Wednesday, 30 June 2010

Sneak Peek & Some News


Evening peeps!! I hope you are all well & enjoying this amazing weather. I thought I would tease you tonight with a sneak peek of tomorrows card. So here it is......



Tomorrow I will also have some news for you........so don't forget to stop by xx Clare x

Monday, 28 June 2010

Incy Wincy Challenge#48- Things With Wings




Hello Peeps!! I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I am not going to dwell on the footie as I had a lovely weekend away & I want to stay in a happy mood.

This week's challenge over at Incy Wincy Designs should have you all chomping at the bit as we want to see all your fab creations that have wings!!! If you want something new to play with & want to give some money to charity why not pop over to the Aspire to Thrive store & purchase a new image. All proceeds go to charity!!!


We are sponsored this week by Paper Jewels & they are giving you a massive $15 gift certificate.

Right I know a lot of you are finding this weather too hot so here is a Xmas card to cool you all down.



I have used this gorgeous little 3d penguin & tried to keep a snowflake theme running through my papers. Here is a closer look at the penguin



I didn't have time to get the inside decorated before I went away but I will add it when it's done. xx Clare x

Challenges I have entered.......

Sketch.......Challenge#55.......Sweet Sketch Wednesday
Theme.......Layers......Lexi's Creations

Papers : HOTP
Image : 3d Penguin from Aspire to Thrive
Snowflake & Ribbons :Stash

Sunday, 27 June 2010

OSAAT#19 - Stars & Stripes

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all well. Unfortunately this is yet another scheduled post as Hubby & I should be enjoying our 1st weekend away together for about 4 years. I am not quite sure where we will be when this schedules but I know at 3pm I will be in front of a TV Screen somewhere cheering our lads on against Germany!!!

Right onto the challenge. We are sponsored this week by the Store so you will be getting the chance to win some fab digis again. The challenge is for you to use Stars &/or Stripes on your card to celebrate Independance Day in America.

I got to use this fab biker chick image from the lovely Lexi this week & I know this gal is going to get a fair bit of use. I coloured her with Copics following the sketch over at Pear Tree Designs. T give the jacket a bit of a studded look I used Liquid Pearls. Here is a closer look at the image

I am so pleased with the shadow effect that I created behind the image & think I may do this again with some of my images.

I decorated the inside of the card using a black & white image & adding some more of the paper used on the front xx Clare x

Challenges I have entered.......

Sketch.......Challenge#5.......Pear Tree Designs
Theme.......Inside Out.......Pixie Cottage
Theme.......Let's Go Digital.......Crafty Catz

Papers : From my Store
Image :Biker Chick Chloe by Lexi's Creations
Liquid Pearls : Pewter
Sentiment : From my Store
Gems : Stash

Pens Used :
Copics : 0, 100, B24, C-3, E00, E29, E37, R20

Friday, 25 June 2010

New Awards

Thank you all for sticking by me & supporting me while I try & blog. I know occassionally my blogging goes a bit awol & getting round to comment on your blogs sometimes doesn't happen but I can say I have made some great friends.

Two of my friends have decided that I deserve a couple of Awards & I have to say that this makes me really chuffed, so thank you both.

Here is my award from Helen

I have to pass this award on to 10 blogger friends so I pass this on to.....

Brenda
Shell
Doreen
Sarah A
Tracy
Lori
Karen
Ildiko
Susan
Cheryl


The 2nd award I got from my friend Ildiko. Thank you sweetie......

Here are the rules:
Post the award on your blog and tell 6 outrageous lies and 1 truth about yourself, or switch it to the other way round..

So here we go......

1. I am a gorgeous size 10 brunette
2. I live in a 4 bedroomed house with a seaview
3. I have the most amazing husband who I wouldn't swap for the world
4. I love spending time cooking
5. My house is completely spotless 24/7
6. I have found this really easy to do
7. I always save money to spend on a rainy day


So which one is the truth...mmmm I wonder lol!!!!

Right I know have to pass this award on to 7 of my buddies

Sam
Helen
Viv
Jacque
Debbi
Tammy T
Debbie

Hope you all have a fab day & a lovely weekend xx Clare x

Thursday, 24 June 2010

MAWTT Birthday Blog Hop

Wow can you believe it we are 1 today!!! Can't believe how quickly the year has gone by. I also can't believe what great sponsors & DT members are on board with us now xx

I personally am not taking part in the hop this time as I have put up the brilliant prizes that you can win, but I do have my creation to show you which is part of the prize. So here it is....

To be in with a chance of winning the prize you will need to create something other than a card. So I have created a cute little money jar as part of the prize you can win. You will have to pop over to the main blog to see the rest of the prizes. I have altered a coffee jar using a mixture of paper, flowers, embellies, braiding & peel offs.

Now you have seen what I have created make sure you pop over to the blogs of the other DT members who have their own little candies that they are offering you. xx Clare x

Challenges I have entered.......

Theme......X is for Xtra Dimension.......ABC Challenge
Theme.......Reuse, Renew, Recycle.......Cute Card Thursday
Theme.......Monochromatic & Wings.......Fussy & Fancy
Theme....... Something Old....... Lexi's Creations
Theme.......Sugar & Spice.......Totally Gorjuss

Papers : Café Creme Digital Set by Crafty Chaos Designs
Image : Gorjuss Girl Diecut Decoupage Set (email me for details)
Embellies, Flowers, Braids, Peel Offs : From my Stash

Tuesday, 22 June 2010

Wedding Card

Hi Everyone

Here is a new card that I have created using the brilliant new cd from Tracy at Craftycat. There are over 50 pages for you to play with on the cd so make sure you pop over & have a look. Here is what I created

I have used the Wedding cake page from the cd for the front of the card. I added some white roses that I coloured blue using my Copics. Then I added some Ice Stickles to give them a bit of Glitz. Here is a closer look at the image.

On the inside of the card I used the Bluebirds page & the banner. I think it would be nice to add names or a date to the banner.

Check out my sidebar about some exciting news happening over at MAWTT on Thursday xx Clare x

Have added my card to the following challenges......

Theme.......Wedding.......Creative Craft World

Papers : DCWV - The Linen Closet
Images : From the Wedding Cd by Craftycat
Flowers & Ribbon : From my Stash
Stickles : Iced Diamonds

Pens Used :
Copics : Frost Blue

Monday, 21 June 2010

Incy Wincy Challenge#47- Music

Morning Everyone. I hope you all had a better weekend than me. But let's not dwell on that. I have woken to a glorious sunny morning & whats better is Wimbledon starts today.

Incy Wincy Designs have a fab challenge for you - Music. You can create a card using anything that has a connection to Music, & the DT had great fun with the theme.

I decided to create an Easel card using an image from the Aspire to Thrive store. I combined this with a scroll that I acquired from Stitchy at Stitchy Bear Stamps. The sentiment has been made using 2 different sentiment stickers from an old set that I found in a drawer. I took the sentiment off one & stuck it to the backing of another.

I have loads of catching up to do this week & a couple of DTs that I am thinking of trying out for so there may be a few posts this week. Don't forget you have until Sunday to enter this challenge xx Clare x

Challenges I have entered.......

Theme......Weddings/Anniversary.......Secret Crafter
Theme.......Something Old.......Lexi's Creations

Papers : Papermania - Simply Elegant, DCWV - The Linen Closet, Music from Stash
Images : Rose - MHS 56, The Scroll - The Graduation Pack
Ribbon, Flower & Sentiment - From my Stash

Thursday, 17 June 2010

MAWTT#51- Hazel's Sketch & New DT

Good Morning from a very sunny Essex this morning. This week over at MAWTT is Hazel's week & we are very excited to be showcasing the cards from our new DT girlies, Lisa, Brenda & Shell. Please pop over to the blog & give them a warm hello.

Hazel has put up the prize this week & it's a great set of stamps. I had chance to play with some new stamps when I made my card up this week. They are a great range of stamps called Bombshell Stamps. Here is my card....

I just love this image & I think it will go down a storm at the Bike show I am doing this weekend. I have coloured using mainly Promarkers but there are a couple of Copics used too. Here is a closer look at the image

As I had this card in mind for a man, & a biker at that I wanted to decorate the inside but keep it fairly simple so I have used the 2 main papers from the outside & just added the gems in the corner of the journal square.

I am hoping to get a couple of cards scheduled over the weekend so make sure you check back xx Clare x

Challenges I have entered.......

Theme........Cards For Men........Crafty Cardmakers
Theme........Father's Day........Cards For Men
Theme........Father's Day.......Pear Tree Designs
Theme.......Something for a Male/Father's Day........Magical Crafts
Theme.......Friends & Family.......Crafts And Me

I have just discovered that I can also enter this challenge at
Theme.......Something Old, Something New..... .......By the Cute & Girly

Papers : Papermania - Simply Elegant, DCWV-The Linen Closet, Bo Bunny - Back To Back's
Image : Man's Ruin by Bombshell Stamps
Gems & Sentiment : From my Stash

Pens Used :
Promarkers : Apricot, Blush, Cardinal Red, Chestnut, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Cool Grey 1Dusky Pink, Gold, Ivory, Saffron, Satin, Tan, Vanilla
Copics : R29

Wednesday, 16 June 2010

Winner of my Dragon Card

I don't know if you remember but I made a Smookie card for challenge#49 over at MAWTT at the beginning of the month but when I posted the card I realised I had coloured something wrong on it. Well the person who guessed correctly was Marianne. So if you could email me your addy hun I will send the card of to you & maybe a couple of other little goodies too xx

Clare xx

Monday, 14 June 2010

OSAAT#17 - Celebrations

Hi Everyone

You would not believe how busy I have been over the past few days. I had a 2 day show this weekend & this morning I have been busy catching up on the dreaded & all my emails. Then I had my Dad come & visit me for lunch which was great as he has just been away visiting my brother in Australia for a couple of weeks. I have finally had time to sit down & get my card blogged for the OSAAT challenge. I would have done it yesterday but if you read my email the other day you will have seen that my power supply went to computer heaven the other day so I had to wait for hubby to fix it.
Anyway enough of that. This weeks challenge is for you to create a project for a Celebration. It can be anything you like as long as ts something that can be celebrated. We are sponsored this week by Stitchy Bear Stamps & they have an extra special treat for you. If you create a card using one of their New Release Stamps you will receive a free image from that creator.....

The image is taken from Stitchy's New Graduate pack which is a great little pack which contains quite a few stamps including sentiments. I have coloured her with Promarkers. The sentiment stamp was coloured with Distress Inks. I am still trying to play with these so I think it will be a while before I get it right. xx Clare x

Challenges I have entered.......

Sketch.......Challenge#53......Sweet Sketch Wednesday
Theme.......Floral Delights.......A Spoon Full of Sugar

Papers : DCWV The Linen Closet
Image : The Graduate Pack by Stitchy
Flowers & Leaves: From Stock (Email for Details)
Sentiment : Cuddly Buddly
Ribbon : From Stash

Pens Used :
Promarkers : Blossom, Blush, Chestnut, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Cool Grey 1, Dusky Pink, Pastel Pink, Primrose, Satin, Soft Peach,
Copics :100
Whispers:Black
Distress Inks : Faded Jeans

Friday, 11 June 2010

MAWTT#50.....Clare's Farewell Sketch

Morning Everyone. I was hoping to get this post up last night but the power supply died on my lappy :-( So I am now having to use hubby's netbook....hoping it will support my camera.

This week over at MAWTT we have mixed emotions. We are all excited that we have reached challenge #50 & we have our 1st Blogversary coming up.....how time flies. But we are all really sad that we are losing our fab DT girly Clare W. As some of you maybe aware before we created MAWTT we were the Daisy & Dandelion blog & Clare was already on the team when I joined, so we are all going to miss her terribly.We have had a fantastic response to our DT call & it is going to take a few days for us to come to a decision so please bear with us...you will find out as soon as the choice is made xx

Right this week we are sponsored by Lilac Lemon Designs who create some really gorgeous stamps.
Clare has created a gorgeous sketch & here is the card I made using it

I have been trying to find an excuse to have a play with my new stock of Gorjuss Girl decoupage sheets so was thrilled when I saw that this image would fit the sketch perfectly. All I needed to do was add some ribbon which made it a fairly quick card to create. I have to say I have enjoyed making decoupage cards recently & it has been a nice break from stamping but I have missed spending time colouring the images. Here is a closer look at the image used

I made sure I followed the theme through to the inside of the card too. I have had so many comments over the last couple of weeks saying that the cards looked so much more finished with the inside of the card decorated too.

Before I disappear I just want to wish the lads out in South Africa good luck for the forthcoming World Cup & I will be supporting the boys all the way xx Clare x

Challenges I have entered.......

Theme........Anything But Square.........Cute Card Thursday

Papers : Gorjuss Girls Decoupage Kit, MME Pretty Please Spring Blooms
Image : Gorjuss Girls Decoupage Kit (Email me for details)
Ribbon : Hobbycraft

Wednesday, 9 June 2010

World Cup Weenicons

Oh Boy I am loving these little fellas. I don't have them listed on my website at the moment as we are in the middle of moving everything to the new website but I couldn't stop myself from having a play with these little fellas.

To begin with I have created an easel card using Bobby Charlton.

I have had these football papers since I first started cardmaking & I am now down to the final couple of pieces so I am hoping they will at least get me a couple more cards done.

Here is a closer look at the image. All the images are diecut so it saves me so much time. The second card I created was an A5 card using David Beckham.

As this is a larger image I decided to use the background sheets that came in the kit. I have left spaces on the card for it to be personalised at a later date. Here is the inside of the card using the other backing paper

The next card I made was again using one of the other small images & this time I created another easel card using Kevin Keegan

I found these fab football buttons that I had in stock & used them instead of brads to hold the cards open. Again here is a close up of the image.


Right don't forget you only have until 8pm tonight to enter the DT call over at MAWTT. I will be back tomorrow with this week's challenge card. We can't believe we have reached challenge 50 already xx Clare x

Challenges I have entered.......

Theme.......Father's Day.......Cards For Men
Theme.......More Than One Fold.......Totally Papercrafts

Papers : From Stash
Images : Weenicon's England Heroes (Email me for Details)
Embellishments : Dovecraft Buttons - Football
Sentiments : From Stash

Tuesday, 8 June 2010

Camper Van Easel Card

I have created another card for the CUP site today. I have again used a Camper Van as I love these vehicles. I am not sure if you are aware but the Camper Van celebrates it's 60th birthday this year.

I created a 4x4 Easel Card as I like the size of these. I just love the stripey paper that I have used as it gives a real funky feel. xx Clare x

Challenges I have entered.......
Theme.......Floral Delights........A Spoon Full of Sugar

Papers : MME Pretty Please
Image : Hippy Van by Lorraine Bush
Embellishments & Sentiment : From Stash

Monday, 7 June 2010

Incy Wincy Challenge#45- Paper Piecing

Hi Everyone

Hope you all had a fab weekend. I am in silly season at the moment so I apologise if the comments on your cards are a bit thin on the ground. I would like to say a big "Congratulations" to my Aunt & Uncle who were celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary this weekend. Thank you for all the get togethers you arranged for us all xx
Right my card is a little late for Incy Wincy Designs this week as I got a bit behind so it might not appear on their blog this week but I thought I would show it here as it is now finished. The challenge this week is to include some Paper Piecing on your card. The prize this week is for a $10 voucher to be spent at the Aspire To Thrive shop.

I chose this fun milkshake image from the ATTCC shop & I think I might finally be getting the hang of Paper Piecing. I used Crystal Lacquers on the glass, cherry & straw just to give them a bit of definition. Here is a closer look at the image

I also 3d'd the cherry & straw which makes the milkshake look a bit more lifelike. I am still getting used to the image not being straight up & down though as I do tend to like my images symmetrical (just ask hubby lol!!!)

I am still on my mission to make sure that I get all the insides of my cards decorated so I have taken parts of the sketch & used them on the insides of the card too.

Don't forget that I have a little challenge running on my MAWTT post as well as the DT call we are having. Will be back with some more cards this week I hope xx Clare x

Challenges I have entered......

Sketch....... Sketch with a Twist........Pear Tree Designs
Theme.......Least & Most.......Crafty Cardmakers (Least-Pink, Most-Blue)
Theme.......Here Comes Summer.......Stamping with the Dragon

Papers : DCWV The Linen Closet, Freebies from Magazines
Image : Milkshake by ATTCC
Flowers & Brad : From Stash
Sentiments : Freebies from Magazines

Pens Used :
Copics : R29, V12
Crystal Lacquers : Red & Pink

Sunday, 6 June 2010

OSAAT#16 - Boys to Men

Oh I hope Mr Blogger has been behaving as I should be on the M25 right now on my way home from family so keeping my fingers crossed that this is working. This week at OSAAT we have the lovely Angela & Jeri from Sewn Together sponsoring us. You get to choose 5 digis if you win the challenge this week.
I thought I would use this fab little image of the little boy dressing up in his Dad's clothes. It is such a sweet but precious image of childhood I think. I have coloured him in promarkers & based my layout on the sketch over at Sweet Sketch Wednesday although I haven't entered this week as I have not used the entire sketch. I have again used some of my new papers (scrummy) & added in some that I got from Marianne the other week in some candy. Here is a closer look at the image

I am trying to be good & decorate the inside of my cards as I go at the moment & I have spent the last week going through & doing the ones I had left.

I thought it would be fun to make a bit of a feature of the ties on the inside of my card.
I hope you will all find the time to join in with us this week & don't forget to visit the blogs of the other DT girls. I know they would appreciate a visit xx Clare x

Papers : The Linen Closet by DCWV, from Candy
Image : Owen Dressed in Dad's Clothes by Sewn Together

Pens Used :
Promarkers : Apricot, Blush, Burnt Umber, Cardinal Red, Chestnut, Cocoa, Cool Aqua, Cool Grey 1, Ivory, Olive Green, Pastel Blue, Pastel Pink, Pastel Yellow, Satin, Soft Peach, Vanilla,
Gel Pen : White

Thursday, 3 June 2010

MAWTT#49 - A DT Call

Good morning everyone. I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful sunshine today. Before I start my post about this week's challenge I feel I have to just say that my thoughts are with the families that were caught up in the terrible tragedy in West Cumbria yesterday.
Right this week's challenge is a sketch by me. I can't believe how quickly this has come round!! The prize this week is for 2 people to get a chance to join our DT. Unfortunately we are going to lose the lovely Clare in a couple of weeks so we need 2 of you lovelies out there to join us. If you interested pop over to the blog & find out what you need to do.Right here is the sketch that I created for the girls to work with this week & they came up trumps yet again. Don't forget to leave them comments when you see what they have created. Here is my card

I am so loving this card this week as I got hold of some gorgeous scrummy papers at the weekend & this is the 1st chance that I have had to play with them.

Here is a closer look at my image. Can you spot the mistake I have made? If you can I will put your name through to a draw & send you this card so don't forget to have a guess when you leave me a comment.

Here is the inside of the card. I have added an extra black & white image to the inside as I think he is adorable.

Don't forget you have until 8pm Weds 9th June to enter the challenge. Good Luck xx Clare x

Challenges I have entered..........

Theme....... Floral Delights.......Pear Tree Designs

Papers : The Linen Closet Stack by DCWV
Image : Smookie
Embellishments : Flowers from Stock (Please email me)
Stickles : Star Dust, Gold

Pens :
Promarkers : Blue Pearl, Blush, Cardinal Red, Cool Grey 1, Dusky Pink, Ivory, Marsh Green, Moss, Olive Green, Satin, Tan, Vanilla
Copics : 0-Blender