Christmas Joy

This was supposed to be a simple and quick card, using my lovely new die set

that I won in a Dies R Us challenge. Many, many years ago I saw a card on a 

blog using tiny die-cuts by (I think) Cuttlebug, and the idea has rattled 

around somewhere in the back of my mind ever since........

I cut all the red and gold squares by hand...THEN the 'fun' (not) began. Trying

to line the squares up with equal distance both vertically and horizontally 

between them almost had me tearing my hair out, and several rather 

unladylike words crossed my lips. I thought the stripey paper would  

help,but then we all know what thought did, don't we? 

It made my wonky placements more noticeable.

A closer look at the cute little gingerbread man. It looks as if the gold 

matting is uneven, but that illusion occurred when I cropped my photos.

.

The lovely bell.

Inside the card, where I used a die-cut of the candy cane as a 

simple embellishment. 

Challenges I would like to enter

ABC Christmas - 'J' for Jingle Bells or 'K' for Keep It Simple (I chose Jingle Bells)

A Snowflakes Promise #40 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'

Crafting By Designs - 'Get Ready For Christmas'

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas #335 - Anything Christmas Goes (optional-Use Some Gold)

The Holly and Ivy Christmas #6 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'

The Male Room #61 - 'Stash/Die Cuts' (Dies new, paper & gems very old)

Weekly Christmas Card #13 - 'Anything Christmas Goes' (optional-Wreaths)

Dies - Impression Obsession DIE220-Q; Spellbinder Classic and Scalloped Squares

Paper - Art Stamps Australia; Gold cardstock from my junk stash

Tiny gems are from my junk stash

This card is for an elderly friend in England, but as he doesn't own a computer and therefore never sees my blog, it is safe to show it to you.

We have once again had a glorious late autumn day, but it is now cooling down...time to warm the house and prepare our dinner, so until next time "thank you for visiting".

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

'For You'

Good evening everyone.

Once again there has been a gap of several weeks since I last posted one 

of my cards. I spent last week in a haze of heavy-duty medications, then this 

past week trying to 'wake-up' and mobilise. Yes, I injured my back at the 

Fort once again. It is my lower back this time.

Sitting is extremely painful, so I made this fairly simple 

Christmas card standing at the kitchen bench.

Yonks ago I bought this bauble die with matching 'For You' embossing folder just 

after I bought my dear little Cuttlebug (which has since died, and gone to 

'Cuttlebug Heaven'). I have used the die often, but not the E.F.

The off-white card base and embossed panel are made from the most luxurious

pearlised cardstock that I have had for many years.

A closer look at the embossed die-cut. 

The bow is part of a 'mittens' die.

It is so difficult to successfully photograph shiny cardstock, isn't it!

Dies - Cuttlebug For You; Memory Box Precious Mittens

Embossing Folders - Cuttlebug For You, Victoria 

I cooked a roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings tonight and 2 friends phoned for a chat afterwards so my back is really aching, making me think it is time for me to go to bed. So until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs

Jennifer. x

For A Dear Friend

 What a shock, I neglect my blog for 2 weeks, then post 2 cards in an evening.

I made this card for my oldest and dear friend, Diane, whose birthday was yesterday 

We met during our first week at High School, 53 years ago, and 'clicked' immediately. 

We have been firm friends ever since, despite our many years of geographical 

distance apart. When we phone each other, or actually meet up, there is not a

slightest moment of awkwardness...we just chatter away as if we had

been together the day before.

Diane loves blue so this gorgeous piece of paper was an obvious choice for her 

card. For about 12 years I have bought lots of craft items from Rebecca, the owner 

of Bizzy Becs, and her service has always been superb. She often slipped a gift of

a small bundle of 6x6" scrapbook papers into an order. This stunning piece of

paper is one of those. I have been unable to part with it for about 4 years!!

I stamped these flowers onto parchment paper, then embossed them with Silver 

Pearl E.P. I coloured the back of the flowers with blue and yellow Promarkers,

then shaped them, before adding some Flower Soft to the centres. The single

leaves with the serrated edges were cut by hand with deckle-edged scissors

from tiny scraps of white cardstock, hand coloured with Distress Ink.

