December Decoration

December here at last, the busiest time for all us card makers. Hope you are all organised and have made your Christmas cards unlike me just starting them.......

I made this card on the first card class and have made a few for my friends I so enjoyed the Woodware stamp. Quite a simple card but looks very effective with the striped paper behind....
        



My next class is this Saturday 8th December the Christmas Decoration.

 

A few sneak peeks at the card and wrapping that we are making in the morning with the Magnolia stamp.

Nice bit of colouring which is very relaxing and a bit of cutting out makes up a lovely special card for someone.

In the afternoon we will be making a wooden hanging star. Again a few sneak peeks for those of you that haven't seen the decoration.

I have made this hanging star in subtle colours so it will go in any room and match any decoration.

Hope you like the decorations and for those ladies that have booked on this class I will see you on Saturday and I will bring the mince pies.........

Take care till then.
Jennifer x

Christmas robin passing by...........

Hi everybody, just popped another card for you to peep at.....this is another one that will be on the class on Sat. 24th Nov. for those of you who haven't made these cards yet....           

Bit of cutting out but a great stamp from Woodware to work with......
                _____________

Back to crafting as I am working on the decorations for the class on Sat. 8th Dec. and then I can start my own christmas cards.

Take care for now and see all you ladies on the next class.

Bye for now.
Jen x

"Seasons of mist and mellow fruitfulness....."

 

Hello there,

 Thought I would start with the first line of Ode to Autumn by John Keats. Autumn is my favourite time of year, as the colours of everything around us are so beautiful. All the trees and shrubs changing colours from one day to the next giving me lots of inspiration to use these colours in my crafting. I like to sort out my Autumn inkpads, the Versa Magic have some lovely shades- Pumpkin Spice, Sage, Hint of Pesto, Red Brick and Jumbo Java. Who would think, perhaps those who aren't crafters, that we would have AUTUMN INKPADS....

 

 

As you will know Leanne hasn't been too well of late and isn't able go out very much, but, on this occassion we couldn't miss venturing out for a short walk taking photographs of the lovely scenery in the woods near us.

 

 

The garden looks a picture too! With a little help from Charlie the cat!

 

Why sit on the wet grass when you can sit on a dry sponge kneeling mat I say! He's looking at me thinking not more pics! Is there no privacy....

 

 

We also had a visitor across from Leannes window clinging for his life by the looks of things, good job Charlie didn't see him!

 

These colours did inspire me, (not the squirrel colour I might add) to make an Autumn card as I didn't manage to do a class this time in September. I will surely be having a class next year to promote all the wonderful shades of Autumn. Watch this space as they say............

I used the Molly Bloom scarecrow stamp I got last year and for those of you that came along to the class at the time... we made him and put him on a wooden stick to stand in a plant pot... I enjoyed colouring the background with  Autumn Ranger Distressed inkpads over the free leaf stamp I obtained from Craft Stamper once. I coloured the scarecrow with the Letraset Promarkers... The fence is a die cut from Marianne Creatables. You can just about see the raffia I have added behind Mr. Scarecrow... I love that stuff......

 

Jumping from Autumn to Christmas... 

 

 

Looking forward, Christmas in mind, these pics where taken at the class last Saturday 20th October.

Just taking a break with a large piece of cake, that Jean kindly baked for us.....

Then back on the job they came to do!!!!                 CRAFT!

They all look very studious or perhaps it was me walking round with the camera.. I hate my photograph taking too!!!!!!

 

 

All nice for a keepsake and look back on times we enjoyed, hopefully that is!!!

I love making the packs up and this year using the white gift bags made it look different and very Christmas like.

 

I enjoy experimenting with something different to put on the bags too! I used an old stamp I have and used a new Die cut from Nestabilities for the tag shape. The bell I got when at the show in Harrogate.

My next Christmas classes are in November, which will soon be here.

Sat. 17th Nov. and Sat. 24th Nov. 2012

I've just put a couple of samples on and will put another one on my next blog with the December class samples Sat. 8th Dec. that is a Christmas decoration and card of some sort that I am working on at the moment.....

 The colours I am using are the traditional red and green but incorporating the craft card and brown for a different look. The dark spotted paper that you can see on the cards looks black on my computer but it is dark brown and looks very nice if I say so myself, hope you like them too!

 

 

 

 

 

Just a sneak peak as usual.

 

 

Bit of punching out and colouring with the Promarkers.

I also have dates for the New Year coming:-

Sat.12th Jan 2013 -  Home Tweet Home
This class is all to do with Birds and Birdcages/Birdhouses which is great for New Home cards and Anniversaries. Plus you get a 6 x6 inch MME paper pad again.

Sat. 2nd Feb 2013 - Heart themed

All classes are £23.00 everything included except for your lunch. Always plenty of tea/coffee and biscuits plus chat and craft of course....

Let me know if you would like to come along to any of the classes via email.... craftyhearts@hotmail.co.uk

Take care everybody and enjoy your crafting and Autumn too!

Love Jennifer x

 

Here comes Christmas in September!

Here comes Christmas in September! Sad but true, us crafters have to start early and I know lots of you will be well on the way with your Christmas card making already.

 In between though one has to make lots of different cards for different occassions," Grandparents" being the occassion of late. This card below, was similar to one that we made on the August class- Only Boys Allowed, but I changed the colours and added a lovely spotted button that sat behind the circle apperture. I spotted the buttons (sorry about the pun) in Dunelm Mill when I was looking for some bedding for Leannes newly decorated room. There where lots of different colours and sizes of spotted and striped buttons. One can never have too many buttons!

 

 

 

 

 

This card was for one of my crafting ladies whose daughter had a baby boy! Their first grandchild

.Anyway back to the Christmas theme....

Berries that's a good start! When I was thinking of what to do for the Christmas classes I was sat outside on one of my benches where we get all the sun (the little bit that we have had, that is) looking around the garden and noticed all the red things out at the moment. I love berries, these particular ones come after the lovely yellow flowers of the Hypericum, of which there are a few different varieties in my garden.

Red leaves as well, all a sign of Autumn is on it's way which is one of my favourite seasons for colour in the garden. 

Lots more red but not sure where this plant came from, must be the birds that brought it in, like the colour though, the dark green of the leaves and the very red berries...very Christmasy...


Sorry this picture is a little blurd, but I took this one earlier this morning, trying my best to tip toe so the Red Admiral wouldn't fly off before I took this photo...

 

Believe it or not the red,although looks orange on this picture, was very, very red when I took it!! We have a bit over big Buddlia tree that has been covered in butterflies of late, which is nice to see. Charlie, my cat, sits underneath looking up at them for ages wondering why he can't catch one.. Luckily he is a little slow... Shows how you can easily get distracted when you are in the garden, but it's a passion just as card making and crafting is. A nice distraction.........

Where was I?.............. Christmas........White....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stamped the Christmas trees at the back of this card and layered up one of them and added acetate that has snow flakes all over it to the front of the card....

 

 

 

My second card has a wreath theme in white,with punched out holly leaves and bright green spotted paper as a background, building the holly leaves

 around the apperture....

 

 

My third sample is again white themed and embossed with a poinsettia and garland, finishing off with a few pearls...


                                                                          

Hope you like the samples of my first Christmas classes:-

Sat. 20th Oct...     White themed Christmas
Sat. 27th Oct....    White themed Christmas

My second set of Christmas cards will be in November and I will put the samples on the blog as soon as I have finished them....

Sat. 17th Nov.  and Sat. 24th Nov.

Please let me know if you would like to attend any of the above classes by emailing me at:- craftyhearts@hotmail.co.uk

All my classes are held at St. Cuthberts Church, in the Douglas Hall, Lytham Road, Fulwood.
10.30am- 3pm...  £23.00... includes everything except your lunch...plenty of tea/coffee and chat.

That's all for now, take care and happy crafting whatever you are doing...
  Jennifer x

 

The middle of July already!

I cannot believe it is the middle of July already! Time is going far too quickly. Leanne had her Twenty Second birthday at the beginning of July, where did that time go, better not mention the words " I remember when" as she may just read this blog- then I will be in trouble for telling tales, even if they are nice ones.

I made this Birthday card for her using the new Stampin Up stamps I bought recently, the "Tea Shoppe" set and I stamped the teacup using Versamark ink, then sponged all over using the new Pan Pastels in a dark brown and the I used a turquoise pastel for part of the background. They are great fun to play with and they are much softer than normal chalks. You can use a sealer after if you like, but I didn't and they don't seem to have smudged at all.

While on the subject of Birthday cards I must say a big Thankyou to all the ladies that made cards for Leanne. It's great looking at all the different ideas that people have. Great for pinching!!

Leannes Produce!

Been out this morning to collect some vegetables that Leanne had planted back in March, when she was feeling better, so I have carefully looked after them since and today we are having them with our Sunday dinner. We are very proud of our little sacks and pots!

We've done well with our strawberries this year too! I am sure they must like wet weather. Hoping next year we will have a lot more though, then we can use our own to make strawberry jam instead of buying the strawberries.We are waiting for the Peas next, as I had to put them in pots this year as I didn't have time to plant them down on the allotment, so we won't have quite as many as usual, but we will be grateful for whatever comes, always nice to pick your own.

Better get back to updating the blog with the samples for the August class:-" Only Boys Allowed"

 

My first one is Musically themed in greys and blacks a large abstract card, using die cut Treble Clefs.

Bicycles are on the menu for the next card, stamped and cut out, (the ladies favourite past-time) which I have backed onto bicycle paper from My Minds Eye. I didn't want to do this card too dark so red cycles seem to look good for boys and girls too!

.My final sample is paper piecing on a boat themed card which is ideal for a New Baby card or for a Toddler card, again in bright colours, from the MME range. The stamp I used is a Woodware Clear stamp which I will bring along to sell on the day of the class.

Hope you like them.

Sat. Aug. 11th  at St. Cuthberts Douglas Hall. 10.30am- 3pm   £23.00 everything included except lunch. Plenty of tea/coffee and biscuits.

And lastly!

I have put my large basket with cushion, under the desktop where I take photographs of my cards and Charlie seems to think it's his new bed. I couldn't resist taking his photograph too! He's always in on the act.

Till next time!

P.S. I have a class in September but not sure if I will be able to do it as Leanne has an appointment in London at the end of July and I don't know if there will be any follow-up appointments in September, but I will keep you posted and probably do two in October.

Take care all.

Bye for now.

Jennifer x

BUSY IN JUNE

Busy in June
My neice has just had a baby boy so I am busy making baby cards. Some of you ladies will remember making this card but in pink on a class in the past. I have enjoyed using the blue spotted papers from Craft Creations.

The elephant stamp is cute too from Stamposaurus.

I have also made a card for the Grandparents,Stephens brother Christopher and his wife Deborah. It makes a change to do cutie cards.

June is a busy time for me with lots of family birthdays and friends cards to make too!

Thought it would be nice to share them with you and gives me some practise on doing the blog myself! I can hear Leanne shouting Hooray!!!



I am also working on the classes right up to September and then it will be Christmas cards all the way. Crafters always say Christmas starts in July.

My next class that is this weekend has been very topsy turvy, with people wanting to come on the class and it was full and then me not being able to get more of the 6x6 paper packs, and others cancelling because of unforeseen circumstances. Haven't quite finished the bags yet until I know exactly how many I am making up. Keeps me on my toes, and from getting bored.

Saturday 7th July is the class making six cards with one pack of stamps- Woodware Cute as a Bug.
There are still a few places left and I have put three samples on for you as follows:-



Reds,greens, and blues in checks and spots.

Cute caterpillars.

Beautiful Butterflies, small and large.











And last but not at all least, flowers.

Hope you like them.

I will update the blog again soon with the August class:- Sat. Aug 11th - Only Boys Allowed.

Where all the cards are male themed.

If you would like to book a place on any of the classes email me at:-

craftyhearts@hotmail.co.uk

Bye for now, Jen x

CRAFTY HEARTS- OPEN EVENING

CRAFTY HEARTS- OPEN EVENING

Hello

Thought I would begin my June blog by thanking everybody who was able to make the Open Evening. My very first one at my house. It was a bit scarey at first, wondering whether anyone would turn up, although I have to say everybody was very good and did let me know whether they would be able to make it or not, so not sure what I was worrying about, but, that wouldn't be me if I didn't worry about something. So a BIG THANKYOU.

I tried to put as many samples out as possible to give lots of inspiration.

These great samples using the Woodware Clear Magic stamps were made by Leanne when she was feeling better.  The Hero Arts stamps to the right I haven't had chance to play with yet and can't wait to have a go, especially with the International Skyline stamp (as it's called) which I am hoping to use on the 'Only Boys Allowed' class in August.

                                                                                                                                                                       

This flower is a great present for someone moving into a new home as I stamped the Woodware Bird stamp and mounted it on a thin piece of dowling (short of nothing in my house, or is that called rubbish). I also used another stamp from Woodware  for the petals and I adapted that from stamps I am using on the July class (Let me Bug You.) This would be nice to stand in a vase with a bunch of flowers, or hang on the wall.

Another sample I did was to paint a giant peg with white acrylic paint let it dry then cover with a flowered MME paper from the Miss Caroline collection called Dolled up "Princess". The paper  lends itself to cut out the large areas of flowers that look like they are set in a doilie, then backed it with the polkadot ribbon.' Just a note' tag finishes it off. I fancy doing a class at christmas using the giant pegs.

I tried to display all the things I have in stock that I don't manage to take with me on the classes.

Putting all the pastel checks and spotted 12"x12" papers together with the matching ribbon went very well together including the liquid pearls too!

Every bit of space was used up to display new papers and new stamps.

          
Black and white theme going here with the A4 card in spots and stripes with black tags, matching ribbons and some new card candi from Craftworkcards that had newsprint all over them.

      







I'm glad everyone had a great couple of hours, and enyoyed the tea and cakes. My sister Joanne made Lemon cake and a beautiful sponge cake with buttercream on the top and finally layered with fruit,strawberries,raspberries and blueberries that were in the design of the Union Jack for the Diamond Jubilee. I thought I had taken a photograph but the battery in my camera is playing up and it didn't take it.



For the ladies that couldn't make Friday and are on the June class, with the 6x6 MME paper pack, there are a couple of samples below.

Magnolia 'Tilda in the Rain', very apt for the weekend just past, with pearls and lace.

And for the men, which could be just in time for Father's Day.

I have used a Tim Holtz embossing folder, cut out the car then coloured and heat embossed. The paper pack that we are using works for the background.

I have decided to do another post for the July samples and a separate one for the August class.

Sat. July 7th - six cards made from one pack of stamps.(Let me Bug You)

Sat. August 11th - Only Boys Allowed.                                                      

The ladies that came on the Open Evening have seen the samples but for those who couldn't make it they will be on the next blog post.

There are spaces for the July and August classes.

email to:-  craftyhearts@hotmail.co.uk

Thankyou for your time and happy crafting.

Take care all till next time. Jen x