TAG! You're it ......

Happy Tuesday ........

It's the 5th of December, and it's time for a festive tag for this months TAGplorations Challenge.

The theme this month is All About Christmas ...... with an optional twist of ....... Glitter!  A touch of sparkle is perfect for the festive season. 

I've used Kraft card (again!) for the base of my tag, cut using the CUTplorations Tags #1 Nesting dies. 
I edged the tag with a little bit of Pocket Fence Distress Ink and sprinkled a touch of Chunky White Embossing Powder

The word 'Merry' is from the Merry Christmas Phrase Die, cut from Kraft card, covered with Versamark ink and then heat embossed using red and sparkly green embossing powders.

The present is cut from snippets of leftover card using the Gift Builder #2 die and then layered

The pretty bow has an extra layer of plain white cardstock to add a little dimension

Now I just need to find a gift for this to go on!

Why not join in the fun and create your own Christmas tags.
You can enter as many projects as you want, just remember only 1 project per blog post please.
Your entry doesn't have to be a tag, it can be anything you like but it must feature a TAG ....... a card with a tag on it perhaps, or a journal/scrapbook page featuring a tag. 
You don't have to use STAMPlorations products either ....... although it's great if you do!

There's been a little change to the challenge prizes this month, just for December.
To be in with a chance of winning all you need to do is .....

• comment on the December TAGplorations challenge post AND the posts on the Design Team's Blogs for a chance to win a $15 Gift Certificate to spend in the STAMPlorations store
• also,one randomly drawn player from all the challenge entries will win a $20 Gift Certificate
• and 1 player, again randomly drawn from all the entries, will win their choice of a set of CUTplorations Tag Dies from the store

TAG! .... now it's your turn

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

Oh .... almost forgot ..... there's a mega Holiday Sale on at the STAMPlorations store.

A massive 30% off Stamps, Stencils and Dies (terms apply)
Just use code ..... HOLIDAY2017 at the checkout ...... see the website for full details.

Cheerio until next time ......

Merry everything .......

Happy Monday evening .......

It's the 4th day of December and guess what ...... I think I've finished the Christmas shopping! Well, the gifts anyway.
Lauren and I hit the town this morning and I think we're all done ...... with just a couple of little extras.  Everything that was on the list was crossed off by the end of the afternoon plus we picked up a couple of bargains in the 3 for 2 offers! 
I even remembered to buy the wrapping paper.  Guess what I'll be doing later!

First things first though ..... it's time to get this month's Happy Little Stampers Christmas challenge started
As always the theme is Anything Goes ...... with an optional twist for December of ....... a Stencil

The gifts may be bought but, I've still got most of my Christmas cards to make so quick and easy, with stunning results is the way to go I think, and stencils are a great way of doing just that.

I love this stag don't you ..... he's a perfect size to make him the focal point on your card with just a simple greeting underneath (my finished card is 7x5 inches).  You don't get much more CAS!

I used white texture paste through the stencil and then sprinkled over with a fine gold glitter ..... love how he sparkles

I added a dot of red glitter glue for his nose and suddenly you've got Rudolph!

A few dots of white Enamel Accents here and there, and a festive sentiment, heat embossed in gold, and we're done

As always the challenge is sponsored by the HLS store, and the winner will receive a $20 Gift Certificate to spend on fabulous craft goodies. Why not join in the festive fun!

As we were out Christmas shopping today and, the festive menu was launching at the Prospect, Lauren and I thought it was only right we should go and check out the delicious festive baguette ......

Hubby joined us too, for a Christmas dinner, with all the trimmings, on a crusty baguette ...... yummee!!  We'll be having one of those again!!

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

Cheerio until next time ......

On the third day of December ......

the Christmas tree is decorated!

Happy Sunday evening ........

Well it's definitely looking a lot like Christmas in the Walmsley household ..... and the festive season has officially started.  Yes ....... Mr Buble is playing, the Christmas candles are lit and the tree is twinkling nicely in the window ......  Merry Christmas!

The usual Christmas favourites are all on there .......

Along with some special ones for the little man ........

It was the usual marathon session ...... an hour to get the tree up and the lights on, then about four and half hours, to decorate it, but it was worth it.  And I only broke one bauble!
Looking at it this morning though I have seen a couple of spaces that need a little something in there.  Guess what I'll be doing tomorrow ...... yep! ..... bauble shopping!!!

Sorry I've no crafty stuff to share today .... I've not had time to go into the craft room.  Don't worry, it's the beginning of a new month ...... blog challenges are starting, I've got a workshop coming up next weekend ..... and I have Christmas cards to make!  Most of next week will be spent in the craft room I think.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy your evening.
Time to try one of the new Manx Gins I think!

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

On the second day of December .......

Happy Saturday evening ........

I hope you're enjoying your weekend.  We've had a lovely day today .... a bit of a late start but, we've managed to get everything done.  We even made it up to the north of the island for a bit of Christmas shopping.

Anyhow .... onto the important stuff.  It's time to get December's Happy Little Stampers CAS challenge underway.

So what is CAS? .... we all have our own versions and I know I say this every month but, CAS for me is ....

• lots of white space
• one main focal point 
• minimum embellishments 

 The theme for December is ..... New Year!

What ideas does that bring for you ....... New Year's resolutions perhaps, a new start or ..... just a good excuse for a party!!!
One of the best ways to see in the New Year is to spend it with friends and share a nice bottle of bubbly .... or two!  And from what was being said last night it sounds like that's just what we'll be doing ...... it's New Year's Eve at the Walmsleys apparently!

The bottle on my card is from a stencil by Sweet Poppy, placed over the edge of the card, texture paste applied through the design and then sprinkled with fine gold glitter whilst the paste is still wet

I then stamped and heat embossed my sentiment .......

And doodled with a glue pen and crystal glitter for the champagne and bubbles.

We've been here there and everywhere today ...... done the supermarket, stocked up the wine rack (again!), done a little bit more of the Christmas shopping and spent time with the little man. Considering we had a bit of a late start we've not done bad at all.

It was the Poker Stars Christmas party last night ...... what a good night!  It was in the Royal Hall at the Villa Marina and it looked fab!

The hall had been transformed into a snowy ski resort with snow covered trees, a ski lodge and little wooden cabins where the food was being served from.

Snowflakes danced around the room all night and it snowed towards the end of the evening! It did make the dance floor a little interesting ......... especially in heels!

I wasn't too bad this morning .... mind you I did stick to the gin all night and stayed well away from the passion fruit martini fountain! ..... and the ice sculpture that was having schnapps shots poured down it and you had to drink from the bottom!!!  I bet there were a few headaches across the island this morning ...... the festive season is here!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your weekend.
I've got a date with Michael Buble and an 9ft Christmas tree now ...... Ho! Ho! Ho!

Cheerio until next time .....

Pinch and a pinch for the first of the month ......

Good morning! ...... Happy Friday

It's the first day of December ....... how did that happen!? Only 3 more Fridays to go before the big day ......... better make a start on some Christmas cards I think!

As it's the first Friday of the month, December's challenge gets underway over on the Craft Stamper Blog.

As always the theme is simple ....... Anything Goes as long as there's actual rubber stamping on your project somewhere .... no digi images please. 
Your project can be anything you like, cards, journal pages, home decor, even pretty Christmas projects ..... the choice is all yours.

It's been a little chilly over here the last few days, yesterday was bitterly cold with an icy wind blowing.  I know because I was out in it! 
We didn't get any snow though, unlike some parts of the UK ...... brrrrrr!
So ........ because I'm always dreaming of a white Christmas and we never seem to get one over here, I've put some on a Christmas card.

I've used Brusho and the emboss resist technique ...... I never get tired of doing this because the results are always so different. It was also one of the techniques we covered on the Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat a couple of weekends ago.

I stamped the snowflakes randomly onto a piece of watercolour cardstock using Versamark ink and then heat embossing in white.  I've used the gorgeous new snowflakes from Tim Holtz ...... aren't they pretty.

I took a couple of the blue shades of Brusho, sprinkled a little of the powder over the cardstock and spritzed with water.  I love how the colour develops and spreads across the card. You can make it as pale or intense as you like.  Add more pigment for a deeper colour ....... sprutz more water for a softer look.

I used one colour at a time, drying off the card in between.  For the first layer I used just water to do the spritzing and spread the colour, but for the second layer instead of water, I spritzed with a Perfect Pearl mist and left it to dry.  I love the shimmer that came through in places .......

Once I was happy with the colours, a quick wipe over the embossing removes any excess ink and makes the snowflakes pop against the background. 
The embossing powder acts as a resist to the Brusho and the white shows through beautifully.

A simple stamped greeting is the perfect finishing touch

Well .... that's one Christmas card done!

We have a great challenge sponsor this month ...... Stampin Unicorn from PolkaDoodles, with an amazing prize for the winner ...... 3 gorgeous stamp sets plus two lovely paper packs!

Happy stamping!

Well ...... our festive season's getting off to a great start.  Last night we were out Christmas shopping at a lovely Artisan Market.  Artists from the island, woodturners and stunning handmade jewellry (hubby bought me a gorgeous piece to go in my Christmas stocking!).  Beautiful scented candles, made here on the island (I stocked up on all my festive favourites) and there was delicious coffees and cakes too.  

Then this evening we've got hubby's work Christmas party ....... always a good night!

But .... I've still things to do first.  There's projects to finish in the craft room, next weekends workshop to check through, I have a Christmas tree in the lounge that needs decorating and ...... I have to find something to wear for tonight.  Busy day ahead .... but first, time for coffee I think!

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

Cheerio until next time ......