ANY DIE WILL DO

Hello my lovelies, well it is Friday again and another week closer to Christmas. I have done no Christmas shopping as yet, even though I promise each year that I will start early!!!!. Thankfully one thing that I am doing fairly well with is Christmas cards. 

Over at Polka Doodles this week we have a brand new challenge with the theme "any die will do". Very happy with this as got to use my new Marianne poinsettia die!!!!. Here is what I made.

The scrummy paper's are from Studio 12 Picknix Collection 2 "Gingerbread Twist" CD. The gorgeous bear image is from Polka Doodles Sundae of Seasons CD. The sentiment is from the Here Comes Christmas CD. I have used Turquoise Doodle Dew Drops for the centre of the poinsettia and diamond Stickles on the petals. The poinsettia die is by Marianne Designs. I have used circle nestibilities and the scallop circle is by Craftwork Cards. The gorgeous ribbon is from one of my lovely friends ETSY shop which you can purchase here at The Little Boutique. Patricia has some beautiful stash to embellish your creations, go check it out!!!!.

Hope that you will all go pop over to the Polka Doodles blog and check out all of the girls DT makes and also take part in the challenge!!!!. 

Have a great and safe weekend everybody.

Love & hugs Clare xxxx

BRIGHT FESTIVE COLOURS!!!!

Hello everyone, hope you are all well on this cold Monday evening. I have finally got my Christmas Card Club challenge card done (was due Sunday, ooops!). It was the lovely Hazel's turn to pick the challenge this fortnight and her theme was to make a card using bright colours. 

And bright colours Hazel got!!!!. I brought this lovely funky Christmas tree paper from my local craft store. The only problem is there is nothing on the paper to indicate the company who made it. I have used blue, white & pink Bazzill card, an LOTV sentiment stamp, circle/scallop Nestabilities and ribbon, eyelets and bling from stash. 

I am really hating these dark early nights. It seems to make the day go so much faster. It's crap if you need to take a photo too!!!!. Ho hum, soon be Summer again!!!!.

Thank you for stopping by and big hugs to all.

Love Clare xxxx

EMMA CANNING FLAT FRIENDS CHALLENGE!!!!

My beautiful friend Emma Canning has started a new challenge BLOG featuring her wonderful Flat Friends digi images!!!!. You can buy Emma's images over at the Polka Doodles store HERE. There is an amazing assortment of these gorgeous digi's at only £1.25 each. 

This is the second challenge and this month the theme is "spots & stripes". This is what I made using the "Merry Maison" image.

The polka dot paper is from the Polka Doodles Here Comes Christmas CD. The sentiment is a Little Claire's stamp. The red Berry Dew Drops are also from the Polka Doodles store. Red and white linen card & red ribbon from stash. I have used Promarkers to colour in the image and finished off with diamond Stickles. 

Emma would love you to stop by for some inspiration and to have a play. There is still plenty of time to enter and Emma is offering her gorgeous digi's for prizes!!!!. 

Hope everyone is having a good day!!!

Big hugs Clare xxxx

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE MEECE!!!!

Hi all, hope you have all had a super weekend. Just got a card to share. It was for my lovely friend Wendy who's Birthday it was last week. 

Haven't played with my gorgeous meece for a little while so they have made an appearance. They are from the Ice Cream Birthday's set. I have used pink and brown Bazzill card, a Craftwork Cards sentiment and buttons and twine from my stash. The lovely ribbon trim is a Stampin Up punch. I used Promarkers to colour and aged mahogany Distressed Ink Pad. I used some brown glitter for the ice cream!!!!.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

DREAM VALLEY CHALLENGES - Anything goes
ROBYNS FETISH - Anything goes
SCRAPPERS DELIGHTS CHALLENGES - Anything Goes
ONE STOP CRAFT - Anything goes
SWEET STAMPIN CHALLENGE - Anything goes
CLEARLY INSPIRED - Critters
CRAFTY CATZ - Anything goes
PAPER CRAFTING JOURNEY - Anything Goes
LOVES RUBBER STAMPS - Anything goes
PAPELITOS STAMPS - Anything goes
PAPERTAKE WEEKLY - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by.

