Last post for 2009

Hello all

Well as you can see I have been very naughty and have not posted for almost 2 months, with the run up to Christmas things became somewhat hectic as I'm sure you would all appreciate and sadly I did not find the time to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

So now I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy & Prosperous new year with lots of crafting time.

Have a great year everyone!

I have news

Wow I can't believe we are only 50 days away from Christmas, I have been so busy these past few months it's hard to believe we are near the end of another year!

I now have permission to bare my good news; I'm going to be a Grandmother again in May next year. I went to stay with my daughter a few weeks ago to help her out as she was not feeling well, she does have a tough time during pregnancy bless her and there are some instances where only a mum will do! Well I am off there again on Saturday for another week and I'm looking forward to having some more quality time with my "Little Princess" too, she has become quite a little character now, they grow up so fast these days!

I have not been doing much in the way of beading lately but did make these 2 pendants from Swarovski Crystal. I think they are rather pretty. I'd like to know what you think of them?

Will try not to leave it so long for my next update. Bye for now.

How time flies

Wow I cannot believe it is a month since my last post and so much has happened!

I have spent a week in hospital for rehabilitation which was dropped on me on the Thursday so did not have much time to prepare; I already had a bad headache I could not shift and was suffering from extreme nausea which the nurses chose to ignore; while I was in there I developed a rather severe tooth infection and the right side of my face was really swollen; (can't believe the nurses didn't spot it!) I spent 4 hrs on the Saturday getting the run around on the phone trying to get to see an emergency dentist, finally saw one on the Sunday for some antibiotics. then I had to wait a week before my dentist could extract the tooth. While all this was happening I had to postpone a long weekend break in the Lake District which should be happening this weekend (fingers crossed). I was booked to go on a scrapbooking retreat that I had to cut short because I was unwell, I was most disappointed as we had been building up to it all year, the girls were great though, packed up all my stuff and got it in the car without me having to lift a finger. I'm so lucky to have some great friends.

So what else could possibly go wrong for me this month!! I guess only time will tell!!

Old Stash

I have been having a good old sort out of my stash as I have so much of it, I found lots of bits that I have had for a long time so decided it was time I used some of them on my layouts. I even found 3 8x8 page kits that I have had for 2-3 years so they were finally put to use last week. I managed to get 2 LO from each kit plus a card and still have some paper left. Can't remember how much the kits cost me but I'm sure they were a bargain at the time (as is any stash, isn't it?). These are what I made.

Sunday

Had quite a productive day on Sunday, these are the 5 pages I made. I also used up some stash that I have had for a long time which usually gets forgotten about or it has not been right for a page until now.

Had a great day with friends, cake and lots of chat!

I've had time to scrap!

This week I have managed to do a bit of scrapbooking at home, quite a rare occurrence really as I am usually busy making things for other people. I have also been busy making cards for my family as it is both my childrens birthdays next week and it is my wedding Anniversary on Sunday. I also made Darling husband a family tree album of his relatives. Hope he likes it.
Here are the pages I have done this week.

I went to a new crop on Saturday but did not manage to do any scrapbooking at all as I was making a Christmas organizer for my daughters birthday. Regrettably I forgot to take a photo of it as I was in such a hurry to get it wrapped the same evening so she could take it back with her.

My Little Princess

I made this Crown for my Grandaughter as she is going to a birthday party and they all have to dress up as a Princess and wear a crown so I grabbed the chance to make her one.


I also finished this necklace last night, it is suppose to resemble buds of flowers and leaves. It sparkles beautifully! I have started another one but this time I am using glass flowers and leaves instead.

New Jewellery

Hi all, been busy as usual, this time I have made some more jewellery and I think it is gorgeous; admit it is not your every day style but it is very pretty all the same. have placed it in the wedding jewellery on my website as it is rather special. Hope you like it as much as I do.


I have also done a scrapbook of my fathers old Army photos, he had them in an album but it fell apart and they were not mounted very well at all. At least I have managed to salvage most of it, something I think the rest of my family would be pleased about too!

Visit to the Zoo

It's been quite a while since my last update, I've been busy updating my website sjccrafts.com and have not had time to do much else recently; It's surprising how much time it takes.

We have managed some time out and spent a couple of days with our Grandaughter. She celebrated her second birthday last week and we took her to Whipsnade zoo on Monday. We all had a fantastic day, very tiring but great. I know what will be keeping me busy for the next week or so, I will be putting together a scrapbook as a memento from the day.

Have a great weekend

Have been rather busy this week trying to finish a book and box for a customer plus make cards for my Grandaughters 2nd Birthday. I can't believe it is 2 years already!

I used my Robo to cut the Niece card and the scallop circle mat. Makes a change from using ths Cricut and now I have it on my desk and connected all the time it makes it much easier to choose which machine I will use.






I am looking forward to tomorrow as I am going to Capture the Magic in Cambridgeshire, I have never been to this store before and am told that it is quite large so will be like a kid in a candy store; not that I need any stash but it's always nice to see what is on offer?!?!

Well hope you all have a great weekend what ever you are doing.

Sunday Crop

Yesterday was crop day with friends and a portion of my stash, but most valued is the the part where I get to leave the house for a few hours and have conversation!! It has been particularly hard for me this week as it has been so hot...not that I am complaining, I usually like the heat but for some reason it was particularly hard this time on my legs and feet as the heat has made them swell and they have been exceptionally painful... I am now grateful for a little restbite from the heat.

Here are the LO I did yesterday...

The first LO is of friends we met in Cyprus last year, we met up this March in Spain as they live reasonably close to my parents. The papers I used are from the Basic Grey Marrakech collection. I love the Blue!.

I decided I should scrap some photo's that I have sitting in my drawer as a change from photo's of my Grandaughter, I have so many!

This one is of my son making silly faces; It would have been taken in the late 80's.
I used Basic Grey papers again on this LO from the Oh Baby collection.



This is the first LO I have done for Halloween, the photo's were taken in the early 90's when we lived in Germany. The papers have been in my stash since I first started to scrap, about 4 years ago!

I did start another LO but did not quite so will have to post it next timefinish. it

Saturday's Beading Class

This is the necklace I started at the beading class on Saturday; It's very summery and it was surprisingly easy to make; and the best thing about it is that it can be worn with lots of different outfits due to the colour scheme. Hope you like it?

Great Night

This is the only LO I managed to do last night but I had a great night with Brenda & Lyns, Thanks girls for helping to keep me sane!! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did?!

For the LO I used this months kit from Sarah's cards.

Scrappy Night

Hi all

I am having another scrappy night on Wednesday if any one is interested in coming, usual time of 7pm. Please let me know if you would like to come so I can make sure there is plenty of room for you.

Have a great weekend!

Busy few days

Wow! these last few days have been so busy I have barely had time to eat;
I now have my own craft room instead of taking over the dining room,
and its so nice to be able to eat at the table like civilized people.
I have loads of work space and plenty of room to store my ever growing stash.

I have had a bit of time in the evenings to make these pieces of jewellery, all made from genuine Swarovski crystal and they are for sale if any one is interested?

It's been too long!!

I can't believe it's been 19 days since my last post, as usual I have been rather busy with various projects which I am pleased to say are almost complete now, and this one is by far the most challenging project I have done so far.

This is what I have been busy doing, a guest book and box for an Indian Wedding, It has taken many hours to complete and a bit of stress on the way.The book & box has been padded and covered with a wedding sari from the brides family and the pages have been bound in a traditional way; I printed the photo onto silk as it gives a softer tone and the spine has been covered with edging that was also on the Sari. The box started off as an A4 box file and has been covered in the same way as the book I have also lightly padded inside and covered in a satin fabric.
I am also putting together an 8x8 scrapbook so that the happy couple can have a page for each of their celebrations through their married life. Maybe I will have time to do something for myself again soon!

Nanna's day out

It's been far too long since my last post but I have been ataying with my Daughter and Grandaughter so have not done much crafting.

At the end of April I went to Amners Open farm in Burghfield, Berkshire. It was officially my first outing with my "Little Princess" and I had a fantastic day, However it took me a few weeks before I scrapped the photographs. I have used Heidi Grace papers that have the feel of spring to them. The large stamped images are Magnolia's Tilda with Lamb which were perfect to go with the photo of Hannah with thee Lamb on her lap, and the small stamped images are Forest Friends from Stampin Up.

Sunday's Crop

These are the pages I managed to create yesterday at the crop; had a great day with friends to chat to. Didn't have cake this week though, trying to be good!!

Embossing and decoupage

Made this card for my Mother-in-law today, used one of my embossing plates for a change and cut some of the pattern away, then placed tiny dots of liquid pearls to the centre of the flowers; the Pansy's are decoupaged. It will not be a good idea to post this card!!

Something different

I love altered art but do not have enough time to play very often; I've had the bits for this watch for a couple of years, now it is made I have no idea what to do with it; any ideas are most welcome.






Had this mini canvas for a year or so too! finally got round to doing something with it. I used crackle diamond glaze on the image to make it age a little, the clip has been coloured with alcohol inks and the tag has been spritzed with alcohol inks watered down.

Wedding Cuff Bracelet

I finished this bracelet Last night, it's made up of AB coated seed beads silver lined seed beads and tiny Swarovski crystals; the picture does not do this bracelet justice as the Aurora Borealis coating on the seed beads makes it sparkle but you cannot see it on the photo.

New stamps

Just a couple of cards I made yesterday with my new Gorjuss stamps

Weekend with my Daughter and Grandaughter

These pictures were taken over the weekend when I visited my daughter. Hannah was playing with her pretend kitchen, making food and putting it in the oven, it's so hard to believe she is not yet 2 years old. Hasn't she got the most gorgeous smile!

New makes

Had a go at making one of the fabric flowers that are all the rage at the moment, so easy to do and the result is lovely don't you think?

Also had another go at beading another floral pendant as I liked it so much, It is purely coincidental that both these items are the same colour.

Wedding cards

The following cards are commissions, I was especially asked to make some using the large paper flowers; They do not have any wording yet as I need to know what to put on them, the customer wants me to put the names of the couple getting married. This heart card was made using the open hearts and tall stories embossing board. I love making these cards.


This wedding card was created
using my Craft Robo.










This card was created using the Glitter Girls Bookatrix embossing board.









This wedding card was made using the Glitter Girls Tall stories embossing board.