My pick of 2009!

Evening all.

Seeing as though I don't have a new card to show you (I can't get any light until my day off) I though I would share with you my favourite cards of 2009. I have seen a few other people do this on their blog and though what a good idea it was. I have trawled back through my posts for the past year and picked my favourite card from each month. The first few months were a bit ropey, I can't believe how much your style can change / improve over the months. Well here they are, I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane!

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Well I think my photography skills have definately improved over the year, still not as good as some of yours though! Lol! I hope you have enjoyed sharing these cards again with me.
I am off work after tomorrow so hoping to get some cards photographed to show you (light/weather permitting).

Well I am ful of cold and not feling my best so I'm off to bed for an early night. I'm going to a fancy dress party tomorrow night as Marilyn Monroe, I think I will be the most unsexy Marilyn anyone has ever seen with my drippy red nose! Lol!

I just want to take this opportunity to wish all my friends and followers a very happy new year. May 2010 be a good year for all of you!

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Hello my friends!

Good morning my dear friends.

I hope you all had a wonderful christmas and enjoyed spending time with your families! I have really enjoyed my christmas, I have definately ate too much, but hey that's what christmas is all about right??!!

I got lots of lovely craft presents under my tree this year from SU. Jules had a fab wish list service so I just ant to say thank you Jules for giving me what I wanted this christmas. I just need to find some time to play with them all now. My mojo still hasn't fully returned but I'm hoping that now christmas is over and things have calmed down my life might return to some sort of normality.

So I hope to have some crafty creations to show you all soon!

I have a christmas buffet at my MIL's to go to tonight and we are going round to some friends tomorrow. Then it's back to work for me on tuesday! :-(

Enjoy your last few days off work.

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Two little birds!

Evening all. So sorry it's been so long since my last card! I'm just so manic at the minute. I've spent the past few hours in the kitchen making 3 dozen mince pies and some Rocky Road bars for my christmas fuddle at work! I hope they appreciate all my hard work! Lol!



Anyhow onto today's card. I made this card for my boyfriend over a week ago but just haven't been able to get the light to photograph it for you! Well I managed to get a pic yesterday! Both myself and my OH never call each other by our names (unless we're in public), our joint pet name for each other is 'babe', hope you're not all gagging at this point! So you can imagine how pleased I was when I found this 'babe' sentiment in the elzybells clear set that I bought recently!

Materials

Image: Winter Birds by Diane Duda from Sugar Nellie. Available here from funky kits. Coloured with koh-i-noors and sansodor.

Paper: Cosmo Cricket 'Golly by Jolly'

CS: DCWV

Sentiment: Elzybells Everyday Greetings and Everyday Add On's

Tools: Distress inks, spronges, emery board

Misc: red adhesive pearls from papermania

I still haven't found my mojo unfortunely. But I am hoping that after christmas my mojo will be well and truly restored, and I am also hoping for lots of crafty presents under my tree so I will have to get my mojo back so I can use them! Lol!

Well I want to wish you all a very merry christmas. I hope that you all have a wonderful time with your families. Eat, drink and be merry!

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Apologies..

...for being a bad blogger. I don't really have anything to show you at the minute due to a combination of lack of mojo and no light for me to take pictures. I just don't seem to have the time or energy to get in my craft rom at the minute. All my christmas cards are made and sent and I don't have any birthday's until the end of January so I can take a bit of a break. There is still so much for me to do, I still haven't finished my shopping and have got all the wrapping to do! And after a hard day at work I don't tend to get much done on an evening!

I know we are all in the same boat at this time of year so I hope you will be patient with me. I promise to still try and get by to see what you've all been up to!

Take care my friends.

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Candy Winner!!

I have chosen a winner using Random.Org and the winner is:

Number 30: Sarita

Sarita said:

'Ooh thank you for the chance of winning Vicky...off to put you on my sidebar!
Love Sarita xx'

Please get in touch with your address Sarita so I can get your goodies off to you ASAP!

Thank you everyone for entering!

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Christmas Candy!

*CANDY NOW CLOSED*

THIS POST WILL STAY AT THE TOP UNTIL DECEMBER 13TH

Hello all!

As a thank you to all my loyal blogging friends I would like to give away some christmas candy as an early christmas present to one lucky person. I know a lot of you have already done most of your christmas cards but I'm sure you can find some space amongst your stash for these cuties!


If you would like to be in with a chance of winning my candy please leave me a comment. You also need to mention my candy and leave a link on your blog. This candy will close at midnight on December 13th.

Good luck everyone & Merry Christmas!

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Merry & Bright!

Morning all! I'm getting a bit fed up of christmas cards now and have lost my mojo a bit. I think it's just that I have so many things to do I haven't got the time to set foot in my craft room. I have at least another 2 special cards I need to make though so will have to find some mojo from somewhere! I am enjoying my days off though ad have got so much done in the last few days. Still got some christmas shopping to do though, I just don't know what to get them, that's the problem!


Anyhow onto today's card. Another CAS sketch {again I made it over a week ago with a challenge sketch but I can't remember which one!}. I have used another of these cute Leanne Ellis christmas designs! Which reminds me that I must go skating after christmas. They are putting a temporary outdoor skating rink in millenium square in Leeds in January and my OH has promised to take me!

Materials

Image: Skating Annie by Leanne Ellis from Sugar Nellie. Available here from funky kits. Coloured with koh-i-noors and sansodor.

Paper: DCWV Christmas stack 2008

CS: DCWV

Sentiment: craftwork cards

Tools: nesties, SU oval punch,

Misc: Glamour dust for Ice {not sure if you can see this!}

Well I hope you all have a great weekend! I have got some cleaning to do, mince pies to make, cards to write, presents to wrap, a party to go to and family to visit! Phew, not sure how I'm going to all fit it in! Lol!

Thanks for stopping by and I'm sorry I've been a bit of a rubbish blogger of late. I promise to try and visit you all as soon as I can!

Hugs, Vicky ~X~

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

Morning all. Today I have ANOTHER christmas card to show you. I sure will be glad when I can get back to non festive creations. I think I am almost there. I have done around 50 cards so I should only have about another 5-10 to make!


Now I did follow a challenge sketch for this card, but can I heck as like remember which one it is!! Lol! I used this sweet WOJ image that my kind friend Stacey sent me a few months back so I had to use her!

Materials

Image: WOJ image sent to my by a friend. Coloured with koh-i-noors and sansodor.

Paper: DCWV CHristmas stack 2008

CS: DCWV

Sentiment: craftwork cards

Tools: nesties, SU oval punch, SU scalloped border punch, cropodile

A bit of a different card for me today, using non traditional colours. My OH really doesn't like this card as he doesn't think the cards a christmassy! Good job I'm not sending this one to him then! Lol!

Well I'd best dash off and get ready for work. I hope you all have a good day and are not getting too stressed about christmas. Only 16 days left. I have 5 days off work after today so am hoping to get the rest of my christmas shopping sorted
and on with the wrapping!

Hugs, Vicky ~X~

Let it Snow!

Morning all. A quick post from me this morning as I need to dash off to work! I loved the simplicity of the sketch over at Mojo Monday this week so I had to give it a go! I used one of the images from the new Sugar & Spice collection from Sugar Nellie, isn't she a cutie!

Materials

Image: RAven fom the Sugar & Spice collection from Sugar Nellie. Available here from funky kits. Coloured with koh-i-noors and sansodor.

Paper: MME Wonderful Winter

CS: DCWV

Sentiment: craftwork cards

Tools: nesties, SU oval punch, pricking tool,

Misc: Making Memories snowflake transfers, snowtex, Glamour dust

I had some Making Memories adhesive snowflake transfers which I applied with flock to the background images, they show up slightly pink but I think they look nice!

Well I must dash and get ready for work! :-( I will try and get back later tonight though with some christmas candy!

Have a lovely sunday!

Hugs, Vicky ~X~

Penguin Love!

Evening all!

I have had such a long day at work, I've been in meetings all day. I have brain freeze now! So though I would come on here to show you another christmas card and then hopefully have a little hop and see what you've all been up to!

Today's card has been made with another of my Sugar Nellie stamps. I just LOVE these cute penguins from Diane Duda and they are so easy to work with!

Materials

Image: Penguin Love by Diane Duda from Sugar Nellie. Available here from funky kits. Coloured with koh-i-noors and sansodor.

Paper: MME Wonderful Winter

CS: from stash

Sentiment: craftwork cards

Tools: nesties, EK Success 'dotted wave' border punch,

Misc: Gingham ribbon from stash

Short and sweet post from me today. I want to have a look at what you've all been up to before I head off for a relatively early nite.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Who wants some Sugar????

Morning all.

Happy 1st of December. Its' officially the countdown to christmas now we are into December. So make sure you head on over to the Sugar Nellie Blog as Karen is having a '12 days of Christmas' give away. Starting from today there will be a different prize to give away each day for 12 days.

Theres nothing sweeter than some free Sugar!

Have a great day.

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Sweet Elise!

Evening all! I hope you've all had a lovely weekend! I know I have. I went over to see my family yesterday and it was lovely to catch up. The next time I will see them will probably be christmas day! I have also been lucky enought to win a couple of stamps over the last few days from Bev and Carole {thanks ladies}, so I can't wait for them to arrive so I can have a play!

My Sugar Nellie DT stamps arrived on friday and I couldn't wait to ink them up. They have a couple of new ranges out this month. The sugar & Spice collection and four new baby stamps so head on over to funky kits and have a look, they truly are adorable!

Today's card was made with my favourite from the Sugar & Spice collection so I just had to use her first. The sketch is from friday sketchers a few weeks ago! I loved it and wanted to give it a go but never got around to it in time! Better late than never hey!

Materials

Image: Elise from the Sugar & Spice collection by Sugar Nellie. Available here from funky kits. Coloured with koh-i-noors and sansodor.

Paper: Cosmo Cricket {from a kit from QVC}

Sentiment: SU circle of friendship

Tools: nesties, SU scallop border punch, Cropodile, distress inks, sponges, blending brushes,

Misc: Adhesive blue pearls from stash

Isn't she just the sweetest. I paper pieced her skirt with some of the cosmo cricket paper and cooured the hearts with my koh-i-noors! I love the effect of paper peicing.

I just want to thank you all for stopping by my blog and leaving me such lovely comments and support. To celebrate over 25,000 hits and by way of saying thank you to my loyal blogging buddies I will be offering some christmas candy over the next week, so make sure you call back to check it out!

Well I must get of and plan what we're going to have for tea.

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Sending you some Diane Duda love for christmas!

Morning all. Sorry I have been AWOL for a few days. I have been busy with non craft related things, you know how it is at this time of the year! Only 28 days left until chritmas day!

Today I have a card to show you using one of my Sugar Nellie DT stamps. This fab image is from Diane Duda, something a little bit more quirky! I have used the sketch over at Create For Fun and I am also going to enter this over at Colour Create, where this week the theme is red, green and white and at Simon Says Challenge, where their theme is 'winter love'.

Materials

Image: Waitning for Santa from Diane Duda by Sugar Nellie. Available here from funky kits. Coloured with koh-i-noors and sansodor.

Paper: MME Wonderful Winter

CS: DCWV

Sentiment: SU circle of friendship

Tools: nesties, SU scallop border punch, Cropodile, distress inks, sponges, blending brushes, sizzix snowflake die, emery board for distressing

Misc: red ribbon, dew drop from stash

I thought I would share with you a few more cards that I made at Jules SU workshop last weekend!



All items used on these cards are from SU and can be purchased through Jules!

Well I have to dash, me and my OH are off today and are going to the cinema and to do a spot of christmas shopping. I will hopefully be back later to pop round to all your lovely blogs and see what you've been up to!

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Sugar Nellie DT christmas card!

Evening all!

I hope you're all having a good start to the week! Unlike me! I bought something off of e-bay last week and it has arrived to day and it is counterfeit! Its just so annoying when you trust someone and they take advantage of your good nature. I have sent them a message and am hoping for a refund but I won't hold me breath!

Anyhow onto today card! I have use another of my DT christmas stamps from Sugar Nellie. I just love this cute image of these birds with their hot chocolate! Such a delight to work with. But if you are wanting to use this cute image for your christmas cards you'd better hurry on over to Funky Kits to get one as there are only 32 days left until christmas day!! I think this has to be one of my favourites from the new christmas releases!


I am entering this card for three, yes three of this weeks challenges. Simon Says Stamp want to see animals on your card, One stop craft want you to use snowflakes and over at creative inspirations they want to see sparkle!

Materials

Image: Winter Birds from Diane Duda by Sugar Nellie. Available here from funky kits. Coloured with koh-i-noors and sansodor.

Paper: DCWV Christmas Stack 2008

CS: Kraft

Sentiment: Craft work cards

Tools: distress inks, sponges, blending brushes, cuttlebug snowflake die, sewing machine

Misc: twinklets, pearl brad from stash

I was very brave and got my sewing machine out again for this card, not used it for almost a year! When I had finished the panel I didn't like the result so started tearing the paper off and this was the result, which I liked much better! A happy accident! Lol!

I also thought I would share a couple of the cards we made at Jules' SU workshop on saturday. These are my favourites of the 8 we made. I will show you the others another night so my post isn't too long!



{The sentiment on this card is from craftwork cards and not SU!}


All of the products used on these cards are from SU and can be purchased throught the lovely Jules!

Well that's all for me this evening. I am going to settle down to watch eastenders with a nice cuppa before a spot of blog hopping later!

Thanks for stopping by today, I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by and say hi and I love reading all your lovely comments!

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

A couple of cute Eskimos!

Evening all.

Sorry for the later post, I did try this morning but my laptop wasn't playing ball! I have had the most wonderful afternoon at another one of Jules' SU workshops. Today's class was called christmas rush and we made 8 quick christmas cards, 15 minutes for each card. It was so much fun, although my mum was getting herself into a bit of a flap everytime Jules' son called out the time left! Lol! I don't have any pics yet but promise I will get some hopefully tomorrow {weather and light permitting!}and upload them for you all to see!

Onto today's cards. I have two to show you, both using the same stamp, but slight variations on the design. A couple of really quick and easy cards, those that you can make for the masses! Lol!


I just love this cute Eskimo stamp from Elzybells. I got him last year and he is delight to work with, so easy to colour and just as versatile for boys or girls cards, just swap the colour scemes!

Materials

Image: Juggling Eskimo from Elzybells. Coloured with koh-i-noors and sansodor.

Paper: DCWV Christmas Stack 2007

CS: DCWV

Sentiment: Both from Elzybells

Tools: Nesties, SU stamp-a-ma-jig {to get the sentiment straight!}

Misc: snowflake stamp used to create background was free with craft stamper magazine, adhesive pearls {as buttons} from papermania

A couple of real quick cuties!

I know this is a bit of a long post today but I thought I would leave you with a couple of quick pics from my graduation on wednesday. The weather was really rubbish, it rained all day, so I only managed to get a couple of decent pics!

I like this pic as I am not looking directly at the camera, I always think these shots of me are better as I am rubbish at trying to smile for the camera .I am not at all photogenic !

Me with my OH {Sorry I don't know how to rotate the pic!}. When I came out with my gown on he said he felt so proud of me, bless!


And finally me with my mum & dad. This is the second time they have been to one of my graduations {I am trying for a hat trick, Lol!} but I think they were still just as proud of me this time around as they were first time 9 years ago!

Thanks for sticking with me through my mammoth post tonight. I hope you all enjoy your saturday evening. I'm just off to start tea and then I'll be settling down for a night of strictly and x-factor {my OH doesn't know what's instore for him yet, Lol!}

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Seasons of Joy!

Morning all. A couple of quick cards to show you today that I have made recently with my most recent SU purchase the 'Seasons of Joy' set {available from the wonderful Jules}! I just love this set and it perfect for making all those bulk christmas cards.

I have gone with a choc chip, Kraft and white colour theme and whilst I recognise these are not traditional christmas colours I think they look very alternative and elegant together (although my OH would disagree, he doesn't like the colours, he's a more traditional red and green kinda man! Lol}!



Again I have used no DP on either of these cards, but instead have used the 'Sparkling' SU Jumbo wheel to create the background pattern. I have embossed the main images on both cards with white embossing powder, I love the effect this gives, so striking on the choc chip CS.

Materials

Images: Seasons of Joy set from SU. Stamped in white ink and embossed with white powder

CS: SU Choc chip and Kraft

Sentiment: Best Yet set SU

Tools: Oval nesties, 'sparkling' jumbo SU wheel, xcut snowflake punch, EK Success 'Dotted Wave' border punch, Scalloped SU border punch, New cuttlebug embossing folder 'Kars Snowflakes'

Misc: adhesive pearl and gems from papermania, ribbon from stash

I also want to enter these two cards over at this weeks Secret Crafter Challenge. I have obviously chosen the winter season!

Thanks for all your well wishes for my graduation. It went really well yesterday and we all had a fab day. Although it did rain all day so I couldn't get very good pictures. I am still trying to sort through them on my computer but I will post some at the weekend I promise.

Thanks for stopping by today and for all the comments you leave me. Have a great day everyone {careful you don't get blown away! Lol}!

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Totally Gorjuss Christmas Blues!

Morning all! I did not sleep at all well last night because of the howling winds, did anyone else have a night like that?

Todays card was made for the new blog challenge Totally Gorjuss. Now those of you who know me well know how much I love my Gorjuss Girls! So of course I had to enter this weeks challenge ' Christmas Blues'! I just adore this little cutie with the fox from set 1, so versatile!

Materials

Image: foxy from the Gorjuss Girl range by Sugar Nellie. Available here from funky kits. Coloured with koh-i-noors and sansodor.

Paper: DCWV Christmas Stack 2008

CS: DCWV

Sentiment: Craftwork Cards

Tools: distress inks, sponges, blending brushes, xcut snowflake punch, EK Success 'Dotted Wave' border punch

Misc: pearl and glitter from stash

Well I hope you like today's card. This is card number 39 in my christmas cards box! Only another 21 to go! Lol! Must make some quicker, CAS cards!

I spent last night doing a christmas wish list! Jules is doing a SU Christmas Wish list service. Such a fab idea. You make a list of what items in the new SU catalougue you would like and send it to her. Then you give her details to your friends and family and they can contact her direct to purchase things for you off of your wish list! Genious. I am definately hoping for lots of fab SU gifts under my tree this year. Oh and if you set up a christmas wish list and someone purchases something for you off of your list, you will be entered into a draw for a chance to win a SU hamper worth £50! Even better! Please pop over to Jules' blog and have a look at how you can join her wonderful Christmas Wish list service!

Well must dash and get ready for work. Ooooh before I foret I have my graduation ceremony tomorrow at Huddersfield University for the Specialist Commmunity Nursing Practitioner Course I have just finished. My mum, dad and fiance John are all coming with me and I am looking forward to seeing the girls who I did the course with again as I have not seen them since May! I will make sure I get some pics and post them for you later in the week!

Thanks for stopping by today to say hi!

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Wish Upon a Star!

Good morning all and what a beautiul sunday it is. The sun is shining here today in Leeds. Luckily we don't seem to have had the severe weather that some of you have had in other parts of the country! I had a lovely crafty afternoon yesterday whilst my OH was at work and managed to get several cards done {all christmas of course, only 40 days left to go and so much still to do!}.


Today' s card is made with another of my fabulous Sugar Nellie DT stamps. She is such a cutie and was a delight to work with! I am thoroughly enjoying playing with these gorgoeus christmas releases, I know I am a very lucky girl! I have managed to combine two of this weeks challenges in this card. I have used the sketch over at Create 4 Fun {although I missed out the corner elements as I couldn't make it work for me, I hope it still counts!} and went with the theme of 'Glitter me Silly' at Cute Card Thursday!

Materials

Image: Litle Angel from Mary Hall by Sugar Nellie. Available here from funky kits. Coloured with koh-i-noors and sansodor.

Paper: DWV Christmas Stack 2007

CS: from stash

Sentiment: from a See D's Christmas set

Tools: distress inks, sponges, blending brushes, snowflake embossing folder, SU stamp-a-ma-jig {to get the sentiment straight!}

Misc: ribbon from dovecraft, glamour dust and glitter for her wings, dress and star.

Well thanks for stopping by today. I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. Not got much planned today. Still waiting for the OH to get out of bed{lazy bones}. Maybe we'll go out for a walk seeing as the sun is shining. I'll be stopping by your lovely blogs at some point today to see what you've all been up to over the weekend!

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Merry Christmas from Leanne Ellis!

Morning all! It's friday at last That means I can have a lie in tomorow and have some crafty time as my OH is at work. I haven't been in my carft room since last weekend as I am trying to spend a bit more quality time with my OH after work. I don't know if anyone else experiences these problems but he can get a bit miffed if I choose to spend time in my craft room rather than with him! So I am making a bit more of an effort. Roll on tomorrow though! Lol!

Well today's card I have to show you was made with another of the fabulous christmas releases over at Funky Kits from Sugar Nellie. Today I have used one of Leanne Ellis's Images. I have always been a huge fan of Leanne Ellis and I have lots of her older designs. This image as so easy to colour in and gives such a crisp image. She is so adorable don't you think?!



I managed to make this card withoutn using any DP. The pattern you can see was created with my new SU jumbo stampin around wheel stamp which I ordered from my SU mom Jules. Jules has just got back from the stampin up convention in germany where she was rewarded for her talents with many many prizes. Congratulations Jules, you deserve it (nad get well soon hun)!

Materials

Image: Annie with present from Leanne Ellis by Sugar Nellie. Available here from funky kits. Coloured with koh-i-noors and sansodor and whspers pens

CS: from stash

Sentiment: craftwork cards

Tools: real red SU ink pad, 'sparkling' SU jumbo stampin around wheel, SU scallpoed border punch, cropodile to create to holes in the scallops

Misc: red and white adhesive pearls from papermania, glitter for her hat and tag

Well I just loved using this stampin around wheel and it gives such a fab effect. I think I may have to collect a few more of these (they are already on my wish list) Lol!

Well thanks for stopping by today and for any comments you may leave. I really appreciate all the support and kind words you have given me over the past 18 months! It's lovely to have so many blogging friends!

Have a great weekend everyone, whatever you're up to!

Hugs, Vicky ~x~

Seasons Greetings from Mary Hall!

Evening all. My delightful boyfriend has managed to get a cable that attaches the laptop to the
television especially for me so I can upload my creations. So as I am typing, my blogpage is up on my 42" television screen for me to see! I can tell you it feels weird. Hopefully the situation may not be as damaging as first though. If we can buy a new screen (hopefuly for around £80) my BIL is really good with computers and he says he can fix it for us! So keep your fingers crossed that this will work otherise I may be on a craft stash ban for a while whilst I pay off a new laptop! Lol!



Onto today's card made using another of the fab images that arrived in my DT pack from Sugar Nellie. I was so excited when I recieved this months kit with all the lovely christmas designs I had to just dive straight in and use this little cutie by the designer Mary Hall. Aren't they just adorable together! This image was a delight to colour in and if you haven't already checked out the sweet new releases, make sure you head on over to funky kits quicksmart, you'll be sorry if they sell out! Lol!

Materials

Image: Christmas present from Mary Hall by Sugar Nellie. Available here from funky kits. Coloured with koh-i-noors and sansodor.

Paper: DWV Christmas Stack 2007

CS: DCWV

Sentiment: from a See D's Christmas set

Tools: distress inks, sponges,

Misc: card candy from craftwork cards, glitter for the fur trim

I love these cute new releases from Sugar Nellie and I am so lucky to get these stamps through my door each month to play with. I have to pinch myself when they arrive! It truly is a dream for me to be on the Sugar Nellie design team. Maggie with flowers was my first ever stamp that I bought! I love the designs as much now as I did then, it not more so as there are so many fab new designers to choose from. So I would just like to say a huge thank you to Karen for picking me to be on her design team alongside such other amazingly talented people!

Thanks to those of you who have taken the time to stop by and for any comments you may leave. I really do love to hear from you!

Hugs, Vicky ~X~