Giving Thanks

Hello, and welcome!

I live in a wonderful part of the world.  I am free to come and go as I please.  I have health and strength.  I have a family that loves me, unconditionally.  I have a Father in Heaven, and a Saviour, who love me, unconditionally.  I have friends and neighbours who are kind and thoughtful.  I have every home comfort and more than enough to eat and drink.

For these things, I am truly grateful!

I am also grateful to have a lovely hobby that helps me to "meet" wonderful, kind, generous and inspirational fellow-crafters.  Having this hobby has made it possible for me to be on a couple of Design Teams and today, one of them

TWIST OF FAITH

has another challenge that I'm hoping you all will be inspired to enter.....

HARVEST TIME/THANKSGIVING

I am very fond of the images at 

StampartDesign by Kathryne 

 

And this week, Kathryne is our generous sponsor!

She's offering 4 images from her collection of stamps and sentiments........Fantastic prize.......when Mr. Random Thingy chooses our winner!

I had a certain person in mind when I made this sweet card........her friendship means a great deal to me.....and the "Thankful" sentiment reflects the gratitude I feel towards her........

I love the way Kathryne draws her images.....the characters always have such sweet expressions, and this little fella is no exception...hahaaa!  He's all coloured up with a mix of Promarkers and Spectrum Noirs.......the papers are all from my scrap mountain.......mountain?.....it's a whole mountain range, now!

The lovely border is a freebie from Tracy at diestodiefor.com ....she always, very generously, includes a handful of die cuts in the packages she sends out! Yes, I know it's to get you pantin' for another new die....or is that just me?....but it's still nice to open the package and have something extra in there...ha!

I wonder what he's goin' to do with all that scrummy pumpkin?  

The pretty heart is the latest die that I got from Tracy, and i added a tiny button with a twist of paper string......

I found this big sentiment tag in my stash.......had it for an age.....got loads more like it...hahaaa...

....and the corn button, too, from.a big box of autumn-style buttons that I bought years ago.... Couldn't decide if I'd put it upside down, or not.......it doesn't grow like that around here...hahaaa!

Okay....it's over to you.....make a card that expresses Gratitude in some way.....Harvest, Thanksgiving, anything that fits our theme....and don't forget The Twist......you must include a scripture or an uplifting quote or sentiment on, or inside, your creation.

Can't wait to see what you come up with......oh, and don't forget to pop over and see what our uber-talented Design Team have created!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://papermakeupstamps.blogspot.co.uk/  Lots of layers(8)

http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Lots of layers (8)

http://celebratetheoccasion.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/challenge-86.html  Fall

http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/  Halloween or Fall colours

http://www.kaboodledoodles.blogspot.co.uk/  Fall

http://canyoudigiit.com/blog/  Giving thanks

http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes (use a diecut - the heart and label)

http://useittuesday.blogspot.co.uk/  Use orange

Glitz 'n' Glamour

Hi, and welcome!

Right now, I feel as far away from Glitz and Glamour as I possibly could get......ferocious germs still have a hold on me......grrr.......but that's the challenge theme, this week, at Card Crafter's Circle ......think "A Day at the Races" with all the pretty dresses, high heels, glam make-up, and you'd be close to what we're looking for. You might want to use horse images, racing silks, champagne....anything that fits our theme.....oh, the choices....hahaaa!

Our generous sponsor is

Our randomly chosen winner will receive a lovely gift of $10 to spend in the store......you'll be very spoilt for choice!

Here's my card......

Seems like you may have to wait a little while longer for decent photos.......another catastrophe in my crafty room......a wall of shelves decided to move itself to the floor, taking a ton of stuff with it.....and I'm really not feeling up to putting it all back.......so the photos were taken in the only clear space.....sorry!

I really don't have many images that could be used for this theme, and this cute stamp from Bugaboo was as close as I could get, lol.

She's coloured up with Promarkers and glittered with a Sakura pen.  I used a Nestie scalloped oval and layered onto pink glittered card and dark burgundy card.....those pretty flower gems have been sitting in my stash for the longest time........

The lovely damask paper was a freebie, and the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.....love their stuff!

I cut 2 small and one larger pennant shapes from burgundy sequin waste and added a little string of shiny pearls to the top......

