If you don't believe, you won't receive!!!

Just stopping by today to say a very quick hi to you all and to pop on my card that I made for The Sugar Bowl challenge.  Yes I've left it very late again but I'm sliding in at the very last minute!

 

I won't beat around the bush today, so here it is:-

 

When I was a rummaging among my stamps I came across this little fella and would you believe he had never been inked up.  Yes I know terrible isnt it and he's such a cutie pie too and lovely to colour.  He's been coloured with distress markers and the papers are old Papermania ones although I seem to have covered most of them up! 

 

The normal close up.

 

Okay not much waffle from me today, I've got conservatory windows to be cleaning before the decs go up at the weekend.  Yes I'm nutty but every year my windows and all those other niggling little jobs like skirting boards etc have to be cleaned before I will even entertain putting them up!

 

All being well I should be back soon.  Take care folks and happy crafting.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

A Christmas Carolling

Hello all, I hope you have been enjoying your weekend.  My little girl is on a Beavers outing to Paultons Park today.  Apparently it is a huge gathering of all the beaver groups in the area and around 2,500 are converging there so all I can say is I'm glad I've not picked today to go there!!!.  She hasn't got good weather for it as its piddling down but she'll get wet anyway on the rides.  So as its quiet here at the moment I thought I would take the opportunity of jumping on and showing you the card I have just finished. 

 

Okay so I've used a Lili of the Valley image all coloured with copics.  The Basic Grey papers 'Jovial' have had another outing I do so love these.  The poinsettia is my usual Marianne Design die and the edges have been inked up with a cherry blossom from WOC in the centre. 

 

A little side view.  As usual the inside has been decorated to compliment the front. 

 

Lastly a close up of the adorable image.  I've added glamour dust to the fur trims and snow and added liquid pearls as the falling snow.

 

Challenges I would like to enter:-

 

Bunny Zoes  -  winter

 

The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop  -  dies/punches, ribbon and charms (i'm hoping bells count as charms!)

 

Papertake Weekly  -  ribbon and pearls

 

Sketch Saturday  -  great sketch

 

Sweet Stampin  -  flowers

 

Stamptacular Sunday  -  winter bliss

 

The Crafty Pad  -  add some glitter

 

Lili's Little Fairies  -  anything goes

 

Okay since starting this post my peace has now been shattered as hubby and son are back from their boys outing to the cinema to see Skyfall so no doubt they'll be wanting their tea!!

 

Enjoy the rest of your day and happy crafting.

 

Take care.

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

 

My first snowman shaker card

Hello everyone and a big yeh its Friday no school run for two days and if we wear the kiddies out enough a possible lie in!!!

 

Just popped in to show you my first snowman of the season and he's so adorable too and I made him into a shaker card.  I can be quite picky about snowmen and Father Christmas stamps.  This Whiff of Joy stamp is the only snowman I possess and as yet I have no Father Christmas stamps.  I've got a picture in my head of what it should look like but haven't found one yet that lives up to it!

 

Anyway, enough waffle here's my card:-

 

I used a Whiff of Joy image and would normally have coloured him in icy blues/greys but fancied a change so he's been coloured in traditional colours with Distress Markers.  Papers are an old Anita's Classic Christmas red paper pad.  So far this year I have not bought any new Christmas papers (well except digi papers but they don't count right?!?!).  They've all been matted on to kraft and the shaker frame is made from kraft also.  Didn't use glitter inside the shaker but went for little tiny stars as I find glitter especially the extra fine stuff can stick to the acetate.

 

 

A bit of a side view.  Flowers are a mixture from stash and WOC.  The pine cones are some we found on our trip to the park the other day and the branches are a Tim Holtz bigz die.  The gorgeous pearl swirls are from my candy box I won from Laine.

 

Lastly a little close up.  Sorry the picture is not that good but I kept getting shine from the acetate when taking the photo.  

 

Challenges I would like to enter:-

 

Bunny Zoes  -  winter

 

Papertake Weekly  -  ribbons and pearls

 

Sweet Stampin  -  snow people

 

Stamping Sensations  -  traditional christmas

 

Have a great weekend folks, good luck if you're out Christmas shopping but if not I hope you manage to sneak in some crafty time.  I may get the Christmas decs down on Sunday depends on whether I manage to get the inside of my downstairs windows cleaned in time.

 

Take care.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

Silent Night

Happy Tuesday to everyone I hope you are all well.  Its really miserable here today all dark and rainy so I have no intention of venturing out the door until 3pm when I have to do the school run.  How are you all doing with your Christmas preparations? I have a few cards done but as for presents I have the sum total of one best get my behind in gear me thinks! 

 

Anyway, I wanted to show you my latest card so here are some piccies:-

 

I used a Magnolia image this time and she has been coloured with distress markers and thankfully this one didn't end up in the bin!  Now would you believe the colour I used on her wings is the same as the lighter colour on her dress but once I'd added stickles it changed it.  The music sheet behind is the 'Silent Night' Magnolia stamp.  Papers used were some old Hot off the Press ones.  I decided to use a larger doily behind but had the great idea of glittering the whole thing first now that was messy!  My die cut heart is one from a set of three Marianne Design dies and I glittered that as well. 

 

Added some lace and ribbon, twine and little silver bells, a die cut message with wreath charm and dirtied it all up with Tim Holtz walnut stain.  Flowers were a mixture of Prima and WOC.

 

Last piccie is a close up of the adorable image and I think you can just make out the sparkly doily and heart.

 

Challenges I would like to enter:-

 

The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop  -  die cut/punches, ribbon and charms

 

Charisma Cards  -  keep your cool

 

Lovely Hanglar and Sweet Magnolia  -  dies or punches

 

The Crafty Pad  -  its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

 

Sparkles Christmas Challenge  -  contemporary colour scheme

 

The Ribbon Girl blog  -  colour challenge Lavender

 

Catch up with you all later.  I hope you manage to get some crafty time in.

 

Take care.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

Knitted with Love

Hi guys I hope you are having a good start to the week.  I know I know you probably didn't expect to see me back for a day or two but I made a card for The Sugar Bowl challenge and I was determined not to leave it till the very last minute to enter this time, so here it is.

 

I used the adorable 'Knitted with Love' stamp and she can be found here coloured with copics.  Used the fab sketch at The Sugar Bowl and kinda followed the optional colour scheme.

 

My Martha Stewart branch punch got a major working out and I layered it up around the image.

 

Lastly a close up of the sweet image.

 

Okay folks so now I'm sat in my little crafty abode thinking I want to colour up another image but really need to get the hoover out.   I wonder how quickly I can whip round and make the  place presentable, one dose of speed cleaning coming right up!!!!

 

Take care.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

'Rockin around'

Hi everyone, just a quick pop in today to show you another Christmas card I've just finished.  I'll keep it brief today as a little behind.

 

I used a Belles n Whistles image ' Rockin Around' coloured with copics.  Papers are a download from Nitwits all matted onto kraft.  A fab Memory Box die and I added little clear gems, a Whimsy corner and Magnolia Doohickey border die.  Sentiments are old die cuts and poinsettias are Hero Arts with twinklets.

  

 

A side view.  The inside has been decorated to compliment the front.

 

Final picture is a close up of the image.

 

Challenges I would like to enter:-

 

Papertake Weekly  -  anything goes

 

Sweet Sketch Wednesday  -  fab sketch

 

Totally Papercrafts  -  cute and girly

 

Sweet Stampin  -  anything goes

 

Okay, time for me to dash.  Catch you all soon.

 

Take care and happy crafting.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

 

 

Sparkly Tilda

Hello everyone and happy Thursday to you and its nearly the weekend so a big yeh there and I think the kiddies are looking forward to it too they're a bit tired this week they always are the first week back after a break.

 

Anyway moving on to why I popped on here I have another card to share with you all and its a Crimbly one - no surprise there then!!!

 

My yummy papers are Dovecraft 'let it snow' and they are all glittery.  Now these papers could be from last year or even the year before and are a prime example of how I can't bear to cut into gorgeous papers.  I've added a punched border around the edge for a change and the sentiment is an old Anna Griffin die cut.

 

 

I've used a Tilda again and would you believe that this little beautie had not even been inked up before now how bad is that. Anyway, slightly different this time I normally use Memento tuxedo black to stamp with but this time went with London Fog and I sort of like it - well I don't dislike it I suppose its just different it certainly gives a softer look. Again she has been coloured with copics.  I have added a mixture of Twinklets and Glamour Dust all around the edge of the circle and all the flowers have been Glamour Dusted and edges of the papers Stickled so this ones really sparkly!!

 

Challenges I would like to enter:-

 

The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop  -  diecuts/punches, ribbon, charms

 

Papertake Weekly  -  anything goes

 

ABC Christmas Challenge  -  vibrant colours

 

Sketch Saturday  -  fab sketch

 

Sweet Stampin  -  all that glitters

 

Lovely Hanglar & Sweet Magnolia  -  girls only

 

The Crafty Pad  -  anything goes

 

Sparkles Christmas Challenge  -  contempory colour challenge

 

The Ribbon Girl  -  add sparkle

 

Okay its about time I went to bed now so I shall wish you all goodnight and take care whereever you are.

 

Happy crafting.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

I'm on a roll!!

Hello my friends happy Guy Fawkes night to you.  Its a beautiful night for it here all chilly willy so you can wrap up all snuggly and warm and have hot choccy and marshmallows mmmm...........We're not out tonight we celebrated on Saturday and went to an organised event at Luke's school which was great fun.

Anyway as the title would suggest I really am on a roll with my Christmas cards I still don't think I will have enough but it will certainly take a little of the pressure off closer to the big day.  I tell you I am so so excited I think I'm probably worse than the kids and the decs will be making their way down from the loft in the next 2 or 3 weeks, can't wait.

 

 

I'm back with the Maggies again today and I've done a bit of masking and gone with a non traditional colour scheme this time.  I'm still learning with masking it took a few attempts to get it right.  I showed this one to hubby and he just said "well thats lovely but why is she sat on a fireplace? to which I replied she's Tilda thats what she does doh!!! and I think I must have given him a filthy look because he then just scuttled off! 

 

A close up of the images coloured with copics.  She's been sufficiently Stickled and I've added tiny red gems for berries on the holly.

 

Lastly a side view.  The fabulous snowflakes die at the top is a Tim Holtz die and was in the gorgeous candy I won from Laine and this has been on my wish list for so long so thank you Laine big hugs.  The poinsettia is my usual Marianne Designs die and the swirl is Magnolia doohickey.  Papers are My Mind's Eye 'Wonderful Winter' and are lush all glittery and sparkly.  Sentiment is from Whimsy stamps.

 

Challenges I would like to enter:-

 

My Mums Craft shop  -  bold and bright

 

Crafty Ribbons  -  Christmas

 

Marvelous Magnolias  -  anything goes

 

The Sketchy Challenge  -  fab sketch

 

Sweet Stampin  -  all that glitters

 

Lovely Hanglar & Sweet Magnolia  -  girls only

 

The Crafty Pad  -  anything goes

 

Sparkles Christmas Challenge  -  contemporary colour combo

 

Okay must dash going to spend a bit of time with the hubster don't want him feeling neglected and all and when he's gone to bed I can scoot back in my craft room he he!

 

Take care and happy crafting.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edwin for a change!

Hello and happy Friday to you I hope you're having a good one.  

 

A quick post from me today as my youngest is a tad full on today I don't think she's stopped talking since the minute she woke up and I think my ear is about to fall off he he!!!  So I thought I would quickly pop on here and show you my latest card and then I've got some sparkly bling stickers to make with her.

 

 

I used the Magnolia night scene and Edwin for a change all coloured with copics.  For some reason I really struggled with the background this time I used so much ink trying to get the sky right I'm still not 100% happy with it but I'm not tinkering with it anymore!

 

A bit of a side view.  I've decorated the inside just to compliment the front.  Most of the flowers are from WOC with just a couple from stash.  I've used my Cheery Lynn Designs fanciful flourish and added a few pearls.

 

A close up of the images.  I used some liquid pearls for the falling snow and glamour dust on the trees, snow and star.  Papers are my old Hot off the Press pad.  I'm trying to be hard on myself and use some of my papers up as I can't keep hoarding it all I'll just run out of space and then I'll have a reason to buy some new ones - see there is some method in my madness!!!!

 

Challenges I would like to enter:-

 

Papertake Weekly  - fab sketch

 

Marvelous Magnolias  -  anything goes

 

Magnolia Down Under  -  birthstone (mine is Garnet for January)

 

Simply Magnolia  -  sparkles and shine

 

The Crafty Pad  -  Christmas is coming

 

Okay I'm going to dash as I keep getting a little visit from some impatient little girl whose dying to make something blingy.

 

Take care wherever you are and happy crafting.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

 

 

 

O'Christmas Tree, O'Christmas Tree ....

Hello folks hope you are all keeping well and toasty warm.  Gosh hasn't it turned chilly not that I mind really much prefer crisp days to wet soggy ones, the only problem is my little craft room at the moment has no heating and there are only so many layers I can put on before it becomes difficult to move.  I got such a look from hubby the other day when I emerged from my room looking like I was going on a trek across the Antartic that it did make me chuckle!!!

 

Anyway enough waffle I've another Christmas card to show you today.  This one sort of made itself really and don't you just love it when that happens.

 

I've used a Lili of the Valley stamp and coloured it with copics.  Again the flock has made an appearance for the fur on her coat and hat and the snow has been glamour dusted.  The papers used are Basic Grey 'Jovial' and right now I am kicking myself that I didn't buy more than one of these pads last year as its seriously lush, deep and full of warmth, just love it.

 

The inside of my card has been decorated to compliment the front.  The fab corners are a Whimsy die I got from The Stamp Basket.  The poinsettia is from Hobbycraft, believe it or not the berries are from B & Q and the rest is from stash.

 

A close up of the cute stamp from Lili of the Valley and you can just make out the flock and seriously I want a hat like hers I love hats and my little girl is just the same.

 

Challenges I would like to enter:-

 

Crafty Ribbons  -  Christmas

 

Basic Grey  -  Anything goes

 

The kiddiewinkles have gone to visit nanny today so they will be spoilt rotten and are back tomorrow in time for Halloween.  Hubby is at home today and we were going to take the time to do the last tidying of the garden before winter, but hell we've decided to just chill instead it will still be there tomorrow.

 

Anyway before I go I just wanted to say my thoughts are with those battling the terrible weather across the pond I wish them safe.  Thank you for popping in to see me, take care folks wherever you are.

 

Happy Crafting

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

 

 

A blue blue Christmas !!!!

I think that was an Elvis song wasn't it but its stuck in my head now so no doubt I'll be humming it all blinking day!

 

Well I hope your week has been going well so far.  Not long and it will be the weekend and its half term next week so no making up of lunch boxes yeh!!! Its not a hard job but its one I really dislike daft really isnt it.  I'm hoping the weather stays fairly dry so we can have leisurely walks in the crispy leaves and go hunting for pine cones to decorate for Christmas.

 

Anyway, I have a Sugar Nellie card to share with you today and as the title suggests its a blue one.

 

Its such a sweet image and she's been coloured with copics.  Her wings have been stickled and the fur trims have been flocked again.  The two large snowflakes are a Marianne Design die and I glued and covered them in Twinlets.  The silver ones are just from stash.

 

 

A bit of a side view.  The papers are really old from a Hot off the Press pad.  I've used my Martha Stewart big border punch which has lovely scroll hearts but I've just realised I've ended up covering most of it up!

 

A little close up of the image and you can just see the Twinklets on the snowflakes it really adds great texture.

 

Challenges I would like to enter

 

The Sugar Bowl  -  Fab sketch + optional extra WET WET WET

 

ABC Christmas Challenge  -  U up to you

 

Crafty Ribbons  -  Christmas

 

Stampalot Challenge  -  Punches

 

It's my little girl's 7th birthday tomorrow so I'm off now to do some wrapping up.  We've got her a Karaoke machine as she's always singing and dancing - it remains to be seen whether that was a really good idea!!!!!!

 

Take care folks and catch up with you soon.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

A little Lili of the Valley Christmas

Hello everyone, I hope you all enjoyed your weekend and have had a great start to the week.  I spent most of yesterday making a lighthouse with my daughter and you should have seen the state of us covered in PVA glue and tissue paper we were.  Not a great deal left to do apart from painting it but we had great fun.

 

Anyway, I have another Christmas card to show you today with a Lili of the Valley image. 

 

I think I'm in love with this image its so pretty and she was a doddle to colour.  She's been coloured with copics and I've used flock with glitter for the fur, glamour dust as the snow and liquid pearls as the falling snow.

 

The paper is Papermania 'Classic Christmas' from last year.  I love this paper my only peeve is the fact that there was only one sheet of each design.  The die cut message is from the decoupage die cut pack from the same collection. 

 

A bit of a close up of the image; she really is adorable.  You can also see my poinsettia as well which is a Marianne Design die.  This time I used vellum instead of card/paper and I think it looks better somehow more 'delicate' so now I have a use for all that vellum I accumulated way back when I started crafting and never knew what to do with it! 

 

Challenges I would like to enter:

 

Lili's Little Fairies  -  anything goes

 

Cute Card Thursday  -  got glitter

 

Totally Papercrafts  -  Christmas 9 wks and counting

 

Okay thats me done for today. I'm in the process of colouring up another image so I should be back pretty soon.

 

Take care and happy crafting.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

A Bildmalarna Christmas!!

Hello everyone, happy Saturday to you.  I hope you are having a great weekend.  Its rather dank and miserable here but we are all snuggled inside having a sort of lazy and mooching around kind of day.

 

I've made another Christmas card.  I do hope you are not bored with seeing them it seems to be all I am making at the moment, not that I'm complaining I just luurrrve Christmas I can't help it I'm just a big kid where its concerned.

 

Anyway, here it is.

 

 

I've used two of last year's Bildmalarna stamps and coloured them completely with Prisma pencils.  I know I used a sketch from somewhere but for the life of me cannot think where.

 

A bit of a close up.

 

A bit of a side view where you can see the lush flowers from WOC.  The papers were a Hot off the Press freebie pack from a magazine all matted on to kraft.  The fence and birdhouse are Marianne Design dies and the fern type leaves behind the flowers are a Tim Holtz die.  The ribbon is raffia and really easy to make a bow with.

 

Challenges:-

 

Totally Papercrafts  -  Christmas 9 weeks and counting!

 

Okay I'm off to get a little crafting done as I doubt I will get anywhere near my craft stuff tomorrow.  My little girl's homework is to make a lighthouse as they have been reading some story at school.  Not too bad I hear you say, well I thought that too until she told me she wanted a working light in it, real sand/stones, a little cottage and possibly some sheep on it as well - she doesn't want much does she!?!?!  Papermache comes to mind I can just see the mess we are going to get into!

 

Take care folks and happy crafting.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

Still out of my comfort zone ....

..........but coping! Well I've stopped hyperventilating at least!!!  Anyway, happy Sunday to you folks I hope your day is as beautiful where you are as it is here.  We have glorious sunshine but with a chill in the air and I just love it.  Just the weather for a stroll and then home for a hot chocolate and marshmallows mmmm.

Well I've popped in to show you my latest.  There is something to be said for clean and simple I can knock out at least four cards to my normal one.  I've found this style doesn't come easy to me but its a challenge and I'm enjoying that.  Here's my card:-

 

The stamp I used is from a Papermania set I bought last year.  I stamped with black ink and then used black sparkle embossing powder which is gorgeous when heated up.  White card matted with black and red mirri, a few gems, some shiny red cord and its done!  Very simple I know but I like it.

 

Its quite quiet here at the moment, hubby is working, my son is out playing football, my little girl is practising her first aid for Beavers tomorrow night so I'm going to grab half an hours crafting before the madness that is teatime begins!

 

Take care folks and happy crafting.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

Out of my comfort zone!

Yes I am so far out of my comfort zone I think I may need therapy! Sometimes thats a good thing right!?! not the need for therapy but to be outside of ones comfort zone.  Well the other evening something strange came over me and I decided to have a go at clean and simple.  I have tons of die cuts and toppers I have collected but never used especially since I got into stamping so I thought this would be a good place to start and to use up some stash. 

 

Well here we go my attempt at clean and simple.  It probably has more on it than some would use but still a hell of a lot less than I would normally adorn my cards with.  

 

Its not a very good piccie but the die cuts are actually little pearl and silver Christmas baubles which I have matted on to some gun metal shimmer card.  The thin black and silver ribbon is left over from last year but I love it so may need to get some more of that.  Its been used on top of some dark silver sparkly ribbon I found in Wilkinsons for wrapping presents.  Its quite stiff so not easy to tie in a bow but its a fab colour.

 

A bit of a side view.  The baubles have been raised with 3d foam and I couldn't resist but had to put on a few pearls.

 

I hope you like my attempt.  It was quite refreshing actually and I have enjoyed it and have a few more C & S in the pipeline.  I was thinking of having a table at my son's Christmas fayre this year so thought a mixture of fussy and C & S would be a wise choice. 

 

I would like to enter this card into the Less is More Challenge which is Silver this week.  Not really sure whether I qualify as there is a lot on my card, but I hope I do.

 

Okay I'm off now.  I hope you are all having a good week so far.

 

Take care and happy crafting.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx