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

Love Blooms all Year Long!

Well, I've finished the hoovering and so now I have some time to craft! However, before I do, I want to share a card with you that I did a few days ago, but because my daylight lamp bulb was broken I couldn't get a good picture. Now I have a new buld, I can craft to my hearts content when it gets dark, which at the moment is the middle of the day!

I made this card using an image from a Pink Poison stamp set called `Cup of Stuff`, but for a different twist, I used the image for a Christmas card. I still think the Greeting fits for this occasion, and will be perfect to give to my husband for Christmas.

I stamped the mouse lovers three times onto white card, then coloured using Letraset Promarkers before decoupaging. This is one of my favourite techniques to use with stamps, it really makes them come to life!

Here are the deets of the supplies:

Stamps: Pink Poison Cup of Stuff Stamp Set
Papers: BasicGrey Wassail, Core`dinations
Colour: Colorbox Black Pigment ink, Letraset Promarkers
Accessories: BasicGrey Buttons (sorry, can't remember which collection), String

I really hope you like it! The BasicGret wassail Papers are just gorgeous, and the great thing is that that there are some papers in the collection that would work for all year round.

See you tomorrow for another card!

Love, Clare x

I've been tagged!

Thanks so much Sharon for tagging me - but unfortunately for you lot you get to find out more random facts about yours truly! I have to come up with seven facts about me then pass the tag on to seven unsuspecting people who have to do the same. so here goes...



1. My nickname was Windmill at school, and I was told that it was because my maiden name was Williamson. makes no sense to me, but that's what they told me.

2. My first pet was a budgie, I was about 2 years old. When my mum asked me what I wanted to call it I said "Nothing" so nothing it was!

3. I can roll my tongue, but I can't touch my nose with my tongue or wolf-whistle for the life in me(?)

4. I have been crafting in some form or another ever since I can remember, but started cardmaking when I was pregnant with Joseph, for something to do when I was off on maternity leave. It's the best thing (other than having Joe), that ever happened to me!

5. I love organising, and I can think of nothing worse than an unorganised craft space. I just can't find anything and my brain feels all fuddled. A good sort out is the best medicine!

6. Reading has made a resurgence in my daily routine. I like to read just before I go to bed, and sometimes in the morning before Joe goes to school. The fantastic Marian Keyes is at the top of my list at the moment.

7. Lastly, in 2005 I had a carpel tunnel operation on my left (dominant) hand. It used to be sooo painful, and I'm so glad I had it done. If the other gets bad (and by the feel of it, it won't be long) I shall get that done in a heartbeat.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my seven facts. Now to tag others - these will be Marie at Pink Poison, Ana Wohlfahrt, Jen Muraoka, Faith Hofrichter, Pam Miller, Nancy Morgan, Cheryl Walker and Chat Wszelaki. Okay, so I know that's eight, but I didn't want to leave anyone out! They are all the DT for Pink Poison! You SO have to check out their blogs, their work is amazing!

love, Clare x

Spring Cleaning in winter?!

It seemed as though I had lost my background template on my blog, so I have uploaded another one, and also added a poll to my blog which can be found on the right hand side. Please do go have a look and place your vote. I'm really interested to discover your views.

A while ago I also set up some music for my blog. I'm sorry if it scares you a little when it starts - It has surprised me on other blogs that I have been to too! If you would prefer not to listen, then the player is located at the bottom of my blog, and there is a pause button, so you can stop it at any time. You can also scroll through the tracks to pick one you like. Neat, huh?

love, Clare x

My Weekend

I have got a week off work this week, so I can spend a bit of time telling you about my weekend. Of course, this doesn't mean that no cards will be made, after all it's still my hobby too, but I can have a bit of a free hand in what I want to do, rather than things being made to order.

Today has gone a little better than yesterday so far. The washing is on the airer and the dishy wishy is doing a pretty good impression of cinderella downstairs, whilst I, the wicked stepmother (no, not the ugly sister!) beavers away upstairs, cackling from time to time.

As I mentioned on Friday night, we were going to my second cousins 18th birthday party, but as that wasn't 'till 4pm, we took the liberty of visiting Cadbury World, seeing as it was only 30 minutes away. However, Warwick Castle is only about 10 minutes from their house, but I gave the decision to Joseph by asking him "Would you like to go to Warwick Castle, or somewhere where they make Chocolate?", and funnily enough he chose the latter - can't imagine why.

David and I have been before, about a million years ago, so as you can imagine it had changed somewhat. But for Joseph it was a whole new experience, and by the look of him he was becoming hyeractive just from the yummy chocolate smells that were wafting from the factory. Disappointingly, there is no tour around the actual making part of the factory (probably due to spies trying to steal the highly secret Cadbury recipie, like in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory), but they do have lots of films about how they make creme eggs, and the famous Cadbury Dairy Milk, and you can peruse around the packing area, although no packing was going on on the day we chose to go.

Undoubtly, the best part of the visit was getting to make your own personalised chocolate concoction. I chose rice krispies and Joe chose jelly babies, which they pour deliciously warm melted chocolate over, and then give you a spoon to eat it with. Sheer heaven, people were walking around like they'd been hypnotised and were in a trance or something!

Then it was off to my cousin's house for the party. I haven't been to visit my Janet since they moved to Warwickshire, and boy, they have a gorgeous house, with fantastic views of the countryside. I can imagine many visitors to the party remarking to their loved ones "we need to decorate" whilst travelling home, as I did!

It was so lovely to see the birthday girl, Charlotte again, as I haven't seen her since our wedding in 2000. She has grown up into a beautiful young woman, with an amazing talent for singing, and is to go to drama school. She wants to work in the West End, and I have every confidence that she will easily acheive her dream. Go, Charlotte, you rock!

Well, on that note I will have to leave you now, and hopefully be back later with some cards.

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

A Topiary Christmas!

I just wanted to share these cards with you that I did after I'd been to the Hobbycrafts exhibiton. Sheila and I got back from the show, and were itching to make something, so this is what I produced. We had only taken a few things to the hotel with us, and so I added things I had bought at the show.

The cards are 4 inches square, and I really enjoyed making them. I stamped twice onto patterned paper (BasicGrey Figgy) and twice onto white cardstock using black ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. I then did some paper piecing, on the first card layering the patterned paper on top of the cardstock with 3D foam pads, and on the second card, layering the white cardstock onto the patterned paper, which I then coloured in. I then layered complementary patterned paper and cardstock and finished with a greeting. Simple but effective! I really hope you like them.

Here are the deets of the Supplies:

Stamps: Magenta Christmas unmounted stamps, Penny Black Crystalline Clear Stamp Set.

Papers and Cardstock: BasicGrey Patterned Paper, Papermania cardstock.

Ink: Colorbox black pigment ink. Letraset promarkers

Thanks for looking!

Love, Clare x

Tag, You're it!

I’ve been tagged by my friend Katy and my challenge (should I choose to accept it) is to list seven random and to the majority of the population, unknown facts about myself. Initially I thought “Ooh, goody, I’ve never been tagged before – how exciting!” but then I thought “Oh no – my life is so un-interesting, I don’t think I can come up with seven facts. “ After much deliberation, I came up with seven and then some! It’s amazing when you get thinking isn’t it! So here goes…sorry if I get to waffling!

1. I have had sooo many jobs, I think I would have trouble listing them all – but here goes. Hair washer in a hairdressers , assistant in a fruit and veg shop, at superdrug, at WH smiths, at Wilkinsons, waitress at a bistro, in a deli, in a phone-come-coffee shop, as a supervisor at Burger King ( I could make a whopper in 11 seconds!), as a supervisor and Beauty consultant at Boots the Chemists an assistant manager in a Pub, a registered ICU nurse, and finally as a creative Designer for Do Crafts! I think that’s the lot. It’s not that I keep getting sacked, some were Saturday jobs, and some I did whilst at Uni. Others I did whilst doing my nurse training.
2. I’m seriously allergic to…wait for it….bananas! I had an anaphylactic reaction when I was 5 years old and haven’t purposefully had one since ( a banana that is, not an anaphylactic reaction). I can’t even stand the smell of them, but I do like to carefully peel them though, such a novelty!
3. I’m married to David who I have been going out with since I was sixteen. He was my first and last boyfriend. We were going out for 10 years before we got married.
4. When I worked at W.H. Smiths I accidentally trapped my fingers in the cash register drawer when I was shutting it, and was trapped for about 25 minutes whilst the staff frantically tried to get it open, as the emergency lever wasn’t working! In the end, a fire engine, ambulance and paramedic car arrived ‘cos the personnel manager panicked and told them I was trapped but didn’t say where. How embarrassing!
5. I’ve been on Steve Wright’s Big Quiz on Radio 2 and was champeen on two days and left with some great prizes, including tickets to Proms in the Park in London, a trip to meet the Red Arrows and VIP tickets to the Southport Air show. I was also in the last 100 people that applied for Paul Daniel’s Wipeout game show (can you remember that far back) but didn’t get chosen to be in the last 48.
6. I am absolutely besotted with Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida ever since I was a little girl. I have only been twice (for my honeymoon and last year), and I even looked into getting a job there before we had Joseph. I cried when I first saw Cinderella’s Castle and met Mickey Mouse! I would live there if I could. It really is Where Magic Lives.
7. I love Most Haunted and anything paranormal to almost an obsessional level. I tried to get tickets for the most recent Most Haunted Live, but wasn’t lucky. I love hearing true ghost stories, and also have had some experiences myself. I love watching paranormal videos on You Tube when I’m crafting.

As part of my obligation I now tag seven more people, and these will be Sheila, Jane, Jo Kill, Leonie, Kirsty, Hannah and Becks.
Love, Clare x

Simply Gorgeous!

I spotted this card whilst blog hopping tonight, and just wanted to share it with you. It's as the the title states, simply gorgeous! It's by designer Jo Kill, using the free Forever Friends stickers that were on the last Do Crafts Creativity! Magazine.Check out her blog here.

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,

Installment one of my holiday exploits- The Ship.

I hope you don't mind but i've been asked whether I'd share some photographs of my recent holiday with you, and I'll try and keep it was interesting as possible. I know how boring looking at someone else's holiday snaps can be ( and here's the thritieth picture of Jack stroking an eel - that kind of thing)!
Firstly I thought I would show you the cruise ship we were on. Or should I say Superliner, that's what our itinery told us anyway - the New Superliner designed for Britain, or something like that. Apparently Ventura is the largest superliner ever built for the British market. It will take 3600 passengers and 1200 crew members and weighs 115,000 tonnes. Now I don't know what you think, but to me that's a lot of nuts and bolts.

The next picture shows David and Joe stood by the Hul of the ship. This was taken on our last port of call, but the first that we could get so close to get a snap. Don't they look small next to the ship! He he!

The next couple of pictures show one of the venues on the ship - the Tamarind Club. This was designed to be reminicient of the indian sub-continent with it's rich furnishings and exotic warm colour scheme. In the day, you could relax with a book and a coffee, and in the evening the venue transformed into a comedy club. I just loved it in here, it always felt so welcoming.

I'll be back soon with more about the ship and the holiday. Theres a whole lota ship to tell you about, so it should keep you going for a while!

Love, Clare x

Free!!! Blog Candy!!!

Christmas is coming...and soon (well in December) so is my Birthday. So I thought that I would celebrate this by offering Free Blog Candy on my Do Crafts blog every other day for two weeks!

Click here to be taken straight to my other blog. All the details are there.