Reset Girl June Challenge

Hi All
I'm joining in over at the Reset Girl's June Planner Stylist Challenge.  All was going swimmingly until yesterday, when for some reason, my computer won't let me upload my photo to facebook.  Due to a useless internet connection I can't send photos to Instagram from my phone, so this is a desperate attempt to put my photo for today on facebook.
Anyway, today's photo is for Day 6, just titled Collection.  Here we are:

This is the Simple Stories Summer Vibes collection, which came out last year.  This was when I really started to get to grips with planning, so I've ordered some more for this year, so that I can do more with it this time.  I just love the colour scheme.  There are also some stickers from Paperchase, a stationery shop here in the UK, plus some stamps (flamingoes and lemonade) which you can still buy from Lawn Fawn.  I'm loving the washi tape from Kikki K, too.  I'm having a lot of fun decorating my planner with this, as you can imagine, and I'm hoping to make it last through June and July, then I have something else in mind for August.
Thanks for looking in today.
Back soon.
Jane x

Butterfly Basics

Hello all,
Back at last and hoping to get into the flow of things again.  I can't believe I've missed a month!  It's not as though I haven't been crafting, I might have to back date a few things.
But here's a card I whipped up in a few minutes (seriously!) Everywhere you look on Pinterest at the moment, there are cards using this set.  In the end I succumbed myself and bought it and it's proved to be one of the lovliest sets I've ever bought.  This is what I made at the weekend for a friend's birthday:

As you know, I love to case, and use what I have in my stash to replicate a card I like.  The colours I used are: Island Indigo for the base, then a layer of Pool Party.  I stamped a couple of times with the water blot type stamp from the French Foliage stamp set and used the New York post stamp under the butterfly's wings (which you can't see very well, but it is there!)  Then I die cut the medium sized butterfly from the set and popped it on. I added the sentiment in Pool Party to tie things together.  And that's it.  Simple, but lovely.
I've decided to update my cardstock, as I seem to have run out of lots of colours and don't want to limit my creativity, so I've decided that I'm going to buy a new cardstock and ink every month.  So far I've bought Elegant Eggplant and Pear Pizzazz, so I'm looking forward to breaking those open.
Back soon
Jane xx

Easter Cards

Hello all!
For some years I've wanted to make a batch of Easter cards to give to friends.  This year I decided at the very last minute that I was going to do it for each member of the Card Swap Group, so I had to come up with something quick and simple, so here they are:

Just a set of cards in So Saffron and Pear Pizzazz using an old SU stamp which is one of the first sets I ever bought.  The greeting is from a cute little Woodware stamp set.  I stamped the inside of the card and the envelopes as well, so it kept me busy for quite a while.  I'm definitely going to do it again next year.
Thanks for looking in today.  I notice I am having a lot of viewings on my blog lately (thankyou!) so why not leave me a comment and let me know who you are and what you think.
Back soon
Jane xx

Card for Olive

Hi there!
It's been a while, as we've been in the process of moving house.  Although my craft room was the first room to be resurrected, I've been at work almost every day since, so the crafting opportunities have been a little on the slim side.
But here's a card I made for one of the residents recently:

The base is gumball green, then a white square, then a strip of gumball green dsp.  On top is a layer of white, with the sentiment stamped on.   I cut some flowers using my Sizzix dies and leaves and coloured some candy dots to match.  This was fun and easy to make so I must try to make another one soon.
This was actually made a couple of weeks' ago and I've noticed the recipient has kept it, which always cheers me up no end.
Thanks for looking in today.  Things are returning to normal in our lovely new house, so hopefully I'll be back soon to show you some other makes.  I've also received some fabulous cards recently, so I'll try to show you those as soon as I can.
Byeeeee!
Jane xx

Card For Michelle

Hello all,
It's a bit nippy, isn't it?  We haven't had a lot of snow, though, fortunately.  
I've had a week off work and I've been packing, but also doing loads of french and getting some cards made.
In January the card swap group challenge was to use a definite shape on your card, like a square, rectangle, circle, etc.  As it turned out, the majority of people went for hexagons in one way or another and they were all fabulous.
This is the card I made for Michelle:

I've used Pool Party and Lucky Limeade, with some of the lovely Fresh Vintage paper. I can't believe I've still got some of that in my stash.
It's been absolute ages since I made one of these cards and it's silly really because they're very easy and fun to make.
The whole piece of Lucky Limeade cardstock measures 28cm x 11 cm.  I scored at 7cm from either end and folded it over.  I cut two pieces of matching dsp at 10.5cm x 6.5cm and stuck them to both flaps.  Then I cut my ovals from the Pool Party cardstock.  I ran the small plain oval through my Big Shot using the oval embossing folder.  Then I stamped my image from the Clearly For You stamp set onto white cardstock and punched it out, then stuck it in the oval space.  I glued the scalloped oval down on the left hand side and the small oval on the right hand side, so I could slot it into the big oval, and there you have it.  Actually very easy and the result is a lovely, unusual card.
I'll be back soon to show you how my Project Life album is shaping up so far this year.
Happy crafting
Jane xx

Card For Jennie

Morning all!  I had planned to go swimming, but it's looking a bit rough out there, so I think I might have to try again tomorrow.
I'm popping in to show you a card I made for one of the Card Swap Group members earlier in the month.  I saw something similar on Pinterest (as always!) and decided to make my own version:

Just after Christmas I decided to buy some packs of ready made cards in various sizes, and I'm so glad I did because it saves the hassle of having to cut my own from A4 and there's no waste.
The bicycle is a stamp I've had for years and truly love.  It comes from Little Claire's Designs.  The butterflies are all from my Stampin Up die,  I have a stack of these in different colours in a drawer.
This turned out to be very easy to make, but as usual, quite nerve wracking when you're stamping directly onto the card base, especially when I decided to add the sentiment after I'd attached all the butterflies!  
Well I'm off to continue packing as I have the week off work and we are moving in two weeks.  I'm very excited about it though, it can't come soon enough for me!
Back soon
Jane xx

Last December Daily

Hello all!
I just thought I'd pop in with a few of my favourite December Daily pictures today.  I am so pleased that I managed to do the whole thing.

I went to do some Christmas shopping in Nottingham and found the Christmas market was on, so I was thrilled that I'd taken my camera with me.  There were loads of these little cabins selling things to eat and lots of different gifts, but there was also a skating rink.  I printed the word Nottingham on my dymo label printer, then added the sticker saying, 'our winter wonderland' from the Cosy Christmas set.  

We had my husband's firm's Christmas Party on the 19th.   Another photo opportunity not to be missed.  For the bottom 6x4 section I've cut down a 12x12 sheet from the Cosy Christmas basics set, which turned out to be very useful, I'm really glad I bought it.

To display the photos from my own work's Christmas party, I took a piece of the Cosy Christmas 12x12 cardstock and cut it down to 12x8.  Then I hole-punched it, put it in my album and folded it in half, right up to the holes.  We actually had a nice meal and an Abba tribute band, who were really good.  This is what it looks like when you open it out:

I backed each photo with some contrasting patterned paper and put a file tab top on one of the photos and a sticker. The wooden stag was part of a Christmas set from Hobbycraft.

This was one of my favourite days over Christmas, when we got together with all the children and grandchildren to exchange presents.  I love how this worked out and would like to do a lot more pages like this.  I just love adding little embellishments like this.

One of the Simple Stories Cosy Christmas pages that works all by itself:

And finally, a calendar page for December.  I added the numbers in from my Tim Holtz alphabet stickers.  The centre circle is a stamp from Little Claire's Designs, which says, 'Unto us a child is born.'  I coloured the squares for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day in gold sharpie pen, then added a strip of washi tape across the middle:

So that's it for December 2014!  I so enjoyed this project and look forward to doing something similar for Christmas this December.  I learned a lot of tips and techniques to take forward into my life documentation for this year.  I hope you've enjoyed having a look at my little attempt at a December Daily.

But we are in a new year and I'll be back soon with some cards and possibly my first few pages of Project Life for January.

Back soon

Jane xx