Bad Kitty!

This little kitty isn't the only one around here who is bad...

MY BAD!! Again I haven't been keeping up to date on my blog.

Subsequently it is time for another challenge at Words 2 Craft By, 

and our quote this month is an interesting one by Benjamin, aged 11...

"I'm an angel at Christmas time, but the rest of the year I'm the real me".

Are there any parents out there who could identify that quote with

their little 'angels'?

I didn't have any images of angel/naughty children, but I did have this 

irresistible kitty digi stamp.

This is another digi stamp, trimmed with deckle-edged scissors.

How could you be cross when kitty puts on such a sad face.

Our kitty looks at us exactly the same way, when he knows

he has done something naughty (and it works every time!).

Image - Whimsy Love Me Anyway digital stamp

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Doodlebug Design Inc. Home For The Holidays

Sentiment - Digital freebie by Bizzy Bec Greetings North Pole (thank you Bec)

Gems are from my junk stash

For the chance to win a fabulous prize, pop over to Words 2 Craft By, check out the great inspiration by my teamies, then enter your own creation.

I hope your Christmas preparations are all going to plan...not long to go now!

Hugs,

Jennifer.  xx

Little Robot

Hi all. 

Although John and I don't celebrate Halloween, I hope 

those of you who do so, had a lot of fun yesterday.

When we used to live on our farm, we regularly baby-sat a

sweet little guy called Russell from when he was only a few 

months old. It is hard to believe that he turned 6 yesterday!

The embossing folder is in a set of 4, and co-ordinates with a Cricut

cartridge. There are another 4 vertical 'images' on the folder, but I 

removed them so the panel would fit on the card. I stamped the

'Happy Birthday' using my new hinged stamper, which I 

LOVE!!  I re-inked and over-stamped 4 times to 

achieve the lovely crisp, dark words.

The cute little robot is a digi stamp, and I coloured him with 

Promarkers.

Inside our card for Russell.

A close up of the inside panel.

Challenges I would like to enter

Challenge Up Your Life #78 - 'Die Cuts and/or Punches'

Crafty Friends #69 - 'Cute'

Dream Valley #166 - 'Birthdays'

Image - Un-named freebie digi on Pinterest

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Un-named clear stamp set from $2 store

Greeting inside card - computer generated (can't remember the font)

Dies - Memory Box Mini Gears; Cuttlebug Olivia

Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug Robotz

Paper - DCWV stack The Generation Tech 

Must be off now to feed my kitty, water my little garden, and then prepare dinner so until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Baby

A few days before Christmas our vet gave birth to her first baby...

a girl, so yesterday I made this card to welcome little Olivia.

Concentrating on creating is a pleasant distraction to help  

me deal with the pain.

Of course, the card had to have an animal on it, although I am pretty sure

our vet will not have to treat any giraffes in our little beach side town.

This oh-so-cute giraffe is a freebie digital stamp by Artesanato, and I

coloured her very softly with Promarkers.

My flower arrangement is very sparkly IRL with Star Dust Stickles, 

but unfortunately the camera has not picked up the dazzle.

I completely covered the title die-cut with the Star Dust Stickles, and for

some reason the camera has picked up its sparkle.

The inside of the card co-ordinates with the front. I took this photo after the

sun had gone down, so that is why it is not as bright as the previous photos.

Challenges I would like to enter 

A Gem of a Challenge #185 - 'Celebrate Something New'

CCC Digi Creations #65 - 'Use Die-cuts and/or Punches' WINNER

Crafty Friends #49 - 'New Beginnings'

Crafty Purple Frog - 'New Beginnings'

Daisy Chain #4 - 'Add Some Sparkle' 

Do-Al(l) Kreatives #1 - 'Something New'

Nordsalten Hobbyklubb #153 - 'Baby'

Simply Create Too #123 - 'New Beginnings'

Image - Artesanato (Freebie digital stamp)

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Forever Friends New Arrival

Dies - Spellbinder Classic Oval, Scalloped Oval, Classic Circle, Scalloped Circle; Cheery Lynn Flourish Leaf Strip; Marianne LR0217 (Baby); EZ Cut 50046 (Stars)

Stickles - Ranger Star Dust

Flowers, pearl stems and lace are from my junk stash.

After several days of near average temperatures (but with high humidity), we are bracing ourselves again for a major heat-wave here in Australia, so I guess I will be staying indoors with the air conditioning on, and hopefully doing some more crafting,

Until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs,

Jennifer x

Presents For You

Wow, we really are in 'countdown mode' aren't we...so much to do

and so little time...18 days til the 'big day'! Thank goodness I 

finished my cards a while back, and have posted them all.

Because I had to post so many of my cards, I made quite a few of them

DL sized, so as to reduce the cost of postage. This is one of those.

A closer look at the cute little bear pretending that he is Santa,

delivering his presents.

I designed the inside of my card to match the front.

Image - Sharon Armstrong's Free digi Stamps (2011 Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine)

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Hobby Fun Co

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Circles and Ovals

Punch - Martha Stewart PATP Aspen Snowflakes

Embossing - Unknown brand folder

Stickles - Star Dust

Challenges

Brown Sugar #123 - 'Winter'

Crafts 4 Eternity #205 - 'Winter'

Craft Your Passion #242 - 'Christmas Presents'

Di's Digi Designs - 'Christmas'

Fan-tastic Tuesday #64 - 'Let's See Some Embossing'

Robyn's Fetish #241 - 'Christmas Cards'

Through The Purple Haze #71 - 'Use A Sentiment'

Thank you for visiting, and until next time..."happy crafting".

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Baby Teddy and Friend

I think a few of us have been having trouble with our computers and/or Mr Blogger,

judging by various comments on blogs. Last Wednesday, 26/11/14, I posted a card

which had been in my 'drafts' since 14/11/14. However, try as I might, the post

 insisted on publishing showing that date, not that of last Wednesday 26/11/14. 

That card is here.

Please don't throw anything at me, but I am feeling rather pleased with myself....

thanks to quite a few very late nights, I have finished 40 of my 41 Christmas

cards (the last one is for my darling John), and also my long annual letters to

friends. I posted the overseas ones 10 days ago, and the Aussie ones last 

Thursday. Even I am in shock!!

This pair of cuties was such fun to colour, and because the card

is for a 5 year old child, I wanted it to be bright and cheerful.

Those 3 little bells actually jingle when the card is shaken, and the resin

snowman is a button with the shank cut off.

This image is one of the first digital stamps I ever bought (if not

the first).

The inside of my card matches the front. The gold snowflake is from

a long garland of Christmas tree decorations I bought about 10 years ago.

Image - Whimsy digital stamp Baby's First Christmas

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Lili of the Valley

Paper - Doodlebug

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Circles

Punch - Making Memories Corner Rounder

Stickles - Ranger Star Dust

Bells, gold cord, gems, gold snowflake, snowman button are all from my junk stash

Challenges

A Creative Romance - 'Something Old' (digi stamp, gold cord, bells, gems)

Animal Friends #20 - 'It's Cold' TOP 3

Creative Card Crew #75 - 'Stripes'

Delightful - 'It's A Kid's World' TOP 3

Di's Digi Designs - 'For or With a Child'

Divas By Design - 'Jingle Bells'

Fairy Tale #105 - 'Animal Christmas'

Paper Creator's Crafts #33 - 'All About Christmas'

Penny's Paper Crafty #205 - 'Anything Goes'

Top Tip Tuesday - 'Buttons or Bows'

In a few days I will show you another of my Christmas cards, so until then, thank you for visiting, stay safe, and try not to get too stressed.

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Carolling Bunnies

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and received lots of crafty

goodies to add to your stash.

I was tidying up my folders in my computer after the mad frenzy to finish

my Christmas cards, when I found the image of this card that I had

 forgotten to post on my blog. 

I adore this cute image, so although Christmas is 'done and dusted' for another year,

I couldn't file these piccies away, unseen.

Aren't these little guys the cutest. They really appear to be putting their little

hearts into their carolling 100%. I used Promarkers to colour them.

Inside my card matches the front.

Challenges

Animal Friends #9 - 'Anything Goes' (must have animal)

An Oldie But A Goodie - 'Tartan or Check'

Christmas At Sweet Stampin' - 'Let It Snow'

Creative Belli #185 - 'Christmas'

Digi Haven - 'Red and Green'

Passion For Promarkers #228 - 'Include A Sentiment'

Rhedd and Rosie #22 - 'Let It Snow'

Songbird #30 - 'Merry Christmas Everybody'

Top Tip Tuesday - 'Christmas'

Image - Eureka Stamps digi Carolling Bunnies

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Computer Generated, Balsam font

Paper - Unknown (have had it for ages)

Dies - Spellbinders; Cheery Lynn; Memory Box

Punch - Negatives from Martha Stewart PATP Snowflakes

Liquid Pearls

I guess we are on the countdown now for New Year's Eve celebrations. John and I will spend the evening at Fort Scratchley, where I am a guide. The Fort sits atop a headland at the entrance to Newcastle (Australia) Harbour, and the huge fireworks display is in the park directly below, so we have probably the best view possible.

Thank you for visiting, 

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Happy Christmas To All!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY FELLOW CRAFTERS!

I hope you all finished all your preparations, and can finally enjoy the visit by

the fat guy in the red suit. We will be leaving shortly to have Christmas tea with

friends at their home. After the awful heat wave temperatures this past week it is

wonderful to have a cooler day and rain. I hope that those of you in the UK are 

safe from what looks like terrible stormy weather and floods.

Yesterday morning, both John and I had appointments with our doctor to renew

our regular prescriptions (oh the joys of getting old!!!), then had planned to do all the Christmas

grocery shopping. However, while with his doctor, John mentioned some 'spots' I have

been nagging him for ages to have checked. As a result, the Doctor said 3 had to come

off immediately. Poor John resembles Frankenstein with his stitches. To top off a

very 'bumpy' year, we now have to wait on biopsy results for a week.

I made my card for John 2 days ago, and really enjoyed doing so. Stepping away from

my usual styles, I created a vintage-look card. It is quite large (A5). 

A closer look at Santa and his reindeer flying over the country side.

Inside my card.

Challenges

Animal Friends #9 - 'Anything Goes' (must have animal)

Creative Belli #185 - 'Christmas'

Christmas At Sweet Stampin' - 'Let It Snow'

Christmas Card #4 - 'Make It Masculine'

Top Tip Tuesday #117 - 'Christmas'

Image - Raising Our Kids freebie digi (Untitled)

Colouring - Promarkers 

Paper - First Edition Christmas Village

Sentiment - Computer generated Minster 1 font

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Decorative Labels Eight; Tim Holtz Snowflakes; Reindeer (brand unknown - bought as 'used' at stamp camp)

Ink for sponging - T.H. Distress Ink Antique Linen

Like Santa, I must 'fly' - the rain is now quite heavy, but I have to go outside and put all our furred and feathered babies to bed (John cannot help because some of his stitches are in his foot).

Many of you will just be waking to begin Christmas Day celebrations, and for some the special day is almost ended, so wherever you are I hope you have had, are having, or are about to have a wonderful Christmas!

I hope to visit your lovely blogs in the next few days, so until then,

Big Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Santa Mouse

This time next week it will be Christmas Day. I hope you are all better prepared

than I am. Due to a family crisis, I did not finish making all my cards, so unfortunately 

quite a few friends were sent shop-bought cards with an IOU for my annual letter.

Penny's Paper Crafty has another challenge for you, and our theme this week gives

you lots of scope to unlease your creativity...it is

'YOUR FAVOURITE TECHNIQUE OR COLOUR; OR BOTH'

We have two generous, and very regular sponsors this week. A big thank you to

and

I was asked to choose a StampArt Design digi stamp by Kathryne, and 

although Kathryne has so many lovely images to choose from, I did not

hesitate to ask for the incredibly adorable Santa Mouse. He is a new 

image in Kathryne's catalogue.

 My favourite technique is colouring with my Promarkers, and at Christmastime

my favourite colours are the very traditional red and green, sometimes with a

touch of gold, although not at this time. Because Santa Mouse is sooooooo

cute, I decided to create a CAS card, so as to not distract from him.

A close up look at little Santa Mouse, coloured of course, with Promarkers.

I could gaze at that face all day, and don't you just love that over-sized santa suit!

Inside my card.

In the past few months, I bought quite a few Christmas themed dies, lovely papers

and lots of gorgeous stamps, but circumstances meant that I did not get a chance to 

use them...won't I have fun in 2014 trying them all out. They may be the incentive I

need to get an earlier start on Christmas next year. I did however get to use the 

Memory Box Merry Christmas die for this card. The negatives for 'Christmas'

can be used on another card. I affixed a gem in the die-cut 'i'.

Challenge  

Without Words - 'Nearest and Dearest' (Top 3)

Image - StampArt Design by Kathryne digi Santa Mouse

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Computer generated Balsam font

Die - Memory Box Merry Christmas

Punch - Martha Stewart (negatives from Snowflakes PATP punch)

Gem from my junk stash

For a chance to win great prizes, why not visit Penny's Paper Crafty and enter our challenge.

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Elvira

Here we are, another week closer to a visit by the big fella in the red suit.

Q. Why is Christmas Day like any day in the office?

A. Because you do all the work, and the big guy in the suit gets all the credit!!

Ha Ha, got you with that one!

Enough of my frivolity...I hope you all had a great weekend, no matter what 

corner of the world you craft in. Also, I would like to welcome my newest 

followers, Jackie, and Vicky, who is a 'newbie' to blogland. 

I hope you both enjoy your visits.

It's Wednesday, therefore it's time for another challenge at 

Penny's Paper Crafty, where our theme this time is

'FRAME A FEMALE'

You can use any method to create a frame, be it masking, a die-cut, 

embellishments, etc, but it must be an obvious frame.

Thank you to our 2 generous sponsors this week, who are

and

I was asked to use a Sassy Studio Designs digi image, Elvira, and 

Oriental Frame, a digi frame by Delicious Doodles.

I decided to create a fairly CAS card, and thought the shapes of the

image and frame dictated a DL sized card.

I coloured Elvira and Oriental Frame with 

my Promarkers.

Inside my card is fairly simple with plenty of space for a handwritten

message. I bought this lovely lattice style ribbon at a $2 shop last week.

Challenge

Crafty Cardmakers #105 - 'Clean and Simple'

Images - Sassy Studio Designs digi Elvira; Delicious Doodles digi Oriental Frame

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Spellbinders Plain and Scalloped Long Rectangles; Cheery Lynn Celebrate

Lattice ribbon from from junk stash

For a chance to win great prizes, why not visit Penny's Paper Crafty and enter our 'Frame A Female' challenge.

Until next time, happy crafting.

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Snow White Pin-up

Hello to my crafting friends, and a big welcome and "thank you" to my latest follower, Moira. I hope you enjoy your visits here.

Gosh, what is the global weather up to?? For several weeks, we have been on evacuation stand-by, because of the terrifying bushfires, then last night, we had a wild storm with torrential rain and hail. That is the first rain we have had in several months...very welcome indeed, although rather frightening the way it arrived. This is not to mention the awful storm that parts of Europe and the UK are experiencing. We have seen some footage on TV, and it looks fearsome. I send my well wishes, and hope you are all safe.

It's Wednesday again, and you all know what that means...it's time for

another challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty, and this week our theme is

'ADD BLACK OR BLING'

We are lucky to have 2 of our regular, and very generous sponsors

and

The DT was given images to use, and I chose Sassy Studio Design's

digi stamp, Snow White Pin-up.

Tucked away in my stamp cupboard was one of the first stamps I

ever bought...these 3 apples in a row. I thought they would be perfect

for Snow White. I coloured them with my Promarkers, and wow,

were they fiddly to cut out! My bling are the gems in the top corners.

They are really sparkly, but that did not show up in all the photos I took.

A closer look at at this rather saucy-looking Snow White,

coloured as usual with my Promarkers.

Inside my card. The corner embellishments are off-cuts

from the border die-cut.

Challenges

Paper Pretties Wednesday #282 - 'Bold Is The New Black'
I Love Promarkers #192 - 'Anything Goes'
Rhedd and Rosie's #18 - 'Anything Goes'
Die Cuttin' Divas #139 - 'Anything Goes'
LEJ Designs #77 - 'Anything Goes'

Image - Sassy Studio Design digi Snow White Pin-up
Colouring - Promarkers
Stamps - Print Blocks Apples; Un-named Happy Birthday (in a bargain bin)
Border Die - Spellbinders (can't remember the name-several years old)
Gems from my junk stash

For a chance to win great prizes, why not visit Penny's Paper Crafty and enter our 'Add Black or Bling' challenge.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,
Hugs,
Jennifer. x

Buttons and Bows

My goodness, we are experiencing horrendous weather conditions here

in New South Wales, Australia. We are having record-breaking high

temperatures, gale force winds, very low humidity, and serious drought...

all combining to create perfect conditions for massive bushfires, of which 

there are almost 100, with 30+ out-of-control. There are several of these

quite close to us, and we have been on evacuation stand-by for about a 

week. Needless to say, we have been sleeping very lightly each night. The

men and women in the Rural Fire Service are incredible...they say they don't

want to be called heroes, but that is what they are. Almost all are volunteers. 

A newspaper photo of exhausted volunteers asleep on the road has gone 

viral on the internet. We desperately need rain, and plenty of it, to 

end this dreadful nightmare.

Onto more pleasant things...

At Penny's Paper Crafty, it is time for another challenge, and this

week our theme is one I am sure you will love -

'BUTTONS AND BOWS'

Our 2 wonderful sponsors this week are

and

We were all given some lovely images to play with, and I was

thrilled to choose Inky Impressions' Kitty With Bow.

It is amazing how so many colours are perfectly matched IRL, but look

completely different when photographed. The kitty's bow, and the Bazzill

Bling cardstock are a perfect example of this. The button is a metal one

which I sponged with white ink, then embossed it with Alabaster Opals.

I punched the butterflies from scraps of the Bazzill Bling, then sprinkled

them lightly with the Alabaster Opals before heating them. I added tiny

dots of Liquid Pearls to their 'bodies'.

A closer look at this too, too cute kitty. I have had those

silver skeleton leaves for an embarrassingly long time.

Inside my card.

This is the first time I have used the lovely Martha Stewart PATP Pansies

punch. I have been wanting it for about a year, and when I saw it on sale

recently, it had to come home with me.

Challenges

Deep Ocean #63 - 'Button It Up'
Passion For Promarkers #221 - 'Give Me A 'P' '
(Pussycat, Pink, Pearls, Pansies Punch, Promarkers)
Rhedd and Rosie's #18 - 'Anything Goes'
Ruby's Rainbow #65 - 'Button It'

Image - Inky Impressions digi Kitty With Bow

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Inky Impressions digi

Dies - Spellbinders Floral Ovals; Cheery Lynn Wreath Strip;

Punches - Martha Stewart PATP Pansies, Butterfly Trio

Embossing - Opals Alabaster

Flowers, Skeleton Leaves, Button, Bow, Liquid Pearls, 

         Silver Corner Peel-off stickers are all from my junk stash

For a chance to win great prizes, why not visit Penny's Paper Crafty and enter our 'Buttons and Bows' challenge.

Until next time,
Hugs,
Jennifer. x