My Family & Other Animals

Wednesday 1 February 2012

"Oh, Christmas Tree..."

It's been a good week this week, I managed to finish my latest Charlie Parker novel by John Connolly (The Reapers), which may not sound a lot to you but for me means I am now only three books away from being up to date with the series and so far I have to say they are the best books I have EVER read. They are a mixture of crime novel primarily with a side-order of supernatural suspense and psychological horror, a brilliant mixture that John manages to pull off with such a deft hand it's a real joy reading his books. If you have never tried them, I can highly recommend starting with book one in the Charlie Parker series "Every Dead Thing", it is a great introduction to one of the most complex characters in crime fiction.
On to the card challenge and our inspiration this week at I ♥ ProMarkers Challenge Blog (Challenge #102 - Photo Inspiration) was a lovely little picture of some brightly coloured buttons. I find it really interesting how people can take something and really all interpret it in a different way. Most of the girls on our team have taken their inspiration from the bright colours of the buttons where I seem to have just ignored the colours altogether and fixated myself on the buttons instead. I bought this Tatty Button stamp before christmas with every intention of making a pile of cards from it, turns out this is the first time I have even opened the packet!! It's a very uncomplicated stamp to colour (which in all honesty is a refreshing change in itself!) and putting the card together came very easily for this challenge. I am a HUGE fan of purple, it has always been my favourite colour but I don't use it very often because I worry that if I start with it I won't be able to stop myself, so being able to just let go with this card was a delight. The pattered paper is a Basic Grey while the other card is just one from my scrap pile. The die is one of my new ones from my Create and Craft bargain buy, one of the newer Christmas Nesties. The greeting come from LOTV.
Hope you like it,
load of love
Andy x x
Entered into Ditzy-Craftymess Challenge #1 - Anything Goes
Jellypark Friends Friday Challenge - Winter Wonderland
The Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes
Craft Us Crazy Challenge #20 - Anything Goes
Crimbo-Crackers Challenge #8 - No People or Animals
Do You Stack Up Challenge #57 - Anything Goes
Divas By Design Challenge #20 - Anything Goes
Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #50 - Anything Goes
Paper and Such Design Blog - Make a card with Non-Traditional Colours
Party Time Tuesdays Challenge #53 - Anything Goes

19 comments:

  1. Hi Andy...
    I love this card!
    The stamp is brilliant...if you know where it came from I would love to know...
    Thanks for showing!

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  2. first off, love that book series, too! I am an avid reader and a crafter after that.... so you can only imagine how much that means I read! grins!
    this card is totally fab! love love love the button stamp! can't believe it's just the first time you've inked it, but I have too many in my collection that are the same way.
    thanks for joining us at Jellypark Friends for our 'winter wonderland' challenge. :)

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  3. Hi Andy, what a great card. Wonderful stamp and love your colour choice. The die is lovely as well.

    Thanks for joining in with us this week at Divas by Design. Sarah

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  4. Beautiful card - thanks for joining us at Jellypark Friends.

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  5. What an adorable card! Thanks for joining the Die Cuttin' Divas challenge this week--Pat N.

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  6. Fabulous card, love the "button" tree! Thanks for joining us at Do You Stack Up.

    -Wenche

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  7. A stunning card Andy....unfortunately our rules are "combining with 6 other challenges only"....
    We would love for you to re-enter the challenge as your work is fabulous.

    Sandie@Ditzy-Craftymess

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  8. Wonderful button tree! Absolutely love the layout of your card and the embellishments are gorgeous. :)


    Thank you SO much for joining us at Craft Us Crazy for our challenge.
    Best of luck to you and we hope to see you again next time too!
    Hugs,
    Lisa xx

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  9. t is a stunning card :) As Sandie said unfortunately it doesn't qualify for our current challenge at Ditzy-Craftymess but please do enter another project your work is lovely and so nice to have a male crafter enter too xxx

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  10. Great card!! Thanks for joining us at Do You Stack Up. Hugs, Joan

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  11. That button tree is adorable in purple!! Thanks for playing along with us at Paper and Such!

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  12. Just so gorgeous hun...!

    thanks for joining us at Divas....and good luck...!

    big hugs Vicky xx

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  13. Wonderful card color. I'm always envious when people pull off purple really well. Thanks for playing along with us at DYSU.

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  14. Andy,
    What a wonderful fun winter card! I just love the button Christmas tree and great border punch.
    Thanks for joining us at Jellypark friends.
    Hugs, Heide JP-DT

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  15. great card, love the image,thanks for entering this week over at ditzy-craftymess x

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  16. I love buttons Andy this stamp is right up my street, I feel a crafty purchase coming on :o). Keep up the good work getting through your series of books. Thanks for sharing your card at Jellypark Friends. Mel :o)

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  17. What a stunning card. Thanks for joining us over at 'The Poodles Parlour'. Best of luck.

    Elke XX

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  18. Wonderful take on the challenge and fab colour for the tree! Thank you for joining in at Crimbo Crackers – hope you can join me again for the next challenge! Crimbo Crackers

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  19. Hi,Andrew. I just came to visit after seeing that you won the crimbo crackers challenge. And when I saw your name, I had to check it out since I have not come across any men (other than Tim Holtz) that are into cardmaking. I'm glad I came, your card is gorgeous! Love the purple and gold together.

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