MY FAVORITES OF 2014

I began my blog on 6 January and I'm so glad I got up the nerve to do it.  Will be traveling home from London on the 6th next week so while I have a little time today here am posting my own favorites from the year.  Have had a wonderful time here with my son and family - went to see "Edward Scissorhands" at the Sadlers Wells theatre - fantastic choreography - beautifully done.  Spent some time in Canterbury with my DIL's mom and dad, went to school with DIL Sarah for 3 days - she is the deputy head of a Catholic primary school - worked with year 6 kids on helping them to write winter poems and then took them out in small groups and did watercolor backgrounds for their poems now that I am the watercolor expert:-) from all my great experience - NOT!  But they had fun just playing with the colors and splattering - also taught them how to cut snowflakes - the poems and the snowflakes ended up on a large bulletin board in the hall by their classroom.  Later today I am meeting up for a glass of wine with a stamping friend whom I met online and have been corresponding with for several years.  We have met before but it's always fun to catch up in person.

Below is the winter display from St. Joseph's School in Kingston, London.

And here are my favorites from my first year of blogging.

I haven't figured out how to align the pictures horizontally even after googling how to do it - still greek to me.  So it just has to be a very elongated post.

Also, I am at 999 followers on my Pinterest Boards - wish someone would help me get to 1000 by the end of the year!!!

Best wishes for a wonderful 2015 to everyone who stops by.  Hugs,  Betty

CHRISTMAS CARD FOR 3 CHALLENGES

I started out to design this card for Merry Monday's challenge (bird) and then realized I could also use it for Curtain Call (aqua and lime green) and Paper Players (fancy).

I adhered the silver dot vellum to white cardstock and die cut the tag.  Die cut the bird from silver paper and covered it with glossy accents to give it some shine.  The branch and sentiment are cut from glitter paper.  I colored the silk ribbon with a copic marker. 

Supplies: HA sentiment, MFT tag, MB bird & branch dies; May Arts silk ribbon; DCWV and SU glitter paper and Neenah metallic cs.

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.  This may be my last post for the year as I leave for London next Sunday to spend Christmas with my family there.  May you have a peaceful Christmas and a blessed New Year.  Betty

 HERO ARTS SCRAMBLE #99

Today Natalie challenged us to use an "old" Hero Arts holiday or winter stamp.  Took me forever to think of something, much less make a card - which actually turned into a tag.

I recently bought a Tim Holtz die set of pine boughs and holly so cut those out in green. Stamped the tag background with woodgrain in distress ink and rubbed the edges with more ink.  Then I overstamped in white with a spatter background stamp to give the effect of snow.  Embossed the sentiment and ornament (fussy cut), added some gold floss and done - only it took me nearly 70 minutes to accomplish!!!!  And then I still had to photograph and upload - nearly didn't make it in 90 minutes!

Supplies: HA CL551, S5208, CH188; Heidi Swapp splatter stamp; Tim Holtz dies; DMC gold floss; Colorbox frost white and Ranger walnut stain inks

Thanks for visiting today and your kind comments.   Betty