Very exciting news!!!

Hello Friends!! Well, some very exciting news today! I have been invited (with some very talented ladies) to join a new design team on a new weekly challenge blog Eclectic Ellapu! We will host the first challenge on the 14th October, so keep your eyes peeled and your fingers ready to craft! We are listed over on Feline Playful, so keep checking for our weekly challenges!

 

This is also a big hello to all of the DT - I am really looking forward to working with all of you, and can't wait to see what you all come up with!

 

Back soon with another card!

 

Love and light

Claire xx

Wedding Day

Hello Friends! Well, last day of school holidays, back to work on Monday! It’s been a really long six weeks, but I’ve loved every minute of it! I haven’t managed to get as many cards done as I would have liked, but all the ideas are there and now I’ve just got to put them down on card!

My card today is for my cousin and his lovely fiancé for their wedding. They are getting married in South Africa, so I’m hoping my brother will take the card with him when he goes, as he will be there for the wedding.

 

What I have used:

Image – Lili of the Valley

Coloured with Tim Holtz DMs and DIs

Paper – K&Company Speciality Wedding Paper

Nestabilities – Fleur de Lis Squares

Magnolia DooHickey – Leaf and Swirl

Shapeabilities – Foliage

Sentiment – Hobbycraft

Embossing – That Special Touch Mica Masks Flower Background

Roses – Wild Orchid Crafts

Ribbon from stash

I would like to enter the following challenges please:

Creative Expressions – Texture (DT Call)

Perfect Sentiments Challenge – PSC47 Anything goes with a sentiment -

Party Time Tuesdays – PTT#83 Anything Goes -

Di’s Digi Design Challenge Blog – Wedding, Anniversary, Engagement ***RANDOM.ORG WINNER***

Thank you for taking a look, hope you like what you see!

Love and light

Claire xx

Fantastic weekend!!

Hello friends! Well, I’ve had an absolutely fantastic weekend, most of it spent at Sir Stampalot! I was there on Saturday when Clare Rowlands of Molly Blooms stamps was there giving a demonstration of her new stamps. They are absolutely beautiful, and gave lots of inspiration and ideas. I was not able to attend the class yesterday, but by all accounts it was really good. I spent most of the day at Sir Stampalot again today, as there was a Christmas demonstration by Louis and Chris, two very talented ladies! I learnt lots from Lou, especially about colouring with my new Distress Markers, so hopefully my colouring endeavours will be a bit more palatable!

My card today is for my friend at work’s daughter who turns 21 on Wednesday. I spent about 5 hours on it but I am so pleased with the results, and really hope that she likes it too! I have made the roses from Tim Holtz Grunge Paper, which Chris showed me how to use the last time she did a demo at Sir Stampalot, and the technique is based on one by Sue Wilson on her blog. I had lots of fun, got very inky fingers, but it took me almost 2 hours to make five flowers!!

The bow and key charm are attached to a tag which get pulled out:

The inside of the card has been given a little attention too, and I have embossed the butterfly onto the paper that I have lined the card with:

I have used the following:

Paper – Prima Botanical Collection

Distress inks – Frayed Burlap and Victorian Velvet

Nestabilities – Labels Four, Fleur de Lis Squares

Shapeabilities – Wings of Hope, Foliage

Spellbinders – Persian Accents, Rose Creations

XCut dies – Scalloped circles, Squares

Magnolia DooHickey – swirl

Roses – handmade with Rose Creations, Tim Holtz Grunge Paper and coloured with distress inks

Key charm – BoBunny Weekend Market

Stamp – Hobbycraft Floral Numbers

Ribbon, twine and button from stash

I would like to enter the following challenges please:

Love to Create – Challenge #30 Handmade flowers

Come and Get it Challenges – Show us your flowers -

Fashionable Stamping – Challenge #29 Anything Floral/Handmade flowers -

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge – Challenge #178 Roses and Ribbons -

Card Makin Mamas – A new challenge -

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge – Challenge #147 Ribbons and Bows -

Aud sentiments challenge blog – Numbers Up! Challenge 61 -

Well, very long post with lots of photos, thank you very much for looking!

Love and light

Claire xx

Good news again…

Hello friends! Well, first day of being alone again – my other half has gone back to work after having two weeks off, and my darling daughter is not back from her boyfriend’s yet, so I have the house to myself, so the perfect time to craft! I got some good news today – I have been chosen as a Top 3 winner in the Frosted Design challenge using Fabric, you can see my card in my post labelled ‘Butterflies and Lace! am waiting to get my blinkie for my sidebar, so will put that on as soon as I can!

My card today is for an old friend who used to be Nadine’s TA in primary school. She always loved my cards, so I hope she likes this one!

What I have used:

Paper – Papermania Signature Regency paperpack

Kraft card

Embossing – Craft concepts Budding Vine

Tim Holtz DI

Charm – Hobby House embellishments Birdcage with hearts

Spellbinder Nestabilities – Labels Four

Lace and ribbon from stash

I would like to enter the following challenges please:

CPS Card sketches – CPS 279

Catered Crop – No stress to distress

That Craft Place – Vintage

Allsorts – Heavy Metal

Just some lines – Layer it up

Thank you for taking a look, and hope everyone has a lovely day!

Love and light

Claire xx

Follow your dreams…

Hello friends! Well, this is the start of the fourth week of holidays!! I could definitely get used to this in a big  way!!

I had a lovely surprise phone call from a friend last night – it was really good to hear from her, and we had a long overdue chat! We kind of just picked up where we had left off last time! That put me in a really good mood, so quite a good way to start the week! Watched the Olympic closing ceremony too, and even had time to take a peek at the comet shower (only saw a few, but even a few shooting stars are better than none!).

Today’s card is for my cousin who turns 20 at the end of the month. He is currently in uni in South Africa, and has lots of plans for the future!

What I have used:

Image and sentiment – Lili of the Valley

Embossing – Creative Expressions That Special Touch of…Masks

XCut dies – rectangles

XCut corner punch

Woodware Craft Collection Chinese Coins

Coloured with Tim Holtz DMs and DIs

Card from stash

I would like to enter the following challenges please:

Fussy and Fancy – Challenge 69 Orange, Lime and Citrus

365 Cards – Day 162 Bright

CropStop – Challenge #84 Fruitalicious

Crafting for all Seasons – Challenge #33 Bright Colours

Die Cutting Divas – A sketch with a twist

Thank you for taking a look!

Love and light

Claire xx

Butterflies and Lace

Hello Friends! Sunday again, doesn’t time pass quickly when you’re getting older?? I have spent a very pleasant afternoon in my craft room making birthday cards to post off to South Africa tomorrow, and also found some challenges to enter them into, so fingers crossed…

My card today is for my Aunt in South Africa – I hope she likes it (and gets it on time!!).

What I have used:

Coredinations card stock

Papers – Paper Cellar 6x6 Wedding

Embossing – Craft Concepts embossing folder Budding Vine

Nestabilities – Fleur de Lis Squares

Shapeabilities – Wings of Hope

XCut nesting dies – Circles

Tim Holtz DI – Frayed Burlap

Brass butterfly charm and lace from stash

I would like to enter the following challenges please:

Sir Stampalot Challenge – Take Flight

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards – Challenge 19 Emboss

Frosted Designs – Fabulous Friday Challenge Fabric *** Top 3 Winner ***

4 Crafty Chicks – Challenge #102 Up, up and away

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge – Challenge 167 Add a Charm

Willow Sketchie Challenge – Sketchie Challenge 9th August

Well fingers crossed, and hope everyone likes the card!

Love and light

Claire xx

Summer at last!!

Hello Friends! Well, it looks like Summer may actually have arrived! The sun is shining and apparently it’s supposed to be getting warmer for the weekend – quite a contrast to where I used to live in South Africa as it snowed there yesterday! I do hope everyone made the most of it and built lots of snowmen!!

My card today is for my sister-in-law, who loves her garden, and I found these ‘Born to Shop’ stamps in my box and realised that I had never actually used them!

What I have used:

Stamp – Born to Shop Go Green and Lili of the Valley sentiment

Spellbinders – Foliage

Magnolia DooHickey – Swirl

Xcut – Circle and scalloped circle

Papers – BoBunny

Coloured with Tim Holtz DMs and DIs

I would like to enter the following challenges please:

Anything Goes Challenge Blog – Challenge 73 Summer Days

Papertake Weekly Challenge – Anything Goes

Craft your Passion Challenges – Challenge 122 Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge – Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Truly Madly Crafty Challenges – August Challenge

Hope everyone enjoys the sunshine (and the snow!!).

Love and light

Claire xx

Holidays…

Hello friends! Another age since I’ve been on here – really must get into the habit of trying to post a bit more often! We are into the second week of holidays already, but loving every minute of it! I haven’t done as much crafting as I wanted to, but we had such gorgeous weather last week that I spent most of it outside! I had a wonderful birthday and got thoroughly spoilt – my other half bought me the full set of Distress Markers!!!!! I have been playing with those, and think I may have cracked it a bit, but still a long way to go! I got loads of money too, which was spent on stash, so I do have plenty to keep me busy!!

My card today will once more be winging its way to South Africa for my cousin’s husband. He rides quite regularly, so I thought the Lili of the Valley image quite appropriate! The little tag pulls out from behind the image and says Dream on it!

What I have used:

Image and Sentiment – Lili of the Valley

Cogs and tag – Tim Holtz

Fence – Marianne

Papers – BoBunny Double Dot

Coloured with Tim Holtz DIs

I would like to enter the following challenges please:

Die Cuttin Divas – Challenge #76 Anything goes

Party Time Tuesdays – #79 Anything goes

Try it on Tuesday – Anything goes for July

Cupcake Craft Challenges – Cupcake 203 The Great Outdoors

Fashionista Challenge – Fashionista Challenge Baby or Birthday

Hope to see everyone again soon, thank you for taking a look!!

Love and light

Claire xx

Congratulations

Hello friends! Well, what an absolutely miserable day outside. It has rained non stop, and I’m back in boots for work again!! On top of that I have a stinking cold, just what I don’t need at this time of the year!

This card is for a friend at work’s daughter who graduated on Monday – we are all really proud of her! She is continuing on in September to do her Masters, and we all wish her the best of luck!

What I used:

Magnolia stamps – Tilda Celebration and Graduation cap

Sentiment – Lili of the Valley

Xcut dies

Magnolia doohickey dies – banner

Coloured with Promarkers

Tim Holtz alphabet die

I would like to enter the following challenges please:

Crafty Creations – Challenge #178 Free for All

I Love Promarkers – Challenge #125 Circles

4 Crafty Chicks – Challenge #98 Stripes

Hanna and Friends – Challenge #149 Favourite Colours

Just Inspirational Challenges – Inspirational photo

Hope to see you all again soon, thanks for stopping by!

Love and light

Claire xx

Lovely news…

Hello friends! Well, I received some lovely news yesterday that I have won 3rd place in the Desmet Designs challenge ‘For the Men and Boys’!!! So excited, and gives me hope!!

School is getting really intense at the moment, lots of last minute things to do before year end – I’m very glad that I have my crafting to come home to! Also looking forward to my birthday – two weeks today – as it marks the real beginning of the holiday as we are going in on the Monday to do year end!! Really can’t wait!!

Very proud of my baby girl today – she helped host a school Olympic sports event for over 800 children, and the feedback from some of my teachers that were there was very enthusiastic – she did us proud!! She also got to hold an Olympic torch, so it sounds like she had a really good day!

My card today was a birthday card for one of my teachers at school, and she absolutely loved it! It’s another Lili of the Valley stamp – they always get such lovely comments!

What I used:

Stamp – Lili of the Valley

Sentiment – Lili of the Valley

Papers – BoBunny

Roses – Wild Orchid Crafts

Coloured with Promarkers

Distress ink – Victorian Velvet

I would like to enter the following challenges please:

Celebrate the Occasion – Challenge #70 Happy Birthday

Loves Rubberstamps – Challenge #8 Sweet Summer Days

Papertake Weekly Challenge – Strawberries and Cream

Fashionista Challenge – Challenge #4 Winged Things

Incy Wincy Designs – Summertime  ***Random Winner***

Hope to see everyone soon – thanks for visiting!

Love and light

Claire xx

Glad to be back…

Hello friends! It really seems like an age since I’ve been on here! I’ve had a bit of a health scare, but all sorted now, and ready and raring to go again!! We only have two weeks left at school until the Summer holidays, I really can’t wait! Six weeks of cards and crafting, decorating my craft room, spending time with my son when he comes home from uni, grabbing time when I can to spend with my daughter (I have to compete with the boyfriend!!), and starting my Christmas cards!! Yep, I said the dreaded ‘C’ word!!

I spent a lovely afternoon at Sir Stampalot today, watching a demo by the very talented Chris! I met some very talented ladies whose blogs I follow, so all in all a really good day – the wallet was a bit lighter when I came home, but I learnt some lovely techniques which I am very eager to try!! Roll on the Summer!

My card today is a birthday card for someone who is very special to me, far away in South Africa. So far away in fact, that this is the second card that I have made as the first didn’t quite make it to her thanks to the wonderful postal system, or lack of!! Jeanette has always been very complimentary about my cards, and I feel quite cross that her birthday card didn’t get to her, so I have remade it and will post it on Monday, and fingers crossed it will get to her this time! I hope she had a wonderful birthday in the meantime!

