Mirabelle Mergirl 50th Birthday Pop Up Box Card

Just a quickie from me this evening. It was a very dear friend's 50th Birthday recently and she's a fellow crafter, so I thought I'd best make a card as a shop bought one just wouldn't do!

I decided to use the Mirabelle decoupage pad and papers to create the box. It's a lovely collection but my only criticism of it is that it focuses on the characters and then lacks things like sentiments.

I used a Spellbinders Foliage Die to create the seaweeds and found some plastic seashells which I coloured with my Graph'It Markers and then covered with Stickles Glitter Glue.

The verse on the front is from Stampotique and the fish have been taken from Terri Sherman's Marina.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes (Honorable mention))
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Crafting With An Attitude - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Anything Goes (Winner)
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
Wonderful Wednesdays - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Happy Anything
Tuesday Throwdown - More than one fold (Top 3)

Guess Who's Hosting This Weeks Challenge Over At Stampotique????

Yup it's lil ol me! Before we get down to business I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas with plenty of new goodies to play with?? If you did then hopefully you'll come and join in with this weeks Stampotique challenge which is "Out with the old and in with the new". 

Which basically means that if you were very good then Santa will have bought you lots of new stash to play with, which means you can either make a project using a combination of old and new stash (just don't forget to tell us what it is). Or if you weren't so lucky, you can make something to celebrate the new year. The choice is yours!

I went for a combination of both for my card!

I used die cut numbers to create a mask before spraying the card with a combination of inks. Whilst I waited for the ink to dry, I stamped up Head and "Gussie Up" which were then cut to size and coloured as necessary. Once the background was dry, I matted and layered it onto cardstock and added some Glossy Accents to the 2013 to add dimension. 

I do hope that you'll join us as I can't wait to see what you come up with.

So all that's left for me to do is to wish each and everyone of you a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Claire xxx

Keep Calm & Carry On - It's Only Christmas!!!!

Hee hee so are you all feeling the pressure?? I sure am!!! I currently have builders in the house and it is has hugely disrupted my Christmas preparations (and crafting). I really wanted to be organised this year and send out cards to some of the lovely people that I have met through blogging, the organised bit never materialised but I did manage some very last minute cards and this is one of them! This is ideal for making in batches and the best bit is you don't need to be really precise with anything - so no faffing around measuring and matching colours!

To start I knocked up a few Gesso background pieces which I immediately sprinkled with Glamour Dust. Whilst they were drying I stamped, coloured and cut out my images. I added some interest to the background with embossing powder, cut the sentiment ribbon into individual words and then quickly assembled my cards. To finish I added Glossy Accents to the lights and baubles.

What do you think?? Not bad for a rush job??

I'm going to enter this card into the Moneysupermarket.com Christmas card contest. Keep ya fingers crossed for me as there are some awesome prizes up for grabs!!!

Right, I'd better get off of here and carry on with my Christmas preparations! You won't be seeing very much of me until about February, so I'd like to wish each and everyone of my readers a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

PS Oh and whilst I'm here, don't forget to enter the Crafty Ribbons Advent Event, there are loads of prizes to be won and the DT have worked really hard to bring you lots of inspiration. Remember even if you missed day one, you can still enter as Mr Linky will remain open until 26/12.

Materials:
Images: Tangled Enthusiasm, Abstract Foliage
Sentiment Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons
Gesso, Embossing Powder, Stickles

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

Cute or what???

Good morning it's time for another challenge over at Stampotique and this week we want to see you make a Christmas card but not using a Christmas stamp!!! Remember you don't need to use Stampotique stamps to enter, but obviously we'd love it if you did!

For my card I've used the uber cute Hung Out To Dry which has been stamped, cut out and placed in a little hand drawn stocking. The image has been coloured with Promarkers. I've added some lace for texture and a sentiment using ribbon.

Whilst I'm here I just want to remind you that Crafty Ribbons is staging it's Christmas Advent Event and there are loads of prizes up for grabs, so don't forget to hop on over.

Thanks for stopping by today

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Make It Monday - Anything goes
Inspire Me Friday - Anything goes

Have Faith!!! It's a Gesso ATC

Morning. Surprised to see me I bet? Well I thought that I'd show you this ATC that I made for the Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge Blog who are being sponsored this week by Stampotique. The theme is "Wing It" which basically means anything with wings, so should be a nice easy challenge for most of you.

