Mimosa Hello and a Blog Award ....

This is one of the two Bildmalarna (I can never spell that!) stamps that I have and it's called 'Mimosa Hello' - I thought it was perfect for making a spring card in the hope that we might actually get some more spring weather here this year!  

The paper I've used is from a Nitwits pack that was a give away with a recent magazine (lots of great patterns in it) and I've layered it with kraft paper.  I've added a bit of ink to the paper flowers to take the whiteness off them and used Adirondack Cool Peri ink round the edge of my die cut shape.

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

Paper Pretties Blog Challenge - 'use lots of layers'

I Love Promarkers - 'spring time'

One Stop Craft Challenge - 'pastel and die cuts'

The Crafty Pad - 'just die-licious'

Totally Papercrafts - 'bingo (flowers, lace, pink)'

Paper Sundaes - 'sundae bar - kraft, lace, die cuts'

Cupcake Craft Challenge - 'spring is in the air'

Crafty Sentiments Monthly Challenge - 'spring'

Crafty Sentiments Challenge - 'spring using pastel colours'

I've also received a blog award from the lovely Tracey and also from Crafty Nanny - thank you both!

 

Liebster is German for dearest, beloved or favourite. This award is bestowed on blogs with less than 200 followers who deserve more attention. Here are the rules that come with this award:

1. Link back to the person who gave it to you and thank them for thinking of you.

2. Post the award on your blog.

3. Give the award to 5 bloggers (with less than 200 followers) that you appreciate and value.

4. Leave a comment on the blogs of the give people you have chosen to let them know.

So here goes:

Carol from Carol's Crafty Corner 

Diane from Diane's Rambles 

Sharon aka The Little Stamper 

Gaynor from Gaynor's Cards 

Louise from Home is Where My Craft Room Is 

I could have picked a whole host more as there are so many gorgeous blogs out there.

 

New Challenge at The Squirrel and the Fox - Things With Wings

A brand new challenge has just been launched on The Squirrel and the Fox Challenge Blog and this time our theme is 'Things With Wings'.  For more details about the challenge and to see all the beautiful cards made by my fellow Design Team members, click here to go to the blog.

For this challenge we've been sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps

 

They're offering the lucky winner 7 digi stamps!

They also provided the Design Team with digi stamps for the challenge and I chose the very elegant 'Butterfly Border 6'.  I used some Cool Peri Adirondack Ink to colour the background on my card and then coloured the main image with Promarkers.  The sentiment is a peel off and I finished the card with some black Hobby House pearls.


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

Anything Goes Challenge - 'anything goes'
Papertake Weekly - 'anything goes'
Divas by Design - 'anything goes'
Crazy for Challenges - 'blue, white and brown' 
Catch the Bug Challenge - 'anything goes'

Birthday Drinkies ....

This is a card I made for one of my Mum's friends using a Ladybug Crafts stamp called 'Martini Nikki'.  There should be a little dog on a cushion at the bottom of the image but as my Mum's friend isn't a dog fan, I stamped it without this bit!

The patterned paper is from a Forever Friends pad and I've layered it with black paper and some Bazzill card.  I've added Card Candi coloured black and some gems from Kaisercraft.  The sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.

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

Anything Goes Challenge - 'anything goes'

Papertake Weekly - 'anything goes'

Divas by Design - 'anything goes'

Moving Along With the Times - 'va va voom'
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - 'clean and simple'
Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge - 'spots and stripes'

Sailor Elephant .....

I made this card using one of the Little Claire peel off stickers - they're very fine lined stickers (although still very sturdy when you take them off the sheet) and I think they look just as good as a stamped image once they've been coloured in.

For this card I used some pale blue gingham paper and a strip of blue embossed with my swiss dots embossing folder with some white Card Candi to finish it.

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

Alphabet Challenge - 'D is for dry embossing'

CES Challenges - 'no girls allowed'

Crafter's Companion - 'four legged friends'

Pollycraft Monday - 'water, water everywhere'
Charisma Cardz - 'chipboard or stickers'
My Mum's Craft Shop Challenge - 'animals'

Ice Skating Chloe ....

Another Christmas card today - I think I must be on a roll!  This one was made using the very cute 'Ice Skating Chloe' from Pink Gem - I've paper pieced her coat to match the backing paper.  The frame was cute a while ago with my lacey circle Nestabilities for another project but it didn't match and has been sitting in my 'bit box' waiting to be used!  I've layered the card with matching blue card and also some white to add extra layers and then finished with some Card Candi.

