Retirement card using my favourite Pollyanna Pickering Snowy Owl picture

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your weekend going? Yesterday we went up to London to attend a friend's 60th Birthday party. It was lovely to have a catch up. Today we are meeting our daughter in Southampton. She is starting a new job tomorrow and she wants some new work clothes. I want to treat her to a new work bag.

I can't believe this is the last day of September. I realised if I did one more blog post this month I would do better than I did in August. My friend retired last week and I decided to make her a card.

I made the card this way so that I could use one of the matching inserts. The background paper came from an american paper pad that I have had for a while. The doily's I have had for a while too. I really am trying to use things that are in my stash. 

This has to be my all time favourite Pollyanna Pickering picture of a Snowy Owl it is gorgeous. I still have a few left on the pad from Creative World of Crafts. I used my Spellbinders matting and layering dies to cut the image and the mats I used. 

This is a Spellbinders poppy die I often go back to this die even though I have other poppy dies. 

The picket fence is a Marianne die. The sentiment was cut with a Britannia die. 

I will get this in the post on Monday. It should be nice and flat for posting. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. It is October tomorrow. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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Sent with Love and Flowers

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going? We have seen some wonderful sunshine  which has been nice. I have been having a quiet time  but I am still finding it hard to craft. One day was wiped out with a massive headache. On the plus side my parents seem to have settled down with their care package and they seem a lot happier. Another piece of good news it that we became Great Aunt and Uncle this week our niece gave birth to a beautiful baby daughter. We had lots of fun in Next picking out a gift to send. All the baby things are just so cute.

I decided to make another card with the flowers I made a few weeks ago.

I used a lot of dies from John Next Door. For the background I used some inky kitchen roll that had been stuck to card. Over this I put the Gerbera Corner die cut in white.

This this the sentiment that comes with the Small Butterfly die set I cut it with the inky paper and made a shadow of gold. I do this often with die cut sentiments it helps them to stand out from the background. 

When you use the Gerbera die  you get so many flowers. I stuck two of each size together after shaping adding a pearl to the centre. I do love the small butterfly dies. 

Enjoy the rest of the week. I am still trying to finish the ten Christmas cards for my husband's work colleagues. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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Snowflake Square Christmas Card.

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going? I haven't got so much planned this week so I am hoping to make some more Christmas cards. This year I am so behind on my makes. I think we are going to have to buy some cards. At least the postage will be cheaper I do find it hard to make flat cards.

Last week we had a lovely meal with some friends at a local pub. While we were there  picked up there Christmas menu. When I saw it I realised that I would be able to use some of the images to make Christmas cards.

I have been finding it hard to craft. When I get going it is alright it is the starting that is the problem. I did treat myself to some of John Next Door's new Christmas dies. That did seem to help a bit. The background paper is the cover of the Christmas leaflet from the pub.  I cut the Snowflake Square die in white glitter card the grey mat behind and the black mat with the die set. 

I used the Poinsettia stamp set with the matching dies. The flowers were shaped with a ball tool and make. The Ivy Spray die was cut in green glitter card. 

The sentiment is one of his too cut in white and black. 

Enjoy the rest of the week. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Challenge 187 at Dream Valley Challenges

Challenge 221 at the Crafting from the Heart Challenge blog

The Rudolph Days September Challenge 

Challenge 404 at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog

The Challenge starting 15th September at the Merry Christmas Challenge blog

The S and T Challenge at the ABC Christmas Challenge blog

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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So Sorry You are Leaving

Hello My Crafty Friends and Visitors

How has your weekend been going? We had planned to get a lot of gardening done yesterday. The best laid plans, we did manage a couple of hours before the rain started in earnest. On the plus side we have booked four trips to our local theatre. It is just up the road at the secondary school it has 300 seats and they get some good comedy acts there.

Last Thursday I was lucky to have a completely free day. It was the perfect time to craft. Anyway I got a message from someone  I know who asked if I could make a leaving card to be picked up later that afternoon. I love a challenge so I agreed. I had just made a Christmas card with the Snowflake Square Die set from John Next Door and it comes with two dies that have an interesting stitched effect. So I used them to make the top two layers. I created the sentiment on the computer. 

I used the Pitcher of Daisies image which is a free image on the Beccy's Place blog. I created a background in Publisher and place the Pitcher on top. I also printed three other pitchers all the same size which meant that I could decoupage the image as I wanted. Normally I would use gel glue for decoupage but as this was a rush I used foam pads. For speed I used the precoloured image. 

This card has been picked up and given to the recipient so it is okay to share it.  Enjoy whatever you are doing this weekend. 

Happy Crafting 

Hugs Jackie

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Christmas Poinsettias

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

I hope you have had a good week and that you have something nice planned for the weekend. Though this time I don't think the weather is going to be on our side. I have helped at two felting workshops this week. My latest make is on my Felting Creations page. I am starting to feel a bit more like me again and I am getting on better with my crafting.

I am very behind with my Christmas card making. I need a design to make 10 Christmas cards for my husband to use at work.  I have been trying a few things out.

I found some white glittery card already embossed in my stash. I used the Snowflake Lattice embossing folder from Creative Expressions. The ivy was cut with a die set from Creative Expressions. 

The Poinsettias were cut with the Poinsettia die from John Next Door. For each one I cut two in red and one in green (for the leaves). Everything was shaped with a ball tool on foam. The centres were cut with a Sizzix die and I added beads for texture. 

The sentiment was cut with a Tattered Lace die. 

I don't think this the design I will use but it is another card for my stash. 

Have a great weekend. 

I would like to enter the following challenges. 

The 15th September Challenge at the Merry Christmas Challenge blog

Challenge 2 at the Merry Little Christmas Challenge blog

Challenge 167 at the Crimbo Crackers Challenge blog

Challenge 408 at the Fab 'n' Funky Challenge blog

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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New Home Card

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going? I am off to help at a wet felting workshop today. I am hoping to make a purse. I did try once before and it wasn't successful but I am up for another try.

I think I said a while back that I needed to make another new home card. Well last week I actually got round to making the one I needed.

I found a scrap of the backing paper in my stash and it just fitted the card blank. I cut an aperture with one of the Double Pierced Circle dies from Creative Expressions. 

The house die came free with an issue of Simply Cards and Papercraft. I love adding a red door and it opens. I cut thin strips of patterned paper to make the curtains and put yellow behind to look like lights. The hearts come with the house die. The column of smoke came from another die. I made the background paper with ink on shiny paper. The grass is a strip of pixie powder coloured paper. 

Word dies are so useful. 

The people I made this card for have already moved so I will be giving it to them soon. 

Enjoy the rest of the week. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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Sent with Love

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

I hope you had a good weekend and are ready to face the week ahead. This one will be a bit of a busy one for me. I will be helping with two Felting Workshops. Hopefully I will be making a purse at one of them. We visited the Royal Berkshire County Show at the Newbury Showground on Saturday. It was a good day the weather helped and there was so much to see and do. We even started our Christmas shopping. On Sunday we visited my parents who a constant source of worry. 

Last week I made a wedding card using these flowers and these colours. I had a lot of flowers  left over so I decided to made another card using them.  

As you know I have been struggling to craft. With John Next Door's Gerbera flower die you can make so many flowers so quickly in six different sizes. On the wedding card I used the smaller flowers. When the wedding is past I will share that card with you. The colours I used here are the colours of the wedding. I do think they go together very well. The background was created with one of the 3D embossing folders from Crafter's Companion. To bring out the detail I used Distress Oxide. 

This sentiment comes with the Small Butterfly die set from John Next Door. I think it is a lovely sentiment and I will be using it a lot. 

Here you can see the detail of the flowers I shaped them and added a pearl to each of the centres. The leaves were cut with the Star Flower Leaves die set from John Next Door. 

I think the butterflies made with these dies are really pretty. 

I was very pleased with how this card came out. I am not quite sure who I am going to send it to yet. I don't think it will stay in my stash for long. 

