A new challenge at Michelle Perkett Studios!!

Its Tuesday again so that means a brand new challenge over at Michelle Perkett Studios!! This week we have a fabulous theme - 'Make Your Own Background'. I love all things inky so I had loads of fun making this card which features the beautiful 'Guinevere' available from Michelle's Etsy Store

Guinevere is coloured with promarkers and has some red stickles added for a little extra bling. I've distressed the edges and layer her on some red card. I've used a black base card and then added the background I made using cosmic shimmer sprays and glimmer mists.

I love these kind of backgrounds as they are so easy to make and looks so beautiful and shimmery. I sprayed lava red and black gold sprays on some plain white card and then rubbed them together with a plastic bag to blend them .Don't use your fingers or you'll look like you've been killing a pig lol - I know cos i've done it :-)

I dried the background with a heatgun and then stamped a HOTP swirl stamp around the edges and embossed with Firecracker red DP. I added some red/black wired ribbon from my stash and made a couple of twisted ribbon flowers to finish the card off, I wanted to keep the layout pretty simple as I didn't want to cover the background lol.

 I'm really pleased with the flowers, if you want to have a go i've used the same method as Lynne uses to make her famous grungepaper roses here. I've loved making these roses over the last few months  and thought I'd have a play with some ribbon too.

I'm entering Guinevere in the following challenges:

Fab'n'Funky: go with the flow

Charisma Cardz: One for the girls

Cute Card thursday: Blast from the Past (I've used the no designer papers challenge from 27/5)

For Fun challenge: Anything Goes

Tanda Teaser: Ladies only

Paper Pretties: Clean and Simple

Craft Your Passion: Monochrome

Thanks for visiting today, I hope you can join our challenge this week, if you don't have any of Michelle's gorgeous images yet you can pick up a freebie over at Michelle's group on SNR, PCP or CDAC

Claire xx

Sweet pea stampers sketch

Hi, wow the weather is awful here, we've had loads more snow so I've been stuck in the house doing lots of crafting!! This is a card I made last week but didn't get chance to post it. I've used a gorgeous sweet pea stamp by Ching Chou Kuik and followed the sketch at Sweet Pea Stampers

I made the background using Midnight blue and meadow lush cosmic shimmer sprays - sprayed loads on to plain white card and then laid cling film on while it dried to give a beautiful cracked ice effect. The image is stamped on pearlescent card and coloured with promarkers. i've layered everything up on blue mirri card and added some ribbon from my stash. The paper flowers are from Jazzlins designs.

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

Gingerloft challenge: bows

Stampin with the Dragon: Fantasy

Delightful challenges: Flower Power

Top Tip Tuesday: Layer on Layer

Passion for Promarkers: Old and new (the stamp is fairly old, the cosmic shimmer sprays are new and the ribbon and mirri card have been in my stash for years)

Thanks for calling by today, I hope you are keeping warm and cosy. Before i go, here's a pic i took from the back door about 10 minutes ago

Blizzard or what?? If it carries on like this I don't think I'll be able to get to work tomorrow :-(

LOL

Claire xx

Holly, the Christmas Friendship Fairy

Hello from a very snowy corner of the UK, I thought we were going to escape the snow but it started snowing last night and we've got loads now!! I'm a big kid at heart so I love it although I won't be so happy on Monday when I have to get to work lol. Anyway today's card features the beautiful 'Holly, The Christmas Friendship fairy' from Michelle Perkett (hurry over to Michelle's store as not only is Holly on sale this week but Michelle has a fantastic 50% off sale over the weekend!!)

Holly is coloured with promarkers, she has a little flowersoft and prisma glitter on the fur trim around her dress. The background is made using a versamark resist technique - the elusive images snowflakes were stamped with versamark and then brayerd over with Waterfall big'n'juicy ink pad. The snowy hill is just glitter card torn to shape and then I added glitter to edge. I've used a Marianne die for the icicle border and Marianne flower dies to make the flowers (using the copier paper I'd used to get the excess ink from my brayer) and swirls. The beautiful blingy centres are from my friend Linda at Jazzlins Designs.

The sentiment is a stamp from Elusive images, stamped on vellum and then made into a little scroll using inked cocktail sticks.

I'm entering Holly in the following challenges:

Die cut Dreams Christmas Club: use a die cut (icicle border, flowers and swirls)

Papercutz: Anything goes

Totally Papercrafts: Untraditional Christmas

2 Sisters challenge: Non traditional Christmas

Creative Cottage: Untraditional Christmas

Simon Says: Let it snow

I love promarkers: Anything goes + sparkle

Crafty Sentiments: Christmas

Pixie Cottage: Sketch and/or Let it Snow (I've rotated the sketch)

Crafts and Me: Dreaming of a White Christmas (snowflakes)

Thanks for visiting today, hope you are warm and cosy. This cold weather is perfect for crafting so I've got my meltpot bubbling away to have a go at making some beads before settling down to watch the TV.

Don't forget you still have time to enter this weeks 'Happy Holidays'  challenge over at Michelle Perkett Studios, if you don't have any of Michelle's images you can pick up some gorgeous freebies over at Michelle's groups at PCP, SNR and CDAC.

Claire xx

Fun at Fairy Knoll, Family challenge

Its Friday so its time for a new challenge from Fun at Fairy Knoll and this week our theme is 'Family', i've made a card for my sister using this supercute little elf from Fairy Knoll

I've used bp from Dovecraft and pale blue glitter gard  punched with an EK success punch as a border. The main image is coloured with promarkers. the sky is chalked although it doesn't show up too well in the pic. Lots of crushed glass glitter for the snow and some die cut snowflakes which have again been glittered. The sentiment is stamped 3 times. directly on to the bp using pale blue brillaince ink.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Incy Wincy: blue and white

Spoon full of Sugar: anything goes

Scrapbook Sisters: Let it snow

Fresh Brewed: winter/Christmas

Stampin B's DT: Holiday Card

Thanks for visiting, I'm sooooo pleased its Friday. Work has been manic all week so I'm really glad the weekend is here. We seem to have missed all the snow so far but its so cold and  icy. I think its perfect weather for staying at home and crafting this weekend although I suppose I need to think about doing some Christmas shopping at some point lol

Claire xx

Let it snow

Hi, here's a card made with one of Michelle Perkett's new images 'Snow Family Singing'. Michelle has launched some new images featuring the snow family and they are adorable! You can find them in Michelle's store here. I've made a shaker card, I haven't made one of these for ages but I love making them and thought that it would be a fun card for my son.

Its an 8x8 card and the background is made by stamping a large snowflake stamp from Elusive images on white card, embossing with clear EP and then spraying with loads of cosmic shimmer mist in midnight blue and silver firework ink. I coloured the image with promarkers, painted the background with some more midnight blue shimmer spray and then cut a frame from white glitter card which I backed with acetate. I used silver and clear sparkly stars for the shaker element and attached the frame with shaker tape. I added some snowflakes and a couple of icicle borders, generously coated with crushed glass glitter. Here's a pic to try and show a little of the detail

 I added blue ribbon and clear gems to finish the card off

Jan and her team of talented mermaids at Michelle Perkett Studio's have a fab challenge this week, the theme is 'Happy Holidays' .I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Digital Tuesday: Let it Snow

One stitch at a time: Choose a season/event (Christmas for me!!)

Pollycraft: Feeling blue

Scrap it with a song: Winter Wonderland

Lollipop challenge: Christmas

Cards for men: Christmas

One stop craft challenge: Snow people

2 Sisters: Snowflakes

Paperplay: Let it snow

Papercutz: Lots of bling and Christmas

Delightful challenges: Baby its cold outside

Thanks for visiting today

Claire xx

Katie's recipe this week...

Good morning, brrrr its really cold here at the minute and we're told that the first snow is on its way - perfect weather for thinking about Christmas (and for staying in and crafting lol) so I've made a Christmas decoration for this weeks challenge from Cooking it up with Kate. Our recipe this week is :

Paint, Angelic/holidays/rhinestones

and we are sponsored by Pixie Dust who have some gorgeous images! I've used 'Sugarplum Fairy' and although she's not just for Christmas I thought she'd look great for a christmas decoration

I've used a bell shaped decor plate from Caroline's Rubber stamps. I love these decor plates, and the big ones are a great size for making Christmas decorations. I've painted the bell with acrylic paints and then sprayed with pearl glimmer mists for lots of sparkle. More sparkle with the snowflakes which are embossed with enchanted gold EP and have little blue rhinestones in the centres. The creamy/beige papers are from my stash, stamped with the same snowflakes and embossed this time in pale blue and then I distressed the edges with vintage photo distress ink.

Sugarplum fairy is coloured with promarkers and she has clear microbeads on her underskirt, to look like layers of net. She's cut out and layered up on a couple of shapes made with MS topiary punch.

I'm entering my Sugarplum Fairy in the following challenges

Colour Create: Robin's Egg, Seafoam green, cream

Paper Romance: Favourite things (ooh lots of them here, decorplates paint, embossing and of course promarkers and I love Christmas decorations)

Winter Wonderland: Make a decoration

Ai Factory: Bring on the Bling

Tuesday Taggers: Make a decoration

Papertake challenge: cut it out

Passion for Promarkers: Old and new (new image and decorplate, old paint and embossing powder from when I first started crafting)

Thanks for visiting today. As usual I'm counting down to the weekend (or a lottery win lol) so I can have some time off work. Hope you're having a good week and get some time to join our challenge this week

Claire xx

Blog hop winner!!

Woo hoo, congratulations Sammibug hunny, I  just picked your name out of the hat to win my prize from the Fairy Knoll blog hop!! You can pick a digi of your choice from Fairy Knoll, just email Brandi at 
fairyknoll(at)rocketmail(dot)com  to claim your prize!!

Claire xx

Lizzie with Licorice

Hi, its a really wet and miserable day here today and of course Monday is never my favourite day of the week lol. I wanted to share this card I made over the weekend using a Whiff of Joy stamp 'Lizzie with Licorice' that I got from Jazzlins Designs.

I really had loads of messy fun making this card, I decided to use the sketch from the latest Whiff of Joy Challenge and a monochomatic colour scheme for a change. I thought Lizzie would look great in these sepia tones as she has such a cute vintage look.

I made the bp by using vintage photo DI and cosmic shimmer bronze blush spray ink on plain white card. It has a lovely shimmer but the camera hasn't picked it up. Once it was dry I stamped Paula Pascual snowflakes and embossed with Antique linen distress EP. I coloured the doiley and lace with antique linen and vintage photo distress inks.

The image is painted with vintage photo distress ink and the snowflakes stamped are stamped and embossed with vintage photo DI and antique linen EP. I made the snowflakes using the scraps of leftover card and Marianne snowflake dies, they are glittered with clear holographic glitter and the centres are clear gems coloured with alcohol ink. To finish off I added some coffee coloured grosgrain ribbon and a little candy cane charm (peeping from under the snowflakes)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Everybody art challenge: Monochromatic brown

Stampavie and more : Monochromatic

Whiff of Joy: sketch

Simon Says: Sparkle

FRosted Designs: Distressing

Fussy and Fancy: Christmas but no red/green

Totally Gorjuss: Christmas, not traditional colours

Crafty Emma's Challenges:  Lovely Lace

Allsorts: Lace, ribbon, Charm

Thanks for calling by, better get back to work now I  suppose ;-)

Claire xx

Lovely in Lilac

Hi, my weekend seems to be going far too quickly. It'll be Monday morning before I know it but I've managed to make another couple of Christmas cards. This one is for the 'Lovely in Lilac' challenge at Bah Humbug

I had to use this gorgeous purple and gold card from Hunky Dory for this card and thought it would be a great background for some baubles made with Paula Pascaul stamps. I've just got these from the lovely Linda at Jazzlins Designs and they are FAB! I think they are going to be used again and again.

I've stamped a variety of the stamps to make the baubles, they are all embossed with gold EP and inked with Dusty Concorde DT. I just added some scraps of gold ribbon to make them into baubles for a really quick card.

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

Delicious Doodles: Anything goes

Daring Cardmakers: We three... baubles (lol)

Crazy 4 Challenges: Add circles

Southern Girls: Favourite Colour

Thanks for visiting. I'm going to have a lazy Sunday afternoon with a piece of homemade Rocky Road and my feet up in front of the TV

Claire xx

Woofie's first Christmas

Hi, Woofie is back with another Christmas card, this time he's waiting to open all his presents! Woofie is one of a series of new images from Michelle Perkett, Michelle is really on a roll at the minute and has some amazing new images in her Etsy Shop, including Woofie and a supercute snowfamily.

