A little bit of Vintage

Hello crafters,

It's challenge day over at 'The Alphabet Challenge blog' and we are on the letter 'V', so would love to see your Vintage projects this week.  I love this style of crafting and I think it can be worked into so many different projects.  Here's my DT inspiration for this week's challenge ...

It's one of my favourite 8x8" card blanks, covered in gorgeous paper from the Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby paper stack, which has been edged with Victorian Velvet distress ink.  The shaped piece was cut using a Spellbinders Labels 17 die and then run through a script embossing folder for some texture.  I ran the Victorian Velvet ink over the script just to define it a little.  The stamped image is 'Kaisercraft - Botanical' and is also stamped in the same distress ink for a monochrome look.  The main image is mounted onto a piece of gold mirri card to high light it.  Embellishments include a TH paper rosette cut from the same paper, a piece of lush ivory lace and three ivory flat backed pearls.  I also scattered some gold frantage embossing powder across the card for a little extra interest.

I shall look forward to your entries over at the challenge blog.

Hugz, Jan xx

Guest Designer at Joanna Sheen

Well hello and happy Sunday to you all,

I'm a little excited this morning - it's my Guest Designer spot over at the Joanna Sheen challenge blog.  This week brings an 'Anything Goes' theme and I was lucky enough to receive some gorgeous House Mouse decoupage to work with.  Here's what I made ...

I made the card blank from cream textured cardstock and covered it with paper from my stash which has been inked around the edges with Walnut Stain distress ink.  The cute little house mouse is decoupaged and nestled warmly in his basket and layered onto a Lacey Circle cut from the same cream textured cardstock.  The 'Wishing you a Speedy Recovery' sentiment is also Joanna Sheen and the card is embellished with a paper flower with button centre, a couple of swirls die-cuts and three little adhesive pearls.

The card opens up to reveal ...

...  a little cold remedy survival kit for those days when you might be feeling under the weather.

This was a fun project to make and I am very grateful to the team over at Joanna Sheen for choosing me to be their Guest Designer for this challenge.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

Santa's Reindeer

Good morning,

It's my turn to post over at the Studio 12 blog today and I have a little inky project to show you.  I have used elements from the Picknix 2 - Gingerbread Twist collection and added them to a page in my Art Journal.  Each year we can never seem to remember all seven of Santa's reindeer names, so I thought I would journal them to keep them safe.

The background is coloured with Dylusions Squeezed Orange spray ink and TH Frayed Burlap distress ink before I layered the cute little reindeer on top.  The letters are printed onto the gorgeous brown crumpled paper (both from the CD) then I tore them and inked them before adding them to my page.  A bit of journaling and my reindeer names are safely recorded for the future.

Hope you all have a great weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

Any Die will Do

Hi there folks,

I can't believe it's Friday again so soon! This week has been manic! But, Friday means it's Polkadoodles challenge day and this week we would like to see your creations using a Marianne Die - as the title says 'Any Die will Do!' 

I decided to be a little different this week and wrap a present and make a gift tag, using papers from the 'Paper Boutique Vol II CD' and a little sentiment from the 'Here Comes Christmas CD'.  Here's the finished project ...

The first layer of the tag is a scalloped circle cut from red textured card.  I then used the little swirl die from the Marianne LRO108 Flowers set and cut it eight times from dark green card.  These are positioned around the red layer and stuck down in the middle.  The next layer is a scalloped circle cut from gold mirri card, topped with a TH paper rosette cut from the same paper that the gift is wrapped in.  Finally I added a little sentiment, layered onto another circle of red card. Voila! 

Don't forget to check out the blog for some more fab inspiration from my very talented teamies.

Hugz, Jan xx

Birdies at Sunday Stamper

Hellooo again!

Well, I'm like the buses today - you don't see me for a while, then three (yes, three) posts in one day!! That's definitely a record :)  All I can say is 'what a week!'  To those of you who know the school system, if I mention OFSTED then you can imagine my week!!  I have lived and breathed school for the last few days. Lol. Anyway all is done now, just waiting for the verdict!

So, I have an inky offering tonight which I made for the Sunday Stamper challenge - the theme this week is 'Birds'.  Here's what I made ...

The background was made using Dyan Reaveley's Dylusion ink sprays in Vibrant Turquoise and Fresh Lime.   I added some spots of water and a little ink through the diamond stencil before stamping a text stamp and my 'Birdie on a branch' from Chocolate Baroque using an archival black ink.  I splodged a bit of gesso through some sequin waste to create some lighter areas, then added the 'Sing your Song' wording. This was stamped onto a scrap of card which had been sprayed with the Vibrant Turquoise and a little Cosmic Shimmer pearl to make it sparkle (this doesn't show very well in the photo).  I also stamped the birdie again and cut him out to perch on top of the wording.  I printed the words 'Come fly with me' on my pc, cut and inked them before added them to the design, then doodled a border for a finishing touch.  Hope you like :)

Hugz, Jan xx

Exciting News ...

Well hellooo,

Here's the second post from me today (well, that's a first!) Lol.  I have some news ...

I was sat playing my game of 'Words with Friends', like you do on an evening, when my chat box popped up.  I was both surprised and thrilled to be asked by my good friend, Cazro, if I would like to join her on the Design Team over at 'The Alphabet Challenge Blog'.  Needless to say, I said YES please!!

So, this is a new venture for me and I hope you will come and play with me over at 'The Alphabet Challenge'.  This week the letter is 'U' and the theme is 'Under the Weather' - so we would like to see your projects that might cheer that someone up who is feeling a little under the weather.  Here's what I made for my very first DT project ...

I decided to make a cover for my tissue box which simply slides over the box, so when the tissues run out you can slide it off and add another box.  I used kraft card and papers from my stash and the edges of the paper are inked with Walnut Stain distress ink.  I decorated the top edge with a Doohickey Tilda Lace die, cut from the kraft card.  

Here's a closer look ...

Front View

The main image is 'Fizzy Moon - With Love'.  Fizzy is coloured with my Promarkers and the flowers are paper-pieced and decoupaged with scraps of the backing paper.  I added extra die-cut flowers with pearl centres and little punched flowers with pink adhesive gem centres.

Top View

The top includes a little sentiment which reads - 'Hope you're feeling better real soon', which was printed on my pc, cut out and inked.

Side View

The side is decorated with scraps of paper from my stash, including a little heart cut from the craft card and a punched flower.  The little daisy stamps across the bottom are from the Fizzy Moon stamp sheet.

Hope you like my first DT project for the Alphabet Challenge - why not pop over to the blog to see some more inspiration from my teamies.  I shall look forward to visiting your blogs and checking out your entries.

Hugz, Jan xx

Polkadoodles Challenge Day

Good morning everyone,

I've got that Friday feeling, which means it must be challenge time over at the Polkadoodles blog.  This week we would like to see your 'Square cards' that include a 'Round element' on them.  Simples!  Here's my DT card for a little inspiration ...

Back to the Christmas cards this week - I used the 'Here Comes Christmas CD' to print papers, the snowman and sentiments before assembling the card.  The snowman image is decoupaged to give some depth to the card and the 'round element' includes a little snowman joke. Well, what do snowmen eat for breakfast, I hear you say ...

Snowflakes, 

of course!! Lol.  

Just twist the top circle, which is held in place with a brad, to reveal the answer hidden underneath.

I shall look forward to visiting your blogs to take a peek at your entries - don't forget to pop over to the challenge blog to see some more fab inspiration from my teamies.

Hugz, Jan xx

I'm so excited ...

Good morning to you all on Remembrance Sunday,

Sending out special wishes to all those remembering someone today - it's the anniversary of my dad's death this weekend and although he wasn't in the forces, it's still a time to remember for our family.

I don't actually have anything to show you today - but I do have some very exciting news.  I was fed up at the beginning of the week, returning to work after the half term break (most of which I spent crafting!).  But the week definitely got better as it went on.

My first bit of excitement was mid-week when I was invited to join the Design Team over at 'The Alphabet Challenge Blog' by my good friend, Cazro.  Of course I said 'Yes' and my first DT project for them will be included in next week's challenge - if you would like to go check out the blog click here.

My second bit of excitement happened this morning when I was checking the blogs I follow.  To my utter surprise, I have been chosen as a Guest Designer over at the 'Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog'.  So, watch this space in the not so distant future for my DT project :)

I'm also willing this week away too, as I'm attending a craft workshop next Saturday where I will meet the fantastic Hels Sheridan.  I'm a big fan of her work and can't wait to get all inky with her - if you would like to check out her blog, click here.

Right, I'm off to lie down in a dark room now - don't know if I can cope with all the excitement (it doesn't take much to please me, does it!) Lol.

Oh, just realised that I have no piccies - so thought I would share one of my gorgeous furbabies sharing a moment :)

See you all soon,
Hugz, Jan xx

Xmas Decorations at Studio 12

Good morning,

I hope the weekend finds everyone well.  It's my turn to post over on the Studio 12 blog today and I thought I would show you a simple little Christmas ornament that I made using the Picknix 2 - Gingerbread Twist CD ...

