Hello and Welcome...

Hello & Welcome...My name is Anne-Marie, I am a full-time administration assistant for a local housing association, I have a husband, two adult sons, and a mad dog named Fritz. I spend any spare minute crafting (although there are never enough spare minutes)...anything from making cards, papercrafts, knitting, crochet, baking and making jams, curds etc. I also enjoy growing my own fruit/veg in my greenhouse/garden.


I hope I will post something that may be of interest to you.
..thanks for visiting xx

Monday 22 June 2015

Gruffies & Guests Halfway Reminder for Challenge #18 Anything Goes with the Option of Lavender & Lace

Hi All

Here I am again with our halfway reminder for Gruffies & Guests Challenge #18 Anything Goes with the Option of Lavender & Lace.



PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A HOUSE MOUSE DESIGN CHALLENGE BLOG ONLY, YOU MAY ONLY USE GRUFFIE, HOUSE MOUSE AND HAPPY HOPPER IMAGES ANYTHING ELSE WILL BE DELETED

Here's my DT creation for this month's challenge.  I used the image and sentiment from Joanna Sheen's Gruffies & Happy Hoppers cd available HERE you'll find some really cute images on this cd for all occasions.



Pop over to the Gruffies & Guests Challenge Blog for more inspiration from our fab Design Team members


Don't forget if you do use the theme you will get 2 chances in the prize draw.

We also take email entries, facebook entries and if you fancy joining us on the team for a month please put GD after your name in the linky.

We are lucky to have 2 sponsors for this month's challenge and they are: 

1 prize of £10 voucher

and 
1 prize of 3 digis

I look forward to seeing all your fab creations, good luck in the challenge.

Thanks for stopping by
Anne-Marie x

Sunday 17 May 2015

Gruffies & Guests Halfway reminder Challenge #17 Anything Goes with Option of Die Cuts

Good Evening

It's time for our halfway reminder for Challenge #17 Anything Goes with the option of Die Cuts over at GRUFFIES & GUESTS CHALLENGE BLOG



PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A HOUSE MOUSE DESIGN CHALLENGE BLOG ONLY, YOU MAY ONLY USE GRUFFIE, HOUSE MOUSE AND HAPPY HOPPER IMAGES ANYTHING ELSE WILL BE DELETED

My Design Team card image is from Gruffies & Happy Hoppers cd rom available HERE

I have used Xcut Dies for the circles and sentiment.


I love this image of Gruffie relaxing on a lovely summer's day with the sunflowers, I hope my card inspires you to get creative.

The Lucky Winner of the challenge will receive 
a prize of  $10 worth of Digi's from DisDigiStamps



We also take email entries, facebook entries and if you fancy joining us on the team for a month please put GD after your name in the linky.

Please join in the fun, I look forward to seeing your creations, good luck in the challenge

Thanks for visiting Anne-Mariex




Saturday 25 April 2015

Gruffies & Guests Challenge #16 Anything Goes with the option of Patchwork

Good evening



We are now on Challenge #16 Anything Goes with the option of Patchwork over at Gruffies & Guests Challenge Blog click to pop over and have a look at all the lovely DT creations to inspire you.

The winner of this challenge will receive a prize of 7 Digis from Bugaboo Digi Stamps

Your entry must have an image from either House Mouse, Gruffies or Happy Hoppers.

Here is my DT card for the half-way reminder


My image is from Joanna Sheen's Gruffies & Happy Hoppers cd available HERE

I look forward to seeing all your lovely creations.  Please note you can now enter via email or facebook, see details on the blog.  And if your entry incorporates the Patchwork option you have two chances of winning the prize :) 

Thanks for popping by, much appreciated.
Anne-Marie x



Saturday 21 February 2015

Gruffies & Guests Challenge #14

Good Afternoon

It's time for my half-way reminder for our latest challenge over at Gruffies & Guests.

It's Challenge #14 Anything Goes with the Option of 'Love is All Around'  Here's my DT card which I hope will give you some inspiration to get crafting and join in with our challenge.


I would like to enter my card on Crafting Musketeers Challenge Blog - Challenge #22 Cute

Don't you just love the pair of iccle mice snuggled up together.  

The winner of this month's challenge will win $10 to spend on here Disdigistamps 


If your entry includes the option of Love is All Around it will count as 2 entries, so come on get crafting you've still got a couple of weeks to enter. 

All you have to do is use any Gruffie, House Mouse or Happy Hopper image and you can make anything for our challenge, not just cards.

Entries can also be by e-mail or facebook link - Click here Gruffies & Guests Challenge Blog for details.

Also if you'd like to be a DT member for a month put GDT after your name in the linky.

I will look forward to seeing all your lovely entries.  Good luck in the Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by
Anne-Marie xx




Friday 20 February 2015

NEW HOBBY - SEWING!

My lovely husband has bought me a sewing machine - what a fab present!  And I am already hooked on my new hobby.

I started off with a couple of easy envelope cushion covers which I am very pleased with.


I was so amazed that the cushions actually fit inside perfectly.  

At my first sewing class at our local Craft Central shop I made a lovely 'sewing tidy with pin cushion' It's so useful for putting the little scraps of fabric and threads in rather than them cluttering the table.


At last week's lesson I started a little patchwork dog, which I will be finishing on Tuesday, picture to follow (as long as it looks ok once I've sewn the back on).

My favourite sewing project so far is a cotton bag that I made for a friend's birthday present.  Think I'll be using this pattern again ~ my friend loved it.


The next project is a sock bunny, she's nearly finished, just her ears & face to do, hopefully she will look like a bunny when she's finished, and then to think of a name for her.

Have still managed to make some cards recently too.  Here's a tepee card I made for the same friend that I made the bag for.  First time I've made one of these after seeing Diana Clews demonstrate at a recent Docrafts cardmaking demo.


Unfortunately my uncle passed away recently and this is the card I made for my Auntie & family.  I always struggle with what to put on sympathy cards but I think this one has turned out ok.


Tonight I made my DT card for Gruffies & Guests Challenge Blog which I will post tomorrow as a half-way reminder.

For Valentine's day I made my husband a little keepsake, found the lovely idea on Pinterest.  What a great place for all kinds of fab ideas. 



I love crafting, it's such a shame I have a full-time job that gets in the way, but hey ho it pays the bills and how would I buy all the lovely crafting goodies if I didn't work? 

Anyway that's all for tonight, hopefully I've not bored you too much.

Thanks for stopping by
Anne-Marie x








Friday 16 January 2015

Gruffies & Guests Challenge #13 - Anything Goes with option of Buttons/Bows


Hi all

Just 'blogging in' with our half-way reminder for Challenge #13 as usual it is Anything Goes, but there is the option of using Buttons and/or Bows.

My DT card image is from Joanna Sheen's House Mouse Triple cd, lots of little mice having fun!


In with the theme of buttons I've used tri-boss Boofle embossing folder 

This month's challenge winner will receive a £10 voucher (UK postage only) to spend at 
The Scribble & Scrap Shop

So come on and get your creative fingers working; join us over at Gruffies & Guests where you'll see lots of inspiration from the DT team.

Good luck in the Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by,

Happy New Year ~ hope 2015 is all you wish for
Anne-Marie x


Friday 14 November 2014

Gruffies & Guests Challenge #11 Anything Goes with the Option of Christmas

Hi everyone

I'm so sorry for not being around in blog land for a while, I have been very busy with my wedding preparations!  I got married in Mauritius on 27th October :) but I am back now and hopefully will be able to give more time to my blog, and facebook crafty page and get on with some crafting.

I made my first (yes I said first) Christmas card today!  I'm soooooooooo behind with Christmas preparations :(

My DT card is for the halfway reminder for Gruffies & Guests challenge #11 Anything Goes with the Option of Christmas...and here it is...



I've used a lovely embossed glitter card as the background and the gorgeous house mouse image is from Joanna Sheen's House Mouse Triple cd, there are some fantastic images on these cds.

The prize this month is £10 to spend online at Scribble and Scrap Crafts

                     

I hope my card inspires you to have a go, please join in the fun of the challenges, we love to see all of your fab creations each month. 

Thanks for popping in.

Anne-Marie xx

I would like to enter my card into the House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge - Brrr it's COLD outside

Saturday 16 August 2014

Gruffies & Guests Challenge #8 - Anything goes with the option of 'for the Boys'

Good Morning!

It's that time again...

Here is my halfway reminder for Challenge #8 over at Gruffies & Guests Challenge Blog -  Anything Goes with the option of 'for the boys'

I have chosen a lovely image from Gruffies & Happy Hoppers cd, which I have used many times.


Also decided to do an easel card for a change


Our sponsor for this challenge is Petal Lu
Petal Lu makes the most beautiful hand made flowers and has kindly donated a £10 lucky dip prize of some of her flowers

http://petallu.tictail.com/

I look forward to seeing your lovely creations so please pop over and have a look at our DT creations to inspire you, and join in the fun.  Good luck in the Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by,
Best Wishes Anne-Marie xx

Friday 18 July 2014

Gruffies & Guests Challenge #7 - Anything Goes with the option of Summer

I really must update my blog more often, it's been a month again!

We're on Challenge #7 over at Gruffies & Guests the theme for this challenge is Anything Goes with the Option of Summer.

Here's my card as inspiration...hope you like it


I've used Joanna Sheen's House Mouse triple cd for the images and backing papers


and added a shell and starfish to go with the beach theme


Please pop over and join in the fun!  The winner will receive a £15 voucher to spend online at

The Scribble & Scrap Shop

We have some fab entries so far, so come on get your creative caps on, I look forward to seeing all your lovely creations.

Thanks for stopping by,
Anne-Marie x

Saturday 21 June 2014

Gruffies & Guests Challenge #6 - Anything Goes with the option of Patchwork

Hi All

I can't believe it's been a month since I last blogged...where has the time gone?

I have a bit of exciting news!  I passed my driving test first time earlier this week :) after a horrendous lesson before the test (you'd think I'd never driven before, I got everything wrong) thankfully on the actual test I had a lovely examiner who got me to calm down and I passed with only 3 faults so I'm a very happy bunny.  I've been out in my own car this morning with my partner and it wasn't too bad so there's no stopping me now!

Anyway the reason for this blog post is I'm here with the mid-way reminder for the latest Gruffies & Guests challenge.  The theme this month is Anything Goes with the Option of Patchwork.

Here's my card, hope you like it and it gives you some inspiration to have a go with these lovely images and come and join the fun.


I've used the Gruffies & Happy Hoppers cd for this lovely image



I love this image, don't we all dream of cake? haha

The lucky winner of this month's challenge will win the prize of 1 class at My Creative Classroom

We've had some fab entries so far, so why not pop along and join in the fun.  I look forward to seeing your lovely creations.  Good luck in the challenge :)

Thanks for stopping by Anne-Marie xx


Saturday 17 May 2014

Gruffies & Guests Challenge #5 - Anything Goes with the option of Spring

Evening All

I must apologise as my post is a bit late today.

The weather has been so nice today I've spent most of the day outside in the garden painting my very worn out looking garden furniture so not had chance to sit down and update my blog.

Anyway...

this is my half-way reminder for the current challenge over at Gruffies & Guests - the theme for this month is Anything Goes with the option of Spring.

The lucky winner will receive a $10 voucher to spend at




Here is my creation for this month's challenge inspiration.  I used the Joanna Sheen ~ House Mouse Triple cd for the cute image & backing paper.



We've had some fab entries so far, so why not pop along and join in the fun.  I look forward to seeing your lovely creations.

Thanks for stopping by Anne-Marie xx


Saturday 19 April 2014

Gruffies & Guests - Challenge #4 - Anything Goes with the Option of Lace

Hi All

Here's my half-way reminder for Challenge #4 over at Gruffies & Guests Challenge Blog, the theme this month is 'Anything Goes - with the Option of Lace'.

The winner will receive a £10 voucher from our Sponsor


For my DT card I've used a lovely image from Joanna Sheen's House Mouse Triple cd - would definitely recommend this cd there are soooooooooo many lovely images to chose from





Please pop over and join in the fun, we would love to see your fab Gruffies, Happy Hoppers and House Mouse creations.

The challenge runs until the end of April so you have plenty of time to get your entries in.

Look forward to seeing your entries, thanks for stopping by Anne-Marie xx

Thursday 3 April 2014

New to Digital Designer

Good Evening

I've had Docrafts Digital Designer installed on my laptop for months and never got around to using it...until now!  Had great fun and found it really easy to use.

So here's my first digitally designed birthday card for a friend's daughter.




I used Papermania Enchanted Christmas & Fairies cd, there are some really lovely images on this disc, can't wait to play more!

Here's a close up of the glittered fairy wings ~ I used stickles glitter glue


And on the name I used Anita's glossing pen to give a raised effect and finished it off with a few little gems.


I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Creative Moments - Challenge #39 Things with wings
Digistamps4joy - Challenge #89 Add wings
Fab n Funky - Challenge #210 Once Upon A Time



Tuesday 1 April 2014

It's April!!!

Where has the first 3 months of the year gone?  Can't believe it's April already.

Not blogged for a while as seem to be busy with allsorts!  And work!

Last night I made another button canvas, an order for a friend.  It's on an A4 size canvas, I'm quite pleased with the outcome, hope the little girl's mum is too :)




I used Sizzlits die for the larger butterfly and All Occasion die for the smaller butterfly



and lots of lovely little pink buttons and gems




I'm off to look if there are any challenges I can enter this into.

Thanks for popping in, much appreciated, A-M xx

I would like to enter the following:

Sweet Stamps - Challenge #163 Dies
Through The Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes
Crafting Musketeers - Challenge #12 Monochrome





Friday 14 March 2014

Gruffies & Guests Challenge #3 Fit for Mum or Special Female

Hi All

Here's my half-way reminder for our latest challenge over at Gruffies & Guests the lovely theme this month is Fit for Mum or Special Female.  



The Lucky Winner will receive a £15 voucher from our Sponsor Scribble and Scrap

The Scribble & Scrap Shop 

Here's my DT creation, hope it gives some inspiration and helps you with your creations.


I have made this for my Mum for Mother's Day, using the cute Happy Hoppers image from the Gruffies & Happy Hoppers cd


Which you can get HERE


I have used a glossing glue pen on the bubbles to make them 3d, not sure if you can see from the picture but it gives a great effect.


I cut a piece out of a facecloth to make the mini towel.

Hope you like my card.  Please join us over at Gruffies & Guests and enter this month's blog challenge with your lovely mother's day cards or cards for a special female.  I look forward to seeing all your lovely creations.

Thanks for popping by Anne-Marie xx