Friday 31 January 2014

Friday Blog Project - Up, Up and Away!


Good morning, everyone - it's Helen N here with this Friday's blog project.  My card is a combination of two cards I designed for the recent 'Be the First' class here on Wirral - I'll be showing you some simple masking plus a card shape which is a bit different.

To make the card you will need:

dark brown paper
post-it notes
Promarkers
Promarkers - Caramel, Sandstone, Tan, Poppy

And this is what you need to do:


1. Let's start with the masking on the stamped image.  The great thing about the 'Hot Air Balloon' stamp is that it comes in four separate pieces - three different sized balloons plus the grass/ground.  I started by stamping the largest balloon on to a piece of white card measuring 10.5cm by 9cm.  I used the Rich Cocoa Memento pad and stamped my balloon on the left hand side of the card about half way down.


2. Next, I stamped the balloon again on to a post-it note - making sure I stamped as close the the sitcky part of the post-it as possible.  Cut out the balloon as shown in the photo above.


3. Carefully stick the balloon stamped on the post-it note over the balloon stamped on the card as shown in the photo above.


4. Stamp the balloon again to the right of the first stamped image and above it leaving the post-it mask in place - overlap the two images as shown in the photo above.


5. Peel away the post-it note mask and you will be left with two balloons - one will appear to be behind the other one as shown in the photo above.


6. Add to the scene using the other two balloons - I've stamped one of each size beside the two masked balloons.  Colour the balloons using Promarkers.


7. To make the stand for the card, cut a piece of white card measuring 28cm by 4cm.  With the longest edges towards you, score lines at 2cm, 4.5cm, 7cm, 21cm, 23.5cm and 26cm.  You will be left with a piece in the middle of the strip measuring 14cm by 4cm - on to this piece mat a piece of brown paper measuring 13.5cm by 3.5cm and a piece of patterned paper measuring 13cm by 3cm as shown in the photo above.  The stamp the sentiment from the 'Up, Up and Away stamp, trim and mat on to a piece of brown paper.  Attach this to the patterned paper as shown in the photo.


8. Concertina fold both ends of the strip of card as shown in the photo above.


9. This photo (above) shows the folds from above.


10. Cut a piece of white card measuring 14cm square.  Attach to this a piece of brown paper measuring 13.5cm square and a piece of patterned paper measuring 13cm square.  The mat the coloured image panel on to a piece of brown paper measuring 11cm by 9.5cm and stick this near to the top of the patterned paper as shown in the photo above.


11. Next attach the stand to the card securing the end flap on each side of the strip to the back of the card - I've shown one side in the photo above.


12. Finish the card with some Card Candi coloured with the Sandstone Promarker.

Here's another example of this card shape using 'Book Owl':


and another example of masking using the 'Hot Air Balloon' stamp:


I hope you've enjoyed my project today!

Wednesday 29 January 2014

Steve has gone off to Exeter...

...today with a van packed full of the best goodies, is anyone who follows our blog going to the
Craft 4 Crafters show at Westpoint Arena, Exeter which runs from this Thursday 30 Jan through to Saturday 01 Feb?



We will be there on stand no. 54 and you will be able to see lots of new items not yet released online.

We have just taken delivery of the new Santoro range of stamps (very nice they are too) here's a pic of what we've got:

Pursuit of Happiness
Adrift


Butterfly
If only


Such gorgeous stamps only £4.50 each, in stock now AND you don't just get the main girl stamp, for instance Butterfly (above) gives you the lovely girl, two butterflies and and the heart bunting,  and If Only gives you the beautiful girl, the floral border and the flower - all for just £4.50!!!

Little Claire x




Tuesday 28 January 2014

We enjoyed another great day of cardmaking...

...on Saturday, with an Allsorts class in the morning in which we incorporated heat embossing, cutting dies, stickers and die cuts to make cards like this blue lovely which used Blooms 4 and Floral Ovals cutting dies (and a bit of glitter film):

and this lovely Daschund card which was made using our Daschund Outline Sticker sheet 0.70p:


In the afternoon we enjoyed making a great selection of cards using just one stamp, our beautiful Butterfly Blossom - this has to be one of our all time favourites, here is a simple monochrome card featuring this design:



and a striking box card in red:


and we made a fantastic note pack also using our Daisy Dot Alphabet stamp set:




Just a small selection of all the lovely creations made last Saturday and thank you to Helen N for designing the class, and to all the lovely ladies (and gentleman) who came along and of course to Steve for doing a great job providing copious amounts of refreshments.

Our next class day is Saturday 08 March - can't wait!

Little Claire x



Monday 27 January 2014

Little Claire Likes - 'Tulip Bunny'

 Welcome to another 'Little Claire Likes', where each Monday, we share a project using one of our stamp sets and some products from our website.  We also give you instructions, on how to make the project shown.

This week, Heidi has made a bright and breezy card using the recently launched, cute little

'Tulip Bunny'
  

 Its a really cute little image, great for birthdays, Mother's Day and Easter.  Heidi has teamed the image with some lovely 'bunny' ribbon and papers from a great stack from DCWV.  The little sentiment is from another great stamp set 'Sweetest Wishes', which was already launched, all available to purchase from the website HERE.

Here is her card below,
 
 
Card Product List :
 
Promarkers : Khaki, Pastel Beige, Blossom, Rose Pink, Almond, Putty, Pear Green, Tulip Yellow & Gold - £1.70 per pen
(Dies & card blank from stash)
 
Card Instructions :
 
(1) Stamp up image onto white card, colour in with Promarker's and die cut using circle die.
(2) Die-cut a large circle from 'Romance' card, stick to card blank.
(3) Stamp up sentiment and matt onto pink card.
(4) Die-cut seven hexagon shapes from papers from stack, stick down as shown.
(5) Stick ribbon down centrally across card, leaving a small edge.
(6) Stick image down, add sentiment.
(7) Add a bow from ribbon.
(8) Die-cut grass and butterfly from paper and card, stick down.
(9) Add pearls to butterfly and sentiment.
 
We do hope you have enjoyed our bright and breezy project today, please feel free to leave us a comment.
 
The Little Claire Design Team
 
xxxxx
 
 
 




Friday 24 January 2014

Weekly Blog Project - Baby Kraft Tag

 Good morning, it's my turn (Heidi) to share a project today.
 I have used the sweet set 'Babies are such a nice way to start people', to make a quick little tag using kraft card and baby papers.
 
 
Here is my tag :
  
 
 Here is a list of products that I have used :
 
Little Claire 'Babies .....' stamp set
Kraft card
White Stamping card
Blue Card
Craft Creations 'Blue Check Paper'
Momento 'Rich Cocoa' Inkpad
Tim Holtz 'Weathered Clock' die
Piece of blue ribbon
Piece of white/blue baker's twine
Brown Pearls
Tools : Scissors, double-sided tape and sticky foam pads.
  
Here is how I made the tag :
 
 (1) Cut a tag shape from kraft card.  Mine measures : 16cms x 8cms.
(2) Edge with inkpad and make a hole in top centrally.
(3) Cut a piece of blue check paper, edge with inkpad and stick down onto tag.
(4) Onto kraft card, stamp up bear image and cut out.
(5) Onto check paper. Stamp up hat, big and outfit images, cut out and edge with inkpad.
(6) Die-cut clock image out of blue card, stick centrally to front of tag.
(7) Stamp up sentiment 'Babies are such a nice way to start people', onto white stamping card, matt onto blue card.
(8) Stick elements down onto tag as shown.
(9) Thread ribbon through tag top and tie a bow using baker's twine.
(10) Add brown pearls.
 
I do hope you have enjoyed my little tag project today.
 
You can pop over to the website HERE, should you wish to treat yourself to this cute little stamp set.
 
Heidi & The Little Claire Team
 
xxxx
 
 


Thursday 23 January 2014

and now for a flavour of...

...the cards made on last Saturday afternoons class 'Quick Cards':

We gave our ladies a challenge to make lots of cards in one afternoon, so all cards were classed as 'quick cards':


we love the little doggy from our Darling Daschund stamp set:

one of our topper cards:

Butterfly peel off fixed to kraft paper and raised up:

Birdie Pincushion dinkie stamp:


and Sweetest Wishes stamp:


In total we made approx 13 cards in the afternoon all designed by Helen N and well done to our ladies for keeping up as many of you were with us for the day!

We have classes again this Saturday with a whole host of new cards to make and lots of techniques to try too.

Little Claire x




Tuesday 21 January 2014

We had a fantastic day on Saturday...

...with a day packed full of Little Claire cardmaking, here's a snippet of what we made in the morning, here is 'Let's do lunch' which a great set of individual stamps featuring the cute kitty and bird and we love what Helen did with the tulips along the bottom of card:

Let's do lunch - designed by Helen N
and here is our new Book Owl stamp together with one of our Postcard Sentiment stamps :

and we used our new Hot Air Balloons with a bit of masking, again this set of stamps are all separate which gives lots of scope when using:


we made a little 'lift the flap' card - two postcard greeting below the flaps and our Tulip Bunny graced the front of the card perfectly:


So just a small selection from our morning class (will show the afternoon's creations later in week),
here is a picture of our lovely ladies being very creative and thank you to Helen N for designing such wonderful cards - here's to this coming Saturday when we create even more designs!


Little Claire x


Monday 20 January 2014

Competition Winners & Little Claire Likes - 'Hearts & Flowers'

  Good morning,

Thank you to all of you that entered our competition last week to win our two newest stamps :

'Book Owl' & 'Hot Air Balloons'

Our winners, picked randomly are :

Shirley Davis, who said

'Definitely the book owl! It was the name I first used across the net way back in 1998. I love owls and have a collection of ornamental and decorative ones so this stamp would feel at home. A very snazzy bird!'

and

Debra Kenworthy, who said

'My favourite of your new stamps are the Hot Air Balloons. I would love to be on one somewhere dry and a bit warmer than here! I love your cards showing the different ways they can be used, very inspiring. Debra x'

Well done to Shirley & Debra.  Please contact our lovely Carol - carol@littleclaire.co.uk who will forward on your stamps - enjoy playing!

Now for today's 'Little Claire Likes'. 

It is the turn of the lovely 'Heart's & Flowers' set, as seen below.

Heidi has made a stepper card from some glorious new 'DCWV' paper pads and Marianne Dies, which can be found on our website HERE.

 
  We are offering this gorgeous set at the special price of £6.50 (normally £8.99), until Thursday 23rd January, or whilst stocks last.  It has three great images and sentiments and a very useful border.
 
 
 Products Used :
 
White Lace, Self-Adhesive - £1.99 per pack
Promarker's Used : Putty, Tea Green, Soft Green, Khaki, Pastel Beige, Sandstone & Caramel - £1.70 per pen.
(Memory Box Butterfly die and Brown Bazzill Card from stash)
 
 Card Instructions :
 
(1) Fold one side of a card blank in half, score the edge well.
(2) Cut a brown square of card and stick to inside.  Cut an oblong in the card, to fit the front.
(3) Cut two different papers to fit inside and on the front of the card.  Stick edge frill to top and bottom.  Cut another small strip of each paper and stick to top and bottom.
(4) Onto white stamping cardstock, stamp up the large image, colour in Promarker's, matt onto brown card.
(5) Attach lace to card, stick down image over lace.
(6) From scraps of brown card, die-cut, four butterflies, one birdhouse and one bird.
(7) Stamp up 'Happy Everything' sentiment in brown ink, matt onto brown card, stick down.
(8) Stick butterflies together and stick all elements down onto card.
(9) Place pearls as shown.
 
We do hope you have enjoyed our project today and well done to the ladies who won our competition stamps.
 
The Little Claire Team
 
xxxx
 


Friday 17 January 2014

Little Claire's Friday Project...Swirly Birds

Hello Crafters

It's Gemma here with this weeks Friday project which i have used this months club stamp set called Swirly Birds...such a beautiful & romantic set, this set could be used for many occasions but today i am sharing a wedding card with you and its what us crafter's call a WOW card {white on white}, here it is....hope you likey :)


Products used...

Spellbinder scalloped and plain circle nesties
Marianne Designs rolled flower die
Die-namics mini leafy flourish
Couture Creations Tied Together embossing folder
White pearls
Memento Tuxedo black ink pad
White shaped card blank

Instructions of how to make this card...

1) First cut and make 3 Marianne Designs rolled flowers using white card...use wet glue for these!!

2) Next cut a large scalloped circle and a plain circle nestie using white card.
3) Now stamp your chosen image and sentiment stamp onto the plain circle with Memento Tuxedo black ink pad, then attach to your scalloped circle.

4) Emboss the front of your white card blank using the Couture Creations Tied Together embossing folder...depending on the size of your card blank, you may have to emboss the front it twice but do not worry with this embossing folder you can overlap your embossing and you will not get any marks.

5) Attach your image layer onto the middle of your card blank using foam pads for dimension, next attach your flowers using wet glue.
6) Next cut 2 leafy flourishes using white card and attaching these to your card with wet glue, tucking behind your flowers.
7) Now embellish your card with lots of pearls, you don't have to put all those pearls on if you don't want to but i thought it looked pretty...here's another picture of my card!!


I hope you liked today's Friday Project and that i have inspired you to make one, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to leave one in the comments below or email me on gemslittlecreations@ymail.com

Thank you for stopping by here and for any sweet comments you may leave me!!
hugs and xxx

Thursday 16 January 2014

Looking through...

...a selection of class photo's (as we are running our first class of the year this Saturday) and we came across this lovely card designed by Helen N (who runs lots of our classes) made using the Butterfly Blossom image from one of our Peel Off sheets:


Designed by Helen N
So we wanted to share it with you because we feel that Peel Offs are so underated when in fact they can be used to make quick and easy cards that are simply stunning (hope we don't sound too biased here!)

Here is the Peel Off sheet that Helen used:

Even the Happy Birthday down the side of the card is included on the sheet:


just peel off the design, stick to card, cut out and colour!  There, got that off our chest about peel offs!

We have a new range of peel offs due to be released soon, will upload pics soon as.

Little Claire xxx