Happy Anniversary

Hi Everyone

Sorry but I just have to move that Happy Spring card from the top of my blog - it is just TOO bright.

Here is a quick card to share which is a little more up my street - good old black and white!!

To make this card I used:

Background paper - Pink Petticoat "Old Fashioned Girl"
Stamped image - Stampendous! Heart Dots (embossed in silver)
Sentiment - Woodware "Let's Celebrate".
Threading Water Punch from Fiskars
Black Satin Ribbon (which doesn't show up too well).
PM Diamond sticky gems

and no Diamond Stickles!!!!! Wow - is my addiction starting to disappear!!!

I hope everyone is ok. Thanks for dropping by.

Love Jules xx

Happy Spring!

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all enjoyed the first day of Spring! It has been a beautiful day here in Staffordshire - and yet it still ended up being dark by the time I got to taking a photo!! Hopefully my pictures will look a bit better once I get to taking them in the light.

I don't know about everyone else but I am missing my hour.

Life has been very busy and hectic the last few days and I am ashamed to say that I have only just had the opportunity to have my first play with my Cricut. (Though I have read the manuals a few times). This evening I decided to use it to create my card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

This week's theme for the challenge was "Think Spring" and here is what I have created. A little on the bright side for me really but definitely "Springy" I think.

To make this card I used:

Image: Penny Black "Sunshine Hedge!"
Background paper: Pink Petticoat
Flowers and lettering: Cricut
Scalloped Square from "Go Kreate"
ProMarker Pens
Ribbon and brads from the stash box and the ever faithful Diamond Stickles.

I was hoping to have got lots of crafting done over the last few days but instead have been being a little social bod - which doesn't hurt once in a while!! This is what comes of having birthdays and wedding anniversaries to celebrate.

Hopefully tomorrow I can be a blog social bod as I have lots of blog visiting I want to do.

See you soon.

Love Jules xx

Tag You're It Challenge - Week 51

Hi Everyone

I had a wonderful birthday yesterday and a wonderful day off work today - more about that later.

I started my entry for the Tag You're It Challenge early this morning and have just finished it after having a great day out and about.

The theme for the tag this week is "Cute and Cuddly" - well there is no contest - the most cute and cuddly thing there could possibly be in the whole wide world is a little baby so here we go .. .. ..

My tag this week used:

~ Image - Magnolia Tingla
~ Sentiment - Great Impressions
~ Papers - Funky Fairys - for the background and paper piecing
~ ProMarkers for added colour
~ Buttons, peel offs and Woodware punches
~ Ribbons from my favourite lady at the market

So back to my expeditions of the day with my "better half". I had final supplies to gather for a wedding stationery order I currently have and after getting these we started to make our way home. On the way back my hubby suggested we call at a local nursery that months ago "used to house Craft Central".

Craft Central outlets appear to have disappeared - but for some reason my hubby suggested we call to where they used to be in Little Eaton - just in case. What a treat!!! Yes, they were there again - and joy of joys they had a 48% discount on everything they had in stock ahead of their new stock arriving next week.

Guess who got a Cricut at 48% discount???!!!! I have looked at these on numerous occasions but never took the plunge because of the price - but with a 48% discount and a persuasive husband how can you refuse. It was all just meant to be.

They still have 2 more left if anyone needs to indulge.

Have a good weekend everyone. See you again soon.

Love Jules xx

Penny Black Saturday - Week 41

Hi Everyone

Well here it is. The card that made me "face my demon"! Doodling!! (It has took me three attempts to even spell it right let alone do it!!!)

I used one of my favourite Penny Black Stamps that I usually reserve for "men cards" and even then I felt the doodling spoilt it. But I HAD to do it for the challenge.

I often just do small faux stitching but it felt like cheating if this was all I did - so this card is taking "doodling" to its extreme for me.

Can't say the challenge made me fall in love with doodling but it is something that I perhaps need to practise more.

So here is my doodling card:

To make this card I used:

Image - Penny Black Floating Dreams Stamp

Backing Paper - Funky Hand

Woodware Super Punch Multi Sunflower

Circa Funky Heart Punch

Whispers Pen for "doin' the doodling"

Hope everyone is having a good week.

Is anyone looking forward to the new series of The Apprentice or is it just me?

Catch you all again soon

Love Jules xx

Tag, You're It - Week 50

Hi Everyone

What a blogging weekend I am having along with a wonderful Mother's Day - enjoying playing with my toys!! Why can't it be a Mother's week then I could play for ages and ages.

My Son and Daughter in Law returned to London this afternoon :-(

My youngest son has come to eat with us tonight. We have been re-creating his CV after 4 years of it lying dormant and drafted an application letter in the hope of an opening being available for him.

After this I went on to the Tag, You're It Challenge.

This week the challenge seemed a little harder because really the choices of what to do were endless. Even now I am thinking of what else I could have done - but you just have to stop somewhere I suppose.

The only rules that needed to be followed this week were using :

1 ribbon
2 buttons
3 brads or eyelets

My tag was a little smaller this week and my lovely assistant - Ted the Tag Holder - was acting up a bit and didn't really want to pose properly!! Naughty Ted. Anyway eventually he behaved and we managed the photo-shoot below .. .. ..

My tag this week used:

The three ingredients above
Penny Black Stamp - Corner Piece
ProMarkers
Brilliance Moonlight White Pigment Ink and Black Stazon

I hope everyone has had a lovely day.

Love Jules xx

Time for celebration

Hi Everyone

Last night I shared a card that I had made for my Niece's 21st birthday - well now I can share the other card I made for her ... ...

Her boyfriend got down on one knee and proposed to her last night . .. ... and yippee .. .. .. she said "YES" - amongst the hugs, kisses and squeals of excitement. They are such a lovely couple and are just "made for each other".

So the week has been very busy. 21st birthday cards and engagement cards for various members of the family to give along with mother's day cards. All ones I couldn't share because of spoiling surprises.

It has been nice to get some good news this week as we have had some bad news too. My youngest son has been made redundant this week after 4 years and the sale of my late Mother-in-Law's house has fell through at the last minute and we are back to square one.

So there you go, things do "come in threes" but not necessarily all bad ones. We have some good news worth celebrating and the memories of a wonderful evening.

Here is my engagement card:

To make this card I used:

Image and sentiment from the same collection - Woodware (Let's Celebrate)
Backing Paper - Doodle Mentals Add on No. 1 from Funky Fairy
Image coloured with ProMarker Pens
Embellishments - Crafty Notions Rainbow Drops attached with gem-tac glue
Diamond Stickles
Glamour Dust

The Funky Fairy download is available free of charge.

I still have some card commitments for other people but I am hoping to get a couple of challenges done too.

I love doing the challenges as it makes you think differently and sometimes they take you out of your comfort zone and force you to use a technique that you don't think you are particularly good at. For me it is "doodling" - but now I have no choice. If I am going to do the Penny Black Challenge then I must "face my demon!!!".

Happy Mothering Sunday to every Mummy everywhere. I hope you have a lovely day.

Lots of love

Jules xx

HAPPY 21st TO MY NIECE

Hi Everyone

Off to a party tonight to celebrate my niece's 21st birthday.

Just finished the card that my hubby and I will give her - have also been making cards for my Mum and youngest son to give - so I have been busy, busy.

My niece is a lovely, girly girl and will love the colours I have chosen (I hope).


To make this card I have used:

Backing paper - Funky Hand CD (sorry I don't know which one)
Stamped numbers and the "today" sentiment - Crafters Companion (coloured with ProMarkers)
Smiley Happy Birthday stamp - Anita's
The ever faithful Diamond Stickles
Ribbon and Brads from my Stash.

I am sorry that I cannot say which CD my Funky Hand paper came from. I have most of the discs that Anice has produced and I have printed off so many of her lovely papers that I have lost track of which CD they have all come from. Sorry.

Well off to get ready for the party now.

Lots of love
Jules xx

One for my Mummy!

Hi Everyone

Tonight I am sharing the Mother's Day card my Mum will receive on Sunday. (Can't believe it is ready so early!).

Sadly only one Mummy to make a card for this year :-(

Here is my creation:

To make this card I used:

Backing Papers - Pink Petticoat - Lolas Boudoir Collection
Stamped image - Penny Black "Long Stem Cuties"

Sentiment - Computer generated
Image coloured with ProMarkers and Whispers Pens
Ribbon from my lovely lady on the market

Hey - have you noticed? No Diamond Stickles .. .. .. must be a first!!!! Have just looked at the card again in case it needs some but no, I am happy.

Looking forward to the weekend as this week has been a bit of a bummer for a number of reasons. But never mind, my eldest son and his wife are coming to stay for the weekend and we are out to celebrate my neice's 21st birthday on Saturday night.

That does mean though that I have to empty the living room table of all my goodies. Am I the only person that is lucky enough to have a designated little craft room along with a large dining room table covered in bits and bobs and half finished creations???

I do love my little craft room but I feel guilty shutting myself away upstairs and so I bring things downstairs to work on as well .. .. .. so I can be at least "semi" sociable!!

Have just thought - with the week I have had the Penny Black Challenge on Saturday is likely to be "A Card for your Mum" !!!!!

Take care everyone.

Love Jules xx

An Early Morning Creation

Hi Everyone

Just a very quick creation to share tonight - made at daft o'clock this morning.

I still have NEC goodies I am desperate to try out and just don't have enough hours in my day or days in my week to play with them - so it had to be an early start.

This is what I came up with. There wasn't much time to spare on it but I think it has turned out ok. I still liked it when I walked in the door tonight so that is a good sign!


To create this card I used:

Backing Paper - Funky Fairy Download "In with the Old"

Sentiment Stamp - Hero Arts
Die Cutting Frame - Go Kreate No 151005 (came across these at the NEC for the first time)
Cuttlebug Emossing Folder - Swiss Dots
Tiny label punch from Woodware
Heart punch from Fiskars
Ribbons, flowers and brads from stash box
Diamond Stickles

I hadn't seen the "Go Kreate" dies before (perhaps I am just behind the times) but they had quite a good range available. These work great in the Cuttlebug.

I discovered a new place to take a photograph tonight too. It may have worked out to be a better location .. .. .. I will know once my post is published!!!

Thanks for calling by - will catch up with you all again soon.

Love Jules xx

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Week 40

Hi Everyone

I hope that everyone has had a good weekend. My visit to the NEC was fantastic. My Sis and I managed practically ALL DAY and I still think we could have stayed longer. It was probably my best visit yet. Lots of goodies to be had - I couldn't have everything I would have liked - but I came home with some lovely things and am pleased with what I have. A few purchases are on the card I am posting today.

There was a stall selling Penny Black stamps .. .. .. some new and some of the old favourites. There was a bargain box for older stamps into which stocks were placed for selling off gradually throughout the day. I managed to gain quite a few from the bargain box - which was great. (I did visit a few times just to check what had been added). I do love Penny Black stamps - along with probably millions of other cardmakers!!!

Any way, I am trying the Penny Black Saturday Challenge again today and here is my creation.

I have used:

Image - Penny Black "Cinnamon - 3842K" (from the bargain box mentioned above)
ProMakers for colouring the image
Background paper - Funky Fairy download "Boys and Girls"
Threading Water Punch from Fiskars
Yarn - Oliver Twists (Turquoise) - another purchase from the NEC
Flowers - Woodware Punch "Multi Sunflower" with self adhesive stone centres added
Turquoise Nail Heads from Josy Rose
Diamond Stickles (which you may have noticed makes it way onto most of my cards).

Hopefully my photograph has come out a little better today as there was still some daylight left. I was planning to take my picture earlier today but unfortunately I have been a bit clumsy today and taken a large chunk out of the skin on the knuckle of my left index finger whilst cutting the stems off flowers!! My scissors were obviously far too sharp. Never felt a thing for quite some time but managed to make a big mess.

I have had to patch my finger up with steri-strips and a large thick plaster to keep the finger straight because if I bend it then it pours of blood again. I am so clumsy!! Not easy crafting with a finger out of action so I have been slower than normal. But never mind.

Off to play with another stamp now - not sure which one but I am sure you will see it sometime.

Have a good rest of the weekend everyone.

Love Jules xx

Tag You're It Challenge - Week 49

Hi Everyone

Here I am again. This time with the Tag You're It Challenge.

Never made a tag before - other than Christmas labels for all the parcels at that special time of year, which I won't mention too much as we have only just recovered from the last one.

We have a family tradition in my house which started a few years ago and my Sis and her family, along with me and mine, all gather around one very messy dining room table and enjoy what we call "Label Day". Each year we get a little better at what we create but still spend too long on each creation. It is a great fun day. (The men are usually watching football!!).

Anyway, today I am trying the Tag You're it Challenge which I really enjoyed. They are also looking for 2 new "Taggers" for the Design Team so if anyone is interested then it will be well worth a visit.

Here is my "first Tag". The theme being "Time for Tea".

To create this I used:

Stamped and embossed crackle glaze image from Inkadinkado
Patterned paper - Little Sizzles "Country"
Computer generated sentiments
Machine stitched mulberry heart containing punched heart tea-leaves
Cuttlebug star
Ribbons, brads, eyelet and flowers from my stash box

So, one more sleep until the NEC - Yay!!!. If anyone has already been then I hope you enjoyed yourselves and left some goodies for me.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Love Jules xx

Elzybells Challenge 15

Hi Everyone

I thought I would try out the Elzybells Challenge tonight (as a reward for ironing enough shirts to last at least another week).

Here is my creation:



To make this card I used:

Image and sentiment - Elzybells
Patterned papers - Funky Fairys Perfect Pinks Download
Diamond Stickles
Threading Water punch from Fiskars
Brads and ribbon from my stash

The image is coloured with Whispers pens and paper piecing (also from the Perfect Pinks Download).

I love making baby cards - probably because I love babies!!

Only two more sleeps to the NEC!!!

Love Jules xx

No card tonight :-(

Hi everyone

Sorry no card to show tonight (but I do have one in my head ready).

I have been being a good girl and have visited my Mum tonight and have also tried to tidy my messy craft space in readiness for my visit to the NEC on Saturday with my fab Sis. I can't possibly walk through the front door with more goodies if I look like I have enough already (is that possible?).

I also, very sadly, need to do some ironing. There are only so many days you can go without doing any and I have reached my limit!!! I definitely can't stretch it another day as work clothes are desperately needed for tomorrow.

I just knew housework was going to get in the way of my blog!! Where is my magic housework fairy?

Catch you soon

Love Jules xx

JUST A SIMPLE CARD TONIGHT

Hi Everyone

I would like to start tonight's block with a very big THANK YOU.

Thank you to everyone for making me feel so welcome and for all the help and advise I have been receiving. It is all very much appreciated. I can't believe I have received so many comments and gained so many followers after only 2 posts!!!

Pressure is on now to keep it up!

I can't promise a card every night but I do promise that I will be here often.

One thing I do struggle with though is taking the pictures as I can only take photos very early morning or early evening and the world seems a bit dark then - but never mind - summer is coming and you get the general idea. (Plus I'm no photographer as you can tell).

I do have a card tonight though. A fairly simple one using a stamp I love and which always looks nice whatever I do with it. (Can't have too many of those kind of stamps can you!).

Even though it is a simple card there is a lovely bit of embellishment on it which I will tell you about later.

So tonight's card used:

Image - Penny Black "Whispers"
Backing paper - Pink Petticoat Lolas Boudoir Rainbow Collection
Sentiment - Pink Petticoat Girly Curly Sentiments
Stickles - Diamond and Pink
Pearl Acrylic Dome Embellishment

There you go - not much involved in this card.

The embellishment I wanted to share with you is the Pearl Acrylic Dome in the centre of the main flower. If you haven't come across these then you might like to check them out.

I purchased these from a website called Josy Rose. If you haven't visited then you must. Even if you don't want to buy anything her website is great and just fills you with inspiration. (Well it does me anyway).

The Pearl Embellishment is simply stuck on using high tac glue.

Separate to these she also sells what are called "Nail Heads" in a variety of shapes and sizes and these are already coated with a glue which melts when you touch them with a soldering iron.

The embellishments are so cheap it is unbelievable and I ordered quite a few in different colours. I will try and put some of these on a card for future posting for you to see.

You can attach the nail heads just using glue but I'm afraid my fingers are not nimble enough to control the tiny little ones once they are glued. They have sometimes just had to stay where they have fallen!!!! Anyway go and have a look for yourself - the website is http://www.josyrose.com/ and they have lots of goodies.

So, that is me for tonight. Thanks again for making me feel so welcome and I'll catch you all again soon.

Love Jules xx

My First Penny Black Challenge - Week 39

Hi Everyone

Well after watching this challenge for a whole 38 weeks I now get chance to take part. Hurray!!

Penny Black feature amongst my favourite stamps so this just had to be the first challenge I tried.

The rules for the challenge stated that it was a "3 - 2 - 1 challenge" and that my card needed 3 brads, 2 ribbons and 1 flower on it. To begin with I thought that this meant my card should only have one flower on it so after trawling through my stamps I decided on the lovely hedgehogs below with the "one flower".

Once my card was finished I went to the Penny Black challenge blog to see what other people had created and realised I had taken the instructions far too literally .. I needed to embellish my card with "one flower" and could have had as many stamped flowers as I wanted.. .. doh!

So below is my very first challenge card.

This creation needed:

Image - Penny Black stamp "long kiss" - Painted with watercolour pencils
Sentiment - See D's "Blooming Friendship Kit"
Backing Paper - Free download from Funky Fairys download shop
Dovecraft punch - to make the holes for threading one of my ribbons through
Cuttlebug embossing folder "Friend"
Diamond Stickles
Ribbon and flower from the lovely lady at the local market
Brads from my stash
Anita's 3D Clear Gloss Finish for embossing the balloon

I have enjoyed my first challenge and am looking forward to more.

Hope everyone had a good day.

Thanks for calling by.

Love Jules xx

MY FIRST BLOG POST EVER! (I will never, ever be able to say that again)

Hi

New blog on the block!

A very important date in my life - Sunday, 8th March 2009. The day I make my first post on the blog I have been threatening to set up for months and months.

I have finally took the plunge and with the help of my hubby and "techi" son here it is. (Thanks chaps - you came to my rescue once again!).

I hope I have done everything correctly and this posting appears on screen as it was intended. Still lots I want to do to my blog but I can tell it is going to be a slow learning curve. But never mind .. .. I have made the first huge step and that means I can take part in some of those lovely craft challenges. Panic - something else I am going to have to learn - posting a link!!!.

Well it is no good doing a first blog posting without showing off a creation.

This card is for everyone who may happen to stumble upon my blog today!

So what did I use to create my first showing:

• Backing papers are a download from Pink Petticoat
  Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder
  Fiskars Threading Water punch
  Anita's flower image stamp embossed onto mulberry paper
  Sentiment from Elzybells Art Stamps
  Hobby Craft Ribbon
  Brads and beads from my stash

Well there it is - my first blog entry - I hope it was worth waiting for. Have a good day everyone. I'm off now to create a card for entering into my first craft challenge .. .. I can see housework is going to be even more of an inconvenience now!!!

Thanks for looking -Love Jules xx