So many cards....

 

Well, I'm pleased that I have managed to make so many Christmas Cards this year.

They say that giving of cards is dying out, and I understand that postage costs are unfortunately so high, but it is still lovely to have a display of cards on the mantlepiece.

I have managed to donate over 300  Christmas cards to good causes and charities this year, along with making another 50 for families & friends, I just love this hobby! I like the creativity of making something from scratch - often with no idea how they will turn out in the end, reusing and recycling materials. It can be done at any time of the day or night and can doesn't need to take up much time. Plus it also helps to reduce stress and give a feeling of achievement. Carry on Crafting!

Exciting Discovery

I was carrying out some long-overdue clearing out of the cupboards and discovered tucked away at the back of one, this box full of old ATC's !

They date between 2008-2010 and were from so many different crafting friends - many of which I lost touch with when Docrafts closed down their forum a few years ago. I used to participate in 7-8 different swaps every month and there were some fab ATC's in this box. I've had a great time looking at them and remembering those talented crafters.

Stockpiling Essentials

Yes, I'm confess I have been out this morning just to stock pile some essentials in case of  self isolation.  A trip to The Range to buy up card blanks and double sided tape before they all disappear.

Phew! Now I can rest safe in the knowledge that I can keep on crafting for the foreseeable future.

I've managed to resist the gazillions of emails I have received advertising various crafting companies amazing January sale bargains to concentrate on using up what I already have!

Recently I have tried to use some of both the background papers  I have stacked up, and also stamps that I rarely ( or have never) used.

I have also used some of my distress oxide inks that were covered in dust!

All is calm .....

and peaceful here at home, presents wrapped, cards given out and just some last minute fresh salad stuff to get tomorrow. Cats snoozing amongst the tinsel and a glass of Port & lemon by the keyboard.

Wishing everyone at happy, healthy and enjoyable Christmas - however you celebrate it!

I've Been Away!

I've been away on holiday with the family to Florida. Whilst I love Disney, the theme parks and and sunshine - I also love the chance to visit the large Michael's craft store in Orlando too!

So when the rest wanted to go to be scared at the Halloween Horror Nights they hold at Universal, I got myself an Uber ride to the store and spent a quite a while wandering around - they have some amazing Halloween goodies

This life sized scarecrow was reduced from $500!!!!

Prices are not cheap any more so I was a bit selective about what I bought, the best bargain was the We R Memory Keepers scrapbook reduced to $4. There are also stickers, wooden shapes, brads, dies and lots of felt shapes of rugby, tennis,basket & footballs for  future men's cards. 

I've now got to get some of the photos printed out, so I can start the holiday scrapbook!

Merry Christmas to you all, and I hope that everyone appreciated your Christmas cards and other home made crafted goodies!

I made over 450 Christmas cards this year - 400 of which went to various local charities to help with their fund raising. With a bit of a push I hope to exceed that total next year but find it hard to get in the festive mood until September.

Just to finish with card to you all, made with a freebie embossing folder and bauble die from a magazine and silver bow saved off the crackers last year!

Happy Christmas everyone.

Crafting Essentials ....

What are your crafting essentials? For me it has to be double sided tape (in different widths) and my trusty X-Cut guillotine. I won it in a draw years and years ago from Docrafts and it still cuts clean and sharply.

Over the years it has been knocked off the table and bounced several times and had the handle grip replaced, but it is still something I use for every single card I make - you just cannot cut a clear straight line with scissors!!

How old is your stash?

I know we can't help hording  crafting stuff, hoping it will become useful one day!

I came across these die cut flowers lurking at the bottom of a box. They were cut out of scrap paper, when I first bought my Cuttlebug. I remember that this die came free with it. Can't remember exactly when that was, but it was probably 2008 or 2009 - so these bits have been waiting around for a least 6 years - will I every use them up???

What is your oldest piece of crafting stash?

New Years Resolution - to use up those crafting bits and pieces!

Like many, I am guilty of hording all sorts of little crafting bits and bobs in the hope they will come in useful one day! I have 8 drawers full of of paper plus other drawers of ribbons, flowers, stickers and other embellishments. Despite my best endeavours - they never seem to decrease!

So, I got out this mix of bits and set to work - whilst I didn't use them all up, at least it is a small dent in the stash now, plus some cards to go to raise funds for local charities

.

and as a bonus I also made 2 ATC's for swapping as well!

Big Blooms and mounting excitement!

A couple of cards this week made with the big Papermania die cut blooms with button centres

Soon I will be off on a girly trip to New York to celebrate my 50th birthday. It will be hard to fit in all the sightseeing and shopping into just a few days, but we will! 

However, I will be foregoing a trip on the Staten Island Ferry to go craft shopping - and first on the list is Michaels!! I'm leaving plenty of space in the suitcase for a new handbag and lots of Christmas crafting items.

A Little Bit of Spring Blog Candy for You

To celebrate the arrival of Spring (hurray!) I though I would give away a pile of  Sparkly Candy!

The pile contains 5 sheets of A4 holographic glitter paper, pack of Kaisercraft report card pockets, clear rubber stamp of a fairy, Paper Celler golden glitter flower borders,'With This Ring' Papercrafting CD-Rom, Perfect petals template by Craftwork Cards, 3 tubes of Berry Fizz glitter, 12" Kaisercraft scrapbook pocket page, sheet of Cute Companions Easter stamps, pack of square gems and several sheets of 12" papers!

To enter all you have to do is post a pic of the candy on your blog (if you have one) and add a comment to this post.

This is a quickie and finishes Sunday 18th March!