Friday 29 August 2014

Penguin Hugs!

Hi there! It is my turn (Helen H) to share a project with you today. The lovely Gill has given me permission to allow you a preview of one of the super new Christmas designs that will be released next week!! :)

So today I am showing you a card I have made using the gorgeous 'Penguin Hugs' stamp, which includes the image and sentiment shown below:


For this card I have used: 
Shaped card blank
ProMarkers
Teal cardstock
Patterned papers (mine are Echo Park 'Winter Wishes')
Nestabilities
Memory Box Corner Bow Die
Whimsy Corner Die
Ribbon
Small gems
Glue
3D Foam Pads

Here is how to make the card:
1. Stamp out and colour your main image using ProMarkers. Cut out using Nestabilities and mount onto card cut using a shaped circle die. 
2. Cut a large square of card to fit your card base (mine is 12.5cm x 12.5cm) and mount onto it a slightly smaller piece of patterned paper.
3. Next cut a second piece of coloured card, this time 10 cm x 8 cm and mount onto it a slightly smaller piece of patterned paper, in a different, coordinating design. This needs to be stuck towards the right hand side of your card.
4. Now attach your ribbon across the whole of this panel. Once you have done this you can glue this section to the card base. 
5. Cut a rectangle the length of your largest square and about 6cm across (so mine is 12.5cm x 6cm). Mount onto it a third patterned paper. and attach this vertically, as shown, using 3D foam pads. 
6. Attach your main image, again using foam pads. 
7. Stamp out and mount your sentiment, then stick this towards the bottom right hand side of your card, adding 3 gems underneath the writing. 
8. Then die cut a corner and a corner bow in teal card. Stick these to the bottom left and top right of the card respectively, as shown in the picture. adding gems to finish off. 

Thank you for taking a look at this project, I hope you find it useful. Don't forget to keep an eye on this blog next week for lots of lovely new Christmas designs, the team have been very busy! :) Have a lovely weekend everyone! x

Monday 25 August 2014

Little Claire Likes - 'Rainy Day'

Welcome to another weekly project.  Each week our design team member, Heidi shares a project with you using one of our favourite stamps.
 
This week is the turn of 'Rainy Days', a girly stamp set complete with a set of wellie boots!  These little wellie's can be brought separately from the 'Dinkies' section of stamps - HERE.
 
Heidi has made a really girly card using the stamps with some lovely papers from a First Edition paper pack - 'Bella Rose'.
 
 
You can buy this cute little stamp HERE at the special price of £3.50 (normally £5.50) until Thursday, 28th August or whilst stocks last.
 
 
Products Used :
 
Turquoise & Pink Card
Promarkers : Denim Blue, Pastel Blue, Pastel Beige, Tan and Putty.
Double-sided tape and glue pen
 
Card Instructions :
 
(1) Cut a square of 14.5 x 14.5cms of turquoise card and a smaller square of paper, stick together.
(2) Cut an oblong of pink card and a smaller one of pink striped paper, stick together.
(3) Stick both down onto the card blank, inking all edges.
(4) Stamp up main image onto white card, matt onto turquoise card.
(5) Stamp up image onto different pieces of paper, cut out and stick to main image.
(6) Stamp up 'Wellie' image onto another piece of white card.
(7) Stamp up 'Wellies' onto three scrap paper pieces, cut out and stick to image.
(8) Cut two small strips of pink striped paper, attach to back of image.
(9) Stamp up sentiment onto front of image, sideways.
(10) Stick elements together as shown.
(11) Add two pearls to top left and bottom right of card.
 
Thank you for visiting our blog today, we do hope you have enjoyed our Monday project.
 
The Little Claire Team
 
xxxx
 
 
 
 


Friday 22 August 2014

Friday Blog Project - Daisy Bear Gift Box


Good morning everyone - it's Helen N here with this week's Friday Blog Project and I've made a gift box which could be used for lots of different occasions.  The box has an aperture in the lid and I've added some acetate - it's also lined with matching paper.

I hope you're sitting comfortably because there are lots of photos ahead!!

Here's what you'll need to make the box:

sentiment stamp
3 pieces of A4 card - I've used dark brown
patterned paper
shaped dies - I've used circles and scalloped circles
acetate
Promarkers - Sandstone, Caramel, Cool Grey 3, Rose Pink, Carnation, Satin
white Card Candi
red line double sided tape

1. To make the base of the box, cut a piece of brown card to measure 20.5cm square and score each side at 3cm as shown in the photo below:


2. On the inside of the base, attach a piece of patterned paper measuring 13cm square as show below:


3. To make up the box, cut away triangles at each corner of the base as shown in the photo below:


4. Fold the triangle that is left up to meet the side of the base next to it and stick the two pieces together using red line tape - the photo below shows the first corner stuck in place:


5. And this is what the base should look like when you've finished:


6. To make the lid, cut a piece of brown card to measure 21cm square and score each side at 3cm as you did with the lid.  Cut two pieces of patterned paper to measure 14cm square.  On the inside of the lid, attach one of the pieces of paper using masking tape as shown in the photo below:


7. On the outside of the lid, attach the other piece of patterned paper with double sided tape - this piece will be staying in place.  Next you need to cut the aperture out of the lid.  I've used circle and scalloped circle dies - the circle die needs to be the size below the scalloped circle die.  I've stuck it to the lid with some masking tape, positioning the die in the middle of the patterned paper as shown below:


8. Once you've die cut the circle, turn the lid over and remove the paper attached with the masking tape.  Attach a piece of acetate measuring 12cm square over the circular aperture as shown in the photo below:


Sorry about the photo - you can see my daylight lamp reflected in the acetate!

9. Next stick the paper with the die cut circle back over the inside of the lid - this covers the edges of the acetate and neatens it:


10. To make the scalloped border for the top of the box, use the same circle die as you used to cute the aperture in the lid and the scalloped die which is the size above.  Use masking tape to hold them in place on the brown card as shown in the photo below:


11. This is what your frame will look like once it's cut:


12. Turn the lid back over to the front and attach the frame over the circular aperture.  Cut four pieces of patterned paper measuring 14.5cm by 2.5cm and attach these to the sides of the lid as shown in the photo below:


13. Assemble the lid in exactly the same way as described above for the base:


14. Here's the side view of the box:


15. To decorate my box I stamped 'Daisy Bear' in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and then coloured the image with Promarkers.  I trimmed the image and matted it on to brown card.  Next I stamped a sentiment in Rich Cocoa Memento ink and matted it on to brown card.  I attached these to the front of the box in opposite corners.  Don't forget, don't put any double sided tape on that part of the image panel which overlaps the acetate!  I've also coloured four pieces of Card Candi with my Caramel Promarker and added these to finish the box.

This is what the final version looks like:


The box could be used for chocolates, tea lights, notelets and lots of other things.  It's also easy to adjust the size of it - just remember to make the lid of the box slightly larger than the base so they fit together easily.

Have a lovely weekend.

Wednesday 20 August 2014

We're in!

Well, we're all settled in our new shed, we LOVE it!  Look at us...


gill in the shed

carol and baby working hard

What a change in the weather! Here at Little Claire we're all as snug as a bug in our new shed, the heater's on and we've just received a delivery of Krafty Christmas paper pads (is it bad to feel festive in the middle of August?) The paper pads are only £3.99 and with 72 sheets of gorgeous papers, that's a lot of Christmas cards you can make! Why not make the most of being indoors and make all your Christmas cards NOW! Have any of you made them all already?
If it's QUICK and EASY cards you're after, then enter this month's blog challenge to win TEN of our Dinkies stamps (normally £2.00 each or 10 for £15.00). Just have a look at some of these cards made with our Christmas Dinkies...



Our Postbox and No Peeking Now Dinkies make adorable little cards, used together with our mini packs of cards, available in white and kraft, only £1.99 for a pack of 20 cards and envelopes.
Feeling inspired?  Here are some more...


Dinkies Christmas Car

Dinkies Postbox
Dinkies Penguin Stuart


Dinkies Robin Doggie

Dinkies Row of Robins
Dinkies Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
All that talk of Christmas has made the sun come out, yippee! Off to turn the heater down.

Have a happy day!

Love from the Little Claire Team xxx

Monday 18 August 2014

Little Claire Likes Monday Project - Silhouette Manger Card

Good morning and welcome to another 'Little Claire Likes' - Monday project.
 
This week, Heidi has made an acetate Christmas card with kraft and black card and a black StazOn inkpad using another great Christmas favourite Stamp, 'Silhouette Manger' 
 
 
It is available to purchase at the special price of £3.50 (normally £5.50) until Thursday, 21st August or whilst stocks last.
 
It's a great stamp to make quick and easy Christmas cards and stamps up really well onto acetate.
 
 
 Products Used :
 
Black Bazzill card
A4 Acetate SheetS
Strong Double-sided tape
 
Card Instructions :
 
(1) Cut 3cms off of one edge of the kraft card blank and then cut card again, leaving 3cms at the top of the card blank.
(2)  Cut an acetate square to measure, 15cms x 15cms.
(3) Centrally, stamp up 'Silhouette Manger' image onto acetate, leave to dry.
(4) Cut a square from black card to measure, 14.5cms x 14.5cms.
(5) Cut a kraft square, 14cms x 14cms and stick to black square and into card.
(6) Cut two black oblongs, 2.5cms x 14.5cms and two of kraft, 2cms x 14cms.
(7) Stamp up star element of stamp over both kraft pieces, leave to dry.
(8) Using double-sided tape, stick acetate piece to top flap of card.
(9) Cut another oblong of kraft card, stick second black/kraft oblong down to card piece.
(10) Stick to bottom of acetate, this will balance card.
(11) Stamp up sentiment 'Unto us a child is born' onto kraft card, matt onto black card.
(12) Stick sentiment centrally to bottom piece.
 
We do hope you have enjoyed Heidi's project today, thank you for stopping by the blog.
 
The Little Claire Team
 
xxxx
 


Saturday 16 August 2014

Monthly Challenge # 48 - 'A Man's Birthday Card'

 Welcome to another monthly challenge here on the Little Claire blog.

Thank you to all of the wonderful entries we received in July. 

Our winner of the Little Claire £10 voucher is :

Shirley Davis # 63

Here is her card :

 
 Well done Shirley, please contact (carol@littleclaire.co.uk) who will forward on your prize.

For the month of August, our theme is a 'Male Birthday Card' and our prize is :


To choose TEN (valued at £15.00) of our Dinky stamps,
which you can view HERE.  They can be any ten of the vast selection we offer.

When entering our challenge, please follow the rules below.

We are lucky enough to have two Guest Design Teamie's, join us for August and September

Firstly, we want to welcome -

Rachel Fisher
using 'Silhouette Boat'

 
and
 
Margaret Binder - Mag's
who has made a one larger and one smaller card
using 'Hot Air Balloons'
 
 
Now to our Design Team members cards for this month :
 
Diane has used
'Good Times' and 'Rebecca's Sentiments - Male'
 
 
Francy has used
'Changing Birdhouse' stamp set
 
 
Gaynor has used
'Loverly Jubblie' - 'Keep in Touch' and 'Rebecca's Sentiments'
 
 
 Heidi has used
'Oh Man' stamp set
  
 
Helen N has used
'Oh Man' stamp set
 
 
Helen R has used
Silhouette Gardening Stamp set
 
 
 
 Marianne has used
'The Office' stamp set
 
 
 
Our Challenge Rules :
 
Can we please ask that your card/creation is an original design of your own and not a copy or remake of another card. This is plagiarism and these entries WILL NOT be included. 
 
(1) You DO NOT need to use a Little Claire stamp to qualify for the prize draw.
 
(2) You may enter the challenge UP TO 3 TIMES ONLY PLEASE and you may combine with other challenges.
(3) You MUST follow the challenge theme and NO BACKLINKING please, new cards only.
(4) Please provide a link to our blog in your post.
(5) Please leave a link (via link below) to your actual card, not just to your blog.
(6) Please turn off Word Verification on your blogs, it makes it so much easier & quicker to leave a comment on your blog.
(7) The challenge finishes on Friday, 12th September 2014 @ 16.00pm and the new challenge
(# 49) will be open on Saturday, 13th September 2014.
 
We look forward to seeing your creations, good luck!
 
The Little Claire Design Team
 
xxxx
 
 
 
 
 


Friday 15 August 2014

Weekly Blog Project - Sunflower Altered Gift Bag

Hello, Heidi here to share a blog project with you today.
 
I have altered a gift bag using the gorgeous August Club stamp set - 'Sunflowers'.  If you are a member of the club, you will have already had your stamps to play with, they are so lovely to colour in!  These are my most favourite flowers, they always make me smile!


Here are the products I used to decorate my bag.

Little Claire 'Sunflowers' Stamp set
White, Brown & Blue card
Kraft Gift Bag
Versafine 'Vintage Sepia' Inkpad
Promarkers : Mustard, Tulip Yellow, Sandstone, Caramel, Pear Green,
Denim Blue and Pastel Beige
Large Square Scallop Die
Butterfly Die
Brown Check Ribbon
Brown Baker's Twine
Clear 'Wink of Stella' Glitter Pen
Sunflower charm
Brown Pearls

(Bag front close-up)

Project Instructions :

(1) Die-cut large scalloped square, stick to front of kraft bag.
(2) Cut a square to fit die and stamp around each four corners with 'Sunflower' stamp.
(3) Colour in with Promarker's and colour centres of flowers with 'Wink of Stella'
(4) Edge with ink pad.
(5) Stamp up sentiment and matt onto brown card, ink edges and stick together.
(6) Stick image down onto front of bag.
(7) Die-cut butterfly from blue card, stick together.
(8) Attach ribbon and tie a tight bow.
(9) Attach sunflower charm using baker's twine, tie a knot.
(10) Stick butterfly to front of bag, add brown pearls.

I do hope you have enjoyed my blog project today.

You can go over HERE to the website, where you can pick up these gorgeous stamps and lots of other goodies, fill your basket!

Our brand new challenge goes live on the blog tomorrow morning, there will be a great prize on offer if you join in.

Heidi and
The Little Claire Design Team

xxxx


Wednesday 13 August 2014

OUR NEW PAD!

Sorry if you weren't able to get through to us at the beginning of the week - we've been busy moving so things have been a little hectic, what with the house move, moving all the stock, the cats etc...

Our 'Baby' packed up and ready to go

We're now in a little 2 bed bungalow and Little Claire will be operating from a shed at the bottom of the garden (with the fairies). Yes, we're now officially 'sheddies' and we're hoping everything will fit in, including Steve!

Whilst packing up, we came across these lovely cards made with our Merry Kissmas stamp, just look at these...

On this card, we love the way Gaynor has assembled these papers - you can use offcuts to achieve a similar effect..

designed by Gaynor Bloor

Heidi has added a delicate die-cut snowflake and some red twine to her card..

designed by Heidi Green
We love our dotty and gingham papers, as shown here by our two Helens...

designed by Helen Nile

designed by Helen Holbrook

This gorgeous stamp is one of our all time favourites and currently on offer for an AMAZING £2.50
so hop over to the website and order yours to get a head start on all those Christmas cards!

As soon as we're settled we'll post some photos of our lovely shed, aka HQ of Little Claire. Watch this space!!
Oh, by the way, our new landline number is 0151 648 8777

Love from the Little Claire Team xxx



Monday 11 August 2014

Little Claire Likes Monday Project - The Smile I Bring

 Good morning and welcome to another 'Little Claire Likes', our regular Monday project.  Where our teamie Heidi, shares a card she has made using one of our favourite stamp sets.

Today, is the turn of a packed-full stamp set - 'The Smile I Bring'.  It has lots of little elements that compliment the two main stamps and sentiment, in the set.

Here is the front of Heidi's card

 
The inside flap, showing the sentiment
 
 
and the inside showing the birdhouse image


Here is the stamp set showing all of the elements, little birds, flowers and birds.
 
 
You can pick up this cute little set for only £4.50 (normally £6.50) until Thursday 14th August or whilst stocks last.  You can get it HERE on the website.
 
Here are a list of products and instructions on how Heidi made the card.
 
Products Used :

Little Claire 'The Smile I Bring' Stamp Set - £4.50
Dovecraft - 'It's a Boy' Paper Stack - £7.50
Kraft Card Pack (x10) - £1.99
A4 Stamping Cardstock - £3.50
 Memento 'Rich Cocoa' Inkpad - £3.90
Self-Adhesive Pearls - £1.80
Promarkers - Almond, Putty, Sandstone, Pastel Blue, Denim Blue, Mustard, Coral,
Pear Green, Khaki & Pastel Beige.
Xcut Die from stash

Card Instructions :

(1) Firstly, cut down two kraft card blanks to measure : 13cms x 13cms and 11cms x 11cms.
(2) On the larger card blank, cut one side in half, at 6.5cms.
(3) Choose two papers from paper stack. Cut them down to fit card blanks as shown.
(4) Stamp up two larger images onto white card, die cut.
(5) Colour in images using Promarker's above.
(6) Onto paper scraps, stamp up butterflies and flowers, cut out.
(7) Cut a small strip of flower and one of dotty paper.
(8) Stick papers down onto kraft card.
(9) Edge images, papers and kraft card with 'Rich Cocoa' inkpad.
(10) Stamp sentiment onto inside flap, add butterflies.
(11) Stick smaller card inside larger one.
(12) Add images, flowers and pearls.

We do hope you have enjoyed the tutorial today, please do leave us a comment.

Many thanks,

The Little Claire Team

xxxxx