Tag number 8 for this year's 12 Tags event ......

Happy Tuesday .......

It's tag time again, and I think this is one of my favourites so far .....

I'm definitely going for the CAS look with this year's designs.

I must admit, I am a bit of a traditional gal when it comes to Christmas ...... festive red's and greens, and I love the frosty looking metallics with pretty gold and silvers.  Saying that, I may have to change my colour scheme just a little bit this year, if we end up with the Christmas tree I have my eye on!!

This is my Tag number 8 for the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends

I'm having so much fun playing along with this year's event .... have you joined in yet?

White cardstock for the tag ...... gold and silver metallic inks for the snowflakes .....

with one beautiful, large snowflake heat embossed over the top .....

A little bit of ink splattering on to the background ..... I used the same gold and silver inks that I stamped the snowflakes in

And then a simple greeting on the bottom ..... stamped in black Versafine

I love how this turned out!

We had a bit of a change of plan yesterday. 
The main reason for our trip across to the UK, for those of you that don't know, is my father-in-law had to go into hospital last week for a major op.
It's been a worrying few days but, I'm glad to say everything went well, and he was released from hospital yesterday, earlier than we expected, so that was great news. 
He's now home and taking things easy ..... hopefully (he's not one for sitting around doing nothing) ...... and fingers crossed, he's on the road to recovery.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time ....

Is it time to put the tree up yet? .......

Happy Monday .....

I hope you've had a lovely weekend, and that it wasn't too wet and windy where your are. The sun is shining here this morning so finger's crossed it's going to be a nice week.

We're staying in a cosy little bungalow called Robin's Nest.  It's so cute, has everything we need. We've been settling in over the weekend, as well as catching up with family.

It's the start of a brand new week.  Only 6 more to go ..... and it will be Christmas Eve.  Just saying!!
We were actually looking at Christmas trees over the weekend .... not that we need a new one, but ..... they were soooo pretty!

I'm starting this week with another Christmas tag ...... I'm really getting into the spirit of things now .... Ho! Ho! Ho!  

I'm playing along with the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends

I'm up to Day 7 ....... and I've gone for the CAS look again.  (I'll have to make do with this Christmas tree for now!)

If you've been following this years 12 Tags event you will have seen all the fabulous, festive designs from Loll and her Friends, along with all the gorgeous tags in the link up gallery ..... there's so much inspiration, and we all need tags at this time of year!  Go on ..... join in the fun!

As I said, I've gone for the CAS look again, using one of my favourite embossing folders ..... SU's Softly Falling

I stamped the tree first onto my tag, using Olympia Green Versafine ink, and then ran it through my Big Shot using the EF

A touch of glitter on the branches, and random 'snowflakes' adds some festive sparkle.  And of course a little greeting on the bottom .... and that's another tag done.

I'm getting quite the collection now.

I might even have some parcels to put these tags on later.  We're off to the Christmas Markets in Manchester later this afternoon ........ I'm so excited!  Gluhwein and bratwurst, delicious hot chocolate and Stollen, and hopefully a few nice bits and bobs to fill Christmas stockings.

photo from the Manchester Evening News

There won't be too much mulled wine though ...... we're meeting up with some friends there later and then we're off to a Brazilian restaurant ..... I think its Brazilian anyway.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time .....

We made it!!!

Happy weekend folks ........

Yes, it was a little touch and go there as to whether the boat would sail yesterday but ...... we made it! Despite the torrential rain and the hoolie of a Force 8 gale that was blowing, the ferry left on time and we arrived safely on the other side, ahead of schedule. 
I won't deny it was a little on the bumpy side ........ and I was very nervous as we left (my sea legs are not that good!)   We'd booked a cabin though so we were fine.  As we left Douglas we snuggled down and let the boat rock us to sleep.  We woke on the other side, with the captain announcing we were ready to dock ..... phew! 

So ....... it's back to business.
I'm a little early again with my tag number 6 for the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends
(I'm not sure how today's going to go so I thought I'd post it now while I have the chance!)

Yesterday Loll and Christine, her guest designer, posted two gorgeous cute designs so I'm following their theme today with a whole load of cute snowmen.  Hmmm ..... I wonder, what do you call a group of snowmen?  Please leave your answers below!

I stamped the snowmen (Newton's Nook Frozen Fellowship) onto a piece of white cardstock and fussy cut around the top edge

I added some colour using ZIG markers and little bits of sparkle here and there with some fine crystal glitter.

I then inked around the edges of my tag using shades of blue Distress Inks (Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans and Chipped Sapphire) and splattered with a little water. 
I let the water sit for a few seconds then mopped up the excess with a paper towel, leaving what I think is a great, easy to do, snowy sky effect

I stamped my sentiment and heat embossed with WOW Platinum EP, and then attached my snowmen towards the bottom of the tag, using foam pads to add dimension .....

Well, that's another one done.  I might just even find the perfect gift for it to go on whilst I'm over here in the UK.  There will be some Christmas shopping done at some point, I'm sure of it!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.

Cheerio until next time .....

We're going on a boat ......... hopefully!

Happy Friday .......

Well the bags are packed, my craft room door is closed, and we're nearly ready to go. 
BUT ...... the weather is a bit of a problem.  We've got rain, wind, and more rain!  Delightful ....... especially when we're booked on the boat!!  Oh well ..... the weather is one thing we can't control.  Serves us right for booking a ferry trip in November I suppose. We'll just have to sit tight and hope the storm passes quickly. 

In the meantime, I'm playing along with the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends again. 

I'm a little early for the official Day 5 post but, here's my Tag number 5 ........ and we're going a little bit vintage for this one

I do love poinsettias at Christmas .... but as I think I've told you before, I'm not very good at keeping the real ones alive!

This one looks healthy enough though ...... stamped ones I can cope with!

This beautiful bloom has been stamped and heat embossed in gold, onto the bottom of my tag and then again onto separate pieces of cardstock, and fussy cut so that I could layer up the poinsettia to add dimension

I coloured each of the layers using ZIG markers and sprinkled the petals randomly with Chunky White Embossing Powder ...... love this stuff!

Before layering the flower, I masked off the image on the tag and used a music stamp for the background, before adding my sentiment

I used various shades of brown Distress inks around the edges, splattered a little water on the top, then finishing off with a touch of Walnut Stain around the very edges

A little more of that Chunky stuff gives a really snowy look.

Thanks for popping by ...... I hope the weather's a little nicer where you are.  Enjoy your weekend.

Whilst I've been chatting, it's actually stopped raining.  It's still blowing a hoolie though! I'm not getting too excited just yet, I've checked the website for the ferry sailings. The morning one was definitely cancelled, but at the moment the Harbour Master is saying, that there could be possible delays to the evening one, we have to wait for the forecast later.
We have to check in at the normal time and hope for the best!  Whatever happens it's going to be a bumpy ride.  The joys of living on this beautiful island, in the middle of the Irish Sea!

See you on the other side ..... I hope!

Cheerio until next time .......

25 Days of Christmas Tags 2018 .....

Happy Thursday ......

It's party time!  Welcome to Day 8, of the 8th annual Tracey McNeely's 25 Days of Christmas Tags!

Yes ...... that's 25 days filled with amazing Christmas tag designs. Are you feeling festive yet?

Each day Tracey is joined by the DT from one of the event sponsors, to share lots of inspiration for gorgeous Christmas tags.  Just look at the line up .....

Today's guest with Tracey is ........... the fabulous Uniko  (Whoo Hoo!!)
I'm thrilled, and so proud to be joining Bev and the rest of the DT, to showcase fun tags designed using the fabulous Uniko products.

I couldn't resist using this little guy ...... Ho! Ho! Ho!

He's from the Jolly Christmas set which was released at the end of October, and how cute is he!

I stamped him onto white cardstock, coloured him using ZIG Markers and then fussy cut the image before attaching him to my tag .....

The background was inspired by my lovely Uniko team-mate Sarah G, from one of her designs which I fell in love with, from the last Uniko release. 
It's just one of the stamps from the new Background Builders - Christmas 2018 set, stamped using Distress Oxide inks ..... simple but very effective don't you think.

