Best Friends

Hello my crafting friends. Can you believe the first week of May has already

finished. Until last week, we have been still experiencing temperatures

in the 30 oCs, with one night 10 days ago at 26 oC at 11pm!!! 

HOWEVER, winter arrived with a vengence on Saturday, 

with snow falling nearby. It was the coldest day since 

last June. After all our hot weather it came as  

a BIG shock!

I explained in my last post that last Sunday, two dear friends 

celebrated their birthdays. 

This is the card I made for my English friend, Pauline, who makes the  

most gorgeous cards. She loves pinks and purples, so choosing my

colour palette was easy. Pauline and I have never met, but 

correspond via email. It would be lovely to actually 

meet her, and have a long chat 'face-to-face'.

A closer look at the two little friends sitting on the brick wall. 

Inside my card is decorated to match the front. Isn't that K. & Co. paper

exquisite. Unfortunately, the store only had 2 sheets left, otherwise I would

have been 'forced' to buy all that they had...well, a girl just doesn't have a

choice in these matters, does she...those little paperholic voices say

"yes, you need it...yes, you need it..."

I smothered the roses and butterflies to within an inch of their lives

with Stickles Star Dust.

Challenges

A Little Bit Crafty - 'Flower Power'

Craft Room - 'Roses and Romance'

Crafty Sentiments Design - 'Anything Goes'

Fussy and Fancy #113- 'Spring Colours'

Love To Create - 'Say It With Flowers'

Sparkle and Sprinkle - 'Anything Goes (always with glitter,embossing or flocking)' TOP 3

The Crafter's Cafe #62 - 'Mom or Special Lady'

Tuesday Throwdown #194 - 'Special Lady'

Image - LOTV Best Friends

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - K. & Co. Watercolour Bouquet

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Circles (LG); Cheery Lynn Celebrate, Mini Dimensional Butterflies, Wreath Strip, Olive Branches; Memory Box Wrought Iron Gate

Roses and Rosebuds from my junk stash

Must rush off...I have to prepare dinner, iron my uniform for duty at the Fort tomorrow, then do some last minute preparation with our tax forms for an appointment early tomorrow morning with our accountant..... .......help!!!!!!

Thank you for visiting,

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Friends Forever

Yesterday was a special day for two of my dear friends. It was their birthdays.

One is Pauline, my wonderfully talented blogging friend in England. (We 'met' 2 

years ago), and the other is Diane, my friend of more than 51 years. We met 

during our first week in High School, and bonded instantly, mainly because of

our love of horses and partly because of music. Now both in our 60s, we still

share that passion for horses...I still have one, and she still owns several.

Since leaving school, we have been separated by long distances geographically,

but have remained in regular contact. Sometimes it is several years between 

actually getting together, but when we do, it is as if we had seen each other  

the previous day. We chatter and laugh for ages, and our poor husbands 

just shake their heads and 'leave us to it'!

This is the card I made for Diane, with a touch of wishful thinking...I wish

we could see each other more often, and reminisce over a pot of tea.

A closer look at the sweet little friends, coloured with Promarkers.

Inside my card, co-ordinated with the front. That pretty locket die-cut is 

from an early Spellbinders set which I have had for years, and NEVER

used! Shame on me!! Last week I finished categorising and cataloguing 

all my dies. It has been a huge task, but well worth it...I found dies 

that I had forgotten, so now I think I will use them more often.

Challenges

A Little Bit Crafty - 'Flower Power'

Cheery Lynn #131 - 'Lots of Layers'

Creative Knockouts #35 - 'Flowers Galore'

Di's Digi Designs - 'Birthdays'

I Love Promarkers - 'Not Quite Straight'

Paper Crafting Journey - 'Spots and/or Stripes'

Seize The Birthday - 'Anything Goes' (must be birthday)

Sweet Pea Stampers - 'Birthday'

Image - LOTV Coffee Break

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Teresa Collins You Are My Happy

Sentiment Tags - LOTV Sentiment Tags Set 24

Dies - Spellbinders Timeless Heritage, Classic Rectangle (LG) and Classic Scalloped Rectangle (LG); Cheery Lynn Mini Dimensional Butterflies, Lace Corner Deco E

Punch - Carl Fern

Adhesive mesh - a gift from a friend at a stamp camp

Flowers are from my junk stash

I will be back in a couple of days to show you the card I made for Pauline. I want to know if she has received it first, as I know she reads my blog regularly. Until then, thank you for visiting.

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

In The Garden

Hello there to all my talented crafty friends.

Where, oh where can the months be going...

I am finding it almost too difficult to believe that it is now the 1st of May!

As well as it being May Day for many of you, it is also a special occasion for

 Crafty Little Fairies. As from today, we are a monthly challenge. The

Pink fairies and Blue fairies have combined, and together will have

a new challenge for you on the first Thursday of each month.

Our first monthly challenge theme is a lovely one you're sure to enjoy...

'IN THE GARDEN'

Yippee, this month we have five...yes, you read that correctly...FIVE 

wonderful sponsors, so there are plenty of chances for you to win. 

However, don't forget that to be eligible for a prize, you must use

a stamped or digi image, and follow the challenge theme.

Our lovely sponsors this month are -

My card features one of my favourite bear stamps, a very old one by PSX.

A closer look at the cute bear and his friend.

Inside my card. The little gardening tools are die-cut from heavy foil lids

from gourmet cat food, and the handles coloured with Promarkers. 

Challenges

Created With Love #80 - 'In The Garden'

Crafting For All Seasons #76 - 'Lots Of Layers'

Lexi's Creations #115 - 'For The Man/Boy In Your Life'

Image - PSX

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Graphic 45 Nursery Rhymes

Dies - Spellbinders Hexagons; Marianne LR 0205 (fence); Memory Box Puffy Clouds; Fancy That Garden Tools; Die-namics Grassy Edges

For a chance to win a lovely prize, why not visit all the other fairies and

their beautiful creations at Crafty Little Fairies, and enter our 'In The

 Garden' challenge. Remember, you now have a whole month 

to enter, and you still need to use a stamped or digi image.

Thank you for visiting, and until next time I wish you "happy crafting".

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Celebrity Visitor To Fort Scratchley

Yesterday (Tuesday) was a very special day at Fort Scratchley, where

I am a volunteer guide. The Fort is closed to the public every Tuesday,

so the day was chosen for Sir Tony Robinson of Blackadder and 

Time Team fame to film an episode of his history show there. I 

have been a huge fan of both TV shows for many years, so it

was a big thrill to be able to watch the filming.

Sir Tony (centre), with some of the film crew, just about to 

commence filming.

Sir Tony standing on our Parade Ground in front of the

 6" Mk V11 and the 25 pounder guns.

As a special treat for such a distinguised visitor Sir Tony was invited

to fire two rounds from our WW11 25 pounder field gun which 

has been recently restored. He really enjoyed doing so!!!

On Saturday, the Antiques Roadshow is going to be in Newcastle and the

Fort has been asked to be involved. I will be there all day to assist. Sir Tony

will be the special guest and he will perform the official opening, and then at

the end of the day join the rest of the A.R. team to sign autographs.

I think by the end of next week I am going to be like a zombie, because the

past few weeks, and the next have been, and will be frantically busy. I will 

have been at the Fort 3, 4 or 5 days each week for 4 consecutive weeks. 

There is really very little time to sit down (sometimes not at all), while at 

the Fort and I also have almost 3 hours driving per day. No wonder 

I have been tired, and my mojo is 'on another planet'!!

It is almost 5pm and the washing has to come off the line, the pets all have to be fed, and I must iron my uniforms for tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday at the Fort.

Thanks for visiting, and I will be back tomorrow evening with another card when a new challenge begins at Crafty Little Fairies...remember, as from tomorrow we are a monthly (not weekly) challenge.

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Another Double Twisted Easel

Last week I showed you a double twisted easel card I had made for a friend

 2 years ago. It was my first attempt at a D.T.E. card, and although they are so

easy to make, I have not made another once since...that is until a few days

 ago. I have been very busy, and incredibly tired lately, so I made another 

D.T.E. card, CASING the same design. In some ways I felt

 as if I was lazy, but with time at a premium, and my mojo 'on 

another planet, I was able to produce this card very quickly.

I have always loved pink and brown together. I apologise for the poor lighting

quality of the photos, but they were taken in the very last rays of daylight.

A view of my card from above.

A closer look at the tiny hand-made flower. I used Stickles Platinum

on the edges of this (and the larger) flower, but instead of sparkling,

it loooks dull and even dirty in the photos.

Challenges

Ladybug Crafts Ink - 'Easel Card'

Paper Crafting Journey - 'Make An Easel Card'

Image - Kaisercraft Mini Flower

Colouring - Promarkers

Papers - Kaisercraft Chanteuse

Sentiment - Computer generated

Dies - Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Squares, Classic Scalloped Circles, Lacey Circles, Grand 12" Classic Lace Border; Tim Holtz Tattered Florals

Punch - Carl

Ribbon, gems, and peel-off stickers from my junk stash

Thank you for visiting, and until tomorrow "Happy Crafting".

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

"Surprise!"

Today, in New Zealand and here in Australia, it was ANZAC Day, when we remember all the brave men and women who have given their lives in war time so we can enjoy our wonderful freedom and lifestyle.

'LEST WE FORGET'

As many of you know, I am a volunteer guide at Fort Scratchley, in Newcastle, and yesterday I was at the Fort all day. We were incredibly busy (it is school holidays and also a long weekend), and I only managed to sit down for about 6 seconds! The Fort is almost 1 1/2 hours drive from home, so the 2 or 3 days I volunteer are very long. I didn't get home until 6.30pm last night, then this morning I had to get up at 2am so I could drive down to the Fort to attend our Anzac Day Dawn Service (and then volunteer all day). It is always so moving, especially when the Last Post is played, and the hymn, 'God of Our Fathers' is sung...I have to confess I get a lump in my throat and a bit misty-eyed. Of course we are also extremely busy on Anzac Day, and today was no exception, with hundreds of visitors to the Fort.

As I write this, I have been awake now for 20 hours, and only managed to sit for about 1 hour in total all day. My feet are aching more than I can describe, so I will get on with showing you the card I made for our new challenge at Crafty Little Fairies. I am very naughty, because the challenge began last night, so I am a day late...however, I think (or hope) you will forgive me.

Our new challenge theme is one I know you will all love -:

'FURRY FRIENDS'

Don't forget, that as from next week, the Crafty Little Fairies challenge
will be a monthly challenge, beginning on the first Thursday of each month.

This cute image is one of the 1st rubber stamps I ever bought. I often use

it either on a Christmas card, or a birthday card, such as this one.

Don't you just love those cute faces!!

Inside my card matches the front.

Challenges

Incy Wincy - 'Furry Friends'

Penny Black - 'Cats and Dogs' WINNER

Image - Penny Black Funny Present
Colouring - Promarkers
Paper - Prima Meadow Lark
Greeting - Stampworld
Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Ovals; QuicKutz Lace
Gems and flowers from my junk stash

For a chance to win a lovely prize, why not visit us at Crafty Little Fairies, and enter our 'Furry Friends' challenge. Don't forget, you must use a stamped or digi image on your creation.

I'm off to bed, so until next time "Happy Crafting",
Hugs,
Jennifer. x

Classic White on White

Welcome to my newest follower, Tilly.

I hope you have all recovered from your Easter chocolate overload. John

and I have surprised ourselves at how restrained we were. The Easter 

Bunny just left each of us one lovely chocolate bunny with honeycomb 

mixed through it. We can't work out how he knew that we both 

love honeycomb with chocolate.

One of my friends celebrated her birthday during Easter, so now I can

show you the card I made for her. She likes elegant, classic styles.

For the card base I used plain white Bazzill, with the remaining cardstock being

white Bazzill bling. I should really use Bazzill Bling more often as I love the sheen

it imparts. About 3 years ago, as well as a 'few' other items, I bought quite a 

few sheets in various colours from a scrapbook store that had a 'closing-

down' sale with all stock reduced by 40%. My poor credit card was 

begging for mercy when I left the store that day.

I originally left the inside of the card very plain, but decided it needed

'something', so I put Stickles Star Dust around the edges of the

Labels One, but as soon as I had finished doing so, I 

wished I had left it plain. 

Challenges

Love To Create - 'Monochromatic With a Ribbon'

Seize The Birthday - 'White on White'

The Squirrel and the Fox #68 - 'Die Cut or Punch'

Embossing - Cuttlebug Jamara

Dies - Spellbinders Labels One, Labels Four, Fleur De Lis Borderabilities

Ribbon, pearls, and peel-off sticker from my junk stash

Thank you for visiting, and until next time I wish you all "happy crafting'.

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x