Try Something New!

Hi there,

I hope you all had a fabby Christmas with lots of prezzies and goodies. I think I have eaten my own body weight in chocolate over the holiday - diet! What diet!!

I'm a little late with my post today, but it's time for new challenge over at 'My Besties UK' and this week we are looking for you to 'TRY SOMETHING NEW'. Right, there are not many things that I haven't tried crafty wise, but I did receive a lovely book of teabag papers as a Christmas gift - so not having used that technique for ages, I decided to play. Here's what I made for my DT inspiration - can you spot the teabag folding? ...

I used 'My Bestie' image 734 (Garden Child) and paper pieced the flowers to match the background papers, which are from my stash.  The pretty butterfly at the bottom is made using two 5cm teabag folding squares - I was quite pleased with the result. I hope you can come along and join us with your 'new techniques'.

Hugz, Jan xx 

W for Whatever You Wish

Happy Friday,

It's time for our final challenge of the year over at the Alphabet Challenge and Roxx has set an easy one this week. We would love to see your projects showcasing 'WHATEVER YOU WISH' for the letter 'W'. Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I made a pretty Engagement card and gift for my daughter's friend - all she asked for was something pink! Well how hard could that be! I made a 6x6" card using backing papers and image from LOTV. The gift is a chipboard heart covered with matching papers, a little Fizzy Moon stamped image and some handmade flowers. The wording was created on my pc, torn and then inked with distress ink.

I hope you can join us and we all look forward to bringing you more exciting challenges in 2014.

Hugz, Jan xx

Fantasy Stampers DT Sketch Challenge

Good morning,

This post was scheduled earlier in the week, but I know I will be feeling just a little excited today as it's my last day at school before the Christmas break! It's been a very long term and I am more than ready for a rest, although I'm not sure Christmas is the time for rest! Lol.

Anyway, onto all things crafty - over at my new Challenge Blog (Fantasy Stampers) I set my new design team a 'sketch challenge' so you could see some of their beautiful work before the challenges go live in January. Over the last couple of weeks I have showcased some gorgeous projects from my design team and today it's my turn to show you my interpretation of the sketch. Here's a little peek at the sketch I designed ...

And here's my card following the sketch ...

I used a 6x6" white card blank and layered up some gorgeous blue frosty papers from 'The Snowman Collection'. I also added an embossed section for some texture. The gorgeous little stamped image is from Lil of the Valley and is called 'Snow Cute', which I coloured with my Promarkers. I added a sentiment, some die-cut snowflakes, a piece of silver Christmas ribbon and a few adhesive gems to finish.

If you have the time, why not pop over to the new blog HERE and leave us a comment.

Big hugz, Jan xx

Clean and Simple for Christmas

Hello again,

I'm back with my second post of the day with a brand new challenge over at Make My Monday. This week Suzi has chosen a great theme to finish off our year. We would love to see your 'CLEAN AND SIMPLE' Christmas projects this week - nice and easy just before the big celebrations begin.  Here's my DT inspiration ...

This one was really easy and only took about 15 minutes to make. I stamped the 'Three Wise Men' and the little star in black archival ink and quickly added clear embossing powder before heating. I used 'Scattered Straw' distress ink around the star and to create a few hills, before adding the text. Hope you like it.

If you have a minute, pop on over to the main blog and check out what my teamies did for their CAS Christmas!

Hugz, Jan xx

Jingle Bells Blog Hop

Good morning everyone,

It's another special Monday over at the 'My Besties UK Challenge Blog' - not only do we have a brand new challenge, we are HOPPING again for the last time this year. The theme this week is very seasonal ...

'JINGLE BELLS'

So you can enter the challenge as normal with a crafty project that showcases the theme and have the chance to win a some of Sherri's 'My Besties' digi images from our selection.  Here's what I made for my DT inspiration using image A2 which you can buy in Sherri's on-line store HERE ...

I used an 6 x 6" card blank and layered it with Christmas papers from my stash.  I added my gorgeous Christmas Bestie which I coloured with my Promarkers and added some glitter for a little extra sparkle. Embellishments include a stamped sentiment, a piece of festive red ribbon and a little 'jingle' bell.

************

You can also come and HOP with us for the chance of winning extra candy by visiting all the participating blogs, following and leaving us a comment. Here's the order of the hop:

Gill (DT co-ordinator) - http://creationsbygillm.blogspot.co.uk/

Donna - http://kraftyscot.blogspot.co.uk/

Jan - http://jaybescraftybitz.blogspot.co.uk

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

Carol - http://silverpaws1957.blogspot.co.uk

Pixie - http://pixieflutterbycreates.blogspot.co.uk/

Michelle - http://zmumzcreates.blogspot.co.uk/

Wendy - http://lollydollycrafts.blogspot.co.uk

Caroline - http://carolinesspicecrafty-bits.blogspot.co.uk/

Home - http://mybestiesuk.blogspot.co.uk/

So, if you've arrived at my blog from DONNA then you are on the right track.

Now hop on over to ANITA who will show you some more fab inspiration on the theme.

I shall look forward to reading your comments and don't forget to check back on the main blog in a few days where we will be announcing one lucky winner.

Hope you have fun,
Good Luck,
Jan xx

A little something for the table ...

Hey there folks,

How are the Christmas preparations coming along - I'm still behind with my shopping and haven't written a single card yet! Think I need a few extra hours in my week!

It's time for our next challenge over at Polkadoodles and this week the design team were challenged to make something for the 'Christmas Table' - so here goes with my DT inspiration ...

I made a couple of things using papers and a sentiment from the 'Angelberry Christmas CD' which is currently on offer for just £7.00 at our on-line store HERE. 

The first is a little Christmas Tree made using the Tim Holtz rosette die - I cut several pieces in two different papers and adjusted the width before simply stacking them up.

The second is a cute little cracker which I made using a template I found on the internet. 

Hope you can join us this week,

Hugz, Jan xx

A Frosty Scene

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the lack of blogging this week - it's such a busy time at school that I have been shattered when I get home. We are knee deep in rehearsals for our Christmas production which is on Wednesday and we also had our Christmas market last week. Still have lots to do for the children to make this a special time of year for them.

Right onto crafty things - we have new challenge for you over at Make My Monday and this week Rosie has chosen a very seasonal theme:

' A FROSTY SCENE'

So we would love to see your projects getting all frosted up this week - here's my DT inspiration for you ...

I loved making this one - I used a masking technique to create a space inside the large bauble to stamp my 'frosty scene' using lots of little stamps.  I added some pale blue Promarker and lots of glitter to create a frosty look. Hope you like it.

Have a great week,

Hugz, Jan xx

Christmas Flowers & Foliage

Good morning,

It's time for our next challenge over at Make My Monday and this week Jacqueline has chosen a great theme for us in our lead up to Christmas. We would love to see your projects showcasing

'CHRISTMAS FLOWERS & FOLIAGE'

Here's my DT inspiration ...

My background paper and sentiment is from Kaisercraft - I love the old Victorian look of these papers. I made a border by stamping a little holly stamp and colouring it with Promarkers. Then I added some extra leaves and poinsettias to decorate my sentiment focal point.

Why not check out the main blog and see what my teamies have made too.

Hugz, Jan xx