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

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

Less Is More Birthday Sketch

Boo!!! Yep it's me making a rare appearance today. You're probably asking what the occasion is? Well yesterday I was having a little blog hop and thought I'd check to see what the Limettes were upto, only to spot that it was their first birthday and that they'd got a fab sketch to follow. So, as my mojo has been a bit "bleaurgh" lately I thought I'd use the sketch as an attempt to fire things up!

Here's what I did. I'm not completely thrilled with it, but then again I'm not hugely disappointed either! I think if I were to repeat this card that I'd lose the bee in the bottom right corner and also maybe make all the bees sit on the band. What do you think?

Now I'm hoping that they'll accept my entry cos whilst in my mind I'd completely followed the sketch I noticed when I went to enter the challenge that I'd moved the band over and not left a margin - sorry girls :( Even if my offering isn't acceptable, I still had fun actually making something and playing with my inks, which if I'm honest is what's important.

So Happy Birthday LIM and here's to another year of inspiration.

Claire xxx

Materials
Distress Inks - Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed
Punchanella
Bee Stamp - Kars
Sentiment and Ink Blot - Computer generated
Stickles - Stardust

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Less Is More - Sketch
Stampin With The Dragon - Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes