Christmas Stocking

Hi there crafters,

It's time for another challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week Julie has chosen the theme of 'CHRISTMAS STOCKING'. Well, this challenge definitely 'challenges' me - do I have a christmas stamp with a stocking on - no! So here's my improvisation using a cheeky little digital image and a tag stamp from my stash ...

Thought I might make a few of these to add to my christmas pressies this year - much better than shop bought ones and all made from my scraps!

Hope you can join us this time.

Hugz, Jan xx

Halloween Tag

Hello there,

Well, I have been dying to get crafty for Halloween, but this is the first chance I've had. So, when I saw the new theme over at the 'Graph'It Marker Colour Challenge' I decided it was time I got started! Lol.

Here's what I made for my entry ...

I have used a collection of things to make my tag, starting with a basic shape cut from a piece of recycled card. This was covered with some scraps of paper from my stash in green, orange and rust and then mounted on black card.  

The main image is made of three separate images overlayed to make a little Halloween scene and are from the 'Witchie Witchie download bundle' available from Polkadoodles. I coloured the pumpkin with my Graph'It markers - I used four different shades from the skintones set (4115, 4125, 4155 and 4170) and blended them from light to dark. The green and yellow was added with my Promarkers.  

The 'Happy Halloween' sentiment and the little bats are printed from the same download bundle and cut out and added to the tag with some dimensional glue (although this doesn't show very well in the picture).  The 'October' calendar is from the sentiments section of the 'Home for Christmas CD', also from Polkadoodles and I added a little spider web (from the download bundle) and highlighted the 31 with markers. 

I added a few extra embellishments, including a little hand drawn spider, some tiny bunting with 'boo' lettering stamped on it, a die-cut gate and a couple of little metal pumpkins which I coloured with my pens too. And lastly, a piece of black ribbon to finish off.

Right, I'm off to enter this into the challenge - wish me luck!

Hugz, Jan xx

More Distressing

Hi there,

It's Friday again, which means it's time for another challenge over at Polkadoodles and this week we would love to see your 'Distressed' projects.  Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I decided to make a tag this week and used a piece of left over kraft card for the base.  I chose a couple of papers from the 'Sugarplum Daisy CD' and tore the edges to fit the tag.  I added 'Walnut Stain' and 'Tumbled Glass' distress inks to the edges before stitching them onto the tag.  I then curled and ripped the edges a little more for a proper distressed look.  I added a gorgeous digi image from the fantastic new 'Time for Tea' collection, which is called 'Fall Love' and coloured with my Promarkers.  I typed out the saying on my pc, printed it, tore it into pieces and inked all the edges with distress ink, before sticking them in place.  A little piece of fencing (from the same CD), a piece of blue ribbon and a couple of blue candi finish off the design.  Hope you like it!

I shall look forward to checking out your 'Distressed' projects on the blog.

Hugz, Jan xx

Paper Piecing

Hellooo there,

It's been a very busy week here and I must admit I haven't had much time for blogging this week - so I'm sorry if I haven't managed to get around to all your gorgeous blogs this week.  I also wanted to say hello and welcome to my lovely followers, who are climbing steadily :)

Well, if it's Friday again it must be time for another challenge over at the Polkadoodles challenge blog.  This week our Claire would like to see your 'Paper Piecing' projects, including the use of newspaper somewhere on the project.

I decided to take this literally and actually use pieces of paper from my stash that were left over from previous projects.  Here's what I made ...

I made my own tag from a piece of left over kraft card and topped it with some gorgeous brown text paper (from the 'Pen & Paper Circle 3' CD) that I found in my stash.  The edges are inked with my fav Walnut Stain distress ink.  The flowers are from the 'Candy Doodles' CD and the large one is cut from some more scraps of paper with the two smaller flowers cut from newspaper.  I added little co-ordinating buttons for the centres.  The cute little owl is printed from the 'Sugar Birdies' CD and I paper pieced his tummy with some more newspaper and gave his some funky googly eyes for a fun element.  A piece of ribbon, a couple of distress stain ink splats, some flat backed pearl accents and a 'Just for You' sentiment (which is also printed from the Candy Doodles CD) finish off the project.  

Don't forget to pop over to the blog for some more great inspiration from my fab teamies.

Hugz Jan xx

A Tag in a Pocket

Morning everyone,

I'm a little late posting this morning, have been engrossed in my art journal since 7am this morning! Yes, you heard right - I couldn't sleep!! Lol.

I have a different project to show today - as the title says, it's a tag in a pocket! Couldn't think what else to call it - see what you think ...

I made the pocket from some champagne card stock and then covered it with lush paper from the 'Prima Almanac' paper pad and a postcard from my stash.  I have recently bought the TH die to make paper rosettes and I can't stop playing with them.  The extra flowers are also Prima to match the Almanac range.  Embellishments include black die-cut swirls, buttons and adhesive pearls.

Here's the tag that nestles inside ...

I absolutely love this photo (can't remember where it's from, but there are several on one sheet).  

I would like to enter this in the 'Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - Pearls and Flowers'

Hope you all have a great weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx

A Special Birthday

Happy Saturday everyone,

I can't believe how fast the time is flying by - I have already been back at school four weeks, only another four until the next break! Lol.

I hate to say it, but I haven't done much crafting this week - I have been so incredibly tired.  My hubby thinks I may have had some sort of virus - I said 'Yes, it's called sleeping sickness!'

Anyway, I have a very special card to show you today - one which I made for a special crafty friend who celebrated her birthday a few weeks ago.  I don't think she will mind me showing it you today ...

I bet you couldn't guess her favourite colour is PINK!  I raided my stash for everything pink I could lay my hands on, as you can see.  Here's the ingredients I used:

Image - Magnolia 'Princess Tilda'

Colour - Promarkers

Papers - Magnolia, My Mind's Eye (text paper was from my stash)

Sentiment - LOTV 'Recipe Sentiments'

Die-cuts - Doohickey: 'Vintage Daisies', 'Heart Swirl', 'Lovely Fence', 

'Antique Lace', Dragonfly and Marianne leaf die: LR0226

Embellishments - pink polkadot ribbon and bow, text heart, flat backed ivory pearls, 

pink adhesive gems, pink eyelets, 'wish' lettering

Ink - TH Distress ink 'Walnut Stain' and 'Victorian Velvet'

The sentiment is stamped onto a Doohickey 'Vintage Tag' 

and is tucked in behind the main image for an extra little surprise.

I think this particular Magnolia stamp is quickly becoming a favourite amongst my ever growing stamp collection - it fits so many different occasions.  Hope you like my little creation - I'm sure my friend did :)

Enjoy the rest of your 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

Studio 12 Blog goes live!

Morning everyone,

Well, this is a strange feeling - I don't have to go to school today, that's a first! I have swapped my day off and am working on Friday (there's always a downside) Lol.

It's an exciting day over at Polkadoodles following the successful launch of 'Studio 12' with Nikky's new 'Picknix' collection. Their sister blog at 'Studio 12' goes live today and is all about 'hybrid' crafting. "What's that?" I hear you ask - well, it's where you combine CD crafting with all your own papercrafting goodies and come up with a cross between the two. If you need some inspiration, the design team have been up to their tricks and posted some fantastic ideas of what you can do with Nikky's new collection.

Here is one of the samples I made for the TV launch show ...

I made a tag using the 'All Sewn Up' section of the CD.  I covered a handmade tag with paper from the CD, stitched around the edge and then inked the edges with Walnut Stain distress ink.  The little rag doll was printed from the embellishment section of the CD, coloured with Promarkers and her dress is paper-pieced with a left over scrap from the CD, before I added her to the tag.  The sentiment is also from the CD and is mounted on a contrasting scalloped circle, cut using my nesties.  Embellishments include some real buttons which are stitched to the tag to accent the theme, together with a die-cut flower, some ribbon and a few adhesive gems.  

This is a fantastic collection to work with and has so many elements to choose from - no wonder the launch show was a sell out!

Don't forget to pop on over to the new blog and check out the DT creations too - see you there.

Hugz, Jan xx