Smile!

Hello Everyone! I hope you are all ok. I am still under the weather with Bronchitis but I am tucked up on the sofa at the moment watching Little House on the Prairie and blog hopping so life is not all bad. I have a quick card to share with you today which I made using 1920's Gwen from Some Odd Girl. I bought her a long time ago and I love her style! I coloured her up last week as an experiment using only Cool Grey Graph'it Markers and the blender.

I cut her out with no border this time and added her to a card I made using My Mind's Eye papers which were the perfect colour. The flowers are from my stash and I added a crystal button on top of them which is available here from The Ribbon Girl. The sentiment is by Paper Smooches and is from this set. 

Here is a close up of Gwen, the colouring is not perfect but it was great fun experimenting. I sent this card to my Best Friend this week. She is very stylish and elegant, just like Gwen so I thought this would be perfect for her.

My Mum's Craft Shop DT - A hanging shadow box for the January 'Love' Challenge

Hello Everyone! Happy New Year! I hope you had a lovely New Year's Eve and I wish you all the best for 2014. The first of the month means a brand new Challenge on the My Mum's Craft Shop  blog and our theme this month is 'Love' . I made a shadow box using some packaging I save from a mobile phone cover my Husband bought after Christmas. As soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to alter it!

I covered the box inside and out using some gorgeous papers by My Mind's Eye from the
Lost & Found Record It Heirloom pad which is available here from My Mum's Craft Shop. I covered the back of the box using some kraft paper from Paperchase. I covered some wooden hearts from my stash with some papers from the pad and inked the edges and added a sentiment from this Papersmooches set stamped onto a banner cut from paper from the pad. I inked around the edges of the hearts and the banner using Tea Dye Distress inks. I added some Pom Pom trim and lots of beautiful flowers from The Ribbon Girl. I also added a wooden button and little resin embellishment from My Mum's Craft Shop. I hope you will be able to join us for our Challenge for the chance to win a voucher from My Mum's Craft Shop. Enjoy the rest of your New Year's Day!
Jane
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MMCS DT for the October Challenge - Halloween!

Hello Everyone! It's time for a brand new Challenge on the MMCS blog today and our theme this month is Halloween! I have made a card using the adorable Pure Innocence 'Kitty Costume' which is available here from My Mum's Craft Shop.

I coloured her in with my Promarkers to match the lovely My Mind's Eye papers and added a Melissa Frances sentiment. I added a little flower, ribbon and a button from The Ribbon Girl and finished with some stick on pearls. I hope you will be able to join us for our Challenge for the chance to win a voucher to spend at My Mum's Craft shop. Have a lovely Tuesday!
Jane
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Pollycraft DT for the Pollycraft Challenge - Stars and Stripes

Hello Everyone! I cannot believe two weeks have gone by already but it is time for a brand new Challenge on the Pollycraft blog today and our theme is 'Stars and Stripes'. I have made a card using some My Mind's Eye papers and the adorable Lil Dumpling Shelby who is available here from Pollycraft. 

I coloured the image in using mostly Graph'it markers and some of my Promarkers and die cut it into a circle which I mounted onto another circle and a scalloped circle cut from pink card. I layered up some die cut banners and stamped a My Favourite Things sentiment on to the starry paper. I added some pretty flowers from my stash, a button and some stick on pearls.

I hope you will be able to join us for this Challenge for the chance to win a £10 shopping spree at Pollycraft...

Make sure you check out the Challenge blog for some fabulous inspiration from the DT and the Challenge rules! Have a lovely Wednesday!

Jane

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Pollycraft DT for the Pollycraft Challenge - Anything goes

Hello Everyone! Today is a a very exciting day as it is the first day for our brand new Pollycraft Challenge! We have a very easy theme for you this time, it is 'Anything goes!' I have made a card using the fabulous 'Mr Fix it' who is available here from Pollycraft.

I coloured him in with my Promarkers and cut him out before adding him to my card. The papers I have used are from the My Mind's Eye pad 'Boy Crazy' pad and I added a sentiment from Penny Black which matched my theme perfectly. I gave this card to my Dad for Father's day as he is a dab hand with any tools! I also added some little tool charms from Whiff of Joy which I tied on with some twine and topped with a little button from my stash.

Here is a close up of my image coloured in with Promarkers. I love his little tool belt! I think I need one of these for my crafting tools! I finished my card off by adding some little My Minds Eye enamel dots. I hope you will be able to join us for this Challenge. You can find some fabulous inspiration from the DT and all the details you need to enter on the Challenge blog. I hope you have a lovely Wednesday!
Jane
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Lili of the Valley Guest Designer for May - Dainty Dancing

Hello Everyone! I hinted at some exciting news in my post yesterday and I can finally share it with you! I am the Guest Designer this month on the Lili of the Valley blog! I love Lili of the Valley stamps and have a huge collection of them. I can't resist their cute characters and they are so much fun to colour in so I was thrilled to be able to have the chance to share some of my cards on the Lili of the Valley blog.

 I have used the lovely 'Dainty Dancing' on my first card and teamed her with some lovely My Mind's Eye papers from the Nostalgia collection. I chose muted pinks which are some of my favourites at the moment and I have a few new clothes and accessories in this colour pallette.
I used various dies to cut the papers for my layout and added some stitching around the edges of all the layers. I also added some gorgeous old rose organza ribbon from the Ribbon Girl and layered some beautiful lace from my stash over the top.  The sentiment is also from Lili of the Valley from the Greeting postmarks set.

Here is a close up of my image which I coloured with Promarkers before cutting her out and adding her to the card with foam pads. I finished my card with an arrangement of flowers from various places and some stick on pearls and gems. I hope you have a lovely Friday and Bank holiday weekend if you are in the UK!
Jane
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Sugar Nellie DT - Bags of Fashion Morgan

Good Morning Everyone! The Sun has finally put in an appearance in my part of the world and I have a nice bright card like the very welcome sunshine to share with you today. I have made a card using the lovely Bags of Fashion Morgan who is available here from Funky Kits.

I used papers from My Mind's Eye and the purple flower is a new arrival from the Ribbon Girl. The ribbon is also from the Ribbon Girl and is available here. I added some more flowers from my stash and a fabric button I picked up in a Haberdashery in Greenwich.

Here is a close up of my image which I coloured with Promarkers. She has fabulous hair! The sentiment I have used is by My Favourite Things from the large numbers set. I have lots of crafting lined up today and then am meeting my Best Friend for shopping, a natter and dinner. I can't wait! Have a lovely Saturday!
Jane
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My Mum's Craft Shop DT - My Mind's Eye week

Good Morning Everyone! We are starting another themed week at My Mum's Craft shop today. Our theme this week is a great one for me as it is 'My Mind's Eye Papers' and My Mind's Eye are my abosolute favourite paper manufacturer! I have used the last few pages I had left from the My Mind's Eye 'The sweetest thing - Lavender' on my card today and added stitching around the edges. The papers from this pad are so versatile, I may have to treat myself to a new pad now mine is all gone.

The image which I coloured in with my Promarkers is a My favourite things 'A la mode' stamp. She is currently out of stock but you can find lots of great alternative images here.  The sentiment on my card is from a Paper Smooches set.

I added some pretty pink ribbon and lots of flowers to finish for a perfect girly card.There is a special offer in this weekend at My Mum's Craft shop if you fancy treating yourself!

FREE UK POSTAGE ALL WEEKEND

 No codes needed, minimum order £5

Offer ends Monday 25th Feb 6pm

Have a lovely Sunday!
Jane
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Sugar Nellie DT - Hippie Chick

Hello Everyone! I have chosen one of my all time favourite Sugar Nellie stamps for my Sugar Nellie DT card this week. This gorgeous Simply Sassy stamp is called Hippie Chick and is available here from Funky Kits.

I coloured my image with Promarkers to match these gorgeous papers from My Mind's Eye from the Collectable Memorable pad and then cut her out leaving a small border. I created a simple layout and added stitching around the edges of each layer and a stamped Some Odd Girl sentiment on a die cut banner shape.

I added a bow tied from a pretty cream and pink ribbon and topped it with a wooden button and added lots of flowers from my stash. I finished with some pretty pink stick on gems. I hope you have a lovely Wednesday!
Jane
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Sugar Nellie DT - Hugs

Hello Everyone! I hope you are well and having a good Weekend so far. I can't believe it is December today! I have been Christmas Shopping today and tidying up my house and I have a bit of crafting to do later on and tomorrow but at the moment I have my feet up watching Robbie on the TV at last week's concert. I can't believe this time last week I was at the O2! I have a card to share with you today which I made using a gorgeous Sugar Nellie image by Kathy Hare which is called 'Worried' and is available here from Funky Kits.

I love the little boy's face, he is so cute and I really enjoyed colouring the bear with my Promarkers. I have been experimenting with different blends recently and I am really pleased with my colouring on this image! I used some very old My Mind's Eye papers on my card and the sentiment is by Hero Arts.
I kept my layout simple with a little stitching and some pleated ribbon and some flowers from my stash.

Here is a little close up of my coloured image. I just love the bear, he is so adorable and looks so cuddly. I hope you have a lovely evening. I will be back tomorrow with 2 cards!
Jane
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Sugar Nellie DT for the Sugar Bowl Challenge

Good Afternoon Everyone! I hope you are having a lovely Easter Weekend. I have had a busy morning tidying up my stamps and doing a little bit of crafting. Whilst sorting through my stamps I came across the adorable Sugar Nellie 'Let them eat cake' stamp by Sugar Nellie featuring the lovely Delia and couldn't resist using her on a card for this fortnight's Sugar Bowl Challenge.

Gayle has drawn up a gorgeous sketch to follow and the optional theme is 'Plaid and Stripes'. I chose some papers from the My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline Dolled up pad as there are gorgeous Plaids and stripes in the pad and teamed them with some lace from The Ribbon Girl. I added various flowers from my stash and some stick on pearls and finished with a sentiment by Wild Rose studio. I am going out this afternoon to see my family for Easter and tomorrow we are going to see the Hockney Exhibition at the Royal Academy. I can't wait to see the beautiful bright paintings and hope to come home full of inspiration!
Have a great Saturday!
Jane
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A Birthday card for my lovely Hubby

It's my lovely Hubby's birthday tomorrow and I left it a bit late to make him a card and was stuck for inspiration so I decided to follow the Wild Rose Studio sketch and then part in their blog hop. I've never taken part in a blog hop before and it was lovely seeing all the new stamps in the fabulous samples made by the DT.

I used a Wild Rose studio stamp I bought at a show but have never used for my card and some of my lovely new My Mind's Eye papers.
I followed this lovely sketch by Dawny P which was used by all the members of the DT.

I really enjoyed using the bright summery colours after all the Christmassy colours I have been using on my cards. The spotty ribbon and epoxy star were from my stash and I have had them a long time.
I am also entering this card in to this week's Passion for Promarkers challenge.
The theme is old/new and the papers and stamps I have used are my brand new items, the epoxy button and ribbon are my old items.
I am slowly getting back to some sense of normality now after being out of action due to my back, I don't normally have time to take part in many Challenges so this has been a nice change for me! I am now off to link up my card
I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.
Jane
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A perfect day for a Christening

It's a gloriously beautiful sunny day today and a perfect day for a Christening, my morning has been disrupted slightly by our puppy Charlie ripping up his bed for the 3rd time in 2 days so I have to sort that out again :-(
We are going to a Christening today so I have made a card to give to the lovely little Isabelle.
I used My Minds eye and K+Co papers and lots of pearls and flowers all in lovely pale pink.

I had a bit of trouble finding an image I liked until I fell upon this adorable image by Mo Manning. I printed it on to textured card and coloured it with pale pink and ivory colours.

I printed my sentiment on the computer and cut it out with Nesties label shapes. The cross was from Flutterby Crafts and the flowers are mostly Prima.
I hope you have a lovely Sunday, I am off to sort out Charlie's mess!
Jane
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An altered pen box for the Pollycraft Monday Challenge

It's Monday already and time for a new Pollycraft Blog Challenge. The Challenge theme this week is to decorate something other than a card that must include a stamped or a digi- image and lace and glitter.
This had me stumped for a few days and suddenly when I saw this pen box, inspiration struck!
I bought the pen box a couple of weeks ago at a Car boot sale for 50p.

I decorated both sides with stripey glittery My Mind's Eye paper and added a strip of lace. I stuck the paper on with double sided tape and sanded the edges for a neat finish. I also added a drop of glossy accents to the ends of the lace after I had stuck it on with narrow tape to stop it from fraying.


I covered the lid with the same papers, also sanding the edges and adding a strip of lace. The letters I used are beautiful glittery ones from American Crafts.

I used a super cute Kiki Fairy image and coloured her with Promarkers adding glossy accents to the flower on her head and glitter to her wings, wand and star.
As a finishing touch I added some flowers and buttons threaded with ribbon.
I hope you will be able to join us for this Challenge for the chance to win

3 creative cottage kits!!

It's a great prize, the kits are just scrummy!

Make sure you check out the rest of the DT's amazing creations for some inspiration.
Have a lovely Monday!
Jane
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Jane's Doodles release day on Squigglefly

It's release day today on Squigglefly and Jane is releasing some gorgeous images which I have been lucky to have a play with this week. The first is a lovely rabbit which Jane drew a long time ago. It is quite different to Jane's usual cutesy style. It was lovely to colour in and I decided to create quite a simple card by cutting the image out with Nellie Snellen dies and threading ribbon through the holes on the oval.
I then added a bow and a sentiment. The backing paper is from DCWV and the image was coloured with my Promarkers.


My second card was made with the Tulips digi stamp which I also printed onto textured card and cut out with my Nellie Snellen die. I followed the sketch from 'I love Promarkers' and they also are asking for dots for this Challenge so this My Minds Eye Paper was perfect.

The strips are cut with a Martha Stewart punch , the sentiment is Hero Arts and the flowers are Prima with kanban pearl centres.Make sure you take a look at the other DT members blogs and see their wonderful creations using these gorgeous stamps.

Alice

Jane

Lucy

Lysa

Mariana

Sanne

and guest designer

Jill

Jane is running a giveaway on her blog, so make sure you visit her and leave a comment for a chance to win one of her images.
Have a lovely Saturday, I have an afternoon of crafting lined up as everyone is off to watch football leaving me on my own with the dog :-)
Jane
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Princess Mia Birthday digi giveaway!

Do you remember Mia? The cute digi stamp Jane created inpsired by her daughter? She is back and it's her Birthday! She will be available to buy from Squigglefly tomorrow but to celebrate Jane is giving away Mia all day today so pop on over to her blog to get her now!

I coloured Mia in with Promarkers and gave her a sparkly necklace. I added a button for her balloon. I used My Mind's eye paper to cover the card base and cut Mia out with my Nesties before mounting her with foam pads on the card. I added gems as a finishing touch and some glossy accents to her little birthday crown.
I hope you will all join me in wishing Mia a very Happy birthday and don't forget to go over to Jane's blog to get your cute freebie.
I will be back tomorrow with more cards made with Jane's new release images as Saturday is release day at Squigglefly.
Have a lovely Friday!
Jane
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Susie's Sassy Challenge DT Project: Springtime Garden

Sally has chosen a Springtime Garden theme for this fortnight's Sassy Challenge. I decided to make something other than a card again and used a lovely watering can template that I found here.

I went to the Range in Swindon on Mother's day, I had never been there before and I loved it! They had so may goodies, I bought a My Mind's eye pad which I used to make the watering can , trim and the butterflies.

I also bought the Butterfly punch there and lots of other fun stuff. I love this Butterfly punch so much, it is so versatile.

The flowers I used to decorate the watering can are from various places as are the gems. The sentiment is by Elzybells and was cut out with a Nesties label die.

I used my Martha Stewart border punch to decorate the bottom of the watering can.
Now for some sad news... last week we had to say good bye to DT member Vikki, this week we say goodbye to Lisa, Susie has also decided to close this bi-weekly challenge and concentrate on the other 2 challenge blogs she runs with Vikki. The last Challenge will be the 8th of April. I have had such a lovely time working with the girls and I hope you have enjoyed playing along with the Challenges too.
I hope you will be able to join us for our last two Challenges, make sure you take a look at the blog to see all the wonderful DT cards, they are so bright and cheerful, I think we have all been very inspired by this theme!
Have a lovely Thursday.
Jane
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A Greeting Farm Dahlia card

I haven't been around much lately and haven't really made much apart from DT projects recently as I haven't been feeling myself. I have been off work since we came back from Somerset and have been sleeping a lot and I feel I am steadily recovering.
I ordered some The Greeting Farm stamps a while back and decided to make my first card using Dahlia today.
I love how happy these little characters seem and the Greeting Farm stamps are fast becoming some of my favourites. I ordered another couple today from Elaine at Quixotic paperie as she has a special offer at the moment, I can't wait for them to arrive!
I made a shaped card using Nestabilities as my base card and I coloured the image with Promarkers and cut her out with a border so as not to miss any of the detail. The spotty paper is My Mind's Eye and the pink paper is from DCWV. The flowers are Prima and Making Memories, the ribbon is from my stash and the border punch is Martha Stewart. The sentiment is Hero Arts.
I hope you had a good Monday and I hope to be back soon with more cards :-)
Jane
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ATC Swappers January ATCs

These are my ATCs for Paul's ATC swappers swap. I got these printed and coloured them in bed yesterday morning and put them together in a jiffy last night and this morning as I panicked they would not get to Paul in time.
The theme is tearing so I tore some My Mind's Eye papers with a ruler for the sea bed. The other paper is from the Funky Hand Dreams come True CD.

The image was a freebie from The Greeting Farm CHA card relay. I missed the deadline to be eligible for the other freebies but this image is so sweet, I will definitely use it again.
I have lots to catch up on after a couple of days out of action, DT projects, Birthday cards, boxes, cards for a sale we will be doing at work to raise funds for Cancer Research. I think I am going to have a busy weekend!
Jane
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Leo the lion and experimenting with glitter

I had another play with some of Jane's images yesterday and printed some images onto Kraft card. I then used some glitter to decorate Leo's mane, nose and tail. I don't often use glitter so decided to experiment with 2 different techniques. First I made 2 base cards from Kraft card using a Nesties die and covered it with My Mind's eye backing paper.


On the first card, I used fine glitter in a pot tipped on to glue which I had used to fill in the areas I wanted to add colour to. The finished effect is quite matt and flat looking but the colour is really intense.

For the second image, I first coloured the areas I was going to add glitter to with a Sakura pen. I then added brown glitter glue . When the glue was dry, the effect was very dull and a bit patchy so I added Glossy accents to cover the glittered areas. This gives a lovely raised effect and really makes the image pop.
I don't normally use glitter but I think I have been converted! The kids are back at school today even though they are starting later than usual. I have holiday from work booked today and tomorrow so I am going to make the most of some very welcome time on my own. Our house has been a mad house since last week with all our lives disrupted because of the snow. Let's hope we can somehow start getting back to normal now!
Jane
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