Blowing the dust off this blog!!!!

Hello there........ sorry to startle you!!
Yes it's been *a-hem* a while hasn't it but I'll spare you the excuses...I'm here now and hopefully back to some normality around here too...both blog and homelife that is!!!!

I'm still to get back into the 'challenge' groove but I thought I'd show you my card I'm sharing over at Make the Day Special blog today...

Yes I have the infamous Wplus9 Fresh cut florals in my posession and I'm enjoying exploring different ways to use them with the fabulous Joanna Sheen garden container dies.... this Hanging Basket is a brilliant match size wise and the perfect excuse to delve into the current trend of embossing paste :0) I still have my paste from the original trend a few years back when brass stencils were used to create the raised designs but the new plastic designs are so much easier to work with :0)

I tinted my paste with memento tangelo ink and used the MFT brick wall stencil... the texture was soooo cool but it needed more depth in the colour so I replaced the stencil over the dried paste and used sponge daubers with distress inks to add extra tone and definition. I have to say I'm very pleased with it :0)

Back at the beginning of November I made this card using the Garden Trug die from Joanna Sheen... another perfect size match and what's more.... they are British designed and made dies   :0)

Now a word or two about the Make the Day Special store... Unless you've been under a rock like me *wink*.... I'm sure you know that the lovely Tara is taking over the running of the store which is temporarily closed at the moment for the change-over to happen. I know Tara is busy beavering away behind the scenes and has some great plans and new lines coming to the shop, so to keep up-to-date with news and the shop re-launch make sure you bookmark the store and blog...oh and we're also on Facebook too :0)

Thanks for stopping by
Jenny x

PS Sparks - November Picture perfect Challenge

Hi there :0)

Well today I'm sharing my last DT card for the PS Sparks challenge... boo-hooo :0(  It's been such good fun being part of the team and of course having the perfect excuse to use my beloved Paper Smooches stamps too :0) It's Photo inspiration time this week and this is what we have to get your creative juices flowing...

These photo challenges have really..... erm..... challenged me and this one was no exception!!! The pop of colour in the balloons combined with the silhouettes kept catching my eye so that's what I went with and came up with this card...

Those black spots are my own version of enamel dots made with enamel accents.... they have a lower profile and are super glossy, in fact I reckon they look like ink spots and I just had to try making them and adding them to this card :0)

For the final time, here are the rest of my teamies who have lovely cards to inspire you with over at their blogs too...

Wida

Jenny

Jocelyn

Alice

Savannah

Please join us this week for the final challenge of this DT's term... look forward to seeing you in the gallery. Thanks for stopping by :0)

Jenny x

Stamps used: Briny Blue - Paper Smooches

PS Sparks - November Designer Drafts

Helloo there..... I'm waking the computer from it's slumber under dust sheets to write this blog post and by the time you read this it will be safely tucked up again!! The kitchen and bathroom makeover is still ongoing but we can see a light at the end of the 'dusty' tunnel now :0)

Anyhow, enough about that I'm here to tell you that the new PS Sparks challenge has gone live and it's sketch time again....

I've swung back into Christmas card mode again for this sketch because that hexagon just looked like a tree ornament hanging down and the Hot Spot large base die seemed an obvious choice for the panel.... so another literal interpretation again this week from me....I'm losing my 'out of the box' touch I think!!!

I was so excited to get my hands on the new Christmas word dies from last months release and hadn't realised the large 'Christmas' word came in three sections!!!..... I had planned to span it across the aperture in the Hot Spots die so a quick rethink saw me reaching for some vellum to put behind the window.... it saved the day and I really like the effect. I'm thinking I should use this translucent beauty more in my crafting!!! :0)

For more inspiration and all the challenge details hop over to the Sparks blog or visit my teamies using the links below

Wida

Jenny

Jocelyn

Alice

Savannah

It's my last month on the Sparks Challenge DT and I can honestly say it's been great fun....  if you'd love to apply to join the next Sparks design team you need to read this blog post for the details, you have until the 15th to do so..... go on, you know you want too *wink*

Thanks for stopping by
Jenny x
supplies used : All Yule Need, Christmas Word Dies, Hot Spots Large Base Die - Paper Smooches