Happy New Year . . . .

. . . . to you all. I hope you have all had a peacefull Christmas with friends and family. If you are now on holiay (southern hemisphere people) then I hope the weather is being kind to you and you are enjoying your relaxing time, recouperating, ready for what will almost certainly be another busy year. We here in our house had fun and laughter with our girls, their partners and our wonderful Grandchildren. My back is improving slowly but surely and I can't wait to be my old self again. Anyway today I made this card,the first of my many January birthday cards. It is for my one of my oldest and dearest friends, Joan. She is a year younger than I and I have a photo of us both in nappies so I have literally known her forever! She's a little bit crazy - just like me and we always end up having lots of good laughs when we get together. Our husbands do much eye rolling at our reminiscences (hope I've spelled that correctly). Unfortunately it will arrive a little late as the next post collection will be on January 5 and her birthday is on January 6. Sadly it just didn't get done before Christmas but I know she will understand and know that it comes with just as much love. Most of the stamps I have used are Lavinia with one Clarity in there. The Lavinia ones are new ones purchased at the beginning of December, so it is the first time of using. Don't you love that? I do!! Right I'm off to brush my teeth and jump into bed. I've had quite a good day and this is the second day without any painkillers which is good but I sure do know it by this time of night. Thanks for visiting and I look forward to many more visits from you during this year.

Merry Christmas

Hi Everyone.  I have no Blog for you today but just wanted to send happy and peaceful wishes from our house to yours at this magical time.  Many thanks to those of you who have visited my Blog during the year and special thanks to those of you who have left comments.  It really makes my day when I get a comment on my Blog.  Like most people I have a few New Year resolutions - one of which is to improve the standard of my work.  Whilst being laid up with my back I have done lots of surfing and I have lots of new ideas for projects after the holidays. Wherever and however you spend your Christmas I hope you are safe and warm and with people you love and who love you. A very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and safe New Year.  Hugs to you all, Elaine

Santa in the Forest

Hi Everyone I am pleased to report that my back is much improved and so I am feeling a lot happier. I have been plodding on with my remaining cards and gifts but can't blog some of them yet because of spying eyesseeing them before Santa Day. This one however I can show you. It is a tunnel card and it's for my husband. I bought the template whilst we were in the UK mid year but only just got around to trying it out. I am well pleased with the result. I am pretty sure everything in this card was bought in the UK!! The background paper, Fir tree stamp, 3D Santa and 3D Poinsettia and Christmas tree - Yep all UK purchases. It was pretty easy to do and just that bit different from a basic card. You can see from picture number 2 how it looks from the side and pictures 3 and 4 are close ups (if a bit blurry) of the flower and tree which are 3D Peel Offs. How cool are they? Right I'm going to get lunch ready and then make shrinky dinks this afternoon so I may be back a bit later. Thanks for looking.
P.S Oh I followed a Blog Hop the other day. It was the perfect activity for someone with a sore back on a rainy afternoon. I propped myself comfortably on the bed with my laptop and off I went. It was so much fun and WOW what stunning work. If anyone is interested it is done by the Whiff Of Joy Design Team and starts here http://katharina1704.blogspot.com/2010/12/whiff-of-joy-christmas-blog-hop.html.  Allow plenty of time 'cos there's lots to see.  Sooooo good. Such talent.

Monthly Pictures for Calendar

Here are the 12 monthly pictures for the calendar. Better late than never.  Scroll down to see the rest of the calendar.

Calendar for the New Year

Hello Everyone and welcome to the weekend - last one before Santa !!!  Here is another gift that I can tick off my TO DO list.  I have made calendars for family and friends for quite a long time now and it gets harder to come up with new ideas,  Usually I make my own calendar grid (on the computer) and then stamp and colour a picture on each page.  So I thought I'd try something completely different this year and here is the first one.  Vintage is my theme.  I've aged and distressed everything.  I got 12 vintage ephemera images from a disc I've had for ages, printed them onto cream card and punched  2 holes in the top after aging the edges.  I used 2 large press stud thingys to hold the pictures together and glued the back of the press stud thingys to the calendar cover.  Printed the calendar months on the computer and held them together with a mini bull-dog clip which I also glued to the calendar cover.  Then I used various embellishments from my stash to decorate.  I used my Cuttlebug and Hippy Chick die to cut the 2011 on the outside front and then dressed it up a bit with a flower from my stash.  I am very pleased with it.  Oh yes and I made the hinges with grungepaper which I coloured with dark brown ink.  I'm not too sure what is going on with my blog program but it doesn't seem to want to bring through all my photos (remember last night poor old snowman got lost along the way?)  Well tonight the 12 monthly pictures got left behind so they are following on.  Hope you like.

OOPS - Lost the Snowman

Don't know what happened but my poor wee snowman got lost on the way.

Tilda and The Snowman

Hello Everyone. In the couple of days I've been absent I have celebrated my Blog Birthday!! Yesterday my Blog turned 1 year old!! I can't believe it's gone so quickly. In that time I've blogged 149 items and been visited by 3531 lovely people - some of who have been kind enough to leave a comment.  I always get excited when I read your comments.  Now, to start year two I have two more tea-light candle cards.  I really love doing these and my work area smells so nice from the candles.  I have had enough for tonight yjough and I am off to bed once I finish this.  I am not supposed to sit for long and indeed it is too painfull to sit so, by this time of day my poor feet have had enough of standing.  I'm glad to report that my back is improving but I have been told to expect it to take a couple of months.  So keep doing the exercises.  Something like this makes me realise just how much I take being able to do pretty much anything/everything  for granted.  I'm almost finished making my Xmas gifts now I'm glad to say.  Just as well as it's only just over a week away!! 'Night 'night and thanks for looking.