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

 

Quilted Winter Wishes

 

Good afternoon. 

Despite my stern warning to myself that I could not 

purchase any more new dies, I could not resist this wonderful quilt

die. It is so easy to create cards which look very different for the same 

occasion e.g. Christmas, and also for other various occasions.

I used very traditional colours for this card which is for a dear friend in England.

Inside the card showing the lovely verse and the punched corner.

Dies - My Favourite Things Die-namics Square Quilt Cover-up; Cheery Lynn Poinsettia Strip; Tim Holtz Holiday Greenery

Papers - Kaisercraft; Graphic 45 (both from old collections)

Verse - Creative Expressions Holly Jolly Sentiments 

Punch - Martha Stewart Aspen Snowflake corner punch; unnamed office circle punch

Peel-off sticker and gold washi tape are from my junk stash

I hope I can 'keep the ball rolling' with regular posts, so until next time thank you for visiting.

Stay safe,

Jennifer.  xx

Joy and Peace

 

I know I said in my last post that I would be back in a few days, but once again

life and health issues have intervened...grrrrrr, so I have had my 'head down

and tail up' in a frenzy to create all my Christmas cards. They are all now 

finished and in the mail, so I may be able to show you some in 

the next weeks leading up to Christmas.

 

 I absolutely love the gorgeous papers in the Bella Carta paper pad I bought

earlier this year. The green DSP has a lattice design, and but because it is

very subtle, it is rather difficult to see.

Inside the card, with punched corners.

Paper - Carta Bella Home For Christmas 6 x 6 mega pad

Sentiment on front of card - Paper Rose Crisp Christmas sentiment sheets

Greeting inside card - Creative Expressions Christmas Sayings clear set CEC389

Dies - Cheery Lynn Poinsettia Strip B324; Dees Distinctively Ponderosa Pine Sprig; Build-A-Wreath (free with Australian Simply Cards magazine)

Punch - Martha Stewart Aspen Snowflake corner punch

Peel-off stickers are from my junk stash

I hope your Christmas preparations are 'on track', and you all keep safe in these uncertain times.

Until next time,

Jennifer.  xx

Daisy Thanks

 

Hello fellow bloggers. After a 3 month absence I am hoping to post more

regularly. Both John and I have had health issues, but during the long break

 I have not been completely idle...I have made many of my Christmas cards

as well as creating a large mixed media art work for a wedding gift (which

sadly has had to be postponed for a second time due to this awful virus).

Several months ago I drove 7 hours north to a reunion for those of us who began

our secondary schooling in 1963😲...yes, that long ago! I had a wonderful week-

end, catching up with old friends and reliving many memories. A pleasant surprise 

was that three of our teachers attended. The reunion, almost 2 years in the planning

 was so well organised, mostly by one lady living approximately 1,500 kms (1,000 miles) 

away from the reunion. To thank Jenny for her mammoth effort, 

I gave her this card (with a box of choccies).

I thought the stamped sentiment inside the card was perfect for 

the occasion.

A closer look at my handmade daisies and the die-cut greeting.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Ally's Angels #51 - 'Anything Goes'

Creative Fingers #217 - 'Anything Goes'

Happy Little Stampers (dies) - 'Anything Goes with Dies'

The Flower Challenge #61 - 'Use A Shape' (square) (must use handmade flowers) (5th birthday)

Dies - Spellbinders Oval; Tonic Studios Daisy Lace Square; Sue Wilson Creative Expressions Isobel; Memory Box Fauntleroy Crest

Punches - Carl Daisy; Martha Stewart Fern; Stampin' Up Scalloped Oval

Colouring - Promarkers  (Yellow and Vanilla) to colour pearls and daisy centres

Sentiment - Stampin' Up Peaceful Moments cling stamp set

Pearls and border sticker - from my junk stash

Please all stay safe in these uncertain and scary times.

Until next time (hopefully soon),

Hugs (virtual of course)

Jennifer.  xx

 

Birthday Thank You

 

Good afternoon.

It was my birthday a couple of days after Christmas, and 2020 saw a

milestone...70! HOW did that happen???

