Taking A Dip

Good Morning

Well, the rain is back in Manchester!!  I enjoyed our 2-day summer!!

How about this for fabulous service.  I ordered some of the die-namics dies from Tracy at Dies to die for at    4 pm on Tuesday and they arrived yesterday!!  It's the first time I have ordered from them, but it definitely won't  be the last.

My card for today is made using one of the lovely scenes from the Cute Companions Summer Stories cd-rom, and some stamps from one of the accompanying stamp plates.

These stamps are such a lot of fun to work with.  I stamped the images onto watercolour paper using Sepia Versafine ink, and coloured them using my Lyra's.  The scene is decoupaged and then the characters added.

I really love this scene.  When we had our caravan, the journey there took us through a little village called Wrea Green.  It looks just like this scene.  One time we were waiting behind a car on the road at the side of the green.  We couldn't work out why the car had just stopped in the middle of the road until a mother duck and 5 ducklings waddled out across the road and back to the pond.  So sweet!!

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Crafters Companion Monthly Challenge - Here Comes Summer

My time to craft - Summer

Creative Inspirations -  Summer

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

Jo x

In The Pink

Hello

Hope the sun is shining and you are well.

Today's card is a Christmas card I have made to enter into a few challenges, and also to boost my Christmas Card stash.  I have never thought to make a pink Christmas card before but am pleased with how it's turned out.

The main image is a rubber stamp from the fabulous new Snowman set from Crafters Companion.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.  The backing paper is printed from the accompanying cd-rom onto Centura Pearl paper.  I used my Lyra's for the colouring on the image and added a little of Pinflairs Ice Diamond around his feet. 

A Martha Stewart punch around the page set was used, and the individual snowflake are also made using punches, then layered up and some Ice Diamond added to the centres.  The mats that the snowman and sentiment are sat on are cut using Spellbinders Nestabilities.

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - M for Monochrome

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Designs - Monochromatic

Winter Wonderland Challenge - Pretty In Pink

CHNC - Anything Goes

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Christmas In June

X Marks The Spot

Good Afternoon

Back again with another challenge card.  This card was such a lot of fun to make and once again features Teddy Bo.

Teddy Bo is coloured with pencils.  I printed a Treasure Map onto some white card and then cut it into the shape of a cross, then attached to more white card to strenthen and make the back of the card.

My card is for the following challenges

The ABC Challenge - X marks the spot

CES Challenge - Anything but a square

The Crafty Pad Challenge - Bold and bright

Thanks for stopping by.

Jo x

Relax In The Sun

Good Morning

The sun has finally come to Manchester. Woo Hoo!!!! 

The current challenge over at House Mouse & Friends Challenge is Here Comes Summer.  Nothing says summer to me more than beautiful sunflowers.  Emma has planted some seeds which are currently coming along very nicely.

It was an easy choice which image to use for the current challenge, this is one of my favourites.

The image is a decoupage from Joanna Sheen.  The backing papers are printed from the Pamela West collection cd-rom, also from Joanna Sheen.  The inside of the card is decorated to co-ordinate.

This is not the quickest decoupage to cut out, you do need to take your time and be quite careful, but the end result is well worth it.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

House Mouse & Friends - Here comes summer.

Crafting For All Season - Summer

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Here Comes The Sun

Thanks for visiting today.

Jo x

Thank You Teddy Bea

Good Evening

I hope you've had a good day.  I've been glued to the tv quite a bit today watching the lovely Jayne Nestorenko launch her new stamp range.  Aren't they beautiful.  I had to place a 'little' order and will be building up the set over time.  Very naughty I know but what's a girl to do?

My card for today features my favourite teddy.  I was brought a lovely bouquet of flowers the other day and wanted to send a thank you card.  I realised that I hadn't yet used this Teddy Bea image so quickly rectified that!!!

Teddy Bea is coloured with pencils.  The teacup is paper pieced and then the image is placed onto a spellbinders label die.  The sentiment (which is very clear in real life!) is a LOTV stamp.  The rolled flowers are made from the same paper as the tea cup which I inked on the reverse side to blend in better.  The leaves are cut from white glitter card using a Marianne Die.  The side panel is punched down the edge using a Martha Stewart punch.  Co-ordinating eyelets were added so that I could thread a narrow white satin ribbon through.  Three Papermania Mosaics were added to complete the design.

This is another version of the card with different colours and an alternative punch.

