Simply Wonderful

Hi Crafters,not been blogging for a few days,busy with job hunting and life ,you know how it is.The weather has been pants,could we have had any more rain yesterday,thank goodness it's been dry today. I feel abit under the weather myself,caught my son's cold,sore throat and aching back. Quite a simple card today ,very cute though and very pink and girly. The stamp,mimi in car, is a penny black,one of my half price sale buys. The sentiment and diecut clouds are from di-namics. The paper is do craft basic and I've inked the edges in brown chalk ink and added a ribbon. I've ventured into the garden ,now it's dry,and took some pics. My mimi card is photographed in a beautiful white flowering shrub called "Mac the bride", lovely at this time of year despite the rain.

 Challenges entered:

Sentimental Sunday: cards for kids

 penny black : May Day, Springlike
     Pan Pastel : Spring time 
    Sunday sketch and stamp : Donna's sketch

The rain soaked garden. Alfie guarding his squeaky salami toy.
 At 11 he is still as playful as a puppy but has never learnt to return any toy thrown for him. I throw it,he retreaves and then heads for indoors









In this picture ,you can just make out the black bird he and his family,wife and 3 chicks (quite big and greedy) live in our garden ,they are semi tame and love leftover dog food,they will even steal from the dogs bowls.

Happy crafting. janex

Little Sweetheart with diamonds and pearls and Cute as a button

Hi crafters,the weathers still not up to much.... just rain,least I did the gardens back and front yesterday.The poodles have still not had their walk,they are not pleased .
I've got baby girl cards to show today,both using the same cute stamp. The stamp is lili of the valley,simply matt coloured with promarkers, I sometimes prefer this flat, almost printed look,it's allot quicker to do too. The papers and sentiment for the first card are from card mags,creative cardmaking . I've added some pink diamond like gems and some white pearl buttons. The wavy edge on the pink card is achieved by cutting with a crafters companion clevercut, a nifty bit of kit,it has 4 different blades you simple turn the dial to select,straight cut,score line, perforated or wavy.

challenges entered: Lily's little fairy's : diamonds and pearls
 cards and things : followed the sketch opposite
 craft creations : what little girls are made of
 The crazy challenge : feminine /girlie
My second card,same stamp but the papers are Kaiser Craft 12x12,Miss Nelly (fab funny name lol). The sentiment,card mag free gift with a little pink button added.

My second card,same stamp but the papers are Kaiser Craft 12x12,Miss Nelly (fab funny name lol). The sentiment,card mag free gift with a little pink button added.     

Challenges entered: Diva's by design : buttons/bows
                              simon says stamp : anything goes
                              creative impressions: anything goes

Just been creating a cv ,I've done them for Sam,but this is the first for me. There is a new M&S store opening by us,it will be one of the biggest in the country,so I'm applying there. Fingers crossed because on Friday I officially get my 11 weeks notice from the church,I'm still so sad and don't want to leave my lovely little job.

have a great day. janex

Mo Manning Nurse

Well I have purchased some digi images after all, Mo's digi's are so fabulous,what an artist, I love them all. This little nursie I had to have,the sentiment popped into my head as soon as I saw it,yes I know for a Christian woman I have a wicked sense of humour.
I've coloured with copic markers,added 3 little buttons from buttons galour and a cute medical bag brad. The checked blue card is from pinflair.

Challenges entered:

Allsorts : followed the sketch
ces : button it

It's raining here again,we have had hail too,for goodness sake it's nearly May!

happy crafting . janex

Moments In Time Howzat and a Grand Visitor

We had a visitor yesterday "Grandma", well she is my husband Grandma,and a very special lady at the grand old age of 98. Her memory is very short term but her health is ok,she can walk with a stick,even got up our stairs for the loo ,looked around the house and gazed at the garden through the french doors. She loved my dolls house and all the furniture and dolls within. My naughty white poodle jumped on her knee ,even though we had put cushions over her legs . She left with a kiss,a smile and 2 of my freshly baked chocolate chip and cherry muffins.Not bad for someone who is Mother to 3,Grandmother to 9, Great Grandmother to 16, and Great great Grandmother to 3.

Oh another wet and cold day,I'm sick of this now,can't even cut the grass ,oh well least there's crafting.
This stamp "Howzat" by flower soft,was one of 2 I bought half price in Llangollan,the other is the football one,man of the match.I've kept this card simple ,is this becoming a habit, probably not,just stamps and colouring and a stop of doodling.
By the way ,if your interested Howzat is a cricket term , put simply it means how's that as said to the umpire.

challenges entered:

Totally gorjuss : boys toys
everybody art: card for a man
dream valley : Earth tones
Stamptacular Sunday : free choice

happy crafting.janex

Your A Peach with just stamping

Well I've made a Spring like card,but here,it's anything but Spring like,heavy rain and strong cold winds,not nice at all .
This is a new stamp ,your a peach,it's a Mo Manning drawing but a slapstick penny black stamp. I must say I prefer a stamp to a digi after losing so many of mine when my old pc hard drive broke. A stamp is an actual owned physical item, but I know lots of crafter's adore digi, so each to their own. Anyway I just love love this stamp,so pretty and exquisitely drawn anyone could make a lovely card with this.The lovely child being followed by the beautiful butterflies. My son is terrified of them but I think they are a lovely addition to any garden.
I've coloured with my markers . The grass and flowers are art impression stamps used with whisper markers.The sentiment stamp is Dear Lizzy + American Crafts. I've inked the edges with TH distress ink in tumbling glass. There is not a scrap of patterned paper or an embellishment in sight ....gasp

challenges entered:

Penny Black Saturday : no patterned paper
our creative corner : butterflies
Aud sentiments : Spring/Summer colours.
Cooking it up with Katie : green,gorgeous,garden

enjoy your day,I'm off to check on my baking,choc and cherry muffins and shortcake biscuit today.
janex

Baby With Teddy One for a boy One for a girl

I bought a few Lili of the valley stamps a couple of weeks ago,just got round to inking up this little cutie, "baby with teddy".
I've kept it really simple for my boy card ,plainly coloured with promarkers,gingham paper and some pretty floer buttons from buttons gallour. The corner punch (a real fav of mine and a bargin ) is from hobby craft. The bought sentiment is craftwork card and the stamped sentiment is Kaiser stamps.




Boy Card
challenges entered:

totally papercrafts : all buttoned up
Dutch Dare : followed the sketch above(what a great one)
crafty catz : stripes or checks
crafts 4 eternity: something new ( new baby card and a new stamp)

My little baby girl card is very fancy,same stamp as above,the papers are nanas nursery by DCWV,I've used a sizzix diecut ,a Martha Stewart boarder punch.a 2 part floral punch with an embosser and a wood ware heart punch. The sentiment is Kaiser Craft.


Girl card
Challenges entered:

Sweet Sketch Wednesday : followed the sketch above
Fussy and Fancy : punches and diecuts

enjoy your day,looks like some heavy rain on the way here,my hubby says it's torrential in Chester with thunder and lightening. Don't think there will be much chance of a hose pipe ban here in the wet old North West.
janex

Pretty Pink Roses

Sunshine and showers here,lucky I missed the heavier showers on my walk,not as chilly as yesterday either. The savoury muffins I made yesterday where very nice,some left as they are quite big. Sam wasn't sure at first,saying where's the sugar,Bob will eat just about anything I make. They are yummy warm and are great just popped in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

Onto my card,very very girly , festoons of pink roses and not a stamp in sight. I used the paper by Nancy Watt in the May issue of making cards,some great papers this month if you can grab it. I've added lots of tiny pink pearls, a pearly white butterfly and lacy pink ribbon.

challenges entered:

Creative Stamp Friends : Bingo (my is pastel,lace,dots)
Fab n Funky : lace and pearls
Polka Doodles: pretty in pink

happy crafting. janex

Beatrix Potter cute creatures and Fabric Heart

I've always loved the stories and illustrations of Beatrix Potter, I thought ages ago they would make lovely stamps, so I do of course have some in my stamp collection. I loved the film "Miss Potter",wonderfully set in the gorgeous Lake District.
These 2 stamps are clear stamps from Crafters Companion,priced at £2 each ,I think they are excellent value,and they stamp beautifully.
I've coloured with my markers and added chipboard swirls,a blingy bow and brown gems. The flower edge punch is a Martha Stewart .

Challenges entered

My Mums Craft Shop : favourite song/movie (mines Miss Potter)
Crazy Challenge : Movie Inspired ( Miss Potter)
Cupcake Craft : in at the deep end , create some depth (I've used sticky pads to raise the images,chipboard shapes,a bow and gems)
totally gorjuss : bling

Diva's by design : anything but a card.
I have a bit of a thing for hearts around the home and I have made and bought quite a few,that are adorning various rooms in the house. This one is in the dining room hanging on my beloved oak dresser. Its made of printed cotton ,with a lovely fruit design,bought as a fat quarter. I drew a simple heart shape,stuffed with soft filling,machine stitched and added a twine hanger ,a strawberry button and some green ric rac.

I've been busy baking today, 12 ham and cheese muffins,they look lovely and a batch of fruit biscuits . The house smells yummy. I hope my hubby and son like them and eat them quickly,they are naturally skinny where as I have to be more prudent,though I do love my food.

happy card making,sewing, baking or what ever's your thing. janex

Sitting Here Thinking Of You

I'm actually sat here thinking I wish that bloody alarm across the road would shut up,the wind keeps setting it off. I'm also thinking I better give my poodles their walkies,bright and sunny now,after the rain ,but there is a strong cold wind... hence the screeching alarm.

Onto my card ,and what a clean and simple one for me. Don't you just love those papers "Papermania capsule blue collection" , they are so crisp and remind me of those lovely Dutch delft tiles. The stamps are a clear set by Hero Arts and I've paper pieced the chair. The flowers at the bottom are a woodware punch and a gem centre.


Challenges entered:

sketch and stamp: followed Maggie's sketch above (love this and will defo use again)
craft your passion : diecuts and punches
stamp with fun: favourite colours
CES challenges : paper piece it

great the alarm has stopped ..for now...happy crafting.janex

Man Of The Match for the blues

Well I watched the Grand National yesterday,never again,2 horses dead again,this is wrong it's a horrid race.
I watched the voice last night ,on tv, that man at the end, wow,a star is born.Another tear shed watching tv but this time in a happier nicer touching way.

On to the card front, been making a few men's cards,couple of Birthdays,men have them too believe it or not!

The football card is for a friend who really is a top bloke, the sentiments are from a mans world set by papermania. The main stamped image is a flower soft stamp "moments in time" , man of the match. I've used this before with Liverpool colours,this is my Everton one. Personally I can't stand football,over priced over hyped game. Least with cricket they dress so well ,the weather is always cheerful and some of the players are well lush lol.
The image is coloured with promarkers,the papers (love the clouds) where are free gift with quick cards,lets fly away.The finishing touch (men don't like too much faff) if a simple matallised craft cord by Bramwell crafts.

Challenges entered:
shopping our stash: masculine theme or boys colours
pan pastel : one for the boys.
secret crafter : A man's card
Joanna Sheen challenge: someone special

have a great day,cold but sunny here. janex

Sugar Sweet Dreams on Grand National Day

Well it's a good day for the Grand National,was forecast rain,but the sun is shining here on the Wirral so I'm sure Aintree will be too. It was Grand National day when we married 25 years ago. It's the only time I have a bet. Both my horses have Bob and Post in their names ,after my hubby and his job. They are real outsiders but you never know.
I really hope all the horses and rider are ok ,they say the course is safer this year but there is a great risk with stepchasing, 2 horses died last year,very sad.
In my younger years I spent a lot of time at Haydock races, I dated the catering manager there and my friend worked behind the bar, in the mornings,if I stayed over, I would walk his bosses little jack Russell, and we would visit the race horses, they do have a lovely life and are treated as Royalty.

I'm rather pleased with my card today featuring a Penny Black stamp "sugar sweet dreams". The sentiment stamp was a bargin find by great impressions.I've used the fabulous free gift from last months quick cards, Summer Goodness, by raspberry roads.
I've used a martha stewart punch for a pretty cream lace edge and added a yummy strawberry button.

challenges entered:

The Sweet Stop : the are carrying on their birthday celebrations, you can pick any sketch ,I've used the one above.
Penny Black & more @ allsorts : oh so cute (well easy for me,lol)
Penny Black Saturday : spots and dots
Pan Pastel : sweet treats
Timeless Tuesday : Fruit

Have a great weekend and if your having a flutter hope your lucky. janex

Pamper Yourself

I love a bath,hot deep and comforting,no shower for me,well occasionally if I'm in a rush. Even when on holiday abroad it's got to be a bath. The man this card is for,my Mum's Hubby,he loves a bath too, and being apart of our family you must be a dog lover and he adores their 2 toy poodles.
My toy poodle Hudson,the brown one,had a wash and brush up yesterday. Well a shower,shampoo, blow dry and a clipping. My back is aching today from all his pampering....it's a dogs life I tell you!

My card features a hot diggity dog diecut image from docraft,same as my last card. The papers match it ,from the same range,nice when you have total co ordination . The sentiment is from a jolly nations clear set,I bought the set just for this sentiment and have never inked up others on the sheet (bet you all do that too,right).
Anyway,simple ,cute bright card, that will be opened in May when they are aboard a cruise liner in the Med.

challenges entered:

cards for men : spring colours
Incywincy : cute critters
Papertake Weekly: April showers or water water everywhere
Party Time Tuesday : water
love to create: Birthday

have a great day even though it's Friday 13th eeek, weather looks ok here. Off to walk the pouches, Son doesn't seem keen ,but he and his girlfriend did give them a lovely long walk yesterday evening.
janex

Cupcakes Give You Wings

Do you like the title,I'm laughing to myself thinking too many cupcakes give you "bingo wings"......sorry my wicked sense of humour!

I actually made some cakes yesterday,with pink butter cream icing, I'm definately in a pink mood.I've made 3 cards lately all pink, this one is counterbalanced with brown and green though.

I remembered Katina's lovely cards in Quick cards so I picked up some Docraft papers and toppers,"hot diggity" by Andrea Jayne . A few pink buttons threaded with green ribbon and a Birthday sentiment add the finiching touches to a quick little card. The shaped card is craftwork cards,as is the sentiment.

challenges entered:

Paper Play: things with wings (my little fairy mouse)
Crafty Ribbons: things with wings
Dutch Dare: buttons and bows
Craft your passion: shaped cards
ABC : M for magical (magic fairy mouse)

well it's brightened up here,suns out, we had really heavy hailstones this morning,a white out. Chanced my washing on the line again,it dried yesterday after it's first soaking, nicer line fresh ,clothes are hard to iron after a drying on the radiators I think. No tumble driers in our house, I can remember as a teen sticking soaking wet jeans in ours for about an hour, Lord help the electric bill. I am now much more canny now I'm married and realise the price of electric,not to mention allot greener.
Hope my Mum doesn't read this..tee hee!
janex

Time To Celebrate Card and My little Pug Dog

It's most definitely April showers here,one minute bright sun and the next heavy showers,my washing is on the line...what a mistake...
It is good for the garden and the crops so maybe we should celebrate the rain!

Another maggie card, none for ages then what happens, I get back into them. I know some people don't like them because they only have eyes,I feel this way myself sometimes,but when I draw faces on they look rubbish ,so no nose and no mouth on mine. They are fun to colour though .
I've been naughty and been buying again,at Crabapple crafts and hobby craft, I'll be out of a job soon and should be saving money but you know how it is,us crafters want everything crafty...the latest stamps,dies,paper ,pens ...the list goes on and on.
I wanted the Tim Holtz old clock face die and bought it yesterday,glad I did ,most useful.
The stamp used is Magnolia Loving couple coloured with markers . The pretty rose paper is blueberry hill,papermania. The sentiment is lili of the valley and the rose and lace flower old stash. The butterfly is a sizzix die,cut twice with added pearls.

The little pug dog, is a comission,my son's girlfriends sister,she wanted a pug dog in vintage rose fabric. I drew a simple pug shape onto card,Drew round onto the wrong side fabric,sewed together on my sewing machine ,leaving a gap to turn ,stuffed him and sewed ,by hand,closed. I cut eyes ,nose and ears from green felt and added a set of googly eyes and a bow. I emailed the finish pug,which she loved but later requested a pink bow rather than green! I do think it's cute and a bit quirky like most of my soft toys are,hardest part is giving them up....what a softy hey!
I bought some wood blanks for altering,a house and house hangers, I'll show them you when I'm finished decorating them.

challenges entered:

Simon Says Stamp: April showers bring flowers
Celebrate the occasion: just because...must be pink
Craft Creations: flower power
Magnolia stamp lovers : Butterflies
Allsorts : colour bingo, I did the top row, green,pink and ribbon or lace (ribbon rose) for both the card and soft toy
Dream valley: wedding/love
enjoy your day.janex

Can she do a simple card and Church Attendance.

As I've just commented on Lisa's blog,I'm a more is more kind of crafter,so creating a simple card really is a challenge for me....have a managed this time ....you tell me...

I used a penny black stamp,clusters,and stamped it with whisper pens and blended with a bit of water. The paper is from a paper mania pad . Just added a sixizz heart die-cut ribbon slider and a glamorous lilac ribbon.

challenges entered

craft catz: keep it simple

penny black: case it challenge, Helen's card above

The Sweet Stop: they are having a 3rd birthday,you can pick any one of the sketches,I choose the simple one above.
colour create: purple,green and cream

Enjoy the rest of Easter. I went to church yesterday with Sam,it was a nice service and the church was pretty full ,the mood there is not what it was. Everyone is sad about me being made redundant from my job there, nobody more so than me. The minister told us that the age 20-40 age group was the highest in our area ,yet looking around the congregation the majority of people where over 70.
Why don't younger people go to church any more? that's a question poor struggling churches every where are asking. It has become a case of use us or lose us.

janex

Tilda's Family

It's quite awhile since I bought a Magnolia stamp,blimey the price has shot up,this one "Tilda's Family" was nearly £9,luckily I had a £10 credit from a card challenge win from Zoe Bunny Crafts. They were super,next day delivery.
It's dull and wet here so I thought I'd do a nice bright card. The papers are Raspberry Road,Summer Goodness, and where free in Quick Cards made easy mag. It's a great gift and a great issue feature our very own beloved blogger Katina Killey,from Katina's Cards and Chat who has made some gorgeous affordable cards. She has been poorly lately and I wish her a big get well and hugs.
I've coloured with copic and promarkers and inked all the paper edges in worn lipstick TH distress inks. The gems and sticky ribbon flowers are from hobby craft,the flower,woodware poppy punch with a button and butchers twine centre. The sentiment is K&Co,it says amazing because the wonder of babies is amazing. challenges entered: Fussy and Fancy

                                         : followed the sketch above
                                          just magnolia: anything goes

 Enjoy your long weekend ,what ever the weather and a Happy Easter blessing to one and all. janex

Tea Please

Think most of us love a nice cup of tea, I know I do,no coffee for me I went right off it when pregnant over 18 years ago. I love the new Sarah Kay stamps,this one "Tea Please" really stood out to me. I know lots of tea drinkers ,my Mum in law for one...my Mum is a coffee lover. The pretty background paper,mag free gift by Alison Butler. The black corner die,spellbinder Parisian accents and the other red diecut is a Marianne design with white ribbon threaded through.

