Happy Halloween!

Greetings to you all!!! I just thought I'd stop by to wish you a Happy Halloween! If you celebrate I hope you had a good one, if not then I hope you didn't get too many "pesky kids" knocking at your door!! I've had a fab day and I'd just like to share some of it with you.

Firstly, I've been super busy today, making cake pops which = an epic fail!! I'm not too sure what I did wrong but they didn't quite turn out how I'd envisaged. The kids enjoyed them, so I guess that was the main thing.

I also made some mini Jack 'o' Lanterns from some pumpkins or gourds that I found growing in my garden (I never planted them, and can only guess that they have grown from some compost that I threw around). I think I prefer them to the larger pumpkins, so will definitely be doing these next year.

My lovely daughter Ellie and her friends have been here since finishing school today getting ready for tonight's events! I couldn't understand why it had taken them s good two hours to appear, until I saw this. Don't they look fantastic!! We have Zombie Alice, Zombie Marilyn Monroe, Fallen Angel, Freaky Skull and Marilyn Manson.

Naturally the girls didn't want Zak tagging along, so we went trick or treating to Halloween friendly houses. He was dressed as a child catcher

So that's Halloween done and dusted for another year. I'm off to grab a glass of vino collapso and visit your blogs as I'm absolutely shattered!

Thanks for stopping by.

Claire xx

It's a Girl - Exploding Box

Just a quick post from me today to share an exploding box that I made for my friends' sister who has had a gorgeous baby girl. Warning - post is picture heavy (for me anyway) and I apologise in advance for the quality of the shots, but I had to take the pictures in artificial light :o(

This box took me slightly longer than it should've done, due to the fact that I had few "durrgghhhh" moments!!! Not least of which was losing concentration and failing to notice that the top yellow block had slid backwards by about 1/8" which then meant it overhung the back wall of the box. Obviously this meant that I couldn't close it properly, so I had to figure a way to move it without destroying it! Fortunately, my lovely decoupage snips held the answer and I managed to remove it with no visible damage to the blocks!

The box is a standard 3" square design which has been decorated with a selection of papers. The paper shoes have been taken from a template in an old magazine which I reduced down in size (each shoe measures approximately 1" in length). I drew a template for the paper cubes (I knew that there was a reason I did technical drawing all those years ago!!!). The chipboard letters have been covered with co-ordinating papers and then heat embossed with glitter powder, unfortunately my pictures make them look like they are darker than the rest of the papers, but they aren't, they're simply sparkly and glossy.

Materials
Pearlescent White Cardstock
Designer Papers from stash
Chipboard Letters - Woodware
Acetate
Stickles
Chipboard Shapes from stash
Ribbon from stash
Gems from stash

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Crafty Emma's - New Beginnings
Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes
The Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Scrapbook Sisters - Anything goes
Paper Pretties - Embellish
Crafty Ribbons - Bingo (Handmade embellishments (shoes/bricks), gems & ribbon)
Totally Papercrafts - Glitter

Delicious Doodles Challenge - Good vs Evil!!

Finally I managed to make it for a Delicious Doodles Challenge! I haven't joined the girls for so long it's a wonder that they haven't booted me from the team! Since I last played along with them there have been a few changes, not least of which is that we are now fortnightly which gives you oodles of time to make something and join in the fun. Full rules can be found on the blog.

This time the challenge is nice easy one Saintly Good stuff, or Ghostly Evil stuff. We are celebrating two festivals Halloween on 31st October and All Saints Day on 1st November. You get to choose which theme to follow, or you could combine them both, it's up to you!! I decided that I go with darkside this time and have made a fun invite for some friends that will (hopefully) be coming to dinner on Halloween. So what do you think of it? Would it tempt you to join me??

I made a simple stepper card out of acetate and then used a plethora of images from the Delicious Doodles shop. The images have been coloured with Promarkers and Distress Inks. I've added Stickles to the wings, moon and decoupaged slopes. The iron railings have been heat embossed and then cut out (I would've stamped them directly onto the acetate, but discovered at the last minute that I'd run out of heat resistant acetate). The "Join Us" sentiment has been made using my Dymo label maker and acetate, coloured with Promarkers.

Before I go, I'd just like to thank everyone who has voted for me over at Sweet Pea Stamps - I really do appreciate it. If you haven't yet voted and would like to do so, please follow the link .


Have a fab weekend - I'm hoping to get some serious crafting done and may even be back on Sunday with another project that I've been working on.


Claire xxx

Materials
Images -  Gravestone Scene, The Grim Reaper, Vampyress, Spooky Haunted House
Railings & Bats - Martha Stewart Halloween Set
Heat It Up Silver Embossing Powder
Promarkers
Stickles - Stardust
Distress Inks
Acetate
Tools - Heat gun, Martha Stewart Scoreboard, Purple Cows Guillotine, Tim Holtz Blender, Dymo Label Maker

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafty Purple Frog - Sparkle
Divas by Design - Spooky
I Brake For Challenges - Halloween
The Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Sisterhood of Crafters - Halloween

I need your vote - please!

Good Evening Folks

I'm after a huge favour from you all. I recently entered the Sweet Pea Stampers Card Making Superstar Contest and am thrilled to have been shortlisted in the top 5. The contest is now open to the public vote and I really, really need your votes. If you can spare a couple of minutes to vote I'd be really grateful.

My card is the second one down and here's the link to the poll.

I'll be back in the morning with my Delicious Doodles challenge card.

Thanks for stopping by
Claire x

Halloween Bird House

I thought I'd show you yet another of the birdhouses that I've been playing with. This time it's a Halloween one and I have to say I'm really pleased with the way this one came out even though my picture really doesn't do it justice.

I painted the house with black acrylic paint and then gave it a generous spritz of Twilight Black Cosmic Shimmer, popped on some stickers that I think came from Poundland, stamped a silver spiders web from my new Martha Stewert Holiday Set, added some black ribbon and that was it - finished.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Crafty Boots - Autumn or Halloween
Hooked on Crafts - Something Spooky
Dream Valley Challenges - Halloween
The Crafty Pad - Halloween
Allsorts - Halloween
Craft Your Days Away - Halloween Colours
Marks Finest Papers - Altered Item

Katerina Koukiotiss Halloween Magic!

Good morning folks. I've finally managed to sit for long enough to colour up an image and make a card for this fortnights Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge. The theme is "Scary", so we want to see your Halloween creations using Sweet Pea stamps.

The prize this time is two sweet pea stamps supplied by the lovely Lynette, and two gorgeous decoupage sheets

from the equally lovely Amy for the random winner!!!

I have to say I was itching to join the girls for this challenge as I'd got a new stamp that was begging to be inked up (plus I've been bored silly whilst convalescing)!!! Isn't she gorgeous??? I think she is now my favourite Sweet Pea!! Well until I ink up and colour the next new one and things could all change again :D

 Now I know that on first inspection my card  doesn't look scary, but take a closer look - loads of bats! Uurrggh - shudders!

Materials
Image  - Katerina Koukiotiss' Halloween Magic
Bats - Martha Stewart Halloween Stamps
Sentiment - Papermania Halloween Set
Promarkers - Satin, Sunkissed Pink, Blush, Amber, Honeycomb, Pumpkin, Caramel, Sandstone, Aubergine, Amethyst, Lilac, Black, Cool Grey 3,4,5.
Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw, Black Soot, Fired Brick, Forest Moss
Sizzix Pumpkin Die
X-Cut Botanics Ivy Leaf Punch
Glimmer Mist - Dazzling Diamonds
Sakura Gel Pen - Clear Star
Stickles - Black Soot, Stardust
Papers - Papermania Halloween
Green Leaf Ribbon - May Arts
Black Webbing Ribbon - white ribbon coloured with Promarkers

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Divas by Design - Something Spooky
Freshly Brewed - Black, Orange & Purple
I Brake For Challenges - Halloween
I ♥ ProMarkers - Cute
Inky Impressions - Halloween
Deep Ocean Challenge - Fall colours
Papertake Weekly - Spooky Hues
Pile It On - Fall Fun
Woodware USA - Anything Goes
Crafty Emma's - Autumn
In a Sweet Pea Dream - Anything Goes
Sweet Pea Stamps - Are You The Next Card Designing Superstar?

Hello :)

Have you missed me?? Well I know some of you have and I've missed all of you!! I can't believe how long it's been since I last blogged and can only apologise and say that I have had a couple of very good reasons not least of which was major surgery which has to be honest knocked me for six and left me unable to sit and craft for very long. However, I'm feeling heaps better and am crafting as and when I can.

So, my first project back is sadly a With Sympathy card. I never enjoy making these cards (to be honest who does?) and find them really stressful. I'm never sure if the recipient finds comfort in the cards or if they just serve as a reminder of their loss and adds to their grief! Also, I worry about using inappropriate images or verses. To try and avoid this minefield, I've  kept the card relatively clean and simple.

I made a gate fold card and embossed the front panels before swiping over with gold ink. The sentiment has been heat embossed as have the die cut swirls, the oval die cut has been embossed and then highlighted with gold ink.

Tools/Materials
Martha Stewart Scoreboard
Purple Cows Guillotine
Big Shot
Heat Gun
Sizzix Decorative Labels
Sizzix Swirls Embossing Folder
Mini Dots Embossing Folder (freebie from DoCrafts)
Stamp - Anita's (currently on bogof for 99p in The Range)
Heat It Up Embossing Powder  - Gold
Gold Ink

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
OSAAT - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays - Anything Goes
Marks Finest Papers - No Designer Papers