Monday 18 March 2024

Altenew March Inspiration Challenge

Hello folks,

Not much inkiness going on over here during the last couple of weeks - we've had birthdays galore, including my eldest's 18th so I guess I had to make him my priority! Things have settled down a bit now though, so time to get the stamps out for Altenew's March Inspiration Challenge:











This Sweet Rose Bouquet set was one of my bargain finds a couple of months ago when a local craft shop closed down. I didn't create a bouquet though and instead arranged the pretty blooms into a simple wreath with a scattering of sequins. I cut a circle out of the card stock panel first which made it so much easier to arrange them, then added dimensional tape to the panel. There aren't any sentiments in this set so I used one from Build-a-Flower Sakura Blossom. Don't you just love it when the sentiment from a different set fits perfectly? Happy days!

I'm also popping this one over to Addicted to CAS for their current 'bloom' challenge.

Happy stamping!

Claire

Friday 1 March 2024

Paper Players Sketch Challenge

Hello inkers!

I do love a sketch with lots of layers so this is my take on Anne Marie's sketch challenge over at the Paper Players:







All those layers gave me the opportunity to use up some of the many 6 x 6 paper pads I have in my stash - I was a huge fan of My Mind's Eye when I did scrapbooking and bought so many of these pads. I miss using them so I'm glad I got the chance to dust them off a bit.

In looking for some inspiration I saw Time Out also has a new challenge this week - this little frog sitting in a die cut pocket is from Taylored Expressions and hasn't seen ink in quite a while. I have to say I think he's a lot cuter the one in the pic - those red eyes really look quite evil!

Happy stamping!

Claire

Tuesday 27 February 2024

MFT Sketch Challenge #686

Hello folks,

Here's a quick take on the soon to be finished sketch challenge over at MFT:




 



I used Buzzing with Happiness, Stitched Scallop Basic Edges Dienamics and a stitched frame. 

I also added a honeycomb stencilled background so this one's winging its way over to Just Us Girls as well for their stencil challenge.

Thanks for popping by!

Claire

Friday 23 February 2024

Altenew February Inspiration Challenge - Take Two

Hello inkers,

So little inkiness happening in this house at the moment - I find I get very irritated when I haven't had a bit of crafty 'me' time. I did manage to make this very CAS card though for February's Altenew Inspiration challenge:











This one has also led to a heated discussion with my husband who is a bit of a maths whizz (some might say nerd) and what the correct definition of 'geometric' is. I'm going with the definition I found online which is a 'pattern characterised by or decorated with regular lines and shapes.' Like the above Pysanka Stamp from Altenew I think. He reckons I should only use shapes such as squares and triangles. If that's the case then the team over at Addicted to CAS can hit delete!

I thought for quite a while about whether it was suitable for the latest Paper Players challenge as well,  which is to make a CAS friendship card. It doesn't say 'friend' but I'd never send a card like this to anyone who wasn't a good friend! I think calling a friend 'lovely' is such a sweet endearment. Once again that delete button can be hit if it's deemed not suitable!

Happy stamping!

Claire



Thursday 15 February 2024

Happy 10th Birthday Time Out

Hello again,

I'm on a card making roll this week - so many challenges to play along with so what's a girl to do but combine 4 challenges with one card:

 






Can you believe the challenges over at Time Out started 10 years ago? I couldn't possibly let that one go by without making a birthday themed card for their celebratory challenge. I've also combined it with the colours over at The Paper Players, the sketch at AAA Cards and thrown on a few hearts for the Addicted to CAS challenge. 

I coloured one of MFT's Happy Hippos and set him against a blended DI strip of colour (Spun Sugar and Picked Raspberry). I was going to leave the other panel plain but it just needed a bit of something else so I added a few MFT stitched clouds together with the sentiment.  The scattering of hearts on the ink strip is an older stamp from W Plus 9 that's seen a lot of ink over the years. 

Happy birthday to all the team at Time Out, especially to Sandie who started it all - great to see one of her beautiful CAS creations there this week!

Happy stamping!

Claire

Monday 12 February 2024

Freshly Made Sketch #622

Hello folks,

A very quick post with a card I whipped up tonight using the latest Freshly Made Sketch:

 




I used Sweet Christmas Wishes and Lined by Hand background. I've also used the colours from MFT's Color Challenge 229 although my Ripe Raspberry is more coral than raspberry...oops. I'm also popping it over to their Ready, Set, Christmas challenge. 

Happy stamping!

Claire

Sunday 11 February 2024

Time Out Photo Inspiration - Splat!

Hello again,

2024 is the year of 18th birthdays with my own son about to hit the milestone next month - he and I share the same birthday but this year he has announced that his takes precedence and mine will be all but forgotten. Cheeky devil!

This one is for his lovely mate who we've known since he was 3 weeks old:



 


I was inspired by Sarah's gorgeous creation over at Time Out where the challenge is to CASE her card. I loved her cluster of elements against the stencilled splat (from her own Funky Fossil Designs store) so reached for my very old and very used PTI Grunge Me. In fact it's so old I actually had to wash all the stamps with washing up liquid as they wouldn't stick to my Misti. The big splat in the background is from Your Next Stamp. 

The colours over at Color Throwdown are perfect for a masculine card so this one's linking over there as well.

Happy stamping!

Claire