Taking a Huge Step

On Saturday I drove our daughter Sophie to Heathrow for her onward journey to China to trek The Great Wall, all in the name of Charity.  Such a huge step for someone so young to endure, not knowing who she would be travelling with or what obstacles she might face, I'm sure my feelings of anxiety for her are natural.

Leaving her at the airport was heartbreaking, but I know that the adventures that lie ahead through the next 12 days will be ones that she will cherish forever and look back on as another of lifes great experiences.  Proud is an understatement.

My feelings of sadness became greater once I reached home and the WhatsApp messages came through, I long for her to be home and filling us with news of her adventures.

So with my son away on his holidays and Jay car racing it was just me and Alfie today.  Thank goodness for creativity, it took my mind away from my family worries for a while!

I'm spoilt for choice on products to play with.  Having the Annual Catalogue released in July then just recently the Autumn/Winter Catalogue I'm struggling to decide what to play with first!

I have a couple of favourites, in my previous post you will see how much I'm loving the "Merry Cafe" set.

Now as crafters we like to get ahead of ourselves when it comes to Christmas creating, but often I find I burn myself out by November as I've jumped in both feet first so this year I'm trying to be more restrictive on just how much time I spend creating Christmas projects, it's trying to find that balance when there's so many nice festive products arriving on my doorstep!

So today I'm going to share something festive, and although I've created tons of Christmas things already, I've not actually shared them here, so here goes.....

My card uses a set called "Carols of Christmas", love how easy this set is to use, the fact that it has co-ordinating dies makes it easy to be creative.  I love everything about this set, the deer, the trees, the ornaments and the little elements that can add some finishing touches too!

I created a really simple card, of course you could add more layers but this took very little time to create and I love it's simplicity.

A couple of mini sequins and some thread add a little glitz to sparkle things up.

So I hope I've inspired you to make a start on your Christmas Crafting if you haven't done so yet.  If you're planning on giving handmade cards this year then there's no better time to start making them than now!

If you'd like to place an online order with me, don't forget to use my Hostess Code if you're order is over £25 but less than £150

Click on any of the product images below to be directed to my shop

To say Thank You for shopping with me I will send you a hand stamped card and a gift next month in the post

Product List

Carols Of Christmas Clear-Mount Bundle [146037] £40.50	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £8.25	Cherry Cobbler A4 Card Stock [121681] £7.25	Card Stock A4 Pear Pizzazz [131290] £7.25
Silver Mini Sequin Trim [144230] £5.50	Silver Metallic Thread [138402] £2.75	Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139672] £7.75	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] £27.00

The Merry Little Mice

Well, it's certainly beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here, presents wrapped under the tree, festive lights making everything look cosy, home made mince pies (gluten free of course) are a daily ritual and being surrounded by family is priceless.  I just need to find a little time to make the final stockings and I'm all set!

So today I'm sharing yet more Merry Mice, I used this set so often, the images are just so sweet and pleasing to the eye and the colouring in so therapeutic!

For this card I used a blender pen with ink from the lid of the ink pads to colour, I love this technique, so easy yet gives a great finish.

I have loved our offering of twine this festive season, my favourite was definitely the Gold one but I love how the simplicity of adding a tied bow can finish off a project.

I can't quite believe just how close Christmas is now, and I have loads more cards to share with you but I also need to spread word of the NEW products that I have been receiving of late from the upcoming Spring/Summer Catalogue, stay tuned and I will be back very soon.

It's not too late to place an online order and treat yourself to some retiring/reduced product to play with during the New Year.

You can shop online 

HERE

If your order is over £25 please use my HOSTESS CODE and I will send you a handmade card and free gift in the post in January, and it will be NEW PRODUCT FROM THE SPRING/SUMMER CATALOGUE

Product List

Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £8.25	Pool Party A4 Card Stock [124391] £7.25	Real Red A4 Card Stock [106578] £7.25	Merry Mice Clear-Mount Stamp Set [142145] £15.00
Blender Pens [102845] £9.00	Candy Cane Lane Baker's Twine [141983] £5.50	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [126953] £6.00	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] £6.50

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We could do with a bit of Merry & Bright....

..... with these dark dreary mornings we are having of late!

Today's make is one of my favourite recent creations, I'm a big fan of the Kraft cardstock and I love the cute stamped images I've used here.

I used two stamp sets from the A/W Catalogue

Santa's Sleigh and Stitched with Cheer

I made a window scene using the Hearth and Home framelits dies, such a simple way to create such a stunning effect and this window die has a multitude of uses and suitable for so many occasions.  You can find this set in the Annual Catalogue on Page 192.

I used the Fabulous Foil Designer Acetate behind my window to create a simple background, silver side showing.  This acetate is just amazing and can easily be missed in the catalogue

I hope you like my card and feel inspired to have a go at creating something made by you.

If you'd like to purchase any of the products I've used just visit my shop

here

and don't forget to use the HOSTESS CODE if your order is over £25, I'd like nothing more than to send you a gift and hand stamped card in the post to say thank you for choosing to shop with me.

Product List

Santa's Sleigh Photopolymer Bundle [143499] £41.25	Stitched With Cheer Photopolymer Set [142182] £19.00	Kraft 12" X 12" Card Stock [133674] £6.50	5/8" (1.6 Cm) Burlap Ribbon [141487] £6.50
Fabulous Foil Designer Acetate [141653] £11.00	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £8.25	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949] £6.00	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [126973] £6.00
Hearth & Home Thinlits Dies [139666] £18.00

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Merry Christmouse!

Good morning from a very dark and damp Gloucestershire, gosh it really is dark this morning!

I will be leaving shortly for my class at Bulwark but thought I'd stop by with another Merry Mouse card to share with you.

This fabulous set of stamps is still available at the reduced price of £12.75 and you can view the whole list of items retiring

HERE

Visit my shop to see extra items reduced

HERE

If you are placing an order online with me, don't forget to add the 

HOSTESS CODE if your order is over £25

Product List

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] £27.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] £32.00	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £8.25	Real Red A4 Card Stock [106578] £7.25
Pool Party A4 Card Stock [124391] £7.25	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949] £6.00	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad [126982] £6.00	Merry Mice Clear-Mount Stamp Set [142145] £15.00