I made the Advent calendar below with my Grandaughter Sofia in mind, sadly she won't be here until about the 20th of December. I think by then Peter my lovely other half will have consumed
the chocolates from numbers 1 - 19.

I got the idea for this at a training day in July, I just played around reduced the sizes and ended up with this.

I covered a 12" x 12" piece of card with a sheet of Cherry Cobbler 12" x 12" card stock. Measured out 25 squares. I cut 8 12" x 1/4" strips of Old Olive and stuck them in place to define the squares. I then made 24 3" x 3" treat pouches numbered them 1 - 24. I stuck 1 in each square, popped a chocolate Father Christma in each. The centre square unmber 25 I used the Fancy Flower, Scallop Circle and 1 3/8 circle punches, 'Joy at Christmas comes from Perfect Punches stamp set. I really wanted to put a special little treat behind this one but all I could find that would fit was and Elizabeth Shaw mint crisp.


I keep all my scrap pieces of card in plastic wallets, 1 for each colour family. They have all got so full I decided to use some up my making some tags.

I used the Sizzlits Lots of Tags Die, and the Extra Large Oval punch for the tags.
The Square Lattice Embossing Folder for the mat on the top of the box.

Stamp sets: Sparkly and Birght, Welcome Christmas, Delightful Decorations and Season of Joy.
Card Stock: Real Red, Old Olive and Whisper White.
Extras: Dazzling Diamonds and Gold Embossing Powder The Closed Box

In Case

This case is from a tutorial by Val who as I have said before is so clever thank you Val

Card Stock: Soft Suede and Early Espresso
The Text on the top was my addition and I used Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Sizzlets Die
Do you get the play on words?
I made these five cards to go inside, there should be 6 but bright ideas dimmed somewhat and I couldn't think what to do for the 6th card. Maybe I will go back to it at a later date.


One More before I nip to the supermarket for some shopping.............

I do so love this colour combination and this Centre Pillar card.
Card Stock: Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White
Inks: Pear Pizzazz, Cherry Cobbler, Rose Red and Basic Black
Stamp Sets: Nature Walk (I love this set), Happy Moments (Text)

I finished off with some Rose Red and Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding

See you soon
Jackie xxx

June Workshop

Hi, on this really, really, really hot day, what a glorious weekend it has been.

Below are the 4 projects we did at last Monday's workshop. The first is a little mini book, I can't remember where I found the instructions for it, but thank you to the person who did create it.. It is amazingly easy to make and you can decorate it however you like I have done one as a thank you card another as a Birthday card and yet another as a mini album.....so the skies the limit.

I decorated this one using the Two Step Bird punch and Nature Walk stamp set which is from the mini catalogue


This is the little book open.
I used Pear Pizaz and Always Artichoke card stock
Pear Pizaz deisgner paper.

For this card we brayered the background using Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight inks.
Card Stock: Glossy White Card, Daffodil Delight and Basic Black
Stamp Set: Just Believe
I also used the Scallop Trim Border punch and then finished the card of with a piece of Daffodil Delight Satin Ribbon.

Recipe for the card below is:
Card Stock: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue and Whisper White
Inks: Night of Navy and Bashful Blue
Designer Paper: Night of Navy from the Regals Pack and Bashful Blue from the Subtles pack
Stamp Set: Circle Circus

Finally, some time ago I saw a card similar to this on someone's blog and really liked it but once again I can't remember where I saw it. Anyway I tried to recall to my very bad memory how it had been done but the only thing I could remember was that the oval scallop punch had been used to create the Hot Air Baloon. Anyway this is my version.

Card Recipe:
Card Stock: Marina Mist, Real Red, Pear Pizaz and Daffodil Delight and Whisper White.
Inks: Real Red and Old Olive

To make the basket I cut a piece of whisper white card to the size and shape that I wanted and stamped it with a stamp from Playful Pieces stamp set (A level 3 Hostess set).


I hope you like the cards, they seemed to go down really well at the workshop.

Anyway hopefully I will be back with some more cards soon. Byeeeee.

Well here we are again on yet another school holiday, I'm not complaining though, I seem to live for them. I have had some fun making these little Lip Balm Holders the design for the holder itself came from the amazingly clever 'Qbee' .

I have used Popy Parade and Perfect Plum for these 2 with the designer paper to match.
I made the flower using the Fancy Fower punch I snipped away happily all around the petals,
I then shaped them curling the petals under. The centre is a rectangle of card snipped along 1 long edge and then curled the strip and glued the 2 short edges together.
I used the stamp set Growing Green to stamp the inside.

I love projects like this they make great little quickie gifts.
See you soon..

I had loads of fun today making this super cup cake box, it is big enough to hold a very large muffin. Thank you Andrea for sharing this.
I used crumb cake for the cake itself, Cherry Cobbler for the Cherry on top and little bits of cherry on the cake and Chocolate Chip for the cake case.
The top of the case is scalloped and then run through the crimper.

The only stamping is the greeting which is from Afterthoughts stamp set, a level 1 Hostess set which I punched out with the scallop oval punch and then layered it onto 2 extra large ovals.

Inside the box

I made this double twisted easle card one evening last week, using my stamp-a-majig to line everything up. It is quite easy to do just time consuming.
Stamp Sets: Cute by the Inch, Bliss and Sandy Speckles wheel
Card: Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Whisper White, Pear Pizaz
Inks: Cajun Craze, Pear Pizaz
Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Eyelet Border Punch.

Thanks For Looking..x

Below are the 4 items we made at craft club in January, wow what fun we had.

This little house was the inspiration of my Aunt (crafty squirrel).
I used Pink Pirouette and Blushing Bride card stock
Stamped the flower from Silhouette Sentiments (Level 1 Hostess Gift) onto vellum using Rose Red and Old Olive inks
I bought all my lovely ladies a battery t-light to go inside, the light twinkles through the velum...beautiful.

The card goes with the little bag below: I used Crumb Cake and Rich Razzleberry (I love this colour) card stock. Stamps sets Crazy for Cupcakes and Party this way both in the current catalogue. I coloured in the images with Water colour wonder crayons. The fancy corners and edging were punched using the Scallop trim corner and border punches.
The little bag below houses a couple of individualy wrapped biscuits, great for taking when going to a friends for coffee.
This card came from an Idea from one of the swaps I recieved at the Convention last year. Oh! there were some truly wonderful creations there. I used Bashful blue, Night of Navy and Whisper White card stock and because I love it so.. Silhouette Sentiments stamp set also Perfect Punches and Solid Stips stamps.

Anyway again a big big sorry that I have not posted for so long...................

Now I have begun I can't stop at least you can see I have been busy over the last two weeks and not sitting idle (I should be so lucky) Below is a great box it is called a Sending Love Explosion Box and was designed by Lyn Pratt, its great because the box itself is made from a 12 x 12 sheet of card and needs no gluing. You also need a piece of 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 piece of card for the lid.

Opening
Open..

I used Always Artichoke and So Saffron Card Stock. The designer paper is from SU last years catalogue.

I had to demonstrate how to make one of these little bags to a class of students today, I was so nervous but ended up really enjoying it the students were brilliant and made some fantastic bags. The design for the three little bags at the back came from a tutorial from ILWS.

I adapted the pattern to make the brief case in the front of the picture.

I used Pear Pizaz, Cherry Cobbler, Sahara Sand and Chocolate Chip card stock, with matching inks. I think these are a perfect size and shape for small gifts.

Carrott Box

I really love making little party favours, the template for these came from AR Creations. I made one each for my lovely friends who came to mondays workshop, we had such a great day. I filled the boxes with jelly beans. I also thought these would look really good done in Christmasy Colours for hanging on the Christmas Tree. Speaking of Christmas.....................

I saw this lovely little bag on Maria Bells 'Stampin Inspirations' blog. I followed her link to Creations by AR a great site with some really good templates for sale designed by Adela Rossol. have a look they are great fun.
I made a grunge rose to go on the front using Really Rust and Sahara San Card Stock.

A few to view

Now I have started I can't stop, I must be making up for lost time whilst I was away and then ill...
A friend was leafing through my SU catalogue and fell in love with the Forest Friends stamp set.
She doesn't craft herself and asked if I would make 4 little note card using the Forest Friend set. This is what I came up with.
4 little easle cards using the SU 3 x 3 Love notes and a little bag to put them in.
Card Stock: Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Bordering Blue and Bashful Blue
I brayerd the back grounds, with Punpkin Pie and Bordering Blue and then stamped away.
I used Chocolate Chip, Old Olive to stamp the tree and animals.

3 NEW COLOURS OF CARD, INKS, RIBBON AND DESIGNER PAPER

I bought the 3 different colours of shimmer paint from the SU mini catalogue at least 6 weeks ago but have never had the chance to use them, so I thought I would have a go. I have made these using the 3 new colours of Card and Inks: Soft Suede, Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry.

I Brayerd the backgrounds of 3 pieces of shiny card with the 3 colours, stamped each one with the little flower from Greenhouse Garden using the shimmer paints. I then stamped the inside of the flower with the same colour as the brayerd colour. I then layerd this onto white card then again onto the coloured card then again onto a larger piece of white card,

I scalloped the bottom of the large piece of white card using the eyelet border punch,

Stamped the bottom with greetings from Sincere Salutations and finished off with a little bow made out of card.

Then I decided to make this one using Night of Navy, Bordering Blue and Whisper White card

Pocket Silhouettes

Not sure where I found the idea for this little bag of cards but I really liked it. I have used Pink Passion and Whisper White card stock, and Pink Passion and Mellow Moss Inks. and finished the bag of with some White Satin Ribbon to keep the bag closed.

This card happened by accident I was stamping randomly on some scrap paper with this stamp from Pocket Silhouettes. I have used round scallop nessties to cut out the image .and the centre flower is a small scallop nesstie. Once again I have used Pink Passion card stock and Ink. This was really good fun to do.... I am going to try it out with some other stamps now.

Twirly Card, Faux Wood Frame and Crayon Resist

The idea for these two cards also came from SCS.
There are some incredably clever people and I am grateful that they let us use their ideas when making our projects.
The Faux Wooden Frame card: Cameo Coral and Very Vanilla card stock.
The stamps are In My Garden a level 1 hostess gift and the Medallion stamp.
I have watercoloured the flower with Water Colour Wonder Crayons Real Red and Garden Green.

I used Perfect Plum, Pale Plum and Whisper White card for this Crayon Resist card
Stamps set are Pocket Silhouettes and Happy Everything
I have stamped the images using perfect plum, gone over them with wax and then sponged the whole background with pale plum.

The idea for this amazing card came from SCS.
I have used Perfect Plum and Whisper White card for the card itself.
For the flowers I used Pretty in Pink, Blush Blossom and Mellow Moss, they were punched using Boho Blossoms punch
The sentiment is from a stamp I borrowed from a friend Suzy - thank you Suzy.

For Sofia

Well I am now officially a grandmother my Daughter in Law Rimal has given birth to a beautiful little girl and they have called her Sofia... sadly it's going to be mid february before I can smother her in kisses and cuddles mummy and baby are doing really well and Karim (my son) is so so happy. This is the card that I made for Sofia's birth. Once again I have used the easle card with the little pull out drawer beneath. I thought that maybe they could use the drawer for little momentos.

I made these little treat pouches from a tutoria by Monica one of our SU demonstrators, I am having a little workshop on monday and thought these would make nice little gifts for the girls
I have used Bella Blue designer paper, the little blue flowers are from the pretties kit.

I thought I had finished doing Christmas projects, but decided I wanted to give some money to my Godson for Christmas but didn't want to put it in a gift card so I made this little box and fitted a pair of socks in as well. I used Bravo Burgandy and Mellow Moss card stock and Whisper White ink. The sentiment is from Seasonal Wishes stamp set. I love putting these two colours of card stock together. Have a wonderful Christmas everyone. Love Jackie xx

I bought some beautiful lemon and ginger bath crystals from Sandown Craft Show a few weeks ago, they came in an ordinary little plastic bag with a plain typed label. They were a gift and I wanted them to look a bit special so I made this little box using Night of Navy and Bashful Blue card stock and Snow Burst Stamp set I embossed the images with silver embossing powder. I added a big bow made of silver wired ribbon.

Altogether I have made about 20 of these crackers for various most were commissioned a couple at the last workshop I did but these 10 are for me. I have put a little tubes of Cath Kidston hand cream in some, little Lindt Chocolate Father Christmas' in others. I have even put cracker snaps in them so hopefully they will go bang when pulled. They are for my friends at work. I hope they like them.

As you can see I have used a variety of SU Christmas stamp sets
Inks used were Mellow Moss, Real Red and Basic Black
Card Stock colours, for the sentiment, was Real Red and Mellow Moss.
I just loved making these and could have gone on forever if only I didn't have to go to work and cook and clean and wash and............................

I also made these little bird house boxes for myself and I have made them so that one side of the lid opens up and I have put little gifts in them. Again I have used Real Red and Garden Green. the designer series paper is also from SU Merry Moments . The little birds have been stamped from using SU Love You stamp set. I water coloured them with SU Watercolour Wonder Crayons.