Four Guest Crafters

Four guest crafters today with the cards I have been lucky enough to receive from them this year ………

From Diane a die cut and stamped Santa’s hat card, a very simple but very effective card and an idea I might be able to play with next year, so watch this space?!!!!

A wintery penguin from Christine.  I have bought a few stamps this Christmas, as yet, dare I say, still in their unopened packets. I love the idea of stamping, as I have said many many times before, but I just get so frustrated with the results, I just never seem to be able to get a good print first time, second time or for that matter tenth time round.  Christine has perfected the art ……I love everything about this card.  Thank you Christine.

The next card comes from Maisie who has been crafting since, I think, before she could walk or talk and I have been lucky enough to be at the receiving end of many of her beautiful creations.  I love the background paper, not sure where it’s from, but it’s very cute …… and the wooden laser cute “Jingle Bells” is an embellishment I could always find a use for.  Thank you so much Maisie, good luck for when you move up to Senior school later in the year and just make sure you keep on crafting!

And last but not least a card from Mrs A/ValeryAnne.  I think the background was already  printed but then Mrs A has added two tiny die cut Christmas trees tied with red and white butchers twine, soooooooo effective and looks a million dollars.

My own cards this year have been disappointingly and totally  P A N T S despite making an early start in the year.  I shall take all of these, along with Marc’s card for inspiration, and boy do I need that in 2018!!!!

Christmas Finds 2018

Not a lot of considered purchases to report shopping wise this year, sad to say that one of the few things that I miss about Wolverhampton is the larger versions of a  poundshop for those odd little treasures. I am heading there in the next few days so I am keeping my fingers crossed that I find something above and beyond!

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All the Worcester Poundland had to offer were these reindeer …… I just thought they looked a little Scandanavian in style, I also liked the metallic finish that is a bit different from all the glittery stags of the past few years. When  I found them there weren’t very many but I still stood and deliberated for far too long as to whether I should by two of each colour as I like things to be equal or symmetrical  ……. in the end I just went for the four, thinking that £6 (???????? you what?) was too much to spend on six items that were for all intents and purposes the same and reindeer overkill!  I was naturally wrong and as per usual when I returned a couple of weeks later they were no longer there!  How many times do I need to learn this lesson?

And the only two other things to tempt me, were a couple of  rolls of loo paper and a Poundland mug, well,  the mug was just made for me! The loo roll was probably the most expensive loo roll I have ever bought sheet for sheet, it was not an very ample supply for £1 ……. however a perfect present to add to the family tut sack on Boxing Day and one for Marc as befitting his bathroom at the Worcester country pile!!!!

The Monkey’s 2018 Christmas Card

Every year I try to come up with a new Christmas card for The Monkeys that captures their character and sense of fun to send to their biggest fans and commentors …… and this is what I have come up with this year ……… the photos developed by Aldi for just 5p each plus P & P – bargain!

The theme, a puzzle to guess the seasonal phrase  …… “Baa Humbug”, an idea I have used before …… last year I think it was “Jingle Bells”  It takes all my brain power to firstly think of a phrase that can then be expressed with a series of weird and wonderful props to convey the message!

Once the card was mat and layered on red and silver and then faux stitched round the edges, I added an assortment of silver stars to break up the white background.

And finally, all the fake fur on The Boyz outfits was filled in with an ample dusting of translucent micro fine glitter.  Another hopefully much anticipated card done, and already I am thinking of a phrase for next year ……. unless we have some snow and then it will be back to snowy poses akimbo!

A Blast From The Past A Few Ideas For Christmas Sweetie Bags From Christmas 2010

 
There is a link to the 3 x 5inc cello bags I have used in the sidebar. They cost £1.99 for 50 plus £1.00 P & P.  I like to put about 50 to 60 grams of good quality sweets in each bag and this size is idea.  I use dies from Nestabilities Label Set 8 for my toppers. Most of the stickers are from various Poundshops, except for the wooden reindeer ones, which are from HobbyCraft, that I have altered a little to fit the blue nose theme.

Blast From The Past - Penguin Sweetie Bags From Christmas 2010

My sweetie bags are always popular but this year I have decided to drop the “poop” and use the word “drops” instead, as I think the more refined of my friends were a bit put off by the original idea .

I’ve used a die from Nestabilities Label Set 8 and my Stampin’ Up scalloped and plain punches to make the topper  with Anita’s Laser Penguin Stickers (Penguin Party,  99p - £1.50 depending on the shop) to embellish.

I have put 50 grams of Cadbury white chocolate drops in the bag and would sell this for 75p.

Blast From The Past Jar of Jingle Beans From Christmas 2009

I love Poundland and Poundworld, you never know what you’ll find.  It takes me ages to go round as I have to really look at the stuff they have and then think “What could I do with that?”

I got these jars yesterday, would you believe a pack of 3 for a pound?

I have used my Stampin Up scallop and plain circle punches for the top, front, back and tag and added a snowflake punchie to the top with a clear gem.  Around the lid of the jar I have put self adhesive ribbon, slipping the thread from the tag under it to keep it secure.

The jar is filled with red, green and white jelly beans. You can get these beans in many different colours, so you can mix and match them to go with your them.  Blue and white ones would look brilliant too!

Other ideas could include, bonbons for snowballs, chocolate nibs for reindeer poop, aniseed balls for Rudolph noses, jelly lips for Christmas kisses and jelly hearts for Christmas love …… (hearts and lips are available from W H Smith and Thorntons Pic n Mix)

A side affect of crafting is also looking very carefully at sweets to see what they could be used for …… and then of course you have to sample the goods ……!

Blast From The Past - Sizzix Christmas Favour Box From Christmas 2013

I have been wracking my brains trying to think of a festive idea to use as a gift idea for all the bags of starlight mints I bought back from Las Vegas …..that filled my suitcase to bursting point!
And then I remembered my Sizzix Bigz XL Shaker Box Die (Item # 655134), that hasn’t seen the light of day for at least two years!!!  OMG, it was perfect!

I used it to cut the red striped card from Payper Box I got a few weeks ago which just spelt Christmas to me!  Not wishing to waste any scraps, I stuck the piece that came from the window in the bottom of the box as a background to the sweets.

The inside of the box didn’t look quite right, it needed a little something else …..

…… but it had to be flat,  so I decided to punch some red scallop edged hearts and then add a Christmas message using a white gel pen, sorted!

I used Marc’s band idea from his Christmas cards to make one for the boxes to stop them flapping open, using a strip of contrasting red card …… and creasing it using my box maker board.

I then made the sentiment decoration using my Stampin’ Up scalloped punch, scraps of card and gold, white and silver  Christmas circles from Craftwork Cards http://www.craftworkcards.co.uk/products/1585/in-circles-christmas-gold-silver.html

The felt holly leaves and berries were from this years Hobbycraft Christmas collection  but I just couldn’t find them on the website to make a link! I think a tub of 12 cost about £2.99/3.00.

I made twenty six boxes in all, some of the decorations on the band vary, because I ran out of the holly, so it was an excellent opportunity to use up all my other bits and pieces that have been hanging around in my Christmas embellishment box for far too long!

Blast From The Past - Rudolph Chocolate Bar From Christmas 2010

Nothing much to this …. just a way of making an inexpensive bar of chocolate look extra special and festive. I’ve just added googly eyes, antlers and a red nose, which I’ve stuck on with a sticky foam pad to make it stick out more.

You could add a loop of ribbon on the back to hang it on the Christmas Tree.

My Festive Guest Room 2018

I think you could say that this is suitably over the top ….. but when Iris and Bertie come to stay over the holiday I want to make some lovely memories for them, even if they are of a daft old nanny who always wore a Christmas top and had Christmas bedrooms!

You may remember I had the shelving built in January, to add more storage to a storage bereft flat and well, it would be rude not to dress them up for Christmas …………

I found the duvet set first and then followed the stag/reindeer and Christmas tree theme through, adding a little silver here and there.  The large, silver, star candle holders were a charity shop find for just £1.49 each, but I think they will stay up all year.  And yes, I have changed the bedside lamps just for the month of December, what am I like?

The stag cushion was another poundshop find, I just had to have it, as it was just perfect to finish off the bed.

I’ve dressed my terrarium up again with a lit Santa scene, as there’s nothing like a bit of awe and wonder with noses pressed right up against it!

My bedroom is pretty much the same as it was last year, a low key festive look, all duvet a few fairy lights and red snowflakes……. however I have decided to treat myself to fitted drawers and shelving  units either side of my bed in January, slightly more “decorative” than in the guestroom …… so who knows how it might look next Christmas!!!

My Festive Shelves 2018

I spend far too much time for my own good drooling over the Christmas shelf displays on Pinterest ………..

I think I am slowly getting there, but it’s a lot harder to put a whimsical shelf together than I imagined.

I would dearly love to go totally and truly vintage, but that’s never going to happen, so building on from last year I have added a few more bits and pieces, mostly new but adding a few charity shop finds here and there when I find found them as these tend to be a little more quirky.

I have gathered enough stuff for the three shelves that are spread over three of the walls in my lounge sitting area. I think it will always be a work in progress, new things will be added and others replaced I am sure, and then perhaps in twenty odd years time it could be called vintage!!!

The shelf unit in the kitchen area (over the sink) of the through lounge  has also undergone a festive transformation (another work in progress). Last year I just put cards in the spaces but this year I decided to make it a little more Christmassy and over the top ……… and in the evening, yes I do turn the main lights off and light a tea-light in each of the lamps, which makes me feel all festively fuzzy, especially with a cherry brandy in my hand! 

Finally, not a shelf ……. but I found this cushion in Poundland Worcester (£1) ……. I now wish I had bought a couple more, ain’t that always the way, as I love it so much, and knowing pound shops and their stock, I very much doubt  I will ever see them again …… but never say never!!!!  I may unpick one of the seams on this one (after Christmas now) to add a little more plumpness to it, but it just looks perfect on my armchair. Yes, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Blast From The Past - Mini Christmas Button Wreath From Christmas 2011

This was a bit of an experiment that has turned out pretty well.

I’ve used a bracelet (part of a set of six for £1 bought from a funny discount shop in Wolverhampton) and buttons that I have found at various car boot sales.

I attached the wire hanger before I started gluing on the buttons.  I only intended putting one layer of buttons on, but as I delved in my various boxes I found I have various other sizes that fit perfectly over the original ones and it progressed from there. Dead chuffed!

Blast From The Past - Snowman Chocolate Bar From Christmas 2009

From this to this ………

This must truly rank as the most unnecessary embellishment of a item of all time!!!

As my sister would say, “You have far too much time on your hands!”

This is a bar of chocolate that I have wrapped round with white glitter felt (but ordinary or textured white paper would be just as good), using double sided tape to keep it in place.

The hat is ….. a finger from a child’s magic glove (the ones that look tiny but stretch as soon as you put them on). I  have cut off one finger and rolled it a little around the bottom and plonked it on the snowman’s head.  (I got the gloves from a Pound Shop – and one pair of gloves gives you 10 hats).

The scarf is just an oddment of ribbon, the eyes and buttons are black Paperchase acrylic gems and the nose is a filmo embellishment I bought a while ago but I just can’t remember where, but orange card would be just as good.

Daft idea I know, but cute!

Blast From The Past - Mini Christmas Printers Tray Decoration From Christmas 2011

This is just pure Fiddle Fart Fiddlefartness just for the festive sake of it ….

The tray was a container for little wooden shapes and it seemed a shame to throw it away …. so I had a very happy and indulgent  time filling each square with all the little Christmassy leftover bits I’ve had lingering from Christmases past..

And I made such a mess …  looking for things that would fit,  as you can see.

…. As to what I am going to do with this piece of frivolity …. I don’t have a clue!