Merry Christmas everyone !

Well, are you ready ?

I think I nearly am, supermarket braved, presents delivered and now just the cake to decorate.

It's been a mad, mad month (December always is in our house) and I have been busy making orders for others. I am always flattered that people ask me but I must get better organised because it means my personal cards are always very lastminute.com lol !

Looking forward to having some free time to just 'play' just for the fun of it !

This week I have made 9 money wallets, 5 bags of reindeer poo, 4 Christmas chocolate bars, 3 bags of snowman poo, 2 wreaths for the cemetery and a partridge in a pear tree ! Well, perhaps not the partridge but here are the wallets....

Ribbon for the ladies and a paper band for the gents.

The chocolate bars were inspired by the talented Vicky and will decorate our Christmas table

I even used the left overs from the wreath to make an arrangement for the hall

That leaves me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope that all your Christmas wishes come true !!!

I have decided to take a break from blogging next week to enjoy the festivities with my family, and we also have Sophie's birthday to celebrate on the 27th but I will be back in the New Year and I would like to thank everyone that has left me a lovely comment this year and those who are too shy but read anyway, make it your New Years resolution to say hi !

Merry Christmas ! Enjoy ! x

Let it snow !

Yipeee ! We've got snow !

Although we did have some snow earlier in the month that covered the ground, it wasn't very deep - but today we've got more !

These photos were taken at lunch time and we've had another 4 hours of snow since then. In the Midlands we are lucky that we don't normally have the very extreme weather but it is nice to have some of the white stuff to make everywhere look festive.

It's especially nice now that everyone (except me !) has broken up for Christmas and today we didn't HAVE to do or go anywhere. The girls managed to do some sledging and Hubby is a bit disgruntled that tomorrows big game ( West Brom v Wolves ) has been called off already.

I do feel sorry for those trying to get away though as Birmingham airport has also been closed today too.

Todays card is using my fave Growing Green set and Crumb Cake and Soft Suede.

Sorry about the picture quality but it really is the 'dark days before Christmas '

Off to watch the Strictly final, keep cosy x

Still busy

Hiya, hope you are all well.

Anyone got any snow yet ? It started here this afternoon and when I left work the layer on my car was frozen solid.

Thought I would just show you what I've been up to this week.

Regular readers will remember me making a notelet set in Baja Breeze and Pear Pizazz, well I've got hold of a few more boxes and decided to make a few sets for presents.

Also decorated some candles to match. Just another 3 sets to do !!

Also made a batch of thank you cards in the lovely Soft Suede

and made a wreath for my door - the fresh spruce smells gorgeous !

Still plenty to do but I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel

Keep warm and stay safe x

Oh no he didn't ? OH YES HE DID !!!

Hiya,

Just had to pop back and tell you about the panto last night ..........

We had front row seats and when we got there one of the seats was the aisle seat right next to some steps onto the stage so the girls and I decided that Hubby HAD to have that seat.

Well, just as he feared ( and we hoped !) he was chosen for some audience humiliation, sorry participation lol! I have not seen him look so terrified since the day we got married !

He was called up on stage by Christopher Biggins and made to remove his shirt to go in Widow Twanky's laundry, he then had to sit thru the rest of the show wearing a dressing gown.

Just as he was hoping no one we knew was there, we bumped into one of Isabel's school teachers during the interval !

He was then called up on stage again during the finale and given his shirt back and allowed back stage to get changed. He was also given an M & S voucher - bet thats the only time he will be paid for taking his clothes off !

I somehow doubt he has mentioned at work today that he spent the evening taking his clothes off with Christopher Biggins lol !!!

Must get back to my To Do list - it is really serious now - I am 3 days behind on my Thorntons advent calender , and I hadn't even noticed !!! That IS bad !

Busy,busy, busy !

Dear All

I'm so sorry for being missing this week but I've just had sooo much to do. Loads of customer requests ,which is nice and the pennies will come in very useful for spending on my wish list, but I have had no free time.

Yesterday was Isabel's birthday which was lovely and she really enjoyed her day. This year she decided she didn't want a birthday cake but some of Mom's cupcakes. So it was 10.45pm on Friday by the time I had finished making and decorating two dozen cupcakes.

Decorations made with Pretty in Pink and stamp from Vintage Vogue.

Next time I must remember to persuade her to choose a cake from the supermarket !!

I have got a couple of cards I can show you but they're not Stampin Up this time because the orders were very specific.

Right, off to try and catch up today. I have 36 emails in my in box and haven't read the daily papers yet since Monday ! Hubby and Sophie are off to the match this afternoon ( local derby Wolves v Bham) and I am hoping Isabel will enjoy looking through all her new things because I've got another 5 card orders I need to make today !

Then tonight we are off to the panto and next week is looking just as hectic with school plays and meals out with friends. Will promise to try and fit you in somewhere lol !

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas !!

Hiya, hope you are all well.

We have had a lovely festive weekend beginning on Friday evening when we went to the service to sing carols around the christmas tree in the village.

The Salvation Army brass band were playing and it was snowing heavily- very atmospheric

A bottle of mulled wine was required to warm us up when we got back !

Saturday morning we went to choose the real Christmas tree - where we go is only a few minutes walk from home and Hubby wanted to do the ' When Harry met Sally thing ' and drag it back through the snow but I didn't think it would do it much good lol !

In the lounge we have an artificial tree and it is all very coordinated ..............

but in the Conservatory we put the real tree which has a lot of personalised baubles collected over the years from various destinations

It always evokes special memories when I decorate this tree.

We also took Isabel to see Santa ( might be the last time ), Sophie said ' you're not going to make ME see him are you ?' Why do they have to grow up ?

It is always a mad rush to get all my Christmas (and birthday) shopping done by the end of November but it is worth it to get to enjoy the build up to the big day. May have to 'borrow ' some kids when mine get too old lol !

Back to cards, the observant amongst you may have noticed a theme to my photos tonight so I will show you a tree card.

Regular readers will remember my mega excitement when I made a tree from a stamp from the Tiny Tags set. (see 13th Sept).At the time I said I had plans for a black and blingy version , well I've finally gone and done it !!

Yes Jules I have finally cut some ribbon lol !

I even went outside to get a wintry photo

Hope my neighbours didn't see me trying to balance a card in a tree ! Mind you I wasn't out there long - it was -5 !

Hope you have enjoyed my trees of all varieties !!!

Paper Flowers

Hiya, hope everyone has survived the trials of the week.

Firstly I would like to say a big Happy Birthday to Becki - hope you are having a fab day and that the postie has managed to get to you.

Unfortunately I can't show you the card I sent Becki because in my rush to send it I forgot to take a piccie - duh !

Anyway, it was the one that led to the stained fingers- Concord Crush with a bit of Old Olive. Hope you like Becki !

Managed to get to Floristry yesterday and the mission this week was unusual - decorate a canvas using artificial materials. Well I must confess I am not a great fan of artificial flowers so I decided to MAKE my own flowers.

During the class we discuss our choice of materials and everyone was a little surprised when I got out ink, paper, scissors ( sounds like the old school game lol ).

I was very pleased with the result and it was much 'more me 'than silk flowers

Pushed the boat out and used some more Elegant Soiree papersVery dimensional - I love all the different textures

My teacher liked it so much she wants me to make her one !

Yes I have ventured far enough to get a new USB cable - just couldn't wait for Santa ! x

No piccies

Hiya, how are you all coping with the snow ?

We've got some here but not much compared to some pictures I've seen - Becki I want some of
your 'can't open the gate and get to work ' snow lol !

One question for you - if you're asked to make a card for someone do you prefer the undecided customer or the one that tells you exactly what they want ?
The 'I'll leave it to you ' option always worries me because we all have different taste but sometimes specific customer requests can be challenging !

I was recently asked by a friend to make a Christmas card for her Grandson which needed to have a small boy (aged 4 and 3/4 ! ) holding a toy polar bear next to a newly built snowman with a green John Deere tractor in the background !!

Due to my tempremental USB cable unfortunately I can't show you the finished result but I hope it ticks all the boxes. Good to have a challenge occasionally lol !!!

Have also made a birthday card tonight and as a preview I'll tell you that unless Becki sends me that snow order I'll be going to work tomorrow with Concord Crush stained fingers lol !

Hope to be back soon with some pictures, stay safe x

Christmas Bundle

Aren't the dark nights miserable ? It seems darker than ever this year !


Anyway Stampin Up must have known we need cheering up cos they have announced a fantastic offer of Christmas bundles.

They have put together some of the Christmas items eg stamp set and designer paper into bundles from £30.70






But the best bit is ......... with each bundle purchased you can choose a FREE reel of ribbon from a selection of gorgeous ribbons that can't be ordered in the catalogue !

I can't decide which one I like best !!

If you would like to take advantage of this special offer , I am also offering a FREE standard inkpad of your choice with each bundle ordered. Please note the inkpad offer is not a SU offer but just a little thank you from me !

If you would like any further information or would like to place an order please contact me on mrsjuliewade@sky.com. Don't spend too long deciding which ribbon you want- Christmas is a coming !!