Big hugs Clare xxxx

IT'S PARTY TIME!!!!

Hello my lovelies!!!!. Well it's Friday and that means another challenge over at Polka Doodles and we are in a party mood!!!. This weeks theme was to make a Christmas party invitation and here is what I made.

I have used images and paper's from the fabulous Here Come Christmas CD and Studio 12 Picknix 2 Gingerbread twist CD. The bunting is a Stampin Up punch. Everything else is from my stash.

It's been a big week at Polka Doodles as Nikky has recruited 11 new international member's to the design team. I am so looking forward to getting to know the new girls and seeing their creations. Make sure you stop over and meet them!!!!. 

Another bit of excitement is there is a mega sale over at the Polka Doodles shop running from Thursday 8th to Monday 12th with huge savings on CD's!!!!. 

Hope that you can go check it out and bag yourselves some bargains!!!!

Thank you for stopping by and make sure that you have a wonderful and safe weekend.

Big hugs Clare xxxx

SUGAR & SPICE & ALL THINGS NICE

Hi my lovelies, hope that all of my friends are well and keeping warm. I am finding it so cold and it's making my joints really painful. Never mind though as it is that time of year!!!!. 

I am a few days late in posting this card which was due on Sunday. The Christmas Card Club only has another three challenges left for the year. Cannot believe how quickly it has gone. This week it was the lovely Zoe's turn to choose the theme which was "sugar & spice & all things nice". I have been itching to use this gorgeous House Mouse stamp. Here is what I made. 

INGREDIENTS

CRAFTWORK CARDS 8X8 PLAIN WHITE CARDS

RED & WHITE BAZZILL CARD

PAPER MANIA PATTERNED PAPER & BOW "HOME FOR CHRISTMAS" RANGE

HOUSE MOUSE STAMPS FROM "GINGERBREAD HOUSE" SET

POLKA DOODLES RED DEW DROPS

WILD ORCHID HOLLY LEAVES & BERRIES

PEBBLES CHALKS

PROMARKERS

RIBBON FROM EBAY

I brought these rather large 8X8 cards ages ago and have a felt little bit intimidated by them worrying I would not be able to fill the card out!!!. Definitely needs a bit of layering and I think these lovely House Mouse stamps fill them out quite well. I am trying to make bigger cards for family as they will not need to be posted. I really hate having to think about the pennies when it comes to postage and get so narky with the increasing price rise of stamps. There that's my moan for the evening lol!!!!.

If you are interested in joining the Christmas Card Club either now or in the New Year just email me any time. We are just a small group of friends who make Christmas cards every fortnight to a challenge. Just helps to have a few cards made before December 1st!!!. The girls blogs are listed on my side bar and would love you to go check out their creations.

Right must try being a bit more creative before bed time, seriously can't believe we are in November.

Big hugs Clare xxxx

FRIENDSHIP & ANGELS

I recently made a card for one of my beautiful friends who is going through a rough time at the moment. She is a fellow Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferer who I met through card making and blogging and I feel so happy to have met her as she knows exactly how I feel and what life is like living with this horrible disease. 

My friend has been suffering terribly lately and I just wanted her to know that I understand and she can count on me when things get tough.

INGREDIENTS

POLKA DOODLES STUDIO 12 "GINGERBREAD TWIST" PAPERS

POLKA DOODLES RED DEW DROPS

PAPER MAKEUP SENTIMENT STAMP

RED MESH TRIM FROM THE LITTLE BOUTIQUE ETSY

WILD ORCHID FLOWERS

RED GINGHAM BOW FROM STASH

Thank you for stopping by and hope everyone has had a good Halloween!!!!.

Big hugs Clare xxxx

HAPPY MAIL CHALLENGE 2

Hello everyone, just wanting to share a project that I have made following a challenge over at DOODLEBUG. For more information on the concept of Happy Mail campaign click HERE. For the Happy Mail challenge 2 you are required to make your creation to include 2 different size circles. 

I have made this star card for a friend who has recently moved. I have used the gorgeous Doodlebug "Welcome Home" paper's and sticker's for my make. I have used two circles layered for the sentiment which are Spellbinder's Petite Circles. I have also used circular eyelets around the frame. For more information on taking part all of the information is HERE.

Hope everyone of my lovely friends are having a wonderful weekend.

Big hugs Clare xxxx

ANOTHER GREAT CHALLENGE OVER AT POLKA DOODLES!!!!

Hello my lovelies! can't believe it is Friday again. Hope you are looking forward to the weekend. Well we have another great challenge over at Polka Doodles this week which is to make a Christmas card and to add Kraft somewhere onto your creation.

I used the Kraft as the base of my card. I have used images and my sentiment from Here Comes Christmas and Sundae of Seasons CD's. I have used Polar White Flowers Soft for the snow. Kaiser red pearls and Kars wood snowflakes which I have added diamond Stickles to. 

Although I know many of my lovely friends play along I would love to see all of my friends come over to play at Polka Doodles. There are some amazing prizes to be won and you do not need to use Polka Doodles stash to win them, although we love to see what you can make from Nikky's gorgeous collections. 

Also while I am here I would like to let you all know that there is an international design team call. Here are the details!!!!.

I would love to see my oversea's friends apply!!!!.

Thank you for stopping by and for the beautiful comments that you leave me.

Big hugs Clare xxxx

LIZZIE'S MUSICAL THEME CHALLENGE

Hello everyone. Hope everyone is well on this miserably dull and wet day. When is this rain going to stop!!!!. It resembles a rugby pitch in my back garden and I nearly fell A over T when I put the hedgie food out earlier!!!!. 

Well it's that time again and the Christmas Card Club had another challenge this time set by the lovely Lizzie which was to make a project with a musical theme. I chose one of my favourite Christmas songs by Andy Williams "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year". I wanted to try making one of these gorgeous star shaped cards/decorations and I was surprised how quick and easy they were. Think I will be making a few more of these!!!!.

INGREDIENTS

LILI OF THE VALLEY ESSENTIAL PAPERS "KRAFTY CHRISTMAS" PAD

STAMP BY LILI OF THE VALLEY

SENTIMENT IS POLKA DOODLES "HERE COMES CHRISTMAS" CD

SPELLBINDERS CIRCLE

CRAFTWORK CARDS BROWN SCALLOPED DIE CUT

ANTIQUE LINEN DISTRESSED INK PAD

PROMARKERS

DIAMOND STICKLES

BROWN RAFFIA RIBBON FROM STASH

Wow I absolutely love these new Lili of the Valley papers!!!!. I had been trying to be good and resisted buying for a while but when I was looking over there the other day the pad just jumped into my basket. Would have been rude to have sent it back!!!!. 

I am entering my card into the following challenges;

CHALLENGE 4 EVERYBODY - Anything goes
CHRISTMAS CARD CHALLENGES - Bows
MY TIME TO CRAFT - Just sepia
ONE STOP CRAFT CHALLENGE - Anything goes
FUSSY & FANCY - Anything goes
INSPIRE ME FRIDAYS - Always anything goes
CARDS GALORE - Anything goes
JUST KEEP ON CREATING - Christmas
LILI OF THE VALLEY - Anything goes
ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE - U is for up to you
STAMP & DOODLE - Anything goes
DEEP OCEAN CHALLENGE - Anything goes
CRAFTY BLOGGERS NETWORK - Anything goes
FASHIONISTA CHALLENGE - Anything goes

Right Dad's just came in as he is having his dinner with me tonight so best get going before he gets grumpy and hungry!. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Big hugs Clare xxxx

HALLOWEEN AT POLKA DOODLES!!!!

Can't believe another week has passed since the last Polka Doodles challenge. This year is going so scarily fast!!!. Talking of scary the challenge theme for this week is "Halloween". Funnily enough in all the time that I have been card making and crafting I have never "done" Halloween yet I absolutely loved it and got into it so much I made two lots of cards and "Trick or Treat" bags. 

For the first set I used the cute spider papers from the Polka Doodles Halloween Bundle download. The sentiment and images are from Sundae of Seasons CD. The orange Puffy Stickers are from American Crafts. I have used a Martha Stewart border punch and a Spellbinders scalloped circle for the treat bag. Everything else is from my stash. I actually used the mesh bag from the chocolate pumpkins on my card, a bit of recycling!!!!.

I used the Sundae of Seasons CD for the images, Martha Stewart border punch, black Puffy Stickers from American Crafts and everything else from stash.

If you fancy having a play along this week at Polka Doodles you can find out more about the challenge and prizes HERE. Please remember that you do not need to use Polka Doodle products to enter into the weekly challenges but we would love to see the amazing creations you can make using the gorgeous Polka Doodles materials!!!!. 

I would like to enter my makes into the following challenges;

CRAFTS & ME CHALLENGES - Anything goes
DIVAS BY DESIGN - Anything goes
PAPER PRETTIES - Halloween
STAMPAVIE & MORE - Halloween
CAN YOU DIGI IT - Creepy & kooky
DEEP OCEAN CHALLENGE BLOG - Anything goes
RIBBON CAROUSEL - Halloween spirit
NO MATTER WHICH CREATIONS - Halloween creations or Halloween colours
SCRAPPY FROGS CHALLENGE - Fall/Halloween
CRAFTY CALENDAR CHALLENGES - All things spooky

Thank you so much for all of your lovely get well messages. It has really cheered me up. I am feeling better than I was this time last week that's for sure. I am still taking things easy as still pretty fragile but I am getting back into creating which definitely helps keep your mind of feeling crappy!!!. Just wish that the sun would come back out as it is really cold at the moment.

Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe weekend.

Love and hugs Clare xxx

SYLVIE'S RED & WHITE CHALLENGE

Hello my friends. I am apologising again for my lack of blogging. Since I last posted things health wise had got worse and I ended up at the hospital on Wednesday for a steroid infusion. Even my throat has been inflammed and by the time Wednesday came I knew I could not carry on any longer feeling so bad. I am gradually improving but it seems to have really taken it's toll this Rheumatoid flare up. I have my monthly treatment tomorrow so am really hoping that this will also help. 

I have been trying to make sure my DT and Christmas Card Club work is done and this fortnight was the beautiful Sylvie's turn to choose the Christmas challenge which was a red & white theme. 

INGREDIENTS

DIGI IMAGE - EMMA CANNING

DIGI SENTIMENT - POLKA DOODLES "HERE COME CHRISTMAS" CD

PATTERNED CARD - POLKA DOODLES "HERE COMES CHRISTMAS" CD

RED BERRY DOODLE DEWDROPS - POLKA DOODLES

RED STICKLES 

PROMARKERS

RIBBON FROM STASH

Just want to say a big thank you for all of your well wishes, it really means so much. I just feel so bad that I haven't been able to get around to everyone's blogs for an update but please do bear with me. 

Lots of love and big hugs Clare xxx

NEW CHALLENGE OVER AT POLKA DOODLES!!!

Hello everyone, I'm so sorry that I have not been around but have been poorly since the weekend. I am having a really bad flare up of my RA at the moment and been in so much pain. All of my glands are up and my throat has been really sore too. To top it off where I am run down I have an outbreak of dermatitis on my face. Might as well stick a paper bag on my head now!!!. 

Anyway it's Friday and that means another challenge over at Polka Doodles. It was Ashley's turn to choose the theme and she wants a creation of your favourite holiday/occasion of the year ie, Christmas, Valentine's day, Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving......Ashley has also added a twist which is to use the colour teal in your creation (this is optional though). 

My favourite has to be Christmas and this is what I created;

The yummy papers and the beautiful scene is from the new Picknix 2 Collection "Gingerbread Twist" CD. The sentiment is from the Here Comes Christmas CD. I have used Red Berry Doodle Dew Drops to decorate the tree and White Pom Pom Ribbon along the image. I used circular Nesties for the sentiment. 

I you fancy having a play along just pop over to the Polka Doodles challenge blog for more details. There are some awesome prizes to be won!!!.

Just want to remind you that there will be a show tomorrow on Create & Craft channel at 12 noon with Rosemary Merry for the launch of the new Studio 12 Picknix 2 "Gingerbread Twist" CD. Click HERE for more information. 

Hopefully in the next few days I will be feeling better and will get around to everyone's blogs. I'm so sorry for my lack of commenting. I really do appreciate all of your lovely messages and comments, they really do mean so much to me, especially when i'm not feeling too great.

Wishing you all a safe and wonderful weekend whatever you are doing.

Big hugs Clare xxx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM

It's been a pretty hard day today, but any special day marking the calendar is always hard when someone we have lost is not here to celebrate with. It was Mum's 73rd Birthday today and although it is 4 years on December 17th that we lost her it really does not get any easier. Having my blog really does help though so that I can mark these dates and share them and let my friends know just what an awesome and beautiful Mum she was.

Dad and I got Mum a dozen red and white roses to put on her memorial and I made a card like I always do.

It is such a beautiful and serene place in Mum and Dad's garden and was one of Mum's most favourite places in the world to be. Her Red Robin tree has flourished over the last 4 years it is gorgeous. This is the card that I made for Mum from the family.

Love and miss you every single day Mum

Thank you for letting me share.

Hugs Clare xxx

ICECREAM COLOURS!!!

Mmmmm yummy icecream!!! that is the challenge over at Polka Doodles this week. It was Daniele's turn to pick the challenge this week and she chose to make a creation with icecream colours. My favourites are chocolate and strawberry!!!!. 

I have been itching to make this chocolate card since finding it on a very talented ladies blog, Mariannes Papirverden. She has included a tutorial but I had to adjust the sizing to fit my chocolate bar so just check the sizes before attempting to make it!!!. 

I have used the gorgeous papers from Papers Boutique 111 and the images and sentiment is from Picknix Collection 1. I have used a Martha Stewart punch and ribbon, gems and card are from my stash. Not forgetting the chocolate bar was from Tesco!!!. 

Hope you can go over and check out the challenge at Polka Doodles. There are some great prizes to be won and although we love to see you using Polka Doodles stash you do not have to to play along.

I have entered my chocolate card into the following challenges;

DELIGHTFUL SKETCHES - Anything but a card
DIGI DOODLE SHOP CHALLENGES - Anything goes
DUTCH DARE CARD CHALLENGES - Sugar & spice & all things nice
IN THE PINK CHALLENGES - Pink & anything but square
MY HEART PIECES - Anything goes
SHELLY'S IMAGES - Anything goes
CRAFTS & ME - In the pink
WHIMSY INSPIRES - Anything goes

Big hugs Clare xxx

ACCORDIAN CARD

Ok I know, six days on the trot with a post, it's getting scarey now!!!. I did tell you I had been busy. I am now able to share another make which was a project for the awesome Pen & Paper Circle Club Magazine, Issue 4 which has just been released. The Pen & paper Circle is an exclusive club to Polka Doodles where you subscribe by pre-order only and to ensure you get a copy you need to hop over to the shop and click HERE to sign up to get an email when the next issue is available. The magazine is packed full of tutorials, offer's, hints & tips as well as a kit with a stamp set and CD containing papers and other exciting extra's.

I made an accordian card with the lovely kit included in this edition.

As you can see there are some gorgeous features in the Pen & Paper Circle magazines, the papers are so yummy. Make sure you go sign up for the email which will let you know when the next edition will be available and you will get to see the kit design before you order!!!.

I would like to enter my project into the following challenges;

BUNNY ZOE - Distressing
HOUSE OF GILLI - More than one fold
LOVE TO CREATE - Ribbon or twine
PAPER PLAY TIME - gingham & dies/punches
STAMP & CREATE - Anything goes
THE CRAZY CHALLENGE - Seeing spots
CHALLENGES 4 EVERYBODY - Anything goes
JOANNA SHEEN - Going dotty
NO MATTER WHICH CHALLENGES - Die cuts &/or punches
PILE IT ON - Patterned papers
ROBYNS FETISH - More than one fold
THE SQUIRREL & THE FOX - Anything goes

Thank you for stopping by today and you never know, there may be another creation tomorrow!!!.

Big huggles Clare xxx

CHRISTMAS CARD CLUB CATCH UP!!!

Well I have promised you some cards in todays post so that's what you will get!!!. Do hope everyone is having a good Sunday. 

I have two Christmas Card Club challenges to show you today. The first being one which was set by the gorgeous Debi which was to make 4 tags or 4 small cards. Here is what I came up with;

I used the gorgeous angel image by the amazingly talented Emma Canning. You can purchase the digi from the Polka Doodles online shop and it is only £1.25. The gingham paper's are from the Polka Doodles Here Come's Christmas CD Rom. I have coloured with Promarkers and stickles for the angel wings. I have used deckled oval nestibilities and ribbon, jewels and sentiments are from my stash.

My next challenge was set by our lovely Sue and she wanted us to use all of our favourite things and also to add a snowflake or two. 

Well you all know how much I love polka dots!!! that was an easy one lol. I used this gorgeous Hero Arts image too which is one of my favourite Christmas stamps. I coloured with Flexmarker's and stickles. I used a Woodware snowflake punch for the tiny flakes and the main snowflake was taken from a pretty clear peel off which I mounted onto white card. I have used a Martha Stewart border punch and layered with Kaiser blue bling. I stamped on to a deckled oval Nestie, the rub on sentiment is by Doodlebug which I have layered onto silver mirri card. Phew I think that's it!!!.

At least you all know now that I have been busy in the craft room and not just putting my feet up!!!. I have some more makes to bring you this week so hold tight. 

I am trying to get some cards made for the Macmillan Biggest Coffee Morning on 28th September. It seems to have crept up really quickly this year. Our local Haine & Son Funeral Director's participate every year and it is a cause close to my heart as they were a godsend when Mum was alive and so supportive. 
My lovely friend Debbie who works at Haine sets it up each year and goes to so much effort bless her. I know it's not a lot but I feel like I am doing my bit by making and donating cards and crafty bits to sell. Finger's crossed it all goes well again this year.

Right my lovelies have a wonderful rest of Sunday, i'm heading back to the craft room!!!.

Big hugs Clare xxx

GINGERBREAD TWIST SAMPLE, DAY 4

Well today is the final day to show you my last sample for the brand new Studio 12 CD, Picknix Collection 2, Gingerbread Twist which was launched on Saturday by Nikky Hall on Create & Craft.

I made a Christmas magnet to spruce up the fridge, freezer or anything else is will stick too lol!!!.

I managed to get hold of some of the cute Anita's 2013 mini calendar's. Again they make such quick and simple gift idea's and It was made within 30 minutes. Obviously taking longer with the fussy cutting!!!.

You can purchase the new Picknix 2 CD HERE and is currently selling for only £9.99 which is an amazing price. There are so many elements to choose from including colour and black and white images, gorgeous paper's, sentiments and embellishments. I absolutely love it!!!.

I hope that you have enjoyed my samples and when I get some spare time I am planning to add some tutorials to my blog.

I will have some cards to show you tomorrow.

Thank you so much for visit and your lovely comments, they make my day.

Love & hugs Clare xxx