Construction Site....Get Creating!

Hello, and welcome!

I hope you've got a hard-hat handy because it's time to get constructing, over at Card Crafter's Circle this week!

Now, I'm not a huge fan of construction cards, but I did actually rather enjoy creating this one....had to sweeten it by making it Christmas themed, though...hahaaa!

Our challenge for this week requires that you  forget the square or rectangle makes and actually CONSTRUCT an easel, a waterfall, a stepped, a pop-up.....anything you like, as long as it isn't the usual square or rectangle......makes a nice change, eh?

Our returning sponsor is

Digi Darla's Designs

Our randomly drawn winner will receive FIVE images of their choice!

Here's what I constructed......

The card base is a 6 x 6 inch square and I simply folded the front back on itself to form the twisted easel, and I layered two papers from last year's Docraft's range.........

The lovely Santa Claus 1 is coloured with Promarkers and I used a gold gel pen on the spectacles......the image cut out and layered onto several Spellbinder's Nesties.........

The Pine Needles die is from Memory Box....I inked it a little with Vintage Photo Distress ink.......

I used a length of K&Co snowflakes ribbon across the width of the card, and the little sentiment card is actually from a set of mini charity cards that I bought in John Lewis, last year.  I punched a hole in the side of the card (it says HAPPY CHRISTMAS inside, but I forgot to take a piccie!) and threaded a piece of yellow button twine through, so it cold be opened to write a message......there's also another Nestie label, in brown textured card, under the sentiment card......

Another Pine Needles border along the bottom, and some bronze Card Candi pieces finish this card....hope you like it.

Don't forget to take a look at what the rest of the fabby Design Team have constructed!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/  Christmas Anything Goes

http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-207-16th-of-may-christmas.html  Christmas

http://craftingmusketeers.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes

http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/05/its-challenge-time.html  Two or more papers from stash (I used 3 from last year)

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.ca/2013/05/challenge-133-use-digi.html  Use a digi

Spring Thank You

Hello, and welcome!

The calendar is tellin' me it's the middle of May, so that means it's Spring, here in England.......but the weather says it's still winter.......what's that all about?

Oh, well.......at least you'll get a hint of Spring if you pop over to the Perfect Sentiments challenge blog to see all the gorgeous makes that our Design Team have been busy with.........

PSC79: Spring Thank You's

CREATE A THANK YOU CARD WITH A SPRING THEME. YOU CAN USE SPRING EMBELLISHMENTS LIKE BUTTERFLIES OR FLOWERS, ETC. OR YOU CAN USE A SPRING IMAGE. ALSO THERE ARE SPRING-THEMED EMBOSSING FOLDERS LIKE...BIRDS AND SWIRLS, BUTTERFLIES, AND MORE. DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR SENTIMENT ON THE FRONT. 

Our Sponsor is the very lovely 

who will award one randomly draw winner 3 digi images!

I was really pleased to get to use Rain Boots with Tulips.....

The white scalloped card base is from Craftwork Cards and I used some pretty stripy paper from the ever-present-and-still-growing-scrapmountain......I cut a doily shape with a Spellbinder's die from pink paper that I'd first embossed with a Cuttlebug folder......I then layered a green label that I'd cut with another Spellbinder's label die.....

I have wellies in this colour, but mine have butterflies, lol......I used Promarkers and Spectrum Noirs to dress up this pretty image.....

This little cutie was a freebie from Pink Gem.....not sure that it's still available, though, but it's worth a visit because there's usually something sweet to be had......I coloured the centre of the flowers to tone with the rest of the card......

Had to get a bit of glitter on here.....love this lush pink ribbon....and the grungy sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly (Little Bits of Ivory)....I edged it with Vintage Photo ink.......

A bit of titivating on the inside and we're done!

I'd love to see what you come up with for this challenge!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-133-use-digi.html  Use a digi

http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-80-anything-goes.html  Anything goes

http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-112-anything-goes.html  Anything goes

http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/05/its-challenge-time.html  Anything goes & Use 2 papers (I used all scraps)

Patchwork Mum

Hello, and welcome!  

I'm finding it a little hard to believe that we are in the middle of May.......yep......blustery and cold wind,  thunder, lightening and hailstones.....bursts of sunshine......then back to the previous state of weather.....all this makes me wonder if it will ever be safe to plant out my borders and pots......and I've got a ton of bedding plants being delivered, later in the week......sheesh!

I hope that everybody who celebrated Mothers' Day, yesterday, was spoiled rotten......if not, why not?  I truly believe that all women who nurture, encourage and love children, whether or not those children are their own or "borrowed", should be pampered and appreciated on AT LEAST this one day of the year......it's the law......or should be!

Of course, our special day was back in March (UK), but for some reason, I didn't get around to posting about the pretty card I made for my own lovely Mam.....so, here it is.......

I used a white card base and that beautiful patchwork heart (and the sentiment) are by the multi-talented Sara at Folded Paper and Printed Pixels.....thanks, again, Sara......the background paper was a freebie and the pink strip is from my scrap stash.....

I used my Promarkers to colour all the pretty details, then cut it out....love the heart shape.....and used foamies to pop it up onto a doily.......this is actually the second try at colouring......see below for the original......

Ta-daaaaaa!  I left it on my desk for a few minutes while I went to answer a knock at the front door......my 3 year old granddaughter, Yvie-Grace, had come to visit with her Mummy.....and Grandma and Mummy got to chatting so Yvie-Grace decided to help Grandma!

And anybody who says they prefer Yvie's version will be banned from my blog..........;p

Isn't this a lovely sentiment?  I cut it with a Nestie and added the little gem stone......

Two different pink ribbons, layered together, and a tiny satin bow with a heart-shaped button to finish......

This is a rubbish photo....sorry!

Mam liked it, anyway, lol.

Hope you'll be back on Wednesday for my Perfect Sentiments DT card, and thanks for droppin' in!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-154-for-special-woman.html  For a Special Woman

http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything Goes

http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.co.uk/  Mothers Day

http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything Goes

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything Goes

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-88-anything-goes.html  Anything Goes (2)

In the Pink.....and Yellow :)

Hello, and welcome!

Has it really been a week since I last posted?  Oh dear, I really don't know how to explain that, lol.  I can only say that I've felt a need to work on my family history research, and I can get totally lost in times past.  The Hubster has been home for only the one day in the past 14, and next week will be the same, so it's been easy to lose track of time.  I haven't made even one card, this week, which is not at all like me....in fact, the card I'm sharing today was actually made at the beginning of last week.....and I've got new crafting supplies that haven't been taken out of the packaging yet!  Perhaps I've been running a fever and haven't noticed....hahaa!

Okay....down to crafty business!  It's time for a challenge over at Card Crafter's Circle........woohoo!

This week is a COLOUR challenge for you:

PINK AND YELLOW

Your creations should be all or predominantly pink and yellow!

We're welcoming back the fabulous Floppy Latte as our sponsor, this week, who will be offering our random winner a $6 voucher to spend in the store.

I was treated to the very lovely Floral Frame 6 to use on my card........

I started with a white card base and added some scrummy DP that came with a magazine....you know me and my freebies, lol........and I put a strip of stripy pink washi tape along the bottom.......

The beautiful tulip frame came with a white background, but I chose to fussy-cut around the flowers which I coloured with Promarkers, and added a touch of sparkle to the bottom left tulip, which was decoupaged for a little extra dimension.  I popped the image onto foam to raise it from the gorgeous yellow Marianne's label onto which I'd added a rub-on sentiment......this Marianne's label die is my absolute favourite, right now....it's so pretty and versatile because it can be used as the focal point with an image in the centre, or, as a background, or bits could be chopped off it, or......or.......okay, you get the picture.....I love it!

Love the sparkly button!  I got a pack of 12 different button twines from TKMaxx (I think it's TJMaxx in the US) for £9.99....bargain!

This simply gorgeous butterfly is a vellum sticker that was in my stash.....I love the colours! I used this pretty Joy Crafts corner on both top edges, too......

The pretty little Notes card was a free download (sorry, don't know where I got it) and I used a Craftwork Cards sentiment flower, with added pin pricks........

I love how this looks.......

Toning creamy yellow paper, a die-cut journal spot and a little more pink stripy wash tape complete the inside of this cute card.

Please pop over to the challenge blog to take a peek at some really lovely inspiration from the rest of the Team, then let's see what you can create for this week's challenge.....

A reminder though...to be eligible for prizes and badges, your entry must follow our rules.  And please post the DIRECT link to your actual blog post, not just your blog. 

