Something beginning with M ...

Hello crafters,

I have another masculine design today for the new challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz - this week Jane has chosen the theme of

'SOMETHING BEGINNING WITH M'

Here's what I decided on ...

I chose 'Monochrome' and 'Metal' for my letter 'M'. 

I love using this technique to create metal effect embellishments for cards - I used metal tape over a piece of scrap card, then passed it through an embossing folder, then swiped a little black ink over it to distress it. All other embellishments are from my stash.

Hope you can come and join us this week.

Hugz, Jan xx

Steampunk Stylie

Good morning,

I have had a really tough week, this week with my problematic old back! I am trying to manage the pain, but on occasions it has got the better of me this week. My working week from Monday to Thursday has been a challenge, to say the least.

Over at my challenge blog, FANTASY STAMPERS, we have a brand new challenge starting today with the theme of 'STEAMPUNK'. Now I know this can sometimes be a daunting one, and the design team found it a challenge too, but we would love you to experiment and come and play along.

Here's what I came up with for my DT inspiration ...

This all began as a piece of white cardstock, which I covered with distress inks in 'Scattered Straw, Rusty Hinge, Aged Mahogany, a little Crushed Olive and some Gathered Twigs'.

I used my Papermania cogs stamp to add some detail down the right hand side, and then ran the piece through an embossing folder to add a little interest to the left. The quote was printed on my pc and mounted on brown cardstock. The butterfly and cogs are chipboard pieces that I covered with gold embossing powder and then I added a key to the centre of the butterfly. There are a few other stamps from my stash in the design too.

I hope you will come and play along with us, with your own projects.

Hugz, Jan xx

Nephew

Good morning,

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

'KRAFT AND BLUE'

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

Sorry about the poor photo quality guys, no natural light when I took my pic!

I made this for my little nephew who will be 9 next week. The image is 'James - Laptop' from LOTV and is coloured with my Promarkers. All design papers are from my stash and I added die-cut stars to match one of the design papers. A stamped greeting and some letter tiles to finish off.

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

Hugz, Jan xx

A bit of Embossing

Good morning,

I'm back today with a new challenge over at 'Cardz 4 Guyz' and this week Helen has chosen the theme of

'EMBOSSING'

Now this can be dry embossing or heat embossing - here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

Three scraps of card passed through my Crafters Companion 'Distressed' embossing folder and then highlighted with a little Gathered Twigs distress ink to show the embossing better.

Three matching buttons and some little punched banners to finish off, with a 'Thank You' sentiment from my Stampin' Up 'Sassy Sentiments'.

Hope you can join us with your own embossed creations this week.

Hugz, Jan xx

Autumn Leaves

Happy Saturday,

I hope everyone has some crafty plans for the weekend - I have some school work to do before I go in my craft room, then I have some wedding invitations to design.

I'm back today with news of the next challenge over at 'Fantasy Stampers' and for the next two weeks we would love to see your projects showcasing

'AUTUMN LEAVES'

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

I was trying to get a bit more 'arty' with my photos, but not sure I managed it - it just looks like I forgot to clear away!! Lol.

My card is made using lots of little individual stamps from my stash - I went through lots of my acrylic stamps and pulled out those with the tiny little stamps on them.

I drew a feint circle on my piece of cardstock, then stamped each stamp in turn, roughly at the quarter points on the circle. I had a few gaps left at the end, so filled them with acorns and butterflies (and a little bit of doodling!)  I coloured the leaves with my Promarkers and stamped the sentiment in the centre (which went horribly wrong, as it does) so I had to stamp again, cut it out and stick it in the middle!

Lots of layering to finish off, including some gold mirri card to give a little bit of shine.

I hope you can come along at play at the challenge this time.

Hugz, Jan xx

A Brand New Challenge Blog!

Hello everyone,

I am here with some fab news today about a brand new Challenge blog due to launch on the 1st October. My very good crafty friend Caz over at Cardz 4 Guyz has decided that it is time to launch a sister blog for all the galz out there - so why not pop over and check it out at

'CARDZ 4 GALZ'

During the month of September she is planning to introduce the new design team and showcase some of their work, so I have one of my all time favourites to show you today to fit the theme

'MY FAVOURITE THING'

Now this was a hard one to decide on, but I chose 'Pink' and 'Embellishments' (which are only two of my many favourite things about crafting), but here goes ...

I am so proud of my friend for taking on this new challenge and wish her every success for the future of the blog. Please pop over and say hello and I shall look forward to seeing lots of your gorgeous work when we launch on 1st October.

Hugz, Jan xx

Three of Something

Hello crafty friends and followers,

I can't believe it's Tuesday again already - I wasn't well at the weekend and it seemed to pass in a blur.

Anyway, it's time for another challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week Kim has chosen the theme of

'THREE OF SOMETHING'

Here's what I decided on for my DT project ...

It is only a simple design as my back isn't allowing me to sit for very long periods of time at the moment - so my crafting is suffering!

Some matting and layering using ivory and dark olive green cardstock, then a stamped greeting in 'Peeled Paint' distress ink and a hand drawn squiggly border in green ink to match.

The three candles are made from scraps of design papers and rolled to make the candle shape. I added a tiny little wick inside each one before arranging on my card.

Hope you can come and join us this week,

Hugz, Jan xx

O for One Layer

Happy Friday,

Well, that's week one done! It's been a crazy week back at school, but then they always seem to be that way.

We have a brand new challenge and two new design team members over at the Alphabet Challenge today. Why not pop over and join us for the letter 'O for One Layer' and say hello to our new ladies.

Here's what I made for my DT inspiration using another of my LOTV stamps ...

The stamp is called 'Fabulous Flower' and is coloured with my Promarkers, with the addition of a little glossy accents in the centre of the flower. The sentiment was printed on my pc.

Hugz, Jan xx

Let's Colour

Good morning,

Well, it's time - back to school today ready for the new Autumn term! Where did that six weeks go? I must admit, after dashing around doing all the washing after our little holiday, I did get to spend the day colouring yesterday while it rained, and rained, and rained some more!!

Here's what I made for my DT inspiration for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz. For the next week Julie has chosen the theme of

'LET'S COLOUR'

I did keep this one quite simple, because I wanted the colouring to be the focal point.

I used little 'James Bear on his Laptop' by LOTV and coloured it with my Promarkers. He looks just like me when something goes wrong (no, not all furry, but a little bemused!) Lol.

I hope you can come and play along with us over at the challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx