A little bit of Vintage

Good morning,

I hope everyone had a great weekend, enjoying what's left of the sunshine. I think I'm finally starting to get over the nasty cold bug I've had all week - I'm working on the principal that 'things can only get better'!

It's time for our next challenge over at Make My Monday and this week Fliss has chosen our theme, which is another favourite of mine

'VINTAGE'

(with Sepia, Cream and Pink or Blue)

Here's what I made for my DT inpsiration ...

I made an easel card using a cream card base and layered with soft pink co-ordinations cardstock, dreamy papers from Raspberry Road and a variety of embellishments, including a stamped postcard and lovely sepia vintage photo. The lamp post die cut  and the leaf swirl die cut were covered in cream/gold frantage powder to age them. The little flowers are handmade from book paper and are inked and also covered in shabby pink frantage powder to highlight them. I must admit, I had a 'step away from the card' moment - I always get carried away with the embellishments and this time was no exception!!

Here's a closer look at the base of the card, with some more handmade flowers and a lovely little cameo embellishment. 

If you have the time, why not pop over to the challenge blog and check out my teamies DT inspiration too. I shall look forward to visiting your blogs this week to see your interpretation of the theme.

Hugz, Jan xx

Garden Child

Hello again,

I hope everyone has had a great week - my the weekend seems to come around quickly these days! I have had the most horrible cold/flu this week and it doesn't seem to want to budge either - hope it clears soon.

It's my day to post over at Sherri Baldy Art and this week I have made a shaped card using 'My Besties' image 734 with the 'My Besties UK Challenge' in mind - the theme is 'Orange, Yellow & Brown'. Here's my finished project ...

The image is called 'Garden Child' and you can buy her from Sherri's on-line store HERE. I coloured her skin and hair with my Promarkers and then paper pieced the gorgeous flowers with scraps of orange and yellow paper. I also used two different butterfly border dies, together with some embellishments from my stash and a sprinkling or frantage powder for some texture. The sentiment was printed on my pc and then made to look like a little banner.

Right, I'm off to enter her into the challenge now.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend,
Hugz, Jan xx

Q is for Quilting

Happy Friday everyone,

It's time for the next letter over at the Alphabet Challenge and we are upto 'Q' in our alphabet. Our Jennifer has chosen the theme of 'QUILTING' for this one, so we would love to see your projects showcasing some kind of quilting. There are so many designs to choose from and you could use paper or fabric - so here's a little DT inspiration from me ...

I loved making this one - it is a 6x6" design and is made up of sixteen squares. I chose three different papers and cut nine of the patterned squares, five of the pink squares and two of the cream squares using a 3cm square paper punch. I then put four patterned squares to one side and cut all the others diagonally on my trimmer to make triangles. Next I inked all the edges with Walnut Stain distress ink (which seemed to take ages!) but I think it was worth it. Then I arranged them into my pattern before sticking them down.  I stamped around the edges with a zig zag stamp to create the effect of faux stitching. To finish off I added a little sentiment from my Polkadoodles Picknix CD which seemed perfect for the job! Hope you like it.

So, will you join us this time round and how will you showcase the quilting?

Hugz, Jan xx

Tree Friends

Happy Monday,

I hope you all had a great weekend - I sat feeling sorry for myself after a rather nasty cold bug landed on me on Saturday!

It's time for our next challenge over at Make My Monday and this week Laura chosen the theme and you have a choice - we would love to see your projects showcasing either

  'FLOWERS or TREES'.

I love nature themes and decided to get my ink dusters out again - here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

The background is made using distress inks in Tumbled Glass and Broken China.  The tree image is a digital image which I manipulated to make smaller to create the trio and then flipped it for the reflection in the water. Finally I put the whole piece through an embossing folder for some added texture.  A little glitter and a sentiment finishes off my project. Hope you like it.

Please pop over to the main blog and check out what my teamies decided on for their DT projects.  Will you choose 'flowers' or 'trees'?

Hugz, Jan xx

Away with the Fairies

Hello everyone,

Well they were right - we have seen some sunshine over the weekend, so all is not lost!

I'm back today with my weekly post for Sherri Baldy Art using another of her gorgeous little fairy Besties. Here's what I made using image 694 which you can buy from Sherri's on-line store HERE.

I used a door hanger template and covered with backing papers in soft lilac and mint green before adding my image which was coloured with Promarkers and a little added glitter. Well, you can't have a fairy without glitter, can you!  The pretty flowers were all hand stamped onto scraps of the backing papers, cut out, inked and assembled with pearl centres before becoming part of my project. I also added a couple of die cuts, some tiny punched butterflies and printed the wording on my pc.

And don't forget - today is the last day to enter our blog hop over at the 'My Besties UK Challenge blog' so why not pop over and say hello HERE.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers - Winged Things

Cute Card Thursday - Fairy Nice

Fussy & Fancy - Punches and Dies

That Craft Place - Things with Wings

Try it on Tuesday - Make your own Flowers

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

Candy Colours

Good Morning,

Well, we had the most gloomy day here yesterday and really cold too - hope the forecasters are right and we still have a little sunshine left to enjoy over the weekend.

It's time for a new challenge over at Polkadoodles and this week we would love to see your projects using the theme

'CANDY COLOURS'. 

Now you can use anything to showcase this theme, but Nikky's gorgeous 'Bonbon Belles CD' is absolutely perfect with six yummy candy themed colour sections to choose from. I decided on a scrapbook layout for a change this week - here's what I made ...

I used six different papers and a couple of little bows from the 'Marshmallow Fluff' section of the CD to make my layout. That is such a tiny part of the selection and there is still five more sections to choose from.

Why not pop over to the main blog HERE and see what my teamies favourite candy combinations are. I shall look forward to seeing your projects - you have until Sunday 29th September to join us.

Hugz, Jan xx

Home Sweet Home

Good morning,

It's my turn to post over at STUDIO 12 at Polkadoodles today and I have made a little wall plaque using a combination of CD images and acrylic stamps ...

I couldn't resist the cute little house from the 'House of Hearts' collection and I masked it and added a few other stamps to make a little scene on a piece of craft card.  I stamped the house again on book paper and paper pieced it over the top of the first stamped image.  I then coloured the whole thing with my Promarkers. 

The background is one flat layer, put together on my computer using a backing paper from the 'Picknix 2 - Gingerbread Twist CD'.  The gorgeous frame, piece of lace and the sentiment are from the 'Welcome Home' section of the 'Picknix 1 CD'.  

The whole thing is mounted on kraft card with a piece of twine added to hang it with.  Hope you like it.

Ooo, and don't forget we have a brand new Polkadoodles challenge starting tomorrow and I'll be back then to explain more, but for now here's a little sneaky peek (but don't tell the boss!).

Enjoy your day,

Hugz, Jan xx

Midweek Motivation at MMM

Hello again,

It's time for a little midweek motivation over at Make My Monday and you still have time to play along with our 'SWIRLS and PEARLS' theme.  Here's a little more inspiration for you from my craft room to yours ...

I made this little set of three gift boxes using kraft card, then decorated them with lots of ink and swirls and pearls.  They are secured together with a piece of gold ribbon (recycled from a box of chocolates!)  I added some little paper roses and a couple of swirl die-cuts to embellish.  

These little boxes are the perfect size to gift a lovely set of jewellery - a matching necklace, bracelet and earrings! What do you think?

I hope you have fun with our challenge this week,

Hugz, Jan xx

Swirls and Pearls

Good morning,

I hope you all had a good weekend, it's been freezing here - I even had to turn my heating on for a while yesterday!

It's time for our next challenge over at Make My Monday and this week we have a classic theme, chosen by one of our retired design team members. We would love to see your projects showcasing the theme

'SWIRLS AND PEARLS'

Now I don't know about you, but I had so many ideas for this one I didn't know where to start - I think I put pearls on nearly everything I made, so I just had to incorporate the swirls! Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I decided to keep it simple and use the theme as the main focal point, rather than an accent. I stamped the heart first, masked it and then stamped the swirls in archival ink behind it. I coloured the heart with my Denim Promarker to match the backing layer, then added loads of little blue pearls.  The sentiment was printed on my pc, but I did think afterwards that this would make a lovely engagement/wedding card.

If you have a minute to spare, please pop over and check out the  challenge blog where my teamies have some more inspiration for you.  I shall look forward to visiting your blogs during the week to check out your 'Swirly Pearly' creations.

Hugz, Jan xx

You're Wonderful

Hi folks,

I'm back this morning with my Sunday post for Sherri Baldy Art and I have a simple little card today using Messy Bestie image 741 which is available to buy at Sherri's on-line store HERE.

I love the rich red tones on this one and coloured my image with Promarkers to match the background papers which are from LOTV. I added a stamped sentiment (also from LOTV) and a little rosette made from scraps of the background paper.

Hope you enjoy your Sunday wherever you are.

Hugz, Jan xx

Follow Your Heart

Hello and good morning from a very wet Yorkshire,

I'm back today with a little make using some more of the gorgeous Studio 12 stamps from Polkadoodles. I adore the little 'heart' which can be found on the 'Distressed Zig Zag' set which you can buy in our on-line store HERE.

Here's what I made ...

The artwork measures 8.5 cm square and is framed with a 6x6" mount, but you could just as easily recreate this on a mini canvas. 

I began with a piece of white cardstock which I covered with distress inks in Mustard Seed and Peacock Feathers. Then I used a variety of little stamps from the same set to over stamp using the same inks to create a background (the text stamp is from my own stash).  I stamped the hearts directly onto the card and then stamped again on a scrap of book paper, cut them out and coloured them with the same distress inks before embossing the front one with clear powder. The sentiment is printed on my pc and I added a little doodled line around the edge.

Don't forget our new challenge went live yesterday - so if you haven't seen it yet just click HERE.

Have a great weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

My Besties UK Blog Hop

Good morning crafty friends and followers,

It's the start of a brand new week and I have news - it's a special Monday over at the 'My Besties UK Challenge Blog' - not only do we have a brand new challenge, we are HOPPING too. The theme this week is one of my favourites ...

'BRING OUT THE FAIRY IN YOU'

So you can enter the challenge as normal with a crafty project that showcases the theme and have the chance to win a some of Sherri's 'My Besties' digi images from our selection.  Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I used an 8x8" scalloped card blank and the colour scheme had to be pink! I used My Besties image 'Wee Winged Ones' which you can buy from Sherri's on-line store HERE.  The image is coloured with my Promarkers and I added some glitter to their wings.  The papers and embellishments are from my stash and all the little flowers are handmade using a Dreamies flower stamp.

************

You can also come and HOP with us for the chance of winning extra candy by visiting all the participating blogs, following and leaving us a comment. Here's the order of the hop:

Gill - http://creationsbygillm.blogspot.co.uk/

Kerrie - http://cardsbykerrie.blogspot.co.uk/

Tina - http://tinas-cards.blogspot.co.uk

Caroline -http://carolinesspicecrafty-bits.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Abbie - http://kraftygirlcreations.blogspot.co.uk/

Jan - http://jaybescraftybitz.blogspot.co.uk/

Anita - http://ab5474-8kidsandstillfindtimetocraft.blogspot.co.uk/

Donna - http://kraftyscot.blogspot.co.uk/

Susan - http://rosebudsnribbons.blogspot.co.uk/

Home - http://mybestiesuk.blogspot.co.uk/

So, if you've arrived at my blog from ABBIE then you are on the right track.

Now hop on over to ANITA who will show you some more fab inspiration on the theme.

I shall look forward to reading your comments and don't forget to check back on the main blog in a few days where we will be announcing one lucky winner.

Hope you have fun,
Good Luck,
Jan xx

It's all about the Scene

Hello again,

Here's my second post of the day and it's time for our next challenge over at Make My Monday. This week Rosie has chosen the theme and we would love to see you 'CREATE A SCENE' on your projects. Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I love making scenes with my inks and decided on a fantasy theme for this one.  The artwork measures 10cm x 20cm and I used distress inks in Victorian Velvet, Tumbled Glass and Dusty Concord applied with my ink dusters.  I used a piece of torn paper to create the hills and then used it as a mask to stamp in the fairy castle and the toadstools.  I stamped the little fairies and added some glitter as if they are sprinkling fairy dust. To finish off I added the foilage and leaves around the edge and mounted on black card.

What kind of scene will you create - I shall look forward to visiting your blogs during the week to check out your entries.

Hugz, Jan xx

Come Rain or Shine

Happy Sunday to you all,

It's time for my weekly post over at Sherri Baldy Art and as we seem to be coming to the end of the summer with Autumn approaching fast, I thought this little Bestie image was perfect. We had lots of rain on Friday when I was making this card, so I'm glad she is sheltering under her umbrella.  

I used image 735 which you can buy from Sherri's on-line store HERE.  I recently won a set of 'Graph It' alcohol markers and thought this was a good time to try them out. I coloured the image with just the Skintones set, which were perfect for my colour scheme. I even used the blender pen to make the little dots on the umbrella. Papers are from my stash and the leaves are stamped, coloured to match, cut out and glittered - I thought they made a nice change to flowers! Lol.

If you love your Besties as much as I do - watch out for the Blog Hop over at My Besties UK tomorrow - I will be back in the morning with full details.

Hugz, Jan xx

A Significant Birthday

Hi there friends,

Well, that's my first week back at school complete and I'm shattered. I've haven't done any crafting all week and I am having serious withdrawal. It's my day off tomorrow so guess what I'll be doing for most of the day!

Anyway, as it's Friday it's time for another challenge over at Polkadoodles - this week the theme is

'A SIGNIFICANT BIRTHDAY' 

so we would love to see your projects to celebrate. It can be any significant number - I chose a 50th since I celebrated mine earlier this year. Here's what I made ...

I have decorated a brown kraft gift bag with paper from the Picknix 1 CD and stamped around the edge with the 'Distressed Zig Zag' stamp from Studio 12. The topper is made using the 'Shabby Owl Blossom' stamp plate, also from Studio 12 and coloured with my Promarkers. I added a stamped greeting and a little '50th' embellishment to finish.

Why not pop over to the blog for some more fab inspiration from my teamies - they have all been very creative. Which celebration will you choose?

Hugz, Jan xx

Childhood Memories

Hellooo everyone,

Well, the day has arrived - I'm off back to school this morning and back into my working routine, so not quite as much time for crafting :(

It's time for our next challenge over at Make My Monday and this week Suzi has set the theme and we would love to see your projects reflecting your 'CHILDHOOD MEMORIES'. Now I had to think about this one, I have many childhood memories, but what could I turn into a craft project. Here's what I came up with ...

I love this little stamp from LOTV ('Together Forever') and it brings back many memories from both my own childhood and that of my children.  I always loved playing on the swings and my own girls also spent many an hour in the back garden on their swing.

It's a 6x6" card layered with kraft card and papers from the LOTV 'Country Lady' paper pad - I just adore the colours in this pad. I added various bits and pieces from my stash and thought the TH 'Play' ticket seemed appropriate for the theme.

If you have the time, why not pop over and check out more ideas from my teamies on the blog.

Hugz, Jan xx

My first Criss Cross card

Good morning everyone,

Well, today is the last day of my summer break - back to school in the morning, so less time to craft!

It's time for my Sunday post over at Sherri Baldy Art and this week I have made my first criss cross card - I have been wanting to do one of these for ages, can't believe it's taken me so long.

Here's what I made ...

And here's what I popped inside ...

I used papers from my stash and image 765 which is coloured with my Promarkers. The image is available to buy from Sherri's on-line store HERE for just $3.00, that's only £1.92 here in the UK. She has so many gorgeous images it is hard to choose. I also used my fabulous new butterfly die from Noor Design which I am in love with - I can see it appearing on lots of projects soon.

Hope you like my design and don't forget - if you love your Besties as much as I do come over and join us at the 'My Besties UK Challenge'.

Have a great weekend

Hugz, Jan xx