What I have used:

Papers – The Paper Loft ‘For the Record’ Heirloom and Diary

Spellbinders – Labels One, Rose Creations, Foliage, Classic Edges Two and Classic Decorative Inserts Two

Sentiment – Lili of the Valley

Marianne die – birdcage

Butterfly punch

Distress ink – Frayed burlap

Hobby House Embellishments – Bird cage with Hearts

I would like to enter the following challenges please:

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards – Challenge 16 Anything Goes

Art Impressions Stamps – Challenge 70 Metal Accent

Lili's Little Fairies – Anything goes

Cupcake Craftroom – July Challenge Layers
Fussy and Fancy - Challenge 66 Fancy Folds

I hope everyone is having a good weekend!

See you soon!

Love and light

Claire xx

Dreaming of Sunshine!

Hello friends! Another dull and dreary day outside, wrapped up in jumpers, but my hayfever has taken off – what is going on?? Nevermind, we can console ourselves with the fact that it is supposed to be June, and dream of sunny days!!

It’s the first day of our new Reception intake at school today, so looking forward to meeting all the little people and getting to know them! I remember my two going off to school – it seems so long ago!

What I have used:

Stamp – Lili of the Valley

Coloured with Promarkers

Papers – BoBunny Doubledot

Sentiment – Lili of the Valley

Brads – BoBunny Weekend Market

I would like to enter the following challenges please:

Desmet Designs – For the Men and Boys ***3RD PLACE***

Tammy's Scrapin Corner – Challenge #14 For boys

The Pink Elephant – TPE 52 Masculine

Dream Valley Challenges – Challenge 34 For that special guy

Scrappy Frogs – Celebrate Men

Thank you for looking, see you again soon!

Love and light

Claire xx

Believe…

Hello friends! I hope everyone has had a wonderful day, although wet, and that it’s been a good start to the week! Six weeks and counting, but I think I may have already mentioned that!?!

I have gone very girly and pink today – it’s a card for my beautiful daughter who has quite a few challenges ahead of her these next few months! She has been nominated for Headgirl at school, so we find out about that by the end of next week. She will also be applying to Uni soon, and needs to audition as she wants to go to a dance school, so we have that ahead of us, and she also gets her AS level results at the end of August, so fingers crossed that she gets the marks that she wants for those!

What I have used:

Stamp – Lili of the Valley and Flourish stamp from my box!

Paper – Paper Cellar Wedding

Spellbinder dies

Sentiment – Lili of the Valley

Coloured with Promarkers

Cosmic Shimmer Pearl PVA

Ribbon from my stash

I would like to enter the following challenges please:

Fussy and Fancy – Challenge 64 Swirls and Flourishes

All Sorts – Ice Cream colours

Just add Ink – JAI 121 Just add Pearls

 

Thank you for taking a peek, hope you all have a good day!

Love and light

Claire xx

Dreaming…

Hello friends! Sunday already, this week has just flown by! By to work tomorrow, although only 6 weeks til the Summer holidays – the Lili of the Valley sentiment stamp I have used says ‘Dreaming of Summer days’, very apt!!

I haven’t achieved as much as what I wanted to do this half term, but at least I’ve had a rest, and the Diamond Jubilee was wonderful to watch on telly. Only a pity about all the dreadful weather we have had, fingers crossed it gets better from here on. Today is quite warm outside, but I think we may get a few thunderstorms later. I really miss that about South Africa, the beautiful storms we used to get in the afternoons, absolutely magnificent!

What I used:

Stamp – Lili of the Valley

Paper – BoBunny Doubledot

Coloured with Promarkers

Spellbinder dies

Sentiment – Lili of the Valley

Roses – Wild Orchid Crafts

I would like to enter the following challenges please:

Sir Stampalot Challenge – Bingo theme (Torquoise, Polka dots and brown)

A Gem of a Challenge – Challenge #48 Sketch

Crafty Calendar Challenge  - Flowers in bloom

Crafts 4 Eternity – Recipe #75 Travel

Charisma Cardz – Challenge #22 Travel

Thank you for stopping by to take a look!

Love and light

Claire xx

Red, White and Blue…

Well what an absolutely fabulous day! Watched the Jubilee Pageant today and found myself welling up with tears quite a few times! We spent the day with family, had a fantastic celebratory lunch, played with my great-niece, had a game of Trivial Pursuit, watched the documentary on the making of the Jubilee song ‘Sing’ and cried along with that too!!

This is an ATC for the monthly challenge that I take part in. The theme for this month was Diamonds or Red, White and Blue, so I chose the latter!

What I used:

Stamp – from Penny Black

Coloured with Promarkers

Right, think it’s off to bed for me! I am off on half-term this week, so looking forward to lots of card making and hopefully get some bits and pieces done to decorate my craft room with!!

See you back soon,

Love and light

Claire xx