16 November 2011

Sugar Nellie book card

Hi just a quick one from me today.  Just wanted to show a book card which my mum asked me to make for her friend's 50th birthday.  I followed the fab sketch over at The Sugar Bowl and used Daisy coloured with copics. 


A quick view of the card when opened. 


I would like to enter this into The Sugar Bowl challenge.

Right thats it from me, told you it was a quick one.  Got to go and pick up my son from footy practice so better dash.

Catch you later everyone.  Take care.

Ann-Marie
xxx
 

13 November 2011

My first Christmas creation for this year!!

WARNING:-  AN EXTREMELY PHOTO HEAVY POST!!!!! (so grab a cuppa and a choccy bar)

Hi folks, I am so ticked off I have been trying to upload my piccies on this post all day and at last it has decided to play ball.  Anyway, what I wanted to show you is my first Christmas project of this year which is an exploding box.  I haven't made one of these for a long time.  I went with a pink/purple/grey colour theme and lots of Tildas.  All have been coloured with a mixture of copics and prismacolor pencils and tons of stickles

First up a couple of the outside.



Next up an overall picture of what its like when open.


Now for a couple of closer views.








Okay, if you are still with me you deserved that choccy bar.  I really enjoyed doing this one but I think it is reserved for someone really special as it took me a few days to complete. 

I would like to enter this into a few challenges:-








Right thats it from me for today.  I think I am going to go and dig out the Christmas films so I can watch whilst I am crafting and really get in the Crimbly spirit as I am once again so so behind.

Take care, happy crafting.

Ann-Marie
xxx

Look at what my hubby made me!!!!

Hi all, just a quick one from me on this most glorious Sunday morning, it really is beautiful outside today and the kiddies are out making the most of it.  Anyway just wanted to pop on here and show you what my fabtastic hubby decided to make me.  I think he got fed up of all my pens lying around everywhere and me bleating on about how useful it would be to have somewhere to store them all.  I showed him a few piccies from some I'd seen around, all very lovely but quite pricey.  Anyway he took a few measurements and off he went to his garage and voila a day later and I have this and I just love it.  Its exactly what I was after.  Its only made out of 12 mm MDF and my hubby says its not perfect as it was all hand cut and not machine cut but its perfect to me.  I will be decorating it and make it look all pretty but I just couldn't wait to get my pens in.



Please excuse the tiles hanging off the wall behind but we cleared out the small room downstairs that used to be our old kitchen before we moved it and it has yet to be decorated.  It will be my own craft room YIPPEE no more crafting on the kitchen table!!! I feel a trip to Ikea coming on but I think that will be something for the new year. 

Anyway, folks I hope you are enjoying your Sunday.  Take care.

Ann-Marie xxx

P.S. I would love to know how to tweak my photos and perhaps make them bigger.  Any tips would be most appreciated. 


3 October 2011

A purple and aqua Sugar Nellie

Good morning folks, its a glorious sunny day out today on the south coast and all is peachy in my neck of the woods (well for today at least!).  Its my son's 10th birthday on Saturday so probably from Wednesday onwards it will be operation Luke trying get party things finalised and everything.

I have another book card to show you today and this is one I was asked to make for a 21st Birthday.  This particular image was requested and the recipient likes purple and butterflies so this is what I came up with.


I really did enjoy doing this one, once you've done one book card and know what you're doing they really are very quick to make, in fact it probably took me longer to colour the image and decide on papers than it did to actually make the card!


A different view of the card to show you the depth and everything.


Another couple of piccies to show you the inside and stuff.


The image used is a Sugar Nellie and is proving to be very versatile and she is so easy to colour.  Butterflies, swirl and tag are all Magnolia doohickey dies.  All flowers are of course from Wild Orchid Crafts.  Ribbon and lace are all from my local haberdashery shop.  The papers are actually a download from Nitwits.  This is the first time I have used downloaded papers and printed them off myself and I'm really quite impressed with them.  I do like the idea of having unlimited sheets of my favourite papers at the touch of a button and not having to worry whether I have enough to see me through the project.  Not sure I'm ready to give up my beloved collection of paper pads yet (well I have to have something to stroke!!!) but I think I will be using more downloads from now on especially for Christmas.

Well I think thats everything.  There are a couple of challenges I would like to enter this card into:-





Right I'm off now.  I've already changed all the beds this morning but other household chores are calling.  Do you think I could squeeze some crafty time in and then run around like a headless chicken before the school run just so it makes it look like I've done something, he he!!!

Take care whereever you are, catch ya soon.

Ann-Marie
xxx

24 August 2011

A trio of sweet Sugar Nellies

A big happy hello to all from my neck of the woods.  Now would you believe I actually started to write this post at 11 a.m. this rather miserable Tuesday morning and a good 12 hours later I am actually getting to finish it off!  Yes it has been that sort of a day, a good day but just a busy one.  We took the kiddies out for pizza and then decided to go and see Mr. Popper's Penguins which we all thoroughly enjoyed and then a stint in the small kiddies arcade, a very fun day was had by all.  I was also extremely excited as I saw a poster advertising the next Twilight instalment 'Breaking Dawn' out on Nov 18th and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!! 

Anyway I digress, I wanted to get on here to show you all a card I was commissioned to do.  Didnt really have any guidelines so I decided I would do a card in a style which I saw last year sometime and has always stuck in my head.  Now I don't know whether this type of card has a name and for the life of me I cannot remember where I saw it so I can't pass on the credit, so sorry, but it was fun to do and I liked the idea that I could have more than one image as a focal point.  I do warn you I have a more piccies than normal, sorry, but I hope you like.

First up a piccie of the front of the card where you can see it all tied up.  I used the fab sketch from over on The Sugar Bowl with the added theme of blue.  I used my 'Daisy' stamp on the front, she was one of the first stamps I ever bought and one I always go back to, just love her!  She is coloured with prismas and blended with sansodor.  The papers are from GCD and I'm beginning to panic as the stack is going down and I have no more!!!



Next up shows the front of the card opened up where I have used another sugar nellie stamp and again those gorgeous papers.


This is a piccie of the inside of the card, using the same papers and a sugar nellie again. 


Next couple of piccies are just a couple of close ups of the images.


I used an 8 x 8 card base for this one so its a lot larger than I normally do and as I said before I love the fact that I could use more pretty images.

Right folks I would like to enter my card into a few fab challenges:





Thank you if you have made it to the end of my rather waffly and picture heavy post I do very much appreciate you popping by.

Take care wherever you are.

Ann-Marie 
xxx 



14 August 2011

Another book card

Hi all, I hope you are all well and if you have kiddiewinkles at home for the holidays I hope you are managing to grab yourself a little crafty time!!!  All is well in our little abode we have finished decorating our little girl's room and have now progressed to our son's room and although the house still looks like a bomb site and is driving me absolutely crazy, we are slowly getting there.  You wouldn't believe the amount of stuff a 9 yr old can accumulate and I have tried thinning it out but there are just some things he won't part with!!!!

Anyway, I was asked by some friends of ours to make a 40th birthday card for them.  They wanted something a little more special as the recipient didn't want any pressies.  My guidelines were that it wasn't to be an overtly girly card and she liked black and purple.  Also that she was into music such as Bon Jovi, Black Sabbath, Nickelback and Bowling for Soup.  Well this had me stumped for a little while as what the heck was I going to make and as for Bowling for Soup I had never heard of them but they wanted some reference to these on the card. 

Well I had a little think and after a session on Google finding some piccies this is what I came up with.


I used a Sugar Nellie image which I have had for some time but had never inked up (slapped wrists!!) and it was great to colour.  I used a mixture of copics and promarkers to colour in and I just love the hair!.


A little peek inside shows the piccies I managed to find on the internet.


Although they didn't want a really girly card I just had to add a few little flowers but not as many as I would have liked.


Last piccie shows a bit of a close up of the front.  Didn't think I ought to use flowers here as I would have normally done so went with stars which I think works quite well and I just love the little guitar charm which came from a pack of six I got from The Works for 99p - bargain or what!! 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:-


Well I'm off now its 11.30 p.m. and everyones in bed so its my time to craft now and I feel like doing a little colouring.  Happy crafting and take care.

Ann-Marie
xxx

18 July 2011

First attempt at a book card!

Hello everyone, I hope you've all had a good start to the week.  Its pretty miserable here with lots of rain, yuk!  Anyway, I thought I would share with you my first attempt at a book card that I've seen around a few times.  I so wanted to have a go but put it off thinking it would be really fiddly and time consuming, well how wrong was I it is so simple and yes it takes longer than your usual card but boy is it worth it.  I enjoyed doing it so much I've got another couple planned for some birthdays/anniversaries coming up. 

Anyway, first piccie coming up is the front cover and I've used Whiff of Joy guardian angels stamps and coloured with copics and prismas.  Papers are GCD studios 'Ella Blue' and are just devine so desperate to get another pad of these.   I have distressed these all with Tim Holtz walnut stain.  Flowers are obviously from WOC.


An inside view now.  Again Guardian Angels stamps and lots of distressing going on.  Tag and dragonfly are cut with a Magnolia die. 

 
Finally,  a closer view of the book  part of the card.  The link for the instructions is HERE and although its not in English the pictures are pretty self explanatory.


Last picture I promise!


Right okay I'm off now I'm meant to be doing housework, mmm housework v crafting yep you can guess which is going to win!!!  Catch ya later folks.

Take care
Ann-Marie

26 May 2011

Oh my word has it really been that long since I was last on here!

Hi folks long time no see!

I'm sat at my kitchen table in the early hours of the morning doing a little colouring of some images and mulling things over in my head as you do and it suddenly occurs to me that I don't think I've shared any photos of my sister's wedding back in March - shame on me!.  So without further ado heres a few for you to have a nosey at.

First up is a piccie of the happy couple.  Don't they look gorgeous and that little scallywag in the front looking like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth is my little angel.  She's normally quite a tomboy what with having an older brother and all, but she just loved wearing her dress and thought she was a princess all day long!




Next we have the blushing bride and my wonderful hubby.  We actually met when my sister was only a little babe and he's always been there for her whenever she's needed him so it only seemed fitting that he give her away and he was so proud.

Okay so this is the piccie that I don't like (only because it has me in it and I so loathe my photo being taken).  This is me (on the left) with my two amazing sisters love them to bits. 

Of course it wouldn't be right if I didn't show you a piccie of the table decorations and everything.  The budget wouldn't stretch to chair covers etc so we made the most of what we could on the table settings and it looked stunning.  I haven't got a close up but there were little purple and lilac gems scattered around the flower arrangements and even little Yankee Candle tealights in my favourite lemon/lavender scent.  My auntie, sister and I laid out all the tables.  My aunt did the flower arrangements and I did the place settings and favours as well as the invites.

Anyways, thats about it on the photo front.  I have been crafting, mainly colouring up images but just don't seem to be putting any cards together finding it hard at the moment, but when I do get back into it boy I will have a few images to choose from! 

If you happen to pop in on my little blog I want to thank you and apologise to you for being such a lousy blogger myself.  I will freely admit I suppose I'm what you call a stalker on the blog front - I'm very guilty of always popping by but not leaving a comment something I want to make a huge effort to rectify in the future.

Gosh but I can waffle on can't I, sorry.  If you're still with me at the end of this post I want to wish you a very happy Thursday - nearly the weekend yeh!  Take care folks wherever you are, happy crafting.

Ann-Marie
xxx

7 March 2011

First Kiss!

Morning all, hope you're all having a good day so far.  Its beautiful down here on the south coast, crisp but not a cloud in the sky, bet you anything it doesn't last till the wedding on Saturday though!

I have a Sarah Kay card to share with you today and the image is an older one called First Kiss and its one of my faves I think its so sweet.


Quite a simple card really not much fuss on this one.  Papers are Penny Lane from My Mind's Eye and I so love these, beautiful colours with a little sparkle mmmm!  Image is coloured with copics, ribbon is from stash and of course blooms from WOC.

Okay thats it from me for now, thanks for popping in and I do appreciate every single comment I receive, thank you guys.  Happy crafting, take care

Ann-Marie
xxx


3 March 2011

Sweet Bunny Tilda

Hi all not long now and the weekend will be upon us.  Lets hope the weather here stays as it has been the past couple of days - a little on the chilly side but so bright and cheery so you can see all the signs of spring its so pretty. 

Anyway, just thought I would share with you a little something I have made these past couple of days.  It was one of those where I just kept going back to it and adding a little more so yes its a little busy this one but I kinda like it that way.  


I went with a bit of a purple theme to this one.   Tried out my new Magnolia swirl and would you believe I have had this since Crimbo and only just used it.  Again my MS scroll heart punch has been used as has my MS heart button punch and I've glittered the butterfly to within an inch of its life!!!  A little side view piccie to show you next


Okay so all the details of what I have used.  Lets start with the obvious Maggie stamp which I just adore as I think it can be used for both Easter and baby stuff.   Coloured with copics and prismas.  Splendiferous blooms are of course from WOC and I've sprayed them with pearl glimmermist.  Papers are Prima 'Sweet Fairy' and are gorgeous.  Crystal ball gem thingies in with the flowers are actually from the artificial flower section in my local Wilkinsons and the whole spray (and it was wired) was around £2.50 and I'm not kidding you there must be at least 50 on there.  Oh and I used the fab sketch from Friday Sketchers but being me I've missed the deadline for it.

Okay, before I go I would like to enter this into the Creative Inspirations challenge which is 'In the garden'.  Well I won't find a Tilda in the garden but we do get a fair few butterflies and some pretty blooms (well thats before I manage to kill them all).  Not really green fingered me but I give it a go!

Catch ya  later peeps, take care and happy crafting. 
Ann-Marie xxx


16 February 2011

Pink and girly birthday cake card

Happy Wednesday to you folks, hope its being a good one for you. Fairly quiet here and I'm making the most of it as the kiddiewinkles break up for half term on Friday so my peace will be shattered then!

Anyway, I have a quick card to share with you today, one which I made for my little girl's friend Molly as she went to her party at the weekend. In fact it was a crafting party and she loved every minute of it. Sorry about the colours, not sure what I've done here but the second piccie shows them off better.

As you can see I had a go at making one of those birthday cake cards and I got the idea from the mega talented Kathrin here. At first I thought it was going to be quite hard but in fact it was amazingly simple and so effective and I can see myself making quite a few of these.
Okay what did I use. Firstly I followed the fab sketch from over on Just Magnolia this week and loved this one will be using it again. Obviously the gorgeous magnolia stamp, cardstock was bazzill, papers were the Pink Petticoat freebie pad from Quick Cards this month and they are just yummy, roses were from WOC, sentiment was craftwork cards and I used my new Martha Stewart punch which I treated myself to the other day and I just adore it. Everything else was from stash, oh and I used a mixture of copics and prismacolor pencils to colour her in.
Right off to do some colouring now, catch up with you later. Take care folks, Ann-Marie xxx

15 February 2011

Weddings - who'd have them!!!! (warning - its a long one!)

Well howdy folks its been a long time since I've been on here. I think I last left you saying I had some invites to do for my younger sister's wedding, well things have been going well and truly pear shaped on that front. I won't bore you will all the details but lets just say some old underlying family issues have now been well and truly blasted in to the fore and the "Sh.... has really hit the fan!!!! They say its one of the most stressful times don't they!



Well swiftly moving on, I did think I would show a couple of piccies of the invites. We did cheat a little in the end though as my sister decided she wanted the prefolded invites but everything else is what I added and it still took long enough!





Sorry about the plop piccies but they were taken in a hurry and everyone knows I'm photographically challenged.
Before I go I have to say a huge thank you to Donna, DK Crafts, for the fab Sweet Blogger award she kindly sent my way. Its means a lot to me so thank you and sorry for taking so long to put it up here. The rules are to share 3 things about myself and pass this on to five other lovely peeps, so here goes:-

1. My favourite colour is red.


2. I'm a BIG Twilight saga fan can't get enough of Jacob!!! (I know I'm way too old but who cares eh!!)


3. I'm addicted to the sweets Parma Violets and double lollipops.


I would like to pass this on to the following peeps:-


Mandy, A Sprinkling of Glitter
Cherie, All kinds of crafty things
Sally, Scallywags

These guys are amazingly talented and I am guilty of stalking their blogs but not always leaving comments and I would like them to have the award to say thank you for the endless amounts of inspiration they give with their creations.


Phew that was a long one and if you made it to the end thank you for stopping by. I have a couple of other things to share with you so I may be back later on. Take care folks and happy crafting, Ann-Marie xxx