Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Follow the Star DT Card

Hello, and welcome!

Did ya miss me?  We had the most wonderful time in Northern Ireland, visiting with our son and his little family.....can't believe how much Bevan has grown in just these few weeks...he's 13 months old, and growin' like a weed...haaa!

My cutie pie........

Tanys, Bevan and Jonathan......we had just had lunch at the mall, and Bevan decided he wanted to investigate the Christmas tree....Mummy and Daddy had to rescue it...ha!
They actually live in Bangor, in a lovely little 3 bedroom semi, but Belfast is just 15 minutes away by car, and we visited the fantastic German Christmas Market....had hot fudge and chocolate, German sausage with the most wonderful sauce (can't pronounce the name, hehe), bought a wooden train for Bevan, got beautiful scarves for all my girls (daughters and daughters-in-law), and didn't mind a bit that the rain was teeming down!
Belfast is a beautiful city, and I can't wait to go back....highly recommend it, my friends!

Today, I'm showing off another lovely Christmas image from Stretch 'n' Bubbles......... it's called
Follow the Star.........and here's what I did with it.......

All coloured up with Promarkers, (what else, lol?), and I used Papermania DP, layered onto red cardstock......added a square doily for a snowy feel.......

Isn't it sweet?  I used a little sparkly Mod Podge on the star, and added white dots from a Sakura Glaze pen.....

The added embellishments are from my stash, all popped up on foam dots.......

Love that these glittery stars are big..........

The wavy green strip is chipboard, as are all the other embellishments, and I finished off with the sparkly sentiment.......done!
Hope you like.......tell me if you do/don't......haaaaa!
Hugs,
Anne-Marie x

Challenges:
http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/2011/11/paper-sundaes-challenge-97-winter.html Winter Wonderland
http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-86-sponsored-by-simply-betty.html Tis the Season
http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/2011/11/crazy-4-challenges-c4c115.html Christmas
http://designed2delight.com/blog/2011/11/saturdays-designers-challenge-snowmen/ Snowmen
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/simon-says-anything-goes.html Anything goes
http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Holiday
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-101-anything-goes.html Anything goes
http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-42.html Anything goes
http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-94-snowmen-snowflakes.html Snowmen/snowflakes
http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
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Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Sweet Nativity DT Card

Hello, and welcome!

Hope you're having  a good day......I'm posting early today because I know it's going to be another busy one for me.......too much to do, too little time!

I had one of my hospital appointments, on Monday.......I see two consultants, 6 months apart......one is my surgeon, and the other was in charge of the radiotherapy I had, and prescribes my medication.....it was the latter that I saw on Monday.
She gave me the usual examination, proclaimed that she's amazed that I have no scarring from the radiotherapy.....I'd flown to New York a day after my treatment finished, and came out in huge blisters!.......and asked if I was still getting the hot flushes that are a side-effect from the medication....yep, to that one!......and then said that I was well beyond the danger period for a recurrence of the cancer, and she has every confidence that I will be discharged, this time next year........yippeeeeee!
I'll stay on the breast care programme, which means I'll still get mammogrammes every year, instead of every
two.......what a relief!

Changin' the subject....here's my DT card for Stretch 'n' Bubbles .........

The image is called Nativity ......

I wanted to keep this card simple, without too much in the way of embellishments......

I wanted the focus on the image, and the story it tells........I love the simplicity of this digi image....very sweet.....I coloured with mu usual Promarkers, and doodled around the edges.....

A little knot of paper straw seemed right......the papers are scraps from that Hot Off the Press pad.......

A simple sentiment that says it all........added 4 tiny brads........

I cut out this sentiment from the same pad, and added a larger red paper circle...popped up on foam dots......
I like how simple and straightforward this looks.....would love to know what you think.......

Bye for now,
Hugs,
Anne-Marie x
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Tuesday, 22 November 2011

A Bit of Sparkle!

Hi, and welcome!

I just noticed that we've passed 70 lovely Followers......WOW!.....didn't realize there were so many people who would be willin' to come by and read my guff, and even look at my attempts at being a Crafting Diva.......as if.....haaaaaaa!

I am really gettin' excited........Ken and I have booked our flight to go and visit our son and his little family, in Northern Ireland.....woohoooooooo!
For those of you who have recently joined us, our 23 year old boy, Jonathan, and his wife, Tanys, and their 12 months old little boy, Bevan, recently went to live near Belfast.....Jonathan was offered a new job and is loving it, I'm glad to say.
We live in the Northwest of England, so Belfast is only an hour away by plane, .....and we'll be there by 8am, Friday morning, and will be back by Monday evening.....can't wait!

I was supposed to be going shopping for quilting fabric today, with youngest daughter, Leigh-Anne.
She arrived with 12 month old Millie, but looked as if she hadn't slept for a week.....turned out she has been feeling unwell for a few days....probably just a rotten cold......so we decided she should go home, and have a quiet day.....good job Millie is a happy baby, and would go down for a long nap!

This meant that I could nip upstairs, to my craft room, and make a quick Christmas card.....and this was very quick......haa!

I pulled out the trusty Kanban goodies again......I got these because the cards I make with them are destined for those people I've mentioned before......they don't like the handcrafted look, so it has to look as if it's come from a store.....

Three die-cut snowflakes, popped onto foam dots, and a sparkly gem added........

Embossed snowflakes placed in the corners.....pretty..........and we're done!....told ya it was quick...haaaahaaa!
Hope you are all well on the way to finishing that stash of Christmas greetings you promised yourselves you'd make.......don't look at me!........I'm reduced to pullin' out the Kanban...heehee!

Hugs,
Anne-Marie x
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Saturday, 19 November 2011

Raggedy Angel DT card

Hi, and welcome!

I don't usually have a DT make on a Saturday, but there's always a first time for everything...haaa!
With an eye to growin' that stash of needed Christmas cards, this creation is destined for one of those overseas addresses....could it be you?

Before we get to the card, I'd like to give you a heads-up about a new challenge blog........it's called cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com and is run by the wonderful Pauline Guttrey.......there's a DT call going out, too!

The image is called Raggedy Angel and she's available in the store........


Don't usually "do"  Christmas cards that aren't in traditional  colours, but I thought this ickle lady needed to have pink, sparkly wings....so she's been attacked with the ol' Mod Podge.......

The papers are from Hot Off the Press....still gots bits of that paper pad left, but am workin' on using it all...haa!

I cut the large snowflake from my Shapeability die, and added some sparkly flossy stuff, and a purple Card Candi........

More ickle snowflakes, and a few gems...........

The sentiment was a freebie stamp (with a magazine), and I just added a spot of sparkle, and cut out with deckled scissors.....I've got a large carousel of these shaped-edge scissors, but hardly use 'em....shame......

This is a piece of that lovely flocked netting that I sometimes use for my rolled roses....love it!
The pretty pink pearlescent doily-thingy was cut with a new Marianne's die....love it,  too!

Off now to clean bedrooms....who makes all this mess?.......and then I just might have some time left to creep into my craft room....but don't tell  anyone....they might decide to visit.....haaaa!

Hugs,
Anne-Marie x
Challenges:
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Friday, 18 November 2011

It's a Boy Thing

Hello, and welcome!

I am sooooo excited!  This time next week I'll be in Northern Ireland, visiting with Jonathan, Tanys, and Bevan...woohoo!
It's only 4 weeks since they moved over there, but I have been missin' them so much, and I can't wait to give them all great big hugs...an' kisses....and more hugs...did I mention kisses?...haaaaa!

It's not certain whether Dundersoldest grandson, tud (Ken) will be coming with me, because he's actually scheduled to work next Saturday.......but he may just be able to get somebody to cover him.....I'm keepin' fingers and toes crossed....

Been doing a bit more shopping for Christmas gifts...got all the grandchildren's, except 14 years old Jack's.......I'm really struggling with that one.....and just need to get tons of stocking fillers......oh.........and gifts for 16 adults....gulp...........oh 'eck!  Maybe Dunderstud should actually work next Saturday.....we'll need the pennies....haaaa!

Wish I had more time to get down to all those Christmas cards I still need to make.....looks like some folks are gonna get shop-bought.....just can't seem to get enough done, fast enough......

Also still need several birthday cards for December. and this one is for my grandson, Lewis, who will turn 10........Lewis has a dog...a big dog......she's a Labrapoodle named Chocolate.........guess who got to name her.........ME!.....haaaa......
She's huge, chocolate brown, and very fluffy....and she and Lewis are great pals........


I've had this image for an age, and knew that I would be using it for a card for Lewis.........the papers are from DCWV, and the image (freebie from TLC) is coloured up with Promarkers, as per usual...keep meaning to try something else, but PMs are just so flippin' good ........
I used my PM blender to add spots on the green car, just to add a bit of interest........



The ribbon is from my stash, and I popped a button on each end.......also did my usual handstitchin'........

Popped up on foam squares................I think Lewis will like it!

Would love to know what you think.........I really do appreciate the time you take to leave me a comment :)

Hugs,
Anne-Marie x


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Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Christmas Tree DT card

Hello, and welcome!

I'd like to say a big HELLO AND WELCOME to the lovely new people who have recently joined us.....so glad you did....but just remember it was of your own free choice ....haaaaa!

Is it Wednesday?  Don't remember Monday or Tuesday, but my built-in reminder (Dunderstud) tells me it's Wednesday, and who am I to argue?...haaaa!
Good job I got my Design Team creation fixed, then, eh?.......'cos Wednesday is "my" day on Stretch 'n' Bubbles....and guess what?......I also get to do the next few Saturday's too....woohoo!!

This week I've used a really fun image from the store........it's called Tree with Stripes and Heart....maybe because that's exactly what it is....haaaa!
I've been chunnerin' on about not havin' enough Christmas cards made, so this was a great opportunity to add another to the stash....I'm starting to get a bit FREAKED because I've got a list....a looooong list....of peeps who live overseas to send out to.......why did certain members of my extended family feel the need to leave Scotland and land on foreign shores?
Hong Kong...Canada.....America....Australia.....Somerset.......er.....yep, when you live in the North West England, Somerset is foreign, even though it's in Southern England....heehee.....
And even my own dear old Dad couldn't stay put in Bonnie Scotland....so that's why I speak with a Mancunian accent, Luv....haaaahaaaa!

On to the creation......


I found some bits of Hot off the Press papers, left over from last year, and thought they suited this cute tree.......the image reminds me of old-fashioned country Christmases.........all coloured up with the usual Promarkers, except for the star......I used a gold paint pen for that, and it looks much richer "in the flesh"....rubbish photos again...sorry.....

I saw a double wrapped bow on a blog...somewhere I've now forgotten....sigh......and tried to make one using this red raffia....sigh....."tried" is the operative word.....need to practice that one.....but I DO like the ickle metal wreath charm........

Added some red sparkle to some of the trees on the paper border..........

I think the sentiment was a freebie from TLC....just popped it onto a bit of kraft, and inked the edges.....love the vintage look of this......

I have spools and spools of this Crafters Cord and am trying to think of ways to use it......fell back on my usual handstitchin' for this one, though....haaaa!

Thank you all so much for the lovely comments about Taylor's baptism.......she now thinks she's as famous as Lady GaGa....ha!

Bye for now!


Hugs,
Posted by at 15 comments:

Monday, 14 November 2011

It's not a cake!

Hi, and welcome!

So nice of you to drop by....and an apology from me for not posting last night, as I said I would....should have known I'd be too pooped, after being at church, and then Taylor's baptism, straight after....heeheeeee.......

It was a very long day....left home at 9.30am to get to our usual Sunday services, which last around three hours....then a mad half hour of setting up tables and chairs, bringing in food, getting Taylor changed into her baptism dress, and trying to take photos...all with around 80 guests milling around....and maaaaany of 'em were kiddles.......so you get the picture....haaaa!

It was a really lovely day for us all, and Taylor was a little princess, and had a wonderful experience.
After all the chatting, chasin' after sugar-hyped kiddles, wiping squashed cupcakes off the floors, and clearing away all the after-party debris....Ken and I finally arrived home at just after 6pm.......pooped majorly!

Was all worth it for this little angel......

A friend of the family gave Taylor those sweet pink roses......she was thrilled!

There were millions of jars and boxes of old-fashioned sweeties.......sorry......was too busy to take many piccies......and you may just be able to see the bunting I made to hang above the display.......again, sorry it's not a good piccie.....and no, Doreen 'twasn't a big cake....haaaaa!

A small  selection of the 150 cupcakes .......and not one of 'em passed my lips.......did I tell ya I was busy?.....yep.....busy.......

Another not very good pic........ the gorgeous birthday bouquet made by Daughter #2 (Gillian).......the square base had those pretty ickle flowers iced onto it, and Taylor's name.......can't believe I missed that off.........but I was being jostled and pushed at the time....haaaa......

One of those gorgeous cupcakes in the bouquet........didn't get a sniff....not a crumb.......sigh.......

Okie-dokie........made a card........heehee........


I've decided I'm rubbish at takin' photos.............

Needed to be quick........when do I ever have the time to be slow? ........ha!.....so turned to the Kanban goodies I got a while ago........

Decoupage and a different fold.....how's that for quick?
Would rather stamp or print, then colour up, and start a layout from scratch, but this works to add another card to the stash that's going to be needed in the next couple of weeks....that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it....HAAAAA!!

Sorry this was a bit long-winded....thanks for stayin' with me!

Hugs,
Anne-Marie x
Posted by at 10 comments:

Saturday, 12 November 2011

Cupcake overload!

Hi, and welcome!

Just popped in to quickly give you all a little teaser..........yep.........been pretty busy with these today........

Not goin' to show the whole kit 'n' kaboodle 'cos these are for Taylor's party, tomorrow....remember I told you she turned 8 years old this week?.......well, she's having a party, after her baptism, and the theme is "Cupcakes and Sweeties", so I 've been having a play with some cute stuff........

I made a whole bundle of these....they will hold Dolly Mixtures, Torpedoes, Midget Gems,........all those sorts of old-fashioned sweeties........

So quick and simple to make, and I think they will look cute, sitting on the table display, overflowing with brightly coloured sweets........

They have shredded pink tissue paper inside, so the sweets can nestle.........think there's gonna be a great many sugar-hyped kiddles runnin' amok........and me!......haaaaaa!

You get only a peek at this........it's a surprise for Taylor, so she should be the first to see.....just sayin'.....haaaaahaaaaa!

Back tomorrow ........

Hugs,
Anne-Marie x

Posted by at 4 comments:

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Christmas is a Comin'!

Hello, and welcome!

And how are you doin'?  That was said in my best impersonation of Joey from "Friends"......betcha thought it was really him, didn't ya?.......haaaahaaaa!
Now, if you are being polite, you are supposed to ask me how I'm doin'............well, I'll tell ya.........I'm tired, in a good way......did you ask me why?......well, I'll tell ya........because I've been out with Joanne (Daughter #1) and Roseanne (my baby sister) for the whole day.....shopping for a set of Scriptures for grandaughter #2, Taylor, who turned 8 years old this week, and will be baptised on Sunday.  We also looked for a blouse (old-fashioned-word-alert!) for Joanne...didn't find one......and weighed up various bits and bobs for Christmas presents. 
What did I come home with?.......a roll of Christmas ribbon from Asda...yeah, we did a food shop, there, too..........
Oh, and I got some pink bunting on pretty ribbon that I'm gonna bling up for Taylor's party.....maybe....if I've got time........

We also dropped in to see Daughter-in-law #1. Angela (wife to Mark, our eldest boy), and our two ever-in-motion 3 year old twins, Freya and Adam......... Adam always nose-dives into my bag to hunt for the ever-present Polo mints........and Freya always tells me 3 jokes at the same time, and they all have the same ending....haaaaa!

Roseanne is not really doing very well....she's not eating or sleeping, and can't stand being alone...........so we make sure her days are filled.......today was a relatively good day for her.........but she was going home, afterwards, to keep an appointment with the people who are arranging for a headstone for Kevin's grave...........it's 6 weeks since he died, and Rhys wants to sleep with his Mum every night....doesn't matter that he's 12....they both still need it.

Oh well....here's a card I put together....very quickly ......when I got home, because I've got nowhere near enough Christmas cards made yet.....aaaaagggghhhh...........

I used more of that freebie paper pack, from the other day......it was still on my desk...ha........and simply layered up paper, inked and distressed, and tied some baker's twine around........

The sentiment was part of the pack, and I layered it onto scrap card after inking the edges, then did more distressing........a button with glittery thread, and another embellie cut from the paper pack (stuck onto card) finished off the main panel........

Did you know that this date is the Most Magical Date of the year.....I truly believe that Magic happens on Christmas Eve....truly, I do.......

The simple Christmas tree (from the paper pack) is prettied up with lines of Glamour Dust and popped up on dots.......
Done!!

Very quick, very simple, and a welcome addition to my Christmas stash.......some of 'em will need posting out in a week or so.........got to get a move on, so I think there will be a lot more of these quick and simples  comin' off my conveyor belt....haaaaa!

See ya later.........or........as 3 year old twinnie, Freya says..........smell ya later, 'coz that's why ya cross the road, Grandma........haaaaaa!  Yep....she actually says "haaaaaa"!

Hugs,
Anne-Marie x

Challenges:
http://crimbo-crackers.blogspot.com/ Make it Sparkle
http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/ Bright colours/sparkle
http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.com/ Christmas
http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/2011/11/paper-sundaes-challenge-94-rectangle.html Rectangle
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/week-128-anything-but-square.html Anything but square (2nd entry)

 






Posted by at 14 comments:

Wednesday, 9 November 2011

Puurfect Friend DT Card

Hi there, and welcome!

It's the middle of the week.....already!....and time for me to introduce you to another sweet digi from Stretch 'n' Bubbles!
This week, I thought I'd get a jump on making some cards for peeps I'm particulaly grateful to have in my life.......not sure some of 'em feel the same about me....haaaaa!

So, using Purrfect Friend I came up with a card to say Thank You...........

I fancied making a differently shaped card, just for a change....not sure I like it, though...........the spotty paper was treated to a haircut with my Martha Stewart lacy punch....haaaaa!.....and the pretty ribbon was from the Blog  Candy I won from Shelley over at inkyhugz.blogspot.com........it's just lovely, and I really like the lacey edge on it........

But I do like the digi....sweeeeet...........and all coloured up with Promarkers.........used a lacy doily, some scraps of Papermania papers, and a circle of lilac pearlised cardstock, cut into a circle...........

I made the sentiment on my 'puter, and layered onto a scrap of black cardstock..........

The flowers are from my stash of white flowers, which I coloured up with the ol' PMs again, so they toned with the card......

Cut a circle of black card, and glamoured up with Mod Podge...love that sparkly stuff......looks great on the black, eh?

As usual, I would dearly love to hear your comments on this creation....should I have bothered with the oddly-shaped card base?
The jury is out........

Hugs,
Anne-Marie x

Challenges:
Posted by at 14 comments:

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Jolly Snowman

Hi, and welcome!

So sorry that my posts seem to be few and far between, lately.......no excuse other than I just haven't had the time.
Christmas shopping for all my tribe is really running away with the days, and I'm just too pooped to want to do any crafting in the evenings.
Don't get the wrong impression, though.......each of the Golden 17 gets one nice gift (all  priced around the same), and so do each of our kids and their spouses.........and then there's Mam....Roseanne and Rhys......my three closest friends......Ken.......and a few others.........
And we've 9 birthdays in December, and I've not shopped for those presents, or made any of the flippin' cards yet.............but what's the killer in all this shopping?....besides tryin' to figure out the right gift for each person (gets harder every year!)?
It's trying to find suitables for those 29 Christmas stockings I have to fill....aaaagggghhhhh...............

Anyway, got a few minutes, yesterday, to create another Christmas card.........

I based the card on a cute sketch from totallygorjuss.blogspot.com
Everything on this card, except the digi image and the green cardstock, is from a freebie pack that came with my scrapbook magazine yesterday..............

The digi is another freebie, but was snagged sometime last year, before I started bloggin and wasn't saving artists' details....sorry.........
He's a real cutie though, don'tcha think?  Coloured up with the usual Promarkers, and some sparkle added, with white Flowersoft on his hat......

Cut out this pretty tree from the freebie pack, and blinged up with the sparkly Mod Podge...love that stuff, but I bet ya never would have guessed, huh?.....haaaaaa!

Did the same with the holly sprigs, and everything popped up on pop dots............

Picked up the green sparkly ribbon at the local market, and the red sparkle one was in the pack of Blog Candy that I won from Shelley, over at inkyhugz.blogspot.com .....thanks again, Shelley!

Finished off by adding some handstitching to the layers.......really should get my machine out, now and again, but it's just so relaxing to handstitch.........that's my excuse, anyhoo........

Would love to know what ya think....just sayin' ......haaaaa!

Hugs,
Anne-Marie x
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