Happy Birthday Peter!

My youngest son turn 12 today, I can't believe how quickly time goes by.

My morning started just before 6am, when I woke up with a start and remembered I hadn't made him a card!!


Bart here..........was hastily thrown together, just in time for him getting up...............Thank goodness for the Scouts meeting last night - it normally helps him stay in bed just that little bit longer in the morning (LOL)!!

The cake, had to be chocolate of course (for anyone knowing my son, would tell you), and very delicious it is too - I've been munching on maltesers whilst I've been waiting for the photos to upload!

Till the next time,

Happy crafting,

Jane x

Christmas Gift Ideas

Hi All,

Christmas is on it's way and approaching fast !!....... A few friends called around today; we decorated candles made boxes boxes to suit them.

A great time was had by all.

What I really love about crafting - is that, although an idea is put forward, everyone has their own ideas and ends up with an unique project. Today each person chose their own design for the candle, but the final result was fantastic!!


This is a close up for the lid of the box.
(It is an adapted template from Jenny, in which a box can be created from 1 piece of A4 cardstock)

We then made a cracker. Which can either be used as a table decoration or as a wrapping for a special gift. The idea came from Dawn Griffith's twist Box (Nov 26th) - I added on 2" to each end to make up the ends of the cracker. I found it helpful to add a piece of kitchen roll tube to the centre of the cracker, this helps to stabilize it when you try to twist the ends.

The added flower was made out of the new 'Bridesmaid' papers. The smaller layer being coloured with Night of Navy to mach the cardstock. It takes on colour so well don't you think? A large half pearl was added from the 'pretties kit'.

Hope you've enjoyed,

Happy crafting,

Jane x

More Red & Green

ARRGH..... it's December already, and I really do have to get down and sort out some gifts for Christmas!!

It didn't help when last week, I spent the entire time with my husband going around car showrooms; looking and test driving various models, makes etc. (cars don't really interest either of us) - as far as I'm concerned, as long as they get you from A to B safely and have enough room to get the camping gear in - what more do you need?! Unfortunately, although it got through it's MOT last month, it's on it's last wheels so to speak. Never mind, enough about cars....... my 14yr old son is heavily into 'Top Gear' and I'm sick of thinking and talking about them!!

Back to 'CRAFTING'!!
I'd like to say "hello" to Lizzie and Maddie who rescued me on Monday evening. We made various Christmas projects, here are a couple to show you.

A little slider box incorporating a card and of course some chocolates!!
Also a cute little bag.

We had such fun, they worked so hard and managed extremely well; especially as they hadn't done anything like this before.

Anyway must go - got to make a start on my Christmas cards!! I don't think I'd better sleep between now and the 25th!!

Happy crafting

Jane x

Sparkly & Bright

Christmas is all about glitter and sparkling - right? Well, I've been covering myself and the whole house with glitter recently!!

I just love the new 'sparkling' roller and the corresponding stamp set that SU have brought out. I created a pizza box with simple square cards that could be reproduced fairly easily.


The envelope flaps were straight forward, I just rollered them using Red Red ink; infact I was enjoying myself so much that the base of the cards and pizza box had the same treatment aswell!! Although it's difficult to tell from the photo, I applied heat and stick then dazzling diamonds to each of the images before mounting them on two scallop circles.


Happy crafting

Jane x

Christmas is Starting!

Well, I thought I'd better start on Christmas preparations - a bit late I know; but I'm always running round like a headless chicken, I seem to work better under pressure!!


This stocking gift card idea came from Andrea Walford's 12 weeks of Christmas. I think the red one, in the retired Christmas papers is my favourite. It has such a clever hinge design - which hides the gift card and is so easy to make when you know how!

I was experimenting, and although it's not very clear in the photo , the one one the left has been embossed with a snowflake design and the other I have used the sanded background stamp in Night of Navy.

Happy crafting

Jane x

Craft Fayre

Since starting with Stampin' Up almost a year ago, I've been hoarding all my cards and 3D projects in boxes under the bed!! I decided, time had come to take control, so yesterday I braved the weather - bucked up the courage, and held a stall at Bournemouth School for Girls.

I have never done anything like this before, (I've always helped behind the scenes at school Fayres before) and was beginning to wonder what I'd taken on.

My fears were unfounded, and I enjoyed the day; met so many lovely people who were interested in what I'd been making, and even having a go at what I was demoing.

Not only that, I've covered my costs and have more room to be able to create new projects!!


The candy canes were a big hit.

My sister was great, helping me to set everything up, and friends popped by throughout the day. Thank you to Val (my upliner), who helped after lunch and assisted me back to the car before everything could blow away!!

Happy Crafting

Jane x

Happy 60th Birthday Chris

A good friend of mine turned 60 today, so I thought I'd make her a little something.




I've created a flip album, using the Bella Bleu papers, teaming them up with Kraft, Not Quite Navy and Vanilla cardstock. I think this combination is just gorgeous. The new eyelet border punch made it look just a little bit special.

The puppy in this picture was a present to herself, I'm sure she is going to keep Chris very active. At the moment when you visit, the opening line is always "Welcome to Kew Gardens", as Kerry has been pruning all the plants in the garden and brought them into the kitchen!!

I had so many photos I wanted to include that I've made a couple of pockets to house them all.

I hope she likes her gift - I even had her Family in Australia emailing me photos.

Must dash - got a party to get to............SSSSSHHHHH she doesn't know!

Happy Crafting

Jane x

"THE STIG" - A.K.A. My Son

YES,YES....... I've cracked it. Don't ask me how, but it's now co-operating!!

It was my son's 14th birthday yesterday.
As you can see from these pictures he's mad about Top Gear.

From the cake........... to his card, it had to be "The Stig". (Val, now knows who I'm talking about and by the way he's trilled with his "Siggy Bank". Thank You)

I'm afraid the card didn't include any stamping but I did manage to sneak in Whisper White and Bordering Blue LOL..

When you lift the visor.................there's the birthday boy himself!!

Happy Birthday Son

More crafting to share with you soon

Jane x

ARHHHH!!

Sorry All,
My computer has done some updates and now for some reason my "blogger doesn't seem to what to let me up load any photos!!
I'll keep trying - hang in there
Jane x

Can't Believe My Eyes!!

I've just been surfing the web, and I came across this fabulous blog candy give away.
It's on Jak Heath's blog at http://crafterskitchen.blogspot.com

Jane x

Silent Night

This set I don't own myself, but I borrowed it off my upliner Val; because one of my customers bought it sometime ago and is stuck for ideas. So for the last few days, I have been happily playing and covering the house with glitter!!

This bag I have based, on one I made at one of Jenny Moor's classes, (she's my SU granny - but she might be disowning me now, for writing that...LOL). The Bashful Blue is an A4 sheet cut in 1/2, and stuck on top of a gusseted paper bag.
The snowflakes have come from 3 different stamp sets - it was just that I wanted the smaller flakes for my projects.

This card is very simple and straight forward. You will see that the theme of snowflakes in Bashful Blue and Night of Navy run throughout my items (as these are the colours Pam bought from me, to go with the set). I have added glitter and words (retired hostess set), and popped up in a scallop oval.

This is the inside to a gift card. (For some reason I seemed to have not added the photo of the outside!!) Anyway it runs along similar lines and fits into a DL envelope. I included stamping the greeting onto 1" double stitched grosgrain ribbon.

For the final card, I chose to make a recessed window card. I had seen one at Jenny's class yesterday; using the Trendy Trees and thought this idea would work well with the Silent Night set.

I'd never made a card like this before, but I found a tutorial done by Beate.

The photo doesn't really do it justice and show the 3D look very well, but I'm pleased with the final result.

Hope you've enjoyed, and I haven't sent you to sleep with the length of my post!!

Till the next time

Happy crafting

Jane x

Gift Bag

Today, is my niece's 6th birthday.
She loves cooking and I have bought her a selection goodies, so that she can decorate her creations.

I decided to decorate a bag using the retired Wild About You set; (just because it's retired, doesn't mean it's not going to be used!) It's a shame, the set doesn't have a monkey in it - because she is on a teacher training day and has gone to Monkey World for the day.

As you can tell from the picture she loves pink and orange!!



I also made her a little box of chocolates to match, because she's going to be peckish whilst she's waiting for her cakes to cook.

Of course, it has to come with matching card and envelope.

Happy crafting

Jane x

Wow, What A Night!!

GOOD MORNING LADIES

and thank you so much, for such lovely evening last night. I hope you enjoyed it, as much as I did.

I have a few individuals to mention, because without them, I'm sure it wouldn't have been such a success.

Firstly Pam, who invited some of her church group to a craft night - with a difference. She was interested in making as many different items as possible, either for a 'Shoe Box Appeal' or things that could be sold to raise money towards helping post the boxes over seas.

Secondly, a BIG THANK YOU to my upliner Val and my downliner Di, who I roped in to help........well you did offer girls!!

It was actually my first 'live demo/workshop' - I was a bit daunted, as I wasn't expecting 18 of you lovely ladies, when Pam first approached me!!

These are some of the ideas I put forward. We actually split into 3 groups. Val's group made magnets, pocket calendars and book marks. Di's made a pizza box with 4 cards and I covered bag-a-lopes, cheese boxes, sour cream containers and a no cutting box.

I'm off to sort out all my stuff, it just got dumped on the dinning room table, when I got back last night!!

Happy crafting

Jane x

Countdown to New Cattie!!

This card I made yesterday at Jenny's.
It's a double slider card, made with the Good Friend stamp set.
It was aptly named, as she had organised a get together with as many members of her team as possible. It was like having our own mini convention!!


We had such a fabulous day, it was very inspirational and great to meet up with so many others; who just love crafting, as much as I do. Sadly time flew and it all went too quickly.

Never mind, I will be reminded of yesterday; when I used this business card holder, I made this morning, with some of the paper I won at 'Bingo'.

It was just right as a couple of days ago I'd stamped some more business cards using Baroque Motifs in Old Olive and Real Red.

Only a few days left, the new catalogue is out 1st October!!

Happy crafting,

Jane x

Swiper Card

Yesterday, I spent a lovely morning with a couple of 'crafting buddies'. Di came up with this swiper card, (I'm afraid I don't know which web site she cased the measurements off). We all just chose different styles to decorate in.
I've chosen So Saffron and Pumpkin Pie cardstock, teamed with Washington Apple DSP and Petal Pizzazz stamp set. I'm gutted that these are no longer going to be available in the new catalogue - they are just my colours.

This is the card closed,

and this is the card open; with the greetings from Best Yet (level 1 hostess set) and Occasional Greetings.

Happy crafting

Jane x

Sneak Peak

This birthday card I made last week, for another 'stamping buddy'; but couldn't post it, or it may have spoilt the surprise!!


It's a '2 step' stamp set from the new catalogue; (which starts on the 1st October), called Garden Dream (level 3 hostess set).


The 'celebrate' comes from Wonderful Words, and the colours I have used are 'out of my comfort zone'. They are pretty in pink, taken with teal and rose red. I have pricked on the teal layer but it's not showing up in the photo. The humming bird has been raised up.


I have also been sorting out swaps for Jenny's downline meeting. Is it any wonder that my husband has given up trying to use the dinning-room to eat in? I may have it cleared for Christmas - LOL!!

As you see it, wasn't only my mess - I blame it all on you Val!!

Till the next time,

Happy crafting

Jane x

Card Organiser

Cor, that was a close call - thought I'd lost my camera!!

I'd made a card organiser some time ago; and earlier this week (as hols are now over), a few 'crafty' friends dropped by, to catch up with the gossip - and boy can we talk!!

We all decided to make one (it's based on a design, I had originally seen by Dannie). We all chose different DSP and card stock. These were the results......don't they look fabulous all together?

Happy crafting

Jane x

Where Does The Time Go?

Last Friday, my youngest Son started Secondary School - how long he'll remain this smart I don't know - but knowing him, I'm sure it won't be long!! He came out smiling just as much as he went in - so that is the main thing.

Yesterday, as I was getting some bits and bobs cut out for friends, who are coming over today -my sister pops by. It ends up, with her spying a little picnic basket sitting on my sideboard. She falls in love with it, and knows it would be perfect for someone who's just lost their Dad. You guessed it.... preparations stop and crafting begins!!

This is what she produced.

The DSP comes from the level one hostess paper pack. Isn't it cute? I just love them!!

I on the other hand was trying to sort out the mess around us!! I'd been given a load of scrappy paper, and rather than throw it out decided to cut it up into 7cm squares and make my own memo block. This is what I came up with

It's very simple, but effective - sorry for the poor photography!!

Catch up with you all soon, must get the boys to school. (I'll have time to craft then - pure heaven ...LOL)

Happy crafting

Jane x

Home Again

Hi All,

I'm back.
Just enjoyed a lovely 2 week camping break in Devon. Here's the motley crew I shared the tent with.



Family time, sun, and relaxation was on the menu. I didn't take any crafting stuff with me (don't know where I'd have packed it - if I had!!) But boy, it was sure pleasurable when Val popped round on Monday morning - I didn't realise how much I'd been our craft sessions!!

Now that everything is getting back to normal, the sorting out camping gear and washing etc conquered - I hope to be able to craft and blog once more.

Till the next time. Happy crafting,

Jane x

Lack of Posts

I'm so sorry, I thought that because it was the school holidays, I'd have plenty of opportunities to slip away and craft - how wrong, could I have been!!
Life's never been so busy. They say " there's no peace for the wicked" - well I must be well and truly wicked!!

For this reason, I don't plan to post anything until the kids are back to school. I'm not saying I won't, but this way I won't disappoint anyone - if I don't.

See you in September

Happy crafting (for those of you who are more organised than me)!!

Jane x

50th Birthday Card

Well, nothing has changed - (from the beginning to the end of today's posts).
I'd spent a lovely few hours relaxing and chatting at my sister's; knowing that we were attending a joint 50th birthday party in the evening, so there was no need to rush home to do tea or anything else - (that I could think of) - until we finally got home.

So another "quickie card" was made. Fortunately, the joint party was for a husband and wife team - so only one card was needed!! This was what I came up with at such short notice, (it only took 15 mins from start to finish!!)

Hope you liked my efforts.

That's all for now, I'll try to do better in future

Happy crafting

Jane x

Christmas Class

Due to my darling husband, arranging to meet a client, I couldn't attend my usual Tuesday morning craft class; with the very talented Jenny Moor. I did however arrange delivery, so that I could complete it at home. Visit (Stamping Moments) to view the original.

It comprises of a bag, slider and z fold card

It does however, lack the large snowflakes (as I don't have this set - so I substituted them with two smaller, odd stamps that I have - these are from 'Snow Flurries' and 'Occasionally')


For the next 2 cards, I got the idea from Dawn Griffiths.


This one uses the plastic bag technique. When you pull on the tab a slider comes out top and bottom at the same time.
I have used the'Lovely as a Tree' set.

The second card (was immensely difficult to photograph) not only was the image covered in 'dazzling diamonds', but it is mounted on acetate. I have added a piece of Not Quite Navy so that the images would show up.

I stamped the snow flakes in White Stazon, and coloured the windows etc to make it look like light was escaping from within, before stamping Versa Mark over the whole thing, then adding heat and stick powder and finally finishing off with dazzling diamonds.

Happy crafting

Jane x

Teacher's card

Well, sorry I've been AWOL for a while, but I'm back now.
Today, I'll add on a few posts to make up for it.

I've been trying to organise myself without much luck!!
It all started off on the last day of term; my younger son was leaving primary school. As usual, I'm prepared, (not), I'd made cakes the day before, for the party afterwards and plenty more for the looming 'Funday', realising at the last minute that, although I'd sorted out a gift for his teacher, I hadn't made a card!!
So that morning I threw this one together!! (I was quite pleased with the result - it actually looks like him - although the photography has something to be desired)

Recipe

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa
Really Rust
Whisper White

Stamp Set: All in the Family

Wheel : Nursery Letters

Every time I always ask "why do I leave it 'till the last minute!!"

Jane x

Organic Grace

Hi All,

Organic Grace is a Hostess Level 1 set, which I'm afraid to say I haven't used very much. So this weekend gone, I decided to have a play!!

I chose to make square cards which measure 9.5cm, matching envelopes and a box to put them in. For those of you who don't know me - I love making 3D items.

Recipe

Cardstock: Always Artichoke
So Saffron
Whisper White

Stamp Sets: Organic Grace
Occasional Greetings (Words)
Forest Friends (deer)
Sanded Background

I didn't realise how many different stamp sets I'd used until it came up in conversation. Perhaps I went a bit over the top - but if you have them use them I say!!

I played around with 'Nesties' and acetate to make the window in the top of the box.

Hope you like my creations, I had great time playing around and layering up various images.

Happy Crafting

Jane x

Thank You Gifts

Hi All,
I'm back again, sorry it's been a while, life's been so hectic.

Firstly, I would like to congratulate my downliner on a very successful launch party. Some of you may affectionately know her as "Demo Di" from the Range. She has just decided to join the SU family, and I'm sure she will be able to give me lots of tips too - especially on blogging;(eg. load the pictures first; would have been a good one!!) Her new blog, specialising in SU products is called - SIMPLY SAID

This morning, I've been making little thank you gifts for the catering team I'm involved with.
We are starting to plan for what has now become an annual marathon, in making and supplying drinks, sandwiches and cakes for the Streetwise Fun Day.

This year, it is on Sunday the 19th July and is a free event, with all the 999 services and so much more to do and see. Please pop along for a fabulous fun day, we would love to see you there!!

For those of you unaware of LV Streetwise, it is a charity, based in a warehouse; which has been converted to look like many areas in the community, it's where children come and learn all about safety. If you wish to learn more about Streetwise, the Fun Day, or a visit please go to http://www.streetwise.org.uk/

In these gifts, is a packet of hot chocolate/horlicks. It takes quite a while to unwind; from such a busy and eventful day. I thought the ladies may appreciate something to put their feet up for -
I know from experience!!

It is based on the slider card idea, and someone gave me a similar one at the SU training day in Taunton, (unfortunately they didn't supply their name).

Happy crafting

Jane x