Spring....really?

Hi, and welcome!

Our weather is certainly weird, right now!  We are usually still shivering in our winter woollies. and my patchwork quilts are folded on the bottom of  our bed, but today has been more like May than the last day of February.....weird, indeed!

Still, as I said yesterday, the spring flowers are making an appearance, and the local farmer is preparing for his new lambs, so the seasons are on the turn...........

Which brings me to today's creation...haha!.......and this is made for a lovely challenge over at http://www.foldedpaperprintedpixels.com/2012/02/challenge-time.html 

Sara has a lovely free digi stamp that you can use for her challenge, so why not click on the above link...after you've finished reading the rest of my guff, of course!........and join in the challenge....great prize up for grabs, too!

Oh, this was fun to make!  Both images are from Sara....cute, eh?

The papers are from my scrap pile, inked with a soft yellow chalk, and layered with the pretty K&Co ribbon......

I coloured with PMs, and fussy-cut the sweet girlie on the swing......I used a Making Memories die to cut a tab shape, and attached to the top of the swing ropes...all up on pop dots......

I used the Marianne's lamp post die for the swing support.........

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And this is the freebie that Sara has provided.......couldn't resist it...ha!

Again, coloured with PMs, and a dinky flutterby to embellish....done!

Go get the freebie, and join the challenge....and don't forget to take a look in the store, too....lots of cutie must-haves in there!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Other challenges:

promarkerchallenge.blogspot.com  Pastel colours

ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com  Pink and girly 

onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com  Use a digi/Spring/Easter

http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/  Use a butterfly/fairy/angel

Mother's Day is a-comin'!

Hi, and welcome!

There are lots of very pretty crocuses along the borders, in our lane.....creamy yellows, bright yellows, purples, and white....they look so gorgeous, gathered in large, and small, groups, and serve to remind us that Spring is not too far away.  

I know I wax lyrical about the white, fluffy stuff, and  nothing will ever change my love of pristine snow......but there is something about those hardy little crocus flowers that warms my heart....and I do actually love Spring, even though she can be a fickle season, here in North West England.

I think most Britons have a love of Spring.......the lighter, less chilly, days.......the little splashes of colour from the spring flowers......the bursting forth of the forsythia bushes.......the new-born lambs in the fields........."Oh, to be in England, now that Spring is here!"....okay, I changed "April" to "Spring".....but you get my drift.....that was by the poet, Robert Browning, by the way...........

and what comes around, every Spring, (here in the UK, anyway)?

Mother's Day

I am so very blessed to still have my Mam with me.  She's had a couple of health scares, recently, but has bounced back, hale and hearty, and with her own brand of  joie de vivre......and I love her for it!

Today's card is for my Mam........

The card base is cream, and the papers are from K&Co......I distressed the edges, and used a Martha Stewart border punch, with a scrap of my third paper, and lay a length of pretty pink and cream trimming across it.........

Isn't she cute?  She's from Mamidoodles....did you know they are closing, soon?  Such a shame.

I coloured her with my usual  Promarkers.

The sentiment is from a Hot off the Press paper pad,  and I cut with a Nestie, and inked the edges.......

The pink diecut is a Marianne's Creatable, and I stuck a pretty flower, and a matching blue gem on top.......the flower was from a headband that was bought for £1 at Primark.....still got loads of the flowers left...bargain!

A closer look at that trim....came on a roll that I got at the local market.......

I've just re-discovered another market, in a town about 15 miles away.......since I was last there, they now have 3 fabric stalls, and 2 craft stalls...woohoo!  I went last Saturday, but will  be making another trip, tomorrow.....might share what I buy, if you are interested, haaa!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

ceschallenges.blogspot.com  Blues and creams

thepapershelter.blogspot.com  Add a sentiment

simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com  Use 3 different papers

allsortschallenge.blogspot.com  Anything goes

2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com  Anything goes

hidinginmycraftroom.com  Spring 

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

mamidoodles.blogspot.com Use 3 different papers

Card Crafter's Circle/Challenge #11 PHOTO INSPIRATION

Hello, and welcome!

Is it Friday?  Yep.....certainly is, which means it's time for another great challenge at

 CARD CRAFTER'S CIRCLE

and it's a lovely one this week.........

PHOTO INSPIRATION 

and here's the piccie.......

Bet that made your eyes pop....haaaa!

We are being sponsored, this week,  by the fantabulous 

and our random winner will receive $10 to spend in the store...woohooo!

All you have to do, to be in with a chance of winning, is use the Photo Inspiration to create something lovely....easy!

Here's my DT creation........

 You will find some delightful stamps in Di's store, and this is one that I already had...cute, or what?

I layered up the background paper (scraps!) with the pink dotty triangle, and used a chipboard flower as the base for the digi image........the layer at the bottom is cut with a Martha Stewart border punch, with a piece of yellow cardstock at the back........

Blue flower, layered with a red one, and a button popped on top....I didn't really need to tell you that, did I?...heehee......

Isn't she cute?  I love the freckles...nearly as many as me...ha!  She's coloured up with the usual Promarkers......

All topped off with a bright chipboard greeting, and a dash of pink ribbon!

Okay, go get your stash out, and create!

I really love it when I've got my Design Team member hat on, and I spot one of your entries on the challenge blog....it's like popping in on an old friend....hello!

Lookin' forward to visiting you. :)

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/  Bold and Bright

http://www.doitwithdigischallenge.blogspot.com/  Don't be square

http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.com/2012/02  Add sunshine to your day!

http://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/2012/02/week-8-summer-fever.html  Summer Fever

Christmas Joy

Hello, and welcome!

It's been very spring-like today.......sunny and warm.......balmy, even!  I'm still waitin' for snow.....haaa!

Speaking of snow.....yes, I have to get it in somewhere, don'tcha know.......I felt the need to make a Christmas card, but with not a single white flake in sight.....how did that happen?

I've actually still got Christmas stash on my desk, and in my work basket, which lives at the side of my telly-watching chair.  My work basket has quilt blocks, and a bit of cross-stitching in it.......I can't abide sitting with nothing for my hands to do!  Having work in my sticky little fingers stops me from snackin', too........er........okay, maybe I'm stretching the truth a little........if I dig deep enough into my basket, I can usually find a few Smarties, or M&Ms........haaa!

Here's the card........

The red paper is actually deeper and richer looking, IRL.....looks a bit washed out in the pic...sorry.

The Christmas trees in the background are gold embossed on acrylic........I've had a stash of the sheets for ages, and was "saving" them for something special....never gonna happen, so I'm starting to use 'em........

I fell totally in love with this beautiful image when I was fortunate enough to get to use it for a DT challenge....it's from Whoopsi Daisy, and is named "Winter Cloak".....love it!

The ribbon is self-adhesive, and has been in my ribbon stash for an age; since I had my huge sort-out, I'm beginning to use up all the fabby goodies I've been hoarding......are you proud of me?

I used red glitter card to cut the pretty Nestie shape, and topped it with a cute sentiment which I'd stamped onto kraft, and coloured with PMs........

Another find from my hoarded stash......chipboard sentiment (think it's Cosmo Cricket) and this was the starting point for choosing the colour combination for the card........done!

Card Crafter's Circle Challenge is up, tomorrow....see you then!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

thepapershelter.blogspot.com  Add a sentiment

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

http://theprettylittleribbonshop.blogspot.com/  Anything goes with ribbon

http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/  Use chipboard (the sentiment)

Definitely Girlie!

Hi, and welcome!

I've been feeling a bit discombobulated, recently.........go on,  ask me why?  Okay, since you insist, I will........

I think it's mainly to do with the age I'm at..........37............why are you laughin'?

I feel as if I'm neither one thing, nor the other.........my Mam still talks to me as if I'm 9, my kids seem to think I'm gettin' frail, and my grandkiddles think  I can mend everything, know everything,  and can walk on my hands!

That's how it all seems to me, at times..........a state of discombobulation, indeed!

Don't mind me.......I'll be back  to my usual state of just plain get-on-with-it, soon....haaaa!

Had to take Mam for a hospital appointment today....she's had some "lady trouble", and was scheduled to have 4 small biopsies today, but, after she was examined, her consultant  told us that everything was cleared up, and she just has to use the steroid cream he prescribed.........pheeeew!.....what a relief!

We weren't at the hospital as long as I thought we would be, and I took Mam to Roseanne's, where she had been invited to stay the night.  Drove home, through the horrible, dark and dank, rainy weather, and crept up to my lovely craft haven.........a while later, and.....taa-daa!.........

I got a free stack of these gorgeous Lili of the Valley stamped images with a magazine, and was really looking forward to using 'em....couldn't resist this little cutie!

The background paper is from Nitwits (love their goodies!), and is layered onto some pink dotty paper......