I made the butterfly quite a few years ago at a retreat. It was such a long 

time ago, I have forgotten the name of the product, and the technique 

we were shown. We used a shimmery sheet of foil-like material and an 

iron, then used a butterfly punch and an embossing folder. I found a

little bag of the different coloured butterflies in a drawer recently.

Inside the card co-ordinates with the front. These leaves were also

cut out by hand

Challenges I would Like To Enter

Addicted To Stamps #147 - 'Flowers and Butterflies

Aud Sentiments #179 - 'Flowers Plus A Sentiment'

Country View - 'Flower Power'

Creative Sketchy Girls #11 - 'Butterflies and Flowers

Die Cut Divas - 'Use Flowers'

Dies R Us #72 - 'Flowers'

Paper Play Sketches and Colour - 'Colour Challenge'

Passion For Promarkers #393 - 'Make It Bloom'

Paper - Unknown brand

Flower Stamp - Fiddle Sticks E494

Dies - Cheery Lynn Olive Branches; Joy Crafts 6003/0026

Punches - Martha Stewart PATP set Pansies; Carl Butterfly

Sentiments - Lili of the Valley Sentiment Tags Set 24

Embossing Powder - Stamp It Silver Pearl

Colouring - Promarkers Yellow, Royal Navy; Distress Inks Faded Jeans, various greens

Flower Soft - a mixture of Lemon and Yellow

Must go to bed and try to get some sleep, as we have to be up early tomorrow morning and drive at least an hour into town to buy a new printer. Ours 'died' today, and we need to replace it quickly as we have to have a pile of printing done in readiness for a meeting with our solicitor on Tuesday about our medical negligence case.

Until next time, happy crafting, and thank you for visiting.

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Any Worms For Me, Mr. Bear?

Good evening all. Today has been the most perfect autumn day, weatherwise...

the only thing that could make it even more perfect would be if we lived in a

part of the world where the trees changed into their beautiful autumn 

colours. Oh well, we can't have everything, can we.

My card is for no-one in particular. I just felt like having a session of colouring for fun,

and what could be more fun than colouring this wonderful PSX image. This is one of 

my favourite bear stamps, and it has lived for me for many, many years. Sadly, PSX

disappeared from the scene many years ago...such a shame, as the quality of their

stamps was A1.

A close up look at this cute bear with his little friend begging for

a worm or two for breakfast. Don't you just love 

Mr. Bear's huge feet! 

Inside my card co-ordinates with the front. The flowers on the

background paper are heavily glittered, but as almost always

I just couldn't pick up the shimmer with the camera.

Challenges I would Like To Enter

Hannah and Friends #272 - 'Glitter'

Kitty Bee #93 - 'In The Garden'

Passion For Promarkers #393 - 'Make It Bloom'

Sweet Stampers #6 - 'Animals' (2nd entry)

Through The Purple Haze #124 - 'Glitter'

Image - PSX GO521

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - First Edition Blank Canvas

Dies - Spellbinder Classic and Scalloped Squares; Marianne LR0106, CR1253, LR0205; Cheery Lynn Stacker Flower #1 Leaf

Distress Ink - Gathered Twigs

Micro beads and peel-off sticker are from my junk stash

Later this evening I will have another card to show you, so until then thank you for visiting.

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Glitter Galore

Hello to my crafting buddies. I hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

My card today is the result of experimenting with a new (to me) technique, 

using dies, D/sided tape and ultrafine glitter. I stumbled upon a youtube

tutorial by Els van de Burgt from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

A close-up look at the glittered die-cut.

A close-up of the greeting, which was on an A4 sheet that I bought many

years ago at one of the first ever craft shows I attended (in Esher, UK). I

coated the butterflies with Chrystallina Kindyglitz, then while they were

wet I sprinkled them with the same Ruby glitter as is on the flowers.

Inside the card with plenty of space on which I wrote a 

birthday message to my S.I.L.

