True Love

Good evening to all my friends out there in blogland.

A big "thank you" to those of you who have sent good luck messages

regarding the dreadful bushfires. The fires nearest us, as well as several

others, have been downgraded from 'Catastrophic' and 'Emergency'

to 'Watch and Act'. We still have to be on evacuation alert though.

Last night, about 11pm, the strangest thing happened...within minutes,

the howling wind stopped, and was replaced by the most eerie silence.

There was not even a puff of breeze, and after the non-stop roar of

the wind for a week, the stillness and silence, coupled with the very

strong smell of smoke was quite un-nerving. We had another night of

almost no sleep. The wind came back this morning, and the smoke

has been quite dense all day.

Because it is Thursday, it means that we have another challenge for you

at Crafty Little Fairies , and this week it is the Pink Fairies' turn to invite

you to enter our challege, the theme of which is

'ANYTHING GOES'

Now that's a lovely easy one, isn't it. Don't forget, you can use any image,

stamped or digi, on your entry, but please remember, you must use an image.

A big "thank you" to our sponsor, who this week is Sarah from

Also, our lovely, talented 'Mummy Fairy', Squirrel, is very generously giving

2 Lili Of The Valley stamps to some lucky crafter.

*****The other news at Crafty Little Fairies, is that we have a*****
DT call at the moment. We are looking for 3 new Fairies, so if you would
like to join us, pop over to our challenge blog for the full details.

I have used LOTV's Wedding Carriage to create my card. I fell in love with

this stamp the first time I saw it several years ago at my first visit to a craft show

at  'Ally Pally' in London.

A closer look at the happy couple, and their dappled grey friend.

Inside my card co-ordinates with the front. All the tiny hearts

are off-cuts from the punched border, and coated with Star Dust Stickles.

I slightly decorated the back of my card.

Challenges
Passion For Promarkers #221 - 'Give Me A 'P' '
(Pink, Pony, Pearl, Punch, Patterned Paper)
Lili of the Valley Ideas to Inspire - 'Anything Goes'

Sparkle N Sprinkle - 'Anything Goes With 

Glitter, Embossing Powder and/or Flocking'
Paper Crafting Journey - 'Anything Goes'

Rhedd and Rosie's #18 - 'Anything Goes'

                                                        A Creative Romance #10 - 'Pink'

                                            

Stamp - LOTV Wedding Carriage
Sentiment - LOTV
Colouring - Promarkers
Paper - Papermania Henbury Lane
Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Squares, Fancy Labels; Joy Craft Lamp; Cheery Lynn Leaf Flourish Strip and Wreath Strip.
Punch - Martha Stewart PATP Hearts
Flowers, pearls and beads are all from my junk stash

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

I hope you enjoyed your visit, and until next time "happy crafting"
Hugs,
Jennifer. x

Buttons and Bows

My goodness, we are experiencing horrendous weather conditions here

in New South Wales, Australia. We are having record-breaking high

temperatures, gale force winds, very low humidity, and serious drought...

all combining to create perfect conditions for massive bushfires, of which 

there are almost 100, with 30+ out-of-control. There are several of these

quite close to us, and we have been on evacuation stand-by for about a 

week. Needless to say, we have been sleeping very lightly each night. The

men and women in the Rural Fire Service are incredible...they say they don't

want to be called heroes, but that is what they are. Almost all are volunteers. 

A newspaper photo of exhausted volunteers asleep on the road has gone 

viral on the internet. We desperately need rain, and plenty of it, to 

end this dreadful nightmare.

Onto more pleasant things...

At Penny's Paper Crafty, it is time for another challenge, and this

week our theme is one I am sure you will love -

'BUTTONS AND BOWS'

Our 2 wonderful sponsors this week are

and

We were all given some lovely images to play with, and I was

thrilled to choose Inky Impressions' Kitty With Bow.

It is amazing how so many colours are perfectly matched IRL, but look

completely different when photographed. The kitty's bow, and the Bazzill

Bling cardstock are a perfect example of this. The button is a metal one

which I sponged with white ink, then embossed it with Alabaster Opals.

I punched the butterflies from scraps of the Bazzill Bling, then sprinkled

them lightly with the Alabaster Opals before heating them. I added tiny

dots of Liquid Pearls to their 'bodies'.

A closer look at this too, too cute kitty. I have had those

silver skeleton leaves for an embarrassingly long time.

Inside my card.

This is the first time I have used the lovely Martha Stewart PATP Pansies

punch. I have been wanting it for about a year, and when I saw it on sale

recently, it had to come home with me.

Challenges

Deep Ocean #63 - 'Button It Up'
Passion For Promarkers #221 - 'Give Me A 'P' '
(Pussycat, Pink, Pearls, Pansies Punch, Promarkers)
Rhedd and Rosie's #18 - 'Anything Goes'
Ruby's Rainbow #65 - 'Button It'

Image - Inky Impressions digi Kitty With Bow

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Inky Impressions digi

Dies - Spellbinders Floral Ovals; Cheery Lynn Wreath Strip;

Punches - Martha Stewart PATP Pansies, Butterfly Trio

Embossing - Opals Alabaster

Flowers, Skeleton Leaves, Button, Bow, Liquid Pearls, 

         Silver Corner Peel-off stickers are all from my junk stash

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

Until next time,
Hugs,
Jennifer. x

Penny's Pudding

Hello to all my crafting friends,

The weeks are flying by at an alarming rate, and Christmas is going to be 

with us all too soon.

It's Wednesday again, and that means that it is time for a new challenge

at Penny's Paper Crafty. Just 2 weeks ago, our challenge theme was 

'Anything Goes', and because you loved that one so much (we were

overwhelmed by all your lovely entries), we are once again having the theme

'ANYTHING GOES'

Our 3 very generous sponsors this week are

I was delighted when I was asked to use the very cute digi image, Penny's Pudding,

by Stamping Dragon Designs.

I decided to create a very simple card, so as to focus on Penny

and her pudding.

A closer look at Penny. I had such fun colouring her with my Promarkers.

I put Glossy Accents on the holly berries.

Oh dear, I think my layering is not straight. By the time I realised this, 

it was too late to straighten it up, and re-photograph it.

(I will fix it tomorrow).

Image - Stamping Dragon Designs digi Penny's Pudding

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Crafts 4 Eternity

Dies - Spellbinders, Memory Box

Challenges

Christmas Cards All Year Round - 'Getting Ready For Christmas'

Stamping Sensations - 'All Creatures Great and Small'

Deep Ocean #62 - 'Christmas is Around the Corner'

Ooh La La Creations #141 - 'Things With Wings'

Addicted To Stamps #67 - 'Christmas is Coming'

Robyn's Fetish #181 - 'Square Cards Only'

Through the Purple Haze - 'Food' (Top 3)

Crafter's Cafe #33 - 'Cute'

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

Thank you so much for visiting, and hopefully I will get a chance to visit your lovely blogs soon...time just seems to be beating me every day lately. I can't remember the last time I had a full day at home.

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

Elphie

Good evening fellow crafters,

We had so many wonderful entries from you all last week at Penny's Paper Crafty, 

but it is now time for a new challenge. Our challenge theme is:

'ANYTHING BUT SQUARE'

Our generous sponsors this week are

and

I was asked to choose one of Kathryne's digi stamps, so had

no hesitation in choosing her adorable ELPHIE THE ELEPHANT.

I had intended to make another shaped card, but time got the better of me, so I opted

to create a simple step card. Despite the last minute change of plans, I am quite

happy with this design.

I used my blender pen to try to create skin texture on Elphie. Kathryne has manged to

capture the posture of a baby perfectly, hasn't she...and as for that face...just soooo cute.

Inside my card with space for a personal message.

I decorated the back of the card, but realised that I should have attached

a backing piece of cardstock to the coloured image.

Challenges:

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

(Baby Elephant Walk)

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

Inky Chicks #14 - 'Use 2 Different Die-Cuts'

Robyn's Fetish #180 - 'Use A Digi'

Card Mania #31 - 'Pastel Colours'

Lexi's Creations #100 - 'Pink'

That Craft Place - 'Baby'

Image - StampArt Design by Kathryne digi Elphie The Elephant

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Sugar and Spice Studio Baby Girl

Dies - Spellbinders; Cheery Lynn, Marianne, Martha Stewart

Gems and Stickles from my junk stash

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

Hugs,
Jennifer. x

Weekend Spectacular

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Mine was frantically busy and exhausting, but fabulous. 

Sydney Opera House.

I did my regular Thursday as a volunteer guide at Fort Scratchley in Newcastle, then early on Friday morning John and I travelled to Sydney to view some of the week-long celebrations to commemorate the centenery of the Australian Navy. This event is the most spectacular since Sydney hosted the 2000 Olympic Games. An international naval fleet joined the Australian fleet, and on Saturday night there was a fireworks display that was even more spectacular than Sydney's famous New Year's Eve display. Prince Harry reviewed the fleet.

Sydney Harbour and our famous bridge.

We returned home late on Saturday night, changed our clocks for daylight saving (losing an hour's sleep), then I worked my regular Sunday at the Fort. This weekend was our Labour Day weekend, so the Fort was very busy on Sunday...but not as busy as yesterday (Monday), one of the 4 huge special 'open days' we hold each year.

Observation Post, local radio station's tent, Newcastle and the 

beautiful cathedral in the background.

A local radio station broadcasts from the Fort all day, we fire our 'Big Guns' regularly during the day, the Army band and a jazz band play, and there are various military displays, as well as continuous tunnel tours. 

As I am the only female guide there, I was interviewed by the radio station.

Firing one of the 6" Mk Vl l guns.

WWl l re-enactment group.

Signal flags on the Observation Post.

The Fort opened 2 hours early, and we closed later than normal, so by the time I got home, I was like a zombie. However, I was so overtired, I took hours to go to sleep. I think an early night may be called for tonight.

I will be back tomorrow night with a new challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty, so until then "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