My 5 Favourite Cards of 2014

Well if I thought picking my favourite Christmas cards was hard, picking my favourite other cards was so much harder.  In the end I have chosen the ones below, from a variety of stamp companies using both digi & rubber.  So here goes,

Again in no particular order, we start with a recent Bugaboo - got to include at least one!  This one was made back in April, using a 2014 Bugaboo image and old Basic Grey papers - really loved the sketch I followed on this one.

Next it's onto an LOTV stamped image, and another Spring card.  These papers were by MME and I so loved that pad!

Now the card above was entered into a GDT call over at Ooh La La, and was lucky enough to win me a one month spot working with that team.  Working off a CD was a new one on me, but I really loved some of the materials I was sent to work with and subsequently bought a Ooh La La CD and made many more cards including the one below;

Next we move onto an Art Impressions card - love these stamps and made quite a few this year after a couple of purchases.  So I've added the Grillfather to my favourites this year!

And finally, I've chosen a PB - how could I not - Sam would never forgive me!

So that's it, my top 5 for another year.  I always love doing this and thank Debby for running this challenge each year.  Jx

My 5 Favourite Christmas Cards 2014

With Christmas 2014 upon us it's time to look back on the years production and pick 5 favourites to enter Debby's annual challenge.

So, in no particular order, my top 5 are...

Yet again, there's a lot of Bugaboo images in my favourites, but as well as these, I've included this one, which uses a pre-coloured image from The Paper Shelter.

   The Paper Shelter Image & Papers - Nov 14

 Bugaboo Image - CAS Card - Nov 14

 Ooh La La - Precoloured image & papers - Oct 14

 Bugaboo Image - Jul 14

Bugaboo Image - Apr 14

So that's my favourites, can't wait to see yours.  Hopefully I'll be able to visit in the next couple of days and see.

Merry Christmas, Jx

Tis The Reason...

I've saved this Christmas card till last this year, to wish all my blog friends a Merry Christmas and to thank those of you who comment on my blog and sent me cards this year.

It's a simple CAS card using a Bugaboo image and a computer generated sentiment.  As always, colouring is done by Promarker.

Challenges;
Papertake - Last Christmas
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Winter Inspiration
Choc Coffee & Cards - Christmas
Crafty Catz - Last Minute Christmas - quick card
CHCC - What ever's needed - more cards
A Gem Of A Challenge - Anything Christmas

PS Also, I'm pleased to report I passed my Spirometry assessment last week.

Christmas Birthday's

Today I'm away...but hopefully Mr Blogger isn't!  Not on my holidays though, no I'm on a course, learning all about Spirometry, and tomorrow I sit a test! Then tomorrow night, hopefully I will be celebrating passing said test, along with my hubby's birthday!

So, the latest challenge over at MAWTT really came about at a good time for me, the theme is...

Christmas Birthday's

And by my reckoning, a birthday on the 12th falls into that category!  So here is my card, not exactly festive I know, but hopefully all wintery and warm!

The stamp is by Inkadinkado, coloured with Promarkers, Glossy Accents added to the glass pieces then the edges distressed using my ink dusters in TH Distress Pumice. The paper is a double sided Bo Bunny sheet (Back to Backs) and the charm from ebay.

Challenges;
Chocolate Coffee & Cards - Use a charm
Ribbon Girl - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesday - 193 - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
TopTipTues - Inspiration from the home - Pic below!

...he he he, the wine bottle is already squint and it's not even open! sorry for the horrid photo - but I'm revising...right!

I'm Not Really Here

For those of you who think I'm revising, I am - I don't know how this card got made this week and uploaded???

Anyway, it follows a great sketch by SSW2 and uses a lovely Milk Coffee Design image of Tiffany.  Papers are Pebbles - Special Delivery.

Back to the books now, test Fri then hopefully normality will return.

Challenges;
SSW2 - Sketch

I Love Promarkers - Travel - Well she is stepping out on foot? Maybe that will count???

In Him Our Hearts Rejoice

Just a quick post as I'm supposed to be revising just now, but as this card was already made I thought I could just pop it on!

Lot's of dies in action here, inky edges and then a sentiment as the main focus. (It's by From the Heart)

Challenges;
Digitally Sweet - Sentiment as main focus - image is a digi
Crafty Sentiment Designs - Anything goes
Creative Card Crew - Birthday with sentiment
Papertake - Anything goes

Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

I watched Frozen last weekend with my nieces, and we had a good giggle at the various funny bits.  Still to watch Brave with them, so that's lined up hopefully for the next sleep over.

So obviously my title came from Frozen, and my card from Ooh La La - Say It With Words.

Everything apart from the ribbon came from the CD.

Sorry I'm not round much just now, Dec is a busy month with work and I also have an exam in a couple of weeks time. Jx

Challenges;
Glitter n Sparkle - Add Some Snow
Ooh La La - Christmas
My Time To Craft - Snowmen
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

You're My Best Friend

I should probably have made another Christmas card for this weeks challenge as next week we are into December and Christmas cards will need to be written and posted - but that would have been the sensible thing to do! Instead, for this weeks challenge over at Moving Along With The Times, the theme is set as

Inspired by a Song

& my song is You're My Best Friend by Queen.  Obviously the card is not for me as it has a woof as the best friend, but I know loads of people who fall into that camp.

Papers today are Bo Bunny and Papermania I think.And the card is finished with LOTV tags, twine and another favourite of mine, that La La Land heart banner.

Challenges;
Card Mania - Use a digi
TPE - Anything Goes 278
Glitter n Sparkle - tag it - sentiment tags
Robyn's Fetish - Use a digi
Sweet Stampin - Birthday Card
Doodle Pantry - Any digi - DPDC52
Fab n Funky - Die Cuts
Simpn Says Stamp - Anything goes
Digitally Sweet - Opposite - Circles & Squares (Best friend dog - but it's actually my cat!)

Finally a tale with a happy ending...
Alan's iPad broke at the weekend, the screen went all funny - white with a grey bar across and ceased to work properly.  Despite it being out of warranty I took it back to Apple to see what they suggested, and they replaced it FREE OF CHARGE!!! You can't get better service than that so I'm super impressed and obviously Alan is mega happy. Thanks Apple, Jx

Happy 50th Birthday

Hi everyone, hope you are all cosy and crafty - I have been and am just posting this card before I head out for a spot of babysitting.  Not that my nieces are babies any more, but I'm looking after them while their Mum & Dad are on a night out. So look out for more crafty projects from them next week!

Back to today's card now and it's a special one for a close friend who is having a big birthday this coming week.  I do so love including an old photo on my card instead of a stamped image - it makes for a more personal and individual card.

Old photo's can however be quite hard to source when it's not a family member, but with much pleading and pestering I usually get there!

Once I had my image, my next problem was to get papers to match, I went through my numerous pads & sheets, but nothing suitable, the photo was quite pale and my blod papers tended to swamp the image.  Then I thought of my Ooh La La CD and it came up trumps - loads of pastel/neutral sheets to pick from!  Finally, my card has Magnolia cut flowers, a ribbon from the Papeterie, pearls and is easel style to accomodate a larger sentiment.

Femo checking it out!

Challenges;
Ooh La La - More than one fold
A Creative Romance - Something Old - Old photo
Wags & Whiskers - Add some leaves
CCEE Stampers - Photo or photography
Crafters Cafe - Anything Goes
Crafting For All Seasons - Birthdays
Papertake - So girly
Crafty Catz - Winter theme - Dressed up for winter - she was actually sat on Santa's knee in the photo till I cropped it!
The Kraft Journal - thought I'd give you a mention as it was your sketch I followed, but sadly I didn't use kraft cause in the end the image suited grey better. (But I loved your sketch!) Didn't enter challenge!

Bottoms Up!

Quick post today as I'm heading in to Aberdeen to clean Alan's flat then get him home for an appointment tomorrow morning - it's all go!

Anyway, today's card was made for my neighbour for her brother,  It uses a fab Digi Stamp Boutique digi, made nice and big, double printed and layered then finished off with glossy accents!

The tiles are Doodlebug and so is the DP.

"decoupaged layers"

Challenges;
Digi Stamp Boutique - November Challenge
Fan-tastic Tuesday - Anything goes with a male twist
Party Time Tuesday - Anything Goes
2 Cute Ink - Orange/Yellow/ Brown

Bee Happy!

Well it's Sunday morning and I'm first up, crafting away!  My card is all planned out but not stuck together, but I'm that pleased with it I thought I'd type up my post first!

So, it's a delightful PB cat - from my even more delightful friend Sam/Whisper!  I know how mad she is on PB and she knows how mad I am on cats - so we feed each others addictions! (Thanks Sam for another super cat to colour!)

My card is made using a rather lovely sketch from SSW2 - I do so love working from sketches!  Papers are Bo Bunny, Avenues Collection and colouring by Promarker.

& here is my little card!

Challenges;
SSW2 - Sketch 34 - a beauty to work with!

Papertake - 2/4 legged friends
PB@Allsorts - November - Anything Goes
Glitter n Sparkle - Cute
Robyn's Fetish - Anything with wings
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Crafting For All Seasons - Birthdays

Let's Celebrate Kindness

Morning all, how are you today?  Hopefully well and wrapped up cosy - don't know about where you are, but it's defo cooler here abouts and soooo wet ... Winter is on it's way!

Another thing that's on it's way is the latest challenge over at Moving Along With The Times, it's set by our boss lady, Hazel, and she's looking for projcts inspired by the theme,

Let's Celebrate Kindness

It's up to you how you interpret this one, but the most obvious way is with a thank you card & I needed one of these a couple of weeks back to give to the vet who sorted out Merlot Mogs.

Now Merlot is a fun lovin, playful adventurous cat and as it's Autumn, I thought this Stampendous Fluffles image would suit him perfectly.

Fluffles himself was double stamped and set on gel to raise him above the leaves.

Papers are LOTV and colouring by Promarker.

Challenges;
Papertake - 2 or 4 legs (and an old sketch of yours too!)
My Time To Craft - Farm Yard Animals - well most farms have a cat... don't they?
Cheerful Stamp Pad - Cats/Kitties
Eureka Stamps - Four legged friends
Party Time Tuesday - Anything Goes

And for those of you who have been following Merlot and his health issues, well I'm pleased to report he is doing well.  He's back to his normal self again, up to his old tricks and it's just amazing how well he's adapted to loosing his eye.  As I was told at the onset - cats are amazingly resilient creatures! Jx

Snowmen

It's getting to that time of year again when panic sets in and the number of Christmas cards to be sent still exceeds the number made!  In order to rectify this, a quick card is needed and as it's to be posted far and wide, it must be skinny to avoid a bigger stamp.

The result is below.  The text was generated (with Colin's help using Serif Draw.)

& I've even done a sentiment inside - that doesn't happen very often!

Challenges;
Winter Wonderland - Snowmen
CHCC - Keep it flat
Crafting When We Can - Use Markers - Promarkers
Stamping Sensations - Christmas
Kraftyhands - Christmas Cheer
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes/Stars - well there is one on top of the tree!
TPE - 276 - CAS

Tomorrow is a busy day for me as I'm off to get Spirometry training as part of my new job.  It's a technique used to assess lung capacity and function and can be used to help in the diagnosis of some lung conditions, or as in my case, for occupational health screening.  This will be the easy bit, further training and a competency test next month! Jx

"Rub Noseies"

A similar card to the last one I posted, again using a super pre-coloured Paper Shelter image.  Papers by LOTV and a few dies in action!

Challenges;
SSW2 - Another super sketch

Creative Corner - Christmas
RRR - Winter Holiday
Crafty Ribbons - Christmas Creations with Ribbon
Creative Card Crew - Christmas Joy

Till Next Year...

I'm sure I should have been doing something else today, but instead I was making cards!  I bought a couple of new Paper Shelter images at the weekend after seeing them on their challenge blog, and as they were pre-coloured I thought I'd make a quick card! (Are they ever quick?)

So the stamp is called December 26th - available here both coloured and black & white.

Santa's set upon LOTV papers, with a couple of die cut corners a a ribbon to finish.

Challenges;
Papertake - Free sketchie, but I used the one shown
The Paper Shelter - Christmas
ABC Christmas - V - A Very Merry Christmas (Thanks for the sentiment Samantha)

Come Fly With Me

Here is my final card from "Hedgehog Season", sorry it's a bit later than all the rest, but I seemed to get side tracked there before I got to the end of my little pile of hedgehog stamps!

This one is by Sugar Nellie and is available at the Funky Kits Shop here - He's called Aviator.

So he's coloured with Promarkers, accents & glamour dust have been added along with twine, tags and card candi.  Papers are by MME - Every Day Flair & ? - can't find the grey pad atm!

Challenges;
Allsorts - Masculine
Sugar Nellie - Anything Goes
SSW2 - Sketch 80 with orange twist
Passion for Promarkers - Add some sparkle - glamour dust on bee and accents on goggles
Crafting for All Seasons - Tag it - sentiment tags

Fashionable Stamping Challenge - Animals

One Crazy Stamper - Anything Goes

I love Promarkers - 3 of a kind - 3x candi

We Three Mogs

I've had this stamp for a few years now, but every time I bring it out it always makes me smile!  Not that I particularly like my kitties bringing me presents, but think it's just something that cats do in the country when they are surrounded by fields!

So my card today uses this great Stampendous image, coloured with Promarkers then set on LOTV papers. A bit of sage inking was done to the white edges and the card finished off with gems.

Challenges;
Papertake - Sketch 80 - Christmas Themed
Winter Wonderland - Pick n Mix - Snowflake/Ribbon/Gems
The Ribbon Girl - Christmas Card
Stamping Sensations - Simply Christmas
Crafty Calender - It's All About Christmas
CHCC - Make it Sparkle
Jingle Belles - Christmas Card with a Creature
Holly Jolly Christmas - Bingo - Ribbon, Rhine Stones on crowns, Die Cut - Snowflake

*Susan - my fault not blogger - wrote post before I'd photoed the card - needed day light for that!

