Pink Christmas Poinsettia

 

Good morning. It is no secret that among my favourite flowers

(particulary at Christmas) are poinsettias. 

With a break away from the traditional red poinsettias, I have created

a white one, softly blushed with pink. I used a snowflake stencil and

pearlised texture paste on the pale pink (script) DSP, then when dry,

 I hand-stitched around the edges. I also lightly sponged some of the

foliage die-cuts with the texture paste.

A close up look at my poinsettia that I so lightly sponged

with Victorian Velvet dye ink. The centre is a silver Sparklet.

I painted the wooden snowflake with 2 coats of the

pearlised texture paste.

Challenges I would like to enter.

Creations in pink #56 - 'Anything Goes in MAINLY pink'

My Time To Craft Christmas #57 - 'Poinsettias'

The Holly and the Ivy Christmas #137 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'

Merry Little Christmas #49 - 'Anything Christmas Goes'

Dies - Tim Holtz Holiday Greens, Tattered Poinsettia; Spellbinders Lacey Circles

SPD - Kaisercraft Silver Bells

Sentiment - Art Stamps Australia

Twine for stitching is actually recycled from bags of horse feed, soaked, washed and ironed. My friend Diane sent me a large 'stash'. When we lived on our farm and had horses, I always saved the twine.

Texture Paste - Crafts 4 U

Sparklet, tinsel and wooden snowflake are from my junk stash

I must be off to pretend I am a domestic goddess 😁😁, so until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

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 😁😁😄.

 

Zoooom, Zoooom!

 

Good afternoon.

In the first few months of each year I need quite a few cards

for men and boys. However, because I have been unwell,

this year I have had to make fairly simple, quick cards.

For this card I used a topper from a collection of male toppers 

I have had for ages, and had completely forgotten about. 

This is the sentiment on the insert of my card.

Challenges I would like to Enter

My Time To Craft #503 - 'Birthday'

Topper - Craft Creations Ltd

Sentiments - Stampin' Up Hello, and Happiest Birthday Wishes

Dies - Spellbinders Classic Squares; Stampin' Up Art Gallery

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

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

 

Barefoot Bunny

It's the second Wednesday of the month, and of course that means we have

a new challenge for you at Words 2 Craft By. 

Our quote this month is by Leslie Grumutter...

"My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more

running barefoot through the grass"

I couldn't agree more with this philosophy.

Perhaps I should have made the title of this post 'Barefoot paw Bunny'. 

He looks so happy, doesn't he? The flowers were die-cut with a 'strip' die, their 

centres coloured with Promarkers, shaped, then attached to the card. I mixed

Platinum and yellow Stickles together for the centres. I applied yellow 

Stickles to the 'Celebrate' die-cut with a toothpick.

I have had this ever-so-cute digi image for ages, and have never used 

it...yes, I have given myself a slap on the wrist for being so 

neglectful. As always I have used my Promarkers 

to colour the little bunny and daffodils.

Image - Lili Of The Valley Spring Bunny With Daffodils

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Rectangles; Cheery Lynn Celebrate, Medium Rose Strip

Paper - First Edition Hideaway 12x12 stack

For a chance to win a great prize pop over to Words 2 Craft By, check out my teamies fab creations, then enter your own interpretation of our lovely quote.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

Olde World Santa

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, are now preparing for

New Year celebrations. Although Christmas is over for another year,

I have a few Christmas cards in my 'drafts', and this is one of those.

I am on the design team for Fat Cats Card Corner, and this card was actually made 

to demonstrate a new die which was in the latest batch of dies that Kaaren sent me.

The jolly old Santa is from a 12x12 paper stack I have had for several

years. He reminds me so much of the Christmas cards from my 

childhood, many, many years.

Dies - Find It Trading-Janine's Art Floral Hexagon; Marianne Creatables Design Folding Lace Square (foliage); Cheery Lynn Holly Leaves; Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia

Paper - First Edition Christmas Village

Image - First Edition Christmas Village

Ink (sponging) - Distress Inks Aged Mahogany; Peeled Paint

Gold brads are from my junk stash

I must go and take the washing off the clothesline, then begin pampering myself in a vain attempt to look glamerous...John is taking me out to dinner as it is my birthday today.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  xx

Christmas Fairy

This is my second post today, the earlier one being my explanation

for my long absence from blogging.

There are less than 100 days until Christmas, so I hope you have all

made a start on your Christmas cards. If not, why not join us each week

for our challenges at Winter Wonderland. That way you can get a 

'head-start' on your festive cards. This week, our theme is

'A CHRISTMAS FAIRY'

and our lovely sponsor this week is 

I have quite a few Christmas Angel stamps, but no Christmas Fairy

stamps, so hope this fairy looks as if she has made a special 

effort to dress for a visit at Christmas.

The lovely paper was in a large stack of Christmas paper that I bought

so many years ago, I have forgotten where, or what brand it is. To 'dress

it up' a bit, I put a dot of Stickles Star Dust in the centre of each snowflake.

I cut out the sentiment by hand, and to hide my 'wonky' cutting, I  

added a narrow border of Stickles around the edge.

I also added lots of Stickles to my fairy's dress, wand and wings, but

as is the usual case, it does not show up in the photos. My lovely fairy

is from a set of children's stamps I bought many years ago.

Inside my card is quite simple. That beautiful 'lace' border was created

with a Martha Stewart punch I had forgotten I had. I must use it

more often, as it is so pretty. I thought it matched the edge 

of my fairy's dress quite well.

Challenges I would like to enter

Christmas Card #41 - 'Anything Goes'

Fantastic Tuesday #103 - 'Anything Goes with a Twist-Bright and Colourful'

Jingle Belles - 'Something From Our Stash, at Least One Year Old' (stamp, paper and border punch are many years old)

Shopping Our Stash #219 - 'Outa This World' (stamp, paper and border punch are many years old)

Image - rubber stamp (un-named children's set)

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Unknown brand, very old, from my junk stash

Sentiment - Crafts 4 Eternity (Digi) 

Die - Joy Craft Snowflake; Spellbinders Butterfly Circles

Punch - Martha Stewart Doily Lace Edge

Gems are from my junk stash

For some great inspiration, pop over to the Winter Wonderland challenge,

and have a look at my teamies' gorgeous projects. We would then love 

you to enter your Christmas Fairy creation, for a chance 

to win a fab prize.

Hugs

Jennifer. x

How Charming

Our UK visitors left yesterday to return home, and although I am completely

exhausted, it was very sad to see them go. I shall miss them immensely.

Naturally, I did not get a chance to 'play' in my craft room, except for 

fulfilling my DT commitments......almost.......

I managed to load this card onto the Winter Wonderland blog for our 'How

Charming' challenge (which ended last Thursday), but I did not get a

chance to post it into my blog until today.

Michelle from MR Designs sponsored the challenge, and she kindly

gave us a generous selection of her lovely digital papers 

to use on our creations.

I cut the sentiment out by hand, and sponged the edges with Vintage Photo 

distress ink. Without reinking the sponge, I folded it over and pulled the 

stark white twine through it several times, thus using the remainder of  

the distress ink. The holly charm had raised edges, so I applied 

copper and red Stickles to it.

The flowers were cut with punches, sponged with Distress ink,

shaped with McGill tools, and when assembled, I applied

copper Stickles to the centres.

My deer was made with four layers of cardstock and one of shimmery

copper paper. To create even more dimension, I mounted him with

tiny pieces of 3D tape.

Inside the card. 

Paper - MR Designs digital

Sentiment - Crafts 4 Eternity

Dies - Spellbinders Classic Ovals; Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Holiday Greens; Marianne Deer LR 0179

Punches - EK Success Retro Flowers Large and Medium

Charm and twine are from my junk stash

Challenges I Would like To Enter

ABC - 'O Is For Open' (Anything Goes) 

A Gem Of A Challenge #150 - 'Animals or Birds'

Animal Friends #29 - 'At The Zoo'

Brown Sugar # 157 - 'Animals'

Crafting For All Seasons #106 - 'Christmas In July'

Through The Purple Haze - 'Flowers'

'Art' is a wonderful journey, don't you think. For me personally I feel I am

evolving all the time. Why I say this is because even just a year ago, I 

would have intensely disliked this style of card, and I have always 

'hated' the colour combination of blue and brown...now I love it...

along with shabby chic, distressed, and mixed media.

Now I have finished my self "psycho-analysis", I will come back to 

earth with a bump to attend to the massive pile of linen that is 

lurking in my laundry. 

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs

Jennifer. x

Star Gazing

Well folks, here we are again with only 167 days until Christmas, and to

help you prepare your cards for the festive season we have a new

challenge for you at Winter Wonderland. Our theme this week is

'HAVE YOURSELF A BEARY CHRISTMAS'

Thank you to this week's wonderful sponsor......

For the past few years I have been saving pretty cards given to us by

friends, with a plan to recycle them. However, each Christmas the 

collection expands, when I stash them away and forget about them. 

When I saw the theme of our challenge for this week I remembered 

that I had a large card with cute polar bears in the enormous collection.

Silly muggins me forgot to photograph the card before I chopped it up.

I cut the image down considerably, so as to showcase the bears, layered

the image on mauve pearlised cardstock (same as the base card), then 

created a border of silvery clear border stickers that I have had in my

junk stash forever. The sentiment is recycled from the same card.

A closer look at the little cuties. I was not happy with how I joined the

border stickers at the corners, so I covered them with tiny negatives

from a Martha Stewart PATP punch.

Inside the card is very plain.

Image - Recycled Christmas card

Sentiment - Recycled Christmas card

Paper - Kaisercraft Christmas Spirit

Dies - Spellbinders Scalloped Rectangle; Impression Obsession Mini Snowflakes; 

Punches - Martha Stewart PATP Aspen Snowflakes; Carl Snowflake

Glitter - Ranger Stickles Star Dust

Peel-off Border Sticker is from my junk stash

For a chance to win a lovely prize, and be inspired by my teamies gorgeous creations, pop over to Winter Wonderland for our 'Have a Beary Christmas' challenge.

Thank you for visiting, and until next time,

Hugs

Jennifer. x

More Than One Fold

Hello to all. I hope you are all well and happy. I am in shock to think 

that next week we will be in the second half of the year...do you all 

feel the same way too?

While on the subject of time rushing by, we once again have a new 

challenge for you at Winter Wonderland, and our theme this week is

'MORE THAN ONE FOLD'

Offering a prize of a $12 voucher is our lovely sponsor,

I have made a centre step card for my DT creation.

The holly berries on my design paper were white, so to add a little interest,

I coloured them red with my Promarkers.

I think Snowy, by Penny Black is one of the sweetest snowman images

available. I decided to make him even more irresistible by adhering some 

tiny holly leaves and berries to his hat, as well as glossy accents to

his buttons.

A side-on view.

Inside the card, with more miniature holly leaves and berries.

Challenges I would like to enter

Crafting By Design - 'Get Ready For Christmas'

Fab 'n' Funky #265 - 'Christmas'

Fussy and Fancy #142 - 'Fancy Folds'

Image - Penny Black Snowy

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Cre8ive

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Rectangles; Memory Box Mini Holly Leaves; Couture Creations Mistletoe

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Stickles - Ranger Star Dust

For some inspiration by my talented teamies, pop over to Winter Wonderland and check out their lovely creations, then enter your own Christmas project. 

That's all from me, so until next time, thank you for visiting and "happy crafting".

Hugs

Jennifer. x

Raining Blossoms

Welcome, and thank you to my newest followers...I hope you

enjoy your visits to my blog.

Last month several of my friends celebrated their birthdays, and this is the

card I made for one of them. 

It is a rather simple card, with just a few die-cuts and some tiny pearls

as the embellishments. The card base is made from the most beautiful

butterfly embossed and pearlised cardstock that I have had in my 

collection for several years. 

Isn't this the most adorable little bear, with his friend 

and pretty umbrella.

Inside the card with a large area on which I wrote my personal

message. IRL the green spotted paper is exactly the same 

colour as the umbrella...just a few shades paler, but 

unfortunately it looks different in the photo.

Image - Penny Black Raining Daisies

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Circles; Cheery Lynn Sentiment Frame #1; Joy Crafts 6002/0356

Paper - Franchville Pastel Basics

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Pearls are from my junk stash

I must go to bed and try to sleep as I am on duty at the Fort for the next three days. Tomorrow, Sunday, is one of my usual rostered days, then on Monday it will be one of our four main 'big days' of the year (a public holiday). The Fort is normally closed on Tuesdays, but next Tuesday we will be open because one of Australia's former Prime Ministers will be visiting.

"Happy crafting"

Hugs,

Jennifer. x