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

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

Something Beginning with A

Good Morning,

I hope everyone had a 'Happy Easter' weekend - what a range of weather. We went from beautiful warm sunshine on Friday to hailstones and a thunderstorm on Sunday!

I'm back today with a quick make for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz. It has been difficult to keep up with my crafting at the moment, but equally provides an escape from all the things going on around me too. So,this week my teamie Helen has chosen the theme

'SOMETHING 

BEGINNING WITH A'

Now there are so many options for this one, but I decided to keep it quite clean and simple. Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I found the cute little 'aeroplane' image on the internet and printed it onto white card. I used an oval Spellbinder die to cut the aperture in the kraft card layer, then ran it through my printer to add the 'Bon Voyage' sentiment. A few layers and some stars to embellish and there we go. 

Why not pop over to the main challenge blog and see what my team mates came up with for the letter A.

Hugz, Jan xx

CAS Christmas

Hello there,

Well I have to say that things have been getting away from me the last couple of weeks!

After mum being in hospital, I'm still struggling with my back (I have been referred back to the hospital next week) and we have had some personal family stuff going on, as well as manic times as the school term hurtles towards Christmas (Christmas market, nativity production, pantomime, cards, calendars, parties, coffee morning - you know how it goes!) And then there is all the Christmas shopping to come! I say every year that I will start sooner, but alas I am once again struggling to keep up.

My crafting has also taken a back seat, but I am back today with news of our last challenge for 2015 over at Fantasy Stampers - we will be back in the New Year to celebrate our 2nd birthday!

Here's what I made for our new challenge - 'Clean and Simple Christmas' ...

This one uses five stamps from a freebie set called 'Winter Wonderland' which came with a recent craft magazine. I used black archival ink to stamp out the little scene, then I used the snow stamp with Perfect Medium ink and dusted with Cosmic Shimmer 'Enchanted Gold' mica powder (I think you can just see it in my photo) to create a snowy sky.

The scene was mounted on a scrap of black card before I added it to the card base. I stamped the sentiment in black archival ink to finish off. Definitely a simple one!

I hope you can come and join us for our last challenge of the year.

Hugz, Jan xx

Clean and Simple

Hello there,

I have a very quick make for you today as a DT project for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz. This week Amy has chosen the theme of

'CLEAN & SIMPLE'

Here's what I made ...

It took about 15 minutes to make, so was a really quick one!

I simply masked my piece of white cardstock (using some trimmed post it notes) and then stamped just over each edge with my swirly flower stamp using Shaded Lilac, Picked Raspberry, Evergreen Bough and Broken China distress inks. A simple stamped sentiment and a couple of little die-cut butterflies to finish.

Why not pop over and see what the team made for their CAS designs?

Hugz, Jan xx

Clean and Simple Christmas

Hello again,

I do hope everyone is having a good weekend - I am planning to get some Christmas shopping done today and then put my tree and decorations up tomorrow.

On a crafty note, it's time for the next theme at my own challenge blog 'FANTASY STAMPERS' and this time we are hoping you will play along with your projects for a

'CLEAN AND SIMPLE 

CHRISTMAS'

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

Although my style is usually put as much on the card as possible, I do love making these clean and simple cards - and they are really good if you are in a hurry too (this one only took 20 minutes to make!)

It's a plain 6x6" white card blank which has my LOTV 'Snow Cute' image stamped in black ink and is coloured with my Promarkers (I added a little glitter for some extra sparkle too).  I also added a black die cut border which is called 'Frostyville' by Memory Box, and a few self adhesive crystals. Job done!

I shall look forward to seeing your projects over the next two weeks, then we will be taking a break over the festive period. We will be back on 3rd January 2015 for our first birthday celebration.

Hugz, Jan xx

What are you Thankful for?

Happy Tuesday,

First I would just like to say a warm welcome to my new followers - so glad you wanted to join me on my crafty journey (it wouldn't be the same without you all).

I will be at school as this post goes live, but I know we will be taking a break at 11am with all the children in school to have our 2 minute silence in remembrance of those fallen in the wars. We did a lesson on Remembrance Day last week in preparation and created some artwork for our local church - it never ceases to amaze me how interested a class of 7/8 year olds can be in something they can barely comprehend. I was so proud of them.

Righty then, onto crafty things and over at Cardz 4 Guyz we have a brand new challenge today and the theme was chosen by one of our new team members, Andrea. For the next week we would love to see your male themed projects showing thanks, so

'THANKSGIVING/THANKFUL'

Here's what I decided on for my DT inspiration ...

I decided to stay with the CAS look this week and chose kraft card for the base. The added splash of autumnal colour was made using a piece of cream cardstock and treating it to a liberal coating of distress inks in Scattered Straw, Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade and Tea Dye. I then stamped over the top in Vintage Photo using a text stamp to create the background. After dusting with a little talc I stamped the leaves with Perfect Medium ink and embossed with fine detail gold powder.

The sentiment was created on my pc and I added a single piece of twine and a lovely wooden leaf embellishment, which is also coloured with Tea Dye and Vintage Photo distress ink to co-ordinate.

I know we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in the UK, but I do have lots of crafty friends over the pond and as it's coming up to that time of year, I would love to send 'Thanksgiving' wishes their way.

Hugz, Jan xx

CAS at Cardz 4 Guyz

Hello there,

I'm back today with our next challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week Julie has challenged us to make a 'CLEAN & SIMPLE' (CAS) card. So, here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

After all my usual 'put as much as I can' on a card - I am really getting to like making these clean & simple looks. This one measures 6x6" and I used just one piece of plain milk card. I stuck a small 'Post It' note in the centre to mask out the plain square, then used a range of my clock stamps to make a border. I added a little Walnut Stain distress ink around the edges and then removed the mask. I stamped a little 'Good Luck' greeting and added three tiny tags, each stamped with the letters to make 'Dad' and secured them with three brads. Simples!

I hope you can join us this week with your own Clean & Simple projects.

Hugz, Jan xx

Fantasy Stampers Challenge 14 - CAS

Good morning everyone,

It's time for our next challenge over at my challenge blog - 

FANTASY STAMPERS.

Just a reminder that we are still looking for Guest Designers for our new midway motivation posts, so if you are interested - why not pop over to the main blog HERE and check out the details.

Now, onto the details of the new challenge which launches today. The theme for the next two weeks will be 

Can't wait to see all those clean looking projects, so away with the embellishments now! Lol.

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

This piece is 6x6" square - I cut out an oval aperture from a piece of copier paper and secured it over my white card. I used a Clarity brickwork stencil and brushed distress inks through it with my ink dusters, using 'Peacock Feathers', Picked Raspberry' and 'Chipped Sapphire' inks. The tree silhouette stamp is from the Stampin Up set 'Serene Silhouettes' and is stamped in black archival ink. The wording is from one of Clarity's word chains and is also stamped in black archival ink. I mounted the whole piece on a co-ordinating cardstock and job done. I am beginning to love this clean and simple look - great for if you need a quick card.

I hope you can come along and join us this time, and watch out for our new 'Winner's Post' which will now be published on the Sunday following each new challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

Clean and Simple at C4G

Hello again,

It's time for our next challenge over at Cardz 4 Guys and this week Julie has chosen the theme of

'CLEAN and SIMPLE'

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

Now I never used to like this style very much (especially as I am a 'use every embellishment in the box' kinda girl) but more recently I have discovered a love of all things simple. It's a great opportunity to make a quick card and also to use up any paper scraps (which I have a mountain of!)

This one measures 6x6" and is made using a piece of milk cardstock which I inked around the edges using 'Walnut Stain' distress ink. I used one stamp (from an Indigoblu set), a scalloped circle cut from a piece of scrap brown card, a small oval of milk card and a little 'thank you' sentiment, cut from an old HOTP paper pad. Simples! 

Why not come and join us this week with your own CAS projects.

Hugz, Jan xx

Clean and Simple

Good morning,

Hello and welcome to my new followers - I do hope my crafting brings a little inspiration into your world.

I've just popped on with a quick post today - don't you just hate it when you nearly forget a birthday! I was sat looking at my calendar at the weekend and realised that I needed to make a card quickly to catch the post. Here's the result ...

30 minutes later and my card was ready to post - that's quick for me when I can often spend around two hours making a card! A really sweet clean and simple design using one of my favourite LOTV fairies called 'Never too old for a Hug' - how true! She is coloured with my trusty Promarkers and then I ran it through the printer to pop on the sentiment, before mounting it on purple cardstock. 

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

Clean and Simple at Studio 12

Hi there crafters,

It's my turn to post over at Studio 12 for Polkadoodles today, so I thought I would show you a really quick 'Clean and Simple' card using two stamps from the fabulous Studio 12 range.  I do tend to spend forever on my cards, but occasionally we all need to make a 'quickie' at the last minute - so here's what I made ...

I used the leaf stamp from the 'Shabby Owl Blossom' set and stamped the image three times in black ink, inverting the middle image.  I added a little colour to the leaves with my Promarkers and drew a doodled border to frame them.  I stamped out the sentiment from the 'Leave a Little Sparkle' set and added a few adhesive gems.  I mounted the whole thing on green pearlised cardstock before adding to my card base.

Quick and simple! What do you think?

Hugz, Jan xx

S is for Scary!

Happy Friday,

Hope you've all had a great week - not only is it Friday (my day off) but it's half term next week. Yay! So lots of crafting planned.

It's time for the next letter over at the Alphabet Challenge and this time Sheena has chosen the theme 'SCARY' for the letter 'S'.  Now as the end of October looms, Halloween springs to mind - but since I have had a week of Halloween projects, I decided to do something a little different for this one and kept it 'Clean and Simple'. Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I always take ages designing and making my projects, but decided to do something 'Clean and Simple' for this one to show that it doesn't always have to be something fussy to make the point. This one only took me about twenty minutes to make and I think it fits the theme nicely.  

I used a 'scary' ghostie image from the internet and added the lettering 'BOO' using my Clarity Stamp 'Letterbox' kit. I also added a little shading under the lettering with some Black Soot distress ink and a little bit of shading with my Promarkers around the edge of the image.  A hand drawn border to finish and then I mounted it on black card. Simples!

I can't wait to see everyone's interpretation of the theme this time - so come and join us with your 'scary' projects.

Hugz, Jan xx

Keep it Clean and Simple

Morning everyone,

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and enjoyed some sunshine.  We celebrated my youngest daughter's 21st birthday yesterday - my I'm feeling old! Lol. I will upload her birthday card later in the week.

It's time for a new challenge over at Make My Monday and this week we would love to see your 'Clean and Simple' projects using FLOWERS. So no fancy distressing or embellishing - just a nice CAS look with flowers as the main theme.  Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

Well, this is a very different look for me (coming from the person who never knows when to stop embellishing!) and I am coming to love this style of crafting. They look so crisp and are so quick and easy to design. This one is 6x6" and is a piece of white pearlescent cardstock matted onto a square of turquoise textured card.  I used a flower die to cut out the flower shape, allowing the turquoise layer to show through. I then added a second, smaller flower cut from a scrap of patterned paper with a button centre to highlight. A piece of twine and a sentiment to finish off.

I shall look forward to visiting your blogs to see your interpretations of our theme this week.

Hugz, Jan xx

Craft Stamper

Helloooo,

I have another 'Clean and Simple' card today - I am becoming addicted to these clean looking cards, which is rich coming from one who normally can't stick enough on a card - I usually have to give myself a stern warning to 'walk away'!! Lol.

I made this card to enter into the current challenge over at the 'Craft Stamper Magazine' blog, which is based around the 'Faux Air Brushing' technique that was demonstrated in the March 2013 issue. Here's what I made ...

First I masked an area across the card and sponged 'Tumbled Glass' distress ink through a mask to make a background. Then I cut out a template using some flower dies, placed this over my card and sponged 'Victorian Velvet' distress ink through the gaps. I also used the same ink to stamp a text impression through the gap onto the flowers before removing the template. The sentiment is Creative Expressions and is stamped with black archival ink. To finish off I doodled along the border and the stems for the flowers, before adding a pearl centre to each flower.

Hugz, Jan xx

Clean and Simple

Good morning to all my crafty friends and followers,

If all has gone according to plan I should be back at school this morning, after a couple of sick days last week.

And what better way to celebrate Monday morning than with a new challenge over at the 'Make My Monday' challenge blog. This week we would love to see your 'Clean and Simple' projects using a monotone theme. Well, I was half way there - I love working in monotone, but clean and simple - now there's a challenge for someone who doesn't know when to stop with the embellishments!! Lol. Here's what I made ...

Well, there you go - see what you can do when you try! (It was hard though, I must admit I wanted to stick a few more embellishment on it!) All I used was my favourite distress ink - Victorian Velvet (yes, again I hear you say!), one of my favourite wording stamps, a piece of pink organza ribbon and a little metal heart embellishment. Definitely clean and simple!

I hope you can join us for the challenge and I shall look forward to checking out your projects during the week. Don't forget to pop over and take a peek at my talented teamies too.

Hugz, Jan xx

Valentine

Hello there,

It's Friday again, which means it's time for another great challenge over at the Polkadoodles Challenge blog.  This week our theme is 'Valentine Love' and we would love to see your Valentine projects.  I decided to go all contemporary for this one - here's my DT inspiration ...

I used smooth white cardstock to make an A5 sized card.  I layered a slightly smaller piece of white card onto a mat of lilac pearlised cardstock.  The 'Valentine' lettering was printed on my pc before I put the card together.  The hearts and the paper used for the die-cut border are both from the new 'Cherryblossom Lane' CD and a piece of ribbon from my stash to finish off.  A really quick 'clean and simple' card.

Don't forget to pop over to the blog to check out some more fab inspiration from my teamies and if you would like a copy of the 'Cherryblossom CD' (or any other Polkadoodles CDs) - they are all on offer at £9.99 at the Polkadoodles shop HERE.

Hugz, Jan xx