Happy 3rd Birthday!

Hello everyone,

Well, I'm a day late - but better late than never, I say!

I have my DT project for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz which went live yesterday as they celebrate their third birthday. So, a massive well done to my crafty friend Caz for creating and running this fab blog - in the past I struggled to make cards for men, but being a part of this design team has definitely broadened my thinking.

Here's what I made using one of my LOTV stamps and my new AquaBlend pencils ...

This one is for my Dad, who celebrates his birthday on Friday 13th this year! 

I used an 8"x 8" white scalloped card blank and added design paper from my stash. I used the 'Checkerplate' embossing folder from Sara's Signature Collection 'Just for Men' and embossed a piece of grey cardstock, then highlighted the embossed areas with silver gilding wax.

The main image is 'My Best Friend' by LOTV and I coloured it with my new AquaBlend pencils by Spectrum Noir - not bad for a first attempt!

Embellishments include some grey organza ribbon, a couple of buttons and some brads to finish off.

Hugz, Jan xx

Happy Birthday

Good morning to you all,

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. It was nice to spend some time at home yesterday, as I had the afternoon off in lieu of some First Aid training that I did last Friday. So what better way to enjoy it than in my craft room, although the torrential rain pounding down on my conservatory roof was deafening!!

Well, I don't know about you, but January is a time for celebration again here - not only was my own challenge blog one year old last week, but my best crafty friend is also celebrating the first birthday of her male themed challenge blog -

 'Cardz 4 Guyz' 

So, well done Caz - who would have thought it after all our deliberations and frustrations getting them both up and running. Here's to another great year in 2015 with lots more great themes and entries.

So, as it's also my Dad's birthday today - what better reason for making a card! Here's what I made for him, which is also my DT inspiration for the new 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' challenge which starts today ...

As most of you know, I am addicted to all things LOTV, so out came my papers and stamps once again.  This one is an 8x8" scalloped card blank, covered with papers from the 'Father Knows Best' paper pad. The focal image is LOTV 'Cheers Bear' and is stamped in Vintage Sepia ink and coloured with my trusty Promarkers. A also added a stamped greeting, some co-ordinating checked ribbon, some die-cut stars (which I ran though my dotty embossing folder), a couple of brads and some dinky little lettering which I stamped on some scraps of card to spell the word 'Dad'.

I hope you can come and celebrate with us over at the blog - we would love to see you there.

Hugz, Jan xx

Happy Birthday Fantasy Stampers

Happy New Year everyone,

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and New Year and enjoyed all the festivities. We had a lovely family Christmas here and a very quiet New Year and now the new Spring term is looming at school.

I am excited to be back today with news of my own challenge blog at FANTASY STAMPERS, which is celebrating it's first Birthday today. Yes, exactly one year ago I was sat here worrying about whether I had made the right decision, and what if no-one entered. Well, you all proved my worries to be unfounded and we have had a great year with lots of fabulous entries along the way. So here's to another fantastic year in 2015.

We are starting the year off with a brand new challenge and of course the theme had to be

'HAPPY BIRTHDAY'

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

This one is 6x6" in size and uses lush design papers from LOTV and one of my favourite 'Fizzy Moon' stamps - Thanks a Bunch, which is coloured with my Promarkers (and the flowers are stamped again on a piece of scrap background paper and pieced). The little stamped sentiment is also LOTV and all other embellishments are from my stash.

I hope you will come and join us as we celebrate our first birthday - would love to see you there.

Hugz, Jan xx

Cardz 4 Guys Launch!

Happy Tuesday everyone,

Well I have more exciting news to share with you today - one of my very best crafty friends is launching her brand new challenge blog today called

'CARDZ 4 GUYS' 

which couldn't have come at a better time after the demise of a couple of male themed challenge blogs over the past couple of weeks.

Caz also asked me to be part of her new design team and I couldn't wait to get started. I think we all find it more difficult to make for the guys in our life, so this brings a fantastic opportunity to hone my skills. The new design team have been getting ready and have made some great male themed projects for our first challenge, which is a great one to start with. Here's my DT inspiration for our first challenge theme, which is

'HAPPY BIRTHDAY'

Now who hasn't got a male birthday coming up in the next few months - I know I have, it was my dad's birthday yesterday so perfect timing for our challenge. I used an 8x8" scalloped card blank and covered it with papers from my stash. The cute little chimney sweep is from the 'Cutie-Patooties' range at Little Claire Designs and is called 'Little Bert'. I stamped him in Vintage Photo distress ink and used the ink to colour him with the addition of a blue Promarker (yep, I couldn't step away from them totally!)  The sentiment was created on my pc and the 'Dad' lettering was stamped using the Clarity Letterbox kit. Hope you like it.

If you have a minute, please pop over the the main blog and take a peek at the work my teamies produced too - they would love your comments.

I hope you will join us in our new venture and I shall look forward to popping over to your blogs during the next week.

Hugz, Jan xx

Red Velvet

Happy Saturday,

Well, think I'm just about recovered now and on the mend ready for work again next week.

I have a card to show you today which I made for the 'Midweek Magnolias Challenge' who are celebrating their first birthday over on the blog. I've tried something a little different today - what do you think??

I made a shaped card and tried placing the elements a little 'off the page' - but it was hard (my OCD was challenging my decisions!) Lol - I think it turned out ok.  I used one of my favourite Magnolia stamps - Princess Tilda and gave her a little red velvet dress for the occasion.  All the elements are from my stash, including my brand new TH butterfly die, which I definitely think I will be using a lot!!

I would also like to enter this card into the 'I Love Promarkers' challenge which is Ribbons and Bows.

Enjoy your weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx