My Fab Followers

Friday 31 October 2014

Snowflake cards



Just nipping on to share a quick Christmas card that I made 10 of over the last couple of days!  The large snow flake type decorative die is by Joy Craft and was purchased from the lovely Tracy Payne and her new venture bringing us in the UK all the lovely Noor design craft items.  So pleased with it and with the fabulous service from Tracy :).  You can find her new shop here - Noor Designs UK.

The other snowflake die is from Crafts Too and the little birds are Impression Obsession, with the sentiment which I've embossed coming from PaperTrey Ink.
We've spent the last week packing up the house as we inch ever closer to our move-having a garage sale tomorrow to try and offload some of our accumulated-over-the-last-25 years stuff!  Not even attempted my craft room yet - think I'm going to leave it as late as possible as I can't bear the thought of not being able to nip up and do a bit of colouring or finish off my Christmas cards - I'm about half way!!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Juliexxx



Tuesday 28 October 2014

Passion for Promarkers - Add some Sparkle


This is the companion card to the one I showed you yesterday- today's is for our  new challenge at A Passion for Promarkers where our theme is add some Sparkle!  I'll try and show you my sparkle in my pics a bit later down but it is quite subtle! 
The image of course is Lili of the Valley, another of their new Christmas releases this year.  
I've coloured him with my Pro and Flexmarkers and then added loads of Shabby and Chunky White Frantage for the snow effect and the sparkle!
I spent ages outside our local B&Q picking up the teeny pine cones earlier this year - I did get some very strange looks, but they had an abundance of trees that shed them!! The little red berries are actually quite sparkly and were bought from the fabulous Wild Orchard Crafts - by the way, they arrived  in two days and I bought them with the refund I eventually got from Oyster Stamps after waiting over 2 months/with 4/5 calls to the shop for some final bits in a biggish order to be fulfilled - their loss!! ( I only got the refund sharpish after commenting on their facebook page!)
The little lantern is a Memory Box die and I think you can just make out the sparkle here from the Frantage.  My papers are from this year's christmas release from Craftwork Cards and the sentiment is also Lili of the Valley.

Our generous sponsor this week Polkadoodles and the lucky winner will receive 1 gorgeous digi called ‘Miss Charlotte’.
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My teamies have made some awesome cards to inspire you this week, so do check them out here and then come and play along with us!!
I'm also entering my card into the current Lili of the Valley challenge which is Anything Goes!

Hugs, Juliexx

Monday 27 October 2014

Sketch N Stash using Lili of the Valley



Monday already again?  At least I don't have that Monday morning feeling anymore!  Hope your day goes quickly for anyone who is at work!  :)
Today, there is a new challenge starting over at Sketch N Stash and this is our sketch below:
I've used one of this year's Christmas release stamps from Lili of the Valley (I love them and have another to share with you tomorrow).  I've coloured him with my Promarkers and then added a load of Chunky White Frantage for my snow!
My papers are from My Mind's Eye which have been in my stash for a couple of years now and they never seem to go down! The felt snowflakes are from stash and the white glittery leaves are my newest item - a Christmas garland that I cut down just to have the leaves as embellies! The sentiment is from a Personal Impressions set.
The details of our fab sponsors and the prize for the fortnight's challenge are below:
sponsor - Stitchy Bears
Prize $10

Do pop on over and play along with us this fortnight - we'd love to see you there!  And if you'd like some inspiration, hop on over here to see the rest of the DT's wonderful makes.
I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Lili of the Valley Challenge - Anything Goes
Christmas Card Challenge - Anything Goes - Must be Christmas
Allsorts Challenge - Christmas

Hugs, Juliexxx



Saturday 25 October 2014

Tim Holtz Blue Print Snowflake



Another simple Christmas card using the Tim Holtz Blueprint stamps - this time the snowflake which I've embossed and then added a Lili of the Valley Christmas sentiment.
I think Blogger seems to be behaving tonight so I'm just off to have a wander round blogland!
Hugs, Juliexx

Thursday 23 October 2014

Hush! from Mo Manning

I know I sound like a stuck record when it comes to Mo Manning images but I think this has got to be a new favourite!  This is the darling Hush! drawn with softer, grey lines which I think really add to the vintage feel of the image.
 The image was calling to be used with these fab First Edition It's a Girl papers (a boy pad is also available!)  The little fawn brad was from a recent Craft Barn purchase and the flowers are Kort and Godt from Live and Love Crafts, as is the velvet lace!  The little rocking horse is cut with a Cottage Cutz die and the rest of my embellies are from stash.
The sentiment is from an Inkadinkadoo set which was being sold at a  price of £2.50 at Sandown last month so nabbed a few of these great value sets!
We've now had the survey on our house so hoping that our move picks up pace now  and we can get sorted before Christmas!
Juliexxx

Saturday 18 October 2014

Tim Holtz Blue Print Soldier


I'm spending a few days up in Norwich with my sisters and Dad and it's been lovely! Had lunch and a stroll round Holt yesterday and picked up some lovely vintage Christmas cake decorations, and today had a walk along the estuary at Wells. Getting craft withdrawal now though! Made this card before I came up- love my Tim Holtz blueprint stamps. This one I coloured with distress inks again.
The little die cut soldier is also a TH die as is the winder key.

That's all for now folks, enjoy your Saturday night!
JULIExxxx



Thursday 16 October 2014

All about the Arts Monthly Blog Hop with us at Mo's Dream Team



The months are just speeding by and it's already time for our monthly blog hop over on Mo's Dream Team!  This month's theme has been chosen by the one and only Vili and this is where the hop begins with, I'm sure an awesome make to show you.  Otherwise, you should have hopped here from the wonderful Gretha's blog.
For my card, I've gone with a very loose interpretation of Art with this little lad, Sam in Trouble, who's been getting creative in the wrong place!!  This reminds me of when my daughter, Emily, was little and we found her name scratched into a little antique table!  She was adamant it wasn't her and actually now I find it quite endearing every time I see it! 
I've used a couple of Cat's Life Press stamps - the alphabet and the Handmade Art, and an Inkadinkadoo kid's quote for the birthday greeting!
I've coloured Sam with a mix of Promarkers and Flexmarkers and he looks suitably red in the face at being caught don't you think!
Your next stop on the hop is over at the fabulous Debby's blog and don't forget to leave a comment at each blog you visit as you could be the lucky winner of one of two $5 dollar vouchers hidden on the Dream Team's blog posts!  The full order of our hop is listed below should you need it!

ViliAlexandraAnnekeKalyGrethaJulie, Debby, Heidy and Alice

Juliexxx



Tuesday 14 October 2014

Passion for Promarkers - Oh Baby



Our new challenge starting today at a Passion for Promarkers has a theme of Oh Baby as chosen by our lovely Shelly - very appropriate as she is currently on maternity leave!
I've chosen one of Mo's Digital Pencil images to use - Baby Angel Muriel (click on the link to take you there) - love these cuties swinging on Christmas baubles!
I coloured her with a mix of Pro and Flex Markers then added some Stardust embossing powder to the bauble and wings.  I then used some Shabby Blue Frantage to add lots of frostiness!  
My icicles at the top of the card are from some old tree decorations - love them!!
We have a fabulous prize from Letraset this week - a pack of Metallic Markers for one lucky entrant!

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Don't forget to check out the awesome baby inspired cards of the rest of my teamies at PFP here!

Monday 13 October 2014

Sketch N Stash - a Crimbo Card!


Another Monday comes around but still no real news on our move - at least I thought I'd have more time for crafting but I still seem to be playing catch up all the time!  Still hope to have a day of crafting which is great especially as the weather is so pants!
Today's card is for the new challenge starting at Sketch N Stash today using the sketch below:
I love the Tim Holtz Blueprint series of stamps and this is what I've used  here  and I coloured with distress inks for a change.  I splodged a bit on one of the corners so decided to use Aged Silver Frantage to cover it up and am rather pleased with the outcome!
My papers are a mix of Tim Holts and K&Co - everything is at least 6 months old as it was all purchased last year!  The only new item is the felt holly sprig which I got from Hobby Craft a few weeks ago.
We have two great Sponsors this fortnight which means two lucky winners!!
Ooh La La Creations

Prize Cd of winners choice

Buttons for Brains

What are you waiting for then, come and join in our challenge, and don't forget to check out the rest of the SNS team fab makes here!
Juliexxx

Sunday 12 October 2014

Mo's Amanda in Memory of Amanda


My card today is in memory of Amanda Reed who was a very dear design team member over on the challenge blog for Mo's Digital Pencil.  Amanda died totally unexpectedly a few weeks ago and so we have joined up with the DP2 Challenge blog  ladies to commemorate Amanda and her love of cats.  Mo has drawn this image to raise funds for a cat charity  in Amanda's memory - she's called Amanda of course and is up for a very special price of $1 dollar so go and nab her here and join in this special challenge over on the DP2 Challenge blog.  So sad for all of Amanda's family and friends but I think this is a wonderful way of remembering this lovely lady.  
I coloured most of my little kittens as Ginger cats, so, so cute!.
The little corner cat die is from Joanna Sheen and the rest of my bits and bobs from various Craft fairs and shops - I especially love the little laser cut cat embellies!
Please join us in remembering Amanda and help us raise money for a very worthy cause.
Juliexx



Friday 10 October 2014

More quick Christmas cards


 Made a few more quickish Crimbo cards today-using  some fabulous Die and Stamp combos from Chloe's Creative Cards, purchased at Ally Pally last month.
 I used some Aged Green Frantage for the embossing and the papers are a new Christmas set from Craftwork Cards.


As you can see, I've made three on the same theme but slightly different colours and holly leaf sizes.
Thanks for popping in!
Juliexx

Wednesday 8 October 2014





These two Christmas cards were supposed to be quick makes, especially as there was no colouring but they seem to have taken the best part of a day!!  The pine tree sky lines were a mix of a Memory Box die and matching stamp which has taken me forever to get hold of and then somehow got two!!
The crooked fence is just fabulous from Marianne Dies Tiny series and the trees and the deer are Impression Obsession.  The sentiment is from a Christmas Lili of the Valley set. Can you seen that my blue sky has gone slightly bobbly after heating up the Shabby White frantage but I actually quite like the effect as it gives a bit of light and shade to the night sky - happy accidents and all that!
The elements of the next card are the same as above but without the added Frantage and trees in the foreground.  
I decided to forego frantage on this one!  Although I heat from underneath it still manages to get everywhere!
At least I've made a start-and I hope to carry on tomorrow!!!  I'll have to turn up my work rate though!!
British Bake Off finale tonight - good job it's on after I've been to my slimming club!!
Juliexx

Tuesday 7 October 2014

Airborne from Mo's Digital Pencil



Morning bloggers, I am now officially unemployed/retired/a lady of leisure, call me what you will!  We had a whirlwind visit to the Lakes at the weekend, and were very relieved to find that we loved our new home (hopefully!) as much as we did when we first saw it a few months ago.  It's just  such a long process trying to get our sale through - hoping to be in by Christmas now!

  Back to today's card -I love the expression on this little fella's face - it somehow seems like resignation to the latest scrape that his human friends have got him into!!  The image is called Airborne, from the fabulous Mo Manning of course!
As you can see, I felt like I needed to make a blue card and raided my blue scrap drawer to use up some scrap bits and pieces! 
Thanks for visiting - I hope to have more time for blogging and crafting of course, although if we get the go ahead to move it will be all hands on deck!!  I'll be wanting to take myself off in a hot air balloon if things are not  in place before the festive season!!
Hugs, Juliexxx