Vintage Butterfly Tag

Good morning! The sun's shining, the birds are singing and I'm obviously in the land of make believe! Seriously what has happened to Summer???? My boys (DH & Son) are off camping this weekend and the forecast is just appalling, so I'm expecting lots of wet, muddy smelly clothes!! Deep joy! Just hoping (rather selfishly), that they don't make an early return as I have loads of crafting planned!

Now this is a strange post for me cos it's gonna be my last one ever for Delicious Doodles :( as I've decided to step down from the DT after almost two years. I'm really sad to be going as not only do I love working with Teri's amazing images, but the whole team are fantastic to work with too! Still, I'm hoping that I'll manage to find the time to play along with their challenges and create the odd project using her images too. Before I move onto this weeks challenge, I'd just like to say thanks to Teri for being an amazing boss lady and to the rest of the team for their friendship and on occasions help and advice - I will miss you all. x

So, enough of my rabbiting, let's move onto this weeks challenge over at Delicious Doodles which is SUMMER. Now, I've had to trawl the memory banks for this one, but seem to have a vague recollection that there should be loads of butterflies fluttering around in my garden at this time of year, so you guessed it I've used the gorgeous Butterfly image to create my first ever tag.

I used all scraps to make this tag, so it's definitely going on my list of must do's in the future. I started off by hand cutting the tag and covering it with a scrap of paper from the Studio 12 All Sewn Up Kit. The tag was then over stamped with Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink using a Script Stamp from Kaisercraft. Next, I distressed the edges and lightly crumpled the tag before inking with Walnut Stain and Victorian Velvet Distress Ink and adding some faux stitching. The Butterfly image has been printed out in two different sizes and coloured with Flexmarkers. The wings have been glittered using Stickles Star Dust and I've added Glossy Accents to the body to give dimension before mounting onto the tag using silicone glue. The fern leaves have been cut using a Little Claire's Die and the flowers were in my stash, but I've crumpled them up, added some DI and then popped a button on to finish.

I hope you all have lovely weekend - will be keeping my fingers crossed for those of you in the UK that the weather forecasters have got it wrong and that we will have glorious sunshine!!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Claire xxx

I'd like to enter this tag into the following challenges:
Whimsy Inspiration - Anything Goes
Creatalicious Chalenges - Anything goes
The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - Tags
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes
Stamp N Plus - Anything goes
The Crafty Bloggers Network - Anything goes
Make it Monday - Anything goes
Happy Daze - Summer Holidays (inks)

Last Minute Father's Day Card!

OK so who stole this week? There was me sitting chilling with a nice glass of vino collapso and the phone goes and it's work, wanting to know if I want to do some extra hours - so as you do, I declined politely.

My lovely colleague at the other end of the line then said "see you tomorrow then!" At which point the conversation went something like this:

Me "Huh, I don't think so!!"
Colleague "You're not down as taking leave?"
Me "It's Thursday tomorrow and I do Friday..."
Colleague "Ummm - It's Friday tomorrow!!!"
Me "No way", glances casually at the date on the lappy, "oh pants - I've lost a day!"
Colleague laughing at this point "See ya tomorrow then!"

So not gutted enough that I was going to have work in the morning, I realised that I hadn't done my DT card for this week's Delicious Doodles Challenge which is One For The Fellas! Gulp a man's card needing to be done and quickly!! Not a great feeling! Anyway, I've knocked something together - not one of my best I'm afraid and you'll have to excuse the dodgy pictures cos they were taken at night, and this is it...........

I printed out the image Golf Ball & Tee three times, coloured it with Promarkers, cut it out and mounted it onto Green Bazzill Card using silicone glue. The golf ball has been de-bossed using a freebie embossing folder. The sentiment is computer generated and I've used my Cropadile Big Bite to set some eyelets, before threading onto string. I'm certain my Dad will like this card - only cos he loves anything golf based ;D

Anyway, thanks for stopping by today. I hope you all have a fab weekend - those of us in the UK will be battening down the hatches as there is a huge storm forecast to hit :( On the bright side it means more time for crafting!! :D

Claire xxx

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
CRAFT - Male card
Digi Doodles Shop's Best - Male Card
Dude Time Doodles - Boys & Their Toys
Penny's Paper Crafty - Father's Day
Digital Tuesday - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes optional Father's Day
Sassy Cheryl's - It's all about the Dad's & Grandad's
Cards for Men - Father's Day
Love to Create - Father's Day
Little Claire - Male Theme

Cool Brittania??21st Birthday Card For An Awkward Male!!!

Good morning folks, it's time for another challenge over at Delicious Doodles and this week we're sponsored by our very own Pascale at GR8 Crafts 4U. The theme this week is Get Your Bling On, so we want to see your blingtastic creations!

I needed to make a 21st birthday card for my nephew and boy did I sweat over this card! He's not into drinking, cars or loose women!!! So with that in mind I started to panic! I trawled the Delicious Doodles Store for a suitable image and eventually stumbled upon Electric Guitar :D

Now this card is a little different for me as it has almost completely been created using my graphics programme which seriously made for a quick and easy make! No die cutting, no colouring and if I hadn't decided to decoupage the guitar there would have been no cutting or gluing either!!! I simply created the card on screen, printed it out (with an extra guitar), cut it to size, inked the edges with Distress Inks, mounted it on a card blank, decoupaged the guitar and then added some bling (although I've since found out that I could even have done that in the graphics programme).

All I have to do now is hope that my nephew likes the card!

Thanks for stopping by

Claire xxx

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

Just keep On Creating - Anything goes/ travel tales (option)
The Paper Shelter - Bling
Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Father's Day/Special Man
The Perfect Sentiment - For a special man
Truly Scrumptious - For a man
Bearly Mine - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - True Colours
Desmet Designs - Let's celebrate in red, white & blue
Make It Monday - Anything goes
OSAAT - Anything goes

Shoulda Gone To Spec Savers!!!

Morning! Time for another challenge over at Delicious Doodles. This week were playing BINGO and boy did I have fun and games with this card!!! Firstly I  printed the image out slightly larger than I normally would which meant that I struggled to fit it onto my normal sized card. That was fairly easily resolved by cutting her out and putting her directly onto one of the layers. However, something that couldn't so easily be resolved was my major boo boo with the faux stitching - LOL :/  Have you spotted it yet? Nooo then maybe we should book a group session at Specsavers - LOL!!! I only went and used a blue gel pen for the stitching! Now in my defense, it was late at night and I don't have access to one of those daylight lamps and my gel pens are all tossed in a box and look very similar, so it was an easy mistake to make! :D Some how me thinks I'm seriously over due an eye test!

Anyway, here's the card - with blue stitching in tact (I might try dry brushing some acrylic paint over it to bring the colour down and just hope that whoever the unlucky recipient is thinks it's part of the design!).

Well that's it from me today - I've gotta save me eyesight dontcha know!

Have a fab weekend

Claire x

Materials
Image - Delicious Doodles
Die - Cheery Lynn
Sentiment & Postage Stamp Die - Whimsey Stamps
Ribbon and Buttons- Crafty Ribbons
Fluffy Stuff - Carole's Crafts
Flowers & Gems - from stash

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafts & Me - Embossing
Divas By Design - Buttons & Bows
Little Darlings - Flowers
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Truly Scrumptious - Distressing, Die Cuts & Punches
Whimsy Stamps - Distressing
Deep Ocean - Punches/Dies

Delicious Doodles Challenge - Marina The Mermaid & Friends Layered Card

Morning folks. I hope you had a fantastic Easter and that the Bunny bought you lots of lovely chocolate!!! We unexpectedly ended up having guests which although hard work was really enjoyable! Anyway, it's time for another Delicious Doodles Challenge which this week is LAYERS, so we want to see lots of layers on your projects.

I've used the fabulous images Marina and Seahorses for my stepper card. Unfortunately, my photos really don't do this card justice, but try as I might I just couldn't get one that shows the true colours and depth and sparkle :(

The image has been coloured with a combination of Promarkers and Flexmarkers. The fish and Marina's lips have been given some dimension with Glossy Accents, her tail has been given the Stickles treatment and I've added some Clear Star Sakura Gel Pen to the bits in her hair. I've then mounted the image onto some sea green paper and Rock Star Stack Papers from DCWV.

