Geraldine the Giraffe

Good afternoon all. 

Recently I made this card for a friend's teenage son. Unfortunately, 

I sent it off in the mail before uploading the photos in my

computer, not realising I had had my camera on the 

wrong setting, resulting in the blurry result...apologies.

I do not have any giraffe patterned paper or embossing folder, so I 

drew a giraffe pattern freehand on a piece of 'thickish' cardstock,

then cut it out with a craft knife...phew!! I then used my 'stencil'

to emboss a piece of ordinary cardstock for the top half of the 

base panel (it is very faint). I then used my stencil to 

sponge black paint onto the lower half of the panel.

I stamped my giraffe with Versamark ink and embossed it with

black powder. I then used a rectangle die to cut the stamped panel,

and while it was still in the die I sponged the panel with Distress

Ink, thus creating a clear border inside the matting layer.

I adore giraffes, and I have named this one Geraldine...

I know, I know, not very original.

Challenges I would like to enter

Artsystamper #16 - 'Its A Guy Thing'

The Paper Girls #200 - 'All About Boys'

Image - Stampworld Giraffe

Sentiment - Peel-off sticker

Dies - Spellbinders Rectangles (long)

Inks - Versamark; Distress Ink Tea Dye

Twine is from my junk stash

On this very cold, grey, and miserable day I will wish you all well and safe.

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

Cherry Blossom

Happy Mothers Day to all the Mums. I hope you are all enjoying

your special day, despite the social distancing and lockdown restrictions.

Globally our lives have been drastically altered because of this

awful COVID-19, and we have all had to adapt to the major changes.

Of course one of the 'victims' have been our regular Craft Shows, so the 

organisers of one of the series here in 'Oz' decided to hold the shows online.

Many of the exhibitors offered 'show specials', just like during the real shows. 

Many of you may recognise the name Beccy's Place, as Beccy offers lovely

prizes for many challenge blogs. Beccy lives here in Australia, in Queensland,

and throughout the 1st virtual show, she offered fab 'Beat The Clock' specials.

One of Beccy's deals was this gorgeous stamp and die set which she offered

as a bundle. There are quite a few other stamps and dies in the 

Cherry Blossom set.

A closer look at the beautiful blossoms, coloured of course with

my trusty Promarkers. That ribbon looks a 'peachy' pink, but

IRL it is exactly the same pink as the background paper.

Challenges I would like to enter

Beccy's Place - 'Anything Goes' must use Beccy's image
Cardz 4 Galz #121 - 'Birthday'
Crafty Friends #135 - 'Flowers'
Creations In Pink #21 - 'Anything Goes with Mainly Pink'
Moving Along With The Times #118 - 'Flowers'
Passion For Promarkers #541 - 'In The Pink'  TOP 5
The Crafting Challenge - 'Flowers'
The Flower Challenge #44 - 'Monochrome'

Image - Beccy's Place Cherry Blossom
Colouring - Promarkers
Dies - Beccy's Place Cherry Blossom; Cheery Lynn Anastasia Border; Spellbinders Scalloped Rectangle
Sentiment - Stampin' Up
Ribbon is from my junk stash

I must go and take the washing off the line, and feed our fur-baby...Mothers Day or not, the chores do not wait, do they.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,
Hugs (no contact, of course),
Jennifer.  xx

Sailing

I hope you are all still staying safe, and continue to do so as we

have tentative lifting of restrictions.

Before all this terrible virus descended upon us, a good friend was

planning to venture into the world of sea cruising, but of course that

adventure had to be put on hold for some time.

He is still adamant that when the world is back to 'normal', he will

be on the first cruise ship leaving port. This is the card I made to wish

him Bon Voyage when his dream finally becomes reality. It is safe

to show you the card, as he does not look at my blog.

Tying that knot gave me a few grey hairs, but in the end, with the

help of an online tutorial, I was happy with the result. I'm sorry, I

did not save the link, but if you Google 'knots' there are many tutorials.

Inside the card co-ordinates with the front.

I bought this stamp, many, many moons ago, and I am ashamed

to admit that this is only the second time it has seen ink.

Challenges I would like to enter

Aud Sentiments #250 - 'Masculine' (must use sentiment)

Cardz 4 Guyz #244 - 'Vintage'

Creative Card Cottage #129 - 'Make It Masculine'

I Love Promarkers #409 - 'Anything Goes' with option of 3 of a kind (2nd entry)

Try Stampin' On Tuesday #455 - 'Sketch' with option of nautical (have manipulated sketch)

Image - Stamp-It Australia Nautical Trio

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - unnamed, from 6 x 6 pad from bargain store

Sentiment - Computer generated

Ink for Sponging - Distress Ink, Walnut

The afternoon has turned very grey and cold, so I am off to make myself a lovely hot cup of tea, and put my fluffy slippers on.

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Virtual Hugs,

Jennifer.  xx

Lazy Daisy

Good morning, I hope you are all still safe and well, and keeping

busy with your crafting.

Gosh, don't the years rush by so fast. On Monday, my dear friend, Diane,

celebrates a milestone birthday. I won't say which one, but let's just say we

met in January, 1963, during our 1st week in High School. I sometimes

tease her about being the 'old lady' as my birthday is not until December.

It was our love of horses (and music too) that bonded Diane and

me, so when I saw this cute digi stamp, I had to buy it.

Challenges I Would Like To Enter

2 Crafty Critter Crazies #38 - 'Anything Goes' (must have critter)

Addicted to Stamps and More #387 - 'Make Your Mark'

Crafty Animals #38 - 'Anything Goes'

Crafty Sentiments - 'For Girl'

Cute Card Thursday #632 - 'Feminine'

Cut It Up #199 - 'Friends'

I Love Promarkers #409 - 'Anything Goes' with option of use 3 of a kind (3 clouds)

Passion For Promarkers #540 - 'Animals'  TOP 5

Image - Lili Of The Valley Lazy Daisy 

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Stampin' Up

Dies - Memory Box Puffy Clouds; Crafts 4U Stitched Ovals, Stitched Squares

Paper - unnamed, from a packet of pearlised paper at a closing down sale years ago

On this cold and very windy day, thank you for visiting.

Hugs (virtual of course),

Jennifer.  xx 

New Driver

Good afternoon. I hope you are all still staying safe and well.

Recently a lovely young lady we have known since she was born gained

her driver's licence. Imogen comes from a beautiful family...her maternal

grandparents are dear friends of ours, and we have watched her mum

grow from a cute little toddler, to a wonderful mother and career woman.

This is the card I made to congratulate Imogen on her achievement. 

Where have all those years gone??

Imogen not only excels academically at school, she works at

2 part-time jobs, saving enough money to buy a little car,

which is coloured (you guessed it!) green.

Challenges I would like to enter

Passion For Promarkers #539 - 'Add A Sentiment'

Polkadoodles Craft #17 - 'Anything Goes'

Simon Says Stamp (Monday) - 'Create A Scene'

Image, Sentiment and Dies - Polkadoodles Mini Winnie Lets Go clear stamp and die set

Colouring - Promarkers

Punch - Carl Vinca medium

Ink (sponging) - Distress Ink Tumbled Glass

Washi tape is from my junk stash

Until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

Birthday Cake

Good morning all. I hope you are all staying safe in this sad and

scary time. At least as crafters we can keep ourselves busy.

Next week my sister-in-law will celebrate another birthday, and

this is the card I made for her. It is safe to show you as she

does not look at my blog. 

The lovely stamp set was a 'freebie' during the recent Stampin' Up 

Sale-a-bration. I have rarely bought any S.U. products, but as I was

tired of battling with my very old paper trimmer, I decided to buy a

S.U. trimmer from a demonstrator who lives in our retirement

village. The trimmer is fabulous, and I also bought a few other

products which I love.

A closer look at the pretty image, coloured of course with my

Promarkers. The tiny punched flower covers where I accidently

damaged the corner. I bet there is not one of you who has not

covered a mishap with a butterfly, flower, gem, etc. 😉

No, this butterfly does not hide a blemish - I just wanted to embellish 

inside the card. The matt layer was plain white, coloured with a narrow

border of pink Promarker used in the colouring of the flowers and butterfly.

Challenges I would like to enter

Ally's Angels  #33 - 'Anything Goes'

Alphabet - ' 'A' is for Anything Goes

Daisy Chain #40 - 'Birthday'

Dragonfly Dreams - 'Add a Flower/Flowers'

Passion for Promarkers #538 - 'Clean and Simple'

Sparkles Monthly #127 - 'Spring Is In The Air'

Image - Stampin' Up Happy Birthday To You rubber stamp set

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Stampin' Up Happy Birthday To You rubber stamp set

Dies - Spellbinders Classical and Scalloped Rectangles; Cheery Lynn Flourish Leaf Strip

Punches - Carl Sakura, large and small

Glitter glue - Ranger Stickles Star Dust

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x

Happy 90th

Hello to all of you in blogland. 

It is exactly 3 months since I last posted anything on my blog, so here I

am at last. There are several reason for my absence (healthwise), but I

will not bore you with the details, as I know that so many people are 

in an infinitely more dire situation than me. We are certainly in 

awful times aren't we, and I fear there is worse to come.

On a happier note, one of our neighbours celebrated a major milestone

last week, turning 90 years of age. Anne is so sweet (and quite a character).

This is the card I made for her.

The flowers were cut with a 'strip die', and hand-coloured with distress inks

and an aqua brush. The whole process was quite time-consuming and

fiddly, but as Anne is such a cutie, I was happy to create the card for her.

The 'With Love' die-cut is tiny. I cut around it

with my deckle-edge scissors.

I had one flower left over, so I adhered it 

inside the card.

Inside the card. As I prepared to take this photo, the sun 

was suddenly obscured by dark clouds and seconds

later the rain pelted down.

Challenges I Would like to enter

C.R.A.F.T. #550 - 'Spring/Easter' 

The Paper Players #484 - 'Tic Tac Toe' (die cut, spring, birthday)

Crafty Friends #132 -'Spring'

Dies - Cheery Lynn Miniature Rose Strip, Flourish Leaf Strip; Crafts 4U With Love

Colouring - Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Embossing - Crafters Companion Flower Garden

Stamp - Stampin' Up Cling Set Peaceful Moments

Seed Pearls are from my junk stash

Until next time thank you for visiting, and please stay well and safe,

Hugs,

Jennifer.  x