Birthday Truffles

Hope your all ok after the nasty weather yesterday, we were decorating the front room ,doors open and the heavens opened,rain and wind giving it their all. Seen the news, devastation for some.
me I've made this card for my Mum in law, it's for my son Sam to give her,for her 70th Birthday. She loves chocolate, I would say apart from shopping at M&S a very lot , it's her only vice, unlike her daughter in law, ex smoker and wine and G&T lover not to mention stamp addict.

I'm totally adicted to house mouse and friends now, and now have 13 unmounted sets,all purchased this month, yes I know I'm terrible but I can't help it!!!!!
This is from a set called Bearytastic Day. I've coloured with pro and copic markers, it took awhile to get the grey's right on the bear,so the limbs are visable.
The sentiment (isn't it just fab) is from stampasaurus. The striped paper g.c.d studio and the polka dot, do craft peter rabbit collection. The happy birthday ribbon from crabapple crafts. I've printed an insert from the house mouse cd rom.

challenges entered :

crafts 4 eternity : bear necessities
craft your days away : teddy bears
J&C creations : animal antics
stamping for the weekend : show us your style ( cute ,girly with a bit of humour and usually a stamped image )


Just thought I'd show you how I grow my strawberries, bought this planter with plants from QVC about 4 years ago. I'f we are lucky and net against blackbird theft we can usually get a small bowlful for breakfast for about a month or so.

the decorating is finished ....yes...but I've got a banging headache from the gloss paint, I said " We are never decorating again " Bob said "good", ....if only it where true...

have a great day. janex

Love Bunny

Back to some cuteness,and they don't come much cuter than this image, Love Bunny set,happy hopper by Joanna Sheen. Coloured with promarkers.
When I saw another challenge with red white and blue,I thought oh no...but with these pretty floral papers it's anything but a patriotic card. I've decided these colours can be girly .


The blue paper is papermania ,capsule blue collection,the red paper papermania , portobello road. The ribbon old stash and the lace punch used is a Martha Stewart.
I thought this sentiment by di namics went so well.I would love a friend to send me a card like this.

challenges entered :

paper take weekly : followed Dawn's sketch that I rotated.
shopping our stash : red ,white and blue or stars and stripes

sentimental Sunday : cute and girly
stampavie : lots of flowers
I love Pro markers : anything goes

Some holiday this is, the work goes on, decorating the front room ready for a new suite. I love colouring cards and even picture frames but as I'm getting older I can't stand diy ,still needs must.

happy crafting. janex

More Michael Powell Beach Huts

Yesterday was very pleasant here weather wise,makes a change, so it was out in the garden. Bob,my hubby,is on holiday from work for 2 weeks and lucky him has a great list of jobs to do,starting with sorting the patio flags out. I gave a hand getting the weeds and seedlings out of the cracks and cut the grass back and front. I'm not one of those women who give their orders looking on with arms folded...you know the type...heaven forbid.



My card features the same stamp , coastal getaway by Michael Powell, used in my last posted card. Just a hint of pale pastels this time,but livened up with an added sea gull stamp by rubberdubbadoo and a string of bunting. The bunting is cut from a sheet printed from Summer Stories cd by crafters companion.
The strippy paper is from a Joanna Sheen cd called Messy Rabbit, the backing papers in this cd are fab. The sea shell stickers are by create and craft.

Challenges entered :

create a scene : beach scene, sea and sand (my second entry)
cupcake inspirations : picture inspiration

creative card crew : easy as 1 2 3 ( I did : 1 designer paper , 2 stamped images and 3 shells )

anyway better get back to work. enjoy your day. janex

Coastal Getaway

Please click the picture for a better look.
Living in the British Isles you are never too far from the sea,where we live you can be by the sea in half an hour or less. I love North Wales but my favourite beaches and sea side places are in North Yorkshire. I love beach huts they give you such a sense of nostalgia, although I have never owned one, think you need to be a millionaire now, or ever even rented one.
I love these Michael Powell stamps, this is the 3rd one I've bought,pleased to say this one stamps very well, probably due to the small size and me having the perfect sized acrylic block. It is called "coastal getaway". The drawings are so detailed and beautiful all you need is a few dabs of marker pens and you look like an artist yourself.
I've kept my card simple to show the lovely scene off. The papers and sentiment are K&Co ocean seaglass.

challenges entered:

create a scene : Beach Scene ,sand and water
love to create : anything goes
totally papercraft : sushi tones (picture inspiration)
crafty catz : pastel colours.
deep ocean : welcome summer
crafting when we can : summer fun

have a lovely day. janex

Friends Like You

Well the weather is driving me crazy,it rained so hard last night, we shivered under the big duvet ,the garden could be wrung out,hanging baskets with their flowers bedraggled...call this Summer...

No such problems in card land,the weather can be anything you want it to be, mine is a sunny garden. I love this image, house mouse and friends,Gruffies, from the set by Joanna Sheen called friends like you.
The card is for my Hubby Bob ,who's Birthday it is soon.He often helps me in the garden,he's happy doing the spade work if I point where to dig. Resently he helped me in the gardening job I had,so this card is just the ticket.
I've coloured with copic markers. The gingham card is pinflair. The sentiment(love it) lili of the valley and the border punch used zig zag Martha Stewart. The tag is old stash.

challenges entered :
The cheerful stamp pad : in the garden
celebrate the occasion : welcome Summer
ready teddy go : one for the boys

just got back from hobby craft....more craft stuff....well I have just sold about £50 worth of cards.
happy crafting. janex

Very Busy With House Mouse and Friends

Morning crafters,thanks for you comments on my last post and the Happy Birthday wishes. It turned out to be a good Birthday, lovely Chinese meal,few drinks and a big bunch of red roses all from my lovely Bob. I got some nice cards,money and presents. The money being spent on crafty goodies ofcourse.
Well I've been busy having fun with my house mouse and friends stamps. The first pic shows four cards made recently, I will post in detail at later posts. If I do it all at once my head will fall off...lol...

This card, aren't they the cutest bunnies in their little bee suits, is for my son's girlfriend to give to her parent's for their silver wedding,hence the personal peal offs.The stamp set is Joanna Sheen,happy hoppers , You Did It!. The honey combe backing paper is echo park and the heart ribbon old stash. I've coloured with markers and added crystal stickles to the wings.

challenges entered :

ABC : r for romance
stampavie : something with wings
totally gorgeous : something yellow

enjoy your day, If your living in the UK it's bound to be rubbish weather wise, still more time for crafting. janex

Summer Fun on my Birthday...not

Happy Birthday to me, bit rubbish because my cold has gone really bad,and it's horrid weather wise. So grey and wet here, not like on my card. Still I will enjoy my day crafting with my new House Mouse stamps and Bob and I are having a meal out this evening.

My card is made with house mouse stamps,2 sets, summer fun for the image and chill out for the fruit segments and the sentiment.
I've coloured with pro markers . The sun tan lotion WOW embossing powder ,white puff (because it puffs up when heated), clever hey, good for snow too.
The drink is a spellbinders diecut.As is the scallop rectangle.
The papers ,orange one,dcwv the cloudy one,mag freebee.A strip of orange ribbon and were done.

challenges entered:

charisma cardz : Summer
party time Tuesday : orange colours
dutch dare : summer fun
cute card thursday : here comes summer
paper play : use a die
diecutting diva's : summer colours

have a happy crafty day. janex

Just Chill!

I've got a cold,I'm not really ill,no aches and pains just a sore throat and runny nose, not had a cold in ages so I shouldn't complain.
It's my Birthday tomorrow,21 again, and I have bought lots of house mouse and friends stamps. I'm loving these,so fun and very cute. Expect to see lots and lots of cards featuring them...

My first posted card features a super cute house mouse from the chill out unmounted set. I've coloured with promarkers . The lavendar check paper is wildrose studio. The white lace border a martha stewart punch and I've added a craftwork cards birthday circle ,some blue gems and a pretty lilac ribbon.

challenges entered :

Joanna Sheen : lavender and lace.
house mouse and friends : liquid Summer refreshments for sunnydays
papertake weekly : bingo (middle line , gems,free and lace)

cheery bye, I'll be back soon. janex

The Ride Of Your Life

Not a bad day here for a change , Mr sun paying a visit, makes me want to make bright summery cards like this one.


Another house mouse and friends ,this is a Gruffie ,the set is called ride of your life. My next door neighbours ,who buy cards of me,both have bikes,so I purchased this set with them in mind.
I was at Rosemerry Merry's shop on Sunday, they sell the most gorgeous 12x12 papers, I bought several sheets from the country drive range from echo park,this one is called so dandy and the bees border strip.
I've used a bright yellow card,inked the edges in blue chalk ink and added 2 bee buttons to look as if there chasing the bears.

challenges entered :
crafty sentiments : bright colours
incy wincy : followed the sketch
sweet stamping : here comes the summer fun
love to create : summer time fun


have a great and hopefully sunny day. janex

just a load of bunny wabbits

I've fallen hook line and sinker for house mouse and friend, how cute and stampable is this range. I didn't know if the unmounted hm's would be any good ...they are ,a whole stamp set costing as little as £8.30 great value ,and with some ez mount on them they stamp beautifully. Don't you just hate it when you buy a stamp and you waste lots of lovely super smooth white paper trying to get a good image...should I mention any names...well why not...

here are a few I have found not so great ...lili of the valley,although I do love them ,some detailed mouse tails on penny black stamps,the new Michael powell stamp I just bought, to name a few....am I alone , am I just a rubbish stamper or does anyone else have these faults?
Any way on to my cards, featuring a very easy to stamp House Mouse, Happy Hopper ,big fan set. The image was coloured with copics and paper pieced ( I love this technic), the papers are Grace Taylor vintage elegance scrapbook kit from hobby craft. The lace is from a local craft shop . The baby wooden lettering Kars.

challenges entered :
allsorts : paper piecing
Forever friends : anything goes plus an animal
the paper shelter : anything goes
ooh la la creations : babies

happy crafting. janex

On the lookout, Michael Powell

Another card for a Dad, I know a Grandad who would love a card like this too, I have another Fathers Day card I posted earlier if you fancy a look.
Michael Powell is a wonderful artist,there is now a range of stamp from docrafts featuring his work,but a word of warning ....if you don't like colouring these may not be the stamps for you...I adore colouring and used both promarkers and copics on this gorgeous seaside stamp.
I'm not sure where the little town is suppose to be, it reminds me very much of the beautiful quaint places in North Yorkshire like Robin-hoods Bay.
The papers and sentiment are K&Co papers ,seaglass,they actually have fish in the design.
I've added a few pieces of blue twine,love this stuff great for mens cards in place of girly ribbon. The sea gull is a sizzlet die cut.

challenges entered :
crafting for all seasons : for a man
die cutting diva's : Fathers Day
craft punked : Fathers Day
alphabet challenge : J for journey (mines a journey to the seaside)

the rain continues ,the sky is black, no trip to the sea side today. janex

Happy Fathers Day

This male card was a commission for a real ale loving Dad, know a few Dads who like a pint of this,not averse myself,although it doesn't suit my delicate tummy.
The image is a personal impression by Lindsey Mason,coloured with promarkers. The papers are docraft,wellington bear. The sentiment is sassy stamps.
Hope all the Dads have a good day,my poor hubby will be working as per usual ,never mind he's off for 2 weeks soon.

challenges entered:

crafts 4 eternity : dashing Dads
pan pastel : boys/Fathers Day
celebrate the occasion : Fathers Day
papercraft star : Fathers Day
dream valley : for that special guy

very dull here, day crafting for me....goodie....hope you have a lovely weekend. janex

Gruffies fun in the sun

Anyone who reads this blog will know when it comes to stamps I'm a total addict with very little buying constraint , I'm also not loyal , I change from one stamp company to another. I'm pleased to say I'm not like that in real life, I'm not extravagant with shoes ,clothes or handbags, and I have been married for 25 years ,so I'm very loyal, but I start blog hopping and bamm another great card,another stamp I must have....
well I won the challenge on totally gorgeous...£10 voucher with Joanna Sheen....well to cut a long story short ....house mouse and friends happened.... expect to see a lot of these in future....

My card features a stamp from house mouse designs, gruffies Fun In The Sun set. Isn't it a fab image,so great for a man or office worker. I've coloured with promarkers and a white gel pen. The papers are raspberry road with the edges inked with red chalk ink.

challenges entered :
The crafty pad :lets hear it for the boys
I love promarkers : tutti frutti
sentimental Sundays : for a special guy
Fussy and fancy : boy attitude

And news about my gardening job....well it is my job no more....3 acres of weed infested garden is not my idea of fun,ok you do the weeding ,til the land and then plant something lovely and after a lot of time and energy you will have a great garden. Now if you weed a bit ,leave it ,then weed another bit all you end up with is the weeds back,empty soil is a magnet for weeds..fact.
My garden is heavily planted ,you can hardly see any soil ,which means there are hardly any weeds, any gardener worth their salt knows this. None garden folk think pulling a few weeds and tidying round will produce a great garden,well sorry a great garden requires plants and that means money.
In Victorian times rich folks lived in huge houses ,with ,huge gardens ,with an army of cheap labour to look after them, times have changed. You get the picture,well I'm no fool except when it comes to crafting.
Have a great weekend even if the weathers pants like it is here. janex

