Spring is sure to follow

Well hello and welcome back friends and visitors.

Are we all recovered from the Christmas preparations and gearing up for Hogmanay?

New Year has always been a big thing in my family, due to my Scottish roots. Sadly, it's tailed off rather now I'm older. I do, however, like to be with my nearest and dearest at the chiming of midnight. It looks like we will all be spending it working together this year. That's ok though, just as long as we are all together.

I'm super excited to see the Viking Fire Festival in Flamborough on the night. We have never been but it should be a great evening to be a part of.

Anyhow, the new year will hopefully bring some more clement weather with it. I won't hold my breath for that though lol.

With that in mind, the weather was definitely the inspiration for today's card. So here it is.

The supplies used here are

* Make and Create - Fabulous Roses paperstack 12" x 12"

* Creative Expressions Foundation Card - Coconut White

* Spellbinders Borderabilities Card Creator - Scalloped Borders Two

* Creative Expressions/Sue Wilson Frames and Tags - Stitched Flags

* Spellbinders Nestabilities - Elegant Ovals

* Spellbinders Classic Ovals - Large

* Amazing Paper Grace/Spellbinders Designer Series - Decorative Swallowtail Tags

* Creative Expressions/Sue Wilson Finishing Touches - Trailing Ivy

* Beautiful Flowers Flower Dies

* Elizabeth Crafts - Bunch of Flowers

* Freebie sentiment stamp - Vintage Springtime

* Pearls and stamens from my stash

* Distress inks

So there is today's Spring inspired card. Maybe I should have done an April showers card instead!

I do hope you like today's card. Thank you all for your continued visits. Please pop back again Tuesday for my next Amazing Paper Grace card. If you can't wait that long for a little bit of Becca Feeken magic, pop over and visit her blog HERE. You won't be disappointed. (I swear she has magical powers when it comes to design!)

I wish you all the very best Hogmanay and a wonderful start to 2018. Please take care however you are welcoming in the New Year.

All the very best,

Jo xx

Amazing Paper Grace - Happiness

Well hello there friends. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas day with all your loved ones.

It was all a little hectic here, but we had the most wonderful time.

I hope you are all still enjoying the festivities today. Alas, the Hubster has had to go in to work today so my Boxing Day activities will be pretty simple - walking the pooch, a little online perusing of the sales and most definitely, preparing my next card!

So, without intruding too much on your Boxing Day plans, here is my most recent card created for the Amazing Paper Grace creative team. You can visit Becca's blog Here

The supplies used here are

* Coconut White Foundation card

* Amazing Paper Grace/Spellbinders Lilly Pearl Flat Fold Flower

* Small dots embossing folder

* Amazing Paper Grace/Spellbinders - Hemstitch Ovals

* Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large

* Amazing Paper Grace/Spellbinders Cinch and Go Flowers One

* Sweet Dixie Clear Stamp Messages - Set 1

* Pearls from my stash

A very simple card to create. The most challenging aspect was making a 'frame' using the Lilly Pearl Die.

I managed achieve it using 3 strips of the smallest Lilly Pearl dies with only 1 visible join (although it is just barely visible), the other 2 joins are in the corners which worked quite well.

I used the Hemstitch Ovals and a Classic Oval die to create a frame for the stamped sentiment and finished off with a single Lilly Pearl Flower (again using the smallest die), sat atop a flourish from the Cinch and Go Flowers One set.

So there you have it folks. I must say, I'm happy to have free reign on theme now that Christmas is over and done with for another year! It will, however, be Valentines Day before we know it!!

If you managed to sneak a peek at my blog today, I thank you sincerely.

Enjoy the rest of you Christmas Holiday friends and please pop back again, when you have the time.

Have as fabulous Boxing Day and take care,

Jo xx

Noel

Well hello again friends.

Can you believe this is my last Christmas card of 2017? Where on earth did the time go? lol.

I know exactly where my time has gone.....in helping my darling daughter settle in to her new flat and job!

It's fabulous to have her back close to home. Christmas will be extra special this year because of it.

Well friends, without further ado as I know we will all be very busy, here is my last Christmas card for the year.

