Last card of 2010 and a thanks to you all!

Can you believe it, end of another year!  Where did it go?!  It was an eventful year for me - changed jobs, joined a couple of design teams and made lots of new friends - what more can a gal ask for?  I can't help but look back on it with much fondness (well, except some parts of it!) and hope that 2011 will be just as generous with me.  I'm a lucky girl!

So here is my last card for 2010 for all of you blog pals out there - you girls rock!  And here is my card to you all...

 

 

I am submitting this card into the Kenny K challenge and Incy Wincy Designs which are both distressing challenges (but not in the bad way, hee hee!  Sorry, I'm not good at jokes...).  And also the ABC Challenge for K is for Keep it Simple.

A Happy New Year to you all!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill kraft cardstock, Core'dinations cardstock, October Afternoon Seaside paper pack 

Stamps: Kenny K Rock Chick digi stamp, TGF sentiments
Mediums: Copics, Sakura star gel pen

Accents: weaved ribbon from stash, raffia from John Lewis
Tools: Tim Holtz distressing tool, Nestabilities rectangle die (inside card)

So many ill, too little cards!!

There have been so many people I know that have come down with very bad colds recently that I ran out of get well soon cards!  So I've got to get a new stock of them in because we are only a third through our winter - boo!!!  The good news is that I get to play with my Unwell Nikki...

She looks exactly like me earlier last week!  And I love this KaiserCraft Hippy Girl paper collection - it reminded me of funky wallpaper so thought it would be ideal with this Nikki.  Let's just hope I won't need to use this card any time soon!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, KaiserCraft Hippy Girl collection
Stamps: Ladybug Crafts Ink Unwell Nikki, CC Designs sentiments
Mediums: Copics, ProMarkers

Accents: buttons and organza ribbon from stash
Tools: Nestabilities rectanble dies, label die (inside card)

 

Happy times!

Hello everybody!  I hope you all had a fab Xmas and now looking forward to celebrating the new year in!  Personally, I am very tired from all the family visits, eating, drinking, talking - don't think I can keep it all up for another week!  We did spend a lovely quiet day in today, playing with all our new toys - new computer, new printer, XBox 360 and Kinect, and too much more!

Quiet time for me includes a spot of crafting so I've got my thank you cards done, based on this design...

I know it's more of a thanks giving image, but I love it so much (and we don't celebrate thanks giving in the UK!) that I decided to use it for "thank you for your hospitality".  It felt so good to get back to crafting today - expect more cards this week!




I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• Quixotic Inspirations monthly challenge - thank you
• Cupcake Craft challenges - thank you
• Make it Monday - share your creativity!
• Mad for Markers - anything goes
• Passion for ProMarkers - anything goes
• Papertake Weekly - anything goes
• Tip Top Tuesday - get embellishing (this is a lot for me!)
• Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
• Paper Sundaes - cut it out (cut out the image)

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, BasicGrey Marjolaine paper pack
Stamps: TGF Cheeky Cherry Pie, MFT Happy sentiments
Mediums: Copics, ProMarkers

Accents: BasicGrey buttons, Papermania pearls, American Crafts ribbon
Tools: EK Success border punch, Nestabilities label die (inside card)

Did I make this?!!

It feels like winter has been going on for aaages, but we still have January and February to get through!  I really feel like saying "bah humbug" to that!  But, gotta put a brave face on it and I decided to make a card with a Spring feel to it...

This is On Your Bike Robyn by Ladybug Crafts Ink and I love Robyn with the wind in her hair!  And I even put flowers on it - very unlike me!  This is such a girly girly card and so not my style that I'm wondering how I thought it up!  I haven't even touched a drop of champers yet!  Still, I like it a lot and may even do some more girly girly cards!  I also used the Ladybug Crafts Ink sentimental numbers stamp set - I love that they are outlined so you can colour them in to match.  Talk about co-ordinated!

So this is the last post from me until after Boxing Day so I'd like to say now...

A very merry Christmas to all of my wonderful blog friends!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• Die Cut Dreams - how girlie can you get
• Passion for Promarkers - anythng goes
• Top Tip Tuesday - get embellishing (this is the most I've ever done!)
• Moving along with the times - anything but no Xmas cards
• Aud Sentiments - anything goes
• Allsorts - anything goes
• Sweet Stampin - celebration
• Craft Your Days Away - punch it out (flower punches)

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Bazzil Bling cardstock (the pink flowers), BasicGrey Green at Heart paper pack
Stamps: Ladybug Crafts Ink On Your Bike Robyn stamp and Sentimental Numbers set
Mediums: Copics and Promarkers
Accents: BasicGrey brads
Tools: Grand Nestabilities scallop square die, other Nestabilities dies, My Favorite Things trio cloud die (you can buy in the UK from Dies to Die For here) and leaves die (you can buy here), Woodware flower punches

Hey girl!

It feels so good NOT to make another Xmas card and go back to some sassiness!  I recently found Kenny K digi stamps through Michelle who is on the DT - I just love her funky cards so of course I had to invest in some of that, didn't I?!

This is one cool rock chick!  Sort of like me when I was younger - well, perhaps not!!  But I would have loved to have been but instead I was a sensible, boring lady, lol!!  I've used a Bazzill black bling card base to give it a bit of glamour rock chick and that is kraft stock on the matting - unfortunately the rubbish grey weather in the UK just doesn't help with the photo colour quality!  Hey ho, really must move to a sunnier country...


I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• Kenny K's Krafty Girlz - distressing (inked the DP and I did distress the edges of the DP and kraft cs but a bit too neatly - you can't see it in the photo, lol!!)
• Die Cut Dreams - how girlie can you get
• Paper Sundaes - cut it out (I cut out the image)
• Mad for Markers - anything goes
• Papertake Weekly - anything goes
• Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
• Stampavie and More - red
• 7 Kids College Fund - anything goes
• Paper Pretties - birthday card
• Crafty Ann's - anythng goes
• Prairy Fairy - use kraft cardstock

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill Bling and kraft cardstock, October Afternoon Seaside paper pack
Stamps: Kenny K Rock Chick digi stamp, CC Designs sentiment inside card
Mediums: Copics
Accents: black sisal ribbon, twine
Tools: EK Success border punch, Tim Holtz distressing tool, Nestabilitie label die (inside card)

{{Scream}} Not more Xmas cards!

I know I said in that I'd finished making of my Xmas cards, but I had forgotten a few other friends!  So - and this really is going to be it - the very last of my Xmas cards...

Right - I really am going to start my Xmas cards early next year.  I know I say it every year but I've found at least 3 blogs that do regular Christmas challenges and I'm gonna try to complete at least two cards a month - that'll be a quarter of my cards done at least before next December.  Well see, heh?!!  Feel free to remind me friends!

Hope to see you tomorrow for another Totally Ladybug Tuesday!


I am entering these into the following challenges:

• Sparkles Christmas card challenge
• Stamptacular Sunday challenge - TREEmendous
• The Crafty Pad - anything goes
• Make It Monday - share your creativity!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, My Minds Eye Winter Wonderland paper pack
Stamps: Whimsie Doodles Snow Friends digi stamp, Pink Petticoat digi sentiments
Mediums: Copics
Accents: none
Tools: Fiskars border punch, Nestabilitie dies, Stampin' Up large window punch (for sentiments)

Totally Ladybug Tuesday challenge -

It's a Totally Ladybug Tuesday - yay!  I hope you all enjoyed our Christmas blog hop last week - the winner of my prize is Monika!  Monika, email us at lcichallengeblog@aol.com with your address to claim your prize!

Now onto the challenge and this week that uber talented Tams has challenged us to be inspired by a song title!  I have a terrible memory and can never remember any, but I do know "Walking the Dog" by The Rolling Stones as Steve often hums it when we're walking our Labs.  So I had no choice but to use Dog Walking Nikki for my card, hadn't I?!

After all those Xmas quick makes last week with those paper collections (which I always makes me feel like I'm cheating!), I wanted to stretch myself a bit so I tried my hand at Distress Ink watercolouring for the very first time.  DT pal, Anita, does the most amazing watercolouring with them and we got her to give us her tips - and here's my very first effort...

And a close up of my watercolouring...

So what do you think, Anita?!!  I need a lot more practice - I just couldn't get the smooth shading and blending like I can with my Copics and ProMarkers!  Still, I like the overall effect of the card and I can definitely see that some images are better suited to watercolouring.  I kept the card pretty simple to showcase the image - it's not as dark as it looks in real life!

Now head on over to the Ladybug Crafts Ink challenge blog to see the list of winners of last week's Christmas blog hop and - best of all - the gorgeous DT makes!!


I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• Crafty Ann's challenge - anything goes
• Crafty Catz weekly challenge - your choice from any previous challenge (no 45 animals)
• Allsorts challenge - anything goes
• Craft Your Days Away - punch it out
• The Crafty Pad - anything goes

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, BasicGrey Marjolaine paper pack
Stamps: Ladybug Crafts Ink Dog Walker Nikki (buy her here), It's Only Words 2 (buy the set here)
Mediums: Distress Inks, Copics (for the skin)
Accents: ribbon from stash
Tools: EK Success border punch, Nestabilities rectangle dies

Phew - that's a wrap!

All of my Christmas cards finished at last - hoorah!  To speed up the process, I basically stuck to the same layout, one stamp set and one paper collection.  It just took out the extra thinking out so I could just focus on putting the elements together.  So here they all are...



 

  

You can rest assured that I will not be showing any more Christmas cards for a long, long, long time!!!

I'm entering these cards into the following challenges:

• That's Krafty Thursday - colouring
• Passion for Promarkers - mega Christmas anything goes
• Fab 'n' Funky - quick and easy does it (each card took about 10 mins to do)
• Crafty Ann's - anything goes
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Christmas
• Cute Card Thursday - one for the kids (some of these are for children)
• Moving Along With the Times - let it snow(snowmen and snowflake paper)
• Fussy and Fancy Friday - snow(snowmen and snowflake paper)

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Echo Park Everybody Loves Christmas paper collection
Stamps: Whimsie Doodles Christmas Greeings digi stamp set and Snowman Cocoa, Pink Petticoat digi sentiments, CC Designs sentiments inside cards
Mediums: Copic markers, Promarkers
Accents: ribbon from stash, Dew Drops

Tools: Fiskars border punch, Stampin Up window stamp (for the Pink Petticoat digi sentiments) Nestabilities label dies (inside cards)

A Totally Gorjuss card for my Totally Gorjuss husband!

Hello all!  A happy Saturday to you all and hope you have lots on to start enjoying the festive season!  Or perhaps you're all bogged down planning and preparing to enjoy it still - like me! 

So today is Saturday and another Totally Gorjuss challenge and we are challenging you to create a Xmas card for someone special.  Now some of you might recall that I made this card for my husband, but my friend liked it so much she made me give it to her for her own hubby!  Cheeky so and so.  But actually it worked out well because I prefer this card and it's more his style...

I love that sentiment, don't you?  So sweet!  Anyway, that's all for today - lots and lots and lots of prep to do today!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• Keep it Simple - season's greetings
• Let's ink it up - Christmas
• Mad for Markers - anything goes

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly paper pack

Stamps: Whimsie Doodles Snowman Cocoa and sentiment, CC Designs sentiment (inside card)

Mediums: Copics

Accents: ribbon from stash

Tools: Fiskars border punch, Nestabilities label dies (inside card)

Getting there!

Hello all!  Hope you are having a lovely week.  It's getting colder and colder in the UK - more snow on its way - boo!!

Well, I did a reccie to see if I had enough Xmas cards made up - and I don't!  How did I get to know so many people?!!  So, I've used another paper collection to make more quick makes and here they are...

I've got a very bad cough (yes, still!  Sorry to bore my regular readers!) and I managed to make these while in bed last night - each card only took me 10 mins to make.  I am loving these paper collections although I'm missing my colouring in!

Enjoy the rest of your day and don't forget the Christmas blog hop over at Ladybug Crafts Ink - lots of goodies to win!

I am entering these cards into the following challenges:

• Tip Top Tuesday - Christmas Inspired
• Scrapbook Sisters - non traditional Xmas colours
• ABC Christmas challenge - Z is for Zero, I've used T is for Tree, X is for Xmas
• Die Cut Dreams Christmas challenge - a Christmas carol (I've used "we wish you a merry Christmas..."
• By The Cute and Girly - cards for children (some of these will be going to my little relatives!)

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, My Minds Eye Colorful Christmas paper pack

Stamps: Pink Petticoat sentiments, pc printed sentiments, CC Designs sentiments (inside card)

Mediums: none!
Accents: ribbons from stash
Tools: Fiskars snowflake border punch, Martha Stewart star border punch, Nestabilities label dies (inside card)

More xmas quick makes

Okay, I'm on a roll!  That Echo Park paper collection is so cool to use that I've made another four cards with it...

I'm sure I can squeeze a few more cards out of that collection.  Nearly all my xmas cards made now - just gotta do a reccie and make sure I have enough!  Back tomorrow with more cards!


I am entering these cards into the following challenges:

• Cupcake Craft challenges - non traditional Christmas (the colours)
• The Shabby Tearoom - warm and snuggly (felt snowflake border on penguin card)
• Make it Monday - share your creativity!
• Pear Tree Designs - Christmas card
• Pixie Dust Studio - let it snow with white and non-traditional colours
• The Stamp Man - limit yourself to 3 colours (the penguin card with black, blue and brown)
• Die Cut Dreams Christmas club- a christmas carol ("let it snow...")
• Keep it Simple - season's greetings
• The Crafty Pad - dry embossing (on the ornament card)

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, DCWV glitter cardstock, Echo Park Everybody Loves Christmas paper collection
Stamps: Pink Petticoat digi sentiments, CC Designs sentiments inside cards
Mediums: Glamour Dust
Accents: Stampin Up striped grosgrain ribbon, Bazzill white floss, snowflake felt border ribbon, striped bakers twine and mini star buttons from stash, BasicGrey button
Tools: Fiskars border punch, Grand Nestabilities dies, Stampin Up window punch (for digi sentiments), Martha Stewart deep edger snowflake border punch, Woodware snowflake punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder