A Coronation inspired caterpillar

Yes you did read the title of my blog correctly 😂 It's time for my fortnightly blogged design team make for Visible Image. As the King's Coronation is just around the corner now I thought I would make a red, white and blue card. I can also reveal the very exciting news that Visible Image will be back on your TV screens this Sunday 30th April and this card is one of my samples for the show.

I used the fab new Change is coming stamp set

with the ever popular Fibres stencil

This is what I got up to; I blended candied apple distress ink through the stencil onto a piece of white card

and did the same with Prize ribbon. 

I stamped and matted the sentiment and cut out some holes (eaten by the hungry caterpillar of course) using hole punches.

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I die cut an 11cm circle  from the blue stencilled piece of card and a 12.5 one from the red.

I stamped the caterpillar onto the blue circle 

I also stamped the caterpillar and leaf twice again onto white card and cut 1 out completely and the other just the caterpillar.

I used distress pencils to colour my cut out caterpillar.

and then stuck it over the whole image.

I then adhered the layers together

and matted the blue circle onto the red one.

To make the rocker I die cut a 14cm circle from red card and folded it in half. For a final touch I added some sequins. 

Here is my finished card;

with a close up

and 1 final shot

My caterpillar is all ready to celebrate at the King's Coronation!

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 celebrating 2 years of swapping this month and have a very special swap with £125 worth of prizes up for grabs.  Whether you are a new stamper or a seasoned one you are most welcome to join us. Over 120 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 sign up closes on Friday 28th April at 5pm UK time so you need to be quick if you would like to join in. 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 always share many more projects than I have the time to blog. Do pop on over to see what I get up to. I share something most days.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

April tulips for Visible Image

 Good morning it's time for my fortnightly blogged design team make for Visible Image.  Today I am sharing a spring themed card made with one of my favourite spring stamps sets called Sketched tulips.

which I teamed with their awesome and super versatile Torn fishnet layering die. 

 If you are very quick you can get 25% off the stamps and die (and everything other than the March release) over on the website by using the code EASTER25 at checkout. Plus there are some awesome Easter offers too. But do be quick as the Easter sale ends on the 16th April. This is the link.

This is what I got up to with today's make;

I made a distress stain spray background

I then used the Torn fishnet layering die to die cut an aperture in a 4 1/2" by 6 1/2" piece of white card. I stamped the words from the  Sketched tulips set as shown. I then cut the inked card to size

I stamped the tulips onto the inky card, using the aperture for placement, and then repeat stamped the tulips on white card, colouring their heads and cut them out. I stuck them in place as shown.

I then added some text to the aperture using the beautiful script stamp in the set. 

Next I used the the Torn fishnet layering die again to die cut using red card and cut these pieces up and laid them around my tulips.

I stuck the aperture over the top and trimmed any overhangs.

I matted it onto black card and added some sequins for a finishing touch.

Here is my card

with a couple of close ups;

and one 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 will be celebrating 2 years of swapping in May. Whether you are a new stamper or a seasoned one you are most welcome to join us. Over 120 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 May, opens on 23rd April, if you would like to join us.  A little heads up that as it is our 2nd anniversary next month there might be a little giveaway too! 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 always share many more projects than I have the time to blog. Do pop on over to see what I get up to. I share something most days.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

A whisky drink.....

 Good morning I am here today with my latest blogged design team make for Visible Image. Unless you have been living under a log you will know the awesome March new release went live on Friday. The night before they had a Live launch party on their YouTube channel which was so much fun. If you missed it live do check it out on catch up as all the design team samples, including mine were shown up close and personal. There are 6 smaller A7 size stamp sets and 3 A6 size with coordinating dies in this release.

Today I am sharing a step by step of  how I made my sample using the brilliant Splash of whisky set available here with its coordinating dies available here  

I teamed it with the framed fibres die

 I had the idea to make a log cabin wall with a "window" on which to rest the whisky glass and bottle. Think deep dark woods in Scotland and open fires...yes this is where my imagination wandered off to!

 This is what I got up to; I die cut the fibres from a piece of inky card.

I also die cut an aperture into a rectangle of kraft card and repeat stamped the log from the set to make a "wall"

I added black card underneath

and then slotted in the coloured fibres die cut. I stamped both sentiments onto white card and added brads to the bottom one.  

I stamped and die cut out the bottle which I coloured using distress pencils 

 adding some white pen details and gold to the top.

I stamped and die cut the glass with the ice cube stamped inside and I also stamped and die cut several lemon peel twists and ice cubes. I added glossy accents to the glass and ice cubes which you will see in the final photos.

I coloured the peel with distress pencils.

I had the idea to poke the peel into the fibres die cut. 

Then I put everything together and adhered it to a black card blank.

Here is my finished card. 

with a couple of close ups 

you can see the glass shining with glossy accents below

and 1 final shot;

It really is a brilliant set and a perfect final addition to the unique and amazing Visible Image drinks cabinet.  It is also perfect for those always hard to make male cards.   You now have gin, wine, champagne, beer, cocktails and whisky sets to choose from. And all of them have coordinating dies.

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 will be celebrating 2 years of swapping in May. Whether you are a new stamper or a seasoned one you are most welcome to join us. Over 117 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 May, opens on 23rd April, if you would like to join us.  A little heads up that as it is our 2nd anniversary next month there might be a little giveaway too! 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 always share many more projects than I have the time to blog. Do pop on over to see what I get up to. I share something most days.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

The reopening of Dotty's Teahouse

I am super excited to be finally able to tell you that after nearly 5 long Lockdown months Dotty's Teahouse reopened on Monday. Many of my long term blog readers will remember when Dotty's first opened 5 years ago. I had taken a walk down our High Street in Carshalton, Surrey, the week I retired as an NHS physiotherapist. I noticed a little sign that a new vintage tea rooms was opening and they were looking for some unique products to sell. I contacted Rebecca, the owner, to tell her about my cards. We met, she loved my hand made cards and the rest is history! From day one I have sold my one of a kind handmade cards exclusively in her wonderful Tearooms and been warmly embraced as part of the Dotty family. I  have so enjoyed witnessing her success over the years including seeing her open up her delightful Tea Garden 2 years ago in Coulsdon. 

Covid 19 hit Dotty's hard and like most businesses she had to close during both Lockdowns. However Rebecca is one of the most resourceful women I have met and she started up a Dotty Delivery service. Dotty delights are delivered in a real London taxi to local areas and this service has been a huge hit. My daughter treated my Hb and I to a delivered afternoon tea last year and it was superb.

During Lockdown Dotty's Teahouse has undergone a total interior transformation. I had a sneak peek of the newly refurbished inside a few weeks back and shared some photos on Instagram. I sneaked in early this morning just as she was opening up and took lots of photos, too many to share on IG, so I decided to show them here in Jane's Journal. It will also be lovely to have a record to look back on.

 Dotty's has undergone a complete refurbishment and my oh my, how elegant she looks. There is new heating, lighting, seating, counter......the list goes on and on. In late June she will also open a delightful new upstairs seating area too. All these things are best explained with photos so here we go.....

This was my delightful view when I turned up first thing this morning. The door was open, the covers were off the windows and the outdoor seats were in place. 

I love the board outside, how true this is. 

The girls were busy at the brand new counter setting out the Dotty delights for the day.

The new chairs and tables are gorgeous. Very chic. Lots of tables had been reserved.

My shelves were stacked and ready with my latest cards for sale. 

This little cutie I have named Tracy Teacup sneaked onto my shelves today. She has an inky backgroumd and I have stamped her dress out a second time and paper pieced it. The sentiments I have stamped are perfect to team her with. As you can imagine tea themed cards are very popular at Dotty's and I constantly add new ones. 

Here is a close up of some of my cards for sale. I have new baby, new home, birthday, motivational cards and every occasion in between available. Each is one of a kind. 

I will also have a new range of "family" sentiment cards on my shelves soon. Here is a sneak peek of one of them.

On the counter today at Dotty's were a delicious cheese cake 

as well as a delicious variety Dotty delights created by the talented new Executive Pastry Chef Sarah, who has also joined the Dotty team. Sarah comes with an incredible range of experience; 

She spent her career to date working in the most elite establishments in London from the best 5 star hotels to patisserie shops and Michelin star restaurants

She is regarded as one of the most talented pastry chefs in her field and was featured in Elite Traveller Magazine in 2018 as one of the top 14 female chefs in the UK. She has achieved lot in her career including producing her first pastry book called "Patisserie Perfection" in 2015

The counter was being filled up as I arrived...yum!

And if cupcakes are your preference feast your eyes on these beauties.

Takeaway is also available and look at the gorgeous boxes you get to take them home in.

Dotty's also now has an alcohol license so if you fancy a glass of wine or something bubbly with your meal there is plenty to choose from. 

There is even a "snug" a little hidden away from it all room to enjoy a more private Dotty experience.

 Such gorgeous vintage inspired decor. 

And finally from the end of June you will be able to climb these stairs and sit in the brand new upstairs dining area. Yes Dotty's is going up in the world, literally.

So while the upstairs is being finished you can sit at this pretty table. I think this is one of my favourites and no wonder it was reserved!

Or how about here?

And of course Carshalton is the home of the photogenic ponds....here they are on a sunny day at the other end of Carshalton High Street.

You will find Dotty's Teahouse in the High Street Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3AE. She is open 7 days a week Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm and Sundays 11-4pm. Booking a table, rather that turning up, is highly recommended as she does get very busy, especially at the weekends. 

Before I close here are a couple more of my cards which are on my shelves now, all one of a kind and handmade with love and ink in my garden studio. 

Thanks so much if you got all the way to the end of this very photo heavy post. I am sure you will agree, the transformation of Dotty's is wonderful. If you never saw my first Dotty post 5 years ago this is the link here. How far she has bloomed and grown since then.

Remember "A brew will see us through!" (I think cake and a card is pretty helpful too! 😄)

I post many more of my makes and weekly Dotty visits over on Instagram. Do check me out over there. My account is @jane.tyrrell or just click on this link.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x