HELP! - anyone out there I need advice on which pencils to go for

Hi folks, just a very quick one from me today, my hubby has just let drop a very huge hint that Father Christmas may be kind to me this year and get me a set of pencils. Now I have seen some amazing colouring in blogland with both Prismacolors and also Polychromos (and he's obviously very tired of hearing me mention the fact and in the hope that it may shut me up!!!). Obviously never having used either of these before I don't know the pros and cons for either of them so would very much appreciate any comments or advice you can give me so that I can leave a subtle hint as to which I would like.

Any advice is gratefully received. Many thanks guys, take care everyone.

Ann-Marie
xxx

Christmas Post!

Hi everyone hope you've had a great start to the week. My week is going to be a little hectic as its our son's 9th birthday on Friday and a few things left to sort like GET THE PRESENT yikes nothing like leaving it to the last minute is there!!! Should be okay though as we've decided to let him have a pet so we're going to get him a little hamster (or those creepy things that scurry about as my hubby said). Anyway, I'll keep it brief as I'm not feeling on top of the world tonight as I have a cold and feel like plop.

So here's a crimbly card made with a gorgeous little Sarah Kay image all in traditional reds and greens today and I used the yummy sketch from over at Bunny Zoe's monthly challenge.

Papers are the fab Memory Box just luurrve these which I got from Tracy at Dies to Die for. The poinsettias are die cuts made using the Marianne Creatables dies which I think are great. The greeting on the card is a die cut which I've had for like forever and the sentiment on the base is by Inkadinkado and not forgetting the roses which are of course from Wild Orchid Crafts.




I would like to enter my card into a few challenges:-

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - sketch

The ABC Challenge - Easel cards

Creative Inspirations - Christmas in September

Secret Craft Saturday Challenge - Easel cards

Stampavie - Die cuts

I think thats about it folks I'm going off now to make myself a yummy hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows - it always cheers me up.

Take care wherever you are and happy crafting.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Autumn is finally here!

Happy Tuesday to you I hope you're week is going well so far. Mine has got off to a good start (I think) I'm feeling quite honoured that my sister has asked me to do her wedding invites, favours, table settings etc and I was quite excited until she informed me she was thinking of having the invites all sent out by the end of October at the latest. Now I'm not the speediest crafter so as you can imagine by this stage excitement was wearing off and panic was setting in. Anyhow, if I go a little quiet on here thats what I will be up to as I can't imagine I will have much time to play with anything else until they're all done.

Anyway enough waffling, as Autumn has well and truly arrived and I must admit it has to be my most favourite season what will all the colours and the smell of leaves in the air, lovely, I couldn't resist making an autumnal themed card. The image is from a fab Sugar Nellie set and the leaves and acorns are stamped images too that were also included in the kit (pop over and have a look as I even think the set on offer at the mo) and all I did was stamp them onto coloured card and cut them out.

I decided to make a card and little matching gift box. You know me I love my little sets. Anyway, I got the idea and link from the very talented Jodi at Inked Inspirations pop over and take a little looksie at her blog its fab and its always full of inspiration.

Another little piccie at a different angle and you can just make out that I've decorated the inside of the card aswell.

Last photo I promise and this shows what the little box looks like when opened up and its a really good size too so you would fit quite a decent sized mittful of choccies in there!!!!

If you're still with me at the end of this long post, thank you for taking the time to pop on here and have a little peek its very much appreciated I promise. I'm going to enter my card and box into a couple of challenges:-

Stamp Something - something with fall colours

Everybody Art Challenge - Autumn

Thank you again for sticking with me, have a great evening all.

Take care

Ann-Marie

xxx

Snowflakes a plenty!!

Hi all, hope you're having a fine Thursday wherever you are. Its not so nice here today, got drenched doing the school run but the upside is I've had a couple of hours this morning to myself to get something crafty done and boy did I enjoy it. I think when my little girls goes full time beginning of November I am going to have to allocate myself a set crafty time as nothing else is going to get done I would quite happily craft all day everyday so I think I'm going to have to be strict with myself (yep good luck with that then!!!).

Well onto my card, I've been wanting to have a go at a tent card for ages and I've finally made one and I love them. They're so easy to do and providing your embellies are not too big they fold quite flat aswell. I wanted to frame the aperture with lots of snowflakes so I die cut and punched some out of pale blue and white glitter card and also punched out some holly leaves and put those around too. The stamped image is of course Sugar Nellie 'Hug in a Mug' and I love this one (I say that about all of them!) and she's coloured with copics. What I 've started to do lately is when I stamp an image I stamp a couple and colour them both at the same time and then try and make two cards out of the papers I've got on the go at the time.

I've distressed my papers with my scissors, inked and added some stickles to the edges and also added some gems to some of the snowflakes and little red ones to the holly leaves for berries. Just another piccie to show the front view.

Papers used are My Minds Eye - A Signature Christmas, Marianne Design dies for the snowflakes, Sugar Nellie image and sentiment is Inkadinkado.

Well I think thats about it really. Got an autumnal card on the go at the mo which all being well should be done soon, so I'll catch you then.

I'm going to enter my card into a few challenges:-

A Spoonful of Sugar - Anything goes

The ABC Challenge - Distressing

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Anything goes

Take care.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Sugar Nellie DT call card

Hi folks,

This will be short from me today as I am getting this card in by the skin of my teeth, will tell you about it all later, but anyway he's my card for the Sugar Nellie DT call, hope you like it.


Will catch up with you later on today folks, its all been a bit of a mad rush here this morning, not even happy with the piccie!!!
Take care,
Ann-Marie
xxx

Long time no see!

Hi everyone, gosh it seems like such a long time since I was on here, but what with the kiddiewinkles going back to school and obviously everything that goes along with that, its been quite hectic. Not sure I'd say things are returning to normal yet as it doesn't feel normal as my youngest has just started 'BIG SCHOOL' (although not full time yet) and it just doesn't feel right, but hey she's loving it so thats the main thing, so I will put on a huge smile and be a brave mummy, yeah right! but at least I managed to hold it together on the first day, although I did go armed with lots of tissues just in case!!!

Well enough of my trials and tribulations, lets move on to my card. This little guy is called 'Pip with Presents' and isnt he just the cutest little chap. I love him to bits and he was really easy to colour. I followed the fabulous sketch over on The Sugar Bowl and look not a flower to be seen and I even managed to get a few buttons on there too!!!

The papers used are from an old pad from Hot off the Press and I'm not kidding you they must be 3 years old at least so about time I used them don't you think and I've even used a bit of dare I say it mirri board on there as well.

Well another piccie showing the front view of my card and lots of stickles and the sentiment is a die cut one from my stash.

Well thats about it from me for tonight. I hope you are all well wherever you are and doing a little of what you love.

Take care.
Ann-Marie
xxx

Lady Tilda

Afternoon everyone, hope you're all having a good start to the week. I'm having a quiet start as the kiddiewinkles are not yet back from nanny's, apparently they are having way too much fun to come home and won't be back until 7 ish tonight. They really enjoyed their weekend in the tent which incidently nanny thought was going to take off last night as it got a tad blustery here LOL.

Anyway, I have been quite productive no housework but plenty of crafting so just wanted to show you my card for today. I've gone all purple, had a hard time colouring this little image the copics I've got in this colour are a little too far apart and they didn't blend as well together as I would have liked so I'm going to have to remedy that and get some sketch markers to fill in the gap I have so after all the blending and everything she ended up a little darker than intended.

Another piccie shows a full on front view and I've tried that effect where you make lots of little dots with your markers around the image but the jury is still out I'm afraid as to whether I actually like it.

Well a quick low down on what I've used - the papers are My Minds Eye Jen Wilson La Paperie, just loving these, obviously Lady Tilda which I got from Sir Stampalot, roses from Wild Orchid Crafts (of course) and another Leone Em branch punch, ribbon is Papermania, sentiment is a die cut one not sure where from and pearls/gems from stash.

Another few challenges I would like to enter with this card (sorta getting the hang of this now):-

Creative Inspirations - fabby sketch

Just Magnolia - Lets get sentimental (got to have a sentiment on your card)

Create 4 Fun Challenge - make a Birthday card

Nearly time for the monsters return so catch you all later.

Take care.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Going Green!!!!

Happy Saturday to you all. Its a rather wet and blustery one down here on the South coast and very quiet as the kiddies are now at nanny's and in fact its so quiet its just not natural LOL!

Here is my card for today, I found this Gorjuss Girl all coloured up and ready to go I must have done her a while ago and forgotten so I thought I would do a quick card with her on. She was coloured in green and brown so found some My Minds Eye papers (Laundry Line I think) that match her perfectly and followed the sketch over on Sketch Saturday but me being me missed the deadline but never mind still a fab sketch to use again.

I wanted to get brown in there somewhere near the image so decided to edge the mat shes sat on with very thin brown ribbon not really sure I like it but its on there now and its not coming off. Roses are all from Wild Orchid Crafts and the green flower under the white rose is a papermania one. The sentiment next to the Gorjuss girl is from a clear set by Hero Arts and the other one is by Inkadinkado. My Leone Em ash branch punch got an outing, a couple of heart charms added to the green ribbon a few pearls and voila one very quick card for me as I'm really not a particularly speedy crafter.

Ta ta from me folks I'm off to watch the XFactor on ITV Player now whilst crafting some more. Ya know every year I say I'm not going to watch another series of it as I never like the ones that win but I just can't resist maybe I'll just catch the audition stages they're always good for a chuckle he he!!
Take care folks and happy crafting wherever you are.
Ann-Marie
xxx

'Silent Night' Tilda

Hello everyone, hope you are all well today and looking forward to the weekend. I know I am the kiddies are going over nanny's for the weekend to stay and weather permitting the tent is going up in the back garden and they are going to have a couple of 'camping' nights and they are sooo looking forward to it. So guess what I have planned - yep you've guessed it uninterupted crafting, crafting and more crafting oh and maybe a trip to Ikea if I can drag hubby there and if he's in a good mood I may even persuade him to stop in Lyndhurst as there's a lovely little craft shop there and I can't pass the door and not call in that would just be rude now wouldn't it!!!

I have another Christmas card to show you today and (at the moment) this is my most favourite Christmas Tilda stamp and I've coloured her in my favourite colour too. Not a great deal to say about it really papers are DCWV from last year - you know if I didn't buy any new Christmas papers this year I would still have enough to last me this Christmas and next!!! I added some red sparkly gems and Tilda's fur on her coat has been stickled. The flower is a die cut as is the sentiment tag. I actually made the little dangly charm thingy and added some red, gold and green jingle bells which are great as they jingle every time the card is moved.

I normally decorate the insides of my cards aswell but never really show that so today I've taken a photo to pop on here.

Thats it from me folks for today we've got the airshow on here in Bournemouth for the next few days and we're lucky as they fly over us so no need to go into the centre of town and the kiddies keep going mad everytime they hear them and shooting outside to investigate and a couple of times we've had near misses as they both dash to see who can get through the back door first - I think someone's going to come a cropper soon!!

Before I go I would like to enter my card into a couple of challenges as follows:-

Charisma Cardz challenges - Die cuts

Just Magnolia - a great sketch

CFN guys, catch ya later.

Take care

Ann-Marie

xxx

Vintage Christmas Tilda

Hello everyone, well its halfway through the week already and not long left of the kiddies summer holiday now the days seem to be going by so quickly. The weather has been plop we have not even managed to get down the beach once in this holiday and there's a little spot in the New Forest we like to go with a little stream for the kiddies to play in and for the past two Tuesdays (nanny's day off) we've planned to go with nanny for a picnic and each time its tipped down so we've ended up having the picnic indoors on a blanket in the lounge. The kiddies think its fun but its so annoying when you can't rely on having a warm sunny day in August!!! Right I promise no more moaning from me.

Today I have another Chrimbly card to show you and I've gone vintage again really enjoying this style at the mo. I was going to do another one draw box for the card to sit on again but I don't know what was the matter with me but everything kept going wrong so I gave up in disgust and just left it as an easel card. I've used one of my favourite Tilda Christmas stamps from last year which I got from Sir Stampalot and coloured her with my copics and you can't see it in the piccie but all her fur on her coat has been stickled. All the papers have been distressed, inked and then stickled too.


I've used papers from last year's My Minds Eye Signature Christmas stack, flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, swirls were made using a small Sizzix die, sentiments are Inkadinkado and of course loadsa pearls. Last photo from a different angle.


I would like to enter my card into a few challenges :-

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Christmas in August

Charisma Cardz Challenges - Easel Card

Craftalicious challenge - Pearls and Swirls

Friday Sketchers - great sketch

Craft your days away challenges - favourite things (My most favourite holiday time)

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - theme of vintage

Right I'm off now my eldest has just locked the conservatory door and locked his little sister out in the back garden and she's wailing like a banshee so I'm off to sort them out - wish me luck!!!!

Take care.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Something different for me!!!

Hello folks, hope you've had a great weekend.

I want to know what's going on with the weather - I'm sure summer is meant to follow spring but I think its gone on a jolly myself so we didn't get up to much. Was meant to go and get the kiddies school shoes but there was no way I was getting drenched and being made bankrupt all in the same day!!!! I mean what is it with the price of school shoes I know I insist on going to Clarks I do think they actually last longer but even so. Anyway thats my moan over as long as my little monsters tootsies are well taken care of thats okay.

So on to my card. Its something a little different for me - firstly shock horror its not an easel card, secondly its relatively clean and simple and thirdly I didn't colour in the stamped image I decided to heat emboss it instead and I'm fairly pleased with the outcome although my fingers are still itching to add further embellies!!!!

Right a quick list of stuff used:- Papermania 'Joyeux Noel' stamp set which is new but old as its unused from last year, stamped and heat embossed with Enchanted Gold embossing powder. Papers used are the Papermania 'Joyeux Noel' ones that match the stamp set again from last year's stash. My Martha Stewart punch got an outing and ribbon and charm is from stash.

I'm going to enter this into a few challenges hopefully:-

Mojo Monday - fab sketch just loved it

Cute Card Thursday - Treemendous (anything with trees on it)

Papertake Weekly - Something old, something new,

something borrowed & something blue

Well really do hope you have a great start to the week peeps, will catch you later sometime in blogland.

Take care

Ann-Marie

xxx

I'm on a roll ...

Well evening folks I've actually managed to make a second Crimbo card and before August is out too!!!

Its going to be short and sweet from me as I've been lent True Blood dvds to watch and I want to curl up with some choccie and have a mammoth watching session. So onto my card, I just love red and black together, not really sure they're Christmas colours but hey I like them.

Its another easel card again, I seem to be addicted to making these just love them, but do find them hard to photograph. Anyways, second photo shows a full on view.

Info on stuff used - image from Whiff of Joy coloured with copics, paper is last year's Papermania "Joyeux Noel", flowers a mixture from Wild Orchid Crafts and Hobbycraft, sentiment is Inkadinkado and ribbon from stash.

I have used the fab sketch from over on Sketch Saturday challenge but not sure whether I've left it to late to enter but I will have a go, either way its a fab one and one I will use again.

Off now to have some choccie take care wherever you are and have a great weekend.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way ...

... oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh, hey!!!!

Well one down and god knows how many more to go, but hey at least I've made a start on my Christmas cards a hell of a lot earlier than last year!!!

I'll keep it short today as OMG I've just checked the time and the kiddies aren't even dressed yet, not that they're complaining. So no waffle and here are the piccies:-

and a front view:-


A quick low down, sketch is from The Sugar Bowl, stamp is 'Jingle Bells' from Sugar Nellie, papers are old ones from last year I think they're Anita's Classic Christmas Blue. Punch border I think is a Fiskars and die cut sentiment is from a pack by Forever Friends from last year.

I'm going to enter this into The Sugar Bowl challenge which this time you can choose your favourite of their sketches.

Well gotta dash I've also just remembered I'm meant to be going to the library so best get my bum in gear.

Take care folks and hope you all have a great start to the week.

Ann-Marie
xxx

Distressed at distressing!!!

Afternoon to all you lovely peeps out there I hope you're having a good week so far. This is the second week of my kiddiewinkles school holiday so I've not had much of a chance to craft and blog or do much hopping around to see what you've all been up to but I must say we're so enjoying not having a routine and just coming and going as we please. Hubby is home today so I've managed to jump on the computer and load my latest card and hopefully manage to enter a few challenges.

I've so wanted to have a go at the 'vintage' look for a while now and this is my first attempt. All you lovely peeps seem to pull this look off beautifully but as the title suggests I find the vintage thing a little harder to achieve. I must say, however, I am fairly pleased with the outcome and will definately be having another go. Well my first piccie shows the overall package of an easel card on top of a one drawer box and the presentation box I made for it to go in and my next piccie shows the card/box a little closer.

My last piccie at a different angle with the drawer open. All the edges have been distressed with my scissors and inked and then stickled. My little maggie was coloured with copics and the white areas of her dress have all been stickled as well and what with all the pearls and gems added my card is well and truly blinged up!

A quick low down on the stash - the papers are all Papermania matted on black cardstock. Little gold charm and pearls from The Works. Sentiments from a pack of diecuts I bought from Lakeland a couple of years ago. Flowers are a mixture from Wild Orchid Crafts and Hobbycraft, ribbon from my stash and my maggie was from Sir Stampalot.

Challenges I am entering this into are:-

Cupcake Craft - distressing

Sunday Sketch and Stamp - fabby sketch

Sir Stampalot challenge - bring on the bling!

Well folks gotta dash the kiddies and hubby are now sending daggers my way as I'm taking too long on the old comp and we promised them we would take them to their favourite play area! Hopefully catch up with you all later and wherever you are hope you're having a great day too.

Take care.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Another wedding!!!!!

Happy Saturday to everyone, I hope you're enjoying some fabulous weather where you are - its hot, hot, hot here in sunny Bournemouth.
Anyway folks I have another little wedding set to show you and this is the last of my wedding commissions for the time being. I have certainly got my moneys worth out of my Greetings Farm 'cake topper' stamp set. Anyway, I was asked for something lilac and cream and this is what I came up with.
The very first piccie shows it all together - the little chocolate box that opens so you can put a gift inside, the bigger box to house the easel card when folded and lastly the easel card itself and then a couple of extra piccies to show you everything close up.
I won't waffle too much about what I did but the papers used were Papermania Capsule collection, I love these papers but I do wish that you had more than just one sheet of each design! The flowers were a mixture of Wild Orchid crafts and some from my local haberdashers. Went a little crazy with the old stickles but not really sure you can see it in the piccies. The brides dress was completely stickled and all the edges and flowers, like I said stickle crazy!!! The sentiment is a die cut from somewhere but can't remember where and the doily lace punch got an outing.
I'm also entering this into a couple of challenges:-

The ABC challenge - Y for you and me

Anyone for Anya - which is 'anything goes'

Right gotta dash now as I have to go collect my little girl from a birthday party, its the first time I've actually left her at one so I'm hoping she enjoyed herself.

Catch ya later guys. Take care wherever you are.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Hello - me again!!

Hi all, me again said I wouldn't be long!
This is the gift box I made to complete the set. I won't bore you with all the details but I will leave you with the fab links where I got the ideas for everything and the stamps and flowers.

Stamping on a candle - Whiff of Joy Tutorials and Inspiration blog

Gift tube for candle - Whiff of Joy Tutorials and Inspiration blog

Gift box - the very talented Kirstens' blog

'Picking Apples' stamp - Funky kits

Roses - Wild Orchid Crafts

Okay folks I'm off to bed now.

Take care

Ann-Marie

xxx

Finished Candle & Gift Box

Hi everyone really hope you've had a fantastic weekend. We had a good one, the weather was a bit plop but that didn't matter. We took the kiddiewinkles to see the latest Shrek movie and had a thoroughly good time.
Anyway, this will be another quick one from me as its even later tonight and I should really get some nap time. This is the candle and gift tube I did to go with my earlier 'Picking Apples' card for my auntie. I've been wanting to do a candle for a long time and I'm really glad I did it was so easy and something I will certainly being doing again. I've also made a tube for it to go in which was a little more fiddly but well worth the effort and finally a gift box to complete the set.
Well for some reason blogger won't let me add another piccie so I'll have to show you the gift box in another new post.
So I'll be back shortly with the gift box.
Take care.
Ann-Marie
xxx

The Sugar Bowl Challenge

Evening folks, this is just a fleeting visit today from me folks as I've just finished a card using the fabby sketch over at The Sugar Bowl and if I'm quick and mr. blogger plays nicely I think I may just slide my card in by the skin of my teeth!!!!

This one was made using the so so gorgeous stamp 'Picking Apples' and it was a dream to colour. I've made this card for my auntie as its her birthday in July and for once I'm ahead of myself and there will be no last minute rush to get one made. I've also decorated a candle with the same image and once I've completed the box for it to go in I'll show it on here.

Well better dash as its now 11.45 p.m. and the challenge ends at 12 midnight so gotta go and enter my card over at The Sugar Bowl.

By for now folks, apologies again for not visiting you all recently, but I hope to get round real soon. Wherever you are I hope you have a good rest of the week and find time to do something crafty.

Take care.
Ann-Marie
xxx

Who said pink was for girls!!!

Hi folks happy Monday to you all! Its a quieter day here as my son has gone back to school but I still have my little girl at home until Wednesday.

Anyways about a week ago I was lucky enough to win a spot prize from Sugar Nellie and I received this cute little fella in the post...Isn't he adorable and such a dream to colour. Anway as soon as I received him I knew I was going to make by youngest brother's birthday card with him and then I saw the fab sketch over at The Sugar Bowl with the added theme of black, white and pink for inspiration. Well I then got thinking that my brother actually likes a little bit of pink in fact his favourite shirt is pink so I thought I could squeeze a little into the card just for an accent. I didn't have any matching buttons so I vaguely remember seeing somewhere about making your own (sorry can't remember where but if I do I will put the link in). All I did was to cut out with my 'bug' some circles in matching colours and then I punched two holes like a button and glazed them and when dry put the layers together. I must admit I quite like them and at least they match. The sentiment was made using peel offs which I happen to have loads of as it was one of the first things I bought when I first started crafting but they don't get used much now!

Papers - DCWV black/white stack

Card stock - Bazzill/papermania

Stamp - Sporty manga from Funky Kits

Medium - copics

Lastly I'm going to enter my card into a couple of challenges:

The Sugar Bowl - Fab sketch and colour theme

Create 4 Fun - Colour theme (black/white + 1 other)

Well folks thats all from me, hope you're all okay and I'll catch up with ya soon.

Take care.

Ann-Marie

xxx

'Forever'

Hi guys, how y'all doing, hope you're all enjoying the extra day off this week with it being a Bank holiday. I've had a surprise day to myself and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Unfortunately I don't have a craft room (yet!!!) so I have to craft at the kitchen table so today I haven't left it except for the necessary coffee and choccy (sshhh!) shouldn't be having any of that but hey there is no-one here to find out. My mum came over last night and asked if she could take the kiddiewinkles back for a sleepover and then an outing today with grandad and hubby is actually working so I'm having a fab time crafting away to my hearts content.

Anyway, I'll make this short as its now 5.30 p.m. and 'The Hunter' will be wanting his food when he comes in shortly, so I'll quickly show you my card for today. Its another wedding one which I was asked to make and I've challenged myself to make a card with all white paper/card just to see if I could do it.

I'm fairly happy with it I suppose, its a little simple compared to those I normally do and theres not a flower in sight!!!I've used pearl paper I've had in my stash for ages and embossed it with the cuttlebug. The Greetings farm 'Cake topper' stamp has been coloured with copics and decoupaged and everything else is from stash. I used the fab sketch from over at Papertake Weekly, just love this one will be using it again. Honestly I don't know what I would do without sketches I don't really class myself as a creative person and without them I think I would be well and truly stumped so thanks to all those folks out there who come up with these wonderful sketches all the time they really do help.
Right I'm going to love you and leave you guys enjoy the rest of the day and hopefully I'll see you soon.
Take care
Ann-Marie
xxx

Cor blimey that was a struggle!!

Hey folks, how ya all doing making the most of the mini bout of sunshine I hope. Unfortunately, the good weather has finally broken down here on the south coast I woke up to rain this morning just in time for May Bank holiday and half term!!!!



Firstly I want to apologise for not being around much recently and I have been such a bad blogger leaving comments as well. As the title suggests the project I have just completed I seem to having been working on for an age I struggled with this one I'm afraid mr mojo packed his bags and headed off for a jolly leaving me trying to finish it. Add to that that my little girl woke up one morning extremely spotty with a bout of 'chicken spots' as she calls it I've found it hard to get going on anything. Anyway I was asked to make something for a 25th wedding anniversary which is Silver so obviously I was asked to use lots of silver. I don't seem to have in my possession many stamps suitable so I went with the Greetings Farm couple again. I was asked to make a four drawer box again and just in case anybody hasn't picked up the link from earlier posts I got the tutorial for this over on Kirsten's blog HERE.

Well I'll cut it short and leave you with some pics and a recipe.

Image - Greetings Farm 'Cake Topper' from Tracy at Dies to Die for

Medium - copics

Papers/Card - Papermani capsule collection, Papermania

exquisite vellum collection and Bazzill

Roses - Wild Orchid Crafts

Ribbon/bling - from stash

Well I've gotta dash as its time to get the gruesome twosome from school. I am going to make a big effort to be a better blogger, so I'll catch up with you later folks.
Take care and enjoy your day.
Ann-Marie
xxx

A Sweet Golden Oldie

Hi y'all hope you are all well, we've been having some gorgeous weather here in Bournemouth on the South Coast and apparently we have a few more days to come so fingers crossed we'll have a beautiful weekend.



Well I've had a day to myself today, both kiddies were at school and I whizzed round and did some token housework and then I settled down and did a spot of crafting. Over on the Sugar Nellie blog HERE they've been showing some older stamps and sharing a little info on how it all began for them and I've really enjoyed reading it. They are also going to give away a voucher for Funky Kits for one lucky person and all you have to do is ink up and make something with an older stamp of theirs. Well I've gone ahead and used my special little 'Daisy' stamp she was one of the first ones I ever bought from them and even with all the new releases coming out from everyone she is still one of my all time favourites. This is what I came up with.



I've used the new sketch over on The Sugar Bowl as well which is a fab one just love it and the theme is punches this time. Well I have a confession to make I was all set to use some border punches but I got carried away and forgot so I went with punched flowers and I had a go at doing that thing where you make them wet and scrunch them up, great fun I can tell you. Pop over there and have a look as you have the chance of winning the new Manga stamps which are coming out.
Well I'm beat folks its past 2 a.m. here so I'm going to love you and leave it. Hope you all have a great Friday and hopefully I'll get to pop in on you all tomorrow and see what busy bees you've all been, I so love being nosey.
Take care
Ann-Marie
xxx

Sugar Nellie - golden oldie

The Sugar Bowl - sketch challenge with added theme of Punches

Papers - Basic grey Origins

Sentiment - Papermania

Image - Sugar Nellie 'Daisy' at Funky Kits

I survived!!!!

Hi ya folks I have made it back I can hold my held high and say I survived, what the hell am I bleating on about, well I am referring to the two week Easter break that my kiddies have just had. They have gone back today and I think they were well and truly ready for it. Now don't get me wrong I love my kiddiewinkles dearly and treasure every moment I get to spend with them but by the middle of the second week I think they had had enough of me and I felt that perhaps I may have been drowning in Transformers toys and build a bear clothes and I think at one point I may even have been lost under a mound of cut out shapes that my darling daughter took great pleasure in cutting out and distributing throughout the house!!!!

Well today I managed to get a card done, but no housework, aah well in the grand scheme of things I weighed up what was best for my sanity and went the crafty route just to have a little me time and I must say it did the trick.

Anyway this is what I came up with and yes its another easel card!!

Papers used - Daisy & Dandelion and Papermania Signature

Sentiment - Daisy & Dandelion

Pearls - From Elaine at Quixotic Paperie (link on my sidebar)

Image - Gorjuss Girls stamp from Funky Kits (link on my sidebar)

I'm going to enter this into a couple of challenges. Firstly Cupcake Craft Challenges which this week is a colour theme of 'Red and White' and also Friday Sketchers which is a fab sketch and one I can see me using again and again.

Right well then catch ya later guys and I hope you are catching some quality crafting time wherever you may be.

Take care

Ann-Marie

xxx

To have and to hold!

Hi folks, before I start just wanted to wish you all a very happy Easter and hope you've had a great start to the Easter weekend.

I'm back again with - let me see - oh yes another easel card and box combo. Sorry guys really hope you are not getting fed up with seeing these, but everyone seems to have asked for one of these lately. Anyway, what I have to share with you today is a wedding one and the only guide I was given was their colour theme of dusky pink so this is what I came up with.

A piccie of the card/box and the box I made for it to go in.

Front view piccie and finally a side view.

I used the gorgeous Greetings Farm "Cake Topper" stamp and followed the Mojo Monday sketch. The groom was coloured using copics and decoupaged and the bride was paper pieced onto gemstone cardstock so its nice and shimmery and then decoupaged. Of course I've used a ton of stickles on everything from the flowers to the dress to the box it comes in. Papers used are the new Papermania "Confetti" range. Cardstock used is Bazzill and flowers are from Hobbycraft. The charm is a bargain from the £1 shop - six in a pack for yes you've guessed it a £1.

Well thats it from me today everyone. I don't need to do anymore of these card/box combos for a little bit so hopefully I will now have time to play a little. I'm going to shock myself and enter some more challenges with this one as for once I haven't missed the deadline with them!!!!

Papertake weekly challenge - open theme

Colour create challenge - choice of pastels

Mojo Monday - sketch

Catch ya later guys and hope you don't pig out on too much choccy. I'm going to be good and pace myself NOT!!!!!

Take care

Ann-Marie

xxx

Yep you guessed it another Easel card!!

Hiya folks hope you are all having a fabby weekend, weather a big dodgy here so we're having a "just chillin" kind a day. The kids are doing a bit of everything - playing their games, jigsaws and my little angel is having a fab time with pens, paper and yikes scissors! Im blog hopping and hubby is tinkering with the light fitting in the kitchen so come tea time I may be cooking in the dark!!!! Anyway, on to my card and as the title suggests yes its another easel card on top of a four drawer box. Again its another one I have been asked to make but for a girl's 21st Birthday this time and the only stipulation was to use brown, pink and cream.

I used last weeks Friday Sketchers sketch but missed the deadline! The papers I've had for so long I can't remember what they are. My flowers are from Hobbycraft. I went a bit wild with the old Stickles its on the flowers and box as well as the card. My Miss Anya is coloured with my beloved copics I'm slowly getting there with them but I still end up putting a few images in the bin before I get one I'm 100% happy with. The key charm is actually from a pack of six I bought from the pound shop.

This is a side view of my card/box. Now you all know I'm photographically challenged so for me this photo aint half bad!

Lastly I'm going to enter it into the Create 4 Fun challenge which this week is a colour recipe of brown, cream and pink and also Cute Card Thursday which is Dimensions.

Thats it from me peeps off to do a bit of blog hopping and wherever you are I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Take care
Ann-Marie
xxx

Just Peachy!

Hello everyone I hope you're having a good weekend. We've done the rounds today and visited both my mum and MIL so tomorrow I don't have to go anywhere and you never know I may even get breakfast in bed or a lie in (now we all know thats not gonna happen!!).

Anyway, stop waffling girl and just get on with it - so without further ado this is my little effort for my mum tomorrow and I did the same for mil (so no-one can accuse me of favouritism!!).


Yes I know its another easel card but I think I may have mentioned once or twice that I'm really into doing these at the minute. Anyway, my stamp is obviously a Magnolia its such a pretty image just love it and coloured with copics. Paper is DCWV and cardstock is Bazzill. Pearls and other stuff is from stash. Sentiment was actually a freebie stamp from a magazine which I had forgotten I had.
Well I'm having withdrawal symptoms as I've been out all day and not had a chance to hop around and see what everyone's been up to so I'm off now for a little blog hopping. I hope you all enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Take care folks.
Ann-Marie
xxx

Black & White with a dash of red!

Afternoon folks happy Wednesday to you all and what a glorious sunny day it is here feels really spring like although the wind is a bit nippy still.

Thought I'd show you another four drawer box and easel card I made following Kirsten's tutorial again - if you fancy a go the link to her blog is here. So love making these at the moment. Gone with a black and white theme with a splash of red. This one is a commission for a 40th birthday so I hope they like it! It always worries me doing commissions just in case its not what they want but I didnt really have any guidelines for this one so I had free reign!!

I used a Whiff of Joy stamp, coloured with my beloved copics and cut out with nestabilities. Cardstock used is Bazzill, paper is from Papermania Capsule collection and the rest is from stash. Used a sketch from Friday Sketchers and you can't see it on the piccies but I've actually used eyelets unders the bows and the ribbon is actually threaded through them.
Anyway, thats about it from me today folks. Still have my mother's day cards to do yet but at least its Thursday tomorrow and both my kiddies are at school all day so I should get some time to play.
Hope you're having a great day whereever you are and enjoying some spring like weather!
Take care,
Ann-Marie
xxx

Flower Soft Easel Card

Hi guys I know its been a while again and I am such a terrible blogger please forgive me. I have been crafting but doing my usual I end up doing it till the early hours of the morning and then forgetting to photograph and upload my finished card! I have a major easel card addiction going on at the moment and simply cannot make enough of them I think they are fab fab fab!

Anyway I'm beginning to waffle so I'll cut this short here is my finished project which I was asked to make. I used flower soft to make the urn of flowers. Now me and flower soft sort of have a love hate relationship. I so love the concept of it and when I see others use it it looks amazing yet somehow I just seem to get in a mess but this time I must say I'm quite happy with the outcome.

I also made a four drawer box which the card sits on top of and have made a few of these recently too. I was quite surprised how easy I found it and how quick it came together. I got the tutorial for this box from the very talented Kirstens amazing blog here and the link will take you directly to the tutorial but do take the time to have a browse around as there are other tuts on there and her creations are simply stunning.
Behind is the box I made for it to go in. Papers used were K & Co, Martha Stewart punch and bazzill card stock.
Heres another view
Anyway, thats it from me folks. Thanks for popping by and any comments you may wish to leave are so greatly appreciated I love to know what you guys think.
Take care,
Ann-Marie
xxx