Flowery Thanks

Brrrr it's another cold evening here ... poor Ruby's bowl of water outside didn't defrost all day!  The look on her face every time she went to have a drink was priceless ;)

I've virtually no cards left in my stash after all the Christmas makes, so I'm gonna try to get a few made while I'm off this week.  This is a Whipper Snapper stamp - coloured with watercolour pencils and few bits of bling scattered about.  DP is oldie stuff from stash ... I've ordered a few new pads in the Jan sales, so I'm needing to make a bit more of a dent in my pile!

Papertake Weekly - pick a fave - I chose sketch #88
Creative Card Crew #77 - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
A Little Bit Crafty December - anything but Christmas


Oh, and just for a wee giggle, here's Ruby with her Christmas pressie from her 'aunt & uncle' ... :)

My Favourite 5 Christmas Cards of 2014

The lovely Debby is running her annual look back at your favourite Christmas makes of the year, so here's mine ...
(I've added in links to the original cards in case you wanted more details on stamps used etc.)

This was the card I gave Greg for Christmas ...


















This was a special request for a horse riding teacher ...

This was one of my favourite images from High Hopes Christmas release ...

And this was my fanciest tag of the season using the same stamp (I only made one 'nice' tag, the rest were all quickies!)

This card uses some of my new favourite goodies from the year ... stencils!

And finally, this card uses one of my all time favourite snowmen ...

50th Birthday Card

Well that's Christmas done and dusted for another year ... we had a lovely family day down in Mum's, a gorgeous dinner and lots of lovely pressies too :)
Today has been super lazy ... such a cold day with snow showers and now it looks like it's all gonna freeze Brrrr! I'm so glad to be in my new Christmas PJ's and cosy socks ;)

This card was a quickie make, I always find it strange to get into regular card making mode with no snowmen or snowflakes LOL
My image is an old Lili of the Valley one - coloured with watercolour pencils.  I think I might treat myself to a few more of these in lieu of any crafty loveliness from Santa (Boooo to Santa) - I love how they colour and find it really easy to get effects of shade.

Layout from CAS(E) this Sketch #104
Papertake Weekly - pick a favourite challenge - I chose 'oh how cute'
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
Crazy for CAS #60 - anything goes
Penny Black and More December - special occasions
Word art Wednesday #163 - anything goes

Greg's Christmas Card

This will be my last post for a few days, so I'd just like to wish all my bloggy buddies a Very Happy Christmas :)
Hope Santa brings you lots of crafty loveliness ... I'm not holding my breath, but I'll be fleecing him for the January sales if not!!

As always, the last Christmas card I make every year is for Greg.  Not sure if by that time I'm well in the swing of it, or totally sick of making cards!
And yes, that's supposed to be the two of us going for a stroll through the snowy woods, awww romantic :)

This card uses a new set I got recently from Sugar Pea Designs.  I cut the antlers off one of my moose to make her into a girl (I just googled there to check, and whaddya know, that's true - I've never seen a moose in real life and wasn't entirely convinced that I hadn't just made that up LOL)  
Images coloured with watercolour pencils, and sparkle added to their scarves and to the snowflakes/heart.  Blobs of stickles also added to the trees.  Snowflake embossing folder is an oldie from Cuttlebug.

Sugar Pea Designs SPD12 - anything goes

Crafty Cardmakers #129 - Christmas
Love to Create #146 - create a scene
Simon Says Stamp Monday - anything goes
Creative Inspirations #294 - Christmas / New Year
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - mood board - I was inspired by the deer / woods / snowflakes
ABC Christmas - Y is for Your Family
Dream Valley #97 - Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - December
Pile it On #49 - Christmas/Holidays

40th Wedding Anniversary

Aarrgh Sunday evening already, I swear that time goes double quick this time of year!  On the plus side, only 2 more days of work and then hols until 5 Jan yippee :)

As per all my recent cards, this is another quick and simple card for a couple of friends celebrating their Ruby Wedding Anniversary.  My image is from Lili of the Valley - coloured with watercolour pencils and a few silver peel offs from my stash.  DP is oldie stuff from stash that has been in my 'save' pile, so it's always good to use some of that up!

Simon Says Stamp Monday - anything goes
Clear it Out - anything goes
Crafty Creations #278 - something to die for
Crazy for CAS #60 - anything goes
A Little Bit Crafty - anything but Christmas
Penny Black and More December challenge - special occasions

Squirrel Snack

I was very lucky to win this stamp ("Squirrel Snack") recently from Lili of the Valley's daily giveaways, isn't she a cutie :)

Coloured with watercolour pencils and clear stickles added to the snowflakes and to the drifts at her feet for a bit of sparkle, and clear gloss to her specs.  DP is yet more oldie stuff from stash.  Clear gems added to snowflake and to banners.

Layout from Sketch Saturday #340 - though I stamped my sentiment a bit high to get the full effect of the blue banner :(
A Gem of a Challenge #134 - anything Christmas
Crafty Catz #259 - last minute Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - bling it on
Love to Create #145 - non traditional holiday colours
Natalie and Amy's challenge #27 - cute and cuddly Christmas
Stamping Sensations December challenge - winter wonderland
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge - December
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas card Extra - December

High Hopes: Frosty Snowman

This card was super quick to make and I love how it turned out :)
It was inspired by this card by Barb who is this week's featured stamper over at Splitcoast.

My image is Frosty Snowman from High Hopes - coloured with watercolour pencils.  Paper Smooches snowflake dies; Simon Says Stamp sentiment die.  My dotty die at the top is from Die-namics ... I kinda thought it looked like falling snow.

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #47 - blue Christmas
Natalie and Amy #27 - cute and cuddly Christmas
Crafts 4 Eternity R#206 - Christmas
Whimsy Challenge #78 - anything goes

High Hopes: Carolling Frosty

Evening all :)  Well surprise, surprise!  It's a week and a half to Christmas Day and here's me with my cards still not finished, never mind posted!  Ah well, maybe it will be different next year (.... doubt it Ha!)

This card is for our cleaner in work.  Not sure if it worked or not, but I think its because I'm not loving my DP ... part of the stash I'm trying to use up, before I hit the January sales ;)

My image is Carolling Frosty from High Hopes - coloured with pencils.  Partially popped up on dimensionals (the bit at the bottom is stuck direct to my cardstock and then his hat etc rises up)
Stickles and gems added to my snowflakes for a bit of sparkle.

Layout from Completely Christmas #42 + added twist - add some sparkle
Crafty Cardmakers #129 - Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's christmas challenge #207 - urgently needed Christmas
 Pile it On #49 - anything Christmas
Let's Craft and Create #99 - Christmas

High Hopes: Santa's Gift

No new challenge this week from High Hopes, but the Anything Christmas challenge runs until 5 Jan.

This card was a special request - I was a bit stumped at how I was going to fit all that text on the front of a card until I saw Terese's inspiration card over at the Muse Challenge :)

My image is Santa's Gift from High Hopes - coloured with watercolour pencils and loads of glitter added to his fur.  Old DP from stash.

Sparkles Forum Challenge #62 - the big guy Santa
Let's Craft and Create #99 - Christmas
Stamp and Create December - Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - December
Pile it On #49 - anything Christmas
Crazy for CAS #59 - something old (my DP)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Christmas / Holidays
Divas by Design - Feeling Festive

Dedication Day

This was a new request for me.  I've never made a Dedication Day card before, in fact I don't think I've even noticed one in the shops either!

Image from Lili of the Valley - coloured with watercolour pencils.  I think I'll have to get a new alpa set ... sometimes this Paper Smooches set is just a tad too big.

Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Dream Valley Challenge #96 - true blue
A Little Bit Crafty - anything but Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - December
Penny Black and More - December - special occasions

Get Well Owl

Oh brrrrrr it's been such a cold day today!   Poor Ruby got her walk at double quick time tonight!  Ah well, the heat's on and the Christmas tree and deccies are up, I've my cosy PJs on and the electric blanket is at the ready.  All is well :)

I've no mojo (and no time!) so everything's kinda CAS this weather. My stamps are from Paper Smooches, coloured with watercolour pencils and a white enamel dot added to his eyes.

Paper Smooches SPARKS - anything goes
Sweet Stampin - things with wings
Sister Act #86 - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
CASology #124 - old - I used old stamps and old DP

Carolling Frosty

I'm still slogging away at my cards, though Christmas is creeping up kinda fast!  I've most of my pressies bought and hope to get my tree and deccies up tomorrow.  Snow showers are forecast for tomorrow afternoon so it definitely will feel festive!










This card uses Carolling Frosty from High Hopes - coloured with watercolour pencils, though I've just realised I forgot to give him some rosy cheeks.
Simon Says Stamp die cut sentiment. Creative inspirations bow die.
Paper Smooches snowflake die.

Layout from Deconstructed Sketch #179
Sweet Stampin Christmas November - snow people
Crafty Catz #258 - snowmen
Daring Cardmakers December - blue and red
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Christmas holidays
Divas by Design - Feeling Festive
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday - buttons or bows

High Hopes: My Best for Him

Our new challenge at High Hopes is a super easy one ...
Anything Christmas!
Play along with your High Hopes stamps to win a new one of your choice.  

My card uses an older High Hopes image ... My Best for Him and there's a lovely sentiment to go with it that I used on the inside ... Pa Rum Pa Pum Pum (but of course I forgot to take a pic!)

Other challenges:
Layout from Sweet Sunday #247
Simon Says Wedensday challenge - anything goes
Creative inspirations #291 - Christmas Greetings
Completely Christmas #40 - something beginning with S = sheep and snowflake
Totally Gorjuss #264 - Christmas animal
Simon Says Monday challenge - Holiday card

A two-fer ....

Two for the price of one tonight!  I was asked to make some invitations for afternoon tea for a Christmas present so I thought this little LOTV stamp would be just perfect.  I paired it with some old Christmas papers ... though I've just noticed that I've stuck my DP upside down on the 2nd card, Doh (ah well, I'll say nothing and no-one will notice ;)    I've been determined to use this old DP up, so I'm so glad to see I'm nearly at the end of it!
Image coloured with watercolour pencils, and a wee bit of sparkle added to the tea cups though it doesn't show up on my photos.

Card 1:
Layout from Sketch Saturday #338 - free choice - I used #299
Sister Act #85 - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
Fab n Funky #239 - die cuts
Lili of the Valley November challenge - Merry Christmas
Moving Along with the Times - inspired by a song .... "tea for two, and two for tea"!

Card 2:
Layout from Sketch Saturday #338 - I used #259
Crafty Catz - anything goes

Buzzzzy Birthday

Eeek, its almost the end of November!  All your Christmas shopping and cards made?... nope, me neither ;)  I'm kinda fed up making Christmas cards so made this wee Birthday card just for the fun of it.

I've used the bee and 'buzz' from The Alley Way stamps - all coloured with watercolour pencils and some clear gloss/glitter added to their wings.
My colour scheme was inspired by the panel in the TAWS Be Inspired challenge #59

Layout from Pals Paper Arts #229
Creative Card Crew #75 - stripes
Party Time Tuesday #191 - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes

Snowman Pile

Our new challenge at High Hopes is a nice easy one
... add some silver.

I've used some silver peel off letters and some little silver dots from my stash.  My image is Snowman Pile from High Hopes - coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss/glitter added for lots of sparkle.  I didn't have any paper to match my snowman, so just coloured an extra bit and then die cut it :)

Other challenges
Sister Act #84 - anything goes
Simply Create Too #75 - snow snow snow
Christmas at Sweet Stampin November - snow people
Bunny Zoe's crafts November challenge - snow
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Card Extra - Nov
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge - Nov

Personalised Christmas card number 402 ;)

Well maybe not quite 402 ;) but it certainly feels like I've been making these personalised Christmas cards for ever!  Most have been special requests for teachers, tutors and child minders.  I think my post tomorrow is the last one - I didn't share most as some were duplicate styles of each other and some were CASEd from good old Pinterest!

This card uses Downhill Penguin from High Hopes - coloured with pencils, clear gloss/glitter added to his hat and then popped up on dimensionals.

Layout from Sugar Sketch #16
Crafty Catz #256 - Winter
Cute Card Thursday #348 - stars (on my DP)
Penny's challenge #204 - anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - November
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge extra - November
Penny Black and More November - anything goes
Sister Act #84 - anything goes

Birthday card for Sandra

Yet another personalised card, this time it's actually one for me for my friend!  A nice change to make a wee simple birthday card instead of the Christmas card factory production line!

