Well it's about time...

That I update this old blog.

Now that my craft studio that is really 'the posh shed at the bottom of the garden' is oh so nearly finished, I truly am trying to get back onto crafting in a major way. And at the moment that's not so easy.

You see, when there's a cosy fire with a cat hell bent on sitting on your knee in the house and the craft studio is at least a 30 second walk away in the freezing cold with an equally freezing interior for at least 10 minutes until the electric radiator warms the air, it takes the will power of the strongest person to make it out and up there.

However, up there I will, and I'm sure it will be easier in the summer with lighter evenings and the like.

'Till then I'll share with you some of my most recent projects (probably made a good few months ago) that have never made it onto my blog. I'll share one every other day for the next few days. Space 'em out. You know, make them go further...

 I made this card for one of my friends at the local drama group that I'm a member of. Obviously she wanted a special card for a special birthday and I think she thought this fitted the bill perfectly. I made the pink flowers and stems with a die and added paper flowers. The frame was die cut from Core'diations Whitewash paper and sanded back to add definition. I created the text on my computer. of course I had to make a box to fit this card in which I made with my Scorepal.

So, still sat here in front of the real fire with a cat sat on my arm whilst I TRY and type, don't think I'm going to make it up there tonight. It being past 11pm and all...Maybe tomorrow. 

It Takes a Long Time to Grow an Old Friend...

HI there!

Sorry I've been missing for a while, I have spurts of continuous work that tire me out, then it takes me a couple of days to get over it, before I start again!

I still have the projects I did for the Tim Holtz Core'dinations Pick of the Week to share with you {I meant to photograph them yesterday, but completely forgot!} so in the meantime I thought I would share some cards I was asked to do for Create and Craft to show off some spectacular Spellbinder dies...How I love my job! They were displayed at the Doncaster Summertime Crafting Show, and now they're here.

Look how the Tim Holtz Core'dinations paper pack comes into its own when used with the spellbinder dies. Gorgeous! For this Card I cut and embossed the Spellbinder Frameabilities Polka Dot Frame, then sanded using the Sand it Gadget. Core'dinations and the Sand it Gadget go hand in hand! I also used Antique Linen Core'dinations cardstock as the base for my rub on element and greeting, adding Wild Honey distress ink to the edges before adding the rub ons. I love rub ons, but don't use them enough in my opinion. Must put that right!

Supplies: Dies:  Spellbinders Frameabilities Polka Dot Frame {in Everyday kit 189279} Inks: Distress inks in Wild Honey  Papers and Cardstock: Tim Holtz Core'dinations cardstock; Papermania Hampstead Paper, Tools: Martha Stewart edging punch, Sizzix Big Shot, Coe'dinations Sand it gadget and Dust Buddy Embellishments: BasicGrey and Kelly Panacci Rub ons, Satin Ribbon.


That's all for now. I did about 16 project with these dies, including Christmas, so lots more to show you! 


Thanks so much for coming to visit!

Lots of Love - Stampin' Chic Colour Challenge #2

Whoo Hoo! It's my turn to show you my Pink and Black challenge card, and let me tell you it was like a breath of fresh air to do something different from the same cards that I have been preparing and making for the last three weeks!

Don't forget we have a prize for the winner of the colour challenge this week so click here to get more details about the challenge and enter your project. Just type your name and paste the URL into the Mister Linky box to enter. It would be lovely if you would leave a comment too!The main focus of the card was made using one of the new lasting Impressions stencils. This created the white panel complete with scalloped edge and black dots (lovely!) and also the large and small flowers.

I dry embossed these on to pink spotty paper from the CCSR 'Big One' and gently sanded them with one of the Lasting Impressions Paper Scuffers. I coloured the buttons with a black Whispers Permanent marker as I didn't have any black buttons (must put that right!) and embossed and cut leaves from black core'dinations cardstock. The panel is finished with spotty brads from Papermania and the greeting is also from the paper pack. Super versatile!
Supplies: Paper and Cardstock: Papermania Clare Curd's Signature range 'The Big One', black and white core'dinations cardstock; Embellishments: Papermania buttons coloured with Whispers Permanent markers, Papermania spotty brads; Tools: Lasting Impressions stencil, Paper scuffers, embossing stylus, light box.

Well, I really hope you like it as much as I enjoyed making it! Join us tomorrow to see Martine's card made with the pink and black challenge in mind!

Love, Clare x

Clearly a Friend

I have been dabbling again - I couldn't help myself with these gorgeous papers from BasicGrey. They are from the new Offbeat collection I just absolutley adore those colours, and together they are a knockout combination.

I started with the papers and the design came together from there. I used the Cup of Stuff stamp set again from Pink Poison - you can never get bored of this set, with such beautiful sentiments too, suitable for all sorts of occasions.

Again, I coloured the stamped image with Letraset Promarkers and then used Anita's 3D Clear Gloss to achieve the shiny raised effect. I decoupaged the flowers and the cup (but only because I'd coloured the cup and I didn't like the colour!) I added a faux stiched effect to the border of the DP by pricking holes and using a white gel pen. I tore the Montego Bay Core'dinations cardstock to reveal it's cheeky hidden core, and then stamped my sentiment with white ink and embossed with Heat it up! Seafoam White embossing powder. The little brown domed circles at teh end of the torn panel are Chocolate Drops from Craftwork Cards. They come in all sorts of different colours, and there must be hundreds in a pack for just £1.00!

The acetate I used to make the card is from Papermania - this acetate is amazing! It's so lovely and thick, it's great to use as a card base, but still folds easily with the help of a bone folder. To cover up the adhesive on the reverse of the card, another panel of card can be fixed that is the same size as the front, and a panel can be added to add any message.

Just in case you were wondering, here are the deets of the Supplies:

Stamps: Pink Poison Stamp Set: Cup of Stuff

Papers and Cardstock: BasicGrey Offbeat Collection (unexpected); Snowflake and Montego Bay Core'dinations

Colour: Colorbox black pigment ink, clear embossing powder, Colourbox Frost WhitePigment ink, Heat it up! Seafoam white embossing powder Letraset Promarkers

Accessories: Papermania plain acetate, brown twill/ribbon (think I got this from some packaging!)

Hope you like it! Thanks for visiting today.

love, Clare x

Borrow a Cup of Smiles

Hi there!

Well, how has this Sunday been for you so far? I don't know if I mentioned it Yesterday, but David and Joe went to David's Mum and Dad's to help with tiling the Kitchen, and that's no place for a crafter, right? So I stayed here and dutifully cleaned the house, making sure there was still time to craft!

I meant to have a soaky soaky bath with candles and everything, but got so carried away crafting and watching X-Factor that I forgot! (BTW, go Alexandra, her second song just stopped me in my tracks and made me cry! I know she's your typical singer and nothing different that they're looking for, but no one can take away from her that her talent stands about a billion miles forward of the other contestants). I went to bed about 12.15 with my book and a cup of tea, and woke this morning at 9.30 am, feeling more than guilty! whenever I have a Lye in, I always feel bad, like I've wasted the day or something. So then it was straight into my craft room again for another bout of heaven.

I would like to share this card with you today. I used the sketch challenge over on SCS and it was such fun to enjoy using the project without having to stress too much about the layout. Again, I did this earlier in the week, and Pink Poison's 'A Cup of Stuff' is muscling in on the action for the second time. How cute is this little man? When Joe saw this card he said "Oh how funny Mummy, a mouse in a cup!" Bless him.

When I saw the little china cup I just knew instantly which papers I wanted to use for this project. So, out I pulled BasicGrey Sugared DP (designer paper), which remind me of fine bone china, and got to work. I stamped the mouse three times, once onto Burgundy Core'dinations, once onto DP and once onto white cardstock all with black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. Then once I'd added some colour using Letraset Promarkers to the cup on the DP and the Mouse head on the white card I cut them out and layered onto the burgundy cardstock. I then distressed and added pricking to the edge of the core'dinations before mounting onto the same DP as used for the cup, and Nightfall core'dinations.

For the base of the card I used Amazon Core'dination and again distressed the surface by bending and creasing before sanding with the fantastic BasicGrey Precision file set. A little layering, a touch of ribbon and a few brads and voila! And how cute is that sentiment - Borrow a Cup of Smiles? Perfect for anyone who needs a little pick me up.

Here are a list of the supplies:

Stamps: Pink Poison stamp set 'A Cup of Stuff'.

DP (Designer Paper) and Cardstock: BasicGrey Sugared: Charming and Attractive, Core'dination in Burgundy (COR 232), Amazon (COR 142) and Nightfall (COR 256)

Accessories: Papermania large brads in Red, Organza ribbon from my stash.

Letraset Promarkers used: For Mouse: Satin, cinnamon, burnt umber, cocoa, pastel pink (for cheeks and ears.) For Cup: Maroon, olive.

Tools: Papermania Pokey tool, BasicGrey Precision filing set.

I really hope you like this card, I loved making it! Hopefully, I will be back tomorrow with another card, have a great Sunday.

love, Clare x

Season's Greetings Snowman

Good Morning All!

I'm feeling a bit bleery eyed this morning, as I'm working away from home at the moment (I'm with my husband in Wales who's working, and I've taken over the car with my crafting paraphernalia). We went out for a meal with some colleagues who have become our friends, and as you may know one drink can lead to another, and before you know it, it's 1.30 am and you're still talking! I didn't have alot to drink, but even one glass of wine can be too much for me now, so two is sheer over indulgence.

I just wanted to share a card with you that I did for Sharon's sketch challenge on the Let's Get Stamping forum on Craft Bubble, and I thought this Forever Friends stamp would be perfect! I just love the little snowman, you would not want him to melt, would you!

I created the scalloped frame around the image by punching out hearts from core'dinations cardstock and sticking them to the back of the panel. So easy but so effective. I decoupaged the bear, but shaped the card before sticking down.

Here are the deets of the supplies

Stamps: Forever friends christmas set greeting from Papermania clear stamps.
Paper: Forever Friends Christmas snow.
Ink and Colour: Color box black pigment, Whispers Strokes markers
Accessories: Papermania Sparkling Trims in red, core'dinations cardstock, clear embossing powder, Papermania glitter flocking in white. white pen.

I really hope you like it!

Love, Clare x

Have a 'Fairy' Merry Christmas!

What a busy weekend it has been! I finished this card on Friday night, but the days have been so dull , the light hasn't been right to take a good photograph, and also too busy too! What with catching up on cleaning, swimming lessons for Joe and food shopping, I've not stopped.

Anyhoo, this card was made for the Colour and sketch challenges over on SCS. Why not kill two brds with one stone? I've used this fantastic stamp from Pink Poison, she's called Princess Anya, but I've turned her into a fairy for this card. I used Letraset promarkers to colour her skin, hair and crown, and gave her highlights with my sakura white pen. I used sitckles on her crown and wand. I used paper from Pink Petticoat's christmas paper collection to colour her dress. It's she just a darling? I sooo enjoyed colouring her. Why don't you check out the Pink Poison blog, there are some fantastic cards on there, from extremely talented designers.

I changed the colour of the metal snowflakes by inking up with pigment ink and then embossing with holographic embossing powder.

I hope you like this card as much as I enjoyed making it. Thanks for looking,