Time Flies

Recently, when I was working on my cataloguing of all my embarassingly 

large collection of stamps, a friend saw my bundle of new stamps from

 Lili of the Valley. She commented that this little fairy was so cute. When

 I told her that it was called 'Time Flies', she asked me to make a card for

her life-long friend's 70th birthday, using those words as the sentiment.

She felt that they were really appropriate for their very long friendship.

The gorgeous paper, and pearl flower 'ribbon' were purchased at the

craft show I went to in Sydney last month.

A closer look at the little cutie.

Inside the card is decorated to match the front.

Challenges

Crafter's Cafe #77 - 'Square Cards Only'

Divas By Design - 'Pretty Pearls'

In The Pink #51 - 'Fairies and Elves' TOP 5

Papertake Weekly - 'To Die For'

Image - Lili of the Valley Time Flies

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Wild Rose Studio Annabelle's Garden

Dies - Spellbinders Labels Eight, Decorative Labels Eight, Classic and Scalloped Circle

Punch - Martha Stewart Butterfly Trio

Sentiment - Computer generated Balsam font

Pearl Flower 'Ribbon' - The Craft Queen

My friend loved the card so much, she asked me to make another one exactly the same (except for the sentiment) for another friend's 70th birthday.The 2 friends live in different states of Australia, and have never met. I told her that I never make 2 cards the same, so we compromised...I have made another using the same image and design, but with blues and a different DP. I will show you that one another time.

My dear John has just come in for his lunch, so I am off to make a nice hot cup of tea and have a toasted ham and tomato sandwich - yummo! It is so cold here today, I may need to light the fire!

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

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Vale Al

Early on Saturday morning I received the very sad news that one of my fellow guides at
the Fort where I volunteer, had passed away during the night. Al was only 67, and was
a much loved and respected member of our 'Fort family'. His lovely wife, Roz, is also
a volunteer at the Fort, in the museum. They had only just returned a few weeks
ago from a 1 month trip to Europe, where they shared some
wonderful experiences.

I always prefer my sympathy cards to be fairly simple, yet elegant, so this is  

the card I made for Roz and her family, using a new corner die.

The inside of my card has a verse that I love, and have occasionally included in

sympathy cards. A tiny die-cut dove-in-flight is in the corner of the page 

where I wrote a personal message of comfort to Roz. 

A closer view of the verse.

Challenges

Penny's Paper Crafty #190 - 'Anything Goes'

Sentimental Sundays #220 - 'Monochrome'

Dies - Memory Box Wildflower Corner, Couture Creations Baby Dove

Sentiment - Stamp World With Deepest Sympathy

Verse - Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye (1932) 

Font - Wendy Medium

Liquid Pearls - Perla

I shall miss Al greatly...he was a true gentleman. When I was training to be a guide at the Fort, he was always so encouraging and supportive, and had a great sense of humour. His favourite piece of music was the 'Dambusters March' (from the film), and he savoured every note when John played it for him at any Fort function. If Roz is agreeable, John would like to play it at the staff Christmas function, as a special tribute to a special man. Those of us on duty yesterday were a little subdued, and one of the guides commented ... "if someone couldn't like Big Al (he was well over 6' tall), there was something wrong with them".

Vale Al

Until next time,

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Soft Rose

Hello fellow crafters. For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, I hope you are

enjoying what appears to be wonderful summer weather. However, for those of us

'down under' we are experiencing unusually cold weather, and in most parts of 

Australia, we are in desperate need of rain. We are just a few weeks away from 

spring, and already we look as if it is at the end of a very dry summer.

Enough of my 'whinging'...here is a very spring-like rose for you.

This card is for a lady who will be celebrating her 70th birthday very soon, but as

she doesn't know I have a blog it is safe to show you now.

I love making my parchment roses...no two ever turn out the same, although by using the 

same combination of inks if I make a batch, they will have 'tonal' co-ordination. For

this card, I just used one large rose. The various foliage die-cuts were 

sponged with 'Sage' green ink.

As usual, I have made the inside of the card to match the design on the front.

Challenges

Crafty Creations #269 - 'Flower Power'

In The Pink #50 - 'Anything Goes'

Penny's Paper Crafty #190 - 'Anything Goes'

Sentimental Sundays #219 - 'Decorate Your Card Inside and Out'

Dies - Spellbinders Floral Ovals, Rose Creations; Cuttlebug Heritage Corners; 

Cheery Lynn Mini Dimensional Butterflies, Olive Branches, 

Marianne LR 0106, LR 0107, LR 0116, LR 0192 

Ink for sponging - Versacube Sage

Peel-off sticker from my stash

Whatever you have planned, I hope you all have a great weekend, so until next time I wish you "happy crafting", and hugs.

Jennifer. x

Teddy's BIG Bouquet

Goodness me, the way these months are rushing by, it will be C-------- (don't want to

to use the word itself) before we know it. We are already at the end of the first week

of August, and as it is the first Thursday of the month, you all know what that 

means...yes, a new challenge at Crafty Little Fairies. All the Fairies loved

the theme for this month, and we are fairly certain you will too. It is

'CUTE AND CUDDLY'

There you are, I knew you would love it. We would love to see what you create, but

please remember, you must use a stamped or digi image, not a pre-coloured topper.

The challenge theme this month had me doing a little happy dance inside. I could

indulge in all my favourites...flowers, butterflies, cute, pink, glitter (do I need to

explain further??)...in other words, 'girly stuff''.

This little cutie is by Lili Of The Valley, and is coloured with Promarkers.

Inside my card co-ordinates with the front.

Challenges I Would Like To Enter

Bunny Zoe's Crafts -'Bingo' (Lace, Pearls, Die-cut + Flowers)

Corrosive #205 - 'Birthdays'

Crafter's Cafe #75 - 'Lots of Layers'

Pennys Paper Crafty #189 - 'Anything Goes' TOP 3

Image - Lili of the Valley Teddy Bouquet

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Lili of the Valley (freebie with magazine)

Paper - Franchville Pastel Basics; Crate Paper Glee

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Circles, Cheery Lynn Butterflies, Cuttlebug Heritage Corners

Punches - Martha Stewart PATP Double Loops

Stickles - Platinum

Pearls and Lace from my junk stash

Why not visit us at Crafty Little Fairies to see what my talented Fairy team mates have created, and for a chance to win one of the lovely prizes enter our 'CUTE and CUDDLY' challenge.

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Craft Show Goodies

Last month, I travelled by train to Sydney to visit a huge annual Craft Show.

For most of the trip there, I kept telling myself I was not to buy any new junk stash,

as my craft cupboards are groaning at their doors.....but....did I listen to myself????

No, of course not!!! Come on, now be honest, you've all 'been there', haven't you.

The 3 small dies were all 50% off, the nesting dies were $5, and the embossing folder 

was only $2! I have used the Spellbinder Tool-In-One, and it is brilliant. A few months 

ago, I fell in love with the Sweet Lullaby die set when I saw some cards made with it 

on a blog. I have not used it yet, nor have I used the flower-shaping tool kit.

Like all of us, I love a bargain...the Penny Black and Kanban stamps were 

reduced by 50%. One stand had some beautiful cards on display using the

toppers, and although I have rarely used toppers, I thought they would

be handy for some quick cards.

Some pretty papers, ribbons, vintage toppers, and 'berries', completed my

purchases. Although my paper collection could rival any craft store's, I just

could not resist the stunning Wild Rose Studio pad...The only problem I had, 

and believe me it was a problem...was choosing only one. At one stage 

I had about 6 in my hands, and played 'Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo!

In addition to all the above goodies, I succumbed to temptation last week, and bought

quite a few Lili of the Valley stamps while they were 'On Sale'. They all arrived 

yesterday, so I can't wait to have a 'crafty play'.

Now I have confessed my naughty crime of 'splurging' to you all, I had better trot

off to the kitchen, and finish preparing dinner. 

Until next time,

Hugs, Jennifer. x