Where did it all begin?

Hello All,

Hope you are all doing well ..... I love looking at blogs of where people do Art Journaling, I can spend hours looking at their works of art, looking at all the detail, it is such a beautiful and creative way to express yourself, something about it just really appeals to me. I bought the book "Journal Bliss by Violette" which I just love .... at at the mo I am looking longingly at the dvd's that Kate Crane has just created .... I would soooooo love to take one of her classes.

In March my wonderful hubby bought me a fabulous box full of art supplies, that coverts into an easel ... so I was all set. Then Life happened, and I just couldn't face it .... I think If I has already been into art journaling it would have helped me deal with things, but I just didn't want the art journaling story to begin on a depressing note ...... Anyway tonight I have pulled my paints out and had a play ... this is a first page, there will be a few more to follow, but my basic idea of this one is just to tell the story of where the crafting obsession began ....... you may guess by the picture that it was sewing!!

I have used a "Kanban" lace stamp from the recent QVC tsv. I stamped all over the page, and then painted it over with watercolour paints. The main image is "Lorali" once I had painted in the image it lost some of the detail, so I stamped over it again ... with it being a rubber stamp I could not get it quite perfect, but I actually quite like the way it turned out slightly off set! ..... and I have added lots of faux stitching to go with the sewing theme.

I don't really have a clue what I am doing when it comes to Art Journaling, It is all guess work and I can see I have a lot to learn ... but hopefully it will be fun getting there!!

Thanks for looking, and for putting up with all of tonight's waffle!!
Hugs Juls

2nd Week at Crafty Creations

Hello All .... This is my 2nd week as a guest designer for Crafty Creations ( I would like to thank all the girls there for having me , I have enjoyed my time with you) the Theme this week is Thank you!

I was sorting out my craft stash the other week, and found a box of "HOTP" stuff that I have forgotten about, and I have a couple of books with fab sentiments like this !!! Now I have rediscovered them I think they may become a new obsession!! ... I have teamed it with paper from "colorbok - moonlight" .... the little roses have yet again made an appearance, I have added a couple of "Dawn Bibby - Vellum leaves" and a few gems.

This is my entry for:

Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight Challenge - Sentimental

I have been so proud of myself as I have been really up to date and on top of things here in blogland ..... but things have been rather hectic again, and I have once again got behind in my commenting, so I apologise for that and hope to catch up with you all again soon.

Thanks for Looking
Hugs Juls

Box Refill

Hello All,

Another picture heavy post today .... I was walking past the hairdressers where I have left a box of my cards.... and It was looking a bit sad, as quite a few of the cards had sold ..... so I have been on a mission the past few days to make some more cards to fill my box ..... I have just picked out a few of my fav's to show you:

Sugar Nellie/Simply Sassy:




Baby cards:


Polkadoodles:


Whiff of Joy:

All the girls at the hairdressers were very complementary and enthusiastic, so today I am feeling a little more confident regarding my new venture .... Also in the last box I left there I also included a couple of mini notebooks which apparently were very popular .... so they have requested some more of them .... but for now I need to get some work done for my proper job .... and then if I get chance to do some crafting just for me, where I play just for the sake of it .... and can spend hours on the one card if I want to ..

As always, thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Guest DT for Crafty Creations

Wow, I was so excited last week to get an e-mail from the lovely Bernie, asking if I would like to be a guest DT at crafty creations for the next 2 weeks ..... thanks girls for asking I feel so honoured!!

The theme this week is " Let it Shine" .... well I have gone a tad mad, although it doesn't show up that well on the photo .... everything has been sprayed with Mica powder, I have used holographic embossing powder on the edges of the main mat .... I have used sparkly thread .. loose glitter and a few gems, so I hope that qualifies ... LOL!!!!

I have used some fabby magnolia images which have been coloured with my copics .... as you can see the roses have made an appearance again!!!! and I have once again used my fabby "Tilda - kitchengarden" papers, I think this may be the first time ever that I will get through a whole paper stack and have nothing left !!!!!

This is my entry for:

Everybody Art Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me - We are in stitches
C.R.A.F.T - include stitching
Charisma Cardz - Pink and Green
Stamp something - use pretty papers
Just Magnolia - Paper piecing to dress up images ( I have used the gingham paper for her dress and bow)
Paper Sundaes - easel card

Once again thanks for looking,
Hugs Juls

In the Garden

Hello All,

This is an image I created using "Do-craft - tulip" stamps and "LOTV" stamps and coloured with copics ..... actually I coloured this ages ago, but I am in need of some engagement and anniversary cards, so thankfully I had the image ready so I was able to put this card together very quickly ... I just used some ribbon and gems and pearls to bling it up.

The flowers have been made using, "sizzix - flowers 3d" I actually bought this die in march but have never used yet, well actually I did have a quick play, but I did not read the instructions and my flowers were a disaster and I totally put myself of using them .... now however that I have taken the time to read the instructions ... these are sooooooooooo easy and I LOVE them, I think they will very quickly become a new addiction!!

This is my entry for:

By The Cute and Girly - In the Garden
Just add ink - Just add colouring in
crafts for eternity - embellishments beginning with R (Ribbon)
Totally papercrafts - die cuts and punches

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Kanban Collage

Hello All,

Today I had a play with my new Kanban stamps, that I got from QVC when they had them on TSV ..... my Mum asked me to make her some anniversary cards, I have quite cute ones in so I thought I would go for another look ..... In all honesty I really had no idea what I was doing .... I just started playing and this was the result. I went through a bit of a phase of creating collage style cards earlier in the year, its a look I love but I don't do it very often so I am not that good at it, I enjoyed having a play but I am not too sure about the results.

Most of the images have been stamped using "memento - Black tuxedo" but I inked up the roses with "memento - Lady bug & Pear Tart" I then inked the edges with "Distress ink - worn lipstick" and then sprayed the whole thing with a mica powder spray. I then distressed added some stitching detail and a little DP from my scrap pile behind the torn edges, and finally I have finished with "Prima" flowers and a few gems and pearls.

This is my entry for:

Crafts and Me - Bling it on
Charisma Cards - Pink and Green
C.R.A.F.T - include stitching

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

In The Frame ...

Hello All,

Every week I intend to join the "Less Is More" challenge, and yet some how I don't seem to get round to it ..... so I was determined this time. Although this is a simple design I have used 4 different stamp sets "Sugar Nellie" "Anna Griffin" "HOTP" and the image I have coloured her with copics ..... I dont think I have got the balance quite right, I think the image should be further up the page .... but hey I guess you live and learn.

This is my entry for:

Less Is More - In the Frame

as always, thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Sassy Stationary

Hello All,

I hope you have enjoyed your weekend ..... I have been working on this little project over the weekend. I just made it because I felt like it ... sometimes that's the best way, for once I am really pleased with the results, I think I may save it as I think it would make a great gift for someone who is moving away. ( I should warn you now this is a very picture heavy post ... I hope I don't bore you all !!!!



I found these address books In Trago Mills when I was on Holiday in Devon, they were really cheap and I thought they would be perfect to alter ... I have used "Sugar Nellie - Simply Sassy"stamps, coloured with copics. The paper is " Tilda - Kitchen Garden" and then the sentiments are stickers from "K&Co" that I bought forever ago.

I made little pockets inside the address book, to store some cards in ...... and also a little pocket for stamps ( I have to say I think that is my fav feature)


As I was making a whole stationary set, I decided to stamp the envelopes as well to give a whole co-ordinated look.


I have just noticed that I have added no white Highlights on this picture ... I will be off to correct that as soon as I have finished this post.

I am not quite sure how a key chain relates to a stationary set ...... I just took a notion, however I suppose if it was a moving gift it could work ?! I used a Tim Holtz facet and put the sassy image behind it ..... All the lovely beads are again a purchase from my holiday in Devon in March ..... there was the most beautiful jewelry making/bead shop there and I felt all inspired .... I have to admit I do not have a clue what I am doing, I am just kind of fudging it and hoping for the best .... Unfortunately I have silver findings and then black wire for the beads ????? so at the mo I am having to work with what I have, it is annoying me so I may have to go back and alter it!!

Well that's all the pictures over now ... so thanks for staying with me, and looking at my work, it is much appreciated.

This is my entry for:

Penny's challenge - Best Friends
MAWTT - Anything but a card (the address book/bookmark/Key chain)
Crafty Catz - bookmark
Paper Sundaes - Girly Girl

Feeling the Love in the Sugar Bowl

Hello All,

Its been a while since I have played in the sugar bowl, so I have enjoyed having a play once more!! I adore Leanne Ellis images, and I love this one, she is so quirky!!! and she fits perfectly with the love theme that has been set. I have coloured her using my copics, The paper is "Tilda - Flowergarden" which I purchased on my last visit to Paper boutique in Elgin..... I stamped the word love using an "Anna Griffin" stamp, with a "brilliance - orchid" inkpad, it turned out a little harsh for my liking so I went over it with a quicky glue pen and then sprinkled over some loose glitter...

I should really be mass producing cards today, however my crafty space is such a mess I cant get my head round it, so I think I will be doing a good sort out today instead!!

This is my entry for:

The Sugar Bowl - Sketch&Love theme
Paper Take Weekly - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me - Stamp Something
Dutch Dare - Photo Inspiration
Dream Vally - Stamp Something (2nd entry)

As always, thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Irresistible Strawberry ....

Hello All,

I once again find myself apologising for my lack of posts and commenting this week, I have had my inlaws visiting, so I have been unable to have a play ...... hopefully now life will get back to normal and I will be back on track in blogland.

I have used an image from the lovely DT package that I received from Sugar Nellie, if you completely adore this image and have to have her, you can find it here

I have coloured the image with copics, and I have made a little notebook using some fab papers and stickers from K&Co.

This is my entry for:

By the cute and Girly - In the Garden
Totally Papercrafts - Get Fruity
Fairytale - Anything but a card
Dream Valley - Stamp Something.

I apologise for the photo, the lighting is just rubbish because its later in the eve, .... and once again thanks for looking!!

Hugs Juls