My Favourites from 2012

Hey guys....

Well the end of the  year has come. Every year I like to look back thru my creations and showcase my favourites -- just because....

....there's so many changes and differences in the way I create and think....as I get introduced to new products and new ideas from other bloggers. It's my way of seeing whether or not I "grew" in my craftiness... :p

So anyways....here's a few of my favourite cards from 2012. Hope you enjoy the showcase...and it brings some inspiration your way as well. :)

Pretty interesting... I just realized how very Clean And Simple my cards were this year!!!! Maybe I'll break into using more designer paper next year. I do love my Cuttlebug though.... :)



And last but not least...a project I made this year for the Fiskateer Blog Hop. I love the card boxes people are always making...and finally decided to give it a try myself. It's so simple! And with some pretty designer paper...and the help of a border punch....there's really not a whole lot more you need to add to it! I'm definitely making more of these in the new year! :)

Happy Crafting in the new year! And thanks for being the wonderful followers you are and all the wonderful and sweet comments you leave on my blog. You definitely make it worth the time to keep posting. :) Happy 2013!!!! :)

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all the timeless treasures of Christmas....
the warmth of home,
the love of family,
and the company of good friends.

Merry Christmas and
a happy and blessed New Year!

Blue & Red Christmas

Hi guys. Is it cold enough for you yet??? I love the snow-y weather...makes me want to curl up with a cup of cocoa and a great book! :) Or get some crafting in when the mojo comes round...

Today I have a pretty simple card to show off. This card started off a little on the CAS side....

...when I hit the CAS card making groove, I find it really difficult to make myself use designer papers. Ever since I got my Cuttlebug, it's been a lot of textures...and/or just stamping on cardstock, etc. when I make cards....and my designer paper gets left in the drawers...waiting...and waiting...and waiting...

Every now and then I force myself to think outside the CAS style...

I love the way this card turned out! Blueish designer paper and red -- I know the combination works, but for Christmas? I wasn't too sure, but it actually worked out nicely. It doesn't look "patriotic (American of course), does it?  I sure hope not! :p LOL

Leave me a comment and I'll drop by your blog as well. I hope I have inspired you to think outside your box a little. :) Happy Crafting :)

challenges:

Creative Craft World -- Anything Goes
The Ribbon Carousel -- The Holidays (including ribbon)
Sparkles Christmas Challenge -- Button or Bow

Color Q Challenge:

Word Art Wednesday -- Glory to God/Anything Goes
 Squiggle Fly -- Anything Goes with a Sentiment
Crimbo Crackers -- Sentiment as focus (Christmas or Festive related)
Sarah Hurley Challenges -- Christmas
Lady Bug Crafts Ink -- Anything Goes at Christmas

3 Wisemen

Hi guys. Yes, I'm back again to show off another Christmas card. I've had this stamped image in my stash for two years now, and finally decided it was time to use it! It's about time, eh?

I didn't want to do a whole lot with the background, cause I wanted the stamp to be the focus point.

Just added some punched borders and matted it on my white embossed cardstock. Not too much to this one, but I like it. Let the image do all the work...

Here's the full view:

supplies used:

Cuttlebug Folder: Argyle

Fiskars punch: Lace

Bling from stash
Stamped image from stash (not sure what it's called)

Challenges for this card:

Creative Craft World -- Anything Goes (not 12x12)
Quirky Crafts Challenges -- Last Minute Christmas
Pan Pastel -- Christmas Time

Christmas Angel

Hi guys. My Christmas cards this year are very CAS (clean and simple) type of cards. I make a lot of my cards using the Inkadinkado Christmas clear stamps -- used two different stamping sets. They were such a blast to work with! The stamps themselves have a lot of details...which I blinged up...and that's pretty much all it needed. :)

The "Angel Silhouette" is my favourite stamp from these Inkadinkado stamp sets. Angels played a big part in the Christmas story. From the angel Gabriel who told Mary about how she would conceive the Christ-child, to the wonderful gathering of angels in the sky proclaiming "Glory to God in the highest...and on earth...peace, goodwill towards men..." -- angels and Christmas just go together for me. So when I saw this angel silhouette stamp, I was sooooooo impressed! :) Just the perfect stamp for some Christmas cards...

Here are the two Inkadinkado clear stamp sets I used:

I loved how the card turned out! Simple....but striking -- especially once I added all the bling. :)

I made a few different variations -- just color wise, 'cause I loved the overall look of the card too much to change it. Here's another bunch of Christmas cards finished and ready to sign and send off! :)

 some challenges for these cards:

The Stamp Spot -- Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: What's your Favourite?
-- Stampin' Up Cardstock, Inkadinkado Clear Stamps
Word Art Wednesday -- Anything Goes 
Sweet Stampin' Challenges -- Christmas Anything Goes
 

Masculine Card using a Butterfly Stamp

Hi guys. I'm taking a bit of a break from Christmas cards today.

I wanted to make a card for one of my uncles -- was thinking of a "Praying for You" or "Thinking of You".

Now I know, those cards are not very difficult cards to make usually....

       until I tried to make it masculine.....

                         and include a butterfly stamp at the same time...

Now THAT proved to be a tough one to make!!!!

I ended up with a pretty Clean and Simple card, which wasn't what I had in mind when I first started...

       .....BUT....

                   I did manage to use a butterfly stamp on the card and still have it look masculine!!!

That's an accomplishment!!! :)

Using some orange/brown cardstock, I embossed the border with one of the "Just My Type" embossing folders. Then I layered the cardstock on white and finally on some black cardstock.  Using the same orange/brown cardstock, I stamped one of the "Fanciful Butteflies" stamps from Sweet Stamps and then cut it out with scissors. Finally I stamped a "Thinking of You" sentiment on the card that I picked up from a Michael's bin. I'm happy with the way it turned out...hopefully it'll brighten my uncle's day. :)

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Leave me a comment if you like what you see -- I love hearing from other people in the blogging world. And I'll drop by your blog as well... :)

Have a great day! :)

some challenges I found to enter my card in:

The Cuttlebug Spot -- Any Season 
I chose "Summer"
ABC Challenge Blog -- Clean it Out!
I used my "Thinking of You" stamp which has been unused for far too long!
The Kraft Journal - Clean and Simple
Frosted Designs -- 2 Stamps to Stamp with...
Pause, Dream, Enjoy Challenges -- Lost Stash
I forgot I had the "Fanciful Butterflies" stamps!

And before you head off...here's a giveaway I ran across. "THE DAILY MARKER" is giving away a "Falling Stars" craft die from Simon Says Stamps. Head on over to their blog and check out the details. 

Like I always say...you can't win it...if you're not in it! So go check it out! And good luck! :)