Tuesday 29 January 2013

Cinderella had the Right Idea!

Hello, and welcome!

I hope this wet and  windy Tuesday (in England, anyway) finds you happy and well, my friends.
Life just seems to get busier and busier for me, lately, so I cherish any time that I can filch to slip into my craft room...........aaahhhh.....peace!

Doesn't last long enough, though, so I'm usually scrabbling to catch up with DT cards and family birthdays, and this week was no exception......it's my Mam's birthday on Sunday (not made her card yet) and our grandson, Harrison's, 12th birthday today....and he's ill with the horrible Norovirus, poor thing.
I did, however (thankfully) manage to make a card for this week's challenge at


and the theme is a colour challenge. Our chosen colour is:

GREEN plus
a scripture, or uplifting verse, or positive words of healing, encouragement, or support.

We are so happy to have Bugaboo Stamps joining us with their sponsorship for you! Our random prize winner will receive their choice of SEVEN Bugaboo images!


My card was made using Cinderella Block Sentiment.......love it!

I used a scalloped card base from Craftwork Cards and layered a piece of green and pink paper (from my scrap stash) onto pink card..........

Love, love, love J.J......she has the best expressions...hahaa!  I coloured up the ever-so-droll image with Promarkers, including the ickle bitty-bits inside the letters, cut it out with pinking scissors leaving a white border which I then coloured, and edged the pointy bits with black marker.........Would love to know if you agree with the sentiment!


I pinched this lovely sentiment from another set.....follow the dots........

The second part of the sentiment is on the inside.....stay tuned for the story behind it.......

Many years ago, the only cutting tool that I owned was a Quikutz and the pretty shoe die is from one of the sets I bought at the time....works just as well in my Big Shot, now....yaaaaay!  After cutting, I popped the shoe into my SU embossing folder (Trellis), inked the edges with black marker,  and popped a couple of teeny pink pearls onto the strap.....the shoe is size 5 and fits me perfectly...hahaaa!

So, what's the story?  Well.......my DD #2 was my heaviest baby (by 2 ounces) when she was born.....10 pounds 2 ounces....but, I have to say, the easiest birth by far.  She was always much taller than her peers......oh, the stories I could tell!.....but she also had HUGE feet.....poor girlie.
It was a very much loathed task whenever it was time to buy her new shoes because she not only had long feet, but they were wide, too.
We always, always had to expect at least a week of trawling around the nearest towns, trying to find something that would fit.  My poor girl hardly ever got a choice of pretty shoes......nope......had to make do with whatever we could find to fit! 
Things came to a horrid head when she started at high school.......11 years old, size 7 feet, wide fitting.....and the school uniform called for  black lace-up shoes....aarrgghh!
We trawled the usual shops, and even went to stores 30 miles away, but couldn't find anything remotely suitable.....this was before the days of Internet searches or shopping......and we were both often in tears.
I had absolutely no other choice than to take my very feminine, tall and slender 11 year old girl to the men's department of Mark's and Spencer to buy a pair of black lace-up brogues!!!!
There's more to the story, but it could turn into a novel if I don't cut it short...heehee....soooooo.....ever after this awful experience, when it came time to buy her a new pair of shoes, my beautiful girl and I would kneel and pray, asking for a pretty pair of shoes that would fit perfectly.....and we would always find them.

That tall and slender 11 year old will turn 38 in February.  She is the tallest of my girls, very graceful, soft-spoken, slow to anger, and one of the gentlest people I know.  She is a treasure to me........and she has the prettiest shoes she could wish for.....a lot of 'em!
This card will be for her birthday.

Please take a look at all the other GREEN creations that my Teamies have made....lots of gorjusness goin' on, there!


This is my Gillian in Central  Park, New York, during our wonderful trip, last year....love this photo....love this girl!

hugs,
Anne-Marie x

Challenges:



Friday 25 January 2013

Fairy delightful.....

Hi, and welcome!

It sees to have been one of those loooong weeks when I have been busy-busy, but don't really seem to have achieved much.....sigh......BUT....I did get to see the brilliant Les Miserables......twice!
What a surprise to hear the gorgeous voice Russell Crowe has!!
When he sang the evocative "Stars", I almost melted with delight.....ahemmm!

I read the book when  was 16 years old and it had a profound effect on me.  I also remember seeing an old film, and went to see the stage production when it was launched, 27 years ago.  It was wonderful to see Colm Wilkinson, who first brought us the character of Jean Valjean to the stage, playing the Bishop in the film.
I often shed tears during the film....but was brought to a drippin', sobbin' state when I heard one of the closing lines.....
"To love another person is to see the face of God."
Oh, my!

Anyway, it's Friday......hooray!.....and there's another challenge going on at 

The theme this week is 

GREEN AND YELLOW

and we are so pleased to have one of our favourite sponsors back with us


Milk Coffee will provide a generous 5 images to our randomly drawn winner.....you'll have loads of fun trying to choose from so many!

I made a girlie card with the very pretty Tiffany Fairy......

I love green!  I started with a white card base and layered on some green Raspberry Road paper.  I cut the doily shape with a Nestie from a piece of Nitwits paper.............

A very pensive little fairy, lol.....I used a mixture of Spectrum Noir and Promarkers to colour her up and added some sparkle to her hair, wings and the flowers......I haven't fussy-cut for a while, so this made a nice change........

The sweet sentiment was cut from another freebie page of sentiments.  I added some teeny pearls to the corners and put a piece of green mesh behind......

A few strands of fibres, tucked under the fairy image, make her look as if she's sittin' in a nest...hahaaa!

A couple of flutterbies, cut from glittery pink card, are the finishing touches.

My Teamies have produced some really lovely cards for your inspiration, so please take a few minutes to check out their creations.

hugs,
Anne-Marie x

Challenges:
http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/  Soft Pastel Colours






Tuesday 22 January 2013

Friendship Challenge at TOF

Hello, and welcome!

I'm very happy to say that we have SNOW decorating our landscape, but a lot of people have had much more than we have had, and are struggling to get out and about.  I'm usually very grateful that we live in a spot that is close to the Pennine Mountains, and we are on the lee-side, (in  God's own county of Lancashire...yaaay!), so we are sheltered from the extremes of weather that can come in from the very chilly Scandinavian countries, and Russia, across the North Sea.  If we lived just another 5 miles east of the mountains, we'd get very different weather!

Tuesday has come around again, and we have a wonderful, warm and friendly challenge for you at TWIST OF FAITH ....... 

This week's challenge is themed:

FRIENDSHIP
AND a scripture, or uplifting verse/quote or positive words of healing, encouragement, or support.


We are so happy to have Milk Coffee Stamps joining us with their sponsorship for you! Our random prize winner will receive their choice of FIVE  Milk Coffee images!

Milk Coffee consists of two artists who love to draw cute illustrations! They offer cute, quality digital stamps, which are perfect to papercraft... cards, scrapbooks,  or anything we can do with printed digital images  They make cute images for cute creations!



I am very blessed to have some lovely, supportive and loyal friends, and I am richer for having them.  I find it hard to imagine how different things would have been without my friends around me......they have seen me through some very difficult times but have also been there for my greatest celebrations.  We have known each other for almost 35 years and have always been a close group of 5.....sadly and tragically, our dear Jeanette died from a brain tumour 3 years ago.....she was diagnosed about the same time as I was diagnosed with my breast cancer.....I won my fight, but gentle, sweet-natured Jean didn't.
It gives me comfort of the sweetest kind to know that she is in company with loved ones and our Saviour.....her love for Him was an inspiration and a strength to all who knew her.

This little card is in honour of Friendship........


My friendships are all uncomplicated and straightforward, so I wanted my card to reflect this.
I used a kraft card base and simply placed a pretty floral doily (free packet of these pretty lovelies with a magazine!) in the centre.......

This little darlin' is Lily and Her Cat and is coloured with Promarkers.....I love pinks and greens together.....

I sometimes have a "yuk" moment when I see what I consider to be "twee" sentiment, but this one, from Craftwork Cards sums up my feelings about my girlfriends.....it's popped up on foamies......

Another little sentiment in a pretty banner shape, also from Craftwork Cards......

A little decorating on the inside and three pieces of Card Candi (from the same source as above) and it's complete.

Hope you are in the mood to make something for a friend of yours....we all need to appreciate our mates, don't we?

Take a look at what the talented Design Team has been up to for your inspiration.

hugs,
Anne-Marie x

Challenges:



Friday 18 January 2013

Layer it up!

Hi, and welcome!

It's the start of the weekend, people, and that means another chance to enter a fabby challenge at Card Crafter's Circle and this is definitely goin' to be a popular one!

This week, our theme is 

LAYERS

We want to see layers of paper, or layers in your images... whatever you'd like, just lots of layers! This is a perfect opportunity to layer up all those gorgeous patterned papers, or go wild with 3D images!

This week, our sponsor is STAMP ART DESIGN BY KATHRYNE! Kathryne's images are sure to delight you, covering so many themes, and so very cute too! You can find SADK designs here in the Whimsy Shop.... 

Our random prize winner will receive a selection of images, of their choice ... yummy!


It's always such a pleasure to create something with Kathryne's lovely images, and for this challenge, I chose to make a card with Polar Friends.....so cute!

I layered papers from the Basics Collection at docrafts onto a white card base......

A Nellie Snellen  scalloped label die was used to cut out this sweet twosome, then a little  blue chalk for the sky, some Promarkers to colour up the little pals (with a little texture paste for the ickle pingu's chest and face), and they were pleased with how they looked....look at the expressions on those ickle faces...hahaaa.....

A rescued snowflake from a  shop-bought card that was sent to me.....that'll be my Scottish blood, lol........Dad would be proud of me........

A piece of flocked netting in the palest icy blue, with a narrow piece of white organza, tied into bows... a silver jingle bell....(had to make sure it actually jingled....yep.....it's a good 'un).....held in place with a pearly pin......

And a Spellbinder's teeny scalloped rectangle cut from a scrap, with an even teenier label for the sweet sentiment, chalked to match the image......done!

Now, I visit your blogs often enough to know that you LOVE layers on your creations,  so this is a must-do challenge.....take a trip over to the Challenge blog to see some lovely-jubbly inspiration, then get creatin'!

hugs,
Anne-Marie x

Challenges:


Tuesday 15 January 2013

Male make

Hello, and welcome!

It can never be said that we at Twist of Faith are not up for a challenge......it's what our blog was born  for....hahaaa!
So, takin' the bull  by the horns, the rose by the thorns, the .....er.....er.....thingummy by the wotsits......we hereby challenge YOU to make........wait.......wait...........waaaiiiittttt.......a card for a 

MAN OR BOY

Okay.....come out from behind the sofa......it's not as bad as all that.....we'll be gentle......lol.....

 We are so very fortunate to welcome Melonheadz to our family of wonderful sponsors.....yaaaaaay!

Melonheadz images are a fun and whimsical style, handrawn by Nikki.  At the Melonheadz Blog youll find newly released sets which you can purchase at the Melonheadz etsy store, and a staggering selection of freebies available .... pop along to the Melonheadz blog and see what you might find! At Melonheadz Exclusives you will find exclusive sets, and previous freebie bundles.  At Melonheadz LDS has shared you will find LDS and Christian illustrations, Primary hand outs, and there will soon be some items for purchasing as well.



Those of you who pop in to my blog often will know that I have to make a ton of male cards, every year, so I'm always glad to pinch be inspired by any male cards I come across, and I'm bettin' you are of the same mind.
In that case, you really should go and take a nosey at what my Design Team Sisters have come up with......treasure trove of inspiration, I kid you not!

I love this wonderfully appropriate scripture that our Boss Lady (Pauline) has shared with us.......please use it if you'd like, or any other scripture, poem, or encouraging sentiment.....that's our Twist of Faith.....

I used one of the many, many freebies that you'll find on Nikki's site.......

I can't look at these two cute fellas without smilin......happy little chaps, or what?
I used a cream card base and layered some K&Co. papers that I'd edged with a soft brown ink.......the "my hero" card strip was generated on my 'puter, printed, then inked......

I used my fabby Promarkers to colour up this proud twosome......even the fishies are smilin'....hahaaa!
I cut out the image with my Office Supplies Shapeability die, then chalked in the blue sky.......I'm thinkin' of getting the Hubster a pair of these dungarees, and in that colour....oh, yeah!  He'll look a picture on the canal bank in these........oh, I'm so tempted, heehee........

I had a deep rummage in the back of one of those drawers.....yep, you know the ones......and came up with this sweet rub-on sentiment.  The Hubster just loves to take one of our grandsons fishin'......they don't ever seem to bring anything home, but they do an awful lot of gabbing about what they "nearly" caught........

I threaded these buttons with some button twine that I got from The Ribbon Reel.....

A teeny brad at each corner of the rub-on sentiment anchors it to the card, and the "Happy Birthday" sentiment finishes it off......oh, and a bit of card slapped on the inside.....done!

Now....grit your teeth and start on a Male-themed creation.....you know you're gonna need one!

hugs,
Anne-Marie x

Challenges:







Friday 11 January 2013

Some like it Hot!

Hello, and welcome!

Well, the title of this post is also the theme for our challenge at 
and I had to be dragged to my craft desk, kickin' 'n' screamin' 'cos  I don't do HOT.....hahaaaa.....but I settled down, like the good Team Member I am, and got on with it....sheeesh!

So, last week we had a Winter theme....and what a gorgeous set of entries we received!......but this week we want to see just the opposite.....well, our esteemed Boss Lady,  Pauline, does.....she lives Down Under and is sweltering enjoying the heat.....not!.....I think it just might be a tad too warm for some peeps in Australia, at the moment.....but, we'd like to see your summer themed creations.....bring them on!

Our Sponsor this week is new to our sponsor family at Card Crafter's Circle.  We offer a warm and hearty welcome to:
Floppy Lattes Digital Designs ::All Digital All The Time
who is offering a wonderful $10 certificate to shop at the Floppy Latte store .... and if you use a Floppy Latte image in your creation there is a bonus for you! (Please make it very clear that you've used a Floppy Latte image in your creation.)

I was lucky enough to be able to play with the very lovely Butterflies in the Grass for my summer-themed card......

I started with a red card base and added layers of Raspberry Road papers which had been backed with more red card......I like the freshness of these papers...a lot!

I use Serif Page Plus for my digi work and the background to the image is a free digi canvas-type paper that I opened in the graphic programme, then added the lovely stamp image on top.  After printing it off, I use Promarkers to colour up......I love the textured look that layering up the paper and image gave....the yellow butterfly was printed and coloured twice, and decoupaged.....

I rolled a length of this pretty lace into a flower shape, adding a small circle of card to the back for stability.....and this ickle ladybird flew onto it.....ha!

The sentiment was typed onto a strip of Safmat....love that stuff!.....printed, then rubbed onto a piece of scrap card....two teeny pearls "anchor" it......

The sweet flowers are from  my stash and I popped some moss......yep, real moss, (from Anna Marie's Designs).....it stays where it's put, too, with a few dabs of wet glue......very summery!

A bit of titivating on the inside and it's done!

The Design Team has done a spiffing job with their creations, so do pop over and take a gander......

hugs,
Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

Tuesday 8 January 2013

Sketch Challenge......woohoo!

Hello, and welcome!

You're very lucky to see me.....I've been thinkin' it was MONDAY today....probably because our grandkiddles went back to school....hahaaa!

Of course it is actually TUESDAY, so that means it's time for a lovely-jubbly challenge at


This week, we have a

SKETCH CHALLENGE

... please use this simple sketch as a map for your card creation.



Feel free to stretch it, flip it as you see fit, as long as your end creation layout resembles this original basic sketch... (the text used is only to identify the sketch!) And of course you're free to use any embellishments you wish! Have fun!

As this is a sketch challenge, the theme for your card is completely open.

Our sponsor this week is Beccy's Place.  We're thrilled to have her beautiful hand drawn images grace our pages ... they are created by Beccy Muir...
Beccy's Place is offering our randomly drawn prize winner their choice of three images from the Beccy's Place collection!

I chose to play with the gorgeous.....and very cute......Owl Trio

These little fellas make me smile.....so very sweet, don't you think?
I wanted to stay close to the original sketch.....okay, I was in a hurry, ha......so kept it simple.......white card base with a background layer of textured creamy yellow card.  I used more scraps from the ever-increasing scrap mountain....still haven't figured out the logistics of how it gets bigger instead of smaller......

I pricked holes around the edge of the cream card, fully intending to hand-sew, but then decided that I quite liked it with just the holes.  I really love this sentiment from Proverbs.....this card is meant for a very dear friend of mine, and this scripture sums up how I feel about her......it's printed onto more scrap card and inked around the edges.....

I coloured the guys with Promarkers and added some flecks of white with a white gel pen.....they just crack me up....hahaaa!
I chalked a little blue around the image and used a Fiskar's rectangle template to frame it.  The frame was just a teeny bit too small, so I cut around the leaves and let them overhang.....I like it!
The flowers are from my stash....I think they are probably from Prima....and added a heart button and some toning Card Candi......

To keep in line with the sketch, I added a couple of pieces of baker's twine underneath the sentiment.  I thought this card might look a little masculine, given the colours of the papers and my choice of Promarkers, but I think the flowers soften the overall effect.  What do you think?
Our Design Team got to play with some really lovely images, so why not take a peek at their creations?

Would love to see you join in our challenge this time.....and don't forget your "twist of faith"....an uplifting scripture, quote or sentiment.

hugs,
Anne-Marie x

Challenges:
http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Warm & Fuzzies/Textures (my paper scraps and flowers and buttons)



Friday 4 January 2013

There's No Business Like Snow Business!

Hello, and welcome!

The title of this post could very easily be my theme song, lol, but it's actually the theme of  our latest challenge at 

There's No Business Like Snow Business

We want to see your snowy creations, so that could be a card, a scrapbook layout, or some other snowy project....we just need to see something that pertains to the wonderful white stuff!

We are very proud and excited to be sponsored by the wonderful Michelle Perkett Studio and our randomly drawn winner will be able to choose one of the gorgeous images that have been showcased by our Design Team, so you really need to pop over to see what they've been up to....yeah, they really need an eye keepin' on 'em....hahaa!

I really loved coming up with my first Christmas Card for 2013...woohoo!

I know, I know....but I fully intend to play along with a super-duper new challenge blog, run by Hazel (see her details in my side-bar), and it will always be Anything Goes as long as it's Christmas, so pop over to see her, too....she'll be really pleased to see you!

Onto my card.......

I used scraps that were still on my desk for this little card.  The image is called Snow Family Wishing on a Star and is coloured with Promarkers........

Sweet, or what?  I added some Sakura sparkle to the snow and the stars......and, did you spot the not-so-deliberate mistake?  I'll give you a moment.......yep......the ickle doggie is supposed to be made from snow......brown snow?.....don't go there.....it's not nice....hahaaaa!

I'm gonna be really sad when I've used the last of these pretty blue snowflakes.....they were a pressie from a bloggy friend (Anne D), last year, and I love 'em.....the teeny snowflake moves when you shake the card!  I layered it onto a die-cut flake which had been edged with the Sakura sparkle pen.  I thought a bit of hand-stitching would suit this creation, too........ 
Another die-cut flake, embellished with a red gem, and stuck onto this nice grosgrain ribbon.......

 I love this sentiment stamp set, from Lili of the Valley....it's been a favourite, this Christmas..........

All ready to go into my gold-covered box.....the first of my stash for next Christmas.....yaaaaay!
Hope to see you joining in, this week!

hugs,
Anne-Marie x

Challenges:


Tuesday 1 January 2013

You couldn't be more WELCOME!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I am so excited to start another year!  I just think we are so very blessed to have yet another chance to start with a clean slate, and make the very best of what life brings us.  Isn't this what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about?........Forgiving and being forgiven.....making recompense........making commitments to do better......learning from our mistakes......and taking our Saviour as our exemplar in each and every thing that we think, say and do.

My only "resolution" for this new year is to be a closer follower of Jesus Christ......if I can do this, then it follows that everything else will fall into place.

Today, at TWIST OF FAITH we have a brand new challenge that I just know you are goin' to love.......

Our theme for you this week is

WELCOME

Your card creation could welcome in the New Year, or a New Baby, or a New Home... be welcoming!  And remember our 'twist'... your card should include a scripture, or inspirational quote or message.... it doesn't have to be on front of the card, but do show that it's there!


Our sponsor is the wonderful The Doodle Garden... and Jennifer has a GREAT selection of whimsical hand-drawn images for all occasions in her Doodle Garden etsy shop... we invite you to come on in and stay a while to look around The Doodle Garden!

The prize offered to our randomly drawn prize winner, consists of two digital  images from The Doodle Garden blog for new releases!



Some of you may remember that we are due to be blessed with our 18th grandchild, later this month, and we know that it will be another beautiful granddaughter......our 8th......so I made this card with her arrival in mind......

Sweet?  Oh, yeah!  
I used a white card base and layered up with freebie papers (from a magazine).  I discovered something I hadn't previously known, whilst layering the papers......I'd smudged one of the corners with a pencil mark, so tried to rub it off with an eraser......and the pattern faded!  I rather liked the look, so finished all the edges of the papers in the same way.  This particular paper is slightly glossy, so perhaps it's something to do with the printing process.......not tried it with more matt paper, but I'll have fun experimenting...hahaa!

I coloured up this oh-so-pretty image with Promarkers......the image is Sleep Sweet Little Bug and is perfect for this New Baby card........there are three tiny heart buttons, threaded with glittery pink thread, on the rim of the label die-cut......a little sparkle has been added to the flowers and on the shell, but can't be seen clearly in the piccie.....sorry!

The little sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly, and I put it onto a Die-namics fringed circle.....you can just about see the strip of pretty lace that lies underneath the sentiment.......

The large white flower and the little flower button are from my stash.....I just added a touch of pink chalk to the edges of the white flower......

The larger sentiment strip is a vellum quote that I bought in New York, the first time I visited.....8 years ago!
I really should get to the back of my drawers more often...hahaa!
I simply embossed the white dots onto the back of the vellum to add a little texture, and layered the vellum strip onto white card so that it would show up a little better.....then added two teeny green brads......


The finished card.....all ready to WELCOME our new arrival!

Please join us for this lovely challenge and don't forget to take a peep at all the inspiration that our Design Team has prepared for you......

hugs,
Anne-Marie x

Challenges: