Cupcake happy!

Hi, and welcome!

I really do feel that I need to apologise for not being around much, lately.

I'm getting quite frustrated that my crafting time seems to be getting shorter, and even when I make a definite plan to get into my craft room, and try to get back into the swing of creating, something always seems to stop me from finishing anything....or, on some days, even makin' a flippin' start!

A while back, I told my family and friends that I wanted to have Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays to spend at least half of the day crafting..........expecting that I'd be lucky to get a couple of hours on each of those days.

Nope.

Having a  large family is wonderful......it really is........but sometimes I wish I could job-share!

I seem to live with degrees of guilt always present.........I don't give enough time to my Mam........I don't spend enough time with my hubby........my girls argue about whose turn it is to spend a day with me.........my grandchildren don't spend enough one-on-one time with me.....I don't see my friends enough.....my Church duties are always behind........I seem to be always playing "catch-up" with my housework......and on, and on.......and crafting gets squeezed in at odd moments, and I feel constantly frustrated!!!

Rant over.

I've got one card to show.........made it  a few weeks back, to give to a friend's grandchild, but forgot all about it.....typical.......

Again......sheeeeesh......a quick and simple card.  A basic step card, loaded up with yummy cupcakes from a Dawn Bibby kit.......

I 

Sorry about the pics....I was rushing, as usual!  I folded a A4 piece of blue glittered card into the steps, then layered a cupcake banner across the back top, with a scalloped border underneath.......did the same for the bottom front, and placed die cut cupcakes in back and front.......

Added a glittery sentiment card.....and rushed off to do something else...haaaa!

Keep your fingers crossed that I'll get a bit more completed, this week.....I've got sooooo many ideas, and it's drivin' me nuts that I can't get the time to do any of 'em...haaa!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:
http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.co.uk/  Kaleidescope  of Colour
http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/anything-but-square.html  Anything but square
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/totally-papercrafts-challenge-114.html  Saturated Colours
http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes
http://ceschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/challenge-83-candy-cupcakes.html Cupcakes/Candy

Card Crafter's Circle Challenge #20/PEARLS AND LACE

Hello, and welcome!

Since being a child, I've always had a kind of love/hate relationship with Fridays......love 'em because it's the end of the school/work week....hate 'em because we used to be forced to eat fish pie with parsley sauce, at our Catholic school (no meat on Friday)....uggghhhh!!!

Does that make me sound as if I'm a teensy bit scarred by that?....haaa!

To this day, the only fish I think is remotely edible is a kippered herring, but I think I've probably eaten one about 3 times in the past ten years!

Anyways, that's got aber-solutally nothing to do with today's challenge at 

CARD CRAFTER'S CIRCLE

Nope, nada, nowt, nothing..........

This week we want to see a creation that includes some pretties......

PEARLS AND LACE

Our randomly chosen winner will receive $10 credit to spend at

which will buy 4 images, or can be put towards a larger purchase.........and there's so many cuties to choose from!

Our fabulosa Design Team have loved working on this challenge, and you really should click on their links, in my sidebar, and go take a look at their creations....

but not before you've checked out mine.......or I will come find you...hahaaaa....

I used a Di's digi called Winter Window, and coloured up with the usual Promarkers, and cut and layered onto a pretty, lacy border frame, and put red cardstock behind, to pick out the lacy pattern.......

There's a little sparkly Mod Podge on the holly, snow, roofs, window panes, and bunny's tail.....always wanted a lilac bunny ;P.......

The sentiment is an epoxy sticker from Paper Adventures, already sparkled up....perfect!

The card base was already embossed with this pretty swirly pattern, and I added red and green card, layered with a strip of cotton lace, and topped with the lovely embossed Christmas tree, which is a Cuttlebug folder......all topped off with the graded-sized pearls, and teeny ones to make a star, at the top......done!

I am really chuggin' on with Christmas cards....this makes 15, and we're not yet out of April...woohooo!

Okay, now it's over to you.....PEARLS AND LACE......you know you want to...haa!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/tuesday-throwdown-95.html  Show some sparkle

http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/aud-sentiments-dt-call-and-anything.html  

Anything goes

http://christmasstampin.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/challenge-8-anything-goes.html  Anything goes

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/challenge-130-anything-goes.html  Anything goes

http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Animals

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.uk/  Animal magic

Tuesday Alchemy - New Challenge Blog

Hi, and welcome!

Well, after my mini-moan, last night, you really cheered me up with your lovely comments....thank you!

To answer a question........Hannah has made her decision about university....she wants to study at Huddersfield, because they have the best selection of subjects that will  help her get to where she wants to be.......and it's only 35 miles away, so she can be home on the weekend (if she chooses...haaa), and she'll be close to family friends, too.  She already regularly attends Church discos, and other events, there and has a ready-made group of friends waiting for her....so, fingers crossed that she gets the results she needs!

I wanted to give a shout-out about a newish challenge blog, TUESDAY ALCHEMY.

Corinne, one of the Design Team, left me a lovely comment, so I went over for a nosey around....y' know what I'm like.......and I'm hooked!  

They have a lovely BLACK & WHITE challenge, at the moment, and I couldn't resist takin' it up...........Had to be a very quick one, though.........Bevan had eaten all my stash of digestive biscuits, and I can't go to bed without my biccie and bottle of water, so had to go out and buy some!

The beautiful Memory Box wreath die was a Mother's Day pressie from Daughter #2, and this was its first airing....love it!

The card base is black pearlescent.....didn't know I had any 'til I went diggin'....haaaa!.......

The sentiment was from a huge pack that I've had for almost a century, lol.........was originally cream, but did my usual with the Promarkers.........and layered it onto a scrap of white corrugated card.........

Can't remember  where I got the flowers, but I layered 3 of 'em up and added a lovely pearl brad.........all finished off with a bit of  sheer white ribbon....nice!

I hope you can pop over and check out TUESDAY ALCHEMY.....looks like they are goin' to be a fun place to be!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Other challenges:
http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes (2nd entry)
http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.co.uk/ Something beginning with "b" (black card/brad)

Hannah's 18th Birthday

Hello, and welcome!

Y' know, I'm really finding it hard to make myself sit down, and actually write a blog post.....don't have any particular reason.......still love to go and have a nosey around everybody else's........am enjoying the crafting process.......have a trillion half a dozen ideas for projects bouncin' around in the old bonce.......but blogging seems like hard work, at the mo'........sorry :(

Our eldest grandchild, Hannah, turned 18 last week.....how did that happen?........and she had a Hawaiian themed party, with a big marquee in the back garden.......it was flippin' freezing!!

Our lovely girlie!

And to think I got married the day after my 18th birthday........

And here's the card I made for her..........

In the photo of Hannah, you'll see that she has shortish hair, but it was actually as long as the Melonzhead girl's, the day before.....she had it all chopped off so she'd look older......ha!

The scary-lookin' parrot is a K&Co sticker....I just left the backing on, so it would stay upright.....wouldn't want a drunken  parrot, would we?.......come across too many of those in me time....heehee......

Wanted to make a scene........me?....never!........so thought it would be a change to do a step-type card....kept it simple though............

The ickle sunshine is another Melonzhead.....just printed it in yellow, and coloured the centre bit with Promarkers.......stamped the banner, coloured with PMs, then stuck on these teeny letter stickers.......put it up with mini pegs, and fun fibre that I won from Crafty Ribbons........

I think I got this cute tree from Designed 2 Delight.....just the job!........

The grass border is from a pack by K&Co........a really old pack!

And that's it.....Hawaiian Hannah!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:
http://papermakeupstamps.blogspot.co.uk/  Birthday (must use digi)
http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/  Bold & Bright
http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Hello Sunshine (use yellow)

Card Crafter's Circle Challenge #19 IN STITCHES

Hello, and welcome!

Have you got that Friday feeling?

Hope som 'cos it's time to have some fun with another challenge at 

CARD CRAFTER'S CIRCLE

and this week we have the fabulicious 

 

sponsoring us, with some really lovely images for our random winner.........3 digi stamps....woohooo!

This week, we want to see any kind of stitching (faux or real) on your creations..........you can do it, it's easy!

I actually chose to use a freebie stamp, from  LIMITED RUNS to play with this week, and I love it so much that you're bound to see it, a lot,  on future creations.......haaaaa!

Isn't that cute?  I printed the stamp onto some digi kraft paper that I got from Funky Hand.....love it!

I layered up a white card base with a piece of blue paper, inked around the edges, and added a large, square doily......on top of this went a stitched paper panel.....so relaxing to hand sew onto card and paper....sigh.......and then on went a K&Co tag.........

The flower was from the headband I bought at Primark, and I changed the colour with my trusty Promarkers........pretty die cut leafy/frondy/thingies behind the bloom.........

Delightful pearlies.........

Some pretty ricrac and ribbon in the tag, and a dress-form, stamped onto kraft and cut out.....it was a freebie with a magazine...........and done!

I gave this card to Daughter #1 ....aka Joanne......for her birthday on 1st April..........don't tell anybody, but she turned 42......and it's well known that I was a child when I had her....haaaaa!

Don't forget to pop over to the challenge blog to take a gander at what the other members of the DT have come up with.....they are amazingly talented ladies!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:
http://phindysplacechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/challenge-102-stitches-squares.html Stitches and a Square (I've stitched and I have a square doily and card)
http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.co.uk/  Punches or die cuts
http://papersundaes.blogspot.ca/2012/04/paper-sundaes-challenge-116-anything.html  Anything goes
http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/challenge-61-punches-dies.html  Punches or dies
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.co.uk/  Use a dig (Happy Birthday stamp)
http://theprettylittleribbonshop.blogspot.co.uk/  Punches or dies and ribbon
http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/challenge-106-die-cuts-and-punches.html  Diecuts or punches
http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.co.uk/  Make it Girlie

Card Crafter's Circle/Challenge #18 GENTLE /PASTEL COLOURS

Hello, and welcome!

I'm soooo glad it's the weekend......pheeeewww.......been a bit of a hectic week!

I'm doubly pleased because it's time for another challenge at 

CARD CRAFTER'S CIRCLE

and this week we have a lovely theme for you.........

Gentle and/or Pastel Colours

One of our favourite sponsors is 

Our randomly drawn challenge winner will receive the 4 Sponsor images the Design Team has created with - coloured and uncoloured! What a fabulous prize!

I decided to make a little wall hanging, just for a change, and I used this very pretty wreath image..........

I put the digi image into my graphics programme, then added the sentiment, and grouped them together so they would print as one image.........I then coloured up with Promarkers, and used a little chalk ink around the sentiment.......

The lovely sentiment is from TLC, and I'm giving the wreath to one of my girls, so I thought it was very fitting..........

I added a tiny pearl to each flower, just to give a bit of texture, added a length of pink gingham ribbon for hanging, and called it done!

You really need to take a look at what the rest of the Design Team came up with (links in the sidebar).....Bonnie used the same image as I did, but our creations are really different....that's what I call a versatile image.....haaaa!

Hope you'll play along with us, this week....you know how nosey I am, so show us what you can do!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://www.scrapbooksisters.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/card-challenge-79.html  Anything goes

http://www.simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/simon-says-april-showers-bring-spring.html  April showers bring Spring flowers

http://ditzy-craftymesschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything but a card

http://polkadoodle.blogspot.co.uk/  Pink

http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/  Spring/Summer colours

Up Close and Personal!

Hello, and welcome!

This is our Engagement Photograph.....haaaaa!

I had the most amazing night.....certainly will always remember it........the Osmonds are the business....wooohoooo!

Shame about the fuzzy hair (me, not Jimmy O!), but got caught in a down-pour when shuffling running to the entrance, but it didn't faze my soon-to-be-betrothed.......he still was gallant enough to hug me, and insisted we had our "official" piccie taken together......yaaaaaayyyyyy!!!!

I am not goin' to bore the pants off you/rub your nose in it.........the special details are mine, all mine......but suffice it to say that I had an absolutely amazing time, and am an even bigger fan of the wonderful Osmonds than I was already!

Last Thursday was Yvie-Grace's 2nd birthday, and she had a Mickey Mouse-themed party....she just adores the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.......but I didn't go with the theme for her birthday card.

I just love Wee Stamps and fell in love with this little cutie, because she reminded me of Yvie..........

 A few layers on this one, lol..........white card base with layers of red card stock and blue and mustard papers....... a white paper doily arranged behind the images.......

Isn't she sweet?  Coloured her up with the usual Promarkers, then cut around, leaving a tiny white border......

The pretty postcard was a freebie from Pink Gem, and I added a metal star that I glittered up with fine blue glittery shtuff, and fixed with a mustard brad.........

The journalling tag was another freebie....just added sentiment stickers, punched a hole with my Cropadile thingy, and added the big mustard eyelet, and a pretty ribbon.......

Die cut the butterfly from red and white paper, then coloured up the white spots in mustard to match.......

I dotted some dot-matrix sticky dots in the corners, and sprinkled some of this pretty bling over......I love the result!

Okie-dokie......that's me for tonight.....got to go call  Jimmy and chase him up about the weddin' arrangements......haaaaa!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:
http://www.scrapbooksisters.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes

Sew Delightful

Hello, and welcome!

I have had the most wonderful Easter, and am hoping that you, too, have felt the effects of God's love for you. and have perhaps had some time to reflect on your blessings......I know I have.

I wanted to share a couple of things with you........firstly, I mentioned, a few days ago, that I had some news to share with you........one piece of news was that Jonathan and Tanys, and baby Bevan were coming home.........and I can't remember what the other news was.....haaaaa!

But.......I also mentioned that there was a third bit of news......and then I forgot to tell you!

Weeeeeeell..........as it's going to be happening tomorrow, I thought I'd better get it said....haaaa!

Hope you're readin' this, Birdie ..........I have been invited, along with 3 of my closest friends, to meet and greet THE OSMONDS as they arrive in Liverpool, prior to their UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL show.....woooooohoooooo!!

We are to be given a VIP box to view the dress rehearsal, then go backstage to "meet and mingle", and have some eats with 'em.....better remember to take a bib (I've been known to dribble).......and then help  them to host a Church Fireside meeting.

Unfortunately.....sigh......sob.....sigh......Donny will not be there......sob.........

so will just have to force myself to smile, and have a good time......as long as they sing "Crazy Horses", I'll be fine....haaaa!

Okay.........next news.....yep.....there's more........

If you've been around my blog for a while, you'll know that my youngest daughter, aka Daughter #3, aka Leigh-Anne, is a talented quilter.......yep.......I taught her all she knows ;p.......but she is far and away a better, and more prolific quilter than I'll ever be.

Well, she has been sewing gorgeous creations for friends and family, and word has been passed around, and.........well, the upshot is, she's had tons of orders for her "signature" quilt, which has to be seen to be appreciated!  She also makes a whole lot of other stuff......in fact, if it can be stitched, she can do it!

After much badgering encouragement from me, and various friends, she's now opened a Facebook page, to  showcase her makes, and so people can place orders...........it would be lovely if you could pop in, and say Hello.....and say I sent ya!  She would be sooooo chuffed!

You'll find her at http://www.facebook.com/sewdelight 

She's still in the process of putting up photos, etc., but there will be a lot more to look at, soon........I'm so proud and excited for her!!

This is an Easter bag she made for Bevan

Cute, eh?

And these were girlie ones, to order.....pretty :D

Probably won't be blogging tomorrow.....got a date....haaaaa!

See you on Tuesday...........

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Card Crafter's Circle/Challenge #17

Hello, and welcome!

Did you think you'd gone deaf?  I've been quiet this week, haven't I?....haaaa!

Been having far too much fun with my little Bevan Boy....also had a grandkiddles birthday party (more about that one, tomorrow), and been generally busier than even I usually get!

So.....what have we got for tonight, then?

Another great challenge from

CARD CRAFTER'S CIRCLE

and this week we are back with the truly wonderful

who are going to give our Random Winner 4 lovely images!

Now, I know you must  love  all the cuteness that's on offer....haaaa!

The challenge is......drumrolllllllllll........

CHOCOLATE BUNNIES

Yummy!  

All you have to do is make something that involves a bunny, or chocolate (the colour,..... but I'm open to a little edible bribery....shhhhh....don't tell my Teamies!), and pop it into the challenge....ta-daaa!

Here's mine.........

The base is white card stock,  layered up with papers from a stack that came as a freebie, in a craft magazine....love me some freebies!  A few die cut branches, and a tiny dragonfly are added as embellies......

I added some faux stitchin' to the outside edges of the paper...like that look.......and made one of my netting flowers, nestled on a felt die cut ........the tiny dragonfly was coloured to match with a Sharpie........

Chucky eggs....yummy.......laid on top of that lovely spotty ribbon, (those Easter chicks don't care where they lay 'em!)....and a "picnic" button ....just 'cos....haaaa.......

And here's the cutest baby bunny with her own baby bunny.....awwww.....all coloured up with Promarkers, with a touch of sparkle, here and there.  I think she looks lovely, sitting in her lacy frame....sweet!

So, come on........show us your bunnies!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

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

http://glittergeeks.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/week-14-easter.html  Easter

http://www.sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com.au/  Easter

http://craftysentiments.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/bunnies.html  Bunnies

http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/r66-bunnies-chicks.html  Bunnies & chicks

http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/challenge-140-easter-andor-pastel.html  Easter and/or pastel

Bugaboo Christmas

Hello, and welcome!

It's too quiet around here.........Jonathan has gone over to Ireland (with Dad in tow) to meet the furniture removal people, and get everything ferried back here.  Tanys and Bevan have gone to Leeds to stay with Tanys's parents....they were so excited to have them there!.......and I'm on my own until Wednesday lunch-time....except for our old black Labrador, and Jonathan's old terrier, Bruno.....they are like an old married couple, sharing their big floor cushions, and cuddling up......haaaa!

So, what did I do, today?  A ton of ironing, and 3 more washes.......didn't recognize half of it, so think the neighbours are smugglin' stuff in, when my back is turned....heehee........but, I did get a little time to play...yippeee!
We've got some of the gorgeous white stuff forecast for tonight, and tomorrow, so I just had to make a Christmas card........hahaaaaa!

There's a lovely little sketch that I used, over at christmascardchallenges.blogpot.com .  I layered red, plain green, and patterened green papers onto a white card base, rounded the corners, and inked the edges......

I really, really like this sweet Bugaboo digi, and coloured up with my trusty Promarkers......I chose all my very favourite, traditional Christmas colours, which also coincide with the challenge over at sparklesforumchristmaschallenge.blogspot.com which is COLOUR ME HAPPY........I also added some Glossy Accents on the lettering for a bit of umphhhh.......

I have a huge box of Christmas buttons....love buttons!.....and thought this cute tree was just the thing.......

And how about these to "lighten" the mood?....haaaaa!  Found 'em in me Christmas buttons box, and couldn't resist!  A few die cut pine branches, and we're done.....Merry Christmas!! 

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

sparklesforumchristmaschallenge.blogspot.com  Colour Me Happy

christmascardchallenges.blogspot.com  Sketch

craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com  Get Sentimental

jinglebellesrock.blogspot.com  Happy Hybrid Holidays