Challenges I would like to enter

4 Crafty Chicks #347 - 'Butterflies'

Brown Sugar #247 - 'Use A Die-Cut'

Crafty Card Makers #186 - 'Things With Wings'

Crafty Gals Corner #119 - 'Embellish It'

International Art and Soul #6 - 'Wings'

Make My Monday #44 - 'Embossing, Wet or Dry'

Dies - Sweet Cuts Flower Oval; Cheery Lynn Exotic Butterflies, Mini Dimensional Butterflies

Embossing Folder - Crafter's Companion Flower Garden

Glitters - Martha Stewart

Greeting - Un-named A4 sheet

Corner Punch - Zutter

Thank you for your visit, and until next time "happy crafting".

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Playful Kitty

Good evening to my crafting buddies. I hope you all had a lovely Easter.

All the regular readers of my blog will know that I LOVE cats. I have been 'owned'

by 25 or 26 of them throughout my life, and I think every one of them have all 

had individual personalities. 

Penny Black kitties are especially cute, and I have  

had this stamp (in a clear set) for 'yonks'.

I bought this gorgeous edging die on sale several months ago, and this  

is the first time I have used it.

A closer look at the happy kitty (coloured with Promarkers), 

playing with his butterfly friends.

Inside my card, which is a 'modified' gatefold card.

Challenges I would like to enter

Addicted to Stamps and More #237 - 'Make Your Mark'

Crafty Catz #366 - 'Anything Goes with Animals'

Crafty Gals Corner #118 - 'Pastels'

Fairytale #166 - 'More Than One Fold'

In The Pink #117 - 'Pearls'

Fussy and Fancy #185 - 'Fancy Folds or Shaped Cards'

Passion For Promarkers #390 - 'Flower Power'

Penny Black Saturday - 'Spring or Easter'

Shopping Our Stash #298 - 'Punches or Dies' (image, paper, pearls many years old)

Sweet Stampers #6 - 'Animals'

Image - From Penny Black Clear Set Critter Party

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Francheville Pastel Basics

Dies - Spellbinder Classic and Scalloped Circles; Sweet Stamps Flutterby #2; Kaisercraft Lace Borders; 

Pearls - (single) Kaisercraft; (string) Maria George

Glitter glue - Stickles Star Dust

Until next time, thank you for visiting, and "Happy Crafting".

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

My Favourite Poinsettia

Did I give you a fright when you saw my sticker, wishing you "Merry Christmas"?

No, it's not that time yet, but the way this year is flashing by, that fellow in 

the red suit will be paying us a visit before some of us are ready.

You are probably thinking "haven't I seen this card before"...well you have seen ones

very similar. However, I have 'tweaked' the design ever so slightly.

When we moved into the Retirement Village last year, we of course met lots of new

people, some of whom have become friends, so in order to save some time, I 

thought I would partly CASE some of my previous Christmas cards, as I

now have many more cards to make than previously, and no-one 

here in the Village has seen my cards before..

A closer look at my poinsettia...have I told you before that I LOVE this die and

matching embossing folder. In their original state, the die-cuts of each layer  

have a slightly elongated shape, so after I emboss each layer, I cut each 

 petal off, then hot-glue them individually to a small circle of scrap 

card. My poinsettia then has a more evenly round shape.

Inside my card...Have I also told you I LOVE this border punch set?

Challenges I would like to enter

4 Crafty Chicks #345 - 'Flowers'

ABC Christmas - 'H is for Home, I is for Informal' (I chose Informal)

Christmas Cards All Year Round - 'Flowers'

Merry Monday #242 - 'Twigs or Branches'  HONOURABLE MENTION

My Time To Craft #343 - 'No Designer Papers'

That's Crafty - 'Foliage and Flowers'

The Holly and the Ivy #3 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'  WINNER

Dies - Tim Holtz (Sizzix) Tattered Poinsettia; Memory Box Woodland Branch; Spellbinder Classic Square; 

Embossing - Tim Holtz (Sizzix) Texture Fades Textured Poinsettia Pattern Set; Fiskars Texture Plate Snowflakes

Ink - Distress Ink Walnut Stain, Gathered Twigs

Punch - Martha Stewart PATP Aspen Snowflakes

Peel-off sticker, gold cord, gold beads are all from my junk stash

As Daylight Saving finished last weekend, the shadows of course are lengthening quite early so I had better get all the washing off the line. 

Until next time, thank you for visiting, and may I wish you "happy crafting".

Hugs,

Jennifer. x