Merry Christmas 2018. . . . . .

Good morning my little chickadees. Hope you are all well and ready for the festivities.

Its Christmas time, mistletoe and wine............. well, actually, there's no mistletoe, because of Le Chats and come to think of it, there's no wine either because of my medication. Silent Night would be good, but unlikely with Mr D's snoring.

Thank you for the lovely comments on my nappy balloon. I cannot claim its invention. I had seen one before so not sure if I made it right but, I think it was June who asked, I glued 4 ribbon wrapped green plant supports into each corner of a box, then you gather the tops and pop through the base of the lampshade. Glue each stick to the lampshade and Bob's your Auntie's husband. I used a hot glue gun so that everything set straightaway.

Now, I have been fiddling with my annals again (I believe you can get cream for that) and found a folder of Christmas cards from last year that had lain unblogged.

I thought that I would pop a glamorous one on as its Christmas Eve. This was the card I made for my wee Flower of Scotland, Kate, last year.

Ingredients

Cream card

SB Poinsettia dies

Amy Designs Ice Crystal Frame

Cheery Lyn Holly die

Docrafts Stag die

Copper glitter

Copper Krylon pen

Copper gems

Double sided sticky sheet

As Kate lives in the glorious Highlands, I thought that the noble stag would be appropriate and as she loves Autumn, I also thought that the copper would be a good choice......even though its Winter!!!

I hope that you are all ready for tomorrow. Turkey breast joints at Chateau Canard so that I don't have to get intimate with a whole turkey but there will be stuffing (steady!!!), and a couple of gammon joints to pop in the slow cooker.........going to try with ginger beer this year.

Our first Christmas with The Girls so I'm expecting a lot of squawking at carving time. The tree remains unscathed for the most part, just the odd chewing of a branch and the odd bat of a bauble. There has been a bit of sniffing around parcels under the tree but as a couple of them have come from kitty owned houses, I'm guessing that's what is piquing their interest.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas. I know it will be a difficult time for some of you but know that you will be in my thoughts.

Merry Christmas everyone

TTFN

Ang, Mr D and The Girls x

MAWTT Challenge 87. . . . . . . . .

Good morning one and all. How is everyone?

Another busy week at The Pond with Mr D's birthday and the last flurry of Christmas cards and present buying, not to mention food planning...........remember the shops are closed for a couple of hours over Christmas so we must get at least 6 weeks worth of food supplies in!!!

Now, today its time for more jolly japes over at MAWTT and this fortnight's challenge is.......

Anything But A Card

That gives you all a lot of scope so lets see your fabulous craft projects when you join in the fun.

My project was a nappy balloon that I made for Nesta's niece when she had a little boy in August. Something a bit different from the usual nappy cake but I did make one of those for Nesta to give her with other stuff she had bought........see the photo at the end.

Ingredients

Square box

Disposable nappies

Baby gifts

Paper lampshade (I used a 10 inch diameter)

Ribbons 

Plant supports (they were green but I wrapped them in ribbon)

Sue Wilson Stuffed Animal dies

The amount of nappies you need will depend on the size of the box you use.

Hope its given you a a bit of inspiration to join in or a least to pop over and see what my lovely team mates have come up with.

Here is the normal nappy cake for Auntie Nesta to hand over............

That's me for now...........my to do list keeps getting longer.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Golden Bee Balm. . . . . . . . .

Good morning campers................Hi De Hi !!!

Sorry for the gap again. I really don't know where the time goes these days............doesn't seem 5 minutes since January.

Managed to get my blood test sorted this time. Mr D did eye me with suspicion when I got in the car, until I waved the form at him.

Also had a hygienist visit at the dentist so my fangs have been flossed and buffed within an inch of their lives.

The Christmas Fair was ok but could have been better, You can't win em all.

There was also the joy of erecting the Christmas tree. I haven't had it up for the past couple of years (easy tigers!!!) with all the health issues so I was determined to have it this year................especially after buying a trees worth of new decorations in January in the sales. Had to buy some new lights for it yesterday but did get a bargain. Got 2 sets for £13.00 that had been £20 per set.

It was with trepidation though as it would be Lily and Molly's first experience with a Christmas tree. I put the tree up whilst they were having a trot about outside. When they came back it, I was braced for trouble but they just tootled in, had a bit of a sniff, then walked off.

I think it was lulling us into a false sense of security as there has been a wee bit of bauble batting and branch chewing since.

Now, enough of frivolities and back to the card. I am back in John's Bee Balm period.

Ingredients

Ivory card

Gold mirror card

JND Bee Balm Frame and Tag

JND Bee Balm Swirl Leaves

JND Anniversary stamps

Bow die (Magazine freebie)

Pearlage

A bit decadent but a 50th anniversary is worthy of a bit of decadence.

June S. Hope Mr S had a very Happy Birthday and no permission required if you want to recreate any of my designs.

Bridget, I hope that you are feeling better. I have a bit of a handbag fettish collection as well as shoes, particularly Kickers so I have a colour for every occasion lol!!!

Stephanie, I am also partial to the odd pair of trainers too, and still coordinate my handbag.........is that sad lol???

Anyhoo, better get back to my desk as I still have a tonne of cards to make for Christmas. Thankfully, I have gotten the overseas ones on their way but still have a few to get done for this part of the World.

Hope you are all nearly sorted for the festivities.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps........yes, John has moved but is having problems with sorting the internet.

Black Gerberas. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning my little chickadees. Hope you are all chicking well.

Busy time here at The Pond. I have a couple of craft fairs coming up so have been maniacally making teacup candles and stencilling more bags...........if I see another unicorn I will scream lol!!!

Also met up with Davey for a Christmas flavoured coffee at Costa, then took him for his first foray into Aldi.

He is usually a Tesco boy but has recently discovered the delights of the continental opposition with a visit to Lidl. I have always been enticed by the sight of a firm chorizo myself.

I have re-arranged the blood test for Monday as Mr D is off again. I have put the form in the car already as I dare not go without it again. I couldn't put it in my handbag as I'm daft enough to coordinate my handbag with my clothes lol!!!

Now, once again I have been exploring my annals (have to be careful with the auto correct on that one - ahem!!!) and there are more of Mr L's samples waiting for their day in the spotlight, so here is another.

Ingredients

Black and antique gold card

JND Gerbera Panel die

JND Ribbon Threader die

Crafts Too Fancy Lattice embossing folder

JND sentiment

Hougie for scorelines

Black satin ribbon

Gold pearlage

Black bling

I always sneak a black and gold sample into John's box. I just love the combo.

For this one, I cut cut the ribbon die out of a strip of card, then put it through the embossing folder. I then threaded the ribbon through. I cut the Gerbera Panel twice and snipped the flowers away from the panel. I then glued these behind the embossed strip.

Just added the score lines for a bit of interest.

Well, wish me luck for today's craft fair. Hopefully, there will be a few folk looking for extra Christmas pressies. Hoping to get the Christmas Tree up this weekend so wish me luck with that too with two kitties that will never have seen one before and with the new glass baubles I bought in the January sales.................................how long do you reckon it will take them to knock it over or break something lol???

Have a happy Friday and a great weekend.

TTFN

Ang x

Snowflake Patterns. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are well.

Thank you for your comments on my last post. I must add that I have yet to return to the hospital for Blood Test....The Sequel. We had somewhere else to be so there wasn't time to return home to get the forgotten form so I will attempt a re-run this week at some point.

Had a lovely trip over to Birmingham with Davey on Saturday to meet another friend for lunch so we had a stroll around the German Market. Some fab things on the stalls and we shared a bag of churros yummmmmm!!! Davey is a bit of a churros officianado and gave them a big thumbs up.

He obviously hadn't had enough of me as we met up again yesterday at Costa for a sample of their caramelised orange and cream coffee.........Mmmmmm!!!

Now, back to the matter in hand. Yet another John sample from ancient times, just pretty patterns with the stamps.

Ingredients

White and purple card

JND square dies

JND Snowflakes stamp set

Memento Dew Drop inks

Although its a Christmas set of stamps, the card doesn't scream Christmas to me and could just be used as a notelet card.

Well, best crack on as I have some craft fairs coming up and need to replenish my stock.

Hope you all have a super week.

TTFN

Ang x

Wine anyone?. . . . . . . . .

Good morning all. How you doin? Bloomin December eh??? Doesn't seem 5 minutes since January.

Been a miserable and wet few days here except yesterday when I managed to get some washing out.

Its been a nice week with Mr D. Had a good chuckle at Johnny English at the cinema. He has half passed his MOT but waiting for blood test result for his cholesterol (that's Mr D not Johnny English).

I had to go to the hospital for my blood test as its a special type that can only be done at the hospital. However, after sitting in a queue of traffic for half an hour trying to get into the car park, I suddenly realised that I had forgotten my blood test form, doh!!! 

It then took another 15 minutes to be able to get somewhere we could turn around to get out.

Mr D didn't say a word but he did seem to be gripping the steering wheel a little tighter...........probably imagining it was my throat lol!!!

Now enough of my mental inadequacies and back to the card. Yes, I'm still getting through TV samples and this one was made for John's shows with the birdcage dies.

Ingredients

Cream and burgundy card

Black gloss card

JND Birdcage die

Crafts Too Fancy Lattice embossing folder

JND sentiment

Bling on a string

Acetate

I made the glass out of one of the birdcage dies and glitzed it up with the bling on the stem.

The bottle was just handcut out of black gloss card.

A bit of fun.

Well that's me for now. Scheduling and have an early start as I am meeting Davey and we are meeting another friend in Birmingham for lunch (yes Kate, I have a voucher lol!!!) but we are going to have look round the German Market first........and maybe a sneaky look in the Radley shop 😆 x

Have a great weekend.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps........Myra, Maureen who???