Gifts Galore!

And gift boxes too! I thought I would post a photo of the teacher presents that I made with chocolates inside. The paper is from My Minds Eye Wonderful Winter Glittered Papers and the boxes were cut from the Bags, tags and boxes cartridge on my cricut machine. Ribbbon was from WH Smiths.

My hubbies family came over on Sunday and we had a lovely day catching up and then braving the ice to walk round to the next road for a chinese. We bought them all vouchers and I wanted to make them boxes for them to make it a bit more interesting than opening an envelope.

Well my food shopping has been delivered today and the presents are wrapped so I am off to the cinema with the kids tomorrow to chill out and get hubby a few last minute christmas presents. Enjoy the run up to Christmas and remember to relax!

Love

Tracey x

Little Robin Red Breast

I just thought that I would share with you a photo I took of a little Robin Red Breast that keeps visiting our garden.

Looks like he has been helping himself to the bird food quite a bit too!

Merry Christmas All, not long to go!

Tracey x

We have snow!

I am so excited! The kids have finished school and we have snow! It is actually quite thick so we have been down onto the green by the sea front with the sledge and some friends and really enjoyed this winter wonderland!

I have made a few more christmas cards, Olly had requested a purple and rainbow coloured card so I made this one for him

Tom wanted something a little more grown up colour wise so I did him a monchrome version of the same card because I didn't want them to think that one card was better than the other!  The image is from the Digistamp Boutique, background paper from Pink Petticoat and the sentiment was printed on the computer.

I have also made a couple of cards for my friends to give to their loved ones, this is for one friend to give to her sister.  She requested this image from the Digistamp Boutique.

This one is for my other friend who wanted a card for her grandad and wanted it to include the Anderson tartan as that his family tartan.

She also wanted one to give to her son with the mouse on but in his favourite colour blue.

The backing paper is from Pink Petticoat and I have punched out some small snow flakes and stuck them on with a bit of bling on top.  This year I have made some boxes out of card that I have printed with a christmas design from the Pink Petticoat range and given my friends the cards they have asked for all boxed up to keep safe.

Well thats all from me today, we have hubbies family coming to us on Sunday and there will be fourteen of us. I had better be off to do some housework! Have a great weekend all!

Tracey x

Almost There!

I have had loads of christmas cards to make this year.  We send out about 100 as a family and I also made some for my friends to give out to their families too so I have been a bit stressed over the last few weeks!  But I am finished so bring on Christmas!

The decorations are up the cards are sent and I am now starting to think about all the other bits like presents and food! Perhaps I am not so organised!

With so many cards to make I have followed a bit of a theme with the Christmas Tree Embossing Card from the cuttlebug.

I have made this card for one of hubby's sisters, the background paper is Pink Petticoat Damask and the sentiment is printed on the computer.

This card is for grandad, a bit more manly with grey damask at the background paper but still some bling!

This is another card for one of hubby's sisters and her hubby.

This is another card for a sister, the stamp is from papermania and I have added some bling and a damask background again.

Another card that I have made for my friend and her family with the papermania stamp. Different bling although you can't see it to well in this photograph.

This is just some of the cards that I have made with different variations to suit the people I am sending them to!

Hope you are not too bored! I will post some of the cards that my friends have asked me to make another day!

I hope you are all getting in the festive spirit! Have a lovely week.

Tracey

Thank You Lovely Bloggers!

I have been feeling a bit guilty, I have received some lovely awards over the last couple of weeks which have really put a smile on my face but I have been manically making christmas cards and had a spot of trouble with the computer so belated thank you to Karen for this award.

Karen creates such lovely cards, check out her blog and have a look. I have to answer the following questions with one word, not easy!

Where is your cell phone? - handbag

Hair? -Coloured

Mother ? - Yes
Father ? - Yes
Favourite food? -Risotto
Dream last night ? - Horrible!
Favourite drink ?- White Wine (and Tea)
Dream goal ? - to stay happy
What room are you in ? - Craft Room
Your hobby ? - Crafting,photography,scrapbooking 
Your fear? - Family being ill
Where do you want to be in 6 years time ? - Here!
Where were you last night ? - Home
Something you aren't ? - patient
Muffins ? - Chocolate
Wishlist item ? - some stampin up supplies
Where did you grow up ? - Essex
Last thing you did ? - ate lunch!
What are you wearing ? - Jeans
Your tv ? - On
Your pets ? - Dog and 2 goldfish 
Your friends ? - lovely
Your life ? - fun
Your mood ? - happy
Missing someone ? - always
Vehicle ? - Audi Q7
Something you're not wearing ? - watch
Your favourite store ? - Hobbycraft
Your favourite colour ? - Silver
Last time you laughed ? - an hour ago
Last time you cried ? - can't remember
Your best friend ? - Hubby
One place you go to over and over ? - home
Person who emails you regularly? - Linzi
Favourite place to eat? - Irmas - Leigh-on-Sea
Facebook ? - Yes

Phew sorry but I am quite boring so wake up if you have nodded off! I need to pass this on to 5 lovely people it was hard to pick but here they are -

Stephanne 
Gemma who has just shared some special news, congratulations Gemma!
Anne 
Mandy - who has received this award before but her cards so lovely that I have to send it to you!
Sarita 

Each of these ladies blogs are inspiring so grab yourself a cuppa and check them out!

I also need to give a big thank you to Stephanne for this award

Thanks Stephanne! Stephanne is a really talented lady and puts so much detail into her cards. Her colouring is awesome! Take a look at her blog.

The requirements are that I tell you 5 interesting things about myself and then pass the award along to 5 other people, so here we go

1. I have been with my hubby since I was 16, in fact he asked me out on my 16th birthday party and we have been together ever since!

2. I am vegetarian and have been for 20 years. I forget that not everyone is and that most people think it is wierd!

3. I am completely hooked on crafting! I started in February making thank you cards for my birthday presents and have been addicted ever since, it has even taken over my handbag collection!

4. I have a lovely group of friends and we are always trying something new. Over the past year we have been going to a meditation group and have even been on a retreat for meditation and yoga. I came back from that all chilled and it lasted for about half a day!

5. I hate silence! I have to have some background noise such as the tv or radio on at most times during the day because I don't like it when its too quiet. I even need to have the radio on to sleep!

I would like to nominate the following people for this award:

Mandy - I've just noticed that you have had this one too!
Karen
Emma

I have two more left to nominate and would like to leave this open to all you lovely bloggers out there who take the time to show your creations and share your ideas.

The lovely Mandy has also given me this award

This award has some rules which are -

1) Thank the person who gave you the award
2) Copy the award to your blog
3) Link to the person to whom you received this award
4) Share 7 interesting things about myself
5) Nominate 7 other bloggers
6) Link to the 7 people who you are giving this award to
7) Leave messages on their blogs to let them know about the award


Thank you Mandy for this award and for all your help and advice. Mandy's blog is amazing and she has not been blogging that long and has built up alot of followers of her lovely cards.

I will add just two more things about myself in addition to the five I have already listed above

I had been wearing glasses since the age of 5 and five years ago I had laser eye surgery. I don't need glasses anymore and it is the best money I have ever spent!

I am going back to college to learn photography and am really enjoying being a student again although not enjoying the homework aspect quite so much!

I would like to send this award to Stephanne, Karen, Anne and Gemma and again to all you lovely bloggers out there.

Well I am sure you have stopped reading by now or have nodded off or am completely sick of hearing about me. But that's it, that's me, thanks to you all again for thinking of me and have a lovely week!

Tracey x

It's the Weekend!

It's nearly the weekend and I can't wait! I am off shopping with my friend tomorrow and on Sunday we are putting up the Christmas Dec's. Yes I know it's not even December yet but we can't wait any longer!  Best of all hubby has Monday off and we are going out for lunch and a spot of shopping!

Before I start with earnest on the christmas cards I had a few more birthday cards to make. It was Grandad's birthday last week and my best judge and critic (hubby) aske me to make this card.

Grandad loves to tell us stories about the war and we love to hear them so this card from the kids was especially for him. We love having grandad over for dinner and the kids love spending time with him, I think they are trying to turn him into a rock star!

Hubby and I also gave him a card...

 Sentiment and background paper were from Pink Petticoat. Another little fella in our lives turned six this week, my friend's son loves Bart Simpson and she asked me to make him a card with this theme.

The image was from the internet and the backing paper was from Pink Petticoat.  I also made a card for him from his brother...

My final card with a male theme is this thank you card..

I had a few bits of scrap paper left over and quickly made this one but thought with the colours it would be a good card to give to a man.  A man with a white beard and several reindeer perhaps?

Have a great weekend all!

Tracey x

Its Oh so Quiet!

Hi all, hope you have had a great week and are not too wet! Hubby and the kids have gone away for a boys weekend which has left me time to make some cards, have my friends round for a takeaway and of course do housework! Its very quiet here!

Like most of you I am still chipping away at the Christmas Card list and have made this one with a stamp called Fantasy from Penny Black.

I really like the colours on this one and the tree has been heat embossed with some black embossing powder with glitter the backing paper is from Pink Petticoat.

I have also been asked to make some cards for my friend who has a long list of birthdays in the coming months, she loves to come round and pick out the papers and embelishments. This card is for her hubby for his birthday.

I have also made a card for her parents to give to her sister an they wanted gold colouring.

The backing paper is from Pink Petticoat, the flower was cream but I coloured it with a Sandstone pro-marker and then added glamour dust and the sentiment was done on the computer. The final card was for her work collegue who is celebrating her 60th and the request was for pink.

The backing paper is from Pink Petticoat, I did the sentiment and number on the computer and I added a little bit of background paper which I ran through the cuttlebug and added some bling at the bottom.

I'm learning loads on my photography course and our homework last week was to photograph fireworks. It was really hard but I got a few good shots including this one of a Catherine Wheel.

I haven't photoshoped it yet but think that I can bring the colour out a bit more. That's our class for next week!

Finally a request for help, I have been asked by my friend to make some invitations for her son's Bar Mitzvah next year and we sat down with a glass of wine last night and tried to make a start. I am not jewish and my friend although Jewish, claims to have no idea about what is supposed to go in the invitation, does anyone have any experience or examples of Bar Mitzvah invitations? Any suggestions will be gratefully received!

Have a wonderful week!

Tracey x

Lost Mojo - If found please return!

I was excited to start crafting after the kids went back to school only to find that I had lost my mojo! I sat in my craft room, made a really bad card then thought I may just have to close the door and leave it a while.

Funny how the day turns around, I spoke to my hubby and (whilst assuring him that I had not wasted loads of money on craft stuff only to close the door and leave it there) he gave me a few good words of encouragement and I went back to it again. As you can probably tell I do like to keep things simple....

The stamp (yes I have stamped!) is from Stampin Up and I have added glamour dust for the snow on the ground and some bling for the snow flakes. I added some dotted background paper which I had put through the cuttlebug and the sentiment was done on the computer as I don't have any stamps for that!

This Papermania star has been stamped and then heat embossed with black and bits of glitter flecks so that it stands out a bit and then a bit of bling was added to the middle.

I then walked the dog, had a lovely chat with a dear old fashioned gentleman who tipped his hat to me when he left and said it was lovely to talk with me and I went home with a smile on my face!

So it was a day of two halves for me, I am glad it ended on a good note! Hope you are all having a great day, no matter what you are doing.

Tracey x

Are you ready for Halloween??????

The kids and I have had a fun day here getting ready for Halloween. The pumpkins have been carved.....

And the costumes are hanging ready to be worn. We are going to a friends house for a party tomorrow and the kids are so excited!

It's another sister-in-laws birthday today, Jess is a drama student and is on her second year of a three year course so I made this card for her.

And this one is from the kids

The image is from Microsoft Office clip art and the background papers are from Pink Petticoat and the sentiments were done on the computer!

That's all. Have a Happy Halloween!

Tracey x

Not Much Going On!

I haven't been doing much card making lately as I have been getting stuck in to my photography course and getting homework, I haven't done that for twenty years! 

I have also been having a play with my blog and changing a few bits. Unfortunately my photos disappeared so I need to add them back on! What do you think?

I made a card for my friend to give to her mum who, as she said, is her best friend and loves lilac. I decided to make the words the most important thing on the card and did this on the PC. My friend then came round and chose this patterned paper from Pink Petticoat which I layered onto some purple and lilac card.

It was also my sister-in-law's 14th birthday and I tried to think of a card that was a little more sophisticated for her.

Again the patterned paper and image is from Pink Petticoat. I'm so glad that I discovered this site as I am not much of a stamper and its helped me with loads of cards!

I have another sister-in-law card and auntie card to post tomorrow, with my husband having seven sisters I make quite alot of them!

Have a lovely week all.

Tracey x

Lots of Birthdays!

Hello Bloggers! Hope you are all having a great week, although its getting cold isn't it! Goodness there seems to be so many birthdays this month! I have used this Pink Petticoat image again for a birthday card for one of our friends. I really like this image as it can be used for anyone! The background paper is from Pink Petticoat too.


I have made a football themed card for my son's football mad friend with an image of the internet.



Finally I made this card as a birthday card for a dear friend but it could equally be used for an engagement, wedding or valentines card.

I have started to look at some more quick and easy Christmas Cards as a lot of my friends have asked me to make some. It is lovely to give a handmade card but when you need 50 or more its not quite so easy or cost effective to have them handmade so I have been looking at ways to produce some cards quickly but with a handmade touch to keep the costs down.





I have downloaded these images from microsoft clip art and added a sentiment at the bottom and also added some bling or glitter. The sentiment can be changed to whatever my friends want and I can add any kind of message on the inside. I'm not suggesting you give these to your nearest and dearest but maybe collegues and those who are not quite so close to your heart, what do you think?

I hope that you all have a fantastic weekend!

Tracey x

Cute little Critter!

Hi all, hope you are all having a good week! The title has nothing to do with my cards but more to do with this funny fella who I caught in the garden yesterday!



The lengths he went to to eat the bird food was so funny and about three foot away there was a squirrel feeder filled with sweetcorn! Anyway he looked like he was having lots of fun in the rain and I shall keep a look out for the little guy today.


I have had another scrapbook class at Sugar and Spice in Barleylands Craft Village this week and I made this page.


I have started a digital photography course and was trying to get the kids to pose for me on the weekend but they just looked un-natural and were quickly getting bored so I said to my son Tom, just laugh! And this was the photo I caught which I really like.

Anyway that was what I decided to use in my layout along with a little note to tell him how much I love him. Going to do one of Olly next but he is always laughing so that one should not be too hard!

It's my friend Liza's twins birthday tomorrow so I have been busy making their cards. I wanted to keep them similar but as one is a girl and the other a boy I decided to change the colours for each of them.

For Max

and for Ella. I have also made a couple of christmas cards to add to the collection.

The stamp is from Docrafts.co.uk and the papers are from Pink Petticoat and then back to the animal theme, I have made this one.

This stamp is from www.anitas-craft.co.uk and coloured rather badly with promarkers.
Anyway just to end this blog on a happy note the little squirrel did manage get something to eat.

But now I have to take the dog for a walk because he is a little bit hyper! Have a good week!


Tracey x