Bluebell and Friend

 

Hello lovely people. Recently I hinted that I would have some exciting news

this week........well today's the day to 'spill the beans',.....

Last month I won a challenge at Christmas Craft Creations with one of my

chocolate card/boxes, and as a result I was invited to be the Guest Designer

for the month of January. I was thrilled to accept!! The theme this month is

'RIBBON OR TWINE'

Below is my first card for the challenge.

I used the 'out-of-the-box' technique to die-cut around the image, as it

is a fairly large stamp.

Coloured with Promarkers, is the incredibly cute image

by Wild Rose Studio.

A closer look at my poinsettia, die-cut foliage, and bead sprays.

The centre of the poinsettia is Prills mixed with clear craft glue.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Crafty Calendar - 'Make It Cute' (2nd entry)

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas #524 - 'Anything Christmas Goes (optional Feature a Creature)'

Christmas Kickstart #46 - 'Such A Deer!'

Let's Squash It! #4 - 'Use Embossing Folder AND an Animal'

The Holly and the Ivy #85 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'  TOP 5

Image - Wild Rose Studio Bluebell With Presents

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Spellbinders Scalloped Circle; Craft4U Stitched Circle; Memory Box Holly Branch; Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Holiday Greens; Creative Expressions Pine Cone and Greenery; Cheery Lynn Poinsettia Strip.

Embossing Folder - Unnamed, free with Cardmaking Australia magazine

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Ribbon - Vandoros grosgrain

Prills, gold twine, and tiny red beads are from my junk stash

Tiny gold 'foliage' accents are cut from an old Christmas decoration

For more inspiration from the very talented regular design team, why not pop over to Christmas Craft Creations then enter your own 'Ribbon or Twine' creation.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Cheers,

Jennifer.  xx

Fluffy Red Robin

It may seem strange to be creating Christmas cards in March, but the way 

this year is rushing by it will be December before we know it.

I am on the Fat Cats Card Corner design team, and this card was created to show

the versatility of the Marianne Folding Lace Square die, which I attached to the

card horizontally after removing the back panel of the die-cut. 

As is usual, the brilliant sparkle of the glitter does not show up,

although I took many photos from various angles.

Image - Recycled Christmas card

Embossing Folder - Freebie with Cardmaking Australia magazine

Sentiment - Craftworks Cards 'Christmas Greetings sheet'

Dies - Marianne Designs Creatables Folding Lace Square; Cheery Lynn Holly Strip

Punch (holly berries) - Fiskars

Glitter glue - Stickles Stardust

Challenges I would like to enter

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 'Embossing Folder Background'  HONOURABLE MENTION

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas #430 - Always Christmas (optional Christmas song/carol) (In the Bleak Mid Winter)

Holly and Ivy #45 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'  TOP 5

Jingle Belles - 'Rockin' Robin'

This crazy weather continues...here in Australia we are more than 3 weeks into autumn, yet we are still experiencing temps in the mid 30s C., with very 'warm' nights, making sleep difficult. I am so over the heat, and having said that I am off to change into some lighter clothes.

Until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs, 

Jennifer.  xx

Snow Scene

Hello to all the busy, crafty people out there in blogland.

I feel as if a huge weight has been lifted from our shoulders, as John's medical 

negligence case was all 'done and dusted' in Sydney earlier this week. For 

more than 2 1/2 years we have experienced almost constant stress.

For the past few months I have managed to have spasmodic sessions in my craft

room, and by breaking my own rule of only creating 'one-of-a-kind' cards, I 

have managed to finish the 54 cards that I mail or personally deliver.

Hopefully I can now try to get into the spirit of Christmas, 

decorating the house, cooking, and shopping.

This card was not a production line creation, although to save time I did use a topper 

from a sheet I bought several years ago at a craft show in England. It did 

however take a fair amount of my time because I was rather 'out of practice'.

A close up look at the wintery spray I made from various die-cuts,

recycled Christmas decorations, and some tiny conifer cones from

our trees in one of our paddocks back on our farm.

A small section of the house on the topper.

Challenges I would like to enter  

Die Cut Divas - 'Winter Time'

Kreativeinkauf #57 - 'Conifer'

Sparkles Monthly #98 - 'White Christmas'

The Holly and The Ivy #20 - 'Anything Goes, Christmas'

The Merry Christmas #46 - 'Anything Goes + Christmas'

Tuesday Throwdown #371 - 'Christmas Scene'

Winter Wonderland - 'Anything Christmas Goes'

Image - Topper Sheet (Unknown Brand)

Paper - Kaisercraft Letters To Santa

Dies - Cheery Lynn Cutie Fringe 2, Wreath Strip; Memory Box Woodland Branch; Impression Obssession DIE-021N; Sizzix Tim Holtz Holiday Greens; Spellbinder Decorative Labels Eight

Sentiment Tag - Craftworks Cards

Snow - Leane Creatief 

Glitter - Tim Holtz Distress Stickles Clear Rock Candy

Red Berries and Gold 'Twigs' - recycled Christmas Decorations

Lace, gold bead, and pine cones - from my junk stash

I do hope your Christmas preparations are coming along nicely, and you are not getting too stressed. I also hope you are staying warm or cool, depending on what part of the world you live in.

'Til next time (soon I hope), thank you for your visit,

Hugs,

Jennifer. xx

Warren's Gift

Hello to all the lovely crafters out there in blogland. 

Robbie Burns' oft quoted line comes to mind for me lately 

"......the best-laid schemes o' mice an' men......' 

I'm neither a mouse or a man, but no matter how often I plan to spend some 

quality time crafting, John (or our kitty who has chronic bronchitis) require

medical attention. Also, the medical negligence legal action is taking up huge

amounts of time, and is on my mind constantly. Poor John has not been at

all well, and is just getting over his 5th Golden Staph infection in 18 months.

He has to have more surgery next week (also his 5th in 18 months).

A couple of weeks ago, the daughter of one of the Administration staff here in our

retirement village turned 11. She is a sweety, and 'bounces' up and chatters away

to me when we often meet in the supermarket, or elsewhere in our little town.

Apparently she is very selective about whom she befriends among the residents

of our retirement village, so I feel rather honoured.

Jemima adores all animals (perhaps that explains our bond), so I made her this card,

featuring my bunny friend 'Warren' from Craftwork Cards. I bought a couple of packs

of ready-to-colour 'Warren Sheets' at a craft show in London many years ago.

I die-cut, coloured, and constructed the tiny flowers over a couple of very late nights

after I had settled John for the night. I also coloured the corner die-cuts with the 

same Distress Ink as the flowers.

A closer look at Warren with his gift. He is coloured with Promarkers.

Inside my card co-ordinates with the front. Those strange shadows are from

a 'failed experiment'...I tried to reduce the effect of the very harsh midday sun,

by photographing the card in a plastic crate on its side. The shadows weren't 

obvious until I loaded the photos into my computer that night, and by 

then Jemima had her card, so I couldn't redo the photographs.

Challenges I would like to enter

Animal Friends #48 - 'Animal With Big Ears'

Come and Get It - 'Cards for Kids'

Die Cut Divas - 'For the Love of Animals'

Dragonfly Dreams - 'Girly, with Die Cut/Punch'

Squirrel's Not So Random Challenge #4 - 'Spring Fever'

The Crazy Challenge #243 - 'We Love Animals'

Image - Craftwork Cards Warren

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Spellbinder Classic Circle, Classic Square; Cheery Lynn Flowers, Leaves, & Butterfly; Joy Craft Corners

Punch - Making Memories Corner Rounder

Paper - First Edition Blank Canvas

Ink - Tim Holtz Distress Ink (I think I used Spiced Marmalade)

Sentiment - Computer generated

Seed Beads - from my junk stash

I think I will be having an early night tonight, as we were up very early 

to drive the 2 hours to the hospital for all John's pre-op tests and interviews.

We were there for 3 1/2  hours, then had another appointment on the way home.

Thank you for visiting, and until next time (hopefully sooner than later),

Hugs,

Jennifer. 

More Than One Fold

Hello to all. I hope you are all well and happy. I am in shock to think 

that next week we will be in the second half of the year...do you all 

feel the same way too?

While on the subject of time rushing by, we once again have a new 

challenge for you at Winter Wonderland, and our theme this week is

'MORE THAN ONE FOLD'

Offering a prize of a $12 voucher is our lovely sponsor,

I have made a centre step card for my DT creation.

The holly berries on my design paper were white, so to add a little interest,

I coloured them red with my Promarkers.

I think Snowy, by Penny Black is one of the sweetest snowman images

available. I decided to make him even more irresistible by adhering some 

tiny holly leaves and berries to his hat, as well as glossy accents to

his buttons.

A side-on view.

Inside the card, with more miniature holly leaves and berries.

Challenges I would like to enter

Crafting By Design - 'Get Ready For Christmas'

Fab 'n' Funky #265 - 'Christmas'

Fussy and Fancy #142 - 'Fancy Folds'

Image - Penny Black Snowy

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Cre8ive

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Rectangles; Memory Box Mini Holly Leaves; Couture Creations Mistletoe

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Stickles - Ranger Star Dust

For some inspiration by my talented teamies, pop over to Winter Wonderland and check out their lovely creations, then enter your own Christmas project. 

That's all from me, so until next time, thank you for visiting and "happy crafting".

Hugs

Jennifer. x

Raining Blossoms

Welcome, and thank you to my newest followers...I hope you

enjoy your visits to my blog.

Last month several of my friends celebrated their birthdays, and this is the

card I made for one of them. 

It is a rather simple card, with just a few die-cuts and some tiny pearls

as the embellishments. The card base is made from the most beautiful

butterfly embossed and pearlised cardstock that I have had in my 

collection for several years. 

Isn't this the most adorable little bear, with his friend 

and pretty umbrella.

Inside the card with a large area on which I wrote my personal

message. IRL the green spotted paper is exactly the same 

colour as the umbrella...just a few shades paler, but 

unfortunately it looks different in the photo.

Image - Penny Black Raining Daisies

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Circles; Cheery Lynn Sentiment Frame #1; Joy Crafts 6002/0356

Paper - Franchville Pastel Basics

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Pearls are from my junk stash

I must go to bed and try to sleep as I am on duty at the Fort for the next three days. Tomorrow, Sunday, is one of my usual rostered days, then on Monday it will be one of our four main 'big days' of the year (a public holiday). The Fort is normally closed on Tuesdays, but next Tuesday we will be open because one of Australia's former Prime Ministers will be visiting.

"Happy crafting"

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Warren and His Giant Easter Egg

Can you believe we are almost at the end of March, and Easter is looming

large and strong. I thought we had 2 1/2 weeks until the bunny comes

a'visiting, but was in a panic when I realised we only have 10 days.

This card has to wing its way to the UK (from Australia), so I made

it yesterday, albeit in great haste. Thereby hangs a tale of woe......

because I had rushed my colouring, I wasn't completely happy, so

thought I would try to draw viewers' eyes from the image with some

sponging around the image. That will teach me not to rush...the 

sponging was very uneven, and looked terrible. The more I tried

to fix it, it looked worse. I didn't have time to colour another

image, so decided to 'fussy-cut' Warren and his giant egg.

Fussy-cutting is not a technique I enjoy, as you can probably see.

A closer look at poor Warren, who I think looks as if he is in 

shock at what I have done with him.

The inside of my card co-ordinates with the front. The photo just doesn't

do justice to the oh so gorgeous paper, which is super glittery.

Challenges I Would Like To Enter

Animal Friends #23 - 'Easter'

Corrosive #220 - 'Our Animal Friends'

Crafty Sentiments - 'Inspired By A Song' (Here Comes Peter Cottontail)

Creative Card Crew #83 - 'Easter Critters'

Cute Card Thursday #365 - 'Spring Fever'

Deep Ocean #100 - 'Easter'

Dream Valley #102 - 'Easter' TOP 3

Fantastic Tuesday #78 - 'Easter Card'

(PIN)spirational #136 - See photo (I was inspired by the soft pastel colours)

Simply Create Too #81 - 'Easter or Bunnies'

Image - Craftwork Cards Warren

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Easter set from $2 shop

Paper - First Edition Spring Drop

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Circles; QuickKutz Scalloped Border

Punches - Carl Sakura (mini); Martha Stewart Butterfly Trio

Card Candi - Craftwork Cards

Ribbon is from my junk stash

I must go and pretend that I love housework (Urghhhh), so until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs

Jennifer. x

Animal Antics

Good evening everyone, and welcome to my newest followers. Thank you

for visiting, and I hope you find something of interest while here.

It's Friday once again, and therefore it is time for another challenge at

Winter Wonderland, and the theme this week is 'ANIMAL ANTICS'.

During January and February your creations could be for any occasion,

but for the remainder of the year, you MUST create 

something for Christmas.

Our generous sponsor this week is 

I love creating Christmas cards, and I had great fun with this one.

This oh, so cute image is by our sponsor, and is coloured

with Promarkers. I have been trying to get my hands on Frantage

for a long time, but here in Australia, it is VERY difficult to find.

However, I remembered a store a few hours drive from here, and found 

that they actually stock it...so thank you Tracey, at Pages 2 Scrap.

Another product I purchased from Tracey was a huge jar of Tim Holtz's

Clear Rock Candy glitter. I used heaps of it on my 'snow', but sadly I

could not capture the amazing effect it creates, in my photographs. I

 created that pine branch (on the right) by using a Cheery Lynn Fringe

die, after seeing a tutorial by the incredibly talented Pamellia.

Inside my card is decorated to co-ordinate with the front.

Image - Wild Rose Studio Bluebell and Presents

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Wild Rose Studio Annabelle's Christmas

Dies - Spellbinders Labels Eight, Decorative Labels Eight; Impression Obsession Pine Branch; Cherry Lynn Cutie Fringe 2; Couture Creations Mistletoe

Punches - EK Success Scalloped Corner Rounder; Martha Stewart Branch, PATP Aspen Snowflake (negative)

Embossing - (Brand Unknown) Snowflakes 

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Frantage - Stampendous Shabby White

Glitter - Tim Holtz Clear Rock Candy

Mini 'pine cones' are from my garden

Lace and gold cord are from my junk stash

CHALLENGES

52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown - 'Markers' (HONOURABLE MENTION)

Christmas Cards #13 - 'Winter Hues' (photo inspiration) (WINNER)

Christmas Cards All Year Round - 'Cute Critters' (TOP 3)

Completely Christmas #52 - 'Anything Goes with Twist - add some texture (WINNER)

Crafty Catz #269 - 'Song Title To Match Your Image' (That's What Friends Are For) (TOP 3)

Deep Ocean #98 - 'Our Furry Friends'

Fussy and Fancy #133 - 'Tic Tac Toe (lace/ribbon/sentiment) (ribbon on deer & gifts/gold cord?)

Holly Jolly Christmas - 'Dies and Punches' (TOP 3)

Jingle Belles - 'A Very Vibrant Christmas' (photo inspiration) (I used reindeer)

Sparkle 'n' Sprinkle - 'Anything Goes with loose glitter, EP,, and/or flocking

For a chance to win a lovely prize, pop over to Winter Wonderland to see the wonderful inspiration by my very talented teamies, then enter our 'Animal Antics' challenge.

Until next time, "happy crafting",

Hugs

Jennifer. x

Flower Arranging

As promised in my previous posts, I have some very exciting news to

share with you. I have been almost bursting at the seams, keeping my

little secret to myself...the one bright spot in my awful January was that

during the first week, lovely Deborah and Lynsey from the Winter Wonderland

challenge asked me if I would like to join the wonderfully talented Design 

Team!!!! After I started breathing again, and stopped doing a happy 

dance around the house, I replied with  "YES PLEASE!!!"

The theme for my first challenge with Winter Wonderland is

KISS (keep it sweet and simple)

Our lovely sponsor this week is Di's Digi Designs, who are offering

a $12 voucher as the winner's prize.

I don't think you could get much sweeter than this little bunny, busily

arranging flowers in a vase.

This is the first time I have inked up this very cute image. 

Inside my card co-ordinates with the front. It is also the first time

I have used this rather pretty embossing folder.

Challenges

4 Crafty Chicks #232 - 'Use A Hand-Coloured Image'

Hanna and Friends #215 - 'Embossing'

Moving Along With The Times - 'Pastels' TOP 3

Penny's Paper Crafty #213 - 'Favourite Fold or Technique' (colouring, die-cuts & embossing)TOP 3

Ruby's Rainbow #97 - 'Soon Be Spring'

Top Tip Tuesday - 'Favourite Colour Combo' (pink, white & green)

Image - LOTV Flower Arranging

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Spellbinders Classic Circle, Lacey Circle

Embossing Folder - Crafter's Companion Flower Garden

Greetings Tag - Craftwork Cards

Punch - Martha Stewart Butterfly Trio

Ribbon, eyelet and brads are from my junk stash

I would like to thank my fellow teamies at Winter Wonderland for the invitation to join them, and also for their warm words of welcome. Why not pop over to the challenge blog and have a look at their beautiful cards, then enter your own KISS creation for a chance to win a lovely prize.

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

Hugs

Jennifer. x

Christmas Recycling

A big welcome to my new followers. I hope you enjoy your visits.

Sometimes a friend will give us a Christmas card that is just too lovely to

place in the council recycling bin when all the festivities have finished.

This card is made from one such card from last year. It was a beautiful

soft blue, pearlised card with glitter on some of the snowflakes. Silly

me didn't take a photograph of the original, fairly large square card.

The silver ribbon hides where I have joined the pieces. The bottom piece of

the card is part of a horizontal panel on the original, and I cut down the top

piece (at the bottom of the original) to position the greeting. I then

die-cut a large snowflake from some glittered cardstock (IRL it 

is VERY sparkly!), and added a card candi which is a perfect 

colour match for the greeting and red snowflakes.

Inside my card has 2 pieces of snowflake-embossed card (not from the

original card), with the join covered by the silver ribbon, which

was a freebie in a magazine several years ago.

We gave this card to the lovely lady who gave us the original last year.

She was thrilled by the fact that I could not discard it, and amazed 

at how I had transformed it into something different.

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Ovals; Marianne Snowflake

Embossing - Snowflakes (Unknown brand)

Card Candi - Craftwork Cards Christmas Mix

Ribbon - from my junk stash

Challenges

Get Creative #4 - 'Blue and White or Silver'

Sparkles Christmas #47 - 'It's A Blue, Blue Christmas' 

Yesterday, at the Fort we had our monthly guides meeting, followed by our Christmas luncheon. Tonight we are performing at the Fort for our Christmas party, which is for all members of the Fort Scratchley Historical Society, then tomorrow I am on duty all day, and we will be very busy, as there is a cruise ship calling into Newcastle for the day. On 'cruise ship days' we usually have 600-1,000 people visiting us.

If I manage to recover from these 3 days, I will be back at the weekend with another Christmas card, so until then, thank you for visiting, and "don't get your tinsel in a tangle".

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

White, Gold and Silver

Oh dear, I can't help myself, can I!!!! Here are some more Christmas

cards using my favourite poinsettia die and matching embossing folders.

Because of the high cost of mailing my square cards, I have created

some more DL sized cards - 1 white and silver, and 1 white and gold.

I positioned the poinsettias to cover the 'join' in the embossed panel.

There is a line of Crystallina Kindyglitz on the edges

of the embossed panels.........., 

Kindyglitz on the bracts of the poinsettias, and on the centres

of the embossed poinsettias.

The insides of the cards have gold or silver matting and a 

peel-off sticker.

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Rectangles; Tim Holtz (Sizzix) Tattered Poinsettia

Embossing - Tim Holtz (Sizzix) Texture Fades Textured Poinsettia Pattern Set

Card Candi - Craftwork Cards

Kindyglitz - Crystallina

Peel-off sticker from my junk stash

Challenges

Beccy's Place - 'A Month of Holiday Cards' (White on White-day 12)

Christmas Cards All Year Round - 'No Patterned Paper'

Crafty Calender - 'It's All About Christmas'

Crafty Catz #255 - 'Christmas Is Coming'

I'm off to start preparing dinner, so until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x