"Sisterly Love" 18th Birthday Card

My youngest daughter Emily will be 18 tomorrow. We are very lucky she is a real darling. The card i would like to share with you is the card i made for her from one of her brothers Edward. Trying to make cards for her has been very challenging. Just when i thought i was safe, she popped her head round the door " what you doing muma" The challenge when you make, cards is making some thing that is different, that family have not seen me make before.With 3 sibling and us to make and hide 4 cards has nearly sent me mad.
Materials i used

The main image is a Digital stamp called Anneka by From the Heart
Sister sentiment by From the heart
Hugs and kisses sentiment by stamping all day
Patterned paper is a paper stack by Die cuts with a view
Solid card stock, 2 shades of blue and green by American Crafts.
Promarkers dusty pink,blush,sun-kisses pink, coral, satin, sandstone, caramel, denim blue, April showers, pear green, lime green, warm grey 1,blue grey.
The number 18 I cut with my silhouette cameo.

The challenges I am entering this card into.
1.Delightful inspirations from the heart stamps. i {heart} sketches They have a beautiful sketch. Me i like a sketch makes my brain tic.Pop over they have some great cards from their design team, and a design team call too.
2.The sisterhood of crafters Their theme of the challenge is use a digital stamp.
3.One stitch at a time Pop over and see the design teams work.
4. Digi stamps 4 joy The theme is the 60's i chose colors that remind me of the 60's . They also have a design team call.

Thank you for dropping by, i love to read your coments. The nice thing
I like about crafters is the way we all like to share what we have made and how we did it. I will be posting the rest of emilys cards over the next few days, will be loads easier once she has seen them. Off to wrap presents and chill bucks fizz for breakfast. Crafty hugs till next time
 Julie Ann x

Cute As A Button Kitty Cat

Hello my lovely crafty blogger friends, thank you for stopping by my little crafty world. Today i would like to share with you a cute Kitty card i have made. For anyone i have not jet board to death.  I love cats. I have a collection of the little furry darlings, big fat long haired white bundles Noddy and Freddy down to a very snobby Dixon a crossed eyed tabby.
I am so lucky as a designer for Fitztown to see all the new releases of Digi stamps and downloads from conception. When the very talented Karen Sheltrown shared a new cute animal range, i was so very excited. Karen has been very kind and let me play with this cat image, i have had the card made, but held off until it was available for you my crafty friends to buy. Pop over to the Fitztown store were you can see all the other cuties in this collection

Materials I used.

Main image cutie the cat  Digi stamp cutie12 by Fitztown crafts
Sentiment stamps by Nicky from stamping all day
Cupcake stand by stamping up
Card base i cut with my silhouette cameo from a 12" sheet of Kraft card by Tim Hotz
Patterned paper by Papermania capsule collection, which i also used to make the rosette.
2 sheets of co-coordinating card by American crafts
promarkers,dusty pink,march hare, sky blue, pale blue, sandstone, satin
Buttons, flowers and ribbon from my stash

Challenges i have entered my card into.
1. The paper shelter, their theme is any thing goes, with a twist they have a design team call.

2. Creatalicious challenge they are on challenge #54 and the theme is one for the boys. I think any boy would love my blue cat card.

3. One stitch at a time challenge 180 the theme is use a Digi stamp. I think most people have got their heads around digi stamps, they are so much more convenient, and can be any size, and so much easier to store. Traditional stamps still have their place, but i like to hybrid craft.
4. Sister act card challenge they are on challenge #23 their theme is any thing goes, and also girls and boys they have a DTcall.
5. 4 krafty girlz challenges.This is a new challenge blog so please girls pop over and share the love.
6. Bunny Zoe's Crafts challenge The theme is blue. well you can not get more blue. I have known Zoe for some time, she has the most amazing online shop. Filled with lots of gorgeous stuff. Zoe stocks loads of rubber stamps ranges, and to top things off she posts every day, 99% of my orders have come next day.You can find bunny Zoe's shop here
I hope you like my card today, please pop back when you are next passing, i love to read your comments. It is my Emily's 18th birthday on Friday, so i better get on, cake to make ETC.. crafty hugs Julie Ann x

Heart Wall Plaque My DT project for Fitztown challenge blog.

Hello blogger friends.
Were did that week go. Mr Charlie went back to school.. and was suitably unpressed. Emily had her college induction day yesterday, but the only thing on her mind is her 18th birthday. Which is on Friday the 13th............
I would like to share a wall plaque i have made for my brother Andrew and his wife. They have just moved into their new home.I made it with things left over from their wedding invitations and  bits from the bridesmaid dresses. This is my DT project for fitztown challenge blog. The theme is any thing but a card. Please come over and support the rest of the team.
Materials used.

Heart cut from ply wood
Match pot of magnolia paint
Heart image by Fitztown crafts
Monogram by stamping all day.
Promarker colors warm grey 1.vanilla, budding rose, sun kissed pink, fresh meadow.
Ribbon and lace from my stash

Challenges i have entered.

1.Simply create too. There theme is vintage or old.
2.Bloggers challenge theme is to die for
3.Creative craft challenge their theme is a picture inspirations
4 five simple things .

Hope you all have a crafty weekend, please come back soon, Julie Ann x xx

My DT Card for Fitztown Challenge 8 Fairy Picture Frame

Today is the start of a new challenge over at Fitztown Challenge blog. How quickly time go, we are onto challenge no 8. The theme this fortnight is any thing but a card. I hope you like what i have made, I used one of Morgans amazing Digi stamps.

Materials I used.
Fairy Digi Stamp by Morgan and can be bought from the Fitztown shop http://www.fitztown.com/fae.html
Flower and leaves rubber stamps are the ivy stamp plate by Creative expressions, Along with the butterfly which is off the Botanical stamp plate.
Basic bare picture frame by Docrafts
Versamark embossing ink and black detail embossing powder
Spectrum Noir Pens
TN1 TN2 TN3 TN4 TN5 TN6 TN7 TN8
PP3 PP4 PP5 PP6





I have entered this into 4 challenges

1.Digi Haven Their theme is vintage / old. There design team
have made some beautiful cards, pop over and see. The
Digi Haven challenge can be found Here.

2. Glitter n sparkle. Their theme is Any thing goes. Fitztown are the sponsor for this challenge. So please blogging friends pop over and support them. Being a DT member for Fitztown would be rude not too.You can join in Here.

3. Great Impressions challenge Their theme is fall colors.They have some lovely cards from their team pop over and take a peek.You can find Great Impressions Here. Hard to think it is September. after such a lovely summer, Autumn is just around the corner.

4. Can You Digi It. http://canyoudigiit.com/blog/ Being a fan of digi stamps i have joined this challenge for the second time. The theme is vintage / old. I thought this frame and picture would fit nicely. You can join the challenge here

Please pop over and join the challenge at Fitztown Challenge Blog You must use one of our images to win the prize and they can be found at our shop Here  Crafty hugs Julie Ann x

Sprinkle a little sparkle and fairy dust card

 I would like to share with you a card I made for our challenge at Fitztown Challenge Blog. The theme is add lots of sparkle. It is not to late to come and join us. The design team have been working very hard to make some beautiful cards, please pop over and take a peek. My card to day is Sprinkle a little sparkle and fairy dust . The image is by the talented Morgan Fitzsimons and can be bought as a digi down load in our shop.

 Materials used.
8" square white card blank
Fairy image by Morgan Fitzsimons which can be bought here
the image was colored with a combination of water color pencils and distress inks.
Sentiment is by creative expressions fairy 1.
Tuxedo black memento ink
Patterned paper if from papermainia capsule colection
Iridescent stickles glitter glue
pink and green solid card stock by American crafts.
Card candi from my stash

I am going to enter this card into 2 challenges
1.Joanna sheen's challenge blog . The theme is Pretty in pink.there is some very beautiful cards by Joanna's design team, pop over and take a peek.You can find the challenge here.

2. Your next stamp challenge. they have a sketch this week. I do like a good sketch, You can see the great cards by their design team here.

 Please come and join me and all the design team at fitztown challenge blog, and search for digi stamps and other beautiful things at our Fitztown shop. There will be a new challenge starting on Monday, please pop back to see what we have been making. The sun is shining on the south coast this morning. Mr Oscar has been a log the sea front with his dad this morning. I can feel an ice cream moment coming on. A new ice cream parlor has opened up over the summer, and i have yet to visit, today could be that day. Crafty hugs Julie Ann x

Elegant Circle Easel Card

Hi well its has been some time hasn't it, I am feeling loads better. So happy to be back with my crafty friends. Today i would like to share with you an easel card i made using an image by the very talented artist from Fitztown Morgan Fitzsimons.This image can be bought either as a digi stamp or as i have used a download decoupage sheet. There is a link to the Fitztown shop on my side bar.

 Materials
8" white round easel card from my stash
Decoupage sheet by fitztown craftts by Morgan Fitzsimons.
2 sheets of american crafts 12" card stock.
Patterned papers by hot off the press
Die cut message by craft work cards
Black gems and feathers from my stash
Spellbinders nesting blossom 3 die set
Iridescent spray and sparkle by Crafter,s Companion.
Cameo silhouette die cutting machine, for the flourish and circle mats and layers.





                  
Challenges i have entered the card into.
1.Pennys paper craft challenge blog challenge no 142. The theme is to choose 3 different types of embellishments from the list below. I used gems,flowers and feathers.
Ribbon, lace, eyelets, brads, card candi, charms, flowers, feathers, Buttons, gems or pearls
2.Creative craft challenges. Their theme is not a square
3. Can you Digi it.Their them for this challenge is very vintage, well girls we all love vintage
 Pop over to these challenges and see the card samples their design teams have made, i am sure you would want to join in. Crafty hugs Julie Ann x

Teddy Rock Star

Hello, I would hate to jink things but down on the south coast the sun has been shinning for 4 days in a row. Today i have a cute card to share with you. The image is by the very talented Morgan Fitzsimons from Fitztown. A lot of us struggle to make cards for boys and the men we have to make cards for.With my youngest son Edward being a musician i would use this image for any of his friends.

Materials used

6"x6" white card blank
2 pieces of patterned paper by DCWV from the retro collection
Spellbinder dies, circle and scalloped circle
brown and blue card stock by American crafts
sentiment stamp by Nicky at stamping all day
Image by Morgan Fitzsimmons  Teddy Rock Star
Colored with Flexi markers light fawn,antique white,surf blue,glacier blue,celestial blue,cadet blue,blue grey 1

I set myself a challenge to use just flexi markers. I only have a few colors and wanted to show what can be made. We all would like every color from every brand. This card proves with a few crafty bits lovely things can be made.
I am going to enter this into some card challenges
Milk Coffee Challenge Blog the theme this challenge is Fathers day or a male card There are some beautiful cards by there design team, go on pop over and have a look.

Paper Crafting Journey. The theme is Masculine cards or projects.Make the most of the design teams examples, they are fabby. I am sure they will inspire you to join in .

Mr Charlie is coming to Nanny and Grandys later for a sleep over. We have not seen him all week so we will enjoy his company. He wants to do some gardening and have a BBQ. I had the beach in mind will let you know later who wins x
Crafty hugs Julie-Ann x

Card from the Great outdoors CD ROM by Card Creations Plus

Today i would like to share a card i made for the release of the CD ROM Great outdoors. By card creations plus with exclusive art work by Mark Bardsley.

Materials used.
10" x 7" white card blank
image from the great outdoors by card creations plus.
3 shades of blue card, by American crafts
co-originating grosgrain ribbon by American crafts
sentiment by Stamping all day
card candy from stash
hope you all like it, crafty hugs Julie-Ann x

Fitztown Challenge one

Hello
well the exciting day has finally arrived. The first challenge has gone live at The fitztown challenge blog http://fitztownchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ The theme is any things gos. there are lots of inspiration from my fellow design team members. the girls have worked so hard. A special mention must go to Zoe who has worked tirelessly for weeks, getting a team together and creating the site. I have made this wall hanging for Mr Charlies bedroom door, the reason i made him it, as he was worried at Christmas, how would Santa know which room was his. Good point .

New challenge starting soon

Good morning to every one in blog land.
Things feel quite stress here this morning, Emily has her second A Level history paper this afternoon, and to top every thing her straighteners have just gone pop. She has very long wild hair .. i am typing with a colander on my head. !!!!
Just a quick reminder fitztown challenge blog is open for business and the first challenge starts on the 2th May. The theme is any thing goes. Lots of prizes and blog candy. you can find it here. www.fitztownchallenge.blogspot.co.uk. Happy crafting Julie Ann x

One for the boys

 I made this card, to prove to myself that i can make a card with out using lots of backing papers, and no flowers.Male theme cards can be a mind field unless you really know the young man  well. Not all boys love football, and if they do what team, red or blue.I also wanted to bring in some thing from my silhouette cameo. which i do not us enough. It still scares me a bit. Perhaps a class or an afternoon watching you tube clips may bring me up to speed.

Materials used
8"x8" Kraft card blank
1 x A4 sheet of Kraft card, Medium textures blue card,denim blue star-dream card
Boy image from the kitten queen CD ROM The link to buy this CD Rom can be found on my blog
Silhouette machine to cut the 13 numbers, which i cut at 10cm high, plus a shadow.
Stamped message was from a stampin up rubber stamp.
ribbon from my stash.
black stabilo permanent fine liner for doodling
Pro markers
skin  soft peach,dusky pink,oatmeal.
hair  tan,cinnamon
clothes cornflower,china blue, midnight blue,blue pearl
Tim holtz distress ink brushed corduroy, weathered wood.
Tim Holtz patterned Kraft card.
2 strips of card the length of an sheet of A4 card and 3cm wide to pleat to make the rosette.

I hope you like the card i made. Well 2 cards in one day, what ever next. Crafty hugs Julie -Ann x

Exciting news.

Hello,

I can hear you saying .. 2 posts in one morning, well to give you a laugh.. this was meant to be the first post, nothing changes. The exciting news i wanted to share is.... I have been asked to join a new design team. The most exciting thing is this is a new team. The start of a journey.Fitztown is a digi stamp and craft company which has thousands of images we will be able to hybrid craft with. There are links on my blog to were you can find images to buy and the challenge and inspiration blog. The First challenge starts on the 27th of may. the theme is any thing goes. There will be prizes,blog candy and loads of hints and tips from a very talented team. Please spred the word and come and join in
Crafty hugs as always Julie -Ann x

Sample using The Kitten Queen CD Rom.

Good morning

  I would like to share a card i made using an image and backing paper from our lovely Kitten Queen CD Rom. This card can me made by a novice card maker, but if you are a experienced card maker you can add lots more embellishments, and put your own twist.

Materials used

Kitten Queen CD Rom
 http://www.artfire.com
 1 x image
1 x backing paper, 1 x A4, 1 x A5 (this is an easy of using the same backing paper but changing the size of the elements on the paper. In this example it gave me different sized flowers on my backing paper.
1x 6"x6" white card blank
1 x American crafts 12" solid pink card stock from the bright selection
pink card candy from my stash
Promarker Pens
Skin, putty and sun-kissed pink 
Hair, sandstone and cinamon
warm grey 2 to out line the image to give a shadow and ground the image
Spectrum noir pens
dress, CR4,CR5,CR6.
Sentiment by Nickki from stamping all day.

Method

Firstly i printed out the image onto a piece of super smooth paper, which i cut down to A6. this made the image the correct size for the card i wanted to use. There is no feed for a fancy graphic program, make the printer settings your best friend.   I also printed it on draft settings, and left to dry completely for about 15 minutes, this means there will be no bleeding if you want to color using permanent markers. While the image is curing cut all your mats and layers for your card.
Pink card 1 x 14cm x 14 cm, 1x 9.5cm x 10.5cm, 1 x 12cm x 10cm
from the A4 backing paper 13.5cm x 13.5cm, from the A6 backing paper 9cm x10cm.
I stuck all the mats and layers together with cosmic shimmer drys clear glue. When i assembled the card i put the largest mat down flat, the rest i attached with foam shaker tape.

Please follow our blog http://fitztownchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ and join us on our
 Facebook page crafting with Fitztown https://www.facebook.com/groups/243390335799686/
And join us for our first challenge which starts on 27th May, the theme is any thing goes.
Crafty hugs Julie-Ann x

Flowers in Bloom

Good morning,

Yes it is true i have become a very naughty blogger, i intend to behave myself and try and blog every day. It has been quite manic in charlies nanny's house. Charlie has had his birthday, he is 6 i keep asking myself how did that happen. All he wanted for his birthday was to go to Pepper Pig Land. He went for the day with his mummy and some friends. Then we took him to the circus. The high lite of the evening was when the clown covered uncle Edward in Popcorn. Edward has become a legion in Charlies eyes.

.Well today i have some pictures of some cards and fluffy bits. I made them with the flowers in Bloom CD Rom by Nigel Landon from card creations plus. The art work is from the very talented Jan Harbon. If any one would like the details on how i made any thing please message me.

You can buy the Flowers in Bloom CD Rom, By the artist Jan Harbon, By Nigel Lamdon  from card creation plus here http://www.cardcreationsplus.co.uk/flowers-in-bloom

I have some thing very special to share with all my friends in Blog land, watch out for a post latter and i will share all , crafty hugs Julie-Ann x

My beautiful niece Eva

Here are some pictures of some pages of a scrapbook i made for my brother, of his beautiful daughter Eva.

Sample pictures from the Sheds CD.Rom

Creative Expressions April 2012 card design winner

Look what the Postman has bought me today .

I am over the moon. I have won the April design a card competition, on the creative expressions website. You can see the card i made further down the page, and you can see how i made it  under the tile clean and simple. The prize was 3 stamp sets of my choice. So i chose fairy 1, Antique dress forms and steam punk dreams by the very talented Sam Poole.Guess what i am off to do, yes play with my new stamps, back later to show you what i have made, crafty hugs Julie Ann

Charlie's Grandy's Birthday

Good morning, woke up this morning to no rain !!! Not getting too excited as it is the beginning of a bank holiday weekend, and that normally means wet and windy. It is Mr Charlies Grandy's birthday. Charlie loves birthdays, even when it is not his. Right from a toddler he has loved unwrapping parcels, and cards. Especially any one Elsie's. H likes to put the cards on display, not with the picture showing but the writing inside, all we can think of is he likes to see who the card is from.
 The card i would like to share with you, is the card i made for Grandy from me. Since Charlie was born Bob lost his identity as a husband, son etc and know every one calls him Grandy.
Recipe 
8" White card blank
Patterned paper is from the papermania capsule collection
A4 textured card from Docrafts Papermania capsule collection
Digi stamp, Gus collecting wrinkles with sentiment by Bugaboo, printed onto Neenah super smooth card
http://www.bugaboostamps.com/Gus-Birthday--Collect-Wrinkles_p_1289.html
Shaped label metal die by Go-Kreate
Swiss dots embossing folder
Promarkers, Ivory, Almond, Sun kissed pink, Cinnamon, Sandstone, Blue pearl, Cornflower blue, China blue, Powder blue, Tea green.
Blue gems from my stash.

I am going to enter this card into 3 card challenge Blogs.
Simon Says Stamp Challenge 
http://www.simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/simon-says-stamps-challenge-blog.html
They are celebrating their 3rd birthday this week. The challenge theme is any thing goes. I recommend you pop over and take a look at the design teams card, they are beautiful. There is also a little thank you for joining this weeks challenge, a 10% discount code for on line orders. I have bought several rubber stamps there, and normally arrive like the speed of lightening to the UK in approx 7-10 days.
Catch A Bug Challenge 
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/time-for-recipe-challenge.html
The theme this week is to dry emboss and bling it up. I have only recently discovered Bugaboo Digi stamps, and i love love love them. They are full of humor and perfect for coloring in with promarkers. I think they could be a start of a new stamp addiction. The design team have made some lovely cards, go and take a peek. After visiting i am sure you wont be able to the stamps, and will join in the challenge too. They are offering a great prize, some of their fabby downloadable Digi stamps.
Fetch A Sketch
http://fetch-a-sketch.blogspot.ca/2012/04/challenge-23.html

Below you will find their sketch i used to make my card, This is a new challenge blog i found this week while blog surfing. I took a shine to the sketch, as it is quite different to my normal layout when i make cards.I love sketch challenges, as they make me think outside the box. They have 2 smashing prizes on offer, a $12 gift voucher from A Day For A Daisy , and a down load from Funky Hand. I love the down loads and CD-Rom craft disks by Funky Hand, i have several in my collection.

Be back soon with other things i have made this week, that i would like to share with you, crafty hugs
Julie-Ann

Red and White

Good morning, How are we all?
The card I would like to share with you today I made for my friend. It is her granddaughter's birthday soon and she is having a bike. This cute image of Magnolia Tilda I thought would make a smashing card.

Recipe:
Blank 5" white card
Red and white textured card from the Capsule Card Collection by Paper-Mania
Stamped image Magnolia Tilda
Memento Black Tuxedo Ink
Patterned papers by DCWV
Promarkers - ivory, blush, vanilla, sandstone, cinnamon, coco, red lipstick, red, ice grey 1, warm grey 2 and warm grey 3
Ribbon and card candy from my stash

I am going to enter this card into two craft challenges.

Polka Doodles challenge
The theme is red and white and it is the first time I have entered this challenge. I follow the wonderfully talented Nikky Halls blog and I love her CD-Rom's, especially the Love and Cherish and Paper Boutique, which has a fabulous monkey on, which i have used lots when Mr Charlie needs a card for his school friends. Please pop over and see the wonderful cards and projects the design team have made.

Sketch n Stash challenge blog
The sketch this week was perfect for the card I was making. Are you like me, make the same kind of cards using a similar card layout? That is where sketches come into there own, stretching my imagination and challenging me to do a card or project out side my comfort zone. The other thing is that Sketch n Stash encourage you to find a neglected piece of stash and use it on your card. For me it was the gingham ribbon and the Tilda image, which I stamped for months ago, but the right project had not cropped up. I recommend you pop over and look at the sketch and the great cards the design team have made to give us some inspiration.

Julie-Ann x

.

Personalised Rubber Stamps

Look what the postman has brought me!

I have been thinking for a while about having a personalised rubber stamp made for the back of my cards with my contact details on. My friends would freely tell you, if I could make a decision, I would be more decisive.

Last week i was talking to my friend, Nicky, from the amazing online shop Stamping All Day. We chatted about what I would like, font size and information and I gave Nicky artistic license to do what she thought would suite my personality, along with size and font. I am over the moon and she just got everything right. Nicky makes the most wonderful stamps. Most of the sentiments I use on my cards and scrapbook layouts have been made by her. Nicky offers a friendly professional service and most orders are posted out on the day of payment. The personalised rubber stamps take approx two to three days. You can find Stamping all day here and the personalized stamps can be found here.

Sorry that picture quality is not very good, but I ran outside and took the picture between the rainy showers. I had two stamps made, the top one has all my details on, name,email and blog and the second has my name and email address.

I hope this is helpful to some of my crafty friends, catch up soon, crafty hugs Julie-Ann x