Top 5 of 2012

Hi all,

I hope you have all had a wonderful christmas, with lots of goodies both crafty and none crafty. My best present was a Grand Calibur from the hubby - which we got on deal about a month back but wasnt allowed to have until xmas day!!!  - I have treated myself to a set of Grand Circles to go with it so cant wait to be able to get all my crafting stuuf back out and have a play. Little miss Abigail has been a bit poorly over christmas although it hasn't stopped her getting excited about things. Both of them have loved all their presents they received and their new tablets have been keeping them quiet and entertained lol. I myself was a bit off on christmas day and after eating a fantastic lunch cooked for us by my stepmom - proceeded to throw it all back up with the space of 10 mins, it doesnt seemed to have settled properly yet so am having to be very careful with what I am eating xx

Anyway today I am joining in with Debby's top five of 2012, Its been a great opportunity to look back over my year of cards and see how I have improved and look at different styles I have tried out. I can see some definate improvements in my colouring over the year as I have tried new tricks etc and have also loved doing a lot of shaped/easel style cards too - I hope I can pick just 5 lol!!!!

Here goes :-

 My hubby's valentines card, trying out a new shape card which I sized up and printed out a template for. I loved how the faux lace edging worked out.

 This little cutie was made for friends and love the sweet image and how pretty it all turned out. Again love the circular easel style - which was all cut by hand (not anymore)

Just love this everything about this card, from the cute little girl to the pretty papers and gorgeous flowers. 

 Love the shape of this one and the gorgeous papers and sweet image. I have been really lucky to work with the Milkcoffee girls and love all their sweet designs.

Just love the boldness of the colours on this and was really pleased with how the image turned out. 

Another sweet image and all things pretty on this one, love the cool colours 

Finally I think this has to be my fave from the whole year, love the beautiful SC image and all the gorgeous flowers and embellies. I really went to town on this card and still have it in my box as I cant seem to part with it.

OK!!!! so I ended up with my top 7 - trust me it could have been more, I really struggled to choose my fave ones as I seemed to have made a few this year that I really liked. I think its obvious that my fave style is all about the pretty things and love adding flowers, ribbon and little trinkets to my cards.

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Top 5

Hi all,

One more sleep to go, one more sleep till Santa - whos getting excited - meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!.

Anyway I am here today to join in with Debbie's - Top five Christmas cards - every year Debbie asks us to show our fave Christmas Cards that we have made, so here are mine in not particular order lol!!!

This one was a challenge set by Gill & Steve from Little Claire - to make a Christmas card using a none christmas stamp. I was really pleased with how it turned out and think I made a fab job of turning the image into a little snowy scene.

I love this cause of its funky shape and those little owls are just toooo cute - 

What can I say about this one other than gorgeous Wee Stamps Topper, fabby papers & such gorgeous ribbon 

Obviously one of my faves is Hubby's card - just love how it came together and the gorgeous gold bow!! 

Finally just love this Beach Huts image from Little Claire - not an image you would usually associate with Christmas and I also love the fabby colour combo. Plus the colouring took me ages lol!!!

Thanks for popping by my blog today.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas

Lyndsey xx

Animal Cuties

Hi all,

Well we are nearly there, I am sooooo looking forward to Christmas Day - having our lunch cooked for us round my Dad & Stepmom's so I can just relax and take things easy!!!!

Another 2 quick cards to show you today, these were made for my friend who asked me to make a few special cards for her. Time was running out (as always) so I reached for my fabby Wee stamps Toppers again.

I kept the layouts quite simple and added a few flowers and some gorgeous ribbon (my bargin from Wilkinsons) for decoration. The sentiments were computer generated.

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Stockings hung on your fireplace

Hi all,

Another Christmas card that we made in class to show you today, for this one we made the card Z fold and then cut an aperture out to swing back on itself

The image is Molly Blooms and came with a special edition mag, along with papers & accessories. The holly flourish is a Cheery Lynne and then I added WOC flowers on top. The sentiment was added after to personalise it for a friend.

Sorry about the pants picture - I have done something to the settings on my camera and cant seem to get it back right again!!!

Thanks for popping by my blog today

 Lyndsey

Circle Stepper Class Cards

Hi all,

Today I am showing you a couple of cards that I made with my class the other week, I found a fab circle stepper card on Pinterest - so decided to make a template and get the girls making those.

We used a set of stamps from Papermania Noel collection and some great papers from Avec which have fab glittery designs on them.

The sentiments are the Christmas Sentiments from Little Claire and a £12.99 for a set of 12 designs.

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Eskimo Kisses

Hi all,

Well the big day is nearly upon us, my xmas cards are all finished and I am almost ready - apart from the fact that I have a poorly girl in the house who is very clingy at the moment so not getting much of those lats minute things done lol!!!.

We did have some lovely news yesterday in that Oli came home from school with 2 invitations for the Golden Child of the Term awards tomorrow and both my kids have been given the award from their classes - so going to take Abbie down to the church tomorrow to take part.

Now today sees a new challenge over at Milkcoffee and the theme is Christmas, unfortunately with Abbie being poorly I haven't had any time for crafting this week so don't have a card. Although I am sure the girls would love you to pop by and see their creations on the blog.

So today I will show you the card I made hubby, love him to bits - he has just got me a new phone even though I lost 1 two months ago when drunk & then dropped another one down the toilet last week lol!!!!

I used a gorgeous Mo Manning Topper and teamed it with some fabby papers that were free with a magazine, the glittery snowflake is a tree decoration (£2 for 10 from Asda) and some gorgoeus gold organza Ribbon (another bargin £1 for 3 meters from Wilkinsons)

Thanks for popping by my blog today 

Lyndsey xx

Away we go

Hi all,

How you all doing, are you nice and prepared for next week or running round like headless chickens lol!!!!, I am all prepared at home but have been very busy up the school helping out with different things. I have spent all afternoon helping to make the christingle candles ready for tomorrows navitity (all 180 of them) and tonight I have brought home some books to wrap ready for santa to give out at the party on Thurs - have already spent Fri afternoon wrapping at school and will still need to go up tomorrow afternoon to finish off - I must either be too soft or have mug written across my forhead lol!!!!.

Anyways today I have a cute little card made using an adorable Mo Manning topper available from the Hobby House and have teamed it with some freebie papers from a magazine.

I have kept the card quite simple- as to be honest getting a bit fed up of making xmas cards now so I seem to be going more simple with them and adding less embellies - cant wait to get them all out of the way so I can start using some pretty papers and colours lol!!

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

How many more sleeps?

Hi all,

Today sees a new challenge over at Little Claire, how ever the card I made I cant show you as in my infinite wisdom I used a new stamp thats not released till Jan - having a right numpty week!!!!!!

So I thought I pop a different Little Claire card on that I made with my class ladies following a sketch the other week. The image used is called Sleep Tight , which I teamed with Dovecraft Vintage Christmas papers.

This cute little stamp is on offer at the moment for just £4.50, so why not get it in early ready for next years cards.

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Glamour puss

Hi all,

3 days on the trot I must be feeling a bit better, well after seeing the consultant this week it turns out that after all this time the reason I am still in pain is that my body is still not recovered from my operation and I need to take things easy for the next 3 months or so. His exact words to me were - there are hysterectomy's, difficult hysterectomy's, very difficult hysterectomy's and then yours!!!!!, so I need to cut back and rest a bit more. Also it seems that my bladder has been effected from when they had to un-attach it from my womb and I now have an overactive bladder with stress incontinence. I have been put on a bladder training plan and told to avoid certain things which can irritate the bladder - so have been banned from drinking anything with caffeine, fizz, alcohol, citrus & sweetener in it - which doesn't leave much apart from water and I have to have measured amounts of fluid at certain time throughout the day. So looks like its going to be a very sober xmas for me!!!!

Anyway today is showcase day over on the Milkcoffee Blog and our theme for this week is Party, we were given a mixture of party themed images to work with and I was lucky enough to be given this gorgeous glamour puss Tiffany in couture dress to work with.

I coloured the image with promarkers, then using a quickie glue pen added glamour dust to some of the pattern to make it stand out. The papers are MME and I made the flowers myself buy cutting a very wonky circle and then cutting it into a spiral.

If you would like to see what creations my teamies have made, please pop by the blog and check them out.

Also before I go, I have had 2 lots of very exciting news this week. One I can't tell you till Jan - but I was jumping up and down in the living room about it!!!!, but the other I can tell you and that is I have been asked to join the DT for Inky Impressions so I am now an Inkette whoop whoop!!!!

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Let it snow

Hi all,

I am having a lovely time today, both kids at school and Rich at work so am having a full on crafty day. I am hoping to get the last of my xmas cards finished off and only have a few left now and a couple to make for my friend and thats it!!!!

Anyway today I am showing you the card I made for Oli and have used an adorable snowman from the Digi Garden.

The papers are from Avec and every sheet is glittery and are so fab, I picked them up at the NEC and were on offer of 4 pads for just £10 so bargin. Me and the girls I went with all got 1 so we could get the deal. The big green snowflake is a chipboard shape which I coloured with Pro-Markers and then added a wooden snowflake and fab glittery button on top. The Son sentiment is from the Dictonary Definitions set from Little Claire.

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Owl Christmas Tree

Hi all,

Back with a christmas card today am trying to get them all finished by the end of this week so I can relax a bit next week.

Todays cards uses the Christmas Owl Tree from Little Claire and I kept the design layout very simple and stuck to the more traditional muted colours.

The papers are by Kaisercraft and were free with a magazine, the snowflakes are a Marianne Design Die and the fabby sentiment was a stamp I found in Next!!

Thanks for popping by my blog today 

Lyndsey xx

Walkies!!!!

Hi all,

I haven't fell off the end of the earth, just not been feeling too good this last week and have had no energy for crafting - I am now seriously behind with my Christmas Cards so need to get cracking really. Now saying that you would think my card today would be a xmas one, but no! I wanted a bit of a change from snowflakes and such and so have gone all pretty and feminine.

So its time for a new challenge over at Pink Gem Challenge and the theme this week is

Lavender & Lace

I went for a very girly card for this one and used the gorgeous image Butterfly Chloe which is available in store for just £1.50.

I teamed Chloe with some gorgeous papers from LOTV - oh my I really didn't want to use these, have had them for weeks and keep looking at them but not wanting to use them. Well they just went so well with the challenge theme I couldn't resist. A few WOC flowers, organza ribbon and of course some pretty lace to finish. The image has been cut out using the lovely Floral Oval Die by Spellbinders - I love this die and is fast becoming my fave.

Thanks so much for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Take it easy

Hi all,

Today sees the release of the December Little Claire Stamp Club set, this month we have a cute little set called Darling Daschunds. The set comprises of 3 images, 1 circular sentiment and 3 further greeting sentiments. On top of this you also get instructions and materials to make a card and 2 further full colour project instructions for just £8.99.

Dont forget when you join our club you also get 10% off any purchase online, instore, by telephone or at shows and you also get free P&P too.

So here are the samples I made using this set.

I wanted to make my cards as bright and funky as possible to make them a complete change from all the christmas cards I have been making.

The papers were free from a magazine a while ago, and i added a few wooden & punched flowers just to finish off.

If you would like to see what my team mates have created using this set, please do pop on over to the Blog and check them out.

Thanks for popping by my blog today xx

Weaved heart hanging

Hi all,

Its my turn to provide the inspiration with the Friday Project over on the Little Claire Blog, so if you would like to see how to make this little weaved heart wall hanging please do pop on over. I would love to know what you think.

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Bedtime Stories

Hi all,

I am a little late posting this today, unfortunately we had a little lie in this morning which then meant a mad dash to get ready for school - then all my day seems to have got messed up (why is that!!!!)

Anyway the DT over at Milkcoffee are showcasing today and our theme was couples, so we had to used an image with more than 1 character on it.

For my creation I was given the adorable image Bedtime Story - it such a sweet little image and lovely to colour too. I didn't make a card as, as soon as I saw the image I knew it would be perfect to make a little bookmark for Abbie - for when we have our little reading sessions before bed. Now I had a quick scout about and found lots of tutorials for bookmarks, but wanted something quite simple so came up with this.

Here's what it looks like in a book (ignore my boring old horrible diary!!!)

So bascially the ribbon goes in the page you want to save, and then the pretty picture sits nicely on the top of your book.

Also I was excited to find yesterday, that I won the following challenges with THIS card

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Along for the ride

Hi all,

Well its been a christmas card overload on here over the last few days, I'm still no where near where I need to be with my collection though so need to keep plodding on. I feel so awful as someone wanted to by some the other day and I couldn't sell them as I don't know if I will find the time to make all the ones I need let alone any to sell. - Why do I have to have such a big family, who expect nothing less than a handmade card now.

Today I have used another Hobbyhouse Toppers (not again you cry!!!!), I cant help it I just love them and they make for such a quick and easy card. Also I am trying to make sure that I use up the things I buy instead of using 1 item from the pack then forgetting about it - If I don't use it, I didn't really need it in the first place and I think I am trying to convince myself lol!!!

Anyway todays card uses a Wee Stamps image of the adorable little Heidi.

The papers are a right mix of - free, and old & new Papermania packs. WOC flowers, Hobbycraft wooden embellishment, gorgeous dotty organza ribbon and the sentiment is a Little Claire Christmas Sentiment Tag. 