The little doily shape is from Memory Box and I rolled the three flowers from toning papers.....done.  I think I should have added something else to this, but, to be perfectly honest, I wasn't feeling at all well when I was making it, and this is it....hahaaaa!

I'm sure you could do much better, so come and join in the challenge!  Don't forget to take a look at what the rest of the Design Team have been up to....lots of  inspiration up for grabs!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/challenge-74-anything-goes.html  Anything Goes

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

http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.co.uk/  Bling

http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.co.uk/  Sparkly

http://flourishes.org/category/challenges/timeless-tuesday/  Birthday card

http://perfectsentimentschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/psc53a-happy-birthdayhappy-anniversary.html  Happy Birthday sentiment

http://www.sjpapercrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/monthly-challenge-no-10-octobernov.html  Birthdays

Animal Antics!

Hello, and welcome!

Don't lean in too close......I'm breeding yukkie germs!  Sore throat, muzzy head, chills and high-ish temperature.....want me to share?  Also, both my  legs have been itching like mad since Sunday.....that's when the yukkie germs decided to settle in.....perhaps just a coincidence, but I just may have something very rare...hahaaa!  Oooohhh...hurts to laugh........

Enough mardy from me (Lancashire term...Google it!), and it's on to this week's challenge at

 TWIST OF FAITH, 

and the fun theme this week is

ANIMALS

We are looking forward to seeing what you can come up, for this theme.....don't forget we are a CARD challenge and we have a TWIST......the twist is to include a scripture or uplifting sentiment, either on the front of your card, or inside.

We love having BUGABOO as our sponsor....I think they must a digi stamp to cover almost anything, haa.....and, as always they are offering that magic 7 digi stamps to our randomly chosen winner!

But, you gotta be in it to win it, right?

I happen to know a little girl who is coming up to her 5th birthday (not one of mine, this time..heehee) and she absolutely adores Unicorns.....alright, maybe they aren't real animals.....but maybe they should be....everybody needs a little MAGIC in their life, especially when they are 5 years old....so, here's my card.......

I used the delightful Unicorn which you will find by clicking the link.  I started with a white card base and layered some Nitwits papers.......

I glammed her up a little with white Jones Tones glitter, and coloured up with Promarkers and Spectrum Noir....the latter has a nicer, and larger, range of pinks and purples, I have found.......this little darlin' was a pleasure to  colour, anyway.  The pretty flower wreath is from  Memory Box and I used some lovely glittery yellow  card that I've had for ages....just a few flat-backed pearls to set it off, nicely.....

I edged this sentiment (Craftwork Cards) with a little pink ink.......

Can't have a girlie creation with a flower, can we?.......these are from my stash, with another pearl in the centre....note to self:  wait for glue to dry before taking photo!

I cut two corners with a Martha Stewart punch, and the bottom border is cut with the matching larger border punch....more pearlies!

You may have noticed....or not, haaa....that I don't have a scripture or up-lifting message on here.......and that would be because I forgot......aaahhhhhh!  I did go back and add one to the inside, the day after, but no photo.....you'll have to trust me....hahaaa!

I did actually find a scripture that mentions unicorns skipping like calves (Psalm 29:6 KJV), but the message I left inside just mentions  that the little girl in question has beautiful blonde hair, just like this pretty unicorn.

Now, you need to go take a look at all the animal wonders that our Design Team came up with.....they are amazing!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://flourishes.org/category/challenges/timeless-tuesday/  Create a birthday card

http://lollipopcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/  Happy birthday

Spooky Going's On Around Here!

Hello, and welcome!

Another Friday nearer to CHRISTMAS......WOOHOO!

Sorry, just needed to get that out of my system......ahemmm.....

Card Crafter's Circle are actually having a 

HALLOWEEN

theme for the challenge, this week.......I can't understand why the team won't just let me make a Christmas card every week...hahaaa!

I have to say, though, that I really enjoyed making my themed card....even if it wasn't Christmas.....because the gorgeous digi images that I got to play with were delightful!

Our sponsor is

http://www.kpmdoodles.com/

and our randomly drawn winner will receive their choice of Two Sets of Images from the store!

And there's a special offer of 50% off everything at the moment.......so don't miss out on some lovely stamps!

Here's my card.......I used the fabulous Trick or Treat Houses Combo.....

I decided to go with an easel card for this one, so that I could use as many of the stamps in the set as possible.....there are actually a lot than I managed to fit on.....such good value!  The lovely paper was a digi freebie....love it!......and the green background is from my stash.......

The colours are all  much brighter than this terrible photo would have you believe....phhwwtt!......I chose to work with the pre-coloured stamps. I printed and cut out each stamp, then put them through my Stampin' Up Trellis embossing folder, to add some texture....

I punched a circle of white card and coloured it to match the purple in the stamps, and also ran it through the embossing folder.....added a freebie sentiment and a button with ribbon tied through.......I wish those colours didn't look so flippin' washed out...that green card is much deeper green.......

Would this little fella spook ya?  He was one of a number of Halloween goodies that I won at Quixotic Paperie ....thanks again, Elaine!  

This was a really fun card to make....I love these stamps!

Hop over to the challenge blog to see all the great inspiration from the rest of the Design Team, then make a little something to enter into the fun....don't forget that great prize that's up for grabs!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://notrealstamps.blogspot.co.uk/  Halloween

http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/  Use a Halloween sentiment

http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Use metal (ghost charm)

http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.co.uk/  Halloween Treats

http://shellysimagesblog.blogspot.co.uk/  Spooky

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/craftycatz-challenge-155-halloween-and.html  Halloween

And the winner is........

Hello, and welcome!

Well, now is the  time  to announce the winner of this lovely tote bag, made especially for me by my talented daughter #3, Leigh-Anne......

Reversible......

I know I'm keepin' you on tenterhooks ........and I'm sorry that only 12 Followers left a comment that qualified them to be entered.......thank you so much to those who did.......and I'm hoping for those who didn't, it wasn't because you are not getting your regular checks.....just sayin'.......

The winner is..........

STEF H (GLITTERBABE)

Yes, it's youhoooooooo..........!!

I have your mail address, Stef, so watch out for this pretty tote arriving on your doorstep, some time soon!

Just so you know, here's a list of all who qualified.......and thank you, one and all..........

Doreen

Jenee

Shelly

Vicky

Theresa

Trish

Claire

Margaret

Sue

Sara

Debbie

Stef

See you all tomorrow!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Show us your Favourites!

Hi, and welcome!

A quick reminder about my 

BLOG CANDY

You have until tomorrow night 11.00pm UK time to get in a comment that will enable you to be included in the random draw for that delightful tote bag!

And don't forget to tell me what I want........nay........NEED to hear.....that you get your breasts checked, regularly!

Okay.........I have to tell you that I got a little over-excited about this week's challenge at TWIST OF FAITH.........yep.......the theme is 

FAVOURITES

and it was a no-brainer for me..........and you all know what I chose, don't you?

We are truly blessed to have a wonderful sponsor

Our Design Team were thrilled with the gorgeous array of cute images that the owner, Faith, has created.........and she has very generously agreed to offer 3 prizes of $5.00 vouchers for images from her store!

All you need to do is create a card that showcases something that is a FAVOURITE of yours........a technique, an image, a colour, a theme, a scripture........anything that you really like!

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

I love this beautiful image!  It's called The Way in a Manger and I love the simplicity and crisp detailing......

I started with a white card blank and used a piece of DP that came with a Humphry's Corner paper pad......I added some teeny-tiny stars that actually were the punched out shapes from the bottom border......

The white doily is from Papermania and the music score paper was a freebie (I Googled to find the image).  I added a little brown chalk to the edges and distressed them........

This gorgeous border is one of my favourites and is from Memory Box......the ribbon is from my stash and the 3 Card Candi pieces are from Craftwork Cards........

Those Spectrum Noir markers are feeling a little more comfortable, the more I use them, and they make an appearance on this beautiful image........

Oh, stutter.....I just saw that there are actually two doilies....stuck together.....haaaaaaa!

I put a scrap of the blue ribbon across the corner and pushed through a silver snowflake brad.....yes, it was silver, but I dabbed some white Gesso on it........

This lovely star was included with the stamp set......there are a couple of sentiments and more stars in the same bundle, so a lot of choice, there.......

I coloured up the star, added some sparkle Mod Podge, and scored through from point to point so that it would be 3-D........

There is a bit of chalking and distressing goin' on, all over the place....hahaaaa!