My image is from Tiddly Inks - coloured with watercolour pencils.

• Layout from Sugar Pea Designs #15
• Fab'n Funky - Happy Birthday
• Sister Act #83 - anything goes
• Dream Valley #95 - anything goes
• Party Time Tuesday #190 - anything goes
• Papertake Weekly - soooo girlie
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge - November

High Hopes: Christmas Elf Pile

Woops, looks like I had my wonky eyes in when I took this pic LOL

This week's challenge at High Hopes is a photo inspiration ...
I went for the mainly red theme and added some bling for sparkle.











This card is another special request for a teacher.  My image is Christmas Elf Pile - coloured with watercolour pencils. I hadn't really thought of where I was going to put my sentiment when I was making this card, not quite sure that I'm overly happy with where the letters have ended up!

Other challenges...
CRAFT #285 - Christmas
Christmas Stampin All Year Long #37 - anything goes
Crafty Catz #255 - Christmas is coming
Polkadoodles #46 - clean and simple
Sister Act #83 - anything goes
CAS on Sunday #46 - ribbon / twine
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Card Extra - November

Card for Aunt Cilla

This is another special request card, this time for my Mum.  I got another 5 requests for cards today, so  its gonna be another week before I can get the production line of my own Christmas cards going.  Think I'll have to train Greg to use a Cuttlebug LOL

This card uses Native Sisters and Sisters and Friends sentiment from High Hopes.
Coloured with watercolour pencils and a bit of sparkle added to the girls' jewellery and to the flower centres.  Martha Stewart grass punch.  DP is oldie stuff from the huge pile I'm trying to use up ;)

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch Club MFTWSC202
• Colour combo from Pals Paper Arts PPA227
• Sister Act #83 - anything goes
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge - November
• Dream Valley Challenges #95 - anything goes

Golfing Lady Captain

We had a beautiful sunny today, much welcomed after a few days of lashing rain.  We were down at our local park this morning and it was great to see lots of families out for a walk with their kiddies and dogs :)

This was another special request card .. my pic hasn't caught the colours right, my base is more of a moss green colour than this odd sludgy shade!!

My little golfing lady is Swinging Sherry from High Hopes - coloured with watercolour pencils and popped up on dimensionals.  Peel off letters from stash.
Yes that's my stitched border again in the BG of the photo frame now being a rolling hillside!

Layout from Sketch Saturday #336
Party Time Tuesdays #189 - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - 2 or 4 legs
Cute Card Thursday #347 - red and green
Sister Act #83 - anything goes

Baby Jonah

I've had loads of special request cards recently ... I think 10 in this past week, so guess what I've been doing this weekend!   Though my craft table is now tidied away in readiness for I'm a Celebrity starting tonight, pure telly trash, but I absolutely love it!

This card uses one of my favourite baby images from Lili of the Valley - coloured with watercolour pencils.  I'm not sure what way I coloured his skin, but he looks like he's bumped his head!

Layout from Sweet Sunday #245

Sister Act #83 - anything goes
Simon Says Wednesday challenge - seeing stars
Party Time Tuesdays #189 - anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge - November

Horsey Christmas Card

This card was a special request for a little girl's horse riding instructor ... I love it when a card turns out just like what you'd imagined in your head!

I've used Brayden from High Hopes - coloured with my new Derwent Inktense watercolour pencils ... which I'm lovin!!
The stitched borders from Paper Smooches were also a recent treat - I imagine they'll be appearing on quite a few of my Christmas cards this year :)
Snowflakes are also Paper Smooches dies.

Cutie Pie #81 - festive furry friends
Bunny Zoe's challenge - November - snow
Natalie and Amy Challenge #26 - stitch it
Stamping Sensations November - simply Christmas
Party Time Tuesday #189 - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - 2 or 4 legs
Sister Act #83 - anything goes
Sweet Stampin - to die for
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Card Extra - November
Lia Stampz #77 - anything goes
Inky Chicks #42 - down on the farm

ETA - Top 3 at Natalie and Amy's challenge