Blue Butterflies

 

Hello to all in 'blogland'

Recently I entered a challenge over at I Spy With My Little Eye, and was thrilled

when my card was chosen as one of the Top 2. I was even more thrilled when I

was invited to be a guest designer for their current challenge (# 12), the theme 

of which is "...Something Beginning With 'B'.

This is the card I designed using 3 B's...blue, butterflies and birthday.

I believe the design fold is called a 'box-seat' fold.

This is the back of the card showing the centre panel, where I will write

my personal message to the recipient.

A view from the top of the card, which shows fairly clearly

how the card has been constructed.

This view is of the card lying flat.

Challenges I would like to enter :-

A Place To Start - Monochrome 

Craft Rocket #111 - Birthday

Crafty Animals #80 - Anything Goes (must feature an animal) (2nd entry)

Critter Crazy #83 - Anything Goes (must feature a critter) (2nd entry)

Time Out #257 - Birthday

Triple B - Anything Goes, but must feature either Birds, Butterflies or Blooms

Dies - Cheery Lynn and Sweet Stamps (butterflies); Cuttlebug (21)

DSP - Bella 'Ever After'

Ink for sponging - Distress Ink 'Tumbled Glass'

Glitter cardstock - unnamed

Peel-off sticker is from my junk stash

Embossing Folder - Craft Concepts 'Wings'

Why not pop over to I Spy With My Little Eye and see Ellie and Pauline's gorgeous cards, and the fabulous male card by my fellow guest 'teamie', Pia, then enter your own creation.

Until next time, thank you again to Ellie and Pauline for the invitation.

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

 

Fiery Dragon/dinosaur

 

Hello to all out there in 'Blogland'.

Do you find that while some months are more relaxing as far as needing to

make birthday cards, several others have birthdays coming at an alarming 

rate? Those months for me are January, February, March and July.

This card was for a dear little boy we have known since he was born. I 

matted several images from a sheet of DSP by Art Stamps Australia. 

I die-cut the various stars from glitter foam, and the greeting is 

Stampin' Up.

A close-up look at the dragon/dinosaur. I think he is trying

to be scary, but I just think he is so cute.

Challenges I would like to enter :-

Crafty Animals #80 - Anything Goes

Critter Crazy #83 - Anything Goes (must feature a critter)

Cupcake Inspirations #588 - Dinosaurs

Do-A1(1) Creative #86 - Anything Goes + Optional Mystical or Vintage

Lets Craft and Create #204 - Anything Goes + optional Dots and/or Stripes

I must go and bring the washing off the line, so until next time thank you for visiting.

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

The Rainbow Bridge

My heart is broken. Yesterday I took our beautiful furbaby to our vet as he has 

not 'been himself' lately. He turned 19 at Christmas so we thought he was 

just feeling his age and slowing down. 

 

 

Last week our vet booked us to return yesterday for

blood tests and a thorough examination under heavy sedation. Imagine my

immense shock when the vet immediately discovered an intestinal tumour

the size of a large orange.

While Cookie lately has been very fussy about his food and had lost some 

weight he showed no signs of having any pain. We all agreed that he would

spend the short time he had left in severe pain, so the kindest thing was to

help him cross the Rainbow Bridge. He has been such a 'personality boy',

and such good company for both John and myself. However, since John 

had to go into a nursing home in August, Cookie has been constantly by

my side, day and night. I will miss him more than words can say.

Rest In Peace my beautiful, brave boy.

(The photos above were taken as recently as last August - don't you love

those gorgeous, expressive eyes).

With tears streaming down my cheeks, I will say goodnight and hope I can sleep without Cookie curled up beside me.

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

 

Snowflakes and Serviettes

Good Evening. I have another Christmas card to show you.

The background has been created using a serviette. I ironed the very top layer of a

serviette onto a piece of white cardstock with a sheet of plastic cling wrap in 

between. There are countless tutorials of this technique on the internet.

I then trimmed the background piece, and attached it to the card base.

The greeting and beautiful snowflake were die-cut from glitter foam.

Challenges I would like to enter :-

Peace On Earth #55 - 'Anything Christmas Goes' (2nd entry)

Try It On Tuesday - 'Winter Blues'

Dies - Tim Holtz Holiday Words-Script; Kaisercraft Fancy Snowflake

Glittered foam and serviette are from my junk stash

Just a brief post this evening, as I must go and feed my furbaby. He turned 19 recently,

and has not been very well. He is going to the vet's tomorrow for blood tests and a 

full examination under heavy sedation. I guess it is to be expected that he is 

showing big changes at his age, but I am dreading the inevitable.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

 

 

Berries

 

Good evening. I have another Christmas card to show you. This one features an

interesting fold. I think it may be called a faux step card.

I enjoyed making the card base, so I made a few cards using the design, but

with different DSPs. The card folds flat, and fits into a standard C6 envelope.

 

This angle shows how the card sits for display. I decorated the card inside

to match the front.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

ABC Christmas 'A' and 'B' - I chose ''B' is for Berries'

Peace On Earth Christmas #55 - Mood Board or Anything Christmas Goes

The Holly and Ivy #154 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

Dies - Stampin' Up Christmas Cheer; Spellbinder Scalloped Square

DSP - Stampin' Up Painted Christmas

Stamps - Stampin' Up Christmas Banners

Bronze cardstock is from my junk stash

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

Pink Snowflakes

 

Good evening.

Now that Christmas is fast becoming a memory, I do have a Christmas card 

to show you. Although I love the traditional reds, greens, gold and silver for my 

festive season cards, I occasionally like to create a card or two in non-traditional

colours such as pinks, purples and even black and white.

This card was created using a favourite technique, and most Christmases I make

a couple of cards like this. I cover a piece of coloured cardstock with wide

double-sided tape, peel off the top side, place a die-cut greeting and assorted

die-cut snowflakes and stars on the very sticky surface (taking care not to leave

any fingerprints). I then replace the peeled off paper and 'massage' the die-cuts

firmly to ensure they are fully attached, then discard. Liberally sprinkle glitter

over the card top, then gently 'massage' the glitter before pouring excess back

into the container. 

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Snowflakes (2nd entry)

Creations in Pink #65 - Anything Goes (mainly pink)

The Holly and The Ivy #154 - Anything Christmas Goes

It's about time this little bunny hops into bed, as she has a big day tomorrow...nothing exciting, just appointments involving several hours driving, so until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs, Jennifer.  x

Classic Automobiles

 

Good Evening.

Living here in our retirement village is a lovely friend who is turning 80.

He is a true gentleman, and it was a pleasure to make this card for him to

celebrate this special milestone birthday.

I sponged around the card base and snippets of cardstock for the script layer, greeting and car 

bases with distress ink. I had stamped the script with Walnut D.I., but I felt it was too dark, so

I covered it with vellum, attached with brads. The cars, gentleman and '80' were cut from 

snippets of bronze mirror card, left over from my Christmas card-making marathon.

The inside of the card continues the 'classic' theme.

Challenges I would like to enter :-

Creative Knockouts #512 - Celebrations

Cut It Up #294 - Anything Goes

Double D - Anniversary or Birthday (optional - use bronze)

Dragonfly Dreams - Planes, Trains and Automobiles

I Spy With My Little Eye #10 - Something Old and/or Something New (the 'Happy Birthday' stamp is new, the dies are very old)

Paper Funday #61 - Anything Goes (optional Celebrate)

Snippets Playground #471 - Celebration

Unicorn #94 - Birthday

 

Dies - Marianne LR 0198; Couture Creations Exquisite Gentleman; Cuttlebug Olivia

Stamps - Stampin' Up Go To Greetings, Peaceful Moments; Darkroom Door Script

Inks - Ranger Distress Ink Gathered Twig, Walnut

Brads, Vellum, Bronze mirror card - from my junk stash

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

P.S. I apologise if the main paragraph is 'weird'. In my draft it appears normally formatted, but in my preview it is weird. I have tried for ages to correct it, but to no avail, so have just decided to 'publish' as is.

Black and White Snowflakes

 

Good evening. What about this, eh...nothing for many months, then posts on two consecutive evenings.

Although I have more DSP than most stores, I am a 'sucker' for beautiful paper. A few months ago I bought two 12 x 12 DCWV pads. They were so gorgeous, I just couldn't decide which one to buy, so they helped me out by both jumping into my basket. Does that sound vaguely familiar to those of you who are paper addicts like me? 😁

I have had this large die for many years, and it is still one of my favourites. The aforementioned paper pads had several pages of wide strips that coordinate with the main papers, and this is part of one of those strips. I loved the 'clean' look of this card, so made several cards using the various strips.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

ABC Christmas -'Z' is for Zebra (black & white and/or stripes) (2nd entry)

Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Snowflakes

The Holly and the Ivy #153 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

Die - Memory Box Grand Merry Christmas

DSP - DCWV 12 x 12 December 25th

Peel off sticker - from my junk stash

Wouldn't it be great if I could keep up a regular flow of posts 😏, but time will tell, won't it.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs, Jennifer. x

Gold Stars

Good evening, I hope you all had a happy festive season.

It is almost 9 months since I posted anything on my blog, because 2023 was a year like no other.

I have had multiple ambulance trips to hospital for herniated discs in my neck and lower spine; a malignant melanoma removed; plus liver, kidney and thyroid problems. Worst of all, my beloved husband of more than 51 years became so frail, requiring 24 hour care that we had no choice but to move him into a nursing home. Although extremely weak physically, he is mentally as 'sharp' as he always has been (passing all cognitive tests with 100%), so it breaks my heart that I am no longer able to physically care for him, and that we cannot spend our final years living together.

I did however manage to make all our Christmas cards, plus many birthday (and sadly) sympathy cards throughout the year. The card below uses a die I bought in a sale, and this is its first time in use.

I saved all the star centres, and used them as embellishments on other cards.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

ABC Christmas - 'Y' (your choice) or 'Z' (is for zebra)

Christmas Kickstart #82 - The Midas Touch

The Holly and the Ivy #153 - Anything (Christmas) Goes

Merry Little Christmas #54 - Anything (Christmas) Goes

Dies - Uniquely Creative Star Wreath; Stampin' Up 

DSP - First Edition Christmas Village (very old)

Gold Mirror Card - from my junk stash

Sentiment - Stampin' Up Stars Are Shining

I will try to blog more regularly, so until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Pink Christmas Poinsettia

 

Good morning. It is no secret that among my favourite flowers

(particulary at Christmas) are poinsettias. 

With a break away from the traditional red poinsettias, I have created

a white one, softly blushed with pink. I used a snowflake stencil and

pearlised texture paste on the pale pink (script) DSP, then when dry,

 I hand-stitched around the edges. I also lightly sponged some of the

foliage die-cuts with the texture paste.

A close up look at my poinsettia that I so lightly sponged

with Victorian Velvet dye ink. The centre is a silver Sparklet.

I painted the wooden snowflake with 2 coats of the

pearlised texture paste.

Challenges I would like to enter.

Creations in pink #56 - 'Anything Goes in MAINLY pink'

My Time To Craft Christmas #57 - 'Poinsettias'

The Holly and the Ivy Christmas #137 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'

Merry Little Christmas #49 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'

Dies - Tim Holtz Holiday Greens, Tattered Poinsettia; Spellbinders Lacey Circles

SPD - Kaisercraft Silver Bells

Sentiment - Art Stamps Australia

Twine for stitching is actually recycled from bags of horse feed, soaked, washed and ironed. My friend Diane sent me a large 'stash'. When we lived on our farm and had horses, I always saved the twine.

Texture Paste - Crafts 4 U

Sparklet, tinsel and wooden snowflake are from my junk stash

I must be off to pretend I am a domestic goddess 😁😁, so until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

Happy Easter

Good afternoon. In my previous post I showed you one of the 5 chocolate

box/cards I made for an order. That one was in pinks, and this afternoon

I have 2 more to show you...1 is in purple tones, and the other is in green,

yellow and orange tones.

While all 5 box/cards are in various colours, the actual boxes are all

exactly the same size and design. I bought a large block of chocolate,

and experimented with scraps of cardstock until I had a perfect size

for that particular chocolate block which is probably the most common

one in Australia.

A closer look at the floral arrangement.

Inside the box/card, showing the little pocket with its tag

on which to write a personal message; and the large pocket

that holds the block of chocolate.

This is the 'green' box/card.

A close-up look at the pretty flowers and foliage.

Challenges I would like to Enter:-

Craft Rocket #102 - 'Layer It Up'

Fab 'n' Funky #570 - 'Use Die Cuts'

Make My Monday #197 - 'P' is for... (purple, pocket) (2nd entry)

My Time To Craft #505 - 'Easter or Spring Flowers'

The Paper Funday #52 - 'Anything Goes; with optional twist, Flower Power'

Through the Purple Haze #203 -'For Girls'

DSP - Stampin' up; First Edition Spring Drop

Sentiments - LOTV; Peel-off sticker

Dies - Stampin' Up; Spellbinders; Creative Expressions; Cheery Lynn; Dies R Us

Flowers, ribbons, brads, pearls are from my junk stash

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs, Jennifer. xx

P.S. If you are wondering what happened to the block of chocolate I used to create the template for my box/card.....you'll have to keep wondering, 'cause that's my secret 😁😁😄.

 

Pink Easter Blessings

Good evening. Last Christmas a lovely lady here at our retirement village

bought 2 of my chocolate box/cards. Early in the new year she said the 

recipients loved them, and I was thrilled when she asked me to make 

5 more with an Easter theme. 

I made all 5 box/cards in different base colours, with different DSPs, and  

very different designs. My 'customer' loved them. This is the pink-themed

one. This DSP has the most gorgeous, all-over sparkle, but unfortunately

it does not show at all in the photos.

A closer look at my floral arrangement with those cute

little die-cut eggs.

This is the inside, showing on the right the 'box' which fits a large

block of chocolate, and on the left is a 'pocket' with the tag

on which a personal message can be written.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Beautiful Blossoms #3 - Anything Goes (flowers must be the focus)

Cardz 4 Galz #195 - Spring Flowers

Creations In Pink #56 - Anything Goes, Mainly Pink

Double 'D' - Easter

Make My Monday #197 - ' 'P' is for... (Pink, Paper, 'Pocket')

Wednesday's Creative Inspirations - Spring Blooms

Ingredients

DSP - First Edition Spring Drop

Dies - Creative Expressions Easter, assorted foliage dies

Sentiment - from a VERY old childrens' Easter set from bargain store

Flowers, ribbon, twine and gem from my junk stash

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

 

Zoooom, Zoooom!

 

Good afternoon.

In the first few months of each year I need quite a few cards

for men and boys. However, because I have been unwell,

this year I have had to make fairly simple, quick cards.

For this card I used a topper from a collection of male toppers 

I have had for ages, and had completely forgotten about. 

This is the sentiment on the insert of my card.

Challenges I would like to Enter

My Time To Craft #503 - 'Birthday'

Topper - Craft Creations Ltd

Sentiments - Stampin' Up Hello, and Happiest Birthday Wishes

Dies - Spellbinders Classic Squares; Stampin' Up Art Gallery

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  xx

50th Anniversary Celebration

 

Just when I thought it was safe to begin blogging again, but no, fate

had something else planned for me. I have been M.I.A. because I

have been in hospital. Poor John had to call an ambulance for me, 

the second time in a few months. As I am now John's carer, it 

really worries me when I am unable to function fully.

Enough of my problems and on to pleasant memories. In my last blog

post I showed you the card I made for John for our 50th wedding

anniversary last year. This post I will show you some photos

taken of our very happy celebration.

The invitations I made were fairly simple.

I made the candle (battery operated) covers, the place cards, and the 

little 'mats' for Rocher chocolates to co-ordinate with the invitations.

I made the cake a month earlier, and every few days I sprinkled sherry

over it. I then iced and decorated it a few days before our celebration.

The knife has elaborate engraving on both sides of the blade, and has

been used for about 150 years by John's family for every significant

occasion e.g. weddings, christenings, 21sts.

For the main meal we took our son and granddaughter, visiting from 

London, and 7 dear friends to a restaurant. Sadly, my matron-of-honour, 

(and still dear friend) Diane was unable to attend.

 After the meal we all came back home where I had 

pre-prepared a lavish supper (calorie free of course😁😁😂).

John and I then cut our cake. (unfortunately in every photo of the 'ceremony',

a friend had his arm across the table, blocking the view of the cake).

We had a wonderful night, and hopefully we will be able to celebrate

many more anniversaries together. When we met, many friends and family

members told us we were too different to last more than a couple of years...

how wrong they were😁.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer. xx

 

50th Anniversary

 

Good evening crafty friends.

Last year, John and I celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary with some

dear friends, and our son and granddaughter who visited from London.

This is the card I made for John. The adorable image is a digi stamp by

Mo Manning. I coloured it with Promarkers and Copics. The background 

paper is from a sheet of exquisite hand-marbled wrapping paper. The '50s'

are cut from gold mirror card with a Cuttlebug Olivia die and the banner 

die is unnamed. All the layers have been matted with narrow gold mirror card.

Inside my card has been decorated with a punched border,

using a Martha Stewart PATP punch. The little hearts are

negatives. 

Challenges I Would Like To Enter :-

Craft Rocket Challenges #100 - 'Love/Valentine' (WINNER)

Crafty Friends #164 - 'Love/Romance'

Cut It Up #271 - 'Have A Heart'

Moving Along With The Times #151 - 'Numbers' (2nd entry)

Papercraft Challenges #91 - 'Hearts'

Thank you for visiting, and until next time,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  xx