The stepper card base was then covered with a sea green paper. The waves have been cut using a Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations On The Edge Scrollwork Die. The sea creatures have been created by importing a copy of the images into a graphics programme, removing all of the surplus items and then re-sizing and flipping the fish and sea-horses as appropriate. They've then been coloured, cut out and mounted onto the card using silicone glue and if necessary acetate. The sea weed has been cut from some scraps of paper using Spellbinders Foliage Dies.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. I'm not sure what we're upto, but I'm considering a trip into London to visit the Dungeons and The London Eye.

Claire xxx

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafts & Me - 3D
My Mum's Craft Shop - It's a celebration
Scrapbook Sisters - Anything goes
Craft Your Passion - Shaped Cards
Love to Create - Birthday
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties - 2 or more papers
The Crafty Pad - Use a die

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

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

Rosalee Pretty In Pink - Delicious Doodles Challenge

TGIF - not often I say that, but this week has been one of those weeks and I will be glad to see the back of it! I'm not normally a stress head, but this week has pushed me to my limits, it's probably not been helped by the fact that the kids have been on holiday and I seem to have managed to acquire additional children who have made themselves well and truly at home! Grandparents who have been unwell again and needed taking to Dr's appointments etc...The one highlight of the week was celebrating my Dad's 70th birthday, but to be honest I was so shattered that I ended up coming home early. Oh and I almost forgot to mention I've gone back to work part time to finance the building work that we need doing to enable me to have a craft room - see hogging the dining room has finally paid off!! ;).

Anyway, enough of my moaning, lets move onto this weeks challenge over at Delicious Doodles which is Pretty in Pink! Seriously who ever picked this must have been having a giggle! As you probably know most of the girls just don't do pink, so I'm amazed that so many of them have turned out for this challenge! Why not pop over the to the challenge blog and take a peep at the lovely projects they've produced.

I haven't really made anything really pretty in a while, so I thought I'd use this challenge as opportunity to do so! I had so much fun with this card and have been trying some new colouring techniques out (they're not quite perfect, but I'm going to persevere), so what do you think?

I coloured the image Rosalee with Promarkers and then used a glitter pen to add a little sparkle to her dress. The image was then aged with Distress Ink and faux stitching added with a pokey tool and fineliner. I lightly distressed the edges of the papers using my nail and then inked them before adding more faux stitching. The postage stamp sentiment was stamped in Vintage Sepia Versafine Ink and then inked with Distress Inks.

Materials:
Rosalee - Delicious Doodles
Promarkers
Brown Fine Liner
Distress Ink - Tea Dye
Nellie's Multi Frame's
Whimsy Postage Stamp Die
Whimsy Postage Stamp Sentiments
X-Cut Border Punch
Seam Binding - Crafty Ribbons
Buttons - Woodware
Pearl Spray - Stash

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafts & Me - Distressed
Gingersnap Creations - Faux Technique
Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers - Distressing
The Stamping Boutique - Faux Stitching
Love to Create - Buttons & Bows
My Craft Spot - Girly Girls
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes
Stamps R Us - Anything Goes
OSAAT - Anything Goes
Craft Your Days Away - Get Stitchy

Simply Cuckoo!! Delicious Doodles Valentines Challenge

No not me!! My card!!! lol

It's going to be a really quick post from me today as a little trip to Bluewater yesterday has put me seriously behind schedule this week! However, I'll hopefully be back tomorrow with some mega exciting news and maybe a little creation ;)

I've made a card for this weeks Delicious Doodles Challenge which is Valentines. I'm sure most of you will be making cards or gifts for your loved ones, so why not enter them in the challenge? Remember you don't need to use a Delicious Doodles image to enter and Teri is offering five digis of your choice if you're the winner.

Here's my card, hope you like it!

Have a fab weekend.


Claire xxx

Materials:
Little Birdy - Delicious Doodles
Bird House - Sizzix
Spellbinders Foliage Dies
Mini Heart Punch
Sizzix Embossing Folder
Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut Stain, Tea Dye
Copics
Glossy Accents
Twine - from stash
Sentiment - Computer Generated

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge Blog - One or more hearts
Cooking It Up With Katie - Hearts, punch and emboss
Divas By Design - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon - Valentines Day
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - Love is in the air
Simon Says Stamp - Animals
Truly Scrumptious - Love & hearts
Anything Goes Challenge Blog - To the one I love
Crafty Sentiments - Punches/Dies
Die Cutting Divas - Anything Goes
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Love me, loves me not
Top Tip Tuesday - Valentines
Lollipop Crafts - Anything Goes

Altered Sardine Can Winter Wonderland

OK I'm running really late posting my Delicious Doodles Challenge project. I'm not really sure where this week has gone, but I'm almost certain that I've missed a huge chunk of it!

Anyway, the challenge this week is Winter Wonderland. Now, I should've used this an excuse to start on next years Christmas cards, but I'm soooo fed up of Christmas cards at the moment that I just couldn't face making one. So I thought I'd use it as an excuse to make a Christmas Ornament - how I wish I hadn't!!!!  The whole project has been a complete nightmare from start to finish. However, I think the main problem has been that I didn't allow myself enough time and so became impatient and you know what happens then! With hindsight I could've made a winter Birthday card, but you know me why make life easy for myself when I can complicate things!!!

Anyhow, here's my project - what do you think??? There are a couple of things I'd do differently next time, but on the whole I think I'm fairly pleased with it!

I took an old sardine can and flattened the edges with pliers to reduce the risk of injury to myself or others. I then coated the outside in a layer of texture paste. Whilst waiting for it to dry, I printed out the background image, cut it to size and glittered it up. Once the outside was dry I placed the image inside the tin and then added more texture paste. The Robin and Holly images were coloured with Promarkers and Prismacolor Pencils before being fancy cut and mounted onto the tin. Unfortunately, the camera hasn't picked up all the sparkle on this project, but I think you can just about see it on the picture below.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you all have a fab weekend.

Claire x

Materials:
Robin Redbreast, Holly and A Crofters Winter - Delicious Doodles
Prismacolor Pencils
Promarkers
Texture Paste
Sardine Tin
Stickles
Glamour Dust

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Crafty Purple Frog - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything but a card
Moving Along With The Times - Things with wings
ABC Christmas Challenge - Anything goes
The House That Stamps Built - Scenic Challenge with snow (Repeat Impressions DCC118 Designer’s Choice Challenge)
I ♥ ProMarkers - Anything goes
PanPastel UK - Anything goes
Little Claire's - Anything but a card

I'm Not Goth!!

Good morning. I hope you're all recovered from the long holiday and that those of you in the UK haven't suffered too much damage from the horrendous winds that we've had? I'm not sure where this week has gone, but I suddenly realised yesterday that it was Thursday and that I'd not got a project done for Delicious Doodles -ooops!! Luckily for me, the kids were going out for tea and then onto the pantomime with their Grandma, which meant I had a bit of freetime to play with :D

This weeks challenge over at Delicious Doodles is New Beginnings, so we want to see projects that feature something new. It can be new stash, a new baby or even a new technique which should give you plenty of scope for joining us. Remember you don't have to use a Delicious Doodles image, but if you do you can enter yourself twice in the blue froggy! Plus you get the chance to be spotlighted on the challenge blog.

I decided that I'd use a the new image I'm Not Goth for my card, I hope you like what I've done with her!! I have to say both of my kids have eyeballed the card and asked if I can use her on cards for their friends!!!

I coloured the image with a combination of Promarkers and Prismacolor Pencils before fancy cutting out. The wings were stamped and heat embossed using the Rockstar stamps from Inkadinkadoo. I then mounted the wings and main image onto embossed grey cardstock, before adding Glossy Accents and Stickles.

The stars, skull & crossbone border and sentiment are all from the same stamp set. All of the elements have been heat embossed prior to being cut out and mounted onto the card using silicone glue to give some dimension.

Materials
Main Image - Delicious Doodles
Rock Star Stamps - Inkadinkadoo
Promarkers - Cardinal Red, Ruby, Cool Grey 1 -5
Prismacolor Pencils
Distress Inks - Fired Brick, Black Soot
Heat It Up Embossing Powder
Cuttlebug - Metal Grid Embossing Folder
Gems from stash

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Dilly Beans Challenge - Red, Black & White
Crafty Ribbons - New Beginnings
Fab 'n' Funky - Something New
Gingersnap Creations - Use a line or set of stamps
My Mum's Craft Shop - Something New
The Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes/something new
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes
Haunted Design House - Got Goth

Delicious Doodles Challenge - Hairy Legs!! Dimensional Christmas Card

Morning folks - I can't believe that it's time for yet another Delicious Doodles Challenge and more importantly I can't believe how near to Christmas we are!I'm sure someone has stolen a few weeks from me as I'm nowhere near ready. Anyway, this was another of those challenges that when I first saw the title I thought "Eeek what am I gonna do???" For some reason I couldn't get spiders outta my mind! LOL. Anyway, I had a big think about it and decided that I'd make a Christmas card using an animal (tbh I had thought about using a fairy and telling you all a little tale about her forgetting to purchase hair removal cream, but somehow didn't think it would make the cut - lol)!!

So here's what I settled on - a basic stepper card that has mini steps. I hope you like it cos it was a devil to line up all the layers and to be honest I'm not entirely sure it was worth the effort!!

I used the fantastic A Crofters Winter as the main focus on the card. I used Prismacolor Pencils to highlight small details such as the grass and then Distress Inked the sky. The mini steps give a lot more dimension to the card than using foam pads or silicone glue which was why I persevered with the layering! I added Barn Owl & Baby Deer to the scene and again coloured them with pencils to achieve a really soft look. To finish I added loads of  Stickles to give the snow a bit of texture and sparkle.

I hope you can join us this time - remember you don't have to use a Delicious Doodles image to play. Oh and don't forget to enter the My Memories Software giveaway that I'm currently running.

Claire xx

Materials
Images - Delicious Doodles
White card - The Papermill
Prismacolor Pencils
Distress Ink - Black Soot
Stickles - Picket Fence & Stardust

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
PanPastel UK - Bright & Frosty
Little Red Wagon - Christmas
My Mum's Craft Shop - Things with wings
Everybody Art - Christmas
Top Tip Tuesday - More than one fold
Lollipop Crafts - Anything goes

Delicious Doodles Challenge - Remembrance

Morning Folks. Just popping on to tell you about the new challenge over at Delicious Doodles which is REMEMBRANCE. If you read my post you will see how I have chosen to interpret the theme, but you can interpret it in anyway you like. For example, you may wish to make a sympathy card, or a birthday card with I remembered on it.

Today is of course Remembrance Day where we remember those who have given their lives or have been seriously wounded in return for our freedom. Each year the nation expresses its unequivocal support for The Royal British Legion's charity work through the Poppy Appeal by buying paper poppies (details of their work and how you can help can be found here). In our modern day lives it is all too easy to forget the importance of this day, so I decided that I'd make a card in honour of those who have fallen.

The image was coloured with Promarkers and Prisma Pencils, I added some Stickles to her dress and some Black Enamel Accents to the centre of the poppies. I created the backing paper using Distress Inks, spritzed with Glimmer Mist, stamped some swirls and then heat embossed them, finally I sponged some ink through some sequin waste. The poppies have been made from satin fabric and I've added Stickles to the centres.

Materials
Delicious Doodles Poppy
My Paperworld Grasses & Embellishments
Versamark Ink
Promarkers
Prisma Pencils
Stickles - Stardust, Black Soot
Enamel Accents
Satin Fabric - Poundland
Sequin Waste
Heat It Up Embossing Powder - Black
Distress Inks - Fired Brick, Black Soot, Forest Moss
Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons
Spellbinders Foliage Die
Nestabilities Labels 8
Tools - Heat Gun, Bigshot, Tim Holtz Blender

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
The Artistic Stamper  - Backgrounds
Cute Card Thursday - Reds for Remembrance
Dutch Dare Card Challenges - Punches & Dies
Just Inspirational Challenges - Remembrance
PanPastel UK - Dark & Mysterious

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

Some Exciting News And A Reminder!

Hi

No crafting from me today, kids school hols have put paid to that!! But I'll be back on Friday with a card.

I just wanted to let you all know that  Sweet Pea Stamps have released another plate of images designed by Teri from Delicious Doodles. Now is a fantastic time to purchase them as this week there is 10% off your purchase! Spend more than $25 and get 15% off!!! This offer is valid July 27 and 28 - so hurry on over! Also, all orders receive 2 lovely freebies in their shipment!

Also, Teri has some exclusive images being sold at Crafts & Me, which sadly will not be available to purchase in the Delicious Doodles Store. : (

Whilst I'm here I'd like to remind you that Delicious Doodles is having a DT Call. Full details can be found here. I'll look forward to seeing your creations.

See you on Friday - I think you might need to bring your sunnies!! My card is ummm Bold!!!

Thanks for stopping by
Claire xx

Barn Owl Father's Day Card

I'm really, really late with this weeks challenge card for Delicious Doodles . No good excuse really other than I'm in plank mode (made a card and clean forgot that texture was required - DOH!!!) and then had an idea in my head for this card that just didn't pull together as I intended and so took loads more time and effort than I'd anticipated! Still I'm not too unhappy with the end result and the best part is I only have one more Father's Day card to make :) Anyway, just in case you missed the theme in my ramblings above, it's TEXTURE, which leaves you loads of scope to to enter your creations. If your stuck for inspiration stop by the rest of the girls and check out what they've created.

For my card I've chosen to use the fabulous image Barn Owl which has been coloured with Distress Inks, die cut with Large Oval Nestabilities and then stitched around the edges. The image has been mounted onto strips of hessian which was taken from an old shopping bag. I created the sentiment using a Dymo Label Maker and Core'Dinations cardstock. The buttons are from Woodware and I've used some of the hessian thread through the large button.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire xx

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Craft Your Days Away - Father's Day/Special Man
Designed To Delight - Masculine
ECP Challenges - For Dad
One Stop Craft - Texture
Fussy and Fancy - Card for a man or boy
Simply Create - All about you Dad
The Stamp Man - Boys and Men
Simon Says Stamp - Father's Day

Playing With Gesso Again!

I'm gonna keep this post really brief as blogger is throwing another wobbly and I have to keep swapping browsers in order to perform various functions and even then it's really hit or miss!

OK I admit it I'm officially hooked on Gesso! As a result I couldn't resist using it on this weeks Delicious Doodles challenge card. The theme this week is to use some LACE in your project. So here it is....

Not sure what's going on with my photo, but the colours are actually brown and turquoise - just hope that it's not a sign that my cameras on it's way out!

Anyway I've used Gesso to stamp the cow parsley and have then inked the card with Distress Inks and then finished it off with a blast of Glimmer Mist. The butterflies have been coloured with Promarkers, shaped and then stickled before being added to the background using silicone glue. Faux stitching has been added using a gold gel pen and brown ultra-fine liner.

I'm going to call that it for now as blogger will probably throw another hissy fit and wipe my post!!

Have a great weekend and thanks as always for stopping by.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
A Spoonful of Sugar - Things with wings
2 Sisters - Use a digi
Mark's Finest Papers - Tone on tone with image popped up
Sweet Stampin' - In the garden

Don't Forget It's Mother's Day!!!

Morning! How could I possibly forget it's Mother's Day on Sunday? I don't know but I almost had! I thought I was soooo organised this time as well, did the MIL's card, started my Mums' card and seriously believed I had a good couple of weeks to sort my Gran out something!! Then the TV runs an ad for a M&S Mother's Day meal and ooooppppsie I realise it's this Sunday!

I suppose I should've figured things out when I checked the challenge schedule over at Delicious Doodles and found that this weeks challenge is Mothers Day/Girly! Doh! Anyway, the card is obviously done now and I've just got to finish my Mums' card. Sadly I don't think I'll have time to make a handmade gift this year though :(

OK so finally onto my card.....

