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 ....

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 .....

Today's the day .......... Release Day for the BRAND NEW Uniko stamps and stencils

Happy Tuesday ......

Yeah!! it's here ........ brand new Uniko Release Day .......  whoo hoo!!!!

I hope you've enjoyed the last few days when we've been introducing the four BRAND NEW stamp sets, along with two re-released ones, and the three BRAND NEW stencil designs. 
Well today, it's time for the New Release Blog Hop and GIVEAWAY.

Join in the fun with Bev and the Design Team and hop along with us.  There's an amazing prize up for grabs so don't forget to comment along the way.  You could win the entire new release .... yes all of it!  You have until midnight(GMT) on 9th November to play along, so plenty of time.

Here's a few more ideas for you using some of the new stamps and stencils .........

BIG & BOLD Merry stamp set with the Folk Snowflake stencil ........

Perfect Pearls Mist sprayed through the stencil onto black card.  The result was this gorgeous, shimmery background

The sentiment was then stamped over the top and heat embossed .... looks great!
The holly leaves are from the Uniko Winter Foliage set, stamped in Peeled Paint Distress Oxide and fussy cut.

Because my piece of black card was bigger than the stencil, I ended up with a border top and bottom of the design.  Instead of cutting it off, the piece fit perfectly on a DL card ..... I just needed to trim the sides away.  I added the decorative borders just to hide the rough edges ..... looks cute though I think!

BIG & BOLD Merry again, this time with the gorgeous Sweet Broom ......

A lovely layering stamp and looks so pretty whatever colours you use.  I've gone with gold embossing then added the detail to the leaves using a pretty pink metallic ink

The Quilted stencil next, along with the Santa from one of the re-released sets .... Jolly Christmas.  And not forgetting the new Simply Said Block - Christmas

I used two colours of ink with the stencil, first the green shade, then I moved the stencil to fill the empty squares and stenciled with red ink

One of the Background Builders next, the new Christmas 2018 set.  These are great for making quick and easy, fun designs

The sentiment is from the Uniko All Occasions Sentiments #4 ..... love this font!

Last up from me today is the Scandinavian Christmas stencil .....

I've used part of the design to decorate my Christmas tree.

Stencil paste with glitter on the top ......  and a snippet of card to make the base.

Well I hope you're feeling inspired, and that you love the new release as much as we, the Design Team do.

All the new stamps and stencils will be available on the Uniko website from 9pm this evening.  You'll have to hang on to your shopping lists for just a little while longer, but the good news is there's a 24hr FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING offer on all orders of £15 or over starting from 9pm this evening (Tuesday)  through until 9pm on October 31st.

Don't forget we're celebrating the new release with a Blog Hop and Giveaway.  All you have to do is leave comments as you visit each blog, and you could win the entire new release.
Happy hopping!

Bev

Carol 

Deborah 

Izzy 

Jane 

Julie

Linda (that's me!)

Lindsey

Sarah G

Sarah P

and

Wiebke

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.
I'm off up to Ramsey this morning with Lauren and the little man.  My favourite shops are up there so this could be an expensive trip! No doubt it will cost me lunch too.

Cheerio until next time .......

Follow your Dreams for the Craft Stamper Challenge .....

Whoo Hoo!!!  it's Friday ......

I hope you've had a good week.
I had all sorts planned for this week but, has anything got done ...... no!!!  I've been enjoying what's left of the summer.  It's not quite as warm as it has been but hey! the sun's still shining.

As it's the first Friday in September that means there's a new Craft Stamper Challenge.
It's the usual Anything Goes theme ....... but remember, you MUST include some actual rubber stamping on your projects .... no digi images please.

The project is up to you ..... cards, tags, journal pages.  Canvases, home decor or even an ATC maybe.  The choice is all yours.

I've got a tag for you this month, using a recent Stampin Up! purchase ....... Follow Your Dreams, with the coordinating set of dies

I coloured a piece of white cardstock using Fresco Finish Acrylic Paints, and a damp baby wipe to spread the colours (Sky, Candy Floss and Smurf)
I then cut it down to size to create my tag.

Using the pretty dream catcher from the stamp set I added a touch of detail here and there onto the background, before following with a stencil and some crackle texture paste

 and then splatters of black and white paint ........

I stamped the dream catcher again onto a piece of card coloured using the Candy Floss paint, heat embossed with the WOW Rose Gold embossing powder ...... this is such a nice colour .... and then used the matching die to cut it out

Some of the feathers have been stamped and die cut, and some (the smaller ones) are actually cut from one of the dies from the set

I added my sentiment across the bottom ..... heat embossed again with the rose gold.  I think this is my new favourite embossing powder .... for now anyway!

Added a couple more feathers and a little matching thread .....

and a few coordinating ribbons to finish it off

As always there's prizes up for grabs ......

This month the Challenge Winner, randomly chosen from all the eligible entries, will win this fabulous set of 10 Ecoline Brush Pens ...... just look at those colours!!

And our Design Winner, chosen by the DT, will get their winning project published in the Craft Stamper magazine along with a Winner's profile, and a Guest Designer Spot on the blog .... how cool is that!

Speaking of the magazine, the latest edition hits the shelves today ........ have you got yours?
Check out the Craft Stamper website for all the details on how to get your hands on a copy

This month, as always, it's crammed with amazing art work, brilliant techniques and lots of fabulous ideas.  I'm in there this month too ..... as part of the Uniko Design Team.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day and have a fabulous weekend.
Hubby's got the day off today so we may just pop out somewhere nice for lunch.

Cheerio until next time ......