Birthday Drinks

This is the birthday card I made for my nephew following the current sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches:

Made using backing paper and decoupage elements from Crafters Companion Camden Town cd-rom, card from Papermill, bakers twine from my stash.

All Creatures Great and Small

This is my entry into the current challenge over at CD Sunday Challenge:

My dad is going to be 90 at the end of the month and this is the card I have made for him.

I used the latest Pollyanna Pickering dvd-rom from Creative Crafting World, A Walk in the Wild.  I printed the toppers onto glossy photo paper and printed a backing paper from the dvd.  I matted all the toppers onto black card.

The Happy Birthday and Special Day senitments are both Crafters Companion dies which I die cut from black card.  The letters and numbers are Cheery Lynn dies,  The star dies are X-cut.  The greenery was also cut using dies from Crafters Companion.

I layered the images onto the card using various thicknesses of 3d foam.

Thanks for visiting.

Jo x

Come let us go to Bethlehem

This is my entry into the current challenge at The Christmas Challenge which is Jesus is Born:

I've had great difficulty photographing this card!

I used Centura Pearl card which I stamped randomly with a Stamperama stamp and heat embossed in Crystal embossing powder (which doesn't show up in the photo) and then detail white embossing powder.  I used guilding flakes around the edges.

The nativity scene stamp is from Stamp addicts, which I stamped onto white card and then added some sand-coloured ink.  I cut this out and then added it to the Centura Pearl card which again I had added guilding flakes to the edge.  I stamped the star and then applied guilding flakes to this as well.

The sentiment - which says Come let us go to Bethlehem - came from the same stamp set, was stamped and embossed using detail gold embossing powder.  Guilding flakes were added to the edge once again.

CD Sunday Challenge - Thank You

Good Afternoon

Here is my entry for this weeks challenge over at the CD Sunday Challenge which has a theme of 'Thank You'.

I used a 6 x 6 white card blank onto which I layered some turquoise card.  Onto this I  put the beautiful backing paper which is printed from Crafters' Companions Kimono cd-rom.

I then took a piece of Centura Pearl card which I die-cut and embossed using Spellbinders labels 20 and Scalloped borders 2.  The embossing in the corners was done using a die that came free with a magazine some time ago.

I die cut 2 smaller labels 20's, and stamped the sentiment onto the smallest using a Lili of the Valley sentiment and Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.  The sentiment was then heat embossed using Crystal Transparent Embossing Powder.

The flowers and branches were created using Kimono Blossom Branch dies with a gem added to the centre of each flower.

I printed a matching insert from the cd-rom to complete the card.

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

Jo x

House-Mouse and Friends Challenge

Hi

This is my entry into the House-Mouse and Friends Challenge.  I actually meant to post it for the last challenge but left it too late, but fortunately for me every challenge has an anything goes option so I'm still able to enter it!

Once again, access to the internet has cost me!  I saw a card made using these patchwork dies from Crealies.  I loved the effect so decided to treat myself.  I opened the dies as soon as they arrived and used them to make this Valentine's card for my hubby.  I can see I'll get lots of use from these dies.

I drew around the largest die to make my card base, then cut the shape again from red card, then again from the lovely backing paper from Joanna Sheens' Gruffies & Happy Hoppers cd-rom.  The main image was also from this lovely cd-rom.  I printed out the wording I wanted, die cut the shapes, then went round the edges using ultra thick embossing enamel,  Unfortunately it doesn't show up very well in the picture.

I printed the matching insert from the cd rom to complete the card.

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

CD Sunday Challenge - 'Seasons'

Good Morning

This is my entry into the current challenge over at CD Sunday Challenge which is 'Seasons'.  It was my birthday earlier this week and I was lucky enough to receive A Winter Walk In The Countryside cd-rom from Creative Crafting World, which I have wanted for a long time.  I therefore have chosen 'Winter' as my season:

The image, backing paper and bow were all printed from the cd and I used Kraft card for all my matting and layering which I embossed with a Sue Wilson embossing folder.  I added some red gems to each corner for a pop of colour.

I also printed the matching insert from the cd, the inserts are all text-editable, so I could add my message before printing.

There was a spare insert on the printed sheet, so I added this to the back of the card!

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jo x

Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge - Snowflakes Theme

Good Afternoon

This is my entry into the current challenge over at Cheery Lynn Designs which this week has a theme of 'Snowflakes':

The base card was printed from Pollyanna Pickering's Snow and Ice dvd-rom, as was the image of the beautiful red panda,  I die cut the gorgeous Cheery Lynn Nautical Wheeler Doily from White pearlescent paper and added Gold Embossing Powder around the edges.

The snowflakes were die cut using a Cheery Lynn die, then heat embossed firstly using Crystal Transparent Embossing Powder and then adding a touch of gold embossing powder.

The Seasons Greetings sentiment was die cut from gold holographic card.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jo x

Any Advice Please?

Hello everyone

I hope you are keeping well and can only apologise to all my lovely blog friends for not commenting on your blogs for so long.

I have had a string of injuries/accidents/illnesses this year which has meant that with all this on top of my usual condition, I have been left unable to do any typing and very little crafting.

I am now hoping to slowly get back into things again.

I haven't bought much craft-wise recently, there hasn't been much point!  But I have got lots of lovely dies in my collection that I would like to start putting to use.  I have a big shot machine which I love, along with a Grand Calibur, which drives me mad!  It has never cut very well, particularly in the middle of the plate, so I have taken the decision to replace this with a new A4 machine.  So many have appeared on the market now and I don't know which to go with!

So if anyone can give me any recommendations please, I would be very, very grateful.

I don't expect all the more intricate dies to cut first time, but an improvement on what I've got would be great.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Jo x

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Things With Wings

Hello and welcome to my blog

It's time for a new challenge over at Crafty Calendar Challenge and our theme for this month is 'Things With Wings'.  I do hope you'll be able to join us.

Our very own Bev has provided a fabulous prize for this months winner:

Here is my card:

I used Centura Pearl cardstock to create my card base and added to this silver mirror card.

I die-cut Centura Pearl using various dies from Majestic Labels 25, this is a really beautiful set of dies.  I layered the die cuts using foam pads for extra dimension.  The tree is a memory box die, cut twice, once from blue pearlised card and once from Silver holographic card.  The birds were cut using Spellbinders bird scrolls die.

A further panel of centura pearl was embossed using the Tied Together embossing folder.  Tiny white pearls were added at each junction.  The heart was cut using a Nellie Snellen die and the doves and smaller heart using a Joy Flourishes die. I then added 2 pearl heart embellishments to complete the card.

Please pop across to the challenge blog to see the beautiful cards my team mates have created.

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

Crafting Musketeers - Use a die cut

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 March - Add Some Metal

Hello and a warm welcome to my blog.

Another month has flown by which means it's time for a new challenge over at Crafty Calendar Challenge.  This month we would like you to add some metal to your card.

Our sponsor for this month is our very own Kimberly.  Here is my card:

I used white linen card from Crafters Companion to create my card base.

The main image and the backing paper it's sat on, are both from a Hunkydory kit called 'What a Hoot'.  I created a large tag for the image to sit on so that it could be used as a bookmark, and tied harlequin ribbon from Create & Craft through the top, tied into a bow.  I attached my metal owl charm (from ebay) to some twine and threaded this through as well.  I added the bookmark to the card using foam pads to that it can easily be removed.

I die-cut the beautiful panels using Memorybox 'Delicate Butterfly Arch' die and then cut extra butterflies and flowers which I layered using foam pads.  I added tiny silver gems to the owls eyes and to the centres of all the flowers, it looks really good in real life but doesn't show up so well in the photo!  Finally I added silver peel offs to the corners.

Thanks for visiting my blog today, and please do visit the challenge blog to see the gorgeous creations from my teammates.