It's all about the paper!

Hello lovely crafty peeps.  How are you all?  We're all good here.  We've had the school uniform marathon buying session this week.  What a nightmare that was but I think we're almost there.

So I'm popping in today to share my DT make for the new Polkadoodles Craft challenge.   The DT were tasked with making a shaped card this week and I went with something I've been seeing around blogland lately and have been wanting to have a go at for a little while.  I decided to try my hand at a 'hat' shaped easel card and decided not to use an image this time on my make.  Instead I focused on some really pretty papers from Polkadoodles and actually it was nice to be able to showcase them as normally I end up covering the majority of them up with layers and embellishments.  

Papers:  Polkadoodles 'Winnie Celebrations Papers 1' 

printed on to Ultimate Graphic Paper

Sentiment:  Polkadoodles 'Winnie Celebrations 3' sentiments

Dies:  Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities 'Stately Circles'

Magnolia label die

Ribbon and flowers from stash

Okay so that is all from me today.  I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and get to do a little something that makes you happy as life is far to short not to!

Take care and happy crafting.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Creative Knockouts  -  anything goes

Simon Says Stamp  -  anything goes

Creative Fingers #191  -  anything goes

A little Maggie for a change

Happy Thursday peeps.  I'm popping in to my little old blog this morning before I go to work to share this recently finished card of mine.   I do so love my Magnolia's but don't seem to ink them up as often as I should so when I was having a little rummage through my stamp collections and came across this little beauty I put that right.  The image is two older stamps which I masked together before colouring with copics.  I am actually really pleased with how it turned out.

I went with a slightly larger size card base than normal and a different shape for a change.  Again whilst I was having a rummage through my craft stash I came across an old GCD Studios paper pad.  I remember I loved this pad so much that I was very frugal with how much I used of it.  Silly now when I think about it as it's a few years down the line and it's just been sat there.

Image:  Tilda with Straw Hat and Magnolia Stone Path stamp

Medium:  copics

Papers:  GCD Studios 'Ella Blue'

Dies:  card base Go Create XXL dies, Whimsy Stamps 'Poppy' flower die (just used the leaf die), Whimsy Stamps 'Honeycomb Pattern' die, Magnolia 'Dream Tag' die for the stopper

Ribbon and flowers from stash

As you can see I went with an easel card design.  I like the fact you can get to show off more of your beautiful papers this way as I find sometimes they all get covered up on the main section with all the layers and embellishments.  Everything was inked to within an inch of it's life lol.  I had a bit of a meltdown when I went to use my good old faithful Tim Holtz 'Walnut Stain' distress ink as it had come to the end of it's life.  Panic set in as that is my 'go to' for distressing the edges but no fear I found I had a Frayed Burlap which has done the job just as well.  I've decided my ink pad stash is sadly lacking so I shall be doing some browsing later to see what I can find.

My last piccie is a closer look at the sweet image.  I decided to use a bit of Frantage around the edges but had a little mishap and it sort of went everywhere but hey I like the effect.  Even the poppy leaves got Frantaged too lol.

Okay so that's all from me today.  I'm off to work for a few hours now but hopefully when I get back I shall be settling down for a little colouring session.  Part of me so wants to get cracking on my Christmas cards as I've seen so many people already making theirs, but in the craft room makeover mayhem I've pack all of it away in boxes and I'm not sure I feel like trying to find everything.  I don't know we'll see later I suppose depends how work goes lol!

Take care folks.  Stay safe and happy crafting.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Challenges:

Magnolia Forever #91  -  anything goes

Crafting Happiness #58  -  anything goes (option of Summer)

Crafty Calendar  -  add a ribbon

Simply Magnolia  -  anything goes (option summer fun)

Creative Inspirations  -  in the garden

The Sketchy Challenges  -  anything goes

  

Polkadoodles Odella Heart

Good morning lovely crafty peeps.  Jeez what an end to my week last week everything that could go pear shaped went pear shaped lol.  Add to that my daughter choosing her GSCE options for the next two years and my son sitting A Level mocks, what a flippin week lol!  I'm sincerely hoping this next one is a little easier on us.  So here I am today popping in quickly to share some Polkadoodles love with you.  This is my DT make, albeit a few days late oops!!

So this week the DT were challenged to make something which included a secret surprise.  Well it took me ages to decide on what I wanted to create but eventually settled on an easel card and if you lift up the base it includes a secret little treat box which you can fill with a sweet surprise for someone.  

I went with a heart theme seeing as Valentine's isn't far off and coloured up the adorable Odella Heart with copics to compliment the pretty Polkadoodles papers.  I actually used a Polkadoodles heart shaped template to get my shaped card.  There's a few more piccies for this one as it was difficult to try and get a view of everything so I apologise now for the photo heavy post.

Image:  Polkadoodles 'Odella Heart'

Medium:  copics

Papers:  Polkadoodles Work & Play 9 'Love & Kisses' download kit

printed onto Ultimate Graphic paper

Heart Template from Polkadoodles Work & Play 9 'Love & Kisses' download kit

A piccie up next of the easel card stood up.

A little side view and if you look carefully you can just make out the box underneath.

If you lift the card base up you reveal the hidden treat box filled with yummy Elizabeth Shaw mints in my case lol.

Last piccie up next I promise!  Here's a closer look at the sweet Odella Heart, just fab isn't she.

Copics used

Skin:  E000, E11, E13

Clothes:  RV21, RV23, RV25, RV29/BG72, BG75, BG78/Y21, Y26

Hair/Boots:  E43, E44, E47, E49

Okay so that is all from me today.  I'm off to try and catch up with a few things and finish some work for tomorrow, so I'll catch up with you soon folks.

Take care and happy crafting.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Crafting Happiness  -  anything goes (optional hearts)

Get Creative  -  use hearts

Stamping Sensations  -  feminine

Cute Card Thursday  -  Valentine

Simon Says Stamp  -  anything goes

'Miss Charlotte' - New Polkadoodles Crafting challenge

Happy Friday folks and what a ploppy day it is here weather wise, windy, wet and soggy, yuk!!

But, hey, what better way to brighten up your day than to partake in a little craftiness and play along with the new challenge that is live today over on the Polkadoodles Crafting challenge blog.

So, let me show you my dt make for this week's challenge.  The team are all working to the theme 'add a heart' but as always it's an 'anything goes' theme to enter the challenge for all you lovely peeps and we'd love to have you join us so we can all come see your beautiful makes.

I've used a beautiful image 'Miss Charlotte' from the Rose Budd Collection and made an easel card.  You can get her from the Polkadoodles store as both a clear stamp or in the download collection (all the links to everything I've used are under the first piccie).  The fabby papers are also from the same collection and are so so pretty.  I've printed them on to Ultimate Graphic paper and they print out beautifully and look amazing.  I actually won't print onto anything else now that I've found this.

Image:  Polkadoodles 'Miss Charlotte' clear stamp or the whole Rose Budd download collection

Medium:  copics/promarkers

Papers:  printed from Polkadoodles Rose Budd Collection onto Ultimate Graphic paper

ribbon, flowers and pearls from stash

Everything has been edged with Tim Holtz walnut stain and the little topiary trees are in the download collection I just sized them as I wanted, printed them off and cut them out.

A close up of Miss Charlotte.  She's been coloured up with a mix of copics and promarkers and I did the dotty background effect with my pens too just to soften the look a little.

copics/promarkers used

Face/Body:  E000, E13, E11

Dress:  PMs Tea Green, Grey Green + BG75 copic/RV23, RV25, RV29

Hair:  E43, E44, E47, E49

Background:  W00, W1, W3, W5

Okay, that's me done for today folks.  I have a busy couple of days coming up I have work tomorrow and then my sister's 30th birthday get together.  I'm so looking forward to it, although we don't mention the '30th' bit she's a little sensitive about that part heavens knows why considering I have 15 years on her and I can still drink and dance her under the table he he!!

Anyway, take care and have a great weekend.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Challenges I'm entering my card into:-

Crafting with an Attitude  -  anything goes

Addicted to Stamps and more  -  make your mark (I've used copics/promarkers)

Krafty Chicks Challenge  -  anything goes + twist 'lots of layers'

Simply Create Too  -  anything goes/Opt twist add hearts

The Crafty Addicts  -  anything goes

A little fairy love!

Hello and happy Thursday to everyone.  Work has been a bit on the busy side these past few days and I've not had the chance to share anything and I've been itching to.  Don't you just hate it when life gets in the way of your crafting.  

Anyway, I have a little time before the troops expect feeding so I'm popping my latest card on my blog.  Now I've had this little stamp sat in my pile for a little while so I thought it was about time I inked her up.  I have a little bit of a soft spot for fairies and this cutie pie is no exception she is just too adorable and a dream to colour up.

Image:  'Dandelion Clock' by LOTV

Sentiments:  LOTV and Papermania

Medium:  copics

Papers:  Make and Create 'Whimsical Pastels'

Dies:  Spellbinders 'Floral Ovals', Crafters Companion Shabby Chic 'Antique Edge', 

Die-namics 'Royal Leaves' and Magnolia Doohickey leaf spray

Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts and stash

Ribbons/Lace:  Ribbon Girl and stash

Lastly the usual close up of the image.  I've added a little 'Star Dust' Stickles to her wings and the dandelion and tried the 'dotty' background effect which I rather like.

Copics List

Face/Body:  E000, E21, E11, R20

Hair:  E41, E43, E47, E49

Clothes/Shoes:  R81, R83, R85, R39/W0, W1, W3, W5, W7

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

Creative Inspirations  -  anything goes

Simons Says Stamp  -  a bit of sparkle

Allsorts Challenge  -  ring a ring o' roses

The Ribbon Girl  -  May card challenge

Stamping Sensations  -  butterflies, fairies and fantasy

Okay folks thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the rest of your week.

Take care.

Ann-Marie 

xxx

  

Wee Stamps 'Spring Bringer'

Hey there my lovelies a late pop in from me today but everyone's gone to bed I've got myself a nice milky drink and I can have some me time and what better to do with this time than to share with you my latest card.

So today I have an easel card to show you.  It's been ages since I've made one of these and I'd forgotten how easy they are but a right pain to photograph!  So I knew I wanted to play with a Wee stamp and chose to ink up the adorable 'Spring Bringer' and I've coloured her with my copics and added just a hint of sparkle ... hey you need a little sparkle on your fairy wings!  I wanted some really pretty spring like papers so once I'd rummaged through my rather large stack I settled on these and coloured my image up to compliment them.  I rather like the colour combo so this one may crop up again.

Image:  Wee Stamps 'Spring Bringer
Medium:  copics
Papers:  First Edition 'Summer Breeze'
Dies:  Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Floral Ovals'
Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts
Ribbon, lace and pearls from stash
Sentiments from stash

I am in love with those daisies I think it is imperative that I have them in every available colour much to hubby's dismay!!

Copics List

Face/Body:  E000, E11, E13

Hair:  E50, E53, E57

Clothes:  R000, R30, R32, R35/R00, R02, R05/E50, E53, E57

BG11, BG13, BG15

YG00, YG03, YG95

Challenges

Creative Inspirations  -  anything goes (optional sketch)

Simon Says Stamp  -  anything goes

Crafty Ribbons Challenge  -  flowers 

Stamping Sensations  -  anything goes

Okay that's all from me this evening.  Back to work tomorrow which will come hard after the Bank Holiday and no doubt throw me for the rest of the week but hey at least it's a shorter one.

Take care folks and happy crafting.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Whimsy Stamps March Rubber and Die Release - Day 4

Welcome to Day 4 Whimsy Stamps March rubber & 

die release!

We are releasing a fabulous selection of new rubber stamps, clear stamps, shapeology dies and papers this month.  Today the Whimsy DT is holding a blog hop to showcase the new releases from Crissy Armstrong and Elisabeth Bell.  The entire new release is available now to buy from the Whimsy Stamps store.

We have hidden FOUR prizes of 2 new release rubber stamps somewhere on the DT’s blogs throughout the 5-day release event.  As the location of the prizes are secret, be sure to leave a comment on ALL the stops on each daily blog hop to maximize your chance of winning! We will draw the lucky winners over the weekend and announce them here on the Whimsy blog on Monday (March 24th).

Okay so let me show you the card I made for my contribution to today's hop.  I chose to work with the gorgeous Elisabeth Bell image 'Miss Apple Blossom Vignette' and the new 'Girl Talk' sentiments by Simonne Clay.  I decided to make an easel card as its been a while and love how it turned out.  

Image:  Whimsy Stamps 'Miss Apple Blossom Vignette' by Elisabeth Bell

Sentiment:  Whimsy Stamps 'Girl Talk' by Simonne Clay

Medium:  copics

Papers:  First Edition 'Spring Drop'

Dies:  Whimsy Stamps 'Notables 5'

A little close up of the gorgeous image, so many possibilities and styles of card with this one I think.

Okay so now it's time for you to take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations from some of my other teamies, please click on the links below...

Ann-Marie (that's me!)

Deb Routledge 

Shelby Thomas

Jenny Hodges

Don’t forget to stop by the Whimsy Blog again tomorrow for Day 5 of our March release.

Thanks you so much for stopping by today and I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop.

Take care, 

Ann-Marie 

xxx

Whimsy Stamps November Release Day blog hop!

 

Hello everyone and welcome to the Whimsy Stamps November Release Day Blog Hop!

 

Today, Whimsy has released 14 new stamps, 1 paper pack, 3 dies and 6 digital box templates and these gorgeous new goodies are all available to buy now from the Whimsy Stamps store.

For those of you who are new to Whimsy Stamps, we hold a 3-day new release event each month: a Sneak Peek Blog Hop on the day before the release (yesterday), a Release Day Blog Hop on release day (today), and finally a Review Day Blog Hop (tomorrow) the day after the release.

Each blog hop has a prize of 2 new release stamps hidden somewhere along the way and you have 24hrs to enter each prize draw!

 

Okay so let me share with you my release day creation.  I decided to make an easel card using the new 'Four Calling Birds' by Crissy Armstrong.  It did make me smile when I saw the little birds with their phones what a fab play on the words!  Here are my piccies:-

 

Image:  Whimsy Stamps 'Four Calling Birds' by Crissy Armstrong

Sentiments:  Whimsy Stamps 'Tis the Season Notables 5' & 'Holiday Circle Pennants'

Medium:  Distress Markers

Papers:  Memory Box 'Mistletoe' (still using up that old stash!!)

Dies:  Whimsy Stamps 'Notables 5', Spellbinders 'Fleur de Lis' ovals

 

 

Last piccie is the close up.  Look at the little birdies with their tech adorable aren't they!  The Stickles came out to play again as did the white flock and glitter for the fur trims. 

 

Distress Markers

 

Birdies:  Frayed Burlap, Barn Door, Tea Dye, Rusty Hinge

Leaves/Branch:  Pine Needles, Forest Moss, Vintage Photo

Shading around image/phones: Pumice Stone

 

Don't forget to be entered into today's blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 12.00PM EST tomorrow.  All winners will be announced on the Whimsy blog on Friday. 

 

To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations, please click on the links below:

 

Ann-Marie (ME)

Debbie Eastman

DeNetra Bates

Ellie Stover

Heidy Blom

Janette Garcia

Jodi Amidei

Melissa Andrew

Patricia Garcia

Shanna Shands

Shannah Bartle

Simonne Clay

 

Okay folks that's all from me today; I hope you enjoy the hop and looking at my teamies creations and remember to stop by the Whimsy blog again tomorrow for the final November Release Review Day blog hop!

 

Take care and happy crafting!

 

Ann-Marie

xxx