Easel Card with Small Flowers and Small Leaves

 Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going? I have hurt my back which has slowed me down quite a bit. I hope it will be better by the weekend. We are planning to see our daughter to try to get their dog to know us a bit better. So far this week I haven't managed to do much crafting. I am waiting for some dies to come then I will be making a few more bits for John. I must say it was nice seeing my cards on TV at the weekend. 

I do like making easel cards. You really do have to be careful who you send them to.  I usually stick to other crafters as they know to display them. I cut two of the Firth Park larger dies and I put them together to make a square. Then I threaded ribbon through the loops. I cut the ribbon longer than I needed. Then on the back the ribbon can be glued back on itself to give a neat finish. I used one of the Stencil sentiment dies to cut the word friend into the tag that I used as a stopper. 

Here is the card being shown of TV. I paused the programme on the computer and took a screen shot. That is why there is a big circle in the middle. 

I might make a card like this for someone special it will be easy to change the sentiment. 

Enjoy the rest of the week. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

April Rudolph Days Challenge - Cute Robin

 Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

I hope that you had a good weekend. On Saturday I actually planted some seeds. I just have to remember to keep them watered. I am hoping the large tomato seeds, I saved from last year, germinate. Those big tomatoes were so delicious. Sunday of course was the launch of John Lockwood's, aka John Next Door, new dies the ones I made some samples for. 

This is another card made with the Firth Park Tag dies it is not one of the samples I sent in. I liked putting the main die together to make a square. I also enjoyed threading ribbon through the loops. The thin ribbon that you get in clothes works perfectly. 

I just wanted to see if you could make a Christmas card. 

The robin came from an old card. I cut it with the offset square die that comes with the set. This image was great as it came with a sentiment. 

I think this works well as a design for Christmas. I think I will make a few more. Those tag dies are going to be very useful. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The April Rudolph Days Challenge 

Have a great week. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

John Next Door - Limited Edition Mandala kit - Launch Day

 Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going?  Hopefully the weather will be a bit nicer today. So we should be able to get out for a walk. 

Today is the launch day for the John Next Door Limited Edition Mandala kit. John will be on Hochanda at 3:00pm. I have a feeling this set will be popular. If you visit the Crafting with John Next Door Facebook group , which you can do HERE, there are many examples of how the dies can be used. 

Here is my final card to share with you. I used the kit to decorate a pop-up box card. The instructions to make these are HERE. 

I realised that the stamped mandala could be cut out with the die. Happy Days. I used papers, sentiments and ribbons to finish this card. I have to say that this was Sam's favourite of the samples I sent in. 

Here is a bonus card. When I have been working on projects there are usually lots of leftovers. I used strips of paper and ribbons to make the background. I had stamped and cut out too many mandalas as well as a sentiment. They all went together to make this card. 

Don't forget to watch John on Hochanda. I am sure to be watching. 

Enjoy your day

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

John Next Door - Limited Edition Mandala Kit - Day 3

 Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How are we all doing? Not much has happened since yesterday. Though we did get some post and this included  quite a few things we need to sort out for my parents. My dad has got worse and he needs over night care now.  So I need to apply to get his Attendance Allowance increased. The form has taken 19 days to get here. When I send it back it is going to go registered. 

Here is another of the cards I made with the Limited Edition Mandala kit that will be released tomorrow on Hochanda. This one has a splash of colour. 

I used the outer die from the mandala to cut an aperture in the black card. Then I stamped and heat embossed the black card. I raised this layer up on large foam pads. I choose one of the patterned papers that come in the kit. I used copper card and black card to cut out the mandala and this was stuck to the patterned paper which is below the black heat embossed sheet. I used some ribbon to enhance the design. 

Have a good day. I think it is going to be a stay home and craft kind of a day. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

John Next Door - Mandala Special Edition Kit - Day 2

 Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

I hope you had a good day yesterday. We had a walk and we did our shopping after. I did spend the rest of the afternoon making cards. 

Here is another of the cards that I made with the John Next Door Limited Edition Mandala kit. The kit has dies, stamps, ribbons and papers. 

For this card I used all of the dies. Did you spot the corner dies? Some of the paper and one of the stamps. I used the mandala stamp to make a background. This is a larger card it is 7" x 7". For the stamping I use Izink white ink and a transparent Izink embossing powder. I also used some of the ribbon. 

I will be back tomorrow with another card. I enjoyed using this kit. It is available on Thursday from Hochanda. 

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Challenge #83 at the Crafts Galore Encore Challenge blog - Anything Goes - Sponsor SheepSki Designs

 Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

🥂 Happy New Year 2021 🍾

Let's Hope it is a good one. 

Being the first of the month the new challenge has started at the Crafts Galore Encore Challenge blog. The theme is Anything Goes and the sponsor is Sheepski Designs. 

I used lots of John Next Door dies to make this card. I used the Foston die set to make the background., Over the top I put some Leafty Flourishes and some tiny butterflies. 

There are many wonderful images is the store. Click on the logo and you will be taken there. 

This image is called Giant Daises and it is available HERE. I made a background on the computer and I layered the PNG image over the top. The image was coloured with my Faber Castell Polychromo colouring pencils. Aren't these gnomes just so cute? 

This is a cute little card to start the year. I have cut back on my Design Team work. So I am not sure how often I will be posting. I do have another opportunity that has presented itself. If you look at my review of last year the news is buried in there. 

Happy New Year!

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Tranquil Thinking of You Card

 Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors 

How is your week going? I had a bad day yesterday for most of the day I had trouble with a headache that left me feeling quite poorly. Then in the evening we had some bad news from my sister. I know things will be sorted but I was rather upset. I am having coffee with a friend today and I am feeling a lot better. 

I made a card for another friend of ours who is in hospital. He went in for a back operation about a month ago and he has been left needing a wheelchair. He is on the list to go to a rehabilitation unit but he caught pneumonia and he is not well enough to go there yet. Obviously we can't visit so I will be sending a few cards. 

I have a paper pad from The Works this is where the background paper came from. The ribbon was in my stash. 

This image came from an old card. I found the image first and that set the tone of the card. 

I didn't feel that Get Well Soon was an appropriate sentiment. Thinking of you seemed to be the right thing to say.  

I know he liked this card. He is feeling a bit better as we are getting more WhatsApp messages. He has a long recovery ahead of him. 

I hope that the rest of the week is kind to you. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

I Just Love Robins on Christmas Cards

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How has your week been? Lockdown is certainly changing. We will have to  wait and see what the effect will be. Yesterday my hubby took a days leave and we went to Hinton Ampner a National Trust property quite near to where we live. We had to pre-book and we had a timed slot. It is just so nice to be able to walk round somewhere a bit different. 

As for me. I seem to be getting busier. It is difficult to find the time to make cards and blogging is going on the back burner a bit. Maybe when we aren't looking after the bunnies I will have a bit more time for both. 

When I print digi images I usually print at least two copies in case I go wrong when I am colouring. Recently I rounded up the spare images so that I could practice colouring with my pencils. 

The patterned paper and the ribbon were in my stash. 

This is  image no 118 Winter Robin and it is available HERE from Sheepski Designs.  The image was coloured with my Prismacolor pencils. The sentiment was cut with a Crafter's Companion die. 

Here is another card for my Christmas stash. I will be colouring some more images with my pencils. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The June Challenge at the Rudolph Days Challenge

Challenge 495 at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge

Challenge 74 at the Holly and the Ivy Christmas Challenge blog

Challenge 23 at the Merry Little Christmas Challenge blog

Have a good weekend. 

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Winter Wonderland Challenge Blog - June Challenge - Christmas Decorations and a Design Team Call

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How has your week been? There is a lot going on in the world out there. We haven't really changed what we are doing. Though this weekend we are going to see the house that our daughter and son-in-law are in the process of buying. We will be outside at all times and at a safe distance of course. It will be nice to see the house. Everything is progressing well with their move. 

The new challenge starts today at the the Winter Wonderland Challenge Blog and the theme is Christmas Decorations. The sponsor of the challenge is the fantastic Beccy Muir from Beccy's Place.  We are also having a Design Team call details are on the blog. 

I have a close association with Beccy being one of her blog contributors. This meant that I had a few images that I could use on my card. The trouble was they were all so lovely it was hard to choose. 

I found a gift bag which had a fantastic pattern on it. I cut it up and used this for the mat behind the image. I added a tartan and gold ribbon as well. 

There are so many wonderful images and word sets in the store. Click on the logo and you will be taken there.

This is the Golden Bell Digital image set and it is available HERE.  I used the precoloured image and a sentiment that came with the set. I placed them onto a background I had made on the computer. I cut the image and it's mats with the Double Pierced Square dies from Creative Expressions. 

I have made 60 Christmas cards now. That is not bad when we are nearly half way through the year. I wonder how things will be when we get to Christmas. 

I would like to enter the following challenges: 

Challenge 492 at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog

The June Challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenges 

I hope you have a good weekend. 

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge 76 - June 2020 - Anything Goes

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

I am back again, I have  two blog posts today. Well it is the first of the month and lots of challenges are starting. I can't really believe we have got to June we have had such a strange year. 

Here is my Crafts Galore Encore Challenge blog card. Challenge 76 has started the theme is Anything Goes. Our fabulous sponsor is Polkadoodles and there is a prize. So it is worth entering. 

The first thing I did was to colour the image. Then I found some packing with a pattern I liked that suited the image. I added two ribbons to the design. I liked the way they looked together. 

There are so many wonderful images in the store. Click on the logo and you will be taken there. 

I used the Earlie Hedgehog Dandelion - Fuzzypuffs digi stamp which is available HERE. I created a background on the computer I added the image on top. I printed onto Neenah card stock and I coloured the image with Promarkers. The image and it's mats were cut with the Double Pierced Square dies from Creative Expressions.  I have made a few Feel Better cards lately.  The Banner die and the sentiment are Crafter's Companion dies. 

I am sure this cute little card would cheer someone up. I do have a cousin who likes hedgehogs very much. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Challenge 47 at the Love to Craft Challenge Blog (LTCCB)

Challenge 39 at the 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge blog

Challenge 39 at the Crafty Animals Challenge blog

Challenge 51 at Crafting Happiness Challenges

The June Challenge (no 6) at the A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge Blog

The June Challenge at the Color It Create It Show it Off Challenge blog

Have a good week. 

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Beccy's Place - Encore Week - Bird Song

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going? My hubby is still working at home. We are still shopping for a few people. I am still doodling. Things in the garden are coming along nicely. Soon we will be able to have lettuce in our sandwiches. I have just planted some potatoes. I don't usually do things like this but I figured I would be home to look after them this year. I can't see us going on holiday at all.

This is Encore week at Beccy's Place the set of images I was sent to use was the Bird Song set. I loved using these images. They came in very useful for cards I needed to make. Today, being one of Beccy's Blog Contributors, I am featured on the Blog. As you can see HERE. 

I love the main image just as it was. I added some extra papers and some die cuts using the Leafy Flourish die set from the John Next Door range. The sentiment is one of his dies too. 

This is the Bird Song set it is gorgeous and is available HERE. 

I created a background on the computer for the bird silhouette. The sentiment comes with the set. That ribbon has been in my stash for ages but it looks great here.  

Here is the main image again on a much simpler card. It does work well. 

Finally another card with the silhouette. I added a sentiment from another of Beccy's set and the music notes were die cut. There is that ribbon again. 

There are still images from the set I haven't used. I think I will be using this set a lot. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Birds of a Feather Challenge at the Daring Cardmakers Challenge blog

Enjoy the rest of your week

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Pretty Daffodil Easter Card

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How are you doing? I hope everything is well with you. Life is going on much the same for us as it has for the last few weeks. I am so grateful that we have a garden to enjoy, that my hubby has work and that I have a hobby. We are eating well. I have done so much cooking and I am really rather enjoying it. Also I am appreciating the technolgy that keeps us in touch with our loved ones. There are so many people out there doing so much to help us all.

I have been finding it difficult to craft. When I wrote my Easter cards I found that I was two short. So yesterday I settled down and made two Easter cards with the same design. It did help having something to focus on.

I used papers that were left over from our Daughter and Son-in-law's wedding which was three years ago in July. I did over buy everything I needed it would have been so bad to run out of anything

All the dies I used are from Creative Expressions. It was so nice to use the daffodil dies again. The oval dies come from the middle of another die set. I have found them to be so useful. I hunted through the Creative Expressions box of dies until I found a bow die. 

I think this is the only die that I have that makes an Easter Greeting. 

I made two cards with the same design. All the cards that are left can be hand delivered. The plan is to work their delivery into our daily walks. 

I can't believe that it is Easter at the weekend. 

I would like to enter the following challenges: 

The April Challenge at Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge

Challenge 206 at the Crafty Gals Corner Challenge blog

Anything Goes Challenge 7th April at the Through the Craft Room Door Challenge blog

Stay safe and well

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Poinsettia decorated Christmas Box

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How was your weekend? On Saturday we visited my parents and significantly managed to get them to agree to have a live in carer. I just have to get that sorted now. We followed this by meeting up, for a Christmas meal, with our daughter, son-in-law and his parents. The venue was the Heron on the Lake in Fleet and they do a very good festive meal. On Sunday we caught up on lots of Christmas jobs. I have felt like I have been chasing my tail since we came back from holiday.

My mother-in-law loves good quality dark chocolate (much like me). We usually buy her several bars of chocolate and I make a box for them. She uses the boxes I make for many different things.

I do like making boxes. Using a scoring board makes this very easy. Before I make the box up I cut the lattice into the card stock and stick some acetate behind. 

The Poinsettias were made with dies from the John Next Door range. I added a ribbon to make the box more festive. 

I know my mother-in-law will love this box. I wonder what she will use it for afterwards. 

We are doing something very exciting tomorrow. With friends we  are going  to see Michael Bublé

at the O2 in London. Our travel plans have been affected by the strikes but that is all sorted now. I will let you know how we get on. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Challenge 247 at the Crafty Cardmakers Challenge Blog

Challenge 73 at the International Art & Soul Challenge blog

Have a great week

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

A New Home Card

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How has your week been? I hope you have something nice planned for the weekend. We are spending Saturday with our son-in-law's parents. They  have bought us tickets to see a show at the theatre in Newbury. During the day we are all going to the Newbury County Show. It should be a good day. If you are wondering where our daughter and son-in-law will be, well they are on holiday in New York. They come back on Sunday.

Some time back our daughter asked me to make a New Home for one of her work colleagues. I didn't have much time to make the card. So I turned to my Hunkydory Book of images and I found a brilliant one.

I had some paper left over from a Hunkydory paper pad which nicely matched the green in the image. 

This was such a great image to use. 

These charms came from The Works I just couldn't resist them. 

I was pleased with how this card came together. 

Have a great weekend

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin