Teddy Cheers card

Hello everyone,

I couldn't resist buying this cute Cuddly Buddly stamp called "Teddy Cheers". I thought it would be useful for lots of different occasions including "New Year" cards.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Simon Says Challenge - "PARTY!!!!!"
Stampavie & More - "Happy New Year 2010"
Crafty Creations Challenges - "Make the New Year Glitter" (there's glitter on the bubbles and the flower)
Cupcake Craft Challenges - "A Time for Celebration"
Cute Card Thursday - "Happy New Year"
Paperplay Challenges - "New Beginnings"
Crafty Cardmakers - "Favourite Things" - this has to be my Copics

Thank you for visiting!

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Cuddly Buddly card and new releases

Good morning everyone,

I hope you are all getting back into your routine after Christmas.

Here is a card I made before Christmas, it is one of the samples I made for Cuddly Buddly who released a whole range of gorgeous new stamps and papers yesterday. This card uses the stamp "Some Birdie's Lucky Day" and the digi papers "Cottage Florals 1".

Click on the picture below if you want to check out the other new releases and to see the gorgeous sample cards that the other Cuddly Buddly Fabulously Crafty Friends have created.

Have a great day.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare x

Hello

Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas.

I had a lovely day, although it wasn’t quite as planned! We had a holiday booked so that we would be away for Christmas, we set off on the Sunday before Christmas but me and my son got quite poorly so we decided to come home early on the Wednesday before Christmas, it was such a relief to get home and warm. My darling OH set about looking after us both, then the same day he had a bad fall down the stairs which left him hardly able to move. Today is the first day I am feeling better and OH is just starting to get a bit more movement.

I’m looking forward to visiting all my blogging buddies as soon as possible.

Hugs and best wishes.

Clare x

Reindeer Christmas

Good afternoon!

How are you all - ready for Christmas yet?

I received a parcel full of lovely goodies this morning from my buddy "Buddy" (and his mum Kath). Thank you very much!

I couldn't wait to get snipping and inking and here's what I made.

There are still a few Christmas challenges about so I'm going to enter this into:-

Sophisti-cat - "It's Xmas Theme - Anything Goes"
Simon Says - "Merry Christmas"
Creative Card Crew - "Anything Goes"
Our Creative Corner - "Holiday Theme"

Enjoy your day.

See you soon, Clare x

A Passion for Papertrey

Good evening!

The challenge at A Passion for Papertrey this week is "Macho, Macho, Man!". Here's my entry.

To be eligible to enter the challenge you have to use at least one Papertrey Ink product. I've used a sentiment from the PTI Mega Mixed Messages set and paper from the PTI "Man of Life" paper pack.

I hope you have all had a good day.

See you soon, Clare x

Four challenge Christmas Card

Good evening everyone.

This Christmas card is for a very special person in my life.

(Apologies for the wonky flower, I really must learn to be patient and let my glue dry!)

I am entering it into four challenges this week:-

One Stop Craft - "Christmas Love"
Die Cut Dreams - "Glitter me Silly" (there's glitter on the hat, present and flower)
My Time to Craft - "Christmas Foliage" (I hope the flower counts)
Sophisticat - "It's Xmas Theme - Anything Goes"

Thank you for taking the time to visit.

Before I go, I would like to say a big thank you to Buddy and Kath for the lovely blog candy I won from "their" blog today.

See you soon.

Hugs, Clare x

Copics Colour Challenge 43 & Charizma Cardz

Good evening,

This is my second post today. That's because I decided I would leave the ironing and do it tonight instead of this afternoon.

This card is for two challenges:-

Copics Colour Challenge where the colours to use are BV23, R59 and YG63. I had two of these colours but had to make a substitute for R59.
and,
Charizma Cardz - just in time! Their theme this week is "I'm Dreaming of Summertime!"

Hugs, Clare x

Stampavie & More - Challenge #73

Good afternoon.

Sorry I haven't been blogging much lately, I seem to be busy with Christmas cards, tags and wrapping.

This week's theme at Stampavie and more is "Red and Green", so I thought I would enter my current "production line" Christmas Card. I know I was making the Polar Bear cards but I did get a bit bored and started making these for a change.

I had fun colouring lots of this little chap - he's so cute!

I hope you are all enjoying your Christmas preparations.

Hugs, Clare xx

Copic Colour Challenge 42

Hello again,

The colours at Copic Colour Challenge are quite bright this week. They are YR04, RV06 and YG03. I have used RV06 and YG03 in this card, but I have substituted YR04 for YR02 as I didn't have this colour.

Thank you for visiting!

Hugs, Clare x

Paperplay Challenges - Week 44

Hello everyone,

The challenge at Paperplay Challenges this week is "Make something with a Christmas theme, but do not use the colours red or green."

This is my "production line" Christmas card for this year. I've chosen something quick and easy to make in duplicate. The image is stamped onto linen card and I have added glamour dust for sparkle and a drop of glaze for shiny noses.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

Hugs, Clare x

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 88

Snips, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails - that's the theme at Cute Card Thursday this week, where they want to see cards/projects that are for the younger boys.

Well, I have finally got round to making the most popular card in blogland at the moment - an Easel Card.

The blue star strategically covers a blob of glue!

Clare xx

Happy Thanksgiving

Hi Everyone!

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate the occassion.

I recently bought the "Walter Owl" download from Willow Designs -isn't he cute! I've teamed him up with A Patchwork of Papers Pink digi papers from Cuddly Buddly.

Hope you're having a great week.

Hugs, Clare x

I'm so excited!

Good evening!

I am so excited I just had to tell you ..... my tag has been featured on the Simon Says Stamp blog.

I entered the first challenge at By the Cute and Girly, where the theme was Autumn Glory. The tag I made was chosen as the best handmade creation and I won a voucher from the sponsors Simon Says Stamps.

Heidi at Simon Says Stamps asked me if she could feature my tag on their blog, of course I said yes and I have just had an email to say my tag has been featured today.

I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I am.

Thank you Heidi and everyone at By the Cute and Girly.

If you would like to see the feature you can find it here.

Bye for now.

Hugs, Clare xx

Quixotic Challenges #1 Birthdays

Good morning everyone.

There's a new challenge in blogland Quixotic Challenges and their first theme is "Birthdays". This theme has been chosen in honour of Elaine, the challenge founder, whose birthday it is.

So firstly, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELAINE!"

Here is my entry:-

I have to admit I was very daunted when I stamped out this flower soft image, it is so detailed, I nearly admited defeat before I started. However, once I got painting it was fun. I used Derwent Graphitint Pencils and a water brush.

Have a lovely day everyone, and for those of you with colds, who I now there are many, keep warm and get well soon.

Hugs, Clare xx

Another "Nestie" card

Hello everyone,

A quick post today of a "Nestie" Christmas card. Regular followers will know that I love making these!

I hope you are all having a great week.

Hugs, Clare xx

Simple card

Good morning everyone.

I'm just not in the mood for colouring this morning, which is strange as I usually find it so therapeutic. Instead I have done a little bit of tidying and sorting in my craft room and I decided that I should start using up some of my scraps of paper.

I chose a very simple layout to use the scraps.

This is what I used:-

CS: card base from Rymans
DP: DCWV spring
Flower: Papermania
Sentiment: Papertrey Ink from "Everyday Button Bits"
Ink: Brilliance "Poppy"
Ribbon: Anita's

Enjoy your day.

Clare xx

Another Popcorn Bear

Hello everyone.

I was delighted to find out today that I was chosen as the winner of the best handmade creation in the first ever challenge of By the Cute and Girly for my autumn tag. The honour alone is enough but there is also a prize of $20 to spend at Simon Says Stamps. Have you seen their stock - it will take me a week to look through all the fabulous stamps!

I have another Popcorn card to show you today, I love this cute little guy!

I hope you are all having a good week so far.

Hugs, Clare xx

Latest Cuddly Buddly card

Good afternoon,

Thank you to everyone who left me such lovely messages yesterday. I am starting to feel a little bit better today.

Here is my latest card for Cuddly Buddly.

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Stamp: Cuddly Buddly "Poppies Roundel"
Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks
Tools: Cuttlebug "Script" folder, Nestabilities "Square" and "Scallop Square"
Accessories: Inkssentials white gel pen, flat back pearls

Thank you visiting my blog today. Enjoy your day.

Hugs, Clare xx

Quick Post

Hi,

Just a quick post to show a card that my husband commissioned me to make and to apologise for not visiting my blogging buddies recently. I've come down with the "lurgy" again and am having awful headaches. I will be back to visit you as soon as I can.

This card fits a couple of challenges but my head hurts too much to stay on the laptop and link them.

I hope you are all having a great week.

Clare xx

All my love card

Good afternoon everyone.

I am slightly in shock today after having my hair cut short for the first time in over 25 years - and I mean short - as in "Pixie" haircut. Each time I catch sight of my reflection I think "who's that?". I like it though and it was time for a change.

Anyhow, back to my card.

This is another sample for Cuddly Buddly and I am entering this into this week's PaperPlay challenge where you are asked to use your favourite embellishment - for me that's paper flowers. I have decoupaged a couple of the hearts but I don't think this shows up on the photograph. Also the hearts are coloured to match the papers but look different in the picture.

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Image: Cuddly Critters "All My Love" digi stamp
Sentiment: from "Round Greetings" stamp set - heat embossed with clear embossing powder.
Digi papers: "A Patchwork of Papers - Pink"
Colouring Medium: Promarkers
Tools: Nestabilities - Round and Scallop Round; Dovecraft Jumbo Daisy Punch; Martha Stewart "Doily Lace" border punch
Accessories: "Handmade with love" charm and Ribbon.

All of the above are available from Cuddly Buddly.

Thank you for visiting my blog today and for any comment you may leave. I hope you are all having a great week.

Hugs, Clare xx

A sentiment to share

Hello everyone,

I hope you've all had good weekends. Mine was relaxing and thankfully my cold has now gone.

I was about to post a card when my husband reminded me that it might be seen by the person it is for, so I quickly changed my mind.

Instead, I thought I would share this lovely sentiment that came attached to a pretty gift box from my son that he "helped" to make at nursery.

"Whenever you are lonely

or even feeling blue

you only have to hold this gift

and know I think of you.

You never can unwrap it

please leave the ribbon tied

just hold the box close to your heart

it's filled with love inside."

Enjoy your day.

Clare xx

Cupcake Craft Challenge 61

Good afternoon everyone,

This is my second post today, so if you want to see the first one, please scroll down.

The challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenge this week is "Buttons and Stitching".

Here's what I used to make this card:

Stamps: Image and sentiment PTI "Everyday Button Bits"
Colour Medium: Copic Ciaos
Cardstock and Designer Paper: SU
Tools: Nestabilities Large Rectangle and Labels 4, SU Large Oval and Scallop Oval punches, sewing machine, Cuttlebug embossing folder
Other: White detail embossing powder, thread, buttons

Thank you for visiting my blog today and for any comment you may leave.

Enjoy your weekend!

Hugs, Clare xx

Christmas Sledging

Good morning everyone,

I finally decided to add a background and a header to my blog. The photo in the header is the view from my craft room, taken earlier this week.

(click on image to see the sparkle!)

I'm doing so well with my Christmas cards this year, thanks to so many Christmassy challenges. This week there is another at Stampavie and More and I've used the sketch from Our Creative Corner to help me along. It's been ages since I followed a sketch (because my laptop is not in my craftroom and my scribbled sketches leave a lot to be desired) but I really should follow more as they are so much fun.

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Stamps: Image and sentiment are from a freebie set that came with Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine
Coluring Medium: Promarkers and Copic Ciaos
Cardstock: SU from "Neutrals" pack
Designer Paper: Die Cuts with a View "Value Christmas Stack"
Tools: Nestabilities Large Scallop Rectangle and Large Rectangle, SU Scallop Oval Punch and Large Oval Punch, MM Paper Trimmer and Sco-Pal
Other: Glamour Dust, Quickie Glue Pen, Collall glue, Pinflair Glue, Anita's Tacky glue

Thank you for coming to visit my blog today, I appreciate you taking the time.

Hugs, Clare xx

Penny Black Saturday - Buttons & Bows

Good morning everyone,

The challenge at Penny Black Saturday this week is to use buttons and bows. The button is obvious but the bow might not be - the little bit of string in the button is tied in a bow.

Here's what I used to make this card:

Cardstock: SU from "Neutrals" pack

Designer Paper: Papermania "Blueberry Hill"

Stamps: Image and sentiment from Penny Black "Critter Party" set

Colouring Medium: Promarkers for image; Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Tattered Rose" for distressing around DP, image and sentiment

Tools: Nestabilities Labels 4 and Ribbon Tag Trio; Woodware leaf punch, MM Trimmer, Scor-pal

Other: Woodware buttons, twine from SU, ribbon from Cuddly Buddly

Thank you for visiting my blog today. Please leave me a message if you have the time and then I will know you have been and come and visit you.

Hugs, Clare xx

Creative Card Crew "Scallops"

Good morning everyone!

This week, Creative Card Crew are asking to see "Scallops" on your creations.

That's nice and easy for me, it's not often I don't have scallops somewhere on my cards.

(sorry the picture is so poor, I'm not sure what went wrong!)

Here's what I used to make this card:

Cardstock: SU "Pumpkin Pie"

Designer Paper: SU "Sweet Always"

Sentiment Stamp: SU "Oval All"

Punches: SU scallop oval and large oval, Martha Stewart Doily Lace border punch, X-cut small flower

Other: Piercing tool, sewing needle and pink embroidery thread

Thank you for visiting my blog today and for any comment you may leave - they always mean a lot to me.

Clare xx

One Stop Craft Challenge "Happy Birthday"

Good morning everyone.

This week's challenge at One Stop Craft is to create a Birthday card or project.

It is a friend's birthday next week so this challenge was ideal to get me making her card.

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Cardstock: SU "So Saffron"

Designer Paper: SU "Tea Party"

Sentiment Stamp: Elzybells "Everyday Greetings"

Ink: SU "So Saffron"

Punches: SU Scallop Oval and Large Oval, Martha Stewart Zig Zag emboss border punch, Woodware corner punch

Other: Cuttlebug Vintage corner die (I don't think this looks too good with the striped paper, but it is a lesson learnt!).

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today.

Hugs, Clare xx

Lucky me!

Good morning everyone.

It's a gorgeous day here in Warwickshire and I am a very happy bunny, not only because of the sunshine but because I was the very lucky winner of Maarit's (of Violet's Corner) gorgeous blog candy.

Thank you very much Maarit, I will really enjoy using these gorgeous goodies.

I am so pleased to be a follower of Maarit's wonderful blog, she is a lovely lady and makes beautiful cards and scrapbook pages. You can visit her blog here.

Have a great day everyone.

Hugs, Clare xx

Elzybells Challenge #29

Good afternoon everyone.

I bet you knew it wouldn't be long before I made another mini pizza box (tutorial here). I had the perfect excuse with the challenge over at Elzybells which is to create a 3D item.

My husband keeps magic "Shush!!" in his pocket to springle over our son when he needs it, now he can keep it in this special box!

Here's what I used to make it:-

Cardstock: SU! So Saffron
Designer Papers: SU! Tea Party
Tools: Nestabilities square and scallop square, Fiskars Sunburst border punch, X-cut Daisy punch, small circle punch, Scor-Pal
Accessories: Inkssential white gel pen, Glamour Dust, star brad from stash, paper shaper tool

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Hugs, Clare xx

Crafty Catz Challenge #3

Good afternoon everyone.

The theme at Crafty Catz Weekly challenge is "Snowmen and Snowflakes".

Here is my entry.

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Digi stamp: free from Cuddly Buddly here
Sentiment stamp: Cuddly Buddly Christmas Greetings
Colouring Medium: Promarkers
Cardstock: Die Cuts with a View
Tools: Square and Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlbug Snowflake and Swiss Dots embossing folders, Martha Stewart snowflake punch

Thank you for visiting my blog today and for any comments you may leave.

I'm looking forward to a nice evening watching X-factor Live!

Hugs, Clare xx

Christmas ATC

Good morning everyone,

The ATC challenge at Cuddly Buddly this month has the theme of Christmas with lots of glitter.

I've never made an ATC before but there is always a first time for everything.

(click on picture to see the sparkle!)

I hope this actually counts as an ATC, it is 3 1/2" wide and 2 1/2" tall which is the right size but it's not actually a rectangle.

Here's what I used to make this ATC:-

Digi Image: free from Cuddly Buddly (here)
Colouring Medium: Promarkers
Tools: Go Kreate "Rome" alphabet die (I got these from Artisan show on Sunday!)
Accessories: Quickie glue pen and lots of Glamour Dust

I've finally manage to get a watermark on my photo (top left). I was thinking about getting some kind of photo editing suite for my pc when I remembered I had one that came free with a camera I got a few years ago, so I loaded the software and hey presto I was sorted.

I hope you all have a great day. Thank you for visiting my blog, I really appreciate all your visits and lovely comments.

Hugs, Clare xx

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge "Celebration"

Good morning everyone,

The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge are celebrating their blogoversary and have chosen the theme of "Celebration" for their current challenge.

Well, Christmas is a big celebration for everyone so I am entering this Christmas card.

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Stamps: Cuddly Buddly "The Snow Family" and "Christmas Greetings"
Papers: Cuddly Buddly "Winter Frost" digi papers
Coluring Medium: Promarkers and Inkssential white pen
Tools: Nestabilities Large Scallop Rectangle, Large Rectangle, Large Scallop Circle and Small Circle; Cuttlebug Snowflake #2 die
Other: Glamour Dust and Gems

Thank you for popping by today and for any comment you may leave - you know they make my day!

Hugs, Clare xx

Free Digi Stamps

Good morning everyone,

If you love digi stamps then it could be well worth your time checking out the freebies at Cuddly Buddly.

Kim added a whole load of new free digi stamps to the website yesterday and you can find them here.

Enjoy!

Clare xx

Autumn Tag

Good morning everyone,

I have made a tag to enter into four challenges this month:-

Dragonsdream Tag it On: "Autumn"

Crafty Calendar Challenge "Autumn" with the optional extra of plants and vegetation.

By the Cute and Girly "Autumn Glory

One Stop Craft Challenge "Autumn Inspiration"

Here's what I used to make this tag:-

Basic white cardstock cut to a tag shape.
Tim Holtz Distress Inks to create the background - Shabby Shutters, Aged Mahogany & Peeled Paint
Leaf punch - to make a stencil
Brilliance inks for leaves - Cosmic Copper and Pearlescent Olive, I also inked the edges of the tag with Cosmic Copper
Foliage - Inkadinkadoo stamp (stamped with black Stazon)
Pear - Stampin' Up "Ageless Adornment" set, coloured with Distress Inks (colours listed above) and heat embossed using Versamark and clear embossing powder

Thank you taking the time to visit my blog today and for any comments you may leave.

Clare xx

Cuddly Buddly challenges

Good morning everyone.

Did you know that Cuddly Buddly hold three monthly challenges?

One is a card challenge, the second is an ATC challenge and the third is an Embellishment challenge. Two of these challenges offer the prize of a £5 Cuddly Buddly voucher. You will need to use Cuddly Buddly stamps or images for the card and ATC challenges, but don't worry if you don't have any, you can get some free images here and you can find the October challenges here.

I'm going to try the ATC challenge this month as I have never made one before.

Hugs, Clare x

Poppies

Good evening everyone.

Firsty I must apologise for my limited blogging and commenting this week. I have had a lovely week with my Mum visiting from France and, of course, I wanted to spend as much of my time as possible with her. She left for home this morning and I then spent most of the day at the Artisan Bead and Staming show at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre. I will try and catch up with your blogs over the next couple of days.

Here is another card I have made for Cuddly Buddly

and this is what I used to make it:-

Stamp: Poppies Roundel (Cuddly Buddly)
Colouring Medium: Copic Ciaos
Tools: Scoring Board, Circle nestabilities (small and large), corner punch rounder, Cuttlebug "Swiss Dots" embossing folder
Cardstock: Die Cuts with a View
Accessories: Ivory pearls coloured with a Copic Ciao, White Inksentials pen, Sakura clear glaze pen

Thank you for visiting my blog today and for any comment you may leave.

I hope you have enjoyed your weekend.

Clare xx

Pink Daisies

Good morning everyone.

Here is my second card for Cuddly Buddly. I am entering it into the following challenges:-

Creative Card Crew - "All That Sparkles"

Charisma Cardz Challenge - "Decoupage"

(please click on the picture to see the sparkly bits)

I love making these "nestie" cards. I first cut my base card, I fold a piece of card over and then line up my nestie so that it does not cut part of the card spine, I am then left with a card I can open but which is missing some of the scallops, so that this doesn't show I cut a single layer of the same nestie and stick it over the card base (I hope my waffle makes sense).

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Stamps: "Daisies" and "Round Greetings" (both are Cuddly Buddly stamps)
Colouring medium: Copic Ciaos, Ranger Inksentials white pen
Tools: Spellbinders ribbon tag and round and scallop round nestabilities
Accessories: Glamour dust, ribbon, gems
Paper: K&Co – Sparkly Sweet

Thank you for visiting my blog today and for any comments you may leave, I love to read them and they brighten my day.

Have a lovely day!

Clare xx

Our Creative Corner & A Spoonful of Sugar

Good morning everyone, it is fabulous weather again here today.

I have made my first card for Cuddly Buddly in my role as a Fabulously Crafty Friend and I am entering it into this week's challenge at Our Creative Corner where the theme is "Monochromatic Mania" and this week's challenge at A Spoonful of Sugar where the theme is "Christmas".

(Click on the photo if you want to see the sparkle)

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Stamps: Image "It's For You" and Senitment "Christmas Greetings" both from Cuddly Buddly
Digital papers: "Winter Frost" from Cuddly Buddly
Colouring Medium: Prismacolor pencils and Sansador
Tools: Scallop Circle and Circle nestabilities
Accessories: Ribbon (from Cuddly Buddly) and Glamour Dust

Thank you for visiting my blog today and for any comments you may leave.

Have a lovely day.

Clare xx

Cuddly Buddly Bear

Good morning everyone!

It's the weekend, yay! I was promised a lie in this morning, so of course I was wide awake at 6am!

I am excited today as my Mum is coming over from France to visit us for a week.

I have made a card to enter four challenges this week - that is a record for me:-

Pile it on - Punches
Paper Makeup Stamps - Getting Punchy
Polkadoodles - Digi Colouring
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Animal Antics

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Digi Stamp: Cuddly Buddly Hug 1 from Teddy Bear Romance
Stamp: Sentiment from Cuddly Buddly Puppy Greetings

Digi Papers: Cuddly Buddly Fairy Fun Papers (multi)

Colouring Medium: Promarkers (pastel set), Dovecraft decorative chalks (pastel), white Inksential pen
Tools: Large Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Large Circle Nestabilities, Dovecraft Jumbo (2") Daisy Punch, Cuttlebug dies 2" x 2" - Vintage Corners, circle punch, piercing tool

All items used to make this card are available at Cuddly Buddly.

Thank you for visiting my blog today, have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs, Clare xx

Good morning everyone!

I would like to say a very big thank you to Sara (Sara Stamper) for this fabulous award. I am honoured to receive it.

The rules of the award are that I have to share 5 things that I am addicted to and then pass on the award to 5 other blogs that I love:

Here goes, these are my top five addictions:-

1. My gorgeous, wonderful son
2. Crafting and craft shopping - mainly on the internet
3. The internet - blogging mainly
4. Tea - I drink far too much of the stuff
5. Reading - as much as I can

I would like to pass this award to my fellow brand new Cuddly Buddly "Fabulously Crafty Friends":-

Annie
Chrissie
Jackie
Penni
Saskia

Thank you for visiting my blog and enjoy your day.

Hugs, Clare xx

Passion for Papertrey

Good morning everyone! It's another glorious Indian Summer day here in Warwickshire.

I am finally able to enter a challenge at A Passion for Papertrey. The theme this week is Birthday Bash.

I have used the Papertrey stamp set "Everyday Button Bits" for both the image and the sentiment.

The gorgeous DP is from Cuddly Buddly and is one of their free downloads, which you can find here.

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Stamps: Image and Sentiment Papertrey Ink "Everyday Button Bits"
Ink: Brilliance "Thyme" and "Pearlescent Purple"
DP: Cuddly Buddly
Tools: Nestabilities "Square" and "Label Trio", Martha Stewart "Doily Lace" punch, X-cut large daisy punch, small flower punches from a Create and Craft set
Accessories: Hero Arts pearls, other pearl from ebay and ribbon from Dunelm Mill

Thank you for visiting my blog today and for any much appreciated comment you may leave.

I hope you have a great day!

Clare xx

Die Cut Dreams

It's raining "Men!!", that's the theme at Die Cut Dreams this week, where you are asked to make anything male themed.

I've made a card for my brother in law who has his birthday next weekend. I nearly didn't post this as I could not get a good photo, you can see my reflection in the miri card! I find it quite hard to make cards for male family members. (I bought a card for my Brother's birthday this year - shock, horror!).

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

Hugs, Clare xx

p.s. has Mr Blogger stolen everyone's followers today?

Stamp with Us

Good morning everyone.

This is my first time joining the challenge at Stamp with Us.

This week the challenge is a recipe:-

NO PATTERNED PAPER
2 x RIBBONS
2 x STAMPS

I wanted to add a sentiment but that would have made three stamps! I hope I'm within the rules with the ribbon as I started with two pieces and cut one in half to add the strip under the image.

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Stamps: "En Francais" and " Ageless Adornment"
Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress inks (image); background stamping Chocolate Chip and distressing So Saffron
Ribbon: So Saffron and Pumpkin Pie
Other: Holographic embossing powder - this covers the whole of the image but unfortunately it doesn't show on this photo :-(

Thank you for visiting my blog today. Have a lovely day whatever you are doing.

Clare xx

Allsorts and Card Patterns

Good morning everyone!

Yesterday evening I made a Christmas card following this week's sketch at Card Patterns. I am also entering this into the Allsorts challenge, where the theme this week is "Snowflakes in September".

(Click on the picture to enlarge it if you want to see the sparkle!)

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Stamp: from SU set "Polar Bears"

Digi Papers: "Winter Frost" from Cuddly Buddly

Colouring Medium: Copic Ciaos

Tools: Nestabilities Large Scallop Square and Square; Cuttlebug "Snowflake" embossing folder; Martha Stewart Snowflake punch

Accessories: Ribbon (from Dunelm), Glamour Dust, Papermania gem

Ink: Brilliance white ink to edge around the triangles of paper

Thank you for visiting my blog today and for any comment you may leave, they really do make my day.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Hugs, Clare xx

My Brilliant Cuddly Buddly news

Hello everyone,

I hinted in my post yesterday that I had some wonderful news to share with you.

I know you shouldn't blow your own trumpet, but I am too excited!

Ta, da!

The very talented Kim MacFarlane of Cuddly Buddly has been looking for some new friends to join her team of "Fabulously Crafty Friends". I love Kim's gorgeous stamps, both rubber and digi and applied as soon as I heard, you can imagine my delight when an email from Kim landed in my inbox asking if I would like to join her team of Fabulously Crafty Friends. Of course, I said yes, and I hope I do justice to her beautiful stamps and papers.

Hugs, Clare xx

Charisma Cardz "Flower Power"

Good morning everyone,

(please scroll down one post for my Twilight book giveaway).

Today's challenge at Charisma Cardz is "Flower Power". This is the excuse I needed to use my new "Everyday Button Bits" stamps from Papertrey Inc. I still haven't used any buttons with these stamps which shows how versatile they are.

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Stamps: Main image leaves and stems from Papertrey Ink "Everyday Button Bits; sentiment from Su "Oval All" set

Ink: Brilliance dewdrop and a Copic Cioa

Cardstock and DP: Die Cuts with a View and SU

Tools: Scor-pal; nestabilities, flower punches from a Create and Craft set; small circle punch, SU oval punches

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and thank you for any comment you may leave.

This morning I had some very good news, which has had me grinning from ear to ear, I hope to share it with you all soon.

Hugs, Clare xx

Cute Card Thursday - Strawberry Mint Julep

Hello,

Two posts in one morning, that's good for me! If you are interested in seeing the first post, please scroll down.

I'm afraid the ironing lost out this morning but I have made myself a promise to tackle it this evening! Instead I have made another card in an attempt to force my mojo to return.

I am entering it into this week's Cute Card Thursday challenge where the theme is Strawberry Mint Julep (use green and pink on your card).

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Stamps: from Papertrey set "Everyday Button Bits" (you can just about see the sentiment)

Ink: SU "So Saffron"

DP: SU "Tea Party"

CS: SU Kraft

Tools: Scorpal; Martha Stewart border punch, X-cut large and small circle punches

Accessories: bead from stash

Many thanks for visiting and taking a look.

Have a lovely day!

Clare xx

Crafty Creations - Embossing

Hello everyone.

Well I should be ironing, I finished all the holiday washing while the sun still shone but now there are piles or ironing everywhere and I am sure they are glaring at me!

However, the lure of the craft room was too great, even though I think I left my mojo on holiday - crafting is more like hard work at the moment and not as much fun as usual. I am sure things will get back to normal soon though.

To try and get my mojo going I decided to make a card for my wonderful partner and realised that it fits with this week's theme of embossing at "Crafty Creations Challenges". I used my Scor-pal to create a lattice embossed pattern on the card base. (Sorry the photo is so bad but you can just see it).

Here's what I used to make this card:-

Stamp: from SU set "A Little Bit of Happiness" (another ebay buy!), I stamped the image twice and cut and "popped" the hearts
Colour Medium: Polychromos with Sansador, Inksentials white gel pen and C1 Copic Ciao
Tools: Scor-pal, Martha Stewart Valentine punch
Accessories: Ribbon (Kanban)

Now ironing or a cup of tea and some toast? I think tea and toast as I will need lots of energy for ironing, I wonder how many more excuses I can come up with?!

Thank you for visiting me today and for any messages you may leave.

Hugs, Clare xx

Our Creative Corner

Hello,

I've finally found some time to spend in my craft room. Firstly I had a rush card as my OH informed me he needed a card to post today!! Secondly I made a card for a challenge. I must be out of practice as I got glue everywhere!

This card is for the current challenge at Our Creative Corner where the theme is to make a Fall/Autumn card.

Here's what I used to make this card:

Stamp: from SU set "A Little Bit of Happiness"
Cardstock: Die Cuts With a View
Ink: Memento "Rich Cocoa"; Tim Holtz Distress "Vintage Photo" and "Tea Dye"
Colour medium: Polychromos and Sansador
Tools: Big Shot (yes I got one!); Scallop Nestabilities; Heidi Swapp distress tool; paper piercer
Accessories: Brads and SU ribbon

Thank you for stopping by my blog and taking a look. I will be back to visit you soon!

Clare xx

Back from holiday

Hello everyone,

Just to let you know I am back from holiday. I can't believe how lucky we were with the weather. We had a lovely time and I had fun exploring some different craft shops!

I'm going to spend the weekend with my family but will be back visiting your blogs as soon as possible - I've missed you all!

Clare xx

Playful Petals distressed card

Good morning everyone,

I nearly didn't have a card today, this one has taken ages to come together and I almost abandoned it half way through. I'm glad I didn't because I like it now!

I am entering it into two challenges:-

Stampavie & More "Love", (#59) and

A Spoonful of Sugar "Distressing" (#67)

Here's what I used to make this card:

Cardstock: Die Cuts with a View
Paper: From a paperback (eek! don't be too mad with me)
Stamps: SU "Playful Petals" and "Yummy"
Colouring medium: Tim Holtz Distress inks "Aged Mahogany", "Peeled Paint" and "Antique Linen"
Tools: Nestabilties Labels (4 I think), Cuttlebug "Script" embossing folder
Accesories: Beads froms stash.

Thank you for taking a look at my card, I hope you like it. I thought it was about time I got my distress inks out again, I was missing them!

Have a great day, whatever you are doing, the sun is shining here and I am happy!

Hugs, Clare xx

Thank you for these awards

Good morning everyone.

I am a bad blogger who has left it far too long to say thank you for these awards. So I am making amends right now.

Thank you Sarah for this award:-

I have passed this one onto all my followers, but if you haven't picked it up yet, please do. You are all in my circle of friends.

Thank you Ali for this award:-

I would like to pass this to Vicky who makes great cards.

Thank you Katrina for this award:-

I would like to pass this on to Jacilynn. Your cards are such fun Jacilynn and they always make me smile.

I am so honoured to receive these awards, especially at times like now when my mojo has gone and left me. It makes me want to keep on blogging.

Hugs to all my followers and commenters. I hope you have a lovely day!

Clare xx

Die Cut Dreams "Summer"

Good morning.

All back to normal after the long weekend. I didn't do much but had a relaxing time.

The theme at Die Cut Dreams this week is "Summer". Well summer makes me think of flowers so here is my card with "pretty flowers all in a row".

The flower stamp is from the SU! "Seeing Spots" set (thanks Emma!). I stamped the flowers using Whispers pens and drew on the stems. I made the leaves by cutting the petals off punched daisies (using an X-cut small daisy punch). I have run around the edge of the card with a Scor-bug, but this photo isn't great and it doesn't show (if you want a closer look you can click on the picture to enlarge it). The sentiment I have used is from Elzybells.

Thank you for visiting my blog today and taking a look at this card.

Have a great week!

Clare xx