The last days of summer!!

This month over at Crafts Galore Encore, we are sponsored by Di's Digis who are giving a fantastic prize of 3 digi stamps. Why not pop across and have a look at the fab designs, you never know it might be you!! 

 To be in with a chance all you have to do is to enter our fab challenge at Crafts Galore Encore  which for September is Anything Goes.  

This months card from me is a summery creation,  I refuse to do Halloween or Christmas in August, lol.

I have used a Penny Black Slapstick stamp by Mo Manning called Sweet Day for my main image Magnolia Lazy Summer Days Cling Stamp, Strawberry for my embellishment.

Coloured with Copic Sketch and Ciao

E0000, E00, E21 - Skin

E33, Y21, Y23, Y26, Y28 - Hair

R0000, R000, R00, R21, R22, R24, R27, R29 and R56 - Dress and Strawberries

G20, G21, G24 and G46 - Leaves and Grass

E40, E41 and Y23 - Flowers

B0000 - Outline

Black Spica Glitter Pen

DP is DCWV Nanas Nursery Baby Girl

Dies Memory Box Elegant Scrollwork

Grand Nesties Circles and Scallops

Paper Cellar - Raffia Lace

Card from Stash

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Hot summer Colours

Crafting with Friends - Anything goes

Crafty Catz - Use a stamp that you've had for a year or more, I've used Magnolia strawberries

Cut it up - Old School , I've used Memory Box, Elegant scrollwork

Simply Papercraft - Anything goes

Incy Wincy Designs - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Marker Pop Challenge - Anything Goes

Stamp and Create - One for the Girls

Simon Says Stamp Mondays - Trio of Colours ( I've used red, yellow and green)

The Cutie Pie Challenge - Cute and Girly

Fantastic Tuesday - Anything goes with a twist of make it cute

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

City Crafter Challenge - In a jam (fruit and/or jar)

This month I have had my two little helpers keeping an eye on things whilst I have been crafting.  Meet Ozzy and Archie our two new additions to the family. So cute but very mischievous!!

Have a great September everyone and I'll be back soon !

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

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

I'm back and a long post!!

Firstly, I must apologise for my absence. Life has been so hectic recently with the change of location of my job, which has now doubled my journey and added an extra hour of travelling time to my day. My aim has been to get into work early so that I can finish earlier and get home at a reasonable time to have the evening to relax, but things don't always work out as planned, do they!!! To add to my stress I've had to change my car as the mondeo was too thirsty so hubby now drives this, after all it is his car, and my old one has gone!! Those of you that know me, will know that I have had to overcome my fear of small cars due to a nasty car accident 3 years ago, when had I been in a small car I wouldn't have survived. I'm still very unsure of it and every journey is a huge challenge to me but I am getting there.

I have still been crafting on and off, making the odd card for Wendy and birthday cards but always last minute and have forgot to photograph them. Last weekend I attended a Next Step Copics course which was being run by Wendy from Stamps and Memories and Karen Watson who is a great friend of Wendys. I had been involved in some of the preparation for this course but I still learnt so much from them both. Each time I attend the introduction to Copics Course, (yes, I have done this more than once!!!), I learn something new that I didn't take in the first time, so if you have the chance to attend one of these courses, go, they are so informative and great fun.

Anyway, on to todays card!! There is a story behind this card, hubby keeps lovebirds in aviarys in the garden, rather a lot of love birds, in all shapes, makes, colours and sizes, well you know what I mean!!!! So if I ever see anything with lovebirds on I usually buy it. This stamp I have had for a while and it had never seen any ink until last night when I decided it would be perfect for my Copic blending practice!!

This little card qualifies for the following challenges:

Stamping for the weekend - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Recipe 3, 2,1 mine is swirls, flowers and image
Allsorts Challenge - Park/Garden inspiration (This is my Garden)
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Summer Loving
Stampevie and more - Swirls

Hope you like it!!!

Penny Black Stamp - The forever dream
Coloured with Copic Sketch and Ciao markers
Papers Basic Grey - Kioshi
Memento Tuxedo Black
TH - Peeled Paint Distress Ink
Nestibilities Labels 4
Nellie Small and Large Flower Punches
Sizzex Sizzlets In Bloom Die - Swirley Vine
Gems and Card - Papermania

Promise I'll be back soon

Hugs Jo x

Penny Black and High Hopes Challenges

Firstly I must apologise for neglecting my blog and all of my blogging buddies. Life has been so hectic this last week at work, I have been working long days and have just had no spare time to craft :( Christmas is approaching far too fast for my liking and I still have stamps that haven't been inked, shame on me!!! I have managed to put a couple of cards together today, nothing spectacular but two more for the pile.

This first one has been made using a sketch for the High Hopes Challenge
I absolutely adore the Snowmen and Snowladies stamps that they have.

The image is coloured with Copic Markers and Spica Glitter pens

The papers are from a Joanna Sheen CD but I'm not sure which one

The snowflakes have been made using the Large Hobby craft Snowflake punch

and Martha Stewart Snowflake punch.

Nesties Labels Four

Cuttlebug Dots Folder

Glossy Accents

Glamour Dust

Gems and Card from Stash

The next card has been made using a sketch for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge

I love this little image but I'm afraid I haven't a clue what this gorgeous kitty is called, as it is one of Wendys that I stamped whilst visiting but I do know that it is a Penny Black!!
Sentiment by Cuddley Buddley
Coloured with Copic Markers and Spica glitter Pens
Papers are by Kaisercraft
Flowers are from the HobbyHouse
Nesties Deckled edge Rectangle
Ribbon, Gems and card from stash
Stickles

Hope you like them!!

