used some really glossy card for this so I've had to get the pic from a funny angle. I think I prefer the usual card I use but you don't know until you try. I've used 'Mars' Stardream card for the base card and added a couple of gold eyelets and some black velvet ribbon to break it up.

The brayered scene uses the red/orange end of Mountain Meadow B&J inkpad and tuxedo black for the brayering. The oriental lady is a stamp from Clarity Stamps, the grasses are from Elusive Images Eastern Grasses. The castle and cliffs aren't really a silhouette stamp (its from one of the new Elusive images stamps - Underwater Kingdom) and is actually a beautifully detailed stamp. I thought the shape would be perfect for this card so I stamped it in tuxedo black memento ink and coloured with a black promarker. It looked a bit too black so I added some highlights with a white gel pen.

The flowers are an old but well used freebie that came with Craft Stamper, stamped on the same card, embossed with gold EP and some black glitter in the centres.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Oh Alice: A sketch challenge with a twist - to break the rules and not use the sketch exactly, I've rotated the sketch for this card

Daring Cardmakers: Silhouettes

Gingersnaps GC61: Heat

Tanda Teaser: Oriental

Crazy 4 Challenges: Red, Black and White

Thanks for looking, bette get my skates on and get ready for work!!

Claire xx

Inchie by Inchie at Dragon's Dream Tag It On

Frankie's challenge at Dragon's Dream Tag it On is to use 'Inchies' on your tag this week, here's mine

I think my mojo has melted in the hot weather we've been having as I've really struggled for inspiration over the weekend. I've had a tip from my good friend Ann, who suggested to start with a few limited supplies. I took her advice and just used what was on my desk - some blank tags, stampbord, Elusive images themeplates (Curly Birds and Live out Loud) and distress inks (Vintage photo, spiced marmalade and antique linen)

I made an inky backgroun by swooshing all 3 inkpads on my craft mat and spraying with a little water. I swooshed the tag and the stampbord squares in the ink. While the tag was damp I stamped the large curly bird and the leafy flourish several times with vntage photo ink. Once it was dry I stamped the smaller bird and the bird cage with black , verafine and embossed with Tequila Sunrise EP. I also distressed the edges with the same inks.

I stamped the sanskrit proverb on the block of stampbord squares and then used one of the brids tails as a flourish around the edges. Each square was then triple embossed with clear UTEE and edged with a copper pentouch pen.

I've got some gorgoeus braid somewhere to finish the tag off but I've started sorting my ribbons etc out and they are all in a huge pile on my table! Its one of those jobs you just wish you'd  never started lol.

I'm entering this tag in the following challenges:

Rainbow Lady's Challenge: Triple Treasures - it was hot work triple embossing all those little squares for this weeks challenge lol

Sweet Stampin Challenge: Things with Wings

Creative Cottage: No cards allowed

Charizma Cardz: Watch the birdie

Thanks for looking, I hope your week has started well

Claire xx

White on white ...

Here's my card for this weeks challenge from Michelle Perkett Studio, quite a tricky one this week as the challenge is to use white on white with a coloured image. I've made a 6x6 aperture card and used Serena from Michelle's Etsy Store in the back of the card. Serena is coloured with promarkers and i've added some little dots of stickles. I've kept the front of the card white and added swirls and flourishes cut on my cricut from the Home Accents cart. I've also added some punched butterflies and flowers, white organza ribbon,  flat backed pearls, gems and little dots of diamond stickles.

I'm also entering Serena in the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts: Swirls and Pearls

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge: Apertures

Creative Card Crew: Die Cuts

I hope you've had a good weekend,

Thanks for popping in

Claire xx

Cowgirl's Sunday Stamp'en Challenge - Sherbert and Icecream colours

Hi, we've got a fab challenge over at Cowgirl's Sunday Stamp'en Challenge this week and a fab sponsor too!! Our challenge is Sherbert and Icecream and we're looking forward to seeing your creations based on your favourite colours of sherbert/icecream. The DT in Marion's posse were lucky enough to be able to use an image from our sponsor Delicious Doodles for this weeks challenge and I chose this gorgeous Delphinium

I bet you can't guess my ice cream flavour lol!! We have a farm shop nearby where they make the most gorgeous icecream in squillions of different yummy flavours, I don't have a favourite as i try and have something different each time - last time we went I tried 'Lavender and honey' flavour, omg it was gorgeous and the inspiration for the colours of this card.

I've coloured this beautiful delphinium with promarkers and decoupaged some of the flowers. I've also added some stickles and some black seed beads for the centres. The BP is from an Artylicious cd and the sentiment is a stamp from Elusive Images stamped with Eggplant versamagic ink. I've added some purple mirri silk card to mat and layer, some purple organza ribbon and little blingy ribbon slider.

As I mentioned, we are being sponsored by Delicious Doodles 

this week and the lucky winner will get 3 images from Delicious Doodles AND 2 from CJ at Cowgirl Up!! What a fab prize!!! The top 3 will also win one of CJs gorgeous images!

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges

Sisterhood of Crafters: Celebrate the Month (the sistahs want us to be inspired by one of the flowers of this month so my delphinium is perfect)

Your next stamp challenge: Flower Power

One Stop Craft Challenge: Monochromatic

Stamp something: Recipe - One DP, One image, I ribbon

CD Sunday: Kind thoughts

I do hope you''ll play along with our challenge this week, I can't wait to see your icecream inspired creations!! If you have a minute. pop along to the other DTs blogs, Rach's posse have used CJs images this week and there are some gorgeous cards to inspire you on the girls' blogs!!

Claire xx