Belated Christmas wishes and a Happy New Year to you all x

Well another year over and what a year it has been!! If someone had said to me this time last year that I would be out of work now, I would have thought they were on another planet!! I know that I volunteered for redundancy but when there was 32,000 of us that had to go, it was best to volunteer than be pushed. So now to look forward to 2012!!
This little card is the one that I made for my daughter, my first attempt at a side step card. I thoroughly enjoyed making this one, lots of glue and glitter, cutting and sticking and generally making a mess, lol!! There are still a few challenges left running that I can enter it into, so here we go
Sundays with Crissy - anything goes
ABC Challenge- F is for FROSTY
My Time To Craft - Winter Pals
Crafty Catz - Santa's hat
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes
The order of the Opus Gluei - I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Stamps and Fun = Creativity - Snow
Incy Wincy - Winter Wonderland
Bunny Zoe's Craft Challenge - Fancy folds/Shaped Cards


The three snowmen/lady are all High Hopes Stamps which I love
All coloured with Copic Ciao and Sketch pens
Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder
Marianne Design - tree die
Memory Box Frosty Die and Frosty Border Die
Lots of Sparkly Crystal Glamour Dust

I hope you like it

Best wishes for a Happy New Year and lots of crafting!!!

Hugs Jo x

So Pretty

How did you guess, yes I have only just started making my Christmas Cards!!! Not good, panic is just starting to set in!! Cards to make, cards to write, pressies to buy and wrap, food to buy, baking to be done and to top it all off, it's the family birthday season with mine tomorrow, hubbys next Friday and Mums next Sunday and that's after having arranged a 21st party for Charlotte!!! Oh and I forgot, decs to put up, which don't go up until after the birthdays, eek!!! On to my card, this little card is for my friends daughter who is 4 years old and looks just like little Holly!! I have even managed to buy a similar outfit to go with the card for her!! So cute. I am going to enter her into the following challenges:

Flutterby Wednesday - Open Challenge
Daring Cardmakers - Flower of the month Holly
Crafty Catz - Colours of Christmas with sparkle
Allsorts - Circular Project, it was circular when I started!
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes


I have used Mo Mannings Holly digi image
Impression Obsession Sentiment
Coloured with Copic Ciao and Sketch Markers
Circle and Scalloped Circle Grand Nestibilities
Nellie Die and Holly Punch
Memory Box Swirl Die
Lots of Glamour Dust
Ribbon and card from stash

Hope you like her

Jo x

Busy, busy, busy

Hi folks, sorry I have not been about, I am finding it quite difficult to settle into everyday life now that I am a lady of leisure. After being routined for the last 33 years, I really don't know where to start!! Anyway I have got through the lie-in phase and am now raring to go, well not quite raring but have a bit more enthusiasm than I did have, hence the early crafting yesterday morning resulting in my pjs being covered in Glamour Dust!! That was the start of this card, I then packed up my stuff and off I trundled to Wendy's of Stamps and Memories to chat and craft and managed to get Glamour Dust all over the floor there too!! I did have a lovely day though and managed to finish my card, yes only one, more chat than craft, whoops! I am going to enter this into the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew - Tis the Season
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Let it Snow
Craft your Passion - Anything goes plus glitter
The Crazy Challenge - Anything goes
Crafty Calendar - Cold and Frosty
Designed to Delight - Let it Snow
One Stop Craft - Let it Snow
By the Cute and Girly - Let it Snow
Fairy tale Challenge - Christmas
Totally Paper Crafts - Let it Snow


The image is a Nitwits Digi and is so gorgeous
Coloured with Copic Ciao and Sketch Markers
Grand Nestibilities Scalloped and Circles I used the largest Scallop and the 2nd or 3rd largest circle and followed the tutorial on Marlenes blog - Paper Papillon to create the step card
Nestibilities Circles and Scalloped circles
Memory box Frosty Die
Marianne Design Tree Die
Cuttlebug Swirl Embossing Folder
Decorated with lots of Glamour Dust

Hope you like it

Jo

Happy birthday Dad

This is the card that I made for my FIL a few weeks ago. The result of a Friday evening in a hotel room with my Copic pens. I was away for the weekend on the brilliant Copicific retreat run by Wendy from Stamps and Memories and Dawny P, such a fun weekend with brilliant company and lots of lovely food and crafting. I went down the evening before, booked into my room, promptly re-arranged all the lighting in the room and coloured away!!! I was really pleased with the result, especially as I thought it would look like a woodpecker by the time I had finished with it!!

I am going to enter it into the following challenges:
Rubys Rainbow - Wings
Digital Tuesday - Anything goes
Paper Sundaes - Digital
2 Sisters - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Digital Image
The Paper Variety - Family
DutchDare - Punch/dies

I have used a fabulous digi stamp by the Sketching Stamper
Sentiment is Personal Impressions
Coloured with Copic Sketch and Ciao pens
DP is Basic Grey
Martha Stewart Scallop punch
Nestibilities Square and Fleur de lys dies
Pearls and Card from stash
Glossy Accents

A close up!!

Hope you like it

Hugs Jo x

Back and have the bug!!

I cannot believe that my last blog was in June, sorry folks. Explanation, well I have just worked the longest and hardest 17 weeks notice ever, with a minor op for me and Mum having a heart attack in the middle of it. My first two weeks have been spent in a daze to be honest, I have been wandering around aimlessly wondering where to start but after planning a 21st birthday party for Charlotte my first major project was crafting!!!!! So here is her birthday card which I am going to enter into the following challenges:

C.R.A.F.T which is cute
High Hopes - Anything goes
Crafty Catz- Anything goes
Digital Tuesday - Anything goes

I decided on a book card because I really needed something to get my teeth into to wind down and am so pleased with the result I now want to make another one!!

This is front of the card, I have used the following:

Elmer Elephant a High Hopes Stamp
Image and Ribbon Coloured with Copics
Nestibilities Die Labels Twenty Two
Martha Stewart Punch
Papers are Nitwits Digi Jungle Too
Scattered Straw and PelePaint distress inks

Just to prove that I did make a book card!! Oh and I used a Hougie board for the concertina and the card box.

This is the inside left and I have used a Sqigglefly image by Crissy Armstrong, I just love her images. The leafy frond thing is from a Sizzlets die. The little pocket contained a cheque.

This is the right-hand side. I have used the following:
Elmer Elephant from High Hopes
Stretch the Giraffe from High Hopes
Monkey from High Hopes (hidden under the foliage
Jungle Background again High Hopes
and Baby Elephant Squiggle fly all coloured with copics
Martha Stewart edge punch

And here is a close up!!

I'm please to say Charlotte loved it and her complete set of Copic Ciaos, hope you like it too!!

Hugs Jo x

How chuffed am I!!!

Thank you lovely ladies at Sweet Sketch Wednesday!!

One I did earlier!!!

Just found this little card in my piccies file that I made for my mum's neighbour a couple of weeks ago and it fits a couple of challenges. What luck, not very often I can do a one I made earlier!!! I am going to enter it into:

The Saturday Secret Crafter Challenge which is Embossing,

the Allsorts which is Lemon and Lime,

One Stop Craft Challenge which is Get Well Soon

Dutch Dare Card Challenge which is Clean and Simple

A Spoon Full of Sugar which is Get Well Soon

I have used Aspects of Design Funky Flowers

Sentiment is Impression Obsession (I think)

Coloured with Copic Sketch, Ciao and Spica Pens (can't remember which tho'!)

Crafts-Too Flower Embossing Folder( I think, it was from Wendys collection!)
Nestibilities Labels 10
Card, ribbon and gems from stash

Hope you like it, especially as it has taken 2 days to blog it!!
Thanks to the lovely Mandy, I can now log in again!! I just need to find out how to stop these huge gaps happening when I publish the post.

Tips and hints on blogging most greatfully received!!

Allotment calls, will catch up with you all soon! Busy, busy busy .....................

Hugs Jo x

Late again!!

Hi Folks, well it has taken me a whole week to make this little card and by the time I get around to blogging it, the challenges that I was going to enter it into have closed!!! Just not enough hours in the day!! Hopefully within the next week, I will have found out if I can "retire" or not, so I will be able to craft and blog until my hearts content, that's after I have caught up with 25 years worth of housework of course!!! So fingers crossed for me as I shall be gutted if I don't get selected. This little card is really not me at all, but I must say I really enjoyed making it and the image was a joy to colour. I even managed to mask Tilda and it was pure luck that she is balancing on the edge of that barrell, lol. Looks a bit lop sided but I think we all would if we were sat on an anchor!!! Anyway the sketch I have used is from Sweet Sketch Wednesday , I may be in time for My Time to Craft which was Xtra image but definitely not in time for ABC which was X marks the spot - a Pirate Theme.

Images are Magnolia Pirate Tilda and Barrel, High Hopes Pirates Birthday and Ships Wheel.
(4 stamps on one card, a record for me)
Coloured with Copic Sketch, Ciao and Spica Pens
E 50, 51 and 53
E40 and 41
E000, E00, E21 and R20
To, T1, T3, T5 and T7
C00, C0, C1, C3
B91, 93, 95, 97 and B0000
R81, 83, and 85
RV 29
Spica Gold and Silver
Nestibilties Labels 17 and Banners
Cuttlebug Swirls Folder
Glossy Accents
DP Magnolia White Wood
Raffia, Pearls and Card from stash

Hope you like her!!
I apologise for not getting around to commenting on peoples blogs but I am having trouble leaving messages for some reason I don't seem to be able to log in or it asks me 20 times, so I am admitting to having given up on many occasions. But I promise I am looking and love them all.

Take care and enjoy the sunshine whilst it lasts!!
Hugs Jo x

Edited: I am sorry ladies from SSW but I am unable to leave a comment, arghhhhhhhhhhh!!

Happy Father's Day

Hi folks, just had to prove to Jenny that I don't always make my cards the day before or on the day that it is needed!! This one is ready to go!! Life is still hectic and I am still extremely tired, hope the tablets kick in soon or I shall be asleep at my desk by 9am!! Anyway I really enjoyed making this card, didn't think I liked Teddy Bo but have changed my mind. This image is just perfect and my Father in Law will think this is highly amusing with DAD upside down as he wouldn't expect anything more from me!!! My own DAD passed away when I was 3 years old so I don't tend to "do" Fathers Day in a big way, just quietly. So I am going to enter this into a few challenges
Sunday Sketch and Stamp - Lisa's Sketch
Dutch Dare card Challenge - For the boys
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Bingo and I have used Ribbon, Shape and Sentiment
Papertake Weekly - Dads and Lads
Stamptacular Sunday - Dads or Grads
Crafty Sentiments - Fathers Day
Party Time Tuesday - Fathers Day

I have used Teddy Bo "Dad Bo" available at Teddy Bo.com or the FairyDoodler.com
Sentiment is Alesa Baker Impression Obsession
Papers are Rustic Dugout by Allison Ellis
Coloured with Copic Ciao and Sketch, Spica Markers

YR12,14 AND 15

R01, 02 AND 05
YG91, 93 AND 95
E30, 31, 33, 50, 51 AND 53
Gold Spica Pen
Nestibilities Labels 4

Cuttlebug Dots Folder

Raffia Ribbon, Brads and card from stash

Hope you like it, will be back soon to visit you all

Hugs Jo x

Happy Birthday Aunt!

Hi folks, have had to get this finished quickly as I have to take it to my Aunt who's birthday it is today!! Cutting it a bit fine, I know, lets hope the glue dries quickly!!

I am going to enter this into the following challenges:
Colour Create Challenge - White, Cream and Brown
Dutch Dare Card Challenge - Sketch
My Time to Craft - Use a die cut
Creative Card Crew - Anything goes

Stamp is a Leigh Hannan called Garden Cake by Impession Obsession

Sentiment is by Personal Impression

Martha Stewart Punch, sorry can't remember the name

Nestibilities

Coloured with Copic Sketch, Ciao and Spica Pens

YG 11, 13, 91, 93 and 95

G0000 and 000

E00, 30, 33, 34, 35, 40, 41, 50, 51 and 53
C0 and 1

W0, 1 and 3
Spica 15 Peach, 19 Sand, 04 Orange and 22 Garnet

All the above are available from Wendy at Stamps and Memories

Paper is Papermania Exquisite

Ribbon, Roses, Pearls and Card from stash.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend

Hugs Jo x

A little bit different ............

I'm beginning to worry that perhaps cute little girl stamps are not for me, as the last few cards have been animals or creatures!!! Whoops, had better get my act together and get them inked!!! At the moment I need something that I can lose myself in so the more challenging the better!! Anyhow I coloured up this image months ago and as I have orders from Jenny to get them made into cards I thought I better had!! It took me all day today to put this together as I had nothing to go with it, so totally out of my comfort zone I created my own paper. Anyway not sure I like the result but Hey Ho it's a card!! I am going to enter this into the following challenges:
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Anything goes
Sweet Sketch Wednesday (still my favourite challenge, thank you ladies for giving me inspiration)
Paper Play Challenge - Sparkle Galore
Crafty Creations Challenge - May flowers

I have used Michele Marsdens Oriental Stamps set for the image and paper
Coloured with Copic Sketch and Ciao
Nestibilities and swirl Cuttlebug folder

Martha Stewart Daisy Punch

Wild Orchid craft flowers

Diamond Stickles
Glamour Dust
Glossy Accents
Pearls, Ribbon and Card from Stash

Hope you like it

Hugs Jo x

With Love ................