I have to say I really don't know why I don't make more ATC's as I had lots of fun with this one and they are great for trying new techniques and using up scraps of card. Maybe one of my New Years resolutions will be to make an ATC a week and participate in few swaps?

Anyway, onto my ATC. I used a Gesso technique that I'd spotted in Craft Stamper magazine to create the textured background. I liberally sprinkled the wet Gesso with angel dust aka as glitter and left it to dry. Whilst I waited for the Gesso to dry, I stamped Daniel's Tree Topper Large onto lightweight card three times, coloured with Promarkers and then cut her out.

Once the Gesso was completely dry,  the raised parts were swiped with silver acrylic paint and the edges stamped and heat embossed using Abstract Foliage.  The angel was then decoupaged onto the ATC. I printed the sentiment from JM Barrie onto tissue paper and then cut it out and used Mod Podge to place it onto the ATC. At this point I decided that the ATC needed something more, so I stamped Daisy Daisy onto some tissue paper, coloured with Promarkers and Mod Podge'd (is that a word??) it into place.

I do hope that you'll join the challenge.

Thanks for stopping by.

Claire x

It's a wrap! Stampotique Challenge

OK just in case you haven't guessed what this weeks challenge is over at Stampotique, I'll tell ya!! It is of course gift wrapping. Take a peek at what the other girls have done, there are some amazing ideas! As always you can use any stamp to play, just ensure that it fits the challenge theme.

I seem to have an abundance of small gifts to give this year, so thought that I'd take this as an opportunity to make another of the A4 gift bags that I showed you the other day.

I started off by spritzing a sheet of paper with Cosmic Shimmer Mist, I then unscrewed the cap and dripped some over the paper randomly. Once it had dried I layed some snowflake shapes over the paper and spritzed again and left it to dry again. I then made the bag up and decorated it with Snowman (coloured with Prismacolor pencils) and some snowflakes. To finish I added some glitter, Glossy Accents, Dewdrops and Seam Binding Ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Make It Monday - Anything goes
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

Stampotique Christmas Fairy

Just a quick post from me today to show this little Christmas Fairy wall hanging that I've done for this weeks challenge over at Stampotique which is to use paint on your creation.

It's not turned out quite as I expected but I think I still like it.....let me know what you think.

I really hope that you'll be joining us for this challenge. Remember you can use any stamps and  we've made a change to the submission rules "You will now have until the first challenge of the following month to submit your entries-we will only have one Inlinkz per month"  which means that you now have even longer to take the opportunity to play along with us.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Materials:
Stella
Big Bee
Promarkers
Prismacolor pencils
Modelling Paste
Canvas Board
Ribbon
Acrylic paints
Stickles
Circle and snowflake punch
Glossy Accents
Sizzix/Tim Holtz Birdcage Die
Sizzix Holly Die
Antique Gold Embossing Powder
Wooden snowflakes
Flowers
Dewdrop Gems

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Crafty Creations - Christmas is coming
Make It Monday - Anything goes
Inspire Me Friday - Anything goes

UTEE Bee Necklace

Wow where is time going? I can't believe that it's time for another challenge over at Stampotique! This week we want to see Nature themed projects. Remember to play along with us you don't need to use Stampotique stamps (although we'd obviously love it if you did) and you now have until the first challenge of the following month to submit your entries, so plenty of time to get those gorgeous creations in!

For those of you who regularly follow my blog, you will possibly remember me showing you my Steampunk Bee which my daughter was rather taken with before I "steam-punked" it and turned it into a wall hanging. Well I finally got round to making her a UTEE Bee which she then wanted made into necklace, so here it is....

I stamped Big Bee onto card five times, cut him out,coloured and layered him up with Pinflair Glue. Then I punched holes into the wings and swiftly dunked him into a molten UTEE/UTEE Flex bath. The wings were then given a coat of Star Dust Stickles before adding the jump rings and double length of chain.

However, you know what kids are like they are never satisfied and she now wants a ring and bracelet to match, so guess who's had to buy Small & Medium Bee?? So you know that shortly I'll be showing you those!! 

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

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

Make It Monday - Anything goes

Inspire Me Fridays - Anything goes

More Poop!

Happy Halloween!!!

It's time for another challenge over at Stampotique and this time we want to see your Funny Halloween creations! Now I have to say I struggled with this challenge - a) cos I'm not very funny and b) twice I went to make something and saw that someone on the DT had used the stamp in a similar way! So I'm afraid to say that I've gone for baseline humour and produced Bat Poop!

I used my new Sizzix Box Die (656245) to make the box which was then covered with Distress Ink and Pearl Glimmer Mist before over stamping with Abstract Foliage. The sentiment has been computer generated, printed onto acetate and then highlighted with white gel pen. The image Batty was stamped onto scrap card, cut out and given a coat of Glossy Accents before being mounted onto the assembled box. To finish I added some choccie raisins. I've made a small stash of these to hand out to any Trick or Treaters that may come calling tonight.

I really hope that you'll be joining us for this challenge. Remember you can use any stamps and  we've made a change to the submission rules "You will now have until the first challenge of the following month to submit your entries-we will only have one Inlinkz per month (at top of blog); so today marks the start of the challenges for October and it will run through the close of our last challenge for October on November 6, 2012 at noon ET" which means that you now have even longer to take the opportunity to play along with us.

If you're celebrating tonight have a fantastic time. I'm taking my son out Trick or Treating we then have a few friends over for a bite to eat and few drinks! Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

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

Make It Monday - Anything goes

Inspire me Fridays - Anything goes
Tando Creative - Purple, Orange, Green & Black

Copy Cat? Or Inspired By?

Morning. It's time for another challenge over at Stampotique and this time we want to see you CASE a member of the DT's work. Now this is a challenge that I'm not altogether comfortable with as whilst I think it's OK to take inspiration from another person I don't think it's OK to copy their work in it's entirety especially when no credit is given to original artist. In addition when someone has created something brilliant, that little voice of self doubt creeps in and tells me that I'll never make anything as good/beautiful and as a result kills my mojo. Anyhow, as the challenge had been set I thought I'd play along, so I had a good look round my fellow team mates blogs and selected my victim!!!

I decided that I CASE my uber talented teamy Samantha Read and make one her fantastic glass cubes. I knew that it was going to be a challenge to make one of these that looked half presentable, but man I didn't think I'd fall at the first hurdle!! Oh and you'll have to excuse the picture quality on this post as well, it was an absolute nightmare to photograph!

Firstly, my Memory Glass was only 1 1/2" but I decided I could live with that, but then I spotted that Sam had used Super Glue :O - help........!!!! I'm such a messy worker that the words Super Glue struck terror into my heart. I've only used the stuff once and it almost ended in a trip to A&E with the kitchen worktop in tow!!! So with that in mind I was all but ready to go and CASE someone else! However, you know me I won't be defeated, so I slept on it and thought I'd try a couple of other things in place of the Super Glue.

I started off by trying UTEE which was OK but didn't allow me enough time line up the glass fully. Then I moved onto Memory Tape - this was reasonably successful but just looked a little cumbersome and kind of swamped my cube. So my last resort was Pinflair Glue - omg I love this stuff! It worked a treat!

I then stamped Snowman, Oh...Tree and Picket Fence onto white shrink plastic, coloured with pencils and then once shrunk glued them into position. I added some "faux snow" that I got in the Pound Store and then sealed my cube.

Sam used molten embossing powder to create the "faux soldered" effect on her cube and mentioned that her's had fallen to pieces a couple of times whilst dipping - eeekkk - molten UTEE burns just do not do it for me!!! I contemplated leaving the glass joints as they were, but then noticed that I had a tiny gap in the top right corner. So, I thought I'd try my usual swipe with Versamark and embossing powder technique. So glad I did as it worked just fine and I felt like I had a little more control over where the embossing powder went. Also, where odd specks of the powder stuck to the glass it gave a frosty effect (this can be scraped off if you don't like that effect).

To finish I added a shrink plastic snowflake and some glass pearls. I then looked at it and thought that it needed something else, so I added some Pinflair Glue Icicles (idea for these nicked from here). I've tried to show you how gorgeous they look in the above picture, but seem to have failed miserably :(

So what do you think of my spin on Sam's cube, is it a copy cat one or simply inspired by her?

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Make It Monday - Anything goes
Stamptacular Sunday - No rules
Inspire Me Friday - Anything goes
Anything but a card - Anything but a card

Shhh - There's Fairies In My Garden!!!

Yep it's true and I have the photographic evidence!!! :D

This weeks challenge over at Stampotique is to use your stamps in conjunction with a photograph. Now as many of you know I quite enjoy scrapping but don't find it the most natural thing in the world to do. So when I saw this challenge it was kind of a "gulp moment" and then a "ohhhhh what am I gonna do one." Then when cleaning the loo inspiration stuck...... I spotted a favourite photo of my two little cherubs that had been stuck in a frame and hung on the wall in there (lol, just thought that this is maybe TMI??). I really hope you'll join us  this time, remember you don't need to use a Stampotique image to enter!

I also had this picture from Dunelm Mill that I picked up for the princely sum of £0.49p (well I picked up a couple actually but we won't go there!!) which I needed to prove wasn't a "white elephant". So I thought instead of a scrap LO I'd try a photo canvas of sorts!

Now this photo was taken years ago before everyone had a digital camera and I only had a cheapy point & shoot one, so it hadn't been enhanced and worse still I couldn't find the negatives. So I almost knocked the idea I had on the head. Hubby suggested scanning the photo - epic fail - it was really grainy and no matter what I did it wouldn't go right! Then my lovely daughter suggested taking a photo of it! Of course genius, why didn't I think of it! So that's what I did. Now it's not perfect, but it's certainly passable and tbh as this piece is for me and it's more about the memory than artistic perfection, I thought I'd run with it. So this is what I came up with.....

I started of by applying a generous coat of Gesso to the picture. Once dried I blended Distress Inks to create a background. Now the DI's didn't behave exactly as I'd expected, as they dried they faded and kind of ran together to create different hues, but I still liked the effect so I left it. Next I stamped, coloured and cut out Giant Shroom, Mushroom Group and Stones & Grass Cube and glued them into position. The mushrooms have had Glossy Accents added to the red areas and the wings on my daughter's costume have had been liberally covered with Stickles. To finish I stamped the "there are fairies in my garden" sentiment onto tissue paper and glued it into position.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes
Craft Room Challenge - Alter It
Top Tip Tuesday - Things With Wings
Joanne Sheen - Down In The Garden
Craftymess Challenge - Anything Goes

Steampunk Bee!

Oh get me! My first attempt at steampunk! Actually it's my first attempt at a couple of things, but on the whole I'm pretty OK with how they've come out :D

Last year my old teamie Crom aka Helen from Croms Cubby Hole made a fantastic 3D embellishment using her melt pot. I was so impressed by it that I thought maybe one day I'd have a play. Now I have to say part of the reason I didn't attempt it before was that it looked a bit intimidating. However, I'm pleased to report that Helen was right and it was indeed relatively straight forward. So much so that it's definitely something that I will be repeating! Infact look out for take two of the bee ;D

I altered an old beer mat by covering with torn papers, paint, modelling paste and glimmer spray and adhering a computer generated sentiment onto it.

The bee is of course Big Bee by Jo Capper-Sandon which has been stamped numerous times, decoupaged and then given a bath in UTEE before being adorned with various cogs and springs. I made the little key in his back from two Woodware brads.

My only disappointment with this project was the chain! I tried just about every fast method to get one to rust, but NONE of the fast methods worked for me (I think I'm lil Miss Impatient). So I'm currently trying a slower method that looks like it's working. In view of this, I resorted to using a brass chain that should tarnish fairly quickly!

 So what do you reckon?

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Make It Monday - Anything goes
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything goes
Craftymess - Anything goes
The Stampman - Butterflies, Birds & Bees
Craftroom Challenge - Alter It
LEJ Designs - Steampunk
Through The Craftroom Door - Anything goes
That Craft Place - Make your own background

It's all about the squares!

Wow where did that fortnight go? I can't believe it's time for another challenge over at Stampotique, but it is, and this time we want to see squares - at least three of them! So as it's a nice easy one (most of your guys who mat and layer automatically have three or more squares anyway) I really do hope that you'll join us. Remember you don't need to use a Stampotique product to enter and you could be in with a chance of winning a lovely voucher to spend on new stash!

I'm afraid my card is really quick and easy one (I promise I have got more creative stuff in the pipeline to show you soon) which is for my friend's birthday which falls on Halloween.

The card is made from a regular card blank which has been matted with black paper and then white card. To create my third square which is inked, I simply made a mask from post it notes prior to inking with Distress Inks. The moon has been water bleached before over stamping with the fantastic image Owl Tree by Kira Nichols. To finish I added a rub on sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Bearly Mine - Add a sentiment
Love to create - Anything goes
Make It Monday - Anything goes

I wanna tell ya a story........

So grab a coffee and settle in for a long post!!! It's time for another challenge over at Stampotique and this week we're challenging you to use Mustard, Orange & Navy. Yep I groaned too, but I actually think the combo works really well even if it did have me ripping my hair out wondering what on earth to do!

It would've been oh so simple had I planned ahead and used the C&S card that I made for CASual Friday's the other week, but oh no little Miss Disorganised merrily created a card for that challenge and blogged without even looking at the forth-coming challenges for Stampotique!!! Eeek lesson learned!

Then I made the fatal mistake of catching a glimpse of what the other girls had done and full scale panic set in (Pop over to them to have a look and you'll see what I mean!). So I gave myself a slap and tried to focus on the project for several days in a row and....... Nothing!! Dontcha just hate it when that happens??

Then, just when I'd given up all hope I spotted a picture several times on various  Pinterest board's for a salt scrub which I thought would make pretty nice Christmas gifts for my girlfriends. This then led to much googling of various homemade scrub and beauty recipes (I know you're wondering where this is going, but hang in there with me!?) and eventually I hit upon a brown sugar and honey one which immediately sparked an idea for this project! So there you have it the secret to my creative thought processes - just genius huh? Rofl! :D

Anyway, this is what I've eventually come up with, not fantastic, but it fits the challenge! I hope you'll be kind after all my pain - lol!

I started off by sterilising an empty screw lid jar and ensuring that all of the adhesive used to hold the label on with had been removed. The scrub was then made up loosely based upon this recipe (I made a larger quantity, and used olive oil and some almond and orange extract for fragrance and adjusted the texture of the scrub by adding a little more sugar). Once the mix had been placed into the jar and I'd made sure that the lid was on firmly (believe me this is essential!!!) the jar was cleaned up with an acetone nail polish remover to get rid of every last trace of oil.

I then inked some cardstock with Distress Ink and scanned the background into my computer before using the Freezer Paper Technique to print it onto some fabic. A single flower from Daisy Daisy was then stamped randomly over the fabric before ironing to set the inks. I used a cereal bowl as a template to cut the fabric into a circle. The edges were lightly frayed (if you don't want the edges to fray at all, simply run some PVA around the edge before cutting.

Next I stamped Big Bee several times onto some white shrink plastic, coloured with pencils. Once shrunk I added Glossy Accents to the bodies and Stickles to the wings. These were attached either end of some jute twine which I then used to secure the fabric jar cover.

I didn't want to waste the inky background paper that I'd made to create the fabric with, so I made a tag card with my Sizzix Tag Die. To create a little more interest, I sponged Distress Inks through a piece of sequin waste and knocked back the colour in places by dry brushing with Gesso. I then used some navy paint on the end of a paint brush to add more interest.

The word BEE was created from some old paper scrabble tiles that I've had kicking around in my stash for ages - they've simply been inked and then punched with a circle punch, before being given a layer of Glossy Accents. I then used some blue ink to stamp the Grass before attaching more of the shrink plastic bees.

Well I think that's about it, well done if you managed to stay with me - told ya it was an epic post!!! Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire xxx

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Recycle It

Piñata Bunny Meets The Monsters!

Today's the day!!! That's right folks it release day over at Stampotique. You finally get the chance to buy some (or all) of the lovely rubber we've been showing you over the past few days. Today I thought I'd show you a different take on the oh so cute  7302 "Hung Out To Dry" bunny and another new stamp from Kira 4024 "Line Up"  (I'll apologise in advance if I've managed to offend anyone, especially Maria as I'm not sure this how she envisaged him being used, but I blame the monsters!!).

So there you have it! One oh so cute bunny that's now not quite as cute and a very guilty looking monster in the line up! I have to say both of these new releases are just brilliant as you can use them in so many ways. I'll be blogging some more of my new release makes over the next few days/weeks.

For our last little surprise, all of those who have hopped with us this week and today will be eligible for our random drawing of a winner to get some new release goodies.  We will choose our winner next week before our next challenge. Almost the entire team is hopping and sharing some creations, so we hope that you will join us.  If you've not started the hop yet, then you need to go to Sam's blog and follow the directions from there. If you're already hopping then you should have arrived here from Jo Capper-Sandon's blog and your next port of call is Kaz Boughton's blog.

Enjoy the hop and thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Stamps:                                                                                                                                             
7302 "Hung Out To Dry"
4024 "Line Up"
3031 "Abstract Foliage"
9163 Stones & Grass Cube
3002 Daisy Daisy
6090 Picket Fence

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Haunted House Designs - Bare Bones
The Octopode Factory - How Does Your Garden Grow

Stampotique Has A New Artist And I Think You're Going To Love Her!

Thank goodness this day has finally arrived! I've been bursting to share the new Stampotique image releases with you all. Let me tell you there are so many amazing new images that you're going to have trouble picking your favourite! To celebrate the September release, we are going to be featuring one of our stamp designers each day for four days leading up to a Grand Finale at which point they will be available to purchase from the Stampotique Originals store.

Today, I am using a stamp designed by my massively talented teamie R. Maria Sabina aka Lollyrot who is Stampotiques' latest stamp artist. She has some adorable images and I had to exercise a great deal of restraint when choosing which one to use (it would've been oh so easy to have the lot)!! If you join our hop you'll see why I struggled!!!

Anyway, this is the one that I chose - 7302 Hung Out To Dry. Isn't it just the cutest? I have to say I've had tremendous fun with this image already and I will blog my other makes using this stamp in the very near future, so keep your eyes peeled!! I'll warn you now it won't be quite what you'd expect from me or this stamp!!!

I thought the image was way too cute to be detracted from with lots of fancy papers and embellies, so  I'd let it speak for itself on these little cards - what do you think?

See told you it was a cutie!

The image has been extended by drawing in a washing line complete with bib and vest. To finish the image  has been lightly coloured with Prismacolor pencils.

Hop along with some of the design team today to see some of Maria's new images and come back and let us know what some of your favorites are. Stick with us until the final reveal on Wednesday and one of you might be rewarded with some goodies!!!

You'll want to start off your hop over at Val's blog.

Valerie Wilson

Kate Crane

Kim Howard

Claire Boelema

Maria Sabina Raita

Stampotique Designer's Challenge

Thanks for stopping by today and don't forget to check out the blog tomorrow for the 2nd artist we'll be featuring.  It's not a new one, but the artist is a fan favourite!

Claire x

I'd like to enter these cards into the following challenges:
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything goes
Make It Monday - Anything goes

I know I like a challenge or three, but.........

OMG one layer cards - eek! The lovely Gez has set the challenge of a one layer card over at Stampotique. Now I know that I've done a few inked and silhouette one layer cards in the past that were super quick and easy, but this time I couldn't find any Stampotique silhouette stamps in my stash that I hadn't already shown you recently. So after much thought I've come up with this card which is something completely different for me in everyway! I hope you like it and I'm really hoping that my friends daughter will like it too, as it's for her birthday!

Now if this card had been decoupaged, a stepper or a digital card it would've been a piece of cake as I could've done it in almost any order and it wouldn't have mattered. As it was I actually had to do a bit of planning to get the images layered in the right order :/

The following images were used on this card Stones & Grass Cube, Key Keeper, Daisy Daisy, Welcome Door and Abstract Foliage. I started of by stamping a set of stones, before masking them to over stamp the Key Keeper and then the Welcome Door before filling in with the other stamps. The 18 was created using the numbers from Sizzix Vintage Marketplace as a mask and inking the back wall area with  Distress Ink. Everything has then been coloured with Prismacolor Pencils. I've added some Stickles to the 18, the centre of the daisies and the Key Keeper's body. To give a little shine and dimension I've added Glossy Accents to the heart on the door, key, eyes and horns.

The sentiment has been handwritten (like you couldn't have guessed!!) and says "You've got the key to the door.." and on the inside of the card "...don't lose it!!!"

I hope that you'll come and join the challenge as there is a fantastic prize on offer of $30 to spend on Stampotique stamps. It's worth noting that our rules have changed recently and whilst we'd be thrilled if you used a Stampotique stamp, it's no longer a requirement. I can't wait to see what you all make.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything goes
Anything Goes Challenge - Make your own background
Top Tip Tuesday - One layer card
Lollipop Crafts - Anything goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Journey - Happy Birthday/Celebration
Papelitos Stamps - Happy Birthday/Celebration
Bearly Mine - Anything Goes

It's A Rubbish Christmas Ornament!

This weeks challenge over at Stampotique is to Alter Something, and although it's not my week to play along, it is my turn to post over at the Stampotique Designer's Blog. As you know I love altering things, so I thought I'd still run with the theme, especially as I have an ever increasing pile of assorted tins which "might just come in handy!!" Plus it'll get Hubby off of my back. He keeps passing comment on them and I just know if they don't get used he'll sneak them into the re-cycling bin!!! So, I've dug out a sardine can to alter.

I started out by stamping and masking Picket Fence and then heat embossing Abstract Foliage onto a piece of card that had been cut to fit the inside of the tin. It was then Distress Inked and heat embossed with the Abstract Foliage again. The tree has been stamped and heat embossed onto card using Abstract Foliage, then cut out and then Distress Inked.

The tin was covered in moulding paste. Whilst it was still wet I tore strips of card to layer up as the snowdrifts, inked the edges and quickly slid them into position. The images Brrr... , Christmas Mosaic and Snowman were then stamped onto heavy weight card before being cut out and coloured with Prismacolor pencils. I added a light dusting of Stardust Stickles to the Snowman, the collar and cuffs of Brrr's coat and the edges of the snowdrifts . I fully assembled the scene once the paste and Stickles were dry. To finish I die cut two Marianne Creatables Snowflake's LR0125 in shrink plastic, attached a small blue gemstone and glued them in position.

I haven't decided yet as to if this decoration should hang, stand as shown or free stand.... such big decisions ;D

Well that's me done for today.

Thanks for stopping by

Claire x

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Creative Stamp Friends - Stamp a scene
Make it Monday - Anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Anything goes

One Layer CAS Card

This week Stampotique are sponsoring CASual Friday's and the theme is Square Cards. As I've never played along with CASual Friday's, I thought I should pop over to see what it was all about before making my card. I'm really glad I did as it turns out that they are CAS style cards (hint is in the title really I guess :/ doh!!), so one of my multi-layered decoupaged fru fru jobs would be completely out of place! If you want more inspiration for CAS cards, please pop across to the Stampotique Designers Blog where there are some amazing cards on show.

For my card I used Grass and Small Butterfly stamped in Cocoa Memento Ink onto a Distress Inked background. The butterfly has been roughly coloured with Prismacolor Pencils and then brushed with Stickles. The sentiment is a rub on.

Thanks for stopping today. I hope you all have a fab weekend - we're going to sit and watch Airbourne either in the garden, or, I might just pop across the field and watch it from the beach. It all depends on how many people descend upon us for the weekend.

Claire xxx

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Clearly Inspired Challenge - Things with wings
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Sisters - Things with wings
Cards und More - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Clean & Simple

It's a Little Sketchy - Stampotique Challenge!

Good morning peeps. It's my first challenge over at Stampotique and this week it's a sketch. Yep I groaned and moaned too - you all know how much I love sketches!!! :D Anyhow, once I'd got over the initial OMG a sketch what am I going to do panic and started to work I was actually reasonably pleased with the end results of my efforts! This is the sketch that we were given to work with.

This is what I eventually did with it. Yep, I simply flipped the sketch onto it's side to make my graduation card. I hope you like it!

I started off by tearing a page from an old book and layering up onto my card base. I then applied a thin coat of Gesso and whilst it was wet swiped some blue acrylic paint through with my fingers. Whilst I waited for it to dry I matted and layer cardstock to make the blackboard. Next came the fun part where I drew Owl With Wings some accessories, coloured them with Promarkers and made the wire frame glasses. To finish I glued everything in place and then wrote the sentiment with a white gel pen.

I really do hope that you'll join us over at Stampotique for this challenge. You don't even need to use one of our stamps, although we'd love it if you did!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Paint It Up
That Craft Place - Things with wings
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes
Make It Monday - Anything goes