Happy Christmas

Hello Strangers!  Apologies for my absence but I have been so busy before Christmas and we have also been to Torquay and Cornwall for almost a week.  My sister hosted a party for my quiz night and we had over 50 people attend.  It all went very well and they're looking forward to next year's!
My husband had a procedure on his knee yesterday in Epsom hospital and is now home on crutches.  So I am now head nurse and may even have to cook!!!  Surely I can improve upon hospital food.
My dear sister Carol is 61 today and I made her a Venetian themed card.  For my 50th birthday, she and Martin took us to Verona and Venice.  This photograph was taken on Lake Garda on a boat we hired.  Her gift today, is a globe featuring Venice city.
I have had this gondola punch for some time and wondered if I'd ever use it. I made a raised frame using the Nesties and placed the photo flat on the card.  I used a Cuttlebug folder on the fame and punched the gondolier out four times.  I'm sure she'll thank me for reminding everyone how old she is but she looks nothing like her 61 years.
Have a wonderful Christmas friends and strangers alike and a happy and healthy 2012.

Still Christmas

Right that's it! I'm making no more Christmas cards this year.  This central panel has been decoupaged. The green card has been Cuttlebugged in snowflakes and swiss dots.  A few embellishments complete the final card.
I am in the middle of making several quizzes for when I hold my quiz night at my sister's home in Torquay before Christmas. I have only two more to make up.  I make them all up from scratch and only check the answers on the Internet.  I really enjoy doing it.  I have a dinner party at our home this weekend, so I may use my guests as guinea pigs on a few of the quizzes.  Just to see if they're too easy or too hard.
Today we are getting Christmas out of the loft and making the house look festive.  I have all my gifts now and the cards are written.  Just wrapping left to do.  I'm starting to feel Christmassy now and looking forward to the holidays.

Bad Hair Day

Hello there! This is a card for my young teenage neighbour.  It's a Stamping Bella stamp I bought some time ago at The Craft Barn.  I used my Stampin' Up watercolour crayons to colour in the image.  A Cuttlebug embossing folder was used for the background pink card.  Then I put pink glitter on her collar and cuffs.
I have been full of cold this weekend and didn't feel so bright when I had to get up at 6am this morning.  I had to go to my local garage on the way back from the school, as two of my car lights had packed up.  Then I picked up Scottie and walked him with Benson.  Spent a fortune on postage stamps in the post office and now I'm ready for my first latte of the day.
I am getting on with things for Christmas and trying not to panic but have three card orders to fulfill and three quizzes to complete. However did I cope before the invention of the personal computer?  No idea.

More birthdays

Hello! This is the card I created for my friend Jill, who lives on The Isle of Man.  I used a Marianne Creatable for the main panel and put silver holographic card behind, so the colour shined through the flower centres.  I stamped the greeting and triple embossed it with hologram embossing powder.
I have Murphy the beard collie here with me today.  We've had a long walk to wear him out.  He's only 8 months old and he loved Benson.  Great off the lead and the day is beautiful here, so we had a great time.
I went to a party for an 81 year old lady on Wednesday.  She had hired a room for us and there was an entertainer.  If I told you I was showing off my moves on the dance floor, to those fabulous hits of yesteryear, like Tie a yellow round the old oak tree and Save all those kisses for me - would you think I'd lost my street cred?  All we needed was The birdie song and I'd have been complete!  Great night!!
I went Christmas shopping in Kingston on Wednesday morning and bought a few flashing items to use in my school bus.  I have to take in a separate bag for all the toys and flashing gizmos.  They must think I'm mad.  I know the other drivers do.  The newest thing is from eBay.  It's a glowing Christmas tree that sits on the dashboard and is fired up by the telephone charger.  They love it. (But not as much as me!)

It's not all Christmas

Morning all!  I have made this card for a friend of mine - Kevan - who always asks me to make cards for his daughter for her birthday in November and one for Christmas.  Here, I used a printed picture which came with a corresponding gold peel off, that you place over the top of the image.  The background paper is one I bought in The States some time ago.  Nesties and a label complete the card with little pearls around the square.
Saturday night we went out for a delicious curry in Teddington with Dawn and her lovely employers Rob and Emma.  Came home and watched the X Factor.  (We know how to have a good time!)
Yesterday I went to The Ideal Home Christmas Show in London's Earl's Court.  I can't wait to be a pensioner - as I paid £18 to get in!!!!  In a few years I can save a fiver! I bought one or two Christmas gifts and a few things for myself. (Of course)  I still have a lot of gifts to buy, so may go into Kingston one day this week and break the back of it.  The show was quite good and I guess it will improve as the years go on.  I went with my neighbour Tracy and her daughter Emily and we had a fun day out.

Heavenly Beings

Hi Folks. I have used a Lily of the Valley topper here. They are so pretty and useful.  The green paper is shiny and I stamped holly leaves in white all over it.  I have blinged up the topper.  Easy enough no?
I was asked to make a card for a lady for her elderly aunt for Christmas.  I showed her my Christmas stock and she took four!  So that's four more I'll have to produce.
I had a lovely lunch with my friend Lynn on Wednesday. We went to Jimmy Spice's in Wimbledon for a change.  Oh how good it was! The manager recognised me from when he worked at the Epsom branch.  Probably remembers how good my appetite is! Going out for a curry with Dawn this weekend.  (Slimming World here I come again!)
Today I have walked Benson and am about to go and walk Austin in South Godstone.  Then on to work at the school for three runs.  So, home late tonight. How did I ever fit in work?

Oh Christmas Tree...

Hello there!  Where is the time going?  It'll be Christmas soon. Are you ready?  I'm certainly not.  You'd think I'd know that it comes at the same time every year but I still get caught out and run out of time - no matter how many times I swear I will be more organised.
I have used a Penny Black stamp here.  I've had it for some years now.  I stamped in gold and coloured it in with Perfect Pearls.  There's a bit of embossing going on, ribbon and embellishments and it's done.
I went to the cinema with our nephew and his wife on Saturday.  We saw The Awakening.  I did jump out of my skin a couple of times but I didn't 'get' it at the end.  Everyone had a different view than me.  I was outnumbered, so obviously wrong.  I won't spoil it for you though.  We later went for a meal at Jimmy Spice's in Epsom, with my sister Carol and her husband.  Ate far too much! What's new?
Sunday, I took Carol and my friend Anna to a florist's sundries place in Isleworth.  They have lots of Christmas things and gifts, glassware and candles.  I think the business can retire now!!
More soon.