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

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

 

Bunnies In Love

 

Good evening to all out there in 'Blogland'. This is my first post for 2021.

We can only hope that this year will be kinder to everyone.

Do you find that while some months contain no, or very few occasions

for which we need to make a card, other months are totally opposite?

Other than for Christmas, January and July are the months where I

need to frantically have my creative juices not flowing, but gushing.😰

I have a couple of very long-term friendships, and this card is for dear friends'

50th wedding anniversary. I met Lyn in 1967 when she started working at

an office where I had worked for a year. We became firm friends, and in

mid 1969, we both commenced our nursing training, during which she met

her lovely John. Graduating in 1972, Lyn and I went our separate ways 

geographically, but have always maintained our close friendship, 

via emails, snail-mail, and phone calls. 

This oh-so-cute image was a doddle to colour, as always with my

Promarkers. I really am so naughty, as I have had this stamp for

several years, and this is the first time it has seen ink!

Challenges I would like to enter:-

2 Crafty Critter Crazies #46 - 'Anything Goes' (must have animal/s)

Addicted To Stamps and More #396 - 'Make Your Mark'

Crafty Calendar - 'Make It Cute'

Cute Card Thursday #668 - 'Anything Goes'

The Library #74 - 'Pick A Previous Book' (Watership Down)

Image - Lili Of The Valley Bunnies In Love (unmounted rubber)

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Spellbinder Classic and Scalloped Rectangles

Punch - Martha Stewart P.A.T.P. set. 

Gold foil board - Crafter's Choice

I will be back in a few days with another of the many cards, I have created since New Year. Also, next week I can tell you some exciting news.

Until then, thank you for visiting,

Hugs (socially distanced of course),

Jennifer.  xx

Snowflake

 

Good evening fellow bloggers. 

I'm afraid my blogging came to a screeching halt a week ago, 

as I injured my back, just lifting a bag of groceries out of the car. 

I have spent the past week 'zonked out' on a cocktail of 

painkillers. Today is my first day back on my feet,

albeit with regular 'horizontal' breaks.

This is a rather quick and easy card to make, so I made a couple of them

in different colours. I attached a piece of JAC D.S. tape to a piece of

bright blue cardstock, then after peeling off the top protective layer,

I attached the die-cut snowflake & greeting onto the very sticky

card front. 

I always save the tiny snowflakes left from punching the corners

of my Christmas card inserts, so I placed several of them around

the large snowflake.  I smothered the exposed 'sticky' with glitter,

but as usual, the wonderful sparkle does not show up. To finish 

off, I cut a silver layer, then adhered this to a white card blank.

A closer look at the greetings die-cut.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Allsorts #603/4 - 'Sparkle and Shine'

My Time To Craft #447 - 'Monochromatic'  TOP 3

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

Christmas Craft Creations - 'Winter Blues' (must show challenge logo)

Dies - Kaisercraft Fancy Snowflake (bought at a post Christmas sale for $2!!!!!!); Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Holiday Words:Script

   Punch - Martha Stewart Aspen Snowflake

   Glitter - Tim Holtz Rock Candy Dry Glitter

Wow, only 3 more sleeps til the big day. I hope all your preparations are progressing well, although Christmas 2020 will be like no other. Recently, here in Australia, most restrictions had been lifted, but sadly last week Covid once again reared its very ugly head and is rapidly spreading again, so Christmas, like in so many other places globally, has been basically 'cancelled'.

I am way overdue for my 'horizontal' break (for the night), so I will close.

Stay safe,

Hugs (safely distanced of course),

Jennifer.  x

Birthday Poppies

 

.

Hello fellow bloggers.

This time I am having a break from Christmas cards, and

have a birthday card instead. Strangely though I seem to

still be in Christmas colours mode.

The lovely image is a digital stamp, and is 

coloured as always with Promarkers.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Beccy's Place - 'Anything Goes' (must use Beccy's image)

Crafty Catz #530 - 'Anything Goes' (with optional twist 'Say it with Flowers)

Passion For Promarkers #572 - 'Add A Sentiment'

The Crafter's Cafe #256 - 'Anything Goes'

Image - Beccy's Place Poppies free digital stamp (many thanks Beccy)

Colouring - Promarkers

Die - Spellbinders Floral Ovals

Punch - Martha Stewart Butterfly Trio

Sentiment - Timeless Images Vertical Happy Birthday

I hope you are all staying safe in these uncertain times, and your Christmas preparations are progressing well.

Until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

Kitties

Over the past few weeks we have had a worrying time (in addition to this

horrific pandemic), as our darling kitty, who is 15 1/2, has had several trips

to our vet, including for a general anaesthetic. Our wonderful vet has

 discovered what is wrong, and has prescribed treatments which will

most likely have to continue for the remainder of Cookie's life.

This is the card I have made for Cookie to give to Karleigha when he has to visit

her again later this week (along with a box of choccies). As well as Cookie writing

a "thank you" in the card, he will include an apology for being such a naughty boy

for her. "Co-operation" is not a word in Cookie's dictionary!! At home he is the 

cutest little boy, but for sweet, gentle Karleigha he morphs into a hissing,

growling, biting Cujo...he is so embarrassing!

This is a much loved stamp I have had and used for many years.

As always I have used Promarkers to colour the cute image.

A closer look at my hand-made paper flowers, and their tiny

bead centres.

I have only had the set of cling stamps that this greeting is from

for a few months, but it is becoming a favourite.

Challenges I would like to enter

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - 'Anything Goes' (must include a critter)

Alphabet - ' 'E' is for earth-bound animals'

Crafty Animals #39 - 'Anything Goes' (must include an animal) TOP PICK

Creations in Pink #22 - 'Anything Goes mainly in pink'

Cute Card Thursday #637 - 'Anything Goes'

Penny Black and More - 'Favourite Stamps'

Show Us Your Pussies #55 - 'Furrything Goes'

Sweet Stampers #44 - 'Animals/Birds'

Image - All Night Media 418G

Colouring - Promarkers

Die Cuts - Marianne LR 0116; Cheery Lynn Medium Rose, & Flourish Leaf Strip; Spellbinders Scalloped Rectangle (Long) (cut several times to reduce size and shape)

Punches - Martha Stewart Butterfly Trio; EK Success Scalloped Corner 

Sentiment - Stampin' Up Peaceful Moments (cling set)

Ink (sponging) - Distress Ink Spun Sugar, & Peeled Paint

Tiny beads are from my junk stash

As I have been writing this post (and earlier) I have been entranced by the music of Beethoven. Since 2001 the ABC Classical Radio Station have held a 'Top 100' each year. Listeners are invited to list their favourite classical music, each year having a different theme (movies, dance, opera, 'swoon' etc., or other famous composers). The ABC then play a 'countdown' over an entire weekend, then release the Top 100 as a boxed set of CDs.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs (virtual of course),

Jennifer.  xx

Santa With His Lamp

Hello fellow crafters. I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas day.

This is the card I made for my husband, John.

In the 'bargain' stores this year there have been some lovely packets of 

inexpensive cards with somewhat retro images. I bought a few packs

of each, and they can be die-cut in different ways to make such 

pretty 'toppers'. This Santa image was part of a fairly large card.

The sentiment here was part of the sentiment on the original card. 

A closer look at my floral and foliage arrangement.

Berry stem, deep red balls and gold twiglets are recycled Christmas decorations.

Mini pine cones are from trees on the farm we lived on until a few years ago. 

I collected heaps of them.

Image - Bought Christmas card

Dies - Tim Holtz Tattered Poinsettia (embossed with matching folder); Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Holiday Greens; Cheery Lynn Cutie Fringe ll; Memory Box Woodland Branch; Spellbinders Classic, and Scalloped Circles

Punch - Martha Stewart Fern

'Snow' - Cadence Icy Snow Paste

Until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs,

Jennifer.  xx

Post Box Bunnies

At the moment I'm like a bus, aren't I...no easel cards for ages, then two in a row!

I made this card for the wonderful couple at our little local Post Office. 

I am sure, without a doubt, we have the happiest P.O. in Australia. 

No matter what the situation, Monica and Russell always have time 

for a laugh, they remember customers' names, and regularly go

'above and beyond' for excellent service.

A close-up of the cutest little bunnies posting their Christmas cards. 

Some of you may wonder why I coloured the post box green?? well...

Monica is from Ireland, and post boxes there are green.

The mini pine cones are from our farm from which we sadly moved almost

four years ago. I made the 'pine branches' from a fringe die twisted around

florists' wire. The red beads are recycled from a strand of Christmas 

decorations, and the 'snowballs' are from an old lap dinner tray.

This is how the card looks when fully opened. The sentiment is 

quite thick, so it was a perfect choice for the 'stopper'.

Image - Lili of the Valley Bunnies Post Box
Colouring - Promarkers
Paper - Kaisercraft (very old)
Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Rectangles; Cheery Lynn Cutie Fringe II; Joy Crafts Snowflakes 6002/2019 & 6002/2018; Marianne Design Tiny's Trees CR 1287
Punch - Martha Stewart Fern
Sentiment - Tim Holtz ideology Christmas
Snow Paste - Cadence Icy Snow Paste
Gold cord, mini pine cones, mini 'snowballs', sequin, berry clusters, and beads are from my junk stash

Challenges I would like to enter
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - 'Critters'
Creative Fingers - 'Anything Goes'
Passion For Promarkers - 'Anything Goes'

Apparently this coming week we are going to experience an unprecedented heat wave. That prediction is pretty scary, because already our spring and the first two weeks of summer have been unbelievably hot. It is only mid-morning, but I am off to close the house up, and turn on the air conditioning.

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

Purple Irises

I know, I know, I am becoming an increasingly bad blogger...I have

so many cards in my 'drafts', and I never seem to catch up. Most of

them have been made for Fat Cats Card Corner, and tonight's 

offering is one of those.

This card was made using a lovely die set by Marianne Creatables Design. It is such

a versatile die set, as you can see in some of my recent posts. The pretty image is

from a sheet of stickers I have had for so many years I had a lovely surprise

when I found them while looking for something else.

I cut two of the sentiment die and adhered them together

so it was a tad more dimensional.

Dies - Marianne Creatables Design Folding Lace Square; Creative Expression Sue Wilson Frames & Tags - Isobel; 

Image - Penny Black Stickeroo

Punch - EK Success Mini Hole

It is now after midnight, so I am off to bed, as I have a very busy week ahead.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  xx

Bunnies In Love

Gosh, can you believe it is already almost halfway through February, and

as it is the second Wednesday of the month it is time for another challenge

at Words 2 Craft By. This month's quote, by A. A. Milne is so sweet...

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh" he whispered. "Yes

Piglet?". "Nothing" said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, "I just wanted

to be sure of you".

How often have we just wanted the reassuring touch of a

loved one's hand? It can mean so much, can't it.

I do not have a Piglet or Pooh image, but have used this pair of little bunnies.  The

butterflies were cut with a punch set, then coloured with Promarkers. I die-cut the 

mushroom border twice and layered them slightly off-set to create a shadow effect.

A closer look at the sentiment tags, one of the butterflies, the 

'shadowed' mushrooms, and the lightly sponged die-cut leaves.

Aren't they the cutest little bunnies in love.

Some of the floral embellishments.

Image - Lili Of The Valley Toadstool For Two

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Joy Crafts 6002/0317 (Mushroom Border); Cheery Lynn Flourish Leaf Strip, Olive Branches; Elizabeth Craft Curvy Leaves 730; Sweet Stamps Daisy Centre Medallion; Crafts 4U Stitched Rectangle

Embossing Folder - Crafters Companion Flower Garden

Inks for sponging - Tim Holtz Distress Inks (various greens)

Sentiment Tags - Lili Of The Valley Sentiment Tags Set 24

Punch - Martha Stewart Butterfly Trio

Flowers are from my junk stash

Challenges I would like to enter

Crafting By Designs - 'Love Is In The Air'

Crafty Sentiments Designs - 'Flowers'

Die Cut Divas - 'Anything Goes, With Love'

Die Cuttin' Divas #407 - 'Love'

Dream Valley #195 - 'Love and Kisses'

I Love Promarkers #377 - 'Anything Goes, with optional die-cut or punch'  TOP 3

Mod Squad - 'Floral'

Passion For Promarkers #480 - 'Something Beginning With 'L' (Leaves, and Love) TOP 5

Penny Black and More - 'Anything Goes, with optional Twist = Tags'

As tomorrow is Valentine's Day, I will give this card to my dear husband of almost 47 years.

For a chance to win a wonderful prize, why not pop over to Words 2 Craft By, check out my teamies great inspiration, then enter your own interpretation of this month's challenge.

Until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs, Jennifer.   xx

Fat Cats

I'll bet the title of my post got your attention! 

I hope I don't disappoint you, but there is not a cat to be found in this post.

However, I do have some exciting news. A few weeks ago, I was invited to

join the design team at Fat Cat's Card Corner, which is an online papercraft

store in Toowoomba, Queensland (Australia). It is owned by a lovely lady, 

Kaaren, who was the demonstrator at one of the first (perhaps the first?) 

card-making retreats I ever attended many, many years ago. She 

regularly exhibits at craft shows all over Australia, and we

often see each other if I go to them.

As the title of her store suggests, Kaaren is an avid lover of kitty cats, as I am 

too, so we often swap tales (pardon the pun) of our feline furrbabys' antics.

Kaaren sent me a lovely package of dies and an embossing folder, and asked

me to design a bunch of cards for her to display at a show in Perth, W.A., 

which was last week. In between rehearsing for several music gigs, and 

extra days at the Fort, I managed to make 6 cards in just over a week, 

so I will show them to you over the next couple of weeks.

This card features the lovely embossing folder Kaaren sent me, plus flowers cut 

from Foamiran with a very versatile set of dies by Sue Wilson.

Some of the Foamiran flowers and leaves, sponged with

pigment inks, and Gelatos.

A closer look at the flowers. 

Kaaren also sent me this Get Well die by Sue Wilson. The tiny

butterflies were cut with a Martha Stewart punch, then softly

coloured with a cotton bud.

NB Foamiran can be cut with a punch, but I strongly advise you 

to place it in the punch with a piece of ordinary copy paper 

underneath it, otherwise it may tear and 'jam' in the punch.

I have a large supply of Foamiran that our son bought for me in the UK. It is .6mm thick, 

but Kaaren at Fat Cat's Card Corner sells Leane Creatief Flower Foam. 

It is .8mm thick, but otherwise is the same as Foamiran.

Dies - Creative Expressions by Sue Wilson Passion Flower, Get Well

Embossing Folder - Creative Expressions by Sue Wilson Heart Strings

Punch - Martha Stewart - Butterfly Trio

Colouring - Faber-Castell Gelato; unnamed yellow pigment ink

Stamens and glitter glue - from my junk stash

Challenges I would like to enter

Creative Craft Cottage #107 - 'Dies and/or Punches'

Pause Dream Enjoy #22 - 'Flowers'

The Paper Shelter #341 - 'Flower Power'  WINNER

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x