I think this image is gorgeous, there's so much detail I decided to keep the card pretty simple. I coloured the image with promarkers, added some stickles to the baubles, a little white flowersoft  to Woofies hat and matted the image on some red card. The sentiment comes with the image, i used that for the base of the easel card, again matted on some red card and added some little buttons in the corners. I added a red organza bow to finish off.

I'm entering Woofie in the following challenges:

Fairy Fun Friday: buttons and bows

Die cut dreams Chistmas: anything Christmas

Hodge Podge Shop: anything goes

Top Tip Tuesday: buttons

Tuesday Throwdown: buttons and bows

Thanks for visiting today. Don't forget you still have time to join in our challenge at Michelle Perkett Studios this week, where our theme is 'Lets be thankful'

Claire xx

Thankful at Fairy Knoll

Hi, Friday at last, I'm so thankful for the weekend this week lol. The theme for our new challenge over at Fun at Fairy Knoll this week is 'Thankful'

I've used this gorgeous pumpkin digistamp available at the Fairy Knoll store for this card

The image is coloured with promarkers and triple embossed. I've used kraft card for the base and recycled the packaging from some prima flowers to mat the pumpkins on. I thought the die cut tag was too pretty to throw away so I distressed the edges with vintage photo DI and stuck the bow over the writing lol.

I'm entering this card in the following challenge

Crazy Challenge: Thankyou/thanksgiving

Sisterhood of Crafters: Thankful/Thanksgiving

For Fun: Thanks or thankgiving

Raise the Bar: Grateful

Thanks for visiting today, have a good weekend

Claire xx

Claire xx

A new challenge at Crafty Ann's

Friday at last and its time for another challenge from Crafty Ann's Challenge, here's my DT card which uses Anns' beautiful image 'Bridge over stream' available in Crafty Ann's Shop

The challenge this time is a photo inspiration and we want you to take inspiration from this beautiful photo

Isn't it a gorgeous pic?  You don't have to create a scene though, you could take your ideas from the colours, the flowers ... whatever inspires you.

As soon as I saw the photo I knew which image I wanted to use, I also wanted to brayer the scene but braying card won't go through my printer so I had to get my thinking cap on. I had a bit of a breakthrough and I managed to brayer the scene in the end!! I was such a happy bunny lol

I'm planning a tutorial but the weather has been that bad it hasn't stayed light long enough to get some decent pics but I'll get it done as soon as I can. Once I'd brayered the scene, I added some shading with promarkers. The image is matted on some card stamped with a swirly stamp and to finish off I added some paper flowers and coloured some gems with alcohol ink for their centres.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Hodge Podge Shop: Anything goes

Gingerloft: The Great Outdoors

Thanks for calling by, I certainly don't feel like venturing out in the great outdoors today as the weather here is nothing like the lovely pic Ann has chosen to inspire us. I'm looking forward to seeing your creations!

Claire xx

Crafty Ann DT Winner!!

We've been celebrating Crafty Ann's Challenge blogaversary and all the DT blogs had a little prize for one lovely blogger leaving a comment for our last challenge cards. I've picked a name out of the hat and the lucky winner  from my blog is.......

Juls (The Gliltter Chick)

Congratulations Juls, you've won your choice of a digi stamp or precoloured sheet at Crafty Ann's

 Just email Ann at craftyann@hotmail.co.uk to claim your prize

Claire xx

A couple more Christmas cards

Hi there, here's a couple more Christmas cards. This first one is for this weeks challenge at Bah humbug where the theme is Rudolph- Reindeer, i've used this stamp which i've had for years and kind of forgot I had. I think its from Hampton Art Stamps and i love it so I'm really pleased I found it again

He's coloured with promarkers and has a little judikins prisma glitter added to his fur. His red nose and eyes are embossed with clear EP to give them a little shine. BPs are from Dovecraft apart from the gingham paper which is from Raspberry Road Designs. To finish off i've added some ribbon from my stash and a jingle bell. I'm entering Rudolph in the following challenges:

Oldie but a Goodie: Glitter

Fab'n'Funky: Forget me not (use an old stamp)

Ooh La La: Rudolph

Stamptacular Sunday: Sketch

Sorry about the dreadful pic of this second card, too much mica and no daylight again lol. I'm starting to feel like an owl with these days. I've used a sweet pea stamp for this card, coloured with promarkers and sakura stardust pens

I'm really pleased with the background for this card, the colours aren't showing true on the pic though. I was watching a craft demo on TV the other day and they were talking about Micaboss powder and I remembered i had some Stickums powder somewhere. I'd never used it with mica powder but if you have some in your stash give it a try and the results are goregous!! Loads more sparkly and shimmery than just using versamark.

I stamped some black card with a Tim Holtz snowflake stamp and versamark, added the Stickums powder and heating till it went shiny and then dusted the mica powders over it. I just added a little red organza ribbon and made a little tag stamped with an Elusive images greeting embossed in firecracker red EP

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

Sweet pea Stampers: Embossing wet or dry

Crafty Purple Frog: Time for you to sparkle (sneaking in at the last minute here lol)

Simon Says: Sparkle

Thanks for visiting, hope you are having a good week

Claire xx

Blog hop at Fairy Knoll!!

Hi there, today is the Fairy Knoll Blog Hop!! We're celebrating the lauch of some gorgeous winter images. There are prizes on all the DT girls blogs so make sure you leave them a lovely comment to be in with a chance of winning one of the new stamps . Thats not all though, one lucky winner will get this fantastic prize of all 9 new digi stamps in Brandi's Winter Collection

If you've arrived from Brandi's fab blog  then you're on the right track, if not hop along to our challenge blog 'Fun at Fairy Knoll'  where the fun starts!! You've got plenty of time to join in though as the hop runs until Sunday!!

 I've used one of Brandi's lovely digistamps 'Christmas Gift Fairy' to make this easel card

The image is coloured with promarkers and I've added white flowersoft  and prisma glitter to the trim on her Santa Dress. The bps are from my stash as are the stickers. I love that little hessian poinsettia basket!!

Your next stop on our blog hop is my  lovely teamie Georgia's blog but don't forget to leave a comment here to be in with a chance to win one of Brandi's beautiful digi stamps!!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

I did it creations: Traditional Christmas colours

Craft your days away: Christmas trees

Sarah Hurley: Easel cards

Thanks for calling by, have fun hopping!!

Claire xx

Family, gold, punches

Hi, time for a new challenge at Cooking it up with Katie, this week we are sponsored by Fairy Knoll and our challenge is to use these ingredients in your card: Gold, punches and family. I've used some gorgeous stamps from Whiff of Joy for this sidestep card.

The images are all coloured with promarkers and cut out. I made the background panels by dotting glossy card with a versamark pen for stars and brayering with blue and then black dye inks. The sentiment is also from Whiff of Joy, stamped and gold embossed on a creative acrylic tag and then attached to some brayered card with glossy accents. I added a gold punched border and a couple of gold bows to finish off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Creative inspirations: Christmas/winter

Cute Card Thursday: Anything goes

Thanks for visiting today,

Claire

Things to be thankful for

Hi there, its time for a new challenge at Michelle Perkett Studios!! Our challenge this week is 'Things to be thankful for',  I decided to make a card using and the Amore Fairy (you can find her in Michelle's Etsy Store) and a beautiful foiled sentiment I've had in my stash for ages.

The image is coloured with promarkers and I added some chalk to the background and clear sparkle EP to her wings. She is matted on some gold mirri card as is the lovely rose bp which is from Joanna Sheen. The square doiley is a stamp from Joanna Sheen, embossed in gold on pink vellum. I've added some flowers, lace ribbon and a pin made with a headpin and beads from my stash. The sentiment reads

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy.

they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom'

Its is sprayed with 'Pink Ink' glimmer mist and again matted on some gold card. I thought these words were perfect for card for one of my dear friends as she really makes my soul blossom!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Paper Sundaes: Ribbon and Embossing

One Stitch at a time: Your favourite colour (pink)

Crafty Emma: Think Pink

Paperplay: Ribbon, lace, flowers

Digital Tuesday: Anything with Wings

Thanks for visiting, hope you can join our challenge this week

Claire xx

Woofie's First Christmas

Hi there,  another Christmas card today, this time though I've used a gorgeous new image from Michelle Perkett, isn't Woofie adorable? Michelle has  launched 3 new images featuring our furry friend Woofie with a fantastic party at her group at CDAC. You'll be able to find Woofie in Michelle's Etsy Store

I've coloured Woofie and the background with promarkers and edged the image with a rocket red brilliance inkpad. I've added puffy paint to the snowflakes, crushed glass glitter to the snow and white flowersoft to Woofie's hat.

 The bps are from Trimcraft 'Let it Snow' pad and again I've edged them with brilliance ink. The sentiment is fab isn't it? It comes with another of Michelles gorgeous images so pop over to her shop and check them out. These fab new images are going to be perfect for cards for anyone who loves animals.

I've also made these little doggy treat bags for my two dogs for Christmas, the image is a fantastic freebie from Michelle !!

I'm entering my projects in the following challenges:

Crafts and Me: Glitter

Creative Belli: Old (i've had my puffy paint for about 5 years lol), new (Woofie), borrowed (doggy treat idea) and blue (bps and background)

Cute card Thursday: Anything goes

Sarah Hurley: Easel Card

I love Promarkers: Icy Colours

Digistamps 4 Joy: Christmas song/poem etc (White Christmas)

Digital Tuesday: Never Used stash and a digi (I never use puffy paint and now i can remember why - it came up like icing peaks when i heated it and I had to squash them flat with an acrylic block lol)

The Crafty Pad: Christmas Sparkle

Paper Sundaes: blue and ribbon

Thanks for visiting,

Claire xx

CD Sunday, Natural World

I've made the most of my week off and managed to enter this weeks challenge over at CD Sunday , where the challenge is 'Natural World' this week. I haven't had chance to enter for a few weeks but I've had this card in my head for a while so this was a great opportunity. I've used an image and backing papers from Joanna Sheen's cd 'Enchanted Christmas', its pretty appropriate as Joanna is sponsoring the challenge this week.

The bps are al edged in gold EP. The main image is triple embossed and then cracked to distress it. I rubbed some icicle stickles into the cracks for some extra icy sparkle. I forgot to edge the image with gold until I'd stuck it to the card so I added a line of icicle stickles around the edge.

The mistletoe embellies are stamps from Joanna Sheen, coloured with sakura pens and cut out (you don't want to know how long those little blighters took to cut out lol)

I added a white organza bow and some snowflakes. I made the snowflakes using vellum and a Marianne die (from Jazzlins Designs) and sprayed them with gold firework ink which gives them a lovely crinkled effect, layered them up and added some irridescent beads.

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

Fussy and Fancy Friday: Sketch

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge: Sparkle and Shine

Sweet Stampin Challenge: Snowflakes

Die Cut dreams Christmas: Snowflakes

Wags'n'Whiskers Challenge: Acetate, tissue or vellum

Paper Pretties: embossing

Delightful Challenges: Glitter it up

Creative Cottage: someone special at Christmas

Little Red Wagon: in 3's (3 snowflakes)

Thanks for visiting

Claire xx

Changing Leaves at Fairy Knoll

Good morning, Friday again so its time for another great challenge at Fun at Fairy Knoll! Our challenge this week is 'changing leaves', a really appropriate theme for this time of year. Its been blowing a gale here all week so there have been plenty of falling leaves for inspiration. I've used one of Brandi's gorgeous new images 'Autumn Fairy' for this card. You can find her and lots more beautiful Fairy Knoll images here

I've coloured the image with promarkers and distressed with Vintage Photo DI. The bps are from my scrap box and they've been distressed with the same ink. I've added  some paper rose from Wild Orchid Crafts and made a litlle beaded 'dangle' with some beads from my stash. To finish off i've added some sepia flat back gems and a birthday sentiment from Elusive Images.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges

Sketch Saturday: I've rotated this weeks sketch

Crafty Emma's Challenge: Forever Autumn

2 Sisters challenge: birthdays

Lollipop Crafts: birthdays

I hope you're going to join us for some Fun at Fairy Knoll this week

Claire xx

A knew it was a mistake....

I should have known better than to make a card with starburst stains, glitter card and mirri card - a recipe for photographic disaster lol! I wanted to make something a bit different for my brother-in-law's Christmas card this year, he's a real 'blokey bloke' so cute is out of the question and i thought that by using Christmas colours of Starburst Stains on black card i'd get something suitable for a men's card. I used Sparkle and Sprinkle 'Sparkle' EP and Tim Holtz snowflakes and reindeer stamps to make a resist for the starburst stains background.

