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

another birthday card

A birthday card for my lovely friend Cathy.  Joe and I spent half-term week with Cathy and Tony in Wales, and not only were we blessed with glorious weather, but the company was excellent too.  I did manage to get a little card-making done, and the "boys" did some modelling.  One evening Cathy and I sat with my bead box, and whilst I made a pair of simple ear-rings, she made her first beaded bracelet.  It looked gorgeous too!  As she is a lover of beautiful things, I knew I had to find a special image for her birthday.

This gorgeous stamp is Ching-Chou Kuik's "The Serene Night" from Sweet pea stamps in the States, and is right up there amongst my favourites.  I have lashed out and bought several of these stamps, as they are so beautiful, and the art work has such clarity.  As the stamp and background papers are quite busy, I didn't go too mad on the flowers and gems.

I coloured the image and and the Petaloo flowers with copic markers (both from Wendy at Stamps and Memories), and everything is liberally shimmered with Glimmer Mist from Jill at The Hobby House, who also provided the little pearls and gems, and the punch for the leaves.  I love the "Springtime" designer papers from Crafty Individuals, which I ordered online.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog, and so that I know that you have stopped by, please leave a comment below.

xx Jill

Willow reading recipes

A birthday card for a dear friend, Sue, who loves cooking, and is really good at it too!  This is not a colour combination I would normally choose, but was set in a challenge, so I had to give it a go.

I just love this image from Whiff of Joy "Willow reading recipes" which I have coloured with copic markers from Wendy at Stamps and Memories.  The design paper is from my stash, and the sentiment is also WOJ, as are the little strawberries.  The flowers are a mix of Prima and Wild Orchid Crafts, which I have spritzed with Glimmer Mist from Jill at The Hobby House, and the little charm and chain are from Jill too: she has a fantastic selection, so pop along and have a look.  The coredinations plain cardstock is from a Maze of Memories, who have the most enormous range of 12 x12 cardstock: far more than you could imagine possible in plain colours, plus some patterned papers too.  The photo doesn't really show the gold glitter pen by Sakura (also from Wendy), but I assure you it's there, giving just a touch of glam!

Time to get on with another card now, as another close friend has a birthday tomorrow, so I'll post that as soon as I can.  xx Jill

Bev's wonderful blog candy

Bev's wonderful blog candy:

join in the fun, and see the super-talented Bev's cards too!

Birthday card

This Whiff of Joy stamp has to be one of my all-time favourites: "Willow Dressing Up", which I've coloured with copic markers.  The birthday card is for our step-granddaughter, Natalie, who was 25 a couple of days ago.  It hardly seems possible that all those years have gone by, and that her little boy Maxwell is now two and a half.

I used a printed and foiled heavy cardstock from Kanban for the background, and used gold cardstock for the borders and leaves, which were cut with an MS punch from Wendy at Stamps and Memories who also supplied the gold Sakura glitter pen  on the shoes and bangle (yes I know they look lime green in the picture, you'll just have to trust me that they really are glittery gold!!)  The punched flower border is cut from coredinations cardstock with an EK border punch from Oyster stamps, and the flowers are from Wild Orchid crafts.  The flowers are heavily shimmered with glimmer mist from Jill at the Hobby House, and the self-adhesive gems are also from there.  They do a fantastic selection of different coloured rhinestones and pearls, and they're extremely reasonably priced (£10 for ten packs).  Their charm selection is also very good.

Thank you so much for coming to visit my blog and for any comments you'd like to leave.

xx Jill

2nd Anniversary candy at Jacqui's blog

Jacqui is offering some lovely candy for the 2nd Anniversary of her blog, so pop over and see her beautiful inspiring cards.  xx Jill