Recycling Christmas!

Don't get me wrong - I love updating my blog - really I do, but life seems to get in the way! I really envy people who seem to do all that life throws at them, and update their blog on a daily basis.
I've been feeling a little under the weather over the past couple of days, firstly the dreaded D & V bug struck, then just as I was getting over that, I started with a sore throat and a general grotty feeling. This does not make for a happy Clare! I hate feeling unwell (well, I hear you ask - who does!), and usually on a day to day basis I'm quite a healthy so it really knocks me for six when I feel out of sorts. And my life doesn't seem to let up when I feel pants. Cards still have to be made, dinners cooked and children taken to school and put to bed. No rest for the wicked.

Anyhoo, whilst I'm sat in front of the TV trying to convalesce (just before our Am Dram Panto Practice!) I thought I would update the old bloggaroonie with a card or two. I made these cards a good while ago, but as is the case lately they have been collecting dust on my shelf until I took a photo of them yesterday.

The two cards above were made from a recycled something...can you tell what it was? Well, I'll tell you...It was a Starbucks paper carrier bag.! I have wanted to do this for ages, there is something about white on Kraft cardstock that I absolutely adore. I added a little lime tartan paper to the second card from the Papermania Summer Bloom Collection from Stephanie Dyment, and a scalloped border. Even the paper string is the handle from the Starbucks carrier!

I love retro, and these papers are just up my street! However, I'm stumped as to where I got them from! They are digital papers and i have a feeling that the polkadot one may be a Pink Petticoat paper, but I'm sorry I really can't recall where I got the retro bauble one from . The greeting is from a very old woodware set I've had for eons, and a button and scrap of ribbon finishes the card.

This card was again made from scraps... ooo how I love to use scraps! The snowflakes are from a Basic Grey Chipboard pack ( I think it might be offbeat), again very simple - but I love the simple style at the moment. and these colours together look just great!

Anyhoo, that's it for now, If anyone has any tips for juggling life and a blog, I'd love to hear them! Better get off to Am Dram darling!

Maybe the Last Before New Year...

This is very probably, almost certainly the last post before New Year. Don't you just love New Year? I'm not all that bothered about the partying on New Year's Eve (give me glue, stamps and patterned paper with a comfy desk chair and a coffee anyday!) but I mean the promise of a new start, of maybe turning over a new leaf and doing things differently than the year before. I just love it!

David, Joseph and I will be partaking in a New Year's Eve Party however, and I must say I am looking forward to it very much. We are going around to one of Joseph's parents houses, and there is sure to be lots of frivolity and joviality to say the least! When I am feeling up to it (the after effects of a couple of glasses of plonk can have repercussions for days, now I'm old!) I will post the what promises to be the most hilarious photographs!

I thought I'd better share with you my final (I think) offering of Christmas card Cheer for this year. It seems wrong to show them next year, for tomorrow, all the Christmas decorations will be removed in my quest for the turning of a new leaf.

This is Sheila's (my bestest friend ever)Christmas card for this year. I made this card with the gorgeous BasicGrey Eskimo Kisses paper pack, and then of course that forever handy core'dinations cardstock, available in every colour you can imagine! The stamp (bought last year from Little Claire's, and only used for the fist time here - why do we do it!) is coloured with Promarkers. I also added shimmer dots to the tree and irridescent glitter glue to the snow covered ground.
Now, I'd better explain the greeting "Why would an Elephant Hold a Star? (printed on my computer). I chose the image on purpose, having an animal doing something it might not normally do, as Sheila has this thing about that. Whenever we go to a Crafy show, I usually look at the Penny Black stamps, and Sheila always says - "Now, whenever would you see a mouse having a bath in a cat bowl" or " whenever would you see a hedgehog dressed as a ballerina" She just doesn't get it. So inside the card, the greeting continues...When it's Christmas of course, DUH! ha ha ha!

This card was made for David's mum and Dad, using another stamp I picked up a couple of years ago and until now I had never used! Maybe that should be another of my New Year's Resolutions - no more spending until I have used everything at least once - yeah right!!!

I stamped the tag in Colourbox merlot ink (I think my favourite colour) and embellished it with a Papermania white gel pen and crystal Sakura pen. I covered the base card with Papermania Bare Basics kraft paper and stamped the snowflake background with Colourbox frost white ink. The patterned paper is BasicGrey (either Wassail or Figgy Pudding - can't remember which now). I created the greeting on my computer and printed onto white patterned paper from the same pack. Lovely Jubbly!

This card is for my Mum and Dad. I chose my favourite colours for this one, and surprise, surprise - another stamp I've had forever and not used - until now!

I stamped the main image (hero arts) a couple of times onto patterned paper (again BasicGrey, I must have been having a BG moment!) alternating between white and turquoise patterned paper, and white and black ink. Then, as you can see, I built up the image, and voila . I wish I'd used this stamp sooner! Again the greeting was created on my computer.

So, that's all for now. All there is left to say is I wish you all a very Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year. Have a great evening, whatever you decide to do. Off now to bake Chocolate berry waffle and caramelised onion puffs for tonight! YUM!

Love, Clare x

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

Haven't you found that life has been so hectic over this festive season? I have needed about 6 pairs of hands over the past couple of weeks, trying to get everything done. Cards to make, gifts to wrap, plus there has been ta new batch of Creativity TV to film and the matter of a docrafts Christmas Party to attend to. what a hoot that was I can tell you. Unfortunately I didn't take any photographs of the night out (I didn't trust myself with my camera for fear of mislaying it, and let me tell you, it was a wise decision considering my state!) but I know people who did, and if they give their permission to share then share I shall!

Today I wanted to share with you some cards I made for friends and family. As th cards use the same layout, and all I had to change was the inage, they were relatively quick, although I always get carried away with colouring, and get lost in time! All the images have been coloured in with promarkers.

The Christmas tree is a stamp from Doodlebug , and the greeting is from Stampendous I think. I have had that stamp set for ages, and it's great as there is usually a greeting for all occasions. I love the hand written style too. I hav added some Anita's 3D glitter glue to the tree for a tinsel effect, and a couple of gems.

This is a stamp from Sugarloaf stamps. The greeting is computer generated, and I think the font is called FG Jeana.

I love this little house - I'd love to live there! This again is a doodlebug stamp and the greeting is computer generated.

Once I'd coloured the image, I added Anita's crystal 3D glitter glue to the roof and the snow covered ground, and added tiny gems to the tree.

Well, that's all for tonight, better get back to Wallace and Grommit - Curse of the WereRabbit, and playing transformers with Joseph - riviting...NOT! Hope you're having a wonderful Christmas time, spending time with the people you love.

Love, Clare