Hand Crafted Memories

I am so enjoying my time off work, I promised myself that I would catch up with all my outstanding crafting projects and thankfully I am. I managed to complete the sample for my next class at the Craft Box . We are making a mini book to include photos of their Christmas. I have loved making this sample and the papers worked so well, we will be using Kaisercrafts, Twig and Berry , Turtle Dove and Just Believe . I completed Novembers page from the classes Shimelle Laine is hosting over on UKScrapper s. This was quite a challenging class for me, it involved cutting four photos into strips, mixing them up and then laying them out on the page. I love the finished effect and it meant I could finally use the four photos from my visit to Mount Vernon. On their own they didn't really tell the story but using this format meant that they were used and had the 'missing' point of interest added to them. The rest of the day is going to be more crafting, and possible Christmas ca...

Looking back over my photos I still have quite a few Christmas related cards and projects that I haven't posted. So while its still the Season I'm going to add them to my blog. This first one is a card that one of the boys at work asked me to create for his girlfriend. In it is a voucher that was her gift. She was very happy with her present.

This year I took part in the Scrap Whispers challenge, its a take on the Chines Whispers game but with a twist. You are sent a page made by the previous person in the link, and you have to scrap lift it but add your own twist. Usually you play in teams bot this time there was just the one chain. It has taken ages, I made my page back in August, although originally I was scheduled to make it in June. Finally the whole chain was revealed here . This was my page and it was based on the page that Amanda made. The next challenge we will be going back to teams, so hopefully it won't take as long.

Merry Christmas everybody. Last week my friend Gill invited me to her house along with other teachers and Lynn from the Craft Box for a special Christmas crafting evening. I had the best time and Gill was the best hostess ever. we were all given a fabulous present when we arrived, I love mine and it is hanging on the handle into my living room, that way everybody can see it that comes to my house. We made lots of little gifts using lavender, dried flowers, hand made soaps and the most gorgeous wooden buttons. I have them all dotted around my house and it smells beautiful.           Thank you Gill for a lovely evening x

Finally all my cards were written and posted, or so I thought. I have remembered a few people that I missed out, so quick and simple is the message today, I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel for my Christmas preparations. Winter Wonderland and Allsorts Challenge blogs both have Oh Christmas Tree as the theme for their challenges this week. Perfect for me, last week I was at a workshop where we made a little tree with rolled up bits of paper. So it was perfect to use it again for these challenges. I had a nice little surprise last night a beautiful boquet was delivered from my colleagues. I am always taking in  cakes and goodies that I've baked for them. So these were sent to me as a thank you, how gorgeous are they.  

Tonight all my Christmas cards must be written, I keep putting it off, if I leave it any longer there will be no point in writing them. Less is More had a one layer challenge this week with an all in a row theme. I've had this little stamp from Lili of the Valley for a little while now, I just haven't had time to use it. This was the perfect excuse and I have to say it turned out to be my favourite card I've made this year. I don't want to give it away.

Hooray I did it again, my card for the Winter Wonderland Challenge last week was selected as one of the top three. Of course they have another great challenge this week, create a Christmas card or project using red and blue. Well this isn't hard for me as its one of my favourite colour combinations and it called for my favourite snowman stamps.

For weeks now I have been preparing my Christmas cake, I have been attending a sugar crafting class for a couple of terns to learn how to make those beautiful decorations you see on the top of cakes. In spite of a few disasters on Monday of this week I managed to assemble everything. I am looking forward to tasting it now, if everything that went into it tastes as delicious as my mind has imagined it I will be very happy.      

The challenge this week on Winter Wonderlands blog is Santa Claus is Coming to Town, I love this Molly Bloom stamp of Santa licking his boots off and relaxing. This is exactly what I plan to do over the Christmas period, the photo is not the best so I hope to get a better one at the weekend.

Does anybody know where I can buy some time? For some reason I am running out of it, either that or somebody is stealing mine! I taught a class at the Craft Box on Sunday and blinked, now its Tuesday night. I had a great day again on Sunday teaching another scrapbook page to a group of ladies. It seems to take ages cutting, folding and sticking but then everything comes together nicely. Everybody finished and they all had lovely pages. This was the page we made  

Its a big problem when the mojo goes, and this week mine definitely went, It also took my motivation with it.I would go and sit in my craft room, then just give up nothing was coming. I had a little trip to Lili of the Valley and met up with friends for a coffee. That shop is amazing, you cannot fail to get inspired.But the thing that motivates me is a wander around M&S and card shops, it reminds me that you don't have to go too fussy, the cards that catch my eye most often is the simplest ones. I came home and had a play with some scraps and keeping simple in my mind I came up with this   Absolutely and unashamedly inspired and cased from a card I saw in M&S . I've also signed up to Shimelle's Journal your Christmas . This is a class I've looked at for a few years and never signed up, this year I did. I don't do anything exciting but I think the everyday is just as important to capture so I thought I'd give it a go. I know tomorrow the inspir...