Christmas Vine

Yep, I know I said the posts would be thin on the ground but my words usually come back to bite me on the bum !!

I started this card for Less is More and then decided it would be more suited to Karen's brilliant sketch at CASual Fridays.... it's a fab sketch with lovely clean lines, so typical of her own unique style ......

The green card is from the Tim Holtz Distress Kraft Co-ordinations pad and it's been embossed with a Craft Concepts embossing folder then sanded to reveal the rustic core. The pearls are placed over the embossed berries, shiny gems just didn't look right which is why it didn't make it to the 'Bling' challenge at LIM!! A papertrey sentiment and some zigzag stitches on the red card and another Christmas card done :)

Having a blog this year means that I'm collecting a few different designs together but still nowhere near enough yet!!! How are your Christmas cards coming along??

Whilst you're here I thought I'd show you the two cards I made for Lynn and Anne, my fellow DT members at St Luke's, they were both birthday girls this last weekend :)

I used Lawn fawn stamps for Lynn's card, I was so happy to make one of the 

banner pennants into a flower pot :)

For Anne's card I used some patterned paper from a pad called Reminiscence 

by Lasting Impressions

This leads me nicely on to remind you that you have one day left to enter the current challenge at St Luke's  for a chance to win the Lili of the Valley stamps, because it's all change tomorrow night when we move into December with a new theme and prize, so I'll be back at midnight with an inspiration card for you :)

So until then I'll say goodbye and thanks for all your good luck messages for Hannah, I've been passing them on :)
Jenny x

A Bit of Bling!

Hello again

Another week closer to Christmas..... and I think the blog posts will continue to be a bit thin on the ground on the run up to Christmas as family life seems to go into overdrive but I can never resist the weekly challenge at Less is More :)

This week's theme is  'A Bit of Bling' and the perfect reason to roll out another Christmas card!!

Just some simple paper piecing with a Magenta stamp this week and some red bling to the middle tree, these were silver/clear gems that I coloured with a Promarker, as for some reason I have no red gems approaching the Christmas season!!!
The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink and the oval is an a.muse stamp. Hope you like it :)

My other exciting news is that last week Hannah had an email confirming her interview at Oxford University which is such exciting news and something she wasn't expecting after sitting a really difficult Thinking Skills Assessment. Whilst it does not mean an offer to study at Oxford is certain, not by a long chalk with 14 people for three places!, she has at least got a toe in the door and will be able to experience a piece of Oxford life when she stays for one or two days at the college for her interview in a couple of weeks time :)
We are so proud of her to get through to the interviews..... she is such a hard-worker and knows what she wants from life so I'm sure this will shine through in her interview, whatever happens I've no doubt she'll get to do what she wants to do in the future :)

I also just wanted to say how humbled I am to receive 71 comments on my silhouette card, especially when I thought I had ruined it by inking in the long shadows!! Thank you so much for all your lovely comments, that's a blog record for me :)

Right back to the usual Monday madness.... I'm going to be the hunter gatherer of the house this morning at the supermarket!! I'll  try and sneak out while the ironing pile isn't looking ;)

Thanks for popping by X

A silhouette scene!

Hello, I'm still here ..... didn't have much of a crafty weekend, time was not on my side and the craftroom needed a grand tidy up before I could get in there!.....
...... but on a more excited note I was so thrilled to win TWO store vouchers for Simon Says Stamp since my last post...one for this card at Lawnscaping on Friday and then yesterday at Young Crafters Unite with this card, I'm looking forward to my shopping spree :)

Anyway back to earth now,  I ventured into the craftroom yesterday and put everything back in it's rightful place and saw my desk for a minute or so before losing site of it again to make this card which is for this weeks Less is More challenge   'SILHOUETTES'  , already the blog has some brilliant entries... go take a look.
I was going to use some PTI stamps I've just received,  but this Memory Box die was on my mind so I thought I'd risk a white silhouette..... as long as it's an outline shape, it doesn't have to be black... right???

I used the Country Landscape die on the front of an A5 card blank which basically cut a decorative slit in the card, I then slipped a piece of dark navy cardstock down behind the scene which had first been flicked with silver paint for stars and a hole punched in it for the moon.

I added lots of frosty lace stickles and some long shadows with Weathered Wood DI ink, the sentiment is from Pink Petticoat which I've printed onto separate card and cut into a banner.

I felt it needed something in the foreground so reached for my bag of freebie die-cuts knowing this tree was amongst them, a bit of Black soot DI to darken it and some more stickles and now I have a black silhouette  on my card too!!

I'm also entering this card into The Paper Players Challenge 

I love the peaceful scene, it reminds me of how absolutely still and quiet it is when a blanket of snow has fallen.
I remember walking the last mile of our journey home with my parents and brother when I was about 8yrs old because deep snow had blocked the road to traffic. It was evening time but the snow was so bright and the drifts had totally changed the landscape and they absorbed any noise to make complete silence! Looking back it was quite a risky thing to do but it was more of an adventure at the time :)

Anyway enough reminiscing, must get on with today's jobs which includes sending some cards for the St Luke's Hospice fundraising sale this weekend... I hope you sent some too :)

Oh and Pudesy came back looking remarkably clean on James's T-shirt Friday..... wonders will never cease!!

Thanks for looking X

A Leafy Colour Trend!

Things happen in threes don't they say,  and my skeleton leaf stamp has never known the use it has had recently so you won't be surprised to see it make an appearance again today for the challenge at Embellish Colour  Trends challenge which has the theme of 'leaves' as well.

I basically used the stamp to make my own patterned paper using Adirondack ink-pads and clear embossing on Versamark to make the tone on tone leaves which have a lovely shiny appearance too.... not possible to catch that on camera :)

A simple button and twine ensemble with a tiny tab sentiment and all done.... the best thing is that I stamped out a whole A4 sheet of leafy goodness so I have some left to play with on other cards too :)

Supplies :  Skeleton Leaf (Impression Obsession), Adirondack Ink ( Plum, Denim, Lettuce and Mushroom), Versamark, Clear embossing powder, Denim Twine and Button from stash

Today in the UK is Children in Need day which is a Charity fundraiser spearheaded by the BBC to raise funds for projects in the UK that support and help dis-advantaged children for whatever reason that may be. Having a child with Autism we like to support the cause and the schools always make it a fun day for the children...... usually based around a non uniform day and this year they are wearing spots so I decided to make a Pudsey Bear to sew onto one of James's t-shirts and he's thrilled with it

I'm certainly no sewing expert and this is mainly stuck with fabric glue, but it was great fun to make and James is wearing it with pride..... what I should have done was sponsor him to keep Pudsey clean at school dinner time!!!

Hope you have a great day and add your pennies or pounds to the pot if you can :)

Thanks for looking , I really appreciate your comments and read every single one X

Deck the Halls

I'm back with a second card for Less is More because I just had to try the emboss resist technique, I'm inspired by Chrissie's fabulous cards using this technique, they always look so elegant and unique :)

I totally fluffed my my first attempt at the weekend, so, learning from my mistakes I had a second go and I also finally managed to get the right 'sandwich' combo to emboss a nestie frame on my bigshot, thanks to Lynn for your help :)

I decided to go with Holly for the one layer 'LEAVES' theme and get a Christmas card done and dusted... many more to go mind you !!

After masking and inking the heat embossed pattern I used Ruby Red Liquid Pearls to highlight the berries and water-coloured the leaves with Adirondack ink to make them stand out a fraction.
Unfortunately the printer got it's own back this time, after being so good on my Poinsettia card, and splodged a bit of ink on the bottom right corner when I printed the sentiment.... so now the card is a little bit shorter than your average A6 size!!

My big problem with embossing these nestie dies is that they tend to move whilst going through the bigshot,  using masking tape is not successful as it sticks fast even when I've made it less tacky beforehand! This time it stayed put but does anyone have any other tips or ideas???

I have to say I really love the finished result and this may well be one of my Christmas card designs for 2011, although me and the printer are going to fall out if it plays that little trick on me again!!

Thanks for looking X

Edit to add : The sentiment is a Digi from Pink Petticoat

Stamps : Funstamps  'holly'
Inks : Versamark, Peeled Paint and Shabby Shutters Distress Ink-pads, Pesto and Meadow Adirondack Ink-pads.
Other : Ruby Red Liquid Pearls, Rectangle Nestie Frame, Clear Embossing Powder.
Sentiment : Pink Petticoat

A Splash of Orange

I just can't pass up the chance to play along with a colour splash challenge and this week the Play Date Cafe have orange as the splash colour.... not one of my favourite colours but mixed with Black and White it suddenly becomes cool and graphic!

I teamed the Penny Black 'i chart' stamp with a lawn fawn set called 'Clear to see' and it's almost a one layer card... without being asked for one!!!
When I stamped out the spectacles I decided to stamp a few of them with the 'second stamping' technique because I felt solid black would be too strong in the pattern along with one orange pair of specs :)

This is a great colour scheme for a guys card and I think this would qualify for that so I'm going to enter this card into Young Crafters Unite Masculine card Challenge 

Now I really had best get my attention turned to producing Christmas cards...... I sit looking at everyone else's lovely creations forgetting I need to get a wiggle on with mine !!!!

