New year resolution (another one!)

I've already mentioned two craft related new year resolutions. However, this one doesn't relate to craft, but I enjoyed doing some crafting in preparation for it.

There are quite a few jobs that I've often had on a list and never seem to get round to doing - sorting out photos on the computer, memory sticks, etc, putting photos on to digital photo frames (I bought two large ones ages ago, thinking that it would give John a better chance of seeing some photos, but have never set them up). There are lots of other things like this that need doing, as well as drawers to be sorted, etc, so I've used an empty tissue box:


and am going to put lots of jobs on bits of paper and every now and then (this ought to be a regular occurrence, but I don't think I can be that good!) I'll put my hand in and take out one of the pieces of paper and get on with that job.

So I covered the box with K & Co Urban Rhapsody papers, a few blooms etc and a bit of inking and distressing:







There are quite a few challenges around atm to do with new year (what a surprise!) as well as some colour ones that are covered by this little project, so I'm linking for these:

Corrosive 44: 'new years resolutions'
Stampin' sisters in Christ 19: 'new year card or project'
Dancing in Pajamas TCP challenge: 'something new'
Paperplay 46: 'new beginnings'
Rainbow lady 84: 'new'
Daring cardmakers: 'new beginnings'
Paper cutz 22: 'new year'
One powerful hour: 'resolutions'
Created by hand: 'out with the old'
No time to stamp 120: 'new things'
The play date cafe 10: 'turquoise, brown, dusty pink'
ColourQ 13: 'melon mambo, pretty in pink, tempting turquoise, chocolate chip + white (my second entry for this)
Paperminutes 94: 'colour explosion'
365 cards day 149: 'sponging' (with chalk ink)
Little red wagon 9: flowers
Pals paper arts 23: 'anything but a card'
Allsorts 32: 'anything but a card'
My time to craft 72: 'anything goes'

I also came across the Crafting pot 'five things' challenge, asking for 'five layers' - my flowers fit this.

Apron strings challenge 16 prize

What a lovely surprise when a delivery man turned up this morning with a box from the States containing my prize for challenge 16 on Apron strings - you can read about it here.



What a lovely co-ordinating selection of papers and embellishments. Thank you, Apron strings.

BF December ATCs received

Postie's been - I received my ATCs for December from the group on BF - thanks, girls, and thank you again, Ali, for hosting:

Tails of a bright Noel

For this card I've used a House Mouse stamped image 'tails of a bright Noel', so I'm linking for House Mouse challenge 29: 'winter wishes'. This is the first time I've done a card for the HM challenge blog - I didn't have any HM stamps, but Gez kindly sent me some stamped images.

The inspiration challenge for 2010 Christmas card week 4 on Sparkle creations is this picture:

I've coloured the image with copics, among which I've used the colours for this week's challenge 44 on Copic Colour: Y15 Cadmium yellow, BG05 holiday blue, E47 dark brown.

The colours given this week for ColourQ 13 are all on this card too: ' melon mambo, pretty in pink, tempting turquoise, chocolate chip + white. These are similar colours to those this week for cupcake inspiration 39 on Hope stamps eternal.

The theme currently on Sunday stamper 84 is 'I believe' - you can just about see the word 'believe' on this lovely Christmas paper, which is an offcut from last year - it has a beautiful sheen to it that you can't see on here. The paper behind it was free from a magazine. I used up another piece of ribbon that was left from a previous card (my two resolutions again: Christmas cards throughout the year and use offcuts).

Nativity

I'm making two crafting resolutions for the new year and have already started them - to make Christmas cards throughout the year and also to use up pieces of paper instead of starting new ones so much (I'm not sure that I'll keep to this one because I love new papers).

Anyway, this card is for the 'Nativity' challenge on All that scraps.

I've used a couple of pieces of paper that have been in the box since last Christmas and also a piece of ribbon left from the previous card I made earlier this evening.

The nativity scene image is a Charmed cards & crafts download from their bumper Christmas collection.

Kiss under the mistletoe

For this card I used the sketch on Pals Paper Arts 22:

The image is a Dottie download from Charmed cards & crafts bumper Christmas collection 'Christmas kiss', so I'm linking this card for this week's Dottie's world challenge: it's a girl thing' - I figured that although George is the one holding the mistletoe, Dottie is certainly doing 'a girl thing' and flirting with him.

This is also for ABC: 'K is for kissing' and for Rosie-Dee 61: 'digi sparkle' - the Dottie download is a digi and the ribbons are sparkly.

Papers are from the free pad from Cardmaking & Papercraft, plus some glittery ribbons (either Dovecraft or DCWV - can't remember which):


So that's another Christmas card!

Ballerina card

I was commissioned to make a ballerina card for a 4 year old's birthday, so I based the card on Sweet sketch Wednesday 29:

I'm also linking for Flutter by Wednesday 89, which this week is an open theme, but, of course, has to include a butterfly, fairy or angel. I know that strictly speaking this is a ballerina, but she is so sweet that I'm sure she could be mistaken for a fairy! Using a combination of lemon, pink and lilac fits today's Paperminutes 94: 'colour explosion' - to use at least three colours.

The pink and lemon hearts card is part of the Dawn Bibby cupcake kit (but I thought it was just right for this), the ballerina, the strip across the middle and the sentiment are from the 'music and dance' kit from QVC. The other bits and pieces are Jolees and unknown stickers. The pink heart gems at the top left (they look red here, but they are pink) are Poundland bling.

Birthday card for John

I know I'm not the only cardmaker that finds it difficult to get on and make a card for one of our nearest and dearest. John's birthday is on Wednesday and I didn't really want to leave it till tomorrow to make his card as we are up at Guy's again in the morning.

It's difficult to think of something different, especially when you've been making cards for years. And now, because of poor health, John has so little that he can do that it's hard to think of a 'theme' for his card. But he does still love following sport, particularly rugby (hence the card I showed the other day that I made for mum to give him) and cricket, so I thought I'd base my card around that. When making a card for John I have to bear in mind that detail is lost with him having such poor vision, so I've just used photo toppers and Craft creations papers.

This week challenge 71 on My time to craft is 'Z folds' - I haven't made this style of card for ages, so thought it would be good to use it for John's card. And another one for Little red wagon 8: 'man cards'.

So here I am, one whole day and a bit ahead of myself!! ( ... but I still haven't bought him anything yet ... think he might have to have an I.O.U.)

Snowflake and buttons

This is for a spoon full of sugar 82: ' sketchy time':

I wanted to put three buttons up in the right hand corner, but could only find two of these - I was convinced I had three of them - if I happen to find another one, I'll add it!

ColourQ 11 is 'real red, pretty in pink, certainly celery, glorious green + neutral', so I've used these colours with free papers from a magazine.

Why is it that the colours are OK irl, but not on the photo? Admittedly, it's been taken by flash this evening (might replace tomorrow if daylight is good enough).

Say Thank You with pastels

This card is for sketch 53 on Lord have mercy:

It's also for:

Lexi's creations 4: 'pastel colours'
Jacksonbelle challenge to make a project using any product from the Jacksonbelle store - my product is My mind's eye Bloom & Grow cardstock
Another for Pixie cottage 6: 'button it!'
365 cards day 244: 'you're so transparent' - use at least three different items transparent to a degree - the 'thank you' sentiment, the brad in the centre of the blooms and the buttons
There she goes 35: 'Is it spring break yet?' - make a card that features flowers
Papertake 31: 'thank you'
C.R.A.F.T. 31: 'thank you'
Magical crafts 5: 'thank you'
No time to stamp 119: 'CAS thank you'
Fiskarettes: 'keep it simple'

Hidden Happy Christmas

This card is for Posh designs sketch 4 with a twist: 'color combinations~white and blue (other color with this is ok but it needs to be mainly the two colors listed) and journaling card/tag':


This is also for Little paper shop: 'Ring in the New Year' Color Challenge - Navy Blue, Light Blue and Silver - my silver is on the rims of the brads; also for Creative Belli 81: 'tags' and, as there's a tag on the card I hope it counts for the current Totally Gorjuss challenge, which now allows us to enter cards without using Gorjuss stamps.

And Crafty creations 47 is 'happy holidays' - a fairly open theme this time.

The papers are BG marrakech and the brads are DCWV.

The hidden journaling is on the back of the tag, which can be swung out from beneath the rims of the brads:

Make a wreath

This card is for 365 day 296: 'make a wreath' - 'Create a wreath on your card...but there's a catch (of course!). It doesn't count if you use a stamp of a wreath or patterned paper with wreaths on it. Get creative with this, and don't feel it has to be any kind of traditional wreath.'

I used some of the lovely prima gems that I got as part of my November prize from Quixotic and also some of the beautiful leaves that came in my package from Gez (seen here).


Making another Christmas card continues my new year resolution to make Christmas cards throughout the year (I'm doing quite well, because we haven't even reached new year yet!) - and 'new year resolutions' is the theme for Corrosive 44, so it's right for that.

Rudolph's got a bright new bell!

This card is for Mojo Monday sketch 118:

and also for RosieDee 60: 'Rudolph's got a bright new bell!' - I apologise that on this scan it looks as if Rudolph has got a green bell, but irl it's gold! Papers were free with Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine, so it's a quick and easy card (although a bit fiddly to cut out the reindeer and sleigh).

Doiley snowflake

Christmas Day was day 300 on 365 and the subject was 'let it snow' - 'Create a paper snowflake and put it on your card'.

I found up some small doileys and thought I'd use one to make a snowflake - the first one I did ended up as a disaster - this one isn't much better - I think it's a poor snowflake that's lost one of it's 'spokes' on the way down! Well, I did try!

The background paper was free with a magazine - the middle two pieces of chipboard are Brenda Pinnick.

Anya pink and brown card

This is the first time I've joined in Anyone for Anya (because I've only just got my first Greetings Farm Anya stamp), so this is for the 'last Christmas card of the year' challenge (although I'm actually making it a resolution in the new year to carry on making Christmas cards throughout the year.

So this is another card for:

Artful inkables think ink Tuesday which this week asks us to make a card based on our new year's resolution - two resolutions rolled into one card: 1. make Christmas cards throughout the year; 2. use up some of the scraps rather than always reaching for a new paper.

Resolutions' is also the random redhead challenge for Gingersnap 36, so I'm linking there too for the same reasons.

And, of course, this is another lovely colour combo of brown and pink, which is just right for Ooh-la-la 43.

Once again (proving I'm trying to use up papers) the plain pink paper and the reverse that the image is stamped on is My mind's eye Bella Bella Bellezo.

Timeless memoirs

I couldn't wait to use one of my new stamps, so this is a very quick card using the timeless memoirs stamp from the Francoise collection by Stampendous.

I've used the sketch for Create4fun 51 (alhough I've just seen that 52 is up already, so I'm a little late):

It's also for the challenge on Soartful, where the inspiration is a pen and Ooh la la challenge 43 is a colour combo of brown and pink.

It so happened that, surprise, surprise, the challenge today (day 301) on 365 'I'm torn' - perfect! And frosted designs have two challenges this week and the second one is distressing - not only has the image paper been torn, but I've sponged it with tattered rose and brushed corduroy distress inks.

The background paper and the chipboard 'Remember' is K & Co, the paper with circles is Chloe's closet Derby days and the plain pink paper and the reverse that the image is stamped on is My mind's eye Bella Bella Bellezo.

Thinking ahead to new year's resolutions (that I don't usually make or, if I do, they don't last as long as they should!) Artful inkables think ink Tuesday this week asks us to make a card based on our new year's resolution - so I'm declaring that during the coming year I'm going to try to use up some of the scraps before cutting into new paper. The papers used for this card are from the same 12 x 12 pieces used for a card I showed the other day. 'Resolutions' is also the random redhead challenge for Gingersnap 36, so I'm linking there too for the same reason.

Christmas crafting goodies

I've had some lovely Christmas presents - I thought as this is a crafting blog that I'd show the crafting presents I've received.

The sentiments and flowers in the left corner were from Annmarie, a friend on CBC - thank you, Ann. The rest were given to me by mum and John - what a lovely lot of goodies to play with (you can see a bit clearer if you click on the picture).

Then John gave me another card and this was inside it - bless him, he didn't know how to spell cricut - he knows I'd like to get 'sure cuts a lot'.

I was going to have a play with one of my new stamps while John had a snooze after lunch, but I felt so full and lethargic that I didn't get round to it - perhaps a bit later (if he has another snooze!)

Taylored and tailored

This card is for sketch 95 on Taylored expressions:

I'm also linking for Pixie cottage 6: 'button it' and Little red wagon 8: 'man cards'

I used BG June bug papers. The scalloped strip is an East of India paper chain 'hearts and leaves' - I won't be using these for paper chains, but think they are quite handy used in this way.

White + a little colour

This card is for Fun with shapes and more 34: 'white + little bit of colour' and also for today on 365 cards (day 299): 'Keep it to yourself': holiday card - 'So, create a card with a Holiday theme, making it clear on the front what you wish to convey without actually saying it with words.'

It's also for Crazy Amigo: 'winter'

Clean and Simple blast from the past

It's been a busy day (as, no doubt, it has been for most people) - although not with any hassle. I've mainly been baking - sausage rolls, cookies, scones, chocolate cake ... and preparing for tomorrow.

So, now I'm having a little crafting time to myself - I don't want to do anything involved or that takes too much effort, so I remembered Clean and Simple and thought I'd do something for this week's 'blast from the past', which is this sketch (FTL73):



Sometimes I buy papers without thinking what I'm going to use them for - I like the look of them, but when it comes to it I sometimes get stumped as to what to do with some papers.

I had this 3 bugs in a rug 12 x 12 tickled pink dream which I'd had for ages, waiting for inspiration as to how to use it. It fitted this sketch perfectly, without too much thought or effort, just the addition of the sentiment. So I decided to make two out of the same sheet and, because the front of the card is so simple, I decided to continue the dotty paper on to the back of the card, which makes quite a nice change to the normal plain back.

Sorry, the scans are a bit crooked, but the cards aren't.

Wishing all my blogging friends a very Happy Christmas

It's impossible to send you all a handcrafted card, but please accept this digital card with my love and good wishes. Update: sorry, I've just noticed that I missed out 'a' in the sentiment - sorry, but I'm going to leave it like this - can't do all that again!


If you're a regular visitor, you'll know that I do quite a lot of challenges, so you won't be surprised that I'm linking this card for some:

365 day 294: 'imagine this: fire (the candle)
Stampin' B 38: 'happy holidays - use a candle on a card'
Paperminutes 93: 'candles'
Art creations Friday 54: the picture of the girls bottom right
Created by hand: 'snowflakes' - in the Art creations picture
Digital Tuesday 38: 'let it snow' - it has to include a digi image - well, the whole card is digi, the background is from Funky Fairy and the nativity scene is a Charmed download
Tuesday taggers: 'let it snow'
In the cottage studio rumble: 'let it snow'
Our creative corner: 'let it snow'
Dare U 2 digi 28: 'last minute Christmas cards' - use a digi image - well, it's last minute because I wanted to blog it today especially near to Christmas
Bee crafty 20: 'circles'

Handcrafted cards received

We received another gorgeous handcrafted card this morning:



And here are all the wonderful cards that have been made by crafting friends:



and a close up shot of part of our tree:

Salt: Jesus joy!

It was Ruth's turn to choose the topic for today's Salt challenge and you can read what she wrote here.

I've based my A5 landscape card on an old hymn that outlines the reasons for Christ's coming to earth - not just the joy experienced at Christmas when celebrating the birth of the child at Bethlehem, but our rejoicing at the forgiveness we receive and the way that He shares our hopes and fears, whether in joy or sorrow.

I jused a simple picture of Mary with the baby Jesus, changing it a bit in Picture It and using it as a backdrop for the hymn. The 'joy' is chipboard (another pieefrom one of the packs of festive 3D decorations from Poundland).

If you click on the picture you can read the words of the hymn.


During the next fortnight we would love you to visit the Salt blog and perhaps make something for this theme - if you do, please leave us a comment so that we can come and look at your crafting.

I apologise to anyone who visited earlier - I prepared this post in advance, but hadn't put the link in to get to what Ruth said - all done now!

ABC Christmas challenge blog

ABC challenge blog is launching a sister blog: ABC Christmas challenge blog and it starts today with a blog hop, designed to help us ensure Christmas 2010 isn't too much of a rush. I'd already made up my mind that during the coming year I would keep my Christmas stash available and make cards throughout the year, so this is just right as an added incentive.

Here's a little extract from the new blog:

"..........Welcome to ABC Christmas Challenge Blog! After speaking to many people it seems to be a common problem that Christmas creeps up on us every year! So this challenge will run on a fortnightly basis, on alternate weeks to our Sister blog ABC Challenge. The Idea is to have fun and create 25 cards or Projects in time for Christmas 2010 your projects will be based on a theme or technique using the letters of the alphabet in turn. ................................. We hope you enjoy this new challenge and have fun creating those projects you promised yourself you would get done for this year and did not have time.

..........................We have been busy organising this exciting new challenge blog to share with you all, and we are hoping you will want to help us spread the word......that ABC CHALLENGE has a new sister blog!

..........................Be sure to leave comments on the project that they [the 7 DT Members] have been busy making to help inspire you, to be in with chances of winning their great prizes... some of the DT gang have Mr Linky set up and others a comment system...either way you have 7 chances of winning a brilliant prize! "

The blog hop is open until midnight 29th December and if you collect the letters along the way up for grabs is the gorgeous Popcorn Christmas stamp set - so go on... get hopping!!!!

Happy Birthday Friend

This card is for the sketch this week on Design Dollies:



It also uses the 'Christmas arrangement' digi image given on There's magic in the air for Magical Monday 'glitz it up' (i'm a bit behind with this, but I'd already downloaded the image intending to take part in the challenge, so thought I would still do so, so that I hadn't got the image under false pretences) - here is the digi:

I coloured with copics. The paper with circles is Chloe's closet Derby days and the plain pink paper is My mind's eye Bella Bella Bellezo.

The card is also for these challenges:

Colour create 34: 'pink, burgundy and ivory'
One stop craft 60: 'recycled' - the 'friend' was rescued from a card received long ago
Bee crafty 20: 'circles' (I've included a digi image as required)
365 day 298: 'running in circles' - 'Put a minimum of TEN circles on your card and try to avoid overlap as much as possible' - they're all there on the paper
Incy wincy 23: 'inspiration picture' - inspired by the circles
Copic creations 18: 'pine tree branches'
If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 15: 'Colour your world' - favourite colouring medium (copics) and colour (burgundy pink)
Get sketchy: 'colour challenge - use your favourite colour'

New Year Faith Hope Love

This card is based on a download digi from Scrapping with angel. The pearls are Prima.

There are a few challenges around atm calling for a New Year card, which is just as well because I need to make one or two.

So this is good for:

Stampavie 75: 'Happy new year 2010' (I hope using a digi stamp is OK)
Paper cutz 22: 'New Year'
Doodle palace: 'New Year card' (I've included a 'digi' as stated)
Everybody art 71: 'Happy New Year'
Penny's challenges: 'Monochromatic New Year'
Corrosive 43: 'blingy' (the Prima pearls)
Try it out Tuesday 48: 'bling it out'
Paperplay 46: 'new beginnings'
Daring cardmakers: 'new beginnings'
Alphabet: 'J for jewels' (the pearls)

It's WOYWW day again!

This last week seems to have gone quickly, although in some respects it has dragged a bit because I haven't been able to get out because of the snow and ice.

Anyway, it's WOYWW day again - so without further ado, here are my photos for today - not much different to last week, other than that they are difference boxes: