Construction Site....Get Creating!

Hello, and welcome!

I hope you've got a hard-hat handy because it's time to get constructing, over at Card Crafter's Circle this week!

Now, I'm not a huge fan of construction cards, but I did actually rather enjoy creating this one....had to sweeten it by making it Christmas themed, though...hahaaa!

Our challenge for this week requires that you  forget the square or rectangle makes and actually CONSTRUCT an easel, a waterfall, a stepped, a pop-up.....anything you like, as long as it isn't the usual square or rectangle......makes a nice change, eh?

Our returning sponsor is

Digi Darla's Designs

Our randomly drawn winner will receive FIVE images of their choice!

Here's what I constructed......

The card base is a 6 x 6 inch square and I simply folded the front back on itself to form the twisted easel, and I layered two papers from last year's Docraft's range.........

The lovely Santa Claus 1 is coloured with Promarkers and I used a gold gel pen on the spectacles......the image cut out and layered onto several Spellbinder's Nesties.........

The Pine Needles die is from Memory Box....I inked it a little with Vintage Photo Distress ink.......

I used a length of K&Co snowflakes ribbon across the width of the card, and the little sentiment card is actually from a set of mini charity cards that I bought in John Lewis, last year.  I punched a hole in the side of the card (it says HAPPY CHRISTMAS inside, but I forgot to take a piccie!) and threaded a piece of yellow button twine through, so it cold be opened to write a message......there's also another Nestie label, in brown textured card, under the sentiment card......

Another Pine Needles border along the bottom, and some bronze Card Candi pieces finish this card....hope you like it.

Don't forget to take a look at what the rest of the fabby Design Team have constructed!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/  Christmas Anything Goes

http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-207-16th-of-may-christmas.html  Christmas

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

http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/05/its-challenge-time.html  Two or more papers from stash (I used 3 from last year)

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.ca/2013/05/challenge-133-use-digi.html  Use a digi

Spring Thank You

Hello, and welcome!

The calendar is tellin' me it's the middle of May, so that means it's Spring, here in England.......but the weather says it's still winter.......what's that all about?

Oh, well.......at least you'll get a hint of Spring if you pop over to the Perfect Sentiments challenge blog to see all the gorgeous makes that our Design Team have been busy with.........

PSC79: Spring Thank You's

CREATE A THANK YOU CARD WITH A SPRING THEME. YOU CAN USE SPRING EMBELLISHMENTS LIKE BUTTERFLIES OR FLOWERS, ETC. OR YOU CAN USE A SPRING IMAGE. ALSO THERE ARE SPRING-THEMED EMBOSSING FOLDERS LIKE...BIRDS AND SWIRLS, BUTTERFLIES, AND MORE. DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR SENTIMENT ON THE FRONT. 

Our Sponsor is the very lovely 

who will award one randomly draw winner 3 digi images!

I was really pleased to get to use Rain Boots with Tulips.....

The white scalloped card base is from Craftwork Cards and I used some pretty stripy paper from the ever-present-and-still-growing-scrapmountain......I cut a doily shape with a Spellbinder's die from pink paper that I'd first embossed with a Cuttlebug folder......I then layered a green label that I'd cut with another Spellbinder's label die.....

I have wellies in this colour, but mine have butterflies, lol......I used Promarkers and Spectrum Noirs to dress up this pretty image.....

This little cutie was a freebie from Pink Gem.....not sure that it's still available, though, but it's worth a visit because there's usually something sweet to be had......I coloured the centre of the flowers to tone with the rest of the card......

Had to get a bit of glitter on here.....love this lush pink ribbon....and the grungy sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly (Little Bits of Ivory)....I edged it with Vintage Photo ink.......

A bit of titivating on the inside and we're done!

I'd love to see what you come up with for this challenge!

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-133-use-digi.html  Use a digi

http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-80-anything-goes.html  Anything goes

http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-112-anything-goes.html  Anything goes

http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/05/its-challenge-time.html  Anything goes & Use 2 papers (I used all scraps)

Saturated Canary DJ Luv

Hello, and welcome!

I have felt so very much out of the loop without a printer, but the good news is I now have a new one.....yaaaaay!

I did actually make a few things that didn't need me to use a printed digi.....have I ever mentioned how many card kits, stickers, toppers, etc. I have?  Not to mention rubber and clear stamps......but, the truth is that I've felt so poorly and miserable that I really couldn't be bothered.....and my craft room needs a big tidy up, too! In fact, I was spending a few minutes cutting out some felt shapes with a brand-new die....getting along, nicely, and enjoying it with some future projects in mind........took the cut shapes out of the small dies and one of the dies flipped into the air and landed somewhere.....I know not where.....in the clutter.......sheeesh!  After about 4 minutes of shifting piles of stuff to see if I could spot it, I gave it up for a time when my head doesn't throb when I lean over, and my nose doesn't drip on the products....ugghh!

All that said, today is my granddaughter, Hannah's, 19th birthday so a card just had to be created, and here it is......

Hannah is coming to the end of her first year at Uni....she's working towards becoming a Studio Producer and is into stuff that I don't have a clue about, ha!.....apart from knowing that she is a fantastic DJ and a very talented pianist and percussionist, the rest is a mystery to me, but I thought she would enjoy this card.

The funky image is from Saturated Canary and is called DJ Luv.....the original image actually has a boy, wearing earphones, standing at the side, but I erased him.....ha!

I made a card base from black card and added a piece of K&Co. paper as a background....I love the colours in this piece.....then added a piece of tone-on-tone muted pink, layered onto more black card......

I coloured the cute image with Spectrum Noirs and Promarkers and cut it out with a Nellie Snellen scalloped oval, then layered it onto black card which was cut with a die from the same set. Those little stars are actually metal beads that I bought on my trip to New York, and the dragonfly is cut from kraft with a die from Cheery Lynn's "Tiny Things with Wings" set......can you see that lovely brown and pink ribbon?  It's from Docrafts......

I love this ticket set....it was a freebie with a magazine.....nice, eh?

I stamped the sentiment onto kraft and darkened it a little with a pinky brown Promarker....the stamp is from LOTV's "Everyday Grunge" messages.....

More paper and a die-cut sentiment spot inside.......done!

Hope you like.....Hannah did!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/pennys-challenge-123-use-sentiment.html  Use a sentiment

http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes

http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/  Toddlers/teens/inbetweens (I went with teenager)

http://notrealstamps.blogspot.co.uk/  One for the Girls

http://craft-roomchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  So Sentimental

Americana Style

Hello, and welcome!

Thank you so much for the sweet comments you left for me about Riley's Blessing Day and the blanket I knitted for her.......hope the piccie of me didn't scare you all off, ha!

I thought I'd better get my card posted a little earlier than I usually do, because I've got to go on a hunt for fabric.......only up into my loft/sewing room/grandkiddles bedroom......but you never know what the last batch of over-night kiddles might have left up there.....hahaaa!

If it was Hannah (almost 19), there's bound to be a few used glasses or empty cans of Pepsi Max, hairbands, socks, etc.,.....if it's Freya (4) or Alexandra (9) it could be story books and glitter.......and Spencer (6) or Adam (4) would probably have left toy cars and bits of Lego......it's an adventure!

I'm fabric hunting because I'm spending tomorrow with Daughter #3 (Leigh-Anne), making cushion covers for the living room sofa and chairs.......I'm looking for cream and red, and it's quite possible that I'll find it in my huge stash little pile, somewhere....heehee!

Today's card is for this week's challenge at the fabby PERFECT SENTIMENTS and this week we are sponsored by the lovely

who will award our randomly drawn winner 5 lovely images of their choice!

The theme is

SYMPATHY/THINKING OF YOU

and don't forget that we need to see a sentiment on the FRONT of your card.

I've got a very naughty printer on my hands, at the moment, and I got this little card onto the challenge blog by the skin of teeth........

Another member of the DT used this gorgeous little image a couple of weeks ago, and I fell in love with it.....I couldn't resist going with a bit of old-fashioned Americana-style with this card.  I used some lovely DP from Walking in the Forest stack by Maja Designs.....I love Maja's papers!

You'll notice that I used pinking shears a lot on the elements of this card.......the rubber stamp I used for the sentiment doesn't have a maker's name on it, but I know I bought it at Hobby Craft, ages ago......I used a blue Promarker to ink it up.....if you try this, ink quickly with the broad tip and "huff" onto it before you stamp.......I added a teeny piece of ribbon to the side......

The pinking shears came into play again on the stripy border paper, and the layered flower was in a freebie pack that came in a recent magazine.....love freebies!

I used a Nellie Skellen die to cut out the image, which is coloured with my usual Promarkers......did I mention that I love this image?

I also added the piece of paper that was cut off the bottom border piece to the top edge of the card.....waste not, want not, ha!

I hope you'll take a peek at the rest of the Team's inspirational work....there much loveliness waiting for you!

It's a sad fact, but we know that we all need this sort of card at one time or another, so why not join the challenge and be prepared?

Hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/april-1-very-strict-challenge.html  Anything goes

http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.co.uk/  Ribbons and Blooms

http://paulaholifieldcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/our-first-challenge.html  Anything goes

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

Babies......again!

Hello, and welcome!

It seems that I've been wrapped up in all things baby this week....hahaaa!

I'm sooooo happy to  have at last finished the Blessing blanket for Riley's Blessing Day, on Sunday.......can't believe it took me so long, but it will all be worth it to see our beautiful new ganddaughter wrapped up, all snug and warm :)  Her parents haven't yet seen it, so I'll post pics after the blessing.

The challenge at Card Crafter's Circle this week is .........

BABIES!

And our sponsor is... Robyn's Fetish awarding our prize winner their choice of 5 images!

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is proud to sponsor this challenge.  Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, a division of I Did It Creations, was created and is owned by Robyn Weinrib.    Robyn offers a wonderful variety of digital stamps and digital papers, designed to meet the needs of all digital paper crafting addicts for every occasion.

So, this is my second baby card this week.........can't get away from 'em.....hahaaa!

I used the sweet Good Night Teddy for my vintage-style card.......

I used a kraft card base and rounded the right hand corners, then used a lovely piece of DP that was in a stack that my lovely friend Maria Rudolph sent to me.......thanks again, Maria!

I cut a paper doily in half and used it as a backing to the image.  I used my Spectrum Noir markers to colour up this sweet image, and sewed around the edges with pink cotton thread, adding a little brown chalk to the edges.......

I found a little spool of this cute ribbon in my ribbon box.......no idea where it came from, and don't even remember buying it......oops........but it's too lovely to stay at the bottom of that box, don't you agree?

I twisted a little bit of brown lace and stuck it onto a small card circle, then added the button and the flower gem........

First outing for this pretty Memory Box die......used a little brown chalk on it and added the sparkly heart gem......I like it!

A border of the pretty pink paper along the inside bottom of the card, and a die-cut message spot.......c'est tout!

My team mates would love you to pop along and see what they came up with this week......the challenge blog is bursting with inspiration!

Thanks for coming to see what I've been up to.....see you soon!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes with ribbon

http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/ribbon-or-lace-challenge.html  Ribbon or lace (I used both)

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

http://avenue613.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/anything-goes-challenge-12.html  Anything goes

A Little Sketchy

Hello, and welcome!

Winter is not giving up easily, in my part of the world......oh, no indeedy.....we have gale force winds and SNOW, SNOW, SNOOOOOOW!

As much as I love the pretty, white and fluffy stuff, I'm very glad to be sitting in my lovely warm and snug living room....ha!

I'm really looking forward to the weekend because the Hubster and I will have Finlay (6) and his sister, Yvie-Grace (2) staying until Sunday afternoon.....yaaaaay!

This week's challenge at Card Crafter's Circle is a favourite with me.......I love a good sketch, and that's just what we have for you.........

This week is a our challenge for you is:

SKETCH CHALLENGE

Please follow this sketch for your card creation.  You are free to flip it, rotate it, stretch it, add to it, or subtract from it, as long as we can see our original sketch in your creation! 

(Colours are shown only for clarity.)

We are happy to welcome this week's sponsor ... Digi Darla's Designs! Our random prize winner will receive their choice of  FIVE images!

If you're lookin' for something that will bring to mind warmer, sunnier days, then my little card might be just the thing, ha!

I used the sweet Blowing Dandelions.....

The card base is white and all the papers used are from a huge K&Co. stack.......I left a tiny border of white before laying down the navy paper, then matted the pink with more white......a pretty paper doily was used as a base for the image stack......

You know I love the winter months......weird, I know :)......but it would be nice to spend a little time just sittin' in the warm sun (not hot!) and blowing dandelion "clocks", eh?

This pretty girlie is coloured up with a mix of Promarkers and Spectrum Noirs......the dark blue on the dress is Spectrum Noir, simply because I don't have a near colour in my PM collection......I used two different Spellbinders die labels, one to cut out the image (Deckle Edge) and the other to cut a blue background (Large Scalloped Rectangle).....

I used two large blooms (Prima) that I chalked with a touch of soft pink, then cut a circle of dark blue felt for the centre and popped up with a foam dot......

I ran a length of the same blue paper along the bottom of the card and topped it with pretty ribbon, then stacked the sentiment (freebie with a mag) on top.....

I used another doily on the inside of the card, on top of more of the blue paper and a strip of the pink along the bottom......I cut a circle of white card and chalked around the edges, then placed it in the centre of the doily........done!

So easy when you have the layout already planned for you.....so why not pop over to the Challenge Blog to see how my teamies interpreted this cute sketch?

I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.....thanks for popping in!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://www.simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Easter/Spring

http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.co.uk/  Ribbon or Lace

http://www.clearlyistamp.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/challenge-85-spring-days.html  Spring days

All you need is Love!

Hi, and welcome!

I've been very remiss in not welcoming my new Followers......sorry......but I'm so glad you're here!

What an eventful and busy week.....and the weekend is goin' to be just as busy!

Oh, well.....onwards and upwards, as they say......always wondered who "they" are, lol.

There's another great challenge over at 

Card Crafter's Circle

This week our theme is:

LOVE IS IN THE AIR!

With February 14th approaching (or for any reason, really) we ask that your creations be themed on LOVE or VALENTINES. We are excited to welcome back our TWO sponsors for this week, Robyn's Fetish and Floppy Latte Designs! So we have two prize winners this challenge!





One randomly drawn winner will receive their choice of five (5) digital images from  Robyn's Fetish ... and another randomly drawn winner will receive a prize of $10 to spend at the Floppy Latte Designs store.  Thank you both for your generous prizes!

The Hubster and I may have been married for almost 44 years.......I know!.......who'da thunk we'd have lasted this long...hahaaa!......and I was most definitely a child bride......but we still like to exchange Valentine cards and smoochie kisses, heehee.  The Hubster will be receiving this little creation, this year......

 Bright and cheerful, just like the Hubster!  This little fella is Elmer the Lovestruck Elephant from Floppy Latte.....cute, eh?
I cut a strip of bright yellow corrugated card and placed it with the pretty pink paper onto the card base.  A strip of green spotty paper anchors the two together, with a piece of red gingham ribbon for texture......

There is a remarkable likeness to the Hubster, here....at least in the expression...hahaa!  Elmer is coloured up with .....wait for it.....COPICS!  Yep, thought I'd buy the two pinks shown here, just to see what all the fuss was about.....Verdict?  I want/need/have to have.....please send donations to my home address, lol......The image is layered onto a piece of green, textured card stock which has been cut with a Spellbinder's scalloped rectangle die....... 

I used a small piece of the corrugated card to back this fun sticker.........

I have quite a lot of this red, textured paper (from the Paper Shop) and used a little-used Sizzix die to cut the hearts.....a flat-backed pearl finishes it off, nicely..... 

A sweet little Valentne card for my lovely fella!

I'd love you to take a look at what my Teamies have come up with.....and you'll get to meet the newest member of our team....go see!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://brokenboxstock.blogspot.co.uk/  Be my Valentine

http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/im-in-mood-for-love.html  Love

http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/  Love is in the Air

http://digihaven.blogspot.ca/  Love/Valentine

http://polkadoodle.blogspot.co.uk/  Lots of layers + Pink+red

http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.co.uk/  Valentines or Love

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Have a Heart

http://cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Valentine

Is it Spring yet?

Hello, and welcome!

There's a challenge with your name on it at 

CARD CRAFTERS CIRCLE 

Are you fed up with the winter?  How about getting out your lovely papers, markers and pretty embellishments and creating something that will bring Spring to mind?

This week the theme for the challenge is 

SPRINGTIME!

Our sponsor this week is joining us at Card Crafter's Circle for the first time... please welcome Digital Delights!  We are so happy to have you here with us!  Here's a little about Digital Delights....

Digital Delights by Louby Loo is your one stop shop for all your digital stamps, paper piecing and digital products which are instantly downloadable. We also have a wide range of digital papers and cut files for all your crafting projects. Our low prices reflect our belief that crafting should not only be fun but affordable too!!  Other services include custom blog design and custom watermarks. Why wait for snail mail? Start creating with our instant downloads today.

Here's my card........

This is a cream card blank with some pretty ladybird paper (from my stash mountain) and green dotty paper that I found on my desk (wonder who left that there?), layered with red dotty card......

How cute is this Easter Lara digi?  I had a lot of fun colouring this, and went to town with the white gel pen on the egg house, lol......all coloured with me trust Promarkers........

Love this button........might try to encourage the Hubster to climb up and put a flower on our chimney...hahaaa!

I generated the sentiment on the ol' 'puter, and printed it out onto Safmat, then cut it into the banner shape....cute, eh?

Three pretty pieces of Card Candi........I think the ickle ladybirds like 'em.......

There's a small tag of ribbon on there, too........all done!

Very Spring-like, methinks......

and now......your turn!

Don't forget to take a look at all the inspiration from my Teamies!

hugs,

Anne-Marie x

Challenges:

http://mygraficocrafts.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.co.uk/  Flowers
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  Anything goes