Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #38 "Pretty Packaging"

Good morning everyone. It's another hot day here and I'm keeping indoors to try and stay cool. I feel for my poor dog when it's like this - I wouldn't want to be wearing her fur coat!

This week's challenge at Secret Crafter is "Pretty Packaging". I've made a little Pizza Box (here is the tutorial I followed to make the box).

I tried to use up some scraps to make this box. I hate waste and try to use up every last scrap and the little bits I can't use I always take to the recycling.

Here's what I used for this box:

Stamp: Penny Black from "Hugs" transparent set

DP: Brenda Pinnick from Signature Series Scrapbook Paper Pack

Tools: Spellbinders Rectangle Nestabilties; Spellbinders Flower Creations 1; Fiskars border punch

Accessories: Anitas Ribbon; Papermania Brad; Diamond Stickles

I appreciate you stopping by my blog today and taking a look.

Enjoy your day.

Clare xx

Award

Hello everyone, my apologies if I haven't visited your blog recently, I've been feeling under the weather the last couple of days with a cold and headaches which have kept me off the laptop and out of the craft room. I'm feeling slightly better today and maybe I will be up to some crafting, I have a few ideas that have been running through my head that I'd like to turn into paper.

I have received this great award from NormaJean .



The rules that go with this award are to: a) Thank the person who gave it to you. b) List 10 honest things about yourself. c) Pass the award on to 7 people.

Thank you NormaJean!

Here are 10 honest things about myself:-
1. I am blessed with a wonderful partner and son.
2. I spend a lot of time crafting (and now blogging!).
3. I am lucky enough not to have to go out to work.
4. I miss living by the sea.
5. I think I drink too much tea (I’ve just made another cup).
6. I was born in 1968.
7. I once lived and worked in Florida.
8. A gorgeous German Sheppard rescue dog shares our home.
9. I can’t dance.
10. I love to read.

There are so many lovely people I would like to pass this award on to, but the rules say I can only choose seven, and I have chosen:-

Jacilynn
Linda
Brenda
Debby
Julie
Jules
Karen

Have a great day everyone!

Clare x

Simon Says Challenge "Happy Mail"

Good morning everyone. Here's the card I made yesterday. It's still dull here but at least I managed to take slightly better photograph.

This week's challenge at Simon Says is "Happy Mail" - you have to make and send a card to a child at either "Post Pals" or "Make a Child Smile". I've made this card to send to Daniel A at Post Pals. I've made a card for a boy as I always worry that the girls get sent more - although this probably isn't the case at all!

I've bought a few more Tim Holtz Distress Inks - I just couldn't resist! I've spent a few happy hours in my craft room making lots of mess and having lots of fun too. I've used them to colour this image and also to distress around the edges of the card and paper. I stamped two images and decoupaged a second layer on his shirt and hair.

I wanted the sentiment to say "You're a Star" but I don't have a stamp for this. I must download my printer software so I can print my own sentiments.

Here's what I used to make this card:

Stamp: Elzybells "Boy Footie", Elzybells "Family Messages"

DP: Die Cuts with a View

Colour Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Accessories: brad from stash

Tools: Spellbinders Mega Scalloped Rectangles (large).

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and look at this card.

A very happy weekend to you all.

Clare xx

I made the top 5 on the Allsorts Challenge

Good evening everyone, I just had to share my good news - I made the top 5 in this week's Allsorts Challenge where the theme was Wings. I am delighted, it is a fantastic way to start the weekend. This week the top 5 also get a "winged theme" rak from Brenda who set the challenge - thank you so much Brenda.

I do have a card to post, hopefully tomorrow. We've had a storm here today and try as I might I can't get a good enough photo.

Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are and whatever the weather.

Clare xx

p.s. Here's the card I entered into the Allsorts Challenge.

Copic Colour Challenge 19

A very good afternoon to you all. It's another scorcher here - lovely!!

This afternoon I've made a card for the Copic Colour Challenge number 19. The colours for this week are BV00, G00 and RV02 - and for once I have them all.

I've used my gorgeous little girl again - the Duda Daze "Frog Prince" from Sugar Nellie. I love her so much! (you can get her at Funky Kits).



I stamped the image onto marker paper and cut her out and shaped her before adhering her to the heart with gel glue. She's coloured with Copic Ciaos and has some stickles glitter on her bows, necklace and shoes. The flowers are Prima and I've coloured some of them with Copics to colour co-ordinate. The stitching around the edge is done by hand. I've chalked around the hearts and the DP and I've also run around the hearts with a pink Copic. I dearly wished I had some "Worn Lipstick" Distress Ink to use on this card while I was making it - it's on my shopping list now.

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

Stamps: Sugar Nellie Duda Daze "Frog Prince"; Papermania "Clare Curd" sentiments
Colour Medium: Copic Ciaos; chalks
Cardstock: Die Cuts with a View "Spring Stack"
Accessories: Stickles glitter "Diamond"; Prima flowers; Kanban pearls; embroidery thread
Tools: Spellbinders hearts; Cuttlebug hearts embossing folder.

Thank you very much for taking the time to stop by my blog. I hope you like my card.

Clare xx

The Sugar Bowl - Challenge # 13 - Lilian's Sketch

Hello everyone! It's a perfect summer's day here in Warwickshire. I should be outside enjoying it, but I had to get my craft fix first!

This morning I made a card following a fabulous sketch by Lilian which is this week's challenge over at the Sugar Bowl.

(Silly me, I've just noticed that the "please include" option of the challenge is "Please use the colour ‘kraft’ in your design"- I wonder if her basket will count?)

My apologies for the washed out photograph. This isn't quite how it looks in real life. Any photography tips would be gratefully appreciated.

Here's what I used to make this card:

Stamp: Sugar Nellie "Country Garden"

Colour medium: Copic Ciaos

Cardstock: Die Cuts With a View; Coredinations Whitewash; Rymans own smooth white

Accessories: Imaginensce brad

Tools: MM paper trimmer; Cuttlebug "Spots and Dots" embossing folder; Spellbinder "Mega Scalloped Rectanges" - Large, "Flower Creations 1" and "Flower Creations 2"; Woodware corner rounder punch; Scor-Pal scoring board.

Thank you for vising my blog and taking a look - I appreciate this more than I can say.

Enjoy your week and happy crafting.

Clare x

Allsorts Challenge - Week 6 - Wings

Good afternoon. Thank you so much to everyone who visited my blog for the Sugar Nellie Blog Hop and left such lovely messages - it really made my day.

At last, I am entering a challenge. I've been crafting aplenty recently, just not for challenges. However, I couldn't resist the challenge at Allsorts Challenge Blog this week which is "Wings".

Here's my entry:-

As you can see, I've treated myself to one Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - "Antique Linen" and I think I've gone a bit mad with it, it's made an appearance on just about everything I've made since I got it. I think it's a bit lonely on it's own so I will have to save the pennies to get it some friends (another 23 perhaps!!).

To make this card I've used some white card to make a blank which I have embossed on the front using a score board, I've lightly inked the edges. I then took another piece of white card and ran it through the "Script" Cuttlebug embossing folder, I distressed the edges of this card with a distress tool and liberally inked it with "Antique Linen" distress in. The flower was made using Spellbinders Flower Creations 1 die, again it's been distress inked! I then cut two butterflies with an X-cut punch out of white card, I covered them with Versamark ink and heat embossed them with Heat It Up! "Enchanted Gold" embossing powder. Finally, I added some gems from my stash.

I really enjoyed making this card.

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to look. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Clare x

Sugar Nellie Blog Hop – Duda Daze Release

Woo hoo!! Sugar Nellie have released a new range of fun and whimsical stamps “Duda Daze” by artist Diane Duda. They will be available exclusively at Funky Kits.

To celebrate this first release they are having a massive blog hop. I was one of the lucky people to be sent a Duda Daze pre-release stamp and invited to join the hop.

Here’s the card I made using the stamp “Frog Prince”. This stamp was a delight to colour and I have absolutely fallen in love with the little Princess.

I coloured her with Copic Ciaos and heat embossed her crown with Heat It Up “Enchanted Gold” embossing powder. I added a bit of Sakura clear glaze to her eyes and to the frog, then I cut her out and shaped her before attaching her to the card.

The designer papers I’ve used are “Tea Party” by Stampin’ Up. This is double sided paper and I’ve used both sides (floral and dotty). I cut and layered the flower from the same paper.

I used nestabilities “Mega Scalloped Rectangles” (large) to cut the rectangle mats and I embossed the white one with a “Spots and Dots” Cuttlebug folder. I then lightly inked the edges of both rectangles. I used a Scor-Pal to make the lines around the edge of the card and, finally, I added Papermania pink adhesive stones.

Thank you for stopping by and taking a look at my card, your next stop on the hop is Kat's Blog. Enjoy your journey!

And, finally, a BIG THANK YOU to Karen for sending me the stamp and giving me the opportunity take part in this fabulous blog hop.

Hugs, Clare xx

No cards but a Tidy Craft Room and a Sugar Nellie Blog Hop Reminder

Good afternoon to you all.

I usually get to spend my Thursday mornings making cards. This morning I planned to do the same, however, I got sidetracked and ended up reorganising my craft room, all because I couldn't find any shrink plastic. In the end I found it in the place where I had first looked for it!! Well, at least I have a lovely tidy room now, so it was worth it.

I've been uhmming and ahhing for ages whether to buy some Spellbinders flower creations dies. I finally succumbed and they arrived this morning. They were quite a bit bigger than I imagined - this is why I got sidetracked into looking for shrink plastic. Luckily after the big clean up I still had some time to play. Here's my first attempt - what do you think?



Thank you for stopping by today, if you can, please drop by again tomorrow morning as I am taking part in the Sugar Nellie Duda Daze release blog hop - it should be lots of fun and Sugar Nellie will be giving away some great candy.

I hope to see you tomorrow.

Hugs, Clare x

Woo hoo!

Mr Postman has made my day, he has just delivered the lovely followers blog candy that I was lucky enough to win from Crafty Goings On.

Thank you so my Karen for your generosity. I will have such fun with these lovely goodies.



Clare x

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge ~ 36 - "In the Jungle"

Good afternoon fellow bloggers. I hope you have all been enjoying your weekend. The weather has been gorgeous and I've spent most of the weekend buying bedding plants, planting them and tidying up the garden - it has been very satisfying.

Yesterday evening I started this card for the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge where the theme is "In the Jungle".

I needed to make a Fathers' Day card from my son for his Daddy and thought this would fit the bill.

I didn't have any background paper suitable for a jungle theme so I made my own using flourish stamps and three different green inks.

I'm quite pleased with this card and I hope "Daddy" likes it too.

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Sugar Nellie "Rory", Inkadoo flourishes, Elzybells "Family messages"

Copic Ciaos

"Ink it Up" mini ink pads, Memento Rich Cocoa

Die Cuts with a View cardstock

Woodware leaf punch

Nestabilties: Lables and Large long scalloped rectangles.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and looking at this card.

Clare x

New Challenge - Stampin' for the Weekend

Hello everyone, a Happy Monday to you all.

Last Friday saw the launch of a new Challenge called Stampin' for the Weekend. Their first challenge is a colour combo of yellow and purple.

Yet again, I've used the so sweet Sugar Nellie "Daisy". I'd already coloured her up so she was just perfect for this challenge.

I haven't added a sentiment - quite often I like to leave the front blank and put my sentiment inside - or I might add a sentiment to the front when I know what I will use the card for.

Here's what I used to make this card.

Stamp: Sugar Nellie "Daisy"

Coloured Cardstock: Die Cuts with a View

Coloured with: Copic Ciaos

Designer Papers: Dovecraft - Retro Florals

Flowers: Prima and Papermania

Ribbon: Anitas

White card: Rymans own coated card

Thank you for dropping by my blog and taking a look, I truly appreciate it.

Clare x

A Much Appreciated Award



Thank you very much to the lovely and talented Brenda of Floral Fantasies for passing on this award to me. This award is "For those with Great Attitude and Gratitude", and I am delighted that Brenda thought of me - I really appreciate it.

I love visiting Brenda's blog and find it very inspirational.

I need to think about who to send this to - it will be so hard to narrow it down to just five people.

Clare x

I won Bev's Blog Candy

Yippee - how happy am I.

I was delighted to see that I was the winner of this amazing blog candy from Bev at "All the Things I Love".




I still haven't come down from my high.

Thank you so much Bev.

If you haven't visited Bev's blog yet, pop on over, she makes amazing cards.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Clare x

Sugar Nellie - Duda Daze release

Ooh, I'm so excited!!

If you have visited the Sugar Nellie blog recently you will be aware that they have a first release of the whimsical and fun "Duda Daze" stamps by Diane Duda this month.

To celebrate this release bloggers were invited to put their name down to be sent a stamp from the range to play with as they wished and then join in a blog hop in the near future.

I was lucky enough to be able to get my name in quickly, and this morning Mr Postie delivered my stamp - I have to say I LOVE IT. Within 5 mins of it arriving it was stamped up several times and is now sitting on my craft table waiting from some colour.

You will have to wait to see what we get up to with these images - oh suspense - I love it!

Bye for now, my fingers are itching to get crafting.

Clare x

Copic Colour Challenge 16 and Papertake Weekly Challenge Dawny's Sketch #16

Hello everyone.

Today I have made a card to combine two challenges. I coloured up Gorjuss Girl "Sitting" for this week's Copic Colour Challenge 16 and used Dawny's great sketch from Papertake Weekly challenge to make up the card.

The colours for the Copic Colour Challenge are RV11, Y06 and E39. I don't have all these colours but you can use your nearest colours so I've used RV10, Y06 and E37.

I have to admit to not quite finishing this card before posting it. I'm waiting for the glue to dry on the ribbon before I pop the ribbon tag onto the card with foam squares.

The ingredients for this card are:-

Stamp:Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girl "Sitting"

Nestabilities: Labels 2 and Ribbon Tags

Cuttlebug embossing folder: Spots and Dots

Cardstock: Die Cuts with a View

Designer papers: Basic Grey "Cupcake"

Sentiment: Elzybells "Everyday Greetings"

Flowers: Prima and stash

Gem and pearls from stash.

I hope you are all enjoying your week.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog.

Clare x

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Pink, Turquoise and a hint of Brown

Hello everyone. I'm so pleased it's another beautiful day and today I have a morning to myself as my son is at nursery. I know, I know, I should be outside and not in front of the computer!

I wasn't sure whether to post this card as I'm not too pleased with it. I chose which colours I was going to use for the image and as usual got carried away colouring in and grabbed the wrong blue - I tried to remove the colour with a blender pen but wasn't too successful - however, saying all that, looking at the picture it doesn't look too bad!

Well, here it is and I'm entering it in this week's Secret Crafter Challenge which is Pink, Turquoise and a hint of Brown.

The pink and turquoise are fairly obvious and for the Brown I have stamped the image and sentiments using Memento Rich Cocoa ink, Daisy is also wearing a brown belt.

I've coloured some of the flowers on the Dovecraft DP in very pale pink.

Instead of cutting the image out with a circle nestie, I cut an apeture in the DP with the circle and placed it over the image.

I've also added a bit to the inside of the card.

I've used:

Stamp: Sugar Nellie "Daisy"

Coloured with: Copics

DP: Dovecraft

Sentiments: Elzybells "Family Messages" and "Everyday Messages"

Thank you for stopping by and taking a look. Enjoy your day.

Clare x

Cute Card Thursday - Bit o' Bling

Hello everyone. Another glorious day - yippee!!

I've made a card for my best friend's birthday next week and as it's got some gems on it I thought I would enter it in this week's Cute Card Thursday challenge which is "Bit o' Bling".

The bling is on the flower and also the dots on the i's of the sentiment.



Not a great photograph I'm afraid, as the sun hasn't quite got round to the front of the house (best time for photos) and I'm too impatient to wait!

The stamp I have used is a Sugar Nellie called "Post Box". Those of you who are familar with this stamp will see I have only used part of it, the rest of it I stamped onto the envelope.



I used the largest of the long scalloped rectangle nestabilities to make the card and cut the DP the same shape and size to stick onto the front. I used a smalled rectangle from the same set to cut the image but I ran it through the wizard twice to get the size I wanted, the smallest rectangle was used for the sentiment.

I've coloured the image with Copics, and used Brenda Pinnick DP, Prima flowers, Dovecraft gems and sentiments from Elzybells "Everyday Greetings".

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Clare x