stampin' Chic Colour Challenge #3 Turquoise and Yellow

Well, here is my offering for the Colour Challenge over on the Stampin' Chic Blog! it was Sheila and Kath's turn to set the challenge this week, and again as lots of the other DT members have said, yellow is not a colour I would normally reach for, but knowing Sheila very well, she LOVES yellow. She even has a yellow car (which is super easy to spot in a car park, making it a doddle to locate your car!) I created the main image using my new crafting bestest friend - The Quickutz Silhouette SD. I cut out the branch from one of the files, and added the stamped flowers which are from the flower border stamp from the Doodles Stamp Set. I also cut the tab with the Silhouette, it's so great how you can resize things to get them just the right size for a greeting or anything! The greeting of course is from the Sentiments Set. I finished the flowers off with some Anita's 3d Clear Gloss, my other crafting best friend.

Well, I hope you like it, I really enjoyed making this one too! Thanks for a great challenge also Sheila and Kath, I shall certainly be using this combination again!

Supplies: Papers: Papermania Clare Curd Signature Range 'the Big One'. Doodlebug Bumblebee la fleur, Core'dinations Cardstock in white and aqua; Stamps and Ink: Papermania Clare Curd Signature Range Doodles and Sentiments, Colorbox Amber clay chalk ink; Embellishments: branch and tab from Quickutz Silhouette SD electronic Die Cutter, Doodlebug Swimming Pool Boutique Trims.

Love, Clare x

What's Going On!

I really can't believe it's been so long since I last posted, so much has happened since then. I have had my computer sorted (Domestic and General came up trumps and gave me the contact details of another repairer who was able to sort it out over the phone), and off I went to QVC and back home again on Friday for the Papermania hour which was tiring but great fun!

Now I'm busy prepping for the demo weekend at the Glitter Pot! I'm so looking forward to it I can't tell you. I'll get to see Paula Pascual again (even though I saw her on Friday!), and I'll get to shop at one of the most amazing Craft stores in the UK! I'll be demonstrating (amongst other things) an exclusive Daisy and Dandelion stamp set, only available at the Glitter Pot (photo to follow), as well as my range of stamps and the Forever Friends Range. It would be really great if you could come along, and do say hello if you can make it!

I've also got to do my cards for Clare's Corner of the Do Crafts Creativity! Magazine and also the workshop using the fantastic new Quickutz Silhouette SD. I've had a bit of a play with this little baby, and I absolutely love it! I could fill a magazine just with this machine!

Anyhoo, better get on. Hope you're all well and enjoying this gorgeous weather we're having.

Love, Clare x

Unbelieveable Service...

And not in a good way! I actually can't believe what I've just heard, and even though I have oodles of work to get through, I have to take a minute to catch my breath and tell someone what my ears can't believe. David's not answering his phone at work, so you're going to be my sound board I'm afraid.

I have a problem with the disk drive on my laptop. cut a long story short, not working. I rang Domestic and General to get it fixed (I have a policy with them) and they directed me to a repair company. I've just rang them and they said that would be 4-5 WEEKS before I get my laptop back, most of that being bureaucracy and admin from what I can work out. How ridiculous! I just can't believe it. I'm paying £100 per year for the cover of my laptop (and please don't tell me I've been ripped off on that count too, 'cos I just couldn't handle it at the moment), only to be told that I'm to be without the one thing that I need everyday, and when I don't have it I feel like I've lost a child.

So, the claim will have to wait a couple of weeks because I have some work to do which I desperately need my laptop for, and then I'm going to have to wave it goodbye, tearfully at the door whilst it goes on its holiday.

Feel better for that. Still gobsmacked though!

Love, Clare x

It's sooo Addictive!

Just joined Twitter, and boy it's addictive. I'm doing stuff around the house thinking "Ooo, I could put this on Twitter". Sad and mad but true.

I read on some newspaper somewhere that Phillip Schofield Tweets (or whatever it's called), and I think he's great (even had a bit of a thing for him when I was a teenager, saw him at a nightclub in Barnsley where he was doing an appearance circa 1988, and got his autograph...aaah, those were the days), AND he has a thing for Stationery - wonder whether he'd be interested in rubber stamps of the crafting kind?

Just in case he reads this... Phillip, when I said I had a thing for you when I was a teenager, doesn't mean you haven't matured like a good wine with age. You've still got it!

Have a great day, whatever you're doing. Love, Clare x

I Did It...I Actually Worked it Out!

It's taken me about 6 hours, with a lot of head scratching and brow furrowing, but I've actually done it!

I wasn't going to mention anything for a while, but then went to see whether Becks Fagg had updated her blog (which she has) and found that she'd spilled the beans! When I was down in Dorset, I was given a brand spanking new Quickutz Silhouette SD which had literally just arrived in the warehouse and was still surrering from Travel sickness - the poor thing. Do Crafts are now the proud exclusive distributors of Quickutz products on the UK (how exciting!!!). I'm hopfully going to be doing a piece for the July issue of the Do Crafts Creativity! Magazine, and to be honest with you I think this baby could do with a magazine all to itself looking at the amount that can be done with it!