Her name is Milly, and I coloured her up with the usual Promarkers, (think I'm going to need some new ones, soon).......

The ticket was from my stash of freebies, chalked in pink, and that sweet button added, just for fun..........

This is my new Memory Box ribbon buckle die, but I popped the green button on, instead of threading with ribbon.........

Cream seam binding,  coloured pink with my Promarker, with a matching bow, and more of the really pretty lace that came from Walmart in New Jersey, (a 20 minute bus-ride from Manhattan, and well worth the trip!)....and there's my very definitely girlie card, finished!

Hope you enjoyed!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2012/02/totally-papercrafts-challenge-104.html  Ribbons/Bows
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2012/02/challenge-73.html  Anything goes

A Card for Sebastian

Hello, and welcome!

Those of you who have been around my blog for a while will know that I am a member of the Secret Pals forum, on PCP.....well, if you didn't, you do now, heehee.

Well, last week, one of the members posted a  link to gingershouse.blogspot.com where a plea was being  sent out.

Ginger told the story of one of her charges, in her school class....a little boy named Sebastian, who is a marvellous example of choosing to be happy, in spite of many difficulties.

Please take some time to click on the above link, and send a card to this wonderful little boy........you'll be blessed if you do!

Here's my effort........already posted to Florida.........

Sebastian is a hero, in my opinion, so this superhero digi from Melonhedz is just perfect to send him a smile......I used some papers left over from an old stack that has been hangin' around for ages, and coloured up the cute image with my Promarkers.......I used a sketch from http://willowsketchiechallenge.blogspot.com/ ......sweet, eh?

I love those chunky legs....  It's like lookin' in the mirror....haaaa!  

Here's something else that's been lying around for ages, just waiting for the right creation to come along....it's from a box of Brenda Walters (Walton?) chipboard pieces.

Ginger wanted to fill Sebastian's hospital room with love.....I just know that all you creative lovelies will want to help her achieve this fabulous goal.....just sayin'....haa!

Take care, my lovelies ......

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

willowsketchiechallenge.blogspot.com  Sketch

ccmonthlychallenge.blogspot.com  Anything goes

creativecardcrew.blogspot.com  Masculine

digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com  Use your stash (I did!)

http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2012/02/challenge-73.html  Anything goes

http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/  Bold and Bright

Card Crafter's Circle/Challenge #10 To Die For!

Hi, and welcome!

It's time for another great challenge at Card Crafter's Circle, and this week we are really looking forward to seeing your creations that include a die or a punch....how easy is that?

We have another wonderful sponsor for you, too.........

http://limitedrunsstamps.blogspot.com/ 

This week's random winner will have the pleasure of choosing 3 digis from the lovely range that's available, so why not have a go at the challenge and maybe you'll be a lucky winner....yaaaay!

Here's my effort for the Design Team.......

Yummmmmm......didn't expect that, did ya?....haaaa!  When I chose my gorgeous Limited Runs digi, I immediately knew that I'd be asking my very own baker, aka Gillian (daughter #2) to make some yummy cupcakes.  I showed her the stamp, and these are what she came up with........

 Cute, or what?!  All coloured up with Promarkers, and layered onto these oh-so-pretty Nestie dies.....and didn't Gillian do a great job of matching the scrumptious cupcakes to the image?  

Have to admit, this lot didn't last long.......haaaaaaa!

And no......they weren't scoffed by me........I'm on a mission to lose a stone before my birthday, in June, so these were force-fed to several grandkiddles, and, of course, the love of my life...the Hubster!

Okie-dokie.......your turn!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

craftingwhenwecanchallenges.blogspot.com  Valentine/Love

gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.com  Love is in the air!

onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com  Anything goes

scrappyfrogschallenge.blogspot.com  Die cut challenges

Card Crafter's Circle/Challenge #10 To Die For!

Hi, and welcome!

It's time for another great challenge at Card Crafter's Circle, and this week we are really looking forward to seeing your creations that include a die or a punch....how easy is that?

We have another wonderful sponsor for you, too.........

http://limitedrunsstamps.blogspot.com/ 

This week's random winner will have the pleasure of choosing 3 digis from the lovely range that's available, so why not have a go at the challenge and maybe you'll be a lucky winner....yaaaay!

Here's my effort for the Design Team.......

Yummmmmm......didn't expect that, did ya?....haaaa!  When I chose my gorgeous Limited Runs digi, I immediately knew that I'd be asking my very own baker, aka Gillian (daughter #2) to make some yummy cupcakes.  I showed her the stamp, and these are what she came up with........

 Cute, or what?!  All coloured up with Promarkers, and layered onto these oh-so-pretty Nestie dies.....and didn't Gillian do a great job of matching the scrumptious cupcakes to the image?  

Have to admit, this lot didn't last long.......haaaaaaa!

And no......they weren't scoffed by me........I'm on a mission to lose a stone before my birthday, in June, so these were force-fed to several grandkiddles....lol...:)

Okie-dokie.......your turn!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Nitwit Christmas

Hello, and welcome!

Did you have a lovely Valentine's Day?  I most certainly did........a dozen red roses, a beautiful (shop-bought) card, a trip out into the country-side, a stop at one of my favourite stores, (came out with a snazzy new blouse), dinner at a fancy restaurant.......and best of all.....an uninterrupted day with my lovely Hubster....only down-side was that he insisted on playing the Sergeant Pepper (Beatles) cd, in the car, and did his usual "party-piece" of singin' along, making up his own words!  Terrible....no, really......terrible!

He made me laugh, made me feel special, and made me feel guilty about moanin' about him, the other day....haaa!

I had 22 month old Yvie-Grace today, while Gillian took the 3 boys to see the Muppets movie...it's half-term holiday from school........and she made me giggle so much.....she gets her elbows and shoulders mixed up, so playing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" with her is a hoot...heehee.

Didn't have much time to spend on making a card, but did put another Nitwits one together.........

Would you believe I have 10 Christmas cards done?  Yep.....I'm trying to get a stash, so I can just enjoy the run-up challenges, this year, so this is another to go in the box.

A pretty angel/fairy....she's a diecut, so just popped her onto the lovely blue label, which was a surprise gift in a package I ordered from diestodiefor.com. Tracy, the owner, put several lovely bits and bobs in there......isn't that nice?

All the papers are from Nitwits, (just love their stuff!), and the gorgeous lace was one of the rolls that I got from Walmart in New York....love it!

The sentiment came with the pack.....all I added to the card was some yellow chalk ink, to the edges.......finished!

This took hardly any time, so I did get a little while to do some colouring.......hopefully, I can get a few more cards done, before the weekend.

Thanks for all the lovely comments you leave....I appreciate each and every one.....even when you are being cheeky...haaaa!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com Fairies (hope she qualifies)

http://natalduranteoanotodo.blogspot.com/2012/02/desafio-412012-challenge-412012.html Anything goes Christmas

http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ Wings

http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ Anything with wings

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

http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/2012/02/challenge-29-things-with-wings.html Things with wings

Nitwits Sweet Flower

Hello, and welcome!

I've been hiding in my craft room......so quiet and peaceful in there...........and spent a little time going through my "bits 'n' bobs" stash.........ooooooooh....so many pretties!  Ha!

Why was I hiding?  Well, I'll tell you........

Because hubby is at home.....still!

Now, please don't get me wrong.....I love him, dearly.....wouldn't still be here almost 43 years after the nuptials, if I didn't........but, there's a limit.........and we've passed it!

We always have a lean time, after Christmas, because he works with outside broadcast units, filming outdoor concerts, race meetings, etc., and his part of the job is very weather-dependant.  He works freelance, which means he's self-employed, and the work always dries up at this time of year....it's just an occupational hazard, and we try to prepare for it, financially.

He has an allotment, where he keeps racing pigeons, rabbits and chickens.......also grows a few veggies.....and lots of weeds.....so he spends a few hours, each day, mucking and raking, feeding and watering, and whatever else fellas get up to on these little plots of our green and pleasant England

But he's had no work since Boxing Day, (day after Christmas), and he is really fed-up....bored....fretful.

He keeps asking me if there's anything I need him to do........I would have whooped with joy, a short time ago!.......but, we've exhausted everything I would trust him with, (another story, right there!), so he mooches about, follows me around.......and it's driving me doolally!

Anyone want to hire a strong, fit 62 year old?  He's tall, dark (well, lightening slightly in places, ha!), and very handsome, and can bring his own mug and Labrador....apply in writing, no reasonable offer refused!

Anyway, 'cos I was in hiding, it had to be a fast and simple creation........

I have quite a stash of gorgeous free papers and elements, so decided to use a bit of it up.....it's so nice to get my magazine delivered, and find a stack of free papers included........I think these were from a Nitwits pack.  I just cut everything out, used chalk ink to outline the edges, and stuck to the card blank....the flower and bow are up on pop-dots.....and I added some white Card Candi, which is from Craftwork Cards......

Cute?  Yep....definitely!

I actually went back, later, and added a Happy Birthday sentiment, but then forgot to take a piccie........should have given the job to Hubby....haaa!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

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

http://www.stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/  Anything goes

Card Crafter's Circle/Challenge #9 Valentines/Hearts

Hello, and welcome!

We had a few snow flurries, today........didn't last, but was veeerrry cold....love it!

There's another great challenge at Card Crafter's Circle, and this week the challenge is 

VALENTINES/HEARTS 

Doesn't have to be a Valentine card, but we do need to see at least once heart on your creation......fun, eh?

We are back, this week, with one of our favourite sponsors

The randomly drawn winner will receive 3 images of their own choice, and there are sooooo many cute ones to choose from!

I used a very sweet digi called He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, and this is how it turned out.......

Yep, I chose to make a Valentine's card, and really enjoyed colouring this sweet little missy........

I had this freebie journaling card in my stash, and thought it would fit right in with this creation..........everything is coloured up with Promarkers, and the colour palette was based around the journal card....I really wanted to use that darn card....haa!

I cut the hearts with a very old Quikcutz heart die, sewed with dark brown thread, and grouped together.........

More hand stitching on the panel, and I added some toning Card Candi........done!

It amazes me that other parts of the world seem to send Valentines cards to just about anyone.....teachers, friends, their own children, grandparents, etc., while here in the UK, we generally make/buy one card, and give it to our own sweetheart....or whomever we would like to be our sweetheart...heehee.

But, as I said at the top of the post, this challenge doesn't have to be a Valentine....just add a heart, and submit it to the challenge.....easy!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

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

http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com/  Valentines

http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com  Love is in the air

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/  With all my heart

http://prairiefairyfridays.blogspot.com/  Let Me Call You Sweetheart

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/  Valentine's

http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/  All Loved Up

http://jellyparkchallenges.blogspot.com/  Shades of Love

Happy Bird-day!

Hello, and welcome!

Rain, rain, go away, come again another day.....NOT!

It's been rainin' cats and dogs, all flippin' day, and all that is left of all my beautiful, white, crispy snow is a tiny patch, in front of the stable........ppffhh!

We've had a warning of more snow tonight, but they say that....just to get me hopes up........but, because we live  on the leeward side of the Pennine Mountains, we can see it falling on the hills, and we just get sleet....ggrrrrr!

Rant over.....for now.......

I started to make this card, yesterday, but got interrupted.........you'd think somebody would have invented a switch that could be flicked to clean the house, do the ironing, go to the shops.........it's the 21st century, after all.......and I remember, as a child in the 60's, being told that all this would be possible in the 21st century, and we'd also be holidaying on other planets!

Somebody should be fired............sorry.........ranting again........sorry.........

The card.........

The colours look pretty washed out in the pic....couldn't get the lighting right with all the flippin' rain .......I used kraft card for the base, and the pink gingham was a scrap......I handstitched in blue AND pink around the edge of the card.......thought it looked quite pretty.  All the elements are stamped with a free set from Nitwits.......

except the sentiment, which is a Stamps Away clear stamp........thought I'd be brave and stamp straight onto the paper, and I curved the stamp a little........just 'cos I could...ha!

Used the ol' Promarkers, and really enjoyed colouring in with these cute stamps......not used 'em before, but can see them being a favourite.....

I coloured and cut out the flowers, and popped 'em onto foam dots, then placed them on the stamped label.......added two cute buttons.......

And done!

I think this will be given to a certain daughter, later this month.......

Card Crafter's Circle Challenge is up, tomorrow....yaaaay!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

celebratetheoccasion.blogspot.com  Anything goes (Birthday)

mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com  A is for Adorable

papertakeweekly.blogspot.com  Anything goes

http://birthdaysundaes.blogspot.com/  Birthday with sentiment

http://www.sewmanychallenges.com/  Birthday

http://thespottedchick.blogspot.com/2012/02/thats-krafty-thursday-58.html Use kraft

http://justinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/  Photo inspiration

http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2012/02/challenge-135-cute-critters.html  Cute critters

http://scrapbooksisters.blogspot.com/2012/02/card-challenge-no-70.html  Anything goes