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Sunday 27 February 2011

A Card For A Special Day

Hi everyone,
Hope you are all having a good weekend.
This is a card a friend has asked me to make for her, for a special couple of friends, who are getting married next month. The brief was burgundy and cream in colour and flowers and embellishments.
I have just noticed that the antennae of the bottom Dragonfly were caught together when I took this picture. I have untangled them now! I was trying to take the pictures with my grand-daughter here!
The Kay Carley Dragonflies and the rings were stamped with Versamark and embossed in gold. As were the details on the internal part of the card in the picture below. The small flowers I made, using a Woodware punch. Sprayed them with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and added some H20's.

The rose in the picture below is from an unmounted sheet of stamps from the Stamp Man. I coloured it with H2o's. As I also did with the Dragonflies.

The leaf is from a Little Claire die, Large Fern Leaf . I edged it with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and added a touch of Star Dust Stickles. The paper roses are from my stash, just added some H2o's and Stickles to the ends of the petals.

I used a Martha Stewart punch for the corners and Nestabilites die for the hearts. I just have to do the wording my friend has asked for, to go on the insert. I have also made a box that I finished today. I will take photos and hopefully post tomorrow.

I hope she will like it.


Thanks for visiting my blog. I look forward to reading your comments, as they always make me smile.

Luv,

Carol S. xx

Friday 25 February 2011

A Brilliant Blog Award

Hi everyone,

I must say thanks very much to Helen , for passing this award to me.

The rules of this award are as follows:
Make a post linking back to the person who gave you the award. Done!
Share 7 random things about yourself!
1. I want to lose 2 stone before the summer.
2. I don't like eating fish very much.
3. I love watching the birds on their feeders in my garden.
4. I wish I could make myself go to bed earlier than 2am.
5. I wish my legs would let me go on long walks again.
6. My mother was Maltese.
7. I find it hard cutting into beautiful papers and constantly talk myself out of it.
I have to award 15 recently discovered blogs. This I may have a problem with, as I don't have much time to look at loads of blogs. So I will do as many as I can.
1. Sharon
2. Gaynor
3. Lisa
4. Cheryl
5. Maxine
6. Heinke
7. Sandra
8. Missy B
9.Lynsey
10. Jessica
11. Maria
I will now leave messages on these blogs.

Thanks Helen,
Luv,
Carol S. xx

Little Claire Challenge Card

Hi everyone,
This is my card for the Little Claire blog challenge, inspiration week.
Used Distress Inks to colour for a change! I can hear you! Lol!! So, I am an addict to my inks. I know that!!
The background was just an embossing folder with Dried Marigold Distress Ink in and run through my 'Joy' machine 4 times, to make a full A4 sheet of backing paper. Simples! I used a Martha Stewart punch around the edges and added some Aged Photo to the edge. Also used a Martha Stewart punch for the butterflies.
I used Dried Marigold for her dress, with a little Black Soot . The flowers and the leaves are Woodware punches, using scrap paper, edged with Walnut Stain. The dragonflies are an old Kay Carley stamp, embossed in white and coloured with Dried Marigold.

The shapes are Nesties and all, with a touch of Star Dust Stickles. Done!!Lol!

Thanks for visiting my blog and don't forget to enter the challenge to win a great prize. Good luck!!

Luv,
Carol S. xx

Thursday 24 February 2011

More from Little Claire

Hi All,

Did you see our Steve on Create and Craft this morning? He was great, but the presenter, I'm sorry but I must say was rubbish!! She showed no respect to all the beautiful design teams' cards. She is definitely not a crafter.

This is another of my cards made with one of the 'Room with a view' sets. He is with my favourite, the Tree House set. Another great idea for a mans card, even Father's Day.

I coloured the picture with Distress Inks and for the shirt, I just used a fine brush to draw the lines. A very nice quick card to make.



Another favourite set, the beach hut. Distress Inks again and the life belts and the buckets are 3D.
A piece of raffia tied around the card. Add a few shells, free from the beach and you have a card done.
The most important ingredient of this recipe is the stamps. The quality are second to none.
As I always love to use Distress Inks, they are usually not very good with clear text stamps. Not sure why but they usually dry in dots, so I have to go over the text with a pen.
However, with Little Claire text stamps, they print perfectly every time with Distress Inks. Very evident on all these samples.
If you inspect the text on the card below, I think you will see that the print is very sharp. No dots to be seen!!
I stamp my images with Versafine Smokey Grey, so it looks like a pencil line. You can also add colour to the line, so it blends in with the image, or you can make it look like shadow. That is not so easy to do with black ink.


The flowers are a Woodware 2" punch and punched leaves, also a Woodware punch. I sprayed the flowers with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, gold and edged both the flowers and leaves with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

The Butterflies are Martha Stewart punches, as is the border. The flourishes are Nestabilities dies.

Everything has a dusting of Stickles Stardust of course. An ideal card for the person who has no hobbies!!
The next set of stamps are part of the Garage set.
These are going to be so useful, for all those men, like my husband, that have no liking for football!!

As he is Australian, his sporting activities were surfing and sailing. But he does like cars and his garage is his sanctuary. He goes in there every evening. At the moment, it is the place where he fills up the bird feeders!


In a couple of weeks time, we are having all new electrics put in his garage. New lighting and lots of sockets! Then in the Spring, we are going to make it look like the Little Claire Garage!! Lots of cupboards and shelving for his 'things'!!


The only thing that doesn't go with him in this set, is the paint pot. I do all the painting and paper hanging. He is not very good with paint!Lol!

I am sure you will enjoy using all of these stamp sets, as much as I did.
Check out the Little Claire web site to see all the design teams amazing cards. You will get so much inspiration.
Thanks for visiting my blog and for your supportive comments.
Luv,
Carol S. xx

Tuesday 22 February 2011

Shh!! A Little Sneaky Peak!

Hi Everyone,
I know we are all looking forward to seeing Steve on Create and Craft Sky TV tomorrow. So here is a sneaky peak of the new stamps he is showing. They are more in the 'Room with a view' range of stamps.
The first one is my number one favourite. I know I shouldn't have favourites but I do. Lol!!
The shells we collected on holiday a couple of years ago. I was surprised I managed to find them!
Since we moved here, 18 months ago, I still haven't found all the furniture for my Victorian, 4 storey dolls house!
Love her swimming costume!

This is definitely another favourite. It is so cute. I have been dying to be able to post this one, so I can use it to make cards for myself! I'm sure this stamp will be a sell out on the show!


I just love the wise old Owl in the top window and the Bunny, keeping a close eye on him!


This card would have really suited me when I was a bit younger. I was certainly clothes horse!!


I must admit, that even now I would not be able to share a wardrobe with my husband. We had fitted wardrobes put in just before Christmas, three doubles and one single. Just enough!!


This one is definitely for the boys. It is always useful to get new ideas for men, as we know what a pain they are, to design cards for.


I of course coloured all my cards with Distress Inks. All except the garage door, which I used my Copic pens on! The plant and the flower pot are 3D, just to give a bit of dimension.

The programme is on at 10am Wednesday 23rd. I just noticed that it will be 1am shortly, so the programme in now today!!Lol!! Don't forget to set your recorder.

I will post more samples in this range over the next few days, so please pop back to see them.
Luv,
Carol S. xx

Monday 21 February 2011

A Special Rose

Hi All,
I just had a need, to do a simple card with just a little colour.
Its amazing that you can spend hours adding loads of colour to an image, yet 2 colours alone, can be quite dramatic.

A few Martha Stewart punched butterflies, job done!

I have been asked by a couple of friends, to make special wedding cards for March weddings. So I had a break from flamboyancy, for a little simplicity!Lol.
Must also make two cards this week for men!Ugh!! My brother-in-law and my neighbour. At least they have hobbies!
Thanks for visiting my blog and come back soon,
Luv,
Carol S. xx

Thursday 17 February 2011

Little Claire's Surprise! A Free Digi Download

Hi all,
We had here, a lovely sunny day for a change. I hope you did too, wherever you are!
This is a card made using a free Digi Download from Little Claire. No! It wasn't a typo, I did mean FREE!! Check out their web site for Digi Downloads to buy and this one for free. Don't miss out.Lol!

Another surprise! I coloured this card with Copic Pens and NOT Distress Inks! I know it is very unusual, that I managed to find my way to the drawer where my copics live, without stopping at the Distress Ink drawers.Lol!!

Even the 5 pink dot embellishments are just Dries White glue, coloured with Copic Pens.

