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!!

Secret Crafters - Holidays!

I'm doing a happy dance for the weekend! Even though it's raining, I'm not at work, so it's not all bad, LOL!!! Even better news is that it's time for another Secret Crafters Challenge, set this week by lovely Helen. She has chosen a theme of

HOLIDAYS 

This Kraftin Kimmie stamp is called Florence & I think she's fab!. I coloured her with Distress Inks & the papers are MME. I wanted to keep ths really simple, just added a heart shaped connecter from Crafty Emmas

, ribbon & the adhesive pearls.


When I asked my boys, independently of one another who Florence reminded them of, they both said my sister - WRONG answer!!! At least not the one I was hoping for. They both said my hair was a lot curlier & then darling hubby chipped in with '& greyer'! Do you see what I have to put up with?!!!

Oh well! I hope you'll now pop on over to the Secret Crafters blog to see the fab creations of my awesome D-Teamies! Before you go these are the challenges I am entering with this card.

 At Papertake Weekly, things are getting Hot, Hot, Hot! And at Bunny Zoes, the theme is 'Fun in the Sun'.

At Creative Inspirations, there's 'No Flowers Allowed'.

Big waves to my old D-Teamies at Crafts 4 Eternity. They have a 3-2-1 challenge this week. I've used 3 adhesive pearls, 2 design papers & 1 charm.

Bearly Mine Designs & Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Finally, one of my favourite challenges that I don't enter very often is Stamptacular Sunday. I have based my card on their fab sketch this week. I tried to make the top & bottom layers represent the sun/sky & the sand.

So there you go. Thanks so much for looking.
Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity - R is for Ribbon & Rhinestones

Apologies for being a little late with this, here is my card for this week's Crafts 4 Eternity challenge where this week we want to see you using embellishements on your card beginning with the letter,

R

I used ribbon & rhinestones on mine.

I hope these photos don't look as washed out for you as they do on my netbook. The papers are much nicer IRL. I used a Mo Manning for Stamping Bella image that I've had for yonks. This is only the second time I've inked her up. She's coloured with Promarkers & the papers are MME - Stella Rose, Hazel.

I've been paring things down a bit lately, trying to move towards a more CAS look. I'm not sure I've got the nerve, LOL!! But I want to give it a go at some point.

I hope you'll now pop on over to the C4E blog to see the gorgeous cards created by my fellow D-Teamies. Our lovely sponsor this week is Crafty Sentiments who our offering this week's lucky winner 3 digi stamps of their choice.

Moreover, everyone loves a freebie, & if you're looking for a lovely sentiment with which to finish off your Father's Day cards, check out the fab digi Michelle has created that is available to snag at the Crafts 4 Eternity cafe, here.

I also want to enter this card at Stamp Something, where the challenge is 'Pretty Papers'. Is there any other kind?!!

Thanks so much for looking. Have a great weekend,

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity - Colour Recipe

Boo Hoo! My holiday is over & I am back at work, but Whoop Whoop I've been reunited with my crafting stash & I'm able to play again!! Just in time for this week's Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge where this week week have a colour challenge for you of

STRAWBERRIES & CREAM

We're off to a wedding tomorrow & this is the card I made for our friends getting married. I wanted something elegant, but a little bit playful to suit their personalities. This Lili of the Valley image is perfect. It's coloured with Distress Inks, with a touch of glitter for a little sparkle. The lovely sentiment is also from LOTV.

I've kept this clean & simple to let the image do the talking. I hope you'll now check out the wonderful creations of my fellow D-Teamies at Crafts 4 Eternity & play along. This week's winner will receive 4 digi imags of their choosing.

I would also like to enter this into the challenge at Papertake Weekly where 'Anything Goes'

So that's it for now. Thanks for looking!

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

Crafts 4 Eternity - Colour Challenge

Spring is in the air at Crafts 4 Eternity! This week's challenge is  to use a gorgeous colour scheme, green & yellow. How refreshing!!

I've just realised, this is my second card in succession of a girl hugging her teddy. This one though, is by Elisabeth Bell for Belles & Whistles. She's coloured with Distress Inks & the Papers are by Magnolia. The flowers are a mix from Wild Orchid Crafts, Hobbycraft & Bizzy Becs. I used a Cuttlebug die cut in the corner & a few adhesive gems to add a little sparkle.

This is not a colour scheme I would ever have chosen myself, but I love how she turned out. For more inspiration, hop on over to the Crafts 4 Eternity blog to see the wonderful creations of my fellow D-teamies.

I am also entering this card at Papertake Weekly, where this week, 'Anything Goes'

The layout uses the sketch at Sketch Saturday

Allsorts Challenge wants to see cards witth 'Bloomimg Blossoms'.

So there you go. Looks like Spring may be back again, at least for the weekend. So whatever you are up to , make the most of it!

Thanks so much for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity Sketch Challenge

I made this card for a friend of my son Jack, whose party it is tomorrow. He is football mad & very good at it too, for an 8yr old. So I thought this little cutie form LOTV would fit the bill perfectly.

He's coloured with Distress Inks & the papers are Fancy Pants - My Family.

Our challenge this week at Crafts for Eternity is to follow the sketch.

It's not a particularly simple sketch, but I really like how my card turned out. For more fabulous inspiration, my fellow C4E D-teamies have excelled themselves once again. Check out their wonderful creations here, & play along. This week's winner will get a choice of  3 of Michele's fab digis.

So there you go. I'm off to Manchester Central tomorrow for the craft show. I think LOTV will be there, so that will be worth the ticket price alone! I'll have to try not to spend too much - not making any promises though, LOL!!

Hope everyone  has something fab to look forward to this weekend. Have fun!!

Thanks for looking,

Big Hugs,

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

Crafts 4 Eternity #47 - Holidays!

It's Friday & time for another fab challenge at Crafts 4 Eternity. This week we want you to,

1. Follow the sketch

2. Use a Holiday theme.

We're kindly sponsored this week by the lovely Suzette at Crafty Sentiments, who is offering this fab digi snowman to this weeks winner.

For my card I rotated the sketch & used the adorable Sugar Nellie image, Santa's letter.



He's coloured with Promarkers & my DPs are Basic Grey Wassail.

I kept everything simple on this & used a Martha Stewart deep border punch for the snowflakes, with a few adhesive pearls for good measure.

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

I'd also like to enter this at A Spoonfull of Sugar, where the theme is Christmas.

Hope everyone has had a good week. Enjoy your weekend!

Thanks for looking.

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge #45 with AquaMarkers

It's Friday & time for a new challenge at Crafts 4 Eternity! This week we want you to

1.Follow the sketch

2. Use pastel colours

3. Make a Hello card or gift.

I inked up Tilda Blowing Bubbles for this challenge. She's just gorgeous! I say that about all the Tildas don't I?!!

This is a first for me. This is my first card using the new styled Aqua Marker pens. I'm still practising, but I really like them. Obviously I need more time to get used to them, but you can get great tone & shading with them. They are much more like using Distress Inks than Promarkers.

The DPs are Magnolia Ink & the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. I used Glossy Accents on the bubbles to give them a bit of reflection.

So I hope you'll head on over to the C4E blog & join us for this week's challenge. Please check out the fabulous work of my fellow D-Teamies, they have been excelling themselves yet again.

Thanks so much for looking,

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity #45

Happy Friday everyone & big YAY! it's the weekend! Time for this weeks Crafts 4 Eternity challenge. This week we want you to

1. Follow the sketch

2. Use lemon & lime either the colours &/or the fruit.

I really enjoyed this challenge. I've never used this colour scheme before & love how fresh it looks!

I used another Tilda. I have to admit to finding the summer Magnolias almost irresistable & I've not made much effort to restrain myself! This little cutie is adorable; aren't they all?! She's coloured with Distress Inks & the papers are K & Co.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts & Bizzy Becs & I sprinkled them with Twinklets. I used a Tesco (!) butterfly punch round the edges.

I hope you'll pop on over to the C4E blog now to see the fab creations of my fellow D-Teamies. I'm loving what they have created this week. Play along this week & you could be the next Guest Designer joining us through September.

Thanks so much for looking!
Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity - #44 & Whiff of Joy/Sketch Saturday

Friday evening & time for another fab challenge at Crafts for Eternity. This week we would like to see you follow the recipe

1. Follow the Sketch

2. Include bird (s)

3. Use pearls

My first card follows the C4E sketch. I made it for my Dad's birthday. He doesn't do cute, so I used this peacock image from Elusive Images. I stamped it with Promarker Pens & coloured with chalk inks & a Brilliance gold inkpad with my finger!

The DPs are K & Co Blue Awning. I also used another Elusive Images feather stamp on Shrink plastic for the embellishment.

Unfortunately I couldn't capture the shimmery effect the gold ink gave in my photos. Please check out the fabulous creations of my fellow D-Teamies. Play along us this week & you could win 3 digital stamps from the C4E range.

I've also made another card for the Whiff of Joy challenge. I used felt ribbon to satisfy the 'fuzzy' element of the challenge. I used the fab sketch at Sketch Saturday for my layout.



This is coloured with Distress Inks & the DPsare Basic Grey - Kioshi



I added a few flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts & roughed everything up. I seem to be on a vintage vibe at the moment!

This has been rather a long post so thanks for bearing with me.
Have a great weekend!

Big Hugs!
Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge #42

Good Evening! Is everyone always as glad as I am to get to the weekend! It's Friday evening & we have another fab challenge for you at C4E this week. We want you to,

1. Use the sketch

2. Use Coffee & Cream colours

3. Incorporate a bingo card.

I don't mind admitting being a bit stumped as to what image I was going to use with a bingo card for this challenge. Then I remembered this lovely Mo Manning image called Mummu. I think she looks like she just got lucky at Gala & won the jackpot!!

She's coloured with Promarkers & the DPs are Basic Grey Cappella. The lace & buttons are from my stash.


I've kept this pretty simple & faithful to the sketch. I just love the image. It is such a pleasure to colour.

So I hope you will now hop on over to the C4e blog to check out the gorgeous work of my fellow D-Teamie. It looks like they had as much fun as I did with this sketch. Their cards are all wonderful. I hope you'll play along this week & you could win a set of Michele's super digis.

Wishing you all a brilliant weekend. Thanks so much for looking.

Big Hugs,
Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity # 50, Autumn Inspiration

Today sees another fab sketch from Michele, our guiding light at Crafts 4 Eternity. This week there is an optional theme of using Autumnal inspired, browns & oranges. I chose one of my favourite Miss Anyas to convey this time of year. I paper pieced & 3D'd the umbrella for a bit of dimension. Michele's sketch includes a type of buckle, which I tried to adapt into the flower. I'm not sure it quite works, but it's not too bad. I added a hat pin, again for extra texture. Finally I sneeked 3 dew drops into the top left hand corner, as it was looking a bit bare.

Pop on over to the Crafts 4 Eternity to see the full sketch for yourself & see the wonderful work of my felow DT members.

I'm off to Altrincham this afternoon to sample the delights of the Trafford Food Festival, YUM!! Better wear something loose!! Hope you are having a good weekend, whatever you are up to. Have fun!

Hugs,

Andie xx

Recipe;

Stamp:Rainy Day Miss Anya

Papers:MME Bloom & Grow

Tools:EK Success Retro Punches

Embellishments:Hat Pin from Crafty Feeling, Dew drops from Stampeezee.

Crafts 4 Eternity # 49

Crafts 4 Eternity challenge time again! Michele's sketch is really fun. This week we are asking that you add as much or as little embellishment as you wish, wherever you want. Personally I love colouring the image, but then adding embellishment is the best bit as everything you add really gives impact to the card. Creating flowers is such fun as they always look gorgeous. I love really big ones!! Mine are a mixture of bought flowers & punches. I've also used a button, a hat pin, a spacer & dew drop for a bit of fun & to add extra texture. I also curled the petals to add more depth.

Unfortunately, the photo does not show the colours properly. The background pink is really more of a cerise that I stamped with a doodle flourish. It looks more orangey pink in the photo & not as nice. You'll have to take my word or it, it looks better IRL. I rotated the sketch 90 degrees as I felt it fitted the shape of my image better, but then realised after I finished the DP is the wrong way up. But then I guess you wouldn't have noticed had I not said, duh!!

Anyway, hope you are feeling inspired to have a go at this weeks sketch. See it here, along with the fabulous work of the other DT members.

Hope you are having a great weekend. Enjoy the weather while it lasts!

Big Hugs,

Andie xx

Recipe

Stamps: Sugar Nellie Autumn Kit, Inkadinkado

DPs: Cherry Arte from Silly Monkey Crafts

Tools:Distress Inks, EK Success Retro Flower Punches & Swirl Punch

Other: Button & Hat Pin from Crafty Feeling, Spacer from Quixotic Paperie, Dew Drop from Stampeezee. Embroidery thread from stash

Crafts 4 Eternity # 48 - Mice

Sunday again! Where do the weeks go? At Crafts 4 Eternity this week Michele has created another fab sketch to get your teeth into. There's not much to tell you about this as the card more or less made itself. I've 3D'd Henry Mouse to make him stand out more, & I used some ribbon to add more texture. The charm reads 'Made with Love'.

I hope you are feeling inspired to have a go at this sketch. Pop over to the C4E blog to see the other fab creations of my fellow DT members. While you are there pay Michele a visit. It's her birthday tomorrow. Please join me in sending her the warmest of wishes for a wonderful day!

Hope you are all enjoying the weekend.

Hugs,

Andie xx

Recipe:

Stamps: Whiff of Joy - Henry Mouse. Sentiment - Stamps Away

DPs:Fancy Pants

Tools:Distress Inks

Embellishments: Papermania brad, Ribbon from Hobbycraft, Charm from Quixotic Paperie

Crafts 4 Eternity Sketch #47 - Buttons

Wow it's Sunday again. Another week gone & C4E time once more! Michele as created another wonderful sketch & this week's optional theme is to use buttons on your card. I've gone for a bit of in your face colour this week. I'm hanging on to the summer with these shades. Whatever happened to the BBQ summer we were promised. It never really happened up here in Manchester. I live in Sale, & if you ever hear someone call it 'Sunny Sale', rest assured they are being ironic!!

Not much to tell you about my card. Gorjuss Girl is coloured with Distress Inks & the DPs are Fancy Pants. I created the border with the Martha Stewart flourish punch & the arcs in the top corners are embroidered. Wish I'd done it in all 4 corners now. The yummy bright buttons are available at Bizzy Becs & the tulle is from CraftsULove.

Hope you are enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend & will join us at Crafts 4 Eternity this week. Pop over & see the fabulous creations of my fellow DT members. There is an opportunity to win a fabulous set of sentiment stamps, designed by our very own Suzette. I should be able to finish painting my kitchen over the next couple of days. Then you better watch out! I'm going to be catching up on all the crafting I've been missing out on while I've been busy!

Hope life is treating you all well.

Hugs,

Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity Sketch #46 - G for ...

At Crafts 4 Eternity this week, Michele has designed another fabulous sketch you can really get your teeth into! The optional theme for this weeks challenge is to use something beginning with the letter G. I did not think very hard about this & chose G for Girl! Almost everything I used this week was generously gifted to me by my awesomely talented stamping buddy, Dena. She sent me the Sugar Nellie Manga Girl (I just love her!) & the beautiful My Mind's Eye Laundry Line DPs. What you can't see in the photo so well is how shimmery & glittery they are. They're just so lush!! I made the background shape with a Martha Stewart Flourish punch & a corner rounder punch. I can see me getting so much use out of those! The swirls were made with another punch, as is the flower. I added a metallic gold dew drop from Stampeezee to the centre of the flower for extra bling! The border on the DPs was made with a thickish piece of card stock that I screwed up a lot, till it became quite soft & then carefully knotted it. I quite like how it turned out looking a bit leathery. Less keen however, on the doodling I did on it. It looks like I wrote 'S' on it, rather than the scroll effect I was hoping for! The rose ribbon is from my stash & the love locket stamp was sent to me by lovely Dee, aka Sprytebyrd. Hope you now might feel inspired to have a go at the sketch yourself & go & admire the fantastic creations of my fellow DT members, here.

Hope you are having a good weekend. I am hoping to be a better blogger next week as our kitchen is almost finished & my life will not be so chaotic!

Big hugs to you all,

Andie xx

Crafts 4 Eternity Sketch 41 & An Award

I don't enter the Crafts 4 Eternity challenges nearly enough. I find their sketches really challenging (yes I know that's the point!) & I am often put off by the shapes. Take for example the bracket shape on this week's sketch. I do not have anything suitable & did not think I could draw a presentable freehand one. But then I had a stroke of genius (well I say genius! I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of this, but I felt rather pleased with myself at the time!). I folded a piece of card in half & drew half a freehand bracket, cut it out while the paper was still folded and voila! a template. (OK, so 'genius' was a slight exaggeration!). After that there was no stopping me, though in retrospect I would have used a bigger card for this as the image is quite big. I love this Annie & Ted image from Charmed Delectable stamps from Charmed Cards & Crafts. She is such a cutie. As usual I used my DIs & the DPs are Cherry Arte, from Silly Monkey Crafts I think.

This is my fab award that the wonderful Cheryl was kind enough to bestow on me. Thank you so much Cheryl. It means a lot to me to know that someone as super talented as you saw fit to pass it on to me, amongst others. See her beautiful work here. I in turn would like to pass it on to three lovely ladies whose work I think is awesome. They are Dena, Sarah & Jenny. Go take a look at their fab creations.

Phew, I'm tired now, this has been a bit of a marathon post, & if you knew how slowly I type, I'm surprised I'm still awake! Hope you are having a good week. Thank Crunchie it's Friday tomorrow!

Regards,

Andie xx