Frosty today!

Hi, and welcome!

Oooooooo........stirred up a few wasps with my rant about purple ........ha!

Ace, if your bathroom is purple, we can still be friends.....I just will have to take a porta-potty when visitin' ya....lol!

Christina.......what can I say?.........will admit don't mind a teeny bit of purple, but it definitely should know where it's place is.....and that is NOT as the main colour.....lol!

Seems I'm in the minority.........at least where my bloggie pals are concerned....so I'll graciously accept that purple is okay........in small doses.....lol!

You know that I'm the nursery leader, at my Church, right?.............nope.....not any more......sigh :(

Last Sunday, I was told that my time in the nursery has come to end..........everybody in the ward is "called" for an undetermined time, but our nursery workers are usually in there for about two years.........and my two years are up!

Boy, that went by far too quickly..........I'm a little upset.....those ickle people are very dear to me........but somebody else now gets to play, teach, hug, and love 'em...........bigger sigh :(

As for me.....who knows?.....haven't been given a new assignment.....yet!!!  But, we are a small ward, and we all enjoy having a responsibility......just remind me I said that, after I get my new calling...LOL!

Anyway........I'd started to make a little set of Christmas cards to give to my ickle people, and will carry on with them, of course, so I thought I'd show you one, today............they are all decoupaged, and very simple..............

In keeping with my decision not to buy any new Christmas supplies, everything is from my stash....told ya I still had loads left...ha!

I'd actually made up the layers previously........one rainy afternoon, last Autumn.....but didn't use 'em........ seem to remember that I'd bought a handful of these decoupage sheets, but can't remember the company, so help me out if you recognise them........

Just layered the image onto a scrap piece of red cardstock.........my fingers were itching to splodge my glittery schtuff onto that red nose, but then decided to leave him in peace......ha!

I have a boxful of die-cut snowflakes, waitin' for a blizzard, so I fished one out.....inked in blue......splodged Mod Podge on it.....added a rolled Christmas rose.........it's really just an ordinary red rose, but callin' it a Christmas rose sounds so nice, and I made it, so can call it what I like....ha!  Gave me an excuse to use red gingham ribbon, too.....looooove gingham!

Here's the layers..............done!

Only a few dozen more to go.....lol!

Glad to see ya, today.........even if ya do like purple!

Challenges:

abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.com

Use an Old image (not sure if my old decoupage qualifies..lol)

http://www.comeandgetitchallenges.blogspot.com/

Make your own flowers

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/2011/07/challenge-93-christmas-in-july.html

Christmas in July

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/2011/07/fussy-and-fancy-friday-challenge.html

Christmas in July

http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.com/

Christmas in July

I was challenged...a fight to the Pink!

Hello, and welcome!

Bet you're wonderin' what the title is all about.....nosey lot, you are....lol!

Well.....out there in Bloggieland, there is a poor, mis-guided young lady who needs help.........there is something wrong with her eyesight.....BUT.....before you get all maudlin, let me explain.............

Christina is an extremely talented crafter.....her creations knock me sideways, and she amazes me with her fearless attitude that enables her to try all kinds of techniques........and she comes up smellin' of roses, without fail.

So....what's the problem, you may be askin'............the problem is (to my mind, at least...ha!)  that she adores the colour ......oh, I can hardly bring meself to even type the word......ppp......ppur........purp........purple!    Yuck....ugh.......yekk!!!

She dawbs it all over the flippin' place, just as if it is a pretty hue......yeah, I know.....she definitely has a problem....ha!

Knowing that she is a wonderful, talented, generous person (she sent me blog candy!), I felt it my duty to point out the error of her ways.....she even has purple in her house....so I knew the problem was serious....ha!

What does she do?.....She challenges me to make a card using all pink ..........now that's a colour!

So.....here's my pink creation...............one last word to Christina..........purple is only for Halloween!!

Ok....ok.....I know there's some green on there......and maybe a teeny bit of yellow.....but the beautiful Lili of the Valley image would be invisible, otherwise!...........oh......and white.........I give up!

I used some scraps, and a bit of Bazzil, and coloured up with Promarkers.........Here's a tip I use all the time....when you cut out a digi or stamped image, leave a slight white border, then go around it with a toning ink or pen....makes the image stand out better......

Can you tell I'm re-discoverin' beads, at the moment.....ha!........

The sentiment is a Unity stamp, which I stamped with green and pink Promarker and cut with a Nestie..........I LOVE this stamp!

Can you guess what I dabbed on her pretty wings?............actually got panickey when I realized my ickle bottle of Glitter Mod Podge might be gettin' a bit low.....how did that happen?....ha.......so went and bought more, today.....yaaaay!

Dabbed a yellow Promarker on the white net before rollin' the flower.............isn't that pink gorgeous?

D'ya see the cute banner?......it's just one part of the fabby blog candy that Christina sent to me, and it's gonna get a lot of inkin'......lol..........I used some glittery pink thread to do a little hand sewing around the image block.............

So....what d'ya think, cg?

To take a peek at all the fabbyness (new word I'm copyrightin') that is Christina....aka cg....go over to her blog .......

Thanks for dropping in, you lovely people!

Challenges:

ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com

Anything goes
toptiptuesday.blogspot.com
Make it Girlie (plus my tip above)
aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com
Use a tag

anythingchallenge.blogspot.com
Flowers
bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com
Tag You're It
http://aifactorychallenges.blogspot.com/2011/07/hand-made-by-me.html
Handmade by me
http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/
Glitter
http://littledarlingschallenges.blogspot.com/
Girly

Christmas Reindeer

Hello, and welcome!

I'm going to keep this short.......today has been difficult....first anniversary of my Dad's death....and my Mam had a fall and cut above her eye....hospital until 5.00am..........

There are so many Christmas in July challenges out there, that I had to make a card to throw in........

Everything I've used for this card is from last year....I've promised myself I won't buy anything for Christmas cards, this year, because I have so much left over from previous years..........everything is in my favourite tradtional colours....

I used a freebie digi.....mounted it onto kraft card, and set at an angle, so he looks like he's flying.........the stars are diecuts.......

I used beads on his collar, and on the saddle strap..........coloured with Promarkers.........

The sentiment and candy canes are diecuts.............

Used red netting for the bow and ribbon under the image.....used lots of Mod Podge.

Thanks for looking.

Challenges:

blog.therubbercafe.com

Christmas in July

christmasstampin.blogspot.com

All about you

bah-humbug-christmas.blogspot.com

Beads

craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com

Reindeer

 

Paper-pieced Marcy

Edited to add:
So sorry....this should have gone out on 27/7/11

Hi, and welcome!

It's Wednesday, so that means it's my turn to show my DT card for this week........

I had a lot of fun with this little cutie!  Her name is Marcy and you can find her in the store, here........

You just know that I love to paper-piece, and I thought Marcy was the ideal  candidate, lol........

I love the DP.....it's really old K&Co.......but love the colour combo of the green and navy blue.........with PINK of course...lol....

Does that cupcake look yummy?....Might be a bit gritty in the teeth with all those teeny beads........ha!.....but I think the headband looks cute.........I threaded the beads onto thin gold wire, poked a hole either side of her head (she didn't utter a sound....brave girl!), and stuck it down at the back.......easy-peasy........oh....she's all coloured up with Promarkers, of course.........

Love this ruffle on her dress, and just had to paper-piece it.........which then led to a lot of splashin' the ol' glittery Mod Podge about....ha!

Rolled some of the DP into flowers, but coloured the white side of the navy blue with pale pink, and added a few of my net flowers...love 'em......just noticed that the pink DP was a freebie (not K&Co)....think it was Pink Petticoat.......

Love me doilies.........and the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards....was a grey colour, so you know what I did...lol!

Hope you like her as much as I do!

Challenges:

http://www.doitwithdigischallenge.blogspot.com/

Oh so girly

http://www.comeandgetitchallenges.blogspot.com/

Make your own flowers

http://www.gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.com/

Make it sparkle

ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com

Anything goes

Sweet Girl Card

Hi, and welcome!

Would you believe that I walked into a store today, and was confronted with decorations, cards, and sweets....for HALLOWEEN!!

Oh....my....goodness!

My grandkids don't finish school for the summer until next Tuesday, and they expect us to be buyin' for Halloween?

With five kids, I admit that I used to start shopping for toys and gifts for Christmas, in September, after they'd gone back to school, but am I alone in thinking this is a bit too much?  Maybe so, because I did actually see a few people having a rummage.....I moved on before I said something I'd regret, later.......hmmph!

OK....old fogey moan over........

Today's card is supposed to be bright and summery....and girlie!........so let me know what you think........

Isn't she just gorgeous?  She was a freebie from Whoopsie Daisy......love their images........and was a joy to colour up...Promarkers, as usual.......I added white glaze dots for a bit of texture.......look at those ickle shoes.......aawwww.......

the papers are from K&Co, except the red dotty which was from my scrap box........the plain red, and the plain green, were from The Paper Mill.......my local one has closed!!.....where do I go, now....eh?....tragic!

These red flowers are Prima, and I found the ickle white vellum ones in my stash....don't even remember buyin' 'em.....ha! The red ones were more of an orangey red, so I went over them with Berry Red Promarker, so they'd tone properly............

Now....let me tell ya about that metal "Hugs"........it was cream, so I thought I'd change it up with red embossing powder.......did you know that even if you hold it with tweezers while usin' a heat gun on it,  metal can turn very nasty without battin' an eyelid?  Well, it can!!  Which is why you can probably see that it might just be a ickle-tickle bit burnt ........and my fingers match it....ha!  Was so peeved with it that I told it straight...."you are goin' on that flippin' ribbon whether you want to or not!!"....so there it sits....ha!

And take a loooook at this big boy!  He's made from craft foam.....and I might have got a bit carried away with his size.......

He is a bit dense, isn't he?.....but he kinda has a charm all of his own, dontcha think?......lol.

I did always go for the slightly thick side-kick, and not the hero....what can I say? ;)

I enjoyed makin' this one.......hope you enjoyed the viewing!

Challenges:

http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/2011/07/something-embellished-challenge.html

Embellish something

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/2011/07/challenge-41-summer.html

Summer

 

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x



Easy-Peasy Girlie Card

Hello, and welcome!

So, how has your day been?  Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did mine....heehee!

I had a lie-in....not been sleepin' well, lately, so it was nice to finally get a good, long proper sleep......then had a shortish visit with daughter #2, and 15 month old grandaughter, Yvie-Grace.  Yvie looked very sweet.....she was wearin' one of the sewn flower clips I made a while back....cute!

Had a loooooong shower....usually in-and-out, and drip-dry on the run...ha!.......and then off to Pizza Hut to meet up with my matey, Anne.......we have lunch together about once a month, and are tryin' to make it a bit more often, because she moves to the Salt Lake before Christmas.........I'm so excited for her, but could weep buckets, every time I think about her leaving......sigh.

Came home, threw some washing on the line in the garden.......fed the rabbit.....then went and made a whole bouquet of flowers....all ready to pop onto future girlie cards....yaaaaaay!

Didn't even have to make tea....hubby fed himself....double yaaaay!!

Remember the star card I  posted a couple of days back?  It was for Rochelle's new website here..........well, I said that I would also make a girlie version....so here it is.....remember - these cards are supposed to inspire beginners to "have a go"....lol......

I wanted to show that once you have the basic layout, you can make a card look very different, just by changing the colours, and embellishments, so I used the same layout as the previous card.....as you can see here......

Nothing as girlie as PINK.......made the flower with tissue paper layers, and added a layer of white vellum, which I inked with pink........still thinkin' that a beginner won't have much in the way of embellie, and these couldn't be simpler to make.........and the green backing, and leaves (free hand cut), are made from wrapping paper that was around a birthday bouquet I received....waste not, want not...lol!

Used pink baker's twine on one of the layers, as before.........saw a post somewhere in blogland (memory blip) that showed you could use crochet cotton, and make lines on it with Promarkers to make your own twine........a big ball of crochet cotton is about £1.90 for about 50  yards....MUCH cheaper than baker's twine....ha!

Hope Rochelle finds a use for these........

Challenges:

http://shellysimagesblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/ttt-challenge-show-us-what-you-got.html

Show us what you got

http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/2011/07/challenge-29-sunshine-colours.html

Sunshine colours

http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/challenge-33-and-winner-of-32.html

Enjoy your day/happy sentiment

http://www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Pretty Paisley

Hello, and welcome!

It's that time of the week again.....er...it is Wednesday, isn't it?......so that means I'm gonna show you my DT card for today's post at stretchnbubbles.blogspot.com.....OH! I am so enjoyin' being on the team....and I get to play with all these wonderful stamps........woohoo!

Trouble is, I'm still really nervous about actually sittin' down and creating something.....but last week's Christmas card seemed to go down okay, so fingers crossed for this one, lol!

This week, I chose to play with the Paisly digi stamp.........which you can grab for self I've always associated the paisley pattern with the male gender, but that's probably because my Dad used to have a paisley-patterened scarf, when I was a wee girl....and does anyone remember those BRIGHT paisley ties that were popular, a few decades back....ha!

Well, why should the fellas get to keep it for themselves......here's my very girlie take on it.......

I used a Craftworks Cards handbag....layered the top bit with this pretty scrap of embossed paper (no idea where I got it!), then covered the bottom bit with flowery paper that came in a freebie pack..........

I coloured up the Paisley pieces with various Promarkers, to tone with the DP.....arranged the pieces into this funky flower shape, and layered up with a diecut open flower, and a button from my stash........these were then added to several pieces of pink tissue paper scalloped circles that I had cut out, and then scrunched up for dimension.....the whole thing was then stuck down onto pink felt...you can't actually see in the photo, but I embossed the felt with a Cuttlebug flower folder....looks nice "in the flesh"...ha!

I lay down a strip of webbed ribbon, which I'd coloured with Promarker....and then....one by one.....stuck down each of those tiny beads....there are 738 of them.........NAH!........the web ribbon was stuck down with PVA glue, so just poured on the beads while it was still wet.......there might be 738 of 'em, though...lol......

Arteeesteeeek view for your perusal.........:D

And there you have it.....I really like the Paisley image, and it'll probably be poppin' up on a few more creations....keep your peepers peeled, lol!

Challenges:

onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/Flowers

scrappyfrogschallenge.blogspot.com/Summer Flowers

cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/Sparkle and Shine

ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/Always Anything Goes

scrapology-adventuresinscrapbooking.blogspot.com/Anything but square

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/2011/07/challenge-44-add-flower.html

Add a flower

 

Hugs,

Anne-Marie

Card for a beginner

Hi, and welcome!

I've been thinkin' about you all today........why?  Well, I'll tell ya............I've been feeling a bit sad, and low....thinking about my Dad a lot....this time last year, we'd just been told that he was about to die....we had 12 days to "deal" with the blow before he actually passed on 26th July....at least we had time to say goodbye....or rather.......some of us did......I couldn't.......still can't.........

I also get a bit tetchy, anxious....and silent......around this time of year, too.........I'm due my annual mammogram, and today was my appointment with my surgeon, for a check-up......always freaks me when it all gets near.....in a quiet, insular, way.........

My mammogram is next month, but today I was told that my recovery hasgone so well that it is almost certain that I will be discharged in a year's time...........I will be given the "all clear" from breast cancer..............

My knees went wobbly...........

So........why was I thinkin' about you all?  Because you have been instrumental in my recovery.....because each of you is a friend........because laughter is the best medicine, and a good many of you crack me up............because you not only inspire me, and cheer me on in my efforts to be creative, but you have shown interest in my family, and have cheered them on, too..........because if I couldn't regularly come here, in this place where I can be myself, and "talk" to you, I would be more introverted, sad, and anxious..........But you're not gonna let me, are ya?

Whine over.......

I was thrilled and honoured when Rochelle, over at http://www.lets-make-greetings-cards.com/  asked me to contribute a simple card.....something that a beginner could easily make......she must have seen some of my creations, and realized that's all I do!...lol!.......

So, what popped into my head?.....a flippin' male card, that's what!!

I thought that a beginner might not have too many stamps so none have been used.......

I cut three star shapes (the middle one is from the inside of a cereal box 'cos I liked the colour..lol).....inked the edges, added a button with baker's twine......all up on pop dots.....

The circle sentiment is from Craftwork Cards....stuck it on a blue circle and pricked holes around the edge.......all the DPs are from Nitwits:In the Meadow......I got the original pack as a freebie, and liked it so much I actually bought some......yeah, me!...buyin' somethin'....Ha!

I added more baker's twine to one of the layers....just for texture and interest....and left it at that!

A beginner could do this...right?

I'm going to make a girlie version before I post it out to Rochelle....it's such a simple layout that it could easily be adapted with flowers etc......let me know whatcha think!

And thanks for being here.....truly.....

Challenges:

http://www.cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/

Use stars

http://unstampabelleschallenges.blogspot.com/

No stamps

http://tsgclearstamps.blogspot.com/

Colour challenge - Chocolate brown, yellow, baby blue

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x



Bugaboo Cutie!

Hello, and welcome!

Do you ever get yourself into trouble?  I do it a lot ....and a couple of days ago, I did it again....I never mean to.....I think I'm just wired that way.....or, at least, my funny-bone is!!

I have this quirk of nature that makes me want to laugh out loud at the most inappropriate of times....not just a snigger...a grin...a smirk....a full-out belly laugh!

Some instances:......  I was the 11 year old who laughed like a drain, in the whole-school assembly, when it was announced that our needlework teacher, Sister Magdalen, had broken her arm when she swerved her bike to avoid a cat.......detention for a week......

I was the 15 year old, who, when her best friend came to the house wearin' a headscarf, looking for sympathy because she'd attempted to go blonde, and was actually a murky mustard, chortled 'til her teeth ached........took a fortnight of crawlin' to make it up to said friend.......

I was the young mum who always tried not to snort too obviously when my little one fell over/off/under......still tryin' to make up for all those times..........

I was the daughter who laughed hysterically when the priest swung his incense thingy, at her Dad's funeral, and smacked it into the coffin.......still tryin' to live that one down, too.......suffice to say I was not my Mam's favourite child, at that moment....but I just know that my Dad would have been laughin' with me :D.......

And, a couple of days ago, I was the Mum and Grandma who almost wet herself (yeah...I'm at that age)....when her daughter, who was carrying her baby girl, slipped on a toy train track that had been left on the hardwood floor, tossin' the baby into the air and crashin' down in a heap....the baby was shocked but unhurt...the daughter had a twisted knee and torn ligaments......and Grandma was tryin' to pick 'em both up, while splutterin' an' chokin'........I think my daughter wants to be put up for adoption, so she can have a new Mum.....sigh......

As I said.......my funny-bone gets tickled by the oddest things, at the oddest times......SORRY....lol! 

Thought I'd have a play with this cutie.......

How cute is that?  Bugaboo have some very cute images, and this one was a freebie...yay!

I might use this for Millie's 1st birthday....we'll see......but I really like pinks and browns together....not a traditional baby card, but I like it...lol.   The frame is a huge stamp that I've had for a long time , and have never used before......bad crafter, bad crafter.......heehee.....the DPs are from a freebie pack that came with a magazine, and I used brown card from my stash......

Coloured up the flowers with Promarkers, and added a blob of pink Stickles to the centres........did a bit of handstitchin' on the background.....

The pretty, shiny hearts are like ickle soft cushions, and were a gift from a bloggie friend.........thanks Chris! :)

Stuck the sentiment onto the brown cardstock, and stitched.......sentiment is a Melissa Francis sticker......

And the gorgeous flutterby is another gift from Chris......all I did was ink around the edges.......love it.......

And here's the layers.......don't look at the messy desk........I said don't look! Ha!

Thanks for droppin' in....I love it when you do!

Challenges:

doyoustackup.blogspot.com

Stitching faux/real

http://bizzybecsstore.blogspot.com/2011/07/july-challenge-borders-frames.html

Borders and Frames

http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/

Things with wings

http://craftysentiments.blogspot.com/

Stitching

http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/

Anything goes

http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/07/little-claires-monthly-challenge-11.html#comment-form

Wings

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

All is calm....except me!

Hi, and welcome!

Well, here it is.....the day finally arrived when I would post my very first Design Team member card.....and I've been tryin' to get it posted here...on my own blog......for ages, but flippin' blogger is palyin' silly beggars again!

Well. lesson learnt.....I'm going to schedule, in future, and hopefully feel a bit more relaxed about it....this is supposed to be fun, after all...lol!

This week, over at stretchnbubbles.blogspot.com I chose to play with a delightful image of somebody who has always been dear to my heart.....and I love the way he turned out........

The name of the image is All is Calm and I am totally in love with him!  As you can see,  I paper pieced his finery because he deserved it...lol.....and everything else is coloured with Promarkers....of course.....and I cut some stars with a Shapeabilities die, (it's the Create-a-Flake one....and these are the toppers to the snowflakes), then used red and green Promarkers to come up with the right kind of brown that I wanted....can you make out the sparkle?....mmmmm,,,doesn't show up well....Mod Podge...yep........and on his beard, hair....anywhere he'd sit still and let me get at....Ha!  I went over the DP with Promarkers, to give a bit of depth....the papers on the whole card are Cosmo Cricket:Be Good......

Joanne (eldest rugrat) has already laid claim to this card....but I have plans for it......and it won't be staying as just a card.........has that gotcha thinkin'?.......wait and see.....Ha!

I love the traditonal colours of Christmas....rich and warm........mmmmmm....bliss.......

The diecut holly leaves are sittin' on a kinda star shape that I fashioned from some of the fabby lace that I used on the bottom of the card......the pin is one of those I made, last week........just knew they would come in handy :).......and bet you spotted the Mod Podge!

The label was pinched from a pack I'd actually bought for the grandkids..heehee.......and I threaded some thin gold wire through the buttons........

This ickle Christmas tree shape has been in my stash for yonks......was silver, so turned it red with PMs......stuck a scrap of the DP in the gap.....stuck on a pressie button....and hung from the diddy button with more gold wire......

Love that ickle birdhouse.......PMed and MPed...lol.......

The yellow DP was embossed with a Cuttlebug Snowflake folder, and all the mats and layers were inked with dark brown.......

I  like the result....what about you....be kind....I'm feelin' very fragile....ha!

As if that would  stop ya!

Challenges:

stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com

Christmas in July

christmasstampin.blogspot.com

Heavy Metal

papersundaes.blogspot.com

Paper piecing

thecraftypad.blogspot.com

Texture

http://www.simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/

Anything goes

http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2011/07/challenge-119-spellbound.html

Use diecuts and something digital

http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/2011/07/christmas-in-july.html

Christmas in July

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x