It's all about the Texture

Hi there,

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend - we have had quite a bit of rain here.  I have been playing a continuous game of washing out/washing in all weekend! In between my crafting, of course! Lol.

I have gone all 'Steampunk' today making a special card for a design team call.  The theme is 'Texture' and I have tried to show this in several ways.  Here's what I made ...

The background paper is from the TH 'Lost and Found' paper stack and I distressed the edges with my scissors, before inking them with Walnut Stain distress ink.  I then inked through the clock mask and heat embossed some little cogs and gears down the right hand side with gold detail embossing powder.  I stamped some wings, gears and paint splodges onto the background paper and added some little torn pieces of text from an old book.

The main image is a Kanban stamp - partly coloured with Promarkers and the jacket is paper pieced. The image is backed with brown coredinations cardstock cut using a Spellbinders Labels Seventeen die.  It has been dry embossed with an embossing folder and then sanded back to show the core.

The 'Steampunk' lettering was mainly created on my pc, apart from the letter 'S' which was cut from a piece of card covered in metal tape, embossed and coloured with alcohol inks.  The flower was made in the same way.

Additional embellishments include a heart cut from corrugated card and inked with distress ink together with an additional brass-coloured wirework heart, a little brass clockface (which I added some chain to), some metal washers and a 'Dare to Create' sentiment.  I also treat some parts of the card to a sprinkling of gold Frantage embossing powder.

I think I managed to get some texture in there - hope I didn't overdo it! Lol.  I am off to submit it now and should find out at the beginning of September if I have been successful.  I hope so - wish me luck.

Hugz, Jan xx

Chocolate Box

Hello there,

It's my turn to post on the Studio 12 blog again today and I have a little gift idea to show you using a box template and the Studio 12 Picknix CD ...

I printed two sheets of the pink polkadot paper, reloaded them into the printer and then printed the box template on the reverse.  I cut, scored, folded and inked the pieces before cutting an aperture into the front using my nestabilities.  I secured a piece of acetate behind the aperture and added a scalloped circle border around the outside.  Once glued together the box was decorated with a sentiment from the CD, a little heart and charm, some die cut flowers and the cute little pink daisies from the CD.  I nestled some tissue paper in the bottom of the box and filled with chocolate, before fastening with a piece of co-ordinating organza ribbon.  A lovely little gift which took me about 40 minutes to create (which my daughter then tried to pinch. How rude!).

Note:  the box template is from the Polkadoodles 'Paper Boutique' (Vol 1) CD.

Have a great weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

A Bit of Stitching

Good morning,

I can't believe it's Friday again already! This week has just flown by and it's time for another challenge over at the Polkadoodles blog.  This week Shell has challenged us to use some stitching on our projects (real or faux).  Here's my design team card for a little bit of inspiration ...

I love the 8x8" card and I have used three different papers from the Candy Doodles CD and layered them on co-ordinating cardstock.  I have stitched around the edge of all three pieces and added some distress ink for extra depth.  The challenge is also to use a gorgeous Emma Canning image and I couldn't decide which one to choose, so I added three on this card!  I love how Emma's girls can be layered up to create a single image, which was coloured with my Promarkers.  The sentiment is also from the Candy Doodles CD and I thought it fit the little group of 'friends' perfectly.  Lots of added embellishments from my stashbox to finish the card.  Hope you like it!

I shall look forward to visiting your blogs to check out the entries for this week's challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

Mini Accordion Book

Hi there crafty people,

I'm back today with another crafty little make for the Studio 12 blog using the fantastic Studio 12 Picknix CD.  This time I have gone all miniature and made a cute little accordion book using loads of elements from the 'All Sewn Up' collection.  Here's the front ...

I used a piece of stampboard for the front covering it with one of my favourite Picknix papers, which has a little cross-stitched element and a sentiment (from the Welcome Home collection) layered on top digitally.  I then treated it to a bit of my favourite distress ink and added some little stamped branches at the top.

I gave the same treatment to the back piece of stampboard and added the 'Handmade with Love' element digitally.  Don't forget to add the ribbon closure!

And here's what I did inside ...

I layered up lots of little miniature elements onto another design of Picknix paper, adding shadows to them to make them look more dimensional.  I then scored and folded concertina stylie.  The edges are all inked with distress ink and I added some more little stamped branches, a few punched flowers and doodled some little hanging hearts.

Hope you like it - pop over to the blog to see some more fantastic inspiration from my teamies too.  So many different ways to use your Picknix collection (and if you haven't got yours yet, then why not?)

Have a great weekend,
Hugz, Jan xx

A little Tag

It's Friday - it's Polkadoodles time!

Don't forget to check out the challenge blog every Friday for a new crafty challenge - this week it is to make a Tag, either stand alone or on a card.

I made a stand alone one and covered a plain kraft tag with purple paper from the last 'Pen and Paper Circle' CD and then subjected it to distress ink, stamping, a bit of gold embossing powder and some more stamping! I added a gold mirri heart which went through my embossing machine, topped with a little purple heart and then added a gorgeous Emma Canning image which is coloured with Promarkers to match. I recreated the little bunting banner at the top of the tag, to echo the one she is holding in the image.  Some gold ribbon, a bit of purple feather and a die-cut lace edge finishes off the tag.  Hope you like it!

Go check out the blog for some more fab inspiration from the Design Team and have a go - you could win yourself a prize.

Happy Tagging,

Hugz, Jan xx

Monochrome Pink

Hello there,

Well, I had to speak too soon, didn't I!!  It has been very overcast here today, but still very humid - we have even had the odd rumble of thunder in the distance.  Bring back the sunshine!

I have a card to show you today for a September birthday (woo, look at me getting ahead!) Lol.  I am going to enter it into the 'Lil's Little Fairies' blog challenge, which is Monochrome this week.  I adore the 'Lili of the Valley' stamps and use them lots, so I thought it was time to have a go at one of their blog challenges.  Here's what I made ...

The gorgeous background paper is another 'First Addition' - this one is from my 'Love Letters' paper stack and the colours are to die for.  The paper and image are matted onto a pretty pearlised pink card.  The cute little image is LOTV 'Patchwork Daisy' and is coloured with my Promarkers and the sentiment is also LOTV.  Embellishments include some die-cut leaves, three little punched flowers, two pink brads and a raspberry candi centre for the daisy flower.

I would also like to enter this one into the 'Stampin for the Weekend' challenge which is also Monochrome this week.

Hugz, Jan xx

Botanical Birthday

Hello, I hope you are all enjoying your weekend - I actually got my gardening done yesterday (only because it was like a greenhouse in my crafty conservatory)!

I have a quick birthday card today, made for a friend who loves butterflies - so a good enough reason to use one of my new stamps.  Here's what I made ...

It's quite a simple layout this time, with no matting and layering - just some gorgeous backing paper from my Papermania 'Beautiful' 12x12 paper stack which is inked around the edges with Antique Linen distress ink.  The stamp is 'Kaisercraft - Botanical' and I added touches of colour with my Promarkers and some Stardust glitter.  The edges are also inked with the same distress ink.  Organza ribbons, a birthday sentiment and some pretty punched flowers to finish off (oh, and the obligatory self adhesive gems!)  Hope she likes it!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

You are Invited ...

Hi everyone,

The weekend starts here and it's my turn over at the Studio 12 blog again today - I hope you have all had a chance to enter our August giveaway - check out the blog for the rules.

Well, I don't know about you, but we have finally had some nice sunny weather here over the last few days - which got me thinking about barbeques and picnics and general al fresco dining.  So, I have used the fantastic Picknix CD to make a little invite using elements from the 'Heavenly Garden' and 'Welcome Home' sections ...

This was a fairly quick and simple project - I copied a piece of pink polkadot paper into 'Word' on my pc, resized it and then washed out the colour a little, before adding a faux stitched border.  I added the bunting, lemonade stand and cupcakes (which are so easy to layer up) and then added the written details in a text box.  I coloured the 'Picnic' lettering with a pink Promarker and thought I would invite you all at Studio 12 to my picnic.  See you all there !!! Lol.

This project could easily be adapted to cover a whole range of events - you might never need to buy invites again!

Have a great weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

Photo Inspiration - Pink and Green

A sunny Good Morning to you all,

Well, after a deluge of rain on Tuesday, we have had some sunny weather here in Yorkshire - I must get out and tidy up the garden a bit, but instead I craft! Lol.

I have a card today for the 'Stampin' for the Weekend' challenge - which is a photo inspiration challenge.  I love these and they are quickly becoming a favourite, and what's more the colour scheme is also one of my favourites - predominantly 'Pinks and Greens' - how could I refuse!  Here is a copy of the photo, isn't it gorgeous ...

And here's my card that I made to enter ...

I have tried to pick up the olive green, salmon pink and the gorgeous ditsy print from the bedding in the photo and echo these in my choice of papers which are from one of my many 'First Edition' paper stacks (I am addicted to them!)  

The image is LOTV and is called 'Blossom', which I also thought fit the theme of the card - she is coloured with my Promarkers in a selection of colours to match the backing papers and the kraft card.  I inked the edges with 'Peeled Paint' distress ink and also stitched around the edge of the image in pink to echo the fabrics in the photo.

The sentiment is a recent purchase, also from LOTV and I just love it - it has a little friendship recipe on it.  The edges are also inked with Peeled Paint distress ink.

The flowers are WOC and again the cherry blossoms are in keeping with my theme.  I added some die cut leaves too.

Further embellishments include some gorgeous olive green polka dot organza ribbon and a bow, a little key charm, a TH 'wish' ticket, some adhesive gems (of course) and finally a pink heart to echo the little hanging heart on the cupboard drawer in the photo.

I would also like to enter this card into the 'Wild Orchid Challenge' which is also 'Pink and Green' this week.

Have a fab day,

Hugz, Jan xx

Sorry you're Leaving

Morning everyone,

I'm off to York this morning to help move my daughter into her new student house, but thought I would do a quick post to show a card that I made for one of my work colleagues who left at the end of the summer term ...

It's a fairly simple one for me - but the gorgeous background paper (from the Spring Feast paper stack) speaks for itself.  The stamp is Woodware and I paper-pieced the flower with a piece from the background paper.  A lush organza ribbon bow, a small key charm, some card candi and pink adhesive pearls finish the card.

Happy Wednesday to you all,

Hugz, Jan xx

Back to Reality!

Hi there,

Well, my holiday is over (wish it had been longer) and it's time to return to blogland - it's taken me all day to get here and post! Lol.  We all had a fantastic time down in Cornwall - it's the first time I've been and I fell in love with it.  What a beautiful place - I would love to live there!  I took my little doggies and they had a ball too - here's a piccie of them playing on the beach ...

Oh well, it's time for everything to return to normal now - get my blogging and crafting up to date and visit everyone to see what you've all been up to while I've been away.

See you soon,

Hugz, Jan xx