Hi there folks!

This will be one of my last posts before heading off on our usual relaxing trip to IoW for the Summer Hols. It'll take us a fortnight to get over the stress of packing the two cars! We'll be home for a few days mid-August, then off to Scotland to visit relatives and friends.  It'll be a massive trek, and we always stop in the Lakes on the way up, and then at Alastair's in Huddersfield on the way down, but it's always lovely to see everyone, even though we do well over a thousand miles in ten days (Are we MAD?!?)  Back home again Bank Holiday weekend, then back into my final term before retiring at Christmas.

This is an Anniversary card for our oldest and dearest friends who we'll be visiting in Scotland in a couple of weeks.  The old favourite decoupage"Forever Friends"  has popped up again, which makes a quick and simple card, together with some Bazzill cardstock and some bling, a little heart charm, and some flowers.

Thanks for visiting my gallery, and please leave a comment if you wish.  xx Jill

Pink Gem Challenge

This card is for the Pink Gem challenge, although it doesn't have one of their stamps this time.  I loved the layout, (which I've followed exactly to the sketch this time - very unusual for me!) so I used it for the final thank you card I did for my student assistant.  Thanks very much Charlotte - you've been brilliant, and I'll really miss you.  Well done to all those students at ASD, and DBSD who gained excellent marks (and UCAS points too!) for their ballet exams last week.  So many Merits and Distinctions - I'm really proud of you all!!

This is Messy Rabbit dressed up in her finest tutu, and flower head-dress, although why she's got her bows stuck out of her ballet shoes, I'm not sure, especially if she's going on stage.  Even our three-year old baby ballerinas know about their "secret bows" and how to tuck them out of sight, although her hair is very neatly groomed, which the adjudicator will like!!

The paper is from the new Papermania Range "Summer Bloom" frrom The Range, and the Bazzill bling cardstock is from A Maze of Memories, as always.  Messy Rabbit (from Joanna Sheen) is coloured with copic markers from Wendy at Stamps and Memories, who also provided the little Petaloo flowers, which have been coloured with copics.   Looking at her, I think she's quite a dark grey rabbit, which I'm not sure I meant to do - perhaps I got a bit excited with the colouring!  I didn't want the flowers to be too big on this one, just enough to reflect the head-dress flowers.  I also decorated the inisde, which was an optional extra for the challenge.

Wendy is running copic colouring classes in August in Kintbury, near Newbury, if anyone is interested, and various others around the country later in the year.  Just pop onto her website if you are interested.

Thanks very much for visiting my blog, and for any comments you'd like to leave.  xx Jill

Joe's birthday

My darling husband's birthday was on Monday, so I found this Kanban image at an exhibition.  I'm always on the lookout for images of ballerinas (and other dancers), trains, golf and bowls!

This was was really simply made, as most of the elements were in the pack.  Just needed some red and gold card, some ruby Stickles glitter glue, and a gold Sakura pen.  No, I know you can't see it, but all the "yellow" lines on the locomotive are actually a nice shiny gold!

xx Jill

Paul and Siri from Wild Orchid Crafts are launching their very own range of self adhesive pearls and gorgeous new lace. There's all the gorgeous flowers on their website too.

If you want to pop over to their site, or to Bev's blog for more details, you'll find Mr Linky waiting for you, (unless he's gone walkabout.) xx Jill

wedding card

This card was commissioned by my daughter for her friend who is getting married tomorrow.  I used decoupage for the central image, which is lavishly glittered with Stickles Stardust (of course!).  The card is quite old and is pre-embossed and foiled, and I wish I could find some more, as they are perfect for simple elegant cards for weddings and anniversaries.  If you know of a supplier please let me know, as I often get commissions for this type of card!!

The little pearls are from Jill at the Hobby House, who has a sale of pearls on at the moment - time to stock up again - and the little silver flowers are from Hobbycraft, although I really object to paying their prices.  The ivory patterned card on the insert is by Kanban, which I really love, but again is very expensive.  I also decorated an envelope to match.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog, and for any commments you would like to leave.  xx Jill

more ballerina cards

I made lots of end of term thank you cards for our students helpers and the teachers.  This card was for Jade, who helped out at Rainbow Awards, with nearly 140 little dancers.  She is an exceptional student, who has just been offered a scholarship for a full-time dance foundation course in September, so naturally we are all delighted for her.  Well done Jade!

This a Penny Black stamp that I've had for more years than I care to remember, which I've coloured with copic markers from Wendy at Stamps and Memories. She also supplied the MS little branch punch.   The patterned paper is from my stash, and is very old too.  I've use my favourite coredinations plain cardstock from A Maze of Memories, who also supplied the little EK flower strip punch and the stickles glitter glue.  The sentiment is a silver rub-on, and the flowers are from Crafty Feeling.

This card is a Messy Rabbit design for one of our young ballet teachers, and uses nearly the last of the ballet shoes paper, and coredinations in pink and violet.  The copic markers used for colouring the image, and the MS branch punch are from Wendy at Stamps and Memories.  Jill at The Hobby House supplied the gems, brads and gold spacers.  The flowers are from one of the monthly mixed packs from Crafty Feeling.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog, and for any comments you would like to leave.  xx Jill

Head girl leaving

This card is for our Head Girl, Stephanie, who's leaving to go to university in September, and will be very sadly missed by the staff, all her friends, and also by the little ones she's helped whilst she's been student assisting.  Steph's been in the school for fifteen years since she was three, and we've also had her brilliant Mum and brother who help out at dance festivals and shows.  Actually we've said they can't leave really, as we'll still need them for all our performances, because we can't manage without them!!  Lots of ex-students and their parents and ex-teachers do come back to help out, so it's like seeing family again, and creates a brilliant atmosphere.

I really love this little Penny Black cat, and often give her pink tutu, which I've coloured with copic markers.  The papers and ribbon are from my stash, and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  The leaves are punched out with an MS punch from Wendy at Stamps and Memories, who also provided the copics and the MS border punch.  Of course there's the obligatory glitter!






















This card is for Salina, who is also leaving to go to university, and has been with us for thirteen years.  She has been a very intelligent, really gifted dancer, and has always thrown herself into everything, ending up with excellent exam results.

This image is the new Magnolia ballerina, which I've coloured with copic markers, and cut out with Nesties; all from Wendy at Stamps and Memories.  I put lots of glitter pen (not glitter glue) which gives a more subtle effect (irl) on her dress and tiara, but unfortunately it doesn't show at all on the photo!  The bp was a Kate Knight freebie from a magazine, with some Bazzill cardstock, and gold linen style card from A Maze of Memories.  The flowers are a mix from Crafty Feeling (from their July kit), and WOC.

I'd like to wish both girls good luck, as they both deserve every happiness and success in the future.

Thanks you very much for visiting my blog, and please feel free to leave a comment, (by clicking in the comment box below)  if you wish. 

xx  Jill

Cards for leavers

Trying to design cards for the boys when they leave the dance school is quite tricky, but I came up with a three new ones using some "dance" background card I bought at the Newbury show earlier this month, and images I sourced on the net.  I punched out the stars, and also used some of the new Papermania adhesive stars, and my old faithful glitter glue too. 

The sentiments are computer generated, and I've used some star brads, and some peel-off lines on the card above.  The paper is from a rather ancient Papermania pad.

We'll miss you Henry and Andy, and good luck in the future!

This final card, done in a similar way, was for our jazz teacher, Scott, who has taught the kids brilliantly this year, with lots of passion and committment, and really raised the standard.

Thanks for looking, and please feel free to leave a comment if you wish.

xx Jill