Sarah Hurley 365

Today I have to schedule my post as I'll be having lots of fun at our Halloween party at Toddler group. It will be our the third and final one this week!!!

Anyway it's my turn to inspire you today over on the Sarah Hurley 365 blog where I'll be showing you how to create a concertina card. I had so much fun creating this project, one which I'll do again for sure.

Here's a little peek....

To see the rest pop over to our blog here.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you manage to squeeze a little craft time into your day!

Clare x

Sarah Hurley Project Life

Today it's my turn to inspire you all over on the Sarah Hurley 365 blog with a project life layout.

It's without doubt that this colour combination is my all time favourite from Sarah's 'A Few Of My Favourite Things' monthly kit.

I was going to show you one of the layouts in full but I'm going to be a little bit naughty and only show you a peek lol 

To see the full tutorial you can check it out here

We also have a Halloween challenge this month, to find out more details or enter click here

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Well I gotta dash, it's the October break for the children and I so today we are planning on heading out to search for conkers. It's one of the reasons why I love this time of year.

 Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Clare x

Sarah Hurley Challenges

Afternoon all!

I honestly can't believe how quickly the weekend went by and for me it was a pretty special one. Yesterday I completed my second half marathon and achieved a pb woo hoo! The walk back to the car seemed to take a lifetime and today I'm a little achey, but it's a good kind of pain lol.

I also had a meeting with my amazing friend Sarah Hurley which could have been a tad different, as just prior to it I had the hiccups oooops! I always feel so motivated and have a sense of direction after our chats and we always laugh......lots! so that makes me happy too.

Today I'm sharing with you a card I made for Sarah's Halloween theme challenge. I had so much fun and it really is a joy working with her products. I am so pleased how this turned out, so much better than I imagined. I'll be doing a post later on this month showing exactly how this card was made.

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to say hello in my comments.

Clare x

Meet Sid The Robot

Today I'd thought I'd introduce a little robot stamp that I designed a year ago. Having two little boys it came as no surprise that my first ever stamp range would be boy/male related. The boys loved being my first critics and it made me smile when they loved 'Sid' as much as I did.

There are also two other robots in my stamp range another male called Ronnie and a female robot called Bity.

Here's an image of Sid that I coloured in this morning. I'll pop him on card later which of course I'll blog about later.

I've coloured him using my ice grey 3 & 5 Promarkers but I think he would look fab in bright colours too!

As well as on this blog you can also follow me on my FB page, Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for stopping by

Clare x

Sarah Hurley 365

Hi folks,

it 's Clare here today and I'll be sharing something a little bit different. It all came about when I realised I need a quick reference for all my Sarah Hurley stamps. Up until recently I used to just lay them out on my desk while I was crafting but due to my ever increasing collection it's just not an option anymore. I should also confess I am such a messy crafter so space on my desk is a rarity lol.

I also needed something more organised to store them in so they are easily accessible. My initial thoughts were to make an album but then this little, perhaps crazy idea popped into my head. At first I was a bit like really? would this work? Had I gone bonkers, well more than normal, to even suggest such an idea never mind blog about it ha ha I guess you will have to be the judge of that!

So here goes.....it's an album using Project Life plastic pockets. Unlike my usual posts I thought I 'd show you the finished album first then show you how I created one of my layouts. 

I've also done a little step by step on masking. I've only just tried this so I'm very much a newbie who only has a few inks. But I can show you that you only need one ink pad to create great layouts.

Doodle Doll stamp sets I used

Zombie

Dream A Little Dream

Be Amazing

Wish Upon a Star

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 First select your chosen design pocket then measure and cut out card to fit in the pockets. I used white and I rounded the corners using my corner punch.

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Next I stamped my Doodle Doll stamp from the 'Be Amazing' collection.

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Now you need to create your mask. I'm sure you can buy masking sheets but here I just used large post it notes bought from Asda lol Stamp your image onto the paper making sure you cover the side that has the sticky bit on the reverse. This is what holds it down preventing it from slipping when you add ink to the card. Finally cut it out and place it over your stamped image on the white card.

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You will need to now choose your ink and using your blending tool cover the white card until you get the desired effect you want.

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With the mask still in place select a stamp to add to your background. Here I stamped the small plain feather still using the same ink pad. The aim was to create a subtle background and I think this works well.

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Using a black ink pad I stamped the text border along the bottom, some eyes on her face then I added the sentiment at the top. The mask can now be removed and saved for a future project. And that's it, ready to be placed in the pocket.

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 To show some contrast to my page I stamped the remaining (small)  stamps in the set directly onto white card, again rounding the corners, here's a close up!

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Sarah's stamp sets fit perfectly behind the large pockets...

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I decided to make all my Doodle Doll pages blue again for easy reference. Next I will be creating layouts for my stamps from the 'A Few Of My Favourite Things' kits, this time using an orange colour.

I hope you have enjoyed today's post and be sure to check out the other dt's posts too. We also have a monthly challenge with amazing prizes up for grabs. Pop on over here or click on the challenge button.

Take care

Clare

What's on my desk Friday!

Here's what's going on over on my fb page today which you will find here

It's almost the weekend so who's up for a little fun and some sharing.Today I have decided to share what's on my desk and I thought it would be fab if you could join in too. So grab your camera,get photographing then head on over to my fb page  and post in the comments section below and no cheating by tidying up first! Lol

Here's a little insight into mine...

My Promarkers chart needs updating and Sarah Hurley just so happens to have a free download in her online shop and you get it instantly so I didn't have to wait....perfect!

You can find the chart here

http://www.sarahhurley.com/promarker-colour-charts-updated-for-winter-2013/

Here's my desk

 Of course now I have done this I now 'need' more Promarkers ha ha.

Have a great weekend whatever you are up

Clare x

Sarah Hurley Challenges-Steam Punk

Atchooo.....yip I'm sorry to report that I am in fact loaded with a cold and a pretty bad one at that lol So today I'm taking it easy which after a super busy week it's just what the doctor ordered.

Last weekend was spent catching up with friends and as usual we all eat, drank and laughed so much it actually hurt. So you would think we would all be have had a relaxing Sunday morning but no instead we decided to climb the Dumyat hill in Stirling....the things you plan when you're drunk lol The weather was fab and the children done so well climbing all the way there and back. I think it was the promise of a chip butty at a local cafe in Bridge of Allan and some ice cream that spured them on the way down.

Today there's a brand new challenge over at Sarah Hurley Challenges and it's Claire Liz turn to host and the theme she has chosen is....

STEAM PUNK


If you haven't seen Sarah's new steampunk cd then please pop on over to our challenge blog. You'll be amazed at the projects the dt girls have made using the steam punk digi kit and it's great to see so many different styles...something for everyone!

Below is my tag and as you can see it's not the conventional style of steam punk. But how could I resist those dotty papers and who said everything has to be brown lol

and another

and yet another lol...


right... enough pictures from me I think lol

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Thanks again for stopping by and leaving a comment, I really do appreciate reading them all and hopefully I'll be stopping by your blog soon.

hugs Clare

P.S. There's also a brand new challenge over at Charisma and our theme this week is alter something.

Sarah Hurley Challenges- Birthdays

Afternoon all, have we all got that great Friday feeling? I can positively say I did not have the Friday feeling at 5am this morning when Arran woke me up with a nose bleed. In fact I think it wasn't until well after 10am that I felt almost human again lol You can't beat a good dose of caffeine, a nice warm bubbly bath and music blasting out your stereo...oh and a wee cat nap lol So it's fair to say my kiddie free morning turned out not too bad afterall.

