Ballerina Marci

I can see that everyone has been having problems with Blogger today - I don't seem to have lost any cards but all the comments have disappeared from my last two posts!

Anyway, here's a card I've made today using my second new La La Land stamp - 'Ballerina Marci' - I love this one too!

The background paper is from a pad that I got with one of the craft magazines this week and I've also used a Martha Stewart punch to make the trim on the left side.

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

Crafts and Me Challenge - 'punches'

Craft Your Passion - 'check it out'

Papertake Weekly - 'fancy a punch?'

Passion for Promarkers - 'for a teenager'

I Love Promarkers - 'pink and brown'

My Mum's Craft Shop - 'to die for'

Craft Us Crazy - 'something new'

Butterfly Bear

This is one of my favourite Elzybells stamps - he's called 'Butterfly Bear' and I just think he's so cute!  I've used more DCWV paper behind him - finally using up a pad I've had for quite a while and just looked at up till now!  The little black dots are peel offs and I've inked the edges of the scalloped square to give it a little more definition.

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

St Lukes Charity Card Challenge - 'pick a pattern'

Crafty Calendar Challenge - 'teddy bears'

Sunday Sketch and Stamp - I've followed the latest sketch

The Crafty Pad - 'spots and dots'

Less is More - Week 14

This week's theme at Less is More is 'white on white' - not an easy one to make or to photograph!  I embossed a panel of card with a floral embossing folder and then added two lines either side on my embossing board.  The flower is the Daisy die from Sizzix which I've had for years and is always very useful and the sentiment is from another old and trusted set called 'Pixie Affirmations' by PSX.

Pink (and Purple) Elephants!

This card was made using the 'Elephants in Squares' stamp from Little Claire Designs together with one of the new circular sentiment stamps which is available here on the Little Claire website.  I've used two of the elephant designs here with pink card and paper from Craft Creations.

This second card uses the stamp as it stamps out so you can see all four elephants.  Again I've used one of the circular sentiments and this time my paper is from Dovecraft and I've also used a punched flower and a couple of gems to finish it.

I'd like to enter the cards in the current challenge at Crafty Creations which is 'anything goes'.

New Stamps at Little Claire Designs

A new set of stamps called 'Claire's Sentiments' has just been launched on the Little Claire website here - there are twelve different circular sentiment stamps in the set with a variety of messages.  In addition, there's a special offer on the website here - the 'Hedgehogs in Squares', 'Elephants in Squares', 'Cat in a Box' and 'Bonnie Westies' sets are available to buy together for the special price of £20 but only until 5.00pm on Wednesday 11 May. 

My card was made using the 'Hedgehogs in Squares' set and also one of the new sentiment stamps - the floral paper was part of a free cover gift from Docrafts and I've also used some pink and brown card.

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

Moving Along with the Times - 'have some cake' (on the sentiment stamp!!)

My Mum's Craft Shop - 'Cute and Girly' (entry three)

More Hedgehogs

And here's another card made with two of the little designs from 'Hedgehogs in Squares' and one of the 'Claire's Sentiments' stamps.  For this one I've used paper from Craftwork cards and brown card.

I'd like to enter this card in the current challenge at Crafts and Me which is 'swirls'.

Three Little Hedgehogs

I've just found a new ATC challenge blog called ATC Challenges - their theme this week is 'anything goes' so I thought I'd enter this set of three ATCs made with the Little Claire Design 'Hedgehog in Squares' stamp.  I stamped and then cut up the squares and used three on them on the ATCs with some Craft Creations gingham paper and some punched flowers and dots.

Pollycraft Monday - Boyz to Men

I made this card a couple of weeks back for one of my Dad's friends.  I've used the Little Claire Designs garage set from the 'Room With a View' range and stamped the main garage image first before cutting round three sides of the door and then putting the interior stamp underneath.

The paper I've used is from Craft Creations and the greeting from Craftwork Cards.

I'm entering this card in the new Pollycraft Monday challenge which is 'boyz to men'.

Fancy Marci

I spotted the La La Land Craft stamps recent and couldn't resist buying a couple!  This one is called 'Fancy Marci' and this is the first time I've used her - the stamp stamps very clearly and is great for colouring too.  I've used some paper I've had for quite a while from DCWV - it's a lovely pastel pad and I have to admit I've looked at it from time to time and put it back on the shelf again!  The sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.

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

One Stitch at a Time - 'fancy folds'

One Stop Craft Challenge - 'birthdays'

Ellephantastic Challenge - 'birthday/party'

Divas by Design - 'anything goes' - second entry

My Mum's Craft Shop - 'cute and girly' - second entry

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog - 'happy birthday'

Saturday Challenge - 'dust off your stash' (my paper!)

Floral Amy

For this card I've used a digi stamp from Crafty Sentiments Designs called Amy and coloured her with Promarkers.  The paper I've used is from Nitwits - it was a free collection on a magazine a while back but this is the first time I've used it.

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

Craft Your Passion - 'anything goes'

Pear Tree Designs - 'free for all' (second entry)

Crafty Sentiment Designs - 'flowers'

Stamp Something - May digi day

Only Words

This month's challenge on the Just Tracys Challenge Blog is 'sentiments' so I decided to use one of the stamps I received recently from Visible Image - I'm a member of their monthly club so I receive a stamp and project sheet each month.  The scroll border is another stamp - I stamped it above and below and sentiment.  The background paper is from DoCrafts - the Hanoverian collection which I really love.

Mimi

This is one of my favourite stamps when I want to make a 'girly' card - it's a Penny Black wood mounted stamp featuring Mimi who I think is a really cute little character.  I've made a circular easel card using some Craftwork Cards paper and a sentiment stamp from Pink Gem.  The image was coloured with Promarkers and for Mimi's hair I used Sandstone, Tan and Caramel - you'll see why I'm explaining that in a minute!

Card Recipe

Image - 'Mimi' by Penny Black

Sentiment - Pink Gem

Paper and Card Candy - Craftwork Cards

Brown card

Flower punch

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

My Mum's Craft Shop - 'cute and girly'

Divas by Design - 'anything goes'

Paper Sundaes - 'favourite hair colour combinations'

Penny Black at Allsorts - 'shape up'

I want to ride my bicycle ....

The new May club set from Little Claire Designs is now available here - there is a main bike image, two sentiments and also four things which are designed to fit inside the basket on the front of the bike.  The first of my cards (above) made with the set is an easel card made using Craft Creations pink gingham paper (again!) and some brown card.  The flowers are punched and I've added some Card Candy for the flower centres.

This next card uses Craft Creations striped pale grey and white paper and a die cut from Go Kreate plus the other sentiment from the stamp set.

And finally, I loved this little dog so much that I decided he deserved his own card!  I stamped him three times and die cut circles round him.  The paper is (you've guessed it!) Craft Creations green gingham I've added a little green nail head on his collar.

Have a look at the website for more great card examples from the rest of the design team.

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

Moving Along With the Times - 'anything goes'

Pollycraft Monday - 'anythings goes'

Pear Tree Designs - 'free for all'

Papertake Weekly - 'anything goes'

Tutti Cuti!

I was out shopping yesterday and just couldn't resist this little stamp!  It's from a range called Tutti Cuti by Personal Impressions and this one is called 'Shop till you Drop'.  I've used it with some paper from Doodlebug and some pink and brown card.  The flowers are punched and the sentiment is a peel off.

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

Sunday Sketch and Stamp - followed the sketch

By the Cute and Girly - 'anything goes'

Crafters Companion - 'girl's birthday'

Oscar With Flowers

This is another card made with one of the very cute 'Oscar' images from DigiStamp Boutique - this one is 'Oscar with Flowers'.  I've used some green card and green gingham paper from Crafts Creations - the panel to the left of the card has been Cuttlebugged with the swiss dots folder although it doesn't show up that well on the photo.  I've added some white Card Candy and a peel off greeting.

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

DigiStamp Boutique - May customer competition

My Mum's Craft Shop - 'flowers'

Craft Us Crazy - 'flowers'

One Stitch at a Time - 'emboss it'

Dream Valley Challenges - 'flowers'

Less is More - Week 13

The theme for week 13 on the Less is More challenge blog is 'thank you or congratulations' - I've chosen to make a thank you card.  I've used the 'quirky flowers' image from DigiStamps Boutique which is becoming a favourite of mine (as you may have noticed!) and some pale pink card. I've die cut the image panel and the backing and then embossed the edges to give some extra depth.  The greeting is a peel off.

Fun in the Snow .....

The sun might be shining outside but I'm still making Christmas cards!  This card was made with one of my Elzybells stamps, a cute design called 'Mischievous' and I've put blue and silver paper with it although the silver (as always) doesn't show up too well on the photo.

Card Recipe

Stamp - 'Mischievous' by Elzybells

Papers - Docrafts

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Nailhead gems

Snowflake punch

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

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - 'favourite image'

Crafty Hazlenut's Christmas Challenge - 'use a die cut'

Winter Wonderland - 'snow much fun'

Cupcake Craft Challenge - 'something beginning with C' (Christmas!)

Challenge 6 at Little Claire Designs

Challenge 6 at Little Claire Designs has just been launched here and this time it's a sketch challenge - this is the sketch:

On my card I've used one of the stamps from the 'Messing About on the River' set which is available here with some pink gingham paper from Craft Creations as well as some pink and brown card.  The flowers at the bottom of my card have been punched.

Please have a look at the blog here to see the winners from the last challenge and the rest of the design team cards.

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

Cute Card Thursday - 'use a sketch'

Crafts 4 Eternity - 'anything goes'

Paper Cutz - 'anything goes'

Fairy Lights ....

I love this little character from Nutcrafters - the stamp is called 'Fairy Lights' and it's just perfect for a nice girly card!  I've used some Papermania backing paper and some pink and white striped ribbon and then a couple of paper flowers.  There is some glitter on her wings and the star - very brave for me as glitter and me do not get on!  I used Stickles which I normally struggle with but this time I painted it on and it worked much better.

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

Sarah Hurley Challenge - 'things with wings'

Totally Papercrafts - 'glitter'

Stamp Something - 'something with wings'

Meet Warren .....

The image on this card is one of two 'Warren' stamps that I bought recently from Craftwork Cards - they only arrived yesterday so today was my first chance to use them.  I only realised when I spotted some cards made with the same range in a magazine (after I'd made my card!) that Warren is actually grey and white and not brown but never mind!   The background paper I've used is from Papermania - from a pad that was a free cover gift on one of the paper craft magazines recently and I've also used brown and pink card.

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

Cupcake Craft Challenge - 'fluffy bunnies'

Sketch 'n' Stash - I used sketch 7 from the archive

For You ....

This is another card made with a DigiStamp Boutique image - this one is called 'Birthday Oscar' and I've teamed him up with some lilac card and four little black peel off dots.  The card blank is from Craftwork Cards.

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

DigiStamp Boutique April Customer Competition

Fun at Fairy Knoll - 'Birthday'

Crafty Creations - 'white space'

I Love Promarkers - 'no designer papers'

H is for Hotspot

I've just about made it in time for the latest challenge on ABC Christmas Challenge which is 'H is for Hotspot' - colouring in a section of the main image and then mounting that section on to the whole image.  I couldn't get my circles the right size to get a separate black one to go underneath so I just outlined with a fine black liner instead.  Not quite so effective but I think it still works OK.  I decided to keep the base of the card very simple - it would be easy to draw attention away from the image and I wanted it to stand out.  My stamp is from Little Claire Designs - part of the 'All Set for Christmas' set from last Christmas and my background paper is from Craft Creations.

Pink Tulips

This card was made for the latest challenge at Less Is More where the theme is 'off centre'.  My image is from a stamp made by Great Impressions (a very old wood mounted stamp) and I've used it with my oval Nestabilities and some paper from Craft Creations.

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

Sweet Stamps - 'frame it'

Crafts and Me - 'pink and sweet'

Fun at Fairy Knoll - 'Easter or spring'

Less is More - Week 11

I think I felt the same as most of the rest of the LIMettes when I saw this week's challenge on the Less Is More challenge blog was to use acetate!  Not one of my favourite craft materials but having had a think about it I've come up with this card which uses acetate behind the two circular apertures on the side of the card.  The stamps all come from a Do Crafts set which was free on the front of a magazine - I needed something that matched, was small enough to fit in the aperture and was easy to cut out!  I stamped the main image directly onto the front of the card (I'm getting better at it!) and then coloured it with Promarkers.  I stamped the two little cakes separately, coloured them and then cut them out - I stuck them to the acetate with a little bit of double sided tape.

Pink Elephant!

This is one of my all time favourite Little Claire stamps - it's such a cute image and another easy one to colour!  I've used it with some pink and brown card and Cuttlebugged the pink card with my swiss dots embossing folder.  The flowers are punched and I've added little pink pearls to the centre of each flower.

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

Anythings Goes - 'pearls'

Allsorts Challenge - I've followed their sketch

A Spoonful of Sugar - 'all creatures great and small'

Sweet Stamps - 'for the ladies'

My Mum's Craft Shop - 'anything goes'

Craft Us Crazy - 'thinking of you with a sentiment and/or animal'

Totally Gorjuss - 'no patterned paper'

April Showers

I noticed that a couple of blog challenges had either 'April Showers' or 'weather' as their theme this week so I immediately thought of this Little Claire stamps, 'Rainy Days' - it's one of my favourites and so appropriate for the weather in this country!!  I've used some Dovecraft dotty paper and navy and paler blue card with it.

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

I Love Promarkers - I've followed this week's sketch

Cute Card Thursday - 'weather inspired'

Sarah Hurley Challenge Blog -'April Showers'

Stamp Something - 'April Showers'

Little Claire Challenge 5

Challenge 5 has just been launched on the Little Claire blog - the theme is 'animals' and you can find all the details here plus a selection of cards from the DT and the winners from the last challenge.  The prize for the current challenge is a lovely selection of stamps, papers, flowers and Promarkers as you can see from this photo.

Pink Flowers

This card was made using the 'Quirky Flowers' design from DigiStamp Boutique and I've combined it with papers from the Pink Petticoat free pad from one of the card making magazines last month.

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

St Luke's Charity Card Challenge - 'Say it With Flowers'

Moving Along With the Times - I followed their sketch

Easter Grace Again ....

Here's another card made with the very cute 'Easter Grace' image from DigiStamp Boutique.  My main backing paper is from Craft Creations and I've also used a left over strip from My Minds Eye.  The flowers are Craftwork Cards colouring with Promarkers to match my coloured design.

Card Recipe

Image - Easter Grace from DigiStamp Boutique

Sentiment - Penny Black

Papers - Craft Creations and My Minds Eye

Flowers - Craftwork Cards

Pink Card

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

DigiStamp Boutique - April Customer Competition

I Love Promarkers - 'Easter'

Sarah Hurley Challenge - 'Easter'

Pollycraft Monday Challenge - 'Easter'

Craft Us Crazy - 'Happy Easter'

Another Christmas Card ....

It seems very strange to be making Christmas cards when the weather is so warm but I'm sticking to my resolution to keep making them throughout the year!  This one was made using one of my favourite Christmas stamps by Whiff of Joy - I've had it for a couple of years now and I still love it.

Card Recipe

Stamp - Whiff of Joy

Paper - Kanban

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Silver paper and nail head gems

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

ABC Christmas - 'G is for Girlie' (using pink, purple and silver

Crafty Hazlenut's Christmas Challenge - 'circles'

Take Time .....

I made this card for the latest challenge on Less is More - a one layer card with the focus on the sentiment.  I used on of my oldest and most used Hero Arts sentiment stamps - it's perfect for so many occasions.  The two little birds are from the Pink Petticoat set which come free on the latest copy of 'Simply Cards and Papercraft' - they are gorgeous and stamp out really well.

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

Pollycraft Monday - 'old stamp'

Allsorts Challenge - 'anything but square'

Saturday Challenge - 'our feathered friends'

Final Preview!

Today's cards are from one of the 'Room With a View' sets by Little Claire Designs which will be launched tomorrow morning on Create & Craft at 11.00am.  This one is the 'Flower Shop' set and for my first card I've used the shop window design and the 'shop inside' directly underneath - the view above is the card 'closed' and underneath, the card is open.

My second card was made using the other part of the set and I added a 'get well' sentiment to it - this stamp is perfect for a quick but still very pretty card.

Another Preview!

This card was made with one of the new 'Room With a View' sets from Little Claire Designs which will be launched on Create & Craft on Thursday this week.  This one is the 'Bistro' set and I've made this first card using the main 'outside' image and then used 'inside' image as the 'stopper' on my easel card.  My paper is from the Dovecraft 'Sugar and Spice' collection.

This tree image is also on the sheet and I thought it worked really well as a card by itself - quick and simple to colour and it could be used for lots of different occasions.  Again my paper is from Dovecraft - this time the 'Back to Basics' pack.

Flowers and more flowers!

Last one for today!  A quick card made with one of the Bella images from DigiStamp Boutique and more paper that I've had for years - this one is from Paper Adventures.  The sentiment stamp is one of my favourites from Hero Arts.

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

Saturday Challenge - 'butterflies'

Allsorts Challenge Blog - 'blooming blossoms'

Dream Valley Challenges - 'things with wings'

Paper Sundaes - 'spring blossoms'

DigiStamp Boutique - 'April Customer Competition' 

Spikey Flowers - Sneak Peek!

 Little Claire Designs will be on Create & Craft again this Thursday (7 April) at 11am to launch more great stamp sets.  One of the sets will be the owl set which is the current club set and there will also be two more of the 'Room With a View' sets - previews to follow in the next few days!  The fourth set is called 'Spikey Flowers' and I've used this one today to make two cards - I think the designs really suit the current 'clean and simple' trend and I've kept both my cards very simple.  The set includes both floral images I've used plus the sentiment. 

For my first card, I stamped the larger image and layered it on to red card and then stamped the sentiment direct on the base card.  I've added some red nail head gems to finish it off.

For my second card I stamped on to the card base (I'm getting better at doing this!) putting the smaller design in two corners and the sentiment in the middle.  Again I've finished the card with some red nail head gems.

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

Less is More - 'a touch of red'

Creative Cottage Challenge - 'white/blank spaces'

Easter Grace

This little character is Easter Grace from DigiStamp Boutique - a very cute image complete with a chick and Easter eggs in her basket.  The paper I've used is some I've had for a couple of years and I only had half of the sheet left - the bit with the maker's name is missing.  I've added some ribbon from Meiflowers and some pink gems to finish the card.

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

Corrosive Challenge Blog - 'pastel colours'

By the Cute and Girly - 'cute and girly'

Digi-Stamp Boutique - 'April Customer Competition'

OSAAT - Something 3D - Guest DT Card

I'm a Guest DT member at the One Stitch at a Time challenge blog today for their latest challenge which is 'Something 3D'.  All the details of the challenge together with the rest of the cards can be found here.

The image I've used is from Stitchy Bear Stamps and I've used 'Rosie the Cheerleader' from JLJ Designs which is available here.

Card Recipe

Image - Rosie the Cheerleader - JLJ Designs

Paper - Craft Creations

Greeting - Craftwork Cards

Brown card

I'd like to enter my card in the current Ellephantastic challenge which is 'anything but square or rectangle'.

Happy Mothers Day

This is the card I've made for my Mum for tomorrow - she loves flowers and she also likes the 'clean and simple' style so hopefully she'll like this card!  I've used one of the flower digi stamps from DigiStamp Boutique called 'quirky flowers' and teamed it with some paper from Dovecraft and some purple card and gems

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

Digistamp Boutique April Customer Competition 

Stamp Something - 'April Digi Day'

One Stop Craft Challenge - 'spots and dots'

Little Claire Challenge 4 - Spring Celebrations

Our fourth challenge on the Little Claire Blog starts today and the theme is 'Spring Celebrations' - you can see all the details here and also see who won the last challenge.  My card has been made using the 'Duckmum' stamp set which is available here.  I die cut my base card and then used the main image from the set on the top of the card and the little basked of eggs as the 'stopper' for my easel.  The sentiment is computer generated.

Card Recipe

Stamps - Duckmum set from Little Claire Designs

Paper - Craft Creations

Green card

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

A Spoonful of Sugar - 'Easter'

Sweet Stamps - 'Easter'

Let's Ink it Up - 'Easter Creations'

Anytime is the Right Time .....

The new club set for April from Little Claire Designs has been released today and it's a very cute set of owls which is now available here.  This is one of the cards I've made with the stamps and it's featured on the leaflets sent out to club members this month.

Card Recipe

Image - Little Claire Designs

Paper - V&A Hanoverian Collection by Do-Crafts

Brown and pink card

Peel offs

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

Crafty Purple Frog - 'anything but square'

Fun at Fairy Knoll - 'whatever'