Wednesday 20 July 2011

ABC Christmas Challenge - "O" is for Older Stamp

Good afternoon,

ABC Christmas Challenge are asking you to use stamps/digis that are over one year old on your project for their current challenge.

I don't know quite how old this tree stamp is, but it's definitely well over a year old!


I had a piece of hammered white card left over from making a box, and, as I'm trying to have less waste from cardmaking, I decided to play about with some distress inks. I used a torn piece of copy paper to cover part of the card and then sponged and dusted three colours of distress ink onto the card (after first masking a circle for the moon). The colours I used were Chipped Sapphire, Faded Jeans and Tumbled Glass.

Next I stamped on the tree image which is by Rubber Stampede and called "Winter Woods" A2430F, and the sentiment which is "Christmas Flourish" by Penny Black (3900H). Finally, I matted onto some Stampin' Up! grey card and adhered it to an A6 card.

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Penny Black Saturday "Bunting"

Good morning,

The challenge at Penny Black Saturday this week is "Bunting". Goodness me, what problems I had making bunting, I kept cutting out the wrong shaped triangle, but I got there in the end!


I used an image and sentiment from the Penny Black clear set "Tiny Wishes" 30-026. I've used Copic Ciaos to colour.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Hugs and best wishes.

Clare x

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Christmas Card for the Simon Says Challenge

Good afternoon,

I've just heard that the Simon Says Challenge are hoping to get 1000 entries to their challenge this week. If they do they are offering a second $50 prize to spend in their shop.

The challenge theme is "Anything Goes" and I am entering this simple Christmas card.



I'm making batches of Christmas cards using images from the Penny Black "Mimi's Christmas" set (30-061) to use for my son to send to his schoolfriends (the girls, I'll make differents ones for the boys).

I've coloured Mimi with pencils and added Perfect Pearls in Pearl, Glamour Dust and Glossy Accents to give the sparkle and shine that children love.

Good luck Simon Says Challenge, I hope you reach 1000!

Hugs and best wishes.

Clare xx

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Penny Black at Allsorts - "Flower Power"

Just a quick reminder about our monthly challenge at Penny Black at Allsorts, where our theme is "Flower Power". You still have over two week's to enter and because this month is our first birthday we have a total of SEVEN prizes on offer, including our special birthday quiz prizes.


I've used Penny Black Day Dreams (3947K) for my card. I've coloured it with Aquamarkers and added some stickles glue for a bit of sparkle!


The background has also been made using Aquamarkers.
 I scribbled with them onto a waterproof sheet and sprayed them with Pearl Glimmer Mist. Then I put my glossy cardstock onto the ink and gently swooshed it to pick up all the ink. I also used a bit of scrunched up paper towel to pick up ink and fill in any gaps. 
I rather like the effect of this background technique with the Aquamarkers.

Have a lovely day whatever you are doing!

Hugs and best wishes.

Clare xx

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Your Favourite Cupcake Challenge

Good afternoon,

Cupcake Craft Challenges are celebrating their 150th challenge. The theme for this challenge is "Your Favourite Cupcake Challenge" where you get to choose from all the challenges they have ever had. What a great theme!


I've chosen Challenge 48 "Distressing" for my card, although it would probably fit other challenges too, including Challenge 1 "Flowers" and Challenge 148 "In the Garden".

For the panel of my card I started off with some pale green cardstock and stamped polka dots onto it using Versamark Frost. I then sponged over  with "Crushed Olive" and "Chipped Sapphire" distress inks and stamped Hero Arts "Wildflower Garden" (CG170)  in "Chipped Sapphire". The sentiment is from Crafty Individual and is also stamped with "Chipped Sapphire" distress ink.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Clare xx

Monday 11 July 2011

Vintage Birthday Card

Good afternoon to you!

I don’t normally do vintage. The idea usually sends me running, but when I was asked to make a card using a specific photograph, I felt I needed to try!

Birthday card JS

I think the photograph used on this card was taken in the late 70’s or early 80’s and because of this I would like to enter the card into the current ABC Challenge where the theme is “Y for Yesterday”.

Thank you for visiting my blog!

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Sunday 3 July 2011

Joie de Vivre!

Good afternoon!

Here's a card I have made for my niece who will be celebrating her third birthday this month.


I've used a Penny Black stamped called Joie de Vivre! (4052K). I can't help but smile when I look at this teddy and for that reason I am entering this card into the current Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the theme is "Desert Island Stamps". I think if I could only take one stamp to a Desert Island then this would probably be the one because whenever I felt down just looking at him would cheer me up!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend. My boys (the big one and the little one) are at a birthday party at the local soft play so we girls (me and the dog) are at home enjoying some piece and quiet.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Hugs and best wishes. Clare xx

Friday 1 July 2011

Mimi's Christmas

Good evening,


This card is my entry for the July challenge at By the Cute and Girly, where the theme is "THINGS WITH WINGS".

I've used an image from a Penny Black clear stamp set called Mimi's Christmas 30-061 and coloured her with Prismacolor Pencils. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up!

Thank you for visiting and have a lovely weekend!

Hugs, Clare xx

Penny Black at Allsorts July Challenge - "Flower Power"

Woo hoo! Today is a very exciting day for me. It's my first challenge at Penny Black at Allsorts as one of the Design Team. I am truly honoured to have been chosen to be part of the team.

The theme for this month's challenge is:-

"Flower Power"



I think my first love from Penny Black has to be the floral stamps, but who can resist the cute animals too? So for my first card I have combined both. 

The background has been created by stamping Penny Black "Sundial" 4159K onto white card with "Dandelion" Memento Ink. The main image is Penny Black "Flower Bear" 3695J which I have coloured with copic ciaos and coloured pencils. His bow tie has been coated with Glossy Accents and I've added stickles glitter glue to the centre of the flowers.



This card was so much fun to make. I hope you are able to join in with our challenge this month.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Sir Stampalot July Challenge "Anything Goes"

Good morning.

It's the first of July and time for another Sir Stampalot challenge. This month our theme is:-

"Anything Goes"


My card uses a Molly Blooms stamp (MB-0321). All of the DT have used new Molly Blooms stamps and if you enter the challenge you could win a brilliant Molly Blooms prize, donated by our generous sponsors, Sir Stampalot.


I hope you are inspired to take part in our challenge and look forward to visiting all of the entries.

Goodies used on my card:-
Stamps: Molly Blooms "Seaside Molly" (MB-01321), Magnolia Sentiment, Shell from Hero Arts clear set "Antique Engravings" (CL888),
Papers: Stampin' Up "Tea Party" (retired set)
Colouring medium: Copic Ciaos for image and Distress Inks for background
Ink: Memento and Brilliance
Other: Martha Stewart Doily Lace Punch, Seed Beeds

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx