PanPastels and Sunny Sunflowers

These flowers are from the fab new Sunny Sunflowers themeplate from Chocolate Baroque. It has some gorgeous detailed flower stamps and leaves but as soon as I saw these flowers I thought they would be fab for paper pieced flowers. Now I've got stacks of paper flowers but sometimes none of them are the right colour but with these stamps you can make your own to match your backing papers.

The focal image is made using PanPastels  and the papers and ribbon are from the Kaisercraft Playpack from Chocolate Baroque. For all the details on this project pop over to the Chocolate Baroque DT blog. There are some amazingly beautiful projects from my teamies to inspire you so have a good look round while you're there 

I'm entering this in the following challenges

Craft a Scene: Spring flowers

Crafts and Me: Ribbon

My Craft Spot: buttons and bows

Shopping our Stash: May flowers

Thanks for popping by

Claire xx

You are my sunshine

Hi there, today's card features the new Sunny Sunflowers stamps from Chocolate Baroque, perfect for this gorgeous sunny weather we're having but I think they'll be those stamps that you reach for all year round as there are so many fab flowers AND the most beautiful leaves too!

To create the flower I stamped the large flower and small flower twice on white card with clear embossing powder and coloured with Diarylide yellow panpastel before cutting out. The flowers are layered up with 3d foam and a little glitter in the centres. These stamps are perfect with PanPastels as they pick up the detail and shade the flowers without any effort at all.

The background was a bit of an experiment, I had some Heidi Swapp Invisibles in my stash which I'd been hoarding for ages. I just swiped Diarylide yellow panpastel over the top and then buffed up with some tissue. I added a computer generated sentiment and a couple of die cut swirls created using  a Die-namics fancy flourish die.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Fashionista: Simply summertime

Stampin Sisters in Christ: Do something you're afraid off (using my invisibles paper)

Aud Sentiments: Any sentiment

We're certainly having some beautiful sunshine here in my little corner of the UK but I'm not feeling too sunny at the minute as my poor darling fur baby Mia is very poorly and we've been backwards and forwards to the vets over the last week or so. Apologies for being a bit quiet on the blogging and commenting front, I need to spend as much time as I can with my sweet girl while she's poorly.

Do keep an eye on the Chocolate Baroque DT blog though as my teamies have come up with some amazing projects with these beautiful new stamps, Glenda also has a giveaway too so you might be in with a chance of winning too!!

Claire cc

Thanks for popping by

Claire xx

Diamond Jubilee at PanPastel UK

Hi there, we're celebrating the Diamond Jubilee at PanPastel UK this week :-) Next weekend we'll all get a lovely long weekend off work to celebrate so let's hope the sunshine lasts. I've got to admit I found this theme a bit of a challenge and had to rack my brain for ideas so I'm looking forwardto seeing what you come up with. You don't need to use PanPastels to take part in the challenge but its great when you do. 

After a lot of dithering around I decided to make a royal themed card but using pink, white and turquoise instead of red white and blue. I've used one of the beautiful Chic Script digital papers by Lesley Wharton at Chocolate Baroque, Ii've added some extra colour with turquoise and magenta panpastels. I've clear embossed a couple of patched and stamped some text here and there with versamark and brushed with a little silver mica powder.

I got the pic from google images, printed it out and use matte multi  medium to transfer the image to some canvas. I've matted it on some white card coloured with more magenta PanPastel and punched with a MS punch. The roses were made with Tattered Pinecone die and the flourishes with Die-namics fancy flourish, again coloured with magenta and turquoise panpanstels. I made the bunting with a stamp from Artistic Stamper, stamped with versamark and added colour again using magenta and turquoise PanPastels. To finish off i've added a few sparkly gems.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Deep Ocean challenge: swirls

Paper Pretties: Bold bright colours

Sisterhood of Crafters: old fashioned

The Stamp Man: Card for a Queen

Thanks for popping by today, do nip over and check out my teamies blogs - they are such a talented bunch!!

Claire xx

Butterflies and Flower at Crafty Ann's

Good morning, oh thank goodness its Friday. My weeks seem to get busier and busier lately so I'm well ready for the weekend and a crafting fix. I usually try and have an hour in my craftroom everyday but I haven't managed to do any crafting at all this week and I'm having withdrawal symptoms lol. Anyway as its Friday, its time for a new challenge over at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog and this time our theme is 'Butterflies and Blooms'. Our lucky winner will receive a fab prize from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop :-)

Sorry about the dark pic, we've had such dark days lately until this week when its been wall to wall sunshine. For my card I've used a lovely warm yellow paper from Crafty Ann's mottled stone collection, the image is called 'Host of Golden Daffodils' and comes with two beautiful sentiments all for the bargain price of  75p!! Anyway I've coloured the image with promarkers and cut out before matting on a pretty doiley. I've stamped a Chocolate Baroque swirl in the corners using picket fence distress stain and inked with wild honey distress ink to highlight the swirls. To finish off I've added seam binding and gingham ribbon, lace, faux pearls and some little butterflies made using an Anna Griffin punch.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafts and me: flowers

Crafty Creations: pastels pearls and lace

Crop Stop: Doileys

Southern Girls: die cut or punch

Top Tip Tuesday: Dig out the old (my old stash is my gingham ribbon and doiley)

Right I'd better get my skates on and get ready for work, another day another dollar as they say. 

Thanks for popping by

Claire xx

Turquoise and Pink at Rainbow Lady's Challenge

Hi there, its a bit of a sad day today as its our very last challenge at Rainbow Lady's Challenge (don't worry though as Cynthia has got something else up her sleeve!!). Our theme this week is 'Turquoise and Pink' in celebration of Bermuda Day!. 

I've used a gorgeous digital paper from Chocolate Baroque designed by the lovely Lesley, and added a bit of turquoise PanPastel before distressing around the edges with a craft knife. I didn't want to cover up the gorgeous cockatoo so I added some crinoline fabric coloured with glimmer mists in turquoise and pink towards the side of the card. The image is a LaBlanche stamp, coloured with PanPastels. I've added some paper flowers from my stash, seam binding, velvet ribbon, lace and faux pearls. The crinoline fabric, lace and seam binding are all from The Funky Junkie boutique, if you've got a minute check out the link in my sidebar as Linda has the most scrumptious goodies :-). I'm entering this card in Linda's Sunday Share linking party over at the Frillie and Funkie Challenge blog where one lucky entrant who shares a project made with goodies from the shop can win a fabby discount voucher.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Hooked on Crafts: Flowers

Oldie but Goodie: things with wings (my stamp and flowers)

Ooh La La: Ribbon and or twine

Ribbon Carousel: Fancy flowers

Thanks for popping by today

Hope you're enjoying some sunshine, its soooo hot here but whats the betting it rains all weekend

Claire xx

Challenge 27 at CCWS

Hi there, well its time for a new challenge over at Christmas Challenges {with sketches} and this time we have a fab sketch from the lovely Bettina and a twist too - BINGO! For my line I've used Lace, Pearls and a charm but you'll have to pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch and to check out the bingo too.

This week our lucky winner will receive a prize from our generous sponsor, Whiff of Joy! 

I've used one of Joanna Sheen's supercute house mouse stamps, coloured with promarkers for my card, the papers are from GCD, ribbon, lace, charm and pearls are all from my stash.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz: Metal charms

Craft your days away: all creatures great and small

Everybody Art Challenge: Lace and shapes

Holly Jolly Christmas: Anything goes plus ribbon

Totally gorjuss: Charms

I'll try and catch up with my visiting at the weekend, work is unbelievably busy still and I haven't had much time for the last few days cos one of our dogs has been poorly bless her. After a major panic and a dash to the vets she's now got some tablets and  fingers crossed she seems to be improving. 

Hope you're having a good week, thanks for popping by

Claire xx

Pastel colours at PanPastel UK

Good morning folks,  its time for a new challenge at PanPastel UK and this week our theme is 'Pastel colours'.  You don't have to use pans to enter the challenge but of course we love it when you do. 

For my DT card I've used a Rose Fairy stamp from Joanna Sheen, she's coloured with distress markers and edged with permanent red tint.I love Joanna's fairy stamps, they were some of the first stamps I ever bought and I never get fed up of them. The bp is also from Joanna Sheen, distressed with some permanent green tint PanPastel. I've coloured the ribbon and lace with the same PanPastels, I wasnt sure how the lace would take the colour but it worked fine :-)

I made the flowers with watercolour paper die cut with tattered florals and coloured with permanent red tint and hansa yellow tint, the centres are little yellow seed beads from my stash. To finish off I've added some little green pearls in the corners.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Alphabet challenge: Handmade flowers

Crafty Ribbons: flowers

Divas by Design: Tickled pink

Hotshot Crafts: Die cuts

Joanna Sheen: Happy birthday

Papertake weekly: In the garden

Sisterhood of Crafters: May flowers

Sparkle Creations rubber stamps: May flowers

Totally Gorjuss: Pink and green

Don't forget theres a fab prize up for grabs for our lucky winner, who will receive a PanPastel trial set from our lovely sponsor Berni at  Your Creativity Store! 

Brrrr its freezing here again today, I can't believe we're in the middle of May and I've still got the central heating on. Not much sign of many spring flowers either although the weeds are definitely thriving in my garden with all this rain lol. Still its perfect crafting weather so I think I'll spend the day in my craft room.

Have a great Sunday

Claire xx

Steampunk at FSC!

Hi there, we've got a new challenge starting over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and this time around we want to see you on the catwalk in your Steampunk creations! As always our lucky winner will receive a fabulous prize from Marina, our regular sponsor from Cottage Crafts. I love Steampunk and I really enjoyed making this necklace and tag :-)

The tag was made with lots of different metallic acrylic paints and plenty of distressing. I used my favourite cog stamps from Chocolate Baroque, some embossed card, bits of lace and ribbon and some idea-ology bits and bobs. I added a dress form from the Haberdashery stamps (also from Chocolate Baroque), painted with viva precious metal paints and given a luvverly pair of vellum wings made using stamps from Artistic Expressions themeplate and WOW gold EP.

  The necklace was made with an assortment of beads and bits and bobs from my stash, including a stampbord domino. some friendly plastic that I stamped into with stamps from CB's Texture Fragments stamps, a pendant blank that I filled with more viva precious metal paint, some watch parts and glossy accents, the large brass flower is from Prima and the resin rose was in the fabby candy I won a while ago from the lovely Hels (thank you Hels!!)

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's: anything goes

Charizma: Metal charms

Crafting when we can: Steampunk

Creative Craft Challenge: Distressing

Inky Impressions: Lace or trim

Paperplay: Destruction

WOW Embossing powders: Earth tones

Thanks for popping by today

Claire xx

Lets get inky with the Rainbow Lady

Hi there, I had loads of fun making my DT card for this weeks challenge at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog as out theme is 'Let's get inky' and there's nothing better than some good old messy crafting lol.

The stamps are all from 'Huck Finn' a gorgeous stamp sheet from Artistic Outpost, I love these stamps!! I stamped and masked the two boys and then stamped in the ship and added some colour with distress markers and then cut out and splashed with moonshadow inks in Jolly Roger Red and Treasure Island Aqua, love the names they are perfect for these stamps. I've had these inks for years but don't use them very often, I'd forgotten how yummy and shimmery they are.

 I've layered the image up over some torn kraft glassine, some copier paper coloured with the same inks and scrunched up and some recycled brown paper. The sentiment is from the same set of stamps. To finish off I've added some brads, a bottle cap (as usual kindly donated by my son, this one reads 'Desperados' which I thought would be just the job for our two little adventurers lol) and a nautical knot.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Artistic Outpost: May Referral challenge 'Travel'

Clear it out: Use brads

Creative Craft Challenge: Distressing

Lollipop Crafts: Just for him

Simon Says Stamp and Show: Anything goes

I hope you're having a good week, we're sooooo busy at work at the minute my feet don't seem to touch ground but hopefully I'll get to catch up on some blog hopping and bunker up in my craft room for a few hours at the weekend

Have a good day and thanks for popping by

Claire xx

Blue Butterflies

Hi there, its been a lovely sunny weekend here and instead of gardening I've been wrestling with this project. I didn't think it would take me long but the necklace kept going horribly wrong lol

I recently got some lovely alterable bits and bobs from the Artistic Stamper, and decided to use one of the little bamboo domino tiles to make a necklace for my MIL. The little papier mache book went really smoothly, a couple of coats of acrylic paint, stamps from Chocolate Baroque (Wisteria Lane and Rose Tree) coloured with distress markers, distress ink around the edges and a few layer of matt multi medium and that was it.

The little bamboo domino was a different kettle of fish. I got it painted and got dog hairs stuck in it so had to start again. Then because I was rushing I decided to use my heat gun and bubbled the paint grrrrrrr. Anyway third time lucky I managed to decorate the little tile and once it was dry (without the heat gun lol) I added beads and bead caps from my stash and strung the lot on some beading wire and finished with a clasp. Phew just in the nick of time as it was a pressie for my lovely MILs birthday!

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

By the cute and girly: Spring is in the air

Craft your days away: all creatures great and small

Creative Craft Challenge: anything goes

Fairy Tale: things with wings

One Stop Craft Challenge: Monochrome

Paper Sundaes: things with wings

Polkadoodles: Monochromatic shades

Stampin Sisters in Christ: animals, birds or bugs

Thanks for popping by, I'd better get my skates on and get myself ready  for work

Claire xx

Sporting challenge at PanPastel UK

Hi there,  Sunday already so that means its challenge time at PanPastel UK and this week our theme is 'Sports'. You don't have to use PanPastels to play along but its lovely to see so many people using pans now. This weeks theme really made me get my thinking cap on as I dont have any sporty stamps at all eek, but I did have this cute Teddy Bo image and I'd already coloured him :-)

I've used black PanPastel around the edge of the image and to distress the backing papers which are all from Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934. I've added some buttons from my stash and some seambinding ribbon coloured with diarylide yellow and permanent red panpastels. 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Allsorts: for a man or boy

Crafty Emma's : Anything goes

Digital Tuesday: all about ribbons and buttons

Divas by Design: for the boys

Fab'n'Funky: Buttons and bows

Pixie Dust Studios: For the boys

Southern Girls: About the boys

Teddy Bo Challenge: Button up

Totally Papercrafts: No pesky girls allowed

Our lucky winner this week will receive a fabby PanPastel Trial set from our lovely sponsor Berni at Your Creativity Store

thanks for popping by today. If you get a minute check out my teamies gorgeous projects :-)

Claire xx

Hide and Seek at Crafty Ann's

Hi there folks, phew thank goodness its Friday :-) Its my first week back at work and I don't feel as though my feet have touched ground. Still it keeps me out of mischief I suppose. We've got a new challenge at Crafty Ann's, this time our theme is 'Hide and Seek' so we want to something hidden on your project.  As always our lucky winner will receive a fabby prize from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop!

I've used one of the scrummy new papers in Crafty Ann's Imperial Purple collection and the beautiful Rose Trellis digistamp (you can find them both here). The image is coloured with promarkers. I've added some purple velvet ribbon, lace and paper flowers from my stash. My hidden element is one of Crafty Ann's journalling tags that pops behind the main image.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Ribbons: Flowers

Digi Makeover: May flowers

Lexi's Creations: Lace and ribbon

Thanks for popping by

Claire xx

'Age' at Rainbow Lady's Challenge

Hi there, Thursday already, I love these 4 day weeks don't you? Thursday also means its time for an new challenge from our very own Rainbow Lady and this week Cynthia has chosen a theme of 'age' as in decoupage, pyramage, etc. 

I've use a decoupage sheet that i've had for ages. I've made a very quick wedding or anniversary card card, the background was created using a prima mask and distress ink (bundled sage) then spritzed with perfect pearls. To finish off i've added some willow green organza ribbon, faux pearls and a heart charm.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Bloggers: Decoupage

Little Red Wagon: Mist

Make my Monday: White flowers

Paper Pretties: Anniversary

Victorine Originals: Flowers 

Thanks for visiting today

Claire xx

Challenge 26 at Christmas Challenges {with sketches}

Hi there, my lovely teamie Sandra has designed a gorgeous sketch for us this time at Christmas Challenges with sketches, hop on over to the challenge blog and check it out.

As always we've got a fabby prized, this time we are sponsored by StempelStudio so pop over to the challenge blog to find out about the fabby prize on offer

I've used a very old Tilda stamp for this card, I've had her for years so it was time she was inked up again. She's coloured with promarkers and has a little ivory flowersoft and glamour dust added to give her a bit of sparkle. The papers are from GCD and the sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps. I've added some faux pearls to finish off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

2 Sisters: anything goes

Christmas Crafting: Twas the night before Christmas

Crafty Emma's : No squares allowed

Great impressions: anything goes

LEJ Designs: things with wings

Shopping our Stash: 3or more designer papers

The Squirrel and the Fox: one for the girls

thanks for popping by

Claire xx

Anything goes at PanPastel UK

Good morning folks, we've got a nice easy challenge for you this week at PanPastel UK, this time around our theme is 'Anything goes'! You don't have to use PanPastels to enter but of course we love it when you do :-)
This week we have a very special sponsor, my super talented teamie Linsday of LEJ Designs , make sure you check out the website as Lindsay has some amazing digis and our lucky winner this week will be able to choose 3 as their prize! I'd already made my card but pop over to the challenge blog as some of my teamies have used some LEJ Designs images and they are fab-u-lous. 

