Clarity Christmas

Happy Sunday everyone,

Just a quick post from me today - I am getting ready to go back to school tomorrow (groan!)

I have spent quite a bit of time watching the very talented Barbara Gray on C & C this weekend and decided to have a go yesterday with my new 'Letterbox' stamp set which I bought at a recent craft show.  So, armed with my brayer, splodge mat and stamp set away I went - here's the outcome:

I followed Barbara's lesson from the telly yesterday, although I don't have the same stamps as she did - so I improvised with a set from my stash.  The splodge mat has opened a whole new door as far as brayering is concerned and the new 'Letterbox' stamps are a dream to use.  I find it totally fascinating to create cards simply using ink and stamps - my normal style is to add a bit of everything! Lol.  I am really pleased with the result and the design looks so clean and simple.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

A Tag in a Pocket

Morning everyone,

I'm a little late posting this morning, have been engrossed in my art journal since 7am this morning! Yes, you heard right - I couldn't sleep!! Lol.

I have a different project to show today - as the title says, it's a tag in a pocket! Couldn't think what else to call it - see what you think ...

I made the pocket from some champagne card stock and then covered it with lush paper from the 'Prima Almanac' paper pad and a postcard from my stash.  I have recently bought the TH die to make paper rosettes and I can't stop playing with them.  The extra flowers are also Prima to match the Almanac range.  Embellishments include black die-cut swirls, buttons and adhesive pearls.

Here's the tag that nestles inside ...

I absolutely love this photo (can't remember where it's from, but there are several on one sheet).  

I would like to enter this in the 'Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - Pearls and Flowers'

Hope you all have a great weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

Bright and Sparkle

Hi there everyone,

It's Friday again, which means two things - my half term break is almost over and it's Polkadoodles challenge day!

As Bonfire night approaches quick and fast we would like to see your 'Bright and Sparkle' projects this week over at the challenge blog.  Remember, it doesn't have to be a card - it can be any project at all as long as we can see some 'bright' and 'sparkle'.

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

I thought I would have a change from Christmas this week and made a bright cheery card for a 'Special Day'.  The square paper pieces are all printed from the 'Sugar Plum Daisy CD' and are inked around the edges with matching distress ink.  I made the centre panel on my pc, using letters from the 'Picknix 2 - Gingerbread Twist CD' to spell the word 'Sparkle' (I exported them to Paint and played around with the colour to make them all bright).  The sentiment is also made on my pc and I added a sparkly star (printed from the 'Sundae of Seasons CD') then treated it to a generous helping of glitter for some lovely sparkle.

Go on, pop on over to the blog - you know you want to! Lol.

Hugz, Jan xx

Silhouette

Good morning,

Yay, I have finally managed to master my brayer! How did I do this I hear you ask?

Well, after watching a demonstration with the brilliant Barbara Gray at a recent craft show, I decided to spend some of my hard earned cash on a 'Splodge Mat'.  I then tucked it away carefully in my craft room, a little afraid to use it in case I failed again!  But boldy pushing my fear aside yesterday, I prepared all my equipment, chose my inks and had a play - finally achieving some success!

I wanted to enter the Joanna Sheen challenge this week, which is 'Silhouettes' so had a play around with a brayered background for my card.  This is what I came up with ...

I used Spun Sugar and Tumbled Glass distress inks with the brayer to make the background for both the picture and the card blank.  I over stamped the card blank with a swirly stamp and highlighted this with some pearlised chalks for a little extra interest.  The silhouette scenery stamps are mainly Clarity stamps and I added a little sprinkle of crystal glitter from the fairy (not easy to see on the photo).  A piece of black ribbon and bow, some black adhesive pearls and a stamped sentiment finish the card. 

It was very different for me not using any paper products on my card, but I must say I'm very pleased with my attempt and the 'Splodge Mat' definitely made it easier to manage the brayer - I can see my little brayer might not spend quite so much time in the cupboard now. Lol!

Enjoy your Thursday, 

Hugz, Jan xx

Christmas for the Girls

Hi there everyone and Happy Halloween,

Wow! This is my fifth day in a row posting - never been done before! Lol. I am definitely liking being at home and trying not to think about next week back at work.

I have a little card to show you today, made for 'Lili's Little Fairies blog challenge' - the theme this week is to make a Christmas card for the Girls.  Well, what better reason to get all my purple stuff out then :)  Here's what I made ...

This one's a 6x6" card blank covered with some pretty lilac snowflake paper from the 'Snowman paper pack', which is mounted onto some lilac card..  I added a piece of lilac organza ribbon across the middle before adding my topper.  The stamped image is LOTV - Twinkling Star and is coloured with Lilac and Amethyst Promarkers.  I added some sparkle to the little stars and snow with a glitter gel pen. The image is mounted on a Fleur de Lys nestie cut from the same lilac card as the background mat.  I die-cut some snowflakes from a piece of scrap and added self adhesive gems/pearl to the centres and finished with a little Christmas sentiment.  A fairly simple little card, but the LOTV stamps never fail to impress every time I use them.

I would also like to enter this card into 'That Craft Place's' challenge which is 'Tic Tac Toe' and I chose the left hand side column - Gems/Sentiment/Ribbon.

Thanx for taking the time to have a peek and enjoy your day, whatever you're doing.

Hugz, Jan xx

A bit of Romance

Happy Tuesday,

Well, I have made a discovery - how easy it would be to stay at home and craft all day! Lol x I wish ...  I had to give myself a good talking to yesterday, I need to work to fund my hobby - it's that simple!

Anyway, here's what I came up with yesterday morning after visiting a good friend's blog and seeing her gorgeous DT card for the 'Make My Monday' challenge, using a stamp that I have myself.  I must admit I haven't used it yet, so what better way to get it all inked up.  Here's what I made to enter the challenge ...

It's back to my favourite 8x8" card blanks today (which I now have in cream as well as white)! Lol.  The pink backing paper is from my stash and I gave it a liberal spritzing with my Cosmic Shimmer Pearl Mist first and then inked the edges with Pumice Stone distress ink for a subtle finish.  

The layout on the card was chosen to enter the 'Sketch N Stash' challenge and as I said earlier - I used a Kanban stamp that has been sat in my box, neglected for a little while :(  I coloured the hat and bodice with my Promarkers and then paper pieced and decoupaged the skirt to try and emphasise all the ruffles.  The gorgeous Eiffel Tower paper is from the 'Wild Rose Studio - Letters from Paris' paper pack, which fits the theme perfectly and is also edged with Pumice Stone distress ink to soften the edges.

I added some pretty ivory lace, a cluster of matching flowers, 3 gorgeous pearls, a metal corner and a little sentiment (made on my pc) which simply says 'Je t'adore'.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Make my Monday - France/Feminine Romance

Sketch N Stash - challenge 99

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Just add Pearl  

(pearl Cosmic Shimmer mist and 3 adhesive pearls)

Thanx for taking the time to look and a huge thanx to those of you who regularly leave me comments :)

Hugz, Jan xx

Halloween

Happy Monday morning to you,

I hope everyone had a great weekend, despite the snow in some places.  We had a little flurry on Friday evening, but not much more over the weekend, thank goodness.  It's half term break here this week, so I have more time to craft and visit blogland :)

I have been busy over the weekend with some design team work, but also made a little creation for Halloween too.  Here's what I came up with ...

This is the front of my little Accordion tag book, which is covered with some spooky black paper.  The image is LOTV - Abracadabra and is coloured with my Promarkers.  And now for the inside ...

The inside is covered with some more stashbox papers and a selection of die-cut and digital images, together with some super black ribbon which has purple witchy hats on, a little metal pumpkin charm and some Halloween wording.

I would like to enter this project into the following challenges:

Craft Punked - Halloween

Creative Inspirations - Happy Halloween

Fashionable Stamping - Halloween or Halloween colours

Stamping for the Weekend - Anything Goes

Try it on Tuesday - Halloween

See you soon,
Hugz, Jan xx