The Other Side Of Me

Hello, I'm back again with some more from my new mini album. I love the fact that this is basically an A5 book, so any sheets of A5 paper fit into it perfectly. I always used to do The Simple Woman's Daybook, which is actually a blog, but it's great for journaling prompts too.  I try to do it every month.  Here are a couple of pages of what's been going on: This is actually a pad of writing paper I bought from 'the book man' at work.  It's got lots of sticky notes with it and the colour scheme is perfect for my pool party/more mustard combo.  I love owls anyway, they are always welcome in my crafting! We've had a bit of a saga with sofas this year, so I decided to take a photo of our new one.  It's such a relief after having two chairs that were really uncomfortable and awkward.  I've photographed my dressing table as John ordered it as a surprise as I've never really had one and it's perfect.  I've used Spice Cake paper agai...

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well and getting plenty of time to craft - whatever form that takes!  I was invited to do a demonstration of art journaling to my church group on Wednesday night.  I wasn't nervous but I didn't expect people to think much of my paltry efforts, but actually when I explained what had lead me to make each one, they were very well received.  I demonstrated different inks and what they do, plus masks, spray inks etc and everyone really seemed to enjoy it. I've noticed in my own crafting a shift in style recently too.  I think I've been influenced by Project Life and some of the funkier designs around at the moment.  Because I work in a care home and mainly make cards for the residents there, they tend to be very pretty and nearly always have some kind of flowers on them.  But there is another side of me that's really appreciating some of the more funky creations I'm seeing on Pinterest recently. This has been reflected in my own...

I'm really enjoying my 6x8 album now and getting into the swing of things.  I can't believe how much dsp you use up by doing this (which gives me the perfect excuse to go and buy some more!) I've been able to make use of the old, but beautiful Spice Cake papers by Stampin Up, and this way I get to keep them! Have a look: The colour scheme is Pool Party, More Mustard, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla, so I've interspersed the patterened papers with plain matching cardstock. My camera is never far from my side these days, and a visit to the grandchildren reaped some great photos that I had to add to my album.  The stickers are all from October Afternoon, which are becoming increasingly difficult to get hold of in the UK and I absolutely adore them. The little wooden frame was a find in T K Maxx.  I go in there every week now and always come out with some treasure! This folder isn't all about photos, though, as I love to journal as well, and I love fun and innova...

Good morning everyone!  It's actually a sunny day as I write today's post.  Maybe spring will finally put in an appearance soon. As promised, I'm now able to show you my wonderful birthday cards. These were all made by members of my brand new card swap group, plus an extra surprise.  There is some amazing talent out there, let me tell you!  Let the parade begin: This card is from my dear friend Ann Wall.  I blame her entirely for my addiction to Stampin Up!  She runs a wonderful craft group in Derbyshire, where I learned so much.  Fabulous use of the Feeling Sentimental stamp, don't you think?  I got this as a birthday present and can't wait to ink it up. What amazed me about these cards was that each one contained something significant that I love, whether it be a colour or element on the card.  In this case, it's the bicycle as I have a passion for  images of bikes.  I adore the stamped image on this wonderfull...

Hello everyone, time to share a card creation.  Have a look: Way back last year, our American cousins got hold of this beautiful dsp, Spice Cake, and I have to admit to having crafting envy!  I was so thrilled when we finally got it.  But the American girls had also found amazing ways to combine it with the Gently Falling stamp set, so imagine how pleased I was when it turned up in our catalogue this year.   This is just the sort of card I had in mind.  Having never come across 2-stage stamp sets until I met SU!, I think they are something that will fascinate me for ever.  I stamped the outline of the leaf in Soft Suede and then the inner leaf with Pool Party, taken, of course, from the colours in the dsp.  What a combination that turned out to be!  I haven't looked at this card for a while and I still love it! I am also pleased to say that my card swap group is up and running and would like to say a big thankyou to all those taking...

I'm really pleased to be joining in again with the Friday Mashup blog challenge.  This week they want us to use twine and leaves on our creations.  This is so perfect for me right now I can't begin to tell you.  Here's what I made: This card brings together so many things I've been wanting to do for a long time: The first thing is that I've wanted to use a vertical sentiment on a tag, and here it is. It's a beautiful quotation stamp and it's from Clarity Stamps.  Love it.  It's in soft suede ink, by the way. Secondly, I've wanted to use this circular die cut in some way, but have waited for the perfect moment to arrive (thanks Jo Wright!).  The dsp is more from my old favourite, Spice Cake.  The perfect time of year to be using this up. Thirdly, I've recently bought a set of leaf die cuts from Spellbinders.  Now if I'd known SU were going to bring out their fantastic set of die cuts and matching stamps I would have le...

I've made a little card, with one of my all-time favourite stamp sets.  Come and have a look: Layer 1: 5"x7" pool party cardstock.  Layer 2: soft suede. Layer 3: a beautiful design from the Spice Cake dsp.  I am going to use every inch of this fabulous paper! Layer 4: I cut a large size piece of card using the Labels Collection Framelits, then stamped my fave image from the Simply Soft set in Wild Wasabi.  As you probably know, it's a 2-stage set, so I inked up the inside in pool party and stamped away.  I will never get tired of doing this! I added a section of paper from another sheet of the dsp, popped lace on, then added a sentiment using my Four Frames stamps and punch. Just a quick post today as I'm off out shopping. Happy crafting, folks! Jane xx

I so enjoyed myself making this yesterday, I just had to show you: I am so in love with this Spice Cake dsp from Stampin Up! I just want to do it justice.  I can remember our American sisters making cards with it last autumn and being blown away by it, so as soon as it appeared in the Spring Mini here in the UK I couldn't wait to order it. I saw this fabulous card made by Julie Marshall here and fell in love with it.  So here's my version.  I love the way these colours go so well together.  I've used a Pool Party base, then Soft Suede, then white, with the sentiment stamped at the bottom, also in Soft Suede  I've had my first ever go at paper piercing all around the edge, but it doesn't show up very well in the picture.  I really enjoyed doing it though.  There are a few techniques like this that I've never tried (like the rock-n-roll technique) that I must have a go at soon. No sooner is the Spring Mini catalogue out of the door when t...

Don't you love it when you give your title a post and realise that a whole year has gone by since you last wrote that?  I can't believe how much my style has changed too, since I last made a birthday card for my dear friend Priscilla. I am the proud owner of the Stampin Up! dsp called Spice Cake.  It is the most gorgeous stuff (somehow I knew it would be!) Here's what I've made: The cardstock and ink is Soft Suede but the centre oval is Very Vanilla.  When I was playing I tried this first on white and can hardly believe what a huge difference it makes just changing from white to Very Vanilla.  But you want to know what makes this card different, right?  Check this out: Yes!  What a cool idea!  So easy to make, too.  You can follow a fantastic tutorial by Dawn Griffith here.   I expect my dimensions are slightly different to hers as I wanted it to fit into a C6 envelope.  Here is a shot of the inside: Are you anything like me...