Life's a beach when you're 18!!!

My baby girl is finally 18!!! I say finally, because it been really hard for her as she's the baby of her social group and has waited for what seems to be forever to be able to go out to the pubs and clubs with her friends.

We're taking her on holiday as part of her birthday celebrations, so hopefully she'll get to enjoy a few cocktails on the beach with us. In view of this I thought this card would be very fitting.

I'm not sure that my photos do this card justice but hopefully you'll be able to see all the dimension and glittery bits. If you have any questions, please feel free to message me either by email, Facebook or Instagram. I always respond and promise that I don't bite!

I inked a simple background with Peacock Feathers and Squeezed Lemonade Distress Inks before cutting a strip of vellum and and heat embossing the Happy Birthday sentiment. Next, I drew a cocktail glass body and traced it onto acetate. Prior to cutting it out I added some "flaps" to the sides of the glass (these are folded and tucked into slits in the inked background to make the glass 3D). Next I cut a simple stem and die cut a circle for the base. I then cut matching vellum shapes.

The vellum was coloured using Distress Inks and secured with strategically placed glue dots. Next I lightly marked where the glass was to be placed on the inked background and cut slits about 1/2cm  in towards the centre of the glass from the edges. I ran double sided tape down the acetate flaps and slotted the glass body into place. I cut a piece of vellum to create the back of the glass and then carefully ran silicone glue around the entire rim of the glass before coating generously with diamond dust. I then assembled the remaining parts of the glass and added a straw that I had cut in half.

I stamped and heat embossed the glasses from the Susan K Weckesser  and added vellum and acetate "glass" to them. Next I stamped, coloured and cut out several flowers, leaves and shells from the stamp sets listed below. and attached them to the card with silicone glue. To finish I added lots of glitter and some 3D gloss glue.

I hope you like my little creation but more importantly I hope she likes it!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Stamp Sets used:

Tropical Flowers 1

Tropical Paradise Flamingo

Tropical Oceans

Celebrations

I am more intelligent

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

Mixing things up with Docrafts Woodland Gift Tags and Creativity Magazine Free Gifts!

So I picked up this months Creativity Magazine and as always there were some amazing free gifts in the shape of a set of four double sided wooden postcards and some Wilson Wood stickers. I also happened to get my hands on the new Woodland Gift Tags dies which from the very first moment I saw them I knew that I was going to end up buying them!

I made this little card using one of the postcards and the dies. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out.

Paint the scene on the wooden postcard with watered down Artiste acrylic paints. Remove the sign post sticker from the free Wilson Wood stickers and cut out the text from another sticker. Mount onto cardstock and arrange the letters as desired. Using the Woodland Gift Tags Die and A4 Premium Textured Cardstock cut several leaves, toadstools and animals. If desired dry brush detail onto the animals using Artiste Acrylic Paints and Brushes. Arrange all of the elements onto the postcard and secure with Stick It Silicone Glue. To finish add 3D Clear Gloss to the mushrooms and acorns.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire

Supplies:
Creativity Magazine
Woodland Gift Tag Dies
A4 Textured Cardstock
Acrylic Paints
Brushes

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes
Dragonfly Dreams - Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - Create a scene
The Corrosive Challenge - Nature/Animals
Crafty Friends Challenge - Use your dies
Animal Friends Challenge - Anything goes
Crafts & Me - Anything goes
Cut It Up - Die cuts

Up, Up and Away.....

Yep I did a little disappearing act again! I've been busy creating but just haven't had the time to blog. A few things have changed creatively for me, not least of which is that I'm now an official Docrafts Expert and will be demonstrating in various locations in the South East.

Anyway, enough about me and lets get on with showing you a TV sample that I forgot to blog for the launch of Polkadoodles Stamp Soup collection. This was a really quick and easy make and came out heaps better than I could ever have imagined!

This project uses 5 of the stamps from the collection, Distress Inks, Fantasy Paints and a mini box frame.

To create simply stamp the curly leaf and elongated heart leaf stamp several times onto plain card, cut out and colour as desired. I've added a trunk to the tree in the foreground.

Using Stazon Ink, stamp the sentiment, balloon and basket. Add the ropes using a permanent marker pen. Paint the balloon and basket, set aside to dry.

