One down and one to go!

Well hello there, it seems such a long time since I last posted.  I've been busy working and spending time chilling out with the family.  I have actually done very little but after such a hectic run up to Christmas I refuse to feel guilty.  I am still full of cold, it seems to have made itself at home and nothing seems to be shifting it.  I am off work now till Saturday so hopefully that might do the trick.

Did you have a good Christmas?
Was Santa good to you?
I did very well although I didn't get anything crafty, I did get lots of sweeties, smellies and alcohol, so I shall look forwards to them.
My Christmas tree this year was thrown up last minute and I decided not to add tinsel or beads, so quite minimal for me.

And who was the most excited on Christmas morning?
That would have been Holly.  She sat as good as gold next to her presents, how did she know?
Then Grandad helped her open them.  I have never see a dog quite so excited about getting three balls!

"Come on Grandad, I know what it is!"
Too cute by far.
If only the kids were as happy with a couple of balls!

Christmas day dinner went well too courtesy of "Mr Marks and Spencer," although I did nearly have a melt down in the kitchen when I couldn't get everything in the oven.  How to make extra shelving in a hurry!
My youngest had a wee wobble at the table when Grandma tried to give him some onion, which was embarrassing.  But then when you get the family together at Christmas isn't it statutory to have at least one argument?!
By that point I'd started on the champagne and was chilling a wee bit!

Did you eat loads too?
I don't know about you but I can feel a detox on the horizon, lets just get the New Year celebrations over with first.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Good evening, where did the run up to Christmas go?
It has been crazy busy at work over the last couple of days, you'd think we were giving things away!
Time has now official run out so if you haven't got it, then it's tough!  ;)

I quite like this working lark, even though I am now shattered and full of cold.  Why?
Well yesterday I came home and my mum had made my table decoration for me.

Isn't it pretty, I wanted it to just be white and green.  One job less to do!
Then I came home today and mum and my eldest son had decorated my Christmas cake for me too.

We're going with a penguin theme this year.  Another job done and dusted for me.
Thanks to Elaine for the penguins, aren't they brilliant?

It only leaves me with a couple of presents to wrap and the table to set ready for tomorrow's dinner, then I shall put my feet up and maybe have a wee dram.  I wonder if Santa will be visiting us this year?
Better get the mince pie, carrot and brandy ready, not forgetting the oats and glitter to guide the reindeer into our garden.

Before I sign off I'd just like to say "Merry Christmas," may you and your loved ones have a fabulous festive season.  Thank you for all your support over the last twelve months, I do appreciate it.
Finally I'd just like to raise a glass and shout "cheers!"
Let the festivities commence!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, sharing an oldie festive style!

Good morning, back into work again today and tomorrow, no doubt it will be crazy busy and all the customers will be full of festive spirit!
Considering it it the season of joy and peace there are a lot of stressed and angry people about, and it is only set to get worse as we enter the twilight zone next week.
Does it really matter if all the cards aren't done, that the house isn't decorated from top to toe, that the mountain of perfectly cooked food is ready and everyone is on their best behaviour?
Isn't it really about spending time with family and loved ones, whether you like them or not?
I do think half the problem at this time of year is that we are all seeking the perfect Christmas.  The best food, decorations, presents, cards when it should be more about chilling out and enjoy relaxing.
Or is it just me?
As for me I have half of my cards written and sent, all parcels wrapped, a cake still awaiting icing, a house half tidy and and ironing pile a little smaller, that will have to do.
My hubby and kids have plans for the weekend and I have my parents up tomorrow, so it will be a mad dash home from work to whiz around the hoover and put on fresh bedding before they arrive.

Enough of my fun and games, it's Friday again and the last one before Christmas...today I thought I'd share a spellbinding card with you.

I have used:

Spellbinder Nestabilities Grand scalloped circles and
Shapeabilities Holiday tags and 2011 Snowflake pendant.

The sentiment stamp is from Andy Skinners Christmas collection "Simply Angelic".

Papers and brads are MME Loss and Found Christmas.

Glitter from Martha Stewart Crystal course and pearl from K & Company.

Finally finished with Distress ink Vintage photo and ribbon from my stash.

This snowflake hangs in the centre of the card, just for a change!

Sharing an oldie each Friday is just for fun but I'd love it if you joined me.  Feel free to comment as all those who do will also get a visit, sharing the joy of crafting.  It is nice to look back at past work and see how fashion and styles change or indeed if they do!

It only remains for me to wish you all the very best for the coming weekend, I hope your plans for the festive season are coming together, but if they aren't don't stress, Christmas will still happen ready or not!

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

It's nearly Christmas, and I'm so organised. NOT!

Good afternoon, a busy weekend followed by a busy couple of days in work, where does the time go?
We had our Christmas crafty get together on Sunday and good fun was had by all.  Lots of crafting, eating and giggling!
I managed to get a small handful of Christmas cards made at last but decided to make an executive decision and bought the rest at work.  Time is so against me again this year.  So much to do and so little time to do it in.  I have my family arriving on Friday, at the same time my hubby and boys are off on an adventure!
Me, I'm working right up to Christmas but I'm grateful I am not doing the full shifts my colleagues are doing, I'm pooped as it is.
I'm off tomorrow and Thursday, then back in Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
If only I could find a magic pixie to do the housework so I can concentrate on Christmas.
My tree has been up all week but is still waiting to be decorated.  I thought my boys would like to do it but I guess I will be after finishing the Christmas cards.
My handmade cards are not Christmas coloured at all this year choosing to go with a white and kraft colour combo.

I have used my new die set and stamps from Papertrey ink together with fine glitter, white ink and a sizzix Christmas embossing folder.  I have cut through the card and the snow background is on the back of the inside.  I used "stick it" to add the sparkly snow scene in the centre, it's wonderful stuff working with dies, you so need some if you haven't yet used it!
Something just a little different this year for a change.

I'm away now to finish writing my cards, hopefully I shall get the tree decorated later too.  I have a long list of jobs and it's best just to start at the beginning and keep going!
Hopefully I will get there and everything will run as smooth as clockwork, if it doesn't then I shall have to just adapt and conquer by other means!
Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday, I'll be back tomorrow with more.  x

Time for some Christmas funnies this Saturday!

Good morning, I thought I'd share some Christmas funnies this Saturday whilst I am snowed under at work (I have scheduled this and must point out that in saying "snowed under" I mean very busy and not digging my way through snow!).
I shall be needing a laugh when I get home, working in retail is such fun this time of year, I shall also be having a hot soak in the bath and a nice glass of something that makes you go "hick!"

Now you know this and I know this so what I want to know is, why do I always leave it till the middle of December to make my Christmas cards?   Next year I'll be more organised!  (I say that every year.)

Does this apply?

One of my boys had had the threat of coal on more than one occasion recently to which his response was "well at least I'll be warm!"
Why is it kids nowadays have an answer for everything?

Finally....

Do you think the reindeer would be just like youngsters today, a sign of the times.  

Poor Santa will only get assistance once he has been humiliated on Facebook, Twitter and or You tube.

It only remains for me to wish you all the very best for the weekend.  I have my Christmas crafty gathering tomorrow, maybe I might get some more cards made!  

Catch you soon.  x

Share an oldie this Friday....felt style.

Good morning all and how the devil are you this Friday?
For those of you who mentioned, yes, I have noticed the robot check at the end of commenting which is a bit of a pain, apparently it is something new introduced to the system to protect us from spam comments.  If you find out how to switch it off feel free to share, I am keen to know how you have done it, as all my researching up to now has come up fruitless.  It might just be something we have to learn to live with!

Back to sharing our oldies as it's FFFFriday, again, already!
Today as it is time for dressing the Christmas tree, mine is has been up since the beginning of the week but is still without lights and baubles, I thought I'd share my decorations.  Now I can't take credit for designing these wee beauties, the gingerbread folk I saw on Pinterest and just had to have a set myself, the others were received in kit form at Christmas as gifts.

First the gingerbread men.

My penguin.....

My robin, taken from the penguin and adjusted in colour combination.

And finally my reindeer.

