Tuesday 30 June 2009

Die Cut Dreams Challenge

Hi,
Over at Die cut Dreams Challenge this week the challenge is ' Anything but a card ' so I have made this little notebook. I bought a few of these books a couple of weeks ago as they were ideal for decorating up, they are 6"x6" square, ring bound and have lined paper inside. The little dog on the front is one I made form a custom die that I have for a bear, I added an eye patch and some sizzix doll feet for ears, the dogs feet are a quickutz die. Before piecing him all together I shaded the parts using pigment inkpads.


I have cut the mats with my nesties and ran the green card through a cuttlebug swiss dots folder to get some texture, I have distressed the edges with a white inkpad. The sentiment is from Catslife press, the ribbon and dog paw brads are from my stash.


Alfie is going to a party at the weekend and I thought this would make a lovely little top up present to go with the obligatory ' Ben10 ' present that everyone seems to want this year ! Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine, will catch you tomorrow as I have another card ready to show you,
hugs,
Claire xx

Monday 29 June 2009

Whiff of Joy - Can't believe I made the DT !!!!!


Oh how much of a lucky girl am I ? I have been so honoured to be chosen as one of the new DT members over at Whiff of Joy Challenge Blog whoop, whoop, did you hear my screams of excitement ? The girls have all been so welcoming that I have felt at home straight away. So, on with the business, this is my first card as part of the DT, this week the challenge is a recipie, 3 papers, 3 flowers and 1 ribbon. I have used the lovely Willow with her baby stamp from the new collection, a real dream to colour, I have done this with my copics as always. I nearly had a blue fit as my E00 had run out and I didn't have a refil, just managed to eek it out for this image though, and as you can see, I had the old sewing machine out again.


The 3 papers I have used are two by Craft Creations and one from Bazzil. I have layered 2 flowers together for the main embelishment and just used a single small one to complete my 3. A few fibres under the spacer and a pearl brad finish the job nicely. The swirls are cut with a quickutz flourish die, The last part of the recipie was the ribbon, I thought the sentiment on this one said it all ' Simpy Adorable '



I added a few little crystals for a bit of sparkle, I do like a bit of sparkle lol ! I found a brad that said ' Its a Boy ' and thought that added the finishing touch. Hope you like what I have done, and I look forward to seeing you over on the challenge blog.

Hugs,

Claire xx


Just Magnolia Week11 Bevs Sketch



Evening ladies, this is my entry to the Just Magnolia challenge, this week there is the most amazing sketch from Bev, just lovely to work with and one I know I will use over and over again. I love this little Tilda image, it is coloured with my usual copics.


I have used Bazzill card and the paper is Imaginesce, I went to my local craft shop today and they had a whole new rack of Imaginesce that they bought from a closing shop and were selling it all off at 40p per sheet for the lovely textured double sided ones, I couldn't believe my luck so snapped up lots of lovely designs, my basket was rather heavy at the end !



The punch I have used is a Fiskars, and the cherry blossoms are from my stash, I use these a lot on cards now as I find them sweeter than the mulberry roses, I am always swapping about though so will go back to the roses again I am sure. Just off to sit and enjoy the Tennis.

Chat again soon,

Hugs,

Claire xx

Sunday 28 June 2009

I am soooooooooo lucky

Just a quick note, I am so lucky to have won the High Hopes Challenge this week and have 3 lovely stamps winging their way to me. It was the first time I had entered this challenge so can't believe my luck !
Have been working really hard crafting with Sophie most of the day today, should have some new cards to share with you tomorrow.
Hope you have all had a great weekend and enjoyed the sunshine,

hugs,

Claire xx

Saturday 27 June 2009

2 in 1 card - Friday Sketchers meets Color Chef

Goodness it seems like ages since I did my last post, I have had so much going on I must apologise for my lack of crafting. This is my entry for 2 challenges today, Friday Sketchers where the is the most fabulous sketch to follow, and Color Chef where the colours this week are Tan, White and Bamboo, a great combination and one I had loads of fun with.

I have used Willow holding her baby from the new WOJ collection and have coloured her with my copics as usual. All of the papers are Bazzil and I have added prima flowers and a couple of mulberry roses.


Lastly I finished off with a few fibres, some pearls and the swirls which are quickutz. Such a soft serene combination of colours, this may even rival my favourite pink/green lol. Just need someone to have a baby now so I can give them the card. I think it could benefit from a sentiment on it somewhere but i will add that later .
Hope you are all well and enjoying good weather,
Hugs,
Claire xx

Tuesday 23 June 2009

High Hopes challenge #36


What a goregeous day it is here, hope you are all getting this lovely weather too ? Hope it doesn't get any hotter or poor Sophie will flag at her sports day this afternoon poor little little things, they will be melting !
Well, the challenge over at High Hopes this week is ' use your scraps' the most difficult part of this challenge for me was to choose which scraps to use as I have sooooooooo many lol !



I went for this Monkey Mike image as it was already stamped and sitting on my desk, Alfie and I made some finger puppets from it last week and this one must have been left over, I have coloured it using my copics. The paper is DCVW Latte ( I think ) and the trusty sewing machine came in handy again for the edges. The leaves and buttons were cut from scraps of card using sizzlits dies, and I just distressed the edges to give a more 3d effect.

I finished off with a couple of epoxy stickers and bobs your uncle, a simple card but quite effective I think, will definatly use those leaves again with this image, and I know a lot of little monkeys who I could give this card to.........
Hugs,
Claire xx


Monday 22 June 2009

The Sugarbowl challenge


Oh I am having such a lovely day, the sun is shining and I have the whole day to craft whooppeee ! I have made this card for the challenge over at The Sugarbowl it is such a lovely sketch to use and the please include option this week was cream and brown. My gorjuss girl is coloured with my copic markers, I made use of the sewing machine being out again and added a bit more texture with some stitching around the mats, I also added a few small paper flowers around the bottom of the ' wall ' area to help tie all the colours together.




I have used Kaiserkraft paper and some cherry blossoms which seem to be a staple part of most of my cards at the moment lol, and have added a few cream punched leaves and a small epoxy sentiment to finish it off.




Sorry the photos are not the best, I really MUST work on those, I think I am just too keen to get on with the cards that taking the pics is a necessary evil for me, oh well, c'est la vie !


Hugs


Claire xx

Whiff of Joy meets Die Cut Dreams

Oh Wow I enjoyed making this card, it is my entry into the Whiff of Joy challenge this week which is ' paper piecing ' I was so excited when my new parcel of Whiff of Joy stamps arrived this week that I didn't know which one to use first ! Seeing as this is the fella that I have wanted for the longest time I decided to use him. I have paper pieced the huge cupcake that he is carrying, it was slightly fiddley cutting round the little paws but well worth the effort. I am also entering this card for the new Die cut Dreams Challenge where the theme this week is 'polka dots & spots'


I had my sewing machine out this weekend making a Viking outfit for Sophie to wear at their history day at school, so thought I would do a little stitching on a couple of cards too, it gives a lovely effect and adds another texture which is always good.
I have coloured Henry Mouse with my Copics, and the papers I have used are K&Co for the cupcake and mount, and Imaginesce for the spotty background, this paper is covered in fluffy dots, wish you could feel it, it is delish.........


I have used some ribbon from my stash and a few cherry blossoms that I picked up from Ebay to complete the look, the fern leaves are done using a LeoneEm punch. Oh, and I added a few funky fibres under the blossoms, again for a bit more texture.
hugs,
Claire xx

Sunday 21 June 2009

Another award !!!!!!!!!



I have been given this award by the lovely Vikki thankyou so much hun, it means so much to get an award and I am very grateful. the rules of this award are that I must thank the person who sent it to me, tell you 7 honest things about myself and pass this award on, so here we go................. 7 honest things about me.......

1. I am a total crafting addict and always want to be the best I can.

2. My children and my Husband are the most important things in my life.

3. I buy things and then make out I have had them for ages ( naughty I know but I bet I am not the only one who does it lol )

4. I have a NOT very secret obsession with David Beckham

5. I am a compulsive buyer of all things Radley

6. I hate feet

7. I just HAVE to have my nails done, can't bear to be without my fibreglass lol !

These things make me sound rather strange I think, but, it was all about being honest so now I am totally exposed to you all, and I hope you have mercy on my weirdness lol. Well, I would like to pass this award on to a couple of people who have made my entry into the blogging world so painless, thankyou ladies for your warmth, friendliness and encouragement, it is much appreciated.

Vicky - Cuddly Cards
Sarah - fluffs creations

I hope you enjoy what is left of your weekend and I will see you all tomorrow with some new posts as there are so many lovely challenges out there at the moment.
Hugs,
Claire xx

Friday 19 June 2009

My first blog awards - yippee !


I feel so honoured today, I have been given 2 blog awards by the wonderful Susie at Sassy designs by Susie Thankyou soooooooooooooooo much for these, they mean the world to me, I am so glad that my little blog brings you happiness to your day. If you haven't been over to Susies blog you really should pay her a visit, she has so many creative ideas to share with us all and is a wonderful friend who means so much to me, so thankyou again hun.
I now have to pass this award on to 10 people who I think deserve it, so I am sending it to people who have inspired me over the past months and whose work is in my opinion, just awesome !
thanks again Susie, love ya,
Claire xx
So, here are the ladies who I give these wonderful awards to :
4. Kim atCards by Kim

5. Bev atAll the things I love
6. Rach at Papercrafts by Rach
7. Kim atKraftin Kimmies Korner
8. Sue at McMahon Five Designs
9. Camilla atCamillas Blog
10. Suzanne at Scrap Bitz

A Spoonfull of Sugar #56

My second post for today, whooppee ! over at A Spoonfull of Sugar challenge there is a great sketch to follow this week, really enjoyed using it and know I will use it again. I have used another of the lovely Swiss Pixies from CC Designs and a sentiment from Elzybelles.

The papers are from K&Co and I have used a few other bits from my stash, flowers, ribbons, pearl sprays and a few sparkles.

I colourd her in using my copics as usual, think I need to add some glitter to her wings though, what do you think ?
well, off to school now to the friday assembly then little Alfie has a party to go to, so catch you later,
Hugs,
Claire xx

Simon says Stamp challenge

Hello at very long last ! After a couple of days stuck in the kitchen cooking Wedding cakes I finally managed to break free and get some crafting done.................... This is my card for the Simon says Stamp challenge, this week we have to make a card to celebrate their blogs birthday, I thought this little fella fitted the bill, I know I have used him a lot recently but awwwwwww, he is so cute don't ya think ?



So, now I am off to carry on my very enjoyable day crafting, boy I miss it when I have other things to do.
Catch you later,
Hugs,
Claire xx

Wednesday 17 June 2009

A card for a girly girl

I thought I would share this card with you all even though it is not for a challenge. My parcel of the new CC Designs stamps came a day or two ago, and inside was this adorable image, she is one of the new Swiss Pixies, I had to do a card for a very girly 7 year old and thought she would be perfect.
I have of course coloured her with my Copic markers, I have added some art glitter to her wings for a bit of extra sparkle. The papers are DCWV and the ribbon is some I picked up from a shop called ' The Range ' I have used a fiskars border punch and some peel off corners. The cherry blossoms I got from Ebay.

The fern leaves are cut with a Leone Em punch and the sentiment is from Elzybelles, gosh that was a lot of things !
Hope you like her and I will be back with a challenge card tomorrow.
Hugs,
Claire xx



Monday 15 June 2009

Die Cut Dreams first challenge


Morning to you all, this is my entry for the brand new Die cut Dreams Challenge blog, the topic this week is ' green fingers' so i got my die cutting machine out ofr an airing and came up with this card. I have used a mixture of custom dies and some quickutz and Go Kreate too.

I shaded all of the die cuts before putting them together to give things a more rounded appearance. the paper is one I have had since the year dot and the flowers are from my stash.



I have loads to get on with as I am so behind after a weekend of socialising ! and the postie has just bought me a parcel of new stamps to play with........................
hugs,
Claire


Saturday 13 June 2009

Just Magnolia week 9 - paper piecing

Hi ladies, well after a lovely lunch out yesterday I have loads of catching up to do ! The first challenge card I decided to do was the one for the Just Magnolia challenge, this week we have to include paper piecing on our card, this is the first time I have tried it and am quite happy with the result, it wasn't as fiddley as I thought.

This was the first Magnolia stamp that I bought and I still think she is soooooooo sweet. I used Bazzil Swiss Dots card and some Basic Grey to stamp and paper piece Tildas apron with, I did distress the edges a bit before I stuck the apron down


I added some dried flowers for the greenery, a little funky fibre and some mulberry roses to finish it all off, also some lovely braid that I picked up at my local craft shop last week. Well, I better go and get on with the next one lol, after I have made some muffins with the children, I have been promising all morning......... and last evening, yes, definatly time to go do some baking,
hugs,
Claire xx

Thursday 11 June 2009

PENNY BLACK CHALLENEGE#52 - BLOOMING GORGEOUS

Another first for me - The Penny Black challenge - and again, not a difficult decision stamp wise as I only have 3 of their stamps, I really must build my collection up, but I am new to this stamping lark so give me some time............
The challenege was ' blooming gorgeous ' and I thought this little cutie fitted the bill nicely with her blooms on her dress and bags, and of course I had to add some more to go with them lol ! A girly card just has to have flowers don't you think ?


Coloured with my copics of course and jazzed up with some art glitter. I have no idea where the paper is from as I seem to have cut off the bit with the name on, oops, the flowers are prima and the lovely little flower charm I picked up off of ebay.

I am being a ' lady wot lunches ' tomorrow so won't have a card ready to show you, it is my friend Lisa's 40th, and this card will be for her, she is a real shopper so hope she likes it. Right, i have a house full of kids so better go and get them fed and watered,
catch you all soon,
hugs,
Claire xx

WHIFF OF JOY CHALLENGE #34


Well ladies, this is my first try at the Whiff of Joy challenge, it wasn't hard for me to choose which stamo to use as this is the only one I have lol ! I am waiting for more to arrive any day, and will of course be ordering the new sets when they are released on 14th June.

It was nice to do a boys card for a change, I always struggle with boys card normally, but this image os so cute that I really had fun with it.

The papers I used are K&Co and the sentiment is from Catslife Press, the ribbon is from my stash and the button.............. well, the button was from a pair of my trousers lol, i didn't have any the right colour so I had to raid my wardrobe, just hope I remember to put a different one on before i wear them again, wouldn't want them to fall down !

Thanks for taking time out to have a peek,
Hugs,
Claire xx

Wednesday 10 June 2009

Simon Says Stamp Challenge by Rach

Hi,

this weeks challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Stamp is set by the mega talented Rach, you have to make a card using the colours brown and pink, my favourite colour combo ! I have used another cute stamp by Lelo-Design, the papers are from Kaisercraft and all the other embellishments are from my stash.

A close up of the coloured image, done with my trusty Copics:





Hope you guys are all having a great day,


Hugs,


Claire xx



Tuesday 9 June 2009

Friday Sketchers #55 & A Spoonfull of Sugar #45

I am using this card to complete two challenges today. Over at Friday Sketchers they have set this lovely sketch for us to use this week, I have really enjoyed this one, I am also using this card to enter the challenge over at A Spoonfull of Sugar ,the challenge there is to use butterflies somewhere on your card, so I hope this little card does the trick.

I have used a 150mm square card, the papers are DCWV and the lovely little dog is by Lelo Designs, it is just a lovely image to colour, I have done this using my Copics as usual.


I hope you manage to find time to pop over to the challenge blogs and join in with these ones.
Have a great day,
hugs,
Claire xx