Is Christmas over yet?

Why is it for crafters when Christmas arrives, all the gloss has been taken fromit.  You've been on with Christmas stuff since June, and quite frankly you become sick of the site of it.

OK rant over, so to update you on the goings on in my world over the last few weeks.

I have branched out and started to decorate glassware, see the clock below.  I have also done some candle votives in varying sizes and had a go at tissue box wraps.  All of these were in an attempt to make my table at a local craft fair a bit different.  What a waste of two days - I do however, believe it is a phenomenom occuring all over the country, people approach the table, look at the product, make appreciative noises and walk away hands tight in their pockets.  It's enough to make you want to pack it all in.

If it wasn't for the support of many chums on twitter and probably all the girls I work with I probably would have.

Anyway below are pics of the stall and the area I had to demo at.  Yes another branch out for me two whole days of demoing stamping and inking techniques.  Which again brought interest but alas no funds, so it's bread and water for Christmas lunch at this rate.

On the upside however, I have decided to do more fairs next year, just not that particular one again.  I have also put the foundations together for a website which I am hoping I can sell my cards and glassware through.  Details when there is anything to look at on it.

November has begun

Well here we are after a weekend in Birmingham, I know how to have a good time!  A few projects I since my last post.

October

Oh wow!  I've just realised how long it is since I updated this site.  Note to self, Must do better!

Here are some things I did over the summer

Blog Challenges 9

Well fellow crafters, for this card I have managed to incorporate all the following challenges.

Passion for Pro Markers - For a teenager.

ABC - Underneath.

Rainbow Lady - Lets feel it.

Moving along with the times - 2 B's.

Crafty Sentiments - Buttons.

Stamp Something - Anything goes.

Totally Gorjuss - Not square.

I started with the fairy under the Toadstool, I used Papermania fairy and a Molly Blooms Toadstool, combined with a Polkadoodle one to stamp the main image.  I thought a teenage girl would appreciate this theme. I coloured with Promarkers, and then used my Nestabilities to cut and emboss the two layers.

I then mounted these onto ribbled card stock. Added the velvet ribbon, buttons and bling to the toadstool. I then completed the whole image with the sentiment using brads to tie it all together.

Hope you like it!

Blog Challenges 8

Back again folks, with more challenges! So here goes.....

ABC - T for 2 images

I have made this card for a twitter buddy to celebrate to birth of her first grandchild. So many congratulations to Shirley n Charlie!!!!

I stamped the Crafters Companion SWALK granny and grandpa images, coloured them with promarkers, I stamped the sentiment and embossed with cosmic shimmer powder, then mounted them onto Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen papers all on top of an 8" square card.

Passion for Pro Markers - Fit for a Princess

I couldn't do anything less than a fairytale castle, considering the fairytale wedding now could I. The image is from Papermania fantasy range of clear stamps. I used a Martha Stewart corner punch to make it more regal. Added the sentiment and mounted onto black A5 card.

Polkadoodles - Easel Card

Ever since Easel cards have been on the go I wanted a go at a twisted one, well here it is. I used an 8" card blank as the base, hunkydory kit for the decoupage and stopper, I used a contrasting handmade paper and a self adhesive butterfly for added dimension. Added a peel off label and letters into label. Was a bit pleased with this one, hope you like it.

Crafty Sentiments - Flowers

Crafters Companion - Girls Birthday

Willow's Designs - Sketch

I used a frame that was included on some disney stickers to enhance the Nellie Snellen Gorjuss girl (I love these stamps). I then mounted this onto Hunkydory embossed cream card. Added the borders, and the flowers embellishments, topped off with a birthday greeting.

I had fun doing these, hope you like them. See you next time Jax

Blog Challenges 8

Back again for more challenges! So here we go........

Passion for Pro Markers - Make your own embellishments.

Rainbow Lady's - Springtime.

I began with some paper flowers that I was playing with cosmic shimmer mists to colour. My OH had an easter egg that had the eggs in a card basket, so guess what! I nicked *ahem* acquired it. This is one end bit. I used some 3D foam tape to attach the flower stems and leaves to the inside. I then layered up the paper flowers to the top of the basket.

Then I left it to solidify!!!! I layered it onto a floral card blank and then onto mirri board. I finished the whole thing off with the sentiment. Here's the clever bit, I used a rose pink promarker onto a clear stamp to get the image of the words so I could then fill them in with the same promarker. (Can't write neat to save my life!)

Moving Along With the Times - Chocolate.

ABC - S for Sugar and Spice.

I started with a free sheet from a magzine and mounted the cupcake clock onto a self made matt I had played with (mica mist spraying session) it hadn't done what I wanted at the time but new the brown shading would "come in handy".  I then found the sprinkles papers in my stash and mounted this onto a card blank, I then mounted the chocolate cake onto this followeed by the sentiment, mounted on aqua mirri card.

Crafters Companion - Aqua and Brown.

A Spoonful of Sugar - All Creatures great and small.

Lili Of The Valley - Happy Birthday

This card utilises free papers, scraps of mirri board and the happy birthday sentiment.  I backed a card with the aqua free paper, built the twisted pyramage, and mounted that onto aqua mirri board. Stuck onto card, then added a happy birthday sentiment.  Suitable for cowboys young and old.

Hope you like.

Blog Challenges 7

Hello all, back again for some more challenges! So here goes..... :)

This card is for a lady at work who is off on maternity leave soon. I used A3 card to make an A4 card blank so everyone has chance to sign the card!

Using a mix from kits, stamps and promarkers I created this card. This is for the Crafty Sentiments challenge - Glitter and Polkadoodles - Sketch.

This card is for Sarah Hurley - Easter (spring), MAWTT - Sketch and Passion for Promarkers - Yellow & Pink.

I stamped the tulips and the girl tiptoeing through them and coloured with promarkers in pinks, yellows, greens and skin and hair tones. I mounted onto gold pearlescent, I then added a paper n card matt and added the ribbon and setiment. All topped onto a square card.

Rainbow lady - I used the wine buffs kit for this leaving card. I made an easel card blank from lilac card and for the stopper used the wine bottle and some flowers that I had in my stash.

Hope you like!

Blog Challenges 6

Another week, another challenge! So here goes....

Polkadoodles This week was - Books

I just love this image of a boy examining his favourite book. I used a papermania decoupage kit to create this. Books are such special things, you can learn from them and lose yourself in them. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoy books!

Crafty Sentiments - Animals

Ha! Not a House Mouse this time!!

I have been on hol this week and just realised it was my last free time before mine n OH's wedding anniversary in May!!!

We have an in-joke about giraffe's and I found this particular invertage kit last wedding anniversary, that's how organised I can be (NOT!!).

I layered it up as per seen and mounted it onto an 8X8 card blank. Simple card (I wish!!!) But hope you like.

Passion for Promarkers - sketch

MAWTT - Good Luck

Sarah Hurley - embossing

As I know exam season is around the corner I thought of doing a good luck card for all those sitting in large rooms this summer. Hence the Wise Owl idea.

I began with embossing the darker panel, I used some ready embossed mirri card for the ribbon. Matt n layered the lighter card. I stamped the owl image and coloured in with promarkers, then using nesties cut out the oval. I cut the corner embellishment using a Marianne designs die. Stamped good luck into a die cut flower shape.

Hope you like :)

Blog Challenges 5

Hello again! Back for more challenges this week, and here they are!

Passion for Promarkers.  Apologies for another House Mouse image, but I am a bit addicted to these at the moment. I stamped the image and coloured with promarkers, die cut using nesties scalloped circlesn then mounted onto die cut mirri board circles. Backed a 6" sqaure card blank with a K+Co 12X12 paper cut to fit. I added the sentiment from a pack from Hunky Dory.

Sarah Hurley, Rainbow Lady and Crafty Sentiments. I backed an A5 scalloped edge card blank with a 12X12 paper, cut to fit. I used Black Magic Coredinations with a pink core and embossed with swirl design that I then sanded back. Wrapped a fluffy fibre around the matt. Stamped the House Mouse Image and die cut it using nesties, coloured the image with promarkers. I added the sentiments to complete the card.

MAWTT this card was made for the dad of a lady at work as a get well card. He is having a big operation soon and he has a passion for all things nautical. I used a La Pashe Framin' card kit so he has something to keep until he's fed up of it. I covered the aperture with acetate to give it more of a picture feel.

Polkadoodles - I really struggle to come up with ideas at times and when the theme black n white was mentioned I went straight to my music themed stash. As I grew up the daughter of a Beatles fan I have been a fan of heirs all my life and just thought this image stood out. I also added a logo from their record label for the added colour of choice, hence the green apple.

I stamped the "laydee" onto an A6 postcard blank. Coloured in with pencils. Glittered the feathers n frills. Added a gem to the hat and for her earring.

Used a Martha Stewart punch for two corners and a small rounder for the other two. Backed an A5 card blank added topper, sentiment and border peel off.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blog Challenges 4

This card is for the following challenges this week- Passion for Promarkers (Sugar Rush), Polkadoodles (Flower Power), Crafty Sentiments (Birthday) and Sarah Hurley (4 Legged Friends).

I started by stamping the mice image using Joanna Sheen Housemouse stamps. I coloured in using an array of promarkers, I then cut it out with nestabilities and distressed the edges to give a misty feel. I then embossed a sheet of Coredinations whitewash and sanded back. I then mounted these onto some green backing paper that looked like it had been painted (by me by the brush strokes in it!). I then cut out using Xcut die the flowers in yellow vellum and white felt. I finished off the flowers with flat back pearls and added some to the corner of the embossed paper. I added a self adhesive ribbon down the side and added the sentiment. I hope you like it.

This card os for Moving Along with the times challenge, this weeks theme 'Anniversary'. I stamped the flourish with versamark and used mica powders to give a subtle hint. Added the topper and sentiment.

This card is for Rainbow Lady's (Mardi Gras) and One Stitch at a Time (Use a charm).

As this is "Fat Tuesday" or Shrove Tuesday festival celebrated in New Orleans I used a Jazz theme to represent it. I used alcohol inks to make the base/backing sheet, various KanBan elements that fitted the bill and stamped some Tim Holtz elements to add further interest. I added the saxophone and treble cleff charms to represent the music that comes from that area of America.Hope you like them.

Blog Challenges 3

Here are my cards for this weeks challenges!


Firstly, Passion for pro markers.


Mr Suave : this card was made from a stamp I picked up on sale a couple of months ago, it's difficult to get "men" stamps. I coloured his suit with warm grey one and his hat with cool grey 4. I then layered him onto background papers and mounted onto an 8" square card.

Secondly, this card for for Sarah Hurley's challenge blog, and for Crafty Sentiments challenge blog.


Boing : Couldn't resist the chance to use this little stamp. Coloured with promarkers and mounted onto a 6" sqaure card that was made round with the help of a saucer (drawn round and cut out).

And last but not least, Rainbow Lady's, Polkadoodles and Moving Along with the time challenges.

Fashion Chic : These stamps were picked up on sale a couple of months ago and show a good spread of fashion from more glamorous times. I coloured them with promarkers and mounted onto a "frame" backing paper. I added the ribbons in a feel for examples of what was used in the frocks themselves.

Blog Challenges 2

Here are my cards for this weeks blog challenges!

This card is of one of my favourite childhood characters (now you know I am in my forties).

I stamped the image onto an A6 postcard and used my promarkers to colour him and the mices in. I then used my nestabilities to cut the oval. I then used weathered wood distress ink to give the misty memory feel.

I used a Marianne Design corner die on gold pearlescent card to cut and emboss the corner shapes. I backed the card with free paper from Making Cards magaizine to "lift" the saggy cloth cat and bring him to the front.

Hope you like.

This was done using three foam heart stamps (free with a mag years ago), each with a slightly different pink hue.  I then used a clarity design club stamp "wire heart" stamped with versmark and embossed in silver.

The sentiment is a "sticky" that I then flocked. All done on an A6 postcard and then mountd onto an A6 card.

Hope you like.

This card is done with Kanban cardstock and a Kanban topper, some foiled embellishments and peel offs.

The design is to "celebrate" the Chinese New Year and utilises the colour of good fortune RED!

Hope you like.

Here is bear on a card.

This is the valentine card made for my husband.

I used a free paper for the backing and a free crafters companion decoupage.

Finished off with peel off words.