J for Jewels

Good morning,

Hope everyone is having a good week - it's my day off today, so I have some boring old chores to do - but only three more weeks left at school until my summer break (can't wait!)

I have news today of the next theme over at the Alphabet Challenge and we are up to the letter 'J', so we would love to see your projects with some added 'JEWELS'. Now that's not hard, is it?

Here's what I made for my DT inspiration this time ...

It took a while to decide on this one because I can add jewels to just about anything - but I wanted them to be part of the feature, not just embellishments (think I managed it - what do you think?)

It's another fairly simply design using a Memory Box border die as the main feature. This is cut from red pearlescent cardstock and mounted onto a 6x6" white card. I layered it with some red card and added a piece of black ribbon and lots of sparkly crystals to embellish.

I hope you can pop over and join us at the challenge this time.

Hugz, Jan xx

A chance to use your Punches

Hi everyone,

I'm back today with our next challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week Joan has chosen the theme of

'USE A DIE OR A PUNCH'

Here's what I came up with (based on an idea from Pinterest) for my DT inspiration using a selection of punches ...

All the pieces for the little dog are made using different punches and then assembled. The dots were made using the end of a pencil in the ink pad. A Stampin Up sentiment to finish off.

Hope you will come and join us this week.

Hugz, Jan xx

Purple is Best

Good morning,

Well, I had a fantastic time last night - my baby girl bought us tickets (as part of my birthday present) to go and see the 'Take That 2015 Tour' at the cinema!! Yep, they broadcast their O2 Arena performance live from London all around the world, via the cinema - one of the best things ever - we had a much better view on the screen (instead of them being 3cm high at the bottom of the arena) and it cost a lot less too. It was an amazing show, as always - but getting your head around being able to make noise, sing, clap while sat in the cinema was really weird!!

On a crafty note, it's time for our next challenge over at Fantasy Stampers - for the next two weeks the theme is

'YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR'

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

Most of you that know me, know that my all time favourite is Purple! So out came the distress inks (Dusty Concord) and a few water splashes to make my front panel ready to stamp on.

I used black archival ink to stamp over the top, using Inkylicious 'Wild Flora', then stamped a sentiment (stamp from my stash). This is layered onto black cardstock to frame it.

Quite a simple design to show off the main panel - I just added some co-ordinating organza ribbon and a few purple adhesive pearls to embellish.

I hope you can come and join in the fun with your own 'colourful' creations.
Hugz, Jan xx

Father's Day at Cardz 4 Guyz

Hi there to you all,

I'm back a little later than usual today with my DT project for the new challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz. It was my turn to choose the theme this week, and as Father's Day is on its way at the weekend, it seemed an obvious choice this time.

So here's what I made ...

I must admit I seemed to have developed a love of all this CAS recently and this one is no different. I stamped my LOTV image 'Man's Best Friend' straight onto the kraft card and coloured it with my Promarkers (the patches on the little doggie were done with my white gel pen) and I am quite pleased with the result. I then ran it through my printer to make the sentiment (I always hold my breath at this point and hope it doesn't spoil my handiwork!) I added three punched stars to embellish before layering the whole thing onto brown cardstock and adding it to my card blank.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Hugz, Jan xx

Here Comes Summer at My Besties UK

Hello there,

I have a little tag to show you today for the 'Same but Different' post over at My Besties UK. Once a month the team showcase one of Sherri's gorgeous images and all make projects using that same image - I love how this shows so many different styles using just one image.

This month it was my turn to choose the theme and image, so this is what I made for my 'Here Comes Summer' theme using image 359. She is called 'Garden Flower Fairy Petals and can be purchased from Sherri's online store here ...

I do love making my tags, as you all know - but never do anything with them afterwards (I was thinking of making them all into a 'Tag Book' - but that's another project!)

The image is coloured with my Promarkers and has a little added crystal glitter on her wings. All other components are from my own stash.

I hope you will pop over to the blog - if you leave a comment for the design team you may just be lucky enough to win the digi to use on your own crafty projects.

Hugz, Jan xx

I is for Indigo

Hello there,

I'm back today with the next letter at the Alphabet Challenge and Pat has chosen the theme 'INDIGO AND CREAM' for the letter 'I'. Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

It's a relatively quick make today which is 6x6" in size and is made using layers of milk cardstock and a shimmery navy paper which I had in my stash. I also added a strip of lace daisies and a piece of torn book paper before adding my little stamped house, which is a favourite from the Octopode Factory.

Hope you will come and play along with your own creations.

Hugz, Jan xx

Texture

Good morning,

First of all, I must say 'Happy Birthday' to my baby girl (who is 23 years young today) - blimey I am feeling old!

As this is my first post of the week, I will ask if everyone had a good weekend? I was at a local craft fayre on Sunday and spent far too much money, although I told myself before I went that I didn't really need any more crafting stash - but the message never reached my brain, obviously!! I have so many ideas in my head for new projects that I can't think straight - just need a few extra hours in the day to play.

On a crafty note, we have a brand new challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz - a blog devoted to male themed projects for the beloved men in our life. My teamie Jane has chosen the theme this week, which is

'TEXTURE'

This is a great one for men's cards and so easy to incorporate - here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I began with a piece of design paper from my stash which has a woodgrain pattern on it (although it's not easy to see on my photo), then I passed it through a basket weave embossing folder and highlighted the embossing with some Gathered Twigs distress ink, before layering it onto a piece of kraft card.

The stamped section is one (of my many) my purchases from yesterday - it is actually all one stamp from Inkylicious, but I stamped it out and cut it into three smaller sections before mounting on a darker brown. I added these to my background, layered on a piece of hessian, which is nicely frayed around the edges. Three little co-ordinating buttons finish off the design.

Why not pop over to the challenge blog and check out some fab inspiration from the team.

Hugz, Jan xx

Lazy Afternoon

Hi there,

I'm back today with our next challenge over at 'FANTASY STAMPERS' and the new theme for the next two weeks is

'FATHER'S DAY'

So, here's my DT inspiration for the challenge ...

It's 8x8" in size and uses papers from my stash and a cute little LOTV image 'Lazy Afternoon' which is coloured with my Promarkers. Extra lettering to spell out 'Dad' are also from my stash and are mounted on die-cut Lacey Circles. A piece of green organza ribbon to finish off.

I hope you can come and join us and share your own Father's Day projects over at the challenge.
Hugz, Jan xx

Birds

Good morning,

Okay, half term over and back to school yesterday - only another seven weeks until the summer! I swear I live my life to the next school break!! Lol.

Over at Cardz 4 Guyz today we have a brand new theme, chosen by Andrea. We would love to see your male themed projects showcasing

'BIRDS'

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

I used three different stamp sets to create the main feature on this one. The background frame is by Indigoblu and is stamped with 'Peeled Paint' distress ink, the little birdie is 7 Gypsies and is stamped with 'Gathered Twigs' distress ink and the 'fly' wording is made using a little alphabet stamp from the £1 shop.

Background papers are from my stash and I fixed the topper in place using a couple of eyelets and some twine, instead of ribbon for a change.

I hope you can come and join us and it would be great if you could pop over to the main blog and leave my teamies some comments.

Hugz, Jan xx