**BAH! HUMBUG!**

Don't worry - that's not how I'm feeling but the name of a new Challenge Blog that I will be involved with in 2010, along with my good blog buddies Ann and Irene.

We all have good intentions to start early making our Christmas cards and tags etc., but most of us don't.  We leave it until the last minute and end up rushing around trying to get everything finished.  Our challenge blog hopes to help you kick start your Christmas cards in January and continue throughout the year so when the mad rush of Christmas arrives you will be feeling all smug, with a fabby stash of cards ready to post.
Our first BAH! HUMBUG! challenge begins on Friday 8th January, when we hope you will join us to try to take some of the stress out of Christmas leaving more time to enjoy ourselves. 
We would love it if you would join us and take the first step to stockpiling your 2010 Christmas Cards so just click the image to hot-foot it over there.

So ... here's a little clue about our first challenge. 

"It might be a good idea when you're tearing off the wrapping paper and opening those special choccies to watch out for any rather nice ribbons or embellishments because you just might need them".

xx Merry Christmas Everyone xx

May Your Hearts and Homes Be Filled

With Love and Laughter For Christmas and Throughout 2010

Luv'n'Stuff

Holiday Wishes

Here is a selection of cute snowman cards which were made yesterday, each one slightly different so's not to be boring.

As you can see I need much more practice lining up the dots before embossing large areas in the Cuttlebug - whoops!

The "Holiday Wishes" greeting was computer generated and would be particularly appropriate for occasions when you are sending a card to someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas - whether for religious reasons or 'cos they suffer from the dreaded "Bah Humbug" affliction - but they would know you are thinking of them anyway.

The papers are Dovecraft 'Christmas Blues' from last years' stash -I bought a lorry load of them 'cos I liked them so much and then didn't use them.

Madness I know!

When I got fed up playing with the snowman, I made a very simple easel card using a different paper from the same range, some silver mirri card, metallic snowflake embellishments and a small dash of ribbon.
Sometimes you simply don't need an image as a focal point.

Condolences

This simple card was sent to my Sister-in-Law's dad following the death of his second wife, Nan.

Sadly she finally lost her battle with Breast Cancer last week, after almost 5 years of treatments and surgeries.
Nan was a genuine, wonderfully kind & generous lady, who always saw the good in people, (even when no one else could), and at the young age of 53, was taken from her family and friends far too soon.

She truly will be missed by everyone who ever knew her.
RIP Nan xx

Christmas Card Frenzy

Here are a few of the cards I made this weekend ... they were orders for friends and used elements from QVC TSV (Today's Special Value) kits - and just in case you don't recognise them, they are characters from Forever Friends and Patchwork Pals.
Neither customer wanted anything too elaborate and fancy so they were quite quick to make but I confess to feeling the urge to add a ribbon or two or a wee sprinkle of glitter - how I managed to restrain myself to just 2 wee bows I'll never know!

There are more than enough left overs to make some more so I can satisfy those cravings to my hearts' content - if I can find the time, of course.

Easy Easel

Easel cards are huge in the crafting world right now and no wonder as they are unbelievable easy to make. Just as well as I'm extremely busy with Christmas card orders right now and haven't any time for complicated cards.
In fact, tying the large velvet bow neatly took longer than making the base card - Seriously!

The Congratulations card was made for a young lady who was recently told she was to lose her job and rather than despair about the injustice of it all just before Christmas, got out there and found another one.
Given the current job market situation, that is quite something and needs celebrating don't you think? Go Laura ! ... Go Laura !


Her sister, Shelley has made the decision to fly the family nest and very recently moved into a New Home, so there're lots of big changes happening down Mexborough way for my friend Ann and both her girls. Exciting and "skeeery" too.

Now ... these cards were both posted on the same day - at the same time - in the same post box.
SO! - How come one was delivered 3 days later than the other?
A Right Royal Mail Mystery ... and if anyone has a reasonable explanation then please share.

Now I must get back to finishing the list of orders still outstanding before I get slapped legs!

Patchwork Pals

This card was sent to my niece for her birthday last week but apparently it didn't arrive until the weekend. Good ol' Royal Mail doing what they do best ... annoying the British Public and causing chaos ... CHEERS!
It might be a good idea to start sending Christmas cards now just in case methinks.

The cute bunny is from the Patchwork Pals kit bought from QVC and I have to say it is great for making quick cards as all the pieces are die cut so just need popped out from the sheet.
If only the back and fronts matched properly it would be perfect ... "mini moan" ... but a couple of snips with scissors removed most of the overlap so not a huge hassle.
I really like the cute greeting stamp which is from Hampton Arts.
If you click the picture it's easier to read.

I've been really busy with Christmas card orders but hope to get some time to play with the new stamp set which arrived from Waltzing Mouse this morning ... I know I'm just soooooooo naughty but can't help myself!

Remembering Our Heroes

Tartan Parade

Just finishing packing for the weekend as Naomi and I are off to Sunderland this weekend.
WHOO HOO!
We always look forward to this annual October trip, where Naomi plays ten pin bowling in the European Open and it's made all the more exciting this year as we hope to meet up again with my crafty pal Irene.
Aaaaaand .... I have it on good authority that she has been slaving over a hot oven and bread maker in anticipation of our arrival - so hopefully she will be feeling better by tomorrow and will be up to our visit 'cos we are drooling at the thought.

Before I log off and load up the car, I thought I'd show the completed set of Christmas Cards, where the brief was to keep it simple and include Tartan Ribbon.
The cards are also personalised but the recipients details are hidden under a 'Happy Christmas' version for privacy purposes.
Hopefully this design fits the customer's bill and I may actually use this idea for some of my own 'batch cards' as they were simple and easy to mass produce.

I really, really, REALLY love this Lace Tree embossing folder - it has got to be up there as one of ... (if not THE) ... best of my all time favourites.

RIGHT! ... Gotta' go and get organised.
See you when we get back from (not so sunny ) Sunderland.
Hope you all enjoy a wonderful weekend, wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

Random Round Up

T'was nice to get time to visit a few of your blogs last week ... I will eventually get around to you all but there are so many it's going to take time. It was lovely to see all of your amazing and beautiful projects.
Last week I did manage to get some cards made myself but won't bore you with them all, that would be too cruel.
Here are just a few ... click on the images for a clearer view.

The first was for my dad, who celebrated his birthday last Tuesday, using the K. & Co. Verbena Scrap Pad for everything - all the elements were pop out so a very easy card to make.

The black and gold gatefold card was also for my dad from our 'kiddlings' ... who call him Pops ... and the foiled champagne topper was part of a Kanban kit.
I did a similar card for the Glenrothes Squad ten pin bowling coach who celebrates his 70th birthday today.
Black card, gold mirri card and a few peel offs and it's a job done!

My brother and his wife celebrated their Wedding Anniversary on 11th but were in Florida at the time - lucky devils - so they'll get their card and gift when I next see them.
This one is recycled from the many cards that people pass on to me, and I simply cut the image and message into a heart shape with scalloped scissors and mounted them with foam pads onto silver mirri card debossed with swiss dots, added a ribbon and popped it all onto a DL card blank.

The Christmas card orders are starting to come in now and I'm really, really, really going to try to be sensible and only take on what I can achieve without having to resort to 24 hour sessions to complete them, as happened last year.
Time will tell if I can follow through on that one.

Well hubby is due at the station in about an hour, so had better go and see if I can make myself semi-presentable - not sure lippy and mascara will be enough though! Good job he loves me.

Hi

It's been a while since my last post - mainly because I have been very busy in the 'real world' as well as completing a wee flurry of card orders - but also because any online time has been spent on facebook, playing silly games. Not the most productive thing to do with my time I know, but it's all I could be bothered with.

While I've been away from blogland I've done some serious thinking about the amount of time I actually spend online. It has definitely become a much bigger part of my life than was ever intended and the balance seriously needs to be redressed.
So I've decided that my posts here will be much less frequent than before and may in fact be very INfrequent ... although I do still plan to continue visiting with you at your creative corners as often as possible. Couldn't cut myself off from my blog-buddies altogether or severe withdrawal symptoms will set in!
Actually, it'll be nice to have proper browse time again and not feel under any pressure, (albeit self-imposed), to show off anything myself unless I really want to.

It's inevitable that some followers will head off to more active spots ... there are literally thousands of wonderfully talented and inspirational bloggers out there to keep your appetites whetted on a daily basis ... but before you go, please know I've really appreciated your loyalty and want to thank you for the many kind comments over the last 18 months.

My daughter is currently on holiday from school and I intend to spend quality time with her - provided she wants to of course. We are looking forward to our annual trip to Sunderland at the end of the month when she will be competing in the Ten Pin European Open and we'll hopefully be meeting up with Irene ... *waves madly to Irene* ... while we're there.
AND ... if we play our cards right, we could be enjoying some of her fabby-licious home-baked scones.
Scrummy for the tummy !

So ... that's the state of play for now - I'm all 'blogged out'
I need ... want ... and am going to take a 'bloggy-break' and only time will tell if it is going to be temporary or permanent. Hope you all understand xxx

More Than A Touch of Green

Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge #39 this week was to use Green ... and then add more Green ... with the additional option of making 2 different cards from the same supplies.
So being the good girl that I am, I did as instructed.

The patterned paper is from Papermania's "Naughty and Nice" pack and perfectly matches the bright green cardstock I used to emboss the Cuttlebug Christmas Tree.
Strangely the colour in the 1st photo looks a bit dull but it is the same green as the other one ... honest.
In fact it is a really zingy lime green in real life which neither photo shows properly ... but never mind.

The layout is identical on each DL card, but on one I coloured in the embossing with a white gel pen and used white twill ribbon below the greeting and on the other I simply added a scattering of adhesive gems and some fine green cord as an alternative to ribbon, so hopefully that makes them different enough.

3 x "Vintagesque"

Not sure "Vintagesque" is even a word - but if not then it should be 'cos it looks nice when written down and sounds lovely when you say it.
Try it!
(Anyone want to take bets on how long before QVC or C+C 'adopt' it?)
I know ... sometimes even I can't believe I'm so wicked ... tee hee.

I was determined to add to my Christmas Card stockpile with at least one offering this week and actually surprised myself by making 3 - at the same time - amazing!
I'm usually very much a 'one off' kind've crafter and not good at duplicating so feeling a bit clever.
I know they're all pretty much alike but desperate times call for desperate measures and maybe by doing mini-batches like this, using the same papers, and basic layout, I may have enough in reserve ready to send out when December rolls around.
Then again ... maybe not! It's tough being popular y'know ... whahahahahaha!

Over at Magical Crafts Forum, the xmas card challenge was Vintage so I printed off this Santa image, (which is from Dover Publications), and combined it with some leftover Christmas papers from last year, (which I believe were a bargain scrapbook paper pack from Poundland)
... added a touch of gold mirri card for layering,
... popped on a greeting using ribbon on one, Gold Peel Off on another and an acrylic Stamp on the last
... and there you go.

Bish! .... Bash! ... Bosh! ... 3 versions of the same card.
What could be simpler?? ... apart from buying them I mean.

I could argue that the image has the look of a Stained Glass Window ... (what do you think?) ... so I'm cheekily sneaking it in to Fab's Big Christmas Challenge as the theme week #38 is Cosy Christmas or Windows.
Actually do you know what ?
Fab really doesn't mind how tentative the link to his theme and there's no deadline to when you join in ... he just likes people to come along and have fun with his challenges ...
... he always ALWAYS has kind comments to make, (good for the self confidence) AND
... he always ... ALWAYS ... ALWAYS ... takes time to visit and say thank you for joining in.
So next time you make a Christmas card ... pop by Fab's place and leave your link. You'll make his day and he may make yours.

Twin Girls

My cousin and his wife are now the proud parents of beautiful twin girls and here's the card I made for them.

I used Funky Fairys free download paper, which was matted onto silver mirri card to give a narrow border.

Before printing the cute baby girl decoupage sheet, I nipped into PSP (Paint Shop Pro) and reversed the topper so I could have mirror images for my front panel.
I did actually do a wee bit of decoupage to add a little dimension, only one layer I know, but regular readers here know it isn't my favourite thing so ... my theory is that one is better than none ... isn't it.?
The names were added using silver peel off letters.

Inside I again matted the pretty paper onto silver mirri card and then added a clear adhesive sticker onto the last scrap before popping it in the bottom corner.

Challenge #34 over at Funky Fairys this week is 'Recycling' and the bonnie pink twill ribbon was removed from a t-shirt before heading off to the wardrobe in the sky, and the buttons are also recycled from a cardigan, so that keeps me in with the theme.

Still Here ...

Huge thanks to all who have contacted me recently wondering where I've been hiding. It's nice to know you've missed me and I'm really sorry for worrying you unnecessarily.
I've just had a bit of a 'Kidney Problem' over the last wee while ... I just 'kidney be bothered' ... and it seems to be affecting my crafting, blogging, and even general day to day stuff.

Hopefully it's just a temporary state of affairs and this week will see an improvement.
Am going to visit a few blogs over the next few days to see if that gets my motivation going again ... I'm sure it will.
Thanks again for caring so much xxx

**Edited to Add**
"Kidney Be" = "Couldn't Be" ... with a Scottish accent.

9/11 - Remembering

Checking In ...

Sorry I haven't been around blogland much this week but have had a bit of a head cold that won't shift and so can't stay in front of the screen for too long before feeling 'icky.
Am barking like a seal too so someone's going to throw me some fish if I'm not careful LOL!

Haven't managed any crafting either but maybe by the weekend I'll feel more like getting out the paper and sticky stuff.
Also been busy getting Niall's stuff moved through to Edinburgh and somehow the normal weekly schedule just seems to have gone to pot ... I'm putting the disorganisation down to my thick head and hoping next week will be better LOL!

Hubby came home on Monday but has tootled off down to Kettering this morning to attend an Annual Sports Car Show where he is going to be in his element surrounded by loads of luvverly MR2's ... and will of course proudly show off his own rather fabby specimen.
It's not often he's able to attend because the dates usually fall when he's offshore so it would've been a bit cruel not to let him go ... wouldn't it?
Here's a piccy of his little baby ... isn't she pretty? This is one of the photo's taken when it was featured on Fifth Gear recently.
Anyway ... just wanted to touch base with you all and let you know I'm still around.

Luv'n'Stuff
Max
xx

Merry "PINK-mas" 2

The Funky Fairys Challenge #32 this week was to 'CASE' a project created by one of the DT members in a previous challenge.
CASE = Copy And Share Everything
I chose a card made by Anne in Challenge #27.

I really liked the simplicity of her layout and thought it would work well to show off this fabby pink Christmas paper, which is another Funky Fairys free download.

The Christmas message ribbon is from Anita's and as the funky tree tag and silver tree embellishments make the occasion obvious, I felt there was no need for any additional greeting.

Fab's Christmas Challenge #13 way back in March was Decoupage or Pink ... and there are no prizes for guessing I chose the easy option.

I'm awarding myself a wee gold star for adding 3 Xmas cards to my collection this week and on that happy note I'm away to bed.

Forever Friends Christmas 2009

I received the auto delivery Forever Friends Christmas Kit from QVC a week or so ago ... (which I'd completely forgotten about until it landed!) ... so decided to break the seal and have a play today.
The image was coloured with Whispers Brush Markers and the papers are from last year so can't remember the collection.
The panels were cut with nestabilities and gold mirri card proved itself to be invaluable once again, although I think narrower borders would've probably looked nicer, so that's noted for next time.
It was the ideal opportunity to join in with another of and Fab's Christmas Card Challenges and Challenge #30 was Cute and Square so this qualifies on both counts.

I followed this weeks Sketch Challenge set by Iris over at Simon Says Stamp, although I have substituted snowflake embellishments for the flowers and decided not to offset the ovals as it just looked like I'd put it on squint and seriously needed to go to SpecSavers.

Anyway, hopefully they will forgive me and still allow me entry 'cos there's an extra-specially fabby-tabulous prize up for grabs in honour of Heidi's birthday and I really, really want it ... NAY NEED IT!
Ok I'm lying about needing, but I definitely want it and have even cleared a space especially!
Ha ha ha ! A girl can dream can't she??

Stripes and Dots For Xmas

I'm still plugging away at Fab's Christmas Challenges and this week we are asked to used a combination of Stripes and Dots with the additional challenge of NO fabric ribbon.

I dug out the DCWV Christmas Cardmaking Pad for the papers and the sentiment and after covering the front panel with spotty paper, I simply matted a strip of stripey paper across some gold mirri card as 'faux ribbon' before adding the greeting.

The tree is a basic triangle cut from a panel of gold mirri card, embossed with the Cuttlebug Snowflake folder and that is mounted onto green pearlescent paper from the DCWV pad, with foam pads.
I used a couple of small offcuts of paper to create some ribbon tails which hang below the holly embellishment which I coloured with permanent markers.
This card is also an entry for the Christmas Challenge at Magical Crafts forum, where Hazel selected the theme of Red, Gold and Green.

Something Old ... Something New ...

... Something Borrowed
... Something Blue.

Soooooooo ... What immediately springs to mind when you see those words?
Could it be WEDDING!
That was Challenge #31 theme this week at Funky Fairys and if I'm really quick then I may just make it before the deadline.

As a change, I decided to make a card for the happy couple to give to someone who helps to ensure their day is special ... the Bridesmaid.
**To see the greeting more clearly just click on the image to enlarge.**

Something Old ... Greeting from a QVC kit
Something New ... Blue Ribbon
Something Borrowed ... Organza Flower from an old hair slide
Something Blue ... Funky Fairys Distressing Vines Paper and DCWV Vellum Quote

The pattern on this paper is really subtle and you have to look closely to make out the pale swirly vines ... it's very elegant and pretty and perfectly compliments the lovely patterned ribbon which decorates the bottom and the left side of the card.
Using the decorated ribbon is my passport to enter as a latecomer to Bubbly Scrumptious Weekly Challenge #3 and that means I can go to bed a happy bunny.

Nighty Night ... Sleep Tight.

Golden Wedding Card Album

This project was made for my husband's Aunt and Uncle who celebrated their 50th Anniversary this month.

I was asked several months ago if I could make a special keepsake card to send across the water to them in Australia and if possible, include photographs of all the family members back here in UK.
When I didn't hear anything more about it over the next few weeks I presumed the idea had been shelved.

Then, last week I was handed envelopes with photographs ... and bits of photographs which had been diced and sliced to within an inch of their lives ... or in some cases a centimetre!!
Not exactly ideal to work with but I did my best.

After an initial panic attack, wondering what I could possibly do quickly that would look half decent, I came up with this gatefold card which opens to show one of their original wedding photographs and is deep enough to hold an accordian album containing all the family photos I was given.
Both sides of each page shows a different family member or family group and I used a combination of punches and nestabilities to create gold frames in an attempt to disguise the uneven scissorwork.
**I have blurred the images so as not to upset anyone by plastering their faces for all to see without permission, but you will get the gist of what I've done.**

The matching box and gift card were made from gold mirri card with paper roses and feathers tied with ribbon providing a little decoration.
Bearing in mind the postage costs, I had to make sure it wasn't too heavily decorated.

Hopefully it will be well on it's way by now and will arrive safely in plenty of time for them returning from their holiday in mid September.


As this is a keepsake album and box I'm hoping it will qualify for entry at Truly Scrumptious Challenge #14 where they are asking for anything but a card ... but that may be pushing the boundaries a bit.