Critter Workout and very very exciting news

I love these fun Penny Black images, this one is critter workout which has been coloured with Copics. I used my MFT pierced rectangles, MFT drippy goo border, MME papers, ribbon and punched stars with a crimper. I really love the bright colours which suit the fun image.

Challenges

Creative Inspirations feathered friends/animals
Crafting from the heart anything goes
As You Like It Lines or No Lines (Lines for me every time. I rarely like the no lines effect when I see it done and must be very hard to colour.)

And now for my very very exciting news - I have been chosen to be a member of the new Lili of the Valley Design Collective Team. I am so excited and can hardly believe it. I look forward to sharing my new DT work on here.

Steampunk Pig

Have you seen the cute new pig images over at Pink Gem? I just love this one and really had fun with this card. Lots of distressing and tearing. I used the pre coloured image but you also get the black and white version when you buy.

Image - Steampunk Pig

Papers - LOTV Promises

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Die - Tim Holtz clock (I set the time to match his hat)

Other - Tim Holtz game spinner and mini gears.

Challenges

Papertake a cut above 

Creative Inspirations feathered friends/animals 

Whimsy use a diecut

More Boxes

I bought some wooden boxes in America to decorate to sell at craft fairs. Hubby has spray painted this one in a random pattern. I added ribbon and lace from Crafty Ribbons, pearl sprays and flowers.

The next 2 are really small and cute and the ribbon from Crafty Ribbons matches beautifully. Again painted by hubby. It takes him longer to paint them than it does me to decorate them! He paints them with primer and then the top coat. They are all painted inside too.

Another vintage Pink Gem

We are looking for shaped cards this fortnight at A gem of a Challenge and I chose to make a shaped easel card. The DT have been very inventive with their shapes so do hop over and admire them.

Image - Pink Gem Mollie

Medium - Copics

Papers - First Edition Rose Garden

Lace - Crafty Ribbons

Other - flowers, button, baker's twine, distress tool

Challenges

Bunny Zoe Spring colours 

Copic Markers Europe Spring is in the air 

Fussy and fancy Girly 

The Cutie Pie Fancy folds

Send a smile 4 kids pastel colours for kids
Top Tip Tuesday Buttons or bows
The Paper Shelter Blooming
As You Like It Lines or No Lines (Lines for me every time. I rarely like the no lines effect when I see it done and must be very hard to colour.)

I am selling at a craft fair today so will catch you later.

Little Claire special offer

Please scroll down for today's cute card.

Tomorrow is Steve at Little Claire's 50th Birthday 
and Little Claire have decided to give all you peeps a birthday treat as well !!  Steve says he is only 25 tomorrow (ha,ha,ha) so you can get 25% off ( club stamp members 35% )  all your Little Claire goodies online by adding the code  steve50  at check out and if you take up this offer a  FREE stamp as well !!

This is a one day only offer for tomorrow Saturday 28th so don't miss it.

Hedgie choir

Another Christmas card for the box. I really needed to be making Birthday cards but I so love making Christmas cards and making them all year round means taking some of the stress of needing to make so many nearer Christmas. Mind you I could do with having made more than I have given that it is almost quarter of the way through the year, eek!

Image - Penny Black

Medium - Copics

Papers - Bo Bunny Snowfall

Dies - Sue Wilson filigree poinsettia, Joy lamppost, Spellbinders resplendent rectangle

Other - white acrylic paint, shabby blue frantage, Stickles, wooden tree from Hobbycraft

Challenges

CCAYR Cute critters 

Craftyhazelnut Christmas singing 

Scribble and Scrap anything goes
ABC Christmas F for frosty

Papertake A cut above 

Everybody Art Turquoise/brown 

Fab n Funky Christmas

Creative Inspirations Feathered friends/animals

Walking the dog

New challenge today at The Sugar Bowl and once again it is anything goes with a Sugar Nellie image. I'm not sure if I have ever used this stamp before but I am happy that I have now. This was a card I made for a friend's Birthday. She loves Cath Kidston style fabrics so I felt these colours were just right and as the family got a little dog last year this image was perfect for her.

Image - Sugar Nellie Lead The Way

Medium - Copics

Papers - American Crafts dots and stripes

Flowers - Hobbycraft

Other - burlap, brad, wooden hearts

Challenges

Fussy and Fancy girly 

Crafty Calendar add some metal 

Bizzy Becs anything goes 

Country View anything goes

Upcycling

This is my second post today. Please scroll down for this morning's card.

I bought some new storage for my craft room yesterday. I have a variety of boxes and when I spotted these as a BOGOF offer in W H Smith I had to buy them as I wanted to reorganise some of my embellishments.

I spent a happy hour reorganising and ended up with several empty Prima bottles and jars which had previously held flowers. I decided to upcycle them and the picture at the top is the result. I have a few more left to do but I am hoping they will sell at craft fairs. I used burlap, string, ribbon from The Ribbon Girl and flowers. I am really pleased with the way they turned out.

Clean lines

Another card for my stock and this is a sentiment I found in one of my folders of things waiting to be used. I think it is Inkylicious but can't find it on their website. I used some lovely Carta Bella Well Travelled papers which were hiding at the bottom of one of my paper pad drawers. I had completely forgotten I had this pad. I am sure none of you have ever done that lol! I used MFT pierced rectangle dies and a couple of star punches with a crimper. 

In the paper pad there are some plain coloured sheets which I often don't use. Problem solved, use them for layering rather than card! I shall be doing that again so the papers get used. My resolution to use up things is going well.

Challenges

Sweet Stampin' sentiment as a focus 

Stamping Sensations oe for the guys

Bunny and butterfly

A 7" square card today. I have a umber of these larger LOTV precoloured toppers which they used to sell before the art pads. This is such a cute image and I might even have it as a stamp, I have so many! I have teamed it with LOTV snow princess papers, Memory Box lavish branch die which I chopped and my retro flower punches. I have recently rediscovered these flower punches having not used them for a while. I haven't used the branch die for a while either, must be Spring coming! I don;t know about you but I use some dies and punches a lot and others get forgotten, well I am trying to use more different ones.

Challenges

The Paper Shelter Spring delights 

Bunny Zoe Spring colours

I am looking forward to a trip into Norwich today with hubby. We will be having a cooked breakfast there and then I am booked in for a facial and massage, lovely. Catch you later.

Flying plaque

I only have one large plaque left on my stall so thought I had better make some more. I do love making them and they do get a lot of comments and make my stall look very pretty. I use chipboard for this size but wooden shapes for my larger plaques. 

Paper - First Edition Floral Pavilion

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Crispy lace and pins - Live and Love Crafts

Dies - Memory box carousel birdcage and dragonflies

Frame - Crafts Too

Pther - pearls, rose cabuchons, wooden butterfly

Challenges

Live and Love Crafts Photo inspiration (inspired by the roses) 

Crafty Calendar add some metal 

Paper Creators ribbon, lace and pearls 

Scrap and Craft flowers 

Whimsy use a diecut 

Sister Act anything goes

Motorbiking

I need to make more cards for men and I do love making them as much as cards for females. I know many of you don't enjoy making them. I bought a set of vintage transport toppers from Kraftyhands at Ally Pally last year and they are proving very popular. In fact I bought another pack at the NEC in November. They are fabulous images and hubby thought this was a fab card. The paper is Bo Bunny Weekend Market. 

I used a die I bought ages ago as I really needed it and I don't think I have ever used it, sound familiar! It is a Tim Holtz hexagon die and I really like it so expect to see it again. I used kraft core Core'dinations which I sanded, another old Craftwork Cards sentiment, baker's twine and a charm. Charms are something else I have loads of and don't use enough. No idea why as I love them. That may be the problem, I don't want to part with them!

Challenges

Deep Ocean Vinatge 

Crafting by Designs Masculine 

Creative Inspirations Let's get sporty 

Scribble and Scrap anything goes 

That Craft Place add a charm 

Crafty Calendar add some metal 

Papertake Happy anything

Square elephants

I am working hard on building up stock ready for my next craft fair next Saturday. I am rather short of Birthday cards so am trying to get some of those made, along with several others I am short of too. I really want to keep ahead with Christmas cards and scrapbooking. I also have some samples and magazine work to do, still it keeps me out of mischief.

Image - Little Claire elephants in squares

Medium - Copics

Papers - MME Unforgettable

Sentiment - Forever Friends

Other - flower, brads and pearls

I have so many old sentiments in a file that I am really trying to use them instead of stamping sentiments as much as usual. I used to buy lots of sentiments before I got into stamping them and as part of my quest to use up old stash they are being used along with the brads I have had for years.

Challenges

Everybody Art Great sketch

Inky Chicks Movie star (Dumbo) 

Papertake Happy anything 

Creative Moments anything goes 

Scrap and Craft flowers

We are looking forward to visiting Lynsey today and going out for lunch with her and her family. Enjoy your Saturday.

So sweet

Isn't this the sweetest image, she is called Love is Patient and is a digi from the Elisabeth Bell Simpler Times CD. She has been coloured with Copics, papers are First Edition Rose Garden and lace and ribbons are from Crafty Ribbons. I just added some pearls and felt that was enough.

