Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge 112 (& a birthday lunch)

Well quite unexpectedly I found myself being able to play this week after all.  I got a phone call from my sister yesterday afternoon inviting me to lunch today with my mother and us girls.  There are 5 of us - 6 altogether if you include mum.  I knew my sister's birthday was due and this was to be an early celebration since Wednesday is often a day that most of us don't work and we would all be busy on her actual birthday.

As my mother gets older (us too) these times together become all the more important and I know she really enjoys having her girls buzzing around her, just chatting, laughing and generally getting along together and having fun.  It's never quite the same when we go to her house - too many cook's in the kitchen kinda thing so going out is way nicer.

Anyhow I swung by the grocery store yesterday evening and picked up the most gorgeous sunflowers for my sister.

I hadn't seen sunflowers quite like these before and they were just so vibrant and cheerful - I simply couldn't resist!

Each of the heads - and there are several - are so jammed full of petals that there's hardly any centre to them but don't they just look stunning!  These are going to look beautiful in a vase I just know it.

I already had a card made up but I wanted a pretty tag so since I had to make one I decided I might as well use the latest sketch (WMSC 112) as my inspiration.  I had die-cut some felt flowers a while ago so all I had to do was grab one and add a touch of yellow with a flat gem.

To give you an idea of size - this tag is the large tag die from Sizzix so it's pretty chunky.  I used the flourish stamps to add a bit of background interest and the sentiment is the same as the one on her card.  A quick bit of trimming here and there for the base of the design, some hand cut leaves (cut with a deckle edge, crimped & inked) and that pretty felt flower and there it is.  My take on this week's sketch

I re-wrapped the flowers in extra cellophane to bulk out the wrap a bit more, I have a reel of pretty polka dot wrap that comes in soooooo handy for baskets and bouquets and finally added a raffia bow. 

And there you have it!  One quick, pretty gift and card plus a tag that allowed me to play again this week.

We had a fab lunch, Theresa got to celebrate her birthday early and I stuck to the diet pretty well - I'm trying to get back on track to lose that last couple of stone!  Plus I got to do a bit of impromptu crafting this morning.  Now I'm off to get my pickles made, pop in a movie so I can work on Caroline's wedding invites and then off to my mother's this evening for a 'light dinner' and more crafting.

I left these sitting on the kitchen counter whilst I was at lunch and the entire house smelled of garlic and onion when I got back!  Phewey!!!  It's pouring with rain outside so it feels like a snuggle up indoors kinda day.  Hubby will be pleased tho' since he won't have to go water the allotment tonight and can relax and chill out.  Relaxing's good huh? LOL.

Enjoy!

Suezie

Random Stuff

I haven't blogged for a few days - we have been busy over the bank holiday weekend plus I have wedding invites to get made as soon as possible.  Before I go any further I want to share the latest  Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge and encourage you to play along - remember there are always freebie stamps to be had if you're lucky enough to have your name picked!

It's a really sweet sketch this week and I sooooo want to play but I am back to work tomorrow plus I have to put the wedding invites ahead of anything else.  If I can get a move on I may get a chance to play tho'.  My heart goes out to Claire right now.  She has had manufacturer difficulties and had to almost retract the latest release of stamps - major BUMMER!  It means I will just have to be patient a bit longer to get my hands on these fab stamps but this is the best release EVER in my opinion so I'm more than happy to wait.

We travelled to Northampton on Friday to collect Jess and bring her home for the day - she really needed to be with family and friends for a few hours but it meant an early start and then taking her back late and we didn't get back home again until midnight that same day.  Then because we promised to take the grand kids out for the day on Saturday we were up early again and in for another long busy day.

We stopped off in Colchester first to have a picnic lunch in the park and take in a museum.  The weather was not the best and we ended up sheltering from sudden rain showers several times.  Once it brightened up we headed to the nearest coast and the kids enjoyed this most of all.  They are just fascinated by the sea and could spend hours on a beach.

As chance would have it there was a festival in Colchester park and it was absolutely heaving with people all enjoying the live music, exhibitions and activities but it was all a bit too chaotic and busy for the kids.  I have to say it was a beautiful park with a fantastic play area for kids so we will be making a second trip and maybe take in the castle next time too. Well worth a visit if you're looking for somewhere to go for an afternoon.

Sunday was taken up with church, allotment most of the afternoon and then church again in the evening which is kinda how I like a Sunday to be.  Nothing too strenuous, a good sermon or two - especially if it's thought provoking (which a sermon should be) plus getting some more work done outdoors which I also love especially as it's something hubby and I do together.  Today (Bank Holiday Monday) Dave & I got up early and headed off for a drive to a car boot sale which we also love to do when we can.

I picked up several things but I'm especially please to have bagged a few children's books.  It's hard trying to find character books with just the right kind of picture pages inside and ever since I used my WTP book to make story book bunting for our friend Jo for her new baby nursery, I have been hankering to have another go.  The Dandy and Beezer are probably my favourites but the Sponge Bob Square Pants one should be interesting.

It's fine to have some text on the bunting but mostly you need brightly coloured pictures back and front.  Once I get my invites done I will be cutting these out and sewing them up at my mother's one Wednesday evening.  

I promise I'll post pictures when I do.  They come up so fab and I'm excited about making more so I can't wait to share them with you all when I do.  

Well for now I have to take up the hem of a pair of trousers I'm planning to wear to work tomorrow.  I told myself NOT to leave it until the last minute but that's exactly what I've ended up doing!  Guess I'd best go do it before my eyes get too tired to sew - they're black trousers and it's hard to see black on black at the best of times.

I will be back as soon as I can.  Stay well & happy crafting!

Blessings

Suezie

Anatomy of a Card (aka A Tutorial)

It's been quite some time since I did a tutorial so I thought it would be fun but this is really an anatomy of a card.  Before I begin though I just want to ask - have you seen the Waltzing Mouse Day 1 DT samples yet? You so have to go 'CHECK IT OUT'.

I have been wanting Claire to do seed packets for ages and - well let's just say I still haven't calmed down yet LOL!  It will be hard to be away from my computer this week but I need to keep checking back to catch the new stuff as it goes out.  Well as much as I can at least since I made plans to get out walking with friends both tomorrow afternoon and Thursday plus we're going to pick Jess up unexpectedly on Friday now.

I also spied a scripture stamp in the sneak peeks so I am megga excited about that too and keen to see this set.  I just love getting the Plain Jane scripture verse stamps from Verve but it's a bit of a hassle getting them.  How cool would it be to be able to get clear scripture stamps right here at home and from one of my favourite companies too.

Anyhow - on to the tutorial.  I know many of you out there don't need instructions on card making so this is for anyone who does.

Take a base card (or create one yourself), round the corners and stamp a strip of text across it at about 1" up from the lower edge using black ink.  Take a smaller flourish stamp and stamp it in black at the lower right hand side of the card but leaning slightly towards the left.

Next stamp a larger flourish on the upper portion of the card with about 1/2" space above it and leaning to the left.  Be sure to leave enough room for the bow.  This is the card base prepared and ready.  Now choose a Nestabilities friendly frame stamp and coloured card stock and stamp a frame using black ink.

 

Next die-cut the frame out using low tack tape to keep the die in place and ensure a perfect cut.  Choose a further die shape that will fit neatly behind your frame for the sentiment and cut out.

Using a craft knife cut into the centre of your stamped frame and then take a pair of scissors to cut in and around the inner detail to remove the centre section.  It's easier to cut if you cut in from behind (take your scissors in from behind the image bringing the top blade through to the front).  Next stamp your sentiment into the centre of your die-cut shape to fit behind your frame.

Adhere your choice of ribbon across the card and then add the sentiment shape and your die-cut frame using foam pads.  Use glossy accents to add a bit of diamanté bling to your frame if desired. Finish with a bow and a brad and finally ink around the edges of your card with a co-ordinating colour if desired.

I used a different frame on this version just so I could show how different it looks.  I just love that I have WMS frame stamp sets and dies to match so I have a few to choose from to change things up when I need to.

And here's a shot showing some pretty colours.  I have stamped up frames in purple, orange and pink to make up but I really must get busy and tidy up my mess for now.  I crafted on the kitchen counter and table today and hubby is due home in an hour so it's off the computer and a quick clean up so I can start dinner!

Now go check out the WMS DT projects!

Enjoy!

Suezie

Home-made Granola & Sunflowers

My youngest daughter got me hooked onto coffee houses (skinny latte, decaf but on the side - I like to add it myself, extra frothy in a take out cup please) and since I'm dieting I try not to have cake - it just makes me feel over stuffed and is all a bit sweet and sickly anyhow.  And this from a woman who has a sweet tooth - or should that be HAD?  My tastes have changed somewhat.  In fact the last time I dieted successfully several years ago now, I stopped drinking soda pop of any kind and now I can't stand the stuff, sugar-free or otherwise - it just tastes like I'm drinking syrup or something.

Well I usually have one of the healthier options like the yoghurt with fruit and granola with my cup of coffee so I don't feel left out.  I really love the crunchy bits too so today I made myself some home-made granola and I thought I'd share the recipe.  When I buy store bought yoghurt it's usually one where you tip in the little pot full of fruit or crunchy bits but I wanted to see if I could make it myself without lots of preservatives or additives plus I wanted to work out the calorie values.  My version works out way lower than the ones I buy.

Once I made it up I put it into a jar and I store it in the fridge.  You might be thinking why the fridge?  Well it has low-fat margarine as one of the ingredients so I wasn't sure plus you'd think it would get all wet and soggy but surprisingly it doesn't.

And it couldn't be simpler either but boy am I ever glad I bought that heavy weight non-stick pan a few weeks back.  It made everything so much nicer and nothing stuck even a bit!

Home-made Granola

1 cup old fashion oats (the larger ones)

2 tablespoons wheat germ

2 tablespoons crushed bran flakes

3 tablespoons sunflower seeds

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

2 tablespoons ground almonds

cinnamon or mixed spice

3 tablespoons honey

30g low-fat margarine

Simply mix the first 7 ingredients together in a bowl then warm the margarine and honey in the microwave just until melted and pour over dry ingredients.  Stir thoroughly to mix and spread out onto a non-stick pan.  Bake in a 160 oven (or thereabouts) for 15 to 25 minutes stirring halfway through and until just golden.  Let cool and jar up.

Calories less than 60 per 15g serving

Add to a 100g serving of Alpro Soya plain yoghurt at less than 50 per serving and some fresh strawberries and you have about 125 - 130 calories of yumminess!  The one I have been buying from the grocery store is 272 calories per pot so mine is way lower which just means I can eat it more often or I can have something else besides.  And I even tried a bit out of the jar just as it was and it's lovely.  I struggle to have things like apple crumble and go for a baked apple instead but I could happily have cooked apple with cinnamon and a scoop of ice cream with some of this sprinkled on top.  Altogether it's a much healthier option and since my diet is going to be very much my new lifestyle (it's for life) anything I really enjoy is worth the extra effort.

And finally I remembered to take my camera along with me when we went down to the allotment to water this evening.  I just kept forgetting it but I was desperate to capture these flowers - it's the first time we've tried growing them and I'm always admiring everyone else's sunflowers so this year we have our very own.  This is Maddy's one and so far she is winning the race.  We set the kids a competition this year to see who could grow the tallest sunflower.

This one is Kaleb's and is the next tallest but much smaller over all although I think it has the perfect size head for my liking.

And this one is Zach's - perhaps the prettiest I think but very small and lagging way behind the other two.  Still the sun has been out in force and promises more to come so who knows?  I for one am enjoying the splash of yellow that greets you as you approach the plot and I'm especially pleased with Maddy & Grandma's flower and herb garden this year too.

We have a big bush of rosemary (just out of shot towards the bottom of picture) plus basil, 2 kinds of oregano, thyme, parsley & chives all mixed in amongst several flowers including lavender, marigolds and even some lupins that will probably come up better next year.  We also have big plans to add a further flower garden for the bees and butterflies in the long thin box beyond this one which will give a wonderful splash of colour and variety down the centre of the plot.  It's still a work in progress and I'm not really a flower gardener but we're giving it a go.

Hope you all have a fab weekend.

Blessings

Suezie

Waltzing Mouse Blog Hop

Well today was full of good intentions and not enough of what I needed to achieve everything but I'm happy to say I can still enter the Waltzing Mouse Blog Hop for this month just not with the project I intended to make.

I had big plans to scrap my grandson's birthday photos which would've been just perfect for the theme and since his b'day was just a couple of weeks ago it was all fitting in very nicely thank you.  Only trouble was it took me a while to get hubby to take me to the store to get the photos and then when I did I left them at my mother's house on Wednesday when I visited for the evening - aarrgghhhhh!  I guess maybe it just wasn't meant to be huh?

Instead I did something I almost NEVER do!  I created a clean & simple (CAS) card using the pretty flourish stamp set that Mr Postie delivered to my door last week plus a couple of other stamps besides. I really struggle to do CAS so this was quite a challenge for me.  Everything is stamped directly on the card and only the 'sweet b'day wishes' and frame have been added on, plus the ribbon & brad of course and that's it.  A quick bit of inking around the edges and 'Bob's yer Uncle'.

I chose to cut around the pretty scrolled edges inside the frame image and then added some really pretty little gems for a bit of bling.  Finally I added this embellishment using foam pads for a bit of dimension.  I like this card so much that I think I might make one up in several different colours and gift it as a set of cards next time I need a quick b'day gift for someone.  I am already imagining it in lime green, turquoise, pink & purple - I love the black against the plain colour - so striking.

The card is my 'official' entry but I couldn't remember if I'd ever shared this page on my blog so just to prove that I could've done a nice b'day page 'here's one I did earlier' LOL!  I had planned to use a few of these stamps again on my grandson's page but hey ho - never mind.  Now I'm off to check out some of the other entries for more inspiration.

Happy Blogging!

Suezie

Wedding Invites

I seldom agree to make wedding invites but when I was asked by a gal recently who used to work with our team I couldn't resist saying yes.  She has been with her partner a number of years and I was so delighted that they were finally tying the knot!  Hubby was out this evening at a men's group at church so I figured now was the perfect evening - no TV blaring in the background and no distractions.  It meant I could get to work on a sample for her based on some of the things she requested such as colours, style, orientation etc.  I still don't have the exact wording and font style so I've had to wing it but I'm really hoping she'll like them.  I need to get it in the post this weekend if I can so she can make final decisions.

I emailed her several clips of things I'd seen and also suggested a square card which is just a bit nicer than the norm - at least I think so.  One of the clips was an entwined ribbon and since she chose kind of 'coffee & cream' colours plus gold we settled on this design.  It seemed to suit them well since they're finally tying the knot!  She also wanted some kind of embossed detail here and there so I hope she's happy with this simple 'non-fussy' touch.

I made a mock up of text so she would have a better idea how it might look and used my new Waltzing Mouse flourish stamp set to add a hint of detail too.  I just knew since I had these invites to make that this set would be perfect so I'm really hoping she likes the swirls.  It had been on my wish list for some time and when my name was drawn for a freebie set a few weeks back I simply had to have it.

I'm lovin' how it allows me to match everything up by adding different sized flourishes to all the extras too - even the return envelope for the RSVP is stamped!  I suggested a pocket inside to hold directions, RSVP, save the date or anything else she wanted to include and I embossed this to match the front flap.  The whole thing is a kind of 'tri-fold' card that opens out so it's quite a functional invite too.

I made a double layer RSVP with more of those pretty swirls.  What you can't see in these photos is the hint of gold which is the colour ink I stamped with and of course the shade of ribbon is somewhat distorted too but it does all match up better than it appears here.

This is the second page of the RSVP where guests can add any special dietary needs although she may choose not to have this part.  Being a veggie-tarian this kind of thing is important to me and I wanted to make sure she had the option.

I have place cards still to make plus cupcake boxes and eventually cupcakes too but the real urgency is for the invites so I have plenty of time to work on those things later.  For now I just need some finalisation so I can get busy but I only have 20 to make so thankfully it shouldn't take long once I get started and I've kept them as sinple as possible to make it quicker and easier.

I'm really hoping I can get Kaleb's b'day photos onto a page tomorrow so I can take part in the Waltzing Mouse blog hop but if I run out of time I may just have to whip up a quick b'day card since that's the theme this time around.

Well hubby's home now so I think I might email Caroline a few pictures to be going on with and then head off to Bedfordhsire.

Enjoy!

Suezie

Becoming My Mother

Oh My Word! I think I am becoming my mother LOL!  Do you ever find yourself thinking that?  More and more I find myself doing things she does and I probably do it all the time without even realising it.  Except that sometimes, just sometimes, I catch myself and today was one of those times.

From time to time people I know have asked me how do I manage to fit in all the things I do?  I guess because I usually find it hard to sit still for just 5 minutes and even then I am usually doing something else at the same time.  My mother is the same.  Although I do way less these days than I used to and I am learning to sit and relax more.

But I am NOT superwoman (sorry to have to shatter any illusions you may be under folks LOL!)

I am NOT a particularly organised person either - least ways I don't think of myself as very organised but I do like to be methodical and make plans for things.  Believe it or not I actually take great pleasure in weighing out my food, calculating calories and planning my meals which has made dieting fun for me.  I am that sad kind of person who will have a tub in the cupboard full of perfectly weighed portions of dry pasta and couscous all neatly labelled with calorie counts - yes - both cooked and dry calculations and I can happily lose an afternoon restocking these supplies.  

HEY!  Maybe there is a bit of an organised person in there just tryin to get out?  Shame it doesn't overflow into other areas of my life.  Believe me - I could use it.

So where is this post going?  I am clearly drifting here - sorry.  I baked today is where it's going and I thought I'd share one of my mother's secrets as a result.  It was this that made me realise I am becoming more like my mother all the time!

I've always taken time to prep when I bake but I now bake in bulk and also plan ahead for future baking.  Sometimes I will bake one day and then do a bit more the next to stock up the freezer or take something fresh baked that morning into work.  Since I've taken the time to drag the ingredients out of the cupboard which I hate doing  - I'm short so it usually involves step ladders plus pulling lots of things out to get to other things behind -  I figure I might as well weigh out enough for several more batches while I'm at it.  

Sometimes I do this and then bag them all up with a tag and simply pop them back in the cupboard.  I regularly do this with my muesli bars so all I have to do is grab it, dump it into a bowl and add the wet ingredients.  Of course if you do this you have to be sure to write instructions on a label.  I have been known to forget and then make something up only to realise an ingredient was missing!

My mother was a cook by profession and while I didn't do much cooking in her kitchen - I have long hair which she'd take one look at and usher me out! - I've obviously seen enough throughout the years to have picked up her good habits.  Sadly she's no longer able to cook like she used to but she can still be found weighing out and bagging ingredients for my sister who has always lived at home with her and who bakes for the Country Market.

Today it was Mom's Zucchini Bread I was making and whilst I probably won't eat any (the diet remember) I have to say it does smell delish!  Each batch makes up two 1lb loaves and if you make them with just a few spoonfuls less you can even get a small individual loaf from each batch.  I love to dress these mini loaves up with a small doily, cellophane, a pretty tag and ribbon then pop them into a little brown paper sack and hand deliver them.

So just a couple of batches weighed out and bagged up (top photo) will yield 4 large and 2 individual loaves.  I will be baking these later this evening when I use the oven again for dinner - yep, just like my mother - I now multi-cook in my oven in one go.  She does this to save on electricity and I never used to bother but clearly this is just something else that proves I am my mother's daughter LOL!

And just for those of you who might be hoping this was a craft post I'm sharing a quick pic of a card I made to keep in touch with a friend going through a tough time right now.  It was made using up scraps that I had been playing around with a while ago.  Seems I can always get my hands a few of these WMS homespun stamped flowers.  I always stamp up extras whenever I craft with them so I can keep some on hand in a hurry.

And just because I could; I even decorated up the envelope.  But hey - how pretty would this look coming through your door?  I often do this to Jessy's care packages too :-)  She loves it and it means she knows exactly who the package is from!

Blessings

Suezie

Top Mouse Award 2 Weeks Running!

Well I could hardly believe my eyes when I checked in on the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge blog yesterday for the newest sketch and low and behold I made the top 3 again!  I am megga thrilled but it somehow doesn't seem fair since there were sooooo many fabulous creations for this sketch.  There is so much creative talent out there in blog land and I am in awe of much of it.

I usually check out the entries each week and I always have my own favourites so I thought I'd share some of my favourite ones from last week and thoughts on why I chose them so I hope you'll check em' out yourself and see what you think.

Kim Heggins - I just love her colours and that bow is gorgeous! She made top mouse award and rightly so.
Maureen P - Sooo pretty with all the lace and that sweet butterfly plus I love her colour combo.
Vickie Z - her colour choice and how she used the doily stamp is stunning plus I love the random stitched framing.
Michelle Bala - such an elegant card and such sweet pearl touches here and there (I just lurve adding delicate pearls & bling) - so pretty. She definitely deserves her top mouse award!
Renee Lynch - I love the simplicity although even the background is stamped and of course that 'oh so sweet' strawberry stamp takes centre stage :-)
Clare Buswell - I am a BIG fan of this gals work and what she's done with that jar stamp is just simply AMAZING!!!  There's so much detail in her card that it's a pleasure to really study it and take it all in.  What I wouldn't give to sit in on a class she was teaching!
Linda Suarez - I think this has to be one of my favourites because I love the twist on the sketch.  The clever curve with the flower placement alludes to the circle element even though she's used a different shape altogether plus the colours are stunning and yet the design still feels clean and 'non-fussy'.

I can see how it must be really hard for the Mischief Makers to narrow it down to just three each week.

And how about this week's sketch?

Jean Martin gets my vote hands down!  I don't own the Half Pint Heroes set but it's been on my wishlist for a while now.  I've seen so many cute cards made with this set but this has to be the cutest EVER! Plus I love the entry by Renee Lynch again this week too, especially the way she coloured her image and the understated black gems.

I don't know if I'll get the chance to play this week - I have started making wedding invitations for a work colleague that have to be done ASAP plus I plan to take part in the upcoming blog hop.  I want to do a page of Kaleb's b'day photos while the event is still fresh in my mind.

Well I'm off to finish watching the closing ceremony of the Olympics.  It's been an incredible 2 weeks and I think we've done the United Kingdom proud!

Hugs

Suezie

Strawberry Love

I make no secret about my love for everything strawberry - I have collected for years although I have since reduced my collection and now keep just a few favourite pieces.  It all begins to take over otherwise - believe me I know - I've been there LOL.

Anyhow when my mother and sisters visited for lunch a while back we pulled out the awning and set up a table in the back yard.  All my pretty strawberry dishes came out and I have my sister Gillian to thank since she started me collecting particular ones including the ones in this snap shot - which sadly they discontinued before I could finish my collection.  It all just means I have to have an 'ecclectic' and sometimes 'random' mix of dishes but I've learnt to accept that now that I'm over the disappointment.

As we sat and enjoyed the sunshine and banter it was noted that I didn't have a tea cosy for my strawberry tea pot.  I have been longing for a strawberry tea cosy for like forever!  Well long no more Suezie :-)

Isn't this a beauty?  Best of all it's completely hand made and by some lovely lady who donates them to a local charity shop in our town - how cool is that.!  Wish I could knit like this.  I suspect the shop gives her donated wool which I've heard is usually how it works but whatever the arrangement I'm truly grateful to this lady who remains nameless.

It cost a mere £3.49 which I feel is definitely way too cheap but then again I guess people just don't use tea pots so much these days never mind use tea cosys.  I for one am encouraging Jilly to get out her little old tea pot and cups and saucers when I visit her - why shouldn't we treat ourselves to something special.  Why the whole thing has been known to make us both giddy with excitement - silly pair of girls that we are - at least when we get together that is.  I don't know.  It must hark back to our school days together I guess but it just brings back the carefree days of childhood and we get positively giddy on it.  Ha, ha - have I told you I love visitin' with Jilly?  

Don't you just love charity shops?  You just never know quite what you'll find and you just have to feel better knowing you did something all in a good cause.  In fact charity shops, flea markets, car boot sales,antique sales - I love em' all.  I love to see something old being given a new lease of life I guess, being cherished all over again and I've always been a firm believer in one man's trash, another man's treasure.  Society is far too wasteful as a whole so give me old fashioned and a bit well loved any day of the week.  Hubby and I refer to it as 'having character' which most modern things seem to be sadly lacking these days.  Okay, I'll get off my soapbox LOL!

Sending you all blessings

Suezie

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge 109

First up I'm getting this post out in time for the WMSC 109 but as it's nearly 10.30 am and the deadline is today at 12 pm I'm cutting it just a bit fine!  I could've posted it yesterday but Jilly came to visit me plus I had my on line grocery shopping to get done so I bumped it to today.

Well here is my effort for this week's challenge - a super sweet 'jammin' card with a little surprise thrown into the mix.  I'll have you know I have big plans for this card.  I have some birthdays coming up next month and I know someone who would just love a basket full of jam makin' supplies - bag of sugar, lemons, punnet of fruit, jam jars, pretty doily paper toppers, maybe even a handmade apron; oh and of course some jam labels!  Plus my super easy microwave jam recipe which makes whipping up some yummy jam quick too - in just 20 minutes would you believe?

The theme was basically a circle element with a strip or two behind - see here.  So I know I'm covered this week.  It's a super sketch in that there are limitless options without even thinking too hard and I really liked that.  It mean't coming up with an idea wasn't too difficult this week - it was the choosing just one that proved challenging LOL!  But then I knew I wanted to try out my new WM 'Jammin' stamps as I call them :-)  Actually they're called 'Jar Fillers - Jam Packed' and are only £9.35 a set which makes them super affordable as well as cute.  What more does a gal need?

Before I share the surprise I've hinted at I want to show a close up of the jam jar and give credit where credit is due.  I knew I wanted to do something different with this jar - I also have the PTI friendship jar sets and have seen some cute things created with them - especially when they were first released.  Anyhow as usual I was  browsing on Pinterest and came across an idea by Helen Berry.  She plays the WMSC too so it also goes to show what inspiration can be gained from checking it out whether you play or not.

She used a different jar stamp in this post but created a 3D 'filled jar' effect.  Mine ended up being more of a shaker card effect but she basically inspired me to create a 3D, interactive element to my card so a big THANK YOU and 'hugs' go out to her from me.  I hope she sees this post if she's checkin' out this week's entries.  I actually put a heart shaped button in too (bottom left of shot) but you have to shake it all up to get it to come back in view.  It did start out in the perfect place but got all shook up and out of place as I made the card darn it!  There's a lesson to be had in there somewhere LOL.

And in the shot below you can see the surprise I hinted at.  I may still add something to the part I framed up for my message - knowing me I will.

I've blown up this shot way big so you can see the detail (or you can click on the picture for a closer look).  I created a pocket inside the card to hold several 'jam' tags.  Since I had in mind to create a 'jam makin' kit to go with this card I knew I would need tags, plus after creating one to put with my zucchini bread that I delivered to a friend's house earlier this week I just loved making them feel vintage.

The trick is not to be quite so careful with your stamping so that it is a bit 'hit & miss' shall we say.  It leaves natural gaps that can then be aged with a distress ink pad and applicator - almost as though they have been sitting and ageing in a cupboard somewhere.

I still have a few finishing touches to add - can you spot the difference?  I took a pro-marker and coloured the string around the jar topper plus I added a bit of green pro-marker to the leaves on the label.  I added the lines with a stamp from the WM  'Seasons of Love - Tags' set which happened to fit perfectly inside the smaller label.  It's important to add the date to your labels so you don't get last years jam mixed up with this years so I wanted room to write more than just the flavour of jam on the tag.

So far I'm thrilled with how this has turned out so I shall be sifting through my basket collection to find a suitable container for the kit.  I make jam myself so I always have a ready supply of jars, lids etc.,.  That bit's not difficult but at least now I can take my time tweaking things.

Next post up is my ADORABLE strawberry tea cosy that I just have to share :-) Oh and I get weighed tomorrow (last Saturdays appointment was cancelled by my surgery) so good thoughts please.  Thanks.

Big HUGS to everyone.  Enjoy!

Suezie