Too Cute to Spook!

Hi, and welcome!

Don't know about your day, but mine has been lovely.......spent the morning with Daughters 1 and 3, and one 11 month old, one 4 year old, two six years old, and two 8 years old.......trawling the local shops for Halloween fripperies (love that word....fripperies), and some Christmas stocking fillers......last day of the half-term break, and the decibel level in the shops was way off the scale......mostly from my tribe....haaaaa!  Loved every minute of it, even though Millie, my 11 month old grandbaby, was soooo tired.....and when Millie is tired, everybody knows about it .........

'Twas lots of fun, but couldn't wait to get back home, and spend a little time in my craft room.....all that Halloween spooky stuff, in the shops, really got me ol' Mr. Mojo wantin' to play....woohooooo!

Here' s the result......one of the fastest cards I've ever made........20 minutes, start to finish....yaaaaay!!

Cute, eh?  I think so, anyway....heehee........

Used some purple pearlescent as the background, then layered stripey Echo Park paper which I edged with orange ink..........I used a freebie digi (help me out...where did I filch it from?) all coloured up with Promarkers.....told ya it was quick, so I just tore and inked the edges of the paper layers..........

Used my new silver paint  pen on his neck bolts...ouch!.......and just wait 'til I get goin' with the gold one....haaaaa!

Bought this green sparkly ribbon for Christmas cards, but liked it on here, too.........

I cut the purple paper using an old Fiskar's template....stuck some black alphas on a scrap of white card, coloured in the o's and stuck two silver beads on.....ok, they were originally silver, but licked 'em over with a black Sharpie.....haaaaa!

Finished off with two torn and inked circles, scrunched up a bit, and topped with a purple button and a piece of the glittery ribbon.....can't believe it was soooo quick to do.........hope ya like!!

Challenges:

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/2011/10/craftycatz-challenge-106-halloween.html Halloween

http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ Something Spooky

http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/2011/10/challenge-37-anything-goes_26.html Anything goes

http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Gwen's Umbrella - DT Card

Hi there, and welcome!

You know, I really do have the very best blogging buddies.......you somehow manage to lift my spirits, just with a few kind words and virtual hugs.....I truly wish I could personally meet each and every one of you.

I have to admit, I am getting heartily sick of myself.....felt an idiot today.....sat down in front of the huge mirrors at the hairdressers, and bawled my eyes out!

All poor Kellie asked was, "How's things with you?"

After 2 minutes of me with my head on my knees, and her lookin' at the back of my head, her next words were, "Quick trim, then?".........Haaaaaaa!

She was a bit gobsmacked when I lifted my head and burst out in hysterical laughter.....must have only been me who noticed Michael Bublethingy singin' "Cry Me a River" on the radio...........

Ah well..............here's my creation for the Design Team at Stretch 'n' Bubbles.............the digi image is called Gwen's Umbrella and you can get it in the store by clicking on the name...........

Thought that doing something a little different than just a card might help to bring Mr. Mojo back.......I know he's around somewhere, but maybe he's sick of me, too....haaa......this is probably going in the boot of somebody's car, as part of the annual Car Boot Halloween party that is held, at church.

Everybody dresses themselves, and their car boots, for Halloween....lanterns and torches, skeletons, witches, pumpkins....you get the picture......and the kids are taken from car to car, in the church car park, and there's usually a quiz or a riddle they have to answer, at each one, and LOTS OF HYPER SUGARY STUFF is given out.

Everybody eventually goes back inside, and games and hot food are in abundance....usually a really fun night............

You know me.....got to get out the sparkly Mod Podge, and I love the way it glitters up the black Promarker.......added the tiny plastic discs for more sparkle...........the papers are from Echo Park Apothecary Emporium, with some pearlised purple card cut with a Nestie........purple ribbon and thick black lace complete it........

The ickle spider is a girlie ('cos I said so), so she's coloured up pink..............

Looooove that Mod Podge....adds so much texture as well as sparkle.............

An d the sentiment is stuck onto a handy piece of chipboard with more Echo Park paper on it, and I chopped the corners, and inked with black.....done!

Hope you like......and thanks again for puttin' up with me....you are all nearly as daft as I am........haaaaa!

Challenges:

craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com Halloween Colours

dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com Halloween

sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com Halloween

thecraftypad.blogspot.com Halloween

gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.com Halloween

paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com Black/Orange/Purple/Green

kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com Halloween/Fall

pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com Spooky Goings On

http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2011/10/challenge-65.html Halloween

http://thepapervariety.blogspot.com/2011/10/no-tricks-just-treats.html Halloween

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Girlie or What?

Hello, and welcome!

I'm really struggling to get my mojo back, and that is really bad news because I've got a mound of birthday cards to make, and even more Christmas cards......sigh........

I've usually got my DT card all uploaded, and waiting to be published, but still haven't done it....oops.

This isn't like me, at all......I'm usually frothin' at the mouth to get into my crafty space, at every opporunity, but I've been finding all sorts of excuses not to step in there.........

And yet I want to.........can't figure myself out..........

Oh well.....gave this card a go........it's for my grandaughter, Taylor's, eighth birthday, in November....she'll also be baptised, so there's another card to make....sheesh!

Taylor loves cupcakes.....in fact, Taylor loves ALL sorts of cake...and her birthday party will have a cupcake theme......hence the theme of the card.........haaaaaa!

I used the lovely stamp from Lili of the Valley, and coloured up with Promarkers.......the background paper is from Papermania (I think), stuck onto some pink pearlised paper, and layers of a doily and brown cardstock.........the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards........

Of course, I couldn't do something girlie without a little sparkle, so out came the ol'  sparkly Mod Podge, and decorated up the frills on the pretty dress, and on the hat....those yummy cupcakes were daubed with Glossy Accents.....don't think it would help the flavour though....haaaaa......

Did a little sewing on the background layer, and on the cupcake circle.....the cupcake was cut from some leftover background paper, and blinged up with MP again...........

Found the pretty "leaves" in my stash.....love the bronze colour...........they are soft metal.......

And I recently treated myself to this Doohickey (sp?) swirl die, and cut it from lilac textured card............

Finished off with a piece of brown grosgrain ribbon, topped with some Anita's glittery pink ribbon..............and forgot to mention that the layers were distressed with old scissors.........they cried all night, they were so distressed....haaaaa........and YES....I KNOW I've used that one before.....the oldies are the best....haaaa!

Hope you like, and thanks for stopping by...........

Challenges:

http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://promarkerchallenge.blogspot.com/ For a Child

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ Happy Birthday

http://diecutdreams.blogspot.com/ So Charming

http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/2011/10/challenge-27.html Distress your edges

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x



Teen Boy card

Hello, and welcome!

Talk about an emotional roller-coaster!!  The past few days.....nay...weeks!....have thrown a proper spanner into my poor heart.......uughh!

A bit dramatic?....me?.........yep.....would never deny it.........but that's what ya get when you love fiercely, and you hold people close to your heart.......

Didn't think losing Kevin would have such an effect on me.......he's been in my life for the past 28 years, and for 18 of those years he was a 6 feet 4 inches, broad shouldered, hunk of muscle who was the biggest practical joker I've ever known.....and I was very often his favourite target....let me tell you about just one of very many incidents.........

Kevin had recently had to take to a wheelchair, and he had District Nurses coming by, every few days, to wrap the ulcers on his legs.

Rhys had started in the nursery at the local school, and I used to go and pick him up, every morning, take him to nursery, then go back to see what Kevin needed for the day (Roseanne was at work).

I came back from taking Rhys, one morning, to find the nurses had arrived....they were two new ones, and gave me a kind of funny glance as I walked into the room........

Kevin was sitting....eyebrows up in his hairline, a "Kevin" smirk on his face....and I knew he had told the nurses something about me....probably something I wouldn't like.....so I asked.........the nurses looked very embarrassed........

and Kevin finally cracked........

He'd told them I had been the master-mind behind an armed robbery, in Manchester, and I'd served time in prison and was now out, on licence, having to do Community Service by taking his son to school.......typical Kevin!!

Well, Jonathan, Tanys, and Bevan are now residents of Bangor, Northern Ireland.....and the house is so empty without them.

I'm over my wailin' an' sobbin'........haaaa!..........and have had a couple of phone calls and a visit on Skype......Skype is WONDERFUL!!

Bevan was wearing the outfit I got him for his 1st birthday, last Monday, and looked so sweet.........he kissed me on the screen....yaaaaay Bevan!!

Anyway.....'nuff of the soppy stuff....here's the card I made for our eldest grandson, Jack....he turned 14 last week........and thinks he's all that....haaaahaaaaa.......

Hard to make a suitable card for a 14 year old.......and the ol' mojo didn't want to put in an appearance.......sorry Jack......

The sentiment was a freebie (TLC?) and I coloured in the Happy Birthday, which was originally in black.......added a couple of green brads to the corners.......the label was embossed in a  Cuttlebug folder (swiss dots).....

All the grungy doodles are rub-ons from my stash........

I cut the star square from some old scrapbook paper, and I added the Wild rub-on........

Now, I didn't want him gettin' the wrong idea about what kind of chicks he was a magnet for, now did I?....haaaaaa!

Didn't really enjoy makin' this card....poor Jack......but he was really appreciative, as all good boys should be.....bless 'im, :)

Thanks for putting up with my wailin' and sobbin'........

Challenges:

http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/2011/10/challenge-85-emboss-it.html Emboss it

http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ Layers on layers

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Bevan's Flannel Quilt

Hello, and welcome!

I'm just back from Manchester Airport.....dropped off Jonathan, Tanys and Bevan to catch the 7.05am flight to Belfast, Northern Ireland......they are today starting their new life in a new country.......and it was soooo hard for me to let them go.

I held onto Bevan for as long as I could, feeling his soft breath on my face, as we stood in the misty rain that had just started to fall in the dark, cold morning, at the drop-off point.

Jonathan is my baby, and I've never been without him........and Bevan is a part of my heart.........

I am hopeful that they will love their life in Ireland, and that Tanys can find good friends for herself and for Bevan, while Jonathan settles into his new work..............

They looked so very young as they walked into Terminal 3.............

I was so glad that my Gillian was driving us, because I wouldn't have been able to get myself home!

And Bangor is only an hour's flight away, so it won't be long before we can go to visit....just have to wait until Ken can spare the time away from work, and we can afford the flight.....haaaaa!

I know that I've been spoilt, having them living just minutes away, and because they have stayed at our house for the past three weeks.......but indulge me, here!.......I'm missin' them already!!!!

No card to share, today, but I thought I would give you a peek at the flannel quilt I finally finished, for Bevan.......it gets coooold in Northern Ireland, so it had to be flannel, which is my very favourite kind of quilt.....all soft, snuggly comfort.....sigh......

Remember, I only do quick, simple, easy......and my quilts are far from perfect (I don't do perfect, ever!)......but every stitch was made with love :)..........

It is very soft.....very warm......very cosy.......

And I want to imagine Bevan sleeping beneath it, and remembering his Grandma........

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Give Thanks DT Card

Hello, and welcome!

It is so good to be back, and I'm really looking forward to getting as much crafting jammed into this next few weeks, as possible!

I'm sure many of you will agree that the act of sitting and creating something is a wonderful kind of therapy, and I've missed it sorely.

Getting into my craft room is usually the only time that I get to myself........and, as much as I love my children and grandchildren, I need that time, whether it's to make a card, put a few stitches into a quilt, or do some family history research on the pc........just sayin', lol.

Being a member of the Design Team over at Stretch 'n' Bubbles has kept me in the loop, because I was determined to at least make my weekly DT card, even if there wasn't time, or the inclination, to do anything else........so a big Thank You to Alison, Pauline, Bonnie, Lisa, Pandy, Marcy, and Anna, for their support and encouragement.....you ladies are the best!

Onto this week's creation...........and today I've used the Give Thanks Words image, all ready for Thanksgiving........and I truly wish that this country had this special day in its calendar, because we should all pause, and take the time to consider how we are blessed, and how we might bless others...........

Here's the card......

Sweet and simple is how I would describe this 'un......used a cream card base, layered a piece of brown card that I'd embossed with a Fiskar's diamond texture board, and popped a piece of Nitwits patchwork paper on top....... the sentiment labels were made using a really old Fiskar's template.........the dark blue spotty paper is Nitwits, too....

The little guy is coloured up with my Promarkers (missed my PMs, lol), and he's all decked out in his jewelled finery (poor ickle guy thinks he's the guest, instead of the main course....haaaaa!)......

The heart button is from my stash, and has some blue and white baker's twine threaded through..........

Pumpkin is from my stash, and I popped some "straw" behind, for texture..........

Button leaves from that same stash.........got a boxful of autumn buttons, heehee.........

Don't know what this stuff is really called, but I call it my Wonderweb....got it on a roll that I can cut to size, and it colours up with Promarkers beautifully.....stuck it onto brown grograin ribbon for more texture........

And there ya go........done!

Thanks for stopping by, and pleeeeease come back!

Challenges:

http://thepapervariety.blogspot.com/2011/10/recipe-challenge.html Recipe (1 pumpkin/3 buttons/2 word sentiment)

http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/2011/10/challenge-88-aint-it-cute.html Ain't it cute

http://www.theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/ Pumpkin Garden

http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/ Bird/button/border

http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/ Halloween/Fall colours

http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Fall colours

 

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x



Sweet Baby Boy Birthday

Hi, and welcome!

I am sooooo happy to be back on my ickle blog.....and so glad that you have all been very patient with me, and supported me while I got on with a few family thingies.........

It's not all been doom and gloom.......two of our ten grandsons have had birthdays in the past couple of weeks........Bevan is our youngest grandson, and he turned 1 year old yesterday.  Jack is our eldest grandson, and he turned 14 years last week............

I'll show Jack's card later in the week, but today I want to share Bevan's card..........and those of you who have been with me for a while will know all about Bevan's connection with frogs....haaaa!

I wanted this to be a bright and happy card because Bevan is a very bright and happy little boy....and I love him to bits!

Sorry about the quality of the piccies......they were taken in the late afternoon, on a wet and dark day...........

Bevan often has exactly this expression on his chubby face........the stamp is a free digi, but can't remember where from......I think there's a name on it (Powell?), so if anyone can enlighten me, I'll be happy to give due credit..........

I've had these alphas for ages....changed the colour from pink (!) with Promarkers............

I cut the kraft stars with the help of a Fiskar's template, and the circle sentiment is a freebie..........

And anything to do with Bevan always has a frog somewhere on it......this little guy is wooden, and I just left him in his natural state....NUDE.....haaaaaaaa!

And here's the Birthday Boy, complete with his favourite froggie dodie!

Thank you so much for all the messages of love and support....you really are the best!

Challenges:

http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ Add lettering

http://cachallenge.blogspot.com/ Add a number

http://promarkerchallenge.blogspot.com/ Stars

http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Someone special (BEVAN!)

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x



A Friend in Need/DT Card

Hello, and welcome!

Yet another grey and very wet day in the good ol' UK....bring on the snow, is what I say.....haaaa!

Another huge THANK YOU from me to all of you who have left messages of sympathy and encouragement, for the tragic loss of my BIL, Kevin.

The last couple of weeks are kind of melded into a horrible mess, and I'm sure it's not over yet....but just to update you........the Coroner has confirmed that Kevin died from a massive bleed from just below his right knee....his legs were always heavily bandaged, because he had trouble with oedema for many years.......somehow his computerised wheelchair had shot forward (it could go at a very fast speed), and his leg hit the nest of glass tables.  Kevin controlled his joystick on the wheelchair with one finger on his right hand that he could still move. 

It was the norm to leave a touch-button telephone on his knee  at all times, so he could reach anyone he needed to.....and the phone was always on speaker, because Kevin couldn't lift it to his ear....he couldn't move his arms at all.......that phone had been found on the floor.

It's assumed that he dropped it....couldn't reach it, so panicked, and tried to get to the phone on the nest of tables........

There was massive trauma to the bone and soft tissue below his knee, and he bled to death...........just thirty two minutes, he's been left alone.........

Roseanne has been issued with an Interim Death Certificate, but there will be an Inquest at some point.....could take months.

We will bury Kevin on Friday........he will be laid to rest on the opposite side of the path to where my Dad rests.

On to today's creation....so sorry they've  been few and far between, lately.........

It's Wednesday, so my turn to produce a Design Team creation for Stretch 'n' Bubbles..............

The image is called A Friend in Need Girl................

How cute are these two ickle guys?

The papers are from the Spiceberry range from Memorybox..........I cut a frame with a Nestie, popped it onto a square doily, added a strip of card from the same paper range, inked......popped on some shiny burgundy ribbon............

as usual, everything coloured up with Promarkers.....love that Pear Green..........and added sparkle with Sakura gel pens.........not showin' up too well, but the snow has glitter on, too.........SNOW.....oooooooo...........

