Wednesday Words

A gloomy rainy day yesterday - just perfect for crafting! So here's what I got up to.....

First I made a scrap book page using the new sketch from The Memory Nest.  It looks a little busy at first glance, but the DT have made some amazing pages which really helped me to focus down on the elements I wanted to include - be sure to check them out!

I also planned to make a page for Shimelle's weekly challenge, but quickly realised I could combine the two quite easily as her theme is to use a subtly patterned background paper.

So I remembered this photo of me and my boys looking all squeaky clean and dressed in our best for my husband's niece's wedding.  This seemed to fit the one of the phrases quite nicely from The Memory Nest's twist.

Of course I had to include some stamping and managed to not only use my go to journalling block stamps, but also some circles and hearts from Uniko Studio. I liked the clean understated look of this page so I just finished it off with a few triangles of nailheads to help the eye travel over the page.

 

Supplies:

Paper: Kaisercraft, Up Up & Away collection; doodlebug, kraft in color

Stamps: Collage Press, Tell Your Story; Uniko Studio, Round In Circles & Flower Power #3 ; Inkylicious Twinches sentiment

Inks: Memento, Espresso Truffle, Summer Sky

Alphas: ep, tis the season & country drive

Embellishments: Mark Richards, nailheads

The next few hours were spent making my patchwork square for this month's Sugar Block Club.  The personal challenge this month was to be present and think about how you use your mobile phone.  

Now me, I love my mobile phone.  It's become my best friend.  I use it to take photos, to share photos, to plan my time, to check emails, to keep in touch, to play games, to write lists, to help me remember birthdays, anniversaries & appointments, to share quotes and inspirational sayings - the list is endless.  

But having said all this I am very aware of not using it when I should be giving someone my undivided attention.  If they're busy watching tv or reading or working, then I think it's ok to get my phone out. But apart from a quick check if it rings - my dad uses it to contact me when he needs help - I'm sure, I hope this is correct, I never ignore who I'm with.

So that made me think.  And become more aware.  And more present! 

Here's my presence block:

 

And here are all the four blocks I've completed so far:

Thanks for spending your time looking at my blog today.

Jane

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More Talk

A bit of an extra late post for today to share a card for CAS Colours & Sketches.

I have to say when I first saw their colour choices for this challenge I panicked. Something to do with only having one grey ink pad I think.  But when I'd mulled it over a bit I realised one colour was black and I could create a grey by a second stamping, so that gave me the three colours.

I always admire cards and images in monochromatic colours - they always look so classy and ageless. And this is what I came up with:

 

 

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko Studio, Background Builders Vines; Clearly Besotted, Say It In Style
Inks: Memento, tuxedo black, London fog
Die: Clearly Besotted, Tag Along
Embellishments: Ppaermania, adhesive pearls; washi tape from my stash

And YAY!! When I was over at CAS Colours & Sketches to copy their link for this post I spotted they've kindly chosen my entry for last week's challenge as one of their top three - Thank you so much!
 
Thanks for looking at my extra post today - much appreciated.

Jane
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Tuesday Talk

I'm still experimenting with the combination of the colours purple and red - really think they clash quite strikingly. Today I'm using them for a card using the Unscripted Sketches layout for this week.

First I rotated the sketch and added a strip of patterned paper to the bottom of a rectangle of white card. Then I tied the twine round to help me get an idea of the proportions.

I stamped the stems and leaves of the tulips next, then stamped and die cut the flower heads - check out this tutorial for a brilliant way to line up a stamped image with a die.

I used my new Stampin Up ink pad for the flower heads - quite amazing how much better the ink coverage is with this pad, will definitely be investing in some more colours soon.

 

Supplies:

Stamps: Clearly Besotted, Pretty Petals Plus

Inks: Memento, grape jelly, cottage ivy; SU, Calypso Coral

Die: Clearly Besotted, Pretty Petals Plus

Paper: doodlebug, kraft in color

Twine from my stash 

Thank you for taking the time to drop by today, I do appreciate it.

Jane

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Monday Moment

My focus for today is the new challenge at Less is More - something that makes you smile.

So my first thought was purple - no surprise there! Then I remembered a dress I had seen that had red flowers on a purple background and what a stunning colour combination it was. And that was where I began.

Sometime later - totally lost track of the time - three cards were made and I was definitely smiling.

First of all I made this card which made me smile because I love this bicycle and the idea of flowers floating out of the basket and of course the colours are purple and red.

Then I made this card which includes butterflies - they always make me smile when they appear with the sunshine in my garden. And I just love the curly letters in the sentiment.

Lastly I made this card with a stamp of a very contented and smug looking cat - his smile makes me smile.

An entire afternoon completely lost playing in my craft room using lots of favourites things. So what's not to smile about?

Supplies:
Card 1:
Stamps: Clearly Besotted, Good Times & Design A Tree
Inks: Memento, lady bug, grape jelly
Washi tape from my stash
Card 2:
Stamps: SU, Papillon Potpourri; Uniko Studio, All Occasion Sentiments #3
Inks: Memento, grape jelly
Die: SU butterfly
Embellishments: Mei Flower gems & washi tape from my stash
Card 3:
Stamps: Penny Black, Purrfect Day
Inks: Memento, tuxedo black
Promarkers: violet, marsh green, meadow green, crimson
Washi tape from my stash

So now to pick which card to enter for the challenge ...

Thanks for dropping by today.

Jane
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Saturday Scribbles

So how's your Easter been so far?  I'm still trying to catch up with posting all the cards I made last week before settling down to some more crafty time with today's new challenge releases.

Oh and talking about new releases have you discovered this new challenge blog yet? Triple A Cards is a brand new clean and simple challenge blog with prizes to be won.  Its first game is on Monday 5th May and I might just be mentioning it quite a lot from now on BECAUSE.....

I've been asked to be part of the Design Team - how absolutely AMAZING is that!!!

                                                                                              .....it's still sinking in, but I'm THRILLED!

Time to put my feet back down on the ground and share today's card.  I used the stunningly simple layout from Freshly Made Sketches and the summery colours from ColorQ.  I'm loving the contrast of the orange and yellow with the turquoise.

   

Supplies:

Stamps: Uniko Studio, Beautiful Blooms 1 & sentiment fromFlower Power 1 

Inks: Memento, dandelion, tangelo, London fog

Die: Clearly Besotted, Tag along

Paper: doodlebug, take note

Embellishments: doodlebug sprinkles, bumblebee assortment; white hemp

 Thank you for looking today.  Enjoy your long weekend and maybe it won't rain here in the UK after all!

Jane

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Friday Focus

I'm having a busy crafting week and can't believe I've posted every day! And found time for a lovely lunch with ex-workmates too!

Well today I've a card and a scrapbook page to share.

I'll start with the card.  The new challenge at The Male Room is a card which includes man's best friend/pet.  So that sent me straight to my LOTV stamps and I chose this one with the guitar - a much used favourite.

I stitched round the bottom and right hand side of the background card to add texture and used sprinkles to draw your eye towards the sentiment and image.

Sorry about the picture quality, a bit gloomy round here today.

Supplies:
Stamp: LOTV
Inks: Memento, tuxedo black, London fog
Promarkers: buttercup, tulip yellow, mustard, caramel, terracotta, cocoa, coll grey 1, 4, & 5, tea green
Flexmarkers: cobalt blue, cloud blue
Embellishments: doodlebug sprinkles, blue jean assortment

Focus 2

Now the turn of my scrapbook page.

I loved Melody's page, a DT member at Color Throwdown, so much I knew immediately I wanted to make a page and use a black and white photo for this week's challenge.  So I looked through my old photos and found this one of me at primary school way back when ....

I had such fun stamping and using pinks and adding butterflies, pearls and twisty twine for this nostalgic feminine page. I was really pleased with how it turned out. Hope you like it too.

What do you think of the hairdo?  My mum used to cut it herself, using a pudding basin by the look of it, and usually not particularly straight.  But it is just so typical of that era and I seem to remember multiple plastic hair slides too.

Supplies: 
Paper: SU, background paper; Collage Press, Margot; Craft Creations, grey weave + scraps from my stash
Stamps: SU, Papillon Potpourri; Paula Pascal, journalling spots, Technique Tuesday, Life in Pictures by Ali Edwards; Kaisercraft, Botanical
Inks: Memento, London fog, bamboo leaves
Die: Clearly Besotted, Tag Along
Punch: SU, butterfly
Alphas: Websters Storytellers & Bella BLVD Sophisticates
Embellishments: twine & pearls from my stash

Thanks for looking and hope today is a good start to the Easter weekend for you.

Jane
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