Sweet Treats

Hi there,

Well, my holiday week is nearly at an end, but got loads done despite my back!

Over at the Alphabet Challenge today we are onto the next letter and Silvi has chosen for the letter 'S'

'SWEET TREATS'

Now this one got me in a bit of a spin because I don't have much based around that theme, so thinking cap on and here's what I decided on for my DT inspiration ...

I remembered this little stamp from an old issue of my Craft Stamper magazine, so had a rummage through my freebie stamp box and dug it out. I stamped three times using a mask to cover the front one, then coloured using my Promarkers. The cute little sentiment was also from a magazine freebie and I added a touch of the same colour Promarker. A few layers, some red adhesive pearls and a simple hand doodled border to finish off.

Why not pop over and take a peek at what the rest of the team came up with.

Hugz, Jan xx

Buttons and Bows

Good morning,

I'm back this morning with our next challenge at Cardz 4 Galz and this week Kim has chosen the theme of

'BUTTONS & BOWS'

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

I used one of my new Creative Expressions embossing folders for this one and embossed just the top part of my Co-ordinations cardstock, then sanded it back to reveal all the little scattered notes (which compliment the stamped sentiment too!)

My bow is made from beige seam binding and I sewed a tiny peach button to the centre as well as adding three feature buttons to the top right of the card.

Hugz, Jan xx

It's all about the Numbers

Happy Tuesday,

Okay, I have spent the weekend resting (again!) and watching Barbara Gray on the telly - such a talented lady and so inspirational. I think things are getting a little easier with my back, small steps slowly but surely (but you didn't hear me say that out loud!) It takes such a long time to recover, but I hope I haven't spoken too soon. Off to the hairdressers this lunchtime, then out for tea with some friends later.

Over at Cardz 4 Guyz, my friend's male themed challenge blog, we are launching a new challenge today and Julie has chosen the theme of

'NUMBERS'

I think this is a great one for guys as it is easy to incorporate into almost any occasion - here's what I decided on for my DT inspiration ...

It is fairly minimalistic - I wanted to let the gorgeous design paper do all the talking. It is just one of the fab designs from 'The Archivist' paper pad by Frank Garcia and is one of my favourites!

I simply layered it onto some co-ordinating cardstock, then again on black for the card base. The topper is cut from some sand card using a Fleur de Lys die, then inked with a little Antique Linen distress ink through the die. The numbers are little chipboard pieces which I squished (yep, technical term) into my Perfect Medium ink and then heat embossed with black powder. A piece of black organza ribbon and a couple of cream buttons to finish off.

I hope you will come and play along with us this time.

Hugz, Jan xx

Animal Antics

Happy Saturday,

Well, my half term break has finally arrived and guess what - I am still struggling with my back! I really hope things improve over the next few days - I seem to spend all my time off, trying to get better to go back to work! There must be something wrong with that on some level!

Anyhow, on a crafty note, it's time for a new challenge over at Fantasy Stampers and for the next two weeks we would love to see your projects showcasing

'ANIMAL ANTICS'

Here's what I came up with for my DT inspiration using one of my favourite LOTV stamps (but then they are all favourites when I get them out to use!) ...

This one is called 'Big Hug' and I think it can be used for so many different occasions. I coloured with my Promarkers and added a little glitter here and there. The design paper is from the Bo Bunny 'Isabella' paper pad, which came free with a recent magazine purchase. The stamped sentiment is also LOTV. A few embellishments to finish off include some pink satin ribbon and a few grey candi dots.

The design team have some more fab inspiration over at the challenge blog, why not pop over and say hello.

Hugz, Jan xx

Clean and Simple

Hello there,

I have a very quick make for you today as a DT project for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz. This week Amy has chosen the theme of

'CLEAN & SIMPLE'

Here's what I made ...

It took about 15 minutes to make, so was a really quick one!

I simply masked my piece of white cardstock (using some trimmed post it notes) and then stamped just over each edge with my swirly flower stamp using Shaded Lilac, Picked Raspberry, Evergreen Bough and Broken China distress inks. A simple stamped sentiment and a couple of little die-cut butterflies to finish.

Why not pop over and see what the team made for their CAS designs?

Hugz, Jan xx

I Put a Spell on You

Good Morning,

We had a little jaunt over to the Craft Show in Doncaster on Sunday to top up my stash! I was a bit disappointed that two of my favourite companies weren't there though - no Clarity and no LOTV! I still managed to buy a few things, but not as much as usual though.

Over at Cardz 4 Guyz we have our next challenge starting today and Caz has chosen the theme of

'I PUT A SPELL ON YOU'

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

I knew straight away which stamp I wanted to use for this one - it's an LOTV image called 'Abracadabra', just perfect for my design.

I decided to stamp straight onto some book paper for a change and colour him with my Promarkers. The design paper is from a new Tim Holtz paper pad (that just happened to fall into my basket at the craft show!) The little letters are printed from my pc and a few buttons just finish off the design.

Why not come and play along with your own 'Halloween' designs (and remember my 'Fright Night' challenge is still open over at Fantasy Stampers until the 23rd October - full details HERE).

Hugz, Jan xx

R for Ribbon

Happy Friday,

Yay! Me and my poor old back made it through my working week - only one more before half term!

I'm back today with the next letter over at the Alphabet Challenge and this week Sheena has chosen

'R for Ribbon'

Here's what I made for my DT inspiration using a piece of organza ribbon from an old chocolate box ...

I used the ribbon as a starting point and matched the cardstock to it and added a scrap of matching design paper to make the pennant. The sentiment is from a freebie set on a recent craft magazine and is embossed with copper embossing powder to match the colour scheme. I added a little die-cut frame and pretty flower just to finish off.

I hope you can come and play along with your own 'ribbon' creations.
Hugz, Jan xx

Pink and Pearly

Good morning,

I'm still not used to posting on a Thursday yet, but I am delighted to be back with a DT project for the new challenge blog at 'CARDZ 4 GALZ'. We are about to start our third week and Helen has chosen a beautiful girly theme of

'PINK & PEARLY'

To say I was in my element would be an understatement! Lol. Here's what I came up with using an old wooden stamp that I have had in my stash for ever ...

The main stamped image is called 'Dress Up' from Stampendous and I stamped it using Perfect Medium ink on pale pink vellum and embossed it with pink embossing powder. The sentiment is a favourite of mine and says 'Dance like no one is watching' and is also embossed with the same pink embossing powder.

Backing papers are from my stash and I added a pink die-cut shape behind the main image to give a little extra detail. The small flowers are Stampin' Up 'Petite Petals' and are stamped on some pink paper scraps and also embossed with the same pink powder.  Each flower has a pink pearl centre and the dress is also scattered with pink pearls too.  The extra sets of three pearls are faux ones made using my pink cosmic shimmer glue.

I think there is definitely enough 'pink' and 'pearls' there then - step away from the card Jan!! Lol.

Thanx to Helen for a fab theme this week - I hope you will come and join us with your own creations.

Hugz, Jan xx

You Rock!

Happy Tuesday,

I can't believe it's time for another challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz - the weeks are flying by!  This week Joan has chosen the theme of

'YOU ROCK'

Here's what I came up with for my DT inspiration using an image from the internet ...

I used Promarkers to colour the 'colouring page' image and then masked it and stamped one of my favourite 'grunge splats' behind it with black ink.  The lettering was done on my pc and I added a couple of red brads to secure the piece onto some mats and layers.

I hope you can come and join us with your own 'rocking' creations this week.

Hugz, Jan xx

Fright Night!

Hello there,

Well, I went back to school on Wednesday and my back is coping a little better - new pain meds from the doctor and I was back at the hospital yesterday for some up to date x-rays - so onwards and forwards as they say!

On a crafty note, I am back today with our next challenge over at FANTASY STAMPERS and the theme for the next two weeks is

'FRIGHT NIGHT'

So we would love to see all those fab Halloween projects - here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I love making these type of cards with the inky scene backgrounds. I started with a piece of white card and added layers of distress ink in Seedless Preserve, Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade and Rusty Hinge, using a piece of torn paper to make the hills and a circle mask for the moon. 

I stamped the tree (from an old Christmas scene set) in black archival ink and added some stamped foliage around the edges using the Seedless Preserve ink. The spooky house and fence are both die cuts that I bought in a pack from one of the craft shows a while back. A little stamped 'Happy Halloween' greeting finishes off the design.

I hope you can all come and play along with us for this theme.
Hugz, Jan xx

Fairies

Hello,

I have another DT project to show you today - this time for the new challenge at 'CARDZ 4 GALZ' which launched last week. This time it was my turn to choose the theme and we would love to see your projects showcasing

'FAIRIES'

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

This one is quite simple in design with lots of layers for effect.  The stamped image is 'Never too old for a Hug' and is one of my favourite images by LOTV. She is coloured with Promarkers and has added glitter on her skirt and fairy wings. I made the little banners using up scraps of papers with a couple of matching buttons.

I hope you will come and join us over at the challenge, and don't forget to click the 'Follow' button to keep up to date with our new challenges.

Hugz, Jan xx

Button Up!

Good morning,

I'm back again today with our next challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week it was my turn to choose the theme, so here we go with

'BUTTON UP!'

I know you all have a crafty stash of buttons out there, so let's see what we can do with them. Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

Now I know this is not a 'card', but I made this for one of my work colleagues for her baby shower. I chose to stick to neutral colours as at the time we didn't know if the baby was a girl or a boy. She has since had a healthy baby boy, and this project could easily be made using more traditional baby colours.

This is a great way to use up some of your button stash - if you are anything like me that stash is never ending (bit like the ribbon stash, and the adhesive pearl stash, I could go on ...) Lol.

I hope you can join us with your own 'button' makes this week.

Hugz, Jan xx

Q for Quick & Simple

Hi folks,

I'm sat here feeling very sorry for myself today as I had to give in and take some time off work with my back this week. I went to see the GP yesterday and he has changed my pain meds and is sending me to the hospital to get some up to date x-rays.

On a crafty note, it's time for the next letter at the Alphabet Challenge and this week we are up to the letter 'Q' and Pat chose the theme of

'QUICK & SIMPLE'

This was a good one for me this week, as I can't sit for very long - so here's what I made for my DT inspiration using a new set of Stampin' Up stamps ...

It was definitely 'quick' and is definitely 'simple' - it took about 15 minutes to make! Lol.

Three simple layers of cardstock, the top two have a circle aperture cut out using a Spellbinders die. Then I stamped one of the 'Flower Shop' flowers and cut it out with the corresponding punch. I added a little Crushed Olive distress ink to colour it and then made my own 'dazzler' for the centre using some pva glue and black glitter. A little stamped greeting and some embellies to finish.

I hope you will come and play along with us at the Alphabet Challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

Brand New Challenge!

Good morning everyone,

I am rather excited to be here today to share the launch of a brand new challenge blog over at

'CARDZ 4 GALZ'

This is a sister blog to the popular male themed challenge 'CARDZ 4 GUYZ' and is run by my very special crafty friend, Caz - so please join me in wishing her every success in this new venture.

I didn't need asking twice to be a part of the Design Team as I love anything 'girly' - here's what I came up with for our first theme

'YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR'

Now for a very long time, I have always said purple was a favourite colour - but as I looked through my crafty stash (which took a while!) I couldn't believe the amount of pink things I have squirrelled away over the years, hence my very pink girly card.

I think this represents my true style of crafting - I love the stamped images (especially LOTV - you will probably be seeing a lot of those!) and colouring with my Promarkers, then lots of embellishments (everywhere!).  Time to step away from the card then! Lol.

For this one I have used LOTV paper pad 'Heartfelt' as well as the image 'Birthday Fairy' and the sentiment is from the 'Small General Greetings' set.

We would love you to come along and play at our new challenge - please pop over and say hello HERE and remember to hit the 'Follow' button to keep up to date with our challenges.

Hugz, Jan xx