6 of the best from 2011

A Happy New Year to Everyone!

Debby has invited us to share our top 5 favourite cards from 2011

But I have gone one more with 6 of my best!

To start I have a couple of WOW creations. The white on white style looks stunning and my own interpretations didn't turn out too badly, even if I do say so myself! The first card above I made last January after a visit to the Exeter craft fair where I admired the pricking and embossing designs mixed with other elements. I've used different pearl white papers and card with just a touch of soft pink chalk ink to emphasise some of the embossed areas, plus lots of pearls. The centre text is by LOTV stamped in grey Momento.

On this card made last April, I've gently coloured the LOTV bride and groom then cut out with circle Nesties. Again lots of pearls and this time Martha Stewart punched hydrangea flowers layered up with Marianne diecut leaves.

And on this one made in July I've used the same hydrangea punch to create the flowers together with Marianne diecut leaves and tiny Nellie's Choice punched butterflies. I turned this into a little folder to give a gift to a friend.

I've also had a leaning towards vintage creations in 2011, well my interpretation of them at least. I've inked the edges of my papers with brown chalk inks and got inky fingers dabbing at my punched and diecut embellishments too. This is a simple card created in September with one of Sylvia Zet's digi images. I am so happy to have discovered Sylvia last year and have been honoured to create with her beautiful designs and chat with her by email from time to time. I am looking forward to seeing more of her creations in 2012.

Earlier in the year I was honoured to be on the DT for Cuddly Buddly, but reluctantly had to step down in the summer after the upheaval of my father's illness then death, the funeral, moving house, looking after Mum and trying to tackle legal issues and County planners to get an extension to the bungalow. The issues are on going but I am thinking positively that all will turn out well in the end. While on the CB team I got to play with some of Karen Middleton's digital images, this is one of them and I've gone for a vintage look again with inked edges and subtle distressing, plus the pearls and touches of glitter of course!

With two grandsons I am always on the look out for boy stamps and this little wizard by LOTV had to join my collection! I made the card in October and by now I had increased my collection of Copic pens to include some of the stronger colours so was able to play around at creating more contrast and shadow. I've also tried to mix in other makes of stamps to create the finished work, this time Penny Black Halloween and Kanban star stamps.

There are lots of other favourites and it's been interesting looking back through them all. My style is not too elaborate and I try to keep the cards slim enough to at least fit into a gusset envelope and preferably an ordinary envelope at ordinary postage rates. Much as I admire the stunning creations I see with beautiful flowers and embellishments, I tend to only make a few of those each year for special occasions where I can hand deliver.

Along with the six of the best in the cards, I'd like to list six of the best things I like to use, in addition to stamps and Copic pens that is. What would your six be?

1. Marianne dies/Nellies Choice dies/any other dies!
2. Nellies Choice punch and emboss flowers and butterflies
3. Wacco pearl maker pens, especially the cream
4. Sticky back gems and pearls - I love a touch of bling!
5. Stardust Stickles, I must have used at least 6 bottles in the year!
6. Coredinations textured cardstock - just the right weight for die-cutting and punching