A little peek at my mud bath in the back garden!! Not good, why on earth I agreed to this building work at this time of the year I shall never know!! The man in the photo is my 80 year old father in law, who is making a fantastic job of the brick laying!! Apparantly there are another two layers of bricks to go, so we may be done before Christmas!! What more could I ask for but an extra craft room!! Fingers crossed!!

Well folks that's me for today, I have a day off tomorrow to try and tackle the Christmas present shopping which I am not looking forward to, especially as the day could have been spent crafting!!!

Take card everybody.

Hugs

Jo x

I Remember You

As I said "Goodbye" to my Uncle on Friday, the last of my Dad's generation and it is the time of year that we remember, I thought I would do something with a totally different meaning to the everyday birthday card or a card for the fast approaching Christmas festivities. This card is now sat on my mantelpiece to remind me of my relatives and friends who have now left us and for those who fought for our country to give us the quality of life that we have now. Not forgetting those that have been lost in the more recent conflicts.

One of my childhood memories is of my dear gran, singing along with Frank Ifield singing I remember you at the top of her voice, as he was her favourite. As this weeks Penny Black Challenge is a song title, this is the only stamp that I have that I can make a song out of!!!

So Gran wherever you are, this card is for you. x x x

I have kept this very plain, as I thought that more appropriate.
Penny Black Stamp called Poppies, I think.
Coloured with Copic markers (sorry about the markers in the background)
Card, paper, pearls, flower and brad from stash.

Hope you like it

Jo x

Rest in Peace Uncle John

The end of another week!!

Another busy week and not a lot of crafting done again!!! The footings are dug and concreted for the conservatory, bricklaying next. That will be a challenge for Hubby. FIL is going to help as he is more skilled than Hubby at bricklaying, the only thing that worries me is that he has had his 80th birthday this week.....................

I have had a visit to Wends this week but the cards were a combined effort so they are for the Stamps and Memories blog. I came away with a few goodies though!!! Whoops!!! I just needed the new stamps that she has, not been inked up yet and I have now discovered Glamour Dust!! I'm quite a sparkly person anyway, but this stuff is just fab, now that had to be tried out!!!! So here we go!! This card covers five challenges..........

Winterwonderland challenge 22 open theme

Mojo Monday Week 10

Simon Says ......All that sparkles

Penny Black Challenge White on White

Copics colour Challenge 37

I have used a Penny Black stamp that I have had for a couple of years but is so cute

Coloured with Copic markers

C00, C-1

W00, W-1

YG0000, YG00, YG03 and YG06

YR0000, Y00 and Y02

E00, E33, E43, E50, E51 and E53

R20, R22 and R27

Nestibilities Round and Round Scalloped

Swirls, snow flakes and snowdots (I think that is what they are called)

Cuttle bug folders

Hobby Craft large snowflake punch

White liquid pearls

Glamour dust

Ribbon, card, pearls from stash

Not sure about this one, didn't enjoy the white and not happy with the ribbon but it's the only white ribbon in my stash. It sparkles beautifully though!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Jo x

Penny Black Challenge and ABC Challenge - D is for Die Cuts

Another card and it's still only Sunday and yes it covers two challenges again. It's a bit OTT for me again but I needed to put die cuts on it and I thought using the nesties labels was a bit boring so went for something else too. And as it is another Christmas card it has to have a bit of bling on it!! And another thing, no Glossy Accents!!

I can't tell you what stamp or papers I've used as they came out of Wendy's craft cupboard, Wend we need a comment with details!!! Please!!!

Martha Stewart border punch but don't know what it's called as I've thrown away the package!! (Wendy will know though because I bought it from Stamps and Memories!)

Martha Stewart Snowflake punch

Nestibilities Labels 4
Sizzex decorative die

Gems, pearl and card from stash.

I hope to be back before next Sunday but who knows, bye for now!!

Have a good week everyone, don't work too hard!

Jo x

PS. I may have an evening with Wend tomorrow!!

Penny Black Week 61 and ABC Challenge

I thought I would have go this week at the Penny Black Challenge and the ABC Challenge by using the same card for both . I just love these really cute stamps and am having not too good a week so have needed some crafting evenings!!

This little hedgehog is called "Greetings" and is so sweet.

I have used my faithful Copic Ciao Markers and glossy accents.

The paper is from the Dandelion and Daisy Picnic Patch Collection.

I have used the Stylized Flowers Cuttlebug folder and the oval and oval scalloped Nestibilities.

The flowers, brads and ribbons are out of my stash.

The leaves have been cut using a Martha Stewart Punch.

I hope you like it!! Bye for now

Jo x

Penny Black Challenge - Week 60

Well this week I've decided to have a go at the Penny Black Challenge, a first time for everything!! The subject this week is Summer. I have this really old Penny Black Stamp that I have acquired and love it. Dreaming Geraniums. I have coloured it using Copic Ciao Pens with my added Glossy Accents of course!!

Stamp - Dreaming Geraniums

Copic Ciao Pens - Rabbit E00, E21, E50

Flower Pot - YR00, YR02, E35

Flowers - RV000, RV02, RV34

Leaves - G000, YG03, YR31, G21

Ivy - G02, G000, G21

Daisy - Y06

Paper - Dovecraft Wild Blossoms

Now looking forward to next week!!

Back soon

Jo x