Anything goes at Fun at Fairy Knoll

New Years Eve already! I can't believe how quickly this year has gone by. No wild parties for me tonight, a couple of drinks and an evening in front of the fire sounds a better idea. OMG I must be getting old lol. Anyway my last card for this year is my DT card for Fairy Knoll and i've used this supercute image from Brandi, isn't she adorable?? I couldn't wait til next Christmas to use her lol, you can find her and some more fabulous freebies here ! Our theme for this weeks challenge at Fun at Fairy Knoll is 'Anything Goes' so its a nice easy one again

The image is coloured with promarkers and cut with my new favourite nestie. I've used a bp from papermania and distressed the edges of the bp and the image with rose red versacolour ink. The red border is cut with an EK success punch and I've added some red stickles to the image and the corners of the card.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Fab'n'Funky: quick and easy does it

Pixie Cottage: Sketch and/or party/celebration (I'm still celebrating Christmas lol)

Stampavie and More: Red

My time to craft: Brand Spanking New (new image and new nestie)

The Crafty Pad: Anything goes

Gingerloft Challenge: Distressing

Karber Christmas Challenge: Christmas card with a digi

Paper Sundaes: Cut it out

Thanks for calling by, I hope you all have a very Happy New Year

Claire xx

Crafty Ann's challenge and a freebie

Where did Christmas go? This week has just flown by and with the New Year we have a fantastic new challenge over at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog. Ann has a gorgeous new year treat for everyone - this beautiful digi stamp! Make sure you pop over to the challenge blog and grab your freebie as its only on offer for the duration of the challenge. The theme this fortnight is

'Same but Different' and if you are familiar with Ann's digistamps you'll recognise the scene in this gorgeous faberge egg stamp! You must use Anns' lovely freebie to enter this weeks challenge although you can use whatever colours, embellies, layout you want.

I've printed the digi on to encaustic art card and brayered the scene then added colour with promarkers to the seats and the tree and to deepen the colour of the sea at the horizon. The sun is masked and inked with a shaving brush as I wanted to create a more diffused effect. The faberge egg is cut out and triple embossed to create an enamel effect although as usual my photo doesn't show it very well. The bp is from Crafty Ann's Funky collection . I was loving  the 'same but different' theme so  I've die cut some shink plastic using labels 10 nestie and chalked the back to mirror the effect of the bp (I think you can get printable shrink but i dont have any), the sentiment is an Elusive Images stamp. I love this sentiment, its one of my all time favourites, its hard to see on the pic but it reads 'Make a wish and unwrap a beautiful day'. I added a big organza bow and attached the shrink plastic charm with jump rings.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Paper Pretties: RING in the New Year (I've used jump rings to attach my little shinkie)

Digital Tuesday: Anything goes

Party Time Tuesday: Anything goes Birthday Card

Paper Sundaes: Cut it Out

Daring Cardmakers: On the beach

Southern Girls: Anything goes

Thanks for looking, I can't wait to see what you're all going to create with Crafty Ann's wonderful freebie. Happy New Year to you all, I hope 2011 will be good to you

Claire xx

Digis with Attitude

I'm still in Christmas crafting mode,  this card was made for my son's girlfriend, using this cute image from Digi's with Attitude called 'Santa's Helper'.

I've used red card and ribbon from my stash, the bps are from Papermania (I didn't think I'd use them but I really like them with this image). The paper poinsettias are also from my stash and are layered up with some yellow seed beads in the centres. Santa's Helper is coloured with promarkers and has some judikins prisma glitter added to the fur trim on her dress and boots. I'm really loving this nestie (labels 10) at the minute, I think I'll have to have a play with some others for a change lol.

I'm entering Santa's Helper in the following challenges:

Digi's with Attitude: Anything Christmas

Stampavie and More: Red

Creative Belli: Christmas

Anything goes Challenge: C is for ..... Christmas

A spoonfull of sugar: Christmas

Thanks for popping by today, hope you are having a good one :-)

Claire xx

Happy New Year from Michelle Perkett Studios

Good morning, we have a new challenge at Michelle Perkett Studio today and our theme is 'Happy New Year'. The DT have all used this beautiful image, 'Fairy Bridesmaid' from Michelle's Etsy Store for our cards, isn't she perfect for New Year too?

As usual I've coloured the image with promarkers, then used nesties labels 10 to cut it out and distress with rose red versacolour ink. I've also added a layer of mustard seed distress EP around the edge, it s a lovely creamy gold colour.

The bp is printed from a cd that came with Complete Cardmaking magazine last Christmas and i've added some faux stitching with a sakura glaze pen and matted it on red glitter card. I've added some red gems, a gold padded star and some bargain ribbon (99p for 4m in the Christmas department at Wilkinsons). The 'Happy New Year' ticket is from Crafty Ann's.

I'm entering 'Fairy Bridesmaid' in the following challenges:

CD Sunday: In Stitches

Aly's Sunday Challenge: Anything goes

The Crafty Pad: Anything goes

I did it Creations: In with the New

Catch the Bug: :New Year

C.R.A.F.T challenge: New Year

Delightful Challenges: New Year

Paper Playtime: New Year

Ooh La La: A toast to 2011

Thanks for visiting today. I hope you're enjoying the holidays. I've been having a wonderful time but its back to work tomorrow. I'd better make the most of today, lots of chocolate, watch some TV and try and fit in some crafting too :-)

Claire xx

Snowmen

Hi there everyone, why is it when you have a day off work you still get up early? I love the week between Christmas and New Year, its always seems so relaxed after the hectic run up to Christmas.   I wanted to share this card today which I made using my favourite snow people (and animals) stamps from Joanna Sheen for the Gingersnap Creations GC81 Challenge where the theme is snow people.

I stamped and masked the dog and mouse before stamping Mr And Mrs Snowman and added a little colour with promarkers, some bling with white flowersoft and prisma glitter and glossy accents to everyone's black noses. Once the glitter and glossy accents were dry I dusted some blue ink around the edges very lightly with a shaving brush. The image and sentiment are matted and layered onto pastel blue and pastel green card, The sentiment is a stamp from Elusive Images, boooo hoooo I'm so sad that they are no longer trading but hopefully it won't be long before Glenda is up and running with some new stamps again.

I've added another layer of white card, edged with crushed glass glitter, some white punched snowflakes, blue gems and blue ribbon. The layout is a sketch from Mojo Monday a few weeks ago but of course I didn't  get the card finished in time lol.

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

Allsorts: Free and easy, anything goes

Stamptacular Sunday challenge: Snow much fun

Wags'n'whiskers: Snowflakes

Corrosive Challenge: Bling it on

One Stitch at a time: Anything goes

Craft Your Days Away: Punch it out

Totally Gorjuss: for Someone Special ( this was for my hubby)

Crafty Emma's Challenge: Anything goes

A spoonfull of Sugar: christmas card

Thanks for calling by today. I hope you've had a good Christmas with lots of lovely crafty treats!!

Claire xx

Merry Christmas!!

Hi there, just a quick post to wish all my blogging buddies a very Merry Christmas, I hope you all have a very happy and peaceful Christmas (and Santa brings lots of Crafting goodies too lol)
I've made so many good friends since I started my blog, I'd like to thank you all for your inspiration and support. I would love to have sent you all a card but as I can't here's one for you :-)

I won't go into detail as I have a HUGE turkey waiting to go in the oven - the image is 'Winter Godess' from Michelle Perkett and the background is made with loads of midnight blue cosmic shimmer mist.

 We're planning a quiet day at home although my son's friend is joining us for lunch so if they have a drink or two it may not be that quiet lol. We have family coming for tea and then this evening I'll be glued to the TV watching Dr Who!!

I hope that you can all have a wonderful Christmas Day whatever you are doing.

Claire xx

Anything goes at Fairy Knoll

Hi there, are you all organised for Christmas? I can't believe Christmas Eve is here already!! I've been so disorganised this year but at last the pressies are wrapped, the shopping is done and all I have to do today is prepare for Christmas dinner tomorrow and then relax with a mince pie and a  large glass of falling down water (or two!!) tonight.

Today's card is my DT card for this weeks challenge from Fun at Fairy Knoll, where the theme is 'Anything Goes'. I've used 'Swimwear Glamour Girl' from Fairy Knoll for my card. Brandi has designed the most gorgeous freebie digi stamp so make sure you pop over to Fairy Knoll and check it out.

I've coloured the image with promarkers as usual and raided my scrap box for the blue gingham card and red/blue card I've used. The ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons and the little buttons are from the Stampman.

