Going AWOL For A While

This will be my last post for a little while as tomorrow morning a group of 41 of us will travel to Lourdes for a weeks' pilgrimage.  My view for the next week will be the one you see as the header for my blog.

I have a very special friend who is my carer for the week, helps me whenever I need help, and pushes my wheelchair for miles in all.  We met on my first pilgrimage 6 years ago and have become very good friends.

I know quite a number of the people in my group, but as always there will be a few new faces.

My factor 50 sun cream and raincoat go everywhere with me whilst I am away as the weather can change in seconds!!  Hopefully I will  be using the suncream more than the raincoat on this trip!!

Even though we are part of a large group, there is plenty of opportunity for 'quiet time'.  We laugh a lot, cry a lot and have time to think and reflect.  It really is a very special place to go, and I always feel much better mentally when I return.  Physically of course, it is a different story and I know it will take me time to recover, but it is well worth it.

The rest of my family have some lovely days out planned whilst I am away, so I hope the weather stays kind to them.  They always feel guilty if they go to places where I can't join in, so this way they can go and enjoy themselves guilt free.

So, I hope you all have a lovely week, get lots of sunshine and crafting time, and I'll catch up with you all on my return.

Jo x

A Day At The Beach

Good Morning

And what a beautiful morning it is too.

My card for today is made using a digi stamp from Pink Gem Designs.

The image is coloured using coloursoft pencils.  The backing papers are all from a previous issue of making cards magazine.  The flowers are made using Nellie Snellen punches from the same paper with a tiny pearl from Joanna Sheen added to the centres.

My card is for the following challenges:

A Gem Of A Challenge - Sketch

Fussy and Fancy - Summer

Cutie Sunday - Summer

Paper Sundaes - Beach

Top Tip Tuesday - Make It Girly

Do It With Digis - Summer Fun

Craft Your Days Away - Summertime

Easy Crafy Projects - The Summer

Divas By Design - Summer Is Here

Crafting For All Seasons - Beach/Ocean

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Under the sea (the shells are from the sea!)

Thanks for visiting my blog today, have a great day.

Jo x

Pots of Fun

Good Morning

My card for today follows the sketch over at Willow Sketchie Challenge.

I was lucky enough to win one of their challenges, and this digi stamp was part of my prize.

The image is coloured using coloursoft pencils.  The backing papers are some I has already printed out from the Adorables cd-rom, and I thought worked really well for this card.  The punched strip is made from cardstock using a Martha Stewart border punch.  The flowers are prima and the swirls/flourishes cut with a Marianne die.  A peel off sentiment was added to complete the card.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Willow Sketchie Challenge - Sketch

Alphabet Challenge Blog - L for lemon and lime

Stampin for the weekend - Paws for thought

Do It With Digis - Summer Fun

Craft You Days Away - Summertime

Easy Craft Projects Challenge - The Summer

Divas By Design  - Summer Is Here

Pile It On - Fun In The Sun

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Jo x

Congratulations

Good Afternoon

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

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The pattern for this card I puchased from stitchingcards.com.  The stitching is done using metallic thread.  The sentiment tag is a spellbinders die.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Crafty Creations Challenges - Seeing double

If The Shoe Fits...Scrap It - Ruby

Thanks for visiting, I'd love to know what you think.

Jo x

Humphrey

Good Afternoon

My card for today is made using the Humphrey's Corner cd-rom from Crafters Companion.

This is one of the lovely decoupage images from the cd-rom, layered onto silver mirror board which has been punched all around using a Martha Stewart punch.


The backing paper is from the cd-rom and the stars are cut into a co-ordinating paper using a die-namics star die.

The inside of the card has been decorated to match.

This is a lovely cd-rom which I know I'm going to get lots of use out of.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenge:

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Getting Cute

Totally Papercrafts - One For The Boys

Thanks for visiting.

Jo x

Decorating The Christmas Tree

Good Evening

Today I've finished off another Christmas card to add to my supply!

This is my entry for the current House Mouse and Friends Challenge which this time is to use buttons, bows and bling.

This is a large, square card which I made from white linen cardstock.  The backing paper, which is printed from the House Mouse inserts cd-rom from Joanna Sheen, is matted onto pearlescent gold cardstock.  The decoupage image is also from Joanna Sheen.  I made a double ribbon bow from narrow ribbon and attached to this the charm from my stash.  Three buttons were added to the card, with twine threaded through each.  Three pearls were added, in the same colour as the buttons and the baubles in the image.  A sentiment was then added to complete the card.

