Jiggery Makery......Ladies Day

Well here I am...finally. BT has just not been playing and apart from throwing the computer through the window, there is nothing that I can do. It's probably been because of the bank holiday weekend but Friday night and Saturday..things just were not playing. But at last it finally let me upload my photographs to the blog. These ladies are all design team makes for the fabulous team over at Jiggery Makery. All have been drawn by the very talented Adele and are all available to buy from her digi store. Why not pop over to her facebook page and take a look at all the other wonderful creations from the other members of her design team. There are so many wonderful creations...a lot of inspirational projects are there just waiting to be seen.

One of the greatest things for me using Adeles fabulous images, is that I get to play dress up. I just love that you can create the dress of your dreams. And you can make it whatever colour you decide on. It can be that your friends favourite colour is orange..well then you just make that colour the theme of your card. I've only just noticed that my three ladies today actually have normal coloured hair..lol...which is not normally the case with me. I do love to make them with blue, pink or purple hair...whatever I'm into at the time.

What else I also love about using these images is the fact that I can usually find a quote to go with them. And when it's a card for a friend you can be as cheeky as you want to.
Apart from BT not playing there has also been a little bit of chaos in the village. A couple had left the village and they left their cat, When they moved in they decided to get themselves a kitten...and obviously the novelty had worn off. They didn't get the poor thing doctored and she ended up having kittens. From what I heard there were some kittens which had been taken away but no-one knew if there were any kittens left in the garage. I was so worried that I rang the estate agents to try and get the key for the garage. They arrived to find that they didn't have the key. Well in the end with everyones permission, we broke in and checked. Luckily there were no kittens to be seen. But the mother is now here. I'm in the process of getting her settled in and as soon as she has recovered, she is going to be doctored. She is a very pretty cat..something foreign similar to a bengal. She is so scared at the moment but is now eating and drinking, It makes me so mad that people think that it is ok to get a cat and then just leave it. So suggestions for names would be much appreciated. I cannot think of one at the moment. I've thought of calling her Midge because yesterday was Midgestock in the village...a day of music featuring different bands from near and far. I have also thought of Esmerelda, Kiki and Kaoki. But if you have any thoughts..I'd be so pleased to hear them.
Well the coffee is calling and I'm in the middle of painting a house sign for one of my neighbours. I hope that you are all having a great weekend and that the weather is being kind to you. The weather here in the mountains is quite nice..no wind, no rain..I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way. So until the next time..take care and happy crafting.

Left of Center........MainlyBlue

Todays creations ar all design team makes for the fabulous team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. Anew challenge has just begun and it's theme is mainly blue. I do hope that you will come on over and join in the fun. As you will be able to see I have got a little carried away doing three but I just loved the mages so very much.

I had intended to do just one but when I had the chance to work with these three images..I just couldn't contain myself..lol.At least it kept me quiet for a short time.

 For this weeks challenge we are so lucky to have been sponsored by the fabulous company of SLSLines. Why not pop over to their etsy store and take a look at their fabulous range. The designs are really beautiful and are just inspirational.

What a couple of days I've had here in the mountains. First there was no electric and to matters worse when the electric did decide to come back on, BT decided that they weren't going to play. I'm just so fed up with trying to get online and when I finally do it's so slow. In the darkness of yesterday, my skip arrived, so I decided to do some more in the studio. I'm so pleased with the way that it's coming on..I have found my worktop.It was quite hard because there were lots of pictures of Henry and pieces of art work that we had done together but I put my big girl pants on and got on with it. Don't get me wrong..there's still along way to go but I'm hoping to do some more this weekend. Well the coffee is calling and I've lots of work to do. I will be back later with another design team make. I hope that you all have a fabulous bank holiday weekend. Here in the mountains it's the weekend of Henrys Midgestock...a music festival with proceeds going towards the Henry Memorial fund. We managed to raise enough last year to buy two defribulators for the village...this year we are hoping to buy two memorial benches for the village. I've spent a couple of hours bagging 100 tea towels ready to sell. They look fabulous...they feature Henrys owl. I'm hoping to make one into an apron...if I ever manage to find my sewing machine..lol. So until later..take care and happy crafting.

A Snowflakes Promise...A New Challenge

Todays cards are design team makes for the great team over at A Snowflakes Promise Challenge Blog. I do hope that you will pop on over and join in the fun. For this fortnights challenge we have been lucky enough to be sponsored by The Stamping Boutique. The images are fantastic and well worth adding to your collection of digis. I so love the two designs that I was lucky enough to work with.

The top image is called 'My little christmas presents Audrey' and I so enjoyed crafting with her. I coloured her with my promarkers, cut her out into an oblong shape and matted her onto some green card. I then took 2 pieces of christmas themed paper and mounted both them onto the same green card. I then layered the three on to the card and added my embellishments. I die cut a gold poinsettia and some green foliage and added that. Finally a bow made from twine.
The card below is made with the image 'Hippy Christmas', which just made me smile.

For this card, I began by laying a pale blue card covered in snowflakes onto some blue mirri. I then created a border using the same blue mirri. I then painted a layer of snow on to the top of the border and of course had to sprinkle the glitter onto the paint whilst it was still wet. I coloured the image with my promarkers and then cut it out. I added this to the card and finally added the greeting, ribbon and snowflake charm.
Well the coffee is calling and I've lots of work to do. I don't know what time I will be able to blog tomorrow or Thursday as the village is going to be out of electric. And I have to say that my cottage is as dark as night without any electric. No doubt the cats will blame me..lol. I do hope that you will pop over to a Snowflakes Promise and take a look at the other team members fantastic work. So until next time...take care and happy crafting.

JB-Crafting Supplies......A Time to Dream

Todays creation is a design team make for the wonderful JB-Crafting Supplies. I have made this plaque for my bedroom wall. I have seen so many items to buy that are similar and I thought to myself that I could do that..lol. Everything that I have used is available to buy from Julie at JB-Crafting Supplies. I began by painting the mdf plaque with a mixture of pale pink and pale lilac acrylic paint. I then stamped some cherry blossom branches and single flowers from a Sheena Douglas stamp. I coloured them all with my promarkers and then cut them out. I attached the flowers to the edge of the plaque alongside some jewels and pearls. All I have left to do is attach a ribbon to hang it and I'm going to varnish it with some spray varnish. As I said I intend to hang it in my bedroom...but that won't be until I've done what I want to... to the room. I have managed to break the bed..so at the moment I'm sleeping the wrong way round until I can afford a new bed base. There is no point to repair it as it has been repaired so many times already, it has come to the point of there would be more repairs than bed..lol. I am having a skip delivered hopefully soon and intend to put the old bed into it. When the bed has moved, I want to paint the corner where the bed is, whilst there is nothing in the way. Hopefully at the same time I will be getting help to move the dressing table and wardrobe around. The problem is that the cats are using the dressing table as a spring board to get into the loft. Not too bad you may think but oh no...not with my furry friends..lol They jump up usually taking out some of my jewellery and some make up. Curses fly from my mouth but that's not the end. When they want to come down from the loft...there goes the rest of my girly bits and pieces. I have all my nail varnishes and rings in large glass bowls and so far the darling cats have managed to break 3 different bowls.Enough is enough..no more are my rings going to sprinkle the floor. The worst thing is that I can't bend over without becoming dizzy..so trying to pick things up is a trial on it's own. And of course the rings fly everywhere...under the bedding chest, the bed and under the dressing table...it does drive me mad. So I intend for the wardrobe to change places with the dressing table and then they can jump up onto the top of that without anything flying...I live in hope..lol. Well the coffee is calling and I've got some images to colour. I'm trying to get ahead this week as I want to go back into the studio and do some more sorting soon. If I can get the next couple of weeks work done, then I'll be able to sort out to my hearts content. All the cats are lay on the studio roof at the moment because even though it's cloudy, it's fine. As I've said before, they all blame me when it's raining. I'm either sat surrounded by grumpy cats or getting wet by grumpy cats shaking off the rain onto me..lol.So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery....Talk to the Hand..lol

Todays card is a design team make for the fabulous team over at Jiggery Makery. I just love the attitude of this lady from the Jiggery Makery store.I love the 'talk to the hand' attitude and the fact all that you can see is her back and of course the red soles of her expensive shoes..lol. I just wish that I had a figure like hers. I love working for Adele over at Jiggery Makery because she always gives her ladies such fabulous figures and can express attitude with a few lines. It is a talent that I'm very envious of.
For this card, I coloured the lady with my promarkers and then cut her out. I was determined that she should wear a black dress with black shoes with a red sole. I was reading about the shoes and thought that it would be perfect for a lady with attitude. I covered my card with black card and then added red borders to which I added some peeloffs. I didn't add a greeting on purpose...I thought that this would be a great card to send to a friend who was having a hard time and perhaps just needed reminding just how fabulous she really is.
I'm quite relieved that I finally managed to blog with all the help from BT. It has got so bad with the connection that every time I see a BT advert, I'm ready to throw something at the television..lol. No matter how much work I have ready..it doesn't make any difference when the BT connection is pants.I'm so sick of telephoning them..I'm just praying that we will get super fast sometime this century..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and I'm going to have to post this..in the hope that I can do it. If you get the chance, why not pop over to the Jiggery Makery page and take a look at all the fabulous ladies. Sparkle has just arrived so hopefully he will put the kettle on. All the cats are sulking because it's raining...they are all sorting out their places to spend the afternoon. There's quite an argument over a small space where there is a quilt..there are lots of other places they could go, but for some reason this quilt is a favourite at the moment. So until next time..BT willing..take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery..The Lady Peeps

For tonights piece, I have chosen to revisit one of the first cards that I created for Jiggery Makery. From Adele at Jiggery Makery I was given the face and flowers to work with and I loved it. I have sold this card in many colours so much, she feels like an old friend. I coloured her with my copics. As most of you know I do have a passion for blue hair. My hair is green at the moment but any time soon is going to become orange. Personally I blame the lead singer from Paramore..her hair is a lovely shade of orange and I had the thought..so off I am to buy the dye.
I hope that you will pop over to the Jiggery Makery facebook page and take a look at all the fabulous makes from the other design team members. Adele has designed a collection of such glamorous ladies...you can always find one to suit your ideas.I really enjoy deciding how to colour and embellish the dresses. I can take ages deciding what colour to use and then take the big decision on whether to get the glitter out or not..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and dinner is ready. For tonight it is chicken wraps and salad with apple crumble and ice cream for afters. I've a whole list of work to do over the weekend..including 2 ladies for Jiggery Makery..whose dresses I'm contemplating, even as I write.I think maybe that the glitter will be coming out..lol. So until next time...take care and happy crafting.

Left of Center...Spiders in my Fur

Todays creation is a design team for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges.

We are so lucky for this weeks challenge to be sponsored by the fantastic team at Sami Stamps.

The theme for this weeks challenge is Insects and Creepy Crawlies. I so enjoyed making this canvas. My cat Raven is the inspiration for my canvas. She is a very nosey cat and loves nothing better than getting into places where there are cobwebs and comes back looking as if she has been used as a feather duster..lol. One of her favourite areas is the loft..and always comes down covered in cobweb.
For my canvas I began by painting the canvas black and then added a torn piece of paper that was covered with spiders. I then added the actual image which I had coloured with my promarkers. The background of the image I painted with my H2O's. I coloured some braid and added it to the corners into the shape of a web. I finally added a couple of spider charms and added the words. This is now going to live in my bathroom as a reminder that we can all have bad hair days..lol.
I hope that you will pop over to the blog and take a look at all the other projects that have been created by the other members of the design team..they are fabulous. And why not join in the fun as well.
Well the coffee is calling and I'll be back later with another design team make. So until then..take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights.....The Rose Queen

Today's card is a design team make for the fabulous company of Decoupage Delights. This image and backing paper are from their latest release..Marlene, Fashion and Flowers. For this card I have mounted the backing paper and image onto some burgundy card. I layered a strip of ribbon onto the backing paper layer and then added the image. I then decoupaged the roses and added a gold bow. I love the vintage images on this cd and the backing papers are fabulous. I have a bit of a passion for this type of backing paper..I think that they look quite Victorian/ Edwardian. It always reminds me of the wallpapers that my Grandmother always chose for her bedrooms. They always made you think that you were lying in a flowery bower. She also had a bedspread that was really heavy and covered with cherubs and roses. The background of it was burgundy and gold...I tend to think that it was the gypsy in her soul coming out. She had a passion for gold..the colour and the metal. It was always a shock to see her bedroom in contrast to her personality. She was  a strong, determined and out spoken lady..something that other people found hard to deal with at that time. I can only hope that I can take after her. A lot of people have told me that she was a hard woman..but I knew what she had to get through..and just makes me admire her more.
I am determined that today is going to mark the end of sorting the cupboard out. It is all empty now and I have got through the sorting, down to about 5 boxes and then I can hoover. Thank goodness. I am determined that when I finish this..I'm going to do it. I'm even sick of it now. I think that it's when you get down to the last few bits ...that's the worst time. I tend to go round and round in circles, holding one thing and thinking where the heck can this go...lol. My problem is 3 bibles from my mother...she kept them all her life..and I just can't part with them. I was talking to my friend the pa yesterday and she is having the same problem. There are just some things that we can't bring ourselves to part with. I may give them to one of my closest friends who is a vicar in case there is someone who would use them. I would still have the family bible from 1800..so we will have to see. I also need to find a place to put all the important paperwork. I think once I have found places for everything and everything has a place..things will feel better..lol   Well the coffee is calling and I feel that with a good dose of caffeine all will be well. I do hope that you will pop over to the Decoupage Delights facebook page and take a look at their wonderful cdroms. There is an offer on their Christmas cdrom..it is really packed with some wonderful vintage designs...it's something that you could work with for many Christmases to come. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

A Snowflakes Promise.......A Christmas Card

Todays cards are design team makes for the fabulous team over at A Snowflakes Promise Challenge Blog.I made the two cards using the same image just to see what they would look like in the two different colourways.Now I've made them I don't know which I prefer. I just so loved working with this wonderful image.

We are so lucky this challenge to have been sponsored by the wonderful team over at Lemon Shortbread. I hope that you will pop over to their digi store and take a look at the beautiful images. There's something for everything and the detail is amazing.

I hope that you will come on over to Snowflakes Promise and join in the fun. The challenge is only for christmas cards but it is a great way to get ahead with your own christmas card makes. The challenge itself runs for a fortnight so there is plenty of time to enter. Well the coffee is calling and I'm still hoping to find my parlour..lol. A little bit more has been done but I still reckon that there is another days work until the couch is returned to normal. The cats are all complaining because as always, they don't like change. But I'm sorry, they will just have to put up with it..lol .So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

JB-Crafting Supplies...The Vintage Shoe

Todays card is a design team make for the fabulous JB-Crafting Supplies. Just a simple card showing off this wonderful shoe stamp from the Stampendous range. I have made this card just by matting and layering some printed mirri from my stash onto a 6x6 card and adding the stamped image to the top layer. I also added a silver bow. I loved the detail that has been managed to be incorporated into the stamp and it can either be used on it's own as a focal point or would make a perfect embellishment to a vintage card.
 The weather here at the moment in the mountains is lovely..just a bit breezy..which I don't mind. At least the sun is shining which I never expected...it poured it down early this morning. But now all is fine and it means that the cats have all gone out. Apart I have to say apart from Jeffrey who for some reason has decided to take over my legs. And what a weight he is..but at least it's like a huge hot water bottle...lol.
Well the coffee is calling and after that it will be time to refind the parlour. The cupboard of lost memories has now been emptied and has nearly been sorted. The cats are not happy because there is nothing to sit on..lol Nothing is going back in it at the moment..in fact now I've been through it all there is nothing to go back. I have 1 bag of material and leather which I have plans for and a bag of sewing threads which will go in the studio when that's done. I've sorted a bag of blankets suitable for the cats, which can live in the airing cupboard. Apart from my coin collection and Henrys pictures there is nothing else that I'm keeping..all the rest is bagged and on the patio waiting for the skip to arrive. Do I feel virtuous..not yet..I'll probably feel better when I can see the couch..lol. But I think that I did too much yesterday..so I'm just taking it easy today. I may feel better later after I've kept my legs up for a while. Later this week is time to start the studio...goodness help me..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery...Remembering a Tangle

For todays design team make I thought that I would revisit one of my favourite projects for Jiggery Makery. This was made using a single flower digi from Adele at Jiggery Makery. As most of you know, I love tangling lots of things and even after quite a while, this has got to be one of my favourites. For this make I enlarged the flower to the size that I wanted and then tangled it and cut it out. I mounted it onto some black glitter card and then onto some plain black. I edged with some silver peeloffs.This is an 8x8 card but of course you can alter the size of the digi to fit whatever size of card you decide to work with
There are fabulous digi designs over at the Jiggery Makery store...why not pop over and take a look. I personally adore the gorgeous ladies and love deciding what colours and embellishments I can add to their dresses. It always reminds me of being a little girl when I would draw a dress and colour it in lots of different ways. There are two new makes also coming this next week. I have reworked 2 of my favourite designs and will be sharing them with you next week.
The sun is shining here and all the cats are out. When it's nice like this, I have to leave the window open all night so they can come back in...it's either that or spend all night getting up to let the wailers in..lol. And believe me they can make a heck of a row..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and there is an awful lot of work to do...let's hope the caffeine helps the pens move quicker. Sparkle has just arrived so I don't have to even make it myself...what a treat. So until next time..I hope that you have a wonderful weekend..take care and happy crafting.

Left of Center...Inspired by a movie

Todays creations have been made for the wonderful design team over at the Left of Center Creative Challenges.

We have been lucky enough this challenge to have been sponsored by two great companies.

The image that I chose to work with is called Fairy 026 and comes from the creative force that is Ronne Barton. I just loved this image and I was inspired by the great film..Voyage of the Unicorn. I had so much fun with this image that I decided to do it in both a light and a darker colourway. Both backgrounds were created with H2o's painted onto a canvas. Both of the fairy images were coloured with my promarkers. On the second image I created some grass simply by colouring some paper with my promarkers and then cutting it into grass shapes. On the second image, I also added some black glitter to the edges of the wings.
As I've said, I have really enjoyed working with these images. The new challenge is 'Inspired by a Movie'...so why not pop over and join in the fun. The other members of the design team have created some fantastic work, it is really worth having a look..if only for inspiration.So what film could be the source of your piece of your inspiration. I just love challenges like this and cannot resist having a play.
Well the coffee is calling and I will be back later with another design team make.All the cats have run out to play in the sunshine...it seems very quiet here..lol. So until later..take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights...Vintage Lady

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful company of Decoupage Delights. This card is from the fabulous new cd which has only just been released. The cd is called Marlene..Fashion and flowers.Since I began blogging a lot of you will know me by now and know that I had to make this card because of the hat. Yes I have a passion for large ,over the top Edwardian hats. I love the masses of flowers that they managed to secure to the top of the hat. I have never worn a hat since my school days where we had to wear a boater..which I hated with a passion. But as I keep telling my friends, it's about time that someone got married so I could buy a large hat. I've always said that as a large lady..I would need a large hat to balance me out..lol
For this card I mounted the image and the backing paper onto some gold mirri. I created a border with the same. The image has been decoupaged and as always with any Decoupage Delights work, it is a pleasure to cut out. I've been faced with some decoupage in the past that I'm sure has been designed by a person that has never had to cut any out...lol.It is such a pleasure to cut out any on this cdrom. On the card I added some lace and some pearls, which just felt right  to go alongside the image.
The weather here in the mountains today is unusual...the sun is shining..lol. Most of the cats have decided to take the chance that it's going to stay fine. At the moment Milky is sat on the studio roof. I have to laugh when I see her...when she sits down..she is almost triangular. She is a small cat with a huge tummy. Whenever Sparkle comes round, she seems to think that he should put more biscuits in the cat bowl..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and I have some colouring to do. Sparkle has just arrived so I'm being spoilt by having my coffee made for me. I hope that the weather is being kind to you wherever you are. The clouds have now come over...I have a feeling that there are going to be a group of cats running in very soon..lol. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

JB-Crafting Supplies...Another Tag...Another Tale

 Todays creation is a design team make for the fabulous JB-Crafting Supplies. I have made another piece of tag art and as always it is a memory based item. For this tag I used this old english prayer from my stash as the basis, alongside these stamped pansies from the Joanna Sheen set of embroidered flowers. I have coloured the flowers and the lace with my promarkers and coloured the prayer using my distress ink. Both the tag and the backing paper is available from Julie over at JB-Crafting Supplies.
The memory that sent me to make this tag was remembering when my Grandmothers friends would come over for a tea party and would always put the world to rights during the course of their afternoon. More often than not they would all bring their sewing with them and their needles would flash in and out of their sewing whilst they chatted and laughed. At that time, the ladies did a lot of embroidery. They sewed tablecloths, chair backs, tray cloths, cushion covers and lots of other pieces of household linen. I always remember an embroidered pillow slip at my Aunt Aramintas...she had sewn a basket of flowers on the pillow case and every morning I would wake up with a perfect replica on my cheek. The french knots always hurt the most..lol.

I am lucky enough to have samples of their work in my collection and have even sewn a number to join in with it. I also have a collection of scraps which I have bought from charity shops..it was so sad to see these perfect little pieces of embroidery just about to be thrown out..so I have collected them and intend to make a patchwork throw using them all. Someone loved enough to make them to grace their homes and all that love must count for something.

Well the coffee is calling and I have some work to do. All my cats are in and out today as the wind is blowing. They can't make up their minds whether they love it or hate it. Raven is the only one that really loves it. She is running round and round the studio roof, sending holly leaves into the air. Most of the other cats are looking at her as if she's crazy..lol. Jeffrey has just run back inside as the magpies have arrived. It seems as if they will never forgive him for going so near to their nest. So as the caffeine calls...until next time...take care and happy crafting.

The Crafting Musketeers....New Challenge

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful team at The Crafting Musketeers Challenge. I decided to use this wonderful image by Pollyanna Pickering. It is from her British Wildlife cdrom.Our sponsor for this month is the fabulous team over at Delicious Doodles. I hope that you will pop over to their Etsy store and take a look at the wonderful digis available.

The theme for this month over at the Crafting Musketeers is to use the sketch below as the basis of your card.

If you pop over to the Crafting Musketeers blog and take a look at all the other design team makes...you will see all the different ways that we have all worked the sketch.
For my card I began by mounting the image and the backing paper onto some burgundy card. I created a border of the same card. And then I mounted the image onto the border and added an embellishment of some flowers and a ribbon. I also edged everything with a peeloff.
The weather here in the mountains really hasn't made it's mind up today..one minute it's raining and the next the sun is fighting to show it's face. All the cats have decided not to bother going out and Nicademus has taken over my wheelchair as the place to go to sleep..lol. Yesterday as I sat working, Raven decided to sit on my legs and didn't move all day..lol. It was like having a hot water bottle on my legs all day..quite nice really..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and I have a pile of work to get done today. I'm so hoping to get some help tomorrow to empty the cupboard of doom. I hate the fact that I'm not able to do it myself and have to ask for help..but I've just got to get my big girl pants on and do it. I so wanted to get it emptied and then shelved. I need to do the cupboard before I start on the studio..that will be a trial all on it's own..lol So I'd better have a caffeine hit before I try to finish my work. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.