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:

James with Daisy - 16th July

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!

Lilacs - 19th March

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!! 

Love in a teacup - 28th July

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.

A Lavender Bicycle - 9th August

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:

Elephants on Parade - 8th March

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! 

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

Simon Wednesday Challenge - Anything goes

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:

Digidesigns Challenge - Christmas

A Gem of a Challenge - Anything Christmas

Passion for Promarkers - Bingo 

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:

THANKS FOR VISITING!!

            

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

Fussy and Fancy Friday challenges - Happy holidays

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

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything goes

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)

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

Bunny Zoe's challenge - Snow

Addicted to stamps - Bling Bling

That Craft Place - Anything goes

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

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

over at Sweet Stampin' 

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

A little bit Crafty - Boo!

Without Words - Boo!

The Corrosive challenge - Halloween

We Do Doobadoo - Halloween

& Penny Black Saturday - Halloween

YIPPPEEE EDITED TO ADD:

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:

I'd also like to enter the following challenges:

Wags N Whiskers - Fall Colours

Gruffies & Guests - Anything goes or Halloween

Allsorts - Autumn

House Mouse & Friends - Autumn

Crafting Musketeers - Autumn colours

A Creative Romance - In the garden

Colouring crazy - Autumn colours

That's Crafty - Keep it Simple

Thanks for visiting!!

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!

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!

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!!

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