First Fiskarette's DT Project Sneak Peak!

My first Design Team Project will be featured on the Fiskarettes blog tomorrow. I had lots of fun playing with the Fiskars tools.

Here is a little sneak peek....
Jane
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My First Funky Hand Wordbook

I received a card commission last week from a Friend for a card for her to give to one of their Friends.
I decided to try my Funky Hand Wordbook cd. I have used it to print papers before to take part in challenges and to use on cards but had never got around to making a Wordbook. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was!

I decided to use the 'Anyone for coffee' papers. They are really lovely colours and I like the letter font used.
I printed out the letters for 'Mike' then fed them back through the printer to print the back with the circles pattern. I used medium weigh textured paper. I cut out the letters, selected the length I wanted the book to be and trimmed to size. I scored each page and the end, stuck them together with double sided tape and set in some eyelets with my Cropodile.
I decided to decorate each page. I printed a sentiment with the PC, cut into strips and inked the edges and stuck to the page.
I stamped the Elzybells snoozing Ted and paper pieced him with offcuts of the printed paper. I then cut him out with Nestabilities and layered onto another circle cut with Nesties.

For the last page, I matted and layered a page printed with the sentiment. The person the card is for likes Music so I used a Papermania Christmas Music stamp to add Music sheet to the edges of the card.
So quick and easy! And I love it! I almost don't want to give it away! I will definitely be making more of these. I made an envelope for the card to go in from a 12x12 Scrapbook page.

I saw today that Anice has some new Xmas downloads available to I may have to add these to my ever growing Birthday wishlist...roll on the 24th!!! Am counting the days until my Birthday as 3 days later I am off to Allie Pallie with a Friend, I went earlier this year and it was just fabulous! Can't wait!
Hope you had a good weekend :-)
Jane
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Stamping is my Therapy!

I sent a collection of stamped images to my very talented blog and ATC swap Friend Claire this week and wanted to make something pretty to put them in.


I made a little card using on of the Elzybells new release stamp sets. This set is perfect for an addicted Crafter as all the stamps in the set are to do with Cardmaking or Scrapbooking. I used the girl stamping for this card some Basic Grey Cardstock and Kraft card and my Nestabilities and Promarkers for the image.
The Mulberry flowers are from Papermania finished with stick on Gems.

To make the folder to put the images in, I folded an A4 sheet of pearlescent card and added ribbon. I then covered the front and back panels with more Kraft card and Basic Grey cardstock. I stamped and coloured the same image and added a sentiment in a Nestabilities scallop. I decorated with more flowers and tied the bow.

The finished gift looked really effective. I will definitely be making more of these to give away as they are so pretty and a great way to store stamped images waiting to be coloured.
I have another afternoon of stamping lined up today, we are going to watch Jack in his first football Match today then off to town to get some ribbons and buttons from the market!
Jane
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Moving along with the times sketch Challenge

Here is my card for the Moving Along with the times sketch Challenge. The image is Messy Rabbit and I coloured it with promarkers.


There was lovely sketch by Heidi to follow this week and the theme was Christmas. I dug out my Nestabilities to cut the squares and embossed some white card with a Cuttlebug Snowflake folder. I got this in the post today so I was dying to use it! I coloured one of my Prima flowers with my silver pen and layered it up with a blue flower and a piece of Snowflake Confetti finished off with a sticky gem. The ribbon has been lurking in my stash for ages. It is a really nice shade of blue. The prize for this week is a Guest Design team spot so why not pop on over and play along for a chance to work with the talented Design Team!
Jane x

Black and White Card

I made this card today for the Monday Challenge on the Fiskarettes blog which is black and white.
This is the first card I have made and posted since becoming part of the Design team. I love monochrome cards so I was really excited when I saw the latest Challenge.
To make the card, I covered the base in 2 different spotty papers which I cut to size with my Fiskars paper trimmer. I covered the join with a scalloped paper strip cut with the Fiskars threading water border punch, I then layered a strip of stripy ribbon over the paper strip.

To make the flower panel. I used my stamp press to stamp flowers and leaves onto patterned paper and then cut them out. I sewed stems with black thread onto a panel of white card and stuck on the flowers and leaves. The stamp press is so easy to use and makes sure the stamped image is perfect every time.
The panel was then set into a black panel. I used my pearls squeeze punch to cut into the corners of the black panel and embellished with stick on gems. The panel was mounted on to the card and I added a stamped sentiment.
Jane
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Pink and Girly Jolly Nation gorgeousness!

After the muted colours cards I made yesterday, I fancied making something really pink and girly.
I was a bit short on time so I dug out my Jolly Nation Die Cut decoupage packs and came across the sheet with the 2 little girls.

I have lots of blank aperture cards left over from my cross stitching days and am always looking for ways to use them. The little girl with the handbag fitted perfectly into the aperture and the coordinating paper from the pack was perfect to cover the front of the card. I cut around the aperture with a craft knife and tidied the edges with a pretty white peeloff. I used some flowers from my stash to add an extra touch of girly pink and a sentiment stamped with Elzybells stamps. I decorated the flower centres with pink sparkly gems.
As a present to go with the card, I embellished this lovely sparkly notebook I picked up ages ago for about 50p. I die cut some oval shapes from silver card and the patterned paper and layered the decoupage girl on top. I simply finished off the notebook with some more bling. Can you ever have too much bling? :-)
These items will make a lovely gift for a little girl and were so quick to make as the Jolly Nation decoupage is all die cut so no messing around with fiddly little scissors! I think I am going to find them hard to give away!
Jane
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Exciting news! New Design Team position

I am very happy to announce that I have been chosen to be a part of the Fiskarettes design team for the next 3 months. The new Design Team was announced on the Fiskarettes website today and it was very exciting to see my article posted on the site today. I can't wait to get started creating Projects to share with the other Fiskarettes. Please check out the website for loads of inspiration, weekly challenges plus the opportunity to win lots of lovely Fiskars goodies in the regular Competitions!
Hope to see you there soon!
Jane
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Feel Better Soon Card

I made this card tonight for a Friend of mine who is poorly. It was the perfect opportunity to use my new Basic Grey papers, they were a joy to work with and the pattern is just gorgeous!

The stamped image is by Elzybells, I coloured it with Promarkers and paper pieced the duvet with the Basic Grey paper. I used Kraft card to matt and layer, I love Kraft card at the moment and it looks great with the backing paper. I cut a Nestabilities oval to add the sentiment. The lace was a charity shop find and I cut the flower with a Sizzix shape from some webbing I bought in John Lewis then layered it with a paper flower and button. I added a bit of bling under the lace.
Now my desk is a total mess again but it was worth it! I wonder if they are actually any tidy crafters...I have not met one yet!
Jane
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A pink and girly New House card

This card was a commission from one of my friends at work. She is one of my best customers and has always encouraged me in my cardmaking. It was such a nice feeling that someone loved my cards and wanted me to make special ones for them to give to their Family and Friends.

This card is for Jade who is moving into a new shared House at University in York. She loves pink and girly things so I was able to indulge in lots of pink and bling. The stamp I used is by One Four Zero and I bought the paper in Cornwall on our holiday this year. I cannot remember where I got the little key from but I found it recently in my stash and thought it would be ideal for this card.
I hope Pauline and Jade like it!
Jane
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Get Funky Challenge - Footie scores book

I made this little book earlier for the Get Funky Challenge but couldn't post it as it is a surprise gift to for my Son Jack. He is has been accepted into a local football team and has his 1st proper training session next week on Tuesday. Jack and his older brother love writing lists and keeping records of all Football scores and results, both in real life and from their Computer Games.
To make the book, I covered some chipboard which I had trimmed to the right size with a Funky Hand paper from the Funky Word books cd. The paper is actually a Christmas paper but Jack loves red and green so I thought this would be perfect. I put the book together with my Bind it all and set to work making a topper. I stamped footballs on to white card and cut it out into a circle with I matted and layered. The teddy stamp is from Elzybells. I stamped him and coloured him with Promarkers, then I cut him out and layered him up with foam pads on to the circle.
I cut out letters from the alphabet sheet which is also on the Funky Hand cd using a Nestabilites circle as a template. I stuck them to the book with foam pads and added Glossy accents to the letters. Footie is spelled out with K+co letters (I find these really useful!).
To finish the book off, I set an eyelet into the top right had corner of the book and threaded through a football phone charm (I got this from a supermarket ages ago for 20p! I knew it would come in useful one day!)
Jane
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Snoozing ted card

I made this card today to enter into the Moving Along with the Times Sketch Challenge, the Challenge element was to use stiching so I did some wonky stitching on my Machine (it is wonky on purpose, I am usually a straight lines person but thought I would try wonky for a change...). I used Funky Hand papers and an Elzybells snoozing Ted stamp.


The sketch to follow this week was by Clare and I thought I would try and do a boy's card for a change. I was going to enter this into the Funky Hand Challenge but I reread the Challenge and the brief is to make something for a boy and think this is a bit too grown up so I am going to have another go.
Need to search through my CD again for something more suitable.
At least it's an excuse to make another card. It took me ages to put this card together. Nothing I tried seemed to work and I am not 100% happy with it but at least I can pop it into my card box, it might come in handy someday.
Hopefully the next card will come a bit easier! I
Jane
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New Letraset promarkers colours

I haven't made any cards today (yet!) but wanted to share some news. I popped into my local Craft shop yesterday and Beryl (the owner) told me some very exciting news! Letraset are bringing out 56 new colours!

I am still working on collecting the original 92 and I think I probably have about 1/2 of them now. I can't wait to see the new colours in the flesh when they are released! I just love those pens as they make colouring Rubber stamped images so easy!
I didn't have much time for Crafting yesterday. I did sew the brooch backs onto the felt flower brooches I made yesterday and have ordered another 50. I also cut some display cards for them with my Nestabilities. I feel I have made a start now on the things I have to make for the Christmas fair so feel a bit happier about that. I am going to make a few cards, tags, boxes, books, post it note holders so I have quite a long way to go but at least I have done something!
I have cleared my afternoon to make cards, I have an order for a new home card and I want to take part in a few Challenges as well so I'd better get on with my cleaning and tidying up so I am free to play!
Hope you are having a good weekend.
Jane
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Felt flower brooches

I had some fun tonight with my Cuttlebug and some felt. I cut flower layers in various colours and sizes and layered them up.


I finished the flowers off with some of my vast collection of buttons. Each one is unique. I'm not sure which one is my favourite. I think I am going to make brooches out of these. I have loads more layers cut out so I might put a few more together to make sure I manage to stay awake to watch Jonathon Ross!
Jane
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Something a bit different....

I decided to have a go at using a different style of Cardmaking for this card and didn't use ANY rubber stamps! I do not do that very often. Even when I am using Decoupage, the odd stamp sneaks in somewhere.
I made this card after reading the latest issue of Cards magazine and used Inspire me papers.

I folded the base card from an A4 sheet of Kraft card and layered up 2 sheets of Inspire me papers cut into squares. I cut and embossed a pink paper and layered it onto a Vellum Nestabilities scalloped circle. I stapled ribbon onto the card and added the sentiment with a variety of K+Co, Papermania and Sizzix letters.
I finished the card with some Papermania paper flowers, pearls and gems.
It was nice to try something a bit different but I still love my stamps! I had a lucky find on Ebay last night so am looking forward to those arriving so I can play with them. I also received a lovely Sizzix flower layers die today which I am hoping to transform into some felt corsages with the help of a needle, some embroidery threads and a few vintage buttons. Plenty of new toys to play with! Should keep me out of mischief this weekend!
Don't forget to enter my Birthday Blog Candy. Details are at the top of my blog.
Hope you are having a good Friday.
Jane
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ATCs from August's Addicted to ATCs swap

These are the ATCs I received from the Addicted to ATCs August swap. The theme was Summer Treats and these ATCs certainly are a treat!


Thank you to Paul, She and Claire for your lovely creations!

The theme for September is Cupcakes, please get in touch if you would like to take part!
Jane
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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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