off to school

Our third grandson, Tristan, who is four and a quarter, started school on Monday and this is the card I made to wish him luck.  His first couple of days were not very happy I'm afraid, as his friends from Nursery were put into different groups, which was quite upsetting for all concerned, but he seems to be better settled now.  He's such a little chap, and his school trousers (age 3) drown him, but he seems to like his school uniform, and especially having a packed lunch at school!





















This is a LOTV image, and the papers are downloads: Sweet Shoppe "lliela" school papers, which come with extra images to layer and decoupage, as shown in the picture below, which shows one of the inside pages of the card.




















The stars from gold and blue cardstock are cut with an ancient Bigz Sizzix die, which I've always found really useful, and the circle and scalloped circle dies are some original Nesties that have done me proud over the years, and are still going strong.  Do they ever wear out?

I'd like to enter this card for the following challenges:
Craft us Crazy (last one for a while) http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/: school theme
Divas by Design http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/: back to school
Clear it Out http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/: school days
Cupcake Crafts http://www.cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ : back to school
Victorine Stamps: http://www.vostamps.blogspot.com/: primary colours
Paper Sundaes http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/: decorate inside of card

Thanks so much for visiting my blog.  I always appreciate this, and for any comments you would like to leave. I'd like to come and visit your blog too: I always love to see what other folk have been up to!

xx Jill

A series of September birthdays (number 1)

Hi everyone
It's good to be back to work, and to be back to Mr Blogger, after quite a long rest.

Our lovely daughter Melanie, was 40 on Saturday, so I used my favourite ballerina Tilda image for her easel card.

The beautiful background paper is Melissa Francis "Fifth Avenue", which I spied in Dunelm Mill, and snapped up.  There is music, damask papers, ballerinas and all sorts of gorgeous goodies, so this may be my new best paper for a while.

It was quite difficult to match the shabby feel on the image, leaves and flowers with my copic markers, and I ran out of one colour mid-leaf, so had to improvise by tipping the nib of one colour on to the other!  (If you look very carefully, one of the turquoise leaves isn't quite the same colour as the others, but that's being REALLY picky: yep, that's me!)

I have added glitter to the paper edges, and have glimmered and shimmered the flowers and leaves, which are a mix of WOC, and some silk flowers from my stash.  I've now run out of the white tiny daisies (coloured pink here), which I usually get at Farnborough, and I can't find them online, so if anyone knows where I can get them, please let me know.  Thanks!






















The die-cut tag on the base of the card is one of the newer Nesties, which I got from Oyster Crafts, which have an excellent mail-order service.  The die-cut around the image is one of the Nestie labels, which I like very much and use a lot.

I plan to enter this card for the following challenges:
Anything Goes challenge: http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ - shabby chic
Everybody Art: http://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.com/ - flowers
Ladybug Crafts: http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - flowers
Shopping our Stash: http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/ - shabby chic
Crafty Boots (new challenge): http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
Die cut Dreams: http://diecutdreams.blogspot.com/ - at least 5 flowers
Pile it On: http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/ - lots of layers
Pink Gem designs: http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - colour inspiration
Crafty Purple Frog: http://craftypurplefrogchallenges.blogspot.com/ - birthdays
Crafting for all Seasons: http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/ - birthdays

Phew! Do I think that's the lot?  Thanks so much for coming to visit my blog - I really appreciate this.  I'd love to come and visit your blog too, so if you leave me a comment, I'll be along to have a nosey around. 
xx Jill

new baby card

29th July 2011
Just a quick addition to this post to say that I won a top three award at: http://pattiescreationschallenge.blogspot.com/.  I was really thrilled at this, as although I only ever make cards in my own style (including the commissions I get!), it's very nice when someone else likes the card too.  xx Jill

So sorry I haven't posted anything on my blog for a couple of weeks, but with being so very busy with Louise's show, nothing else got done. I have to tackle the dreaded h**s*w**k over the next few days and do some packing before we go away, but just time to add this card, and possibly Joe's birthday card too.

This easel card was for my step grand-daughter, which I forgot to add to my blog last month. I used Spring Breeze paper from First Edition, which has a lovely glazed finish, and coloured the beautiful WOJ image with copic markers. Quite an unusual combination of colours for me to use,: coral, mint and brown, and although the papers are really pretty, I'm not sure the colour scheme works in the copics or the flowers as well as I'd hoped.

 I love these Elizabeth Bell stamps, and I'm quite sorry she doesn't do any single stamps for WOJ any more: just a rubber plate every so often. I used coredinations plain card as usual, which you can get froThe Range in 6x6 packs or from A Maze of Memories in South Oxfordshire in 12x12 sheets. If you've not come across them before, their range of plain cardstock is extraordinary, but quite a trek to get them! I tend to only go if I'm going up that way anyway, as it's a bit far to make a special trip, so I take some dps with me and stock up with loads of colours to match. The fancy tag, and the die cut shape around the image are Nesties, and the die-cut corners are from a very old, (but very useful) Cuttlebug set.

 

The flowers are a combination of WOC and some silk flowers from my stash, all coloured with copics to match. The leaves are an MS punch from Sir Stampalot, which I use time and time again.

I'm entering the following challenges with this card:
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/  - add a flower
http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/ - use glitter
http://scrappyfrogschallenge.blogspot.com/ - flowers
http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://pattiescreationschallenge.blogspot.com/ - glitter or bling

Thanks so much for visiting my blog, and for all the comments you leave - I really enjoy reading them all.  Have fun!! 

xx Jill

sympathy card

This is a sympathy card for a friend, whose father lost his battle against cancer last week.  I know that the survival rates are higher nowadays, but this horrible disease affects a third of the population, and with everyone living longer, that figure is set to rise.  Let's all pray for a real breakthrough soon, so that the lives of sufferers and their friends and families can be changed for the better.

The decoupage is a freebie on the Craftsuprint website, and caught my eye immediately I saw it.  I printed it out several times to create more layers, and added some little pearls from The Hobby House.  I very rarely use peel-off sentiments, but I just needed something very simple and discreet, and it seemed to be right. 

Again no flowers or glitter, (just checking to see whether I have a fever or not) so I plan to make up for it with the next card!  I found some gorgeous Petaloo velvet flowers at the Newbury show (and no! they weren't a bargain), which are scrummy and vintagey (which probably isn't a real word, but you know what I mean) and very strokeable, so I'm looking for the right occasion to use those, with some delicious cream guipure lace, which I also found at the show.  They look quite suitable for a wedding, so I'm debating with myself about when to use them up.  I have a bit of a tendency to take out my favourite things, stroke them and coo over them, and put them back unused: I think I'm just a collector of beautiful craft items, but I expect most of us are really!

Thanks so much for visiting  my blog, and for any comments you leave.  You will notice that all my followers have disappeared from my side-bar, which I've tried to rectify with no success.  There seem to be plenty of others with the same problem, so I'm hoping Mr Blogger will get this sorted out soon.  Please still join as a follower if you would like too, as it shows up on my dashboard, and if I know you've left a comment I will come over and visit your blog too.  xx Jill

commissioned card for 65th birthday

A friend asked me to make this card for her mum's 65th birthday.  I don't really do LIM, so I suppose this card's about as minimal as you're likely to get from me!

All the cardstock is white pearlised, and the ribbon, leaves and flower were all coloured with copic markers.  There is dry embossing; die-cutting; (this Nestability is one of my faves) and the leaves are die-cut too (Marianne, I think, but I can't find which one).  The flower was a cream silk flower from Hobbycraft originally, and it didn't come out quite the same colour as the edging or the ribbon, although I have to say it looks similar in the picture! What do I know?

The flowers on the box are WOC, and the die-cut swirl is Marianne, from the circle frame set.  I used the waste card for the frame on the front of the box.  We crafters always hate to waste anything!

I'll be entering the following challenges with this card:
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ - birthday

http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ - die-cuts and punches
http://craft-roomchallenge.blogspot.com/ - summer birthday
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/ - lemon and lime
http://www.sewmanychallenges.com/ - dry embossing

Thanks so much for visiting my blog.  It's always a pleasure to receive comments from you, so many thanks if you'd like to do that.  Off to the Newbury show with a friend on Saturday, so hoping to catch up with all the latest on the crafting front.

xx Jill

vintage card for 60th birthday

It's been a bit of a while since I blogged, but you'll have to forgive me as I've been very busy making costumes for Louise's upcoming show mid-July.

This is a vintage-style birthday card for one of our dearest friends, Cathy, who was 60 on Wednesday.
We spent a wonderful day yesterday in London for lunch and then top seats at the Victoria Palace Theatre to see Billy Elliot.  One of my studentswas taking the part of a ballet girl, and she was brilliant.  An ex-student, whose parents are close friends of ours,  was also performing as one of the miners.  He's been in the show for six years and is Dance captain, and although he has his own dance school now and a family, he still looks (and dances) the same - if rather less hair!!  Like his dad he's follically challenged!  Another ex-student is Assisstant choreographer, and a former student of my daughter was also performing, so it was quite nostalgic for me.  We ended the day with a lovely meal; and absolutely shattered.  I can't keep up the pace like I used to - I get tired quickly, and I need to go to bed !

The card uses First Edition papers "Summer Breeze" which are truly scrummy, and an image from the Marianne decoupage "Nostalgia" set of prints. The lace and flowers are from my stash (some from Hobbycraft and others from WOC), and the little butterflies are from a Martha Stewart PATP corner punch from Wendy at Stamps and Memories.  For the "neglected tool" part of the shopping our stash challenge, I'm ashamed to say that not only had I never used the MS butterfly corner; it's also a very long time since I got out the MS edge lace punch too. (Sorry!)

You can see greater details of top and bottom in the second and third photos. The sentiment is computer generated.   How nice to have a bit of sun to take better photos!

I'm entering the following challenges with this card:
http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/ - vintage
http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/ - your own style
http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - flowers
http://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes
http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/ - using a neglected tool
http://theangelcompany.typepad.com/digi_design_house/ - pearls and lace

Thanks so much for visiting my blog, and if you'd like to leave a comment I'd really appreciate this, and will come to visit your blog too.

xx Jill

retirement card

I'd forgotten to post this card on my blog, so here goes.

This was another quick and easy card made for our friend Tony who has retired from the Civil Service.  For many years he was a Customs Officer with Joe, and he has at last taken the plunge and retired.  

I used an LOTV topper, and altered the colour slightly with copic markers (also the bp, the sentiment surround and the card candy).  The clear sentiment is also LOTV, and the little chain embellishment is an EK punch.  I think this is the third card in a row that hasn't got any flowers - I'm clearly sickening for something!!

Thanks very much for visiting.  Please feel free to leave a comment, and I'll get back to you.

xx Jill

new baby brother

A card for our little step-great-grandson Maxwell, whose new baby brother, Kobe, was born last week.

I used one of the LOTV squares for this card, which was quite quick and easy for a change.  Papers are a download from Bearly Mine, and the cardstock is Coredinations.  I used an MS punch for the little scrolled border, which I think is going to prove quite a useful purchase!  Three star-shaped buttons with a little ribbon threaded through completes this card, and again without a flower or glitter in sight.  I'm getting withdrawal symptoms though, so the next card I put on my blog will be stuffed full of them, as a girl can't go too long without flowers or bling!!

I've used this verse before and think it's perfect for the birth of a new brother.  The unusual font is very suitable for children and is Wacky Action BTN Lt.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and really appreciate any comments you'd like to leave.  xx Jill

mermaid birthday card

This cute little Tilda mermaid is for my grand-daughter's best friend, Willow, who has lots of red hair.

I used Kay Miller download paper for the background and the sentiment inside, and Magnolia stamps for the mermaid and seahorse, which were coloured with copic markers.  The plain cardstock is Coredinations from The Range.  The little fish is a charm I've had in my stash for many years, so no idea where that came from!  There is also some Stickles glitter glue of course, for a little bit of bling.  Notice that there are no flowers on this one - I'm surprised I don't feel faint from the deprivation!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog.  I really appreciate your leaving comments, and I'll visit your blog in return.  I've had a bit of trouble with google comments when I've been out visiting, so I'm very sorry if you're one of those.   I promise I tried to leave comments but it wasn't playing nicely.

xx Jill

sympathy card for stillborn baby

I think this is one of the hardest cards I've ever made.  It was commissioned to send sympathy to a couple whose baby girl was stillborn, which is really tragic.

I used pearlescent card for all the white, with embossed dots (Cuttlebug folder) and an embossed sentiment (Papermania folder).  The trellis is an EK punch, as is the punch for the little flowers, and the butterfly is from Hobbycraft.  The leaves are punched with an MS punch, from pearlescent paper coloured with copic markers.  I used Incredibly Tacky glue from WOC to attach all the elements.  The poem inside was sent by a fellow dc member, so very many thanks for that.

It just makes me so thankful that we have been so fortunate in our family.  Thank you for visiting my blog, and for any comments you'd like to leave.  xx Jill