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

Teenage Birthday

Hello there,

I wanted to say a big 'Thank You' to my friends and followers today, and for the lovely kind words that many of you leave in my comments box - they are very much appreciated, and I can only apologise for my tardiness in returning the favour.

I'm back today with another DT project for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz, and this time Babs has chosen the theme

'CARDS FOR TEENZ'

Here's what I made for the challenge ...

This one came together quite quickly using a cream scalloped edge 6" x 6" card blank as a base.

I added a piece of beautifully glittered design paper from my stash. The second layer is a piece of co-ordinating design paper which I passed through my 'Happy Birthday' embossing folder from the 'Birthday Party' Signature Collection by Sara Davies. I cut the left hand edge with a border die to give a little extra detail.

The topper is partially embossed with a pretty flower folder, then I stamped the word 'Sweet' using my single alphabet letter stamps. The numbers are die-cut using a die also from the 'Birthday Party' collection (and were sneakily cut from the background piece, under the second layer which is now hidden!)

A few embellishment to finish off, including a piece of organza ribbon, a pretty flower with a nice pearl centre, a couple of punched hearts and a sweet little silver balloon charm.

Hope you can come and join us with your own 'teenage' creations this time.
Hugz, Jan xx

Love is in the Air

Good morning,

I hope everyone is keeping well - I have been keeping busy with my new job and did my third demonstration day last weekend. I was up in Beverley and had the company of some lovely crafty people, many of which stayed to watch me all day - so I just wanted to say 'Hello' if any of you are reading this.

Hopefully I will get round to posting some of my samples for you all to see - it's fantastic to be able to play with some of the new release products before they hit the shelves.

Anyway, I am back today with another DT project for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz today and this time our leader, Caz, has chosen a very appropriate theme for the time of year. So here is what I made for the theme

'LOVE IS IN THE AIR'

This one was designed for my next class at the Chesterfield store and I already have seven ladies coming to join me on the 10th to learn how to make it using a selection of Leonie Pujol stamps and dies.

If any of you are close enough and would like to come and play, you can book a place using this link bit.ly/Chesterfield-classes

Hugz, Jan xx 

Artist Trading Cards

Good morning to you all,

Well, I started the New Year with a horrible cold, but am feeling much better now and I'm not going to let it get me down!

I am back today with my first DT project for the year and have thoroughly enjoyed getting inky for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz today.  My teamie Aly has chose the theme

'ARTIST TRADING CARDS' 

(ATCs)

Now, it's absolutely ages since I made any ATCs and I really enjoyed myself - here's what I came up with for a little inspiration ...

Artist Trading Cards are little miniature pieces of art that measure 2.5" x 3.5" - I decided to make a set of three (sometimes referred to as 'Triptych' - a picture on three panels).

So I cut a piece of white Neenah cardstock slightly smaller than 2.5" x 7.5" (as I wanted to mount each piece on black when I finished).

Using my blending tool I added a light covering of distress ink in Antique Linen and Worn Lipstick, then used a flower stencil and inked through using the same colours to create my background. I over-stamped using a silhouette stamp set from Sheena Douglass with a Black Memento inkpad, then cut my design into 3 equal pieces before mounting them on the black.

Why not pop over and check out some of the fabulous examples from the rest of the team.

Hugz, Jan xx

Anyone for Cocktails

Good morning,

Well, I still haven't got very far with my Christmas shopping yet as I got called into work on Monday (my day off) to cover a poorly colleague. It's a good job we only have a very small family! Tomorrow is my next day off, so I am hoping to make a start on it then, phew!

I have my next DT project to show you today - for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz, and this week our Babs has chosen the theme

'ANYONE FOR COCKTAILS'

Well it would be rude to say no, it is nearly Christmas after all - I might just indulge next weekend on our work party! Anyway, here's what I made for a little inspiration ...

I used Stamping Bella's Uptown Girls 'Victoria and Juliette's Night Out' (which was a popular choice amongst the team too). I coloured the hair and skin with alcohol markers and then paper pieced their dresses to match the pretty pink theme of my card. 

I hope you will join us with your own creations - see you there.

Hugz, Jan xx

The Snowman

Good morning,

Well, I am actually on holiday this week and this is the first day I have been able to craft - lots to catch up on!  So, I am trying to get back on track with my blogging and I also have a few decisions to make regarding the way forward.

But today I have a DT project for the new challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz (which I have truly neglected over the last couple of months - thanx for being so patient with me Caz) :)  The new theme was chosen by Caz this time and she would like to see a SNOWMAN as the main feature of your project, so here goes ...

My main stamped image is from the Nordic Christmas range by Crafter's Companion and is called 'Cool Christmas'. I coloured him with a combination of distress inks and coloured pencils and stamped out a little sentiment from the same set.

I stamped a few snowflakes around the top section of the card, then added a couple of die-cut snowflakes from a left over piece of ice blue glitter card (which I used for my back layer). Nice and simple today to ease me back in gently! Lol.

Please pop over to the challenge if you have a minute and check out what my teamies made too.

Hugz, Jan xx

Purple Tag Art

Hello there,

I hope you all got a chance to enjoy the weather earlier in the week - I didn't see a scrap of it, was locked away in a nice air conditioned shop all day!  Although I did get chance to watch the fantastic lightening storm here on Tuesday evening, but thankfully no rain.

Just a quick post from me today with my DT project for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz, and this time Helen has chosen the theme of

'ANYTHING BUT SQUARE'

Here's what I made for a little inspiration ...

I love making tags and it is always an opportunity to use up some of my paper scraps. The gorgeous die cut frame is from the Crafter's Companion Downton Abbey collection (as is the little piece of patterned design paper).

A little stamped sentiment and lots of punched flowers to decorate.

Enjoy your day,

Hugz, Jan xx

Lovely Lace

Good evening,

It's a late post for me today - I am running behind this week, due to my new work commitments over the last few days. We had a fabulous trip up north last Tuesday to visit the Crafter's Companion store in Newton Aycliffe - it was just like walking into Aladdin's cave, but full of crafty stash. And guess what! I didn't buy a thing!! How rude, but I simply didn't have time!

We are now busy getting the new store ready for the grand opening at the end of this month - so watch this space for further details.

I have my DT project for the new challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz which went live last Thursday (I told you I was running late - but better late than never, I say!) So here goes with the new theme which I chose

'LOVELY LACE'

I used a pretty piece of design paper from my stash and added my 'Lovely Lace' panel. 

This was made from two die-cut 'Fleur de Lys' borders cut from sand cardstock, which has a piece of gorgeous cream lace running up the middle, which is then topped with a single pearl flower string.

I die-cut the pretty filigree bow from sand cardstock using my new 'Downton Abbey Grand Bow' die, and I love it! A large pearl in the centre and a stamped sentiment finishes of my design.

Sorry again for being late, especially for my own choice of challenge!

Hugz, Jan xx

Flutterby Butterfly

Good morning,

Well, we spent most of the day yesterday crafting of a different style - painting the kitchen! It looks so much brighter now, just have to put up the new blind and I think we are nearly there.

I have a new DT project for you today, for the next challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz and this week Julie has chosen the theme

'BUTTERFLIES OR DRAGONFLIES'

Easy peasy, no dilemma, butterflies for me every time! Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I used a Creative Expressions die by Sue Wilson called 'Mini Striplet - Butterflies in Flight' to make the main feature on my card. I cut the inside piece of the striplet into a piece of coconut white cardstock, then added some double sided adhesive behind the aperture before filling it with clear glitter.

The little butterflies also come with the die and were cut from scraps of pink cardstock. I stamped some tiny flowers onto the white to make a background, then added my sentiment (which is from a magazine freebie set).

Hope you can come and join us.

Hugz, Jan xx

More Black and White

Hello there,

I'm out most of the day today, so scheduled my post for this morning.

It's time for our next challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz, and this time Sharon has chosen the theme of

'MONOCHROME'

I absolutely love this theme, translated as 'Black and White' or 'Varying Shades of One Colour' - I went with the black and white for the second time this week! Here's what I made for a little inspiration ...

I made this one for a friend's birthday later this month and I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  I thought it might be too busy, but I think it works.

I used my Spellbinders 'Scalloped Borders One' dies again and layered the pieces up over the background design paper (which is from a really old paper stack with no packaging). I used one of the 'Decorative Labels Eight' dies to cut a background for my sentiment, which is from the Stampin' Up 'Birthday Blooms' set.

I added a piece of black and white ribbon, a couple of stamped flowers, layered up with a little black dazzler in the centre.

Hugz, Jan xx

Whatever Makes You Happy

Hello there everyone,

I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine - the temperatures here have been unbelievable this week! It has been lovely to spend some time sat out in the garden - I even did some colouring out there yesterday.

So, today we have a brand new theme over at Cardz 4 Galz, and this time Babs has set us the challenge of using

'NO PATTERNED PAPERS'

Now, I must admit, I do love my design papers and do quickly turn to them when making a card - so this challenge was a pleasant change and I decided to get out my distress inks and get messy. Here's what I created for a little inspiration ...

As we have been enjoying all this glorious sunshine, I decided to use some lovely bright colours - I inked up a piece of white card using Scattered Straw, Dried Marigold and Shabby Shutters distress ink.

I created lots of depth to the colour by using a stencil, a few abstract stamps and a little piece of sequin waste. I stamped the two corners in black and then added some Black Soot distress ink around the edges.

The sentiment (corner stamp and the little dragonflies) are from a set by Sheena Douglass which I got free on a magazine some time ago. 

I die-cut some flowers from a scrap of the inked card and layered them up, with a few punched leaves, to finish the card.

I really enjoyed making my project without delving into my stash of design papers - why not go and check out how the rest of the design team managed without their papers too?

Hugz, Jan xx

Thank You

Good afternoon,

I am late posting today - not sure where the day has gone. I am behind schedule because I was out most of the day yesterday - some interesting things happening here, but I can't tell you just yet ;)

I have my next project for the new challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz, and this week our leader Caz has chosen the theme of

'GINGHAM'

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

Now, green isn't a colour I normally use - but I had trouble finding some gingham paper (which I couldn't quite believe with the amount of stash I have). I found this one in an old paper pad and I am quite pleased with the results - I think it looks really fresh.

I made the 'Thank You' card to take into school next week for my colleagues, just to show my appreciation for the lovely gifts and flowers that they all bought me when I left last week. I still haven't got my head around it yet!

I used my Spellbinders 'Scalloped Borders One' dies to create an edging, and then layered up the different pieces. I added a strip of white mesh, topped with a piece of green organza ribbon. The stamped greeting is from my Stampin' Up 'Sassy Salutations' set, and I decorated this with some pretty flowers which were stamped onto parchment and heat embossed with white powder. The centre of the flowers is die cut, along with the foliage from scraps of the background layer.

Hope you will join us over at the challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

Smile and be Happy

Good morning,

I'm back today with a new DT project for the next challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz, and this week it was my turn to choose the theme. So here goes with

'PINK AND BROWN'

This is one of my favourite colour combos - here's what I made for a little inspiration ...

The design paper is from my stash and is layered with brown cardstock. I used my Stampin' Up punch to make the little owl and added a piece of pink and brown ribbon to match. The stamped sentiment is from a freebie set which I got on a magazine a few months ago.

Why not pop over to the challenge and check out some more fab inspiration from the Galz team.

Hugz, Jan xx

A Little bit of Vintage

Happy Days,

Well, as it's Thursday, that means I finish work today for my half term break - yay! It's been a long eight weeks, but I am looking forward to my week off before the last section of the school year.

I'm back today with a brand new theme at Cardz 4 Galz and this week Aly has chosen

'VINTAGE or SHABBY CHIC'

So, you can choose which style you would like to enter - sounds easy doesn't it! I must admit it took me a while to decide as I love both of these styles, but I decided on Vintage. Here's what I created for my DT inspiration ...

I love using just sepia tones for this type of project - the design papers are from my new purchase paper pad - 'Floral Muse' by Dovecraft, I can see this one becoming a strong favourite!

I inked all the edges with Frayed Burlap distress ink to age them a little. The beautiful image is from a sheet I've had for ever - I have no idea who she is, but what a pretty little girl.

Embellies include some ivory seam binding, a piece of ivory lace, an ivory paper flower, a couple of die-cut pieces and some self adhesive pearls. I also included some little stamped letters which spell the word 'Love', in the absence of a sentiment.

Why not pop over and see which theme my teamies chose for their project.

Hugz, Jan xx

Tea for Two

Good morning,

I trust everyone is having a good week - my last working day today, so looking forward to my weekend ahead.

I'm back today with a new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz and this time my teamie Jules has chosen the theme of

'TEA FOR TWO'

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

I tried to create the shape of a 'tea-bag'! I built up lots of layers using just scraps for this one, including a piece of peppermint coloured design paper (must be peppermint tea!)

I coloured the cute little digital image with my Promarkers and stamped the word 'tea' using one of my dinky alphabet stamp sets. 

Why not come and play along with your own 'Two for Tea' projects?

Hugz, Jan xx

A Button or Two

Good morning,

I'm back today with a new challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz with the theme

'A BUTTON OR TWO'

Now I love my buttons and I bet like many of you, I have a stash of them which I will probably never use up in this lifetime, so got a little carried away and used fourteen of them on my project! Here's what I made ...

I used a scrap of left over design paper from Hot of the Press and raided my precious button stash to find a few that matched the colours in the paper. 

I made the little heart from another scapling that I rescued from my 'Pink Box' (yes, I do have colour co-ordinated boxes for all my scraps - I blame it on my OCD)!

The stamped sentiment is from another freebie set (I've decided that I buy way too many magazines, just for the freebie stamp sets!) Lol.

Hope you can join us this time.

Hugz, Jan xx

Use an Embossing Folder

Hello there,

We have a brand new challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz today, and this week my teamie Babs has chosen the theme of

'USE AN EMBOSSING FOLDER'

So, we all have loads of these, right? The question is which one do I use? So, I went through all my choices and still ended up with one of my favourites. Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I had to pass my piece of card through the folder twice to complete the design, but hid the join behind the piece of plum velvet ribbon. I have highlighted the edges of the embossing with some Picked Raspberry distress ink, so it blends nicely with the background piece. I cut the bottom of the pink with a Doohickey border die to add some interest. The flower is from my stash and I added lots of little pink crystals to highlight some of the embossed flowers. A stamped sentiment from Claritystamps to finish off.

Hope you can join us over the next two weeks with your own embossed creations.

Hugz, Jan xx

Springtime Parchment

Hello there,

Well, after a trip to the opticians yesterday to pick up my new glasses I experienced a strange occurrence! On the way home in the car I decided to put on my new sunglasses (well, it was nice and sunny) - but something didn't seem right. They didn't seem quite as clear as my old glasses! So, after a bit of swapping with my new clear glasses, new sunglasses and my old clear glasses, I realised that I could actually see better out of the old ones! How does that work? So when I got home I rang the opticians to query it - I was told that my eyes might need to adjust to the new ones and to try them again tomorrow! I have never experienced this before when starting out with a new pair - so the saga continues. I have to ring them back on Friday if there is no improvement!

On a crafty note, we have a brand new challenge starting today over at Cardz 4 Galz, and this week Amy has chosen the theme of

'SPRINGTIME'

Here's what I made using my new (very addictive) Groovi system from Claritystamps ...

I started with a piece of A5 parchment and built up the border and the '9 square' grid using the Nested Squares. I then filled each of the squares with a selection of tiny elements from the 'Butterfly Wreath', 'Meadow Grasses' and a couple of different 'Border' plates. The 'Spring' lettering was done using the alphabet from the Groovi Plate mate.

I added just a little white work with my embossing tool and had to chuckle as I worked on the tiny dots in the border area (I could hear Barbara in my head saying 'Up, Down, Left, Right, and Round and Round'!) to get the perfect dot! I then worked in some colour to the whole design using my Derwent pencils and attached it to rose pink card using the original Groovi 'Corner Punch'. I must say, I was pretty pleased with the result - hope you like it!

Hugz, Jan xx

It's all about the Women!

Hello there,

Well, like my title says, it's all about the women over at Cardz 4 Galz this time - we have a brand new challenge starting today and in readiness for 'Mother's Day' here in the UK on March 6th, and 'International Women's Day' on March 8th, our new theme for the next two weeks will be

'WOMAN/WOMEN'

Now this one got me thinking about the many different ways this could be interpreted, but I decided on a 'Friends' theme - you can never have too many 'women' friends. Here's what I came up with ...

First, I must admit to finding my inspiration for the animal print idea from Pinterest - I lose hours looking through the amazing crafting talent that can be found there.

This gorgeous stamp is called 'Victoria and Juliette's Night Out' from Stamping Bella and I stamped it once onto my card and then just the dress part onto the centre of my background piece of animal print design paper, which comes from an old paper pad called 'Little Black Dress' from Basic Grey. Then I cut out the dress from the centre (which is craftily hidden behind my topper - waste not, want not!) and then paper pieced over the stamped image. The dress on the left is done in the same way using up a tiny scrapling of design paper from my stash. The rest of the image is coloured with my Promarkers.

The stamped sentiment is from a very old set of stamps that live in my 'Sentiment' drawer.

I hope you will all come along and play too.
Hugz, Jan xx

Get a Hat!

Good morning,

I don't have much to report this week, being back at work I am shattered as usual - but tomorrow is my day off, so plenty of crafting awaits me.

We have a brand new challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz today and Julie has picked the theme of

'GET AHEAD, GET A HAT'

Here/s what I made for my DT inspiration using a new paper pad and an old stamp ...

I found the little 6x6" paper pad in my local 'Range' store and it is called 'Vintage Notes' by Craft Sensations - it has the most gorgeous mix of vintage colours. 

The stamped image is from Katy Sue Designs 'Grape Vine' set and is coloured with my Promarkers.

A few embellies to finish off and hey presto!

Hope you can come and play along with us.

Hugz, Jan xx