A Gem Of A Challenge 56...

Hi all. Long time no blog, but over the last couple of weeks had two children off school with sickness, one with a poorly eye, then hubby home with 'man flu' (who kindly passed his germs on to me!) To top it off, just when the central heating is required after the summer (if you can call it that!) I find it no blinkin worky!! Got a man coming out to me this week. Just glad it's not too cold just yet.

We also had a broken washing machine when the children were off with sickness, but thankfully that's all sorted now. They say it happens in three's so just dreading another household appliance going wrong....

So no crafting or blogging time for me over the past couple of weeks unfortunately. However, normal service will hopefully resume this week (fingers crossed that nothing else happens!)

Anyway, a new challenge started this weekend over at  A GEM OF  A CHALLENGE;

Wendy's Theme - "ONE FOR THE GIRLS!"

Please do pop over and see the fabulous DT makes by team 1. My card will be along next week with the rest of team 2. Hope you'll find time to join us this fortnight. There are some fab new digis out now over at Pink Gem Designs. 

Thanks so much for popping by, and hopefully something to show you really soon :-)

Jenny xx

The Sugar Bowl 92 - Erika's Challenge...

Hi all. A brand new challenge starts today over at The Sugar Bowl.

This time Erika has a fab sketch for you to follow;

And a yummy optional colour theme for you to follow (right up my street too!)....

I couldn't resist inking up 'Hello Little Robin'. I used my Copics to colour, and added a little lot of Stardust Stickles. 

Still a little wet here in the pic. 

 Other Ingredients;

Papers - My Mind's Eye (sorry can't remember name, but left over from a huge 12x12 pad I had a few Christmases ago),

Spellbinders Create A Flake 3,

Spellbinders Scalloped Squares,

Spellbinders Fancy Framed Tags 2,

Crfatwork Cards Sentiment,

Pearls & Hearts. 

Hope you'll join us this time and also spread the word. Always a fab prize up for grabs, 4 Sugar Nellie Stamps (or 6 if entries exceed 100!)

Please do check out the other DT makes. All totally gorgeous!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Jenny xx

Overdue!!...

 ....my card's overdue that is....not my pregnant Sister who I made it for. She still has another few weeks to go yet. 

I thought this fab DigiStamp Boutique image 'Blooming Lulabelle' would be very apt for her Birthday card as seen as she's seven months gone..  

I made it weeks ago and should have blogged it sooner....but with  my Brother being in hospital, the hospital visits, not to mention the worry, I haven't been blogging much of anything.....or commenting (sorry!) I'll give you a full update on my Brother at the end of my post.

I coloured Lulabelle using my Copics.

Papers; My Mind's Eye - Dwell

Other Ingredients;

Lacey Oval Nesties from Pink Gem Designs,
X Cut Scallop Punch,
Corrugated Card,
Bias Binding,
LOTV sentiment tag stamp,
Papermania Relations Sentiment Stamps,
Craftwork Cards Sentiment,
Various blooms & Shimmer Dots.

Anyway, many thanks for all the kind well wishes regarding my Brother. As I explained just over a week ago, he was rushed to hospital after collapsing, and had to be resuscitated after stopping breathing! He was then in intensive care in an induced coma on a ventilator. We were lead to believe a possible heart problem may have caused his collapse. When he regained consciousness it was discovered he had Pneumonia! So he was put on intravenous antibiotics for a few days in hospital before being discharged into the care of our parents. So he's had to move in with them for a bit...he's still quite unwell.
He will be followed up regarding the possible heart problems. He's only 34!

Meanwhile my little man has a nasty sick bug (yuk!) he's only done one full week in his new reception class and has managed to pick something up! I just hope the others don't get it.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Jenny xx

A Gem Of A Challenge 55....

Hi all. Just a quick reminder that a new challenge is under way this weekend over at A Gem Of A Challenge. This time Donna M has a recipe for us to follow; 

LEMON,LILAC,2 BUTTERFLIES & A BOW

Please pop over and see what the rest of the DT have been up to. I'll show you my card next week as I'm on Team 2.
Back soon with a DigiStamp Boutique DT card.
Jenny x

A Horrible Weekend (And Challenge Reminder)...

Hi all. Sorry I'm very late with this post this weekend, but my Brother is very poorly in hospital at the moment. He collapsed on Friday and stopped breathing. Thankfully paramedics got to him in the nick of time and resuscitated him. He was in intensive card for 24 hrs.  Apparently he has a heart problem, and it's all been very shocking and scary. I hope they manage to sort him out really soon. It wasn't so long ago since my Son, then my Mum were in hospital. My elderly Grandad is also in hospital again at the moment. It does make you appreciate the NHS....we are very lucky!

 So here's my DT card for the current 'Boy Thing' challenge over at A Gem Of A Challenge.

The super sweet digi image & papers are all from Pink Gem Designs. I coloured this cutie with my Copics.

If you are very, very quick there are some massive discounts to be had on stamps and digis. But the offers end 7am, Monday. 

Sorry it's short and sweet.....and sorry if anyone I DT for is waiting for anything. I'll get organised asap. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I'll be back when I can.

Jenny xx

The Sugar Bowl Challenge 91 ~ Fi's Sketch...

Hi all! Hope you're having a good week.
So, time for a new challenge over at The Sugar Bowl. 

This time Fiona has a fab sketch for us to follow, and an optional theme;

"Shabby Chic!"

    
I've been having a play with my Tim Holtz Distress Markers. I stamped this ever so sweet 'Bad Hare Day' Simply Sassy  stamp onto Papermill hessian textured card, and used the markers and some of my Distress Ink Pads to watercolour her. White highlights were added with the Picket Fence marker.

Other Ingredients,

Go Kreate Dies,

Papers -My Minds Eye Dolled Up & Bazzill Avalon,

Craftwork Crads Card Blank,

Kraft Card,

Memory Box Corner Bow Die (I have chopped up and put behind the flowers),

 Lili Of The Valley Banner Sentiments,

Lace,

Twine,

Wooden Button,

Blooms (the lovely daisy one is from one of those £1 packs @ The Works)

Pearls,

Stardust Stickles,

White Acrylic Paint.

I applied the white paint to the blooms & wooden button. I also smeared a bit more here and there for a 'shabby chic' effect. I used my fingers to apply and got really messy lol!

Hope you'll join us this time. Please check out the rest of the DT's gorgeous makes. A fab prize of 4 Sugar Nellie stamps up for grabs for the winner (this will increase to 6 if entries exceed 100!)

Hope this posts ok as I've scheduled it.
Now the children are back at school I'm catching up with jobs around the home. Once finished, I should have a bit more time to visit your blogs at last. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Jenny xx

Lili Of The Valley ~ Anything But A Square!...

Hi all. Hope you're ok. The children have gone back to school today. It's Ben's first day in reception class. Can't believe it's a year since he started in the nursery class! How time flies...

I've been rushing around getting a food shop done, and catching up on boring stuff like washing. But I did manage to quickly finish off this card for Lili's Little Fairies Challenge, Anything But A Square.

Love this Lili Of The Valley stamp....a dream to colour with my Copics.

Other Ingredients;

Go Kreate Oval Dies,

Lili Of The Valley Krafty Christmas Paper Pad,

Lili Of The Valley Christmas & Regular Sentiment Tag Stamps,

Stardust Stickles,
Other bits & bobs from the depths of my stash!

Other challenges entering into;
Creative Card Crew - Christmas
Anything Goes Challenges - Christmas
Holly Jolly Christmas - Christmas Florals

Must dash. The children are finishing school soon. 

Thanks so much for popping by!

Jenny xx

Jada With Bauble & A Gem Of A Challenge 54...

Hi all. I just wanted to share a make I posted over on the Pink Gem Designs Inspiration Blog a couple of days ago. Sorry I'm so late posting it here but I just haven't had time to come online. I've been busy, busy out & about picking up a few last minute bits of school uniform, and getting ready for the kids starting back next week.

I've been having a little play with one of the new digis over at Pink Gem Designs. She's called Jada With Baubles...isn't she fab?

I coloured her using my Copics. 

I haven't had much practise at colouring ethnic skin tones before, but the colours I ended up using were;

E31, E33, E35, E37 & a touch of E59 in the darkest areas. 

I used R11, R14 & R17 for cheeks & lips.

For her hair I used;

E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, E47 & E49

Other Ingredients;

Dovecraft Merry Magic Papers,

Dovecraft Merry Magic Buttons,

Bakers Twine,

White Corrugated Card,

Go Kreate Oval Dies,

On The Edge Card Blank (Craftwork Cards),

Craftwork Cards Sentiment.

I also need to tell you about the latest challenge starting today over at A Gem Of A Challenge. This time Donna is our host, and the theme is 'A Boy Thing!'

Please pop over there and see what Team 1 have been up to.  Myself and the rest of Team 2 will share our makes with you next week :-)

Thanks for looking!

Jenny xx