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

Home Sweet Home

Good morning,

It's my turn to post over at STUDIO 12 at Polkadoodles today and I have made a little wall plaque using a combination of CD images and acrylic stamps ...

I couldn't resist the cute little house from the 'House of Hearts' collection and I masked it and added a few other stamps to make a little scene on a piece of craft card.  I stamped the house again on book paper and paper pieced it over the top of the first stamped image.  I then coloured the whole thing with my Promarkers. 

The background is one flat layer, put together on my computer using a backing paper from the 'Picknix 2 - Gingerbread Twist CD'.  The gorgeous frame, piece of lace and the sentiment are from the 'Welcome Home' section of the 'Picknix 1 CD'.  

The whole thing is mounted on kraft card with a piece of twine added to hang it with.  Hope you like it.

Ooo, and don't forget we have a brand new Polkadoodles challenge starting tomorrow and I'll be back then to explain more, but for now here's a little sneaky peek (but don't tell the boss!).

Enjoy your day,

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

A Significant Birthday

Hi there friends,

Well, that's my first week back at school complete and I'm shattered. I've haven't done any crafting all week and I am having serious withdrawal. It's my day off tomorrow so guess what I'll be doing for most of the day!

Anyway, as it's Friday it's time for another challenge over at Polkadoodles - this week the theme is

'A SIGNIFICANT BIRTHDAY' 

so we would love to see your projects to celebrate. It can be any significant number - I chose a 50th since I celebrated mine earlier this year. Here's what I made ...

I have decorated a brown kraft gift bag with paper from the Picknix 1 CD and stamped around the edge with the 'Distressed Zig Zag' stamp from Studio 12. The topper is made using the 'Shabby Owl Blossom' stamp plate, also from Studio 12 and coloured with my Promarkers. I added a stamped greeting and a little '50th' embellishment to finish.

Why not pop over to the blog for some more fab inspiration from my teamies - they have all been very creative. Which celebration will you choose?

Hugz, Jan xx

What if the Trees weren't Green!

Happy Tuesday,

I hope everyone enjoyed the Bank Holiday weekend - I can't believe the next bank holiday will be Christmas!!

It's my turn to post over at Studio 12 for Polkadoodles today and I have a page from my art journal to show you. I have used some of the gorgeous new Studio 12 acrylic stamps which are now back in stock in the PD store. Here's what I made ...

Stamps used include:

Dreamy Trees (I adore these!)

Distressed Zig Zags (around the edges)

Shabby Owl Blossom (for the leaves)

The background was coloured using three distress stains (mustard seed, dried marigold and fired brick), then I added a little interest to the background using a stencil, a bottle lid and a little white acrylic paint. I stamped the border and the leaves using black archival ink and stamped the trees onto book pages before colouring with my Promarkers. The wording was printed on my pc.

Why not pop over to the Polkadoodles store now and order your stamps - I would love to see your creations.

Hugz, Jan xx

Studio 12 at Polkadoodles

Good Morning,

I do hope that everyone is having a great weekend. It's my turn to post over at the Polkadoodles blog today and I have made a little something using the Picknix 1 CD. I must admit I had a little panic when I realised it was my turn to post and the colour cartridge had ran out in my printer! So into my scraps I went and this is what I came up with ...

I printed the sentiment onto a piece of white card then added the little hexagons which I stamped and cut out of scraps of paper left over from a previous project! A little bit of distress ink and some added flowers to finish off. A really quick and simple card!

Don't forget to pop over to the Polkadoodles on-line store where you can order the brand new 'Bonbon Belles' double CD - I can't believe how much Nikky has packed on this one for only £17.99.

Hugz, Jan xx

A Little Box of Notecards

Happy Sunday to everyone out there,

It's my turn to post over at Studio 12 today, 

and here's what I made using the very versatile
 'Picknix Collection 1 CD'.

First of all I made a little box from white linen cardstock 

and topped it with a mat of red card and then a topper 

with one of the pretty flowers from the CD decoupaged on top. 

I also added a little 'Thank You' stamp too.

Inside the box is a set of three dinky little notecards 

bearing the same flower and a gorgeous sentiment 

'Earth laughs in flowers', also from the CD.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

Inky Fingers at Studio 12

Morning everyone,

It's my turn to post a little inspiration over on the Studio 12 blog today - here's what I made ...

This gorgeous heart image is one of the cutting files in the 'Welcome Home' section of the Picknix 1 CD. But as I don't have a cutting machine, I like to use them as .png images to print. I love the solid black outlines, which are great for printing onto an inky background, which I made using one of my favourite distress ink colours - Victorian Velvet, with a little added spritz of pearl shimmer mist.

Once finished, I popped the inked piece through my printer and added the heart image and the sentiment, which is also from the CD. I printed a second copy of the hearts and cut out some of the centres to make a mask, before stamping inside a couple with a small flower stamp. I coloured a couple of the other hearts with an extra layer of distress ink and then outlined the whole thing with a Promarker to give some shadow.

Hope you like it - have a great day.

Hugz, Jan xx

Gingerbread Twist

Good morning,

I hope you are all having a great weekend, despite all this cold weather. It kept trying to snow here yesterday but so far hasn't settled. I'm really fed up with it all now and wish spring would put in an appearance sometime soon!

It's my turn to post over at the Studio 12 blog at Polkadoodles today and here's what I made ...

I printed the gingerbread recipe onto some of the fab paper and added several elements from the Picknix 2 CD.  The 'gingerbread' title is printed using a font on my pc and the little recipe tab is stamped from one of my own stamps.  Quick and simple!

I would love to see your 'non-Christmassy' designs using the CD, so what are you waiting for ??

Hugz, Jan xx

Pretty Things

Happy Tuesday everyone,

It's my turn to post on the Studio 12 blog at Polkadoodles today and I would like to show the project I was working on over the weekend.  It's something a little different today using the 'All Sewn Up' section of the 'Picknix - Volume 1' CD.  Here's what I made using just one image and one piece of paper (and a few bits from my stash) ...

I printed the mannequin outline and covered it with blue paper from the CD.  I used a wooden lollipop stick which I covered with two die-cuts for the upright part and secured it with glue gel to a base cut with my 'Circle' and 'Scalloped Circle' nesties.  The base is then decorated with a selection of flowers and leaves and a little 'With Love' sentiment.  The skirt is made by folding a piece of the blue paper concertina style and I added a piece of ivory lace around the bottom before securing it to the mannequin.  I trimmed the waistline with a piece of blue ribbon and added a flat backed pearl in the centre.  Finishing touches include a little necklace made from adhesive gems and a blue pearl heart on the bodice.  Hope you like it :)

Have a great day,

Hugz, Jan xx

Xmas Decorations at Studio 12

Good morning,

I hope the weekend finds everyone well.  It's my turn to post over on the Studio 12 blog today and I thought I would show you a simple little Christmas ornament that I made using the Picknix 2 - Gingerbread Twist CD ...

It's made using two papers and a sentiment from the CD, plus two die-cut scalloped circles and lots of bling!   I cut a scalloped circle from dark red pearlised card, then added a slightly smaller scalloped circle cut from one of the red papers, which was inked around the edge with Walnut Stain distress ink.  The next layer is a concertina paper rosette made using the second red paper and the topper is a sentiment from the CD mounted on another dark red scalloped circle.  Bling it up to your hearts content and add a piece of hanging ribbon and 'Voila' - a simple decoration.

You could easily adapt these to include an image in the centre, or even personalise them with family greetings.

See you all soon,

Hugz, Jan xx

It's Candy Time ...

Morning everyone,

I hope you are all tucked up nice and warm and not having to battle any snow! I can't believe it snowed in October!

Well, as another month passes us by it's candy time again over at the Studio 12 blog - the design team have been very busy with some fab inspiration for you and there is some fantastic candy just waiting to be won.

In preparation for christmas I've made a Carol Sheet, ready for when I go carol singing!!! It would really be snowing then, I hear you say!! Lol.

I used the gorgeous frame from the 'Candy Wraps' jar in the Picnix Pantry on the 'Gingerbread Twist CD'.  I added the 'Jingle Bells' title and then typed out the lyrics for this popular christmas song.  The little bell embellishment is also from the CD. All together now ...,

Hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend,
Hugz, Jan xx

Beautiful Moments at Studio 12

Happy Saturday everyone,

It's my turn to post over at Studio 12 again today and I have another quick and simple Christmas card to show you.  I love this particular sentiment from the 'Picknix 2 - Gingerbread Twist CD' and thought it deserved to be the focal point on the card, instead of my usual coloured image.  What do you think?

I used a plain white A5 card blank and added three different strips of blue paper from the 'Picknix 2 - Gingerbread Twist CD'.  The silver ribbon is from my stashbox and I embellished with a couple of punched snowflakes and some self adhesive gems.

Don't forget to check out the blog tomorrow for the October giveaway - oops, did I say that out loud!! Lol x

Have a great weekend (and don't forget to change the clocks tonight!)

Hugz, Jan xx

Contemporary Christmas

Hi there everyone,

It's my turn to post on the Studio 12 blog and I have christmas project for you today.

I have been reading a lot about the cutting files that Nikky included on the Studio 12 Picknix CDs and Lou's snowflake card yesterday was lush, but sadly I do not have a cutting machine (hope Santa's listening!) Lol.

Anyhow, I have avoided choosing them from the pantry menu on the CD up until now, but thought I would take a little look at the files and what did I find!  Some gorgeous black silouhette .png images that can still be exported into your chosen publishing software to play with.  Maybe I'm a bit dim, but I didn't know you could use them like this - thought they were just for cutting, doh!

So after playing around with them in Microsoft Word, here's what I came up with ...

I made a Christmas card and matching gift tag, using just two of the many gorgeous images from the cutting file choices.  

I cut my background paper to the chosen sizes for the project, then went to work with my distress inks for a change, instead of using a backing paper.  I layered up four colours using a blending tool, starting with Mustard Seed, then added Dried Marigold, then Spiced Marmalade and finished with Rusty Hinge (I just love the names on these inks!)  I then stamped around the edges with a little snowflake stamp in some of the same colours to build up the background.  

Once I had manipulated my chosen images to the right size for the project, I printed them onto the inked backgrounds.  The easiest way I have found to do this is to print the images onto a piece of plain copier paper, then position your background pieces into the right place using a little repositional glue (I use my tape runner) then pass the paper back through your printer.  This allows perfect alignment of the images, ready to use in your project.  

Mine are backed onto black glossy card to accent the black images and I drew a funky pot under the tree to fill the gap. Some black adhesive gems and a bit of sparkle and hey presto - a bit of contemporary christmas!

Enjoy the weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

Gingerbread Gift Box

Hi everyone

It's my turn to post over at the Studio 12 blog today and I thought I would show you another of my TV samples for the amazing Picknix 2 collection 'Gingerbread Twist'.  This little box template is so versatile and can be used for almost any occasion - this time I made a little christmas gift, using the gingerbread theme and filled it with gingerbread biscuits.

The paper and all the different elements are from the 'Gingerbread Twist' CD, with the addition of some die-cut shapes and my favourite 'Walnut Stain' ink to define the outer edges of the box.  The box template can be found on the Polkadoodles 'Paper Boutique - Vol 1' CD.

I am definitely planning a few more of these for little christmas treats this year.  

Hugz, Jan xx

A Gingerbread Christmas

Morning everyone,

It's my turn to post over on the Studio 12 blog today and I can't believe just how many gorgeous ideas have been shown over the last couple of weeks - I consider myself very fortunate to work with such a talented bunch of people.

I thought I would show you one of my TV samples that I made for the launch of the new Picknix 2 collection.  I just adore all those little gingerbread people and couldn't resist popping one straight onto a card the minute I received them.  So, here we go ...

I love this shade of green, I think it's much softer than the traditional christmassy green and I used three different papers that all co-ordinate nicely for the background layering on the card.  The little gingerbread girl is sooo cute with her little mop cap and christmas stocking - I printed her straight from the CD and layered her onto some matching cardstock.  The sentiment is also from the CD.  A piece of organza ribbon, a couple of sprigs of holly (also from the CD) and some red adhesive gems finish off the card.  Hope you like it!

Have a great weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

Chocolate Box

Hello there,

It's my turn to post on the Studio 12 blog again today and I have a little gift idea to show you using a box template and the Studio 12 Picknix CD ...

I printed two sheets of the pink polkadot paper, reloaded them into the printer and then printed the box template on the reverse.  I cut, scored, folded and inked the pieces before cutting an aperture into the front using my nestabilities.  I secured a piece of acetate behind the aperture and added a scalloped circle border around the outside.  Once glued together the box was decorated with a sentiment from the CD, a little heart and charm, some die cut flowers and the cute little pink daisies from the CD.  I nestled some tissue paper in the bottom of the box and filled with chocolate, before fastening with a piece of co-ordinating organza ribbon.  A lovely little gift which took me about 40 minutes to create (which my daughter then tried to pinch. How rude!).

Note:  the box template is from the Polkadoodles 'Paper Boutique' (Vol 1) CD.

Have a great weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

Mini Accordion Book

Hi there crafty people,

I'm back today with another crafty little make for the Studio 12 blog using the fantastic Studio 12 Picknix CD.  This time I have gone all miniature and made a cute little accordion book using loads of elements from the 'All Sewn Up' collection.  Here's the front ...

I used a piece of stampboard for the front covering it with one of my favourite Picknix papers, which has a little cross-stitched element and a sentiment (from the Welcome Home collection) layered on top digitally.  I then treated it to a bit of my favourite distress ink and added some little stamped branches at the top.

I gave the same treatment to the back piece of stampboard and added the 'Handmade with Love' element digitally.  Don't forget to add the ribbon closure!

And here's what I did inside ...

I layered up lots of little miniature elements onto another design of Picknix paper, adding shadows to them to make them look more dimensional.  I then scored and folded concertina stylie.  The edges are all inked with distress ink and I added some more little stamped branches, a few punched flowers and doodled some little hanging hearts.

Hope you like it - pop over to the blog to see some more fantastic inspiration from my teamies too.  So many different ways to use your Picknix collection (and if you haven't got yours yet, then why not?)

Have a great weekend,
Hugz, Jan xx

You are Invited ...

Hi everyone,

The weekend starts here and it's my turn over at the Studio 12 blog again today - I hope you have all had a chance to enter our August giveaway - check out the blog for the rules.

Well, I don't know about you, but we have finally had some nice sunny weather here over the last few days - which got me thinking about barbeques and picnics and general al fresco dining.  So, I have used the fantastic Picknix CD to make a little invite using elements from the 'Heavenly Garden' and 'Welcome Home' sections ...

This was a fairly quick and simple project - I copied a piece of pink polkadot paper into 'Word' on my pc, resized it and then washed out the colour a little, before adding a faux stitched border.  I added the bunting, lemonade stand and cupcakes (which are so easy to layer up) and then added the written details in a text box.  I coloured the 'Picnic' lettering with a pink Promarker and thought I would invite you all at Studio 12 to my picnic.  See you all there !!! Lol.

This project could easily be adapted to cover a whole range of events - you might never need to buy invites again!

Have a great weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

Pen Holder

Hi there everyone,

I must say I am a little giddy today - I finished school on Thursday for the summer (if we get one!) so I have loadz of time for my crafting.

It's my turn to post over on the Studio 12 blog today, but I have posted here too for those of you who haven't discovered Stuido 12 yet.

I have something a little different today, made using the 'Welcome Home' section of the fantastic Picknix Collection CD, designed by the very talented Nikky Hall at Polkadoodles.  Here's what I made ...

This project started out life as a plain brown shaped chipboard container (which I bought recently at a craft fayre).  I painted the base and the top edge with a layer of Gesso, then added some pearlised turquoise paint and left to dry.  I covered the piece with paper from the CD, which has been inked around the edges with Broken China distress ink.  I also used a spray bottle top to stamp some extra circles onto the paper pieces using the same ink, for extra effect.  I added a piece of pale blue polkadot organza ribbon from my stash and two hearts (printed from the CD).  Embellishments include a die-cut swirl, some turquoise adhesive gems, two pale blue hat pins, two blue roses and a pretty bow to match the ribbon.  I kept the rest of the pot fairly simple, with just one heart on the back ...

I hope this shows how versatile the CD can be - it doesn't always have to be a card, there are endless projects to make using all the fantastic papers and embellishments on the CD.  If you haven't discovered Studio 12 yet, pop over to the blog here and take a peek.

Just before I go, don't forget that our Nikky (Chief Polkadoodler) is on Create and Craft today (11am and 4pm) showcasing a new Christmas CD - any bets on how long it will take to sell out?

Have a great weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx