Friday 19 December 2008

Birthday Cube!





Here's another one of these cubes made with that enormous Big Shot die.

This one is for my mum for her Birthday. I've used Joanna Sheen's Fashion Boutique for this one, and I'm really pleased with it, it's turned out quite pretty.

I used the silk backing papers and also the paper to match the topper. The fan is the smallest fan and I picked that one because it matches the silk paper, I just stuck a feather behind it finish it off.

The little card and envelope is another Big Shot die, as are the petals for the 'big' flower' which is in fact the centre taken from the green Double Hearts die, just punched out four times and stuck together in the middle, I stuck some fancy ribbon behind it, and also finished with a satin rose for the centre.

Then there's THAT present stamp!! I stamped and heat embossed in white onto the silk backing paper and decoupaged the bow on top.

That's it.....quite simple really, and I think my mum will love it,

Thanks for looking in,

Jackie x

Thursday 18 December 2008

photocube





This was made using a Sizzix XL die, and I must admit, I'm so glad I invested in it now.

All I did was roll this die through the Big Shot twice, decorated the sides and then stuck it together, not as complicated as it looks, these would make great gifts for people and I think it would look stunning done in Black and Pink for the 'funky teenage girls' or Black and White for the 'manky guys'...lol..


here's a photo I took using my 'sky' buttons as a guide to the size of the thing....it's massive!!!




Thanks for looking in

Jackie x

Wednesday 17 December 2008

Black and White Christmas







Well I thought I'd be a bit 'different' this year and do a Black and White Christmas!
I usually stick to the traditional stuff to 'stay safe', but I just went all out this time.

I've done SIX squashbooks in total! 3 black and 3 white, and these are the 'specials' for the family.

I've had that present stamp for yonks! And I must admit it's the most 'handiest' in my box at the moment! It can be used for any occassion and I daresay it would look really cool with the dots all glittered! It cost me all of £1. The backing papers are from a 12x12 scrapbook paper stack, and I think they give the whole thing a very 'Retro' look.

Thanks for looking in

Jackie x

Friday 12 December 2008

Christmas pressie from my son!






Well my manky teenage son came home from high school with this lovely gift for me! He's been working on it for a few weeks in hospitality! It's a proper christmas cake, complete with booze too! all be it the non-alcoholic variety! Can't wait to tuck into it now, but I'm saving it for christmas day!

I must admit I did feel very special, he gave me a big hug too.......but shhhh! 'manky teenagers' are not supposed to do things like that!...lol..

Just thought I'd share it with you, cos I can't bake to save my life!...lol...

Thanks for looking in

Jackie x

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Shoebox surprise!

Top of box







inside view number 1







inside view number 2











This was a special commission for one of the 'karate mums'. it was her dad's 60th Birthday and she wanted something special, trouble was the bloke isn't really 'into' anything, so a challenge was set. He is a retired Police Officer, so I thought I'd go down that route, but alas I couldn't get any decent Police images, so, I had to think of something else. Anyway, I remembered the story she told me about her dad always wanting a Mercedes car, and when he retired he finally got his wish! So I had a word with Mr Google and came up with these very flash Mercedes sports cars. I added a few other 'manly' bits and pieces, the Beer Mug, Cheers, Dad and Shirt are all sizzix dies along with the 'man flowers'. The ' Just for You' greeting is a rubber stamp. I just did the whole thing in Black, Grey and white, some very safe man colours those1 lol....

When I presented her with the box on Friday at karate she was overwhelmed, she absolutely loved it. So I'm dead chuffed!

Thanks for looking in,

Jackie x

Sunday 23 November 2008

My Little Book of Glenda!

While I was using Glenda's Elusive Images Christmas Flourish themeplate for the Squashbook, I decided to have a play with some of the other stamps of Glenda's I have in my folders. So what better idea than a fatbook! It's taken me most of the week to do this, and I just finished it off today, I also have a stinking cold which doesn't help much! Especially as I had to keep stopping every two minutes to blow my nose! Yuk!!


I'll explain each page as I go along and tell you what was used in the process.


Front cover...



These are actually 'Bind - it - All' covers, and are great! I sprayed them with Glimmer Mists and used the Elusive images Inspriational Words themeplates, but I forgot to add the flower embellishment I made, so I can rectify that fault later.


Inside cover and page one.....


again using Glimmer Mists and the Inspirational Words themeplate, the words were stamped using Black ~Stazon on the first page, I just added some funky fibres to the tag to finish it off.


Pages 2 and 3......

The Peacock Feather Fan was stamped on to 160gsm white paper and then coloured using Sakura stardust pens, I also used the Koi waterbrush just to 'soften' it slightly. the background was done using the Colourbox Chalkeye inkpads, and overstamped with the Peacock Feather using Peacock-ish colours.
The Pansy Stamp is one i received when I joined the Graphicus Guild, I just wish I could have got the colouring better fo this one though, because it doesn't really do the stamp justice. It really is a pretty little stamp.


Pages 4 and 5.....



The Paisley Elephant themeplate is Fab!! You can really go to town with the colours on this! I used Glimmer Mists for the background, then made a matt and over stamped it with the little square swirl stamp using Chalkeye inkpads, the elephant was coloured using Sakura Stardust jelly roll pens.
The 'Disco Divas' are coloured using Marvy La Plume artmarkers, and I just added some glitter dots to give them some extra 'glamour'. Tha background was done using the Glimmer Mists again, and I over stamped using the funky little handbags from the same plate, I also added some glitter to them just to finish them off, I mounted the 'girls' onto some holographic paper, which had a previous life of a 'bottle bag'..lol...waste not want not!...needless to say the bottle that was in that bag is now well and truly empty!...lol..

pages 6 and 7.......


'Cool Dude' themeplate, and Glimmer mists again! I stamped the images using backing paper from the Artylicious Seasons Greeting cd rom, and Adirondak Denim Blue Embossing powder, the background is done using the Glimmer mists yet again...can you tell that I adore these?
The 'Flower picture is slightly different, it's from the Flora and Fauna themeplate and the first thing thought of when I saw this was Christmas, hence the colours, I stamped and embossed in gold, and then coloured using Marvy La Plume markers, then I used a versmark clear embossing pen and embossed the whole thing using Cosmic Shimmer gold embossing powder, when this stuff is heat embossed it's tranparent, but it leaves the most gorgeous shimmer! The background is done using those Glimmer mists again, over stamped and embossed with cosmic shimmer gold emboosing powder again. Very Christmasssy indeed.It's just a shame the photo doesn't do it justice!



the last page and inside back cover....


The last page is a fairly simple one really, I sprayed some cream paper with Gold and Antique Brown spray inks, Then Stamped the Mandal stamp onto it, I just layered up the stamp to give it a bit of dimension. The inside back cover is done the same as the front. Again using using Glimmer Mists and the Inspirational Words themeplate.



and finally....the back cover......


I just added a flower embellishment to this, used the 1" Bind - it - All 'O' wires to bind it and added some more funky fibres!



I really did enjoy making the little book, it's a great way to use up the oddments and aslo to practice some of your techniques.

Thank you for letting me share it with you, and I do hope you like it.

Jackie x

Tuesday 18 November 2008

Artylicious and Elusive Images squash book.






This piece isn't as complicated as it looks although it was a wee bit time consuming.

For this I used copper coloured stardream card, Artylicous Seasons Greetings cd rom for the backing papers, Elusive Images Christmas Flourish rubber stamps, Versamark clear pigment ink and copper detail embossing powder. I also used chalk eye ink pads to give the cut edges on the papers a softer look.

I used the instructions from the Inside Secrets of a Scoreboard book, which are dead simple to follow because they have pictures!

This is my first attempt at this project and I'm really pleased with the results.

Thanks for looking in, take care all,

Jackie x

Tuesday 11 November 2008

New baby 'card'





My apologies to everyone, I've been laid up for a couple of weeks with a rather nasty virus, so not really felt like doing much of anything. But I'm glad to say I'm feeling much better now and even manageing to do a little crafting. I've got so many things to catch up with just now, so a busy time lies ahead for me.

Anyway, I made this for one of my friends ( a karate parent) who's sister is expecting a baby imminently! But as they don't know the sex of the baby yet it had to be a 'his/hers' job. I only hope I've managed to succeed with this, I have my doubts though, it looks a tad girlie to me, but I'll let her see it on friday when I take my son to his karate training and see what she thinks.

The shoes were done using a template. I just drew round them, cut them out and stuck them all together, just added a little bow and some silver peel offs to finish the shoes off, I used Ivory Stardream card, which is adorable! and, because it's double sided I didn't need to worry about 'hiding' the 'wrong sides'.

Thanks for looking in, and once again, my apologies for not keeping things up to date, Take care everyone,

Jackie x

Wednesday 15 October 2008

Another altered clothes peg..........

......A La Joanna Sheen!








I painted this peg with the Blonde Moments Metallic lustre range, then when it was dry I over stamped it with a crackle background stamp in Brown Whispas ink. I printed off this image from Joanna Sheen's Fashion Boutique cd rom, then painted and over stamped the little chipboard frame, glued it to the photo then glued it to the peg, at an angle. I finished it off with the Flora Doodles Polka dot Daisies. Stick a magnet on the back and you now have a handy 'little' fridge magnet! Dead quick and simple, and I'm dead chuffed with the result too, because it was an experiment really.


Thanks for looking in, take care everyone,

Jackie x

Monday 13 October 2008

Another mini-album






Where do I start? Well, I've had this 6 x 6 bare naked chipboard mini book in my stash for yonks, so decided that it was time for a wee play. I'm actually making this for my son, and it's just for him to remember some of the 'road - trips' and fan club meet ups that we've with friends over the past couple of years.

Anyway, the whole book is painted with the Blonde Moments Acrylic Metallic lustre paints, and they are dreamy....lovely coverage as well.

For the cover.....
I triple embossed the insert of a chipboard frame, then stamped into it while it was still hot with a crackle background stamp that I've had in my stash for a while as well, then added the guitar which is a die cut from the Sizzlets range, I just added some rub ons, buttons and some text stickers to finish it off.


The next two pages are quite simple.....just a mat and layered photo on one page.....then the cover of the groups CD made into a pocket for the tickets....just left top part unglued.

Page 4 is a plain mat and layered photo but I played around a bit the the 5th page, the mat for the photo was done using overprinted copper card (with a gold tone) I stamped the crackle background stamp onto the card then heat embossed using the Cosmic Shimmer Gold embossing powder, then used the Sizzlets Party and Cheers dies for the text, I also inked them using clear versamark ink, and then heat embossed again using the Cosmic Shimmer Gold embossing powder.


Page 6 is over stamped with the crackle background stamp yet again, this time using Grey Stazon, then I painted some cream pearlescent card with the Bronze Blonde Moments paints, then over stamped with the crackle stamp to tie in with the page, the little frame is chipboard, painted in copper and then stamped with that crackle stamp AGAIN! That stamp is indeed very VERY handy, and looks really good! The black text is a clear sticker, and the little guitar is in fact a wooden button.


Page 7 is done using the crackle stamp...how did you guess? This time I did a tone on tone effect, stamped and embossed in copper onto copper coloured card, the text block says 'FUN' and is stamped and heat embossed in gold using a small letters stamp set I received in a gift, but sadly the picture doesn't do it justice, that is also stamped onto copper card, but using gold embossing powder this time, and yes, you guessed, I over stamped with the crackle stamp in Cosmic shimmer just to finish it off.

I'm so glad I bought that stamp now, it is a very large stamp and was a bargain, but it doesn't matter what colour you use it will have a different effect every time!

Anyway, I will update this section when I manage to get the rest of the pages completed, Thank you for letting me ramble on, and I do hope you understood some of my wittering,

Take care all

Jackie x

Saturday 11 October 2008

mini album






Well it's been a wee while since I posted, but I just had to show this.

I bought this at a craft shop a wee while back, and couldn't resist it! The whole thing is die-cut, as are all the little elements that go along with it, all you do is pop it out and just put it together, with your own photos added of course.

I think these kind of items are a great way to practice your scrapbooking if your'e new to it, or just generally make good little fun keepsakes.

I just used some photos that were taken in fun really, not the best of photos, but fun just the same.

Thanks for looking in, take care,

Thursday 2 October 2008

Christmas tree exploding box!




Well here is yet another project using this stamp! I really do LIKE this stamp, there are so many different looks you can achieve with it!


I sooo cheated with this box! I used Wendie Rhodes exploding box templates! I stamped and Gold embossed ten trees....yes ten!.....I used the full image for the trees in the centre of the box....then cut the bottom two layers off for the inner box....then the bottom layer for the outer box....I used peel of stickers on the other sides and also on the lid of the box! It was quite easy really....but quite time consuming with all the embossing and cutting out.......I might just manage to 'squeeze' in another couple of projects before Saturday, but if I do I'll let you see them. Thanks for looking in.

Wednesday 1 October 2008

More Christmas cards......

......using THAT tree stamp! Which I think is great by the way.....it's quite versatile and depending on what you stamp onto, it can look different every time!

Anyway, I digress.......This one was done using the Artylicious Season's Greetings cd Rom, and took only minutes to put together, it was stamped onto background papers from said cd, then heat embossed with white embossing powder, just added some gems to finish it off, dead simple really....but I like simple..lol..






For this card I stamped onto some Silver textured card, and heat embossed with silver embossing powder, I then stuck some lovely Christmas wired ribbon down the centre of the card and then mounted the trees onto that, this one is my fave....those snowmen are just devine!





....and this one is a very simple tone on tone...and it works so well, I love this cardstock!
I just stamped and heat embossed the tree in gold, the background is done using the script cuttlebug embossing folder, then edged in gold using a Sakura calligraphy pen, stuck it to the card then mounted the tree onto it and then finished the whole thing off using some peel-offs.





I am working on more pieces just now, but these require my printer, and sadly it's not playing with me today, it's being rather stroppy! So I will post them another day when my printer decides to behave itself!! Thanks for looking in,

Tuesday 30 September 2008

Artylicious 'snowglobe'....





Firstly I must apologise for being 'AWOL' for a while.....but I've just been rather busy of late and not really had much spare time on my hands......anyway.....this is just a little teaser from the challenge that my friend Louise set me......I will show you the rest when I've finished them....not long now....I promise!


This actually started off as an experiment! I was quite surprised with the end result too......it was a case of...now do I like it...or don't I like it!....but it's different and just a fun piece.

I used the case from the Artylicious Fantasy Floral cd rom to get the initial shape of the globe...drew round it then cut it out from some plain white card, the background is done using Artylicious Season's Greetings cd rom, (let it snow section), I then used the tree stamp that everyone at Louise's shop seems to hate, just coloured it using Twinkling H2O's and some glitter, I just 'drew the ground snow' free hand and cut it out from some plain white paper and added some glitter, the base is just a piece of paper coloured with Marvy La Plume markers to give a 'wood effect'. I added some gold peel-off line stickers to hide the rough edges of the base, and then just added some white snowflake stickers to the whole piece afterwards.....to give the idea off the 'floating snow' in the globe.

As I said, I wasn't really sure about this piece but the more I see it the more I like it....just a really good piece of fun, Thanks for looking in, and also Thank You for all your lovely kind thoughts and comments........more 'stuff' coming soon.....so watch this space!!.....lol....

Thursday 11 September 2008

Success...........

......Well, I finally managed to get myself going today and made a card, and I'm pleased with the way it turned out,AND it only took a few minutes to put together! I hate it when that happens, but I think it was a case of trying too hard!

Still as it's part of a larger project I can't really show you just now, so please watch this space........

Take care and hopefully I'll be able to show you something fairly soon,

Wednesday 10 September 2008

Well, here I am at long last!

I've not really been feeling up to doing much crafting these days, just feeling really miserable and very 'down' at the moment.

I've tried to do some crafting but everything turned out totally abysmal! So just put it down, will try again another day, hopefully I'll get some inspiration back and be able to do something productive, i have so many ideas and some lovely new crating goodies but just can't seem to do anything with them just now, when I do, you'll be the first to see it, thanks for looking in and sorry to moan a bit.

Take care all, and hopefully it won't be too long before I'm back to my old self again.

Monday 1 September 2008

Altered clothespeg!




Well it has been a wee while since I last posted, I've just been a wee bit busy and not really managed to give you anything interesting to read.


I've been playing!!! I bought these giant wooden clothespegs a couple of weeks ago and thought they'd be a nice, different little gift, I've stuck a couple of magnets on the back and made them into note holder fridge magnets! I must admit to liking them so much that I'm going to buy more and do some for myself!

Anyway, what did I use?

I've had a 6x6 paper pad in my craft stash for ages, I love the muted colours, so tore up a few strips and stuck them onto the peg, then used Tim Holtz Red Brick distressing ink pad and also the photo distressing inkpad to age the paper slightly.I then used the Elusive Images Inspirational Words themeplate to stamp onto the whole thing with Grey Stazon.

I used the Eazi-Score plastic alphabet templates for the letter, cut out the letter from matching paper then stuck it onto some stiff card, I distressed the edge of the letter to give it a finished look, then cut a couple of strips of paper the give me the little 'paper ribbons', I used the Fastenator for the giant staples then a miniature one for the little ribbon, just added some paper flowers and some eyelets to decorate the letter.


I'm quite pleased with this little project and I will be doing more, they are a really sweet idea and have soooooo many different uses.

Thanks for looking in,

Friday 22 August 2008

Medallion Bell




I've had this stamp for a wee while now, but just only found the time to have a little play with it, and I must say I love it to bits!!! I think I will be doing some more of these for my Christmas tree this year.

It's stamped onto plain cream card and coloured with those gorgeous little Twinkling H20's.......I've added beads to wire in the centre to act as the 'clapper' for the bell and just finished off the 'hanger' with a matching bead.
Thanks for looking in,

Wednesday 20 August 2008

Fun decoupage,





Now these are fun! Some cute and amusing designs on these sets, they are Marij Rahder designs and this set is the Fifties Feeling, I bought these from Sharon Duncan a while ago and made these two cards up as soon as I received them, I just couldn't wait! I don't really do too much of the decoupage, but do enjoy it when I do......if that makes sense,..........I just thought these sets would be a nice change for me, and I think the 'Big Lady' would make a good card for a fella, the baby card says it all really,thanks for looking in,

Tuesday 19 August 2008

Jewellery.........




Well this is my first attempt at making some beaded jewellery. Nothing really elaborate though. For the necklace I just threaded three strings of seed beads and some mixed shapes, then added the pendant, I did two strands for the bracelet and the earrings were done using three different sizes of headpins attached to a jump ring then added to the earring findings. It wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be, in fact it was quite therapeutic really, thanks for looking in.

Sunday 17 August 2008

Envelope keepsake book








This is a variation on the 'Victorian Romance Envelope Book' I made for the cardmaker of the year competition last year.

I made this as a gift for Glenda last year after I won the website competition!

I used double sided black card for this project, printed off some of the Artylicious Fantasy Floral cd rom backing papers and used the Dream unmounted stamp themeplate (which I chose as my prize), I used a Whispa's inkpad in blue to stamp the images, I also has a go at the fantastic Ten Second Studio metal art, which is amazing by the way, and you can get some stunning effects with this stuff!! I mounted some pictures that were taken with me 'showing off' my entry for the website competition when I visited her on the Opening day of her new 'shop', and then just finished things off with some little charms and punched out flowers.
Glenda was delighted with her little 'keepsake book, and I was pleasantly surprised at how it turned out, Thanks for looking in,

p.s.................what were we laughing at?.........Glenda forgot to take off her 'pinny'........and had some crazy antics trying to 'get ready' before the picture was taken! It was funny really,

Tuesday 12 August 2008

Medallion Butterfly





Now this is my therapy! I love the Medallion stamping system, I find it very therapeutic indeed and if I had the time I would sit for hours and hours and hours......sadly it's not to be!

This card wasn't made for anyone in particular, I was just dying to use that stamp!

I have stamped the butterfly out three times,cut out three different sizes and then glittered using the Pee-Wee pastel glitter. I scored down the body of the smallest layer of the butterfly to make it look like the wings were 'moving' it just gives it a bit more dimension...it's stamped onto stardream ivory card and it's really pretty.....I used the cuttlebug Swirls embossing folder for the background and edged it with the pentouch Gold Calligraphy marker, I also added some glitter on the swirls just to finish it off slightly. The dragonfly is in fact a peel-off sticker, I added some glitter to the wings just to 'lift' it slightly......Thank you all for looking in......'till next time......I'm off to play with some more medallions!