Some challenges for this card:

Sparkles Christmas Challenge - 'colour me happy' (blue and white)

The Poodles Parlour - 'going dotty'

A Gem of a Challenge - 'aquamarine'

Crafty Anne's Challenge Blog - 'Christmas in March'

Passion for Promarkers - 'whatever the weather'

Clear it Out Challenge - 'sport/leisure using up punched shapes'

The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog - 'pastels'

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - 'use your favourite tool - my Cuttlebug!'

Christmas Bambino

Another Christmas card today.  This one was made using one of the older Little Claire Christmas stamps but still one of my favourites - the very cute 'Bambino'.  I've also used one of the Christmas Text die cut sentiments from Little Claire - they're identical to the stamps but really handy when you want to add a sentiment quickly without stamping and die cutting!

The paper I've used is from Fizzy Moon and I've also used some green Bazzill and Card Candi coloured with a Pine Promarker.

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - 'F is for Furry Friends'

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 'get sentimental'

Sparkles Christmas Forum - 'colour me happy' (favourite colour combination of red and green)

Moving Along With the Times - 'cute and cuddly'

Crafty Ann's Challenge - 'Christmas in March'

Another Easter Card .....

Here's another Easter card - this one was made using a Digi Stamp Boutique image called 'Easter Grace' - isn't she sweet?  The egg background paper is from the Trimcraft 'Springdrop' pad and I've layered it up with two colours of pink card and a Craftwork Cards scalloped card blank.  The sentiment stamp I've used is from Penny Black.

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

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge Blog - 'Easter'

The Paper Shelter - 'Easter'

Cute Card Thursday - 'Happy Easter'

Sarah Hurley Challenge Blog - 'Easter'

Simply Create Too - 'eggs or bunnies'

Totally Papercrafts - 'Easter'

One Stop Craft Challenge - 'Easter'

Addicted to Stamps - 'spring/Easter'

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - 'spring or Easter'

Paper Sundaes - 'Happy Easter'
The Crafty Pad - 'it's egg-tastic'
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - 'Easter'

New from Little Claire - Oodles of Joie de Vivre!

This is 'Joie de Vivre' the brand new April club stamp which has just been launched on the Little Claire website here.  The main image is this gorgeous stamp of the lady with a dress made of flowers and flowers and butterflies all around her.  Also included is the circular sentiment with the definition of joie de vivre and the second sentiment 'to someone with oodles of joie de vivre'.

If you click on the link above to the website, you'll see lots of inspiration from my fellow design team members using the stamp - I think it's going to be a popular one!

My first card (above) is this month's project card for club members - I decided to use lilac and purple for a change but couldn't resist using pink for my second card:

Both cards use spotted paper from Little Claire and the second one also uses some kraft paper.

Some challenges for my cards:

Simon Says Stamp - 'anything goes'

The Poodles Parlour - 'going dotty'

Addicted to Stamps - 'spring'

That Craft Place - 'all about spring'

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - 'spring'
Shopping Our Stash - 'circles or dots'

Pearls and Lace

This is a card I made this afternoon using another gorgeous digi image from D'Arcy's Diaries - this one is called 'Dog Walkies'.  The paper is from Nitwits and is part of a pack that was free on a magazine - it's a really pretty pattern and a nice small scale too.  

I've added some lace and then a thin brown ribbon across the middle of the lace with some self adhesive pearls across the top.  The sentiment ticket is from Tim Holtz and I've finished the card with a paper flower shaded lightly with brown ink and another self adhesive pearl.

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

Simon Says Stamp - 'anything goes'

D'Arcy's Diaries - 'ribbons and lace'

Crafty Catz Challenge - 'use a digi'

You Are My Sunshine

This week it's my turn to host the weekly project on the Little Claire blog and I've made this hanging card using the 'Garden Set' plus one of the circular sentiments from the brand new 'Sunshine Sentiments' set.  You can find more details plus step by step instructions and photos on the Little Claire blog.

There's a bit of die cutting involved in the card but it's a simple structure and easy to put together.  I've kept it very simple with just some gingham paper and ribbon both of which are available from Little Claire on the shop website.

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

Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog - 'spring is in the air'

Sparkles Forum Challenge - 'mothers day or spring'

Sweet Stampin -'anything goes'

The Crazy Challenge - 'add a sentiment'

Fashionable Stamping Challenge - 'spring is in the air'

Divas by Design - 'stamp something'

Southern Girls Challenge - 'you got something you want to say?'
Crafts 4 Eternity - 'three of a kind'

Birdsong .....

