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