Inspired Patterns

Morning Everyone

It's a Saturday morning and my turn to share a card over at Make the Day Special blog and this week I decided to use a 'new to me' stamp set called Spunky Nature from My Cute Stamp, Emily stocks so many different stamp companies I thought I'd try something different from the shop..

The bold solid designs and the paired leaf pattern immediately made me think of the gorgeous repetitive patterns by Orla Kiely so this is my nod to her using the colours at ColourQ this week. 

The leaves are stamped straight onto the vanilla card and the flowers have been stamped and cut out twice in Burgundy and Spice so they could be assembled to make then look two tone, I thought the Paper Smooches sentiment was the perfect whimsy font to match the style of card too :0)

Next week I will be starting my Girl Friday duties over at CASual Fridays...eek, so exciting :0).. so this week I'm playing along in the players gallery for the last time, why don't you pop over and join in too.

I know us Brits complain about the weather so much but I really have had enough of the rain now!!
James still wants the washing machine in operation everyday without a thought to how I'm going to dry it all so consequently my house looks like the proverbial  'Wishy Washy's'  laundry because we have no tumble dryer either!! I'm not sure Wishy Washy would have a mountainous ironing pile though.... tut tut...can't blame the weather for that though *wink*

Thanks for looking in today :0)

Jenny x

A Charming Home!

I'm a happy bunny today because I've combined two of my favourite challenges to make a card that I actually need to send too.... can't be bad eh!!

The Less is More challenge this week is to use charms on our cards... not something I usually use but luckily I found a few small keys in my stash so I used the sketch at CASual Fridays to make a New Home card.....

The key is a bit ornate for a door key I suppose but it's the symbolic meaning I'm going with :0)

I used the Country Landscape die from Memory box on three different shades of Bazzil and then layered them the best way I could to make a hilly view... now I look at it, I've not got the trees in the correct proportions ...oops...oh well, they can be saplings in the foreground !!

This is going to be winging it's way to the Isle of Wight  as soon as I find out the new address it's going to.... it's for a couple that have finally moved having had their house up for sale for the best part of 18 months but then that's probably not an uncommon story in recent years !!

Thanks for your visit today :0)
Jenny x

Michele's Birthday Blog Hop !

Today the Girl Fridays are having a surprise Birthday Blog Hop for our fab DT co-ordinator, Michele Gross..... whoop whoop birthday girl, hope you have a fantastic day :0)

Of course no birthday would be complete without a cake and 'Fluffles' has got that covered..... although he seems to have miscounted the candles by a few !! *wink*

I've had a few comments asking how I made the spotlight so I'll quickly run through the process...
I started with a slightly larger piece of card and stamped a solid oval in Memento Dandelion ink, then used post it notes to mask out a triangular area for the shaft of light which is sponged using Mustard Seed DI .
I stamped 'Fluffles' and the cake in the spotlight and again on another piece of card to colour and cut out later.
I reversed the masking technique to cover the yellow and used Black Soot DI to make the shadows then having attached the coloured images and stamped the sentiment I used a circle cutter to shape the final piece. Hope that all makes sense :0)

Please feel free to join us on this fun hop, no prizes, just a chance to celebrate Michele's birthday with the Girl Fridays, the hop starts with the kind-hearted Karen Baker who has organised the whole surprise and made the blog hop badge at the top of the post too... one clever lady eh? 

You should have arrived here from Kimberley's blog, but just in case you've arrived here first, here's the hop order...and of course, don't forget to pop over to Michele's blog to wish her a happy birthday too :0)

Karen

Dana

Stephanie

Karolyn

Angie

Debby

Lorena

Suzanne

Kimberly

<--Jenny-->

Virginia

Julie Ranae

Christina

Laurie

Lisa

Deb

Gayatri

So the next stop along is Virginia...... we hope you enjoy the blog hop and thanks so much for helping us to make Michele's day so special :0)

Jenny x

A Belated Birthday!!

Yay for the weekend!!! :0)... lets hope we can see a bit more of Mr Blue Sky than we did in the week! I know we need the rain but this girl needs to get the washing dry too!!

Anyhow today I'm sharing a card I've made using Lawn Fawn Stamps for the current challenge at the Lawnscaping blog and for my regular spot over at the Make the Day Special blog.

The theme of the challenge is to 'Stamp a Scene' and I've adapted a couple of stamps to make my scene....

A couple of weeks ago I received some of the newest Lawn Fawn stamps which always opens up opportunities to use the older images in different ways. 

I thought this chilled out little tortoise would be a great reason for a belated birthday card, he's from the set called 'On the Mend' and he should have a poltice on his back but by carefully inking him and filling in his missing shell he's become the late sender of the birthday card instead!!

The flowering shrub is the tree top from 'Critters in the Burbs'... I've cut it in half so it would peek out further from behind the mail box.... I just love this cute little scene :0)

Thanks for stopping by today :0)
Jenny x


Stamp sets used: You've got mail, On the mend, Jessie's ABC, Bon Voyage and Critters in the Burbs.
Paper : Lawn Fawn 'Bright Side' 6x6 pad

Doodling Trees

Morning all,

I've finally got my head around this weeks challenge at Less is More.... a one layer card that must include doodling by your own fair hands... I think the gasp was heard all around the country on Saturday morning!!!

I don't seem to have any stamps that I could doodle alongside.... well not that I could enhance with doodling then! So I had a nose about on Pinterest and soon came by the idea of using solid shapes as my base and the only solid rubber stamps I have are a set of Hero Arts dots......

I took my colour inspiration from this weeks palette at ColourQ because I thought it would suit the trees perfectly :0) 

I started by randomly stamping the different dots on the card base in Adirondack Red Pepper and Butterscotch and Basic Grey ink, then doodled the patterns,trunks and grass to make a simple scene.

The sentiment is by Hero Arts too.... good planning actually as I need a thank you card :0)

I promised to show you the before and after shot of Rolo after his visit to the the groomers on Tuesday ... well here you go, they're not the best because they are taken on my phone in fact I've given them a vintage feel to mask that fact :0)

Hope you agree he looks rather smart sporting his new haircut and what's more, the amount of hair he sheds has drastically reduced and hopefully so will the need to vacuum the house!!!

Thanks for stopping by today :0)

Jenny x

New Digi stamps and a Giveaway :0)

Whoo Hoooo

Today's an exciting day for my blog pal Melania Deasy who is launching her new digi stamps ' Aero Boy' which is a set of the cutest images you've seen, I was so thrilled when Melania asked me to make a couple of cards using these adorable images, she's such a brilliant designer and an amazing artist too!!
If you love or need to make cards for the small guy in your life then these will be just great but don't just keep them for the boys, with thirteen images in the set and five sentiments, the possibilities are endless!!

So before you hop over to Melania's blog to see the whole set and take part in a giveaway...yep I said GIVEAWAY :0)...come and see how versatile these cute little characters are....

I just love this little guy in his plane and felt he definitely needed to be airborne on my card so I used a thin acetate strip to dangle him on and do you see the subtle blue background is a home-made bkgd paper using the solid plane image... unfortunately its so subtle it didn't photograph very well but I think you can make it out!!

This little guy and his parachute just begged to be printed and coloured, I love the fluffy white clouds and the fun sentiment in the set too :0)

Now all you need to do is hop over to Melania's blog to see the whole set and leave her some love... oh and did I mention a GIVEAWAY?...... yup, that's okay then, just making sure :0)

Thanks for stopping by
Jenny x

Opposites Attract

Hello everyone,
This last weekend of the holidays has been jam packed with..... trips and family stuff really, oh and I've been making a couple of cards for a special blog post tomorrow *wink* ..... I know, I haven't really been around in Blogland so I've got some catching up to do...I'll get there promise :0)

Although I'm now a Girl Friday, I thought I would still play along with the challenges at CASual Fridays until my official start in May (only for fun you understand)... :0)
This week we are to pick opposite colours from the colour wheel and use them in our project....

Out of all the combinations Blue and Orange appealed to me the most and gave me chance to use the Dienamics kite die, albeit only part of it to make a smaller kite!!!
I sponged the sky through an aperture using the Dienamics uneven scalloped border with Tumbled glass and Chipped Sapphire (I think)

I'm finally taking Rolo to be bathed and trimmed today, after having to cancel his appt three weeks ago when he broke his dew claw, unfortunately the weather has changed completely since then and I rather think he will miss his wiry coat but it needs doing and I don't know about you but I'm hoping the warmer weather is just around the corner.
Hope to have a before and after photo to show next post :0)

Thanks for stopping by
Jenny X

Hybrid Heaven

First of all I want to say a huge THANK YOU to each and everyone of you fabulous blog friends for your congratulations and encouraging comments on my exciting news post yesterday....I'm still walking round with a silly grin on my face :0)

Now back to today and let me explain that post title...you know I'm a Paper Smooches and Lawn Fawn fan right?...... well over on the Make the Day Special Blog today I'm sharing this card to show how the styles of these two companies compliment each other perfectly to make a fun card ....

As soon as I saw the skyline and the paintbrush from two different Paper Smooches sets this idea popped into my head and what fun to use the Lawn Fawn polaroid to make the perfect cartoon style frame on this invitation..... okay the design is a little elaborate for mass production but I'm sure a more simple version could be made :0)

I've paper pieced everything apart from the night sky, did you see the bright fireworks?.... they were a last minute addition and oh boy did I hold my breath whilst dotting them on!!!

For details of the stamp sets I've used, hop over to the Make the Day Special blog and whilst you're there why not pop into the shop... I know Emily has just added the newest Paper Smooches stamp sets too :0)

A busy weekend for me but I hope to catch up with everyone  as and when I can, thanks for your visit today :0)

Jenny x

The Secrets Out!!!

HOOOOORAY!!!!

I can hardly keep it in any longer..... which is okay because today is the day I can tell you that...... I have become a Girl Friday over at CASual Fridays...Yipeeeee!!! *grinning like a Cheshire cat*

I'm so excited and want to thank Michele for giving me the opportunity and for bringing together such an amazing Design Team, I can't wait to work with all of the Girl Fridays and if you pop over to the CASual Fridays blog you will see the full line up including the new Facebook design team as well as this weeks new challenge :0)

Now I've told you my exciting news and I've calmed down just a bit *still grinning and whooping*... I can move on to show you my card for the current Runway Inspired challenge which closes tonight....

I found quite a few inspiration pointers in this photo but the crispness and bright floral pattern in the dress really caught my eye and so did my new 6x6 paper pad and natural twine from Lawn Fawn!!! 

I made a simple banner of mixed colours and patterns using the new Fishtail Flags Stax from Dienamics

The flower has been punched a few times from thin cardstock and layered to look like chipboard with a final paper layer and the twine tendrils have been made following a super tutorial from Chari here... love how you can change the colour of the twine to match your project :0)

The new Lawn Fawn papers are just so colourful and totally in line with the fun style of the stamps and the best news is that they are winging there merry way at this very moment to  Make the Day Special  here in the UK :0)

Emily is expecting the 6x6 pads, 12 " papers and twine in stock within the next few weeks so make sure you  keep checking back or better still 'Like' them on Facebook for news and stock updates.

Well, now I need to lay down in a darkened room but instead I have to get things organised for a huge family party we are going to tomorrow and then a trip to a stamp and craft show on Sunday where I'm hopefully meeting some blog pals :0)

Please pop back in the morning for a card I made to share on the blog at Make the Day Special .

Thanks so much for your comments, your continued support means a lot to me :0)

Jenny x

Natures Green

After enjoying my guest design spot last week at Less is More,  I'm hoping I've left enough white space on this weeks card with the layer of Hessian or I'll be dropping to the depths of the naughty step...tut tut.

This week Chrissie and Mandi asked us to use three shades of green on our cards, in whatever form of paper-crafting technique you fancy, so out came my skeleton leaf stamp again which has been stamped in Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi and Always artichoke... thanks to my new supplies from Vicky :0)

Quite pleased how quickly this card came together... good to create with natures palette :0)

On a completely different note.....

I just want to thank Karin, Brandi and Linda who have all passed on blog awards to me recently..I'm so happy to know you enjoy visiting my blog and I really appreciate that you thought of me :0) 

Whilst I have thanked them, I have not passed on the awards because I find time is limited and I just cannot possibly choose a few from my blog list to send them on to, plus many have received the awards multiple times already because you're all amazing!!

Right must dash, I need to get the boy rallied for the day...James sees nothing wrong with staying in his PJ's all day long otherwise!!!

oh, almost forgot, is anyone going to the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace on Sunday? If you fancy meeting up drop me an email (on my profile) and we can swap contact numbers :0)

Thanks for looking :0)

Jenny x  

Spring Colour

I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend, I know the weather here has been a bit pants and I think we got off quite lightly compared the the rest of the UK but at least the rain has helped our garden and allotment efforts this weekend :0)

I had some crafty time this morning and made a 'Happy Spring' card for the CASual Fridays challenge this week....

For 'something you find in an Easter basket' I decided to go with pretty Easter Eggs although a rogue one has hatched to reveal a pretty cute chickadee instead!!

Yep, I'm having fun paper piecing with my Paper Smooches stamps again and doesn't that Tim Holtz embossing folder look good as chicken wire!!

The end of the Easter break means that our four legged house guest has gone back home too.... she's been no trouble at all and our Lakeland 'terror' likes having her here but I think he's pleased she has gone home now so he can be top dog again around the house ;0)

Right time for dinner then Hannah and I are going to have a girlie night and watch a film seeing as James is staying over at my Mums tonight ....that will be a rare treat for us, can't remember the last time I watched a film, lets hope I stay awake to the end :0)

Thanks for stopping by

Jenny x

Head in the trees!

Good Morning,

Whoo Hoo....today is my first Design Team spot over at the 'Make the Day Special' Blog :0)

I'm absolutely over the moon to join the team and have free rein to play with and showcase the yummy stamps that Emily sells in her store....okay so in my case it'll be mostly Paper Smooches and Lawn Fawn, but my collection is always growing *wink*
If you haven't visited the store then you really must, if you are a UK stamper that wishes they could buy American brand stamps like Unity, Flourishes, My Cute Stamp and of course Lawn Fawn and Paper Smooches to name but a few, you best take a look now when you've finished reading :0)

So onto today's card and I just had to make my first with Paper Smooches stamps....

I've used the new 'Zoo Crew' and 'Whimsical' sets to make this little scene and the sentiment is from 'Sentiment Sampler'
The sentiment inside reads "...... you can't hide, it's your Birthday!!" and if you lift the leaves up, as demonstrated by my able assistant Hannah (you didn't want to see my nail chewed finger!) you can see Mr Giraffe hiding in the tree.....

Love Paper Smooches Stamps they are so easy to colour or paper piece and make such fun cards too :0)
If you want to check them out in store click here

On a completely different note and whilst you are here I wanted to share a photo with you of my brothers little dog, who we have staying with us over the Easter weekend. She's a Jack Russell/Chihuahua X and as you can see has lovely black and white markings...one of which is almost heart shaped, especially when she's curled up in her bed :0)

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope your enjoying your Easter weekend too.... may the Easter Bunny deliver you lots of calories then I wont feel so guilty *wink*

Jenny x

Easter Bunnies

Evening all....actually morning, its the small hours and I'm back with an even shorter post than the last to get my Paper Smooches entry in for the sparks challenge which will be closed by the time I wake up!!! Does that make sense!

