Favourite Makes of 2013 ....... the final lot.

Happy New Year's Eve,

Not long now until we say goodbye to this year, and welcome in 2014.  Are you all planning big celebrations or, are you like us and keeping things a bit low key.  The kids are off out, and Stephen and I are keeping an eye on the little one.  So it's a nice meal, just the two of us, then it's time to curl up on the sofa and watch a movie.  There'll be a bottle of bubbly (or two) in there somewhere no doubt!

It's been a fabulous year, busy but, I wouldn't have it any other way.  There's been lots of laughter, and a few tears.  We've travelled a few miles, and enjoyed time at home.  I've had loads of fun 'in the craft lane', with retreats, workshops, craft shows and time spent with my crafty buddies. And of course I've enjoyed sharing it all with you.

There's only 4 more months left go on my reveiw of the year so grab a cuppa and let's get started. ........

It's the month of September ......... another busy month.  Chris went back to Uni, we had another trip over to the UK which included a birthday party, craft shows, workshops and ended with Lauren and the little man returning to the Isle of Man with us.  And ..... I was in print .... again!!!

First on my favourites list is another of my Tim Tags ....... I love the colours and the texture on this one

Tag #9

Everyone was still very much into Christmas, although I still hadn't started any of my personal cards, everything was DT stuff.  This was one of my favourite Christmas makes for IndigoBlu ........ Sleeping George fast became one of my favourite stamps

how cute is he ........

along with this one ...... (it should have been in with last months really, but it wasn't blogged until September)

oh Christmas tree ......

and finally for this month .......... a canvas.

Things with Wings

Another project inspired by the lovely Hels Sheridan.

On to October ......... and another Christmas card.  This was for Less is More but it did eventually become one of the designs for my Christmas cards

always love white on white

October saw me say goodbye to the Craftwork Cards DT (I mentioned there were a few tears).

my final DT Blog post

There was also my Tim Tag (again) ........

Trick or Treat?

And more from IndigoBlu ....... don't you just love this bear!

 
Racing through to November ....... when we had the Poker Stars UKIPT (UK & Ireland Poker Tour) visit the Isle of Man.  Not only was I making cards ..... but I was playing them too!  We also had our first dusting of snow, and ........ I was in print again!

First up ...... it's full steam ahead for Christmas (finally made a start on my own cards)

another Less is More challenge

More Christmas cards for the DT blog over at Creative Studios .......

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Joy to the World

and finally my DT inspiration piece for the IndigoBlu Blog Challenge

Challenge #10

Well, we've made it to the final month ....... December 2013.  And what an end to the year.  We had party after party, including another trip across to the UK.  I was Santa's little helper, preparing his list for him, and I ran an IndigoBlu workshop on the island for a lovely group of crafty ladies.

I did find time to make a great festive project from my favourite craft magazine .....Craft Stamper.  Here it is in the making ........

 

Advent Houses

and here it is, all complete and in place.  

Ready just in time

There were last minute Christmas Gift cards to make .....

Santa's on his way

My final IndigoBlu project for the year .......

my favourite IndigoBlu stamps

And last but not least ....... I know it was only blogged yesterday, but I couldn't leave it out ..... my December tag ....... 

the 12th Tag of 2013

Phew!!!   If you've made it all the way to the end, well done and thank you.  It's been fun sharing my favourites with you, they've brought back some good memories.

Thanks to all of my followers, for all your support and lovely comments over the year, it means a lot.  I do hope we can do it all again in 2014.

.

Well, that's it ....... 2013 is almost over.  There's just one more thing left for me to do, and that's to wish you all a very Happy New Year.  I hope that 2014 brings you everything you wish for ...... and more.

  

Cheers!

Lots of love

Linda

xx

The last tag of the year ....... sigh!

Happy Monday!

It's been another fun year following Tim's 12 Tags.  Each month we've been treated to inspiration from the master himself, with step by step instructions to help us to create our own versions. 

When I saw December's tag I couldn't wait to give it a go ....... the Tattered Poinsettia is one of my favourite dies and I loved the idea of using the Frosted Film with the Clearly for Art - what a combination!!

This is Tim's tag ....... how gorgeous is this ...... 
 

and here's mine ...... my favourite one of the year ......

The colours are a lot more intense in the flesh ....... I just couldn't capture them properly on camera.

Using the Frosted Film with the Clearly for Art gives a fabulous finish to the poinsettia and it's so much fun when you heat it up...... a bit like shrink plastic except it doesn't shrink, but you can mould it into any shape you like.  And the beauty of it is if you don't like it once it's cooled, just heat it up again.

I added a couple of holly leaves in there and some ribbon, and finished off the centre with a festive bell.

I must admit my splattering technique needs a bit of work, and I didn't have Tim's sentiment stamp (another one to add to the shopping list) but I think the one I've used says it all .......

Well that's it ....... the 12th Tag of 2013.  I do hope we can do it all again next year ....... and who knows I may just get some of them done with a bit more time to spare.

Thanks for popping by ........ I'll be back tomorrow with the final part of My Favourite Makes of 2013.  Enjoy your day.

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

My Favourite makes of 2013 - Part 2

Happy Sunday, it is Sunday isn't it!?

Hope you're enjoying the weekend ..... I don't know about you but I'm losing track of what day it is. All I do know is the end of the year is approaching FAST!

Here's part 2 of my favourite makes of 2013 ........

We're starting with May this time, the month when this little island is buzzing with the thrills of the TT Races, we went on a fabulous 2 week break to the beautiful country of Italy.  And ...... I reached the grand total of 100 followers of my little ol' blog (big smile!) 

First up is my Tim Tag for the 12 Tags of 2013...... 

12 Tags of 2013

 A frame I made for one of my DT posts for Creative Studios ........

Enchanted Trees

I love how this turned out.

And a set of pretty nesting gift boxes, made using the Tea Dance Collection from Craftwork Cards .......

CWC DT Blog

On to June ........ it was still all Chianti and Tiramisu under the Italian sun, at the beginning of the month and then Christmas started early .......

 I made this box of decorations for the launch show on Create & Craft, of the IndigoBlu Christmas stamps

Ho! Ho! Ho!

But it wasn't all festive makes .......

another DT piece

July ........ the other half's birthday, a royal baby, the grand opening of the new IndigoBlu Retail premisies and our 25th Wedding Anniversary

Christmas was still a big topic too .......

IndigoBlu Stag Cliffhanger

Another entry in my favourite Blog challenge - Less is More

There goes that Memory Box Poppy die again ....... 

And of course I had to include my Tim Tag seeing as I dedicated it to hubby for our anniversary

25 years ...... not bad!

I'll leave you today with August ........ another big anniversary (Stephen's parent's 50th), and I had some of my card designs published ..... twice!!!  

Here's the anniversary card I made .......

What a milestone ....

Some of my Wedding Stationary designs published in the Create & Craft magazine ......

I'm in print!!!

And finally ....... I joined a monthly ATC swap in 2013.  I'd never made ATC's before joining Julie's Swap but I must say I really enjoy creating these little works of art.......

IndigoBlu ATC's

Well that's it for today ....... only 4 more month's to go.  

Before all that though I have one more make to share with you ......... yes my Tim Tag is finally done!!!

Stop by tomorrow and you can see how I got on.

Thanks for popping by today.  Have a lovely Sunday.

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

Only 362 days until we can do it all again!!!!

Hi there,
Have you all a had a good Christmas?  I hope Santa brought everything you wished for.
We've had a fabulous time over here ..... eaten too much, had way too much of the Christmas spirit (Hic!) and the craft room door still hasn't been opened. 
It's been the first year in a while, where all the family has been together for the whole of the festive season ...... and it's been magical.  Especially with the little man, getting all ready for Santa ......

Reindeer food sprinkled before bedtime

and a tasty treat left for Santa and Rudolph

Then of course opening all his presents on Christmas morning ........

And, not only did we have Christmas to celebrate ...... but our daughter Lauren and her partner GOT ENGAGED!!  on Christmas Day.
So we've now got a wedding to look forward to (and save up for!) And no doubt I'll have all the stationary to design and make.  It's not going to be for a couple of years though (so they say) so I should have plenty of time.

As the old craft room is not open for business ........ it's still covered in wrapping paper and Christmas ribbon ....... I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite makes from 2013. I'll try and keep it to just a couple from each month but you know how indecisive I can be.  You'll find pictures on here, with links back to the original posts (just in case you missed any of them, or fancied another look maybe).

It's been a busy old year but lots of fun, and I've loved having you share it all with me.  Let's hope that 2014 is full of the same.
So ...... Grab yourself a cuppa, pick a comfy chair, and let's go all the way back to the beginning of  2013.

January is a busy month for me, birthdays galore.  And they all start with Stephen's Mum .......

Bloomin great Birthday card

Then it's the kids (both of them!)  Lauren's was a special one this year ........

out little girl's all grown up ....

I couldn't let the month go without choosing one of my IndigoBlu DT makes ......

tick tock, tick tock .........

I loved these MDF clocks and the fabulous Clockworks stamp set that was launched to go with them.

On into February ..........  it was hard choosing for this month, there were so many,  but here they are

One of my favourite Blog Challenge sites is Less is More.  Here's one of my entries from February, very clean and simple, using the gorgeous Memory Box Poppy Die and the theme that week was Use Kraft and Kreme ......

clean and simple

Next up is one of my DT projects for the Creative Studios Blog .......

Dream BIG!

You all know how much I like to make BIG tags, and this one is no exception!

And I couldn't let Feb go by without including another of my favourite 2013 stamps from IndigoBlu .....
Elizabeth Bennet ..... on one of MDF hearts

she's soooo pretty!

March ....... what a busy month that was what with my birthday, the IndigoBlu Retreat, a couple of craft shows, and all that snow!!

Here's one of the projects we made with Kay on the retreat .......

IndigoBlu Retreat March 2013

March saw the beginning of the Lavinia Blog challenge ........

Away with the fairies .......

And another of my favourite IndigoBlu stamps .......

me and my tags again!

Love this face from the Mr Darcy stamp set ...... but if you follow me on the IndigoBlu DT blog you'll already know that!

On to April ..... doesn't time fly

This was another birthday card made for a special friend

more birthdays ....

One of my posts over on the Craftwork Cards DT Blog was this door hanger I made for the old Craft Room ..... inspired by the lovely Hels Sheridan and her paper blocking technique

pretty door hanger

and speaking of the lovely Hels ......... this went into one of her Sunday Stampers Challenges

Well done if you're still with me ...... I can go on a bit can't I?!  I think I've taken up enough of your time for now.  We're a third of the way through 2013 though.   If you've enjoyed seeing what are my favourite makes and would like to see the rest of the year, I'll be back tomorrow with some more.

Thanks for popping by today.  Enjoy the last weekend of the year ..... and if you're braving the weather to go to the sales then I hope you grab a bargain or two.  Me, I'm staying at home, well I still have the final Tim Tag of 2013 to do and I think that's definitely going to end up on my favourites list!

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx