Whoopee!.....I Can't Believe I'm A Sweetie!...

 Hi all! I'm so excited today. I've been bursting to share some news with you. A few weeks back, Gayle from The Sugar Bowl asked if I'd like to become a Sugar Bowl Sweetie! We'll as most of you know I'm a huge Sugar Nellie fan and have been since they began......so after a moments thought I naturally jumped at the chance!

The new challenge begins today. So without further ado, here's my very first Sugar Bowl DT card based on a fab sketch by the very talented Maria, with the optional theme of BUTTERFLIES:

I thought this sweet Sassy stamp would be perfect for the butterfly theme. I had such fun colouring her with my Copics.

Other Ingredients;

DCWV Mariposa Papers,

Dark Brown Card,

Memory Box Butterfly, Elegant Scroll & Lorelai Leaf Dies,

Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Square Dies,

Whimsy Stamp Sentiment Stamps,

Stardust Stickles,

Sewing Machine,

Pearl Hearts from Meiflower.

Hope you like my first DT card and feel inspired to join us this time. We have 4 fabulous Sugar Nellie stamps up for grabs for one lucky winner (this will rise to 6 if we get over 100 entries).

Please do check out the other fab makes by the rest of the Sweeties...they're totally stunning!

I'm also linking up this sweet Sassy to the current Saturated Canary Challenge ~ Great Outdoors.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Jenny xx

A Gem Of A Challenge 51 ~ My Theme...

Hi all. Phew so glad the kids have now finished school for the summer. No more mad morning rushing around for a few weeks...yippee!

So a new challenge starts today over at  

A Gem Of A Challenge,

and it's time for my theme;

'Kraft At Christmas!'

So I would like to see a Christmas card made with kraft paper/card.

The ingredients for my DT card are;

Pink Gem Designs digi stamp - Snowy Robins,

Copic Markers,

Go Kreate circle/scalloped circle dies,

Spellbinder Tag Dies,

Sewing Machine,

Kraft card,

Red corrugated card (sanded to reveal a kraft core),

Craftwork Crads sentiment,

Hand cut holly,

Papermania Shimmer Dome stickers,

Adhesive gems,

Stardust Stickles,

Ribbon.

Please do check out the other DT makes on the challenge blog....they're stunning!

Hopefully you'll join in too. Can't wait to pick my top 3!

Thanks for stopping by,

Jenny xx

CES Challenges #47 ~ Feeling The Blues...

Hi again! I'm back with my DT card for CES Challenges!

Vicky has chosen a fab theme for us this week...

'Feeling The Blues'

I used this fab Sugar Nellie Leanne Ellis stamp from Funky Kits, and followed the Sugar Bowl sketch...with a theme of lace.

I used my Copics to colour, and 'Summer Sky' Memento ink & sponge dauber for the cloudy background.

From Crafty Emma's Store I used;

First Edition papers, Baker's Twine, Wild Rose Studio brad, Craftwork Cards sentiment.

I also used;

These fab Lacey Squares Nestabilities ~ Pink Gem Designs,

Sewing Machine (lol!...stitching a bit wonky as bobbin was almost empty)
Flowers that have been in my stash for years,
Ribbon & threading lace,
Sweet little bird cage charm ~ ebay

Thanks again for stopping by and for all your lovely comments. I'm still a bit behind with commenting myself so really sorry about that.
We had a nasty fright yesterday. My girls were outside waiting for the ice cream van as they usually do. When the van pulled up it caught my eldest daughter's bike that she was holding on to, and pulled it under the van! A couple of men came to the rescue and managed to free the bike...which had some damage, but I'm just so grateful my Daughter didn't get pulled under with it! (doesn't bear thinking about!) However it left her very shocked, and she still seems a bit shaky today.
Hopefully I should have chance to catch up with you all later as my girls are off for a sleepover tonight.
Many thanks for stopping by!
Jenny xx

The Sugar Bowl Challenge...

Hi all. Hope you're having a great weekend.

Some crafty time at last for me today! My girls are at their Nan's today. So with only 2 out of 4 children here, things are not quite as hectic as usual! So I've been crafting all day in my PJ's!!

I downloaded this new Simply Adorables digi from Funky Kits last night, and could not wait to colour her. She's called 'Summer'. I used my Copics to colour.

I followed the fab sketch over at The Sugar Bowl, so will enter into their challenge.

The theme is vintage/distressed.

The gorgeous papers are Papermania Blueberry Hill.

I also used;

Sewing machine,

A paper doily,

Paper roses and hydrangeas,

Distress ink - frayed burlap,

Heart crystal stems,

Making Memories metal sentiment.

Vintage seam binding (aqua & siam pink, stitched together, scrunched and dabbed with the Distress Ink).

I will also enter this into ;

Delightful Challenges ~ flowers

Craft Us Crazy ~ use fave embellishment (flowers!) & something new (my digi!)

Cute Card Thursday ~ distressing

Digi Doodle Shop's Best ~ colour combo; pink & blue

Off to have a soak in the bath now before my girls are 'delivered' back to me lol!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Jenny xx

Sewing Machines Again (Sorry!)...

Last post on sewing machines promise..lol! Just had to let you all know the latest Tesco machine I picked up is playing nice for me at the moment, and I'm a happy bunny again! So hopefully after my Sister's wedding at the weekend, I'll have time to work on some more stitched cards. We have been for a rehersal at the church this evening...all very exciting now!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jenny xx

Sewing Machine Update...

Hi again! Thanks everyone for your very informative replies to this mornings post :-)

I tried everything this afternoon. Threading, re threding. Bobbin all possible ways around. Even took apart bobbin compartment and put it back together! I was so stressed that my hubby (fortunately his day off!) took little man to the park so I could think in peace. I looked at forums, troubleshooting and info on the net. I think my prob was that a little screw where you put your bobbin can be tightened to adjust tension. But I tightened it as much as poss with the little tool they provided, but it was still slack really, and I could see no way of making it tighter. I came to the conclusion that this machine is far too complicated for me!

So before full nervous breakdown occurred I took it back off to Tesco's. The lady remembered from yesterday and said they had taken delivery of some of the simple Tesco machines (same as the one I had taken back yesterday that had jammed) so I have brought another one of those back with me to try out. Oh I do hope it works, as I was really pleased with the simplicity and functions of that machine in the first place (until it broke!) so I got my cash back that I put towards the Singer. I'll let you know how I get on! Can't face it right now though....need a break from sewing machines this evening!

Have a great evening!

Jenny xx

Sewing Machine & Me...No Longer Friends!....

Good morning all. Hope you had a great long weekend?...

Oh I knew my sewing machine bliss could not last! I was so happy with my new machine. It was just what I wanted. Not too complicated. A nice controllable speed. Then half way through stitching another card yesterday, it packed up! It seemed to jam somehow. I didn't want to fiddle with tit so took in back to the Tesco store, but they didn't have another one (it was a basic Tesco one) and would not refund as I had used Tesco clubcard double up vouchers. So I swapped for a Singer machine and put the extra money to it. I didn't really want one that was so fancy. It's all they had in store though... and at least it was Singer...supposed to be good aren't they?

But I am having no luck using it! The stitches are loose and are gathering up behind the card/fabric like a big birds nest....so frustrated! I am wondering what I'm doing wrong. I have tried adjusting tension, and I think I'm doing it right? Any help very much appreciated!

It is a Singer 2250 HERE.

Thanks in advance....tearing hair out and feel like throwing it through the window!

Have a better day than me!

Jenny xx

My New Toy!...

Hi all! Hope you're enjoying your weekend? For a while now I have wanted a proper sewing machine for using on cards, but could not really justify the cost. I already have a tiny battery operated thing that just does a simple running stitch. But I've never really got on with it. It's manic...and I've never been able to do a straight line with it...ever!!

So when in Tesco's the other day, I spotted a little, but sturdy sewing machine for £59.99 that does 8 different stitches. Including 3 zig zag stitches...just what I wanted! I had been saving my Tesco club card reward vouchers for some time, and had taken £30's worth of them shopping with me, as they have the double up offer on at the moment on certain departments, including small domestic appliances. So yes, I doubled up my £30 vouchers and got myself a sewing machine!!

So here are the results of my first play. I obviously need more practice but am thrilled with the results. It's a really fab machine. Just the right size... I'm sooo happy!!

I have used one of my new Gorjuss Girl stamps, that you can get at Quixotic Paperie.

I used Copics to colour.

I also used;

Prima papers,

Leone Em ash branch punch,

Go Kreate ovals and scalloped ovals,

Paula Pascaul punchable tag stamps,

Lili Of The Valley sentiment,

Prima butterfly,

Ribbon,

Flowers,

Brads,

Spacers.

I'll put this into:

Sweet Stampin's challenge for 'try something new'....my sewing machine!!

Southern Girls...green & blue

My Mum's Craft Shop....flowers

I think I'll have another play with my new toy later!

Thanks for stopping by and for your kind comments.

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Jenny xx