happy holidays

I thought for a moment there I was going to have to Photoshop

a bit of Swiss snow for you all, it just seemed like it was never going to happen

but finally yesterday was the day, brooding skies, snow flurries, and great light!

Thank you for your wonderful comments and continued enthusiasm throughout the year!

I wish you and yours all the best over the festive season

see you in 2012  Mx

and there's more...

and a couple more litle surprises arrived in my mailbox last week

this beautiful 'joy' Christmas card from Jan

I love the colours and texture she's created on her card

and it's the biggest card I've ever received!!

 Jan also sent me this gorgeous crackle heart ornine

oooo... I love post!!

 Gini, my favourite 'shiny' gal sent me this beauitful magnet, totally fab!

and a cute little card

Thank you both so much, it's such a pleasure to have your artwork in my house Mx

Gifts from afar

The QB5 gals have been at it again

we decided on a 'free for all whatever takes your fancy' Xmas swap this year

Nathalie sent me a lovely piece of appendage art

how cool is this little beauty!!

Linda made us each a glitter beehive

 blue, white and silver for a lovely winter wonderland effect

 Patty's darling little bird and nest are so pretty

this is a colour combo I plan to use next year

I love it! 

 Carole's snowy the snowman arrived all decked out in his winter wollies

just in time for our first snow

 I also went for a red/green theme with this little matchbox

an idea I used from a swap with Jan last year

Thank you all for you fab ornies!

Glitter glitter everywhere

A couple of years ago lovely Linda

sent the QB5 gals a little glitter house

and I've been meaning to have a go ever since 

 there are instructions for making these all over Blogland

but I found some  here (Village houses scroll to page 33)

I ended up designing my own to fit the size of the box

gliter glitter everywhere

 does that stuff stick or what?!!

I'm underway...

well, I've begun but just quite how long this current burst of energy will last

is anyone's guess!

 Day 2 was rather nice as the last of the QB5 ornament swap arrived

I used a postcard in lieu of a real pic as some of the gals are still waiting

I hung the ornies with last years swap, lots of silver, white and blue

I've made a mental note to make something in these shades next year!

 already writing about stress on Day 2, deary me...

Day 3 and 4, I will fill them in, really I will

and now it's 21.30 Day 5 which is also looking a bit blank, oh my...

 I got slightly distacted in the depths of my journal

I'd already prepped the page with a plastic pocket and 'trim the tree'

when Patty's envie arrived

the perfect place to hang her ornie stamps! 

Prepped and RTG!

wonders will never cease!

I've actually done it

prepped my journal

 sewn the pages in

 roll on December 1st!

I decided on an eyes shut photo of myself and Santa for my first page

I really do have soooo much paper stuff in my house

more than enough bits to use up

I like the idea of giving it all a new life

 I actually found the background paper applique quite a challenge

I'm used to painting, sanding and generally making a mess 

but I soon found my groove

this was such fun

I managed to make some clear pockets for photos

then of course sewed them in the wrong way up!!

think I'll be stapling the bottom shut

ah, the beauty of this project

anything goes!

sneak peek and a journal

I'm just in time for the QB5 Xmas swap

just a sneak peek of a little something on it's way to the gals

more later...

during my 'getting better time' I treated myself to an online course

Remains of the Day from Mary Ann Moss at Dispatch from LA

and what treat it was!!

 loads of inspiring vids in a truly watchable style

every year I say I'm going to do a December journal

well here it is! 

 

 inside cover

 now the work really begins

I have to sew my scrap pages together

and get them stitched in

 I'll finish the spine with a piece of vintage gold braid and a tassle

 a great opportunity to use up all those bits lying around

the journal doesn't require a huge amount of writing

so I'll think I'll just about  beable to manage it!

Honey honey hex

The Queen Bee gals have been busy again

this time it was to alter an old photo of ourselves

on a honeycomb hex

what a challenge!

Linda in her swishing skirt!

Patty looking oh so cute with her honeybees

Nathalie standing splendid in her hat and chandelier creation

Carole sewed us a hex, complete with tiny yo yo's

Me wearing 'the jacket' which appears in many a family photo

and the flip side

Thank you QB5's for this self styled autograph book!

totally fab!

Boo!!

bet that surprised you, I am here afterall!!

I recently took part in a matchbox swap with the lovely Jan

oh my! what a fab box of goodies to arrive on my doorstep

I can't tell you how much I LOVE her creation, filled to the brim with tiny treasures

and even more piled on top, superb!

a gorgeous autumn paper selection

this little beauty sits perfectly on my Halloween tray

I just love those pumpkins and brooms!

Jan's last of the autumn sun ATC

I had a bit of an 'after the event moment' with my box

having seen Jan's gift of inspiration I could then think of a million things to add to mine

but too late, it was already on it's way!

some very poor quality 'white light' pics, Jan took some much better ones here!

I wouldn't like to say my ATC reflects my current state of mind

however I do still have garden issues and a need to erm...express myself!

the children decided on the fork

I was all for tapping her on the head with a spoon

I mailed an additional little packet to Jan

with the buttons I'd forgotten the first time round

and this little inchie book

totally inspired by the rich purple, orange and black that burst out of her packet

I might just be making one of these for myself!

Thank you once again Jan for a fantabulous swap

you really do spoil me

what an absolute treat to decorate my house with your beautiful work!

Billowing butterflies

Well it's finally happened!

my current butterfly obsession is verging on the unmanageable

at least 280 of them fluttering over some old pages

the idea was a coloured cloud

it needs a bit of fine tuning

but you get the gist of it?

mental note to self:

make a nice background BEFORE you place your butterflies

buy a new punch BEFORE embarking on such a big piece

consequences of not following above

excessive paint sploshing and inking to get a bit of colour down

live and learn

I know where I'm going with it, sort of...