Phoenix Inspirations

I have a challenge card for you today. It's for the "Things With Wings" challenge over on  Make My Monday I used the Bird Banter stamp set from the latest Stampin' Up mini catalogue as I'm ashamed to say that I haven't used yet! It's a lovely set with exotic birdies and branches and it's perfect for colouring in . Here's my card  This is a teeny tiny note card (also from the mini catalogue) and I've stamped my branches directly on to the card. The toucan was stamped separately, coloured and cut out. He was also treated to a layer of crystal effects glue to make him lovely and shiny. He was then popped on with dimensionals and the sentiment was added too.  Thanks for stopping by today - see you soon  - J xxx 

So I was standing at my kitchen window looking out and I spied some tiny Muscari flowers framed beautifully against an old wooden sleeper.  The garden is terraced with sleepers as it's very steep and there is a layer of pebbles to stop the weeds - only it doesn't really work and loads of things keep coming up including the aforementioned Muscari. They did look very pretty though and inspired my card making today  - take a look  For my background I used Crumb Cake ink and the large Hardwood stamp. I then used the Tranquil Tulips set and the little stamps from that to create my Muscari. There are lots of leaves and spikey grass bits to use too. It's a very clean and simple card and I may add a sentiment later or I may just leave it as it is.  Hope you like my card today  - see you soon - J xxx 

It's been a jolly long time since I last blogged,  my health has not been good lately and it's taken me a long time to get over my bout of flu. It really messed with my fibro and I've found that just getting to work and back has been enough and the inclination to craft is only just coming back.  Therapy comes in all sorts of ways and I've found that my planner has been invaluable. It helps keep me organised and is also a place to dump all my ideas and dreams . It's a place to doodle and while away the hours planning and organising how my time will be spent when I get to craft again . Today I have my weekly layout to show you  - before the pen as they say  - take a look  It's mostly in pink this week which is my favourite colour with a little stamping thrown in for good measure! I've used Stampin Up Perennial Birthday which also happens to be one of my favourite sets at the moment.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love to customise my thing...

Today's card is another fancy fold - a Pop Out Swing Card. Here's how it started To get to this stage I followed Amanda's tutorial HERE Here are some more views To decorate it I cut a frame from Whisper White card stock and also a mat for the swing out middle I then decorated them using Blooms and Wishes stamp set and attached them to my card I also used my leaf punch to add to the middle design which was attached using Dimensionals. Hope you like my card today - see you soon - J xx

Today's card is a Bridge Card - I would also like to share with you how I made it. Here is a small tutorial. I took a piece of coloured card sock and scored it into three equal sections. The two outside sections were also scored down the middle - all were creased with a bone folder. White card stock was cut to fit each section.  The images from Climbing Orchid were stamped, coloured, die cut and assembled. A branch from Seasonal Layers was also die cut.  The white card stock was stamped with the Hardwood stamp and the edges sponged. This was done with Crumb Cake ink and Early Espresso. The pieces were stuck down.  The orchid images were arranged and stuck down. A piece of card stock was attached to the card which enables the card to stand up. The strip is the length of the card when one of the side panels has been folded in. This means that it folds flat for posting.  More orchids were assembled to decorate the side panels.  A sen...

Unfortunately this little set retired with the start of the new Spring/Summer Mini but when I saw the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches this week I knew I had to get it out again for an encore. Freshly Made Sketches H|ere is my card My three beverages were stamped onto a piece of Whisper White card stock. They are a two step stamping set so the solid middles of the mugs were also stamped and the decoration was then added. This ensures that there are many combinations to these images. The images were cut out and attached to the banner. I am also entering this card into the challenge over at The Paper Players Thank yo so much for visiting today - see you soon - J xx

In October of this year Stampin' Up celebrates it's 30th birthday. That's 30 years of bringing us quality stamps and products. Products that you can find today in the current catalogues. Main Catalogue These products are available throughout the Stampin' Up year and can be ordered any time. Spring/Summer Mini These products are available from January to the end of May. Sale-a-bration This offer is only on from January to March and only available to purchase with a qualifying order of £45 or more. All the products can be viewed in my online shop HERE All items ordered can be sent direct to your home (p+p £4.95) anywhere in the country. So - what are you waiting for???? My order went in earlier today for new Spring/Summer items and I was able to add 2 free Sale-a-bration items to my order - roll on next week that's all I say!! The flu is well on the way out and my first shift back at work is Wednesday so I'm hoping my order a...