My 5 Favourite Cards 2015

It's always nice to look back on the years makes and see what direction your crafting has taken in the previous 12 months, and it's also nice to remind ourselves on how many crafty goodies we have purchased throughout the year.

So her are my favourites from some of my favourite companies of the year,  Ooh La La, and their many fabulous CD's and All Dressed Up and Sugar Nellie for their super digital stamps.

This was one of the first cards I made off the great Ooh La La CD by Paula Oakley.

Another super image of the same CD, just love the colours on this one.

And finally a hat-trick, again Paula Oakley CD and another brilliant image.

Next it's All Dressed Up, and a cute kitty, and finally...

Another cat, this time by Sugar Nellie, for my hubby's birthday.

So that's it, my card making highlights of 2015.  Thanks to Debby for once again organising this challenge and prompting us to look back on our years production.

Happy New Year everyone, Jx

My 5 Favourite Christmas Cards 2015

Now that Christmas has past, it's time to pick my Top 5 Christmas Cards and enter Debby's Annual Challenge,

So in no particular order, here they are;

This one uses a Bugaboo bell image and I like it because it is predominately white and it uses my new big circle dies to make a round easel card.

Next, another Bugaboo image and another card relying on dies to make its mark.  

Well you all know I love Bugaboo, so you'd have been surprised if they hadn't featured! This time its snowmen on my new stepper die card base.

My fourth choice is again CAS, but this time using the cutest of Sassy Cheryl images.

And finally a card using a Sugar Nellie Penguin image, lots of layers and traditional colours.

So that's my this years choices.  Hope you all had a good Christmas and I'm now off to ponder my Top 5 other cards. Jx

Made With Love

I always have fun scheduling posts whilst on holiday, and I couldn't miss posting today, as today is Craig, my husband's birthday.  Happy Birthday Mr - not really into mushy stuff, but I'm hoping we have a lovely day together and I think the title of the post says it all, Jx

The image is one I spotted over at Funky Kits when I purchased my Christmas digi  for the previous post.
Another cutie, and it's a cat so you can see why I had to get it!

Challenges;

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes
Sugar Bowl - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Papertake - Fun Fun Fun - A Birthday in Berlin should be that...hopefully!
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes

To A Special Person At Christmas

I'm super excited today you guys cause today's the day I fly off to Berlin with my hubby for a week at the Christmas Markets.  So looking forward to our trip as it's been quite a year and we never managed to get away in the Summer.

Berlin is one of my favourite holiday destinations, been there loads of times, and if anything gets you in the mood for Christmas it has to be European Christmas Markets with all their local crafts and foods being sold on the street stalls.  Will pop some pictures up here and on FB over the coming days.

Anyway, before I fly off, I must tell you of the last MAWTT challenge this year, running into the new year, set by Carole and it's...

To A Special Person At Christmas

So I made this cutie for my husband.  It uses a gorgeous digi stamp by Funky Kits called Warm Winter Wishes and it's available here.  I coloured it using Promarkers then used LOTV papers along with an LOTV date and a computer generated sentiment.

As always there are lots of great cards to be seen on the main blog page where the other DT ladies have made some real festive beauties.  Hope you can join us this time around to make this a fabulous MAWTT challenge to close the year on.

Challenges;
Crafty Calender - Let it Snow
My Time To Craft - Christmas Animals
Sweet Stampin - Snowtime
Sugar Bowl - Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations - Stamp & Ribbon
Ribbon Girl - Dec Anything Goes
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything Goes
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Bugaboo Blitz

I so didn't have time to join in in the week long Christmas Chaos event over at Bugaboo - but I so made time over the weekend after Hazel egged me on!

So despite work, getting the house sorted for Christmas and going to Berlin this week, here are 3 cards for the event.  Sorry I didn't manage a full house this time but 3 is better than none at all!

So here they are collectively;

And now here they are individually linked to the daily challenges,

Day 1 Challenge - Here comes Santa Claus
ABC Christmas - 4x4
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
CHCE - Anything Goes
Deep Ocean - Santa Claus is coming to town

Day 2 Challenge - SSS

Tuesday Throwdown - Snowflates - on the embossing
Crafty Catz - Let it snow - on the embossing
Winter Wonderland - Holy & / Ivy
Holly Jolly - Anything Goes Christmas

Day 3 Challenge - Colour Theme
Passion for Promarkers - Mega Christmas Challenge -Lets Celebrate
I Love Promarkers - Winter
Simon Says Stamp - Let it Snow
Creative Knockouts - Tis the Season
Crafters Cafe - Diecuts or Punches - Dies - card shape and branches
Sweet Stampin - Snowtime

I'm disappointed that I don't have time to do more to complete the challenge week, but time is not on my side just now.  Thanks Bugaboo for another fantastic event and hopefully by next year I'll have a bit more time to do the full 7 makes.

Jx

Tags

Just made a selection of tags after a friends daughter told me about the Santa ones on Pinterest using drinks can tabs!

Here they all are;

And the best bit about all these is that they were made using the scraps in my card box!

Challenges;
City Crafter - 123 Tags
Papertake - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash - No stamping - All dies
Allsorts - CAS
Poppy Stamps - Tempting Tags
Jx

Catie's 21st

Another 21st card today, this time for one of my best friends daughter.  Catie was born a month after Alan and as toddlers they had loads of adventures together before we moved house and away from the Glasgow area.  Think you can tell by my photo choice they were besties - before besties were even invented!!!

So it's another easel, with lots of die cuts to decorate along with that meshy stuff, card candi and a pearl from Hobby House.

Challenges:
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Anything Goes
Jx

Let It Snow

I know the title of this post is let it snow - but please don't.  A few years back it did start snowing in Nov - and the ground remained white till the following March - what a nightmare so no thank you! We did have a covering of the stuff this weekend too, but luckily it hasn't hung about.

It is however acceptable to feature snow on cards, as that is what Debs is after as she picked the challenge theme of

Let it Snow

over at Ooh La La.

The image I've used this time is not off an Ooh La La CD but is infact printed from the digital download section of the Ooh La La site - there are other sheets too, so if you haven't checked them out, it's worth a visit.  Last time I used this image I just used the topper, but this time I asked at HQ if there were papers to match... so Wendy made me some! (Thanks Wendy, what a star!)

So here is my latest offering...

I printed the image twice, layered up the candle inset, then added sparkle to it by clear embossing the oval. Tags are LOTV and the twine and pearls are from a favourite of mine, The Ribbon Girl, and were infact part of a prize a month or so back, so thanks Mary & Andrea for my goodies.

Challenges;
Alphabet Challenge - t  - Tis the Season
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Shades of Blue
Papertake - Let it Snow
Creative Craft Cottage - 52 - Christmas
Winter Wonderland - 1,2,3 - 1 image, 2 papers and 3 embs - pearls
CD Sunday - Sprinkle of snowflakes
My Time To Craft - Let it snow

Finally I'd just like to say this is the last Ooh La La challenge of the year as we all take a well earned Christmas break.  Look out for us back again next year when our new challenges starts back on Mon  4th Jan.

and finally finally I just want to thank all the ladies over at Ooh La La for a great year on their DT, I really have enjoyed it, love the CD's and can't wait for the new releases next year.  Happy Christmas Teamies! Jx

Tree Trimmers

As Christmas is fast approaching I thought I better put a bit more effort into making some cards, so today I set about a batch of thin colourful CAS cards ideal for posting.

The image is a new one to me, by Sassy Cheryl - I paid full price for it a few weeks back, but if you're quick you may be able to snap up a bargain as it's on special just now!

Colouring as always is by Promarker and my sentiment added directly to the card front using Serif Draw, (thanks Colin for the lesson!)  Finally the card is finished with my festive favoutites, glossy accents and glamour dust.

Challenges;
CHCC - Red & Green
Brown Sugar - No DP's
Christmas Stampin All Year Long - Anything Goes
Crafting by Designs - Frosty Snowmen
Christmas Cards All Year Round - Christmas Trees
Sparkles Forum Christmas - Christmas Decorations
Cutie Pies - CAS/Cute/Christmas
Christmas at Sweet Stampin - Stars
Jx

My Favourite Things

Well this one will either sink or swim, and I'm so hoping swim, as it's Mrs Duck's theme over at MAWTT and she has really excelled in picking

My Favourite Things

as our latest challenge theme - BUT read on my friends - Mrs Duck never does things by halves - don't follow the theme literally instead think of Mary Poppins and the song...

"These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things"

the lyrics are on the MAWTT blog and they are the theme - how creative is that! (I'm lovin this one - aren't you???)

So sing along as I did till you reach your favourite thing and surprisingly... I went with... "whiskers on kittens!"

I rummaged through all my cat stamps - and quite a few are whiskerless, but then as luck would have it, a challenge win and the chance to gather more Bugaboo images and low and behold, this little Christmas number appeared!  Isn't he gorgeous - even if a tad grumpy!  He's called Crabby Cat Christmas and is available here.

So, colouring was by Promarker, papers by First Edition - Festive Treat and tags by LOTV and there we have it!

Challenges;
CHCE - Anything Goes
A Gem of a Challenge - Christmas Critters
Catch The Bug - Anything Goes
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - Kitties - Wasn't sure if this cat believed in gifting ...his face says it all!
Brown Sugar - Tag Your it - sentiment tags
ABC Christmas - W - Wild Thing - well my cat is!!!
Crafty Catz - Winter
Christmas Card Challenges - Anything goes
Come & Get It - Lots of sparkle - hat as glamour dust & glossy accents
The Glory of Christmas - Glitter or shine - glamour dust & accents
Papertake - Christmas Critters
Jx

Pearls & Lace

Morning all and welcome to the latest challenge over at Ooh La La - chosen by Avril and it's

Pearls & Lace

A lovely feminine theme and perfect for the decoration of the card I made to celebrate my son's, girlfriend's 21st!

So, in a change from the norm, I did not use an Ooh La La image, instead I used a family photo then co-ordinated it with papers off 2 Ooh La La CD's. ( The Shawn Jenkins Collection and The Paula Oakley Collection to be precise available here.)

I love making cards using old photos, but it can often be the hardest bit getting papers to match, that's why it was so handy having so many CD's to hand.

My card also encorporates lots of die cuts for the embellishments and obviously the compulsary pearls and lace.  Then to finish off the birthday set, I made a little gift bag to hold a Nomination charm.(Tutorial Link Here)

So that was my take, the DT ladies have some beauties on the main blog page so do check them out too.

Challenges;
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Anything Goes
Fab n Funky - Die cuts and/or punches - die cuts
Papertake - Anything Goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Creative Craft Cottage - Challenge 51 - Anything Goes
The Ribbon Girls - Nov - Anything Goes - with lace

...and just for completeness, here is a photo of the birthday girl at her 21st party;

Alan's Scrapbook

Once Upon A Time...

Baby Days

Brothers

Sun, Sand & ...Snow!

School Days

Happy Days

Sports Man

Action Man, Birthdays & Christmas

Dressing Up

Happy Holidays

So that was my bit, then it's over to Alan's girlfriend who was going to complete the book with pages from school & Uni. Jx

Happy 21st Birthday Alan

Today's post is all about Alan, our first son, born on the evening of 27/10/1994, and today he turns 21 and we are off out for an Indian meal with him tonight along with Colin, Christy & Chloe - so more photos of that later.

First, a pic of action man on a card, this time play surfing at Banff beach.

and next, 3 studio pics of him at the milestones of 3, 6 and 12 months.

Sorry picture quality isn't the best - it's photos of photos - never the best!  Later this week, I'll share some more pics with you as I upload scrapbook/photo album pages I laid out for him.

Shadows of the Skies

I'm working a bit ahead of myself here, card made and post written and its not even October!
It is however the start of a new challenge over at Ooh La La and by now it's almost the end of October! (Hope you are keeping up with that irrelevent intro!)

So todays challenge is set by Allison and it's

Embossing 

One of my favourite crafty techniques - probably cause it's so easy!

So my card uses another gorgeous image off that great Paula Oakley CD (the one I'm always using!)  This time I've used, Shadows of the Night Sky.  The image is decoupaged and the papers are also off the CD. Finally a ribbon and sentiment complete my card.

Challenges;
Alphabet Challenge - R for ribbon
Brown Sugar - Anything goes
Creative Corner - No stamps - CD image and papers and computer generated sentiment
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Dream Valley - Use Blue
Jx

Halloween

Half way through October now and that can only mean one thing when it comes to challenges...

Halloween

Yup folks, Amy have chosen Halloween as the latest theme over at MAWTT.

Not a type of card I have much demand for I have to confess, but it gives us all a chance to play with some of the lovely witchy images that are out there.

For my card, I chose to use my Ooh La La CD - Without Words and a super little witchy.  The only thing this little image lacks is a cat - otherwise she is perfect!

Challenges;
Artistic Inspirations - AG + Halloween twist
Dream Valley - Halloween
Get Creative Challenges - Halloween
That Craft Place - Halloween
Crafty Calender - Halloween
Creative Corner - Halloween
FabnFunky - Make it square   Jx

Pretty in Pink

Today's challenge over at Ooh La La was chosen by Wynn and she's looking for

Pretty in Pink.

And after looking through my various Ooh La La CD's I decided to make a baby card using this lovely stork and papers off the Yesterday's Memories CD.  There's a matching blue stork which I will need to make up to complete the pair.  

It's a simple card with an added charm and lots of decoupaged layers.

Challenges;
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
Crafting When We Can - Whimsical with wings - whimsical enough? Storks don't really deliver babies!
My Sheri Crafts - Pretty & Pink
Glitter n Sparkle - Use some pink
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Cutie Pies - Pink  Jx

Torch: A case to carry old batteries!

Today's card is one that I've been meaning to make for a while.  The image has been sitting all coloured for weeks, but it never quite made it onto a card!

Today however, under the pretence of tidying, I have now managed to clear said image off my desk!

So my card uses a Bugaboo Gus image, coloured with Promarkers, and LOTV tags and gems.

Challenges;
Little Red Wagon - All About Boys
Creative Card Crew - Masculine
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Passion For Promarkers - Spots or Stripes
Come and Get It - For The Boys
Catch The Bug - Anything Goes
SSW2 - Sketch 70