My Favourite 5 Cards of 2011

Over at the lovely Debby's blog it is time to choose our favourite five cards for 2011 so why not join in and show us yours.

I must admit I found it very difficult to just pick five as I loved rather a lot of them this year.

This first one suprised me as I was never very happy about distressing my cards, always preferring what I call clean cut cards. I was also suprised how much I liked the rather dark colours of it and what a great image to play with too.

I picked this one as it was the first 'white on white' card that I was happy with. I've always struggled with these cards but achieving this one has given me the confidence to do more.

I had a go with 'shabby chic' for this one and was very pleased with the way it turned out. I just love the softness of the colours and the adorable image suits this style perfectly.

Another of these sweet adorables but this time in my favourite colour, pink! A truly feminine card!

As soon as I saw this LOTV stamp I had to have it. I love how the colouring of her came out especially her hair. I also teamed her with some of my favourite Nitwit papers.

Well, I hope you enjoyed looking at my favourites as much as I enjoyed making them, thanks for looking.

Twice As Cute!

Challenges

Papertake - Sketch
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Dutch Dare (145) - My Favourite Things
The Rainbow Lady (185) - Your Choice

I fancied making a couple of baby cards so I have used some of my favourite things to make them (LOTV stamps/Nitwit Collections Papers/Ribbons). I have followed the same great sketch for both of them. The images have been coloured with promarkers and paper pieced with some of the papers. I have also added flock to the hats. I have also added a 'bobble' to the boy's hat and a flower to the girl's hat. The white panel has been punched and embossed and I have added ribbon to it, the ribbon has little prams on it. A simple stamped sentiment finishes them off. Hope you like them, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamp - LOTV/Unknown
Digi Papers - Nitwit Collections (Grin 'n' Bear It/Promises)
Ribbons/Bobble/Flower - Stash

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Pearl Poinsettia

Challenges

C.R.A.F.T. (134) - Christmas Pastels
Charisma Cardz (50) - Anything Goes
Dutch Dare (144) - Make It Shimmer

Here's a nice shiny Christmas card for you today. Onto a white base card I added a triangle of lilac digi paper from the 'Still Joyful Hearts' collection at Nitwit Collections. This has been my favourite Christmas paper this year but this time I have added glitter to it. Next I embossed a triangle of pearl vellum paper and added this to the other half of the base card. To cover the join I punched a border in silver mirri card, added some d/s tape and sprinkled glitter on top. The poinsettia has been die-cut from the pearl vellum paper with a punched centre and leaves. A few pink pearls finishes the card. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Digi Paper - Nitwit Collections
Pearls - Stash

Cherry Pip

Challenges

The Sugar Bowl (74) - Sketch
Bearly Mine (26) - Anything Goes
I Love Promarkers (97) - Anything Goes
Digi Doodle Shop (88) - Anything Goes
Stampin For The Weekend (23) - Anything Goes
Secret Crafter (166) - Anything Goes

Although I followed the great sketch for this one, I did move the elements of it slightly. I have coloured and edged the image with promarkers and added some gold heart brads to three of the corners. On the other corner I have added punched flowers and leaves. I have coloured the flower centres and added gold beads. Although you can't see it in the photo I have added stickles to the white leaves too. These gorgeous digi papers are from the 'Grin 'n' Bear It' collection at Nitwit Collections. I have added some green brads and gold peel-off corners to the paper panels. I also punched a border and added some satin ribbon before placing across the card. A peel-off sentiment finishes the card off. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamp - Sugar Nellie
Digi Papers - Nitwit Collections
Ribbon/Brads/Beads/Peel-Offs - Stash

My Five Favourite Christmas Cards For 2011

The lovely Debby is asking us to show our five favourite Christmas cards that we have made this year. I found it quite difficult to just pick five as I have made so many this year that I have loved, but here goes -

I just love the Whoopsi Daisy image on this one. I made it into a gatefold card with simple embossed panels and loads of sparkle.

Again with this one I just fell in love with the LOTV image the minute I saw it. I have also used some of my favourite digi papers from Nitwit Collections, my kind of colours!

Another cute image from LOTV and I love the icy look of the colours with this one.

I love everything about this one, the shape, the image and the white on white look.

Finally a traditional coloured one. I must admit I prefer the more untraditional colours but I loved how this card turned out. This was the first time I put so many flowers onto a card too. I love how the stickles glue made the roses look quite antique.

Well, I hope you liked my selection as much as I enjoyed making them. Why not pop on over to Debby's blog and take part. There is even a prize for one lucky participant too. Thanks for looking.

I would also like to take this opportunity in wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Penelope Poodle

Challenges

Cute Card Thursday (195) - Stripes
M.A.W.T.T. (129) - Cats & Dogs
Daring Cardmakers - Spots & Stripes

And another! This time I have used a coloured digi image and matching papers from Pink Gem, love the colours. I have added glitter to the baubles on the tree. I thought this lovely stripey ribbon went rather well with it so added it to the border strip. A few flowers and gems finish it off. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Digi Stamp - Pink Gem Freebie
Digi Papers - Pink Gem Freebie
Ribbon/Brads/Gems - Stash

Christmas Fun!

Challenges

Digital Tuesday (141) - Winter Wonderland
Papertake - Christmas
ABC - F is for Frosty
Catch The Bug - Winter/Cold

I've got another Christmas card for you today. The image has been coloured with promarkers and glitter for a frosty look and I have added card candi to the corners. I also added a slider to the ribbon to make it more interesting as it is quite a plain card. A small stamped sentiment finishes it off, nice and simple. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - Penny Black/Personal Impressions
Digi Paper - Nitwit Collections (Heavenly)
Card Candi - Craftwork Cards
Ribbon/Slider - Stash

Pink Christmas

Challenges

Papertake - I'm Dreaming Of A 'PINK' Christmas
Just Magnolia (137) - White Plus One Other Colour
Stamptacular (143) - I'm Dreaming Of A Pink Christmas

Yet another Christmas card for today, are you fed up with them yet? I have coloured the Tilda image with promarkers, no suprise there then! The digi papers are from the 'Grin 'N' Bear It' collection from Nitwit Collections, aren't they gorgeous? I just love their papers! The flowers and leaves have been punched and embossed to shape them and I have added beads to the centres. That's about it for this one, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - Magnolia/LOTV
Digi Papers - Nitwit Collections
Ribbon/Gems/Beads - Stash

Christmas Cats

Challenges

Marianne's Design Divas (6) - Christmas
Divas By Design (17) - Christmas
Delightful Challenge - Anything Goes
M.A.W.T.T. (129) - Cats And Dogs
Paperplay (50) - Christmas

Here is a couple more cards that I have made, both featuring cats. (Could be something to do with adopting twin kittens recently, see sidebar).

The first one uses a digi stamp to which I have handwritten the sentiment added to it. I coloured the image with promarkers and sakura stardust pens. The digi papers are from the 'Ho, Ho, Ho' collection at Nitwit Collections. All the embellishments have been paper pieced and I have added a few gems to the stockings.

The second one uses an older LOTV stamp which I have also coloured with promarkers. The digi papers are from the 'Simply Joys' collection at Nitwit Collections. The leaves have been punched while the flowers have been die-cut.

Hope you like them both, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - LOTV/Kars/Magazine Freebies
Sentiment Stamps - Anita's/Funstamps
Digi Stamp - Sliekje Designs
Digi Papers - Nitwit Collections (Simply Joys/Ho, Ho, Ho)
Ribbon/Gems - Stash

Winter Wishes

Challenges

Little Claire (16) - Family Christmas (For My Sister)
Ooh La La (95) - Anything But A Card (Calendar)
Crafty Creations (148) - Embossing/Glitter
Simon Says - Sketch
Charisma Cardz (49) - Last Minute Christmas
The Rainbow Lady (183) - Angels
Winter Wonderland - Be Different (Everday Image Used For Christmas)
One Stop Craft (162) - Christmas Sparkle
Pollycraft (121) - Punch It

Today I have made a 'last minute' Christmas card/gift for my sister. I have used 'Icy Angel' from the latest release at Lili Of The Valley and coloured her with promarkers and sakura stardust pens. I have followed the great sketch and embossed the background card adding gold sparkly ribbons and lace. The leaves and flowers have been punched and embossed and I have added beads to the centres. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - LOTV
Calendar - Anita's
Ribbons/Lace - Stash

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge DT - Sparkle & Shine

Challenges

ABC Christmas - Christmas
Crafty Creations (148) - Use A Sentiment
C.R.A.F.T. (132) - Sketch
Cute Card Thursday (194) - Anything Goes
Delightful Challenge - Blue Christmas
M.A.W.T.T. (128) - Christmas
Paperplay - Snowman
Stampin For The Weekend (22) - Christmas
Winter Wonderland - Let It Snow
Stamptacular (142) - Christmas Glitz
Cupcake Craft (172) - Sparkles

It's Monday so it's time for another challenge at Whoopsi Daisy and this week we want your creations to 'Sparkle and Shine'. This will also be our last challenge for this year but we will be back with a new challenge on 2nd January 2012 (Whoopsi Daisy images only from January).

So, onto my card. I followed the great sketch by first covering the base card with this gorgeous paper from the 'Still Joyful Hearts' collection at Nitwit Collections. Next I punched a border and added glittery ribbon followed by a circular sentiment layered with a nestie. I coloured the image with promarkers and added flock. Next I distressed the edge and added glitter before layering with a nestie of glittery card. The snowflakes have been die-cut with hologram card centres. Finally I added a foam snowman which I covered with glitter. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Digi Stamp - Whoopsi Daisy (Sheet 260)
Circular Sentiment Stamp - LOTV
Digi Paper - Nitwit Collections
Ribbon - Stash

Blog Hop Winner Re-Draw!!!

As my winner of the Whoopsi Daisy Blog Hop has not contacted me to claim her prize I have re-drawn it!

The new winner is -


Bettina


Congratulations Bettina, please email me by Sunday 11th December so that I can arrange for your digi sheet to be sent to you, thank you.

Scroll down for newer posts.

Santa Claus

Challenges

ABC Christmas - Christmas
Crafty Creations (148) - Use A Sentiment
Crafty Ribbons (8) - Traditional Christmas
M.A.W.T.T. (128) - Christmas
Daring Cardmakers - Nordic Christmas
Catch The Bug - Santa Baby
C.E.S. (65) - Traditional Christmas
One Stop Craft (161) - Traditional Christmas Colours

Today I have a quick and simple Christmas card to show you. I have used this gorgeous pre-coloured Santa digi and just added diamond glaze to his eyes, bell and berries. I then added stickles to his beard. I have layered the sentiment with a nestie. Finally I stamped the stockings onto matching paper and attached with foam pads. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Digi Stamp - Pink Gem
Circular Sentiment Stamp - LOTV
Stocking Stamp - Kars
Digi Papers - Nitwit Collections (Ho, Ho, Ho)

Christmas Wishes

Challenges

Joanna Sheen (1) - Christmas Wishes
The Ribbon Girls - Jingle all The Way To Christmas
Colour Create (85) - Red/White/Green
Bah Humbug (48) - Cute Christmas Critters
Our Creative Corner - Sketch
Secret Crafter (163) - Photo Inspiration

I started this card by matting and layering my base card with some gold pearl cardstock and another of the gorgeous (Simply Joys) digi papers from Nitwit Collections. I am so in love with all these gorgeous papers I find I am always using them. Why not pop on over and see for yourself and fall in love too. Back to my card - next I punched a couple of lace borders, added some more gols card and topped it with some flowers with card candi in the centres. For my image I have combined an image from the sheet below and one that was a freebie some time ago and coloured them with promarkers. Finally a stamped sentiment finishes the card nicely. I think it looks like they might be going off to find Santa, what do you think? Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Digi Stamps - Whoopsi Daisy (Sheet 265)
Sentiment Stamp - Personal Impressions
Digi Paper - Nitwit Collections
Card Candi - Craftwork Cards
Flowers - Stash

All Wrapped Up!

Challenges

ABC - E is for Embossing (Embossed Flowers To Shape Them)
Divas By Design (16) - Anything Goes
Fab 'N' Funky (101) - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Dutch Dare (141) - Sketch
Stamptacular (141) - Xmas/Blue/Black/Brown/Beige
Cupcake Craft (171) - Create Own Backing Paper
Pollycraft (120) - Christmas Fun
A Passion For Promarkers (129) - Celebrations
Papertake - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - 'Tis The Season
Bearly Mine (25) - Untraditional Christmas/No Red Or Green

I am not very keen on the traditional red and green for Christmas cards and like to experiment with other colours as you might have noticed. I must admit I don't often use black on them but am always pleasantly suprised at how well they turn out, including this one. I made the background by stamping snowflakes onto the card and then inking and distressing the edges. The main image has been coloured with promarkers and chalk. I have also used brown teddy bear flock on the muff rather than white which I thought was a bit stark. The leaves and flowers have been punched and embossed to shape them and I have added gems to the centres. Hope you lik it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - LOTV/Anita's
Gems - Stash

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge DT - Snowflakes

Challenges

Divas By Design (16) - Anything Goes
Fab 'N' Funky (101) - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Delightful Challenge - Let It Snow
Digi Doodle Shop (85) - Sparkle
Totally Papercrafts (95) - Let It Snow
Winter Wonderland - Christmas/Winter Birthdays
Mami Doodles - Glitter
One Stop Craft (160) - Let It Snow
Catch The Bug - Anything Goes
Joanna Sheen (1) - Christmas Wishes

Over at the Whoopsi Daisy challenge we have a nice and easy challenge for you this week. The theme this week is 'Snowflakes' so we are hoping to see lots of lovely snowy projects. Don't forget, to be eligible for the 'Top Three' you must use a WD image.

STARTING IN JANUARY OUR CHALLENGE WILL BE FOR CRAFTERS USING OUR WHOOPSI DAISY IMAGES ONLY.

Today I have made a side-step card using pearl and silver mirri card as the base. My gorgeous little skater has been coloured with promarkers, chalk and flock. I have then framed her with punched snowflakes and added sparkly gems. I stamped the trees onto white pearl vellum and heat embossed them with Stardust EP before attaching to blue pearl card. I then attached them to the steps at various heights using foam pads. A simple sentiment finishes the card. This card would be ideal as either a Christmas card or a winter birthday card. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Digi Stamp - Whoopsi Daisy (Sheet 320)
Tree Stamp - Anita's
Gems - Stash

Lili Of The Valley DT (123) - Anything But A Christmas Card

Challenges

Secret Crafter (162) - Borders/Flowers
Fab 'N' Funky (101) - Anything Goes
Divas By Design (16) - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Anything Goes

This week at Lili Of The Valley we would like to see you make a 'Anything But A Christmas Card'. Basically, so long as it's not a Christmas card you can make whatever you want, simples!

I have made a birthday card for a friend using one of the gorgeous new LOTV stamps called 'Lovely Lillies', including the sentiment. The second I saw her I fell in love with her and she is so easy to colour too. I have coloured her with promarkers and added gems. The beautiful papers are from the 'Fairytale Dreams' collection at Nitwit Collections, another favourite. I have double layered the punched strips and added some stripey ribbon. The leaves have been die-cut and I have added paper flowers and gems to them. A couple of punched hearts finish the card. Hope you like it as much as I do, thanks for looking.

Card Recipe

Stamps - LOTV
Digi Papers - Nitwit Collections
Ribbon/Flowers/Gems - Stash