Butterfly Catcher

I'm on a roll this week, I've managed to make a few cards!  This one was quite quick though as the PB image was coloured a couple of weeks back when I was in my hedgehog phase.  I coupled it with an old Papertake sketch and gorgeous Bo Bunny papers and the result is below!

Challenges;
Papertake - Old sketch - Sketch 80
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Diva's by Design - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Delighted to see I won the Papertake Challenge this week and will pick up a $25 prize from Simon Says Stamp! Yipee!!!

Winter's Coming

Dare to be different?

Well Judith certainly was when she picked the theme for the latest challenge over at Moving Along With The Times, she's gone with...

Winter is coming 

or

Any Game of Thrones themed card!

Now as I've never watched Game of Thrones, I really couldn't go down that route, but I can do winter and for us that usually means a great big dollop of snow!

So for today's card I've gone back to Ooh La La and a Winter image I won last month.  I've kept my card simple and just glittered up the centre oval, nothing too technical here, but I am pleased with the end result so think a few more of these will be made this year.

The above pic gives you a better idea of the colours, but the image is kinda lost under the glitter and flash. Below is a pic with the flash off - a bit dark but you can see the lovely image better!

The card is finished with bakers twine and more of those gorgeous LOTV tags that Debs introduced me too!

Challenges;
Crafty Bloggers Network - Christmas
Crafty Cardmakers - Die cutting or punching - die cut oval
Allsorts - Christmas
Little Claires - Christmas
Party Time Tues - Anything Goes
The Stamping Chef - Anything Goes
Crafting For All seasons - Tags - do little ones count?
Fab n Funky - Christmas
Paper Shelter Challenge - Christmas

Let's Party

Today I'm off in to Aberdeen to visit Alan in his flat.  The plan is to give it a quick tidy round in the morning while he's in class then to have a little fly-cup with him in the afternoon to celebrate his 20th Birthday!

"Happy Birthday Alan"

Won't see Colin this visit as he also has classes but he has informed me he will be escorting his washing home at the weekend!

Onto today's card, it's a birthday one for one of my Mam's friends. It uses a Bugaboo image and  Lilybee Design papers.  As with most of my Bugaboo cards, a lot of glossy accents have been added to this image!

Challenges;

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Use Kraft

Passion For Promarkers - Lets get krafty
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Tidy Up Time!

Now this is clever - I'm having a tidy - but I'm tidying my craft room.  In particular my desk.  So what better way to tidy up the pre-coloured images than to stick them on a card!  How clever am I???

So I've had this image layered up for weeks now & the co-ordinating paper printed, all that was needed was a bit of taping & sticking and then...Ta-Da...

My card!

All the bits except the ribbon and the LOTV tags are off the Ooh La La CD - Say It With Words.  Slowly but surely I'm working my way through this disc and already I can see it was an excellent buy!  Will have to do some of the Christmas ones soon too.

Challenges;
Ooh La La - Inspired by Nature
Creative Card Crew - Bows
Fan-tastic Tues - Anything goes with flowers
Party Time Tues - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons - Tags & ribbons

Right, back to the HW and the rest of the house, lol!

White Christmas

I loved making my all white Christmas card last week for MAWTT, so this week I'm making another white card - this time with a splash of colour on the image but again predominately white.

So, the image is a gorgeous Delicious Doodle, and colouring by pencil for a change! Lots of lace, pearls, embossing and glitter finish the card.

Challenges;
Allsorts - Embossing
Sketch n Stash - 149 - Nothing new on this one all stash items!
Party Time Tuesday - Anything Goes
Ribbon Girls - White & ribbon...does lace count??
CHCC - Use a forgotten item - my filgiree die - hasn't been used on a Xmas card before

Winner at Oct Challenge - The Ribbon Girls 

Birthday Girl

The other week, I was delighted to read that Funky Kits and All Dressed Up had teamed up to bring us more gorgeous stamps.  I've been a big fan of Sugar Nellie for several years, & I also now have a few lovely Dressie images - although they haven't all seen my Promarkers - yet.

The image used today however jumped to the top of the pile as she is the current freebie and is the one required for the current challenge.  Not that that was a problem - she's lovely and has made a perfect girly birthday card - perfect for little nieces I'd say!

If you like her - grab her now from here - the challenge is almost over and I don't know how long she'll still be availabe without charge!

Challenges;
All Dressed Up - Birthday Girl
Sketchtanten - Another lovely sketch
Come & Get It - For a Child
Dragonfly Dreams - Mainly Pink
4 Krafty Girlz - Anything Goes

Finally - Merlot...he's doing fine post op, back outside and just getting on with things!