Wishing You A Strictly Fabulous 40th

Hello

The latest challenge over at The CD Sunday Challenge is 'Celebrate In Style'.  This is my card:

This card is for my friend to send to her dancing teacher.

CD Used - Forever Friends Collectors Edition - Backing Paper

Cardstock - Crafters Companion

Dies - Marianne and Joanna Sheen

Happy Birthday Sentiment Stamp - Lili of The Valley

Thanks for visiting.

Jo x

CD Sunday Challenge - Second Entry

Hello and Welcome

I'm very sad to say that we have had yet more bad news.  I have been trying to distract myself with my crafting but my heart isn't really in it just now.

After loosing my dad on Boxing Day, I recently got the tragic news that my older sister has died from a very rare brain disease.  She was just 50 years old and leaves a husband and 3 children.

I decided to make a second entry for the current challenge over at CD Sunday.  This time I have made a Thank You card:

I've had this cute little bear decoupage in my stash for a while and thought it time he saw the light of day!  The sparkly balloon backing paper was a freebie with a magazine some time ago.  I used red card from PaperMill for my mats and layers.  The dies are my Marianne Designs.  The red gingham paper is my CD element and this was printed from Seraphina Alphabet Collection cd-rom

Thanks for visiting!

Jo x

Get Well Soon

Today I am sharing a card I have made for a friend who had a nasty fall and is now recovering in a recuperation unit.  It's going to be a slow job for her unfortunately.

I couldn't resist buying this beautiful embossing folder after seeing it around blog land. It's by Sheena Douglass, called 'Blowing in the Wind' and is a 3d embossing folder from Crafters Companion.  I used Coredinations card and sanded it back.  The gingham card and ribbon were both from Create and Craft, as was the silver mirror card.  I used a spellbinders die for the sentiment mat, and the butterfly die is a Marianne.  The little pearls are from Joanna Sheen.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Butterflies

My Time To Craft - Something New (Embossing Folder)4

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Add a Sentiment

Country View Crafts - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting.

Jo x

Up The Garden Path

The latest challenge over at CD Sunday Challenge is Up The Garden Path.  A friend of mine has a lovely big garden, surrounded by trees, where you can walk up the garden path and sit and watch all sorts of birds and other wildlife visit.  This is what gave me the inspiration for my card:

The decoupaged image is from Joanna Sheen.  Backing paper from Creative Crafting World.  The die cut branch and leaves are a Marianne die, and the paper used to make the roses is printed from Pollyanna Pickering Sketch Book Chapter V cd from Creative Crafting World.  I used a Martha Stewart punch along the edge of the backing paper to add interest (hopefully!).

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jo x

CD Sunday Challenge - Add A Button Or Buttons

Hello

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

I've had a lovely leisurely time crafting today.  I've had a rotten week health wise so it was nice to spend some time doing something I enjoy.  It was about all I had the energy for!

This is my entry into the current challenge at CD Sunday Challenge which is 'add a button or buttons':

Do pop across and visit the challenge blog.  It's a great way of encouraging you to use your cd's and you're always guaranteed a warm welcome.

I know it's a little bit late to be making a calendar but I needed to make a thank you card for my brother-in-law who lives in the Highlands so decided to turn it into a calendar instead!

I used elements from the Tweedies cd-rom and papercraft kit from Crafters Companion.  The Calendar is sat on a mat created using a Spellbinders Belly Band die.  The branches and flowers are made using a combination of Crafters Companion and Marianne dies, finished in the centres with some gorgeous gems that I got some time ago from Joanna Sheen.

I die cut the buttons using Tattered lace dies and then triple-embossed them using extra thick embossing powder.  I threaded some embroidery thread through each one.

The tag was another of the elements from the cd rom.  The 'With Love' sentiment was die cut twice using a Tattered Lace die and layered to create a shadow effect.

Have a lovely weekend.

Jo x

Crafty Calendar April Challenge - Add a Sentiment

Hello and a warm welcome to my blog today.

We have a new challenge over at Crafty Calendar Challenge and this month we want you to add a sentiment to your card.

This is one of the Easter cards I made this year.  I used a 7 x 7 card blank onto which I matted some yellow card.  I embossed some Centura Pearl card, using Sue Wilsons Eternity Embossing folder and added this to my card.  I die cut the white cross using a Marianne die and Centura Pearl card.  I drew around the die onto yellow card and cut this out to mat the white cross onto.

I die cut the leaves using the ivy corner flourish die from Cheery Lynn.  The flowers are prima flowers which I layer up and then added a gem to the centre of the flower.  Finally I added the sentiment using gold peel-offs.

Please have a look at the challenge blog to see all the lovely cards my teamies have made.  I do hope you'll be able to join in our challenge this month.

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes

Hello and Welcome to my blog today.

It's time for a new challenge over at Crafty Calendar Challenge and this month our theme is Anything Goes.  Our sponsor this month is the fabulous

and they are offering our lucky winner 3 digi stamps.

Here is my card:

Digital Image "Gemma's Secret Crush" from A Random Fan  coloured using spectrum noir pencils blended  with baby oil.

DP's came free with a magazine.

All dies are from Marianne's Petra's Large Oval Set.  The flower I created using the small accent die, cut 8 times and layered.  The flower centre is a Nellie Snellen punch and a flower brad holds it all together.  The sentiment is a peel off.

Please do visit the challenge page to see the cards my teammates have created.  I do hope you'll be able to join in with our challenge.

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Leaves and Lace

Good Morning

A very warm welcome to my blog today.

We have a new challenge over at Crafty Calendar Challenge and this month our theme is Leaves and Lace.  This month we are lucky enough to be sponsored by the Art by Miran who are offering our lucky winner 3 digi stamps of their choice.

Here is my card:

I used an 8 x 8 card blank and printed this beautiful image from the decoupage section of Joanna Sheen's One Summer's Day cd-rom.  This is my most recently purchased cd-rom and contains some really beautiful artwork.  I printed the decoupage onto glossy photo paper and the accompanying backing paper onto satin finish paper, also from Joanna Sheen.

I used card from PaperMill for my matting and layering and also for my die cuts.  I used a Marianne Ivy Leaf die and a Spellbinders Bird Scrolls Corner die.  The flowers were from my stash, as was the lace which I gathered before adding to the card.

I do hope you'll be able to join in with our challenge this month.  Please do visit the challenge blog to see the beautiful creations from my fellow team  members.

Crafty Calendar Challenge

It's time for a new challenge over at Crafty Calendar Challenge and this month our theme is All Things Christmas.  We are being sponsored by Elizabeth Bell  and the design term were lucky enough to be given some images to work with.  Here is my card:

The lucky winner will receive two digi stamps and the image I've used on my card is included in the prize.

I coloured the image using Spectrum Noir's and added Hunkydory's Snowdrift for an extra wintery look! The lilac card is core'dinations and I used a Marianne Die to cut the beautiful doily the image is sat on.  The co-ordinating backing paper is from my stash.  I die-cut the holly corner from green mirror card to tie in with the holly on her hat, I used a Cheery Lynn die and added some red beads for the berries.  I used a Memory box die to cut the snowflake border from white glitter card, and the sentiment is from Hunkydory.

Please pop across to the Challenge Blog to see the lovely cards my teamies have created.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jo x

A Bird and Some Feathers

Good Afternoon.

I was struggling to get started with a card today, and decided to combine 3 challenges to try and give me some inspiration.

I knew which CD I wanted to use, my new Fabulous Fashion cd's from Katy Sue designs.  I printed off one of the digi stamps onto Neenah card and coloured using my Spectrum Noirs.  Both backing papers were printed from the cd-rom also.  I used a Marianne die to cut the scalloped circle that the image is sat on.  I embossed some lilac card using swiss dots embossing folder.  The flower and leaves are also made using  Marianne dies.  The border punch is Martha Steward and the daisy strip is a Poppystamps die.  The purple feathers are from my stash.

My card is for the following challenges:

Sunday Sketch and Stamp - Sketch plus use a stamp.

The CD Sunday Challenge - Fine plumage

Marianne Designs - Get Your Dies Out

Robyns Fetish Challenge - Use Die Cuts or Punches

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

3,2,1

Good Morning

My dad is staying with me for a couple of weeks and I'm really enjoying his company.

Here is a card I have made for the current challenge over at Crafty Catz which this week is to use 3 of something, 2 of anything and 1 of whatever you want:

Digital stamp from MilkCoffee Digi Stamps coloured with Promarkers

Papers printed from SWALK cd-rom from Crafters Companion.

Dark blue card from PaperMill.

Silver mirror card from Stash

Joy Crafts Rectangle Frame Die

Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish Die

Marianne Flower Die

Pearls from my stash.

My card is for the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - 3,2,1 - 3 dies, 2 patterned papers, 1 image

Allsorts Challenge - True Blue

One Stop Craft Challenge - Anything Goes

One Stitch At A Time Challenge - Use a Digi

Thank you for visiting my blog today, enjoy the rest of your day.

To A Special Auntie

Hello

I have been asked to make a 90th birthday card for an auntie with a floral theme.  I immediately reached for the gorgeous Kew Floral Collection cd-rom from Kraftyhands, and here is my card:

8 x 8 Elegant Edge card from Creative Crafting World

Image printed a few times so I could decoupage the image.

Backing paper from cd-rom

The roses are made using a Marianne die, as are the leaves.  I printed a sheet of pink paper from the cd-rom to created the roses so I knew the would tie-in perfectly.  

Silver mirror card used for matting and layering.

Sentiment is computer generated.

Pearls from my stash places in each corner.

I used the same backing paper inside the card.  I cut a matching ribbon border which I threaded with organza ribbon to complete the card.

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

Kraftyhands Challenge - Flower Frenzy

CD Sunday Challenge - Ornate Blossoms

Bearly Mine Challenge - Lucky Dip - I chose Die-cuts, Flowers and Ribbon

Creative Craft Challenge - Just Checking

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Lots of Layers

Polly Pickleberry

I treated myself to the Polly Pickleberry cd-rom from Willow Designs and this is my first card made using the cd.  I followed the current sketch over at Willow Sketchie Challenge and the theme of Happy Birthday:

8 x 8 card blank.

Decoupage image and backing paper from cd-rom.

Brown card embossed using Creative Expressions Lattice Embossing folder.

Martha Stewart punch used to create border strip, then thin red ribbon added from my stash.

Sentiment is Lili of the Valley, stamped in gold ink and sat on a mat created using Cheery Lynn Nautical Wheeler Doily die.

Memory Box Riviera Corner .

Various Marianne dies used to create foliage.  Memory box dies used to create flowers, finished off with a gem in the centres.  Feathers from my stash also added.

My card is for the following challenges:

Forever Friends Monthly Challenge - Birthdays 

Dream Valley Challenges - Girls, girls, girls

Paper Pretties - Square Cards

Crafts and Me Challenge - Favourite embellishments (flowers)

Silent Night

Over at Christmas Challenges with Sketches there is a fabulous sketch for us to follow.  Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge has a theme of Nativity so I combined the two to create my card:

8 x 8 card blank

Stamps from Pink Gem designs, coloured with coloursoft pencils, blended with baby oil.  I have paper-pieced Joseph's robe using one of the backing papers.

Backing papers are all Papermania inked around the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I used Grace's Frame embossing folder to create the mat the images are sat on.

Marianne Poinsettia die used, glitter added to finished flowers.

The sentiment is a Lili of the Valley stamp.

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

Simon Says Stamp - Paper piecing.

Stamping For Pleasure - Rudolph Day - create a Christmas Card

Winter Wonderland Challenge - It Takes Two

Pink Gem Designs Challenge - Holidays 

Flutterby Butterfly

I've another Calendar to share with you today, I've still not made enough!  This is for my daughter's to send as thank you for Christmas presents.  For this Calendar I followed the sketch over at Flutterby Wednesdays:

8 x 8 easel card.

Image and backing papers from Joanna Sheen's Ivory Cats cd-rom. 

Linen card from create and craft used for matting and layering, cut using Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Rectangle dies and Fleur De Lis Accents.

Ribbon from Create & Craft.

Butterfly cut using a Marianne Die from glittered vellum.

Cat charm from ebay, gems from my stash.

My card is also for the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash - Use your oldest ribbon (mine is approx 5 years old and was one of my first purchases from create & craft!