There was nothing I could do about it, but I'll just pretend it didn't happen.😁

Each Boxing Day some beautiful friends always have us to their home, and we

always have a lovely time. After the beautiful meal, I received a BIG surprise.

They had made a yummy cake with candles, THEN presented me with two 

very beautiful and extravagant gifts. I shed a few tears of joy, as I have 

only ever had three birthday cakes in my 70 years.

This is the card I made to thank our friends for such a wonderful

birthday/Christmas evening. 

A close up look at the tiny hand-made flowers, and the stamped "Thank You".

Challenges I would like to enter:-

As You Like It - Favourite Colour Duo and Why. (Soft pinks and greens as they remind me of spring, which I love)

Little Red Wagon #585 - 'Die-ing To Get Crafty'

My Time To Craft #448 - 'Thank You'

Simply Create Too #166 - 'Fave Colour Combo (soft pinks and greens)

The Funkie Junkie Boutique - 'Something Delicate'

Dies - Creative Expressions Scarlet; Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix Thinlets 661806 (mini florals); Cuttlebug Vintage Corners (negatives used in corners)

Ink for sponging - Tim Holtz Distress Inks Aged Mahogany, Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint

Paper - DCWV The Lace and Linen Stack

Sentiment - Stampin' Up Cling Set Peaceful Moments

Tiny beads are from my junk stash

It's time to bring the washing in from the clothesline, and feed our fur baby kitty (who turned 16 at Christmas), so until next time "thank you" for visiting.

(Socially distanced) Hugs

Jennifer.  x 

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

Green Chocolate Card/Box

Good Evening.

Recently I showed you a chocolate card/box I made using pink blue, and 

silvers. I made 6 of these in all, and while they were all made using the

same template, all are in different colours.

This one is made using a luxurious linen-like paper.

A closer look at my handmade poinsettias, and mixed foliage.

Inside my card/box with the message tag, and a yummy chocolate in situ.

Another close up look at the flowers, and the tiny die-cut sentiment.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Allsorts #600 - Christmas Flowers, Wreaths, and Trees

Beccy's Place - Day 30 'Do what you love' (Anything Goes)

Dies - Cheery Lynn Poinsettia Strip; Tim Holtz Holiday Greens; Stampin' Up Sweetest Border; Spellbinders Holiday Sentiments, Scalloped Ovals; Creative Expessions Pine Cones and Greenery

Paper - First Edition Christmas Village

Ink for sponging - Distress ink Aged Mahogany, Peeled Paint, Iced Spruce, Forest Moss

Ribbon, 'berries', gold cord, eyelets are all from my junk stash

Goodness, we are less than an hour until December...how did that happen??????

Until next time, Thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

Poinsettia and Foliage

 

Good morning.

"Oh dear", I can hear some of you say, "She's on her poinsettia obsession again".

Yes, its true, I love poinsettias, and yes, I do have several cards and boxes

again this year where I have used them, but not as many as usual.

Previously I have taken my cards outside to photograph them, but am therefore

always at the mercy of the weather, so recently I made myself a 'light box' and

bought 2 reasonably expensive lamps. However, I am not at all happy with the

quality of my photos. The photos above and below were taken less than a

minute apart, yet the reds look completely different???

A closer look at my poinsettia and some of the foliage. I attached that gorgeous

lattice die-cut to double-sided JAC paper, then liberally sprinkled glitter dust

to fill the open spaces. I also applied the tiniest amount of glitter dust to the

poinsettia, but as is always the case, the amazing sparkle does not show up.

 

I love this greeting die. To make it easier to attach it to the background,

I attached a piece of the silver paper to JAC paper before cutting it out.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 'Red and Green' (must show logo)

Beccy's Place - Day 19  'P'

Moving Along With The Times #124 - 'Christmas Flowers' TOP 3

Papercraft Business #33 - 'Christmas'

Try It On Tuesday - 'Traditional Christmas Colours'

Dies - Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Tattered Poinsettia, Holiday Greens; Creative Expressions Sue Wilson Netted Star Background, From Our House To Yours, Pine Cone Greenery; Memory Box Woodland Branch

Embossing Folder - Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Poinsettia

Inks for sponging - Distress Inks Aged Mahogany, Vintage Photo, and various greens

Pearl Centre - Stampin' Up Beaded Pearls

Glitter - Crafts 4U Glitter Dust Clear

Until next time, thank you for visiting and also for your kind comments.

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

Silent Night

 

Good afternoon fellow bloggers. Don't you all, like me, find it hard

to believe that we are now in the month of October...EEK!

I know now why so many of you are complaining about the new and

'improved' (NOT!!!) blogger😖. I have always been an "if it ain't broke,

don't fix it" gal.

Enough of my whinging, and onto the first card in my fairly substantial

box of Christmas cards.

It is a fairly simple card, but I think the gorgeous Silent Night die-cut

turns it into an elegant card.

I backed some gold paper with double-sided JAC paper before

cutting the beautiful greeting, thus making it easier to attach to the card.

I have had the dies for these baubles for many years,

and they have been much loved and often used.

Challenges I would like to enter

Crimbo Crackers #216 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'

Merry Little Christmas #26 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'

The Holly and the Ivy Christmas Challenge #80 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'

Dies - Creative Expressions Sue Wilson Swirled Silent Night; Memory Box Snowflake, & Swirl Ornaments

Punch - EK Success Mini Dots

Peel-off border sticker is from my ancient junk stash

On this slightly cool spring afternoon, I am off to have a short Nana Nap with Peter May...NO, NO, not the man himself, just one of his murder mysteries 😁.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

'Tis The Season

As the big day draws closer, I have a card for you that has interesting origins.

I thought I had finished making all my cards and had put away most of my

 'Christmassy stash'. However, I realised I needed a card in a hurry. I 

inwardly groaned at the thought of dragging everything out of my 

cupboard, then I had a 'lightbulb moment'...within easy reach I

had a little box of bits and pieces I had prepared, but not used!

Even the card base was in the box, so it was amazing how quickly,

and easily the card came together. Even more amazing is the fact that

every element was prepared over a period of about four years.

I love this die cut. It was cut from shimmer card, but unfortunately

the lovely shimmer does not show in the photo.

I made about a dozen of these poinsettias, but did not use them all.

Dies - Cheery Lynn Santa's Sleigh and Reindeer, Poinsettia Strip B324; Creative Expressions Sue Wilson Festive Collection Winter Trees; QuicKutz Scallops

Inks - Distress Inks Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Aged Mahogany

Embossing Folder - 'freebie' with Cardmaking Australia magazine

Sentiment - Tim Holtz Ideology Christmas

Please spare a thought for the many people who are affected by the unprecedented bushfires throughout Australia...several people have died, including 2 young, brave volunteer firemen a few days ago, many have been injured, about 1000 homes have been destroyed, many thousands of animals, both domestic and wildlife have perished. Many of the blazes are huge, and out of control, with no end in sight. This is on top of probably the worst drought ever, again with no relief in sight.

On that very sad note, I will bid you good evening, and say "thank you" for visiting.

Hugs,

Jennifer.  xx

Just For You

Here in Australia, today was Mother's Day, so to all the Mums of

human, or fur babies I hope you all had a happy Mother's Day. 

My dear John took me to lunch which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Greeting me this morning was a cute multi-coloured email from our

son and little Granddaughter in London, along with them both singing

"Happy Mum & Grandmama's Day" to the tune of  "Happy Birthday", ending 

with a rousing, and giggly triple Hip Hip Hooray! It set me up for the day.

I would like to say welcome to my newest 'Follower', Stephanie S., and 

hope you enjoy your visits here.

This is another of the many cards I have made for Fat Cats Card Corner.

I always love the colour combo of pink and green.

The 'Just For You' die is so versatile. I cut 2 and layered them

for added dimension.

A closer look at the floral arrangement. 

Dies - Find It Trading Floral Hexagon; Creative Expressions Sue Wilson Passion Flower, Isobel: Marianne Creatables Design Folding Lace Square

Punch - EK Success Scalloped Corner

Ink (sponging) - Tim Holtz Distress Ink Tattered Rose

Paper - Lemoncraft Just Love Me

Pearls and ribbon are from my junk stash

This next week is going to be incredibly busy, so I will say "goodnight" and try to get a good night's sleep.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  xx