I'm so excited!

I am so excited! My Mum and Step-Dad moved to France four years ago, just before my son was born, and today they move back to the UK - hooray!!

Also, I've got a job. I'm going to be a Postwoman delivering post on Saturday mornings.

Clare xx

Oldie but a Goodie - Francesca's Sketch

Good morning!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

Today see's my last challenge at Oldie but a Goodie as I have made the difficult decision to step down from the Design Team. I have really enjoyed my time with Oldie but a Goodie working with the fabulously talented ladies on the team.

The challenge this week has been chosen by Francesca and she has this wonderful sketch for you to follow.

Don't forget, the aim of the challenge is to use RUBBER STAMPS that are OVER SIX MONTHS OLD. I've used stamps from a Stampin' Up set called "Playful Petals" and a sentiment from the Stampin' Up set "Best Yet".

I would like to thank my blogging buddies for the amazing Christmas Cards I received. They are truly wonderful.

Lastly, may I wish you a Happy New Year and all the very best for 2011.

Hugs, Clare x

Oldie But a Goodie DT Card - You're a Star

Good morning,

It's time for another challenge at Oldie but a Goodie. It's my turn to set this fortnight's theme and I've chosen:-

"You're a Star"
(We want to see at least one star somewhere on your creation)

Don't forget, the aim of this challenge is to use rubber stamps that are over six months old. I have used a Stamps Happen stamp called "Floating Softly". I've coloured the image with Prismacolor Pencils blended with Sansador and I've added lots of glitter (which, of course, you can hardly see!).

It's also my turn to sponsor the prize. I've gone for a male theme - a set of Elusive Images stamps and some nautical charms.

We also have a Guest Designer call, if you are interested, just enter GD after your name when you link your entry. The GD's for January and February will be announced on the 28th December.

I do hope you can join us this fortnight.

Hugs and best wishes, Clare xx

Cuddly Buddly Challenge - The Icing's on the Card

Good morning to you!

Today sees another challenge over at Cuddly Buddly and the theme is "The Icing's on the Card".

I have used the gorgeous Toby Tumble "Lets go Sledging". The sentiment has been heat embossed with sparkly embossing powder which looks lovely IRL, unfortunately it just looks yellow in the photo - oh well, it seems like a good idea at the time!

I've added lots of Glamour Dust and Stickles for the "icing".

I would like to enter this card into the challenge at Top Tip Tuesday where they are asking you to use ribbon on your project - thanks Vee!

Have a great day!

Hugs, Clare x

Papertake Weekly and Passion for Promarkers

Good afternoon!

My card today is for two challenges:-

Papertake Weekly - Red and Green must NOT be seen
and
Passion for Promarkers - "Anything Goes"

A clean and simple card using a "Shortie" the penguin image called "With all our Hearts". I've coloured with Promarkers I won from the Penny Black Saturday challenge - thank you Penny Black team!

I've embossed with Cuttlbug "Swiss Dots" and "Snowflakes" embossing folders and added some ribbon from my stash.

I hope you are all having a good week and are keeping warm and well.

Hugs, Clare x

Edit:- Thanks Danielle for reminding me that the theme at Winter Wonderland is "Penguins or Polar Bears", that makes it three challenges I am entering!

Sir Stampalot December Challenge - "Travel the World"

Good morning to you. It's first of December and time for another challenge at Sir Stampalot.  This month our theme is:-

"Travel the World"

For my card, I took a piece of glossy white card and stamped Crafty Individuals postmark stamps all over it using Versamark Ink. I then brayered over with Big and Juicy "Soothing Sunset". The images are from the Crafty Individuals "People and Places 2" book.

Our generous sponsors, Sir Stampalot, are offering another fantastic prize for this month's winner.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us last month and I hope you are inspired to join us this month.

Best wishes, Clare xx

Oldie but a Goodie DT - Christmas Birthday

Good morning and welcome to another challenge at Oldie but a Goodie. This week's theme, chosen by Liza, is:-

"Christmas Birthday"



The aim of this challenge is to dust off and use rubber stamps that are over six months old (sorry, no digi images allowed).

I have used a Forever Friends stamp that I got free with a Docrafts magazine last Christmas. I like the little birdie on this one!  I've coloured it with Prismacolour and Polychromos pencils blended with Sansador.

Thank you to everyone who entered our "Glitter" challenge, set by Annie and I do hope you join us this fortnight.

I would like to enter this card into the challenge at Just Cute Bears and Friends where the theme is "Winter Birthday".

Hugs, Clare xx

Allsorts Challenge - Monochrome

Good afternoon!

This week's theme a Allsorts Challenge is "Monochrome".

I've used an image called "Hmmm Chocolate" which is new from Cuddly Buddly. I've paper pieced her dress in Gingham paper and coloured the rest of her with Copic Ciaos.

Happy Monday to you all.

Hugs, Clare xx

Cuddly Buddly Challenge #2 - DT Card

Good morning!

It's time for the second challenge at Cuddly Buddly and this fortnight's theme is "With This Paper". Kim has kindly created some beautiful Christmas papers to use to create your card.

I chose to use the pretty holly papers to make my card. The image is a pre-coloured image from the Beary Merry Christmas Designables set.

I hope you get a chance to play along - the prize for the winner is a £20 Gift Certificate to spend in the Cuddly Buddly on-line shop.

Hugs, Clare x

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Good afternoon.

I'm feeling pretty low at the moment and my mojo is hiding away, so I thought I would try and cheer myself up by making a card for the current challenge at Penny Black Saturday which is "All My Favourite Things". After all, these are what are supposed to cheer you up according to Julie Andrews in "The Sound of Music"!

(apologies for the washed out, artificial light photo)

The favourite things I chose were:-

1. The first ever Penny Black stamp I bought which is called "Just Buzzin' By", I can't say that I have a favourite PB stamp as the position for first place is always changing, however, because it was my first, this one will always be special to me.

2. Kraft card - I love this colour, I don't use it very often as I haven't got much and don't want to run out of it!

3. Glamour Dust. One colour suits all and so easy to use.

4. Decoupage. I'm often too lazy to decoupage my images but I always think they look better when I do.

5. Clean and Simple - my favourite style of card.

Thank you visiting my blog.

Best wishes, Clare xx

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge No. 6 "Glitter" DT card

Good morning and welcome to Challenge No. 6 at Oldie but a Goodie. This fortnight's challenge is chosen by Annie and her theme is:-

"Glitter"

The aim of the Oldie but a Goodie challenges is to use stamps that are over six months old (sorry no digi's allowed).

I have used a Stampin' Up Polar Bear stamp which is probably about 6 years old. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the set.

I've used plenty of Glamour Dust and some glittered paper.

Thank you for your wonderful entries to our previous challenge and I do hope you can join us this fortnight.

Clare x

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge No. 5 - DT card

Good morning,

I can't believe we have reached challenge No. 5 at Oldie but a Goodie already. This fortnight's theme has been chosen by Fleur and is:-

"Distressing"

This challenge was right up my street and I couldn't wait to get my Distress Inks out. I've used "Rusty Hinge" and "Walnut Stain" for the background paper and the image is stamped in "Walnut Stain" and colured with "Fired Brick" and "Peeled Paint".

The aim of the challenge is to ink up stamps which are over six months old so I have used this beautiful poppy from the Stampin' Up! set "Bloomin' with Beauty", the word Bloom also comes from the same set.  The background has been stamped with another Stampin' Up! stamp called "En Francais".

I do hope you can join us this fornight and many thanks to those of you who have joined us over the past four challenges.

Many thanks to our sponsor for this fortnight - DIECUT DREAMS.

Best wishes, Clare xx

Sir Stampalot November Challenge - Christmas Traditions

Good morning! It's November and time for another challenge at Sir Stampalot. This month the theme is

 "Christmas Traditions"

Once again we have a fabulous prize from our sponsors SIR STAMPALOT.

For my projects I chose Traditonal Christmas colours.

I have made up several of these Christmas sweetie jars for small gifts. I've used stamps from Waltzing Mouse and Elzybells. Each jar holds exactly half a tin of sweets which meant there were none left over for me :(

My card, using a gorgeous Toby Tumble image, isn't perhaps the most traditional of Christmas images but, again, I've used traditional colours.

Many thanks to everyone who joined us for last month's challenge, we had some super entries. I hope you are able to join in this month.

Hugs, Clare xx

Simon Says "Give Thanks"

Good afternoon to you.

The weather is glorious here, beautiful blue skies and sunshine.

The current challenge at Simon Says is "Give Thanks".

Again, I have used my beautiful new Hero Arts "Dogwood" stamp. As this stamp came from the Simon Says store, I thought it would be a good one to use for the challenge!!

Thank you for visiting.

Clare xx

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge No. 4 - DT card

Good morning,

It's time for another challenge at "Oldie but a Goodie" and this fortnight sees Debs choosing the theme of

"Add a Butterfly"

We are delighted to be sponsored by Robyn's Fetish who designed the gorgeous Designer Paper I have used on my card.



The purpose of the challenge is to use a rubber stamp which is at least six months old. I have used a beautiful floral stamp from a Stampin' Up! set called "Bloomin' with Beauty". I don't think I will ever tire of this stamp set which is so versatile.

I do hope you get the chance to join us this fortnight.

Best wishes, Clare xx

Dogwood

Good afternoon.

It doesn't take much to make me happy and the arrival of a new stamp that I have wanted for ages has certainly done the trick.

I think this Hero Arts stamp S5362 "Dogwood" is beautiful.

I've stamped it on kraft card using "Vintage Sepia" versafine ink. The Waltzing Mouse sentiment is stamped with the same ink, although I wish I had placed it a bit higher up, I wrapped the kraft card around the chocolate base card and added a chocolate strip punched from a Martha Stewart "Doily Lace" card.

It's simple, but I like it, I hope you do too.

Hugs, Clare xx

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge No. 32 - Use a Freebie

Good afternoon!

I'm a happy girl because I have finished all my Cuddly Buddly sample cards and they are now packed up in a box with lots and lots of bubble wrap and lots and lots of sticky tape ready to take to the post office. If you are going to the NEC next month you might just see them on the Cuddly Buddly stand.

I am now back to making up more Christmas cards so that I don't get caught out at the last minute this year.

I am entering these into the current challenge at Crafty Cardmakers where you are asked to "Use a Freebie". I've used this sweet birdie which was a freebie image from Pink Gem Designs. 

Thank you for visiting!

Hugs, Clare xx

One more for the Christmas pile

Good afternoon!

It's a beautiful sunny day here in Warwickshire. I can't quite believe it is October as it is so warm outside. I've enjoyed a very relaxing stroll with the dog this afternoon. The dog is now flat out and I am in the mood for crafting.

I've just finished off this card that I started before my walk. I am really annoyed with myself, because I forgot that I had put glossy accents on the snowman's buttons and stuck my finger in it before it had dried and spread it across the image. I tried to rub the goo away but I just made it worse, I am keeping my fingers' crossed that the recipient of this card won't look too closely!!

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you enjoy your day whatever you are doing.

Hugs, Clare x

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge No. 3 - DT card

Good morning!

It's time for another challenge at Oldie but a Goodie and this time it is Tracy's turn to set the theme and she has chosen:-

"All Creatures Great and Small"



It was a lovely sunny day when I took this photo and it's made the image looked really washed out which isn't the case in real life. Poor little doggy!

I've used a stamp from Cuddly Buddly called "Oops a Daisy".  The aim of the challenge is to use a rubber stamp which is over six months old so I was really pleased to have a good reason to get some ink on this cutie again.

Hugs, Clare xx

Sir Stampalot - October Challenge DT Card

Good morning everyone and a Happy October to you!

It's time for another Sir Stampalot challenge and our theme for the month is:

 "Autumn Breezes, buttons and a bow(s)".

As usual, our sponsors, Sir Stampalot, have donated an amazing prize.

I would like to enter this card into:

Penny Black at Allsorts challenge where the theme is "Colours of Autumn"

Stampin' for the Weekend where the theme is "Autumn Inspiration", and

Simon Says Challenge where the theme is a Picture Inspiration "It's Autumn".

Clare xx