Totally Gorjuss - "Birds of a Feather"

Good afternoon,

The challenge theme at Totally Gorjuss this week is "Birds of a Feather".

I've used an image by Karen Middleton called "Winter Feed" and coloured it with alcohol markers and coloured pencils. I have edged around the image with Glamour Dust - this has to be one of my all-time favourite crafting products.

I've used a Sakura "Stardust Clear" pen for the faux stitching.

I hope you have had a good weekend. Thank you for dropping by my blog.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Snow Kiss

Good morning,

Here's a card I made using my goodies from Handy Hippo (details in last post).

I stamped Penny Black Circles and Lines (40-084) onto turquoise card using "Whipped Cream" ink from Elzybells (sadly no longer in existence) and heat embossed with clear embossing powder, then I inked over with "Faded Jeans" and "Pine Needles" distress inks, and blended the inks using a baby wipe. Next I coloured between some of the lines with "Powder Blue" and "Soft Green" Promarkers.

I stamped the sentiment from Hero Arts "Sending Holiday Cheer" (CL464) with versamark and heat embossed with Stampendous fine white embossing powder.

The image is "Snow Kiss" by Penny Black (4099K). I coloured the image with Promarkers and cut out Mimi and the Polar bear, then I stamped the image again in black and glued on the coloured pieces. The borders and "snow" are made from Twinklets Diamond Dust adhered with tacky glue. I love the effect of the Twinklets but the bits of glass get everywhere!

The snowflake is made using a Marianne Createables snowflake (LR0124) for the base with a smaller, Martha Stewart punched snowflake, for the middle.

It makes me feel a bit cold looking at this card! Hubby said last night that snow was forecast within the next three weeks. I do hope the forecast is wrong.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Simon Says to use a SONG or FILM title as inspiration

Good afternoon,

I've made a card for the Simon Says challenge where you have to use a song or film title for inspiration.

The inspiration for the my card is the song "Hazy Shade of Winter" by Simon and Garfunkel.

The sentiment, which is hard to see in the photograph reads "May a peaceful spirit fill your heart and bless your life this season and all year long".

The only downside to this card challenge is that I can't get the song out of my head and I keep singing and whistling it as I go about my day!

Thank you for visiting.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Practicing

Good morning,

I always shy away from the dark markers when I colour, so I decided it was about time I made myself use them.

I need a lot more practice!

The image I have used is by Whiff of Joy called "Henry Mouse with Christmas Bauble". A big thank you to Vicky for this fab image. I've used a Sakura clear glitter pen to add sparkle to the pattern on the bauble (sorry it doesn't show!).

The background stamp is by Hero Arts called "Large Canvas Stripes" (S5433). I stamped it onto white card using Versamark ink and heat embossed with fine white embossing powder (I could easily have used clear embossing powder as the cardstock was white). Then I sponged over "Peeled Paint" distress ink and ran a red marker pen around the edges.

The sentiment is also by Hero Arts from a clear stamp set called "Magic of Christmas" (CL462).

Thank you for visiting!

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Lily Pad Cards "Resist" challenge

Good evening,

Here is another Christmas card and this is my favourite one so far. I have made this for the Lily Pad Cards "Simon Says Presents a Resist Challenge".

I stamped Hero Arts Cling Snowflake Circle (CG100) in versamark onto white cardstock and heat embossed using Stampendous Fine White ebmossing powder. Next I inked over with Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Chipped Sapphire".

The snowman is by Penny Black from the "Jolly Friends" transparent stamp set (30-058). I've coloured him with alcohol markers and added Glossy Accents to his nose and the berries and Glamour Dust to his bobble. The snow at the bottom is made using Diamond dust Twinklets.

I made a frame using classic circle and lace circle nestabilities and sandwiched the image between the frame and a base card made using two lace circle nestabilities.

I can't wait to make this card again! It's not often that I want to make the same card twice.

I hope you have had a good start to your week.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Some Christmas cards

Good evening,

I've been busy making Christmas cards recently. Here are a few of them.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Some boy cards

Good morning,

Here are some cards I have made for male relatives who have birthdays this month.

I've just realised that I have used Penny Black stamps for all of them.

Enjoy your day.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Penny Black "Gossamer"

Good afternoon,

I've made a card using a stamp that I had on my wish list for a very long time. It's by Penny Black and is called "Gossamer" (3865K).

I've kept the card very simple and coloured the image with pencils.

Thank you for visiting.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Sir Stampalot "Freebie Friday"

Sir Stampalot are promoting a new weekly feature, starting tomorrow. It’ll be called ‘Freebie Friday’ and details will be sent via their email newsletter, so if you want to join in, you’ll need to sign up for the newsletter before end of day today (follow link below):-

http://www.onlineitools.com/nl/nl-subscribe.php?bus_id=3091&list_id=1


Alternatively, you can go to the Sir Stampalot web site and sign up at the "Stay in Touch"  "Sign up to Smudges" link on the left hand side of the home page.

Ready-Teddy-Go September Challenge

Good morning to you.

Thank you for the wonderful support we had for the first Ready-Teddy-Go challenge in August. I hope you can join us again this month.

Our theme is to use "AUTUMN COLOURS" and of course a bear, of any kind.

Unfortunately I can't tell you what the stamp I have used is called, the image was a gift from a very kind blogging buddy. The papers are Kaiser Kraft "Peachy Keen" and the sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly.

This month we are sponsored by

who are kindly offering this amazing prize

I enjoyed visiting all the teddy creations last month and I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with this month.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Penny Black at Allsorts September Challenge - "Get Ahead for Christmas"

It's time for the September Penny Black at Allsorts Challenge.

Our theme this month is:-

"GET AHEAD FOR CHRISTMAS"

I've used two Penny Black Stamps. The wreath is a wood mounted stamp called "Adornment" (3996J) and the robin is from a clear set called "Jolly Friends" (30-058).

Here's a glittery close up! Christmas Red stickles on the wreath and Glamour Dust on the robin.

I hope you are inspired to join us with your Penny Black Christmas creations.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Sir Stampalot September Challenge "It's a Frame Up"

Good morning!

It's the first of September and time for another challenge at Sir Stampalot. The theme for this month's challenge is "It's a Frame Up" and we would like to see a frame as part of your project.

I have used Spellbinders Nestabilities "Labels 10" to make the base card. I call these my LEMON nesties and love this shape for a card.

I used yellow card for the base and stamped over this with Hero Arts F5042 "Leaf Flourish" stamp using Memento "Angel Pink" Ink. The designer paper is by Brenda Pinnick from an old QVC kit and the sentiment sticker is from the same kit. The frame is from a Basic Grey "Two Scoop" Chip Stickers Kit and I've embellished it with some flat back pearls and paper flowers.

I'm quite pleased with myself as I used up some of my older stash to make this card.

Sir Stampalot have donated this fantastic prize for the winner of this month's challenge.

I do hope you can join us this month and look forward to visiting all the entries.

Best wishes, Clare xx

Penny Black - Tender Showers

Good evening,

Here's a card I have made for the My Time to Craft Challenge where the theme is "In Full Bloom".

I've used a Penny Black image called "Tender Showers" (2875K) which I've coloured with Copic Ciaos. I've added a little Fimo bee to cover up a grey splodge on the paper - I think it looks cute! The sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly and the papers are Echo Park "Country Drive". I am being really good and making myself use these papers rather than hiding them away in a cupboard for "best" which is what I tend to do with a lot of my stash and then never end up using it!

I decided to challenge myself when colouring this image - the challenge I set myself was to pick Copic colours that I don't usually use. I seem to have favourites from all the colour groups and neglect 75% of my collection. It was fun to use different colours and I'm really pleased I did.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Hugs and best wishes Clare xx

My first House Mouse

Hello,

I have resisted for so long but the adorableness of House Mouse stamps has finally worn me down and I've bought my first set of stamps. After much deliberation I chose the set called "Reindeer" (JSHM033).

I coloured these little cuties with Copics and pencils. The papers are Dovecraft Back to Basics "Christmas". If you would like a chance to win some of these papers, please see my candy HERE.

Enjoy your day!

Hugs, Clare xx

A Passion for Papertrey "For the Boys!"

Good afternoon,

Here's a card I have made for the A Passion for Papertrey challenge. The theme is "For the Boys!".

I've used a stamp from the "Everyday Buttons bits" set and the buttons are also from Papertrey Ink.

The fabby paper is by Echo Park, it's from a 6" x 6" pad called "Country Drive".

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Cards for Men "Anything Goes"

Hi folks,

The Cards for Men challenge this week is "Anything Goes".

I've embossed onto Core-dinations Whitewash cardstock using a Crafts Too embossing folder "Swirly Frames". The image is made using the Harbour Scene-It stamp set from Hobby Arts, stamped onto watercolour paper and coloured with Letraset Aquamarkers. I've covered the gul with glossy accents to add extra texture.

I would also like to enter this into the August challenge at By the Cute and Girly where the theme is "The Sea". (Thanks Lisa!).

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

I have candy HERE

Brother's Birthday Card

Good afternoon,

Here's my entry for the Cards for Men Challenge #16 "Clean and Simple"

I bought the Penny Black "12 Days of Christmas" (30-016) clear stamp set just for this image to use on men's cards. It's perfect for my brother who's not into sports but loves his music.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Simon Says Stamp Challenge "Christmas in August"

Good afternoon,

The theme at Simon Says Stamp challenge is "Christmas in August".  I'm really in the mood for making Christmas cards at the moment, so I've made not one, but two cards to enter into the challenge. Can you spot the difference?

I've used tree stamps from a Hero Arts clear stamp set called "Merry Christmas Trees" cl459 and a sentiment from a Penny Black clear stamp set called "Christmas Critters" 30-006. The background stamp on the first card is from Hero Arts and is called "Large Canvas Stripes" S5433 (oh, there are so many Hero Arts background stamps on my wish list, they're so versatile).

The paper piecing uses papers from a Dovecraft paper pack called "Let it Snow".  I'm not convinced that the colours are very Christmassy, but I don't mind.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

First 'Spot Prize' Winners at Ready-Teddy-Go

Good afternoon!

From time to time Julie-Ann will randomly select one commenter and one follower at the Ready-Teddy-Go challenge blog to receive a prize.

Today the lucky winners, chosen at random, are:-

 Wendy 

from the commenters

and Sarah 

from the followers.

Congratulations ladies, you've won one of the new Christmas Fizzy Moon stamps. For more information please see this post on the Ready-Teddy-Go challenge blog.

Hugs, Clare xx

Penny Black Saturday Challenge "Anything Goes"

Good afternoon,

The theme at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge is "Anything Goes".

I've made a Christmas card to enter into the challenge, using a stamp from the Penny Black clear set called "Jolly Friends" (30-058). I swapped the tree on the stamp for a Marianne die cute tree. The Papers are from a Dovecraft pad called "Let it Snow".

Have a lovely weekend!

Hugs and best wishes, Clare x