Give Us A Cuddle!

Good Morning

Todays card is another using a Teddy Bea image, can you tell I've fallen for these little bears?

I'm sorry about the poor quality of this photo, this was the best I could do!

The digi stamp was printed onto watercolour paper and then coloured using Derwent watercolour pencils. The backing paper is from a Crafters Companion cd-rom (possibly SWALK 1, but I printed it a while ago so can't be certain). The mat Teddy Bea is sitting on is cut using a Marianne die. The border is using a Martha Stewart Deep Punch. The flowers are prima, the pearls from Joanna Sheen and the sentiment is a LOTV stamp.

Thanks for visiting today.

Jo x

The CD Sunday Challenge - Transport

Good Morning.

Who took the sun? Whoever it is, can I have it back please because I always feel better when the sun is shining!

Today's card is my entry in this weeks' CD Sunday Challenge, the theme for this week is transport.

My image is another of the fab digi stamps from Teddy Bo, which I have coloured with my Lyra's. The backing paper is printed from the Crafters Companion boys cd-rom, and I die cut it using a Spellbinder fleur de lis die. This shape reminds me of the wheel on a boat! I added a few buttons from my stash and some card candy.

Thank you for visiting today, enjoy your day.

Jo x

A Gem Of A Challenge 17 - Anything But A Square

Good Morning

I can't adjust to this new time at all. It's such a struggle to get up in the morning, Murphy's struggling even more than me!

Today's card is my entry into the current Pink Gem Challenge

This time the challenge is 'Anything But A Square'.

For my card I used the digi stamp Summer Milly, which I printed onto watercolour paper. I coloured her using my Lyra's. The shape of the card was made using my Get In Shape Templates. The card is from PaperMill. I arranged a few mulberry flowers and leaves onto some acetate which I added to the stopper for my easel card, which is die cut from one of my new Spellbinders dies.

Have a good day, whatever your plans.

Jo x

Less Is More Week 8

Hello

Aren't the weeks flying by quickly? I don't know where the time goes.

My card for today is my entry into this weeks' Less Is More Challenge, this week we have a sketch to follow.

My card uses a DL card blank, to which I have applied some lilac backing paper and a matching ribbon made with a Martha Stewart punch. The jar of flowers is from a Sheena Douglass stamp set, which I coloured using my Lyra's. I then applied glossy accents to the jar, which doesn't show up so well on the photo, but looks good. The sentiment is from another Sheena stamp set. I'm not sure if the sentiment is a little too high? Other than that, I'm pleased with my card.

I'm now off to have a look at some of the other entries.

Jo x

It's those bears again!!!

Good Morning!

Don't you just hate it when an hour of your day is 'stolen' from you. I do wish they'd leave the time alone!

I'm feeling very grumpy this morning because I've got one of those horrid bugs that's going around and I feel rubbish! Because of all the medication I take on a daily basis, there's nothing else I can take so just have to ride the storm.

This is a card I made last week but just haven't felt up to posting.

Isn't that just the cutest image? I coloured the teddies using watercolour pencils and then mounted them onto pearlescent cardstock. I cut a Fleur de Lis Border from the same cardstock using a Spellbinders die. The backing paper was free in a magazine I've had ages. I'm not sure if the paper is 'too much'. I chose it partly for the colours but mainly for the words that run along the paper - laugh, giggle, discover, happy, fun, journey, wish. I think they suit the images so well.

I am entering this card in TotallyPaperCrafts Challenge Cuddly and Cute

I've bought some more of these digi stamps from teddybo.com that I'll be using very soon.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Jo x

A Lovely Place To Live

Good Morning

The sun is shining here today once again, long may it continue, at least for the weekend anyway.

Today's card is one made using the Pilkington Lane stamps. These are beautiful stamps with so much detail in them. I have 2 of the sets and would like to add the set of trees, Pilkington Woods, to my collection at some point, but they will have to wait for now.

I stamped the houses onto some textured cardstock using Sepia Versafine ink, and then coloured using Lyra Aquacrayons. This was then layer onto some green cardstock, then onto linen white cardstock and the ribbon added as a finishing touch.

Thank you for your visit today, and a big welcome to my new followers.

Enjoy your day.

