Wonderful Christmas...

Just popped in to say that I hope everyone has had a Christmas as wonderful as I have.  Didn't start celebrating till Boxing Day when we were all free from work, but it was worth the wait as it was just so special to have everyone together.

Took masses of photos of you know who!  Well he's just so much cuter than us groan ups and far more fun to scrap book.  To create my latest page I used Serif Craft Artist software and a sketch from Stuck on U Sketches.

My page is also for the challenge at Simon Says Challenge where the theme is Anything Goes!

Just in case I don't log in again before the New Year starts I'd like to wish everyone a very very Happy New Year.

Love and laughter.

Ann xxx

Happy Christmas to all...

Oh had such an awful few days after being struck down by one the nasty flu viruses going around at the moment.  I was even feeling too ill to go online - that is bad!  However, started to feel a bit brighter yesterday and made a start on scrapping some photos of Eli's last visit.  Not too convinced about the results, but I faffed around for ages with this page and this was the best it got.

Luckily while in bed suffering I managed to watch some Serif Craft Artist programmes on Create and Craft so I now know how to use shadows, scissors to create material frayed edges and how to do phrased a much faster and neater way so maybe there is a good side to being confined to bed.

I used the fab sketch at Creative Scrappers for my initial inspiration and incorporated the word 'WONDER' from the theme at the Bird is the Word Challenge blog.  I must admit that at first my interpretation of 'wonder' was meant to be the way Eli was completely mesmerised by the tree and baubles, but as I started journalling it sort of changed into a 'I wonder what I can get away with' thing.

Other challenges include...

• Anything Goes Challenge Biog - anything but a card
• Crafty Card Makers - use it three times (my photo frames and the embellishments on them are all used 3 times)

Think this may be my last posting before the big day, especially seeing as I haven't been able to get anything done for the last few days I need to catch up fast, so I would like to wish everyone visiting my blog a very happy Christmas and let's hope that the New Year brings better things for all of us.

Whoops just sneaked back to show page two of Eli exploring the Christmas tree.  This time I used a sketch from Sketches in Thyme as a basis for my design.  It was really fun to have the star as a matt to layer the photo on. 

Love and laughter and wishing everyone absolutely the best Christmas ever.

Ann xxx

Santa Baby!

Bought two Christmas CDs this year and both of them have that really earthy 'Santa Baby' song on them so I guess the title for this page comes from that.

Again it's Eli in his Santa outfit on Grannie Annie's knee and again using Serif Craft Artist to create a page to face the one I did yesterday.

I used this fab sketch from Sketchy Thursdays as a starting point.

My scrap page is also for the challenges at...

• I did it Creations Challenge Blog - Santa's getting ready.
• Paper Sundaes - anything Christmas

Wishing everyone a wonderful week.

Ann xxx

Ho Ho Ho!

Hands up all those first time Grandma's who can resist buying the gorgeous Christmas outfits there are in the shops for babies these days.  Hmmm, not a single hand in the air!  I certainly can't resist and have already bought a Santa suit and an elf outfit that are just too cute for words.  When Eli came for a few hours the other day the poor wee man just had to try this outfit on.  

I have a feeling that in years to come I may not get away with this sort of thing so I better make the most of it now.

I created my 12" x 12" page on Serif Craft Artist using a fantastic sketch from Stuck on U Sketches.

My page is also for the following challenges...

• Pollycraft - Christmas Fun
• 2 Sisters Challenge Blog - Christmas
• Crazy4Challenges - It's Santa

Hope you have all had a fantastic weekend.  I've been working, but I've now got 5 days off in a row.  Wow, how great is that?  Maybe I will finally be able to finish making and writing Christmas cards and wrapping presents.  Only 13 days to go - eeeeeeeeeeek - need to get organised.

Ann xxx

Happy Christmas Auntie...

Eli may be only 6 months old, but already he knows that Grannie Annie will make him all the cards he needs to send out at a very good price - FREE!.  He's even conned me into buying all his gifts too, but he's just so cute I really don't mind at all.

This card is for him to send to Auntie Laura, who is quite famous for being rather fond of pink and bling so I'm hoping she will love this 8" x 8" card.

The stamp is a Nellie Snellen cutie that I treat myself to last week from the Joanna Sheen Special Offers section.  I'm always popping in there as you can pick some amazing bargains.  At the moment she has some fabulous silhouette stamps on offer at way less than half price.  I coloured the stamp with my new Fleximarkers alongside original Promarkers.  I must say I love the new brush tip.

Other materials used...

• DCWV papers from way back when
• organza ribbon and gems
• Xyron Design Runner to create personalised sentiment
• snowflake dies 

Challenges...

• Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog - Christmas Wishes
• Crafty Ann's Challenge - Bingo and my line is glitter, presents and ribbon (the present is the star for the squirrel)
• Raise the Bar - Christmas
• Hanna and Friends - the sketch.

Thank you for looking and for all the very kind comments.  It so great to know that somebody out there likes what you create.

Christmas hugs - only 22 days to go!

Ann xxx

Friday again...

Oh my the week's are just flying by and I really don't seem to have much spare time at all.  I really need to have some hours for some fun crafting soon.  

At Bah! Humbug! this week our theme is Cute Critters - I'm thinking there will be thousands of entries as it's a theme everyone will love.  For my card I chose to use a House Mouse decoupage sheet by Joanna Sheen.  I'm not over keen on printed decoupage but this set came free with a mag subscription so I thought I would give it a go.  The images are really large so unless you're doing a massive card they don't need much else adding.  This card is an A5 so as you can see the image almost fills the front.  I used Pepper and friends papers to go alongside the image as they seemed to match up well.

A Marianne die cut holly branch and tag with ribbon completes the card.

Do pop over to Bah! Humbug! to see the fab work of our guest designer and my pal Max.  

Have a great weekend.

Ann xxx

Yeah, it's Friday...

and I'm working all weekend - Booo!  Hiss!!

However, before I go I must show my card for our challenge at Bah! Humbug!  This week our theme is Fabric.  Hmm, something a little different and maybe more challenging perhaps.  I had so many thoughts for this including altering one of my thousands of bags for life into something far more Christmassy, but in the end I decided to make a card for a crafting friend.

My original idea was to use an organza bag as part of the card and fill it with charms for her to use in her craft projects, but the bags I had were either too big or too small so in the end the bag has just one item in it - a wine glass charm ring.  This way she can either use it on a glass or pull it apart and use the tiny corkscrew (how cute is that?) and beads on cards, etc.  I think she will love it.

To attach the bag I punched two holes in the front of the card and then threaded and tied the bag strings inside.  Then I added a ribbon to jazz up the front and hide the fact I made the holes too big - must do better next time!

I matt and layered the other papers on top after cutting an apperture in the front of each one and added a die cut frame to draw the eye to the focal point of the bag.  Bling and silver peel offs and sentiment finish the card off.

Other challenges...

• C.R.A.F.T Challenge - Unusual Christmas Card
• Charisma - Snowflakes

Have a good weekend everyone whether you are working or playing - it's all good!

Ann xxx

Paradise...

After trying to find space for some beautiful new designer papers I bought this week I thought it might be an idea to do some 'real' scrapbooking for a change instead of using Serif Craft Artist and having the whole page printed.

Typically I ended up not using any of my patterned paper at all, but two plain blue sheets of 12" x 12" card by DCWV and a amazing sketch from Sketchy Thursdays.

It was quite nerve wracking to cut my 6" x 4" photos down to just the 3" x 3" that eventually turned out to be the right size for the layout, but I'm glad I did now as I love they way they turned out.  After trimming I matt and layered each photo on to white and the same navy paper as my base colour. 

The title and journalling, which if you look carefully at the sketch, had to include a list, was planned on Serif Craft Artist (hmm still ended up using it for one part of the page after all) and then printed on Inkjet Acetate before being laid over the light blue.  Then I attached the photos and strip of embossed card on top.

I didn't add any extra embellishments as I really liked the simplicity of the page.  Hope others do too!

My page is also for the challenges at...

• Crafty Ann's Challenge - Monochromatic (eeeeek well it is apart from photos)
• Scrapbook Sisters - Anything Goes

Wow - three posts in one day!  I'm on a roll which is about to come to an end as I am working all weekend.

Ah well needs must have a good weekend everyone.

Ann xxx

Bags and Boxes...

Oh my doing 24 hour shifts can really tire you out!  Having said that I really should do my design team projects earlier than the day before.  Hmmm, less grovelling and trying to make excuses for a very quick effort for this week's  Bah! Humbug! project on the theme of bags and boxes.
My bag is a recycled one from last year.  I don't know about you, but I always save pretty bags as with a new tag they can look as good as new.
My tag was created using a computer generated label and sentiment.  Then using a clear Santa stamp which I've had some years and absolutely love I stamped Santa in the correct position, coloured using Promarkers and then glittered to add some oomph.  Then I cut into a tag shape and mounted on to a snippet of red card (yes Jules I'm really trying to not break into new card when I only need a tiny bit) before mounting on white again so that the back could be written on easily.  A very simple project easy enough to do even when you just want to curl up and go to sleep.
Alongside Bah! Humbug! my project is also for the following challenges...

• Jules Crafty Snippets - use your snippets
• Crafty Ribbons Challenge - anything but a card
• Crimbo Crackers - make it sparkle
• Creatalicious - make something for Christmas that sparkles

Maybe I'll get round to doing some boxes when I'm fully awake.  We'll see and in the meantime do pop over to Bah! Humbug! to take a look at the fabulous work of my team mates.
Have a great day.
Ann xxx

Variations on a theme...

Rather than put away the images left from the sheet of Kanban toppers and then not be able to find them ever again I decided to use up both the toppers and the remains of the red gingham paper.  I used the sketch from The Sweet Shop - love their sketches - to create a card for Gran to give Eli at Christmas.  The papers are all the same ones as I used here and the personalised sentiment was created using my Xyron Design Runner.

My card is also for the challenges at...

• Make it Monday - Anything goes
• Designed to Delight - Baby

Card number two was made using the last of the toppers and the snippets of red gingham I had left.  I'm really trying to use things up these days instead of storing or throwing away.  Thank you Jules for keeping me on track with your Crafty Snippet Challenge.  My card is also one of the ones I will be sending to St Luke's Charity Cards for their fundraising sale.  

Back to work tomorrow so I may be quiet for a few days.  Enjoy your week everyone.

Ann xxx

Eli and Gran Part Two...

Here's the facing page to the 'Cherish' page I created last week.  I used the sketch from Sketchy Thursdays, but left out the title due to lack of space and already having a title on the facing page.  I really love these two photos that give the impression of Eli and Gran having a long conversation.

Again I've used Craft Artist and tinted the photos in the back ground to match the papers on the page.

My page is also for the challenges at...

• Squiggles and Giggles - Anything but a card
• Inspire me Fridays - Anything goes

Ann xxx

1st Christmas...

Phew, five days away with the ladies I support at Mencap has left me feeling really tired and quite shell shocked.  Good job I did my card for our challenge at Bah! Humbug! before I left.  This week we are thinking 'Baby's First Christmas' and I've done a card for a friend at work's daughter who has been so kind passing things on for Eli.  It's a quick card as it had to be done in among the packing.  Thank goodness for Kanban toppers eh?  I actually got the set of toppers that this one came from in a goodie bag at a craft shop sometime ago so it was really good to get chance to use it at last.

After perusing the challenge list at Feline Playful I'm entering my card for the challenges at...

• Wags and Whiskers - Christmas
• 4 Crafty Chicks - Baby
• Samuel Taylor's Monthly Challenge - Christmas

Well I have 4 days off now so maybe I will be able to get some serious crafting done if I can tear myself away from the Krispy Creme doughnuts that I bought on the way home that is and then of course there is bottle of wine down in Tesco's with my name on it (after the week I've had will one be enough - better get two to be on the safe side - LOL).

Have a great weekend everyone.

Big hugs.

Ann xxx
PS :  Totally thrilled just found out I made the Top Three at CD Sunday with this scrap book layout - cool eh?

  

Cherish...

Another page created on Serif Craft Artist.  I'm loving using this and the best part of all is that there's no tidying up.  Yeah no bits on the floor - no DST everywhere and no mounds of stamps, ink pads etc to put back in their homes.  There really is quite a lot of perks to digital scrap booking.

Most of the elements in this design were freebies from a very talented member, called Trulytango, on the Daisytrail Forum.  I love the large heart embellishment she created and I managed to create the smaller heart with matching stitching myself.  I also added a pearl embellishment to each heart to add both add detail and ensure they blended together.

My latest page is intended for the challenges at...

•  Lasting Memories Scrapbook Layouts - Cherish
• Squiggles and Giggles - Go Dotty
• Cooking it up with Katie - Anything but a card.

ooooooooooops almost forgot to say to create this page I used a fabulous sketch I found at Bo Bunny.  There are some amazing designs on there - truly inspirational and also full of real depth which you don't really get with digital.  Love all the samples they have using Scor buddy - do check the work out it's amazing.

Have a fun Saturday night everyone.

Ann xxx

Let it snow...Let it snow...Let it snow...

Noooooooooooo!  I don't mean it really - only on cards and films and maybe a touch on Christmas day, but not enough to make it difficult for everyone to visit their loved ones.

As you may have already guessed our theme this week at Bah! Humbug! is Snowmen - a favourite theme of mine.  There are just so many gorgeous stamps and digis around.  Everytime I think I can't possible need anymore I see something irresistable.  

The stamp I've used this week was actually a carboot bargain buy.  It's a 1999 vintage Penny Black and only cost a pound!  How lucky was I to find it lurking under a pile of decoupage sheets on a stall?

I've used double sided designer paper with burgandy trees on which I thought echoed the trees on the stamp and the other side of the paper to matt and layer on.  I've also used the plain side to create die cut Marianne snowflakes.

The glitter on the card doesn't show up that well in the photo, but I used fine glitter on the trees and Diamond Dust around the snowmen's feet and it really does sparkle.

My card is also for the challenges at...

• Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge - Let it Snow
• 4 Crafty Chicks - die cuts
• Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes

Have a good weekend all.

Ann xxx

Be afraid...be very afraid...

Someone is teething - eeeeeeeek!  Check out Eli with his special Halloween bib that Auntie Laura bought him.

Again I've used Serif Craft Artist and the sketch from Stuck On You Sketches. 

I feel happier about my interpretation of the layout this time.  I think using the same (or virtually the same) photo three times was far easier as I didn't have to worry about part of the photo being covered plus I think it adds impact to the main photo.
I've even completed the facing page using a sketch from Sketchy Thursdays. 

I was so pleased to see this sketch as it meant I could focus on my favourite photo and really have it large on my page.

I'm still loving using Craft Artist to create pages, but will be using the real stuff as soon as I have a bit more time.  I do think the Craft Artist software is helping me to learn more about scrapping though as it's so easy to move things around and change colours etc.  It's really good fun.

My pages are also perfect for the challenges at...

• 365 cards - Smile (checked the rules and scrapping is allowed and what better smile than a baby's)
• Hooked on Crafts Challenges - Halloween
• Pollycraft - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Have a great day all and thank so much for the lovely comments about Eli.  I think he is super cute too, but then I am a little bit biased.

Ann xxx

More Playing...

Here's the facing page to yesterday's quick (not that quick as once you start playing with digital crafting it's all too easy to while away the hours) page about Eli.

Again created using Craft Artist and the digi kits available at Daisy Trail.  Both pages are 12" by 12".  I use DS Colour Labs to get them printed as they do an amazing job.

I'm entering my latest page into the following challenges...

• CD Sunday - cats and using a CD to create your project
• Come and Get it Challenges - Anything Goes
• Dream Valley Challenges - Anything Goes

Got a whole day off tomorrow - can't wait, but meanwhile I better go and have a shower ready to set off to work.  Have a good start to the week everyone.

Ann xxx

Playtime...

oh so long since I did any scrap booking and I have so many photos of Eli and holidays to catch up on.  Eeeeeeeek need more hours in the day methinks!  After getting home from work today I decided to chill out and use a sketch from one of my favourite blogs, Stuck on You Sketches to do a page about Eli playing on his jungle play mat.  I'm using the term 'playing' very loosely here as it's more a case of grap an animal and gum it into submission, but hey it's all good fun.

My page was created using Serif Craft Artist - ideal for those times when you're just too tired to get the real papers and embellishments out.  No tidying up to do just a case of closing down the computer and off to bed - brilliant.

Goodnight all.

Ann xxx 

Friday ... Bah! Humbug! time...

This week we are focussing on die cuts as our main theme for Christmas cards.  Check out Max's design and our fab guest designers here at Humbug Hall. 

Stunning eh?

For my card I used a Cuttlebug dove die and embossing folder that I have had for ages and not got round to using.  Don't know why because I really like it especially with the added pearls.  I also used some die cut swirls created using one of the many fabulous Marianne dies available.  The base card is called Ice Gold due to the gold shimmer running through it which you can just about see in the photo.

My card is also for the challenges at...

• Charisma Cards - Anything Goes
• Dutch Dare - Pearls and Swirls
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - No designer paper

Have a fabulous weekend everyone.  I'm working most of it so no crafting time unfortunately, but maybe next week.

Ann xxx

Crafting Time...

Yeah, I managed to steal a little time in my craft room yesterday and played around with a really easy peasy sketch I found at the Clean and Simple Challenge blog. It's a fab sketch with just so many possibilities.

On my first attempt I decided to go for polka dot flowers and use a snippet I had left from a sheet of black and white spotted card I used some time ago.  Still got a full sheet left, but using the snippet means I can save that for another time.  The sparkly line, sentiment and dots in the middle of the flowers are all from the Anita's Glitterations range.  I did try to do a single layer - simple card, but the desire to mat and layer on to sparkly black to match the peel offs got the better of me.

My card was made with the following challenges in mind...

• Crafty Ann's Challenge - Clean and Simple
• Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - Happy Birthday
• Less is More - Polka Dots
• Jules Crafty Snippet Challenge - use your snippets

My second card using the same fab sketch is a Halloween version.  I really love orange and black together.  This time the sentiment was computer generated and printed on to orange card.  The two fence pieces were cut using a Cuttlebug Halloween die that I've had ages and the cat came from a sheet of stickers that I think originated at Poundland and that came to light recently in one of my many tidying up sessions.

This card is for the following challenges...

• Sentimental Sunday - Halloween plus sentiment
• Allsorts Challenge - Halloween
• Alphabet Challenge Blog - Soon be Halloween.

Well better go and get ready for work now.  Have a good start to the week everyone and thank you so much for all the lovely comments I receive.  Really appreciated.

Ann xxx

With Men in Mind...

Oh it's Friday again and usually I'm a happy bunny as it's Bah! Humbug! day, but this week today is the day that Max is going home after her stay at my house.  So sad!  Think I will hide her car keys when she's not looking and make her stay for at least another week.

While she was here we spent a day crafting together and used a couple of my stamp sets to create our cards for this week's challenge at Humbug Hall.  Check out Max's creation here - love the way she used the hat stamp and made it dangle on the guy's foot.  So spot on for a typical man on Christmas Day.

For both our cards we used stamps sets by Papermania and a little Christmas hat stamp that is from a set by Stampin Up and one that seems to get used in conjunction with so many other stamps it's unbelievable.

Think my designer paper is one from a HOTP pack and the embossed card is one from my stash that is many years old.

My card is also for the challenge at ...

• ABC Challenge - use your old stash - everything I've used is old even the brad has been in my collection for ages and never quite made it on to a card till now.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Love and Smiles

Ann xxx

Christmas nibbles...

This week at Humbug Hall we're thinking about the special foods we eat when celebrating the holiday season.  Many years ago I bought an amazing ready made ginger bread house from a local bakers and since then I've intended to have a go at making my own.  It's just been one of the many things I haven't had time to do.  However, when I saw this cute little mini ginger bread kit unopened at a car boot recently I just couldn't resist it.  According to the write up on the back of the box it even has two cute little pot chimneys to use.  Cool eh!

Anyway, I decided to make a little gift bag to wrap it in and hang it on the Christmas tree as a little gift for someone (maybe me!). 

I made the bag using some Christmas paper I've had for some time and the little tag was cut out from a full sheet of tags in the same paper pack.  The ribbon handles do match in real life (honest), but it didn't matter how many times I took a photo the flash seemed to light up the red ribbon making it look really bright when in reality it's a dull red like the designer paper.  Think I spent more time trying to get a photo than making the bag.  Sigh how silly is that?

My bag is also for the challenges at...

• ABC Christmas Challenge - use your old stash (paper is really old)
• More than favours - Treat bags or boxes

Have a great week everyone.  I just know mine is going to be extra special as Max, my Humbug Hall buddy is coming to stay.  Oh my goodness how much trouble are we going to get up to?

Watch out world, Max and Ann are going to be in the same wing of Humbug Hall - eeeeeeeeek - squeel - that means loads of crafting, fun and maybe a sudden unexpected red wine shortage hitting the head lines here in Yorkshire. 

Just can't wait till tomorrow!!

Ann xxx

ooooooooooh I'm all sparkly!!

Yes there is glitter in my hair, on the carpet and even some on the rabbit!  How it got there I don't know, but it's all in a good cause as this week at Humbug Hall we are glittering and sparkling everything.  If you have time do pop over to the hall as alongside Max's fab creation you may even see the family heirloom tiaras being worn - you never know!  Also, as it's a new month we have a new guest designer and a prize on offer.  Please visit Bah! Humbug! to get the full story.

Card recipe...

• Green sparkly foam - oooooooh really lovely and textural - from Poundland I think!
• Huge snowman stamp by and American company but picked up at car boot sale for a pound
• Black basic card
• Fake brads made using hole punch
• Promarkers for colouring 
• and of course tons of glitter!

Challenges...

• C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - bright colours
• Simon Says Stamp - sparkle and bling
• Papertake Weekly - anything goes
• Crafty Ann's - a Christmas Song - 'Noel' and 'Let it Snow'

Have a great weekend everyone.  I'm working most of it - seem to be doing way too much of that lately.  Must cut it out - it's seriously affecting my crafting time.

Ann xxx

I'm back!...

Sheesh where did September go?  Well, I suppose I spent most of it on holiday and I must admit I had an absolutely wonderful in time in the Dominican Republic - sigh - so missing the sunshine and palm trees.  The rest of the month was taken up with washing, packing and work and it just flew by.  Thank goodness my super buddy Max was able to keep Bah! Humbug! running single handed.  I owe her big time!

Anyway, I'm back now and ready to be challenged by our weekly Christmas theme at Humbug Hall.  This week sees us thinking about the 'Navity'.  My card uses an image from a sheet I printed years ago when I was on the Design Team at Ooh la la Creations.  See if you keep your print outs long enough they do eventually get used!  The card I made at that time using the largest image on the sheet can be seen here.  For my new card I used one of the smaller images and matted it on to an embossed layer made using the Swiss Dots folder.  To get the size I had to feed the card through the machine 4 times -eeeeeeeeek!  The sentiment was printed on to one of the scraps of green card left over using my Xyron Design Runner.

Do pop over to Bah! Humbug! to both join in and check out the fabulous work by my team mates.

My card is also for the challenges at...

• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Love that silhouette
• Celebrate the Occasion - any occasion - must use ribbon
• Shopping our Stash Weekly - Black and White plus one other colour.

Have a great weekend everyone.  I'm going to be making some Halloween cards with the ladies at work using some fabulous plastic skeletons I found at Poundland - so cool and 24 in the pack so quite a bargain.  Fingers crossed that the idea I have for using them works - if it does watch this space.

Ann xxx

Bah! Blast from the Past Humbug!...

Card making - Crafting - what's that?  Where are days going and why am I meeting myself coming back all the time?  I really don't know and as to the silly person who decided to rearrange all her craft stuff (yet again) and now can't get it all back in the cupboards or find her desk I really don't know what to say about her.

I guess by now you will have sussed why I've decided to display a 'Blast from the Past' for this week's challenge at Bah! Humbug! I'm showing two cards made some time ago, but ones which I really both enjoyed making at the time and also still like, because let's face sometimes when we look at things made a while ago they don't look too good.

Our theme this week at Bah! Humbug! is 'TEXT'. I love playing with text especially when you can use the 'o' in words to create a shaker/apperture effect as in my first 'Blast from the Past' card.

On my second card I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on thick vellum to create a frame for the text.  I haven't used that folder for ages - must use it soon.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and do pop over to Bah! Humbug! to see what my talented buddies have been up to.

Ann xxx

Italy MIni Album...

Just finished this mini album for my friend Anne, who I went on holiday with earlier this month.  I used one of the brilliant sketches at Sassy Lil' Sketches as the basis for the front cover.  It's only a small album - just big enough to take 6" x 4" photos matted and layered on to designer paper, but I think she will love it.  Well I hope so anyway.

Here's a peak of the inside which I've kept really simple - well it had to be I've been at work most of the time since last Thursday.

All the papers I've used are by Kanban and I've kept to the monochromatic colour scheme.

I'm also very proud to say that thanks to Jules at Always with a heart I'm really trying to use 'snippets' left from other projects.  I do tend to be quite a wasteful crafter and although I don't throw the snippets away - they go to a good home (the ladies I work with at Mencap) I really should use more up myself.  So check out my frame and butterfly cut from this small left over piece of black glitter card...

Think using it definitely qualifies me for this week's Crafty Snippet Challenge.  

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and special wishes for my friend Max and her daughter who are over in Ireland.  Check out why HERE - wow how cool is that?
PS:  The 'T' in 'ITALY' has been suitably told off and is now standing up straight.

Bah! Humbug! Day

Yeah we're still filling our boxes with cards ready for the Christmas Season over at Humbug Hall and this week sees us 'Bringing on the Girls'. 

Another quick card from me this week as I have so many scrapbook projects on the go that I'm not wanting to break off to do cards at the moment.  My 'Bring on the Girls' card was made using papers and an image from a magazine freebie some time ago.  I've mounted it very simply, added some embossed snowflake triangles and tons of glitter.  The girl so reminds me of Becky from the Shopaholic books.

As I've started joining in the challenges at Jules Crafty Snippet Challenge I used all the tiny bits that were left including the leftover strip of embossed snowflakes to make a tag. So proud to say that the bits going in the bin today are so tiny that they would only make cards for 'The Borrowers'.

My card and tag is also for the challenges at...

• Divas by Design - Christmas in August
• Clear it out - Glitter it (paper and image from very old mag)

Have a fun weekend all and do pop over to Bah! Humbug! to check out the superb creations by my buddies.

The Future is Mine...

Well I've had another go at the sketch at Sassy Sketches...

 

 

I was determined to use that cloud idea and seeing as Eli was with me over the weekend I had chance to take some photos.  Annoyingly some have not worked due to using a setting on the camera that sounded good, but in reality produced fuzzy pics.  Not to worry the ones I took on the normal setting have worked fine. 

My whole page was created using Serif Craft Artist.  That programme is so much fun.  I find myself playing for hours with all the different effects.  The page is 12" by 12" and I will be saving it until I have done a few and then I will send it to be developed at  DS Colour Labs who were recommended on the Daisytrail forum.  I had my first pages printed there last week and the results were fantastic. Great service too with packaging that meant that the prints couldn't possibly get damaged in the post.

My page is also for the challenges at...

•  Incy Wincy Designs - anything but a card

Here's the facing page that's hot of the press.  Same programme of course and I've used some elements from the first page to tie the two together.
Hope you like them.

Have a fabulous evening everyone.

Ann xxx

Kos Harbour...

More real scrapbooking.  I'm totally obcessed with scrapbooking at the moment.  I must get round to doing some birthday cards this next week or I will be loosing some friends and that would never do.  This page was inspired by the sketch at Sassy Sketches.  My version is lacking the fab clouds that were on the original, but my excuse is that there were no clouds in Kos just beautiful clear blue skies.  Sigh wish I was back there!

To team my page with the one facing it I had to use some of the stripey designer paper and seeing as I only had tiny scraps left it could have been a problem.  I did think about doing some paper weaving, but then hit on the idea of the patchwork effect which even meant that I could save paper by not using any where the photos were going to be placed.  Clever eh?  Jules at Jules Crafty Snippets Challenge will be so proud of me.

My page is also for the challenges at...

• Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
• For Fun Challenges - a Scrap Page

Have a great weekend everyone.  Eli is coming to stay so as you can imagine I'm so excited.  Wonder if he's ready to do some crafting yet - no 10 weeks might be a bit early - maybe next time he stays.  LOL.

Ann xxx

Something new...

Something new...

is our challenge at Humbug Hall this week and yes even though I am broke due to buying baby things everytime I go anywhere near a shop or online I did splash out a whole pound and bought myself this amazing stamp set.  What a bargain?

The stamps are quite small, but actually perfect for making smaller cards to give to 'not quite so close' friends and family.  Due to Bah! Humbug! I have loads of very special cards and really need some more basic ones,

The cards are tiny and could even be used as large gift tags perhaps.  Each one measures 3.5 " by 3.5" and they were fun, quick and very easy to create.  The papers are by Dovecraft and were also a pound from the same shop. 

Have a great weekend whatever you are up to.  Eli's coming to play so I'm really excited.

Love and smiles.

Ann xxx

New Playmate...

While sat at a bar on the hillside in Zia waiting to see the famous view of the sunsetting over the coastline Laura made some new friends.  Good job she only had a small bag with her as I think this guy may have ended up being smuggled on to the plane home.  What a cutie?

To create my page I used a sheet of paper from a fabulous new paper pad I've just bought by G.C.D.  It's called Homespun Chic in the Melody Ross Designer Collection and has probably been out ages as I got it at a bargain price as usual.  Can't afford to buy things when they are first released - what a cheap skate!

It's double sided paper but I've only used the one side of this sheet with it's fabulous flowers that have a shiny coating on them almost as if they have been varnished or embossed with extra thick embossing powder.  I mat and layered my photo in matching colours and then slit around the flowers so that I could tuck the photo underneath. The bird was also already part of the designer paper.  Eeeeeeeeeek didn't leave me much to do really did it.

I knew I want to have cat prints on the page so after much cupboard searching I found a punch bought many years ago and started punching the paw prints out in the same paper as my matting and layering.  Then I remembered the Xyron Design Runner disk (that was part of a set and one I thought I would never use) with pet sentiments.  Eureka I spotted the 'Pounce' one and realised that it would be too small printed on my page, but with the power of the Cricut I could cut the letters and a circle for the 'O' and then punch the paw print inside.  Yay I'm so pleased with the result.    One of those moments when things come together with very little hair pulling out!

Sorry for rambling!  My page is perfect for the challenge at Stuck on Sketches where they have started a new challenge for people to encourage the use of die cutting machines.

I'd also like to enter the challenges at...

• Creative Craft Challenges - Anything but a card
• Try it on Tuesday - Anything goes
• Bling it on - challenge to have things beginning with ABC on project ...A = artwork, B = bird and blooms, C = cat.
• Sir Stampalot - Whatever you fancy!

Well I'm off to do the facing page to complete this project.  Have a great day everyone.

Later in the day and here's page two!

I was really lucky to find some WR Memory Keepers ring bound scrap books at TK Max a little while ago.  They had 10 pages in them, but they weren't the normal type of scrap book page.  Each page has a long slot at the top and 4 clear pockets for 6" by 4" photos.  At first I didn't think they would be any use, but actually I love them, because it means I can plan one full normal 12" by 12" scrapbook page and then on the other side use the 'strange' page to show some of the other photos.  The top slot gives a space to be a little more creative. On this page I've used the stripey designer paper and edged it with paw prints using the Xyron Design Runner.  I printed the sentiment 'Can we take one home Mum?' on to acetate and attached it to the top of the paper.

Love and hugs,

Ann xxx