'Last Minute' Cards & Process Video

Hello lovelies! I'm on the CAS-ual Fridays Blog today with a tutorial for an easy way to make last minute cards, without too much time, effort or mess!

You can make these in a few minutes and it's easy to 'batch make' the bases (so all that's needed later on is the sentiment.) Use different colours and/or sentiments to vary the look! The tutorial covers basic blends and my method for 'sectioning off' areas of the card base!

You can use my discount code CLAIRSENTME in the CAS-ual Fridays Store at anytime, for a 15% discount! Enjoy!

Too Much Choice? {Fashion Forward}

Last night, I sat down to write today's Fashion Forward post and I suddenly found that I was unable to decide what to write about. Would it be sequins, studs or skinny jeans? Would I write about my current love for soft pinks and warm greys? Or would I choose to tell you about my, rather unhealthy, obsession for creating sets in Polyvore?

Faced with seemingly unlimited choice I couldn't make a decision. This morning, I realised that this is exactly how many of us feel when we go shopping for clothes. So, in the run up to the holiday sales - and the complete lack of judgement we all experience when faced with a half price coat that we've wanted for ages, but just happens to be a size too small - I thought I'd share some of my favourite fashion guides (and this super stylish set I found whilst wasting time, um... I mean researching ideas, on Polyvore.)

Charming Lady by Kristen-Funny

If you haven't seen Sally McGraw's blog, Already Pretty, then please head on over there immediately for the the most sensible advice on finding your own style I've ever read. When you love yourself, and the body you have, you'll find that your clothes will bring you enjoyment as well as confidence. (I'm still working on this!)

For advice on putting together a classic, capsule wardrobe full of elegant clothes, you can't beat a bit of advice from Auntie Gok. Gok Wan's website is full to bursting with advice, trends and competitions - and there's a really handy Style Consultation which will help you choose the right clothes for you and your body type.

There's also Academichic - a style blog full of the most amazing outfits that, get this, actually work in the real world. There's a fastastic Fashion 101 section, full of advice on fashion basics like combining colours, playing with patterns and working on your own style.

After all that, if you still find yourself trying to make a tough decision during the sales, just remember this essential piece of advice from my mum - "If you wouldn't buy it at it's full price, don't buy it just because it's on sale."

If you want to play along today, please pop on over to see Katherine and leave us a link to your post!

Autumn 2009 'Challenge Blog' Blog Hop

Okay, so I've been a little bit distracted this week and have been neglecting my blogging duties (and lovely readers) but I've got just enough time today to tell you about the 'Challenge Blog' Blog Hop currently taking place.

There's lots of inspiration for scrapbookers and crafters - and a few prizes along the way. The first stop is Scrap Sketch followed by the awesome, wonderful and totally inspiring All About Me. (You can't tell I'm on the DT there at all, can you?) Each of the participating challenge blogs will have a link to the next site, so you'll never be without a bit of direction.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the inspiration!

A Little Link Love

During yesterday's mad craving for creative prompting, something inspiring and all things new, I came across a few things that I'd love to share - just in case you should ever have a moody, 'bleh' kind of day.

Due to my general love for thrifting and dressing a little oddly, these steampunk inspired Easy, No Sew, Collar Mods have had me riffling through my costume jewellery looking for natty brooches.

This Little Letter Needle Book Tutorial from the loveliest new blog on the block Skebba made me swoon with it's glorious cuteness.

And I've finally found a reason to accept the fern cuttings that my dad keeps trying to foist on me every time I take a trip home. These Pressed Botanical Specimens would look awesome in our hall. (When we finally finish decorating!)

Project Lovin', Happened So Fast!

There's so much awesomeness in the world of internet and blog today that I really need to share. The ever so lovely Katherine from Paper Pocket may have finally given me a good reason to learn how to crochet with the cutest crocheted headband this side of Elsie Flannigan.

Then, I discovered that Kirsty has designed some awesomely attractive (and ultimately useful) CD Cases using some printable downloads from Shimelle's new class Go To Print.

As if that wasn't enough, One Pretty Thing has featured a Covered Bangle Tutorial from See Mi Knit using swatches of knitting. Which means that even with my rudimentary knitting skills, I can make something that's actually in fashion. (Edited - or at least it was in 2007!)

Oh, and one last thing. The perfect mojito to enjoy while you're busy working out which project to try first. Have a good weekend!

Original Photography - Design Sponge

Sea & Sky (Things I Love Thursdays!)

It's been dull and overcast here today and I really didn't have to think too hard - or look to far - to put together my mosaic for today's Things I Love Thursdays! I love the sea; I love the sky; and both together...woah...too much of the good stuff! Every single one of these photographs has been in my Flickr Favourites for quite some time, showing just how long I've been influenced by the sea and the sky.

1. Sunset view from hostel, Moorea, 2. Etosha: Skyscape 2, 3. What is the Light?, 4. on ma roof., 5. Double Rainbow, 6. beach gleam, 7. Etosha: Skyscape 1, 8. head rush, 9. Sossego, 10. Hut by the sea, 11. Missing the Sunset, 12. pensacola beach, 13. Cathedral14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available.

I'm coveting one or two of Susannah Conway's frankly amazing photographs from her Sea Stories collection. Okay, I admit it, I love all of them! I'm also really hoping that I'll be able to participate in one of Susannah's Unravelling photography/self-growth courses at some point in the future.

If you've managed to see Up already then you may already have seen Partly Cloudy but even if you have, it's worth a second look. It's heartwarming on a slightly chilly evening.

There's also a beautiful collection of sky photographs on David Horvitz's project site which are available for download free of charge and free to use. I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do with them now that I've got them - frame a small sample of them perhaps or print a few and turn them into a mini-album? Any ideas?

(Things I Love Thursdays!) Feeling The Fear And Doing It Anyway

Laura's latest post at I'm An Organising Junkie is all about the things that we put off because we're afraid of failing. Now, Laura has been putting off baking her dream Strawberry & Rhubarb Pie. which might seem like an odd thing to put off for fear of failing. But since I've been putting off getting back to the gym because I'm afraid that I'm not fit enough (I know, I know) I'm not really the right person to be making any judgements!

1. Rock N Run . Sin el suelo, 2. angele, 3. Jump!, 4. freedom, 5. belief 20, 6. Up to the Sky for a Croissant Cloud, 7. Untitled, 8. Ballet, 9. On Rappel

In fact, there are so many things that I've been putting off because I'm afraid that I might fail. Important and life changing decisions, along with small and seemingly insignificant changes. I know that many of these things are achieveable - although not always easy - because I've done them before. I've been fit and healthy; I've been organised and on top off my game; I've done things that have scared me and been okay.

Weirdly, I made a huge decision earlier in the year to leave a steady, well paid job in a time of recession and that decision doesn't bother me at all! (The alternative of staying in a job I hated, and that was destroying my self confidence, was far more scary!) The rest should be simple.

All it takes is a bit of effort and a lot of self belief - having some inspiration and support is an added bonus. If you need some (more) inspiration I recommend the following -

An awesome article by Kelly Rae that I could read every day. It makes me feel happy and free knowing, that step by step, I can achieve my wildest dreams.

Danaan Parry has written a really interesting story on embracing change at The Earthstewards site.

And lastly, I wanted to share this hugely inspirational post by Melody Ross who has written an honest, and extremely brave, post about losing it all and finding what matters.