Happy New Year!!!!

Hello fellow crafters, and may I wish each and everyone of you, and your families a very

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Here I am again, adding to my blog at almost 2am! We have not long been home from the most wonderful party at Fort Scratchley, in Newcastle. The Fort was open only to members of the F. S. Historical Society.

We had what must have been the best vantage point in all of Newcastle. The Fort sits atop a high headland at the entrance to Newcastle Harbour, and has 360 degree views. We looked out over the top of the city, and the parks of the beautifully maintained foreshore. The fireworks were spectacular, and set off only about half a kilometre from us.

The weather could not have been more perfect, with a lovely sea breeze, and the just waning full moon above us. Because we live more than an hour inland, it was a bit of a shock when we arrived home. It is still 29C, and very humid. Apparently tomorrow we are in for 39C!!! YUK!

I promise this is my last Christmas card - I have a hide don't I, showing you a Christmas card for the first day of a New Year, but the only non-Christmas card I have is my first DT card for Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog. The new challenge begins on Wednesday morning (UK time), so I can't show you 'til then.

Yes this is that bear again (Stampavie's Merry Bear). I adore him, and be honest, I did warn you 2 months ago that you would be seeing a lot of him this Christmas. The card was for my Dr's Family Practice.

A close-up of Merry Bear, coloured with my Promarkers.

This is the first time I have used the gorgeous Anastasia border die, by Cheery Lynn.

I am off to have a cold shower, and try to sleep. The tree and all the decorations come down tomorrow, and the house is l.o.n.g overdue for a good clean. All the rich party food is lovely, but I will be glad to get back to ordinary meals - I think I have gained several dress sizes in the last few weeks!

It will also be great making cards other than for Christmas.

Once again, thank you for your visits and comments - I promise I will get back to visiting you in the next few days.

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Ornaments and Holly

Hello fellow crafters, and welcome to my newest follower, Bunny.

3 more sleeps to go - believe it or not!

For several days I have had some very exciting news to share with you all, but with great difficulty, I will hold off until tomorrow, when all will be revealed.

These 2 cards are very similar, but they are for friends who live in different states, do not know of the other's existence, and do not know I have a blog. I removed the negative pieces from the ornament die-cut, and attached burgundy cardstock underneath.

This ornament looks as if it is damaged, but those dark marks are reflections. I left the 

negative pieces in the die-cut, securing them with double-sided tape. 

I enjoy this effect sometimes.

I made the inside of the cards the same, leaving them very plain. 

The message area is quite large, as I wanted enough room to 

write a few snippets of news.

Paper - Bo Bunny 'Holly Rejoice'

Dies - Cottage Cuts 'Ornaments', 'Celebrate'; Memory Box 'Crisp Bows'; Spellbinders 'Classic, and Scalloped Long Rectangles'

Embossing Folder - 'Snowflakes' (I don't know the brand)

Braid, gold cord, peel-off stickers - from my junk stash

Hope you are all finished with your preparations for Christmas, or very close to being there, so you can relax and enjoy it.

Until tomorrow,

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Merry Bear

Hello fellow crafters, and I would like to welcome my newest followers, Audrey and Dawn.

I can finally show you this card, as I know my bloggy friend, Pauline, who lives in England has received it. Pauline is on several design teams, and her cards are always beautiful.

This card is similar to "Here Kitty, Kitty" which I made for another friend, Di. (No prizes for guessing it features a kitty cat, instead of a bear).

The image is 'Merry Bear' by Stampavie, coloured with Promarkers. I added 3D Glossy Accents to the holly berries, and put a touch of Stickles on the gold-coloured ribbon on the gift. I bought the Laser Glitter 'snow' and the brass holly from a local craft shop.

The large gold snowflake is actually a Christmas tree decoration, the berries are from a large spray of gold and burgundy decorations, and I made the 'pins' from beads in my stash. I added a little 'Star Dust' Stickles to the flowers and leaves.

'Merry Christmas' is gold mirror card, cut with a Cheery Lynn die, and I used Martha Stewart's 'Aspen Snowflake' PATP punch for the red strip.

Once again, I have used the beautiful 'Floral Ovals' by Spellbinders for our personal message inside, and my contact details on the back of the card. Corners are Cheery Lynn. Holly paper is Bo Bunny's 'Rejoice Holly'.

Challenges I would like to enter are-:

Crafting for all Seasons #42- 'Red/Green/Glitter/Sparkle

Cute Card Thursday #247 - 'So Charming'

Cheery Lynn #59 - 'Lots of Layers'

Cutie Pie #33 - 'Cute Christmas'

I hope you are all progressing with your Christmas preparations, and not getting to stressed. Thank you all so much for visiting and leaving all your encouraging comments.

Hugs,
Jennifer. x

"Here Kitty, Kitty..."

Hello fellow crafters,
Last month I won tickets in a radio competition to an advance screening in Newcastle today of 'Quartet', starring Maggie Smith, Billy Connelly, Tom Courtnay and Pauline Collins, and several other well known actors. It was brilliant, and I highly recommend it, especially if you are fond of music (particularly Classical).

This card is for a close crafting friend, and features one of my favourite animal stamps by Penny Black - 'Jolly Xmas Kitty'.

The white edge and red strip are punched with Martha Stewart's 'Aspen Snowflake' PATP(my new favourite punch). The 'Merry Christmas' greeting was cut from gold mirror card with a Cheery Lynn die. I triple mounted the image, over Bo Bunny 'Rejoice Holly' DP. 

I coloured the image with my Promarkers, and glittered the fur on the hat.

The gold 'snowflake' under the flowers is a new Christmas tree decoration, the berries are from an old decoration. I made the pins from beads in my stash. Holly leaves and ferny leaves are both Cheery Lynn.

Corners are cut with Cheery Lynn 'Deco' dies, and the white message panel is from a Spellbinders die, 'Floral Ovals' (This seems to be my favourite die at the moment, along with the Cheery Lynn holly, and ferny leaves dies).

I would like to enter the following challenges - 

Crafty Sentiments - 'Snowflakes'

Sweet Stampin' - 'Dies and Punches' (2nd entry)

ABC Christmas - 'Y is For Your Favourite Die/punch'

Penny Black Saturday - 'Glitter & Sparkle' (2nd entry)

Penny Black & More @ Allsorts - 'It's Your Choice' (2nd entry)

You may have read on Monday that I had to have an X-ray and Ultrasound on my shoulder yesterday, followed by a cortisone injection into the joint...well, I didn't have the injection because I have to have a shoulder re-construction instead!...there is more damage than anyone suspected. No wonder I have been in constant pain for about 12 months. I have to say I was shocked when the radiologist told me the news, and I now have to see my GP on New Year's Eve to organise the surgery.

I really must go to bed, as I need to be refreshed tomorrow because dear little Russell is spending the day with us, while his mummy does some Christmas shopping.

Until next time,

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Merry Bear

Hello fellow crafters,

Welcome to my newest followers, Aqualega, Chrissy and Solitary Star.

I can't believe it has been a week since my last post...where did that week go???? I heard yesterday on the radio that there are only 50 days remaining until Christmas. Between appointments, a birthday lunch for little Russell (Tiger) and his sister, Connie, and a trip to Sydney to the Paper Crafts Festival, I only managed to make another 4 Christmas cards.

This adorable little cutie is 'Merry Bear' by Stampavie. This is the first time he has seen ink, but I can guarantee it won't be the last - I love him. His neck ribbon appears to be a brighter red than IRL...it is more burgundy. There's yet another gold peel-off greeting sticker...I am trying to use up some of the large collection of them in my stash.

A close-up of  'Merry' and his gift, coloured with Promarkers.

Inside the card.

I photographed the card on a black background, but should have used white. I mentioned in a previous post that I had found lots of stash I had 'squirreled away' several years ago, then forgotten... this card is using some of it. At an 'after-Christmas' sale about 5 or 6 years ago I bought 4 packets of  blank cards & envelopes with tree apertures (2 burgundy, 2 dark green), and a damaged Christmas tree decoration (50 cents) which had about 2 metres of the fine burgundy nylon tinsel wound around it. It took ages to unravel it from the damaged wire frame which I binned. The script and striped DPs are I think, Bo Bunny, and the music paper is Kaisercraft (all several years old). The 3 dots are adhesive Nails, bought in London 2 years ago. This is also the first time I have used the lovely Cheery Lynn 'Holly Flourish' die.

Challenges I would like to enter are -

                          An Oldie But A Goodie - 'Spots and Stripes' (the stripes are obvious, but my dots are the 3 'nails'and on the music).

Penny Black and More - 'Any Die Will Do'

Penny Black Saturday - 'Cute Christmas'

I Love Promarkers #141 - 'Cute'

After hanging out some washing (it is so hot, it will be dry in an hour), I am off to make a few more Christmas cards, using a mixture of my 'un-hidden' stash, and some of the lovely dies I bought at the Paper Craft Festival on Friday. I also bought a 'Big Shot', as I think my dear little Cuttlebug is on the way out...I have had it for many years, so it doesn't owe me anything, but I will miss it. Do any of you become attached to a particular crafting tool??? I hadn't intended to buy the 'Big Shot', but the 'show special' price was ridiculously low - and they added a free embossing folder (my choice) to further sweeten the deal. I wonder if I will become attached to my Big Shot?

Happy crafting, and thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer. x