Monday 24 December 2012

Christmas Wishes

 
Hello everyone.  Just popping in to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  I hope you all have a lovely time and that you keep safe and well.  Thank you for visiting me this year and for all your kind comments, I appreciate them so much.
 
As usual, things have been very hectic here.  Emily and I are finally over our illnesses.  School has been manic, with pantos, parties, church services etc.  We finally finished work on Friday, and I went straight off to Sainsburys to start my Christmas food shopping.  We have had a very busy but not-so-stressful weekend getting ready for Christmas.  The house is looking very tidy and festive, the trifle is made, as is the gingerbread house and the yule log, and the Christmas cake is decorated.  The Indian take-away is about to be ordered and then we are ready.
 
I have realised that I have omitted to send out all my Christmas cards - apologies if that is you.  I can only put it down to illness and my work situation - I'm really sorry.
 
Before I sign off for the Christmas period, here are the last few cards that I made for the charity event that I participated in.  The irony is, that for the first time ever, I didn't make any cards of my own to send out this year (apart from the ones I made for the Scrapbaggers!).  Oh well, there's always next year!
 





 
Thanks for dropping my, and again, Happy Christmas!
 
Michelle x

Wednesday 12 December 2012

Candlelight Christmas

 
Hello.  Hope everyone is managing to keep well as we approach Christmas.  Unfortunately our house has managed to succumb to the fluey type virus that is going around.  Poor Emily has been ill for over a week and even managed to lose her voice for a couple of days.  She is on the mend now but has been unable to go to college and work placement which isn't good.  Edward and I both have had nasty colds and have been home for a couple of days.  Mark so far remains clear (hope I haven't just tempted fate!).
 
I'm feeling a little bit anxious and under-prepared for Christmas, still got lots to do and not enough time to do it all.  This year I was supposed to not let the stress get to me but it has. I'm still in the process of writing Christmas cards with more still to make, as well as presents to wrap.  I like to be really organised and "last minute" doesn't sit well with me.
 
Anyway, the card I am sharing with you today uses the Candlelight Christmas Speciality DSP, along with the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and Holiday Ornaments Framelits (all from SU).
 
I think these papers look great on the kraft card and I just added a touch of matching ribbon to the bauble (which is mounted on dimensional foam).
 
 
I'm going to a 12 hour scrapbook crop on Saturday (!!), I've never done this before.  At the moment I'm thinking it's not such a wise idea with so much to do, but I am planning to get some Christmas cards made there.  I just hope I'm not feeling too hungover as we have our staff party the night before.  Will have to rein in the G&Ts I guess to keep a clear head.  Which leaves Sunday to put up the decorations. 
 
Hope you are not buckling under the pressure!
 
Take care
 
Michelle x
 
 

Sunday 2 December 2012

Four Seasons

Hi All.  Feeling festive yet?  It's a bit of a shocker that it's suddenly December isn't it?  I know it's a bit of a cliche, but where has the year gone?
 
It's been a pretty manic week at work and it's only going to get worse.  This week I have been working on a Victorian shop window for the backdrop of our Christmas play.  Lots of brown paint and fake snow.  We have also had a Christmas Fair on Friday, which was very different this year - it was outside!  It was based on a German Christmas Market, and the atmosphere was fab, the only problem was that it was VERY cold!  I had a stall selling my bits and pieces and was outside from 5pm to 7.30pm.  By the end I couldn't feel my toes despite my thermal socks.  Having said that, it was a great evening and I applaud the hard work of all the volunteers.
 
Today's card is made using the Four Seasons stamp set which is a current Hostess gift.  I chose to stamp the image in red Brilliance ink and added some red sparkle embossing powder and heat embossed it.  I stamped some of the image again, I just wanted the robin in the middle, and heat embossed that too.  I cut the two circles out and mounted the main one on a circle of red mirror card.  The smaller circle was attached to the middle with 3D foam pads.  I used a piece of red satin polka dot ribbon around the middle and stuck the circle element over it using more foam pads.  The sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.
 


I'm very pleased with how the card turned out, I really like the simplicity of the red and white.  Hope you like it too.

We've had a lovely day today having friends over for a pre-Christmas get together.  It was really chilled and they were good company.  It did mean a massive tidy up beforehand though.  Had to actually put all my cardmaking and scrapbooking stuff out of sight (on our bed!).  Heaven knows where it's going to go over Christmas (Mum and Dad's maybe?).  I really  must have a big sort out after Christmas, I'm starting to feel overwhelmed by it all.

Thanks for dropping by.  Until next time.

Michelle x