A look back at 2018 ..... part 2

Happy New Year's Eve .......

Well here it is ...... my last post of 2018.  What a year it's been!
Before the celebrations start and Big Ben rings in the New Year, lets take a little look back at the second half of 2018.  
Grab yourself a cuppa, get comfy and lets take a look at July through to December.
(Click on the links to take you back to the original posts)

JULY ....... we had birthday's and anniversaries (hubby and I made it 30 years!), and there were lots of evenings like this, as the lovely weather continued .....

The craft room was as busy as always ...... my Uniko inspiration blog post 

I had fun playing along with Darnell's Twofer Challenge ..... is that a Christmas card I see there!

and there was also a little bit of Mixed Media, using Rice Papers, for the Craft Stamper challenge ......

In to AUGUST we go ....
Hubby's parents came over to visit for a few days which was lovely.   We had the Manx Grand Prix, and hubby went to Australia on a business trip, for 3 weeks!!
I was kept busy while he was away though ......

A new release from Uniko ......

as well TV shows from Sweet Poppy Stencils. 

There were Blog Challenges ...... including playing along with Darnell's Twofer again .....

And birthday cards to make for Alex's school friends .....

 SEPTEMBER ..... always a special month as it's the little man's birthday. 

There was also the Isle of Man Food Festival .... one of my favourite events of the year!!

And craft wise, there was Blog Challenges, magazine articles, DT inspiration and even a blog hop.
I think I was also getting in the mood for Autumn too, with the Uniko Challenge.  I love the colours in this .....

I also managed to play along with a few of my favourite challenges ...... CAS Watercolour

and the CAS Christmas card challenge ..... well I needed to make a start on my festive cards at some point!

OCTOBER ........ Christmas was in full swing with a new release of festive designs from Uniko
Here are just a few of my favourites .....

Some beautiful new designs from Sweet Poppy Stencils 

I was also featured in  Making Cards Magazine ....... one of the cover girls no less, with one of my Sweet Poppy designs

We're almost at the end of the year .... we're up to NOVEMBER
With Halloween out of the way, and Bonfire night, it's full steam ahead to Christmas. 
We had a little trip over to the UK, filled with family stuff and Christmas markets.
There was my festive workshop ...... creating beautiful baubles from Lavinia stamps

The last ever 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll and Friends was in November, and I'm so proud to have been part of this fun event as one of the Guest Designers for the last four years.  
I love making tags as you all know and I try to play along for the 12 days.   Here's just a few from this year .......
Day 6

Day 5

and my Guest Designer tag on Day 10

I also got hooked on making AT Coins ..... have you made any yet?  They are so much fun to do, and so cute .... here's one of the sets I made for a Christmas swap .....

And this little guy has been one of my favourite Christmas stamps this year ........ so much so that I made a whole load of these after he made his first appearance for my Craft Stamper challenge inspiration post at the beginning of the month

Well ..... that's it .... we've finally reached DECEMBER

This month has been full of Christmas, Christmas and more Christmas.  

We've been to light switch ons, Christmas parties, had lunch out with the kids.  Christmas shopped until we've dropped, been to see Santa, and we've even had a trip to our favourite Cotswold village ........ Bourton-on-the-Water

There's been lots of Christmas projects too .......

Craft Stamper (another favourite Christmas card)

CAS Mix Up challenge ......

A couple of quick and easy tags for those last minute Christmas gifts 

And a brand new release from Uniko ....... including this pretty holly flourish,

And a great new stencil design ......

But it wasn't all Christmas though .... Uniko also released this beautiful new peony ..... I can see this one getting used quite a bit!

Well that's that ..... 2018 done and dusted!
I hope you've enjoyed our little look back.

I'd like to say a huge THANK YOU to all who have visited my Blog, left comments or become a follower this year. I really do appreciate each and every one of you.  I hope you've enjoyed your time here as much as I've enjoyed blogging it!

If you're off out celebrating this New Year's Eve, have a great night.
We're having a quiet one I think.  I've been struggling over the weekend to shake off a head cold and sore throat so I'm not feeling in the usual party mood.
It's going to be a nice meal out with friends, at one of our favourite restaurants.  We're going to pop in and see the kids, and then it's home before midnight.  That's the plan anyway.

I'd like to wish you all a very Happy, Healthy and Crafty 2019

May your stamps be perfect every time, your ink pads never run dry, and your 

Mojo be ever present.

See you all next year!!

A look back at 2018 ..... Part 1

Happy Friday ...... it is Friday isn't it?!

Well it's the 28th of December anyway, and we're almost at the end of another year.
I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas.  Did Santa bring you everything on your list?
We had a fabulous time ..... mostly spent in the company of family and friends.  The table was full again for Christmas dinner .......

As usual, we've all eaten far too much, and drank way too much of the bubbly stuff!  And I'm at that point now where I don't want to see another slice of turkey, a mince pie, or chocolate, until next Christmas!
I just hope I can still get in the dress I bought before the festive preparations began  ..... we have a wedding to go to in January!!!
OK .... maybe the diet can wait just a few more days.

Before we get started on the New Year preparations, it's time to take a look back at 2018.
WARNING!  This is probably going to be a long post ..... there's lots of photos.
So go on, grab yourself a mince pie, pour yourself a cuppa, or something a little stronger if you prefer, and get yourself comfy.
Let's have a look at some of my favourite projects from the last twelve months.
(If you missed the original blog posts, or if you just fancy another look, then click on the links and they'll take you to the relevant posts)

Let's go all the way back to JANUARY.
I started the year with a workshop.  We used simple stamping techniques, and made pretty little calendars.  This one is still sat in the kitchen ..... I love this sentiment from STAMPlorations

There's always a few birthday's in January, including the kids.  When I say 'kids' they are 26 and 28 ...... or 27 and 29 soon! (now that makes me feel old!) 
It was Lauren first ......

and then Chris ...... 

A brand new blog challenge started at the beginning of the year ...... Darnell's Twofer Card Challenge

Two different designs, for two different occasions, using the same stamps, stencils and/or dies. It's not always as easy as you think ..... but it is fun!

In to FEBRUARY .........
We moved house (again!) 
I joined a brand new Design Team ....... for Uniko Stencils

and we had snow on the island .......

We didn't have much, and it didn't stick around but, it was bitterly cold.  Even the fountains froze in town .....

photo taken by Graham Bell

and so did some of the waterfalls in the glens .....

photo taken by Ian Sharples 

Sweet Poppy Stencils were back on the TV, launching their new range of dies to match some of their fabulous stencil designs ..... these are so much fun

And one of my favourite challenge projects was this little Artist Trading Block ..... it's the same size as an Artist Trading Card but obviously thicker ...... and it's made out of wood!

On to MARCH ...... my birthday month.
More new releases from Sweet Poppy Stencils

The regular Blog Challenges ......

And chance to play along with another Twofer ......

Hubby and I had a little holiday in APRIL ..... we went to Sorrento on the beautiful Amalfi coast. It was the first time we'd been to this part of Italy but, it definitely won't be the last ...... we loved it!
Lots of nice wine and good food.  Warm sunshine and stunning scenery.  Pompeii was amazing and the island of Capri was simply beautiful.

On the craft front there was all the regular stuff ...... ATC's

Tags .....

and a few cards too ....

Next up ...... MAY,  Always a busy month.
We have the Isle of Man TT ....... two amazing weeks when the atmosphere on the island is simply buzzing.

It was nice to see John McGuinness back ..... not racing this year but .... working behind the bar in the brand new Trackside?!!

Just kidding!!!  He came to do the official opening, and he did pull the first pint! 

May was the start of an amazing summer that just went on and on.  Blue skies and glorious sunshine.

The BBQ was on nearly every night ........ and we got our hot tub!!   

Our best purchase this year I think ..... we were even in there on Christmas Day!!

Sorry, where were we?  Oh yes ..... May
There was the usual trip across to the UK with my crafty buddies, for one of the best craft shows of the year ..... Port Sunlight. We're already looking forward to the 2019 trip!

There were new releases from Uniko .....

and Sweet Poppy .....

and I was definitely going through a floral phase I think ..... for Craft Stamper 

the Uniko challenge .....

and my workshop ......

On to JUNE.
The end of another fabulous TT fortnight. The glorious weather just kept on going .... just look at that blue sky.  And there was also a royal visitor.  Prince William came over!

We had our annual family holiday ..... the Walmsley's were back in Bourton!

As always there was the regular monthly Blog challenges and DT commitments ......

Craft Stamper ...... using another favourite stencil from Uniko

Sweet Poppy ...... with the first of their Christmas designs

and Uniko ..... with more new stencils released

Well ....... that's the first half of the year done.  Well done, and thank you if you're still with me ..... I did say it could be a long post!
If you fancy taking a look back at the second half of the year, then join me on Monday for July through to December.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.
We're having a quiet night in this evening ....... with a movie I think.  I wonder if hubby fancies a take away.  I'm fed up with Christmas leftovers ...... and I'm definitely not in the mood for cooking!! 

Cheerio until next time .....