BBC1 7pm, don't be late....

:) jo xx

Strictly Monochrome

'After the sunshine comes the rainbow!
But this is red OR yellow OR pink OR green...
This week you can do ANYTHING you like on a card BUT you can only use one colour.
I (Lythan) have been very strict with the team and quite frankly enjoy the power when they come begging to be allowed to use just a hint of one other colour. I did in the end allow black for the sentiment particularly if you do an all white card. But the real idea is to have fun with just one colour and see just what variation there is.'



Gosh, how hard was this? I really struggled with this dare, it was not the dare itself,as it was everything that a dare should be - challenging stimulating and made me think 'out of the box' but it was all the little things that I could not use; a white gel pen, black pen doodles, inking the edges of things with a brown or black inkpad.... I think that maybe I should have done this for the 'out of the comfort zone dare!.

After mush deliberation as to whether I could get away with using 99% Grey (Yeah I know, it looks black lol) or when Brown becomes Magnolia . I decided not to try and 'cheat' and use Pink, Pink, Pink and more Pink

So there you have it. Not entirely happy with the card, Josh came down stairs this morning and said 'what's that rubbish card' great! lol

I used... Blonde Moments Pink paper - it really is Pink, not white as it looks in the piccie - I was v careful not to use the bit that had a Lilac, stripe running through it :) Pink spotty paper is DCWV from Rachie's shop. Pink Brads Pink Button and Pink Ribbon are Papermania, The Pink butterflies, I stamped using a homemade stamp - cut a sizzix die from foam, inked with Pink, stamped on to Pink paper and cut out.Pink doodling - I doodled the frame too, Pink flowers from dream *designs*

Thank you Lythan for the dare - It was a super fantastic one :) The other girls have made some fantabulous pieces of art work for this dare and they are all here... Have a go :) I am sure that you can do better than I did....

TFL :)

jo xx

Birthday Wishes - CPS 7

So after a ridiculously late one Tuesday night in order to get some Magazine stuff done in time for the deadline, I can say that it had all been signed sealed and delivered (figuratively speaking) and 'yes. Mum I will be more organised nest time' (I can try anyway!!). Popped to Mum and Dad's on the way home for lunch where Jared played with their latest plaything - a hat from St Patrick's day that is almost as big as he is...


Can't show most of the stuff that I have been working on :( but can show this :)...
Have made a card using the CPS 7 template. I used Basic Grey Phoebe papers, Prima flowers, Paperclip and buttons from stash, Printed sentiment, Cuttlebug Frame die, hand stitching and inking to finish.

I was so super tired after finishing all the stuff and having a daytrip to Bath that I went to bed for a nap at 6 and did not wake up til this morning.... Jase got the boys tea from the chippy (I guess occaisonally it's ok :)) and they watched the dismal Engalnd perfomance (apparently!).
Before I retired, I did get Josh to pick a name at random for my Flying Eye ATC and the winner is......

Loona

Congratulations!! and I would also like to thank everyone who takes the time to visit my blog :)

jo xx

Sunshine....

I didn't think that I was going to have time for the little extra this week - sunshine but then I remembered this card that I made with a big sunny sunflower.

I've got some bits and pieces on the go at the moment for Papercraft Inspirations so struggling a bit for time.... I stitched it (by hand) watching Face that I taped, ok it's not the best film but is a UK one and has the oh so scrummy Robert Carlyle in it...he may not be to every one's taste especially as Begbie in Trainspotting lol but he does get his shirt off in it...

yum! I digress.... I used; Basic Grey, K & Co and some kind of harlequin papers, can't remember which they are, a Poundland bloom - the only colour that they had although I see from nosing around other blogs that they did have some, I just got there too late *winks* at Em :) Hand stitching (see above) and inking. Card is from the Papermill - still impressed that it looks like Bazzill :).

Don't forget to leave a comment below if you would like my ATC, I will get one of the monsters (I say monsters as so far today the oh so spirited one has chewed his way through a Biro that he found and emptied a pot of embossing powder into a cup, calling it sugar...Just as well I don't do this stamping lark very often :)
) to pick a name at random tomorrow....

and don't forgot to check out the other fantabulous cards on the Daring Cardmaker's Blog.
TFL :)

jo xx

Wednesday Stamper - Flying Eye!

I found the Wednesday Stamper Site through Gillian's fantastic blog. They set a fun weekly challenge - The theme can be interpreted in any way but it must include a form of stamping - be it rubber, foam, clear etc. Now.... if you have read any of my previous posts about stamping, it just does not agree with me, or I don't agree with it lol. I really wanted to give this a go though - this week's theme is 'The eyes have it!' and... also made my first ATC at the same time!!! I caught a little bit of crafting on QVC this week whilst Jared was napping and was reliably informed by Dawn Bibby that the next big craft thing is gonna be 'Punk' So I made this...


It does have straight lines IRL :)
I made the background using Word and WC Rhesus A Bta font, Stamped over the top of this with Black Ink (although it came out kinda grey!) using a clear Fiskars stamp. The eye is free clip art and I added wings using el&font gohtic! font, printed them using a high ink setting and sprinkled embossing powder as soon as they came out the printer, set using a heat gun. The same font was used for the 'flying eye' writing, added some white handmade paper and scraps of tartan paper. Hand stitching and inked edges, Added a safety pin and eyelet and then suddenly thought that maybe ATC's are supposed to be flat so in an inspired moment, flattened the ATC with my Sizzix machine and converter....

So there it is, my first ATC and Wednesday Stamper Challenge. Not being sure what to do with it now, I am offering it as a little bit of blog candy - My first too :) I have also cut out some big scalloped squares and circles and some cuttle bug chipboard to go with it...

If you would like it, leave a comment, telling me whether or not you think that Punk is gonna be big - or what other trends we are gonna see in the near future :) Leave a comment by the end of Tuesday and I will get one of the little ones to pull a name out of the proverbial hat on Wednesday...

TFL :)

jo xx

CPS Colour Feature - 'Thank U'

The Girls over on the CPS Blog have given a colour feature - a picture to use as a starting point of a design. The colours are fab, bright and citrusy and using these colours as a basis, I made this....

I used, HOTP papers, K & Co Monogram, Flowers from Dream *Designs* , Button from a Charity Shop, Brads from Rachie's shop, Ribbon from Little Silver Hat and a dept. store and Rub ons to spell 'thanks'. Hand Stitching and Inking to finish.

TFL :)

jo xx

Twins or More

Keryn's turn to dare this week....

Hi, from Keryn and it's my turn to set the Dare this week. Doesn't there seem to be more and more multiple births around at the moment. Or perhaps I'm just noticing as a member of my family is due to deliver twins in September this year.

Your dare for this week is to create a card using any technique, any style, to welcome the birth of multiples. If you keep the card long enough there is bound to be someone you know having twins or more to send it to.

I don't actually think that I know any twins (apart from Tracie, but even then, I don't know her twin!!). This was definitely a challenging dare but thank you, Keryn, it was fun :)



Supplies used were; K & Co Hannah papers, Letters are, 't' K & Co covered monogram, 'w' sizzix die cut, 'I' and 'n' K & Co Hannah letters and 's' a sizzix die cut negative. Printed 'It's' using the king and queen font, Ribbon from Little Silver Hat, Brads from Rachie's shop and the flowers are part of the wonderful RAK that I received from Bety. Stitching (by hand) and inking to finish.


Don't forget to check out all the other beautiful 'multiples' cards on the Dare blog, can't wait to see what you create!!
TFL :)

jo xx

Fantastic Flowers!

Just a little post to say thank you to Bety - iralamija for the RAK that she sent me, the flowers arrived safely this morning from 'across the pond' and they are fantabulous :) Thank you so much, Bety, they are so lush and I can not wait to use them!!!

jo xx

Pirates, Jared and CPS 6...

Josh saw this on Latharia's blog when I was blog hopping the other day and keeps asking for me to put it on mine...,

Jared wanted me to take a piccie of him looking 'sad'...,

I made a card for the CPS 6 sketch - quite a tricky one for me this week as it actually involved leaving blank spaces on the card *shock*....! It is supposed to be a 'Spring' card - I chose to make an Easter card as it take place during the Spring season :) I used Bazzill Card, Paper from Paperchase, Ribbon from Little Silver Hat, eBay brads, Prima Flowers and silk ones from Wilkinsons, Hand written 'sentiment', inking and stitching.

TFL!

jo xx

Poorly Sick?

This week's little extra is entitled 'To Make You Feel Better'...I seem to have been making quite a few of these cards recently...I used... Basic grey Stella Ruby paper, Quickutz plasters, Prima Flowers, Brads from eBay, clip from Carolyns and Ribbon from Little Silver Hat - Lianne at Little Silver Hat has packs of ribbon to match the new Basic Grey papers - how fab is that?! I used The King & Queen Font lol I thought it would be funny to use a mostly v posh font and write 'Poorly Sick?' with it.... Sizzix letters, hand stitching and inking to finish.

TFL :)

jo xx

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!!! Ok so I am a little late as per usual, as is also the card for my Mum - I am a bad daughter and I apologise lots. I did give Mum some flowers though so not all bad lol!

Made this card for her...
and it is now in the postal system winging it's way to her... (sorry again)

Joshie made me a fab card (at school...)

and wrote his name in it himself :) I am guessing that Jared had a little help :)

I had a fab lie in- well until around half eight at which point Jase went back to bed cos I was up(!)..... obviously not getting this whole Mother's Day thing.... He did get up later and we all went to see Nan in the hospital - she has moved now to one of those community type places so a lot quieter and hopefully she will mend alot quicker....

CPS 5...'Grandad'

Nan is still in hospital and Grandad is feeling a little under the weather (he is 92!) so I made him this card... It fits in pretty well with the CPS 5 sketch - which called for stamping (eek!) I am about as much use to stamps and ink as a chocolate teapot, plus there is also the fact that I only own about 3 stamps and Jared has peeled off the wood bit on at least two of them.... I made my own lol, The stars are sizzix cut funky foam, layered 3 times, I added a foam handle with DST and used it to stamp in white then brown ink. Not too bad (even if I do say so myself!!) I also used Stella Ruby papers by Basic Grey, Papermania (I think!) eyelets which set so easily with a cropodile, Paper String from Ikea, K&Co monogram, Rub-ons, stitching (by hand) and a leetle bit of inking.

TFL :)
jo xx

Mum!

Made a 'Mum' card for the Daring Cardmaker's little extra based upon the sketch provided by the wonderous Kathy :) Supplies used were....Basic Grey Stella Ruby papers, Another of those die cut flowers from the Newbury craft show, Ribbon from Little Silver Hat, Stitched on Sizzix letters, Eyelets from Papermill, and a button from the Sally Army shop (I love charity shop finds :))

TFL!

jo xx

How Random!

This week the fantastic Kel has set a brilliant dare that is a real challenge.

Firstly make a list of 10-20 crafty items you have in your stash, whether it be brads, ribbons, peel-off's, craft robo, dies, stamps, glittter, buttons, flowers, patterned papers, paint... You get the idea! Give them all a number or print them out a sheet and pop them in a hat all folded up.
Next, ask someone non-crafty to either pick 3-5 of your numbers or pieces of paper from your from your hat.
Finally, make a card using ONLY the items chosen. A card blank, some sort of sticky stuff and your basic craft tools are allowed If you want to make it really challenging, list plenty of items that you haven't used in a while, or thought you may never use again!

So I made a list of embellishments, cut up little bits of paper with the corresponding numbers on them and let the boys pull 2 each out of a prima hydrangea tin lid(!). Definitely hedging my bets by not adding techniques such as doodling, inking and sewing (or Patterned paper cos that would just be way too challenging!). On the list were; Eyelets, Brads, Prima Flowers, Silk Flowers, Ribbon, Paper String, Photo Turns, Clips, Photo Hangers, Buttons, Die Cuts, Adhesive Embellishments¶, Chipboard, Punched Shapes, Lace, Mini Tags, Slide Mounts.
¶ Posh name for peel offs....!

The boys very dutifully chose Silk Flowers Ribbon, Chipboard and Punched Shapes.

I made this....


....Destined for Dad's-friend-at-work-Rachael, then realised that it should not have brads or adhesive embellishments...

Jared wandered up to his Daddy later that day.with one of the tiny numbered pieces of paper and said; "Me made smallest book in the world...I read it to you...Once upon a time...Princess...The End!" So he can do cute after all lol (and he got the sticker from the boys box of crafty bits rather than rummaging through mine...!)

So Dare card take two...


Supplies are Basic Grey Blush paper, Silk flowers from Poundland(the big one!) and Dunelm Mills(the small one!) Punched Circles, Ribbon from Little Silver Hat and K&CO chipboard 'M'. This was certainly a challenging dare but lots of fun too! As per usual the Design Team have made fantabulous little pieces of art and they are all on the blog. Can't wait to see what you all create from your randomness!!!

TFL :)

jo xx

Woohoo!

I am so pleased - I am the very 'chuffed to bits' winner of Bety's RAK and.... they are are on their way! Fantastic, I've never won one of these before so mostly very thrilled :) Bety makes the most wonderful cards with her flowers and I am going to have some too!

Don't forget DCM new dare tomorrow @ 10 am Be There or be Square lol........

oh oh just checked Bety's blog and you can buy them now too.... here :)

Humpty Dumpty

Rofl!

Now we are 5....

Josh's Birthday today :) *Happy Birthday Josh*

We had cake and at Josh request, Chicken Nuggets, chips, garlic bread and Nanny and Grumps for tea (we didn't eat Nanny and Grumps! - they were present for the occaision!!) oh and we didn't actually have chicken nuggets - I am not a fan so we had Quorn 'chicken' nuggets which taste better imo :)


So...after school was over, Josh became Superman for the rest of the day...

Oh and I made this card too for him - I made the guitar hero card for him but whilst browsing blogs with Joshie perched on my knee, he announced that he would like a Power Rangers one after spying the fantabulous one on Nicky's blog....

I used wallpaper from the Jetix website, a tag that I saved from a Tshirt that Joshie had for Christmas, Sizzix star, Inking and faux stitching (gel pen and pricking tool)....

TFL :)

Jo xx

Feel Better....

It seems like the time for Nans to be poorly, Nan is still in Hospital and Jason's nan is now home but recovering after an op. I made this card for her....

I used Basic Grey Urban Couture and K & Co Papers, Flowers are from the craft show in Newbury - no idea of the actual supplier lol. SEI tab, eyelets and button from stash. Hand written sentiment (I nicked that phrase from Lythan - it does sound so much cooler than greeting...)As per usual, hand stitching and inking to finish :)

Also took some pictures of the boys this weekend, Josh now refuses to pose for a photo but instead must have his tongue poked out at every opportunity...



TFL :)

jo xx

(Super)heroes

he·ro (hîr'ō) n., pl. -roes
1.A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose;
2.A person noted for special achievement in a particular field

su·per·he·ro (sū'pər-hîr'ō) n., pl. -roes.
A figure, especially in a comic strip or cartoon, endowed with superhuman powers and usually portrayed as fighting evil or crime.

My turn to dare this week....

Hi all, Jo here to dare you this week :) and I would like to challenge you to make a hero themed card. It could be a card for the Hero in your life or a Superhero themed card....

I chose this dare a). because I have two boys who love to play dress up as super heroes and b). in homage to the wonderfully original programme that is 'Heroes'. I think that you can get it now on telly boxes here - it is fab lol. Actually I do seem to be inspired by all things celluoid, Josh has a middle name totally taken from Mission Impossible and Jared has the honour of being named after that faux Biblical passage in Pulp Fiction....

and I made this....

Destinted to be opened by a certain little hero who is five next week and loves all things guitar...

I used Basic Grey Urban Coutire paper as the background, SEI stickers, papers, frame and brad, hand stitching and doodling (inc the hand written greeting)

The DCM team have made (again!) fantabulous little pieces of hero themed artwork. It is also super fab to have Lynne with us as a Guest Desigener on the team :). They are all here. Looking forward to see all of the wonderful creations that you make.... :)

and of course todays mood just has to be this one...

Cake and Cards

Made cake this week with Jared - the recipe is from my new hero of all things food, Bill Grainger. He rules!!! We try and make something most weeks but this week we missed our usual timeslot as we went to visit Nan. All done now though and took a piece for Nan this afternoon :)



and also made these cards for Mum's-neighbour-across-the-road, Tracey *waves at Tracey*

I don't normally do that many comissioned cards, mainly due to having two rather 'spirited' children lol but I did enjoy doing these;




My turn to dare tomorrow... mwhahahaha :) This week we also have the amazingly talented Lynne as a guest designer so don't forget to have a lookie after 10 tomorrow morning. See you all then :)

CPS 4

Made this card using the template on the CPS blog....
(if you click on the piccie you should get an up close view :))



This is the template;


I used Dream Street and Basic Grey Gypsy Paper, Cuttlebug and Sizzix dies, Dunelm Mills and Prima Flowers, Ribbon and Button from Stash. TFL :)

Three x Three

Definitely back into the comfort zone after a little foray into the world of Teabag Folding with this week's little extra....



- As long as you use three buttons, three ribbons and three patterned papers, you can add anything to the card from your stash :)

I used Basic Grey Blush papers - doodled extra bits on to it to create the branches, Buttons are American Craft and Ribbon is SEI. I also added some SEI brads and (more) flowers from Dunelm Mills.

Check out the blog here as there are some really fab inspirational cards there :)

Out of the Comfort Zone

'This week its my turn (Bondgirl aka Tracie) to dare you all. I looked at my cards last week and thought hmm they are ok but they are all very similar - white square card, double matted embellishment, printed greeting. Dont get me wrong there is nothing wrong with doing what you are good at, I bet we all have our "signature" ranges but I realised what a wealth of techniques and styles I wasnt trying. So this week I dare you to step outside your comfort zone and have a go at something new - be it something you have never tried, or something you havent done for ages.'

Hmmm so something I have never tried - probably either Decoupage or Tea Bag Folding. I really could not find it in me to indulge of a spot of Decoupage - I am sure those that do it enjoy and make fabulous creations but it is so not for me :)

So that left Tea Bag Folding (I did have to chuckle when I over heard two ladies of mature stature refer to it as 'teabagging' in the Papermill shop last weekend... Dad don't look it up, it's rude *blushes*)

I found this site

Downloaded, printed and following the instructions,

I made this....

'cept I didn't cos I got up and whilst making breakfast, Jared added a few bits to the original with a glue stick. Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh.

Was all set make it again on Friday but then Jared walked in to the hoover (technically a Dyson but always called a hoover in our house lol)

So made an unscheduled trip to Casualty.

Nothing broken as apparently you don't actual bones in your nose until you are around five just lots of brusing and more developing by the day :) and we managed an unscheduled trip to visit my Nan who is currently residing in the hospital after breaking her hip :(

Back to the card.....

The card is for my Nan :) *Get well soon Nan!*

I used tea bag paper tile things that I printed from here Flower is from Dunelm Mills, Brad, can't remember but it is a MM one and the red ones are from Carolyns. Printed greeting, Hand Stitching and some Bazzill Card.

Gorgeous cards from the other Darers are on the blog here to inspire you :) The dare was super fab so thank you Tracie, not to sure that I will be stepping too far out of my comfort zone soon though lol!