Another Trip to Craftmania, Norfolk.

 

As my daughter wanted another trip to Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park in Lowestoft last weekend, I had another chance to visit Craftmania, which is nearby in Gt Yarmouth. This time I decided to stock up on some Christmas goodies. I can highly recommend a visit if you are in the area, don't be put off that it is on an industrial estate, it just means the shop is soo much larger and the parking is free!

They have a really wide selection of Hunkydory, as well as lots of other makes. This time I took my list of Versa Fine Clair ink pads, so I could buy up some of the missing colours.

And this is the first card that I made using one of the Hunkydory Daisy Days Pocket pad images

Sprig of Holly

 

Desite having piles of Christmas stash, I couldn't resist this little cutting die from The Works - it was only £2, and I have cut out about 20 of these already

They look great added as a corner embellishment

also cut out of patterned paper with coloured berries

added to a recycled Christmas card from last year

...and of course, cut out in gold and paired with my festive tiger! 

Missing In Action

 Sorry I haven't been blogging for soo long, but moving house seems to have taken up far too much time and energy than I expected!

However, we are now nicely settled into our new home and starting to relax and enjoy it.

Of course, the craft room was one of the last rooms to be unpacked and I have twice had to move furniture around to get a set up that I am happy with - you know, the things you use the most close to hand, whilst others can be further back.

Christmas card production is now in full flow, although I started a month later than normal, so may not be able to donate so many cards to charity as usual.

Nothing says Christmas more than a tiger wearing a Santa hat does it! I was surprised to see these toppers in Hobbycraft but couldn't resist them. Hope you are all well on the way with your Xmas cards now.

Peace on Earth

 Well, it will be a peaceful Christmas this year - no dashing down motorways to visit relatives, no elbowing crowds at the supermarkets to get the last sprouts and, for so many people, the day spent on their own with just the TV for company. 

I, like millions of others, are heading for Tier 4 lockdown on Boxing Day.  Will be sad not to see the wider family over festive time, but all presents have been delivered and the house is warm and full of food - I also feel very lucky that all my family are still  here and healthy.

Wishing you all peace and harmony over Christmas

Easily Distracted!

I was searching for something else, when I came across these gold and silver pots of Starlight paints from Imagination Crafts which I bought back in Summer 2016! I was going to do some embossing but ended up painting instead.

They have only been used a couple of times, so it seemed a good idea to paint some wooden shapes. The heart and cats will end up on the Christmas tree, the sparkly reindeer in cards and I'm not sure what to do with the golden  sheep shape!

Cats & Dogs wearing hats

These cute foam cats & dogs wearing Christmas hats were part of my haul when I went shopping in the USA last month. 

I also cut out lots of  black cats & pumpkins using the dies I bought there, to put in the Halloween sweetie bags that I handed out last night

Christmas card production in full swing!

I've been busy beavering away making Christmas cards for charity in my spare time.


These ones have been made using the Hunkydory  Christmas Reflections topper cards I bought back in September
 

Unfortunately I cannot photograph the lovely foiled effect !

Hunkydory Christmas Reflections Topper Deck

To kickstart this years Christmas cards, I've bought a topper deck of cards from Hunkydory. There are 18 different designs from traditional scenes, Santas to stunning wildlife - something for everyone!

They are mirri toppers which make them feel a bit special.

I have loads of backing papers leftover from previous years, so hopefully will be able to use them with these lovely images.

Last Reindeers of 2017 ..... Promise!

Reindeers and stags have featured rather heavily in my 2017 Christmas cards - so these will be the last posted this year, but I couldn't resist showing off the lovely bauble die that came from AliExpress.com- it only cost £2.55 and the fir tree die was £1.35 - real bargains and well worth the wait for delivery from China! 

I cut them out using black card and layered them against sparkly white glitter card - really pleased with the effect.

Making Cards Magazine

I wasn't going to buy any more Christmas Stash but spotted the Christmas Special edition of Making Cards Magazine - it has some cute animal stamps.

But before I break open the stamps, I've made some Christmas cards with the freebie papers!

A Few Christmas ATC's

Although I enjoy swapping ATC's on Docrafts and Trimcraft forums, there seem to be less people joining in over the years. 

Perhaps they are going out of fashion a bit, but I still like making the small 3.5 x 2.5" Artist Trading Cards and doing things on a smaller scale than birthday cards!

Anyway - these are the Christmas ATC's that have been sent to me from other crafters this year and are on display in the lounge

Christmas for Pagans

 This year I had done quite well selling non-Christmas cards for those who don't celebrate Christmas. 

They have proved popular with Pagans who send Yule or Winter Solstice cards. 

I have used stages heads, reindeer, mistletoe and woodland scenes and each one has been a unique, one of a kind card! 

Christmas ATC's and Advent

I've placed all the Christmas ATC's that I've received this year on the door around my advent calendar, so that I can admire them every time I pass into the lounge. There are some lovely robins, stockings and snowmen, plus a cross stitched initial with a gingerbread man!

Bright and Contemporary Christmas Cards

As a contrast to my traditional and vintage Christmas cards I put together a couple of bright and modernistic cards - the papers were quite deep in my pile of stash so maybe 2 or 3 years old! The ribbon was recycled from a gift set.

Little Wooden Penguins - What a Bargain!

I found a pack of these very cute little wooden skiiing penguins in the Ipswich branch of the Range last week reduced to only 50p. There are 16 in the pack with 4 different types - and I couldn't wait to use them!

I coloured them with Promarkers and then teamed them up with bits

and pieces from my stash to make a whole set of blue and green based Christmas ATC's. 

Christmas Mints

I had a fun evening decorating these Elizabeth Shaw chocolate mints for Christmas, I think I will give one out to each of my friends at work with their Xmas card this year. 

These were inspired by the fab 'Fiddle Fart' blog by Helen which is full of great ideas using cheap and cheerful products from Poundland etc. If you haven't stumbled across her blog before, check out her cool penguins, robins and funky fish made out from these mints!!

Inspired by Simply Cards Magazine

I received my copy of Simply Cards and Papercraft Magazine yesterday and had to drop everything and have a play with the free gifts. 

Not only was there a pad of yummy   double sided Kaisercraft Christmas Collection papers but also 10 luggage tags and at  beautiful 'Merry Christmas' stamp!!

I spent the whole afternoon making up these traditional style Christmas Cards with the addition of a few bows,wooden embellishments and brads. The stamp has some lovely detail to it and I really enjoyed colouring it in with my promarkers.  

If I get the time, I'm going to see if I can make some more today - This is one of the magazines I subscribe to and often has really good freebies. I've also won some of their giveaways in the past too!

Sorry - yet more red Christmas Cards!

Tatty Button - Robins Present

I was lucky enough to get one of the Craft Barns Goodie Bags on Saturday - they sell out very quickly! 

For only £15 I got over £50 of stuff including a lovely Tatty Button stamp called Robins Present. As soon as the parcel was delivered in Thursday I just had to have a play.

I had great fun colouring her in with Promarkers in different colourways and making up these Christmas cards.

Getting into the Christmas Spirit ....

Getting into the swing of Christmas card making, although it still feels too warm at the moment ( I mustn't complain though!)

Went to a car boot sale this morning and got some real bargains - a pair Swarovski snowflake candlesticks for £2.50 ( they sell for about £20 each on eBay) and a large pad of A4 Xmas papers, snowflake punch and set of Christmas embellishments for only £2, well pleased!