Black and Silver Snowflakes

 

Hello fellow crafters. I guess you didn't expect 2 posts in 2 days, 

especially after such a long break.

As I have said in previous posts, I have a personal rule being that I

never make any 2 cards the same. However, at times like Christmas when

when I, like so many other card-makers, need to make many cards, I 

will create 2 or even occasionally 3 similar cards...such is the 

case with the following 2 cards.

These 2 cards were sent to friends who do not know each other, and both

of whom do not know I have a blog, so will not see this.

The grey-looking plain paper on both cards is actually a beautiful

shimmery pearlised silver, a pack of which I have had for many

years. I put a tiny dot of glitter glue in the centre of each

snowflake on the black paper, but as usual with

most glitter it does not photograph well.

Papers - Papermania A Christmas Carol; Echo Park A Gingerbread Christmas; 

Sentiment banners - Craft Creations Ltd 

Glitter glue - Ranger Stickles Diamond Dust

Peel-off sticker snowflakes are from my junk stash

Hopefully I will be back soon with some more cards, so until then thank you for visiting.

Stay safe,

Jennifer.  xx

Pampered Pooches

Hello on this freezing cold evening in the Hunter Valley. I know I

have been a bad blogger lately, but I have been having lots of visits

to my GP and the physiotherapy department at the main hospital

in Newcastle. It seems that I have a torn cartilage in my right knee,

and plantar tendonitis in my left foot. I have been hobbling around

for several months, thinking my arthritis was getting worse, but when

I could stand the pain no longer, I went to my GP. My treatment is

ongoing, and may eventually lead to surgery.

The other reason for my absence in the past 3 days has been that my

beloved little cockatiel received a fright when I was cleaning his huge

cage on Sunday afternoon, and he flew out of it. He was immediately 

chased by a large assortment of wild birds (we live in a rural area) into

a very high tree on the neighbouring farm. We could not coax him down

and had to leave him there overnight. After 2 hours of coaxing yesterday

morning, he finally tried to fly across the small paddock to our house,

but wild birds chased him down the valley. For hours I could hear him

calling me from dense bushland (private property), then mid afternoon 

I heard a dreadful bird fight with lots of birds, and little Tiel screeching

in obvious panic...then total silence. I searched for him until darkness,

then again all day today, while I also did a mailbox drop over an area 

of about 7kms. I fear the worst...Tiel only had one leg, was on a special

diet, and since the weekend, we have had extremely cold weather.

I shall miss my little guy, he had such a funny personality, and was so 

lovable. He loved to sit on my chest watching TV, and would sit on

a perch on my desk, ripping bark off a stick and chattering to me, 

while I coloured stamped images. 

...........Now that I have just had a big 'bawling session', I will move onto

happier things. It will be my brother's birthday next Sunday, and he owns 

2 Pomeranian dogs. I searched the internet and found this free image of 2

 'poms' and another little dog (that looks just like his last dog). I made a 

very simple card, as I know that my brother and his wife bin cards as

soon as they open them...they don't like "clutter".

I covered the front of a kraft card base with bronze metallic paper,

and used some of my massive collection of peel-off stickers to

embellish it. That border sticker on the top of the image is

definitely straight - there is a 'bow' in the card.

A closer look at the digital copy of the vintage painting.

Image - Old Design Shop digital freebie

Punch - Zutter Corner Rounder

Bronze Paper - Unknown (many years old)

Peel-off Stickers - Papermania (sentiments); border from my junk stash

The fire has died, and the house is now freezing cold, so I will take my trusty hot-water bottle off to bed. After the upset of the last 3 days, and the pain in my foot and knee, I am completely exhausted.

I will be back on Friday with my DT card for Winter Wonderland, so until then "happy crafting".

Hugs

Jennifer. x

Father's Day

Yesterday in Australia it was Father's Day. Poor John, he had to stay at

home by himself, as I was on duty at the Fort all day. Not only did 

he have to get his own breakfast (I leave quite early in the 

morning) and lunch, he also had a delicious dinner

ready for me when I arrived home last night.

John loves his TV, and when I first saw this wonderful image, I knew

I had to buy it...it is John personified...shoes off, socked feet on

a footstool, a cup of coffee close by, and remote in hand.

The card base and matting look as if they are black,

but they are actually dark blue.

A close up look at John's 'twin'.

Inside my card matches the front.

Challenges

Corrosive #207 - 'Let's Hear It For The Boys'

Crafty Catz #245 - 'One For The Boys'

Delicious Doodles #100 - 'Colours Of Autumn'

Image - Lili Of The Valley Put Your Feet Up

Colouring - Promarkers

Papers - Papermania Persimmon Collection

Panel for writing message - Papermania Persimmon Collection Notelets

Wooden hearts - prize from Little Claire's

Peel-off sentiment sticker and string are from my junk stash

Until next time, thank you for visiting.

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

FORE!!!

Good morning to my crafting friends. I hope you all enjoyed your weekend.

Many of you in the Northern Hemisphere are just beginning your summer

holidays, so please keep safe, and have a wonderful holiday.

Last Wednesday, one of my fellow guides at the Fort celebrated his birthday,

 and as he is 'golf-mad', a golf-themed card seemed the obvious choice.

I absolutely love QKR Stampede's bears, and this rather rotund 

guy is no exception.

This was the best I could do for a 'golf ball' - I cut a circle with a Spellbinder

die, then embossed it, to create dimples. When I planned the card in my head,

I had intended to just use a large 'FORE' as a sentiment, then I remembered

it was our friend's 64th birthday.........!

Inside the card co-ordinates with the front.

Challenges
Penny's Paper Crafty #186 - 'Anything Goes'
QKR Stampede #97 - 'Vacation' (card recipient often goes on golfing vacations) WINNER

Image - QKR Stampede Digi 3401 Day On The Course
Colouring - Promarkers
Paper - Papermania It's A Man's World
Embossing - Mini Dots (magazine freebie), Cuttlebug Argyle, 
Sentiment - computer generated (Balsam and Forte fonts)
Border peel-off sticker from my junk stash

That's all for now, so I must go and morph into a domestic goddess. Thank you for visiting, and until next time "happy crafting".

Hugs,
Jennifer. x

Summer Fun

I know I have been a bad blogger lately...it is a month since I have had a card to show

you. There have been lots of happenings in my personal life, including a short stay in

hospital. I thought I may have yet another fractured vertabrae (4 previous ones due

to osteoporosis), but I just tore a rib off my spine. I shouldn't say "just", as the pain

was excruciating, even when only trying to take a deep breath. 

Enough of my miseries, and onto happier things!!!

It is the first Thursday of the month, and that means we have a new challenge for you

at Crafty Little Fairies. Here in Australia, it is bitterly cold, mid-winter, but where

many of you live it is mid-summer, so our theme is

'SUMMER FUN'

We once again have five lovely generous sponsors, so a big "thank you"

to each of them, who are -

Please remember that to be eligible for one of these wonderful prizes you 

MUST use a stamped or digi image, not a pre-coloured topper 

or a printed image from a CD.

I really enjoyed making this card, as it brought back childhood memories of days

spent at the beach, collecting seashells and sending messages in bottles. Yes, 

if I knew in advance a trip to the coast was planned, I would write a little

note, seal it in a bottle, and when we arrived, I would 'launch' it into the 

waves, and dream of someone in a faraway land receiving it.

The white embossed layer was created using my old Fiskars Waves Texture Plate. 

If I spritz the cardstock before using the Texture Plates in my Cuttlebug, 

the result is a very deep, crisp embossing effect.

The sweet image is a digi stamp which I won in a challange in May. 

This lovely button has been in my button jar for more than 3 years, waiting for

the 'right' card. I bought it at a craft show at Farnborough, during my 

last trip to London. Unfortunately, I only bought one.

Inside my card is fairly simple, with a large die-cut area on which

a personal message can be written.

CHALLENGES

4 Crafty Chicks #201 - 'Nautical'

CCC Digi Creations #4 - 'Digi/Embossing Wet or Dry'

CCEE1427 - 'Red, White and Blue'

City Crafter #218 - 'Let's Go To The Beach'

Corrosive #202 - 'Favourite Colouring Medium' (Promarkers)

Crazy 4 Challenges - 'Summer/Winter'

Di's Digi Designs - 'Lots of Layers'

Fussy and Fancy #117 - 'Summertime'

Open Minded #13 - 'Patriotic Colours'

Party Time Tuesdays #179 - 'Red, White and Blue'

Penny's Paper Crafty #184 - 'Buttons, Butterflies or Bows'

Polka Doodles #26 - 'Red, White or Blue'

Pumpkin Spice #77 - 'Red, White and Blue'

Sentimental Sundays #213 - 'Summer'

Sparkles Monthly #57 - 'At The Beach/Summer Fun'

Sweet Stampin' - 'Summer Fun'

Time Out #9 - 'Fun In The Sun'

Image - Sparkle 'N' Sprinkle Time In A Bottle

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiments - Lili of the Valley

Dies - Spellbinders Scalloped Square

Embossing - Fiskars Texture Plate Waves

Button - Meiflower

Twine - Papermania

Shell from my junk stash

For a chance to win a lovely prize, and see some wonderful projects by my fellow teamies, why not visit us at Crafty Little Fairies, then enter our 'Summer Fun' challenge. We would love to see your creations.

Hopefully I will have another card to show you soon, so until then, "thank you" for visiting.

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

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

Doggy With A Tie

Hello fellow crafters,

Yesterday was my brother, Peter's birthday.  Peter lives in Tasmania, so we rarely see each other. Last night I phoned him, and we finished up chatting for about 1½ hours. It was lovely to catch up with each other's news. He loves dogs, and has 2 gorgeous Pomeranian puppies. Aren't they the cutest little furbabies!                                          

Monty and Bella

This is the card I made for Peter.

I have had this cute Penny Black stamp for several years, and have rarely used it, so I thought Peter's birthday would be a good opportunity to use it again. The ribbon and striped paper are by Papermania, the embossing was done with a Cuttlebug Folder, and the sentiments are Stampin' Up (Brother) and an unnamed set from a Chain Store (Just For You). 

Promarkers were used to colour the image.

Inside my card matches the front.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Brown Sugar #48 - 'Boy/Man'

Nutcrafters #46 - 'Texture'                                                      

Polkadoodles - 'Animals'                                                              

Until next time, thank you for taking the time to visit.

Hugs,

Jennifer. x 

Guest Designer

Hello fellow crafters,
Last week I was thrilled to find that I had been chosen as the winner of challenge #27 in ABC Challenges, with this card that I made for my blogger friend, Pauline's birthday.

My prize was to be their Guest Designer for this week's challenge, 

'Make Your Own Stamped Background'

This is my card, using a colour I rarely use, orange. I felt like getting my fingers inky, something else I rarely do, so I made some more of my parchment roses.

For my background paper I used Express Blend-it card, which I normally use for my images that I colour with Promarkers. It is beautiful to work with when using a Resist Technique. I stamped the swirls with Versamark ink, then embossed them with Silver Pearl embossing powder, which creates such a 

luxurious look. 'Tis a pity that did not show up in the photo. I sponged the whole card with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink, then wiped it with a facial tissue. It doesn't show, but I lightly sponged the leaves

with Sage Versacube ink.

A closer look at my parchment roses. They have Flower Soft in the centres.

The large one reminds me of the big, soft, highly-scented roses my

Gran used to grow. 

Inside my card co-ordinates with the front.

I would like to enter the following challenges:-

Craft Room - 'Stamp your Own Background Paper'

Crafty Ribbons #46 - 'Anything Goes With Ribbon'

Anything Goes #93 - 'Handmade Backgrounds'

Marianne Design Divas - 'Get Your Dies Out'

Rhedd and Rosie's #7 - 'Blooming Lovely'

Let's Craft and Create #70 - 'Die Cuts'

Milk Coffee - 'Load on the Flowers'

LEJ #54- 'Die Cuts and/or Punches'

Timeless Tuesdays - 'Butterflies'

Everybody Art #237- 'Flowers'

Whoopsidaisy - 'May Flowers' TOP 3

Creative Belli #170 - 'Flowers'

Stamps - Hero Arts Fantastic Florishes; Stampin' Up
Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Ink Spiced Marmalade; Adirondack Butterscotch and Raisin; Versacube Sage; Versamark clear
Dies - Spellbinders Rose Creation, Foliage; Marianne Creatables Double Frames, Frames Swirls
Punch - Carl Butterfly
Embossing Powder - Stamp-It Silver Pearl
Gem - Papermania
Flower Soft, Stickles Icicles, Ribbon, all from my junk stash

Why not pop over to ABC Challenges, see the lovely creations by the regular DT.

Hugs,
Jennifer. x

It's Your Day!

Last Saturday was a very special day for 2 of my dear friends, Diane and Pauline. Diane, I have mentioned in several of my blog posts (in fact, she was the subject of my very first post). We met during our first week in High School, just over 50 years ago, and have remained firm friends ever since, even if we live a long distance from each other. I made Diane's Asian themed card several weeks ago for a challenge. Diane and her late Mum love/loved anything from Japan, and many years ago had a lovely holiday there.You can see that card here.

The other friend is my great 'blogging buddy' in England, Pauline. She is on several design teams, and her beautiful cards are amazing. You would definitely enjoy a visit to her blog.

I made this card for Pauline, using one of the 3 gorgeous Lili of the Valley stamps she sent me last Christmas. Thank you again, Pauline.

I know Pauline loves pinks and purples, butterflies, flowers and bears,

as I do also, so it was great fun creating this card for her.

I coloured the cute image with Promarkers.

A closer look at the greeting, and lovely flowers.

I kept embellishments to a minimum inside my card so as to 

highlight the gorgeous paper by Papermania.

I would like to enter the following challenges:-

Cutie Pie #43 - 'Lots of Layers'

CardMania #20 - 'Flower Power'

Get Inky #3 - 'Fabulous Floral Fun'

Cheery Lynn #79 - 'Lots of Layers'

Robyn's Fetish #158 - 'Spring Colours'

Craft Your Passion #161 - 'Floral Delights' WINNER

Tammy's Scrappin' Corner #61 - 'Mothers Day'

Love To Create #64 - 'For Mum or a Special Lady'

Passion For Promarkers #196 - 'To Die For' (2nd entry)

ABC #27 - 'Tic Tac Toe' (punch, flowers, dry embossing; WINNER

glitter, flowers, designer paper, also pink c/stock)

Image - Lili of the Valley You Are My Sunshine

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Papermania

Sentiment - Penny Black

Dies - Memory Box Spring Border, Faunleroy Crest; Cheery Lynn Flourish Leaf Strip, Butterflies; Die-namics Grass Border

Punch - Martha Stewart Butterfly Trio

Embossing folder - unknown

Liquid Pearls and Stickles from my junk stash

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

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Mr. and Mrs. Kittycat

Hello fellow crafters, and a big welcome to my newest follower, Rowena, a beautiful young lady I have known since she was a little girl.

What an eventful week I have had, culminating in an injured ankle. X-rays confirmed that there is nothing broken, and the Dr. in A. & E. thinks I may have just "twisted" it. He told me to stay off it for 7-10 days, but Ha!!! he does not know me. That is like asking the sun not to rise in the morning!!

Enough of my woes...it is yet again time for another challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty, and the theme this week is one that I personally love, and I know a lot of you do too.

 'ANIMALS'. 

As I visit your blogs when I leave my comments, the vast majority of you seem to have photos of your beloved pets on your side-bars (as I do). Your projects do not have to feature pets, but any animals, such as in a zoo, farm or jungle.

We have 3 generous sponsors this week, and they are

and

and

We were offered several images from which to choose, and loving cats the way I do, I chose this adorable digi image, Purr Button 014, from Digi Stamp Characters. Aren't they the sweetest kittycats!

The 4 tiny hearts are off-cuts from the punched border. I applied 

Glossy Accents to them, but it does not show in the photo.

I love pink and grey together, and the image is coloured 

with Promarkers.

Inside the card

I would like to enter the following challenges :-

Animal Friends #2 - 'Checked and/or Striped' (tiny checks on background paper)

Tammy's Scrappin' Corner #60 - 'Lots of Layers'

Passion For Promarkers #196 - 'To Die For'

Paper Makeup Stamps #86 - 'Celebrations'

Creative Craft #9 - 'All About Animals'

Ruby's Rainbow #53 - 'Furry Friends'

Love to Create #63 - 'Punches/Dies'

Creative Creations #9 - 'Weddings'

Image - Digi Stamp Characters Purr Button 014

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - Papermania (3 years old)

Dies - Spellbinder Lacey Circles, Scalloped Hearts; Cheery Lynn Butterfly

Punches - Martha Stewart Hearts Border, and Hearts Corner

Peel-off greetings sticker from my junk stash

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

Bye for now,

Hugs,

Jennifer. x