Puppy Love

Morning crafters,

Well, after a seven day run at work due to staff absence, I had a day off yesterday and did practically nothing - I was shattered! So, the food shop, the washing and the cleaning still remain, happily waiting for me to tackle them today! Ooo, I've also been to see the new film in the 'Fast & Furious' franchise - The Fate of the Furious - and they didn't let me down (despite the death of one of my favourite actors). I was literally on the edge of my seat right until the end - fantastic!

I did manage to pop into my craft room yesterday to make this little cutie though - I can always find time to craft, even when I'm shattered - did you notice that it was all the chores that I left until today!!! Lol.

We have a brand new theme over at the Alphabet Challenge today, and Caz has chosen 'DECOUPAGE' for the letter 'D'. It is absolutely ages since I did any 'proper' decoupage (I sometimes add a second layer to some of my stamped images), but this one is a traditional (although bought) set of decoupage from Anita's crafts by DoCrafts. Isn't he so cute?

I really enjoyed the layering (I prefer to use my 3D glue gel to get a more rounded shape) - hope you can see it properly in my photos.

I was a little sad when making it though, as the reason for the staff absence at work was one of my colleagues (who has become a really good friend) lost one of her beloved furbabies last weekend - so my heart goes out to her. And although my card is blue, I still thought about her little furball - RIP Milly.

Anyways, I hope you can pop over to the challenge blog and say 'Hi' and maybe join us with your own 'decoupaged' projects.

Enjoy your day,

Crafty hugz, Jan xx

Enjoy the Moment

Good morning,

I am back at work today, after enjoying a whole week off last week. I had plenty of time to craft and I have been making some home decor items in readiness for a craft fayre at the end of May - I will show you some pictures when I have taken the photos.

I also made this card ready for the new challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz today, and this week Caz has chosen the theme

'SHADES OF BROWN'

So, I thought I would join in on taking up my new post as Guest Designer - here's what I  made after delving through my stash for all things brown ...

I love how this one turned out and actually enjoy making male themed cards now - this blog challenge has certainly taken away my previous hesitations about making cards for men.

I have used a multitude of items from my stash including design papers from LOTV, Tim Holtz and DoCrafts, together with stamps from Sheena Douglass.  I also used some die-cut cogs from the 'Just For Men'  range from Sara's Signature Collection and a little Pebeo gilding wax in King Gold. Like I said, a total mash up of products, but I love the finished design.

Hugz, Jan xx

Along came a Spider ...

Hello there,

I.m feeling a bit calmer today, after 'Spidergate' yesterday!!! Lol. My husband had just gone out with my youngest daughter when the inevitable happened. Just as I was attempting to clear some of my stash, along came a spider ....

Yes, just popped out of nowhere and brazenly began making its way across my coving (just above the doorway I kept going through)! Now I am not totally afraid of spiders (years of having to remove them from the classroom when I was in school, so I had to look brave) but this one had his bliddy work boots on, great big thing it was! So, I shouted down my eldest daughter to help remove it. Haha, who was I kidding - the problem was how we were going to get it down without it falling on us. We looked a picture - me with a bucket to catch it in, and her with a long pole to poke it off the coving. Sounded like a plan, but I couldn't guarantee catching it in the bucket - then what? So we stood there and deliberated what to do, as said spider just carried on making its way into the corner of the coving, making it harder to reach, not caring in the slightest. How rude!

Comments from my daughter - 'Where did it come from?' and 'What if that's the baby!' certainly didn't help! So in total girly fashion I rang my dad (who only lives down the road) and made him come and deal with it. My hero - along he came, took one look at us and burst out laughing. When I asked what he needed, he said 'just a piece of kitchen roll' and proceeded to grab the damn thing off the coving while Vanessa and I just stood in horror squirming! Needless to say we are now spider free (for the time being). Hope it wasn't the baby ...

Anyway, on to something more pleasant - I have a DT project for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz today, where our Julie has chosen the theme

'HANDBAGS AND GLADRAGS'

Here's what I made using a sheet of 12" x 12" design paper ...

It just involves a few score lines to fold, then hey presto - one cute little handbag. I decorated it with brown core'dinations cardstock, shaped with a border punch. The little contrasting flap has a magnetic closure (the button is just for decoration). I also added two handles and a little gift tag to finish off.  The finished bag measures around 7" by 4 1/2", plus the handles, so would hold quite a few goodies.

Hope you can join us with your own creations.
Hugz, Jan xx

Just for Fun!

Good afternoon,

I feel like a bad blogger at the moment, it's been over three weeks again since I last posted, so please forgive me.

It's been over six months since I started my new job, but I am still getting used to the new regime - I'm out out of the house and working more now than I have done in the last thirty years - how does that work?! Lol.

Having said that I am absolutely loving all aspects of it - working in the store, demonstrating and teaching classes. I was promoted to Supervisor a few weeks ago, so my job role has changed a little (with more responsibility), but then I have always loved a challenge!

It's been one of my days off today and I have actually had a chance to 'play' in my craft room, instead of what I now class as 'work'. So, after spending what seems like an age watching crafting videos on You Tube this morning, I found this gorgeous little project which several people have done tutorials for and decided to have a go myself. So here's what I have been playing with today ...

I have used mainly 'Stampin' Up' products for this one (with a little Crafter's Companion thrown in for good measure).

I made the shadow box from a piece of 12" x 12" Sahara Sand cardstock, which has a little bit of text stamped on it using some Pumice Stone distress ink. The background design paper is from the 'Falling in Love' suite, and I cut lots of embellishments from a piece of the left over design paper using some of the dies from the 'Botanical Builder' set. . I also die-cut the beautiful 'Bloomin' Heart' from cream linen cardstock to fit in the centre of the little box.  

I had to sneak in a pretty die-cut butterfly, which is from the 'Shabby Chic' Signature collection by Sara Davies (I think this might appear on many of my projects from now on - I love it!). The stamped banner is also from the same collection.

I am planning to make more of these for an up and coming craft fayre that I want to attend, so watch this space.

Enjoy the rest of your evening,
Hugz Jan xx