Last Card of the Year

This card is for the last birthday of 2012, tomorrow I will be back with the first birthday card of 2013 but for today I think this card rounds the year of nicely.

I have made this for my good friend and docraft buddy Kay, I hope she is having a wonderful birthday.

Ingredients

Image: "Geeky Mae" Some Odd Girl

Papers: "Sweet Owl" First Edition

Sentiment: MFT

2013 is the year of the babies

Well after waiting years for babies in the family next year we will have two, my cousin is expecting her first in March and now her brother and his girlfriend are expecting their first in July. My godson is super excited and told everyone on Christmas eve, even though it is early he couldn't wait. I have used my go to image and card style for this congratulations card and have made quite a few recently, in fact I think I ought to make a stock pile lol.

Ingredients

Image: Elzybells

Papers: "Keita" Sassy Designs Inc

Cardstock: "Chocolate Brownie" Elzybells

Dies: "Flagstack" and "Postage Border" MFT Stamps

Nailheads: Chocolate brown from Josy Rose

Sentiment: See-D

Ok so on with the birthday cards

I feel like I have been making Christmas cards forever as I started quite early in the year but this year I am determined to start them in January so I don't feel as rushed next year. So well best kept plans and all that.

I am still working my way though my December birthday list and not even started on January which is actually my busiest birthday month...aarrgh help.

Anyway onto the card, this first one is for a very dear friend who I am sure doesn't read my blog but just in case I am only posting this on her birthday.

I have so loved using these papers and this is the last of a few of the patterns, I have never used so much of one pad before and am not used to papers running out so had a bit of a panic when I realised lol.

Ingredients

Image: "60's Mae" SomeOdd Girl

Papers: MME "Blush"

Candy: Papermania Glitter Dots

Sentiment: MFT

Challenges: Snippet Playground

My Favourite Five Christmas Cards Challenge

The lovely Debbie has a challenge on her blog to show your five favourite Christmas cards, now I have never taken part before but thought as I have made so many cards this year I would give it a whirl. She has some fab candy on offer too so why not take part.

So onto the cards...in no particular order

Blog post here

Blog post here

Blog post here

Blog post here

And finally, I have chosen one of these cards but I did in fact make 17 all different.

Blog post here

Thank you for looking.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Just a quick post to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas, I have made some lovely friends through this blogging malarky and wanted to let them know how much I appreciate their comments, fun and laughter.

Hugs to all

Amanda

Happy 1st Christmas

I made this card for my friend's little boy who will be celebrating his first christmas this year. I have used a gorgeous image from Digistamp Boutique which I believe was a freebie a few months ago. I love these images and the fact that Sally-Ann offers freebies each month is fab.

Quite a simple card but I hope his mum likes it.

Ingredients

Image: Digistamp Boutique

Papers: "All I want for Christmas" Echo Park at Jessica Sprague

Cardstock: "Pacific Blue" Stampin Up

Brad: Stash

Mistletoe and Wine

Ok who is now singing a la Cliff, I know I am. I used this image quite a bit last year and was looking for a cute couple image when I found a ready printed one in my draw. A quick copic colour and the card practically made itself. I have used left over papers from my christmas card making marathon and I am so loving this colour combo.

Ingredients

Image: Digistamp Boutique

Papers: "Winter Wonderland" Zoe Pearn

Embossing Folder: "Snow" Cuttlebug

Dies: "Loop de Loop" Papertrey Ink, "Sentiment Strip" MFT

Sentiment: "Big Christmas Wishes" Amy R

Brad: Stash

Challenges: Snippet Playground

A Wedding Day

Today sees the wedding of my good friend Sioned to Rob, I will be there to cheer them on and see the gorgeous classy dress she is bound to have chosen. I am so pleased that they are getting married and I can't wish them enough happiness.

So onto the card, Cadbury's purple was the colour scheme so of course I had to follow that with my card. I have used a Lili of the Valley image and coloured to match their hair etc although in the photo it does look a little washed out against all that deep purple.

I bought the card stock especially and used "Royal Velvet" from Papertrey Ink, the ribbon didn't seem to match as I wanted so I used some I bought from Craftwork Cards about four years ago instead lol. Papers are from Pink Petticoat and Winter Pansy matched perfectly. I have used a cream shimmer card to print onto and the same card for the printed sentiment, gives a lovely shimmery effect in real life.

This is a large card for me at 190mm or 7 inch square but I enjoyed making it and hope they like it too.

No snippets on this one unless you count the die that I cut from the left over shimmer paper and has the PP papers on the back. If you are wondering this was the card I was going to start back in August but I dodn't and I only made it yesterday, talk about disorganised.

Ingredients:

Image: Lili of the Valley

Sentiment: Computer generated 

Dies: Papertrey ink

Cardstock: "Royal Velvet" Papertrey ink

Papers: "Washed Damask" in Winter Pansy by Pink Petticoat

Pearls: Kaisercraft

Ribbon: Craftwork cards

Merry Christmas Mum

I have delivered this card now so it is safe to show on here. I made this card for my mum and used the paper piecing/tolling technique again and I think this version is a bit better as I used the template on Mariska's blog to show me which bits to cut. Mariska has recently started showing the bits all coloured ready to assemble and she takes the hard work out of trying to guess which bits go where. I haven't followed exactly but close enough. This looks very time consuming but actually it is very therapeautic not something I will be doing on every card but I will be practising again.

Ingredients

Image: "Holly" Wee Stamps

Papers: "Winter Fun" Carta Bella at Jessica Sprague

Cardstock: Recollections Kraft

Mat; Cut on cricut with "Lacy Labels"

Brads: Stash

Sentiment: "Gingerbread Lane" Papertrey Ink

Dies: "Sentiment Strips" & "Open Bracket border" MFT

Edited to add Mariska's blog link

Miss the Milk being Delivered

and this is why, I know I am showing my age when I can not only remember the milk being delivered and being able to get the top of the milk or the cream for my cornflakes in the morning if I was first up and dressed. Used to hate the mornings that anyone else got there before me and I think it is the reason I am a morning person now too.

I used this image from the Just Inklined the Next Big Thing Cd for this card and went with a more traditional colour scheme and style. I used the snippets of red card left from the various cards I have been making recently and some left over paper too.

Ingredients:

Image: "feeding the birds" Just Inklined

Papers: "yuletide" Raspberry Road Designs

Cardstock: "Real Red" Stampin up (no full sheets left ahhh)

Sentiment: "Big Christmas Wishes" Amy R

Dies: "Sentiment Strips" MFT

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Reindeers in Training

This stamp is too cute, I have made this for my cousin and thought it was very apt as she has three children. Realise now of course that I should have made the hair colour match each one oh well never mind. I used a different shape card for me, have found myself in a square card phase for a while now and thought i really should use some of the cards I bought when I first started crafting. This was from QVC and I bought 200 different shapes, only these ones and the tiny A7 left. If any one has any ideas on how to use up the A7 size other than place cards please let me know.

I have used all snippets on this card apart from the image. I was busy making a Secret Santa box for my crafty friends and used the papers and kraft card to decorate it. As they were already on my desk they didn't even make it to the snippet draw lol. Only problem was that the sentiment strip wasn't long enough so I cut it and stuck it behind the image so if I hadn't told you you would never have known...

Ingredients

Image: "Reindeers in Training" Stamposaurus

Sentiment: "Big Christmas Wishes" Amy R

Papers: "Cookin Cookies" by Nit Wit free with last years Simply Homemade Magazine

Cardstock: Recollections Kraft

Dies: "Flagstak" MFT

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Christmas Joy

Another fab image from Birdie Brown I love this ladies drawing style. Not much to say about this one except the hexagon plate had another outing, I can see me buying more of these as they are so easy to use.

Ingredients:

Image: "Joy" Birdie Brown

Papers: "Sugar Cookie" Nit Wit

Cardstock: Recollections Kraft, red from snippets

Dies: Papertrey Ink "Hexagon Plate"

Sentiment: "Big Christmas Wishes" Amy R

Challenges: Snippet Playground

And so it is Christmas

and the bulk card making begins, lets hope it's a good one...ok so I don't know anymore of the words lol. This year I decided to try and take the last minute panic and stress out of making cards for my play day buddies. I have used the same image and set of papers for each card and just changed the colour of the outfit and hair so that no two are the same. I really enjoyed trying new hair combos, I haven't gone wild and done pink or anything but I have tried to mix it up a bit. There are grey, black, brown, blond, red and even a strawberry blond lol.

I have used my much loved hexagon plate for the card base and used different papers from the set to create the background. An embossed sentiment and they are good to go. The image is one I bought ages ago from Tickled Pink stamps who have since closed their doors, however they are now being stocked by All that Scraps.

I haven't taken pictures of them all but enough to give you the general idea, just hope they like them too.

Strawberry Blonde - Y11, Y32, YR02, E33 & E50

Ash Blonde - E40, 41, 42

Ash Brown - E71, 74, 77

Brown - E23, 25, 27

Auburn - E08, 09, 19

Grey/Black - N5, 7, 9

Red - YR12, 15, 18

Yellow Blonde - YR20, 21, 24

Dark Brown - E43, 44, 47, 49

Very Dark Brown - E44, 47, 49

Ingredients

Image: "Lights Cherrie" Tickled Pink Stamps (no longer trading sorry)

Papers: "Naughty Christmas" Gennifer Burnett at Design House Digital (looks like the paper pack is gone - sorry again)

Cardstock: "White" Anna Marie, "Red" Papermill

Sentiment: "Big Christmas Wishes" Amy R

Thanks for looking

Amanda

Cute Penguins

These images are from digistampboutique and are part of October's special offer. I printed the penguins several times and really enjoyed colouring them in. I have been making lots of Christmas cards and really enjoyed it although I wish I had started earlier.

The paper is left over from some other cards I have been making and these should be appearing on my blog soon.

Ingredients

Image:"Simply for Christmas" Digistamp Boutique

Paper: "All I want for Christmas" Echo Park

Cardstock: Red Snippets

Sentiment: "Big Christmas Wishes' Amy R

Dies: MFT stamps

Challenges: Snippet Playground
Digistamp Boutique

Happy Birthday Mum

Well yesterday it was my Mum's birthday and I hope she had a very happy birthday. I always try to use a Mo's image for her cards as they remind me of myself as a little girl, the one I used last year on this card was probably the closest to me lol. But I always used to dress up our cat and push her around in my pram, in fact my mum had to get me a new pram as Kitty scratched the inside of my first one to pieces lol.

My mums favourite colour is blue so I am always on the hunt for new blue papers, imagine my surprise when I found this kit on my birthday with mum's favourite colour and my favourite flower. I have used a shaped card front and I quite like the effect. This is a large card for me as I tend to stick to small square but I enjoyed the change. I have also tried paper tolling or paper piecing as inspired by Mariska, mine looks nothing like hers but I am pleased for a first attempt and will definitely be doing this again.

Ingredients:

Image: "Dannielle with Muffin" Digital Pencil Too

Papers: "Petal Fresh" Nit Wit

Cardstock: "Bashful Blue" Stampin up

Dies: Papertrey Ink

Happy Hoppy Christmas

I have loved these cute Santa's from Birdie Brown since they were released but only bought them last week and before the sale doh!!

I have coloured with my copics and used my MFT flag stack to cut the sentiment. The background was created using my hexagon die again and papers from the snippet draw. This die is a perfect way to use up scraps.

Ingredients:

Image: "Happy Santa" Birdie Brown

Papers: "Sugar Cookies" Nit Wit

Cardstock: "Real Red" Stampin Up Snippets, 'Green" Core'dinations

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Coffee anyone

I have used another of the gorgeous MFT a la modes for this card and a whole host of coffee paraphernalia. I do seem to be addicted to these papers from Sassy designs too, they are my go to papers at the moment and I can't see that changing anytime soon lol.

I have used this stamp before and can't believe I have managed to use her again so soon, I stamped her onto a snippet of card, coloured and cut her out then stamped her again onto a piece of brown wrapping paper that I had used to wrap a parcel for posting and there was a small scrap left so I used it on the coffee cups. The background looked a little plain so I used my houndstooth embossing folder to match the pattern on the small coffee cup. I cant believe this is the first time I have used this folder, naughty Amanda.

The small cup is from papertrey ink and matches with the look so well and finally the sentiment is from a set that came free with my last MFT purchases.

Ingredients

Image and sentiment: MFT 

Coffee cup: Papertrey Ink

Papers: Sassy designs

Cardstock: "Island Indigo" Stampin up

Challenges: Snippet Playground

thanks for looking

Cheers to You....

Another of the December birthday cards all made, only another 5 to go lol. So this one is for my cousins 18th, I still picture her as this tiny baby with a loud cry and a lot of wriggling. She is still very active and can rarely keep still. She has blossomed into a lovely young woman and I wish her health, happiness and a very happy birthday.

Ingredients

Image: "Cheers to you" A la Mode at MFT Stamps

Papers: "Christy" Sassy Designs Inc

Cardstock: Snippets of Stampin up "Cherry Cobbler"
Brads: Papermania

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Gorjuss girls

I bought this stamp when they first came out and am embarrassed to say this is her first inking. I have the print of this on my wall in my craft room along with two others so I had to buy her, why then I wonder why has it taken me over a year to ink her up. I don't think I will ever understand myself lol.

I have decided to try a technique that I saw on Amy R's blog, she doesn't mat with cardstock but instead uses an ink pad to provide a break between the papers. I kinda like it but I think I should have picked more varied papers, oh well there is always next time.

I used a sketch Saturday sketch and this is the second time I have used this one, I can't link it though as it was last weeks lol. I actually made the card on the day the sketch went live but as I didn't want the recipient to see it before their birthday I am posting it today. So happy birthday Tanmo.

Ingredients

Image and Sentiment : "Hang me out to dry" Gorguss girl stamp by Santoro

Papers : "Dolled Up" by MME

Die : "Chevron" MFT Stamps

Nailheads : Josy Rose

I won some blog candy

I arrived home Friday from shopping in Birmingham to discover an envelope from Edna with my blog candy stamps and the most gorgeous card too. I have taken a picture but I don't think it does this beautiful card justice.

I just wanted to say thank you to Edna and I can't wait to play with my new stamp.

A Pause from the Christmas Makes

Every year I tell myself to be more organised and every year I ignore myself lol, I have lots of BIG birthdays in December this year and even though I decided on the images and even the papers I was going to use I still haven't made all of the cards I need. I really need to get a wriggle on as it is my Mum's birthday soon and all the cards need to be made before then so I can deliver them.

So onto the first card, this one is for my godson's girlfriend, she is such a lovely person and she makes him so happy too. I loved this image when I saw it on Mary's blog so when I was in the shop I just had to get it.

Ingredients:

Image and Senriment : "Picture Perfect" A la Mode at MFT Stamps

Papers: "Blush" MME

Cardstock: Black-Snippet folder, Papertrey ink-Lavender Moon
Dies: "Squiggle" and "Mini tab" MFT Stamps

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Sketch Saturday

More Christmas Baubles

The most difficult part of making these cards has been deciding on the colour combo, I have suddenly realised that I don't have many coloured ink pad and may have to buy some more.....I really don't have a red except the scarlet jewel which is more of a burgundy so I think that should be my first buy.

So here follows a few unusual colour combos:

Ink: Memento: London Fog & Paris Dusk

Inks: Memento: Toffee Crunch & Papertrey Ink : Scarlett Jewel

Inks: Memento: Gray Flannel & Studio G : Purple

I have loved making these cards and nearly have enough for my neighbours so need to get started on work ones, oh and friends, and of course family.....there are not enough days left, why do I leave it so late.....

Thanks for looking

Oh Christmas Tree...Oh Christmas Tree

I love Christmas and I am hoping this year I will be a little more organised and not have to resort to buying my cards...I know shock horror disbelief...I have been known to buy cards as I have left it too late to make any.

I have so enjoyed making these one layer cards I find myself reaching for the stamp set as soon as I sit in my craft room even when I have birthday cards to make...so anyway onto the cards again a variation on a theme all using the same tree stamp and sentiments from AmyR. Tried different colours not sure all of them worked but hey ho they are still going to get sent out.

Ingredients

Image: Papermania "Home for Christmas"

Sentiment: Amy R from All that Scraps.com

Inks: Memento - Teal Zeal, Toffee Crunch

Papertrey Ink - Scarlet Jewel, Simply Chartreuse

Challenges: Rudolph Day

A Candy Cane Christmas

I stamped and coloured both of these images whilst in Florida, they were coloured with my prisma pencils and I really enjoyed spending a bit of time colouring them. I forget the other colouring stuff I have and just reach for my copics but as I didn't have them with me there was no other choice.

Last week Jessica Sprague had the Santa Sleigh full collection for a $1 so I had to get it and both of these papers are from that collection, it is so versatile and I can see me using lots of it.

I made the same card but with different colours for two of my friends, one loves pink and anything girly and the other is more traditional so their cards and colours reflected this.

Ingredients

Image: "Candy Cane A la Mode" Mft Stamps

Paper: "Santa Sleigh" Carina Gardiner at Jessica Sprague

Cardstock: "real red" Stampin up

Brad: Studio G

Sentiment: " Big Christmas Wishes" Amy R 

Ingredients

Image: "Candy Cane A la Mode" Mft Stamps
Paper: "Santa Sleigh" Carina Gardiner at Jessica Sprague
Cardstock: "pool party" Stampin up
Brad: Stash
Sentiment: " Big Christmas Wishes" Amy R

Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Digistamp Boutique always seem to be able to produce really cute images and never fail to impress with both their style and ease of colouring. I bought this stamp when it was on special offer and I knew exactly who I was going to use it for. My friends little boy will be nearly 2 at Christmas and I wanted to make a card that reminded me of him. I hope he likes it.

Ingredients

Image: "Dan Xmas Frame" Digistamp Boutique

Papers: "All I want for Christmas" Echo Park at Jessica Sprague (snippets)

Cardstock: "real red" Stampin up (snippets)

Snow: Polar White Flowersoft

Embossing: "Snow" Cuttlebug folder

Die: "Notched Border" MFT Stamps

Brad: Stash

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Digistamp Boutique

Gingerbread Lane

Just wanted to say hello to my new followers and also to let everyone know I am still alive, this Christmas malarky is seriously eating into my commenting time lol.

This stamp set from Papertrey Ink is perfect for all lovers of anything gingerbread. I have long since been addicted to gingerbread men and have quite a collection, the non edible ones of course the edible ones were lucky to make it into the house lol.

I bought some gorgeous scented candles in Bath and Body works in Florida and wanted a way to box them as gifts for my friends when I realised that the gingerbread house would be perfect. I measured and scored both boxes from one sheet of card and used left over scraps from the last lot of cards for the houses, sometimes not putting everything away has its advantages lol.

Ingredients

Image: "Gingerbread Lane" Papertrey Ink

Cardstock: Recollections Kraft card, left over from some christmas cards

Candles: "Frosted Cupcake and Salted Caramel" Bath and Bodyworks

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Art Deco anyone

Do crafts had another fab freebie on the new magazine and she stamps like a dream, I do think she is a tad big for my normal card size though. I have also used the sentiment from the same set.

When I cut the gold cardstock with the retro squares die I thought the left over cardstock would make perfect embellishments. I have used last weeks "sketch Saturday" sketch as it is so easy and effective.

Ingredients:

Image & Sentiment: Do crafts "art deco" freebie

Papers: "Antique" Sassy Designs Inc

Cardstock: Snippet draw, gold is DCWV(also in the snippet draw)

Candy: Off cuts from "retro squares" die

Dies: "Retro Squares" MFT & "Elegant Edges" Cricut

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Polished to Perfection

Some cards just seem to make themselves and this is certainly true of this card. I wanted to use the Sketch Saturday sketch as it is clean and simple just like me, I normally struggle with sketches but this one is so easy to use and I can see it being a regular from now on.

I coloured the image with my copics and am quite pleased with how it worked, wish I could have gotten more definition with the hair.  The colours were determined by the snippets I had on my desk and I must admit I do like this colour combo, I was originally going to use "fine linen" from papertrey but I couldn't bear to cut into a new sheet so I used the left over kraft instead.

Ingredients

Image: "Polished to Perfection" A La Mode from MFT

Papers: "heirloom" & "christy" Sassy Designs Inc

Cardstock: Recollections Kraft

Dies: "Sentiment Strip" & "Squiggle" MFT

Nailhead: Joanns $1 bin

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Sketch Saturday 

Silver Wedding Anniversary

So this is a total step in another direction for me, no coloured image in fact no colouring or stamping of any kind. I love the white on white cards but I haven't quite created one, it did start in my head as a white on white with a silver border but it looked too plain so I added the patterned paper and I like it a whole lot more.

Once I started adding the silver nail heads I couldn't stop, this embossing folder is really brought to life by adding them too. I loved the tied together folder but by the time I decided I wanted it they were out of my price range so when I saw this one in Joanns in May I thought it was perfect....and this is the second time it has been out of the packet....not sure if anyone else does this but I sure do and a lot too lol.

Ingredients:

Hearts & Letters: George & Basic cricut cart

Embossing: "Geometric Circles" & "Script" Cuttlebug embossing folders

Paper: "Forever in our Heart" Raspberry Road

Cardstock: "Metallic Stack" DCWV

Nail Heads: Josy Rose