Two Turtle Doves

Hello everyone from a rather cold and extremely soggy Bournemouth.  I was intending to have this post up earlier than 11 o'clock this evening but with one thing and another I am now only just finishing it off.

So my post today is my Dies to Die for DT card and is still a little Christmas inspiration for you.  I have a couple of cards left to make but these are my 'special' cards to close family and they always seem to get done last for some reason.  Anyway, I do love making criss cross cards so that is what I did in fact I think all of my special cards will be this year.  I used the very cute 'Two Turtle Doves' and used my copics to colour it in.

Image:  'Two Turtle Doves' by Whimsy Stamps

Sentiment:  Whimsy 'Tis the Season Notables 5'

Papers:  Maja 'Vintage Winter'

Dies:  Cheery Lynn 'Spring Oval Frame'

Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink pad

Lace with pearl centre

'White Opal' Liquid Pearls

 

I'm so in love with these papers they are divine and I found it extremely difficult to cut into them I must say.  The inside sleeve is quite plainly decorated with just a part image stamped into the corner and a sentiment.  The pull out tab is in fact a Cheery Lynn oval die which I have just cut in half and attached. 

 

A close up and isn't she lovely.  I added some Stickles for the snow and some Liquid Pearls for the falling snow.

Copic List

 

Face/Body:  E000, E21, E11, R20

Hair:  E41, E43, E49

Clothes:  B93, B95, B97, B99/R32, R35, R37, R39

E41, E43/G20, G24, G28

Bird Cage/Doves:  C1, C3, C5, C7/W00, W3, W5

 

Challenges I would like to enter:

 

Papertake Weekly  -  last Christmas .... card of the year

 

Simon Says Stamp  -  bling it on

 

Sweet Stampin  -  last minute Christmas

 

Okay time for me to dash I've got some Snowman Soup bags to tie so my youngest can take them into school with her and I'm already in her bad books as they weren't ready to go this morning!

 

Take care,

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'B' for Bows, Blue and Bling over at The ABC Challenge

Hello everyone, happy Sunday to you.  A quick pop in from me as we're busy bees today.  Some visiting to do this afternoon, but first I have red velvet cupcakes to make and add cream cheese frosting to, then back home for my little one's choir service at the church this evening.  Looking forward to that as it will be all festive and lit with candles - beautiful!

Anyway, its the 15th which means its time for a new challenge over on The ABC Challenge and we've moved on to the letter B so that's 'B' for Bows, Blue and Bling.   Our lovely sponsor this time is Stamp Fairy and I got to use 'George and Cocoa'.

Okay so here's my card and he was real easy to colour with my copics and of course I had to add a little Stickles for the snow.

Image: Stamp Fairy 'George and Cocoa'

Medium:  Copics

 

Copics List

 

Snowman:  B0000, B000, B00/E02, E08/B02, B04, B05

Mug:  B02, B04, B05/E41, E43/RV00, R81

 

Okay folks, thanks for popping in to my little blog.  Gotta dash now as the cakes won't make themselves and my sister will be most disappointed if they're not forthcoming when we arrive this afternoon!

 

Take care,

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

Its 'Party Time' over at Whimsy Stamps Challenge

Hello again my lovelies how's your day been going?  We are good here, getting all festive and my home is beginning to look a little like Santa's Grotto - I'm sure I didn't have this many decs last year.  My tree alone has so many lights on it I'm sure it could land a plane!

 

Anyway, it's that time of the month again when it's the rubber team's turn to share their creations for the Whimsy Challenge which this month is 'Party Time'.  How easy is that folks especially at this time of year.  Just before Christmas the family and close friends usually have a little gathering to celebrate the season, get everyone in the festive spirit and generally enjoy a few glasses of warm cider, mulled wine, mince pies and some good company.  So I took the challenge theme literally and thought it would be fun to make some invites.   

 

I had a little think and decided one of the newest Elisabeth Bell's images called 'Apple Cider Jubilee' was perfect for the job.  I didn't want anything fussy and it had to be relatively quick and easy to make so went with CAS and look no designer paper!  So here come a couple of piccies:-

 

Image:  'Apple Cider Jubilee' by Elisabeth Bell for Whimsy Stamps

Medium:  Copics

 

A quick close up.  What an adorable image and I love the hair.

Copics List

 

Face/Body:  E000, E21, E11, R20

Hair:  E31, E33, E35, E37, E29

Clothes:  R32, R35, R37, R39/G20, G24, G28/E31, E33, E35, E37/E41, E43

Cat/Cup/Plate:  E41, E43

Stool:  Y11, Y15, Y28/W00, W3, W5, W7

 

Okay, time for me to love you and leave you now folks.  Don't forget to pop across to the Whimsy Challenge blog and join in there are some four prizes up for grabs this month and you got to be in it to win it my friends you don't even have to use a Whimsy Stamp to enter but of course we sure do love it when you do.

 

Take care and happy crafting.

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

 

 

Sending you Happy Blessings

Hello folks, happy Wednesday to you.  Its a glorious day here if a tad on the chilly side but no rain so that's a bonus in my books. 

 

Just a quick pop in to share with you my Wednesday inspiration for Dies to Die for and its not a Christmas card!!!!

 

I had to make a birthday card for my sister so decided to use 'Anya Celebrates' by The Greetings Farm.  She's such a cutie pie and very versatile I think and I like the fact that she's quite large for a change.  I've coloured her in copics and cut her out before putting her on my card.  So here's my card:-

 

Image:-  The Greetings Farm 'Anya Celebrates'

Sentiment:  The Greetings Farm 'Anya Celebrates'

Papers:  Prima 'The Optimist'

Die:  Joy Crafts Butterfly Border

Lace with Pearl Centre

 

I'm loving these papers, they're gorgeous so I don't think they're going to stray too far from my desk!

 

 

A closer look at Anya.  She really was a delight to colour too.  The sentiment is one of two that also comes with Anya.

Copic List

 

Face/Body:  E000, E21, E11, R20

Hair:  C1, C3, C5, C7, 100

Clothes:  R81, R83, R85/C1,C3, C5, C7, 100

Present:  RV00, R81/BG11, BG13, BG15, BG49

 

Right, gotta dash but do pop back later as I have another card to share with you today.  Yep that's right two cards in one day - I think that's a first for me!!!!

 

Take care,

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

 

Whimsy's 24 Days of Christmas Event - Day 6

 

 Hi everyone and welcome to our ...

24 Days of Christmas Event

 To thank you all for your continued support of Whimsy Stamps, the Whimsy design team are holding a fun Christmas event on the Whimsy blog in the run up to Christmas!

Every day from 1st to 24th December, a member of the design team will be sharing a brand new Whimsy holiday creation on the Whimsy blog.  Included in these daily posts will be a LETTER.  Visit us every day, make a note of each letter and keep them safe.  Once you have collected all 24 letters, you should be able to unscramble them and make a 4 word phrase.  Email your phrase to whimsystampscontests@gmail.com by 31st December 2013, and if you've guessed correctly, you will be entered into the draw to win a fantastic GRAND PRIZE! 

 

 But that's not all!  We will also be running some fun SPOT PRIZES throughout the entire event.  The prizes could be hidden either on the Whimsy blog or on our design team member's blogs, so be sure to leave a comment both on the Whimsy blog and on our DT's blog posts each day to be in with a chance to win!

 

So let me show you my creation for the event.  I thought I would make a criss cross card for a bit of a change and I decided to use the gorgeous 'Iris' by Wee Stamps.  I have coloured her up in my favourite copic combo for reds.

 

Image:  'Iris' by Wee Stamps for Whimsy

Medium:  Copics

Papers:  Papermania 'Home for Christmas'

 

A little piccie to show you the pull out slip.

 

Lastly the usual close up.  She is adorable and really very versatile as she looks lovely all in red for Christmas but you could really use her for any occasion. 

Copic List

 

Face/Body:   E000, E21, E11, R20, R81

Hair:  W00, W3, W5, W7, 100

Clothes:  R32, R35, R37, R39/W00, W3, W5, W7

Wings:  W00, W3/R000, R32

 

Okay that's all from me.  Don't forget folks you need to pop across to the Whimsy blog to get your letter for the day and remember leave comments both here and also over on the Whimsy blog to be eligible to win!

 

Festival jollities to you all and I hope you enjoy your weekend.

 

Take care,

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Good morning everyone and its Wednesday so my turn to share with you my DTDF dt make.  Are you all organised for Christmas or are you like me and the panic is beginning to set in and the term 'headless chicken' comes to mind!!! Well I thought I would make little tree gifts this year and after having a little think decided to go down the milk carton route. 

So here is my dinky little fellow (its only 9 cm x 4 cm) all decorated with the gorgeous papers from Simple Stories 'December Documented' and edged with Tim Holtz walnut stain distress ink.  I stamped a sentiment from Whimsy in Memento 'Tuxedo Black' and attached that to the front.  From start to finish it didn't take long at all so great to fit in with all of your other Christmas preparations - just another five to make now!

 

Papers:  Simple Stories 'December Documented'

Sentiment:  Whimsy 'Tis the Season Notables 5'

Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink

Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink pad

 

A look at the back of the box.  One of the sheets of paper is just full of these little calendar months I just cut it up and used one on the back.

 

 

 It's not very often these days that I make something that doesn't require colouring but I really enjoyed making this carton so just need to go make another five now and fill with little choccies!

 

Thank you for popping in today folks.

 

Take care,

Ann-Marie

xxx

Whimsy's 24 Days of Christmas Event

 

 

Hi everyone just a very quick pop in from me to let you know about the fun 24 Days of Christmas Event that Whimsy design team are holding as a way of saying thank you for all of your continued support. 

 

Pop across to the Whimsy blog HERE for Day 1 and to find out all the details.

 

Happy first day of Advent folks.

 

Take care

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

 

 

 

'A' for Almost Christmas over on The ABC Challenge

Good morning my lovelies, I'm scheduling this post as I'm hoping to have some sort of a lay in this Sunday morn, but the jury is still out as to whether the kiddies will see it that way!

Anyway, just a quick pop in from me today as its that time of the month again when there is a new challenge up over on The ABC Challenge and we're right back at the beginning this time with the letter A so that's 'A' for Almost Christmas and we would like to see all of your Christmas cards/makes.  If you're like me you still have a few to do so don't by shy come over and join in with us.  Our lovely sponsor this time is The Paper Shelter and I got to use a cutie pie of an image called 'Christmas Candy Fairy'.
 

Okay so here's my card and the image has been coloured with my copics again in traditional colours which I seem to be favouring at the moment. 

Image:  'Christmas Candy Fairy' from The Paper Shelter

Medium:  Copics

Papers:  First Edition 'Festive Treats'

Dies:  Spellbinders 'Fleur de Lis Rectangles'

Sentiment: is a 3d sticker from a very old K & Co set as is the star on the bow and the ribbon I saved from a Christmas present last year - knew it would come in handy!

 

The usual close up to show the image.  Really love how its turned out and I love the red combo which is a new one for me - a bit of a brighter red than I normally go for.

Copics List

 

Face/Body:  E000, E21, E11, R20, R81

Hair:  E31, E33, E35, E37, E29

Reds: R000, R20, R22, R27

Greens:  G20, G24, G28

Yellow:  Y11, Y15, Y38, Y28

 

I would just like to enter this card into the challenge over at Sketch N Stash as I followed their fab sketch when making my card.

 

That's it from me folks. I shall be starting to put a few of the Christmas decs up today I won't get them all up in one day as there are so blinking many it will take me a few days!!!

 

Take care,

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

Warm Hands, Warm Heart

Hello my friends I hope you are all enjoying your weekend.  We've been busy here as seems to be the norm of late.  My boy went to work with his dad for the morning and earned himself a few pounds in the process and my youngest and I ventured into town to stock up on choccie to fill the kiddies Advents and it was absolutely manic, but hey we got to have a black forest hot chocolate in Costa so my day was all good! 

 

Okay, I've popped in today to share with you a little Whimsy goodness which I've been meaning to blog for a couple of days now but not got round to it.  Anyway, what I have made is a little three draw secret gift box which I've wanted to have a go at for ages and I'm so glad I did as its so cute and really very quick and easy to do too!  I can't take credit for the idea though as I first saw it on Norma's blog and she very kindly has a tutorial HERE to follow so go check it out. 

 

So I used the Whimsy Time for Tea Stamp 'Warm Hands Warm Heart' and she's a beauty.  I've switched back to my copics for this one and took my colour inspiration from the papers.  Let me show you some piccies  - I hope you're sitting comfortably as there are quite a few!

 

Image:  'Warm Hands Warm Heart' by Time for Tea for Whimsy

Medium:  Copics

Papers:  First Edition ' Nordic Christmas'

Dies:  Whimsy 'Reindeer', Spellbinders: Labels 4 and Poinsettia

 

 

Lastly the close up of the image, gorgeous isn't she so love that hair.

Copics List

 

Face/Body:  E000, E21, E11, R20, R30

Hair/Boots:  E13, E15, E29

Dress:  B91, B93, B95, B97, B99

Hat/Muff:  YG11, YG93, YG97, W5

 

Challenges I would like to enter:-

 

Simon Says Stamp  -  anything goes

 

Crafty Ribbons Challenge  -  anything goes

 

Okay, I'm off now to fill the Advents for the kiddies ready for tomorrow and don't worry I've bought extra just in case I can't help myself and I eat too many chocolates in the process!!!

 

Take care and is it too early to be wishing Festival Jollities to you all, well I'm wishing them anyway he he!!!

 

Ann-Marie

xxx

 

 

'Lighting the Way' and some exciting news!

Hello everyone, just popping in today to share with you some more holiday inspiration and to tell you my exciting news.  I was asked by Tracy over at Dies to Die for whether I would like to join her DT team and it didn't take me long to answer that question!! 

 

So here is my Christmas card made with goodies from The Dies to Die For shop.  I decided to use Bildmalarna 'Mimosa - Lights the Way' as she is such a cutie and I took my colour inspiration from the delicious Bazzill 'Nordic Pines' 6 x 6 paper pad, just loving these papers.  So let me show you some piccies:-

 

Image:  Bildmalarna 'Mimosa - Lights the Way'

Sentiment:  Impression Obsession 'Life Sentiments'

Papers:  Bazzill 'Nordic Pines'

Charm:  Santa Sleigh

Prima 'Say it with Crystals - Black

1.5" Lace/Red Satin Centre

 

 

The close up of the image, isn't she adorable!

Copics List

 

Face:  E000, E21, E11, R81, R20

Clothes:  R12, R14, R17, R29/E31, E33, E35, E37/G20, G24, G28

Hair:  E31, E33, E35, E37

 

Challenges I would like to enter:

 

Sweet Stampin - Cause for Celebration

 

Stamping Sensations  -  Christmas

 

Okay so time for me to love you and leave you folks.  I have a couple of things already made waiting to share with you so I'll be back soon. 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

New challenge at The ABC Challenge - Black & White/Stripes

Yay! its Friday everyone and I don't know about you but I'm ready for the weekend its just been one of those weeks.  We've just started painting our hallway, stairs and landing but I don't know if I like the paint colour but we've bought the paint now and it was the stuff you have mixed and at nearly £70 for three tins I'm not changing it, but hey never mind once the carpet is up and wood flooring down I'm sure it will grow on me!

Anyway, its the 15th of the month and that means its time for another new challenge over at The ABC Challenge and I have my DT card to share with you all.  This challenge we are on the letter Z so that's Z for Zebra so a card or creation with stripes or black and white or even both its up to you.  We have two fabby sponsors this time Bugaboo Digi Stamps and Lili of the Valley so come on over and join us we'd love to have you.  My teamies as usual have been busy making beautiful creations for you to feast your eyes upon so go and take a peek at all the gorgeous inspiration.

Okay so here's what I made.  I went down the black and white route and made a Clean & Simple card using a LOTV image coloured completely with Promarkers this time.  Okay so you all know that Clean & Simple is not really my thing I just don't seem to be able to pull it off, but amazingly I actually love how this card turned out and think I may be making a few more along this theme for some quick cards I need.  Anyway, enough waffle here's the piccies:-

Image:  LOTV 'Shine a Light'

Medium:  Promarkers

 

Okay a little view from the side.  I raised the image panel up with sticky pads just for a little added dimension.  Added some old velvet ribbon, tied a double bow and then added a metal snowflake brad to finish it off.

 

A quick close up of the adorable image, its not a new one but its one of my faves.  I decided to have black fur and not white and I'm glad I did I think it sets it off better.  I used some black fake flock and glitter so its quite tactile too.  Plenty of Glamour Dust for the snow and snowflakes and I was done and it didn't really take that long either.

 Promarkers List

Ice Grey 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and black

So that's it from me today folks.  I wish you all a very happy weekend I know I'm going to savour mine and I think I may nip to Costa they have their seasonal drinks on the menu now and their black forest hot chocolate is to die for!

Take care,
Ann-Marie
xxx