 challenges entered: seems a little sketchy: followed the sketch bellow
                               crafty ribbon: black/white and another colour
                                papertake weekly: anything goes

The sun is shinning here,better than yesterday,we did have a lovely evening celebrating our silver wedding, a lovely Chinese Banquet, the restraunt in Parkgate ,Wirral, has beautiful veiws over the marches and I could see across to the snow covered hills of North Wales.
 happy crafting.janex

Tilda As The Easter Bunny

Well it's our Silver Wedding today and what a cold dull and windy day,I'm glad to say the weather 25 years ago was a little better but not much. Got some lovely cards and money and we are going out for a meal tonight.
I have not made a Maggie card in a very long time, I used to be addicted to them...then I wasn't....fickle woman...but I just recieved in the post (my prize win)a Magnolia stamp.,Tilda's family ,so adorable for baby cards...watch this space.
Routing in some boxes for some Easter images I found this cute one, Tilda in bunny suit. This cutie will be given to my son's girlfriend for Easter, bet that earns him a big kiss.
The paper is very old papermania ,Easter stack.The daisies are from a woodware punch with gem centres and the lovely daisy ribbon old stash possibly from the ribbon girl.
I've coloured with promarkers,sprayed with spray & shine and added a touch of glitter to the bow.



challenges entered:
just magnolia: Spring Time
I love promarkers: Spring Time
Simon Says: favourite tool (big shot and my craft knife)
simply magnolia: Dies/Punches/ribbon
magnolia down under: Easter inspired
happy crafting. janex

April Showers

I know we need the rain but do we have to have cold as well. It's so cold wet and grey here, could be worse though, I've just watched the news and Scotland has got heavy snow. Friends of ours where up by Elgin last week, they where enjoying highs of 23, now it's lows of -3. It's no wonder we Brits are always talking about the weather!
Still aching from Thursday,shopping in Chester yesterday was exhausting,the shops where too hot and packed ,but I did get some bargain clothes buys at Marks and Spencer's.

My card features the lovely rain drops we all welcome,the gentle drops and then the sun comes out.
The image is an oldie, a crafters companion stamp set called "happy days" by Jayne Nestorenko. I've coloured with promarkers and the pretty paper was a mag free gift by Sally Moret. The sentiment is from a scrapbook sheet ,life is good by echo park. The flower brad ,the hobby house and the sticky ribbon strips are from hobby craft.

Challenges entered:

Mojo Monday: followed the sketch above
oldie but a goodie: April showers
passion for promarkers: whatever the weather
crafters companion: four legged friends

least the weather can't spoil our lovely hobby. happy crafting.janex

2 Joy Riders Cards

Lucky me lately, I won 2 craft prizes with this card, how good is that!

Red,white and blue,London,Royalty and the Olympics, so on trend at the moment,really inspiring me with my crafting.
I bought the new crafts beautiful mag,issue 240 and it was full of gorgeous trendy A4 papers ,the one I used is by Alison Butler. I think it goes so well with my new lili of the valley stamp "ride with me", coloured with bold pro markers. I had a quick Google at lambretta images and these colours are authentic. It makes a great celebration card for many occasions I think.

Challenges entered:

sketch and stamp: followed Sarah's sketch (I've rotated it)
Sir Stampalot April challenge: Happy Birthday (it's their 2nd Birthday)
my mums craft shop: stamp it





The same stamp "ride with me" but with a very different look. The colours are muted pastel tones , I coloured with copic markers then highlighted with water coloured pencils.The papers, letters from Paris by wild rose studio.The glossy stamp embellishments old stash.

challenges entered:
sweet stop challenge: followed the sketch above.
stamp with fun: no Easter card
stamptacular Sunday: playin' with pastels

Popping to Chester this afternoon,want to have a look in M&S,the weather has turned here,steady rain, I know we all need it and the garden does, so different from the glorious day last Monday spent in very sunny Llangollen.

happy crafting. janex