Passion For Promarkers - Flexible

It's a special week at Passion For Promarkers this week as we are celebrating the imminent release of the fabulous, new Flexmarkers from Letraset. We have all has an opportunity to play with some & I have to tell you, I love them!! Our challenge this week is

FLEXIBLE

ie. anything goes!

You can probably tell I was up late last night getting this finished, hence the horrid orange glow from the lamplight. I will remedy that later, but I have to go to work in te meantime. I just love this little cutie. It just reminds me of how almost everyone in my family feels after Xmas dinner after my Mum's fantastic cooking & you just want a little supper later on! It is an LOTV stamp & sentiment & the papers are Memory Box - Spiceberry. The Star is a Marianne Design die cut covered in Stickles.

So I hope you'll now pop on over to the Passion for Promarkers blog to see the awesome creations of my fellow D-Teamies. Play along this week & you could win the most awesome prize. Letraset are sponsoring us with 6, yes 6 packets of the new Flexmarkers for this week lucky winner. You know what they say, 'you gotta be in it to win it!'

I am entering this at Stamp With Fun this week where I used their fab sketch for my layout.

At A Spoonful of Sugar it is 'Partytime'. As it is their last ever challenge, this image seemed appropriate that it depicts a scene after the party has ended. Thank you to all the wonderful ladies  at ASOS for all the awesome inspiration they have provided over the last 3 years. Your challenge blog will be missed :~(

At Creative Card Crew, 'Anything Goes' this fortnight, so I would also like to enter my card there.

OK, better fly as I'll be late for work otherwise. Thanks so much for looking. Have a great week.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Passion For Promarkers - A Pirate's Life for Me!

Hurrah! For no other reason than it's always good to get monday out of the way. Double Hurrah though for Tuesdays when there's a new Passion For Promarkers challenge to play along with! This week delightful Debs has chosen the theme,

A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME!

This theme came at a perfect time for me. My son, Ben had another party to go to on Saturday & this is the card I made for him. It's another adorable LOTV image. The papers are Basic Grey -Marrakesh.

My wonderful D-Teamies have been excelling themeselves once more. Check out their awesome cards at the Passion For Promarkers blog. Play along this week & you could be the lucky winner of 6 fab digis from the Digi Stamp Boutique.

I would also like to enter this at A Spoonfull of Sugar, where the challenge is 'Happy Birthday'.

Hope everyone is happy & well. Have a wonderful week.

Thanks so much for looking,

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Secret Crafters - Male Cards!

Apologies for not posting this earlier, sometimes I'm a bit of a numpty when it comes to getting the scheduling right!

Father's Day is around the corner & with this in mind, we've got the challenge eveyone always dreads at Secret Crafters this week,

MALE CARDS

I know nobody likes making cards for men, but the theme was chosen by The Secret Crafter herself, Wendy, & she is lovely so she is forgiven!!

I'm on an LOTV role at the moment & couldn't resist colouring this cute little fella with Distress Inks, available from Secret Crafter here. The papers are Basic Grey - Marrakesh.

I have a lovely crafting friend near me to thank for both the 'loan' of the image & the papers. Big wave! You'll have to pop on over to the Secret Crafter challenge blog now to see the fabulous creations of my fellow D-Teamies. 

I would also like to enter this card at the LOTV challenge blog this week where 'Anything Goes'. Happy 100 ladies!

Also at A Spoonfull of Sugar, 'Here comes Summer'. Ooooh, let's hope so!

So there you go. Thanks so much for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Crafts 4 eternity - Finally!!

OMG, I didn't think I was ever going to get this posted! If you are not already aware, this week's C4E challenge is a colour theme from  a choice of these colours

I needed to make a card for one of my son's friends who is a United fan (Booooo). So I used this little Sugar Nellie Manga boy in his footie kit.

He's coloured with Promarkers & the papers are a mix of MME, K& Co & plain Bazzill. A bit of ribbon, a few button & dew drops & there you go. Not much else to say really!

I based the card on the sketch at a Spoonfull fo Sugar so I would also like t enter this there.

Apologies for not posting this sooner, it has been a somewhat hectic weekend with having a belated birthday party for Jack. Poor thing turned 8 on April 14th, but with Easter & all the bank holiday weekends we finally made it happen yesterday. Today I have been running the Manchester 10k, if you can call my dragging my backside round Manchester & Old Trafford running! If anyone out there braved the horrible weather to come out & support, I thank most sincerely. It makes a big difference when you have people cheering you on.

So I'm off to relax now & se if I can stay awake long enough to have an early night!

Hope you are all well & have had a good weekend.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx



Crafts for Eternity - Homemade Buttons

Apologies for the somewhat belated posting of this card. I've not been feeling very well through some of this week & my mojo was also under the weather! But I hope you'll forgive me & think it worth the wait!! I made it for this week's Crafts 4 Eternity challenge which is to make your own

HANDMADE BUTTONS

I made my little Easter egg shaped buttons very simply by layering 3 pieces of card together, cutting out the shape & edging them with Distress Inks. I then ran a piece of embroidery thread through 2 small holes I made with a needle. I covered them in Glossy Accents & sprinkled a little glitter over while it was still wet.

This adorable LOTV bunnie was 'lent' to me by the same lovely lady who let me 'borrow' the image for my last card. He's coloured with Distress Inks & Viva glitters were added to the eggs. The dps are gorgeous MME Fine & Dandy- True Blue papers. I followed the sketch for the Allsorts Challenge, but did not get it done in time to enter! The sentiment is computer generated. A bit of ribbon & a little bling & voila

There are a few challenges I'd like to enter this little cutie in at.

Firstly, Lili of the Valley, where the challenge is Easter.

A Spoonfull of Sugar are asking us the 'celebrate'. This card will be for Ben or Jack, i've not decided yet. I need to make another one tonight before the Easter bunny gets here!

Finally Creative Inspirations want to see cards with pets or animals.

I hope you will now pop on over to hte C4E blog to see what my lovely 

D-teamies have been up to.

Finally, I'd just like to say a big Thank You to the lovely ladies at Stamptacular Sunday, who chose my entry as one of their top 3 last week. I am thrilled & honoured to display their blinkie on my blog.

Well that's it for now. Better get busy with te other Easter card!

Happy Easter one & All!

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Enchanting Fairy & some big news!!

My poor Promarkers have been feeling a little neglected of late, so I thought I get them out for a little play. I found this gorgeous fairy at the craft fair in Manchester from J and C Creations. She's called Capri by the Stamp Barn.

I think this fairy is so elegant. She satisfies my need for cute, but is just a bit more grown up. I made this card for a lady at work who shares the same birthday as me. The fabulous shimmer on her wings was made with Cosmic Shimmer Aurora Sparkle glitter. The sentiment is from LOTV.

I love the cute little bird as well. Birds are a big trend right now, everywhere you go at the moment. Long may it continue, they're just beautiful.

There are several challenges I created this for. The layout is based on the lovely sketch at Sketch & Stash. I've used a new stamp & the papers were also bought at the same time & are by Foundations. I wanted the swirly design to mirror her dress.

The challenge at A Spoonfull of Sugar this week is 'Birthday Wishes'. As made this card for a colleague's birthday, it should fit there.

Finally at Stamp Something, the theme is 'Something with Flowers.

And now on to my big news! I was thrilled & honoured to be asked to join the team at  the Secret Crafters. Naturally, I said yes immediately. So next Saturday will be my first week. I'm looking forward to joining a team of such lovely & talented of ladies :~) Happy Days!!

So that's it for now. I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Thanks so much for looking!

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Love is in the Little Things!

This image nearly didn't make it onto this card. I was so disatisfied with how I'd coloured the little boy's hair, I nearly scrapped it.I wanted the boy to have the same coloured hair as my hubby, which to be fair is increasingly grey, but I did not think he wanted to be reminded of that!! But I made it too dark all over, with not enough contrast so it looked rather dull & flat. I salvage it with my white highlighter pen & used my water brush to lighten it.

The gorgeous image  & sentiment are from LOTV, coloured with Distress Inks. The papers are SEI - Juliette & I used my new Martha Stewart punch I got at the Manchester Craft Show last weekend.

There are a whole host of challenges I with a Love/Valentines theme this week that I would like to enter this into.

First off I based my layout on the fab sketch at Friday Sketchers.

At Secret Crafters the theme is Valentine.

At A Spoonfull of Sugar, they want to 'See some Love'

I would have entered this card in last week's LOTV challenge had my son Ben, not seen fit to 'borrow' my camera & tidy it away behind the settee, where after 3 hours scouring the house I finally found it. Good job he was asleep in bed by the time I found it, or he would have gotten a good telling off! In the cold light of day now, I feel able to laugh about it...just!

Hope you are having a great week!

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity - Stars!

Hurrah!!! It's the weekend & about time too! Time for another fab challenge at Crafts 4 Eternity. This week we have another great sketch for you, along with the theme 'Stars'.

I coloured this uber-cute LOTV image with Distress Inks & jazzed it up with a few extras. I added a touch of glitter to the fur trim on his hat & used Glistening Snow Writer on the snow.

The papers are Memory Box Mistletoe again (lurve them!) & the lace is from Bunny Zoe. The star is a Xmas decoration, given me by wonderful Dena. I coated lightly it with an Adirondack acrylic paint Dabber on Pearl.

I'm not going overboard on my Xmas card embellishments, so they won't cost me an arm & a leg in the post! I hope you'll join in with this week's challenge & pop on over to the C4E blog to see the wonderful inspiration of my fellow D-Teamies.

I have also made this card to fit with a couple of other challenges. First off, at A Spoonfull of Sugar, 'Anything Goes'. At Simon Says Stamp, the theme is 'Let it Snow'.

Thanks so much for looking. Have a wonderful weekend!

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity - Santa!!

Hurrah!! It's nearly the weekend. Thank Goodness! Does everyone else live for the weekend like me. I just can't wait till I win the lottery. I'm sure it must be any week now!! In the meantime I'll have to confine my crafting to evenings & weekends! This is my card for weeks challenge at Crafts4 Eternity, where we want you to use Michele's fab sketch & include an image of Santa.

This is my favourite Santa stamp from Rubber Stampede. For me he encapsulates perfectly my idea of Father Christmas. A bit like Richard Attenborough in 'Miracle on 34th Street'. He is stamped with Brilliance Pearlescent Crimson & embossed with Cosmic Shimmer Aurora Crystal Sparkle. The snowfalkes are a mix a Creatables Die, & Martha Stewart &Woodware punches with adhesive pearls & crystals. The papers are Papermania, 'A Silent Night'.

You can see a little better here the twinkle & sparkle of the embossing powder. This weeks challenge at A Spoonfull of Sugar is 'Snowflakes'. At Cute Card Thursday, 'Anything Goes'. So I would also like to enter these cards at these challenges.

I hope you will now pop over to the C4E blog to see the wonderful creations of my fellow D-Teamies.

Thanks so much for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity

It's nearly the weekend & I've got a day off work today, Yippee!! Hence this post is a little late as I'm at my Mum & Dad's & competition toget on the computer is fierce!! I'm not kidding! So finally I am able to show you my card for this week's Crafts 4 Eternity challenge where we have a fab sketch for you, & this week we want you to include a Christmas Tree on your card.

I've used one of my favourite Xmas stamps for this from Whiff of Joy. I just love how cute this is. He or she, she I think, is coloured with Aqua Markers & the papers are MME. The sentiment is Catslife Press & the snowflake behind it is a Creatable die.

I've made this card to fit 3 other challenges too. At Whiff of Joy, the current theme is distressing, I love distressing! A Spoonfull of Sugar wants to see cards with a punch or diecut shape, mine is the snowflake behind the sentiment & the sentiment itself was cut with a punch. Finally Papertake Weekly is looking for cards that are 'sparly & bright'. I was going to use more sparkle than this, but reined myself in. Just adding Viva Decor glitter to the star & baubles & adhesive rhinestones for effect.

So I hope you'll pop over to the C4E blog to see the wonderful inspiration my fellow D-Teamies have been creating this week.

For now, hope you have a good weekend.

Thanks so much for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity - Halloween!

Spooky going ons at Crafts 4 Eternity! We want you to use our fab sketch on your Halloween themed creations this week.

I chose this Little Mimosa Witch image from Bildmalarna on this card I made for my 3 year old niece, Emma. She's coloured with Distress Inks & the papers are MME - Boo to You. The sentiment is from High Hopes.



I kept very faithful to the sketch with this one. The flower however is made with Marianne Design Creatables & slightly raised with silicone glue.

Please pop over to the C4E blog to see the wonderful creations of my fellow D-Teamies.

There are two other Halloween challenges I would like to enter this into. Stamp with Fun, & A Spoonfull of Sugar are both celebrating all things spooky this week!

Hope you are having a good week. Thanks so much for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx 

Crafts 4 Eternity #55 - White Christmas!

Oh dear! I scheduled this post for this morning, but put the wrong date in! But no matter, better late than never, I hope you'll agree!

It's time for the new challenge at Crafts 4 Eternity. This weeks recipe is to use the sketch & incorporate the theme 'White Christmas'.

I have to say, I've never made an all white Christmas card before & I really loved the simplicity of it. I used this adorable Bildmalarna stamp called Mimosa lights the way.

She's coloured with Distress Inks & the paper has been embossed with Cuttlebug folders. I pleated the lace with copious amounts of sticky tape & used a fab Viva Glitter Liner from Quixotic Paperie round the edge & on the lantern. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts & Hobbycraft.



All told a very simple card to make. So I hope you'll now pop on over to the C4E blog to see the fabulous creations of my fellow D-Teamies. You'll also see this week's fab prize from our lovely sponsors at Crafty Sentiments.

I would also like to enter this into this week's A Spoonfull of Sugar Challenge, where the theme is Winter Wonderland.

It just remains for me to thank you so much for looking. I hope you have a great weekend.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity #54 - All That Glitters!

 We've got a fab sketch & theme at Crafts 4 Eternity this week. To join in this week you must follow the sketch & add some glitter to your creation.

I have to admit to getting scared when I see alternatively shaped cards. So I overcame my fear & opted for an easel card. Phew, panic over! I finally got round to inking up one of my favourite Sugar Nellie Mangas, Gingerbread.

This little cutie was coloured with Promarkers & the yummy DPs are October Afternon, Very Merry. The snowflakes were made with a Marianne Design Creatable. Love that. The sentiment, BTW is from an Anna Griffin set.

I took an extra side on photo to try & highlight the glitter I ran through her hair on her fur trim & her buttons. I've been very restrained. Usually I go mad with it!

Please hop on over to the Crafts 4 Eternity blog to see the fabulous creations of my fellow D-Teamies.

I would also like to enter this into several other callenges. At Secret Crafters they are looking for easel cards thiis week. A Spoonfull of Sugar wants to see cards with 'sparkle & shine'. Papertake Weekly are celebrating their 3rd birthday - Congratulaions!- you can choose any previous challenge to insire your creation. I chose their Christmas Cracker challenge from last year.

So there you go. Have a great weekend.

Thanks so much for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx 

Crafts 4 Eternity #52 - Lavender & Lace

Woo Hoo! The weekend is almost upon us, which means another Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge. This week we want you to

1.  Follow Michele's fab sketch

2. Incorporate lavender & lace

I had lots of fun with this challenge. I'd been longing to ink up this Tilda & the Boutique stamp for ages & I really enjoyed colouring them with my poor neglected Distress Inks. I love shopping. All I ever seem to buy these days are craft items. Hey, I'm not complaining, but my hubbie might, LOL!!

I was going to mask this Tilda. But instead 3 D'd her in the hope of making her look like she is walking off the page. The papers are a mix of scraps & I used lots of glossy accents on the window & Tilda's handbag & necklace.

There is not too much else to tell you about this card. But I would like to enter it into a couple of other challenges.

At A Spoonfull of Sugar, 'Anything Goes.'

Creative Inspirations want to see cards with 2 or more stamped images.

I hope you will now pop on over to the C4E blog to see what delights my lovely D-Teamies have been rustling up for your delectation. We'd love to have you join our challenge this week.

Thanks so much for looking. Have a great weekend!

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

3 in 1 Tilda

There is a lesson in this card. Always check you have sufficient quantity of the DPs you intend to use before you start colouring the image! Don't do what I did & imagine a gentle, pastel coloured card & then find out, once you've lovingly coloured your Tilda, that your Basic Grey Wisteria pad is mainly just scraps!! DUH!!

So Bo Bunny Marrakesh & Fancy Pants Daydreams to the rescue. Not until I coloured over the green bits with Pink! I think it turned out OK, but I'm disappointed because it isn't what I wanted.



Anyway I made this card for 3 fabulous challenges.

Just Magnolia - Bev's fab Sketch

A Spoonfull of Sugar - 3D. The oval image is on foam pads

Quixotic Paperie - Distressing. I love the distressed look


I used a crystal cake decoration on the flower centre, (it looks better IRL!) & the heart pin is also from Quixotic Paperie. And there you go. Not much else to tell you about.


Hope everyone has had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend. Ours has been great, but OMG, so cold!
Back to work tomorrow, but another day off on Thursday as Jack's school is a Polling Station & is closed. Yippee for me, but big disappointment for Jack as he loves school!

Hope everyone out there is happy & well. Thanks for looking.

Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Birthday Cutie!!

It's been such ahectic day today this post is going onfar later than I intended. I hope it's in time for A Spoonfull of Sugar Challenge this week, where they want you ot use beads. Can you see them in the centre of the flower & on the butterflies?

The layout is based on the sketch at Friday Sketchers this week, so I'm entering it there too. The papers are Cosmo Cricket & the image is Bildmalarna & she called Tossa! Both are from Bunny Zoe's

I want to say a huge THANK YOU! to my bestest blogging pal, Dena. She sent me a Bunny Zoe gift voucher for my birthday, with which I bought this stamp & a couple more I hope to get inked up very soon. I think most people who have visited my blog before are probably aware of the love & utmost respect I have for Dena both as a warm & generous person, & as an amazingly talented crafter. Go pay her a visit if you haven't already & see what I am talking about.


I loved making this card. I hope you like it too. Thanks for looking.
Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Love Tilda

There are just so many challenges to enter with a Valentines theme this week I just had to make a card. Having said hat I've probably missed the first one at Just Magnolia where the theme is Hearts & Flowers. The fab layout at A Spoonfull of Sugar suits that theme perfectly!

I chose the colour scheme from the beautiful rose picture at Simon Says Stamp & at Secret Crafters they are asking to see hearts on your cards. Finally the theme at Creative Card Crew is Valentines, so this fits the bill there.

My DPs are K& Co & the big heart was made with Bazzill Bling card stock. I love that stuff! Tilda is coloured with my trusty Distress Inks & I think this has to be one of my favourite Magnolia images. She is just so innocent & trusting.

Anyway, I hope you like my card. Thanks so much for looking.

Enjoy what's left of the week & roll on the weekend!

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Miss Anya in the Pink

Fancied making something rather girly with this one. Can you tell?!!

This card fits in with two challenges. The layout is based on the lovely sketch at Create 4 Fun this week. Also at A Spoonfull of Sugar, you've got free range, anything goes, it's Freestyle!

This is the first time I've inked up this stamp from the last Miss Anya release. Doesn't she look summery?! I should really wait, we haven't even had a hint of Spring yet, LOL! She's coloured with Promarkers & the DPs are eons old, from the K&Co Romanza Collection. Pat on the back for me for using old stash!! The flowers are all from a Crafty Feeling Kit & I used a McGill punch on the leaves. Not much else to say really, except her cheeks look a bit grubby in the photo. Rest assured, IRL, she has had a wash!!

Hope everyone is having a good week. Thanks for looking.

Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Fairy Beautiful!

This gorgeous fairy is from the latest Kraftin Kimmie release & I just love her. She's elegant, pretty, kind & a little bit sexy too!

I made this card to fit 2 challenges. The layout is based on the lovely sketch for this weeks Friday Sketchers. I've dithered around so long with the flowers on this I may or may not be in time for that! A Spoonfull of Sugar wants to see layering on your cards. I also discovered this weeks challenge at Cute Card Thursday is fairies. Well this most definitely qualifies for that!

I coloured my fairy with my Distress Inks & added glitter for added fairy magic! I have two wonderful ladies to thank for helping with this card, the DPs are from K& Co, so kindly sent me by Michele! The loop punch is a Martha Stewart one so generously sent me for Xmas, by my awesomely talented blogging buddy, Dena. Thank you again my friends, xx

I hope everyone is having a good week. Thanks for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Tilda Sitting Pretty for Just Magnolia & SOS

Wow, it's been a while since I entered a challenge for fun. The small matter of something called Xmas kind of got in the way! But hey, thought I'd enter a couple of my faves. The layout follows this weeks sketch at Just Magnolia, & A Spoonfull of Sugar wants to see cards with hearts on. The hearts aren't immediately obvious, but the charm is heart-shaped as are some of the flat backed pearls I used amongst the leaves.

I have several people to thank who have contributed most kindly & generously to the making of this card. My dear friend Michele sent me the cute image of Tilda from the Yummy Tummy collection. I've also used gorgeous glittered MME Laundry Line DPs that my wonderful Buddy Dena sent me. She also sent me the little heart charm. The lovely larger, coffee coloured flowers are from Bec & are available at her fab Bizzy Becs store. Have you checked out the beautiful images & papers she has available at her online digi store?

Before I go, I thought I'd show you what me & the boys have been up to today. We've had about 6 inches of snow here & Jack's school was closed. What else is there to do under the circumstances but build a snowman. Jack wouldn't come back out & pose with him, but here is Ben, looking a little dwarfed by him, but very proud!

Here's another, just because Ben looks so cute, LOL! (Don't worry, when we were building him, Ben did have a scarf & gloves on!)

Apologies for the length of the post. Thanks for sticking with me! Hope everyone is safe & warm, whatever they are doing.

Big Hugs to you All

Andie xx