Thanks for looking X

Stamps : Penny Black 'i Chart' , Lawn Fawn  'Clear to See'

Lovely Leaves

How many Limettes tuned in to Less is More on Saturday and thought...... shuks, last weeks card would have been good for this week!!  Probably a few just like me, but then it meant my newly discovered Skeleton Leaf stamp got another outing this week and he's not complaining :)

So it's a one layer week using leaves and I did try to have an inky 'emboss resist' session but my efforts failed and I will have to revisit that particular technique this week!
I did get to try an idea I've seen done before and thought the skeleton leaf would be the ideal stamp to use.....

The perfectionist in me knows my poinsettia flower is not aesthetically correct because it has too many red  leaves but I think I can cope with that for a card !
It took some working out on a scrap piece of paper with the careful use of my home made Stamp position-er and some masking too before taking the plunge with a card blank!

I then held my breath while I ran it through the computer to print the sentiment, knowing an ink splodge would be catastrophic at that point! and then another tense moment applying the lemon Liquid Pearls to the centre of the flower...... get an air bubble in those little bottles and you know it!!!!

All in all I consider it a triumph because it could have gone so wrong at any stage and you don't have that room for that on a one layer card..... indeed I'm surprised the card blank itself stayed so clean!

Right that's enough stamping fun for me today...... the household chores are calling :(

Thanks for looking X

Stamp : Skeleton Leaf by impression Obsession
Inks : Memento  ' Lady bug'  'Rhubarb stalk'  'Cottage Ivy'
Sentiment : Digi from Pink Petticoat
Other : 'Lemon' Liquid Pearls and gems from stash

Snow Much Fun!!

I've been having fun playing with my Lawn Fawn stamps for this weeks challenge at the Lawnscaping blog which is all about THANKS, although Lawn Fawn stamps are great for CAS cards I do love to make up little scenes with some of the cute characters and that's exactly what I did for this card.....

We've caught our chilly friends putting up a THANKS bunting.... love the little penguin sitting on Dad's shoulders!

At last we have a bit of sun here so it's get out in the garden time as well as wall to wall washing because it may have a chance to dry this weekend!!

Sorry for the short post...back again soon :)
Thanks for looking X

Lawn fawn Stamps : 'Critters in the snow'  'Lunar lights'  'Jessie's ABC'  
Dienamics Dies :  Icicle Border, Mini Pennant   
Coloured with Promarkers

Sparks Challenge

I'm quite ashamed to say this is the first time I've played along with the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge.... not sure why but I know I don't always find Photo Inspiration challenges easy but the current photo made this idea pop into my head because the colours and pattern are so strong...

I just love Orla Keily designs, she uses colours and bold patterns so effectively.
I decided to tone the orange down to a dark yellow for the sun and the clouds are made from sticky back canvas to add a touch of texture too :)

I used Paper Smooches stamp sets called 'Sunny Side Up' and 'Wake Up' and the scalloped top was cut using a Tim Holtz on the edge die called scallops...surprisingly!!

It was so good to have a morning playing with my PS stamps again, it's been a while....... now the sun is trying to break through the cloud that has engulfed the house all morning I best get walking that mutt!

Hope you like it and thanks for looking X

Red & Orange

This card I made for Tara aka Craftilicious  because it's her birthday today, so I'm hoping you had a wonderful birthday Tara and you've opened your cards now!

I just love to rediscover old stash for cards... stamps that I once bought because I saw a demo with them and have since forgotten what to do with... sound familiar???

I rediscovered an old stamp for this card which fits in with the challenge at Less is More  this week, which is  to use Red and Orange in honour of Guy Fawkes Night.

I must admit it's not one of my 'go to' colour combos , but this Skeleton Leaf stamp by Impression Obsession seemed the perfect image for the colours....  now for the ink... aaarrrgh... a few reds, but non existent orange ink!!

Boy was I glad to find an old Kaleidacolor ink-pad called Desert Heat, not dried up either!, it came to the rescue and this is the finished result...

I tapped the leaf stamp across the ink-pad in a diagonal direction so to apply the ink in a gradient of colour and tried my best to stamp them randomly on a piece of card before trimming to size and mounting onto a white linen card base. 

The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink, dark orange twine and three frosted gems from stash ... a colour I never thought I'd use from the multipack!

You can probably tell that I love to have elements protruding past the edge of my cards as this is the third entry into this weeks CASual Fridays challenge too!

Remember these cards from this post.....
... well it's hubby's birthday today which mean't an early present opening session this morning with James eagerly helping.... just to say, he did appreciate his monster card :)


.....and my Dad loved his card too yesterday so you can imagine how thrilled I was  to see it also won top spot for the Wee Memories 'Buttons, Bows and Brads' yesterday....whoop whoop :0)



Thanks so much for visiting me today X

Masculine mode!!

**** If you are here on the Young Crafters Unite Blog hop

 scroll down to the post below for my cards ***
Thanks for all your lovely comments :o)

I love the ColourQ palette this week but was having trouble thinking of them on anything else but a guy's card....yep another one! So I just decided to die-cut some shapes from card-stock and pushed them around on the card before arriving at this design which also fits in nicely with CAS-ual Fridays challenge this week 'Off the Edge'

I used a Dienamics die called Mini Pennant with a sentiment and die set from Papertrey Ink.

The button is an old treasure I found in my mums button box a while ago....I can remember my Nan had buttons like this on her woollen coat when I was a child and I was fascinated by them, they look like old leather footballs don't you think!!!?

Well Rolo has finally crashed out on the bathroom floor....I think the tiles are cooling him down, it's November the 5th and that means fireworks!! He  really hates them and works himself up into a sweat... he sat for a while earlier under my craft desk cowering and panting before I noticed he was dribbling into a box of papers..... AAARGH!!!!  only two pieces of vellum spoilt *phew*

No fireworks for us, as usual, because James doesn't like them, but then when the neighbours put on such a good display why buy you're own!!

Hope you have a fun and safe Guy Fawkes weekend if you're having a display.

I'll catch up with all your lovely makes tomorrow because I need to go to sleep now, as long as the firework party doesn't resume, then I'll have a quivering dog dribbling on me! ... I've had a few late nights this week and I'm beginning to look like a panda !

Thanks for looking X 

Masculine Cards Blog Hop @YCU

Good Morning Crafters,

Today I'm joining in on my first Blog Hop with Young Crafters Unite and the theme is Masculine Cards ... yep those cards we put to the back of the list to make, until the last minute!!!

I'll try and keep this short and sweet as there are 34 blogs to hop through, the full list is over at the Young Crafters Unite blog along with details of the prizes for two lucky hoppers, so unless you're one of my regular visitors you will have arrived here from Maria's blog, and seen her fabulous card :)

I have two cards to share as my Dad's and Hubby's birthdays are on Monday and Tuesday of next week so it seemed a good idea to make them for the hop......good thinking eh????

This first card is for my Dad...he's not very computer techy so it's quite safe to show it :)

As you can see I scoured my stash (and the tool box for the nail!!) for materials to make the collage style sentiment and I had a creative blast doing so

It's a large card measuring 81/4" x 6" ....... 'Birthday' is quite a long word when your working with bits n pieces !!!!

My second card is for my Hubby...... he doesn't look on my blog either and thinks I only made the one card!

A standard sized card and just perfect for him....we don't do slushy and sweet, this will make him laugh and if I'm honest I bought these Paper Smooches stamps all those months ago with this idea in mind :)

If any of the projects along the hop inspire you to make a guy's card then you can always enter them into this months challenge at Young Crafters Unite, I'm off to add my two to the list whilst you continue on the hop by visiting Pat's blog next to see her wonderful creation.

I'm going to enter the first card into the 'Brads, Bows or Buttons' challenge at Wee Memories :)

Thanks for taking the time to visit X

Stamps: 'Falling for you' Paper Smooches, 'Sally's ABC' Lawn Fawn, 'Ovaliscious' a.muse stamps

Cricut Cartridge : Graphically Speaking - used for various elements on 'Happy Birthday' card

Sizzlets Die :  Hammer

Red And White Christmas

Hello again,

***This is my second post of the day, please click here to see my card for 

 the November Challenge at St Luke's CCC.***

First of all I'm hijacking this drafted post to say how thrilled I am that my Star congrats card is sharing the Colour Queen spot this week alongside Jen's fantastic card, such fabulous news to wake up to :o)

Now back to this card ......as I said in my previous post, I carried on using my Waltzing Mouse Nordic Winter stamps to make a card for One Layer Weds which is being hosted by Susan Raihala this week and the requirements are a Red & White or Red & Cream card.... but not necessarily for Christmas unless your in full gear now on the run up to that crazy time of the year!!

This is the style of card that Susan herself, so readily creates and has me sighing with content but I had to literally put my hands in my pockets and walk away so as not to add anything else to it!!!

I'm so happy how this turned out :)

Oh, I discovered this set has a correct way up to stamp it because the patterns are knitted motifs and the little stitches have a correct orientation so they look like stocking stitch!! Lucky I planned my design on scrap paper first, I'm probably the last to notice this detail!!

I'm just going to pop this in at Simon Says Stamp 'Anything Goes Challenge' because they are trying for 10000 entries again and who am I  to disappoint them :)

Then I'm off because that's enough chat from me today, back Friday on the blog hop at Young Crafters Unite :)

Thanks for looking X

Just want to add how thrilled I am that my Star congrats card is sharing the Colour Queen spot this week alongside Jen's fantastic card :o)