Happy New Year

Well the end of 2014 didn't quite go as planned and my Christmas cards ended up sadly being a bit rushed.  However it is now 2015 and may I take this opportunity to wish everybody a very happy 2015! May it bring everything you hope and wish for and more. 

Because the end of 2014 didn't quite go as planned I haven't had time to start my Scrapbook from our honeymoon back in September - therefore that is another thing on my to-do list for 2015!

I have had quite a busy Christmas period - and whilst I haven't had a lot of time for crafting I did manage to teach myself to Crochet - and think I am finding this even more relaxing than I do knitting.  So this is another thing on my can do and enjoy list ... just need to make sure I actually complete all the projects I start. 

I have also used some of my Christmas money to treat myself to some Project Life supplies. This is another craft that I wish to undertake in 2015.  I have also enrolled in a Big Picture Class to help get me started.

Therefore I have decided as well as my new years resolution to actually complete the project I start. I have decided to set myself a challenge for 2015:

In 2015 I plan to complete 52 projects of things that I love -  that's the equivalent of 1 one project a week (although I am not going to hold myself to that time-scale therefore some weeks I may not complete any and others more than 1).

These projects may be any of the below:

• A Card
• A Knitting Project
• A Bake
• A Photograph
• A Scrapbook Page from our Honeymoon
• A Crotchet Project
• A Project Life Page

I know the list above is a bit varied - but they are all "crafty" things that I enjoy, and the photo's will go hand in hand with the Scrapbook / Project Life projects.  I know 52 also doesn't sound a lot - but my husband and I have a very busy life and therefore for me this will be quite a challenge.

Because of my change in direction to incorporate a variety of things that I enjoy.  I am debating starting a new blog for the 2015 year using Wordpress (I used wordpress to blog our honeymoon blog and got on well with it).  This is something I am still pondering about and will decide over the next few days.  

In the meantime I want to share a photo with you that I took a few days ago (not one of my 52 challenges) when the hubby and I went for a walk at The Wild Place Project.

Happy New Year!

Have a Great 2015!

Joy to the World

The second card I have managed to create this afternoon - a nice clean and simple card.

For this card I used the following challenges as inspiration:

• Simon Says ... Anything Goes 

• Less is more Week 196 - Non Traditional Christmas Colours 

•  Sketch Saturday Week 334 sketch below

For this card I used the following from my stash:

• Kraft A5 Card
• Joy to the World Sentiment Stamp (not sure where I got this one from)
• Silver Stamp Ink
• General Buttons
• Starry Night Stickles

I hope you enjoy this CAS card. 

Wet and Windy November Christmas Card

Well as here in Bristol it is a wet and windy day I decided to take the opportunity to make some Christmas cards.  I have already made a good start on my Christmas cards and have made 25 out of 50 but its time to start on the more personalised ones for closer friends and family.

I decided I would also use a couple of challenge blogs for added inspiration. This card used:

• Simon Says ... Anything Goes
• and a sketch from Mojo Monday- sketch 469

For this card I used the following from my stash:

• A5 white card (not quite the dimensions of the sketch but dimensions that worked for my design).
• Pearlescent Purple and Silver Card
• Papermania Kraft Card
• Hobbycraft Penguin Toppers
• Baking Paper from Lili of the Valley Snow Princess 8x8 paper
• Hobby craft Christmas Washi tape 
• Stardust and Twilight Stickles.
• Hunkydory frosted morning sentiments.

Here is my finished design - I hope you enjoy.

Birthday Girl

This weekend sees the Birthday of the hubby's mates wife.  So time to make a card ...

I gained inspiration for this card from the following blogs:

• All Sorts Challenge Week 249 - Purple Passion
• Daring Cardmakers - Light as a Feather
• Crafts 4 Eternity 176 - To Die For
• CAS-ual Fridays 131 - Three Thirds
• Mojo Monday 346 - Sketch as below

Purple is my favourite colour so the Purple Passion challenge was a must for me.  As soon as I saw the sketch and the Light as Feather challenge I knew I had the perfect design.  I used some old paper stock on a purple card to give a nice backing.  I used my die cut to shape to cut my circular design and stuck 3 feathers to it along with the "Happy Birthday" Sentiment onto the die cut.  I then cut the 2 strips to put behind it from some pink pearlescent card stock and attached jewels. I cut a further strip for the border strip on the left hand side and 3 more jewels.

I hope you enjoy the design I certainly enjoyed making it and am very pleased with the results - simple and elegant.

Girls Birthday

Well this weekend we are off to a friend daughters 6th birthday (she was also our flower girl).  So I needed to make a birthday card for her.

 I found a digi-stamp I had for ages but not used and thought it would be perfect.  I coloured it using pro-markers and backed it on some old purple card stock that I have.  I put this together with the card and some forever friends ribbon.  I die-cut a circular shape and made a 6 from jewels.

I used the following challenges as inspiration:

• Simon Says - Anything Goes
• Sketch Saturday - Week 308 - sketch as below

I hope you like my creation below:

21st Birthday Celebration

Tomorrow sees the 21st Birthday of the hubby's cousin, so I have made him a card to help him celebrate. For this card I used a digi stamp which I got free with a magazine and coloured using my pro-markers.  I used some old blue card stock and blue ribbon along with the sentiment.

I used the following challenges for inspiration for this card:

• Simon Says Stamp - Keep it Clean and Simple
• Handmade Harbour - Midweek Papercraft Party (34) - Birthday or Best Wishes

This is the card I created.

Happy Anniversary

Well the 23rd of April saw my mates 3rd Wedding Anniversary.  Her and her husband were busy holidaying in America for their anniversary so that gave me a little extra time to get the card done, but I am planning on sending her card and presents up to her in the next couple of days so thought I had better get it done.

I would like to enter the card in the following challenges:

• Twisted Tuesday Challenge 2TC75 - Black/White and one more
• Simon Says - Keep it clean and simple

I hope you like the card below.  I used some black card blanks I had, some purple card stock I had left over from my wedding invites and some die cuts for the bride and groom image.