Don't forget Steve, from Little Claire, is on Create and Craft on Wednesday. More new release stamp sets. Don't forget to set your recorder.

Thanks for visiting my blog and have a good weekend.


Luv,


Carol S. xx

Tuesday 15 February 2011

My Sister's Birthday Card

Hi everyone,
Thank you for visiting my blog,
This card I have made is for my sister's birthday on Friday. She collects Japanese porcelain and figures, so I thought this would be just right for her.
The stamp is from a Japanese collection at Crafty Ideas by Kaz and there are two Kimono stamps, as well as two bamboo, a dragon and various text stamps.
I painted it with Distress Inks. I chose these colours because I have got a Kimono wine bottle cover to send her and it is exactly these colours. Also, I just happened to have these colours on my tile which I use as a pallet!!Lol!
Why is it always a dark and wet day when I have to take my photos?! I tried to brighten up the pictures in my photo programme but they are still not very bright.

Hopefully she will like her card and pressie.
I am just using my FREE Digi picture I downloaded from Little Claire's web site. Yes it is totally FREE!!! Pop over to the Little Claire web site, you will find, under 'New Products', a choice of Digi downloads to purchase and one for Free!
Have fun!Lol!
Please come back soon,
Luv,
Carol S. xx



Thursday 10 February 2011

My Teddy Valentine!

Hi everyone,
It has been raining all day and soooo dark. I have had to have the lights on all day. How I hate the winter!
I must say though, that Spring is on it's way. I have loads of Crocus flowers trying to brighten up the garden.
This is my Valentine card I have made for my husband. Aah!Lol!! He is an old Creative Expressions bear, which I think is my favourite bear of all.

I stamped him using Versafine Smokey Grey. I coloured him with Distress inks. Base colour is Scattered Straw, with 'fur lines' using Walnut Stain. Around the outline I added more 'fur lines' with Walnut Stain, Frayed Burlap and Black Soot.
I used Tattered Rose on his back paws and his ears, with Aged Mahogany and Fired Brick on his bow.
I added a touch of Glossy Accents to his eyes and Stickles Star dust, on his bow.
A friend of mine came to visit yesterday and she said he looked as if you could put your fingers into his fur. I felt quite chuffed, as I had spent quite a time painting him!!Lol!!

Hope you like him and thanks for visiting my blog.
Luv,
Carol S.xx

Tuesday 8 February 2011

A Blog Award! What a lovely Day!


Thank you so much to Heike, for this lovely blog award. You have made this sunny day, even brighter than it was! I am more than happy to accept it.
Check out Heike's blog for more inspiration.
There are some conditions for the acceptance of this award:
You have been TAGGED and want to participate.
Then you have to create a post, where you POST the 'LOVE BLOG' image.
You should also blog the person's link, that gave you the award and inform her/him that you will accept the award.
You can then choose 3-5 of your favourite blogs, which you also link to your post. Then each blogger will inform you that they have been tagged.
The aim of this action, is to bring unknown blogs to light, so please do not consider fellow bloggers that already have 3,000 or more followers.
My chosen blogs are:
Let's all become followers of our design team members and spread our blog worlds!!
Luv,
Carol S. xx

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Big Hugs!! From Little Claire!

Hi everyone,
It seems ages since I blogged! I have been busy making cards for Little Claire, for their new designs.
The cards below are using their Club Members gift for this month. If you are not a member, check it out at Little Claire's web site. You won't regret it!!

I have used Distress Inks for colouring, just for a change.Lol!!
I had to give my cat, the appearance of fur! When we had cats, we always tried to have tabby cats, as we love their markings. We did have a couple of black and white ones, but we cannot have any where we live now, as we are on a bus route, which can be quite busy at times.
The flower on the little mouse stamp, was just made for decoupage! The Craft Concepts, Sun Rays embossing folder, was perfect as a background. Simples!!Lol!
Whoops! It is a mouse, not a Meerkat!!
The next stamp just makes me smile!! I was tempted to put a cat's face, peeping from behind the main image piece of card!

A quick card for the birthday you forgot!!
Don't forget to check out the Little Claire's website, to see all the cards in the Hugs gallery, made by the brilliant Design Team. You will be inspired!
Thanks for visiting my blog,
Luv,
Carol S.xx