Stars are not just for Christmas

Another fortnight has flown by and I am here today with my latest design team make for Visible Image. I am delighted to be able to share my first blogged make using one of the new Christmas stamp sets which were released on Saturday.

I know that a lot of you may not yet be considering making your Christmas cards just yet so I am showing today how "Stars" are not just for Christmas. I am using the new Shining Star stamp set. (There is also a gorgeous star stencil in this release).

 This card design would work well at any time of the year and in different colourways.

This is what I got up to; I sprayed Villainous potion distress stain spray and Hocus pocus distress mica stain sprays onto Daylor Rowney mixed media card adding plenty of water.  I also added water droplets to lift the ink.

I stamped the large star onto the background and also onto white card which I coloured with yellow and orange distress ink. I also stamped the smaller stars in the same way and cut the yellow stars out (see the final card for placements) I also stamped and cut out the sentiment from the set. 

I gold embossed the star clusters around the black stars.

I then stuck the yellow cut out stars on top of the black outlines and put my card together. I matted it onto black card before adhering it to a square white card blank, adding a little gold pen detailing for finishing touches. 

Here is my finished card

with some close ups

and 1 final shot;

 All the Visible Image links are listed below;

The Visible Image Group page is over on Facebook. Our friendly Group is here ...it would be lovely to see you join us.  You will be warmly welcomed and see lots of inspiration from the DT and customers to inspire your own creativity. 

 I also organize a monthly artist trading card swap in the group.  We are currently celebrating 2 years of swapping. Whether you are a new stamper or a seasoned one you are most welcome to join us. Over 140 members, worldwide, have taken part since it started. It's been such fun and it's so lovely to receive a unique piece of art from your partner in the post. The details and sign up for each swap are posted in the group on the 23rd of the month. So the next sign up for July, opens this Friday, 23rd June,  if you would like to join us.  There is no "monthly" commitment, just join in when you have the time and if you live in the UK can you choose to post to the UK only if that suits you best.

The main Visible Image Facebook business page is here

Visible Image also has its own You Tube channel here where you can see videos and Lives to give you lots of inspiration and ideas. 

Their Instagram page can be found here 

Pinterest here

and their website is here. 

 You will also find me on Instagram here; @jane.tyrrell where I share many more samples than I have the time to blog.

Back soon, 

Bye for now,

Jane x

Christmas in July

Hello it's Billy here, Jane's cat and yes we have arrived at that mad day of the year when she has that Christmas in July moment. 

Summer is in full swing my garden is looking lush with so much new growth. I have been amazed at the new sprouts that have appeared on Baby Choc. He is Jane's little Christmas tree she bought last year to replace Old Choc who went to the Tree in the Sky land. I think he actually found a new home locally as he disappeared from the grass verge the day before the Christmas tree collection van came.  Baby Choc holds  her vintage Christmas ornaments and Christmas chocolates. If you are not a regular reader of my blog you can read all about  my first meeting with him here.

You can spot him in the far right of this photo below, just outside Jane's studio. 

Just look at all his new growth. He told me he loves his new branches. There will be more room to hang things from. It was hard to keep him still as he kept dancing around showing off all his new greeness.

These will turn darker green as the season goes on. 

He is also sporting a rather spiffing new hair style, just look at that. He really is looking most handsome.

So while Jane drove me mad humming Christmas tunes from her studio I had a little snooze in the shade but I did manage to snap these photos before my doze when she went indoor to make her cuppa.

Jane made these alcohol ink tag backgrounds on embossed foiled card a little while back. (You can see that I am very well informed for a cat on all things crafting. I have had years of practice). She made up and the botanical tag which she shared here

I noticed that she had taken out the lumber/wood effect tag and made some Christmas bits and bobs including a stamped coloured image of none other that Father Christmas in his original green outfit. This stamp is from one of her favourite Christmas Tim Holtz stamp sets, called Yuletide.

She had also die cut some greenery too, some in foil and some card. She used alcohol inks again on the foil and distress inks on the card.

So I left her to it and after dinner time I asked if it was safe to pop into her studio and take a peep at what she made. She said yes!

This is what I found; ho ho ho!

with a close up 

she added a sentiment at the bottom....yes Jane will always believe, will you?

one last shot

Jane says she would like me to enter her tag into some challenges..here goes.

Simon says stamp Wednesday early bird

Lil patch of crafty friends 1/3 anything goes

Pixie's snippets playground #381

ABC Christmas N and O I have gone for O for over the top! Jane loves adding lots of extras to her work, she is definitely not a CAS girl.

Die cut Divas Christmas in July

So after all that excitement I found myself a nice shady patch on the lawn for one more doze.

I will be back again in early December with my annual Billy and the Trees post. Baby Choc and I will be rapping together in the garden until then. We also look forward to seeing the Man in the red suit (or will he revert to the old green, who knows?) on the 24th December.  Goodness me this typing is hard work, time for me to go now.  Jane will be back again soon with a new post. I am also going to have a little think about what I will be doing to celebrate my 12th birthday on Friday...gulp...how did that happen!

Until then,

Bye for now,

Billy x

Billy and Bear celebrate Christmas in July

Hello it's Billy, Jane's cat here.  The weather has finally got to Jane, I found her down in her studio today making something quite mad...I will share that later.

First thing this morning I checked out the garden...all very quiet..

 Hmm her poor lawn is really suffering in this heat

but her pots still look pretty.

 I decided to find some shade

and have a little snooze.

However after lunch you will never guess who showed up with Jane...

 yup it looks like Bear has come to stay for the weekend.

He found himself a tennis ball in Jane's  garage whilst she was working in her studio.

 Do you really think he wants this thrown?

Well he gave up and sat down to listen to the sounds coming from Jane's studio..

 Do you know what it was...Jane was singing Christmas carols..I jest not!

Now I told you that the heatwave has got to Jane. It was 32c today and look what has happened, she think it's Christmas ....in July. This is the card she made.

 Does she really think that snow is falling or is that just the heat getting to her?

Mind you it does cool you down looking at this. She says it's made with stamps from Visible Image, the "Snow is falling set" and "How fragile".

Jane also says she also likes to enter challenges...goodness me my paws are getting tired with all this typing...and would like to enter these ones;

Craft stamper take it make it 1/3 anything goes

A vintage journey Get sentimental

Crimbo crackers anything goes

As you like it 1/3 favourite occasion Jane's is Christmas as she still believes in Santa ;0) as do I!

Cute card Thursday 1/3 anything goes

Happy Little stampers Christmas challenge anything goes

Simon says stamp Wednesday Red,white and/or blue Jane has gone for white and blue
Crafter's Castle 1/3 anything goes/Christmas in July

So where do you think I had to retreat to as Bear has come to take over here for the weekend...

 Shhh keep this under your hat,

don't let on to Bear that I am under cover. That dog will never catch me. 

Jane will be back on Monday, let's hope she gets back to normal non Christmas work. I will be back in December with my tree post as always and I look forward to seeing you then. 

Have a fab and purry weekend and a Merry Christmas,  yikes this heat is getting to my typing... it's time to go.

Bye for now,

Billy ( and Jane ) xx

Christmas in July

Hello friends it's Billy here and it's that other time of the year when I take over Jane's blog as she seems to be away with the fairies...yes it's Christmas in July here in Surrey. I can hear her humming carols from her studio and yes she is making her first Christmas card on a hot sunny July day....madness I know!

I thought I would show you just how non Christmassy it looks around here in Jane's garden..come with me...this is the calla lily bulb she planted and it has come into flower.

 I had a sniff, not much smell though but she likes flowers with scent or no scent.

I walked round to say good morning to Old Choc. He sensibly stands in the shade all year until he gets walked into the house near Christmas.

He says he is very well and had some recent splendid new growth...wow all those new tips. He must have been eating up his greens. Jane will be able to hang even more chocs on him this year.

The foxgloves have gone to seed but will be back next year. I spoke to Brer Fox yesterday evening and he said not to worry as the weather is warm enough to go without gloves now. He looks so good in pink does Brer. 

On the other hand the pots and hanging baskets are blooming splendid in the sunshine.

Hang on a minute...what's this...Mr Frosty hanging about in July?

I had a quick chat and found out from him that Jane is putting away her winter coats and scarves. He had a quick wash and was hanging around to dry in the sunshine and then heading up to be ironed...that sounds a bit too hot for me.

 I think I need to find some shade

 Hmmm perhaps this is a bit too sheltered as I can't keep an eye on Jane from here

Ahhh this is better, I am right near the door of her studio now.

Time for a wash for me, I don't go in the funny machine like Mr Frosty did,  my tongue does just fine thank you very much. 

Ohh I nearly forgot, you are here to see the Christmas card she made aren't you..here it is...I think she was inspired by Mr Frosty. She says it's an accordion card..now that is that is a musical instrument so perhaps you can play this one...I'll have a look for the buttons. It's a card for me I think...those gloves and boots might come in useful...

Jane tells me that the image is an old Meljen one she has had for years and she coloured with Promarkers. Here are some close ups;

She tells me she would like to enter it into the following challenges;

Rubber Dance Christmas in July
Winter Wonderland let us see a tree or make it cute
Christmas at sweet stamping warm Christmas clothing
Dies R Us outdoor fun
Emerald Faeries  1/3 Winter blues
Crafting from the heart anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's patterned paper challenge anything goes July
The ribbon girls 3/3 any card
Addicted to stamps and more 3/3 anything goes
Creative Moments anything goes with option of ribbon
Happy little stampers anything goes with dies
Allsorts one for the boys

Right then, there's lots more to do out here....

or actually I have a much better idea...I will find somewhere comfy again....

Oh forget all that busy stuff...I'm going to have a snooze in the sunshine.

See you in the first week of December when Jane and her Hb start that malarky of walking trees indoors.

Have a restful weekend, I will .....zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Bye for now.

Billy (and Jane aka Mrs Christmas) xx

PS can you keep a secret....I found out which day Jane has tickets for Wimbledon...for tomorrow no less, yes mens' finals day. No doubt she will be back early next week to share her visit with you.  Bx