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

Teddy Bo Challenge - Bling it on

Truly Scrumptious Challenge - Sketch

Stamps R Us 1 image, 2 papers, 3 embellishments

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge Pile on the flowers

Rainbow Lady's Challenge Use a digi

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jo x

A Trip To The Beach

Good Morning

You may remember me showing you some cards made by my neice Grace.  Well today is Grace's 7th birthday and I'd like to wish her a very happy day.

My card for today is made using the fabulous All Our Yesterdays Decoupage from Joanna Sheen.

 I kept the card quite simple so as not to distract from the image and simply matted it onto some dark blue cardstock, and then some sandy coloured cardstock to which I had added some embossing using a glitter girls board.

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

Crafting for all seasons- Summer

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jo x

Teddy Bea Sparkles

Good Morning

Firstly today I'd like to introduce you to the newest members of our family.

These gorgeous little guinea pigs are called Doodles and Maisie and belong to my daughters. I've always had a soft spot for guinea pigs, so am enjoying giving them regular cuddles.

Now onto my card. Back with my favourite Teddy again today, and this time this lovely Teddy Bea is sat amongst the twinkling stars.

She is coloured with pencils and then the image is cut out and attached to the card using an acetate 'boinger'!!!! The background is embossed with a Sizzix folder, and then I went over all the embossing with a Versamark pen and added 'Midnight Madness' embossing powder, the same powder was added to the edge of the moon. In real life it all twinkles beautifully, but I just can't capture it on camera.

The background was then matted onto some holographic silver cardstock to add a bit more sparkle.

Even though I was very tempted to add lots of embellishments to the card, I resisted because I wanted to create the effect of Bea sat in the middle of a twinkling sky. Regretably, the photo doesn't do it justice, but in real life, I'm really pleased with the result.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges Teddy Bo Challenge which is Bling It On.

Crafty Creations Challenge Let It Shine

Thank you for visiting today.

Jo x

Pretty In Pink

Hello

My card for today is a birthday card for a close friend of mine who adores pigs. I was really struggling with ideas for something different to do for her, when Joanna Sheen came to the rescue with her fab new Furry Friends cd-rom.

I printed the image twice so I could 3-d it a little. The frame around the picture is created using Marianne corner dies cut into pale pink glitter card. This corner really reminds me of a tiara, especially when it's cut into sparkly card! The backing papers are from the cd-rom, matted onto some holographic silver card.

The sentiment is created using a LOTV stamp, matted onto a spellbinders die. The flowers are made from the same backing paper (printed on both sides) and once the glue had dried I dipped them into ultra thick embossing powder. You don't really get the effect in the photo, but in real life they do look fab. The leaves are created using a Marianne die.

A little heart-shape button with a 'Princess' charm attached with pearlescent thread, were then added.

This is the inside of the card.

The bookmark is again printed from the cd-rom and then laminated. A tassel was threaded through to complete the bookmark (I've used a tassel - need to lie down!).

I made a pocket on the inside of the card to hold the bookmark.

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

Pile It On Use something metal

Cutie Sunday Animals

CD Sunday Use A Tassel

CES Challenge Sparkly Flowers

The Poodle Parlour Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting today.

Jo x

18-carat Birthday

Good Morning

My card for today is my entry into the current Housemouse Challenge Adorn With Jewels.

The main image is a Happy Hoppers Decoupage from Joanna Sheen, and is matted onto gold mirror board and then orange cardstock. The backing paper is from Joanna Sheen's Messy Rabbit cd-rom. The flourishes are a Marianne Die and the gems are from my stash. The sentiment is computer generated.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jo x

Wishing You An Ace Birthday

Good Afternoon

This is a card I made for a friend of my husband who turns 50. He is a big poker fan.

The image and backing paper are from Crafters Companions Mens cd-rom, the mat is cut with a Nellie dies and the number stamps are from Dimension Fourth.

I would like to enter this card into the Papertake Weekly Challenge Dads & Lads.

Thanks for visiting.

Jo x

Snow Is Softly Falling

Hello

My card for today is a Christmas Card made using some decoupage and backing papers from the fabulous new Snowman cd-rom from Crafters Companion. I haven't actually received my cd as yet, this was made using a download on Create and Crafts website.

Acetate is added to the card so they look like they're flying through the air, and I added some sparkling snow glitter to the acetate.

I created a double bow using silver organza ribbon and added a silver and white button to the centre. Some pearls were added to the ends of the ribbons.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Buttons

Craft Your Passion Challenge It's Magical

Here Come The Boys Myth and Magic

St Lukes Charity Card Challenge Come Fly With Me - I shall be sending this card onto St Lukes.

Thanks for visiting.

Jo x