Remember sharing and oldie is just for fun but I'd love to hear from you.  I will visit all who leave a message below and share in the love of all things crafty!

It only remains for me to wish you all the very best for the coming weekend and thank you for joining me today.  x

Putting the final touches to my kitchen, reuse, recycle style!

Good morning all and what a chilly one it is.  Our walk along the beach this morning was brisk in the wind, rain, snow and bitter cold.  Boy I'm grateful for my husbands buffalo jacket!
Winter is here.
How did you fair with the storm?
It got very wild and windy during the night but it seems to have settled a little this morning, for now.

I didn't get any where near finished with my jobs yesterday for those of you who think I run around like a mad woman!
I had a couple of visitors and a few interruptions along the way which meant I only ended up with one finished card and another 7 cut and ready to stick together.  Mind you I do tend to just do a couple of designs for my Christmas cards, that way once the design is done repeating gets quicker the more you do.
I also have a few bought ones I'd forgotten I had purchased, just in case, I guess I might have to send them too.  I also did find two batches of Christmas cards that my youngest made at school, I guess we can bling them up a bit and use them also.  I will get there by hook or by crook!

Whilst I was busy with all things Christmas yesterday my husband was putting some finishing touches in the kitchen, yes, a year on and it still isn't finished!
I just hadn't found the crates I had wanted for my wall storage but recently I came across a company in Coventry who made them and got very excited, sad I know.  Pinterest has a lot to answer for but I love the finished effect.

These are SO what I was looking for.  Rustic but solid.  This picture was me deciding what way around I wanted my hubby to put them up on the kitchen wall.

How is it that 10 wooden crates can make a girl so happy!  Strange but very true.  This is the way I decided to have them fixed and below is them filled with my cook books and kitchen bits.

I have seen a new kettle I fancy and a new bread bin and biscuit tin in Duck egg blue, you never know what Santa might bring!
I am really happy with my unit, what do you think?
I've just got a pelmet to make for my blinds now to hide the roll at the top then I think it might be done and dusted.

I'm working again tomorrow and Saturday, a dine in and Christmas, it's going to be crazy busy again.
Ho, ho, ho!
Don't forget to join me sharing an oldie, I'm away to pick something now to share with you.
Have a super weekend everyone and more from me on Monday.  x

Christmas is coming...getting ready, are you?

Good afternoon all, where has this morning gone?
No post from me again yesterday, another busy day with time just disappearing.
I am off work today and tomorrow and plan on doing a little card making, cake decorating and wrapping.  Whether that all happens only time will tell.
I don't think I shall get through everything but will be jolly chuffed if I do.  1 step nearer to Christmas, ho, ho, ho.
How much do I now wish that I had been making Christmas cards all year?  Lol.
Mind you I think a lot of folk are cutting down on card sending this year preferring to give money to charity instead.  I do think this is a super idea, heaven knows most charities need all the help they can get.
I am alone in actually enjoying getting Christmas cards especially from friends I only hear from at this time of year, with news from the past 12 months?
I am just not keen on the whole making the card on mass, writing them all, addressing and the news letter too, LOL.  I think it's the writing I don't like and the posting.  How naughty of me especially when I make cards?!
Anyway they won't get made chatting on here so I better make a move.
This is what I was up to this morning....

The next layer to my Christmas cake, mmmmm, marzipan!

Now I am no cake decorator, but I give it a go, all ready now for my icing decorating, I just need to leave it a couple of days and think about a theme.  I do have an idea.....can you guess what it is?
It won't be holly as that is what I decorated my cake with last year.
Watch this space and I shall share with you soon.

It only remains for me to wish you all the very best this Wednesday before getting out my card stock.
I hope you are all staying safe and thinking of those of you on the west coast of Scotland as the weather bomb continues to cause problems.
All fine here at the moment, just wet and cold, a perfect day to stay in the warm and craft!

Bringing a little Christmas cheer.

Good evening, a late post from me today after the day at work.  I did actually finish at two but after picking up some shopping, both boys, walked the dog and started the tea, this is the first chance I've had to get on line.
How was your weekend?

I had a crazy busy day at work on Saturday followed by my staff disco, which was fun.  I also won two raffle prizes too!
Something I normally never do.  I did say to put one back in but was told no, take both.  I now am a proud owner of a bottle of one of our new Christmas drinks G&TEA, which has gold leaf in it.  I tried it recently at a tasting session and it was yummy and I don't like gin normally.  I also won a £50 gift voucher for M & S which will pay for some nice Christmas food, mmmm.  Whoop, whoop!
I would have liked to stay longer at the party but we took the boys and had both been at work during the day so everyone was tired.

Sunday I had a quiet morning then I took my youngest out to the cinema with my BFF and her family to watch Nativity 3.  It was a very funny film but I don't think it was as special as the earlier two, I did LOL a lot though.  It was nice to just have some time together.

Moving on to crafting, remember the white tin plant pots that I was asked to make into Christmas decorations for the party?
Here's the end result......sorry the lighting wasn't the best for taking photographs by the time I had them finished.

 
I also rescued a couple of baskets which arrived to work upside down.

So they also went out on the tables.
My boss liked them which was the main point and I had fun making them, plus sore fingers, holly and pine trees can be quite sharp!

Over the next few weeks my postings may start and get a little intermittent as we ramp up for Christmas at work.  I have more hours each week and lots to do at home, the usual and the added Christmas bits and bobs.  I still have cards to make!  Not got onto that yet, that is why I admire those of you who make them all year around.  I always seem to have something else to do first.
Anyway enough of my rambling I better go and see how tea is coming on.

Catch you soon.  x

Sharing an oldie this Friday.....Christmas style!

Good morning and how are you all today?
Whoops another missed post yesterday, Thursday's seem to be turning into my busiest day just now.
I had both boys to the dentist first thing for fillings, the youngest first one, so that was a little traumatic for him.  Mind you it doesn't help, and it is purely a coincidence, that we are reading The Demon Dentist at bedtime just now.  Even more scary we are just at the part where the little boy gets strapped to the dentist chair.  To say he was a little reluctant to go is an accurate statement.
After the dentist and whizzing them back to school I had my Christmas appointment at the hairdressers, the grey has again been tamed!
Then it was time to pick the boys up again for a trip to the opticians, new glasses required for my youngest.
We were fairly pooped after that and a little shopping so ended up at Scribbles, our local pizza restaurant for tea.
Once I got home the dog greeted me with such joy and we both had a lovely very dark walk together!
I'm sure that is a regular day for most of you but it was a busy one for me, I did enjoy then sitting down with a cup of tea and mince pie to watch I'm a Celebrity.

Back to the crafting and today I have an old SU CAS Christmas card for you.

Not my usual Christmas green but I'm loving SU's Old Olive ink and papers... oh and the tree stamp from the Seasons of Joy stamp range.  The ribbon I think I picked up in the states and the metal Christmas tree was in my stash.

What I find great about sharing these old cards is that I seem to have gone full circle, starting with simple cards and then getting more complicated, I have now gone back to a simpler style.  I guess time has a lot to do with it but I do personally prefer the less fuss approach.

Are you sharing an oldie with me today?  Don't forget to leave a message so I can pop to your blog and share the crafty love.  It is just for fun and the joy of crafting.
I'd like to say thank you to those who are joining me I do appreciate it, it only remains for me to sign off today and go and crack on.  I have dog walking, food shopping and then my Christmas decorations to make for tomorrows work Christmas party.  I think it is going to be another busy day! 

Ruby, ruby, ruby!

Morning all and how are you this bright and sunny hump day?
Hasn't it got cold over the last couple of days?
I had a good day at work yesterday but what a light weight, having a wee 40 winks before tea!  Mind you it was a good thing as it meant I could get a few jobs done last night before sitting down to watch who was leaving the jungle!
We had our Christmas lunch at work too which was yummy, lots of Christmas food to sample in time for the festive celebrations.  I love our Christmas dinner sandwiches and sausage rolls but they're a tad high on the calorie front (As is everything that tastes good, in my eyes!).

