Steampunk Snowman

Good morning,

I'm back today in my role as Guest Designer at My Besties UK and have some alternative Christmas artwork to show you for our posting today. As we have five Mondays in November, the design team showcase some of Sherri's gorgeous images and one lucky commenter will have the chance of winning either my chosen image (or my teamie's chosen image) as a prize.

Here's what I came up with using Image 781, which you can buy in Sherri's online store HERE.

This definitely has to be the most 'alternative' Christmas cards I have ever made, but I just love him to bits! I coloured the snowman with a combination of pencils and Promarkers and added a little glitter - well, you can't have Christmas without sparkle, can you - even if he is Steampunk!

The design paper and all embellishments are from my stash - the two chipboard cogs have been embossed with fine detail gold embossing powder to create a metal effect finish.

So why not pop over to the blog and see what Sue made for her project, and don't forget to leave a comment on the main challenge blog for your chance to win a free image!

Hugz, Jan xx

Under the Weather

Hi there everyone,

First of all, I am sorry for not posting for so long - it has been a very manic two weeks here. My mum was rushed in hospital on the 10th November (the date of my last post!) and I'm not really sure where the time has gone since then. She was very poorly for a while, but I am happy to say that after receiving the treatment she required (including a pacemaker) she is now recuperating back at home where she belongs. It has been a very emotional roller coaster for me and my family, but I do feel better now she is home.

My crafting has suffered over this time too - as you can imagine, it hasn't been the top of my priority list. But what better way to return than with the card I made for my mum while she was in hospital.

We have a brand new challenge starting today over at the Alphabet Challenge and Deanne has chosen the theme 'UNDER THE WEATHER' for the letter 'U', so this was the perfect theme for me. Here's what I made ...

I used an 8x8" ivory scalloped card blank and added LOTV design papers from my stash. The image is Fizzy Moon stamped with grey ink and coloured with my Promarkers. The little flowers are slightly dedcoupaged, but it doesn't show well on the photo.

Other embellishments include a die-cut banner, some brown organza ribbon, a few pearl accents and a little sentiment created on my pc.

I hope you can stop by and say hello over at the challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

All About the Folds

Good morning to you all,

I have my DT project for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz to show you today, where this week Jane has chosen the theme of

'MORE THAN ONE FOLD'

Now there are loads of different ways of interpreting this one, but I went for a basic fold and came up with this ...

It is a 6" square card and I have folded the front section back on itself. I added design paper from my LOTV 'Father Knows Best' paper pad and then a die-cut topper which showcases my stamped saying (from Inkylicious).

Hope you can come and join us this week.

Hugz, Jan xx

Winter Wonderland

Good Morning,

I'm back this morning with a new challenge over at Fantasy Stampers where the new theme is

'WINTER WONDERLAND'

Here's what I made for my DT inspiration using a cute little set of stamps that came free with a recent magazine purchase ...

The stamped panel began as a piece of white card and I brushed Weathered Wood distress over it after masking out the moon.  I added hills in the foreground using a piece of torn paper and some extra ink.

Next I stamped the trees, once with first generation ink and then a second time to create a lighter image and give the effect of distance. I also stamped the deer and the sleigh and reindeer using the same black archival ink.  I stamped some little snowflakes around the top edges of the design using the distress ink again.

The panel is mounted on white card, then silver mirri card - then mounted with foam tape onto the background layers (the top one having been passed through my 'snowy' large dot embossing folder).

The stamped greeting is also from the same set and I made a little banner to show off the sentiment. Lots of glitter and three silver candi dots finish off the card.

Why not pop over to the challenge blog where you can see what the design team made for their 'wintery' projects.

Hugz, Jan xx

Teenage Dream

Happy Thursday everyone,

Lol! My Thursdays are always happy ones because it is the end of my working week - one down, only six more until Christmas!

I have my next DT project for Cardz 4 Galz today, where we have a brand new challenge starting where Babs chose the theme of

'FOR A TEENAGER'

Here's what I made ...

I decided on '13' as the very first teen birthday. I love how this turned out - I used one of my favourite Saturated Canary images, called Nevaeh. She is coloured with a mixture of pencils and Promarkers.

The backing papers are from DCWV 'Love Letters' and are inked with Victorian Velvet and Crushed Olive distress inks.  I added a little die-cut banner from some of the scraps, a stamped 13th topper, two little LOTV sentiment tags and some punched flowers and leaves.

I hope you can come and join in with the fun over at the challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

A Speedy Recovery

Happy Tuesday,

Well, that's half term over - back to school yesterday for another seven weeks until the next holiday! Although I must admit I do love this part of the school year as we approach Christmas.

We have our next challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz today and this week Kim has chosen the theme of

'HOPE YOU 

FEEL BETTER SOON'

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

This one was actually made for a friend of ours that was recently involved in a motorbike accident, so I hope if cheers him up a little.

The vintage car stamp is from Creative Expressions and I coloured it with brown Promarkers to keep a neutral vintage theme. I used my favourite distress stamp from Stampin' Up to create a little background and then added a sentiment generated on my pc.

Hope you can join us.

Hugz, Jan xx