Well, it's not quite a month since my last post and I haven't managed Jenny's challenge either, sorry!!! I do think I am getting better, you lot might not think so but I am trying honest!! I have a few health issues at the mo, which explains my constant fatigue etc but I won't bore you with that. This weekend just gone was a rare occasion for Neil and I, we actually had a weekend in London, I had managed to get tickets to see Roger Walters perform The Wall at the O2. amazing or what!! We were 4 rows from the front, so spoilt, and such a fantastic experience. If there are any Pink Floyd fans reading this, we both thoroughly recommend going to see it if you get the chance. Anyway onto my card, I am entering this into the following challenges if I am in time!!!

Sweet Sketch Wednesday
My time to craft - Scallops
High Hopes Challenge - Anything goes
Crafty Cardmakers - Embossing

I have used the following:

High Hopes Stamp
Papermania Sentiment
Coloured with Copic Sketch and Ciao Markers
Basic Grey Bittersweet Paper
Nestibilities Lables 17
Martha Stewart Scallop Punch
Martha Stewart Branch Punch
Cuttlebug Hearts Embossing Folder
Wild Orchid Cherry Blossoms flowers
Glossy Accents
Diamond Stickles
Card from Stash

Hope you like it,
Hugs Jo x

Happy Easter!!!

I know that I am a bit premature but as it's Maundy Thursday it's the start of Easter for me, so a day at home ...............to craft? Hmmmmm, well he is at work. Housework or craft? I know which I want to do!!! Todays little card is for Charlotte for Easter so I have to get on and get it posted!! I am going to enter this into the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations - Pets/Animals
Sunday Sketch and Stamp
My time to craft - Easter Wishes
Daring Card Makers - Spring Fling
Crafty Catz - Furry Friends
Paper Play - Easter

Hope you like it

Image is a digi image by Angels Landing
Sentiment is by Impression Obsession
Coloured with Copic Sketch and Ciao Markers
Y0000, Y11 and Y17
G0000, G09, G21, G20, G24, G40 and G82
E0000, E00, E40, E41, E42 and E44
BV0000, BV00 and V0000
R20, W0 and C0
Paper is Basic Grey Kioshi
Nestibilities Oval and Oval Scallops
Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers Embossing folder
Ribbon Papermania
Card and Gems from Stash

Hope you all have a great Easter Break and get a chance to do lots of crafting! And Jenny I hope I have met your challenge and these qualify for the next month!!!

Hugs Jo x

Sooner than you think .....................

Even though I don't blog as often I as should, I do still colour and create, it just takes a while to all come together!!! Any how, this is what I have been doing lately, playing with a Hougie board to demonstrate at the Kintbury show yesterday. I must admit I was quite pleased with my creations, the baby gift box set is adorable. Pop across to Kerry's blog for the instructions, I adapted it a bit but it still worked.

The Easter Egg box, I am going to enter into the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly, Truly Dimensional

Stamping for the Weekend, Easter

Our Creative Corner, a 3-D Easter Project

C.R.A.F.T challenge, Easter

Forever Friends Easter Stamp Set

Copics Sketch and Ciao Markers

Nellie die

Martha Stewart punch

yellow card, ribbon and acetate from Stash

I apologise for the quality of these photos as I had to use my phone as the batteries have run out on the camera!! Hope you like them.

Hugs Jo x

Back again!

Sorry folks, life is so hectic at the mo and as I got told off yesterday for not blogging, I thought I had better do some! My weekend away seemed months ago now and it was a fab weekend, I met some amazing talented ladies and we had such a laugh together, so I would just like to say thank you to them all for being such fun and making the weekend so enjoyable. And not forgetting Wendy from Stamps and Memories and Karen Watson for organising the whole weekend and for whom we are truly grateful!! Thank you both ....... we are now all looking forward to the next one in October, if any one is interested pop across to Stamps and Memories for the details!

Now for my card, this was a very quick card I made yesterday for my Uncles 65th birthday, it was one of the very first images I coloured with my Copics so it has been coloured for at least a year or more! I am going to enter it into the High Hopes Stamps which is for the boys.

