A look back at 2017 ....part 2

Happy weekend ........

Well we're nearly there ....... 2017 is coming to an end, and what a great year it's been.
Who knows what 2018 has in store, but all I can say is ....... bring it on!

There's already a few things on the calendar to look forward to ....... the family holiday in June.  Get the TT out of the way then it's Bourton here we come!
Plans are already being made for a crafty trip across to Port Sunlight for the Happy Stampers show in May ...... always a fun trip.
And hubby and I are talking about going back to Italy again, which would be nice. Sicily perhaps this time, or maybe Verona again ....... or both!
Oh ..... and ...... we're moving house ...... again!! Long story ...... but it's happening soon.  I'll fill you all in later.

Before all that though we still have the second half of my crafty year to look back on.
Yesterday we got as far as June, so ..... grab a cuppa, make yourself comfy, and let's take a look at August through December.

August was a busy month with more TV shows for Sweet Poppy Stencils. That of course meant new designs to play with .....

We had the usual monthly challenges ......

And I even  found time to play along with a favourite ..... CAS Mix Up

In to September we go ...... a couple of family events, a birthday for the little man

and Chris's pub reopened after a big refurb ......

with these two in charge ......

They're a great team ...... working well together and the pub's doing great!

We had the regular Blog Challenges and workshops, using fun techniques like watercolouring tissue paper ....... so pretty!

And using black cardstock .... one of my favourites .... to create simple yet stunning CAS designs

Christmas designs were on the cards ...... with new Sweet Poppy stencils 

And I was published again in the Craft Stamper magazine again. 

October ........  back from our little holiday in Croatia and it was full steam ahead.

A new Blog challenge launched ...... the new TAGplorations challenge from STAMPlorations.  You all know how I love to make tags .....

 There was the regular workshop ....... making a start on Christmas cards

I even managed to enter a few Blog challenges myself ...... Darnell's NBUS #12 (love the Christmas JOFY's)

and the CAS Mix Up challenge .....

We're early there ....... we're in to November now.
Christmas was taking over ......... I was asked by the Big man himself to do a special project for his visit to the children's Christmas party at hubby's work  ......

40 tags to give to parents, and a table top display to let them know who was in with Santa.  It's always fun being Santa's little helper!

I was also asked to be a Guest Designer again for the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll and Friends

This has become an annual event and it's always an honour to take part ...... it's fun playing along too ....

I managed to squeeze this one in whilst on a trip to the UK for the Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat.
It was so nice to finally meet Kylie,  the brains behind HLS ....... not only that more of the Design team were there too.  it was an amazing weekend!

November wasn't all Christmas though ...... the workshop was all about creating Galaxy Skies

This is such a fun technique to do ......  and each result is going to be different

Almost forgot ....... I did my 1000th Blog post in November too!  Now that's a lot of blogging!!

Well .... we've finally got here .... December
If you're still with me .... well done. I hope you've enjoyed our little review.
Obviously ..... this month has been full of Christmas projects.
The last workshop of the year had to be postponed for a week due to bad weather conditions.  We had SNOW!!!

But it all went ahead a week later, and the ladies loved it ......

I even joined in the fun on the day .....

One of my favourite Christmas cards this year is this one .....

 it has a little something extra ....... when you press on the sentiment this happens!

It was something we did on the HLS Retreat and I love it!! Will definitely be doing this again.

We also had CAS .....

A bit of Mixed Media ......

and even a festive ATC ......

Well .... I think that's just about it.  

Something I didn't Blog though was this set of special cards.

Created as I have done for the past few years for a Christmas Quest ..... I think it's safe to show them now.... they should have been received by the lady they were made for!

Now all that's left for me to do is to say a very BIG Thank You to all who have visited, left comments or become a follower this year.  I really do appreciate each and every one of you.  

I hope you've enjoyed my little review too ...... it's been fun! 

If you're off out celebrating on New Year's Eve have a great night.

We're staying at home this year ...... and everyone's coming to us!  The only way to bring in the New Year ..... with good food, nice wine and the best company ever!

 I want to wish you all a very Happy, Healthy and Craft filled New Year.  

I hope your stamps stamp perfectly, your inks never run dry, and your mojo stays with you for the whole of 2018!

See you all next year .....

A look back at 2017 ...... part 1

Happy Friday ......

Well here we are ...... almost at the end of 2017.
I hope you all had a good Christmas ...... did Santa bring you everything you wished for?
We had a lovely time here, most of it spent with family and friends ..... 13 for Christmas dinner (lucky we bought that new table!!)

I've eaten my body weight in chocolate, had far too much turkey and all the trimmings, drank way too much of the bubbly stuff and dare I say it, but I'm sick of the sight of mince pies!!! The diet definitely starts in January.
I have found some time to spend in the craft room.  I've been busy trying to get organised for the beginning of 2018 so there's nothing I can share with you just yet ..... you'll have to wait until next week.  Yes, that's right ..... January is just around the corner!

Before we start with all the New Year celebrations it's time to take a look back at 2017.  It's been another fabulous year, full of great memories and busy as always.
I thought I'd look back at some of my favourite makes from the last twelve months.
Grab a cuppa, take a seat, and let's start way back in January ......
(If you missed the original posts, or you just fancy another look then click on the links)

It's always busy at the beginning of the year, getting back into the swing of things. There's all the Design Team stuff to get done and lots of birthdays to think about.  This year I started an Art Journal ....... I didn't get as far with this as I had hoped, but it was fun and I'm hoping it's something I can go back to in 2018!

CAS ...... always a favourite of mine, along with another popular technique from this year ..... hidden messages or inlaid die cutting

On to February ...... we moved into a new house (something which we'll be doing again very soon - but more about that later!)
We had the regular monthly Blog challenges and a special Blog Hop for STAMPlorations.  I do love making tags .....

And of course there was brand new stencil designs from Sweet Poppy .......

Into March ..... my birthday month!
The monthly workshops were up and running ...... loved this particular one.  See .... those hidden messages again ......

And a little more done in my journal .......

April was filled with the regular Blog Challenges ...... love this little ATC block for the Craft Stamper Challenge

We had Blog Hops, and workshops ....... with elegant layered stamping

And more new designs from Sweet Poppy ..... this little tag card was one of my favourites

I just love this tree .....

We're in to May ..... more fun with my crafty buddies with a workshop inspired by the very talented Jennifer McGuire

We had all the regular monthly Blog challenges .......  I just love this fabulous stamp from Inkylicious, perfect for the Craft Stamper challenge

I even found time to enter one of my favourite challenges ..... CAS Mix Up

Another of my all time favourite stamps .... and another hidden sentiment (told you it was a new favourite technique)

June ..... always a busy month.  

We have the Isle of Man TT ........

followed by the traditional family holiday, as well as all the usual crafty stuff!

We spent a fabulous week on a boat this year ..... 

on the beautiful Norfolk Broads

We're off to Bourton again next year .... can't wait! 

June saw the launch of a brand new challenge from Happy Little Stampers ..... the ATC Challenge

ATC's are so much fun to make ....... and I was lucky enough to be part of the Design Team.

I did a little bit of mixed media with my workshop, decorating trinket boxes ......

And of course there were cards as well ..... love this split stamping technique which was one of my Craft Stamper DT pieces

Speaking of Craft Stamper ...... I was in the magazine in June (July issue) with a cute little 3D project ....

as well as some inspiration pieces done using the free cover stamp .....

Well ..... that's the first half of the year done ..... well done if you're still with me.

If you fancy seeing the second half, join me again tomorrow for July through to December.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.

I'm off to grab another coffee then it's in to the craft room again.

Cheerio until next time .....