Sparkly SNOW..........siiiiiigh............

I cut out and colored up a freebie circle sentiment, and added a cute button from my stash............

These pretty stars are from my stash, too.....no idea where I got 'em from, but got loads..........haaaaa!

All finished off with some holly leaves from my garden.............NAH!........they are paper ones, with red beads cut from a Christmas garland.....just inked around the edges, and curled 'em up a bit.............done!

I really enjoyed making this card........needed to just sit and forget things for a while.......so glad I have my world of blogging and craft to escape to.......bet you agree, 'cos you are all very intelligent and like-minded people......HAAAAAHAAAAA!!

Challenges:

http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/ Anything goes + sentiment

http://rubysrainbow.blogspot.com/2011/10/rubys-rainbow-ch14.html Cute and cuddly (Penguins are cute n cuddly!)

http://mymumscraftshopchallenges.blogspot.com/2011/10/challenge-27.html Reminds you of a song (You got a friend in me)

http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/2011/10/challenge-35-we-love-animals.html Animals

http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/2011/10/lets-do-christmas.html Lets do Christmas

http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com/2011/10/zoo-or-animal-theme.html Zoo/Animal (my ickle penguin)

 

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x



Polaroid2 - DT Card

Hello, and welcome!

It seems so long since I "talked" to you all, and I have to thank you, from my heart, for all the kind words, and comforting cyber hugs.....I really don't know what I would do if I couldn't come into my little sanctuary, and chat with you all.

You'll know that this past week has not been at all easy.  As at this moment, Kevin's post-mortem will be in it's second day.  Most of you will already be familiar with Kevin, Roseanne, and Rhys.

Roseanne left at her usual time of 6.30am, last  Tuesday morning, to go to open up the store where she works as manager.  12 year old Rhys left for school an hour later.  He cycles to my house, and leaves his bike in my garden, or garage, and walks around the corner to his school.  My 13 year old grandson, Jack, also does this.

This always means that Kevin is left alone for half an hour, and his main carer, Vicky, arrives at 8.00am.

Last Tuesday she arrived to find the living room in disarray.....two glass nesting tables were overturned, had blood on them, across the doorway, and Kevin was slumped inj his wheelchair.......blood covered his heavily-bandaged right leg.

Kevin was barely conscious, and Vicky phoned an ambulance, then called Roseanne, then me.

To make a very long story much shorter.............

The police and C.I.D. were called by the paramedics.......Kevin died at the scene........we were not allowed into the house until the Crime Scene Investigators gave us permission....lots of photos were taken....we all gave statements....we had to stand outside, on the drive, in 80 degrees sun, for 6 hours until the body was taken.  Eventually, one of Roseanne's neighbours took her into her home, for a short while.....you can imagine what a state she was in....and somebody went to get Rhys from school.

First thoughts were that one of two things had happened.....Kevin had either knocked the joystick of his computerised chair, and it had shot forward into one of the tables, resulting in the table cutting his thigh, and he bled to death.....

or, he had a spontaneous bleed from a main artery, and bled to death........

The police took away the glass tables.......

Now, we wait.

I promised the Design Team at Stretch 'n' Bubbles that I would not let them down........so here's a very hurriedly made card, featuring Polaroid 2

I was happy to use this sweet image this week....most of the work was already done because the frame means i didn't have to do too many layers........I also chose to use Autumnal colours....the red hand-stitched and distressed paper was a scrap....the background is from the Spiceberry collection from Memorybox............

Of course, every girlie needs a bit of bling, which is where the good ol' sparkly Modge Podge comes in....one blingy bag!

What can be more bling than sunshine?  The little alpha stickers are clear veluum, that's been in my stash for yonks..........nearly all gone now........

The few minutes it took to hand-stitch this scrap were probably the quietest, ans most peaceful I've had all week.........

The flower was actually made by my grandaughter....7 year old Taylor......when she was playing at my desk a few days ago......I pinched it, to save time.........sorry, Tay.........

Sorry it was rushed.....hope I can find some challenges, because that's part of my remit as a DT member....love challenges!

Challenges:

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ Use a digi

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2011/10/happy-happy-birthday-papertake-weekly.html Anything goes

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/10/simon-says-sparkle-and-bling.html Sparkle/Bling

http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Celebration/use a digi

http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Happy Birthday

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x