Anyhoo, what I hear you think did I manage to do? The Silhouette works in conjunction with a computer ( but is also portable too, so you can use it without it being connected all the time, that's what the SD bit is all about), so I had to download the driver software for it. Here lay the problem, my CD/DVD drive on my laptop isn't working at the moment. So I went to the Quickutz website to see whether I could download the software there, which I could. However, due to me being a dunce when it comes to computers I saved instead of ran the program and so my problems began. Eventually I worked out the problem and uninstalled that version, downloading the right one. Then, again I failed to read the on-screen instructions properly, and so again I was stumped. Eventually I worked it out and voila! I now have the gorgeous Silhouette SD loaded onto my computer. Of course, none of these problems would have happened if my CD drive had been working, I simply would have inserted the CD and I'd have been well away!

I've had a quick look at the 50 shapes that come with the Silhouette and they look fantastic! The shapes can be resized from 1/4" to 8", you can also make a shadow with the machine for shapes, and the most exciting thing about the machine is that you can cut out any font on your computer, and even weld the letters together to make words!! Also, you can import black and white images into the program and cut them out too! The possibilities are endless! In addition to cutting out paper and card stock, you can also cut vellum, transfer paper (for making transfers for t-shirts) magnetic paper, adhesive vinyl and adhesive papers!!! you can even create a stencil and with the machine you get a bottle of glass etching liquid to make glass etchings! WoW.

As you can tell, I'm a little excited about this momma!!!

I really have to finalise everything for QVC on Friday, so I'm going to have to resist the tempation to play until then. Boo Hoo! Better go and cook dinner now. Hope you're all having a relaxing and lovely Easter Sunday.

Love, Clare x

Oh My Lordy Goodness!

I've just finished three days of hard labour at DO HO (Do Crafts head office) and it's been wonderful! Dan and I have filmed 6 videos of the week, and I've caught up with everyone and the crafting goss. We even made sure we fitted in bowling too! I think nearly all the head office entered into a bowling tournament and we took up seven lanes of the bowling alley. I was put with the sales team as they were short of a person, and had heard how spectacular(ly awful) I am at bowling! despite the handicap of me, we came second, however the warehouse team were the triumphant winners. It was great to spend time again with some of the Territory managers that I haven't seen since the Do crafts Roadshow last year. They are an amazing bunch of people who are great fun to be around.

We were still filming at 6pm tonight, so I decided to stay in Bournemouth for another night, rather than end up sitting on the motorway for hours on end in the expected bank holiday traffic. Also my journey home takes at least 5 hours normally, so I didn't relish the thought of setting off home so late. Anyhoo, I wanted to share some cards with you that I created using the Forever Friends Easter Surprise Decoupage pack , plus a few other choice embellishments and papers. The first three cards and ATC are featured on the Do Crafts website here.

I think this is one of my favourite decoupage images from the pack. As soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to make it into a square design. Then I knew I wanted to put the deep lilac colouring with chocolate brown, and the rest is history. Don't you just want a bite! The instructions for the card is here where you can also see the card in greater detail by hovering over the image.

Look at those gorgeous daffodils and how the shy little bear is hiding behind them! Oh, he is just sooo cute! I added a little (or a lot!) of red to this card as I didn't want to just keep using the obligatory green and yellow for a spring card. I think the red filigree paper by Doodlebug also lifts the card somewhat. I cut the greeting to make almost a feature of the sentiment, and added thread to the buttons too. The instructions and a zoomed image can be found here. This little bunny has a basketful of quacking fun! I have coloured paper flowers with ink to match the card and added punched circles to the flowers too! Instructions etc can be found here.

I made this ATC with left overs from the 'Bunches of Love' decoupage, and a spare greeting. I don't normally do ATC, but wanted to get the very most out of the Easter decoupage kit. The instructions etc are here.

The following cards are Just for You!

I 'borrowed' some papers from the Papermania Spring Burst collection to add to the Forever Friends decoupage. The scalloped border around the bear was made using a heart punch, with the top of the heart used as the scallop bit. I also added some Papermania Element flowers and lime green satin ribbon - yummy!
I used papers from the Anita's essentials pack for this card. I also added a little gold glitter glue to the centre of the tulip and cut up one of the greeting panels.

lastly, this was a really quick and easy card, made with whatever I had left. I also added a sticker from the Easter three packs. I also sanded the core'dinations cardstock. A simple card just to cheer someones day.

Well, I hope you like them. Off to bed now for a few hours of snooze-aroonie before setting off back to home an an Easter weekend. Have a great break everyone!

Love, Clare x

What are your Plans Today?

Just thought I'd check in and see if you were okay. I've not really seen much of the outside world this week, trying to finish up everything for another trip down to DO HO land next week. Really, I might as well live there - but it is like a second home, lots of lovely friends to catch up with and lots of laughing to do too!

What do you have planned for today then? After a few hours work this morning, I will be taking Joseph to see his most Favourite Best Friend Ever - Adam. He's sooo excited! He used to go to nursery with him and has known him since they were about 4 months old, and ho loves him to death. They haven't seen each other for about 4 months, as Adam no longer goes to nursey and their paths never really cross in day to day life. Adams mum had just had a new baby too, and with me busy at work there has never been a right moment. So I get to cuddle a newborn-ish baby and Joe gets to play with his best bud - Result!

Then this evening, we're going to the local Easter Bingo Night! They hold different family events at the village hall about once a month, and tonights the night for bingo. It also means that Joe gets to stay up past his bedtime every now and again, what a treat!

I've been wracking my brains to think of a card I could share with you today, but I really can't show the ones I've been working on for the video yet, and I don't have any more. It's silly really isn't it, it's not like it's something really top secret and important!

Better get back to it! Thanks for visiting today. Toodle-loo!

Love, Clare x

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