The photo inspiration challenges are exactly that for me, hence why I'm so last minute, but this is what I came up with...

Well I had to go literal with the rabbits and the colours together and whilst looking at the reflections stamp set I saw how I could make a rabbits head with two of the elements in the set so I stamped a row of bright bunnies heads, drew in their faces, added a sentiment and some twine...hey presto, if only it had taken that long to come up with this card!!

Not content with just the heads I played around some more and came up with a whole bunny, of the soft toy variety!!

I think he's quite cute and decided to sit him on a shelf for a one layer card, looks like that button could be his missing tail!! :0)
Here are the elements I used from the reflections stamp set...

Hey.... I'm not sure if you've noticed my new badge in the side bar?.... well here it is

The exciting news is that I've joined the design team over at 'Make the Day Special' which is a store I've often championed. Emily, the owner, set the shop up to supply us UK crafter's with hard to get stamps from overseas and I love my Paper Smooches and Lawn Fawn stamps so I'm thrilled to be showcasing them and others on the blog every Saturday, hope you'll join me then :0)

That's all folks, wasn't that short actually was it!
Bye for now and see you Saturday :0)

Jenny x

Another Tuneful Card

Hi everyone

You can tell its the Easter break because it's gone quiet on here after last weeks flurry of cards...there's no way I can keep that creativity up when the house is not my own!!!
Seems I've been making this card for days now but in reality I only started it yesterday, its another card for the CASual Fridays Challenge 'Name that Tune'.
This time the song doesn't have such a tenuous link with the card compared to the last one, although I'm still not sure I've grasped the right idea for this challenge but here we go....

Have you guessed yet?....... No!... it's not 'The animals went in two by two' although that would be quite good but too obvious!
The inspiration was 'The Flood' by Take That or Katie Mellua if you prefer a different song with the same title. Here's the link to Take That's video on You Tube :0)

Must say it was good to get the Promarkers in action again for this gorgeous image by Jane of Jane's Doodles.... I've been eyeing up the stamp for a while but was thrilled to find it among her digi stamps at Sqigglefly, ..... thrilled because I needed it quickly :0)
The button and waves are dienamics dies and the font is by Lawn Fawn - Claire's ABC's
I'm also entering this into Simon Says Stamp Challenge which is using your favourite tools and Promarkers are fast becoming my best friend although everytime I use them I need to add more colours to my collection!!!

Sorry it's a short post, I'll be back later with another card for the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge before it closes tonight!!
Thanks for looking:0)
Jenny x

April Bling!

Happy April Everyone,

As well as it being April Fools day, it's also the first birthday celebration at St Luke's Charity Card Challenge, yep that's 12 months of challenges, so it seems fitting that the challenge this month is 'Bling it On!'.... what better way to celebrate than with a bit of sparkle on your card in whatever form you like...gems, glitter or beads... if it's shiny, you can use it :0)

I've combined my inspiration card with the colours from the Play Date Cafe colour splash and the 'Name That Tune' challenge at CASual Fridays....."Saturday Night at the Movies" by The Drifters

The sentiment and die are from a MFT dienamics set called 'At the Movies', the font has been blinged up with tiny nail art diamantés that I raided from Hannah's room (it's okay....she gave permission first)..... oh boy were they fiddly to pick up and stick on but well worth the effort :0)  

I made the film out of brown quilling paper rolled tightly then let unwind a little and glued between the reels allowing a length to trail down the card.

It didn't quite look right until I used a white gel pen to imitate the perforations along the edge of the film...they were fiddly to do as well!! 

The prize this month at St Luke's is this bumper collection of goodies, there's a full list on the challenge blog, why not go and check out the challenge, see all the cards from the design team and then get your bling on for St Luke's in April. We'd also love you to send your cards to the address on the sidebar to help raise funds for the hospice, the info is all there on how to do it :0)

Here are the Challenge deets for the Play Date Cafe and Casual Fridays

Look forward to seeing your sparkling cards :0)

Thanks for stopping by

Jenny x