My lovely blogland friends

Sunday 20 December 2015

Anything Mixed Media/Creative Goes at We Love 2 Create

Good morning my lovelies, I've been a bit quiet of the blogging front recently with the chaos of getting ready for Christmas and work too I haven't had a minute to post for ages but here I am with my second post of the day lol. Its our new challenge over at We Love 2 Create and as always out theme is 'Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes'. You don't have to use our products to enter but we love it when you do! Our lucky winner will receive some gorgeous crafty goodies from Premium Craft Brands!


I've altered this MDF word to create a little Winter Wonderland scene, I didn't have a lot of time but PanPastels are fabulous to create a very quick background. I'd already created a crackle background on the MDF using acrylic paints but I set to and made a bit of a forest background on some card (cut to shape using a dinner plate lol) .  I stamped the trees with Versamark ink and used shades of Phthalo Blue PanPastel to shade the trees.I blended the excess out to create the sky but forgot to mask the moon, doh! Not a problem with Pans though as they are erasable so I used a circle die and a pencil eraser to create my moon. I added some falling snow with a White Graph'It Shake pen before attaching to the back of the MDF. Next I cut out three snowdrifts from white card, smothered them with texture paste and brushed over Course White Pearl Medium, it gives a beautiful frosty sparkle!

 I layered up the snowdrifts with silicone glue and popped my little image (My Friend Flakey from Sugar Nellie) coloured with Graph'It Markers) behind the 'O'. I created some snow on the word itself and along the front by applying texture paste and again dusting with White Coarse and Fine PanPastel Medium


Here's  a pic from above, you can see I made some little support for the image with scraps of white card.


I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's: anything Christmas
Daring Cardmakers: All Wrapped up
Sweet Stampin: Merry Christmas
That's Crafty: Anything goes
The Sugar Bowl: Anything goes

Well I'd better go, lots to do before the big chap in the red suit arrives lol.
Thanks for visiting today
Claire xx

Listen to the whispers of your heart

Good morning folks, my first post today features a quick and easy card made using the beautiful stamp 'Baroque Orchids from Chocolate Baroque.  This is such a beautifully detailed stamp that I really wanted to give it centre stage on my card.


I began with some glossy white card and stamped Baroque Orchids with versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder. I took a deep breath, lined up my stamp again and was very pleased to see that the stamp joins up beautifully to create a larger panel. I embossed the second image with clear embossing powder and then applied distress inks in Shabby Shutters, Bundled Sage and a little Evergreen Bough randomly with some Cut'n'Dry foam.


I stamped the sentiment with Memento Tuxedo Black on some vellum and tore a strip to layer over the background as shown. I added some black lace, green ribbon and a black button to finish off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges

Allsorts: Anything but Christmas
Crafty Time: anything goes
Not Just Cards: Anything goes
Simply Papercraft: Anything goes

Thanks so much for visiting today
Claire xx


Sunday 13 December 2015

Make your own background at Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Good morning folks, we've got a new challenge starting at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and this time around out theme is 'Make your own Background'. As usual we're sponsored by Flonzcraft and our lucky winner will receive a $20 voucher to spend! Don't forget though we are a stamping challenge so no digi stamps are allowed.

For my card I've used some new stamps and embossing powders from Chloe's collection, I love these EPs as they are soooooooo sparkly! 

I began with a gelli plate background, I love using dye inks on my gelli plate, they give a really different effect as the ink goes into teeny tiny beads. Once I'd inked the gelli plate us with assorted shades of green distress ink I stamped with a pine bough stamp to remove some of the ink before I took a print on white card. Next I used the same stamp and Pine Needles distress ink to to add some more foliage to the background. Then I repeated this but using versamark and WOW Icicle EP for some frosty sparkle.



I stamped the images (large and small snow flower) on white pearl card and embossed with Icicle EP and layered them over the snowflakes from the same set that I stamped on acetate and embossed with a Green Embossing tinsel from my stash. I added some of Chloe's bling stones to the centre of the flowers. The sentiment in the centre was embossed with Mercury Glass EP and I added some Pine Needles DI to the large 'Believe'.

To finish off I've added lace, sparkly white ribbon and some faux pearls.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Card Mania: Christmas
Crafty Catz: Sparkle and shine
 Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas:  anything goes Christmas
Really Reasonable Ribbon: Sparkle and Shine

Thanks so much for popping by today
Claire xx

Friday 11 December 2015

Red and Green at Graph'It Colouring Challenge

Good morning, its challenge time at Graph'It Colouring Challenge and this time our theme is 'Red/Green'. We've got a fab sponsor too, our lucky winner will receive a prize from Digital Delights by Louby Lou! Pop over to the challenge blog and find out all the details and check out my teamies gorgeous artwork too.


I've used this adorable little penguin, he's called 'Carolling Slippy' and you can find him here. I've taken this colouring palette for inspiration


I printed the image on Ultimate Graphic 160gsm paper (from Polkadoodles), I love this paper for colouring, definitely my favourite! I've coloured him with Graph'It markers (for a full list of colours used, pop over to the challenge blog). I cut him out and popped him on 3d foam pads over a little scene made with a freebie embossing folder and my trusty old Cuttlebug and some freebie stamps. The papers are oldies from my stash ad I've added two ribbons and a couple of fabric covered brads.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
A Snowflakes Promise: anything goes Christmas or Winter
Cards 4 Guyz: traditional Christmas colours
Cuttlebug Mania: Christmas animals
My time to craft: Christmas animals
Pile it on: Christmas/winter

Thanks so much for popping by
Claire xx

Thursday 10 December 2015

Winter Blues at Indigo Blu

Good morning folks,I was lucky enough to make the top 3 of the Time Flies challenge at Indigo Blu  so I was chuffed to bits to be invited to join the team as a guest designer for their Winter Blues Challenge!


It was a great excuse to use my new Indigo Blu metallic acrylic paints to decorate these MDF baubles. I primed them with white gesso and then created the backgrounds with Vodka Martini and Sleeping Beauty paint to create  a graduated effect. Once the paint was dry I used an assortment of Indigo Blu Christmas stamps to decorate them. I stamped with white gesso initially and then used the metallics to highlight the images although that doesn't show up too well on my pics. Next I used Coarse Texture paste dusted with White Coarse Pearl PanPastel Medium to add a frosty sparkle. The edges were gilded with Winter Dawn gilding flakes.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoes : sparkle
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas: time to decorate
Creative Card Crew: Holiday season
Holly Jolly Christmas: anything  Christmas
Penny Black and More: anything goes with a stamp
Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge: holly jolly stamping
Sweet Stampin: Snow time

Thanks so much for visiting today
Claire xx 

Wednesday 9 December 2015

Free download from Chocolate Baroque

Good morning my lovelies, a quick post from me today as I've cut my finger and typing is taking me ages with a big dressing on my paw. The moral of the story is don't do housework,,,, its dangerous lol. There's a gorgeous free download available over on the Chocolate Baroque Challenge Blog, I've used it to decorate this MDF heart and you can get it by popping over to the challenge blog!


I've covered the heart with dictionary paper and a torn piece of the download paper before ditressing with Aged Mahogany distress ink. I've stamped the Daisy Ring Centre Flower twice onto the freebie paper with versamark and embossed with Gold EP. I've cut out both layers of the flower, curled the petals and layered them up, adding a glass cabochon to the centre. I've used some dark red seam binding to create a bow and topped it with a little gold button.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
Altered Eclectics: Anything goes
Anything but cute: its ornamental
:Lemon Shortbread: Anything goes
Not just cards: anything goes

Thanks so much for visiting today
Claire

Monday 7 December 2015

Winter Trees at Flonzcraft Vintage Stamping Challenges

Hello again, I'm back with my second post of the day as its time for our new challenge over at Flonzcraft Vintage Stamping Challenges where our theme this time is 'Winter Trees'. My teamies have loads of inspiration for you so pop on over to the challenge blog and check out their beautiful projects. Our lucky winner will receive a $20 voucher for Flonzcraft so don't miss out on your chance to win! Don't forget we're a stamping challenge so no digis are allowed.


I began with my frame for this project as I'd been die cutting and had these left over so I decided to use them to frame my winter scene. I used a Clarity stencil and distress inks applied with Clarity stencil brushes to create the background, using a mask die cut from a post it note to mask the moon. I've added two adorable little girls in their winter coats from Flonzcraft, they've been coloured with distress inks too. I added a die cut snowflake, holly vine and asilver bow topped with a red button a a scrap of silver twine.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Crafting for all seasons: Brrrrr its cold outside
Crafty Calendar: Let it snow
Dies R us: Christmas
Paper Shelter: Christmas card
Simon Says Stamp: let it snow
Sparkles Forum Christmas: Die cuts for Christmas
That's Crafty: Seasons Greetings

Thanks so much for visiting today
Claire xx

Background stamps from Chocolate Baroque

Good morning folks, have you been watching the lovely Lesley from Chocolate Baroque on  The Craft Channel over the weekend? Goodness me aren't the new stamps fabulous?? This project features Studded Lattice which is a really pretty and very useful stamp. I've made a project using one of the wooden art blocks which are great fun to decorate and look lovely in a window as you can decorate both sides.


I began by painting the block with white gesso and then gave it a coat of pale blue acrylic paint, Once the paint was dry I sanded it to create a distressed effect. I stamped the Studded Lattice with versamark and embossed with a sparkly white embossing powder on both sides of the block. 

Next I die cut some flowers and coloured with turqouise PanPastel. I stamped them all with the Studded Lattice stamp, some were stamped with Gathered Twigs distress ink and some were embossed with the sparkly white embossing powder. I distressed the edges with Gathered Twigs distress ink and curled the petals before layering them up to create two large flowers. I popped a faux pearl in the centre of each. I die cut some foliage and embossed with a mix of blue and gold embossing powder. I arranged the flowers and foliage on  the block as shown and added a brass flower to the top of the block.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Altered Eclectics: Anything goes
Brown Sugar: anything goes
Craft Rocket: anything goes
Crafty Time: Anything goes
Noor! Designs UK: Anything goes
Simply Papercraft: anything goes
Sparkles Forum: anything but a card

Thanks for visiting today
Claire xx

Sunday 6 December 2015

Anything Creative/Mixed Media goes at We Love 2 Create

Good morning my lovelies, we've got a new challenge over at We Love 2 Create and as always its really easy to play along as our theme is 'Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes'. Our generous sponsors Premium Art Bands have some lovely crafty goodies for our lucky winner so I hope you're going to play along. I've made a Christmas decoration for my DT project, apologies for the awful photo but the weather here as been terrible so I've had to use my Ottlite for the pic.


I began with an oval MDF blank which I covered with white card and coloured with Turquoise and Turquoise tint PanPastels, dusting with a little Coarse White medium for some sparkle. The stamps are all from Stamps by Chloe, stamped and embossed with assorted WOW embossing powders on card coloured with my Pans and also on acetate.

The flowers in the baubles are also made using Chloes' stamps, this time stamped on vellum that I'd coloured with Pans. Pans don't adhere too well to vellum which is a very smooth surface so I swiped the vellum with a versamark inkpad which makes the Pans stay put and also makes the colours a lot more intense.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
Crafting Musketeers: use a sentiment
Crafting with Dragonflies: Anything Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas: time to decorate
Creatalicious: Merry Christmas
Creative Corner: sparkle and shine
Natalie and Amy's: Christmas
Really Reasonable Ribbon: Shimmer or sparkle with ribbon/trim

Thanks so much for visiting today
Claire xx


Friday 4 December 2015

Traditional Christmas at Polkadoodles

Good morning folks, we've got a fab challenge over at
Polkadoodles and our theme is 'Traditional Christmas' so its a really easy one to join in! Our lucky winner will receive a voucher to spend in the Polkadoodles store so I hope you're going to play along. 

I've been a bit pushed for time recently, between work and home I haven't had a lot of time to craft so I decided to print out lots of goodies from the Picknix 3 Nordic Winter collection and made a quick and easy card. I die cut my card blank and backing paper and distressed everything with Gathered Twigs distress ink. I used one of the gorgeous frames from the collection and layered it up over one of the gorgeous chalkboard sentiments and then went to town cutting out lots of embellies - stars, burlap hearts etc, adding a bit of glamour dust for some Christmassy sparkle.



I added some hessian, seambinding ribbon ,a little brass button and a few faux pearls to finish off. 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Artistic Inspirations: anything goes with a twist of Christmas
A Snowflakes Promise: anything Christmas or Winter
Come and Get It: anything goes with a sentiment
Inky Chicks: Merry Christmas
Paper Shelter: A Christmas Card
Papertake Weekly: anything goes
Quirky Crafts: anything Christmas

Thanks so much for visiting today
Claire xx

Tuesday 1 December 2015

12 Days of Christmas at Eclectic Ellapu

Hello folks, I thought I'd scheduled this post but either I forgot or blogger did lol. Anyway my project today is for our new challenge over at Eclectic Ellapu where the pink team have a '12 days of Christmas' challenge for you this month! The purple team's theme is 'Cards to die for' so lots of options for you to play along.


I've used a stamp from Lili of the Valley for this card, coloured with distress inks and die cut with spellbinders. I've used backing papers from my stash, they are real old favourites. I've layered everything up on kraft card and added a scrap of gold netting (recycled packaging - I can never throw anything away lol)


I've added a seambinding bow topped with a little brass button and some die cut holly leaves, berries and a pretty little die cut star. The sentiment is also from LOTV, embossed with gold EP. To finish off I've added some little gold faux pearls in the corners and distressed all the edges with Gathered Twigs distress ink and a touch of gilding wax.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly: anything goes
Stamping Sensations: Festive Flowers/foliage
Southern Girls: Patterned paper mix up
The Ribbon Girl: use any image
Wags'n'Whiskers: ribbon/pearls

Thansk so much for visiting today
Claire xx


Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...