Sunset Calm

Once again it is the second Wednesday of the month, so therefore it is time

for a new challenge at Words 2 Craft By. Our quote this month is

"Go Where You Feel Most Alive"

You may interpret this any way you wish.

Personally, I feel most alive when I am alone, but surrounded by 

mother nature, be it flora or fauna.

If you have been reading my blog for several years, you will know that due to

John's serious illness, we had no choice but to sell our farm and move into

a retirement village. 

I miss our farm, and the peace and solitude there more than I could have ever

envisaged. A short walk from the rear of the house, up a wooded hill, took me

to the highest vantage point of our farm, from which I had almost 360o views

into the far distance. Many, many years ago, when we were both young and

strong, we carried a heavy wooden bench seat to the small plateau at the top.

Just a tiny portion of the many magnificent vistas from "my" hill.

On countless late afternoons I would sit there and watch the shadows lengthen

as the sun set, and listen to birds settling down for the night. Also, there would 

often be kangaroos grazing nearby. Almost always, several of my cats would be 

sitting with me, while my horses would graze nearby, sometimes coming up to 

nuzzle me. Sunsets have always had a magical quality for me, and as the golden

light of day faded, I would feel all the tensions of the day disappear with it.

With my card, I have tried to replicate that atmosphere, and I have to admit

that as I have been writing this, the memories have made me a tad teary.

 

Inside my card.

Stamps - Hero Arts Silhouette Grass;  Lavinia (unnamed)
Inks - Versafine Onyx Black; Kaleidacolor Cappuccino Delight (brayered onto gloss cardstock); Distress Ink ?Scattered Straw?
Sentiment peel-off sticker is from my never-decreasing hoard collection


Challenges I would like to enter
Always Fun #62 - 'For A Male/Dad (brother's birthday)
Cards In Envy - "Lets Hear It For The Boys" (brother's birthday)
Crafty Cardmakers #213 - "For A Man/Boy" (brother's birthday)
Get Creative #70 - "Monochromatic"
Retro Rubber #88 - "Anything Goes" (Grass stamp is about 9-10 years old)
Unicorn #33 - "Masculine" (brother's birthday)

For a chance to win a fabulous prize, why not visit Words 2 Craft By, check out the great inspiration by my teamies, then enter your own interpretation of our theme, "Go where you feel most alive".

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

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

Time and Tide

Oh dear, I think I am like a bus...nothing for ages, then two 

posts in one evening.

After several gloriously spring-like days here in the Hunter Valley, the 

weather today is definitely reminding us that winter arrived last week. It

is freezing, raining, and the daylight has been very weak all day. Therefore,

I had trouble getting any decent light to take my photos.

Regular visitors to my blog probably know that very recently I have become

 interested in Mixed Media. I guess it is just part of us evolving in our craft.

However, I will always love creating my cute and clean cards too. Let's just 

say I have added ''another string to my bow''.

So far I have made four Mixed Media cards, but today I decided to try a 

canvas. My few efforts at M. M. are obviously still very "beginner 

standard", but I guess we all have to start somewhere, and the whole 

process is a learning curve. I can't believe how I have changed...the more

messy my hands and desk become, the happier I am...What Fun!!!

This is a small canvas, but even then I procrastinated for an age before

I began...once started though, I really got into the swing of things. 

Previously, I have always created a card/project, then gone looking

for challenges to suit. However, this time there were several challenges

for which I created my canvas. 

This is Tim Holtz's Umbrella Man. I die-cut him from dark grey 

cardstock, ran a narrow line of Brushed Pewter around his edges,

then applied only one coat of clear embossing powder so he had a  

very textured surface. I coloured a silver heart brad with three 

coats of a black Promarker, then applied three coats of 

clear embossing powder.

I printed the quote onto sponged white cardstock with the computer,

cut each word individually, then sponged each tile with black ink.

The clock face was given the same treatment as Umbrella Man, minus

the Brushed Pewter edging.

A side view of my canvas, showing how I mounted Umbrella Man

on black 3D mounting tape.

Challenges I would like to enter

Anything But Cute #2 - 'Make It Masculine'

Craft Stamper - 'Take A Technique...Texture'

Frilly and Funkie - 'Monochromatic'

Mixed Media World #3 - 'Vintage'

Simply Create Too #87 - 'Masculine'

The Craft Barn - 'For The Man in Your Life'

Try It On Tuesday - 'Watches and Clocks'

Canvas Base - Winsor and Newton

Dies - Tim Holtz/Sizzix Umbrella Man, Weathered Clock

Stamps - Blade Rubber Official Paid; Stamp-It Victorian Watch

Stencil - Ranger Dylusions Diamond Small

Quote - Computer generated Harting font 

Texture Paste - homemade (thank you for the recipe Pamellia)

Embossing Powder - Fantasy Crafts Clear 

Printed Tissue - Collections Elements

Gesso - Atelier Traditional

Ink pads - Versamark; Versafine Onyx Black; Distress Ink Pumice Stone; Momento Tuxedo Black, London Fog; 

Distress Stain - Brushed Pewter

Aquapencil - Black

Heart brad is from my junk stash

I can't wait to have enough time to 'play' and get messy again, and will try something with lots of colour and perhaps some flowers next time.

Bye for now,

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Ballroom Sassy

Hello fellow crafters,
Today's card is for a very special friend, Diane, and I just wanted to make this card to tell her how much I value our friendship. We have been friends for an amazing 50 years this week!!! We met during our first week in High School, and our mutual love of horses and music had us bonding immediately. Diane was my bridesmaid, and I hers. She and her husband came to our 40th Wedding Anniversary celebration last year. Geographically we have lived long distances apart since we left school, but have maintained our deep friendship through 'thick and thin'. Happy 50th Anniversary dear friend!

  Penny's Paper Crafty has a new challenge for you, and our theme this week is

'ONE FOR THE GIRLS'

This week's sponsors are

Sassy Studio Designs

and

QKR Stampede

I have used a digi stamp, Ballroom Sassy by one of our sponsors, Sassy Studio Designs.

She's quite a 'glamour-puss', isn't she.

A closer look. I was pleased at how the Platinum Stickles

shows up in her 'buckle', necklace and hairpin. I

applied it with a 'pokey tool'.

That sparkly DP is just so lucious, I kept my embellishments

to a minimum, so as to not hide it too much.

Challenges I would like to enter are:-

Crafts and Me #118 - 'Favourite Embellishments' (flowers and die-cuts)

The Perfect Sentiment #64 - 'Anything Goes with a Die-cut'

Creative Moments #9 - 'Neutral Colours/Anything Goes' (Winner)

Passion For Promarkers #183 - 'Add Sparkle'

An Oldie But a Goodie - 'Glitz and Glamour'
(dies 7mths to 7 yrs old, card candi 4yrs old)

Paper Pretties #243 - 'Square Card'

Anything Goes #85 - 'Monochrome'

The Craft Room - 'Monochrome'

Image - Sassy Studio Designs - Ballroom Sassy

Colouring - Promarkers
Paper - First Edition Blank Canvas
Dies - Spellbinders Floral Ovals, Classic and Scalloped Ovals; Cheery Lynn Flourish Leaf Strip; Cuttlebug Vintage (cut in half)
Sentiment - Kaisercraft Friendship Sentiments
Card Candi - Craft Work Cards
Ink for Stamping & sponging - Versafine Vintage Sepia
Pearls, flowers, and Platinum Stickles from my junk stash.

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

Until next time, happy crafting and thank you for looking.
Hugs,
Jennifer. x

"Forever and Ever, Our Hearts Will Be True"

Hello fellow crafters,

While I was making this card, I found that I was singing the lovely old song "Forever and Ever, Our Hearts Will be True" over and over. September is always the most popular month in which to have a wedding here in Australia (although ours was in July), it being the first month of Spring.

I made this twisted easel card for Emily, a lovely young lady we have known since she was a little girl, and Phil, her bridegroom, who we have never met.

The card base and die-cuts are all white pearlised card. I cut the hearts with Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Hearts, sponged the edges with Versacube Petal Pink, then embossed them with Cuttlebug 'Birds and Swirls'. The scrolled border strips are cut with Cuttlebug 'Floral Borders', and softly sponged also. I used various Carl punches to cut the flowers and ferns, and placed a flat backed pearl in the centre of each flower.

I cut the die-cut for our personal message with Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Lacey Circles'.

I think I must have been having a 'senior moment' when I took the photos, because I didn't take a piccie of the card lying flat - the vertical portion at the back is also decorated - you can just see the tip of a flower peeking out. I present all my dimensional cards in clear acetate boxes, so when this card is flat, the entire 'front' is decorated as if it is a flat card. (I have not explained myself very articulately, but I am sure you will know what I am trying to say).

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges -

The Crafty Pad #189 - 'Inspired By a Song' (Forever and Ever) (Top 5)

The Squirrel and the Fox #27 - 'Celebrate the Occasion'

My Mum's Craft Shop #75 - 'Hearts and Flowers'

Little Claire's Designs #25 - 'Stand Up Straight'

Raise The Bar #112 - 'Damask or Swirls' (Winner)

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Hugs

Hello Fellow Crafters,
I didn't think I would have a card to post today, but then I remembered that I had this image already coloured, and all the punched and die-cut parts done, so it didn't take too long to put this together. This is such a cute image by Whimsy Stamps. I purchased it, and another a few weeks ago from Bizzy Becs, and have several more on order from her. They are so easy to colour and so adorable I know I will be adding many more to my collection.

I coloured the image with Promarkers...I so love them! The little birdies on the First Edition paper, the roses, and the Bazzill used for matting look as if they are a rusty brown colour, but IRL they are the lovliest deep, antique rose pink colour. I sponged the white circles on the front and in the inside, and the greeting tag with Ash Rose Versacube ink while the die-cuts were still in the die.

Even in the close-up of the little cuties, the glitter does not show up very well. All the little birds on the backing paper are fully glittered, the tiny pink punched flowers have glittered centres, and the butterflies, flowers and gems in the image are glittered.

Side-on view

                                The inside of the card is decorated to match the front.

Stamp - Whimsy Wee "Sweet Blossom'
Cardstock - Bazzill
Paper - First Edition 'Spring Feast'
Ink - Versacube 'Ash Rose'
Dies - Spellbinder, Cuttlebug 'Baby Face' alphabet
Punches - Martha Stewart, Carl
Other - Flowers, Ranger 'Crystal' Stickles, from my junk stash

I will be entering this in the following challenges -
          Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenge - Anything Goes
          I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
          Cute Card Thursday - A Touch of Sparkle


Until next time...happy crafting and thank you for looking.
Jennifer. x

Cuttlebug Squares

Hello fellow crafters,
As I thought might be the case, we were delayed in Newcastle yesterday - the specialist was 1 hour behind with  her appointments, so by the time we got home it was time to feed and bed down all our furred and feathered babies, and then prepare our dinner. I didn't get a chance to make a new card today either as we had unexpected visitors, so I will show you 2 mosaic, grid-style cards that I made last year. You may recall I mentioned in my last post that I have often made these cards in various forms.

I was showing some friends, fairly new to card-making, and with new Cuttlebugs, how they could use several embossing folders on a card, instead of one large background. They had also never seen chalking done.

For the first card, I cut 9 squares using my Spellbinder Nestabilities. While one was still in the die (the middle one) I sponged it lightly with Versacube Baby Pink ink. The remaining 8 squares were positioned in 4 different embossing folders in a way that highlighted particular areas, then passed through the Cuttlebug. Then I very lightly coloured the raised images with soft pink and green chalks. I then adhered the 9 squares to pink cardstock which was in turn adhered to card front. I added 3 punched vellum butterflies, the largest of which was glued, 3D fashion over one embossed butterfly. Tiny flat-back pearls were attached to that butterfly's body.

My second card is almost the same as the 1st. I added 1 punched vellum and pearl butterfly to centre panel with silver peel off sticker; punched vellum flowers; pearls. The backing paper is oyster grey pearlised waterwave paper. I put tiny dots of 'Crystal' Stickles in the centres of the embossed flowers.

I sent both these cards to non-crafting friends in different states of Australia, so I didn't feel there was a problem with making them so similar.

Thank you for looking...until next time...happy crafting.

Jennifer. x

Grapes and flowers

Hello fellow crafters,
This is the last of the cards at our friend's winery, Camyr Allyn Wines. I used the same stamped image as in a recent post.

The purple dotted paper is Papermania's 'Henbury Lane', and unfortunately the glitter on the white dots does not show up. Also, the die-cuts in the top corners look as if they are unevenly spaced at the side edges...however it is just the angle of the photo. I stamped the image on 300gsm watercolour paper with Versafine Black Onyx, and coloured it with Tombow aqua pens.

                                 

                                                                Side view

The inside is decorated to match the front of the card. The purple stamens were white and have been coloured with Promarkers.

The detail sticker on the back of the card is actually silver, but it is reflecting the blue top I was wearing.




Stamp - Stamp-it 'Grapes' 1495E
Cardstock - Bazzill
Paper - Papermania 'Henbury Lane'
Inks - Tombow, Versafine, Versacube (for sponging)
Dies - Spellbinder, Cuttlebug, Marianne
Punch - Martha Stewart PATP
Other - Flowers, Pearls (Kaisercraft), Stamens, from my junk stash

Thank you for looking...until next time...happy crafting!

Jennifer. x

Thank You Grapes

Hello fellow crafters,

This is another card which is in our friends' cellar door at Camyr Allyn Wines (here)...see previous post.

It is a very simple card, with a minimum of embellishments. The cardstock looks as if it is pale blue, and bluish purple, but in reality the white is pure white, and the purple is a dark purple, co-incidentally called 'Grape'.
I stamped the image on 300gsm watercolour paper with Versafine Onyx ink, and coloured it with my Tombow aqua pens.

Inside card.

                                                                                      Back of card.




Stamp - Stamp-it 'Grapes' 1495E
Ink - Versafine
Colouring - Tombow aqua pens
Cardstock - Bazzill
Dies - Spellbinder, Cuttlebug
Embossing - Cuttlebug
Other - gold peel-off stickers from my junk stash

Just a short post tonight...my lovely man has just cooked dinner, so until next time, thank you looking.

Jennifer. x