John Next Door Summer Box Kit

 Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your weekend going? The weather has been beautiful so far, I do hope it continues. My hand is healing okay. I have had some issues arranging to have the stitches removed,  not helped by the fact they were due out on Easter Sunday. 

Back in March I made three cards for the John Next Door Summer Box kit. My brief was to make floral cards and to provide step by step instructions with photos for one of the cards. I will have to buy a copy of the magazine to see how the article turned out. 

For this card I use one of my Deco Frame dies. The papers and the flowers are from the papers in the kit. I was able to decoupages the flowers to give some dimension. 

In the background of this card you can see a lattice that was cut with a die three times. All the flowers were made with the dies that came from the kit. I used John Next Door Ivy dies too. The sentiment was made with some of the stamps in the kit. 

For this card I used the patterned papers and the stamps from the kit. I stamped the flowers three times so they could be decoupaged. This is the card I did the step by step for. I had made another card but I had misread the brief. All the card I used was Linen Card they do have some beautiful colours. 

There are some lovely elements in the kit. I didn't really scratch the possibilities. There are some fantastic examples from the whole team in the Crafting with John Next Door, Craft Artist, Presscut, Two Jays and More Facebook Group. 

I hope that you have a very Happy Easter

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Not Just Cards Challenge Blog - May Challenge - Anything Goes

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

Here we are at the beginning of another week. I hope you are all okay. It was my birthday at the weekend. I did have a lovely day. It strange how the simple things now seem to be so important. I was in touch with all the people that I care most about and that is what matters. We have also been doing an online Murder Mystery and the interrogation of the suspects was on Saturday evening.

Today the May challenge starts at the Not Just Cards Challenge blog and the theme is Anything Goes.

I was asked by a friend to make a gift bag and card for a one of their friends whose 50th Birthday Party they had been invited to. I made the gift bag to match the packaging on the gift that had been purchased. The papers I used are from an old set from Do-Crafts. The decoupage was in the set too. The card stock I used came from Anna Marie designs. I bought some 12" x 24" card from them and it is very useful for larger projects. It was nice to have something other than a card to share for the Not Just Cards Challenge blog. 

Why not come and join in with our challenge. Click on the logo and you will be taken there. 

Here is the card that I made to match the bag and of course the present. I used the same paper set. I have had the papers for ages. It was good to use them. I used a mix for dies to personalise the card and the gift bag. 

This is the picture our daughter drew for my birthday. I am a huge Star Trek fan. We knew her hubby was a keeper when he wanted to come to Destination Star Trek with us. 

In the end the party was cancelled and these things had to be posted. As the plans for our friends and our plans had changed we invited our friends round for a meal and that is the last time we saw them. Of course we have kept in touch with Zoom chats. It is just isn't the same. 

I would like to enter the following challenges. 

Stay safe and take care. 

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Beccy's Place - Cherry Blossom Digital Stamps part 2

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How are you getting on? Everything is so strange. I am so glad that I have a very consuming hobby. My husband is now working from home. He works on the PC upstairs  so I try to stay out of the way.

Here are the other cards that I made for the released of the Cherry Blossom Digital Stamp set from Beccy's Place. I was featured on the blog the other day.  The following cards are all DL cards.

The background for this one was made on the computer. I changed the colour of the sentiment. The image itself was coloured with Promarkers. 

This is the set of images you receive in the Cherry Blossom set there is line art too. If you click on the image you will be taken to the store. 

For this card I put the image on a blue background. This time I printed the image twice. This way after colouring with my Promarkers I was able to Decoupages some of the blooms. I added Candi to the corners. 

This is a bonus card. I have been corresponding with my cousin who lost both of her parents recently. I was asked to send her some documents. I needed a quick card so I used the pre-coloured image and created a background on the computer. The sentiment came from another of Beccy's sets.

There you have it three cards. I think I will be using these images a lot they are so pretty. 

I hope you stay safe and well. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge blog - January Challenge - Anything Goes

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

Firstly I would like to wish you a very Happy New Year. I hope all was well  for  you over the Christmas period. It can be a strange time of year for many.

Being the first of the month the brand new challenge starts on the Crafts Galore Encore Challenge blog and the theme is the ever popular Anything Goes. This time the wonderful sponsor is Sparkle N Sprinkle. 

I used the Double Pierced Rectangles from Creative Expressions to make all the mats and layers. 

There are many wonderful image and craft supplies in the store. Click on the logo and you will be taken there. 

I used the Pansies-Purple Digital Stamp set designed by Fred She Said and available HERE at Sparkle and Sprinkle.   I made a background on the computer. and placed the sentiment and the flowers below. I printed two more sets of the flowers and leaves so they they could be decoupaged. I coloured the flowers and leaves with Promarkers. 

This is a brilliant sentiment. I think I will be using is a lot. 

I am sure I will need to use this card some time this year you never know what is ahead of you. 

Wishing you all the best

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Challenge 21 at the Mix it Up Challenge blog

Challenge 30 at the Love to Craft Challenge blog

Challenge 117 at the Love to Scrap Challenge blog

Challenge 83 at the A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge blog

The January Challenge at the Color It Create It Show It Off Challenge blog

Week 1 at the Digi Choosday Crafting Challenge

The 1st of January Challenge at the Through the Craft Room Door Challenge blog

The January Challenge at the A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge blog

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Robin Christmas card

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is your week going? I am working hard at the wedding makes.  Tomorrow I will be helping at another Felting workshop. I hope I get to make another picture.

I was really lucky and I won an Amy Designs die from the Feeling of Christmas range called Ice Crystal Circle in a Christmas Facebook group. I just had to make a card with the die.

The backing paper I have had in my stash for a long time. I cut the die and then realised I could use the cut out from the paper. That way less was wasted. 

I found a robin decoupage in my stash. He look cute sat in the middle of the die cut. 

Enjoy the rest of the week. 

I would like to enter the following challenges: 

Challenge 391 at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog

The June Rudolph Days Challenge 

Challenge 32 at the Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge blog

Challenge 92 at Scrapy Land Challenges

Challenge 26 at the Merry Christmas Challenge blog

Challenge 70 at the Crafting with Friends Challenge blog

Challenge 212 at the Crafting from the Heart Challenge blog

Challenge 400 at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges 

Challenge 52 at a Snowflakes Promise Challenge blog

The Get Ready for Christmas Challenge at the Crafting by Designs Challenge blog

Challenge 369 at Crafty Creations Challenges

Challenge 70 at the A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge blog

Challenge 161 at the Crimbo Crackers Challenge blog

Happy Crafting 

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Crafts Galore Encore - June Challenge - Anything Goes

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How has your week been? Being half term there are no exams so I have had the week to get ahead with my Design Team makes. I have two more weeks of exams and then it starts all over again in September.

Being the first of the month (I can't believe it is June already) the new challenge starts on the Crafts Galore Encore Challenge blog and the theme is always Anything Goes. The sponsor this time is Sparkle 'N' Sprinkle. 

I made this card for my Mother-in-law she loves poppies. The aperture was cut with the Double Pierced Circle dies from Creative Expressions. The lace was in my stash. 

There are many wonderful image in the store from a few different designers it is well worth a look. If you click on the logo you will be taken to the store. 

I used the single poppy from the Poppies Digital stamp set by Beccy Muir which is available HERE. 

On the computer I created a background and I used the pre-coloured poppy that way I can give the image a transparent background. I was able to flip the poppy so I could build up this bunch. I printed the image three times so that I could decoupage the blooms. 

The sentiment came from the same set. 

I am sure my Mother-in-law will love this card. This year she will be 91. Here birthday is in just a few weeks time. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Challenge 48 at the Crafty Girls Creations Challenge blog

Challenge 69 at the A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge blog

The June Challenge at the Always Happy Birthday Challenge blog

The June Challenge at Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge blog

Challenge 23 at the Love to Craft Challenge blog

Challenge 298 at the QKR Stampede Challenge blog

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Moving Along with the Times (MAWTT) - The theme is Food and or Drink

Hello My Crafty Blog Friends and Visitors

How is everyone. Well Easter really isn't far away. Today our good old boiler is being serviced I am not quite sure how it keeps going. It is Good Friday tomorrow. We are hoping to pop into Southampton to see the Passion Play in  Guildhall Square (which is where my husband works).

I must get on with the matter in hand the new challenge starts on the Moving Along with the Times (MAWTT) challenge blog and the theme this time is Food and or drink.

This card started with the circle mats they were left over after cutting an aperture in another card and they were just too good to waste. The paper came from my stash. 

I was looking through my drawers of craft bits and I came across some Forever Friends decoupage sheets and this image with the fabulous cake. I cut other strawberries from the sheet to add to the card. I haven't done any decoupage for a long time. 

Have a great day. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Pink with a Twist Challenge at the Crafting by Designs Challenge blog

Challenge 147 at the Inspiration Destination Challenge blog

Challenge 162 at the Crafty Girls Corner Challenge blog

Challenge 64 at the A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge blog

Challenge 322 at Pixie's Snippets Playground

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Moving Along with the Times (MAWTT) Challenge blog - theme Things that Fly

Hi My Crafty Blogs Friends

I hope your week is going well. We are still on holiday. I did look at the weather forecast before we went it promises to be very hot and sunny. Just right for a bit of relaxing.

The new challenge starts today on the Moving Along with the Times (MAWTT) Challenge blogs and the theme is Things that Fly. So not just birds but I have chosen to use a robin.

I just adore robins on Christmas cards. The background was just created with some papers from my stash. 

I found a robin decoupage sheet in my Christmas stash. It is ages since I have done any decoupage. I cut the mats with some Tonic Circle dies I have had them for ages they are very useful. 

The sentiment was cut with one of the Sue Wilson Festive dies I can't remember from which release. 

Before we went on holiday I treated myself to this book with the intention of reading it while we are away. I don't actually read much so this is a bit of a challenge for me. I will let you know how I get on when we get back. 

Enjoy the rest of the week. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Creative Artiste Challenge Blog - Anything Goes sponsor Things to Alter

Hi My Crafty Blog Friends

How has your week been? As you know  I am back to work and my timetable has been tweaked I am now in one class with one child ( I do work with groups as well) someone realised that I couldn't do two jobs at the same time as my previous timetable stated. The change has made my week a lot easier.

The new challenge starts today on the Creative Artiste Challenge blog the theme is Anything Goes (but it does have to be a mixed media item). The sponsor this time is Things to Alter.

I have been practising making flowers for our daughter' s wedding ( you can read about our progress here). This time I decided to make a vase to put some of the flowers in this was just for fun not for the wedding. 

This is our sponsor this time. I was sent lots of lovely embellishments to use. 

I thought you might like to see how the project started out it is just a pink plastic picnic cup. I used a pretty tissue paper and some decoupage glue to cover the cup. 

These are Kusudama flowers they are made by folding paper and gluing sections together. I have written instructions on how to make them just click on this link. 

I added some Babies Breath decorations to the flowers. 

I bought this lace at a craft fair a little while ago it is so pretty. The leaves you can just see were cut out of fabric with one of my Sizzix Bigz dies. I was able to cut several layers at the same time. 

I have to admit that when the embellishments arrived from Things to Alter I had nearly finished this project but I found lots of these lovely wooden shapes and the fitted round the bottom of the cup. 

This does look rather pretty sitting  on the side and it gave me lots more practice with making the flowers. 

I would like to enter Challenge 232 at the Brown Sugar Challenge Blog, Challenge 34 at the Crafting with Friends Challenge blog and the first challenge of the year at the Crafty Catz Challenge Blog. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Please follow my blog with Bloglovin

Creative Artiste - Challenge 19 Anything Goes

Hi My Crafty Blog Friends

I hope you have a had a good week and that you have something nice planned for the weekend. We will mostly catching up with jobs around the house and garden.

The first Friday in the month see the start of a new challenge on the Creative Artiste Challenge blog the theme is Anything Goes and the sponsor is The Dusty Attic.

I had had this little heart shaped box in my stash for ages. I was given it free when I bought some jewellery as a leaving present.

I started painting the box all over with Gesso. It isn't necessary to do this but it does make the colours of the tissue paper brighter. Then I decoupaged the box with cut up tissue paper and decoupage glue applied with a brush. The lace was in my stash. 

The Dusty Attic are based in Australia and they make laser cut creations and embellishments. They will ship overseas. If you click on the logo you will be taken to the store. 

I made the flower with the Spellbinders Build a Sunflower die set. I used Distress inks to colour the petals. The doily was created with another Spellbinder die. The butterfly was made with a Sue Wilson die. 

I was very pleased with how this box turned out. 

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend. 

I would like to enter Challenge 42 at the Crafting Musketeers Challenge Blog , Challenge 27 at Craft Girls Creations and Challenge 29 at the Crafting with Friends Challenge Blog. 

Happy Crafting

Hugs Jackie

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Alphabet Challenge - Letter M for Mythical

Hi My Crafty Blog Friends

Happy Friday. Well tomorrow we go on holiday for just a week. We are taking a cruise to Norway I am very excited to see a country I have never been to before. Cruising is so easy when you live near Southampton the boat is just a short taxi ride away. As soon as you board your holiday starts.

The new challenge starts today on the Alphabet Challenge blog the letter is M and the theme is Mythical.

I spotted these Unicorns in a Hobbycraft store and they were such a good price I couldn't resist. Especially because I couldn't get unicorns out of my head when I was thinking of the theme Mythical.

This is how they look before they are decorated. I kept dropping one of them on the floor so it's horn became a little weak. 

Now I do like to paint these types of figures with white Gesso. I don't think it is entirely necessary I just find it makes the colours in the tissue paper more vibrant. It is all down to personal choice. 

I covered the unicorn in small pieces of tissue paper with a specialist Decoupage glue and a brush, As I was doing this I was able to reinforce the horn that had been damaged. 

A punch was used to make the flowers for the mane. The centres to the flowers were created with Cosmic Shimmer White Pearl PVA glue. I used Rangers Stickles glitter glue on the horn to make it sparkly. 

I wanted the other unicorn to look different. I used a more delicately patterned tissue paper. 

This time I used a punch to punch out the butterflies. 

I quite enjoyed making these. I have no idea what I am going to do with them now though. 

At the beginning of the week I set myself a challenge to have made 50 Christmas cards by the time we go away. I am very happy to report that I have made 53 altogether. In the last couple of days I have made 19. I am not so worried about finishing them now they will have to be done in batches. 

Enjoy the weekend. 

Happy Crafting 

Hugs Jackie

Follow my blog with Bloglovin