Category: Blog

I had some amazing feedback from Jack on Instagram

What did I spend much of my day doing yesterday? ….. usual things walking Olliedog and visiting a friend, but also making these Christmas cards of a snow family wearing their favourite football team scarves and hats are selling fast. Mostly the green and yellow Norwich City Football team colours Canary football Fans this Snow-family.

I love making these cards as so cute. I use my Big shot Sizzix machine (https://www.sizzix.co.uk/) to cut out the snow family on white card. Then the fun begins. Adding my unique design to the plain white cut outs.Painting the brooms, hats, scarves and the orange carrot noses. This can be very time consuming and fiddly, not going over the edges. I have done other team colours on request which have been fun.

Once dry these need to be stuck to the base, which I use a shiny off white card with some silver dots which give the impression of snow (brought from http://Hobbycraft.co.uk.) The card starts to take shape – so exciting!!

Next step to stick to quality Christmas green card stock and add insert. The insert for this card says ‘Happy Christmas’ written using my Cricut machine – http://cricut

Card complete and ready to sell.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Thank you all for your ongoing support and a Merry Christmas to you and yours

Neen

Hi there,

What an exciting time of the year! I have been getting lots of Christmas card orders which has been keeping me busy. I have sold a few of the snowman card, https://neens-cards.co.uk/product/its-snowing-lets-build-a-cute-snowman/. So todays tasks was to make a few more.

I thought I would share with you a few photos of me making this card.

To start with I have to cut the blue base out and then run it through my Sizzix Big Shot machine using Sizzix 3-D textured impression ‘staggered chevrons’ item 664761 Sizzix.co.uk. I like using this embossing sheet as it lifts the design. I thought it makes a ‘frosty’ pattern, perfect for a snowy background.

Using felt I then cut out the snowman and additional parts using the Sizzix BigZ die 662584. Some of this felt has glitter embedded in it which I love using for this card. I got mine from http://Hobbycraft (one of my favourite craft stores).

Once I have all my pieces cut out the fun begins. Using an all purpose clear glue I attach all the parts, usually getting most of the glue all over my fingers! As the snowman emerges I ensure there are three ‘coal’ buttons and not forgetting the orange carrot shape for a nose. Such a cute face, always makes me smile!

Once the design is complete I add it to a white A6 (10.5x15cm) card. The insert for this particular card has a ‘Happy Christmas’ message. The final part is to place one of Neens Designs stickers on the back of the card with a star (Neens-cards.co.uk).

I hope enjoyed todays blog

Take care and stay safe

Neen

The summer has past and Autumn is here. The days are cooler and the nights drawing in. A busy time for card making with Christmas less than 3 months away. I do enjoy making these bright shiny cards and tags.

I have been lucky as recently some of my family and friends have given me their old used cards (I make then a card or two as a ‘thank you ‘gesture). I use old cards to make unique ‘one-off’ up-cycled cards which can be found on my site. https://neens-cards.co.uk/up-cycled-unique-cards-only-chance-to-buy/page/3/. I have also been busy making lots of cards for Christmas, including up-cycled ones.

My family were kind enough to pick up some Christmas card and shapes from The Works https://www.theworks.co.uk. So I have been making many smaller (10x10cm size) cards using these items. I added the wooden shape to a Christmas themed base, then onto a frame in red or green. Finally placing the whole thing on a card (either white or Kraft card). Each card then has a paper insert with a ‘Happy Christmas’ wording (using my Circuit machine).

I am selling these at 6 cards for £6.00 a good price for hand made cards. You will find them and others at https://neens-cards.co.uk/christmas/

• 

• 

My final piece of lovely news is a new member of the extended family – my daughter-in-law & son have got a cute tiny black kitten called Luna. I surprised them with a ‘Welcome to your forever home’ card (an up-cycled one off card). I love these photos they sent for me, look at Luna checking out the card!!

• 

• 

Time to make a few more Christmas cards.

Stay safe and take care

Neen

Hi all

It has been a busy summer enjoying the warmer weather (between showers). I have been lucky enough to enjoy a couple of UK camping trips with my husband and Olliedog. This time is so precious and relaxing, such a difference to last year when we decided not to go with the Covid risks. I have also done some shifts at work, the NHS community work is busier than ever, but still rewarding and patients are always pleased to see nurses.

Despite the end of the summer months, I am not going to be too disappointed as this is a busy time for anyone creating and making cards. We need to be prepared for the Christmas demand. I love Christmas and making these shiny & bright coloured cards. I have found some new stitching designs ( https://www.form-a-lines.com ) to use and already made a few which have been added these cards to my website. Check them out and let me know what you think – Ding Dong Merrily on High, Shimmering Gold Christmas Baubles and HoHoHo look who is here with a present

More exciting news is that my daughter Molly has started making beaded bracelets and anklets. Her business is called Simply Golden Jewellery. All handmade in Norfolk. They can be personalised with glass beads and charms. Available on her instagram account https://instagram.com/simplygoldenjewellery.

I got the thinking that summer ending could be celebrated and what better than to have a Summer Sale. So for the next two weeks (until 13/9/21) there will be 25% off everything, with no limits on the number of cards purchased. Use promo code summer25.
As there are already some cards on sale this will bring those prices down even lower – what a bargain! Enjoy browsing my site and please spread the word to your friends and family about the sale.

Stay safe and take care

Neen

I am writing this on my last day of a camping trip to Cumbria. It’s been a great trip with lots of walking and paddling (for Olliedog mainly). There were three of Neens Father’s Day cards hanging in the tent all week. Lucky Dad Kerin!

During the week we had the longest day and summer solstice. Mind you with the rain currently falling on the tent roof & drop in temperature here has Summer actually arrived? I have heard a heatwave is on its way so will look forward to that. We do live in the UK and the weather is always changing.

On a visit to Keswick this week there was a craft fair in the local church, who can’t resist a wander around a craft fair? There were some lovely gifts to buy and beautiful handmade cards. I have yet to do a craft fair (mainly due to Covid restrictions over the last year). I was chatting with a lady there who has been making cards for many many years it was lovely to see her enthusiasm and keenness to share ideas and skills.

So back to my card making….. what to concentrate on now that Father’s Day is over? I do need to think about Christmas. After all, it is exactly 6 months to Christmas Day? Maybe I will think about that next month. I do however need more Graduation and Celebration cards, so have decided this is an area I need to work on. I only have 1 x graduation card and 2 x celebration cards so that will be my next challenge.

Unable to do any actual crafting today, so whilst chilling out in the dry of the tent, it does give me an opportunity to update my website – but I will absolutely take a walk to the local coffee and gift shop for a cuppa and browse! I have added some Birthday cards to my Instagram account @neenjjw and via Twitter @NeenJW

Keep an eye out for my new Graduation and Celebration cards.

I hope this rain stops soon and a little sun will warm all our lives. Take care and stay safe

Neen x

What a lovely warm sunny day it is here in Norwich – glad I have a day off.

Planning to walk our dog before it gets too hot and at his favourite woods (so will have more shade). Most of my day I intend to keep up with demand and make more Father’s Day cards ready for 20th June. So many people have already been prepared to say a big thank you to Dad.

I especially enjoy this card as it has so many cut out elements to it. The addition of sunny flowers just reflects the beautiful day I can see out of my patio doors from my desk

I have 8 designs to choose from, handcrafted and hand-stitched. The stitched cards take a bit longer but I love the finished product. I have tried to add a bit of humour and bright colours to these cards and hope they will meet any requirements.

From today I have put all these cards on sale so you will get a bargain too!

Have a lovely day whatever your plans and hope you stay safe and happy

Neen

What a fantastic week with lots of sun and warm weather. I was a work for a couple of days in the heat which was challenging as the air-con doesn’t work on the car – but I am not complaining. Warm sunny days have been a long time coming and really boost my well being and energy levels.

Living in Norwich its easy to find a woodland walk not far away, our dog Ollie just loves these trips and it is such a tonic, and he does love a squirrel chase! Seeing new growth on the trees and other plants reminded me of a stitched card in my collection, which I have attached. Realising I needed to increase my supplies of this design I set about making a few more. As always I enjoy stitching cards (there are quite a few in my collection) the slow pace of this task was perfect to undertake during the warm days.

As with all stitched cards I started with cutting the linen effect bases to size, in this case 5×7 inches/12.5×18 cm. Then using the templates the design gets pricked out. Then comes the fun bit, choosing the colours. I do change these to ensure variety of choice, or to order. The cat sitting on the windowsill looks so content looking into the room to see who is about.

This design is used for several of my cards including: Anniversary, Birthday, Just for you, Sympathy, Thank you, Welcome Home & Retirement. this means I have a few more to make to keep me busy.

I hope you enjoy reading my blogs and seeing how my cards get created. Please let me know your thoughts.

Hi everyone – this is my first proper post to you all

So the weather has been very dull, lots of rain and so little warm sunshine. I sat at my desk thinking that Spring should be a time for celebration, weddings and champagne! Then I checked my collections and realised I only had 2 wedding cards, there needs to be more choice.

In my mind I started to think about what design to use. What colours to use. How to make the card bright and eye catching.

Having decided to use bits of two stitching templates I purchased online (Design Copyright www.stitchingcards.com). Choosing colours in pinks, gold and red. I found in my card stock a light pink pearlised card I had not used before – what a find! So pleased as I had forgotten about this. Perfect to use as a base for the design.

Once I had cut the card to the size I proceeded to prick out the design from the template. Have to concentrate here! Stitching on the design is something I really enjoy doing, have to take my time to get it right. In front of my eyes the design starts to lift off the card. Using my embroidery silks I stitched red for the hearts, gold for the champagne glasses and a pink with flecks of gold for the bubbles.

Ok now for some wording. I used my machine to draw and cut out the wording. By this time it was late and I was tired, not wanting to make a mistake and rush the last part, even though I wanted to see the finished card, I went to bed. The next day was time for the really good bit – sticking the card together. I attached the stitched design to a gold mirror card forming a frame (not easily seen when scanned) and then on to a cream card. Again I use my machine to draw the wording on a separate piece of cream paper which I cut to attache on the inside. Finally I add one of my logo stickers on the back.

It was a good week making this card. Please let me know what do you think.

This just leaves me to say……I hope you all have a lovely bank holiday weekend, take care and stay safe, Janine