Celebrate with a "Girls Night Out"

My young neighbour asked me to make some cards for her, one for her best friend and one for her sister who is 18 on Christmas day. They are all glam and girly ,so I thought the perfect stamps would be "rubber romance Divas. I will show you the 18th card at a later date.

The  cards in this post feature the fabulous rubber romance stamp "girls night out", available to buy in the UK here.http://www.horseshoecrafts.co.uk/ I've coloured with promakers and added glamour dust with the aid of a quicky glue pen to some of the dresses. The glittery embellishments are Create & Craft embellishment stickers. The papers are g.c.d studios , material girls.

challenges entered :

dream valley : glitter and bling
creative inspirations : lets celebrate
fussy and fancy : anything goes

It is very sad to hear about the deaths in the US from the terrible storm, our hearts go out to the families and anyone affected by this.
Have a happy crafty time. janex

More Bird On Dogwood Branch

In my last post I used this stamp, "bird on a dogwood branch" by stampavie, in warm Autumn colours. I think it's nice to try using the same stamp in different colour ways , and this one is so versatile it even works for Christmas .

For my Christmas card I coloured in promarkers and made the bird look like a robin. The papers are do craft vintage and the die cut is by spellbinders.I die cut a peice of white card, stamped the image on and then coloured the fancy outer edges with a gold pilot marker to look like a guilded frame. I added some gold peel offs  , some red and gold stickles and the sentiment is do craft, home for Christmas set.

Challenges entered :

Jingle Belles : more Christmas creatures
I Love Promarkers : Christmas is coming

For my summery card I coloured the image with promarkers in bold blues and pinks to match the papers, Madeline collection from Prima. I've inked the edges and dollie with distress ink and added a raspberry coloured ribbon and bow. The sentiment is from craftwork cards.

Challenges entered :

sweet stop : followed the sketch above
totally Gorjuss : things with wings
stampin for the weekend : anything goes
The squirrel and fox : use a ribbon

Well the clocks have gone back, horrid, it's lighter in the morning ,for now, but with the rain here not very bright. Dark evenings are not my thing , wish the clocks in the UK stayed the same.
Happy Crafting. janex

Bird On Dogwood Branch

It's such a beautiful cold but bright Autumn day,here on the Wirral, and with this gorgeous stamp "bird on dogwood branch " by Tina Wenke for Stampavie, arriving on the door step , what a great excuse to make an Autumn card. All I have made lately is Christmas cards, sold some yesterday,so this stamp I ordered from Ebay has got me out of the Christmas mode. I saw it on Kelly's blog and just had to have it ! bet you see lots of cards using it from me.
The papers are My minds eye ,Darling Deer ,6x6 pad.I've used various flower and leaf punches by woodware for my flower and inked all the edges in brown. The flower centre is from Joanna Sheen. The leaf ribbon and metal corner old stash.

sketch n stash : followed the sketch above
DCC and friends : Autumn to you
Allsorts : Autumn colours
Craft cardmakers : Autumn
Anything goes : make your own embellishments

Hope you can enjoy a lovely Autumn day too. Happy crafting.janex

Mini masterpiece ,boy sledging x3

I'm really pleased with these mini masterpieces, they are great for making good quick Christmas cards.I must say you realise a lot of people don't read your post when you have comments like "great colouring " , but I think we are all guilty of that!
All 3 cards feature a mini masterpiece "boy sledging", 2 are the medium size and the DL has the small size.

First card : papers Christmas glittered DCWV , tree button and noel sentiment from Hobby Craft. I've used a lili of the valley grunge corner in black ink and added German glass glitter from the Hobby House for the snow. I've knotted black organsa ribbon and placed the sentiment on top.

Second card :papers DOcraft Home For Christmas, old stash snowflake embellishment with added red gems. The "JOY" lettering is sizzix  die cuts "girls are weird".

Third card: papers , gingham red, craft creation, blue snowflakes making cards mag. The felt sentiment is recycled from an old Christmas card ,with a bow added. The button trees are Hobby craft.


Challenges entered :
papercrafting journey : ribbon or twine (first card)
fab n funky : animals (any)
Crafty ribbons : Christmas(first card)
Christmas card challenge : bows (3rd card)


My Mums coming for lunch today and then we are going to the new M&S superstore that's opened near by, pity I've no money, just window shopping I think.
Have a good day. janex

Is it too late to be good?

I love this cute stamp from Great Impressions, owls are always popular and the sentiment (part of the stamp, makes it. I've coloured with promarkers, you need your fine nibs for this one, and inked with distress inks, added some snow and bling with a quicky glue pen and some glamour dust.
The papers docraft vintage, ribbon, the ribbon box, and the branches are twigs and berries die cut by memory box.

Challenges entered :

passion for promarkers : pets/anything with an animal
52 Christmas card throw down : photo inspiration
the craft pad : use an animal
jingle Belles : holiday creature feature
pan pastel : animals

very dull here today, not raining though,so that's something.
Have a great day. janex

Snowy and Hedgie x 3

This was another pre used bargain stamp I got last year for £2.50. It's a Penny Black called "snowy and hedgie" and it's a real cutie and so easy to colour.
I've created 3 cards using the same stamp , the first 2 follow the sketch on the Penny Black Saturday challenge. All are coloured with promarkers. The snow is a quicky glue pen with glamour dust on top.
The papers are all Docraft, vintage and home for Christmas. The ribbons are from the ribbon box. The sentiment on the top card is from hobby craft.

challenges entered :

Penny Black October challenge : followed the sketch (first card)
Penny Black and more @ allsorts : animal magic
abc Christmas : U up to you
one stop craft challenge : anything goes

happy crafting, enjoy your weekend. janex

Hark The Herald Angles Sing

I decided to be a few mini masterpieces from Lili of the valley, the one on my card is design sheet 20, featuring a lovely group of carol signers. I do have the stamp of this ,but it takes ages to colour and for a sheet of 7 images varying in size for £1 it's a quick and cheep way of making quality cards.
My papers are docraft vintage . The papers have been given the distress ink treatment with brushed corduroy and then stamped with lili of the valley grunge corners in brown memento ink. The sentiment is from crafters companion, adorable Christmas set.
The ribbon is from the ribbon box and the holly wreath topper from docraft. Three red gems complete the look.

challenges entered :

Sweet Sunday Sketch : followed the above sketch
Lili's little fairies : anything goes
one stitch at a time : music or song (mines Hark the herald angles sing)
fussy and fancy : anything goes
Totally papercrafts : Christmas 9 weeks and counting

lovely sunny day here. Have a good weekend. janex

Contemporary Noel

I was very lucky to win the Penny Black challenge again, I entered their weekly challenge for years and never won, then when they went monthly, twice on the run. My prize was the lovely wooden stamp featured on my card , called "crystal wreath".
I stamped it onto cream shiny card  using versa mark then covered with black embossing powder and heat embossed. Then I inked the edges with Tim Holtz worn lipstick.
The papers are docraft vintage and the Noel sentiment is a Hobby Craft topper. I've used a martha stewart holly border punch , added gems and a ribbon and bow to complete my contempory looking card.
My Hubby said wow , so it obviously appeals to males!

challenges entered :

oh la la challenge : Christmas sentiment
crafty hazelnut's Christmas challenge : snowflakes
totally stampalicious : create a Christmas card or project

I'm still miserable about not getting the display job, it's nice to be home and have lots of crafting time but It's not nice having no money.
Have a good day. janex

Traditional Christmas Colours and bad news on the job front

I turned up for my interviewing looking great, I was chatty, full of good ideas and they said wow to my display after 1 and a half hours I left feeling very confident and happy. Yesterday was the longest of days,waiting for a phone call, at nearly 8pm it came," the standard was so high and you where in the top 3 ...but sorry unsuccessful this time". This would have been the perfect job for me, I feel numb , no tears just numb....any ideas ,my cards sell for about £2-£3 pounds each so I'm hardly going to be rich  crafting for a living!

I can't stop making Christmas cards,at this rate I'll have mine made by the end of the month. I'm still trying to keep to a traditional/vintage look. No image for this card, very unlike me , but the poinsettia is so striking in it's own right  I felt this red and gold foiled sentiment was enough.
The flower is made from a Marianne design die, I've cut red and gold petals , fixed with a large gem brad and added some gold beading from the ribbon box.

The papers are do craft basic, vintage and the lace, nearly at the end of this now, is from hobby craft.

challenges entered :

sparkles Christmas challenge : traditional
totally gorjuss : traditional Christmas colours
totally papercrafts : make your own flowers
fab n funky : vintage

It's raining so heavily outside , another day card making for me and trying not to feel to sorry for myself, I know others have much worse troubles so I should count my blessings. janex

Christmas Wishing

Not heard anything about the job yet, they where still interviewing yesterday, It's torcher not knowing!
Trying to keep busy, making Christmas cards and mowing the grass, it was just about dry enough.

My card today features a Penny Black stamp called "wishing", it only cost me £2.50 for this wood stamp because it had been used at the craft shop for demos. I think it's real cute and when all the papers and image are given the distress ink technic it gives it a more traditional look that I'm aiming for this Christmas.
The papers are back to basic vintage 12x12 by Docraft , and at £5.99 for 36 sheets, a great buy I think.
The sentiment is from hobby craft,the wooden snowflake kars and a few gold gems to finish.

challenges entered :

the sweetstop challenge : followed the sketch above
Penny Black & more @ allsorts: animal magic
Papertake weekly : all creatures great and small

enjoy your weekend. janex

Eskimo Baby

I bought a page of Mo Manning toppers called Eskimo Kisses, from the show the other week,this is the baby one,how cute.
I've added German glass glitter, for a snow effect, a joy charm and braded flower all from the Hobby House. The paper is candy Christmas wording by craft creations. The punches are martha stewart and the finishing touch is a strip of ribbon and 2 bows.

challenges entered :

craft us crazy : children/ and or fall
craft : monochromatic
Southern Girls Challenge : tie a ribbon round it.
Divas by design : anything goes
paper play : simply cute

Happy Crafting. janex

Geisha Girl "Cho with parasol" and interview news

 I had my interview for the display job yesterday, it went really well , it lasted and hour and a half, we chatted and I did a display for them to see. The Garden Centre owner said I could do 3 days , this would be my dream job. I will hear whether I've got it either Friday or Monday at the latest. I am just hoping and praying I get it. There is also a craft shop in the garden center , I'm friendly with one of the girls there, she bought 2 of my cards yesterday so all in all I'd be in creative heaven. The Christmas displays are going up there at the moment and they are stunning.

I bought this new stamp "Cho with parasol " at the Happy Stampers fair, just had a chance to use it. I've coloured with promarkers and my paper is floral black by Kanban. I cut out some of the flowers, added some pink stickles and an oriental butterfly peeloff with added black gems.

challenges entered :
In the pink : pink plus one
Dare to be Sassy : think pink
jelly park challenges : pink and girly
craft your passions : hip to square

have a great Tuesday, lovely and sunny here. janex

Holly Hobbie Christmas with non traditional colours

In yesterdays post I used this same stamp "Holly Hobbie Christmas Joy " the free gift with cardmaking and papercraft. I did so enjoy colouring it , I decided to use it again in different colours, I like this colour combo but I would like to know what you think compared with this card.
The paper is paper cellar checks. The sentiment from a card mag. The wooden snow flake , kars ,to which I've added distress inks , a hobby craft button and pearl flourishes from the hobby house.

challenges entered :

Sketch Saturday : followed  Donna's sketch

Christmas cards all year round : Christmas image in non traditional colours

Totally Gorjuss : anything goes

Well the sun is shinning here again, lovely walk, bit nippy though, frosty dew on the golf course.

Have a good Sunday. I have a job interview tomorrow, so fingers crossed.

janex

Holly Hobbie Christmas Joy

I had to buy cardmaking and papercraft this month, well to be honest I always buy it, but this month the free gifts where so lovely, a set of Holly Hobbie Christmas stamps and a lovely paper pad.
The stamp produced a perfect image on first inking. I coloured my image with promarkers and gave evrything the vintage look with distress inks.
The paper is Darling Dear by my mind's eye,the lace and button sentiment from Hobby Craft and the roses and leaves wild orchid. Gold strands from the ribbon box and gold transparent corners from pinflair complete the card.

challenges entered :

wild orchid : anything goes
crafts and me : my sentiment exactly
crafting for all seasons : costumes/dressing up

Well it's a lovely Autumn day here, blue sky and the sun is shinning,all my washed bedding is blowing on the line, this is a relief from all the rain.
Hope you have a lovely sunny weekend. janex

Snowy Postcard

I loved this stamp as soon as I saw it, I'm keeping away from cute this Christmas, well mostly, keeping to traditional/vintage and this lovely stamp ticks those boxes.
It's called "snowy postcard " and is by stampendous. I made the background paper by inking a piece of white card with Tim Holtz distress inks in mustard seed and brushed corduroy,when springled on some water for the dappled look and dried it with a heat gun. I stamped the full image onto the card in black memento. Then I re stamped onto white card with brown memento, cut-out the oval frame, lightly inked the image and added a snow effect with wow white puff embossing powder, heated. I added some red stickles to the holly and mounted on foam pads. A few gold peel off corners, red gems and a gingham ribbon complete the card.

challenges entered:

Fab N Funky : no patterned papers
craft creations : colours of fall ,rich reds,warm browns,golden yellows and earthy oranges.
papertake weekly : anything goes , with a celebration option
cute card Thursday : lots of ribbon


The sun is shinning here, but boy have we had some rain, amazingly I was able to cut the grass back and front yesterday, dashing in between showers, luckily we have a very well drained garden .

Have a lovely day. janex

Acorns in Autumn

Hi Crafter's, first post in ages. I've got lots of cards made but never blogged them. The card today features a new stamp I bought at The Happy Stampers fair on Saturday.I had a great time, met some fellow crafters/bloggers and spent too much as usual.
I bought 3 stamp sets from Imagination Crafts, "the decoupage range", this acorn stamp is one of them. I've stamped with versa mark and gold embossed. I've inked and coloured the image with distress inks and promarkers and them cut and layered. The background paper is DCWV linen closset. The gold mirrie board was cut with a friskars treading water punch.Ribbon from the ribbon box and a few gems complete the look.

Challenges entered :

The Sweet Stop : followed the sketch
Creative stamp friends : Autumn colours
Stamp with fun : Autumn

lots of rain here, no gardening just crafting. Happy Days. janex