Father's Day

Oh dear, it has been more than 3 months since I last touched my blog, and

I guess I have no excuse other than to say that 'life' has intruded (at most 

times) more than I would like......

John's medical negligence claim is taking up so much time; I have taken

on extra responsibilities at the Fort; and I am having investigations for an

episode of significant chest pain. The one very bright spot has been a

wonderful visit last month by our son, Craig and little granddaughter,
 Scarlette, who both live in London.

Here in Australia, last Sunday was Father's Day and this is the card I made for John.
It was so much fun 'playing' in my craft room again, and I have also managed to
make a few Christmas cards (I have yet to photograph them).

I bought the background script stamp at a retreat several years ago, and I am
ashamed to admit that this is it's first inking.

Shame on me again....this stamp is part of a set that I bought at 'Ally Pally'

in London many years ago, and it also has never seen ink before.

Inside the rather large card.

I love this die-cut from a pair of dies I have had for ages (and used often).

Stamps - Car from an un-named set of clear stamps for men 

             - Background Script from Darkroom Door

Inks - Versafine Vintage Sepia; Versacube Sand

Dies - Marianne LR 0198; Memory Box Mini Gears

Sentiment inside card - computer generated

Greeting sticker is from my massive collection

Challenges I would like to enter

Cardz 4 Guys - 'Something Beginning With 'D' ' (Dies)

Crafty Cardmakers #195 - 'Monochrome'

Die Cut Divas - 'Masculine/Men/Boys' 

Dream Valley #162 - 'Stamp or Digi Image' 

The Crafter's Cafe #180 - 'Boys Will Be Boys'

I really hope I can continue card making and blogging regularly again, and also visit your blogs to 'check out' your fab creations.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Soft Rose

Hello fellow crafters. For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, I hope you are

enjoying what appears to be wonderful summer weather. However, for those of us

'down under' we are experiencing unusually cold weather, and in most parts of 

Australia, we are in desperate need of rain. We are just a few weeks away from 

spring, and already we look as if it is at the end of a very dry summer.

Enough of my 'whinging'...here is a very spring-like rose for you.

This card is for a lady who will be celebrating her 70th birthday very soon, but as

she doesn't know I have a blog it is safe to show you now.

I love making my parchment roses...no two ever turn out the same, although by using the 

same combination of inks if I make a batch, they will have 'tonal' co-ordination. For

this card, I just used one large rose. The various foliage die-cuts were 

sponged with 'Sage' green ink.

As usual, I have made the inside of the card to match the design on the front.

Challenges

Crafty Creations #269 - 'Flower Power'

In The Pink #50 - 'Anything Goes'

Penny's Paper Crafty #190 - 'Anything Goes'

Sentimental Sundays #219 - 'Decorate Your Card Inside and Out'

Dies - Spellbinders Floral Ovals, Rose Creations; Cuttlebug Heritage Corners; 

Cheery Lynn Mini Dimensional Butterflies, Olive Branches, 

Marianne LR 0106, LR 0107, LR 0116, LR 0192 

Ink for sponging - Versacube Sage

Peel-off sticker from my stash

Whatever you have planned, I hope you all have a great weekend, so until next time I wish you "happy crafting", and 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

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

Double Twisted Easel

Hello to all of you out there in blogland. Are you all enjoying your Easter break? 

Please be safe if you are going away for the weekend.

In the next 3 weeks, I have a number friends celebrating birthdays, but I cannot

show you the cards I have made for them, as they all read my blog regularly. 

However, I was 'tidying up' my photo files on my computer this morning 

when I found photos of the card I made 2 years ago for a friend. It

was my 1st attempt at a double-twisted easel card. 

Barb loves blue and yellow.

The card is A5 size. The tiny butterfly in the L.H. corner was made using

3 clear peel-off stickers, folded in half and adhered to each other.

I stamped and punched some leaves for the background of this flower.

A small flower image coloured with Promarkers.

Challenges

Corrosive #197 - 'Pretty Pastels'

Crafting with Dragonflies #24 - 'Mother's Day/Special Lady'

Crafty Catz #227 - 'B is for...' (blue, border die, bling, Barb)

Fab 'N' Funky #212 - 'Flower Power'

Moving Along With The Times - 'A Card Containing the Word  "Happy" '

Paper Crafting Journey - 'For That Special Lady'

Ruby's Rainbow #77 - 'Ladies'

Stamps - Kaisercraft; Stampendous Leaves

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Grace Taylor Vintage Collection

Dies - Spellbinders Grand 12" Classic Lace Border, Scalloped Squares and Circles, Lacey Circles;

Punches - McGill Leaf; EK Success Scalloped Corner; Carl

Sentiment - Computer generated

Card Candi - Craftworks Cards

Ink for sponging - Versacube Baby Blue

Ribbon, flowers, gems, peel-off stickers are all from my junk stash

I hope the Easter bunny is generous for you, and you are having beautiful weather.

Until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Poinsettia, Holly and Pine

So far, my New Year's resolution is still 'on track'. It was to create Christmas 

cards throughout the year so I could avoid the awful frenzied panic I 

experience each November and December.

Just before Christmas last year, I succumbed to temptation and bought the

Memory Box Grand Merry Christmas die. I knew it would be so 

versatile, not only in its original form, but the negative pieces

 from the word 'Christmas' could be used on other cards.

I love the Spellbinders Poinsettia die, and have used it many times. 

Inside my card, which has a large area on which to write a

personal Christmas message.

Challenges

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 'Paper Flowers' HONOURABLE MENTION

Christmas Card #17 - 'Anything Goes'

Winter Wonderland - 'Paint The Town Red' TOP 3

Dies - Spellbinders Poinsettia; Impression Obsession Pine Branch; Memory Box Grand Merry Christmas; Cheery Lynn Holly Strip; Marianne Poinsettia;

Punches - Martha Stewart Branch; EK Success Scalloped Corner

Ink for sponging - Versacube Gold

Tiny flower gems are from my junk stash

Thank you for visiting, and until next time, "Happy Crafting",

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

Coffee Anyone???

How quickly Wednesdays come around...and you know what that means...

it is time for another challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty. 

Our theme this week is nice and easy

'LOTS OF LAYERS'

We are lucky to have 3 sponsors this week, and they are all generous regulars:-

I was asked to use a Bugaboo digi image, so I chose JJ Coffee To Go.

For something different, my card is a 'tent-fold'.

Don't you just love the sentiment that comes with the image.

Coloured, as usual, with my Promarkers. This size coffee would still not

be large enough for a lady I used to work with...she rarely ate anything,

preferring to drink endless mugs of coffee. It probably comes as no surprise 

that she was thinner than the lady above, and......let's just say......

hyperactive, and as 'jumpy' as a kitten in a Doberman kennel!

Inside my card, decorated to match the front.

Challenges I would like to enter :-

Dream Valley #69 - 'Humour'

Joanna Sheen - 'Food For Thought'

Digi Makeover #113 - 'Lots of Layers'

Quirky Crafts #22 - 'Make Us Laugh'

Clear It Out -'Smores/ stash-brown and white'

(flowers,brads,DP - years+++)

Corrosive #186 - 'Tic Tac Toe'

(flowers,sentiment,layers/DP,image,sentiment)

Hobbycutz #23 - 'Inspired By A Song or Music'

Ooh La La Creations #142 - 'Food and/or Drink'

(One more Cup of Coffee-Bob Dylan; Coffee Club-Spandau Ballet)

Our Daily Bread Designs #177 - 'Inspired By A Song or Music'

(One More Cup of Coffee-Bob Dylan; Coffee Club-Spandau Ballet)

Image - Bugaboo

Colouring - Promarkers

Papers - Grace Taylor Vintage Collection

Dies - Spellbinders

Ink for sponging - Versacube

Flowers, Gems and brad from my junk stash

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

our 'Lots of Layers' challenge.

I will be back tomorrow with another card, so until then "Happy Crafting"

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

On Tiptoe

At Crafty Little Fairies we have a new challenge, and this week it is the Pink Fairies

who ask you to create something that is

'PRETTY IN PINK' 

We know you will love this theme, so we can't wait to see your entries.

Our lovely sponsor is

****Don't forget, we have a new address at Crafty Little Fairies.****

It is http://craftylittlefairieschallenge.blogspot.com 

I have used one of LOTV's older stamps, Fairies-Tip Toe. It is such a sweet image

and judging by the number I times I still see it in blogland, it remains very popular.

A closer look at little Tip Toe. She was so easy to colour. 

