Scotland...

All the years that people have raved about how gorgeous Scotland is and I've listened patiently, but inside I've thought 'hmmm, but it's cold and wet!'  What a mistake!  This year I've made two trips north, one to my great friend Max and one on a coach trip and on both occasions I've been absolutely blown away by the fabulous scenery and the friendly people too.  Naturally Max and her family are top of the list when it comes to great people.

Last week I went on a five day coach trip to Strathpeffer.  It was brilliant and I took loads of photos.  Yes Max this time I not only took my camera, but actually remembered to use it too!  Having said that my first page about my trip actually uses one of the postcards I bought while away.  I thought this one with the coach suspended at the top of one of the peaks was really funny.

I created the page in Serif Craft Artist and after measuring my postcard I left a white rectangle on the page so that the post card could be added after printing.  The tartan paper is from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop.  I just love the way you can transport a backing paper into Craft Artist and then using the dropper tool make other items on the page match.  I used the dropper tool to match the textured  lilac backing paper with  the tartan and then teamed the ribbon up with the thistle.  Such a clever programme.

My scrapbook page is also for the following challenges...

• Rainbow Lady - Take a town, country or city break.  (what a great challenge!)
• Pile it on - Time to Travel

Well, 3 more days till I'm back at work.  I might even be able to fit some more challenges in this week.  Need to do some birthday cards and fast too as it's my daughter's birthday on Wednesday.  Eeek better make a start.

Have a fabulous day everyone.

Ann xxx

EEEEEEEEEEK it's Saturday!...

Just got back from a fantastic five day break in Scotland and I'm afraid my scheduled Bah! Humbug! post just didn't happen!  Think I'm to blame not Mr Blogger, but no worries as I can post my cards now and with all the celebrations that were going on yesterday I doubt very much if anyone even noticed my lack of posting.

Our challenge this week is 'Pleats and Ruffles' and luckily while doing my mass ribbon sort out recently I found this amazing ribbon with a cord running through it that could be pulled to scrunch up the whole ribbon eventually forming a sort of circular rosette.  I attached a gemstone brad to the centre and kept the whole card fairly simple so that the focus is on the ribbon.  I had intended this to be the sort of card to have in your card box that could be used for any celebration near Christmas, but my daughter (alias chief critic and top advisor in these matters) says it's much better as a Christmas card.

My second sample is another gift bag.  This time I pleated a 12 inch strip of Christmas designer paper to create a ruffle and attached this to the a tag for the bag.  A snowflake brad attached with pinflair glue finishes the tag off. 

Additional Challenges:

• Crafty Ann's - Fancy Folds - my fancy folds are on the rosette tag on my bag

Have a great weekend everyone.

Ann xxx

Good Friday - Good Gracious...

I'm still doing Christmas!!!  Are any Easter cards made?  No!  Oh my - better shake myself today or it will be too late.  All birthdays, anniversaries and any other events are just going to have to be cancelled while I catch up with myself.
One thing I never miss though is our challenge at Bah! Humbug! and this week we are featuring the man himself - no not Tim Holtz - Father Christmas!  My image is a rubber stamp my daughter bought many years ago from Lakeland when they used to sell craft items.  I remember her saying at the time he would be wonderful to layer up and he certainly was.  I had intended to make a gift bag and matching small gift card, but somehow the card ended up bigger than intended and had a style of it's own.  No worries they will both be used.

My gift bag was created using the sketch at Sketch and Stash for inspiration.  My stamp is the old stash and the oval Nellie Snellen die new stash.
Additional challenges...

• ABC Challenge - S for sparkle (glittered hat, beard and gems on holly)
• Promarker Challenge - anything goes

Have a fabulous Easter weekend everyone.
Ann xxx