On Tiptoes ......

I love the LOTV fairy image stamps include this little cutie which is called 'On Tiptoes'.  I don't usually do glitter or sparkle but I did manage to use some Stickles on her wings and also on the Card Candy I used at the top corners of the card - I coloured it first with a tan Promarker to match the image.  At the bottom of the card I used a piece of lace and put some ribbon along the top edge - something I've not done before with ribbon and lace.  The ribbon is some of the oldest in my store and dates back to pre-Promarker days when everything I made was brown!!

Here's a close up of the ribbon and lace - I also added some pink pearls to the lace:

The pink paper I used is from a pad that was free on the front of one of the magazines earlier this month.

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

Shopping Our Stash - 'ribbon rewind'

Divas by Design - 'one for the girls' (second entry)

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - 'cute and cuddly'

Lili of the Valley - 'I believe in fairies'

My Mum's Craft Shop - 'favourite colours' (second entry - pink and brown again!)

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - 'lace'

Totally Papercrafts - 'pink and girlie' (second entry)

Allsorts Challenge - 'things with wings'

Dream a Little Dream .....

This card is made with the 'Dream a Little Dream' stamp from Little Claire Designs which is a beautiful little stamp and another easy one to colour!  I've used some backing paper from Kanban and also some Card Candy and two paper flowers (stuck together) from Craftwork Cards.  Both the flower and Card Candy were coloured with Promarkers to match my design and colour scheme.

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

My Mum's Craft Shop - 'favourite colours' (brown and pink)

Divas by Design - 'one for the girls'

Totally Papercrafts - 'pink and girlie'

Cards for Men - Challenge 11

I needed to make a birthday card for my uncle today and decided this image was perfect!  It's part of a set called 'Made for Men' from Little Claire Designs and I kept the card very simple - I just matted the image on to a scalloped square and added some peel off dots.  The sentiment is also in the same set.

I'd like to enter the card in the current challenge on the Cards for Men which is to make a card without using design paper.

My First Teddy Bo Card!

I've been looking at the Teddy Bo stamp designs for a little while but finally gave in last weekend and treated myself to three digi images!  This is my first card made with one of the images - I've used papers from an Anita's pad of mixed designs and sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

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

I Love Promarkers - 'animals' (second entry)

Moving Along With the Times - I've followed the sketch

Teddy Bo Challenge - 'Teddy Bo Only'

CAS Flower

This card was made with the 'Single Flower' stamp from Little Claire Designs.  I coloured it with Promarkers and then die cut the main design in to an oval with a contrasting oval underneath.

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

Fun at Fairy Knoll - 'flowers'

Alphabet Challenge Blog - 'C is for clean and simple'

Small Dreams ....

For this card I've gone back to two old favourites - the main stamp and also the technique I used to stamp and colour the butterflies.  The stamp is from Hampton Art - it has four butterfly designs on it and I've used two of them.  The sentiment stamp is a Hero Arts one.  I stamped the butterflies in Versamark and then used lilac chalk over the top - I used to do this a lot before I discovered the wonders of Promarkers!

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

A Spoonful of Sugar - 'things with wings'

Papertake Weekly - 'pale, pretty pastels'

Less is More - 'butterflies'

Little Claire Designs - Competition!

There is a competition running on the Little Claire Designs blog here until Thursday 26 May.  Take a look at the cards posted there (including my hedgehog one above!) and leave a comment saying which two cards are your favourites and why.  A winner will be chosen at random and will win the stamps used on the cards they have chosen.

The Great Outdoors - Another Sneak Peek!

Here's another preview of a new set of stamps called 'The Great Outdoors' which will be launched on the Little Claire website next week.  I've used two of the images from the set on this card - the main image of the walker reading a map and also the boots - as well as the sentiment.  My background paper is from an old atlas!

On this second card I've used the walker again and also the signpost - I've put a peel off greeting on it!  The paper this time is from Dovecraft.

There is also a compass and tent on the stamp sheet and the set will be on the website next week.  But if you can't wait until then, you can phone Little Claire on 0151 342 5715 and buy them before them.  If you mention my blog, you will also receive a free gift!

I'd like to enter these cards in the current 'anything goes' chalenge at One Stitch at a Time.

Sneak Peek - Room With a View Four Seasons

Two new stamp sets will be launched by Little Claire Designs next week and today I'm giving you a sneak peek at one of them which is called 'Four Seasons' and is part of the 'Room with a View' range.  The set is made up of the main window design, four 'views' with one for each season and some words which are designed to fit perfectly within the cushion in front of the window.  The set will be available online next week but if you want to order in advance, please phone 0151 342 5715.  If you mention my blog when you phone, you'll also get a free gift!

For this first spring card, I've used some Craft Creations gingham paper (yes, again!) and paper pieced the curtains to match the backing.  The words on the little cushion are 'Happy Easter'.

And here is the card open:

Next is my summer card:

For this one I've used some DoCrafts paper and the wording on the cushion this time is 'A Place in the Sun'.

And here is the card open:

I'd like to enter these cards in the 'anything goes' challenge at A Spoonful of Sugar.

Autumn and Winter to follow in the next post!

Sneak Peek - Room With a View Four Seasons

And here are the next two cards - autumn and winter.  As before, I have paper pieced the curtains on each card to match the backing paper.  For the autumn card I used paper from the DoCrafts Hanoverian collection with pearl beige and brown card - the little message on the cushion on this one is 'Home Sweet Home'.

And here is the card open:

This is the winter card closed:

For this one I've used dotty paper from Craft Creations and the message on the little cushion this time is 'Merry Christmas'.

And here is the card open:

I'd like to enter these two cards in the 'anything goes' challenge at One Stitch at a Time - my second entry.

Spikey Flowers - Sale!

There's a very quick sale on at Little Claire Designs - the 'Spikey Flowers' set is on special offer at £3.50 instead of the normal price of £7.50 but only until 4.00pm tomorrow (Friday) or while stocks last - full details here.  This is one of my cards made with the set - those are little black peel off dots round the circle which took a bit of work!!

Georgia

This card was made with the Georgia image which is part of the 'Girlies' brown and gold peel off sheet available from Little Claire Designs here.  I've coloured the peel off image with Promarkers and then used some K&Company paper layered with brown and gold and some Prima flowers.  The little floral design on the ribbon is part of the same sheet.

I'd like to enter this card in the current 'anything goes' challenge at One Stitch at a Time.

I Love Promarkers - Animals

The current challenge at I Love Promarkers is 'animals' so I thought I'd enter one of the cards I made recently with some of the new brown and gold peel offs from Little Claire Designs.  The peel offs on this card come from the 'Lots of Fun' sheet which is available here - I've used one of the main images, the boat border and one of the sentiments.

I've coloured my image with Promarkers, die cut it in to an oval and then used some Dovecraft paper and some coloured card.

In the Garden

For this card I've used a stamp called 'Georgia' from Little Claire Designs.  I used Go Kreate dies round the image and for the pink layer underneath and also for the green layer on the base of the easel.  The papers are from DCWV - I've paper pieced the dress using some of the green paper.  The circular sentiment is also from Little Claire and is available as part of a set here.  I've also added some pink pearls on the base.

Here's a close up of the sentiment panel:

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

Papertake Weekly - 'bloom and grow'

Craft Your Passion - 'cutie patootie'

Cupcake Craft - 'in the garden'

Lexi's Creations - 'spots and/or stripes'

Anything Goes Challenge Blog - 'bingo' - I've used paper piecing, flowers and pearls

Christmas Shopping!

Don't panic - it's not quite time yet for Christmas shopping although I am sure there are some people who will already have started!! 

This is my card for two of the current Christmas challenges - Winter Wonderland where the theme is 'Christmas presents' and Bah! Humbug! where the theme is snowflakes.  For my card I've used a stamp from Wild Rose Studio, papers from DoCrafts and a sentiment and card candy from Craftwork Cards.

Less is More - Single Layer Card with Embossing

This week's theme on the Less is More challenge blog is embossing and here's my card.  Now, you might be asking where the embossing is so here's a close up of the three panels which hopefully shows it a bit more clearly!

I've stamped the sentiment with a Hobby Art stamp and then added two cupcakes from a DoCraft set.  The little boxes are embossed and were done of one of my embossing boards which has various shapes on it.  The stamping is also embossed - I stamped in black Versafine and then embossed with detailed clear powder.

I'd also like to enter the card in the 'embossing' challenge at Crafty Cardmakers.

A Tiny Little Birthday Wish ....

Here's a circular easel birthday card made with one stamps from the Little Claire 'Messing About on the River' stamp set available here together with one of the new circular sentiment stamps available here and a sheet of paper from the gorgeous 'Hideaway' paper pad available here. The paper is actually glittered although, as always, it doesn't show up on my photo.  I've also used some little paper flowers which I coloured with the pink carnation Promarker to match the coloured design.

This is a close up of the sentiment:

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

Totally Gorjuss - 'not square'

Corrosive Challenge Blog - 'birthdays'

Pear Tree Designs - 'stamped images'

Sweet Stamps - 'birthday card'

Paper Sundaes - 'happy birthday'

Little Claire Designs Challenge 7 - Sparkle!

The latest challenge on the Little Claire Designs blog was launched yesterday and you can find all the details (as well as the winners of the previous challenge) here.  There are some gorgeous DT cards on there so please go and take a look.  There's a photo of the prize for the current challenge above and if you look carefully, you can see my easel bicycle card on the top right of the picture on one of the leaflets sent out with the bicycle set to club members!

Ooh La La!

I've had a very busy but very enjoyable weekend!  Yesterday I was at the stamp show at Port Sunlight for some retail therapy although I have to say I was quite restrained this time and didn't buy that much for a change!!  Today I've been to a workshop hosted by Aly and Roy from Dimension Fourth who have an amazing range of stamps covering all types of different styles and occasions.  One of the projects we did (and definitely my favourite of the day) was to make a clock - you can see a photo of mine above.  It now has a battery in and is ticking away perfectly. 

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!)