ALLSORTS DT CARD

Good morning everyone

Here I am again!!! Saturday morning and time for another Allsorts Challenge.

We had another fantastic number of entries last week - it is certainly a very popular challenge blog and we are getting to see lots of gorgeous creations. No-one on the DT has envied Lisa the task of choosing a Top 5 this week because there were so many brilliant entries.

Anyway, this week is a very special week over at Allsorts because we are looking for a new DT member to join our ranks.

If you are interested in joining our little gang then simply put "DT" next to your name when you link to Mr Linky.

There is a sketch for you to use as you see fit but your creation needs to be new and made especially for Allsorts and not linked to any other challenges.

For inspiration you can have a look at what the other DT members made and here is what I created

This used:

Backing Papers: Funky Hand "Dreams Come True" CD (I just can't stop using it LOL!!!)
Image: Penny Black 2076J "Roses for You"
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Flowers: Mulberry Street
ProMarkers
Brads from the stash box

So - let's see what you come up with - whether you want to join the DT or just "play along" for the fun of it.

Here is the sketch to use:

It was a great party last night. We got to meet lots of new people who by the end of the evening you felt you had known for ever - and my little word book went down a treat.

I have had confirmation and you were all correct. It is Avatar I am going to see today - I think I will remember the title now!! LOL!!

Have a good weekend everyone - whatever you are doing.

Love Jules xx

YES .. .. I AM STILL ALIVE !!!

Oh wow everyone!!

What a week this has been.

So much happening .. .. .. which means I haven't had time to post a creation for a few days or do much blog hopping .. .. .. sorry!!! To make up for it I will share two photographs today LOL!!

I will be having a busy blog over the next few days though (I promise).

Part of this week has involved my poor Sis having her tonsils out on Tuesday. Where she works the build up to the big day had been marked by calling the day "Tonsil Tuesday".

I spent the day with her so she wasn't on her own and am so glad I did now. We had to be there for 7.00am but she didn't go to theatre until 3.30pm!! It would have been an awful wait on her own.

All appears to have gone well for her and I am hoping to see her again tomorrow.

In fact quite a busy weekend on the cards for us.

Tonight I am going to a 60th birthday party. It is for a very good friend "Pam" who has been so good to me over the years. I am sure she knows how special she is to me .. .. and to mark the occassion I have made her this little word book.

This used my Funky Hand "Dreams Come True" CD and loads of punches!!

My punches were:

Woodware: Flower punch for making the roses

L-Em.com: Leaf punch (sounds a strange name but that is all that is on the punch - other than made in Taiwan). I only bought it yesterday and think it is going to be a good buy!! The lovely man in the craft store knocked me £2 off it .. .. it pays to be a friendly customer. LOL!! He always tells me lots of stories about the "olden days", and his past, and is such an interesting character! I think he could write a really interesting book. Thankfully I nip in during my lunch break and have to get back to work .. .. .. otherwise I think he would keep me there all day!! LOL!!!

Clippunch: Butterfly

Single hole punch from the local stationery store for making individual holes in the spine of the book.

Sizzix Alphabet: Sizzlits Round-a-Bout

Diamond Stickles, sticky pearl, scrap paper bits and ribbon from the stash box

Hopefully Pam will like it!

So a party tonight and then tomorrow I am going to the cinema - for the first time in about 15 years!! (Bet I come out with a headache).

Hubby wants to watch a 3D film that his workmates have been raving about (you can tell how interested I am because I keep forgetting what it is called!!). It lasts for ages and I am just hoping I can stay awake and afterwards we are going for an Indian meal. A very different Saturday night for us .. .. we don't usually go out that much. We are little bods who are happy and content at home. Our youngest son was keen to come too so that will be nice.

Not sure what Sunday is going to hold but it definitely needs to involve crafting as I am part of something special on Monday and I need to be creating and scheduling ?!?!?!? Mmmmmmmmmmm.. what could that be?????

Beautiful day here. I have actually got washing on the line today that is blowing nicely - shame the sunshine is highlighting the dust in the house and the "not so clean" windows!! Eeekkk!!

Have a good rest of Friday everyone and I will be back tomorrow with my DT creation for Allsorts!

Take care.

Love Jules xx

LIFE IS A JOURNEY

Hi Everyone

I hope you all had a good weekend.

A quick share today which shows a DT creation I made for this month's By the Cute and Girly Challenge (you still have a few days left to take part in this if you get chance).

The theme for the month was "new" .. .. and I made this little creation to mark the beginning of a new venture.

This used:

Backing Paper: Sandylion RMSCB367 "Treasure Map"
Image: Crafty Individuals "Journey Collage"
Sentiment: Computer generated
Stars: Josy Rose Nail Heads
Cord and ribbon from the stash box

I was really pleased with the results of this as it is a bit of a "different" style for me.

I stamped and heat embossed the wording onto the hand cut tag so that I could then rub over the whole tag with metallic waxes to give it an "aged" look. (The heart is a little harder to find - but still there!).

As much as I like the card I produced, if feel the photograph is enhanced by the lovely colour the sky was in the background!!! I love it!!

Thanks for calling by and have a good week everyone.

Love Jules xx

ALLSORTS DT CARD - HEARTS AND FLOWERS

Good morning everyone

Here we are starting the weekend off with another Allsorts Challenge.

Last week saw a massive number of entries into Kirsten's "Pink and Brown" theme. Don't forget to check back whether you were chosen as one of Kirsten's Top 5 or even the random org winner!!

This week the theme has been set by my lovely teamie Lisa. I really struggled with this theme .. .. .. "Hearts and Flowers" .. ... LOL!!! Only joking - it was right up my street.

Here is what I created:

This used:

Backing Papers: Pink Petticoat "Just an Old Fashioned Girl"
Heart: Sizzix Frame, Heart "655459"
Nail Heads: Josy Rose
Ribbon and paper flowers from the stash box

I look forward to seeing what you all create this week and hope that you all have a lovely weekend .. .. .. with at least a little bit of time to yourself to perhaps do a bit of crafting.

Love Jules xx

AT LAST I CAN SHARE THE CD CONTENTS

Hi Everyone

At last I can start to show you some creations I have made using the new Funky Hand CD "Dreams Come True".

I don't know if any of you managed to catch Anice's show on Saturday .. .. it was a sell out for her .. .. I was so pleased.

If you did miss seeing what this wonderful CD is capable of then you get another chance on Friday as Anice is doing another show on Ideal World this Friday (22nd) at 2.00pm.

My card today was made using only the Dreams Come True CD - nothing else - apart from some black card to mount my striped paper on!!

The digi image, backing papers and letters are all on the CD.

I know that pennies are always a little tight so soon after Christmas so if you can't stretch to treating yourself to the CD at the moment then why not enter the Get Funky! Challenge. The prize is a £20 voucher to spend in the Funky Store - so you could use your prize to pay for the CD!!!

I am heavily into Valentine cards at the moment. (Not all for me to send I hasten to add .. .. .. I only send the one!!!).

Off to indulge in a bit more crafty romance.

Catch you all again soon.

Love Jules xx

HAPPY MONDAY - BRILLIANT WEEKEND

Hi Everyone

Here I am at last catching up after what was a wonderful weekend.

For those who missed Friday's post - I spent the weekend in Peterborough with my blog mate Brenda.

My hubby and Brenda's hubby were going to the football (Peterborough v. Derby) and Brenda was going to show me her favourite craft haunt - Sir Stampalot!!

We travelled on Friday afternoon and returned home Sunday.

What a brilliant time we had. It went far too quickly - as special times always do. We ended up with bedrooms next to each other at the hotel which was handy for swapping craft magazines etc! LOL!!

The chaps went to football and surprise of surprises Derby won 3-0. We decided Brenda's hubby must have been a lucky mascot as Derby don't normally win!!! (We might need to borrow him for the rest of the season Brenda if that is ok?).

So much fun to be had a Sir Stampalot. I have never ever been to a craft store like it!! It was heaven. Thank goodness I do not live close-by otherwise I would live there and never have any money!! So many rubber stamps in one place .. .. .. and they weren't even all on display as Stampalot were in the middle of moving premises and only had part of their stock out!

I met so many lovely people. The funniest part being that everyone was introduced by their blog name as well as their own name. Lots of crafty talk and falling in love with the craft goodies. Such a wonderful, friendly place.

Here is a little something I made today using a couple of my new acquisitions. It is probably the quickest card I have ever made .. .. but I love it LOL!!!

This used:

Papers: Pink Petticoat
Sizzix Dies: 655903 "Bird, Baby" and 565075 "Branch w/Leaves
Sentiment: Computer Generated

So there we go. Back to normal today.

No full English breakfast, no Italian meal and no Chinese meal for me today .. .. .. just porridge for breakfast, an egg cob at lunch and chicken salad tonight!!!

Oh well, all good things have to come to an end (the same as all the bad ones).

Take care everyone and thank you for calling by.

Love Jules xx

ALLSORTS DT CARD

Hi Everyone

Hopefully Mr Blogger is playing along with me and posting this for you to see.

We have a new challenge happening over at Allsorts today and the theme this week is being set by my lovely teamie Kirsten who has asked that we work in "Brown and Pink".

Here is what I came up with:

This used:

Backing Papers: Funky Fairys "Chocolate Covered Christmas"
Image: Magnolia "Big Daisy"
Fiskars Punch: Threading Water
Nestabilities Die: Classic Scalloped Rectangles Small
ProMarkers
Dew Drops from the stash box
My trusty old sewing machine

I layered the flower head up 3 times to give it a bit of depth. It is one of those creations that looks better in real life than in a photograph! Shame!!

Have a great weekend everyone and don't forget to check whether you were the winner of last week's prize over at Allsorts or one of Emma's Top 5!!

Love Jules xx

DT CARD - BY THE CUTE AND GIRLY

Hi folks

Here is one of the creations I made for the "By the Cute and Girly" Challenge for the month of January.

It is a little word book made using the Funky Hand "Funky Word Books CD" to celebrate the arrival of Baby Amy. It is only the second word book I have made - but they are very addictive and look very special when finished.

I computer generated the details of when Amy was born to go on the front and left a section inside for a personal handwritten message.

Don't forget that you have another two weeks to enter your creations into "By the Cute and Girly" on the theme of "New".

Anyway, here is my creation for a "new" baby:

This used:

Funky Hand "Funky Word Books CD"
Nestabilites Large Deckled Rectangles
Quickutz Safety Pin Die
Woodware Stamp FRCL019 "New Baby!
Brads and cord from the stash box

Whilst we are talking Funky Hand don't forget to either book your seat or set your recorder to catch Anice showing off the new Funky Hand CD on Create and Crafts at 12.00noon - tomorrow - 16th January 2010.

My machine is set for record so I can see Anice in action .. .. .. and also to see if I get a glimpse of some of the creations I put together using the great new CD "Dreams Come True". I am away for the weekend and won't get chance to see it live unfortunately.

My hubby and Brenda's hubby are off to watch Derby play Peterborough (at Peterborough) so Brenda and I are just going to have to occupy ourselves. We thought me might try spending a bit of crafty cash and talking ourselves silly again!!!! Can't wait!! We have been dreading the snow staying and the match being called off so have needed to craft all week with our fingers crossed!!

Have a great weekend everyone - whatever you are doing - and I'll catch you tomorrow with my Allsorts creation for this week (provided Mr Blogger is happy to play along and post it for me LOL!!).

Love Jules xx

DREAMS DO COME TRUE !!

Hi Everyone

At last!!!! I can share news about the new Funky hand CD "Dreams Come True". Yay!!

A few weeks ago I was over the moon to be asked to join Anice's Funky Hand DT (something I had wanted to do for ages. I am such a big fan as you can probably tell from the number of times I use the papers on my creations).

This also meant that I was able to play with the new CD

"DREAMS COME TRUE"

The CD is going to be officially launched on Create and Craft on 16th January at 12 noon (get the date and time in your diary folks) but....it is available to pre-order as of now over on the Funky Hand website. I have a feeling it is going to fly off the shelves so I would pre-order if I was you.

Here are a few sneaky peeks at a few of the creations I made using the fabulous new CD - just to give you a glimpse at some of the wonderful papers etc.

Of course I still managed to get my little hearts onto them too!!! LOL!!!

I hope you are all well.

The snow is melting here now .. .. but I am not sure that this is the end of it .. .. .. we are being threatened with more towards the weekend.

Love Jules xx

ALLSORTS DT CARD

Happy snowy Saturday morning everyone

Lots of big snowflakes here today settling on top of clumps of sheer ice!!! Beautiful to look at but dangerous to walk on. Think I will try and stay in all day today and play with bits of paper, rubber and ink. LOL!!!

Today sees another challenge starting over at Allsorts.

This week it is the turn of Emma and she has provided a sketch for everyone to work to.

Here is what I created

Here's the sketch
You are allowed to add embellishments and sentiments where you wish but I decided my creation just didn't have room for much more LOL!!

My creation used:

Image: Coco Bear from Digistamp Boutique (Allsorts sponsor this week)
Backing Papers: Pink Petticoat
Nestabilities: Classic Scalloped Circles Large
Inkssential "Glossy Accents"
Glamour Dust
Koh-I-Noor pencils
Ribbon from the stash box

So that is me for today. I hope you get chance to play along with Allsorts this week and to pop along and see what my teamies created (I think a few of us fell in love with Coco the Bear this week LOL!!).

Have a great weekend everyone. Stay warm and safe.

Love Jules xx

I WILL APOLOGISE BEFORE I START !!

Hi Everyone

I will begin with a huge apology for the condition of the totally rubbish picture below.

I have tried to take a photograph at various parts of the day and this is the best of a bad lot!!! But I decided it was better than nothing.

This morning it never seemed to get properly light before I had to set off for work. The snow was making it very dark and by the time I got home tonight it was pitch black anyway. Oh well!! I tried my best.

The snow hasn't been too bad today. We were warned of really bad snow fall last night and hubby and I were secretly hoping to be snowed in together for about 3 weeks LOL!!! When the alarm went off at about 5.30am hubby dashed to the window and then said "Not enough snow to class us as snowed in" I then went down the route of "only drive if your journey is really necessary - but I decided my boss would consider my journey to be "necessary". LOL!!

Here is my grotty picture:

This used:

Image: Penny Black 3377K "Whispers"
Sentiment: Penny Black from the "Critter Party" set
Background Paper: Laura Ashley "Traditional" by Trimcraft
Paper Piecing on flower: Pink Petticoat

Martha Stewart Punch: Embossed Zig Zag
Promarkers
Gem and Nailhead: Josy Rose
Cord and ribbon from the stash box

I am convinced that this card has took longer to photograph than it did to make.

I would like to say "thank you" to Sally for reminding me that I have the Laura Ashley papers sitting in my paper box!! This is one of my favourite papers in the collection. I reminds me of satin look wallpaper.

Well I hope everyone is ok with the snow and that you are all keeping safe and warm.

Take care.

Love Jules xx

MY LAST DAY OF FREEDOM

Morning Everyone

Well today is my last day of freedom!!

Back to work tomorrow.

I spent yesterday putting Christmas away (boo hoo) and in the process managed to block my hoover with pine needles off the tree. No wonder cleaning up seemed such a hard job - the whole pipe was solid with the little blighters!! In fact getting them out of the carpet was like getting fish bones out of fish!!

So everywhere looks dull and boring again today and I will go on my annual post Christmas "mini depression". I'll soon knock myself out of it but I am the same every year - probably because I love Christmas so much.

So today I am going to make the most of my time and hopefully get lots and lots and lots of creations made.

Here is one little one to share with you:

This used:

Patterned Backing Paper: Funky Hand "Funky Daze"
Plain Papers: Memory Store
Image: Judikins "Cloth Butterfly"
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat "Girly Curly Sentiments"
Martha Stewart Punch: Doily Lace
Sizzix Die: Flower, Daisies (Bigz Die 654981)
Nailheads: Josy Rose
Brad, Ribbon and wire from the stash box

I am loving this butterfly stamp. I stamped it up three times and layered it using silicone gel.

I think the whole of blogland must be trying to upload photographs at the moment .. .. .. it has taken 7 attempts to get my picture here!!

So back to work tomorrow and the weather forecast for my area is saying "SNOW" !!! How dare they? Why couldn't there be lots of snow when I didn't need to drive in it???

See you all again soon and thank you for calling by.

Love Jules xx

p.s. Edited after comments:

1. Yes, the Sizzix die cuts all the different layers of the flower and you simply arrange them on top of each other (plus I curl them a little).

2. This card doesn't use the new Funky Hand CD. This uses Funky Daze which is already available - the new CD is called Dreams Come True and I haven't teased you with that yet LOL!!!.

3. Yippee - got up Tuesday morning and "no snow"!!

A DOUBLE DOSE TODAY!

Good morning everyone

Prepare for a long post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope everyone is ready to jump back into the world of Challenges!!!

Today I have two pieces of DT work to share with you for two different challenges - both of which you can enter as of today:

There is the first Allsorts weekly challenge of 2010 which I had the honour of setting

and

the "Get Funky" monthly challenge which my lovely teamie Lythan set

There is quite a nice link between the two because Anice from Funky Hand has very kindly sponsored the Allsorts challenge this week and the prize is a copy of the "Funky Daze" CD. Thank you Anice xx.

Allsorts Challenge

The theme at Allsorts is to either "show off your Christmas goodies" or to "be good and use up your old stash" ~ but there is a sketch to follow!!

Here is what I created for Allsorts:

This used:

Backing Papers: These are a free download from Funky Hand
Image: Great Impressions E521
Promarkers
Stars are from a little Cuttlebug die that has snowflakes and stars
Nail Heads: Josy Rose

Why not pop over and see what the rest of the Allsorts DT have produced once you have made it to the end of my post?

and next

The January "Get Funky" challenge

The winner of this challenge gets to spend £20 in the on-line store of Funky Hand - how cool is that? (and you certainly won't be short of things to spend it on!!!).

The only rules when taking part in a "Get Funky" challenge are to follow the theme and to use at least one Funky Hand "paper" or "extra" on your project. (But don't forget there is a free download available if you don't own any Funky Hand stash yet).

The challenge this month is to feature "Dots and Stripes".

Here is what I created:

This used:

Papers: All from the Funky Hand "Funky Daze" CD (which is what you could win in the Allsorts Challenge this week).
Nestabilities: Classic Scalloped Circles Large
Woodware: Circle Punch
Woodware: Flower punch for layering up to make the roses
Martha Stewart: Frond

It has just dawned on me that if you are clever you can actually make your creation fit both challenges!! I wonder if I am supposed to have told you that? Oh well - I've said it now!!!! LOL!!

If you would like to know how to make the roses that are on my card then you need to visit my craft buddy Brenda. She has done a fantastic tutorial (which you will find on her side bar) explaining the whole process .. .. .. but beware .. .. .. they are very addictive!!!

My Funky Hand teamies also have lots of inspiration to share with you so please pay them a visit too.

Some of the Funky Hand Gang have actually used papers that will be being featured on Anice's new CD "Dreams Come True" that is due for release soon. The world is in for a real treat when this becomes available - as a team we are totally smitten with it.

So what are you waiting for? Time to go and create. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!!!

Sorry for the long post ~ but at least you only had to read it. I had to write it!! LOL!!!

Take care everyone and have a great New Year and a wonderful weekend. It is starting to snow here in the Midlands and as my Mum would say "the sky looks full of it"!!!!

My Christmas tree is going to have to be dismantled tomorrow. One last night of fairy lights and that is it for another year. Boo hoo!!

Love Jules xx

HAPPY 2010 EVERYONE !!

Hi Everyone

Happy New Year to you all !! I hope that 2010 holds all that you would like it to.

I always love the start of a new year and starting a new calendar and a new diary. All those empty pages .. .. .. .. just waiting to be filled with who knows what? Let's just hope everyone gets to fill theirs in with only good things this year. Wouldn't that be nice?

2010 the year of good things for everyone !!

At this point I usually have a long, long list of resolutions and by mid January I have forgotten half of them - so this year I am only making one. My one resolution being "to be a better person than I was last year".. .. .. .. and if I make this same resolution every year from now on then just think what a nice person I will be by the time I am 80!!

So now on to all things crafty .. .. ..

Lots of challenges are kicking in now that the Christmas break is over and my crafty share today is one of the DT creations I have made for the "By the Cute and Girly" challenge.

The theme is to create something to celebrate "something new". This could be a new job, a new baby, a new home .. .. .. .. lots of possibilities actually.

For my first creation I am celebrating "a new year"!!

This used:

Image: Funstamps "FQ180" Glad Rags
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Backing Paper: Funky Fairys "Funky Christmas"
Martha Stewart Punch: Doily Lace
Promarkers
Glamour Dust
Gems from the stash box

You have all month to join in this challenge - and your creation doesn't have to be a card. It can be anything - a scrap book page, a piece of embroidery, knitting .. .. the world is your oyster!!

Why not pop over and have a look to see what the rest of the DT came up with. There are some wonderful prizes on offer as always.

The weather has been really dull here in the Midlands and useless for taking photographs - I have had to resort to taking them in the bathroom. I won't tell you where I have to sit to take them!! That would indeed be "too much information". LOL!!!

I am hoping for a quiet day today. It is very peaceful at the moment - the remains of the party guests are all still in bed and all I can hear is the radio playing in the kitchen and every so often the gentle sound of pine needles dropping off the Christmas tree and hitting the baubles as they fall !! I hate the end of Christmas!!

I might be able to stretch the tree out for another day or two but then I am afraid it is bye, bye. Shame.

OK - off to start being that better person I am promising to be - I will start by clearing up all the kitchen before anyone else gets up!!

Happy 2010 everyone. Thank you to everyone who calls by and leaves me such lovely comments - I do appreciate them very much.

Love Jules xx