Same ...but a little bit different

Hi again Everyone.  Well my Two Favourite Little People have returned to home and school today and of course the house is dreadfully quiet and empty.  I keep thinking I hear someone calling 'Hey Granma . . . '.  We had wonderful holidays and did lots of fun stuff together.  My waistline is glad they have gone home though as we did LOTS of baking and of course eating of the said baking.  Chocolate Brownie to die for.  Banana Cake . . . . with Chocolate Icing.  Double Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Are you detecting a theme here??? Yes you're right . . . . . ANYTHING with CHOCOLATE in it was the order of the day.  I have to say that they are pretty good Little Cooks for not quite 11 and just turned 9.  Tayla, the 9 year old, cracks eggs on the side of the bowl just like the professionals do.  Something I cannot do and never could even before my fuzzy finger days!!!  Anyway on to tonight's post - more Christmas decorations.  A silver version of the one I posted the other day and a slightly different one with a greeting across the front.  I just love making these.  You need to be patient as they do take a little time but so satisfying.  A friend and I are off on a wee road trip tomorrow to see the rhododendrons in full bloom (we hope) in Kimbolton, which is about a 3 hour drive from home.  Can I feel a Thelma and Louise day coming on??? Thanks for looking today.

I Love This . . . . .

. . . . .decoration.  I just invested in the new bundle from Stampin Up.  As many of you will know this gorgeous decoration is on the front of the Holiday Mini Catalogue.  I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it.  I have to say a BIG thank-you to all of you lovely ladies out there who have been so generous in putting YouTube videos on line showing just how to make this.  I took the best bits from several to create  mine.  I have more planned some the same and some a bit different.  It takes a wee while but SOOOOO worth it don't you think?  Trent and Tayla have made mini Christmas trees but I haven't managed to snap them with them as yet.  Trent isn't very co-operative when it comes to photographs!!!  They have also made a storage box each and today made Dancing Aliens at the library program.  I'll try to get photos to post.  Thanks for looking today.

The Last Three

 These are the last of my October birthday cards so now I can relax a bit and play with some things I have sitting calling my name from my cupboard.  I think I told you that I participated in an all day class last Saturday?  Well these three cards are direct copies of some of the lovely vintage cards we made.  So thanks Ali for the class which was fantastic and I just know my three friends are going to love their cards.  We made a really neat folder to house the cards too.  Teresa Collins design paper.  Yummy!!  It feels like it's late but it's only 9.15pm.  I might retire to bed early with my book.  Trent and Tayla are here at the weekend and for the following 2 weeks of school holidays so I need to make sure my batteries are on full charge - at lease for the start of the hols!!  Thanks for stopping by today.  Maybe we will have some kid's art/crafts to post over the next 2 weeks??? (Apologies for the colouring on the last image.  The flash was playing up on my camera.  It is really in the same tonings as the other two!!)

A Pretty Box . . .

 . . .to carry the pretty glass dome card I posted a few days ago.  Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I love their flowers and they make such a quick and easy job of making pretty things.  More posts to come.

A Cutie for a Cutie

 Last but not least this wee cutie is for our Great Niece who will turn 5 in late October.  We haven't seen her in quite some time but she sure looks cute in her photos.  We hope you have a lovely day Miss Ruby.  And that's me done for today/night.  October is a busy month for birthdays for me.  I have 8 to cater for.  With this week's effort I am well on the way to having them done in good time.  That is a sign my hands are improving as Im haven't been able to be this organised in quite some time.  Long may it last.  Thanks for looking in and I hope you liked at least some of what you've seen.

Our Baby Turns 40

and where did that time go to???  Our youngest daughter was born just 15 weeks after we arrived in NZ and on October 18 she turns 40!!!  I love the card I have made for her and I hope she does too.  I am working on writing a poem for her to go inside it but it is still a W.I.P.  She won't be here with us for her birthday as she and her partner are going to tour Tasmania for three weeks.  I hope the sun shines EVERY day for them.

Twenty Years On

 Hi again this is for a very good friend who is about to turn 60.  I first met her just after she turned 40 when she came to work as HR Manager and became my boss.  We just had that rapport right from day one and we worked together for about 6 years and became good friends.  Going to work was a real pleasure when she was my boss.  I think we had at least one really good laugh EVERY day.  Special lady and I can hardly believe it is twenty years since we met.  She keeps ALL the cards I make for her, both birthday and Christmas.  I hope she likes this one.  Happy Birthday Diane C.