I nearly didn't get this done ......

Happy Sunday evening,

Where have the last few days gone ........ I can't believe the weekend is over!   And it's December 1st tomorrow ...... eeek!!!  The big countdown begins.

It's the last day of the month so that can only mean one thing ...... yep .... my Tim Tag!  I'd sort of resigned myself to thinking that I wasn't going to get this done this month ........ I'd actually come to terms with the fact that I was going to miss one ....... my first one!!! (sob!)
But ...... after being told 'don't be a wimp', and that I couldn't possibly miss a month (daughter and other half ganging up on me) I locked myself in the old craft room and got it done!  Not easy when time is against you ...... I'm glad the US is a few hours behind us!!!

Anyhow .... here's Tim's fabulous Autumnal tag ......

Look at the colours in that ...... gorgeous!

And here's mine .......

Same ..... but different! Not quite as vibrant.

I won't go into all the details, you can find all the techniques etc., over on Tim's Blog, and I followed it almost to the letter (didn't have time to do anything else!)

I inked and sprayed .....

Embossed and foiled ...... (actually it's IndigoBlu Mega-flakes ..... the yummy new Chocolate Box)

And finally embellished ......

Job done!!  I'd have been like a bear with a sore head if I'd have missed one!

It's been a bit of a busy weekend ..... getting the house ready for the Christmas decorations.  The first tree is up .... in the little man's room, and preparations are under way to make space for the big one!
Train tracks are being dismantled and moved as we speak (Lego one's that is) and more decorations were bought yesterday ..... just in case I haven't got enough!!

We took some time off from all the festive fun today though and walked through one of the many glens on the island ...... Bishopscourt Glen.
The tress were a little bare, and it was a touch on the chilly side but we had a nice stroll.

Apparently it was originally part of the garden for the Bishop of Sodor and Man ....... alright for some!

We didn't walk the whole glen but we climbed Mount Aeolus .... the mound at the start of the glen, which resembles Tynwald Hill

We found the cave, where it's believed that Bishop Murray took refuge from angry locals, during the 1825 Potato (Tithe) Riots

And we made friends with the locals ......

I think the bread we had with us helped there ....... 

Back to the 'To Do' list now ...... I'm off to soak some fruit, overnight in whisky (hic!) then it's time to get the Christmas cake started tomorrow.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy your Sunday evening (what's left of it)

Cheerio until next time.

Linda

xx

Happy Thanksgiving .....

Happy Thursday folks!

And a very Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and readers in the USA ..... I hope you share a wonderful day with family and friends.  It's time to eat, drink and be merry, and get ready for the run up to Christmas!

Hello and Welcome to my latest followers too ...... it's so nice to have you along.  Thanks for taking the time to visit.

It's been a busy week in the old craft room .........What's in the bag then? Hmmmm ........

You'll have to wait for the answer to that one.  It's being delivered later today so once I know that it's safe I'll show you.  I will say ....... someone's in for a treat though!

It's time to hit the shops today ....... Lauren's got the day off so we're going into town to see what we can find, then it's somewhere nice for lunch.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy your Thursday!

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Guest Designer for my Favourite Festive Challenge .......

Merry Monday everyone!

The start of a new week ....... and what a way to start!
I'm so pleased to be back with you as this weeks Guest Designer on the Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge.  There's only 30 days to go now until the big day ...... eeek!!!! At least my Christmas are nearly done ..... how about yours?

If you haven't made a start yet, how about taking up this week's challenge ........

It's all about that seasonal colour combination of  Red, Green and White ....... very festive!

I've gone for the traditional look with Christmas poinsettias for the Red part.
The stamp is from a Penny Black 'T' for Transparent set that came free on Issue 113 of Papercraft Essentials craft magazine ......

I stamped the flower onto the corner of a piece of white cardstock, and then made myself a few masks (stamped the poinsettia onto Post-It notes and cut them out).
I placed a mask over the stamped image and then stamped the poinsettia again on either side.

Using the masks, I covered up all three of the stamped images, and then lightly spritzed the White background using one of the new Distress Spray Stains  ......... Tarnished Brass

I removed the masks, and stamped the poinsettia a couple of times onto more white cardstock,  then fussy cut around the petals.  I coloured the poinsettias using Copic Markers, and then the layers were added to the centre bloom on the card, to add a touch of dimension

The Christmas greeting is by Penny Black and has been stamped with Crimson Red Versafine ink and then embossed with a clear powder

The pretty satin ribbon and matching bow add the required Green to the card, and I finished off by adding the poinsettia to the inside along with a greeting

Now it's your turn to join in the fun.  I can't wait to see your festive Red, Green and White designs. Have fun!

It's been a pleasure being part of the Merry Monday team again ....... thanks for having me ladies (I do love your little challenge!)

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your Monday and have a great week!

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Only 4 more to go until Christmas ..... weekends that is

Happy Sunday

I hope you're enjoying the weekend.

First off I'd like to say a big Hello and Welcome to my latest followers ..... it's always nice to see the numbers growing.  Thank you all for taking the time to visit my little piece of Blogland ..... and I hope you visit again soon.

What a week it's been ....... busy doesn't come into it!  You know me though ..... I wouldn't have things any other way.

The week got off to a great start on Monday ...... when I was chosen as the Weekly Winner over on one of my favourite Blog Challenges ..... Merry Monday.   Watch this space next Monday ..... that's all I'm saying!

Thursday saw one of my tags win Loll's 12 Tags of Christmas event ........

Thanks Jeremy ...... I had so much fun playing along!  Hmmm ......maybe I should have bought a lottery ticket this weekend ...... they say things come in three's!!

It's been quite the week for socialising ...... Tapas on Tuesday, the usual Walmsley Wednesday, Thursday saw us trying out one of the newest restaurants on the island ..... The Forge (if you don't eat meat or fish then it's not for you!)  And then finally on Friday, we went Italian!  If things carry on like this I'm going to be the size of a small house by Christmas ...... the diet starts on Monday!

Anyhow ...... back to the crafty stuff.
Speaking of Merry Monday ...... this weeks challenge is all about Christmas Bells ..... Ding! Dong!

This was a tough one this week ..... would you believe I haven't got any pretty Christmas Bell stamps!!!!

I managed to find one jingle bell, but everything I did with it ended up in the bin!! (it's not been a good week in the old craft room!)
Anyway ..... this is what I eventually came up with ......

It has got bells on it at least .......

And as its a CAS design, with lots of white space ........ yes you've guessed it, I'm doing a two for one this week, and entering it into the latest Less is More Challenge ......  well the recipe is

Jingle all the Way!

I think it qualifies, don't you.

I die cut the letters using a Cuttlebug alphabet ...... cut each one three times and layered them together to add some depth

The coloured ones have been inked using Distress inks and then I've added a few glitter dots using Stickles Glitter Glue.

I attached them to the centre of a piece of white card and then added some embossed lines for a bit more interest.

The little sleigh bells and festive ribbon add the finishing touch to the front and of course I had to add something to the inside.

I actually found some jingle bells on an old Penny Black sentiment stamp which I stamped, cut the bells off and coloured them using Wink of Stella pens ...... pretty!

That's me done for today.  It's a lovely afternoon so we're taking the little man down to the prom with his bike.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your Sunday.  And I'll see you all again next week.

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

More than one tree ........

Happy Friday folks!!

What a busy week ........ and it's not over yet!

It's been one of those whirlwind sort of days ....... spent the morning putting the world to rights and having coffee with friends, always fun!  Then it was a quick dash into town to pick up something special for dinner tomorrow.  And I've even managed a quick visit to the old craft room to finish my entry for this weeks  Less is More challenge, before we're off out for an early dinner and cocktails to celebrate Chris's graduation. (Thanks for all your comments and congrats by the way ..... Chris say's Thank You to you all too!)

It's Theme Week over at LIM, and with Christmas cards in mind they've chosen ....

MORE THAN ONE TREE

My first thought was to use those gorgeous Clarity trees ....... again!  But don't worry, I changed my mind ...... I think they've been used enough (for this week!).  

Instead, out came one of my Tim Holtz stamps .......

CAS as always for LIM ...... lots of white space too!

I started by masking off a section on a piece of white cardstock, and then using Distress inks (Stormy Sky/Faded Jeans/Chipped Sapphire) created the winter landscape.

I then stamped the trees using black Versafine ink and added a sprinkling of Chunky White embossing powder

I removed all the masking and added a simple festive greeting to finish off

And, in true LindyLou fashion ....... added the design to the inside

Thanks for popping by ....... enjoy the rest of your Friday and have a great weekend!

I'll be back at some point, when I have a little more time to chat ....... I've a few things to share with you.  But, for now, it's time to go through the usual ritual when getting ready to go out ..... you know, the old 'I've nothing to wear ..... but you have a wardrobe FULL of clothes' routine.  The wardrobe may be full ....... but I still can't find the right thing!  Oh well ..... I'm sure I'll come up with something.   Maybe a glass of bubbly will help ....... Cheers folks!

Until next time .......

Linda

xx 

Who's a clever boy!! ......

Happy Wednesday,

Stop the week .... I want to get off!!!
This week is going far too fast for my liking ..... it's Wednesday already and I've still loads to do.

It's my own fault ..... I've been out enjoying myself!
After last weeks dash to get the 12 tags done, and all that blogging, I took a little bit of 'time out' ..... one, to get the old craft room tidy again, or at least find my desk then I could make a start on this week's 'To Do' list!  And two ....... try and get the house tidy before our visitors arrive later this evening.  That was as well as squeezing in a crafty day with friends ....... or rather not much craft but a lot of laughter, chatting and cake!!! And then an afternoon of more of the same yesterday, followed by a meal out at a local Spanish Tapas Restaurante.  Hubby was out on a work thing and little old me got invited along ....... it would have been rude to turn them down!   Usual thing though ...... ate too much (the food was sooo good!) and the sangria went down a little too well! Took me a while to get going this morning but ........ the craft rooms sort of done ......... I did find my desk.  I'll just have to keep the door closed!!  The rest of the house looks good though!

I did managed to get my ATC's done for this month's swap ..... I was determined to join in this time seeing as how I've missed the last two.  Don't tell anyone but here's a little sneaky peek ...... can you guess the theme? ...... hmmmm ..... tricky one (not!)

It's a bit of a proud day for me today ..... our eldest (that would be Chris) graduates from Sheffield University today ...... who's a clever boy!

Who would have thought it ......

Four years of hard work finally paid off ...... Well Done son, we're so proud of you!!

He decided against going across to the UK for the actual ceremony and stuff (sigh!)  Instead he's having a big bash on Friday night (that's why we've got the visitors for the next few days)  And of course we will be opening a bottle (or 2) of something bubbly later, just to mark the occasion ...... it is Walmsley Wednesday night after all ..... cheers everyone!!

Thanks for popping by ..... I'll see you later in the week with my latest blog challenge entries.

Cheerio for now

Linda

x

Oh baubles!! .......

Happy Sunday to you!

Finally got this weeks Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge done ....... for the second time!!  It's my own fault ..... I checked out the challenge on Monday ...... Ornaments!  No problem ...... off I went.
If only I'd READ the challenge instead of just looking at the picture ........

I hadn't seen the silver/grey & blue bit ..... so this is what I came up with

Clean and simple, classic black and white with a touch of red, and one of my favourite Christmas stamps from this years IndigoBlu range.
It was only when I came to link up my entry that I thought 'Hey! .....why are all the cards BLUE!!!!!?'
Ooops!  That'll teach me not to read things properly ....... back to the old craft room it was, for a quick change of ink colour

Same design ...... same stamps, only this time in the required colourway.  Versafine Deep Lagoon ink, first and second generation stamping (love this pretty bauble!)

I added a few sparkly gems, and the sentiment underneath ......

and as I always do ....... decorated the inside too

I'm being very lazy this morning ...... blogging and having breakfast in bed!
It's feeling quite festive too ....... Holiday Inn is on the TV ...... I do think it's a little early to be singing 'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas' but, that's what I'll be doing all day now that the song's in my head ...... Ho! Ho! Ho!

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

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

All 12 done!!!

Hello again,

Drumroll please ................ ta da!!! Tag number 12 all done and dusted, with time to spare!!

Tag #12

I've spritzed the tag with IndigoBlu's English Cottage Acrylic paints ...... Sleeping Beauty and Snow White shades, from the new metallic collection, both mixed with a little water.
I then scrunched a piece of cling film over the top and left it to dry.
Once the cling film was removed I was left with a fabulous icy look to the card, where the mica had dried in the creases ...... so shimmery in real life, not sure the camera picks it up though .....

I stamped my little forest in the background, using 1st and 2nd generation stamping and a grey Archival ink

You can see I've sprinkled the chunky white embossing powder over the top .... looks like quite the blizzard going on there ....brrrrr!

I stamped the jolly little snowman using the same grey ink, and added a touch of colour, and a few Glossy Accents here and there,

A little more of the chunky stuff, and a sparkly sentiment finish everything off nicely.  The snowflakes have been punched from the same glitter card, and then coloured using a Blue Alcohol ink.

And there you have it ..... my final tag for Loll's 12 Tags of Christmas Event.

It's been great fun playing along ....... there's some stunning tags on there.
Thanks to Loll for hosting the event and to all her friends who have taken part and given us fabulous festive inspiration.  Can't wait to do it all again next year!!

How's your Saturday been then?

I managed to get most things done this morning ...... 2 trips into town, but still no party frock! I knew that wouldn't be an easy task  ........ I think last years may have to have another outing and just dress it up with something new and very sparkly!  

We had a drive up to the north of the island to my favourite shop.  The Christmas shopping has begun ...... a bag full of stocking fillers, oh! ..... and 1 new tree decoration (I couldn't resist her!)

  And I just love their festive carrier bags!!

We had fish and chips for lunch on the way home too ...... nom!! nom!

And oh yes, look what my lovely postie brought me this morning ......

24 brand new colours of the fabulous Distress Stain Sprays.  So all in all, it's been a good day.  Didn't get to the wine place though ..... never mind,  luckily there's still plenty in the wine rack here!

Thanks for popping by .... and thanks to everyone that's left such lovely comments on my Christmas tags, I appreciate each and every one.   And I hope you've enjoyed the tags as much as I have.

Enjoy the rest of  the weekend

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx