Secret Crafter's Saturday Challenge - Food or Drink

Gotta give a big cheer for the weekend - Whoop Whoop!! Double celebrations because it's time for another fab challenge at Secret Crafter's Saturday Challenge. This week lovely Francesca has chosen our theme & it is

FOOD &/OR DRINK

Everyone is understandably mad for Saturated Canary images right now. I haven't splurged just yet, but is only a matter of time. Until that time comes I don't want to neglext my gorgeous Simply Sassy images from Sugar Nellie. This is one of my faves, Luv a Latte. She's coloured with Prismas & the papers are First Edition Spring Feast. The light has reflected off the glitter in the papers in the photo. It looks way better IRL. The sentiment is LOTV.

I've stuck to the fab sketch at the Sugar Bowl for this card.

I've also gone with the colour scheme at Colour Create this fortnight.

Now this week at Secret Crafter's if you play along with us, you could win a fabulous prize donated by or lovely sponsors at  The Stamping Boutique

Pop on over to the Secret Crafter's blog to see the awesome inspiration of my wonderful fellow D-Teamies. 

So that's it for me for now. I hope everyone has something exciting to look forward to this weekend. I'm not up to much, but Ben is buying some Lego with his Xmas money. So I'm looking forward to how quiet it's going to keep him as he beavers away at making it!!

Thanks so much for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Creative Card Crew - Christmas Lights

So are you ready yet? I'm nearly there, not quite. Still got some Christmas cards to make yet too. We've got another fab challenge over at Creative Card Crew, for those of you, loike me who still have a bit to do yet. This fortnight our theme is

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

It's so frustrating that these photos look so horrid, taken under artificial light. IRL they are silver, blue & white. I'll have to try & remedy this if I get chance.

I had a couple of ideas for this theme. Christmas tree lights & star light. So I used these gorgeous Memory Box dies to cut out the shapes, with glittered vellum behind.

This last photo is a bit better. Perhaps you can now tell that I really did follow the colour scheme at Colour Create so I could enter my cards there.

I hop you'll pop on over to the Creative Card Crew blog where you'll find loads of fabulous inspiration from my lovely D-Teamies. This time around we are sponsored by the wonderful Robyn's Fetish

So there you go. Got to fly or I'll be late for work. Thanks so much for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx



Creative card Crew - Tis the Season!

Hurrah for Tuesday. Always good to get Monday out of the way, workwise at least! I've got 2 posts for you today. Firstly my card for Creative Card Crew where we are celebrating Christmas. Afterall,

TIS THE SEASON!

I had a blast with this card. I've been dying to ink up this Stamping Bella - Eve under the Mistletoe, from Quixotic Paperie. She's coloured with Distress Inks & the papers are MME - Holly Jolly. The sentiment is by Catslife Press at Crafty Emma's store. The mistletoe die is a Doo Hickey, with Liquid Pearls for the berries. The holly was made with a Memory Box die with added stickles for the berries. A little Glamour Dust on the fur trim & that's it.

 

I used the fab layout at the Quixotic Paperie challenge for my layout.

The colour scheme of red, white & green fits with the challenge at Colour Create to.

At Bunny Zoe's they want to see 'Anything Christmas with pearls'.

Well I hope you'll now take the time to check out the fabulous creations of my fellow D-Teamies at Creative Card Crew, where this fortnight we are sponsored by Simon Says Stamp.

I'll be back sooner than you think with my card for Passion For Promarkers. Hope everyone is keeping warm & well out there. It has certainly started to feel a lot colder here in Manchester.

Thanks so much for looking,

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Secret Crafters - Xmas is Coming!

Saturday once more - Whoopeee!!! Time for another fab challenge at Secret Crafters, chosen this week, by the ever so lovely Tracie. Her theme is 

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

A great opportunity for me to get my Xmas cards underway!

After last week's challenge, which I have to tell you, my mojo just up sticks & left, it was relief to get back into my comfort zone. I'm really pleased with how this turned out. I haven't over embellished it as it may need to be posted. But I think the gorgeous Memory Box - Mistletoe papers are embellishment enough. This is one of my fave images, coloured with Distress Inks, from the first LOTV Xmas collection. Can't wait to see the second set! 

My awesome D-Teamies have been busy creating more wonderful inspiration for you. I hope you'll check them out at the Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge blog & play along this week.

I would also like to enter this card at a couple of other challenges. The layout is based on the fab sketch at Crafting Life's Pieces.

This also fits the colour theme at Colour Create. The colours are right, but it looks nothing like the photo inspiration. There is a little glitter for added texture, so I hope it counts.

Finally, is anyone else having problems with a temperamental blogger? I'm finding it is hit & miss whether it works for me at the moment. Especially when it comes to commenting. So bear with me please :~)

But for now, whatever you are up to, have a great weekend. Thanks so much for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Passion For Promarkers - Divas with Glitz & Glam!

Wa-Hey it's Tuesday! My lovely D-Teamie, Anja has chosen this weeks fab challenge at Passion For Promarkers. She wants to see

DIVAS WITH GLITZ & GLAM

After the embarassment that was my last card, it was lovely to get back to colourful & cute again. My Greeting Farm satmps have not seen much ink of late, so it was about time I remedied that. This is from the Cheeky Cherry collection called Cheeky Glamour. She looks like Marilyn Monroe, until you give her brown hair!! I've used  MME Stella Rose - Hazel papers. I'm in love with those right now! The sentiment is LOTV & I used a McGill Hydrangea ounch for the little flowers to  break up what looked like a rather stark background shape.

We are thrilled to be sponsored once more by Joanna Sheen & this week's lucky winner will get a £10 voucher to spend at her online store.

Check out the gorgeuos inspiration of my wonderful D-Teamies at the PFP blog & join us for a chance to win.

I am also entering this at Totally Gorjuss, where I used their fab sketch for my layout.

The colour inspiraion at Colour Create this fortnight is Pink, Green & White.

That's it for now then. Thank you so much for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge - Butterflies

Do a happy dance for the weekend at last!! Time for another fab challenge at Secret Crafters where wonderful Wendy has chosen the theme of

BUTTERFLIES!

Perfect for what should be the start of Spring. But as I look out of my wnindow right now, it all looks a bit grey & drab! Where has all the sunshine gone?! Oh course it's the weekend, the lovely weather will all come back again once I'm sitting behind my desk again on Monday morning!

Sorry this is a little late, I've had some blogger issues, but with this card, I wanted to go for a bit of a vintage, grungy look. I'm feeling very inspired by the fabulous Camilla at the moment. & I want to head off in that direction to see where it takes me :~)

I used 'Together' by Bildmalarna. She's coloured with Distress Inks & cut out with Nesties, both available at the Secret Crafter shop. I added the swirls using a Stempelglede stamp. The papers are Prima - Sparkling Spring & I cut out an extra butterfly & 3D'd it in the corner.  I continued the butterfly theme with a Martha Stewart border punch. Some lovely lace, adhesive gems & a little glitter finished it all off.

So now it's time to check out the gorgeous creations of my fellow D-Teamies over at Secret Crafters, they have excelled themselves this week.

I based my card on this week's sketch at Papertake Weekly, so I would like to enter my card there.

Cute Card Thursday want to see 'Couples' on your cards OK, so they are not a conventional couple, but the sure look gorgeous together!

The colour scheme at Colour Create just now is pastels, so this little cutie is being entered there too.

So that's all for now. What does your weekend hold? Happy Mother's Day tomorrow to all the UK Mums out there. Mums everywhere should celebrate anyway, because we're all fabulous!! Whatever you are up to, have a great time.

Thanks so much for looking,

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Thanks for Tea!

This is a rather belated 'Thank You' card for 2 rather lovely & very generous ladies I met at the NEC who bought me my tea. Actually tea is a massive understatement, but it fits better with the image on my card if I call it that!

I'm entering it into this weeks LOTV challenge where the theme is 'Glitter & Glitz'. To be fair there may not be enough of either on this card for it to qualify & what there is, the photos have not picked up very well. I glittered round the image & the sentiment, added a sprinkling to the flowers on her hat & drenched the flowers in the stuff!

Adorable little Rosie is coloured with my long neglected Distress Inks & if you look really hard, you can just about see I added Glossy Accents to the crockery. The design paper is from Papermania & the flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I based my layout on this weeks fab sketch at Cute Card Thursday & the colour scheme was chosen to fit with gorgeous theme at Colour Create of  Robin's Egg blue, Seafoam green & cream.

So there you go! Hope you like her. Thanks so much for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Hubba Hubba!!

Just wanted to share the card I made for my wonderful hubby Paul, (Hubba Hubba!). It's our wedding anniversary today, 9yrs of wedded bliss! Am I making you feel sick yet, LOL!

I just love this wedding couple from the magnolia Wedding 2010 collection. They are just leaning towards each other for a big snog, LOL!

They are coloured with Aqua Markers & the papers are MME & Fancy Pants - My Family.
I'm sorry, I can't remember where the sentiment ticket is from.

I added a little glitter for a little wedding magic, but otherwise kept it quite simple. I wanted my loved up couple to take full centre stage.

I want to enter this card at Just Magnolia, where this week 'Anything Goes!

The layout is based on the sketch at Papertake Weekly, so I'm entering it there too.

Finally, I used one of my favourite colour schemes which just happens to match the new challenge at Colour Create.


So there you go. Thanks so much for looking.
Big Hugs to One & All,
Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity #49 - Angels & Fairies

It's always nice to get to the end of the working week, especially when there is a fab challenge to get your teeth into! This week at Crafts 4 Eternity we would like you to

1. Follow the Sketch

2. Incorporate a theme of Angels or Fairies

To be honest, I'm not sure if my image is an angel or a fairy! I'm leaning towards angel, what do you think? She's from the Leanne Ellis range at Sugar Nellie, entitled 'Wish'.


I wanted to go for a vintage vibe with this one & so all the paper (Basic Grey - Kioshi) has been distressed to within an inch of it's life! The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts & I forget where the lace if from. I added glossy accents covered in glitter to her wings.



I had a kind of happy accident with this one. I wasn't to happy with the colour of her face. You don't see many angels that look like they're wearing fake tan!! I decided, for extra shimmer to spritz everything with Glimmer Mist after I'd stuck everything down. I think I used a bit to much as some of the Distress Inks lifted & spread over the background. It has ended up bleaching her face & hair a little, but also giving her a kind of heavenly glow & I rather like the effect!


So it's time now, if you haven't already been, to pop on over to the C4E blog to see the fabulous inspiration of my fellow D-Teamies. The winner of this weeks challenge will be asked to join us as Guest Designer for October, so I hope you'll play along.


I would also like to enter this card into this fortnights Colour Create challenge, where the colour scheme is pastel lilac, pastel yellow & pastel mint.


Thanks so much for looking, have a great weekend!

Big Hugs,
Andie xx

2 in 1 - Just for Fun!

I love my DT work & basically I go to work to pay for my crafting fix! Lately, however, it seems like forever since I sat down & made a card just for the heck of it. As a result some of my favourite images are getting neglected. Case in point is this gorgeous City Girl image from Whiff of Joy. I've been dying to ink her up for ages!

The Whiff of Joy blog is having a DT call at present. So I thought, why not try out for one of my favourite stamp companies. The layout is based on Bev's fab sketch. This image reminds me of Charlotte in Sex & the City! She looks sweet but sexy at the same time! I coloured her with Distress Inks & used glossy accents on her glasses.

I am also entering this at Colour Create where the colour combo this week is warm pink, chocolate & white. A bit out of my comfort zone there, but these Basic Grey - Bittersweet papers are perfect. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts & the pin is from my lovely PFP D-Teamie, Emma's new shop. Shameless plug for Crafty Emma's Store!

So there you go. Thanks so much for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Passion For Promarkers - Numbers!

Tuesday once again & we have another fab challenge for you at Passion for Promarkers. It's Denise's turn to through down the gauntlet & she asks that, this week, you include numbers on your card. That may be in the image, your embellishments or design papers. You may have a friend of family member who does not want their age advertising. This would be the perfect opportunity to embarass them, LOL!

To spur you on yet further, the lovely Karen at Sugar Nellie has generously donated this week's fabulous prize!

I have to say, I had a lot of fun with this week's challenge. The numbers thing was not inspiring me at first until I found this DP from Basic Grey - Oh Baby Boy! After that, things came together nicely. I downloaded this Mo Manning image ages ago & this is the first time I have coloured it. I used so many pens I can't possibly list them all, but please contact me if you want to know more. This is not the weather for this image. I was nearly sweating colouring in his jumper!




I did have a bit of a disaster with this however, I decided to distress the image a little to fill the big empty space on the LHS. Let's just say my technique left a lot to be desired & it looked awful. Scissors in hand I bravely set about hacking away, which was fine until I got to the flowers. I got a little stressed at that point & nearly cut the flower pot out altogether!

The rest of the card is quite simple. The circle date stamp from Catslife Press fits the numbers theme well. It was all really well planned & thought through. Actually it was an afterthought to fill the gap, but I'm pleased with how it came out! I hope you'll now check out the superb creations of my fellow PFP D Teamies. They are excelling themselves week on week.

There are a couple of other challenges I'd like to enter my card into.

At Mo's Challenge Blog, 'Anything Goes',

I tried to make my colour scheme fit the challenge at Colour Create as well. I hope the DT will approve!

Thanks so much for looking. Hope everyone is having a great week & has gotten over England's defeat. Come on Andy Murray!!

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Sweet Spring Mimo

These Bildmalarna images are fast becoming some my faves. I feel an addiction coming on! This is the second of the ones I got from Bunny Zoes thanks to my fabulous friend Dena.

This card fits three challenges. The layout is from the this weeks great sketch at Create 4 Fun. I've used the yummy colour pallette at Colour Create of mint, chocolate & cream. At Secret Crafters the theme is 'Spring has Sprung'. I think this image fits the bill there too.

This little boy's name is Mimo, but he reminds me of both my boys, who may not be perfect, but both of them are loving to a fault. Yesterday Ben went out into the front garden in just his pyjamas. I was mortified that he had gone out on his own, but he said he had gone looking for flowers to pick for me! He is such a sweetheart!!

So there you go. Hope everyone's week has started well.
Thanks for looking.

Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Dreamy Sugar Nellie

I'm back in my cute zone for this one & I love it when a card turns out just as I planned. I only had one go at this, as lovely Dena sent me the image. No pressure then!! But the Sugar Nellie Mangas are one of my favourite stamp ranges. Though I do struggle with their hair!!

I'm entering this in two challenges. The layout is based on this weeks sketch at Papertake Weekly. Really enjoyed the sketch & will definitely use it again. The colour scheme fits the bill at Colour Create too, where they want you to use red, black & off white. Love that combo!

I actually added glaze to give her lovely shiny shoes, but you can't tell in the photo. The DPs are from the Bella Bella range from MME, & the deep red paper is Bazzill Bling (yum!) She's coloured with Promarkers. Don't ask me about the lace paper. I found it in the bottom of my ribbon box & have had it for ages. It's from Hobbycraft I think.

Got to go. My bed is calling!

Thanks for looking!!

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Valentines Double Header

OMG where has the week gone? I've just realised it's been a whole week since my last post. I have not even been round much to comment, so I must apologise & I will be trying to rectify that over the next few days. I do have a couple of cards to show you today, both for Valenties Day. The first I made for my Dad to give my Mum & I used this weeks sketch & recipe at Crafts 4 Eternity where we want you to

1. use the sketch

2. use polka dots

3. use chipboard

I must ring my Mum to see if she likes her card. I've left it entirely up to my Dad to add the sentiment, but I think the image should pave the way for him quite nicely!

There is not really too much to tell you about the card. My Mum/bombshell is coloured with distress inks & the DPs are Crate Paper. The heart was a blank chipboard shape I covered in paper & inked round the edges to neaten it up.


Exciting things are afoot at C4E. Michele is offering a gorgeous mini card kit for our winner this week. We still have our lovely GDT member Sandra sharing her fabulous creations & this week welcome the equally wonderfully talented Keeley into the fold. I hope you will join in with the fun this week & check out their work & that of my other brilliant DT colleagues.

My second card is the one I made for my dear Hubby. I used a Mo Manning digi image to show what we will look like in another 30-40years time together! I think the idea might be a bit daunting for him. You get less for murder, LOL!!



I coloured the image with Promarkers & am entering this at Papertake Weekly as I have used their fabulous sketch for my layout. At Creative Inspirations this week they have asked us to use leftovers. My DPs are Basic Grey Blush that I have had for ages & I am still using them up. But that's OK because I really like them! The heart pins, conversely, are brand new from one of my favourite shops, Quixotic Paperie. Where Elaine always offers great service.

There are a few more romantic challenges where this also fits the bill. At Simon Says Stamp, they are asking 'What's Love got to do with It?' Well, everything if you ask me! Seeing as I made this card 'In the Name of Love' I'm entering it at Cute Card Thursday too!
At Lili of the Valley, the theme is Valentines. I could enter both these cards in there!
My colour scheme is based on the yummy colour pallette of red, white, pink & chocolate

at Colour Create this fortnight. They are celebrating their birthday. Congratulations girls, thank you so much for the fab inspiration over the last 12 months. Long may it continue!!

I don't think I've ever entered so many challenges at once, & if you've stuck with me this far you deserve a medal! Thanks so much for looking & whatever you are up to on this beautiful day I hope you have fun.

Big Valentines Hugs,

Andie xx

Happy Birthday Dena!!

Here's a card that holds a special place in my heart, because I made it for a very special lady! I discovered her blog just under a year ago, when she was new to the world of Blogland like me. At first, I was bowled over by her beautiful cards, but very quickly I came to find she is quite simply, a warm, kind & generous friend too.

DENA!

This one's for you, by best blogging buddy!!

Today is Dena's birthday, so I hope this has reached her OK. It is a Mo Manning stamp, coloured to fit this fortnights colour combo at Colour Create, where incidentally, Dena is on the DT.

Now I have a favour to ask. I would like everyone who sees this post to hop on over to Dena's Stamping Corner & leave her a special birthday message. If you haven't been there before, you're sure to be in awe of her amazing talent & inspiration. She's just FAB!

So there you go.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENA!
Have a Wonderful DAY!!

Big, extra special, Birthday Hugs,

Andie xx

I Love it when a plan comes together!

In the immortal words of Hannibal Smith, "I love it when a plan comes together!" Did anyone else watch the A-Team? Who was your fave? Definitely Face for me! Sorry, I digress & I haven't even started!! I really love the way this card turned out. So much so, I might even give it to my hubbie to give to me for Xmas, LOL!

I am entering it into 5 challenges this week, yes 5! They all seem to fit nicely, so why not! The sketch is from this weeks Create 4 Fun. I love it & will definitely use it again. Blue, silver & white is the current colour scheme at Colour Create. It's so sophisticated! Unfortunately, in the photo, my silver, looks more grey, but IRL it looks loads better.

Just Magnolia want to see cards that have been distressed. This definitely qualifies on that score. In fact, I must do more distressing, it hides a multitude of sins!! At Secret Crafters the challenge is to make an Easel Card. I was dying to have a go at one of these, so this was the perfect opportunity.

Finally, last but not least, Stamp Something have a fab recipe challenge where they want to see you use, 1 ribbon, 2 papers & 3 embellishments. I used felt ribbon, stripey paper (I don't know where from) & MME vellum (from 2004!). Unfortunately the snowflakes on the vellum are rather spread out & I have managed to cover them all up! The embellies I've used are dew drops, buttons & the flowers, which I sprayed with glimmer mist & added Stickles. I also added Stickles to the ice.

So there you go, Tilda & Edwin all loved up! The sentiment is from Whiff of Joy. Hope everyone is having a great week. I'm enjoying reading about everyone's adventures at the NEC. I sure wish I could have gone. Never mind, maybe next year!

Big Hugs!

Andie xx

3-in-1 Autumn Sugar Nellie

Things aren't quite as hectic now the kitchen is nearly done. (Just got the floor & splashbacks to get done!) It's been quite a while since I last entered a challenge. So I'm making up for by entering this into 3 challenges this week. The layout is based on the lovely, simple sketch at Friday Sketchers. I rotated it to fit my image. A Spoonfull of Sugar want to see disressing on your cards. Scuffed edges are not something I normally do, but I love the look on other peoples, & I'm really pleased with how it turned out here. Finally Colour Create chose the combo, ruby, cream & gold. This is perfect for an autumnal flavoured card, so I just had to give it a whirl! Have to say, I love the Sugar Nellie Autumn kit. Every image is just gorgeous. I never usually go for kits as there are usually one or two I'm not keen on. It's also nice to be able to see it before you take the plunge.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. I'll be back again tomorrow with my Crafts 4 Eternity DT card.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Recipe:

Stamps: Sugar Nellie Homegrown Autumn Kit, Inkadinkadoo

Papers: Basic Grey Fusion, Deja View.

Tools: Distress Inks, Beads & Embroidery thread.

3 in 1 Challenge

Having been away I am dying to get my teeth back into all the great challenges out there. This card has to cover three bases! The sketch I used is the current one over at Sketch & Stash. I have used old & new stash on this. The lilac paper is really old from Paper Adventures I got when I started crafting about 6 years ago. Back then I was into scrapbooking mainly & this came in a QVC kit. The pink Cherryarte DP is a more recent purchase, from Silly Monkey Crafts I think. My new stash are the butterfly buttons I got from Stampeezee, in the £1 section! They also qualify the card for this weeks challenge at Spoonfull of Sugar this week which is butterflies. Which is a good job as I thought I was using Butterfly Tilda from the Spring collection, but I think she is actually a fairy! Finally the colour scheme at Colour Create this week is lilac, blush pink & mossy green. I have to say I thought this card would look fab, but I am not totally happy with it. Those wings are a bit OTT! Though it does look better in real life, the papers do not show up so well in the photo.
Hope your week has gotten off to flyer, unlike me & my hubby Paul. I am blaming him for undercooking the sausages on the BBQ we had yesterday. He felt too sick to go into work today & worked from home, I have spent most of the day in bed! Anyway, I am feeling well enough to do some crafting now, so hopefuly I will be in work tomorrow - oh joy!! Thankfully the children did not have any sausage or we would have been in a mess!

Regards,
Andie xx

Could Not Resist!

Could not resist making one last card before going on my hols tomorrow! No matter I have not finished packing yet as a result, but it is important to prioritise. I will not get chance to craft over the next 12 days, & thought it more important to make sure I had one final fix, LOL! I have used a Penny Black image kindly sent by the lovely ladies over at Creative Inspirations after I won their challenge the the week before last. Thank you so much! I am entering this in 2 challenges this week. On Colour Create the combo is yellow, pink sorbet & chocolate. It reminds me of the Neopolitan ice cream I used to love as a kid. Nowadays, I like to think my taste is a little more sophisticated, Haagen Daaz Baileys is my favourite. I have used the fab sketch at Sketch Saturday to create the layout. Icoloured the image with watercolour pencils & glazed the icing on the cakes to make them stand out a bit more. The DPs are my Melissa Francis & the engraved paper by Artsy.licious.
Hope everyone had a good Bank Holiday; we had great weather for a change! I am taking my laptop on holiday & will try & get some visiting done, (if not any cards), depending on WiFi availability. In the meantime,

Regards,
Andie xx

Just Magnolia meets Colour Create

Just a quickie this morning. Woke up too early, so thought I would just get this posted before work. Naoul has provided a fantastic sketch at Just Magnolia this week, which I will definitely use again. I wish I had made this card a bit smaller though, as there is too much background & not enough Tilda! The flowers look a bit squashed up too! A big Thank You to the lovely Sarah, better known as Lil Paper Pixie, who sent me this image. She is multi talented as demonstrated by the diverse range of cards she produces. I am hoping Spring is nearly over, so I thought I better get this image used now, before it's too late. What colour are lambs if not ecru?So it also lends itself perfectly to the Colour Create combo this week which is Tan, Ecru & Duck Egg Blue. I love colour combo challenges, they give me so much inspiration & often enable me to use up old papers I had almost given up on! The DP on this card is by All My Memories that I must have had at least 2 years without it ever being touched. Well must go I can hear the boys stirring. Hope you are having a good week, it will soon be the weekend!!

Regards,
Andie xx