Julie's Art,craft and Life blog

Me,Myself and I

2012-01-30T06:23:00.000-08:00

Hi! What a cold day it is today here in Aberdare. The snow has been falling all evening, making it a cold morning to wake up too. I have an intolerance to the cold and this weather plays havoc with my joints. I can wear gloves and craft but its a nightmare to draw or write with gloves on. Enough of my grumbling your here to join me in the celebration of the good things in my life not the miserable things.

So!.......

Today I would like to share with you My new Art Journal/Sketch book and a small book that I made to celebrate Me.

There is a challenge over at http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/ to Celebrate the good things about oneself.
So this is what I would like to share with you.....................

My first page of my Art/sketch book.

On my first page I have used some left over pieces of paper from my stash and An Artist trading card from the stack I have made and used it to decorate my first page. I apologise for the picture being so light but this was the best picture I could take with my camera. Also the papers are very pale.

A doodle of a bird.

On This page I have attached an Atc that I made to represent self. The title of the Atc is Me, Myself and I.
There is a sticker of an artist within the paint palette holding a paint brush. There are words around the edge, to represent my personality. e.g Feisty, Faithful, Energetic, Genuine girl, inquisitive, smart and mom. There is also a peel off of a pair of boots on the Atc. These were added as I like boots of various designs and used to wear different types of boots when I was able. Now they are just collecting dust at the bottom of my wadrobe. Many pairs have only ever been worn once.

The paper behind the Atc was stamped with various flourishes of mine and then I doodled a green bird behind this to match the green on the edging of the Atc.

I have also a small book to show you with a little more detail of Who I am. or should I say The things I like about myself.

The writing reads I am s Seeker of the truth.

The writing below the eyes reads VISAGE.
I am Observant.
I am sightful.

The writing reads I am creative.
I am a Poet.
I am an Artist.
I am Unique.
I am a Mother of two grown up sons.

There are another two pages like the ones above that read
I am honest
I am trustworthy
I am a good friend.
I am loyal.
I am a Giver.
I am helpful.

This reads I love Japanese Art
and I love Japanese Culture.

This tag is inserted between the opening in the next page.

and the adjacent page reads I love Butterflies.

When I first started crafting Butterflies and Oriental stamps were the first stamps I ever bought and I made many butterfly Artist trading cards.

And to add something interesting to this post check out this site...... for a bit of fun
http://www.pow33.com/creek.htm
Here you will visit the enchanted forest where you power animal is waiting to approach you and ask to be part of your life.

Uncannily The animal that came to me was a Butterfly.

Are you seeking a life time companion or extra support for just one event? Do you need help with a
particular relationship or a challenging period of your life. Are you seeking the answer to a particular
question? If so then visit http://www.pow33.com/creek.htm today.

Flutter by Wednesday, Crafty Catz, Stamping for the weekend

2012-01-28T14:09:00.000-08:00

Good evening Ladies
Here is my second post this evening.
I made this card for the challenge over at http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/2012/01/flutter-by-wednesday-187.html
Their challenge is to use embossing of any kind on your card.

white on white

Here is a close up picture of the embossed work

I am also entering this card into the following challenges
http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ Theme:- Things with wings
http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.com/ Theme:- Embossing

Hope you enjoyed viewing. Thanks for popping by....
hugs Julie

The Butterfly effect

2012-01-28T13:44:00.000-08:00

Good evening ladies.
This evening I would like to share with you some art work of mine, that I am entering into
the challenge over at
http://whisper-to-whirlwind.blogspot.com/

The challenge this week is Opposites.
The opposites that I have chosen is Death and Life

Angels holding the word Death

Here is a close up of the word death

and if you turn the picture upside down you will see the word Life

Word - Life

But unfortunately the angels are upside down too....

I hope you have enjoyed viewing some of my art

hugs Julie

My second Post Starring Lili's little fairies second challenge

2012-01-12T22:28:00.000-08:00

Good Morning ladies.
This is my second post for this year. I mistakenly posted my first post over at http://englishcraftinglass.blogspot.com/
I was trying to enter the Just Magnolia challenge and because My laptop is so slow I didn't have time to repost here.
So Please check it out and leave me a comment so that I know you have been to visit. Cheers!

Over at
http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/

now known as Lili's Little fairies, their challenge for this week is to use one of your favourite Lily of the Valley stamps.

You may think this is an easy challenge but how can you choose a favourite?

Each image new and old are so cute. I have decided to use a stamp that I have had for a while but not yet inked.

So today I would like to share this Wedding card using the Wedding couple which can be purchased over at

http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Occasions.html

I think these children playing dress up are so adorable.

The papers are from my stash. The paper behind the bride and groom I stamped myself using Distress ink and words from the Marriage vows.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. It means a great deal to me. Hope you all have a great weekend.

hugs Julie

2012 is nearly upon us

2012-01-01T11:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!!!

2012 is nearly upon us! Time to double your happiness. Party hard. Raise a toast. Rock the dance floor. Fill your heart with new hopes, Reach for new opportunities, Collect moments of kindness, Speak of your gratitude, Count your blessings, Spend time with people that are good for you, Find forgiveness for yourself and for others, Embrace the truth, Ask for what you need. Let go, Find peace and Let your creative spirit flow.

I wish You my friends and followers a

Fantastic JANUARY
Love able FEBRUARY
Marvelous MARCH
Fool less APRIL
Enjoyable MAY
Successful JUNE
Wonderful JULY
Independent AUGUST
Romantic SEPTEMBER
Tastiest OCTOBER
Beautiful NOVEMBER
Happiest DECEMBER

Have a VICTORIOUS '2012'

Hugs and New year Wishes
julie

Merry Christmas

2011-12-31T22:18:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Thank you................

I would like to Wish all my friends and blogging friends here in the UK and those afar a wonderfully
Memorable christmas filled with lots of Happiness, laughter, and love.

Thank you for all your support through out 2011.

Your encouraging words and your inspirational blogs Are the tools that have encouraged me to continue blogging and crafting. So a Huge thank you to all of you who have taken the time to visit my blog and taken the time to leave me positive comments. I thank each and every one of you.

I wish that everyone receives enough of everything they need in life.....

God bless you all.

Hugs from Julie

I just found out that i was a winner......

2011-12-29T12:10:00.000-08:00

On Christmas day I found out that I won this challenge

at

http://craftypurplefrogchallenges.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-are-your-favourite-things.html

because of a card i used from this post
http://foxyenglishcrafter.blogspot.com/2011/06/tilda-says-konnichina-hello-in-japanese.html.

The card I entered was a card I made for lauren's sixteenth.

Karen's Doodles would like to see spots and stripes

2011-12-28T15:48:00.000-08:00

Karens's Doodles

baby kai playing in the snow.

You will have to excuse the picture but i took some pictures of cards i made without checking the quality first before giving the card. Always a big mistake. This card was made for my my boyfriends neice. Breanna

I am entering this card into http://karensdoodleschallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Hope you all had a fun filled christmas and your able to get lots of creative projects made in 2011.

hugs julie

Sharing Christmas with you

2011-12-25T04:03:00.000-08:00

Today I would like to invite you my blogging friends to share christmas with me at my house.

Both Santa's light up and are my favourite of my christmas ornaments.

Before Demolition

My Dining Table.

This is my dining table at meal times and my crafting table inbetween meals. I do have two desks for crafting in my office/craft room but there is more space to spread my stash between the kitchen and the sitting room.

Hope your all enjoying your Christmas day so far. I am able to use my lad's laptop while he playes with his i pod. lol

More Later........................

hugs Julie

Candy winners!

2011-11-11T00:39:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Ladies.

I wonder why everytime I have candy to offer and a winner to announce I have to start my Post with Apologies! So as not to break My bad habits Apologies ladies for the lateness in choosing the winners of the candy (yet again). I sincerley tried all day yesterday to get this post written but my Laptop was not allowing this at all. I had so many problems connecting to the internet, that I had to borrow my son' s laptop when he arrived home. YES HOME, MY YOUNGEST LAD HAS MOVED BACK HOME.......

And I am really pleased as I have missed him so much, even if my work load of cooking and washing has increased ten fold. Boy he can eat, but I do wish he would wash his rugby boots. Boys! eh!

DRUM ROLL ..................... THE LUCKY WINNERS OF MY CANDY ARE

................... EACH AND EVERY OLD AND NEW BLOGGING FRIEND WHO ENTERED. (Even if sadly I was disappointed by how many people entered)

SO THE LADIES WHOSE ADDRESSES I HAVE I WILL POST YOUR ITEMS TOMORROW AND ANY LADIES WHO HAVE NOT EMAILED ME their ADDRESS PLEASE CAN YOU EMAIL ME SO THAT I CAN POST SOME SUGAR FREE CANDY TO YOU.

As my regular visitors will have noticed that I have not posted anything in a while and this is due to my whole house being renovated. The whole structure of the house is having a major overhaul, to make the structure more secure and to make it look nicer. All the walls on the outsite of the house has been knocked down in stages and rebuilt and then pebble dashed. I have had all new windows and new doors. So my house is upside down and very dusty, hence the lack of crafting.

There is a saying no rest for the wicked, and that must mean I am very wicked hence the hours of cleaning and chores that I seem to do every day. So no time to be bored...... Tired! Yes,
Bored, Never.....(Because If I have nothing to do, I would be either crafting or blog hopping) But fingers crossed I hope to be able to craft soon and rest.....

Hopefully before Christmas Season is upon me which as you all know is always a busy time of year.
A time I love.... an excuse for me to make my house look like santas's grotto! What fun! Maybe I am wicked but this I wont know until Christmas day...... Santa I have been a good girl!
Honest!
Santa Can you Please explain your definition of Good (Wicked Laugh)

I think Christmas is a time for surprises so I have decided each and every candy winner will have to wait to for their candy to arrive to find out what they have won..
..... the excitement,
..... the anticipation,
..... what fun!

But please ladies let me know when the candy has arrived as some candy winners have not received gifts I have sent outIn the past. ( usually winners from abroad),

As my regular viewers already know I always love to see what you have made from any candy won here on my blog. So please share your creative projects and cards, as I would really love to share them on my blog.

Thank you ladies for taking the time to visit my blog and for leaving all the lovely comments that you have left, and I promise to do my best to get back to each and every one of you.....
Happy crafting ladies.

Hugs Julie

would you like to win some sugar free candy?

2011-11-10T18:50:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Peeps.

Would you like to win some candy?

If you scroll downbelow this post you can view more details about this kit, and see examples of cards using part of this kit.

Do you want to win some Christmas candy - Did you know there are only 62 days left to Christmas. Of course you did and of course you would like the chance to win some christmas candy. Who wouldn't?

Save a penny here, save a penny there, so you got more to spend on pressies or crafting stash. Lol

Have you started making your christmas cards? or Are you organised and finished them already?

Either way I am sure you would like to win what I have to offer. If you do want a chance to win please follow the following instructions.

To enter my candy is easy as 1 2 3 .
Just follow these simple rules.

Become a follower if you like my creations, not just to win some candy
Post a picture on your side bar or write about my candy in a post
Add your name to the Linky below. (for the people who have already added their name is a previous post don't need to add their names again.
Leave me a comment. Thank you.

Candy will end on 10th Of November. (I have extended the date from the previous post. Sorry ladies)
Thank you for visiting and Thank you for your comments and support.
Happy crafting.
Hugs Julie.

Candy to celebrate the success of my son's exam results

2011-10-30T17:15:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon Blogging Friends.
                 Have you missed me?
                 Did you notice I had gone.?
                 I bet you didn't lol
                Too busy crafting eh! Lol

Due to health issues I have done very little blogging.
On Thursday of last week I had a migraine.
My own fault for not getting a repeat prescription.

Friday, I mislaid my camera andI spend the whole day looking for it.
Phew! I found it!
But I overdid it and now I am now paying the price. My foot is badly swollen and I have cellulitis.

Basically the skin on my foot is hot to touch but i feel like its frozen. i cannot get a sock, shoe or slippers on. I cant even get my son's size eight shoes on. So going to the hospital this afternoon is going to be fun... Lol.

As i predicted I couldn't get my shoes on so I wore these.

I turned a few heads!!!

and they turned a few heads for sure and raised a few smile's too

Boy Haven't we had a lot of rain and strong winds. Part of my garden fence has been blown into ruin's and this weather, it has blown some tiles off the roof. On Saturday night, Well actually it was early hours of Sunday morning, I got a fright of my life when the heavens opened and the rain had come through my bedroom ceiling and soaked my bed.

This leak was reported in july, due to a small leak I had back then.
But now it has runs along three quarters of the bedroom ceiling.
I am just waiting for the whole ceiling to come down.
I decided I would try to inspect the damage by going up the attic. There was a small problem with this idea I cannot put any weight on one foot So i decided to go up the ladder backwards. After I located the leak i couldnt get back down from the attic for the fear of falling, As you need to put weight on your feet to get onto the ladder.If you had been here all you could have done was to laugh. What a sight for sore eyes. Lol The council have planned for the roofers to visit next week. The leaking roof was fixed sw

Well, i did manage to get down, obviously for you to be reading this. Lol
I managed yesterday to take a few photo's and so now I can share what candy i have for you

I am so sorry for the lateness but i hope you think its worth the wait.

The candy will include

Christmas Toppers

Toppers, Snowflakes,snowmen,santa,angels,baubles,stockings

example of topper

Backing Paper

example of backing card

Blank cards

Sentiments

A box - contents include Silhouette crafts - a technique book and pattern book

25 sheets of silhouette paper
16 printed silhouette mats
4 custom die-cut frames
10 classic white mats

A Paintbrush/pencil holder. (I use mine to hold my copics)

To win this candy you need to become a follower
Post a picture of my candy on your blog
Add your name to Mr Linky
Please Leave me a comment.

For every 5 new followers I get I will add a stamp

and Please post a link to any of crafty creations that you have made using candy you have won here on my blog.

Thanks for viewing my blog and good luck

Hugs Julie.

Candy will end 23rd October. I have chosen this date because I have two celebrations before this day. My oldest lad's birthday is at the end of this month 23rd and if my dad was still alive his birthday would have been on the 24th of this month and its my youngest son's birthday is on the third of next month.At the beginning of this month was my step dad's and my nephew's. Last week was my ex-sister in laws and today is my Ex- husbands. Happy Birthday Jason.....

Good luck to you all
Happy crafting

Julie

Just Magnolia bakes a cake with love

2011-10-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

Good Evening ladies....

The challenge over at Just Magnolia this week is to follow

Jayne's sketch

Just Magnolia - Bake me a cake.

Sorry this post is really short and there are no details but I am late submitting, and I am hoping to get this card in on time.
But unfortunately the link crashed as I was trying to connect my link, so I didn't get to enter the Just Magnolia challenge.

The papers, embellishments, peel off's and card from my stock.
The stamp is from The Magnolia range.
Mediums used - Copics Ciao Markers
But I was lucky enough to stumble across the challenge Time for cake over at

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/.

Hugs Julie

New Challenge - The squirrel and the fox...meet .the animals from Charlie's Ark.

2011-09-29T16:46:00.000-07:00

New challenge - The squirrel and the Fox

http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.com/

Challenge Anything goes

Toppers - Charlie's Ark http://www.charliesark.co.uk/

Charlie's Ark is about a five year old boy and his toy-box, in the shape of an ark, in which he keeps his many animals that all come to life in his imagination (or do they?) A rainbow is always associated with an ark and that is why all the animals that "live" in the ark have rainbow top-knots, manes and tails.

One never sees Charlie's face, or indeed that of his sister Sally, which adds to the air of mystery.
Created by award winning Illustrator Mike Payne and Illustrated by Adam Pescott & Mike Payne.

You really need to see the wonderful, and cute animals that live on the ark. Each animal has a unique poem which tells you all about their character. Visit Charlie's ark to see these adorable animals.

Charlies Ark - Topper

In charlie's Ark, there is a panda called Matt
He is a little tubby but not too fat
A friend to Millie, they get on well,
But will love Bloom? Time will tell.

Heart, rose and Mouse topper

Close up of Ben
In Charlie's ark there is a mouse called Ben
Things that you tell him you repeat again
He is quite forgetful, that is a shame,
You see a little mouse has a little brain.

Close up of Matt.

I wanted to share different ideas, using basically the same image... ( Well the image is different but it is the same size...)
Hope you like these cards and find the website fun.

Happy Crafting.
Hugs Julie

There is a magical rainbow in the sky
The colour's are special, Let me tell you where why,
Pink is for caring, Yellow is for giving
Blue is for sharing, Green is for Living,
Lilac is for Loving, so it must be True,
This rainbow is alive, in both me and you......

C R A F T Challenge - Parchment

2011-09-28T10:59:00.000-07:00

The challenge over at
http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/
is to use Parchment.

I love this craft because the details are so intricate and elegant. The craft is time consuming but the end result is always worth the time taken. I also like this craft because you can start and stop to suit your own needs

Here is a card made from Christine Coleman's Collection

Pattern pack e D6

3 D Beauties

I just stumbled across this challenge, so to get it in on time this post is a short one.

Parchment paper is layed on to a purple colour card after the embossing and perforation work is complete. The petals are coloured decoupaged onto of the drawing to give a 3d effect.

Happy crafting
Hugs Julie

Little claire Monthly Challenge

2011-09-27T06:22:00.000-07:00

Monthly Challenge - Over at Little Claire's Blog.
The challenge this month is Black and white.

Here is a card I made for Lyndall who is battling cancer. I also donated fifteen cards to help towards raising money

Here is the same card from a different angle

The Design team have made some beautiful cards for this challenge. Check them out here....

http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.com/

The challenge closes at 6pm on the 7th October 2011
Hugs Julie

Kenny K celebrates Christmas in September

2011-09-25T05:56:00.000-07:00

Kenny K challenge - Christmas in September -
http://kennykkraftygirlzchallenges.blogspot.com/
Card - Kanban
Image - Krafty K
Background paper - Making cards magazine
Medium used - Copics
Toppers - Kanban/candy kit/Trees
Snowflakes punched from stash and covered with Twinklets - Diamond Dust
Diamond Dust also used on Kenny K image

Kenny K image - Mistletoe

Images can be bought from

http://www.kennykdownloads.com/

Thanks for viewing
Happy Crafting

Hugs Julie

Candy Christmas cards

2011-09-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

Good morning ladies This post was originaly to be posted Tuesday but Iwill post it today as I wont be blogging or crafting til late, as its my eldest lad's birthday.

Happy Birthday Kris....

This is going to be a quick post before I head off to the hospital for more iron. My operation got cancelled yesterday so now I have to wait for a new date. (Update. I had my last drip friday - final count of six pints of iron) until my next check up.

So in the meantime I would like to share with you some cards I made using the kit that i split in half and I am now offering as candy. The kit came in colour and white. The white toppers can be coloured. I kept the white and some lilac for myself and the rest I wanted to share with you lovely ladies.

Without my followers, I would be lost, as you keep my spirits lifted. I also don't think I would have half as many cards made if it wasn't for the positive feedback I get. So I would like to thank everyone who has taken time to visit my blogs and taken thhe time to leave such beautiful comments. There has been so many times I have felt like giving up crafting and restarting one of my other passions like writing and drawing.

I think that is enough waffle from me, so I think its time to share some cards

Snowflake topper

The base card comes from the kit. I used a marther stewart punch on the lilac paper.
I put some white glittery ribbon the centre of this paper.
I added the snowflake topper, which was made taking snowflakes from the lilac and white topper sheets.
Challenge over at Jingle Belles is snowflakes based on a song called Suzie Snowflake
sung by Rosemary Cloonie.....

Deer pre-printed onto white card

Topper - Deer and Card from candy kit
Black pearl from stash.

Here is a basic card made from candy materials

Third card

I also made the next card using papers from the candy kit and an image from Magnolia

The card and the background papers are from the candy kit

I then covered her in Diamond dust

I stamped the circle and the sentiment. I masked the original image so that there was nothing in the cirle. I then added glittery tilda.

Here is a quickie Christmas card - that I have included here because of the colours

I chose on the card..... Prune Bv02, Blue berry Bv04, E00 for skin and Eo8 for the hair.

The image used here is from Lily of the Valley

I am going to enter the cards into the following challenges

http://cutie-sunday.blogspot.com/ The challenge is to make Christmas cards
Although i missed the christmas challenge because i put the cards on my blog but forgot to connect these cards to the sites listed I have decided to enter the next challenge. This challenge wants cards with no sentiments which i have here on this page.

http://christmascrafting.blogspot.com/ _ Sparkle

http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/ - Glitter.
This challenge I missed. And I can't post it for the next challenge because the date of this post. So my next post I shall submit a new card for this weeks challenge

http://jinglebellesrock.blogspot.com/ Snowflakes

Thanks for viewing. Hope you all have a fun weekend and are able to getting some crafting time to make something to inspire us crafters

Hugs Julie

Another example of work from another candy winner - Heany's

2011-09-21T03:37:00.000-07:00

Good morning dear blogging friends, and followers.

I would like to share with you a card made by a candy winner of mine
Heany She has become one of my blogging friends who visits my blog on a regular basis. She has left me some beautiful comments and warm wishes.

If you would like to see some of her beautiful creations and share with her some love then please visit her at

http://paperpapier.blogspot.com/2011/09/golfers-birthday.html

I would like to share with you, this recent card she made using one of the stamps from a set she won here at my blog.

Thanks for viewing
Hugs Julie

Sandra - one of my lucky candy winners

2011-09-20T05:09:00.000-07:00

Today I would like to share with a beautiful card and box

made by sandra - a past Candy winner on my

blog

Sandra, one of my lucky candy winners, my new blogging friends and a awesome lady who has made me smile many times by the gratitude she has shown me for winning candy on my blog as made this beautiful project using some paper she won

She was asked to make a gift set for a baby girl and this is what she made. Isn't it beautiful. She painted a wooden box white, made tissue decoupage then decorated it. She then made the carriage card. That too is very pretty.

She has also made one like this for a little boy too. If you would like to see that and share a liitle love for Sandra then please visit her blog at

http://pinksandra.blogspot.com/

Thanks for viewing
Hugs Julie

Father Christmas wants to know have you been Good this year?

2011-09-17T17:50:00.000-07:00

Father Christmas '

Hope you have been good this year! - Coz

he knows if you been naughty or nice..... Lol

I think personally the long hours and his age has

caused him some memory loss , because he loses my list and he

has forgotten where I live...

And I've been good.....

Honest! I have........

Pssss, Dont tell him but naughty is much more fun!!!!

It's ok I am not called eccentric for nothing... Lol

Enough of my waffle (been alone too many hours so talking to you

lovely folk or I might just be forced to talk to oneself)

Then my neighbours might think I have lost the plot Lol

Naughty or nice?

I bought this card last year in a sale and altered it slightly to add the Santa picture. A very quick card to make but still effective. I like this card, I only wish I had bought another box. I find its good to have cards than be changed quickly for friends whom you have forgotten but they haven't forgotten you . And because I am a slow card maker, this card is a life saver.

I am going to enter this card into the
http://sparklesforumchristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/

Hope all my crafting friends have a good weekend despite the lousy weather.

Hugs Julie

I am a very proud mother -

2011-09-07T23:22:00.000-07:00

If you wish success in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius.

Jospeph Addison

I am one very proud mum. Michael my youngest passed his Gcse's with B's and C's. He now has returned to school to sit his A-level. I loved school when I was growing up, but Mike hasn't always liked school. I know he wants to be out there making money but an Education is very important. My son would make a good salesman. He could sell sand to a Arab. He has his fathers charm, and being blonde and good looking also helps

I was worried for a short while that he wouldn't go back because his dad was trying to talk him out going back saying things like ' look at me I am successful and I didn't go to college'.

But he did go to college but never finished the course he was doing. Secondly he is a workacholic and not seeing his son for ten years, and not having to buy clothing, food or gifts for any one but himself should make him comfortably well off. He also had an helping hand in life when we bought the coal business from his dad at a cost price. His dad also had a helping hand off his father when he passed on his business (butchers)

I may not have my ex husbands money or his bank balance but I was blessed to see my miracle child (as i like to call him) can make his own decisions and I was blessed to have watched him grow from a colickyi baby,into a tantrum two year old, a challenging ten year old, a rebellious fourteen year old into the fine young man that he has become. For a long time he wanted to become a barrister because he is excellent at debating. But he decided that he could never provide someone with a good defence if he knew that person was guilty of a crime but was pleading not gullty. He is thinking of going into teaching or computer. (Possibly Electronic engineering.) He loves maths. He was an excellent rugby player, and also enjoys Drawing. I am confident he will do well again this year at school, because he has the determination and the ability to choose what's right for himself

His girlfriend has also returned to school. They are now both in the sixth form but not the same school.
I made them both a back to school card.

Base of an easel card

Back to school card for Lauren

Picture of easel made with lolly pop sticks

Top of an easel card

I am going to enter these two cards into the following challenges.

http://pixieduststudiopixiechallenge.blogspot.com/
http://www.comeandgetitchallenges.blogspot.com/

http://theresmagicintheair.blogspot.com/

I am so gutted that I have missed so many Back to school challenges, that I could have entered these cards into.

Never mind, maybe next year! I will be more organised.

I have been back and forth the hospital getting more iron. I should have my last pint on Tuesday which in total is five pints and then the operation for my legs is going to be the week after. I can't wait to get it over and done with.

Ignore my moaning, and listen carefully...... As I know you wont want to miss this......

In celebration of my Son's achievement I am going to post some Candy. And I am quite sure, you ladies will love what I am offering tomorrow. So Please come back and check it out.

Remember if your not in it - you can't win it.

Thanks for visiting my blog and for reading my post. Let you know you have been so i can hi! back at you.

Sorry about any errors in my grammer, but I am struggling to stay awake. I doze, I wake, I type, and then I rest my eyes some more. LoL

For my Son Michael - September 2011

Cards for men - G is for George......

2011-09-07T13:50:00.000-07:00

Good Evening Ladies.
Over at Cards for Men the challenge is G is for...........

G is for George
B is for Birthday
S is for Sior

http://cardsformen.blogspot.com/

H
So Happy Birthday Sior

Lauren (my son's Girlfriend) has a brother aged nineteen who is in the armed forces.
He came home this weekend to celebrate his birthday with his family..

In the Welsh language his name is Sior but In the English language we would call him George.

I designed the card but I got Lauren to make it, with some guidance from me.
Her brother loved it and apparently Her card was the only one put on the mantle piece (fire-place). The rest of the card were put tidily to one side.

This made Lauren's day

Sior is the welsh word for George

It is always good to receive some positive feedback

I am going to enter this into Cards for men.

The theme this week is the letter G

I hope this card can be used for that challenge.

Thank you for viewing.
I wish you all a very good evening
Hugs
Julie

1000+ followers and 7 big prizes

2011-08-27T21:42:00.000-07:00

1000+ followers candy with 7 big prizes. check it out.

http://englishcraftinglass.blogspot.com/2011/08/1000-followers-candy.html

hugs Julie

Atc challenge - Wings - or anything goes

2011-08-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

There is a challenge over at

http://atcchallenges.blogspot.com/

the challenge is anything goes or wings.

Here are a few atc's i made when i first started making Atc's

Butterflies

Atc's - Butterflies

Hugs Julie

My new blog and Lauri'e birthday candy

2011-08-27T09:32:00.000-07:00

I just stumbled across some wicked candy over at http://designerdiva-laurie.blogspot.com/2011/08/big-birthday-candy.html

Pop on over to wish Laurie Happy Birthday and enter this fab candy for a chance to win!

I have just started a new blog so its undergoing some work but your welcome to view while I bring the pages up to date. In this blog I will be sharing all candy, blog hops, challenges, Fund raising activities and any articles or tutorials that I think might be of interest to you

I find that adding candy and other information is cluttering up my blog. As I don't like anything that is not organised I have started this other blog for my own sanity. I suffer from Ocpd. Obsessive compulsive personality disorder.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is the mental disorder of striving for too much success. Perfection is the ultimate goal of the OCPD person, and failure is seen as earth shattering. OCPD is the disorder that, on the outside, seems useful. A drive to succeed is very appealing, but OCPD pushes it past the line of success and into the realm of isolation, anxiety and isolation.

So I will enter candy, free digi image sites etc until the end of the month and then all subjects of interest will be on my other blog. I hope you find this more helpful to use as everything will be in one place.

Thanks for viewing
Hugs Julie

Free digi's

2011-08-27T09:26:00.000-07:00

Click on the link to take you to free digi image site. But hurry as time is running out. Free digi images until tomorrow

http://englishcraftinglass.blogspot.com/2011/08/free-digis.html

Candy, the enormous kind do you want to win a 1000 sheets of paper and some stamps

2011-08-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

Good morning ladies

First let me tell you my news. I have just started a new blog where i am going to post the challenges of the day, and any candy that I stumble across. Visit http://englishcraftinglass.blogspot.com/ to enter 1000 sheets of candy

Good lucj and thanks for visiting my blog

julie

Wednesday Madness & HeartsongInspiration.challenge.

2011-08-25T22:44:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Ladies.

I have decided today is going to be another mad day of running around like an headless chicken. I Have been extremely busy this week trying to get my house in order so that all I will have to do when I leave the hospital is surface clean, until my legs are fully healed.

I have been busy at my step-dad's doing some d.i.y.
and at my mothers. I have been helping her sort the hoardes of things she has collected over the years. We are categorising items to sell in the car boot Sale.
I was extremely busy today. I had to go up and down the ladder many times,lifting down some heavy suitcases that were already full of things to sell in the car boot sale. After a while I had t0 stop as my legs were hurting and my ankle started to swell.

I decided to go home and rest while crafting. But my youngest son came to visit and asked me to make a card for his Nonna's 60th birthday. (Nonna is used in Italy to mean nanna )I had just finished putting my stash away. i felt like I was in a game of snakes and ladder and I had slid back to the first square . And need to start all over as my crafting materials are everywhere.

And because the sun poked his head out from behind the clouds, I also managed to cut my grass, and do a spot of weeding before the heavens opened

I am pleased with myself as I have had a productive week.. I had my pint of iron yesterday and I also did my good turn for the day by becoming a guinee pig for the student nurse who needed practice in taking blood and she also needed practice in adding a drip. All went well.

After all the physical achievements I have performed this week, I was looking forward to getting the operation over and done with.

But luck is not on my side because I got a phone call from the hospital informing me that my operation has been cancelled. My bed is needed for a more urgent case.I hope he or she has a successful operation. And I will go back on the waiting list to have the operation another day. So lets get back to Crafting!!! The only thing a girl can do once the chores are done. I am sure you will agree!

Here is a card I made for the Heart song inspiration challenge over at
http://heartsonginspirations.blogspot.com/

The theme is shabby chic and/or pearls

I have made an Easel Card
using A Faerie Poppets stamp by Christine Haworth.
Paper - Cotton Candy Kisses - Nitwit collection
and Paper from my stash.
Swirl - Magnolia
Half pearls from stash
Sentiment - Whisers Words - Docrrafts.co.uk
Stickles - Candy cane
Various copics
Memento ink - Tuxedo black to stamp sentiment and image.
and small corner rose stamp.
Winsor & newton Iridescent Medium painted on dress to make it glisten.
Twinkles Diamond dust for the wings
Edge of card distressed with Tim Holtz distressing tool.
Glittery ribbon from stash
Friskar border punch.

This is one of the cards that I will be posting to try and help to raise money
for the lady who is looking for cards to sell.

I am also going to enter this card into the following challenges
http://amusestudiochallengeblog.blogspot.com/     the challenge is to use glitter. I am not sure if twinkle dust classes as glitter but it sure does glisten

http://hookedoncraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Thing with wings. The fairy and the butterfly have wings

http://hookedoncraftchallenges.blogspot.com/   Glitter

http://designed2delight.com/blog/2011/08/2992/ anything goes

http://ccmonthlychallenge.blogspot.com/2011/08/challenge-15glitter-glitz.html   glitter and glitz

http://oldiebutagoodiechallenge.blogspot.com/ loads of sparkle

thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you all are having a good day

Hugs Julie

Help is needed before 10th of September ....

2011-08-20T00:47:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Ladies.

Please read the end of the post in how your help is needed. Thank you

As you can see I have not posted anything in the last few days. Beside the tension headaches and migraines I have been suffering from I decided to give my house a spring clean in readiness for my operation that I am due to have next week. After the operation I am aware that I won't be able to do a lot until i reach full recovery .

My youngest son came to stay with me for a week. Well in all honesty even though he helped me with some of my chores,(like taking heavy boxes up the attic)the house still looked like a bomb had dropped by the time he left.

I find it extremely difficult to craft when he is here. He constantly looks for my attention and creates chores for me. He has always been a demanding child but a loving one too. I love him to bits and wouldn't change him for the world. We spent the week bonding and sorting out our differences. It was great to have him home even if that meant no crafting.

So starting back at the beginning, (of my spring cleaning,) (only this time with a few hospital appointements added to take up my time.)I managed to achieve a lot in a short time. I even managed to sort a lot of my stash out to make crafting easier for me, after my operation.

First I had to have some pre-operative tests done. These tests were done to ensure my body is physically capable of handling my upcoming surgery procedure.

I had an Ecg - this test is done to test for electrical signals from your heart (such as your heart beat).

This is followed by some routine blood tests that measures the levels of various chemicals in my blood, such as sodium, potassium, and glucose.

and a blood count is done to test my

Platelet count: This test is performed to make sure my platelet levels aren't too high or too low. Too many platelets would put me at risk of forming a blood clot in a blood vessel and could be a sign of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Too few platelets puts me at risk of uncontrollably bleeding during surgery because there aren't enough platelets to clot the blood.

" Blood smear: This test looks at the shape of my blood cells under a microscope. Usual blood cell shapes can signify diseases such as leukemia and sickle cell anemia.

" White blood cell count: If my white blood cell levels are too high, this can signify a bacterial infection. This is because white blood cells protect against infection from bacteria and viruses and will increase when an infection develops.

" White blood cell types: This test checks six different types of white blood cells for abnormal concentrations of each in the blood. The purpose of this test is to obtain information about my immune system to help identify infections, diseases, or allergies.

" Red blood cell count: Too high a level of red blood cells signifies that my body isn't getting sufficient oxygen. Too low a level means I am at risk of a condition where my red blood cells will clump together, blocking my smaller blood vessels.

" Hematocrit: This test identifies how much space my red blood cells take up in the blood. Low levels could mean I am anemic. Of which I know I am as I have been suffering from Iron deficiency Anemia for years.

" Hemoglobin: This test is performed to see how much hemoglobin is in my red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen. A low level of this substance is an indication that my blood isn't carrying oxygen as well as it should be.

Red blood cell indices: This test measures the size, amount, and concentration of hemoglobin in my average red blood cell. This test checks for a number of things, including anemia

The tests revealed that my hemoglobin count was dangerously low. So I was asked to visit the hospital to give another blood test. As soon as they had the results, I was asked to visit the pathology lab straight away.
During this appointment I was given a pint of iron via an intravenous drip. This is not the first time I have had to be fed iron via a drip. I have to go back again Tuesday for more iron to be administered to enable me to have the operation. The consultant said I will need more iron after the operation, but my haemoglobin levels should be high enough for me to have the operation. Of course I will have to have another blood test before the operation.

The operation is too remove my varicious veins as they cause me a lot of discomfort especially as I stand a lot when crafting. And that wont do at all.Lol I was tempted recently to just give all my crafting materials away as the pain was too much to handle at times. I was suppose to have the operation in April but only now are the hospital able to fit me in. The timing is actually good because My dad is now on his way to a full recovery and has been able to drive me to the hospital.

My dad had the same operation in Feburary and is only now fully operational. I was told I was going to have Laser treatement hence the wait, but apparently this is not the case. I am having what is known as vein stripping. This generally produces significant post-operative pain and bruising, and usually requires a lengthy and uncomfortable recovery period. So this I am not looking forward to.

So if I am absent from my blog for a few weeks, you will know its because I am on the mend and will be back as soon as I feel I am able to craft or surf the net.

But my ill health is nothing in comparisment to Lyndall's health. She has a
georgeous three year old but if fighting cancer from which the doctors dont think she will survive. She needs our support and help.

Please visit
http://mycardmakinghaven.blogspot.com/2011/08/please-help.html

to find out what you can do today. Any help or support is needed before 10th of September 2011.
Maybe all you can do is send a card to cheer this lady up, but all help however large or small is greatly appreciated.

Please check this blog out.

Happy crafting
Julie

Candy - the love heart kind - from my son to me...

2011-08-05T07:24:00.000-07:00

My Eldest son Kris kept his last love heart sweet for me.
It probably wasn't his last but sounded good. Anyway regardless he kept this sweet for me because it had these words written on it......

Add caption

Julie the best mam. I couldn't believe it when i saw these words. So I thought i would share this sweet with you today. I will treasure this sweet forever. Lucky me!!!!

Love Heart sweet.

Hugs Julie

and the Lucky ladies are ......

2011-08-05T04:56:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Ladies.

http://www.123glitter.com/comments-graphics/

                                I apologise for not being able to choose the lucky ladies of the candy yesterday. I have hurt my back and I was in agony. After my lad and his girlfriend left yesterday, I took some strong painkillers, and then I crashed. Not long woke up on the settee, laptop in front of me with this page open waiting for me to choose the winners of my candy.
                                the wait is over...........
I have used http://www.random.org/widgets/ to choose the numbers to make it fair.............
                                                  and The first winner is
                                          True Random Number Generator

                                                                     4

                                  Regena over at http://randrcrafts.blogspot.com/

                                               My second winner is No2
                                               http://rosaleescrap.blogspot.com/

                                              Third Winner is No 6
                                              http://scotspanda.blogspot.com/

and the runners up are No 5  - Sandra from sweden
http://sandra-minlillascrap-hrna.blogspot.com/

and No 3 Sandra over at
http://pinksandra.blogspot.com/

I am sorry that not everyone is a winner today but thanks for joining in. Please come and visit me soon and look out for more yummy candy.

Please share with me anything you make from the candy you have won here. It will make my day. Cheers!

Thank you ladies. Time to package candy ready for posting.

Hugs and Happy crafting

Julie

Candy, candy, and candy. updated!

2011-08-04T07:36:00.000-07:00

Please scroll down to read post on Anything goes challenge. Grab yourself a cuppa, as the post is a little longer than my usually short posts....

Hello Crafting friends.
I would like to share some candy with not one, not two but three lucky ladies.
Update ..... more candy added so more crafting ladies can be chosen.

Don't worry a visit to the denist will not be required, but you will need Some Imagination, a little creative ability and a smile.
Why the smile you may ask.....
Well crafting is suppose to be fun, isn't it? Although I will let you into a secret..... it also stresses me out at times Lol

Anyway enough waffling from me. I have decided that only my faithful followers can enter for this candy. Become a follower if you like my work and want to enter for some candy. Please share any picture on your side bar if you would be so kind. Cheers Ladies.

three winners will win

A packet of twelve papers

12 forever friend images

Make your self a concertina book

The paper are in three colours, Pink, Lilac and Blue. You will win one packet of papers.

The new candy added will include a concertina book , with matching embellishments, chipboard words, paper and stickers.
Each set is different. There is a baby boy, baby girl,christmas, hertiage, romance and a heart shaped kit. Use them as they are or use them for toppers etc.

Use them wherever your imagination takes you.
You will only win one of these

Please share with me your beautiful creations from any candy you may have won on my blog. I would really appreciate it if you do share. Cheers Julie

Happy crafting and hugs . a winner will be chosen on the 21st July. Keep watching this space as I am going to be adding a few more goodies. Yum! LOL

Date change to 4th August...

One kit per winner and No promises, but I may add some more candy if time allows

Julie X

Book mark made by my first candy winner -

2011-08-04T00:37:00.000-07:00

I have asked my candy winner's to share a picture of anything they have made using the candy they have won.

Heaney kindly left me a link to the Book Marker she made using a stamp from the candy she won.

..
http://paperpapier.blogspot.com/2011/07/bookmark-sign.html

They say Less is More. I couldnt agree more. As i love the simplicity and elegance of this design..

I had this stamp for a very long time but I didn't know what to do with it ( I lack creative ability and experience. Enough about me I just wanted to share this bookmarker.

Hugs Julie

Good Crafternoon Ladies. Have you heard the news?

2011-08-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Hey Ladies Have you heard the news?
There is a new challenge blog starting on Wednesday 10th of August.

over at http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.com/

Right then, what you waiting for?

Visit whimsy stamps (Click on link)

Grab yourself a badge an tell your friends. Then link your blog to the site for a chance of winning a mystery prize...

If your going to join in this challenge. Have fun

Happy crafting

Julie

Candy you wont want to miss

2011-07-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

Morning crafters.

I thought it would be an appropriate time to share this post with you because of the six month anniversary that is being celebrated over at

http://handmadebytlc.blogspot.com/2011/07/6-month-anniversary-candy.

Tammy is generously offering candy to three winners (maybe more)
Check Tammy's blog for details

You will need to become a follower
Post candy in either your side bar or in a post
and finally leave your details with mr linky

Ends August 30th

Come on ladies, pop over to this ladies blog and give her some love and while you are there, why don't you join in the candy fun

hugs Julie

Sweet 16 and in Love

2011-07-28T16:38:00.000-07:00

Good night to all you crafters who are in bed, and Hi! to anyone awake.
(its now the afternoon of another dreary dark day - But i did start the post late at night)

My youngest son Michael is a Hopeless Romantic and recently he had a falling out with his girlfriend. He cried and boy didn't I cry too. It hurt me as if it was happening to me. I could not believe how much it hurt to see my son hurt. I so wanted to give him a hug and a magic kiss like when he was little and take the pain away. It was so much easier when he was a little boy to give a kiss and make it all better. But I couldnt do this - because all the hugs and kisses i could give wouldnt take the pain of a broken heart away. All i could do was hug him and tell him it was ok to cry and if he wanted to talk i was here for him. I told him to go and visit some friends and we would chat later. I was so emotional I was of no use to him and afraid of saying all the wrong things.

We talked later that evening. He made up with his girlfriend and

He is in Love again.
He just celebrated his anniversary with his girlfriend. They have been together for six months. Ah bless! I think its so sweet. I remember when I was sixteen and hopelessly in love and believed in forever.

As my son is still in school, he doesn't have a lot of money so He asked me to make something for his girlfriend.
I didn't have a clue what to make, and didn't want to make anything that looked tacky

but then I remembered

..........While out shopping one day, he picked up a small book of poetry and said 'Wouldn't this be nice if there was nothing written in it,so I could write what i liked in it for lauren' and he put the book back on the counter.

So from this trip to the card shop I got my inspiration.

Image cut from a Wedding evening invitation

Because this image was cut from an evening vintage style invitation I am unable to get a clearer picture because it kind of looks blurry on the invite

One Double sided piece of 12 x 12 was folded in half and each half was folded in half again

Then the paper was turned and the same folds were made. (Hope this is clear in the picture)

The Paper was cut in the middle up until the last fold
and then turned around and a cut on each outer fold was made, again only up to the last fold (See Picture)

one square was folded onto the next square

The Vshape is then glued together

After the three squares are glued together bind the end of the book. (I used masking tape)You could use anything that you think will keep the book together and looks decorative.

I then made some tags that were inserted into opening of some of the pages

Picture of tags sticking out from the book

Butterfly tag

Third tag. This tag had a ring attached to it.

Tag two - true Love

She loves this book. My son also bought her a Dvd - a classic - Dolly partons as she loves this actress. It was a good day we all had fun.

Here is wishing my son and his girlfriend many happy memories together

Hugs x from me to you both x

I have decided to enter this into the following challenges: - Anything goes

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/

http://scrappyscatty.blogspot.com/2011/07/anything-goes.

Sugar free candy

2011-07-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

Well what you waiting for? Head on over to

http://bearlymine.blogspot.com/2011/07/candy-without-calorieswhat-could-be.html

for a chance to win .

Post this candy in your sidebar, become a follower and leave your details with Mr linky for the opportunity to win the lovely tilda.

Only 23 more followers needed.

Come on ladies come join in the fun
Happy crafting everyone

Hugs Julie

Summer time

2011-07-20T04:22:00.000-07:00

NewsFlash! Was you aware that apparently according to research, Wales has warm summers and mild winters.

And apparently The months of May, June, July and August are when Wales experiences the sunniest and driest weather.

So for any of those ladies in Wales who may be reading this, don't give up hope, you may actually get some sun before the summer is over.

Can You believe we are seven months into the year. We will be planning Christmas or Thanks Giving, and Skipping Summer, Unless the sun decides to come out and stay out
or as Quoted by Lord Byron

The English Winter ending in July to recommence in August...

Enough of my waffling, I am here these early hours of this morning to share some sunshine with you, and maybe tomorrow the sun will shine on all of us. ( If I am awake that is.... Lol)ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....................zzzzzzzzzz

Grab yourself a cuppa. There are a few pictures to look at, but very little reading.

Front cover Of this Summer Loving book

One side of the page is Magnolia and the other side is

Edwin.

This book I made last summer, in the early days of using Copics

Time to open this book and show you what's inside.

Page One....

There is a picture of a shell in the centre of the card, that is drawn very lightly as to fade into the background.

Page two: Are we there yet?

Its a Beachy feeling.

Page One: The other side of book

Page two: Edwin at Sea

Page three: So will that bird land on his head?

Last page: Hook line and sinker

Thanks for viewing.

I think I will enter this summer book into the following challengers.

All that scraps Magnolia Challenge - Hot, hot days of Summer
http://atsblog.typepad.com/ats/

Magnolia Stamp Lovers _ Summer colours
http://magnoliastamplovers.blogspot.com/

City crafters - It's a shore thing
http://www.citycrafter.blogspot.com/

Sugar free candy

2011-07-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

A shout out about some candy.
thats up for grabs from these blogs

Hurry! Hurry! ends today. For a chance to win, you must visit

http://designannique.blogspot.com/2011/06/blogcandy.html before 20.00 hrs - 8pm

Birthday Candy

this is being offered by Tracey in celebration of her birthday.

Will post more candy when i come across them, also candy at the bottom of screen. Thanks for viewing

hugs julie

Magnolia Mania at moxie fab world

2011-07-02T06:05:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon ladies.

I have a new challenge that i am entering today, and that is over at

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2010/07/card-style-week-lets-do-shabby-vintage.html

and their definition of the above two terms are this :-

What makes a card shabby chic? Well, shabby chic is a style characterized by layering. It is soft, utilizing ribbon, lace, and techniques such as inking and distressing. The final product looks comfortable, weathered, and worn.

What makes a card vintage? Vintage goes a step further by adding old images, found items, and antique trinkets to the mix..

This is my first Shabby chic card. I hope it fits the bill

Shabby chic 2011

Items Used to make this card.

Papers - Nitwit Collection Cotton candy Kisses
Exclusive to homemade magazine

Image - Magnolia

Embellishments - Paper Butterflies from my stash
Ribbon from my stash
Green and white pearls from my stash
and heart attached to cream ribbon also from my stash.

Image coloured with Copics E33, G02,R000,G000,E15 and E00 and also H2o's to give it a shimmer effect.

Edges of papers Chestnut coloured ink by whispers and I also used some antique linen and Weathered white embossing powder by Tim Holtz and the Rangers.

I embroidered the swirls with gold thread.

I am pleased how it has turned out.

I will be entering it in Moxie Fab world http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2010/07/card-style-week-lets-do-shabby-vintage.html

and
http://magnoliamaniachallenge.blogspot.com/
Their challenge is Distressing. The edges of the papers are lightly distressed before using chestnut coloured ink by Whispers.

Hope you like it! Let me know if you think it is shabby chic or not.

Cheers Julie

Think Monday Think Atc. Think Meow!

2011-07-02T05:19:00.000-07:00

Last week's challenge was to make an atc using an image of a Cat..
Here are the Atc's I made

There are four cats on this atc

and there are two cats on this Atc.

The photo does not do them justice.

The second one is my favourite. To me it is PuRrrrrrfect.
It looks like the cat has had the cream! Meow!

Hugs Julie

Christmas in july candy

2011-07-01T16:48:00.000-07:00

Would you like to win some promarkers, a set of stamping up sentiments, and some red and off white twine. If you do head over to Pretty Pressings at http://rosaswelt.blogspot.com/ to enter.

While your there take a look at her beautiful cards. They are stunning! Truly inspirational

Hugs Julie

Just Magnolia and her Butterflies

2011-06-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

Just Magnolia

Here is a card i made for the Just Magnolia challenge.
The theme this week is Butterflies, and I do love Butterflies on a card.

I paper pieced her dress.
I used Copics E00 E02 E15 and E25 for her hair
I also used Peeloffs and stash from my craft room that I have had for a while.

I am also going to enter this card inhttp://officialmagnoliainspirationchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/06/challenge-4-shimmer-and-pearls.html

As the card as pearls on it and the swirls are painted with Luna Lights and the card the fan has been attached to is a shimmery white. I also used Twinklets Diamond dust on the swirls.

Hugs Julie

Lily of the valley card challenge

2011-06-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

Here is a card I made for the . http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/
The challenge was to follow this sketch

Originally this card was made for their last challenge which was to include music. But I didn't get it in time.
So I adpted it to fit this challenge. My image is not on a circle shape but the rest of the design is the same as the sketch.

Lily of the valley image

Hugs Julie

Magnolia Mania is in Winter Wonderland

2011-06-29T02:32:00.000-07:00

Magnolia Mania is in Winter Wonderland....

Well actually the snowman is and what a great place for him to be.

The challenge over at http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.com/

is pretty in pink.......

and the sketch I used was from Manic mania. Although it is too late to enter that challenge.
http://magnoliamaniachallenge.blogspot.com/
They have a new challenge and that is Distressing.

I have made a few snowflake embellishments, although not clear in this picture

Snowflake upon snowflake

Snowflakes made using buttons

I am also entering this card in
http://magnoliastamplovers.blogspot.com/ as their challenge requires buttons.
Thank you for taking the time to view my cards.

Hugs Julie

News Flash - Totally Tilda is in the kitchen.

2011-06-27T04:16:00.000-07:00

                    Tilda and Edwin are in the kitchen
               and want to share this recipe of Love.

                                    Recipe for Love

Ingredients
2 Hearts Full of Love

2 Heaping Cups of Kindness

2 Armfuls of Gentleness

2 Cups of Friendship

2 Cups of Joy

2 Big Hearts Full of Forgiveness

1 Lifetime of Togetherness

2 Minds Full of Tenderness

Method
Stir daily with Happiness, Humor and Patience.

Serve with Warmth and Compassion, Respect and Loyalty.

~ Author Unknown ~

Another Recipe for Love

Ingredients

1/2 a cup of Affection

A pinch of cuddles

3 tablespoons of pure sweetness

A great big kiss

Method

Dim the lights then mix them very slowly together.

~ Author Unknown ~

Good morning Ladies. Today I would like to share with you four picture that I have hanging in my kitchen. These were made before I discovered copics. Lol.

There is a challenge going on over at Totally Tilda

http://totallytilda.blogspot.com/

which requires anything but a card.
So here is hoping that I haven't got too many cooks to spoil the broth. eh!

OOOppps!

The picture come in a set of two.. I have two sets of two

Bake me a cake.

Thank you for visitng me and for all your beautiful coomment. I do appreciate them and I am really trying to get back to each and everyone of you

Hugs Julie. xx

Magnolia-Licious Highlites has a challenge that is using this theme

Black,white with pop....

http://magnolia-licioushighlites.blogspot.com/

So hopeful my picture with edwin in the kitchen as all the right ingredients to be

entered in their challenge.

Coming next .........Candy...........

Hugs Julie.......

Summer is coming!

2011-06-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

Summer

Hearty Thanks - Belles n Whistles

Here I have a card made using a Belles and whistles Autumn stamp. The corners are also
from Belles and whistles.
the image was coloured with Copic Markers

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges.

http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/ The title of their challenge is Summer is here! Although today is cold and gloomy it doesn't feel like summer, more like a winter's day. But tomorrow we are forcast a beautiful warm day. Hope so....

http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ Their challenge is titles Here comes Summer.

http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/ Fun in the sun

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2011/06/here-comes-sun.html

L is for Love and L is for Less is more

2011-06-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

L is for Love

&
L is for Less is More

Hi! Crafters
This has to be a really quick post as I should have been out of the door already, but I just notice the Challenge Less is more is due to close in a few hours. And as I don't know how long I will be out for, I thought I best submit this card for
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/

The theme this week is Monogram

monogram ( ) n. A design composed of one or more letters, typically the initials of a name, used as an identifying mark.

So in effect, your monogram should represent the word it's standing for and not be a part of it.

and three hours remaining.

I must get myself organised, as I am forever missing deadlines on card challenges.

Thanks for vising. Let me know you have stopped by even if you just use two letters to say hi! It makes my dead when you say hello.

Happy crafting everyone

Hugs Julie

A link to Heaney's father's day bookmark

2011-06-20T04:41:00.000-07:00

http://paperpapier.blogspot.com/2011/06/bookmark-dad.html

Heaney won this stamp as part of a candy giveaway that I was offering to my friends, and followers.

The stamp belongs to a set from the Paper Mania range. The handy man is from a Clear Stamp by Clare Curd's Signature range featuring a 24 x 10cm sheet containing 18 clear stamps with a male theme.

The stamps include a fisherman, golfer and handyman along with wording. The golfer is 7.5cm tall.

I am very pleased to be able to share this bookmarker to my viewers. Thank you Heaney for sharing your bookmarker/tag with me/us. You have done an excellent job using this stamp set.

To my friends,viewers, Pop on over to her blog and view some beautiful tags that she has made and share with her some love!

Thanks for sharing! and Thank you for viewing

Hugs Julie

I was featured on Flutterby Wednesday - FBW - 156

2011-06-19T02:09:00.000-07:00

I was featured on Flutterby Wednesday.....(Megga chuffed) and this is what was written

Featured Flutterings from FBW #156
Looks like I will be posting favorite flutterings on Sundays or Mondays from the previous week's challenge~~ so be sure to visit and see if YOU are featured!!

If you see your creation here, be sure to grab your badge from the sidebar for your blog!

Here's some flutterings that caught my eye from FBW #156~

Julie~

Tilda says Konnichina (Hello in Japanese)

2011-06-14T07:17:00.000-07:00

So where is Tilda off today?
Her travels take her to Asia. and to the

She is off visiting Japan and China.

I would like to share with you a few cards that I have made.

One of my very first cards using spirelli and stickers

Tilda in green.

my friends 18th birthday - early days of using copics

made just for fun

two in one

Lauren's sixteenth birthday

I am entering these cards in the Gingerloft Oriental challenge'

Gingerloft are having their first Gingerloft Blog hop titled Asian Inspiration. Gingerloft has added many asian images for you to see and they are now available at the gingerloft website

I am also entering this card into the following challenges

http://craftypurplefrogchallenges.blogspot.com/ Use favourite thing....... Oriental themed cards and these magnolia images

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes - Favourite cards.

The other side of oriental card

http://scrapmuscade.blogspot.com/2011/06/poodles-parlor-anything-goes-challenge.html

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ Stamp something

paper piecing

And finally I would like to enter
this card into the
http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/ as they require paper piecing

bye (Sayonara) (japanese or korean)
Thanks (arigatou)
for viewing

Hugs Julie

Just Magnolia showing you her lacy dress.....

2011-06-08T22:29:00.000-07:00

Good Morning ladies. I would like to share with you today a card that I made for Just Magnolia. http://justmagnolia.blogspot.com/

The theme is Anything goes with the added extra of adding lace.
So I added some lace to her dress, and I made a small lilac ribbon and attached that to the front of the lace.

Tilda then wanted to show off her dress to her friends over

http://magnoliastamplovers.blogspot.com/

before visiting her friends at http://magnoliadownunderchallenges.blogspot.com/
Their challenge was to use the colours Peach, Purple and cream.

and I am going to enter this card in

http://suchins.blogspot.com/2011/06/challenge-59-sponsored-by-amber-ink.html as their challenge is Free for all.

and Finally I choose to enter this card in http://officialmagnoliainspirationchallenge.blogspot.com/

This is a new challenge for all Magnolia lovers.

http://officialmagnoliainspirationchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/06/tomic-grand-opening-challenge-1.html

and the challenge is a birthday project. I have made this birthday card for my neice Courtney, whose birthday is next week. And Birthday wishes to you Pauline.
Thank you for taking time to visit me. I would love for you to leave me a comment so that I may visit your blog to see what inspirational creations you have made.

Hugs
Julie.

So where is Tilda off today? She is off to church to say I do.....

2011-05-31T19:31:00.000-07:00

I am entering this card into the
http://magnolia-licioushighlites.blogspot.com/ which requires a wedding project, so not sure if it is suitable. Nother ventured nothing gained.

http://justmagnolia.blogspot.com/
Friends
I have used the term friends on my wedding card as I believe friendship is a key ingredient in a successful marriage.

Clean and simple - Butterflies

2011-05-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

Hi ladies, yes it is me and back so soon. Yes, its amazing that I am now on my third post in one day. That is good even for my standards.

I would like to share with you another card for another challenge. This time the challenge is at

http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.com/
and their challenge is to keep it clean and simple - and use bling to your new creation.

Fluttering by with delicate wings
a welcome to summer the butterfly brings

The top two butterflies are cut away from the card so the wings stand up giving the 3d effect, I have used to peel off's to give definition.

The white and transparent butterfly below is just cut from paper, folded to get the pattern to be symetrical.and then stuck onto the cream card. I popped on some pearls and I popped two gems to the antennae's which I drew with a silver pen. And I also glued two small gem stones to either side of the stamped verse. Hence My Bling!

The caption on the picture is the same as the stamp on the bottom right hand side.

I am also going to enter this card into
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/
challenge. Their challenge is Butterflies.

I am going to enter it into
http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/

and
http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/ Their challenge is to pop it up. I hope this card qualifies.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Dont forget to say hi, so that I know you have been to visit. Cheers!

Happy crafting

Julie

Second post - hopefully to show a card or two. Fingers crossed.

2011-05-25T05:31:00.000-07:00

The first card I would like to share with you is for

http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ Their challenge was to follow a sketch

and

http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Here comes Summer

I used my new distressing tool for this card.

Lily of the Valley stamp.

I am not happy with the picture of this card and I will try and photograph a better one and add as soon as I am able. I will post this one for now, just in case I can 't get back on later.

Thank you for veiwing my cards and reading my rants for today.

