Its beginning to look a little bit like Christmas ........

Happy Sunday ......

I do hope you've enjoyed your weekend.
It's been a little crazy here, trying to get back to normal after our trip across to the UK.  We're almost there though ..... just the ironing mountain to conquer now.  That can wait until tomorrow I think!

It was workshop day yesterday ....... the annual festive crafty get together.  A little early I know but, December is getting pretty booked up already!

I haven't done a workshop for a while so it was nice to see everyone.  We had a full house too, with a couple of new faces,  so it was a busy day ...... full of glitter and sparkle and lots of fake snow.  We had  Christmas tunes playing, lots of mince pies and of course ...... chocolate!  We were definitely in the festive spirit ...... I definitely was at the end of the day ..... I'd earned it!!

We made pretty Christmas baubles using products from Lavinia Stamps ......  these were the ones I'd made as samples ........

They are so easy to create.  You buy the empty bauble, which comes in three sizes ..... the ones above are the small (8cm) and the medium (10cm) size.   They're also available in a large 15cm version which is huge!  You'll have to wait a little longer to see those .... there's currently three on my desk waiting to be finished!!

They're a beautiful, clear plastic bauble which really does look, and feel like glass and you can fill them and decorate them however you like.
We had fun with the Lavinia printed acetates that fit perfectly inside.
There were lots of fairies ....

Little winter scenes ......

And a few woodland creatures.  I chose the gorgeous stag ......

As you can see there was a little bit of glitter involved ....... lots of iridescent, shredded cello, feathers, and of course fake snow.  

We used pretty paper flowers and leaves, berries, ribbons, and pine cones to decorate the tops.

The worktable looked like it had been in a blizzard by the end of the afternoon, and there was glitter everywhere .... and I mean everywhere!!!  It was so much fun though, and such a busy afternoon that I didn't get chance to take any photos ..... sorry guys, I know, I'm rubbish!!!

You'll just have to take my word for it ...... it was a beautiful collection of baubles at the end of the day and each one was so different.

To finish off the afternoon we also made some quick and easy Christmas tags.  The ones that I've been making for this year's 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends went down very well, especially the little snowman from Day 1, the three tags from Day 11 (I love those too!) and look,  this little chap made another appearance ........ he's my tag for Day 12 of the event

He was actually the favourite of the afternoon.

Simply stamped in black ..... using my MISTI of course ......

Highlights added using a bit of green glitter for the holly leaves, and some red glitter glue for the festive berries ......

A sentiment heat embossed in gold over the top  ......

And a touch of the Midas Gold Nuvo pen for a little added sparkle

He had to have a touch of snow too.

Well, that's the Christmas workshop done for 2018, as always it was a fabulous day .... thanks ladies.
And .... the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends has come to an end too ..... yes, it was the last one this year ....... sigh!

I've really enjoyed playing along each year with this event ...... and I'm so proud to have been one of Loll's Friends/ Guest Designers for the last 4 events.
So as I link up my final tag ...... I'd like to say a big Thank You to Loll and wish you and all your Friends, and family, the very best holiday season. 
The run up to Christmas has officially started!

Ho! Ho! Ho! 

Hubby thinks I should wait until December before I decorate the Christmas tree ....... so, I put this one up instead ...... I'm calling it my winter tree.

Well I had to make sure the lights worked, and it was a shame to put it back in the box ....... it looks so pretty!! Not sure whether the little man likes it, his reaction was ...... Grandma, where are the leaves? 

Wait until he sees the new Christmas tree ..... that's covered in snow!!!

This is what we brought home with us ..... I just hope it looks like that when I get it out of the box!!

Thanks for popping by ...... enjoy what's left of your weekend.

I'm going to have to sit on my hands and resist the temptation to get the Christmas decorations out!!

Cheerio until next time ....

The weekend is here ......

Happy Friday .....

Well we're home!  The crossing wasn't too bad, a bit like a roller coaster in places ....... up and down, side to side ...... but we had a cabin again so we slept for most of it.
We crammed in as much as we could whilst we were in the UK ....... sadly not enough time to see everyone though.

It's business as usual again now.   There's exciting DT stuff to do, I've still got a couple of tags left for the 12 Tags event, and I have a  Christmas workshop tomorrow (Saturday).  Things are getting a little Christmas crazy around here and it's not even December yet!!!

Speaking of Christmas though, I'm catching up the 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends ......

Here's my tag, or should I say tags, for Day 11 ......

Inspired by the girls from STAMPlorations, I've used some of the fabulous festive sentiments from their Christmas Typografia range
I love large sentiment stamps and these are perfect for creating really quick and easy, yet stunning Christmas cards, and they are great for tags

I simply stamped and heat embossed the words onto my coloured tags .......

This one is perfect to make into a Christmas tree ..... a simple tub on the bottom and a few dots of glitter glue here and there for the baubles,

Or why not add a sprinkling of Chunky White Embossing Powder to give a great snowy look.

Simple fussy cut holly leaves on the bottom of this one ..... very festive.

A popular technique at the moment is to give this spotlight effect ...... achieved by simply blending the same colour of ink as your base card but, a shade or two darker, around the edges of your tag

I love the effect .... don't you.

I'm also linking these tags up the 25 Days of Christmas Tags 2018 ...... hosted by Tracey McNeely

 

Thanks for popping by ....... I know it's getting late. I've been trying to blog all day but things just kept getting in the way!

I'm going to put my feet up, catch up on some TV and have a nice G&T ...... I've earned it today.

Cheerio until next time .....

 

I'm keeping up with this year's 12 Tags ......

Good morning!  Happy Wednesday ......

It's the middle of what is proving to be a very busy week.  So much to do and only a couple of days left to do it in!
In between spending time with the family, we're trying to fit in as much as we can whilst we're over in the UK ...... we don't get here as often as we would like.

I've time for a quick blog post though.  This morning I've got my tag number 9 for this years 12 Tags of Christmas with Loll & Friends (I'm amazed I've managed to keep up!)

It's another CAS(ish) design, using one of the new festive stamp sets from the lovely Julie Hickey. It's called A Winter Scene, and I just love these cute little houses .....

They were stamped directly onto my tag and heat embossed using a gold EP.  I then embossed one of the stamps again, this time onto a separate piece of white card.
I coloured the houses using ZIG Markers and then fussy cut around the top edge of the ones on the separate piece of card.
Shades of blue Distress Inks have then been blended across the top of the tag, and splattered with a little water over the top to create a snowy looking backdrop before finishing off with some chunky white embossing powder.

A simple sentiment stamped in gold ink on the fussy cut layer, and a touch of sparkle from some crystal glitter .....

This was then layered over the top of the houses which had been stamped directly on the tag, cut down to size to fit the tag, and then attached using foam pads to create a little dimension .....

I really must start thinking of gifts to put all of these festive tags on.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.
I will be popping back later on though!

Cheerio until next time ........

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 .....