My favourite five cards

I'm joining in again with Debby's Favourite Five Cards of 2012 - such a fab idea but I always find it so hard to choose with the huge amount of cards I make!  Without further waffle, here's what I chose...

 

Love the Uptown Girls and was particular pleased with this layout.  Original post here

 

As you should know by now, I'm a huge Birdie Brown fan and I enjoyed using the papers on this card.  Original post here

 

I don't often do shabby chic but I was particularly pleased with how this one turned out using Make It Crafty chipboard.  Original post here

 

I love my Lil' Inker Designs fishtail labels and liked how I used it in this little scene with the cute Whimsie Doodles girl.  Original post here

 

Bugaboo digis are always put a smile on my face and I had a lot of fun making this little card!  Original post here

Okay, that's it from me today.  I hope you all have lovely plans to bring in the New Year tonight.  Steve and I are going to our favourite restaurant and then bringing in the New Year with a bottle of champagne quietly at home (cuddling the dogs of course!).

A happy New Year to you all!

Day 1 of the All That Scraps January release previews!

Today we are previewing the All That Scraps January release and we are focusing on the gorgeous creations by Christine, owner of All That Scraps.  Here is my DT make using newbies Meoples Lucky Rainbow, AmyR Lucky Sentiments and CC Cutters Lucky Charms...

I just love those cool funky Meoples - they are so fun to create with!  Release date is 3 January at 8pm CST - not too long to wait!  Check out the blog here and  link up to Inlinkz for a chance to win some of today's cute stuff!  I am entering this into the Simon Says Stamps challenge of anything goes.

I'll be back tomorrow with day 2 of the previews!

 

More info on my new light box and a birthday card for my MIL

Happy Sunday all!  A few of you asked about the make of my light box (see yesterday's post) and it is Shenzhen Sanoto Technology - you can only order it direct from the supplier based in China.  It takes about 10-14 days delivery and comes in different sizes.  My husband had a very good experience with them.  I got the MK40 (mid sized) US$125 (about £78) but if you can get the smaller one MK30 for US$89 (about £55) and it should be fine if you're just photographing cards.  The shipping is free too.  I will take a photo of my next card using my old fabric box and the new one so you can see the difference.

I'm here today with my Bellarific Babe card and today I've got a card using Addy 'tude Loves to Sparkle...

I have a lot of birthday cards to make for January - April is obviously a randy month for many, lol!!  This will go to my mother-in-law who is used to dressing up and going to posh parties!  I used papers from the My Mind's Eye Indie Chic Ginger collection and the sentiment is from the Uptown Girl Posh Has a Present set (love that font!).  I used the Lil' Inker Designs Mini Bow Tie die (again!) and the October Sketch For You to Try for my layout.  I am entering this into the Simon Says Stamps challenge of anything goes.

You've still got time to play the current Bellarific Tuesday challenge starting over at SplitcoastStampers "White Space - create a CAS card with plenty of white space".
 
Thanks for visiting and I'll see you tomorrow with the start of the All That Scraps January previews!

 

Guess what I got for Christmas?

Lots of lovely pressies!  But this is my all time fave from the hubster...

Yep, a brand new light box!  Instead of the fabric folded one I currently have that took me 5 minutes to set up each time with the lighting, all I need to do now is switch the light on!  Here it is all lit up....

And here is my set up with the tripod for those super steady shots...

And this was a complete surprise to me too!  Steve doesn't like me spending so much (or even any!!) money on crafting so I was gobsmacked that he bought this expensive bit of kit for me - you gotta love him!

I also promised [some months back] to show you piccies of my newly decorated craft room.  Well, here they are!

Before - all stripped down and ready for decorating!

After - work area (it's actually an 8 seater dining table!)

After - shelving system with sliding doors

After - more storage

Of course every bit of surface is now covered and every shelf filled with crafting goodies!  I'll take more photos soon (or even a video) soon to show how I use my space and store my stash.

TTFN!

My Five Favourite Christmas Cards

I'm joining in with Debby's My Five Favourite Christmas Cards so without further ado, here they are...

Using the new Uptown girls The Three Amigas, the Lil' Inker Designs Stitched Sentiment Flag die with a sentiment from the Lil' Inker Designs Dear Santa set.

  

Using Lil' Inker Designs Snowflake die set, the Instant Camera: Christmas set and the Echo Park Winter Wishes paper pad. 

 

Using My Favorite Things Decorative Circle Tag Stax, the LJD - Stitched Stockings stamp set, sentiment from the Mini Wavy Pennants die, Dainty Dots Border die and papers from the Carta Bella Merry & Bright pad.

 

Using My Favorite Things a la modes - You Shine, My Mind's Eye Winter Wonderland papers, My Favorite things Die-Namics Gift Card Pocket with the Gift Card Greetings and the Jumbo Squiggle die.

   Using Kraftin' Kimmies Raychel and Lil' Inker Designs mini bow die.

I hope you get to join in too so I can see yours!

I can resist anything but temptation!

 I'm here today with my Bellarific Babe card and today I've got a card using Savvyshoppabella...

This card has definitely got to go to one of my friends - anyone of them, they all love shopping!!  I matched her up with papers from the My Mind's Eye Sweetest Thing Tangerine.  The sentiment is by Elzybells but unfortunately is discontinued now (think she now does some designing for Penny Black).  I used the My Favorite Things Die-namics Notebook Edge die and Die-namics Mini Rolled Rose die layered on top of C.C. Designs Cutters Olive Branch Die.  I am entering this into the Simon Says Stamps challenge of anything goes.

I am off now, thanks for visiting!

Brrr...

Hello everyone!  I'm here today with my MilkCoffee showcase post with the theme of "brrr" - well it is cold (unless of course you're on the other side of the world!!).  Here is my DT make...

I am going to give this to a friend who is going skiing for the very first time - this Skiing Girl Winter is very apt!  And I love the matching Winter Gloves that I matched up with a sentiment from the There She Goes Snowy Days and papers from the Echo Park Dear Santa collection.  I am entering this into the Simon Says Stamps challenge of anything goes.

And  while I'm here, I thought I'd share this card I forgot to share before Christmas...

I used the There She Goes Snowy Days set and and papers from the Echo Park Dear Santa collection again.  I am entering this card into the current There She Goes challenge for Last Minute Christmas.

Okay, I am off now - see you tomorrow with my Bellarific Babe post!

All That Scraps Sweet December review!

Happy Boxing Day everyone!  I hope you had a fabulous day!  We are probably still in our hotel, getting ready to drive to my parent's house for more Christmas yummy food - but this time Chinese style!

Today we are reviewing more of the gorgeous All that Scraps November new release and today we are showcasing the sweet Sweet Novembers!  Here is my DT make...

I used the Sweet November Love Birds, AmyR Stamps Love Always Sentiments, C.C. Designs Cutters Banner Day die, C.C. Designs Cutters Banner Accessories die and C.C. Designs Cutters Key & Lock Embossing die.  For the papers I used the Bo Bunny Love Bandits collection.  Check out more Sweet November reviews over at the blog here.  

I'll see you tomorrow with my MilkCoffee showcase post!
 

 

A very merry Christmas to you all!

A very merry Christmas to all my family and friends!  Thank you for your friendship, support and generally making our lives richer!

With much love

Mary, Steve

Poppy & Lulu

xxx

The last of my Christmas cards to share

OMG, are you excited?  I am!  It's tomorrow!!!  And it's even better on Christmas Eve for the anticipation!!!!!  Okay, deep breath....deep breath....

I got a few more Christmas cards to share with you and then THAT IS IT!!  I'm not going to want to make another for at last six months at least!  So here they are...

I love this cute dog!  He is from the There She Goes Snowy Days, matched up with Echo Park All I Want For Christmas papers and Lil' Inker Designs Mini Bow die.  I also used this week's TSG sketch.

Card above using  Lil' Inker Designs Snowflake dies, Small Bow Tie, Instant Camera Christmas sentiment and My Minds Eye 12 Days papers.  Card below using the same except the sentiment is from the Arctic Friends set.  I am also entering the one below into the CAS-ual Fridays challenge for a 10 minute card.

And this card (that I cased from a card from a friend last year) has the adorable Birdie Brown fat guy from the Happy Santa set...

Right, that really is all of my Christmas cards this year!  I'm entering them into the Simon Says Stamp theme of anything Christmassy!

In case I don't get a chance now to visit you in blogland, I wish you...

 A very merry Christmas - have a FAB time everybody!

So fairy sweet!

Ooohhhh, only 2 more sleeps to go and it's CHRISTMAS!!!!   Okay, I'm a bit sick of making Christmas cards so I decided to make something SWEET instead!  So here is my DT make....

Oh, I just love sweet Fairy!  I can't decide whether to make this into a thank you or thinking of you card so I've left it plain inside too when I find the appropriate moment!  I used My Minds Eye papers, a Cuttlebug embossing folder and some sweet flat backed iridescent pearls for the corners.  Oh, and lots of Glamour Dust on her wings - she really sparkles in real life!

Ok, this is my last Whimsie Doodle DT post for 2012 and I'll be back on the 2 January with my new Whimsie Doodle project!

Make It Crafty Christmas Event!

There's only 3 days til Christmas!

It's Day 22 of the Make It Crafty Christmas countdown and it's my turn today to share my DT inspiration project for it!

But before I get onto my project, a bit about the countdown!  The MiC gang and our Special Guests thought it would be fun to have a 'grown up' advent calendar as we count down the days til Christmas full of inspiration just for us creative minds!  Each day a sneak peek will be revealed on the MiC store blog with a link for you to follow "to open the door".  All you have to do is stop by the store blog each day to open the next door!

PLUS Zoe has Christmas Candy full of lots of crafty goodies that you don't want to miss out on!

AND THERE'S MORE GIFTS

But what's even more exciting is that you will have a chance to win the Make it Crafty goodies that I have played with today!!

By leaving a comment on this post you could win...

The Fairyland digi collection!

The comments will stay open until the 31st of December and the winners will be announced in the New Year on the MiC store blog. You can join us for all 24 days - giving you 24 chances to win some MiC goodies! If you join us late, simply go back to the start and catch up!

This is what I have created with the The Fairyland digi collection - my very first stepper card! 

I used Frances Burne's (of StampOwl's Studio fame) stepper card tutorial on Splitcoaststampers although I adapted it as I wanted the centre to be wider to fit my image.  I used papers from the My Mind's Eye Sweetest Thing Tangerine collection and the Lil' Inker Designs square stitched mat die on the matting. And do you love those leaves and teeny tiny butterflies?  They are from the Round Leaves set and I just added some punched flowers with flat backed pearls for the centres.  Here's a closer look...

 

Copics used:

Log - E31, E33, E35, E37

Plants and hats - G20, G43, G46, G28

Toadstools - E50, E53, R00, R12, R08

Hair - E50, E53, E57, E33, E37

Skin - E000, E00, E21

Don't forget to leave a comment to this post before December 31st and stop by the Make it Crafty Store blog to 'open the door' to 24 other inspirational projects!