PENNY BLACK AT ALLSORTS CHALLENGE

Hi Everyone

Here today with my entry for the Penny Black at Allsorts Challenge.

This month they would like to see some Glitter and Glitz. Penny Black stamps along with a bit of glitter .. .. what could be better!!! LOL!!!

Here is my creation

along with the close up where you can see my glitter a bit better

This used:

Image: Penny Black "3687K" Light the Night
Backing Papers: Pink Petticoat "Vintage Rose"
Nestabilities: Classic Square Large
Martha Stewart Punch: Around the Page Loop
Leone Em Pty Punch: "CP30" Ash Branch"
Sizzix Die: "656640" Tattered Florals (Still not mine yet LOL!!)
Josy Rose: Flat Back Gems
ProMarkers
Adirondack Ink Pad "Pink Sherbet" for distressing the paper edge and the flower
Glamour Dust
Diamond Stickles
Sewing Machine
Brad from the stash box
I loved making this one. To start off with I tried to sew with a twinkly thread but it kept jamming up in my sewing machine needle .. .. shame :-(

The flower leaves have been punched from a bit of scrap card - I think that was from a DCWV stack originally.

I still don't own the Tattered Florals die from Sizzix - I am still using the lovely stack of petals I received from my blog buddy (thanks xx) but even if I could afford one at the moment I don't think they are available anywhere!! I'm not surprised .. .. they are really scrummy!!

So that is me for today.

I hope you all have a good day .. .. lots of creating needed from me today so I had better get cracking. Thankfully the sun isn't shining so I won't be tempted to wash more curtains LOL!!!

Take care.

Love Jules xx

BEE HAPPY !!!

Hi Everyone

I hope you all had a great weekend.

I survived my gardening exploits quite well with the only reminder (apart from an improved garden) being those tiny little bits of thorns etc that get under your skin .. .. you can't see them .. .. but you can feel them when you put pressure on your fingers.

I've had a bit of a delve with a needle in a couple of places but getting no-where .. .. I'm sure they will just work their way out .. .. but they are very annoying!!!

Today is a really gorgeous day. One of those that makes you want to do "everything". So I have got a lovely line full of washing out .. .. including the dining room curtains that haven't seen the washing line since I don't know when!!! I know I will regret having gone so mad later on .. .. but the damage is done now!! LOL!!!

I have been busy creating whilst Mother Nature and my washing machine have been working their miracles and this is one of my "makes"

and the close up. The stray glamour dust looks like sparkly pollen stuck on the bees LOL!!!

This used:

Image: Stamps Happen Inc "60058" Bees
Sentiment: Hero Arts "LL245" Sunshine Uppercase Alphabet
Backing Papers: Memory Stor
Woodware Flower Punches
Josy Rose: Gems
ProMarkers
Glamour Dust
Diamond Stickles
Brads from the stash box
The little alphabet set are just individual letters for stamping out your own sentiment .. .. there is no way you could ever get it all perfectly lined up .. .. but I think that is part of its attraction.

OK - the washer has finished "again" .. .. off for another "peg out" before I start another creation.

Enjoy your Monday.

Love Jules xx

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DAY OF REST?

Hi Everyone

Just a quick share from me today .. .. lots to do!!!

What happened to Sunday being the day of rest? I feel like I try to cram more into a Sunday ahead of a new working week starting than ever before.

A quick post to my blog and then I have washing to contend with and a list of chores in the house and garden.

I am starting off in the garden as the weather does look half decent. A bit overcast so hopefully it won't be too warm.

The first job is getting all (or most) of the moss out of the lawns .. .. thankfully we have an electric rake thing that will make the job easier .. .. but I have some large areas of lawns to go at!! Eekkk!! I can feel tomorrow's backache already!!!

So before I get my gardening shoes on here is a quick make which in my rush "nearly" made it through the net without a heart!!! Shock horror!!!

Anyways, here is the creation

and the up close look (which I am quite into now)

This used:

Image: Hampton Art Stamps "H4765" Watercolor Daisy
Backing Papers: My Mind's Eye "Pretty Please" Spring Papers (free with a magazine)
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
ProMarkers
Josy Rose: Flat Backed Pearls (coloured with ProMarkers)
Ribbon from the stash box

So that is me for now .. .. how does the song go?

"Heigh ho, heigh ho .. .. it's off to work I go"
Have a lovely day everyone and thank you for calling by. Hopefully I will get chance to catch up with a few blogs later today.

Love Jules xx

HOW MUCH STUFF HAVE I USED?

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

I have been having a play in my little craft pod this morning whilst hubby is out and about .. .. and how much mess have I made?

It was one of those lovely craft sessions where one thing leads to another, and another and another.. .. .. .. and in the end all I have used are two bits of white card and two bits of scrap (which I am vowing to reduce considerably).

But although my card looks simple you just wouldn't believe how much stuff I have all over my desk waiting to be put away again.

Here is the offending chaos causing creation

with his "close up" buddy

and here is the mammoth list of ingredients that are all sprawled over my desk

Images/Backgrounds:Elusive: Script Background "32531"
Hero Arts: Medium Harlequin Background "H3414"
Hero Arts: Showy Blossom "F3255"
Stamps Away: Design Elements - Elegance "S129"Distress Inks:Barn Door
Old Paper
Wild Honey
Spiced Marmalade
Adirondacks Ink Pad: Pebble
X-Cut Butterfly Punch
Fiskars Corner Rounder
Gold Embossing Powder
ProMarkers
Eyelets, raffia, self adhesive pearls and brad from the stash box
I didn't have any self adhesive pearls that were the right colour for what I needed so coloured some plain ones with promarkers.

So as you can imagine quite a lot of cleaning of stamps and clearing up to be done before I start my next little creation. LOL!!!

Have a good weekend everyone and I hope you get time for a bit of crafting somewhere along the line.

Love Jules xx

LUCKY DIP

Hi Everyone

Are you like me and sit down to create something without a set theme in mind and rummage through your stamps deciding what to work with?

Well today I decided to just do a lucky dip. I opened a stamp drawer .. .. looked away and simply grabbed a stamp to work with .. .. must have saved myself at least 5 minutes of rummaging and deciding LOL!!!

I am also making a real effort to "use up" scraps of paper, ribbon and some of the hundreds of buttons I seemed to have gathered over the years. I always re-cycle and donate unwanted clothes when they are worth donating but if they are worn into the ground then I always cut the buttons off "just in case".. .. though I can never imagine there being a need for all the old shirt buttons I have collected (unless I need to dress up a "Pearly King or Queen" LOL!!).

I also gained my late MIL's button tin a couple of years ago .. .. why does her button tin smell different to mine? They are just buttons in an old biscuit tin the same as mine?

Oh well .. .. moving on from that mystery .. .. here is my "lucky dip" creation. I will have to do this again as it used a stamp that hasn't seen the light of day for a while as well as saving time in the selection process.

and again from the side to show off the glossy accents (sort of)

This used:

Image: Anita's (sadly none of Anita's stamps have names/numbers - just a barcode and Size Letter)
Backing Paper: Papermania "Hampstead"
Fiskars Punch: Threading Water
ProMarkers
Glossy Accents
Rik-Rac and Buttons from the stash box
So everything here (apart from the Papermania paper) has come from the scrappy bits stored in my craft pod. Another 500 cards like this and I might start to get down some of the little bits of craft loveliness that I can't bear to part with LOL!!!

I think I will do lucky dip again.

Catch you again soon .. .. thanks for calling by

Love Jules xx

A CARD FULL OF MEMORIES

Hi Everyone

A soppy share today .. . . because I am like that !! LOL!!!

My card today contains memories of a special night that hubby and I spent in Bournemouth the other week. We spent our night in a room with a black chandelier and it has stuck in my mind.

I have put a photograph of the room lower down this post and the inspiration for this creation is taken from this photograph.

To add to the memories my lovely hubby chose the backing paper I have used when he took me craft shopping just a few miles down the road from where we were staying.

I have also used more of the tattered flowers from my blog buddy (thanks xx) and also a very special stamp that arrived through my letterbox from another good friend. She thought I would like it and asked that I use it on a "special" card (thank you - you are very kind xx). Well this one is a very special card that warrants its use and I have a feeling I won't want to part with it.

How nice to have a lovely hubby and good friends .. .. I told you I was soppy!!!

So here is the soppy creation:

and a close up featuring the lovely flowers and stamp

This used:

Image: Pink Petticoat "Simply Delightful"
Image: Funstamps "F-R59 "With Love Background" (Stamped on the flower)
Backing Papers: Papermania "Chatsworth Vintage Collection"
Sizzix Die: "656640" Tattered Florals
Martha Stewart Punch: Traditional Scallop
Nestabilities: Classic Rectangles Small and Classic Scalloped Rectangles Small
Josy Rose: Gems
Brad, Feathers and Ribbon from the stash box
Here is the photograph that inspired the card.

Don't you think my backing paper is a perfect match for that wallpaper? I promise I didn't steal it off the wall behind the wardrobe. LOL!!

I am also going to enter this card into the Stampalot Challenge this month where they are asking us to "Bring on the Bling".

So that is my share for the day .. .. sorry it turned into a bit of a long post.

Have a good day and I'll see you again soon.

Love Jules xx

JUST FOR FUN

Hi Everyone

A little creation I put together this morning ahead of getting into wedding stationery mode .. .. not for any other reason than to "have a play".

It might fit into a challenge "somewhere" but in the time it takes to look I could have made another card LOL!!!

Once again I am using the gorgeous flowers my bloggy friend kindly sent to me .. .. thank you xx (I am definitely going to have to buy this die .. .. oh why does there have to be so much gorgeous craft stuff to be had!!!).

Anyways, here is my play make

and a little close up so you can drool over the gorgeous flower LOL!!

This used:

Image: Penny Black "4037K" Mixed Media
Image: Elusive "32531" Script Background (Stamped on the flowers)
Backing Papers: Hot Off The Press "7235"
Martha Stewart Punch: Round the Corner "Loop"
Leone Em Pty Punch: "CP30" Ash Branch"
Sizzix Die: "656640" Tattered Florals (not mine yet !!)
Adirondacks: Pebble and Pink Sherbet
Ribbon and Button from my stash box

So this is my share for the day.

I'll catch you again soon. Happy Crafting if you too are going to get a chance to play!

Love Jules xx

PENNY BLACK CHALLENGE 112

Hi Everyone

Here I am today with my entry for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

This week they have given a recipe to follow of:

1 circle

2 papers

3 flowers

Here is my finished creation

This used:

Image: Penny Black "3205H" Sunshine Hedge!
Sentiment: Papermania Clear Stamp "Stamping For Him"
Papers: Funky Hand CD "Colour Me Happy!
Nestabilities: Circle and Scalloped Circle
ProMarkers
Josy Rose: Nail Heads
X-Cut Punch: Small Flower
Brad and ribbon from the stash box

I hope everyone is having a good day.

Love Jules xx

THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT

Hi Everyone

I hope you had a good weekend .. .. Monday soon comes around again doesn't it?

A quick share today of two wedding acceptance cards .. .. the same but different as I have tailored them to suit the wedding colours.

These cards are actually quite tiny but look huge in the photograph. The base cards are only 11.5cm x 9cm (get me talking metric .. .. it is only because that is all that is on the ruler that I have to hand LOL!!).

Anyway, here are my tiny makes

These both used the same ingredients which were:

Backing Papers: Papermania "Exquisite" Paper Collection
Martha Stewart Punch: Valentine Lace
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Josy Rose: Nail Heads
Diamond Stickles
Ribbon and sparkly peel off from the stash box

I quite like working with small cards - even though I know the trend now is for "BIG" cards. Personally I am not a fan!! Big isn't always beautiful.

Right back to it for me, lots to do!!!

Thank you for calling by and for your comments .. .. I really do appreciate them.

See you again soon.

Love Jules xx

FUNKY HAND CHALLENGE - AUGUST

Hi Everyone

August already (white rabbits) .. .. .. and time for another Funky Hand challenge over at "Get Funky!"

It is an extra special challenge this month because "Get Funky!" is one year old today

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - GET FUNKY!

To celebrate, on top of the normal £20 gift voucher, there is also a special gift for every entrant .. .. but you do need to follow the three rules that are listed here to be eligible. The birthday gift is a special download at the end of the month.

So, on to this month's challenge.

This has been set by my lovely teamie Dolly and her theme is POCKETS.

Here is my creation .

This used:

Papers: All from the Funky Hand "Colour Me Happy" CD
"L" Plate made using one of the letters from the CD
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Woodware Punch: Large label
Sizzix Die: "655009" Pocket
Key: Cut freehand and chain "borrowed long term" from our key box

You can see all the inspiration from the rest of the Funky Gang here.

I hope you get chance to play along with us.

Happy Sunday everyone.

Love Jules xx

SUPER SATURDAY

Hi Everyone

I hope your weekend has got off to a good start.

We had a lovely time at the party last night and got home quite late .. .. .. but I couldn't go to bed without knowing who had been evicted from the Big Brother house as I knew the radio would spoil it before I had watched.

So a very late going to bed for us. I still woke up very early but managed to shut my brain off and go back to sleep which now means I feel well refreshed and ultra hyperactive .. .. .. oh I must be awful to live with!! LOL!!!!

Here is my share of the day

This used:

Image: Hero Arts "CG137" Thanks Flowers
Sentiment: Papermania Clear Stamps "Stamping for Him"
Backing Papers: Pink Petticoat "Vintage Rose"
Fiskars: Corner Rounder Punch (think that is what you call it)
ProMarkers
Diamond Stickles
Glossy Accents
Eyelets, ribbon and charm from the stash box

Off again now to make use of my hyper-activity and I will be back later for a good old blog hop.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Love Jules xx

RUBY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Hi Everyone

Well the weekend is almost here .. .. yay!!!

I love the "Friday feeling" as I know I won't feel guilty if I "sleep in a little" for the next couple of mornings. I don't know why I tell myself this though .. .. .. or kid myself that I will "lie in" .. .. .. because I never do!!! I wake up and my brain goes into creation mode, I get all excited and want to get up and play with my goodies.

I do try "not to think" and this sometimes works and I manage to go back to sleep .. .. but this doesn't happen very often LOL!!!

Well you never know I might manage it tomorrow as we are out and about tonight to our friends Ruby Wedding Anniversary party. The scary thing is that I can remember going to their Silver Wedding Anniversary party 15 years ago!!! Now where did those years go?

I have made them a card to go alongside our present and here are a couple of photos .. .. a normal one

.


and an "up close and personal" one !!

This used:

Papers: Happy Anniversary paper came from Kanban - Celebration Titles
Music Paper: Hot of the Press "HOTP 7235"
Sentiment: Computer generated
Martha Stewart Punch: Daisy
Josy Rose: Nail Heads
Diamond Stickles
Flowers: 3 different types from Hobby Craft tied together
Ribbon from the stash box

My next problem is going to be whether it will fit into an envelope? If not then I will wrap it in tissue paper, tie it up with ribbon and put it in the bag with their present.

I hope you like what you saw today and I will catch you again tomorrow. Thank you for calling by and have a good rest of Friday.

Love Jules xx

MY "SORRY" GIFT

Hi Everyone

I am here posting a creation I have made by way of an apology for my next door neighbours.

The little girl who lives next door to me was one last week .. .. .. and I didn't realise until her big Sister and Mum knocked on my door and handed hubby and I two pieces of the most gorgeous chocolate birthday cake!!

Guilt or what?

When Jaya was born Mum didn't come straight home - they went to stay with Jaya's Grandparents for a while. So we never actually knew when she was born. (But I do now and it is in the birthday book).

So by way of an apology I have made a little word book that I am hoping Jaya's Mum and Dad will fill with photographs of her on her birthday. I am sure there will have been lots of pictures taken .. .. she is the most smiley and happy little girl you can imagine.

With her having such an unusual name I thought that the little gift might mean a little more as they are unlikely to be able to find much that carries her name.

Anyway.. .. enough of the unburdening of guilt.. .. I am a bad neighbour and that is all there is to it!!! Here is my make:

This used:

Funky Hand CD "Colour Me Happy".
Eylets and ribbon from the stash box

I do love making these little books and they always feel special when they are finished.

Part of my day has been spent buying ribbon, buttons and embellishments today .. .. I am going to be designing some new wedding stationery samples for my portfolio and I can't wait to get playing (but sadly it isn't allowed for a few more days yet - lots of crafting needs to be finished before playtime!!).

Thanks for calling by for a look at what I have been doing - have a lovely evening.

Love Jules xx

MINUS AN IMAGE

Hi Everyone

A quick card today that is not for any challenge. I was just having a play and experimenting a little in the hope of feeling comfortable with not always feeling I have to put a stamped image on my work. It doesn't feel natural yet .. .. but I am sure it will eventually if I do more of it!!! LOL!!!

I also have a tendency to work with pastel and "cool" colours but have been trying to take myself out of my comfort zone and use darker shades. I am still struggling a little but am determined to stick with it.

The weird thing is I love the cards I make with black (and you can't get much darker than that) and those made with pastel/lighter shades .. .. but the colours that fall in between are the ones that give me the problems and make me "unsure" of what I produce.

Anyways, here is my creation for today .. .. .. what is that inspirational book called "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" ???

This used:

Papers: Papermania "Hampstead" (except for the blue flower - that was scrap card)
Sentiment: Woodware Clear Stamps "FRCL004" His Birthday
Sizzix Die: "656079" Flower Layers #5
Cuttlebug Die: Flower Set (Blue Flower)
Woodware Punch: Medium Circle
Nestabilities: Small Octagons
Martha Stewart Punch: Frond
Large Brad from the stash box
Distress Ink: Old Paper
Brilliance Ink: Moonlight White - for distressing the flower petals and the home-made card candy

So there we go. My make for the day .. .. .. and to add to my bravery I also drew the dots and dashes on my card "freehand" .. .. phew!! .. .. why does that always feel so "daring"? Clearly I don't do that enough either or it wouldn't.

Because I had to work hard and go out of my comfort zone with this one I decided to make the heart a little more difficult to find today too .. .. but as always I am sure you will find it.

Thank you for calling in. Catch you again soon.

Love Jules xx

PENNY BLACK CHALLENGE - WEEK 111

Hi Everyone

Here again with one of my favourite challenges .. .. Penny Black Saturday.

This week they are asking for "Christmas in July" .. .. .. and with so many Christmas cards needing to be made what better excuse for getting another one done.

This used:

Image: Penny Black "2747K" Xmas Crafts
Backing Paper: Papermania
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Snow
Cuttlebug Die: Snowflake
Hobbycraft Punch: Small Snowflake
ProMarkers
Josy Rose: Gems
Diamond Stickles
Buttons and cord from the stash box
Another one down .. .. .. a few hundred to go .. .. but not today!! What a good job I love Christmas LOL!!!

Sorry, need to dash today .. .. too many things on my "do list" and I need to get some crossed off.

Have a good rest of Tuesday and thank you for calling by.

Love Jules xx