Another Christmas card

Really enjoyed putting this one together, I to make a few, all turned out very similar so just showing one.
So many ideas for Christmas cardsI'm having to make notes so I don't forget them
Again used mainly Spellbinder dies just love the Poinsettia

Jean x

More Christmas cards....

as promised yesterday. I really seem to be on a roll at the minute. As you can see I tend to do a few cards following a theme. This year I have been very influenced by Sue Wilson and Spellbinders dies so thanks to both. Having said that I have done some stamping today so will be doing something a little different over the next few days, but may still use some Spellbinders, will have to wait and see.

More to follow----

Jean

Christmas cards

Well I made a push with making my Christmas cards this week. This is my first selection, using Spellbinders embossing folders and snowflake dies alongside Martha Stewart punches. I sprayed some of the snowflakes with Crafters Companion silver spray and others I left white. Pale blue pearlecent paper was used for layering and matching organza ribbon wrapped around a couple of the embossed layeres. I was very pleased with the result.

I am on a roll at the minute so keep an eye out for more.

Jean

Sorry no cards

I have been so busy the last couple of weeks I have not done any cards, but am still crafting.
The church I go to is trying to raise funds to build a new church and community room and following a meeting last week many of my suggestions were taken up and I was asked to prepare the items. My suggestions were to purchase items that we can add pictures to, eg. compact mirrors and keyrings to sell. Also to purchase plain aprons, teatowels and shopping bags to print our own designs on again to sell at various events we are organising.
I have therefore been busy preparing pictures etc. for all items on my PC and as my sister and I take the coffee morning this week we are trying to get some items ready for then.
I will take a photo of our display and post next week
My grand-daughter, who also goes to church, came up with her own idea of getting plain wooden plaques for her to put on names and zentangle them which she enjoys doing,  I am hoping to get some for her tomorrow for her to get started on. She is planning to do 2 examples then take orders.  I feel I must encourage her as she is only 12 and does love helping with things we do at church.

Jean x

Christening card for our Grand-daughter

Well it's Isla's Christening this Sunday so this is the card I've made for her special day.

I used both old and new Spellbinder dies and Martha Stewert around the page punches.
The dies used are Romantic rectangles and one of their first dies the 3 teddy bears all cut from pale pink card and inked up with spunsugar distressed ink.
The dase card is white with a smaller pale pink card topping it and vellum lining to back the punched border. Again vellum was used to mat behind the Romantic rectangle.
As teddy bear heads cut seperately to bodies, I attached them with a spiral of wire to give movement to the card. The sentiment was embossed and peel-off Cross and Grand-daughter used.

Jean x

Cards made from items already prepared

A while ago I did a workshop with ladies who attend our
church sisterhood. The age
range of the ladies is 50's to
the eldest of 102yr's young.



I decided to do the Spellbinders
cut-fold-and tuck, doing
embossed coloured background.

All the ladies enjoyed the
workshop and were proud
enough of their work to leave
them at the front of the church
for all other members to see.

I made up packs up for the
workshop and had some left,
but have only just got round
to making them up.

These are my completed cards.


 Jean x                                     

Did a bit of stamping today

Seem to be getting back into my cards now,
did some stamping this morning.
Used Di's Rose stamp made by Robert last
year.

Jean x

Needed inspiration

   

Hi everyone, sorry not been around much lately, lots to do and not much inspiration. I started to look through some past magazines and decided
to use papers and toppers from one of them.
These are some of my efforts, started using silk flowers from my stash and could not
leave them alone.                   

Jean x



My Art Piece for Robert

Some of you may know that Gordon has asked for crafters to make a piece of art for,or stamp something on, Roberts coffin to make a collage.

Had to give this some thought as Robert had his own style, but I remembered he enjoyed making masks when I first got to know him and was very much into steampunk, so I did my own version for him.

Jean x

SAD NEWS

As you may know I work for Robert and Gordon at Once Upon A Stamp. You may also know that Robert has been seriously ill for the past few months. I am sorry to have to let you know that he passed away this morning at 2.15.
As you can understand we are all devastated, none more than Gordon.
I have known Robert and Gordon since they opened Once Upon A Stamp in Chesterfield back in 2004 and they have become dear friends as well as employers. Robert was always a funloving guy and a very talented artist/crafter, sharing his talents with so many. He will be sadly missed by many in the crafting industry and customers of the shop.

Jean x

On a lighter note

I was asked to make a Christening card for a lady at church, for her Great Granddaughter.
I so enjoyed doing this card and need to think of another idea for our Granddaughter, Isla's, Christening in August, will be making that when we return from holiday.
Sorry pic a little dark!!

Jean x

On Fathers Day!

Remembering my Dad who passed away 14years ago this weekend
He is remembered with much Love and fondness everyday by all the family.
I found this verse which I had to share.

Jean x

Anniversary card

Well another card started
yesterday and finished this
morning. I used an older
Spellbinders, Rose 
Edgeabilities cutting from
pink pearlised card and when
cut and embossed inked roses
in red and leaves in green.
The pink card was placed on
a red base card and greeting
stamped and embossed in
silver in the aperture. The
extra die cut roses were
placed to balance the card.
To finish I tied a pink ribbon
bow and put hat pins through.

Jean x

Remembered to take pics before posting!!!

Well finally got round to making cards and taking pics to post. Got that behind for family and friends birthday cards as I made them they were signed and posted, then I thought about taking pics and putting up on blog, but to late.

Anyway this one is for my
teenage great niece, 16 next
week so nothing to fussy,
she's not that type of girl.
She loves music so thought
she would like this stamp I
have had for some time,
not sure where it's from.


Should have more to come this week, if I remember to take pics!!!

Jean x

Craft room sorted

 -well everything is back in my
room, could do with a bigger
room I think.
Thank goodness for A4 storage
boxes, some just need labeling.

It has taken me a while but had to do some cards as I was
sorting, anyway some pics as
promised.

This last pic has a reflection
from the wardrobe mirror on the lefthand side.

I wonder how long I can keep
it reasonably tidy?

Jean x
                                                                             

Sorry not been around

Hi everyone,

Sorry not been around for the past few days but we have been so busy at work (due to Roberts illness) and we have had the decorator in at home. Best part of this is I have had a change round in my craft room and a good sort out so will post a pic when fully sorted.

Jean x

Cutie card

Hi everyone,

Loved doing this card as I enjoy stamping but haven't done much lately.
The image on this card is from Jayne Nestorenko's Cute Companion range coloured with Pro markers.
The card was cut and embossed using Go Kreate scalloped circle as was the card with the image and part of a scalloped circle for the layering for the rest. The pearlised card was cut and embossed using Go Kreate plain circle.
Buttons and ribbon from my stash was used to finish.

Jean x

MEET ISLA LOUISE

Hi again everyone,

 Went to see our new
grand-daughter this evening
and Martin (hubby) and I
could not take our eyes 
off Isla she is just beautiful
think I may be a bit bias
though. What do you think?
Sorry to keep on about Isla but
we are so proud of all our family and she I think will complete it.
Jean x

AND HER NAME IS

ISLA LOUISE, Sorry in a hurry this morning and forgot to say her name. Just made a quick card for big brother Dylan who is 2, can't leave him out, he
has been a bit spoilt being only grandson.

Jean x

IT'S A GIRL

Hi everyone

Just to let you know we have a new Grand-daughter. She was born yesterday at 4.59pm by C section, weighing 7lb 6oz with lots of black hair and her brothers double. He is the card I have quickly put together this morning, so excited been up since 6am. Sorry pic not to clear not much time to correct.
Will put photo on tomorrow

Jean x

LAST BIRTHDAY CARD FOR APRIL

Hi everyone,

This card is for my great-nephew who is 2 later this month. All elements for this were from Docrafts Woodland folk and Friends, lots of cuties on here for children and adults alike. The background I printed straight onto the main card, then chose elements I liked, resized and printed 3 of the little man to decoupage a little. Each element was arranged onto an A4 sheet on the computer before printing, cutting out and assembling.
Although I do enjoy using CD's elements, I also enjoy adding other items from my crafty stash to complete my cards, but this one is all CD elements.
Well April complete, now to start on May, only 7 this month, but at sometime in the next 3 weeks we are expecting our 4th grandchild and don't know what it is so will have to fit that in aswell.

Jean x

Found Bunny Image

For anyone interested, I found the bunny image on my Easter card while looking to do another project. It is on the Docraft CD "Woodland Folk and Friends"

Jean x

Barbara Gray stamp and Distressed Ink Pens

Hi everyone,

As I've already posted my Easter card this is a Birthday card for a friend at Church.

The stamp is one of Barbara Gray's, as I love DL cards this worked well. I inked it up using two of the new Tim Holtz distressed pens, worn lipstick and pine needles, which made it easy on the fine artwork. Stamping onto thin white card I then used a water pen and pulled in the ink to colour the image.
Cutting this out using spellbinders deckle edge and a second layer in coordinating pink also decked edge I layered them onto green pearlised card with white flourishes wrapped around then onto a white DL card. I finished the flourishes off with mini gems and to complete the card made Happy Birthday sentiment layering as main image.

Jean x

HAPPY EASTER

Morning everyone,

I would just like to wish you all a Happy Easter and hope you have a good weekend.
The card was made a couple of weeks ago using one of my CD images, but sorry cannot remember which CD (must remember to make notes of which ones I use in future).

Jean x

Easter Cards

Hi Everyone,

Here are a couple of Easter cards made for our Church Easter fayre last weekend, that I didn't get posted.

This one was using the smallest of spellbinders Crosses Two cut from gold card and placed on the tag from Antique Frames and Accents with the boarder from the same set. The tag is then layered on one of Lables 25. The ink pad used to edge and tint the embossing was Pesto, an Adirondack.
All was placed on an A6 white card finished with a Happy Easter peel off.

Number two was another cross from Crosses two cut in gold, placed on a Spellbinders Romantic Rectangle, inked again with Pesto, then layed on a Lattice Rectangle cut in gold.
A white A6 card was the base card and again a Happy Easter peel off to finish.

I made a few variations of these cards and they sold very well for Church funds.

I will be back tomorrow with more cards I've made over the past week.

Jean x

Back home and feeling human again

Arrived home at 8.15pm Sunday following a good weekend, working at the shop Monday and DAY OFF today, but no lie in for me, dentist 9.15am. Oh well, haven't done much for rest of day, so now feeling a bit more normal again. 
Been sorting some things for Easter cards needed for Church Easter fair this Saturday, so have to get my finger out and it's back to work tomorrow. At least it's lighter longer so I feel like working later into the evening.
Well had my bath to refresh, back to craft room now for a couple of hours

Jean x

Hi everyone

Sorry I've not been around much the last couple of weeks, we have been busy at work preparing for the Harrogate show last week and this weeks NEC. We have also had most of the Spellbinders new dies in and have hundreds of pre-orders to complete and send out.
Anyway Gordon, Karen and I had a great show at Harrogate but Robert has not been well. He has had one scan but needs a further deeper one tomorrow so I have been called on to take Gordons place at the NEC along with Karen and Michelle, so if you are coming along call and say Hi on the Once Upon A Stamp stand G20.
Hopefully I may get back to making some cards next week so will post them when I have.

Jean x

Film and Music

Card for 23 year old male ARHH!!!

But my great nephew is in to films and music so this is the theme for his card. Using a My Craft Studio CD, I searched for something to use and found the clapper board and film strip, picture and music note as images.
Using a 7x5 card base I applied a base layer of blue paper leaving a narrow white edge around.
Taking the film strip etc image I shrunk it down, tiled it and using the opacity tool made it very pale.  Cutting a square of this background, I matted it on to white. and placed it at an angle on the card. I also cut a strip of the patteren paper matted on white and added a narrower strip of the background blue along the centre and placed along the lower edge  of the card.
The 2 images I put together and grouped on the computer, copying and pasteing several times to cut layeres for decoupage.
Peel off musical notes, the words Film and Music and the Birthday greeting were added to finish the card

Jean x

A Little Bit of Iris folding

Hi everyone,

I've been wanting to do some Iris folding for awhile now as it is one of my favourite crafts.
Having been asked to use the Go Create Window dies in some cards I immediately thought
I could line up the large die with a smaller one iside to cut a frame. But, as you see I didnot use the frame I omitted the frame and again aligned the centre small window back inside the larger one making an open frame to do my Iris folding, which I made my own pattern for.
I used  the same papers, as I used for the Iris folding to cut Spellbinders Anemone and Daisy flowers. The flower centres are flattened Art Caps with images placed in the centres topped with apoxy stickers.
I distressed the flowers and Iris folding a little to soften.
All the items I have used are available from Once Upon A Stamp

Jean x

Busy Weekend

Well just had 4 days off but dont know where it's gone. It's my daughters birthday today so as she was at work we spent most of the day together Saturday. During the morning Kerry(daughter), myself and our 2 granddaughters, Georgia and Molly, went shopping for new blinds for Molly's newly decorated bedroom. Later Martin and myself took them for a meal, which we all enjoyed.
Sunday after church and Sunday lunch I did manage to make a card but not got round to taking a photo yet, so will post when its sorted.
Yesturday Molly was with us as she was not at school (inset day) so helped her a little with her mums Birthday card. We also made a cake, so another busy day as I was at church sisterhood meeting in the afternoon.
Today was our day for looking after our 2 year old grandson so no time for anything else.
Hoping to get more cards made and posted later this week so keep popping in if you enjoy my work

Jean x

In the Pink

Hi again,

It's my daughters Birthday next week and she has had a rough time since new year so tried to do her a pretty girly card. Give me your opinion!

Starting with a base Gate fold card, I use the Go Create frilly frame no 5 dies and Spellbinders Lables 3(largest) for mats and Lables 10 for the Birthday plaque. The Happy Birthday plaque and other elements were cut using Floral Doily accents and motifs. I tied the bow using 2 ribbons.

As I hope you can see, the frilly frame were layed evenly on top of each other and Lables 3 at angles to each other and both cut from 2 matching pink card. The text plaques were cut from white card and the embossed edges inked the with pink.

 I am hoping this lifts her mood a little!

Enjoy Jean x  

Anniversary card

Hi everyone

I am now working my way through my April Birthdays and Anniversaries and as I've done quite a few Birthday cards over the past week I thought I'd start with the months anniversary for close friends.

Looking through dies I have purchased over the past months and not got round to using I chose to use Spellbinders Heart squares, Twisted metal tags and motifs and decorative Hearts.
Using a 6in square card, I cut the base mat and the largest of the Heart squares from a white and pale gold patterned paper. The second mat and frame from tags and motifs was cut in gold mirri card and the 2 smallest of the Hearts cut in white, with the embossing inked in gold Brilliance. Both base and second mats I cut with a decorative edge cutter.

When putting the card together the 2 mats and the Heart square were glued flat and the frame and 2 Hearts were attatched using Pinflair glue.

Enjoy Jean x

Blossom for friend

Hi everyone,

Had a productive evening yesterday managed to get 2 cards made. This one is quite easy, it was made using Go Create Bookish, and Spellbinders Blossom, Lacey circle and 1 from Ribbon Tags Trio 2.
Start by cutting and embossing 2 sizes of the Bookish die in 2 sizes in coordinating colours. Continue alternating the colours cutting and embossing next the Lacey circle, then 3 layers of the Blossom and the long Ribbon tag.
Crease and fold the largest of the Bookish shapes to form the base card. The other one is cut in half to make the first mat, but before attatching to card choose ribbon to match and thread through Ribbon tag. The ribbon is wrapped around the layer and glued into place at the bottom, now attach to card. Next the Lacey circle is glued in place.
The Blossom comes next, using small sharp scissors cut between petals towards the centre but not all the way. Use a ball tool on back or your fingers to shape petals a little. Attaching petal layers, starting with the largest to the smaller one and finishing the centre with a button or embellishment of your choice. A "Happy Birthday" peeloff was used to finish.
If you like to add a little dimention to your cards but are concerned about thickness for postage, this one is good, as if you use a little silcone/ Pinflair glue behind the petals you get dimention but without creating to much depth.


Enjoy Jean x

Floral for 70th

Hi Everyone,

I really enjoyed making this one. I folded an A4 piece of card to make a trifold then scored a large scalloped edge from fold 1 to around 2inch up from bottom of futhest edge then used the score to cut away the top corner.With the same colour paper as base card i embossed using Cuttlebug folder with long grass effect, then embossed the front 1/3rd of the card with the same effect, highlighting the grass with a darker ink.The embossed paper I added to the centre front, scalloping top to blend in. The flowers I die cut using Spellbinders Anemone and Daisy flower toppers, cutting and embossing a variety of the petals in 2 sizes inking with coordinating ink before removing from die .I also cut ,embossed and inked 4 centres. Mixing the petals I made 3 flowers shaping each petal before gluing together. I pulled the narrow petals of the centres up around my finger to give a little shape, placing one in centre of each flower adding a small button to finish of the centre. The 4th I glued alone at the top corner of the inside back of the card. the 3 complete flowers I arranged along the scalloped edge of the card, 2 on centre section and the 3rd on the front.
I also made this card using different colours and it looks just as stunning.

Enjoy Jean x

60th Birthday Card

Hi again,
This is my husbands 60th Birthday card (he celebrated this week) I used a Go Create die, cutting 2 large ones to form the base of the card, scoring 1, 1/2inch from 1 of the long edges. After adding colour to the edges I attached the 2 together by the 1/2inch 'seam'. Cutting a futher 2 layers of the same design in smaller sizes and colouring the edges in coordinating colours I wrapped around the middle size layer a piece of open hessian at an angle. The smallest layer I embossed in a Cuttlebug embossing folder, inking first to give a diamond effect. The text plate was cut using the Spellbinder Twisted Metal Tags and Accents. The small embellishment in the bottom corner is a photo of my husband cut to fit an Art Cap, which you will be seeing next month from Once Upon A Stamp, along with many other accessories.
I hope my explaination is clear enough (first time of doing this)

Enjoy Jean x

Hi Everyone

I have been posting on the "OnceUponAStampDesignTeam" blog for awhile but have decided to have my own blog to share more of my work with you. Much of my work uses Spellbinders dies but I also use craft CD's which we don't sell at Once Upon A Stamp.  

I hope you enjoy my work and will make comment!

Jean x