Time for a Blog Hop!

Happy Monday,

Well, it's a special day today - the 29th of February only comes around every four years and to celebrate this fifth Monday in February we are having a Blog Hop over at My Besties UK.

All the design team are showcasing their favourite 'Besties' projects over at the main blog HERE - and I can tell you, this wasn't an easy task because I love all Sherri's beautiful artwork!

Here's just one of my favourites, which is also shown on the main blog ...

This one was made back in September 2013 

using the 'Wee Winged Ones' image.

I couldn't just pick one to show you, so here's a couple more of my favourites ...

This one is from February 2013 

and uses another favourite image 'Belinda Behive'

And my third choice is from March 2013

and uses yet another favourite image 'Cherry Blossom'

I could go on forever, but I hope you enjoyed taking a peek at just a few of my favourite Besties designs and if you would like to play along with us in our Blog Hop, you could win 3 digi images of your own choice from Sherri's stunning collection.

All you have to do is follow the blog list below and stop by and leave a comment on each of the design team's blogs. The winners will be announced on the My Besties UK Challenge blog on Monday 7th March.

Blog List

http://silverpaws1957.blogspot.co.uk

http://craftingjanie.blogspot.com/

http://sue-hickey.blogspot.co.uk/

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

http://tanglemousecards.blogspot.co.uk

http://www.clairmatthews.com/

http://thiscraftymummy.blogspot.co.uk

http://christineingram55.blogspot.co.uk

http://jaybescraftybitz.blogspot.co.uk/ (me!)

Thanks for dropping by today, I hope you have time to play along with us and good luck.

Hugz, Jan xx

Mums Rule!

Hello there,

I'm back today with a brand new challenge over at Fantasy Stampers (my own challenge blog) and the theme for the next two weeks is

'MUMS RULE!'

Now, as a few of you will know, my mum is really poorly at the moment and we don't know exactly how long she will be with us. So, not wanting to tempt fate, I left this one right until the last minute to make - I do hope she is well enough on Mother's Day to enjoy it.

I have been playing with my new 'Groovi' system from Claritystamps and have been looking at ways to combine this very addictive technique with my stamping. Here's what I came up with ...

I began with the parchment element - stamping out 'Tilda and her Bunny' with black archival ink (and I did it first time, without smudging the image!). Then came the hard part - leaving it alone long enough for the ink to dry!! So I chose and cut the components for the rest of the card while I waited.

Once dry I began working on my Groovi board using a mixture of different plates and borders to come up with my central focal design. Once finished I added some whitework to the parchment and some colour to the stamped image and other areas of the design using my new Faber-Castell colouring pencils that Santa brought me.

I cut around the edge of the parchment design and secured it to the cardstock square using four pink brads, and no card would be complete without a selection of die-cut flowers (which were cut from scraps of the background design paper).

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

Hugz, Jan xx

Birds of a Feather

Good morning,

I have a card to show you today that was made for my husband's birthday a couple of weeks ago, and also with the new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz in mind. It was my turn to choose the theme this week and I decided on

'BIRDS OF A FEATHER'

Here's what I made using some old Elusive Images stamps ...

I  really love the technique of stamping onto book paper, and although my own books are cherished, I have an old one from the charity shop which I keep just for crafting purposes.

I stamped the 'bird on the branch' in black archival ink, then stamped the little birdie again, coloured him with pencils, cut him out and then decoupaged him onto the design (this never shows well in photos, though).  I tore the edges of the book paper and added some Tea Dye distress ink, followed by a little Gathered Twigs to age the paper.

The background papers are from my LOTV 'Country Gent' paper pad and the 'Happy' letters are stamped using my trusty Clarity Letterbox stamp set.

I shall look forward to checking out all your own 'birdie' creations this week.

Hugz, Jan xx

Z for Zoo Animals

Hello crafty friends and followers,

Well, we have had a massive change around here this week as my husband has had to take medical retirement after 24 years as a 'Royal Mail' and finished his last shift on Wednesday night! It all seems a bit surreal at the moment, just like a normal weekend really (and then I think it will feel as if he is on holiday for a couple of weeks) but by the end of the month (and the lack of wage slips) I'm sure it will sink in eventually!

On a crafty note, I'm back with the next theme at the Alphabet Challenge and this week sees us approach the end of the alphabet once again with the letter 'Z' - so, Helen chose the theme

'ZOO ANIMALS'

Now, I showed a card on Tuesday with the same theme for another challenge, so decided to go down a slightly different route for this one - here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

So, a giraffe is a zoo animal, right? But as he was such a little cutie, I decided to make a young child's birthday card using the image which I coloured with my Promarkers.

The paper is from a very old paper pad I have in my stash, but unfortunately I don't have the cover from it to tell you the name. I added a little glitter here and there and a few embellishments from my stash too.

I hope you will come and join us with your own 'zoo' makes - see you there.

Hugz, Jan xx

Get a Hat!

Good morning,

I don't have much to report this week, being back at work I am shattered as usual - but tomorrow is my day off, so plenty of crafting awaits me.

We have a brand new challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz today and Julie has picked the theme of

'GET AHEAD, GET A HAT'

Here/s what I made for my DT inspiration using a new paper pad and an old stamp ...

I found the little 6x6" paper pad in my local 'Range' store and it is called 'Vintage Notes' by Craft Sensations - it has the most gorgeous mix of vintage colours. 

The stamped image is from Katy Sue Designs 'Grape Vine' set and is coloured with my Promarkers.

A few embellies to finish off and hey presto!

Hope you can come and play along with us.

Hugz, Jan xx

Going to the Zoo

Happy Tuesday,

I'm back today with my next project for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week we are

'GOING TO THE ZOO'

So here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I used the 'cheeky monkey' from a Kanban set of stamps and coloured him with my Promarkers. I also framed him with one of my Spellbinder dies which I just ran through with my embossing mat, rather than actually use it to cut - I love the result. 

A little extra embellishment with a piece of twine and button to finish off. 

Please pop over and say hello at the challenge if you have a minute.

Hugz, Jan xx

Just One Layer

Good Morning,

Well, as my Half Term break comes to an end I am now thinking about the next five weeks until the Easter break. I think I am wishing my life away!

I have a new card for you today made as DT inspiration for the new challenge at Fantasy Stampers where we would love to see your projects showcasing

'JUST ONE LAYER'

Here's what I made with my inks and stamps ...

It took me ages to decide what to do for this one, but ended up with a simple design. 

I masked off the card blank, just leaving the square to work in - then applied three different colours of distress ink - Mustard Seed, Peacock Feathers and Mermaid Lagoon with my ink dusters. I also added a few splatters of Peacock Feathers using one of my favourite grunge stamps from Stampin' Up. 

I stamped the Inkylicious 'Wild Flora' stamp through the masked aperture using black archival ink and added the little bird from the same set. 

A hand drawn doodled border frames the piece and a quick stamped sentiment to finish off.

I hope you will come and join us with your own 'One Layer' creations over the next two weeks.

Hugz, Jan xx

Be my Valentine

Hello there,

First of all, I want to wish my hubby a 'Happy Birthday' today - he has been really unwell the last few weeks, so I hope he can enjoy his day today.

I have my next DT project to show you today for the new challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week Amy has chosen the theme of

'VALENTINE/LOVE'

Here's what I made ...

I decided to stay 'clean and simple' for this one, so I used one of the stamps from my Stampin' Up 'Gorgeous Grunge' set to make a little background splodginess, using Fired Brick distress ink.

I ran the piece of card through my pc to print the sentiment, then added a heart cut from book paper and a little chipboard heart which I coloured with my black Promarker.  

After envying the purchase of one of my crafty friends the other day, I decided to get out my good old Tim Holtz piercing ruler and have a go at piercing the edges of my design - not bad, but I really think I could put those 'pierced square frames' to good use though!

Hugz, Jan xx

You Choose

Happy Friday,

It's certainly a happy Friday for me - not only is it my day off, but I've finished for our half term break too. It's only been a five week half term, but it's seemed a very long one in some respects, especially trying to cram in everything we needed to do before the break.

After a trip to the doctors on Monday and a course of antibiotics for a chest infection, I am now beginning to feel a little better, so hopefully I can enjoy the break.

I have a card to show you today which I made as DT inspiration for the new theme over at the Alphabet Challenge today - we are up to the letter 'Y' and Caz has chosen the theme of

'YOU CHOOSE'

I have a feeling this might be a popular choice - here's my design ...

This one is for my sister's birthday next week (but ssshh, don't tell her). 

 I love the Santoro Gorjuss range and these new smaller size stamps are great to play with - this one is called 'The White Rabbit' and I coloured her with my Promarkers to match the backing papers which are from one of the 6 x 6" paper packs.  Now my card is an 8 x 8" - so a little clever playing with the papers allowed me to spread them out to fit. 

The flowers are die-cut from paper scraps left over using a new pretty little die that came free on a recent magazine purchase.  A stamped greeting and a few black adhesive gems to finish off.

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

Hugz, Jan xx

Fantastic Florals

Good morning,

I have had so many things going on over the last six months that I decided to take a break from some of my design team duties and would like to say a massive 'Thank You' to my good friend, Caz for being so understanding. But I think I am back on top of things, at least for a while, so I'm back today with news of the next challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz and this week Sharon has chosen the theme of

'FANTASTIC FLORALS'

Here's what I made for my DT inspiration using my brand new floral die ...

I have recently bought the Creative Expressions 'String Flowers' die, so thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try it out (sorry for the rubbish picture, the light was so bad).

I have used lots of mats and layers to create some depth to my card and chose to split the pretty floral design paper into three panels to make a background.

I used three different dies to make the topper and stamped the sentiment in black ink. One pass through my Grand Calibur with the new die produced so many of these pretty flowers, I was in my elements! I have layered some of them together and used some of them on their own to create a floral accent to the focal point on the card - I hope you like it.

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

Hugz, Jan xx

Make it Shine or Sparkle

Hello there,

Well, where did January go!?  It doesn't seem two minutes since Christmas, but at least I only have one more week until half term.

I am happy to say that my mojo seems to have returned now that some of the stress levels have decreased a little, and I have spent a few hours in my craftroom over the weekend preparing a few birthday cards and samples for upcoming challenges.

Today I have my next DT project for the new challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week our leader, Caz has chosen the theme of

'MAKE IT SHINE/SPARKLE'

Now that's not something I think of straight away on a male themed card, but here's my interpretation of the theme ...

I decided to use some of my gilding flakes, they shine, right?  

Now, I have never had much success with these yet, but after watching many of the professionals do this on the tv, I got out my little box and carefully opened the lid (I even dusted the lid and just inside the box with my anti-static bag, just like the pros do). What I didn't factor into the equation was my cough!!! You can imagine what happened next - I only wanted to cover the small piece of card that I needed to die-cut (sounds simple, doesn't it) but after my spontaneous cough decided to join the party, I had some lovely shiny decoration everywhere! 

Anyway, after clearing away all the bits I could retrieve, they are safely back in the box and I did manage to successfully gild my piece of card and die-cut some stars for my project. 

I hope you can join us with your own shiny/sparkly male themed projects this week.

Hugz, Jan xx