Clare's Crafty Cave

Santa's on his way

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:09:00 +0000

I've finally finished all my Christmas cards this year - yay!

One of the stamp sets that I bought new this year was this cute Santa set.

You can't tell from the photo's but I did Santa's beard and coat fur with flock and added a glittery sparkle to the trees and ground.

Magnolia's for sale

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:33:00 +0000

I am selling the Magnolia stamps pictured below. All stamps have been used at least once so some may have a bit of ink staining but they all stamp perfectly.

All the stamps are £3 which includes P&P. Preferred payment is via Paypal or cheque. Please email me or pm me on UKS if interested. Thanks

ALL SOLD PENDING PAYMENT

Choo Choo

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:57:00 +0000

My parents birthdays are with 6 days of each other!!! Mum's card is normally fairly easy - well compared to dad as she likes flowers, pink, girly bits and pink! Whereas dad - who has got lots of hobbies but they're things like golf, computers, football and trains - choo choo ;o)

Once again, the fantastic Sarn came up with a challenge to make a waterfall card which I thought would be perfick for my dad's birthday card :o) The only problem was that it took me about 4 hours to finish it!!!

Card Recipe:

Little train stamp - Stamps Away

Sentiment stamps - Stampin Up

Paper - Pebbles Inc.

Die Cut letters - Sizzix - forgotten what the set is called!

I love this bird!

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:50:00 +0000

This is my mum's birthday card for this year. Always struggle with both my parents birthday cards as I always try and do something "different" for their cards. Thankfully, the fab Sarn came up with a challenge to make this shaped card.

Now, I really really love this die cut bird but I haven't got the die :(
Had to borrow Becky's but now I want even more LOL

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:53:00 +0000

I made this anniversary card for my sister and BIL. Still can't believe that they've been married for 21 years!!!

This card was the first time that I'd used (and fell in love) with the definitions stamp from Stampin Up. I think the set is called Define Your Life ?!?!? Anyway, for this card, I borrowed this definition from a very good friend as I didn't actually have that set but ---- my fab parents bought me the set for my birthday. Now just need to find some time to play with them all LOL

The paper is from Stampin Up - Bashful Blue designer series. The owl stamp is a Sugar Nellie one that was free with a magazine and the branch is from Hero Arts.

40th birthdays

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:54:00 +0000

2009 has been the year for 40th birthdays in my family. First there was my sister and recently my cousin and his wife also went from being 30 something to 40 ;o)

Now I'm pretty close to my cousin and we have the same daft sense of humour, so I always knew that I was going to emphasize his age on his card. Don't think I could have got it much larger LOL

I was much kinder on Hayley's card :o)

Patterened papers on both cards are Pebbles. Plain card is Stampin Up - brocade blue and close to cocoa on Colin's card and Pixie Pink on Hayley's. The mouse stamp is a Penny Black and I think that the golf stamp is from Great Impressions.

Ooops

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:42:00 +0000

I can't believe that it's been over 2 months since I last posted on my blog. I know I've been really busy at work and home but eeek it's scary where the time has gone! I have been making cards so I've got no excuses why I haven't posted on!

I'm still busy at work but I'm going to try and post at least one card a week on here!!! Well that's the plan LOL

Right here goes - both these cards were made for my aunt's birthday.

I still can't believe that I'm actually liking orange LOL

Bella's fella

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:38:00 +0000

I've had to make 3 male birthday cards this month - panic time!!! Thank gawd I bought the Grillafella stamp (love the name of the Bella stamps!). I bought the stamp as 1 of my cousins lives in Australia so it's perfect for him --- even though he reckons that it's "cold" in Brisbane a the mo!

This card was sent to Oz

and this card was sent to ----- Eastbourne :o)

Papers are Pebbles, the greetings are rub ons and the images have been coloured in with my fab Copics. I was going to say that I hadn't, for the first time in ages, used anything Stampin Up but then I realised that the ribbons are brocade blue and chocolate chip :o)

Get Well owl

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:27:00 +0000

I made this card a couple of weeks ago for a close friend who was going into hospital for an operation. Despite being in considerable pain, she text me when she'd received it to say thank you and where did I get the image from --- yep she's a crafter as well:) The poor love is still in there but hopefully she'll be out soon and can get back on her feet.

First Stitched card

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:38:00 +0000

I bought a sewing machine in March but haven't really had the chance to play ---- until I had the week off from work.

Now this might not look like a major achievement but here's my first ever card that has stitching on it !!!!!! As my dad would say --- little things please little minds LOL :o)

The image is from the Stampin UP stamp set True Friend and the papers/card stock are also Stamping Up.

Heatwave!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:25:00 +0000

It's been a while since I blogged but that's just down to there not being enough hours in the day!

I did have a much needed week off work which was great especially as I'd picked the week when we had a heat wave!!! 31degC recorded in my garden - sun sun sun and more sun!!!

However, it wasn't such a great week craft wise as it was too warm to craft and I only managed to make 1 card LOL Thankfully, I had a couple of friends over at the weekend and they helped me find my mojo :o) So by the time I returned to work last Monday, I'd made the grand total of 9 cards - woohoo!

I can't show any of the cards that I did make as they're for upcoming birthday's. Here's a couple that I made last month - 2 new babies in our family.

These cards use products from my 3 favourite craft companies :o)

My fab new storage

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:56:00 +0000

My dad was challenged - not by me ;o) - to make me something to store my Stampin Up punches on or in. Well, after a bit of encouragement to stop planning it and get on with it, this is what he came up with. Isn't it great?

The problem is that I'm now thinking that I should have asked him to make it a bit bigger. I think I must have been in denial when he asked how many punches I had. He thinks that he'd made it so that it was half full --- oops!

Happy Father's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:47:00 +0000

As per the title of this post - this is the card that I made for me dad. He's really good at DIY whereas I'm not! He's always there to help me out when I get in a fix so the sentiment was very apt.

The image is of "Marshmallow" from the Design Objectives range of stamps. These stamps are great as they have images that are suitable for men ---- who as we all know are really hard to make cards for! The sentiment is from Stampin' Up and the papers are Pebbles.

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:18:00 +0000

I really enjoyed making this card as my friend (whose birthday it was) is another Penny Black addict. Unfortunately, it looks like it's got lost in the post :o(

The image and sentiment are both Penny Black. Patterned papers are Pebbles. I even used my favourite Stampin Up cardstock and ribbon --- Certainly Celery :o)

2 posts in 1 day!

Thinking Of You

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:08:00 +0000

It's been a couple of weeks since I blogged. I have been making cards but everything else has been a bit hectic.

My mum asked me to make a sympathy card for her neighbour. Didn't really know what to do until I remembered that I'd recently got the SU Happy Harmony stamp set. It's a simple design that doesn't need anything else.

Anyway, this is what I came up with.

Wedding season

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:27:00 +0000

Here's 3 wedding cards that I've made recently.

This one was for a very good friend of mine who got married at the beginning of May. I love this Forever Friends stamp and it has come in very handy --- as you'll see below ;o)

The next 2 were for my cousin's son who got married on Saturday.

This one was from my mum and dad. The stamp is one from Stampin' Up Fun and Fast Notes.

This one was from me - spot the FF bears again LOL I found out that the wedding colours were burgundy and cream so I tried to make the card match. The ribbon is SU Basic Gray taffeta - thanks to the forum girls (especially Maggie) for helping me see that I really really needed it :)

I've received an award

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:49:00 +0000

I've received an award from the my lovely forum pal Jenny.
Now the rules are:

1. I must thank the person who gave me the award and list their blog and link it - ticked/Done it :)

2. I must list 10 honest things about myself - see below

3. I must put a copy of The Honest Scrap Logo on my blog which I have proudly done! - Done that as well!

4.I must select at least 7 other worthy bloggers & list their links.

Right here goes with 10 honest things about me ----

1. I have 1 niece and 2 nephews who run rings round me. They're aged from 13 up to 20 and they've been doing it ever since they were born and yep I love it :o)

2. I love football. I'm a member of the Spurs supporters club and of the England fans --- so that I can get my £5 off home match tickets. There's no better feeling (in my opinion) than shouting and celebrating like a looney at Wembley.

3. My mum has coeliac's disease aka intolerance to gluten and she can be very ill if she comes into any contact with the stuff. So for the past 10-15 years, you'll have found us studying the ingredients labels in Tesco. I even do it on food for my own household that she'll never come into contact with him. I guess that old habits are hard to break!

4. I moved out of my parents house when I was 28 in to my own little haven :o)

5. I'm the world's worse gardener - recently killed 2/3rds of a hanging basket that my mum bought for me ---- she was warned LOL

6. I'm a PCB Layout engineer which basically means that I'm part of a printed circuit board design team for a well known photocopier company! I'm also the only female in a department of 20 guys and I'm no shrinking violet --- yes I'm bossy LOL

7. I'm accident prone and can often be found comparing bruises with my youngest nephew.

8. I iron everything and yes I mean everything except towels, flannels, swimming cossies and bras. I blame my mum as she's also an ironing nut! We put it down to her working in a laundry when she was little.

9. I'm a soft touch and won't often say no. Whether that's to the niece/nephews asking for help or work asking me to work extra hours or, like on Friday, go in on my day off.

10. I love Disney and my ideal holiday location is Florida. Craft shops and theme parks - what more can you ask for. Have been there 6 times already and hoping to go back again next year!!!

I need to think about who to give this award to. Will be back later :)

Today's the day

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:23:00 +0000

After months of getting excited, nervous, scared, worried (takes after her auntie!) etc etc my niece's last day of senior school has finally arrived.

She'll only be going back for her GCSEs and then it's on to college in September.

Here's the book that I made for her to get all her friends and teachers to sign. Thank you to Kerrie for the fab idea :)

I can't help it ......

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:15:00 +0000

..... I'm addicted to birds, owls and branches LOL

I went to Glitter Pot on Sunday and my youngest nephew walked round picking out all the stamps that had a branch on them - the cheeky little devil :o) Okay so he's right and I did end up buying another branch stamp but it was just what I was looking for ;o)

So not surprisingly here are another 2 cards that I've made recently and yep they have owls, birds and branches on them!!!

This one is done using all Stampin' Up goodies. I love my new stamp set (Cheep Talk) which I got recently from the US. The scallop circle looks black but it's Basic grey (the new black LOL) and I've made it look like Bazzill by using the Canvas stamp inked with Basic Grey.

I have just had a thought and I think that the sentiment is a Hero Arts one???

This one was for a very good friend (Becky) who I get sooooo much inspiration from - except when it comes to using orange ;o)

Cards for men

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:42:00 +0000

Is it just me or does anyone else think men are a pain in the bum to make cards for??? That's why I bought the Stampin Up Loads of Love stamp set and I've already used it ----- loads LOL

These 2 cards were for my uncle who's birthday it is today. The first one is from me and the 2nd one is from mum and dad. Mum chose the Penny Black stamp that she wanted on her brother's card and she ended picking one that I hadn't used for ages!!!

Get Well Soon Auntie Sheila

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:25:00 +0000

My aunt went in for an operation on her throat on Tuesday which thankfully went well. She's not allowed to talk too much for 2 weeks --- that could be a problem ;o)

Anyway, I made this card for her and she loved it. The only problem was that I didn't sign it ---ooops!!!

I love this Penny Black owl - borrowed from the fab Kerrie for this card but I now own it myself as I bought it this week :o) Couldn't find it at Ally Pally so had to do a little order with Glitter Pot ;o)

The sentiment is from a Stampin Up set. The ribbon is SU Certainly Celery and the papers are from a Making Memories pack. Now I know that I used a sketch for this card but yep you've guessed it, I can't remember where I got the sketch - doh!

Easter time!

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:44:00 +0000

Here are the few Easter cards that I did make this year. I love the one that I made for my mum and dad but I can't show it on here as it might let another secret out ;o)

Anyway, here are the 2 that I can show :)

More owls

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:33:00 +0000

Had another brillliant long weekend. Met up with some fab friends, spent a little bit of money at the Big stamp and scrapbooking show and ooooh yep - had a laugh :o)

I made this card for my aunt's birthday last month. Love these Stampin Up papers - especially how they co-ordinate perfectly with the ribbon :o) The owl stamp is a Rachelle Anne Miller one from Glitter Pot and the sentiment is from Penny Black.

I'm sure I used a sketch but can't remember where from - sorry!

Twitt Twoo Kerrie ;o)

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:11:00 +0000

This card shows 2 things that a certain person has got me addicted to - Stampin Up and Owls!!! The funny thing is that I'm so glad that she did :o)

So when her birthday was coming up, I just knew what I had to include on her card.

The funny thing was that I made quite a bit of this card while she was sat right next to me LOL

It was also the first time that I'd used my Sizzix scalloped die ---- which she also convinced me (along with the help of my mum, niece and nephew) that I needed. Yep she was right again ;o)

Happy Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Clare) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:09:00 +0000

The end of the March is a busy time of year for family cards. 3 of my aunts/uncles celebrate their wedding anniversaries within 2 days of each other so cards are required ---- by mum :)

Just realised that I've used 3 of my favourite craft companies on these cards - Stampin Up, Penny Black and Doodlebug.