New from Little Claire - 'Daisy Bear'

Seven brand new stamps are now available from Little Claire on their website:

Aren't they gorgeous?  There's something for everyone and every occasion in there.

Five of the new stamps are showcased today here on the Little Claire blog.  There's also a competition to win all five of the new stamps featured - all you need to do is leave a comment to say which is your favourite.

My card (above) was made using the very cute 'Daisy Bear' which you can find here on the Little Claire website.  I've used pale blue gingham paper (of course!!) for the background and also paper pieced Daisy's bow to match.

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

Craft Your Passion Challenges - 'something new' (the stamp)

Sentimental Sundays - 'pick from favourite challenge - #170 Happy Birthday'

Addicted to Stamps Challenge - 'lovely wishes'

Creative Fingers - 'anything goes'
Through the Craft Room Door - 'anything goes'
Creative Craft Challenges - 'anything goes'
The Stamping Boutique - 'paper piecing'
Hobby Cutz Challenge - 'anything goes'
Alphabet Challenge Blog - 'w is for whatever you wish'
Stampin for the Weekend - 'anything goes'

My Favourite 5 Creations of 2013

It's hard to believe the Christmas and New Year holiday break is nearly over and tomorrow it will be 2014!  I took some time yesterday to choose my favourite five creations of 2013 to join in with the fun on Debby's blog here.  This really was a difficult choice to make as I've made so many cards over the past year but here goes:

First of all, my most recent Little Claire blog project which was a notepad and calendar desk top set.  The first photo shows it closed and the second the inside.  For this project I used one of my favourite Little Claire stamps from the past year, the beautiful 'Butterfly Blossom' which you can find here on the Little Claire website.

Next, another Little Claire blog project - the first time in years that I'd made a waterfall card.  For this one I used one of my all time favourite Little Claire stamps, the very cute 'Hedgehogs in Squares' which you can find here on their website.

My third choice is a new baby card made using a very cute Nutcrafters stamp and a sentiment from the Little Claire 'Dictionary Definitions ' set.  By the way, are you noticing a pattern with the paper I've used on all my cards??!

Next, another baby card this time using a digi from Pink Gem called 'Bathtime Baby' which you can find here on their website:

And finally, a change to gingham using another Pink Gem digi called 'Chloe in Knitted Hat' which you can find here on the website.  Very different colours for me and no gingham in sight!!

So that's my favourite five for 2013 - it could easily have been a favourite twenty five!

New Squirrel and the Fox Challenge - Anything Goes

Sorry I'm a bit late posting this - I've had a few days away and am just catching up on a few things now that I'm back.

A new challenge started on The Squirrel and the Fox Challenge Blog yesterday and this time our theme is 'anything goes' - nice and easy for everyone!  You can find all the details and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

Our challenge has been sponsored by:

For my card I've used the beautiful 'Lilacs for Coco' which you can find here on the Sweet 'n' Sassy website.

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

Digi Makeover Challenge - 'anything goes'

Addicted to Stamps Challenge - 'lovely wishes'

Hiding In My Craft Room - 'anything but holiday'

Creative Fingers - 'anything goes'

Charisma Cardz Challenge - 'anything goes'

Cute Card Thursday - 'anything goes'

That Craft Place Blog Challenge - 'anything goes'

Crafty Creations Challenges - 'anything goes'

Animal Friends Challenge - 'anything goes with an animal'

My Favourite 5 Christmas Creations

I've spotted this on a couple of other blogs in the last few days so I've decided to join in!  Debby has shared her five favourite Christmas creations on her blog here and invited everyone else to join her.  Not an easy task for me as I seem to have made so many more Christmas cards than usual this year but here goes:

using 'Joy Hope and Wonder' from Little Claire which you can find here - my original blog post is here

using a topper from the Hobby House Mo Manning 'Eskimo Kisses' sheet which you can find here - my original blog post is here

using 'Winter Washing' from Nutcrafters which you can find here - my original blog post is here

using 'Reindeer Josh' from Pink Gem which you can find here - my original blog post is here

using 'Bitty Christmas Tree Bears' from Meljen's Designs which you can find here - my original blog post is here

Hope you like my choices and thanks again to Debby for the challenge!

Crafts-Too Challenge You - The Natural World Twist 2

This is the final week of our month long 'natural world' challenge at Crafts-Too Challenge You and also week 2 of our second twist which is 'any winged character'.

For my final card of the month I've made a CAS design using very subtle patterned paper.  I've put white Starform velvet border stickers down each side of the paper and added Crafts-Too pearls to the scallops at the bottom of the card.  I coloured a die cut butterfly with an alcohol marker and attached this to a doily.  The sentiment is an old Hero Arts stamp which I thought fitted perfectly with the theme.

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

Cute Card Thursday - 'anything goes'

The Pink Elephant Challenge - 'anything goes'

Party Time Tuesday - 'anything goes'

Creative Inspirations Paint - 'anything goes'

Hobby Cutz Challenges - 'anything goes'

That Craft Place Blog - 'anything goes'

Brown Sugar Challenge - 'anything goes'

Crafts 4 Eternity - 'anything goes'

Crafting from the Heart Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Black and Silver Christmas

I hope everyone had a fabulous day yesterday and is enjoying Boxing Day!

This is the Christmas card I made for my parents - a bit different to what I usually make!  I used a  Lacé die to cut a silver rosette shape and matted this on to black and more silver paper.  Finally I added silver Hobby House pearls to the rosette and put a Craftwork Cards sentiment in the middle.

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

Papertake Weekly - 'pick of the year' ('Make It Sparkle' - 17 September)

The Male Room - 'celebration'
Unstampabelles - 'Christmas'
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'last minute cards'
A Creative Romance - 'sparkle at Christmas'
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - 'happy holidays'
Craftitude - 'anything goes/Christmas sparkle'
Totally Gorjuss - 'quick Christmas'
Parade Your Crafts - 'Christmas/winter'

A Couple of Last Minute Cards

These are two of my 'last minute' batch cards which I've made over the past couple of days.  Both of them were made with Paper Artsy JOFY stamps.

The first one (above) was made using JOFY Mini 2.  I stamped the design on to kraft paper and then paper pieced the start to match my background paper.  I finished if off with some glitter glue around the frame of the design.

Next I've used JOFY Mini 1 again stamped on kraft paper.  I coloured the tree with Promarkers and added glitter glue to the frame around the design.

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

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'last minute Christmas'

C is for Challenge - 'modern Christmas' (first card)

A Creative Romance - 'sparkle at Christmas' (second card)

Craftitude - 'anything goes/Christmas sparkle' (second card)

Sisterhood of Crafters - 'Christmas sparkle' (second card)
Try It On Tuesday - 'trees' (second card)
The Stamping Boutique - 'paper piecing' (first card)
Totally Papercrafts - 'Christmas in non-traditional colours'

New Cutie Pie Challenge - Cute With Only Showmen Allowed!

It's time for our last challenge of the year at the Cutie Pie Challenge blog and this time our theme is 'cute with only snowmen allowed'.  You can find all the details about the challenge and see the gorgeous cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

Our challenge is sponsored by:

For my card I've used 'Snowman Bunting' from Little Claire which you can find here on their website.  I've made a folded card which has two square panels held together by a folded piece of card.

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

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'last minute Christmas'
OLLCB - 'winter wonderland'
Parade Your Crafts - 'Christmas/winter'
Dream Valley Challenges - 'Christmas'
I Love Promarkers Challenge Blog - 'more than one fold'
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - 'Christmas'
Crafty Little Fairies - 'anything goes'
Happy Camper's Craft Collective - 'Christmas'
Inky Impressions - 'merry Christmas'

GDT Card for The Glory of Christmas Challenge - Jesus

This is my GDT card for the new Glory of Christmas Challenge - the theme this fortnight is 'Jesus'.  For all the details about the challenge and to see the rest of the cards from the Design Team, have a look here.

For my card I've used 'Baby Jesus' from Pink Gem - you can find it here on their website.  The paper I've used is from Lili of the Valley.

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

Crafty Little Fairies - 'anything goes'

Feeling Crafty Challenge - 'Christmas'

Inky Impressions - 'merry Christmas'

Papertake Weekly - 'last Christmas card of the year'

Tuesday Throwdown - 'what Christmas means to you'

Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Totally Papercrafts - 'Christmas using non-traditional colours'
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - 'Christmas'
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'last minute Christmas'
Allsorts Blog Challenge - 'brown with blue'

All Wrapped Up

I'm still making Christmas cards!  This one is a bit different for me as I've used a topper instead of a stamped image.  The topper is from the Mo Manning 'Eskimo Kisses' sheet from Hobby House - you can find it here on the Hobby House website.  I've also used Hobby House self adhesive pearls on the card.

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

Totally Papercrafts - 'Christmas using non-traditional colours'

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - 'Christmas'

Creative Moments - 'anything goes/winter wonderland'

Oldie But a Goodie Challenge - 'winter' (topper is more than 6 months old)

Papertake Weekly - 'last Christmas card of the year'

Paper Playtime - 'winter fun'

Hobby House Challenge - 'special Christmas challenge'

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'last minute Christmas'
Allsorts Blog Challenge - 'brown with blue'

Crafts-Too Challenge You - The Natural World Twist 2

This week on the Crafts-Too Challenge You Blog we still have our main theme of 'the natural world' but our twist has changed to 'any winged creature'.  You can find all the details and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

For my card I die cut the Crafts-Too 'Fanciful Flowers' die using green card and then trimmed the flowers off so it fitted the square card I wanted to use.  I coloured die cut butterflies with alcohol markers and both of these were attached to a piece of white card embossed with the Crafts-Too Dots embossing folder.  I added pearls to the butterflies and a peel off greeting to finish the card.

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

'Artistic Inspirations' - 'anything goes'

My Craft Creations - 'anything goes'

Pile It On Challenge - 'p is for .... purple and polka dots'

Love to Create Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - 'use punches and dies'
Alphabet Challenge Blog - 'w is for whatever you wish'
Crafts 4 Eternity - 'anything goes'

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra

A few weeks back Hazel who runs Crazyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra held a DT call and I'm really excited to say that I'm now part of her Design Team!!

Photos and more information about each of the DT members have just been published on the challenge blog here.  Our first challenge will be at the beginning of January and I'm looking forward to taking part.

New Penny's Challenge - Favourite Colour or Technique or Both!

It's our final challenge of the year at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog and our theme is 'use your favourite colour or technique or both'.  You can find all the details about the challenge and see the cards from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog.

Our challenge has been sponsored by:

and

For my card I've used 'Don't Open Until Christmas Sassy' which you can find here in the Sassy Studio Designs shop.  I decided to use the image to make a birthday card so I could use my favourite colour combination which is pink and brown.  I've also used my favourite technique which is colouring images with Promarkers.

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

Crafty Bloggers Network - 'girly'

Love to Create Challenge- 'anything goes'
Crafty Sentiments Designs - 'birthday'
Loves Rubberstamps - 'anything goes'
LEJ Designs Challenge - 'anything goes'
Bearly-Mine Challenges - 'anything goes'
Through the Craft Room Door - 'anything goes'
The Stamping Chef - 'anything goes'
Stamp'n'Doodle - 'anything goes'
Addicted to Stamps and More - 'anything goes'

GDT Cards for Crafting By Designs - Wrap It Up/New

Today I'm sharing two projects that I've made as a GDT member for Crafting by Designs - I was really excited when I got an e-mail from Doris asking me to join them for today's new challenges and accepted their very kind offer straight away!

You can find all the details about the challenges and see the gorgeous range of cards from the Design Team and my fellow GDT here on the challenge blog.

Today is a special double challenge:

The first challenge is 'wrap it up' - a final Christmas project, gift tags or something wrapped.

The sponsor for this challenge is:

I've made Christmas gift tags using two of my favourite digi stamps from Pink Gem this Christmas - the very cute 'Reindeer Jodie' and the equally cute 'Reindeer Josh'.  You can find them here and here on the Pink Gem website.  The sentiment I've used is part of the 'Snowman Bunting' stamp from Little Claire which is here on their website.  The tag base is one panel from a Little Claire tag card - the red tag cards are available here on their website.

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

Craft Your Passion Challenge - 'Christmas ABC'
Natalie and Amy's Challenge - 'cute and cuddly Christmas'
Ladybug Crafts - 'Christmas'
Feeling Crafty Challenge - 'Christmas'
Hanna and Friends - 'Christmas'
Crafting for All Seasons Challenge Blog - 'anything Christmas but a card'
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - 'anything goes with ribbon'
Just for Fun - 'Merry Christmas'

The second challenge is a project with a 'new' reference in it and this challenge is sponsored by:

I've chosen to make a 'new home' card using the Little Claire 'At Home' stamp set which you can find here on their website.  The two sentiments I've used come with the main stamp.

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

LEJ Designs Challenge - 'anything goes'

Bearly-Mine Challenges - 'anything goes'

Through the Craft Room Door - 'anything goes'

Paper Creator's Crafts - 'shaped cards'

Love to Create Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

The Stamping Chef - 'anything goes'

Nutcrafters Challenge Reminder - Snow, Snow Everywhere

Just a quick reminder about our current challenge over on the Nutcrafters blog - our theme is 'snow, snow everywhere'.  You can find all the details and enter your card here.

For my card, I've followed the sketch from the challenge at I Love Promarkers.  The image I've used is on of the 'Christmas Portraits' which you can find here on the Nutcrafters website.  I've embossed the white panels using a Cuttlebug embossing folder.

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

Crafty Boots Challenge - 'Christmas'

Eureka Stamps - 'anything Christmas'

Parade Your Crafts - 'Christmas Projects'

Whoopsi Daisy - 'anything Christmas'

Dream Valley Challenges - 'Christmas'

Allsorts Blog Challenge - 'snowflakes'
Papertake Weekly - 'last Christmas card of the year'
Clear It Out Challenge - 'warm fuzzies' (use something textured)
Feeling Crafty Challenge - 'Christmas'
I Love Promarkers - 'follow that sketch'

New Sparkles Challenge - Anything But a Card

It's time for another challenge on the Sparkles Challenge Blog and this time our theme is 'anything but a card'.  You can find all the details about the challenge here on the challenge blog.

Our sponsor for this challenge is:

For my project I've made a little calendar.  The base is half of a Craftwork Cards blank covered in kraft paper.  For my image I've used the main stamp from the Little Claire Cherish, Hope and Dream' stamp set coloured with Promarkers.  I finished it with Card Candi, ribbon and a little calendar pad.

I'd like to enter my project in the following challengse:

Crafty Ribbons Challenge - 'anything goes with ribbon'

Crafting When We Can - 'countdown/calendar'

Try It on Tuesday - 'hand made gift or tag'

The Kraft Journal - 'holiday gift'

My Craft Spot - 'Christmas Neighbour Gifts'
Crafty Catz Challenge - 'anything goes'

New Squirrel and the Fox Challenge - Christmas or Hanukah

A new challenge has just started today on the Squirrel and Fox challenge blog and this time our theme is 'Christmas or Hanukah'.  For all the details, have a look here at the challenge blog.

We've been sponsored by:

For my card I've used 'Candles and Holly' from Beary Wishes which you can find here on their website.

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

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - 'last minute Christmas'

Wags'n'Whiskers - 'Christmas'

Kitty Bee Designs - 'Christmas'

Brown Sugar Challenge - 'Christmas'

Crafts 4 Eternity - 'Christmas chaos'

Card Crafter's Circle - 'golden days'

Happy Campers Craft Collective - 'Christmas'

Dream Valley Challenges - 'Christmas'

New Little Claire Challenge - Make a Gift

It's time for the last Little Claire challenge of the year and this month our theme is 'make a gift'.  For my project, I chose to make a desk-top calendar and note pad.  You can see the outside of it in the photo above and the inside below:

I made the base from a piece of card and then added a calendar pad and covered note pad - I used X-Cut dies to make the words 'notes'.  On the opposite side I created a pocket for receipts, appointment cards etc.

For the front cover and the outside of the pocket I used 'Butterfly Blossom' from Little Claire which you can find here on their website.

You can find all the details about the challenge plus the projects from the rest of the Design Team here on the challenge blog and this is the great prize on offer for the challenge winner:

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

Crafty Catz Challenge - 'anything goes'

Crafting from the Heart Challenge Blog - 'anything goes'

Crafting When We Can - 'countdown/calendar'

Polkadoodles - 'anything goes'

Stampin With the Dragon - 'gifts and decorations'

Clear It Out Challenge - 'anything goes'

Try It on Tuesday - 'hand made gift or tag'

My Craft Spot - 'Christmas Neighbour Gifts'

Little Claire Blog Project - Pink Elephants!

It's my turn to share a project and instructions on the Little Claire blog today and I chose to make a folded card using the very cute 'Elephants in Square' which you can find here on the Little Claire website.

If you'd like to see the step by step instructions, have a look here on the blog.

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

Divas by Design - 'anything goes'

The Stamping Chef - 'anything goes'

Crafting from the Heart Challenge - 'anything goes'

Created With Love Challenges - 'anything goes'

My Craft Creations - 'anything goes'

The Corrosive Challenge - 'anything goes'
Stamping Sensations - 'free and easy'
Creative Fingers Challenge - 'anything goes' (optional twist - my 'something old' is the stamp I've used)
Crafty Catz - 'anything goes'

Plus there's a special treat for you over at the Little Claire website:

Lucky weekend - 20% online discount (30% for club members)!

Here at Little Claire we want to make Friday 13 a lucky day for all of our wonderful customers  SO for this 

weekend only - place an order online and use Discount Code: lucky13

a massive 20% will be discounted from your order - and if you are a club member you will receive 30% WOW!!!

Just think of all the lovely crafting you can do over the Christmas holidays with your bargains!

Crafts-Too Challenge You - The Natural World

This is the second week of the first twist for this month's challenge at Crafts-Too Challenge You - 'add a flower'.  For all the details about the challenge, have a look here on the challenge blog.

For my card I've used Starform velvet floral stickers for my main image - I coloured them with alcohol markers and then put them on to a doily.  I then put the doily over a circle of kraft paper to make it stand out more from the backing paper.  Using the pattern on the doily as a guide, I've then attached Crafts-Too self adhesive pearls.  I used two pieces of the white Starform velvet border stickers along the top and bottom of my patterned paper and finished the card with some more pearls and a peel off greeting.

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

The Crafty Bloggers Network - 'girly'

My Craft Creations - 'anything goes'
Creative Fingers Challenge - 'anything goes' (optional twist - my something old is the card base)
Sister Act Card Challenge - 'anything goes'

New Crafty Girls Challenge - Anything Goes

It's time for another great 'anything goes' challenge on the Crafty Girls Challenge Blog - this is our last challenge for the year.

We've been sponsored by Eureka Stamps, Meljens. Glamoureyes and Sassy Studio so there are plenty of prizes on offer!

For all the details about the challenge and to see the cards from the rest of the Design Team, have a look here on the challenge blog.

For my card I used the very cute 'Bitty Christmas Tree Bears' from Meljens which you can find here on their website.  The paper I've used is from the Nordic Christmas pad.

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

Creative Moments - 'anything goes/winter wonderland'

Passion for Promarkers - 'add a sentiment'

Papertake Weekly - 'Christmas creatures'

LEJ Designs Challenge Blog - 'festive fun'

Party Time Tuesdays - 'winter wonderland'

Melonheadz Challenge - 'Christmas'

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - 'let it snow'

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra Challenge - 'anything goes'
Stamp'n'doodle - 'for the holiday spirit'
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - 'let it snow'

New Penny's Challenge - Feminine With a Sentiment

There's another new challenge today on the Penny's Paper-Crafting Challenge Blog and our theme this week is 'feminine with a sentiment'.

We are sponsored this week by:

and

and

For all the details about the challenge and to see the cards from the rest of the Design Team, have a look here on the challenge blog.

I've made a rocker card using a digi from Crafty Sentiments Designs - I decided to go with a purple and lilac colour scheme for a change!

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

Divas by Design - 'anything goes'

Crafter's Cafe Blog Challenge - 'monochromatic'

Through the Craft Room Door - 'anything goes'

Corrosive Challenges - 'anything goes'

Created With Love Challenges - 'anything goes'

Challenges 4 Everybody - 'anything goes'