Say It With Flowers

I felt like trying something a bit different and at the same time put some of my very neglected stash to use.  I followed the sketch over at Hanna and Friends Challenge to create my card:

8 x 8 card blank

Core'dinations cardstock, scored diagonally using a scoreboard.

White card embossed using a Darice embossing folder.

Circle cut from Satin silk art card (from Inkylicious).  Image stamped randomly with versamark ink, detail white embossing powder added and heat embossed. I then brayered over the whole circle with a very neglected big and juicy ink.

I took a rectangle of the art card and stamped the image from Sheena Douglass Silhouette Grasses stamp set in versamark ink and heat embossed with black sparkle embossing powder.  I brayered the rectangle with the big and juicy ink.  I applied black sparkle around the edges of the rectangle.  I then stamped the image once more with versamark this time adding detail white embossing powder and heat setting.

I die cut 3 circles from black glitter card and added a bow to each made using ribbon from my stash.

I cut the sentiment tag from black glitter card using a Spellbinders die and then added the sentiment.

My card is for the following challenges:

Hanna and Friends Challenge - Sketch

Stamp n Doodle Challenge - Something neglected (ink pad and stamp)

Crafty Bloggers Network - Flowers

Moving Along With The Times - Floral Delights

Totally Papercrafts - Ribbon

Just To Say ..... Thanks

Hello

I'm busy making lots of thank you cards at the moment.  This is one I sent to a friend a little while ago:

The is made using a set of stamps from Inkylicious.  I stamped the main image in Versamark and the heat embossed with white detail embossing powder.  I then applied colour from a big and juicy ink pad (hydrangea)using ink duster.  It is sat on a mat cut using a Nellie Snellen die.

I then stamped other flowers and grasses from the set using the same ink pad.  I love the colours in this ink pad.  I added the sentiment using satin ribbon and then matted this onto some silver mirror card.

My card is for the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenge - Use heat embossing

Creative Inspirations - With thanks

Clear it out Challenge - Thank you

Craft Challenge - Thank you

Thanks for having a look.

Jo x

Seeing Double

Good Morning and a happy Saturday.

Today I have 2 cards to share with you.  Again these are thank you cards.  I was pleased with how the first one turned out, so I made a second one in different colours.

The embossing is done using a Nestabilitie.  The stamp is a Sheena Douglass and the colour is added using Big and Juicy ink pads.  I used peel offs for the sentiment as I wanted to keep the cards fairly plain.

My cards are for the following challenge:

One Stop Craft Challenge - No designer paper.

Patchwork Polly and Friends

Good Afternoon

This is a card I have been working on for the last few days. I couldn't decide which stamp to use so decided to go with them all!

I love this stamp set and now only need to get Patchwork Jenny and the set will be complete.

All the stamps were stamped onto watercolour card using versafine ink. I coloured them using watercolour pencils. I find these really difficult to use but am determined now I've bought them to keep trying!

The shape of the card was made using a get in shape template.

Here are some closer photos of the different characters.

The base card was cut in one from white cardstock and then inked round the edges using Big and Juicy Hydrangea Ink.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Crafters Companion Challenge Girls Birthday

Crafting For All Seasons Anything Goes

Crafts and Me Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Children's Cards

Divas By Design One For The Girls

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Anything Goes

Totally Papercrafts Don't Be Square.

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

Jo x

Less Is More -

Good Morning

My card for today is my entry into this weeks Less is More Challenge which this week is to make a Thank You or Congratulations card.

For my card I have used the Meadow Breeze stamp set from Inkylicious.

I used hammered white cardstock for the base card (my current favourite!!). I brayered some silk art card with Hydrangea Big And Juicy Ink then stamped the images with versamark ink and heat embossed with white fine detail embossing powder. I then stamped some more images using black ink.

The words 'thank you' use silver peel-offs. I have phases of using peel offs, and I particularly like the font on these. Unfortunately, I can't print directly to card as my printer won't take card stock.

I couldn't help thinking I should add something to all that white space, but I suppose that would take away from it being a clean and simple card so I sat on my hands!

Thanks for having a look. Do pop over to the Less Is More blog, it's a very friendly place to visit and you'll see lots of fabulous creations.

Have a lovely Bank Holiday.

Jo x

A Time For Reflection

Good Morning

Still quite chilly here this morning but the sun is trying it's best to break out so fingers crossed for another lovely weekend.

Todays card is one I have made to give to a friend for his 50th birthday. They don't 'do' birthdays as such, but I can't let this milestone pass without acknowledgement.

I used some silk art card from C & C and applied various inks (big & juicy, distress inks) using my ink dusters from Inkylicious. I cut a circle from a post-it note for the shape of the moon and for the trees I used my new stamp set - Pilkington Woods. To get the reflection I stamped onto my non-stick craft mat and carefully lined up the images.

This was then matted onto gold mirror board and the base card is made from pearlescent cardstock from PaperMill.

Please tell me honestly what you think about this card - is it good enough to give him?

Thanks for stopping by, have a good day.

Jo x

Less Is More - Week 12

Good evening.

I hope you are enjoying the Easter weekend.

This is my card for this weeks Less Is More Challenge, which this week is 'Off Centre'.

I finally gave in and bought the Pilkington Woods stamps from Create & Craft recently, so decided to use one of the trees for this challenge.

I stamped the tree onto silk art card using Versamark ink and then embossed with white fine detail embossing powder. I then used my brayer to apply the ink which is Big & Juicy soothing sunset. To try and add a bit of depth to the image, I firstly brayered through an aperture, then removed the aperture and brayered all over the image.

This was then matted onto some gold linen card and orange card stock. White hammered card was used to create the base card. A brown ribbon from my stash was added to the card and a simple knot tied.

I decided not to add a sentiment to make the card more useable.

Thanks for having a look and for any comments you wish to make.

My Time To Craft Challenge - Nautical

Good Evening

This is my entry into the My Time To Craft Challenge which is Nautical.

The images are from a stamp set by inkylicious called Sea Scapes. I stamped the images using versafine ink onto some of their silk art card. The colour of the sand, sea and sky is from Big & Juicy inkpads Waterfall, Spice and Soothing Sunset and was applied using ink dusters. I used a Sakura pen to add a few waves. The image was the matted onto some pearlescent card, which was then put onto a hammered white card blank. A few minature shells were added to complete the card.

Thanks for having a look.

Jo x

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

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

A Challenge Card and and Something New

Good Morning

Who stole the sunshine? It didn't hang around long did it? Back to very dull this morning.

I've been playing with my brayer again, this time with Big and Juicy Waterfall. I love the colours in this one too!

This is my entry into The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge Birthday Wishes.

The otter is a Jayne Netley Mayhew stamp from Joanna Sheen. I coloured the main stamp and the little accent stamps using Lyra's, but coloured the water on the main image with ink from the Big and Juicy pad to tie it all in.

The shape of the card was once again cut out using my favourite Get In Shape Template. I've got my eye on some more of these, so may treat myself when my stash diet comes to an end. We'll see. I've also got my eye on some stamps too, lol, like I need more stamps!!!

Last night I was looking through my craft cupboard for something (risky business) and came across a card making book I'd been bought as a present a while ago. I flicked through it and spotted a fun card which I just had to have a go at. So here it is!

It's a mix of spirelli and beading.

Thanks for sticking with me! Have a lovely Sunday.

Jo x

Two's Company

Good Morning!

The sun is shining here this morning, hooray!! How long it will last, who know's, but I'm enjoying it while it's here.

The good thing about my stash diet has meant I have looked through all the things I've already got to craft with, rather than looking for what to buy next!

So, yesterday I had a good old play using my brayer and some rubber stamps.

The stamp set I used for this card was a Jayne Netley Mayhew set from Joanna Sheen. I love giraffes, they are by far my favourite zoo animal, and on a visit to the zoo I can quite happily sit and watch them for ages - well until the rest of my family get fed up and whisk me away!!

The base card is some beautiful pearlescent card I got from PaperMill, which I stamped around the edges using the small trees and giraffes from the stamp plate, the trees stamped in olympia green versafine, and the giraffes in vintage sepia, then embossed using fine detail embossing powder.

I then took some silk art card and a big and juicy spice ink pad and brayered the colour onto the cardstock. I then added a few trees, again in olympia green, and embossed them as before.

The giraffes were stamped using vintage sepia onto a white textured cardstock, and then embossed using clear fine detail embossing powder. I then cut them out, shaped them and added them to the card using glue gel. This card does look better in real life than it does in the photo!!!

My next plan is to use the otter stamp from Jayne Netley Mayhew - today if I get the chance!

Have a lovely Saturday.

Jo

Two To Share

Good Morning

I've two cards to share with you today.

The first one is a birthday card for a friends dad, she particularly likes paper embroidery. I hadn't done any for a while and really enjoyed making it.

The pattern was from stitching cards, and it was stitched using metallic threads.

The next card is made using an image from the SWALK range of stamps from Crafters Companion.

I coloured her using Derwent Watercolour pencils and put her onto some white glitter card using 3d glue gel. I cut four corners using a Marianne die, and then inked through the die using Big and Juicy Soothing Sunset. The corners remind me of a tiara, so were just right for this card. The backing paper is printed from the accompanying SWALK cd-rom, printed onto Centura Pearl paper.

The flowers are made using the same backing paper and a Marianne Die, and the centres cut onto white glitter card. A pearl was then added to the centre of each of the flowers. A couple of flourishes were cut, again using a Marianne Die, and added behind the flowers.

The Princess and Heart charms were from ebay, and attached using narrow ribbon. The sentiment is from LOTV, stamped using silver ink and then embossed with clear detail embossing power. A few pearls in the opposite corner completed the card.

I'm sorry about the quality of the photos, very dull here again today, so I had to use a flash and it bounces off the centura paper.

This card is being entered in the following challenges

Crafters Companion Monthly Challenge

Raise The Bar Challenge

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge

Yesterday was my lovely mum's birthday. She loved her cards.

Thanks for your visit today.

Jo x

Memories

Hello again

This afternoon I decided to have a try at something I haven't done before, which puts to good use some of my fab new crafty goodies.

I used the white coated card that I'd bought a while ago from Joanna Sheen. I had some ink dusters in my craft cupboard that I hadn't been brave enough to use yet, and a set of stamps from inkylicious. So I set to with the ink dusters and a selection of ink pads. For the sand I used 'Big and Juicy' Spice, and then applied a light dusting of Black Soot Distress ink to tone it down a little. For the sea and sky I used 'Big and Juicy' waterfall, and then ran through the sky a little of the pink from 'Big and Juicy' soothing sunset. The lighthouse I stamped onto Watercolour paper using Black Soot Distress ink and then went round the edges with a damp paintbrush. The grasses were stamped using Pine Needles Distress Ink, and finally the birds and sentiment were stamped using Black Versafine. I added the lighthouse with a small amount of glue gel to add a little dimension.

When I'd finished making this, I came back into my front room to find Murphy happily reading Joanna Sheen's craft forum!!!

Be interesting to see what he creates!!!!

Jo x

SWALK Calendar

Good Afternoon

The card I was planning on posting yesterday, which took me hours to do, I very cleverly forgot to photograph before it went to my customer!!!  I've had another increase in my medication and I feel even more 'out of it' than usual.  I'm hoping that the effects will lessen some when my body gets used to the higher dose.  So no post yesterday!

I am still making my thank you card calendars, I just can't seem to craft at a decent speed at the moment!!  I am thoroughly enjoying making them though, so I suppose that's what counts.

This one is bigger than the others I've made.  It's for my mum and dad and I wanted to used the Grandma and Grandad images from the SWALK range, these images really make me smile, and I know they'll make mum and dad smile too.

I die cut a couple of ovals onto some white card, stamped with Versafine ink and coloured in using Lyra Aquacolours.  I added some colour to the edges of the ovals using cut and dry foam and hydrangea big n juicy inkpad.  The backing paper is printed from the SWALK 2 cd-rom.  I punched both edges of some silver paper with an x-cut border punch and placed the calendar tab over this.  I felt it was lacking something, and drawing inspiration from a top that a friend was wearing, I ran some running stitches along some organza ribbon using invisible thread then roughly gathered it up.  It proved a bit of a challenge attaching it to the card, but I cracked it in the end using a combination of double-sided tape and collall glue gel.

I think that the temptation is going to be very great this weekend.  Both Joanna Sheen and Sheena Douglass are on Create & Craft over the weekend and I love their products.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Jo x

We Three Mice

Good Afternoon

I defy anyone to look at the image on this card and not smile!!  I'm not having a good day today, the pain is really getting me down so I needed something to stop me feeling any lower.  I couldn't help but smile while I cut this out, and when I was putting it all together.

The decoupage is from Joanna Sheen's house mouse Christmas range.  The quality of these decoupage sheets is fabulous, they are a joy both to cut out and then to build up into a card.

The base card is PaperMill's pearlescent.  The backing paper I printed off from the Adorables cd-rom, and then inked around the edges using one of the green's from the Big and Juicy Spice inkpad and some Cut n Dry foam.  The sentiment came on the decoupage sheet, I then matted it onto some pearlescent card stock and applied copper embossing powder around the edges.  Finally, I attached it to  the main image with some jump rings.

I hope you're seeing some kind of a thaw near to you.

Jo x

My Sister, My Friend

Good Morning!

It's a bright and sunny morning here today, but very, very cold.  

My card for today is the card I made for Emma from her big sister.  Turquoise is Emma's favourite colour.  The finished card was 8 x 8 which is quite a large card for me, but I wanted to fit her name on and also use the lovely die-cut circle which a friend sent to me.  I love the effect of the die-cut, and when Santa brings me my new die-cutting machine, it is quite likely I'll order this die.  This image is from Crafters Companion Swalk Set 2, and the backing papers are from the accompanying cd-rom.  I love this range, they are such fun to colour in.  The image is coloured in using brushmarker, and the ink around the die-cut is from Big and Juicy hydrangea applied with cut n dry foam.  The cardstock is pearlescent white from PaperMill and is such a lovely quality.

Now Emma has had her birthday, I need to get cracking towards Christmas, not least of all with my Christmas cards!!!

Thanks for stopping by today, and a huge thank you to everyone who has left me comments - they really make my day.

Have a lovely day.

Jo x