Card inspiration

This week is my turn to post on the blog at My Stamp Box and these two cards are part of my post.  I've explained how I created them and the thinking behind their creation (yes I do sometimes think about it first - LOL)

Click here and you'll see the full blog post.

Jaine

Retro, Kraft and National Day weekend.

Still with only peeks every now and again of our summer we're trying to grab some garden time where we can.  The garden is looking very lush and green which is a plus.

This weekend is our Fete National starting with a big firework display.  I'm hoping the rain will hold off otherwise it'll be a bit of a let down (hurray for the beer tent).

On the crafty side I've a couple of cards to show and tell, the first one is this little one for the new challenge with Sarah Hurley using her new Retro Home papers.  The challenge is 'dimension and texture' and although at first glance it doesn't look very much like I've used either, I've provided texture by stitching on the machine which I just can't resist doing.

The second is for the My Stamp Box blog and the brief was to use Kraft or grey.  I got out my grey Copics to colour the coffee cup in and I love the subtle way it creates dimension.  The background of course is Kraft card stock stamped with stamps from Enjoy your Latte stamp set at MSB.

Have a good weekend all and I'll speak soon.

Jaine x

Cover girl ;)

It's been a very exciting week despite the fact that we've only experienced one summers day so far!!  I won't harp on about the weather like all Brits do but it is making me think of summer holidays and better climates.

Anyway, imagine how excited I was to find myself on the cover of not one magazine but two!!

My little house brooch was featured on the front of Craft Stamper,

and my brooches were the cover feature on Sewing World.

I was thrilled to bits and needless to say the mags have been adorning the lounge coffee table since they arrived so everyone will see them - LOL

There's been alot going on in my basement this week but not much of Gelato activity sadly.  I put together this new journal along with a tutorial for the Craft Academy this week titled 'An introduction into art journaling'. Since making the tutorial I've tweeked the cover slightly but here it is.

Hand sewn pages and card covers recycled from a childrens board book along with the silver duct tape on the spine give it a retro feel, I love the look of this journal.  The papers are all from Sarah Hurley's Retro Home collection and this might be her best so far (I'm still in love with Britannia and Steam Punk).

See the full tutorial here.

Don't forget Sarah's dt call which ends this week.

Jaine

A tractor, Gelato joy and a rant!

Since last weeks post of misery, things have started to improve.  I'm much more mobile now although not 100% but with some physio that'll get better. Thanks for the good wishes :)

I have been busy with a few design team projects which you'll see later on and this card which I made for my Dad.  The background and border are simply taken from my off cuts and rejects box (I keep it all) and the tractor has been drawn in Illustrator, cut out and the wheels mounted with a brad so they actually do turn - just for fun. 

Now for something different. I ordered myself a box of Gelato's way back in March from the US. They didn't turn up which was frustrating as they're practically non-existent here in Europe, so I ended up having to be refunded.  Quite by chance Lena told me they were being sold by Scrapbook Werkstatt in Germany so I jumped in and ordered them.  They arrived within 24 hours of my payment being made and they now sit on my work table teasing me.  Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze in some play later on once I'm done with my commission obligations so there may be some journal time if I get a move on. I find it amazing that Faber Castell who are a German company aren't distributing Gelato's in Europe. As far as they're concerned they are only for the US market which is madness as, lets face it, most of us want them!  

Here's a little video I found quite by chance the other day using My Stamp Box stamps and Gelato's.  Enjoy;

Rant over I'm off to finish up some work so I can play.

Jaine x

A most horrible week :(

Last week was a most horrible week.  It should have been a great week - school holidays, a lie in, no responsibilities etc, I had so much I wanted to do but I ended up in total agony with an inflammation of the shoulder joint.  By friday I was climbing the walls and not even some encouragement from Lena to open my art journal and colour something in could cheer me up.  With no proper sleep for a week I was ready to cry.  Anyway, I did go to the Dr and got plenty of pills and now, a week later I'm starting to get back to normal again.

Sunday I spent in front of the computer screen watching the Queens Pageant on the Thames while my youngest used the sewing machine.

I started to craft again this week and put this card together for the Sarah Hurley challenge which of course is the Red White and Blue.  I used the backing papers from the Britannia cd along with the sentiment.

These colours and the iconic images are bang on trend at the moment and will last well into next year thanks to the Jubilee and Olympic games.  Everything British is hot news - and why not :)

Also I just want to mention that Sarah is looking to add to her DT and has put out a call for applications.  You can read the full blog post here.

Jaine x