Sunday 30 October 2011

Happy Halloween!

I know I'm a day early, but my boys have been having a Halloween party tonight. I thought I'd show you the card I made for Ben. (Jack's can be found here - Mr Punkinhead)


This oh so cute image is from Rick St Denis- I Brake for Stamps at Quixotic Paperie. I coloured him with Distress Inks & the papers are MME. 


I followed the fab sketch at Stamp With Fun for my layout on this card. The picket fence Doo Hickey, is no exactly spooky, but looks appropriate here.


Thought I'd also share some piccies of Jack & Ben having fun at our party. Their food when they had 'Dead Man's Fingers (sausages), with blood (ketchup), Monster Munch & Scotch Eggs (Monster's eyes). I made them goodie bags filled with sweets from a tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers. I will try & find the link.


Jack (above) was a werewolf. If you saw his mask it's easier to imagine. Ben (below) was a skeleton. Just see that scary face, LOL! They had Sparklers after tea too.


Thanks for sticking through with such a long post. Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween tomorrow. Have fun!

Thanks for looking. Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Saturday 29 October 2011

Secret Crafter's Saturday Challenge - Spooky or Whimsical

Goodness, I'm late with this. I'd hoped to get this posted earlier but didn't manage it & haven't had time till now. Nonetheless, Happy Saturday everyone! My lovely D-Teamie, Bridget, has chosen this week's theme at Secret Crafter's Saturday Challenge. And it is

SPOOKY OR WHIMSICAL


I was in rather a hurry to complete this, hence the CAS look. The image is from the gorgeous new Fairy Glen release from Sugar Nellie. She's coloured with Distress Inks & I used green & white glitter on her wings. The flower was made with a Spellbinders die.


The sketch & CAS theme at the Sugar Bowl this fortnight suited my needs perfectly for this card.

I am also entering this at Totally Gorjuss this week where the theme is I remember. I bought this stamp specifically because it has a squirrel. I love squirrels. As a child my favourite book was Beatrix Potter's 'The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin'

At Simon Says Stamp this week, 'Anything Goes'

As it's the last challenge of the month, it's also your last chance to have a chance of winning the fabulous prize of 5 digis from our sponsor, The Stamping Boutique


Please pop on over to the Secret Crafter's Saturday Challenge blog to see more awesome creations from my wonderful D-Teamies. For now though I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Tuesday 25 October 2011

Papertake Weekly & Passion For Promarkers Double Header!

Happy Tuesday! I've got 2 cards to show again today. The first is my final (boo hoo) GDT card for Papertake Weekly. Dawny has designed another fab sktch for us.


This is not my normal style, but sometimes you need to make a card for someone who doesn't do cute. Such is thew case with this, it's for my uncle. I coloured this gorgeous Stempelglede image with Distress Inks & used MME papers. A few half pearls finish it off.


It was a relief therefore to get back to my comfort zone therefore, with my Passion For Promakers card. Our challenge this week, chosen by lovely Denise, is to make a card

 FOR A CHILD


This time I was making a card for my little niece. I used this adorable little LOTV image with Magnolia papers & Doo Hickey dies. I edged everything with Picket Fence Crackle Paint.

We are lucky to be sponsored by Letraset this week who are offering our prize winner a fab stamping set. Check out the fabulous inspiration of my fellow D-Teamies at the Passion For Promarkers blog.

I want to enter this at the LOTV challenge this week where it's eyes down on their bingo card. I used gems, flowers & lace/ribbon.


Saturday 22 October 2011

Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge - Wrap up Warm with Something Knitted

Big Yay for the weekend! Time for another challenge at Secret Crafter's Saturday Challenge. This week it's my turn to choose the theme & as the weather turns colder I'd like to see your images

WRAP UP WARM
(with something knitted)


I have to confess to forgetting about the something knitted bit myself even, but this little Wee cutie by Whimsey Stamps is wearing gloves, so it's OK. I was so keen to ink her up, I just had to use her! She's coloured with Distress Inks & the papers are Cosmo Cricket - Mitten Weather. I love this pad. The die cut is a Magnolia Doo Hickey.

You can see the Glamour Dust on the fur trim better in this photo. I also sprinkled a little over the Crackle Glaze I put on her wings.

It's all very simple, but this has to be one of my favourites of the Xmas cards I have made this year. I love the image & the colour scheme. I based the layout on last weeks Sketch Saturday sketch, but forgot by the time I posted this the challenge would be out of date, duh!

This card does however, fit the bill at Totally Gorjuss, where the theme is 'Pastel Christmas'.

I hope you'll pop on over to the Secret Crafters blog to see the awesome creations of my fellow D-Teamies.

All that remains is to Thank You all so much for looking & wish you a wonderful weekend.

Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Passion For Promarkers & Papaertake Weekly Halloween Double Header


Happy Tuesday one & all! I've got a double helping of scary cards for you today. My first offering is my GDT card for this week's challenge at Papertake Weekly, where we want you use

HALLOWEEN HUES
(ie. purples, oranges, greens, black etc. It doesn't have to be a Halloween card though.)

As you can see, this little Bildmalarna scarecrow is not really that scary at all. That's because this is for my recently turned 1 year old nephew, so I went all out cute & colourful for him instead. He's coloured with Distress Inks & the papers are Fancy Pants - Oct 31st. I embossed the purple co-ordinations paper & the bow was off a chocolate box or something.

This next card is an altogether much spookier affair. But I love the image & I hope my 8yr old son, Jack will too. This is my DT card for Passion For Promarkers, where lovely Lisa has chosen our theme this week, which is

STARS

 

This is Mr Punkinhead from Kraftin Kimmie. He was a doddle to colour & I added Distress Stickles to his eyes & mouth to enhance the effect of the light inside his head. It sounds wierd writing it like that, but you know what I mean. The sentiment comes with the image & the papers are Fancy Pants once again.


The layout for both cards is based on the fab sketch at Quixotic Paperie where they have a new monthly challenge back up & running again. Yippee!!

There are also other Halloween themed challenges that I am entering these cards into at Creative Card Crew, Simon Says Stamp, ABC Challenges, where B is for 'Boo!'  

I hope you'll now go and check out the fabulous inspiration of my wonderful D-Teamies at Papertake Weekly & Passion For Promarkers & play along with us this week. There are fabulous prizes to be one, including a £20 voucher to spend at Crafters Companion available at Passion For Promarkers. What  re you waiting for!!

Well I hope you are all having a good week so far. Thanks so much for looking.
Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Saturday 15 October 2011

Secret Crafters - White & One other Colour

I don't need to tell you how happy I always am that it's the weekend, but I'll give it a big WHOOP WHOOP anyway!! Our lovely boss lady & original Secret Crafter, Wendy has chosen our theme for this week challenge at Secret Crafters & it is

WHITE & ONE OTHER COLOUR



 I thought I would struggle with this as I always use more colour in my cards, but it was perfect for a frosty, vintage style Xmas card. The fab LOTV image is coloured with distress inks & the papers are MME, Merry Days of Christmas. I edged everything with Picket Fence Distress Stain & used Liquid Pearls for the snow. The stars were die cut & 2 layers covered with Picket Fence Crackle Paint. The top star I then covered with Glossy Accents & Sprinkled with glitter. I love how it turned out. I think the gem swirls are by Prima.


I based my layout on the lovely sketch at Sketch & Stash this week. My stamp is new & I have to say, was nice & easy to colour. My old stash is the papers & diamante swirls I have had since last Xmas!

At Bunny Zoes this month the challenge is to put lace on your card. I chose some I thought looked like icicles for the purposes of this card.

So I hope you'll now hop on over to the Secret Crafters blog to see the amazing creations of my wonderful D-Teamies.

That's it for now. After England's dismal failure in the rugby last week, I'm now off to support the land of my mother's birth & where she lived for all of 2 weeks, Wales.

Have a great weekend & thanks so much for looking.
Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Tuesday 11 October 2011

Papertake Weekly & Passion For Promarkers Double Header!

Good Morning to you & a Happy Tuesday one & all. Buckle your seat belts, I've got a long old post to get through today as I have 2 cards to show you. The first is my GDT card for Papertake Weekly where we want to see cards with

3 DIFFERENT SHAPES
( one can be the card base)



I used this super cutie from the Fairy Glen Xmas release at Sugar Nellie. She's coloured with Distress Inks & the papers are MME Holly Jolly, or is it Jolly Holly?! Of course there is the mandatory glitter every fairy must have, including Glamour Dust on her fur trim & Crackle Glaze sprinkled with pink glitter on her wings. The snowflake was cut with a Spellbinders die & the sentimnet is LOTV.


I love how she turned out & had fun distressing her, which I haven't done for a while. The layout follows the sketch at the current Sugar Bowl challenge.

At Truly Scrumptious the theme is Distressing, as it is at Stamptacular Sunday, so I am entering this card there.

On to my second card of the day. It's my offering for the Passion For Promarkers challenge, where this week the theme was set by my good self & it is,

CHRISTMAS CRITTERS
(ie. Xmas cards with animals on)


I used Christmas Bunnies - Post from last years LOTV Xmas release. It's a shame I couldn't take the photo in daylight as I always hate the radioactive glow they give out in artificial light! The papers are MME. It's hard to see the pattern on the red paper, but it has a lovely self coloured glittery snowflakes. Again with the Glamour Dust on the fur trim & on the snow I used Frosty Lace Stickles. The snowflake is a Martha Stewart punch.


This layout is based on the sketch at Sketch Saturday this week.
I am also entering it at Lili of the Valley where the theme is 'Let it Snow'.

So I hope you now pop on over to see the fabulous creations of my fellow D-Teamies at both Papertake Weekly & Passion For Promarkers. They are all awesome. Play along & you could also win a fabulous prize :~)

***EDITED: LOTV Blog Candy Winner from the Papertake Weekly Blog Hop is


Congratulations!!
E-mail me with your details & I will get you stamp in the post to you :~)

Here are my boys, Jack (the big one) & Ben picking Lisa's name out of the hat. Sorry about the quality of the photos, they soon got over their initial excitement & wouldn't pose for a better one! As you can see Ben has been taking tips from Paul McCartney on how to pose for photos; does he ever have a picture taken without giving a thumbs up!!



Thanks so much for looking,
Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Saturday 8 October 2011

Secret Crafters - Anything goes, as long as it glitters!

Saturday is here again, & you know how much I love my weekends! Not least because it's time for another fab challenge at Secret Crafters, chosen by my wonderful D Teamie, Tracie. This week,

ANYTHING GOES
( as long as it glitters!)


I finally got chance to play with one of the new Sylvia Zet images by SCACD that I got from Quixotic Paperie. This one is called '3 Wishes', isn't she adorable? She's coloured with Distress Inks & the yummy paper is by Bo Bunny. IRL it gltters, though the photo does not pick that up. The paper ribbon is from Crafty Emma's.


You can see the glittery bits a little better here. I used a Sakura glitter pen on the spots on the box. Glamour Dust on the flowers in her hair & on the wings of the fairy & gold Viva Decor glitter on the stars.

I've kept this very simple as I love the image & the gorgeous paper & did not want to cover anything up. But I hope it has enough 'Sparkle & Bling' for Simon Says Stamp this week. It does sparkle more IRL, honest!

So now it's time to pop on over to the Secret Crafter's blog to see the fabulous inspiration of my lovely D Teamies. Nice & easy challenge for you this week, so no excuses for not playing along! I look forward to seeing all your gorgeousness.

Well I was going to watch the rugby now, but I'm not sure I'll bother as England seem to be getting the beatings off France! That makes it very hard to watch. So I look forward to cheering on Saints tonight instead! That's Rugby League for anyone south of Cheshire! It's a perfectly miserable day out there weather wise, so looks like a good one to get crafty to me :~) Whatever you are doing, have a great weekend.

Thanks so much for looking, & don't forget my little blog candy if you scroll down.
Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Tuesday 4 October 2011

Papertake Weekly - GDT Blog Hop!!

Big, Big WOW!! Papertake Weekly is 4 years old. Other fab challenges have come & gone, but Papertake Weekly just keeps on rolling. How lucky am I to be joining the team as GDT for this month & I joining in the 4th Anniversary blog hop.

If you missed the start, go back to the Papertake Weekly blog & start at the beginning. You should be joining me from lovely Katina's amazing blog.


I couldn't get the light right for this photo, this looks a lot brighter IRL. This little LOTV cutie is called 'Twinkling Star' & I coloured her with Distress Inks. The DP is Echo Park, Wintertime, & the snowflake was made with a Spellbinders die.


You can see better in this photo, some of the sparkle. Gold Viva glitter on the stars & Liquid Pearls on the snow. Of course I had to use the obligatory Glamour Dust on her fur trim too. What did I ever do without it?!

Getting into the spirit of the hop, as some of the other Papertake DT are offering their own candy, I thought I would add a little bit of my own. Leave me a comment & I will pick a winner for this gorgeous LOTV stamp that is looking for a loving & caring home. It may only be small, but it is perfectly formed!

*Stamp* - Together Forever


(Candy closes at midnight GMT on 10th October)

There are loads more stunning & fabulous prizes to be won on this weeks blog hop & at the Papertake weekly blog itself, where the challenge this week is,

ANYTHING GOES

What are you waiting for, it couldn't be simpler! However, before you do, you better finish the blog hop. Next stop is the wonderful,

 Go & give her some love :~)

Finally, I just want to enter this card at the challenge at Crafting Life's Pieces this month, where I used their fab sketch for my layout.

Thanks so much for looking & don't forget to enter my candy:~)
Big Hugs to one & all,
Andie xx

Passion For Promakers - Alter Something, not Square

Good morning! Time for another Passion For Promarkers challenge,  this week chosen by my lovely D-Teamie, Anja. She wants to see

SOMETHING ALTERED
(but not square)



In all honesty, I am embarassed to be showing you this. You'll have to take my word for it that I have altered a wine bottle, by wrapping it in some gorgeous Bo Bunny paper & adding this sweet image from Sugar Nellie. But my photo was so bad, it looked like I'd drunk the whole bottle of wine before I took it!! So I'm afraid, you only get to see the close up here. If you want to see how bad it looks, you have to hop on over to the Passion For Promarkers blog & have a good laugh at it, whilst you admire the fabulous creations of my gorgeous D-Teamies.

Joanna Sheen

Play along this week & you could win another great prize. We are sponsored this week by Joanna Sheen  who is givingaway a £10 voucher to spend in her fantastic shop.

So there you go. Not my greatest piece of work I'm sad to say. However, I will be back at 12:00 today with something rathe special & a whole lotta fun!
See You later!

Thanks for looking,
Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Saturday 1 October 2011

Secret Crafters - Halloween!

Whoop-de-whoop for the weekend! We've got another fab challenge at Secret Crafters for you this week chosen by my lovely D-Teamie, Kate. She wants to see what you make of her theme,

HALLOWEEN



This is Little Mimosa Witch from Bildmalarna. She's so sweet. I coloured her with Distress Inks & the papers are. The sentiment is from High Hopes.


There is not much to tell you about this really as I followed the sketch at Papertake Weekly quite faithfully & I don't really have much in the way of Halloweeen themed embellishments.

This card also fits at Cute Card Thursday, where they're going 'Animal Crackers'.

At Simon Says Stamp, 'Anything Goes'. As it does too at Crafts 4 Eternity. Big waves & kisses to all my lovely former D-Teamies over there!

It's now time to pop on over to the Secret Crafters blog to see the wonderful inspiration on display there. I hope you'll play along with us this week, I look forward to seeing your fab creations.



Also here's a heads up for all you lovely ladies in the Midlands, or further afield maybe. The original Secret Crafter herself & uber talented all round lovely person, Wendy, is hosting a 'Christmas Dabble Day' on November 19th. You get expert guidance from fabulous tutors to make a range of gorgeous xmas projects, with the chance to 'dabble' with various tools & techniques. Sounds like a mega fun day out!

So there you go. That's all from me for now. I hope you all have a great weekend & this fantastic weather lasts at least till Monday. Thanks so much for looking.

Big Hugs,
Andie xx

EDIT: Apologies for the lateness of this post. 2 words - GRRRRRR Blogger!!