So.......did you spot all my FAVOURITES?

I went with my favourite theme.......Christmas

My favourite kind of image........The infant King

My favourite techniques.......inking/chalking, distressing, adding sparkly Mod Podge....love that ssschtuff!

My favourite Christmas hymn......."O Come All Ye Faithful"........or, as I better know it, "Adeste Fideles".....I was taught every verse in Latin, and still prefer to sing, or hear it sung, this way........beautiful!

Please join us this week.......you would be very welcome!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes

http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.co.uk/  Ribbons and/or Bows

http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.co.uk/  Use 3 of something (my card candi buttons)

http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/  Christmas sentiment

http://totallystampalicious.blogspot.co.uk/  Christmas card/project

http://christmasstampin.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes (Christmas)

Little Pirate Birthday

Hello, and welcome!

Another reminder about my 

BLOG CANDY

You've got until this coming  Wednesday night (11.55pm UK time) to leave a comment, and don't forget to make sure you fulfil ALL of the requirements.

Go here for the full details.

Our  little grandson, Bevan, will turn 2 years old on Wednesday and he'll be having a Pirate themed party.  He just loves Jake and the Neverland Pirates on the Disney channel, so that's what prompted his mummy to theme his party around pirates and pirate princesses........his younger cousins are going to have a ton of fun!

Her's the card I made for Bevan......

I used Nitwits papers on a white card blank and added a strip of blue ribbon and red ric-rac across the centre.........the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.....

The image was a freebie, but I have no idea who the artist is, so please let me know if you recognise it, so I can give due credit.  I coloured with a mixture of Promarkers and Spectrum Noirs....it was a lovely project to colour up......I cut the image out with a Fiskar's oval template......

The banner shape was cut with my SU punch and I used a scrap of red ric-rac, a couple of teeny brads and a number sticker.......

A simple little card for a beautiful little boy!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://ribbongirls.blogspot.co.uk/  Boy Card

http://craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.com.au/  Children's birthday

http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/  Anything goes

Challenge Creation and Blog Candy Reminder

Hello, and welcome!

Before we get to today's business, here's a little reminder about my 

Breast Cancer Awareness

BLOG CANDY!!!

You can find all the details 

here 

but please make sure you read to the end of the post to get the full information.

Card Crafter's Circle has another challenge for you and this week the theme is 

BLACK, WHITE AND ONE OTHER COLOUR

As always, we have a very generous sponsor .......

Our randomly chosen winner will get their choice 6 cute images to keep for ever and ever.......happy ending, or what!?

My card uses the sweet little Kirby's Rose and I wanted to be in keeping with 

Breast Cancer Awareness 

so I chose PINK to go with the Black and White theme

I started with a white card blank and added some black and white paper that has been in my stash for the longest time....I have no idea where it came from.....must have been one of those packs that have bits that you don't particularly like..hahaaa!

The centre is layered with a strip of pink and white paper, backed with white cardstock............

I used Promarkers to colour up this little cutie, and added some white dots to her shoes and some glitter to her headband.........and I really need to sort out my photography!!.....sorry.........

You might just be able to see that I used a die cut embossed frame (Craftwork Cards) and rubbed a little pink chalk on the raised areas.  I layered three flowers (stash) and added a black button........

I forgot to take a close-up of the pretty butterfly.......oops.......but it has three teeny black pearls in the centre......I wonder how butterflies manage to flit about with all those embellies on 'em?

Hope you are going to give this challenge a go, and if you need a bit of inspiration, pop over to the challenge blog  and take a dekko at what the rest of the Design Team have been up to....you will not be disappointed!

Don't forget to get your comment in for a chance to be stuffin' all your stash into that fabulous bag!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/  Simply Cute

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

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

Bag a Bag for Breast Cancer Research!

Hello, and welcome!

I doubt there are many women who have access  to the Internet who are not aware that the whole month of October, every year, is devoted to Breast Cancer Awareness......and if there are, they are certainly not Bloggers......hahaaa!

Those of you who have been comin' around here  for a while will know I am a breast cancer survivor, and feel extremely blessed.....but there are very many more women....and men.....who are still courageously fighting their own battles.

In honour of these people, and to show my solidarity with their cause, I am offering a little something to help raise awareness of the reality of breast cancer, and of the need for funding for the on-going research........research that WILL find a CURE.

Many of you know that I have a wonderfully talented daughter, Leigh-Anne, who has a Facebook page that showcases the handcrafted quilts that she lovingly makes.....she also makes and sells all kinds of bags, baby taggies, cot quilts, etc..........and you can feast your eyes on some of her makes at 

http://www.facebook.com/sewdelight

and tell her I sent you.......you'll be made very welcome!

Anyway, the point is, I asked Leigh-Anne to create a lovely tote that I could offer as BLOG CANDY for all my wonderful Followers.I told her I wanted something that would be large enough and substantial enough to hold any crafty goodies that the winner wanted to put in it.  She readily agreed, and promptly ordered some beautiful fabric.....she doesn't really need an excuse...hahaaa!......and gave me the honour of making the final choice.

I love what she created and will have a hard time parting with it..........

My photos....as usual....are certainly not the best,  and don't do this lovely tote justice........trust me when I tell you it is beautiful.......the fabric is 100% cotton and there is a layer of soft wadding that helps to give shape and substance........

Isn't this fabric gorgeous?

And it's fully reversible.....bonus!  

Don't be too disappointed if you don't win it.......Leigh-Anne is selling these for £20.00 at

 http://www.facebook.com/sewdelight?   £5.00 from each sale will be donated to 

 http://supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/fundraising-for-us/fundraise-for-breast-cancer-awareness/

Okey-dokey.......how does this little beauty end up in your hot little paws hands?  

Easy-peasy.........make sure you are a Follower and  leave me a comment.  But not just any comment.......

My life was saved because I had a routine mammogram........I want you to tell me ....honestly......that you get your breasts checked.....whether that be by having a scan, mammogram, doctor, or self-check........and if you haven't, promise me that you will.

You will have until Wednesday 17th October to take part ......I will then randomly choose a name and post the winner on Thursday 18th October.

Another thing.....please don't become a Follower if you are only here for the candy........I have lovely, warm relationships with many of my Followers and I value them.....please don't spoil it for me....thank you.

I'll put a reminder at the top of each post, and you can leave a comment on any post between now and next Wednesday to be in with a chance.......Good Luck!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Christmas is definitely a season......

Hello, and welcome!

Christmas is definitely a season....the best season of the year, in my humble opinion.....so for this week's challenge at 

Twist of Faith

I chose to use a lovely little  Prim Snowman  image from our newest sponsor

Patti is the very talented artist and owner of  http://pholkartblessings.blogspot.co.uk/p/etsy.html and she is offering our randomly drawn winner 2 digi images from her delightful range....too good to miss out on!

The theme we want to see you create a card for is

FOR ALL SEASONS

Don't forget that we need to see a topical scripture, or an uplifting message that goes with our theme.

I do know that a member of our Design Team chose to make a card with Spring in mind, and another has made something for Autumn....you really do need to go take a peek at all the inspiration on the challenge blog......and of course, I chose Christmas.....yaaaaay!

You know that I really do like to use traditional colours for my Christmas cards, but I thought that I'd ring the changes and go for this blue and brown combo....and I quite like how it turned out!

The card base is kraft and I also used it to layer the papers, which are from Nitwits Collections (I think they were freebies, last year)......

Isn't this little fella just the job?  I think he looks a little surprised to be left out in the snow....hahaaa!

I used my Promarkers to colour him up and added some fine white glitter, just to make him happy......he's sitting on an X-Cut oval die cut which I edged with my almost-dry Marvy marker........and I added a blue ribbon tab to the top........

Did I ever mention that I have a humungous amount of buttons?  Yep, so this was a good excuse to use this one......and I poured a little of that fine white glitter onto a dot of glue, inside the star shape.    I love that brown hessian......trying to use it very carefully, because I have only a little of it......love it!

I did some of my hand-stitching around the layer that the hessian is sitting on, and rounded two of the corners......

It still amazes me that a scripture may be found for every occasion, every circumstance, every emotion.....and you just have to know that I would love this one!  See?.....it's a commandment to have snow....hahaaaa!

The final touch was to put this pearly snowflake button into the top corner....and that's another card to add to my growing stash!

Please come over and join us in this fun challenge.....I'd love to see your creations!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x