Phoenix Inspirations

Well that's a tall order - all the men I know would not appreciate having ribbon on their cards. However a bit of burlap perhaps?? What do you think? The card was one I made a while ago when I was asked to demonstrate masks at a local craft club. It's one I borrowed so I don't know the make - sorry. The mask was placed on to Kraft card stock and I sponged over it with Stampin' Up's Craft White ink. Early Espresso was used to stamp the leaves and the tiny wooden acorn was attached with a strand of the burlap ribbon. This is the theme of the challenge over in  The Male Room  and I really do look forward to seeing what everyone else does to 'Make Ribbon Masculine'! Bye for now xx

That's right - join us in The Male Room  this week and share with us your male Sports and Hobbies - take a look at my card My card is all about Lepidoptera - that's collecting butterflies to you and me! A little while ago I was helping my Mum and Dad clear out their attic and Mum was horrified to find some boxes of dead mounted butterflies from my Dad's childhood especially that  he is a naturalist and conservationist now! Materials - Stampin' Up Stamps: French Foliage & Nature Walk - both retired and Papillon Potpourri and Best of Butterflies Ink: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, Black Stazon, plus various markers Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso Accessories: Dimensionals (To order any of the above current items or items from the Annual Catalogue please e-mail me on deezinesart@gmail.com - a catalogue pdf can be found in the side bar. Items can be delivered direct to you - just £4.95 p+p any size order. Also see the special o...

This week it's a CAS week at  Addicted to Stamps & More  and I have been having a play with my Fine Feathers again - take a look Now this is one of those cards that turned out totally different to how I wanted it to however, I was having coffee and a girly chat with my friend Louise at the time so I may have been a little distracted! Here's what I used to make my card Materials Stamps: Fine Feathers, Sassy Salutations, French Foliage Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Gumball Green, Midnight Muse Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Naturals Ivory Accessories: Dimensionals Other: Twine (All Stampin' Up products can be ordered through me and delivered direct to your door - please see the details in the top tab). Now I know I'm supposed to be decorating the insides of my card - and I did, but my camera batteries died on me as I was taking the above picture hence the lack of inside pics! I am hoping to steal  borrow the ones from the TV remote tomorrow so I can photo...

It's  Make My Monday  time once more and this month we have our lovely Caz hostessing the weekly challenges. This week she would like us to make projects portraying our FAVOURITE FLOWERS. Caz's favourite I believe are Poppies and she has made some really beautiful cards in the past using poppy images. Me on the other hand - well I can't decide. I do genuinely love all flowers and tend to 'swither' according to occasions or seasons. For example in Spring I go all out for Daffodils and in late Summer I adore the orange Marigolds with their furry brown centres. For my birthday - June, my Peonies are always in flower in the garden. Of course I have my favourite for Christmas too and that would be the Poinsettia - like the one I have made for my card today, please take a look So using a piece of Crumb Cake card stock I stamped a border of Holly and Ivy and I also stamped the sentiment directly on to the card. My main Poinsettia flower was stamped using one of the ...

Today is a very special day as today is the first challenge of my new CAS challenge blog  CAS - Colours & Sketches  and we are kicking off with a double - an Colour and a Sketch, take a look Here is the card I have made for this challenge - hope you like it My four square panels have been embossed with a dotty embossing folder and my middle panel has been stamped with a sentiment using the Chocolate Chip ink. My leaves - from French Foliage have been coloured with Pumpkin Pie and Cherry Cobbler, cut out and attached using dimensionals I really hope you will join me in this new venture and I'm looking forward to visiting you all and seeing your CAS creations. Please do go and take a look at my fellow team mates' creations - they really are lovely, plus we have a very special Guest designer this week. Here's our blog badge - it would be great if you could add it to your blog to spread the word I would also like to say 'Hi' to Yvonne - my...

Over on the  Make My Monday  challenge blog today the theme is still AUTUMN SUPPLIES and this week we want to see projects using VELLUM. Here's my card I started with a card base measuring 5" x 5" and I added a layer of Pumpkin Pie card stock. On to this I added my vellum. It's some I have had in my stash box for many, many years! It's pre-embossed and I just added some colours using my Stampin' Write markers. I tried stamping my sentiment on to the vellum but it didn't work so I re-stamped it on to card stock and attached it with Dimensionals. My frame is made by stamping leaves on to white card stock, cutting them out and arranging around the edge of my vellum panel. Materials Stamps: French Foliage, Love and Sympathy Ink: So Saffron, Early Espresso (marker), Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi, Lucky Limeade (marker), Peach Parfait (retired marker) Card Stock: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie Accessories: Dimensionals Other: Vellum (Please feel free to ord...

This is my penultimate card for  Mynnette's DT Call  and is for the Sketch Challenge - take a look at what she set for us For this one I decided to use my French Foliage set and use leaves instead of butterflies - hope that's OK? I was trying to think outside the box when I created this so I hope it's worked and you can still see the basic sketch underneath all the splodges and sponging! Materials Stamps: French Foliage Inks: Early Espresso (Marker), Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Old Olive. Card Stock: Whisper White, Naturals White. Other: Sponges, Dimensionals. (If you love any of the items used above and need would like to purchase any you are very welcome to order through me and have them delivered direct to your door, just click the tab at the top) Had my monthly Thursday night workshop last night so please pop back later to see what we made - there will be a link to my tutorial too. - See you later - Jacqueline xx

Bonjour indeed as this month  Make My Monday  is coming over all French. Fliss has chosen this lovely theme and her first challenge for us is PARIS - ooh la la! Here is my card A great big 'thanks' goes to Fliss as she sent me some stamped images in the post, I teamed these images up with some stamped leaves form the French Foliage set - very appropriate don't you think? I also used some Basic Black card stock and Pumpkin Pie ink. We have a fantastic month of french themed challenges for you and a lovely new Guest DT - please pop over and take a look - there is also some fabulous Parisian inspiration there too. See you soon - Jacqueline xx

The challenge this week at  DYSU Challenge Blog  is Rather an interesting photo don't you think? I also thought I'd combine this challenge with the colours that are this week's  Dynamic Duos I already had my French Foliage set out on my work top so I decided to go with it and here is my card I used Certain Celery and Always Artichoke card stock along with my scallop edge punch to create some little panels which were placed under a Certain Celery mat - this was attached using some 3D foam pads. I cut a slightly smaller white panel on to which I added my leaves - stamped in Always Artichoke and Certain Celery ink. I then found a scrap of linen thread to tie around. My little 'thank you' sentiment is from Just Believe. I had great fun creating this card - hope you like it - bye for now - Jacqueline xx

Mojo Monday To my square card base I added some DSP from the Just Add Cake collection along with some Cherry Cobbler - I really do think that this is my most favourite Stampin' Up colour!! A panel of Basic Black was also added. To my round Vanilla circle I added some stamped images: my leaves are from French Foliage and are stamped in Wild Wasbi ink. The Cherry Cobbler flowers are from Everything Eleanor (another favourite). Finally I added a black silk bow and some flat backed black gems. That's all for tonight - click the link under the sketch to check out the challenge and I will see you again soon. Bye for now - Jacqueline xx 

As promised my tutorial on how to make this card - - is now up on my Craft Club Blog  HERE . We made made these at my workshop last Thursday night and here is the one I made during the demonstration I've used some Really Rust card stock and various autumnal coloured inks - I also sponged around the edges of my Vanilla card stock with a bit of Crumb Cake ink too, - Chocolate Chip was used for the tags. My French Foliage set was used for the stamping and I also used my Scallop Edge punch for my middle border. This is such an easy card to make - one piece of card stock, one cut, about six folds - and no measuring!- It takes no time at all to make - all the fun is in the decoration, hope you have time to have a go! Bye for now - Jacqueline xx

I've recently changed my job description in regards to some local committee work that I do and I handed a huge chunk of paperwork over to a new colleague. Yippee I thought - I will now have more time to get my crafting commitments done on time ..........I've just realised that I should have posted about 12 hours ago the fact that  Addicted to Stamps  has a new  Scrapbook Challenge ! Oh dear. Our subject this month has been picked by the lovely  Karen  and is AUTUMN here is my page My page is some 12" x 12" paper (sorry can't remember where from) with a strip of patterned paper added to the top. I have decorated it with cut out leaves stamped from my French Foliage set in loads of autumnal coloured ink. My title is also stamped and cut out. I added some Very Vanilla card stock in the middle but added my photo digitally. It's one of my most favourite pics but I only have it stored on my computer and my printer does not do colour. What I shall do ...

One of the ladies of my craft club had a 'special' birthday last week and this is the card I made for her I have combined Everything Eleanor with French Foliage for this one and used Pretty in Pink, Certain Celery and Wild Wasabi inks. The numbers are peel offs (which I don't normally use) and they were silver 'til I coloured them with a pink Promarker. Hope everyone is in the mood for a good weekend - I myself am holding my husband hostage until he has cleaned out the porch - we were all set to do it last weekend but he had to work instead. Next on the agenda - make himself an office. At the moment he uses the kitchen - most inconvenient when he's in an on-line meeting with Japan - 'konichiwa'! See you soon - Jacqueline xx

There is a sketch this week at  Simply Stampin'  - have a look I had such fun with this sketch and as my title suggests - I used my Everything Eleanor set. Take a look at my card I also used a leaf stamp from my French Foliage set and a sentiment from Field Flowers. The colours I used are Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Certain Celery and Wild Wasabi. Also added to the mix were some flat backed gems and some seam binding ribbon. Here's a close up of my flowers - I cut out several layers to make them Well that's it - have a great weekend everyone, see you soon - Jacqueline xx

This week at  Make My Monday  the challenge is to create a Father's Day card - this one is for my dad take a look I masked off the sides of the card and sponged the centre with More Mustard and Cherry Cobbler S'U inks - I then stamped some of the images from the French Foliage set and removed the masks. I inked the sides of the card and added more stamped images. The border is card stock edged with the scallop punch and I have then cut out some stamped leaves and popped them up with 3D foam pads. My sentiment is from a papermania set and is also attached with foam pads. There are some gorgeous cards this week from my design team so I do hope you can pop over and take a look. We are contemplating a trip to the coast at the moment - unfortunately not for pleasure. My daughter discovered over the weekend that her new student residence was flooded out in Aberystwyth - luckily she was home safe but I feel a clean up operation is on the cards! 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

Hi all, today's challenge over on the  Make My Monday  blog is FLOWERS AND LEAVES Here is my card My Magnolia stamp is from the SU Simply Soft Hostess set and I have coloured it with Stampin' Write markers in Wisteria Wonder, Blushing Bride, Concord Crush and Lucky Limeade. My leaves are from French Foliage and are also coloured with Lucky Limeade. My card stock is Basic Black and Wisteria Wonder - a black silk bow adds the finishing touch. Please pop over and see what my fellow dt ladies have come up with - they are pretty spectacular. I would also like to say 'hi' to my new followers - welcome I hope you enjoy what you see - Jacqueline xx

Good morning all, it's Monday so that means it's challenge time over on the  Make My Monday  challenge blog. This week it's still SEASONAL projects with the added extra of RED RIBBON.  Here is my contribution to the dt line -up It's a Centre Step card - I got the instructions from the Splitcoast Stampers site (via Just Us Girls). I used Kraft card stock as my base and then used SU Lucky Limeade and Very Vanilla. The poinsettias were made using the French Foliage stamp set (see Vicky's blog  here  to see where I got my inspiration for these). They were coloured using Poppy Parade and Lucky Limeade. My RED RIBBON is wrapped around the base with my sentiment mounted onto it. Hope you have the time to pop over to the blog and take a look and maybe even have a go your self. I am also entering this card in to the  Just Us Girls  challenge as they are looking for Centre Step Cards. Bye for now - Jacqueline xx

Morning all - it's week 26 over on the  Make My Monday  challenge blog and this week we are making a DECORATED CHRISTMAS BOX Now I have known about this challenge for weeks but I only started planning it last Tuesday. I made the box, the bits inside and the lid. I decided that I would start the decoration yesterday - nothing like flying by the seat of your pants then! This is how it started I stamped out all these leaves (from the French Foliage set) and coloured them with Stampin' Write Markers (Poppy Parade and Lucky Limeade). I then cut them out. Had to take time out to do lunch and tea and then of course there was Strictly and X Factor so at 9.00 last night my box was still not completed!!! Managed to do the outside - take a look It's like this on all four sides - and the lid As for the inside of the box - you will have to wait. I'm sorry I was going to finish it this morning but as I was waiting for Il Divo to appear on Lorraine, I realised tha...

French Foliage is one of my favourite Stampin' Up sets as I love nature - especially leaves. My blog friend Vicky also loves this set and a couple of days ago made a gorgeous Christmas card using one of the leaf stamps and turning it into a Poinsettia - take a look  here . Well - I e-mailed her straight away asking her if I could CASE her idea. She said yes so here it is The leaf was stamped in red, coloured with a Stampin' Write marker and cut out. I actually cut out 20 and made 3 poinsettia flowers. The leaf was then stamped on the Very Vanilla card stock in green and 2 of the flowers were stuck down flat. The third flower in the left hand bottom corner was stuck down on 3D foam pads - small yellow gems were then added to the flower centres. I found a new (new to me!) challenge blog so I would like to enter this card Cards & Things Challenges  - color challenge - Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Crumb Cake. Thanks for looking and thank you Vicky for letting me use...