We look forward to seeing your creations!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/  Spring or Pink, Yellow and Green
http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.co.uk/  Button Up
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/simon-says-things-with-wings.html  Things with wings
http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Favourite die or punch
http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/  Floral Delights
http://cardmaniachallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ Flowers
http://digihaven.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/happy-mothers-day-floral-challenge.html  Mothers 
Day/Floral
http://creativecornerchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-18-things-with-wings.html  Things with wings
http://avenue613.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything Goes

Buds, Blooms and Blossoms

Hello, and welcome!

I hope you are all well and looking forward to the weekend.  Anything nice planned?  We've got a nationwide Bank Holiday on Monday, which means a long weekend for all the hard-working peeps to look forward to.  The Hubster is working away from home again, so I'll be doing some much needed work  in the gardens......if the lovely weather holds up, lol.  I've bought a big sack of wildflower seeds, and I'm really looking forward to seeing them come up, over the next few months.  

I've got some new lavender, too......anybody who visits my house is greeted by wafts of lavender as they walk up to the front or back doors.....but some of my bushes are getting a bit "woody" and need replacing.....love my spring and summer gardens!

Talkin' of flowers, there's a lovely new challenge for you take part in at Card Crafter's Circle.......

This week is a our challenge for you is:

FLORAL CARDS

Buds, Blooms and Blossoms .... show us flowers!

Our sponsor for this challenge is 

and our lucky randomly drawn winner will be able to choose one of the images that our very talented Design Team is showcasing, this week!  Michelle creates some truly beautiful images, and our team has done a fabulous job with their choices.

I chose to use this really lovely Sisters of Spring image for my Floral card......

I started with a white card base and used a piece of plain green paper as the background.....this was also used to matt the other pieces of DP, which came with a magazine.......

I enjoyed colouring up this so-pretty image (Promarkers) and added some sparkly Mod Podge to the ribbon and flowers.....love a bit of sparkle, I do.........

The pink flowers were cut with my very old Woodware punch and I rolled them into these little cuties, then stuck them onto the Doo Hickey flowers that I'd cut from kraft and dark brown card..........I think the leaves are Joy Craft (?)......I'm terrible about keeping packaging, and am trying to remember to put the maker's names on the back of my dies.....we'll see how long that lasts, ha!

Now, I am sure that this kraft corner was cut with a Joy Crafts die.....there are three little pretties in the set.....

This die cut was actually another freebie from Dies to Die For.....it's actually a floral Christmas Tree which I chopped up to pretty up my card.....I do actually have this die, but have not yet used it......see if you can spot it in future offerings.....or, remind me I need to use it, lol.........

Did I mention I did a bit of hand stitching on the layers?  Yep, I sewed........but don't ask me why I decided to stick on this bit of lace....it seemed a good idea at the time......havin' second thoughts now.......ha!

Okay,I'm off to see what Carl is plotting next in Coronation Street......but, I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what you've come up with for this Floral challenge.......go on.....you know you want to...hahaaa!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://jellyparkchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/its-girly-challenge-theme-on-jellypark.html  Girly challenge

http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.co.uk/  Diecuts and/or Punches

http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything Goes

http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes (with a diecut)

http://creativecornerchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-17-and-new-sponsor.html  Flowers or Mothers Day (Flowers)

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-88-anything-goes.html  Anything goes

http://liastampz.blogspot.co.uk/  Friendship

http://sandyscraftycreations.blogspot.co.uk/  Flowers (must use 3 or more)

All things Girlie

Hello, and welcome!

I've been trying to get to post this for most of the day.....talk about best-laid plans!  I'd actually turned down an invitation to go to see a film with one of my lovely daughters......had to promise to do it another day.......because I had a ton a few things I just couldn't put off any longer.

It's been a glorious, warm and sunny day, so out went the wash onto the line in the back garden, and I took the time to clean out Babbit's hutch whilst I was out there.....had just walked back into the house, my head full of plans for what I was going to do for the rest of the day, and in walked my two handsome sons.....they's arrived together, but each didn't know that the other was coming for a visit....and they live 100 yards away from each other!  They'd driven the 40 miles from their homes, down the same motorway, both with the intention of surprising me with a visit.....and they were both wearing calf-length checked shorts and sweatshirts......apart from the fact that Mark is 33 and dark-haired, and Jonathan is 25 and blonde, they could have been twins.......oh......and Jonathan makes a lot of the fact that he's a whole inch taller than his big brother......6 feet 1.....hahaaaa!

Of course, all my plans were laid aside and I had a wonderful time with my baby boys......need to do another shop, now.......empty fridge!

It's time for me to tell you about the new challenge at Perfect Sentiments

PSC77: Make it Feminine

CREATE A CARD AND MAKE IT FEMININE. USE LACE, PEARLS, BLING, LACY DIE CUTS, DOILIES, ANYTHING THAT A GIRL LOVES. DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR SENTIMENT ON THE FRONT.   

Our lovely sponsor for this challenge is

 

and our lucky random winner will receive 5 digis as their prize....woohoo!

I loved making this cute card......

I used a white scalloped-edge card base and embossed one side of a piece of pink  Bazzil Basics (De'sire embossing folder) and placed it as the background......

How do you like this little sweetie.....she's called Katy Computer Gal......there's a boy version in the store, too......she's coloured with Promarkers and cut out with a Spellbinder's label.......I added some sweet teeny pink pearls to the edges......

The flowery frame is cut with a Marianne's Creatable die and I popped a lovely green fern behind (freebie from Dies to Die For and I really want this die, but it's out of stock ...tut!)......

The pretty butterfly is cut from brown card....used my Joy Crafts die for this......

           

I think this little sentiment is from Craftwork Cards, but the packaging is gone, so not sure.....the pretty lace is from Simplicity.......

                                                  

There's a teeny dragonfly cut from brown card, and I had a bit of the lace left over, so cut off a heart and placed it inside.......I never remember to take a separate pic of the inside of my cards!

I hope you like this offering......take a peek at all the gorgeous girliness that the Design Team have come up with and come back and play!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/  Lots of Pink
http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.co.uk/  Pink and Green
http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/  Birthday
http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.co.uk/  Diecuts/Punches
http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Punches/Dies
http://cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Lots of layers
http://promarkerchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/week-196-theme.html  To Die For
http://celebratetheoccasion.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes

Biker Boy card

Hello, and welcome!

Not  a lot of  bloggin' gettin' done, lately.......not a lot of craftin', either!  I just don't seem to be able to settle down to do anything.....I want to knit, I want to quilt, I want to make a scrapbook page, I want to learn to crochet......and I want to make stuff for the house.....wall-art, cushions, curtains........and I don't know where to start......sigh.......

I've actually been doing some catch-up on my family history research.......haven't done any in quite a while, and it was bothering me.  I got some of the family lines sorted into family groups and printed the individual family trees, instead of it all just sitting on the computer.....easier for me to see where I'm up to if I have hard copies.

Then, I get all involved with these people who were my ancestors.........a baby who died of  "severe malnutrition", aged 2 months......a girl who was widowed, aged 19.......a man who fell to his death whilst working in a clock tower........and a boy who had his photo taken for the local newspaper because he saved a neighbour's child from drowning in a boating lake.......all of these were in Scotland, in the late 1800's......fascinating.

I gave myself a shake and got down to making a card for this week's challenge at

Card Crafter's Circle

This week is a our challenge for you is:

MASCULINE CARDS

Create for the boys and men in your life! 

We are happy to welcome this week's sponsor ... Digi Darla's Designs! Our random prize winner will receive their choice of  FIVE images! DigiDarla is the brain child of Kim Eskola and her daughter Emilea...

Male cards are always a bit of a challenge, aren't they, but this lovely store has some really cute images that will help to spark your creativity.....and don't forget to check out what the rest of our Design Team have made with the male images they received from our sponsor!

Here's my make........

I used this great Mountain Biker image.......

I thought I'd have a bit of a change and made an easy easel card......I used a white card base and added some textured brown paper and some plain orange paper as the background.......the patterned card is from Kanban..........

I used the usual Promarkers to colour him up in his coordinating clobber, ha.......

A touch of distress ink around the edges of the wooden star, and a scrap of burlap, tied with string......

The sentiment is from the same pack as the patterned card....such a shame that Kanban is no longer trading.....

Another scrap of burlap with a Card Candi dot.....the dot was white, so I used a blue Promarker on it.......I usually buy the white ones because then it's easy to colour them to match the other stuff on my cards.......

Sorry this pic isn't the best.....I think there must have been a rare ray of sunshine...hahaaa!

I hope you'll take this opportunity to get a male card created, and you may even win a prize.......good luck!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/anything-goes.html  Anything goes

http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.co.uk/  Fabulous folds

http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/  For the Boys

http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/  Digi Days (I used a digi image)

http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Birthdays

http://cardsformen.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes