Nirvana........

Another Marion Smith Collection for you today.

Jones craft have told me that this range is the top selling collection, I can see why. It crosses both the feminine and masculine divide. As in there is something to please everyone in these papers.

The colours are a dream, and I've added a little stamping to the pages using the Hampton Arts set of keys, locks and crowns.

Don't you just love the Junque bicycle on the front cover!! I have to thank Hels Sheridan for the knob as she gave it to me, and I've been waiting for the right project to put it on.

I've added a little Frayed Burlap Distress Ink to the resin flower. I just used a bit of Cut and Dry and rubbed it on. Brilliant!!

I decided to only use the papers from the collection for the decorating, along with a few embellshments. So everything you see is all on the papers ready for you to cut out.

There's lots of room to add more photographs and bits and pieces. The inspiration for this book came from the two shaped panels that are already on the paper.

If you visit the Jones Craft Facebook page you will see lots more inspiration from the other DT members.

Finally can I wish you all a very happy new year. Whatever this year has been for you I wish a brighter, happier, healthier and more prosperious year in 2014

and more importantly a craftier year ahead

I'll still be here so I hope you will be too

much love

P xx 

Marion Smith.........

DT January Project for Jones Crafts.
Hello again bloggers, nice to be back after a very lovely Christmas. A lovely peaceful and drama free time spent with all my family. YAY!! That makes a change for me. I became very ill on Boxing Day last year and was then poorly for a month!!
So here I am again and this time I've been so lucky to get to play with the new Marion Smith ranges supplied by Jones Crafts. The collection I've used here is Garment District and it's sooooo good.
I've used a technique called paper blocking, you may remember I used this technique on a large canvas a while ago. To make the cut papers stand out a bit more I've edged each piece with dark brown ink. It helps to layout your pieces first to make sure they all look ok.
The embellishments are also from Marion Smith and are from the Junque Gems range.

You all know how I love these sewing themed papers and a bit of cutting out.

Now you need to head on over to the Jones Craft Facebook page as they have another giveaway for you.

Christmas Wishes.....

To one and all. Sending a very big thank you to all my friends and followers for your friendship and amazing comments throughout this year.
I really hope I have been able to inspire you in your own crafting journey and hope to continue to do so in the coming year.
Have a really good Christmas and I'll be back very soon with my January projects for Jones Craft and more IndigoBlu designs for you.
It will also be time for another giveaway I think!!

So happy Christmas and a very happy 2014 to you all

P xx

IndigoBlu Challenge Card.......

It's the 21st of the month which means......... It's the IndigoBlu Challenge and this months theme is ....  
                                          "Pick Your Most Favourite Stamp Of The Year"
Now how do I do that?????  How do you pick one stamp out of all those scrummy choices. Well I have cheated slightly. Only a little bit, but I've used two. I have picked the Vintage Flourish stamp as my most favourite but I couldn't resist using the Dinkie Butterfly too.
I've chosen to do the "Ombre" effect on this card, it seems to be very big at the moment. I know it has been used in the Craft Stamper magazine lately.

The butterfly I stamped twice onto acetate with Stazon Ink and cut them out. Then I used alcohol inks on the reverse of just one of them. I stuck the bodies together and shaped the wings a little. A touch of liquid pearls on the flourish just gave a finishing touch.

I hope you like this design, I enjoyed making it. Now if you would like to see what the other DT members have designed just pop along to the IndigoBlu Challenge Blog. While your there why not enter the next challenge. Here is a pic of the amazing prize you could win.  

A Couture Creation.....

Well what do you think then????? As I said before it's not quite finished yet. I still need to complete the left side section, was thinking of putting another mannequin in there but not totally decided yet. I have been rummaging all through my bits and bobs to chose the right things to embellish with.
These Graphic45 papers are just fab. This era isn't usually my thing but this Kaisercraft Advent Box is ideal for turning into a "Ladies Bits and Bobs " Box.

We had a fabulous day, lots of fun, lots of cake and great friends.

I decided to lay out a few trinkets on the top of the box

as if they were there ready to put away. 

Not Finished Yet.....

Well thank you for all of you how came back to visit today, but I'm sorry to disappoint you. My project was nowhere near finished. Probably something to do with having tooooo much fun with Darren Saxton and Hels Sheridan and not concentrating on the job.
It didn't help being enticed by Red Velvet cake, Lemon Drizzle Cake, Mince Pies, Christmas Biscuits and choccies. How I lost half a pound at tonight's weigh in ill never know!!
Anyway, back to the project..... I've been beavering away today and it's almost there. I need another mannequin and do you think I can find where I've put them. I knew exactly where they were until I tidied up the other day.
So I will put piccies up tomorrow to show you how far I've got with it. Have to say also that the three of us went totally off piste, so to speak, and didn't follow the fabulous design that Clare had done. We went off on a different thread.
Darren has used some of the Marion Smith papers and done a masculine version. I'll put a photo on here when he's finished it but I have to say what a great job he's done and I think we've got him totally addicted to crafting. He didn't want to go home because he hadn't finished it.

Can I also mention you lovely people have only got a few days left to enter this months IndigoBlu challenge. It's lest we forget, so don't forget to have a go.
See you tomorrow
P xx

A Crafty Outing....

I am looking forward to a nice day out on Sunday. A crafty day, where I will be making not tutoring for a change.
I will be joining lots of ladies on a Crafty Bunch Workshop over in Telford. I will be there along with two other Jones Crafts DT members and the wonderful Darren Saxton who keeps us all under control and supplies us with our DT pack goodies, so we have to keep him happy at all times. Cake usually does it!!
Myself and the talented Hels Sheridan will be making the project designed and taught by Clare Charvill for The Crafty Bunch. Susan Jones, the lovely owner of the store, requested that the Kaisercraft Advent Box be designed to be used for something other than Christmas. So that is what we are doing and using the Graphic45 Couture Collection of papers.
It's so nice to go to a workshop and just join in the fun and play all day sometimes. So if you want to call back on Monday I will show u some pics of what I make.

If you want to to join in the latest giveaway by Jones Craft all you need to do is head over to the Jones Craft Facebook page and like the page and then guess how many buttons are in the glass.

Have a good weekend and I'll see you on Monday
P xx

All Rolled Up.....

I have a love of making flowers for my cards, scrap pages and projects. One of the ways I like is to punch circles and cut them into spirals. If you ink the outer edge it gives a lovely effect.
Another of my likes are the Spellbinder Bitty Blossoms Die. Again they roll up to make the flowers. It really helps to have a quilling tool in your kit, it does make life a bit easier. Dont panic if you haven't got one because you can always use your tweezers, just pinch the inside edge with the tweezers and keep twirling them round until you get to the end. Add a dollop (technical term) of either glue gel or tacky glue and away you go. I should just add that before you add the glue, and after you have rolled, you do need to let go of the flower. If you don't it will stay in a tight coil and not look natural. Most people struggle to let it go after trying to keep a hold on it whilst winding it up but you must.
Here's a crafty bargain for you....
The paper ribbons on this card, in all three colours, are from Wilkinsons. If you go to their Christmas wrappings department they have these paper ribbons in a pack of three, all colour co ordinated. There are packs in various colours with ribbons to match and they are only £1 per pack of three. There is a huge amount on each roll so you can afford to be generous with them. I took a twelve inch length of all three colours. Cross them over, like the breast cancer emblem. then glue the centre crossover onto your card. Trim off the ends when the glue is dry and add your flowers to hide the centre. Et Voila!!
I do like a bit of a vintage look.   

A December Project.....

Hi everyone,
How are you all, looking forward to Christmas I hope. Well here's my first December project for Jones Crafts Design Team, and totally not Christmas. This time we have a Victorian love letter theme using the new Key To My Heart Collection.
If you would like to view the other DT projects plus loads more info regarding the latest products coming from Kaisercraft, Graphic45, Marion Smith plus loads more you can pop over to the Jones Craft Facebook Page to take a look.
So I hope you approve of my project, can't tell you what a joy it is to be working with such amazing products.

Oh and by the way, the computer course is not going too badly (come on now all of you, get up off the floor!)
I've completed my exams in both Word and PowerPoint and got 86% in both of them. Can you believe it! Little old technophobe me passing EXAMS on a computer!!! Totes Amazeballs!! As they say.
So I've finished now until the new year when I start on EXEL and believe me I've seen the workbook and I'm not impressed. I feel so sorry for my tutors

Get In Shape......

Don't worry! I'm not about to start a new fitness regime. I'm talking about shaped cards. Well just one shape in particular and that's from a template by House of Zandra. Well I just had to have it. I needed it, didn't I.

Christmas advent event....

At Crafty Ribbons
Why not pop over and join in here....
http://craftyribbonsinspiration.blogspot.co.uk
Have a look at all the wonderful inspiring projects every day
P xx

A Giveaway.......

The lovely guys at Jones Craft have decided to do a giveaway YAY!!! I can hear you all cry. So all you have to do is visit their Facebook page and like it to be I with a chance of winning some fabulous stash.

Jones Crafts

5 hours ago

** TIME FOR A GIVEAWAY**

We will be giving away a selection of Craft goodies to a randomly selected person once our Jones Crafts Facebook page reaches 300 likes to be in with a chance of winning please hit the like button 

Mother Goose Gift....

I was invited to a close friends baby shower yesterday and wanted to take a gift that would be different to anything else her little Pip (her term of endearment for the ever increasing  bump she is carrying). We don't know if Pip is to be a boy or girl so I decided that something for the nursery was the answer. Now I do know that these photos are really rubbish and I do need to up my game on the photography front, but as you already know I struggle with the computer so the photography doesn't stand much of a chance at the moment.

 I started with three sheets of the Graphic 45 Mother Goose papers and kept one sheet whole for the base layer.

 I then started on the 2nd sheet by cutting away the background and the outer edge from the paper. From the paper that I cut away I cut out the house, the skipping girl and the girl and sheep (yes I know it's little Bo Peep).

Then just keep cutting out and layering up until your happy with the finished picture. I even layered up the two little flowers. I do like a bit of fussy cutting.

Now a bit of info for you......

My first parcel arrived from Jones Craft today while I was out so can you imagine my happy bunny face when I opened the front door to be greeted by a pack of Kaisercraft goodies. Oooooh where to begin!!

Now my second bit of an update....

You may have heard me mention my lack of computer skills (surely you must have noticed) so I have started a computer course. It began last Monday and by ten o'clock on Tuesday I was ready to throw in the towel and the computer through the window. Then I was given a mock test to do on Thursday. After a really ropey start I actually got 91% can you beleive that!! I promise it's true. So on Monday I have mock test number two and then some time this week I will have to sit the really one - Scared who me????? absolutely terrified. But as my rock of a sister tells me, what's the worst that can happen! 

I'll let you know about that next week EEEEEKKKK!!

Secrets Out......

And I am now able to tell you all.
It's officially been announced that I been chosen to be on the Design Team of Jones & Co. The supplier of Kaisercraft, Graphic 45 and much more.
I will get to play with all the scrummy products they supply and I just can't wait!!

The Design Team consists of myself and the highly talented Hels Sheridan, along with the fabulous Clare Charvill. We also have with us Marion Emberson, Sandra Carey and up in Scotland we have Lorraine Brown Robertson. What a team!!
A really big thank you goes out to Darren Saxton for asking me and a big thumbs up to the guys at Jones. You can check out jones Facebook page for the official announcement
Now all I have to do is wait for the postman to knock my door.........

Okay........

You win!! here's the other cards I made. This one is from a Papermania paper pad of all dotty and stripey papers - the name escapes me,  it's all pastel but bright colours. Very contemporary I think.

Now this is the Christmas design. I was teaching the Redditch Ladies Circle and I new they were all going to be of a "younger age" shall we say. So I decided to do the design in some more papers with a trendy, funky christmas theme. They are pearly too to so along with the glittery reindeer, snowflake and flourish  it makes it another very contempoary styled card

Here are the ladies with the two cards they made. It was a great night 

Pauline Has A.......

Secret!!

 I know what you are thinking. It's here we go again, how long do we have to wait this time I wonder before she lets us in on this here secret. Well the answer is not long and I'm itching to tell you but I can't let the cat out of the bag just yet. It's all hush, hush for now but I can say that Pauline is one happy bunny and very excited.

You'll have to keep popping back to see so I'll have to try and keep you entertained whilst you wait. So for now I'm showing you a card I made by using up scraps of leftover paper from another card design. The papers are Tilda but I think they look very Cath Kidston, don't you.??

I've added stitches with a pen (as much as I love the stitched effect on cards you won't get me doing the really thing). A die cut leafy flourish and a rose with a couple of hat pins add the finishing touches.

I've since made a contemporary version and a christmas version. If you would like to see them let me know.

A Big.......

Thank You!!!

This goes out to all the lovely ladies who attended my Christmas sleigh class yesterday. What a great afternoon.

With mulled wine and muffins and chocs in our sleigh we had a fabulous crafty class.
A special thank you for Chris who was in both the refreshment and die cutting corner, Gail for the mulled wine, Jayne for the muffins and helping to set up the class and My Carol for all her never ending support.
Another thank you for Susan and Nicky who travelled all the way from Telford for the class.
Here's a few pics of them all hard at work.

IndigoBlu Challenge.....

The IndigoBlu Challenge for this month is "Lest We Forget" so of course I just had to use the Poppy Meadow stamp set for my design.
As you have probably heard me say, on numerous occasions before, that I do love a bit of the masking technique so I have done precisely that and used the smaller poppy stamp to stamp around the main large poppy image and masked the design as I have gone around.
I've coloured the main poppy with ProMarker pens and I've also stamped it a couple of times onto spare card so that I could layer the design. I cut away the front section and added that to the final image.
Spellbinders dies were used for the circles and a Martha Stewart butterfly punch,Memory Box alphabet for the lettering. IB stamp for the background stamping.
If you would like to see what the others in the Design Team have made just take a look here on the challenge blog, or maybe enter the challenge yourself.

http://indigoblublogchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

Crafty Ribbons....

 

**********************

Hi Everyone,

Time to share some news with you all..... Over on the Crafty Ribbons Inspiration blog we are going to be having another one of our fabulous events,yes it's time for our Christmas Advent Event which will run from 1st December through to the 24th December........

Each day we will be highlighting a different Craft Company or Shop,the Design Team will be posting cards/projects on  the Inspiration blog and on their blogs each day there will also be a prize from the highlighted Company up for grabs that's 24 prizes  in total and you can enter each day,only one entry per person per day to make it fair,so make sure to become a follower over at the Crafty Ribbons Inspiration blog   and remember the Christmas Advent will start at 8.30am (GMT) on the 1st December the Design Team hope you will all join in the fun and countdown to Christmas with us....... 

To kick off our new event we are offering a fabulous surprise ribbon candy......

 If you would like to win this fabulous ribbon surprise,then all you need to do is go over to the Crafty Ribbons Inspiration Blog and checkout the post about the Christmas Advent Event...

Candle Tutorial.....

I'm Back.......

and I am soooo sorry for keeping you all waiting for this tutorial. I won't bore you with all the details I'll just get on with showing you how I decorate candles. Joyce Egar, this is for you.....

Here I'm stamping the most fabulous IndigoBlu Baubles Flourish stamp onto a 3 ply facial tissue. I'm using a black Versafine ink pad as you do need to use a waterproof ink because when we come to add it to the candle a dye based ink will bleed.

 

When you have stamped your chosen image, dry it off with a heat gun just to set the ink quicker. Now tear around the image, you will get a better finish if you tear it rather than cutting it out.

You will need to separate the three layers as you only need the top layer for your candle.

Place this top layer onto your candle in the position you want it then cover it with a layer of wax paper.

 Hold the wax paper firmly then heat the candle with a heat gun. You will see the colour change to translucent as the wax melts. DON'T LEAVE IT IN ONE PLACE TOO LONG. As soon as you see the colour change move the heat gun onto the next bit.

 As soon as you have finished the heating remove the wax paper or it will cool down and stick to the candle.

And there you have it, one decorated candle. I have finished mine with Platinum Stickles to add a bit of "Christmas Sparkle"

But before I go I wanted to show you this.......

This is a two foot tall candle I've just helped my friend Jane to decorate. It took nearly two hours to do, but we had a great time doing it.