Julie and other Animals

Little Musings Willow......

2011-10-30T16:47:00.000Z

There is nothing I like more than a bargain ~ other than a freebie......

This is where SJ come's in, her beautiful images are available as stamps or digital images

from her own website and now and then she offers free digital images for us o play with......

This is the little beauty she kindly gave us this week who reminds me so much of my darling

granddaighter Abbie.

Now those of you who know her will admit she is a bit of a cartoon anyway

but this image so reminds me of her dressed to go off down to the stables to play

with her pony "Berry Boo Princess"

See what I mean....

butter wouldn't melt..........NOT!!!

oh but I love her soooo much xxx

Huggles......J x

Molly and her Bloomin' Sleigh.....

2011-10-29T21:02:00.000Z

So after having a couple of days feeling ab-so-flamin'-lutely pants with a bad back and head cold I've managed to drag myself from my sick bed......wait for the violins....I've made a card with one of my new Molly Blooms stamps. I've had them a few days but could not get my mojo out of bed let alone myself.

So here it is, coloured with ProMarkers and layered quite simply on just one sheet of patterned paper and decorated with a few punched out snowflakes and some die cut Cricut vines and snowflakes....

It would have been easy to use a red paper so in true Julie-Ann style I used orange...

So please if you like it let me know, it's nice to get feedback.

If it's rubbish don't say anything, I'll just delete it :p

Hugs J x

~ * ~

An Inky Masterpiece........Not!!!

2011-10-26T08:10:00.001Z

I have been fighting the good fight in keeping my craft room tidy for, ooooOO the best part of a long time and have now decided that I should do it properly. So I am not only putting things back in the right place but also giving all the boxes, bags and drawers a right good turf out. So far I've been to the recycling bin outside 3 times to empty my bin and I've only done one set of shelves......

Tidying out the small tubs and boxes is going to be the nightmare I think as I get so easily distracted. For instance........

my tub of small ink pads has seen little action since I got my distress inks and has therefore suffered from neglect leading to the deterioration of several of the foam based ones. My plan then was to test them all and be brutal in the keeping of ones that are past using, even for doing edges ( really tried to think of reasons for keeping them ) This created a little masterpiece which i will now share with you...

Oh bother it's upside down.......

You can tell because if you look really close you can see the little pink mice with whiskers and tails that came about from testing pink cats eyes inks and then me doodling on them....

So now do you understand why this is a job that's gonna take forever as I get so distracted nothing, truly ever gets finished....

Ta ta, see ya soonly...........xxx

~ * ~

Two Today.......

2011-10-20T21:29:00.000Z

You don't always need to add an image as a focal point. This first one just uses one from the On the Edge range of cards from Craftwork Cards - cut around the shaped edge for the front and added a strip inside the front edge - a couple of cut branches from my Cricut - a few Bee Crafty Blooms and some pretty hat pins....

The paper is cut from a piece of 12 x 12 K & Co Mira - I like to use 12 x 12 as I can pick certain elements or size for whatever my card is going to be...

~ * ~

Now for this next one I have used a previous;y coloured image as it fitted the paper I had picked - 12 x 12 Arctic Frog - Garden Party...

So remember, when you go to your local craft shop's for stash give the 12 x 12's a good look - you will be surprised at how well they work with us card makers...

~ * ~

Take care

Julie-Ann x

What's with the ATTITUDE?

2011-10-19T20:41:00.000Z

So I'm gonna have a play with another one of my purchases, Sugar Nellie Little Miss Attitude.....

She so reminds me of someone but who?.............. I'm sure it will come to me soon......

This time I'm going to start by choosing a paper to work with and for this card I've picked one from the Wild Rose collection.

Abi,,,,,sorry, Miss Attitude coloured taking my lead from the colours in the papers...

Nearly done, just a few extras needed for my liking......

I'm happy with the final result

So, what do you think......

~ * ~

A Rare Day Off........

2011-10-15T21:10:00.001Z

What a great day....

Started off waking up to the sound of my youngest grandson having a conversation with a couple of wooden dolls about the sleeping arangements in the dolls house whilst still in bed.

Then it was off to the stables with Sam to get the horse's clipped as their winter coats are just about in and they are sweating up when exercised, nothing to do with the fact my poor ole chap has to cart me about.......

So here is Sam giving Lily her first clip of the season and the first one done by Sammy in a long time and what a blooming good job she did of it, so good in fact that I got a couple of strips taken off my lad Squire as he does sweat along his neck but doesnt do enough work with me to warrant as much off as Lil' has. She's had a trace clip which is taking the hair of her neck and belly with a bit off the sides, but leaving her bum and back covered so she doesn't get cold.

.......and after all that hard work we treated ourselves to a lovely long ride around the villages and had a good old natter....

Me and my boy............x

~~*~~

this is how he felt about it all

and as for Lil' well she wasnt going to ruin her new hairdo so just smiled for the camera....

Then it was home for BLT's and cuppa ...... lush xx

~~*~~

Just Gorjuss.......

2011-10-12T21:42:00.001Z

Today I took delivery of my first Gorjuss Girls stamps, Foxy and Little Miss Attitude. I have had a brilliant time playing with them and here's what happened .........

The images have been stamped onto smooth white card with a black Versafine ink pad....

Now which one to do first.......

I decided to use Derwent Colorsoft pencils for this as they give a lovely soft colour when blended with a thinner like Sansodor.........

After going around the outer edge of her coat with coloured pencil I then dipped the paper stump into the solvent and gently blended around the edges slowly bringing the colour to the center...

More colour is put down and then blended the same way as the coat but with the hair I put down several colours and blended them together...

I'm really happy with finished result...

et voila...

the finished image on a card

A Victorian Challenge.......

2011-10-10T19:00:00.004Z

Hello, bet ya didn't expect me to be back so soon......

Well in an effort to get blogging again I decided to have a go at this weeks challenge on the "Sell Your Craft" group on FB and here is my effort. The brief was "Victorian Era" where you could make anything that had a Victorian theme, which is great for everyone no matter what their crafty preference.

So what did I do............?

Firstly I took an 8 x 8 card and inked the edges with a dark brown ink pad, then cropped a piece of pink patterned paper to 7 3/4 square and again inked the edges with the same ink pad. Next was to cut down a piece of pink paper to approx. 6 x 5 and punched a decorative edge down the right side,again inking the edges to match the rest. This piece I stuck down at an angle to give a bit of interest. Now the image is a computer generated one from copyright free site, re-sized and given the same treatment as all the other papers and again stuck down on the opposite angle to the last. Lace and ribbon were wrapped around and a metal ribbon slide is put onto the picot edged satin. Paper roses have been given a quick spray with gold sparkle and stuck down with hot glue. Finally a little bit of bling to finish it off.........

Hope you like it..............Julie xx

Challenges Entered

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SellYourCraftsHere :~ Victorian

http://trulyscrumptiouschallenges.blogspot.com/ :~ Distressed

http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.com/ :~ Lace

http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/ :~ Pink

Things have gone a bit CRACKERS!!!!!!!

2011-10-07T23:09:00.000Z

Yes, Christmas has started in style. Have had the new crackers in from Stix2 and here is one I made on Satuday when Michelle came into the shop and demo'd the new glue gun and foils aong with the new cracker kits......

I started by punching some light cream paper to create an extra layer inside the ends of a white sparkle cracker. Then added a band of the same cream pearl paper around the centre after punching both sides. Once the cracker has been rolled and joined I stuck on a pretty hand meade pearl paper rose and a couple of punched out leaves using the new glue gun then tied the ends with some lovely satin edged organza ribbon .....

I hope you'll agree it would make a lovely wedding cracker .......

There is a competition to win a massive goody bag from Stix2. All you need to do is e-mail a picture of your cracker design to Michelle and the bestest one will win. The e-mail address can be found over on the Bee Crafty page and if I knew how to do a link I would but until Bev show's me how over the week-end you will need to pop over there yourself :o) .......

(I will update this post as soon as I know how)

More bootie from the Booty..

2010-10-25T15:35:00.001Z

Well I've managed to get myself a couple of fabby items. the first from the Ebay shop opposite our's at Blackminster called Wizpan. Mary has some lovely bits and pieces, a proper bric a brac shop with some really nice bits.

This lovely little woven sewing basket is in fabby condition and I'm going to be carefull to make it over without altering it. I think it will need just a good clean and maybe some new fabric for the lining, other than that I think I got a nice little bargain. Cant decide what it will hold yet possibly it will return to being a sewing basket as recently I can see it's been used for holding plants so we'll see.

Next is a 50p bargain from the weekly boot sale up the road from us. Its a simple wire basket, about 12" x 9" so will come in handy for my paint pots or inks and sprays. Going to give this a good clean and then respray it with a smooth hammerite to make sure it takes the knocks and bumps that things seem to suffer from in my craft space, maybe I should stop the grandchildren from using it but what fun would that be.........

I think a bit of alcohol inks on the handle should do the job......

Dont ya just love a bargain, hope to get these done in the next wee while so I'll post piccies of the finished items as and when.

~ ~ ~

Also this week we have been to the Mop Fair in Stratford. I just love the lights, noise and smell of the fair. I also love the taste but with Slimming World not being quite so successfull this week have abstained from hotdogs and candy floss :(

ok so the focus is really bad but I think you can just make out Bev, Dave and yes Abi on the Twister. My but that granddaughter of mine is a daredevil. The faster they go the better she likes it.....

Take care

Julie xx

Wild Rose Christmas

2010-10-08T20:10:00.001Z

Here is one of my first Christmas cards, made using the Wild Rose stamp "Christmas Friends" from Bee Crafty. Coloured using water colour pencils and layering on various colours of card. Die cut mats from the Nestabilities range of dies.

Cute Card Thursday

Creative Craft Challenges

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge

Sneaks back in....

2010-10-08T11:03:00.000Z

Yup, thats me. Sneaking back in, mind you probably wasnt missed. I think everyone is used to me going AWOL.

Well we've just got home from a fabby week away in France, yes usual place - La Croix du Vieux Pont. A beautiful oasis about an hour to the east of Paris that has everything you could possibly need for a fabby craftaway holiday. This time we took our wonderful grandson Alex with us for the first time and boy oh boy did he enjoy it. We swam, walked and cycled everyday and usually more than once of each which beggars the point - Why does my weight not come off quicker?? arhh well Slimming World is my friend so see you all Tuesday :) .

Again on this trip I managed to make a few cards and other projects with the help of Alex so will get them uploaded shortly.

Have a look at the new Bee Crafty Challenge Blog too, some fabby prizes as well as great inspiration from other crafters. This is a brand new challenge blog so please pop along and add your entry...

Well it's off for a haircut and coffee with Beck's so I'll pop back in a while with those card pictures aswell as a few more holiday ones..

Bye for now

Julie-Ann xx

"Two Ewe"

2010-04-22T15:30:00.003Z

Well, what a beautiful afternoon. Hope you are all enjoying this glorious weather. I know I am even though I'm stuck indoors it's lovely to look out and see the sun, even if it does show up the fact I really ought to go and clean the windows....

So to today's offering and it's the turn of Wild Rose stamp "Two Ewe". Coloured using Derwent Coloursoft pencils and blended with Sansodor. the nice thing with sheep is a bit of grey pencil just around the edges, a quick blend out and theyre done.

The green background paper is Basic Grey Oh Baby Ivy and the red one is Fancy Pants Wildheart Wild Iris. The border strip is an off cut from making the card blank of green stamped with several small flower stamps all over to create a contrasting pattern. Then the image layer was inked around the edges with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Shabby Shutters and the punched out quote inked with Distress Ink Worn Lipstick. Finally finishing off with some paper roses and Bee Crafty Blooms.

Thanks for looking.

Julie-Ann

xxx

p.s. Dont forget to pop over to Sams blog and check out her projects. I think she is currently on 1-a-day

Papertake - Sketch

Crafty Catz - Red + Green + use a punch

My Time To Craft - Quick Quote

Polka Doodles - Animal Magic

Special Day......

2010-04-21T11:36:00.002Z

I've been having another go with my ProMarkers and I'm not to unhappy with this one.

The stamp used is Wild Rose "Special Day"

I've just used Red for the dress, going over the edges a couple of times to get some shading and Black and Ice Grey 5 for the bag and hair. The base card is white with Kanban Rouge Flabellum layered on top. This has that lovely black and red satin effect border which I have just added a strip of red satin ribbon to. Next layer is a piece of white that I've put through the Big Shot inside a Sizzix embossing folder called Dots and Diamonds Large from the Hello Kitty range. Then comes a strip of red satin card with a layer of white that I've stamped a floral design onto. The stamped image was layered onto red card and stuck into position.

Finally some faux stitching and acouple of strategically placed Jewelled brads and Bee Crafty Blossoms and the card is finished.

Moving Along With The Times - Sketch

Sweet Stampin - Stitches

Allsorts - Stitches

Cup Cake Craft Challenge - Red and White
Stamp Something - Layers
I Love Promarkers - Black, White + 1other colour (Red)

Fairy Wings .....

2010-04-16T21:02:00.006Z

Here we go, I appear to be on a roll as here is another card made using Bo Bunny papers.

The one's used on this card are "Sophie Bouquet" and "Sophie Silhouette". Matted and layered onto pale blue and buff cardstock. Again I have used Bee Crafty Blossoms and some lace and satin ribbons.

The punch is Martha Stewart "Daisy Dot".

The fairy is coloured with Coloursoft pencils and Sakura Stardust "Clear" for that little bit of twinkle.

Thanks for looking.

Julie-Ann xxx

Mojo Monday Week 134 = Sketch
Sweet Stampin = Colour Combo
Stamp Something = Layers
Flutter By Wednesday = Use a fairy, butterfly or angel
Tuesday Morning Sketches = Soft hues, flower, ribbon

Dont forget to pop over and say "hi" to Sammy on the Bee Crafty Blog. She has been creating like a mad thing and with some really odd material.

Bloomin' Cat....

2010-04-16T12:59:00.005Z

Hello again,

Well I've been playing again and have come up with this lovely card using anothe one of the Wild Rose stamps "Cat in a Tree".

Again I've coloured using my Coloursoft pencils. Used Nestabilities to cut out the two matted layers. The papers are Bo Bunny "Sophie", "Sophie Dot" and "Bouquet".
The blooms are from Bee Crafty and are centered with Card Candy dots. The little charm is one of the Card Charms range of embellishments, fixed with a jump ring and a small organza bow.

Hope you like it....

Have a good weekend

Julie-Ann xxx

Stampin' For The Weekend

He Was a Skaterboy......

2010-04-14T20:14:00.004Z

So here is the second of today's creations. Blimey that sound's arty....hahaha
Anyway here he is, JN Skateboard Boy. Coloured with Coloursoft pencils and blended with Sansodor using paper stumps. I'm really loving these pencils at the moment and am looking to expand my collection, I do hope DH doesn't read this...

For this one I've used a cream scalloped edge 6" x 6" card. Added a layer of Bo Bunny Sophie Dot (the reverse side)slightly smaller than the card and sanded the edges first. Then I've cut three panels of the same paper and sanded the edges (using these on the front side) matted them onto cream card stock leaving a 2mm border all of the way round. Take one of the panels and wrap a piece of burgundy ribbon around top to bottom and tie a knot. Stick these at different levels across the front of the card and using 3D foam adhere the stamped image on the center panel. I then added a cluster of Bee Crafty Blooms to one corner and three Card Candy dots along the bottom edge opposite.

Thanks for looking.....

Julie-Ann xxx

Friday Sketchers
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge
Cupcake Craft Challenge

Puppy Love.......

2010-04-14T19:13:00.002Z

This is the first of today's offerings. I managed to skive a bit of time at work today and had a fabby time creating what I think are a couple of lovely cards.

This is made using one of my bargain stamps from a swap-shop we had at work, it's Daisy from DO. I've coloured her with my Brushables pens that I used with the watercolour technique by scribbling them onto an acrylic block and then picking up the colour with a waterbrush to apply to the stamped image.

Using Nestabilies labels die I then cut the image out and inked the edges. With the next size up die I cut a layer out of chocolate brown cardstock then stuck them both together.
Taking a 6" x 6" cream blank card I added a layer of Bo Bunny Sophie Bouquet just slightly smaller than the card. Then cut a 3" x 4.5" piece of Bo Bunny Sophie's Notebook and placed it with the backside showing just in from the left side. then cut another rectangle 2" x 5" from the same and place it over the last piece. now punch a border from the green card (I used a Woodware punch) to go width ways across the card just below the center line and wrap with a length of pink grosgrain ribbon. Fix the layered image in position and add a sentiment. Just to the bottom corner I've added three of my current favourite embellishments, Card Candy. These little dots of card come in many many colourways of assorted packs and are available from Bee Crafty.

I would like to thank Sam for letting me play away today while she got on doing her job which is creating beautiful projects for Bee Crafty. Her latest being an altered jigsaw which is available to see here on the blog.

Please pop over and see what she has been up too.

Thanks for dropping by....

Julie-Ann xxx

A Spoon Full of Sugar
Pollycraft Monday Challenge
Pink Elephant

Easel Card.......

2010-04-13T10:55:00.007Z

Good morning,

Blimey that weather out there is decieving. Only put a light top on and it's flaming freezing. How does that work then, bright sunshine, blue skies, bit of a breeze and it's icy cold.......bonkers!!!!

Anyway today I've done an easel card using Coredinations cardstock for the base card and all of the layers.

I've coloured the image (ARS Country Girl) with Coloursoft pencils and layered using Nestabilities dies.
The flower embellishments are Bee Crafty Blooms attached with brads . The "Thanks" and the ribbon slide are Cuttlebug die's and the "Sweet Pea" is a Cuttlebug embossing folder.

A couple of lengths of ginham and mini flower ribbon, along with a few pearl stems finish it off.

Hope you like it.....

Julie-Ann xxx

Sketch Saturday
Moving Along With The Times
Allsorts Challenge Blog
My Time To Craft
Papertake

Louis in the Rain

2010-04-09T22:07:00.005Z

Here he is, Louis in the Rain. Coloured with my fabby new Derwent Coloursoft pencils. They are lovely to work with and I have blended them with Sansodor spirit for that seamless colour.

The papers used are from the TPC Celebration range (Bee Crafty), the plain colour's being the reverse of the patterns. Woodware border punch - wave. Length of wide blue ricrac ribbon and some Bee Crafty Blooms mounted on a die cut layer scalloped circle Nestabilities all held together with a large spotty brad from Dovecraft. Attach 3 comlimentary buttons to the left hand side and thats it.

Stampavie and More Challenge 89
Sophisticat Challenge Blog

Hope you like it...

and thanks for looking

Julie-Ann xx

p.s. tomorrow I'm off to a Derwent demonstration so hopefully when I come back I will have picked up a few tips to improve my technique.

Flower Soft Card.....

2010-04-09T11:02:00.004Z

Hello again,

Today I'm showing you my Flower Soft card. I feel even I can say this is beautiful.

Created by folding an A4 sheet of pink card stock in half and adding a layer of pink patterned paper (Kelly Panacci Maroon Daisies)then added a layer of cream that I embossed with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder (my favourite still) and inked the edges with a random pink ink pad in my box, then wrapped a strip of pink grossgrain ribbon that I threaded a lovely diamonte buckle (Bee Crafty) onto. This is topped with the Flower Soft image layer of a little girl holding flowers that I have added the Flower Soft medium to.

I used 3 colours, Poppy Red, Vintage Christmas and Citrus Crush from the new Ultra Fine range (Bee Crafty) also adding some to the grass level. Inked the eges of this layer before sticking it down with 3D foam pads for dimension. Finally adding 3 buttons sitting on upturned Card Candy dots and some Bee Crafty Blooms with a paper rose.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge

Thank you so much for looking at my blog...

Julie-Ann xx

Pink and Brown .......

2010-04-07T11:40:00.006Z

Two of my favourite colours, so when a challenge came up from Moving Along With The Times to use them it wasn't to difficult. The sketch was good and with the opportunity to put your own slant on it I did just that.

I've cut and folded a 6 x 6 from brown card stock then punched the edges with EK Success border punch Scalloped Diamond (Bee Crafty). Added a piece of pink card that I embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. Using the offcuts of both I made a small matted layer to go across the bottom finishing it off with a narrow strip of two tone brown ribbon. Taking a die cut "S" and covering it with a piece odd patterned paper from the scraps drawer, sanded and inked the edges with Distress Ink then added a couple of stamped images. Then to complete the sketch a layered square put behind the "S" and a couple or 3 flowers added to represent the circles on the sketch..............Voila...

ColourSoft Part Deux

2010-04-03T19:56:00.006Z

Ok so I might just be getting a little obsessive with my new pencils but they say practice makes perfect, so I'm gonna keep on practicing.

I've taken this lovely stamp by Wild Rose Studio called Louis in the Rain from Bee Crafty and stamped him onto some extra smooth card with Memento Ink.

Then taken two different shades of brown and gone around each bear. Also going into some of the areas where shadow is needed.

Now take a paper stump, dip it into Sansodor (a low odour solvent) and use to blend the colour. I used small circular movements gently thinning the colour until it was smooth and seamless

Finally I have taken my chosen colours for the umbrella and done the same as I did to the bears, coloured the edges of each panel then blended with Sansodor. Also added a spot of blue to each of the rain drops and blended down.

Oooops forgot to say that I had used a soft grey to create a path for the bears to be standing on. Cant have floating Bear's now can we........

Thanks for looking

Julie-Ann xx

New Pencils.....

2010-04-03T16:17:00.003Z

How lucky am I? Very.......

Today we had to go to Warwick as DH had a hospital appointment and while out he said that we would go and get my Easter pressie. He had already asked what I'd like and with no hesitation I replied "pencils, I'd like some pencils"

To explain how I'd got to this, yesterday at work I had the lovely Mandy Fox come in and we talked for ages about my efforts with ProMarkers and how it was taking me a bit of getting used to them. It was so nice of her to give me her time and show me where I'd been going wrong, mainly putting down too much ink. We then got on to the subject of alternative colouring mediums and she told me how much she like's pencils. We did a bit of blog hopping and I saw some fabulous work by her and some other designers that I fell in love with the idea of using pencils. So last night when I got home I checked out a few websites and You Tube on how best to use them. That did it, I needed pencils straight away - poor Bill.......

So after the hospital we trawled a few different art and craft shops finally finding what I needed much nearer to home. PSW in Studley in fact, a fabby art shop with loads of different drawing and painting mediums and on a shelf sitting there waiting for me was a boxed set of Derwent Coloursoft Pencils with storage wrap. Then after a brief search found paper stumps, Sansodor and extra smooth card stock. That was me sorted, we headed home and they were soon out on my desk.

So pencils out, pc on and You Tube there for me to follow........

I had a quick sort through my stamp drawer (still not sorted out from the other night) and found this lovely lily stamp. Thought being a couple of colours should be ok and with a bit of luck should be to difficult not to muck it up.

Well I did the leaves first. Just put the colour down around the edges of the leaves and a bit extra where the darker shadows would be, then out with the paper stumps and the Sansodor. A quick dip and rubbed away like a good-un, small circular motion I could remember them saying on the video. Not to bad I thought so moved on to the flowers themselves. Feeling a little cocky I decided to put down two colours, Deep Fushia C140 and Bright Lilac C260. Again, but using a new paper stump, into the Sansodor and with more gentle vigour I blended away with a bit more direction following the curves and folds of each petal and I think it shows. The petals, to me at least, look far more natural than the leaves.

Anyway here is a picture of my first attempt and I would really appreciate your comments as I would really like to get better as I love the effect.......

Happy Crafting

julie-Ann xx

Tidying is not my strongpoint........

2010-04-01T20:31:00.004Z

I'm a grass widow tonight so after a bit of a bloghop and a chat on Facebook I thought I should start and have a proper tidy up. You know the sort, do out the drawers and cupboards, sort out old magazines and all those bits of card and paper you put in a box saying "that'll come in useful for something" but never actually look in the box when you need a smaller bit. So tonight is it.......
This lovely wire cake stand was a pressie and was supposed to help me keep my tools tidy and to hand, well that worked didn't it. Looks pretty though even when it's untidy so that can wait......

I found a few bit's that can go into a charity box at work or be swapped with one of the crop ladies, but then I thought I should take photographic evidence of how bad it is and blog about it..........

.........so that's as far as I got - Nowhere really, I'm just too easily distracted, I even had a go with some pencils I found in a drawer that I wasn't even sorting at the time. Just had a look in it to see if it actually needed sorted, and yes, it does.....

Now is it really worth tidying the stamp drawer? I'm only going to rifle through it when I'm looking for something to do a corner or verse, a little swirly thing on the side of a box - so no we'll leave that one for now.....

.....and then we come to the fibre drawer. Definitely not to be touched. Well you can see at a glance the colours and you'll only want to cut of a few inches, so you can just pull out the one you want and snip away.....

Phew, I'm exhausted from all this tidying - think it's time for a cuppa, take care see ya soonly..

bye bye

Julie-Ann xx

Easter Basket.......

2010-03-26T16:16:00.006Z

Hi ya again, I know twice in one day...........

Ok as promised the instructions for the lovely little Easter Basket. You will notice I have enhanced the original slightly and I'm loving it.

You are going to need 1 sheet of card, patterned or plain. I have used a sheet of 12 x 12 Bo Bunny Persuasion Dot. You will also need a paper trimmer or knife and ruler, punches or die cutter, adhesive and some embellishments.

Firstly take your sheet of 12 x 12 (if thats what your using) and cut an 8" x 8" square. Keep the other bits they will come in handy when you come to decorate your bag

Take your square and score each side at 2 3/4". At this stage I fold each side as it's easier than after you have cut.

Now make a cut twice on opposite sides to the center fold as per the diagram.

Attach adhesive to the edge ot the middle panels, again as per the diagram.

Now pull together the outside panels and as they meet fold up the center panel and adhere. (Oh please let this be making sense)

By now your basket should be looking like this........

Take the smaller of the off cuts, in this case the 8" x 4" piece and cut in half length ways. With one piece punch the edges with a decorative border punch or even use a trimmer with a fancy blade, hey it's your basket cut how you like. Now adhere together.

(the error in my punching was to show that it can happen and in no-way spoils the effect of the finishes item)

Attach the handle in place, you will find the edges sit nicely on the top of the side panels so just center it there...

Now for the fun bit

DECORATION.....

Firstly I cut a couple of oval matting layers and a scalloped one. Sanded and inked the edges before layering up. The bottom two flat together and the top one on 3D foam.

Then it was out with the blossoms and brads, threw in some ribbon and a lovely sticker also from the Bo Bunny Persuasion range......

et VOILA!!!!!!!!

Hope you find this useful.....

Jules xxx

F-F-F Friday

2010-03-26T09:47:00.007Z

It's very strange getting up on a Friday morning and not having to dash about like a mad thing getting ready for work. Yep I've got a Friday off yippee!!! so do I do the good housewifely thing and clean, tidy, dust and polish ........ nah that would be a waste of a perfectly good day off. So shall I colour, cut or crop???????? decisions decisions... Actually I think I may just incorporate the two things that need done - TIDYING & CRAFTING - I'm going to tidy my craft room. I say mine it's sort of shared with a couple of toy boxes and mega amounts of Lego, arhh now all becomes clear, it's not my fault the rooms a mess it's those pesky children (am I a mean nanny blaming my gorgeous grandchildren)hahaha. You tell me, look at the mess.......

just look at all the mess that dolls house makes and that little Lego box in the window just has to go........

No seriously, I love it when I'm sitting at my desk and the kids are playing beside me. We often all sit at the desk colouring or cutting, it's just the best thing ever.

I started my day off last night. Dh went out and I thought I'd have a little play so sat and made this lovely little Easter basket.

It was really easy (come on, I managed it)

Tell ya what, I'm going to go and do a little tuturial and some piccies to go with it. I'll post them here (that is if it's any good) a bit later. The one in the picture measures 12cm wide by 15cm high (that to the top of the handle) top of the basket isn13cm and width is 6cm. Now all you crafters that can look at something and just do it will most likely be able to do it from that, me "NO" so for the rest of us pop back soon and it should be done. So kettle on and camera out me thinks, see ya soonly..............

bye bye

Julie xx

Pants..........

2010-03-24T08:09:00.003Z

yup, thats me - Pants@blogging ..... actually that would be a really good label (might use it later if no-one else pinches it first - hahaha)

I've been so busy lately but I'm trying to set aside time foe "ME" not sure how it's gonna go, will have to see.

My latest purchase has been some lovely new clear stamps from Wild Rose Studio's. They are beautifully deepand the images are soooooo clear and when coloured in with ProMarkers look terrific

I've noticed I haven't grounded her so will go back and put some colour down on the bottom of the image so as she doent look like she's floating. I've a couple of other's done but I want to let you know what I've used and my pens are in the shop so I'll try and do those later.

Have a good day ....byee

Sleepy Sunday ......

2010-02-14T07:06:00.004Z

Hello and good morning, told ya I was rubbish at keeping up with my blog.

Anyway, what a manic few weeks. I have been absolutely rubbish at fat club, putting back the weight I'd lost over the last month so I'm really mad with myself - I mean what a waste of time and money. I really dont want to be the fat mom inn the photo's but looks like I'm failing that battle and fast.

Talking about the wedding, plans are really starting to come together. The venue, church and reception are sorted. Last week Bev ordered her dress and it's absolutely gorgeous, bridesmaids dresses are just about done and mens suits booked. Not bad, oh yes the cake and flowers are also sorted so Bev and David have really worked hard.

Alex's swimming lesson's are going really well and he has given Beaver's a try and decided it's not for him. Little Harry is now pulling himself up at every opportunity and walking is just round the corner I think.

Booked my holiday, going back to that lovely camp site in France we were at last year. Loved it soooo much, might even have a go at fishing while there this time...

Not such a Terrible Tuesday......

2010-01-19T20:33:00.005Z

The title only indicates that Tuesday is the day Bev and I dread, for Tuesday is ..........

WEIGH IN

Well how about that, just got back from fat club (Slimming World) and after a really pants week last week this week I've lost a fabby 3 1/2lb...........how good is that? I must say I am now feeling far more positive about the 2st I want to lose before Bev's wedding in August....

Sam sent me some pictures today of Harry (DGS2) on his new bike that he had for Christmas. She said he laughed and chuckled the whole way to the shop's and back again, with a bit of advertising thrown in by the look of it......

He is possibly the smiley est baby I know, he's never grumpy or whingey and is always happy to see you. I am so lucky, my girls have given me the most wonderful grandchildren. Thank you xxx

So tomorrow we are meant to get more snow, I do hope not it just isnt funny anymore. Even the kid's had had enough by the time it got to thaw. For Alex though, he was more upset at missing school. Well we'll see, either it will or it wont and there is nothing we can do about it bar wrap up warm and remember the warning................................

..........................................DONT EAT YELLOW SNOW......bye bye

Swimmingly Good Fun......

2010-01-18T21:12:00.010Z

I'm sure child labour has been abolished but I use the excuse she is helping her poor old granny.....

.....I think the word help was used a little prematurely, I was mopping up for 20 mins after, but she had so much fun.

I think I may have unearthed a demon though as
everytime she come's now she run's into the kitchen shouter "water nanny, water" dragging a chair across to the sink and banging the tap demanding to do the washing up. I wouldn't mind but as washing up is one of the jobs I do I bought a dishwasher - phhuh could have saved myself a couple of £100. arhh well......... :)

Maybe I could hire her out, then again I would probably be spending more time appologising for the destruction.
at least this time she hadn't gotten one of the straws she normally gets and blows bubbles until they fill the sink and start creeping over the edge of the worktop, looking like Mount Vesuvius.

Satisfactory Sunday.......

2010-01-17T17:56:00.004Z

This was a lovely surprise. A card drops through the door and imagine my delight to find not only a lovely sentiment from Bev but a chunk of my favourite chocolate. It was just one of those "I saw this and thought of you" she told me. Well she can think of me with chocolate any time she like's..............hold on a minute, is she trying to sabotage my diet...............nahh she wouldn't do that, would she?

On that note, the diet that is, not going brilliantly at the moment. Finding it hard to get back into the swing of it. It's easy, well "Extra Easy" in fact. Yep, Slimming World Extra Easy is the method I have chosen. It has been brilliant. When I start back in 2008 I was doing the old Red and Green days but since the introduction of Extra Easy, after an initial feeling that it couldn't possibly work I've done it for over 12 months and have lost 3 1/2 stone. It was 4 stone but after a bad christmas it's now only three and a half, but it will go again as I've got a wedding in August to go to so I would love to drop another 2 stone by then.

>Slimming World Curry, dont knock it 'til you tried it........

.......and Slimming World Chips, as much as you want - whenever you want on Extra Easy

But today it was The Barley Mow, Studley for a carvery. Again free to eat on plan except for my drizzle of gravy and spoonful of cranbery sauce (ya gotta have cranberry with turkey)

ok so that's me for today.

Take care and have a good week if I dont get back soonly....... Julie xxx

I promise to try harder......

2010-01-16T22:39:00.004Z

Well it has been an awful long time but this is me promising to blog at least once a week and if I dont get time to write to at least post a picture or 2.

The snow has gone and the rain is well and truely here yet the cat still wants to go out, plonker.
So just to re-cap I have Rosie the rottie, George the black-n-white moggie and Gizmo the persian. Possibly the least amount of animals I have ever shered my life with. I do also have a share in the Blackminster cat Tabby, so I still get my fix at work.

"ROSIE"

"GIZMO"

Beauty Personified...............

2008-02-04T21:59:00.000Z

Well what a week-end it turned out to be. After a rather hectic Saturday we settled down for the evening, had a glass of wine with a steaming hot curry, well it didn't appear to be doing Bev anygood so thought I'd have one. Funny thing is the only thing Bev has really wanted for ages was a McDonalds Chocolate Milkshake. Just something she'd got the taste for but had never managed to get one for one reason or another. anyhow on Saturday afternoon David take's her into town and she get's one.............................Then after a really good night's sleep the phone goes at around 10 to 6 and you just know that's the call you've all been waiting for.............................."....mum I think you'd better come up" the little voice on the other end said. So as if on auto pilot, out of bed, shower, dressed and up to theirs by 20 past 6 and it's definately a trip to the hospital that's needed..........................so of we all jolly, that is at David's - let's get there - pace.. Arrive just before 7 and get her booked in and to cut this very long story short.................Baby is born at 8:22 - a beautifull little girl with a mass of dark hair and looking every inch her father. If you know David as soon as you see her you'll see what I mean and is already the apple of his eye which is just how it should be.............So now we are all coo-ing and ooo-ing as we have taken masses of picture's and she is just waiting for a name. Bless them both, the names they had thought of just didn't seem to fit so they're on the hunt again - it's such an important part of having a baby, because your going to give them a name they've to go through school with, so it has to be right. Anyway enough of me - here she is...............................

~ With Grampy ~

Just another manic Monday.....

2008-01-28T22:53:00.000Z

I actualy think that's an understatement. Been rushing around like the preverbial blue ar##d fly. Bless her though, Sam just kept the kettle boiling - NO - not for Bev, for a brew.........

Diet went not to bad today, only lapsed once. Well bill left a little bar of CDM on his desk and I had to walk by it to get to the phone and a square sort of found it's way into my mouth, totally bypassed the hand - just straight into the mouth. Could'nt do anything about it.

Rosie is sitting behind me in her basket snoring and Ben is asleep

on my feet (toasty warm). Actually he was quite poorly this morning,

he does insist on washing Rosie's face and I think he swallowed a dog

hair to much and they all found their way over the kitchen floor this

morning - YUK - but the problem was that he was still coughing and

gaging for about an hour after. Anyhow he is perfectly well now and

quite happy to wash Rosie's face yet again. Look at him, like butter

would'nt melt. Fantastic little dog and Alex's best mate.

Not a bad day today.............

2008-01-27T20:22:00.000Z

Well that is other than I feel pants. Wrong week, which always makes me hungry, but I've been good and my only naughty thing was my fruit loaf this morning. .....................

Right as my blog is called Julie and other Animals I supose you ought to see them so I'll add piccies of them as we go. So first will be Rosie, she who thinks she's a Jack Russell, having been brought up with one since we had her at 7weeks old in 2000.

Thanks for looking.........................

Weight loss starts here, today................

2008-01-27T12:39:00.000Z

Well that's the idea. I'm due to be a granny again tomorrow or when they decide to enter this world and in the words of my doctor " do you want to see them graduate" well the answer is of course a resounding "yes"

So you see, it has to start today.

I'm not brave enough to post a full length picture yet but I will, I think if I can keep a record of what I'm doing it might just keep me on the straight and narrow, well I can hope cant I.............

So today, what have I had. " slices of fruit loaf toasted with butter and jam - good start 2 cups of tea - I don't take sugar so OK there and always use skimmed milk as cant stand full or semi. oh yes and a can of ginger beer. I think it was this can that made me realise today is it as I don't drink cans. Don't like the sweeteners or the taste of aluminium but somehow I had to have it - nuts...........

I'm going to try the SW style of eating as it worked for me some years ago and I always felt as if I was satisfied with what I'd eaten and maintained quite a good weight loss. I'm also lucky as my DH is really supportive in whatever I do so here goes.

Wish me luck, somehow I know I'm going to need it..................................

Better late than never....................

2007-05-27T20:33:00.000Z

Well does'nt time fly when your enjoying yourself...............

Truth is I forgot my log on details and could'nt get on. even though about starting again but "NO" I said to myself - persevere and work out what it was, so I asked Bev and she worked it out..............

Loads has happened since Feb but as I'm officially old I cant remember half of it so it is likely to pop up in later post's as I remember it.

Rosie the rottie is fine, Ben the JR had an injury to his back and tail. It was swollemn to more than double it's size and the vet reconed he may have dislocated it so he was on painkillers for some time. all appears to be sorted now though and he is back to his normal yampy self. Gismo the persian looks like a refugee from the cats home. his coat got really badly matted so I've stripped him off and boy does he look odd - mind you in a couple of weeks you wont' even know he'd ever had it done.

Hey up DH has just presented me with a cuppa and cherry scone so I'm off to enjoy it. Hopefully I'll be back soon - if I can remember my log on...............byeeeee

The Start

2007-02-03T05:24:00.000Z

Hello and welcome to my blog. I suppose it will start off like any other, a bit of waffle about me, my family, my pets, what I do where I do it. So not wanting to disappoint you I will. Well not right now as I'll fill in details about me in my thingy on the side........profile I think it's called but I cant see it from here so I'll check later. .................phew that was a close one, I clicked the preview button to , well preview and couldn't find my way back, but I did so I'll carry on.

Maybe just a bit of background then so as I can continue to waffle and hope you can keep up............................

Married, 2 grown up girls, 1 married and 1 might as well be, 1 grandson and cats, dogs and horses. I've got my own business running a small but beautifully formed craft shop. DD2 works with me in the shop and DD1 steps in to help out when needed. DH is my handyman as well as having a proper job. The girls other-halves are also a much appreciated part of everything I do be it at home or in the shop and as for DGS, well he can do no wrong apparently. Everyone says I spoil him which of course I don't but he can regularly be seen in the shop behind the counter doing what he calls "his work" on the computer. We know it as watching Thomas the Tank Engine or Bob the Builder.

So there you have it a brief run down on what I'm about.

Well I hope everyone has a good week-end, I'm off to a couple of suppliers so should see some new stuff in the shop next week, oh yes the shop didn't tell you about it, arhh well there's plenty of time for that, catch ya next week.

Bye for now

Julie