Clean and Simple for Men

Hi there,

I have a lot to catch up on today - it's been a manic couple of weeks since I last posted!  The last time I spoke to you I had just picked up my new car and it is a dream to drive - I have just about settled into it now after a couple of weeks.

It's been very busy week at work with three classes to teach and I have also completed another demonstration for Crafter's Companion - this time at my own store! I was just a little nervous to say the least - lots of pressure to perform well in your own place of employment, but all went smoothly and we all had a very enjoyable day. I was demonstrating some of the new mixed media dies we have launched this week and I will post some of my samples soon, I promise. My next one is in just under three weeks, back in Beverley again - it's great to be able to work further afield.

I am on holiday this week, so I have a little more time - but I can't believe a year has passed since I lost mum last year! We are going to the remembrance gardens tomorrow and then out for a meal to remember her, instead of moping around the house feeling down (she wouldn't have wanted that).

So, onwards and forwards as they say - I have my next DT project for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week Helen has chosen a nice easy theme

'CLEAN & SIMPLE'

Here's what I made in about 15 minutes flat ...

It consists of a couple of layers, a bit of stamped text, a couple of die-cut stars and a stamped sentiment. Simples!

Hope you can join us.
Hugz, Jan xx

James Bear has Presents

Hello everyone,

I have actually managed to make some of my Christmas cards on my days off this week - very proud of my little self! Still have a few more to go, but I'm not usually this organised, although I haven't even started on the Christmas shopping yet!

I have a cute little 'Clean & Simple' card for you today - my DT inspiration for the new challenge at Fantasy Stampers. Here's what I made using one of my favourite Christmas stamps ...

Now this one is a little more fancy than a normal 'CAS ' style, but it only involves two stamps and a die-cut, so compared to some of the projects I make - it is 'clean & simple' for me!

I simply die-cut the top section of my square cardstock using the 'Frostyville Border' die from Memory Box, then added a scrap of red Christmas design paper behind it.

The stamp is LOTV 'James with Presents' and is coloured with alcohol markers (and a little added glitter around his hat). A quick stamped sentiment and one little clear dazzler to finish off. 

Hope you will come and join us with your own CAS designs.

Hugz, Jan xx

Birthday Blooms

Good morning,

Well, I have been at home for two weeks now and would have officially finished school for the summer yesterday - and guess what? It's raining here as I write my post!

We have a brand new challenge today at Fantasy Stampers with a nice easy theme for the next two weeks

'CLEAN & SIMPLE'

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

I must admit, it does have a little more detail than I would normally include in a 'CAS' design - but it is just one layer using the base card.

First I decided where I wanted the circle aperture to go and drew a feint pencil line to guide my stamping. Then I used my 'Stampin' Up 'Birthday Blooms' stamp set and stamped the gorgeous flower along the edge of the circle. I masked out the flower and added some stamped splatters using Milled Lavender distress ink.

Next I cut around the circle to make an aperture in the card, and also cut off some of the fussy parts of the stamp that were protruding into the circle. 

The flower is coloured with my Promarkers and I added a little glitter to highlight the petals. 

I added a piece of polka dot design paper behind the aperture (actually adhered to the inside of the card) and added a stamped sentiment (from the same stamp set). Three little punched butterflies from the scrap design paper finish off the design.

Hope you can come and join us over at the challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

Clean & Simple

Hello again,

My that week sure passes fast - I'm back today with the next challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week Julie has chosen the theme of

'CLEAN & SIMPLE'

Now I never used to be any good at this because my usual style seems to be to include as much as I can (step away from the card, Jan!) So, having the chance to hone my skills with a more simple look has been fun. Here's what I made for my DT inspiration using some of my Stampin Up stamps ...

I love this set - it's called 'Gorgeous Grunge' and is so versatile, but especially good for the male themed cards.

I used three distress inks - Antique Linen, Scattered Staw and Faded Jeans and just went for it! I'm quite happy with the result too. The greeting is also Stampin Up and is from 'Sassy Salutations' (another go to set). I added a little yellow button at the end of the greeting and three yellow adhesive crystals for extra effect.

I hope you will come and play along with us this week.

Hugz, Jan xx

V for Variety

Hi there everyone,

Well it's been a tough one at school this week - everything is getting manic as we approach Christmas and working with a class full of very excited 7 year olds is proving exhausting!

I'm back today with news of the next theme over at the Alphabet Challenge and this time Tammy has chosen 'VARIETY' for the letter 'V'. So we would love to see  a variety of 3 different embellishments OR 3 different design papers on your projects this time.

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

I decided to stay pretty 'clean and simple' due to time constraints, but love the way it turned out. I used my new Stampin Up 'Festival of Trees' stamp set, together with the co-ordinating punch to cut out three trees in three different scraps of design paper, then decorated them with the extra stamps. I added the little buckets (also part of the stamp set) and punched 3 gold stars and a sentiment to finish off.

Hope you like it. 

Hugz, Jan xx

D is for Daffodils

Happy Friday to you all,

I am just a little excited after finishing work yesterday for two weeks - so plenty of time for crafting!

As it's Friday - it's time for our next letter over at the Alphabet Challenge and yes, you guessed - it's the letter 'D'. Caz chose our theme this week and we would love to see your projects featuring 'Daffodils' - it's about time we saw a little colour out there, instead of the white stuff! Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I must admit, I was struggling to find anything with daffodils on to use for this one - but found a wooden stamp which has a set of three flowers on (one being the daffodil). So, I masked the other two flowers and just stamped the daffodil three times to make a CAS card this week. The images are coloured with Promarkers and I chose a DL landscape size for a change, which I think suits the layout well. What do you think?

Don't forget to pop over to the blog to check out some more inspiration from my teamies and I shall look forward to visiting your blogs to check out all the cheery spring daffodils.

Hugz, Jan xx