Week 318 - Use your favourite colour

Good Morning!

Thankyou so much for popping in and a quick post today as it is our birthday weekend at the shop this weekend and the fabulous Sheena Douglass is coming to demonstrate today and hold a workshop tomorrow and there is lots to do!! can't wait though it is going to be a fabulous time.

This week for Allsorts it is my turn to host and I have chosen :-

"Use your favourite Colour !"

as the theme for the Challenge this week and

as you can see from the clue in the title I do like all shades of red - I think that it really brightens everyone up and it is cheerful. This is the card I would like to show you using red!

There is plenty of red in this project starting off with the poppies from the Victorian Florals collection of dies and stamps from Sheena and these have been coloured in using Aqua Tints.
The background has been made using the wonderful Brushos and I am pleased to say that we have got them re-stocked on our website again letscreateartandcrafts.co.uk if you would like to have a go at using these fabulous crafty goodies.  Remember p and p is free over a £10 purchase.
Thankyou for popping in and please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge blog to have a look at the Teams inspiration for this weeks theme.
Thankyou so much for popping in and hope that you enjoy a lovely weekend. I will pop some photographs of our birthday weekend on here so that you can have a peep.
Bye for now
Jo xx



Week 323 - Inspired By Summer

Good Morning my fellow crafters!

I hope that all is well with you all and after having a week of glorious sunshine in Fuerturventura both Mark and I are feeling tip top!

I thought I would share a photo of our lovely holiday

 

 

A lovely chilled out holiday doing absolutely nothing for a week!!! perfect!!!

This has refreshed us for the next few months of very busy times with our Shops birthday weekend with the fabulous Sheena Douglass doing a demo day and a workshop! happy days!!

I cant believe that Let's Create will be 5 years old! where has that time gone.

 

Anyway - back to today! our lovely teamie Tracey has asked us for some inspiration using the title -

 

Inspired by Summer!

(if I had had time a nice scrapbook page of holiday would have been lovely but maybe for another time)

 

This is a card that I made for our very dear friend Gary and he was with us on holiday so a beach theme was appropriate.

 

 

This is a stampendous stamp and I used pro-markers to colour.  I highlighted the sand with some sand coloured embossing powder around the chairs to make it look authentic. Just simple matting and layers with colours taken from the main picture made the rest of the card and the kraft card tag with the sentiment on.  I love making cards for friends.

I hope that you like it and please leave me a comment I love to hear from you.

Please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge blog to have a look at the lovely inspiration from the team members and have a go to be in to win some lovely prizes from our very generous sponsors.

Thankyou so much for popping in and see you next week.

Bye for now

Jo xx

 

 



Week 321 - Allsorts Challenge

Good Morning my fellow Crafters!

 

I hope everything is good with you all and that the last week has been a kind one to you.

I am a very excitable person this morning as we go away for a week in the sunshine today with some very dear friends and I can't tell you how much we are looking forward to it. (Because of this I wont be around for next weeks blog but I am sure you will forgive me!

 

Today Susan has asked the Allsorts Teamies to make a project and  -

 

Add a Butterfly

 

Well, as we all know adding a butterfly to a project is not a difficult one for a crafter and we have so many choices in our crafty stashes from stamps, dies and toppers.  I thought I would share with you a project that I did a few weeks ago for a Friend's birthday and she said that she loved it and I was a happy bunny.

 

 

There is quite a combination of different crafty products as you can see.  The main focal point is the parchment butterfly which is a pattern that a lovely friend of mine Josie Davidson has designed and I traced it in black and coloured it in pearlescent paints and embossed to highlight. The background is grid work using one of the pergamano grids and this pattern is so adaptable to so many different projects.  The die cut is the Sweet Pea from Tattered Lace and the flowers have been made from paper clay using a Katy Sue mould.  As you can see I have matted a layered the background in cerise pink pearl card and white glitter.

I hope that you like it as much as my friend did when I sent it to her.

The team have made some fabulous projects over at the Allsorts Challenge so please pop over and take a peep and get some inspiration if need be. Why not have a go at entering the Challenge this week as we always have some fabulous prizes up for grabs, thanks to our great and generous sponsors.

Anyway, must dash now as our plane wont wait! and I will catch up with you again when I get back home.  August is a really exciting and busy month for the shop so will have lots to tell you about.

Thankyou, as always for popping in and hope that you can find a minute to leave a comment for me.

Bye for now

Jo xx



Week 320 - ~Allsorts Challenge - Use a banner or flag

Good Morning! and welcome to Saturday and Allsorts challenge day!

I hope that all is well with everyone and that the lovely sunshine is making everyone happy and smiley.

Today at Allsorts the Team have been asked to show you some projects using ~

 

 

A Banner or a Flag

 

Well this wasn't a difficult one for me as one of my most favourite and very well used dies is the bunting die from Joanna Sheen's Signature range and I used it on this wedding card which was an order a couple of weeks ago.  The wedding was held in a very pretty garden followed by afternoon tea in the gardens and the customer wanted me to reflect this in the design.

As you can see it has very pale, but pretty colours and I also used the Sweet Pea die from Tattered Lace which is so delicate.  I then embellished it further using a dainty punch .  The couple's die is also from Joanna's range.

The background is from Crafters Companion - one of the Create a card range.

 

 

 

I hope that you like the design and also that you take time to check out the other team members at the Allsorts Challenge blog.

I hope that you all have a fabulous weekend, we are spending a few days with our friends Caroline and John in Norfolk and we are really looking forward to a couple of days of just chilling!

I hope that the sun keeps shining and maybe we can fit a BBQ in!

Enjoy whatever you are doing and please leave me a comment to let me know what you think of the project this week.

Thankyou for popping in and take care.

Bye for now

Jo xx  

Week 318 - How does your garden grow

Good Saturday morning to you all,

Well it is all going on this week - Wimbledon and Sunshine! two fabulous combinations!!

and I hope that you are enjoying one or the other or both!

 

Brenda has chosen this week's Challenge at Allsorts and is perfect for this time of the year -

 

"How does your garden grow"

 

and this is the project that I would like to share with you ~

 

 

This is a project that we did in class yesterday and the ladies enjoyed making this and 2 other projects all using Sheena's Victorian Floral stamps and dies.  As you can see we used the Sweet William set which is so detailed.

I chose Spectrum Noir Aqua markers to colour all the elements.  The card size is 7" x 5".

We have all of the dies and stamps in this range available on the website letscreateartandcrafts.co.uk

Mark has also put all of Sheena's Christmas embossing folders on the web and I cant wait to start playing with these and showing you what I come up with.

The Allsorts Team have made their usual excellent samples on the theme so please pop over to the site to have a look what they have made.

I hope that you have a great weekend and week ahead and that you can join me next week.

Thankyou so much for popping in and please leave a comment if you have time.

Take care and thankyou for popping in,

Bye for now

Jo xx

 

 



Week 316 - Allsorts Challenge "Use a Stamp"

Good Morning Everyone!

 

Welcome to another week and I hope that you have all had a good one.

This week at the Allsorts Challenge it is my turn to host and I have chosen

 

 

Use a Stamp of your choice

(but not a digi!)

 

As you all know I love stamping and thought it would be great to see lots of your fabulous creations using your stamp of choice so please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge blog to take part.

We are kindly being sponsored by

 

 

This is the project I have chosen to show you -

 

 

This is the card that I made for Kate (our Daughter) for her 22nd Birthday.

(it does look as if it is floating off the easel but there is some cotton lace at the bottom of the design!)

This is a closer photograph of the main image

 

The stamps are from Paper Artsy and are from the Elizabeth Borer collection from the Eclectica range.  We are pleased to be able to stock these stamps in our shop and on our website letscreateartandcrafts.co.uk and remember p and p is free over £10.

Please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge site and have a look at the fabulous designs from the Design Team.

I hope that you enjoy the rest of your weekend and if you have time please leave a comment for me and let me know what you think of this project.

Thankyou, as always,

for popping in.

Bye for now

Jo x

 



Week 315 - Flower Power!

Good Morning!

Hello to you all and thankyou for popping in. 

 As always on a Saturday morning we have the launch of a new Allsorts Challenge and today is no exception.

Our lovely Team member Tracey has chosen a fabulous challenge for us all and I think it will be a very busy week -

She has asked us to show a project with the title -

 

Flower Power!

I am sure that we all can find something that we have made or are thinking of making with flowers on it and this is the project I have decided to show you -

 

We made this mini canvas in a class a couple of weeks ago and I thought then this will be ideal for this weeks Challenge.

As usual the photograph has not given it justice as there is so much detail on it.

I began by covering the canvas with Tim Holtz newspaper print tissue paper and then painted it with a mixture of acrylic paint and gesso.

In the background I have chosen to use a Tattered Lace die - Birdhouse row - I used smooth white cardstock and coloured some of the detail but left some white so they pop out nicely.

The bolder flowers are a mixture from several JOFY stamps from Paper Artsy and, as you know, these really are some of my favourite stamps.  I coloured these with pro-markers.

The canvas was  7" x 5" in size and this makes a lovely gift to anyone that you would like to give more than just a card.

We all enjoyed making these.

We are sponsoring this weeks Allsorts Challenge and if you are chosen as a winner you will receive a £10 gift voucher to spend on our website

letscreateartandcrafts.co.uk

You will also find all of the products that I have used in the project.

Do remember that all orders over £10 are p and p free!

 

Today is also our gorgeous Daughter Kate's 22nd birthday but she is spending the weekend in Ireland so we will be having some tea together on Tuesday when she gets home. She is rather partial to Guiness so I am sure she will find some there!

Happy Birthday Kate! xx

 

Later today Mark and I are travelling up to Preston and staying over ready for a demonstration day at the fabulous Inspirations - home of Hunkydory! so if you are in the area on Sunday please pop and see me - I don't get out and about too much now so it would be lovely to catch up with some friendly faces. The times for the demonstration are 11 until 3.30 pm.

Must close now and get my bits and pieces packed, I hope that you enjoy a lovely weekend whatever you decide to do and please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of todays project.

Also please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge blog to check out my Team members projects - always a joy to see.

Thankyou so much for popping in,

bye for now

Jo xx

 



Allsorts Birthday winner!! and Week 313 - Vintage

Good Morning Everyone!

Hello and Happy Saturday to you all.

I have lots to tell you and show you in this post this morning and the first is to announce my winner from everyone that took the time to comment on last weeks project which was to celebrate the 6th Birthday of our fabulous Challenge Blog - Allsorts! 

I am so grateful for everyone that took part and for leaving me all of the lovely comments.   I am so pleased to announce the winner who is 

.......................................................................................

...........................................................

SUZI!!

Congratulations! please contact me by email to lets.create@btinternet.com and I will arrange for you to be sent the £10 voucher to spend on our website letscreateartandcrafts.co.uk! 

It was a fabulous week all round and all the entries on the Allsorts blog were fabulous. Please pop over to check out the winners.

Todays challenge has been set by our lovely team member Tracey and she has asked us all to show you a project that fits under the title ...........

VINTAGE

So here goes with what I would like to show you (I couldn't make up my mind so I have posted 2!!)

 This was another of the many samples that I did for the Tattered Lace Trio show a couple of weeks ago.  I used an assortment of flowers and leaves from the sets and coloured them in very vintage colours which really suited the main focal point which is a Graphic 45 image.  I think the bird is stunning.

and, this is the second project

Again, I have used a Tattered Lace die and teamed it up with some Heartfelt Creations paper and by using inks it has turned this project into quite a vintage look too.

I hope that you can spare a couple of minutes to leave me a comment and let me know what you think. You know I love to hear from you. Please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge blog and have a bash at taking part this week! If not check out the other design team members projects.

Thankyou, as always for popping in and hope that you enjoy a fabulous weekend.

Bye for now,

Jo xx

Week 309 - April showers bring May Flowers!

Good Morning my Crafty Friends,

Apologies for Missing in Action this week I have been a little under the weather (nothing new just usual rubbish!) so have had to concentrate on what was really needing to be done rather than what I wanted to do! But, back now and ready to go!

and as it is Saturday we know that it is an Allsorts post and today our Team Captain -  Brenda,  has asked us to make a project with the title -

April Showers bring May Flowers!

and what a fabulous title - well done Brenda for thinking of this one.

Now straight away my mind went  to Graphic 45 and the Time to Flourish and it didn't disappoint me - as if!! and I had a look through the paper rack and May papers in the series certainly fits the bill nicely and this is what I have put together - 

This is a definate collage style card and the papers certainly lend themselves to this style.

I have used several elements from the 12" x 12" paper pad and also cut out the large flower and decoupaged it up a little (although the picture doesn't do it justice - it looks as if it is flat on the

 paper :( 

All I have added is some cotton lace and a little mauve cardstock to mat the papers onto.  This series of Graphic 45 have been extremely popular and we still have a small stock left of the 8" x 8" paper pads on the website  if you are interested.  The pad covers all through the year and you can make some fabulous projects with each month.  I think it is particularly lovely if you can send someone special a card with their month of birth - it makes is very special and thoughtful.

As we are chatting about Graphic 45 I would like to mention that we have the extremely talented and very lovely Clare Charville coming to visit at Let's Create in September - she will be doing a demonstration day on the Saturday and a workshop on Sunday.  ( I will pop some more information on the blog next week.  If you are interested please let me know either through my Facebook page or ringing the shop on 01526 344457 or emailing me at lets.create@btinternet.com

Today in class we have parchment and I am really pleased with the project that we are starting.

I will take some photographs and post them next week - it is a picture that we will be doing over 2 classes. 

Please take a look at the other Team members projects - they really are excellent and gives us all so much inspiration for this time of the year.

Pop over to the Allsorts Challenge blog and you may even fancy having a go at the Challenge yourself and be in with a chance of winner a fabulous prize.

Thankyou, as always,  for popping in and  I hope that you all enjoy a lovely long weekend and that the weather is kind to you all.

Take care and bye for now

Jo xx

  

Allsorts Challenge Saturday - Bring on the Bling

Good Morning to you all,

Welcome to another Saturday and to the Allsorts Challenge day.

I hope that you have all enjoyed a lovely week and have had a share of the gorgeous weather.

Today we have been asked by our lovely team member Helene and she has asked us to show everyone a project using some Bling!

This is a project that we did yesterday in class and all the projects were based around Shrink Plastic.  Well, we did have some fun chasing the shrinking pieces around the table!!

I hope that you can see the Bling! I have sprayed the blue card under the lace panel and the scalloped circle with stick and stay glue and dipped it into my ultra fine glitter, this produces the best glitter card and always matches perfectly with the other card stock that you are using on the project!

The card is a 6" x 6" square so you can see how cute the stamped images are.  The lace is one of Joanna's newest dies and I know this is going to be a favourite of mine so I apologise now for the over use! It is called Harriet and we are very pleased to have them on the website - don't delay if you are interested as they are proving very popular! The bunting die and the flourish are also Signature dies from Joanna.  We also have a 10% discount off all of Sue Wilson dies on the website until midnight tonight just quote the code SUE22 and this will be sorted at the checkout for you.


We used translucent shrink plastic for this card and I stamped two really gorgeous stamps from Stampendous - the Teapot and the cups and saucers in midnight blue Stazon and then coloured the pieces before shrinking with Spectrum Noir pencils - these are a great medium for using on Shrink but you need to remember that you need very little as the colour intensifies when you shrink.


Today we have my gorgeous Neice's birthday party at the shop and so she is inviting 8 of her friends to get crafty so looking forward to this.  I hope that you are looking forward to a lovely weekend.  Don't forget to pop over to the Allsorts Challenge blog to check out the other team members fabulous work and maybe take part to win some fabulous goodies.

Must dash, need to get ready for our little ladies coming in,
Thankyou, as always, for popping in and please leave a comment if you have time, it is always lovely to hear from you.
I will be back on the blog on Tuesday so please pop in,
Bye for now
Jo xx

Week 299 - The Colour Purple

Good Morning Everyone,

Thankyou for joining me again and a special welcome to all of my new followers.  I hope that you enjoy checking in at my blog and hope that you are inspired with some of my projects.

Today, as usual on a Saturday, it is the Allsorts Challenge day and it is my week to host the Challenge for this week.

I have chosen the following as the Challenge ~

The Colour Purple

and this is my project ~

 A real Cadbury purple adorable scorable cardstock really makes this pop!

I have used Creative Expressions - Sue Wilson design Gemini Dye - Lyra.

The border has been cut out of Centura Pearl from the Scandanavian collection again from Creative Expressions and the flowers are the Daisy from Cheery Lynn.

This is quite a clean and simple idea really.

We have these dies on the website if you are interested - you will find it at 

letscreateartandcrafts.co.uk

Let's Create are also sponsoring the Challenge this week and the prize is a £10.00 voucher for the lucky winner to spend on the website.

Please pop over to the Challenge site to have a look at the other team members ideas.

Thankyou, again, for popping in and hope you enjoyed what I had to offer.

Dont forget to pop in again on Tuesday to see what I have to show you.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend,

Bye for now

Jo xx

 

 

Allsorts Challenge - Anything but a Birthday

Good Morning Everybody,

Firstly, I need to apologise for not blogging this week.  I don't normally moan but I have had a difficult week with health problems and all focus has been on my work.

Anyway back to the Jo that you usually get!!! 

It is Saturday so that means its Allsorts Challenge Day and today our lovely Team mate Tracey has asked us to create around the title...................

Anything but a Birthday!

I think this is a great title and will show us some fabulous creations for lots of other occasions I am sure.

I am throwing a little Love into the mix! with a card design that could be for an Anniversary, Valentine or a Wedding card.

I have used one of the Crafters Companion Create a Card dies which I love as it does all of the work for you.

I have teamed it with one of my most favourite stamps from the lovely Sheena Douglass.  It is the Rambling rose stamp, one of her very early designs when she was working with Creative Expressions.  I love to stamp it several times and decoupage it up.  On this occasion I have coloured the image with pro-markers.

Also this week I have been busy making samples for the Tattered Lace Pick of the Week shows (which have proven to be a Pick of a Day! as it has sold so quickly!)

This is one of the samples I have made using the new Royal Anne die and matching border

They really are spectacular dies.

We are away at the Annual Trade Show from Sunday for a few days and can't wait to bring back some fabulous ideas and gorgeous goodies so keep an eye open for lots of these coming up on the blog soon.

Just a quick reminder that we still have the February special discount on our website until tomorrow evening.  You will receive a 10% discount on your order which will be taken off at the checkout. Please dont forget to put the code FEB14 in to get your discount.

 

I am promising to be back to some normality and post on each day that has a 'T' in it!!

so Saturday - done!, Tuesday and Thursday are on their way so hope that you can keep popping in and leave a comment if you have time.

Thankyou, as always, for spending the time to pop in,

Bye for now

Jo xx

Week - Allsorts Challenge

Good Morning Everybody,

Welcome to you all to another Saturday and to the Allsorts Challenge.

I hope that this finds you really well and looking forward to a lovely weekend.

Today our team member Brenda who has chosen a very apt title for the Challenge

'Love is all around'

and this is a project that I demonstrated on Create and Craft a couple of weeks ago -

A little shabby chic using the Pocket full of dreams paper kit and some gorgeous Tattered Lace dies and embossing folder.  I have distressed the edges of the matting and layering so that it suits the Shabby chic appearance.  The hesian ribbon with the lace and pearls finishes the design off.

Please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge to have a look at the other designs from the team.

   I really enjoyed blogging everyday in January and I have had some lovely comments so, although I cannot commit to blogging everyday,  I have decided to post everyday that has a 'T' in it!! So Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday! I hope that you can join me and post a comment.

This weekend on our website - letscreateartandcrafts.co.uk we have a special offer - 10% when you place an order using the code FEB14.  We have just put all of the new Sue Wilson and Joanna Sheen dies on for you to have a look at! ummmmmm enjoy!!

I have a children's craft birthday party to sort out today and we are expecting 28 children!! so must get everything sorted!

Please leave a comment on todays project if you have a minute and thankyou again for popping in.

Bye for now

Jo

Day 31 - Allsorts Challenge post

Good Morning Everyone!

Saturday morning and it is time for this week's Allsorts challenge and also the final day of my January inspiration and so tomorrow will be the draw for the blog candy so I hope that you have made a comment on my posts at least once in this month.

But, back to today our lovely Team member Wendy has chosen a very popular subject for this weeks Challenge -

FLOWER POWER

and this is my project for the Challenge -

This is a 7" square card and all the dies are from the Creative Expression's Sue Wilson collection. 

The flowers are from the Camellia range - there is an open and closed flower.

The leaves are also from this collection.

The border is from the Gemini collection - Lyra and it is very versatile.

The cardstock that I have used is centura pearl and it embosses and cuts so well.

The class made this card in the workshop yesterday and they really enjoyed it.

Today we are having an MDF workshop and we are using the Candy Box birdhouse clock and if you pop in again tomorrow I will put a photograph of it on tomorrow's post.

If you pop over to the Allsorts blog you will be able to see some lovely projects featuring flowers from the design team.

Thankyou to our fabulous sponsors who are ~

Whimsy Stamps and Scrapper's Delight.

Don't forget that it is your last opportunity to be in with a chance of winning some craft goodies if you leave a comment for me.

Thankyou so much for popping in and I hope to see you tomorrow.

Enjoy your Saturday and the rest of the weekend.

Bye for now

Jo xx

Day 24 - Allsorts Challenge

Good Morning,

Saturday again and welcome to todays post which is also the Allsorts challenge for this week.
Our lovely Team member Tracey Mouse has had the pleasure of choosing our theme for this week and it is ~


LACE and PEARLS

and she has asked us for any project which includes lace and pearls on it and I suspect that it will be a really popular theme and this is the card that I have chosen to show you that fits the criteria -

This is a combination of all the mediums that I love to work with - stamping, masking, inks and paperstash!
The stamp that I have used is a Visible images and I have just used the actual flower head and as you can see it has great dimension as I stamped it 3 times and cut it into layers and decoupaged it up using Pinflair gel. I cloured it with pro-markers using different shades of pink and edges each petal with black soot distress ink to give it even more depth. I have also added some glossy accents on some areas of the rose.  The background has been created using stencils and Pinflair Buff-it and a foliage die cut. I have also used a mask to add a harlequin pattern in the corner.  The actual lace and pearls are featured on the border and attached to a piece of script paper.
I really love this design with the layers of different products and the pearls and lace giving it a bit of femininity.
Please pop over to the Allsorts Challenge blog to have a look at the creations from the lovely Design Team. We have 2 fabulous sponsors this week

PPR Papercrafts 

and

Deedee's Digis OFFERS

so a huge thankyou to them for their generosity.

I have my parchment class today at the shop - the first one of this year and I am really looking forward to it. I will pop the project on tomorrow's post so that you can see what we have been up to today.

Thankyou so much for popping in and checking out todays post and please don't forget that the Blog candy is still running until the end of the month if you leave a comment you will be in for a chance to win it.

Our offer on the Let's Create Website is also still running - Just! and if you order within the first 50 orders in January you will receive a 10% discount on your entire order and remember p and p is free over £10 so that is always a plus!! 

Must dash now and get the room ready for our lovely ladies,

Hope to see you hear tomorrow,

Bye for now

Jo xx

 

Allsorts Challenge - Spring Flowers

Good Morning,

Hope this finds you all well and possibly staying in the warm today as it is so cold! 

Apologies for no post yesterday it really was a daft busy day and it got to the evening and thought I may as well pop today's on and make my apologies!  I will pop an extra one on the end of the month to compensate! :)

Anyway, on to today, and as it is Saturday again it must be time for the Allsorts Challenge and this week it is our very lovely Susan who has set the Challenge and it is ........................

Spring Flowers!

and this is perfect for this Challenge.

what more could you ask for on a dull and cold January day but lots of colour and a sentiment sending Special Wishes for a bright and beautiful day!

I started with an A5 card blank and then chose my papers to go with the different coloured flowers.  I didn't pick a highly patterned paper as this would have hidden the flowers and that would have been a shame.

The flowers were really lovely to do as they are made of a soft pastic. They are called 3D shape forming flowers from Studio light.  They come on an A4 sheet and you need to cut them out.  You then need to heat them using a heat gun (or a candle as it says on the instructions!) and you can mould them whilst the flowers are warm.  It also makes them really shiny too and they look as if they have been glazed.  The sheets of flowers are really affordable under £3 per sheet and there is approx 35 with leaves on each sheet.  If you are interested in having a go at this different embellishment technique we do sell them on our website - and remember that we still have an offer as we havent reached 50 people to place an order - please use code JAN50 and this will automatically take the discount off for you and also P and P is free after spending £10.00.

The team have made some fabulous samples as usual so please pop over to the Challenge blog to have a look at their creations.  Thankyou to our lovely sponsors Passion for Stamps and Marianne Designs)

I hope that you will find time to drop me a comment and let me know if you have had a go at these unusual flowers.

Must dash as I have a busy day getting samples done for a show Nancy is doing on Monday at C and C using some new interchangeable embossing folders.

Enjoy a lovely weekend,

keep safe if we get snow

and 

Bye for now

Jo xx

Week 293 - Allsorts Challenge - New and Cute

Good Saturday Morning,

Welcome to another Allsorts Challenge card and this week we have had a fabulous title to 

work with ~

New and Cute!

and this is the project that I would like to show you ~

 This is cute and would be perfect for a new baby so it covers the title nicely.

It is a really clean and simple card with the base measuring 6" x 6".  The main topper has been made using a number of dies  - the 2 plain circles are from my Tonic circle set and the pink circle was a shape out of a paper kit and I thought it was perfect to use for Spirelli, winding pink and white bakers twine around the shape. The duck is the gorgeous little die from Tattered Lace - so cute! I cut this in pink glitter card.

The background lattice was also out of a paper kit and I ran it through an embossing folder to give some interest to it.  A tag with the new baby sentiment on it finishes it off.

I hope you like it and it inspires you to have a go at the Allsorts Challenge this week.  Pop over to the Allsorts blog and have a look at the other design team ideas which are really lovely.

  

Today I am busy getting my samples and demonstrations ready for the CHA shows on Create and Craft my first show is Sunday at 1pm and I have a fabulous paper kit from Tattered Lace to play with it really is so pretty and you can get so many projects from it.

Liz will be on at 10am on Sunday with some amazing dies that are being launched at CHA!

Lots of lovely things to show you! 

I hope that you enjoy a lovely weekend and if you have a few minutes please pop a comment for me and remember that I am blogging every day in January and there will be a draw for some blog candy at the end of the month if you leave a comment. 

Thankyou for popping in 

Bye for now

Jo xx 

Week 288 - Animal Magic

Good Morning everyone,

Welcome to my blog and another Saturday so it must be the Allsorts Challenge.  This week our lovely Team member Tracey has chosen an excellent title for the
Challenge ~.....................................................................

Animal Magic

This should give everyone plenty of scope to think of a project and enter into the Challenge this week.

I have chosen this project to show you to give you some inspiration ~

I hope that you can see that there are two extremely cute House Mice in the middle of the lovely bright sunflower! this is a decoupage image from one of Joanna's recent decoupage packs which include all of the images of House Mouse that have previously been on CD roms so they are now available to everyone to have a play with.
The background die is also from |Joanna Sheen and it is the Lattice with the Oval aperture which cuts out separately so that this can be used on another project.
I have also cut some matching background paper and popped some of the waste squares into some of the lattice so that it adds a bit of dimension and interest to the design.  This is such an easy project as the decoupage does all the work for you.  Some hesian scraps just finish off the scene nicely.

I hope that you can pop over to the Allsorts Challenge Blog to check out the other Design team members work - there are some fabulous ideas. Also have a look at what prizes are on offer to the lucky winners.

Today I have a very busy one ahead as I am at the studio demonstrating the pick of the week for Tattered Lace, my first show at 8am! Having looked at the shows yesterday I'm not sure how much stock will be left for me as they were flying out of the door!
I love working with embossing folders and especially from Tattered Lace as the designs are so different.
I am sure you are all really busy now with all of your Christmas preparation but still finding some time to have a little crafting time alongside all of the busy too!
Enjoy a lovely weekend whatever your plans are and I hope that you can find time to leave me a comment and let me know what you think of my project this week.
Thankyou, as always for popping in and hope to see you next week.
Bye for now
Jo xx

Week 290/291 - Last Minute Gifts

Good Morning Everyone,

Well only 5 sleeps to go! and hopefully you are all just about there with all of your Christmas plans.  We had 2 fabulous get-togethers this week at the shop with a traditional quiz and card game, a lovely spread (as my Nan would have called it!) and fabulous company from our lovely crafty customers and friends.

This weeks Challenge at Allsorts will carry on for 2 weeks as it will carry over Christmas. 

As you know a few weeks ago the lovely Kathryn Sturrock came over to the shop and we had a workshop with her.  We all made some amazing flowers but we also made a very cute Gingerbread man and I have made mine into a little gift.

He is made out of Fimo and then sat on the top of a jar with the lid covered in Martha Stewart paper clay.  The buttons have been made using a Katy Sue Mould and paper clay and then painted with acrylic paint.  I have filled the the jar with chocolate money.

This is a little closer shot ........................

Isn't he cute! 

I had an absolute ball at the workshop and have asked Kathryn to come back next year to so we can have another go.

I thought being as though the Challenge goes for 2 weeks I would show you another gift and this is a plaque that I made and sent to our family in Bermuda.

We have a superb sponsor this week - Marianne Designs and so it is definately worth having a go at the Challenge. Pop over to the Challenge Blog and have a look at the other lovely designs from the Design Team.

This won't be my last post before Christmas I will pop in again to post before the big man in red comes to visit so keep an eye out.

Until then, enjoy the last few days leading up to Christmas and don't get too stressed out and tired - it is only for one day! we all need to enjoy it.

Thankyou for popping in and please leave a comment for me - you know how I love to read them.

Bye for now,

Jo xx

Week 287 - Milestone Birthdays

Good Morning Everyone,

How are you all? I hope that the answer is very well and happy - this is the answer I am looking for from you all!

Well this is the last post before the mad December month begins can you really believe it. I suppose you are all ready for the Christmas festivities which are speedily approaching.  I must say (and as I openly admitted on live t.v this week!! ) I havent made my Christmas cards yet - I have made hundreds since Christmas began in the Crafting world (May for me!) but none of them are for me to send.  So, I must try to get myself sorted and get on with it! 

Well this week at Allsorts we have been asked by our lovely Team member Sarah to make a card with the idea based around Milestone Birthdays.

I made this card some time ago for a Friend for a big birthday and I thought it would raise a smile on your faces as well as hers when she received it. 

I hope that you can see the main event on Ethel's gorgeous leg!! the stamps are from the Ethel and Murray range from Creative Expressions and they really are a giggle.

Although there isnt a specific age on the card I think you can gather from the image that she was in later years! 

Today we have a very special guest coming to Let's Create and I have been looking forward to her return for several weeks. The lovely Kathryn Sturrock is coming to teach a workshop on flower making with clay.  I am a student! I hope she is ready for it!! lol I hope to make some fabulous flowers and show you what I have made. I will take some pictures of everyone's work and I am sure we are all going to have a great time.

Whatever you have planned for the weekend enjoy it.

Thankyou, as always, for all of your lovely comments that you leave.  I do feel that it is worth blogging when you lovely people let me know what you think to my creations.

Don't forget to pop over to the Allsorts Challenge Blog and have a peep at the lovely creations from the Design Team.  There are some fab prizes up for grabs as usual to have a go at entering the Challenge.

Must dash and get my seat in the classroom! what a novelty!

Bye for now,

Jo xx