The Funkie Junkie's 12 tags of Christmas #8 Jane's Journal style.

Thanks for coming back to see my creation for this week. I managed to get it photographed yesterday so I can post it today.
Everyone is welcome to join in with The Funkie Junkie 12 tags of Christmas challenge. It closes on 21st December by which time you need to have submitted all 12 creations using Linda's tags for inspiration. You can make anything at all. The full rules are over on her blog here . Linda offers 3 very generous prizes of gift vouchers to spend in her terrific on line shop, The Funkie Junkie Boutique. Do have a look at the link here . I am choosing to make 12 Christmas cards instead of tags.

This week for the 8th tag Linda went for a homespun style card which you can see here. As you know I am making cards instead of tags and this week I was inspired by her lovely stocking. I have a gorgeous Nicecrane Image which is part of the Christmas children greeting set which I have been wanting to use for a while so I printed this out.  Linda also included a snowflake and some bells and I wanted to bring these into my design as well.

My daughter and I had been looking at Christmas stockings recently, she was looking for one for Daisy.  We really liked the lovely vintage hessian ones that are in the shops this year. I had a light bulb moment and decided I could create a "faux sewn" hessian stocking on my card and create a special Christmas card for  Daisy. I had a rummage through my stash and below is initially what I came up with, although you will see that in the end I did not use the wooden pieces. I love that what you initially plan often takes another direction as it comes to life!

I first stamped my snowflake background onto the lovely deep green card I found.

 I used white pigment ink with my Visible Image snowflakes stamps

Next it was time to cut a stocking shape out of my hessian. I looked at images on the Internet but none were the right size so I ended up just drawing one freehand.

 which I cut out

I wanted to add a pretty top to the stocking and heels and toes similar to how Linda's looked so I raided my ribbon stash and found a great wide lacy ribbon which I cut down

as I wanted a bottom edge to my cuff I just cut this off the ribbon and stuck it in place

I also had some fun holly ribbon (it's amazing what you find when you search through you stash!) 

 I  cut round the toe and heel of the stocking and added the lacy ribbon there too

I have some sweet golden bells which I added brass jump rings too. My jewellery stash comes into its own sometimes with my card making.

 I threaded 3 onto a piece of fine red ribbon

 and then tied a bow.

So then it was time for the creative fairy to do her work....and this is what I came up with.........

 a close up of the gorgeous vintage image, those smiles are as wide as my darling Daisy's. They seem very pleased with the stockings they are hanging up ready for Father Christmas.

Below is a shot of the bells,  LOTV tag sentiments and the great Cheery Lynn icicle die cut.

 and this is the heels and toe of the sock I make with the lacy ribbon.

I must admit I was really pleased with how this one turned out and I am sure that Daisy will enjoy shaking her card as yes the little gold bells really do ring!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

The Funkie Junkie's 12 tags of Christmas week 8
Visible Image Favourite stamp I use the enchanting snowflake set so much, I love these stamps
A creative Romance something old my old is my vintage image and the ribbons and bells from my stash.
Crafty Catz  winter theme
Divas by Design let it snow
The artistic stamper Christmas is coming
Bunny Zoe snow
As you like it Favourite Christmas style and why  mine is traditional as it takes me back to my own childhood, such special memories.
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas getting ready for Christmas
Allsorts No designer papers
The mixed media challenge stamps I used snowflake stamps for my background paper
Merry Monday bells
Cheery Lynn tag you're it


I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend. We are off this afternoon to babysit our Daisy as my SIL's 30th birthday celebrations are beginning...he is spreading them out over the next week!

Back soon with something rather special which as taken me many hours to make.......ho..ho...ho!

There are now only 32 days left until the Big Day....keep shopping!

Jane x

Golden brown

I think this autumn has been one of the best for glorious leaf colour. Many trees are still in leaf and wearing shades of gold, red, green and yellow. This morning I had a rare day at home and as well as some crafting time I went out for a walk. It was a pleasant mild day with some milky sunshine too.

