Di's December #3 Sketch

Three weeks into December already & this time next week it'll be Christmas day!! Woo-hoo!! Nope, I'm not ready, organised or even close! LOL.
Anyway, Di's sketch this week was a stunner & I love it ... even tho' I struggled with the li'l envelope: I'll definitely use a template next time! I've been playing with Prima product this last few days ... luuuurve anything kinda vintage/shabby or whatever, so I'm lovin' Prima too - & it's no coincidence that they have their DT call on right now *smiles*. Will share my DT application end of the month I think: I don't expect I'll be chosen from the thousand that apply ... but if not, I'll have some great projects to show for it, so it's all good! LOL.
Anyway, pop on over to Di's Blog to see what the rest of the DT did with the sketch ... & maybe have a go yourself?

A Fabby Early Christmas Prezzie!!

Did you see this post on the CCAYR blog?? Evidently this card is a winner & I'm now a proud member of the January to March DT! Obviously, I'm thrilled! LOL
I'm taking a break from Deanne's team this week & from Di's Team next week - with hospital visiting & the fact that I've not started my Christmas preparations yet, I just needed a li'l time off to concentrate on making all those Chrimbo gifts that I've planned. So I might be a li'l bit quiet this week ... but then again, I might not! LOL

Glimpses ... For Free

Stacy Julian from BPS is offering a FREE download & go class ... 'Glimpses'. You need to be quick as the offer is only good from today (14 December) thru to 20 December. Looks good ... I signed up for it!

Is This A Winning Card?

It's 3 months since I applied for a DT spot at Christmas Cards All Year 'Round, which means it's time to re-apply. Although the requirement was to produce just one card, I found it a li'l bit of a challenge as it had to be inspired by the blog banner - just as it was last time. So I had to create something both the same & totally different! LOL
Auntie Jane brought these MME papers & die cuts back from the US for me last month & I knew at once that they were the ones I'd want to use. The colours are similar to the blog banner ... just more pastel & the composition is inspired by it too. The photo doesn't show it particularly well (flash photography) but the snowman & 'joy' are adhered on foam tape for dimension. I also added self adhesive pearls to the snowman's buttons & black ones for his eyes & mouth - a bit of sanding, inking & machine stitching & it's done!
There's still time to apply ... the call closes tomorrow - and the announcement for the new team will be Monday. Deets are here if you fancy trying out!

Di's December #2 Sketch

The chilly winter is here & I'm finding myself drawn to these papers by Bo Bunny ... last year's collection but I do love them. the photo is a bit pants ... & you can be expecting more pants photos until I'm able to take them outside again - never mind 'twill be the spring soon! LOL.
So this is Di's December #2 sketch & I found it sooooo easy to use that I was able to create a few sets of crimbo cards for DS4's Christmas Fayre last week & have been dying to share the photos!

Why not give the sketch a try ... I bet you'll be glad you did!

Kazan's Sketch #15

Can you believe it's been nearly 2 months since I last played along with 2 Sketches 4 You?? Life just gets in the way sometimes doesn't it? Anyway, I'm up to date with all my DT work & needed to make a card for my stepfather, who is in hospital ATM, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out Kazan's latest sketch.
Masculine cards can be a bit tricky but the papers (Prima Marketing: Cavalier) made it easy. The image is from a bunch of replica ephemera that I picked up at the Museum while visiting the Christmas markets at Bury St Edmunds a couple weeks ago - from the 'Home Front' pack. My stepfather has an interest in WWII, so this was just perfect. I distressed and inked all my edges before machine stitching the papers into position & then just stapled the sentiment (SU!) & velvet ric rac into place. Just cuz it's a man-card doesn't mean that it can't have texture! LOL.

My stepfather is much better but will probably have an operation before they let him loose on the world. We don't expect him home before the weekend.

I blew the NaBloPoMo challenge to blog every day this month but I shall carry on with the thankful theme anyway. & who knows ... maybe next year I'll blog every day - one month at least! LOL
Today I'm thankful for:

• Ready Brek. They used to advertise it as 'central heating for kids' & it keeps me warm & nourished on cold wintery mornings.
• The internet. Just this morning I have shopped for groceries, bought a couple of Christmas presents, blogged, applied for a DT post & e-mailed my dad (who lives abroad) ... all before 9am. Later on, I shall be stocking my Misi store with more yummy stuff ... Gotta wonder how I managed without it!
  
• Energy Saving Lightbulbs. I have used these for years ... started when they were still a new thing but now big business seems to have caught on we keep getting them through the post - so that's an even bigger saving!!
  

Creatively Yours: Sketch #43

Finally, a project I can share with you! LOL. I have been busy with DT creations lately, so I've not been able to share anything & I know it's been a few days since I last blogged too ... so much for blogging every day in December - I didn't even last a week! LOL. I have some plans for January tho' so expect to see a lot more blogging from me then.
In the meantime, I'll struggle along ... trying to fit a bit of crafting into the manic Christmas prep - just wait 'til you read what I haven't done yet!!!
Right, back to the layout: My very good friend Nina got married on November 28 & this is the first layout I have done from the photos I took at the evening reception - I left the journal panel blank for Nina to finish off when I give it to her. I used Noella's sketch #43, from the Creatively Yours Challenge Blog - & although I'm on the DT, I haven't done my first 'official' assignment yet ... so this week I'm playing along for fun! Pop over to see the sketch & maybe join in ... we'd love you to play along too!
What I love about Noella's sketches most is the level of detail ... I have tried that whole minimalist style that seems to be trendy right now ... but I have to say I'm definitely a shabby-vintage-throw-it-all-at-the-page-and-see-what-sticks sorta scrapper: I like to distress, ink, layer & I like my pages embellishment-heavy. So I followed the sketch almost without deviation - & this is the result.
I'm playing with Prima right now (did I mention I love shabby/vintage?) & have mixed a few different paper ranges together here (Whisper, Angelique, Rue 88). I didn't have a suitable corner swirly embellie, so I cut a long scroll & combined it with a fleur de lis type thingy to custom-make one - & I matted the crystal bird to make it pop! All the supplies here are Prima Marketing, save from the brads, pearls & the plain cardstock (click on the pic to get a better look at the detail!).
I hope to be back again tomorrow with another project ... but don't hold me to it! LOL

Busy Day at the Christmas Fayre.

I spent the whole day at Auryn's School today, helping out with the Christmas fayre & had a ton of fun along the way! LOL. Only someone who has been involved in a fundraiser will know how much of a giggle we had ... & it's not a case of being in the clique - Auryn goes on the school bus, so I don't know any of the other parents at all - and don't see too much of the teachers either. But I have said I'll get more involved ... same as I was when the older boys were at infant school *smiles*
Anyway, These are a couple of the card sets that I put together ... made the cards a while ago - & over the last couple days, I made the envelopes, tags & boxes ... think I'm probably gonna package more cards this way in the future rather than doing individual ones in cello bags ... what d'ya think?? I have others to show but not until next week after Di has revealed the sketch! .
& here's a li'l photo of Auryn with the great man himself ... he was soooo excited to meet Santa ... especially having discovered Santa's footprints in his classroom this morning! LOL
Today, I am thankful for:

• Making new friends. It's been a long time since I have been around other 'mummies' ... hadn't realised how much I missed it.
• Auryn's Teachers. He has settled sooooo well at school & is totally happy there - the teacher's & helpers care about their kids - & it shows!
• Darent Valley Hospital. Maybe not the best healthcare in the world but my stepfather was admitted today & is already feeling happier that they will find what ails him ... & then fix it! & that's good enough for me!
  

Back tomorrow - I have new SU! goodies!!!

Di's December #1 Sketch

Not the best photo in the world ... it has been soooo windy here that, even when it isn't raining, I've not been able to take photos outdoors. Anyway, Di's sketch this week was particularly festive, so I created this li'l lovely with scraps of Bo Bunny Teen Chic papers ... not traditionally festive but I'm loving the green/pink combi this year (as you might have noticed! LOL). There's a full supplies list on Di's blog but check out those pink/white circular patterns: Stampin' Up! Seeing Circles Stamp set & Pixie Pink ink (possibly my fave!!)
Wanna know how to make it or how to get those stamps for free? ... check it out on Mad Mumma Stampin's Blog.

Snowman Poop?

Tamara posted this fabby li'l tutorial over at CCAYR some weeks ago & I've been waiting until now to make up a bunch for DS4's school Christmas fayre (on Friday) ... I think they look fab! Assuming you have 12x12 cardstock & some patterned papers (scraps will do it), you could make these for under 50p each ... a real budget stocking filler - or fundraiser!! & they are really quite quick to do too (once I remembered I have a scoring blade for my trimmer ... never used it before but would deffo recommend it! LOL)
& while on the subject of CCAYR ... I won last month's card challenge! Woo-hoo! Go Me!! The next challenge is up, so why not pop over & have a go ... maybe next month is your turn to win the draw! *smiles*
I have made a whole bunch of cards too ... but as I've used Di's December #2 sketch, I can't share until next week!! Gotta go ... have a whole bunch of envelopes to make for new year cards that I'll be donating to the school too!!

Did You Win???

OK ... as promised it's a winners post ... & it's gonna be a looooong one! LOL. I used the random integer thingy as always ... no fixed draws here!!

First up, the winner of this month's stalker's draw is # 1 ... Nina. I'm gonna send you a li'l handmade something!
& for everyone else ... I'm gonna make this monthly stalker's draw a regular thing each & every month. Keep an eye out tho' - there'll be a chance to increase your odds of winning announced in the next couple of days!

Next, the missing '40 days' event winners that got missed ... what can I say? We were too busy celebrating! LOL.
The Link List winner from Day #1: Carla, from the Pursuit of Scrappyness
Day #17's Birthday Tag: Cabbie Lopez
Day #25's Etsy Stuff winner: Jen T
Day #35's Layout Challenge: Bibi
Day 36's Webstore Goodies: Sammie
Day 37's Embellie Kit: Shannon
Day #38's Vintage Goodies: Tash

I need you all to e-mail me your snail mail addys & I'll get your goodies off to you!
Vanessa: I still owe you some handmade cards but I've misplaced your addy ... can you e-mail it again please??
Phoenix: What is your fave colour???

Phew!! well that's it guys ... & if you are still with me: Congrats on getting to the end of the post!! LOL.
'Til Tomorrow ... g'night!

Well That's A First!

I went to Bury St Edmunds last weekend with my Mum, stepfather & some of my ladies (on a coach trip) to the Christmas markets ... sooooooo much shopping! Mum took these photos of the stiltwalkers & I have actually scrapped them - within a week!!!!!
Before you start thinking that I've gone all super-organised, I should say that this is my 1st December layout for Deanne & that I have only just got it to her - so actually I'm late & not at all organised. Go visit to see what the rest of the DT did ... fabulous pages!
What can I say? it's been a manic couple weeks but the webstore finally went offline this morning - & with it went all the stress & irritation it has been causing for quite some time. The MISI store makes me happy ... & the group of friends I have made over there keep me laughing too - life is good!
Today I'm thankful for:

• Deanne's understanding of my missed deadline ... she didn't sack me yet!! *must try harder*
  
• Online friends ... sometimes it's difficult to find the block of hours to actually visit friends but online you can snatch a minute here & there ... even if it's at 2 am! LOL
• My folks for taking me to Bury with them - had a fab day out!

I'll be back later on with my winners announcement as I promised yesterday!!

The Times, They Are A Changin'

No Piccies today ... more an enabling post, I guess. Officially, I closed the webstore down today & technically my web service has expired ... although when I last checked it was still there! LOL. Sometime soon it will be gone for good ... but I won't!
My latest adventure is my brand new MISI store (Make It, Sell It) & I'm loving having a new 'home' ... we have a lot of fun on the forums there too *smiles*
Anyway, there was still some craft supplies in the webstore, so I've been busy uploading them to MISI too ... over 340 products in my li'l store there ... some handmade but a fair few craft supplies too - & some new reductions on supplies (woo-hoo)
I would love you all to join us on the forums there - you don't have to be a seller ... we have a li'l crafting community there & boy can we chat!
Back tomorrow with the winner from the stalkers draw ... I think I'll make that a monthly thing - oh! & I missed a bunch of prizes out from the '40 days' celebrations, so I'll announce them too (3 months late - better late than never I guess! LOL)
I was too late for NaBloPoMo last month (National Blog Posting Month) but I'm gonna have a go for this month ... a post every day ... all month! Let's just see how that pans out then! They have a (non-compulsory) monthly theme, & for December the theme is 'Thanks'.
I have soooo much to be thankful for & lots of people to be thankful to:

• MISI for inviting me to join ... I feel so at home there!
• Vanessa for alerting me to the missing 40 day prizes
• All the fabulous people who liked my work enough to give me a spot on their DTs - this is what I love to do the most!
• My family for indulging me & supporting me while I've been unwell - I'm soooo much better now that the meds are doing their thing!
  

I guess that will do for today - more to come tomorrow!