THANK YOU EVERYONE

Hi

Thank you so very, very much to everyone who very kindly left me a message of encouragement yesterday .. .. all very much appreciated. Isn't blogland a beautiful place to be part of?

I also received quite a few messages/emails asking if there was any way I was able to find out where the stamp I used yesterday actually came from as they would like to "get hold of it".

Well, I did my "good blog buddy" act and went through my NEC receipts last night (whilst hubby was looking the other way LOL!!!) and found the receipt from the stand I purchased it from. I did a search on this and have managed to come up with the website where you can see the stamp I bought ....................................but beware!!!!!!!!! .......... there are so many beautiful stamps on there that you are unlikely to stop at purchasing just one.

This is also the stand where I buy all my reduced Penny Blacks from .. .. .. so prepare for a treat. I don't usually buy from the on-line store but save myself for the NEC. But I opened the website up this morning and .. oh dear .. I saw some lovely ones. (But I have been good and resisted .. .. so far).

Also, be very strong and do not click on the "second hand" tab - don't say I didn't warn you!!!

So off you go to find the stamp I used yesterday here at "Stampersupermarket.co.uk" along with others from the same series.

Have fun!!!

Love Jules xx

TIME TO SHARE MY NEWS

Good Morning Everyone

Here I am again before wandering off to work.

Last day this week ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend .. .. .. then next week I finish work altogether to throw myself full-time into my little greeting card/wedding stationery business.

Up to now I have been running it part-time alongside my "day job and housewifely duties" but I just cannot take things further without committing myself full time (or wearing myself out completely). So decisions had to be made .. .. .. with the help of mountains of "for and against" lists built up over the past few months.

So with the backing of my lovely hubby I am going to "go for it" and dedicate my future to making pennies out of my love for crafting. I feel like the luckiest girl on the planet .. .. and cannot wait to throw myself into it wholeheartedly.

My list of things to do and try and work towards are never ending .. .. so no pressure LOL!!!!!!!!!!
I just know I am going to be the worse boss I have ever had.

So this time next week I will be leaving for the office for the last time. It has soon come round now after months of deciding and weeks of working my notice period. I shall be sad to leave my lovely workmates - we have some great laughs - but I need to "try my own thing".

Now I have shared my exciting news with you I will share a card.

This used:

Image: Very strange - I bought this from the NEC along with another couple of "boat type" stamps and none of them have a maker or reference number on them!! How weird that someone wouldn't want to advertise that they have made such a lovely stamp.
Sentiment: Woodware FRCL079 "Male Relative"
Backing Paper: Funky Hand "Dreams Come True" CD
ProMarkers
Chalks
String from the "useful box in the cupboard"
Fish buttons (that have had their shanks cut off - ouch!)

Lots of Father's Day cards on the horizon so you will probably be sick of seeing these over the coming few weeks!!

Have a lovely day everyone. Thank you for calling by.

Love Jules xx

ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

Good morning everyone

A quick share today to let you see a card I have put together this morning ahead of heading off into the big world! Lots to do tonight so I know I won't get chance later.

My creation uses a gorgeous image that made me daydream about the beautiful lazy summer days that are hopefully going to be ours this year.

It was really weird when I came to take the photograph though .. .. .. the rear of the house is bathed in glorious sunshine but the front of the house looks like it could rain any minute!!! I hope the weather at the rear of the house wins for the day.

Taking the photograph also made me wonder whether I might manage to take any pictures of my cards outdoors this year. I always think that cards look so gorgeous in an outdoor setting but whenever the weather seems bright enough there always seems to be a breeze and I can just imagine my card toppling over every few seconds and me trying to get a quick shot in before the next breeze makes an appearance .. .. .. or chasing it up the garden LOL!!

Anyway .. .. here is my make of the morning

This used:

Image: Hero Arts K5209 "Butterfly Garden"
Sentiment: Hobby Art Clear "CS016D" General Greetings
Backing Papers: Funky Hand "Dreams Come True" CD
Martha Stewart Punch: Doily Lace
Friskars Punch: Ribbon Threader
ProMarkers
Star Dust Stickles
Ribbon and Brads from the stash box

OK then - time to put my "get ready for work" head on now my fun is over.

