Snowman Christmas Card

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

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

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

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

Hello :)

Have you missed me?? Well I know some of you have and I've missed all of you!! I can't believe how long it's been since I last blogged and can only apologise and say that I have had a couple of very good reasons not least of which was major surgery which has to be honest knocked me for six and left me unable to sit and craft for very long. However, I'm feeling heaps better and am crafting as and when I can.

So, my first project back is sadly a With Sympathy card. I never enjoy making these cards (to be honest who does?) and find them really stressful. I'm never sure if the recipient finds comfort in the cards or if they just serve as a reminder of their loss and adds to their grief! Also, I worry about using inappropriate images or verses. To try and avoid this minefield, I've  kept the card relatively clean and simple.

I made a gate fold card and embossed the front panels before swiping over with gold ink. The sentiment has been heat embossed as have the die cut swirls, the oval die cut has been embossed and then highlighted with gold ink.

Tools/Materials
Martha Stewart Scoreboard
Purple Cows Guillotine
Big Shot
Heat Gun
Sizzix Decorative Labels
Sizzix Swirls Embossing Folder
Mini Dots Embossing Folder (freebie from DoCrafts)
Stamp - Anita's (currently on bogof for 99p in The Range)
Heat It Up Embossing Powder  - Gold
Gold Ink

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
OSAAT - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays - Anything Goes
Marks Finest Papers - No Designer Papers