I was planning to spend a couple of hours out the garden this afternoon but my beautiful spring day has turned into a wet and cold one :-( Which is a real bummer as I really miss potting about in my garden, I think the last time I spent some quality time out in my garden was last October. Yikes where has the time gone lol

So this afternoon I'm sharing with you my dt card for Sarah Hurley Challenges. Our theme this week is a nice and easy one

BIRTHDAYS

And while were are on the subject of birthdays like to say a huge Happy Birthday to some of my wonderful dt gals who have birthdays this month. I hope you all have a fabulous day and get spoiled rotten.

Check out my card below which was made using Sarah's Mermaid Collection. This octopus is such a cutie and I just love the wave paper, it may well me my new favourite lol


Well I best be off I need to make a start on 60 mothers day cards for my toddler group and I've got til this Monday to finish, so enjoy your weekend and I hope it's an amazing one!

hugs Clare x

p.s thanks for all the lovely comments you have left this week you are all too kind!

Let it Snow

After a week of trying to get my printer to work I finally manage to print out this wee image before it finally gave up :-( grrrrrrrr .





This week at Sarah Hurley challenges we are sponsored by Limited Runs Digi's and I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to pick an image of my choice. I just love this little cutie and she is an absolute dream to colour.

Our theme this week is

colouring

and if your looking for inspiration to kick start your mojo then pop on over to the challenge blog here

I have a mountain of ironing that's waiting for me, ignoring it didn't work it's still there and soon enough it will be growing arms and legs lol

take care and hope you all have a fab weekend wherever you are
hugs Clare x

Sarah Hurley Challenges

Good morning bloggers how are you all today? I'm afraid it's just a quick post from me I'm off to Glasgow for a christmas night out and I'm very unorganised. Why is it when you have a million things that need doing you end up having thee most clingy and demanding 2 year old. Not even Mickey Mouse is helping today and he is normally my saving grace... boo lol

So today there's a new challenge started over at Sarah Hurley Challenges and this week we are sponsored by the one and only Letraset and they have a fabulous prize up for grabs. All challenge details can be found here.

Our theme this week is

Christmas

nice and easy..yeah?? So no excuse for not joining in and if your anything like me I'm so behind on my christmas cards hee hee.

Here's my cas card I made, love the doodling and the white on white. The image was coloured using my promarkers...of course lol.




Hope you are all well and getting into the spirit of Christmas wherever you may be.

hugs to you all

Clare x

Tinsel Town

Good afternoon peeps how are we all today?I tried posting my dt card last night but Blogger was being naughty again and wouldn't let me upload a picture. I seem to be having a run of bad luck with the internet recently which I have to say has been extremely infuriating to say the least.

Below is my Christmas tag which was made using Sarah's Hurleys newly released Tinseltown cd and I loved it so much I think I'm going to make a few to put on Christmas presents lol





Unfortunately my caramel promarker died on me so my shadowing is not as good as I would like but at least my reindeers brown and not some whacky colour. However on the plus side I do have to visit my local craft shop hee hee.

I'll be back later with my dt card for stampin up for the weekend until then take care and hope your all enjoying this lovely autumnal weekend.

hugs Clare x

More the merrier

Good evening all how are we today? I spent the afternoon shopping with my mother in law and I actually bought two christmas presents. I normally have all my shopping done by December but for some reason I'm a little behind.I better get my skates on as I have lewis 's 3rd birthday to organise aswell for the 10th of december, yikes where did the time go lol

Tonight I have my dt card for Sarah Hurley Challenges. It's my challenge this week and I choose the theme of

use more than two images

I absolutely love Sarah's christmas cheer stamps, they stamp really well and they are so easy to colour.

I
Sarah has a brand new christmas digi cd out tomorrow so please drop by again tomorrow to see my dt project or head on over to Sarah's blog here.

Well I better be off, Ive just got my internet back on and hubby is giving me the evil eye, thats code for get off the pooter I need it lol.

So take care
and thanks for dropping by and leaving some love.

clare x

Boo!!

Good afternoon, did I just hear a * rumor * it's Friday, squeeeeeeel to confirm please lol Today I'm sharing with you my DT card for Stampin For The Weekend

and our theme this week is

SPOOKY

As Halloween approaches we would love to see some super spooky projects and just a little reminder we must see stamping somewhere on your project

Sarah Hurley has recently released a Halloween digi kit and I have to say I had an absolute ball. I had forgotten how much fun Halloween crafting can be. It was about late summer when the children and I had went strawberry picking for the second year running and this year. However this year I decided to try jam making, I know who would have thought lol. My inspiration came from a very good friend of mine who had made some plum jam earlier on in the year. Of course that day she had also made some homemade scones so it was a double treat hee hee. Anyway here's my little offering

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If you would like to join in the fun just click here

Ooops just realised the time,better dash lol
where ever you hope you have a lovely weekend.

hugs Clare x

so spooky

Good evening peeps how are you all ? I know I've not been around much these last couple of weeks but with a poorly wee boy, a heavy work load and my friend determined we get fit I've been a rather busy bee.

I'm back tonight with my dt project for Sarah Hurley Challenges. I've made a halloween milk carton treat box using elements from Sarah's whimsey halloween cd. Don't you just love halloween?It's the perfect opportunity to be a big kid and there's always an abundance of sweets lol

If you've not guessed already our theme is

Halloween Horrors

We are sponsored by Derwent and they have a fabulous prize up for grabs, I'm gutted I can't enter.Who wouldn't love the chance to win 24 of their amazing coloursoft pencils.For more details about the challenge and to see the amazing projects from the rest of the design team then pop on over here

That's all from me tonight but please drop by tomorrow as I have my SFTW dt card.

Night Night

hugs Clare x

Sarah Hurley dt card

Good evening bloggers, how are we this week? Today we have a brand new challenge over at Sarah Hurley Challenges and the fabulous Natalie has a fantastic challenge this week for you guys.She has chosen the theme

RECYCLING

Now the only recycling I do is the rubbish bins at home so this was a huge challenge for me. but you know what, it was so easy. I just went with the flow, normally I fret over every single detail, always clean and simple and everything just has to be perfect, no flaws. it just in my dna to be like that. But sometimes it feels like hard work, always aiming for the perfect card. But it wasn't about that today, it was about having fun, trying this, trying that and everything just seemed to work so effortlessly. It's like I've thrown the rule book out of the window and the funny thing is in my eyes it's turned out the same way, perfect. So thanks Nat for getting me out of my comfort zone. So this is what all the fuss been about...

*** challenges ***

stamp something-use a dig
OSATT- use a digi
totally papercraft-not a card.

and another

This time I have used scraps from previous cards, that didn't quite make it or it's been recycled likethe kraft card from a papermill box. It's quite funny, while I was making the card the string kept moving, bending not the way I would like but today I just thought bugger it leave it be and I really love the quirky look. Also it's not about what you don't have but what you do have. I used this weeks fabulous sketch over at sketch saturday and they show lots of bunting some stamps some dies. if your like me I don't own any so what did I do make my own lol isn't that what us crafters do lol

**** challenges ****

sketch saturday- sketch
papertake weekly- anything goes
creative card crew- anything goes
paperplay challenges.- 2 or more stamped images

I have rambled way too much tonight but before I go I want to say a huge thankyou for all your lovely comments recently and to all my new followers.

Enjoy the rest of tonight and I'll be back tomorrow.

nigh night

clare x

Sarah Hurley dt card

Goodmorning bloggers how are you all? The children are still off on their school holidays and amazingly we are surviving, no sign of world war 3 just yet. On Saturday I took the children to a farm in South Queensferry where we went raspberry and strawberry picking,we go every year and we always have a ball. Lewis was desperate to make jelly with added strawberries so we did that Monday and yesterday I made strawberry jam for the very first time. Sarah has gorgeous gingham paper on her oz cd so I printed some out to decorate the lids, I love the fact I can just print off the papers there and then. I'm not sure if it's the fact that gingham reminds me of tartan but I am seriously getting addicted to it lol.It was a bit dull in Larbert today so as soon as the sun makes an appearance I will get a piccy of my jam and post here.

I have my dt card for Sarah Hurley Challenges and funnily enough I used gingham again....are you bored yet!!! I also used Sarah's flower and leaf stamps which I stamped directly onto the paper and cut out. The bird is a template I down loaded, printed onto Sarah's papers and 3d using foam pads.Our theme this week is

STITCHING

fake or real it doesn't really matter.



I done 3 little cross stitches using a paper piercer and black cord, not bad for a first attempt and I was really surprised how relaxing and enjoyable it was to do. I might be brave and have another go so watch this space.

Well I better dash got lots to do and not very much time so ta ta for now

hugs Clare x

Sarah Hurley DT card

Good evening ladies , I know it's a bit late in the day for my post but mr blogger was not being very nice earlier and it wouldn't let me publish :-(

So lets gets down to busines shall we lol

Tonight I've got my dt card for Sarah Hurley Challenges to show you. I have used some elements from Sarah's Wonderland cd, don't we all just love a bit of Alice.

Our theme this week is

PUNCH IT

all my cards have some sort of punch, I couldn't image not having them.



I used my ms butterfly punch, woodware flower punch and my x cut corner punch.

One lucky winner will receive a prize from the lovely Sarah, so what you waiting for get punching!!

take care for now

Clare

oh just a little reminder Charisma challenges is now on facebook, give us a shout if you want to join.

Happy Friday to all you lovely ladies out there and hopefully the weather is kinder to you than it is here in Scotland. It's been pouring down with rain all day and would you believe I had Arran's nursery trip to Blair Drummand Safari Park today. Yes...we had a fab day out but got soaked to the bone. I had to carry Arran all the way home cause his socks and shoes were so wet lol.

I'm absolutely knackered now so hubby has kindly offered to make a curry for our tea!!

Talking of tea below is my dt card for Sarah Hurley Challenges and this week Ria has chosen a fabulous theme

HANDMADE FLOWERS

Please check out our blog here where you may find some new techniques to try

I used papers from Sarah's Wonderland cd (aka Alice in Wonderland). I just love spots and teal is one of my favorite colours. I then made a teapot shaped card and added some punched flowers, pearls and lace detail.



It was kind of fun to do and will def make one again, perhaps something vintage.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend but I will be back tomorrow with another Sarah Hurley project.

hugs Clare x

Sarah Hurley challenges- Flowers

Evening all and if you popped over earlier thankyou for stopping by again!!

Tonight I share with you my DT card for Sarah Hurley Challenges. I just know you are going to love our theme this week which is....

Flowers

I immediately knew my retro flower punch would be perfect for this challenge and I love Sarah's Wonderland papers and sentiments so printed them off too!!

Finally I came up with this.


what do you think??

gems- Papermania
card candy- The Glitter Pot
tools- retro punch and nestabillaties
cardstock- The Papermill

I would like to thank all you lovelies out there who left me a wee comment or two this week and hopefully I will hop on over to you soon.

clare x

p.s just had to share this... in the guiness advert the girl is called Clare Griffin, well that was my maiden name...it made me giggle hee hee

Hot of the press!!!

I can finally reveal the most amazing news ever!! I have been chosen to be on the design team for the extremely talented Sarah Hurley. Sarah is an illustrator and craft designer who has just finished creating her new CD-Rom. You can see Sarah on the Create and Craft channel (671 sky) on the 17th June at 12noon.It's called Woodland Whimsies and because Sarah has so much to offer she decided to bring out a second one too.

Below are my new team members and their avatars created by Sarah, aren't they just fab!! Please pop over to Sarah's blog to find out more

I had my AGM tonight for toddlers so no time to post any of my cards that I made over the weekend. But please come back soon, I have my new Hanglars to show you!!Hope you are all well

hugs Clare x