Roses are red...

Dilly Dilly... this must have been the first piece of music I played on the piano - many many moons ago now - Aaaaaaahhhhhh memories!

Right. Down to business.

I have taken a bit of time out this week before starting on another big magasine commission, which has given me time to get a bit of personal crafting done.

Carley's 'mum and dad in law-ish' were celebrating their Ruby Wedding Anniversary this week and they all went out for a lovely meal. I made them a special card, and this is it -

Making wedding anniversary cards is about the only time my Bookatrix board comes out of hiding. In fact, I have most of the older Keepsake boards, but never use them as I prefer to use the Eazi Box and Eazi Score boards.

I decided to make the colours a lovely ruby red and cream, which I got from the Papermill and on the cream card I went over with a wheel from Stampin Up which had been rolled over a ruby red ink. The topper was created with paper flowers, and here it is in more detail.

I used some pearly beads to finish and to add a little bit of height. I haven't made one of these cards for a while now, and I reckon it turned out quite nice.

It's also been someone's birthday this week, and I'll show you the card I made -

The lady who is recieving the card loves to bake, and apparantly makes the most delicious cakes, so I thought I'd use this cutey decoupage from Forever Friends. Here it is in close up -

This is all for now.. hope you like them.

Take care,
Love Jo x

Especially for Phyllis..

Here's a little video especially for Phyllis, who wanted to know how to make a double pocket card. Sorry it's wonky... not sure how to turn it round.. but at least you don't need to stand on your head this time.. haha.

Phew... six hours of work already!!

Blimey - - - I can't believe I've been up and working since half past five this morning! I was asked if I could do a bit of a blog makeover, so I've been making headers, scallop borders, buttons etc.. and just put it together on a private blog for the lovely lady concerned. I'm now sitting with my fingers crossed hoping that she'll like it.. lol..

Now, I'm just going to go and feed the hungry woofers and sit with a coffee for an hour.

Love Jo xx

Card Workshops

I have at last managed to sort out a brilliant venue to hold some card workshops for all the lovely folks that ask me.

The venue has ample free parking and is very spacious for us. The classes will also be held in the evenings on a Wednesday, so .. if you would like a place, contact me and as soon as the workshops are sorted out, I can let you all know about the costs etc..

thanks everyone.

Video Tutorial - how to create an inky background

I have been asked a few times how to create this type of background, so I decided to do a little video for you - I'm quite enjoying doing these, so if there's something you need to see.. just ask!

This is the type of card which uses this background -

And here's your video.. enjoy! **just watched this myself.. and blimey, I do waffle on.. I really need to be less chatty and slow things down.. lol.. hahaha***

A Stampin' Up swap video.

I made a little swap card that me and a few fellow stampers from In Love With Stamping did a few weeks back..

I forget - like an idiot - to take a picture of the finished card, so I have borrowed this one from the site.. Mine is in the centre at the top.

Anyway, I was asked quite a few times how to make it because I wasn't that organised and forgot to add the recipe.. lol. 'Eck.. this last few weeks have been such a muddle.. haha.

So.. for all those that asked, here's the video on how to make it. It's about 8 minutes long, so hopefully it works for you.



I have done another little video too, but will upload that one mid week..

Twit-tering on...

When my Sister in Law was here this last week, we got very little crafting done, and the only thing that I did get chance to make was this card, which was needed for a friend's birthday.

The stamp was new for my sister in law, and the shape to make the frame was from the brilliant new board from Diamond Card Craft.

Here's a couple of close ups...

I used little adhesive gems for the eyes of the owl, and it was coloured using Whispers Brush Markers. The blue sky was 'splodged' on (those who come to my demo's, will know what I mean!) and the little bellies of the owls were glittered up a little.

The flowers were layered onto My Minds Eye magnolia papers and a little Craftwork Cards paper dot from the Toffee Treats collection, on the top.

Down in the Valley...

Lili's valley that is... I don't know how I managed to forget this challenge this week, I think it must be my noncrafting week that's frazzled my brain!!

Of course, I'm talking about my DT entry for this weeks challenge over on Lili of the Valley's challenge blog. 

This week we had a sketch by our very own Jacqui - aka Mummy Fairy! Here it is...

And here's my little card...

I just lurve this little piggy-wiggy!! I used the papers and diecuts from LOTV animals set, which is currently showing on Create and Craft, although I'm not sure what times it's on. I rounded the corner and scalloped the edges. Once the papers were on, I doodled around it, added my greeting around the bend of the card and used pearls to embellish the little flowers and oval.

And this week we're on the lookout for a Guest Designer.. so why not enter?

Time for a Challenge?

I am absolutely loving my time over at the Rosie Dees Challenge blog as part of their DT, and this week is no exception.

We are on the theme of holidays this month and to kick start us all off, we have a fantastic sketch.

Here it is -

I immediately thought of making a birthday card, as I have a few coming up at the end of the month. I also love the August Bank Holiday. I like the fact that the nights are drawing in again and we're on the last countdown to that dreaded ''C'' Time! So, I've used autumn colours courtesy of My Mind's Eye papers, and here's my sneek peek for this week. You can see the card in full, along with the rest of the DT cards over on the blog.

I can also reveal today, my full card from last week's challenge too. As you remember, I showed you a peek last week.. here's the rest of it.

The card last week was a sympathy or thinking of you card. I hate making Sympathy cards, so opted for the latter, although this card could be used for either.

I used a spotlighting technique and the card was finished off with copics. I used black and red card, and the stamp was a new set I had bought from the Whichcraft show at the Dome in Doncaster - isn't it lovely?? It is a Magenta set - Garden Flower Tiles (I think!) The greeting was made with Doodlebug rubons, available through Docrafts stockists.  I hope you like it.

What a week!

I can't believe it's the 1st August already! This week has just flown by.

My sister in law has been up for the week, so I haven't really had a chance to get much crafting done!

I have  got my Project of the Week over on the Docrafts website. This is the card I made - all other details of how to etc can be found on the Front Page.

This is the card I chose to make.