WOODWARE USA - CHALLENGE #1

Hi Everyone

Thank you all so much for all your good wishes and congratulations on my new DT post with Penny Black @ Allsorts.

I officially take up my post as the September challenge launches (and that won't be long now!!).

Although I made a card with my first Penny Black stamp yesterday I have also acquired quite a collection of Woodware Clear Stamps .. .. mainly because they are so reasonably priced and I can do so much with them. For the same price as one wood mounted stamp you get a whole set .. . quite often including sentiments too.

Anyway whilst having a "hop around" as you do, I found that Woodware actually launched a challenge blog this week.

It is set up a little differently to any I have seen before in that each day a new member of the DT showcases their creation .. .. .. so it is a little like a daily inspirational blog and the work they are showing is great and different to the norm.

For their first week they have inspired people by using specified colours .. .. namely

Kraft(beige), turquoise and red

They also asked if anyone made a creation using this colour combo they would like to have a little "look see" .. .. .. .. .. well I did so they can.. ..

Here is my creation

and the close up

This used:

Backing Papers: Pink Petticoat (including the Kraft paper)
Image and Sentiment: Woodware "FRCL124" Groovy Cats
Fiskars Punch: Threading Water
ProMarkers
Glossy Accents
Diamond Stickles
Ribbon and Buttons from the stash box

No way is this a colour combination I would ever have though of using .. .. but I quite like it and will probably use it again.

Thank you ladies for the inspiration.

If you fancy popping over and having a look you will find the inspirational blog here.

Hope you are having a good weekend.

I have just been to see the bride and groom get married who I did all the wedding stationery for. All very romantic!!

Back home now to make a wedding card ahead of going to the evening reception tonight.

Catch you again tomorrow.

Love Jules xx

MY GOOD NEWS !!

Hi Everyone

Back at last with my good news as promised.

As you saw from my post earlier I have been able to locate a Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die .. thanks to my lovely craft buddy Coops. You just wouldn't believe how much trouble this lovely lady has gone to on my behalf .. .. .. even though I told her numerous times that she won't find one because I have trawled the internet many times!!!

She is clearly a lady who loves a mission because she did manage it. Thank you so much Coops xx

I also promised to come back and share some more exciting news that I have been bursting to tell you.

As you all know I am a huge, huge fan of Penny Black .. .. .. as I am sure you will have gleaned from the number of Penny Black images I post on my blog. They are my very favouritist (is that a real word? Well it is now!!).

So to be asked by Brenda if I would join the Penny Black at Allsorts DT was just amazing.

What could be better than making creations using my "favouritist" stamps and then visiting fellow Penny Black addicts to see what they have done with their Penny Blacks!!!!

So in recognition of this fantastic opportunity (thanks Brenda xx) I wanted to make a special card that represents my love of all things Penny Black.

Then the problems started. LOL!!!

Do I use the frog jumping for joy with his daisy?

Do I use the two mice sewing .. .. because I am a lucky "so and so"?

Do I use the beautiful heart .. to show my love of Penny Black?

Do I use the cats that are grinning all over their faces .. .. just like me?

Oh dear what a decision!!!

But in the end I decided to use the very first Penny Black stamp I ever bought .. .. the one that is responsible for all the others I have since purchased. I love him the best!!!!

Here is what I made

and the close up (decided not to use the tattered florals today in case I was doing overkill with them LOL!!)

This used:

Image: Penny Black "1652" Cheesecake Wish
Backing Papers: DCWV "Citrus Stack"
Nestabilities: Classic Circle and Scalloped Circle
Martha Stewart Punch: Frond
Woodware Flower Punches
ProMarkers
Diamond Stickles
Ribbon, cord and brads from the stash box

Now for those of you who do not know about "Penny Black at Allsorts" you need to pop over to see what you have been missing. It is a monthly challenge blog for Penny Black addicts and there are always lots of lovely prizes up for grabs.

Not only that but Brenda is also looking out for some more addicts to join the DT. All you will need to commit to is to make a creation each month using a Penny Black stamp and to visit and comment on every entry posted to the challenge.

So if you are interested get over there!!! We might end up as DT buddies!!

Oh sorry, I didn't mean to put you off!!!!

OK so that is me for today .. .. I have never done two posts in one day before!! Another first!!

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

See you tomorrow.

Love Jules xx

STOP PRESS!!!

Hi Everyone

Woo hoo!!!!

Just a quick post to let you know that thanks to my lovely craft buddy "Coops" I have managed to get hold of the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die.

They had two in stock - but now have just 1 ... .. so if you are in dire need this is the place to go.

Crafty Snippets

I hope you have time to visit Coops. Her blog is as lovely as she is and sports some beautiful creations. She has been so helpful and kind in trying to locate me my die. Thank you Coops xx

I will think of you every time I use the die .. .. .. which will be very, very often. I lurv it!!!!!

Back later with some more exciting news that I am bursting to share!!!

Love Jules xx

WHAT FUNNY WEATHER !!!

Hi Everyone

Well I don't know about your neck of the woods but here we are having a real mixed bag.

Sunshine, rain, warm then cold .. .. .. Mr Weather clearly can't make his mind up what mood he is in today!! I can't stand moody folk can you ?!?!?!? LOL!!!

So a quick(ish) share today (after yesterday's epic).

This creation is for my lovely hubby to give to one of his workmates who retires tomorrow. He has worked alongside this chap at various different companies for at least 30 years!! Gosh .. .. doesn't that sound a long time. Eeek!!

Anyways, here is my creation

with the close up

This used:

Image: Penny Black "1645K" Floating Dreams
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Backing Papers: Cuddly Buddly Download "Portfolio Papers - Denim"
Martha Stewart Punch: Embossed Zig Zag
Josy Rose: Nail Heads
ProMarkers
Diamond Stickles

Not sure how long that paper boat is going to last in the water but at least Mr Mouse looks like he is enjoying himself whilst it stays afloat!! LOL!!

A quick up-date on my Tattered Florals Dies .. .. .. .. .. I called the craft shop this morning (Crafty Urchins in Cheadle - here is their blog).

When I called my lovely blog buddy was actually in the store enquiring about the die for me .. .. .. but sadly the box in the window was an empty display box!!! I can tell she was gutted. Bless!!!

Such a shame .. .. .. although it was a disappointment for me I feel my blog friend feels far worse than I do. (Please don't worry .. .. it doesn't matter). Friendships and kindness are far more important than any piece of craft equipment there is in the world.

The very friendly lady at Crafty Urchins is expecting some more stock in .. .. .. in about 6 weeks time .. .. .. and said she will save one for me. I am sure I will cope .. .. I waited very excitedly for 9 months for my beautiful boys to arrive so I am sure I can wait 6 weeks for a die!! LOL!!!

I hadn't heard about this craft shop - which must be about 45 minutes away from me - but I just know I am going to have to visit sometime.

And just to finish off ... .. ... ...

Anice from Funky Hand is going to be a TV Star again tomorrow. I think the show is being broadcast a few times over the course of the day but the first showing is 9.00am on Create and Craft .. .. I wonder if I will see any of my creations? I always love watching "just in case".

Sorry it wasn't that quick a post in the end was it!!!

Thanks for calling by.

Catch you again soon.

Love Jules xx

A BRILLIANT DAY

Hi Everyone

Prepare for a photograph overload!!!

I have had a wonderful day today.

It started with a lovely blog buddy contacting me (thank you xx) to say that her local craft shop has the Tattered Florals Sizzix die in stock .. .. you know .. .. the one I have fallen in love with that I cannot see for sale anywhere on the internet!!!

The craft shop isn't open today but my buddy has pushed a note through the door to say that I am interested in purchasing the die and I will phone the shop tomorrow - how kind was that?!?!. Isn't blogland just wonderful!! So many lovely, generous and helpful playmates .. .. .. .. nowhere quite like it is there?

Next ...

I have been working on my very first wedding stationery order .. today the bride and groom came to collect all the order of service booklets, place names and thank you cards .. . .. .. now my dining room looks very empty. It seems really weird for all the finished boxes of work not to be around any more.

I am going to the evening reception of the wedding so I will ask if it is ok for me to post a picture of their stationery for you all to see. I forgot to ask them this morning.

Next ...

I had a mission for a very special card. It is a wedding card that needs to be taken to Spain tomorrow and my brief was to include very blue sky and a white arch - as there is a white arch outside the wedding location.

The finishing of this creation was a bit of a last minute panic as I was waiting for a special set of dies to arrive which will cut boxes for me to put my cards into. Quite often when I make the larger cards my customers say that it is a shame to cram them into envelopes .. .. I agree with them too as quite often ribbons etc can go quite flat. Especially if they have been put into the cellophane bags too.

So I have invested in a set of box cutting dies so I can rectify this and at the same time make my creations a little more special.

Here is the finished creation (along with lots of photographs).

Up close and personal

Nestled in tissue paper inside its special box

Outside of the box

My customer received her order today and was over the moon.

I was really chuffed with it too .. .. mainly because it looked so special inside its little box. Yay .. .. my first box!!!

I was hoping to have decorated the outside a little more artistically but I had problems with the ordering process of the dies .. .. but everything was ok in the end .. .. I finished with a whole hour to spare LOL!!

So what did I use on my little makes:

For the card
Image: Stampendous! "V126" Happy Couple
Image stamped on flowers: Funstamps "F-R59" With Love Background
Sentiment: Computer Generated (surprise, surprise LOL!!)
Backing Paper: The blue was cropped and stretched from a blue sky photograph - the grey is from a DCWV paper stack "Wedding Prints"
White Archway: Cricut Cartridge "Paper Doll Dress Up"
Martha Stewart Punch: Valentine Lace
Leone Em Pty Punch: "CP30" Ash Branch
Sizzix Die: "656640" Tattered Florals (perhaps soon to be mine .. .. if I am worthy!! LOL!!)
Nestabilities: Large Deckled Rectangles
Ribbon: Hobbycraft (wish I had bought a full roll now)
ProMarkers
Glamour Dust
Diamond Stickles
Brads and charm from the stash box

For the box
Sizzix Die Set: "656425" Box and Lid (sorry should have said it is for use with the Big Shot Pro)
Tissue Paper: Costco
Nestabilities: Classic Heart
More of the Hobbycraft Ribbon
X-Cut Flower Punch
Josy Rose: Flat backed pearls
Sentiment: Computer generated
So quite an exciting and eventful day for me really. I have been so engrossed I forgot to eat my dinner time sandwiches until 4.30pm !!!!

Hope hubby doesn't want his evening meal too early as I'm not hungry yet!! LOL!!

Have a good evening everyone. I will try to be a bit earlier tomorrow.

Love Jules xx

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