Thanks for popping by my blog today, I will be back tomorrow with something that is not a Hobbyhouse Topper, though I cant promise it wont be Christmas.

Lyndsey xx

Daughter - beautiful, loved, cherished

Hi all,

Hope you have all had a lovely weekend, another quick card today using the Hobbyhouse Toppers. But today I have a little change for you in that I have used a gorgeous Mo Manning image on todays card. I am also having to hide this card as it is for a special little person.

Again free papers from mag, Cheery Lynn Holly Flourish, WOC flowers and the fabby daughter Sentiment from the Dictonary definitions set from Little Claire.

Don't know whats up with my camera at the mo - but alll my piccys seem a bit blurry.

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Some bunny loves you

Hi all,

I hope you all had a fab weekend despite the awful weather!!!, we had a busy one doing a bit of xmas shopping. Got the kids a tablet each for christmas and had such a hard time choosing one especially for Abbie who I didnt think was old enough for a proper grown up one, but too old for a baby one. We found a couple of good ones in the end a Meep &  Nabi2 which are grown up style but with better screen interfaces for kids and lots of parental controls on them. She had a good play with both in store and eventually we settled on the Nabi2.  Oli had also decided to have a pair of headphones for his PS3, well they had 2 pairs - the normal pair which were £40 and a limited edition Call of Duty ones (exactly the same just a different colour and the COD logo on them for £80 - can you guess which ones he just had to have!!!!.

But then I got a cracking bargin after uming & arhing for about a year now I have finally got myself a Grand Calibur (well Rich got it me for xmas)They had them on offer in Hobbycraft this weekend for just £70 which was a good bargin in itself, but then I found a 25% discount voucher in the newspaper so got it for just £52.50 in the end - so well chuffed with that.

Anyway onto my card - I am still on a roll with these Hobbyhouse Toppers and am loving using them, so I think you will be seeing a fair few more of these - well until I have used them all up anyway lol!!!

I am still on the Wee Stamps images but today have used this cute little bunny image.

The details are pretty much the same as yesterday. The papers and ribbons were free with a magazine and I added a bit of cheesecloth and a few WOC flowers to finish.

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges

Wild Orchid Crafts - Christmas card for a child

Crazy 4 Challenges - Put a bow on it

Challenge up your life - First Snow

Sitting Pretty

Hi all,

Another quick christmas card to show you today, again using one of the fabulous Toppers from the Hobbyhouse.

Todday my card uses another Wee Stamps image, this time the adorable Holly. I love how quickly a card comes together when you don't have to spend ages colouring

I have teamed Holly with some papers that were free with a special edition Molly Blooms mag, the ribbon was from there too. Added a few flowers, cheesecloth and the gorgeous Cheery Lynn Holly Flourish.

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges

OSAAT - Fabric, Ribbon or Lace

Glitter n Sparkle - Ribbon or Lace

Squirel and the Fox - Anything Goes

2 Sisters - Winter Wonderland

Hiding in my craft room - Christmas

Wrap up warm

Hi all,

Exciting day for me - its my first official challenge with team Pinks over on the Pink Gem Challenge blog.

My team mate Debbie has chosen this weeks theme and believe me it wasn't too popular amongst the girls lol!!!, but lets see how you get on with it - The theme this week is

Paper Piecing

So you must have some part of your image paper pieced to be in with the chance to win your choice of 4 Digi Images from the Pink Gem Store.

Anyway here is my card - I have chosen to use the lovely Mimi in Hat & Coat and I have paper pieced her Coat, Hat & Boots, the rest of the image has been coloured using Promarkers.

I teamed Mimi with some fabby free papers and added a few gorgeous flowers and some organza ribbon to finish - do you like my triple bow, loving my bow maker!!!!. The image has been cut out using the fabulous Spellbinder Floral Oval - available in store and at such a bargin price too!!.

Please do pop on over to the challenge blog and check out my team mates fabulous creations.

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Waking in a winter wonderland

Hi all,

Well I really need to get a shift on with my christmas cards, I feel like I have already made loads but most of them have gone off as DT samples so I really need some for myself now lol!!.

Anyway to speed things up a bit I brought some fab Toppers from the Hobbyhouse at the NEC and have made a few cards with those, so over the next couple of days I will be showing those.

The first card I think is my fave so far and features the gorgeous little girl Heidi from Wee Stamps.

I think is possibly my fave so far as I have used pink on it lol!!!. the papers are a mix of Dovecraft & Papermania and I have used my gorgeous Floral Oval Nestie (I so love this!!!). A few flowers and a bit of lace and gingham ribbon to finish off. The sentiment is from a old Papermania set.

Thanks for popping by my blog today, be sure to pop back to see some more creations using these gorgeous toppers.

Lyndsey xx

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges

Crafty Creations - Christmas is coming

Cute Card Thursday  - Girls Only

Divas by Design - 2 or more Papers

Inky Impressions - Make it Girly

MMCS - Song Inspiration (Winter Wonderland or White Christmas)

Spreading the seeds of thanks

Hi all,

Today sees a new challenge over on the Milkcoffee Challenge Blog and this fortnight our theme is

Giving Thanks

So with some of our overseas friends celebrating Thanksgiving we would like to see your thank you cards.

For my card I have used the very cute little image - Soya spreading seeds - juts love this adorable image don't you?

I coloured the image up using my promarkers and teamed it with some gorgeous MME papers from the - On the bright side pad, a few flowers and a bit of ribbon to finish.

If you want to check out what my team mates have created for this challenge, please pop on over to the Challenge Blog and check them out. You can join in the fun while your there too for the chance to win 3 digi's of your choice.

Thanks for popping by my blog today 

Lyndsey xx

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges

Crafting for all Seasons - Thank you cards

Digistamps 4 Joy - Give Thanks

Pennys Challenge - So Thankful

Sisterhood of Crafters - Thanksgiving

Papercraft Star - A Thank you

Lets Bake - Published

Hi all,

I have some exciting news to share today, a while ago I was asked by Gill at Little Claire if I would like to make a card for a magazine piece. Well the mag Papercraft Essentials Issue 88 is for sale from Thurs - but subscribers have already been receiving their copies (my friend text me Fri- to say hers had come) so I thought I would share it with you.

I used the new Nov Club stamp called Lets Bake & added a bit of bunting from the Bunting Set. The papers I used were Dovecraft Modern Christmas,a bit of red cotton lace and a couple of wooden flowers to finish.

Here is a close up of the card (ie my piccy)

Now I have to say I love the how they have done the piece in the mag - but think they may have been a bit over zelous with the timing of of the card (25 mins to make) - well I can tell you it took me longer than that just to colour the picture in lol!!!! never mind.

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Digi Garden Cute Christmas

Hi all,

My card today has been made for the Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge Blog, - The Digi Garden are sponsering their challenge today and the Design Diva's were given the opportunity to guest design for them.

Here is the Sketch designed by Marie

And here is my card

I have used Present Elf 1 and teamed her with some fabby papers I picked up at the NEC last week. The flowers were originally white and were coloured with PM's to match and the sentiment is from an old Papermania set.

If you fancy having a go at the sketch I'm sure the girls over at the Challenge Blog would love you to join in their challenge.

Also the Digi Garden have the Theme - A Cute Christmas - over on the blog and you just need to use a Digi Garden image to join in. - The winner receives 5 images of their choice from the shop so well worth entering

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Little Claire Monthly Challenge #27

Hi all,

Its time for a new monthly challenge over at Little Claire and this month our theme is a nice easy one, especially for this time of year.

Christmas

We know you're all making them, so why not enter one into our challenge. You dont have to use a Little Claire image but we love it when you do!!!

The prize for this months challenge is this fabulous selection of goodies.

                                                            Five Little Claire image die-cut sheets
                                                                             Two reels of ribbon
                                                            Two packs of coloured bling stones
                                                                      One packet of ribbon bows

   

So here is my card, I have used one of the older images called - The Robin & the Ivy

I have teamed the image with some gorgeous papers from First Edition called Vintage Christmas and my new Cheery Lynn Holly Flourish which I picked up from the NEC last week. A bit of gorgeous organza ribbon and some red pearls.

If you would like to see what my teamies have created this challenge, please do pop on by the Blog and check them out and join in the fun while your there too.

Thanks for popping by my blog today

Lyndsey xx

Ice Skating Cutie

Hi all,

I have a christmas card to show you today made using a little cutie from The Digi Garden. The image is called Emily's Ice Skates and I went for a fabby red and aqua colour combo.

The papers were a freebie from a mag a while back and they have such lovely bold, bright and funky patterns. The flower is a Marianne Die and a bit of Dovecraft ribbon to finish.

Thanks for popping by my blog today, please pop back tomorrow to see my DT card for the new Little Claire challenge.

Lyndsey xx