I Spy With My Little Eye … 2025 Crafty Year In Review 🔍

Hi everyone, as 2025 winds to a close our thoughts turn both to the year that has just gone, and the year ahead. Like many of us I have had a year of mixed fortunes, and I hope both for myself and for everyone a happy, healthy, peaceful and crafty 2026.

My bloggy friend Ellie is hosting a Crafty Year In Review on her blog instead of our usual monthly ‘I Spy With My Little Eye’ challenge, where she is sharing her favourite cards of 2025 and inviting everyone to share their own favourite makes. You could share your favourites by month, or a top 5 or top 10 - whatever works for you! 

Looking at Ellie’s beautiful collection of cards encouraged me to review my own, so here are my favourites from each month.

January

(original post here)

February

(original post here)

March

(original post here)

April

(original post here)

May

(original post here)

June

(original post here)

July

(original post here)

August

(original post here)

September

(original post here)

October

(original post here)

November

(original post here)

December

(original post here)

Just like last year, I found my favourites weren’t very evenly distributed throughout the year - for some months I struggled to find a favourite at all, whereas for others it was much easier! So just for good luck, I’d also like to add my ‘overall favourite’ of the year (original post here).

Like Ellie, I also looked back to see which of my cards received the most views during 2025, and it was this one (original post here).

I’m not sure why this one was so popular, but for a period of about a month during the summer my page views went absolutely crazy at several thousand per day, before settling back down to normal! I never found out why this happened!

Overall my crafty output has been very similar to last year, with publication of 104 cards (108 in 2024), 8 calendar pages (5 in 2024) and 2 bookmarks//tags (2 in 2024). This surprised me for a couple of reasons: firstly because I have taken up a few other social activities and hobbies this year (eg. Creative writing and running my local history discussion group) which have left me with less time for crafting; and also  because I have gone through periods, particularly at the start of the year, when I didn’t  enjoy crafting as much for a variety of reasons. The main area where I have been less productive is ATC’s - in 2024 I made 78, but only 9 this year. I think that partly reflects the increasing cost of postage, my reduced crafting time,  plus I just haven’t felt motivated to get involved in swaps when my mojo went on holiday. 

Anyhow, I am currently feeling quite motivated craft-wise as I won a 2026 Lavinia calendar, and due to the Christmas card rush I have scarcely started decorating it, so I have a fairly large project to keep me occupied after New Year! In fact I’ll be back tomorrow with my January page, starting the New Year as I mean to go on! 

Huge thanks to Ellie for organising this fun review … do pop over to her blog to see her fab makes, and to share your own review of the year here.

Take care, Happy New Year everyone and see you in 2026.

Hugs,

Merry Christmas Everyone! 🎄🎄

Hi everyone, I’m just popping by with a scheduled post to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I hope you have a happy, joyful and peaceful time with loved ones, and find time to relax and have fun.

I know that Christmas can be a difficult time for some people, particularly if you or your loved ones are ill, if you have lost loved ones during the year, or if you do not have family and friends to spend the festive season with. If you are having difficult times I wish you all the best, and I hope you will be able to enjoy the season as much as possible for your circumstances, and that you will have better times ahead.

I will be spending Christmas quietly - just me and my husband  - but I hope to have an enjoyable time eating, drinking and relaxing while watching some festive TV! Here is the card I made for him - I always wait to publish it until he has opened it on Christmas morning!

I decided to make a variation on my Lavinia mega-project which I made a month ago during my DT stint on the Simon Says (Monday) challenge (here). I just had to use the adorable Pipspell and the fairy post box, though this time, in the interests of making a more masculine card, I didn’t include a fairy!

I cut a 7” square of white stamping card, stamped the focal Wishing Post post box, and then masked it. I added masks for the landscape and moon, then created the sky by blending Elements inks. With the masks still in place I stamped a variety of pine trees in 1st/2nd generation, then added snow drifts by blending ink using my hill masks. I stamped Pipspell, and opposite I stamped Basil holding the orb on a branch. I also stamped Tilly (or Tango?) dangling joyfully from the postbox - this is one of my favourite stamps as he/she always looks so joyfully abandoned when hanging upside down! 

I stamped some Starpine and Sugar Pine Cones in the top right corner, then coloured the Wishing Post, Pipspell, Pinecones and orbs with Zig pens. I added Wink of Stella to the orbs for sparkle, and also added it in flicking motions to the Starpine leaves. I added white Posca snow lines to the scene and topped them with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen for a more silvery sparkle. I cut out a teeny rectangle of card and drew on it with fineliner to represent a stamp and loving message on the front of an envelope, then popped it into Tilly’s paw.

 I matted the panel onto two shades of blue card stock and an 8” square card blank, then stamped the sentiments onto separate card,  coloured with Sakura Stardust pen, then edged with dark blue and attached. Finally I added Posca snowfall.

This is another very sparkly card which doesn’t show up on the photos! 

Stamps: Lavinia Wishing Post, Mailbox Names, Pipspell, Tilly and Tango, Basil and Bibi, Everlight 2, Small Pine Trees, Small Fairy Fir Tree 2, Christmas Tree Group, Starpine, Sugar Pine Cones, Winter Foliage, Christmas Greetings, Seasonal Words; Uniko Christmas Greetings (inside);

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Pink Elephant, Della Blue, Dark Denim); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Pinecone, Rainforest, Shady Lane, Avocado, Medieval Blue); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Wink of Stella (clear, gold); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Lavinia acetate circle mask and Mini Hill Masks.

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #129 - Anything Goes Christmas (2nd entry)

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick a Previous Theme Challenge (3rd entry)

(I picked December - Winter Scene)

613 Avenue Create (December) - Anything Goes with option Sparkle and Shine (4th entry)

Ally’s Angels #101 - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments #332 - (Non)Traditional Christmas + a Sentiment 

Cardz 4 Guyz #381 - Christmas Critters

Country View FB Challenge (December) - Christmas (4th entry)

Craftlandia #25 - Snowflakes (3rd entry)

Crafts Galore Encore #142 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Creatalicious #296 - Anything Goes with option Winter Animals (2nd entry)

Creative Crafters #95 - Anything Goes

Everybody Art #591 - Christmas/New Year (2nd entry)

FarmQuest Country Christmas #27 - Anything Country Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

FarmQuest General Store #35 - Anything Farm and/or Country Goes (2nd entry)

Girlz Makes Guyz #34 - Anything Goes Male

Girlz Rebel #47 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Inkspirational #357 - Cold (3rd entry)

Krafty Chicks #800 - Masculine

Lavinia Creative Challenge (December) - Story Time

Passion for Markers #818 - Mega Christmas Challenge: Add a Sentiment (3rd entry)

Peace On Earth #102 - Anything Christmas Goes (3rd entry)

Rudolph Days (December) - Christmas

Simon Says (Monday) - Sparkle and Shine (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Add a Sentiment

We Love 2 Create #11 2025 - Anything Papercrafting/Mixed Media Goes (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #730/733 - Anything Goes (4th entry)

This is my last post of a new card for 2025 as I am now taking a seasonal break from crafting, though I’m hoping to find time next week to do a ‘year in review’ post. So I’d like to finish by once again  thanking all my visitors and blogging friends  for all your visits, kind comments and support during the year, and to wish you all a

🎄🎄🎄 Very Merry Christmas 🎄🎄🎄

and a

🥳🎉🥳 Happy New Year 🥳🎉🥳

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Snowy and Frosty ❄️❄️

Hi everyone, I couldn’t let a year go by without binging my favourite ever Christmas stamp, Penny Black ‘Snowy’, out to play. He is just so adorable he melts my heart, and he is also ideal for quick and simple cards as he really doesn’t need much else. 

For my first card I die cut a wavy stitched square of white card, stamped Snowy, then blended Elements inks through a snowflake stencil in the corners. I coloured Snowy with Zig pens (first time I’ve done that!) and Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen on his hat, then ‘grounded’ him with some blended ink and torn paper. I added a couple of small stamped snowflakes and a stamped sentiment, then matted the finished piece onto a card blank - job done!

Here’s an angled pic to show the sparkle.

Stamps: Penny Black Snowy (2521K), Joy, Hope (3898F); Visible Image Let It Snow;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Della Blue, Pink Elephant); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Blue Belle, Arctic); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Craft Addictions UK  Wavy Double Stitched Square die; Crafter’s Companion Winter Sparkle stencil.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Craftlandia #25 - Snowflakes (2nd entry)

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (December) - Use a Stencil (2nd entry)

Die Cut Divas (December) - Christmas/Winter with a Die Cut (4th entry)

Double D - Santa and/or Snowman

Four Seasons (December) - Anything Goes Winter (3rd entry)

Make My Monday #267 - A CAS Quickie Christmas Card (3rd entry) - TOP 3

Papercraft Challenges #125 - Festive Sparkle (3rd entry)

Passion for Markers #818 - Mega Christmas Challenge: Add a Sentiment (2nd entry)

Penny Black Saturday (December) - Anything Goes with option Snow/Snowmen

Simon Says (Monday) - Sparkle and Shine

Word Art Wednesday #730/733 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

For my second card I followed the same process, just using a different stencil and sentiment.

All supplies as per card 1, except sentiment stamp is Penny Black A wish... (3502F), and stencil is Visible Image Frosty.

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #129 - Anything Goes Christmas

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick a Previous Theme (2nd entry)

(I picked February - Masculine Christmas)

Crafts Galore Encore #142 - Anything Goes (2nd entry) - DT FAVOURITE

Creative Crafting Uncles #72 - Christmas and/or Happy New Year (3rd entry)

Inkspirational #357 - Cold (2nd entry)

Little Red Wagon #838 - Christmas Card (2nd entry)

Peace On Earth #102 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Christmas (3rd entry)

Stamps & Fun = Creativity #347 - Snowman

Apart from my husband’s card these are absolutely the last Christmas cards for 2025! 

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

A Matching Set

Hi everyone, as regular visitors to my blog will know, I have made a number of Christmas cards this year featuring variations on a design using a stencilled bauble and stamped winter cabin.  One of the stencils I have been using is by Card-io, and I mentioned previously that it is really big! That being the case I decided to use it for an 8” square card - a larger card for my husband’s aunt who is his closest family member. I also rang the changes by colouring the sky with Elements inks - here it is.

I cut a 6 3/4” square of stamping card, positioned the bauble stencil, then stamped the winter cabin in the centre, and stamped a couple of additional small trees to fill out the scene. I masked the cabin and created the sky and bauble shape by blending Lavinia Elements inks and Memento ink through the bauble stencil, with torn paper to mask the snow line. I removed the masks and coloured the cabin and added accents to the fence and trees with white Posca pen, I also smudged some Posca pen above the chimney to create smoke. I stamped the stag in the corner and two teeny deer, and created snowdrifts inside the bauble by blending more Elements ink with torn paper. I stamped background foliage and wording using a mixture of Twilight and Morning Mist VFC, and coloured the foliage berries with a pink Wink of Stella pen. I outlined the bauble with Sakura Stardust pen to add sparkle, added Stickles to the cabin roof and snowdrifts, and created faux snow spatter with my Posca pen. Finally I stamped the sentiment, then matted onto a dark blue card border and 8” square card blank.

Here’s an angled pic to show the sparkle.

As this was for a family member I also decorated the envelope to match.

Stamps: Inkylicious Winter Cabin (medium), Winter Cabin (small) - on envelope, Stag/Deer set 1; Card-io Pine Forest; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE22 Christmas Wishes, TE23 Winter Delights; AALL & Create #806 Fallen Leaves; Uniko Christmas Wishes;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Pink Elephant, Della Blue, Dark Denim); Memento ink (Paris Dusk); Versafine Clair (Twilight, Nocturne, Morning Mist, Medieval Blue); Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Wink of Stella (pink); Posca pen (white); Stickles (Stardust);

Tools: Card-io stencil Vintage Bauble.

Challenges I would like to enter:

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick a Previous Theme Challenge

(I picked December - Winter Scene)

Addicted to Stamps and More #507 - Christmas (3rd entry)

Craftlandia #25 - Snowflakes

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (December) - Use a Stencil

Creatalicious #296 - Anything Goes with option Winter Animals

Creative Crafting Uncles #72 - Christmas and/or Happy New Year (2nd entry)

FarmQuest Country Christmas #27 - Anything Country Christmas Goes

FarmQuest General Store #35 - Anything Farm and/or Country Goes

Inkspirational #357 - Cold

Little Red Wagon #838 - Christmas Card (2nd entry)

Papercraft Challenges #125 - Festive Sparkle (2nd entry)

Peace On Earth #102 - Anything Christmas Goes

Simon Says (Monday) - Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays (3rd entry)

Sweet Stampin’ - It’s Christmas! (3rd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #730/733 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Christmas is now nearly upon us … I just have my husband’s card left to make, as I always make it just a couple of days before the big day! I’ve gotten quite behind with my Christmas preparations generally this year, as I have not been too well and suffered quite a bit of pain over the past 4 or 5 weeks which somewhat put me off my stride. However I’ve finally managed to catch up on my housework and got the tree up, so things are finally falling into place.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Winter Greenery

Hi everyone, in my ongoing quest to make a few last minute simple Christmas cards I wanted to use up some snippets, so I decided to stamp some small stitched squares of winter greenery, then mount them onto an embossed panel made from a larger snippet!

Here’s a picture of my snippets…

…and one of the cards I made.

I die cut a stitched rectangle of white card, then dry embossed it with an extremely old Cuttlebug embossing folder called ‘Holly Ribbons’. I die cut 3 small stitched squares, and stamped them with Lavinia Holly, Mistletoe and Star Pine in various shades of green VFC. I coloured the holly berries with red Signo pen topped with Sakura Stardust pen, the mistletoe berries with clear Stardust pen, and the Starpine with Wink of Stella. I edged both the stamped and embossed panels with blended Olive Elements ink, then  added white Posca accents and faux snow spatter. I die cut a small stitched rectangle and stamped the sentiment, then assembled the card onto a dark green border and 7” x 5” card blank.

Stamps: Lavinia Holly, Mistletoe, Star Pine, Christmas Greetings;

Media: Lavinia Elements ink (Olive); Versafine Clair (Shady Lane, Grass Green, Rainforest, Nocturne); Signo Pen (Red); Sakura Stardust pens (red, clear); Wink of Stella (clear); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Hunky Dory Moonstone Duo- Stitched Square and Rectangle dies; Cuttlebug Holly Ribbons embossing folder.

Challenges I would like to enter:

As You Like It - Festive Creations (3rd entry)

Can You Handle the Pressure? - Anything Goes with option Celebrate Any Holiday

Cut It Up #345 - Oldie But a Goodie + Use a Die Cut 

(My embossing folder is very old)

Krafty Chicks #799 - CAS

Little Red Wagon #838 - Christmas Card

Make My Monday #267 - A CAS Quickie Christmas Card (2nd entry)

The Male Room #205 - Christmas Colours (Red and Green)

Shopping Our Stash #563 - My Sweet Embossable You  (2nd entry)

Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Christmas (2nd entry)

Snippets Playground #521 - Use Snippets

Once I got going I actually made three cards - another very similar to the one above, plus a third using old designer paper instead of an embossing folder.

… and an angled picture to (not very successfully!) show the sparkle.

All supplies as above except for Lili if the Valley designer paper.

Challenges I would like to enter:

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Pick a Previous Colour Challenge

(I picked May 2025 - Red & Green)

Colourful Options (December) - Colour Mood Board (4th entry)

C.R.A.F.T. #770 - Christmas (2nd entry)

Die Cut Divas (December) - Christmas/Winter with a Die Cut (3rd entry)

Girlz Rebel #47 - Anything Goes

Love Those Pretty Papers (December) - Use Designer Paper

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies #2550 - Anything Goes

Simon Says (Monday) - Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #730/733 - Anything Goes

That’s all for today. Take care, and thanks for visiting,

Hugs,