Favourite Five Cards 2018

Today, I'm sharing my favourite (non-Christmas) cards of the year...I've included links back to the original blog posts, so please click through for the full info on any of the projects.

Crazy Dogs
I love these little weirdos...and picked up the matching die set this year to make my life a little easier! I love to group them all together as I find it impossible to choose just one to use!

Sorry I Forgot
This card is a bit fussier than my usual style, but I love the combination of colours.

Blossom Branch
This Penny Black stamp is one of my favourites of the year, and I experimented with several different ways of using it, but this simple coloured pencils on kraft technique is my favourite.

Uplifting Occasion
Of course, there had to be a Penny Black critter in among my favourites...and although pink is not one of my favourite colours, I can't help but smile at the expression on this kitty's face!

Big Blue Butterfly
Finally, another of my most used stamps of the year...a huge butterfly by Stampendous, combined with another of my favourites...a sparkly embossing glitter by WOW, and in my favourite colour too!

Before I go, I'd like to wish all of my lovely blog visitors a very Happy and Crafty New Year! See you in 2019!

Sorry I Forgot!

Today's card featured a rather neglected elephant stamp by Rachelle Anne Miller for Crafter's Companion called 'Sorry I Forgot'. I coloured it using watercolour pencils to match some papers that came in a bag of mixed papers from a charity shop...no idea what brand/collection. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The flowers are by Prima, and are held in place using some BasicGrey brads. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Cupcakes' set by Hero Arts...and it's been in my stash for so long, that I'm not sure where the lacy ribbon is from.

Challenges for this card:

• Animal Friends - Elephants
• Craftaholics R Us - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Everybody Art - Birthday
• Ribbon Girls - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Moose!

Today's card features a cute moose stamp by Rachelle Anne Mille (for Stampavie) that I last inked up in August 2013 - eeeek! I added a snippet of stripey paper (from the LilyBee Designs 'Christmas Cheer' pad)...I distressed all of the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz (for Stampers Anonymous).

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes (Optional Reindeer)
• Cute Card Thursday - Birds or Animals
• Happy Little Stampers (Christmas) - Anything Goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - It's a Stitch Up
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Furry Friends

ABC Christmas Challenge - P, Q & R are for?

We have another fun ABC Christmas Challenge starting today...Chrissy is the host, and we have three awesome themes this month, which you can choose between, or combine:

'P is for People',
'Q is for Quick'

&

'R is for Red'

(Just don't forget the Christmas theme!)

Our sponsor for this challenge is Lawn Fawn:

Prize - a Stamp Set & 6x6 Paper Pad of the winner's choice!

I made a card for each of the three themes...the first one features 'People' in the 'Skating' stamp by Rachelle Anne Miller for Stampavie, which I coloured using watercolour pencils. The papers are from the 'Bundled Up' pad by Crate Paper...I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous.

Challenges for this card:

• Shopping Our Stash - Countdown to Christmas
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

For my 'Quick' card, I coloured an image I'd stamped a while ago...it's called 'Caroling Chicks' by Stamping Bella. I coloured it using watercoloure pencils, trimmed it down to the width of my card base, then cut the top of the image using one of my Lawn Fawn 'Stitched Hillside' border dies. The sentiment came in the same stamp set.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - Anything Goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Freestyle (Christmas in July)

For my 'Red' card, I picked an old Whiff of Joy stamp that I think is called 'Henry & Friend - Candy Cane'. Again, I coloured the image using watercolour pencils, and added another sentiment from the 'Scribbly Christmas' set. I matted it on to a piece of kraft card...having cut a scalloped border using my 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch by EK Success, then mounted it onto a red card base.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Food and/or Drink
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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

Soar

Today's card features a bargain stamp I found in a charity shop a little while ago...it's called 'Soar' by Rachelle Anne Miller for Crafter's Companion. I coloured it using watercolour pencils to match the pastel shades of the 'My Girl' papers (by American Crafts). I distressed all of the edges, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts.

Challenges for this card:

• Craftaholics R Us - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Cutie Pie - Here Come the Girls
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes
• Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Anything Goes

Heffalump Birthday

Today's card features a cute elephant stamp by Rachelle Anne Miller (for Crafter's Companion). I coloured him using watercolour pencils to match the papers from the 'Wildflowers pad by My Mind's Eye. I inked all of the edges using 'Pumice Stone' Distress Ink, then distressed the edges a little, before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The flowers are by Dovecraft, the brad is BasicGrey, the sentiment stamp is from the 'Critter Party' set by Penny Black, and the twine is from the Ribbon Girls.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Birthdays
• Crafty Creations - All Creatures Great & Small
• Creative Knockouts - Tic-Tac-Toe (Stamp - Distressing - Flowers)
• Incy Wincy - All or Nothing (I went for lots of layers on this one)
• My Time to Craft - Zoo Animals
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Sorry...I Forgot!

Ooops...I forgot my blog's birthday! Well...the fact that my 'blogoversary countdown' widget seems to have decided to change the date it counts down to didn't help...I'd checked it a few weeks ago thinking 'it must be my blog's birthday soon' to find out that it wasn't until nearly the end of the month...but I checked back to my first ever blog post last weekend to discover that my blog had it's 6th birthday on September 3rd...and not today! So...I've made this card for my blog...I'm so sorry I missed your birthday!

The image is 'Sorry I forgot' by Rachelle Anne Miller for Crafter's Companion...the matching sentiment is one of the ones that came with the stamp. The papers are from the 'Indie Chic' pad by My Mind's Eye...I distressed the edges then added some faux stitching using my CutterBe Bug and a black gel pen. The pearls are from Hobbycraft and the seam binding ribbon is from the Ribbon Girls.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Delightful - Cute & Cuddly
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp (Wednesdays) - Anything Goes

Despite the extra time to prepare...I still didn't manage to get any blogoversary candy organinsed...so I'm going to save it and have a joint celebration when I post my 2000th post...coming up very soon!

Cheeky Monkey!

I've used some more new birthday goodies on today's card...this cute 'Cheeky Monkey' stamp is by Rachelle Anne Miller (for Crafter's Companion)...and the sentiment stamp is from a set by Paula Pascual called 'Big Sentiments' (not sure why as they're all quite small!). I used papers from the 'Bright' pad by My Mind's Eye...I inked the edges a little with 'Brushed Corduroy' Distress Ink before adding some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen.

Challenges for this card:

• 2 Cute Ink - Animals
• Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
• Inky Impressions - Animal Friends
• Little Red Wagon - Happy Birthday
• My Craft Creations - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Spots & Dots
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Anything Goes
• Perfectly Rustics - Masculine Cards
• Wags 'N Whiskers - Birthdays

Nellie the Elephant...

It was my birthday at the weekend...and I was lucky to receive a few new crafty goodies to play with...and I've used one of my new stamps on today's card...it's a Rachelle Anne Miller stamp called 'Sorry I forgot' (by Crafter's Companion). I coloured the image using watercolour pencils to match the 'Blue Floral' papers (by My Mind's Eye). I distressed the edges of everything a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The flowers are a mixture of Prima, Wild Orchid Crafts, Poppicrafts and Papermaina, and are held in place using BasicGrey brads. I used my E K Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the border, and the sentiment stamp is from the 'Wonderful' set by Penny Black.

Challenges for this card:

• Crafter's Cafe - Lots of Layers
• Crafty Creations - Flower Power
• Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
• Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
• Delightful - Anything Goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Blogiversary #4 Freestyle
• Love to Create - Inspired by a Song/Movie/Book (Song - 'Nellie the Elephant')
• Penny's Paper Crafting - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp (Mondays) - Scratched Up
• Squirrel & the Fox - Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Lola with Bird

I've used  a really old stamp on today's card...it's 'Lola with Bird' by Rachelle Anne Miller for Sugar Nellie. I coloured it using watercolour pencils to match the 'My Girl' papers by American Crafts. I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Party Critters' set by Penny Black, the flowers are by Prima, the twine is by Dovecraft, the pearls are from Hobbycraft, and the buttons are from my stash.

Challenges for this card:

• Allsorts - Ladies Day
• Creative Inspirations - Buttons
• Cute Card Thursday - Buttons & Bows
• Daring Cardmakers - Old, but Not Forgotten (This stamp is at least 5 years old...and checking back through my blog, I don't think I've used it in over 3 years!)
• Incy Wincy - Birthdays
• In the Pink - Pink Plus One Other Colour (Grey)
• Pink Elephant - Use Pink
• Squirrel & the Fox - Something Spooled (Twine)
• Sugar Bowl - Colour Combo:

• Totally Gorjuss - Strings the Thing

Crafty Little Fairies - One for the Boys

This week's Crafty Little Fairies Challenge theme is:

'One for the Boys'

Our sponsor for this challenge is Handy Hippo:

I've used a Stampavie stamp by Rachelle Anne Miller...called 'Birthday Monkeys' which I coloured using watercolour pencils...I think I may have used them on a girly card once, but their cheeky little faces just scream little boy cards to me! The papers are from the 'Here and There' pad by Studio Calico...I distressed the edges a little, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The sentiment stamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

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

• A Little Bit Crafty - Man Up!
• Corrosive - In Stitches
• Hiding in my Craft Room - Use Three Designer Papers
• Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday
• Sweet Stampin' - Sketch
• Top Tip Tuesday - Stitching

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, please pop over to the Crafty Little Fairies Challenge.

Merry Christ-Moose!

I've used a much neglected stamp on today's card...it's called 'Moose' by Rachelle Anne Miller for Stampavie...I love the little squirrel decorating him with the lights! I coloured the image using watercolour pencils to match the papers (from the 'Christmas in the Country' pad by Papermania). I distressed the edges of the papers...then added some faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a black gel pen. The ribbon is from Hobbycraft, snowflake is a Marianne Designs die, button is from my stash, the twine is by Dovecraft, and the pearls were a birthday gift from my lovely friend Samantha.

Challenges for this card:

• ABC Challenge - No Flowers
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Cute
• Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon
• Paper Playtime - Use Pearls
• Stamp with Fun - Squared
• Totally Gorjuss - Bows
• Winter Wonderland - Rudolph

A Bundle of Joy

Another baby card from me today...again, we don't know if it will be a boy or a girl...so it's gender neutral. This time I've used a Stampavie stamp by Rachelle Anne Miller called 'Hoppy Spring'...I discovered to my shame (when I searched back through my blog archive) that I haven't used it in just over three years! For the background, I used a couple of Sizzix/BasicGrey Christmas embossing folders ('Plaid' & 'Diamonds')...I distressed all of the edges a little to help the layers stand out. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Art Impressions.

Challenges for this card:

• Craft Your Passion - Adorable Animals
• Crafty Creations - No Patterned Papers
• Cupcake Craft - Cute & Cuddly
• Forever Friends (Fortnightly) - Dies and/or Punches
• J & C Creations - Nurturing 
• Sketch & Stash - Sketch

Cheeky Monkeys!

A quick post from me today while my dinner's cooking...I've had this image coloured for weeks (it's 'Birthday Monkeys' by Rachelle Ann Miller for Stampavie), so thought it was about time to use it on a card. The papers are from the '72 & Sunny' pad by We R Memory Keepers...the sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' set by Hero Arts, and the stars were cut using Nesties.

Challenges for this card:

• J & C Creations - Anything Goes
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Boys
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch
• Top Tip Tuesday - Masculine

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Child's Card with Animals

We have a brand new challenge starting over at the Cuttlebug Spot today...the theme is:

'A Child's Card featuring an Animal'

I've used a couple of little cheeky monkeys on my card....they're a Stampavie stamp by Rachelle Anne Miller called 'Birthday Monkeys'. I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then added Glossy Accents to the balloons. I used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'Spots & Dots' folders for the embossing. The sentiment staamp is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

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

• 2 Sisters - Spots & Dots
• Birthday Sundaes - Animals
• Challenge Up Your Life - Zoo Animals
• Crazy Challenge - Go Green
• Cute Card Thursday - Happy Birthday
• Simon Says Stamp - Bit 'O Green
• Squiggles & Giggles - Birthday Bash
• Sweet Stop Sketches - Sketch with a Spin 
• Totally Papercrafts - For a Male
• Whimsy - Embossing

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - W is for...

It's time for a brand new ABC Christmas Challenge...and this time Samantha is our host. The theme of the challenge is:

'W is for Winter Sports'

(Think skiing, skating, sledging etc)

We have two fabulous sponsors for this challenge:

The prize from Simon Says Stamp is a $15 voucher to spend in their wonderful store!

And from the Stamp Fairy...3 digital images of the winner's choice!

I went with skating for my winter sport...and chose this adorable Rachelle Anne Miller stamp from Stampavie called (rather appropriately) 'Skating'. I coloured it using watercolour pencils, then added some sparkle to the ice using a Sakura Stardust pen. The glittery papers are from the 'Wonderful Winter' pad by My Mind's Eye. The snowflake is a Marianne Designs Creatables die coated with lots of Glamour Dust, and I used my EK Success 'Scalloped Diamonds' punch for the border along the bottom of the image.

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

• Christmas Cards - Sketch
• Crafty Calendar - Winter Wardrobe
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Bright Colours & Sparkle
• Delightful - Sparkly Christmas
• Winter Wonderland - Sparkle

For more inspiration from my lovely DT buddies, and some of the Stamp Fairy girls, please pop over to the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Birthday Monkeys!

I've used another neglected stamp on today's card...this one is 'Birthday Monkeys' from Stampavie. I coloured them using watercolour pencils, then added Glossy Accents to the balloons. The papers are from the 'Boo to You!' collection by My Mind's Eye...I distressed the edges, then added faux stitching using my CutterBee Bug and a white gel pen. The stars were cut using Nesties, and the sentiment is from the 'Sending Sunshine' set by Simon Says Stamp.

Here's a close-up of the Glossy Accents on the balloons:

Challenges for this card:

• Birthday Sundaes - Masculine
• Charisma Cardz - Boy Oh Boy!
• Cupcake Craft - Zesty Colour Combo (Orange, Yellow, Green & White)
• Everybody Art - Sketch
• Simon Says Stamp - Stars & Stripes
• Wags N' Whiskers - Stitches

Birthday Monkeys!

If this card looks familiar to you...it's probably because it's very similar to this card, which I uploaded last Sunday...different image and layout, but the same colour combo. The image is 'Birthday Monkeys' by Rachelle Anne Miller for Stampavie, and I coloured it with watercolour pencils, before coating the balloons with Glossy Accents. I used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots', 'Spots & Dots' and 'Stars' folders for the background, inking all of the edges to add definition. The stars were cut using Nesties.

Challenges for this card:

• Sketchy Thursday - Sketch
• Allsorts - Men's Cards
• Creative Card Crew - For Men
• Digi Doodles - Anything Goes
• Fab'N'Funky - Animal Magic
• My Time to Craft - Spots & Dots
• Paper Sundaes - Distressing
• Sew Many - Monkey Business
• Sweet Stampin' - Brown & One Other Colour
• Totally Stampalicious - Masculine Cards

Skating

Yet another Christmas card today...my stash of festive cards is already overflowing! :0)
I've used another of the lovely stamps I got for my birthday...this was from Uma, and is called 'Skating' (by Rachelle Anne Miller for Stampavie). I made this card about a week ago...and followed the sketch from the Stampavie Challenge...but forgot to blog it before the challenge closed! lol Nevermind, I've found some other challenges it fits...but there's quite a few so I'll list them at the end. The glittery papers are from the 'Wonderful Winter' stack by My Mind's Eye, the snowflake was cut using my Cuttlebug 'Ice Cyrstal' die, which I covered with Glamour Dust...it was a bit big, so I chopped off the ends! lol I added some sparkle to the 'ice' on the image with a Sakura Stardust pen, then cut it out using one of my deckled rectangle Nesties, and the sentiment stamp is by Cuddly Buddly.

Challenges for this card:

• Bah! Humbug! - Winter Wonderland
• Charisma Cardz - Die Cuts
• Moving Along with the Times - Glitter
• My Time to Craft - Glitter & Glitz
• Winter Wonderland - Walking in a Winter Wonderland (My couple are skating...but I hope that still counts! lol)