My top 5 cards of 2010

Debby is asking us to choose our top 5 cards of 2010., she has a fab candy on offer.

Now I had a go at choosing my top 10 the other day ... and then realised that there were others I would have chosen ... so here is a different selection, I think these are as good as the last lot :)

I made this wallet accordian card for Samantha and Efisio's wedding:

My second choice was the paper bag card I made for Ellie for her birthday

My loely blogging buddy Ali has inspired me to blog my CAS cards and be brave with white ... oh and I have coveted this stamp for ages (I blame Heather (Ricas Haven) for that!!)

Possibly a strange choice ... but I love this SN worried stamp.  That bear is so adorable and reassuring.

Finally Chloe .. she is adorable and I am collecting all them.  But Raindrop Chloe (InStyle Stamps) is so cute, and I love tri-fold cards.

Gosh ... what a mix!!!

A challenge card

I having been spending quite a bit of time making samples for InStyle Stamps  ... you are in for a treat in January .. .trust me, the new releases are stunning!!

I decided to have  go a making a card to fit a few challenges:

I followed the sketch over at the Sugar Bowl, and coloured the image in using distress inks.  I do love these Sweet and Sassy stamps, just not played with them as much as I would have liked.  I used Colour Create's pink, red and white colour scheme, and embossed the white panel using the Morrocan embossing folder.  I added some pink lace and white pearls (Charisma Cardz) and a thank you sentiment (Papertake Weekly and Cute Card Thursday).

 I am hoping to do some crafting later, but I am feeling a little ropey ... hope I am not going down with anything.

WOYWW

 We've spent the day in Blackpool so not much crafting for me today.  here are my babies on the beach.

This is what my desk looks like tonight .. getting ready for some messy fingers. 

 Last night I distressed some paper using distress inks, water and glimmer mists.  It all looked a bit matt so hubby sprayed varnish over it .. it is shiny now!!  Ready for some playing with perfect pearls and inks.

So while that was drying i got on with some DT projects ... sorry not even a sneaky peek for you .. but the cat knows what they look like LOL!!

 Doesn't she look smug!!!  Oh and a tidy desk ready to set up for playing :)

Hope you are all having a fabby Christmas xx

My Top 10 Cards of 2010

 Suzi has challenged us to post our Top 10 cards of the year.

 So here are my top 10 ... it took me ages to trim it down. I have gone for those cards I loved making and looking at.
 I have a soft spot for Sweet peas but don't often turn the iamges i colour into cards.  I love Holly fairy, although she takes ages to colour!

I made this card in January ... when I had promised myself 2 Christmas cards a week.   I love this Tilda and the distressed background.

Simplicity ... I do like CAS cards and ones using mainly white.  Wags n Whiskers Save a Prayer is a beautiful image.

Another early Christmas card .. I just love the WOJ gnomes and  these MME papers.

Another Magnolia card ... I played with stamping on fabric ... and I loved the result.

Another Tilda and another new technique ... paper pleating.  Ohh and that distressed background again.

And a Kenny K ... how I love these images.   I got an airbrush this year ... and love it!!!  Can you tell?!

InStyle Stamps have had some amazing images out this year ... Roaring Twenties is just one of a long list of favourites.   A great one for loud papers and feathers!!

 I love Snowflake Chloe from InStyle Stamps.  She is so cute holding that snowflake ... and goes really well on a simple embossed background.

 And finally ... Worried from Sugar Nellie.  Sugar Nellies were one of the first brand I bought, and I still love them.  I think this is such a poignant image ... just love it.

 

Magical Monday

 This week's theme is ... thank you, and we are sponsored by

 Meljen whom are offering the winner 4 digi's of their choice!

Here is my card using one of Meljen's images.

 I coloured the image in using my promarkers and inked round the edges of the image.  I layered up 1 dp ... Basic Grey Urban Prairie. I added some glittered organza and a thin strip of satin ribbon.  The image is liberally stickled and the sentiment is a Penny Black one.  I would have added flowers ... but Beth is sleeping in the craft room and her bed is in the way!!!

Challenges I am entering:
I love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Passion for Promarkers - Anything Goes
 Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Creative Craft Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Free and Easy - Anything Goes

 

Fave Five Christmas cards

Debby is asking us to share our favourite five Christmas cards from 2010 ... and she is offering a fab prize.

It was hard choosing, so there are 7!!  What surprised me looking through my folders was how many I made early in the year!!

 I adore this Meljen pengiun and he looks perfect with an embossed background.

 This was one of my first HM stamps ... don't these ickle meeces look so cute.  Oh that has to be my fave BG paper for Christmas ... and its discontinued :(

 I love this Mo Manning digi, Irma and Vieno.  It really captures the spirit of Christmas.

 Stamping on fabric was a new twechnique for me this year ... I love the effect of it... oh and such a gorgeous image.

 I made this card at the beginnig of the year ... not used this Tilda again this year, and i should have one. 

 Another card made earlier this year ... again paper pleating was a new technique and I love the deoth it adds .. oh and my fave papers again.

And finally I love simple cards, they can look so effective!

Looking at all the cards I have choosen most seem to have a similar theme ... simple, layout and not heavily embellished .. perhaps I did stick to my 2010 resolution to make things simpler!

WOYWW and Chloe planners

 Its Wednesday so here is my desk ... looks busy!!!  I have got a stack of InStyle stamp images to colour for the monthly planners I am making for the girls ... more on that in a bit, and a box that I want to alter ... hoping to get some crafting done this evening.

Ellie is particluarly interested in calendrs, and NOT just Advent ones LOL!!  So I am making her and beth a monthly planner to go on the fridge so they know what they are doing.  The first 4 months are done, and feature Chloe (all digi images) from InStyle Stamps.


For January I have used New Year Chloe,  and coloured her using my promarkers.

 

I created the calendars from a program on the 'tinternet.  The dp is Basic Grey Blush and the lettering is Cuttlebug Olivia.

For February I used Valentine Chloe and again coloured her in using my promarkers.

 Again the dp is Basic Grey Blush, and the lettering is Olivia.  I cut a heart out of red cardstock.
 
For March I used Snowflake Chloe .. the way its going we will have snow in March!!!!

 Again Chloe is coloured in using promarkers and I cut a couple of CB snowflakes out and glamour dusted the very liberally!  The dp is Basic Grey ... fruitcake I think.

And finally April ... Raindrop Chloe was perfect ... drip drip drip little April showers!!

 Chloe is coloured using my promarkers and I glossy accented the umbrella.  The dp is Basic Grey Sugar Rush.

 I am going to use some Anime stamps for the next few months ... watch this space for them!!

These planners fir these challenges:
I love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Passion for Promarkers - Anything Goes
 Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Creative Craft Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Paper Play - Anything but a card
Allsorts - Free and Easy - Anything Goes

ABC challenge

 K is for ...

Keep it Simple

We are this week being sponsored by Secret Crafter whom are offering the winner 3 digi images of their choice. They are currently offering 20% DISCOUNT ON ALL ORDERS please use discount code: CHR-SDDF1-75962 when you checkout (sale items excluded)

And here is my card...

 I used this stunning Stempleglede stamp, and matted it onto some white embossed cardstock.  The black frame is created using a Marianne Creatible die.  I embossed the whitecardstock using d'vine swirls and swiss dots.  I added some black check ribbon to finish.
As this card is for my Auntie's birthday (27th December!) .. I am entering it into these challenges:
Creative Card Crew - Christmas Birthdays
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Creative Craft Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

My best friend and lovely DT member Vicky has some candy up for grabs.