"Get Sketchy" new Challenge site and DT call

Good morning everyone. Another grey day - oh well, I'll have to stay indoors and craft today!

Whilst hopping this morning, I came across a new bi-weekly challenge called "Get Sketchy" which is starting on 14th August.

To celebrate their grand opening they have some lovely Cosmo Cricket papers to giveaway. They also have a current DT call. Both end on 3rd August.

For more details click HERE.

Have a great day.

Cute Card Thursday "Let's Get Fruity"

Good afternoon everyone. Another grey day - doh! The sun is very shy - it makes a quick appearance and then disappears again.

I've managed to get some crafting in this afternoon as, amazingly, my son is having a sleep. That kid runs on supercharged Duracells and usually just keeps going and going.

The theme at Cute Card Thursday this week is "Let's get Fruity". I was so surprised to find that I have nothing fruity in my stash except the Magnolia Strawberry that I used a few posts ago, so I resorted to making my fruit. I love cherries, yum, yum. (I got the idea from Steph - here).

Thanks for calling by and taking a look at my card.

It's almost the weekend so I will end this post by wishing you all a fantastic weekend.

Clare xx

True's Gifts from the Heart Blog Candy

Hello, I'm sure many of you have come across "True's Gifts from the Heart" the blog of the very talented card artist Trudy (True). If you haven't it is well worth visiting to see True's amazing creations. I am always astounded by her work.

True has just become a Detail Designer for the "Clear Dollar Stamps" Design Team (well done True!) and to celebrate she is offering candy there will be a mixture of designer paper stacks, stamps, flowers, ribbons, and other embellishments plus whatever other goodies she throws in along the way!

Click on the picture to enter the candy.

Good luck!

Clare x

Simon Says "Distressing"

Good evening everyone! I finally got a chance to craft this evening and had a high old time getting multicoloured fingers.

I'm going to enter this tag into the current Simon Says Challenge where the theme is "Distressing".

I apologise for bringing this stamp set out again but it suits the theme so well.

If you want to see the "shiny stuff" in more detail, just click on the picture.

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

Stamp: Elusive Images "Butterfly Poppy" plate

Colouring medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Brilliance ink (around edges of tag)
Tools: "Susan's" tags template, X-cut butterfly punch, Cropadile

Accessories: Eyelet, elastic thread, gem, holographic and clear embossing powder

Please excuse any typos, poor grammer or missing ingredients, I am so tired I am almost falling asleep over the keyboard!

Thank you so much for visiting. I would love it if you left a comment, I can then visit your blog in return.

Nighty night. Clare x

Emma's Blog Candy

Hello, Clare reporting from wet and grey Warwickshire! Oh it's so yukky today! I'm itching to craft but circumstances (i.e. a little boy) do not allow. I will have to wait until this evening. I'm also waiting for Mr Postie to bring me a package and I am not very good at waiting!

To cheer myself up I have been hopping, and I came across Emma's lovely blog "Devotion to the Dream".

Emma currently has some wonderful blog candy up for grabs. I've got three Polychromos and I have to say I love them and would love some more! As for Spellbinders - can't live without them!

Click here to check out Emma's candy.

Have a good day and I hope you get some time to craft.

Clare x

Basic Grey Challenges are back - hooray!

Good afternoon everyone.

I was so pleased to see a post from BasicGrey Challenges today. They are back with a new look blog and new challenges. To celebrate their return they are offering some fabulous blog candy.

Click HERE for your chance to win it

Clare x

A Beautiful Award

Good morning everyone.

I have been given this beautiful award from Sarah of Fluff's Creations. Thank you so much Sarah.

If you haven't visited Sarah's blog, do try and find the time to pop by (especially if you are an Elzybells fan like me!). Sarah's cards are just so beautiful!

The rules are to pass this award on to 5 people. I would like to give it to:-

Ann "Creative Antics"

Donna "Donna's Doodles"

Juls "The Glitter Chick"

Lisa "The Craft Garden"

Normajean "The Things I Love"

Have a great day everyone!

Clare x

Stamp Something - Bugs, Butterflies and Other Winged Somethings

Good morning to you all. It's a beautiful sunny morning here today. The last few days there have been Cabbage White Butterflies everywhere - they are so beautiful.

Yesterday I made a card for the Stamp Something challenge which is Bugs, Butterflies and Other Winged Somethings. I ran out of time to finish it off and planned to add a sentiment in the bottom right hand corner this morning. However, when I looked at it again I decided to leave it so that the beautiful paper would not be covered up. I feel my cards always look a bit bare but I guess that is just how I make them so I'm not going to fret over it too much.

Sorry about the shadow in the photo - but this was the best of the bunch!"

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

Stamp: Butterfly from Elusive Images "Butterfly Poppy" plate

Papers: K & Co "Baily"

Tools: Fiskars "Sunburst" border punch

Accessories: Ribbon and pearls from my stash

I stamped the butterfly with Brilliance ink - the black one with gold in it (I forget the name of this one) and then I heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.

I still think I might add something else to this card - what do you think?

Wishing you all a happy and enjoyable weekend.

Clare xx

Circle of Friends Award

Good morning everyone.

I am delighted to have been given this "Circle of Friends" award from the lovely Juls aka "The Glitter Chick". You may not have come across Juls' blog as she is fairly new to blogland but if you get the time please check it out as her creations are awesome.

As usual there are many people I would like to pass this award on to, but the rules say only five so I would like to pass this award to:-

Katrina at Whimsical Wishes
Gemma at Painted Dreams (I am looking forward to meeting these two ladies for the first time at Katrina's SU Open House tomorrow)
Jacilynn at Jacilynn Dashwood - Enjoying the Journey
Maarit at Violets Corner
Sam at Sam by the Sea

Clare x

Edwin and three challenges

Hello everyone.

I'm on a roll this week - I don't think I've entered so many challenges in one week before. I've got a burst of energy from somewhere and not only have I made more cards than usual I have also spring cleaned the house. Oh, and it's sunny today, yay!

Today I've made a tag with a summer theme and I'm entering this in the following challenges:-

Stampavie and More "Summer"
Charisma Cardz "Tag It"
Cute Card Thursday "Eye Eye" (there is an eyelet, it's just partially hidden under the ribbon)

I've made a "very simple" background for Edwin using distress inks and a white watercolour pencil. I've also coloured some white ribbon with distress inks to match.

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

Stamp: Edwin with surfboard (not sure of real name of stamp!) from Magnolia Summer Club kit.
CS: 240gm watercolour paper
Colouring medium: Distress inks "Scattered Straw", "Weathered Wood", "Frayed Burlap" and "Broken China", White Derwent Aquatone water colour pencil
Tools: Spellbinders nestabilities "Labels 4", Cropadile; Pinflair gel glue
Accessories: Papermania eyelet, Anita's Ribbon, Summer sun freebie from magazine.

Oops, have you spotted the inadversent advertising in the background with my freebie craft mat!

Thanks for dropping by today. Enjoy the rest of your week - not long until the weekend!

Clare x

Copic Colour Challenge #23

(Mr Blogger has finished sulking and is now accepting my piccies - thank you Mr B.)

Hello everyone. Another dull day here but it has been nice and bright in my craft room thanks to the Copic Colour Challenge. You can't get much brighter than orange! The colours for this week's challege are R35, YG63 and YR04. I only have one of these colours, YG63 so I chose the nearest I have to the other two and came up with R32 and YR16.

Here's what I used to make this card:

Stamps: flowers from Magnolia Summer Club kit; butterfly from a Penny Black clear set
Colouring medium: Copic Ciaos
Tools: Fiskars "Sunburst" border punch, Nestabilities "Classic Square" and "Scallop Square"
Accessories: Ribbon and pearls from stash; Glossy Accents for flower centres; foam squares to pop up the centre panel

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to visit my blog.

See you soon and happy crafting.

Clare x

Mr Blogger is sulking

Oh no! Mr Blogger is having a sulk and refusing to upload my photographs. I hope he cooperates soon.

Clare x

Die Cut Dreams and Dutch Dare Card Challenge

Good afternoon everyone.

I came across a new (to me) challenge on Sunday - Die Cut Dreams - the theme for their challenge this week is "black and white". I've avoided black and white challenges in the past and thought it was about time I faced up to my fears. Much to my surprise I really enjoyed making the card. That's what I love about challenges, they make you step out of your comfort zone.

I am also entering this into Dutch Dare Card Challenges where the current challenge is to use cutting dies and/or punches.

Here's what I used to make this card:

Die Cuts with A View cardstock; Cuttlebug "Swiss Dots" embossing folder'; Martha Stewart "Valentine Lace" border punch; Spellbinders Nestabilities "Large Scalloped Squares" and "Flower Creations 1".

I got the idea for the heart frame from Sue Nelson at Heart Prints.

It's a dull wet day here, but then I guess that's normal for summer. I hope you are enjoying your day whatever the weather.

Thank you for visiting my blog today. If you want to leave a comment you will make my day.

Happy crafting!

Clare x

Stamptacular Sunday and an Award

Good afternoon everyone. I hope you've all been having a great weekend. I've had a productive day today, clearing out unwanted items for the charity shop. There's a bit more space in the house now - um, I wonder what I might fill it with!!

Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to Linda for this wonderful award she has given to me. I am very honoured to receive it. If you haven't come across Linda's blog then it is well worth a visit as she makes very beautiful cards.

The challenge over at Stamptacular Sunday this week is "SHAPETACULAR Card!" you must make a card with an unusual, out of the ordinary shape.

I've made a pouch bag card, this uses 1 sheet of 12" x 12" paper, I got the idea from a TV show and have modified it slightly. A sheet of card goes inside with the greeting on it (I'll be putting some sweetie bars in too).

The paper I have used is Die Cuts With a View from a QVC kit. I used a Fiskars scalloped edge punch to for the handle and trim. The flower has been made using the Spellbinders Flower Creations 2 set, the petals have been inked with Brilliance ink which has a lovely pearlescent sheet, it is held together at the centre with a velvet brad. The sentiment is from the Magnolia Summer Club kit, I've stamped this in blue ink, clear embossed over it and then cut it out with a circle nestie, while it was still in the nestie I inked it over with pink ink.

Thank you for visiting my blog and for all your lovely comments.

Happy crafting!
Clare x

Creative Card Crew "Create a Scene"

Good afternoon everyone.

Well the weather can't make up it's mind today but at least it's not raining.

I've spent a lovely couple of hours in my craft room today, I've rediscoved my heat gun and embossing powders over the last week or so and I'm having lots of fun with them.

I'm going to enter the card I made this morning into the Creative Card Crew challenge where this week's theme is "Create a Scene". I've used three separate stamps on this card and I hope it counts.

The stamps I've used are from the "Butterfly Poppy" plate by Elusive images. I stamped the two background images onto white card using Brilliance ink, I then heat embossed the chequered stamp with holographic embossing powder. Next I coloured in the poppy using Brilliance ink and a water brush. The butterfly was stamped onto pattered paper and heat embossed, again with holographic powder. I then inked and heat embossed the edges of the white card (I don't think this shows up in the photo unless you click to enlarge it). I stuck the butterfly on to the card with gel glue so it is raised up.

I've made several more cards, tags and notelets, all using the same stamp plate so I won't bore you with them.

I hope you are all enjoying your weekends. Thank you for visiting my blog and for any comment you may leave - I love to read them all.

Clare x

Cupcake Craft Challenge - Blossoms and Butterflies

Good morning everyone. How's your week been? I can't believe it is Thursday already - where does the time go?

This morning I've been having a play with my inks and embossing powders. I've used a flower stamp and a butterfly stamp so will enter my notelet into this week's Cupcake Craft Challenge where the theme is "Blossoms and Butterflies".

As usual, the embossing doesn't show up as clearly on the photograph as it does in real life, but I hope you get the idea. (If you click on the picture you can see it better).

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

Stamps: "Butterfly Poppy" plate from Elusive Images, Inkadinkadoo Swirls, Papermania Clare Curd Sentiment

Colouring medium: Distress inks "Spiced Marmalade", "Pine Needles" and "Weathered Wood", gold glitter pen

Embossing Powder: Heat it Up "Enchanted Gold" and "Holographic"

Tools: Water spritzer, heat gun and masking tape

I enjoyed making this, I like playing with inks, it's fun seeing how a project turns out as I never have a clue when I start!

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I love reading all your comments and visiting your blogs in return.

Clare x

Creative Inspirations "Stitching Real of Faux!"

Good morning!

Just a quick post as my son wants me to read him a book - he just got it out as I started this post and now he is reapeating over and over "read book". I know he won't stop until I do!

This week's challenge at Creative Inspirations is "Stitching Real of Faux!".

I've used machine stitching on this card. If you look hard you can see it around the DP.

Here's what I used to make this card:

Stamp: Image and sentiment from Magnolia Summer Club set
Coluring Medium: Image coloured with Derwent Aquatone pencils, distressing with "Fired Brick" distress ink"
DP: Basic Grey "Boxer"
Tools: Spellbinders "Labels 4", "Petite Scallop circles", "Classic circles", "Flower Creations 1", sewing machine, Martha Stewart "Valentine Lace" border punch, X-cut flower punch
Accessories: Pearl from stash

Thank you for visiting my blog - I appreciate you taking a look and love reading your comments.

Clare x

Charisma Cardz - Alter It

Hello everyone,

I'm back on form now and have managed to get some crafting done today. I've made my first Christmas card of the year - but I can't find a challenge for it so I won't post it. I've also altered a couple of tins that I am entering in the current Charisma Cardz challenge which is "Alter It".

I needed some more storage for my growing button and flower collections. I've used a tin which had some biscuits in (from Christmas) and a hot chocolate tin. I've kept them simple as I will use them a lot and too much decoration will get ruined in no time.

The tin at the back is for buttons and has a Basic Grey chip board shape on the lid which I have stuck three buttons to (just in case I forget what's in it). The other tin has the word flowers on it so I should have no problem with this one either. I don't know about you, but I am always forgetting where I have stashed my bits and bobs and end up turning my craft room upside down searching for them.

Here's what I used to alter these tins:-

Stamp: Sugar Nellie owl which came free with the July issue of Craft Stamper (so cute!)
Colouring medium: Distress inks: Broken China, Worn Lipstick and Mustard Seed to colour owl; copic ciao to colour lettering
DP: Brenda Pinnick
Tools: Spellbinders Flower Creations 2; Sizzix Twinkle Toes alphabet
Accessories: Buttons

Thank you for popping by my blog. I hope you've had a great weekend and enjoy what's left of it.

Clare x

Penny Black "Swirls" and Creative Inspirations "Gems and Pearls"

Hello Everyone.

Firstly, I would like to apologise for not visiting and commenting on any blogs over the last day or two. On Thursday night, after a busy day, I decided not to cook and we got a take-away. 3 a.m. the next morning I was being very poorly and spent the whole of Friday in bed, Graham had to work from home to look after the little one - thank goodness he was able to!

I am back in action now and hope to get blog hopping to look at all your gorgeous cards tomorrow (or tonight if I'm lucky).

Here's a card I have made to enter two challenges - Penny Black Saturday Challenge "Swirls" and Creative Inspirations "Gems and Pearls".

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

Stamps: Image and Sentiment from Penny Black clear set "Bubbly"
Colouring medium: Distress Inks:- Antique Linen, Broken China, Tattered Rose, Weathered Wood, Worn Lipstick and Vintage Photo
Designer Paper: K & Co "Baily"
Tools: Nestabilities:- Lables 2, Labels 4, Flower Creations 1
Accessories: gems and pearls from stash, Glamour dust (on bubbles), Enchanted gold embossing powder (on sentiment).

I hope you are all having a great weekend so far. Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog.

Happy crafting.
Clare x

Creative Card Crew and A Spoonful of Sugar

Good evening everyone. I hope you've all had a great day. Mine was spent dealing with a willful two year old - who is now tucked up in bed!

I've made a card to enter into two challenges. Creative Card Crew where the theme is "Ribbons" and A spoonfull of Sugar where the theme is "Hearts".

I'm trying to improve my photography, some things are getting better but some things seem to be worse - notice the "orange" flower - it is in fact pink in real life - I'm not colour blind - I promise you! In fact the flower was coloured using the same ink as Tilda's dress so I'm not sure why that isn't orange too.

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

Stamps: Tilda, Flowers and Sentiment from Magnolia Summer Club kit

Colouring medium: Distress inks for Tilda and Copic Ciaos for flower background

Accessories: Anita's Ribbon, Papermania gems

Tools: Nestability Scalloped Hearts and Classic Hearts, Spellbinders Flower Creations 1, Woodware leaf punch, Scor-pal

Thank you for stopping off at my blog and thank you for your truly appreciated comments.

Clare x