Ho Ho Ho...

Hi everyone...the countdown to Christmas is on...only 11 more sleeps until the man in the red suit comes a-calling and honestly I can't believe how organised I am this year...I've even found time to decorate the "HO HO HO" sign and that part was easier than trying to get a half decent "lack of daylight" photograph...

I painted the letters with Evergreen Bough Distress Paint and stamped snowflakes from Mini Weathered Winter using Colorbox Frost White Pigment Ink. The exclamation marks were painted with Picket Fence and sprinkled with Glamour Dust while the paint was still wet.

I cut circles from Tim's Frosted sheets to fit behind the "O" apertures and stamped a Scribbly Christmas Tree on each one with Ranger Archival Black...then coloured the back of the image with Evergreen Bough and Walnut Stain Distress Paint. The star and baubles were coloured on the front with Viva Decor Maya Road.

I die cut Stacked Snowflakes and coloured the edges with Evergreen Bough...finishing off with Texture Paste Snow accents sprinkled with Glamour Dust...pearls and crystal beads.

 and here you can see how the light shines through the frosted apertures...

The December tag has been temporarily put on hold because today's the day I'm planning my annual visit to my favourite "Winter Wonderland/Christmas" shopping destination for coffee cake and a sprinkle of Santa magic to get me in the mood for the festive season.

Hugs Kath xxx

Christmas Magic

Hi folks...woohoo a very special parcel has arrived in the cubbyhole...a Christmas Magic Candied Apple surprise from Santa Tim & Mario...a very kind generous and thoughtful gift from two of the nicest guys I know...thank you...thank you...thank you...love you guys lots.

and check out the gorgeous Flower Garden card which will definitely be going in my life's treasures box and while we're talking about Mr Holtz...the December tag for "12 Tags of 2015" is calling my name...the weather looks decidedly wintry with snow forecast so today I'll be happy to stay indoors and have a fun "Candied Apple" play day. Have a great weekend everyone.

Hugs Kath xxx

Tis The Season...

Hi folks...in the words of the song...

Deck the halls with boughs of holly

Fa la la la la, la la la

Tis the season to be jolly

Fa la la la la, la la la

I've finished decorating the first set of baubles and they're now ready to hang on the tree...then I can continue with the rest of the "deck the halls" adventure but it will be no sooner done and it'll be time to take them all down again...I'm getting to an age when I'm sorely tempted to just leave them up all year round.

this is my first December DT project for Inspiration Emporium

which fits in nicely with the challenge this month over at Inspiration Journal...

TIS THE SEASON (EVERYTHING GOES)

using papers from Tim's Yuletide Mini Paper Stash with Holiday Flash Cards and Festive Ephemera...

and check out the beautiful sparkly shine from the Gilded Holidays Remnant Rubs

why don't you share your "Tis The Season" projects with us all over at Inspiration Journal with a chance to win a fabulous prize package valued at over $50.

But I'm hanging up my crafty hat today to meet up with my lovely buddy Ann who's on a visit from Glasgow...I'm looking forward to a "coffee...lunch and lots of girly chat" day.

Hugs Kath xxx

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Me and My Bright Ideas...

Hi folks...here we go...me and my bright ideas again...why did I think this particular project was going to be a doddle...

I somewhat underestimated the time it would take me to cover both sides with paper and then sand all the edges until they passed the "Mrs Pernickety Knickers" inspection test. And I'm not out of the woods yet...will they be hung on the tree or made into wall hangers and how am I going to decorate them...

We've been very fortunate in my neck of the woods to escape the recent storms that devastated parts of the UK...my heart goes out to all the families who've been affected...the feeling of helplessness as you watch flood water engulf your home and destroy your possessions must be overwhelming...heartbreaking at any time but even more so at Christmas. With more rain forecast for the rest of the week...take care and stay safe everyone.

Hugs Kath xxx

Kickin' some ass

Hi folks...I'm currently polishing my Christmas halo and kickin' some ass when it comes to nailing the Christmas list...it seems we're way ahead of schedule...let's hope that pride doesn't come before a fall. The cake is baked and awaits it's marzipan overcoat...pencilled in for later today...

 the Scribbly Christmas Tree Gift Card holders are done...

 coloured with Distress Markers and a splash of Viva Maya Gold to add a sparkly shine...

with matching envelopes...

and before the big Christmas Cook-athon begins...I'm heading back to the cubbyhole to decorate the MDF sign and baubles I bought at The NEC...

and a heads up on the Christmas tree...well it's made it down from the loft but is still awaiting lights and decorations and the moral of the story...if you want something done...ask a busy person...it's on my list for tomorrow.

Hugs Kath xxx

It's beginning to look...

Hi folks...I'm back on track with the Christmas prep...the cards are written and will be off to The Post Office today...I hit M&S running bright and early yesterday morning so the gifts have been ticked off the list and await wrapping...it's beginning to look like Christmas might be on schedule after all. Today I'll be in the kitchen in Mary Berry mode nailing the cake...

 not sure I'll be up for licking the bowl at silly o'clock

and while it's cooking...I'll be back in the cubbyhole finishing off the gift card holders...

in the meantime the annual Christmas pantomime is about to kick off...all hell will no doubt break loose..the usual song and dance with moaning groaning and bah humbug complaining...yeah it's that time of year when we batten down the hatches and cover our ears...hubby is on...retrieve the Christmas tree from the loft and hang the lights...duty.

Hugs Kath xxx

"Panic Stations"

Hi folks...it's "panic stations" in the cubbyhole...3 weeks today will be Christmas Day...the cards may be made but still need to be written...there are no presents to wrap...the tree's still slumbering in the loft and the Christmas Cake is just another item on the long list of things to do but I've got a magazine commission...the last one of 2015...to finish up and get in the mail tomorrow...take note: no snowflakes...no glitter and definitely no Christmas...

And then...a major rub-a-dub dub session is required for today's date with the Friday Girls...they're certainly not going to be impressed with the current Distress nail polish look.  Have a great weekend whatever you're planning to do.

Hugs Kath xxx

Ta..da...drum roll please...

Hi folks...ta da...time for a drum roll...the card making marathon is over for another year and I'm well and truly Christmas card-ed out...

 just the task of writing them all now...bring on the big girl knickers and a non-stop supply of coffee...

and if I haven't made enough...I'll be hot footing it to Messrs Marks and Spencer to top up...I won't tell if you don't.

Hugs Kath xxx

From construction to production...

Hi folks...I'm hanging up my construction hat and hitting the mass production line again in an effort to nail the Christmas cards...Batch Numero Tres is underway after a bit of a "hit a brick wall" stuttery start...

 I really haven't got a scooby doo where I'm going with this right now

let's just hope the Crafty Fairy Godmother makes an appearance...waves her magic wand and sends an inspirational lightbulb moment my way.

Hugs Kath xxx

Winter Work In Progress...

Hi folks...it's back to being a Winter Wonderland in my neck of the woods...

falling a little bit short of the "severe weather warning/batten down the hatches" 2 feet of snow that Storm Clodagh was supposed to drop on the UK...seriously there's not even enough to make a decent snowball and before all this politically correct BS of giving the weather a name...a light dusting of snow was a sign that WINTER was on it's way...plain and simple...no need for hysterical dramatics. And while I've got my Moaning Minnie hat on...I can't help but mention the whole Black Friday/Cyber Monday fiasco...we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in the UK thank you very much so why suddenly are British companies bombarding us with constant TV ads and never ending e-mails...it would be laughable if it wasn't so darned irritating. 

So in anticipation of the approaching "STORM"...we retreated to the cubbyhole and looked out the hard hats, hi-viz jackets, Ryman's A4 480gsm Art Card...perfect for this type of project and my can't live without

Bosch Cordless Lithium-Ion Glue Pen with 3.6 V Battery, 1.5 Ah

to make a start on our Winter Village project. I know what you're thinking...one house and a church can hardly be described as a "VILLAGE" but hey in this world of PC gone bonkers...if you can't beat them....join them

let's just say it's the start of a new Christmas tradition...an ongoing work in progress...adding a few more throughout the coming years until I run out of space on the Christmas mantlepiece...that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it...

In the meantime...it's back to the Christmas card making marathon...

Hugs Kath xxx

P.S. The links to The Big Shot Plus and Village Dies are currently showing out of stock but if you leave your e-mail address...Craft Obsessions and Countryview Crafts will get in touch when they are available again

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