Accordian Tag Book

Happy Saturday to everyone,

Hello and welcome to any new followers, it's good to have you on board.  Sorry if I haven't been around as much as usual over the last few days - I managed to get my nose stuck in my ancestry search again.  I received a phone call a few days ago from an elderly relative with some updated information, and once I get on the ancestry website I swear, time actually disappears!

Anyway, I have still been crafting too and thought I would show you something a little different today - I have been challenging myself to step away from my favourite 8x8" workspace and here's what I came up with ...

I bought a few of these little accordian tag books at a recent craft fayre and they are such fun to play with. This is the front when the book is closed. I inked around the edges with Walnut Stain distress ink and stamped along the top edge with a little swirly stamp from my stashbox. I used some of my new stamps (also bought at the fayre) - this one is a 'Little Claire Designs' and is called 'Trailing Birdhouse' - it's sooo pretty. It is coloured with my Promarkers - thank goodness I had some fine nibs!

These are the first two tags with the edges decorated to match the front.  I have layered kraft card and papers from the Wild Rose Studio 'Vintage Rose' paper pack before adding some more stamps by Little Claire Designs.  The left hand side is 'Sweet Little Mary' and the right hand side is from the same stamp sheet as the front cover.  

These are the second two tags - edges decorated and same papers as above.  The sentiment on the left hand side is from a LOTV stamp sheet and the little birdhouse on the right hand side is Little Claire Designs again.  A selection of stashbox embellishments and some antique cream ribbon complete the project.

Here is the book open showing all four tags.  I hope you enjoyed looking as much as I did creating it.

I am entering this project into the 'Stampin for the Weekend' challenge which is 'Show us your Style' - mine always seems to be 'cute', but I think this one is a little 'shabby chic' too.

I am also entering it at 'Try it on Tuesday' - Anything Goes.

Enjoy the weekend, 

Hugz Jan xx

Fairies, Fantasy and Flitter

Good morning,


It's Friday already, that means it's a new challenge over at Polkadoodles - this week Emma set us the challenge of 'Fairies, Fantasy and Flitter'.  Our cards have adopted a real fantasy theme this week, with a selection of fairies all scattered with a dusting of glitter. Here's what I made ...

I made a door hanger for a girl's room this week instead of a card.  The project measures 20cm x 10cm and started out as a piece of white card.  I covered it with a pretty pink paper from the 'Sugar Plum Daisy' CD, rounded the corners with a punch and inked the edges with Victorian Velvet distress ink.  The fairy, toadstool and butterfly wings are all printed from the same CD and are layered up to give some dimension.  The sentiment is also from the 'Sugar Plum Daisy' CD and is layered onto a pink picot circle cut with my nesties.  The pink flowers are printed from the 'Sugar Birdies' CD and have been embellished with pearl centres and pink adhesive gem centres, together with white feathers and a white swirl.  The whole project is edged with a pink lacey border cut with my Doohickey dies.  A few Polkadoodle dew drops accent the corners and it wouldn't be fairyland without a liberal sprinkling of stardust glitter! Hope this gives a little bit of inspiration for the challenge and I look forward to seeing some of your creations over on the blog.

Enjoy the weekend,
Hugz, Jan xx

A New Baby

Wow! Where did the weekend go? Can't say that I like a two day weekend - looking forward to my normal days next week, with my usual three day crafty weekend.  It's been a busy one this time too, hence no post yesterday - sorry.

I have a new baby card to show you tonight - I made it for a friend of my daughter who, after a very difficult pregnancy, has just given birth to a healthy little baby boy.  They are both doing well and my daughter is over the moon after being asked to be baby's god mother!  Here's what I made ...

Back to my 8x8" workspace on this one - I do like the extra space it gives me to play.  Papers are mainly Polkadoodles, with a scrap or two from my stash.  The image is 'Fizzy Moon - Wish upon a Star', coloured with my Promarkers.  The sentiment is LOTV and the bunting is hand made and stamped with some of my alphabet stamps. Embellishments include a couple of stamped stars and some blue candi - no adhesive gems or pearls this time - are you shocked!! Lol.

If you would like any other information, give me a shout.  

Have a good week everyone.

Hugz, Jan xx

A Bit of Brown

Hi there,

Well, I've spent all day at school today (after my Monday off) renewing my First Aid certificate - so I'm all ready for any casualties I may come across! Lol.

I have a cute little card to show you today which was made for a work colleague who has just got engaged.  I used one of my new LOTV stamps which I bought recently at a craft show, which I think fits the theme perfectly.  Here's what I made ...

It is a 6x6" card blank layered with a piece of kraft card (also a new purchase and I am in love with it!)  The paper layer is from the Wild Rose Studio 'Vintage Roses' paper pad and is inked around the edges with Pumice Stone distress ink.  The LOTV stamped image is called 'Close your Eyes' and is coloured with my Promarkers and layered onto a Fleur de Lys square cut from the same kraft card.  The sentiment is also LOTV and is accented with WOC flowers and a couple of punched leaves.  Four pink brads finish off the corners of the card.  I think the kraft card and colour scheme give this one a real 'vintage' look.

I would like to enter it in the following challege:

Simon Says Stamp and Show - A Bit of Brown

It's my wedding anniversary tomorrow, so I'm off to make a card for my hubby - good to see I'm nice and organized!! Lol.

Have a good weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

Fairy Sparkle

Hi there everyone,

Back to school today, hence the late posting.  Today's card was made for the Sketch n Stash challenge - it's the first time I've used a sketch to make a card, but I really enjoyed it.  This week you could choose from a catalogue of sketches and here's the one I chose ...

This card uses two of my favourite things - shades of purple and fairies. Here's the finished design ...

Part of the challenge is to use some new or neglected stash on your card - I managed both! Lol.  The gorgeous papers are by Karen Nueburger and have been in my stash for what seems like forever!  The new item is the pretty little fairy stamp by Whimsy, which was part of a free set on the current issue of Papercraft essentials magazine.  She is coloured with my Promarkers and her wings are all sparkly with glitter (which doesn't show very well on the piccie!)  I think I managed to follow the sketch, adding a LOTV sentiment and a metal corner just to balance out the design.  If you would like to know anything else, please leave a comment below and I will answer.

I would also like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Emergency Crafters - Butterflies, Birds or anything with Wings

Make my Monday - A Midsummer Night's Dream

See you all soon,

Hugz, Jan xx

Studio 12 Blog goes live!

Morning everyone,

Well, this is a strange feeling - I don't have to go to school today, that's a first! I have swapped my day off and am working on Friday (there's always a downside) Lol.

It's an exciting day over at Polkadoodles following the successful launch of 'Studio 12' with Nikky's new 'Picknix' collection. Their sister blog at 'Studio 12' goes live today and is all about 'hybrid' crafting. "What's that?" I hear you ask - well, it's where you combine CD crafting with all your own papercrafting goodies and come up with a cross between the two. If you need some inspiration, the design team have been up to their tricks and posted some fantastic ideas of what you can do with Nikky's new collection.

Here is one of the samples I made for the TV launch show ...

I made a tag using the 'All Sewn Up' section of the CD.  I covered a handmade tag with paper from the CD, stitched around the edge and then inked the edges with Walnut Stain distress ink.  The little rag doll was printed from the embellishment section of the CD, coloured with Promarkers and her dress is paper-pieced with a left over scrap from the CD, before I added her to the tag.  The sentiment is also from the CD and is mounted on a contrasting scalloped circle, cut using my nesties.  Embellishments include some real buttons which are stitched to the tag to accent the theme, together with a die-cut flower, some ribbon and a few adhesive gems.  

This is a fantastic collection to work with and has so many elements to choose from - no wonder the launch show was a sell out!

Don't forget to pop on over to the new blog and check out the DT creations too - see you there.

Hugz, Jan xx

Happy Father's Day

Morning everyone,

Sending best wishes to all the fathers out there on their special day - and yes, it's another perfectly good reason to make a card. Hehe! I lost my own dad when I was 13, so Father's Day is always a special day to remember him.  I have a wonderful stepdad though and today's card is made for him ...

It's an 8x8" again today, layered with sage green textured cardstock and spotty paper from my stash, which has been inked around the edges with Walnut Stain distress ink.  I doodled a border around the edge for extra effect.  The image is 'Lazy Afternoon' by LOTV and is coloured with, yes you guessed, my Promarkers.  The lettering is made using alphabet cardstock stickers from Making Memories and are mounted onto circles/lacey circles cut using my nesties.  Added embellishments include some green organza ribbon, two fancy corners topped with adhesive pearls and some tiny green adhesive pearls to accent the image.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenge:

Craft Punked (formerly Glitter Geeks) - Father's Day

I'm also sending big hugz to a special friend today who lost her dad recently - I know today will be a tough one for her - I'll be thinking of you, hun xx

Enjoy your Sunday,

Hugz, Jan xx