Last look back on 2011

Hi Everyone

Well the year is nearly done and I've had another fab day crafting all day.  Can't believe another year has gone by.  So my last fave creation of the year and i couldn't not post a tea light card could i?  it was the first one i made and i couldn't believe it was so easy and looked so professional.  My original one will always be my favourite as it is using my favourite stamp from the SWALK range from Crafters Companion.  And my crafty find of the year was my pad of K&Co papers that i had stashed in the garage for at least 3 years.

love this ribbon too from meiflower and the instructions for the tea light box are at stampartic tutorials.  The box above i made myself as a finishing touch, using my boxer board and ultimate pro.

Ok thats it for this year, hope you have a fab New Year whatever you are doing.  Kevin and i will be on our lonesome tonight and we have a few vodkas planned and a quite night sitting watching the tv.  I'm feeling too old and its too cold to be going wandering about.


Hope you like.

Louise xx

Strawberry Kisses - Birthday Kitten

Hi Everyone

My second sneak peek of this lovely lovely range of stamps with a matching CD full of gorgeous backing papers and lots of other embellishments. I've made an easel card this time using Snow White Centura Pearl card as the base.  Blue coredinations for matting, as well as backing paper from the new CD. 
 Rather than just make a plan card i have made it into a calendar. I bought these a few months back with every intention of making them up but 1 day before 2012  sounds about right for me.  I must do something with the other 9 that were in the pack or they'll go to waste.

 
I've chosen the birthday kitten image as what could be a purrrfect place to keep all of your important birthday  dates of family and friends in one place for the coming year!
Coloured with spectrum noir pens and yes i promised i would add the new colours so here goes, the previous colours are in brackets.

Cat,, bow cake icing and candle,  IG1 (CG0.5), IG2 (CG1), IG3 (CG2), EB1 109, LV1 (146)

Swirl of icing , EB1 (109) & TN1 (134)
Flame, GB5 (33), CT3 (37), CT1 (38)
cake bite, EB2 (169) & EB1 (109)

I've also added one of the paper roses and leaves made from the same coordination's card stock as the matting.  I said at Craftaganza i would definitely use these on my cards in the future and i love them. Thanks Leann Chivers for showing me how, even though my first one was like road kill.)

Hope you like it, and are you excited for the shows yet, don't forget about the blog hop tomorrow (if you're not too hungover!)

Louise xx

Looking back on 20011

Hi Everyone

My second post of today as i really wanted to share one of my previous cards again.

I have picked this one as it was my first card i made using the spectrum noir pens and i was amazed at the results.  It was also my first attempt with alcohol pens ever as i used to colour my images with watercolour pencils, whisper pens or crystal laquers used to be my fave.  I found my old ones the other month when i finally got my own craft room and i think its about 5 years since i used them and think they have dried up.  I used to love watching Jane Nestorenko on create and craft.  I've just tried to find the blooper when Loen love coloured in an extra leg on one of Jane's images but cannot find it anywhere.  Let me know if you find it.....

This was my first lily of the valley image i coloured too.  I need to make another turquoise card i love these colours.


Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Srawberry Kisses - Cutie

Hi Everyone

Well even though i received the email from Sara saying we could now start and share the new launch of stamps and cd, Strawberry Kissess from Sally Hunter who brought us the lovely Humphrey. I was going to make you all wait until the 1st Jan for the blog hop.  However i couldn't be that mean so I'm sharing from today.

I just love the stamps and the cd with papers and all the extras is just fab.  For my first one I've chosen the little kitty kat relaxing in a teacup, with one of my fave colour combo's purple and green.
The backing paper is from the cd and the sentiment comes with the stamp.  I've used my spectrum noirs and also used my new Christmas present my lovely e-craft .  I've cut the plain circle from  neenah card the fundamentals 1 cartridge you get with the machine. Then I used laina lamb designs cartridge, for the scalloped circle.  However i know there will be some free files out there that can be used for this or even purchase 1 image at a time.  I've also used the laina lamb cartridge for the photo corners and i know i will get loads of use from this catergory as there are lots of other designs.  The lilac card is from my crafty stash as are the few gems i used.

