Tightrope Walker

I think I'm gonna get Greg to name all my post titles in future ... he took one look at this card and said "Ha, he looks like a tightrope walker"!!

I've used a few Eat Cake Graphics stamps here ...
7034_I Bunch of grass
8225_D Thanks (text)
5073-E Crow flapping wings

Coloured with watercolour pencils.  Clear gloss added over the sentiment to make it stand out more, and to the crow's beak and feet.

We were down in our local park today to have a look at the river and it was a bit of a raging torrent!  Apparently there were parts of Northern Ireland got half the normal rainfall for December last night!  This weather definitely needs to wise up.  I feel so sorry for all those folk who've been flooded out of their homes and businesses.

• Polkadoodles #51 - anything goes
• Allsorts #342/343 - Anything but Christmas
• Tuesday Morning Sketches #332 - anything goes
• Stamp Ink Paper #28 - anything but Christmas

My favourite 5 from 2015

Time for Debby's annual look back at what I've made during 2015 for her Favourite 5 post ... I've been pinning all my cards to a board in Pinterest as I made them so it was a nice easy task this year!
Some of my crafty high points of 2015 were that I joined the Eat Cake Graphics design team, discovered Wink of Stella, got to grips with my watercolour pencils and splurged on some new dies with stitched edges :)
I've added in links to the original posts in case you want to see what stamps I've used.

Kitties in the Window

CAS Sympathy Card

Speedy Snail

Teacher Appreciation card

Spouting off

And following Debbie's lead for non-card projects, here are some of my favourite pages for an ongoing calendar project throughout the year.

July

September

October

November

December

Butterfly Birthday #2!

It's another butterfly themed card tonight.  I'm using up my scraps of DP here ... can't remember the make but it's been in my stash for aaaaages and it's gotta go!

I've used some Eat Cake Graphics stamps ...
1135-M Abundance (MMM-butterflies)
8151-D Happy Birthday (fun text)
Coloured with watercolour pencils.  Clear gloss added to the butterflies and flowers.
Just noticed I forgot to colour in my kitty's nose!

• Papertake Weekly final challenge - I chose the sketch from #88
• Clear it out - anything goes
• Creative Card Crew #103 - anything goes
• Pixies Snippets Playground #208/9
• Tuesday Morning Sketches #332 - anything goes

Butterfly Birthday

Well, that's Christmas done and dusted for another year!  We had a great time, though I must admit, it's nice to get a quiet evening in my PJs!  Santa didn't bring me any new crafty goodies, so I may have to go shopping in the sales, I'll keep you posted on that one  ;)

It was nice to get crafting again with no pressure to make Christmas cards or special requests!  This card uses a stamp from Saturated Canary - coloured with watercolour pencils and Wink of Stella added to her dress.  Clear gloss added to her eyes and buttons.  Marta Stewart butterfly punch.  Lili of the Valley DP. Clear gems from stash.

• Layout from Papertake Weekly's last challenge - I always love a good sketch, so chose #98
• Creative Card Crew #103 - anything goes
• Crafty Creations #305 - anything goes
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - make it sparkle
• Tuesday Throwdown #274 - anything goes
•  Pixie's Snippets Playground #208

My favourite 5 Christmas cards 2015

Ahhh, I love this time of night on Christmas Eve when you can finally relax.  Everything has either been bought, wrapped, chopped or cleaned, and if it's not it's too late now ;)  Time to get the Bailie's out me thinks!

Anyway, I'm delighted to see that Debby is running her Favourite Five Christmas Cards challenge again this year, so here's mine .... (I've added in links to the original posts in case anyone wants links or more info on the stamps I've used)

I think this is my most favourite card of the year, they just look so comfy and relaxed!
(more details here)

This was my most used snowman of the season ....!
(more details here)

And this was my most used Santa set ...
(more details here)

This is my favourite personalised card ..
(more details here)

And finally my card for Greg ..
(more details here)

Phoebe's card

Yippee, last Christmas card of the season, and a whole 4 days to spare LOL ;)
It doesn't really feel very Christmassy, even though the deccies are up, I've had my Christmas work Do, the parcels are wrapped and the cards are dropping though the letterbox.  I think it's maybe because we're having such mild weather at the minute that it doesn't really feel like 'winter'!  Ah well, only another day and a half at the grindstone, have my Christmas haircut, clean the house and do the food shop, and then I can chill until the 4th :)  Oh and hopefully I'll get a nip round my buddies blogs ... but in case I don't get a chance "Happy Christmas!"

I've used my MFT set again for this card for Phoebe.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss added to their boots and Santa's belt.  Lots of clear gloss and glitter added to Santa's hat and to the snowflakes.  I also chalked in some clouds behind my images but it doesn't really show up in the photo.

• Layout from SugarSketch #34
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - Winter Wonderland
• Merry Monday #185 - boots
• As you like it - favourite colours - I prefer a traditional colour theme though I have made a few non-traditional colours this year
• Moving along with the times #10 - to a special person at Christmas
• Sweet Stampin' Christmas December - Father Christmas
• Pixie's Snippets Playground #208 - any snippet (my white snowflakes)
• Pile it On #98 - Anything Christmas
• Dream Valley #122 - Christmas

Emma's card

The end of my Christmas cards is in sight .... ;)
This one uses an old Elzybell's stamp that I rediscovered when I was looking through my Splitcoaststampers gallery.  I always find that my most recent stamp purchase is my favourite and sometimes forget I have all these lovely stamps hiding in a box!

I've coloured with my watercolour pencils.  I added Wink of Stella to the branches and to the bauble, and then added some clear gloss to the baubles too.  Memory Box snowflake border die; Paper Smooches snowflakes dies.
I'm not loving this DP, but it looks a bit better in real life!

Crafty Creations #304 - happy holiday
Creative Inspirations #340 - Merry Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - die crazy
Penny's challenge #258 - anything goes
Inspiration Destination #64 - anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge #260 - anything Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge extra - December

Greg's Christmas card

Wooohooo very nearly almost my last Christmas card of the year, think I only have one more to do.  As usual Greg's is one of the last and I think he'll like this one as he's a big kid at heart ;)

I've used this Santa set from MFT - coloured with watercolour pencils and a few of the images popped up on dimensionals.  Lots of clear gloss and Wink of Stella added and also some stickles to Santa's hat and the doggy's nose.  Simon Says sentiment die.  White enamel dots for falling snow. Coloured sequins and silver star on tree from stash.

Crafty Calendar - let it snow
Natalie and Amy #39 - Christmas
Whimsy Stamps #89 - anything winter
Crafty Cardmakers #154 - snow
Clear it out - anything goes
Cuttlebug Mania - Christmas animals
Die cuttin Divas #246 - Christmas anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Die Crazy
Cute Card Thursday #404 - stars

Card for Pheobe

Whoops, just noticed that I forgot to add in Pheobe's age to her card ... I think a nice sparkly number sticker would fit nicely in the middle of that sun :)

I bought my first coloured inkpad a while back, but have been a bit scared of it and think this may be the first time I've used it!

Image from Tiddly Inks - coloured with watercolour pencils.  Clear gloss added to the balloon, and glitter to the pompoms on her hat.
Lawn Fawn cloud and sun dies.  Pink and silver sequins from Simon Says.

• Simon Says Stamp Monday - just a pinch
• 2 Creative Chicks December - anything goes
• Penny's Challenge #257 - anything goes
• Crafty Catz #305 - sparkle and shine
• Just Us Girls #323 - sequins

Felicia and Sparky

As you can see, I'm kinda bored making Christmas cards!  Still have a few to make though, and need to have a think about what I'm putting on DH's card!

This one uses an Eat Cake Graphics stamp ...
1063-I Felicia and Sparky
Coloured with watercolour pencils.
I rediscovered an old mini embossing folder in my stash while I was on the hunt for another stamp, I'd completely forgotten I had this button folder!
Lily of the Valley DP.  Simon Says Stamp sentiment die.  I also used a corner rounder punch, but can't remember the make.

• I flipped the sketch from MFT Wednesday Sketch Club #258 so that I had room for my sentiment
• Clear it Out - anything goes
• Papertake Weekly - fun, fun fun 
• Crafting When We Can #109 - buttons galore (I'm hoping my embossing folder counts!)
• Dream Valley #121 - dies and punches

50th Birthday Card

This is a special request card from a friend in work.  I've no idea what Paula looks like or anything about her, but I reckon she'd like a huge birthday cake and a new dress for her 50th ;)

My image is from Stamping Bella - coloured with watercolour pencils.  I added stickles as the jam in the cake, Wink of Stella on the icing, clear gloss on her crown and shoes.  Gold peel off number stickers finish the sparkle effect nicely!
 I would have liked my gingham layer to have been a bit wider, but wanted to get this snippet used up.

Layout from Sketch Saturday #391
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #257 - anything goes
As You Like it ... masculine or feminine - I definitely feel it's easier to make girly cards, I seem to have much fewer male themed stamps and papers.
Pixie's Snippets Playground #207
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Nov/Dec - sparkle

Doubly personalised Christmas card!

What do I mean "doubly personalised"?  Well, not only do I have the names on it, but the image actually looks like my nephew and niece!  And they got a new labrador pup during the summer, so little Poppy features here too! Heeee :)

Stamps used from Eat Cake Graphics:
1097-M Sweaters for Christmas
8041-C Bark (text)
Image coloured with watercolour pencils.  Stickles added to the reindeer noses.  Wink of Stella to the present wrapping, and to the antlers.  Silver snowflake stickers from stash.  MFT embroidered frame die.

• Layout based on the sketch at SIP #26, though I ran out of room for my banners so had to flip them over to the side.
• Die Cuttin Divas #245 - tic tac toe - I chose reindeer / holiday colours / twine
• Inky Chicks #60 - Merry Christmas
• Papertake Weekly - fun, fun, fun
• Cute Card Thursday #402 - festive colours
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - Holly Jolly stamping
• Pile it On #98 - anything Christmas

New Home card

How is it that sometimes you're motoring along and making lots of stuff you're pleased with, and then all of a sudden your mojo just vanishes??  This is effort #3 for a new home card, and I can't say I'm overly delighted with it!  No time left though, so it will have to do.

I think my problems began when I couldn't think what image to use.  I only have 1 new home set but it wasn't suitable as the person this is for is an older lady who's going into a retirement home so I didn't want to use an image of a house.
Anyway, I ended up using this cutie from Lili of the Valley, think the sentiment postmark may also be from them.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and Wink of Stella added to the flowers.

• Layout from The Challenge #54
  
• Less is More #253 - blue and green
• Pixie's Snippets Playground #206
• Tuesday Throwdown #272 - cute and cuddly

Speedy Snail delivers the Mail

Well who knew that a snail could be so cute!  We're tortured with gigantic slugs out in our back garden, definintely can't be doing with them ;)

My image is from Eat Cake Graphics ...
5001-D Speedy Snail delivers the mail

Coloured with watercolour pencils.  Clear gloss and glitter added to his shell.  Wink of Stella added to the pale blue envelope.

• My layout with the row of images with text below was inspired by Kate's card over at the Muse Challenge #144
• Bunny Zoe's challenge Nov/Dec - sparkle
• Penny Black and More December - anything goes with a stamp
• Colour theme from Share Joy #13
• Allsorts #340 - clean and simple

Blue sympathy flowers

Well it's been a much better today than yesterday, bright blue skies for most of the day.  Think we were very lucky to escape the terrible flooding up the country and over in England.  Must be awful, especially this close to Christmas.

I might try and take a better photo of this card, it looks so much nicer in real life.  I was inspired by this week's Featured Stamper over at Splitcoast ... HERE's Laine's original.
I copied her bokeh effect by diecutting a small circle in some scrap card and then chalking up pale blue, darker blue and sage.  My flowers are from a Simon Says set - coloured with watercolour pencils and then clear gloss and glitter added to the flower centres.  I also splattered my bg with some of the blue watercolour.
Dead quick and very easy to create ... I think I might make a stash of these!

• Papertake Weekly - anything goes
• Penny's challenge #256 - anything goes
• Less is More #253 - blue and green 
• 2 Creative Chicks - anything goes

Teacher Christmas cards

I was asked to make a couple of personalised cards for Teachers...

Card 1
This uses my Eat Cake Graphics snowman ...
1193-J Snowman (assembled)
Coloured with watercolour pencils, Wink of Stella added to his scarf, and then popped up on dimensionals.  WoS also added to the snowdrift behind the snowman, so it's lovely and sparkly.
Paper Smooches alpha set and snowflake die.

• Layout from Freshly Made Sketches #215
• Bunny Zoe's challenge Nov/Dec - sparkle
• Natalie and Amy's challenge #39 - Christmas
• Sparkles Christmas challenge #59 - die cuts
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - let it snow
• CAS-ual Chic - snowflakes

Card 2

This one uses some Washi tape ... couldn't tell you the last time I used some of that!!  It's lovely and shiny and a nice deep red colour, but it's hard to photograph.  My images are from MFT and silver stars from stash.

• Papertake Weekly - anything goes
• Cute Card Thursday #402 - festive colours
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin November - stars
• Get Creative #29 - Holidays
• Christmas Cards all year round December - keep it simple
• Curtain Call - Santa

Graduation card

It's been a yeuchy wet and very windy day today as Storm Desmond passed by.  Definitely NOT an outdoorsy type of day, so we got our Christmas tree up and I also got a few special request cards made :)

I don't think I've ever made a proper grown-up Graduation card before!  I did struggle with this one a bit (think it was my jazzy DP that kinda threw me), but then I figured I didn't need to colour in my whole image and reckon it looks OK!

My image is an oldie from Taylored Expressions - coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss added to the windscreen and bumper.  Silver peel off letters and stars.  Lawn Fawn cloud die.

• ABC Challenge - W is for Wishes
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - gentlemen
• Papertake Weekly - anything goes
• Inspiration Destination #62 - anything goes

It's that SnowDude again ;)

I absolutely looooove snowmen, and this cutie from Eat Cake Graphics is no exception!   I've coloured him with copics and added Wink of Stella to his scarf and hat, and then some clear gloss to his buttons and the blue band on his hat.

My background is a Simon Says stencil and some white embossing paste.  Snowdrifts made using Paper Smooches dies.

This card is also posted over at A Sprinkling of Samples and Techniques blog, where you'll find lots more loveliness from Eat Cake Graphics

Stamps used:
8234-F All is calm (text)
1193-J Snowman (assembled)

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Let it Snow
• Addicted to Stamps #173 - Holiday
• Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge #257 - use dies or punches
• SIP Challenge #25 - card makers choice - I've used my favourite snowman of the season and my watercolour pencils
• Papertake Weekly - anything goes

DecemBRR calendar page

Last page of the year for Mum's calendar!  For this one I've used a few Eat Cake Graphics stamps...
1193-J Snowman (assembled)
5062-I Brewster funny (foot up)
5039-C Daisy Mouse.

This card is also posted over at A Sprinkling of Samples and Techniques blog, where you'll find lots more loveliness from Eat Cake Graphics

I chalked my sky a slight tint of blue and added some die cut snowflakes touched with Wink of Stella.  White enamel dots for falling snow.  I've lost my calendar inserts so had to hand write the dates. 

I coloured my images with watercolour pencils and added more WOS to the snowman's hat and scarf, and to little Daisy's hat too.  Daisy and Brewster both popped up on dimensionals.  

I reckon Brewster's toes are feeling the cold ... he needs to learn from his friends, wrap up warmer and get some socks on! ;)

• Creative Card Crew #101 - cold outside
• Papertake Weekly - Anything goes
• Fab'n Funky #283 - Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• CRAFT #339 - Winter
• Crative Knockouts #117 - festive fun
• The glory of Christmas #73 - outdoor scene
• Sparkles Forum #74 - anything but a card