Hugs Julie

Boy, O boy, O boy - Blogger is doing my head in today

2011-05-25T04:57:00.000-07:00

Hello crafters. Hope your all having a good day and blogger is not giving you any trouble. Aftert having the recent problems with blogger I thought all the gremlins in the works was now sorted. Well, if they are, they managed to find their way back to my blog.

I can't comment on anyone's blogs at the moment as soon as i do , it takes me to the create a blog account. Here I have to sign in and then it will take me to the message I had written. I press send and back around in circles I go. Then I lose what I have written. I can't join any blog hops either.

I have been trying to post a few cards since 6.30am and now it is 12.25pm.

If this post doesn't go through as post published and I am taken to the draft page again, I am going to see if my laptop is like a boomerang. If I throw it out of the window, I wonder if it will come back? Lol

You can design your own over at the oriental trading company. Maybe I should get one with An Australian tilda printed on it. Lol. Only joking! If i threw it, it would probably come back and hit me in the head. Could knock some sense into me.... enough of my waffle

I do apologise ladies for being a grouch, but I am not the most patient of people when it comes to problems with my laptop. Grrrr!!!! I get so frustrated especially if I have a lot to do.

Fingers crossed.

Julie

Well, it publishes a post and then I am logged out again. I still can't send messages. Sorry ladies. Thanks to everyone who has left me messages on my blog. I will get back to you eventually. Hope you all have a great friday, and that you find to do some crafting. I will catch up with you all later.

Just Magnolia

2011-05-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

Good Crafternoon Ladies.

Today I would like to share with you the card I made following the sketch on the Just Magnolia site

http://justmagnolia.blogspot.com/

Just Magnolia Sketch

I have followed the sketch but flipped it

Blue Butterfly Tilda.

Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life. And everyone deserves a little sunshine. ~Jeffrey Glassberg

PaperPapier Tag

2011-05-21T04:04:00.000-07:00

By now, some of you might have guessed that I like to share.Lol So today I would like to share a Tag with you Made over at

http://paperpapier.blogspot.com/2011/04/tag-prepared-to-see.html.

This stamp was one of the items won by PaperPapier in a recent candy that I was sharing. It is nice to see what other crafters do with the cany. I had this particular stamp for a very long time but couldnt think of what to do with it. But now I have been inspired to try out some of my othetr stamps.

http://paperpapier.blogspot.com/
Why don't you visit this blog and give this lady some loving.

She has some wonderful creations.

Happy Crafting

Julie

So Tilda, Where would you like to go today?

2011-05-20T02:55:00.000-07:00

First she visits the Sketch and Stash Sketch Challenge
http://sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.com/
where the inspiration came from for the layout of this card.

Sketch n stash

The second part of the challenge was to use either new or old stash or both.

Tilda is a new stamp from Magnolia Butterfly Dreams collection 2011- Tilda with Hawaiian flower. and I purchased her recently from
http://www.sirstampalot.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=40018

The dog was cut out from some Wrapping paper, I have here in my stash. The lace and the blue ribbon was also in my stash.

I have embossed behind tilda, and then coloured it with Iridescent Medium, to make it shine. Although unfortunately this photo doesn't do the card justice.

Now Tilda will take her dog for a walk and visit
http://totallytilda.blogspot.com/

Where will she go next? Maybe she will travel, or maybe she will go to church. Come back later to see where Tilda goes next!

Schools Out Summer Drive

2011-05-15T07:41:00.000-07:00

Schools Out Summer Drive

Card Cupid Blog has
connected with a Title 1 Elementary school that is in need of composition books and journals to encourage student to write this summer. A Title I school is a school with a large number of economically disadvantaged children. They specifically work towards improving the academic achievement of disadvantaged children.

Our goal is to collect 180 journals, along with a fun writing tool (pencil or pen), a card wishing them a Happy Summer and a bookmark to encourage reading.

The deadline is June 8.

A Winning Announcement and a Suprise

2011-05-14T14:34:00.000-07:00

Good morning Ladies.

I am late, late for a very important date........
Late by two days, but in all honesty I did try to post but the blog was under maintenace.

So now there is no excuses, The time is to choose a winner via true random generator.

but wait............I have a surprise for you........

I have decided to have more than one winner.
There is going to be three..........

The first number is NO TWO...... Moni

THe second number is One..... Larisa

and thirdly...... Paper Papier

But don't worry ladies, I plan on everyone who enters my candies or follows me to be a winner one day. Because each and every one of you winners to me, with your winning blogs, and your winning creations. So don't dispair, your turn will come.

This is why I ask you to let me know what type of stamp or image you would like.Because If I got it I will share it with you.

So Ladies please send me your address and I can then post these images to you....

Please can you also show me what you have made from the images, so I can post a link in my blog. Cheers.

Happy crafting

Julie.

So Sorry ladies, I thought I had pressed publish post. I Got distracted when the pipe sprung a leak and there was water everywhere.It is all sorted now.

I can hear my bed calling. But I think I will have to ignore it and jump in the bath first. Lol
So Goodnight to the people who will be going to bed and Happy crafting to the ladies who plan to have a late one.

All that scraps - Marvellous May moments

2011-05-14T00:59:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies, crafters, followers. As you can see I haven't posted in a short while and I do apologise. I haven't been too well, and the tablets that I am prescribed for the pain in my legs and back just make me want to sleep. So this past week, I have done a lot of sleeping and a lot of resting of my legs.

Last week I had a real scare I woke with cramp in my legs but not just in one place, every time i tried to stretch my leg I would get cramp somewhere else. I tried to get out of bed and landed on the floor I was screaming in agony. I couldn't reach my mobile which was on the other side of the bed I really thought I was going to have to phone an ambulance. This pain seemed to last for ages. All I know is that it shook me up for the rest of the day.

My problem being I can't sit to craft as it sets of the trapped nerve I have in my back and so I stand to craft. Resulting in my legs, feet and ankles swelling. (There are photo's although a year old on my facebook - but nothing has changed in five yrs- hence waiting for an operation- not a pretty site)
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1064310541732.2009906.1645057095&l=dbde1c2a06

Anyway that was last week and today is another day in which there is no swelling or pain, so with a bit of luck I will be able to post a few cards and some extra's to the candy that I have on offer.

So the first challenge set by All that scraps is Marvelous Magnolia "May" Moments

http://atsblog.typepad.com/ats/magnolia-ats-challenge/

The marvellous May moment for me is this is the first card that I have been able to post this month. So I would like to share that with you first and then secondly I will announce the winner of the candy.

Materials used:
Stamps _ Tilda - Hawaiin flower and Tulips -Walkway
From Butterfly Dreams New range of Stamps.

Papers: From my stash. The circle was punched out from wrapping paper with butterflies in the design.

Tilda is mounted onto a Prepunched Butterfly card
.
Sentiment: From the glitter girls web site.

I have embossed the back of Tilda's dress and the flower on her head. This makes it look likes she is popping off the page. Unfortunately It does show this clearly in the photograph, no does it show the colours of her dress. But it is ready to share.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

Happy crafting everyone. I wish you all a happy, memorable weekend.

Hugs Julie

Apologies and blog candy

2011-04-24T09:47:00.000-07:00

Candy...... especially for you

I cannot believe it is Sunday and that I have not posted anything all week. So my apologies I send your way. It has been an hectic week and each time I have sat down to write on my blog I have dozed off. An hour as passed already this glorious Sunday Morning and yes this is all I have written.......

Yawn!!!!

Yes, you guessed it, I dozed off again.
Nevermind I am awake now, or at least I think I am.

This month I decided to spoil myself a little and I bought some Magnolia (Tilda) stamps and I also purchased some stamps from Lili of the valley. They have too many cute images, it was very difficult to choose. And While buying these stamps I thought of you lovely ladies and stamped some images for you. I have also included a set of Limited edition writing pens from stabilo and some patterned paper from paper cellar ltd. Each sheet has a fairy on it. It is a pretty design.

All I ask in return is that you post a picture of my candy on your blog.

You do not need to be a follower, but I would love it, if you was. And if you are then you will know when my next candy is posted, as at the moment it is posted at random.
And for each new follower I get, more images I will stamp.

Good luck ladies
and Happy crafting
Julie

There is One more thing I would like to ask, and that is that the lucky winner lets me know when the parcel arrives and could you let me know when you have made something from using my candy and have a post with a picture on your blog. It would be well appreciated. Cheers! Julie
One lucky winner will be chosen to receive this candy on the 12th of May, this giving me time to stamp some more images.

Everybody wins celebration

2011-04-24T07:52:00.000-07:00

http://wwwpeggysamusement.blogspot.com/2011/04/everyone-wins-giveawaygive-to.html

Happy Easter, to you all, To my friends, to my family and to my followers.

I would like to share with you a blog where a very generous lady named Peggy Getto is generously going to donate $1 for every person that leaves a comment on her blog to Ovarian cancer research.
http://www.ocrf.org/index.phph. She is hoping to gain 100 comments. The more the merrier.

So Come on ladies, take a minute or two and say hi!

Also you will be entered into a draw to win a prize. There are two prizes to be won so there will be two winners.

Thirdly she is celebration her friends birthday who died to Ovarian Cancer and she is also celebrating the fact she has wrote 2,500 Posts. Wow!

Here is wishing this lovely lady luck in reaching her goal, and thank you for taking the time to read this post

Hugs Julie

St Georges day (England's National day) or is it?

2011-04-23T01:50:00.000-07:00

St George's Day - April 23rd or Is it?

Follow your spirit, and upon this charge

Cry, God for Harry, England, and Saint George! – Shakespeare, Henry V

Wow, a double feast of St George’s Day and Holy Saturday — the end of Holy Week — in 2011? Well, not officially, as the Church Times reports:

MOST of the country’s St George’s Day celebrations will take place on Holy Saturday this year, ignoring the fact that the date has been transferred to 2 May in the church calendar.

Because 23 April falls in Holy Week, the Church of England keeps St George’s Day after Easter Week.
the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303.

For Eastern Orthodox Churches who use the Julian calendar, 23 April corresponds to 6 May on the civil calendar.

As Easter often falls close to St George's Day, the church celebration of the feast may be moved from 23 April. In 2011 and 2012, the Anglican and Catholic calendars celebrate St George's Day on the first Monday after Easter week (2 May and 28 April, respectively)

The Eastern Orthodox celebration of the feast moves to the Monday of Bright week.

St George's day doesn't appear to be wildly celebrated, like St Patricks day or St Davids day, or maybe that is because I live in Wales. I have heard that in London there are people walking around with the red and white flag wrapped around them, or dressed as knights.
But it is hard to celebrate St george's day when there appears to be some confusion over what day to celebrate on.

Who Was St George?

St George was a brave Roman soldier who protested against the Romans' torture of Christians and died for his beliefs'

One of the best-known stories about Saint George is his fight with a dragon. But it is highly unlikely that he ever fought a dragon, and even more unlikely that he ever actually visited England. Despite this, St George is known throughout the world as the dragon-slaying patron saint of England.

As it is not celebrated here in wales, I have not made a card.

But I do have a pen drawing that i drew in April 1993 that I would like to share with you

(Picture drawn in pen, mainly dots of) Saint George

Hugs Julie

Wednesday Whimsy Giveaway

2011-04-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Whimsy Wednesday Giveaway...

Whimsy's Weekly Wednesday Giveaways!

Each week one of the Whimsy Designers will offer up a 24 hour chance to win a free Whimsy Stamps rubber stamp! The stamp itself will be a surprise about will be announced with the winning entry! The only rule to enter is that you please leave your name in the linky feature over at

http://justsoducky.blogspot.com/

before the draw closes!

Hugs Julie X

First if the month for new Digi image

New Digi's on Thursday

Who doesn't like to receive free items?

2011-04-17T15:37:00.000-07:00

Any takers? No? I am surprised. Lol

Well it looks like everyone likes to receive things for free.
Well today is your lucky day.
I have just come from

http://heartstring-designs.blogspot.com/

who would like you to pop over to her stamping site

http://shelleybeanstamps.blogspot.com/

and leave a link on your blog or any social networking site letting others know that there is a free digi image of your choice on offer at

http://shelleybeanstamps.blogspot.com/

and then leave a message telling shelley that you have done this and remember to tell her what digi image you would like and where she can send it ( So please remember to add your email address)

If it sounds complicated the way i have worded it, then just pop on over to shelleybeanstamps blogspot and let shelley lead the way. But hurry as offer will be ending soon

April give away competition at Digi stamp Boutique

2011-04-13T01:48:00.000-07:00

If you would like to win this cutie named Olivia then all you need to do is follow the blog
http://digistampboutique.blogspot.com/

and post about the candy on your personal blog before it ends on Apil 30th

Hugs Julie

Happy 21st Kirsty.

2011-04-08T06:42:00.000-07:00

http://www.123glitter.com/comments-graphics/

Today I would like to share this 21st Birthday card.

21st birthday before assembly

Empty box

Card standing. Image from Kenny K's Krafting Girls Blog

inside of card

Card in box

I was really pleased with how this card turned out.

Thanks for viewing.

Happy crafting X Julie X

Sweet Sixteen and Forever Friends

2011-04-08T06:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.123glitter.com/comments-graphics/

Happy 16th Lauren.

My Youngest son's girlfriend - Lauren - was sixteen this week. My son asked me to make her a card. I was doing really well until he showed up. Then..... with all the distractions , I couldn't find the right ribbbon for the centre of the card, and I messed the box up. I was really disappointed with this but I had no time to re-do another one.

Mike said his girlfriend loved the card and her pressie's.
Here is a picture of the card before assembly.

Sweet sixteen (Forever Friends)

The challenge over at
http://foreverfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
is make a card for a girl. As the Number Sixteen is from My Forever Friends stickers I thought I would enter this card.

Here is a picture of the finished card

The box was made with the heart shape cut out and then it was covered with acetate.

(See the next post where I will share a picture of a box I made for my neice Kirsty's 21st and you will see what it looks like when stood up}

She also had a Bentley bear that was on display for mother's day at Tesco's. But mike wanted me to make it different to the bears in the shop. I put some butterfly ribbon across the heart the bear was holding. and on each butterfly I put the letters of her name. Lauren. But unfortunately no picture.

My son also bought her a beautiful trinket box which he had engraved. A beautiful keepsake. She also had a Me to you magnetic bookmark and she should have also had a Me to you bear cd. But that is still on the coffee table in the sitting room. He has had no time to come pick it up as he is studying for his final exams. I hope he does well. He should do, as he is grade A student, but he does have distractions at the moment. LOL

I remember what it was like to be 16 and in love. Those were the best days of my life. And my Mid twenties were pretty cool too.

Thanks for taking time to read this post.

Hugs Julie

To all my followers, friends and family

2011-03-26T06:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday Afternoon to you all.

Hi. This is a quick post just to let you know that i am currently without a pc. As soon as it is fixed, i will be back with a new post and candy. Hopefully this week. So Keep crafting and I will return soon to view all your beautiful creations.

Julie

Get Well soon. with an added challenge or two

2011-03-08T18:30:00.000-08:00

Hi! I would like to share with you the Get well card that I made for my dad.

The words written on the card next to the doctor say "Be sure to ask the doctor where the stick has been
before you say "Ahhh"!"

I thought i would enter this card into the following challenges

http://www.alyssundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Intially I was going to add it to the get well card challenge but didnt check the deadline. But lucklily for me this weeks/fortnight challenge is Anything goes.

The doctor digi I bought over at Crafter's art Digitial Art centre - from the group for a good cause
http://priscillastyles.ning.com/group/foragoodcause?xg_source=activity

And the cute turtle I bought from http://karensdoodles.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=169&category_id=25&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=13

and its called a Friend in Need
The challenge over at http://karensdoodleschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ is Going Green, so I will enter my card in this challenge

This card will be perfect for the challenge at http://www.charismacardz.blogspot.com/ requiring an easel card.

Hugs x Julie

Card Positioning system

2011-03-08T05:38:00.000-08:00

Good Afternoon ladies

Today I would like to share the card I made for the staff at the Llantrisant hospital to thank them for taking good care of My step-dad

I used the sketch from CPS - Card Positioning system.

Thank you for popping by.

Happy Crafting everyone.

Hugs Julie

March Candy over at Floral fantasies

2011-03-06T18:24:00.001-08:00

Good Morning Ladies.
I am not really sure how I am still awake as been having very little sleep the last couple of days I am running on empty so must be on auto pilote at the moment. Would you like to win this

For a chance to win you need to follow the other 1856 followers who are following
http://stamping-fantasies.blogspot.com/2011/02/blogaversary-candy-time.html.

Post the candy in your side bar and a link back to the blog. Leave a message and wait patiently until the 24th of march to hear who the winner is. That is only two and a half weeks away.

Good Sunday morning ladies.

2011-03-06T02:38:00.000-08:00

Hi5, Xanga, Tagged, Blogger Comments @ 123glitter.com

I would like to Thank all you lovely ladies who sent good wishes for my dad in his operation and recovery. The operation was successful and there was no need for any amputation. Our prayers were answered.

He is due home tomorrow. He can't wait. I hope he is pleased with the revamp his house has had while he was in Hospital. Fair play to his sister who has worked very hard to get his home decorated and clean to help him rest when he gets home.

But on a sad note, one of his dogs managed to get out of the garden, and got hit by a car. She didn't stand a chance and was killed outright. The driver didn't even stop to see what he had hit.

I bet his other dogs have missed him. I will be glad for him to be home as he constantly phones to check on my mum. If he dont get an answer, he wants me to run down and see if she is okay. I know he is only worried as he normally checks on her in the morning of each day. But it's not like she lives around the corner.

My Psychiatrist asked me once did I ever think I had super powers. I said no but I think my parents think I have. Lol

I would be so lost without them. Due to me not taking care of myself last week, I have woken to a head cold, and sneezes.Hold and cold sweats, Runny eyes and a headache. Any type of smell is making me have a sneezing attack. Crafting is hard work. Just as I am cutting a card. I sneeze then Ooops It's no longer a straight piece. But I am pleased that I have managed to put a card together even though my eyes are streaming. Check my next post to see the card I made to thank the hospital staff for taking good care of my dad through out his surgery and in the aid of his recovery.

Hugs Julie

Kenny k's Krafty Girlz challenge & Abc Challenge

2011-02-23T06:39:00.000-08:00

Good Afternoon Ladies.

Here is a card I made for my neice Emily.

I was inspired by a photograph she took of herself. And When I saw the image at Kenny K's store I just knew I had to use it on her birthday card. I hope she likes it!

After i decided I must have it - I saw this topper of that image on ebay. So i must give credit for the topper to NMcard creations (byrne 7854) for the beautiful colouring she always obtains in her work.

I actually made the card for the challenge last week at Kenny K's Krafty Challenge but unfortunately didn't get to post it in time. But lucky for me the challenge this week is all about R's.

I have used red mirror card, the rhinestones are the color red, and i have used Red corner peeloffs. There is one red eyelet and the image is coloured in red. There is also Red(actually called Candy cane) stickles used on the lace and bracelet.

There is also a challenge over at Abc challenge blog that requires an oval shape to be used on the card. So i think i will enter this card in that challenge also

And the lucky winner of the magazine is

2011-02-22T10:57:00.000-08:00

Number 20
chosen by True number random generator

So a big congratulations to Tina Makuc.

Please send me your address and then wait for the mail man to deliver this brilliant magazine to you.

Thank you for being so patient with me

A Big Thank you to all you lovely ladies who left me positive feedback and posted my candy in your sidebar.

Please come back and visit and maybe it will be your turn to be a lucky winner next month.

But most importantly I feel I am the lucky winner because I have made some new friends by offering you candy.

Hugs Julie

Apologies

2011-02-22T08:13:00.000-08:00

Hi! Ladies.

I would like to sincerly apologise for the lateness in choosing the winner of the Magnolia Magazine.

Life has been hectic since my birthday. Between me and my dad we take care my mum who has not been able to do as much for herself since coming off the life support machine. She is a very demanding lady. My dad has been having problems with circulation in his legs and we have been waiting news as to whether he needs his toes amputated due to an infection. He hasn't had it easy as he spent most of his child hood in hospital because of no ankle bones. But after numerous operations he now walks miles with his dogs or when rabbitting and he loves fishing. So this has been a worrying time for all of us. The week prior to him being rushed into hospital he lost his sister. She wasn't very old. In her early fifties. So life has been really hectic with me crawling into bed exhausted at the end of the day with So little time to blog or post anything new.

Good news is my dad is due for an operation this Thursday and they will not have to amputate. I am due for the same operation in two months time for varicous viens. I spend too long standing when crafting. Lol

So I will now post this and then choose the lucky winner of the magazine.

Thank you ladies for being patient with me at this extremely busy time of my life

Love and hugs
Julie x

To all Magnolia stamp lovers - a candy especially for you.

2011-02-18T17:56:00.000-08:00

Hi Ladies! I would like to share some love with you today. This month is usually a double celebration for me as its also my birthday (three days after valentine's day.)
I won't tell you my age as this is subject to change lol but what I will tell you is that I walked into the newsagents the other day and Guess what was sitting on the crafting shelf with all the other magazines?

Magnolia ink, No 1 for 2011.
The valentine issue

.So I had to buy it. as its the first time I have seen it in my local newsagents.
No time to peek inside, I picked it up and took it home.

Usually on my shopping day, I like to put my groceries away, and then sit with a nice warm cuppa and what ever magazine I have purchased that day.I Usually Purchase a Card making magazine, but I also like to read the Psychology and Philosophy magazines too. As I was looking at the beautiful creations in the Magnolia Magazine I realised that I already purchased this magazine.

I had ordered it from Sir stampalot, but had only briefly flicked through it on the day it arrived.

So I was then faced with two choices. I could either take it back to the newsagents, where they would have given me a refund, or I could offer it as another candy to some magnolia/ Tilda stamp lovers.

All I ask is that you let your followers/friend know that I have some candy to share. I Would be honored if you decide to follow my blog but its not compulsory.
I would like to thanks you in advantage for spreading the news of my candy and for taking the time to come and visit me and read my posts.

I hope to visit you all to say hi as soon as I am able.

Hope all you lovely ladies have a good weekend with time to craft so I can come see some more beautiful creations.

Hugs

Julie XX

My Second Blog Candy - with more than one winner!

2011-02-11T06:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday Evening to all bloggers, and Crafters.

Thank you for taking time to come and visit my blog.

In order for a chance to win some candy I would like you to post my candy in your side bar. I really would appreciate it if you can do this for me.In return I would like to share this candy with at least three winners.

The first winning number will win a storage box. the Craft stamper magazine and free stamp and Magnolia stamped images.

The second winner will win A reel of red ribbon with the words Merry Christmas written on the centre of the ribbon. A packet of red tartan tags. A create and craft cd with many oriental projects on it. And some stamped images.

And my third winner will win the North Pole accesory pack which contains 6 x 5mtr silver and gold ribbon and six mini bows. Some large circle christmas tags. (picture will be added later) and stamped images.

Fold up storage box, and stamped images

Create and Craft cd and ribbon

Unopened storage box

After you have posted a picture of my candy onto your blog, please can you leave me with a comment. And in your comment I would love to know what type of stamped images would you like to see in a blog candy. Maybe you prefer a particular brand or maybe you would like to see a particular theme or image.

E.g Inkadinkadoo
or Oriental /Dragon

Or maybe you would like to see stamps from a card challenge you like to enter into.

I would love to hear what you would like to see in a blog candy.

Magnolia/Tilda stamped images

Various stamped images

Magnolia/Tilda at sea stamped images

stamped images

Tilda stamped images

If you like my work, please come follow me. I would be honoured. This is not a requirement needed to enter my candy but I would welcome more ladies who want to follow because they like my work.

Thank you for joining me in this post. The candy will end on February 10th. 2011

Good luck ladies. Look forward to hearing from you all soon.

Hugs
Julie X

Are you a Winner?

2011-02-11T04:50:00.000-08:00

http://www.123glitter.com/comments-graphics/

Good Friday Morning to all you Lovely ladies out there in blogland.
I would like to              Thank everyone of you who has taken time to visit my blog,
I would like to say a big Thank you to all the lovely ladies who boosted my spirit with such nice comments,
and A                           Thank you to the ladies who have become followers. I am honoured that you have chosen to follow me.

I have enjoyed reading your comments and visiting your sites and getting lots of inspiration.
I thank each and everyone of you for the time you have taken time putting together some wonderful posts, and creations.

If you have been to visit me and I have not yet said Hello, I do apologise. I will try to visit you really soon.

To share some love with you lovely ladies I plan on sharing some candy with you on a monthly basis. So now it is time to show some caring by sharing some candy with you.

Enough of my babblings lets share with you the Winners of my second candy.(Numbers chosen using the Random number generator)

My First

http://www.123glitter.com/comments-graphics/

goes to Larisa http://larisa-raznosti.blogspot.com/
from Russia.

My Second

http://www.123glitter.com/comments-graphics/

goes to Little Nasty from Russia

and Thirdly

http://www.123glitter.com/comments-graphics/

to Sandra (not sure of location)
http://pinksandra.blogspot.com/

and to all the other ladies out there,I send my Love.

Please keep visiting me, as I don't want any of you ladies to lose out. Keep adding your name as I am sure your name will eventually be chosen. I plan on giving away some secret candy ( which means on a random day I will put all names from my blog into a hat and choose one for a random candy)

I cannot say what will be in the candy as its a secret even from myself. Lol But I will do my best to choose something you ladies will like.

Look out for my birthday candy to be added on the eighteenth of this month and the winner will be picked next month. So look out for that post and any requirements that I may ask of you to be able to add your name.

Sending you Hugs and Love x
Julie

Crafty stealers

2011-02-10T15:16:00.000-08:00

#c2242096241106005202

Hi CraftyStealers!

So this Valentine's day Crafty Stealers want to share a little love to a couple special customers. They have 2 "lovely" prize packs that they can't wait to send out!

So here's how to enter:

It's simple just share the CraftySteals love! Tell your crafty bargain hunter friends... invite them to be facebook friends, follow crafty stealers blog or twitter or sign up for email alerts. Then go back to the blog and leave them a comment on how many crafty friends you "shared the love" with.

Click the link at the top of this post to win a prize

Hugs
Julie

Happy Sunday Afternoon

2011-02-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

Hi5, Xanga, Tagged, Blogger Comments @ 123glitter.com

Hugs and love
Julie X

Free Brand New Copic ciao's

2011-02-04T18:59:00.000-08:00

Do you love copic pens. I do! I wouldnt be without them now.

Well if your a fan of the wonderful pens or never tried them
there is chance to win 36 copic ciao's over at
http://bmd-creations.blogspot.com/2011/01/free-copics.html

To enter your name, all you need to do is Spread the word by placing the candy in your side bar.

But I have decided that I am going to win this fab prize, as the day it ends its going to be my birthday and what a wonderful gift to receive. Lol
Ok!! I am allowed to dream! Wishful thinking!

Anyway Good luck ladies.

If your not in it, you can't win it so don't be shy, Go help spread the word.

Hugs
Julie X

Magnolia Down Under - Embossing. and Magnolia-licious Highlites Receipe challenge

2011-02-04T15:26:00.000-08:00

In my previous post I was going to add that card to . But after http://magnoliadownunderchallenges.blogspot.com/
completing this card I decided to use this card instead.

Card before assembly.

I have embossed three hearts and used peel offs to highlight the embossed hearts

Front page of my heart card.

Materials

Stamps: - Tilda from the Right through my heart collection

Papers: Glitter girls

Colouring:- Copics Skin white E00.E11, E21E29,,E31, E43,E50,E57, E71,
R02, R11,R22,R32 Rv10

Final version, of three hearts glued together

I have also decided to enter this into http://magnolia-licioushighlites.blogspot.com/ recipie challenge of hearts pink white and silver

Thanks for visiting

Julie

St Dwynwen's day - The welsh valentines day

2011-02-04T14:46:00.000-08:00

St Dwynwen day is celebrated here in Wales (Cymraeg) on

the 25th of January..

But who was St Dwynwen?

St Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, which makes her the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine.

Dwynwen lived during the 5th century and was one of the prettiest of Brychan Brycheiniog's 24 daughters.Dwynwen fell in love with a prince called Maelon Dafodrill, but unfortunately her father had already arranged that she should marry someone else. Dwynwen was so upset that she could not marry Maelon that she begged God to make her forget him. After falling asleep, Dwynwen was visited by an angel, who appeared carrying a sweet potion designed to erase all memory of Maelon and turn him into a block of ice.

God then gave three wishes to Dwynwen. Her first wish was that Maelon be thawed; her second that God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers; and third, that she should never marry. All three were fulfilled, and as a mark of her thanks, Dwynwen devoted herself to God's service for the rest of her life.

She founded a convent on Llanddwyn, off the west coast of Anglesey, where a well named after her became a place of pilgrimage after her death in 465AD. Visitors to the well believed that the sacred fish or eels that lived in the well could foretell whether or not their relationship would be happy and whether love and happiness would be theirs. Remains of Dwynwen's church can still be seen today.

So why wait until St Valentine's Day to make your romantic feelings known, when you can wish your loved one 'dwi'n dy garu di ' (I love you) three weeks earlier?

But there are many other occasions to also celebrate your love like anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, and any day that you you choose to show or tell your loved one how much they mean to you.

I would like to share my love and friendship to all who take time to view my blog and I would like to share some love by first sharing with you this card

Magnolia/Tilda challenges.

Materials : Stamp Magnolia princess from the fairy tale collection.

Papers/cardstock - Red heart design vellum from create and craft.tv. I embossed some hearts onto it and highlighted the hearts already there. (see picture below)

Embellishments.
Transparent white christmas ribbon, some stick on hearts and roses, peeloff's and heart shaped doily all from my stash.
I cut out two heart shapes and distressed the edges then added some white ink and white embossing powder.

I made the bird/heart embellishment but stamping the image onto white card then embossing with red embossing powder. I then threaded some beads onto some red wire and secured this to the back of the heart shape.

I also made the roses. (My first attempt at making roses for my cards) and I will admit I was pleased as to how they turned out.

I then added some stickles to the roses, Tilda's socks and shoes, and to the bird heart embellishment.

I coloured Tilda's hair and shoes with copic and highlighted part of her dress after Paper piecing The dress with the same paper i used as one of the roses.

I embossed hearts inside the card using dry and embossed powder.

Inside of card with pinky white hearts.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges.

http://magnoliadownunderchallenges.blogspot.com/     The challenge requires Embossing either using Dry or Heat

http://totallytilda.blogspot.com/  this challenge requires Tilda has three or more hearts

http://atsblog.typepad.com/ats/2011/01/all-that-scraps-magnolia-challenge-6.html All that scraps 6th Magnolia challenge. This month theme is Queen of Hearts.

and

http://magnoliastamplovers.blogspot.com/    The challenge is to use Glitter.

Thank you for taking time to view my post

Hugs and love

Julie

Life gets in the way sometimes.......

2011-02-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

I started this blog to showother crafter some of my card making challenges and projects.

Card making???? What cardmaking? Life just gets in the way sometimes.

Several weeks ago my mother broke her foot, and she is unable to put any weight on it. So every day i visit my mum to do her chores, cook her dinner and make mugs of tea and more mugs of tea. The kettle doesn't go cold, and she asks me for another cup. She has had me busy doing all those chores that either she doesn't like doing or has been unable to do since coming off a life support machine. I have been spring cleaning for her and moving furniture as she has had to have her house rewired. All this work is playing havok with my back. There has been no time to clean my place so you can imagine being a crafter i have my crafting tools and stash everywhere. Lol If i get any visitors i will just tell them i cant be creative unless i am making a mess. lol

. I have my own health problems. I suffer from water retention, celluitius, arthritis in all my joint, scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and iron deficiency anemeia.(this leaves me constantly fatigued) It has been a particularly bad week, with legs and feet swelling and throbbing. .I don't seem to do chores as fast as i would like and feel constantly tired. Sadly at the end of the day I am left totally exhausted and no time for crafting! I have fallen asleep nearly every night on the settee not reaching my bedroom. I am due for an operation on my legs in two months time so hopefully that will help me a lot to be able to get out and about.

I do have a few things to share that I have managed to get done before going to noddy land. Enough of my waffling lets share some cards with you and some more candy!

Well, i have searched everywhere and i cant find it.- Birthday Winter Theme challenge

2011-01-27T23:47:00.000-08:00

I bet you are wondering what I have lost.(besides my mind)

Here is a clue.

I spent the weekend joining in blog hops hoping to find it.

I saw many inspirational cards but I still haven't found my mojo.

I just can't seem to get inspired at the moment to make anything.

I have a few birthday's coming up over the next couple of days and I really should be making some cards.. Although I haven't been crafting, I have not been idle either. I have been viewing cards and leaving some comments. There are many talented ladies out in blogland.

I managed to complete One blog hop. I did start three.

The blog hop that i did complete was over at Die cut Dreams Christmas Club Challenge blog.

The design team made some beautiful cards for the special birthday winter theme challenge.

http://dcdchristmasclub.blogspot.com/

Here is my card for this challenge

Winter Birthday card

I don't think the photograph does the card justice. The tree 's were embossed and glazed.and it looks like he is sliding down an hill on my card. I used copics to colour him but not sure of numbers as I coloured this guy before christmas. Thanks for viewing

Julie X

Sweet peas candy

2011-01-27T06:56:00.000-08:00

Would you like to be in for a chance to win three stunning stamps from the sweet pea stampers site? I know your answer will be yes! when you see the stamps. They are simply divine. Don't miss out, make sure you visit their site today.

But to be in for a chance you must follow some

.RULES

Become a Follower if you are not one already as the prize is only for Followers of Sweet Pea Stampers

Post the Blog Candy Banner in your sidebar

Spread The Word on your Blog and link your post to the site by January 30th 2011. They would love to get to 300 Followers so please let all your friends know.

Good luck ladies!

Julie x

Happy Wednesday - Announcement

2011-01-26T14:48:00.000-08:00

http://www.123glitter.com/comments-graphics/

Happy Wednesday Evening. I would like to Announce that my first blog candy as ended and the goods are on the way to Malaysia.

Read my next post to read all about my Second Candy.

Sunday sensation from Magnolia-licious

2011-01-17T05:12:00.000-08:00

http://jacquesmagnolias.blogspot.com/2011/01/sunday-sensations-from-magnolia-licious_16.html

In order to be eligible for this wonderful prize, all you need to do to enter the drawing is leave a link to your blog below at the little BLUE FROGGY (or your email address in a comment if you don't have a blog). There are NO requirements or rules and you do not need to be a follower or even put information on your blog about the opportunity if you don’t want to. Of course, it would be appreciate greatly if you would help Magnolia-licious to spread the word on your personal blog about SUNDAY SENSATIONS!!!!

Remember the closing for SUNDAY SENSATIONS from Magnolia-licious is at midnight EST each Tuesday and the winner is announced on Wednesday

ATTENTION
ADMENDMENT TO POST. Click this link to go to http://jacquesmagnolias.blogspot.com/2011/01/sunday-sensations-from-magnolia-licious_16.html
and you will find the little blue froggie. Leave your name and some love.