Sorry for the Absence, Sweet Peas to Share and the chance of some Blog Candy

Can you believe this awful weather, its raining cats and dogs and the wind is blowing a gale!!! what a start to winter, I am glad I didn't have to venture very far today!

I can hardly believe how long it has been since I last posted on this blog. I did post on Jazzlins yesterday, please go take a look here.

BLOG CANDY AT JAZZLINS

I am going to give some blog candy to a random follower of Jazzlins, when my followers reach 100, so to be in for a chance of winning some Sweet Pea stamps, 4 random stamps (my choice) , go and add your name to my followers list (found at the bottom of the page). If you want to add a link to Jazzlins about the blog candy you will get an extra gift if you win! but please leave me a comment saying you have linked the blog candy, thank you.

Well I went to the NEC on friday and what a lovely time I had, I managed to stock up on some of the new LOTV stamps and some more image cards which i just adore for that quick card.

Unfortunately the shop is keeping me very busy and im finding it very hard to fit in time to blog as I would like to, so I apologise for not visiting you all more, I hope things will settle down after my next craft weekend on the 20th/21st November.

I hope you will enjoy catching up with some of my makes from the last few months. Kicking off with a couple of the delicious sweet pea images. I just adore these fairies and they are such a dream to colour in. If you would like to purchase any please email me. At the moment I have some Sweet Pea Grab Bags on offer for £10.00 for 4 stamps my choice.

I adore this beautiful girl, what a gorgeous face and I have sneaked outside my usual pink colourways and gone for some blue!!! papers are from the DCWV range, the sentiment is a rub on from my stash. The flowers have been punched out with the whale of a punch daisy punch and a smaller woodware daisy punch.




Secondly another sweet pea card, and another gorgeous girl! this time in more neutral colours and a sentiment downloaded from the internet.

Using one of my all time favourite MS deep punches, available from my shop at £14.99 plus postage.


Lastly another card but this time a card made in one of my weekly classes. A simple sentiment and the addition of a few flowers, simple! pink managed to creep its way back in this time!


Well im now off to post on Jazzlins about the blog candy, hope to see you there soon, have a lovely day, big hugs Linda x

A NOSTALGIC CARD

Happy Saturday Morning, hope your day is starting better than mine. My headcold has taken a hold and I feel like i've done ten rounds with Mike Tyson! its cold, windy and the threat of rain later, can the day get any better?????

Hope you are having a better day than me. I just wanted to come and share a card with you that I made for my lovely friend Jan's birthday.

I want to apologize to some other friends Tracey, Helen and Cami, as I realized I missed your birthdays. I hope you had a wonderful day, and the postman will visit you soon, I promise!

Yesterdays MacMillan coffee morning at the garden center was a little disappointing, I only sold 2 Martha Stewart punches, so will instead make another personal donation to the charity. Will also be running a blog candy on my Jazzlins Designs Blog soon for this charity. Please be sure to join in, by keeping an eye out here.

Here is the birthday card I made for Jan. I have used the DCWV Linen Closset papers, i love this pad, and i have used the Martha Stewartdeep lattice border punch. Some addition of lace and paper punched flowers to complete this course.

Hope you will come back tomorrow when I hope to share some more Sweet Pea cards.

Have a lovely day, hugs Lilnda x

MacMillan Coffee Morning at Baytree Garden Centre

Happy Thursday morning, can you believe another week is nearly over? I am at home today instead of at work as my youngest son has had to have 5 baby teeth removed. He has been very brave and making very little fuss about it. Wanted to post on here and then we are going to settle down to watch Lord of the Rings together.

Tomorrow at Baytree Garden Center we have a coffee morning in aid of the MacMillan fund. There will be free drinks and a cake, but donations would be welcome.

The shopping village outlets are all donating a prize for the raffle and also a designated item in the shop will have a £1.00 donated for each of that item sold to MacMillan. In my case it will be any Martha Stewart of EK success punch. If any of you live near enough to join us we would be thrilled to see you there.

As you know I have a blog especially for the shop Jazzlins Designs. I will be running blog candy from the weekend, so please follow the link on my sidebar and follow me, so you do not miss it!

I have a few cards to show you, none that i've made this week, but cards we have made in my weekly wednesday class and also a project I did to highlight the fabulous sweet pea Stamps.

Firstly I love this sweet pea image and she looks gorgeous in more muted colours. Her wings were decoupaged and stickled and glossy accented to add extra dimension.



I have altered a clip board, I painted in with acrylic paints and then covered with some gorgeous MME papers. Added a few lovely flowers and beaded gems and of course some ribbon. All available from Jazzlins.



Secondly a card we made a few weeks ago using some sentiment rub ons and those fabulous fused pearl strings. I am just loving these at the moment and seem to be putting them on everything!

Turned this card into another easel card, as I am addicted to them still!!!!! oh and some more fused pearls and a lovely Martha Stewart border punch!


So remember girls, go take a look at Jazzlins as there is more inspiration there, not only from myself but some of my lovely DT girls.

Have a lovely day and will be back later at the weekend with more cards to share.

Hugs Linda x

Happy Weekend

Jazzlins Designs

Happy weekend to you all. I hope you are all okay and having a great weekend. Its dull and miserable here with the threat of rain at any minute. I wonder what the week has in store for us.

As many of you know I have a new blog for my shop called Jazzlins Designs. I hope you will have go take a look . I am going to be updating my blog at Jazzlins probably more regularly than here, at least for the time being, so please become a follower here.

Jazzlins Designs will soon be having its own fortnightly challenge and my lovely friend Paula will be putting out a DT call soon, along with more details of the challenge blog. Hope some of you might want to join in!

So this week has been fairly quiet in my little shop, but it has meant I have had chance to do a bit of crafting. I have a couple of cards to share with you. A wedding card I made for a customer and an anniversary card for my sister in laws friend.

This wedding card has been very popular in the shop, I have reproduced it with different colours and slightly different layouts at least 10 times. I have actually taken this design out of the shop now as I am fed up with re-producing it!

Adorable LOTV wedding couple, one of my all time favourite wedding images and a simple layout again using my favourite easel cards.



Using my favourite heart Marth Stewart edger punch available from my shop and also my script embossing folder. Fused pearls used to decorate. The vellum is from my stash and unfortunately im unable to get any more. If anyone reading this has any they would like to sell to me, PLEASE get in touch!!!




Secondly an anniversary card similar layout as the wedding card, has anyone noticed how much I love that heart punch? and those flowers?

Again more of those fused pearls and my favourite heart nestabilities!



Well my lovelies, i hope you enjoy your weekend, I'm off to watch the rest of X Factor and to wait for my chinese super, I'm starving!!

Loving you all Linda x

September and Getting Organized

Now I suspect not many people will be reading this, its been such a long time since I posted again, you've probably all forgotten about me by now.

I can not believe its September already, and only 3 more months till Christmas, I don't know what has happened to the rest of this year.

The shop is certainly taking up all my time and energy and i'm finding it increasingly frustrating that I am not finding the time to update my blog a little more regularly.

The shop is going well and I have met so many lovely new "crafters". I have two ladies every Wednesday for a class and it has eased me into teaching very gently.

I have now decided to have a craft day, as I have been asked about classes by lots of ladies, and I am limited in my little shop to only two/or three ladies at a time.

I am having my first craft day on October 10th, a lovely friend has allowed me to use her beautiful crafting barn for the day. If anyone is interested in joining us please either send me an email or contact me via this post. Leave your email address or phone number and I will get back to you with more details.

I have a batch of the new Martha Stewart punches and EK success punches on order which i'm expecting delivery of next week, so if anyone wants any please contact me.

My actual crafting time is very limited, and unfortunately I have had to step down from some of my DT positions. Thank you to the other Design teams for being so patient with me, I promise I will get myself organized and back to normality soon!!!

I have quite a few cards to share with you, that ive been making in my classes and for the shop. I am going to put out two wedding cards that were special orders and also a birthday card for my colleague next door (at work) for her husbands birthday. He loves sailing so I decided to put my iris folding boat stamp to use! Hope you enjoy seeing them.

Now I am hoping that a couple of the ladies who visit my shop will read this as I do not have their email addresses, and I wanted to let them know about the craft day. You will know who you were, you were in last week. If you are interested in the craft day please drop me a line.







So I hope i've not bored you all too much. I promise to get round to some ofyour blogs this weekend. I miss visiting you all.

Have a lovely evening, hugs Linda x

MISSING IN ACTION - TERRIBLE BLOGGER

I can hardly believe how long its been since I last posted on this blog. I have been so busy with the shop, that i've had little time for much else. I am so sorry that I have not had chance to visit your lovely blogs, I promise to spend some time catching up with you over the weekend. I have to say although I am enjoying the shop, I never realized just how much time it would take up. I am barely getting chance to craft just for the fun of it. I have been making wedding cards lately, special orders for customers. If I am totally honest, I am a little sick of them just now.

I thought I would share one of those cards with you. I love the easel cards as you know and the customer wanted a card to matvh the colours of the bridesmaid dresses, so green and pink it is, one of my favourite colour combinations. Hope you like it.





Well back to work, hope to catch up with you all again over the weekend.

Hugs Linda x

Long Absence - Sorry Again

Good morning to you all, its been a while since I last posted. I have barely been at my Computer since opening my shop. I dont know where the time goes, im constantly chasing my tail, but I have to admit, I am also enjoying it!

Unfortunately I have not had time to blog much at all and I am missing visiting all your wonderful blogs, I am sure you will have all completely abandoned me by now.

I have a new blog that will be running alongside my personal blog called Jazzlins Designs. I will be posting about the shop on my new blog and letting you know of new items I have in stock at my shop, and of course trying to offer you a little inspiration. I have a fabulous DT who are showcasing my products perfectly, thank you girls!

I hope to visit you all soon, will be back later with some cards I have made for special orders.

Enjoy your day, hugs Linda x

Sunshine and Hot, Hot, Hot!! and a Garden Show this Weekend

Good morning ladies, I can barely believe its Thursday again, at the moment the weeks are flying by even quicker than usual. The shop has for the time being completely consumed my time. I apologize for the lack of blogging and visiting, I hope to rectify that soon. I also want to say a huge Thank you to the Challenge Blogs that I am on, for their understanding and patience with me just now, it means a lot.

Well as you know I am selling the fabulous Sweet Pea Stamps and have a delivery due in any day. If you would like any of these beauties please drop me a line. They are such a bargain at just £4.25 each. If you are able to visit my little shop you are sure to be inspired by the samples that my lovely DT girls have made. Thank you girls.

This weekend, infact starting from Saturday the Bay Tree Garden Centre has a fabulous Garden Show. It runs from Friday through to Sunday, and there is something for all the family. A Craft marquee, little laid out gardens, and to keep the children happy of course the resident Pet Centre. Entry I believe is £5.00 which includes entrance to the petting Center. Please dont take this as red though, i shall check tonight and confirm the price tomorrow.

So anyone living in the Braintree area, or within travelling distance, it may be worth a visit this weekend. Oooh forgot to say there is a fabulous restaurant and if you knit a wool shop next door along with another fabulous shop selling very reasonably priced glass, including drinking glasses and vases and candle holders!

Last weekend I had two visits from my lovely blogging friends, firstly from the lovely Zoe and her family, it was just a joy to see you again hunny and your gorgeous family. Thank you so much for making a special visit, you have been a true friend, much love xx

Secondly a lovely lady who I met through facebook named Rosemary came to visit, and I have to say she had me in stitches from the moment she arrived till she went!! you are a true character Rosemary and it was a total joy to have met you, i hope to see you again some time in the future.

Well my friends, I really must get on, another list as long as my arm, and not even made a start on it yet.

Have a lovely day big hugs Linda x

UPDATE ON JAZZLINS

Happy Friday to you all. I hope you're all enjoying some lovely weather this week. It has sure been a warm one, and this heat is really getting to me. I am finding it very hard to stay awake, am I the only one who feels sleepy in this warm weather?

Well Jazzlin's has now been officially open for a week, and I am happy with the start I have had. It may seem possible for me to have a webshop up and running in the future which I am very excited about.

Also I have been given permission to advertise the fact that I am selling the fabulous Sweet Pea stamps. If you have not seen these beauties, please go over to the Sweet Pea Stampers challenge blog to look at these beauties. If you would like to purchase any from me please send me an email.



I hope you all have a fabulous weekend to look forward to. I will of course be in the shop. Hopefully with lots of visitors.

Enjoy your weekend, hugs Linda x

Creative Card Crew Challenge - An Easel Card

Its another week at the Creative Card Crew Challenge, and this week it was my turn to set the challenge. Now you all know how much I love easel cards at the moment, so any excuse to make one, and I take it, so this week I would love to see your easels. I have made a couple for this weeks challenge, the usual and the less usual. Hope you will get some inspiration from them.

The first easel card I made was a card for a blogging friend. I found this wonderful image at the Stitchy Bear Stamps site. This image is called "Reach" and is available to buy here. If you havn't visited it before please go take a look, there are a host of digi downloads and paper kits, something for everyone.


This was the sentiment I used inside the card using my PC. The words were of special meaning.


I used a combination of cuttlebug embossing folders and die cuts. The letters for the word 'REACH' were printed out on my PC and punched out using a small circle punch, I used my soot distress ink pad to soften the edges.

I used stickles and some glossy accents to her wings and the addition of a organza dotty ribbon.

The addition of some flower sequins to the die cut swirl border, that I added stickles to for extra sparkle.

The papers are from the black monochromatic colour capsule from Papermania, a stunning collection of papers.

Finally!!

Good evening to you all. It has been a very eventful weekend. Yesterday was the official opening of my store JAZZLIN DESIGNS. Unfortunately the weather was terrible, and i'm sure it put off a few customers from venturing out, but still I had a nice day meeting some new crafting ladies. I have had a positive feedback with regards to the sensational sweet pea stamps that I am selling instore and I feel sure everyone will love them as much as I do by the time I have finished promoting them!

It was also my birthday today. At forty five years, I have finally taken a risk in my life, and I have to say as nerve racking as it is, it is also very liberating. Okay, it might not work out but in the process I am meeting lots of lovely people, and its giving me some life experience, as they say better late than never!! I had almost forgotten what it is to be anything other than a mum or wife, I have lost in essence my own identity, maybe this will help me re-find it. I know don't want to run my own shop forever, but maybe while running the shop, I will get some answers as to what direction I do want to take my life in.

Over the past three weeks since venturing on this journey, I have had such positive feedback from friends in blogland, and it has made me feel very humbled by your encouragement and kind words. I want to thank you all. You will never know what a difference your words have made to me.

So once again, I am rambling, bet you havn't missed that!! Now on with the reason for my posting, my little craft haven.

Finally Friday I managed to put up my bunting with the words JAZZLINS appliqued on it. Unfortunately you can not see very clearly from my rubbish photos on here. I am absolutely thrilled with it, thank you so much Lesley for making it for me. I just LOVE it! I have a host of very talented friends!!

So here you have it my little summerhouse! Welcome, and please come in ...........


I do not have much storage in here, so I have had to make use of every bit of wall space I can. There are more cup hooks up here that B & Q have!!!!!

As you all know I'm totally rubbish with my photo taking, but I have done my best to show you what I have inside my little store. It is not a huge shop, and I can't stock everything I would love to, but I can I hope offer that personal touch to my customers and I can order in much more than I have on my shelves! Have the fabulous cosmic shimmer range in, which I can't wait to play with, please contact me if you are interested in purchasing any of these fabulous products. Also stocking the fabulous martha stewart punches. Anyone interested im selling the border punches for £14.75 and the deep border punches for £18.99. The large latice heart or butterfly for £15.99 and the corner punches for £13.99.

My little colourful chest is full of double sided satin ribbons and handmade flowers. You can never have enough ribbons and flowers can you?

Have the basic collection of pro markers (8.99 a pack), and of course a selection of the fabulous Sweet Pea stamps.
My daughter taking charge of the money!!! she is expecting a share of the profits, I think she will have a long wait!!!!
More ribbons, 25 meter mixed packs for just £2.99 or 2 packs for £5.00 also have organza ribbons in the same deal. Can I tempt anyone???

I am awaiting stock of the fabulous distress ink pads, will be selling them at a price of £ £4.50 each or any 10 for £40.00. Also available distress ink refills and alcohol inks.

If any of you wonderful ladies get chance to visit me please be sure to say hello and introduce yourselves. I have already had a visit from the lovely Leigh (Charity Crafter) and Angie (waving at you ...) Hope to meet up with a few more of you wonderful ladies too.

So i've kept you all long enough. Just before I go, thank you to all you lovely friends who have sent me birthday cards and gifts, I will try and get round to emailing you all individually over the week. Your thoughtfulness never seizes to amaze me, you truly are the best!!!

Enjoy your evening, lots of love Linda x

Creative Card Crew Challenge Wk 52 - Thank you

Happy tuesday again and welcome to another week at the Creative Card Crew Challenge. Hope you will join us with some "Thank You" card or projects. We will look forward to seeing your wonderful creations.

I hope your all having a much nice bank holiday weekend, weatherwise, than we are. It has been raining on and off all weekend so far, typical bank holiday weekend!

Well I finally have some news to share with you all. I mentioned it a fortnight ago, but I had since had second thoughts, the usual talking myself out of it, and then back into it again! does this sound familiar to any of you? But after much encouragement from friends and also my family I finally decided on Friday to go for it, and I signed a contract to open my own little crafting haven! Now , for those who know me well, you know I'm still very nervous about it all, worried sick I'll fail , but i gave myself a good talking to (oh yes , I am mad!).

I will be 45 on the 20th of this month, and I have spent my life doing absolutely nothingbasically because I have always been scared of failing, drawing attention to myself, or just general lack of self belief, but because of this, I'm left with a list as long as my arm (and longer) of what if's????

Life for me has been very difficult on and off for the last two and a half years, just when i thought things couldn't get worse, they did. Talk about being kicked when your down! I felt totally out of control of everything around me, I was not in a good place, and at the time thought it would never end. But, I was wrong, things slowly improved since about February and now we are at a stage, that I truly believed would never come ! But things happen for a reason and I know all these unfortunate times have made me stronger even though I didn't realize it at the time.

It's made me realize, certain things you can't control, and its pointless wasting energy and time on them, instead put that time and energy into something you can have an influence on. Life really is too short! So with giving myself a talking to (several times), I have decided to give it a go, yes of course I'm still worried sick I will fail, but if I don't try I will never know, and so what if I do fail. Yes of course , I'll feel bad about it, but at least there is not another "what if" to add to my already very long list.

My friends and family have all been so supportive and encouraging, so thank you all for that. I also wanted to thank Sarita, for her words of encouragement, I know she has also made a decision to go ahead with turning her fabulous designs into downloads and stamps. You will definitely be fine Sarita, you have an outstanding talent. I can't wait to see your next drawing!

So a little about my new venture. Don't get too excited ladies, its only a summerhouse, but its my summerhouse (have always wanted one in the garden), or at least while I pay for it! It is inside the premise of Bay Tree Farm Garden Centre . There are 5 similar units there, only 2 others occupied, a wool shop and a lovely glassware shop, but hopefully the other units will soon be taken, and they are planning to add more if it takes off. The units have been their since November so its a new venture and its still very quiet, but I believe that with better advertising it may take off. I have been to the garden centre at least 3 times since November, and did not realize they had the shopping village there!!!!

There is loads of things to sort out, but I am planning to have an official opening the weekend of my birthday , the 19th/20th June. There is so much to organize so i will probably be a little lapse with my blogging posts.

I really would appreciate any ideas you have for the shop. I want to offer so much more than just crafting stash, somewhere to come and share ideas, to learn new techniques etc, and to chat! I have lots to learn myself.

If there is anyone out there who ever visits my blog that lives nearby please can you email me , thank you.

My Little Shop - Jazzlins Designs

Crafting has been a bit lapse, but i have made these cards this week in between long sessions on the internet. Firstly a 50th Birthday Card for Kelly's Mum. An elegant card for an elegant lady happy birthday sweetie!

I just adore the Stampin Up Bird and branch post, perfect for a quick card embellishment.

A quick card used with an image that Jasmine had coloured in for me.

Have a fabulous weekend, look forward to catching up with you all again as soon as I can.

Hugs Linda x

LOTV Blog candy

The fabulous LOTV have an upcoming release , these gorgeous stamps will be available from Tuesday 1st June. If you would like the chance to win some of this gorgeous stamps go over to the LOTV Challenge Blog for the chance to win this collection. Hurry, you have till tomorrow night midnight to enter.

Hugs Linda x

Creative Cottage Challenge Week 12

Happy Wednesday to you all. I hope your not as cold as I am, its freezing here this morning. My daughter is still not well today and so I have her at home, with a temperature and sore throat, fingers crossed I don't get it! My poor son and his girlfriend have the week off work this week, its such a shame the weather is not nicer for them. They had planned going to Southend today, but alas the weather has made them re-consider.

Well I will be busy this morning, I have lots of things to get done, so I shall keep this waffling brief!

introducing
the

CREATIVE COTTAGE NEW RELEASE
DAISY CHAIN FARM

The kit

with additional paper packs

CREATIVE COTTAGE CHALLENGE WEEK 12
Blooming Charming

Being Wednesday again (already) its time for another fabulous challenge. I love this weeks challenge titled "Blooming Charming". For inspiration from my fabulous DT sisters please go to the Creative Cottage Challenge Blog where you are sure to be inspired!

For those of you who visit my blog regularly you will know my lovely friend Anna Marie, produces her own templates, originally in card they are now available to buy on a CD format.

I have had this flower template for a while, and until now not had chance to use it. So I have been thrilled to use two of my lovely friends products for my challenge this week. Anna's template and Tracy's fabulous Daisy Chain Farm Kit Digi Download that is available here.

I have used one of the ready coloured digi images included in the Farm Kit and printed it out on an A4 white card. Then traced round the template to form this lovely flower shape.

Have used some of the fabby papers inside and added sequin flowers and pearls to highlight the mat. The outside of the card coloured with my distress inks, and the addition of some of the flower embellishments included in the kit and a flourish border.

Added some retro punch flowers and the stems are some cloud 9 stickers i've had for ages.

I hope you will join us in this weeks challenge, I look forward to visiting your blogs to see your wonderful creations.

If anyone is interested in purchasing Anna-Maries flower template I am selling it for £1.00 plus p & p of £0.72.

More templates to follow and will be post up to 10 templates for the same Post and Packing cost.

Hugs for now Linda x