It's definitely been a While!!!

Hello there everyone,

Well, my blog has well and truly been neglected! I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted!!!! Where does the time go?

I am still doing the same old thing - working, working and more working! I love my job at Crafter's Companion and I love demonstrating for the company too, but it leaves me with very little time for my own personal crafting (something I did worry about when I began this new chapter in my life). But just recently I have discovered something new to me and it has reignited my enthusiasm to play with my own crafty stash again.

During a spot of research and a nudge from my writer daughter, I discovered the world of 'snail mail'. There is a whole community out there who still send hand written letters (and goodies) to one another through the mail service. To say I have become hooked on this would be an understatement! I have found a few penpals in different countries who have similar interests to me and have begun writing to them (I have always loved hand writing and it is great to be able to put it to good use again).

Here are a couple of the things I have done so far:

My first package was for my daughter - I saw this idea on Pinterest and as she is a huge 'Alice in Wonderland' fan, I couldn't resist recreating it for her. Needless to say it was well received.

Then I ventured into the world of swaps and made my first flip book using two A5 envelopes:

I have now become addicted to washi tape and my collection has grown substantially! I've always had it in my stash, but never really used it much - so I'm really glad to have found a use for it in my flip books and swaps.

So, I have lots more things to show you but won't go on forever in this post. My aim is to be back soon with another glimpse into my world of craft.

Sending crafty hugs to you all,
Jan x

Birthday Wishes

Hello again,

Welcome back to my blog, which is definitely being a little neglected lately.

Last time I posted, I was just off down to our new store which opened in Evesham last month. It's situated in the 'Valley' shopping village and looks so pretty.

It was most certainly a busy weekend - we had two of our TV personalities demonstrating and the store was full to the rafters. It was a couple of very long days, but my colleague and I had the best time there.

Back in our own store at Chesterfield, we are now preparing for our first Birthday celebrations - can you believe it's been nearly a year since we opened our doors! We have three lovely ladies coming over the birthday weekend to help us celebrate - Leann Chivers will be in store on Friday 22nd September, Sara Davies will be with us on Saturday 23rd and Lizzy Curtis on Sunday 24th. We are selling VIP tickets both in store and online if you would like to come and join us.

My crafty project today was made for my manager at the store who celebrated her birthday at the end of August - I'm sure she won't mind me showing you here ...

I used Sheena's glycerine technique with my Spectrum Noir Aqua markers to make the background - simply squidge a small amount of glycerine into your blending tool before picking up the scribbled water colour from your glass mat. It behaves much like distress inks, but stays open for longer allowing you to get a really good blend. I also flicked some water splats onto the background and blotted with a piece of kitchen paper to add a little interest. 

I stamped the pocket watch with black Versafine ink - 'Time Flies' designed by Donna Ratcliff for Crafter's Companion, then embossed with clear powder before adding a little extra depth using the same colours.

I stamped just one of the little butterflies for a second time and coloured it to match, then added it to the top of the stamped image.

A little frantage powder and a greeting to finish off.

Hope you like my design for today.

Hugz, Jan xx

Daisy Delight

Hello there,

Yes, I know, it's been a while again! But I'm back today with a little project for you. This one was made for one of my crafty friends and as she is a Stampin' Up demonstrator, I always try and use some of my SU goodies that I buy from her.

Here's what I made using the new 'Daisy Delight' stamp set ...

I began with a 5.5" square of white stamping card and stamped the large daisy and small flower head all over using Versamark ink, then added white embossing powder and heat embossed to create a resist background. 

Next I added Distress Oxide ink in Spiced Marmalade and Worn Lipstick using a felt applicator (I just wanted a nice smooth finish for this one). I must admit I never thought I would love anything as much as my Distress Inks, but the Oxides are coming up a pretty firm second favourite!!

I also stamped and embossed a couple of the daisies onto white stamping card and punched them out using the corresponding Daisy Punch. I decided to cut them in half to make my focal point daisies and added a sparkly centre to each.

I added a couple of scraps of design paper cut into pennants, a piece of polkadot ribbon and used some pink twine to make the flower stems.

The sentiment is also Stampin' Up and was cut out using a pretty 'Stitched Oval' die.

The whole piece is mounted on a kraft card layer and added to a 6" x 6" white scalloped card blank. Needless to say, my friend loved it.

I am off down to our new store early tomorrow morning, which opened its doors in Evesham on Monday, to help out over what should be a very busy weekend for them. If you are local to the area, why not pop in and say hello - we have Leann Chivers demonstrating on Saturday (19th) and Sheena Douglass on Sunday (20th). 

Crafty hugz, Jan xx

A Long Time Gone ...

Hello there,

It's been ages since my last post, but I have been having a nightmare of a time with Blogger. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but every time I go to open my blog it redirects it to an advertising page - it's driving me mad!! I have googled how to stop this and ran what seems like millions of antivirus/malware programmes to try and detect the problem - but it's still doing it!!! Aaaaaargh!!

Anyhow, I have managed to get in here today and it is letting me post (for now). So a lot has happened since I last posted, but I won't bore you with all the details. 

We have had a little change round at the shop and some of the staff are now producing the samples to showcase the new product launches at Crafter's Companion, so I thought I would show you one of my samples for the new Mockingbird Lane Perfect Partners collection by Sheena Douglass.

I have absolutely loved playing with these gorgeous little houses - here's the church from the collection ...

The background is made with distress inks, then over stamped with Versamark ink and embossed with white detail powder using the little snowflakes from the collection.

The dies and stamps are so easy to use and I have layered up some of the elements to give a 3D effect. The image is coloured with alcohol markers and I also added a little glitter to the snow areas for some sparkle.

My sample is now proudly residing on the display at the shop for our customers to use for a little inspiration.

I will try not to leave it so long before I post again this time, providing I can get back on Blogger. I would love to hear from you if you have had similar problems, especially if you have managed to fix them!!

Hugz, Jan xx

Give Thanks

Hello again,

First of all, my apologies for neglecting my blog for the last few weeks! My only excuse is time, or the lack of it! May was a busy month all round, what with activities in the store, together with demonstrations and prep, and my birthday (yep, another year older!)

I went to the theatre with my girls on Tuesday to see the stage production of Dirty Dancing (my birthday prezzie from both of them) and thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I was squished in my seat for 2 hours (they certainly don't leave much leg room).

And today is my baby girl's birthday - we keep teasing her about being 'a quarter of a century', but then she just points out just how old I am then!! Lol. So, Happy Birthday Sammy - I am so proud of the young woman you have become and what you have achieved so far in life.

Now, onto crafting matters - I have a project today for the new theme at the Alphabet Challenge and for the next two weeks our Silvi has chosen 'Give Thanks' for the letter 'G'. So here is what I made ...

I love making this type of card - there are so many occasions when you can simply say 'Thank You' - it is only two little words, but can mean so much to someone.

The papers are scraps from my stash, and I made the greeting on my pc using two different fonts. A die-cut layer, some ribbon and a few flowers to finish off.

Hope you will come and join us at the challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

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