I've used this weeks sketch from Sketch Saturday for the layout as the triangle kind of reminded me of a sail and I thought it would be perfect for this image. The sentiment stamp is from Elusive Images.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments: Anything goes

Digi Doodle Shops Best: Anything goes

Moving along with the Times: Anything goes but no Christmas cards

Digistamps 4 Joy: Anything goes

Paper Pretties: Birthday cards

Digital Tuesday: Let's Celebrate

Papertake: Anything goes

Passion for Promarkers: anything goes

Thanks for visiting today

Claire xx

Winter

Hi there, I'm finally feeling better after hurting my back so hopefully I'll be able to get the rest of my Christmas shopping organised tomorrow. Its been sooooooo cold here, i've never known a winter like it. Last night the temperature was -18 degrees!!! I thought this gorgeous image was perfect for this time of year, its 'Winter' from Michelle Perkett (you can find her here in Michelle's store). Unfortunately I don't look quite this glamourous in the cold (a red nose and bobble hat isn't going to start a new trend lol)

I coloured 'Winter' with promarkers and then embossed with icicles on her hair with clear sparkle EP and added lots of different colours stickles. It was a bit of a pest to do as I had to do one colour and let it dry before the next as i wanted to keep the colours separate. I'm really pleased with the effect though, in real life it is sooooooo sparkly!! I didn't want to add to much in the way of embellies with all the stickles so I added some crushed glass glitter around the image and to the die cut icicle border.

I'm entering Winter in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Cards: Sparkle and Shine

Crazy Challenge: Let it Snow

Paper Playtime: Christmas

One stitch at a time: anything goes

Craft your days away: punches or diecuts

Sew Many Cards: winter

Stampin with the Dragon: make it sparkle

Passion for promarkers: Anything goes mega Christmas challenge

Thanks for visiting today. Jan and her mermaids have a fab new challenge over at Michelle Perkett Studios today, the theme is 'Let it Snow'. If you don't have any of Michelle's images pop over to her groups on CDAC, PCP and SNR and grab one of the gorgeous freebie images!!

We have more snow on the way over the next few days but the nice man from Tesco has just delivered all my food shopping so if we're snowed in over Christmas I can eat chocolate and craft lol.

Claire xx

Fancy a swap?? Then join our new LIIU swap group

Suzanne organised a swap over at LIIU and as it proved so popular, she  has started a Let's Ink It Up Swap group and our first swap is going to be a a mini flip book!!

I love swaps, they are always such fun and can't wait to take part. If you fancy joining in, pop over to the Swap Group and find out more about it.

Sorry I've been so quiet on the blogging front lately, with a bad back and work I haven't been able to do a lot but hopefully I'll be back in action before long and will have a card to share later

Claire xx

Anything goes at Crafty Ann's

Hi, where have the last 2 weeks gone? I can't believe its time for a new challenge at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog!! Our theme this week is an easy one 'Anything Goes' and as a change from all those winter and Christmas cards, I've used Crafty Ann's gorgeous Tropical Beach digi (available from Crafty Ann's Shop)

I've used one of Crafty Ann's woodgrain papers for the bp and an embossed woodgrain paper from my stash. The digi image has been brayered using  Big&Juicy ink and then colour added with promarkers to the palm tree, loungers and the parasol.

I was hoping to do a tutorial for brayering a digi and have started it but between the weather, work being a nightmare and a bad back I still haven't finished it so hopefully I'll get chance over Christmas/New Year.

I've added some flowers, shells and twine to my stash to finish off.

I love this beach scene, wouldn't it be nice to be laid on the beach now instead of waiting for the next lot of snow to arrive? Ah well not long till summer I suppose lol

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Ai Factory: Anything goes

Stamps R us: Anything goes

Passion 4 Promarkers: Anythiing Goes

Thanks for calling by,

Claire xx

Fun at Fairy Knoll!!

Hi there, thank goodness its almost the weekend! I've been so busy at work I feel like I'm in a time warp - it isn't really 1 week till Christmas is it???? I'm going to have to hope Santa sends some of his elves to help me get organised lol. Anyway today we have a new challenge at Fun at Fairy Knoll and this week our theme is Christmas/Winter. I've used the supercute Peppermint Patti for my card this week (you can find her here)

Sorry about the dreadful pic, I haven't seen any daylight this week as I've been having some long days at work so i've had to scan poor Patti I've used a card blank with embossed snowflakes (can't see them in the pic though) and coloured Patti with promarkers and added some sakura stardust highlight to Patti and her yummy peppermint. She's matted on some pale blue card and the sentiment is stamped on an oval, i glittered the edge and added a little blue bow to finish off.

