Girlie Birthday card

Just a quickie post ... I'm off to get my PJs on and crack open a beer!

Image from Uptown Girls - coloured with pencils.
I'm LOVING these DPs from Me and My Big Ideas.  Pearls from the bottom of my stash, they've been there for aaaaaages!

Layout from Sweet Sunday #200
Kaboodle Doodles #204 - anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge #38 - anything goes
Whimsy Stamps #66 - party time
Crafty Creations #253 - anything goes
Let's Craft and Create #85 - let's celebrate

Favourite Five of 2013

Well can you believe it's New Year's Eve already!  2013 was a bit of a mixed bag, with both highs and lows, and I can't say I'm sorry to see the back of it!  Here's to 2014 :)
Me and Greggy are just having a nice quiet evening for a change, just us, some wee drinkies and the Hobbit  .... aren't I lucky ;)  (We did The Hobbit in school, put me off this type of book for life!)

Anyway, Debby is running her annual Favourite 5 look back again this year, so here's mine!

I discovered The Alley Way Stamps this year, and loved this cute halloween set
More details here

An oldie bunny image from Lili of the Valley.
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This one of my wee niece had to feature in my faves!  I'll definitely have to get on with my scrapbook next year!
More details here

I always struggle with sympathy cards, so am very pleased to call this one a favourite of this year!
More details here

Love all the pinkness on this one!
Lili of the Valley image
More details here

Snowdude Thanks

I needed a wee thank you card for a Christmas pressie, so got out my snow dudes from Paper Smooches
... oh, I won last week's challenge with Greg's Christmas card
yippee!

I've made quite a few Christmas cards this year using this paper stack ... I've had it in my stash for a few years now and I'm sick of looking at it ;)

Snowmen coloured with pencils, popped up on dimensionals and some glitter added to the snowlady's hat.

Sketch flipped from Monday Lunchtime #295
Paper Smooches SPARKS - anything goes
CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Extra - December
Top Tip Tuesday - Christmas
Cute Card Thursday #301 - anything goes

A flock of goofy seagulls

I saw this Whipper Snapper stamp on Anna Wright's blog a while back and just HAD to have it!  I love how they got the fun expressions on their faces just using 2 dots and a beak!
The sentiment is an oldie from Lili of the Valley.  Orange glitter added to beaks.

I may have taken too many liberties with the sketch at PALS Paper Arts PPA185 - I didn't want to cover up my birdies, so used this postmark stamp instead of the central panel and also flipped the sketch on its side.
Papertake Weekly - pick of the year - I chose Anything Goes with the option of clean and simple
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - bling it on
Crafts 4 Eternity R#156 - something new (my stamp)
Sweet Stampin' - a little bird told me
Kaboodle Doodles #204 - anything goes
Bunny Zoe's challenge - Wings

Pretty in Pink

Ahhhh it's lovely NOT to be making Christmas cards, there's not even a bit of glitter on this one!  My card stash is almost non-existent, so I'm hoping to get a few more made before I go back to work on Thursday.

This one uses a stamp from Wild Rose Studio - coloured with pencils - and sentiment from The Alley Way Stamps.  Lovely new DP from Me and My Big Ideas.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - bling it on
Layout inspired by Papertake Weekly Challenge Pick of the Year - I used #78 (though I've just noticed I've missed adding the panel at the very back grrrr)
Let's Craft and Create #85 - let's celebrate
CRAFT Challenge #239 - new beginnings / new baby
Crafty Little Fairies - anything goes
Tuesday Morning Sketches #130 - anything goes
Totally Gorjuss # 216 - 'New'

Birthday butterfly

Well that's Christmas over and done with for another year ...   I got loads of lovely pressies, Christmas dinner in Mum's was delish as usual, and we had a great time playing with my nephew and niece (pic of one cheeky nephew below haha)!  So now the grub's all eaten and the drink has all been drunk (well nearly!) ... thank goodness, I couldn't stick this pace much longer LOL

















It was nice to get back to my craft room after the wee break, so I thought I'd play along with the photo inspiration over at the Alley Way Stamps - I'm done with Christmas cards for a week or two, so I used the butterfly from 'Priceless Joy' to make a birthday card instead.

The Alley Way Stamps #44
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - bling it on
Seize the Birthday - anything goes Birthday
Less is More #151 - any old challenge - I used #16 Butterfly
Pile it On #48 - P is for .... pink
Creative Card Crew #52 - anything goes
Tuesday Morning Sketches #130 - anything goes

My Favourite 5 Christmas Creations

It's that time of year again for Debby's annual Favourite 5 Christmas cards linkup!
(I think most of the Christmas cards I made this year featured the new release stamps from High Hopes!)

This image - Dogs Trio Block from High Hopes - was perfect for a card for my doggy-lovin friend!
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The only stamp on this one is the sentiment (Stampin' Up), and meant this layout was perfect for a quick mass production for all my family cards - made as a last minute rush as usual ;)
More details here

Another fun stamp from High Hopes ... Downhill Snowy
More details here

My favouritest snowman EVER ... Portrait Snowy (again from High Hopes)
More details here

Snowy again from High Hopes ... this time as a gift tag
I gave some of these away, so along with my own pressies, I reckon I must have made over 40 of these tags ... mostly when I was sitting watching telly!
More details here

Merry Christmas!

It's been a brrr chilly, windy, snow-showery kinda day ... just right for Christmas Eve! And as per usual, the last card made at the very last minute is for Greg!

I masked off my little dude's arms so I could draw them in myself - I'd said to Greg that I wish I'd drawn them longer, but he said it would only have looked silly. Hahaha.

Anyway, I hope you made it to Santa's 'nice' list and in the words of the Big Man himself .... "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Layout from Paper Smooches SPARKS designer drafts

CraftyHazelnuts Christmas Extra - December

Simon Says Wednesday - bling it on 

Crafty Hands #4 - season's greetings / winter theme

Totally Gorjuss #215 - quick Christmas

Lexi's Creations #195 - snow

Papertake Weekly - pick of the year - I chose 'Baby it's cold outside'
The Cutie Pie challenge #60 - cute with only snowmen allowed

Flowery Sympathy card

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!  Off work now till the 2nd {hooray}, all my shopping is done and pressies wrapped .. well, mostly, I still am trying to finish some cards for one of them and thought I'd include a sympathy card in the pile.
Oh, and we had some snow today!! Huge flakes they were, but it was oul' wet stuff that didn't lie.

I bought these pretty flowers (Whipper Snapper stamp) as I always really struggle with sympathy cards, and am delighted with how this turned out!  Coloured with pencils.  DPs from Me and My Big Ideas ... from my Secret Santa in work!  Paper Smooches sentiment and gold gems to finish.

Layout from Sweet Sunday #200
Stamping Sensations December challenge - free and easy
Crafts 4 Eternity R155 - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - stamp out 2013
Crafty Creations #253 - anything goes
Charisma Cardz #49 - anything goes

Card for Pheobe

Ahhh my wee tootsies are aching after venturing down to the city centre for the second time this week.  I know Belfast is nowhere near as busy as other cities, but it's bad enough - I think maybe I'm just not a shopper!!  But thankfully, I think that's me finished with my Christmas shopping, just my cards to finish now. Ha. (Apologies in advance to my international buddies ... there's no way my cards will be received in time for Christmas unless I hop on the next flight over!)  Apologies as well for my lack of visiting all your new projects ... hopefully normal service will resume after Christmas ;)

This card uses a favourite image from Lili of the Valley - coloured with pencils.  Silver peel of letters (at the bottom of the card - doesn't really show up in pic) and sparkly peel off number.  Clear gems on butterflies.

Layout inspired by Monday Lunchtime Sketch TSSC293 - I had intended to put my 7 in the middle of the flowers, but it just didn't look right
Crafty Girls #8 - anything goes
Crafty Catz #211 - anything goes
Pile it On #48 - P is for .... pets or peel offs
Simon Says Monday challenge - Stamp it out
Everybody Art EAC258 - not a Christmas card
Simon Says Wednesday challenge - bling it on

High Hopes Challenge #199

Time for a new challenge at High Hopes ... a nice easy one to take us through the Christmas holiday:
Anything High Hopes Goes
(this challenge will run through to 6 January)

My card was part of a last minute request for some personalised Christmas cards for teachers, and with the clock ticking on they had to be CAS!  I've used Snowy Holding Sign - coloured with promarkers and lots of sparkle added to the red bits on his jumper and hat.  Gold peel off letters and sentiment to finish.  My borders round the edges are doodled to match the markings on the signpost.

Other Challenges
Simon Says Wednesday challenge - Let it Snow
Crafty Little Fairies - Let it Snow
Cute Card Thursday #299 - Christmas Catch Up
CAS-ual Friday CFC123 - Let it Snow
Crafty Hands #4 - Season's Greetings/Winter
Layout from Sweet Sunday #199

Girlie Version

I love this new stamp so much I had to have another go with a 'girly' version!
Coloured again with pencils, clear gloss added to their noses and collars.

Layout from Sketch Saturday #289 - I used sketch 217
A Gem of a Challenge #109 - anything goes
Crafty Catz #211 - anything goes
4 Crafty Girls #8 - anything goes
Pile it on #48 - P is for ... Puppies!

Pile of Puppies

I was very naughty recently and blew some of my crafty cash on some new Whipper Snapper stamps.  I still have a  few cards to make for my pressie to a doggy-lovin friend, so I was delighted that the postie popped these through the letter box this morning :D

Coloured with pencils, glitter added to the dog collars and some clear gloss to their noses.  Also lots of clear gems for added sparkle.
Not sure about this DP, my image looks very wonky, but I think its just the wonky lines on the DP making it look worse.

Sketch from Crazy 4 Challenges C4C216 - I used sketch 186
Divas by Design - anything goes
Pile it On #48 - P is for ... puppies
A Gem of a Challenge #109 - anything goes

Leaving card for Nicola

It's been a grey, windy, mizzly day today ... so I've a few cards to upload tonight!  And not a Christmas card in sight ... that's not to say that I still don't have some to make! Ha.

This card is for a friend in work who's leaving for a new job.  She loves her Cath Kidston purses and bags, so I thought this DP would fit the job.  (looks better in real life!)  Got my copics out for this one ... oh, how I miss them!! Shame they just kept running out on me and getting too expensive to replace :(

Sketch from MTF Wednesday Sketch Club MFTWSC154
The Cutie Pie Challenge #59 - cute card for a special friend
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #156 - feminine and a sentiment
Crafty Catz #211 - anything goes

Snowy Tags

Just a quickie post tonight ... I had a wee day off work and had a crafting marathon to get my own Christmas cards made, my Mum's birthday card (sorry can't share here!!) and a Christening card.  Phew!  Oh and I put the finishing touches to these little dudes too .... Snowy Tag from High Hopes.
Coloured with pencils and a sparkly silver gel pen, and a wee bit of red stickles to finish.
Ready for bed now!!

Dream Valley #71 - anything but a card
CRAFT Challenge #236 - Christmas
Try it On Tuesday - handmade gift or tag
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - December
Creatalicious #57 - Christmas Time
Stamping Sensations December - free and easy

High Hopes Challenge #198

Our new challenge at High Hopes is to
Add some metal
So brads, charms, staples, etc, just make sure to use a High Hopes stamp to enter and be in with the chance to win a new one of your choice!

My image is The Thundering Rogue - I usually colour this in 'pirate' colours, but thought I'd go a bit snazzy and match my DP instead!  Added a bit of sparkle to the wave tips and flag, and clear gloss to the windows ... though now that I think of it, did they have glazed windows back in ye olde days? LOL

Other challenges
Crafty Girls #7 - anything goes
Pile it On #48 - P is for ... Pirates
Sister Act #36 - anything goes
A gem of a challenge #109 - anything goes

Smile Doggy

I couldn't resist having a go at the MUSE challenge this week - here's Therese's fab card ...

Would you believe mine took nearly 2 hours to make!  This one's version #3!  My die cut letters just looked wrong, so after a root round in my stash I remembered about these gold peel off letters.  While I was in there, I found this flower ribbon strip, so down it went .... gotta make room for the January sales stash!!
I hadn't realised my doggy (Watson from High Hopes) would have fit perfectly between the letters, otherwise I would have tried to centre them better.

Muse Challenge #47 - Therese's card
Crafty Creations #251 - anything but Christmas
Challenges 4 Everybody #35 - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Cheerful Snowy

It's been such a dark dreary day today, this little dude couldn't help but cheer you up!  I think this snowman stamp from High Hopes (Snowy Portrait) is my favourite :)
Dead easy to colour too ... I've added some glitter to his hat band and scarf, as every Christmas card needs a bit of sparkle!

Layout from Deconstructed Sketch #129
Everybody Art #256 - winter
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Crafty Hands #4 - Season's Greetings / Winter
A Little Bit Crafty - Christmas Cheer
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - November
Stamping Sensations November challenge - free and easy
My Mum's Craft Shop #12 - Winter / Christmas
Penny Black and More December - traditional Christmas colours

Snoozin Doggy

Here's another quickie card using lots of oldies ... my DP and my image (and sentiment) is a really-really-oldie from Shirleys 2 Girls
Coloured with pencils and edge of image frame paper pieced, and some sequins added for a bit of bling.

Layout from Sketch Saturday #288
A Gem of a Challenge #109 - anything goes
Crafty Cats #210 - use 2 dies (my oval and scalloped edge)
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Sparkles monthly challenge #50 - animals

Oh and talking of doggies, our wee Ruby is a Calendar Girl on my friend's dog charity 2014 calendar.  How cute is she!!

Birdie Thanks

Eeek, how did it get to be a week into December already!  Still haven't got my own Christmas cards made ... I may have to buy some at this rate!

Anyway, back to my quickie card .... image from The Alley Way Stamps, coloured with copics and beak coloured with a glittery jelly roll pen.
DP is oldie stuff from stash ... has anyone guessed yet that I'm trying to have a clear out pre-January sales? Hahaha

Layout from Mojo Monday #322
Oldie but a Goodie - Ribbon /lace
Stampin' for the Weekend - use some red
Sweet Stampin' - ribbons
Allsorts #236 - anything but Christmas


I was out at the Wet Wet Wet concert in Belfast last night with my sis, a great night - I've loved Marti Pellow since the mid-80's (oops, suddenly feel old!!!)