Old turns to new.....

Well that's another year virtually done and dusted! I hope 2016 has been kind to you, I know for many it has been a really tough and testing year. For me personally, I thought it hadn't been a great year, but upon reviewing my blog, social media and a few other things I've come to the conclusion that despite a few trials and set backs, it's actually been a pretty good year. I'm grateful for the all the positive moments that 2016 has delivered.

I've decided that no matter what the incoming year holds for me I will try and focus on the good things. The stuff that makes me and those around me happy. I've also decided to focus upon a word for 2017 that will be my inspiration and motivator - that word is KINDNESS. 

Kindness costs nothing, makes both the giver and receiver of it happy and if there was more of it, the world would be a far better place. I'm determined to do something kind every single day, whether it be simply paying someone a compliment after all, who doesn't like to be told they look nice or that you love their sweater/dress/hair? To donating to a deserving cause or leaving random gift somewhere to brighten a persons day. 

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for visiting my blog and taking the time read, comment and share in my creativity. I hope 2017 brings you all good health and happiness.

Claire x

Belle Papillon the final cut!

Yep we've come to the end of my samples using this fabulous new kit. I hope you've enjoyed seeing my creations?

This card was fairly quick and easy to make. I distressed the papers with scissors and rolled and scrunched the edges.

The cage was die cut, painted with gold acrylic paint and once dry stamped with Stazon.

The elegant nest die cut has been edged with acrylic paint prior to stamping the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Shabby chic card

Just popping onto share another card made from the Belle Papillon and Bella Fleur collections.

I die cut the large Elegant Nest from the Belle Papillon Paper Pad, brushed the edges with gold paint and then heat embossed the sentiment.

The papers were distressed with scissors. I used Nikky's Stab n Stitch Tool to create the faux stitching and then ran a fine liner over the holes.

The butterflies were stamped onto shrink plastic and the larger one of them was die cut with the matching doublet die.

I then layered up the papers, lace and embellishments onto a kraft card blank.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Gorjuss Girl altered notebook

Another little make that I did a while back and forgot to blog!

This time it's a notebook that I've altered using a Docraft's Gorjuss Girl stamps. I thought I'd try using pastel colours as the Gorjuss range tends to be darker shades. I think it works quite well, what do you think?

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Snowman Christmas Card

This will be my last post before Christmas and I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Peaceful, Prosperous New Year. I'd also like to thank those of you who have supported and encouraged me in my artistic endeavours this year, you really have no idea how much it means!

Anyway, here's a little snowman card that I batch made using Sizzix/Tim Holtz stamps and matching dies. They're really quick and easy, so much so that I managed to create matching envelopes.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Another circle card

I'm loving making these little circle cards at the moment. This is another sample that I made for the launch of Polkadoodles Bella Fleur Kit. It was super quick and easy to make and one that I think I will batch make for my card stash.

I hope you're enjoying seeing my projects from this kit launch, if not then you'll be pleased to know that there's only one more card to come!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Gorjuss Girl burlap bag

I created this bag a while back and have just realised that I've forgotten to blog it!

I used acrylic paints and one of the mid-sized Docraft's Gorjuss Girl stamps on a pre-made hessian/burlap bag. It was a lot trickier than I thought, but the key is not to overwork the paints.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Things got a little inky!

So I'm not sure how why this happened, but I got my Distress Inks out to play and ended up with this. Lots of stamping and masking (made super easy with the doublet dies), then a bit of Glossy Glue and Glitter to finish.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Materials
Polkadoodles Bella Fleur Stamps and Dies
Distress Ink
Docrafts Glossy Glue
Glitter

Simple circle card

Me again! This time I'm sharing a simple circle card. This was super quick and easy to make using the new Belle Papillon and Bella Fleur kits from Polkadoodles.

I simply used a circle die to cut my shaped card and papers. I then added some die cut flowers, flourishes and foliage. The flourishes and foliage were trimmed to sit neatly on the edge of the card.

To finish I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire

Materials:
Belle Papillon and Bella Fleur Kits

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

Vintage Frame From An Old Christmas Card Box

Hopefully you all saw the shows on Create and Craft TV on Friday and loved the new collections from Polkadoodles? If you missed it or don't live in the UK you can watch the 11am show and 3pm show for a limited period by clicking on the highlighted links.

If you caught the 3pm show you would've seen the little vintage style box frame with a shrine setting. I was honoured and exceptionally pleased that Nikky demonstrated how to make a similar frame and then put her own spin onto it.

Anyway, here's the frame. I hope you like it and aren't bored by all the photos!

I used an old Christmas card box lid for the actual frame and one of those little wooden boxes that some companies have started using for packaging embellishments for the shrine. I traced the smaller box onto the larger box and then cut just inside of the marking with a craft knife and checked to make sure it fitted snuggly. I then covered the box with papers from the Belle Papillon pads and made a x in the shrine opening. I then popped the shrine in leaving it slightly proud, and glued the papers to the back of it to support it.

The shrine was painted with gold and cream acrylic paint and I used PVA glue to create a crackle effect.

I die cut the leafy branch from the Birdhouse Doublet Set  into an old cereal box and used the negative as a stencil to apply modelling paste to bottom edges of the frame. Once dry I applied Docrafts Gold Acrylic paint with my finger.

The edges of the frame were swiped with ink before heat embossing with gold embossing powder. I stamped a torn piece of the patterned paper with the script stamp from the Belle Papillon Stamp Set and glued it next to the shrine. I then sprinkled some frantage embossing powders over the front of the box.

Using the Belle Papillon Stamp and Doublet die set I cut and coloured a shrink plastic cage, bird and butterflies. Before arranging them inside the shrine.

To finish, I added some moss, broken twigs and flowers.

I'm really pleased with the way this project turned out and plan on making a set for my hallway.

I have a few more projects from the show to share with you over the next few days. Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Materials
Belle Papillon Stamps, Dies and Papers

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:

Did you see Polkadoodles new product launch on Create and Craft TV?

Today saw the launch of several new products from Polkadoodles. If you caught the show you will have seen some of the samples that I made using them.

I know Polkadoodles are normally associated with CD and digital crafting but did you know that they've just launched paper pads and cutting dies? The papers are truly beautiful and the dies.... well what can I say? They cut beautifully (even shrink plastic) and a gentle tap on the table top releases the cut from the die. There's none of this poking every single little piece of paper out of intricate dies!

Anyway, I could go on and on about the new products but I won't, instead here's one of my samples that I made for the show. This was one of the cards that Nikky demonstrated.

I stamped the Belle Papillion stamps and coordinating die set onto shrink plastic and coloured the elements with Lyra pencils.

The papers have been distressed using scissors. I've then used Nikky's Stab and Stitch Pokey Tool Kit to create some faux stitching around the edges.

The sentiment has been heat embossed on vellum and I coloured all of the die cut pieces with Distress Inks before layering up onto the card.

I'll be showing more of my samples over the next few day, so please if you get five minutes pop back and take a peek.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Materials used:
Belle Papillon Craft Kit
Papers and Stamps
Dies
Stab n Stitch Tool Kit
Wow Embossing Powder

Ho Ho Ho...... Thank goodness for Tim Holtz and Sizzix!!!

I know I said I be back a few weeks ago...... whistles.... but you know life it just keeps happening and whoosh before you know it weeks have gone by!

Anyway, I'm seriously behind with my Christmas preparations and needed some super speedy makes. Rummaging through my unopened stash I came across a stamp and die set from Tim Holtz/Sizzix. So I opened them up and set to work.... wow is all I have to say! I don't think I've ever made so many cards in such a short space of time.

I even managed to make matching envelopes. :)

I've not quite finished making cards yet.... so I've opened another set of dies and stamps and am all set to create a few more cards. Hopefully, I'll be back with these within the next couple of days.

Whilst I'm here I'll also give you the heads up for Friday 16/12 at 11 am when the fabulous Nikky Hall from Polkadoodles will be on Create and Craft TV with a brand new launch of Papers (yes I said PAPERS!!!), Dies and a new CD. Seriously, having been lucky enough to make up some samples with the new kit, you do not want to miss out, they are lush! I'll post one of my samples here on Friday but if you get a chance pop over to the Polkadoodles Facebook page where you can see my fellow teamies stunning creations.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

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