Butterfly Flutterby......

Good Morning to you all, hope all is well. Not a lot to report here, I'm off work this week as its half term for the boys but I have nothing planned other than some relaxation and crafting!

The card I have today is for a special friend and I've done something new that I've cased from a lovely, very talented lady Amanda from inspiringinkin.  She is one of the best Stampin Up demonstrators around and I've known her for many years now.

The die I've used was a freebie from a magazine and how I've done the glittery wings is what I've cased from Amanda.

I used brushos to create the coloured butterflies and then die cut them.  Although you can't really see it, on the kraft card they are splatters of pearlescent splashes.

So, the wings are very super easy...... After cutting out the butterflies, stick some good old fashioned sellotape (or clear tape) to the back and cut around the die and then just sprinkle with glitter, really pushing it into the tape with your finger.

Looks fabulous!!!!!

I then heat embossed the sentiment onto vellum and stuck it behind one of the butterflies.  The nice thing about this card is that it will lie completely flat for posting but it looks very dimensional.

Love it!!!

Anyway, thanks for stopping by, take care and I'll try and pop back later in the week. I'm having major computer issues at the moment so who knows!!!

Clair xx

Thank you...

Another wet evening here but thankfully tonight I was in the warm and dry unlike last night when I was stood in a field cheering on my husband, youngest son and nephew while they all did a sponsored run.  They all did brilliantly given the wet, slippery conditions.

My husband came 22nd out of 288 runners and my son came 78th out of 414, very proud of them both.

So, other than birthday cards, I make more thank you cards than any other.  I saw a picture on the docrafts website of a watercolour effect and wanted to try and recreate it (in my way!!)

Again, apologies that its upside down....I will get the hang of this one day!

So, I really liked the watercoloured thanks but I really wasn't sure about the corners and the pearls.  I kept looking and looking at the card and wasn't happy so decided to try again.

Now, this one I liked!!!

I stamped the sentiment ( fron Stampin Up!) and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I then used Brushos as paint for the watercolouring.  The difference with this card is that I splattered it with the watered down Brushos and for some reason, I was much happier.

This card is for a friend of ours who has been helping my youngest son with a bit of extra tuition and will stop next week for the summer.  We are very grateful for her time and effort.

I learned with this not to settle, if I'm not happy with something I need to try again...I'm sure its something I tell my kids frequently but obviously need to remind myself sometimes.

Thanks for stopping by, take care.

Clair x

Birthday Boy!

Today is my husbands birthday but he hates birthdays, not because he's afraid of getting old or anything, he just hates the fuss, he complained about the banner I put up and he complained about his presents!...no pleasing some people!!!

His card is THE most simple card! Notice the lack of a happy birthday sentiment...

I used my Brushos for the red wash and used a freebie die for the 'love'.  It originally said 'with love' but I cut off the 'with'.  I heat embossed the 'love' 3 or 4 times with clear embossing powder, stamped the word 'you' and added a punched heart that I glittered.

A close up of the sentiment.

We are off out tonight with some family to also help celebrate my father in laws 80th birthday that was earlier in the week.

Looking forward to a good evening with great people!!

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Clair x

 

Box Set Binge

WOW....WOW....WOW!!!!!  I am  very slow starter to the TV show Greys Anatomy and I have just finished watching series 5 and I'm surprised I can write this because of very swollen eyes from all the crying......What a tear jerker! (I cry at most things!)

Anyway, I have made quite a few cards today, I have a lot of birthdays in May but I'll share one that was made for my sons friend, a very simple card but very effective.

And I even managed to figure out how to rotate the picture this time....I'm getting good at this technical stuff!!

So, the card, I heat embossed the distressed dot stamp from Stampin Up with gold embossing powder and added a strip of calypso coral card stock down one side.  I die cut a heart from vellum and coloured it slightly with a sponge dauber.  The sentiment was a freebie from a magazine and I heat embossed it three times with gold embossing powder to match the dots.  I then just added a smaller heart die cut from the calypso coral cardstock.

Here's a close up of the sentiment.  I've actually done this to some sentiments on a few cards just lately, think it looks pretty good.

My eldest is out on a Duke of Edinburgh expedition tonight, camping in the middle of a field somewhere after walking 20k with his kit strapped to his back so I'm hoping I can actually get some sleep tonight, along with crying at everything, I also worry quite a bit!!!! 

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Clair x

May Day

Hi there

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend especially as there was an extra day off!!! Gotta love a bank holiday...

We've had a pretty quiet one. My youngest went to a birthday sleepover so I'm expecting him to fall asleep any minute now, you know how little sleep occurs at these things....  They went to the park late last night (supervised I hasten to add!!) and had their own paint party, basically throwing powder paint at each other, looked like fun!  They were covered!!
My husband, my eldest and I went to a farm shop this morning and enjoyed a wander and slice of cake and a cuppa!!

So, for todays card.....
It was for my friends son who is an 'in between' age so it couldn't be childish but not too grown up either.
I used just one stamp from a set from called Collage Curios from Stampin Up.

One thing I can't figure out now is how to rotate this picture.... honestly, I am hopeless - so not technical, so apologies but you get the gist of the card.  I stamp the circle in  number of colours, added the dots from a hero arts stamp set then die cut the 'happy' from the stamped piece.

 I then die cut the 'happy' 3 more times from black card stock and stacked them onto one another so they popped up....
I hope you can see that....

close up of the popped up happy!

I added a couple of punched stars and that's it!!!
A great card for the men in your life without being too grown up or with the obligatory cars, ships etc!!!!

I am having trouble with my laptop tonight and this post has taken about an hour to write so I'm going to quit while I'm ahead.

Have a great week, take care and thanks for stopping by.

Clair xx

Normal Service Resumes.....

Hi there

So, finally the room is complete and I have craft supplies readily on hand so I'm a very happy lady.  My husband worked tirelessly last week to complete it and I'm really happy with it even if its a little cramped.....

I will show pictures later but basically the desk and shelving are a little too big (my tape measure must be wrong!!) for what I wanted so I've had to play about with the placement and I'll have to see how it works but overall I'm very content.....

For todays make......

This is a card I made a few months back for my friends teenage daughter... I've even included how messy I can sometimes be in the picture, that's nice of me!!!

I have used all Stampin Up products in this card and rather than colour in the flowers 'properly' I've dapped a make up sponge in the ink and dabbed over the them.  It looks a bit watercolour like without the hassle of getting any paints etc out.

Hopefully now things are back to normal I will be able to post a couple of times a week so until next time, take care and thanks for stopping by.


Clair

A Sunny Saturday....

What a lovely day we're having here... I have to admit that I've been in all day though so I haven't enjoyed it to the max.
I was at work this morning...boo and then because my craft room is a building site I popped to my mums to make a card for my brother in law.
It was really hard making a card there as I am not used to her set up, it took me hours!!

Anyway, I needed to get the card done as Tuesday is the special day of the birthday boy.  I really struggle with manly cards but quite happy with how this turned out.

Its really simple but sometimes they're the best!!!

I die cut the banner and heat embossed the whole thing with silver embossing powder but I did this 4 times to get the smooth metal effect.  I did want to emboss the greeting too but my mum didn't have any black embossing powder.  So, I die cut the Happy Birthday twice, one black, one white and off set them when I stuck them together.

I looped the silver thread behind the banner then stuck it on with foam tape.  I heat embossed the 'for you' in silver too.  When I got home I looked at it again and felt it really needed something else but couldn't decide what.
I had been looking at pinterest lately and seen many ways to use enamel dots so I dropped some nail varnish onto wax paper just to see if they looked ok when they dried.
Guess what??.... the result was pretty good.....

Overall, I happy with this and the nail varnish hack is pretty good and something I'll try again. 

The building work is coming on nicely so getting very excited about the next few weeks, getting organised and back into 'proper' crafting.

Also, my mum booked tickets for 42nd Street in London for next week so that's something lovely to look forward to.

Till next time, thanks for stopping by, take care.

Clair x

I'm Still Here....

So, I decided to start my blog again as explained in my last post.  It was probably the wrong time to start again as I have NO craft room/space and NO craft supplies to hand.  The room I used is currently completely empty and waiting patiently for our builder to arrive! (on Monday hopefully!)
We are having an extension and therefore my stuff is all packed up and my twitchy fingers are having to find something else to at the moment.....

The exciting thing is that that means a brand new shiny area for me to craft, a brand new desk area and brand new storage so hopefully my creativity will flow and flow.  I plan to enter challenges again and just play....

The down side to this is that I have nothing to share with you except for this particularly BAD picture of a birthday card for my FIL.

 It was my first attempt at the bokeh effect.  I used brushos on watercolour paper to get to coloured background then sponged white ink through die cut circles (I hope that makes sense!)

I die cut the word DAD and the small banner using a spare piece of the watercoloured paper and mounted that all onto a circle.

My children said they thought it was a bit girly for their Grandad but I sometimes think that male cards can be dull and boring so it was nice to use some colour.

So, I will keep you updated with the build so please bear with me....I am vey excited to get going!!!!

Thanks for stopping by, take care.

Clair

Hello Again

So, it's been ages!!!!!!!!  I've decided I might try and get my blog up and running again. I am no longer an independent Stampin Up demonstrator but that doesn't mean my love for crafting is any less.

I am trying my hand at a number of things now so hopefully they will be a variety of projects, cards etc for you to feast your eyes at..... I love looking at others work so I hope you enjoy my little blog again too!

I haven't got anything specific to show today but it won't be long, I promise.

Thanks for stopping by.
Take care

Clair xx

Just Believe....

I have a card to show that is using one of my most favourite stamp sets, although I don't use it often enough!!!!  This was for my MIL whose birthday was last week, from the boys.  I am still struggling with a lack of mojo but I'm still trying and thats the main thing eh?!!!

It's on a white card base and then layered using daffodil delight and not quite navy, great colour combination.  I have heat embossed the main image using white embossing powder and then just cut the image into three.  The 'Nanny' has been cut using the cricut machine (which does actually belong to my mum, I'm sure I'll give it back one day....honest!)

I am still as busy as always, this time with organising our schools summer fayre.  The wedding bits are almost done so lets move onto something equally time consuming - I must love it...I'll keep telling myself that. I won't be doing it again (this is my third) but I have said that every time!

Oh, and I'm off to Claridges on Friday.....ultra, ultra excited! Will let you know how I get on.
Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used, all SU unless stated;
Card/Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Not Quite Navy.
 Stamps: Just Believe, Petite Pairs
Inks: Not Quite Navy, Versamark
Accesories: White Embossing Powder, Stamp-amajig, Pearls
Non SU, Small Flower Punch, Die Cut Letters

Positively Pretty

My Mum bought this stamp set, Forever Young,  some time ago but has never used it!!.  I borrowed it off her a while ago but had never got round to playing with it until recently.  We have a tree in a neighbours garden that is beautiful when in blossom and thats when I decided to try something!

I stamped the tree in black (obviously - sorry) and then used the end of a skewer to add the blossom. Now I know  it isn't the traditional pink of blossom but I have alot of this colour to use up (this is what I made my nephews wedding stationery with and have quite a bit left over) so you may see this often!!
The flower was made using a spiral die although you can make them without this just cutting a spiral into a circle of card.

This card was for a lady that I have never given a handmade card to before (always shop bought.....shock horror!!!) but I really hope she liked it. 

We have had another full on weekend with football and sleepovers, my children have a better social life than me, it's ridiculous! We have a nice quiet one planned for the bank holiday, just the 4 of us so I am looking foreward to it!

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used; all SU unless stated;
Card/Paper; Whisper White, Rose Red, Basic Black, Lucky Limeade
Stamp Set; Forever Young, Create a Cupcake
Ink; Basic Black, Rose Red
Accessories; Circle Punch
Non SU; Sprial Flower Die

Another man card......or is it???

Good Evening, how's things?  We're all good.  I have been busy putting together fingerprint keyrings for all the children in school so we can sell them at a craft event on Friday.  I spent the day with them last week rolling out fimo for them to add their print and then today I have been assembling them all.

So, this card I'm showing is the card I made for my FIL for the boys to give.  I really, really liked it but then showed the boys at different times for them both to say "It's a bit girly, isn't it?"  To say I was a bit put out is an understatement.  As it was they still had to give it to him because I was too tied up to make another one!

It's a sale-a-bration special!!!  The stamp is from this year and the DSP is from last year!  I used a sponge dauber to add the 3 inks to the stamp, something I haven't done before (or not that I remember!) but I really like this card - think I've said that already....what do you think?

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used, all SU unless stated;
Card/Paper; Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla, Sale-a-bration DSP (can't remeber what it was called)
Stamps; Feeling Sentimental, Collage Curios
Inks; Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Pool Party
Accessories; Bakers twine, Gold brads
Computer generated sentiment.

Making a comeback...slowly!!!

I am still about, sorry for the lack of posts but I think I can start making a slow return, I have have made 3 cards this weekend and I am happy with each one!!!  Something tells me my mojo my be making a comeback... about time!

So, its a busy old month with birthdays for my family with the first being my lovely father in law.  I made 2 cards, one of which I will show later in the week but it was from the boys and they didn't like it, they said it was a bit girly so I'll be interested to see what you think!
Anyway, this card is the first that I have made for ages that I am happy with but has a surprisingly small amount of stamping.

I have stamped the background ( on the crumb cake card) using the open sea stamp although that is really hard to see in the photo and have stamped the sentiment other than that, it is all paper and that is quite unusal for me.  The paper is from the fanfair DSP pack which has catered for both male and female cards which is great.

So, whats been happening in my world whilst I have had a mojo break?...Well, Elliot and his football team won the league.  It was a close season that did go on longer than usual due to so many games being postponed but its ended now and they are champions!!!!!
Aaron and I are starting to visit secondary schools which is a very scary thought, the first one is this week.
I have finished the wedding invitaions for my nephew ...finally!!  It was stressful but they are worth it.
Think that is about it really.

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used, all SU unless stated;
Card/Paper; Whisper White, Island Indigo, Crumb Cake, Fan Fair DSP
Stamps; The Open Sea, Creat a Cupcake
Inks; Crumb Cake, Island Indigo
Accessories; Antique Brads, Bitty Banners Die, Natural Trim Ribbon
Non SU; Die cut alphabet

Something is Still Missing.....

Still struggling!!!!

Life at the moment is still hectic and isn't showing any signs of slowing down.  I'm not sure why I am having difficulties with my crafting and I hoping it improves soon but until then I will continue to try things and show you anything dodgy!!!!

This is a quick card that can be used for those dreaded men!!!!!  It's using the Collage Curious set which is really sweet.

I am still busy with the wedding invitations, inserts and added extras so as I said life is busy, busy, busy!!!

Thanks for stopping by and for your patience with my lack of posts.
Take care

Supplies used - All SU unless stated;
Card/Paper; Whisper White, Basic Grey, Crumb Cake, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Twitterpated DSP
Stamps; Collage Curious, Feeling Sentimental
Inks; Island Indigo, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade
Accessories; Spritzer Tool, Circle Punch

Missing MOJO!!!!

I am in some serious trouble!!!!!!!  I really can't do anything right at the moment....does this ever happen to you?  Everything I start seems to end up on the reject pile and I'm not happy with anything.  I need help!!!

Anyway, because I have some male birthdays coming up I had to make some cards and I was drawn to pinterest for some inspiration.  This card is a mixture of two I saw. (as always was in the car while browsing so I am unable to give credit to the original crafters...sorry!)

The one with the soda pop top is being hand delivered and the other is being posted so that is why I haven't added a soda pop top.  The flat one just needs '50' adding to the banners as its a big birthday but I haven't got round to it yet and as it's been ages since I posted I thought it could wait!
The stamp set used is from a sale-a-bration set which has now ended but I'm sure its one of my favourite sets.  I have also flattened the soda pop top in the big shot.

So, thanks for your patience and for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used; al SU unless stated;
Card/Paper; Crumb Cake, In-Colours 2011-2013 DSP, Indigo Island, Lucky Limeade.
Stamps; Feeling Sentimental, Curios Collage
Inks; Crumb Cake, Lucky Limeade
Accessories; Spritzer tool, Soda Pop Top, Bitty Banners Die

Mothers Day

I have had a busy and cold couple of days....I had my windows and doors replaced and had lots of men all over my house but blimey it was cold!! Thankfully its all done and looks lovely, I just have to get my darling husband to do some decorating now!!!!!

Thought I would show you the mothers day cards I made, one for my mum and one for my MIL.

 Obviously I have coloured this whole image in using a blender pen but wanted a different effect on the other card.

So this time, I stamped image twice, coloured in one and punched out the circle and matched it up.  Hope that makes some sense....
Same but different....I'm getting good at that. 

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used; all SU unless stated;
Card; Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Whisper White
Stamps; Summer Afternoon, Delightful Dozen
Inks; Chocolate Chip
Accessories; Ribbon, Pearls, Bitty Banners Die
Non SU; Letter Dies, Doilies

Bleach....

Well, thats another Monday nearly over with!!! Hope you've all had a good start to the week!

This post is going to be photo heavy as I got a bit carried away with these cards.  I made two the same (but different - you know what I mean!) for my Mum and my MIL for the boys to give them yesterday, Mothers Day and I liked them so much that I made two more for two birthdays coming up.

Here there are all together.  It is a fabulous way of using up scraps.  I have used ribbon and lace but strips of paper would work just as well. All I have done is splatter some diluted bleach across the cardstock and leave it to dry.  Looks really cool and its something we all have in a cupboard somewhere.  The only thing different on the birthday cards is the age added to the butterfly.

The spiral flower is simple to make also (I have a feeling you may see these fairly often) but I will admit I have just bought a die just because I am lazy!!!

Anyway, have a try with the bleach, the opportunities are endless.
Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used; all SU unless stated;
Card; Not Quite Navy, Melon Mambo, Very Vanilla
Stamps; Papillion Potpourri, Tea Shoppe, Create a Cupcake
Inks; Not Quite Navy, Melon Mambo
Accessories; Butterfly Punch, Ribbon scraps, Bitty Banners Die
Non SU; Bleach, Spiral flower die, number die

The Open Sea

 Quick post tonight as I am off to bed - got a headache that has got steadily worse throughout the day....:-(

We made a card for those "dreaded" men at card club this month using the Open Sea set.  I love this set, it's perfect for the men in our lives.

 We used crumb cake and not quite navy card and ink and this was really quick to put together other than the fact that we used a crackle glaze on the compass and that takes a while to dry.

A close up of the crackle glaze.

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies Used; all SU unless stated;
Card; Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy
Stamps; The Open Sea, Create a Cupcake
Inks; Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy
Accessories;  Bitty Banners Die, Square Lattice Embossing folder, Natural Trim Ribbon
Non SU; Crackle Glaze, Circle Die

Flutterbys.

I have a phobia of anything that flaps, birds or butterflies scare me senseless but I do love them on cards and things.  My phobia was added to when we went to the Isle of Wight about 9 years ago.  My Mum decided I was winding her up about being scared of birds as she didn't remember me being scared when I was younger so on a visit to a wildlife park she threw a bagfull of bird food at my feet which made hundreds of birds swarm towards me.  To say I was hysterical was an understatement, I was screaming and crying.  My husband really told my Mum off!!!!  She believes me now!!!!

Anyway, I made this card for this months card club that is really simple but I really like.

I saw the idea ages ago on Pinterest although I can't give the person credit as I tend to have a quick look through Pinterest whilst waiting for the boys outside school and never remember to make a note of the talented person, so apologies.

I have used the papillion potpurri set which is lovely and then added extra butterflies with the beautiful wings die.  Really simple card but pretty.

I can't believe it's March tomorrow!!!  It makes me realise I had better get cracking with my nephews wedding invitations, the way the months are flying by, the wedding will be here in a flash!

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used, all SU unless stated;
Card/Paper; Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist
Stamps; Papillion Potpourri, Blooming with Kindness
Ink; Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi
Accessories; Blender Pen, Simply Scored, Paper Piercing tool, Elegant Butterfly punch, Beautiful Wings Die
Non SU; liquid pearls

Wedding Wishes.

After getting up at the crack of dawn (well, not quite but early!) for football we were called to say it was off!!!  We were all ready and just about to leave.  It took Elliot all of about 2 minutes to throw his kit off and put his onesie back on!! Not sure if it was cancelled due to a frozen pitch as stated or because of the hang overs the men might of had follwing a 'Dads' night out!!

My lovely friend Mel is getting married next month so I have made her a card and its in her colour scheme....

I have used the birds from Easy Events and coloured them in using a blender pen. The wedding theme is grey and yellow and I have heat embossed the  'M' and 'N' with clear embossing powder which is why they look a bit darker but I really like the colour combination.

We're all back to school and work tomorrow, which we're not happy about.  After all the bugs we feel like we could do with a few more days to fully recover!

Thanks for stopping by;
Take care

Supplies used, all SU unless stated;
Card/Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Basic Grey
Stamps; Easy Events, Create a Cupcake, Versamark
Inks; Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, River Rock
Accessories; Heart Framelits, Owl Builder Punch, Paper Piercing tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool
Non SU; Alphabet Dies