Year in Review 2020 - My Favorite Handmade Cards

At the end of each year I like to take a look back at all the cards I made during the year and pick my favorites to share in my "year in review" post. I usually choose a favorite of the month to make it easier. I did have a tie in February but that's the only month where I couldn't decide.

I've linked to the original post above each creation, if you'd like to find out more about each card, simply click that link. This year I also noted why I picked each particular card 😀

January

Click here or original post.

Using Hero Arts Antique Bee and Flowers and Penny Black Happy Wishes 

I love the earthy tones of this card and the way the background turned out.

February

Original Post Here

Using Penny Black Loads of Love

Can't help but smile when I see this image and I love the red and black color combo and the way the papers compliment each other.

and

Original Post Here

Using PSX Stamp K2883

I love the vintage feel of this card and think the lace is the perfect embellishment here.  

March

Original Post Here

Using Lavinia Stamps

I love how these colors compliment each other and the random way the ink turned out on the background.

April

Original Post Here

Using Penny Black Spontaneous Joy and Blooming Sentiments.

I remember struggling with this card and love how it turned out with the stenciled background and strip of patterned paper at the bottom.

May

Original Post Here

Using Lavinia Stamps

I often struggle creating pretty backgrounds and scenes for my Lavinia fairies (or I don't know where to begin) which is why I don't reach for them more, but absolutely love how this one turned out.

June

Original Post Here

Using : Penny Black Gathering Together and Penny Black Butterfly Garden

I love the way the harlequin patterned paper compliments the collage style image and ink splatters.

July

Original Post Here

Using Penny Black Asking the Flowers, Penny Black Blooming Sentiments and Penny Black Dancing Daisies

This card just makes me smile! Loved mixing "cute" and "brushstroke" on this card. And I think the yellow is so fun and cheerful!

August

Original Post Here

Using Penny Black  Painter's Vase and Blooming Sentiments

Love the inky background on this and the color blue is one of my favorites.

September

Original Post Here

Using Penny Black Garden Friends, Penny Black All Abloom, Penny Black Blooming Sentiments and Penny Black Sprigs

I love how this cute garden scene turned out mixing up "cute" and "floral" stamps. 

October

Original Post Here

Using Penny Black Snowy and Penny Black Season's Gifts

Snowy seems to make my "favorite" list often. I just love how the paper piecing coordinates with the border. And it's a favorite stamp because my husband picked him out for me many years ago :-)

November

Original Post Here

Using  Penny Black Season's Tweeting, Penny Black Christmas Story and Penny Black Season's Gifts

I love how the dotted paper frames the watercolor style image panel.

December

Original Post Here

Using  Scarved Sweeties, Dear Santa and Cone and Berries.

Once again I love the way I used a brushstroke stamp with a cute stamp to create the card. And of course this cutie and sentiment combo just makes me smile.

As you can see I still love my "cute" stamps but have been enjoying playing with inks just the same and I am sure that will continue in the new year. In last years year in review post I mentioned that I didn't do so well with my New Years Resolution of using up more of my patterned papers. I had the same resolution for 2020 and I did a little bit better, since I've cut most of my papers down to 6x6 and now keep them within reach next to my desk. 

For 2021 I'm setting a few crafty resolutions:

• Try some new (to me) techniques or re-discover old ones
• Organize a box of bare rubber stamps so I can actually see what they are
• Continue incorporating patterned papers
• Add some missing Distress Inks to my collection

If you have done a year in review post on your blog, please do let me know in the comments so I can come take a look at what you've been up to in 2020. 

Thanks so much for visiting!!

This post includes some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

 

I'm linking up here:

Sunday Showcase with Ada and Mirelle // Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Little Cottage Linkup // Love your Creativity Link Party // Hearth and Soul (starts Monday night) // Shelbee On the Edge Spread the Kindness // Jenerally Informed Happy Now Blog Link // Tuesday with a Twist @Stonecottage Adventures // Tuesday Turn About // Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Classy Flamingos // Welcome Wednesdays // What's Up Wednesday? // Little Things Thursday // Thursday Favorite Things // Traffic Jam Weekend //@Being a Wordsmith Slices of Life (Encouraging Hearts and Home) // A Morning Cup of Joe // Fridays at the Fire Station // Shelbee on the Edge // A Little Bit of Everything // Dare to Share /

Winter Wonderland and Some Sparkle and Shine

Hello and welcome! This is a 3 in 1 post, so it's a bit longer but I wanted to share the last of my Christmas cards as this will be my last post before Christmas.

This month I am guest designing at Penny Black Saturday challenge and today it's time to share some mid -month inspiration. 

It's also the start of a new theme at Allsorts challenge and two of the cards I'm sharing are made for Allsorts. Hope you will join us for a chance to win a fabulous prize from Stamp Addicts, a £15 voucher to their shop. We would love for you to join in! You'll have some extra time this time around as this challenge runs for 2 weeks to cover the holidays.

Please note: Some affiliate links are used in this post, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always this is at no  cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting this blog.

First up I'm sharing my card for Penny Black Saturday challenge. The theme this month is 

"Winter Wonderland" 

or "Anything Goes".

I used Penny Black stamps for a recent release along with an older brushstroke stamp. 

Stamps used: Scarved Sweeties, Dear Santa and Cone and Berries. 

These are also available on Amazon:

The background was done with masking fluid (to make it snowy) and inked with Distress Oxide Tumbled Glass and very tiny bit of Blueprint Sketch after the masking fluid was dry. The snowy hill was done with a stitched border die - similar options. Pine cone was inked and stamped using distress markers and with the help of a stamp platform, and the cute hedgehog with Memento Tuxedo ink so I could use my Copic markers for coloring. 

Related Products:

At Allsorts challenge, it's our last one of the year and I hope you will join in! This challenge runs for two weeks to cover the holidays so you have some extra time too. Our theme, chosen by Kath is..........

 "Sparkle and Shine".

Our fabulous prize comes  from Stamp Addicts. As always, you may use any brand of stamps, digis or dies so hope to see you there!

I used an old stamp from Whimsy Stamps. I think this set was called "Christmas Tree in Words" but it's long retired and no longer available.

I stamped with Versamark ink and then heat embossed with Gold Embossing Powder. The brushed gold card stock was dry embossed using an old Cuttlebug embossing folder. I don't use embossing folders often but they do add so much interest to a card! I don't know the name of this exact folder but there are many options on Amazon, Scrapbook.com, A Cherry on Top, and just about any other craft store.  

A die cut star (retired - options) has been adhered with foam tape. I couldn't find any red ribbon (seems like I'm missing a whole box of ribbons since re-arranging my craft room!!) so I used a strip of red cardstock instead. 

Related Products:

Below is the second card I made for Allsorts challenge, I actually made a few versions of this one using a few other stamps but did not photograph them all. It's a simple sketch with some patterned paper so it's easy to re-create.

I used an old wood mounted Penny Black stamp "Listening to Stars" stamped with Versafine Onyx ink and I used my Zig Clean Color brush pens for coloring . 

Wink of Stella clear glitter has been brushed over the star and "snow" to make them sparkle.

The large sentiment is part of Penny Black's set Season's Gifts and the small sentiment comes from the set Holiday Snippets also by Penny Black. The patterned paper is from my stash.

Thanks so much for visiting!

This is also going to be my last post before Christmas, but I will be back before the New Year with my Favorites of 2020. Hope you'll stop by then!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Linking up here:

Card No. 1

Alphabet Challenge - S is for Snow // Colour Crazy Challenge - Coloring // Crafty Catz - Something New // Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes// ABC Christmas - Favorite Things (cute stamps) // Paper Shelter - Anything Goes // Simon Says Stamp - Christmas Critters // Sisterhood of Crafters - Winter // The Card Concept - Christmas Cards // Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Gifts // Crafty Animals - Animals // Die Cut Divas - Use Dies // Dies R Us Challenge - Winter Wonderland // Let's Craft & Create Challenge - Anything Goes // Everybody-Art-Challenge - Animals // Double Trouble Challenges - Favorite Cutting Tool (Big Shot) // Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Winter

