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

"No Spring Skips Its Turn"

It is the second Wednesday of the month and that means it is time

for a new challenge at Words 2 Craft By.

Our quote this month is by Hal Borland...

"No winter lasts forever, no spring skips its turn,

April is a promise that May is bound to keep,

and we know it."

You may interpret it any way you wish.

                    

What could represent Spring more than a daffodil, a chick, and a bunny?

Perhaps lots of beautiful flowers?!?!?

I have had this sweet image for several years, and am ashamed to

admit that it has never seen ink before now. 

I have so many lovely stamps, dies, and papers that have never

been used, so with (I hope) unwavering conviction, I will attempt

to resist all temptation to buy any more supplies until I 

employ much of my existing collection.

Last year I popped into a Spotlight store for some new bathroom linen, but

it would have been rude of me don't you think, to not pay a visit to the art 

and craft department also. There was a huge box of 12x12 paper that

was discontinued, priced at 10 cents/sheet! Much of it was 'yucky'  

or damaged, but on the very bottom there were 6 sheets of this 

lovely, heavy quality paper, all in pristine condition. I

bought all 6 sheets, plus several other very pretty 

sheets. Who doesn't love a bargain!

A close up look at my floral arrangement. I made the large orange

flower from white crepe paper which I coloured with Distress Inks.

The mushrooms are cut with dies from a set of 3, and coloured

with Promarkers.

Challenges I would like to enter

2 Crafty Critter Crazies #13 - 'Anything Goes' (must have a critter)  WINNER

A Gem Of A Challenge #216 - 'Female Birthday with a Sentiment'

Always Fun #53 - 'Anything Goes'

Crafty Animals #13 - 'Anything Goes'

Crazy #272 - 'Spring'

Fab 'n' Funky #389 - 'Cute Critters'

Fussy and Fancy #209 - 'Add A Sentiment'

Incy Wincy Designs - 'Nature and All of Its Beauty'

Make My Monday #68 - 'Things With Wings'

Papercraft Business #5 - 'Anything Goes' (option 'Birthday')  WINNER

Passion For Promarkers #439 - 'Blooming Days'  TOP 5

Rubber Buggy - 'Springtime and/or Flowers'  TOP 3

Sunny Day Crafting #15 - 'Bunnies'

The Sisterhood of Crafters - 'Bunny Rabbits'

Wednesday's Creative Inspirations - 'Springtime'

Image - Stampavie - Penny Johnson Clear Stamp Sweet Spring (retired, I think)

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - American Craft Blossom Boulevard

Dies - Spellbinder Labels Eight and Decorative Labels Eight, Classic and Scalloped Circles; Cheery Lynn Flourish Leaf Strip, Olive Branches, Faerie Mushrooms; Marianne LR 0192 

Scissors - Fiskars Deckle Edged

Flowers, pearl sprays, peel-off stickers are all from my junk stash.

For a chance to win a fab prize, pop over to Words 2 Craft By, check out my teamies lovely creations, and enter your own project which is inspired by Hal Borland's quote.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer. xx

Roses and Holly

Several years ago I made a Christmas card very similar to this one, and because the 

recipient loved it so much (I did too), I decided to make another like it.

The white cardstock is pure white, so I do not know why it looks so discoloured

in these photos. The gorgeous image, designed by Lucy Cromwell, is actually

a gift tag from a pack of 10, which I bought many years ago.

Inside the card is very simply decorated with the lovely 

Joy Crafts corner die.

A close up look at the ribbon roses and die-cut foliage.

Challenges I would like to enter

Always Fun #44 - 'Anything Goes'

Christmas Crafts All Year Round - 'Use Mainly Red'

Dragonfly Dreams - 'Flowers'

Image - Lucy Cromwell gift tag

Dies - Joy Craft 6002/0135; Cheery Lynn Wreath Strip, Holly Flourish

Embossing Folder - Fiskars Texture Plate Snowflakes 

Roses and Pearl - from my junk stash

That's all for today, except that I have some very exciting news to tell you next week, so stay tuned. Until then, happy crafting,
Hugs,
Jennifer. x

My Favourite Poinsettia

Did I give you a fright when you saw my sticker, wishing you "Merry Christmas"?

No, it's not that time yet, but the way this year is flashing by, that fellow in 

the red suit will be paying us a visit before some of us are ready.

You are probably thinking "haven't I seen this card before"...well you have seen ones

very similar. However, I have 'tweaked' the design ever so slightly.

When we moved into the Retirement Village last year, we of course met lots of new

people, some of whom have become friends, so in order to save some time, I 

thought I would partly CASE some of my previous Christmas cards, as I

now have many more cards to make than previously, and no-one 

here in the Village has seen my cards before..

A closer look at my poinsettia...have I told you before that I LOVE this die and

matching embossing folder. In their original state, the die-cuts of each layer  

have a slightly elongated shape, so after I emboss each layer, I cut each 

 petal off, then hot-glue them individually to a small circle of scrap 

card. My poinsettia then has a more evenly round shape.

Inside my card...Have I also told you I LOVE this border punch set?

Challenges I would like to enter

4 Crafty Chicks #345 - 'Flowers'

ABC Christmas - 'H is for Home, I is for Informal' (I chose Informal)

Christmas Cards All Year Round - 'Flowers'

Merry Monday #242 - 'Twigs or Branches'  HONOURABLE MENTION

My Time To Craft #343 - 'No Designer Papers'

That's Crafty - 'Foliage and Flowers'

The Holly and the Ivy #3 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'  WINNER

Dies - Tim Holtz (Sizzix) Tattered Poinsettia; Memory Box Woodland Branch; Spellbinder Classic Square; 

Embossing - Tim Holtz (Sizzix) Texture Fades Textured Poinsettia Pattern Set; Fiskars Texture Plate Snowflakes

Ink - Distress Ink Walnut Stain, Gathered Twigs

Punch - Martha Stewart PATP Aspen Snowflakes

Peel-off sticker, gold cord, gold beads are all from my junk stash

As Daylight Saving finished last weekend, the shadows of course are lengthening quite early so I had better get all the washing off the line. 

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

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Pearl-ex Cars

 

Welcome to my newest follower, Pamellia, whose blog contains 

some incredible inspiration...I recommend a peek.

During the first half of the year, I always have lots of birthday cards to 

make, and much to my dismay, most of them are for men. Many of you

say that you struggle with these cards, and believe me, I am no 

different. Why can't men enjoy pretty pink cards, with cute 

images and lots of flowers, lace and pearls?

Mmmmm, well this is the best I can come up with for a fellow guide 

at the Fort. It was his birthday yesterday.

I have more peel-off stickers than I will ever use in my life-time, a

result of my fascination with them in my early days of card-making.

When recently transferring my crafting studio from an old converted

stable to our spare bedroom, I found lots of stash and equipment I

had not, in some cases, seen or used for years. One of these items

was a Pearl-Express Watercolour Palette, so I used it to paint these

outline peel-off stickers, giving the cars a wonderful metallic finish.

Inside my card continues the mechanical theme.

This is the first time I have used this fabulous die-cut, and I

attached it to the left-hand panel inside the card.

Dies - Spellbinders Classic Ovals and Rectangles; Marianne LR0198 (cars); Memory Box Mini Gears

Colouring - ArtQuest Pearl-Express Watercolour Palette

Scissors - Fiskars Deckle Edge

Peel-off stickers from my junk stash

Challenges

Crafty Sentiment Designs - 'Birthday'

Sparkles Monthly #65 - 'One For The Boys'

I really must have a shower, my 3rd for the day as the weather continues to be so dreadfully hot and humid, then try to get some sleep. I am on duty at the Fort all day tomorrow, and we will be incredibly busy, as there is a cruise ship coming into Newcastle for the day. On 'cruise ship days' it is not unusual to have 600-1000 people visit the Fort.

Until next time, "happy crafting",

Hugs

Jennifer. x

Parisian Glass Beads and Poinsettia

Yep, you're seeing correctly.........

I have yet again made another card with a poinsettia...

and there are more to come!

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had made lots of bead sprays, in many

colours, sizes and types of beads while watching television. These gorgeous

beads are not plastic...they are glass, and are beautiful the way they catch and

refract light. I bought them almost 4 years ago, when I was in Paris, France. 

The little shop in a narrow side street where I bought them, just contained 

beads and beading accesories...It was like a wonderland. Due to the rather 

hefty price tag, I only bought a small packet, but now wish I had bought 

lots more, not only red, but some of the countless other colours available.

Inside my card. Once again, the colours of my card did not photograph 'true'.

The white of the front and inside of the card are actually bright white, and

the red cardstock inside the card is the same as on the front. 

Dies - Spellbinders Poinsettia; Memory Box Holly Branch; Cheery Lynn Wreath Strip

Punches - Martha Stewart PATP Aspen Snowflake, and Branch

Embossing - Fiskars Texture Plates Snowflakes

Sparklet - Kaisercraft

Parisian beads, gold cord, peel-off sticker from my junk stash

Challenge

D.R.S. Designs #149 - 'Inspired By Colour'

Beccy's Place - 'A Month of Holiday Cards' (Embossing)

I'm off to do some washing...the first items I peg out will probably be dry before I peg the last item in the basket. It is 39oC here, with a strong, hot westerly wind. John and I are not looking forward to tomorrow, as the weekend temps are predicted to be 41-43oC!!! Even if we were able to stay indoors with the airconditioner working, those temps make life uncomfortable. However, tomorrow we are booked to perform for 4 hours for a Christmas party, OUTDOORS in the middle of a golf course, where there is no shade!!!! To make that even worse, the party begins at 5pm, so we will have to begin setting up all our equipment at 3pm!!! Oh dear, I feel a case of heatstroke and severe sunburn coming on. What is really scary is the fact that we still have 10 days of spring left, before summer really 'hits'. We have given up on our poor garden.

Now that I have had a good whinge, I will say "bye for now", and "happy crafting".

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Another Parchment Rose

July is the busiest month for me for birthdays, and yesterday another friend, Janise,

celebrated hers. Last year, she saw, and fell in love with the parchment roses and

their colours on a card I had made for my spot on a GDT, so keeping with

my policy of never creating 2 cards the same, I made her a card that is

slightly similar, with one of my parchment roses as a feature.

Although I have used this design before, I think this time I may have been influenced 

by a lovely Chistmas card by Debby, that she posted recently. Are you impressed

by how clever I am, managing to 'blend out' the embossing on the lower layer.....

DON'T BE.....my darling Cuttlebug finally 'gave up the ghost'. After many years

of faithful service, she actually exploded!!!, with one of the side panels flying off,

and hitting a wall about a metre away. She has needed some coaxing for about

18 months, so I did buy a Big Shot then, 'just in case', but that has remained 

in its packaging until this week. I have not used it yet, so will have 

some adjusting to do (which plates for different dies, etc).

A closer look at my handmade parchment rose.

I left the inside of my card quite plain, just sponging the

edges, and adding a gold peel-off sticker.

Challenges :-

Crafty Catz #240 - Hot Summer and/or Hot Colours'

Ladybug Crafts - 'Summer Flowers'

Penny's Paper Crafty #187 - 'Anything Goes'

Sweet Stamps - 'Parchment' WINNER

Tok Bobok #14 - 'Monochrome'

Tuesday Throwdown #205 - 'Handmade Flowers'

Dies - Spellbinders Rose Creations; Marianne Branch LR 0150 and Leaves LR 0192

Embossing - Fiskars plate Swirls

Inks - Sponging layers-unnamed (have had it for yonks); sponging on leaves-Versacube 

          Sage; on rose-Tim Holtz DIs (a mixture of Spiced Marigold and Fired Brick)

Peel-off stickers and Flowersoft from my junk stash  

It is so cold here this morning, I am off to do some housework (Urgggg) in an effort to warm myself. Moving is so painful though, as I have once again done some damage to my back (lower back this time).

Thank you for visiting, and until next time,

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Summer Fun

I know I have been a bad blogger lately...it is a month since I have had a card to show

you. There have been lots of happenings in my personal life, including a short stay in

hospital. I thought I may have yet another fractured vertabrae (4 previous ones due

to osteoporosis), but I just tore a rib off my spine. I shouldn't say "just", as the pain

was excruciating, even when only trying to take a deep breath. 

Enough of my miseries, and onto happier things!!!

It is the first Thursday of the month, and that means we have a new challenge for you

at Crafty Little Fairies. Here in Australia, it is bitterly cold, mid-winter, but where

many of you live it is mid-summer, so our theme is

'SUMMER FUN'

We once again have five lovely generous sponsors, so a big "thank you"

to each of them, who are -

Please remember that to be eligible for one of these wonderful prizes you 

MUST use a stamped or digi image, not a pre-coloured topper 

or a printed image from a CD.

I really enjoyed making this card, as it brought back childhood memories of days

spent at the beach, collecting seashells and sending messages in bottles. Yes, 

if I knew in advance a trip to the coast was planned, I would write a little

note, seal it in a bottle, and when we arrived, I would 'launch' it into the 

waves, and dream of someone in a faraway land receiving it.

The white embossed layer was created using my old Fiskars Waves Texture Plate. 

If I spritz the cardstock before using the Texture Plates in my Cuttlebug, 

the result is a very deep, crisp embossing effect.

The sweet image is a digi stamp which I won in a challange in May. 

This lovely button has been in my button jar for more than 3 years, waiting for

the 'right' card. I bought it at a craft show at Farnborough, during my 

last trip to London. Unfortunately, I only bought one.

Inside my card is fairly simple, with a large die-cut area on which

a personal message can be written.

CHALLENGES

4 Crafty Chicks #201 - 'Nautical'

CCC Digi Creations #4 - 'Digi/Embossing Wet or Dry'

CCEE1427 - 'Red, White and Blue'

City Crafter #218 - 'Let's Go To The Beach'

Corrosive #202 - 'Favourite Colouring Medium' (Promarkers)

Crazy 4 Challenges - 'Summer/Winter'

Di's Digi Designs - 'Lots of Layers'

Fussy and Fancy #117 - 'Summertime'

Open Minded #13 - 'Patriotic Colours'

Party Time Tuesdays #179 - 'Red, White and Blue'

Penny's Paper Crafty #184 - 'Buttons, Butterflies or Bows'

Polka Doodles #26 - 'Red, White or Blue'

Pumpkin Spice #77 - 'Red, White and Blue'

Sentimental Sundays #213 - 'Summer'

Sparkles Monthly #57 - 'At The Beach/Summer Fun'

Sweet Stampin' - 'Summer Fun'

Time Out #9 - 'Fun In The Sun'

Image - Sparkle 'N' Sprinkle Time In A Bottle

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiments - Lili of the Valley

Dies - Spellbinders Scalloped Square

Embossing - Fiskars Texture Plate Waves

Button - Meiflower

Twine - Papermania

Shell from my junk stash

For a chance to win a lovely prize, and see some wonderful projects by my fellow teamies, why not visit us at Crafty Little Fairies, then enter our 'Summer Fun' challenge. We would love to see your creations.

Hopefully I will have another card to show you soon, so until then, "thank you" for visiting.

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Popcorn and Friend

My goodness, how quickly do the months go by!! It is the first Thursday of June,

and therefore it is time for a new challenge at Crafty Little Fairies. Our theme 

this month is usually always a popular one.......

'SPOTS AND STRIPES'

To qualify for a prize, you must use spots and stripes on your project, and as

always, you must use a stamped or digi image, not a pre-coloured 'topper'.

Speaking of prizes, this month we have five wonderful sponsors...

Thank you so much to each of  them.

You may remember that recently I 'catalogued' all my dies, so (it's a bit like

renovating a house - once you start, you can't stop) I am doing the same

with my embarrassingly vast collection of stamps. What is even more 

embarrassing, is that I am finding so many that have never seen ink!!

This is one of them. I don't know why, as it is so cute.

It is a very large image, so I had to cut around it by hand. I then used Stickles

to hide my 'wonky' cutting. (I think I should have done the same with the 

matting layer, cut with deckle-edged scissors).

A closer look at Popcorn, and his little friend, coloured with Promarkers.

Inside my card. Those pretty leaves are part of a prize I won recently in a 

challenge. I think I will be using them a lot more.

Challenges

A Little Bit Crafty - 'Child's Play'

Crafty Cardmakers and More #116 - 'Use 1 or More Flourishes'

Cute Card Thursday #324 - 'Perfectly Pink'

Little Claire's #45 - 'Spots and Stripes' WINNER

Paper Crafting Journey - 'Perfect in Pink' 

Penny's Paper Crafty #180 - 'Bears or Mice' WINNER

Image - Crafter's Companion Popcorn the Bear Birthday Hugs

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - First Edition Spring Drop

Dies - Spellbinders Standard and Scalloped Circles, Decorative Labels Eight, Floral Flourishes, Pendants Eyelets; Sweet Stamps Elegant Leaves; Cheery Lynn Mini Dimentional Butterflies

Punch - EK Success Retro Flower (Lge); Carl Vinca (Mini)

Scissors - Fiskars Deckle Edge

Stickles - Star Dust

Ink for Sponging - Versacube Petal Pink

Ribbon and pink flower bead are from my junk stash

For a chance to win one of our lovely sponsors' prizes, why not visit us at Crafty Little Fairies, have a look at the beautiful creations by my fairy teamies, and enter our 'Spots and Stripes' challenge.

Until next time, thank you for looking,

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Icy Snowflakes

Good morning to all my crafting friends out there. Although we are into autumn

here, the weather is still hot! Today we are expecting yet another day of 

mid 30s, with high humidity. My card today makes me long for some

 lovely chilly weather, and to dream of a white Christmas.

I am continuing my attempt to build up a collection of Christmas cards to avoid

that awful panic I inflict on myself in late November and most of December.

This card was fairly quick to produce, so I may make a few more with 

slight variations...besides, I have always loved simple blue 

and white colour schemes with lots of sparkle. 

Inside the card, I have left a large space on which to write

 my personal greetings.

Challenges

Brown Sugar #84 - 'Make It Sparkle'

Crimbo Crackers #59 - 'Blue and White'

Christmas Card #15 - CAS

Milk Coffee - 'Emboss It (wet or dry)'

Moving Along With The Times - 'Moody Blues'

Dies - Cuttlebug Snowflake; Sullivans Scalloped Border

Punch - Carl Snowflake

Embossing Folder - Snowflakes (brand unknown)

Scissors - Fiskars Small Scallops

Scorpal

Ink - Tim Holtz D.I. Tumbled Glass

Kindyglitz - Crystalina

Holographic peel-off sticker

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

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x