Blogging In my Jim jams!

I thought Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest pffft! After the vast amount of housework (extra dust due to new bathroom being created) washing, cleaning and cooking...... You know the drill, finally after finishing the roast I have managed to get in and start crafting.  I was having a mess around last night and as a result this is what I ended up with.

The stamps are paper mania dragon flies, there were 3 on one stamp but I cut them all up so that I could use them individually.  the background is a mask which I inked with clear in then embossed with verdigris embossing powder

I layered up the dragonflies with some more die cuts and then embossed a square piece of card using a creative expressions mask and added some pearly dots.

I added some turquoise organza ribbon and made just a plain white flower and embellished with a sparkly flower.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog I am hoping to get around to everyone this week.

Crafty hugs,

Clare x x xx x. 

The gelli plate is out

Last weekend I had my gelli plate out and printed some backgrounds. So now it's time to put them to use.

I distressed around the edges then stamped my images on but I also stamped the flower on to card, cut out, coloured with pro markers and added glossy accents.

I made a rose and added some flourishes.   I also stencilled on some stencil paste and added some lovely blue glitter. I added some pearly dots around the butterflies, flowers and sentiments.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my latest make I would love to hear your comment.

Happy crafting.

Clare x x x x 

From this.....................to this!

Well as we all know it's that time of year when pound signs start appearing before our eyes with the daunting thought of christmas looming.  I was sat last night thinking I really could do with some new stamps (stamps are like shoes, too many is never enough) and thought to myself I cannot buy anymore stash until after christmas.  With not much on the t.v. I decided to find out my sketch pad and have a go at creating something of my own.

So I drew this........................

And I ended up with this.  I photocopied the original image onto some card and then masked off the toadstool and inked in a background.  I coloured the toadstool with promarkers and made some flowers out of some prints I did on my gelli plate.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my blog.  Please leave a comment I would love to hear your comments.

Crafty hugs Clare x x x x x 

Happy birthday Sophie x x x

As in my title it was my daughter Sophie's 10th birthday on bonfire night and thought that I should post her birthday card on.  It was a very simple make but using her favourite pinks and purples it went down a treat.

In true motherly form it was down to me to provide a card for William to send to his sister even though he is old enough to go and get his own I made him this card to send. 

I masked part of an imagination craft stencil and using sweet poppy paste and a smattering of glitter I mat and layered to make this cute butterfly card.

Been having a change of direction today.  When I recently went to a local craft show I visited the card-io stand and found them stamping onto clay tiles, this wanted to try!  Unfortunately they were not stocking them so tried to source some locally without any joy.  So I popped to the works and picked up some air dy clay to have a og at making my own.

This is the first one (my experiment) I'm quite pleased so I have just been and made a variety of shapes and sizes might even make up some fridge magnets ideal for teachers gifts at christmas.

That's me for tonight, I hope you have all had a brilliant weekend weather crafting or crafty shopping at the NEC I will get there one day!

I would love to hear your comments.

Happy crafting,

Love Clare x x x x 

Gold finger.........

Infact inky and gold fingers.  Well to be truthful I wasn't intending on blogging against soon but my fidgety finger and crafty hands have been busy.  I have been putting together the finishing touches to my daughters birthday card and decided to try out a new stamp that I haven't used yet.

I used some cs mist a while ago and just keep a stash ready for such occasions (a handy hint from my auntie) and just stamped on the trees using inkylicious birch trees stamp.

Then using my distress inks I created a rocky background.  I embossed the card itself and it then received and ink dusting and some gold mica smudged in (hence the gold fingers).

I added a bit of ribbon to the side of the card but apart from the gold I have added no bling!  I think I am going to enjoy using this stamp and have already got some more ideas brewing for using this in a different style.

Please leave a comment below I love hearing from you all.

Nighty night. 

Big hugs Clare x x x x x

End of half term......... Boo hoo :-(

Well it's the end of half term and whilst many of you are looking forward to the school run on Monday it means that my alarm will be waking me to go back to work.  Still I have had a rather productive week with a few cards completed and a couple of new projects on the boil.

A friend of ours turned 40 last week so just had to make a card. I always find male cards quite difficult but over the summer I did invest in some male influenced stamps, in this case fish being the theme! 

 

I found some card that I had spritzed with cosmic shimmer spray then stamped my image, masked and stamped inkylicious crackle stamp over the top then added some sparkly embossing powders.

Well I do have some more projects on the go and despite going back to school on Monday I will hopefully find some time to blog.  My special little lady turns ten on Tuesday so will definitely be blogging her card at some point next week.

Have a crafty weekend peeps, big hugs!

Clare x x x 

Back to the land of blog

Well here I am back in the land of blog.  Thought I would just share with you some simple cards that I have made (you know the ones when you think oh heck it's so and so's birthday and need to rustle one up pronto). Well have done a job lot to save those emergency moments.  All the cards shown here are made using card-io stamps with a variety of mediums.  I am sure there are a few other ways to go with these stamps but here are a few.

I inked a background onto this card and also used a clarity stencil before stamping on the flowers and used glossy accents to lift up some of the flowers.

This is one of my new favourites.  I stamped these using versa magic chalk inks onto black card, again I used some glossy accents and sprinkled some translucent glitter to add a bit of bling.

Another very simple card.

More versamagic I have only just got these but already feel the need to acquire more colours :-)

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my cards? I am hoping that I can get on a bit more regularly I have lots of new craft stash to try out. Watch this space.

Big hugs to my blog friends.

Clare x x xxxxx

Father's Day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's that time of year again when I start scratching my head!  The challenge of making 3 very different Father's Day cards.  Male cards are not my forte and I always struggle when it comes to embellishments to make the card look I tried.  Well I have indeed tried, it has taken me all day to do just 3 cards.  Have enjoyed it though here are the results.

This is for my father in law.  He used to be in the merchant navy many years ago, so kept to a vintage nautical theme.

The next two cards are for my hubby who is a keen fisherman.  I copied a picture of a common skate onto black card, cut out and decorated with Sakura pens.  The background was one I made a couple of weeks ago with my shimmer mists I stamped with Lavinia textured edge (one of my favourite stamps)  to create sea weed and drew some bubbles by hand.

The final card was stamped with a hobby craft map stamp on to some inky background and then added some mica powder to enhance around the edges.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my efforts.  Thank goodness that's done for another year! 

Would love to hear your comments.

Big hugs x x x x x x 

Life begins at forty ( or so they say)

A very early good morning to you all.  I have certainly had a busy week, unfortunately not as much crafting as I had anticipated, but the weather has been so nice it would have criminal to stay inside.  

Although I haven't been crafting much I have been very industrious and found the bottom of the wash basket, that doesn't happen often I can tell you.

I had a little visit to my favourite craft shop today and had a little spend so naturally had to come home and try out some of my goodies.

Using a polka dot papermania folder, a sizzix scallop /floral die and some Tim Holtz inks my journey began.

I also die cut using spell binders scalloped circles.  I blended the inks using the inkylicious ink dusters.  The stamps that I used are inkylicious make a wish.  All the detail was stamped using the floating dandelion spores.  I used versa mark watermark stamp and clear embossing powder and added liquid pearls in and out to add a little more sparkle.

I versa marked the polka dots and edges of the scallops and brushed over gold mica powders.  The birthday greeting was printed onto vellum, die cut and then coloured in co-ordinating inks.

Well here's to getting in a bit more crafting before I go back to work next week.  I hope you enjoy my latest make.  I love your visits and hearing your comments.  I hope to visit some of your blogs tomorrow ( later today) yawn! My bed is calling me.

Night night. X x x x x 

Morning all just put a couple more finishing touches  couldn't resist. X x x 

Half term I'm so glad you're here!

Like it says on the box thank goodness half term is here.  Working with little people has highs and lows. Holidays are fab but when they share their germs it's the pits :-(. Had my fair share of it this week, spent the day in bed yesterday so all thoughts of crafting went completely out the window.  I am pleased to say that I am feeling slightly better today and actually managed to eat something tonight without inconvenience !  My holiday euphoria has returned and my craft stuff has landed all over the table ;-).

I made this card for a friend of mine who has had a tough time lately.  She has just moved into a new place and I thought it might cheer her up.

Last week I spritzed lots of different colours of cosmic shimmer and mopped them up, got into a terrible mess but it was lots of fun.  I put one of the pieces through with sheenas's daisy embossing folder and added some more shimmer.

I cut out using a sizzix die for the circular piece and stamped with Lavinia textured edge and added more shimmer.  I used marriane creatables rose, leaf and flourish in black card and die cut a tag.

I tied some ribbons to the tag and added some liquid pearls.  I can't remember the name of the butterfly dies but I thought these finished the card off nicely.

I hope you have all been having a lovely bank holiday weekend and look forward to seeing a bit more of everyone this week.  Yippeeeeeeee I'm on holiday !

Love and hugs, 

Clare x x x x 

A blog before bedtime.

No I couldn't suppress my creativity today if I tried! After whipping up cup cakes, lemon drizzle cake and cheese scones for the family, I slammed in the lamb roast, cleared away and returned to my craft table :-)

It was a quick effort really.  I wanted to try out some of my new cosmic shimmer mists ( as demonstrated by my aunt recently)  so I sprayed my mat and dipped and sprayed etc and ended up with some lovely backgrounds to make some cards. 

 Couldn't stop there, I die cut some card using an x cut die and inked a background using distress inks.  I used the Lavinia stamps to put on geese, willow leaves and textured edge in black ink.

  Yes the mica powders were allowed out again too! I embossed one of my pieces of sprayed card then applied versa mark and it had a touch more of mica too!

Hope you enjoy.

Love and hugs x x x x

Rainy day crafting.

Good afternoon to you all on this wet, drizzly Sunday. Can't think of anything better to do then haul out the craft goodies.

I have received my gelli plate and had a little go yesterday.  I need to experiment more with some different colours I think, although I was pleased with the outcome.  I need to invest in some more paint colours though. Spending shall commence on pay day :-). 

Although I have mentioned my gelli plate I am not blogging about that today.  I am trying to dig out stamps and stash etc that I either have not yet used or not used for a long time.

I used papermill linen card stock and inked all the back grounds with Tim Holtz distress inks. 

 I stamped using a fairy from Katy sue designs, sentiment from papermania.  The edging is the texture stamp from Lavinia.

  I versa marked the edges of the sentiment and outer heart and rubbed on some gold mica powder.  

The textured background is from a papermania embossing folder that I bought for a pound at a craft show (love a bargain).  As well as inking the embossed card I splattered some water and blotted with kitchen roll and again rubbed in some mica powder.  I haven't used mica powders for ages and have a feeling they will out a bit more often.

I added ribbon from my stash and made my flowers from the x-cut flower die set, which I inked and rubbed in mica powder. Topped off with some of my favourite liquid pearls.  Yes I am indeed very shimmery this weekend.

Hope everyone has had a craftastic weekend.

Love and hugs. X x x x

Blogging a little to soon? Part deux!

Well I managed to complete my task of decorating my zen tangle. It certainly has inspired me to buy myself a sketch book and be able to use some of the images I create. Not sure if they will be any good but I am certainly going to have a good go.

I kept it fairly simple just using some Nellie schnellen dies on turquoise mirror board. Decorated the zen tangle with liquid pearls and used some grey pearl card for the flourishes (marriane creatables. I layered on a turquoise pearlised card and then layered, at an angle, on some gold pearlised paper.

Alas the card is without a sentiment. I didn't have one suitable in my craft box so may have to think of one to whizz through the printer....... Any ideas?

Would love to hear your comments on the final outcome. Thanks for visiting.

Love and hugs,
Clare x x x

Blogging a little too soon?

Well I wanted to put a blog up even though this project is not finished! Whilst rummaging through my craft things last night I came across something I had completely forgotten about.

A couple of years ago on a rainy afternoon I sat with both of my children discovering the art of zen tangle. We all started a project and enjoyed looking at all the different patterns we could do on the net. I managed to completely fill an a5 side of white paper over the period of a couple of days. My hands of course were dropping off but was quite proud of my achievement, albeit a bit busy and unorganised and thought I would hang on to it.

Well today it has been on my photocopier, reduced in size and I have started to decorate. Not sure how it will turn out yet but hey ho I've had it a couple of years, hopefully it won't take me as long to complete!

I would love you to leave a comment and let me know what you think. I know it is rather unusual but I am rather fond of it and have plenty more ideas to use it for other project.

Bank holiday hugs. X x x x

A well travelled card!

Well in true blue Peter style..... Here's one I made earlier. I started this picture when I went to visit my auntie in Chippenham a couple of weeks ago and finally I have got round to finishing off.

I used the Lavinia texture stamp and topped it off with some liquid pearls, the trees and the sentiment is from an inkylicious set. I added some ribbon and altered some card candy with some alcohol inks and die cut some flowers on photo paper and they had a splash or two of ink as well!

My hands are now a greeny gold colour along with nail stainage! My dining room table has been overtaken by crafty goodies (eating in the front room tomorrow) but had a marvellous time.

Thank you for your kind regards about my sons finger. Although he had a misfortune this week he was still able to go out fishing with my husband today and a worthwhile trip it was too. He managed to beat a club record and haul in a monster bullhuss of 13lb 6oz. His dad is of course very proud, as was I when he had stripped and showered so I could give him a celebratory hug.

Hopefully will blog again soon. I hope everyone is having a wonderful long weekend. Love and hugs. X x x x

Wedding Season

Howdy folks. It's been a while since I blogged. I've been busy at work and with my children. After spending an afternoon at a &e with my son this week (another broken finger, second one in twelve months) and then a visit to fracture clinic, I am really glad of a 3 day weekend. In fact I think that a three day weekend should be compulsory, I'm sure many of you would agree.

One of my close friends was going to a wedding and asked me if I would make her a card. I took my inspiration from my auntie who has a fabulous blog glitterarti1.blogspot.com. She made a stunning card for her sister in-law and I decided to go along with that style with a few differences.http://glitterarti1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/as-promisedross-70th-birthday-card.html

I used my musical flourish embossing folder for the four panels in the background and the marriane creatables dies for the centre piece. Embellished with butterflies (x-cut nesting dies) and topped of with liquid pearls.

Hopefully my craft things will be littering the dining room at some point this weekend and I will have some more things to blog. Still have a project on the boil which I brought back from my visit to Barbara, time I pulled my finger out and finished it off!

Happy bank holiday. Love and hugs to you all. X x x