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

Happy Birthday Laura...

Yep today is the day and I've finally finished both cards and wrapping.  I made this gift bag/pocket to hold some little surprises for her.  The idea and instructions came from one of last year's card making magazines and it was very easy to do.  The only problem being that it needs a whole sheet of 12" x 12" double sided paper so it's quite an extravagant little bag really.  Cute though - well I think so!

The stamp is a Penny Black which I've coloured with Promarkers.  I've loved all the cards by Lorraine at Lorraine's Loft recently where she has edged the image with ink and Stardust Stickles so I thought I would have a go too.  I used chalk and the only Stickles I have which is Icicles and I think it worked reasonably well for a first attempt.  Lorraine's are scrumptious though so do check out the link if you have time.

Additional materials:

• Sei 12" x 12" double sided paper
• Nellie Snellen scalloped edge die and nestie
• shredded paper and tissue for wrapping gifts

Challenges:

• Papertake Weekly - Anything goes with the option of something round on your project (my die cut mat and image)
• Penny Black at Alllsorts - Shape up
• Sweet Stampin Challenge - try something new (paper folding a gift container)
• Crafty Ann's Challenge - fancy folds
• Ladybug Crafts Ink - Going Dotty (pattern on paper is formed by dotted line - hope it shows in photo)

Have a great day everyone whether you are celebrating or not.  It's my last day before heading back to work sigh.  It has been so nice to be able to fit some 'playtime' in.

Ann xxx

Bah! Humbug! Day... Embossing...

Well, Friday again and time for a new challenge at Bah! Humbug!  This week we are focussing on embossing.  Another challenge that will give all our supporters tons of scope as there are so many kinds of embossing.  On my card I went for the easy peasy lemon squezy kind and used embossing folders.  I used a large 5 x 7 folder for the woven effect on the glitter card and because the design is a repetitive one I was able to reposition the folder to emboss an even larger area.  I've also used my Swiss Dots folder to emboss the strip across the middle of the card.  The circle die cut frame is by Marianne and also has embossed edges.

Other materials used...

• Milli clear stamp by Penny Black
• border punch
• pink card and silver mirri card
• gems and organza ribbon
• tag die by Cuttlebug

Other Challenges...

• Cutie Sunday - favourite stamp (well it is today - tomorrow may be a different one)
• Sentimental Sundays - Anything goes plus a sentiment - Happy Christmas on tag
• Sweet Stamping - Oh so girlie cards
• Flutter By Wednesday - open theme - with angel

Christmas Challenges...

• ABC Christmas Challenge - Embossing and 3 different embellishments (ribbon, gems and tags)

Have a fantastic weekend everyone and be sure to check out the work of our Guest Designers at Bah! Humbug!  They have submitted some stunning creations.

Ann xxx

Last Valentine Card for this year...

This is the Valentine card I made for my daughter Laura so it just had to be pink!  The image is the Penny Black stamp I won a few weeks back from the challenge at Penny Black at Allsorts.  Isn't that hedgehog gorgeous?

The sentiment is from a clear stamp set which I think is by Hero Arts and the paper is from the DCWV Spring stack (my all time favourite paper pad).

Challenges...

• Penny Black Saturday - Pretty in Pink
• The Stampman - Hearts theme
• Crafty Ann's - Love is all around
• Tanda Stamps - Show some love

Off on a training course about bereavement today.  Wish I wasn't as it's not a good time for me to be attending something like this, but not to worry.

Have a good day everyone.

Love and hugs 

Ann xxx

Bah! Humbug! Day ... Buttons and Bows...

I know I say this every week, but I really can't believe how fast the weeks are flying by.  Today sees the start of our new challenge at Bah! Humbug! with the theme of buttons and bows.  I love buttons and buy plenty, but for some strange reason I just don't use them as much as I should.  Maybe I will after this challenge.

Materials used...

• Mimi from T for Transparent set by Penny Black
• small circular sentiment by LOTV
• Promarkers
• ultra fine glitter and Diamond Dust
• Swiss Dots embossing folder
• green and pink card and snowflake paper by Papermania
• snowflake die cuts using Marianne dies
• tiny green buttons by Making Memories
• gems and organza ribbon from Stash

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

• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - the sketch (had to leave the swirl out as it looked too fussy on the snowflake paper)
• Pollycraft - Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr Baby it's cold outside

My second card was created using my new favourite toy - Serif Craft Artist!  This time I didn't use it to scrapbook, but made a card instead. 

 

I used the sketch from Sketch and Stash and planned the card on the pages on screen.  I thought the images of buttons and the button frame complete with bow gave a different angle to our challenge.  I printed one sheet of the design with the button brads and then another sheet with the Father Christmas on which I then mat and layered  on top of the Swiss Dot embossed panels.  

I couldn't resist adding a real pompom to Santa's hat - another card that won't make it through the slot at the Post Office.  I really need to win the lottery before next Christmas so that I can actually afford to post my Christmas cards.

Hope you will pop over to Bah! Humbug! and take part in our challenge.  As it's the first challenge of the month we have a great prize up for grabs.  

Have a great weekend.  

Love and hugs.

Ann xxx

Hedgie Thank you card...

The sketch at the Sketch and Stash Challenge blog this time is such an inspiring one (and easy which is always good) that I just had to give it a go.  It also gave me the chance to use my new gadget bought with the last of my Christmas present cash - a Xyron Design Runner, which I used to print the sentiment on this card.

Initially I was a bit miffed that it doesn't actually do the things they said it could when it was being aired as Pick of the Day on Create and Craft.  I was so excited about it printing on acetate and was gutted to find that like any printer it won't unless you use the special printable acetate.  However, having played lots I do like what it can do and don't regret buying it.

Additional materials...

• Penny Black Hedgie stamp - from a T for Transparent set - I was very naughty and cut some of the flowers off the main image so that I could stamp them where I wanted them in the circle.  
• Flower punch and matching embossing punch
• Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder
• Pearl gem stones
• Embossed purple card and matching designer paper - unknown make
• Scalloped and matching circle nestability dies
• Lace

Challenges.,.

• Sketch and Stash - sketch - new stash = Design Runner - neglected stash = flower punch not used for ages
• Crazy 4 Challenges - a thank you sentiment
• Penny Black Challenge - Choose 4 items from a card buffet (really brill idea for a challenge - I chose patterned paper, 3 flowers, 3 gems and ribbon - please use your imagination for the ribbon.  Imagine it on the embossed band on the card.  Somebody around here forgot to stick it on - whoops!)
• Crafty Ann's Challenge - Ring in the new, but don't ring out the old.  See above.

Whoops, nearly forgot to say if you pop over to Bah! Humbug! today there is a Top Tip Tuesday all about economising on paper and card.
Double whoops - no wonder I forgot the ribbon -check out the date on the photo - 18th Jan and I'm still putting 2010 on my cards.  Sheesh what am I like?

Have a good day everyone.

Love and hugs.

Ann xxx

Spoil Yourself...

I seem to be having a little craze on Penny Black images at the moment.  This is another card using an image and sentiment stamp from one of the Penny Black T for transparent stamp sets.  The spotty paper is a magazine freebie and I've teamed it with a textured fabric type of paper from my stash. 

The layout of the card came from this week's challenge at Sketch Saturday.  I really love the triangular mat idea and will be using that again in the near future.

I'm keeping up with my resolution of doing the dreaded inners at the same time as my card even if they are very simple ones.

It's probably a good way to use up some of the millions of peel offs that somebody bought over the years.  Who me?  Never!

Other Challenges...

• Passion for Promarkers - Anything Goes (ends tomorrow- 429 entries - oh my!)- image is coloured using Promarkers
• Crazy4 Challenges - Celebrate something
• Simon Says - Time to Party - Celebrate

 Enjoy your day everyone.

* Note added on Tuesday - do not look at the date on my card - some fool is still typing 2010 - sheesh what am I like?

Penny Black Birthday Card...

Oh how lovely to be able to do some crafting again instead of just trying to sort out my craft supplies and bring some order into all my stuff.  It's an impossible task anyway so I really don't know why I even try.

Today I had a little search through my Penny Black stamps and found this cute hedgie that I haven't used before.  Had a little panic midway through this card (as you do) as when it came to cutting the blue mat for the image I hadn't enough blue card left.  Eeek!  There was enough to the oval you can see, but no larger.  Anyway to cut a long story short the image had to be trimmed and a silver peel off butterfly added to replace the one chopped off during the trimming process.  Saved by the skin of my teeth as they say.

The papers are from a magazine and have been teamed with a pale blue pearlescent.  After such a long break from crafting I got a little bit carried away and even did the inner at the same time.  Yikes, that has got to be a first.

Nothing too fancy, but I think it does make the card a little bit more special.  My card was made with the following challenges in mind...

• Sweet Sketch Wednesday - I used their amazing sketch for the base of my card.
• Penny Black Saturday - 3 papers, 1 ribbon and 1 charm

Hope everyone is having a great start to their year.  Thank you for visiting and for all the fantastic comments I receive.  So kind.

Ann xxx

Snow Globes...

I love snow globes.  My daughter bought a beautiful musical one with two skaters inside while we were away in Birmingham. Just so pretty and I would have treat myself I think had I not been trying to save my pennies for the NEC.  Anyway since arriving home I remembered that I had a spare 'photo globe' in my stash which led me to making a Penny Black Christmas Snow Globe.  Ahhh poor hedgies getting shaken up like this.

This is other side of the globe with hedgie resting against his stocking.  Both Penny Black stamps I've used are from one of the Christmas clear stamp sets which I've had quite a few years now but it seems to reappear every Christmas.

As you slot the pictures up from the bottom of the globe there is a piece of polystyrene also slotted in to hold the pictures in place which means that the side view is not very appealing.  To hide the polystyrene and edges of the pictures I attached ribbon decorated with punched snowflakes and gems all around the dividing part of the snow globe.  I think it looks a far neater finish.

My snow globe is intended for the following challenges...

• Penny Black at Allsorts - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
• The Crafty Calendar Challenge - Winter and snowflakes
• Penny Black - Let it Snow
• The Stamp Man - Anything Goes for Christmas

Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend.

Love and hugs.

Ann xxx

Bah! Humbug! Day ... Cuties everywhere...

Wow this was a hard challenge.  I pulled out my new LOTV and then thought about my House Mouse stamps, but in the end I chose to use a clear stamp set called Critters by Penny Black.  When it comes to 'cute' Penny Black have been top of my list for many years and this set is one of my all time favourites.

Being part of the Bah! Humbug! team has meant that this year I have so many Christmas cards ready to post that it's just unbelievable.  It's also great because it will allow me to just play and make things for Christmas that I normally wouldn't have time to do.  This week I decided to make a wall hanging.  

The top part of the hanging is bauble shaped and was cut out on my Cricut machine using one of the Christmas cartridges.  The other sections were made using nestie die cuts attached to ribbon.

Each of the medallions features a different creature from the stamp set and each was coloured using Promarkers.

For a really neat finish I sandwiched the ribbon between the scalloped mirri board circle and a plain white scalloped circle.  I added glitter to each for more oomph and a couple of red gems to adorn the holly.

My project was made with the following extra challenges in mind...

• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Don't be square
• Die Cut Dreams Christmas Club - ribbons, glitter and gems
• A Spoonful of Sugar - Sparkle and shine
• Anything goes - Christmas has come early

Have a great weekend everyone and don't forget to pop over to Bah! Humbug! to see the stunning work by my team mates and our guest designer Jenny.

Bah! Humbug! Day...Favourite Medium...

Wow how these weeks simply fly by.  Thank goodness I have been a part of the team at Bah! Humbug! since the very beginning, because Christmas is going to be here before we know it and at least this year my cards will be a breeze as most of them are already finished and almost ready to send.

This week our challenge theme is to use your favourite medium.  It had to be Promarkers for me.  I do love Derwent Colour Soft pencils and the Lyra Aquacolours, but I always seem to fall back on my Promarkers.  They just give such a professional finish so easily and they are great for colouring gemstones and ribbons to match your card.  I only buy clear gemstones now. It's so much easier both on the purse and on storage.

The cute stamp I've used is one I've had ages and is from a clear set by Penny Black and the sentiment stamp is by Making Memories.  

Other materials used...

• papers by HOTP
• Xcut holly punch
• clear gemstones coloured with crimson Promarker
• holly border punch
• nestie scallop and circle dies

My card is also for the following challenges...

• Simon Says Challenge - Holidays
• My Time to Craft - Jewelled
• Sketch Saturday - the sketch (with bits missed sorry)
• Penny Black at Allsorts - Punches

Have a fantastic weekend everyone and do remember to pop over to Bah! Humbug! to take a look at the amazing cards by my team mates Max and Irene and also our Guest Designer for the month, Anne.

Lisa's RAK card ...

I am a great fan of Pollycraft images and follow both the challenge blog and Paula's blog so when I read her post yesterday about 'Lisa's RAK I just had to go and investigate.

This is what Lisa has to say...

'I am having a special event for my sister Jayme. She is in her early 50's and has terminal lung cancer. To make it worse, her sweet dachshund Molly passed away a couple weeks ago. Today we learned her cancer has spread to several other areas and her time is running out. I am asking for all my card making friends to send her a fun card...not really get well cards obviously, but something pretty or funny that will make her smile. She is a frog collector so frog cards would be awesome!'

How can anyone resist making and sending a card after reading that?  Another bonus is that there are prizes to be won, which is great I know, but the most important thing is the chance to do something for someone to bring a smile.

Please visit Lisa's blog to read more and hopefully join in.

Paula has provided a fabulous frog image (FREE) here, but I decided to use my Penny Black frog so that Jayne didn't get too many of the same image on her cards.

To create my card I used another of the great sketches at Sweet Sketch Wednesday.  Just love their work.

My card is also for the challenges at Penny Black where the theme is 'Lots of Dots'.

Have a fabulous day everyone.

UPDATE...

Denise is also offering a great free frog digi HERE  so no excuses get those cards made!
Ann xxx

Rainy Monday Mornings...

are a bit sad, but never mind surely soon we will have some spring sunshine and Penny Black hedgie stamps always give me a large dose of the feel good factor.  So cute!  This particular stamp and the sentiment 'a teeny, tiny wish' are from one of the clear stamp sets available.  Love these sets as you get such a lot for your money and they are great to store.

I made my card using this brilliant sketch from the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  One of my all time favourite challenges and this week sees them celebrating Week 100 so there is plenty of fun going on over there.   Do check it out.

The papers I've used are from a Making Memories 6"x6" pad and all the other items are from my stash.  

Additional challenges...

• Pile it on - Cute and Cuddly (hmm maybe not so cuddly in real life but on paper yeah super cute)
• Crafty Calender Challenges - The Great Outdoors
• Flutter By Wednesday - open theme
• Lilly of the Valley - Summer

Hope the sun is shining where you are any you're having a great day.  I'm going to get busy on some more challenges and cards I need and maybe some house work, but maybe not!

Penny Black and more gingham...

I seem to have had quite a craze on checked paper and card this week, which as the challenge at The Penny Black Saturday Challenge  is 'Check it out' turns out to be quite a good thing.  The lilac check card I've used here is by Kanban and is double sided with plain lilac on one side and the check on the other.  Really handy as the colours are a perfect match with no effort involved.  The stamp is one of my NEC purchases - sigh - I love the Penny Black stamps I bought!  I used Promarkers to colour it and then matted on to the card.  The sentiment is from a set of clear sentiment stamps by Hero Arts.

The flowers were made using another NEC purchase (there were quite a few) - my Nellie Snellen flower punches, which not only punch the flower, but emboss it too.  Flower brads were from stash and unbelievably the exact same colour as the card - wow how often does that happen!?

Additional Challenges...

• Sketch and Stash - the sketch (brilliant sketch and one I will use time and time again I'm sure) - new stash is stamp and punches
• Cupcake Craft Challenge - Make your own flowers.
• Magical Crafts - Animal Antics

Training again at work today, so won't be blogging until tonight.  Have a wonderful day everyone.

Ann xxx

Spring Bunny...

Just a quick post this morning as I need to get off to work.  Seem to be having a 'green' week at the moment as yet another card ended up with me using green card and paper this time from a set by Making Memories.  The stamp of course is a Penny Black and was coloured using my daughter's box of crayons and Sansador.  The pink was a bit scratchy but I'm still loving this method of colouring.  Three days without touching my Promarkers - sheesh!!

My card is for the challenges at...

• Penny Black - great sketch by Carole
• Crafty Calender Challenge - Love and Friendship
• Cute Card Thursday - Green
• The Cuttlebug Spot - Green - the new black (well it certainly is with me this week!)

Thanks for looking and the brilliant comments - it's just lovely to get home from work (doing a 12 hour shift today - more sympathy required) and read them.  Have a great day everyone.

Spring Birthday...

Another card made in York using Irene's Polychrome pencils and also Derwent Coloursoft.  So relaxing colouring in this way - I just can't believe I've only just learned how to use them and the best thing is that since getting back from York I've discovered that a huge box of pencil crayons that my daughter was throwing away work rather nicely too.  Needless to say they didn't get as far as the bin and are now safely stashed in my craft room.

Other materials used:

• Penny Black Stamp
• Swirl stamp from stash
• Papers, red pearls and glittery flower brad from Max's stash
• Die cut flowers by Spellbinders
• Rub on sentiment by Letraset (love their rub ons - so far 100% reliable - yeah!)

Challenges...

• Tuesday Taggers - Swirls and Curls sponsored by Crafty Individuals (fabulous craft site - amazing stamps)
• Creative Card Crew - Celebrate - yeah they are celebrating big time this week as it is their first anniversary - congrats to the team on a great challenge site.

Have a good day everyone whatever you are up to and if you have grown up daughters like me do check and see if they have any fab pencil crayons stashed away anywhere.  I'm sure you will be able to find a better home for them.

Pink Elephant Day - a mushy gushy Valentine Card...

Today is a day of lurve at The Pink Elephant!  It's time to bring out the hearts and roses and anything romantic you can find in your stash.

I used the amazing sketch at A Spoonful of Sugar, but I'm really cross with myself, because I don't think I've done the sketch justice at all.  I may try again with different colours and stamps. 

All three stamps - the border squiggle, the open letter and the larger rose design are from a romantic set by Penny Black.  I stamped onto cream card and coloured the rose and leaves with Promarkers.  The large image was also stamped on to vellum and then the letter and rose was matted on top using foam pads to give depth.

My card is also for the challenges at...

• Creative Card Crew - Valentines
• Tanda Teaser - for a loved one
• C.R.A.F.T. - Valentines
• Fussy and Fancy - Hearts
• Raise the Bar - Hearts
• Stamp Something - love somethings
• Pile it on - Love is in the air.

Phew I think love is definitely in the air looking at how many challenges have a love theme at the moment.  Thank you everyone for looking and leaving such amazing comments that always make my day.

Tomorrow at The Pink Elephant we are celebrating our first birthday as a challenge blog and to mark the occasion there's a rather special blog hop happening so hope you'll be able to join us at TPE tomorrow.

Double trouble...

Had to do this card really quickly last night - after my birthday celebrations so please excuse any wobbly bits!

One of the girls at my Slimming World class had asked me for a card for twins and due to other commitments I hadn't had chance to get round to doing it. However, all was not lost as out came one of my favourite Penny Black stamps (thanks for reminding me about this Irene) and a bit of Cricut labelling and of course my favourite Cuttlebug border die.

She was really pleased with the card - she should have been - have you noticed how many diamonds I stuck on? Sheesh it must have been birthday fever or the heat getting to me!

Talking of birthdays thank you for all the lovely messages - I really do have some great internet buddies.

The summer blog candy draw winners will be announced later this evening - good luck to all of you.

Can't believe it day...

I clicked on my computer this morning and as the BBC home page came up on the screen I saw the devasting news that Michael Jackson is dead. So sad - such an enormous amount of talent being lost at such a young age.

On a lighter note (must change subject or keyboard will get wet) I can't believe it that instead of having a cup of coffee first thing this morning I jumped (that may be exaggerating slightly) out of bed and made this very quick card for the Penny Black challenge which is embossing this week.

How crazy is that? I do wonder if my two girls are right when they sometimes shake their head and mumble 'You're mad!'

Anyway it was a very quick card to do - Cuttlebug embossing folder, Penny Black stamps, glitter card and gems. No time at all to make which is perhaps as well as I was desperate for coffee!

All the stamps used are from the Penny Black 'T for Transparent' set which you can get for free (oooooooooh one of my favourite words) if you enter and are successful in my Summertime blog candy.

Not many entries yet ...

So it could be you!!!

Click on the link on my side bar to be taken to the posting and please tell your friends. There are so many children at Post Pals who would love a card arriving in the post.

Ribbons and flowers...

Hmmmmmmmmm sorry but it's another ribbon frame - well once you start you can't stop!!!

This time I wanted to try out a brighter and more fun look so went for a green check ribbon that I've had quite a while and just not got round to using. I've also added flowers to the corners for a touch of fun.

Challenges:

• Penny Black - 'Blooming Gorgeous'
• Secret Crafter - 'Bling' - gems on corners and centre of flowers
• The Next Level - using a ribbon frame
• Daisy May - Pink and Green

Materials used:

• Penny Black stamp
• Green check ribbon
• Green and white card
• Spellbinder flower die
• gems from stash
• Derwent Inktense crayons

There may be more ribbon cards coming soon as there is something I've got to try - watch this space!!