Use Something Red

Hello again,

Well, the shopping still hasn't happened - I have been covering for my poorly colleague for most of the week, including today, but in return I have my first Saturday off tomorrow since starting my new job! So, I will definitely be making a start on the Christmas shopping - I have told them at work that I will not be answering my phone tomorrow! Lol.

So, I have my next DT project for the new theme at the Alphabet Challenge - this will be the last one for 2017 and we are up to the letter 'U'. The new theme will be

'USE SOMETHING RED'

A nice easy one which will fit in with Christmas, but I chose not to go there and had a play with my new Leonie Pujol stamp set. Here's what I made for a little inspiration ...

The stamp set is called 'Everlasting Love' - I coloured the leaves with alcohol markers and paper pieced the flower petals with some scraps of red design paper. I also used some glossy accents on the flower centres (but it doesn't show very well in my photo).

The stamped 'Wish' sentiment is from a freebie set on a magazine a while ago and I added a little die-cut red heart to finish off. 

The doodled border is also stamped using the same set.

Hope you can come and join us for our last challenge before Christmas.

Hugz, Jan xx

Anyone for Cocktails

Good morning,

Well, I still haven't got very far with my Christmas shopping yet as I got called into work on Monday (my day off) to cover a poorly colleague. It's a good job we only have a very small family! Tomorrow is my next day off, so I am hoping to make a start on it then, phew!

I have my next DT project to show you today - for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz, and this week our Babs has chosen the theme

'ANYONE FOR COCKTAILS'

Well it would be rude to say no, it is nearly Christmas after all - I might just indulge next weekend on our work party! Anyway, here's what I made for a little inspiration ...

I used Stamping Bella's Uptown Girls 'Victoria and Juliette's Night Out' (which was a popular choice amongst the team too). I coloured the hair and skin with alcohol markers and then paper pieced their dresses to match the pretty pink theme of my card. 

I hope you will join us with your own creations - see you there.

Hugz, Jan xx

James Bear has Presents

Hello everyone,

I have actually managed to make some of my Christmas cards on my days off this week - very proud of my little self! Still have a few more to go, but I'm not usually this organised, although I haven't even started on the Christmas shopping yet!

I have a cute little 'Clean & Simple' card for you today - my DT inspiration for the new challenge at Fantasy Stampers. Here's what I made using one of my favourite Christmas stamps ...

Now this one is a little more fancy than a normal 'CAS ' style, but it only involves two stamps and a die-cut, so compared to some of the projects I make - it is 'clean & simple' for me!

I simply die-cut the top section of my square cardstock using the 'Frostyville Border' die from Memory Box, then added a scrap of red Christmas design paper behind it.

The stamp is LOTV 'James with Presents' and is coloured with alcohol markers (and a little added glitter around his hat). A quick stamped sentiment and one little clear dazzler to finish off. 

Hope you will come and join us with your own CAS designs.

Hugz, Jan xx

Something beginning with T ...

Good morning,

Well, I thoroughly enjoyed my time off last week, although I didn't get any of the things done that I planned (mainly cleaning out my craft room)! I just don't know where to begin - there is so much stuff in there it scares me! I think the only way I could tackle it all is to actually empty the room and start again - but I think I might need more than a week!!

I have another DT piece to show you today for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz (another role that I have sadly neglected over the past couple of months)! This week Amy has chosen the theme

'SOMETHING 

BEGINNING WITH T'

So I decided on 'Travel' and got busy with one of my new Tim Holtz paper pads - here's what I came up with ...

I love how this turned out! I wanted a real distressed look for my theme and got busy distressing all the edges of the papers with my scissors and inking them.

The background is a piece of kraft card which I passed through an embossing folder, inked the edges, then added some gold gilding wax to highlight the embossed areas.

I cut lots of different size pieces of paper and stamped out a little postcard, the map and the sentiment using an old Creative Expressions stamp set. I also added a couple of oddments of die-cuts that I had lying around.

So, why not come and join us with your own 'T' themed male card.

Hugz, Jan xx

T for Trees

Hello again,

Well, back for the second day in a row - can't promise to keep this up! Lol.

We have a brand new theme over at the Alphabet Challenge today and Caz has chosen TREES for the letter 'T'. Here's what I made for a little inspiration ...

I saw a similar design while browsing Pinterest and loved the combination of purple and gold, so here is my version using some paper scraps from my stash. 

I used my Stampin' Up tree punch which matches the 'Festival of Trees' stamp set and cut out a few trees (although I had a giggle when I thought they looked like purple pyramids!) The one in the foreground is punched from some gold mat mirri card, then passed through an embossing folder.

I die-cut the 'Christmas' part of the 'Seasonal Sentiment' from Sara's Contemporary Christmas Signature Collection (love this one) to match and added a punched star and a couple of purple adhesive gems to finish off. Simples!

Right, off to tidy up and try and make some space in my craftroom now - wish me luck, I might be a while!!

Hugz, Jan xx

The Snowman

Good morning,

Well, I am actually on holiday this week and this is the first day I have been able to craft - lots to catch up on!  So, I am trying to get back on track with my blogging and I also have a few decisions to make regarding the way forward.

But today I have a DT project for the new challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz (which I have truly neglected over the last couple of months - thanx for being so patient with me Caz) :)  The new theme was chosen by Caz this time and she would like to see a SNOWMAN as the main feature of your project, so here goes ...

My main stamped image is from the Nordic Christmas range by Crafter's Companion and is called 'Cool Christmas'. I coloured him with a combination of distress inks and coloured pencils and stamped out a little sentiment from the same set.

I stamped a few snowflakes around the top section of the card, then added a couple of die-cut snowflakes from a left over piece of ice blue glitter card (which I used for my back layer). Nice and simple today to ease me back in gently! Lol.

Please pop over to the challenge if you have a minute and check out what my teamies made too.

Hugz, Jan xx

Little Angel

Good afternoon,

Yes, I know, it's a long time since I posted again!! I am hoping that things will settle down into a routine soon as the new store has now been open a couple of months. My shifts are settling into some sort of pattern now, so I am hoping to get back on top of things in blogland.

In my last post I was looking forward to my next demonstration, which actually took place on Saturday! This time I travelled to Beverley, near Hull and had a fabulous day demonstrating for some lovely ladies (and gents) at the Craft Shop in William Strikes Garden Centre.

So, I thought I would show you a few of the samples I made using the 'Little Angel' range from Sara's Signature Collection - this was just one of the ranges that I demonstrated.

Sorry for the poor picture quality - even with my daylight lamp and two mobile phone torches shining on them, this was the best I could get on such a dreary, dull day ...

Products used

Embossing folder - Patchwork Quilt

Metal Dies - Friendly Elephant and Beautiful Baby

Stamps - New Baby 

Blue Luxury Ribbon

Products used

Embossing Folder - Patchwork Quilt

Metal Dies - Baby Accessories

Pink Luxury Ribbon

Products used

12" x 12" paper pad

Embossing Folder - Dotty Clouds

Metal Dies - Baby Accessories and Drifting Clouds

White Luxury Ribbon and metal charm

I don't have my next demonstration booked yet, but although I am on holiday this week I will be popping into work tomorrow for another class using some of the Sheena Douglass 'Time Traveller' range again - so lots of messy play. I also have my class booked for December too, so keep an eye out for some more sneak peeks.

Hope everyone is safe with all the flooding,
Hugz, Jan xx