Images used High Hopes Outhouse and a stamp from a woodware set Copic Ciao Markers Papers are Alison Ellis Rustic Dugout Nestibilities Fleur de lisle Squares Back soon Hugs Jo x

I'm so excited ........................

because tomorrow I'm off on the Copicific weekend with Karen, Wendy and a group of others to the Devere Hotel near Abingdon. Wendy from Stamps and Memories has been organising it for a while now with Karen Watson, two lovely ladies I might add, both who I know at the moment are dreading it and what are they going to get? A hyper Jo, just what they need!! He He!!! Just me and my pens, pure bliss!! I am going to be unbearable at work tomorrow, well more than usual, may have to have an early finish!!! Shhhhh ............!!! But can you believe it, Wendy has the classes starting at 9am in the morning on Saturday and Sunday, can't a girl have a lie in. I have a feeling that this much needed break is going to take some recovering from!!! Anyway todays card I am entering into

the Penny Black Saturday Challenge which is more than one fold,

ABC challenge which is P for Pearls

and my favourite challenge ever Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Sorry about the photo the light is rubbish at this time of night.

I have used Penny Black - Cherries Jubilee and Cherries

Impression Obsession - Big Wishes

LOTV sentiment

Coloured with Copic Sketch and Ciao Markers

C00, C0, C1 and C3

E93, E95, E97, E99 and E000

YG11 andYG13

R20, R22, R24 and R27

BG0000, BG00 and BG01

Nestibilities Circles, Scalloped Circles and Lables 1

Papers are MME - Spring Papers

Lace, Card and Pearls from Stash

Hope you like it, am off now to pack!! My craft stuff is already packed and ready to go, now have to get the rest sorted!! Priorities ................

See you soon with a weekend report

Hugs Jo x

A bit late ................

But better late than never.................... Sorry Emma!!!! Life is still hectic for me and Mum is recovering well from her operation, hopefully will be more mobile soon. This little card was described as awesome by Emma, never had a card called that before!!! As red and black are my least favourite colours to create with Copics, it took me 3 evenings to colour it and it was my first attempt with a digi. Anyway, I am going to enter it into 4 challenges this week.

One Stop Craft Challenge which is a colour challenge of black, white and one other.

Allsorts Challenge is a card for a teenager.

Creative Card Crew is Gothic

Papertake Weekly is Anything goes

Digi image Nicholette by STAMPINSANITY Stamps
Coloured with Copic Sketch, Ciao and Spica Pens

Nestibilities Die

Card, Flower and Brad from stash

Hope you like her

Back soon to visit your blogs

Hugs Jo x

Quick Post

Just a quick post today, to apologise again and explain that I really haven't desserted you all !!! I am having to spend some time staying with my Mum as she has just had a replacement knee op and as she lives on her own, is in need of help. So am back in my old bedroom at home surrounded in boxes as Mum is such a hoarder, it's like sleeping in cardboard city!!! Just no room for craft stuff, no Sky TV, no mobile phone coverage and no internet, I am now convinced I was brought up in the most remote village in Wiltshire!!! Not really, but that's what it feels like!! I have managed to pop home for a while and thought I would do a quick post whilst I have the chance!!

Anyway folks, that's my update, hope to back with a card soon!

Hugs Jo x

First card of the year

Happy New Year to you all, hope I'm not too late, well it is still January!!! Hopefully this is my return to blogland after a rather long break. I'm really sorry that I have been absent but my job moved and I'm really not coping with the travelling. I try to get one journey a day in the day light which means I have to leave really early to be able to leave early if you know what I mean!!! Anyway enough of me, here's my first card for blogland this year, now I've uploaded it, it looks a bit depressing, mind you I have had a bit of a black day!! Promise the next one will be bright and cheerful!! I am going to enter it into the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday which was a Card Buffet, I have chosen Paper, 3 Gems, 3 buttons and twine, mine is string because the twine is in the greenhouse and I don't like the dark!!!
Saturday Challenge which is With Love
Cutie Sunday which is Black/Grey and one other, mine is white
Cute Card Thursday which is Monochrome

Hope you like it

Stamp Penny Black Surprise
Papercellar Checks paper
Papermania Sentiment
Coloured with Copic Ciao and Sketch Pens
C00, C0, C1, C3, C5
W00, W0, W1, W3, W5
N1, N2, N5, N7
100 and R000
Nestibilities Large Rectangles and Large Scalloped Rectangles
Buttons, String, Card and Gems from Stash

I just thought I would like to show you my lovely Christmas pressie from my good friend Wendy. This lovely tote which my Copic Pens fit perfectly into. As you can see I still have loads of room left for lots more pens, yes I still have lots more to get and I need them all, like we need shoes!!!

Wendy has these available at Stamps and Memories
if you are tempted.

That's all for tonight folks, back soon

Hugs Jo x

Certified!!

Just a quick post to let you all know that I hope to be back to blog land soon. I am still making the odd card and haven't given up, I just need to get life into gear and get lots of Copic practice now that I am certified!!! If you would like to be certified too, contact Wendy at Stamps and Memories to book onto the Copic certification class.