2014 Review

Wow, 2014 is nearly over and 2015 is just hours away.

This has been a fun year creatively;  I've guest designed for three of my favourite rubber stamp companies, Lili of the Valley, Sugar Nellie and Purple Onion Designs.  

I was also recently so proud to win a runner up spot in the Cardmaker of the Year 2014 competition with CardMaking and Papercraft Magazine (see issue 138).

And as usual I've made some new, and deepened some existing, friendships with some lovely blogging buddies. I think that's what makes this such a special hobby; it converts something which can be quite a solitary pursuit into something far more social, educational and inspiring.

So being 31st December, I am doing my customary annual round up of my favourite projects from the last 12 months.

You'd better brace yourself for a photo heavy post ...

January
It's pink and girlie; just my style, and the little crystal flower was a Christmas 2013 gift from the lovely Christine.  It didn't take me long to crack open the packet and use one! The Sugar Nellie fairy glen images have remained firm favourites, so I was incredibly proud to be asked to guest design for Sugar Nellie later in they summer, as well as joining the Sugar Bowl DT in October.

February

I don't actually own that many Tilda images, so I don't use them very often, but this little girlie was one of my favourite cards. I'd coloured her with DI reinkers which was one of my 2014 New Year Resolutions, and it turned out quite well (I think!).  The papers were really pretty and I'd taken the trouble to stitch the layers too.

March

I really enjoy making these clocks, and this one featured another Fairy Glen image from Sugar Nellie. Like February's project, it's another purple project (I'm sensing a trend here!)  I must try harder to use other colours!

April

OK, so I'm off the purple, but back on the pink!   This one again is water coloured with DI reinkers and I really like the effect.  The image and gorgeous papers are both LOTV;  I probably could have chosen 12 months' worth of favourite LOTV cards to be honest!

May

Another pink LOTV card, and this time featuring a couple of their newer characters.  Patch and his bunny companion became firm favourites to colour with my DI reinkers and I may possibly have bought them in several poses!  This card also featured one of my favourite dies; the Nottingham Border from Memory Box.

June

Lee Holland digis was a new artist I came across this year, and this little giraffe really caught my eye.  More LOTV papers and some spotty ribbon, but otherwise I seem to have lost my fussy style and be on a CAS drive.  I must have been feeling unwell to leave my beloved embellishments behind.

July

This was one of my GDT cards for LOTV.  It was an image that, once I'd stamped it, I really wondered what I was going to do with it.  I coloured it up once in quite traditional colours (the watering can was green) and I really wasn't keen.  So I decided to try my favourite blue and pink combos and lo and behold, this actually turned out to be one of my favourite cards of the year.  It's funny how things can turn out unexpectedly like that.

August

I just had to include this card.  It was one which won me a runner up prize in the Cardmaker of the Year competition with Cardmaking and Papercrafts magazine.  It included lots of my favourite components; the pinky-purple colour combo, pretty papers, stitched layers, and I'd really tried hard with my shading.

September

This card features the same image as January's card, but I like it so much that it's getting a second outing this month.  These Maya Design papers have also made quite a few outings in my top picks, and I really do love them.

October

This card was made for a colleague who makes the most amazing cakes.  It was such fun to make, and really easy too. I loved how the image matched the apron / cooking theme, and the decoration (and fruity maya papers!) was really fun to create.

November

Considering I make my Christmas projects throughout the year, it's actually taken me until November to pick something festive, which I'm really surprised about!  These crackers were made from a template that I created myself and making them is really satisfying.  (I may have overfaced myself when I decided to make 17 for my work-colleagues - that's the joy of working in an open plan office!).  This one featured another Sugar Nellie fairy and some LOTV papers.

December

And finally ... I'm back on the LOTV and Maya Design paeprs, with one of my favourite Christmas cards of the year.  I love this cute penguin (I have a bit of a soft spot for penguins) and I'm back on the pinks again.  

Looking back on the year above, all I can see (except for a blip in June) is pinks and purples.  I really must try to use other colours more.  Well actually I probably do, but this just reinforces my style as cute and girlie.  I'd like to make my New Year's Resolution to improve my male card style, but it's just not 'me' and I don't think the guys treasure the time and thought that goes into these creations that the ladies seem to do.  So that's my justification for keeping it girlie.

Well that's all folks.

If you've stayed for the full post  ... I'm impressed! :0)

Thank you to all my lovely followers and everyone who has left me a comment this year.

I hope you've liked what you've seen, and hope you continue to pop back next year.

Happy new year to you all, and I hope that 2015 brings you fun times (and lots of crafting time too!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mistletoe Kisses (and Penguin Sleigh Rides)

Merry Christmas !!!!!

I expect most of you are busy today spending time with your families, so I'm just popping in to share the card I've made for my hubby ... a very clean and simple design as he's not one for all the flounce and fuss on a card  :0)  .....

....  and hubby also made me a little card too!!!    He chose and stamped his own image, used my Copics (I'm pretty sure he's lost one of my pinks so I'll be putting GPS on them next time he borrows them), and applied lots of stickles (for which there was quite a bit of swearing when he realised he should have applied that after adhering the image to the card, and not before!).  Cute huh - he knows I like penguins!   :0)

ps - he said next year he's going to be placing his order early at Moonpig!!!

And here they are both together:

That's it.  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas day, and enjoy the time with your loved ones.



Card Recipe:

• Image & Sentiment - Eve Under the Mistletoe Uptown Girl from Stamping Bella
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Red Card
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Sewing machine

I've been inspired by:

• Deep Ocean Challenge - Christmas is all around
• Stamp & Create - Christmas
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Live & Love Craft Challenge - With Love (kissing under the mistletoe, & it's for my hubby!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sugar Nellie Fairy Glen Clock

It's time (geddit!) for another clock.

Ok, I'll get my coat!

This one features a Fiary Glen image from Sugar Nellie on a brown clock base.  I've decorated the clock base with flowers, twine, a button, pearls and a tad of glitter.  The flower stamps are from Card-io.  If you want to try making one of these clocks the template is a freebie with a tutorial (click here).

There's a new challenge at The Sugar Bowl starting today (we're starting it a couple of days early as we thought you'd be a bit busy on Thursday opening all your new crafting stash!) so we hope you get some time over the next 4 weeks to join in.

Project Recipe:

• Image - Sugar Nellie Hazel and Nutty Digi Stamp
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Clock Mechanism
• Clock Template Freebie
• Card-io Majestix Emily's Garden mini stamps
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Button Twine
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Mini spotty button
• Stickles
• Liquid Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• A Random Fan - Anything Goes
• Winter Wonderland - Fussy and Fancy
• A Little Bit Crafty - Anything Goes (not Christmas)
• Bunny Zoe - Buttons
• Copic Marker Europe - Anything Goes

Happy crafting.
Annette
xx

Tree-mendous

This was intended to be a gift bag.  Well it is still a gift bag, but I like it so much that I'm wondering if I might just keep it as a decoration and pop it under my tree!

I've not used this image before and think he's adorable. (I love James the bear!). He's water-coloured in DI reinkers and layered onto gold mirri card and a doily to make him stand out.

Here's a close up of the main bag, decorated with lots of festive whites, reds and greens.

I tied a double bow in the gorgeous red satin ribbon, added a green button with some red button twine, and also popped a paw charm underneath (hopefully you can just see it peeking out from under the bow).

And here's an even bigger close-up of handsome James the bear, and all the lovely sparkle:

Card Recipe:

• Image - James Christmas Tree
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Red Cherry Blossom
• 25mm/10mm/15mm Green open roses
• Spellbinders Labels 18 Nestabilities
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Gold Mirri Card
• Doily
• Buttons
• Paw Charm
• Pearl strings
• Wink of Stella
• Snowflake sticker
• Snowflake die cut

And from the Ribbon Girl:

• 15mm Red Berisford Satin Ribbon
• Medium Red Berries
• Tiny Red Berries
• Tiny Rosebuds
• White Cherry Blossom
• 10mm Open Red Roses
• Button Twine
• 3mm Red Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Beaded Twirl

I've been inspired by:

• Dream Valley - Christmas
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Inky Chicks - Winter Wonderland
• Creative Inspirations - Christmas
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Winter inspiration (red & white, trees, snowflakes, sparkle) 
• Winter Wonderland - Fussy & Fancy
• Bunny Zoe Challenge - Buttons

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pink Pingu

At the As You Like It Challenge we always want to focus attention on something that is our favourite, and this fortnight the theme is to showcase your favourite Christmas stamp.

I think mine has to be this little cutie from LOTV called Snow Cute.  He's so quick and easy to colour, and is just adorable.  I tried a little bit of reflection on the ice, but I now think it just looks like a smudge. :0(

I've made him the centre of attention with a clean and simple layout and some pretty pink papers. They're actually not from a festive pad, but hopefully the image makes it suitably Christmassy.  I've also popped on a snowflake charm for good measure.

I think this has turned out to be one of my favourite cards this Christmas!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Snow Cute from Lili of the Valley
• Colouring - Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• Maja Design Coffee in the Arbour paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Die-namics Stitched Circle Stax
• Pink button twine
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Snowflake Charm
• Viva Pearl Pen
• Wink of Stella

I've been inspired by:

• Kit & Clowder - Animals
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Winter Inspiration
• Stamp & Create - Christmas
• The Ribbon Girl - Lovely Lili Challenge
• That's Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Festive
• Creative Inspirations - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sugar Nellie Gold Fairy

I've recently admitted that I've bought some lovely gold themed papers (First Edition Gilded Winter). Today's card features one of the papers from the 6x6 pad (I may have bought both the 6x6 and 12x12 pads!)

I've kept the layout quite simple as the paper was one from the glittery section and I didn't want to cover it all up with embellishments.  There's also an overdose of bling too, with the glittered papers, glamour dust on my fairy's wings, and the gold mirri card.  Well, it is nearly Christmas, and if you can't use glitter at this time of year, then when can you use it! :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Time Together from Funky Kits
• Colouring - Copics
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• First Edition Gilded Winter paper pad
• Die-namics Stitched Circle Stax
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Bling It On
  (glittered papers, glamour dust wings, mirri card and gold pearls)
• Winter Wonderland - Christmas Presents
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Winter Birthday

I always think it's hard for people who have birthdays close to Christmas. Any festivities of family get-togethers, parties and presents dedicated solely to their birthday are overshadowed by the other 'big day' just around the corner, and restaurants are booked up with office parties.

I know a few people who have birthdays after 20 December and this card is for one of them.  It's got a wintry theme, but is actually a birthday card, so I've highlighted that with my sentiment.

I've followed a sketch by Sketch Saturday that caught my eye today.  I wanted a layout that was clean and elegant, and I quite like it so may use it again! :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Skater Wryn from Tiddly Inks
• Typed Sentiment using Word Art
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• First Edition Silent Night papers
• Maja Design Vintage Summer Basics paper
• Cheery Lynn Designs LG Square Stitched Die
• Mini spotty button
• Embroidery Thread

I've been inspired by:

• Sketch Saturday - Sketch
• Tiddly Inks Challenge - Happy Winter Blues
• Deep Ocean Challenge - Brown and Blue
• A Little Bit Crafty - Anything but Christmas
• Bunny Zoe - Buttons
• Copic Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Dashing Through the Snow...

Simple things are never simple.

This looked fine in my head, but actually took two attempts and I'm still not entirely sure it's worked as I imagined!

Anyhoo...

I tore some diagonals roughly to make snowy hills, and embossed them using a snowflake folder.

The layers of hills are raised up on foam pads to give them some further dimension and the torn edges have been given some snowy sparkle using some Wink of Stella.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Frosty Fun from LOTV
• Typed Sentiment (Wendy Medium font)
• Colouring - Copics
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Embossalicious Snowflakes
• Glossy Accents
• Wink of Stella

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Transportation
• Inky Chicks - Winter Wonderland
• Friday Sketch Challenge - Sketch
• Totally Tilda - Snowflakes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Walter the Penguin

I wrote my Christmas cards out on Sunday for mailing out on Monday.  Unfortunately that was already too late to meet the posting deadlines for some of the overseas destinations, but I naively have my fingers crossed that they may still arrive in time!

Despite making my Christmas cards throughout the year so that there is no rush in December, inevitably most of them end up being cute and girlie, just because that's my preferred style.

Before I write out my cards, I write each recipient's name on a mini post-it note.  I then spread all my cards over the dining room table, and match recipients to the cards using the post-it stickers.

As usual, after all the appropriate matching had been done, I appeared to have a large number of post-its still in my hand; most of them bearing male names.  *sigh* !!

So, I needed some non-fussy cards for some of the guys I send cards to.  After a couple of attempts, I finally settled on a design that I liked (cased from here).

I printed the letters J and Y using a large fancy font on my computer and stamped the image between them (with a bit of trial and error!).

I used a stitched square die to give some interest around the image, and layered the panel onto matching coloured cardstock.

I hope you like my quick male(ish) makes!  Yes, I know they're still cute, but it's the best masculine style I can manage!  I made them in a few colours for variety.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Walter from Purple Onion Designs
• Typed Sentiment (Papyrus font)
• Colouring - Copics
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Cheery Lynn Designs LG Square Stitched Die
• Wink of Stella glitter pen

I've been inspired by:

• Winter Wonderland - Penguins or Polar Bears
• Allsorts - Animals
• Sweet Stampin' - Things with Wings
• Kit & Clowder - Animals
• Stamp & Create - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

If I ever have a so called "bright" idea again, please shoot me....

Back in October I bought a gorgeous Gilded Winter 12x12 paper pad from First Edition, and decided to make a few crackers using the lovely thick gold papers.

If you visit me often you'll know that I've previously made a few Christmas Crackers using my freebie cracker template.

Here's one of them, also using some gorgeous double sided wide satin ribbon.  It's gold on one side, and chocolate brown on the other. I also have it in green and red and I love it. :0)

After making about 6 crackers I was starting to wonder what I was going to do with them.

We only have a small family so I'd already overdone it for Xmas Dinner guests!

Then I had the "bright" idea of giving them to my colleagues at work.

The trouble is, I work in an open plan office with 17 people!!!

So 17 sheets of Gilded Winter later, the gift boxes were not the only thing that were crackered!

Here they all are...

Then there was the problem of what to put inside them!!!

I didn't want the usual cheap plastic moustaches or mini pack of playing cards, and decided it would be nice to put personalised items in each one.

Again my "bright" idea was misplaced because it posed two problems ...

1) thinking of different things to buy for 17 very different colleagues, and
2) needing it to be small enough to fit inside the cracker.

I was stumped after 6!

I found the girls a bit easier to buy for.  Some of the guys were really hard because I wanted the gift to be matched to the person and a few have kids so hobbies are probably a luxury!  I admit that a couple of the gifts were only 'loosely' personalised!  Eg, one guy likes going to watch the tennis at Wimbledon, so he got a tennis themed drinks coaster for his desk (it just squeezed inside the cracker if I put it in at an angle!)

Perhaps they would have preferred the plastic moustaches after all!

Recipe:

• Freebie cracker template
• First Edition Gilded Winter 12" paper pad
• Typed Names (Font = PWJoyeuxNoel)
• Die-namics Stitched Circle Stax
• Fiskars Snowflake Border Punch
• Various Ribbons

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Little Angel

Considering I don't usually like green much, it seems to have made a bit of an appearance today!

The design is uber CAS, and I've made the image large to fill quite a bit of the space.  I also used one of my new digi sentiments from Digi Stamp Boutique.

Despite the green, I quite like how this one turned out.

I hope you do too.  :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Little Angel from Saturated Canary
• Sentiment - Digi Stamp Boutique Christmas Greetings Set 3
• Colouring - Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• Cheery Lynn Designs LG Square Stitched Die

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Little Angel (the stamp is called this!)
• Sweet Stampin' - Things with Wings

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

New Shoes

The challenge this fortnight at As You Like It Challenge is 'your favourite song or film'.

As soon as you look at my card, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's the Cyndi Lauper song 'Girls just wanna have fun', but just to confuse you, I've opted for New Shoes by Paolo Nutini.

As well as liking the song, I also have a bit of a fondness for shoes!

Hence the shoe charm and shopping bags!

I'm imagining that those bags are full of lovely new shoes (and maybe some chocolate)!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Sushi Girls Chelsea and Lauren from Stamping Bella's Uptown Girls
• Sentiment - Victoria and Juliette's Night Out from Stamping Bella's Uptown Girls
• Colouring - Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Blue Button Twine
• Shoe Charm
• Sewing machine

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty - Faces
• Crafting When We Can - CAS
• Copic Europe - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Presents

I'm really trying hard to focus on improving my colouring at the moment.  To help my attempts I may have possibly ordered a few more markers.

OK, OK.  Maybe more than few!

It's actually hubby's b'day today, and I've been happy to let him assume all the packages that have been arriving lately might be for him as I've squirrelled  them away to the safety of my craft desk.

Luckily I'm fairly sure he'd not be as interested in some alcohol markers and a few Sugar Nellies as I am!

Anyway, back to my card ... I'm actually quite pleased with this one.  Firstly I love the cute teddy image, but also don't think I did too bad with the colouring either.

I really love this colour scheme; aqua and purple, and think it all comes together nicely with the simple layout and huge die cut sentiment.

I made this card to support the new challenge at Without Words Challenge where the theme is Christmas Present.  It's actually implying a modern Christmas, rather than the gift variety of the word, although I have covered both!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Jenny All Shopped Out (retired) by Lili of the Valley
• Sentiment - Simon Says Stamp Merry Christmas Die
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Cardworks Card base
• Lili of the Valley Snow Princess paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Kit & Clowder - Christmas
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Copic Europe - Anything Goes
• Crafting When We Can - CAS
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Holiday Cards

Happy crafting
Annette
xx