Spring has sprung... eventually..............

Spring has arrived at last and about time too!!!! This weekend is going to be nice so the weather men say and we are all living in hope that they have got it right this time. Can't believe we are into the second week of April and it has been so cold. Good excuse for us all to be inside making cards etc. I have umpteen, as they say, to make for family and friends.... keeping me out of the garden though, not that I like gardening in the cold weather. The Daffodils look nice though- popping their heads out eventually...

I did venture down to the greenhouse this week, not to tidy it though( a job that needs to be done soon)but to get a dish for Charlie. I got a shock when I went in, as the cat from across the road was well asleep in Charlies basket. Obviously Charlie wasn't there too!!! Could have spelt trouble as I don't think my cat is too friendly....
As you can see by the look on his face he was shocked too!
Spot the difference..........

A lovely white streak down his nose. He usually makes a dash for it when he sees me, but, I think he was nice and warm and was staying there no matter what....

Anyway I think Charlie had found somewhere else to kip, none the wiser to whom was in his basket........He looks so small against the other cat. Means nothing though he can be very unfriendly...

This week has flown by and there are only two more weeks before the next class- April 27th- Sweet Treats.
So I am busy making samples with that in mind. I have made two samples up to now and nearly finished a third but wanted to update the blog as I haven't been on for ages.
I have a couple of new Molly Bloom stamps with strawberries as the theme that I am going to use and can't wait to get going with them.... brains buzzing with ideas...One of the samples I have made up to now is using a Magnolia stamp, another stamp company I like (always very detailed and crisp stamps.) Cakes are on the menu too... as they are definitely treats if not an essential that goes well with a cup of tea. As all the ladies from the classes will agree when lovely Jean comes in with her wonderful cake makes, it is a TREAT that is well appreciated by all......

Magnolia sharing her jam makes.......                

I used my favourite papers My Minds Eye check "Remarkable" range plus I coloured with the promarkers, bit of paper folding too!

                                                     

                                                                                       
Cup cakes on the next one........
                       

     

Two cards attached to one here, plenty of sparkles on the cup cake topping..... using lots of different colours of Stickles.



On this card I used a Hero Arts stamp with two
cup cake stamps, one is on the inside of the card
which you can't see..... sorry.... it is only a peek!!!!                                                              

                                               

Again I have used My Minds Eye papers a lovely little floral "Unforgettable" with a nice spot on the reverse, always easy to use a spot on cards seems to be quite neutral, if you know what I mean.......

For those of you that have booked on the Stitch and Sew class, Saturday May 11th there is one sample so far but will get back with another couple of samples soon.

You can just make out that it is a spool shaped card which I got from Craftwork Cards and that I have decorated with a body-cut out (must be a better name than that), dressed, cotton reels and tape measure to keep with the theme of sewing.... I used a Cosmo Cricket paper on this card.

Must get back and carry on with the samples, think I need to tidy my work area up first though......working on a space 6"x6" as I'm sure most of us crafter's do!!!!! Great when you clear everything away and start again...

Before I go I thought I would post a card I made for my sister to give her neighbour who has just had a baby girl, I was so excited to make a baby card.............

I used a Woodware clear stamp that lends itself to patch working. Pink check and spotted papers, plus two large pink buttons finished the wheels off.. I really enjoyed making that.

If anyone would like to come along to one of my classes please email me at craftyhearts@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks for popping by and hope to see you all soon.
Take care till next time.
Jennifer x

March and Time for the Boys.....

Hi everybody, hope you are all surviving this cold spell. Indoors is the place to be, unless you have to venture out for crafting goodies you need for that special card you are making...... We never seem to have just everything that is required to finish it off properly..... right colour of ribbon or buttons to match.
I am skipping (not literally) from one thing to another, either colouring my cards for the classes or birthday card making for the family or colouring the bathroom walls....covering the paint that came off with the stripping of wallpaper etc. and filling in where half the plaster came out when taking the tiles off. Think it's called multi tasking that us women are good at!!!! Roll on when it's all done can't be doing with all this mess. Everything is in my craft room again..
Poor Charlie can't find a quiet spot where something hasn't been moved again. I took this photo of him when I was moving yet more things under the big crafting table, for a moment I thought we had three Charlies!!  That could be a nightmare as he is always under my feet!!! He knows where it is warm because the central heating pipes run under the floor boards there.
He's not daft!!!

      Back to the crafting.

I have confirmed the dates of my next classes:-
Sat. 6th April is the Mens card class which is full.
Sat. 27th April  -   Sweet Treats
Sat. 11th May   -   Stitch and Sew
Sat.  8th  June   -    Spots, dots and stripes
Let me know via an email if you would like to take part in any of the classes.

Here are a few of the samples for the March class:- Time for the Boys.

Firstly and very appropriately a clock on this one from a Tim Holtz die which I have inked over with gold.
The background is a Stampendous cling stamp- Clock works, which is a very versatile stamp for cards for men. I love backgrounds stamps and confess I have loads. Stampendous have brought out quite a few new background stamps which I will bring along to the class.

A time to celebrate on this card. I have put birthday on the metal tag but it could be anything... The owl is very Steampunk but I like to use it as it is, just a nice chunky owl and great for a Retirement card, celebration of a school award etc.
Thirdly I have used metal again and die cut a pocket watch. The sentiment is a stamp I have with the explanation of 'wonderful' which looks good embossed in gold.....

You can just about make this one out. I think the metal sheet is reflecting with the light. It's only a sneak peek though!!!
Brown, mustard and grey used on these cards, very manly colours with added metal, wire and wood effect paper.
Hope you like the cards it is a change to make some male themed ones.
Thanking you for calling by and hope to see you soon.
Take care for now.
Jennifer x

Are we half way through Winter?

Thank goodness for that!

 Hope you are all well and surviving the wintry weather, although today looks extremely nice with the sun shining. Keep your fingers crossed that the weather stays like this right through February..... and we don't get any more snow, which incidentally is forecast for this weekend. Good excuse (although don't really need one) to stay indoors and craft and get in front with projects and cards ready for when we need them.
February, March and April, especially, are busy months for birthdays, anniversaries etc. I need to get ahead of myself for a change. When I make the samples up for the classes I should make more than one of the cards so as I am organised with up and coming birthdays. Also got an engagement card and wedding card to make so I should get a move on......

I mentioned to the ladies on the Hearts and Lace class that I used a nice heart card from Marks and Spencers gingerbread cookies, as seen below. I bought a few I may add as they were rather good and saved the card behind them, some were pink with the small hearts and another one I bought was read..

Us crafters will save and use anything as you will all know, ribbon buttons etc. We are always looking for freebies!!!!







Great for punching or die cutting shapes out of....

My excuse was that Leanne and I had to eat a few of the biscuits in order to have enough card to punch out hearts for all the bags.......
                         
                                                  March onwards......

For those of you on the March class. "Blooming Good" here are a few of the samples I have made up to now..

I have used a number of flower stamps and bright colours too! Starting off with Ranger Mustard Seed Distress ink for this card. Everybody can have a go at stamping the background to the far right of the card
with a smaller daisy-like stamp. I have put a Mother's Day greeting on, but I will bring along other greetings if you want it as a birthday or an Easter card etc....

As with the last card there is a little cutting out, it wouldn't be a Jennifer's class if there wasn't any cutting to be done, this card of an Agapanthus is coloured in with Promarkers, Azure blue to be exact.

Thirdly, not quite put all the card together yet and where to put the ribbon, but you can tell that they are Tulips, one of my favourite flowers that are out now as cut flowers and always fine a place in my house.

I found a nice Magenta paper that goes really well with these Tulips.

Thought you might like an update on Charlie too, helping as usual, in the craft room while I was die cutting circles, he kept trying to get hold of them every time I put one down.

I had to hide them and eventually he sat down, in the wrong place though as usual. What would I do without him?

My next dates are 6th April  Mens themed of which one of my ladies suggested" Time for the Boys", which fits very nicely.
I have more dates  April 27th,  May 11th and June 8th of which have to be confirmed so I will get back to you on that.
Going to sneak off now with sister to a coffee house for a natter.

 Thankyou to everybody who supports me and keeps me busy and sane.
Till next time.
Take care,
Jennifer x

Back up and running, but not far...

Thankgoodness I am back up and running, just got into this blogging lark and then something goes wrong and I am stuck, as I am a CRAFTER not a Computer Technician- leave that to Hubby - and low and behold he sorted it out for me....with a bit of help from little me......

Just after Christmas I was going to show you the cards that I made for my sisters... always have to think of something different to make for them especially as the crafting ladies that come along to my classes will know that one of my sisters is a card maker too! So something different I am always on the look out for.
When I went along to the Harrogate Craft Show in October last year my sister couldn't make it so it was an opportunity for me to look for something she hadn't seen before...  I found a stand that does templates which isn't really my thing but I bought one that makes up as a reindeer, it was a great stand with lots of decoupage that were very detailed..... House of Zandra the stand was called....have a look at there website if you get chance it's a bit different and you can individualise cards for each person. Which is what us crafters do.

Isn't he great, ideal for childrens Christmas cards too! Just couldn't resist making him...

My other sister loves anything to do with Gingerbread men so when I got the Molly Bloom magazine with free stamps I was really pleased that they had a stamp with a jam jar full of Gingerbread men.....

In my stash I have a Gingerbread tiny stamp and Gingerbread punch the same size, which was great to use as a banner...
Just one more picture about Christmas while the going is good......

My little helper....where ever there be a space Charlie will fill it...Could have brought him along to the class in that!

Well that's enough of Christmas for another year, can't believe it went so quickly though.
Onwards and upwards towards Spring:-

Hope everybody enjoyed the Home Tweet Home class with the 6"x 6" MME paper pad.
There are still plenty of papers left in the pad to make more cards.

My next class at the beginning of February is Hearts and lace and I am busy working on them at the moment.
Unfortunately the class is full but there are plenty of spaces on the April 6th class if anyone is interested, just drop me an email.
March 9th  Blooming Good (not many spaces) and April predominantly mens cards with Time and cogs involved awaiting a title.

Before I show the the February Hearts/Lace samples I thought I would show you how tidy my craft room is. By the time I had finished the Birdcage cards it looked like a bomb had hit it! I am probably like most crafters we end up with a space about 6inches square to work in and it feels great to tidy everything away.
I get quite excited, and it doesn't take much when I start a new project with a clean bench and new colours to work with!!!!

  

February's class samples - Hearts and Lace:-

 The papers I used for this class are a new My Minds Eye 'The Sweetest Thing' collection with pale pinks and soft turquoise shades.

 Ideal if you want to make a Valentines card or Wedding and Anniversary cards........

I used a Woodware Clear Stamp for this card which makes a nice Wedding / Anniversary card or even a New Home card as the birds are perched outside a bird house.........


Last sample I made into a Valentines card, but again could be whatever you want it to be.......

Off to carry on with the other cards and to make up the bags, I love that bit........

Take care everybody and will see you soon with the next samples for the Blooming Good class- which I may add is almost full. Thankyou to everybody for following me.
Love Jennifer x

Looking forward to new beginnings and old friends...

First of all may I wish everyone a very Happy and Peaceful New Year.

Not everybody likes the month of January as it can be a very dull uneventful month, but, I always look at it as the first step of the year to look forward to what has to come, Spring, Summer, better weather all round, we can but live in hope. A clean sweep for tidying things up and starting afresh.
 February is my birthday month I have things to look forward to in that month too! Not getting older though, that's the bad bit that comes with birthdays!You are as old as you feel as the saying goes....

New Year, new ideas, and I had plenty of those before Christmas, as soon as I had finished the Christmas samples I was eager to get on with the next ideas, Birds, Bird cages and Bird Homes as I had found some nice cards from Craftwork cards to give me plenty of ideas. The bad thing was I was stopped dead in my tracks when I started with a really bad cough on the Sunday before Christmas, luckily by then I had finished all Christmas shopping, wrapping and the making of my family Christmas cards. Just as well as the cough went worse and I felt I had been kicked in the ribs. By Christmas eve I realised I had a flu virus. You only ever remember flu being bad when you get it again, and I know that's not very often, thankgoodness. So I have spent Chistmas tucked up in bed with lots of ideas floating round my head and that's where they stayed until this last week when I have eventually come back into as normal a  routine as I can manage at the moment. Don't think Stephen has known what's hit him as he has been up and down our stairs more times than he cares to imagine. Keeping him slim, no time to put on weight, poor thing over Christmas. I have realised I am not as young as I was otherwise I'm sure I would have recovered more quickly....

So you can see why I am looking forward to January whatever it may bring..... just not anymore ill health....

January 12th class:-  Home Tweet Home...

I have had lots of fun making the cards, obviously seems ages since I did any crafting so colouring and cutting out has been very theraputic....
The sad thing is the computer or blogger.com that I use will not let me put the pictures on of the samples I have made, so until then I will send you the new post without the pics...

I will fiddle around till I can find a way to put up new pics so until then I will just give you the new dates for February, March and April.

Sat.  2nd Feb :-  Hearts and Lace.

Sat. 9th March:-  Blooming Good  ( Flower theme with an Easter card in there somewhere)

Sat.  6th April :-   Not titled yet. Working on some male styled cards. Will keep you updated with this class.

Still working on a good title for the April class as I have some Stampendous stamps that I want to use with clocks etc.........

For those of you that are on Saturdays class I look forward to seeing you then and for everybody else that kindly follows my blog have a good weekend and hope to see you soon.

Take care,
Jennifer x

                 

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