Black and White birdie card

I thought I would try somethig a bit different for me today and go monochromatic. I used papers from the Clare Curd pad and Papermania stamps forr the bird, branch and the large flower.

I matted and layered the image panel and the spotted backing paper onto black and silver card and sewed around the edges with my sewing machine and black thread. The smaller flowers were cut from a Claire Curd backing paper and stuck on to the branch with various size foam pads. The little sentiment label is from Papermania. I embellished the flowers with Papermania gem stones and used Glossy accents on the little bird and the centre of the large flower.
As this is my 99th post, I will be putting up a post for Blog Candy next!
Hope you are having a nice Bank Holiday Weekend!
Jane
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ATCs for September's Addicted to ATCs swap

I put together these ATCs today for the Addicted to ATCs September swap. This will be our 3rd swap, the theme is Cupcakes, I can't believe how fast this Summer is going!

The image is by Little Claire designs. I coloured the image with Promarkers and Sakura pens. Some of the presents were paper pieced. I stamped the cat image twice so I could layer it up to make it stand out and used Glossy Accents on the cute little cupcake.
The border around the ATC was done with a Promarker.
Please take a look at our blog if you would like to join in with the swap, we have received some lovely ATCs over the past two months and we have new people joining us all the time!
I hope you are having a good weekend. I am looking forward to some bonus crafting time on Bank Holiday Monday tomorrow!
Jane
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An Elzybells Challenge card

Thursday was new release day on the Elzybells blog and I treated myself to some lovely new stamps. It was also Challenge day and the Challenge was to create your own stamped backing paper.

I got these Sunflower stamps and the Sunflower girl stamp at the release last month and hadn't got around to using them yet. I stamped the sunflower onto a square of linen card and then coloured it in with Promarkers.
I chalked in between the Sunflowers with green chalks to match the green card that I matted and layered with. I added a ribbon to the front of the card before adding the stamped image which I also coloured with Promarkers and cut with Nestabilities.
I really liked making the backing paper for this card. Elzybells stamps are so versatile and really lend themselves to creating repeat patterns on cards. The chalked green looks a lot stronger in real life but I think my flash has washed it out a bit :-(
I hope to have time to play with my new stamps tomorrow, my hubby is going for ramble to I will have most of the day to myself to Puppysit and craft.
Jane
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A mini book about Charlie and a catch up

I haven't had much time to craft this week, I made one card that I forgot to blog as I was in a rush to send it off but not much else. Despite that, it has been quite an exciting week, I received my parcel of Elzybells new release stamps, I received a parcel of lovely papers from Cardmaking and Papercraft for publishing one of my letters, I bought a bumper bargain lot of stamps from a charity shop today including an unused Stampin up set and Stampendous stamps, last but not least, I also had some very exciting crafty news that I cannot wait to share, but I will have to...at least until September!

I finally had some time to craft today and I have had a mini scrapbook in me screaming to get out for over a week so I finally was able to put it together. We had had Charlie for 2 weeks now and he is well and truly a part of the family so I wanted to make something to commemorate his first few days with us.

I cut some pages with various shapes of Nestabilities and inked the edges with a black Promarker. I covered the pages with various backing papers from a DCVW pet stack. I decorated the front with a journalling box cut from K+Co paper and made a title with Sissix letters.

Each page was punched with my Cropodile and an eyelet was set in each page. I added photos and dates to all the pages and decorated with Sizzix doggy themed shapes.
Charlie loves playing with all his toys, he spends most of his time chewing the little multicoloured cow that is in the pictures.
I love these two photos. I bought the Teddy in a charity shop and it has been one of Charlie's favourites since he arrived. He alternately likes to cuddle him, sleep on him or drag him around the floor by the leg!
Charlie is learning how to sit and fetch. He is very good at sitting as he knows he will get a treat, I sometimes think he just sits randomly on the chance he may get it right and get a treat! He loves our cat Patch but she is not as keen on him, she likes to show him who is boss and even he makes sure he keeps his distance when she is moody!
I am really pleased with how this scrapbook turned out and am looking forward to some more cardmaking this weekend, I have some new stamps that begging to be inked up :-)
This has turned into a bit of a Marathon post! I will be offering some blog candy soon as I just realised I have nearly hit my 100th Blog post. Am off now to try and retrieve a football from a tree!
Hope you have a lovely long weekend.
Jane
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An exploding Wedding Card

I made this little exploding card yesterday. This was a commission from a lovely Friend of mine as she is attending her own Bridesmaid's wedding at the end of the week and wanted something special to mark the occasion.

I followed instructions here to make the base card. The closed book measure 3x3 inches. I can't remember where the paper was from but it is full of sparkly wedding sayings and is really pretty. The stamp is by Elzybells and is coloured with Promarkers. The greeting is also Elzybells.

The inside of the card explodes once the ribbon is untied. There is plenty of space to write messages.
I added the names of the Bride and Groom to the inside of the card with letters cut from a Sizzix letter strip.
I then added the date and embellished away with some sparkly doves and some stick on gems.
I really enjoy making these cards/scrapbooks. Last summer, I made four of them packed with photos of the kids on our holiday to give to Grandparents as a keepsake and they loved them. It's amazing how much you can fit on these little pages! These would make a great gift too if you made a little coordinating box for them.
My Friend S-J is popping round tonight to pick this up and to come and see Charlie.
I hope she likes it!

If you liked the stamp I used, please pop over to Elizabeth's blog to check out the sneak peeks of her new stamps that are being released. They look fab and I am sure it will be hard for me to pick which ones to buy!

Hope you are having a good Monday :-)
Jane
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What I did today...

My first weekend as a Puppy owner has been much quieter than our usual weekends. I was up early so made some ATCs and while I was having breakfast the latest issue of Simply Cards and Papercraft arrived.
I was excited to see one of my cards in the Reader's Gallery. I had sent this fairy card in ages ago and had almost forgotten about it!

As I was going to be housebound for the rest of the day, I decided to finally tackle my Craft storage issue...I had bought the shelves on the right of the photo earlier in the week so I put them up today. I also swopped a chest of drawers that my TV was on for a cupboard that used to live downstairs so I have doubled my available storage and have finally cleared my desk so I can work on it.

I have put Charlie's basket next to my desk and I might try having him upstairs with me for a while tomorrow. I have a few cards to make but am suffering from a lack of inspiration at the moment. Hopefully my mojo will return when I sit at my nice tidy desk. The shelves look a bit of a mess at the moment but am hoping to spend a few hours organising everything properly next weekend. I have some baskets in the loft which will be perfect.
Charlie had a ride in the car today, we have decided to take him out on a regular basis in the car to get him used to it and he was really good, no noise, a bit shaky to start but fine!
I hope you are having a good weekend!
Jane
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Some ATCs for Becky's Monthly ATC swap

I made these today for Becky's Monthly ATC swap. There is no theme this month, anything goes, so I had planned to just sit down with some scraps and stamps and see where my imagination took me....however...I borrowed some more of Petra's stamps, some Elzybells ones this time and made these.

Why is it always more fun to play with someone else's stash? I stamped the backgrounds for the ATCs with smaller stamps from the sets then mounted the cups/coffee/ flask etc on foam pads. I then layered the panels on to brown card and a red ATC base.
I HAVE to make a concerted effort to tidy my craft area today. I have been crafting downstairs this week to keep an eye on the Puppy and my stash is taking over the Living room as well now. I bought some more shelves this week so am hoping to put them up and have a really good tidy when Charlie is asleep.
Wish me luck! If I am successful I will post some photos later.
Jane
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Summer Treats ATCs for Addicted to ATCs swap

I finally got round to making my ATCs for my Addicted to ATCs swap! It took me a while to get started and the finished ATCs are not what I had in mind originally.

I used Imaginisce papers and cut out the ice creams and layered them on to the backing papers. I wanted to use stamping but nothing I tried looked right. I quite like how colourful these are and they do remind me of lazy Summer days eating an ice cream or two somewhere pretty and sunny!
Please check out the Addicted to ATCs blog if you are interested in taking part in our swap. I run the swap with Petra and we had our first ever swap last month and all the ATCs we received and sent out again were amazing! We are always happy to welcome new people on board so don't be shy...get in touch!
Jane
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Pamper yourself!

I managed to just get in a card for the Moving Along with the Times Challenge this week, the deadline is tomorrow, I think, so am cutting it a bit fine. The Challenge this week is to follow a sketch and the theme is to make a teen card.


I followed the sketch quite faithfully this time and used Petra's stamp again. I love it so much, I may have to treat myself to one! I used American Crafts papers and the Butterfly paper is DCWV from the Blossoms and Butterflies stack. I coloured the image with my Promarkers and paper pieced the tub.
I coloured the blue flower with my Promarkers as I didn't have the right colour. I had never tried that before and was surprised at how well it worked.
Anyway, better have a tidy now. Charlie is awake and is balanced on my lap with my notebook, I think the 3 ATCs I was hoping to make tonight will have to wait!
Remember to check out the Moving Along with the times blog, you may still have time to take part this week, the DT girls have made some fab cards so take a look!
Jane
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August ATCs for ATC swappers

I made these ATCs this evening for Paul's Monthly swap. The theme is Water and I wanted to do something a bit different so borrowed this really cute stamp from my Friend Petra. The images are coloured with Promarkers and the papers on the back are Daisy and Dandelion.


I used my new ATC stamp for the label on the back of the cards. I had a bit of a spending spree today. I was lucky enough to receive some vouchers from my Mum and Dad for HobbyCraft so I went to treat myself to some new papers, stamps and some more Promarkers. They have packs of 5 for under £5 at the moment, bargain!
Am hoping to make a card for a Challenge tonight and also the 3 ATCs I need for my own swap. Charlie the Puppy is fast asleep next to me at the moment. He is a bit more lively today, here is a cute little picture of him with his Ted.
What a cutie! I think I am going to get a lot less crafting time from now on!
Jane
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A card for a Special Godson

I got an order today for a card from my Friend for a card for her to give to her Godson who is 15 and into sports. What a headache this card has given me! I have made about 5 different versions of embellishments to go on the front but none of them looked right.


I have settled for this as it is late and I have to tidy up before going off to bed. I am still not sure it is right but thankfully the card is not due until Wednesday so I may have another go. Boys cards are so hard!
Jane
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Fruity ATCs

I made these ATCs this morning to take part in a swap on the Fiskarettes website.

The theme was 'Fruity'. I had a mini panic this morning as I committed to this one not realising I would have to make 9 and I have at least another 11 ATCs to make for swaps this month, card orders and various other bits and pieces so I thought I would get these out of the way.
I used some free papers, nestabilities, ribbon, heart gems and layered them on to my favourite kraft ATC blanks.
On another note, all the blogs I am following have disappeared from my Dashboard! Has anyone else got this problem, am slightly worried as it has taken me ages to find these talented bloggers and I don't want to miss out on their fabulous creations. No time to sort it right now so let's hope they magically reappear!
Jane
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Baptism card

We are going to the Baptism of my Best Friend's baby son soon so I made this card to give him tonight. I wanted the card to be simple and unfussy so used a paper from my new DCWV Blossoms and Butterflies stack.

I had the die cut bible shapes in my stash from a goodie bag I bought at the Alexandra Palace Big Stamp and Scrapbooking show earlier this year so I used them as a template to make one from the backing paper.
I made a cross from blue gems to add to the bible then layered up some glittered vellum onto white linen card cut with my Nestabilities.
I wrapped some ribbon round the card then tied a big organza bow, it took me ages to get this right...
I used Making Memories letter stickers for the sentiment, I bought these today from Hobbycraft and I really like them!
I now have to make a matching tag and wrap the pressies :-)
Hope you are having a good week!
Jane
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July ATCs received from swaps

I didn't make any cards today, I was too busy rushing around sorting out getting the car fixed, finalising the Addicted to ATCs swap and most excitingly going to choose our new Puppy! We are going to go and pick Charley up on Monday from the Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary, he is the cutest dog in the whole wide world! He will be 7 weeks old when we pick him up and he is a Heinz 57 but looks a lot like a black Labrador with ginger patches. I can't wait to get him home!

When I came back from my holiday two envelopes full of gorgeous ATCs were waiting for me and we also sent out the Addicted to ATC swaps today so I have my swaps to add to my collection.

The first three are from my Addicted to ATCs swap, the theme was about me and I have three gorgeous ATCs. I love these as they are really personal and I learnt a liitle bit about the person who made them. I love the little book on Anne-Kristin's ATC, the colouring on Claire's Elzybells ATC and the gorgeous stamping on Sarah's cat ATC. Thank you so much ladies! I love them!

The next two photos are the ATCs I received for taking part in Paul's ATC swappers monthly swap.
There were two themes for the swap this month, a sketch and a black and white theme. The standard of artwork in these ATCs is so amazing and I love the black and white cards. It was a real challenge for me following the sketch and it is great to see how the other swappers interpreted it. Thank you Paul, Hazel, Angel, Sue, Anesha and Cazz for the lovely cards!


Last but by no means least are the four swaps I received for taking part in the Monthly ATC swap run by Becky. The theme was flowers and I love the fact that all these ATCs are so bright and colourful. Thank you She, Becky, Hazel and the person who made the stamped rabbit holding the pink flower as this one did not have any details on the back. These bright and cheery ATCs really brightened my day.


I now have a long list of ATCs to make for August so I will have to get started soon as it is already the 10th of August!
Thanks again to all of you for the beautiful ATCs!
Jane
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Another Jolly Nation Christmas card

This is another Design Team card using the fabulous Jolly Nation Christmas decoupage pack. I used Carol's sketch from her latest challenge to make up a quick card.

I used a yellow card blank for the card and layered up Jolly Nation matching backing paper. The patterned pink paper is by Anna Griffin, I bought the pad ages ago when I won some Hobbycraft vouchers but this is the first time I have used it.
Why don't you pop along to Carol's blog and take part in her Challenge, she has a fab prize up for grabs!

Jane
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A Jolly Nation Best Friend Christmas card

I know it's a bit early for Christmas cards but this decoupage pack by Jolly Nation is just too tempting!
This lady snowed under with shopping bags reminds me of my Best Friend a lot! The card was very simple to put together and I used all the bits and pieces from one decoupage sheet to decorate the card inside and out.

I decided to cover the inside of the front of the card with some of the backing paper and matted and layered silver mirri board and white card which I then added some of the die cut shapes to.

The sentiment is fro a Christmas Papermania clear stamp pack I bought today on a flying visit to the Craft shop. I love the mix of fonts it makes it look a bit different.
I spent the afternoon putting together most of the decoupage sheets I have left so expect some more cards soon!
Jane
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Funky hand challenge card

I came back from my holiday in Cornwall yesterday, we had a lovely time and were lucky enough to see a fair bit of sun in the last few days. I visited a few craft shops and picked up a few goodies that I have yet to play with. Before I went I ordered the Funky Hand Wordbooks cd and it was waiting for me when I got back.

I printed off some papers to take part in the Get Funky Challenge on the new Challenge blog.

The Challenge was to follow Anice's sketch on the left. I feel my mojo is lacking at the moment so I hope I did the sketch justice. I made this card for my Best Friend's husband. It is his birthday on Thursday and we will be meeting up with them in Dublin at the weekend. I have a few more cards to make over the next week so am hoping to get my mojo back soon!
Why not pop over to the blog and take part in the Challenge. Anice has some fab freebie papers to download!
Have a nice Sunday! I may be back later with another card...
Jane
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