Have a great week. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Challenge 251 at Jo's Scrap Shack

Challenge 92 at the Crafty Friends Challenge blog

The Emboss Challenge at the Daring Cardmakers Challenge blog

Challenge 73 at the Crafting with Friends Challenge blog

Challenge 90 at the Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge blog

Challenge 8 at the Creative Crafters Challenge blog

Challenge 220 at the Crafting for the Heart Challenge blog

Challenge 76 at the A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge blog

Challenge 141 at the Let's Craft and Create Challenge blog

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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Moving Along with the Times (MAWTT) Challenge blog - Use ribbon on your Project

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going? I have been keeping myself busy and I have been able to do a bit of crafting. It has been good to get back to making things.

The new challenge starts today on the Moving Along with the Times (MAWTT) Challenge blog and the theme is to Use some Ribbon on your Project. We are very lucky to  have a sponsor this time, Crafty Ribbons.

Can you believe it has been over a year since our lovely daughter and son-in-law got married. Of course I had to make a special card for their anniversary. I used a Tattered Lace Oval Shutter Card die set to make the card base and cut all the mats and layers. 

We are very lucky to have been sponsored by Crafty Ribbons this time. There will be a prize. If you click on the logo you will be taken to the store. 

The topper was left over from the invitations and features the Lovebirds stamp from Clarity stamps. They were coloured with Spectrum Noir Sparkle pens. The ribbon was leftover from the wedding too. 

I made a box to hold the card. On the card and the box I used the Cape Daisy die set and the Faux Quilled leaves from Creative Expressions to decorate the box. . 

I know they liked their card. The anniversary was back in July in fact the day my dad was taken into hospital. 

Happy Craftng

I would like to enter the following challenges: 

Challenge 547 at the Cute Card Thursday Challenge blog

Challenge 397 at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge blog

Challenge 152 at the Creative Moments Challenge blog

Challenge 219 at the Crafting from the Heart Challenge blog

Challenge 52 at the Crafty Addicts Challenge blog

Challenge 9 at the Classic Design Team Challenge blog

Challenge 9 at the Crafter's Castle Challenge blog

Hugs Jackie

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Not Just Cards Challenge blog - September Challenge

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going? I got a bit confused and I didn't expect to be back so soon. The new challenge starts today  on the Not Just Cards Challenge blog and the theme is as always Anything Goes.

A few people we know have moved house recently and the free gift that came with Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine a few months ago was has been very useful.

I used a stencil and Distress Oxides to create the background. 

Why not join our challenge? They are always Anything Goes. Click on the logo and you will be taken there. 

The aperture and frame were cut with the Double Pierced circle dies by Creative Expressions. I used Pebeo gilding wax to add some interest to the frame. The house was cut with the dies that came free with the magazine. The background in the circle is one I created with ink and surgical spirit on shiny card. 

I added gilding wax to the sentiment. 

This was the first new home card that was sent out. In fact I should really make another one soon. 

Enjoy the rest of the week. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The September Card Challenge at the Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge blog

Challenge 141 at the Let's Craft and Create Challenge blog

The Dies and or Punches Challenge at the Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge blog

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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Winter Scene Christmas Card

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors 

How have you all been? We had a lovely holiday in Sorrento in Italy. We have been before and we managed to do some things we didn't do last time like visit Vesuvius and the Almafi Coast. We also revisited some favourites like Pompeii and Herculaneum. When I have sorted my photos I will add some to one of my blog posts. When we got back there was a brief crisis with my parents threatening to stop their care but for the time being that is over. With so much going on I am easing myself back into blogging gently. 

I am sharing  Christmas card I made with  selection of festive dies from Creative Expressions. It is quite a while since I have bought any craft supplies I am trying to use what I have. When I checked I have had these dies for two years. 

I do like how this card turned out and I might make a few more like this one. I am very behind with my Christmas card making. I have been finding it very hard to craft lately. 

I enjoy  creating these cards with Santa flying across the sky. 

I also love using white glitter card for snow. I used some ribbon to add the sentiment. 

Thank you for taking time to visit my blog. I will try to get into the swing of visiting and commenting again. I am very appreciative of all the patience you have shown me. 

Enjoy the rest of the week. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

CHNC challenge 402

Challenge 334 at Pixie's Snippets Playground

Challenge 219 at the Crafting from the Heart Challenge blog

The September Challenge at the Crafting by Designs Challenge blog

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

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