Polka Dot Punches

Okay so here we have, at long last, a card all nicely edited in Photoshop... well it's not too bad anyway.

Last week whilst blog hopping (as you do) I came across Lynn Put's blog when this card jumped out and smacked me on the forehead. You know when you like a card and you keep going back to have a look? That's exactly what I've been doing... plus browsing all the other lovely creations that this lady makes - absolutely beautiful. Although I love the black & white with a burst of colour as Lynn has done, I decided to go for my new favourite colours..... chocolate chip and regal rose. The stamp is from Polka Dot Punches and the sentiment is from Yummy - both these sets are exclusive to the Sale-a-bration promotion which is ongoing till the 28th Feb (details on the side bar) and that spotty paper... is from the Sweet Always paper pack - cute!

One more place still needed for the Paper & Ribbon Share... tfl, Jo :)

Busy, busy...

Still nothing to show but I should have later today. I've spent the evening learning all about Photoshop and how to use it properly...well I skimmed really but I've got the basics which should get me uploaded here anyway. I've also had the chance to make a card tonight, so quite a productive evening really.

I've yet to edit the photos for the masking tutorial which I said I would do, and I'll try my best to get it on the blog over the weekend.

Unfortunately one lady had to drop out of the Paper & Ribbon Share so there's just one place left now. If you would like 96 6x6 sheets of all the double sided Designer Papers PLUS 9 metres of matching ribbon AND be in with a chance to WIN one of the Four Stamp Sets that are up for grabs then drop me a line at jodumbleton@aol.co.uk . The price is £20 including postage and with a 1 in 7 chance of winning, that can't be bad. More details can be found by clicking the image on the side bar.

Last night I went to the flicks with Scott my eldest. I don't go to the flicks that often mainly because my husbands taste is not the same as mine - in fact we're the complete opposite on film choices so it was a nice treat to go with someone who didn't fidget and talk all the way through it.

We saw SEVEN POUNDS with Will Smith. OMG it was soooo sad! An excellent film though and Will Smith is fantastic - even though I balled my eyes out I loved it. Very emotional and very touching. If you get the chance, go see it, but take some tissues...

Be back later...

Jo :)

Normal service will resume shortly...

I've just upgraded Photoshop and it's quite a bit different to the old one so I'm having a nightmare editing photo's. Sorry for the lack of posts and pics but I hope to get my head round it tonight and post tomorrow. I've had a great response for the Paper & Ribbon Share and there's only two places left now so please get in touch at jodumbleton@aol.co.uk if you would like to own ALL the Patterend Papers AND 9 metres of co-ordinating beautiful Grosgrain Ribbon - PLUS the chance to WIN one of four stamp sets. See my post below for more details and again I hope to have some pics of what you will be receiving very soon. BBS... Jo :)

Paper Share + Ribbon = Free Sets

No cards today as I've been making some that I can't show, but I hope to have a little something for you to look at tomorrow. Anyway, I've had quite a few people tell me that the Designer Papers in the current catalogue are beautiful but they can't afford to buy all of them. I'm the same and only have a few of the sets myself, so I thought I would organise a Paper Share with ALL EIGHT sets PLUS a ribbon bonus AND the chance to win a Hostess Level One stamp set, AND THREE Sale-a-bration sets! What you would get is 96 sheets of 6x6 double sided patterend paper. The sets are Summer Picnic, Rainbow Sherbet, Haiku, Holiday Treasures, Junior Varsity, Sweet Always, Tea & Crumpets and Spiced Cider. You will also get 6 x 1.5 metres of each of the 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon in Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Regal Rose, Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery and Old Olive. The cost will be £20 including postage. I need eight people to sign up for this (I'll be one) and out of the seven others who join me I will be doing a draw for a Level One Hostess Set, and THREE of the Sale-a-bration sets, so FOUR lucky people with get a stamp set as well! Not bad for £20 don't you think? If you would like to take advantage of this offer or would like more details, please email me at jodumbleton@aol.co.uk The sun is just starting to peep through the fog so off to walk the dog...again! lol Have a great day. Jo :) p.s sorry forgot to mention, UK customers only.

Origami Box

I got a little side tracked last night as I was going to be making some cards using the 'True Friend ' set. Instead I made one of these origami boxes from the instructions over on Splitcoaststampers.

I've made plain origami boxes with lids before so I knew what folds I had to do and it only took a few mins to put together. The cover for the box on these latest ones that everyone is making finishes it off beautifully though, and much better I think. It gives it that 'extra special' something. The papers are Close to Cocoa DSP and Tea and Crumpets so the colours are Close to Cocoa, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Choc Chip and Real Red. The stamp set is 'Yummy' one of the exclusive Free sets in the Sale-a-bration offer. It's a simple but beautiful set and what I really like is I can use my markers to highlight different parts of the stamp or to just ink up one part like I've done here.

Sale-a-bration is ongoing until 28th February and if you'd like one of these sets they come free with every £45 spent.

Anyway, must go and walk the dog now...

Have a good one!

Jo :)

Kristina's Color Inspiration #39

It's Friday and I'm feeling much better than I was at the beginning of the week. I hadn't realised it but I'd been feeling pretty rank since Wednesday last week and I was gradually getting worse - still I'm on the mend and have a lot more energy than I did. Thank you to everyone with your well wishes. x

So I had a little play last night and came up with this card for Kristina's CIC #39. I love the colours this week - bright and cheery.

Anyway, here's my card using 'True Friend'... I forgotten about this set so I'm setting myself a challenge to do some more cards using it over the weekend. Have a good one! Jo :)

RAK from Kate

Today I woke up feeling absolutely terrible... my nose was blocked, sinuses were killing me, I had a headache and my body ached all over. So once I got Jake ready for school and safely on his way I went straight back to bed. I woke again at 1pm! eek! I can't say I felt any better but you know us women....soldier on regardless. Anyway once up I realised I'd had a parcel delivered.....an unexpected parcel at that which made it even more exciting. And what was in my parcel? Well... it was some beautiful Papertrey Ink cardstock, patterned papers and ribbon sent from the most fabulously wonderful, generous and kind Kate, along with this very beautiful handmade card. I can tell you it was the best medicine I could have received today - much better than lemsip!

I've been stroking this all afternoon so thank you Kate, you're the best!! Please go visit Kate's blog 'Yours Truly', she's such a talented crafter. Kate if you're reading this, thank you so much and it's great to have you back blogging again. x

Right, early night for me - gotta get rid of this pesky cold so I can get back to crafting.

Oh and one last thing, Bri posted a comment on yesterdays post about how to get the frog sitting on top of the toadstool so I thought I'd do a little tutorial on how it's done. I'm sure there's someone out there in blog land that has already done this many time before but I'm going to have a go anyway so stay tuned.

See you all soon,

Jo :)

A retired set but a well loved one..

'Unfrogettable' was one of my faves from last years catalogue - so cute and great for watercolouring. So for old times sake I dug that little frog out over the weekend and made this card for Jake to give to his Nanna. I don't quite know what came over me but I made it in half an hour.... that's probably a record for me, and it's not as if it's anything special either! lol I told you my mojo has returned. The papers I used are retired too, although I think they are still available from the Retired List as it was a 'Once they're gone, they're gone' thing. (They're on page 92 & 93 of the current catalogue if anyone is interested.)

Anyway, I've gone down with a stinking cold today so I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself. Perhaps I'll have a lazy day and I may even have a go at Kristina's CC if she posts the details.

Tfl and come back again soon.

Jo :)

Happy Birthday Mum!

At long last I've done a bit of cardmaking. It feels like an age since I've done anything, although I did go to my local crop on Saturday. As it's been so long it took me a good two hours to get started but I came home with two completed pages and I like them both. Towards the end of last year I didn't like anything I was creating but hopefully my mojo is back to stay and fingers crossed I'll get more pages done. Anyway, it's my Mums birthday today and I've actually made a card for her. I have to admit that it was cased from Steph who made this beautiful card on In Love With Stamping - a really gorgeous card. My take was a little improvised but I'm really pleased with it and I hope you like it too. By the way I've just noticed that Steph's giving away some fabulous blog candy - and check out her gorgeous creations made with the Sale-a-bration sets - really fantastic! It's good to be back and I'll try my best to keep more updated in future. Tfl and hopefully see you tomorrow. Jo :) E.T.A. Oops, forgot to say, the set is 'A Rose is a Rose' and 'Best Yet'. The colours are Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Old Olive. I used Prima Whispered Words Flock Alphabet for the 'MuM' bit.

A Belated 'Happy New Year'!

Life has been a bit mixed up lately. Nearly back on track with commitments and I should be back to creating and blogging next week...... fingers crossed! Happy New Year to you all!! Jo :)