Challenges

Elisabeth Bell's World Pretty in pink 

Bunny Zoe Spring colours 

Paper Creators Ribbon, lace and pearls 

Cute Card Thursday Spring fever 

Fan-tastic Tuesday Make it square 

Allsorts Flowers and pearls
Copic Marker Europe Spring is in the air
Scrap and Craft Flowers
Top Tip Tuesday Buttons or bows (My tip for Top Tip Tuesday is always attach ribbon with double sided tape on the back of the ribbon as it is easy to move if the ribbon doesn't go on straight, and always wrap the ends around the layered papers before attaching to the card blank.)

Good Luck Lynsey

I made this 5" square card to send to Lynsey to wish her good luck for her first half marathon last Sunday. She only started running a few months ago and has done incredibly well. I can't imagine walking that far all at once never mind run.

I really enjoyed trying out a cas style for this card.

Image - Little Miss Muffet Swings and Slides good luck

Medium - Copics

Paper - old Christmas paper from my oddments pile

Sentiment - magazine freebie

Die - Spellbinders circle

Other - washi tape

Challenges

Little Miss Muffet anything goes 

Fan-tastic Tuesday Make it square

Easter Chloe

There are some more gorgeous new images over at Pink Gem and this is Easter Chloe, so cute. I kept this card fairly simple as I printed her quite large and just wanted to show off the image. She has been coloured with Copics and die cut with a MFT pierced rectangle die, papers are Bo Bunny C'est la vie and I added some Easter ribbon I bought a few years ago in America and an old Forever Friends sentiment. I love these shaped cards which I bought from Samuel Taylor at Ally Pally last year. Looking forward to going there again this year but this time my good friend Lynsey is coming. She couldn't come last year as it fell on her little girl's Birthday. Email me if you will be there on the Saturday if you would like to meet up for a coffee.

Challenges

Without Words Easter 

Sister Act anything goes 

Scribble and Scrap anything goes 

Bizzy Becs anything goes 

ABC Challenge F is for festive 

Papertake Happy anything

We were out again last night with friends for a meal at Pizza Express and then a show at the theatre. Off to Tesco this morning and then I really must get some ironing done as it has built up more than I like. I prefer to do it little and often, not my favourite job, I'd rather be crafting!

Butterflies

Great sales yeaterday at the hospital so I shall be busy making more stock ready for the next craft fair. I was rather tired last night so apologies that I didn't have much time for blogging. I made this card for a friend whose Birthday was last Saturday so I know I can now share it with you. I bought the stamp in America, the make is Stampabilities which is Hobby Lobby's own make. I used a Spellbinder die and DI vintage photo and a pearl pen. The paper is Prima and I added some burlap, cherry blossoms from Wild Orchid and a butterfly also bought in America from Michaels.

Challenges

Deep Ocean vintage

Penny Black Mother's Day

I made this card for Cardmaking and Papercraft online blog which you can find here. I so love the PB hedgies, they are so cute and love colouring them too.

Image - Penny Black Country Lady

Medium - Copics

Papers - Santoro Mirabelle

Dies - Marianne border, Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle

Lace - Crafty Ribbons

Sentiment - PC generated

Other - paper flowers and brads

Challenges

Papertake Mum's the word 

Creative Inspirations anything goes 

As you like it Digi or rubber (I do love digis but rubber stamps are still my favourite. There is something about the process of stamping and also I feel more like they are mine.) 

Cute Card Thursday Celebrate 

Penny Black Spring blooms 

The Ribbon Girl Going green

Bunny Zoe Spring colours

It's my day for selling my cards at the hospital shop so a early start. I will back to link up and catch up with you this evening.

Bright and beautiful

Happy Mother's Day to all Mums. I will be visiting my Mum with her card and pressies this morning. Unfortunately her husband isn't able to get out much so we can't take her out for lunch. So our challenge at Little Claire this month is Springtime and I chose to use one of the new March flower stamps from the club set of stamps. I coloured it with Copics and went for a really bright card. The papers are MME and the flowers and butterfly are from America. I doodled around all the edges. There is a fabulous prize of a £20 voucher for the website.

Challenges

Natalie and Amy flowers

Good Hair Day

Pretty in pink is the new challenge at A Gem of a Challenge and I chose to use of Janet's lovely new digis Emma with hair dryer. She has been coloured with Copics, papers are Bo Bunny C'est La Vie, sentiment Craftwork Cards. I added some pearl dots and a button tied with baker's twine. Simple embellies as I felt it didn't need anything more.

As this publishes I will be at a Premier Inn in Ipswich as we stayed overnight last night as we went to a big 60's show. We went with friends and rather than drive home enjoyed a night away. Looking forward to a yummy cooked breakfast before we head back home. Catch you later.

Challenges

The Paper Shelter girly

Baby washing line

Friday means a new project on the Little Claire blog and today is my turn to post. I would love you to hop over and leave me a comment after leaving me a comment on here of course.

Image Little Calire dinkie baby washing line which I paper pieced

Sentiment - Little Claire

Papers - MME sky's the limit

Dies - Joy birdhouse, Memory box butterflies, Spellbinders scalloped circle

Challenges

Chocolate, coffee and cards for a child

Superwoman in Making Cards magazine

The new edition of Making Cards magazine will be out tomorrow which means I can now share the cards which were published in the current magazine. They feature the fabulous Superwoman set of stamps from Little Claire

I coloured them with Copics and diecut them with MFT pierced rectangles, added MME papers, ribbon from Crafty Ribbons and Studio Calico chevrons.

Snow in March!

This is my second post today, please scroll down for my Little Claire digi DT card. We haven't had any snow this Winter apart from a few occasional flakes which haven't laid. You may remember I used this cute stamp recently as I was thrilled to buy him from somebody on Facebook. I love his enthusiasm for the snow and I love colouring PB mice and hedgies with Copics of course. The papers are from the oddments pile, ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, snowflakes are Joy. I added my usual Stickles and pearl pen dots too.

Challenges

Winter Wonderland animal antics 

CCAYR Cute critters 

Bizzy Becs anything goes

Lots of cats

The digi challenge this month at Little Claire is for a shaped card and I decided to join in as the regular DT can play along too if we like. I love the animals in squares stamps and as I was asked to make a card for a cat lover combined my DT card with the order.

There is a fabulous prize for the lucky winner of 5 digis and there are so many gorgeous digis to choose from you will be spoilt for choice if you win. You can use any digi image though we love to see Little Claire images if you have any.

Image - Cats in Squares digi Little Claire

Medium - Copics

Papers - Dinky tartan and 6x6 pastel tartan from Little Claire

Dies - Go Kreate frilly 10, Memory Box kittens

Other - Tim Holtz number rubons (40), ribbon bow

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl Use an image for a Birthday card 

Sister Act anything goes 

Bizzy Becs anything goes 

Country View anything goes

For my Mum

This is the Mother's Day card I have made for my Mum. She isn't on the internet so there is no danger of her seeing it. I bought this digi years ago and actually coloured her for my Mum once before. However the last thing I coloured were the knitting needles and I decided to colour them burgundy and they bled like mad. I couldn't rescue it and was so cross as I had spent ages colouring her so I used a different image and have never printed her out again until now. How many digis do we have sitting on our computers that we have never used? I am trying to remedy that this year.

A better look at the bottom layer showing the gorgeous mushroom border.

Image - Sugar Nellie web knitter

Medium - Copics

Papers - Santoro Mirabelle

Lace - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Cheery Lynn faerie mushrooms, Joy mushroom border

Sentiment - PC generated

Other - Stickles

Challenges

We Do Doobadoo Spring/greens 

That Craft Place Mother's Day 

Scrap and Craft Mother's day 

Dream Valley Mother's day 

Creative Card Crew Green 

Creative Moments Spring green 

Penny's One for the girls 

The Paper Shelter away with the fairies

In the pink for a special lady
Bunny Zoe Spring colours

Smile

This is the card I made for hubby's Birthday yesterday. I love blue and brown together and they make a great combination for either male or female cards.

Image - Little Miss Muffet Ryker

Medium - Copics

Papers - LOTV Promises and Country Gent

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Birthday Recipe - LOTV

Die - Marianne camera

Other - enamel dots, twine, smile sticker

Challenges

Little Miss Muffet great sketch which I rotated 

Stamping Sensations one for the guys 

Crafting by Designs anything goes 

Cute Card Thursday Die cuts/punches 

Di's Digis Birthdays Simon Says Monday B is for (Blue, Brown, Boy, Bow, Birthday)
The Ribbon Girl Use an image for a Birthday card

Leaving

I had a box of photos which I had sorted out as possibles for scrapbook layouts and the other night I got out my scrapbooks and photos to sort them out. I decided which to use and placed them in sleeves in the various scrapbooks. I used to feel rather overwhelmed by the amount of layouts to do and where to start so I now feel very organised. It means I can choose a page to do without wasting time sorting through pictures. There are more I want to print from the laptop but that's a job for another time,

So onto my layout which ha more photos than I would normally use on a page but I didn't want a double layout and I did want to use them all. They record the day I left Connexions which is the organisation which took over from the Careers Service. I had worked for those organisations for 22 years and was lucky enough to have my request for voluntary redundancy and early retirement granted. It meant going to work in HR at County Hall which is the head office of the County Council for 7 months. I hated it there but it was worth it in the end.

The photo of me with the flowers was taken in our conservatory. I had some lovely cards, a cake and presents including £75 to spend on craft supplies.

Challenges

Bizzy Becs anything goes 

Country View anything goes 

Not just cards anything goes 

Papertake anything goes 

Crafting by Designs anything goes

Today is hubby's Birthday and we are going out for lunch with friends. They are then coming back to ours as they want to see our holiday photos and video.

Amelia in Pink

I absolutely love the vintage images from Pink Gem, they make such gorgeous cards and are so lovely to colour. 

Image - Pink Gem Amelia

Medium - Copics

Papers - First Edition Rose Garden

Lace - Crafty Ribbons

Die - Marianne Designs

Other - white acrylic paint, gauze, pins, distress tool

Challenges

Papertake anything goes 

In the pink for a special lady 

Crafting for all seasons girly girl 

Creative Inspirations something old (vintage style) 

Penny's One for the girls 

Graph'It Shabby chic/vintage

The craft fair at the hospital was very good as usual on Wednesday though I didn't sell any of my birdhouses. Several people admired them though. I am at another fair this afternoon so hoping they sell better today.

Wee Boy

I was so lucky to win Lexie's Scribble and Scrap £50 candy last week and one of the things I chose were some of the lovely Hobby House toppers featuring cute Wee images from Sylvia Zet. They are so beautifully coloured and make quicker cards which is what I need sometimes to build up my stocks. I teamed it with First Edition It's a Boy papers and tag. I used my Spellbinders curved border and MB bunting dies and added some flowers and pearl dots.

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl add flowers 

Scribble and Scrap anything goes
Papertake anything goes
Crafting by Designs anything goes

Hedgie, cupcakes and strawberries

Time for another fortnightly challenge at  Crafty Ribbons and the challenge is to use pearls, ribbon and a charm. As always there is a lovely Crafty Ribbons prize to be won,

Image - Pink Gem

Papers - First Edition It's a Boy

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Flowers - Michaels

Other - cupcake charm, baker's twine, pearl

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl add flowers 

The ABC challenge E is for exceptionally cute

Papertake anything goes 

Not just cards anything goes

Birdhouses

If you saw the stash I brought home from America you may remember I bought some wooden birdhouses to decorate to sell. Well here they are and they will be on my stall today at the quarterly hospital craft fair. Hubby painted them cream and I decorated them. 

The ribbon and lace are from Crafty Ribbons, paper is Papermania Henbury Lane. I added some butterflies bought in America and various birds and flowers.

Challenges

Country View anything goes
Scribble and Scrap anything goes

Papertake anything goes 

Not just cards anything goes

Thanks to those of you asking if I am now better. Yes I am feeling better day by day and the cough gets less each day. Still not gone away completely but more of a niggling cough now. Thankfully I am not coughing at night so sleeping well.

Little Claire for Through The Craftroom Door magazine

The DT at Little Claire were asked if we would like to contribute to Through The Craftrroom Door magazine this month using one of 3 digis. I love this elephants in squares digi and this is the card I made. It was the perfect opportunity to use my new elephant dies from Joanna Sheen which I bought at the NEC. The sentiment is Little Claire which has been mounted onto a Spellbinder doily heart circle. I have used Copics for colouring and the papers are MME On the Sunny Side.

Challenges

Sweet Stampin' all or nothing

Winter Wonderland tie a bow

Deep Ocean our furry friends

More March Flowers

As promised I am back with my second card from this month's club stamps from Little Claire. This is my favourite of the 3 images and is perfect for stamping with white ink onto kraft, a technique I love. I used my Go Kreate frilly 10 dies, some paper from stash and some of the lovely new lace from Crafty Ribbons. The sentiment is also from the stamp set and I added a Prima butterfly.

Challenges

Creative inspirations luscious lace

Natalie and Amy flowers

March flowers

The new March club stamps from Little Claire are March flowers. There are 3 different stamps plus some lovely sentiments. 

Image - Little Calire March flowers

Papers - Little Claire ombre and dinkie dots

Dies - Spellbinder and Sizzix corners

Other - ribbon, pearls and flowers from stash

I will be back tomorrow with another sample made from this set, very different to today's card.

Challenges 

Inky Chicks flowers
Natalie and Amy flowers