Is that spring calling?!?

Hello my crafty friends I'm popping in today to share my latest make with you.  Now down here on the good old south coast I've given up any hope of seeing a flake of the old white stuff this year and some days feel decidedly spring like.  So with spring obviously just around the corner I've put away my winter colours for today and chosen to make a card in a colour scheme which I rather like and to me feels like spring. 

So I chose a beautiful little image from Whimsy called 'September Rose' and I think she's so sweet and pretty.  I've coloured her up with my Derwent Inktense pencils again.  Not so happy with the colouring but it's a learning curve and I'm enjoying the challenge.

Image:  Whimsy Stamps 'September Rose' by Elisabeth Bell

Sentiment:  LOTV 'Everyday Grungy' messages

Medium:  Inktense pencils

Papers:  First Edition 'blank canvas'

Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts

ribbon and pearls from stash

Okay so I don't mind winter really but what I do find hard is the poor light.  Trying to get a decent photo is a pain in the bum to say the least so when the lighter days come rolling in will be lovely.  Up next is the usual close up.

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

Sweet Stampin  -  girly

Stamping Sensations  -  anything with flowers

Let's Craft and Create  -  anything goes (option of mother's day/mothers)

Crafters Castle  -  anything goes

Right I'm off now.  It's half term week here and I've got my youngest munchkin in the middle of making herself a Harry Potter wand as you do.  So she's been let loose with paper mache and I just want to make sure that the wand is the only thing getting covered lol. 

Take care folks and happy crafting.

Ann-Marie

xx

Sweet 'Maya'

Good evening my lovelies and a very happy Sunday to you all.  I'm here writing up my blog post on my new laptop which I had to get myself.  My old one was getting a tad long in the tooth and when it started making peculiar noises and little puffs of smoke would shoot out from the side (I kid you not lol!!) I decided it was time I sucked it up and got a new one.  I love my new baby I'd be lost without it but it's taking me a little while to find my way around Windows 10 and photos are taking longer to edit but I daresay I'll get there in the end.

We've had a quiet weekend here really so I've managed to do some chores and still squeezed some crafting time in.  I've got a poorly munchkin though as my daughter has come down with this cold/flu that's going around and I've spent a night making hot water bottles one minute and stripping covers off the next at one point I think the poor little mite was shivering so much her bed was rattling!

So my crafting has got off to a slow start this year but hey I've actually got a finished card to share with you today.  I pulled out one of my favourite Wee stamps images to play with the sweet little 'Maya' and I've coloured her up with my new Inktense pencils.  I must say I'm loving these pencils I've found them so easy to use and such beautiful colours.  

Image:  'Maya' Wee Stamps

Medium:  Derwent Inktense pencils

Papers:  Couture Creations 'Hearts Ease'

Dies:  Crafters Companion Die'sire Edgeables 'Doily Lattice', Spellbinders 'Floral Ovals',

Cheery Lynn 'Fanciful Flourish, Dienamics 'Royal Leaves'

Flowers/Ribbon/Lace:  a mix from stash and Wild Orchid Crafts

I've added some 'diamond' Stickles to the flowers for a little accent and popped a few pearls here and there just to pick up some of the detail.  A little close up of the image.  

Challenges I would like to enter my card into:-

Creative Inspirations  -  something new (Inktense                     pencils)

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge  -  fussy and fancy

Allsorts  -  old favourites (Wee Stamps image)

Noor Design  -  anything goes

Okay, so it's taken me ages to write up this post I've had so many interruptions and it is no longer Sunday evening but rather Monday morning.  So I hope you enjoy your Monday and have a great start to your week.

Take care folks.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Hello ... it's me!

Hello my lovelies it's been a really long while since I've posted anything on my little old blog in fact it's been a long time since I've actually crafted.  Last year was a really hard year for our family and we've struggled and crafting took a back seat I'm afraid.

Anyway, about a week ago I felt the urge to create so decided I would make something for my little girl and picked up my copics for a little play.  I ended up making her a box frame with a Wee image and loved how it turned out.

Items Used

Image:  Whimsy Stamps 'Sweet Blossom' by Wee Stamps

Medium:  copics

Papers:  Pink Petticoat 'Vintage Rose Collection', card for matting from Papermill Direct

Dies:  Whimsy Stamps 'Banner Pennant' die set

Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts and some from stash

I used an 8 x 8 frame which I'd picked up a while ago.  I used the gorgeous Wee Stamps image 'Sweet Blossom' which is one of my favourites and coloured her up with my copics in colours to compliment the pretty Pink Petticoat papers from my stash.  I added a little ribbon, lace and couple of flowers and decided to add her name across the top as we struggle to find things with her name spelt that way.

A nice close up of the adorable image.  She's so cute and really lovely to colour.  

Copics List

Face/Body:  E000, E00, E11, W3

Hair:  E31, E35, E37, E29, W5

Clothes:  RV000, R81, R83, R85, W5/YG11, YG13, Forest Green Promarker

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

Creative Inspirations  -  Pretty projects

Cute Card Thursday  -  Lace or ribbon

Allsorts Challenge  -  Spring is in the air

Stamping Sensations  -  Flower Power

Okay that's my little bit of craftiness I've shared with you all for now.  I know I haven't been around for a while so if anyone has taken the time to pop in on me I would just like to say a little thank you for stopping by it is very much appreciated.

Take care folks.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Spring Bringer

Good morning folks a quick stop by from me to share my Dies to Die For dt card with you and I thought I would bring a little bit of spring with me in the hope that it's soon around the corner.  A little heads up too peeps Tracy has a Valentine's offer at the moment over in the store of Free postage until midnight tonight!!

I inked up an older Whimsy Stamps Wee image 'Spring Bringer' but she is still one of my all time favourites.  I coloured her up to compliment the oh so gorgeous Echo Park For the Record 2 'Tailored' papers which are actually on offer at the moment too over in the store.  I decided to mat them onto black card stock just to make the colours pop.

Image:  Whimsy Stamps 'Spring Bringer' by Wee Stamps

Sentiment:  Whimsy Stamps 'Fluttering By'

Papers:  Echo Park - For the Record 'Tailored'

Dies:  Butterfly Frame Die

A little close up of the adorable image.  Darn it I've just noticed I missed a bit of her hair when I coloured her up that's what you get for colouring in the early hours of the morning !!

Copics List

Face/Body:  E000, E11, E13, R20, R81

Hair:  E50, E53, E57, E49

Clothes:  R81, R83, R85/G12, G14, G17/E41, E43

Flowers:  R81, R83, R85/YR31, Promarker Amber/Promarker Spice

W5 for extra depth

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Bunny Zoes Crafts  -  for the girls

Papertake Weekly  -  hearts and flowers

Creative Inspirations  -  anything goes (with option of a sketch)

Stamping Sensations  -  anything goes

Okay folks time for me to go, thank you for stopping by it is as always very much appreciated.  Have a good week and don't forget Free Postage until midnight over at Dies to Die For!!!

Take care.

Ann-Marie 

'Two Turtle Doves'

Hello my lovelies and a very happy Sunday to you.

I'm still very much in Christmas mode and can see me being so for a few weeks yet.  I decided to make myself a Christmas wall hanging and I like it so much I think I will make a couple more and hang them in my hallway.  I used an older Whimsy Stamp image 'Two Turtle Doves' by Elisabeth Bell and coloured her up with copics using the gorgeous Maja Design 'Vintage Winter' papers as my colour inspiration.  I've put the links to the items I've used just below.

Image:  Whimsy Stamps 'Two Turtle Doves' by Elisabeth Bell

Sentiment:  Whimsy Stamps 'Holiday Postage Stamps'

Papers:  Maja Design 'Vintage Winter'

Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink pad

Stickles 'Diamond'

Copic list

Skin:  E000, E13, E11
Hair:  E41, E43, E47, E49
Clothes:  R32, R35, R37, R59/YG11, YG63, YG67/
E50, E53/E41, E43, E47
Cage:  W00, W1, W3, W5
Doves:  E50, E53

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Crafty Ribbons  -  Christmas creation with ribbon

Allsorts challenge  -  anything but a card

Winter Wonderland  -  Christmas decorations

Okay folks that's all from me today.  I'm off now to grab myself a nice bowl of homemade chicken soup and catch up with the old goggle box and then some colouring, so a good evening in my books. 

Take care and happy crafting.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Whimsy Stamps DT Call

Hello my lovelies, a quick pop in from me today to share with you a little Whimsy something I have made to enter their DT call.   I was on the fab team previously but took a little time away as life was a little hectic but I was still never very far away from a Whimsy stamp!  Anyway I saw this little sleigh gift box and thought what a cute idea - I always make something a little different for family and this was perfect.  It was really quite simple to do and the link is here to the instructions.  I knew exactly what image I was going to ink up so let me show you a couple of piccies of how it turned out.

Image:  Whimsy Stamps 'Mr. Frosty' by Wee Stamps

Sentiment:  Whimsy Stamps 'Tis the Season Notables 5'

Medium:  copics

Papers:  First Edition 'Nordic Christmas'

Dies:  Marianne Design 'Christmas Tree', Joy Crafts 'Winter Wishes Snowflake border'

Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts and stash

A little close up of the adorable image.  So so cute isn't he and definitely one of my favourites and I think he will be on quite a few of my cards this Christmas!

Okay, that's all from me today.  I hope you have a great weekend and get time to do a little crafting.

Take care.

Ann-Marie 

xxx

Warm Hands, Warm Heart

Well hello my lovelies how are we all on this fine Sunday evening.  It's been a mixed bag of weather here today in Bournemouth - I woke to brilliant sunshine, then it came over all gloomy and still and then came the rain and we've had a veg in front of the telly, hot choccie and pj's kind of day today seeing as it's the kiddies last day before going back to school tomorrow.  

Anyway, I'm popping in to share with you another Christmas card I've made to add to my little stock.   I decided to ink up Whimsy Stamps 'Warm hands, warm heart' by Time for Tea Designs and used Bazzill 'Nordic Pines' papers and coloured my image to co-ordinate with them.  My image was stamped in Memento 'rich cocoa' ink in keeping with the warmth of the card and inked up a sentiment from Whimsy Stamps 'Tis the Season Notables 5' set again in Memento 'rich cocoa' and distressed it a little with Tim Holtz 'walnut stain'.  Added a few flowers and a little ribbon to finish my card off and I'm quite pleased with the outcome.

Image:  Whimsy Stamps 'Warm hands warm heart' by Time for Tea Designs

Sentiment:  Whimsy Stamps 'Tis the Season Notables 5'

Medium:  copics

Papers:  Bazzill 'Nordic Pines'

Dies:  Whimsy Stamps 'Notables 5' die

1.5" White Lace/Satin Centre Red

Memento 'Rich Cocoa' ink pad

Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts

Copics List

Face/Body:  E000, E00, E13, R20, R30

Hair:  E43, E47, E49

Clothes:  E41, E43, E47/R20, R22, R27, R29

Boots:  E43, E47, E49

Challenges I would like to enter:

Simon Says Stamp  - anything goes

Stamping Sensations  -  christmas

Okay folks time for me to go.  I hope you have had an enjoyable weekend and here's to a good start to the new week.

Take care.

Ann-Marie 

xxx

Suzi with Bunny

Hello everyone and I hope you have had a good week and an even better weekend.  Our week started off a little on the quiet side with my daughter away on her first school residential trip.  The house was quiet in fact too quiet for my liking but hey she's back now and she's one very happy bunny, tired but excited about all the things she got to do.  Normal household resumes now - noise and mayhem just as it should be!!!

Okay time to share with you my card which I have made for my Dies to Die For dt card this week and I've been meaning to share this with you for a few days now.  I decided to play with a Wee Stamp and this one is 'Suzi with Bunny' and she's such a cutie pie.  I took my colour inspiration as normal from my papers and I used the gorgeous Bo Bunny 'Prairie Chic' papers which are really pretty folks and are actually on offer over in the store at the moment too.

Image:  Whimsy Stamps 'Suzi with Bunny' by Wee Stamps

Papers:  Bo Bunny 'Prairie Chic

Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink pad

1/4" Crochet White Trim

My usual close up of the image for you.  She is just beautiful and delightful to colour peeps.

Copics List

Face/Body:  E000, E11, E13, R20

Hair/Basket/Shoes:  E50, E53, E57

Clothes:  R81, R83, R85/BV01, BV02, BV04/YG11, YG13, YG67

Bunny:  W1, W3, W5

Before I go folks I would like to enter my card into the challenge at Simon Says Stamp which this week is 'anything goes'.

Okay ta-ta for now peeps.  Take care and happy crafting.

Ann-Marie

xxx

What does the fox say??!!??

....well my fox says, yay it's Friday and time for a bit of Whimsy lovin!!!

Hello my lovelies I hope you are all well and looking forward to your weekend.  My little girl is going on her first school residential on Monday and I know it's only for a few days but still it's a big thing for both her and me so we are going out Saturday to get a few things and make it a bit special.

Okay so time for me to share a card with you using Whimsy's 'Autumn Fox kit' image.  Autumn is my most favourite season of all so I had a great time colouring up this little fella.  Coloured with my copics as usual and I seemed to have mislaid the list of markers I used but I do remember it was mainly E11, E13, E15.  I used 'Pumpkin Sentiments' too and cut it out using the matching 'Pumpkin die'.  

Image:  Whimsy Stamps 'Autumn Fox Kit' by Crissy Armstrong

Sentiment:  Whimsy Stamps 'Pumpkin Sentiments' by Raindrop Echo Designs

Medium:  copics

Papers:  My Mind's Eye 'Bloom and Grow'

Dies:  Whimsy Stamps 'Pumpkin' die

Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts

A bit of closer look at mister foxy, cute isn't he?

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Creative Inspirations  -  spots and dots

Cute Card Thursday  -  awesome autumn

Thank you folks for taking the time to pop in it is, as always, very much appreciated.  Enjoy your weekend and grab yourself some crafty time.

Take care.

Ann-Marie 

xxx

Li'l Montana

Good evening peeps I hope you are all having a fabby week so far.  We're slowly returning to the normal school routine here it's hard getting back into the swing of it all but the kiddies are enjoying their new classes which is always a huge relief.  

Anyway, I'm popping in tonight to share with you a card I've made using some goodies from Dies to Die For.  I've used some really pretty papers from Authentique called 'Flourish' and decided to colour up an older Whimsy image called 'Li'l Montana' as she's so cute and adorable.

Image:  Whimsy Stamps 'Li'l Montana' by Elisabeth Bell

Medium:  copics

Papers:  Authentique 'Flourish' papers

Stamped using Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink pad

Copics Used

Face/Body:  E000, E11, E13

Hair:  E43, E47, E49

Clothes:  R81, R83, R85/BG11, BG13, BG49 + C5 for extra shadow

Puppy:  C1, C3, C5, C7

Before I go I would like to enter into the Sketch n Stash Challenge as I've used their fabby sketch for my card.

Okay so time for me to grab a cuppa, a sneaky biscuit and catch up with this week's episode of The Great British Bake Off - just love this program.

Take care folks.

Ann-Marie 

xxx