Favourite Five Cards 2025

As has become traditional on New Year's Eve, I'm sharing my favourite five cards of this year. As I look back through my blog posts, I always find it interesting to see if any themes have emerged in my cardmaking over the course of the year. Whilst there are still plenty of cute critter cards, I used more die cuts this year, and my cards have become increasingly clean and simple.

All of the photos are linked to the original blog post, so please click through for more information.

My first card is from February, and features (unusually for me) die cuts as the main focus. I love the modern shape of these floral dies...and they're great for using up little snippets of card & paper!

My second card is from May, and features several things that I love (and usually make it onto at least one of my favourite cards each year) - Distress inks, gold embossing and the big butterfly stamp!

My next card is actually a bookmark...I'm an avid reader, and always like to have plenty of bookmarks handy...and they're a great way to use up offcuts of card! This one features a favourite floral stamp, and Cosmic Shimmers that I've used many times this year.

Of course, there's a Penny Black image amongst my favourites, and the next card, from August, features a 'new to me' stamp called 'Surprise!' I also love the colour in these floral papers.

My final card is from November, and although I've made a lot of one layer cards this year, I love the effect the added layer gives on this CAS card.

I'm going to link up this post over at Ellie's I Spy With My Little Eye - Favourite Creations of the Year.

I posted my Favourite Five Christmas Cards here last week, if you'd like to take a look.

Finally, thanks to everyone who has visited and taken the time to comment on my blog this year - I wish you all the very best for the New Year!

Little Snowy Gift Tag

I have a little gift tag to share today...featuring a Penny Black snowman stamp from the 'Holly Jolly' set. I stamped him onto a snippet of watercolour paper, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then carefully cut around the top of the image. I stamped my Simon Says Stamp 'Falling Snow' background stamp onto a kraft tag using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using white embossing powder. I added the snowman to the tag, then carefully trimmed the excess before adding some pink baker's twine to attach it to the gift.

Here it is on the present:

Challenges for this tag:

• Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
• I Spy With My Little Eye - Something Festive for Christmas
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Jingle Bells

I have another Christmas card to share today...this one is inspired by the Banner over at the Jingle Belles Challenge, which looks like this:

I started by stamping a large 'Jingle Bells' sentiment (using a stamp from a Colorado Craft Company set) in the centre of a piece of aqua coloured card, using a white pigment ink, then heat embossed it using 'Diamond White' embossing glitter from WOW. I then stamped snowflakes around the edges using stamps from the 'Snowflake Edges' set by Simon Says Stamp using 'Speckled Egg' Distress Ink. Once dry, I stamped some more of the snowflakes over the top using white pigment ink, and embossing them with more 'Diamond White' embossing glitter. I distressed the edges, then matted it onto some teal card before adding it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Stamps
• Allsorts - Focal Sentiment
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Creative Knockouts - Snow Much Fun
• Creative Moments - Add Some Sparkle
• Everybody Art - Glitter
• Fab 'N' Funky - Glitter
• Jingle Belles - Banner Inspired
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Expressive Poppies

Today's card features a poppy stamp from Penny Black called 'Expressive'. I stamped it onto black card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using 'Metallic Gold' embossing powder form WOW. I added a sentiment, using a stamp from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp, embossing it in gold to match, then painted the flowers using Cosmic Shimmers mica pigments mixed with a little water. I matted it onto some gold mirror card, then added it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Fab 'N' Funky - Clean & Simple
• Just Us Girls - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Thinking of You
• Sweet Stampin' - Red for Remembrance

Navy & Silver Snowflakes

Today's card features a sentiment stamp from a Colorado Craft Company set that I picked up in a charity shop last week. I stamped it onto navy card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using metallic silver embossing powder from WOW. I stamped snowflakes around the edge using stamps from the 'Snowflake Edges' set by Simon Says Stamp, embossing them in silver to match. I matted it onto some silver mirror card, then added it to a white card blank.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Quick Cards
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Jingle Belles - Snow
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Clean & Simple

Together

Today's card features a lovely Penny Black floral stamp called 'Together'. I inked it up using Distress Inks ('Uncharted Marine', 'Dusty Concord' and 'Rustic Wilderness'), spritzed it with a little water, then stamped it onto watercolour paper. I added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Elliebelle's Crafty Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Clean & Simple

Dandelion Dreams

Today's card features a stamp from a set by Sentimentally Yours called 'Dandelion Dreams', which I picked up in a charity shop a couple of days ago. I stamped it onto a snippet of navy card using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using silver embossing powder from WOW. I added a sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp, embossing it in silver to match. I matted the navy panel onto a snippet of silver mirror card, then added it to a white card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - Anything CAS
• Allsorts - Anything Goes
• Inkspirational - CAS (Optional 'Flowers')
• Krafty Chicks - CAS
• Sparkles Forum - CAS
• We Love Stamping - Flowers

Joyful Snowflakes

I have a Christmas card to share today. I started by stamping my Simon Says Stamp 'Outline Snowflakes' background stamp onto watercolour paper using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using white embossing powder. I wet the whole paper with some clean water, then loosely painted the background using 'Picked Raspberry', 'Wilted Violet' and 'Salty Ocean' Distress Inks, allowing the colours to blend. Once dry, I trimmed it into a square, and distressed the edges a little before adding it to a white card blank. I cut a sentiment using a Penny Black die called simply 'Joy' from a snippet of white card, and a couple of snowflakes using dies from the Tim Holtz/Sizzix 'Paper Snowflakes - Mini' set, then added those to the background.

Challenges for this card:

• Aud Sentiments - Tags and/or Christmas in July + Sentiment
• Crafty Gals Corner - _____________ in July (Christmas)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - Use a Die Cut
• Krafty Chicks - Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Embossing
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes

Sketched Flowers Bookmark

I have a bookmark to share today...made from a snippet of kraft card left over from making a square card blank from an A4 sheet of card. I trimmed it down a little, then stamped a music background stamp from Hero Arts onto it using 'Smokey Gray' Versafine ink. I then stamped my Simon Says Stamp 'Sketched Flowers' stamp over the top using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using metallic gold embossing powder from WOW. I added stamped sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Sending Sunshine' set (also by Simon Says Stamp), embossing it in gold to match, then coloured the flowers using metallic watercolour paints in shades of pink and purple.

It's wonderfully shiny, but that makes it tricky to photograph, but here's another angle that shows the colours a little better:

Challenges for this bookmark:

• As You Like It - Favourite Non-Card Project (I often give books as gifts, and always like to make a bookmark to go with it)
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Fun with Paint
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Emboss It
• Stamping Sensations - Summer Flowers

Watercolour Snowflakes

I have a Christmas card to share today...made using a lovely snowflake stamp from the 'Snowflake Edges' set by Simon Says Stamp. I stamped it onto a snippet of watercolour effect paper from the 'Happy Watercolours' pad from The Works using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it in white. I tore around the edge of the snowflake image, then added it to a white linen card blank. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Winter Blessings' set by Crafter's Companion.

Challenges for this card:

• AAA Cards - Anything CAS Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas
• Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Everybody Art - Christmas in June
• Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Expressive Poppies

Today's card features a Penny Black stamp called 'Expressive'. I stamped it slightly off the edge of a piece of watercolour paper, then coloured the flowers using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp, then lightly distressed the edges before adding it to kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• As You Like It - Sentiment or Not? (Whilst it's handy to have some cards without sentiments stashed away just in case, I feel that most of the time a card doesn't look 'finished' without one)
• Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Fur, Feathers & Flowers
• We Love Stamping - Nature

Sketched Flowers

Today's card features one of my favourite floral stamps called 'Sketched Flowers' by Simon Says Stamp. I stamped it onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment using a Hero Arts stamp that I found in a charity shop at the weekend. I watercoloured the image using lots of Distress Inks (Mustard Seed, Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, Chipped Sapphire, Tumbled Glass, Festive Berries, Picked Raspberry, Pine Needles, Evergreen Bough & Cracked Pistachio), then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this catrd: 

• Addicted to CAS - Birthday
• C.R.A.F.T. - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Little Red Wagon - Flowers
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Bright & Cheerful

Guest Designer - Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge

And, I'm back with another Guest Designer post...this one is for Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge, where the theme this fortnight is as always:

'Anything Goes'

I started with a piece of paper from the 'Ink Drops Vivid' pad from Craft Consortium, then stamped my 'Floral Garden' stamp from Simon Says Stamp onto it using Versamark ink, and then heat embossing it in white. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Brushstroke Expressions' set by My Favorite Things', heat embossing in white to match. I distressed the edges, then added it to a white card blank.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Everybody Art - Birthday
• Love Those Pretty Papers - Anything Goes (Optional 'Florals')
• Stamps + Fun = Creativity - Flowers

For more inspiration, please pop over to the Penny's paper Crafty Challenge blog.

ABC Christmas Challenge - H & I are for?

We have a fun new ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Carol is the host, and the themes are:

'H is for Ho Ho Ho!'

(Santa)

&

'I is for Ice'

This is the prize for the lucky winner:

For my 'Ho Ho Ho!' card, I used stamps from the 'St. Nick' set by Jane's Doodles. I stamped them onto watercolour paper, along with a sentiment from the 'Santa's Delivery' set from the 'Christmas in Moonbeam Meadow' collection by Crafter's Companion, then coloured them using watercolour pencils. For the background, I used papers from the 'Christmas Multistack' by DCWV...I distressed the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

For my 'I is for Ice' card, I selected an ice skating bear stamp from the 'Beary Merry Christmas' set by Funky Fossil. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, along with one of the sentiments from the set, drew a line for icy ground using a black gel pen, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I stamped my 'Falling Snow' background stamp by Simon Says Stamp onto a kraft card blank using Versamark Ink, then heat embossed it using white embossing powder. I carefully trimmed around the top of the bear image, then added it over the top of the stamped background.

I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:

• Alphabet Challenge - Z is for Zoom (Second card only)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes (First card only)
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes (First card only)
• Polkadoodles - Anything Goes (Second card only)
• The Holly & the Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes (Second card only)

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Happy Mother's Day

Today I'm sharing the card I made for my Mum for Mother's Day. I used a Simon Says Stamp stamp called 'Floral Garden'...it's a huge stamp, so I stamped part of it onto a snippet of kraft card, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using stamps from the 'Graffiti Alphabet' set by Paper Smooches, then distressed the edges before adding the panel to a kraft card blank.

I made a matching tag,  by stamping an even smaller section of the stamp onto a kraft tag, colouring it to match the card, and adding some Baker's twine to attach it to the gift.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Anything Goes (Optional 'Spring Flowers')
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes (card only)
• Creative Moments - For a Special Lady
• I Spy With My Little Eye - The Dawn of Spring
• My Time to Craft - Celebrate Someone Special
• Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
• Simon says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Female

Snowflake Edges

I have a simple one layer Christmas card to share today, made using one of the stamps from the 'Snowflake Edges' set by Simon Says Stamp. I stamped it along the folded edge of a smooth white card blank using Versamark ink, then heat embossed it using white embossing powder. I blended 'Broken China' Distress Ink over the top of the embossed area, then once dry added a stamped sentiment using one of the stamps from the 'Festive Phrases' set by Funky Fossil.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Gals Corner - Fill in the Blank 'Snow.....' (Snowflakes)
• Little Red Wagon - A is for Anything Goes
• Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Peace on Earth Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• The Sisterhood of Crafters - Snowflakes
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes (Optional 'CAS')

Iris Bouquet

Today's card features a lovely floral stamp I received for Christmas called 'Iris Bouquet' by Judikins. I stamped it on to watercolour paper, then coloured it using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Sketched Flowers' set by Simon Says Stamp, then distressed the edges a little before adding it to a kraft card blank.

Challenges for this card:

• Alphabet Challenge - T is for Thank You
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Optional 'CAS')
• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Something New
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes (Optional 'Hand Coloured Image')

PBSC December - Anything Goes (Optional 'Winter Wonderland')

It's the first Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for a new Penny Black Saturday Challenge...where the theme is:

'Anything Goes'

or

'Winter Wonderland'

As usual, we are sponsored by the awesome 1-2-3 Stitch:

Prize - a $20 voucher!

For my card, I started by stamping one of the cute snowmen from the 'Snow Much Fun' set on to a snippet of watercolour paper. I used a black gel pen to draw a line for the snowy ground, then coloured him using watercolour pencils. I added a sentiment using a stamp from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, then carefullyn cut around the top of the image. For the background, I stamped my Simon Says Stamp 'Falling Snow' background stamp on to a kraft card blank using Versamark ink, then heat embossed in white, before adding the snowman over the top.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Let it Snow
• Krafty Chicks - Stamps
• Sparkles Forum Christmas - Feature a Christmas Song/Carol ('Winter Wonderland')
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes (Optional 'Winter')
• We Love Stamping - Anything Goes (Optional 'Winter')

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.