I don't know about you, but I find that I am very pensive on New Year's Eve. I always find I sit for a while and think about how the past year has been. Unfortunately, this year has been a rough one for myself, hubby and daugther. A year continually peppered with every problem imaginable. It's very hard to keep your "head above water" when everything around you seems so bleak. It's also difficult to keep positive and look at life with the "glass half full" mentality rather than "glass half empty".
However, the last day of the year is also a time for looking forward. If 2010 has been a hard year, you may find yourselves at a crossroads. Although it is important to acknowledge and reflect on what has been, it is more important to look forward with renewed hope and anticipation for a better future. Even if it's difficult to see, there are always things to be thankful for and moments that have brought joy and smiles through those not so good times. So think of those times as you welcome in the New Year and here's hoping that 2011 is filled with love, laughter, peace, good health and well-being for everyone!
Told you I was pensive, LOL! So without further ado, here are my most favourite cards from 2010....and yes, it was very difficult to choose as I am my own worst critic!! LOL! I could have listed WAY more, but I narrowed it down to 12! Hope you enjoy....
I don't often have those 'lightbulb' moments, but as soon as I saw this stamp I had the idea to make a suitcase card, complete with authentic luggage stickers (found the images on the www, resized them, printed them out and distressed them):
This card is my latest Whimsy Stamps card. Whimsy is now carrying a range of Kenny K rubber stamps and this card was made for the release blog hop. I was really pleased with my colouring in this one, and I loved the pink/orange colour combo of those yummy Crate Papers:
Another 'lightbulb' card for me. I took about a week to make this one - adding things and fiddling for a few minutes each day, until it was complete! I love that I was able to use the gorgeous Wild Orchid Roses in the trellis and the flower box. A different card from my usual style, as I usually use bright colours:
My fave technique is paper-piecing and these corset stamps from Paper Makeup Stamps are fabulous for this. I love the black and white theme with a pop of colour, and although I haven't made anymore, I really want to duplicate this card in different colours. I think B&W and teal would look lush:
When I first saw sketch 104 at Sketch Saturday I was inking up one of my Whimsy Stamps carousel horses and the two gave inspiration for this! Although I'm not American and therefore don't celebrate July 4th, I just couldn't stop myself ... this card made itself!
This is another Whimsy Stamps image, and the very first time I coloured African skin. I was so pleased with the result ... this was my first attempt:
Sketch 92 at Sketch Saturday had me completely stumped.... until I inked this TGF cuties and pulled out my fave maufacturer of paper (OA) and got to work! I even spent a LONG time hunting around in my old stash for those puffy silver stars, but it was fab to use them:
This card evolved completely from the image. I inked TGF Ian up and started colouring him, creating a little riverbank scene for him. Then I pulled out some Crate Paper that I thought looked 'wavy' and 'pebbly' and made the base. Then the idea came to add the fishing line and the net full of pearls, fish and string. One of my fave cards:
I love the simplicity of this card. It took me a very long while to colour this Mo Manning image (it's quite big), but it was worth it. I was so stoked to find 2 matching black buttons that looked like video game console buttons ... well they do to me, LOL! One of my better masculine cards:
This card for Sketch Saturday 107 evolved from the paper. I love orange and butterflies and so pulled out this beautiful Basic Grey paper. Once I'd chosen this Sugar Nellie image it just worked! I also added some of those gorgeous "Crissy Armstrong" dots around the image for that whimsical feel:
I didn't use a stamp for this wedding cake, but drew and cut out the tiers and used some Whimsy Stamps accessory stamps to complete the look. I still have this card as I couldn't bear to part with it - love those papers:
And last but by no means least my Sparkle Creations Josh card. Again another lightbulb moment helped me create this card, and although my colouring is not my finest, I love the record and the musical notes:
So all that remains is for me to thank you all for your visits and your continued support and wonderful comments. They have often been the light in some dark days this year!
Wishing you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Hope 2011 is fabulous!
Hugs,