Card No. 2:

Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas // Art Impressions Stamp Challenge - Reason for the Season // DL ART Thankful Thursday Challenge - Winter Holidays // Crafty Gals Corner - Tis the Season // Classic Design  Challenge - Anything Goes // Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes // Creatalicious Challenges - Christmas // Love to Craft - Anything Goes // Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog  - Christmas // Lemon Shortbread  - Anything Goes // Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes // Make My Monday - Christmas Cards

Card No. 3:

Pattie's Creations - Winter Fun // C.R.A.F.T. - Christmas // Creative Moments - Anything Goes // The Paper Funday - Holidays // 2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Critters // A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes // Country View Crafts' Challenge - Christmas // Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned Papers // Sweet Stampers - Anything Goes // Crafty Sentiment Designs - Anything Goes // Christmas with the Cuties - Cute Christmas // Incy Wincy Designs - Christmas // 

One Stamp Two Cards and Gift Ideas for the Card Maker

Happy Sunday! I'm sharing two easy to recreate Christmas cards today using the same stamp as the focal point. The stamp I used is new this season but I used it before recently on this card. I love this delicate line art! 

At the end of this post I'm also sharing gift ideas for card makers, these are either things I have and love or would love to get. 

Please note: Some affiliate links are used in this post, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always this is at no  cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting this blog.

Both times I stamped with Versafine Onyx ink and colored with my Zig Clean Color brush pens and a Zig Detailer brush. The stamp is called Birdhouse Blessings from Penny Black's Season of Hope release. You can see more from this release HERE (just be sure to select "newest" in the dropdown menu on the right side).

On the card above I adhered the image panel to a simple patterned paper (old, from my stash) and stamped the sentiment from the Penny Black set Holiday Snippets. I finished off by brushing clear Wink of Stella over the bird house roof and the star. Then mounted onto a white card base.

Related Products:

 

Like on the card above, I stamped with Versafine Onyx and colored with Zig Clean Color markers. The Christmas words border was done with Penny Black's background stamp Christmas Story, also stamped with Versafine Onyx ink. I tied some Jute twine around the card, brushed Wink of Stella glitter over the birdhouse roof and star then adhered to a green cardstock base.

Gift Ideas for the Card Maker

These are all clickable images and link to Amazon. They are affiliate links meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links but as always at no cost to you.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today!

Linking up here:

Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge -// Crafter's Castle // Cute Card Thursday // Lavinia World Challenges // Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // The Paper Funday // Crafty Sentiment Designs // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // Unicorn Challenge // 2 Crafty Critter Crazies // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Let's Craft & Create Challenge // Love to Craft // Not Just Cards F // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges  // Path of Positivity 

Themes:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Christmas // Winter Wonderland- Christmas // Crimbo Crackers - Christmas // DL ART Thankful Thursday Challenge - Winter Holidays // Krafty Chicks - Christmas // Crafty Gals Corner - Tis the season // Artistic Stampers - christmas // Country View Crafts' Challenge - Christmas // Crafts Galore Encore // Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper (first card) // Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog // Make My Monday - Christmas // Use Your Stuff  - Christmas

Link Parties:

Sunday Showcase with Ada and Mirelle // Inspire Me Monday // Ageless Style Linkup (1st Monday) // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // Little Cottage Linkup // Anything Goes with your Hosts (Mondays) // Love your Creativity Link Party // Hearth and Soul (starts Monday night) // Shelbee On the Edge Spread the Kindness // Jenerally Informed Happy Now Blog Link // Tuesday with a Twist @Stonecottage Adventures // Randomosity - Good Random - Fun // The Happy Now // Tuesdays With a Twist //Tuesday Turn About // Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Classy Flamingos // Welcome Wednesdays // What's Up Wednesday? // Little Things Thursday // Thursday Favorite Things // Traffic Jam Weekend //@Being a Wordsmith Slices of Life (Encouraging Hearts and Home) // A Morning Cup of Joe // Fridays at the Fire Station // Shelbee on the Edge // A Little Bit of Everything // Dare to Share /