Santa’s Plate

I have to confess here and now that this Santa’s plate is a blatant and unabashed copy of one I saw when Googling.  I wanted to make my friend’s adopted son Jacob a special plate to leave out on Christmas Eve for their first Christmas together ….. I had the plate, the Sharpie pens ….. but no idea what I was going to do ……… and as I was soooo tired and time was of the element I copied the plate that was the easiest to do and that didn’t mention “cookies”!

I used Sharpies permanent pens, I don’t think they will be that  hard wearing and wouldn’t dare put the plate in the dishwasher, but for something that is only used once a year …. with careful washing it should last for the next couple of years.

More Handmade Christmas Cards From You …… And A Fiendish Thought/Plan ……

Once again thank you for all the lovely cards you have sent me ….

My efforts however, this year have, for me been very, very disappointing ……

…… things happened from September onwards that conspired to not leave me enough time to do all the Christmassy things I had planned/hoped to do …….

….. so in the coming year I am going to take a leaf out of Cheryl W’s book who left this comment the other day ……..

“I have vowed to start making my 2014 cards and tags in January - I'm thinking 4 or 5 of each per month would be such a help come next December. I wonder if I can stick to such an audacious resolution!”

And to add to this plan, instead of holding the ideas back until the end part of the year I am going to post them as and when, throughout the year ……. well that’s the theory!!!!

Again,  “Thank You” for all the lovely cards, you’ve put me to shame!

Christmas Cards 2013

My most favourite Christmas Cards every year are the ones that have been made for me. They are the ones that stay on my festive shelves the longest and are the ones that are always put away in my “special” drawer to keep and treasure,  as well as for inspiration.  These cards have popped through my Yuletide letter box in the past few weeks and I thought they deserved to be shared.

The first card came from Chris who “adopted” one of my monkeys, Benji,  a couple of years ago …… I immediately recognised the Accessorize snowman stickers from a couple of years back. I still pop into Accessorize now and again to look see what new stickers they have ….. but perhaps I’m just over them now, but in the past year or so I don’t think they have been a patch on past years (as above), when I used to rave on and on about them,  …. neither do I think that they are the value for money they used to be ……. which is a great shame! However I know that all great things sometimes have to pass.

This next card is from Diane who also adopted two of my monkeys, naming them Hank and Marvin and always leaves such funny and lovely comments on my monkey blog. I just love it ….. and will use it as inspiration for using ribbons and charms more in the coming year ….. something I am always very nervous of.

And finally,  a card from the Equally Lovely Denise, The Lovely Laura’s Mum.  I know Denise has just got herself a Silhouette Cameo and has taken to using it like a duck to water, making me feel very inadequate, as my skills after goodness knows how many years are still very rudimentary.

Perhaps another task for me to get to grips with in 2014, I have a monthly subscription for Silhouette templates and download regularly, only for them to linger unused amongst my files ……… perhaps I should aim to use at least one of them in a project each month!

Bejewelled Christmas Trees – Perhaps Next Year

I was in the Dentists Surgery awaiting my turn for the drill, when looking through the magazines, as you do,  I saw an article by Kirsty Alsop about Jewelled Christmas Trees after she had  seen book by Bobi Hall called Classic Jewelled Pictures …… now how up my alley is that?Well, I couldn’t wait to get home to have a “Google” and this is part of another article I found ………

“What could be more lovely than a lighted, jewelled Christmas tree picture to highlight your holiday decorations? What could be a more delightful way to enjoy your beautiful but old and out of style or broken jewellery you haven't worn for years, but can't bear to throw away!"

As owner of Bobi's hobby in Alhambra, California, Bobi Hall was a successful business woman, craft teacher and popular guest on TV's "Creative Living". Bobi was thrilled at the chance to be one of Hazel Pearson's guest artists as she had built her business on much of the knowledge she had gained from hazel's "extensive variety of craft books".

In this book Bobi details the many steps it takes to create one of these beauties.

(Creative American Craft series "Classic Jewelled Treasures" by Bobi Hall, 1973)

Then I started searching for pictures of jewelled Christmas trees, both old and new and just loved the idea ….. I love the old, heavy, vintage frames and the fact that some even light up ….. oh Mon Dieu!!!!

It’s too late to make one this year ….. but it’s an idea I am certainly considering for next year …… however, I don’t think I could be bare putting so much work into something that I would only have out for about three/four weeks of the year … because I am really funny about having decorations up for too long after Christmas Day ………. but I have a feeling I won’t be able to resist the temptation …… so I think I may have enough jewels, I just need a deep and ornate frame ……

Have a look on Pinterest …… where some of the examples just make my mouth water!!!!

http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=jewelled%20christmas%20trees

Wooden Gingerbread Man Tag

I made this really. really, really quickly, so please, please excuse the blobs of glue ……!!!!

There’s really nothing special about it, I just needed a tag in a hurry ……  so I grabbed a wooden Hobbycraft gingerbread man from their Christmas range (packs of 4 – 99p), added some black flat backed gems from Paperchase, a red gingham bow and a bit of fiddlefart doodling!  I know I can/should/will fine tune the idea, perhaps for next year (!?!?!?!?),  when I am in not such a hurry!!!!!

“The Boy’s” 2013 Christmas Card

Oh, these cards seemed to go on and on and on, but woo hoo, I finally got them finished and posted!!

They measure 6.75ins x 4ins and are made using Payper Box Christmas design A4 card.

The snowflake panel was mat and layered on a plain red card.

And the photo mat and layered on silver and then red card.  The snowman and background are glittered with Crystal Diamond extra fine glitter from Michael’s, a present from my friend Dianne in Florida and I also added a very simple decoupage layer with the snowman’s scarf for a little added dimension.

I printed the sentiments using 2 Peas – “Favourite Things” font in size 16 and then mat and layered them on red…….

……. sticking them down with foam pads, also for dimension and the final finishing touch were the snowflakes I got from a charity shop a couple of weeks ago with a clear flat gem in the centres. 

Phew, done and dusted and hopefully now on delivered safely all over the country to The Boys fans!!!

Sarah’s Mum’s Christmas Card

I hope you don’t mind,  but I thought I would post this card (and any other handmade cards I receive this year)  that my friend Sarah’s mum made for me …… I just adore it.  It’s so simple ……..

…… and is certainly an idea I will use for inspiration in the coming year, not only for Christmas but birthdays too.

Memory Box Row of Tree Christmas Cards

It’s a good job I took photos of these cards because I have lost them!!! Put away somewhere safe, to be found in three months time no doubt!! They did measure about 5ins x 5ins, I think, using a blue card.

As you know in the past I have used a bare tree and red heart design for many of the Christmas cards I send to my family and close friends,  usually stamped, and that was my intention for this year when I fell in love with this Memory Box Row of Trees Die (No. 98369), which measures approx. 3 3/4" x 2. 

But I am afraid time beat me …… and to be honest I wasn’t altogether sure that the proportion of the hearts were really right and if I should have used a printed paper for the background ….. something just isn’t right, it’s too stark !!  However, I am not going to beat myself up about it, but leave it now until next year.

I used a very glittery roll of gift wrap for the snow, I have awful difficulty, as I have said before in finding a “pure” white glitter card for my snow …. but this roll was perfect, and should last for years ….. and was a lot cheaper than having to buy a pile of A4 or 12 x 12 sheets.

Photo Collage Leaving Card For A Very Special Lady.

This card is A5 in size and is a hand cut blank made using a white linen effect card.

Between March and December this year,  I and all the other girls in the office had the enormous pleasure of working with Sally, a “temp” who filled in for Sarah, another much loved colleague, who left us for a while to take Adoption Leave.

In the time Sally was with us we have never laughed so much, or had so much fun, and I have to say that Sally was very good at giving as good as she got!!!!!  It was as if Sally had been with us forever and it was very, very sad when she had to leave because there wasn’t the opportunity for her to stay once Sarah returned, but happily she got a job at the school next door and she has become a friend for life.

We had a little leaving soiree chez moi to say goodbye properly ………..

…….. in our usual  unseemly fashion ……

……. and naturally I made a card ….. using some of the photos I had taken at key moments of riotous amusement during our time together ……

The buses are a reference to Sally having to organise sooooooo many trips over the nine months …… they almost drove her scatty, especially when all the paperwork changed half way through ….. one day I beat Sally to crying over it!!!! The knitting is a reference to Sally always having some knitting on the go …. and our breaks usually being taken up by a “show and tell” session!!!  And Sally’s halo? …… Well, she really had to be a saint to work with us and survive!!!!!

Christmas Fairy Door

I adore, adore, adore fairy doors …..

I would have them everywhere, but sometimes a little restraint has to be observed!!!!! This one is on the skirting board of my lounge…….

…… and I thought as it was Christmas “the occupiers” within really needed it to be “festivated” and I remembered the tiny wreath embellishments I’ve had squirrelled away, but never used  …… et voila!! Indulge me …. simple pleasures!

Evergreen Place Settings

I saw this idea for using small sprigs of fir as a place setting  a while back on a “natural” wedding site and thought I could do put my own spin on it for Christmas.

All I have done is small punch a tag out of Kraft card, used a white gel pen for the writing, added a silver star and then attached the completed tag to a sprig of fir with some brown textured string.

And as I worked with the fir the smell was divine.

I am so pleased with the simplicity and overall result that I am now wondering if I could possibly use the idea as a substitute for a Christmas Card next year (always thinking ahead) …… so after my entertaining …., I am having a bijoux soiree, I shall put mine aside and see how long it lasts without shedding and stays “fresh”.

http://thenaturalweddingcompany.co.uk/blog/2012/12/evergreen-place-settings-with-luggage-tags-for-a-natural-seasonal-winter-wedding/

Kraft Christmas Tree Card

This card measures 5 ins x 5ins and is made using a hand cut Kraft Card blank.

I have to confess the idea for this card is not mine …. I half inched it from a card I saw in a well know store and thought I could do something similar putting my own twist on it.

The card I saw was just plain and flat with a hand drawn effect.  I decided to add a little dimension by punching triangles from a a scrap of Kraft card coloured crudely with a green Promaker pen for the trees, which I then doodled on with a fine black liner and white gel pen.

I put a small adhesive pad behind each tree and added a touch of micro fine translucent glitter for subtle Christmas bling, and then a bit of mat and layering on silver mirror card to complete the centre panel. This was followed by a little more doodling and an handwritten sentiment, done and dusted!