I added a sentiment from the Simply Said Blocks - Christmas to the bottom of the tag, and finished off with a simple foiled strip ....... a piece of narrow, double-sided tape across the bottom, covered with gold gilding flakes, then gently rubbed over with a soft sponge to remove the excess.

I just need the parcel to put it on now!

All the links to the rest of the Uniko DT can be found over on the Uniko Blog, and you can check out all the details for this year's 25 Days of Christmas Tags over on Tracey's blog.  There you'll find the all important guidelines to follow, how to link up your own tags,  and also how to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes on offer.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day, and have fun creating all your Christmas tags.

Before I go though I'm linking my tag up to the 12 Days of Christmas Tags with Loll & Friends ..... well it would be rude not too!  This will be tag number 4 for me .... I'm keeping up so far.

Cheerio until next time .....

What's this ........... twice in one day

Hello there, me again .......

How's your day been?
I've had a lovely day, cosy and warm in my craft room.  Tags are done, craft bags are packed and I've even finished off some AT Coins ready for a Christmas Swap ..... I've had a great day!

To finish it off I'm playing along with the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends again .....

It's Day 3 today (Wednesday) ...... and here's tag number 3

Something a little bit different ..... a layered tag, and I've used vellum!!

I saw a beautiful little tag last month done by Anita from neetandcrafty.blogspot.com and I was inspired by the colours and thought the vellum layer added a pretty delicate look, so this is my take on it.

I also wanted to use this gorgeous little die that I received recently.  Thank you so much hun .... you know who you are .... mwha!

I embossed the vellum layer using the Stampin Up! Softly Falling EF and used it as the backdrop for my Christmas Trees.

I added the stitched frame over the top and covered the trees with some crystal glitter.

I did a little rubber stamping on the coloured tag to add a bit more interest.  I love that you can still see the sprigs through the vellum layer, giving a nice soft, delicate look

I stamped and heat embossed my sentiment on the bottom of the tag and added a little scalloped border to finish it off.

Well, that's me done for today ....... I think it's time for a cheeky G&T.  I've earned it! Cheers!

I will be back tomorrow though.  I'll be joining in the fun with another fab festive event ..... Tracey McNeely's 25 Days of Christmas Tags 2018.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day/evening.

Cheerio until next time .......

Tag number 2 for the 12 Tags event .......

Happy middle of the week .......

It's a wet and windy Wednesday here and I'm so glad I don't have to go anywhere. 
It's a craft room day for me ..... I need to pack a bag to take across with me on Friday.  That's if the boat goes on Friday, looking at the weather forecast, it's not good!!
I'm trying to stay positive though ..... this is the Isle of Man.  The weather changes by the hour here, you never know we could be basking in sunshine by the weekend ..... or not!!
No use worrying about it now though ..... we'll have to wait and see what Friday brings.

I've got another tag for the fun festive event that's happening right now.  Yes, it's 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends

Another CAS design for Tag number 2 .....

Inspired by yesterdays tags from Loll and Nancy, with the holly and the lovely poinsettia, I went for my favourite festive greenery ...... mistletoe,  using the pretty Mistletoe Wreath from Sweet Poppy Stencils.

I used Glossy White paste through the design, and then sprinkled green glitter over the top

Once the paste/glitter was dry I added in the berries using White Enamel Accents, and a few dots of Gold Glitter Glue here and there, for a little added sparkle.

I stamped my sentiment onto a snippet of white card and attached it on the bottom

And finished off with a festive red bow .....

I'm getting into the festive spirit now ......... no, I don't mean the gin! (Maybe later!)
Christmas cards are coming along nicely, I'm hoping to get those finished next week. I've made a start on the tags now, and the presents for them to go on.  Even the Christmas trees have made an appearance!  Don't worry I'm not feeling THAT festive just yet ...... there's a little while to go before they get decorated.
It's just they were in the garage all boxed up, and we had to move them to fit George in there. So I brought them into the house.  They can sit in the conservatory out of the way until December 1st.

Who's George? .......  And why is he in the garage? I hear you ask. 
Well ...... George is the cute little VW camper van that belongs to Robbie (Lauren's other half).  It's starting to get too cold and wet for him to be outside so he's spending the winter cosy and warm in our garage.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time .......