Pink Candy by Caroline

Catch up!

I can't believe how December has just gone in a blur and here we are with Christmas only a couple of days away.

I did manage to make another card since my last posting - WOW, haha.  It was one I did for Fiskarettes with a sketch......

the 'Let it snow' sentiment was heat embossed and then I went round with a fineline black pen to highlight the words.  The snowman is from Hobbycraft! and the snowflake it white felt die-cut.  The flower sitting behind the snowmans head and the paper is from a festive collection by Heidi Grace - Frost.

This is the sketch on which this card is based.

Early December also saw the putting up of the decorations!  Abi is on countdown for a couple of weeks before hand as she likes them up as close to 1st Dec as possible.  Bless.

Thought you might like to see some photos of the Christmas decs.........

Here is the tree - its a real one and about 5ft tall.  We normally have a mahoosive one as we have high ceilings but they seemed sooooo expensive this year!  So we had this gorgeous fairtale style table in the shape of two big books and thought the table would look lovely on there - and so it does......

This is what the tree looked like at the beginning of December.  The base is now surrounded with piles of presents!

Here is a gorgeous 12 days of Christmas wreath that we have up every year.....

and my very special tin Christmas Angel.......

I am all ready for Christmas now - more or less anyway.  Going to Sainsburys early in the morning tomorrow for those last minute bits and pieces.  They are open at 6am and I am hoping to get there as near to that time as I can!  We will see.  Then its off into town to the cinema and lunch.  I love Christmas Eve.

I have just opened a tin of Quality Street and emptied them into a wooden bowl to have on the coffee table in the lounge.  I did take out all the strawberry and orange ones though and have them in a bag beside me.  Bit naughty really but they are my favourites and I want them to be all mine!  haha.  What the kids don't know about ain't gonna hurt them, right?!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and I will try to be more regular with my posting after Christmas.  I made some gorgeous Journals and Jars for my parents and the in-laws and will sort out photos of those to post next time.......take care........x

Cath 'n' Cupcakes

Whilst shopping for school clothes for Abi I spotted one of my fave shops is stocking Cath Kidson bits and pieces.  I love her combination of spots and floral and couldn't resist getting these:

The mug and stationery and the lovely flowery box is all Cath Kidson - the cupcake hanger isn't, but I do love it.

This is the little stationery set - spotty envelopes, cards and floral paper - gorgeous!

This is the contents of the floral boxed set - papers and envelopes.  Plenty to make cards and create embellishments for layout, etc...

and then here is the Cupcake hanger - how cute is that!  And perfect for my studio..... :-)

I also managed to get a lovely lady called Tracy to get me some of the Tesco Cath Kidson bags from her local store as my two had completely sold out.  So I also have a lovely spotty and floral Tesco Charity bag.  Very nice they are too!

As a donation to the Think Pink Auction (see Think Pink link to the side) I am donating two Cath Kidson bags and with the lovely papery bits above I am going to make a coordinating mini notebook.  I'll blog it when its available!

Speaking of which - please go and see some of the fab donations so far.  Fancy a sub to Scrapbook Inspirations?  Then send in a bid and see if you get lucky!  Some gorgeous creations donated too - so go see......

Mister God.....

I've managed the DCM card again, and also made it suitable for Fathers Day so a double whammy in one go, lol.  I like it when I can do that.

'Jane this week has dared us all to include a quote on our card.  Stamped, Computer Generated or Rub-ons, its doesn't matter and chooise your own style or occasion.'

So here is mine, using some Cosmo Cricket - Cogsmo paper and monograms.  The quote is one dedicated to being a Father.....

Abi went to France last Friday for the day.  Sixteen hours of travelling in all and about four hours actually in France where the Battle of the Somme took place.  Apparently there were so many mines dropped here during the war that the local farmers are still ploughing them up and finding them on their land.  So much so that a regular pick-up is made of the mines by the local authority.  Seems a bit mad that after so many years they are still being found, and still with the potential to go off.  How scary and absurd war can be.

On the other end of the spectrum I an reading 'Mister God, this is Anna' by Fynn.  Its an old book, first published in 1974 and I am only about a quarter way through but its reckoned to be one of those books that changes your perspective and view on life.  Its about a little  six year old girl, found by Fynn, who is then 'adopted' by his family.  Anna shares his life for a couple of years and during that short time she has a profound and lasting affect on the family.  I have been told to have a hanky or two at the ready....

Tulips to kiss with......

Not been feeling too good over this past weekend, full of cold and all sniffley snoo.   OK now though and just trying to catch up on everything I failed to do over the weekend!

Have a look at these gorgeous tulips I got for Mothers Day.  They are still going strong too, although a couple of them are shedding petals now, but they have lasted ever so well.

I do love tulips......

Managed to get the March Sketch done today - its only half way through the month, but never mind.

Its a pic of Jake this time and using gorgeous Cosmo Cricket papers and rub-ons.  Their rub-ons are to die for.  Hardly no rubbing is required, they go on every so slick and easy.

Journalling reads: 'Oh boy, you are cheeky, full of fun and do make us laugh.  Such a clever soul too, but without the gentle prodding of a caring Mum and Dad I am sure you would be happy to just plod on in your own slow, steady way.  Do your best son...thats all....'.

I had to laugh, well actually I was in hysterics with Darren today.  He said to me, in all seriousness  'I think my lungs have dropped into my stomach'.  'What do you mean?' I asked.  'Well', he said, ' I have this belly thats appeared from nowhere, and when I breath my stomach moves up and down and not my chest.'

Now I laughed, and I have been taking the mick out of him all day, but I am pretty sure that can't happen, can it?! lol.  He is funny.

Puppetry...........

This week has whizzed by and not even had time to update my bloggie *opens mouth wide in shock*.

Its been a busy week made more so by being offered the chance to do a kit for the cyber crop on UKS.  It was my turn in October to do the homepage sponsor kit but as its the Cyber Crop month I was given the chance to do a class and kit for that instead.

A bit short notice though as the kits are supposed to be available as of last night, but mine will be available as of later on today.  My class will be on 20 October and for those of you who don't frequent UKS then I hope to be able to show the class on BF later in the year. 

Hoping to go out next week to see these guys who are playing in the local Swan Theatre.  Sounds a hoot - this is the write up about it:

WARNING: This is a non-sexual show featuring full frontal male nudity.Written, devised and performed by David Friend and Simon Morley, Puppetry of the Penis is a mind-blowing show featuring two handsome, strapping Australians who manipulate their manhood into various shapes, objects and landmarks. This Ancient Australian Art of Genital Origami has made over one and half million happy people all over the world shriek with laughter and hoot with amazement. A video camera projects intimate detail of the phenomena onto a large screen ensuring nothing can be missed.
‘Does exactly what it says on the packet…Unbelievable!’ The Financial Times
“Bursting with laughter from start to end’ The Evening Standard

I know its not to everyones taste but its certainly to mine and hoping to have a fun time with my mate Wendy who luckily has the same taste in humour as me.  hehe - will let you know what its like!

Anyways, I have to get back to sorting this Class and Kit out and have some lovely new stock arrived too so need to get on with that.  Not enough hours in the day is there.........

Last minute........

Had to go into town today to get the last few things for the children for school.  Yup - nothing like last minute is there.  Last Minute dot com......thats me.

Three pairs of school shoes, pencil cases, stationery and school bags were bought and now I am about £200 lighter......YIKES, that much spent in just two hours.  Too easy.

Whats scary too is the fact that both Abi and Jake are a size 8 shoes.  Size 8!!  They both have bigger feet than me!!  Now thats an odd feeling I can tell you.

We had two hours to get these few things and I was determined to do it in that time.  Certainly didn't want to traipse back to the car to put more money on the ticket.  So I was like a whirlwind and the three kids were trailing behind me in my wake.  Caught up in my whirlwind breeze they were.  Their feet hardly touched the ground.

I didn't have chance to mooch and buy anything exciting for me, but this is something I bought a couple of weeks ago and it sits on my desk.  I am loving anything Cupcakey at the moment, so this just fits the bill.........isn't it scrummy!!  The lid comes off for you put keep things inside.  Mines empty at the mo but I might keep a little stash of......oooooh, something scrummy and chocolatey to eat me thinks, so I can just lift the lid, pop it in my mouth and no-one knows......hehe.....

Rockin'

I have been awarded this Rockin Girl Blogger thingie (thanks Karen) and I would like to nominate a further five people.

So Rosie, Di O, Di W, Kathy and Kaz - you are it...........

Just copy the image and put on your bloggie - if you want to that is.......;-)

Beginning of the month is busy for me.  Well, busier than the normal busy - lol !  Kit Subscriptions have to go on the shop and I have to sort out the new Guest Designer's work.  Another fab month ladies - you will not be disappointed.  Thanks for the August design projects Kathy - you're a star.......

I have Rosie breathing down my neck about the ATC's, which should have been with her yesterday.  Sorry Rosie - I have the design in my head, just gotta put it onto card now.  I've not forgotten the card swap stuff too.  I need to sort out Inspiration {R} for Alphabet Funk for tomorrow aswell.  More stock to go on the shop too............etc., etc.  I need a holidaaaaay......

Darren went back to work yesterday, so I do feel as though I can get on with things, at least for a couple of days.  He distracts me too much when he is home.  This summer has been an odd one for us this year with Cam being poorly, but he is fine now so thats a relief - just in time for school....haha.  Shame......

Abi and Jake go back to school Wednesday and Cam on Thursday, so its a trip into town on Tuesday to get school shoes.  Yes I know, thats right at the last minute - but hey........thats me !