Happy New Year 2010

The above card I have made using a Stamp in the Hand stamp I bought at Stamp Addicts on Tuesday.  The papers are from Summer Driggs and the card is finished off with some flowers cut out of another backing paper, two swirls cut out using a Colour my World template, some card candy (as I've not got "card candyitis" thanks to Lisa) and some ribbon I won in some blog candy from Wendy, Crafty Butterfly.  The card will make its way into my boxes for the charity stall but digitally I will give it to all my blog readers to wish them a Happy New Year.

This card fits the challenge for Colour Create as the topic is lemon and lime with the optional element of spring/summer flowers.

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Well the arrival of 2010 is looming soon on the horizon - sounds like a ship doesn't it?  I know this has been a good year for some but then others will be glad to see the back of it for one thing and another.

This time last year I vowed 2009 I would do more stamping.  April came and I hadn't put that into practice much but since then I think I've got the contagious stamping bug as I get withdrawl symptoms if I don't do stamping for days and days.  Don't think there is a cure is there apart from more stamping!!!

This year heralded my journey into digital stamps.  I wasn't sure at first but then because I make my cards solely to sell to raise funds for different charities this proved a cost-effective means of getting different images.  It also helps as some websites provide freebie stamps for you to "try before you buy" and that is what I did.  Now I'd just like the funds to have ALL the ones I want.

2009 saw the arrival to many many homes of Promarkers.  I waited and waited and waited but eventually gave in and bought a few and every month I add a few more to the collection as they give wonderful results and they can either be used with stamped images if you use an ink like Memento or with digital images.

2009 saw me taking part in more challenges and even entering ones I struggled with - the recent Mo's Digital Challenge one springs to mind as this topic was "Just all White" and therefore you had to use as much white apart from the colours used in colouring in the image.  I started quite a few attempts but that's as far as they went but I did it in the end and entered my card into the challenge.  I think 12 months ago I'd never have even attempted the challenge.  Click here if you would like to have a look at my entry.  There have been sketch challenges, topic challenges and even colour challenges.  Doing these challenges though has certainly "challenged me" but it has been a journey that I have been happy to have taken.  The card above shows just that journey as the topic for this challenge was "lemon and lime" - certainly not two colours I would normally have put together but I am pleased with the result.

This year I have been to a few Open Days at Stamp Addicts and have learnt a lot from these from various demonstrators.  One of the highlights for my year was in October when my husband took me away for my 40th birthday and I had asked him to make the trip from Blackpool where we were staying to Dawn Bibby's shop.  Dawn Bibby was the person that got me really into cardmaking in 2005 and helped me to keep going through a difficult time.  Luckily Dawn was in her shop that day but luckily the lovely Lindsay Mason was there as well and I learnt so much and she was patient with me as I stayed soooooooo long whilst my husband was ready a book in the card.  Dawn gladly posed for some photos of the two of us together, one of which is on my computer desktop at home.  On returning home I decided I'd have a go at some techniques I had seen Lindsay use and made a thank you card for Dawn and also one for Lindsay.  Unfortunately, it looked liked these cards were lost in the post back in October as I'd made Dawn a Halloween card but thankfully they have arrived as a highlight for me today was that I got a Christmas card today from Dawn saying congratulations on my fundraising achievement.  That's certainly a card that won't be thrown out!!!

Well, I'd better stop waffling and wish everyone a Happy New Year and that you and yours have a happy and healthy 2010.  I have met such lovely people in the blogging world over the last few years and hope to make more next year.