Pink and Pretty at Graph'It Colouring Challenge

Good mornin folks, a very quick post from me today as i'm a busy bee this weekend! Its inspiration week at Graph'it colouring challenge and our theme is 'Pink and Pretty'. We've got gorgeous Graph'it goodies up for grabs plus some amazing digis from East Wind! She's called Lucy Loo star Struck, isn't she a beauty?

We're adding a twist to the challenge for DT members and to spice things up we're all working from a colour palette, here's mine for this card:

And here's a close up of Lucy Loo, for a full list of the colours i've used pop over to the challenge blog.

i've added some pretty papers from Craftwork cards, lots of die cuts, ribbon, lace ad pearls.

Thanks for popping by today

Claire xx

Hearts and Flowers at We do Doobadoo

Good morning folks, I'm chasing my tail again as this week has been so hectic so this post is a bit late but  better late than never I suppose. We've got a new challenge starting at We Do Doobadoo and our theme is 'Hearts and Flowers'. As always there are some gorgeous Dutch Doobadoo goodies for our lucky winner and you don't have to use our products to play along (although we love it when you do).

I've made a little wall hanger for my DT project using lots of Dutch Doobadoo goodies (you can find links at the bottom of this post)

I started off with a wooden heart that I picked up at the Works, its was only £1.99 so it was a bit of a bargain. I painted one half green and the other grey on both sides of the heart and once the paint was dry I set to with my favourite Dutch doobadoo A5 brick stencil and Maimeri Light Modelling Paste, creating a brick effect on half of each side of the heart. On the green areas I stencilled some polka dots using more LMP that i'd coloured with some violet PanPastel. Once it was dry I added some colour to the bricks with various shades of brown PanPastel.

The flowers were all stamped and die cut using Heartfelt Creations stamps/dies. I took some pretty papers from my stash and used the Dutch Doobadoo envelope template to create a little lacy effect envelop and added another layer with the Shape Art template and some lilac gingham paper on which I 'd stamped the words 'happy place' using brilliance ink and a stamp from Chocolate Baroque.

I die cut my name and embossed with purple EP and began assembling the project. I added a postcard created by using a stamp of the same name from Premium Craft Brands and popped the letters in position. I added lots of the delicate Dutch doobadoo laser art fern leaves that i coloured up with PanPastels. The dainty butterflies are also Dutch Doobadoo laser art, they have been embossed with Aqua Sparkle and Sprinkle embossing powder. To finish off I took some lilac ribbon to create a hanging loop and topped that with a seam binding bow using the same ribbon.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

A Girl Who Crafts: anything goes

Altered Eclectics: anything goes

Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned paper: anything goes with patterned paper

Creative Knockouts: Hearts a Flutter

Die Cut Divas: words, quotes/sentiments

Dies R us: hearts plus die cuts

Fairy Tale: something with a heart

Recycle, repurpose, reinvent: anything goes

I'm feeling quite organised today (for a change lol), I've got the housework done, washing done and drying, a big casserole bubbling away in the slow cooker so I've just go the shopping to do and then the rest of the weekend is my own (hopefully) so with any luck I'll be able to spend the afternoon crafting, yipppeeeeeee!

Have a great day and hope to see you again soon

Claire xx

Dutch Doobadoo A5 brick stencil	Premium Art Brands, Postcard stamp set	Dutch Doobadoo Laser Art Fern	Dutch Doobadoo laser art, butterflies	Dutch Doobadoo Dutch Shape Art 3 15 x 20 cm
Dutch Doobadoo Envelope Template	Maimeri Light modelling paste

Anything goes at Fashionable Stamping challenges

Hello folks, the last two weeks have whizzed past in the blink of an eye and its time for a new challenge at Fashionable Stamping challenges already! This time around our theme is 'Anything goes' although we are a stamping challenge so we do want to see stamping as the main focus of your project. As always there's a fab prize of a $20 voucher from our regular sponsor Flonzcraft up for grabs so I hope you're going to ink up those stamps and play along.

My card was inspired by my lovely Chocolate Baroque teamie Judith (pop over to her blog here to check out her beautiful artwork) who had been playing with inks and her gelli plate. I can never resist a new technique so I got out my Memento Inks, dusted off my gelli plate and brayer and got to work. I used shades of green ink initially, brayered the ink on for even coverage. I then created some texture with a sheet of crumpled copier paper. I stamped the leaves (from Heartfelt Creations) using Memento Inks in Rhubarb Stalk, Tangelo, Canteloupe,, Rich Cocoa and Bamboo Leaves and then took a print. I trimmed the paper and inked the edges with more Bamboo Leaves memento ink and matted it on kraft and then dark brown cardstock. The sentiment is also from Heartfelt Creations,, stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa, to finish off i've added seam binding, string, a button and a twine bow.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Allsorts: autumn

Crafting by Design: anything goes

Kitty Bee Designs: fall colours

Love to create: ribbon

That's Crafty : Keep it simple

The Vintage Challenge: autumn

Through the Craft Room door: anything goes

If you've got time, do check out all the gorgeous projects from my lovely talented DT sisters.

Thanks so much for popping by today

Claire xx

Trees with Autumn Colours at Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Hi there folks, I'm running a bit late with my DT card for Fashionable Stamping Challenges, its not bloggers fault this time lol. I thought the new challenge started next week, so I seem to have lost a full week somewhere. Anyway better late than never, our theme this time around is 'Trees with Autumn Colours' and we've got a fab prize of a $20 voucher for Flonzcraft so I hope you're going to play along with us. Don't forget we're a stamping challenge though so no digis allowed!

For my card I've made background using the cling film technique and distress stains/glimmer mists overstamped with some gorgeous leaves from Heartfelt Creations. The focal image is from Chocolate Baroque, stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa and coloured with both Graph'It markers and Inkense pencils. I've added some raffia lace, lots of leaves cut from scraps of the background card, some little berries and of course seam binding ribbon and a bow. 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

A Creative romance: anything goes

Allsorts: based on a film title (The Birds)

Craft Room Challenge: Forest Friends

Crafty Calendar: leaves and lace

Fantasy Stampers: autumn colours

Sweet Stampin: ribbons and bows

Vandicrafts: Autumn

Well i've got the ironing done, cooked lunch, walked the dogs and tidied up I definitely think its time to get inky in my craft room. If you've got a minute do pop over to the challenge blog and check out my teamies gorgeous projects

Thanks for popping by today, hope to see you again soon
Claire xx

Embossing at PanPastel UK

Good morning my lovelies, we've got a new challenge starting at PanPastel UK and our theme this time is 'Embossing' so dig out those embossing folders or dust off your heat gun and have a play to be in with a chance of winning some fab stash from our generous sponsors Premium Craft Brands!

You don't have to use PanPastels to play along but of course we love it when you do.

I've used PanPastels in Yellow Green Shade, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber and Rich Gold to create this faux leather notebook using kraft cardstock. I've followed Sheena Douglass's technique using glycerine to create the faux leather and then embossed with the gorgeous A4 Leaves Stencil before applying my PanPastels. I used Maimeri Mat Gel Medium to seal and then lined the inside with fabric. The sentiment at the bottom is from Chocolate Baroque, stamped on tissue paper and applied with my Matte gel medium. I used a grungeboard shape at the top, embossed with gold EP. The inside was painted with Platinum White Maimeri Acrylic paint, stamped with a Heartfelt Creations sentiment and topped with crackle medium.

I'm far to lazy to sew the notebook inside so I took the easy option and cut a little shopping list book down and glued it inside. Lastly I made a ribbon fastener using seam binding ribbon, a spellbinders die cut coloured with PanPastels and a few flowers topped off with a button and a twine bow.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Bearly Mine: autumn colours

Crafting for all seasons: colours of Autumn

Cute Card Thursday: Awesome Autumn

Divas by Design: anything but a card

Milk/Coffee challenge: colours of Autumn

Penny's Paper Crafty: embossing

Simon Says Monday Challenge: techniques

Simply Create Too: Fall/Autumn

Thanks for popping by, have a great day and hope to see you again soon

Claire xx

Matt Gel	Rich Gold - Metallic Pan Pastel	Burnt Sienna	Raw Umber	Bright Yellow Green Shade
Platinum white acrylic paint	A4 Leaves Stencil

Guest Designer at Love to Create

Good afternoon folks, its a very exciting day for me today! I'm such a happy bunny to be joining the lovely talented team at Love to Create as Guest Designer! The theme for the challenge is 'flowers and stitching'  and there are two fabulous sponsors A Day for Daisies and Yours and Mine Papercrafts. I was lucky enough to be able to work with one of the gorgeous images from  A Day for Daisies and I chose 'Girl with wind in her hair', isn't she a beauty?

I had a lot of fun colouring the image with my Graph'It markers, I also used my markers to create the background. I don't often use markers for backgrounds but I really like the effect. Once I'd coloured her I had a bit of a panic as I wasn't sure which papers to use but I found these from Lili of the Valley which match perfectly. I've used tea dye distress ink to distress all the edges and kraft card for matting and layering.

I've added some flowers made using more of the papers, die cut with Heartfelt Creations dies, popping some little pearls in the centres. Now on to my stitching, I had some gorgeous tulle trim ages ago but it was really expensive so I decided to have a go and make my own. I got some pretty cream tulle, cut a strip and cut it into a fringe, snipping quite randomly. I stitched along the top and then gathered it up before attaching it to my card. The top was an awful mess but I covered it up with some seam binding ribbon topped with a pretty button and some twine.

To finish off I've added a little butterfly charm that I brushed with gesso and sprinkled with a little glamour dust.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

A Creative Romance: a touch of craft

A Day for Daisies: painterly effects

Stamping Sensations: things with wings

That's Crafty: girl power

The Ribbon Girl: add ribbon

Through the purple haze: anything goes

Thanks so much for visiting today, hope to see you again soon
Claire xx

Anything goes at Vintage Stamping Challenges

Hi, can you believe its September already? I think I must have blinked and missed August lol. Anyway September is here so its time for our new challenge at Vintage Stamping Challenges and this month its a nice easy one, 'Anything Goes'. You don't have to create a vintage project to enter but you do have to ink up those stamps, no digistamps allowed. There's a Flonzcraft voucher up for grabs for our lucky winner so pop over and find out all the details.

For my DT card I've used one of the lovely Gibson girls stamps from Flonzcraft, I've coloured her with Graph'It markers, die cut her with spellbinders labels 4 and inked around the edges with Spun Sugar distress ink before adding some faux stitching.

The bp is from Craftwork cards, distressed with a craft knife and Spun Sugar DI with some faux stitching around the edges. I've added some pink lace, black ribbon and some pretty black sequin trim. I've also added some die cut swirls and some flowers made from another bp die cut with Heartfelt Creations die. I've inked the edges with black soot distress ink and popped some card candi in the centres. To finish off i've stamped the sentiment (from Chocolate Baroque) with black ink, its always a bit scary when you stamp the sentiment on last isn't it? 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafting at the weekend: anything goes

Crafty ribbons: birthday with ribbon

Creative Corner: anything goes

Paper pretties: birthday

Simon Says Stamp: anything goes

Treasured Times: anything goes

Thanks for visiting today, hope to see you again soon

Claire xx

Summer Fun at PanPastel UK

Good morning folks, time for a new challenge at PanPastel UK and this time around our theme is Summer Fun. As always you don't have to use our products to enter but there's some fab stash from our generous sponsor Premium Craft Brands up for grabs so stop by the challenge blog to find out all the details and to check out my teamies beautiful projects too.

I made the background for my card by applying Magenta Tint PanPastel to come white cardstock. I used a Dutch Doobadoo stencil over the top and applied Maimeri Glassy Gel Medium, I carefully removed the stencil and aprinkled on glamour dust. It gives a lovely dimensional sparkley effect 

The focal image was made using free stamps that came with Creative Stamping Magazine, I'm really trying not to spend my pennies on craft mags but I really couldn't resist this one. I added colour with my PanPastels and used Pastel Pencils or definition, sealing with cheap hairspray. 

I made the flowers with Heartfelt creations stamps and dies, again adding colour with PanPastels and stamping with coordinating distress inks. I added some die cut flourishes and layered the image and flowers up over some ribbon and lace. To finish off topped the bow with a button and some twine.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge: L for lace

Country View Crafts: stencil it

Crafting by Designs: Hats

Crafty Ribbons: anything goes with ribbon

Try it on Tuesday: things with wings

Tuesday Throwdown: handmade flowers

I'm planning on a nice lazy Sunday, its far too hot to do much so I'm going to sit and read in the garden. Have a great day and thanks for popping by

Claire xx

More inspiration at PanPastel UK

Good morning folks, how's your weekend going? We've had lots of lovely sunshine and now we're getting the thunder storms, I got totally drenched yesterday when I went out so today I'm playing safe and going no further than my craft room lol. Today's project is my inspiration piece for our Inspired by Tim challenge at PanPastel UK

I've taken inspiration from the talented Mr Holtz for my wall hanging and used lots of distressing and texture on this project which began life as a piece of MDF.

I began with a coat of Maimeri Gesso, and dried it with heat gun to bubble it a little here and there. Next I applied Maimieri Light Modelling Paste through a Dutch Doobadoo Chicken Wire stencil. Once that was dry I set to adding some colour with gesso and mixing in PanPastels in Magenta Tint, Diarylide Yellow Tint, Yellow Green, and Turquoise. I just scrape a little PanPastel out onto the gesso and mixed it on the project. Once all that was dry I applied a little Maimeri Acrylic Paint in platinum white for some shimmer and then dabbed a little brown PanPastel to distress here and there

The next layer was cut from corrugated card which I distressed and painted with watered down gesso.

Next I added the die cut letters which I coloured with Yellow Green PanPastel and then brushed on Maimeri Glassy Gel and sprinkled with glamour dust. I stamped the rest of the words with Bamboo Leaves Memento ink and cut them out.

Next came lots of die cut flowers made using the same  PanPastel tints, stamped with distress inks in coordinating shades and die cut. I adore these flower stamps and dies, I've been very good lately but my stash diet bit the dust and I gave in as I just couldn't resist these Arianna Blooms stamps and dies from Heartfelt Creations.

To finish off I added pearls, laser art Butterflies from Dutch Doobadoo and some die cut leaves. Hmmmm maybe I should have added some ribbon too.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Altered Eclectics: anything goes

A Vintage journey: dies and distress

Country View Crafts: stencil it

Fab'n'Funky: summer

Just Inspirational: Shabby Chic

Love to Create: Petals and pearls 

Penny's Paper Crafty: anything goes

Stamplorations: stamps and glitter

Well I'm away to play in my craft room, I'm escaping my usual Sunday ironing as its far too hot (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it lol)

Thanks so much for visiting today

Claire xx