Beaded Ribbon

Hello fellow bloggers.

Today I return with my card for the mid-challenge reminder over at  

Christmas Craft Creations where I was thrilled to be invited to join 

the very talented design team as Guest Designer for January. 

The theme this month is Ribbon or Twine.

 

I have had this technique idea somewhere in the back of my mind for several

years, and the theme of ribbon or twine was the perfect opportunity to work

out how to achieve it. 

I am definitely not adept with a needle and thread, so perhaps I was a tad  

ambitious. It took me ages to 'fluff' and sew the ribbon to the die-cut, adding 

each pearl bead with the stitching. Eventually though, I was finished, and

considering my struggle, including some stabbed fingers (and some

 naughty words😮), I was fairly happy with the end result.

Back within my comfort zone, I really enjoyed colouring this

sweet image with my Promarkers.

The greeting is recycled from a store-bought card, and I

shaped the ends of the tag with a very old corner punch.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Addicted To Stamps and More #397 - 'Christmas'

Dragonfly Dreams - 'Pearls and/or Gems'

Merry Little Christmas #29 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'

Passion For Markers #576 - 'Buttons and/or Bows'

Let's Squash It!! #4 - 'Embossing Folder and an Animal' (2nd entry) (must show logo)

Image - Magenta Holly Branch

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Spellbinders Floral Doily Motifs

Dry Embossing - Stampin' Up Embossing Folder  Softly Falling

Punch - EK Success Corner Punch (I think)

Ribbon and Pearls are from my junk stash

I would like to once again send a big thank you to Charlotte (aka Lady Joyful) and the rest of the Design Team at Christmas Craft Creations for inviting me to join them for the month of January. For the chance to win a lovely stamp set, why not pop over to be inspired by the team, then enter your own 'Ribbon or Twine' creation.

Until next time, thank you for visiting, and stay safe,

Sending virtual hugs,

Jennifer.   xx

Birthday Thank You

 

Good afternoon.

It was my birthday a couple of days after Christmas, and 2020 saw a

milestone...70! HOW did that happen???

There was nothing I could do about it, but I'll just pretend it didn't happen.😁

Each Boxing Day some beautiful friends always have us to their home, and we

always have a lovely time. After the beautiful meal, I received a BIG surprise.

They had made a yummy cake with candles, THEN presented me with two 

very beautiful and extravagant gifts. I shed a few tears of joy, as I have 

only ever had three birthday cakes in my 70 years.

This is the card I made to thank our friends for such a wonderful

birthday/Christmas evening. 

A close up look at the tiny hand-made flowers, and the stamped "Thank You".

Challenges I would like to enter:-

As You Like It - Favourite Colour Duo and Why. (Soft pinks and greens as they remind me of spring, which I love)

Little Red Wagon #585 - 'Die-ing To Get Crafty'

My Time To Craft #448 - 'Thank You'

Simply Create Too #166 - 'Fave Colour Combo (soft pinks and greens)

The Funkie Junkie Boutique - 'Something Delicate'

Dies - Creative Expressions Scarlet; Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix Thinlets 661806 (mini florals); Cuttlebug Vintage Corners (negatives used in corners)

Ink for sponging - Tim Holtz Distress Inks Aged Mahogany, Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint

Paper - DCWV The Lace and Linen Stack

Sentiment - Stampin' Up Cling Set Peaceful Moments

Tiny beads are from my junk stash

It's time to bring the washing in from the clothesline, and feed our fur baby kitty (who turned 16 at Christmas), so until next time "thank you" for visiting.

(Socially distanced) Hugs

Jennifer.  x 

Birthday Stars

Good evening all. I hope you are all staying safe wherever you

are in this troubled world.

Do any of you find that there are one or two months during the year

where you have an overload of birthdays or other celebrations where

you are constantly in a flurry of card-making?? January and July are

those months for me.

I had not even begun to pack away my Christmas crafting items when I

needed to put my head down and tail up (not a sight for the faint-hearted!)

This card is for a young lad who lived near us before we moved into

this Retirement Village. He has had to overcome a long list of health

issues, so we think he is a little 'star'.

Dies - EZ Cut Stars; Sweet Story Stars; Memory Box Night Sky Border

Main Sentiment - Unnamed Happy Birthday peel-off sticker

Punch - Carl Alphabet Set (I punched Hayden's name from around the unwanted edges of the sticker sheet)

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Craft Rocket #77 - 'For the Boys/Men'

Daisy Chain #48 - 'Happy Birthday'

I hope to be back in a day or 2 with another of the many cards I have made since Christmas, so until then, happy crafting.

Thank you for visiting, 

Jennifer. xx

 

Bluebell and Friend

 

Hello lovely people. Recently I hinted that I would have some exciting news

this week........well today's the day to 'spill the beans',.....

Last month I won a challenge at Christmas Craft Creations with one of my

chocolate card/boxes, and as a result I was invited to be the Guest Designer

for the month of January. I was thrilled to accept!! The theme this month is

'RIBBON OR TWINE'

Below is my first card for the challenge.

I used the 'out-of-the-box' technique to die-cut around the image, as it

is a fairly large stamp.

Coloured with Promarkers, is the incredibly cute image

by Wild Rose Studio.

A closer look at my poinsettia, die-cut foliage, and bead sprays.

The centre of the poinsettia is Prills mixed with clear craft glue.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Crafty Calendar - 'Make It Cute' (2nd entry)

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas #524 - 'Anything Christmas Goes (optional Feature a Creature)'

Christmas Kickstart #46 - 'Such A Deer!'

Let's Squash It! #4 - 'Use Embossing Folder AND an Animal'

The Holly and the Ivy #85 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'  TOP 5

Image - Wild Rose Studio Bluebell With Presents

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Spellbinders Scalloped Circle; Craft4U Stitched Circle; Memory Box Holly Branch; Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Holiday Greens; Creative Expressions Pine Cone and Greenery; Cheery Lynn Poinsettia Strip.

Embossing Folder - Unnamed, free with Cardmaking Australia magazine

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Ribbon - Vandoros grosgrain

Prills, gold twine, and tiny red beads are from my junk stash

Tiny gold 'foliage' accents are cut from an old Christmas decoration

For more inspiration from the very talented regular design team, why not pop over to Christmas Craft Creations then enter your own 'Ribbon or Twine' creation.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Cheers,

Jennifer.  xx

Bunnies In Love

 

Good evening to all out there in 'Blogland'. This is my first post for 2021.

We can only hope that this year will be kinder to everyone.

Do you find that while some months contain no, or very few occasions

for which we need to make a card, other months are totally opposite?

Other than for Christmas, January and July are the months where I

need to frantically have my creative juices not flowing, but gushing.😰

I have a couple of very long-term friendships, and this card is for dear friends'

50th wedding anniversary. I met Lyn in 1967 when she started working at

an office where I had worked for a year. We became firm friends, and in

mid 1969, we both commenced our nursing training, during which she met

her lovely John. Graduating in 1972, Lyn and I went our separate ways 

geographically, but have always maintained our close friendship, 

via emails, snail-mail, and phone calls. 

This oh-so-cute image was a doddle to colour, as always with my

Promarkers. I really am so naughty, as I have had this stamp for

several years, and this is the first time it has seen ink!

Challenges I would like to enter:-

2 Crafty Critter Crazies #46 - 'Anything Goes' (must have animal/s)

Addicted To Stamps and More #396 - 'Make Your Mark'

Crafty Calendar - 'Make It Cute'

Cute Card Thursday #668 - 'Anything Goes'

The Library #74 - 'Pick A Previous Book' (Watership Down)

Image - Lili Of The Valley Bunnies In Love (unmounted rubber)

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Spellbinder Classic and Scalloped Rectangles

Punch - Martha Stewart P.A.T.P. set. 

Gold foil board - Crafter's Choice

I will be back in a few days with another of the many cards, I have created since New Year. Also, next week I can tell you some exciting news.

Until then, thank you for visiting,

Hugs (socially distanced of course),

Jennifer.  xx

Farewell 2020

 

Good evening on this final day of what has been a year like no other.

In addition to this horrendous pandemic that has devastated so many

millions of lives, here in Australia we began 2020 with much of our

country experiencing apocalyptic bushfires while still reeling from

the worst drought in recorded history. Floods and hurricane-like

storms then followed at times throughout the year. It's little

wonder that we all can't wait to see the end of 2020.

This is my last Christmas card for this season. The paper is many years old,

but I still love it. I can't remember the maker.

My card features a large greeting by Stampers

Anonymous, designed by Tim Holtz, Doodle Greetings 1.

I tore and sponged around the edges to create a more

vintage look, then coloured the little doodles with Promarkers.

A closer look at the poinsettia, cut with an old Spellbinders die,

its centre of micro beads, the mixed foliage, 

and the cute candy cane.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 'Pick a previous 2020 challenge' (November colour challenge 'Red & Green')

ABC Christmas - 'Y your favouite thing/s, or Z zzzzzzzz (sleep). My favourite things for Christmas are poinsettia, candy canes, and lots of greenery.

Crafty Gals Corner #214 - 'Tis the Season'

Double 'D' - 'Poinsettia'

I would like to wish you all a very happy and safer New Year, when hopefully we have banished this hideous virus for all time, and we can once again have contact with our loved ones.

Until next time, thank you for visiting my blog,

Hugs (socially distanced of course),

Jennifer.  xx

More Chocolate Box/Cards

 

Hi all. Here in Australia, Christmas Day has just finished, but in many

other parts of the world you will still have many hours left to celebrate.

Before I fall into bed, I thought I would show you a few more of the

6 chocolate card/boxes I made.

The recipients all loved them, and I had such fun

designing and making them.

I have never made a pink poinsettia before, but I loved how this one

turned out. I also enjoyed making the tiny bead sprays.

Another variation, using vintage-look paper.

A close up of the floral and foliage spray.

This one is using a very vintage-look traditional paper.

A closer look at the spray, with the micro bead poinsettia centre.

For those of you with Christmas Day behind you, I hope you had a wonderful day despite the sad separations many of us must bear, and for those of you who are still celebrating Christmas Day, may the remaining hours be special. 

Please stay safe in these uncertain times, and treasure your loved ones near and far.

With socially distanced hugs, thank you for visiting,

Jennifer. xx