Birthdays Galore

Hello folks!,

It's late, I'm tired and there's a burger waiting with my name on it so here's a quick card based on the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches:

I started by creating a bokeh background on watercolour paper but it was a bit much for a clean and simple card so I used an MFT die to cut some strips and added a couple of Stampin' Up blooms, white embossed on vellum. The sentiment's PTI and the leaves were die cut using a die from my local craft shop - Papertisserie.

Two of my other favourite challenges - AAA Cards and CAS-ual Fridays - are both celebrating birthdays this week so I'm playing along over there too!

Thanks for popping by, I'm off for that burger!

Claire x

Addicted to CAS - Guest Designer

Hello bloggers!

I'm so thrilled to be Guest Designer for Addicted to CAS this week! There's a brand new code word to inspire you which is 'sea:'

I used the sweet little puffer fish from Your Next Stamp's new release 'Totally Narly.'   I created the sea using Color Bursts on vellum - I was surprised how well it worked and was expecting the vellum to buckle with the water but it held its shape really well and gave a lovely transluscent finish.

So how will you interpret the code word this week? You have 2 weeks to play along so get your inks out and start stamping!

Thanks for popping by,

Claire x 

Copper Embossed

 Hi folks,

Just a quick post to show you the latest card I've done for Casology. The cue word this week is 'copper:'

I've used PTI's Doodlie-Do with some Zing copper embossing powder against black and cream card stock. I'm also popping it over to AAA Cards where the theme is 'inspired by nature.'

Short but sweet today,

Claire x

Your next Stamp - Design Team Dare - Comment to Win!

Hello again!

It's Design Team Dare time over at Your Next Stamp and this month we've had to use a shade of blue as the primary colour. I coloured the main image on the shaker card below with blue Copics but then stuck with the blue theme and used different shades for the whole card:

I stamped Totally Narly from this week's new realease - it's another fun set with lots of sea-themed images to colour. They go perfectly with the Water Window Die Set which I've used to create the little sea scene. 

As with any DT Dare, you have the opportunity to comment and win a stamp set of your choice from Your Next Stamp. Head to the YNS blog to make your comment by May 18th EST for a chance to win! The winner will be announced on May 20th!

Thanks for popping by,

Claire x

Your next Stamp New Release Blog Hop - Comment to Win!

Hello again!

As promised it's time for Your next Stamp's New Release Blog Hop! Make sure you scroll up if you missed the preview post from earlier today!

Yo Ho Ho is the perfect pirate set with lots of pirate themed stamps and four different sentiments which pretty much cover every type of card. I chose the boy pirate, since my family is full of testosterone,  but there's also a girl pirate to take him on if necessary! There's a new Porthole and Anchor die too so I've used the porthole to frame the beach scene.  After inking up the die cut, I created some texture using one of the stamps from Cool Backgrounds. The diagonal stripes on the side and on the banner have been done using the Thick Stripe-tastic Diagonal Edge,

To celebrate the new release,  Karen is giving anyone who makes a purchase,  from May 12th at 10pm to May 16th at midnight,  a 20% discount.  You also have the opportunity to win a $25.00 Your next Stamp Gift certificate. The more blogs you comment on, the higher your chance of winning so pop over to these talented folk to say hi!

An InLinkz Link-up



Thanks for popping by,

Claire x

Your Next Stamp - New Release Preview

Hello folks!

I'm so thrilled to be Guest designer for Your Next Stamps's brand new release this month - each of the design team are giving you the opportunity to preview all the new products before they are made available at the store from 10.00pm EST on 12th May.  Later today there'll also be a new release blog hop giving you the chance to win a $25 YNS Gift Certficate! 

So what's on offer? Check out this set below - Punny Pineapples:

This is such a fun set and I love the way you can make it feminine or masculine depending on the  colours you use and the specs you choose! I coloured mine with Copics and white embossed the background with the top of the pineapple. It wouldn't be a YNS card without a scattering of Pastel Gum Drops.

Head on over to the Your Next Stamp blog to see a full list of blogs with a preview of the new release and don't forget to head back here for the blog hop to be in with the chance to win!

Happy stamping!

Claire x

Golden Hues

Hello, hello,

Another simple card, this time for Addicted to CAS where the code word is gold:

I love this beautifully detailed butterfly I ordered from Stamplorations a few weeks ago. After die cutting it,  I smothered it with Versamark and embossed it in gold. The patterned background stamp is MFT and the sentiment's PTI. 

I'm also p[laying along at Simon Says Stamp which has 'anything goes' as it's theme!

Happy stamping!

Claire x