Challenge 15 at Christmas Challenges {with sketches}

Hi there, time for another challenge at Christmas Challenges {with sketches} and this time we have a twist, we want to see you follow Betina's gorgeous sketch but also add twine and a charm! 

As always we have a fab prize up for grabs and this time around our sponsor is Stempelstudio so pop on over to the challenge blog and find out more!

For my DT card, I've used a stamp from Stampavie called 'Dearest Deer', its one of my favourite Christmas stamps. I've coloured the image with promarkers and added some glamour dust for a little sparkle. The bps are all from GCD 'Let it Snow ' paper pad. I've added some lace, ivory seam binding and pale blue velvet ribbon from my stash. The sentiment is a stamp from Crafters Companion, stamped on a scrap of bp and embossed with pale blue EP. To finish off I've added some little blue pearly buttons with a twine bow (ok its string from the shed but I don't have any twine lol) and a gorgeous little deer charm. You can see the image and the charm better in this pic:

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Addicted to stamps: Christmas cards

Bah Humbug: Cute critters

By the cute and girly: Let it snow

Cutie Pie Challenge: pastel Christmas

Jingle Belles: something Christmassy

One stop craft : Let it snow

Passion for Promarkers: Celebrations

Totally Papercrafts: Let it snow

I seem to be accumulating a large stack of Christmas cards but I still haven't got organised and done any Christmas shopping. I've been a busy bee looking for new kitchen units, tiles, etc. as hopefully after waiting months and months we're having a new kitchen in the new year. I saw the most GORGEOUS sparkly granite worktops but they were sooooooo expensive. I'm sure that whatever worktops I choose they'll soon be sparkly so I'll  get the cheaper ones and save my pennies for crafting goodies lol

Thanks for calling by

Claire xx

Sweet Blossom

Hi there, its the first day of my week off work today and I've had a lovely crafty morning :-)

Its so cold outside Its perfect weather to bunker up and craft. As a change from Christmas cards, todays card share is an 18th birthday card for my son's girlfriend, using Sweet Blossom from Wee stamps

After making so many Christmas projects it was a lovely change to make a flowery card. The bps are all from Raspberry Road Designs, distressed with a craft knife and matted on cream card with a MS punched border. The image was coloured with promarkers and distressed with spun sugar distress ink. I've added paper roses from Wild Orchid Crafts and some silk flowers from my stash. I stamped the '18' using stamps from Crafters Companion using gold stazon on shrink plastic and heated it to shrink before attaching it with silicone glue and adding a rose pink seam binding bow. To finish off I added some faux pearls with a viva pearl pen.

Here's another pic to show the detail a little better

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday: Its just a number

Daisy Doodles: Something sweet with a digi

Sir Stampalot: Bingo challenge (my line is: punch flowers pearls)

Sketch Saturday: sketch

Stamps + fun = Creativity: Pearls

Thanks for visiting today

Claire xx

Dressmakinig and corsets at Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Hi there, well the last 2 weeks seem to have vanished in the blink of an eye and its time to take to the catwalk at Fashionable Stamping Challenges where our theme is 'Dressmaking/Corsets/Accessories' so you can also include hats, shoes ,bags etc. As always we have a fab prize up for grabs from our generous sponsor Marina from Cottage Crafts.  

I've used a corset stamp by Clarity stamps for my little canvas. I've always thought corsets must have been sooooooo uncomfortable to wear and as  I was playing around with the stamp I thought it might make butterfly wings, from there I got the idea of my little corset flying away (my mind does work in a strange way sometimes lol. The corset has been paperpieced using scraps from the GCD Ella Blue paper pad and then stitched with brown embroidery floss. I made the background with acrylic paints  in blue and stone and used pearl medium to create some clouds. The houses are from the Artistic Outpost 'Neverland' stamp sheet, stamped on old book pages with vintage photo distress ink. I added a frill made from Kraft Glassine die cut with a Marianne die, some ribbon from my stash and a little stamped sewing maching.

I attached the corset with silicone glue and looped the floss in places adding tiny punched butterflies. It looked a little bare so I stamped some buttons using my Lost Coast button border stamp and added a little brass scissors charm.

Here's a close up to show the corset in a little more detail

and another showing the cloudy sky

I'm entering my canvas in the following challenges:

2 Sisters: punches/dies

Craft your days away: buttons or bows

Divas by Design: Anything goes

Fab'n'Funky : anything goes

Pan Pastels: The Great Outdoors

Thanks for popping by today, if you have time check out my teamies gorgeous projects as they have come up with some stunning creations again

hugs

Claire xx

A bingo challenge at Crafty Ann's

Hi there, today's card is my DT card for Crafty Ann's Challenge where Crafty Ann has a Christmas bingo challenge for us. I love bingo challenges and my line is 'Glitter, snow and Red' so pop on over to the challenge blog and find out more about the challenge and of course the fab prize too!

I've made a shaker card using one of Crafty Ann's precoloured Snowmen Snowglobes and one of the Gold Frames from the Metallics collection. The frame is gorgeous in real life but hasn't show up too well in the photo. I've cut the centre of the frame out and lined it with acetate and layered it up on some ivory sparkly card.  I've added some snowy glitter for the shaker element. To finish off I've added some gold net ribbon, a bow, some Marianne die cut snowflakes  and one of Crafty Ann's Christmas sentiment tickets. You can find all Crafty Ann's goodies in her shop here. 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Boots: anything goes (you really need to try the Deluxe printers card from Crafty Boots, 

its fab-u-lous for printing and also with promarkers too)

Crazy for Challenges: snow

Dream Valley:  Sparkle

Ooh La La: Lots of sparkle

Paper Sundaes: Winter wonderland

Ribbon Reel: anything goes

Simon Says Stamp: anything goes

I'd better go and get myself ready for work, I've got loads to do i've got next week off yippppeeeeeee! We've been so busy its my first week off for 8 months and I can't wait to laze around, do lots of crafting and catch up on some blog hopping as I haven't had a lot of time for visiting lately

Thanks for calling by today

hugs

Claire xx

#181 Christmas Carols for Rainbow Lady's Challenge

Hi there, oh goodness i've had one of those days today. One of those days where everything seems to go wrong, including posting the wrong card for the lovely Cynthia's challenge over at Rainbow lady's Challenge blog. Anyway, I'll try again and here is my DT Card for this weeks challenge which is all about Christmas Carols,
i've taken inspiration from 'Oh little town of Bethlehem' 

I'm well known for my dreadful photography skills but this one has got to be the worst ever lol. The card is actually pale pink and blue with silver embossing although the colours have all come out rather odd in the card. The stamps are from Chocolate Baroque Harlequin Christmas stamped with versamark and embossed with silver EP on a background I'd brayered with Big & juicy Hydrangea inkpad. The background was made using the same ink, brayered and then over stamped with a snowflake stamp. I then misted it all with pearl glimmer mist. A couple of die cut swirly flourishes and some organza ribbon to finish off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Cards and more: Snowflakes

Craft your passion: Tis the season

Crafty Cardmakers: Heat embossing

Digi Doodle Shops best: Lots of sparkle

Scrapbook Sisters: Christmas

Southern girls: ribbon

Victorine Originals: ribbon

Thanks for calling by. 

hugs

Claire xx

Christmas Challenge at Sarah Hurley's

Hi there, back again with a shaker Christmas decoration made using the cute little reindeer digistamp from Sarah Hurley's Tinseltown cd. The theme over at Sarah Hurley's Challenge this time around is 'Christmas' and we are sponsored by Letraset so pop on over to the challenge blog and find out more.

I used greyboard for the frame, diecut with nesties Labels 11 and 4 and painted using acrylic paints and PVA glue to create a crackle effect. I backed the frame with acetate and used shaker tape to attach it to the image. The image is coloured with promarkers and derwent pencils, I've used Shasta puff embossing powder to create the snow and then added crushed glass glitter for the shaker filling.

To embellish my little Christmas decoration I've made some rolled roses from ribbon and lace and added some little wooden 'berries' and some glamour dusted leaves (die cut using Krealies dies)

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Cardmad Fairy's : winter wonderland

Crafts 4 Eternity: Christmas decorations

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge: Vintage or distressed

Crazy 4 Challenges: snow 

Delicious Doodles: hairy legs

Dream Valley: sparkle

Elephantastic: weather related

My Sheri Crafts: Christmas decoration

Paper Sundaes: Winter Wonderland

Totally Gorjuss: sparkle

Thanks for popping by

Claire xx

White Christmas Challenge at Chocolate Baroque

You're not going to want to miss Glenda's 'White Christmas' Challenge, the winner receives a gift voucher for Chocolate Baroque and the more people that enter, the bigger the prize will be!  And some of the entries that showcase Chocolate Baroque stamps will be featured over on the Chocolate Baroque DT blog over Christmas too. How exciting!

 

I've made an easel card using one of the stamps from Home Sweet Home stamp sheet from Chocolate Baroque (of course lol) I stamped the image on watercolour card with sepia versafine and watercoloured with distress inks (antique linen, tea dye and vintage photo). I created the easel card  from kraft card using nesties and also die cut the image and distressed with lots more vintage photo and tea dye DI. I added lots of Glenda's Snowflake glitter and created flowers using fabric and Krealies 18, I coloured the cotton with vintage photo distress ink and added faux pearls to the centres. The larger flowers are rolled ribbon roses made using Ivory Lace ribbon. I die cut the foliage using scraps of kraft and Krealies Shapes 11.

For the base of the easel I used a sentiment stamp from Chocolate Baroque, I'm not sure if its available at the minute but its one of my favourites. You can see the detail here

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

Make it Monday with Kraft: Christmas

Oh la la: Lots of sparkle

Sparkles forum challenge: Vintage Christmas

Stamptacular Sunday: anything Christmas 

Sugar Creek Hollow: fancy folds

Totally Papercrafts: Christmas

Thanks for visiting today

hugs

Claire xx

Tinseltown wreath

Hi there, hope you're having a good weekend so far. Its blowing a gale here and bitterly cold .. perfect crafting weather lol. When I first got Sarah Hurley's Tinseltown cd I got totally carried away printing out loads of the gorgeous bps, and wanted to find a project to use them all. I'd seen a few of these papercone wreaths around blogland so I thought I'd have a bash.

I was suprised how easy it was to make, I just cut loads of squares of the bps, punched two edges with a MS topiary punch around the page and then folded them a little and curved the paper round to create a cone. I used a plate to position them and once I'd got enough I cut out a couple of circles of white card and used one as the base. One I'd attached all the cones I stamped the sentiment (from Chocolate Baroque) on a circle of ivory card in brilliance red ink and popped it in the centre. I attached a loop of ivory ribbon at the back and used the other white card circle to cover the back. Easy peasy :-)

Taking the pic was a different matter though, I'm sorry its at a wonky angle - I was holding it with one hand and trying to take the photo with the other lol.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments: winter holiday sentiments

Christmas Inspirations: No image

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

Crafts 4 Eternity: Christmas decorations

Creative Craft Challenge: FRee for all

Guylou's inimitability: Christmas with a wreath

Little Red Wagon: Christmas

Scrapbook Sisters: Christmas Time

Shopping our Stash: christmas or winter

Stampin with the dragon: anything goes Christmas

I've got a very lazy evening planned, watching TV and perhaps eating a little chocolate too :-) But before I collapse on the sofa, just a little reminder that you still have time to enter our Buttons challenge at Sarah Hurley's Challenge

Thanks for popping by today. 

Claire xx

Cards for men at Rainbow Lady's Challenge

Hi there, isn't Christmas sneaking up on us? I haven't even thought about Christmas shopping yet but I've got plenty of cards made and here's another, this time for Rainbow Lady's Challenge where the theme is Cards for Men. 

I've used stamps from Clarity and kept the layout very simple. The 'Noel' is stamped in versamark and embossed in gold and then masked to ink in the scene inside the 'O'. I then inked in the scene surrounding the image using my trusty brayer and Memento inks in Summer Sky, Danube blue and a little tuxedo black.

