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

May Your Day Sparkle

Hello again,

As we have three Saturdays in April, I have dropped in at Fantasy Stampers today with a little extra motivation for the current challenge - Monochrome.

Here's what I made using just inks and stamps ...

I used three shades of distress ink in Tumbled Glass, Broken China and Faded Denim to create the background, then added lots of stamps from another magazine freebie set (I told you I bought far too many magazines for the free stamps!!) 

We are always on the look out for Guest Designers for the midway motivation on every other Saturday, so if you are interested in joining us just give me a shout - you can find my contact details at the top right of my blog under the 'Contact Me' tab.

Hope your weekend is going well.

Hugz, Jan xx

Backgrounds

Happy Tuesday,

I hope everyone had a good weekend and found time for something crafty.

I have my DT project for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz today - this challenge is all about the men in our life and has definitely helped me get going when designing my male themed cards. My team mate Joan has chosen the theme for the next seven days ...

'MAKE YOUR 

OWN BACKGROUND'

Here's what I came up with using my distress inks ...

I started with one piece of white card and then added Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon and Evergreen Bough distress inks using my blending tool. Next I used my favourite Stampin' Up grunge stamp to add some splatters using the same ink colours. I added a couple of pieces of torn book paper and coloured those to match, before passing the whole piece through a hexagon embossing folder. Then I cut the piece into three equal strips and rounded one end by drawing around a suitable sized pot and just trimming with my scissors.

The three strips are mounted on a piece of black card and I added a black strip, a piece of dark green ribbon and a stamped topper (stamped using an Inkylicious stamp with black archival ink).

I love making these backgrounds, but I also am addicted to my paper pads and must admit I usually reach for them when designing the background of a card (I have so many to choose from!!)

Why not pop over to the blog and check out some great projects from the rest of the team.

Hugz, Jan xx

No Design Papers

Happy Tuesday,

Only four more days to go - not that I'm counting!! Lol.

It's time for our next challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week Kim has challenged us to use 'NO DESIGN PAPERS'. Although I have enough design papers in my stash to last two lifetimes, I do really enjoy making my own backgrounds. Here's what I came up with for my DT inspiration ...

I began with a square of white card and applied three different colours of distress ink (Tumbled Glass, Evergreen Bough and Tea Dye) using my ink dusters. Then I splattered some water on it before adding some inked splodges using the same colours. Finally I passed it through one of my embossing folders and then dragged some Gathered Twigs distress ink over the embossing to highlight it.

I stamped the wording using black archival ink and distressed the edges to match. It is fastened on with twine threaded through the four eyelets. Hope you like it.

Hugz, Jan xx

World Wildlife

Good morning,

Well, I survived my trip into the forest last week and we had the most amazing time. The children were awesome and thoroughly enjoyed their first residential - not a single tear was shed at bedtime (from the children or the 'grown ups'!) Lol. I think they were so exhausted, then didn't even have the energy to think about it.

Anyway, back to crafty things and I'm back today with my DT inspiration for the next challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz. This week Kim has chosen the theme of

'WORLD WILDLIFE'

Here's what I came up with ...

I had to cheat a little with a computer generated silhouette image which is printed over the top of an inked panel which I created by masking out the area, adding a moon mask and then dusting with Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold, Rusty Hinge and a touch of Picked Raspberry distress inks. The little stamped image is one of my new purchases from LOTV. The whole thing is mounted on black to frame the design.

Hugz, Jan xx

In Distress!

Hi there crafty friends and followers,

Well, it's time for another theme over at my challenge blog, 'FANTASY STAMPERS' and for the next two weeks we would love to see your 'DISTRESSED' projects. Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

Although my usual style is usually very cutesy, I loved making this one with all its distressed edges. I wanted to keep it 'pretty' so I went with a pink tone to compliment the Tea Dye distress ink. All the paper edges are distressed with my scissors (it looked like a snow storm when I had finished!) and some of them inked too. I have a couple of little tears and curled corners for extra distressed effect. The background is stamped with an Indigoblu hessian stamp, then I went a little mad with the frantage powder. Ooops! Finally a faux stitching stamp around the edge (which actually looks quite realistic in the photo).

The stamp is an old wooden mounted Hero Arts one I have had for ever and is called 'Collage Gratitude'. I coloured the central flower with my Promarker to add a little colour. 

The flowers are die-cut using Tim Holtz 'Tattered Flower Garland' and then inked with the Tea Dye distress ink and have pearl centres. 

The shabby bow is made from cream seam binding which I distressed with some Tattered Rose distress ink, so it matched the design better.

If you have the time, why not pop over to the challenge blog and check out what my team made too - there are some fab distressed samples.
Hugz, Jan xx

Something Spooky

Hello there,

Well, I made it to the end of the first half term and now have a week off to look forward to. I plan on getting my christmas stash out and making a start on all things Christmas in an attempt to get ahead. I will let you know how I get on.

Today we have a new theme over at my own challenge blog, FANTASY STAMPERS. For the next two weeks we would love to see your projects showcasing

'SOMETHING SPOOKY'

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

I love working with my distress inks and decided to make a tag for this one. I began with a piece of white card and inked it with Seedless Preserve and Dusty Concord distress inks, taking care to mask out the moon area first.  I added a few hills in the background using torn paper and then stamped the tree with archival black ink (remembering to remove the moon mask first!)

I also stamped the witch and cauldron, together with a few pebbles at the bottom and some leaves around the left edge. I didn't have any stamps of bats, so I drew a couple in with my micron pen! I added Black Soot distress ink to the edges once finished and then mounted onto a piece of black cardstock.  I also cut a smaller piece of the inked card and stamped my 'Happy Halloween' sentiment and added to it to the bottom of the tag. 

I hope you can come and join in with our challenge this time - see you there.

Hugz, Jan xx

Blue at My Besties UK

Good morning,

I hope everyone had a great weekend - mine involved some impromptu crafty shopping with my baby girl. I bought one or two bits and pieces to add to my stash - including a fab new paper pad which was reduced in the clearance section - bargain!

On a crafty note, it's time for our next challenge over at My Besties UK and this week Carol challenge the design team to use the colour blue. So, I decided to be a little alternate today and use one of Sherri's little boy images for a change - here's what I ended up with for my DT inspiration ...

I delved into my stash of plain tags for this one and covered it with a piece of card which I had inked with various blue distress inks. I also ran it through my hexagon embossing folder and applied a little gilding wax to highlight areas to make the background.

The image was coloured with my Promarkers and added to the tag, along with the wording 'Little Boy Blue' which I created on my pc, then tore and inked around the edges.

Embellishments include a piece of pale blue polkadot ribbon, a few blue buttons, some blue die-cut stars and a couple of blue brads. Righty, I think there is sufficient blue there, don't you! Lol.

Hope you will come and join us with your own 'blue' creations this time - if you would like some more inspiration, why not pop over to the main blog and check out what my teamies made too.

Hugz, Jan xx

A Song Title

Hello crafters,

I'm back today with news of our next challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week Kim has chosen the theme of

'A SONG TITLE'

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

I chose the song 'Bird on a Wire' and I love the version by the Neville Brothers. 

My card is all done with ink using my inkdusters - first inking through a Clarity brickwork stencil with Antique Linen and Tea Dye (covering the aperture with a die-cut circle first).  Then I covered the outside and worked in the aperture - creating hills with torn paper using Bundled Sage distress ink, a little Tumbled Glass for the sky and some Scattered Straw around the sun.  I drew in my 'wires' using a black micron pen and stamped my little birdie in Gathered Twigs distress ink.

I doodled around the aperture to make it stand out better and added a 'Thank You' sentiment from my Stampin Up 'Sassy Salutations' stamp set.

I hope you will come and join us this week.

Hugz, Jan xx

C for Country Flowers

Good morning,

Well, TGIF - thank goodness it's Friday! It's been a tough one this week, so I'm glad my day off is here!

It's also time for our next letter over at the Alphabet Challenge - we are upto the letter 'C' and for the next two weeks Jennifer has chosen the theme of

'COUNTRY FLOWERS'

Now, flower stamps I have in abundance - but country flowers, I had to think about this one. Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I decided to try something different today, in more ways than one. First of all I made a landscape DL card, something I don't do very often (I always seem to prefer my square designs). Secondly I made my own background again, using one of my embossing folders and some distress ink. And thirdly, I stamped onto watercolour paper using distress inks!!! Yep, not a Promarker in sight! (Did I hear you all gasp then?)

I decided to use one my silhouette stamps, which I think looks like a country type flower. I inked up the stamp with 'Tumbled Glass' distress ink on the flower heads and 'Bundled Sage' on the stems/leaves. Then spritzed with a little water and stamped onto the watercolour paper. This was repeated with 'Dried Marigold' and 'Bundled Sage' to created the row of flowers. I added a little extra foliage across the bottom using 'Peeled Paint' distress ink. I used my ink duster brush to apply a light covering of blue to the sky (leaving a little masked area for the sun), then stamped the little birdies in 'Frayed Burlap'.

I thought the sentiment was perfect for this one and stamped onto a little die-cut tag, adding a twine bow to finish. 

Why not come and join us this week with your pretty floral creations - which country flower/s will you choose?

Hugz, Jan xx

Card Recipe

Happy Monday,

Well, I've had a rubbish weekend which started on Thursday night when I got the dreaded cold that's been flying around. My youngest has been really bad with it, so combined with all the 'poorly' kids at school, I suppose it was inevitable! Not feeling sorry for myself, much! Lol.

On a crafty note, it's time for our next challenge at Make My Monday and this week our leader, Jacqueline, has chosen a 'CRAFTY CARD RECIPE' to follow. Now, I'm really glad I checked this one because all I had written on my calendar was the word 'recipe' - so, I think you can guess where this was going! Off I went to find a yummy food recipe that I could adapt around a card! Good job I checked first then!

Our recipe this week is as follows - you must use:

5 Gems, 4 Colours, 3 Images, 2 Layers and 1 Word

So away with the cookery books and out with my inks and here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I started with a piece of plain white cardstock (16cm x 10cm). First job was to apply the ink - I started with 'Scattered Straw' at the top, then 'Victorian Velvet' for the hills and 'Mowed Lawn' for the grass in the foreground (plus my black makes 4 colours). Next I stamped the vine leaves around the edge, the long grasses in the bottom right corner and the little flock of birdies across the moon (3 images). I stamped my one word 'Inspire' using black archival ink, then added 5 little 'aurora borealis' adhesive gems underneath the word. Finally I mounted the whole piece on a black mount, making my 2 layers.

I can't wait to see everyone's interpretation of this week's theme - see you soon.
Hugz, Jan xx

Steampunk Style

Good morning,

Well, today is the first day of my half term break from school and it's going to be a tough one! I have taken my little fur baby to the vets this morning to have his teeth cleaned and some taken out. For those of you who know me, my little doggies are my world and I will be a nervous wreck until we bring him back home later today and I know he will need lots of cuddles.

Anyway, on with business and it is time for our next challenge over at Make My Monday and this week Suzi has chosen the theme of 'STEAMPUNK'. I have never found this an easy one, but here's what I came up with for your inspiration ...

It all started out as a piece of milk cardstock which I have stencilled on, stamped on and added my Steampunk design.  I used Gathered Twigs distress ink for all of this project - first dusting over the stencil with my ink dusters, then I added some stamped cogs around the edges for more definition.  I stamped the wings and crown, cut them out, inked them and added them to the design before securing the brass clockface in position.  I produced the lettering on my pc, cut them out, inked them and added them to the bottom of the project - adding a little stamped top hat for fun.  I also sprinkled on some frantage powder to add a little texture.

Hope you like it - I shall look forward to seeing your interpretations of our theme this week.

Hugz, Jan xx

Halloween

Hi there,

I'm back with my second post today and I can see already that it's going to be a week of all things Halloween.  It's time for our next challenge over at Make My Monday and yes, you guessed, we would love to see your spooky projects this week with a theme of

'HALLOWEEN'

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

The card is 6x6" in size including the die-cut edge.  The main focal point started out as a piece of white card which I inked using my ink dusters with Spiced Marmalade and Rusty Hinge distress inks.  I then stamped out the images which are from Lavinia Stamps using a black archival ink pad.  I added a few little hills with a touch of Black Soot distress ink and mounted the whole piece on a black die-cut Lacey Square.  I stamped the sentiment on a piece of scrap inked card to match.

I am looking forward to seeing all your spooky projects this week, so good luck with your entries.

Hugz, Jan xx

Tree Friends

Happy Monday,

I hope you all had a great weekend - I sat feeling sorry for myself after a rather nasty cold bug landed on me on Saturday!

It's time for our next challenge over at Make My Monday and this week Laura chosen the theme and you have a choice - we would love to see your projects showcasing either

  'FLOWERS or TREES'.

I love nature themes and decided to get my ink dusters out again - here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

The background is made using distress inks in Tumbled Glass and Broken China.  The tree image is a digital image which I manipulated to make smaller to create the trio and then flipped it for the reflection in the water. Finally I put the whole piece through an embossing folder for some added texture.  A little glitter and a sentiment finishes off my project. Hope you like it.

Please pop over to the main blog and check out what my teamies decided on for their DT projects.  Will you choose 'flowers' or 'trees'?

Hugz, Jan xx

Follow Your Heart

Hello and good morning from a very wet Yorkshire,

I'm back today with a little make using some more of the gorgeous Studio 12 stamps from Polkadoodles. I adore the little 'heart' which can be found on the 'Distressed Zig Zag' set which you can buy in our on-line store HERE.

Here's what I made ...

The artwork measures 8.5 cm square and is framed with a 6x6" mount, but you could just as easily recreate this on a mini canvas. 

I began with a piece of white cardstock which I covered with distress inks in Mustard Seed and Peacock Feathers. Then I used a variety of little stamps from the same set to over stamp using the same inks to create a background (the text stamp is from my own stash).  I stamped the hearts directly onto the card and then stamped again on a scrap of book paper, cut them out and coloured them with the same distress inks before embossing the front one with clear powder. The sentiment is printed on my pc and I added a little doodled line around the edge.

Don't forget our new challenge went live yesterday - so if you haven't seen it yet just click HERE.

Have a great weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

It's all about the Scene

Hello again,

Here's my second post of the day and it's time for our next challenge over at Make My Monday. This week Rosie has chosen the theme and we would love to see you 'CREATE A SCENE' on your projects. Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I love making scenes with my inks and decided on a fantasy theme for this one.  The artwork measures 10cm x 20cm and I used distress inks in Victorian Velvet, Tumbled Glass and Dusty Concord applied with my ink dusters.  I used a piece of torn paper to create the hills and then used it as a mask to stamp in the fairy castle and the toadstools.  I stamped the little fairies and added some glitter as if they are sprinkling fairy dust. To finish off I added the foilage and leaves around the edge and mounted on black card.

What kind of scene will you create - I shall look forward to visiting your blogs during the week to check out your entries.

Hugz, Jan xx

A Summer Scene

Happy Monday to you all,

Well it is for me - I have an extra day off work today (an 'insect' day as my kids call it at school)! Lol. So, a little extra crafting time, I think.

It's time for the next challenge over at 'Make My Monday' and this week we would love to see your projects 'Creating a Summer Scene'. This one had me stumped for a while - couldn't think of any of my vast stash of stamps that I could apply to the theme, then I remembered these ...

The stamps are all individual ones from 'Art Impressions' which I bought ages ago - with lots of opportunities for masking. The scene is made up from three main stamps (watering can, wood tub and plantpot) with some added foliage and flowers.  The main parts were stamped onto watercolour paper with archival black ink and coloured with my distress inks and the flowers and foliage were stamped directly with the coloured distress inks. I added some colour to the background, a little fence and some green leaves around the edge. I decided to make a little easel card using 'Circles and Lacy Circles' Spellbinder dies.  The little row of plantpots across the bottom were also stamped, masked and coloured with distress inks and used to provide a stopper for the card.  I added a cute little sentiment from my stash.

If you have time, please pop along to the main blog and check out the work of my teamies. 

Hugz, Jan xx

I love Purple!

Good Morning everyone,

Well, that's another weekend over and the start of a new week means it's time for a new challenge over at Make My Monday.  This week we have another of our famous colour challenges, chosen by Caz and we would love to see your projects using 'PURPLE plus one neutral colour'. What more could I ask for - anyone who knows me will know that I lurves purple!  Here's what I came up with for my DT inspiration ...

I decided to have another go with my inks and my new ink dusters, which I purchased at a recent show. I used three shades of purple - TH distress inks in 'Milled Lavender' (for the water), 'Dusty Concord' (for the sky) and an Adirondack in 'Aubergine' for the hills. I've also added a little black ink on the top of the hills to give some depth.  I chose black as my neutral colour so that I could stamp out the images and mat on a layer of black card.  I'm quite pleased with the results (although there are a couple of little mistakes in the reflection if you look closely!)

I can't wait to see your interpretations of the theme this week and shall look forward to visiting your blogs. Don't forget to check out the main blog for some fab inspiration from my teamies too.

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

Butterfly Eyes

Hi there everyone,

Well, it's day three of my Half Term break and all is well - lots of crafting done and I even did some housework too (but, sshhhh don't tell anyone!!)

It's my turn to post again today over at the Scrapbook Stamp Society and I have a card made using a fabulous butterfly image by Mitzi Sato-Wiuff (which can be found in their on-line store HERE).

The background is made using 'Broken China' and 'Seedless Preserve' distress inks. I then put the card front through my printer and added the butterfly image and the quote. I added extra colour to the image using Promarkers, together with a few highlights in white ink. The whole thing is mounted on black card and measures 6x6".

I would like to enter this into the challenges at: 

-  'Try it on Tuesday' which is 'All about the Eyes'

-  'Cute Card Thursday' which is 'An Eye for Detail'

Hope you have a great day :)

Hugz, Jan xx