Billy Joel and My Handbag

Afternoon everyone

I've just come back from seeing the lovely Mr Billy Joel. Wow, he was fab and much better than I ever expected.  I took my hubbie to see him as an early birthday pressie for his 50th in December, and he loved the it.  There was such a great atmosphere and everyone was singing along and dancing along to his memorable hits. His 'Piano Man', 'Uptown Girl'  and 'She's always woman' was epic.

He's a few photos for you.

Our hotel the 'Renassiance' was brilliant, we had a huuuuge room and a huuuge bed. The staff and great location were spot on, it was 2 minutes away from the Arndale Shopping Centre and 5/10 minutes walk to the Arena.

We had a fantastic time, but I did however have one 'little' hiccup....erm I lost my handbag!!  Yep, inside my bag I had my mobile phone, purse (containing cash, my credit and debit card) and my house key plus a the hotel receipt with my address on it. So as you can imagine I was distraught. I lost it around 2.30pm on the way back to the car to travel home, I was battling to hold all my bags and inadvertently put my bag down on a wall to take a breather (long story). So instead of getting home at 4pm ish we got home around 11.30pm. We spent all afternoon retracing out steps, going back into the hotel and the Arndale Centre and to report my lost and fill out forms. Followed by a visit to the local  the Police station to report it there and also to get all my cards and phone blocked.  The police officer on duty (Sandra) was brilliant - she was so helpful and understanding.

Anyway to cut a very long story short whilst we were sat in Wetherby Services grabbing a quick coffee, when we received a phone call from a lovely lady called Louise who'd found my handbag. Ironically she found it in the place I thought I left it.  Anyway she phoned the last number on my phone which was my hubbie - who'd left a voice mail saying if anyone found my bag and phone to ring him. We agreed to meet her at the services just outside Manchester - so I got my handbag back intact around 9.30pm last night.  I bought her some flowers and card with a little something inside to say thank you.

Wow, doesn't it give you faith in the belief that the majority of people are good, kind and honest.  My husband and I are still gobsmacked and so grateful to Lousie for contacting us - she was definitely my angel! !!

So today I'm not venturing outside instead I'm going to concentrate on my DT's card that way I can't get myself into any more trouble :) Plus my hubbie has gone back on the rigs today, a week early - I'll miss him like crazy.  So I'm off to make a card - watch out for it on Saturday morning.

Hugs Janine xx

Spooky - Totally Gorjuss Challenge 207

It's almost Halloween here in the UK, and to get you in the mood the challenge this week  at Totally Gorjuss is ANYTHING GOES - SPOOKY.  So to give you a little inspiration here's my DT card.

 

My 8 x 8 card was quite a simple make.  The background was created in CraftArtist 2, basically I created a square with a gradient fill of black and orange, then I added the sentiment and digi image.  After printing off the background sheet I printed the digi image off a further 4 times, and coloured sections in with my copics. The coloured elements were cut out and layered up.  SIMPLE!  Lol, well maybe not that simple, it was a bit of a devil to cut out as some layers contained quite a large scene and some bits were really fiddly.  Anyway I love how it turned out - although sadly my photo isn't the best as you can't really see the depth in the picture.

I made the card for my sweet daughter as she loves, loves Halloween, plus she now works as an actress at the London Dungeon - which is quite apt.

Here's what I used.
Digi Stamp: Bugaboo 'Scene It Halloween Witch'
Copics: Face - E000,E00, E11, R20 / Pumpkin  & Windows - YR00, YR15, YR16, YR07 / Stalks - YG23, YG67 / Fence & Broom Handle - E11, E99, E37, E59 / House, dress, Shoes, Hat, Broom - C2, C3, C5, C7 / Dress, Hat, Tights - V01, V04, V05
Other: Serif CraftArtist2

So why not come along and visit our blog at Totally Gorjuss and check out what my team buddies have made to inspire you. While you're there don't forget to enter your card/project into our weekly challenge - remember it's ANYTHING GOES - SPOOKY. There's a prize up for grabs and this week's sponsors is The Ribbon Girl and Milk & Coffee. 

As always I'm looking forward to seeing what you make.

Janine x

Sweet Stamping Challenge - Monster Birthday

Well another 2 weeks have gone past - omg where is the time going. So today it's my turn to create my Design Team card for Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog - and if you've not already guessed it, the theme is MONSTER BIRTHDAY.  The girl's hold a weekly challenge with a fantastic prize plus a monthly prize draw for everyone who enters a card/project throughout the month. 

So here's my monster 8 x 8 'monster' card for MONSTER BIRTHDAY. The background was all created in CraftArtist 2, and although the letters all look 3D everything is actually flat.  The fab digi stamp monsters were printed twice and coloured with Copics. They were both cut out and layered up, then to bring them to life I added glossy accents to their eyes. They're sooooo cute! 

Here's what I used:

Digi Stamps: Pretty Grafik 'Monsters'

Copics: V04, VG03, VG06, Y000, Y17, B000, B02, B05, RV21, RV13, RV14

Other: CraftArtist 2, Serif 'Birthday' Digikit, Glossy Accents, Black Fineliner

So why not drop by Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog and check out what my fabulous Design Teamies have created to inspire you, and while you're there why not enter your card or project into the challenge. This week's sponsor and prize is from Sir Stampalot  and the monthly draw sponsor is The Ribbon Girl.

I look forward to seeing what you create.

Hugs

Janine x

Totally Gorjuss 206 - String

Hello everybody.
I can't believe I managed to create and upload my DT card for this week's challenge over at Totally Gorjuss, which is ANYTHING GOES with STRING. I've been so stressed trying to help my daughter find somewhere to live before she's made homeless this Sunday. She's only been in her lodgings for 2 months - she got told by her room mates days before she was moving down there that the landlord wanted everyone out so he could move his family back (which is fair enough I suppose). 2 months sounds like loads of time to find somewhere else, unfortunately not in London.  Decent affordable properties are like gold there, plus you have to have the time to find them and view them, not easy when you work 9+ hours a day and get odd days off. So I sat for 3 days solid looking at and contacting tenants and landlords on the internet.  Finally on Sunday we got somewhere and she found a room and everything is now signed.  However, I'll only give a sigh of relief when she moves in on Friday.  So like I said 'stressed'!!

ANYWAY, here's my card for the challenge.  It's digi stamp from Polkdoodles 'Magical Winter' CD collection, and coloured with Copics.  I added my bakers twine, butter and gorgeous glittery snowflake to finish it off.

Here's what I used.
Digi Stamp: Polkadoodles CD collection 'Magical Winter'
Die: Cuttlebug 'Snowflake'
Copics: Various colours used (I can't find my list of colours -sorry)
Other: Bakers Twine, Glitter, Button

So why not come and visit our blog at Totally Gorjuss and check out what my team buddies have made to inspire you. While you're there remember to enter your card/project into our weekly challenge - remember it's ANYTHING GOES with STRING. There's a prize up for grabs and this week's sponsors is Heathers Hobbie Haven. 

I'm look forward to seeing what you make.

Janine x

'The Sugar Bowl November Challenge - 109

Her's my DT card for The Sugar Bowl monthly challenge. The theme this month is Using Your 1st Sugar Nellie Stamp.

I thought I would try something a little different this month, so I decided to make a shaker card because I haven't made one of these for years. I hand cut everything myself including the base card which was die cut using a Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Circle Nestie. The patterned halo in the centre and acetate circle was cut out using my circle scissor, and all the flowers were die cut.  The little cutie holding that poor frog was stamped 3 times, coloured with Copics, cut out and layered up. The glitter is a mixture of green and gold to tie in with the colours used..

Here's everything I used:

Rubber Stamp: Sugar Nellie 'Shaken Not KIssed' by Diane Duda

Cardstock: First Edition 'Hideway' 

Copics: Face - E0000, E000, E00, E02, R20, R30 / Hair - YR0000, YR00, YR02, E35, E37, E99 / Dress & Shoes - R000, R00, YR00, R11, R02, R22, R37 / Crowns & Tights - Y000, Y02, YO8, Y17 / Tights & Frog - YG00, YG03, YG09, YG17

Die: Small and Large Britannia Rose Multi Flower, Marianne Designs Swirly Rose,Cheery Lyn Designs 'Fanciful Flourish'

Other: Circle Scissors, Martha Stewart 'Leaf' Punch, Pearls, Glitter, Acetate, Foam Tape, Pan Pastels 'Bright Yellow Green' and 'Phthalo Green', Pink Chalk

So don't forget to drop by at The Sugar Bowl and have a look at what the rest of my fabulous DT sweeites have created to inspire you, and why not join in with this month's challenge while you're there. It's open to everyone, and the theme is 'Use Your 1st Sugar Nellie Stamp' so  come on give it a go. You can create anything you like but it MUST as the theme suggests include a SUGAR NELLIE STAMP (either rubber or digi) otherwise it will be removed (sorry!).  

Have fun, and I look forward to seeing your creations on my return.

Hugs

Janine x

Totally Gorjuss 205 - Wings & Things

Wow, another week has come and gone.  I can't believe how fast time is moving and getting closer to Christmas (darn it I said the 'C' word again !) as we speak.

So here it is another Totally Gorjuss  DT Challenge card - this week's theme is ANYTHING GOES with WINGS & THINGS.  So come on join in with the fun and enter your card or project.......you know you want to!

I decided to make a CAS card, and purely concentrate on the colouring of the digi image I used from Cuddly Buddly. Even though the image is a summer one, I decided to use my fav autumnal colours - because I can. LOL  ;)

The digi image was printed onto plain white card along with a butterfly poem. I coloured the little cutie in with my Prisma Pencils using some Sansdor to blend the colours.  Finally I added a tiny amount of glitter to the flowers and mounted it onto my punched border, then onto my base 8" x 6" base.

Here's what I used.
Digi Stamp: Cuddly Buddly 'Toby Tumble DS Special Friends'
Punch: Xcut 'Design not known'
Prisma Pencils: Various colours used
Other: Computer Generated Sentiment, Glitter, Gems

So why not come and visit our blog at Totally Gorjuss and check out what my team buddies have made for you. While you're there remember to enter your card/project into our weekly challenge - remember it's ANYTHING GOES with WINGS & THINGS. There's a prize up for grabs and this week's sponsors are Crafts Companion. 

I'm look forward to seeing what you make.

Janine x

Sweet Stampin Challenge DT Card

Here's my first DT Card for Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog - the theme is Autumn.  They hold a weekly challenge with fantastic prize vouchers, plus a monthly prize draw for everyone who submits a card/project throughout the month.  I'm in Team Fi and I'll be showing off my card/project every 2 weeks, so watch this space.

As I mentioned this week's theme is ANYTHING GOES - AUTUMN, so why not drop by and check out what my fabulous Design Teamies have created to inspire you, then why not enter your card or project into the challenge. This week's sponsor is Cuddly Buddly and there's a £10 voucher up for grabs and the monthly draw sponsor is The Ribbon Girl.

I love autumn and it's gorgeous colours, so for this challenge I decided create a stamped scenic topper. Firstly I diecut a circle to mask out a moon and inked up the background leaving it paler down the centre of the panel.  To make my hill mask I roughly cut bumps and indents out of a piece of card and dragged down coloured ink using a sponge.  I made the hill nearest the moon paler and the one nearest the bottom darkest to give perspective. 

Flowers and branches were stamped on top of the background in different poses in black ink to create the scene - then more coloured ink was added to the very top and bottom. Job done!  This was mounted onto black and orange card. Finally I diecut 3 leaves from shrink plastic and coloured them with pencils and shrunk them - omg they look so cute.

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Inkylicious 'Summer Morn' and 'Moonlight Foliage'

Die: Tim Holtz 'Tattered Leaves'

Distressing Inks: Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Firebrick Red, Vintage Photo, Tea Dye

Other: Ribbon, Shrink Plastic, Derwent Colouring Pencils, Memento Black Ink, Heat Gun, Gems, Ink Dusters, Splodge Mat

I hope you like my 1st card for Sweet Stampin and you visit us very soon - don't forget to join in with our fun challenge.  I look forward to seeing what you create.

Hugs

Janine x

Totally Gorjuss Challenge 204 - Anything Goes with 'Stars'

OMG, how quickly are the weeks going.  Another week has gone past and we're on Challenge 204 over at Totally Gorjuss - this week's theme is ANYTHING GOES with STARS.

Here's my little offering - it's a 5 x 5 kraft card with some stars cut out, patterned paper lined and some stars layered on top. Mmm, I'm not too sure if I've gone a little starry eyed and added too many stars - but hey-ho it's done now.  I hope you like it, it was really easy to make.

Here's what used:

Paper & Card: My Mind Eye Paper Pad 'Tangerine', Kraft Card, Glitter Card
Die: Sizzix 'Stars'
Sentiment: Computer Generated

So why not come and visit our blog at Totally Gorjuss and check out what my team buddies have made for you. While you're there remember to enter your card/project into our weekly challenge - remember it's ANYTHING GOES with STARS. There's a prize up for grabs and this week's sponsors are J & C Creations. 

I'm look forward to seeing what you make.

Janine x