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