My Favourite 5 cards of 2011.

Debby at A Scrapjourney has challenged us to show our favourite five cards of 2011

It was quite difficult to pick just five but here goes!

So there it is.... one crafty year in 5 pictures!

Happy New Year!!!

 to you all.

Sketch Saturday ~ # 188 with The Craft Barn.

I'm sure we are all rested after our weeks break for Crimbo 

and you've all had enough time to sleep off you Christmas lunch and prepare for this evenings festivities. We are having a quiet affair just Me James and Aiden as the girls are with their Dad!

This week at Sketch Saturday we have one of our regular monthly sponsor back with us.

Three cheers for....

The Craft Barn!

This weeks winner will win a co-ordinated embellishment bundle:
Artemio Ribbons Boy, Artemio Blue Ric Rac ribbon pack, Artemio light blue tassels, pack of blue buttons, Artemio blue flowers, box of wooden embellishments, a selection pack of extra large brads and a jar of blue Beadazzles.
All these goodies have a total value of almost £23

AMAZING prize eh?
Massive thanks go to The Craft Barn xx

Now onto this weeks Sketch!

Today's Challenges are:

One Sweet Challenge, Charisma Cardz,  Simon Say's Stamp,  Crafts & Me and Creative Inspirations ~ Anything Goes.
Stampavie & More ~ Hearts.
Kaboodle Doodles ~ Angels or Fairies.

Ingredients:

PP ~ Pink Petticoat.
Stamps ~ Sweet Pea and Stampin Up!
Ribbon & Pins ~ eBay.
CS ~ Core'dinations.
Stickles & Copic's. 

Seasons Greetings.

I just popped into wish you all

A Very Merry Christmas

and a 

Happy New Year!

I shall be taking a break for a few day's as I shall be soooo busy, so this blog will re-commence on New Years Eve!

Christmas Baking! pt 2

OK,OK, so my icing leaves a lot to be desired but, Hey I had a go!!

Next time I need a smaller nozzle and 

maybe I should do the doors and windows before the house is put together!

After all it is only going to get smashed up later anyway!

These look a lot nicer though!

Mary Berry's Christmas Cupcakes with Brandy Butter Icing.

Kit bought from Tesco for £2.50, BARGAIN!!!

My absolutely last Christmas card this year!

I suddenly occurred to me this afternoon that I hadn't made a card for Aiden.

So a quick dash out into the craftroom this afternoon to make this....

Its Lego Santa!

Today's Challenges are:

Crazy4Challenges ~ Santa.

Crafty Hazelnut, Everybody Art, & Charisma Cardz ~ Anything Goes!

Dream Valley, Papertake Weekly, Jingle Belles and Paper Play ~ Christmas.

I copied a picture I found onto word the enlarge then cut out and used that as a template for my card base, I then cut the original template to make his clothing and beard. I colured his hands and face with copic Y17 & Y37. Finally highlighting with Inkessentials white pen.

Ingredients:

Core'dinations cardstock and |Copic pens.

Christmas Baking!

I've been skiving from the craft room again this time in the kitchen.

I've really been enjoying my baking this last year and I got this fabulous Gingerbread House mould with Baked & Delicious Magazine last month so had to give it a go.

I'll add a picture of the finished house tomorrow.

It also had the recipe for a traditional Christmas cake too. 

Luckily M-I-L soaks the dried fruit in Brandy for 3 months before she bakes hers and had the foresight to do some extra, Just in-case!! 

DT Call at ICS!

I just thought I'd mention that the girls at

  Inspirational Card Sketches 

are looking for new team members.

please pop by and play along with our latest sketch and see if you fancy joining our gang!

Sketch Saturday ~ # 186 with Crafters Companion.

Are you ready..........No, me niether still got lots to buy, cards to write and parcels to send. Every year I say I'll start earlier but never quite get round to it!!!

At Sketch Saturday this week is sponsored by the fabulous
Crafters Companion and our prize this week is a
wonderful £15.00 voucher to spend at Crafters Companion.

Here is this weeks sketch.

Today's Challenges are:

Bearly Mine Crafts & ~ Christmas, No Red or Green.

Creative Card Crew ~ T'is the Season.
Crafts & Me ~ Christmas.
Papertake Weekly ~ I'm Dreaming of a "PINK" Christmas.
Cards und More ~ Monochrome.
Digital Tuesday ~ Winter Wonderland.

Ingredients

PP & Die-cuts~ Daisy & Dandelion.
Digi Stamp ~ Teddy Bo.
CS ~ Core'dinations.
Star, Raffia & Mirri Card from stash.
Star Punch ~ Dovecraft.
Stickles & Copics.

We will be taking a week off for the Christmas week and we'll be back with our
 New Years Sketch Saturday 31st December 2011

Christmas Blue!

I'm hoping these will be the last of this years Christmas makes but I have a feeling I may get roped into making a couple more!

Christmas Blue.

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz ~ Christmas hues of Blue.

Fussy & Fancy ~ Monochrome with Sparkles.

Friday Sketch Challenge ~ Sketch #7.

Addicted to Stamps ~ Snowflakes.

Totally Gorgeous ~ Let it Snow.

Stampin for the weekend,  Crafts & Me,  Marianne's Design Diva's  & Paper Play ~ Christmas.

Bearly Mine Challenges ~ Christmas with NO Red or Green.

Colour Create ~ Blue, White & Silver.

Angel Bea .

Teddy Bo ~ Birthstone ( Mine is Ruby)

Paper Pretties ~ White plus One.

Stampavie & More ~ Red.

Rainbow Lady ~ Angels.

Whimsy Inspirations ~ Charms.

Sketch & Stash ~ Sketch #76.

Cats & Dogs.

Oldie but a Goodie ~ Christmas Animals.

Moving Along With The Times ~ Cats & Dogs.

DCM ~ Spots & Stripes.

Ingredients:

PP ~ Bearly Mine Crafts, Pink Petticoat & DCWV.

Digi Stamps ~ Kenny K & Teddy Bo.

Stamps ~ Penny Black.

CS ~ Core'dinations.

Dies ~ Mariannes & Memory Box.

Punches ~ Dovecraft & Woodware.

Gems ~ Anita's.

Ribbon & Charm from stash.

Copic's & Stickles.

Playing Hookie...

.....from the card making that is!

I saw the pattern for theses fabulous Christmas Stockings yesterday afternoon and decided my girls needed to have these this year {Not that I haven't still got loads of other stuff to do!!}

They are approximately 10in in length and are perfect for those "little things" big girls want!

The pattern can be found HERE

I've left the tree off as I thought I'd chain stitch their names on the top.

Stamp with Fun ~ Gift wrapping.
Charisma Cardz ~ Last Minute Christmas Gifts.
Papercraft Star ~ Bell or Ornament
Delightful Challenges ~ Anything Goes.

Red & Cream DK wool from Hobby Craft.

6.00mm hook & Darning needle.

Oh Baubles!

Now I don't know about you but I don't like a messy Tree. In my world you can have too many Baubles. Last year they just got shoved back in the loft with the tree box. I decided to do something with them this year. I saw a lovely wreath somewhere on the TV and thought "Why not!!" So here it is.......

First I cut out the ring base from card stock then using silicone gel I arranged the Baubles around the ring and then used the large pearls to fill in the gaps. Once dried I then tied the flower to the center of the bottom of the ring and then wrapped light blue ribbon between the baubles and pearls one way then the other, making a hanger at the top center spot of the ring. Finally tying a bow with dark blue ribbon.

I still had quite a few left over. I found the old candle tray under the kitchen sink and some pine cones left over from one last years Christmassy crafty sessions with Aiden and sprayed the Silver. I placed the candle in the center of the tray then arranged the baubles and pine cones with more silicone gel finally tying the bow around the candle.

Today's Challenges are:

Allsorts ~ "It takes Two!"

Anything Goes ~ Anything but a Card.

Papercraft Star ~ Bell or Ornament.

Ingredients:

Baubles ~ Argos.

Ribbon ~ eBay.

CS ~ Core'dinations.

Pine cones, Candle, Silver spray paint and candle tray from stash.

Inspirational Card Sketches ~ Sketch # 144

How time has flown by, this is the final sketch from Inspirational Card Sketches for this year.

And back with us we have our regular sponsor DZ Doodles

The prize on offer this week is  3 Christmas related digi stamps unseen by anybody!

Today's challenges are:

Creative Inspirations ~ Snow much Fun
Allsorts ~ It Takes Two.
The Pink Elephant ~ Snowflakes & Sparkles.
Delightful Challenges ~ Blue Christmas.
Crafty Calender Challenges ~ Cold & Frosty.
Crafts & Me ~ Snow & Snowflakes.
Cupcake ~" Don't look at the light!" Sparkles.
Everybody Art ~ Blue & White.

Ingredients:

CS ~ Core'dinations.
Embossing Folders ~ Cuttlebug & Papermania.
Die ~ Mariannes.
Wooden Snowflake ~ Kars.
Stickles & Marvy Snow Pen.

 We will be back with a fab new challenge on

 Tuesday 3rd January 2012.

Crafty Cardmakers ~ Use it Three Times.

Crafty Cardmakers is back with our regular monthly sponsor, Joanna Sheen!

Joanna has given us a £10.00 gift voucher for her online store

This fortnights challenge is "Use it Three Times"

To Play along you need to use the same stamp or image three times in different ways. You can use it to make a background, or make a matching card & Gift set.

Here is my make!

Today's Challenges are:

Cute Card Thursday ~ Anything Goes.
Stampin For the weekend & Raise the Bar ~ Christmas.
One Stop Crafts & Crafty Hazel Nut ~ Traditional Christmas Colours.

Ingredients:

PP ~ Bearly Mine Crafts.
Digi Stamp ~ Kenny K.
Dies ~ Sizzix
CS ~ Core'dinations.
Ribbon ~ eBay.
Copic Pens & Perfect Pearls.

We will be taking a break until January 2nd 2012 so here's wishing you all......
A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
From all of us at Crafty Cardmakers.

Basic Grey Challenges Guest Designer ~ Anything Goes!

Its time for my final fortnight at Basic Grey Challenges at Guest Designer.

This challenge will be lasting for a month so the ladies at Basic Grey can have a break for the holiday season.
This Months challenges is everyones favourite,
Well mine at least........ it's

 Anything Goes!!

I've decided to have a go at a Christmassy Birdhouse.

I found the template at Inger's Blog.
I've just packed it out with lae for the time being but it will be filled with choccies ready for Aiden to give to his Headteacher for Christmas..

Today's other challenges are:

Christmas Inspirations ~ Fancy Folds.
City Crafter ~ Home for the Holiday's.
Papercraft Star ~ A Tree.
Rainbow Lady ~ Tree & Baubles.
Charisma Cardz ~ No Cards.
Creative Card Crew ~ T'is the Season.
Whimsy Inspirations ~ Patterns & Pearls.
Papertake Weekly ~ Anything goes with something dangly.

Ingredients:

PP ~ Basic Grey "Nordic Holiday"
Punch ~ Martha Stewart.
Perfect Pearls & Stickles.
Ribbon & Charm from stash.
Dies ~ Mariannes & Nesties.

Sketch Saturday ~ # 185 with Simon Say's Stamp.

OOOh the weeks are creeping by, its getting exciting.
 Its still to early for my tree yet or so I'm told by MR Bah Humbug on the sofa over there!!!
At Sketch Saturday this week we have Simon Say's Stamp Back with us for their regular spot!

and again they are as generous as ever!

This weeks sketch is this stunner!

Today's challenges are:

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz ~ Texture.
Fussy & Fancy ~ Photo Inspiration
Addicted to Stamps ~ Christmas.
Kaboodle Doodles ~ Christmas colours.
ABC Challenges ~ E is for Embossing.
Colour Create ~ Red Green & White.
Rainbow Lady ~ Tree's & Baubles.
Cute Card Thursday ~ Anything Goes.
ABC Christmas Challenges ~ Y is for Yippe!!!

Ingredients.

PP ~ BasicGrey Nordic Holiday.
Digi Stamp ~ Kenny K.
CS ~ Core'dinations.
Copic & Papermania Pens.

I made it.........

I am officially one of the

 Krafty Girlz!

Not only that but I'm a Team Leader too!!

Here are the rest of my Team B Teamies.


Sara
Jessica
Louise
Tammy
Rebekah
Heidy
Katarina
Tiggertastic (DT /Sponsorship Co-ordinator)


I'm so excited I can't wait to get started!!

Guest Designer at Die Cut Dreams.

This fornight I have the honour of being the Guest Designer over at

Die Cut Dreams after winning a challenge a few weeks ago.

{All this popularity is going to go to my head soon}. LOL.

This fortnights challenge is to create a Calender or Calender page.

Other challenges for my make are:

Whimsy Inspirations ~ Anything but a Card.

CRAFT ~ A Christmas Present.

One Sweet Challenge ~ Christmas with no Christmas images.

Dream Valley ~ Sparkle.

The Crafty Pad ~ Punch It.

Cute Card Thursday ~ Numbers.

Ingredients:

PP ~ Pink Petticoat.

Punch ~ Martha Stewart.

Stamp ~ Sweet Pea Stamps.

Flower's ~ Hobbycraft.

Calender & Gems ~ Anita's.

Perfect Pearls.

A "Christmas Carol"

This will be one very quikie post at I have to leave for work in a mo!!!

Today's card is for challenges at:

Kenny K Krafty Girlz ~ Stitching.

Here Come the Boy's ~ That Special Man { My husbands hates Christmas!!}

Crazy4Challenges ~ Favourite Christmas Movie {A Christmas Carol}

Rainbow Lady ~ Christmas Carols {Ok,Ok, I digressed}

Crafty Hazel Nuts Christmas Challenge ~ Monochrome.

Ingredients:

PP ~ Pink Petticoat.

Digi Stamp ~ Kenny K.

CS ~ Core'dinations.

Buttons from stash.

Sentiment ~ Computer Generated.

Sketch Saturday ~ # 184 with Love to Stamp.

This week is Karita's week at Sketch Saturday and this week to sponsor us is Love to Stamp.

Love to Stamp is giving this weeks lucky winner a fabulous $15.00 Gift Voucher.

Now onto this weeks sketch.

Today's challenges are:

Stamptacular ~ Anything Christmas.
Addicted to Stamps & Pollycraft ~ Christmas.
The Pink Elephant ~ Photo Inspiration.
Simon Say's Stamp ~ Anything Goes.
Crafts & Me ~ Pearls & Swirls.
Delightful Challenges ~ Snow.
Bah Humbug ~ Cute Christmas.
By The Cute & Girly ~ Let It Snow.

Ingredients:

PP ~ Pink Petticoat.
Digi Stamp ~ Teddy Bo.
Die's ~ Memory Box & Mariannes.
Brad ~ Wild Orchid Crafts.
CS ~ SU!
Stickles, Perfect Pearls & Copic's.

My 4th Bloggerversary Candy Winners!!!

Pick by Random.org. 

The winner of the first prize is....

*

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*****

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*

Number 3

Jilli

And the second prize goes to.....

*

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*****

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*

Number 11......& thats

Sally

Congratulations ladies, please contact me at susielittle@ymail.com so I can organize your prizes!xx