Hi everyone there are 2 posts for today - my TG card is further down the page. Thank you x

Sugar Nellie Winter Fest - Blog Hop

IT'S HERE, YEY!!!!

The launch of 4 new Sugar Nellie 'Winter Wonders' digi stamps and our Blog Hopping event.

I'm one of the new Sweeties so this is my first blog hop with Sugar Nellie, so hello to you all! If you're joining in with the Blog Hop you should have hopped to me from Lis's blog. Remember to leave me a comment and then hop along to Pat's blog next.

To celebrate the launch of the new Sugar Nellie 'Winter Wonders' digi stamps all the DT members have create a 'Christmas or Winter' themed card to get you in the Christmassy mood.  Here's my offering, is a sweet Christmas card made for you using Sugar Nellie's Christmas Garland, and it's available in both rubber and as a digital download it's available from Funkykits. 

Here's what I used:
Digi stamp: Sugar Nellie's Christmas Garland from Funkykits
Cardstock: Kraft card, First Edition 'Blank Canvas', Papermania Coloured card
Prisma Pencils: Pink, Blush Pink, White, Spring Green, Chartreuse, Olive Green, Spanish Orange, Orange, Gingeroot, Terracotta, Carmine Red, Poppy Red, Crimson Red, Light Cerulean Blue, Ultramarine, True Blue, Cloud Blue, Cream
Dies & Punch: Xcut Border Punch (no name), Cuttlebug 'Snowflake'
Other: Gems, Sentiment Stamp (Docraft freebie), Red Glitter Embossing Powder, Ribbon, Buttons, Waco Pearl Maker, White Pan Pastel, Pale Turquoise Pan Pastel, White Gel Pen, Glitter, White Flowersoft

Don't forget to visit Funkykits to check out the gorgeous new (and old) digi stamps.  If you would like to join in with the blog hop or you've got lost along the way,  just hop along to the Sugar Nellie's blog to start at the beginning. Remember to hop along to each of the Design Team's blogs in turn ---- but remember to leave a comment on each blog for a chance to win a prize!

Happy Hopping!

 Janine xx

Totally Gorjuss Challenge 199 - Texture

Well it's that time of the week again - it's challenge time over at Totally Gorjuss.  The theme for this week (199) is 'Texture' and we have 2 sponsors this week - Quixotic Paperie and Bugaboo Stamps. So if you want to be in with a chance to win a lovely prize, pop over to the Totally Gorjuss blog here and enter your card or project with a 'textured' element.  While you're there check out what the fab DT girls have made to inspire you.


Here is the card I have made for the challenge. I stamped and watercoloured my cute cat 'Mimi' using Distressing Pens, and I added my own handmade flowers, pearls and some ribbon.  I used lots of different elements to give lots of texture, plus I embossed the 2 little hearts at the bottom of my card.

Here's what I used:
Stamp: Mimi - 'Lazy Days' by Helz Cuppleditch
Distressing Pens: Chair - Scattered Straw, Tea Dye / Cat - Antique Lien, Bushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Victorian Velvet / Cushion & Flowers Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Aged Mahogany  / Blanket - Worn lipstick, Spun Sugar
Distressing Ink: Worn Lipstick
Papers: Molly Bloom (from a magazine, paper and stamp kit)
Dies: Sizzix 'Hearts', Spellbinder 'Floral Ovals', Various flower and leaf dies
Other: Handmade flowers, Pearls, Gems, Ribbon, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Watercolour Cardstock, My Minds Eye Flower Stamp, Kanban Shaped Base Card

Thanks for visiting - don't forget to visit our blog at Totally Gorjuss and have a look around, and remember to enter your card/project in this week's challenge. I'm look forward to seeing what you make.

Janine xx

Christmas Is Coming Early In Sugarland

Look what's coming on

Saturday 31st August at 10.00am GMT

Sugar Nellie is releasing 4 new 'Winter Wonder's digi images

Sugar Nellie's DT and the Challenge Blog 'Sweeties' will be joining forces to host a Blog Hop.

So why not drop by on Saturday and take a peek, and then join in with some Blog Hopping fun. 

Janine

xxx

Totally Gorjuss Challenge 198

Hi everyone

Well here it is....my first DT card for Totally Gorjuss.  This week's challenge theme is Anything Goes with 'Bows'.

I decided to make a Clean & Simple card (CAS). The cute digi stamp is from Cuddly Buddly, and I coloured it with Prisma Pencils, then to top it off I added a bow with a sweet little bear button given to me by my mum.

Here's what I used:

Digi Stamp: Cuddly Buddly - Pachela Studio 'Best Buddies Suprise!'
Prisma Pencils: Bears - Sienna Brown, Dark Brown, Light Umber / Hedgehog - Peach, Burnt Umber / Birds - Peacock Blue / Envelop - Lemon Yellow, Yellowed Orange / Noses: Pink, Carmine Red, Poppy red / Sky - True Blue, Light Cerulean Blue, Rabbit - Putty Grey, French Grey 70%, Grass & Trees - Apple Green, Grass Green, Dark Green, Light Umber, Dark Brown
Border Punch: Xcut,
Other: Ribbon, Gems, Paper, Cardstock, Sansdor, Paper Stumps

So why not pop over to Totally Gorjuss and see what the rest of my DT buddies have come up with and while you're there why not join in with the challenge - it's 'Anything Goes' with a bow - you never know you might win a prize .  This week's sponsor is Ribbon Girl.

Crafty hugs.

Janine xx

My 1st Sugar Nellie Sweetie DT Challenge #107

Well here it is, my first ever DT post.  

This sweetie is for Sugar Nellie's Sugar Bowl Challenge 107 - September 2013.  Hope you like it!

I've never made a tag before so I though hey-ho why not give it a go (OMG that rhymed). I made the tag myself, basically it's a rectangular piece of white card with a shaped top made by using a spellbinder die. The background was made with distressing inks, stamped flowers and words with a splash of glitter. It's hard to see but the stamped flower petals have had their colour removed - just by using a damp brush and a piece of kitchen roll.   I printed this gorgeous girl out 4 times, then coloured certain section of her in with Copics and Prisma pencils, and cut out them out and layered her up.  The doily edge was made with an XCut border punch that I only bought the other day - it's so dainty and pretty.

Here's what I used:
Digi stamp: Carnival Balloon by Krista Smith from Funkykits
Copics: Skin - E0000, E000, E00, E01, E13, R20 / Hair - YR0000, E000, E13, E99, E37 / Purple Skirt & Socks - BV000, BV00, BV02, BV04, BV25 / Pink Dress - RV000,/ RV00, RV13, RV34, RV69 / Shoes/Belt - YR0000, YR000, YR00, E13 /Eyes - RV0000, RV00, RV13 / Flowers - RV000, RV00, RV13 / Balloons - RV000, RV00, RV02, RV13, RV34, BV000, BV00, BV02, RV04
Distressing Ink: Dusty Concord, Worn Lipstick, Tumbled Glass
Background Stamp: My Minds Eye 'Tangerine 'Hello'
Border Punch: Xcut (don't know the name)
Die: Crafts-Too Frame 6
Other: Crystal Glitter, Ribbon (bought by my sweet daughter who paid a fortune for it in a London store), Gems, Buttons, Bakers twine

Why not visit the The Sugar Bowl and have a look at what the rest of my DT buddies have created, and why not join in with the challenge. It's open to everyone and the theme is 'Anything Goes' so why not give it a go. You can create anything you like but it MUST include a SUGAR NELLIE STAMP (either rubber or digi) otherwise it will be removed (sorry!).  Rubber stamps can be bought from Funkykits (UK) or Sugar Nellie (USA), digi stamps can be bought from either.

The prize for one lucky winner picked at random is 4 Sugar Nellie stamps from FunkyKits or 6 if there's more than 100 entries.

So come on 'you've got to be in to win it' - so get entering.

Hugs and Happy Crafting.

Janine x

Gardening George

Afternoon everyone, I hope it's a lovely day wherever you are.  It's breezy here and not as warm as it has been in Middlesbrough but at least the sun is shining.

Well here's a 8 x 8 card for you, made for my mum to give her step son-in-law who's turning 60 this week. He loves gardening so I immediately thought of George, he's a cute character and I've had him for years in a collection of coloured and non-coloured digi's from Charmed Cards & Crafts - they still sells these character collections on their website and well worth a look.  I opted for the pre-coloured digi for speed and concentrated on the background.

The background layout is a right mix of things all created using Serif's CraftArtist 2. The background scene and the little elements are from Polkadoodles 'Cherryblossom Lane' along with a typed sentiment.  I added a shadow to everything give a little bit of depth. George and the grass were printed off a few times, cut out and layered up. No glitter was used in the making off this card....lol!

Hopefully he'll like the card. - hope you do too.

Thanks for visiting.

Don't forget to join me over at the Sugar Bowl Sugar Nellie's Challenge Blog and Totally Gorjuss Challenge Blog 

every Saturday.

I'll be adding my projects on here very soon.

Hugs

Janine xx

Happy Left Hander's Day

Calling all Left Handers out there....have a great day!

In my household both my hubbie and I are left handed, so it was inevitable that our daughter was going to be a Left Hander too.  When we were growing up both my hubbie and I were the only left handers in our respective families, so I guess we were drawn to each other or something (nah it was pure luck lol!!).

My hubbie hasn't got a creative bone in his body lol, whereas I've always been crafting and as you know I make all my own cards, flower and pins and on occasion have drawn the odd piece, and my lovely daughter Heather is creative in another way with her acting.

Are you a crafty left hander.......let me know?

Janine X

Leaving Day!

Well today has been a mixed bag of a day so far, full of hugs, tears and forced smiles.  My sweet daughter Heather has finally left the nest for good this time to move to the 'big smoke' in London. 

She starts her new life today as she moved into her new home with 3 other housemates, and starts her new job tomorrow as an actress at the London Dungeons. There she is will happily scare you senseless - of which she she can't wait.  She's now fulfilling part of her dream - the rest is yet to come. She is and will always be our 'little star' and her dad and I will miss her like crazy.  I love her to bits - she's my BF and my rock.

Thankfully I now have my new craft club ' Chit-Chat & Craft Club' in Middlesbrough setup and I have a lovely group of ladies who come along each  month, and on top of that my new DT posts with Sugar Nellie and Totally Gorjuss. All of which will be a lovely diversion and will keep me occupied so I don't dwell on things too much.  Heather will at least be occupied with work, friends and the theatre!  She's such an 'actress' lol!

No more sadness Janine - happy times ahead for us both.

Janine xx

Footnote: Mmm not my best photo - Heather took it as the taxi pulled up so it was a bit rushed.  But a lovely photo of  Heather, as usual.

Wow, More Good News!

I was contacted last night by a lady called Net to ask if I'd be interested in joining the Totally Gorjuss's DT, of course I said YES!  OMG my head was in a total spin yesterday and this morning.....but it was a case of focus girl you have housework to do.

Well a quick update - the housework and my jobs are sort of done now, with a little bit of crafting jammed in the middle - or as I like to call it a 'crafty sandwich'.  I think all crafters are a bit like that - we do a little bit of crafting - then housework (or if you're a guy JOBS) - a little bit of crafting - then housework - a little bit of crafting.  Well you get the gist.  Personally I think it's a guilt and pleasure thing.

So at the  moment I'm finding my feet in the DT world and waiting for more information so I'll keep you posted so watch this space...I'm off on a new adventure.

Hugs and thanks for all the congrats and message guys, I really appreciate it.

Janine XX

WOW BIG NEWS......

OMG I made the DT for Sugar Nellie - I am soooooo excited.  I can't believe it! I thought the only way to get on a DT is to be on a DT (or a past member) - it seemed like a chicken and egg scenario.

So can I send a huge thank you to everyone at Sugar Nellie for this opportunity - you won't regret it.

I must admit I turned the computer straight on this morning before breakfast so I could check the results.  LOL, I had to read it 3 times before it sunk in. Esh what am I like!  I can now call myself a Sugar Bowl Sweetie.  I'm now just waiting to see what's next, as I'm a DT virgin.  I've never been on a DT before so it all new, but I can't wait.

I hope you will like the cards and projects I come up with.  I like to use different styles, techniques and mediums to create my cards etc as I'm always learning and developing my skills. Some say I have too much time on my hands :)  I will always add a list of things I've used particularly the colours I used in the illustration.But if there's anything you wants to know eg how I created something  or where something is from; just let me know either by leaving a comment with your email address or by using the new message box on the right.

Big hugs

Janine XXX