Steampunk!

Hello on this wet and windy Sunday - hope everyone is making the best of the weekend.

I have been busy familiarising myself with my new duties as a member of the Polkadoodles design team.  My debut card is all loaded ready for next week's challenge - I will be posting it here on Friday.

Since I haven't anything new to show you today, I thought I would share a project that I made for a swap over on the DoCrafts forum.  A good friend of mine is hosting a fat page swap and this month's theme is Steampunk.  This is not a genre that I am familiar with, but bought some stamps with a recent win on a blog challenge and here's what I made ...

A fat page is a little 4x4" piece of artwork that is decorated as you wish.  This swap stipulates stamping (one of my favourite things).  I decided to paper piece this one and each portion is inked around the edges with Walnut Stain distress ink and then stamped with Steampunk elements.  The lettering was printed on my pc and the clockface has added wings for effect!  I love the brown theme, I think it looks very grungy and I am loving all things Steampunk!  My artwork will now be swapped with another crafty participant and I will receive something in return to add to my album.  My thanx go to our brilliant host - you know who you are!!

See you all soon,
Jan xx

CD Crafting

Happy Saturday,

I spent some time this morning getting to know my way around the new CDs that I won from Polkadoodles recently.  I fancied making something a little different and found a template for the cutest little birdhouse on the 'Candy Doodles' CD and off I went!  Here's the finished product ...

The CD has a ready made template for this project, so all I had to do was choose some papers and embellishments and assemble.  The instructions are really easy to follow - the hardest bit was choosing from the fantastic range of papers - I chose ones from the blue range on the 'Sugar Plum Daisy' CD, printed them onto 160gsm white card and then put them back through my printer to print the templates on the reverse - simples!  After cutting out all the pieces, I inked around each edge with broken china distress ink and added some stamping around the edges for extra effect.  I used a wet glue that dries clear to assemble the little house, remembering to feed the piece of ribbon through the roof first - this is secured inside with tape.  I added a piece of scrunched paper inside for the little birdies to sit on - these were printed from the 'Candy Doodles' CD and coloured with my Promarkers to match the project.  The sentiment frame is from the 'Sugar Birdies' CD and I added my own wording.

Added embellishments include some pretty little flowers also from the 'Sugar Birdies' CD, together with a heart swirl and die-cut butterfly from my stash. I think the flowers need a pretty centre, but I couldn't find the right bits - some nice blue card candi I think, but I only have pink (have added the blue to my shopping list and I will add later).

If you fancy taking a look round the fab Polkadoodles online store - click here :)

Hope you like my little project,
Jan xx

A Very Exciting Day!

Wow! What a day - it's official - I became the newest member of the Polkadoodles Design Team today and I am thrilled.  I think I have just about calmed down now!

I can't wait to get involved and have already made my very first card as a design team member, but I'm not allowed to show it just yet, that would spoil the fun - so watch this space.

I just want to say a huge 'THANKYOU' to Nikky Hall at Polkadoodles for this opportunity and if you would like to check out her website full of goodies, you can find it here.

Hope everyone is ready for their weekend and no-one is in danger of being flooded by all the rain.  We have flood alerts on most of our local rivers - it's been like monsoon season here.

Be safe, love Jan xx

Red and White

Well, after a chaotic week back at school to the new term, I have spent my weekend doing what I love best - crafting!

I have made a couple of birthday cards for work colleagues with birthdays coming up next week and my entry for this week's challenge over at Polkadoodles - which you may have guessed is 'Red and White'.  I am also entering it in the 'Glitter Geeks challenge, which is also 'Red and White'.  This was definitely a challenge as red is not a colour I would normally use much, so after putting my thinking cap on - this is what I made ...

I started with a plain 6x6" white pearlised card blank and positioned eight squares of red and white paper (from my stash) around the edges to form a border.  The squares measure 4x4cm and are all inked around the edges with TH distress ink in 'Fired Brick'.  The second layer is a 10x10cm square of white textured card which is also inked around the edges and has extra corner detail stamped with 'Fired Brick' distress ink using cogs from 'Creative Expressions - Steampunk Dreams'.  The heart is cut from one of the red papers using a template and embellished with red adhesive gems.  The wings are from a Kanban stamp set and are stamped onto a contrasting spotty paper, cut out and fixed behind the heart.  A silver heart charm finishes off the main feature of the card and two red brads finish off opposite corners of the card.

I love the sentiment, which is also from 'Creative Expressions - Steampunk Dreams' and is stamped in 'Fired Brick' distress ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.  I tore the edges and inked with the same ink for added effect.

I am very much a 'cutie' person when it comes to crafting (as a dear friend will tell you), so it would have been very easy to give one of my little Tilda stamps a 'red' dress, but I thought I would try something different - I quite like the outcome, hope you do too.

Hugz, Jan xx

Bon Voyage

Hi folks, just a quick post tonight - I made this card at the weekend, but I knew everything would be chaotic once I returned to school!  I am going to enter the card in the 'Glitter Geeks - Nautical' challenge - here's what I made ...

Card Recipe

Image - digital

Colouring medium - Promarkers

Papers - from my stash

Sentiment - produced on pc

Mini postcard 

printed from Papermania CD and stamped over with script stamp

Embellishments 

stamped compass with brad centre, stamped hinges, button brad, 

two teal brads and two brown candi, brown thread around the background paper

and a little brass coloured ship's wheel charm

I didn't really have much on a nautical theme, but am really pleased with how the card turned out. Jx

Pretty in Pink

Hi everyone - hope your weekend is all good.  It's the last day of my Easter break today - back to school for me tomorrow!

I spent the whole morning crafting yesterday and got the chance to use my new Magnolia stamp that I bought as part of my prize from a recent blog challenge - it was just perfect for this one, which I am entering in this week's Polkadoodles challenge - 'Pretty in Pink'.
Here's what I made ...

Back to the 8x8" scalloped edge card blank this time - I do love the slightly larger workspace this offers.  I started with three layers of matting using a square of plain pink paper from my stash, a second square of natural Core'dinations textured cardstock and a third square of blush blossom paper from My Mind's Eye.  The edges of all three layers have been distressed with my scissors and inked with TH distress ink in either walnut stain or victorian velvet.  I used a template to cut out the large patterned paper shape in the background (edges also distressed and inked).  The sentiment and 'princess' tab were printed on my pc and are distressed and inked to match the design.

The main image is 'Princess Tilda' from the Magnolia Fairytale Collection and she is coloured with Promarkers.  Her tiara, dress and shoes are accented with crystal glitter.  She is mounted on two extra matching layers which have also been distressed and inked around the edges.

Embellishments include a selection of Doohickey doily flowers which have been colour tinted with my Promarkers to match the card design, a couple of Prima paper flowers, a Doohickey heart swirl , WOC pearlised stamens, an ivory seam binding bow which is accented with a pink button and little heart charm.  A scattering of the usual adhesive pearls and gems, together with two stamped hearts and a little pink dragonfly brad finish off the card.

I'm really pleased with this one, hope you like it.

Jan x

Lucky Friday 13th!

Well, I have broken the myth - my Friday the 13th has been a very lucky one, thanx to Polkadoodles.

You may remember me posting a couple of weeks ago that I had entered my very first blog hop over on their challenge blog. Well, I have been chosen as a winner on Nikky Hall's blog to win her blog candy and I can't believe it.  (I have been walking around sounding like Victor Meldrew for the past 30 minutes!) Lol.  I have won three Polkadoodles CDs and two stamps - how fantastic is that!  I need to calm down now, though - all this excitement is not good for my elf!!  Sorry, had to share this - it doesn't take much to please me, does it :)

Many thanx to Nikky for choosing ME!
Can't wait for my goodies to arrive.
Hugz, Jan x

My Little Shadow

Well, the only good thing to come out of all this rubbish weather is more time to craft!

I have something a little different today - a scrapbook page, which I am entering into a new blog challenge for me.  Over at 'Try it on Tuesday' the theme is 'pampered pets' and mine certainly falls into that category, so I thought I would have a go.  Here's what I made ...

The photo was taken while she was laid behind my neck in the chair - she makes a brilliant pillow, all soft and warm.  The page is set on a dusky pink textured 12x12" cardstock.  The paper squares are all cut from my stash.  Embellishments include a selection of die-cut flowers, swirls, and brads.  The lettering is printed on my computer and coloured with Promarkers.  The journalling was printed on the computer too and explains how my little girl shares my own birthday.  She certainly is a faithful little friend and is definitely a 'pampered pet'.  Hope you like it, Jx

Teddy's Big Birthday

Hope everyone enjoyed their Easter Sunday - ours was very typical, late start followed by a lovely roast beef Sunday lunch and then visiting family.  Didn't fall off the wagon and succumb to any chocolate eggs though :) Good job I got my crafting done on Saturday! Lol.

I made an easel type card this time for a change, although it still has the same 6x6" workspace on the front. Ha! This one was designed with two challenges in mind - 'Stampin' for the Weekend' (Ready Teddy Go!) and Polkadoodles (Big Birthdays).  Here's what I made ...

I love the colour scheme on this one (looks a little bit 'shabby', I think) and I have used some of my new Magnolia Doohickey die cut pieces too. The choice of teddy bear was difficult - I love my 'Fizzy Moon' stamps and there is always 'Tatty Teddy', but I chose an old favourite in my attempt to be a bit different. The main teddy image on the flat part of the easel is stamped three times and decoupaged for added dimension.

Card Recipe

Card blank

6x6" easel card made from champagne pearlised card

Stamped image - Funstamps Zoe teddy

Medium - Promarkers

Papers - all from my stash
(which is huge, as you may have gathered!)

Die cuts

Magnolia Doohickey vintage tag
(which has been covered with matching paper), 

small dragonfly and two small doily flowers

Nestabilities 

Plain circle, scalloped circle, lacy circle

Lettering - Sizzix alphabet cut from matching cardstock

Numbers - chipboard and covered with mint green glitter

Embellishments

Pearl lace, 3 WOC 10mm ivory roses,
opal adhesive pearls, mint green pearl brads

Off to enter it into the challenges now, back soon, hugz Jan x

Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Hugz, Jan xx

Wings and Things

Hope everyone is set up for Easter - hope you all have a great weekend :)

I spent some time crafting yesterday and made a card which I am entering into the 'Wild Orchid Crafts' challenge, which this week is 'Wings and Things'.  This one is a combination of two of my favourite things - purple and butterflies - so was an easy task.  Here's what I made ...

This one took a while to make and consists of a collage of several stamps and die cuts to make the main feature.  It began with a plain 6x6" while pearlised card blank to which I added a layer of lilac paper from my stash, which has the corners rounded and is inked around the edges with TH distress ink (dusty concord).  I stamped 'Paper Artsy' cogs onto the background paper in the same purple distress ink to form a background for the collage, then added a piece of lilac mesh (which I have had in my stash for ever).  The collage consists of a several stamped clock faces from Invoke Stamps, together with stamped butterflies from my new Creative Expressions 'Steampunk Dreams' stamp plate.  It also has two die-cut dragonflies (Magnolia Doohickey dies) which have been painted with 'wild plum' twinkling H20s and embellished with 'white opal' liquid pearls.  The sentiment is also stamped in 'dusty concord' distress ink and cut out using a Labels Four nestability die, which was embossed and inked for definition.  The collage is finished with punched fern leaves which are also distressed with the same ink.  The whole collage is scattered with lilac adhesive gems and the sentiment has two white adhesive pearls, both from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Really enjoyed doing something 'a bit different'!  Think I might enlarge the idea and use on a scrapbook page too. Hope you like it, Jx

Easter Time

I can't believe it's nearly Easter! Doesn't seem two minutes since Christmas.

Having completed my blog hop over at Polkadoodles blog challenge on Friday, I have now finished my Easter card entry for this week's challenge.  Here's what I made ...

Card Recipe

Image - digital 

Colouring Medium - Promarkers, crystal glitter

Papers - Lilac card and Yellow patterned from my stash

Sentiment - Letraset 'Happy Easter' rub-on

Tools - Plain and Scalloped Circle nesties, 

X-Cut Dielicious flower dies, fern leaf punch

Embellishments - Coloured brads, pink and lilac adhesive gems

Inks - TH distress ink (Dusty Concord/Milled Lavender)

I'm not usually one for mixing lots of colours on my cards, but I love this paper with several pastel shades - it reminds me of sugared almond colours!  Hope you like it, Jx