My 5 Favourite Cards of 2011

I've shown you my 5 favourite Christmas Cards now here are my 5 favourite non-christmas cards.  Pop over to Debby's Blog to check out everybody elses lists.

Looking back on the months gone by,

As a new year starts and an old one ends,

We contemplate what brought us joy,

And we think of our loved ones and our friends.

Recalling all the happy times,

Remembering how they enriched our lives,

We reflect upon who really counts,

As the fresh and bright new year arrives.

And when I ponder those who do,

I immediately think of you.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year

20 Promarkers Give Away on Always with a Heart.

Jules is holding a fabulous prize draw for 20 Promarkers of your choice to celebrate Handy Hippo now selling single promarkers.

Nutcrafters Happy New Year

Here's a little reminder for Nutcrafters last challenge.  The theme is Happy New Year.  Remember your card must have a Nutcrafters image on it to qualify for the prize of a £10 voucher.

Nutcrafters Freebie Image coloured with Promarkers

Backing Papers - The Snowman

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Passion for Promarkers - Celebrations

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes

I love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Stampin' for the weekend - Anything Goes

Paper Pretties - Ring in the New Year

        Whimsical Designs - Happy New Year

My 5 Favourite Christmas Cards

Good morning all, can you believe it's Christmas Eve!!  One more sleep and Santa will have been.  Can't wait, Stewart will be home today so I'll have both my babies sleeping in their beds for a few nights.  He'll be gone again the day after Boxing Day

I am joining in again with Debby's challenge to show my 5 favourite Christmas cards. 

 Got the idea for this countdown card last year but it was too late to make one.  I have made a couple this year but will definitely make more next year.  They are so easy.

Love this cheeky chap.  Perfect image for men's Christmas cards.

 Another fab image from Just Inklined.  Perfect for my doggie loving friends.

This is my all time favourite Snowman image from Sugar Nellie.  Also love this Marianne poinsetta die.

I love the design of this card and the frame made from Nesties and my favourite Snowflake die.

Nutcrafters Challenge 8 - Happy New Year

Good morning everyone,  It's time for another Nutcrafters challenge.

This week's challenge is to create a Happy New Year card or project.  Remember your card or project must have a Nutcrafters image on it to qualify for the prize.

This weeks fabulous prize for the lucky winner of Challenge 8 is a £10 gift voucher to spend in the Nutcrafters shop.

We all hope you are able to join us in our challenge this week. Simply leave your details in the Inlinkz before 5pm Tuesday 3rd January.

Here is my card for this week's challenge

I have used one of the stamps in the soon to be released Nursery Rhyme Collection.  This one is called 'Georgie Porgie' and I thought it would be ideal as he is giving her a Midnight Kiss.

The papers are Nitwit - Pinky Swears Too

Clock is a clipart image cut out with a Nestie

Sentiment - Paula Pascuale

Birthday Card

OMG I can't believe it's nearly 2 weeks since my last post. It's been mad busy here, Emily came home from Lincoln Uni last Saturday, was home 2 days and then I took her to Lancaster University to stay with her friend Bryony. They both came home yesterday. Then Wednesday I was having new windows fitted, I know, I know, whose stupid idea was that the week before Christmas. NOT MINE, Chris's!!! Well Wednesday is my day off but only one guy turned up, there should have been two so he took all the windows out, then the other guy turned up and took the lounge window out of his van to find a giant crack from top to bottom. It was starting to get dark at this point so they fitted it and said they would be back to finish off all the plastering and outside bits Thursday. I was at work Thursday so had to ask my dad to come around to wait for them. The one guy turned up again and did all the finishing touches and then they had to wait for the new lounge window. IT DIDN'T COME!!! My dad had to come again Friday morning and luckily they came with the window early and it was all finished by 10 am. I am really happy with the finished result but wish it had been finished Wednesday.

My card today is for a work colleague whose birthday is between Christmas and New Year. I will be off on her birthday so have to take it in this week. My craft room doubles up as the dining room so I have cleared most of my stuff away upstairs for Christmas and as we have been having the windows fitted everything has just been dumped in Stewart's bedroom, so for this card I have just used odds and ends that were left over from my Nutcrafters DT card which I will post on Wednesday.

Image - Lili of the Valley 'Rosie with Presents'

coloured with Promarkers

Backing Paper - Nitwits 'Pinky Swear Too'

Bunting - Whimsy Banner Pennant - Bunny Zoes

Sentiment - Clare Curd

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Passion For Promarkers - Celebrations

Cute Card Thursday - Stripes

Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch
Sparkles Forum - Anything BUT a Christmas card

I'll be back Wednesday with my DT card.  Have a lovely evening.

Nutcrafters Challenge #7 Winter Scene

Good morning everyone, it's time for another challenge over at  Nutcrafters Challenge Blog.  This time it is to make a Christmas card with a Winter Scene.  Don't forget you have to use a Nutcrafters image, there are quite a few freebies on the blog you could use and there is a fabulous prize again of a £10 voucher to spend in the shop.

Here is my DT card for this week

I have used this cute image which is one stamp in the Winter Walk set (currently on sale for £3.83).  I coloured her a while ago with Promarkers.  The background scene is a digi stamp from Just Inklined called Little Church in the snow and I have coloured this with Prisma Pencils and dusted with white glitter.  The fence and gate are Memory Box Dies.  The sentiment stamp is from the mini postage stamp set from Whimsy stamps.  Little pearls are from my stash.

Hope to see lots of you joining in with the challenge this week.

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

Top Tip Tuesday - Let It Snow

Simon Says Stamp - Christmas Photomontage Inspiration

ABC Christmas Challenge - 'Y' Yippee anything goes.

Nutcrafters Christmas Challenge

Just a reminder to let you know that you still have time to join in with the Nutcrafters challenge to make a Christmas card for a friend.  If you look back at the previous challenges there are some lovely freebie images you can use for this and be in with the chance to win a fabulous £10 voucher to spend in the shop.

Check out the online shop too as there is a Winter Sale on with lots of crafty bargains.  P&P is only £1 to the UK.

Can I also take this opportunity to introduce you to the soon to be released Nursery Rhyme Collection which will be up for sale from 9th January.  Check out the DT blogs over the next couple of weeks for more previews.

Humphrey's Christmas

Good Afternoon everyone, hope the weather is better where you are.  Chucking it down and absolutely freezing here.  Just the weather for locking yourself in your craftroom, shame it's so dark though.

My card today

I have used this cute stamp that Crafter's Companion were selling for 1p as part of their birthday celebrations.  I have coloured with Prisma's only.  I think I am getting used to these now and have worked out how to blend them a bit better.  What do you think?

The backing papers are from a magazine freebie, My Minds Eye.  I have punched the border with a Martha Stewart punch and just added a few gems and glamour dusted the snow.  

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Sketch Saturday - The Sketch

One Stop Crafts - Let it Snow

Bah Humbug - Cute Christmas Critters

Clearly Inspired - Christmas

Crafty Catz - Colours of Christmas with sparkle

Another Countdown Card

Just dashing in to post this card but I'll be gone again in a flash lol.  Have just got in from work and need to post this card as it follows the sketch from Sketch Saturday.  Loved using this sketch and it went really well with the Countdown card.

Sorry about the quality of the photo but I took it this morning and the light was terrible.  I'll try and get a better one tomorrow and change it.

The image is LOTV toboggan for two

Papers - First Edition Christmas Joy

Whimsy Sentiment Mini Postage Stamp

Memory Box Corner Snowflake die

Marianne Poinsetta Die

Gems from stash

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

Polka doodle - Secret Element

The Poodles Parlour - Christmas

By the cute and girly - Let it snow

Creatilicious  Challenge - Christmas Sparkle

Right I'm off,  I'll be back to comment tomorrow.

Take Care 

Countdown to Christmas

Good morning everyone, a chilly one here today.  I've got a couple of days off work now so hoping to get some Christmas shopping finished.  The only problem is I haven't got a clue what everyone wants!!

Last year I saw a few of these countdown cards and the lovely Angie sent me a link to the tutorial
http://www.stempeleinmaleins.blogspot.com/2009/11/christmas-countdown.html

I 'found' the calendar wheel in my stash, don't know when or where I got it but there is a free print on the tutorial if you need it.

Image - LOTV Christmas bunnies - Robin

Coloured with Promarkers

Backing paper - Magazine freebie - My Minds Eye Winter Papers

Poinsettas - Marianne Dies

Martha Stewart Snowflake die

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Lili of the Valley - Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Charisma Cardz - Snowflakes

More Christmas Dec's

Following on from last Sunday's post I thought I would show you some more christmas tree decorations I have been making.  Really enjoying the different type of crafting at the moment.  I bought this felt kit in the sales a couple of years ago from Abakhan fabrics but never got around to making them.

This is just a small selection of them.  There are 4 of each design and 25 different designs.  There are lots of bits of felt and embellishments left over so think I might try and make some Christmas trees and puddings etc using my own design.

The timing is just right again as the lovely ladies over at Bah Humbug have set a challenge of Fabric this week.

I am also entering them into the following challenge

So Artful challenge - Sew Pretty

Nutcrafters Challenge 6 - Card for a friend

Hello everyone, I can't believe 2 weeks have passed since Nutcrafters last challenge.  The challenge this time is to create a Christmas Card or Project for a Friend. Remember your card must have a Nutcrafters image on it to qualify for the prize.

There is no freebie digi this week but there will be random freebies throughout the year so keep looking.

This weeks fabulous prize for the lucky winner of Challenge 6 is a £10 gift voucher to spend at Nutcrafters.

Here is my card

I have used this cute Santa stamp which comes in a pack of 3 with a Christmas Tree and Snowman which you can buy in the Nutcrafters online shop for £3.50.  It is also available as part of Stamp Bundle #2,  4 x £3.50 stamps for £10.00

The image is coloured with Promarkers, with white gel pen for highlights.  The trimmings on his hat and coat are glittered with glamour dust.  The sentiment is a Mini Holiday Postage Stamp from Whimsy Stamps.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Crimbo Crackers - Make it Sparkle

Jingle Belles - Card for someone who doesn't necessarily celebrate Christmas

We all hope you are able to join us in our challenge this week. Simply leave your details in the Inlinkz before 5pm Tuesday 6th December.

Sugar Nellie - New Grandma

A flying visit from me tonight.  I am just posting this card that I made for Deb at work who has just become a grandma for the first time.  Her son and daughter-in-law have just had a gorgeous baby girl Erica Susan.

I have followed Gayle's sketch on The Sugar Bowl Challenge blog

Image - Sugar Nellie 'Circle of Life' coloured with Promarkers.

Whimsy sentiment stamps

Pickle's 'Little Dickie Birds'

A few weeks ago Pickle posted some lovely little  birdbox tree decorations on her blog and I fell in love with them so this morning thought I would have a go.  The first one seemed to take ages but once I'd worked out the best way to do them the last 3 came together quite quickly.  Pickle did hers in white but I went a bit more traditional with red and green.

I didn't have the nesties Pickle used so used my Labels 11 die for the roof and for the base used Lacey Squares.

I used Sizzlits bird and branch die and covered it in glamour dust.

I have become a bit of a stalker of Pickle just lately, my next project will be a cushion similar to hers.  I've already started cutting out but have put it to one side for now.

  Pop over to her blog she makes some fabberoonie things.

I am entering this project into the following challenges:

Bah Humbug - Bags or Boxes

2 Sisters Challenge - Let it Sparkle 

Squiggles and Giggles - Anything but a card

Fussy and Fancy - Anything but a card

Crafty Ribbons - Anything but a card

Creatalicious Challenge - Christmas Sparkle 

LOTV

Woo Hoo I'm back again.  Managed to find a bit of time this afternoon to make another card.  Another one ticked off my list.  The h*******k has gone to pot today and you should see the state of my craft table.  Oh well it can wait, I'm on my own tonight so nobody will see it lol.

I have used this gorgeous Lili of the Valley image - Teddy Flower

Coloured with Promarkers

Marianne die butterflies

Ribbon and gems from stash

Backing Papers - Dovecraft Sugar and Spice

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

LOTV challenge - Creature Comforts

Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch

Have a lovely evening

Baby's First Christmas

Good morning everyone, just a reminder that you still have one more week to join in with the Nutcrafters Challenge - Card for a Child.

We would love to see a card or project for a child using a Nutcrafters image (use the freebie if you don't have any other images)  There is a fab prize on offer.

My card today is for one of our nurses at work.  Emma left last Friday to go on maternity leave.  Her baby is due on 6 December.

We don't know if it is a boy or girl so I went with Christmassy Colours.

I have used this cute Nutcrafters stamp - Christmas Cuddles

I am entering it into the following challenges:

Bah Humbug - Baby's First Christmas

Sketch and Stash - Sketch (my new stash is the mini christmas stamp sentiment)

Sweet Stampin' - Gingham

 

Silver Wedding Anniversary

Good Evening everyone.  It's my Silver Wedding Anniversary today, 25 years or a quarter century.  Where does the time go.  I can remember it like yesterday.  I've been at work all day and just got home.  Chris has just phoned to say he is stuck on The Snake Pass and won't be home before 8.30.  We had planned to go out for something to eat but I am starving now so I'm going to do myself something quick to eat and then will do Chris something when he comes in.  We'll have to go out to celebrate at the weekend instead.  Oh well never mind.

Here's the card I made for him.  Sorry about the quality of the photo.

I have used this gorgeous SWALK stamp 'I Do'
Coloured with Promarkers
Nitwits Papers - Butterfly Kisses Too
LOTV & Paula Pascual sentiments
Plasterers tape with Mica Powder rubbed into sticky side
(very shimmery in real life but can't see on pic)

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Hooked On Crafts - Punch or Die Cut
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Use a Freebie (SWALK stamp was a candy win)

Have a lovely evening.

Nutcrafters Challenge 5 - Christmas Card for a Child

Good morning everyone, it's time for a new challenge over at Nutcrafters. 

Thank you so much to those of you that joined in with the last challenge. Don't forget to check back on Friday for the winner and top 3.

Now onto this week's challenge create a Christmas Card or Project for a Child. Remember you card must have a Nutcrafters image on it to qualify for the prize. To help you along with this Katie and Colette have provided a freebie digi for everyone. This image is part of the Winter Cutie Pie Digi Stamp Collection which you can find here.

The prize again is a wonderful voucher to spend in the Nutcrafters Online Shop

Here's my card for this weeks challenge

I have used the Nutcrafters stamp - Hanging a Stocking 

and coloured with Promarkers and Prismas

Backing Papers - My Minds Eye Winter Papers

Sentiment from the Humphreys Corner Christmas Joy set.

We all hope you are able to join us in our challenge this week. Simply leave your details in the Inlinkz before 5pm Tuesday 22nd November.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Sketch Saturday - The Sketch
Winter Wonderland - Make it Sparkle
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Christmas
Simon Says - Photo Inspiration

Have a lovely day.