Using glue and foam pads layer up the scene. Create a backdrop piece using a square of card and that's it you're done.

I hope you like this little box frame, I had a lot of fun making it and it was one of those projects that I didn't want to let go!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Dragonfly Journeys - Up, Up and Away
Penny Black & More - Anything Goes
ABC Challenges - L for Layers
Altered Eclectics - Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - Create a Scene
Noor Design - Anything goes

Oh so pretty......

Another card created using Polkadoodles Stamp Soup for Create and Craft TV show.

I stamped the images using Archival Ink onto cartridge paper and then coloured them using Distress Inks. I couldn't not add a little sparkle and shine so added some Stardust Stickles and Glossy Accents to the dragonflies. I'm not sure if the picture below shows this off slightly better?

Thanks for stopping by.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Craft Stamper - Spring Flowers

A Quick Monochrome Card

Sorry...... it's yet another Stamp Soup sample! This was another one made for the Create and Craft TV launch. It's super simple and yet (I think) really effective.

I've simply used the 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation stamp impressions to create the flower, added a couple of leaves and a stem and then stamped the sentiment. The image has then been matted and layered onto some silver glitter tape and black card.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks - anything goes
Crafty Girls - anything goes
Crafting by design - anything goes
Inspiration Destination - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
Lemon Shortbread - anything goes
Artistic Inspirations - anything goes
613 Avenue Create - anything goes
Amusing Challenges - anything goes

Fairytale Castle Wedding Card

Just thought I'd show you this commissioned card/keepsake that I recently had the pleasure of making. The customer was really specific as to what they wanted and although it was a challenge I managed to incorporate everything they required from the order! This post is really picture heavy so apologies if it's a little slow loading.

The castle is an attempted replica of Herstmonceux Castle where the ceremony was taking place. I say attempted because there were so many details when I started looking closely at it, that it would have been almost impossible to replicate, so I've used a bit of artistic license on it!

The first thing I did was to create a template for the base. I didn't have template for a castle, so I created my own. The project had to be boxed for presentation as it didn't fold flat. Had I made the turrets square then the whole project would've folded flat for posting, which definitely something I will keep in mind for any future similar projects.

Next I covered the walls with papers from Polka Doodles Work & Play Collection 2 and then cut out individual bricks to make the arches on the bridge. I covered the drawbridge in a wood effect paper from Polka Doodles Work & Play Collection 1

I used a variety of cutting dies for the name/greeting plate, shield, foliage, bunting and flags. The tiny flowers are a punch.

The image is from  Mazyart and coloured with Graph'It Markers. I had to alter it slightly as the Groom has a very specific hairstyle which the customer wanted included.

The final request was for somewhere to write a message and place a money gift, so I made a little concertina pocket to the rear of the card which held a tag envelope.

This was a fun project to make and I understand the happy couple were delighted with it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafty Calendar Challenges - Anything Goes
Brown Sugar Challenges - Anything Goes
Crafts For Eternity - Tic Tac Toe (Dies, Punches, Blue)
Crafty Girls Challenges - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
My Heart Pieces - Use a digi stamp
The Crafters Cafe - Use Punches and Dies
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Just Inspirational - Wedding
PDE Linky Party - Dies/Punches
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes (see tip re turrets)
Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes

DIY Notepad For Your Handbag

Good morning it's my turn to provide today's Studio 12 inspiration post. So my project today is a handmade notepad for your handbag using one of the journalling pages from the Studio 12 Piknix Collection 1 CD.

Simply print out numerous copies of your selected journal page onto cheap copy paper, trim to size and then stack so that all of the sides are equal. Then use bull dog clips to hold the pages in position before brushing the top edge lightly with Copydex glue. Once dried, apply a further two layers of glue to ensure a good seal (nothing worse than a notepad which falls to pieces the minute you try to use it).

Then print the paper pattern of your choice onto card and cut it to measure 8" x 2 3/4". Next score the card at 1 1/4", 1 1/2", 4 3/4" and 5". Fold along the score lines, punch a decorative edge and lightly ink the edges if desired, then glue the pad into place. I've used a small piece of magnetic tape to secure the flap. Embellish as desired.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire

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