Sorry for the dodgy photo, I did my best honest :-). i'd love to be able to get a decent photo of this card as I'm really pleased with the colours and the shimmery effect in real life but this is the best pic i can get so you'll have to use your imagination ;-)

The starburst stains i used are poinsettia red gold (with a little red mica powder mixed in as the mica in this ink is gold), winter jasmine gold and cathederal pines green. I've used black/green glitter card and gold mirri card for matting and layering. The black and gold ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons. As my BIL is a bit of a grumpy old man, I used a 'Tis the season to be jolly' sentiment with the same EP and starburst stains.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

The Stampman: anything goes Christmas

Simon Says Stamp and Show: Your fav Tim Holtz stamp (I love both the reindeer and the snowflakes)

Cards for Men: Animals

Anything Goes Challenge: Embossing

Thanks for calling by, hope you are keeping warm and cosy. Its terrible weather here in the UK so I'm staying in and crafting all day :-) I've been messing around with my new melting pot this morning (messing being the operative word here lol) and had a great time making some beads. You don't want to see the mess I've made  ;-)

Claire

Fab Candy at Jazzlins!!

Pop over to Jazzlins Designs and check out Linda's FAB blog candy!! Linda is a lovely lady and has some fab goodies in her shop, I wish i lived near enough to visit but as Linda does such a brilliant mail order service (and great prices too) I'm  a happy crafter!!

 Pop over to Jazzlins Designs and find out how you can win some gorgeous Sweet Pea Blog Candy!!

Claire xx

Katie's recipe this week....

Wednesday already so it's time for a new recipe at Cooking it up with Katie, we've got a fab sponsor again this week and our lucky winner will receive a prize from Robyn's Fetish! I've used this adorable image from our sponsor  to make my card this week, the ingredients for Katie's recipe are : Food/Beverage, Tag, Sentiment and I've used them to cook up a Christmas recipe.

The image is coloured with promarkers and the bowl has been triple embossed to make it look like china. I've added a die cut circle, edged with gold EP and a doily. The bp is from Raspberry Road Designs. I cuttlebugged two squares of red card and then swiped with a versamark ink pad and embossed with gold again. To finish off I added some gorgeous gingerbread man ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, some red gems and a tag stamped with an Elusive Images Christmas sentiment.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

C.R.A.F.T: Dry embossing

Stamp Something: Sketch

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge: Red and Gold

One stop craft Challenge: embossing

Craft your passion: double anything (I've used 2 embossed squares)

For Fun challenge: dry embossing

Thanks for visiting today, I hope you're going to cook up something with Katie's recipe this week. It doesn't have to be a Christmas card but I seem to be on a roll making them lately

Claire xx

Bundled up Cooper!

Hi again, my second post today, the weather has been so bad its perfect for staying indoors and crafting. A couple of weeks ago i was lucky enough to win this stamp from Paper Pretties, he's called 'Bundled up Cooper and I love him, hes sooooo cute! I've made 2 cards with him today, the first is following this weeks challenge sketch at Paper Pretties

Cooper and the background are coloured with promarkers and some sakura clear stardust for highlights, The bp is from Dovecraft. I added a circle of white card glittered with judkins prisma glitter, some die cut snowflakes (glittered with the same glitter) and some white organza ribbon with a silver edge. The border is vellum, punched with a MS punch and stamped with Tim Holtz snowflakes and white brilliance ink. To finish off I added a couple of snowflake brads and a little bow from narrow white organza ribbon. I'm also entering this one in the following challenges

For Fun: Use Metal (snowflake brads)

If the shoe fits : Feeling blue

The Crafty Pad: At least one circle and 2 ribbons

One Stitch at a time: winter wonderland

A Spoonfull of Sugar: Snowflakes

I've used my promarkers again for this card and added some pale aqua card punched with a MS punch and some white/silver ribbon. To finish off I added more die cut and glittered snowflakes. I've used this weeks sketch from Card Positioning Systems for the layout. I'm also entering this card in this weeks challenge from Paper Sundaes where the theme is 'Let it Snow'. The sentiment that comes with Cooper was perfect for this theme. I just stamped it on the cardstock, coloured over it with promarkers and added some white dots with a white gel pen. I'm also entering this card in this weeks challenge over at My Partner in Crafting Crime where the theme is 'Marker Madness'

Thanks for calling by, hope you are having a good week and keeping warm. Its freezing here in the UK at the minute so its a good job Cooper is 'Bundled up' today lol

Claire xx