Freshly Made Sketch #608

Hello folks!

My mojo has been severely lacking this week. When that happens I always reach for trusty stamps that I know will give me a crafty kick up the backside - in this case it's Doodlie-Do from PTI :

I used Judy's lovely, layered sketch over at  Freshly Made Sketch and the colours from Color Throwdown with the barest amount of colouring as I think the blooms are just as pretty as is. The frame is also PTI with dp from MFT - cover plate and sentiment from Altenew. 

Happy stamping!

Claire

Color Hues Meets Time Out

Hello again,

Time Out has an Inspired by Words challenge this week. I've combined it with the colours over at Color Hues, which I think may be the first time I've entered one their challenges:

I never make slimline cards.  I looked up the dimensions recently and couldn't believe how big they are - I honestly wouldn't know how to fill the space! However, I hadn't realised that there's also a mini version of a slimline card (3.5" x 6") which seemed a lot easier to use. In fact it's the perfect size for this pretty Altenew set, Handpicked Bouquet.  I stencilled the background with embossing paste and added a thank you sentiment from the same set,  in keeping with the 'gratitude' part of the TO quote. 

Happy stamping!

Claire

Peace on Earth

Hello bloggers,

Here's a very CAS card for MFT's Colour and Ready, Set Christmas challenge:

 

I've used Iconic Christmas (retired) with a touch of chunky glitter for the snow and some teeny tiny diamanté sparkles for the baubles. I don't think there is any more appropriate sentiment for these precarious times.

Happy stamping!

Claire

MFT Sketch Challenge #667

Hello inkers,

Here's a card for MFT's sketch challenge:

 So often when I do a sketch challenge I look at the sketch, picture it in my head and then after I've made the card realise I've not quite done it right! That's what happened this time - I hadn't realised the diagonal strip stretched all the way into the corners. It would probably have looked better if I'd actually got the sketch right!

I used Holly Jolly Santa with some dp from the Feelin' Festive paper pad and and the Colorful Canvas pad.

Happy stamping!

Claire

Just Us Girls - 700 Challenges!

Hello folks,

Another great challenge is celebrating a big birthday this week - Just Us Girls are celebrating a huge 700 challenges with colour week:

 

So I started this card for my youngest who turns 15 shortly - then realised that I'd completely run out of kraft card stock. 🙄 The Grout Grey was the closest I had in my stash but if it's pushing it JUGS can always hit delete!  All the stamps are very old sets from PTI with a sentiment from MFT - it makes me laugh, the Wii remote looks really dated now, almost retro!

Happy stamping and happy birthday JUGS!

Claire

Koala-la-la-la-la-la-la - MFT Colour Challenge

Hello inkers,

Quick post for MFT's colour challenge 220 - the cement gray immediately made me think of the koala in Cute and Cuddly Christmas:

 

I also used some dp from  Over the Rainbow and Colorful Canvas paper pads.  I bought these recently and I'm loving the double sided sheets - the paper's thicker, stamps well and on the back is the name of the colours which match MFT inks and card stock. Makes doing the colour challenge so much easier!

This one's also going into the current Ready, Set Christmas challenge.

Happy stamping!

Claire

Altenew - October Inspiration Challenge

Hello folks,

This month's Inspiration Challenge over at Altenew is being hosted by Hannelie whose designs I always love!  She's happened to use one of my favourite colour combos too:

 

I find it very therapeutic stamping these pretty Build-a-Flower Sakura Blossoms - I love how they look against the clean white panel. I cut the panel with the Floral In N' Out Border Die to add some subtle detail to the background and the bold sentiment is from the same stamp set. 

Since I had that die out I thought I'd use it in Addicted to CAS' latest challenge - to use dies only. It's so intricate I don't think anything else is required. I blended three of the Autumnal hues over at Sunday Stamps (More Mustard, Fired Earth and Tattered Rose) and and added an Altenew stamped sentiment. Too easy as they say Down Under!

Happy stamping!

Claire

AAA Card Challenge - Colourful Ink Blending

Hello again!

Playing along with AAA Cards for this one - they have an ink blending challenge happening so it was the perfect excuse to crack open some new Lavinia Stamps images. I've always loved their stamps but never actually bought any - my local craft shop stocked them but closed down a few years ago. Then lo and behold they opened a pop up shop recently in their old premises so what could I do? It would have been rude not to buy anything....

I blended 3 colours - Bundled Sage, Antique Linen and Faded jeans. As I always do when ink blending, I stuffed it up so my one layer card became a panel. I stamped the sweet, fairy image over the top and then added a tiny Altenew sentiment.  I'm happy with how it turned out but you must check out the Lavinia Stamps website and see what the DT can do - they create such amazing, whimsical scenes using nothing but stamps and ink!

Thanks for popping by,

Claire

Freshly Made Sketch #606 - Guest Designer

Hello inkers!

I'm so thrilled to be guest designer for one of my absolute favourite challenges this week - Freshly Made Sketches. They reached an unbelievable 600 challenges a few weeks ago and I was lucky enough to be chosen for a GD spot for the current challenge:

This week it's a sketch from Narelle featuring circles. I've always struggled with circles but I have these pretty Ink to Paper blooms which I think fit the sketch perfectly. I added a sparkly enamel dot in the centres to match the glittery embossing powder. The sentiments in the pack were a little too large so I picked a smaller one from Altenew and it's all backed by Altenew's Cross Stitch Canvas Die.

The DT would love you to pop over and say hello - then all you have to do is link up your card for the chance to be crowned Queen of Clean!

Happy stamping!

Claire