Paper Christmas Tree

Hello my lovelies I hope you are all well on the run up to the festive season.  We are all good here, a tad busy, but good and looking forward to Christmas.  I actually get some decent time off this year so I have a whole week and a bit to mooch and craft and eat things I shouldn't and I can't wait!!

Well I am popping in today to share with you a little festive something I have made for CC The Inspirers.  I used the free cd rom that came with Crafters Inspiration Issue 12 magazine and printed off some of the gorgeous papers and made a rosette Christmas tree and I just love it.

Papers:  CI Issue 12 free cd rom

printed on to CC satin finish printer paper

Dies:  CI Issue 12 free bauble/star dies

This has pride of place in my kitchen at the moment and if I have some time in the next week (yes that is hysterical laughter you can hear!!) I may even make myself a couple of little ones so I can have my very own little Christmas tree forest!

Challenges

Crafty Ribbons  -  Christmas themed creations (with ribbon)

Sparkles Christmas challenge  -  anything but a card

Let's Craft and Create  -  Christmas &/or New Year

Okay that's all from me for today.  I am bit behind with my blog posts this month so I will be back shortly with a couple of other crafty makes to show you.  

Festival jollities to you all.

Happy Crafting.

Take care,

Ann-Marie 

xx

Christmas with 'Mistletoe Fairy'

Happy Sunday morning my lovelies and we have a beautiful one here which after the dismal weather we had yesterday is certainly a blessing.  I hope you are all well and finding the time to crack on with some Christmas crafting.  I'm plodding through mine not as quick as I would like but I'm getting there.

I'm popping in to share with you a card I've managed to get finished.  Now I was rummaging through all my Christmas papers and came across a Basic Grey 'Jovial' pad.  I've had this paper pad for a few years now and it has to be one of my all time favourites hence why it was tucked neatly away so as not to use it all up and I'm so wishing I had bought 3 or 4 right about now!  Anyway, I bought a few digis from the Wee Stamps store a little while back and one of them was the absolutely gorgeous 'Mistletoe Fairy' and she was a joy to colour.

Image:  Wee Stamps 'Mistletoe Fairy'

Medium:  Copics

Papers:  Basic Grey 'Jovial'

Dies:  Spellbinders 'Floral Ovals' die set

Card stock:  Crafters Companion 'Kraft' card

Stampendous Frantage 'Aged Ivory'

'Diamond' Stickles

Ribbon/Lace from stash

I inked up the edges and dirtied the image up a little with some Tim Holtz 'Walnut Stain' and then sprinkled a little Frantage around the edges.  Love how it turned out so I think I need to get myself some more Frantage in different colours now!

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl  -  anything goes

Winter Wonderland  -  add ribbon/lace and/or Christmas flowers

Sweet Stampin at Christmas  -  anything goes

Stamping Sensations  -  Christmas greetings

Wee Stamps Facebook challenge  -  Christmas

Sweet Stampers challenge  -  Christmas

Okay time for me to dash - got to drop daughter off at Scouts for Remembrance service and then I've got to go to work for a couple of hours but I'm hoping to do a little crafting this afternoon if life doesn't get in the way!

Take care folks.

Ann-Marie 

xxx

Watercolour Christmas

Good evening my lovelies I hope you are all well.  We've had a beautiful autumn day here today and on the way to work this morning my colleague and I drove through the forest and were greeted with a gorgeous display of autumnal colours it really was simply stunning and reminded me why autumn really is my most favourite of the seasons.

Anyway, I've popped in this evening to share with you another of my Crafters Companion Inspirers dt makes.  I've used the free CD rom that came with Crafters Inspiration Issue 12 and oh my what a fabulous CD so many things to choose from.  So after much deliberation I settled on the watercolour section and printed off some beautiful papers and topper.  I wanted a fairly clean and simple card to show off the image so apart from adding a little silver matting and layering, some twine and a few pearls my card was done.  Of course, it wouldn't be complete without a sentiment so used the free stamps that came with Issue 12 and before I knew it my card was finished.  Don't you just love it when it all comes together really easily.

Image/Papers:  Crafters Inspiration Issue 12 free CD rom

Sentiment:  Crafters Inspiration Issue 12 free stamps

Sheena Douglass White Stamping Card

Collall 3D glue gel

Twine and pearls from stash

Challenges

Allsorts Challenge  -  let's make a start on Christmas

Creative Inspirations  -  anything goes

That's all from me today.  I hope you enjoy the rest of your week and have the time for a little crafting if you can.  

Take care

Ann-Marie 

xx

Pretty Poinsettia

Good morning folks.  Another Sunday pop in from me as it seems to be my day of blogging of late.  

So a couple of days ago I thought I'd make up a few poinsettias so they would be ready for when I needed to add some flowery goodness to my Christmas cards.  I used my Spellbinders Poinsettia die set which I invested in last year and I must say I'm rather taken with it.  It really does produce the most gorgeous looking flowers.  So once I'd made a few I thought they were too nice just to be used as an embellishment so I've made a card where the flower is the main focal point.  I've gone down the clean and simple route and absolutely love how its turned out.

I used a Martha Stewart 'branch' punch for the fluffy greenery at the back and the centre of my flower was made using a fairly big blog of Collall 3d glue gel and sticking some little gold gems on to it.  Worked a treat too.

This may just be my Christmas card to most people this year.  Although it's still early days I could well change my mind.  I can see this in so many colourways - ooh I'm thinking a pretty pink one next.

Challenges

Simon Says Stamp  -  anything goes

Allsorts Challenge  -  let's make a start on Christmas

Okay, time for me to dash, I have to go to work for a few hours this morning and then I'm coming home, making a coffee and crafting for the remainder of the day.

Have a great remainder of your weekend and happy crafting.

Take care.

Ann-Marie 

xxx

Christmas in shades of black ...

.... silver and lilac and of course the obligatory dash of sparkle!!!

Happy Sunday morning folks.  It's a beautiful crisp one here in Bournemouth.  I've just put some washing out on the line hopefully it will dry but if nothing else it will be nicely starched and crisp as a board when it comes back in!

Anyway, why I've popped in is to share with you another Christmas card, a gatefold style one this time.  I haven't made one of these for a long while and I've used some more Kanban goodies and these are definitely staying out close to my desk now as they are just beautiful.  I'm so glad I invested in the Spellbinders Poinsettia die I just love how it all layers up.  I inked the flowers whilst the card was still in the die so the veining shows up a little better.  I also used my glue pen and went around the tips and then dipped it into some micro glitter.  Unfortunately you can't see it so well in the photo but it does look really pretty.

Topper/Sentiment/Border:  Kanban

Cardstock:  Crafters Companion Matt Black card/Core'dinations 'dark'

Flower:  Spellbinders Poinsettia die/Martha Stewart 'Branch' punch

Ribbon/Pearls from stash

I made a little box for my card to go in as there's no way it's going to fit in an envelope with the poinsettia.

Challenges

Crafty Ribbons  -  anything goes with Ribbon or Lace

Allsorts  -  sparkle and shine

Right, I'm still in a festive mood so I think more Christmas crafting is the order of the day.  I hope you have a great weekend.

Take care 

Ann-Marie 

xxx

I'm dreaming of a white (and blue) Christmas

far la la la la ... yes well that's enough of that racket singing is really not one of my strong points.

So hello my lovelies I hope you are all well.  October is a busy month for our household what with my son's birthday at the beginning, my daughter's next week and my son has also been away for a week with the school to Belgium so really chasing my tail this month but it's all good fun!

Okay so the other day I was having a bit of sort out in my craft room and came across a folder full of Kanban Christmas toppers and things.  I thought to myself I haven't used one of these in a while which is an absolute shame as they are beautiful but anyway I decided to make another Bookatrix card.  The toppers set the scene and everything was decided around the topper colour scheme really and with a couple of silver accents and some pretty embellishments it all came together very easily ... don't you just love it when that happens.

I even made a presentation box for it to go in as it's really quite a large card.  

I really enjoyed making this and have left my folder of toppers out as I think I will be making a few more of these.  I fancy a more traditional style next so a bit of red and green I think and to Bookatrix or not to Bookatrix haven't decided that one yet ooh or maybe an easel card box haven't made one of those for a long time either.  Oh my so many options I swear that's what takes me the longest to do - actually make a decision of what to make or use.  Jeez the life of a crafter - never easy!!!

Right that's all from me tonight folks.  I hope wherever you are you're managing to squeeze in a little crafty time.

Take care. 

Ann-Marie 

xxx

Happy ....

.... Mad Hatter Day folks.

This is my Crafters Companion Inspirers creation for this fun day.  I thought it would be fun to make some tea party invites .. just need to throw a tea party now!

Anyway, with it being Mad Hatter Day I had to go with a hat theme of course and a bit of a different colour combination for me.  I mean I love purple but I very rarely use orange so don't know where the sudden urge to use that came from but I love the combo together against the black.  Not sure if my piccies have picked it up very well but once I'd coloured my tea cup stamp with my Spectrum Noir markers I went over it with Spectrum Noir 'crystal clear' pen ... oh my I love these.  I chose to use the 'crystal clear' as it would just go over anything.

Image:  Crafters Companion SN Sparkle A6 stamp set 'tea time treats'

Sentiment:  Crafters Companion SN Sparkle A6 stamp set 'tea time treats'

Medium:  SN markers/SN Sparkle marker 'crystal clear'

Dies:  Sheena Douglass Perfect Partners - Home Life 'my cup of tea'

Crafters Companion Matt Black cardstock

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Spectrum Noir Markers Used

LV1, PL3, PL4

FS1, OR1, OR2, OR3

Okay folks time for me to dash it's my son's birthday at the weekend and lots of things to get sorted.  

Thank you for taking the time to stop by as always it is very much appreciated.

Take care and happy crafting.

Ann-Marie 

xxx

Boo!!

Yes you've guessed it ... another Halloween project to share with you today.  Again I've used the free cd rom that came with Issue 11 of Crafters Inspiration from Crafters Companion.  You know I've found creating for Halloween a doddle with the goodies that are on the cd.

So what did I make?  I've had a few of these large empty jars hanging around for a while actually I think they were coffee jars and if you're like me you keep these things as you know one day they'll come in handy.  Well now I've used one of them to make myself a little decorated Halloween jar to put lights in.

Images/papers:  Crafters Inspiration Issue 11 free cd rom

Crafters Companion printable vellum

Glue:  Collall tacky glue

Lace, ribbon and battery lights from stash

I wasn't sure it would work but I love how it turned out.  I just printed the images and paper off on the printable vellum, cut out what I wanted and then pasted it on with a weaker solution of the glue.  This jar is for me although my daughter seems to think she needs to claim it for her room so I'll probably end up making another!!!

Okay that's all from me today.  I'm in the middle of making a card so hopefully it won't be too long before I pop back with something to share with you again.

Take care folks and I hope you have a happy and creative weekend.

Ann-Marie

xxx

Happy Halloween ...

... yeah okay so I know I'm a tad early and I've jumped from Christmas to Halloween but hey who doesn't love a little Halloween craftiness!

I'm popping in to share with you my Crafters Companion Inspirers make today and I did have such fun making it.  All of the papers, sentiments and embellishments are from the free CD rom that comes with Crafters Inspiration Issue 11 and boy there were a lot to choose from and it took ages to decide which to use.  I think I may just keep this one for myself and bring it out on Halloween as I love it so much.

Images/Papers/Embellishments:  Crafters Inspiration Issue 11

Cardstock:  Crafters Companion A4 matt black, Sheena Douglass white stamping card

Adhesives:  Crafters Companion Extra Strong Permanent glue tape pen/Collall 3D glue gel

As you can see I made a stair step card which was extremely easy but most effective and brilliant for layering up your card.  The large tree image printed out black and white and I just highlighted it with Spectrum Noir marker TN5.

Okay just a flying visit from me today I have the fun task of sorting uniforms for school tomorrow.  I do think that's my only downside to my Sundays as I really do dislike ironing shirts .... a complete waste of crafting time in my opinion!!!

Take care folks and happy crafting.

Ann-Marie 

xxx

A little Christmas gift box for The Inspirers

Hello my lovelies I hope you are all well.  We have had a beautiful day here the sun has that late summer warmth to it and yet as early evening draws in there is that wonderful nip to the air ... oh how I do love this time of year ... gets me in the mood for baking all those yummy autumn comfort foods and of course Christmas!  Yes I have mentioned the 'C' word and as it really isn't that long away in a crafters world at least I have made a start on my Christmas crafting.  So what was my first Christmas make of the year ... I decided to make a little gift box for Crafters Companion The Inspirers DT.

Sentiments:  Crafters Companion Vintage Christmas Sentiments 'home for Christmas'

Crafters Companion Vintage Christmas Sentiments 'friends and family'

Papers:  Crafters Inspiration Issue 11 free CD rom

Poinsettia/Ivy:  Sheena Douglass Perfect Partners Festive Fancies 'perfect poinsettia'

Medium:  Spectrum Noir markers (CR1, CR7, CR9, CR11/CG1, CG3, CG4/BG6

Stamped on Neenah Classic Crest Card

Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink

Glamour Dust fine glitter

Box base made using Crafters Companion Centura Pearl snow white hint of silver cardstock

Ribbon from stash

Okay so now that has me in the Christmas crafting mood I think I may just follow on with another Christmas make.  

I hope you all have a great week folks I'm hoping for a less hectic one but I won't hold my breath!!

Take care

Ann-Marie

xxx

A little pot of flowery goodness

Hello my lovelies, well what a busy summer holidays we have had and some beautiful weather here on the South coast and even though we couldn't spend as much time at the beach and in the pool as we would have liked due to my daughter breaking her wrist in the second week of her hols we still had an amazing time.  I always feel sad towards the end of the school hols but also a little happy as it marks the start of autumn and I can already feel the change in the air in the morning to that beautiful autumnal crispness and I just love it.  It really is my most favourite season of all!

Anyway, I am here this evening to share with you my card for Crafters Companion The Inspirers team and as I love autumn so much it seemed only fitting to pick some beautiful rich autumnal colours.  I sat and made up some gorgeous flowers using the fab Die'sire 'Small Sunflower' die and wanted to use them on a card as the main focal point rather than just mere embellishments and thought they would be ideal on a flowerpot card.

Flowers:  Die'sire 'small sunflower' die

Cardstock:  Coredinations 12 x 12 (darks)

Paper:  Crafters Inspiration Issue 11 free cd

Printed wreath:  Crafters Inspiration Issue 11 free cd

Printed toadstools:  Crafters Inspiration Issue 11 free cd

Sentiments:  free stamps from Crafters Inspiration Issue 11

Collall 3d glue gel

I loved making these pretty flowers they were so easy to do and they end up a decent size too.  Once they were made I wasn't sure what to use for their centres so opted to use some Collall 3d glue gel and sprinkled some glitter over them.  They turned out really well.

There are a couple of challenges I would like to enter my card into:-

Simon Says Stamp  -  anything goes

Crafty Ribbons challenge  -  anything goes with ribbon

Okay that's all from me folks.  I'm hoping to get a little blog visiting in this evening before I climb the wooden hill to bedfordshire.

Take care peeps and happy crafting.

Ann-Marie

xxx

'home' - Crafters Companion The Inspirers

Hello my lovelies it feels good to be popping in today after a rather hectic week.

The kiddiewinkles are off school now and I'm pretty sure they've had more pj days than they have been dressed but hey its the holidays and all routine for them has gone out the window.

I have a card to share with you today which I made for Crafters Companion The Inspirers DT using Leonie Pujol's masks and stencils and one of her stamp sets.  Oh my word I love these.  Something completely different from my norm but the stencils have so much potential and I simply adore the little stamp sets ... the fact that I can make up my own little patterns and designs with them all the options are just endless.

Images:  Leonie Pujol masks and stencils 'home'

Leonie Pujol 'inky notes' stamp set

Coloured in with Spectrum Noir pens CR8 and JG2

Twine, gems and fine glitter from stash

Looking at it with fresh eyes today I've decided it is rather christmassy with these colours although that wasn't my intention ... ooh a 'from our home to yours' Christmas card I can see working with this!!

Challenges

Stamping Sensations  -  August challenge 'anything goes'

Okay so time for me to dash I have a few ideas swirling around my head so need to write them down before they disappear.  I've got a little book that I keep handy so I can just sketch or write down an idea to use which is great for one of those days when your mind goes blank and your mojo refuses to make an appearance.

Take care folks and happy crafting.

Ann-Marie 

xx