Poppies at Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog

Hi, our challenge this week at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog is 'Poppies' and our lucky winner will receive a prize from our regular sponsor Joanna Sheen. I love Joanna's products and for my DT card i've used a stamp from the Poppy Fairy stamp sheet

I love the poppy fairy stamp but decided just to use the flower stamp for this card. Its one of those stamps with a lot of detail so I tried stamping it with pumice stone distress ink and watercolouring over it with more distress inks to that the lines didn't overwhelm the image. I've added black enamel accents to the centre of the flowers and cut out with nesties labels 11. I used bundled sage distress ink to distress the edges and matted on a red faux nestie.

I made the bp with more Poppy stamps, this time the leaves from Sheena Douglass' poppy paint fusion stamps again in bundled sage DT. I oversprayed with Lily Pad glimmer mist and again used bundled sage DI for distressing around the edges.

To finish off I've stamped the sentiment on a little scrap of the BP, again cut with nesties 11 and added some red organza ribbon and a little paper poppy from my stash.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Artistic Stamper: backgrounds

Cardmaking Mamas: die cuts
Paper Pretties: use a sentiment
Ribbon Carousel: anything goes

Sparkles Forum: Remembrance Sunday

The Squirrell and the Fox: hats or flowers

Sweet Stampin: anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday: make your own backgrounds

Thanks for visiting 

Claire xx

DDTIO Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Hi there, my tag today is for the Planes, trains and automobiles challenge over at Dragon's Dream Tag it on. Frankie and her team always come up with fab challenges and gorgeous inspiration but I never seem to get a tag finished in time to enter so I was pleased to have an inky play and come up with a tag for this weeks challenge

I stamped the train in black versafine on a manilla tag and then masked it to stamp the other images in using black soot and pumice stone distress inks, London fog memento ink and then embossed the train tracks in silver.  The stamps are from Creative Expressions and the bow is recycled from a Christmas pressie.

I'm entering my tag in the following challenges:

CBGM #18 transport: 

Dragon's Dream Tag It On: trains, planes and automobiles

Gingersnap Creations GC124 : Black and greys 

Paper Playtime: anything goes

Simply Create: shades of black

Stamps R us: masculine

Thanks for popping by today. 

Claire xx

Its snowing in Tinseltown

Hi there, todays card features Sarah Hurley's brand new Cd, called Tinseltown! Sarah's cds are all amazing but this one is really packed with goodies, you can find it here. I've got to say it was hard to choose where to start but i couldn't resist these two cuties.

I know I'm always apologising for my awful photo's but this one is totally pants - Its a shaker card and I've really struggled to get a pic as the acetate reflects the light and the blue is bleached out but this is the best I can manage :-( 

When i retire i'm going to do a photography course lol.

There are loads of printable elements on Tinseltown and I printed off the precoloured  little Eskimo boy and girl, the igloo and the North Pole sign and cut them out. I layered them on the snowy background and made a frame using white card, die cut the icicle borders and then smothered them with snowflake glitter. Inside the shaker is some snowy stuff from my stash. I've layered the frame up on another BP from Tinselfown and some kraft card and added some bunting (from Tinseltown of course lol) which i rubber stamped with the words 'Let it snow'

I'm entering my little eskimo scene in the following challenges:

A gem of a challenge: cold and frosty

Bah Humbug: Die cuts

Cardmad Fairy's : Friendship

Christmas inspirations: die cuts

Crafts and me: blue

Crafty Purple Frog: sparkle

Digi Doodle shops best: anything goes

Dream Valley: anything goes

One Stitch at a Time: Christmas

Play Date Cafe: kraft, flesh, cadet blue

Simon Says Stamp: anything goes

Totally Papercrafts: glitter it

Truly Scrumptious: Shaker boxes

Thanks for visiting today, I'm away to put my feet up. I've had an enormous Sunday lunch and I think its time for a little snooze before the delights of Sunday night TV

hugs

Claire xx

Claire xx

Fairy door

Hi there, its been another manic week at work and I haven't had much time for crafting over the past couple of days so I thought I'd share this  little canvas I've made as one of my Chocolate Baroque DT projects, oooh I still have to pinch myself as I can't believe I'm part of such a fab team. 

For more details of the techniques and gorgeous stamps I've used pop over to the Chocolate Baroque Design Team Blog !!

I've had some more good news this week too! You can find me in a feature in the latest edition of Cardmaking and Papercraft, its called 'What's your Style' and I'm at the bottom of page 67 with a steampunk Christmas card made using the beautiful Chocolate Baroque ' Steampunk Christmas' themeplate. I guess thats my 15 minutes of fame LOL

I hope you're having a good weekend. I'm hoping to grab a few hours in my craftroom but my son is going to a fancy dress party tonight and I've been roped in to make a 'Mad Hatter' costume so that will keep me out of mischief :-)

hugs

Claire xx

Spooks and Witches at Rainbow Lady's Challenge

This week at Rainbow Lady's Challenge blog we want to see your 'Spooks and Witches' so dig out your Halloween stamps and play along to be in with a chance of winning a fab prize of some gorgeous Christmas digi images from our lovely sponsor (and talented teamie) Caroline of CaroLine's Rubber Stamps!

I've used a bp from the Artylicious CD 'Essence of Nature' and Chocolate Baroque Stamps from the 'Witching Time' stamp sheet. I stamped the images on white card and embossed with black detail EP before painting with Twinkling h2Os. It doesn't show on the photo at all but I painted around the cat and witches with irridescent green and it gives a really wonderful eerie glow. I created the border with a MS punch and added some purple velvet ribbon.

I wanted some spider web type flowers but couldn't come up with anything so i made these scrunched flowers with Crealies border die cuts and popped little buttons in the centres. To finish off I'added some dots of black enamel accents.

I'm entering my spooky card in the following challenges:

2 Sisters : pumpkin patch

Addicted to Stamps: Halloween

CD sunday: Halloween

Crafting for all Seasons: Halloween or halloween colours

Dream Valley Challenges: Halloween

Fashionista Friday: Halloween or Fall

Fussy and Fancy: Black , border and bling 

(I hope my h2os count as a little bling)

I brake for challenges: Halloween

My Mum's Craft shop: spooky time

Poodles Parlour: spooky Halloween

Sisterhood of Crafters: Halloween

Stamptacular Sunday: Black, Orange, purple and scary too

Stempelsonnen: Halloween

Thanks for visiting today

hugs

Claire xx

Challenge 12 at Christmas Challenges {with sketches}

Can you believe that two months today it will be Boxing Day?? Oh my goodness, where does the time go? I may not be ready for Christmas but at least i've got lots of Christmas cards made. Have you made a start on yours yet? I'm sure when you've seen Betina's gorgeous sketch over at Christmas Challenges {with sketches} you'll be inspired to join in and make a card or two.

As always we have a fab prize for our winner and this week our sponsor is 'Sew Many Cards'

Make sure you pop over to the challenge blog and check out Betina's gorgeous sketch and find out more about the prize too!!

Anyway back to my card. I've used a seriously cute stamp from Nellie Snellen called 'Hokey Pokey Dawn', she is coloured with promarkers and liberally glamour dusted for some Christmas sparkle.

 I've die cut her with nesties labels 4.

The pressie bp is from an old dovecraft pad. I've added a doiley from my stash and a couple of pieces of card made using starbust stains and mica powders. The sparkly ribbon and lace are from my stash and the sentiment is a Crafters Companion stamp. The main pic is very dark, its so hard to get a decent photo now the days are so dark and dull but this pic shows the colours a little better as the card is actually much paler IRL.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Christmas Inspirations: die cuts or punches

Christmas Stampin all year long: sparkly

Clear it out: Trims

Little Claire's : Christmas

Passion for Promarkers: For a child

The Squirrel and The Fox: one for the girls

Totally Gorjuss: pastel Christmas

Totally Papercrafts: layer on layer

Thanks for calling by today

Claire xx

Couldn't resist this fun image

I really couldn't resist this image, I'ts such fun and perfect for my friends birthday as she is a real party animal. The image is from the 'Let it Shine' digi bundle from Charmed Cards and Crafts. This weeks challenge from Crafts and Me gave me the inspiration for colouring this image but I couldn't find a bp to match (eek, don't you hate it when that happens??) so I stuck with pink and added a little black

I've coloured the image with promarkers and matted it on pink card. The bp is from my stash and I've added some tiny black buttons, a MS punched border, black lace and pink twill ribbon. The sentiment is a HOTP stamp and I've used the swirly part to edge the image for a little interest.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Cardmad Fairy's Digi Day: spots and stripes

Crafts and Me: blue, green and pink

Crafty Catz: Happy birthday

Cuddly buddly: card for your best friend

Kenny K Krafty girlz: get dotty

Little Miss Muffett: girly girl

the Squirrel and the fox: one for the girls

Charmed Cards and Crafts also have a fab-u-lous mega candy giveaway, check it out here or click the pic in my sidebar .

I usually hate Monday morning and back to work but I'm training today so it will be lovely to have a day outside the office and of course there is the added bonus that there may be a buffet lunch. Have a good Monday and thanks for popping by

hugs

Claire xx

Making a scene

Hi, this weekend seems to have flown by in a blur of gardening, ironing and cooking but I did manage to sneak an hour or two in my craft room. I've got some gorgeous new Andy Skinner stamps and I've been itching to ink them up and I thought they'd be just the job for some of my favourite challenges.

I've made an 8x8 card and used my luvverly new stamps to make a wintery scene for my BILs Christmas card. I began by stamping the gate and house on some glossy cardstock. I then stamped the fencce posts, adding a couple of extras and some twiggy bits in betwee. I stamped in the Christmas trees and addedl the little robin to one of the fence posts. 

I masked the house and a moon and brayered in the sky using memento tuxedo black ink and then sponged in a horizon line and a few snowdrifts using the same ink. I matted the scene on white and black card and added a creative acrylic tag, stamped the sentiment with black stazon and attached it with some black and white spotty ribbon from Crafty Ribbons.

I used snowflake stamps from Stampers Anonymous with tuxedo black ink on white glossy card to create a background layer and matted that on more black card. To finish off I've used a white gel pen to add snowflakes to the night sky and I've added a dusting of glamour dust for a frosty sparkle

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Bah Humbug: with men in mind

Craft Room Challenge: Black and white

Christmas Stampin all year long: sparkle

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge: make a scene

JingleBelles: Softly falling snow

Ooh La La: Let it snow

Pan Pastel: glitter and glitz

Paper Sundaes: Sundae bar (I've used black and sparkle)

Simply Create: Shades of black

Stamp Man: night time

Try it on Tuesday:take to the skies

Its hard to believe its only just over 2 months to Christmas, I'm sooooo glad I've been making Christmas cards all year now I theres just the small matter of buying all the pressies lol. 

Hope you're having a nice relaxing Sunday, i'm off to grab the sofa and put my feet up ready for Strictly and X Factor now (how sad am I lol)

thanks for popping by

Claire xx

Coffee and Cream with a hint of dark chocolate

Hi there, we have a colour challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges this time, we want to see 'Coffee and cream with a hint of dark chocolate'. I was a little confused and had to rack my brains for a while (not easy lol) as I usually use a lot of colour in my projects so sticking to a brown,cream and black colour palette foxed me for a start.

As always our challenge is sponsored by Marina from Cottage Crafts who has another fantabulous prize for our lucky winner.

I decided to make a fun halloween project, based on the idea of a witches brew (or perhaps I should say boo lol). The template for the cup and saucer is from 'Walzing Mouse', cut out of cream pearlescent card. Before I assembled the pieces I stamped them with Halloween stamps from Chocolate Baroque (using stamp sheets:Howling Moon, Boo, Halloween Raven and Halloween Candle - I adore the spooky eyes peeking from the toadstools on this stampsheet!!). I stamped all the images with versamark and embossed with mocha EP and then distressed everything lightly with Black soot distress ink. 

Next came the tricky bit, I have to say this isn't the easiest project to assemble and I struggled a little with the footer for the cup, it ended up a bit wonky so i added some brown and black fibres to cover the dodgy bits (ssshhhh don't tell lol)

I'm entering my Witches Brew in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps: Halloween

By the cute and girly: Anything goes

Crafting for all Seasons: Halloween

Corrosive Challenge : Flying things

Creative Card Crew: spooky fun

Delightful Challenges: Halloween

Divas by Design: something spooky

Hooked on Crafts: something spooky

Gingerloft: Halloween or Fall

I brake for Challenges: Halloween

Moving along with the times: Vintage

My Craft Spot: halloween 3d

The Crazy Challenge: Halloween

thanks for visiting today, I hope you're having a good weekend

If you need some more inspiration have a look at my teamies gorgeous projects, as always there are some gorgeous creations on the catwalk at Fashionable Stamping Challenges lol

Claire xx

CAS at Crafty Ann's

Hi there, woo hoo Friday at last. The week has flown past again as we're still really busy at work but the only good thing about that is that the weekend is here already :-)

Its also time for a new challenge over  at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog and this time our theme is Clean and Simple, oh my what a challenge  as I'm definitely a more is more kind of girl.

I've used Crafty Ann's gorgeous squirrel image (you can find him here in Crafty Ann's Digi Shop), coloured with derwent Coloursoft pencils and generously inked around the edges with distress inks. The sentiment is  a clear stamp from HOTP and the green gingham ribbon is from Joanna Sheen. I made the backing paper with distress inks and Sheena Douglass stamps.

I'm entering this cute little chap in the following challenges:

CRAFT Challenge: autumn

Crafty Boots: autumn or halloween

Crafty Emma: forever Autumn

Deep Ocean Challenge: Fall colours

Digi Darla Challenge: fall fun

Forever Friends: use a sentiment

I did it creations: animals

Little Red Wagon: fall

Pile it on: fall for fun 

Thanks for calling by today

Claire xx

Misting challenge over at Sarah Hurley Challenge blog

Hi there, its time for a new challenge at Sarah Hurley Challenges. We had so many amazing entries for our last challenge, we can't wait to see what you come up with this time around! Our theme for the new challenge is 'Misting' and I've created a little frosty Christmas canvas which gives you a sneaky peek at Sarah's amazing new cd which will be out very soon!

I created the background with a pale duck egg acrylic paint and added the clouds by dabbing on white and pearl acrylic paint with scrunched up kitchen roll. Once it was dry I added loads of pearl glimmer mist for loads of shimmer.

The gorgeous little houses and the funky trees are all new images from Sarah's soon to be released Tinseltown CD which is crammed with yummy goodies. i coloured the images with promarkers and added stickles for some extra sparkle. I attached the images with silicone glue and let them overhang the edges of the canvas.

I punched a couple of holes with my trusty cropodile and added silver eyelets and some ivory velvet ribbon to hand the canvas. As a finishing touch I've added an ivory organza bow and some sparkly faux crystal gems. The adorable little house is also to be found on Sarah's new cd, they are so quick and easy to make :-)

I'm entering this canvas in the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge: Baubles or anything hanging

Crazy 4 Challenges: project for an upcoming holiday

Little Claire's: Christmas

Sweet STamps: lots of layers

Top Tip Tuesday: Layer it

Thanks for popping by today

hugs

Claire xx

Use Silver for Rainbow Lady's Challenge

Thursday again already and this week at Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog we have a 'Silver' theme in honour of our lovely Rainbow Lady's forthcoming wedding anniversary. I've made one of those camera shy cards - acetate and gilding flakes just don't like having their photo taken lol.

I've used one of Joanna Sheen's silhouette stamps for this card. I stamped the image on acetate and embossed with black detail ep, then used double sided adhesive film to attach the 'Frosted' gilding flakes. I die cut a frame from black card with nesties, made an acetate card and attached it to the front . I added some faux gems to the corners and some silver ribbon along the top.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Bling it on: No patterned papers

By the cute and girly: anything goes

Lollipop Crafts: No sentiments allowed

Our Creative corner: totally transparent

Polkadoodles: ribbon and bows

Stamptacular Sunday: You Choose

The Crafty Pad: monochromatic

Totally papercrafts: Use acetate

Thanks for calling by today, if you need some more inspiration pop over and check out my teamies fabulous projects :-)

Claire xx

Halloween tag

Hi there, well I've been a very quiet blogger lately as i've had sleeping sickness, ok i've had a cold but I haven't been able to keep my eyes open after work so I haven't got a lot of crafting or blogging done this week. I did manage to have a play with some of the gorgeous Halloween stamps from Chocolate Baroque though and made this little tag using stamps from 'Howling Moon, 'Boo'' and 'Haunted House' stamp sheets (you can find them here)

I began by stamping the gorgeous howling doggie on a silk art tag and masking the moon with eclipse masking tape. I brayered in the spooky sky with memento inks (dandelion and tangelo) and used the same colours at the bottom of the tag. I then masked the sky off to ink in the ground with memento tuxedo black, keeping the bottom of the tag masked with a post-it note. I added a spider and his web, lots of branches and a black tag (with cinnamon stickles for his eyes)

Next I stamped the gorgeous Halloween sentiment stamp onto the orange with versmark and embossed with clear EP before blacking the whole area out with memento tuxedo black. A quick wipe with a baby wipe and the sentiment popped out a lovely shiny orange colours.

To finish off I coloured some seam binding ribbon with tangelo and tuxedo black inks and scrunched it up before adding a bow to the tag.

I'm entering this tag in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps: Halloween

Craft your days away: Halloween colours

Craft Room Challenge: featuring felines

Dream Valley: Halloween

Drunken Stampers: Halloween

Forever Night: Black and creepy

Fussy and Fancy: Halloween or fall

Gingerloft: Halloween/fall

Paper crafting Journey: Black orange and white

Paper Pretties: Halloween

Simon Says Stamp: Halloween or goth

Sparkles Forum: Halloween

through the Craft room Door: Happy Halloween

Thanks for visiting today, hopefully now I'm on the mend i'll be able to catch up with my blogland visiting schedule over the next couple of days

hugs

Claire xx

Falling leaves at Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog

Hi there,  its Thursday so that means its time for a new challenge from our very own Rainbow Lady Cynthia and this week the theme is 'Falling Leaves'. We have a fab prize up for grabs too,  so make sure you pop over and check out what Cynthia has up her sleeve (well i don't think it would fit up her sleeve but you know what i mean lol)

Apologies for the terrible photo, we don't seem to have seen any daylight here in my little corner of the UK for ages as its been so cloudy and miserable. My camera has really bleached the image out but you can see her a little better in this one hopefully

The bp is from one of my file of Artylicious printed papers, I think its from Essence of Nature but I can't check as I have a cd stuck in my computer  and I can't get it out! I really need to get rid of these gremlins lol. The image is 'Katie' by Elaine Cox from Sweet Pea Stamps, she's coloured with promarkers and derwent pencils. I've added a leafy cuttlebugged panel of black card highlighted with green mica powder, a big black bow and a handmade flower. The flower is made from Studio 490 clearly for art modelling film. I got a sample pack of this from Chocolate Baroque and I love it, its so much fun and if you mess up, you just heat it up and try again. I've added lime seed beads for the centre and as a finishing touch i've added some gorgeous green glittery leaves from Chocolate Baroque.

I'm entering this card into this months 'Anything goes' challenge over at In a Sweet Pea Dream .

Thanks for calling by today, don't forget to check out the fab prize on offer at Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog and of course the fab inspiration from my lovely teamies

Claire xx

Challenge 11 at Christmas Challenges with sketches

Good morning, a very quick post from me today as I've been poorly with a cold/flu virus that seems to be going round and my poor hubby was taken into hospital last night so it hasn't been a good week at all. Anyway today sees a new challenge over at Christmas Challenges {with sketches}, this time our sketch has been designed by my lovely teamie Nicole. Here is my DT card.

As always we have a fab prize and this week our sponsor is Judikins

My card is made using scraps from my scrapbox. The stamped image was a gift from a friend, what a brilliant idea to stamp the snowman in pale blue brilliance! I've added some glittered icicle diecuts along the top and red chiffon ribbon with little silver bells.I've also threaded the same ribbon through the pattern in the doiley.

Make sure you pop over to the challenge blog to check out my teamies gorgeous cards and also Nicole's fabulous sketch

Claire xx