I'm entering Patti in the following challenges

Sew Many Cards: Winter

Dutch Dare: Winter

Creative Card Crew: Anything goes

Some odd girl: 2 types of bling (glitter and sakura stardust pen)

Sparkles challenge: Christmas

Thanks for visiting today, we are forecast more snow over the weekend and we've still got some of the last lot hanging around! I hope the snow isn't too bad this time as I'm going to have to get some Christmas shopping done soon lol

Claire xx

Whats your favourite?

Hi there, its time for a new challenge from Cooking it up with Katie, this week we want to see Ribbon, brads and your favourite technique!

We have a fab sponsor as usual, our lucky winner will recieve a prize from Robyn's Fetish, I've used this beautiful fairy and bp from Robyn's fetish for my card and used my favourite technique which is brayering for the window background.

I coloured the fairy with promarkers (another favourite technique for me) and added some judikins prisma glitter. I've used a big and juicy waterfall inkpad for the background, masked the moon and hills, stamped a couple of birds and added some clouds using London Fog memento ink and cotton wool I cut the window shape from white card and added a couple of silver brads for the handles and layered it over the scene with foam pads. To finish off I added a blue bow and some flowersoft for snow in the corners of the windows.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Bee Crafty: Winter/christmas without traditional Christmas images

Ellephantastic: Christmas/Winter

Stamp Scrap and Doodle: Monochromatic

Totally Gorjuss: Snow

Alphabet challenge: G is for glitter

Daring Cardmakers: Snow much fun

Stampin with the Dragon: Make is sparkle

Thanks for visiting today, I can't wait to see what your favourite technique is!

Sorry I haven't been a bad blogger lately, I haven't had much chance for blog hopping as my back is still stopping me from spending much time at the computer and work is getting in the way of any crafting. Hopefully normal service will be resumed before too much longer

Claire xx

A christmas challenge at MPS

Hi,sorry I've been a bit quiet lately, I'm still having problems with my back but I think its getting a bit better now. Its  time for another challenge at Michelle Perkett Studios and this week our theme is 'Christmas'. For my DT card, I've used the beautiful image 'Tia, the Holiday Fairy' from Michelle's etsy store. Tia is a real stunner isn't she? She could be Michelle's lovely poinsettia fairy's little sis lol.

I've used a bp from dovecraft and layered Tia on a red circle (marianne die) and a cream square punched with MS topiary punches. I've added some cream lace, red organza and velvet ribbon, some flowers from my stash (aren't those red floradoodles gorgeous??i've had them for years but thought Tia deserved them lol) and some die cut swirls.

To finish the card off I've added red gems and stamped a sentiment onto the card stock and embossed with gold ep. The sentiment reads 'Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas' . Its actually looking less like Christmas here as the snow is going now although we are expecting some more this week.

I'm entering Tia in the following challenges:

Ai Factory: Holiday/Christmas

Creative Belli: Christmas

By the cute and girly: Children

Paper Pretties: Punches

Stampavie and more: Christmas

Die cut Dreams: Fairies

Cute card thursday: Floral Frenzy

Flutter by Wednesday: open challenge + butterfly angel, fairy

C.R.A.F.T Challenge: colour inspiration

Passion for Promarkers: anything goes

Thanks for visiting today.

Claire xx

A birthday card for a change

Hi there, a quick post from me today as i've slipped on some ice and pulled my back (ouch) so i can't sit at the computer for too long. This weeks challenge at Michelle Perkett Studio is 'Once Upon a time' and I've used the lovely 'Alice' (from Michelle's etsy store) for my card, Alice is this weeks spotlight image so you can get her at a sale price!!

I've used a gingham bp from Joanna Sheen, lots of blue gems and some blue satin ribbon from my stash. The image is coloured with promarkers apart from the cup which I coloured with a blue sakura glaze pen. I stamped a HOTP swirl around the edge of the image and embossed it with sparkly blue EP and then distressed with blue ink. The sentiment is also stamped and embossed with blue and the blue rose is from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I'm entering Alice in the following challenges:

Top Tip Tuesday: Use ribbon

Digi's with Attitude: Anything goes + use a digi

Sew Many Cards: Flowers

Stamp something: Digi day

Delightful challenges: Embossing

Hodge Podge Shop: Birthday cards

Karber Weekly : Fantasy + a digi

Thanks for visiting today, hope you have a good weekend. I'm planning a very lazy one watching Strictly and X factor. The snow is really melting quickly here now but its so slippery out I won't be going further than my craft room

Claire xx

Frosty Fun at Fairy Knoll

Friday again so its time for some Fun at Fairy Knoll, this week our challenge is 'Frosty' and I've used this supercute image 'Winter Wonderland' from the lovely Brandi at Fairy Knoll for my card.

I've used bps from my scrap box for this card, they were printed from a freebie cd with a magazine last Christmas. The image is coloured with promarkes and has lots of white glitter for the snow. I chalked the background and edged the image with a red brilliance inkpad. To finish off I added red organza ribbon and pale blue velvet ribbon and a little bell charm.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

CD sunday: Christmas sparkle

Dutch Dare: Christmas card/Tag/ornament

Paper Romance: Heavy metal

Pixie dust: Let it snow

S2G: Christmas with glitter and bling

Freshly Brewed: Sparkle and Shine

Penny's papercrafty challenge: Merry Christmas

Digital tuesday: baby its cold outside

Thanks for visiting today, we still have lots of snow but I think its starting to thaw a little. Hope you are keeping warm :-)

Claire xx

This weeks recipe at Cooking it up with Katie

Good morning, Wednesday already and time for another fab recipe at Cooking it up with Katie!! This week our recipe is an easy one so I hope you'll  join us and use these ingredients in your creation: Red. Layers, Christmas. See told you it was easy!! This week we are sponsed by Stampin Dragon Designs and I've used this gorgeous candy cane image for my project.

I got the blank snowglobe from the pound shop (2 for a quid, bargain or what??) and stamped a background using an elusive images snowflake and red ink onto some white card. I printed the image out 3 times and coloured it with promarkers, cut it our and decoupaged it, i've tried to show the layers in the pic but i had a struggle. I had to shake the snowglobe, put it down, grab my camera and take the pic as I wanted to be able to catch the glitter swirling around - NOT easy, it took me about 6 attempts (and some choice words lol)

I stamped a lovely Christmas verse on the back but forgot to take a pic. The verse is from Elusive images and says "A hug is a perfect Christmas gift, one size fits all and its easily returned all year round"

I'm entering my Christmas ornament in the following challenges:

Incy wincy: Christmas gifts

There's magic in the air: Christmas ornament

Corrosive challenge: red and white christmas

The Crafty Pad: Anything goes

2 Sisters: Sparkly Christmas

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge: Christmas

Thanks for calling by. I seem to have made a lot of Christmas cards and quite a few decorations. I'm really going to have to get myself organised and do some shopping as i haven't even started yet!

Claire xx

Snow Family Wishing from Michelle Perkett

Hi, brrrrrrrr its freezing here at the minute perfect snowman building weather. Today I've made a pop up gift card holder for my son using this cute image from Michelle Perkett. Its called 'Snow Family Wishing' and you can find it in Michelle's store here

There's a new challenge starting today over at Michelle Perkett Studios so pop over and see what Jan and her talented team of mermaids have in store this week :-)

The image is coloured with promarkers and I've used some snowman paper from Dovecraft that i've had for years. I've added some pale blue shimmery ribbon and puffy paint and glitter to the image. I forgot to take a pic of the inside doh! It was pretty easy to make, I saw a few tutorials but I'd already coloured the image and it was a little bigger so I cut a piece of white A4 card to the width I wanted and then scored along the A4 gatefold line of my scoreboard and the A4 half fold line. I turned the card around and scored the A4 gatefold at the other side. Then fold valley fold, mountain fold, valley fold. Cut out a slot to pop your  gift card in and attach the two middle bits together with DST around the edge.

I'm entering my gift card holder in the following challenges:

Crafty Creations: Gift card holder

Fussy and Fancy Friday: anything but a card

OSAAT: Old stash , new stash (my bps are old, the image is new)

Paper Sundaes: Gift it

Lollipop challenge: Welcome Winter

Cards for Men: card/gift

Thanks for visiting today, make sure you check out the MPS challenge blog to find out about the new challenge and also to check out some exciting news!! There is a Holiday Magic blog hop on December 18th and 19th and you don't want to miss the fun! If you fancy taking part there are some goregous freebies at Michelle's group on SNR, PCP and CDAC

Claire xx

Decembers Digi Blog Hop

Hi, its time for another Digi Blog Hop!! If you've arrived her from the lovely Heather's blog then you're on the right track, if not you need to hop on over to the Digi Blog Hop where the fun begins!!

The letter you need to collect from my blog is

N

 You should have all your letters now so hop back to the Digi Blog Hop and leave a comment with your word/saying to be in with the chance of winning!!!

As usual us Hopetts had the choice of some gorgeous digistamps to use for our projects, I chose this supercute wintery image from Di's Digi Downloads for my card.

As usual the image is coloured with my trusty promarkers and I've added judikins prisma glitter and polar white flowersoft. The bp is from Dovecraft and I've added some pale blue velvet ribbon, snowflakes cut on my cricut, pale blue gems and matted the image on some Christmas tree acetate backed by white glitter card.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Digital Tuesday: Animals at Christmas

I love promarkers: Christmas trees (on the bp)

Paper Romance: Winter

Raise the bar: trees

Winter Wonderland: Penguins and Polar bears

Sew Many Cards: Snowflakes

Stamp'n'Doodle: anything goes with a winter theme

Thanks for visiting today, have fun if you're taking part in the digi blog hop and take care if you're venturing out in the snow this morning. I'm going to attempt to get in to work today as we've had a bit of a thaw although its freezing this morning, better get my thermals out lol

Claire xx

Rainbow Lady's challenge...Christmas animals

Cynthia has set a really fun challenge this week at Rainbow Lady's challenge blog, the theme is 'Christmas Animals'. A great excuse to get out one of my favourite Christmas stamps

'Dearest Deer' from Stampavie.

I've coloured the image with promarkers and triple embossed it adding holographic sparkle EP to the middle layer. It gives a really gorgeous effect in real life but as usual my terrible photography skills have failed to capture it lol. I've just matted the image on a lovely square doiley and used a pastel blue deckle edge base card. Its a really quick and easy card and i've made quite a few of these.

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

Stampavie and More: Snow

2 Sisters: Sparkly christmas

Challenge up your life: Advent/Christmas

Wags'n'Whiskers: Snowflakes

Thanks for looking.

Claire xx

For a winter birthday girl (and some bargains!!)

Its my son's girlfriends birthday this month and i thought this beautiful Sweet Pea stamp (Holly Night by Ching Chou Kuik) would be perfect for her card.

I used 2 embossed snowflake card  blanks to make the easel card. The main image is coloured with promarkers and then triple embossed. I added some clear sparkle EP to the middle layer of embossing for a lovely icy effect and some glitter around the candle, it looks beautifully sparkly in real lfe but hasn't shown up in the pic. I stamped some black snowflakes on white pearl card for the layer behind the image and added some flowers made with a Marianne Ribbon flower die and some clear gems. The sentiment is stamped and embossed in black on an acrylic tag, the reverse of the tag is embossed with icicle tex EP. Some black gems and a black velvet bow to finish the card off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp: Sketch

In a sweet pea dream: Monochrome

ABC Challenge: I is for Ice

Cupcake: Light it up

There's magic in the air: Anything goes

Oldie but Goodie: Christmas Birthday (just sneaking in with my sweet pea stamp I think but my snowflake stamp is at least 2 years old )

C.R.A.F.T: Christmas birthday

Crafty Purple Frog: Easel Cards

Moving along with the Times: For someone special

I love Sweet Pea stamps and Linda at Jazzlins Designs has a fab offer at the minute - 5 stamps for £10!!!! Wow, I'm waiting for the snow to thaw so postie can deliver mine! Pop over to Jazzlins and grab yours if you fancy a bargain

Thanks for calling by

Claire xx

Christmas at Let's Ink It Up!!

Hi there, well we've certainly been having some Christmassy weather here in the UK, lots of snow and ice. Great inspiration for our challenge this time at Let's Ink It Up as our theme is

'Christmas' with a twist, add some sparkle!! Here's my DT project, a card, gift box and necklace.

We've got not one but 2 fantastic sponsors this time, one lucky winner will receive a gorgeous box of Christmas ribbons from Crafty Ribbons!!  

Our other lucky winner will receive this beautiful 'Jewel It Kit' work $20 from Outlines Rubber Stamp company

The inspiration for my project came from making some beads with my new melt pot, I used a tutorial from Leandra French to make 'Leandra beads' using some rich blue snowflake paper and lots of mica powders, the colours don't show up too well in the pic but I love this technique, its great fun and the beads look amazing.

I made the blue background for the card using Elusive images snowflake stamps, embossed with clear EP on white card and then sprayed with loads of Cosmic shimmer spray in Midnight blue and lots of silver firework ink. The flowers are made by mopping up the inky mess on my craftmat with tissue paper and then cutting lots of circles, crumple them up to dry and layer them to make the flowers.

The beautiful words are a stamp from Joanna Sheen, stamped on parchment and embossed with silver EP. I tried to create a snowy effect by dotting with my quickie glue pen and adding Judikins prisma glitter although its hard to see in the pic it looks really pretty in real life.

The main image is a stamp from Elusive Images, coloured with promarkers and glitter added to the pattern on her dress and the halos.

The gift bag was very quick and easy. i cut the shape with my cricut  and used the same stamps and inks as for the background on the card. I added some gorgeous royal blue ribbon from Crafty Ribbons and a velco fastener to finish it off.

I've made loads of these Leandra beads and to make the necklace I just attached them to a length of chain with jump rings and then used a pendant bail to attach them to the long silvery chain. 

I'm entering my projects in the following challenges:

Little Red Wagon: Christmas tag/bag

Artistic Stamper: Christmas

ai Factory: Winter

Paperplay: Monochrome

Paper Playtime: Inspired by a Carol (O Holy Night)

Creative inspirations: Christmas Gifts

Oh Alice: The flowers are talking! (make your own flowers)

Sweet Stampin Challenge: Make your own BP

Hope you're going to join us at LIIU this time, Christmas is a perfect time to add some sparkle!! The LIIU DT are all having a break over Christmas so this challenge will finish on 19th December.

Thanks for visiting today

Claire xx

Graphicus party freebie!!

Yesterday the open day at Graphicus had to be cancelled due to the weather so Glenda and Adrian organised an online party with games and some fab bargains instead. The party started with  beautiful freebie snowflake backing papers (pop over to the Graphicus blog and check it out!) which I've used to make this quick and easy card

I've matted the bp on some purple/mauve pearl card and added some gorgeous ribbon from my stash. The topper is made by embossing an Elusive Images Christmas tree on white card with clear EP and then swirling some purple and green inks over the top with a shaving brush. (I used Mountain Meadow and Waterfall Big & Juicy ink pads). To finish the card off I added a little bow in the same ribbon..

 I missed most of the party as our internet went down so I was over the moon this morning to find I'd been picked as one of the lucky winners! I did manage to get my craftroom tidied up though, one corner was piled high with 'alterables' I'd salvaged from here and there over the last couple of years. I braved the pile of 'junk' and got it all organised, so I'll be able to make a start on some projects if the snow hangs around and I can't get to work next week.

Thanks for visiting today, hope you are keeping warm and cosy. Its not quite as cold here today but no sign of the snow going anywhere in a hurry

Claire xx

Val and Vinnie

Hi, its a long weekend for me as I've been snowed in since Wednesday which has meant more time for crafting. I've made so many Christmas cards and fancied a chance so I've made this birthday card using Val and Vinnie Valentine, the kissing couple from Michelle Perkett.

I've used a deckle edged pastel blue card and bps from the gorgeous GCD Ella Blue paper pad. Val and Vinnie are coloured with promarkers and have Art Institute 'nirvana' glitter on the blue hearts on their outfits. I added some blue shimmery ribbon, a padlock charm and a metal heart which I embossed with pastel blue EP.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Tuesday Throwdown: embellish it

Hodge Podge Shop: Birthday cards

fab'n'Funky: Birthday card

Delicious Doodles: Use a digi

Don't forget you still have time to enter our challenge at Michelle Perkett Studios, we have a really fun theme for you 'Make your own background'!! If you don't have any of Michelle's images, you can grab a freebie at Michelle's groups on PCP, SNR and CDAC

Right, back to the Christmas cards as I'm not venturing out in this weather. We still have heaps of snow although I don't think its as cold today and we haven't had any more snow .... yet!

Thanks for visiting, keep warm if you can

Claire xx