I'm back!!!

Well I'm kind of back. I thought I'd pop my head in, blow off the dust and see who's about! I'm not sure if people still blog or if other social media platforms have taken over? Whilst I love the ease and speed of sharing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, I really miss the details that blog posts give. So with that in mind, I'm thinking I might give blogging another whirl. I can't promise to post on regular basis at the moment, but I'm going to do my best.

Whilst I've been away from here, I've been super busy and believe it or not a lot of it has involved crafting. As many of you know I demonstrate for docrafts and also design for Polkadoodles. That hasn't changed, but I'm pleased to be able to tell you that I'm now a member of the 2017 docrafts Professional Design Team. My term with them is about to start, so I'm hoping that I'll be able to bring you lots of inspiration for using the new goodies that they will be releasing in the coming months.

Whilst I'm here I thought I'd give you a little glimpse of some of my recent docrafts demonstration pieces. If you've not been to one of our events, I can highly recommend that you pop along as there are some super talented demonstrators and they all seem to have a never ending supply of hints and tips as well as inspiration.

I'll start with some easy makes using the new Mr & Mrs Xcut die, Vintage Border dies and Dinky Flower and Leaf dies. You'll have to excuse the fact some of the colours schemes and layouts aren't quite perfect, but these projects were made during a demo and with the products that I had to hand.

This was a simple little anniversary card. I've added Bare Basics large wooden numbers painted with Artiste Silver Paint and a sentiment from Papermania All Occasions Sentiments.

Another easy make using the above dies, Coloured Vellum, Mirror Board and of course some ribbon. (All of the flowers on the top of the project have been made using one die).

Finally, a little gift bag.

Hopefully you can see just versatile the dies I've used are? I'll be back soon with some more makes and maybe a tutorial.

Thanks for stopping by and apologies again for the lack of consistency in blogging. I will be trying harder to blog regularly!

Claire x

Folk Wedding Box Card

This was a commissioned make for a folk wedding in Poland. The brief was lots of bold colour, flowers, ribbon, vintage and somewhere to put a money gift and the need for the card to travel from the UK to Poland. So rather nervously this is what I came up with. Apologies in advance as this post is picture heavy!

 I coloured the bride and groom using my Graphic'It Markers. The brides dress was given a subtle sparkle with some Stickles Star Dust Glitter Glue.

The flourish and letter die cuts were heat embossed with Antique Gold embossing powder. I added some Glossy Accents to the hearts to make them pop.

The card has an envelope tag to put money in and write a message on, it slots into a concertina sleeve at the back of the card .

The leaves have been die cut and the flowers paper punched.

The paper was an experiment that I'll definitely be repeating! I simply ran it through my Big Shot in an embossing folder and then applied Versamark to raised detail before sprinkling with gold embossing powder.

I wasn't sure if the card was going to be posted or taken in person to Poland, so rather than make a box for it to travel in, I decided to create the card so it could fold completely flat and be popped into the envelope that I created for it, that way it could be posted or stored easily in a suitcase.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Craftitude - Anything Goes/Pop It Up
Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
Bella and Bronte's Challenge - New Beginnings

Something Old, New, Borrowed & Blue!!!

Morning! It's challenge week again for team B over at Polka Doodles and just in case you hadn't guessed it the theme this week is Weddings.

I decided that I fancied making an exploding box as they always seem to go down well with the recipients and as I had someone to make it for it would so totally be worth the effort involved! So that's what I've done! The old is of course the tried and tested exploding box, the new was my Labels One Nesties and the addition of clothes to the owls, the borrowed was the mini heart punch (courtesy of my lovely friend Maz who for some reason chooses not to blog??!!) and the blue is of course evident in my colour scheming! So here it is:

The gorgeous polkadot paper is from Candy Doodles Collectors Edition CD. The Heart & Button are from the Sundae of Seasons CD and the owls are from the Sugar Birdies Special Collectors Edition CD. I've drawn a jacket and top hat for the male owl and a veil for the female owl to make them look like a married couple. I free-hand cut the horseshoe.

The arch is made from card covered acetate which has been embossed.

The little frame on the front was from Poundland and I've just given it a coat of acrylic paint and brushed it lightly with Distress Ink. The back of the frame has been glued onto the box and the frame simply clips on and off. Needless to say I will be in search of more these as I think they'll be really useful!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire xxx

Materials
Candy Doodles Collectors Edition
Sundae of Seasons
Sugar Birdies Special Collectors Edition
Labels One Nestabilities
Sizzix - Blonde De Monde Alpha
Sizzix - Burlap and Swirls Embossing Folder
Stickles
Glossy Accents
Gems

I'd like to enter this box into the following challenges:
I ♥ PROMARKERS- Anything Goes
Just Keep on Creating - Anything Goes
Truly Scrumptious - Anything Goes
Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenge - Anything Goes
Sassy Cheryl's - Anything but a square card
fashionista challenge - Weddings
make it monday - anything goes
Simon Says stamp & show - anything goes
stamp with fun - weddings
catch the bug - things with wings
crafty emma - anything goes