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