Jo x

It Was Only A Matter Of Time

Good Morning

I've been admiring some beautiful cards over on my friend Edna's blog, where she has been using some gorgeous stamps featuring Teddy Bo and Teddy Bea. As you know I've very little willpower when it comes to crafty goodies, and after seeing the amazing card Edna made yesterday, I just had to give in!!

So off to the Teddy Bo store I went. I chose 2 stamps to start with, because I am still lacking confidence when it comes to colouring in. Here is my first card using the images.

I printed her onto watercolour paper, and coloured her using watercolour pencils. The backing paper I have had for ages, and looked at it many times! The ribbon border and tags were die cut using a Marianne die, as was the flourish. The ribbon was from my stash, pearls from Joanna Sheen. The buttons I bought from ebay a while ago, and in the pack was this little teddy button, so cute!

Teddy Bo has a challenge blog, and this time the theme is buttons and bows, so I am entering this card into the challenge, full details can be found here

I am also entering the card into Totally Papercrafts Challenge add buttons.

Thanks for your visit today.

Jo x

An Eastern Flower For Mum

Good Morning

The sun is trying its best to shine this morning.

Today's card is the first one I have made with this fold. I've seen it a few times and liked the effect, so decided to give it a go.

The decoupage is printed from Joanna Sheen's Eastern Treasures cd-rom. I love the blue in this design. I printed the decoupage onto a gloss photo paper which has given a lovely effect. It wasn't the easiest decoupage to cut out, but well worth the effort in my opinion.

I printed one of the matching backing papers onto centura pearl paper and covered the whole card with it. I was going to add some pearls but really don't think it needs any, this is such a gorgeous image.

This card is for my mum for Mothers' Day.

Thanks for calling in today, enjoy the rest of your day.

Jo x

A Walk On The Wild Side

Good Morning

Today's card is the second birthday card for my Dad. His birthday is at the end of the month.

I am entering this card into The CD Sunday Challenge Wild Thing

My card is made using the Jayne Netley Mayhew cd-roms from Joanna Sheen.

I printed off the image for the front of the card twice, so I could decoupage the baby elephants. They were matted onto some matt gold cardstock, then orange cardstock, and then onto some pale green cardstock of which I had punched around the edges using a Martha Stewart punch. The Happy Birthday was created using my alphabet stamps from Dimension Fourth. The H and B are cut out of a silvery-grey paper to tie-in with the elephant theme, and then the rest of the words were stamped using Big & Juicy Spice Ink pad.

For the middle of the card I printed out part of the shaped cards section from the cd-rom.

I glued the print-outs to card for extra stability and then cut everything out. I embossed the edges of some matt gold card using my Keepsake Borderfold embossing board, and then attached the shaped elephants to this. The elephants separate and there is a panel behind them for writing a message.

I hope you like this card. Thanks for your visit today.

Jo x

House Mouse Competition Card

Good Morning

Today I would like to share with you the card I made for the recent House Mouse competition that was open to all members of Joanna Sheen's forum. I am delighted and still very excited at being runner-up.

I decided very quickly the image that I was going to use, and upon selecting the image decided I was going to embellish the card with some lengths of wool. Whilst putting the decoupage together, I decided to dig-out my knitting needs and have a try at knitting one of the little chicks with the jumper on. I didn't have a pattern of course, so it took a few attempts until I got one that I was happy with. I then added some plastic feet, some black beads for eyes and made the little beak out of some card. I made 3 chicks in all.

It was then that I came up with the idea of having the knitted chicks in a shop window, like little manequins, displaying the clothes for chicks. So I also knitted some little hats and scarves to display in the window. Having knitted the chicks I was able to determine the depth that the window needed to be and cut this out of some pearlescent card stock. I then cut out the four windows and added some acetate. I searched for a suitable image for in the window, and then attached this to the cardstock before attaching 2 of the little chicks and the other accessories. Of course a name was needed for over the shop window, so I decided on the name 'La Chic Boutique'.

The middle section comprised of some pearlescent paper with the corners punched out, a little image from the cover sheet of the decoupage pack, and then I punched some holes all around the edges and threaded through some lengths of wool.

The back of the card represented the back room of the shop, where the Happy Hopper is knitting all the clothes for the little chicks, which will then go on sale in the shop. I searched for some images of balls of wool which I then adjusted to the size of the back section of my card. The decoupage was applied to this section.

I then knitted a few more rows, which I then transfered to a couple of pins which I had cut the sharp end off, as these represented the knitting needles. I then wound up the rest of the wool into a little ball. This was then attached to the back section of the card.

It took many hours to complete the card but I was very pleased with it once it was finished. It was good fun to make too.

Less Is More Challenge

Good Afternoon

This is my card for this weeks' challenge over at Less Is More, and the theme for this week is Masculine.

It's my dads birthday at the end of the month, so I make him 2 cards, one from me and hubby and one to grandad from the girls. I'd already decided that for one of them I was going to use the Toffee Shop stamp from the Pilkington Lane range, and this challenge gave me a kick start.

I'm adding a second photo which I have taken this morning, hopefully it will show the detail a bit better.

You wouldn't think so to look at it, but it has taken me most of the afternoon to get it finished! I started off with a sheet of black linen card, and die cut each of the corners using my new spellbinders Fleur De Lis dies. I love this set, in fact I love it so much I've now ordered the accompanying set! I then stamped directly onto the card using a white ink, and then embossed the image using a detail clear embossing powder. There is such a lot of detail in these stamps and this is the first time I have used them without watercouring the images.

The black linen card was then matted onto some white card, and then another layer of black linen card, and then finally onto the base card which was made from white linen card, I hope I haven't exceeded the number of layers allowed?

I'm really pleased with how this has turned out, and I think Dad will love it too. Now I just need to decide on his other card.

Last week I visited the blogs of over 150 other entrants to the challenge. I tried to leave a comment on every blog I visited, but sometimes I couldn't, I got a message 'you are not authorised to comment'. So it's not that I didn't want to comment on all your cards, I just wasn't able to do so.

Thank you to everyone who has visited my blog and left me comments, we all love to receive comments don't we. I'm now off to have a look at some of the other entries.

House Mouse & Friends Welcome Spring

Good Morning

The Challenge over at House Mouse & Friends is 'Welcome Spring'.

Well, spring wouldn't be spring without all those showers, so for my entry I chose to choose a Happy Hopper image.

My card is made using a decoupage sheet from Joanna Sheen, and an insert, used as a backing paper, from the new House Mouse inserts cd-rom, also from Joanna Sheen.

I used a white textured cardstock for the base card and then matted some yellow cardstock onto there with the insert/backing paper onto that. I punched out some flowers using my Nellie Snellen punches, and some leaves using an x-cut punch, a pearl was added to the centre of the flowers.

I cut a tag from the same yellow cardstock using a Nellies Choice die, threaded some blue satin ribbon through it and then added the sentiment. Finally I used some clear glaze on the umbrella, puddle and raindrops, and added a few to the leaves for good measure.

Enjoy your Saturday.

Jo x

A Gem Of A Challenge

Good Afternoon

This is a quick post, I feel like Anneka Rice against the clock! I hadn't realised the the current A Gem Of A Challengefinishes today.

We had a sketch to follow, and here is my entry.

I was lucky enough to win some digi stamps in a Pink Gem blog hop recently, and this is one of the stamps I won. He's lovely isn't he? This is the first time I have used a digi stamp, the first time I printed him he filled a A5 sheet, lol. I printed him onto watercolour paper, left the image for a couple of days to make sure the ink was properly dry, and then watercoloured him using Lyra Aquacolours.

I gave him little rosy cheeks because I'm sure all pirates have rosy cheeks! He's sitting on some gorgeous pearlescent cardstock which has been die-cut using a Marianne's die. The backing paper is printed from Crafters Companion Boys cd-rom, and the border has been cut out of the same paper using my fab new spellbinders fleur de lis die. I embossed some pearlescent paper using a cuttlebug die, then added some buttons from my stash.

Phew! Stop the clock!!!!

Have A Sporty Birthday

Hello!

Today's card is for my nephew who's birthday is next week. He loves his sport, especially football and golf, so I decided it was time to ink up some of my Sporty Lofty stamps from Joanna Sheen.

This is my first attempt at a double twisted easel card, I thought it was a good way to display the images.

The images were stamped onto watercolour card using versafine ink, and then coloured using my Lyra Aquacolour Crayons. They were then layered onto a larger oval, cut using a Nellie Snellen die.

The sentiment stoppers came on the stamp sheets and were stamped onto card using a Big & Juicy inkpad. The same inkpad was used to stamp the Happy Birthday sentiment, which is a Dimension Fourth rubber stamp, which was stamped directly onto cardstock which had been Martha Stewart punched. A pale blue card from PaperMill was used to make the easely bit!

I'm quite pleased with how this has turned out. I'm not the most confident watercolourer, but think this has turned out ok.

Have a lovely, crafty day.

Jo

Pretty In Pink

Good Morning

Today's card is made using this months Project Club stamps from Dimension Fourth. As soon as I looked at them, I knew they would make the perfect card for a friend of mine who loves shoes.

I made this card along the lines of one of the suggestions in the set. I stamped the shoe onto watercolour card using Versafine black ink, masked the shoe and then stamped a second. I coloured them using colours from a Big & Juicy ink pad, soothing sunset. The shape that the shoes are stamped onto was made using my Get In Shape templates.

The gorgeous borders I have added to the card were die cut using a Spellbinders Fleur De Lis die from my new set. The little accent I have used to make the brake is from the same set, with some ribbon threaded through and a rose added. Some mulberry leaves and some more of the same roses were added to the main image. I wrapped the wire I had cut from the stems around a darning needle to make the little 'twiddly bits' (technical term there!) that I added to the flowers.

The sentiment comes on the same stamp set and was stamped using the same Big & Juicy ink pad.

Hope you have a great day today.

Jo x

Crafters Companion Monthly Challenge

Good Morning and what a dull morning it is too.

My test results showed that my blood pressure is still much too high so my GP has now prescribed an additional medication to hopefully bring it down. I am feeling very disoreinted at the moment, on top of the usual dizziness so it does feel a bit like one forward two back!

I was delighted to learn that I was runner-up in a House Mouse competition run by Joanna Sheen for her forum members. This is the first time one of my cards has won a prize and to say I am pleased doesn't come anywhere near it! My card, along with the winners (which was gorgeous) and some of the other entries (which were also brilliant) will be on display at the NEC, woohoo!!!

Now onto my card. This is my entry into this months Crafters Companion Challenge which is Easter

I am also entering it into Creative Cottage Challenge - Spring

The card is made using an image and backing papers from the Crafters Companion cd-rom 'Souffle'. He is such a cutie and I thought perfect for Easter and Spring! I decided on a blue and yellow combo as I love these colours together.

The base card is made from a white hammered card from Papermill. I chose 2 different backing papers which I printed off onto a Matt photo paper and then matted on to yellow card. The same yellow card was used for the corners, die cut using a Marianne Die, and the label die cut using a spellbinders die.

I printed the Souffle image twice and then matted the main image onto the same yellow card. I then cut out just Souffle and decoupaged him to add a bit of dimension. The flowers I made to copy the flower in his beak, cut and embossed using my Nellie Snellen punches, and then a gold gem in the centres to finish off.

I hope you like my card today, and thank you for stopping by.

Jo x

The Creative Cottage Challenge - Tag You're It

Hello Again

This afternoon I am posting a card which I am entering in the latest Creative Cottage Challenge - Tag You're It.

Whilst visiting lots of blogs lately, I've seen a lot of stitching on cards, which I really like the look of so decided to give it a go.

The base card is a lovely platinum pearlescent card from PaperMill. The backing paper is printed from the Adorables cd-rom onto pearlescent paper. The snowflake embossing was done using a Sizzix embossing plate. The tag is cut using a Marianne Die, as is the ribbon border. The snowflake on the tag is stamped using a Dimension Fourth stamp and hear embossed with sparkling embossing powder. The little snowflakes were punched using a Martha Stewart punch. I used different thicknesses of foam pads to make up the card to add some dimension.

That's another Christmas card to add to the box!

Christmas Tagged

Good Morning

It's a lovely sunny morning with clear blue skies here today. Freezing cold if you open the door, but still makes me feel happier :-)

This evening I'm at the doctors for the results of my repeat 24 hour blood pressure tape and numerous blood tests. Fingers crossed!

Today's creation is my entry into Winter Wonderland Challenge:Tag It With A Shape

As you can see, my goodies I was impatiently waiting for arrived, and very quickly too. This is made using my newest Marianne Dies. The large tag was made by a bit of jiggery-pokery! I die cut the top part of the tag and then cut the rest on my guillotine. The ribbon border was cut using another new Marianne die, to which I threaded through a lovely green satin ribbon and then attached to the rest of the tag. The same ribbon was threaded through the top of the tag. I've got stacks and stacks of vellum that I haven't touched, so decided to use some to add a bit of decoration. I then cut some snowflakes out of silver mirri using a Martha Stewart punch and added these randomly.

The smaller tag was cut using the same die, I then stamped some snowflakes using versamark ink, using a stamp from Dimension Fourth, and heat embossed using a sparkle embossing powder.

I hope you like this.

Have a great day, I hope the sun is shining for you too.

Jo

Less Is More - Off The Edge

Good Afternoon

This is my card for this weeks' challenge over at Less Is More and also One Stop Craft Challenge

You'll be surprised (not!!!) to know that I struggled to get started with this card. I looked at the challenge as soon as I got up this morning! Then I thought, and thought, and browsed through all my stamps, and browsed again lol - I'm sure you get the picture. Anyway enough waffle, here's what I came up with.

I did numerous test stamps onto copier paper til I was happy with the design and then stamped onto some smooth white cardstock using a corner stamp from Dimension Fourth and a Big & Juicy Hydrangea ink pad. It took a long time to complete, and I really hope it meets the requirements for this weeks' challenge. It all looked a bit 'unfinished' so I stamped the sentiment using the same ink pad.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog :0).

Jo x

Never Underestimate The Power Of A Hug

Good morning

The sun is shining here once again and the primulas are flowering away in the garden, adding some much needed colour.

My card for today is made using one of the fabulous SWALK stamps. This is the first stamp I inked up when I bought the first set, and it is the one that I have used the most. It is suitable for so many occasions. Today I am using it to send some hugs to a friend of mine who has had to have surgery this week.

The shape of the card was made using my favourite Get In Shape template. The backing paper is from the SWALK cd-rom, printed onto centura pearl paper. I stamped the main image, and the flowers, onto watercolour paper using versafine ink. I then coloured them using watercolour pencils. They were attached to the card using foam pads, and then a little gem was added to each of her hair bows. The sentiment comes on the same stamp sheet, and was stamped using a brushmarker pen.

I am entering this card into the TotallyPaperCrafts Challenge

I am waiting impatiently for the postman to arrive in the hope that her brings some of my new goodies! During my stash diet last month, I had a refund from a returned item and a £10 Joanna Sheen gift voucher that I won, woohoo :0). Sooooooo, I have ordered some new fab Spellbinders dies, some Marianne dies, some Nellie Snellen dies and a couple of cuttlebug folders. Ok, so I may have spent a teensy bit more than the value of the refund and gift voucher, but I really did need these items :D

Have a super weekend.

Jo x

Enchanted

Good Afternoon

My card for today is made using the fabulous Enchanted Dreams cd-rom, available from Joanna Sheen. My eldest daughter gets some exam results at college today, so I wanted to have a card ready for when she gets home. Sarah really loves the images on this cd, so I'm sure she'll be pleased with this card.

The base card is a lovely pearlescent card from Papermill. The mats on the card are made using holographic card, which I ran through my big shot using a cuttlebug folder, the swirls remind me of the sea :-). The image itself is matted onto some silver holographic card. I then threaded a few shells and beads onto some strong thread and placed them onto the card using glue gel. I was tempted to add a few of my favourite flourishes but thought it may be a bit too much.

Thanks for you visit today, please leave me a comment so I know you've been :0).

Jo

Best Wishes

Good Afternoon

I'd like to start off by thanking all my lovely followers, it's so nice to have other crafters interested in my cards. You are all very welcome here.

Today's card is my entry into the following challenges.

Lili of the Valley, Challenge 86 - Sketch

The ABC Challenge - P is for Pearls

The Crafty Pad Challenge - use ribbon.

The image is from Lili of the Valley, which I cut into an oval and then matted on to a scalloped oval cut with a Nellie Snellen die. The papers I printed from the SWALK cd-rom. The flowers are made using my Nellie Snellen punch and embossers, made from the same backing paper. A pearl from my stash was placed in the centre of each flower and a few more on the oval. The flourishes were cut from silver linen card using Marianne dies.

I used white and dark blue organza ribbon, thinking dark blue would be a bit of a contrast. I ran little stitches down the centre of the ribbon with invisible thread, and then gathered it up until I got the length that I wanted. Finally, I added the Best Wishes sentiment to the card.

My Very First Blog Award Yippee!!!!

Good Morning

I am very, very pleased to have been awarded my very first blog award from the lovely Jan at lovestocraft. This was a lovely surprise and I want to say a huge thank you to Jan for choosing my blog. Mwah. Jan makes some gorgeous cards and her blog is well worth a visit.

Now I need to tell you 7 things about me, so here goes:

I have been married for 20 years and have 2 daughters aged 17 and 10.

I have a mad cocker spaniel called Murphy who is such good company.

I became disabled 10 years ago so am in the house most of the time.

I started cross-stitching in my teens and have made many, many birth samplers, pictures etc for lots of people.

I have been papercrafting for approx. 5 years now and my craft room is always a mess!

I sell cards to raise funds to send adults and children with disabilities/illnesses on a weeks pilgrimage to Lourdes.

I love home-baked cakes.

Now I need to think of 8 blogs to pass this award onto. I visit so many inspiring blogs so this really is the tricky bit.

Edna Another Day, Another Card
Anne Stargroves
Jackie Jackies Stuff
Sandra Stamping For Pleasure
Lyndsey Lynsey's Place
Wendy Crafty Butterfly Blog
Sue Sue's Rubber Stamping Adventure
Lin Twisted Witch:Crafty Cardmaking

These are some of the blogs that I visit on a regular basis and are well worth a visit.

I hope this award makes your day too :0)

May Your Christmas Be Merry And Bright

Hello, I hope your day is going well.

I decided in January that I was going to start making my Christmas cards much earlier this year. As a family we send approx. 150 Christmas cards! There is no way everyone is going to receive a handcrafted card, but I do send quite a few. Also I make Christmas cards to sell for my fundraising, so an early start is a sensible idea. So far I'm not doing very well!

Anyway, I also decided I was going to enter some challenges this year. I sometimes struggle getting started with cards, so I find challenges very useful for giving me a starting point.

This card is going to be entered in the following challenge:

Winter Wonderland :Snowflakes

And here it is!

The image is from the Jayne Nestorenko Adorables range, available from Crafters Companion, the sentiment came on the same stamp plate. I stamped her onto Crafters Companions watercolour card, and coloured her using my Lyra's. I wasn't really a big fan of glitter, until I was introduced to sparkling snow glitter which is available from Joanna Sheen. I added this to her hat and coat using pinflair glitter glue and I think it looks really lovely.

I die cut the rectangles onto pearlescent card using a Nellie's die and applied her using glue gel for some dimension. I cut round her hand using a craft knife so I could slot in the present she is carrying. I couldn't resist adding some pinflair snow dust around her feet and onto her shoes.

The backing paper is printed from the Adorables cd-rom onto Centrua pearl paper, and matted onto some silver mirror board. The corners are a Marianne die, cut out of white glitter paper with a few pearls added. The sentiment was heat embossed using silver fine detail embossing powder.

Thanks for sticking with me through this long post and thanks to everyone who leaves a comment.

Jo

Less Is More - Pastel

Good Morning

I spent many hours this weekend working on a competition card, which will be ready to go in the post this evening, when I'm happy all the glue has properly set!!!

When that was all finished I gave some thought to this weeks 'Less Is more' challenge. Full details of the challenge can be found here

After a lot of thought and test stamping this is what I finally came up with.

It does look better in real life! My photography skills aren't that great!

The image is one of the Bella panels available from Debbi Moore, which I stamped using a light blue ink. I then applied some blue chalk over the ink to add a bit of sparkle. I still wasn't happy (this was my 6th attempt at this image) so decided to try one of my favourite techniques, triple embossing, to give the image a 'tile effect'.

I embossed some blue and pale yellow card which I layer onto my white card base, cut a tag using a spellbinders die, and added some peel offs. I chose the words 'Just for You' as I think this card is suitable for a number of occasions.

If you're not familiar with this new challenge blog, why not pop across and have a look. Everyone there is very friendly. And on that note, I would like to thank everyone for visiting my blog and leaving me comments, it's a really lovely community to be a part of.

Thanks for your visit today. I'm off to have a look at some of the other entries.

Jo

Cream and Gold

Good Morning

Today's card is a birthday card for one of my eldest daughter's friends. She asked me to make a 'cream and gold' card. To start with I had a complete mental block!!! After a lot of thought and a good old rummage, I decided to use one of the Bella Panel stamps which are available from Debbi Moore designs. This is one of the first stamp sets I bought, and you get four panels in the set together with some additional accent and word stamps.

I chose the panel with the butterflies so I could tie it in with a cuttlebug embossing folder. I embossed some matt gold card, and then embossed some cream pearlescent card using a swirls embossing folder. The image was stamped onto cream pearlescent card and then heat embossed using a gold detail embossing powder.

I made a double bow using gorgeous cream organza ribbon from my stash and placed little pearls on the end of the 'twirly bits' (that's a technical term!). The label was cut using a spellbinders die and the Happy Birthday is gold peel offs, again from my stash.

I'm going to try and get a couple of challenge cards completed today - we'll see :0)

Jo

Floral Stitching

Good Afternoon

My card today is made using one of my favourite techniques, paper embroidery.

The design is stitched onto pearlescent card, then matted onto some vintage gold paper. The corners are punched using a Martha Stewart punch. The bow is made using organza ribbon from my stash.

Emma went into school today dressed as Mr Gum for World Book Day. She was delighted with her finished costume and here she is all dressed up and ready to go!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Jo

Less Is More - Take Two!!

Hello Again

Well I did say I wasn't happy with my card and couldn't work out why!! Thanks to a couple of comments, my brain kicked in!!! This is more like my original plan, but I couldn't fit it on a DL card. Why on earth I didn't just think to use a bigger card has me baffled, that's what comes of crafting late into the night :0)

I am much happier with this, and hope it still meets the CAS requirements? You must despair of me??? It'll click one day honest.

If you fancy having a go at the challenge full details can be found here. Everyone is very welcoming and supportive.

Jo

Less Is More - Three Squares

Good Morning

Well the beard is made, and the rest of the costume all together ready for tomorrow. Emma is very excited!

Today's card is for this weeks' Less Is More Challenge, which is 'Three Squares'. I'm really struggling with CAS cards at the moment. I've got so used to using lots of layers and embellishments on cards, it's difficult not to do that and be happy with what you make. I'm not particularly happy with my card, but can't put my finger on why not!

I used some stamps from Sheena Douglass, which I stamped three times. I used mica powders to colour these, mixed with water and used as a paint. I matted these onto some matt gold card. I couldn't decide which colour ribbon to use, so decided to plait all three together!

I'm sorry about the quality of the photo, I took 15 photos of this card and this is the best I can do!

Thanks for visiting today.

Jo

Going Round In Circles

Good Morning

The sun is shining here, although it's bitterley cold, but still a much better start to the day than depressing rain!

I ended up spending most of the weekend in bed with a migraine! They're such horrible things and really floor me. I think it's gone away again now, so I'm playing catch up!!!

It's World Book Day this Thursday, and so pupils are invited to go into school dressed as there favourite character from a book. Well Emma is a huge Mr Gum fan so that is who she is going to dress as. Today's challenge is to create her a beard and moustache :0). I'll show you then end result.

Anyway, todays card is my entry into the LOTV challenge which this week is Circles.

For this card I used one of their cute squares, I love this image. I cut a circle of silver linen cardstock to layer the image onto. I printed off a couple of the papers from one of the SWALK cd-roms, which I then ran through my big shot with a Marianne Doily die. The flowers were made from the same paper, again using a Marianne die, and then little gems added to the centre. The leaves were made using a x-cut embossing punch.

Details of the challenge can be found here.

Have a good day - I'm off to make a beard :-D

Jo