The supplies used here are

* Creative Expressions Foundation card - Rich Red

* First Edition Jingle All The Way paper pad

* Presscut square nesting dies

* Amazing Paper Grace/Spellbinders Graceful Borders - Graceful Corners One

* Spellbinders classic circles - large

* Cheery Lynn wreath strip

* Woodware Holly punch

* Dovecraft Christmas Basics sentiment dies

* Gold metallic marker pen

* Distress ink

* Scrap of gold cardstock for the sentiment

* Berries and bells from my stash

I had to keep things simple(ish) on this card as I was a little short on time. The most time consuming element here was the wreath, but as I cut a double layer of card at a time and the strip has several branches also, it really wasn't too bad.

I outlined the layers and the corners with the gold metallic marker. The sentiment I cut two in red and one in gold and layered.

So there you have it. I do hope you have enjoyed my Christmas cards for 2017.

Thank you to all those that have been regular visitors to my humble little blog this year, it means so much.

Have a wonderful weekend and a fabulous Christmas.

Warm winter wishes to you all,

Jo xx

Amazing Paper Grace - Thank You

Welcome back friends and visitors.

I'm so pleased you managed to make time to stop by for today's Amazing Paper Grace card.

I had a reason to make this one, so no Christmas card today. It's a sweet little Thank You card, for someone special, for really going the extra mile for me and my family just lately. It's a lot less than they deserve but I hope they appreciate the thought behind it. 

So, without any of my usual waffle, here is today's card.

The supplies used here are

* Cream cardstock

* M&C Boutique - Shabby Chic Paper Pad

* Spellbinders/Amazing Paper Grace Chantilly Paper Lace Collection - Tallulah Frill Layering Frame

* Spellbinders/Amazing Paper Grace Chantilly Paper Lace collection - Eliza Lace Corners

* Spellbinders/Amazing Paper Grace Chantilly Paper Lace Collection - Vintage Pierced Banners

* Spellbinders/Amazing Paper Grace Venice Lace collection - Cinch and Go Flowers Two

* Magazine freebie sentiment stamp

* Pink metallic marker pen

* Distress ink

* Dew Drops pearlescent ink - Crimson

* Pearls from my stash

Firstly I edged the bottom cream layer with the metallic marker. I then distressed the edges of the background paper and edged with distress ink and layered.

I used the smaller frame from the Tallulah Frill set and cut 3 times, edged with the metallic marker and layered.

The Eliza Corners I simply bent them a little to raise them up and edged with a little distress ink.

I used two of the Vintage Pierced Banners And layered one over the top of the other, the bottom one I edged with distress ink and the top with the metallic marker.

Finally finished off with three sweet little Cinch and Go Flowers which I gently coloured with distress ink.

So there we have today's card. I do hope both you and the recipient like it.

There are many more ideas on how you can use the Chantilly Paper Lace collection over on Becca's Amazing Paper Grace blog, which you can find Here.

I am about to embark on a mad dash shopping spree to save Christmas Day from being a huge disappointment! Wish me luck (I'm so going to need it).

Thank you so much for finding the time to squeeze in a visit today as I'm sure everyone is busy with preparations.

Please pop back again for my next card on Saturday. Until then, have a wonderful week and take care.

Jo xx

  

Season's Greetings

Welcome back friends and visitors.

I do hope you have all had a good week. Alas, I am no nearer prepared for the big day than I was on my last post! But on the upside, I have been busy organising for my daughters imminent return......tomorrow!

I am beyond excited. She will be staying here with us for a few days. It will give us a chance to place her furniture and hang curtains etc and generally get her sorted before she starts her new job on Wednesday.

I have tried to stock up on the all the basic essentials for her, but there will be a few little bits we will need to shop for. If I'm lucky I may also get to shop for some festive gifts at the same time.

I have also just booked myself onto a couple of adult taster courses in the new year, I'm giddy with excitement! One is felt flower making. It doesn't specify whether it's needle felting or wet felting, but that's fine, as I'd love to do both. I have all the kit needed for needle felting but haven't really gotten around to trying it on my own. The other taster session is in photography. I am hoping to well and truly pick the tutors brain on that day lol.

So, I am having my yearly night out tonight. (I'm not prepared for that either lol). I am such a home bird it's beyond belief. I could happily potter around the house all day in my PJ's, given half a chance. It's cold and raining and I'm so not looking forward to it, but, it's the Hubster's old work colleagues Christmas 'Do' so I shall  just have to make an effort. 

So, after all my waffling, it is time for today's card.

The supplies used here are

* White and matt metallic cardstock

* Pearl and glitter cardstock for the flowers

* Amazing Paper Grace/Spellbinders designer series Wedding collection - Regal Allure

* Spellbinders shapeabilities  - Wreath

* Justrite Grand Christmas Sentiments

* Encore Ultimate metallic ink - Gold

* Crelando embossing powder - Gold

* Cheery Lynn - Wreath strip

* Cheery Lynn - Poinsettia Strip

* Gold metallic marker pen

* Dovecraft Christmas Basics self adhesive pearls

There isn't anything tricky at all on this card. The only thing I should mention is that I used the smaller of the two Spellbinder wreaths, cut twice and layered. Once again I outlined my layers with the gold metallic marker pen. It's a really effective way to get a mutli-layered look without the weight and extra card. It also looks much better in real life. (Mental note to ask tutor on this!)

So, there we have it. I hope you like todays card. I adore white and gold together. I think it looks really smart, without too much fuss.

I suppose I had better start making preparations for this evening. It takes a lot more effort these days to turn this old bird into something vaguely  presentable!

Thank you for taking time out to pay a visit here today. Your support is always much appreciated. Please pop back again Tuesday, if you can, for my next Amazing Paper Grace card.

Have a wonderful weekend friends and take care

Jo xx

  

Amazing Paper Grace - Breanna's Corset Christmas

Well hello again friends and visitors.

On Sunday we had an early visit from Santa on his slay (no reindeer unfortunately, just pulled along by a large 4x4) and his charity helpers. I love it when that happens. I just wish I had a little one (or two!) running around to join in the excitement. It was just me and the dog that got excited about it this year, but it was lovely seeing all the neighbourhood kids running about and squealing with excitement. Roll on Grandmotherhood! 

I hope you are all much more prepared for the festivities than I am.

I have lists made etc, but so far I haven't actually done/bought anything! But that's ok as I've still got 12ish days left to do it all.....right? lol.

At the very least everyone will have a handmade Christmas card in their stocking!

Which brings me nicely onto todays card for Amazing Paper Grace.

The supplies used here are

* Amazing Paper Grace/Spellbinders - Chantilly Paper Lace Collection Annabelle's Trousseau

* Amazing Paper Grace/Spellbinders Chantilly Paper Lace collection Breanna's Corset

* Spellbinders Standard Circles Large

* Creative Expressions foundation card - Rich Red

* Docrafts Papermania Capsule collection - Oyster Blush

* First Edition Jingle All the Way paper pack

* Ribbon and pearls from my stash

* Gold metallic marker

I used the Annabelle's Trousseau to make a square frame in red and layered on top of a frame from the Oyster Blush cardstock. I used the middle section of the same die, in the Oyster Blush, to create a little ribbon loop.

I then made a frame using the 2 largest dies from the Breanna's Corset set and laid over the spotted paper. 

The little December 25 in the middle was simply cut from a sheet in the paper pack (which I really love!) and layered over another of the small die cuts from Breanna's Corset.

Once again I edged the layers with a gold metallic marker.

I hope you like todays card. For more inspiration you really should pop over to Becca's blog which you can find Here.

Well, I had better get a wriggle on. I have to squeeze in a couple of family cards between my blog posts etc, as well as my Christmas shopping and organising my darling Daughters move!

Thank you so much for your visit today. I hope you can find the time to visit again at the weekend.

Enjoy your week and take care

Jo xx 

Merry Christmas - Red and White

Hello again visitors and friends.

How are you all this weekend? All prepared for the Big Day? I am really not prepared at all lol. I think I leave it later and later each year. It will come to the point where I'm shopping on Christmas Eve!

So long as I have everything planned, it will all be fine (hopefully).

It is, most certainly, feeling much more wintery here on the blustery (by blustery, I mean gale force!) East Coast. We always get that biting wind. The one that gives you 'brain freeze', without the pleasure of eating an ice-cream first! I've had brain, face and leg freeze this week on my dog walks. I'm thinking I need a full body and face thermal romper suit type thing lol.

Well, I'm sat here with my fairy lights twinkling and feeling rather Christmassy, so here is my next Christmas card for you.

The supplies used here are

* Red and white cardstock

* Sue Wilson/Creative Expressions Noble dies - Double Pierced Squares

* Spellbinders Card Creator - Reflective Moments 5x7

* Cheery Lynn Merry Christmas

* Cheery Lynn Wreath Strip

* Woodware Holly punch

* Stampendous embossing powder - Crystal

* Distress inks

* Berries and ribbon from my stash

I Altered the Reflective Moments slightly, as I wanted a squarer looking frame rather than a rectangle, and backed it with red card. On the little Wreath strip branches I used the Stampendous embossing powder to give them a little sparkle and I used a little distress ink around the edges of the holly leaves. 

Well that's my card for today. I do hope you like it

I had better go do some list making/planning for a shopping expedition in the very near future!

Thank you for stopping by today, I hope to see you next week for my next Amazing Paper Grace card.

Have a lovely weekend and take care.

Jo xx

Amazing Paper Grace - Christmas Coralines Chemise

Welcome friends and visitors.

Well, over the weekend I finally managed to get my Christmas tree out of the box! Actually decorating it didn't take all that long as I must have the skinniest, dwarfish looking tree ever. Now, it didn't look too bad in our old house as it was perched quite high up on top of a cabinet. We also had to trim the top of it off so we could fit a topper on it without it scrapping the ceiling.

It looked ever so small (minus it's top!) and sad sat on the floor here in the new house. The Hubster found it terribly amusing. I could have sworn it was bigger than that last year. I've spent the last few weeks purchasing new decorations for it (the old ones seem to have got lost in the move) but I've ended up with enough to fill two trees lol.

Anyhow, a stool and a couple of table clothes later, it will have to do.....for this year.

So, today I am sharing another card created for the Amazing Paper Grace team.

I didn't add a sentiment on this one, as I think it speaks for itself. What do you think?

The supplies used here are

* Amazing Paper Grace/Spellbinders, Chantilly Paper Lace - collection Coralines Chemise 

* Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia

* First Edition Jingle All The Way premium paper pad

* Cream and gold foil cardstock

* Pearls from my stash

I have so fallen in love with the Chantilly Paper Lace collection. It has been so well designed that everything works so beautifully together, but it's nothing less than you would expect from the amazing Ms Feeken.

So my friends, that is my offering for you today.

Thank you for popping by and please stop by again soon for my next card for you.

Have a great day and enjoy your week.

Jo xx

Merry Christmas

Hello again my crafty friends.

I do hope your week has gone well.

We're experiencing the start of our winter weather here this week. We even had a snow covered beach, which doesn't happen very often thankfully, lol.  It's definitely been a week of wrapping up in multiple layers before venturing out on my dog walks!

It's almost time to start 'decking the halls'! At the very least I should dust off my tree and plan where it's going to go, but I've been engrossed in card making, so the tree will just have to stay in it's box for now.

Anyway, as you  have probably noticed, my cards favour a more feminine style. I adore adding flowers, pearls and the odd bow or two. I admit it, I struggle with masculine cards and they are my least favourite ones to create. (I have sneaked flowers onto cards for The Hubster in the past and he didn't seem to mind lol.)

So, this week, I set myself the challenge of making, what I would describe as, a 'unisex' card.

So here goes

The Supplies used here are

* Very dark navy cardstock

* Matt silver metallic cardstock

* Presscut Nesting Squares

* Amazing Paper Grace/Spellbinders Wedding Collection - Decorative Swallowtail Tags

* Spellbinders Long Classic Rectangles

* Spellbinders Labels Two

* Spellbinders Labels Twenty Two

* Spellbinders Decorative Labels Twenty Two

* Justrite Grand Christmas Sentiments

* Encore Ultimate Metallic Silver ink pad

* Stampendous embossing powder - Pearl Lustre

* Silver metallic marker pen

* Ribbon from my stash

Well, how do you think I did? I know, I know, I added ribbon but hey, I just couldn't help myself lol. 

I edged all the labels with the silver marker pen. I would dearly like a foiling machine, but the marker pen will have to suffice for now.

I also added one of my most favourite dies, the Swallowtail Tags. I think I could find a place for this on most of my cards, I have to hold myself back on that though.

So, that's my weekend card for you. I hope you like it, minus flowers and pearls.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to pay a visit today. Please stop by again Tuesday for my next card for Amazing Paper Grace.

I hope you all have an amazing, warm and cosy, weekend.

Take care friends,

Jo xx