Kraft Kindness

Hi All,

For once in ages I have been having lots of time to play, I have made a stack of cards but been neglecting blogging ..... So hopefully I will have another month of regular posts, what a novelty!!

I have finally purchased a pack of A4 Kraft card, so have been able to have a proper play with Kraft. I have embossed a piece of craft card using a Teresa Collins embossing folder, then I have stamped using a Kanban stamp and embossed using wow embossing powder - sparkling snow. .... The sentiment is also a stamp but unfortunately I have no idea of the brand, its just a stamp I have in my stash.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Simon says Stamp - Anything Goes
Inky Impressions - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Anything Goes
Creative knockouts - Flowers Galore
Sister Act - Anything Goes
Crafts for Eternity - Stamp It
One Stitch at a time - Anything Goes
613 Avenue - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Dressing Up

Hello All,

Something different from me today. When clearing my crafty space I mentioned that I found things that I had forgotten that I had ... I came across this Kanban template for a dress shaped card, something I bought donkeys ago but have never used ... so I had a little play last night and made these 2 little dresses,

They were quick and easy cards to make and I think perfect for any little girl. I have used some patterned papers, and have added a little stamping and distressed ink round the edges for a little interest, and have just embellished with bits and bobs to my hearts content. (p.s the flower on the card at the background does not stand out as quite that bright in real life! )

I am quite pleased with how they turned out.

I would like to enter these little dresses into the following challenges:

Kaboodle - Pastel colours
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Fashion is my passion
Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes, option ribbon
The ABC - P is for pretty pink
Creative Romance - Shaped Cards
Sister Act - Anything goes

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Fashion Collage

Hello All,

Still playing in my journals ... I now have 8!!! and I only have a few pages done in each, I have just bought the Dyan Reaveley one, I have not done any pages yet, I just keep stroking it, lol!!!

This page has been done in my smash book, This is my first attempt at fashion collage, I am in the process of reading "collage couture" by Julie Nutting .... I am hoping I will get to grips with this as it will be a fabulous way of using up all my scraps.

All sorts has been thrown at this page, I have used acrylic paints and momento inks in the background, I have used stamps from Dylusions and Kanban, and I have made the little girl with all my scraps. Hope you like the results..

Baby sleeping just now, so I am going to use the opportunity to try and do a quick catch up with you all.

Hugs to all
Juls

Graphic 45

Hello All,

Yes it seems like I have disappeared of the face of the earth! We are beginning to get some sleep through the night now, but she still does no more than catnap during the day, where I frantically run round trying to get some jobs in the house done!! so very little time for crafting, still watching and spending though!!

The other night my Hubby took main babysitting duties, and I just did the feeding and he allowed me to escape into the loft for a little while and have a play, I had just been watching the Graphic 45 hours on c&c and managed to sit on my hands!!! I knew I had a couple of sheets tucked away somewhere in my stash, so feeling all inspired I dug them out and had a little play! I have teamed it up with some Kanban Velacetate, and then I coloured the ladies lips red with my prisma pencils and that was it.

Hopefully as my little sweetie settles I will get more time to play and will be able to make an appearance here more often!!

hugs to you all
Juls

Steampunk Romance

Hello All, yes shock horror a card from me, I cant believe it has been 6 weeks since I last made a card! wow how life has changed. My beautiful baby girl does not believe is sleeping for more than 15 min at a time, unless she is being held!! so at the moment my production has dramatically decreased and my spending increased, as I seem to spend a lot of time watching create and craft, and just cant resist.

I have purchased the seriff craft artist professional programme, that has been such a life line, as I have been able to do some scrap pages, and more baby thankyou cards, and I can craft with one hand and print out later .. I do much prefer to uses scissors glue, inks e.c.t but it is allowing me to release a little creativity at the moment.

By some miracle she did sleep for a little more over the weekend, plus my hubby was available to keep her contented, so I managed to escape into the loft for a little while ... it was bliss!! Although I should have taken the opportunity and make quick cards, I just wanted to play ... so embossing powders, the heatgun and sewing machine all made an appearance.... I didn't know where I was going with this when I started I just continued playing and fiddling, and this was the result.

Stamps - Chocolate Barouque/punky Romance
               Kanban/ Jasper
Embossing - Couture Creations/Workshop
Colouring Medium - Prisma Pencils
Inks- Brilliance - a pink one! (cant remember the exact colour, sorry - and cant be bothered to run into the loft to check!) Distress ink- Worn Lipstick & Antique Linen
Embossing powder - Seafoam white (with some Mica powder mixed in)

P.S - I have just come back and discovered this new look blog, its taken me forever to do my post today, cant understand how the stupid thing works!! Its taken forever to do my post today!

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Dress Up

Hello All,

Still no news, been for a bit of a walk this morning, still bouncing on my ball, but recon she will just come when she is good and ready, at least it is allowing me a little time to craft before my world as I know it turns upside down!

I fell for a Kanban kit a few weeks ago, and it had not quite made it to the loft yet, so I have had to hand to have a little play with. I don't really do toppers, yet I still manage to fall in love with images, and think they will be great ..... and then don't really like the cards I make with them as they look manufactured, and at the end of the day I love stamping and colouring, and is always what I look to first, so I have boxes of kits, that never get used, and I never learn my lesson!! I decided to try having a play and to still use stamping and other techniques so I still feel like I have crafted the card. I have used some toppers, stamped, played with twinkling H20's and done some embossing and this has been the result!

Also this is me attempting the "more is better" look, which I love but never quite manage to achieve, I am not sure on the results but decided to share anyway, if you have any tips on where improvement can be made, it would be much appreciated.

Card Blank, Topper and acetate embellishments - Kanban
Papers - Tilda ( flowergarden)
Stamps - (dress) Kanban (sissors) Loralie
embossing - Couture creations - workshop ( it is actually more of a steampunk look, I just cut out the tape measure detail)
Colouring medium - copics & twinkling H20 (iridescent green)
Inks - Distress ink - spun sugar

This is my entry for:

The shabby tea room - spring is near, plus dry embossing plus 3 colours from photo ( pink, green and aqua)
Papertake weekly - For the Girls
Totally gorjuss - Anything Goes, with a button
Paper Sundaes - feminine Flair

Once again thanks for looking
Hugs All round
Juls

Being Creative .....

Hello All,

This is an art journaling page that I have been working on for the last few days .... I had been checking out some tutorials on art journaling over the holidays, in the quest to learn more, whilst doing that I came across the saying:

"Being Creative means allowing yourself to make mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to keep" I also came across one that said "there are no mistakes in art journaling" .....

These are sentiments that I am really having to take to heart with these pages ..... especially with my dodgy painting, I really should check out some tutorials or online classes for painting faces rather than thinking that I can just fudge my way through it .... I think she looks a little scary, I think it is because the eyes and lips are just a bit dodgly painted!! ... especially the eyes I find it really difficult to get them even! ..... I guess this is a case where I just need to practice!!

Most of this is my own drawing .. (which you can probably tell!!!) with the exception of the butterflies which are kanban stamps. It has all been painted with acrylic paint. and then I went over her hair and lips with twinkling h20's to try and lift it a little.

Once again thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Steampunk Snow White

Hello All,

This card is a little different style for me, I am loving the whole steampunk look but as yet I have not given it a try, so this is me trying to play and experiment with a new style.

One thing I have enjoyed about this card is that it is a whole hybrid of various types of crafting.

Firstly I did some cd crafting I played about with the " A Very Important Date" cd from MCS - All the layered papers was an image that was already put together, I added in the clock and the books from the cd. That fabulous image is one that I have had for ages, It was a free image from the fabulous Princess Elemmiriel However when I purchased it I only had whisper pens, and I would use a water brush to colour, so I really struggled with digital images, especially one as detailed as this, so it has been left in a folder on my computer, now I have copics and Prisma's I thought it was about time that she was used. The image was on a creamy background, so I put in on the layered papers and blended the edges so it looked part of the paperstack, and then it was coloured using my prisma pencils.

I have also gone a bit mad with the traditional stamping to, the background card has been distressed using "Tim Holtz" antique Linen .... I then over stamped with a "Hero Arts" script stamp, and with the "Memento - coffee bean" Ink I have stamped the cogs using a "Kanban" stamp.

I then stamped over my focal image with a "Inkadinkado" swirl stamp, and heat embossed in Gold. For the flower I have again stamped using the "Memento - Coffee Bean" and a "Kanban" stamp and I have used a brad in the centre of the clock to hold it together.

Finally as it was a snow white theme I also wanted an apple embellishment, as the only apple image I had was a "Krafting Kimmie" one, It wasn't really the right look, that I was wanting so I stamped over it with the "Kanban" cogg stamp and heat embossed with gold - so I now have a clockwork apple! (I have heard of a clock work orange, so I am sure an apple works too)

Finally I added some " Anita's Glaze" to her broach, just to add a little more texture.

I am happy with the way its turned out, I think its ok for a first attempt, however I realise I have a lot to learn about creating this whole look, So I would be happy to receive any constructive criticism, and tips on how I could improve.

This is my entry for:

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Elements Of Time
Crafty Card Makers - Heat Embossing
ABC - E is for Embossing
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Krafting Kimmie - Heat or Dry embossing (a Krafting Kimmie stamp has been used for the apple)

Once again thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Kraft and Krafting Kimmie

Hi All,

As you can see I am still playing with my Prismas & Kraft .... I did these ones last night, I have used some " Krafting Kimmie" images both the cards again have been edged using my little kanban stamp, and the first card the castle in the background is "Paper Artsy"

I would like to enter these into:

Simon Says - Anything Goes
CES - Totally gorjuss, pretty girls

I was so excited yesterday as I went the whole day without being sick, and there is a baby fayre on in Inverness today, I wanted to look, especially at the prams, there is a shocking lack of choice here in Inverness, and although we plan to get one second hand or look on line for the best deal, I still wanted to have a look at some and get a feel for if I liked them or not. However as yet I have not managed out my bed without being sick, so it is looking unlikely!! I'm gutted and feeling very sorry for myself. My blending solution has just arrived so hopefully next time I am able to get out of bed I can have a play with that, and my craft stamper magazine has just arrived so that will keep me amused for a while.

Anyway once again thanks for looking, and putting up with my waffle
Hugs Juls

Welcome Home

Hello All,

This is a card that I have made for a friend of mine who has just got home from hospital, she had a stroke and has been in hospital for 9 months, and got home on Monday ... Its to a new home as she needed to be in sheltered housing, as she will need carers and also needs a house that is suitable for a wheelchair.

This image is from the "Polkadoodles - A double sprinkle of Kraft" I have coloured the image with my copics ... used a bit of paper from my scrap pile and did some faux stitching ...... the fence detail and the little flowers have been done using a "Kanban" stamp ..... I actually added these on later, as I ended up getting lipstick on my card, and had to work out a way of covering it up!! LOL!!!

This is my entry for:

Sir Stampalot - Anything Goes
By The Cute and Girly - Things with Wings
Cupcake - ( challenge 124 - something new)
My Time to Craft - Bird watcher
Charizma Cardz - All about Flowers
Allsorts - Free and Easy

Once again Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

The Folk Of The Faraway Tree ....

Hello All,

The plan today was to make a card to show you, however I had a friend over today and we opted for art journaling! ..... so its another art journal page from me today.

This time its based on a childhood book .... This was the first book that I read the whole thing in one night .... so I always think of it with some fondness. ... I went into the loft and looked them out, now I could not bear to tear a page from my precious book, so I took a photocopy ... I stuck that in, painted over with gesso, and then used water colours again. The tree, moonface, and my little bookworm are all hand drawn ... the little pink flowers and the dandelion heads are "Kanban" stamps, the sunflower and butterflies are " Marij Rahder - Suzy 2" .... I have written my connection with the book on some scrap paper and stuck that down .... and the title of the book has been done with some alphabet stamps that I have.

Once again
Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Continued.....

Hello All,

I have become rather obsessed with My art journal at the mo (Hope you don't mind seeing something different from me ...... I always have been a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to style)

I have used the "Kanban" fancy edge stamp, "Lorali" for the flowers, and "HOTP" for the polkadots. I have used watercolours again and also "memento - Bahama blue" ..... I was quite nervous about this one and I am not sure how it works, I didn't have any stamps with the kind of images that I wanted so I have had to do all my own doodling, and I really don't feel confident with that ..... who would have guessed I actually took art at school!!! again all the background journaling just tells the story ...

Art page,

My grandfather painted, and so did my mum a little, and my grandmother on my dad's side did a little painting, but the main artist in the family was my uncle, I spent many a school holiday getting him to teach me to draw ... there was times we even had art lessons on the beach. I also took art at school, I have always felt rather average, and have never had natural flare ....

Papercrafting

For as long as I can remember I have coloured in and played with glitter glue, the real love of paper crafting started about 7 years ago, as I had attempted to make a few cards to save money using old wrapping paper and wet glue, then mum bought me a few bits and pieces, and the obsession with craft began!

Once again thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

My Crafty Heritage

Hi All,

I am back already with my next journaling pages ... now I have got started I have lots of ideas in my head ... I am still going with the theme of how my obsession with craft began ... because it is a continuation of the first page I have stuck with the same background colours ... again I have used watercolours ... My "Kanban - Lace" stamp and some more "Lorali" stamps .... these pages turned out busier than I had first thought they would be ...you know when it was just an idea in my head, but I have to say I do quite like the results.

The first page

"My Crafty Heritage" - mentions the fact my great grandmother made handmade teddy's for a living. My grandmother was a beautiful seamstress and did tailoring too. My mum made all her own clothes and then taught us to sew ... in fact her engagement present to me was a sewing machine.

The 2nd page

Just lists some of my hobby's, I have talked a little and then listed my greatest achievement. so for sewing I was taught by my mum, worked in a fabric shop, and greatest achievement, making the bridesmaid dresses for my wedding. cross stitch, was my first obsession my greatest achievement is doing a B&W cross stitch of a photo from my grandparents wedding, as a pressie for their 50th wedding anniversary, and finally knitting, I have done a little but it has never become an obsession, greatest achievement, a mohair cardigan with crochet edging.

I am supposed to be making cards today, but I was a little distracted with this, so I suppose I better head off now and actually get something done.

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

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

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

box of cards

Hello All,

I am so sorry, I have been totally neglecting blogland ..... I have been trying to get my boxes of cards done. So I have been working away in the background .... the result I am afraid is a picture heavy post:

First a completed box of cards, which will be going into "connect hair/Inverness" tomorrow. I have completed another box too, but I have not finished sealing all the cellophane wrappers and pricing e.c.t.





I also thought I would show you a selection of some of the cards that are in the box, I have not shown all of them I don't want to completely bore you to death!!.....

Lilli of the Vally:


Sugar Nellie:


My Craft Studio:


Kanban:


Bugaboo:

I am a bit nervous about how well this will go .... but hey even if it falls flat on its face I guess there will be no loss ..... I will just have a huge stock of cards, and I guess that's no bad thing!!

As Always Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

LOTV in an oriental garden.

Hello All,

I hope you are having a good weekend. I have so loved playing with my new stamp set from "Do Craft - Tulip range" ... I am very into masking at the mo and creating little scenes, so I have loved this. I have also coloured some with the similar scene but with the LOTV couple on the swing, but I have not made them into cards yet. I have coloured the image with copic's and have teamed it with some "Bo Bunny" paper, I've added some pearls, and a fancy corner and that's about it.

this is my entry for:

Crafty Creations - Anniversary
Paperplay - Show us your style ( I am not sure if I have a style but certainly phases, at the mo, it is masking and creating a scene so I think this card will fit)
Abc - 2 ot more images
Allsorts - Stamp a lot, use 3 or more images. ( to make this card I have used a stamp set from "Do Crafts" "Kanban" and " LOTV" and it took a total of 12 stamps to create the scene.)

I am off through to Elgin today, to papercrafts boutique - the home of sugar nellie, they have a demo day on today, so I am looking forward to having a nosey picking up some tips and no doubt some new goodies.....

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Getting Sassy With Kraft

Hello All,

I hope you have had a really good weekend. I am really loving the look of Prisma pencils on Kraft at the mo ..... however I don't have any, they are on my wishlist though ... having had a quick look on the old tinternet to look at prices I think they will have to remain on my wish list a little longer .... So I thought I would try and achieve the look using what I have.

I tried with some normal pencils I have, but they didn't work, they were too scratchy and it didn't take the colour ...... So I have created this look using water colour pencils as they are a little softer ...... I think it turned out ok, I will be interested to see what you all think.

The Base card is from "Kanban" .... It was from a kit that my Auntie bought me last year, but I never really used as It was really difficult to colour match with anything, but I think it works quite well with the Kraft, and the stripy paper is from my scraps .... I have added some gold stitching and then created my own flower using some of the left over Kraft and my x cut punch.

This is my entry for:

Crafty Creations - In Stitches
Anything Goes - Make your own embellishment (the flower)
Lets Ink It Up - Die Cuts/Punches (I have used a punch to create the rounded corners, and the flower.

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

That Special Dress

Hello All ,

Its been a bit of a mad week and I have hardly got any crafting done, I wont have much time over the weekend either, as I am visiting my Mum today, and tomorrow I am babysitting.......so this is another holiday make that I am sharing with you today.

The Dress image is a "Kanban" stamp, and I have again used my set of "Echo Park" papers...i have added some stickels to the dress and made a little rose using some ribbon.

This is my entry for:

Allsorts - Special lady
Shabby Tea Room - Bingo (gems, glitter, ribbon)
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes
Daring Card Makers - book club ( I have based my card on a book I read on holiday "the secret lives of dresses by Erin Mckean)
Just Add Ink - Just add stamps.

Thanks for looking, enjoy your weekend
Hugs Juls

A Cinderella Story....

Hello All,

Firstly apologies .... I have not been around in a while ... for a few days my little craft room was turned back into its orginal purpose, and became a spare room for visitors!!.....and work has been a bit busier, which I suppose is a good thing, but it means I am way behind in my commenting ... I will try best to catch up with you all as soon as possible.

I have made this card for friends that are celebrating thier wedding anniversary on Thursday...
I have used "Magnolia" "Paper Artsy" and "Kanban" stamps. The images have been coloured with copics. The background has been created with "Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass"....and I have used "Distress Ink - worn lipstick" on the hearts!!

This is my entry for:

Crafty Calender - Love
Crafters Companion - Romance
Kaboodle - Hearts & Flowers
Design Dollies - Love
Crafty Card Makers - Love
Papertake Weekly - Putting on the Glitz
City Crafter - Cute Stuff
Oldie but a Goodie - Add a Heart
Cute Card Thursday - Hearts and Flowers
Paperplay - Hearts and flowers/not valentine
Crafty catz - Love
Make it colourful - Shadow and Depth
Our Creative Corner - Cut it out
One Stop Craft - Love is in the air
Totally Gorjuss - Love
Lets Ink it Up - Romance

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls