Tuesday 30 December 2014

My favourite cards of 2015

Evening Folks!
I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas and are looking forward to the new year. I done a bit of catching up with blogland this afternoon and thought it would be fun to join in with Debby's 5 Favourite cards of 2014.


Now I didn't think it wouldn't be too hard to choose 5 cards for this year, mainly because my production rate was a little low ;-) However, narrowing it down was a bit more of a challenge than I first thought, lots of dithering with a cup of tea in hand to sustain me!! Indecisive, me?? Yes, definitely..... but anyhow here goes, click on the links for more details:

I had to include at least one LOTV image in my selection and I was really pleased with the colouring and the CAS look of this card. Plus of course it has the very cute James the bear taking centre stage!

This stamp was a bargain from ebay and it has very quickly become one of my favourite Gruffies images ever. This card felt more embellished than my usual style and at first I was worried that it was a bit too much but I think it works. Also dared to cut into some papers I had been hoarding!! 

I was very honoured to be a guest design team member over at House Mouse and Friends during July and August and this is one of the cards during my time with them. Although I have lots of decoupage sheets in my stash I rarely use them so this was a bit unusual. I also love the soft colours on this. I sent it to my Auntie and Uncle who celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary, I thought it was a romantic image with just a few small touches of gold.

Well I just had to include a Penny Black card in my selection, they are still stamps I come back to time and again and the hedgehogs are a particular favourite. I like the layout on this card and I also managed to use up a few flowers gathering dust in my stash.

And finally drum roll please.....
My all time favourite card of 2014 is:

This Little Claire image always makes me smile and this was one of those very rare cards which was a dream to make, all the papers matched, the colouring was OK and it came together pretty much as I had imagined it in my head. Not something that happens very often!!

I could have included at least another 5 cards in my selection but I'm going to leave it there, before I change my mind again. Thanks Debby for a great idea for some New Year fun! 

Saturday 27 December 2014

A spot of fishing ....

Hi Folks!
Hope you've all had a lovely Christmas time. I can't believe we are starting our last challenge of the year over at Sweet Stampin' , where did 2014 go ?? I think I must have missed a couple of months somewhere!

The new challenge is everybody's favourite:

ANYTHING GOES

so if you've got some new goodies from Santa it's a good excuse to play along. We are sponsored this time by 

When I made this card I decided I needed a break from all things Christmas, so I inked up an old faithful LOTV stamp and had a rummage around in my paper scraps. Here's the finished result - not a snowflake in sight!!


He looks like he is having a good time:


Love this sentiment from Crafter's Companion:


Thanks for visiting and for any comments you'd like to leave - I love reading them!!
I'd also like to enter the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Pick a fave 
(I've gone for anything goes)
I love promarkers - Anything goes

Saturday 13 December 2014

Oh Christmas Tree!

Afternoon Folks!

Hope you're all OK and gradually getting ready for the arrival of the big guy in the red suit! My hubby is just hunting  for the outdoor Christmas lights in the loft, garage and shed - I'm keeping a low profile as I haven't got a clue where we've put them! I'm better at indoor decorations!! 

Over at Sweet Stampin', we are starting another fun challenge: 

OH CHRISTMAS TREE

and we would love it if you'd join us !

Here's my second card - the first attempt is in the bin following an unfortunate incident involving a cup of tea and an almost finished card. Note to self here tea and promarkers is not a good blending combo!!

The cute penguin is from Di's digi designs and the papers are a mix from Dovecraft, bazzill and Stampin up (??) 
I bought the Christmas tree die  while I was on holiday in the Netherlands this summer, it's by Yvonne creations.


Here's a closer look:


We are sponsored this week by:

I'd also like to enter a few challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge - Anything Christmas
Die cut - Free - Glitter
Fab n Funky - Christmas
That Craft Place - Christmas
Wags n Whiskers - Merry Christmas
That's Crafty - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Last minute Christmas 
Alphabet challenge - V for variety (3 papers)
A Crafty Mess - Anything goes / traditional Christmas colours

EDITED TO ADD:

 photo 408a70af-c18a-4046-879e-394f0cff2cfd_zps6679d591.jpg
THANKS FOR VISITING!!

            

Sunday 30 November 2014

Just whizzing by ....

Hi Folks!

I'm running late again! Somehow this weekend has not gone quite to plan but I'm here at last with my DT card for Sweet Stampin' 
Our new challenge is underway - this week the theme is 

LET IT SNOW!

Personally, I'd rather it didn't snow for a while yet but it's definitely a great theme for getting a few more Christmas cards made. We also have a great prize to tempt you from our sponsor 


Here's my card using one of my favourite Gruffies stamps ever, Beary Fast Sled, which usually gets used at least once during the Christmas season. I was trying for a masculine feel to this card as I think I might send it to my son! The papers are mainly Dovecraft traditional back to basics Christmas along with a couple of Memory box dies:


Must be Christmas coming, I've got out the flower soft, stickles and glitter!!
Also covered myself in the process!!



Thanks for visiting!!

I'd also like to enter the challenges at:
Cute Card Thursday - Ginger Spice 
Crafty Catz - Anything goes
Simply Create too - Snow, snow, snow
4 Crafty Chicks - Die cuts
Creative Knockouts - All that glitters
Nutcrafters - All that Glitters
The Cutie Pie challenge - festive furry friends


Saturday 22 November 2014

Time for a Birthday Party ...


Morning Folks!
Hope you're all OK?
It's an exciting week over at Sweet Stampin' - we are celebrating our 

5th Birthday!! 

We'd love you to come over and help us celebrate, just link up a project with some stamping and a birthday reference on the front. 
We have 3 fantastic sponsors for this week 

Wild Orchid Crafts
Crafty Devils
and Marianne Designs

so plenty of chances to win a nice prize.

My friend Tabby Cat is bringing along the cake to help get the celebrations started:


It's been ages since I made an easel card, I think the old Cuttlebug got a bit of a shock with the sudden outbreak of die cutting. I have to admit this card hasn't really come out like the idea in my head - I think I might have got carried away and overdone the pink ??? 

I still love this stamp though:
It's called Well Wishers from Penny Black, it's been in my stash for ages! I just used the cat this time. It's quite easy to mask off the image you want so it's like having 3 stamps in one! The sentiment is another new purchase from LOTV - must stop shopping, must stop shopping .....

Both team Abi and team Fi are celebrating over at Sweet Stampin' so there's lots of inspiration on the main blog so do try to visit us! We are also welcoming some new teamies too - exciting times! 

I'd also like to enter the challenges at:

Penny Black & More - Anything goes
Fab n Funky - Birthdays
A Creative Romance - Something Old (the PB stamp)
Crafts 4 eternity - Furry Friends
Daring cardmakers - Something old (PB stamp), 
something New (LOTV sentiment stamp)
Patties Creations - Birthdays
PolkaDoodles - Clean and Simple
4 Crafty Chicks - Make it Sparkle
Crafty Little Fairies - Not Square
Cute card Thursday - Stars
In the Pink - KISS with pink
ALBC - CAS
Everybody Art - Circle on the card
Papertake Weekly - Sooo Girlie
A gem of a challenge - Kraft plus one (pink)


Saturday 15 November 2014

Just skating by ......

Hi Folks!!
Is it me or has winter arrived here in the UK ??
Here I am better late than never ( I hope!!)  with my DT post for Sweet Stampin'  where the new challenge is 

TO DIE FOR

so just use a die cut or two on your creation - but don't forget to include some stamping!

We're sponsored by the fabulous Yours or Mine Papercrafts:



Who are offering a super duper $10 voucher to the store!

Here's my card, yep proud of myself because I have made another Christmas card and it's not even December yet:


I was really chuffed when I won this stamp recently as a prize from Penny Black and More,  just my cup of tea - cute hedgehogs and easy to colour!!


I used Go Kreate dies for the card shape and a Memory Box Frosty Border die with some added bling and glitter.

Hope you stay warm and cosy this weekend!!

I'd like to enter the challenges at:
Penny Black and More - Anything goes
We Do Doobadoo - Christmas
Animal friends - It's cold
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Festive Furry Friends
Papertake Weekly - 2 or 4 legs
Penny Black Saturday - All wrapped Up
Crafty Calendar - It's all about Christmas
 Die cut Divas - Any Holiday
Crafty Catz - Christmas is coming
Crafty Little Fairies - Not a square
I love promarkers - Male Christmas
Addicted to stamps - Bling Bling
That Craft Place - Anything goes


Saturday 1 November 2014

Time for tea ...

Morning Folks!
A really quick post from me today as I have friends visiting for the weekend. I just wanted to let you know that there is a new challenge starting over at Sweet Stampin'.
We'd like to see your
SHAPED CARDS
so time to dig out those dies or rummage through your stash to find that packet of shaped cards you bought ages ago!!

Here's my attempt using a LOTV stamp and Go Create dies. It hasn't really come out how I imagined it and isn't really my usual style but perhaps it might grow on me???


We have a great prize on offer for our lucky winner this week from 

Thanks for looking and enjoy your weekend! 
I'd also like to enter a few challenges -
Crafty Cardmakers - Cut it out
Simon Says stamp - Anything goes
Divas by Design - Anything goes
 Crafty Catz - Anything goes
Paper Pretties - Polka Dots
and I love promarkers - 3 of a kind = 3 patterned papers

Saturday 18 October 2014

Trick or treat

Boo!!
 Hope I didn't scare you!! 
Just popping by to share my DT card for 

H A L L O W E E N


I must admit that although we don't celebrate Halloween in a big way, I do love it! We usually carve a pumpkin and have a few decorated cupcakes. I also love the cute Halloween images and the traditional orange, green and purple colour combo! I've had this cute PB stamp for a few years but it still makes me smile


Here's the scare team, coloured with promarkers and distressed at the edges:


We have a fab sponsor for this challenge:


Thanks for visiting today and for any comments you leave - they make my day!

I'd also like to enter the challenges at:

Simon Says Wednesday challenge - Colour challenge
Simply Create too - Halloween
That's Crafty - Spooky
We Do Doobadoo - Halloween
& Penny Black Saturday - Halloween

YIPPPEEE EDITED TO ADD:
A Little Bit Crafty DT Blog

Saturday 4 October 2014

Autumn leaves

 Happy October everyone!!
September was a real non event for me, especially in the craft room - only one card made all month!! Surely October will be more productive!!

We have a new challenge starting at Sweet Stampin' this week, the theme is

A U T U M N

Here's my card, using a House Mouse stamp from my large pile of stamps waiting to see ink on them!! Very CAS as I didn't want to scare Mr Mojo away!!!


Here's the close up of those chubby cheeks!


We have a lovely prize from our sponsor for this week:

gif maker

I'd also like to enter the following challenges:

Wags N Whiskers - Fall Colours
Gruffies & Guests - Anything goes or Halloween
Allsorts - Autumn
Crafting Musketeers - Autumn colours
A Creative Romance - In the garden
Colouring crazy - Autumn colours
That's Crafty - Keep it Simple

Thanks for visiting!!

Saturday 20 September 2014

Ribbons and Bows

Hi Folks!
Long time with no action on my blog, but somehow 'real' life has got in the way recently - sigh!

Anyway, here I am back with my DT card for the new 

RIBBONS AND BOWS

challenge starting over at Sweet Stampin today. 

I've used a LOTV stamp that has only seen ink once before, some very old papers and flowers along with some new goodies from The Hobby House. 


Here's the close up view of this little cutie!! The ribbon has some glitter on it but as usual it's not showing up very well!


Thanks for visiting and for any comments you leave - they mean a lot to me xx
I hope to be blogging regularly again soon!

Monday 25 August 2014

A little chilli ...

Morning Folks!
Happy Bank Holiday to those in the UK !
I'm here to share my final card as a guest DT member over at House Mouse and Friends Mondays, sniff, sniff!
I'd just like to thank all of the team for inviting me to join them again - I've had fun!!
This fortnight the new challenge is 

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

so lots of possibilities!

I've dug around in my stash again and used up another sheet of decoupage:


The papers are LOTV and Wellington, finished with some card candi and a felt word which is actually from a sort of  Christmas garland, I just cut this one out from between the Ho,Ho, Ho and Joy!!

Thanks for looking!

Saturday 23 August 2014

Cowboys and cowgirls!

Morning Folks!

Yippee a long weekend! Hope you've got something nice planned??
If you get some time to craft you might like to join the fun over at Sweet Stampin where our new 

COWBOYS & COWGIRLS

challenge has just started! 
We have a very nice prize this week from Crafts U love to tempt you!!

Here's my card using a very old stamp from Sugar Nellie called Cowboy Luca which I think has been discontinued for some time. I'm not quite sure if this has ever seen ink before, to be honest I had forgotten I'd even bought it until this challenge came up!! Naughty me!! Still at least it shows that if you hang on to stash for long enough it comes in useful eventually! 


Here's the Sheriff, he's coloured with promarkers and then edged with brushed corduroy distress ink:


The papers are really old too - a mixture of Dovecraft and MME. The sentiment is by Stampin up, ribbon,brads and charm are from my stash!! 
Thanks for looking and enjoy the long weekend!!

Monday 11 August 2014

Just having 40 winks ...

Morning Folks!
I'm here today with a quick share, it's my third card as a guest DT member at House Mouse and Friends Monday - these guest spots are going by far too quickly...

The new challenge this fortnight is

DO NOT COLOUR YOUR IMAGE

I have to admit this one was a bit of a challenge at first! 
I've used just the bear on a Gruffies stamp called 'I dream of cake' and masked off the rest of the stamp. He is stamped in rich cocoa memento ink onto cream card that has been distressed with brushed corduroy and walnut stain inks. The sentiment is by Stampin Up.


Here's a closer look at Mr. Sleepy head! Papers are from my favourite masculine pack - Wellington by Docrafts. 


Thanks for visiting today!

I'd also like to enter the following challenges:
Alphabet Challenge - M for men only
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes
Gruffies and Guests - Anything goes and option boys
Aud Sentiments - Thinking of you
Without words - Use a previous challenge - Jan 14 =Spots and stripes
Crafting for all seasons - Feature a creature
Crafty Little Fairies - Cute and cuddly
That's Crafty  - stamping ground
Stamping Sensations - Anything goes
Crafts 4 Eternity - Anything goes