Thursday 31 December 2015

A look back at 2015 and some New Year Resolutions

2016 is just six hours away so I'm having my traditional nostalgic look back over my creations of the past 12 months and picked out one favourite project from each month.  

I've noticed that I've only written 206 posts this year which has been the fewest annual number since I started blogging, but I like to think I've concentrated on quality rather than quantity!  

I've noticed a change in my style with more clean and simple designs making an appearance. I'm not sure if that's because I've spent so long on the image that I've run out of steam by the time I come to make it up into a card, or because I don't want anything to distract attention away from the image that's taken me hours to paint!  Either way, it's making a nice change.

Creatively I was so pleased to be part of the Lili of the Valley Design Creative (you'll see from my choice of favourites that Lilis feature quite a lot), and also sooooo proud to win 2nd prize in the National Cardmaker of the Year 2015 competition with CardMaking and Papercraft Magazine.

As usual I've made some new, and deepened some existing friendships with some lovely blogging buddies, and even met a couple this year for the first time. I think that's what makes this such a special hobby; it converts something which can be quite a solitary pursuit into something far more social.

So being 31st December, I am doing my customary annual round up of my favourite projects from the last 12 months.

You'd better brace yourself for a photo heavy post, or just scroll to the bottom to see my aspirations for 2016 ...


January
A rarity for me is a masculine card, but even more rare is that I was really pleased with how this one turned out although I never did find out if Jonny actually likes DIY.




I was delighted with this project. Like the above card for Jonny, this project was for two work colleagues who were getting married. I made them a matching card, but it was the hanger that I was most pleased with.



In the run up to Easter I made a batch of Easter cards using some LOTV images, and this one was a favourite as soon as I'd finished it. I love the chicks and the duck, plus anything featuring a chocolate egg is a bonus in my book!



I love making these clocks and this image, with its sentiment, is one of my favourites. I'd also tried my hand at phasing the colouring on the numbers from green (grass) to blue (sky) in shades to match the image and was pleased with how it turned out.



The first non-LOTV image in my top picks of the year, and I'm back to my roots with a Penny Black image.  I also love the clean and bright colours and the happy hedgie.



I'm back to LOTV with June's favourite, and probably my favourite character from their range; James the bear! This was another card for a work colleague and I used my favourite colour, pink, and a personalised sentiment.



I started my love affair with Stamping Bella images this year and this was one of my original favourites. This card was also one of my entries into the CMOTY 2015 competition where I was so proud to scoop 2nd place so it's a special card for me and has to feature in my favourites of the year.


This was one of those 'warm and fuzzy' cards. I hadn't used Tildas for quite a while, but some new ones caught my eye and I gave in fairly easily!  This one is now probably my favourite Tilda, and with gorgeous pink papers, satin ribbon, a shaped card base, floral die cuts, mulberry flowers and shiny pearls, it's right up my street!




Another LOTV image, and this time a cute little bunnykins who's feeling a bit under the weather. He was made for someone special who needed a spot of cheering up so I used purple which is one of her favourite colours (and mine!).



As mentioned above I reacquainted myself with Tilda this year and this was another of my new Tildas.  I used my favourite Maja Design papers, DI reinkers, rich plum coloured satin ribbon, some new stitched cloud dies and pretty floral embellishments.




As soon as I saw the new release at Stamping Bella included these honeybears I was in love with this image. It reminded me of Winnie the Pooh (my childhood favourite) and I was pleased with how this card using them turned out. I love the scene and although I've added some fuss around the image, I don't think it detracts from the focal point.



And finally December's pick is this cutie from WRS. I spent a long time painting these little owls as they were quite fiddly, and in the end I decided that I couldn't bear to part with it, so I gave it to hubby for Christmas in order that I could have it back when he's ready to take down all the cards (usually on 26th Dec).

Looking Back:

I seem to have found much more of a balance between CAS and fussy this year.  I've also used some other colours rather than reverting back to my favourite pinks and purples, although I still seem to have a slight addiction to Lili of the Valley images as they feature in 6 of my top 12 picks with Tildas and Stamping Bellas tying for the runner up spot!

Looking Forward:
So what are my optimistic resolutions for next year?  
  1. To ink up some of my unused stamps rather than keep adding new stuff.  Being realistic I suspect it'll be a mix of both old and new.
  2. To have all my Christmas cards made by the end of November so that I can get them written and sent out on time (I know a couple I sent overseas this year didn't quite make it to their destinations before Christmas).
  3. To continue to focus on quality rather than quantity, which probably means more CAS creations.  In reality this may help with my final resolution:
  4. To make more male cards that I'm proud of.

Happy New Year:
Well that's all folks.  If you've stayed for the full post then I'm impressed! :0) Thank you to all my lovely followers, old and new, and especially to everyone who has left me a comment or two this year. I hope you've liked what you've seen, and hope you continue to pop back next year.

Happy New Year, and I hope that 2016 brings you health and happiness (and lots of crafting time too!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

A Little bit of Gossip

This project is to support the new challenges at both As You Like It Challenge and The Sugar Bowl Challenge as they're both Anything Goes this time, so I've been lazy and used a Sugar Nellie image on my AYLI card!  I've used a simple layout and my new(ish) stitched scalloped die with a spot of twine and a flower die.  I wanted to make the fairy's wings look opaque, but I'm not sure I really achieved it!



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Sunday 20 December 2015

Frosty the Snowman

Although it could double up as a card, this is actually a wrapper for a gift voucher, hence the shape. I've used an image that I've had coloured for a while and eventually I've now made him up into something.  I hope you like him.



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Thursday 17 December 2015

Pink Pingu

This project is to support the challenge at As You Like It Challenge where I'm using non-traditional Christmas colours.  I particularly love pink Christmas cards (well on any cards to be honest) but this one is pink and blue which is my favourite colour combo. This is also one of my favourite pingu images, but unfortunately he's been retired. :0(



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Sunday 13 December 2015

Gifts on the Tree

I've got a little CAS card to share today, and I'm really loving this layout with the corrugated card at the top.  This is a really sweet image to. It's from Lili of the Valley and it's lovely.



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Thursday 10 December 2015

Mr Penguin Goes for a Ride

We're creating festive cards at In The Pink this fortnight and I'm sharing a card using Mr Penguin goes for a ride.  I've added some lace to cover the join in the papers, and some sparkly snowflakes using some glossy pink card and pearls.  I love the little pingu holding onto the tree as he's pulled along.


Card Recipe:
Created for:

Sponsored by:

*****

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Monday 7 December 2015

Feeling Festive

This project is to support the challenge at Without Words Challenge where we are "Feeling Festive". Unfortunately this is the last Without Words challenge, and although I've only been on the team for a little over a year, I'm sad it's closing as it's really made me focus on my colouring as well as challenging me to do more CAS designs.

But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and we're going out in style with a fabulously festive themed challenge for December. Thank you to Squirrel for putting up with me on her hugely talented design team, and managing the Word Birds so patiently.



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Thursday 3 December 2015

Squirrel Snack

Today's card is to support the challenge at As You Like It Challenge where the theme is to show us your favourite style; Masculine or Feminine  I've used a cute stamp from Lili of the Valley called Squirrel Snack, and although I've not used overly girlie colours, it's definitely a feminine style with the image and flowers. I'm just far more comfortable with cute and pretty styles, especially if there can be a splash of glitter. I find the masculine styles so tough, no flowers, no pink, nothing too cute. It's just not 'me'!



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Tuesday 1 December 2015

Harry Happy Mail (and some happy mail)

Today's card is something I've made for hubby's birthday.

His only request was that his card featured nothing cute and no bears.

Well, it's the thought that counts, right?





...and my very own Happy Mail also arrived last week in the form of November's delivery of Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine where I found my name under the 2nd place prizewinner in their National Cardmaker of the Year 2015.  (yup, I'm still grinning!)  :0)




Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx