Steampunk Jellyfish from Chocolate Baroque

Good morning folks, Monday already so its back to work for me but before I go here's a bookmark made using the fabulous jellyfish stamp from Steampunk Funky Fish from Chocolate Baroque. When I first saw this stamp, the tentacles reminded me of a tassel so I put my thinking cap on and came up with the idea of a book mark.

The background was from my pile of inky papers, made with distress inks in Broken China, Chipped Sapphire, Mowed Lawn and sprized with mica spray. I covered the wet inky background with cling film and left to dry, unfortunately you can't see the mica in the photos.

I stamped the Jellyfish with Memento Tuxedo Blank ink and added some stencilling with sequin waste and Chipped Sapphire distress ink. 

To add a bit more interest I had a rummage in my craft room and found some Fantasy Film so I dusted of my iron and created the 'umbrellas' of both Jellyfish and attached them with some glue.

To finish off I inked around the edge with more Chipped Sapphire and of course I had to add a tassel.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks: animals

A Little Bit Crafty: Anything goes but not Christmas

Allsorts: animal magic

House that stamps built: anything but a card

Stempelgarten: animals

Well its time to venture out into the cold and get the bus to work. Its all good fun lol

have a good day and thanks for popping by

Claire xx

Haviing a crackling time

Evening all :-) I've been having a wee play in my craft room today after battling through loads of jobs in the house and garden and I couldn't resist trying the gorgeous crackle effect that Kay from Indigo Blu demo's on C&C last week and omg is its a fab technique! I love it :-)

I used a little black tag, swiped with flitter glu and then applied Kroma Crackle coloured with mica powders (copper and Pear green) and blasted it with a heat gun. Its a totally different crackle to when the Kroma crackle dries naturally but its really effective, kind of  like a rough bark effect. I didn't really want to cover it up lol but I decided to add an Indigo Blu sentiment and a couple of acetate butterflies, made with a freebie Indigo Blu stamp from Craft stamper. I stamped them with black stazon, cut out and then embossed the back with Palm Green and Copper Sparkle EPs from Sparkle and Sprinkle. To finish off I added a scrap of green seam binding and some pearls for the butterflies bodies.

I'm entering this tag in the following challenges:

Indigo Blu: things with wings

Divas by Design: autumn colours

Make my Monday: texture

Sparkle and Sprinkle: anything goes with EP/Glitter/ flocking

Try it on Tuesday: Texture

Well thanks for popping by, have a lovely evening - I've got a date with a bag of Maltesers and the tv lol

Claire xx

Happy Birthday at PanPastel UK

Good morning folks, and a warm welcome to my new followers, its lovely to 'meet' you. Winter is back with a bang here,I think the weather was teasing us with the sunshine last weekend as its starting to snow again this morning. As its Sunday morning, we've got a new challenge over at PanPastel UK and this week our challenge theme is a nice easy one for you, "Happy Birthday" so we want to see your birthday projects. This was perfect timing for me as yesterday was my son's birthday, he's 23 now and my word doesn't that make me feel like an old lady lol.

I had a lovely play making this card, I started off with a Paynes Grey and Neutral Grey PanPastels which I overstamped with a cog stamp from Chocolate Baroque using Flitter Glu and then added gilding flakes. The next layer was created using silver mirri card, I used a Crafters Workshop Template and used Maimeri Glossy Gel. Rather than leave the gel plain (which gives a fabby clear resist) I added silver mica powder and gave it a good mix before applying it through the mask. Here's another pic to try and show the effect, isn't silver a  pain to photograph

To finish off I've added a diecut shield and instead of using a Happy Birthday sentiment I stamped 23 and popped that in the centre of the die cut shield. I added some silver ribbon, black and red twine and a squashed bottle cap.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Cardmaking Mamas: birthday

Crafting for all Seasons: dies/punches

Craft room Challenge: something for a man

Crafty Catz: dies and punches

Ooh La La: sparkle and shine

QKR Stampede: Birthday with a number

Songbird Challenge: Sixteen going on seventeen

As always our lucky winner will receive a fabby PanPastel starter set courtesy of the lovely Berni from Your Creativity Store!

Well this little old lady is going to battle through a mountain of ironing before sneaking off to my craft room. Thanks for popping by, hope you're having a good Sunday

Claire xx

A vintage challenge

Good morning, we're back with our first challenge for the new year at Vintage Stamping Challenges and this time our challenge is 'Vintage' with the optional extra of using your new stash. As always there is a great prize up for grabs from our generous sponsor Flonzcraft and of course my lovely teamies have come up with some gorgeous projects to inspire you 

I've used a shaped card blank, distress inks modelling paste and mica powder to create the background for this card. The two glamorous ladies are a lovely stamp by Flonzcraft - coloured with distress markers and I've decoupaged their dresses for a little more depth. I've added a fan made using a Joanna Sheen stamp, crinoline flowers made with tattered florals, a doily, buttons, feathers and faux pearls from my stash.  Here's another pic to show the detail

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Mess: sparkle/bling

Crazy 4 Challenges: ribbons and bows

Totally gorjuss: anything goes with ribbon

my poor laptop is playing up at the minute so I'm still very behind with my blog visits so apologies for not visiting, hopefully normal service will be resumed before too long

have a happy Monday

Claire xx

Bonfire Night Challenge at PanPastel UK

Good morning, time for a new challenge at PanPastel UK and this week we've got a 'Bonfire Night' theme for you. I struggled a bit with this one as I didn't have any firework stamps at all but managed to improvise lol.

I began by masking a moon and stamping rows of houses using stamps from Artistic Outpost. Then creating a dark night sky with PanPastels in Black, Paynes Grey and Violet Shade, removed the masks and gave it a blast of cheap hairspray to seal the PanPastel. I don't usually bother to seal it but I tried using pearl card which is very smooth so I thought I'd better seal it just to be on the safe side.

Next I coloured the couses with Graph'It markers. I rummaged through my stash and found some flower stamps from Chocolate Baroque that I thought would do for fireworks, I stamped them with versamark and then dusted over various shades of mica powders. While I was rummaging I came across some neon sakura pens that I haven't used for years so I doodled some more fireworks and added some light to the windows of the houses.

To finish off I added scraps of ribbon and fibres in lots of bright colours. 

I'm entering my tag in the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge: T for tags

Forever Night: Make a tag

My Mum's Craft Shop: bold and bright

Polkadoodles: Bright colours and sparkle

As always our challenge winner will receive a fab prize, a starter set of PanPastels thanks to our lovely sponsor Berni from Your Creativity Store

As always I've got a fun packed Sunday morning cooking and ironing but hopefully it won't take too long and I'll manage to grab a few hours crafting  too. Its  freezing here, winter is definitely here we've had a few frosty mornings already so apart from walking the dogs I won't be venturing further than my craft room today

Have a lovely Sunday and thanks for popping by

Claire xx

Mystical and Magical at PanPastel UK

Hi there, phew I'm chasing my tail at the minute with work, hubby in hospital and trying to do battle with the weeds when I get chance. Its great to grab some time in my craft room though and have a play and I had loads of messy fun making this card. Its my DT card for PanPastel UK where the theme is Mystical and Magical

The large fairy and castle stamps are from Stampendous, the smaller fairy and the toadstools are from Chocolate Baroque, I stamped them all and masked them to create the sky with panpastels. I also masked a moon too. I used black, paynes grey and violet to create the sky and added some icicle stickles for the stars. The moon was made using white panpastel with a little violet and paynes grey pans around the edges. I coloured the scene with distress markers and added lots of glamour dust, fairies have to have a bit of sparkle lol. You can see the fairy a bit better here in this pic

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Mess: sun/moon

Creative Belli: Stars

Cute Card thursday: Fairy nice

Cutie Pie: Glitter and bling

Papertake weekly: all things girly

Southern Girls: angels or fantasy

Don't forget our lucky winner will receive a fab trial set of PanPastels from the lovely Berni at Your Creativity Store!

Thanks for popping by today. I hope you get chance to enjoy some sunshine, We've had the most dreaful weather over the last few months but yesterday the sun came out! Better make the most of it while it lasts lol

Claire 

Pearls and Swirls for CD Sunday

Hi again, i've been loving dusting off my crafting cds during my month as GDT at CD Sunday and rediscovering all the scrummy papers and images on them. For this weeks challenge which is Pearls and Swirls i've used a backing paper from Artylicious 'Peacock Summer Party'.

I don't make many baby cards but its always handy to have a few at the ready as a lot of my son's friends are starting their familes so we'll be needing some baby cards in the next few months. (Fortunately he's not showing signs of getting broody thank goodness as I'm far to young to be a grandma lol). Anyway back to my card, I printed the bp off and distressed the edges with a craft knife and then used a prima mask to add polyfilla which I brushed with mica powder along the botton of the card

.

I've used a Whiff of Joy stamp called 'Willow Holding Baby' and coloured her with distress markers before die cutting her with nestiles. I've added a heart shaped doily, lots of paper flowers and some pearly swirls made with cosmic shimmer glue. To finish off i've added some polka dot organza ribbon.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew: Pearls and swirls

Paper Shelter: Pearls and swirls

Totally Stampalicious: Your favourite embellishment (ribbon)

Thanks for popping by

Claire xx

Its a girl thing at Crafty Ann's

Hi there, I've been totally confused with the days this week after the long weekend off. but its Friday already the weekend is nearly  here and its time for a new challenge at Crafty Ann's! Our theme for the next fortnight is 'Its a Girl Thing' so I've gone for delicate pastels colours, lots of sparkle and ribbon and lace for my card. Don't forget our lucky winner will receive a fab prize from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop

I've used a beautiful bp from Crafty Ann's Mottled Stone collection, and I've used a prima mask and stencil paste brushed with pearl mica powder to create some detail in the corners. The image is Crafty Ann's lovely 'Morning Glory' coloured with promarkers. I've added faux pearls, seambinding ribbon,  a couple of pins made with beads from my stash  and lace to finish off . You can see the detail a bit better in this pic

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Crafters Cafe: Pearls and swirls

Crafts and Me: Lace

Digital Tuesday: Anything goes

Fab'n'Funky: go green

Paper take weekly: anything goes

Really Reasonable Ribbon: Flowers and lace

The Ribbon Girls: ribbon or lace

Right i'd better get myself ready for work, we're soooooo busy at the minute I don't seem to have a minute. Still it looks like the weekend is shaping up to be perfect crafting weather as it hasn't stopped raining for the last couple of days. Hope you're escaping the worst of the weather where you are

thanks for popping by

Claire xx

On the street where you live......

Hi there, I hope you're having a good week. I'm still off sick with my poorly neck and although its much better I still can't sit and colour with my trusty promarkers. Fortunately I can mess around with paint and ink without it hurting so at least I can craft :-)
Anyway back to business,  we've got a fab new challenge at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog, the theme is 'On the street where you live' and there is an amazing prize up for grabs from our sponsor Laura at 'Thats Crafty', as our lucky winner will receive some scrummy Dylusions goodies!! Grrrrrr I wish i could enter lol

Anyway back to my project, I'm not sure about the finished product but I had loads of fun making it lol.

When i thought about the street where I live I thought of trees and birds and rain so I wanted to include them in my project

I created a background with lots of different colour distress inks and splashed it with water. The tree was made by adding a little water to some brown acrylic paint and letting it run to make the tree shape, I added some 'blossom' with mica flakes. 

I just drew the houses (after a fashion) and stamped them with text and coloured again with distress inks. 

The bird is a TH die cut, painted with black soot crackle paint, he looked a bit mean so i decided to give him a googly eye to make him look a bit more friendly. I wasn't happy with my watery rain so I added some more using a Crafters Workshop template and magitac paste, once it was tacky I brushed on lots of mica powders. I love the effect, you can see it a bit better in this pic. Much prettier than all the rain and hail we've had lately

To finish off I just added a few doodles with a black pen.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge: F is for feathered friends

Fab'n'Funky: No dps

My Mum's Craft Shop: the great outdoors

Shopping our stash: B is for ... bird

Use it Tuesday: April showers bring May flowers 

(my hoarded supplies are my mica flakes, I love em but i'm very mean with them lol)

Thanks for popping by, if you have a minute check out my teamies projects as they are fab-u-lous!!

Claire xx

GDT at Sugar Creek Hollow

Hi there, I'm so excited to be GDT at Sugar Creek Hollow for this weeks challenge, its a real pleasure to join such a talented team of ladies. I always admire their beautiful shabby chic and vintage projects so it was such an honour to be invited :-). This week's theme is 'Go Girly' and one lucky winner will receive a digi stamp of our choice and a winner's badge to display on their blog. In addition, the Design Team will choose one project as Card of the Week, the creator will receive a badge and be in the running for a Guest Designer spot!

For my GDT project I've used a gorgeous stamp from Crafty Individuals (a birthday pressie from my lovely MIL and FIL). I stamped the image with sepia versafine and watercoloured with distress inks (Tea dye, Vintage photo, Victorian Velvet). I made the background by stamping words onto card stock with distress inks, coating with gesso and then overlaying scrunched up tissue stamped with text stamp (from Chocolate Baroque's Paisley Elephant stamp sheet). To create the edge I cut the tissue paper larger than the card and once it was dry, ran a wet paint brush around about 1/2cm from the edge, this lets you tear the tissue in a straightish line but leaves a lovely feathery edge.  I've also added stitching with shimmery embroidery floss. 

I've gone to town with lots of girly embellies, pearls, iridescent gems, seam binding ribbon, lace, irridescent beaded trim and some lovely sparkly pins from Crafty Boots. The sentiment stamp is from Chocolate Baroque. I've added some hand made flowers too, rolled ribbon roses and the larger flowers were created with crinoline fabric from Linda, The Funky Junkie's Etsy store. I die cut the fabric using Crealies dies, coloured with Victorian velvet distress ink and scrunched up to dry. Once they flowers were dry, I layered them up and added iridescent seed beads to the centre. The punched leaves are made from kraft glassine.

The shimmery heart was made using a technique I saw on the Particraft blog,  (I think its on Sue's dvd too). This is the first time I've used it but definitely not the last as its so easy and really effective. To get the heart shape I stamped a heart stamp on some scrap card, cut out the shape and then spread pva glue over the reverse of the shape.  I added a good dusting of mica powders in pink and pearl and then blasted with my heat gun.  

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Clearly Inspired: Pastels
Crafters Companion: love is in the air
Crafty Creations: Valentine
Crop Stop: Distressed vintage or shabby
I brake for challenges: Fancy folds
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop: Be my valentine
Scrapbook Sisters: Sweet Valentine
Simply Create Too: love is in the air
Totally Papercrafts: Make your own flowers
Wags'n'Whiskers: Valentine/love


Thanks for calling by today. I hope you're having a good weekend
hugs
Claire xx

Year of the Dragon at Rainbow Lady's Challenge

Get your sunspecs out as this card is a bit on the bright side lol. Our challenge this week at Rainbow Lady's Challenge is 'Year of the Dragon'. I was tempted to go all oriental for this one but then I decided to use this cute little dragon stamp instead.

The stamp is 'Dragon Luck' by Lisa Victoria from Sweet Pea Stamps. I've coloured him with promarkers and inked around the edges with distress ink. I've used a background made with lime green cosmic shimmer mist, which I brayered (with an old hard rubber brayer not my trusty speedball lol) to create the texture. I've also added a panel of cuttlebugged card again inked with distress inks. To finish off I've added some lime green scrunchy ribbon, a couple of fabric flowers and a button.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Catered Crop: buttons

Crafty Catz: Something new

Delicious Doodles: All things new

Deep ocean: sparkling and/or glitter

Emerald Faerie Garden: Green and gold/yellow

I love promarkers: anything goes

Marks Finest Papers: border punches

Stampin Sisters in Christ: Something new 

(my embossing folder was a Christmas pressie from my lovely friend Ann)

Stamptacular Sunday: texture

The Squirrel and the Fox: Critters

Truly Scrumptious: something forgotten (my dragon stamp)

Thanks for visiting today

Claire xx

Butterflies or Bugs at FSC

Hi there, we're back on the catwalk with a new challenge at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and this fortnight our theme is 'Butterflies or Bugs'. As always we're sponsored by the lovely Marina from Cottage Crafts who is offering a fab prize for our lucky winner. You may need your sunspecs for my DT card lol

I've created the background with PanPastels using white and yellow applied with a sofft sponge and given a quick spray of cheapie hairspray to fix. Next some splodges of acrylic paint, once this was dry I added some 3d stencil paste through some sequin waste and coloured with yellow mica powder. The bees are from  one of the Sheena Douglass paint fusion sets, they've got glamour dusted wings and yellow viva gloss gel on their bodies. 

The butterflies were created using some of my old favourite butterfly stamps from Chocolate Baroque (Butterfly Bliss and Just Butterflies). I stamped the butterfly silhouette with London Fog memento ink, cut out and coloured the back with yellow PanPastel. I used the detailed butterfly stamp with black stazon on Clearly for Art film, cut them out coloured the reverse with alcohol inks and heated them so I could curl the wings. I added Ranger black enamel accents to the butterfly and attached them with silicone. The tiny white 'pearls' were made with a Viva pearl pen. To finish off I've added some lace, yellow chiffon ribbon and a silver bee charm.

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

Crazy Challenge: Lace and or pearls

Creative Inspirations Paint: something old

Fabulous Friday: use paint

Flutter by Wednesday: bright colours

Gingersnap Creations: (GC 132): Soft yellow and white

Make My Monday: Nature/animals

Shopping our Stash: glitter sparkle or shine

Thanks for calling by. 

Claire xx

Our first challenge at Christmas Challenges {with sketches}

Woo hoo!!! How exciting, its time for our very first challenge over at Christmas Challenges {with sketches}, we have some amazing sketches lined up for you and the team have also got some unbelievable prizes from our sponsors too! For our very first challenge we have a very generous sponsor....All that Scraps so make sure you join in for your chance to win a $30 gift certificate!!! Now thats what I call an amazing prize :-)

For our first challenge,we have a gorgeous sketch from Janneke, who is the founder of Christmas Challenges {with sketches} and she has certainly come up with a brilliant sketch for our debut challenge.

Here's my card using Janneke's beautiful sketch. I've used a text bp and a stripe bp from Artylicious Season's Greetings cd rom. I've also made two snowflake bps, the one on the left of the pic was made by stamping Tim Holtz snowflake stamps on to white card and embossing with clear EP as a resist. I then sprayed with lots of Cosmic Shimmer spray in Midnight blue. The background on the right was made by stamping the same stamps on dark blue card with versamark and dusting with pearl cosmic shimmer powder. 

I've edged all the bps with a little glamour dust for some extra sparkle. The snowflakes and icicles are die cuts made with marianne creatable dies, liberally coated with more crystal glamour dust. The main image is ching chou kuik's Winterberry from Sweet Pea Stamps, she is a real beauty isn't she? I've coloured her with promarkers and added a little silver embossing to the trim on her dress. I use a quicke glue pen to apply the embossing powder as its much finer than my versamark pen. I also embossed the snowflakes and berries on the image with clear sparkle EP and then painted in the background with distress ink in Tumbled Glass. You can see the detail a little better in this pic

To finish off I've added some wide blue and silver ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, some pale blue gems and some clear dew drops. The sentiment is a stamp from Paper Pretties.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Christmas Stamping all Year long: Christmas and vintage

Clear it out: colouring mediums

Crafty Emma's Challenge: Embellish it

Crafty Purple Frog: Monochromatic

Going Grey with Scrap Creations: Use at least 3 different bps

Passion for Promarkers: all the 2s (2 hand made bps, 2 printed bps

Phindy's Place: Christmas in May

Stamp Man challenge: Bingo (my line is blue/ribbon/sparkle and bling)

I do hope you're going to play along with our first challenge, you don't want to miss out on our fab prize and of course if you start your Christmas cards now you'll be way ahead by December too.

Pop over to my new teamies blogs if you get a minute, they have created the most gorgeous selection of cards to inspire you

Claire xx

Make your own DP at Michelle Perkett Studio

Hi there, how are you doing? I seem to have gremlins again with a leaky radiator, a poorly pc and I also think I've heard the patter of little paws in the house... I think I may have a little mousy visitor! I do hope not as I love mice and hate to think of having to evict them. I didn't have chance to investigate thoroughly with all the chaos of the leak so I'll have to look for evidence when I get home from work. If its not one thing its another but at least I'm not bored lol.

 Anyway on to today's card which features the stunning Princess Oceana from Michelle Perkett Studio, I adore this image and I've coloured her loads of times but I thought I'd give her black hair this time for a change.  You can find Princess Oceana in Michelle's Etsy Store here.

I've coloured her with my promarkers and added some dimension with viva pearl and gloss pens and some tiny sea shells from my stash. She's matted on some blue mirri card. I've created the background using Cosmic Shimmer spray in Midnight Blue and some silver firework ink, sprayed on white card and then clingfilmed and left to dry. I love this technique, its perfect for watery or icy backgrounds and looks sooooo sparkly and shimmery in real life. Once the background was dry I stamped border and and corner stamps from Chocolate Baroque and embossed with seafoam white EP. The flowers and gems are from my stash.

I'm entering Princess Oceana in the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments: No sentiment

2 Sisters:  Use a digi

Crafty Cardmakers: Embossing

Crafty Purple Frog: Monochromatic

Little Claire's: Sparkle

Paperplay: Sparkle Galore

Simon Says Stamp: Sparkle and shine

Totally Gorjuss: Water or anything wet

Don't forget to check out the new challenge over at Michelle Perkett Studio, Shelley and her lovely team of mermaids have a fab challenge starting today ... they want to see you make your own backing papers. 

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

Bah Humbug. Feeling Blue and some snowy pics

Hi there its the last challenge of the year from those lovely ladies at Bah Humbug, the theme is 'Feeling Blue' and I do , feel blue that is. Blue with cold in this freezing weather but also blue as we won't be Bah Humbugging again until next year, although it won't be long will it. I would be feeling smug about all the cards I've made BUT aaaaarrggghhhh I haven't done any of the inserts yet.

As you know I'm not the worlds best photographer so I've tried scanning this as I've used loads of glimmer mists etc on this card but its not a deal better than with the camera but never mind.

The stamps are all from Elusive images, the snowy house scene is stamped and embossed with blue EP, painted with stormy skies DI and liberally glittered. The royal blue blackground uses a resist technique and lots of midnight blue cosmic shimmer spray and silver firework ink. I made the other background using the same stamp, embossed in blue and then distressed with stormy skies DT again. The sentiment is from Paula P, its not showing up very well as I stamped it and then triple embossed but added some holographic sparkle EP to the final layer, its lovely and shimmery IRL though honest lol. The icicles are made with glitter and my favourite Marianne icicle die

I've had my first day being snowed in today, I don't think we've had this much snow since I was at school (back in the olden days lol). Here's a pic of my back garden this morning and we've had more snow today

The snow is literally knee deep and more is forecast tonight. Apologies to everyone fed up of the snow, we had a fair bit of snow but not enought to stop me going to work although the journey was a nightmare so I was doing a snow dance all day yesterday  - looks like it worked lol. The dogs LOVE it and have been sooooo excited today, here's a pic of them playing in the garden

 

Anyway back to my card, I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Allsorts: Monochromatic

Stamp it Crazy: anything goes + holiday theme

Ooh La La: Christmas Song (Blue christmas)

Order of the Opus Gluei: Getting Frosted

Totally Stampalicious: Anythig goes

City Crafter: Blue Christmas

The Stampsmith challenge: Tis the Holiday Season

thanks for visiting today, I bet you're ready for a cup of something after wading through this long post. Keep warm if you can, this is great crafting weather :-)

Claire xx

A new challenge at Michelle Perkett Studios!!

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

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

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

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

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

I'm entering Guinevere in the following challenges:

Fab'n'Funky: go with the flow

Charisma Cardz: One for the girls

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

For Fun challenge: Anything Goes

Tanda Teaser: Ladies only

Paper Pretties: Clean and Simple

Craft Your Passion: Monochrome

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

Claire xx

Sweet pea stampers sketch

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

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

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

Gingerloft challenge: bows

Stampin with the Dragon: Fantasy

Delightful challenges: Flower Power

Top Tip Tuesday: Layer on Layer

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

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

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

LOL

Claire xx