Phoenix Inspirations

To create my tutorial for my patchwork paper I created this card The tutorial for the patchwork background paper can be found  HERE  on my Craft Club Blog. The rest of the card was made using some Crumb Cake, Old Olive and Baja Breeze card stock. My stamped images are from my new set - Field Flowers, stamped in Old Olive, Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy ink. I used my bargain seam binding ribbon again and embellished with some Liquid Pearls. I shall be entering this card into the following challenges Creative Mondays  - Anything Goes Hooked on Craft Challenges  - Flowers Make it Monday  - Anything Goes. Thanks for looking - see you soon - Jacqueline xx

I've had fun today playing with some new sets and making a few cards. My first follows the sketch over on Mojo Monday I have used my Fabulous Florets set again and this is what I have made I chose the square sketch and used some Crumb Cake and More Mustard SU card stock. The mustard polka dot paper is some bought in my local craft store. My ribbon is a kind of seam binding which I bought for the bargain price of 0.19p a metre! My stamped images are stamped with Creamy Caramel and More Mustard ink. Bye for now - Jacqueline xx

This is our last week of challenges for our MEN AND BOYS  theme and this week we want to see your male cards with a TIME theme, it's also the last chance for you to get your hands on our fabulous prize - details of which you will find over on the  Make My Monday Blog . For my card today I went with a CAS style and used one of the free stamps from Craft Stamper Magazine - take a look I have also followed the sketch over on this week's  Less is More Challenge To colour my background I have used Stampin' Up inks - Really Rust and Close to Cocoa, I also used the 'splodge' stamp from French Foliage. Don't forget to pop on over to the  MMM blog  and check out all the other Time themed cards made by my fellow team mates. Thanks for looking - Jacqueline xx

A couple of days ago I did a workshop and for the first time in five years I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do this time! This didn't last long and I did have a flash of inspiration in time for my workshop and this is what we made We had a go at making our own backing paper from scraps of left over decorative papers - I used some Springtime Vintage DSP, a punched image and some die cut shapes, it always amazes me though when we all use the same technique but end up with totally different cards. As always as this is a workshop make the tutorial will soon be ready on my Craft Club Blog so watch this space. I would also like to enter my card into the following challenges Alphabet Challenge Blog  - F is for Feathered Friends Lisa Somerville's Bloggers Challenge  - Make Your Own Background Paper Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge  - Punches/die Cuts. Thanks for looking - see you soon - Jacqueline xx

My lovely friend  Mynnette  and I recently did a stamp swap - I ordered some stamps from the UK Stampin' Up catalogue and instead of keeping them for myself I re-packaged them and posted them off to Mynnette in the USA. She in turn ordered me some stamps from her catalogue and sent them over to me - and they've arrived!! Now it would have been an insult to Mynnette if I hadn't immediately played with them and so I made a card. I had the sketch in mind that's this week's Less is More challenge - however I think I've got my proportions wrong 'cos I didn't read the rules correctly. So even if I'm not entering the challenge I shall show you the card. This set is called Fabulous Florets and I have stamped the stem in old Olive and the flower in Melon Mambo. The flower has been stamped separately, cut out and attached with 3D foam pads. There is a frame embossed around it although that's a little difficult to see in the photo. I also took the t...

Hello - I'm back, my computer is feeling a lot better and I am now able to post again - yay! So after a week of doing nothing much I have two cards to show you today. It's  52CCT  time again and this week is the Embellishment Challenge - Mynnette and I want to see what you can do with Buttons and Bows. Here are my cards I have had these mitten pegs in my craft stash for years and finally used them for this card - I added the little buttons - another horded item to finish them off and add a splash of bright colour. My ribbon is being held by the pegs. DL style cards are not my favourites however I have a stack of them doing nothing and I though that one would be perfect for showcasing the fabulous snowflake ribbon. There are buttons on there - honest. They have decided to blend in with their surroundings - actually they are attached to the centres of the snowflakes on the ribbon! Thanks for popping round to see me today - back soon to catch up with a workshop make. O...

Hello all - sorry to be missing in action at the moment - my computer is having technical problems. Please 'bear with' and i will be back as soon as possible. I haven't been able to comment either so again I apologise and hope to be back to normal (!) soon - Jacqueline xx

It's  Make My Monday  time again and the challenge to go with our Men and Boys theme is Birds/Animals. I have chosen Birds and I have used my gorgeous Young Vermillion stamp - take a look I also used my Lovely as a Tree to make my background. The colours I have used are Chocolate Chip and Sage Shadow - my birdy is coloured with pencils. There is a fabulous prize up for grabs this month and all the details are on the  blog  and while you are over there checking that out don't forget to check out all the other fantastic dt cards from my lovely team mates. See you soon folks - I am rationed on the computer at the moment due to my lap top taking a trip to the shop to be mended, I have to be really nice to my hubby and bat my eyelids so I can borrow his! Bye for now - Jacqueline xx

OK - my second post of the day - and it's only 8am! I am striking while the iron is hot and making the most of my computer whilst it's working! For this card I have followed the sketch over on  Stampin' Royalty Here is my card I have used some of the last of my Springtime Vintage DSP along with two of my favourite sets - Just Believe and My Friend - both stamped in Rose Red ink. The images have been matted onto Always Artichoke card stock and I have also used some pieces of Crumb Cake and Whisper White. Thanks for taking a look today - see you soon - Jacqueline xx

It's  52CCT  time again and this week the theme is SNOWFLAKES - here is the first of my cards today I have found a load of Christmas stash in one of my cupboards - it was some given to me a long time ago for my craft club. There is loads there so I snaffled a bit for my cards today! The green tree paper is actually 8" x 8" and it has been cut to fit a 5" x 5" card, I added some glitter to the trees and then embellished with some snowflake stickers. I used another of the sheets of paper for this card and really didn't do much else except add a few flat backed gems and a 3D die cut snowflake in metallic purple paper. OK - so far so good, this is my third attempt today to post this as my lap top is still refusing to behave it's self, I'm starting to think a visit to the shop might be in order - better start hunting for the receipt! Please pop by  Mynnette's blog  to see her beautiful Christmassy creations and I will be back soon ...

This week at  Simply Stampin'  there is a fabulous sketch for us to follow - take a look I still have some some of the gorgeous Everyday Enchantment SAB DSP left over so I thought I would use some on this card For my 3 panels I have used my new set - Charming coloured with Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade and Pool Party markers - the sentiment is from Bird on a Branch. It has taken literally days to get this post up. My poor lap top is not feeling it's self at the moment. I seem to be having a problem leaving comments - every time I click on a link to leave a comment my computer crashes and then has huge problems restarting. Any way - going to have another go now so hopefully I will be popping by soon - bye for now - Jacqueline xx

Today I have made a card using the  Mojo Monday  sketch and the  Stampin' Royalty  colour combo Here is the card I made So - everything except the purple rhinestones on this card is Stampin' Up. Concord Crush, Peach Parfait and Whisper White card stock. Peach Parfait, Blushing Bride and Concord Crush inks. Also used my scallop edge punch and a sentiment from My Friend and a circle flourish from Charming and a butterfly from Precious Butterflies. That's it for today - see you soon - Jacqueline xx

I have gone over to the Dark Side this week for the challenge over on  Make My Monday  and created a Football card. I loath and detest football but the theme we have for you this week is MALE SPORTS OR HOBBIES - so needs must, this was the only thing I could come up with This is a 'Penny Slider' card and when you tip the card the ball shoots into the net - like so This was very quick and easy to do and used up a load of small pieces of card stock so very economical too! I made a similar card last year with a tutorial to go with it  here  if you would like to have a go. Don't forget to visit the blog to see all the other more wonderful creations from my fellow team mates and also check out the fabulous prize we have up for grabs this month. Bye for now - Jacqueline xx

I have had an idea in my head for a couple of weeks now and finally yesterday it escaped and became an actual card. I made it before I made the owl card that I posted yesterday - that one evolved because of this one I hadn't used my Baby Blossoms set for ages and now I can't put it down! I've also used one of my favourite sentiment stamps from Just Believe. Also used some of my favourite Kraft card stamped with a couple of corner flourishes so I shall be entering this into the  Kraft Journal  challenge where the theme is 'April Showers Bring May Flowers' - hope it fits in over there! See you soon - Jacqueline xx

My poor, starving student of a daughter has today conned me out of a birthday card and matching gift. She has bought her friend a hand made owl keyring so I made a little note book to go with it - using my 2 Step Owl punch of course! The big glittery 'C' is her initial - Cerys ........... yes she's Welsh. She is Briony's BFF at uni!! Here is the card I made to go with it As you can see I have also used the glorious Baby Blossoms set along with some nesting dies and some gorgeous card stock - Bazzill Basics pink polka dot and some kraft. I have found a challenge to enter this into it's  Challenge Up Your Life  and the theme is OWLS! Thanks for stopping by today to take a look - see you soon - Jacqueline xx

Morning all - having terrible problems with my lap top at the moment so if I suddenly disappear you will know why! So it's Christmas Card time once more and over at the  52 CCT  we have a Colour Challenge for you - take a look My first card is a stamped ivy image designed by own fair hand and is coloured in using Pear Pizzazz and Lucky Limeade markers My background card stock (Lucky Limeade) has been run through my Cuttlebug in the Swiss Dots folder to give it a bit of texture and I used my scallop edge punch for my border in the middle. Although it's difficult to see on this picture I have used some Distress Stickles on the small green leaves. My next card uses a totally different green and I have used the 2 Step Bird punch to create some mistletoe. Liquid Pearls are perfect for adding the tiny berries. My circle was made using a technique I saw on the telly recently and is a corner punch punched around a circle - difficult to explain but ever so eas...

I've been feeling a bit off colour lately - however I did have a good day yesterday. It was my scrapbook workshop and I had three ladies scrapping around my dinning room table!! I had prepared a couple of layouts for my ladies - take a look The sketches are inspired by one of Heidi Payne's on mycroproom.com - here are my interpretations of the sketches I've used my Stampin' Up Everyday Enchantment DSP along with some 12" x 12" kraft card stock. I cut up a couple of doilies to make a decorative border down the page and stamped and cut out some of the flower images from Everything Eleanor. Here they are side by side Thanks for stopping by to take a look - tomorrow I shall be catching up with all my commenting as I've missed a few days!! See you soon - Jacqueline xx

Yikes - I am so late with this post. I went to my parents' over Easter and stayed a little longer than I intended hence the lateness of my post! It's Men and Boys over on  Make My Monday  and this week we want you to make it Vintage. There is a great prize on offer too - all the details are on the  blog . So here is my card Now being quite a girly crafter I was having a bit of a problem with this theme - that is until my team mate Fliss helped me out by sending me some stamped images. I covered my card with some brown vintage patterned paper. The houses (from crafty Individuals) had been stamped twice so I cut out one set - inked them with Brushed corduroy DI and then cut out a few individual houses from the second set to attach with 3D foam pads. The man, hat and balloon were inked in the same way  and stuck down onto the background paper - they are from Oxford Impressions. The french words - from Artistic Outpost were attached again with 3D foam pads. That...

It's sketch week at  52CCT  and it's also my month to choose the challenges - here is the sketch I designed especially for you all and here is the first of my cards This is paper punched pine fronds with paper punched poinsettias (Boho Blossoms) made into a Christmas wreath. Here is my second card - it uses a retired stamp set called Snow Flurries and the sentiment from Wondrous Gift. Now this one is special - not because it's for the  52CCT  challenge blog but because it is also for this month's   Technique Tuesday link Party challenge  -a stamped punch window - over on my good friend  Mynnette's  blog Mynnette  is also my partner on 52CCT so please do pop over and take a look at her Christmas cards too. I shall leave you with a close up of my stamped punch window and I hope I shall be popping around to your blogs soon to take a look at your Christmas cards - Jacqueline xx

I have had a lovely afternoon today. My beautiful daughter Briony took me out for coffee and cake and I even managed to sneak into my favourite craft shop and stock up on a few supplies! This did however prevent me from getting all my work done so I guess I'm going to have a busy day tomorrow! I have a scrapbook page for you to see today - I started it last week at a workshop and finished it off tonight. It is inspired by a sketch by Maria Burke and taken from a magazine called 'Scrapbook Trends' The papers and 12" x 12" page were supplied at the workshop but the pale blue is my own - Pool Party. The photo's are of my wedding and the group is my side of the family. I don't have a decent photo of the friends on my husband's side as they all disappeared to the pub! I used a couple of stamped images on my page - the journaling medallion from Everything Eleanor and a little round flourish from Charming - here is a close up My little flowers ha...

I have decided to do more scrapbooking and I was intending to do 12" x 12" - I've stocked up on paper and card stock and I've got next Wednesday set aside for a workshop. The thing is, I found a stash of clear plastic CD wallets and this got me thinking - they would be perfect for mini scrapbook pages. And ................... they are - take a look Using one of my larger 12" x 12" albums as a guide I made this mini album. It holds 10 pages just a little smaller than 5" x 5". Take a look at the front cover It is covered with some Stampin' Up Sale-a-bration DSP and Poppy Parade and Pool Party card stock. The flowers are made using the Boho Blossoms paper punch. Here it is from another angle As this mini album is made with pre-dominantly blue paper and is smaller than 12" x 12" I shall be entering it into the  Creative Craft World challenge Blog  - March Mini Challenge as their theme is BLUE. Thanks for stopping by to ta...

As I mentioned yesterday, today was workshop day. We made Tent Cards - a bit like this I have raided my stash drawer for some 6" x 6" Papermania papers for this one - I love polka dots and this is a particularly pretty one don't you think. I also thought that it matched perfectly with the butterfly paper behind it. I used my Precious Butterflies Hostess set and stamped the flourish in Lucky Limeade. I then cut it out to fit into the corners. The butterflies were inked with Blushing Bride and again cut out before mounting with 3D foam pads. A few teeny tiny flowers were added and a load of bling and pearls! Also as promised there is a free step by step tutorial to accompany this card. Just pop on over to The Craft Club Blog  HERE  to take a look. I am going into scrapbook mode now as I am holding a special Easter Scrapbook Workshop next Wednesday. If you live in the Malvern area and you would like to join in click  HERE  for all the details - spaces are going...

Tomorrow morning it's my monthly Tuesday morning workshop and we will be making Tent cards. I have pre-made one as a sample for tomorrow - take a look I used some decorative papers from my stash along with some nesting label dies and flowers. My leaves and teeny tiny flowers are punches and because I have added loads of bling I shall be entering this card in to the  St. Luke's Charity cards Challenge . It's their anniversary this month and they want to see cards with shiny things on them. As this is a workshop make there will be a tutorial on my Craft Club Blog tomorrow morning so please pop back for details of that. Bye for now - Jacqueline xx

Good morning all - it's Monday and a brand new theme launch at  Make My Monday . Caz - my lovely team mate has chosen a theme of MEN AND BOYS with the first challenge to be WHEELS . We are also sponsored again this month by the fabulous Marianne Designs - all the details are on the blog. For my card I chose a CAS style - I stamped the truck from Strampin' Up Loads of Love and coloured it with Promarkers. I then cut it out, mounted it onto a die cut label and attached it to my card over a background of trees My design team have made some super samples for you to view so please do hop over to take a look - bye for now - Jacqueline xx