Birthday Marci

Here's a birthday card made with the 'Fancy Marci' stamp from La La Land Crafts.  I've used a base card from Craftwork Cards (decorated with punched dots) and paper from Kanban.  The plain and polka dot paper is on the same sheet so the colour matches perfectly.  To finish the card, I've added some white sheer ribbon and a sentiment circle from Craftwork Cards.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

La La Land Crafts Customer Gallery

Allsorts Challenge - 'free and easy'

Crafty Sentiment Designs - 'polka dot'

I Love Promarkers - 'anything goes'

A Little Bit of Summer ....

This is my first blog post for a little while - I've been away for a break in Scotland and then the Lake District so haven't made any cards for a little while.  It was sunny and very warm in both places - a bit too hot for me when we were in the Lake District!  Thankfully it's much cooler back here at home and I suspect it's going to rain very soon!  So I've been crafting today and here's another card made with one of the very cute stamps from the Lily at the Beach set from Pink Cat Studio.  I've used it with some paper from Pink Petticoat and a summer definite stamp from Debbi Moore.  I finished the card with some Card Candy.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Craft Room Challenge - 'summer holidays'

Divas By Design - 'summer is here'

Stamp Something - 'summer fun'

Crafty Ann's Challenge - 'summertime'

Oh Christmas Tree

This is my final Christmas card for a few days - promise!  This one is a Red Gingham stamp called 'Oh Christmas Tree' which again is available from Little Claire Designs.  For my first card I used blue snowflake paper from Craft Creations and some pale blue card and ribbon.  The sentiment is from the Red Gingham Christmas sentiments pack.

This second card is the same stamp but in a red and green colour scheme.  The paper is Craft Creations and the sentiment from the Red Gingham set as before.  The base card is from Craftwork Cards.

I'd like to enter these cards in the following challenges:

Paper Sundaes - 'Christmas in July' (second entry)

Paper Creations Ink - 'Christmas in July' (second entry)

Sweet Stamps - 'winter blues' (first card)

Stamping Boutique - 'cool colours' (first card)

Crafty Pad - 'Christmas in July'

I Love Promarkers - 'Christmas in July' 

The Robin and the Ivy

I'm still Christmas crafting!  The two cards in this post were made using a new Red Gingham Designs stamp from Little Claire called 'The Robin and the Ivy' - another cute stamp!  My first card is a very simple one using some Craft Creations paper and one of the sentiments from the Red Gingham set with some red card.  I've also used a scalloped card blank from Craftwork Cards.

For this second card, I used some Craft Creations green gingham paper.  The stamped image was die cut and then I cut a mat out of the next size up and put it on the base card so the top portion shows about the main cards.  The sentiment is from the same set as before.

I'd like to enter these cards in the following challenges:

CES Challenge Blog - 'Christmas'

Stamp Something - 'Christmas in July'

Paper Sundaes - 'Christmas in July'

Papertake Weekly - 'getting cute'

Little Town of Bethlehem

Here's another preview of one of the new Red Gingham Designs stamps from Little Claire and this one is called 'Little Town of Bethlehem'.  My first card is another very simple one - I stamped and coloured the image and then decoupaged the little row of buildings before putting the image on to black paper.  The sentiment is from the Red Gingham Christmas set and again is matted on to black paper.

This second card uses the blue snowflake paper from Craft Creations and some silver paper plus another of the sentiments from the sentiment set. 

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

ABC Christmas Challenge - 'n is for no nonsense' (the first card)

Paper Creations - 'Christmas in July'

Simply Create - 'Christmas Time'

Fun at Fairy Knoll - 'Christmas in July'

Introducing .... Little George!

 This is Little George one of the brand new range of Red Gingham stamps from Little Claire Designs.  Red Gingham Designs are exclusive to Little Claire and they have launched a gorgeous range of Christmas stamps - more previews to follow in the next couple of days!

This first card is a very simple one using red card and some of the beautiful green swirl and star paper from Craft Creations together with one of the Christmas Sentiment stamps, also from Red Gingham, which is on the Little Claire website here.  The sentiments fit perfectly into one of the smaller Nestability dies.

For my second card I made a circular easel card with a blue colour scheme using blue snowflake paper which again is from Craft Creations.  I've used another of the Christmas sentiments and some pale blue card.

I'd like to enter these cards in the following challenges:

Cupcake Craft Challenges - 'wish upon a star' (first card)

Papercutz Challenge - 'the sky's the limit'

Charisma Cardz - 'it's in the stars'

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'seeing stars'

Craft Us Crazy - 'Christmas in July'

Bah Humbug - 'shapes'

A Bit of Retail Therapy

It has rained non-stop here today so I've spent my day making cards including some with new Christmas stamps which I will post over the next few days.  I also made this card for a swap - our task was to use a sketch which (luckily for me!) was pretty straightforward.  The stamp I used is from Personal Impressions and my paper is from Pink Petticoat and Craft Creations.  I used black peel off strips either side of the gingham strip and added a peel off greeting and some punched dots.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - 'just for you' (second entry)

Divas by Design - 'pastels' (second entry)

Cute Card Thursday - 'going round in circles'

Allsorts - 'free and easy' (second entry)

New Challenge at Little Claire Designs - Things With Wings

The new challenge at Little Claire Designs has just been launched and this time, the theme is 'things with wings'.  You can see all the details plus the cards from the Design Team here.  For my card I've used the main image from the Blossom Fairy stamp and the words from the Room with a View Cat in Window set.  The image has been die cut with my X-Cut die and then layered on to brown paper.  The pink paper is from Craft Creations and I finished the card with some Card Candy and brown ribbon.

I'm looking to forward to seeing what everyone else comes up with for the challenge and the lucky winner will receive this package of goodies:

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Cupcake Craft Challenges - challenge 110 - 'pink and brown'

Spoonfull of Sugar - 'pink and brown'

Pollycraft - 'the great outdoors'

The Paper Shelter - 'for the birds'

Sarah Hurley Challenge Blog - 'colouring'

Craft Your Passion - 'just for you'

Allsorts Challenge Blog - 'free and easy'

Patchwork Mimi

The background for this card was inspired by one of the great videos at Stamp TV - Using Your Scraps which you can see here.  It's a great way to use up the strips of paper that I always end up with having cut a six by six sheet to fit onto a card blank and was really easy to do.  It's just strips of paper (I cut mine to one inch) stuck onto a piece of card and then trimmed.  On the video, a sewing machine is used on the card but as sewing machines and me do not get on (!!) I used a Hero Arts stamp to add some faux stitching instead.

The image I used is from Penny Black die cut with a X-Cut die and I finished the card with a greeting and some Card Candy from Craftwork Cards.

I'd like to enter the card in the following challenges:

Creative Craft Challenges - 'pretty blossoms'

Divas by Design - 'pastels'

Penny Black at Allsorts - 'flower power'

Passion for Promarkers - 'gingham'

Crafty Sentiments - 'stitching' (real or faux)

Totally Papercrafts - 'girly girl'

Shep ATC

This is Shep from Little Claire Designs - a very cute dog who is the perfect size for making ATCs.  I've stamped and coloured him with Promarkers and then used some brown card and some spotted paper (a small leftover piece with no name on!) to make up the ATC.  I finished it off with some punched dots.

I'd like to enter the ATC in the current 'anything goes' challenge at ATC Challenges.

Sending You Some Sunshine

Introducing .... Lily!  This image is part of a set from Pink Cat Studio called 'Lily at the Beach'.  My shaped easel card was made using an X Cut die and I then die cut the image panel and patterned paper (from Doodlebug) in the next size down.  The sentiment is from the same set, die cut into an oval and I've kept the card very simple, finishing it with some Card Candy.

There are lots of summer themed challenges about at the moment so I'd like to enter the card in the following:

Just Tracy's Challenge Blog - 'summer holidays'

Crafty Purple Frog - 'summer fun'

Totally Papercrafts - 'the beach'

Totally Gorjuss - 'summertime'

Crazy 4 Challenges - 'summer themed'

One Stop Craft Challenge - 'summer time'

Dream Valley - 'summer time'
Lexi's Creations - 'at the beach'

Butterfly Tree - New from Little Claire

Today I'm giving you a preview of a gorgeous new set of stamps from Little Claire Designs called 'Butterfly Tree'.  I know it's been on sale at one of the shows and anyone who is on Facebook will have seen a preview of the set too.  It will be on the Little Claire website to buy next week. 

My first card (above) is an easel card made with the main butterfly tree - I've used paper from Doodlebug, some pink card and Card Candy.  The sentiment is also part of the set.

This next card is made with the same main image but I've added the little cat - he's a separate stamp but easy to line up with the tree as I have for this card.  Again, the sentiment is part of the set.  My paper is from Craft Creations layered with some purple and black card.

There are also two panels of cascading butterflies - this is the longer of the two panels made into a narrow easel card using paper from the Trimcraft Hideaway pad and some pink card, finishing it off with some pink gems.

Finally I've used the very sweet little bird house stamp to make this little card - I've decoupaged the birdhouse layered it onto pink gingham from Craft Creations with some brown paper and some Card Candy.  The base card for this one is from Craft Creations.

I'd like to enter the butterfly cards in the following challenges:

By the Cute and Girly - 'things with wings'

Stamp Something - 'something with bugs or butterflies'

Allsorts Challenge Blog - 'free and easy'

Stamping for the Weekend - 'wings and things'

In the Garden

For this card I've used the Little Claire 'In the Garden' stamp - stamped once and coloured and then the birdhouse was stamped again and decoupaged.  The sentiment I've used is from the 'A Little Bird Told Me' set.  The paper is from Trimcraft Hideaway pad - it's actually one sheet which is double sided so I cut my piece to size first, then in half and covered the join with some ribbon.  I've added some Card Candy and the card blank is from Craftwork Cards.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Creative Craft Challenges - 'pretty blossoms'

Charisma Cardz - 'it's all about flowers'

The Poodles Parlour - 'bird's eye view'

Mr Darcy

This is Mr Darcy (clearly not Colin Firth!) from Little Claire Designs.  For this card I die cut my stamped image using one of the new X Cut nesting dies and then layered him on to some Dovecraft paper and green card.  The sentiment is one of the new Christmas Text sentiments from Little Claire Designs which you can see here which stamp beautifully and work really well circle dies.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Craft Us Crazy - Christmas in July

Moving Along With the Times - Christmas in July

Island Girl

I spotted a new range of digi-stamps at Cuddly Buddly called 'Island Girl' and couldn't resist trying one of them!  This one is called 'Coming Up Daisies' and I thought it was a perfect image for a spring card.  I've used papers from Nitwits and Craft Creations and two pieces of seam binding - the first time I've used it on a card and I like it!  The greeting and Card Candy are from Craftwork Cards.

I'd like to enter the card in the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - 'anything goes'

Stamp Something - 'July digi day'

Cuddly Buddly - 'a brand new' (season and also the first time using seam binding)

Winter Philip

Introducing 'Winter Philip' a very cute digi stamp from Pink Gem Designs!  I've coloured him with Promarkers and then die cut the image using a Go Kreate die.  My backing paper is from a Dovecraft pack and I've added some green card, red ribbon and two different sizes of red gems from Kars.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Jingle Belles - 'stripes'

Winter Wonderland - 'Christmas buffet' (paper, ribbon and gemstones)

Sweet Stamps - 'Christmas in July'



Warm Westie

This little guy is called Warm Westie and he is one of the range of dog stamps from Little Claire Designs.  He's very easy to colour (I just used two shades of grey and a little bit of pink for his ears) and also easy to cut out!  I paper pieced his coat to match the base of the card and used a Craftwork Cards punched out greeting label as the 'stopper' of the easel.  The paper is actually from a Christmas Do Crafts pad - I wanted something tartan and this was the closest I could find!

I'd like to enter the card in the following challenges:

Anything Goes Challenge - 'the letter D'

Allsorts Challenge - 'free and easy' (second entry)

The Crafty Pad - 'particular style of card' (easel card)

Less is More - Shades of Blue

I've used the Little Claire poppy stamp again for this week's Less is More card - the challenge is 'shades of blue'.  Not sure about blue poppies but never mind!  I've used some Craft Creations gingham card matted on to Bazzill card and then layered the poppy design over the top and stamped a greeting on the strip.  Gingham paper is great for stamping greetings on because it's so easy to line them up!

Here's a close up of the stamped image:

The hedgehog and poppy set should be available on the Little Claire website here very soon. 

Little Claire Designs - New July Club Stamps Part 2

I'm back, as promised, with some more cards made with the Little Claire July club set.  As well as the cute hedgehog stamp and the circular sentiment, there's also a beautiful poppy design which is perfect for clean and simple cards.  For this first one, I've stamped and coloured the image and then die cut it into an oval and then matted it onto a red oval die cut.  The words are a peel off.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

St Lukes Charity Challenge - 'black, white plus another colour'

Crafty Anns Challenge - 'thinking of you'

Corrosive Challenge - 'red and white'

Little Claire Designs - New July Club Stamps

This month's club stamp set from Little Claire Designs is a very cute little set with a lovely variety of images.  In my first card, you'll see the main hedgehog design and also the circular sentiment which is the same style as the 'Claire's Sentiments' stamps.  I've used some Forever Friends paper on this card together with some matching card and I've coloured my Card Candy to match and paper and the hedgehog's hat.  My base card is one of the scalloped card blanks from Craftwork Cards.

My second card is an easel card using the same image, this time with some paper that was free with one of the magazines and some pink card.  I've coloured the little paper flower to match my image.  On this one, I've used the sentiment as the stopper and here it is closer up so you can see all the detail on it:

I'd like to enter the first card in the following challenges:

Pear Tree Designs - 'stamp something'

Allsorts Challenge - 'free and easy'

I'll be back tomorrow with some more cards made with another of the images from the same stamp set.