For Dad

Few cards to show today all for Dads.
This card is for a motor bike loving Dad. The image is a personal impressions stamp,the sentiment is a di namics stamp.Fathers Day sentiment,sassy stamps. The paper is from a making cards mag.The dad stickers prima,old stash.
challenges entered :
Party time Tuesday : all things mechanical ,Fathers Day
Craft challenge : Fathers Day (entering both cards )
Cards for men : Fathers Day


I made this card for my Son to give his Dad, I know it's kind of cute but he likes Mini's and teddies ,so it will be well received.
The image is a lili of the valley die cut. The paper ,papermania and the lettering ,sizzix girls are weird. I've added red twine , black and red buttons and a bit of black ribbon.

challenges entered:
paperplay : for a man card with twine.
papertake weekly : 3 2 1, I have 1 image,2 papers ,3 buttons

Tilda USA Bound

I've recently been commissioned to make several cards,this being one of them. It's for a girl heading to the USA to work for 6 months. The only briefing I got was America and a flag. Put my old brain cells into action and came up with this.
The image is Tilda with lace flag,from the bon voyage collection,as is the sentiment. I coloured her in bold promarkers in the American colours and removed the lace flag and put the star spangled banner in it's place. The flag and the red white and red sticker center are from an old scrap booking set I bought from QVC eons ago.The red dotty card is from pinflair.

challenges entered:

magnolia inspiration : any thing goes
creative inspirations : trooping the colour ,red ,white and blue
anything goes : around the world travel

back to rain here,well never mind another craft day. janex

Milk and Biscuits

Please click for a better veiw
At last a nice day,and a day to myself,been busy at my gardening job. I think it's too much,3 acres and lots and lots of weeds. I've got 3 big sore mosquito bites and I'm aching.My lovely Hubby came and helped me with the heavy work. I think I've done a great job so far but the man who owns the house didn't even notice ,rich number crunching types are an enigma to me ,I do pretty and creative ok!
On a possitive note I had my hair cut yesterday,back to a bob , I love long hair but mine isn't as thick as it was so is better shorter.

Onto my card,featuring a very under used ,by me, Lili of the valley stamp,it's called milk and biscuits. I loved that as a kid,it's more wine and olives now...lol...
I've coloured with promarkers in colours to match the papers,they are fine and dandy by my minds eye.
I've used a martha stewart punch,nestie circles and added pearls and bunting for an outdoor Summer look.

Challenges entered:

The crazy challenge : recipe : I used twine,die, punches,pearls.
passion for promarkers : lots of layers
stamp with fun : holidays
crafty catz : summertime
The cheerful stamp pad : in the garden
lilies little fairies : one for the boys

another bargain bunch from Asda, these beauties cost £2.40, the lilies smell very strong but scent the room well.

enjoy your day. janex

enjoy the ride

This stamp is from the hello gorgeous set by Penny Black,I love the car and her chic look,pity I can't drive,mind you would need the top up here,bloody awful again.
I've coloured in ice cream shades with my pro markers.
The pink paper is k&co,the stripy beach bade by fancy pants,free gift pad with cardmaking and papercraft mag.
My flower is perfect petals di namics die with a brad centre,inked edges with chalk ink ,sour apple.
The punch used is a martha stewart garden trellis, I've just shown the edge.


challenges entered:

crafts 4 eternity : transport
Alsorts : ice cream colours
oozak : 2 papers and 1 or more embellies

happy crafting.janex

Tea Time one in pink and one in blue

I like using the same stamp in different ways and colours, I like both these cards ,in blue or in pink. I have just sold the pink one ,adding 50 and Daughter to it,to my next door neighbour.
I know this image will be popular, I have 2 poodles and so does my Mum and many of her friends.

The papers on the pink card are candy stripe by craft creations.The Stamp tea time ,the London Line collection as is the bunting. The flowers are a new woodware punch,it has 5 different size flowers.I have added stickles and pink gems for abit of bling.
The blue card papers are papermania ,capsule blue and the flowers wild orchid. I've added a pretty wooden bird, coloured with markers.

challenges entered:
The squirrel and the fox : Winter or summer (I chose Summer although it feels like winter here)
polka doodle : lots of flowers
wild orchid : bingo ,pink/ribbons/flowers
sir stampalot : bingo , I chose pink/brown /bling
Penny Black and more : all my favourite things (poodles,cats, flowers and tea time treats outdoors)

I'm suppose to be going to my gardening job tomorrow, everything crossed for a dry day. I'm so very sick of this rain...well aren't we all...not very warm either...call this Summer.
try and have a good weekend. janex

What's Cooking

I was suppose to go to my gardening job today.....rain stops play and work...will try for Saturday. It will have to be a craft day for me,least the weather can't stop that.

My card features another penny black,what's cooking ,a new transparent set.The papers are a 12x12 doulble sided sheet called so delish by TPC studios.The apron is a create & craft embellishment sticker and the gingham adhesive button the London Line collection.
This card is for a BBQ loving man, not much chance of that with this rain!

Challenges entered :

sweet sketch Wednesday : followed the sketch

creative card crew : song inspired "hey good looking what you got cooking "
craft challenge : male card
creative inspiration : card for a male

have a happy crafty day. janex

Bountiful,case it and some garden pics

Morning crafters hope you all had a good weekend,those in the UK getting an extra long break for the Jubilee. We had a celebration at the local pub with our friends and we visited Wigan on Monday,to visit my Brother and his family.There where live bands playing all-round Wigan town center and parks, pity the weather has been a bit naff, that's Britain for you and even The Queen can't control the elements.Never mind the sun is shinning now even though heavy rain with thunder and lightening is forecast.

Onto my card,one of my favourite Penny Black stamps, bountiful,lovely image to colour and so appealing. The paper is Rasberry road, more of that pack in the card mag.I've used a hobby craft corner punch and a woodware daisy punch.

challenges entered :
Penny Black Saturday: I've cased the wonderful talented Kath's card
papertake weekly: anything goes
paperccraft star : here comes summer

Some floral pics to show you, the garden is in full bloom this time of year the clematis especially lovely. The troff of red and yellow flowers were last years bedding plants ,they self seeded so I left them ,very pleasing results. The purple and white flowers another bargin bunch from Asda,£2.40 they were £10.








enjoy your day,we are off dog walking down the lovely Wirral Way.

janex

Mr&Mrs times 2

What a Jubilee washout, don't know about you, but here, it's rain rain and more rain.
It will not stop raining ,the top guttering has come off, it's come in the extension, carpet and wall paper soaked.

I've not made a wedding card for awhile but today I have 2 to show you. My inspiration came from the beautiful raspberry roads papers that I've used in both cards.
The pictures are rubbish,taken in the dull house,please click for a better veiw. My first card features a lili of the valley stamp, copic coloured and glittered with stickles and glamor dust.The punch is a martha stewart and the shapes nesties. The sentiment,wiff of joy, I remembered this after buying the stampendous one which is not as nice and doesn't stamp well,that'll teach me for having way too many stamps...
The pretty bows are by essential crafts ,I buy them at a local cake decorators.


challenges entered:

totally gorjuss : followed the sketch above.
The ribbon girl : use ribbon or lace
shopping our stash : may flowers





Hope the weather brightens up for any June weddings,we are going to a wedding next month and I thought I'd make a card for that. He has blond hair and she is dark so I've coloured my happy couple into match.
The image is a lili of the valley called I Do,I've coloured with promarkers and added lots of glitter.
The roses are wild orchid (not added these sorts of flowers for ages). The papers are raspberry road,free gift with cardmaking and papercraft mag.The sentiment stamp is by stampendous. The heart punch used a Martha Stewart and the butterflies pealoffs.

challenges entered:

sketch Saturday : followed the sketch
lili of the valley : anything goes
creative bellie : wedding
fab n funky : celebration

Beside the sea side

Well its not good weather here,unless you like dull and damp, not a day for street parties or the sea side. I've made some quite plain cards lately so here is a fancy one for a change.
The image is a Joanna Sheen, all our yesterday rubber stamp ,from the Faye Whittaker series called "post card". I've coloured with copic and promarkers.
The paper is papermania ,capsule blue collection.
The shell stickers are k&co . The die cut is a nellie snellie , and the triangle punch a woodware.
challenges entered :

the sweet stop : followed the sketch
Allsorts : by the sea side
bugaloo stamps : anything goes
secret crafter : anything goes
craft your days away : red white and blue
joanna sheen : remember when

have a great break, and happy crafting. janex