Have a lovely day everyone.

Love Jules xx

WHERE HAVE I BEEN AND PENNY BLACK

Hi Everyone

Here I am - back safe and sound. Where have I been? .. .. .. Well I have been away for a long weekend staying with two very special friends (and being spoilt rotten into the bargain).

Hubby and I went to stay just outside of Weston Super Mare .. .. .. and I am missing my big Full English Breakfasts already. It is so lovely to spend time with them (the friends not the breakfasts!!). Time always flies and we are never satisfied with how much time we have together. LOL!!

Part of the weekend involved the men going off to watch Derby County lose (again !!) whilst Chris and I went looking for a wedding outfit for her Son's wedding later this year. We found lots of possibilities which was good.

Once back home my time has been taken up with some DT work (a treat in store soon from Funky Hand - but I didn't tell you that) LOL!!!

I needed time for just one quick play though and decided that this should be the Penny Black Challenge for this week. They wanted to see "3 flowers, 2 button and 1 bow" on our creations.

This used:

Image: Penny Black "3786F" Crush
Sentiment: Penny Black "2909E" Smiling
Backing Papers: Pink Petticoat
Martha Stewart Punch: Daisy
Woodware: Small flower punch
Diamond Stickles
Ribbon, buttons and pearls from the stash box

Just for a change I started off by choosing the sentiment I wanted to use and then trawled through the Penny Black images for something to go with it .. .. .. I was surprised by how many would fit perfectly. Just goes to show that Penny Blacks are "happy smiley stamps" - must be why I love them so!!!!

Off to work today but I could do with staying at home and having a huge clear up of my craft space .. .. it really does look like a bomb has hit it.. .. .. and it was quite tidy until I started my DT stuff yesterday LOL!!

There is a blog (WOYWW) where we are asked to show "what is on your workspace Wednesday" .. .. .. I think I should start one today that is WINOYWT - "what is not on your workspace Tuesday" !!!

Today looks like it is going to be beautiful weather wise. I hope it is the same where you are.

Thanks for calling by on this slack blogger!! Sorry but I just didn't have time to schedule posts before I went off on my weekend of fun and games .. .. no commitment some people .. .. .. and hopefully tonight I get chance for a good old "blog hop". It seems ages since I have managed that too!!!

Take care.

Love Jules xx

A DELAYED SHARE

Good morning Everyone

I will start with an apology .. .. .. sorry I haven't been around for a couple of days. Lots happening in my little world and I just haven't got as far as posting .. .. .. busy, busy, busy!!!!!

So to make amends I will share a quick make created earlier this week - this is the silliest thing. Lots made but no time to photograph and post them. By the time my days have settled down this week it has been dark .. .. or I have fell asleep LOL!!!!!

Still today is different. I am at home for a few hours this morning so will make the most of the sunshine in terms of photographs and the dreaded washing!!!

Here is my quick share

This used:

Image: Hero Arts G4337 "Flourish Flower"
Background papers: Pink Petticoat
Martha Stewart Punch: Traditional Scallop
Spellbinders Nestabilities: Large Deckled Rectangles
Josy Rose: Nail Heads
Promarkers
Diamond Stickles

Have a great weekend everyone - I hope the sun shines on you .. .. whatever you are doing.

Love Jules xx

SHARE OF THE DAY

Hi Everyone

An even later share today .. .. nearly not worth bothering until tomorrow!! LOL!!!

Here is what I created after I got home from work this evening.

This used:

Image: Penny Black "3212K" Much Gifted!
Backing Papers: Funky Hand "Dreams Come True" CD
Martha Stewart Punch: Daisy
Promarkers
Diamond Stickles
Brads and Yarn and punched label from the stash box

I am also entering this into the Allsorts Challenge this week where they would like to see some real or faux stitching on your creations.

Love Jules xx

SECOND PLAY WITH MY DISTRESS INKS

Hi Everyone

Sorry I am a bit late today.

I have spent the whole day creating (yay!!) .. .. I had lots of orders to do but decided that before I gave in for the day I would have another play with my distress inks. Hubby is out for the evening so I can craft away without feeling guilty for ignoring him.

A few .. .. shall we call them .. .."dodgy bits" .. .. on my creation but I don't think it is too bad considering. Just a few hundred more tries and I might start to get the hang it LOL!!!

I did my background and really loved it and then thought .. .. now what?!?!?

I nearly posted it at that point to ask for suggestions - but decided not to in case any suggestions involved the bin!!! LOL!!!

So, here is my second "play make" in my quest for distress ink perfection:

This used:

Main Image Stamp: Lavinia Stamps "Fairy House"
Background Stamp: Basic Grey "Two Scoops/Swirlie Stamps"
Distress Inks: Faded Jeans, Broken China and Dusty Concord
Nestabilities: Classic Scalloped Circles Large and Circles
Promarkers
Brads

I resisted the temptation to add glitter and stickles but this might not have been the right decision. It may get some added tomorrow!! LOL!!!

Edit to say "Yes - I did have to add some glitter as I decided my creation lacked a bit of magic so added some within minutes of posting .. .. .. and then your suggestion came through Pauline.. .. .. thank you - so pleased you agree with me.

I have replaced my photograph with slightly blinged up versions. Much better!!".

Take care everyone

Catch you again soon.

Love Jules xx

BEAUTIFUL FUN DAY

Hi Everyone

What a beautiful day .. .. the weather has been brilliant here. I hope it has for you too.

It was so lovely today that most of it has been spent outdoors cleaning my car, the windows and the paintwork. (I am trying really hard not to think about the bits I saw that could do with a "lick of paint or varnish" LOL!!!).

The greenhouse had a token clean out and the lawns had their first cut of the year !!! No holiday for me this year (as far as I know) so this means that I can plant my greenhouse up with goodies that won't wither away whist I am away. Yay!!!

The weather today would do for me for the whole of summer .. .. not too hot .. .. just warm enough not to need sleeves.

But no day would be perfect without a little crafting session and here is my play of the day .. ..

This used:

Image: Judikins 2613H "Harlequin"
Backing Paper: Sorry - this came out of my scrap box - but I need to find it again because I love it alongside this image. I know it has come from a CD because most of my papers do.
ProMarkers
Cord and Buttons from the stash box

The Harlequin stamp is one that I bought from the NEC this time. I have looked at it and stroked it for the past three years and put him back. But I decided that this was the year he could come home with me. Isn't he just gorgeous?

So that is me for today.

Catch you all again soon. I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Love Jules xx

GETTING DISTRESSED

Hi Everyone

Well at long last I have got my distressing gear out !!!!

I saw some great demonstrations last week at Ally Pally and decided that I needed to "take the bull by the horns" and try my hand at using my distress ink pads. I also took some inspiration from my lovely Funky Hand Teamie Kath (thanks Kath x) and from the Hero Arts Club Blog.

I had a little go once before but didn't like the finished result so pushed the distressing box to one side (as you do when things don't go right). Well I decided that after seeing the lovely creations at Ally Pally and on the blogs above it was time for the box to come out again and get to grips with it.

This time I was much happier with the results. I still have a way to go but at least the finished result wasn't as hideous as my first attempt. LOL!!!

Here is what I made

This used:

Background stamps:
Elusive - 32531 "Script Background"
Hero Arts - S5316 "Silhouette Grass"
Hero Arts - G5311 "Silhouette Spray"
Sentiment - Computer Generated
Distress Inks - Tea Dye and Old Paper
Embossing Powder - Sea Foam
Martha Stewart Punch - Traditional Scallop
Josy Rose - Nail Heads
Ribbon, flower and button from the stash box

So there we go .. .. .. at last a creation I am happy with using my distress inks .. .. and I really enjoyed making it.

My base card was a pale beige before I started so I didn't need to distress all of it!!! I don't want you to think I am that good!!!

Take care everyone and have a wonderful weekend. I hope you all manage to pull a bit of crafty time in and some time to enjoy the glorious sunshine.

Thank you for calling by.

Love Jules xx

FIRST STAMPALOT CHALLENGE

Hi Everyone

Well it is halfway through April .. .. the month that Sir Stampalot launched their first monthly challenge.

I decided it was time I made a creation based on their theme of "Fantasy".

Now this can be interpreted anyway you would like .. .. and below is my idea of a fantasy .. .. a whole world that "sparkles with glitter"!!!!! Glittery butterflies (how cool would that be) - glittery clothes - glittery flowers.

Here is my creation:

This used:

Background stamp: Basic Grey "Two Scoops/Swirlie Stamps"
Image: Lili of the Valley
Embossing Tinsel "Bridal"
X-Cut Butterfly Punch
Martha Stewart Punch: Stars
Glamour Dust
Diamond Stickles
ProMarkers
Chalk
Craftime Ultra Fine Glitter
Brads, Pearls, Flowers, Heart and funky sparkly cord from the stash box

Oh .. .. what a long list .. .. most of which involves sparkle LOL!!!

If you haven't already taken part in this challenge then it is well worth entering because just look what you can win .. .. ..

A Personal Electronic Cutter and a Pooh Font Cartridge .. .. now is that a prize or is that a prize????

Right then off to de-glitter and clear my craft space of sparkle because at the minute it doesn't matter what I do or touch sparkle flies through the air!!! It is all over my face, my clothes, my hair .. .. .. LOL!!

Most of the glitter has appeared because I embossed the background paper with Embossing Tinsel and then used a glue pen to draw around some of the swirls and sprinkled more glitter onto this. I also covered a strip of double sided tape with it too !!! You may not be able to see all the glitter and sparkle .. .. but believe me there is lots of it!!!! Clicking on the photograph shows a bit more (hopefully).

Have a super sparkly Friday everyone.

Love Jules xx

PENNY BLACK CHALLENGE - WEEK 96

Hi Everyone

Eyesight warning .. .. today's creation is a little "on the bright side" .. .. so beware!!!

Time to play along with the Penny Black Challenge and this week their theme is "Buttons Galore".

So how many buttons make up "galore" I wondered.

The dictionary definition of "galore" is saying it means "existing in abundance - in great numbers" .. .. .. well I decided that 5 was "existing in abundance" compared to the 3 I would normally use LOL!!!

Here is my creation

This used:

Image: Penny Black 3864F "Bohemian"
Sentiment: Penny Black 3849E "Birthday Dreams"
Backing Paper: Pink Petticoat download "Fluffy Clouds"
Sizzix Bigz Die: 656075 "Branch with Leaves"
X Cut Flower Punches (Medium and Small)
"Buttons Galore" from my button box
Glamour dust, diamond stickles and white gel pen

I did warn you it was bright!!!

There seems to be a trend for wetting punched flowers, screwing them up and then drying and layering them .. .. so this is what I did here. Quite a nice look and much cheaper than buying ready to use ones!! I will be doing this again that's for sure.

Have a good day!

Love Jules xx

MY TAKE ON THINGS

Good morning everyone

I am here with a take on a card I saw displayed on an inspiration board at the NEC last month.

I was really impressed with the whole range of cards that had been produced using this stamp set .. .. they looked really "different".

The finished image on the card looks like it is a stamp in its own right .. .. .. but it isn't. You make the image whatever you want it to be by masking and layering different elements of the set to get the finished result you want. For my first attempt I don't think things went too badly.

So here is my first attempt:

This used:

Images: Hobby Art Clear "CS011D" Harbour
Sentiment: Hobby Art Clear "CS016D" General Greetings
Backing Paper: Funky Hand - I Do Funky Word Book (plus scraps from the box for what are supposed to look like bricks).
ProMarkers
Diamond Stickles
Buttons and cord from the stash box

This is the stamp set I worked with (just to give you some idea of what you have to make your image):

This is the card that inspired me (and I did ask permission to take the photograph I promise):

I looked at the photograph and tried to work from memory .. .. the only real difference is that on mine it looks like either "the tide has gone out" or I have high "flood banks" LOL!!!

I did buy the squiggly embossing folder too but didn't want to copy the card too directly so will use that on something else another time.

You just wouldn't believe how many photographs I have taken this morning (and the variety of places I took them) in an attempt to get a decent one - everywhere is so dull today - so I had to resort to the bathroom .. .. .. and this is the only shot that didn't involve a bath tap poking out from the edge of the picture LOL!!! It is still a little on the dark side but if I get the chance of something better later then I will replace it.

Take care everyone and thanks for calling by .. .. happy Wednesday!!

Love Jules xx

FUNKY HAND IS ON TV TODAY

Good morning everyone

Just a quick reminder to let you know that Anice from the lovely Funky Hand is going to be on Create and Craft today at 11.00am - just time to set the record button if like me you are just heading off to work. (Wish I could stay home and watch it live!!!).

Whilst talking Funky Hand I thought you might like to see a little creation I made using once of Anice's papers from the "I Do Funky Word Book".

This used:


Image: Penny Black "3338J" - Long Kiss!
Backing Papers: Funky Hand "I Do Funky Word Book"
Sentiment: Lili of the Valley "Wedding Sentiments"
Martha Stewart Punch: Daisy
ProMarkers
Diamond Stickles
Cord and Gems from the stash box

So off to set the machine to record and off to work!!

Catch you all again soon .. .. have a lovely day.

Love Jules xx

ONLY ONE I CAN SHARE

Hi Everyone

I hope everyone has had a good day .. .. the sunshine is finally managing to shine through (and wash out my photograph LOL!!).

I have made a few little creations today but only one of them can be shared as the others are orders which might spoil surprises if I show them.

So my posting today was just a choice of one:

This used:

Image: Magenta "40217K
Sentiment: Lili of the Valley "Wedding Sentiments" (these were from the exhibition but I cannot see them on the website yet).
Backing Paper: Pink Petticoat
Martha Stewart Punch: Traditional Scallop
Diamond Stickles
Black pearls and ribbon from the stash box

I just had to succumb to a couple of new Martha Stewart punches whilst at Ally Pally and this was one of them. No-doubt my second one will be making an appearance before too long.

See you all again soon and thanks for calling by.

Love Jules xx

HOME AGAIN FROM ALLY PALLY

Hi Everyone

I am back home again safe and sound after a lovely time in London with the kids - and Ally Pally was wonderful too.

I have never been there before but really enjoyed myself.

Here is the view as we approached. I needed to make the excuse of needing a photo taking session whilst I caught my breath from the "uphill" climb. LOL!!! Just look at that gorgeous blue sky!!

When I first entered I was a little disappointed as it seemed quite small in comparison to the NEC - but in reality it was crammed with everything cardmaking and scrapbooking as opposed to the NEC who have some stands that are hardly even craft related sometimes.

Lots of distress ink projects going on which were very inspirational - and such gorgeous colours too.

I managed a few bargains including some reduced Sizzix dies and some half price Penny Black stamps - I can never resist a cut price Penny Black LOL!!

One of the exciting parts of the weekend was meeting up with Lesley "Craftimamma from Crafty Love n Hugs" - she is such a lovely lady and we got on so well. Someone else I was just destined to meet. (It was so lovely chatting with you Lesley - I hope you enjoyed your weekend away as much as I did). The spooky part was that I was able to pick Lesley out of an exhibition hall full of people from seeing the photograph on her blog.

This morning before we headed home Cat and I sat and stamped and swapped some of our images. How lovely to have a daughter in law that enjoys the same crafty hobby.

Lucky Cat was able to sit and craft with her new goodies today - but I could only sit as a passenger in the car "homeward bound" planning in my head what I would like to play with first. Some (if not all) of Cat's goodies are meant to be her birthday present from hubby and me but I have a strange feeling that none of them are going to be put away until May!! LOL!!!

I'll let you see my goodies over the next few weeks and hope that you all had a lovely weekend doing whatever you did.

Love Jules xx