Peek-a-Boo Bunny Bunting And A Candy Overload!!! Dontcha Know It's Easter and We're Hopping!!!!

Boo!!! Yep it's me again with my second post of the morning. This time it's to show you my Easter bunting and tell you about this weeks challenge over on the Polka Doodles Blog which is........ EASTER :D You may want to grab a coffee and some cake as this is an uber long post with more than it's fair share of piccies ;D

If you're taking part in the Polka Doodles Blog Hop then you should've arrived here from Ruth's blog.

The bunting was made using pre-cut flags which have simply been covered with some yummy papers from the new Polka Doodles CD Sugarplum Daisy.

 I used the letters from the word book Template on the Candy Doodles Collectors Edition.

To give them some depth and dimension I ran an embossing tool around the edges and then added some Glossy Accents.

 The bunnies are also from the Sugarplum Daisy CD

 I've simply flipped them around in a graphics programme to get them facing in different directions.

Then they've been cut so that they are peeking out from behind the letters.

Anyway, if you're still here, I think I'd better get onto the important stuff - The Challenge.......This week its going to be a bit different - we still have our regular challenge but we also have a blog hop which is also part of the challenge!! And you know what that means - LOADS of candy!! 

CHALLENGE STAGE 1: Now, we know that not everyone likes to do a hop for whatever reason, so we still have our normal challenge for the week which is EASTER themed - you must make a card or project which is Easter themed.

But that's not all...

CHALLENGE STAGE 2: Our second challenge is the blog hop - if you hop along with us this week you will find that the Easter Bunny has arrived early and left some hidden goodies on some of the Design Teams blogs - but you have to hop though the whole list to find who the Easter Bunny has visited! 

You need to complete both the Easter themed challenge and the blog hop to be in with a chance of winning one of the fantastic prizes on offer! You need to go to the challenge blog to see what is on offer but it is fabulous! There will be one grand prize winner and two second place winners!

If you've never taken part in a blog hop before it's easy peasy...all you need to do is visit each blog in turn and for this hop each Polkadoodler will give you a LETTER (be careful - some of the Polkadoodlers may have more than one!) Now add all the letters together, unscramble them and leave a comment on the Polkadoodle Challenge Blog (comments will be moderated!) with what the word is.

Your entry will automatically be judged for the Easter themed challenge BUT we will know if you have completed the Blog Hop so if you haven't you will still only be eligible for the random blog candy hidden amongst some of the Polkadoodlers. FOR THE EASTER THEMED CHALLENGE JUST LEAVE YOUR ENTRY AS NORMAL USING THE INLINKZ BUTTON, WE WILL SORT THROUGH THE ENTRIES AS WE WILL KNOW IF YOU FOLLOWED THE HOP OR NOT! ; )

If you have arrived at my blog from Ruth's Blog then you are on the right track! The letter you require from me is A  and the second letter is Y. Keep them safe and now hop onto the Polkadoodle Challenge Blog and leave a comment. If you get stuck, please go back to the Polkadoodle Challenge blog where you will find the full list of Polkadoodlers.

Good luck!

Claire xxx

I'd like to enter this bunting into the following challenges:
Fab n Funky - Easter
Anything goes - Easter
Creative Craft - Anything but a card
Top Tip Tuesday - Easter and/or Animals
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Charisma Cards - Easter
Delightful Challenges - Easter
PaperPlay - Easter
Decorate to Celebrate - Easter
More than favors - Easter

OMG 18 Years!!!

Good morning to you all. Sorry for the lack of a card for the last Delicious Doodles challenge, but life has been a touch frantic here. Anyway, I'm here for this weeks challenge which is texture. We want to see at least two different types of texture on your cards - think fabric, twine, embossing, distressing etc..... I'll be back with a second post later today, so keep your eyes peeled for that one (I have a feeling that you will not want to miss it!!!).

I decided that I'd use this challenge as an opportunity to make my Anniversary card for my hubby. We've been married for 18 years in April - I'm not quite sure how that's happened, but I've double checked and it's definitely 18 years!!! However, now I've made it I'm not sure if it's too girly??? :( So Mrs Organised, isn't quite so smug now as it's looking like I'm gonna have to make another card :/

Anyway, here's my card - what do you think?? Too girly???

I found this card blank in my stash, but sadly have no idea where it came from, so if you recognize it let me know as I really enjoyed working with it!

The image is of course Teri's Mr & Mrs Owl which I've paper pieced using some of those hoarded scraps "that might come in useful!". I've added some dimension to them with Glossy Accents and a bit of sparkle with Stickles. The tree branch has been cut free-hand in Kraft card and then run through the Big Shot in a Sizzix Wood-grain embossing folder before being swiped with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I used my Spellbinders Foliage Die to cut and emboss the leaves. These have then been snipped into singles and clusters.

The sentiment has been computer generated using this font and then punched out with a Fiskars Squeeze Punch. I've then used my pokey tool to create stitching holes before joining them a fine marker pen. The heart has been attached to a piece of twine and hung from the branch. I attached it with silicone glue to hold the twine taught.  I used Broken China Distress Ink to create a cloudy sky background on the card blank before mounting it all into place.

If you're not stopping by later for my second post, then I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire xxx

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafty Purple Frog - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Stamp n Doodle - Embossing
Creative Mondays - Anything Goes
Get Hippity With Ippity - Things with wings
Lollipop Crafts - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Paper Creations Ink - Things with wings
Paper Pretties - Paper Piecing
Stamp & Create - Paper Piecing

Sweet Pea Stampers Are Having A DT Call

I meant to post this earlier in the week, but Blogger has failed me miserably! Sorry girls :(

I've recently had to step down from the DT as I just don't seem to have enough hours in the day at the moment. Sadly for various other reasons some of the other members of the DT have also left. I'm not giving up playing with my Sweet Peas forever though, hopefully when things are little less hectic for me, I'll be back with them for the odd guest appearance.

Anyway, the remaining girls are having a DT call for all you Sweet Pea fans. If you fancy applying just go here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Claire x

Oh what a nightmare!!! Fridge Magnet Box Frame Card.

Good morning everyone, I'm sorry that there was no post from me last week for the Delicious Doodles Challenge, but I had complete mare of a week and got so far behind with everything that I didn't have time to create anything! Also apologies to all you lovelies who I normally visit, I will be trying to catch up.

Anyway, enough of my moaning (well actually there's a bit more to come, but I'm sure that you'll see the funny side even if I didn't at the time!) lets move onto this weeks Polka Doodles Challenge which is Mother's Day. We have a fantastic prize on offer this week, so I do hope that you can join us. I'm not happy with my card/project this week, but it is entirely my own fault as you will see :/

As I previously said I was already having a horrid week and then things got really busy and all of a sudden it was Saturday night and yours truly hadn't made any Mother's Day cards :O I had a plan but that was about it! So I diligently set about creating both my Mum's and my MIL's cards (I decided to do the same design to save time, they never see each other so they'd not know).

I started with the decoupaged box frame magnet which went relatively smoothly. Whilst it was drying I made the card base and covered it with papers which is when it all started to go wrong!!! Firstly I forgot to add the ribbons under the papers, then part B of my plan was to cut an aperture in the front of the card so that a mini dimensional scene appeared. Yep you guessed it - with all the matting and layering the card was way too thick to go through my Big Shot. By this time it was nearly midnight and panic set in! I thought I know I'll remake the bases and re-print the papers - you guessed it no more card :(

I quickly scanned the Sugarplum Daisy CD for inspiration and found a quick and easy topper that almost exactly matched my little scene, so I quickly printed it and cut it out. Added a bit of my own colouring to finish and mounted it onto the card base, chucked some card candy on and voila done! Until hubby appeared and said it doesn't say Mum anywhere and my Mum will expect it to say that - aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggghhhhhh!!!! So I grabbed the Big Shot and die cut some letters, popped them on and then added some Glossy Accents. I didn't even notice that image on the front faces in the opposite direction to that inside!! Still it doesn't matter hugely as I attached magnetic strips to both the card and the box so that it can removed and used on the fridge!

I've even managed to mess up my pictures of the cards - LOL. I've got a new computer and camera and took pictures of both the inside and outside of the cards, but have somehow or other managed to delete most of them!! Still I've learnt a lesson from this - make the cards that really matter well in advance of when you need them!! If you've got this far well done and thanks for feeling my pain!!!

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

Claire xxx

Materials -Sugarplum Daisy CD
Magnetic Tape - Docrafts
Stickles
Glossy Accents
Card Candy - Craftwork Cards
Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Love to Create - Anything Goes
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Sparkles Forum - Mother's Day or Spring
Little Claire's - Spring
Totally Gorjuss - Spring
Crafty Purple Frog - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
Paper Play - Spring Colours
Crafts & Me - Spring Colours
Little Darlings - Colours of Spring
My Mum's Craft Shop - Use a digi
Whimsy Stamps - Anything Goes

Just a quickie.....

Just a flying visit from me tonight to let you know that Nikky Hall will be launching a new pick of the day from Letraset and her new Polkadoodles CD on Ideal World at 9pm. If you miss it then it will be repeated throughout the night and tomorrow on either Ideal World or Create & Craft.

I'll be back on Friday with a sorry tale!!! Lol

Claire xxx

Fancy a workshop with Jo Capper- Sandon

If you're in the SE and at a loose end on the 25th March, then why not treat yourself to one of my friend Jo's classes? As most of you will know, Jo writes regularly for Craft Stamper Magazine and also has her own range of stamps under the Stampotique label. As if that wasn't enough, she's also been running a series of workshops and has now decided to offer them on a Sunday as well. Spaces are very limited, so book asap to avoid disappointment. For full details, check out her workshop blog here.

Claire x

Polka Doodles Giveaway

Fancy winning a copy of the brand new Candy Doodles Collector's Edition??? Well to be in with a chance, pop over to Enfy's Blog - Going Buggy cos every single day this week she's going to be giving away a copy!! So what are you waiting for?? Go.....

Claire x

Upcycled Pin Board - Polka Doodles Challenge

Good morning, I'm hoping that this post has published as I've had to schedule it.


It's challenge week for team B over at Polka Doodles and this week we have some fabulous candy for you from our sponsor Marianne Design . The prize on offer is an adorable basket Craftable. Craftables are new from Marianne Design and offer more variety to your die-cutting with the additional embossing options and you can also decoupage layers if you're clever with them! There is also a lovely Boat themed Creatable die which is fantastic for using with men's cards and some scrummy flower ribbon. So I really hope that you're tempted to join us for this weeks challenge which is Make A Card Or A Gift For A Male.


I opted to make to a gift for my son's room using this old magnetic board that my daughter had thrown out.

As he has a vintage Union Flag and Rock'n' Roll theme running throughout his room, I thought I'd alter the noticeboard to match. So, I printed out some distressed Polkadot papers from the Pretty Tuff CD, cut them down, edged them with Distress Ink and arranged them on the board to represent the Union Flag. The off cuts were used to cover the magnetic buttons. I then printed the skull and crossbones and the letters from the word book template from the Candy Doodles Collectors Edition, cut them out, distressed them and attached them to board with silicone glue. I decided not to add a ribbon for hanging, instead I opted to hang the board using the holes that were left from removing the cord previously used to hang the board.

I'm hoping he's going to like it, but will have to wait and see as I want to give it to him later this month with a concert ticket attached to it.


I hope you all have a fab weekend, whatever you are doing.

Claire x

Materials:

Pretty Tuff CD

Candy Doodles The Collectors Edition

Old Magnetic Pin Board

Distress Ink - Tea Dye

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Anything Goes - Boyz to Men
Creative Craft Challenges - Boys will be boys
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes
Craft Your Passion - Anything goes
Make It Monday - Anything goes
Smudgy Antics - Anything goes
Mark's Finest Papers - Recycle

Inky Angel - Delicious Doodles Challenge

Good morning, hope you're all well. I told you I'd be back to my normal sporadic posting and I haven't let you down!!! However, that may all change as I've been really busy crafting lately and have to loads to show you. Sadly most of it isn't for me and so has to remain under wraps until I get the go ahead to blog :(

Anyway, I can show you this weeks card for the Delicious Doodles challenge which is Inspired By A Song. My inspiration was taken from the band A Day To Remember - All I Want. I had loads of fun creating this card cos I got to play with my inks and loads of stamps and sprays :0)

I printed the image Fallen out twice - one as a mask and the other as my working image. Once I'd cut the mask out, I coloured the other image with Promarkers and Prismacolor Pencils. I then masked the image and created a background using Distress Inks and Glimmer Mist for a bit of depth and shimmer. Once it had dried, I used a selection of stamps to create a scene around the angel. I then removed the mask and added Glossy Accents to her boots and Stickles to her wings. I took another piece of card and inked it to match the green on the first card for the easel base. The sentiment is taken from the lyrics and computer generated and then printed onto Safamat. I've then stamped some oak leaves in Stazon and popped a couple of punched flowers to finish.

Materials:
Fallen - Delicious Doodles
Tree - Andy Skinner, Back to Nature
Grass - DoCrafts Fairy Stamps
Birds - Andy Skinner - Back to Nature and Martha Stewart - Halloween Holiday
Leaves - Matha Stewart - Peg Starter Kit
Distress Inks - Forest Moss, Bundled Sage, Pine Needles, Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Victorian Velvet, Chipped Sapphire
Promarkers
Prismacolor Pencils
Nellie Snellen Flower Punch
Stickles
Glossy Accents
Diamontes

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sparkles Forum Challenges - Things with wings
Do You Stack Up - Things with wings
Flutter By Wednesday's - Open
The Paper Shelter - Fancy folds
Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes
Cheerful Stamp Pad - Land of Fantasy
Creative Mondays - Anything Goes
Creative Stamp Friends - Inspired by your fave song
Make It Monday - Anything goes
The Crazy Challenge - Anything goes
That Craft Place - Anything goes
Rogue Redhead - Stamped background