The image is Vase of Roses from Delicious Doodles and has been coloured with Promarkers, die cut using my nesties and then lightly distressed with Tea Dye Distress Inks. I've added glossy accents to the vase and have brushed the edges of the roses with Sakura Gel Pen. The DP's are of course Papermania's Rose Garden - I think this is one of my favourite pads - well one I don't mind cutting into anyway ;). The papers have been matted and layered onto blue cardstock from The Papermill. The lace and pearls are from my stash.The border punch used on the blue card is from X-Cut.

If like me you still have cards to make, please do stop by the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog and see what the other girls have made for your inspiration. As always there are some amazing projects.

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great weekend.

Claire xx

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Really Reasonable Ribbons - Diecuts/Punches
Delightful Challenges - Flowers
Paper Crafting Journey - For the ladies in your life
Paper Play - For Mum

Shhh I think spring might be here!

I'm not going to say it too loudly, but I really do think Spring is here! My garden is full of daffodils and tulips, and the cherry blossom tree has loads of little buds just waiting to erupt into a mass of flowers. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the warmer, brighter days will soon be here. I really have had enough of the Winter this year and am finding that it has sapped my desire to create. However, if I'm brutally honest it probably has more to do with the fact that I have had to venture into a cold conservatory to rumage through my stash than an actual lack of desire to create! ;)

Anyway, enough of my rambling the challenge over at Delicious Doodles this week is flowers. We want to see lots of flowers on your creations. Up for grabs are two fantastic prizes, one is any three paper pads from our sponsor Pascale's Pad and the other is any three digi's from the Delicious Doodles Store.

As you can no doubt tell, I've been heavily influenced this week by the sudden promised change in season and have made the first of my Easter cards.

The image I've used this week is a new release from Delicious Doodles called On The Lookout. I thought it was perfect for more "grown up" Easter cards. As always the image has been coloured with Promarkers. I've then cut it to shape using Nestabilities Labels 8 and then heat embossed the edges using Heat It Up Gold Embossing Powder. The background paper is a piece of Core'dinations White Wash cardstock which has been run through the Bigshot with a Daisy Texturz Plate and then given a light sanding to expose the core colour. The ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons new Spring/Easter collection. The flowers are Prima E-line topped with Craftwork Cards Card Candy.

Thanks for stopping by this week.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Colour Create - Pastels
Crafty Purple Frog - Green
Delightful Challenges - Pastels
Digi Doodles Shops Best - Ribbons & Bows
Simon Says Stamp - Mothers Day/Girly
Stamping Vacation - Easter
Passion for Promarkers - In the Garden

It's Supposed To Be Green, But Mine Is Pink!!

Good morning to you all. Today's challenge over at Delicious Doodles is to use green. It was designed to coincide with St Patrick's day, but as I don't have anyone to send a card to, I thought it would be a bit of a waste of card and paper. So rather than sit the challenge out, I decided that I'd make a card with some green on it :)

If you want some St Patrick's Day inspiration then check out the other girls on the DT's blogs, they have produced some awesome projects using some of the images from the Delicious Doodles Shop.

I've used Sweet Shamrock Fairy for my card and have shamelessly nicked the lovely Pascale's inspired idea of colouring the shamrocks a different colour, which means that I can use this beauty all year round!! I decided to paper piece the dress using some papers from My Minds Eye and have coloured the rest of the image with Promarkers. The flowers and wings have been given a coat of Stickles.I've then added some Glossy Accents to her eyes, lips and the flowers in her hair.

The card base has been cut using Large Circle Nestabilities. It's then been inked with Distress Inks and sprayed with Tattered Angels Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist. The flowers have been punched using Nellie Snellen punches and the butterflies are from a Martha Stewart 3 in 1 Butterfly Punch. I've then added some hot pink gems to finish.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Penny's Paper Crafty - Green
Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes
Charisma Cards - Easel Cards
Paper Play - Shades of Green
Paper Romance - Colour
Sarah Hurley - Flowers
Totally Papercrafts - Shaped Cards