It's made using two papers and a sentiment from the CD, plus two die-cut scalloped circles and lots of bling!   I cut a scalloped circle from dark red pearlised card, then added a slightly smaller scalloped circle cut from one of the red papers, which was inked around the edge with Walnut Stain distress ink.  The next layer is a concertina paper rosette made using the second red paper and the topper is a sentiment from the CD mounted on another dark red scalloped circle.  Bling it up to your hearts content and add a piece of hanging ribbon and 'Voila' - a simple decoration.

You could easily adapt these to include an image in the centre, or even personalise them with family greetings.

See you all soon,

Hugz, Jan xx

Clarity Christmas

Happy Sunday everyone,

Just a quick post from me today - I am getting ready to go back to school tomorrow (groan!)

I have spent quite a bit of time watching the very talented Barbara Gray on C & C this weekend and decided to have a go yesterday with my new 'Letterbox' stamp set which I bought at a recent craft show.  So, armed with my brayer, splodge mat and stamp set away I went - here's the outcome:

I followed Barbara's lesson from the telly yesterday, although I don't have the same stamps as she did - so I improvised with a set from my stash.  The splodge mat has opened a whole new door as far as brayering is concerned and the new 'Letterbox' stamps are a dream to use.  I find it totally fascinating to create cards simply using ink and stamps - my normal style is to add a bit of everything! Lol.  I am really pleased with the result and the design looks so clean and simple.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

A Tag in a Pocket

Morning everyone,

I'm a little late posting this morning, have been engrossed in my art journal since 7am this morning! Yes, you heard right - I couldn't sleep!! Lol.

I have a different project to show today - as the title says, it's a tag in a pocket! Couldn't think what else to call it - see what you think ...

I made the pocket from some champagne card stock and then covered it with lush paper from the 'Prima Almanac' paper pad and a postcard from my stash.  I have recently bought the TH die to make paper rosettes and I can't stop playing with them.  The extra flowers are also Prima to match the Almanac range.  Embellishments include black die-cut swirls, buttons and adhesive pearls.

Here's the tag that nestles inside ...

I absolutely love this photo (can't remember where it's from, but there are several on one sheet).  

I would like to enter this in the 'Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - Pearls and Flowers'

Hope you all have a great weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

Bright and Sparkle

Hi there everyone,

It's Friday again, which means two things - my half term break is almost over and it's Polkadoodles challenge day!

As Bonfire night approaches quick and fast we would like to see your 'Bright and Sparkle' projects this week over at the challenge blog.  Remember, it doesn't have to be a card - it can be any project at all as long as we can see some 'bright' and 'sparkle'.

Here's what I made for some DT inspiration ...

I thought I would have a change from Christmas this week and made a bright cheery card for a 'Special Day'.  The square paper pieces are all printed from the 'Sugar Plum Daisy CD' and are inked around the edges with matching distress ink.  I made the centre panel on my pc, using letters from the 'Picknix 2 - Gingerbread Twist CD' to spell the word 'Sparkle' (I exported them to Paint and played around with the colour to make them all bright).  The sentiment is also made on my pc and I added a sparkly star (printed from the 'Sundae of Seasons CD') then treated it to a generous helping of glitter for some lovely sparkle.

Go on, pop on over to the blog - you know you want to! Lol.

Hugz, Jan xx

Silhouette

Good morning,

Yay, I have finally managed to master my brayer! How did I do this I hear you ask?

Well, after watching a demonstration with the brilliant Barbara Gray at a recent craft show, I decided to spend some of my hard earned cash on a 'Splodge Mat'.  I then tucked it away carefully in my craft room, a little afraid to use it in case I failed again!  But boldy pushing my fear aside yesterday, I prepared all my equipment, chose my inks and had a play - finally achieving some success!

I wanted to enter the Joanna Sheen challenge this week, which is 'Silhouettes' so had a play around with a brayered background for my card.  This is what I came up with ...

I used Spun Sugar and Tumbled Glass distress inks with the brayer to make the background for both the picture and the card blank.  I over stamped the card blank with a swirly stamp and highlighted this with some pearlised chalks for a little extra interest.  The silhouette scenery stamps are mainly Clarity stamps and I added a little sprinkle of crystal glitter from the fairy (not easy to see on the photo).  A piece of black ribbon and bow, some black adhesive pearls and a stamped sentiment finish the card. 

It was very different for me not using any paper products on my card, but I must say I'm very pleased with my attempt and the 'Splodge Mat' definitely made it easier to manage the brayer - I can see my little brayer might not spend quite so much time in the cupboard now. Lol!

Enjoy your Thursday, 

Hugz, Jan xx