A country card with beautiful poppies

I've been saying to Brenda at floral fantisies I'm going to make a poppy card for her candy challenge , so here it is at long last. I love poppies, always a beautiful sight growing wild in fields. I have several varieties that pop up in the garden in the strangest of places,the gaps in paving and gravel, always welcome though.

My card card features a Penny Black stamp,aptly named "Poppy Fields". I've coloured with copic markers trying to keep the shades muted. The papers are serif , picnic in the park. The tag is Diary of an Edwardian Lady , free with a craft mag.
The flowers are made using several different floral punches, the petals,2 different size Marianne punches with matching embossers.The black stamen centres are an em punch,very useful one and the leaf are a woodware punch. Bit of red ribbon ,chalk inked edges and some red gems complete the look.

other challenges entered :

Allsorts : case it , case Emma's gorgeous Hedgy card
Die Cutting Divas : summer fun

stamping for the weekend : photo inspiration

have a good Sunday, dull here this morning,after the rain last might.
janex

Just Sitting Here

Thanks for all the nice comments on my ice cream card yesterday,it's looking at me now and making me hungry,lunch time I think.
My card today features one of my oldest and most favourite Penny Black stamps called purr-fect time. I love it because it's so pretty, easy and lovely to colour and is so big it fills a card. Before we had our 2 poodles and my Mum had her's , we had cats, I love cats but think a dog is a real family member although I had a beautiful cat called Thomas who was so loving and followed me to work.
The card I've used is by Hunkydory,my favourite things collection.I've coloured with promarkers . The sentiment is Hero Arts and the pretty roses part of a candy I won from Tracy at Country Mouse.

Challenges entered :
Totally Papercraft : photo inspiration (see pic above )
My Mums craftshop : cats and dogs
charisma cardz : favourite animal

It's stopped raining here, wet this morning, fingers crossed for the weekend.
Happy crafting.janex

Summer Time and the living is easy

If only the title was true, not raining today that's something , but not exactly great Summer weather.
Been AWOL from my blog for a few days, just busy with stuff . It's been a whirl of social activity around here, some folks like my Mum ,would love that but I prefer a quiet life. Last night we celebrated Bob's Mums 70th Birthday and tonight we are going to a wedding do,then out again Sunday, I'm tired but don't want to miss the do tonight, my pretty new frock is already to wear and I don't often get the chance to look posh.
On to my Summery card, one of my very fav penny black stamps, bee costume, coloured with promarkers. The pretty papers are printout from Raspberry Road called honeycomb.
The glittery sun was from dress it up, hobby craft.

challenges entered :

The sweet stop : followed the sketch above
Penny Black : summer Time , and the living is easy
craft punked : monochrome
craft your days away : doilies and lace
Paper Play : happy Birthday

Flower Festival, the sunflower and the hydrangea

I don't make that many floral cards, I love them because I love gardens and flowers, but there are many better floral card makers than me. I'm always drawn to cute stuff craft wise,though not so much in my home. Anyway I decided to buy this clear set from penny black called "flower festival".
I stamped in versamark clear ink, then heat embossed using black powder.Because copics smudge with this I used whisper markers to colour the image,the colours look very vibrant so I'm pleased with them.
The sentiment is by craft work cards,the ribbon free with a card mag.The papers are DCWV ,the cafe mediterranean.I used a friscars punch called threading water.

Allsorts : Special Birthday (it's their 3rd Birthday, and there is a blog hop,the secret word is crafting )


My hydrangea card ,follows the above sketch but rotated. The image is from the same pb set. The papers material girl ,g.c.d studio 12x12 papers. The embellishment by craft bitz. The ribbon and sticcker sentiment old stash.

challenges entered :
sweet stop : above sketch
totally gorgeous : something new (new stamp set and new embellishment)

enjoy your weekend, the weather here is hot and sunny, I'm heading to the garden even though the ironing basket is groaning...washing lots of Summer clothes.
janex

Beehave

Morning crafters,what a lovely sunny day here,very fitting with my summery card.
It's also a great day to start my new gardening job. I'm not doing the lawns ,just the borders,planting,designing and pruning,all the best bits of gardening. I'm doing 3hours today, so not to0 taxing . I'm going to ask if I can take pictures to show you all.
I'm trying a gluten free diet this week to see if my tummy problems get better. The food is very expensive though and not as nice,you can't have wheat,barley or malt so no normal bread or pasta,all the things we love,still if it makes me well....

On to my card. Another penny black,but no Mimi today just this super doggie with bee on nose,this wouldn't be my Alfie ,he would be snapping his jaws at it with his tail stuck right in.
The stamp is called "beehave", I've coloured with markers. The papers are. Serif ,picnic in the park (green) ,yellow checked we r memory keepers. The bee and sentiment are hero arts clear stamps ,bee happy.

challenges entered :

craft your passion : followed the sketch (rotated)

cupcake inspiration : see picture inspiration
tip top : dig out the old (my stamp and green papers are old old stash.)
stamptacular Sunday : in the garden
secret crafter : in the garden

fingers crossed all goes well in my job today, in the garden so fitting.
Happy Days. janex

Your So Sweet About Town

I know it's so girly and cute and sweet those ice creams are making me hungry. I love the papers Bo Bunny ,sweet tooth collection just the thing to go with the image "about Town " by Penny Black.
The sentiment is a great impressions stamp.
I've coloured the image with promarkers and added touches of stickles . The flower in her hair is from Thailand and the ice cream sundae embellishment a free gift in crafts beautiful card mag.
challenges entered:
Simon says stamp : sweet tooth
papertake weekly : cute cute cute
The paper shelter : anything goes

I've been cooking today, no wonder I've made a card with food on it! Chicken is roasting in the oven, 9 cheese and onion muffins baked and a cheese and leak puff pastry tart already for the oven....phew...
it's dull here,started off lovely so I cut the front grass ,glad I did,it's raining now.
Happy Days. 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

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

Hedge Word

It's a lovely sunny Sunday here,winds a bit cold but still a pleasant dog walk. Makes you feel hopeful that Spring is on it's way!

Anther Penny Black stamp today "Hedge Word",this is a newly purchased stamp I bought another from the new London collection called "miniful" but that's for a later post.
This stamp is great for a quick card and very universal I think.
The papers are very old stash,sorry no name, I've added some red gem stars and twisted some red bakers twine for a fun male card.
Challenges entered:

cupcake inspiration (see pic above)
creative card crew: masculine
papertake weekly: black and white and red all over

happy crafting . janex

Break For Cake lost and found

I love Penny Black stamps especially the big wood ones, they are not cheap,quality never is , but I thought this lovely stamp was a good buy at £9.39...until 2 days after purchase I lost it!!!! now I do have a lot of stamps but I remember all of them and usually where about in my craft room they are....but this one was gone, I searched,tidying along the way ,no luck , I thought I must have thrown it away by mistake, this morning I had a brain wave...that's rare, looked in a rarely used draw and there it was...yipee...so what did I do ...well what any sensible crafter would do...stamped it up and made a card!


Stamps : penny black , break for cake ' sentiment ,do craft black and gold collection
papers: Bo Bunny and the paws strip , DCWV the pet stack
gingham ribbon, I always have plenty of gingham in various colours, it's a must have for me.
The flower corsage was made using white paper,edges inked,a flower punch ,layered and shaped and glued onto silk leaves
Challenges entered:
cute card Thursday: flower power
crafty ribbons : paws for thought.
crafters companion: anything goes

enjoy your day and maybe a slice of cake...yum ..janex

Bearing Flowers

It's still cold,not freezing ,but with a wind added it feels raw, another not so nice dog walk,but I did get to talk to some friends who have not long got back from Oz, yes they were feeling mighty cold.
I'm still having fun creating card shapes with my new grand calibur, this one uses a Go Kreate die, frilly frames XXL #3 and 2 nestie ovals.
The stamp, Bearing Flowers, penny black, one of my sale bargain stamps. I've used purple gingham card from pin flair, a lilac ribbon,silk and felt flower and I've coloured the image with my promarkers,highlighting with a white gel pen. Silver peal off edges complete the look.

challenges entered :
passion for promarkers: purple and grey
fussy and fancy : with all my heart, (I always think flowers show the love)
Simon says stamp: love is in the air
stamp with fun: love

My hubby will be showing his love with flowers,whether he wants to or not,because every time we shop at Asda on a Friday evening , at least one bunch of flowers goes into my basket, and yes he pays....but we all get to enjoy them even the poodles like to sniff them.

happy crafting. janex

Sepia Teddy and my new craft toy

Hi crafters,so cold and foggy here,rubbish pic of my card,the light is bad .
My mood is bright though as my new craft goodies have arrived, a Grand Calibur machine and several new dies. My lovely hubby treated me for our up and coming silver Wedding.I'm going to have great fun with these.I have a big shot that I use nearly every day,but this new gadget will be great for large dies,card shapes and ease of cutting lots of dies.

I like teddy's they have such mass appeal! This stamp is "gentlest Kiss" by penny black. I've stamped and coloured the image with tim holtz distress inks. The super shaped die cut is XL Frame Frilly #5 by Go Kreate.The brown vintage paper is my
magazine free gift from hot of the press.

challenges entered: Saturday Sketchers : followed the sketch
colour create: browns with cream or white

stay warm and happy crafting.janex

Transported

As a little girl I often thought, if I had big enough ballons, I could fly ,wishful thinking! This cute teddy in the Penny Black stamp "transported" certainly looks happy in his adventure.
I've coloured the image with pro markers and used lets fly away papers,free with Quick cards,and a sheet of green DCWV paper,street lace.A pink gingham bow and 3 tiny buttons complete my Birthday card.

challenges entered:

The Sweet Stop : follow the sketch
Penny Black Saturday: case Debby's card
allsorts: free and easy
cute card Thursday: buttons and bows

It's so cold here,no snow,but the rain is freezing and everywhere is super slippy with icicles hanging down of ledges outside.
stay warm. janex

Snuggle Buddys

Just got back from one of my favourite craft shops, Crabapple Crafts at Lady Heyes in Cheshire. Gosh it was cold and misty up there,no views of the Cheshire plains today. Still plenty of shoppers and walkers though. Bought some shaped cards and clear bags,nothing exciting,but had a lovely chat to Ruth who works there on a Sunday....Hi Ruth ,if your looking in.
Warming up in my cozy craft room with the central heating on constant.
Another penny black stamp,from my sales bargain stash. The stamp is so cute but it's not big in size ,so I thought a bit of decoupage would bring out the image more...works well I think...more work but worth it!

Stamp: penny black,snuggle buddy
heart paper: dove craft basics
medium:pro markers
nestie shapes
The flower is a new product from Hero arts called framelits. You stamp your image and then cut it out with a matching die,how simple,I loved the idea and have bought 2 sets from cutting edge crafts,they have great prices and a super fast free delivery.


I'm entering the following challenges:

penny black saturday challenge : floral frenzy
allsorts: one or more hearts
sweet stop: following the sketch
I love promarkers: pink and purple
penny black and more @ allsorts : love and hearts
have a great day and stay warm.janex

The Cats Whiskers

Hi there crafters,cold and wet here this afternoon and yet the morning was lovely.
A mixed day for me too,had some new blinds fitted to 4 windows,one is wood ,they look very nice.Not feeling to well though,nice to sit down,even is it's at my pc,I've had IBS for days,very painful!
A quicky card to show you,for my son's girlfriend ,for valentines. Me and my hubby don't bother,after near 25years I think it's safe to say we love each other without the sugary stuff.

image stamp: penny Black : love meow (stamped twice)
sentiment stamp: beach bum
medium:copics
added ribbon and punched flower.


oldie but a goodie : have a heart (show a heart on your card)
Pan Pastel: two of something
lets craft and create:valentine
cup cake craft challenge: all you need is love

enjoy your evening.janex

Have A Mice Day and important blog info to read.

Joy of joys,my blog is now working probably thanks to a nice man on the google blog forum ,thanks Martin.I'm now using firefox as a browser,blogs are not working right with Internet explorer ,my side bar was at the bottom because of a broken tag on a post,since deleted,Martin found that.Since doing this post I've found using fire fox will not allow you to enter a url link to link to challenges,so now I'm swapping through 2 browsers. Blimey I think you must need a degree to blog... Some things on the pc i'm good at ,others it's a hard slog.Having never used a pc till I was in my 30's and not ever taken a class,it's a bit like crafting...trail and error but nowhere near as fun!

On to my cards.

Have a mouse day

features a lovely penny black stamp,I've had a while. Me being me,totally naughty stamp crafting addict,I had to have accessories/embellishments to go with it,so I bought a fabulous die cut set with matching stamps from Die-namics. I've long thought stamps with the dies to match,no bad hand cutting,a great idea,then, trust the Americans,they produce them. I know other companies are following suit, more for me to buy...oh dear...
The papers are nitwits ,from an old crafting mag I've added some cute buttons fromDovecraft back to basics and a bit of butchers twine.

challenges entered:
allsorts : needles and pins

Spring Time Bunny

features a stamp I bought yesterday from hobby craft,Buttercup,bloom and grow set from trimcraft. A lovely set of 5 stamps for under £4 , they are clings with red rubber underneath and stamp beautiful .
I've coloured the image with pro makers and added a touch of pencil.
The papers ,with ink distressed edges are K&Co,the ribbon from a local craft shop,they sell bits of ribbons in bags for £1 and there is always a really yummy piece like the one featured.
This card is so Spring like and bright unlike the dull wet day here....roll on Spring.

challenge entered:
dream valley: animals
In the mean time some lovely bright flowers bought yesterday at Asda,reduced from £10 to £3.75 , well they just skipped into my trolley.

have a great day,off for a dog walk now.janex

Born to perform

Horrid wet ,cold and windy here ...yuk
Funny card to lighten the mood, I love this image, so sweet, every little girl dreams of being a ballerina....go on admit it!

stamp: penny black ,ecarte,splits,pirouette.
papers: madeline colletion
star punch
and sentiment stamp,sorry don't know.

challenge entered:

cute card Thursday. music and dance.

have a nice day.janex

Bountiful

Just got my card pics and dog walk over before the dark clouds formed,my walk was windy but the sun shone warm and bright.
I treated myself to some new Penny Black stamps.I know they are expensive and take up lots of room,well the wood ones I like do,but they are fabulous stamps and never let you down!
The stamp used in this card will become a real favourite of mine and the folks buying and receiving my cards I'm sure .....nothing says love like a big bunch of flowers....I adore flowers in my home and garden and have 3 vases full at the moment..flowers,papers and rubber stamps...oh my...

stamps : main image,penny black Bountiful,sentiment Kolette Hall ,99p wood stamp
papers:DCWV and Dove Craft basics (heart paper)
medium: copiccs and promarkers.

challenges entered:
penny black at allsorts, January challenge, love and hearts
sweet sketch wednesday, followed the lovely sketch

have a great day and big thanks for the lovely welcome back to blogging. janex

Labour of Love

Morning crafters
It's like a Spring day here on the Wirral, walked the poodles,no gloves,no scarf
and no coats for them.
Springlike weather calls for a Spring like card ,so here it is....and I love it!
One of my fav Penny Black stamps.

stamp: labour of love ,penny black
medium: pro markers
papers: lets flyaway,quick card mag free gift
sentiment: craftwork cards
clouds: di namis die

challenges entered

passion for promarkers , inspired by a song, mines "roses are red my love"...
crafty cardmakers, No floral embellishments.
anything goes, anything goes


happy crafting.janex