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

 

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.

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

Sassy Heels

 

Good afternoon.

I have a little detour from showing you Christmas cards. There have been quite

a few birthdays recently for which I had to make cards, and this is one of those.

We have known the recipient of this card since before she was born. She is from

a beautiful family, and has grown from a sweet bubbly little girl into a lovely 

young women. (where have those 21 years gone?!).

Isn't it frustrating when sparkly papers do not photograph well...the shoe, '21', and solid

black matting were all cut from glittered cardstock, and the gorgeous backing paper 

has lots of sparkle on it.

This shoe is a totally glamorous fashion accessory, but I really

can't imagine wearing it for a whole evening of dancing. 😬

Dies - Tonic Studios Sassy Heels; Cuttlebug Olivia

Paper - has been in my stash for 'yonks' - it could be Christina Re?

Peel-off sticker is from my junk stash

I will be back, hopefully tomorrow, with another Christmas card, so until then thank you for visiting.

Stay safe,

Jennifer.  xx

Scarlette is Eleven

 

Hello to all those out in blogland. I hope you are all keeping safe from 

this horrendous virus that has changed the world for countless people.

It is two and a half months since I last put anything on my blog, but

I felt I really must rectify that situation, as today is a very special day for

a very special young lady. Yes, it is our dear granddaughter, Scarlette's

11th birthday today. We really can't believe those 11 years have flown

by so fast. After the summer holidays (she lives in London) she will 

be starting high school😲...she is growing up too fast.

This is the card I made for her...a very 'girly' card for a very 'girly' girl. 

It took many hours, but it was a labour of love. She always opens her

card and gift from us on Skype, and her reaction is worth it. We were

amazed when she panned around her bedroom, as she has all of the 

cards I have made her out on display, as part of her 'decor'.

A close-up of the panel with the sentiment, and the 

number 11.

Another panel where we wrote our personal

message to Scarlette.

More panels.

One final view of the card showing the concertina effect.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

To be updated

Dies - Spellbinders Scalloped Circle; Cheery Lynn Light Lace Deco Border, Exotic Butterfly; X Cut Delicate Flower and Border; Sweet Stamps Flutterby #2; Cuttlebug 2"x2" Hippy Chick

Paper - First Edition 12"x12" Sweet Owl

Sentiment - Lili Of The Valley

Flowers - most from my stash, but some are created by me

On this cold, wintery night I will be off to bed now to snuggle under the doona.

Stay safe

Hugs,

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 

Bird and Holly

I just heard on the radio that there are only 17 days 'til

the big day...EEK, I'm not ready!!

Back in September I demo'd for a major scrapbooking/craft shop

(based in Sydney), at the big 4 day craft show in Newcastle. I have

been their demonstrator for about 5 years. One of the techniques

they asked me to demo, was an oldie (for some people), but a 'goodie'...

I decided to make a few of my Christmas cards using that technique -

peel-off stickers, ultra-fine glitter, and alcohol pens. 

This is one of those cards. 

Cards made this way are always well received by my friends.

A close-up look at the lovely image. Sadly, as always, the incredible

sparkle of the glitter does not show up in the photos.

Image - Peel-off sticker, Starform 8546

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Simple Stories Vintage Christmas-Tis The Season

Glitter - Crafts 4 U Glitter Dust (clear)

Die - Cuttlebug Vintage Corners (very old!) negative

Sentiment - Tim Holtz ideology Quote Chips Christmas

Peel-off border sticker

As I am writing this, I am listening to a recording of 'Carols From Kings'...the soaring voices are the best way I can think of to put one in the Christmas spirit. John and I went to Evensong at Kings (in Cambridge) in 1998, and we both remember that experience with great fondness.

Until next time, thank you for visiting and I hope your Christmas preparations are better advanced than mine.

Hugs, 

Jennifer.  x

Ahoy, Matey!

Wow, these months are flying by at an alarmingly fast rate, aren't they!

I was informed this morning that we have only 15 weeks until

Christmas Day (I thought if I wrote the words in tiny print the time

would go a bit slower...no, you don't think so??...eeeek!).

Once again it is the second Wednesday of  the month, and therefore

that means it is time for a new challenge at Words 2 Craft By.

Our theme this month is such a fun one, inspired by 

National 'Talk Like a Pirate' Day in the US on 19 September...

'Ahoy, Matey!' 

Our challenge theme has popped up at a perfect time, because I am sending the card

to a dear little boy who lived near us when we lived back on our farm. He loves 

pirates! We have known him since he was born...where has that time gone????

A close-up look at this ever-so-cute little pirate 'encouraging' his

rather reluctant puppy to walk the plank.

 I printed the sentiment on my computer. 

One of the many 'piratey' images on the fabulous

scrapbook paper I have had for ages, and never used.

Image - Lili Of The Valley digi Walk The Plank

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Spellbinder Scalloped Squares and Scalloped Circle; Cuttlebug Alphabet Olivia 

Paper - Art Stamps Australia

Sentiment - Computer generated Kristen ITC font

For a chance to win a fab prize of an e-voucher for a retailer of your choice, why not check out my teamies' creations for inspiration, then enter your own interpretation of our challenge at Words 2 Craft By.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x 

Ball Games

Hello out there in blogland. 

I keep saying I will be more regular with my posts, but I

 never seem to have enough hours in the day...

since retirement, I am so disorganised!

Back when we lived on our farm we had many lovely neighbours, 

many of whom remain good friends. One family adopted two

dear little special-needs boys, and recently one of them 

celebrated his 12th birthday. He loves anything to do with

balls of any kind, so this is the card I made for him.

I downloaded the background paper from a free site on the internet,

but muggins here forgot to make note of the site, and try as I might,

I cannot find it again. So, if this is your design, "thank you". I printed

both the colours offered, cut them to size, then covered the join with

a gold border sticker.

The assorted balls are from a sheet of puffy stickers I bought at a 

London tube station many years ago (perhaps W H Smith?). 

For the '12' I used my very old Fancy Pants Cuttlebug dies and

glittered cardstock, and the black rectangle and squares were

cut with Cuttlebug Scalloped Rectangles, and Squares.  

On this Public Holiday Monday afternoon, here in Oz, I must collect the washing off the line as the shadows are lengthening.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.   x

2019

I guess the 2nd day of 2019 is a tad late to wish you all 

"Happy New Year", but I will still do so. I hope that 2019

is a happy, healthy, and successful year which fulfills all your dreams.

This card is for a darling old couple who, until a few months ago, lived just a few

doors away from us here in the retirement village. Unfortunately they both became 

unwell, and were no longer able to care for themselves in their home, 

so sadly they had to move into a nursing home.

Inside the card.

A closer look at the 'date', cut with some very old Cuttlebug dies.

Dies - Cuttlebug 2"x2" Birthday, Hippy Chick

Paper - Unnamed black glitter card; Unnamed gold textured card

Punches - Carl Sparkle (small stars), Carl Spiral; unnamed Star

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  xx

Musical Birthday

Do you ever sometimes feel like a mouse on a treadmill, going at full speed but

getting nowhere, or a little duck on a pond looking oh so calm, but paddling

frantically? Yes??? Well that is exactly how I feel lately. I foolishly thought that

when we moved into a retirement village, I would be able to 'play' in my craft 

room almost all day, every day...well we all know what 'thought' did, don't we!

In a rare break from the speeding treadmill, we recently went to a friend's 80th

birthday party. He loves music, so this is the card I made for him. I got my

design inspiration from a card I saw on Pinterest about 12 months ago.

The music paper is quite a luscious cream and gold. I bought it many years ago, 

but, like so many 'paper tragics' I could not cut into it...I have a collection of 

gorgeous papers that could rival any store, but I have come to the 

conclusion that I MUST be brave and start using it.

Inside the card. I love that music die, and have used it many times.

My head is hanging very low, as I bought the 'Happy Birthday' die about

two years ago, and I'm pretty sure this is the first time I have used it.

ME BAD!!

Dies - Memory Box Grand Happy Birthday Script, Virtuoso Music; Cuttlebug (2"x2") 

Music Notes: Crafts4U Stitched  Square; Spellbinder Scalloped Square

Challenges I would like to enter

Aud Sentiments #202 - 'Masculine + A Sentiment'

Seize The Birthday - 'Anything Goes' (must be a birthday)

I must rush off and prepare some lunch for John, as he plays billiards each Friday afternoon with a couple of other residents here at the village club house.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

First Foamiran Flowers

After seeing lots of beautiful flowers made with foamiran on the internet, 

I decided to acquire some for myself and see what I could create with it. 

This card is to congratulate a beautiful young lady (we have 

known her since she was a little girl) and her fiance, 

on the occasion of their engagement.

The 2 large roses on the left and the small apricot open one on the left are my

very first attempts using Foamiran. They are nowhere near the standard of 

ones I have seen on pinterest, youtube and many blogs, but if I practice

a lot I hope to improve. The foliage and doily are cut with my lovely

new dies, with which I treated myself just before Christmas.

I coloured the white foamiran with various distress inks.

The small rose at the top was made from some tiny scraps of foamiran.

Edit I must apologise for the hot glue strings on the rose...I did not 

see them until I was about to hit 'publish'.

I used a tiny 'Congratulations' peel-off sticker from my huge collection. Lovely

Maddy began piano lessons from John when she was a little girl, and continued

weekly lessons until John became ill in 2015. That is why I included some 

 'music' paper on the card. Maddy is now a very proficient pianist and 

has visited us since we moved from our farm.

Challenges I would like to enter

As You Like It - 'Favourite Die, & Why' I have many favourite dies, but the Spellbinder Rose Creations would have to be #1, as it is so versatile, cuts natural looking petals, and cuts cleanly.

Cardz 4 Galz #63 - 'Anything But Square'

Crafty Friends #75 - 'New Beginnings'

Daisy Chain #15 - 'Something New'

Die-Cut Divas - 'Do or Use Something New'

Fab 'n' Funky #377 - 'Girly'

Fussy and Fancy #203 - 'Distress It'

My Time To Craft #362 - 'Something New'

Paper - Bella Wedding Adore

Dies - Cuttlebug Hearts; Spellbinder Rose Creations; Sweet Stamps Daisy Centre Medallion; Elizabeth Craft Curvy Leaves; Die-Namites Budding Branch 

Flowers - White Foamiran, coloured with various distress inks; stamens, cream rose and tiny apricot rose are from my junk stash

Lace and peel-off sticker are from my junk stash

I hope you have all recovered from the festive season, and are getting back 'into the swing' of regular life. I am finding it very difficult to believe that January will soon be over.

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

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Clockwork

Here in Australia we have just a short time left in 2017. Except for the few

highs, this has been a year that I will be glad to see end.

The card I have to show you tonight is the one I made for our solicitor who has

guided us through the complicated legal processes of John's medical negligence

case. I thought it was appropriate to post it on my blog tonight, even though

while it features a clock, it is not actually a New Year card.

The card is quite large in order to accommodate the large die-cut, which I bought

several months ago. I felt the rather hefty price was justified because the die-cut

could be cut down into smaller pieces if  required.

Inside the card has a large area in which we wrote our personal message.

The decorative corners were among the first dies I ever bought, and also

among the first purchases I ever made on eBay.

The "Thank You" die was also on the card in my previous post.

I really should use it more often as it is a good size, and has

the appearance of a handwritten font.

A closer look at the embossing detail. I used about five different

embossing powders, applied unevenly, to try to create the look 

of rust on old metal.

Challenges I would like to enter

Die Cuttin' Divas #349 - 'Thank You'

Dies - Kaisercraft Vintage Clocks; Cuttlebug With Gratitude, Vintage Corners

Assorted embossing powders

It was my birthday 2 days ago (67...Yikes...HOW DID THAT HAPPEN??????), and after all the years of working on New Year's Eve, first as a nurse, then for many years as an entertainer, staying up to see in a new year has lost its attraction for me, so I am going to bed as soon as I finish this blog post. I am particularly exhausted because I have been on my feet all day at the Fort. I leave home at 7.30am and do not get home until about 6pm, with about 3 hours of that time driving there and back. We have been extremely busy for several weeks since the school holidays began, and while it is very interesting being a tour guide for people from all over the world, it can be quite exhausting. It is especially so with many days lately in the high 30sC to low 40sC. (I have never been a summer person).

For those of you who are going to stay up to welcome in 2018, I hope you have a safe and very much fun evening.

Hugs,

Jennifer. x