I took my camera to capture the wonderful colours that are still around where I live.

 and in the garden my neighbour's false acacia is finally dropping it's leaves.

As I headed to my garden studio I decided to make a Christmas card using a Tim Holtz wreath stamp which I have itching to ink up for ages.

I decided to focus on the stamp so I made a simple stencilled background using my TH Christmas words stencil. I then used a water colour technique. I painted Distress inks onto my stamp and then gave a huff...........

 and stamped out this very pretty stamp

 I misted up the stamp again and tried a 2nd generation stamp which I also loved and I will use this for another card.

I mounted my image onto some festive paper and stamped a sentiment and a bow.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Divas by Design let it snow
Pan Pastel cold and frosty colours
We do doobadoo Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge Go Green
The Artistic stamper Christmas is coming
Bunny Zoe snow
Artist Trading post stencil mania

Christmas cards all year round no patterned papers
Pile it on vintage

That's Crafty vintage

I need to dash....I'm meeting my Hb for a meal out tonight, candlelight, chat and  laughter...I can't wait. Enjoy your evening. I will be back on Sunday with my Funkie Junkie week 8 card, gosh time is flying by. Take care and enjoy the weekend. Thanks as always for your kind visits and comments you all take the time to leave.

Bye for now,

Jane x

Harrods at Christmas, Jane's Journal countdown til Christmas 2014

We had a wonderful weekend with Daisy staying. She is such a sweet natured contented baby. We had great fun and I will sort out some photos soon but as I also want to make a Moment I also need to wait a little while until I get some extra crafting time. I miss her already...but we are seeing her again on Saturday so not too long to wait.

The days until Christmas are now flying by and for those of you counting like me (and Daisy) there are only 37 to go.  I thought today would be a good day to share my recent trip to Harrods to see their Christmas department. My Mum and I love to go each year. I must admit each year it seems to get a little smaller but it is always such a pleasure to see and Harrods is one of my favourite stores any time of the year.

We always meet in a local Paul's for a coffee first and this was the view across to Harrods, such a stunning building even on the outside.

The Christmas department was through this pretty decorated entrance

This year they had different sections with themed names; These were a few.........

Here are some which caught my eye but this year I didn't bring one home as I have a plan to make one later on this month...watch this space.................

We also visited the toy department...I never need much of an excuse to look around here

I'm delighted to see that Tiny Tears is still made...I still have mine from the 1960s...one day my Daisy can play with them.

I love Steiff soft toys (but not their price tag!) and thought these bears and giraffes were super.
I also spotted Cath Kidston

and of course no visit to Harrods is complete without a visit the their food department, I don't think anywhere beats this.
Chocolate anyone..........?

Harrods is really the best vintage yet modern shopping experience and my card today has a vintage feel......

It features a Nicecrane black and white digi image which I hand coloured with Promarkers and Prismacolor pencils.  It is available to buy and download here .I love Ignacio's vintage Christmas images. If you don't fancy hand colouring he also has plenty of ready coloured vintage illustrations which make brilliant cards. I also use them for my Christmas crackers...coming soon! Here is the link to his shop.
This is the image in close up

My backing paper is by Bearly Mine, the sleigh die cut is Cheery Lynn and the corner one is Memory Box. Both my tag sentiments are LOTV.

You will find my card for sale in my Etsy shop here.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Cute Card Thursdays red and green
We dodoobadoo Christmas
The Ribbon Girl red
Sparkles Monthly the big guy aka Santa
Crafty Hazelnut's patterned paper challenge anything goes
Bearly Mine Christmas My backing paper is Bearly Mine
Jelly Park Christmas
Stamp and Create ribbon and bows
Crafty Ribbons Christmas
That's Crafty vintage
Pile it on Vintage
That Craft Place anything goes

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend too?

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x