Monday, 31 December 2007
Happy New Year
At the minute I'm sitting in a hotel reception area in Stockholm, Sweden and can see the snow falling outside. I've had some great dance classes and enjoyed the parties at night. Tonights party should be even better.
For anybody that pops by here I wish you well for 2008.
I'll update my blog with more details of my Sweden trip when I get home. Now I have to go and make myself look glamorous - well I can try!!
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
Boxing Day
Dinner was out of this world - thank you Jo xxx We had our five bird roast, with roast potatoes, spicy red cabbage, cauliflower cheese, honey parsnips, sweet potatoes, homemade stuffing roll and homemade cranberry sauce - delicious.
As a special treat we opened the bottle of Cristal champagne we'd bought Dad a few years ago - I love bubbles.
Advent is over but what a great advent swap I was in, thank you Shirl, Jen and Lyzzy. My final present was extra special. The wonderful Lyzzy made me a gorgeous bag - I love it, I love it, I love it! Unfortunately I don't have a great picture of it but you can catch a peak of it in this photo, just under my left arm. Thank you darling, even if you did make me cry!Monday, 24 December 2007
Christmas Eve
I still managed a day out yesterday. My sister and I went to Sandbach to pick up our special Christmas dinner. This year we're have a five bird roast, so a bird, within a bird etc. So we'll have guinea fowl, pheasant, duck, chicken and turkey. The butcher was brilliant, we got sausage rolls and mince pies while we waited in the queue and then he made sure we knew how to cook our feast. I can see us going back before next Christmas. Here's birdie in all his glory.
It's nearly the end of my advent swap but I'm enjoying my last couple of gifts from Lyzzy. I got a giant chocolate coin and some post it notes in the shape of my initial - they're sticky!!
Today I received a lovely manicure set and the most gorgeous K&Co book of tags - they are all gorgeous. Thanks Lyzzy xx
Saturday, 22 December 2007
Red and gold
The decorations are from the K&Co decoration book. My good friend Fran gave me a couple to have a play with. So with a bit, well a lot of glitter and some gems they look great.
Time to catch up with the beautiful gifts I've been unwrapping in my advent swap. I've had the last of my gifts from Jaffs - thank you sweetie, all of them have been amazing and your quilling is outstanding.
So onto the lovely Lyzzy and what a great start a hand made Christmas watch - I love it, it's so much fun, I'll be wearing it over Christmas.
Today I received this cute cupcake bauble and a lovely smelling scented candle. Thanks Lyzzy - I'm loving my gifts. Although I'm starting to get sad as it will soon be over.
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Brown paper packages
As usual my to-do list is still outstanding and includes writing some more Christmas cards, making a few last minute cards (nothing like a little bit of pressure), wrapping and posting a present and a magazine commission for Beautiful Cards.
In my advent swap I continue to be wowed on a daily basis and have received another brilliant Rhonna Farrer stamp. I can see this butterfly featuring on those spring birthday cards. I can see them stamped onto acetate and painted with H2O's using the special spray from Once Upon A Stamp, for a great look.
And look at this quilling, when you realise the smallest tree is only 1/2 cm tall you can see the talent of the wonderful Jen - you're a star.
Monday, 17 December 2007
A little bit chilly
As I mentioned yesterday I got a great secret santa gift, sparkly flowers, chipboard stickers, blue flowers, a cute little boy sticker, green accent beads and the cutest little black and white brads. Thank you santa.
More treats in my advent swap. Today I got this adorable quilled snowman to go with my quilled Christmas tree. I can have a miniature tableau. Thank you Jen, your work is amazing.
Sunday, 16 December 2007
A fabulous weekend
So with all the shenanigans I only managed to make one card. A happy new home card (made with my Stampin' Up! supplies) for my sister - but she did get the Doodlebug Christmas house too.
Here's some piccies of us at the crop yesterday - Gwyneth and me, with jingling head attire. Thank you for everything - you're a star xxx
Val and Shirley - they have to share the title for getting something done with their kit this month, which is more than I did!
Jenny and Sue, busy making those last minute cards!
Siobhan and Gwyneth - your Christmas card was beautiful Siobhan and thank you for lending us the bingo machine.
Last but by no mean least, the lovely Kae - thank you for my munkee card
Update on my advent swap. I am being so spoilt. On the 15th I got this stunning quilled Christmas tree, it's made from strips of paper and stands no more than an inch tall - isn't Jen a talented wench!
Today I received more luscious stamps - Jen knows my love of stamps and these are just up my street. Thank you so much xx
Friday, 14 December 2007
Finished at last
I can't believe I managed to finish this little house today - I started it a couple of months ago and then it sat in the pile of things to do/finish! It was all done apart from the glitter and just placing the trees and assembling the sleigh. The sleigh came about completely by accident, the swirly bits are from a sissix die and the idea grew from there. A lot of glitter is sprinkled all over the house!
I got another delightful gift in my advent swap today. These girls know me too well. I got gorgeous Rhonna Farrer clear stamps
Thursday, 13 December 2007
Christmas Card Crazy
And my Penny Black lady stamp is out again. I can't help it, she's so much fun. There's been a fair bit of talk recently over colouring in stamped images. Most of the time I use a waterbrush and either my caran d'ache watercolour pastels or ink from brush pens or ink pad onto plastic and then picked up with the waterbrush.
The little parcels are from a studioG set and coloured in with twinkling H2O's.
These cards are for my dancing friends. I just love thee little people. They're very kindly cut using my friend Gwyneths cricut. Lindy hop dancers aren't easy to depict on cards, so these little friends do the trick nicely.
This is my newest stamp from my lovely friend Jaffne. It was my 13th parcel in my advent swap and I love it, so much that I used it straight away, along with the gems I got yesterday. Thanks Jaffs xx