Crafty Creations Challenges - Take two

Moving Along With The Times - Bling it On

Fab 'n' Funky Challenge - Favourite Colour Combo

Just For You

My card for today is one I sent to a friend who was having a bit of a tough time:

A5 card created using White Pearlescent card from PaperMill

Glitter Girls Splendour embossing board was used to create the lovely shape and to emboss around the edges.

Trellis created using strips of pearlescent paper and then tiny punched flowers added with a pearl in the middle.

The butterfly was created using glittered vellum, cut using a Marianne die and pearls added.

The roses and leaves were all made using vellum, cut with Marianne rolled roses dies and glitter added to the centres.

My card is for the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts - Embossing

Allsorts Challenge- Flower Power

Creative Card Crew - Girly

Creative Craft Challenges - Bling It Up

Let It Snow

This is my entry into the current challenge at Christmas Challenges With Sketches:

6 x 6 card blank

Penny Black image, stamped in London Fog Memento Ink, coloured with Spectrum Noirs

White Flowersoft added to the bobble on his hat, Pinflair Ice Diamond added to his feet.

Silver Holographic Card, Papers from Making Cards magazine.

Marianne Scalloped circle die.

Martha Stewart punch to create the 3 small snowflakes.

Sentiment from Lili Of the Valley, sat on a doily created with a Cheery Lynn Nautical Doily Die.

My card is also for the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - January Blues

Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Snowmen

Craft-room Challenge - Monochrome

Crafts and Me Challenge - Something New (Snowman stamp, sentiment stamp, Cheery Lynn die)

Owl Always Love You

I've made this to send to my daughter who's at University.  She loves hedgehogs, owls and other woodland creatures so I think she'll like this calendar:

All the papers and images are from a recent issue of Making Cards magazine.

Joy Crafts Floral Flourish Swirl no 4 die

Marianne Creatables frame die used to sit calendar on

Memory Box numbers die.

Card from PaperMill

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

Bearly Mine Challenges - Anything Goes

Dies to Die For - Anything Goes

Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes

An Unusual Snowflake

Good Morning,

I hope you're having a nice relaxing Sunday.

I've decided I'm going to try and do 3 craft-related things this year which are - post on my blog every day, make Christmas cards regularly through the year, use up some of my stash.  I'm sure you won't be in the least bit surprised by any of these because as a crafter I think we all regularly say we're going to do this, but I am going to try much harder this year.

My card for today follows the current sketch over at Fetch-A-Sketch and is a Christmas card:

Card blank created from black linen card from PaperMill.

Couture Creations embossing folder used on gold linen card from Create & Craft, corners rounded using a punch.

Cadbury purple ribbon from MeiFlower.

Marianne snowflake die used with black glitter card from stash.

I don't know why it is that even with a card that's meant to be quick I manage to take an age to do it!  I must have spent almost an hour faffing about trying to decide what die to use, then what colour, card etc.  I drive myself mad sometimes!

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

Crafty Hazelnut's Monthly Christmas Challenge - Anything (Christmas) goes

Allsorts Challenge - CAS

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - Santa has gone into hiding

Sketchy Colours

This is my last post for today I promise.  I'm back with yet another of my calendars, this time following the sketch over Sketchy Colours and the colour theme of white/cream:

I followed this sketch for another project earlier in the week, and it was only when I came to post it I realised that I'd forgotten to follow the colour theme!

6 x 6 easel card created from pearlescent white card from PaperMill.

I embossed some more of the card using a Darice Damask embossing folder, and a strip of card using a border embossing folder, both from Crafters' Companion.

I used my new Marianne Petra's Oval die, and embossed the centre with a butterfly embossing folder from Cuttlebug.  I added some feathers, a hat pin and some leafy fronds. I die cut some flowers using a Memory box die and punch the centre from white glitter card using a punch.

The buttefly is also made using a punch and I punched 2 for extra dimension.

I added some pearls from Joanna Sheen.

I die cut a smaller oval from the Marianne's die set to which I attached the calendar tab.

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

ABC Challenge - E for Embossing

My Time To Craft Challenge - All About The New (My calendars are set out to friends and family to wish them a Happy New Year and thank them for Christmas presents)

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Shopping Our Stash - All White or Cream