Pretty little things

I've had so many little people birthdays over the past week, that I have been making lots of these little boxes (this is my first girlie one!) as I think they are so nice to put sweeties in (just the right size for a couple of bags of buttons - this one has pink chocolate buttons from Thorntons!). It was nice to be able to really pretty things up a bit with some gorgeous paper (sweet treats - doodlebug design). I hand stitched around the birthday sentiment with red cotton to tie in with the red ribbon and backed it on to my corregated card. I threw the card together very late last night using a butterfly stamp design I'd coloured earlier. I was able to use the corregated card for punching out the flowers and as a background paper (I don't like throwing things away!).

On a completely different note, I had a lovely surprise this morning. My blogging buddy Lisa from http://www.the-craft-garden.blogspot.com/ has given me the Beautiful Blog award. I can't believe it, it's so exciting!!!! I've been visting Lisa's blog for a while now and she is so talented in many aspects of crafting, it's a pleasure to see (well worth a look if you haven't already been). So thank you Lisa, you've made my day, xxxxx.

Candy Links

Just thought I'd do a quick post, even though I have no crafts to show today, to give a little mention to 2 of the lovely ladies blogs I've been following, Emma fromhttp://www.devotiontothedream.blogspot.com/ and Stephanie from www.stampingandsharing.blogspot.com. They are so talented and their work is enviably good, so they are well worth a visit. If you're not already a member I can guarantee you will be!!! They are also very generously offering the chance to win some gorgeous candy, so hurry up before it goes...
I would also like to thank everybody so far for visiting my blog and leaving comments. I appreciate just what a time consuming thing all of this crafting is and that does not even include the time taken photographing and then posting your work. To then find the time to comment on my blog is so kind and greatly recieved. I hope to get some more pieces on in the next few days, however I have been taking it easy the last few days and just making the most of the wet weather by watching films and playing with the kids (even lit the logburner last night - very cosy!). Have a lovely day, Love Jane x

Not really a card maker but...

Today is my friends little boy's 2nd birthday and as I had so much fun making my dinosaur box before (see older post) I decided to go back down that route but using slightly different colours. It wasn't until last night that I realised that I didn't have a birthday card for him, so armed with my trusted dinosaur stamp, I decided to make one. Now I do not claim to be a card maker, and it's not really an avenue I have gone down until now but I was quite pleased with the end result, and at least I won't see another 3 of the same card hanging on the mantelpiece when I go to the party this afternoon. It's fancy dress (kids only thank goodness!) and whilst that's easy for Maisie (princess dress of course), emerson does pose a bit of a problem. I need to get my thinking cap on quick as we have to be there in an hour, so better go. Please excuse the poor photo, Just when I think I'm getting to grips with my camera I produce this blurry snap! Have a great day, Love Jane xx

Emerson's scrap page

Here is a new 12x12 that I pulled together yesterday afternoon (had to wait until this morning for some sunshine for a good photo though!) of my little treasure Emerson, licking chocolate from around his mouth! This photo was taken at a birthday party last year but is one of my favourites so I had to do something with it. I created a frill around the picture by waving jute and taping it to the underside of the photo (just can't get away with lace on a boy page!!), layered several papers and a brown paper bag (!) which I stamped... yes that's right I actually now own a few stamps. I was a little worried actually because the stamping was one of the last things I did and I was terrified that it would go on wonky and ruin the whole thing but luckily I got away with it. Again I used my favourite thing in the world at the moment ... the green core-dinations card. Goodness only knows what I would be using if I hadn't have made that discovery! I really do need to get alot more paper stock, I'm using it as quick as I'm buying it. Did see some lovely 12x12 pads on Thursday called nanas kitchen which were so lovely, but were £20 and as I already had an armful of things, and I wasn't supposed to be spending too much on myself that day, they stayed on the shelf - boohoo :( Maybe next time....

Have a great weekend, Love Jane x

Dinosaur box

Here is my latest offering. It's my nephews birthday next week and aswell as buying the usual boy pressies I really wanted to make something too (I just can't help it these days!). I used a template from a craft magazine and a cute new stamp I bought yesterday (coloured using water pencils). I thought it would be nice to fill with treats instead of just putting a boring old packet of sweeties in with his gifts. I use core-dinations card (again!!) for the box, I love using this stuff and the green colour was just perfect for this.

Hope you have a great day whatever you're doing,

Love Jane xxx

The sleep fairies have been!

For the last year probably every night that my kids stay a full night in their bed the 'sleep fairy' leaves a penny under their pillow, (because of their age they don't know the value of money so the fairy found that 10p's worked best as they are more shiny!!). This has been working wonders and we rarely have midnight visitors anymore, also it gives them something to be proud of and is their pocket money! As mentioned in an earlier post we have just finished decorating Maisie's new room (just had to extend the house) and so for the first time this week they were seperated into their own rooms so the sleep fairy kindly left them a special gift last night. The idea for the bags was from Inkin' Idaho. They are brown paper bags decorated basically with a little flap over the top to secure in place. Each one inside had a personal letter from the sleep fairy saying how proud she was of them and some shiny pennies. They were so excited with their bags, although Maisie did notice that the fairy had embelishments a bit like mine, luckily being 4 years old, she did not read too much into that and just thought it was funny!! Anyway short post today as I am off to the shops with my friend Julie, I'm taking her to a shop I have been raving on about for ages, it's full of all sorts of things but at REALLY cheap prices - so I better get a move on! Catch you later.... Jane xx

me, my man and my first ever 12 x 12 layout!!

Here is my first attempt of a 12 x 12 layout. I was originally going to scrap a cute picture of the kids when I spotted this rare picture of me and Matt together. I'm usually the one behind the camera so we just don't get many of us together. I'm also feeling quite loved up at the moment, what with all this wedding planning, so I decided to go with this one. I drew and cut out the vine from core-dinations card and just gradually built up layers of papers and flowers (did you notice my pinwheel flowers inspired by the lovely Deb at Sparkling Scrapbooks?). I wanted it to have lots of points of interest, so I hope I haven't gone too mad with decor!! I need to buy stamps and ink as that is something I do not own as yet and I know that this is something that everybody else can't live without so I need to go shopping...again!!! On a different note, I am going to knebworth to see Metallica perform (and many other bands) in less than 2 weeks. I've just recieved the tickets and I've applied online to try to win a meet and greet, fingers crossed for me everyone please!! Jane xx

One more reason to drink coffee!!

I was just about to put my coffee jar into the glass recycling bin when (and this is extremely rare for me this time in the morning) I had this idea. I was only moaning about my lack of storage containers the other day and here I was about to throw one in the bin. A good wash-up and a few ribbons later and I now have a cute little buttons jar. I made a jute flower at the top with layered buttons as the flower centre. I also tied a little Beattrix Potter character on to the tag (I'ts from the story of The Tailor of Gloucester which I thought was quite appropriate as I am from Gloucestershire!). All I need to do now is drink lots more coffee then I can start making jars for the rest of my kit!! On a completely different note, it was Maisie's last day at pre school today and she had a little sports day (although it had to be held in the hall because of the rain). She came home with a little medal for taking part and a big folder full of her 'work' from the past year, really sweet.

Jane x

Teacher Treats

As it's the last day of term (and the very last day of pre-school) for Maisie, I made some goodies for all of her teachers. I got the idea for the treat pouch from Debbie at Country Heart and Home (very clever lady), and it was the perfect size for slipping in a really cute Thorntons Fairy chocolate bar. I used core-dinations cardstock and sanded it down, and used jute rather than ribbon for a more natural, earthy look. The butterflies matched the paper really well (and were a bargain as they were a freebie on the front of a craft magazine reduced to 30p!!!!). I could not fit the other gift into the pouch, (which was a personalised pen), so, as it was getting late at this point, I made a little gift bag. I simply wrapped some of the matching paper around the pen, secured the paper with glue dots and then tied a little jute handle and matching bow. The card carried the same theme and papers as the treat pouch so it all matches and they will remember which bits we gave them!!! I am a little nervous about handing them over as this will be the first proper thing I have made and given out, so I hope they like it!
On a completely different subject, I have been shopping again and my craft stock is now building nicely - although this does raise the question of where am I going to put it all?!!

Jane xx

My Paperbag scrapbook is complete!!!!!

I felt the need to document the fact that I have completed my first ever scrapbook!!!!!!!!! It's a fat one too!! I may have gone a little crazy with embelishments because it just won't sit flat, but I like that. Although this picture maybe does not do it justice, as there are actually lots of ribbons, tags and things all hanging out of the edges around the top and side, I also hand stitched the orange card on to the front page which doesn't show on here, i think i need to go on a crash course in photography, (if you look really closely there are probably crumbs from breakfast on my table!!). Anyway, have to make this a short post as I need to finish off my teachers gifts and cards. I've also got lots of housewifey chores to do - although I am suffering with terrible back ache today (possibly from crouching over a craft table until the early hours!) although more likely because Emerson decided to jump on my back, knees first, this morning. Bye for now...
Jane xx

Sunday Morning snaps

At last I've been shopping and got some batteries for my camera, and here are the last two offerings to my scrapbook. I tried to do some fluting on the edges of some of the papers as tutored by my friend Debbie at CountryHeartandHome to give it an 'old' feel. I wanted to make a page with Lace on it (as it's Lacey's scrapbook), but wanted to go down the more vintage look, using old creams, browns and soft pinks. I went onto a baby naming website to get the name definitions for Lacey and typed them out dictionary style. I think a lovely sepia photo would go well in this page.

This next page was just a bit of fun really as it is going to be her 2nd Birthday and I thought it would be fitting to have a picture of little Lacey at her party. Again I've tried a little more fluting on some of the papers. I drew and cut the number 2 from a piece of card and covered it in papermania paper, mounting it on to a few more layers from the same papermania pad. I left enough room for the photo to be inserted in the pink area and so that it could just slide under the no.2 embelishment. I snipped lots of pink and light green ribbon and taped it to the back of the paper just to liven it up a bit. All I need to do now is stick them all into the album ready for her mummy to fill with photo's. This was my first ever scrap project (6x6) and although I have enjoyed it I will say I think I would prefer to do the next one on a bigger scale, as it's hard to get going when you haven't got much room to work with!!

Jane x

My Kids!

Thought I would upload this image as I'm out of batteries at the moment and can't photograph the scrap pages I worked on last night. I may try to incorporate this image into the thankyou cards for Maisie's preschool teachers as whilst Maisie will be saying goodbye, Emerson will be saying hello so it would be nice to maybe put them both on it!

2 Postings in one day!!! I'm on a roll ...

Here is the latest offering towards my scrapbook. Although this is Lacey's book it wouldn't feel right not to include her big sister Romilly!, so they have a pullout each, initialled, to put their pretty photo's in.

Been shopping ... then stayed up late!

Good morning! Hope you all had a great weekend. I did ... I went shopping to my nearest craft shop and bought lots of nice things to get me going. I was fed up of looking at the same old papers and stick ons so thought I should treat myself to a few more bits. You should have seen what I have been using up until now ( a dining place mat, a straight edged piece of metal and a scalpol to cut with!!!), seriously. I stayed up until late last night using my new 'proper' kit and made a few more pages to add to my scrapbook. I will also be working on a new project during the next 2 weeks, as my daughter will be starting big school in September and I need to thank her preschool teachers with cards and gifts...watch this space!

Jane x

Butterflies...

Here is my butterfly themed page for my scrap book. I had some pretty butterfly paper which I cut from, then layered them up with sticky pads for a 3d effect. A few ribbons and flowers later and it's done. I do keep looking at this one as something is bothering me about it... I may have to make a few adjustments but at the moment I'm not sure where to start.

As promised here are a few of the pages I have been working on for my friend's daughter's 2 nd birthday scrapbook

The cupcake page is quite pretty. I found a lovely paper which reminded me of old fashioned cake cases. I folded a panel of the same paper over the top and secured it with ribbon to make it look more realistic.

The top of the cupcake slides out of the case and provides a tab for a photo or journalling.

They are a very fun 'outdoorsy' family and I thought the secret garden theme of this page would be quite sweet.

The tab will slide out from behind the undergrowth to display a beautiful picture of Lacey.

Just getting started!

Good morning! Just a quick post to say that, with any luck, I am going to get posting photo's on here later today. As I have only been doing this since May this year I only have a limited back catalogue... ha ha! I have predominantly made cards up until 2 weeks ago, when I was challenged by a friend to make a scrap book for her daughters 2nd birthday. I hope to display some of these pages as work in progress. Also, if anybody is wondering, my blog name is an intentional play on words - I can be a little forgetful at times!!

Jane x