I've used lots of different warm reds, yellows and orange pans for this card, I began by creating a background by blending orange, hansa yellow and a little permanent red PanPastel on some white card and overstamped with the flower stamp (which comes from Chocolate Baroque's Pretty Birdcage stamp sheet). I used a pencil eraser to remove most of the colour from the flowers and leaves and then coloured with distress markers. The next layer is a digital paper designed by Lesley Wharton, printed off and then lightly coloured with yellow and orange pans. The focal image is from the same stamp sheet, I stamped it on some white card coloured with yellow and orange pans and again used an eraser ro remove the pans where I wanted to add colour with my distress markers. The large flower is made from crinoline fabric die cut using tattered florals and coloured with Pans, the smaller roses are made using tattered pinecones cut from kraft card and coloured with orange panpastel. To finish  off i've added some green pearls and a organza ribbon bow.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Deep Ocean: Punches/dies

Hooked on Crafts: Flowers

Little Miss Muffet: Flowers

Paper Pretties: Flowers

The Stamp Man: Favourite technique 

(well mine changes from day to day but at the minute its experimenting with PanPastels)

There She Goes: May flowers

Tuesday Throwdown: In the garden

All these flowery challenges are making me feel guilty about the state of my poor old garden, the weeds are taking over but every time I think about putting my nose outside and doing some weeding the heavens open and I just have to shelter in my craft room. Ah well its bank holiday weekend so maybe tomorrow. Or then again maybe not as its bound to rain isn't it lol. 

Thanks for popping by

Claire xx

Cities of the World At FSC

Hi there, we're on our travels at Fashionable Stamping Challenges as this week our theme is 'Cities of the World' so perhaps you'll be inspired by your own capital city, or by somewhere that holds special memories for you. Don't forget that to be in with a chance to win a prize from our generous sponsor Marina from Cottage Crafts you need to use a rubber stamp, no digis allowed!!

I was a bit stumped for this challenge as I'm not a city girl at all and then I saw some gorgeous new London stamps from the Artistic Stamper and couldn't resist them. I decided to go with a jubilee inspired wedding anniversary card and got a bit carried away, I threw everything at it lol. I started with a layer of Tim's tissue tand then added a shaped card topper that I'd stamped with a Crafty Individual's union jack stamp coloured with distress markers (fired brick and faded jeans) and embossed the edges with gold EP. Next came a  lady and gent from Joanna Sheen, I stamped and masked the lady and stamped the chap to look as if he's asking her to dance.

 The gorgeous union jack bunting is one of my scrummy new stamps from the Artistic Stamper, coloured with distress markers, cut out and popped on some blue thread. Everything is distressed, inked, torn and a bit crumpled :-)

I love the London skyline from the Artistic Stamper and it fitted perfectly on my perforated postage paper from Chocolate Baroque, how lucky is that??  I wanted it to look a bit faded so I masked the squares  and stamped with an ancient versafine ink pad. 

I've added seam binding ribbon in ivory and coloured some more with faded jeans and fired brick distress stains. The sentiment is from Chocolate Baroque, stamped on vellum. To finish off i've added some flowers made with tattered florals and tattered pine cones dies using watercolour card and again coloured with distress stains. Pop over to my teamie Brenda's blog as she has a fab tutorial for making flowers with watercolour paper and they hold their shape beautifully so thanks for a fab idea Brenda :-)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafting for all Seasons: Handmade flowers

Crafts for Eternity: ribbon

Cupcake: Best of British

Fashionista: Weddings

Joanna Sheen: Flower Power

One Stop Craft : Clebrations

Papercrafting Journey: Vintage

Polkadoodles: distressing

Wags'n'Whiskers: distressing

Thanks for popping by today

Claire xx

'Memories' at Rainbow Lady's Challenge

Our new challenge at Rainbow Lady's Challenge is 'Memories' and as its the first week of the month we are sponsored by the lovely Joanna Sheen so don't miss out on your chance to win a treat from her shop!

For my card I've used bps from Raspberry Road Designs, ribbon and a cute ribbon buckle 'thingy' from my stash. The focal image is a stamp from Joanna Sheens 'Faye Whittaker' stamps, I love these vintage scenes they are gorgeous. I've stamped the image with black archival ink and then watercoloured the image with distress markers. I'm really loving these scrummy new pens!!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Bearly Mine: Friendship

Crazy Challenge: summer/beach

Cupcake: Best of British

LEJ Designs: Anything goes

Paper Take weekly: Anything goes

Pinspirational: Photo inspiration

Well the way our weather is shaping up I won't be paddling for a while, well not unless its in the puddles lol. 

Thanks for popping by, don't forget to check out my talented teamies blogs as they have come up with some really gorgeous projects again this week

Claire xx