Little Claire Class

Yesterday I did a Little Claire class for the ladies of the Share Your Skills craft group in Wrexham.  It was a great morning and a big thank you to the ladies for inviting us to go along!

One of the cards we made (above) using the very cute 'Splishing and Splashing' stamp with kraft paper and also some pink patterned paper - I paper pieced the umbrella to match the background.

Next we made a tag card using some of the images and the little borders from the Pom Pom Dahlia Outline Sticker Sheet.  On this card I used blue gingham paper and also some of the new die cut sentiments.

Finally, a card using the 'Seascape' set with red card and blue patterned paper.

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

Crafts and Me Challenges - 'add a ribbon'  (second card)

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - 'anything goes' (first and third cards)

Oldie But Goodie - 'anything goes' (the stamps for the first and third cards are more than 6 months old)

Tuesday Throwdown - 'masculine' (third card)

Here Come the Boys - 'anything goes' (third card)

One Stop Craft Challenge - 'for the boys' (third card)

Crafty Catz Challenge - 'card for a man' (third card)

Totally Papercrafts - 'animals' (first card)

New Nutcrafters Challenge - New Beginnings

A brand new challenge has been launched today on the Nutcrafters Challenge Blog and our theme this time is 'New Beginnings'.  For more details and to see the cards made by fellow Design Team members, please click here.

As always, we have some great prizes on offer:

Main Prize...

 

To spend in the Nutcrafters store...

Remember you have to use a Nutcrafters image to qualify for this prize!!

2nd Prize...

2 Digi stamps or 1 stamp sheet of your choice from Nutcrafters...(subject to availability) 

For my card I used the 'Wedding Abroad' digi stamp which you can find here on the Nutcrafters website.  The paper I used is from a Paper Cellar wedding pack and I've layered it with some silver paper, white Card Candi and two peel off greetings.

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

Milk Coffee - 'use die cuts'

Paper Play - 'summer loving'

Moving Along With the Times - 'celebration - no birthdays'

Sarah Hurley Challenge - 'new beginnings'

Simply Create Too - 'wedding/love'
I Love Promarkers - 'use a digi'
Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - 'celebrations'
Crafty Creations Challenges - 'running in circles'

Introducing Jodie ....

 I couldn't resist this cute little digi stamp from Pink Gem Designs - isn't she sweet?  She's called Jodie and this is the first card I've made using this digi image.  I stamped the little butterfly separately on the top of her hand.

I've used some American Crafts card as well as some patterned paper from my stash - I've got a couple of pieces like this but have no idea where it came from!  I die cut the main image with one of my new Lacey Oval Nestabilities and then added some paper flowers and a sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

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

Milk Coffee - 'use those die cuts'

A Gem of a Challenge - 'photo inspiration'

Totally Gorjuss - 'something new - my digi'

The Cutie Pie Challenge - 'die cuts or punches'

Love to Create Challenge - 'add a sentiment'
Shopping Our Stash - 'May flowers'

Diamond Wedding Card

I've just had a wonderful weekend away on a Cross Stitch Guild break in Bradford - a lovely hotel, great company and even a bit of stitching too!  

This is a card I made last week after I was asked for a diamond wedding anniversary card.  It's something I hadn't made before and I have to admit it did take me a little while to decide what to do!  In the end I made a Bookatrix card using the Glitter Girls board.  I've used white pearl and also some pale pearl patterned card for the layers and then printed the sentiment on pearl paper and die cut it.  To make the number on the other side I printed '60' in draft and then put small self adhesive clear gems over the top.  I finished it off with some white sheer ribbon and some more self adhesive gems and then made a matching box.

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

The Paper Shelter - 'bling it on'

Paper Play Challenges - 'summer loving'

Moving Along With the Times - 'celebrate - no birthdays'

Simply Create Too - 'wedding or love'

Delicious Doodles - 'diamonds are forever'

Love to Create - 'add a sentiment'

A Birthday Card and Some Exciting News ....

Here's a birthday card I made recently for my cousin using one of my Elzybell stamps - a very cute bear with flowers and butterflies.  I die cut the image and then layered it with some Craft Creations pink patterned and kraft paper. The sentiment is a stamped one and I've added some Card Candi - a simple layout but I think it works well with the image.

I'm also very excited to say that I'm now part of the Design Team at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog.  They had a Design Team call recently and I received an e-mail a couple of days ago to say I'd been successful!!

I'll be taking part in the next challenge and am looking forward to working with the other Design Team members!

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

Oldie But Goodie - 'things with wings' (my stamp is more than 6 months old)

Crafts 4 Eternity - 'wonderful wings'

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge - 'something with wings'

Passion for Promarkers - 'birthdays'

I Love Promarkers - 'use die cuts'

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - 'any sentiment'

Southern Girls Challenge - 'dying to die cut'

Milk Coffee Challenge - 'use those die cuts'

Birthday Squares

This is the card I made recently for my uncle's birthday using 'Man Squares' from Little Claire.  The paper I've used is from the Back to Basics 2 pack and I've layered it with some kraft paper.  The little greeting is a peel off and I've finished the card with some Card Candi coloured with my Sandstone Promarker.

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

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge - 'for the boys'

Passion for Promarkers - 'birthdays'

Creative Inspirations - 'anything goes'

Simon Says Stamp - 'father's day/special male'

Create and Craft Four Day Deal - Part 2

Here are some more of the cards I made as samples for the 'Garden Sheds' CD rom which is the current Four Day Deal on Create and Craft.

First of all, one of the ready made designs (above)- an invertage used with a peel off.

Next one of my own creations with the two gnomes (couldn't resist this one!):

Another of my own creations:

And another - a try at making my own backing paper with a topper:

and finally another of my own images:

Some challenges for these cards:

Chocolate Coffee and Cards - 'for the boys'

Saturday Challenge - 'in the garden'
The Crazy Challenge - 'anything 3D'

Create and Craft Four Day Deal - Part 1

A brand new Four Day Deal has been launched today on Create and Craft - the great 'Garden Sheds' CD rom from The Card Hut.  You can find the details here from Card Creations Plus together with some card examples.

I've been part of the Design Team making sample cards for the CD rom and I really enjoyed working with it.  There's a selection of ready made designs which can be printed as backing papers, toppers, decoupage, pyramage and invertage.  In addition there's a library of characters, images, pictures etc which can be used in the software built in to the CD to create your own designs - great for customising cards!

My first card (above) was made with one of the ready made designs - I made it in to an easel card using the backing paper to match the design.

Next, another of the ready made designs, definitely for someone with a sense of humour!!

When you use the software to build your own image, you can print in black and white so you get a digi stamp design and that's what I did with this card which I then coloured with Promarkers:

Next a DIY card I put together myself - the borders were made from peel offs:

And finally another of my own designs - on this one I used my craft knife to cut the door open and I've shown the closed and open views:

I'll have some more samples to share tomorrow.

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

Crafty Creations Challenge - 'male birthday card' (third card)

Crafty Ann's Challenge - 'hide and seek' (fifth card)

Crazy 4 Challenges - 'birthday card' (third card)

Joanna Sheen Challenge - 'happy birthday' (third card)
The Crazy Challenge - 'anything 3D' (first and second cards)

New Challenge at The Squirrel and the Fox - Best Friends

We've got a brand new challenge today on The Squirrel and the Fox blog and this time our theme is 'best friends'.  You can find more details and also see the cards from my fellow Design Team members here on the blog.  We're also having a DT call - more details about this are on the blog too.

We're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps this time and the prize on offer is seven digis of the winner's choice!

Bugaboo also provided the Design Team with images for the challenge.  For my card I used 'Bugaboo Brats - Best Friends' which you can find here on the blog.  The paper I've used is from The English Paper Company and I also used some ribbon, paper flowers and Card Candi.  The little sentiment is from Pink Gem.

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

Moving Along with the Times - 'keeping it real'

Crafty Catz Challenge - 'girlie time'

I Love Promarkers - 'anything goes'
The Crafty Pad - 'bingo' - ribbon, flowers, bling
Paper Sundaes - 'pretty in pink'

I'll be back tomorrow with some cards for a new TV launch!

Baby Cards

Today I'm sharing two baby cards made with a really cute Elzybells stamp - a sweet little bear in a bath full of bubbles!  I've kept the design very simple - just a couple of layers and a scalloped circle round the main image.  The paper is from Craft Creations, the card from American Crafts and the little sentiment for a mixed Personal Impressions set.

Here's the little girl version:

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

Simon Says Stamp - 'clean and simple'

I Love Promarkers - 'anything goes'

Divas by Design - 'tickled pink' (second card)

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - 'new baby'

Chocolate Coffee and Cards - 'for the boys' (first card)

I'll be back tomorrow with my DT card for the new Squirrel and the Fox challenge!

Butterfly Bling

Today it was my turn to host the weekly project on the Little Claire blog so I decided to make a clean and simple card with a bit of added bling!

The stamp is the gorgeous 'Butterfly' from Little Claire Designs.  I've decoupaged the inner parts of the wings using Glitter Sparkle Sheet over the stamped and coloured image.  You can find more details, including step by step instructions, here on the Little Claire blog.

Here's a closer look at the main image:

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

Crafty Calendar - 'things with wings'
Paper Sundaes - 'things with wings'
Oldie But Goodie - 'things with wings' (my stamp is more than 6 months old)
Simon Says Stamp - 'clean and simple'
Moving Along With the Times - 'keeping it real'
Cute Card Thursday - 'a touch of sparkle'
crafts 4 eternity - 'wonderful wings'

Trailing Birdhouse

Today I'm sharing a birthday card made with the very pretty 'Trailing Birdhouse' from Little Claire - you actually get two stamps and I've used one on each of the panels on my card.  I cut away part of the front of the card and used Craft Creations kraft and pale pink dotted paper to layer up both panels.  

Here's a closer view of the front panel:

I stamped the little birdhouse a second time and then decoupaged it.  The sentiment is a Little Claire peel off.

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

For Fun Challenges - 'I smell flowers'

Joanna Sheen Challenge - 'happy birthday'

The Paper Shelter - 'birthday card with a sentiment'

The Crazy Challenge - 'outside'

Papertake Weekly - 'in the garden'

Paper Sundaes - 'things with wings'

Crafty Catz - 'happy birthday'

New Challenge at Nutcrafters - Use Three Different Backing Papers

A brand new challenge has just been launched on the Nutcrafters blog and this time we would like to see you using three different backing papers.  

Have a look here on the blog to see the cards from my fellow Design Team members and find out more about the challenge.  The prizes available are:

 Main prize (for those using a Nutcrafters image)

Second prize 2 digi stamps or 1 stamp sheet of your choice from Nutcrafters (subject to availability)

For my card I've used the 'Sweet 16 Cutie Pie' digi stamp which you can find here on the Nutcrafters website.  The papers I've used are from Nitwits (the green paper I've used to layer is part of the same collection)  and the little sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

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

Totally Gorjuss - 'pink and green'

Sweet Stamps Blog - 'my favourite colour' (pink)

Simply Create Too - 'mother's day or feminine'

Divas by Design - 'tickled pink'
I Love Promarkers - 'anything goes'

Frosty the Snowman ...

When I spotted that one of the Christmas challenge blogs had a snowman theme, I thought of this Woodware stamp that I bought several years ago - he's called 'Starstruck Snowman'.  I've followed the sketch from the Cutie Pie Challenge and used papers by GCD Designs from a pad called 'Joyful Peace'.  The ribbon is some that I bought from a shop in Carlisle and I also got out my snowflake punches to decorate the card.

Here's a close up view of the top panel:

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

Cutie Pie Challenge - 'sketch plus an easel card'

Crafty Sentiment Designs - 'bingo - patterned paper, coloured image plus die cuts'

Crafty Hazelnuts Challenge - 'traditional Christmas colours'

Christmas Card Challenge - 'use an old, neglected stamp'

Winter Wonderland - 'Frosty the Snowman'

Christmas Cards All Year Round - 'inspired by a song - Frosty the Snowman'

My Best Friend

Another Lili of the Valley card today made with the very cute 'My Best Friend' stamp.  The papers I've used are from another Nitwits giveaway pack and I've layered with kraft paper.  I've added two pieces of lace and some little pink gems plus a sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

Some challenges for my card:

Paper Creations Ink - 'in the garden'

Lili's Little Fairy - 'favourite craft tool' - definitely Promarkers!

Simply Create Too - 'mother's day or feminine'

Saturday Challenge - 'I love you mum'

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - 'flower power'

Pollycraft Monday - 'colour inspiration'

The Crazy Challenge - 'something to do with the outside'

Port Sunlight Show

I had a great time at the Port Sunlight stamping show yesterday - lots of crafty retail therapy and also the chance to catch up with friends.  My friend Sylvia and I met lots of people we knew walking round and we managed to buy a few things (well more than a few!!) in between all the chatting!

This is the piece I made for the club exhibition board for the show - our theme was a colour one this time and the colours we were given were Stream, Spiced Marmalade and Wild Plum.  We could use any combination of these and I took the easy option and missed out the Spiced Marmalade!  I actually made my piece at Sylvia's house with her stamps so I'm not sure which stamps I used.  It's a two layer piece - the first layer I coloured with Stream and then over stamped with the same colour and the next layer I stamped the flowers and verse.

I'd like to enter my little piece of art work in the following challenges:

The Paper Shelter - 'anything goes'

Do You Stack Up - 'use a flower'

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - 'flower power'
CES Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'
Delicious Doodles Challenge - 'try something different' - the colours I've used

New Little Claire Challenge - It's a Man Thing

This is my card for the brand new Little Claire challenge 'It's a Man Thing'.  I've used one of my favourite Little Claire stamps from the 'Oh Man' set - the set also includes a couple of sentiments, ties, socks and a mug of beer.  I've paper pieced the armchair and foot stool using paper from the gorgeous Boho Chic pad and layered the background with kraft and black paper.  I finished the card with Card Candi coloured with my Sandstone Promarker.

The sentiment I used is from the brand new Little Claire 'Dictionary Definitions' set:

You can find the set here on the Little Claire website - it's a great set.

You can find the cards for the challenge from my fellow Design Team members here and we have a great prize for the winner:

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

Divas by Design - 'one for the boys'

Totally Papercrafts - 'no pesky girls allowed'

Aud Sentiments Design - 'dad, daddy, papa'

That Craft Place - 'one for the boys'
Allsorts Challenge Blog - 'card for a man or boy'

Sweet Wonderful You and Port Sunlight

Here's a card I made using one of my older Hero Arts stamps called 'Sweet Wonderful You' - isn't she cute?  The papers I've used are from a Nitwits magazine give away pack and I have used kraft for my base layer and to cut my Nestabilities frame.  The little sentiment is from Craftwork Cards and I finished the card with some pink gems in two different sizes.

If you're going to the Happy Stampers Northwest show at Port Sunlight tomorrow please say hello if you see me!  I'll be there in the morning and probably early afternoon too - I'm looking forward to some crafty retail therapy!!

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

One Stop Craft Challenge - 'celebrations'

Shopping Our Stash - 'use three or more designer papers'

The Stamping Boutique - 'bling'

Papertake Weekly - 'cute, cute, cute'

For Fun Challenges - 'my favourite girl'

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - 'I love you mom'

Charisma Cardz - 'pink and girly'

The Crafty Pad - 'we're girly girls'
Crafty Catz - 'happy birthday'
Simply Create Too - 'mother's day or feminine'

Keep in Touch

Here's another cute design from the Loverly Jubblies range at Little Claire - this stamp is called 'Keep in Touch' and features Robert and his little dog.  I've kept my card very simple because it's such a gorgeous image - just some red gingham paper and kraft paper and then some Card Candi as embellishments.  I coloured the image with Promarkers and then added Adirondack Cool Peri ink round the edges and a little bit of Hazelnut under the image.

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

Sparkles Monthly Challenge - 'men only'

That Craft Place - 'one for the boys'

Come and Get It Challenges - 'let's hear it for the boys'

Sweet Stampin' - 'four legged friends'
Divas by Design - 'one for the boys'
Southern Girls Challenge - 'about the boys!'

Flutter Fly Cutie Pie

 Today I'm sharing a card made with one of the new Cutie Pie images from Nutcrafters - they're available as digi stamps and also as limited edition clear stamps.  This one is called Flutter Fly and I've used the digi version which you can find here on the website.

For the layout I followed the current sketch at Totally Gorjuss.  The paper I've used is from Making Memories and I also used some kraft paper - if you look carefully, the first layer was embossed with my swiss dots folder and then inked lightly with brown ink.  I also used some lace and pearls.

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

Lexi's Creations - 'lace and ribbon'

Anything Goes Challenge Blog - 'things with wings'

Totally Gorjuss - sketch

Crafty Calendar Challenge - 'things with wings'

Cutie Pie Challenge - 'monochromatic'

Travelling Daisy

Here's another of the super cute Loverly Jubblies from Little Claire - this one is called 'Travelling Daisy'.  I've decoupaged her flag and the little luggage tag on her suitcase.

For the layout of my card I followed the sketch at Saturday Challenge using a mixture of blue gingham Craft Creations paper and some Nitwits paper that was part of a magazine give away.  The sentiment I've used is one of a new set from Little Claire which will be released very soon. 

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

Saturday Challenge
Craft Creations - 'red, white and blue challenge'
Just Keep on Crafting - 'anything goes'
Dream Valley Challenges - 'for a special lady'

Sledging Fun

 I'm sharing another Christmas card today - this time made with a cute Elzybells stamp.  

The paper I've used is from a Forever Friends pad and I've added some self adhesive glitter film over the top of the paper to give it some sparkle (not easy to see on the photo!).  I've put an embossed strip across the middle of the card and finished it with some Card Candi and a Craftwork Cards sentiment.

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - 'I is for icy inspiration'

Jingle Belles - 'embossing around the Christmas tree'

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'stripes'
Christmas Cards All Year Round - 'inspired by a song - Let It Snow'
Christmas Inspirations - 'bingo - white, sentiment and layers'

New Challenge at The Squirrel and the Fox - One for the Girls

Today we've got a brand new challenge for you at The Squirrel and the Fox - 'One for the Girls'.  Have a look here at the blog for more details and to see the cards made by fellow Design Team members.

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

and they are offering the winner two digi stamps from their Lil Lolita, Lil Lad or Lil Pinkette ranges.

For my card I used Lil Pinkette August and papers from Echo Park.  My card blank and sentiment are from Craftwork Cards and I've added paper flowers and Card Candi.

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

The Poodles Parlour - 'anything goes'
Creative Craft Challenges - 'anything goes'
Papertake Weekly - 'anything goes'
2 Sisters Challenge - 'anything goes'
The Crafty Pad - 'we're girly girls'

Fairy in Blue

Another Lili of the Valley card to share today - this one is called 'Dandelion Clock' and I decided to use a blue colour scheme for a change!

I die cut the image with one of my X Cut dies and then inked the panel with Cool Peri Adirondack ink while the die was still in place.  The paper is from Craft Creations and I put a piece of lace across the middle of the card.

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

The Cutie Pie Challenge - 'monochromatic'

Anything Goes Challenge Blog - 'things with wings'

I Love Promarkers - 'fairies'

Divas by Design - 'monochromatic'

Lili's Little Fairies - 'anything goes'

Crafty Calendar Challenge - 'things with wings'

I'll be back tomorrow with my DT card for the brand new challenge at The Squirrel and the Fox.

Maybe .....

Isn't he sweet?  This is Robert from the new Little Claire Loverly Jubblies range fishing very hopefully - the stamp is called 'Maybe...' and I've also given you a sneak peek of some new sentiment stamps from Little Claire which will be launched very soon!

I've used some diamond patterned paper from Little Claire and some kraft paper to layer it up plus some embossing on my Cuttlebug on Bazzill card and some Card Candi to finish it off.

Some challenges for my card:

Simply Create Too - 'it's about time'

Here Come the Boys - 'hobbies'

Sparkles Forum - 'men only'

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - 'celebrating male-ness'

My Mum's Craft Shop - 'embossing'

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - 'embossing'

Craft Room Challenge - 'emboss it'

Aud Sentiments Challenge - 'anything goes + a sentiment'
Cute Card Thursday - 'one for the boys'

Chloe in the Garden

This is one of my favourite Pink Gem stamps - Chloe can be used for so many occasions and she's really easy to colour too.  For this card I followed Donna's sketch from Sunday Sketch and Stamp using pink and green gingham papers layered with kraft, some Card Candi and paper flowers coloured with Promarkers.  It was a lovely simple sketch and just perfect for me!

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

Sunday Sketch and Stamp

Crafts 4 Eternity - 'spring'

Gem of a Challenge - 'pink, blue and green'
By the Cute and Girly - 'spring is all around'
Passion for Promarkers - 'bright and light'
Clear it Out Challenge - 'mother's day + flowers'

New Challenge at Nutcrafters - Gemma's Sketch

I have some very exciting news to share - I'm now part of the Nutcrafters Design Team!  I've got lots of their stamps and have been entering the challenges on a regular basis for a while now and it's great to be part of the team!  

So today I'm sharing my card as part of the Design Team for the latest challenge which is a great sketch designed by Gemma:

 

For my card I've used one of the brand new Cutie Pie stamps called 'Book Lover' which is available here as a digi stamp and here as a limited edition clear stamp.

The papers I've used are from Hot Off the Press and the little sentiment from Craftwork Cards.  I've used my Fiskars Threading Water punch across the middle of the card, Card Candi and finished the card with some little paper flowers coloured with my brown ink pad.

Please head over to the blog here for more details plus the cards from my fellow Design Team members and remember you don't have to use a Nutcrafters image to enter.

First prize (only for those using a Nutcrafters image) is:

and second prize (using any image) is 2 digi stamps or 1 stamp sheet of your choice...(subject to availability) 

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

Shopping Our Stash - 'mother's day or girly'
Creative Craft Challenges - 'anything goes'
Just Tracys Crafts Challenge - 'anything goes'
One Stop Craft Challenge - 'recipe: one image, two papers, three embellishments'
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - 'punches and dies'