Top 5 2012

Now onto my favourite 5 cards of last year, this was really tough, but I narrowed it down to these;

In Jan I used this Funstamps stamp for the first time - then went on to use it several times more throughout the year!

In Feb, it was another Bugaboo card that caught my eye;

Later on in the year I was really pleased with this card using my LOTV stamp from Laurie.

In Sept, I discovered Hannah Lynn's gorgeous stamps - think you'll see them a lot more this coming year!

Then finally, I finish with another Bugaboo and my first stair step card.

Quite a variety really, and so nice to look back on at the end of the year.  Thanks Debby for reminding me to do this again, Jx

Christmas Top 5 2012

Now that the hustle and bustle of Christmas has settled, I've a bit more bloggy time and have decided to pick my favourite 5 Christmas cards of the year, something that Debby started us all on a few years back.

Well this year was a clean sweep for Bugaboo stamps for me!  Only found them last year, & now they are probably my favourite stamps!

So in no particular order...

Hope you all had a great Christmas, and I'll be back before the New Year with a selection of my favourite other cards too.

Finally, on the subject of Bugaboo, did you know that they celebrate a Birthday in January and will be having lots going on that week to celebrate.  Click on the badge at the side of my blog to go directly to the Catch The Bug site to find out more.  Jx

Swan Lake

Still haven't had time to make cards this holiday break but instead I'd like to share with you a picture that Colin took using his Christmas camera.  It's a picture of a lake at Slackadale Farm which is in walking distance of where we stay.

It's been lovely the past few days, no rain and temperatures around 7-9deg C... but for how long?  I hear snow is forecast for next weekend. Jx

Tag, You're It!

I was finishing off the present wrapping yesterday & realised I was short of a few bottle tags so this is what I made.

Quick & easy, but they do the job!

Challenges;
Crafty Creations - Tags
Fussy & Fancy - Tags
Sentimental Sunday - Christmas Tags

These tags won at Crafty Creations with a prize of 3 digi's from A Creative Need.

Rudolph With Your Nose So Bright...

I know I said I'd finished making my Christmas cards for this year but I also said that I was trying to use up images on my desk, so that is my justification for making this card!

I've used the wonderful digi Rudolph Candy Cane by Bugaboo and then coloured it with Promarkers then glazed the candy with 3D Anita's glaze.  The papers are by Fancy Pants designs and are called Saint Nick.  Finally, the card is finished off with a rim of Tim Holtz distress inks, card candi a ribbon & a bow - & that's about it!

Challenges;
Stella Says Sketch 126 - Great Sketch
Money Supermarket.Com - Christmas Card Off
Digital Tuesday - Layers
LCI - Anything Goes For Christmas
Passion For Promarkers - Happy...
Cupcake Inspirations - Picture Inspiration - I went with the red/green theme
Crafting For All Seasons - Red & Green & glitter & sparkle - used gloss on candy cane to make it sparkle & the bow is glittery.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Much as I'd love to send all my bloggy friends a Christmas card, there just aren't enough hours in the day to make one for you all, so here is one dedicated to all my followers.  Thanks for all the comments you've left me throughout the year & I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Today's card uses my Mulberry Wood, Sledging By Stamp, and Fancy Pants, Winter Wonderland Paper along with ribbon, a pearl & a LOTV date sentiment.

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 238
Charisma Cardz - Christmas
Ribbon Girl - Dec Challenge - Ho Ho Ho
Allsorts - Christmas Tree
Raise The Bar - Let It Snow
Stampin For The Weekend - Let It Snow
Winter Wonderland - Christmas Tree - I'm counting the pine trees in the background - are you?
Crafting For All Seasons - Green, Red, Glitter & Sparkle
ABC Christmas - Favourite Punch/Die - At the moment it's my fish tail tag dies - they appear loads since I bought them!

Other fantastic news that I want to share with you today is that I am now a designer on the MAWTT team - can't wait to start crafting with them in January and Alan returns home from Uni today for his holidays - Yipee! Jx

Happy Beer-Day

I'm having great fun with my card making at the moment - I don't actually need any for anybody so I'm just having fun playing around and still using those previously stamped images that are in a biscuit tin on my desk. Today's image is a beauty by Digi Stamp Boutique, perfect for those hard to do male cards, and I'm rather pleased with my embellishments on this one - beats buttons or flowers this time around.

The papers are by Paper Cellar, & the image had been distressed & the head on the bear double stamped & raised.  The sentiment is computer generated.

Challenges;
Made Especially For You - The sketch
Digi Stamp Boutique - Dec Challenge
Fussy & Fancy - Tags & Banners - Fish tail tag.
I Love Promarkers - For Boys

Read All About It!

It's taken me all week to get round to doing this card, but I really wanted to do this one.  The challenge at Polka Doodle was to use news paper, & as soon as I saw it, I could picture my card - so here it is:-

The stamp is a favourite of mine by Hero Arts called Dogwood, and its simply stamped on a newspaper, cut out and mounted on white card. The edges are also inked with TH Pumice.  Simple really, but I love the effect!

Polka Doodles - Paper Piecing with News Paper
Penny Black & More - Anything goes Jx

Thank You Sponsors

Today sees the last 2012 challenge over at an Oldie But A Goodie which means the challenge will run for 4 weeks instead of the usual 2.  Usual rules apply though and all cards submitted must follow the theme and include an item over 6 months old on the project.

So what's the theme I hear you ask...Well it's

Thank-You Sponsors

Which doesn't just mean a thank you card, what it means is you must use an item from one of our sponsors throughout last year.  So that includes anything from;

Bugaboo; Digi Doodle; Robyn's Fetish; Crafty Sentiments; Squidgi Digi & Iva Nova Chest 

& to reiterate, it's a huge thank you from all of us at an OBAG to all our sponsors and all our entrants for keeping our challenge running for another year.  Your card can be for any occasion just so long as it uses something from one of the above companies & you tell us what it is.

As it's the last challenge of the year, I thought I'd try something a bit different - a different fold for me and here's a link for anyone who's interested - Centre Step Card Template

My papers are again my oldie - from that Dovecraft Holly Jolly pack from a couple of years ago.  Colouring is by Promarker then the card is finished with a charm on twine &  a piece of Christmas ribbon - not forgetting the fish-tail tags cut using my new Die-namics dies.

The challenge this time is sponsored by Bugaboo and they are offering the winner 7 digi's of their choice - a fantastic prize indeed - thanks Bugaboo.

If like me you are a big fan of Bugaboo, you should head on over to their blog for their 12 Days Of Christmas Give Away - all you need do is post a link to their blog and leave your name & you could win one of several fantastic Bugaboo prizes. How good are Bugaboo I ask you???

Challenges;
Passion For Promarkers - Mega Christmas Challenge
Christmas At Sweet Stampin - Christmas project
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Stampavie & More - Anything but square
Whimsy Inspires - Festive
Charisma Cards - Christmassy
CHCC - Deer Deer Me - A Reindeer or two! - You got 3!
Cupcake Craft - Merry Christmas
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Forever Friends - Christmas Cards

Now head back to the main blog and see the fabulous items created by the rest of the design team. Jx

Little Gymnasts

Yesterday, my nieces took part in a gymnastics competition, so with them in mind, I made this little card.  Again using an image coloured earlier & scraps of papers which had been previously cut.  How good am I, that's 2 cards made without using new stuff... but for how long can this go on?  Well that's almost true - I used my newish die-namics fish tail dies to mount the sentiment, but that doesn't count as that's equipment right!

Challenges;
Digi Stamp Boutique - Dec Challenge
The Sweet Stop Sketch 188 - Lovely simple one. Jx

Bet She's Cold!

Not the weather for Anastasia's antics in 50 shades I'd say, but she was all ready coloured and sitting on my desk, so I thought I'd make use of her in an attempt to tidy up my crafty odds & ends before Christmas.

Papers are Basic Grey & the flowers, Wild Orchid Crafts.

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 237 by Jen
Stamp Your Life - Anything Goes
Wags n Whiskers - Anything Goes

Greyhound!

This guy doesn't look much like a greyhound does he, but he got on this card in record time and is now having a well earned rest!

He is of course, the lovely Penny Black called, Beehave.  He's coupled with Fancy Pants paper and a ribbon mounted on corrugated Kraft & that's it cause it's tea time!

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 236
Creative Card Crew - Stars - On paper
Penny Black @ Allsorts - Anything Goes
Papertake - Anything Goes Jx

Look What We Have!

Just been out and measured - we have a good 5cm of snow here.  Paths & drive way now cleared so think it will just have to be a crafty afternoon here!

The crafty afternoon didn't quite materialise, instead I made a fantastic curry from a mix from The Spicery - we've had this one before & it looks & smells delicious - just what's needed on a cold snowy night!  Check them out if you are looking for a Christmas present for someone who likes to cook!

Anyway, card making did eventually happen - I finished off this CAS card so it could make a couple of challenges;

Challenges;
Cupcake Craft - Black & White + one other colour - Green