Hello.....

Hi all..its been a while I know...I had a little play today with some new LOTV stamps I treated myself to the begining of the week...in fact I have lots of treats coming my way soon..I have ordered some Stampin' Up stash from my mate Diane....and I cant wait to get my mitts on it...anyway here is my little card....

a smaller card than I usually do but these little round stamps are perfect for them...the papers are Dovercraft Garden Party with matching ribbon..sweet Ted has been coloured with Copics and pencils.

I hope to be back in the week with some more cards to share have a great weekend hugs

Jan..x

Two In One Day!!

.........Nothing short of a miracle I'd say....lol

Very CAS.....brown and lime green this time....loving these SU butterfly stamps + Memory Box die + Ribbon...simples....lol..

Hugs

Jan...xx

PS.. I am selling some stamps on eBay here

What Is It About....

.....Pink and Green?....

Been playing with new stamp stash..this is a Hero Arts stamp and emboss set...just love it...very pleased with my 'grown up' card...

have a great weekend..

hugs

Jan...xxx

Ollie...

just thought I would share these pics of my fur baby...I dont often get him to sit long enough for me to snap him....lol...

he wouldnt look at the camera though....

almost got him there....

Got him...lol

he is just too cute for words....when he's not rumaging in my craft room.....lol...I love him to bits...he has been such company for me while I had to get to grips with my Mum going into the nursing home...I take him to see her from time to time...he get very excited with all the attention he gets from the other residents...but he does have a rival for their affections....the resident hairdresser has a Chihuahua....called....wait for it.....Gucci...ummm....lol....

Hope you all have a good week..

Hugs

Jan...x

Better Late Than Never....

Hi guys..hope you're having a great weekend...I'm running late due to the fact I have the lurgy!! Ugh! I hate Colds they make me feel so lousy...I think I got this from my Mum when I visited her in the week she had the sniffles...oh well... I'm dosing myself up as I have to start a new Job tomorrow..its only Part Time..2  afternoons/evenings a week but it will be good to get out and about again...anyway..here is my JM dt card...this week its either Fathers Day...or Edwin....we dont see to much of the sweet boy..well not on my blog anyway...lol....I had to buy this one for the challenge....lol

He is coloured with Copics and pencils..the DP is Doodlebug (I think)....I do hope you all will join us this week..I look forward to seeing your creations......

Now... also there is a new challenge over at Lovely Hanglar Only & Sweet Tilda...we want you to use your favourite colours....here is mine...

Pink & Green....

Sweet Tilda is coloured with Copics and pencils....I'll have to get back to you with the make of the DP's I forgot to write it down..!!...I use a new Memory Box die..seam binding ribbon and loads of pearls and sparkle....

 I want to show you what my Fur Baby did yesterday in my craft room...when I work I hang a carrier bag on the drawer handle to put all my waste scraps in....darling Ollie has a 'thing' about carrier bags...and I left him in the room while I made a cup of tea...this is what I came back to......

the little darling had a lovely time ripping out the bottom of the bag and spreading the contents all over the floor.....grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

Finally...I have been playing again with making 'grown up' cards...I'm trying to go in a different direction and make other than 'cute' cards.....what do you think?

It's a bit CAS ( I had to sit on my hands so I didnt over embellish it...lol)...but I quite like it...

Right I'm off now for a hot drink and a lie down....

Hugs

Jan...xxx

Not My Usual Thing...

Hi Guys...well I been playing...I wanted to try something different so had a visit to The Craft Barn yesterday and bought Timmy's Tattered Flowers die..(plus others..ekk!)..some background stamps..Memory Box Buttons die..and all sorts of other things that don't usually jump in my basket..lol...

I used this size card for a change...the DP is Papermania Beautiful Pad...and it is..lovely subtle shades....I cut the petals out and then over stamped them with a script background stamp and distress ink...then distressed all the edges etc.,

Yes its different for me...I quite like it...but I need more practise I think for this kind of look...

I'll be back later with my JM DT card...

Hugs

Jan...xxx

Just A Little Different.....

Happy Sunday to you....just thought I'd share a Sweet Tilda with you...I had itchy fingers yesterday after my LOTV Ted with all that bunting...lol..so thought I would try a a slight different colour combo...Tilda is Coloured with a mixture of pens and pencils again....the DP are Papermania Capsule Collection...lovely shades of golds and beige...I used a ribbon from the same collection, Memory Lane and Magnolia Dies plus the usual pearls and sparkle.....I'm off now to sort out my ribbon boxes..I have loads but dont use that many as they are all in a mess...lol....

Thank you for stopping by and for all your lovely comments...I truly appreciate everyone...

Hugs

Jan...xx

Lots More Bunting....

Hi Guys...yes its going to be a Bunting kinda week..lol...so this is my creation to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee...(actually there might be more later in the week!!)...anyway...over at Lili's Little Fairies Challenge they want 'Anything but Square...well I did scratch my head a bit as I knew what I wanted to do but whether it worked was another thing...lol....I wanted to drape the bunting from the top corner then over to the bottom right corner..but it just didnt work..but I quite happy with this...the image is coloured with a mixture of Copics, Spectrum Noirs and Prisma Pencils..the DP is 'The London Line' by Heiz Cuppleditch....I just love those little red London Buses...my lovely Dad was a London bus driver and he drove exactly one of those around London when I was little...this one is for you Popski....xxxxxxx

Well I hope you all have a super smashing weekend..

Hugs

Jan...xxx

Just Magnolia DT Card - Gingham

Hi guys...hope you are all enjoying the fabulous sunshine we are having...here is my DT card for this weeks challenge at Just Magnolia.  The theme is Gingham...well I just Love Gingham..I think its a lovely fresh look on anything....the DP is by Craft Creatations...Darling Tilda is coloured with Copics...( please dont 'tut' Diane...lol..) I used Magnolia, Memory Lane and Whimsy Dies and loads of pearls and sparkle.

Have a fab weekend

Hugs

Jan...xxx

A Sweet Tilda....

I just love this sweet Tilda but I dont think I've done her justice...I need to practice my colouring after being absent for so long....I used Memory Box dies which I snipped to get the look I wanted but again not to happy with that either...The DP is K & Co....oh well cant get it right all the time...lol...

Hugs

Jan...xxx

Distressed with Distress........!!

Hi Guys...well after your encouragement regarding my hasty purchase of Timmy's pens..I spent all day yesterday practising....I bought some proper watercolour paper (thank you Becky for your advice) and sat at my desk determined to get the hang of these pesky pens....so after 7 attempts (I kid you not) here is my offering.....

Please don't look too closely...lol...I lost my way a bit on her hair (and other places)...I found that I struggled the most with the skin colour..Tattered Rose just doesn't seem to want to blend as well as the other colours...I used the pens straight to the paper as well as using them on a pallet for when I just wanted a wash...I'm sort of happy with it...(trust me you should see the other attempts!!!..lol..) but I don't think I will be a complete convert as I don't like creamy coloured card...so if any of you out there know of a watercolour paper (cold press) that is nice and white..please let me know...Oh and as I used gorgeous BG DP's from the 'Plumeria' pad...I'm entering it for BG 'Anything Goes' challenge this week...

Have a great day!!

Hugs

Jan...xxx

Another Forgotten LOTV and a Question...

A yummy pile of cupcakes...coloured with copics and finished with loads of sparkle....

Now the question.....In a moment of complete madness I bought a complete set of Tim's Distress Pens....thinking that it would be good to try a different colouring medium....why I didnt buy just a few to try I  dont know!!!...lol....I just cant get on with them....so is there anyone out there that would like to make me an offer for them (bearing in mind I have only used one -Tattered Rose - and you know how expensive they are) or I'll have to put them on Ebay....

Have a great weekend...

Hugs

Jan...xxx

Just to Share

I had a lovely crafty day today....I had a sort through my stamps and found several LOTV stamps that I havent inked up yet....so here is a sweet little Ted...I did a bit of paper piecing and coloured him with Promarkers.

I hope to be back tomorrow with another to share..

Hugs

Jan...xxx

I'm Back!! Just Magnolia Challenge DT Card

Hi All yes I finally found it!! The old mojo had been in hiding for months but has now decided to show himself !!..lol..just in time for this weeks Just Magnolia Challenge - Use Two Images...here's my card

The Sweet Tilda's are coloured with Copics and Prisma Pencils..the DP is Graphic 45...I used Memory Lane dies and finished with a seam binding bow and pearls.

I do hope you will join us this week..I look forward to seeing your creations...
Hugs
Jan...xxx (its good to be back)

Awww...

Hi Guy's...just had to share this with you...I bought a plant for the garden last week and I wanted to pot it on...we have loads of old pots behind our shed so I stood there making up my mind which one to use..the one I wanted was under a broken terracotta one so I lifted that one up and a bird flew out much to my surprise...and I stooding there a little shocked..then with the broken pot still in my hand I looked down and there was a nest with 5 little blue eggs...oh I thought quick put the pot back or they wont came back to keep them warm..I hurried away muttering sorry little birdie..and hoped that I didnt upset them. 

We have a little round window in our lounge..its quite high up but gives a perfect view to the back of the shed..so I got the steps out and I have been bird watching everyday since in the hope I would see who laid these tiny eggs...and its one of these....

Today I have been keeping an eye and they are now popping into the pot with grubs and things so I think the tiny little eggs must have hatched and we have babies....awwwwww....

Robins are well known to make their nests in really odd places and after some googling.. flower pots seem to be one of them and in a very odd way I feel very privilaged that they chose one of mine...lol...problem is I cant pot on my plant just yet....never mind its worth the wait...

Hugs

Jan...xxxx

Having a moan... Edited

I have been swapping emails with Craftsulove since Tuesday..First they said they would send out replacements...then they backtracked and asked for photos of the damaged sheets...I sent photos and a list of colours damaged...then they said must have been done in the post..(it wasnt as the parcel was not damaged) then they said they wouldnt replace them until I returned them and referred me to their terms and conditions.  I refused this as why should I have the bother of packaging them up and going to queue up at the Post Office when they shouldnt have been sent out in that condidtion in the first place and asked them to replace them as a gesture of goodwill....they again have requested their return before they will replace them...stalemate!!!!! So much for Customer Service...I will never ever buy from them again.

~

I know there are some of you that will think I'm being silly but I have to get this off my chest. 

On Wednesday I ordered some (32sheets) bazzill cardstock from Craftsulove. I don't always get it from them I usually go to a shop in Upminster as they stock all the shades but it is a bit of a trek  so I checked out Cardsulove and The Glitter Pot.  I get all my 'Maggies' from The Glitter Pot as they are reasonably priced and the delivery is super quick but they didn't have all the colours I wanted so as I said I checked out CraftsUlove and placed the order.

It arrived today.  I received 31 sheets (no note of one being out of stock) and 16 sheets were creased and 1, a very light pink, was creased and had dirty fingermarks around the edges.  The damage wasn't done in the post as the parcel was fine... its been done in the shop, man handled by the customers probably. Now I would have thought that they would 'quality check' the card before they sent it as surely they would want their mail order customers to be happy and come back for more. I have emailed them but I doubt that I will get anywhere.  I'll just have to use the bits around the creases. So annoying.

Hugs
Jan...xx

A Step In The Right Direction......

Well I hope so.....

Hugs

Jan...xxxx

Oh dear.....

...I think I have found yet another crafty obsession...lol....I have always been drawn to all things tiny..years ago it was Doll Houses... I love the tiny little replicas of furniture etc., I have also collected those little Lilliput Cottages..(they have since taken part in car boot sales..lol). ..I have been toying with having ago at Dry Needle Felting..but I haven't found anything that caught my imagination...there are the usual flowers or beads or even bags to make... so I haven't really pursued it further until today....I bought the excessively expensive 'Mollie Makes' Magazine and there they were...teeny tiny 'Doglets' to make in Needle felt...so a quick dash off to my local Hobbycraft store to buy the equipment...their range of felting wool is somewhat limited but they had enough to get me started...and here is my first attempt....

I'm quite pleased how this little guy turned out...(although he should have beads for his eyes but I didnt have any small enough) he is just under 3" tall...so cute...and so easy to get the hang of once I got going...so now I'm off to source some proper wool and make his litter mates...oh dear...lol

Hugs

Jan..x

More Mices...and.....

Hi Guys...just a quickie...been crocheting again..its good for my nerves...lol... made a couple more mices...

and these for a bit of fun!!!

Just added these to my Esty Shop...

Hope you are all well...and many thanks for your lovely kind comments...

Big Hugs

Jan...xxx

PS...sadly still no card to share :-(

Hello.....

Hi Guys...just thought I would update you all as I haven't been around much recently...Mum is now in a nursing home...it was a very difficult decision...I feel that I have betrayed her and it's taking a while for me to get my head around it. All the family tell me that I have done the right thing as it was getting a real struggle for me to cope with her..I tried with daily carers but it was the nights that was bad...she was getting up at odd times and I was getting really tired... I couldn't leave her at all..even to go shopping...I had some help with that but then had to go on a awaiting list for a permanent arrangement (that was in January)and do you know I'm still waiting to hear from them...Ha!! Well its not a problem now..she is as well as she can be...but I still get upset when I see her...they say that the illness is just as hard for the family...well you can say that again!! the guilt is immense... I feel that maybe I should have tried harder to keep her at home...but I have to be realistic...I couldn't give her the care she was starting to need...

anyway...I have been trying to keep busy and made a few changes at home..I've been decorating and made a start on the sun lounge..or the garden room which I now call it...lol!!!...it was due a makeover so I painted everything in sight...lol...including the old pine dresser that was out there...here's a peak...

I'm very pleased how it turned out...its strange as years a go I wouldn't hesitate to get the paint brush out and get cracking..but this took me a few weeks to find the courage to do it...I wanted it to look completely different but couldn't afford to buy new stuff...I cant get all the room in the pic but I chose Lime to be the main colour and the turquoise just crept in...lol... I did buy new throws (Lime)for the chairs I painted the walls in Apple White and I was thinking of white for the dresser but in the end I used Apple White Satinwood instead and I think it looks better..here's a peak of the bits on the dresser...

the pretty lacey top planter was from Ikea..really wished I bought a few more...and the gorgeous candle...yes the little pot is a candle..was a birthday present from my cousin a couple of weeks ago...on the other side...

...is a tiny collection of pretty glass... the Thistle Candle sticks was another pressie from my bestest friend Lynne...I admired them in a shop while we were out for lunch a couple of weeks ago and when she came to visit this week she gave them to me...I cried...lol..

Here's a picture that I made using some Cheery Lynne Butterfly dies ..a bit of lime cardstock and a box from from Ikea...

and while I haven't been feeling up to making cards...I've been crocheting...I used to knit and crochet years ago...and always loved seeing shelves filled with glorious colourful yarn in the wool shops... there doesn't seen to be those kind of shops around now...but I think there is a quiet knitting revival going on lol...anyway I find crochet very calming at the moment...something I can just sit and do...I made this for 'the garden room'

and here are a few other things I've made too...

A Cupcake...

A Sweet Little Mouse...

A Ring of Daisy's

and a Ring of Roses....

I have put these and few other cupcakes on my Esty Shop should any of you be interested.

Sorry there are no cards to share at the moment...but I'm sure it wont be too long before I find my cardmaking mojo again...lol

Have a fab weekend...I'm moving furniture about..I'm hoping to swap the dining room to the lounge as it has a patio door to the garden and it has the sun in there all day...its a shame not to enjoy it..its an idea I've had for a while and as change would have upset Mum...I can now try it out...
Have fun!
Hugs
Jan...xxx