Ink it Up

Hello there,

It's Friday again already, so it's time for our next letter over at the Alphabet Challenge. Caz has chosen the theme for the letter 'I'

'INK IT UP'

So, here's what I made for my DT inspiration - I loved getting all inky with this one ...

I began with a piece of white cardstock and added some texture paste through my brick wall stencil. 

Once dry I used my ink dusters to apply Aged Mahogany and Tea Dye distress inks to cover the whole piece of card, leaving a lighter section in the middle.

Next I stamped the flowers at the bottom, together with the leaves in the top corner. I added a little colour to the flowers using a pink Promarker and then applied a few touches of glitter. 

The sentiment is from Inkylicious and is stamped using black archival ink.

I thought the two little dragonfly brads just finished the piece of nicely.

Hope you will come and join us with your own 'inky' creations - the challenge is open until 7th July.

Hugz, Jan xx

Smile and be Happy

Good morning,

I'm back today with a new DT project for the next challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz, and this week it was my turn to choose the theme. So here goes with

'PINK AND BROWN'

This is one of my favourite colour combos - here's what I made for a little inspiration ...

The design paper is from my stash and is layered with brown cardstock. I used my Stampin' Up punch to make the little owl and added a piece of pink and brown ribbon to match. The stamped sentiment is from a freebie set which I got on a magazine a few months ago.

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

Hugz, Jan xx

At the Movies

Happy Tuesday,

I hope you all had a good weekend and all the dads out there enjoyed their Father's Day. I lost my dad when I was a teenager, but have a wonderful step dad who has really been through the mill after losing my mum earlier this year. It was good to see him smile when we took him out for a carvery lunch on Sunday.

I have a new DT project today for the next challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week Joan has chosen the theme of

'AT THE MOVIES'

Now, I did struggle with this one a little - but my trusty little 'birds' came to the rescue. Here's what I created for a little inspiration ...

It's fairly 'Clean and Simple' with a little masking to help my stamping.  First I stamped the section of 'film strip' using black archival ink. Then I masked the top and bottom before stamping just sections of two of the 'Crazy Birds' by Tim Holtz - I love these little critters. I had to move the masking to cover the film strip and then stamped the third bird as if he is looking down at the others. I added some shading with my graphite pencil, and just touches of colour around their beaks and eyes.

My movie title 'The Birds' was created on my pc and shaded again with the pencil. I didn't realises until I checked, but the Hitchcock movie was made in 1963 - same as me! Now there's a coincidence - I feel rather an old 'bird' at the moment too! Lol.

Hope you will come and join us with your own movie themed projects.

Hugz, Jan xx

Teddy Bears' Picnic

Good morning,

I have a cute little Fizzy Moon bear to show you today, as we begin the next challenge over at Fantasy Stampers. The new theme is

'TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC'

So, all you have to do is use a bear - here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I used design papers from my stash and added the stamped 'Fizzy Moon with Flower' image as a focal point. He is coloured with my Promarkers and I added a little button in the centre of the flower for some extra dimension.

Embellishments include a stamped LOTV sentiment, some peach organza ribbon, a few pearl flowers (cut from one of my pearl strings), some die-cut flowers and a few adhesive pearls.

Hope you can join us this time - why not pop over and check out all the other bears at the 'picnic' over at the challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

Time for a little Music

Hello there,

What an absolutely rubbish weekend - I started with a summer cold last Friday, which has lingered around all weekend and we've had so much rain here I haven't been able to get out into the garden either. We also had a sad day on Sunday as it would have been mum's birthday (the first one without her), so everyone was feeling a little down hearted.

I have my next DT project for you today, for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week it was my turn to choose the theme. So here goes with ...

'MUSIC'

Here's what I created for a little inspiration ...

A piece of music design paper, some embossing through my favourite 'notes' embossing folder. A fancy die-cut treble clef and a little stamped sentiment - all in black and cream, nice and simple.

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

Hugz, Jan xx

The Letter H

Happy Friday,

Well, I fell off my diet in spectacular style last night as we celebrated my baby girl's 24th birthday at Frankie & Bennies! 24! How did that happen? She is now a beautiful young woman and has just about finished her PGCE and has secured a Secondary School Maths teaching post from September - but she will always be my baby girl, and I am so incredibly proud of her.

Over at the Alphabet Challenge today we have a brand new theme for the letter 'H', and Emma has chosen

'H for HAND COLOURED IMAGE'

Here's what I made for my DT inspiration (which is Sam's birthday card for yesterday) ...

Both of my girls have been so supportive of my crafting, and have both followed in my footsteps (so my crafting stash is always being raided!) Lol.

I have been making their birthday cards for the last 15 years or so, and they both look forward to seeing what I come up with each year.

This one is so typically my style (and made in Sam's favourite colour), using one of my favourite stamp companies - the image is LOTV 'Pretty Parade' and is coloured with my Promarkers.

The design papers and all other embellishments are from my stash and the little stamped sentiment is also LOTV.

I hope you can join us over at the challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

Father's Day

Hello everyone,

Well, back to school yesterday for the final part of the school year - six weeks until Summer (hope the weather gets the memo!) Lol.

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

'FATHER'S DAY'

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

I love little James Bear from LOTV - he's here in this one using his Laptop. I coloured him using Gathered Twigs distress ink and a couple of Promarkers.

The design papers are once again LOTV from the 'Country Gent' paper pad.

Some simple embellishments including some brown ribbon, a few brads and a little 'Happy Father's Day' sentiment.

Hope you can join us over at the challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

Man's Best Friend

Good Morning,

I have my next DT project for the new challenge at Fantasy Stampers today and the next theme is

'MAN'S BEST FRIEND'

Here's what I made using an old Magnolia stamp ...

The stamp is called 'Wilma with Rose' and I coloured her with Gathered Twigs distress ink (and a little red Promarker for the rose).

The design papers are mostly LOTV from the 'Country Gent' paper pad and are all layered on kraft card. 

Some brown ribbon, three buttons and a few adhesive pearls to finish off.

Hope you can join us with your own projects - just perfect for Father's Day coming up on the 19th.

Hugz, Jan xx