I've matted the scene on gold mirri card and had to add a gold bow to cover a messy inky fingerprint lol. Why do I always do that ?? 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Allsorts: one layer cards

Crafty Emma's: Snowflakes

House that stamps built: Christmas card +snowflakes

Lady bug Crafts Ink: Winter blues

Kaboodle Doodles: baby its cold outside

Oldie but goodie: Let it snow

PanPastel: Frosty and bright

Partytime Tuesday: snow us what you've got

Scrapbook Sisters: Christmas

Stamptacular Sunday: for a man or boy

Thanks for popping by, i've been a bad blogger lately as I'm sooooo busy at work at the minute but hopefully i'll catch up with some blog hopping at the weekend :-)

hugs

Claire  xx

Challenge 14 at Christmas Challenges {with sketches}

Hi there, its time for a new challenge at Christmas Challenges {with sketches} already and our sketch this time around if from my lovely teamie Wilma. I've rotated the sketch as I wanted to use the text border that matched the dps I've used. Sorry about the awful pic, the dark foggy days combined with my dreadful photography skills are to blame lol.

Our sponsor this time around is Michelle Perkett, Michelle is such a talented artist and her digi stamps are just gorgeous so I'm sure you won't want to miss out on the chance to win. I've used one of Michelle's Christmas images, isn't she adorable? She is called Tia and you can find her in Michelle's Etsy Store

I've coloured Tia with promarkers and added ivory flowersoft and glamour dust  for the trim on her dress, hat and muff. The papers are all from GCD Joyful Peace paper pad, distressed with a kraft knife. The flowers are ivory paper flowers from my stash, coloured with Jolly Roger Red moonglow ink spray. I've used Marianne die to cut the leaves and swirls. To finish off I've added a faux gems and a  fab postage stamp sentiment from Whimsy Stamps, I love these stamps and they have a matching die too.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Daisy Doodles: Christmas plus use a digi

Digi Doodle Shops Best: red and green

Digital Tuesday: sparkle and shine

Everybody Art Challenge:Christmas cards

Paper Creations Ink: christmas

Papertake Weekly: Christmas crackers

Pollycraft: Christmas fun

Shopping our Stash: christmas or winter

Whoopsi Daisy: anything goes at Christmas

Winter Wonderland: What a cutie

Thanks for popping by today. 

Claire xx

We're dreaming of a white Christmas

Hi there folks, well its time for a new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and this time around we have a Christmas theme for you (anything Christmas will be fine as long as its stamping not digis). As always we have a yummy prize up for grabs from Marina of Cottage Crafts so head on over to the challenge blog and find out more.

For my DT card, I've used an assortment of stamps old and new and got good and messy into the bargain lol. I started off by stamping a music score stamp from Stampers Anonymous on some tissue paper with pumice stone and tea dye distress ink. I coated a square of card with gesso and layered the gently crumpled tissue over it and then applied another layer of gesso. Once it was dry i tore the excess tissue off and lighly inked around the edges with tea dye distress ink. The focal image is from Crafty Secrets 'Vintage Christmas' stamp sheet,, stamped in sepia versafine and die cut.  Santa is layered up over an eyelet circle nestie die cut and a Marianne star frame die cut. All the die cuts were lightly inked and then liberally glamour dusted. I've added a doily from my stash and layered that over some vellum stamped with snowflakes and dusted with pearl cosmic shimmer. I've also added some faux pearls, lace, ivory velvet ribbon and some gorgeous ivory and silver ribbon from Crafty ribbons. The pins are from Crafty Boots, they are really beautiful and sparkly in real life but I couldn't catch the sparkle on the pic. The snowflakes are also Marianne die cuts and the brad is from my stash.

The sentiment stamp is from Whimsy Stamps, die cut with their postage stamp die (I just love these postage sentiments!!). The leaf frond is also a Marianne die cut.  I haven't ticked 'naughty' or 'nice' yet as I don't know who I'm sending it too lol.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

2 Sisters: let it sparkle

Artistic Stamper: Backgrounds

Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Christmas with pearls

Challenge up your life: music

Crafters Companion: let it snow

Crafty Catz: snowflakes

Crafty Emma's Challenge: snowflakes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge: music

Craft your days away: bingo challenge (my line is lace, pearls and pins)

Creatalicious: Christmas and make it sparkle

Crimbo Crackers: Make is sparkle

Deep Ocean Challenge: vintage

Diva's by Design: Monochrome

Marianne Design Diva's : sparkle and shine

Moving along with the times: Let it snow 

Oldie but goodie: Let it snow (my old stamp is the Crafty Secrets Santa)

Paper Shelter: snowflakes

Truly Scrumptious: Christmas with a vintage theme/pearls

Wags'n'Whiskers: Christmas

Phew, thats a lot of challenges lol.

Thanks for popping by, if you get a minute pop over and check out my teamies gorgeous projects as they have come up with some truly gorgeous projects. We also have the pleasure of welcoming a new member to the team too! Paula is really talented and comes up with the most gorgeous creations so we're all really excited to have her join us

hugs

Claire xx

Check out this fab freebie!

Good morning, phew its been one of 'those' weeks at work again and of course my darling doggies forgot it was Saturday and got my up at the crack of dawn lol. My early morning blog hopping  came across this fab freebie though so it was well worth getting up so early.  You can get  a free "Santa's Magical Sleigh" card making template from Card Carousel. Pop over and find out more! 

Just visit www.cardcarousel.co.uk/free/sleigh.html

Have a happy Saturday 

hugs

Claire xx

A new challenge at Crafty Ann's

Hi there, Crafty Ann has a new challenge starting today and its a sketch challenge with an optional twist to make it a monochromatic creation. I nearly managed a monochrome card but couldn't resist adding a splash of colour to the main image. Pop over to the challenge blog and check out the fab sketch and also the prize up for grabs for our lucky winner.

I've used papers from Crafty Ann's abstract collection for this card and one of Ann's new images the beautiful 'Narrow boat scene' (you can find them in Crafty Ann's digi shop). I've matted the papers on cream card and coloured the image with Derwent coloursoft pencils. To embellish the card i've added some lovely olive green gingham ribbon.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Daisy Doodles: anything goes with a digi

Di's Digi Designs: ribbons and bows

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop: anything goes

Shelley's Images: anything goes

Thanks for visiting today

hugs

Claire xx

Buttons at Sarah Hurley Challenge Blog

Hi again, i'm back again with my DT card for Sarah Hurley's challenge  which this time around has been set by my lovely teamie Melly who wants to see you use buttons! A nice easy challenge for you this time around. I've made a fun Santa card with an image and backing papers from Sarah's ..................cd

I've matted the cute kraft Santa bp on some red card and then added a doiley to the centre. i cut the main image out and then added polar white flowersoft and glamourdust to his beard and the fur trim on his hat. Once this was dry I mounted Santa's head on a strip of acetate so it 'nods' lol. To finish off I've added a sentiment from ........... and some little wooden buttons and red ribbon bows

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Daisy Doodles: anything goes with a digi

Di's Digi designs: ribbons and bows

Crimbo Crackers: Make it sparkle

Opus gluei: whats on your head

Paper Sundaes: digital images

Wags'n'whiskers: Christmas

Thanks for popping by

hugs

Claire xx

Thanksgiving at Rainbow Lady's Challenge

Hi there well this week has flown by and its time for a new challenge from the lovely Rainbow Lady and this week Cynthia wants to see Thanksgiving stamps so I took the opportunity to ink up this beautiful little lady from Sweet Pea Stamps, she is called 'Autumn Harvest' by Ching Chou Kuik

I created the background by painting white card with starbust stains (Jazzy Jivin purple, don't you just love the names of the colours lol). I painted with a stiff bristly bursh to leave the mica in lines and create some texture. Once it was dry i stamped the clarity corner stamp and embossed with gold EP and matted the background on some gold mirri card.

The image is coloured with promarkers and she has sparkle EP on her wings. I've used the new Deluxe Crafters Card from Crafty Boots to stamp the image and this stuff is fab-u-lous! I'd been having a problem with flexmarkers bleeding but with this card  the colours blend beautifully but don't seem to bleed, its a great price too. I've layered her up over a couple of Marianne diecuts, covering the join with a ribbon. The sentiment is also from Sweet Pea stamps

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments: thank you or thanksgiving

Corrosive challenge: give thanks

Crafty Boots: Fantasy

Crafty Purple Frog: use orange

Hooked on Crafts: die cuts/punches

In a Sweet pea dream:  a thankful project using fall colours

Kaboodle Doodles: thanksgiving

Our Creative Corner: pumpkins or pumpkin pie

Sentimental Sundays: thank you or thanksgiving

Sketchy Colours: orange, green and purple

Stampin Sisters in Christ: gratitude

Thanks for calling by

hugs

Claire xx