My Favourite Cards of 2011

Debby over at the "A Scrap Journey" is challenging us to pick our top five cards for 2011.  I thought my previous post to pick 12 was hard enough but Debby has made it even harder.  If you fancy playing along please visit Debby's blog to find out how to take part.

Well, here goes my choice:

 

This stamp drove me mad as every time I went to buy it it was out of stock.  Fortunately my son managed to get it for me for Mother's Day

 

 I have really got into monochrome this year and this one of my first outings with the wonderful Saturated Canary images

 One of my true loves is still my Sweet Pea Stamps and I made this for a competition

  

 This is my House Mouse Christmas card that I made for my husband.  It's been a very hard six months but he has been there by my side

Last, but no means least, is the Sweet Pea Stamps Mother's day card I made for my mum this year.  I wasn't sure she'd like it but she loved it.  Sadly she died suddenly in June and therefore I never imagined this would be the last card I made for her.

A Year in Review Blog Hop

Karin over at "With an "i" for Paper" is asking us to highlight our favourite projects for the last year.  You are able to pick 12 items - sounds enough doesn't it - but I certainly struggled.  The cards/projects I have chosen are as follows:

 This was a thank you card I made after Christmas last year

This stamp drove me mad as every time I went to buy it it was out of stock.  Fortunately my son managed to get it for me for Mother's Day

This was a card I made with very bright colours which I didn't like at the time but did when it was finished

 Just love this Halloween card in the end especially the bats added to the buttons

 I have really got into monochrome this year and this one of my first outings with the wonderful Saturated Canary images

 One of my true loves is still my Sweet Pea Stamps and I made this for a competition

 Another monochrome card, this time for Christmas

 

 Another monochrome card made for my part of the Sweet Pea Stampers Design Team

This is a calendar made with the wonderful Crafty Purple Frog images

 This is a monochrome Sweet Pea Stamps canvas that I made for Dawn Bibby when she first joined Create and Craft to wish her luck.  I've been lucky enough to meet Dawn twice at her shop and she is a lovely lady

 This is my House Mouse Christmas card that I made for my husband.  It's been a very hard six months but he has been there by my side

Last, but no means least, is the Sweet Pea Stamps Mother's day card I made for my mum this year.  I wasn't sure she'd like it but she loved it.  Sadly she died suddenly in June and therefore I never imagined this would be the last card I made for her.

Commissioned Birthday Card

 

 

 

 

Here is a commissioned card I was asked to make a while ago but haven't had a chance to put it on my blog.  I decided to make a card, bookmark and decorated envelope.  I have used a gorgeous image from Joanna Sheen's Jayne Netley Mayhew CD along with some backing papers and a matching booking.  I have tried to keep the tone of the card quite low so as not to detract from the wonderful image.  Embellishments used are ribbon, card candy and a beloved tassel.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Secret Crafter - Anything goes 

Mark's Finest Papers - Anything goes

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything goes

Dutch Dare - My favourite things - using craft CDs, ribbon, card candy and tassels.

Rainbow Lady's - Your choice

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Animal print or Happy Birthday - Happy 2nd Birthday to the Fussy and Fancy Challenge Blog

The Stamp Man Challenge 3rd Annual Awards

Over at The Stamp Man Challenge Blog they'd like us to join in by showing our favourite/best project that you feel you made during the year.  The Top Prize is a £30 Stamp Man Gift Voucher and there are also 4 runner-up prizes so what have you got to lose?

 

 

I have decided to show a card I made back in October 2011 with a Sweet Pea Stamp.  I have chosen this card as I love stamping, colouring with my Promarkers, love the colours I chose for the papers/card and all the different textures.  You can find my original post on my blog here.

Aud Sentiments Design Team card - Thursday 22 December 2011 to Tuesday 3 January 2012

Well Christmas has come and gone for another year.  Today sees Week 2 of the Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog and it is Team B's turn to show you their creations.  The topic is "anything goes".

This fortnight we are being sponsored by

and 

Here is my card:

For my card I have used the Sassy Cheryl image called Cappuccino Anyone image along with a TLC sentiment.  I have coloured the image with Promarkers and added some Flowersoft Polar White to the froth of the cappuccino.  The backing papers are all scraps I had leftover from other cards.  The card is finished off with the TLC sentiment. snowflakes, wired edged glitter snowflake ribbon, some fine glitter added to areas of the backing paper and some card candy.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Stampin' with the Dragon - Let it snow

Little Miss Muffet - Anything goes

Stampin' for the Week-end - Anything goes

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Monochromatic and sparkle

Prairie Fairy - Holly Jolly Christmas but no red or green

One Stop Craft - Winter wishes

Secret Crafter - Anything goes

Mark's Finest Papers - Anything goes

2 Sisters - Snowflakes

Pile it On - Bling it up

Incy Wincy - Winter wonderland

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything goes

Craft Room - Anything goes
Simon Says - Anything goes
Crimbo Crackers - Snowflakes
Passion for Promarkers - Celebration
I Love Promarkers - Anything goes

CD Sunday Challenge - 18 December 2011

Over at the CD Sunday Challenge the topic is "Fifties Fun".  For my card I have used my My Craft Studio (MCS) Fab Glam Fifties CD.  I love this image - maybe because it's purple and maybe because I'd love to have been around to wear dresses like that.  I have done some simple matting and layering.  The card has been finished off with a sentiment off the computer, lace, pearls and some buttons threaded and tied with some silver thread which I've had for ages and ages and ages.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

The CD Sunday Challenge - Fifties Fun

Shopping Our Stash - Tie it up
Craft Room - Anything goes

Sparkles Forum - Anything but a Christmas card

Secret Crafter - Anything goes

Mark's Finest Papers - Anything goes

To a Special Friend

I was asked to make a card for a lady's special friend who is going through a hard time.  I chose to use this Crafty Purple Frog image as the recipient likes angels/fairies/mystical images.  I have used the pyromage/invertage sheet entitled Ivy Mermaid.  I have done some simple matting and layering.  The card is finished off with some lace, flowers, gems and Craftwork Cards sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations - Anything goes
Fairytale - Something simple

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Monochromatic and sparkle

Mark's Finest Papers - Anything goes

Crafting When we Can - Friendship

21st Birthday Cards

 

 

I was asked to make a special 21st birthday card.  I decided to use this image and backing papers and for the life of me I can't remember what CD I got it off but someone might be able to enlighten me.  For the glasses on the front of the card I added Glossy Accents.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

My Mum's Craft Shop - Anything goes

Scrapbook Sisters - Anything goes

Little Miss Muffet - Anything goes

Dutch Dare - Make it shimmer

Creative Inspirations - Anything goes

Do You Stack Up? - Stripes
Secret Crafter - Anything goes

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything goes

Merry Christmas

Yes another Christmas has whizzed around.  Above you will see the usual Upshaw tradition of sending a Christmas photo to all our family and friends on Christmas Day.  We can’t say Christmas and the New Year is going to be an easy time as it is the first Christmas without my mum.  She’d soon have had a moan and groan on Christmas Day as out would come the ironing table to put the camera on, Paul would have to set the timer and run around to get in place and it would take up to 10 takes of the photo to get a decent enough one to send around to everyone – but we won’t have that this year and it seems so unreal.  We want to thank you for all your kindness and support this year especially in the last six months which hasn’t been at all easy.

We hope you all have a lovely Christmas and wish you all the very best for 2012.

Paul, Kym, Kevin, Steven and Marjorie xxxx

PS It took only two takes to get the above photo!!

 

Our Christmas table awaiting our lunch which my husband is cooking for us - turkey with all the trimmings yum yum

 

Our Christmas cake

We wish you all a Happy Christmas and all the very best for 2012.  For those that are having a difficult time we send all our best wishes.