Christmas Cards 2013 (16) - Leftovers: Knitted and cosy

Just to say a quick "hello" as I'm catching up with the blog posts. Here are some more Vintage Scandinavian cards I made for Christmas 2013. My aim was to make them as cosy and country-side like as possible hence ginghams, tartans and knitted patterns. 

 I loved working on all those little cards details :)

This knitted heart stamp belongs to my favourites now :)

...and there's something about the red tartan I can take my eyes off :)

And a couple of vintage cards with lots of Christmas green colour. Just a nice break-off from Scandinavian reds and whites

I'm currently working on some crochet projects and will be updating you very soon! Anybody thinking of spring crafting already? :)

Christmas cards 2013 (15) - Leftovers - Santas

Hi all. Again a few weeks of blog silence. This is due to some unforeseen circumstances. January 2014 turned out to be a horrible start into the New Year. The list opens with the 2 cats ill with the cat flu, costly vet treatments, my broken tooth filling and frequent trips to the dentist. Also, we have had the members of the bf's family hospitalized because of their age and condition, two distant relatives died and one person, a very close and dear to us, has been diagnosed with a progressive terminal illness. This was a very upsetting and devastating news for us. It has obviously put me off blogging and crafting too. I'm trying to take it all in and process this new situation inside me but it's very hard. Unfortunately the world doesn't stop just for us and our miseries and the show must go on. What can we do? Just to be strong, supportive and make sure each day is lived out to the full and treated as a bonus 'cause you never know what's round the corner... and let's not waste time anymore. I'm really waiting for some brightier, sunnier days...

Blogging backlog, as usual. I still got some xmas stuff I have never shown on my blog. Sorry this is way out of date. Just a quick look at the last batches of my festive cards, if you're not bored yet.

I really enjoyed myself making these cards. Stamped background, tartan patterns, vintage santas...

And how has your start into the New Year been? Hope you are all ok and happy. x X x

Summary of 2013 and crafty plans for 2014.

(photo credit)

Hi all. Welcome in 2014! A New Year ahead with new ideas and opportunities to grab and fulfill. 

I can see that lots of bloggers posted their interesting looking-back notes on their websites and since I've never done any of this type before so this time I will follow the crowd and do a little summary on my blog :)

Overall it was a creative and prolific year for me, both for blogging and hand-made production. I enjoyed myself through it as much as I enjoyed meeting and blogging for you. The number of my blog posts went over 100 - the biggest number of blog notes per year so far and the tendency is growing (hope it keeps up!) despite the monthly blog silence in October when I just couldn't be bothered to do anything :)

I have a few hobbies which I'm trying to keep up like glass painting, card making, cross stitching, knitting, sewing but this year definitely was taken over by card making with some knitting and cross stitching alongside. Sadly no glass painting or machine sewing this year but hopefully I'll find some time to go back and do a bit of that as well. 

And here is an overview of my best creations throughout the year:

January

Started early Easter knits inspired by the the book of Arne & Carlos. Really couldn't wait the day this book is released. Enjoyed knitting coloured patterns a lot.

* * *

February

Nordic Spring - an attempt at making Nordic-style Easter cards using my new stamps from Noolibird and The Waltzing Mouse Stamps.

Valentine's day with valentine's baking and card making ;) Boyfriend impressed. Good. 

First attempt at making Easter cards. Lots of whiteness and folky embellishments.

* * *

March

Finally my Easter eggs finished. Used a cotton-merino Lerke yarn and had lots of fun knitting those. Very pleased how they turned out with this new type of yarn. Love the smoothness of the weave.

Really liked this card. Great cutting dies from Tim Holtz and the stamp set from The Waltzing Mouse Stamps. Pastel Nordic pattern in the background.

My first attempt at stitching on wood. My little folky rose key fob got spotted by the Cross Stitcher magazine and tweeted about :) What a lovely surprise!

* * *

April

Fancied some sweet cute cross stitch and made those cards from the cross stitch magazines freebies.

Nordic baking and decorating despite the twisted knee ;) (Fell down the stairs on Easter Sunday. Bummer!)

* * *

May 

Exploring Polish folklore with some great folky stamps, scrapbooking papers and punches.

Really liked this card - the textures, the patterns, the embellishments as well as the idea of making a ladybird for a card challenge. Pleased with myself again :)

* * *

June

Greeting card made for my bf's nan for her 100th birthday - an opportunity of a lifetime. Proper regal features and making a card with the union jack layout for the first time. Very pleased and proud of myself :)

Back to folklore. Really like this cheery card with butterflies. Gorgeous stamps from Basic Grey and a scrapbooking paper from GoScrap.

Cross stitched card for a colleague's newborn baby - takes a hell of a time to make it but once it's done, it really pleases your eyes :) Love the xxx stitch, lace and the gingham features.

My first steps in the crochet world - nothing much, just a simple bowl made from a random yarn, yet, something more advanced than a simple crocheted flower ;) Need to explore crochet more in the future.

My first Christmas cards - OMG! Can't believe I started so early! A proof I adore making Nordic festive cards :)

* * *

July

Little cross stitched notelets - quick and fun to make plus I loved the designs.

Really enjoyed making this collection of cards. Very pleased how they turned out. 

Spent a lot of time stitching this poppy due to the various shades in the pattern. Loved the card when all done and mounted. 

Forest animals are charming. Really enjoyed stitching this little cute fella...

... and so did this one!

Inspired by the stitched forest animals, I had to make this card using a fox stamp from Simon Says.

More Christmas cards! Exploring the new colour combinations. 

* * *

August

Kept my eye on these cards for a long time. Finally got round to make them. My first hand paper-cutting ever. Very pleased and love the Scandinavian designs a lot. Would love to try more in the future once I get a proper rotating scalpel :)

Fancied something romantic/floral and folky at the same time. Great design from Eline Pellinkhof.

A hot tropical parrot bookmark for hot days :) Cute and colourful. Love the chevrons <<<< >>>>

Dala - the iconic Swedish horse. Love those stamps and like how the cards turned out.

* * *

September

My favourite cards made in September:

* * *

October 

Break :)

* * *

November

Coming back to festive card making...

Loved the whiteness and the embossed "jumper" on this card. One of my biggest favourites this year. Would love to make more of this type in the next year :)

Decorative bands with reindeer - simple idea for a nice card :) Will try with different colours next year :)

* * *

December

Lots of Scandinavian redness this month. Selected favourites:

Reindeer - always my favourite. Loved adding the hand made stitches.

Great cutting dies from Marianne Designs. Enjoyed making these a lot. 

My favourite stamp set - Nordic Winter from A Muse Studio and gorgeous scrapbooking papers from Papermania - series: Home for Christmas. Loved making this card.

Vintage Scandinavian. Nisse (gnomes), holly and cosy jumpers ;)

Loving this red folky horse. Pleasure to stitch and looks very effective. WIP. To be finished soon!

Gingerbreads - always my favourite no matter what shape :) Decorating was fun too.

Well, this is it. This is what I created in 2013. Now, what I'd like to do more in 2014:

- bust that pile of UFOs that collected over time in my cupboards (priority!)

- go back to glass painting - I really miss it

- find more time to practise my crochet skills and finally be able to make my own granny squares

-brush up on my knitting skills and explore more techniques, try my hand at socks and mittens

Something new:

- would love to try embroidery on paper - a new card making technique

Thanks you for visiting my blog and comments x X x