Post Christmas Blues

In case anybody noticed my absent here in blog land, I,thought I had better let you know Yes I am
still alive. It has been a little bit quite in my craft room lately. Since I finished making my Christmas cards and put away all my Christmas stash my craft room is looking unusually tidy.

I sit and look at an empty desk and my mind is also empty of ideas, but now when I think about it sitting here typing this, there are a few Birthdays in Feb and also Valentines Day. So better get back in the swing soon.

I am still visiting blogs and looking for inspiration.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you have a good new year.
Hopefully I will have some cards to post soon.

Thank you to everyone who visited my blog in 2012 even if there wasn't an awful lot to see.

Carol

Ornament Keepsakes.

Well December is finally here and the Gift List is coming along nicely, Just need to think what to get the Men in my life. Especially my Son and Grandson, who are really hard to buy for. My Grandson would love the money, but I don't like to give Money, not too sure what he will spend it on.

Here's a couple more Christmas cards, using the Ornament Keepsake Stamps and dies from Stampin Up, I love this set and it will coming out to play for lots more projects for future Christmas's, I'm sure. Nearly all my cards are made now, maybe need to make a few tags.

Oh and at last I've made the Christmas Cake, just need to ice it. So even though We went away last month, I feel things are coming together. Hope this statement doesn't come back to bite me in the bum!:)

Hope you all have a lovely Sunday.

Handmade Holidays

It's been a while since I've done much crafting, but We have been away for 2 weeks. But It seems like I've missed the whole of November, it passed me by whilst I was soaking up the sun in The Bahamas. We had the most amazing time, it is the most beautiful place, and our friends ensured that it was so perfect and relaxing.
How long does jet lag last, seems I'm still suffering.

I made the Xmas book before I went away but hadn't had the time to photograph it. I am giving it to Grace. I'm sure she will love it. I had so much fun making this and the papers from Simple Stories made it so easy.

Dolphin Encounter

On Sunday we went to the Dolphin Encounter at Atlantis on Paradise Island at Nassau. This was one of those Bucket List moments and it was truly amazing.

The Bahamas

Well we made it here and it is the most wonderful and beautiful place in the world. Our friends Will and Charon are so hospitable and are making our stay a delight. Charon likes Red Bush tea so I bought her a pack, and made a little tea bag holder and also a little gift bag to hold some spices which I bought for her as she can't get them here. We are staying in a cottage in the grounds of there house.
The picture of Brian is taken where Daniel Craig came out of the sea in his little shorts. Not quite the same I know but we just have to put up with Brian.

Harvest Lane

Here's some cards that I made using the Harvest Lane papers from Simple Stories. I have a little addiction for them at the moment. I just love the Autumn colours. I found the inspiration mainly on Pinterest, which I also have an addiction for.

Snowflake Christmas

The weather here is getting colder and more miserable, but never mind off to The Bahamas soon, can't wait.
In the mean time Christmas is still on the way and getting nearer by the minute, and I'm going to miss a couple of weeks in my craft room.
Here's a couple more cards for the Christmas box, using the new die and stamps from Stampin Up.

Because I Care

Well it's not all Christmas cards here, I do sometimes get stuck in Christmas mode but when I got this fab set from Stampin Up I just had to make a few.
I do have a dreaded male Birthday card to make, My Brother is celebrating the big 60 soon, but I don't think this set will be suitable do you, shame.

Lili of the Valley Christmas.

A few more cards for the Christmas box, it's looking quite full now, but still lots more to make. I made these with some new stamps and images that I bought when I went to Ally Pally a couple of weeks ago.

Happy Anniversary

Can't believe its been ages since I last posted' I made this card a while ago, but couldn't show it you as I know my darling daughter in law visits my blog.
It was our son Stephen and his wife Rhiannon's 16th wedding anniversary the other day, and here is the card I made them.
I used papers from Carta Bella, such pretty papers. The flower and flourish dies are by My Favourite Things.

Beautiful Autumn

Grace joined the Brownies near her new home and is loving it, and she modelled her uniform for us the other day,she a real poser. But couldn't believe how much the uniform has changed from when I was a brownie and my daughter was a Brownie too. So much more practical.
I made a little Autumn plaque using Harvest Lane by Simple Stories, and edged the papers with the edge die from Stampin Up. I am entering this in the challenge on The Friday Mashup blog.

Perfectly Preserved

Here's a couple of cards using the new stamp and die set and DP from Stampin Up, I used some designs I saw on Pinterest for inspiration.

Harvest Lane Bird House

I adore the Simple Stories range of papers, this one is Harvest Lane. I love the Autumn time with all the beautiful fall colours and the crisp mornings. I made a little bird house hanging decoration.

Frankie Banner

I was asked by my friend Daphne to make a banner for her. And this is what I came up with using the paper On the
Sunny Side by My Mind's Eye and Stamps by Waltzingmouse and Tim Holtz Word Play.

New Home

At last our daughter Nicola is in her new home. We have had a very busy few days helping to move her in, it was such hard work, she has a bought a 3 storey New Build and it is very nice and spacious, but carrying all that stuff up 2 flights did me in. Who needs step aerobics, my calves are aching, and on top of all that we are decorating the lounge and having a new carpet fitted tomorrow, so we have just spent the morning moving out the Sofa and TV etc, hate to admit it but I'm getting too old for all this, anyway Brian is playing Golf this Afternoon so I'm escaping to my craft room for a little play, just got lots of new goodies to play with and had no time to play with them, trouble is feeling a little bit Brain Dead.
I made a new home card using a Nina B spellbinders set called Home Sweet Home and a stamp set match from The Craft's Meow call Love Dwells Here. Papers are My Mind's Eye.

Fun at Waddesdon

The last two days we have been looking after Grace, and for once the weather behaved, it been a lovely couple of days. On Thursday we went to Waddesdon Manor, Grace had a super time with Curly (her Build a Bear teddy) and also made some new friends as we also went with my friend Daphne who is a child minder. We later met up with Grandad and had fun with the mirror sculptures.
On Friday she decorated a wooden box which had held Turkish Delight, she did a great job and it made a wonderful Treasure Box.