Inside my card co-ordinates with the front.

Challenges:

Tammy's Scrappin' Corner #83 - 'Inspired By A Song Title'

(Tip Toe Through The Tulips)

A Creative Romance - 'Fairytale or Winged Creature'
The Squirrel and the Fox #54 - 'Things With Wings'

Stampin for the Weekend - 'Fairies and Fantasy'
Ooh La La Creations #140 - 'F is for......' (fairy)

Paper Creator's Crafts #15 - 'Dies or Punches'

Addicted To Stamps #66 - 'Create A Scene'

The Ribbon Girls - 'Make It Sparkly'
Papertake Weekly - 'Two By Two'
(2 butterflies, 2 fences)

Card Mania #31 - 'Pastel Colours'

(ribbon inside card)
That Craft Place - 'Colour Pink'

Lexi's Creations #100 - 'Pink'

Image - LOTV Fairies - Tip Toe
Colouring - Promarkers
Paper - DCWV Nana's Nursery
Dies - Spellbinders, Marianne, Cheery Lynn, Memory Box
Punch - Carl
Ink (sponging) - Versacube, Momento
Ribbon and seed-beads from my junk stash

For a chance to win a lovely prize, why not visit us at Crafty Little Fairies, and enter our 'Pretty In Pink' challenge.

"Happy Crafting",
Hugs,
Jennifer. x

New Baby

Hello all my crafting friends, and a great big welcome to my newest

followers, Gloria and Darcy. I hope you enjoy your visits here.

Can you believe it is October!!!

This post was supposed to be published last night, but for some reason

we had no access to the internet. I stayed up until almost midnight in the

hope that connections would be restored, but to no avail. I had to leave

home early this morning (I am a volunteer guide at an historic Fort), had

no access to the internet all day, and did not get home until late this evening. 

'Better late than never', as the old saying goes......

we have a new challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty. Our theme this 

week is one that will really appeal to most of you :-

'ANYTHING GOES'

Our generous sponsors this week are:-

and 

I was asked to use a Penny Blossom digi image, so I chose Penny New Baby.

A closer look at Penny. The sentiment was stamped with a lovely soft blue ink

that is exactly the same shade as the blue Bazzill I used for layering. I then

embossed it with clear EP, so I don't know why it looks quite grey???

Inside my card co-ordinates with the front. I did not use any embellishments,

as I thought that the DP was fairly busy, and was decoration enough.

Challenges

Here Come The Boys #61 -Baby Boy

That Craft Place - Baby

Image - Penny Blossom Penny New Baby

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Grace Taylor Hopscotch

Dies - Spellbinders

Sentiment - Unknown (clear set from 'cheap' shop)

Ink - Versacube Baby Blue

Buttons and twine from my junk stash

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

Thank you for visiting, and until next time

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Love Grows

Hello all my crafting friends,

At Lili's Little Fairies we have another challenge for you, and our theme this week is

'VINTAGE/SHABBY CHIC'

Thank you to our lovely sponsor this week:-

Vintage/shabby chic is definitely a style that is way out of my comfort zone, so my card is about as vintaged and shabbyised (I think I have invented a new word) as I will ever do.

I used the darling LOTV stamp, Love Grows. This one has been around for a fair while, but is still popular, and hasn't lost any of its appeal. I sponged all the edges with Versacolour Umber, then used my Tim Holtz distressing tool on all the edges. I also sponged the greeting tags and twine with the Umber.

I have coloured Love Grows with Promarkers, and used what I felt were vintage colours.

Inside my card matches the front.

A side-on view.

Challenges 

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - 'Bingo' (ribbon or lace, die-cut,tag)

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #233  'Autumn Colours'

Perfect Sentiments #87 - 'The Great Outdoors'

Papercrafting Journey - 'Distressed/Vintage'

Ruby's Rainbow #60 - 'Vintage'

Stamp - Lili Of The Valley Love Grows

Colouring - Promarkers

Ink - Versacube Umber

Paper - Kaisercraft

Dies - Spellbinders Classic Square, Labels One

Greeting tags - Lili Of The Valley Set 24 Sentiment Tags

Lace, pearls, twine from my junk stash

We would love to see what you create for our Vintage/Shabby Chic Challenge at Lili's Little Fairies.

Until next time, happy crafting,

Hugs,

Jennifer. x