I am also entering my card in the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations Challenge - Christmas In July

Allsorts Challenge - Free and Easy

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jo x

Cute and cuddly

Good Afternoon

Thank you very much to everyone who left comments on  Emma's card, she was so excited to read all your lovely comments.

My card for today is one I have made using the fabulous Furry Friends cd-rom from Joanna Sheen.

Isn't this just the cutest puppy?  The image is layered onto silver mirror board, cut across the bottom with an EK success border punch.  Three identical pictures were then punched with a circle punch and again layered onto silver mirror board.

I printed out one of the stripy backing papers from the cd-rom, cut it into narrow strips, curled it and then attached it to 3 sides of the frame.  The paw print backing paper is also printed from the cd-rom.

My card is for the following challenges:

Rainbow Lady's Challenge - Pets

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Cute

Thanks for visiting today.

Jo x

Thank You Sir

Good Morning

Today is the last day of term for Emma, then it's holidays until September when she goes into her last year at primary school.  Emma loves school and has had a fantastic year which has passed so quickly. 

Emma wanted to make her own card for her teacher this year, and has done a brilliant job.  It's a variation on the dinner jacket card that she made recently (and won the challenge and came in the top 3 - very proud mum here!).

This is based on Emma's school uniform.  She cut up an old tie, attached some buttons from my stash and drew the school emblem.

I would like to enter Emma's card in the following challenges:

CRAFT Challenge - Thank you teacher

Top Tip Tuesday - Shaped cards

Thank you for visiting today, I'd love to know what you think of Emma's card.

Jo x

Summertime Fun

Good Evening

Today's card is made using another of the Faye Whittaker decoupage sheets from Joanna Sheen. Can you tell I'm a fan of these???

I used a white card base, and then scored the lines onto some platinum pearlescent cardstock to provide a frame for the decoupage.

My card is for the following challenges:

Cutie Sunday - Summer

Fussy and Fancy - Summer

Yuletide Greetings

Good Evening

I hope you've had an enjoyable weekend, my goodness have we had some rain!!  And it's been so dark and dismal all day today.

Anyway, this afternoon I got my next Christmas card made.

The reindeer on this card is from a Jayne Nestorenko stamp plate, as is the greeting.  I stamped using versafind vintage sepia onto watercolour card, and coloured using Lyra's. I just couldn't resist giving him a red nose!   I added some Pinflair snow dust to his antlers and Hunkydory 'snowdrift' around his feet.  The mat he is sat on is cut using a Nellie Snellen die and gold linen card.

All the different backing papers are from an issue of Making Cards magazine.  The poinsettias are made using my new Marianne dies which arrived yesterday.

My card is for the following challenges:

Christmas Challenges With Sketches - Sketch (I really enjoyed following this fab sketch).

Jingle Belles - Reindeer Games  - use a Christmas animal.

Winter Wonderland - Wet or dry embossing (the poinsettias are embossed).

The Crafty Pad - Christmas in July

Paper Sundaes - Christmas in July

Fairy Bea

Good Evening

I'm back with another card for today, this time featuring the gorgeous Teddy Bea.

Teddy Bea is coloured using coloursoft pencils.  She is then matted onto silver glitter card and lilac pearlescent card cut using a Martha Steward PATP.  The flowers are die cut using a Nellie Snellen die, and then a tiny lilac gem added to the centre.  The sentiment mat is a spellbinders floral die, with peel-offs in the centre.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Top Tip Tuesday - Sketch

Teddy Bo Challenge- Bea On Her Own

Paper Play Challenges - Things with wings

Bunny Zoe Crafts - Fairies

Totally Papercraft Challenge - Girly Girl

Divas by Design - Pastels

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Jo x

The Snowman

Good Afternoon

Back with my second card for today which is made using the new cd-rom and stamp set from Crafters Companion.

I used hammered white cardstock for the base.  The backing papers are all from the cd-rom printed onto centura pearl paper.  A Martha Stewart PATP was used.  The snowman is stamped in versafine ink and some shading added with coloursoft pencils.  Hunkydory 'Snowdrift' was added around his feet.  His hat and scarf were paper pieced using matching lilac backing paper.

I used one of the papers as an insert for the card.

For the card layout, I followed the current sketch at Willow Sketchie Challenge, a challenge which I was lucky enough to win last week.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Willow Sketchie Challenge  - Sketch

Christmas Card Challenges - Paper Piecing (his hat and scarf)

Paper Sundaes -  Paper Piecing (his hat and scarf)

Crafty Emma's Challenge  - Christmas

Jo x

Some Little Helpers

Good Afternoon

Well we certainly won't need to do what the lovely little housemouse on my card is doing today, it's pouring down!!!

This is quite a large card, just a little bit smaller than A4.  I used a lovely pearlescent white cardstock to create the card base and applied to this some backing paper which I printed from Joanna Sheen's Puppies & Kittens cd-rom (there are some stunning backing papers on this cd).  I cut round the paper with some deckle edged scissors just for a change.

The spotty backing paper is from Joanna Sheen's Precious Petals cd-rom, again given the scissor treatment!

The main image is decoupaged and then layered on a silver matt card.  The sentiment tag is a spellbinders die.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

House Mouse & Friends - Make A Splash

Allsorts Challenge - Free and Easy

Thanks for having a look.  I'll be back in a bit with a Christmas card.

Jo x

Teddy Bea Is Two

Well, actually, my little niece is about to be two, but you get my meaning!!!!

You can't tell from the photo, but the number is cut from double-sided card, lilac on the outside, pink on the inside.  The lovely Teddy Bea is coloured with coloursoft pencils, isn't she gorgeous?  The wording was stamped using Dimension Fourth Krystal Tips stamps in Distress ink and heat embossed using detail clear embossing powder.  The silver stars are also stamped and heat embossed in silver detail embossing powder.

I was over the moon this week to learn that I was one of the runners up for the previous challenge.  I'm sure you all know how much I love these teddies so it was such a delight to win.  Thank you ladies :o)

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

The Teddy Bo Challenge - Bea On Her Own

Totally Papercrafts - Girly Girl

Have a lovely weekend.

Jo x

By The Seaside

Good Morning

The day started off very cloudy with rain in the air but the sun has broken through to bring us another gorgeous day.  So my card for today is quite appropriate.

The card is made using one of the 'All Our Yesterday's' decoupage sheets from Joanna Sheen.  I love decoupage and these sheets are a real pleasure to work with.

The light blue base card is dry embossed using the Keepsake Splendour Embossing board.  I don't have a lot of embossing boards but this one really caught my eye, I love the shapes on it.  I then embossed some dark blue card using some of the corners on the board and then layered them up.  Light blue pearls (available from Joanna Sheen) were then added.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Crafts and Me Challenge - Summertime

Crafty Ann's Challenge - Dry Embossing

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Jo x

All Dressed Up With Places To Go

Good Evening

Welcome to my new followers, it's a pleasure to have you :D

What an improvement in the weather, so much so that Emma had sports day this afternoon for the first time in four years!  Luckily hubby was able to get the afternoon off and take me up to watch all the fun.  The children were brilliant, encouraging each other all the way.  Emma's team won, so needless to say she was delighted.

My card for today uses the Appley Dappley's Nursery Rhymes cd-rom from Crafters Companion.

I used a dark brown linen cardstock for the base card, and added backing paper printed from the cd-rom.  The spotty paper is also from the cd-rom and I used an EK Success border punch to add some interest.  The main image is decoupaged.  The sentiment is placed onto a spellbinders die-cut, cut from matching brown linen card.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Crafting For All Seasons - Furry Friends


Crafters Companion Challenge - One For The Boys

Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge - Use punches

Thanks for visiting.

Jo x

Taking It Easy

Hello again

My second card for today is my entry into this weeks Lili Of The Valley Challenge which is to follow a sketch.

The image is one of their pre-coloured images to which I applied Antique Linen distress inks around the edges.

The papers used are from a previous issue of Making Cards magazine.  The stars are die cut using a die-namics die, and the flourishes are Marianne dies.  The zig-zag punch is Martha Stewart.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Lily of the Valley - Sketch

Craft Your Passion - Just For You

In The Country

Good Morning

There's nothing like cutting it fine!  This is my entry into this weeks Willow Sketchie Challenge.  This week we were to choose a previous sketch to follow, with the added twist of adding 3 buttons, 2 ribbons and 1 sentiment.

I chose to follow a sketch from April.  The images are printed from Joanna Sheen's Pamela West cd-rom onto watercolour card.  The dies cuts are Spellbinders Fleur De Lis dies, and the buttons and ribbons are from my stash.

I would also like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Rainbow Lady's Challenge - In the country

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - Happy Birthday

Creative Inspirations - No Flowers

My Time To Craft Challenge  - Bird Watcher

Card and a Half  - Card With A Creature.

Thanks for visiting today.

Jo x

Fun At The Beach

Good Evening

I hope you're all well.

I had some slightly upsetting news from my GP last night.  The recent tests they've done have shown that my heart rate is still far too high, which is why I'm getting breathless so easily.  He has referred me to a cardiologist at the hospital.  I don't know quite what to expect really, I'm already on medication to slow my heart rate down!

Anyhow, on to today's card.  I didn't think Jayne Nestorenko could better the Patchwork Polly range of stamps, but her new Adorables range are just fabulous.  I didn't get all 12 stamp sets, but I did get the cd-rom.

The lovely seaside scene is printed from the cd-rom.  The little girl, bucket, spade, shells, starfish, crab and boat are all stamped onto watercolour card using versafine ink, and then painted with Lyra's.  The base cardstock is a cream linen, and the scene is mounted onto gold linen card.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations - To The Seaside

Totally PaperCrafts Challenge - The Beach

One Stop Craft Challenge - Summer Time

One Stitch At A Time Challenge - Anything Goes

Pollycraft Monday Challenge - The Great Outdoors

Shopping Our Stash - In With The New (this is a new cd-rom and stamp set).

Dream Valley Challenges - Summer Theme

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Fun In The Sun

Thanks for stopping by.

Jo x

A New Baby Girl

Good Afternoon

The current challenge over at A Spoon Full of Sugar is Sewing.  I made the 'blue' version of this card earlier in the year, and then received a request for a 'pink' version, so here it is.

This is one of my favourite cross stitch patterns ever, but boy does it take some stitching!

The design is cross stitched on 18 count aida, using DMC threads.  Seed beads are added for decoration.

I made the aperture card using silver mirror, pink pearlescent and white hammered card.

I would also like to enter my challenge in the Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - We Love Pink.

Thanks for visiting.

Jo x

Crafting With A Child

Good Morning

The current challenge at Crafty Sentiments Designs is crafting with or for a child.  My daughter Emma who is 10 asked if I would help her make a card for her dad's birthday and here it is.

I helped with the cutting out, but apart from that it is all Emma's work.

She used a black cardstock for the main card which she creased using my scoreboard.  The bow-tie was also made from black cardstock.  For the lacey shirt front, I die-cut some Marianne doily dies from white paper, which Emma then cut up and added to the front of the card.

I die-cut 6 flower shapes from tissue paper, which she then scrunched up and layered to produce the flower, which is held together with a small brad.

Thanks for visiting today.

Jo and Emma x

Teddy Bo and Bea Throughout The Year

Good Morning

There are lots of photos in this post!!

As you have probably noticed, I am very fond of Teddy Bea & Bo.  As the challenge over at Teddy Bo is make anything other than a card, I decided to make myself a desk calendar for 2012, so I'll always have one of my favourite bears on my desk.

All the images were printed onto white card and coloured using coloursoft pencils.  I used lot of various dies, cut into gold mirror board or gold linen board to make the mats for the teddies to sit on.

The calendar tabs were created using a stamp set from Dimension Fourth, and then I coloured around the frame using brushmarker pens in a colour picked out from each of the images.

The frame was made from some very thick white card, with rings through the top to hold the pages in place.

Here are all the photos!

I would like to enter my calendar in the following challenges:

Teddy Bo Challenge - anything but a card.

Crafts and Me Challenge  - favourite image (August, sunflower Bea)

Allsorts Challenge - free and easy

Stampin For The Weekend - Wings and things (December)

Thanks for sticking with me through this long post.

Jo x

Golden Wedding

Good Morning

My card for today is a Golden Wedding card and is made using lots of different die-cuts.

The majority of the dies used on here are from the new Marianne circles set.  I was trying my best to resist these dies (who am I trying to kid lol) and then I saw them 'in action' on my lovely friend Edna's blog, and I knew resistance was futile.  I seem to have developed an addiction to dies, particularly Marianne dies!!!

The base card is pearlescent cream, and all the die cuts use either pearlescent cream or pearlescent gold cardstock.  The doily in the centre of the Marianne dies is made using a x-cut doily die.  The sentiment is computer generated sat on a Spellbinders tag.

This is the first time I have made a card completely from die-cuts.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Easy Craft Projects Challenge - Use gold

Top Tip Tuesday - Wedding or Anniversary

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jo x

You're In My Thoughts

Good Morning

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

I was asked to make a card for someone to send to a friend who is have a difficult time.  I've seen lots of beautiful trellis cards displayed on Joanna Sheen's craft forum and decided to give one a go.

I used a lovely cream pearlescent card for the base card.  Using a glitter girls board I added the shape and then carefully cut around it.  Thin strips of the same card were used to create the trellis, and then the same shape was cut out and added on the reverse to hold the trellising in place.  The tiny flowers on the trellis were punched from pink and lilac pearlescnt paper and a glitter vellum and then layered up.  A tiny bead was added to the centre of each flower. 

The roses were made from the same papers, cut using a Marianne die.  The leaves were cut from the glittered vellum using a Marianne die, a x-cut punch and a Nellie Snellen punch.  The butterfly is also a Marianne die and 3 tiny pearls were added to the centre

On the inside of the card I added a printed insert with words requested by my customer.  On the back of the insert - so the bit that is seen through the trellis - I added a sheet of glittered vellum.

This card took many hours to create, but I thoroughly enjoyed making it and think it is a style I will be repeating.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Crafty Ann's Challenge - Get Well Soon/Thinking Of You/Just Because

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge - Anything Goes

Totally PaperCrafts Challenge - Bingo - I've used Die-cuts, flowers and gems

I hope you have a lovely day.

Jo x

Relax In The Garden

Good Afternoon

My card for today is made using the Pamela West collection cd-rom from Joanna Sheen.

The image and the backing papers are all printed from the cd-rom and then matted onto some platinum pearl cardstock.  The roses are made using a Marianne Die and are cut from vellum.  The leaves are also a Marianne die using white glitter card.

This is a birthday card I have made for a friend who is a very keen gardener.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion Challenge - Anything Goes

CRAFT Challenge - Gardening

Thanks for visiting today.

Jo x

A Perfect Day

Good Evening

I hope the weather has been kind to you this weekend.

My card for today is made using some of the new Summer Adorables stamps from Jayne Nestorenko.  I'm still awaiting for the majority of them to arrive, but I had this one which fitted a number of challenges perfectly.

The base card is made using a dark brown linen card.  The backing papers are printed from the cd-rom onto centura pearl paper.  The scene is also printed from the cd-rom and then cropped down to the diamond shape.

This lovely little boy, together with his binoculars and cane are stamped in vintage sepia versafine and then coloured with Lyra's.  The sentiment is also from the stamp plate, the buttons are from my stash.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Papertake weekly challenge - Sketch

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Here Comes Summer

Crafters Companion Monthly Challenge - One For The Boys

Allsorts Challenge - Free and Easy

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jo x

Time To Celebrate

Good morning

My card for today is made using one of LOTV's cute squares.  I really like the image on this one.

I cut the square using a Nellie Snellen die, and then matted it onto red card.  I cut 9 equal squares from starry paper which is from a Making Cards magazine, and these were then matted onto silver mirri card.  The sentiment is also from LOTV.  The star is cut from red glitter card using my new die-namics die and a button from my stash added to the centre.  Some card candy is used to complete the card.

The card follows the current sketch at Willow Sketchie Challenge.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Cards For Men Challenge - Stars

Craft Your Passion Challenge - Use Red

Penny's Challenge - Red, white and blue

Lili Of The Valley Challenge - Celebrate

Crafting For All Seasons - Red, White and Blue

Willow Sketchie Challenge  - Sketch plus use red and something sparkly

Thanks for visiting today.

Jo x

Teddy Bea Shines

Good Afternoon

The current challenge over at Teddy Bo is to make 'Anything But A Card', so I decided to make a candle!!  With a matching gift box of course.

 

I made the candle using paraffin wax and a large pillar candle mold.  I then printed Teddy Bea onto tissue paper 3 times, glittered her wings and then carefully applied the images to the candle.  Tiny gems were added at random to the candle.

For the box I printed Teddy Bea twice and again glittered her wings, I made up the box with an acetate front panel so the candle is visible.

One of Emma's teachers loves candles, so I decided that this would be a good end of term present for her.  I needed a matching card of course!!!!

The card is made using Teddy Bea decoupage.  The stars are my new stacking stars die-namics dies from Dies To Die for.  The flowers are Marianne dies as are the leaves.  The sentiment is LOTV.  The star punch is Martha Stewart.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Teddy Bo Challenge - Anything But A Card

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Things With Wings

Paper Sundaes - I've used wings and gems

The Poodles Parlour - Come Fly With Me

Crafty Creations Challenges - Thank You

Truly Scrumptious Challenge - Things With Wings

Divas By Design - Use die cuts and punches

PaperPlay Challenges - Anything But A Card

Thanks for visiting today.

Jo x