The speccies i have used are Cat, CG2, CG1 & CGo.5, Tea cup 146, 145 & CG0.5 and purples 83 & 146 for the flowers and bow. I haven't put the new colours above but there is a new colour chart available at crafters companion website to make the comparison if you have the new ones.  I'll add the new ones to my blog next time but i need to get back to my strawberry kisses samples while i have a little time.  I also know if you have the original colour caps, like me, Crafters companion are going to send the new caps to us if we ask for them click here to find out how you can get them.

Hope you like it and watch out for the Blog Hop on the 1st Jan where you will be able to win a fab prize.

Louise xx

Looking back on the year

Hi Everyone

well only a few days to go until the new year and i thought i would re post some of my fave cards from 2001.  Well it really only is half a year as i didn't start blogging until June or July.  However i must add crafting has made a real difference to me this year and getting to know all of you lovely like minded people out there.  I have had a fab time making, sharing, buying and demoing lots of lovely items this year.
This is one of my favourite cards i wanted to share first.

i took it into work to show my work colleagues and it was bought within 5 minutes.  i really didn't want to let it go.  I love the stamp, the papers the colours and my speccies.  My fave product of the year!

Hope you like it.

Louise

Festive Fairy - Purple

Hi Everyone
Well the house is a lot quieter now, Gracie has gone home and on to make some more cards for the POTW in the new year.  I've just seen that Leann has posted a very little sneaky peak and i can't wait to share mine.

Ok last festive fairy and probably the last Christmas card for a while as I'll prob not start 2012's until about November.

This card was for Kevin's mam and i choose purple as we bought her a basket of flowers in pink and purple.  coloured with speccies and the stamp is LOTV.  I had been waiting to use these pearls for a special card and felt it they were perfect for this one.

Hope you like it.

Don't forget to watch out for some sneak peeks soon.

Louise xx

Festive Fairy - Green

Hi Everyone

I hope you had a fab Christmas, we did.  Grace is still here and we are making some perfume at the moment so i thought i would do a quick post.  I have two more Christmas cards to post and then they will be done until next year.  A green festive fairy and a purple one.

This one was for my other sister.  Coloured with speccies and using nit wit papers, i love green.

Gracie is now shouting its not working so i better go and rescue her.

Hope you like it .

Louise xx

Festive Fairy - Blue

Hi Everyone

Well all my plans for yesterday went out the window!!.  I was going to finish work at 4ish, do food shopping and pick turkey up, take my hubby into Durham for his Christmas night out, do my blog and then relax until i then went to pick him back up later in a drunken stupor.

What actually happened was i didn't quite get my deadlines met, left work at 6 to go and take Kevin into Durham, that took 45 mins then i went straight back to work.  Finished at 9.10, went to do food shopping and lots of shelves were empty but i got the majority.  then it was 10.30 by that time so i ate a McDonald's I didn't enjoy it and chucked half away)  in the car until 11 and then went to pick Kevin up.  Put shopping away and finally sat down to relax at 11.50.  The only thing that did go to plan was picking Kevin up in a drunken stupor.  I am so glad i can now relax and not think about work at all.

So i really have tried to keep to a blog a day, but missed yesterday.  So here is my next festive fairy from lily of the valley coloured with spectrum noir pens from Crafters Companion  Watch out for their January sales too!! For any of you out there who don't have them as yet save up some of your Christmas gift money, (if you are lucky enough to get some) and give them a go.  They are due in in the first week of Jan and they sold  3months worth of stock in a few days last time!!!!  I've stamped onto Neenah Card which is fab for all alcohol pens and i use it all of the time for fab results, i have tried other card and i find the colours bleed.

This card was for my sister who has a blue living room so i made it to match.  Not heard from her yet so i hope she liked it.

Ok i am now going to get started on the new launch  early in the new year from Crafters companion.  I will be sharing sneak peeks soon so watch out.

Hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and a happy new year and i can't wait for all the exciting products that will be coming your way sooooonnnn.

Hope you like the card.

Louise xx

Festive Fairy

Hi Everyone

This is one of my Christmas cards to give to friends and this is the first time i have coloured this image.  She is just beautiful.

 This was for Audrey, who's husband just passed away and she was over the moon with it.
Coloured with speccies and Nit wit papers.

Hope you like it as much as me and Audrey.  Sometimes i really don't want to give them away.

ONLY 1 MORE DAY AT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!

Louise xx

Another decorating the tree

Hello

I must say i am really enjoying counting down to my Christmas hols and now only 2 more days,  wahoooooooo!!!!.

I'm a bit late posting tonight as i went to see my friend Audrey about her Christmas present that i have planned for her.  I mentioned her a few weeks ago when i made her a tea light card and it was really colourful.  Her husband was really ill and he passed away very peacefully 2 weeks ago and I'm so pleased i went to see him in hospital just before then. He was a lovely lovely man, was Alan Watt.  I really miss him and i can't believe he is not here.  Anyway he used to give me lots of friendly advice from time to time.  Such as do want you want to while you're still fit and one of the last bits of advice were the following words 'why worry Louise?  cos you die if you worry and you die if you don't'.  How true.  Well I'm taking Audrey his wife to London in February and we are going to really splash out.  I got a freebie from the Waldorf Astoria back in July and I'm using this to treat Audrey.  We will go to a fancy restaurant and then go and see a show as she has never been before.  I'll update you with some pics maybe when we have been and we are both like a couple of kids laughing and saying how excited we are.  I know this sounds strange but this is honestly what Alan would have wanted, for Audrey to enjoy herself as she looked after him through a tough 10 years of his illness.  I do feel really sad writing about it but i think it will help me to get it out of my head.     

Ok...... my card......

This is another LOTV card with matching box and Sarah picked them up from work today while i was in a meeting so i never saw if she liked them.  I'm sure she will and this is the last one and I'll see her in the new year to get some feedback.

Coloured with speccies and using some paper i bought from dainty toys Washington.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Feeding the Birds

 Hi Everyone

Well another day at work over and only 3 more days left and they are all jam packed so I'm sure they will fly over.  Cant wait for some time at home where i can just do what i like.

Here's another of my Christmas Cards.  I've used another LOTV as the lady they are for has a boy and a girl and she really loved how these images could be personalised for family and it represented her own to children.  She still has to pick them up so I'll know tomorrow if she likes them.

Theres a box behind and this one was for Granny so made a tag to match.  Coloured with speccies and couldn't do without my ultimate for the box, with some lovely nitwit papers.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Musical Christmas

Hi Everyone

Well today i was up at a respectable time and have done all the housework etc and now am going to concentrate on my own Christmas cards.  The one below was part of an order and i love the way it turned out. I coloured this image not knowing how the finished card was going to end up and just looked for papers afterwards. Again photo is a bit dark as it was late when i took it. 

Ok must get on with my own cards.

Hope you like.

Louise xx

Decorating the Tree

Hi Everyone
Well i had a really long lie in today and until 10.45 which i'm totally ashamed off.  However my excuse is i must have needed the sleep and i do normally get up at 6.30 during the week and 7.30 ish on a weekend.  Then just chilled for a bit, did a bit of Christmas shopping on amazon and now just finished the housework so i can post another of my Christmas cards.

I took the picture on thursday night at 11pm when i had just finished them and its a bit blurry but the close up is ok below.  The image is LOTV and coloured with speccies.  The paper is nitwits and then just a few embellishments to finish.  I've embossed a LOTV tag in silver and because i embossed pretty much straight after printing the sentiment on centura pearl the powder has also stuck to the writing which i just love. And stood behind the card is the box to match.

Aren't they so cute, i love this image.

I'm so pleased its the weekend and only 4 more days at work until my Christmas Hols.  Can't wait.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Angel Gabriel

Hi Everyone

Hope you are nice and cosy in the warm after another awful day outside.  I think the snow has lain a bit further north today but there's none here in Coxhoe as yet.  However i did have a bit of a scary moment on the A1 this morning.  All of a sudden the car felt as though it hit something and skidded all over the place so i pulled over onto the hard shoulder.  It was pitch black as only about 7.30 and i was worried in case my tyre had blown.  However at intermittent points there were other people that had stopped and the driver of the car behind me walked towards my car and said his tyre had blown and that's what we had all hit.  it was in the middle of the carriageway and obviously it couldn't be retrieved.  I can tell you its very scary stopping on the hard shoulder in the dark with lorries travelling at 60mph and you are trying to get out of your car.  My car looked ok so i set off for work again but numerous people after me were late for work as i think they must've closed a lane to make it safe.

Anyway onto today's card and a lili of the valley image just for a change.  This is part of an order for a work colleague and i was to have them ready for today, which i did, but unfortunately she didn't make it into work so i hope she still has time to post them next week.

Coloured with speccies and the patterned papers are digi downloads from printable heaven, and they come in all sorts of colours, i love them.   They are matted onto centura pearl which is the perfect match.

I'm really being lazy and not adding any links as i want to finish this post quickly have my tea, chill for a bit then i'm going to have a lovely relaxing soak.  so i'm having a night off tonight as its the weekend and i deserve it.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Beatrix Potter

Hi Everyone

Another quick post again today as i need to finish some more Christmas cards for tomorrow.   So very briefly, coloured with speccies and using papers from the CD.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Autumn Fairy

Hi Everyone

Another card using the autumn fairy from the Faiiryopolis range of stamps from Crafters Companion.  This is one of my favourite ones coloured with speccies.  However i think i need to add a sentiment or a few other bits and pieces.  What do you think.

I love this script paper and its printed from the fairyoplis CD pack.  Theres 3 CD's all in one pack, fab value.  Last time i used the paper i put in on upside down and hadn't realised.  Must watch out for that one.

I haven't used my pencils this time to finish off so its just coloured with the speccies and i love them.

Hope you like it.

Louise

Lovely Little Humphrey

Hi Everyone
Back on track i think with my blogging, this is my third one in 3 days and i need to keep this up.  Today is a Humphrey card using the stamps and my speccies.  The paper is from Humphrey's Corner CD and i really love gingham.  It's yellow today.

Love love love this image and so quick to colour.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Busy Doing Nothing

Hi Everyone

Today is a very summery card which is a total contrast for whats going on outside.  It sounds like its blowing a gale here tonight.  I'm so pleased I'm inside with me jim jams, fleecy dressing gown and snuggly slippers.

What a beautiful stamp from Sheena Douglass.  I've coloured with speccies as usual and kept it quite simple.

Here's something to look forward to though, only 9 more days til the shortest day of the year and then it starts getting lighter.

Hope you like it.

Louise

Popcorn, Smile

Hi Everyone

It's been over a week now since i've blogged as i've just been sooooo busy.  No Christmas shopping done as yet and its only 2 weeks i can't believe it.

Some speccy colouring for you with Popcorn the Bear and papers from the popcorn pals CD, there are some lovely designs that will go with everything.

I love purple and yellow together.

Hopefully it'll not be such a long time til my next post.  I just don't know where the time goes.

Hope you like.

Louise  xx

E-Craft Card no 3

Morning Everyone
Another quick post as i need to get to work,  the electricity went off last night for some reason so we all slept in today by 3/4 hour.  Good job i work flexi time.
This is my last post before the shows on Create and Craft on Sunday so watch if you can as I'm sure they will be fab.  I've chosen to combine the ecraft with one of my fave winter cheer stamps.  I've cut a few poinsettia  shapes in red and green from the fundamental 2 cartridge and love the effect.  I like my poinsettias for Christmas cards so know i will use these again and again.  Need to do one in white and green...............

Coloured using only the core packs of speccies and i really like the finished card, maybe just a sentiment somewhere to complete it. The scalloped edge circle is also cut on the ecraft and the poinsettias also have a drawn line on which is done with the ecraft as well.  There are lost of images that have a draw and a cut line, so when making tags its perfect as you can write whatever you like and no need to rely on stamps.  Its also excellent for personalising with individuals names.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

E-Craft 2nd Christmas card

Hi Everyone

Just a quickie post from me as i am still making cards for the weekend.  Here's my second one using the ecraft and i love this snowflake frame.  It was a freebie i found again.  Quite a traditional Christmas card from me today and can you tell there is a bit of a theme, blue and snowflakes  . I'll have to do something about that.  Only 1 photo and no waffling, hope you like it..

sorry about the light, i hate these dark nights.

And remember watch out for the shows at the weekend.

Louise xx