Today I have my regular man mountain of ironing with crampons at the ready and a couple of films downloaded from sky, the time should fairly fly by.  Then a bit of tidying before maybe, if I'm lucky a wee bit of crafting.
Whilst I am keeping busy I thought I'd share this Ruby Anniversary card with you.

It's cream and red as I am always told by my mum you can't put red and white together, off white apparently is OK and cream is even better.  I have again used my die set from Papertrey ink, all the dies work together to create the shaker rather than faffing making it all yourself.  I really enjoy playing with this set and can see so many different ways of using it, all I need now is the time!

It only now remains for me to wish you all the best for this Wednesday, back tomorrow with more crafty fun and games, have a good one.  x

With a big thank you.....

Hello again, fancy meeting you here!
Today I want to share with you a card I made on Friday, I actually had time to play!
I forgot to mention last week that at our recent crop, we started with a SU frenzy, you know what is coming next now don't you?  Well, it would be rude not to purchase something and I had my eyes on two stamp sets.  Can you guess what I bought?

The card sort of gives the game away.

I have white embossed the SU butterfly before colouring with distress ink peacock feathers, a touch of glitter and some glass accents, with the sentiment by Waltzingmouse stamps.
Oh I think this might be my new favourite stamp!
The photograph isn't the best because it does actually look more white in real life rather than the off white you can see above.

I have made two of these cards both of which are heading out to two lovely ladies who have recently been very kind towards me, with an added wee surprise, as a token of my appreciation.  x

It goes without saying these were my purchases....quite reserved for me!  But then I have been real naughty of late.
Hubby has just asked me today what I'd like for Christmas, I said it's all done and dusted, I've got some lovely new crafty stash, thank you very much!

That's all from me today folks, have a good one whatever you are up to, more from me tomorrow.  x

A new grandchild, let the spoiling commence!

Good afternoon all, just.  How are you this Monday?
I had a busy weekend.  I was right about Saturday at work, a manic day, head down cracking on, the day flew by.  On the down side I did break my engagement ring!  Not what you want to do anytime but luckily I was wearing gloves so noticed something strange and didn't loose my diamond.  It was made over 19 years ago in Edinburgh so I think a trip maybe in order, I don't know whether I will manage that before Christmas now.  :(  It will have to wait.

Yesterday I was gathering Christmas foliage for the table decorations I'm making for the works Christmas party later in the week.  The pots have had another lick of paint and the foliage is soaking in preparation.  That will be my job this Thursday and Friday.

Today I have a bespoke card I made for one of my mum's friends last week as they're welcoming a new arrival, their first grandchild.  How lovely just before Christmas.

I have used embossing powder and a traditional rubber stamp (not a clear stamp) to create the wee feet imprint.  I do like this technique.  If you haven't tried it I recommend you use a strong card base, then you just add layer upon layer of embossing powder till you've done about 4 lots then quickly press in your stamp and leave to cool.  With the silver it almost looks like a metal embellishment at a fraction of the cost.   Alternatively if you have the ultra thick embossing powder you only need a couple of layers, I couldn't find mine........in my nice clean and tidy craft room!  :0

I don't know what to start first today!
I have my father's quilt to make and all my Christmas cards.  My hubby is on nights so unfortunately noisy housework is out of the question.  What a shame!
I am tempted to start Dad's quilt but I think making cards would be quieter.
Later I have the dentist with my boys, last one before Christmas.  My eldest is hoping for his brace to come off but I forgot his appointment last month, bad mummy moment, I guess he'll be keeping it on over the festive season.  How bad do I feel?
He handed me his school report as he left the house this morning, all weekend it's been in his bag.
It did make me a tad suspicious, drop and run, so to speak, but it turned out to be very good. Phew!
I do feel for him though as he has all his prelims after Christmas, bless!  Fancy having to revise over Christmas.
I wouldn't want to redo all that malarkey, I did get my exams but I can remember being ill throughout!

Time for me to leave you now and get my Christmas mojo working, ho, ho, ho!
Have a super Monday, more from me tomorrow, I shall be at work but I will schedule something creative for you.  Happy crafting!  x