It's been another amazingly warm day here today - it feels like summer is here already!  This is a card I made this morning using one of my new Nutcrafters stamps called 'Birdsong' - it's a really cute image and very easy to colour in.

The paper I've used is from Craft Creations and I've added some striped ribbon, Card Candi and a peel off greeting.

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

Nutcrafters Challenge - 'ready for summer'

Stampin for the Weekend - 'anything goes'

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - 'anything goes'

Paper Sundaes - 'spring blossoms'

 The Crazy Challenge - 'add a sentiment'

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - 'spring is in the air'

2 Sisters Challenge - 'spring is in the air'

Divas by Design - 'stamp something'

Little Claire Blog Candy!

Over on the Little Claire Blog we have just launched the first of our weekly blog candy giveaways!

The first giveaway is four great Little Claire stamps - 'Flossie and Daisychain', 'Flossie Butterflies,' 'In a While' and 'Babies Are Such a Nice Way .....' which are all great stamps.  You can also find some inspiration from the Design Team using the stamps on the blog.

If you'd like to take part, have a look at the Little Claire blog here for all the details.

New Challenge at The Squirrel and the Fox - Easter

A brand new challenge has just been launched on The Squirrel and the Fox challenge blog and this time we're looking for everyone's Easter creations - for more details and to see all the cards from my fellow Design Team members click here to have a look at the blog.

The challenge is sponsored by:

who are offering the lucky winner their own choice of five digital stamps.

They also provided the Design Team with images to use for the challenge and I chose 'Easter Egg' which I really love - it's so easy to colour in!

I've teamed it up with some pastel pink and blue gingham paper, some kraft paper and some pastel blue ribbon - lots of layers but a simple lay out.

Some challenges for my card:

Dream Valley Challenges - 'Easter'

Lexi's Creations - 'Easter'

Sweet Stamps Challenge Blog - 'Easter'

Anything Goes Challenge Blog - 'get ready for Easter'

DYSU - 'plaid'

Moving Along With the Times - 'Easter wishes'

Clear It Out Challenge - 'Easter plus use up your pastel papers'

Another Birthday Card ....

This is another of the cards I made for my Dad's birthday last weekend - this time with a football theme which is one of his great interests!

I used a digi stamp from Pink Gem called 'Football Teddy' and kept the card nice and simple with some red card and black and white paper.  The sentiment is from Craftwork Cards and I coloured the Card Candi with my black Promarker.

A few challenges for this card:

The Stamping Boutique - 'clean and simple'

Passion for Promarkers - 'animals'

Crafty Purple Frog - 'anything goes'

Cute Card Thursday - 'anything goes'

Ever So Lovely .....

Today's card was made using one of the gorgeous Little Claire peel offs - this one is the peel off version of the 'Ever So Lovely' stamp and it has to be one of my favourite peel off designs.

I've coloured the design with Promarkers and then layered it with kraft and pale green spotted paper.  The little word 'spring' is computer generated.

Some challenges for this card:

Paper Creations Ink - 'things with wings'

The Crazy Challenge - 'go green'

 Crafts and Me Challenge - 'light, airy spring colours'

A Couple of Flossies ....

Today I'm sharing two cards I designed for the Little Claire breakfast workshops at the GNPE in Harrogate last weekend.  

The first one (above) is an easel card made with one of the new Flossie die cuts.  I've used some blue card and patterned paper, a die cut sentiment, ribbon and a couple of self adhesive gems - nice and simple!

This second card is a stamped one made with the 'Flossie and Birds' stamp plus the versatile and very useful 'Georgina's Buttons and Stitching Stamp Set'.  I created a patchwork pattern using four squares of gingham paper and then used the cross stitch stamp across the joins between the squares.  The buttons are stamped and coloured and then I finished the card off with a die cut tag sentiment and some Card Candi.

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

The Poodles Parlour - 'anything goes'

Pollycraft Monday - 'check it out' (second card)

Shopping Our Stash - 'buttons and/or bows'

Birthday Ties .....

It was my Dad's birthday on Sunday and this is the card I made for my Mum to give to him - he always wears a tie and he likes wearing purple too so this was the ideal card for him!

The image is from the Little Claire 'Oh Man' set - I've decoupaged two of the ties and just used some black and purple paper as layers.  The greeting is a peel off.

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

The Paper Shelter - 'for the boys'

Totally Papercrafts - 'male card'

Allsorts Challenge Blog 'three in row'

Crafting When We Can - 'one for the boys'

The Stamping Boutique - 'clean and simple'