Top 12 (plus a few) of 2012 - Part 2

Morning,
Happy New Years Eve!
I'm back with the second half of my crafty year. I think by the end of this post I may have more than 12 favourites though.  Here we go again .....

July
Two from this month again.  It's so hard to choose sometimes.

JULY 1

This is one of my cards for the Penny Black Challenge.  The theme was  Summertime .... and the living is easy.
Hmmmm ...... Summer - what's that? 

I also chose this too ......

JULY 2

A commissioned Christening card.  They wanted something a bit special, a keepsake.


August
What a hectic month this was.  I was busy with DT stuff, we had a trip across to the UK, and I also had a crafty week that was full of workshops, a 2 day retreat with Indigo Blu and a couple of craft shows to finish off.  Where do I start (I think there's going to be a few favourites here)
First off, something festive .......
A couple of DT cards that I made for the girls at Stamp Addicts

AUGUST 1

AUGUST 2

then, something from  Indigo Blu  .....

AUGUST 3

AUGUST 4

September 
My favourite from this month (one of them) is Alex's birthday card

SEPTEMBER 1

and I just have to squeeze in one of my oversized tags.

SEPTEMBER 2

October
Finally got my hands on a full set of Dylusions inks - yeah!!!

OCTOBER

November

NOVEMBER

One of my DT pieces for Indigo Blu

December
This month has to be Christmas cards, (when I finally got around to making some that is)

DECENBER 1

One of my all time favourite Christmas stamps, the Fantasy tree from Penny Black.  And I love the little glittery snowman too.

DECEMBER 2

My family card for this year - same design but each slightly different.  Love this Stampendous stamp and I also used one of my favourite, favourite products from this year - Fran-tage.  If you follow my blog you'll know it goes on wherever I can get away with it.  It's fab-u-lous!!

Last one, I promise.  My final Twinchie of the year ......

DECEMBER 3

I probably shouldn't say this but, I wish it would snow.  We haven't had a single flake on the Isle of Man, that I know of.  A frosty morning would do, I'm getting really fed up of all this rain.  But, enough of the weather, plus be careful what you wish for and all that!

Phew!  That's 2012 done I think.  And what a fun and craft filled year it's been too.  Thank you all for sharing the journey with me.  I hope that we can do it again next year.
There's only one thing left for me to do and that's wish you all a very Happy New Year.  I hope that 2013 is everything you hope for and more.

Enjoy your celebrations tonight whatever you're up to.  It's just the two of us here - Lauren and Alex are across in the UK of course and Chris is working.  So, I've planned a nice meal and, as I drink only champagne on New Year's Eve (a girl deserves as treat once a year!) there's a rather nice looking bottle waiting to toast 2013 with.

 
Cheers!
See you next year.

Love and best wishes

Linda

X

My Top 12 for 2012

Hello everyone,

Well that 12 months has gone pretty fast!  I've been looking back over my blog posts for the year and I thought it might be nice to share some of my favourites from 2012 with you. 
So grab a cuppa, settle down and here we go.

January
The month when I started my blog.  I knew nothing about blogging, my computer skills are not the best shall we say, but somehow I managed to sort it all out.
My highlight has got to be winning the Craft Stamper of the Year Competition.  Technically I suppose it should go in 2011, that's when I sent my entry off, but the winner was announced in the January 2012 edition of the magazine so I'm sticking with that. 

JANUARY

February
I've chosen my first ever entry into a blog challenge.  Little did I know then how much fun these challenges would be.

FEBRUARY

March
My birthday month.

MARCH

I love using black and white with a hint of colour.


April
April's choice has got to be my Timmie Tag.  I was so thrilled to be amongst the winners for that month.  If only you could have seen me dancing around the lounge at my brother's house - well, maybe not!!  It was the highlight of the month for me anyway.

APRIL

May 
The month we moved house (again!)  The old craft room was sorted and I was soon back in the swing of things.

Another blog challenge entry.  Our challenge was NOT to use a square, I think I managed it!

June 
I've actually got two favourites for this month - one of those dreaded men's cards .....

JUNE 1

I was really pleased how this turned out (so was the guy that received it!)
And I had to include this too .......

JUNE 2

I made the Canvas for one of my daughter's friends for her birthday.  I sent it across to the UK and Lauren had managed to get hold of the photos to go on it without Sammie knowing.  You can imagine the reaction when she opened it - there may have even been tears!

Well, I think that's probably enough for now. 
Thanks for popping by.  I know there's a few bloggers out there who do this at the end of the year. One of my favourites is the lovely Kath from The Cubbyhole  There's always a fabulous showcase of cards and this year is the best, why not pop over and take a look.

I'll see you all again later with the rest of my year.

Cheerio for now

Linda

x

Only a few days left

Morning all,

Not long to go now before the start of a new year.  What's 2013 got in store I wonder.

I hope you've all had a good Christmas, not too much of the old festive spirits.  It's been a pretty quiet one over here, nice and relaxing.  Christmas dinner out is something I can definitely get used to.  I did miss having the whole family around but, we had a fabulous meal, ate far too much though - 10 courses!!!  And the best bit was, no washing up - or loading the dishwasher I should say.
When we got back home we spent the rest of the day on the sofa and watched the whole first series of something called 'Falling Skies' - all 10 episodes!!  Neither of us could face anything else to eat, not even a "little mint wafer"!  In fact we didn't eat until well into the afternoon on Boxing Day.  The fridge is still bulging with all that 'just in case' festive food, and the Christmas pudding still hasn't been touched.  Oh well, the diet doesn't start until January.

The old craft room door finally closed on Christmas Eve (and hasn't been opened since!)  The last task on my 'To Do' list was my Timmie Tags.

Drumroll please ............ my December tags are done - whoo hoo!!  My set of 12 Tags of 2012 is now complete.

Here are Tim's December tags ......

He's made them into cards this time.

And here's my versions .......

I've kept pretty much to the original design, just added my own little bits here and there.
I loved doing the backgrounds using the metallic Distress Stains. You can't really see the shine from the metallic stains in the photograph but it is there, trust me.
   
On the snowman one I decided to add some snowflakes in the background and embossed them with a sparkly white powder.  I added an extra layer to his hat and also his scarf.   The word 'snowman' was stamped again and layered to cover up a bit of bad rubber stamping on my part, but I do quite like how it stands out.  My sentiment is a rubber stamp I've had forever, and I chose to finish off with the blue tinsel instead of the silver - very frosty looking.

The final tag was so quick and easy to do, it's all die cuts.  The tattered poinsettia is done in the same way as Tim's, grunge paper covered with tissue wrap then coloured using Distress Inks.  I did an extra layer in green Kraft-core cardstock for the leaves. Each layer of the flower has been given a coat of frosting using the Distress Stickles Dry Glitter in the Clear Rock Candy.  It's more sparkly when the light hits it in real life, on the picture it does actually look like frost.    My flourish is a Memory Box die - would you believe I don't have the Alterations one (must sort that out in the new year!) and I've added a couple of metal charms from my stash.

There you have it, all 12 Tags done!

I've really enjoyed doing these, and to have actually been amongst the winners one month too was just amazing!  I hope we can do it all again next year.

In case I don't get chance to blog again this year, I'd like to wish each and every one of you a very Happy New Year.
Thank you for all your comments and support over the last 12 months, it's been fun!!

All the best

Crafty hugs

Linda

x 

'Twas the night before Christmas .........

Happy Christmas Eve everyone,

I still haven't managed to get my Timmnie Tags done.  Spent too much time out shopping yesterday I'm afraid, so guess where I am today.
The old craft room door won't be closing just yet after all.  At least I don't have all the rushing around to do for tomorrow's big meal.  That's being left to the professionals this year.  Here's what we'll be having ........

........ looks good, doesn't it.  And no washing up to do either.

I can't believe that it's nearly a year since I started blogging.   I'm amazed that so many of you read and comment on each and every post.   Thank you so much, it's nice to know that there's so many of you out there who share my love of everything crafty.  I feel honoured to have made such good blog friends, and each and every one of you has been an inspiration.  I'm so looking forward to our crafty journeys throughout 2013.

This was sent to me a few years ago from one of my crafty friends (not sure where it came from originally though). 
So for every one of you out there ......

‘Twas the night before Christmas, I'm glued to the tree.
I'm wondering what Santa brought just for me.
Could it be cardstock or chipboard or lace?
Or a Cricut, I said, with a smile on my face.
And that's when I heard him,
"Hello Santa, " I said
"You know....good little girls
Should be in their beds."
"I know I should Santa,
And now I've got caught.
But I was just so excited
To see what you’d brought."
"Well, let's take a look
In this room where you work.
He shook his head quickly,
And left with a jerk.
I heard him exclaim
As he put his sleigh into gear.
"You've got enough crap,
I'll see you next year!"

I'd like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,  and I hope that Santa brings you everything you've wished for, I know that you've all been sooo good this year.

Love and Best Wishes

Linda

x

Here Comes Santa Claus ............

Happy Sunday everyone,

Only 2 more sleeps until the BIG day.  I don't know what I'm getting excited about, we've done it all over here.
I suppose there might be a little something under the tree for me on Christmas Day, who knows. 

I finished off the last of my Christmas cards, finally.  Poor Christopher has had to wait to get his festive creation from good old Mum! (he still hasn't actually got it yet ........ I'm going to put it under the tree for him with a little something inside)

Here it is ......

Ho! Ho! Ho!

I bought the sentiment stamp ages ago.  It's perfect, I always buy him socks and underwear (along with a load of other stuff!) - that's what Mum's do isn't it.  They're usually funny ones though - this year here's got 'Where's Wally?' (he won't be impressed that I've put that on here - at least I didn't put a picture though.  I did think about it - hee hee!)

The stamp's by Stampendous and I just couldn't resist it.  I've teamed it up with one of my all time favourite Christmas stamps - Santa Collage by Rubber Stampede (not sure if it's still available - I've had mine forever).  The word 'Believe' is from the new SU set 'Snowflake Soiree'
As time was running out I've kept the design quite simple, just some matting and layering with festive coloured papers, and added a bit of sparkle with some of the SU Glitter paper in the champagne.  I love this stuff as it doesn't shed when you cut it, and it's sooo sparkley. (I have it in every colour!)

The inside has been decorated to match ......

....... with one of the new Hero Arts Christmas sentiments, and, I had to put some socks in there too!

Well that just leaves me one more crafty job to do before I close the old craft room door for the Christmas break .......  my Timmie Tags. 
Yes, I still haven't got around to doing them yet.  There's 2 this time too - eeek!
Everything's ready to go, it's just a case of making the time to sit down and do them.  Hopefully I'll get in there later.

Thanks for taking the time to visit today.  Enjoy your Sunday.

Cheerio for now

Linda

x

The last Twinchie ........ for this year!

Hi everyone,

I'll keep this short and sweet as you're probably all busy with your last minute Christmas preparations.  I can't believe that I have nothing to do, the weekend before Christmas.
All the shopping is done, and the presents are wrapped (those that have been left for Christmas Day No 2 that is!). 
I don't even have to prepare for Christmas dinner, Stephen and I are off out for the first time ever.  It's going to feel so strange on Christmas Day not to spend most of it in the kitchen - I can't wait.

Before all that though I do have a few bits and bobs that need finishing off in the old craft room.  One of the things on my list is the final Show Us Your Twinchie Challenge of the year.
Challenge #12 is .......

'Let it Snow'

I probably shouldn't say this but, I wish it would snow!  I'm fed up of all this rain.  I don't think we'll get much over here though - famous last words!!

Anyway, here's my final twinchie of 2012 ........

You can't tell in the photo above what size it is, but it is only 2x2 ......

........honest!

I did the background with Distress Stains - Broken China and Brushed Pewter.  I put the stains down directly onto my craft sheet, spritzed with water then swiped my piece of card through the stains.  I did this a couple of times, drying with a heat tool in between.

The sentiment is from Penny black, stamped in Jet Black Archival ink, then the snowflakes are from a retired Stampin Up! set called Serene Snowflakes, and have been stamped using Versamark then sparkley embossing powder over the top.

A touch of Glamour Dust around the edge finishes it off.

As of January next year the Twinchie Challenge is changing to a monthly challenge, starting on the 5th of every month and ending of the 4th of the following month.  So we'll have more time to design our Twinches - maybe I'll get around to doing the three that we're allowed each month.

Enjoy the weekend.  I'm off now to make my last Christmas card.  My poor son Christopher still hasn't had his.  He's said not to bother if I don't have time, but I can't leave him out now can I!?  Plus, I bought the stamp speacially.

Cheerio for now

Linda

x

It's oh so quiet ......

Hi everyone,

Well, that's our early family Christmas over with.  Lauren and Alex flew back to the UK this afternoon.  I'm missing them already.  The house seems really quiet without the little man shouting 'Grandma' every two minutes.
We've had a lovely few days with them though.  A real family Christmas!

We took him to the Kids Christmas Party on Sunday, organised by Stephen's works.  It was lovely.  Santa popped in for a while, along with one of his little helpers.  He had his list with him too, no doubt it had been checked twice!  It had all the childrens names, a photo and whether they'd been Naughty or Nice.

Alex was most impressed to find that he was in there.

This list was something that Santa asked me to make for him last year, and the kids loved it so much we updated it again this year ........

Santa Claus is coming to town .......

he's makin' a list, and checkin' it twice ......

he's gonna find out who's naughty or nice

After Santa Claus, decorating cupcakes - twice!, magicians, fake snow and polar bears, there was the face painting .......

Alex wanted to be green, his mum suggested a lion, so ...... we got a green lion, with sparkles too.  I can't believe how still he sat whilest the lady did this.

We've played Christmas carols with Grandad ........

Done our own little solo spot ......

Opened presents everyday ..........

Had Christmas dinner, number one .........

Then opened even more presents ........

Oh no!  It's a Gruffalo ......

Overall we've had a busy few days.

I haven't been able to spend much time in the old craft room but I did make these ........

Can't leave the reindeer out now can we. 
Alex took them home with him - one for him and one for his little friend Abbi, to sprinkle on Christmas Eve.  Sooo cute!!

I'm home alone this evening. Stephen is out on his office Christmas Do, so that means he won't be back until the early hours - probably full of Christmas spirits (oh joy!).

Well, I've got a nice glass of red waiting for me now, so I'm off to put my feet up and catch up with this weeks soaps.

Enjoy your evening, and I'll see you all again soon.

Christmas Hugs

Linda

x

All done at last!

Happy weekend everybody!!

Phew!!  What a busy week that was.  I did it though, everything on last week's 'To Do' list was done, well that is apart from the ironing!
All my Christmas cards are done and posted, apart from one.  Most of the presents are bought, wrapped and are sat under the tree. (I'm already having to fight Lauren off them though).  And I've made a start on the big food shop.  We're doing the family Christmas Day next Tuesday, as the kids won't be around on the 25th.  So first job next week is pick up a turkey.

Weekend though is for relaxing - well, as relaxed as it can be with this young gentleman running around .......

Yes he's back on the island, and it looks as though he's already made himself at home.  I don't usually allow standing on the kitchen table but he was singing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' at the time and he sounded so cute.  I'm looking forward to spending as much time as I can with him this week.
We're off to a Christmas party with him tomorrow (Sunday), and the big guy with the red suit and the white beard is going to be there, but more about that later.

I'm so glad that Mr Mojo finally decided to make an appearance. I was beginning to think that I'd have to go to that well known shop on the high street and buy some  cards. (oh no!)  At least the family Christmas cards turned out ok.  The design was the same, but each of them was slightly different.

 And this is Alex's Christmas card ........

.......... All done with the help of the Cricut machine.

and a touch of Fran-tage of course.

I used the Printers Block Clear stamps from Craftwork Cards to do his name ......

Well I've just one more card to make and then that's it for this year.  I'll keep you posted on how that goes.

Time for hot crumpets and coffee now I think.  Alex says it's time that Grandad got out of bed, and I agree.

Have a lovely weekend, and I'll see you all again soon.

Cheerio for now

Linda

x