CHNC challenge 214: something beginning with B ...

No, we're not exactly playing I-spy, but for my CHNC challlenge 214 I'd like to see Christmas creations featuring something beginning with B. Please click on the link to find out more about the challenge and the super prizes that will be won by randomly chosen winners.

I prepared the blogpost for my CHNC challenge 214 a while ago, but I hadn't actually made anything to show and, with John in hospital this week, time for crafting has been very limited. So I decided to dig out some cards that I'd received and kept with the intention of recycling some of the bits - the idea was to make a quick card, but in the end I made three quick cards, all featuring things beginning with the letter B.

For the first one I mounted the cut off from an old card on to a piece of snowflake paper left over from a previous make and added the tartan bow so I have used bear, bows, box, bobble:

For the next card I used a piece of Anna Griffin card with lovely sparkling glittery snowflakes, using the lovely robin image recycled - this, as well, is very glittered - and I added the silver bow and sentiment. So this card has brown, bird, bow, berries, boughs, branches - this one is also for Catch the bug photo inspiration:

And then I used an offcut of checked paper for the background and simply mounted the lovely recycled picture, adding the ribbon and bow down the side. So this card has bicycle (not very common on Christmas cards) and bow.

These are also for:

Fab n funky 244: Christmas
ABC Christmas: B for bows, bunting or baking
The sisterhood of crafters: let it snow
Allways something creative 91: snow
Inspiration Avenue: January winter challenge
Paper sweeties 27: winter wishes
Creatalicious 71: winter
Left of center 63: one for the kids (the first card)
Crafting for all seasons 94: things with wings (second card)
Fussy & fancy 131: things with wings (second card)
Just inspirational January: bling & a bow (particularly the second card)
The speed craft challenge 11: sparkle and shine (the second card is particularly sparkly and only took a few minutes to make - about 6 minutes)
Connie can crop 30: all that sparkles (particularly the second card)
Oddball art: add some sparkle (particularly the second card)
Holly jolly Christmas: lots of sparkle (particularly the second card)
Craft-Dee BowZ January: anything goes and include a handmade bow (the third card)
Recycle, re-purpose & re-invent: anything goes
Pause dream enjoy: kids (the first card)
613 avenue create 108: anything goes
Sentimental Sunday 243: anything goes
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
Craft your passion 246: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Penny's 212: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 44: anything goes
4 crafty chicks 231: anything goes
The pink elephant 283: anything goes
Inspiration destination 18: anything goes
Kit & clowder January: anything goes
Not just cards 11: anything goes
Baffies 40: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 91: anything goes

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' challenge 65

This is my design card for Suzy Bee's Bloomin' challenge 65: anything goes with a twist ... stitching, real or faux. Please click the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and get stitching and join in!

I used Deedee's Designs Happy brrr-Day, pre-coloured images and sentiments, setting them digitally on to a lovely stitched background I found here. I changed the colour.

This is also for:

CASology 131: birthday
Ruby's rainbow 96: masculine birthday
Crazy 4 challenges 271: birthday card - twist: make it masculine
Seize the birthday: anything goes
Addicted to stamps 96: winter
Inspiration Avenue: January winter challenge
Paper sweeties 27: winter wishes
Animal friends 22: winter sports
Creatalicious 71: winter
One stitch at a time 229: anything goes with the colour purple
Robyn's fetish 248: animals
That's crafty: animal magic
Crafty catz 264: stitching real or faux
Left of center 63: one for the kids
Digitally sweet 125: anything goes (created totally digitally)
Simon says Wednesday: anything goes
Craft your passion 246: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Penny's 212: anything goes
Creative fingers 65: anything goes
613 avenue create 108: anything goes
Sentimental Sunday 243: anything goes
4 crafty chicks 231: anything goes
The pink elephant 283: anything goes
Inspiration destination 18: anything goes
Kit & clowder January: anything goes
Not just cards 11: anything goes
Baffies 40: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 91: anything goes

Completely Christmas 48: anything goes with a twist ... with a square or rectangle

This is my design card for Completely Christmas 48 using the lovely Lacy Sunshine 1920s winter Abbey, coloured with spectrum noir pens and then scanned in digitally and added to the lovely bauble background, fading around the edges and adding the sentiment.

Please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and join in our challenge.

This is also for:

January 2015 Rudolph Day
Addicted to stamps 96: winter
Lacy sunshine 50: winter bliss
Inspiration Avenue: January winter challenge
Paper sweeties 27: winter wishes
Creatalicious 71: winter
Kreativeinkauf 23: cold days
Digitally sweet 125: anything goes (created totally digitally)
Stempelsonne 133: anything goes

Fan-tastic Tuesday challenge 70: anything goes with a twist ... one layer

I made my design card for Fan-tastic challenge 70 using an image from Daydream Designs 'Carrie with sentiments' - the image and background were printed directly on to the card blank so that it is a one layer card. Please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and join in our challenge. I kept the card very clean and simple with just a few epoxy shiny, glittery hearts added.

This is also for:

Seize the birthday
CASology 131: birthday
DRS 158: lovely hearts
Simon says Wednesday: have a heart
Wags n whiskers 146: hearts
Bunny Zoe: hearts
Eureka 125: hearts
Melonheadz friends: clean and simple
Pause dream enjoy: kids
613 avenue create 108: anything goes
Sentimental Sunday 243: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 44: anything goes
The pink elephant 283: anything goes
Inspiration destination 17: anything goes
Kit & clowder January: anything goes
Not just cards 11: anything goes
Baffies 40: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 90: anything goes

To my Valentine

This is my design card for the second week of the Cheerful stamp pad challenge 103: Valentine. Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and join in the challenge here.

This was created digitally using the Sweet Pea Stamps Helena Reis' follow your heart digital image which I had previous coloured with spectrum pens and then imported on to the Valentine background softening the edges and making a scalloped heart cut out.

This is also for Just us girls 277:

This is also for:

DL.ART thankful Thursday 149: Valentine's day
Time out 23: Valentine's day with optional twist of hearts
Brown sugar 130: Valentine's
My Sheri 149: Valentine's day - include at least one heart
Digi choosday 3: love & romance
DRS 158: lovely hearts
Scrapping4fun 34: all about love
Fairies in time January: love
Simon says Wednesday: have a heart
Wags n whiskers 146: hearts
Bunny Zoe: hearts
We do doobadoo 2: romance
Eureka 125: hearts
Crafting from the heart 44: anything goes
The pink elephant 283: anything goes
Inspiration destination 17: anything goes
Kit & clowder January: anything goes
Not just cards 11: anything goes
Baffies 40: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 90: anything goes

The Glory of Christmas challenge 51

This is my design card for the Glory of Christmas challenge 51: spots and/or stripes. Please click on the link to see the delightful crafting of the rest of the team and join in our challenge.

I've used both spots and stripes, using up an offcut of striped DCWV paper and also a piece of spotted paper that was free with a magazine. I thought that I would leave the Inkadinkadoo nativity scene stamp without colouring, die cut with Docrafts xcut rectangle parenthesis dies. Ribbon is from Hobbycraft.

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets week 161
The 12 months of Christmas
Christmas at sweet stampin January: nativity
Stamping sensations January: dies and punches
Digistamps4Joy 108: bingo - I chose the diagonal: die or punch, free and your favourite thing - making Christmas cards
Red rubber inspirationals 204: focused on stamping anything goes
Left of center 62: layer it up - 3 or more layers
Scrappy hands 30: layers
Fresh brewed January: favourites - making Christmas cards, stamping
Scrapy land 10: spots and dots - using X cut dies
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): anything goes
Christmas card challenges 8: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 167: anything goes
Inspiration destination 17: anything goes
Kit & clowder January: anything goes
Not just cards 11: anything goes
Baffies 40: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 90: anything goes

CHNC challenge 213: Joy to the world

The theme for my CHNC challenge 213 for this week is 'Joy to the world', which can be interpreted how you wish. Please click on the link for more information and to also see the gorgeous cards made by my guest designers from Sweet Pea Stamps.

For my design card I used the lovely Conie Fong's snowy - joy to the world digi image by Sweet Pea Stamps, one of the sponsors, lining this up into the O of the Joy to the world Clarity stamp that I inked with versamark and heat embossed with detail copper powder. This was then die cut with one of the Spellbinder's 'marvellous squares' (I do love that die set - so versatile), brushed with Victorian velvet distress ink before releasing from the die. Papers are from a Tattered Lace magazine.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas
Addicted to stamps 96: winter
Lacy sunshine 50: winter bliss
Simon says Monday challenge: winter stamping
The kraft journal 207: anything goes winter (main background paper is printed kraft)
Crimbo crackers 72: use kraft
Deep ocean 95: winter dreams
Great impressions January: snow friends
Stamp and create January: winter wonderland
Paradise of stamps 10: winter
Creatalicious 71: winter
Daring cardmakers: you can leave your hat on
Cut it up 63: embossing (wet)
Stamping sensations January: dies and punches
Digistamps4Joy 108: bingo - I chose the diagonal: die or punch, free and your favourite thing - making Christmas cards
Crazy challenge 189: embossing
Tuesday throwdown 228: embossing
Sparkle n sprinkle January: anything goes - used embossing powder
Red rubber inspirationals 204: focused on stamping anything goes
Left of center 62: layer it up - 3 or more layers
Scrappy hands 30: layers
The crafting cafe January: lots of layers
Fresh brewed January: favourites - making Christmas cards, stamping/embossing
613 avenue 107: anything goes
Little Claire digi stamp 1: open theme
Scribble and scrap 36: anything goes
Craft your passion 245: always anything goes
Dream valley 98: anything goes
Scrap & craft 1: anything goes
Creative moments 60: anything goes
Inky chicks 45: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Creative fingers 64: anything goes
Kort o mania 122: anything goes
Penny's 211: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 167: anything goes
Fitztown 67: anything goes with option: use pattern paper
Inspiration destination 17: anything goes
Kit & clowder January: anything goes
Not just cards 11: anything goes
Baffies 40: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 90: anything goes

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' challenge 64

This is my design card for Suzy Bee's Bloomin' challenge 64: anything goes with a twist ... lots of layers. Please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and join in our challenge.

I used the lovely Dazzling Ace Designs 'beautiful bliss' image (Dazzling Ace Designs are sponsoring the challenge), with Kaisercraft confetti papers and an offcut of pearly card embossed using the Die'sire perfect paisley embossing folder which was then swiped with stazon teal blue ink. Flowers were from Hobbycraft.

This is also for:

PanPastel UK 2: happy birthday
Seize the birthday
Going grey with Scrap-creations: favourite embellishment (flowers)
Creative craft cottage digi creations 17: digi/flowers
Crazy challenge 189: embossing
Tuesday throwdown 228: embossing
As you like it: favourite embossing folder & why - Die'sire perfect paisley - very versatile for any occasion
Fresh brewed January: favourites  - flowers
Left of center 62: layer it up - 3 or more layers
Scrappy hands 30: layers
Creative moments 60: anything goes
Kort o mania 122: anything goes
Penny's 211: anything goes
Fitztown 67: anything goes + option: use pattern paper
Inspiration destination 17: anything goes
Kit & clowder January: anything goes
Not just cards 11: anything goes
Baffies 40: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 90: anything goes

Christmas card for a child

This is my design card for Completely Christmas challenge 47: anything goes with a twist ... Christmas card for a child. I created the background digitally and added the lovely Sparkle n Sprinkle Brighten the holidays digital set, fading the edges of the image to blend in with the background. A few snowflakes were then added.

Please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and join in our challenge.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas
Addicted to stamps 96: winter
Lacy sunshine 50: winter bliss
Deep ocean 95: winter dreams
Great impressions January: snow friends
Creatalicious 71: winter
Open-minded crafting 28: movie inspiration: Mr Popper's penguins
Creative moments 60: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Creative fingers 64: anything goes
Kort o mania 122: anything goes
Penny's 211: anything goes
Fitztown 67: anything goes
Inspiration destination 17: anything goes
Kit & clowder January: anything goes
Not just cards 11: anything goes
Baffies 40: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 90: anything goes

Fan-tastic Tuesday 69

This is my design card for Fan-tastic Tuesday challenge 69: anything goes with a twist ... baby card. Please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and join in our challenge.

The challenge is being sponsored by Dazzling Ace Designs and I have used one of their images. The background paper is a freebie from a magazine and I've used a snippet of DCWV card across the middle and a few bits and pieces out of my 'baby' box.

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets week 160
Get creative 6: celebrate anything new - baby
One stitch at a time 228: anything goes with something new (baby image)
Sentimental Sundays 242: new beginnings
Crafty catz 262: new beginnings
Frosted designs: a new .... baby
A creative need January: celebrate something new
De creatieve zebra 17: new (baby)
Natalie and Amy 28: all things new
V's sweet 30: something new
Sweet 7 challenge 9: anything new
Top tip Tuesday: something new (baby)
Glitter n sparkle 120: cute
Robyn's fetish 247: vintage look
Hobbyhome Cards 2 create 18: vintage
Scrappers delights 38: anything goes with a twist ... new beginnings
Fitztown 67: anything goes with option: use pattern paper
Little Claire 1: open theme (using a digi image)
Jo's scrap shack funday 71: anything goes
613 avenue 107: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 36: anything goes
Craft your passion 245: always anything goes
Dream valley 98: anything goes
Scrap & craft 1: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 166: anything goes
Inspiration destination 16: anything goes
Kit & clowder January: anything goes
Not just cards 11: anything goes
Baffies 40: anything goes
Creative craft cottage 31: anything goes
Creative inspirations 296: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 89: anything goes

Cheerful stamp pad challenge 103: Valentine

This is my design card for the Cheerful stamp pad challenge 103: Valentine. Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and join in the challenge.

I used the Concetta Kilmer's owl hearts digital image from Sweet Pea Stamps. The background of my card was created by overlaying a piece of vellum printed with roses on to a piece of paper with red hearts - I like the way the vellum muted the red colour. The corners were secured with some mulberry paper hearts and a piece of red, white and silver ribbon wrapped around the middle. The sentiment was generated on my dymo letratag.

This is also for:

My time to craft 275: love is all around
Fairies in time January: love
3 girl jam January: anything goes (with ribbon)
Really reasonable ribbon: hearts and ribbon
Crafty ribbons: let's get sentimental
Crafty gals corner 2: sweethearts
Bunny Zoe January: hearts
Aurora wings 11: Valentine
Cute as a button 5: romance
Fitztown 67: anything goes with option: use pattern paper
Little Claire 1: open theme (using a digi image)
Jo's scrap shack funday 71: anything goes
613 avenue 107: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 36: anything goes
Craft your passion 245: always anything goes
Dream valley 98: anything goes
Scrap & craft 1: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 166: anything goes
Inspiration destination 16: anything goes
Kit & clowder January: anything goes
Not just cards 11: anything goes
Baffies 40: anything goes
Creative craft cottage 31: anything goes
Creative inspirations 296: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 89: anything goes

Scrapping4fun Grand Prize Winners challenge

Update: voting is now over. Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted my original blogpost and had to get a cached version and copy to this new post. I could have just left it, but wanted my card to be on the record of my blog.

This is my card for the Grand Prize Winners Challenge on Scrapping4fun - I qualified to take part in this because I won challenge 26.

We were given this sketch:

For my card I turned the sketch to the right and used an 8 x 8 card blank as the base.

For the bottom piece I sprayed white card with a mix of broken china and shabby shutters distress inks. The top piece of card was run through my eBosser using the vintage vine embossing folder, which was then distressed with stazon teal blue. The square with rounded corners is an offcut from an old Docrafts kit. I used a Nellie Snellen die to cut a scalloped circle with lacy holes using a piece of card that had been coloured with the distress inks that I'd used for the bottom piece of the card, stamped with a Funstamps paisley background which had been inked with stazon black. This was then matted on to a doily, edged with stazon teal blue. The top die cut in a nestie stamped with the paisley background inked with stazon teal blue. I used this to colour the piece of ribbon across the middle (it was originally cream). I used reminders of the embossed card to cut the Die-namics fishtail flags, adding flowers and sentiment panel from Hobbycraft.

If you like my card I would appreciate your vote.

CHNC challenge 212: upcycle, recycle, re-purpose or use something free

This is my card for my CHNC challenge 212. You might not be aware, but I've been running a Christmas blog now for four years to encourage folk to make Christmas cards and other creations throughout the year rather than panic towards the end of the year. I'd love to see your entries there - just click on the link to find out what it's about - and there are four super prizes to be won from generous sponsors.

For my card I used pieces that were rescued from two separate Christmas crackers and the ribbon with bow across the top part was taken off a card that we received. I had to take a photo sideways on because of the reflection of the foiling - in real life the foiling is bright and shining - the lettering is golden and bright red.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas
CRAFT 294: Christmas
ABC Christmas: A for anything Christmas
Not just cards 10: anything goes
Recycle, re-purpose & re-invent: anything goes
Our creative corner January: Christmas leftovers
Crafty ribbons: let's get sentimental
3 girl jam January: anything goes (with ribbon)
Just inspirational January: bling & bow
Baffies 40: anything goes
Creative craft cottage 31: anything goes
Creative inspirations 296: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 89: anything goes
DL.ART thankful Thursday 148: anything with red

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' challenge 63

This is my design card for Suzy Bee's Bloomin; challenge 63: anything goes with a twist ... add some sparkle. Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and join in our sparkly challenge.

I used Bugaboo Stamps bug jar - caterpillar (Bugaboo Stamps are sponsoring the challenge), colouring lightly with colouring pencils. I didn't use alcohol pens this time because they would have bled through the card and I wanted to keep it one layer. I created the oval sentiment in Publisher and printed directly on to the card blank. I then added some sparkle using some Stickles crystal ice to make the jar look more glass-like.

As usual, it was difficult to get a good photo of a predominantly white card.

This is also for:

Pan pastel UK 1: clean and simple
Top tip Tuesday: keep it simple
Di's digi designs: add sparkle
Daring cardmakers: January blues (to cheer someone up)
2 cute ink 121: goin' buggy
Miriam's crafting: mostly white
Cutie pie 83: white on white and oh so cute

Completely Christmas challenge 46

This is my design card for Completely Christmas challenge 46: anything goes with a twist ... make it cute. Please click on the link to see the cute designs of the rest of the team and join in our challenge.

I created this card digitally using a free background I found online (sorry, I can't remember where it was from so I can't give credit) and I used the lovely Stitchy Bear Stamps Little Siannie Christmas colour stamp (Stitchy Bear are kindly sponsoring the Completely Christmas challenge). Wording was added digitally.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas
CRAFT 294: Christmas
ABC Christmas: A for anything Christmas
One layer Christmas card 1: anything goes + option: red
Aud sentiments: anything goes
Creative craft cottage 31: anything goes
Creative inspirations 296: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes

Hats/Valentine

This is my team B design card for Crafting Musketeers January challenge: hats/Valentine. Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of team B and we would love you to join in our challenge here.

The Rory chimney sweep image was kindly provided by the sponsor of the challenge, Lacy Sunshine. I coloured with spectrum noir pen and tore round a perspex oval template running a pen around the torn edge.

Papers are Bo bunny and the epoxy hearts are from stash. The sentiment was computer generated and printed.

This is also for:

Glitter n sparkle 119: include some pink
Clear it out: colour pink
In the pink 60: anything goes
Crafts and me 152: Valentine
Fairies in time January: love
Cute as a button 5: romance
Crafty gals corner 2: sweethearts - add a heart
Crafty sentiments: girly
Baffies 40: anything goes
Not just cards 10: anything goes
Scrap & craft 1: anything goes
Jo's scrap shack funday 71: anything goes
Aud sentiments: anything goes
Spectrum noir fb challenge January: anything goes
Creative fingers 63: anything goes
Inky chicks 45: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Creative craft cottage 31: anything goes
Creative inspirations 296: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 89: anything goes
DL.ART January linky

A decorated gift for CCAYR mid-month inspiration

This is a third project for mid-month inspiration for CCAYR - please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and join in our challenge here - it's 'anything goes' as long as it's Christmas.

This is a present that was gift wrapped for Christmas - I made a matching tag to which I added one of the Hobbycraft poinsettias and a 'pull bow'.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas
ABC Christmas: A for anything Christmas
3 girl jam January: anything goes (with ribbon)
Just inspirational January: bling & bow
Order of the opus gluei 200: anything but a card
Eclectic ellapu: Christmas but not a card
Baffies 40: anything goes
Not just cards 10: anything goes
Creative craft cottage 31: anything goes
Creative inspirations 296: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 89: anything goes

Snowy days

This is my second design inspiration for CCAYR January, using pictures from Lili of the Valley art pads mounted on to deckle edged card.

These are also for:

The 12 months of Christmas
CRAFT 294: Christmas
ABC Christmas: A for anything Christmas
My Sheri: let it snow
Allways something creative 91: snow
Deep ocean 95: winter dreams (I'm dreaming of a white Christmas)
Creatalicious 71: winter
Baffies 40: anything goes
Not just cards 10: anything goes
Aud sentiments: anything goes
Creative craft cottage 31: anything goes
Creative inspirations 296: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 89: anything goes

CCAYR January mid-month inspiration

This is my first card for CCAYR mid-month inspiration - please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and join in our challenge here - it's 'anything goes' as long as it's Christmas!

Papers are My Mind's Eye - both offcuts left over from using some of the larger sheets earlier. The picture was prepared originally for a mini Christmas card, but didn't get used, so I decided to put it on here - and a couple of Hobbycraft poinsettias.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas
Pixie's snippets week 159
Aloha Friday: scraps
CRAFT 294: Christmas
ABC Christmas: A for anything Christmas
My time to craft 274: stripes
Connie can crop 30: all that sparkles
Oddball: add some sparkle
4 crafty chicks 229: flowers
Baffies 40: anything goes
Not just cards 10: anything goes
Aud sentiments: anything goes
Creative craft cottage 31: anything goes
Creative inspirations 296: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 89: anything goes

Buckwells crafty challenge mid month inspiration

I made this design card for mid month inspiration for Buckwells crafty challenge January: anything goes. You can join in the challenge here - we'd love to see your entries.

I used the ALilDigiHeaven Abigale image kindly supplied by the sponsor of the challenge, colouring with spectrum noir pens. I printed out one of Buckwell's 'checkout' digital paper for the background. The lovely ribbon tied in a bow is Buckwell's organza ribbon gold 25 mm and the white daisies are from Buckwell's 50 mixed purple/white Cosmos daisies - please click on the links and see many more wonderful items in store - I'm sure you'll be tempted to put in an order!

This is also for:

Digi choosday 2: January birthdays
Seize the birthday
Hobby home Cards 2 create 17: birthday
Scrapping4fun 33: happy birthday
Red rubber inspirationals 203: birthday bash
Inky impressions 192: monochrome
Crafty ribbons: let's get sentimental
3 girl jam January: anything goes
Paperminutes: flower power
4 crafty chicks 229: flowers
Creative craft cottage 17: digi/flowers
Crafty sentiments: girly
Sweet stampin|: girly not no pink
Aud sentiments: anything goes
Just inspirational January: bling & bow
Craft-Dee BowZ January: anything goes with a handmade bow
Baffies 40: anything goes
Not just cards 10: anything goes
Scrap & craft 1: anything goes
Bastel-traum 25: anything goes
Spectrum noir fb challenge January: anything goes
Little Miss Muffet 102: anything goes
Creative fingers 62: anything goes
Inky chicks 45: anything goes
Penny's 210: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Creative craft cottage 31: anything goes
Creative inspirations 296: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 88: anything goes
DL.ART January linky

CHNC challenge extra for January mid month inspiration

It's time for some CHNC challenge extra for January mid month inspiration - please click on the link to see the super designs of my team.

This is my design team card. I used Bugaboo Stamps 'Christmas cupcake - lights' colour digitally using Microsoft Paint. Papers are from my Christmas offcuts box (the  main one is K & Co) and the corrugated star and sentiment have been in my stash for years (about time some of these bits were used up ... but they seem never-ending).

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas
Pixie's snippets week 159
CRAFT 294: Christmas
ABC Christmas: A for anything Christmas
My time to craft 274: stripes
Fitztown 67: anything goes with option: use pattern paper
Baffies 40: anything goes
Not just cards 10: anything goes
Creative fingers 62: anything goes
Penny's 210: anything goes
Creative craft cottage 31: anything goes
Creative inspirations 296: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy January: anything goes
Seema crafts January: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 88: anything goes

My top twelve creations of 2014

I'm very late with this - I started it at the beginning of the month and it's taken me till now to complete it.

While blog-hopping a few years ago I found that some crafters had shown their Top Ten makes for the year and so, at the beginning of January each year, I've done the same, except I changed my choices to twelve, one for each month of the year and that's what I'm doing again this year.

If you click on the links, you can go to the original posts and read more about each item. The items shown aren't just my favourites, but are reminders of various techniques and things I enjoy doing. It was so difficult to choose just twelve, but here goes:

My top twelve of 2014

January 2014: Grunge: I chose this card because I used quite a few different textures, incorporating embossing on grungeboard, using cork, metal etc and copper precious metals, and, of course, some stamping:

February 2014: Valentine card for John: I used quite a few washi tapes - I've begun to love these and have now built up a collection (and bought a few more reels the other day).

March 2014: A special birthday easel card: I couldn't do a review of the year without showing an easel card (I love them):

April 2014: A box card for mum for mother's day: using my favourite crafting colours and lots of lovely flowers.

May 2014: A shaped design card for Crafting Musketeers: how I wish I could still wear shoes like this.

June 2014: A design card for a Fan-tastic Tuesday challenge - I love the Sparkle n Sprinkle 'Isabelle hat lady' image and the colours of this card.

July 2014: Mum's memory box: This is very special for me because it's items that have been put in a memory box on mum's door so that staff and visitors have a talking point to try and jog mum's memory of the past.

August 2014: A design card for Suzy Bee's Bloomin' challenge: Using a digital background, my favourite crafting colours, lovely flowers and the delicious Lacy Sunshine's winter abbey image.

September 2014: Winter wonderland: Using my Scan n Cut (note to self: use it more!!).

October 2014: Thinking of you: Gelli plate and stamping.

November 2014: A 'thank you' for Thanksgiving: I chose this card because I used Spectrum noir aqua tints spritzed with water for the background on to which I stamped - also I love the Sweet Pea Stamp by Ching-chou kuik.

December 2014: Christmas card for John: Made from scratch, with a lot of stamping and heat embossing.

I have found it quite helpful doing this review of 2014 - it has brought back many memories, but has also reminded me of some techniques etc that I haven't tried for a while, not just in the items that I've chosen to show here, but in many other items that have been blogged over the months.

Perhaps you would like to do your own 'top twelve of 2014' - if you do I'd love you to leave me a comment, so that I can come and look at your choices.