Jayne Netley Mayhew digi , the little red squirrel

Where we live there are grey squirrels everywhere , they come in the garden and take every nut that's put out for the birds , if they can , they bury them all  around the garden flicking there tails and making that hissing/chirping noise . My dog Alfie loves to chase them ,never ever getting near. The red ones we never see , I've seen 2 in my life time . So I printed this image from the new "Jayne Netley Mayhew" digi stamp cd, I'd left the paper on my desk , later I coloured it using promarkers , my son Sam saw it and said "you've made it a red squirrel ! " well who wouldn't? I used rusty coloured core card to matt and sanded down for a rustc look , the bp and insert are from the cd but on the backing paper I added a grass seed stamp from a hero art stamp in dark brown ink . I used a spellbinder label die . The wooden leaf embellishment ,with distress inked edges , was the finishing touch.  I'm going to give this card to my Father in law, for his Birthday next month.

challenges entered :

I love promarkers : die cuts but no punches
the paper shelter : animal magic
crafty catz : anything goes

well I'm off to wolk the dogs , then work , then the supermarket , Fridays suck , but then again the sun is shining so it's not all bad.

happy crafting janex

Mother's Day

Not a bad day here , weather wise , I went to work this morning ,then after lunch cut the grass at the front and did a bit of snipping and general tiding . I did hear on a weather report we might be getting some snow ....how mad is the UK weather!
I've made an early start with my Mother's Day cards . I tried to make it simple , pretty and classy . The card it's self starts off pretty , it's a pre lazer cut card from Hobby craft , they come in packs of 10, I always have some in for special card makes. The bp is boho chic by first edition ("12x"12). The sentiment is by pink petticoat , I love the font . I diecut the sentiment and bazil teal card with spellbinder oval dies , then stamped small butterflies in teal and red ink , then blended in some distress ink. I used a red silk ribbon from my stash threaded through a pearl buckle from wild orchid.
Inside is a printed sentiment from pink petticoat that reads,
Hope you have a special day, as perfect as they come . You deserve to have 'cos your a lovely Mum.
Nice verse I think not too slushy .

challenges entered :

Allsorts : Ladies Day 

crafting for all seasons : sentiment as the main focus 

Tuesday throw down : anything goes 

Don't know about you but I'm loving these longer days , the only good thing about Winter is Christmas .

happy crafting .janex

Friends don't let friends wine alone and Stella needs a drink

I've had a lucky morning , checked my emails and I'd won first prize of 7 bugaboo digi's on their sketch with Stella challenge , I'm made up!

I'm just loving making cards with these great digi images from bugaboo, the sentiments make them . I love the trio of ladies with the really big bottle of wine , reminds me of tomes with my girlfriends. I coloured the image with promarkers . The background paper is from Joanna Sheen,s "messy rabbit "cd , I'm not a great fan of the topper on this cd but the backing papers are superb, this one reminded me of a table cloth at a wine bar/cafe  so I thought it very fitting.

challenges entered :

passion for promarkers : make it digital
cd Sunday : quotations
card mania : use a sentiment
created with love challenge : friends

Another fab digi stamp and funny sentiment from "bugaboo stamps", Stella believes she needs another drink ! Think we have all believed that once or twice .
I've made it girly with the pink colour scheme and pretty dp by Lilly Bimble. The image is coloured with promarkers and I've added some crystal stickles and  diamond gems.

challenges entered :

Tuesday morning sketches  : followed the sketch above

catch the bug : February colour challenge (see above picture )

Don't know if it was just me , but I had terrible trouble uploading my pics onto google this morning.

happy crafting. janex

All about Spring

It's pretty Springlike here today , plenty of sun , less of a cold wind would be nice though. I've been naughty again ,buying more craft stuff as per usual ,this time a blame Pauline (please cheek out her blog featuring a card made with a simular cd rom) and Joanna Sheen . Joanna has brought out another fabulous cd rom by Jayne Netley Mayhew . It has coloured images and digi stamps for you to colour , the backing papers are divine too. I ordered it Thursday morning and it was on the door step by early Friday afternoon.
I've used the beautiful blue tits image and some gorgeous Spring flower background paper , can see me using this background paper many times. I coloured the image with pro and flex markers. The sentiment stamp is from a 4 piece set by craft impressions , they stamp perfectly and where very cheep.
I'm going to give this card " to the one I love " my lovely hubby Bob , for our anniversary , he is working hard on over time at Royal Mail sorting letters and tipping bags. He loves to see the little blue tits in the garden so will like this card.

challenges entered :

cd Sunday :  All about Spring (hosted by my lovely friend Beryl)
totally papercrafts : Spring
4 crafty chicks : things with wings

I hope your enjoying a touch of Spring today . Enjoy the weekend and happy crafting. janex

Another Gus...at my age

I'm loving these bugaboo digi's , I showed them to my Mum in law and my hubby yesterday, they made them laugh and cards should always make us smile. I needed cheering up yesterday after attending a funeral , it was a wonderful service the church had standing room only ,a real tribute to a lovely man.
I coloured my Gus with promarkers . The papers are both by first edition , the "6x 6 " pad I used is called "man made " and the papers are fab , I might even frame some .

Challenges entered :

sketch n stash : followed the sketch above.

stamping royalty : colour challenge (see colours above )
crafty little fairies : one for the boys

not long got back from work , very wind  riding my bike home but at least the rain kept off till I got home .Off to the supermarket soon , what an exciting life I lead.

happy crafting . janex

Bugaboo cards.....men are like fine wines and Gus demands a recount

I love a card with a bit of humor , I think men especial like a card that makes them smile. My brother always sends me a rude retro style card for my Birthday  ...you know the ones ....and my Mum never gets it! or maybe she is being polite . I treated my self to some great bugaboo digi stamps, the images are great and the sentiments just make you laugh.

My red card :
This image features the formidable Stella and is called "men are like fine wines ", I've coloured her with promarkers. My background paper is from a "6x6" pad by first editions called "Neroli" , it's gorgeous , beautiful textures in shades of red, white and blue.  The only embellishment is a grape vine button (back removed and the grapes coloured with a  wine coloured  promarker). A few blobs of modge podge on the glasses adds a touch of dimension.

challenges entered :
clear it out challenge : red
tiddly inks : primary colours
open minded crafting : monochrome

My Gus card :
Gus demands a recount coloured with promarkers . I think he looks cute in his colourful dungeries! The double sided paper is by first edition and is called boho chic. I've added some coloured buttons and modge podged the glasses. Tim Holtz rusty hinge ink on the edges.


challenges entered :
catch the bug : stella sketch followed
paper take weekly : lovely layers
cutie pie challenge : cute with spots and dots
fab n funky  : spot or stripes

I'm going to a funeral shortly , a man from church , he built lots of houses around little Sutton and was a long serving member of the Methodist church. He was 79 and lost his wife only recently, least they shall be together again. I helped him run an under 10's club at the church when my son was young, he always loved children . Rest in peace Tony Hall.

janex

French Country in a box

I love papers ,especially graphic 45 ,but sometimes I 'm loathed to use them just for a card . I usually need to keep them a while anyway , to flick through and stroke, is it just me , surely not!
Well I made a box as a present the other day , see post here , and I did love it and wanted to make something to keep for our home .
 The beautiful "French Country " papers ,by graphic 45, in the "8x"8 pad ,I bought a wee while ago ,suited my room at the back of the house perfectly, so I used them to cover some box blanks I bought recently.

I wanted some sunflowers for the top so I looked for a suitable cutting file for my cameo machine . The one I used was from silhouette america. I just used the different sized petals and for the centers, I had a sudden inspiration ! the man I work for gave me some assorted black beads , I blobbed on some modge podge to the centre of the flower , sprinkled on the beads , tweezered them into place and allowed to dry. I inked the petals with tim holtz rusty hinge distress ink . The leaves are graphic 45 paper punched with a woodware leaf punch , the veining effect is done with long nose tweezers , pinch and twist method.
I inked the edges of the boxes and added a pretty length of vintage looking lace trim. I'm very pleased with the results of my new home decor.

challenges entered :

That craft place Ltd : make or alter a box
pinspirational : anything goes
wordart wednesday : anything goes

well today looks a bit brighter than yesterday, no more rain please , the uk is soaked .
Have a great day and happy crafting. janex

A K.i.s.s card with a heart

I wouldn't say my cards are of the cas style , most of mine are the opposite , but sometimes you just want a quick and to the point card. My friend likes clean cut cards so I thought this would be perfect for her Birthday today.
It was ridiculously easy .lilac ,pink and yellow card cut  on my cameo machine using a silhouette america cutting file (the card is 5"x7") just right for a standard envelop . I added a really cute pink heart from my big button jar and hey presto it's done!

 challenges entered :

papertake weekly : with a heart
divas by design :with love
creative card crew : kiss (keep it sweet and simple)

had a great time at the pub yesterday afternoon , lots of wine , lots of laughs and chats with our friends and I even got myself a young admirer (it was ok my lovely hubby Bob was sat opposite).
In case you think my crafting is going down the simple line my next post will be anything but! stay tuned.

happy Monday. janex

decorated box blank , vintage blue with flowers .

I love decorating boxes , they can look stunning and yet are no harder than making a card . I made a few for Christmas gifts for family members and one for us too. My Mum in law loved her's and has asked me to make one for her cousins birthday . The cousin is a very crafty lady too , she sews the most beautiful quilts and cushions , I know she will appreciate a handmade item but the pressure was on to decorate a box fit for a crafter's scrutiny .
I  was given the brief of a pretty blue box suitable for a bedroom. The mdf boxes I buy from my local craft/garden center , this one was the medium size in a set of 3 which cost £3.99 , not bad hey!
The paper I've had for years is from a K&Co pad  called blue awning. I used it to cover the box using tacky pva glue , and also punched and die cut it (using the die and punches pictured bellow ). I love to make my own flowers and the link for the tutorial is at the top of my blog.
I've added lace from my craft box , a dove from hobby craft and some decorative sprigs from wild orchid.
I've inked the edges of the box with chalk ink , added stickles and white paint to the flowers, these I attached with collal glue. The silver watch charm was part of a set free with a craft magazine Then I sprayed the whole thing with spray & shine for extra protection and a nice look.

challenges entered :
brown sugar : use a die or punch ( I used both for my flowers )
ABC challenge  : F for flowers
pennys paper craft : monocrombe
little claires : monotone

well lots of pics but I wanted you to see the detail. Have a good weekend everyone and I hope the weather is not too terrible where you live . Wet and windy here but no floods unlike some poor people .

happy crafting. janex

Have A Tweet Day

Hi crafty folks , hope your well, been a busy week for me . Still time for a bit of crafting though.

I cut this center step card on my cameo machine using a silhouette America cutting file , so easy , just cut and bend! no fiddly measuring . My patterned paper is Magnolia ink "50's cherries ", I've had this hiding in the draw for years , too lovely to use ....mad hey...The stamp was a card mag freebie by pink petticoat, that I coloured with promarkers. The embellishment are  red  fimo and modge podge melt coloured with promarks for the nest (see this post for details ) used in molds .

challenges entered :

Inky chicks : use a cute animal stamp
fairytale challenge : more than 2 colours
I love promarkers : Birthday


It's been wet and windy here , not like the south west though , how the coast is getting natures wrath, I feel so sorry for the people with flooded houses with sewage coming in . On the bright side the days are getting longer , loving the extra light , here comes Spring ...we hope .
have a lovely weekend. janex

Fimo verses modge podge and a pretty heart box with chocolate hearts (warning picture heavy )

I like to try my hand at many crafts , before cards I was really into dolls houses and miniatures, I have 1 large dolls house now furnished to bust.  I used fimo in the past for food making etc, but the clay was really hard . Now the fimo is made in a soft variety , it's much easier to work with.
I bought the molds sold for use with the modge podge melts , I used the melts and normal glue sticks , the results where hit and miss , the best ones are photographed bellow. The melts are expensive at £8.99 for 16 sticks so I ordered some fimo and 2 molds (pictured bellow ) and tried them out . In my opinion the fimo is far better , the details show more and there is less to trim away with your craft knife .

My hubby joined in too , he was very proud of the brown owl he made. For the melts you use a heat gun , for the fimo you bake for 15 mins in a low oven , I use 120 , in my electric fan assisted . You can paint them but I used matalic pens and a gold pilot marker on the glue stick molds.

 The heart box was made using a silhouette studio cut file , cut on my portrait machine , the heart paper is home for Christmas by papermania . I've added a scallop border (cut on my machine ) and home spun style ribbon from the ribbon box. The roses and doves are fimo molded shapes. The chocolate marzipan hearts are from Aldi , they are so yummy.

challenges entered for the heart box :

paper players : valentine card or 3-D project with a" food or treat" theme .
open minded crafting : show some love
Allsorts : love is in the air

The fimo embellishmemts

 The milky white coloured are modge podge , the clear and metallic coloured glue stick , the tiny rose and heart are air dried clay.

 the purple molds are handmade , I bought them on e bay ( quite cheap )


well I'm truly hooked on fimo /molded embellishments , I will no doubt buy more fimo colours and more molds . As for my silhouette portrait I love it and don't know how I crafted without it , my one regret is I didn't buy the big machine (the cameo ).
I hope you found this review helpful and try your hand at making your own , it's such fun and will be cheaper than buying embellishments in the long term.
We are invited to dinner at my Mums tonight , I'm taking the heart box filled with chocs , I know my Mum will love it.

enjoy the rest of Sunday and happy crafting. janex