Farewell to 2011

Last Day of the Month

Last Day of the Year

Last Day of 2011

Looking forward to....

the First Day of 2012

Winter Walks in cold, crisp conditions

Winter stews

Completing my December Daily 2011

the remainder of the boys school holidays

Family Time together.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and indeed every other day.  I really appreciate your visits/comments and encouragement.

Wishing you and yours a truly happy and blessed New Year 

and continued health and happiness throughout 2012.

Gift Ideas - cookie mix in a jar

I am always looking for fun Christmas gifts instead of the usual chocolates and tins of biscuits.  Came across Cowgirl Cookies on Bakerella's site and knew I would have to go in search of jars and ingredients to make my own.

The photo above I took just after packing!.

Here are jars packed with M&M Peanut candies and smarties.  Pink Smarties are available in most large supermarkets in tubes at this time of the year.  Grab them while you can!  I bought pink and white gingham and suede cord for wrapping around the tops but it is difficult on these type of jars as you are not working with a screw on lid!.  Some of the ingredients shifted/moved on packing - but I think they still look great and are a fun/novel idea.

I picked up the Kilner Jars in Brennans Cook Shop.  They are approx a quart, 2 pints/1litre jars.

Full instructions are available on Bakerella as to how to pack/cooking temps etc.  I cooked two batches to test!  I have a fan oven so put them in at 170C (instead of 350F).

Yum, yum!! Thanks so much for stopping by.

Shortest Day of the Year! - Christmas baubles and subway art

My stars were made using sheets of A4 plain paper printed with music (or you could stamp with background music) then I inked with tea dye using my blending tool.

Last year I saw adorable paper stars on Purple Onion Designs (made by Michele) created to look just like the Pottery Barn Paper Music Star Vase fillers (below)

 I made a stash in various sizes and never got around to posting about them. 

This year I decided to change out my mantle arrangement and went away from the traditional (photo - 2009)

 and used the wonderful subway art on Eighteen25 to create this mantle.

I filled my vases with gold and red baubles and used the stars to fill in the spaces.  Would you like to know how to make them?  Check out the easy step by step instructions here or here.

3 days and counting!  Hope you have a wonderful day.

December Daily - Day 17

My December Daily for 2011 is not as complete as I would like - I am doing a digital version!.

I wanted to share a photo from Day Seventeen - Santa arriving by water - delivered by the local RNLI.

We had such a fun day - lots of excitement.

 My 2009 December Daily arrived on Day Six - I decided to convert it to digital and print it with My Publisher.  Love the packaging - TA-DA!  Got two books for the price of one.  One for each of my boys.

Thanks for peeking.  Hope you are having a great day.

Hello Monday

Hello Monday!

Hello Christmas Week!

Hello to the list making, present wrapping, cookie making and school concerts.

Hello to the not "so-fun" stuff of groceries, cleaning, tidying and chores!

Hello to the running around for "last minute" stuff even when you are totally organised!

Hello to putting up the Nativity figures, lighting the Christmas candle and aroma of christmas cooking.

Hello to preparing for Santa's visit - so exciting!

Hello to time spent with family and friends- can't wait.

Crafting Ireland - issue 6

Open publication - Free publishing - More 2012 calendar

Issue six of Crafting Ireland has just been released.  I was thrilled when Nicole contacted me a while ago and asked if I would like to be featured in the publication - see page 66!.  

Of course I said "yes" - thanks to the Crafting Ireland Team - check out their blog here.

Enjoy the issue - I hope your week is going well.  I am working my way through my to do list!  

Looking for cute December Subway art? Check out Eighteen25 -  I got this printed at my local photo developers today and have it on my mantle.  Will post a photo!

Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas stocking stuffers and gift ideas

I just have to share some of the wonderful things I have found around blogland.

First up are these wonderful crayons (above) made by Amber on Sew Totally Smitten.  You can find out how to make them right here.  She is using them as stocking stuffers.

Another fave is the Five Finger Snowman Ornament by Full of Great Ideas.

This is so fun and so easy - going to make them today with my two little fellas.

Frozen reindeer treats - aren't these amazing?

Step by step instructions are available over on howdoesshe?

Finally - check out Bakerella

Cowgirl Cookies anyone?  

Step by step instructions together with packing instructions can be found here.

Hope some of these tickle your fancy!  Hope you have a blessed Sunday.  Thanks for stopping by.

Paperplay - Snowman using freebie digis

Supplies:  Cosmo Cricket - Jolly by Golly pp 6x6 Mini Deck, Sentiment by Aga, 

Snowman digi - Torico's Digital Gallery, Gems - Hero Arts (coloured with copic), 

Diamond stickles - Ranger, copics, machine stitching, red cardstock for 

matting and layering, Anita's white card blank and adhesive - tombow.

Paperplay - yeah... snowmen... yeah! .... want a little row of Snowmen?  

I love how they are all lined up in a row.  

This is a quick and easy, clean and simple card.  I used two freebie digis to make it - firstly the little snowman is by Torico and is available here.  If you are going over to nab it! be sure to say I sent you over and say "thanks!".  

The second digi is the sentiment which was designed by Aga and is available here - again remember to let her know you love it!

I kept the colouring quite simple and added my favourite embellishment at this time of the year - Diamond Stickles!.

Just have to enter this into this week's Tuesday Trigger on Moxie Fab World

Other Challenges

Creative Card Crew - Tis the season
Creative Craft Challenges - Faux or real stitching
Top Tip Tuesday - Let it snow
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Christmas photo montage inspiration

Thanks so much for peeking - hope you have a wonderful week.

Cheerful Happy Birthday to Virginia

Supplies - Cosmo Cricket pp - Social Club 6x6, Crate Paper 

farmhouse chipboard, A6 Card blank - Anita's, SRM sentiment sticker.

Happy Birthday to Virginia Lu - she is due to celebrate a birthday v.v. shortly and is having a party celebration right here.  This card is a nod to her wonderful creations using SRM Stickers (she has been on the SRM DT for 2011).  Love what Virginia creates and she is a super nice gal too.  Hugs to you on your birthday Virginia.

This is a real clean and simple card - I teamed a chipboard shape by Crate Paper with some Cosmo Cricket pp and got a fun graphic card.  Sentiment is a sticker by SRM Stickers.

Thanks for peeking.  Hope you are having a good day.

Playing with felt - a very pink post!

I got a packet of raspberry fizz felt from Papertrey Ink during the Summer and it has sat on my shelf like a forbidden fruit - I dare not touch it.  

Last week I was doing a card demonstration in UCC and decided I would add some colour (non festive) to proceedings and ran a piece of the pink felt through my Big Shot with Rose Creations dies by Spellbinders.  I then added two Papertrey Ink buttons stacked on top of each other and loved the result.

I am thinking that these adorable flower could go on a hair clip or hair band to adorn a little cutie's head or on a brooch clip.  I haven't decided what it is going to be when it grows up yet! LOL!

Then, since I had cut into it... I got very brave and cut two stars using my Spellbinders largest star die and a piece of leftover canvas fabric.  Firstly I stitched the canvas to one layer of felt and then blanket stitched the two together, stuffed with filling as I stitched and produced this fun, girly, very pink ornament!.

I added two raspberry fizz buttons for the finishing touch along with a hanging loop.

Thanks for peeking, I hope this encourages you to look at your supplies in a new way - go have fun!

The Second

I promise I am not doing my December Daily via my blog! 

This morning there was a "pep" in the boys steps on the way into school.  

Why?  Because I had just shared with them that tonight is the night that the The Late Late Toy Show is on tv. 

This year's theme / set design for the show is Toy Story and the presenter is going to dress up as Woody!  The Late Late Toy Show is an institution here in Ireland and guests tonight include Olly Murs and Jedward.

Spot the presenter?  Here they are in rehearsals.

Now ... onto a creation.

  Have you seen the Christmas tag challenge on Waltzingmouse Stamps?  Well, I knew I had to play along.  I made a 3D hanging tag that can then be used on a tree!

This started out life as a Cheerios box which I ran through my Big Shot with last year's Vintage Ornament dies by Spellbinders.  I found that Cheerios / Nestle do the whitest cardboard in their cereal boxes.

Supplies:  Vintage Ornaments - Waltzingmouse Stamps, Seasons of Love - WMS, 

Spellbinders - Vintage Ornament dies, oval and heart dies, Memento Ink - 

Bamboo Leaves, White gel pen, Tea Dye distress ink and blending tool, 

gingham ribbon - Gisela Graham, mini bells - Paperchase, 

adhesive and glossy accents.

I cut out first, then stamped then cut out the ovals, then distressed, glued and hey presto a tag for my hubby's gift this year.  Below is a shot of the production line for distressing!

Thanks for peeking.  Hope you have a great weekend.

The First!

Ah, The First.

The 1st of December.

The First "real" day of the Festive Season.

The first Christmas song is played on the radio - 2fm by DJ Larry Gogan.

The day the boys open their 2011 Advent Calendars for the first time.  Such excitement.

The First Day of December Daily 2011. * (this year I am doing a digital daily album)

Time to start thinking about doing Project Life for 2012.

First Day of Tim Holtz 12 tags of Christmas.

Time to get my Holiday Cards for the USA written and posted!

The First Day of a "To Do" list! and The First Day of Countdown!

* December Daily - Full details on Ali Edwards blog.