Sweet Stampin' - cats and /or dogs

Happy Saturday :o)

Today's card is for our challenge over at Sweet Stampin', where our theme is 'cats and/ or dogs'.

Please excuse my awful colouring!  I coloured it a while ago and must have been in a rush, it looks very patchy... oh well, can't be helped now.

Items Used

Stamp - Little Claire (can't see it now, so possibly not available anymore)

Papers - LOTV (retired)

Sentiment stamp - Clearly Besotted

Flower - Wild Orchid Crafts

Flourish die - MFT

Heart Banner die - Memory Box or Poppy Stamps?

We've been out for a meal today with Pav's family... tried to choose diet friendly options, and then got talked into cheesecake lol, so now I'm very full!  I've lost 23lbs so far, so not doing too bad.

Thanks for popping in, hope you're having a lovely weekend :o)

Lazy Days

Hello everyone :o)

Another flying visit tonight, as I seem to be running a bit short on time this week!

Items Used

Stamp - Lazy Days - Little Claire

Colouring - promarkers & flexmarkers

Sentiment - NEW Simply Birthday Greetings male - DigiStamp Boutique

Papers - Bo Bunny Welcome Home - MCH

Large Go Kreate circle dies

Memory Box Marshmallow Clouds die - MCH

Whimsy corner die

MeiFlower Light Blue gems - MCH

Viva Decor Pearl Pen in Ice White - MCH

Pearls from my stash

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

CRAFT - birthday

Crafty Catz - male card

Anything Goes Challenge - anything goes

Off for a little commenting catch up before someone else needs me for something!... Hope you all have a lovely evening :o)

Less is More - 7th entry

My 7th entry for Less is More, and you'll be pleased to hear it's my last for today!

Little Claire silhouette dog stamps and sentiment, stamped in black versafine on Stampin' Up kraft card.

As you probably all know by now, Chrissie and Mandi are aiming for 1000 entries this week - there's only a couple of days to go and we're not even half way to 1000 yet, so if you've ever fancied trying CAS now's the time to do it :o)

Less is More - 4th entry

I've got a few more cards for Less is More today, so I'll keep my posts brief or it'll all get a bit boring!  Here's my 4th entry...

A blue version of my card from yesterday.... Little Claire flower stamp, Penny Black Sentiment, stamped in 'paris dusk' memento ink onto ivory linen card.

Back with another in a few mins!

Less is More again

**2nd post for today - please scroll down for my Passion For Promarkers card**

I'm back with my third entry for Less is More, where Chrissie and Mandi have set an 'anything goes' challenge and are aiming for 1000 entries - so get making those CAS cards everyone and get them entered, even if you don't think CAS is your thing!

The lovely flower stamp is from Little Claire - stamped in black Versafine on ivory linen cardstock, and then I've used a clear stardust pen on the... umm... stamens?  I know nothing about flowers!  The sentiment is from Penny Black.  Very simple card, but I quite like it... might make some more in different colours!

I'm also entering my card for the 'black & white' challenge at Little Claire.

Less is More wk19 - one layer, in the frame

It's one layer week again at Less is More, with an 'in the frame' theme - Chrissie and Mandi would like to see some sort of frame on our cards.  I made 5 LIM cards today, but only 2 of them are fit to be seen lol... the others will either end up in the bin or I'll chop them up and see if I can make them into something else!

For my green card I've used a Little Claire flower stamp and a Penny Black sentiment.  I stuck a post it note in the centre and then 'randomly' stamped the flower in memento 'pear tart' all around the card.  I then inked around the post it note using 'shabby shutters' distress ink, lifted off the post it note and stamped the sentiment in the centre, using 'bamboo' memento.  The card base is ivory linen from Papermill Direct.

For my pink card I've used the Hero Arts 'wildflower garden' stamp and a Stampin Up frame and sentiment - from the set I won at a demo on Saturday!  I stamped the frame first, then masked the frame off and stamped the flower stamp over the top.  I didn't think it looked quite right with the flowers stamped once, so I stamped it again at either side, but only using the top part of the stamp.  Then added the sentiment, a little bit of glamour dust on some of the flowers, and a few pearls.

I'm also entering my cards for the 'single layer' challenge at Paper Pretties.

My last DT card for Little Claire

Aww such a sad post for me... I've been agonising over this decision for a while, but it feels like the right time, so this is my very last post as a DT member for Little Claire.  Although it won't be my last Little Claire card, as there are so many of their stamps amongst my favourites :o)  It's been a great year, working with a lovely and talented team of stampers - I'll miss being on the team with you all!

Our challenge this time is 'cards for men' - just in time for father's day, but it can be anything for a male, it doesn't have to be for father's day.  Here's my card...

Just a quick and simple one from me.  I've used a stamp from the Oh Man! set, coloured it with promarkers and then covered the ties with glossy accents.  The Kraft card is from Stampin' Up, blue card is from Papermill Direct.  Ribbon from my stash and the sentiment stamp is also from Little Claire.

I've been at Busy Bees all day - I was demoing this afternoon, but this morning there was a fab Stampin' Up demo.  I have ordered a couple of things of course lol, and would have liked a lot more!  We made some lovely little boxes - I must take a pic later so I can show it off!  And I must have been having a lucky day because I won the door prize - a lovely little set of stamps called Vintage Labels.  Yay!  And double yay because there are some great little frames in the set that I could use for this week's LIM challenge :o)  Off to catch up with you all...

Less is More wk18 - monochrome

This week's challenge at Less is More is 'monochrome', and for my first attempt this week I've combined it with the sketch challenge at CAS-ual Fridays and ended up with this...

I say first attempt, because I've got lots of ideas for this one so if I find some spare time I might be back with some more...  The boxer shorts are from the Lazy Days set from Little Claire, stamped in bamboo memento onto ivory linen card.  The border stamp is from a Kelly Panacci set that I've had for AGES and have never used - I rediscovered it when I had a sort out last night! Coloured the shorts and border with promarkers.

I'm also entering my card for the 'clean & simple' challenge at CES Challenges.

Thanks for all your Anniversary messages yesterday! We had a yummy Chinese takeaway and some sparkly wine, and a nice evening in front of the telly lol. Off to visit mum now but I'll be round to visit you all later :o)

Less is More wk17 - pick a square

Back from our little holiday in Devon :o)  We had a lovely time but it's always nice to get home isn't it?  Thanks for all your lovely comments while I've been away, I'm still trying to catch up!  One of the first things I did when we got back was check what the new challenge was at Less is More lol... totally addicted!  So... this week Chrissie and Mandi want us to pick a square of our card - either one of the corners or the centre square.  I've made 2 and I'm not overly happy with either of them...

For my first card I've used the new Gerbera Set of stamps from Little Claire.  I've used the corner flowers and one of the sentiments, but there are more flowers and another sentiment in the set too.  Stamped the flowers in green and coloured them with promarkers.  Added some pearls from my stash.

For my second card I've used a new stamp from a set I bought on holiday - I managed to drag Pav into Crafty Devils Papercrafts and treated myself to a few new stamps.  This one's from the Birds in Cages set by Words Like Honey.  The sentiment is Penny Black.  Added a tiny blue pearl to the top of the birdcage.  Cardstock is pale blue linen but the photo's washed it out a bit.

I'm also entering my cards for the 'clean & simple' challenge at Secret Crafter.

Special offer at Little Claire

Just a quick post to let you know that Little Claire are having a quick sale on the Spikey Flower Set.  Until tomorrow at 4pm this set will be available for the bargain price of £3.50 :o)  Here's a very simple card I've made  with one of the stamps from the set...

I've just stamped with clear Versa Mark and then brushed cosmic shimmers over - very shimmery but as usual the camera doesn't really pick it up!  Super simple card but there are some gorgeous examples from the rest of the DT - just click on the gallery link on the Little Claire site.

Spotlight Challenge - inchies

Our new challenge starts today on the Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight Challenge blog, and for this fortnight we'd like to see you use at least 3 inchies... no I didn't really have a clue but thought I'd have a go!  There are far more fabulous examples from the rest of the DT - I should have had a play about with something more artistic but as usual I've not had enough time!

I've used a stamp from Little Claire called Cat in a Box, which is actually a grid of 9 squares - I've cut 3 of them out to use for my card.  They're coloured with promarkers, with a few pearls added below the sentiment square.  Papers are Dovecraft 'animal antics' with core'dinations cardstock and ribbon from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Pear Tree Designs - spring
• The Crazy Challenge - anything goes
• Cutie Sunday - butterflies (on the paper)
• Pile It On - funny bone
• The Crafty Pad - spots & dots

Apologies if I haven't managed to get round to your blog yet - I'm doing my best to catch up!  It's a bit busy here with a demo to prepare for and orders to be made, and my mum's wedding next Monday!  Not sure if I've mentioned the wedding before as it all feels a bit strange, but my dad died more than 10yrs ago now and so it shouldn't come as too much of a shock really!  I'm happy for my mum, but feel sad that we're not as close as we were before she met her hubby to be.  Trying not to be a spoilt brat about it though lol, and I made their invites as a gift for them and went shopping with mum for her outfit, so hopefully she doesn't know I'm not totally thrilled!

I want to ride my bicycle....

Here's a couple of cards I've made using this month's club stamp set from Little Claire, available here.

My first card is coloured with promarkers, papers are Echo Park 'walk in the park'.  Bicycle sentiment is from the same set, and the circle sentiment is from a set that will be released soon from Little Claire.

And this one is completely different!  The bicycle looks fab just stamped with no colouring... in fact I think I prefer it like this.  A very simple one layer card, with the bicycle stamped in Rich Cocoa memento ink onto pale blue hammer textured card.  The sentiment is also from this month's set.

I'm entering my cards for the following challenges:

• One Layer Wednesday - round & round (2nd card, obviously!)
• I Love Promarkers - song title (1st card - 'I want to ride my bicycle')
• Pile It On - time to travel
• Moving Along With The Times - anything goes

I've had a little mishap with my car... pulled the switch to set the windscreen wash going, and it snapped off!  So my front wipers won't work at all, and my rear wiper won't switch off and is wiping constantly - oops!  Wonder how much that'll cost to sort out...

Little Claire challenge 6 - my sketch!

Time for our new challenge at Little Claire and a bit of a first for me - for this fortnight our challenge is a sketch... my sketch!  Obviously I've made up my own layouts before but I've never made one into a sketch.  It's very simple so I'm hoping some of you will join in... will be a bit sad if no one uses it lol.  I need to work on 'prettying up' my sketches before I make another one I think.  Anyway, here's my card...

I've used the Oh Man! set of stamps, and I've paper pieced the chair and footstool and coloured the rest with promarkers and koh-i-noor pencils.  The papers are MME, with dark brown Papermill cardstock.  Sentiment is from the same stamp set, buttons from my stash.

Here's my sketch

As you can see, I've jigged things around a bit for my card - even when it's my own sketch I don't seem to be able to follow it perfectly lol!  I have to say a HUGE thank you to the Little Claire DT girls who've done a fabby job with it :o)

I'm entering my card for the challenge at Cute Card Thursday, where they want you to follow a sketch - either an old one from their blog, one from another challenge or one you create yourself.

Little Claire sneak peek...

Little Claire are bringing out a great set of sentiment stamps soon - all fabulous and they stamp so clearly, I love them :o)  Here's a get well card I've made using one of the stamps...

I've stamped the sentiment in Rich Cocoa memento ink - the little bit of colouring has been done with promarkers and a touch of sakura clear stardust pen.  Papers are Dovecraft 'animal antics' (I think!) with core'dinations cardstock and some ribbon from my stash.  Just a simple little card but I'm quite happy with it :o)

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Moving Along With The Times - anything goes
• Cards For Men - circles

Cute cats

I've been keeping myself busy with lots of DT stuff today, because it was Dex's first official day at nursery... eeek!!!  I hardly slept at all last night and I've been a nervous wreck all day - pathetic really, isn't it?!  Dex was fine, he's had loads of fun but was really tired and nodded off on the sofa when we got home!

Most of my cards I've made today can't actually be shown yet, but I did make this one using the Little Claire Cat in a Box stamp...

No colouring on this one, because I thought it looked nice stamped in Rich Cocoa memento ink onto one of the plain blue sheets from the GCD 'ella blue' pad.  I've just added some pearls from my stash, and a ribbon that I cut out of some new pyjamas!  Well, it was the right colour :o)

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• My Time To Craft - perfect pets
• Creative Card Crew - recycling (ribbon)
• Creative Craft - recycled (ribbon)
• Creative Inspirations - pets/ animals
• Moving Along With The Times - recycle
• The Corrosive Challenge - animals

Nursery again tomorrow for Dex, so hopefully I'll get lots done and will try not to worry so much about him now I know he's enjoying it!

Little Claire challenge 5 - animals

I've scheduled this post because I'm demoing all day, so fingers crossed blogger will play nicely!  Our new challenge at Little Claire for this fortnight is 'animals' and I'm quite pleased with myself because I've managed to use a stamp set that's never been inked before :o)  I have far too many stamps that have never been used!

My first card is the one that I've actually used as my DT card for the challenge, but it was actually the second card I made.  I've used Stampin' Up Kraft cardstock, with dark brown core'dinations.   The stamp set is Silhouette Dogs - there are quite a few stamps in this set but I've used 3 of the dogs and the paw prints, and stamped them in Rich Cocoa memento ink.  The sentiment is also from Little Claire, but I can't remember which set that one's from!  Added a little touch of Sakura clear stardust pen on the bee's trail.

I like this card, but decided it was probably a bit too plain... I think the Less is More challenges are doing strange things to me!  I seem to be very drawn towards simple stamped designs at the moment and love stamps that can be used simply like this.

Hopefully my demo will be going ok, and I'll be having a fun day... will catch up with you all when I get back!

Less is More wk10 - 1 layer & sentiment focus

This week's challenge at Less is More is a one layer card, with the focus on the sentiment.... umm.... eeek!  Now, if this had been any other challenge, I'd have passed on this week and not even attempted it.  But as it's Less is More, and I've played along every week so far, I had to get on with it!  This one is my first attempt...

I found this stamp while I was looking for the stamp I used on my second card, and thought it might work... not sure if it really did though.  The sentiment is an Elzybells stamp, butterfly is from a Pink Gem set.  Not really keen on this one, so I made another card...

This is my second card, with the sentiment I was looking for, which is from Paper Makeup I think.  The flower is from Little Claire.  I think this card worked better than the first one, but I'm not sure if I got the focus fully on the sentiment... I'd intended the flower to be slightly paler than it turned out.  I like this one though.

Hubby's been cooking while I've been playing in the craft room so I'd better go and eat... will visit you all in a bit though :o)

Post it note easel

Here's another of my projects made with the new stamps that Little Claire will be releasing on Create & Craft tv on Thursday morning.  This tree stamp is from the 'Claire's Bistro' set, and I've stamped it on Kraft card and coloured it with promarkers.  The paper is from my stash, I'm not sure what make it is, buttons are MME and the border is a MS doily trim punch.

These little post it note easels are really easy - it's just a normal easel card made using an A6 sized base, with a post it note pad added instead of your usual stopper.

Right, off to squeeze in some commenting... I'm a busy bee at the moment!

Less is More wk 9 - a touch of red

This week at Less is More it's a colour challenge - a touch of red... and I decided to stamp with red on Kraft.  Hope there's not too much red for the challenge!

This is also a little 'sneak peek' of one of the new stamp sets that Little Claire will be releasing on Create & Craft tv on Thursday morning.  The corner stamp and sentiment are from the 'spiky flowers' set, and there's another flower stamp in the set that I've not used here.

I've stamped with Lady Bug memento ink onto Stampin' Up Kraft card, and then added some sparkly touches with a Sakura stardust pen... not really showing up in the pic though.  The card base is made from textured Stampin' Up Kraft card.  I'm wondering now if I should have added some gems but I think I quite like it as it is.

Little Claire - pink & green

Time for a new challenge at Little Claire and this fortnight we'd like to see your 'pink & green' creations.  I got a bit carried away and made two...

a pale pink one

 and a bright pink one

I've used the fab Spiky Flowers stamp, simply stamped with Memento ink, and added some buttons.  The papers are Pink Petticoat (pale pink) and I think Doodlebug (bright pink) with coredinations cardstock.  Ribbon from my stash and Craftwork Cards sentiments.

I'm entering my cards for the following challenges:

• Paper Sundaes - keep it simple (3rd entry)
• Papertake Weekly - triple tastic (3 buttons - 2nd entry)
• Totally Papercrafts - buttons
• Totally Gorjuss - button it

Keeping this brief - I want to do a bit of commenting and then finally use some of the new stamps that I've been desperate to use all week!