Five Favourite Creations 2014

Good morning all.

Can't believe today is the last day of the year...where did it go?? We're going next door this afternoon for drinks and nibbles then it will be an evening indoors. Younger son is going to pick my Mum up whilst we're out and she'll probably stay until Friday. Eldest is away to the Isle of Bute with a few friends to see in the New Year, he does get about!

Debby is once again hosting her favourite five creations from 2014, this proved very difficult but here they are and I've managed to stop at five! Click on the titles to be taken to the original posts.

Vintage Tag

Love the gold metal magic against the distressed background and the pop of blue.

Artist Trading Block


A first for me and I love how it turned out!

Imagine, Dream, Inspire


I've really enjoyed my recent forage into mixed media and I'm sure you'll see lots more in 2015.

One Stitch in Time


Another first, this time on canvas...and again I loved how this turned out.

Meet Lilith


I fell in love with the images from PpinkyDollsArt and this was my first attempt at colouring one up.

A big heartfelt thank you to everyone who stops by my blog and leaves such wonderful comments, it does make this blogging lark very worthwhile. For those of you for whom 2014 hasn't been the greatest year I hope 2015 is going to bring better things. Enjoy the New Year celebrations wherever you are and however you spend them and I'll see you tomorrow with my first project of 2015.

My Five Favourite Christmas Cards 2014

Good morning all.

I hope everyone enjoyed a peaceful Christmas whatever you were doing. We had a quiet one...I had to wake the kids up and it was lunch time before we had opened our presents! We ended up eating at about 4pm then enjoyed a lazy evening in front of the TV. We also had a very quiet day yesterday.

Debby is once again hosting her Five Favourite Christmas Card event so I decided to join in.

It was very difficult to pick just five from the seventy or so I made but here goes.

Winter Wonderland

This was my card for hubby - snowscene stamp is from Crafty Impressions, trees and sentiment from Clearly Besotted and landscape dies from Lawn Fawn.

Merry Christmas

Stamps are from Penny Black and were a magazine freebie. I love this tree and have used it a few times since I got it.

One Stamp, Two Ways

Another favourite tree stamp, this time from Clearly Besotted...stamped and heat embossed before the background was inked. Snowflakes and sentiment were magazine freebies.

Christmas Reindeer

The image is a Penny Johnson stamp from Stampavie. I decided to just colour the nose and added glossy accents to make it shine. Kept this for one of the kids and made two more similar cards for the other two.

Fa la la la la...

Stamp is a magazine freebie, die from Memory Box and snowflakes are punch waste. A very quick card to make and very flat for posting...a theme throughout this year!

Funnily enough they are all fairly clean and simple cards a theme I am going to stick with for next years cards too.

Merry Christmas

Good afternoon everyone, hope your plans are coming together nicely.

My thoughts are with all those people affected by the tragic accident in Glasgow yesterday. The news stories from around the world this last week have been particularly harrowing and seek only to highlight how lucky most of us really are.

We had a great time on Saturday, lovely food and good company. My eldest nephew couldn't make the meal as he was working but he drove up after work and surprised us all....for the first time in ages the whole family were under the same roof together.....all 25 of us!

We had a bit of a hiccup this morning when hubby started to chase the present he'd bought me which hadn't arrived. By the time I got up he was waiting for a phone call back from Harvey Nicks...he waited...he walked the dog...and he waited some more! I suggested he phoned Barclaycard to see whether they had taken payment for the goods then ring HN back...which he did. Eventually after several calls back he determined that the parcel had been delivered on Friday by DPD.

At this point I had a light bulb moment...DPD had delivered a parcel for me on Friday (in two boxes) which I had duly signed for...two items bought separately from the same Ebay shop...chucked both boxes upstairs, wrapped the smaller one on Sunday and thought no more about it.

OOOPS the smaller box was for hubby...my parcel obviously didn't need signed for and both items are presumably in the same box!!! I left him to ring HN back and explain lol!

Now what could he have bought me from Harvey Nicks!!!

Must shift my bottom now and finish cleaning and sort out the laundry. All the shopping is done and pressies are all wrapped awaiting gift tags.

I'll leave you with a photo of my fireplace and mantelpiece for which I bought a new garland for this year. My next scheduled blog post will be on the 1st of January and I'm planning to go offline until then and hopefully get ahead with some DT work and January birthdays over the holidays.

Wishing each and everyone of you a very Merry and Peaceful Christmas and a big thank you for all the visits and comments you've made throughout this year...I hope to see you all again in the New Year. xx

Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer

Good morning all.

Yesterday I was gobsmacked to find the get well card I'd made for my cousin had been ShowCASed at Less is More to say I was thrilled is an understatement!!  I finally got some decorations put up too, I must admit to not going the whole hog this year...I just couldn't be bothered with the hassle!! 

Off to the hairdresser's this morning, then I may need an afternoon snooze before we head off down the road for the party!

Today's share is an MDF reindeer - I'm not too happy with how it turned out but it will have to do this year and I may redo it for next Christmas.

The blank MDF came from Anna Marie Designs. After painting with gesso I used various acrylics, crackle glaze and distressed inks....at this point it didn't look too bad then I decided to use a satin finish to protect it which made all the DI run so the crackle all disappeared. You live and learn!

For the base I used texture paste and covered it with diamond dust whilst it was still wet. The snow people are Christmas cake decorations and the sign was broken off a Christmas ornament.

Now guess who has inky fingers just when I don't need them!!

Challenges entered:

2 Creative chicks - make an ornament

Decorate to Celebrate - anything 3D goes

All Crafts Challenge - anything but a card

Wedding

Good morning all.

Today I'm sharing the wedding place names, table numbers and table plan I have made for my sister for tomorrow. She hasn't seen them yet so I hope she likes them.

The owners of the hotel she manages are hosting the meal and were told she didn't want any fuss...we decided she deserved a little bit of fuss! The colours were chosen to match the napkins. All dies are from Spellbinders and the black and old gold card is pearlised. The font is Subway Novella. I need to try and find some balloons to match today.

Winter's Jewels

Good morning all.

We gave my Uncle a good send off yesterday, the church was full and luckily the weather was kind too. I came home with a huge boxful of ribbons and suchlike which my brother's ex wife had put together for me when clearing her Mum's house...I was like a pig in a poke when I got home!

A second gift card holder to share today.

After masking the base card to create a panel I stamped the Personal Impression stamp three times with versamark and heat embossed with white detail EP. The panel was then inked with DI and a sentiment from the same stamp set stamped below. A few gems were added to finish off.

Inside I used another waste off cut from my stitched landscape dies to create the pocket.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - one layer snow

Just Inspirational - blue and white

Simon Says Stamp - winter inspiration

Get Creative - blue and white/silver

Fashionable Stamping - turn up the heat

Snow Gift Card

Good morning all.

I'm off to my Uncle's funeral this morning. The service is to be held in the church where my parents were married and although I've been in the churchyard many, many times I don't think I've ever been inside the church! I managed to finish off the wedding bits so they're ready to be delivered and I've also got the last of the family Christmas cards to hand out and a few Christmas presents to deliver.

Having finished all my Christmas cards for this year I realised I needed some gift card/money holders for a couple of nephews.

I've done some acrylic block stamping for the first time to create the background using DI. I then over stamped with two different snowflake stamps and a sentiment (all from Anita's stamps) using memento inks. Finished with a few gems et voila!

Inside I used a piece of waste card leftover from my stitched landscape dies to form the pocket and added a further sentiment.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - one layer snow

CASology - snow

Addicted to Stamps - snowflakes

Fantasy Stampers - CAS Christmas

CAS(E) this Sketch - #103

Celebrate

Good morning all.

I made some headway with the Christmas cleaning yesterday and hubby is shampooing the sitting room carpet today so we might get the decorations up in time for the big day! On the wedding front I only need to cut and stick two tables worth of place names and put the table plan together...I managed to get the rest done last night.

The wedding takes place today, they've been together for 18 years. They've gone to York to do the deed with my niece and her husband acting as witnesses. They're hosting a party for the rest of us on Saturday after they get home.

Here is the card I have made her.

Decoupaged image is from Cuddly Buddly. Backing paper is from Prima. Dies are from Spellbinders. Punch from Martha Stewart. Sentiment from LOTV. Ribbon, charm and pearls from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Craft-Dee Bowz - anything goes with a hand tied bow

Jellypark Friends - ribbons or bows

Scribble and Scrap - anything goes

Sentimental Sundays - anything goes

The Corrosive Challenges - anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

That's Crafty - anything goes

Paper Shelter - special celebration

Penny's Paper-Crafty - anything but Christmas

Sneak Peek "Altered Coasters"

Good morning all.

This is my second post this morning for Imagination Crafts, if you'd like to see my midway reminder project please see my post here.

It's my turn to do the tutorial on the Imagination Crafts Inspiration blog this morning. 

This is my first ever tutorial so if you would be so kind as to pop over and check it out, then leave a comment and let me know what you thought :)

Here's a sneak peek just to whet your appetite.

Imagination Crafts "December Mid Way Inspiration"

Good morning all.

We had  a lovely night on Saturday...lots of alcohol was consumed but not by me so apart from being tired yesterday I was perfectly well! I've now got to make 41 place name tags and a table plan for Wednesday...I did volunteer for my sins!

Eek half way through December already and only 9 chocolates left to eat...where are the days  going to! Here is my second inspiration post for Imagination Crafts.

Our theme is always anything goes and the winner will receive a £40 voucher to spend in the Imagination Crafts Shop.

I've used another of the Decoupage Stamp Sets - Snowman.

Image is stamped with versamark and heat embossed with silver EP, then I've washed the background with silver aquatint, die cut and layered onto a teal mat. Image is coloured with promarkers and I've used stickles on his hat, Background is a Die'Sire Create a Card die from Crafter's Companion which I've embossed then inked with Peacock Feathers DI. Sentiment is from the stamp set. Card is finished with a few gemstones from my stash.

Challenges entered:

A Gem of a Challenge - anything Christmas

Fairytale - colour combo light blue white + ? (I've added teal)

Patties Creations - Christmas cards

Wags n Whiskers - Merry Christmas

Delightful Challenges - bundle up

Dream it Up - quick and/or cute

Fashionable Stamping - heat it up

Christmas Card Club " Non Traditional Colours"

Good morning all.

 I'm hoping it's good for me too after the hen party last night...but I'll probably still be in bed when this goes live!!

It's our final challenge at our little Christmas Card club and Margaret has set us the theme of "Non Traditional Colours".

Made in the same vein as my two winter wonderland cards earlier in the week, this is my final  special card for this year....and if something could go wrong, smudge or go askew it did!!

Sleigh scene is half a Crafty Impressions stamp, heat embossed with white detail EP. Card is then inked with various distress inks. Purple trees are a Penny black magazine freebie stamped in dusty concord DI. House and trees die is from Memory Box and I've cut it up to fit the Lawn Fawn stitched border die. Sentiment from Clearly Besotted, snowman from Crafty Impressions and snowflake was another magazine freebie. Gem from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Stamping Sensations - winter wonderland

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - Christmas

Crafts 4 Eternity - Christmas

Art Impressions Stamps - feeling frosty

Artist Trading Post - let's celebrate

Milk Coffee - Christmas non traditional colours

ABC Christmas - for a family member (for my sister)

Craft a Scene - winter scene

Hello ATC

Good morning all.

Well my little girl is 17 today, I really don't know where the years have gone. We're taking her for a driving taster session this afternoon at a local racetrack which has been organised to raise money for Children in Need.

Several loads of washing to get through today then I'm off down home for my sister's hen party! Should be a good night but I will have to watch what I drink as I want back here by lunchtime on Sunday and wouldn't want to risk being breathalysed on the way home.

Something a "little" different to share today, an ATC.

Both the base and the topper have been covered in some adhesive fabric which gives a lovely feel to the piece. Base and topper were painted Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics. Once dry the topper was stamped with JM05 from JOFY stamps and painted with the Eggplant acrylic. The base was stencilled with a dots stencil from Memory Box using Eggplant then stamped with JM37 from JOFY stamps. The sentiment is from Wild Rose Studio and pearl is from my stash. The topper was attached with foam tape.

Challenges entered:

The Stamping Boutique - anything but a card

House that Stamps Built - anything but a card

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Artistic Stampers - anything goes

One Crazy Stamper - anything goes

Shabby Chic Calendar

Good morning all.

I think we had everything weather-wise yesterday, a day to stay at home! Made a start on the tidying and cleaning ready for the Christmas tree going up.

I spoke to my Aunt and Uncle the other night and my cousin is much improved but will probably need to go through the operation again as they found a second valve which needed replaced during the first op but couldn't go ahead without his permission...the first valve will have to be replaced too so that both valves are the same!! You couldn't make it up!

A calendar to share today.

Made with a Melissa Frances kit to which I've added butterflies, small flower ribbons from my stash. Ivy die cut is a Signature die from Joanna Sheen. Border punch from Martha Stewart. Backing paper from K&Co. Calendar blank tab from Hobbycraft.

Challenges entered:

Decorate to Celebrate - anything 3D

Penny's Paper Crafty - anything but Christmas

All Crafts Challenge - anything but a card

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Sugar Creek Hollow - no cards

Winter Wonderland Mark 2

Good morning all.

Yesterday was a wasted journey...the property we were looking at had a house belonging to someone else in the middle of the land which went with it grrr. Never mind we're not in a hurry so I'm sure something right will come along eventually. I did manage to almost finish the Christmas shopping too so not altogether wasted.

Another Christmas card to share, hopefully I've only got one more to actually make. Very similar to the one I shared two days ago as I decided I really liked that one.

Scenic stamps from Crafty Impressions and sentiment from Clearly Besotted. Main image is heat embossed with white detail EP. Inking is done with some DI and a little bit of Memento around the outside to match the card. Stitched die is from Lawn Fawn, snowflake is from Memory Box and the scene dies are from the middle of a Spellbinder die.

Challenges entered:

Crafty Sentiments Design - Christmas

Die Cuttin Divas - non traditional Christmas colours (no red/green)

Holly Jolly - anything Christmas goes

Loves Rubber Stamps - Christmas/winter

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes

Artistic Inspirations - anything goes/snow

Crafty Boots - Merry Christmas

Crafty Cardmakers - Christmas

Dream Valley Challenges - true blue

Eureka Stamps - let it snow

Sparkle N Sprinkle - anything goes with glitter, EP or flock

Stamp and Create - Christmas

Vintage Stamping Challenge - Christmas Song (Blue Christmas)

Crafting for all Seasons #92 "Anything Christmas but a Card"

Good morning all.

Going out this morning to view a property...forecast wet, windy and snow...think I'll need the winter woollies and welly boots!

Not yet heard any further news on my cousin but must try to remember to ring home today. Lora's guinea pig died of old age on Monday so there was a burial yesterday, thus ends the era of small furry pets - we've had rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs over the years. All my Christmas cards are written, a large batch went in the post yesterday, those with letters in will go today and I think the rest will all be hand delivered.

It's time for our final challenge of the year at CFAS and this time the theme is "Anything Christmas but a Card". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. As this is a month long challenge we have three sponsors this time Lacy Sunshine, Stitchy Bear Digi Outlet and Bugaboo who all gave the DT images to work with.

I've chosen to decorate a bag for this challenge.

I've used Scene it - Winter Friends from Bugaboo coloured with promarkers with added stickles then die cut with a Spellbinders rectangle. Papers from Bearly Mine Christmas Wishes which I've layered up digitally. Icicle and scene dies from Marianne Designs. Snowflake die from Memory Box. Sentiment from Stitchy Bear Stamps- Christmas Day Tiny Tickets. Ribbon and gems from my stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:
Scrap it Girl - wrap it up
Bearly Mine - Christmas decoration
Come and Get It - merry Christmas
CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes with patterned paper
Die Cut Divas - snow and winter holidays
A Gem of a Challenge - anything Christmas
We Do Doobadoo - get festive
Cutie Pie Challenge - anything but a card
Not Just Cards - anything goes