My 2009 Favourites

I have just been over to Kath's blog and she is showing her favourite cards of 2009. I thought it was such a good idea so here are mine

January
Stampin Up Blooming with Beauty

February
My Valentine card to Paul


March
Crazy for Cupcakes Stampin Up


April
I made this whilst I was in the States at a Stampin Up Party
such a happy memory - thanks Chi


May




June
I finally found this stamp after looking for it for at least
3 years

July
I had lots of weddings and I used this stamp
for all the cards

August

September
Animal Stories Stampin Up

October
Autumn Days Stampin Up



November
Autumn Days Stampin Up


December
The last Christmas card I made in 2009
A pink one

Thank you to everyone for all your support in 2009, it really is appreciated.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU

Catch Up Day

For some reason I was up at silly o'clock again today, only having 4 hours sleep. I will need a nap later.

The wedding yesterday was lovely and Claire (Paul's cousin) looked beautiful. I was asked to make some little cupcakes as I mentioned in my previous post, for the wedding. How strange it was watching everyone eating my cakes, getting covered in glitter and hearing their comments. One man ate two and went back for more and was quite disgruntled to discover that they had all gone. It made my day. I promised yesterday to post a picture of the card I made, I only just remembered to photograph it before it was put in the envelope.
Today is our catch up day. Since we broke up for the Christmas holidays we have spent most days out and about as the house has been so quiet without the girls here. Today we have decided to stay home and catch up with those little jobs and hopefully I can get in my craft room this afternoon to finish off my January birthday cards.

Thanks for having a read today and I look forward to 'catching up' with your comments, over coffee, this afternoon. Have a great day, whatever you are up to....what are you up to today?

Wedding Bells

I hope that the details about the Sale a bration stay at the top of my blog, its always nerve racking when you do something new, well it is for me.

Yesterday we spent the day at Ikea as I was looking for storage solutions for my craft room. I think the best thing is to have yet another sort out and be harsh but I cant... how can I 'get rid' of my border stencils, or the punches that get used once or twice a year, or say goodbye to 100's of pieces of ribbon that I just may use sometime in the future? So I emptied the boot (how did all those things end up in the boot of my car) picked up mother in law and we trundled through the roadworks on the MI, through the pouring rain and joined the queue to park the car. The car park attendant wanted us to park miles away and MIL cant walk too fast. I was getting a bit concerned about how to get her nearer to the door and this voice from the back said "I have a disabled badge, would that help park a little closer" ohhh heaven. We went against the car park attendant, turned the way he told us not to go and there was this one disabled parking space, right outside the door. I was lucky enough to get two tall drawer units as well as other bits and pieces, well you just have to dont you.

Once we came home and had a cuppa, off I went to bingo leaving Paul to do his 'Jim'll fix it' impression and I returned to one of the units all made up. Fortunately, I had a little win at bingo too (thanks mum), so the units got paid for.

Today we are off to a wedding. I am still in the middle of making the card *note to oneself about adding being more organised to New Year Resolution list*. As soon as I have finished it I will put a picture on the blog, of the card that is, not my list.

Thanks for having a read today and I hope you have a great start to the last week of 2009.

Tracey

Santa has been and gone

I am so sorry I haven't been blogging the last few days. The house was so quiet at Christmas that I just wanted to spend a lot of time out the house around noisy people and doing lots of different things. Without the girls here, Christmas isnt Christmas. I am so pleased to say that they have told me that they will be here next year *jumping up in the air and waving my arms*

Well Santa came and I must have been a very good girl as I got lots and lots including, a watch, books, scribble pads, rubber stamps, crafting tools, chocolates, a light studio box, cds, perfume, pjs, tins, etc. etc. etc. We had lunch at my sisters on Christmas Day and spent the day with her and the family. Boxing day was spent with Paul's mum at home. I had a baking order, just my cup cakes for a wedding tomorrow. I made 36 of them and whilst the last 12 were in the oven, they didnt cook. Nope, 18 minutes after I put them in they were still all cake mixture. Yikes, my oven broke. Horror. Fortunately, the order was for 24 cakes so at least they were cooked, the other 12 were for mums Boxing Day tea. The ones in the oven were what I was hoping my crafting friends could have if they visited this week, I guess it will have to be chocolate log or Christmas cake or one of the tins of biscuits instead. Last night we went to mums, again there were lots of the family there, making plenty of noise. We watch Ant and Decs party and I loved it.

I dont want to bore you with such a long post so I will tell you all about today, tomorrow.

Thought I would share this card with you as it doesnt seem right to post on the blog without a picture of a card. I made it a few weeks ago with Gina and I was considering replicating it for Christmas cards. I ran out of time so I may use it in a few years.

Hope you have had a nice Christmas, let me know what you were up to

Tracey

2 more sleeps to go

Brrrr, I am sat here shivering whilst having my morning cuppa. I dont know why but the heating didnt come on today, another little job to look at later. I do seem to have a rather large list of "little jobs" to get through before I go back to work in the New Year.

Here are the cards I promised to put on yesterday but time ran away with me. These are all very special to me, the first handmade cards that I have received from Cyprus for Christmas from my daughters.

And here is another

Didnt Christiana do well?

They gave me tears in my eyes as Christmas Day will not be the same without the girls here.

Got a lot planned for today, posting cards by hand, meeting up with friends that I used to work with as well as the fat club and a bit of food shopping. I will try my best not to fall over, before and after the pub. All the pavements here are still covered in snow and ice.

Have a great day and thanks for your comments, which I love to read

Tracey

3 more sleeps

till Santa comes. Hope you are all nearly ready for him.

Today I dont have to go to work YIPEE. It's the start of my holidays and I am so looking forward to catching up with everyone.

I got home from work yesterday to find a large parcel waiting for me. It was presents and hand made cards from the girls in Cyprus. I will put photos on as soon as my camera battery has recharged.

Here are the cuties that I have sent to the girls, cause its cuties that they like best.



I spent 4 hours in my craft room last night sorting out all my shelves, putting things straight and moving things to one side to send out to Cyprus. Christiana is still struggling to purchase things, especially nice envelopes.

I hope that you all have a nice day, whatever you are up to and thanks for having a read

Monday Morning

and I have to go to work, which is hard when Paul is staying at home, not fair. I also have to brave the road conditions, I dont like driving on snow/ice so I will leave home earlier and take my time.

We had a lovely afternoon with the grandchildren yesterday, pizza and chocolate cake, what could be nicer? Then I went off and spent the evening at bingo with mum and sis. All in all I had a full weekend.

Here are some more hand made cards that I have received over the last couple of days, stunners

from Jayne

from Lesley

from Sue
from Issy

Here is another card that I made and that has been sent out more cuties.

Have a great day, whatever you are up to and if you are going out, please be careful of all the snow and ice.

Tracey

Its Sunday, the day of rest. It may be restful for some but not in my household.

I think someone must have been in and had another party when I went to bed last night, well that is what my kitchen and living room look like. Do you ever get up with that feeling or is it just me?

All my Christmas cards and Christmas shopping is done *as she leaps up hands in the air*. I cant believe I am ready for Santa's visit and there are still 5 more sleeps before he arrives. I have given myself a pat on the back.

I had a lovely day yesterday shopping with Paul and just strolling around the town centre. Then it was a relaxing couple of hours with some friends. As soon as Lesley puts the mad photos she took on her blog, I shall give you a link so that you can see the scrummy cakes we ate. Unfortunately the grandchildren didnt come last night and I am hoping that they will visit later this afternoon.

Today its the usual chores and housework (sorry Jayne I know you dont like that word) along with some ironing but then I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can get out in the car and go and drop off some SU goodies that have arrived.

I have some more Christmas cards to share with you. The stamp is one that I purchased a few years ago but never had the ability to use it the way I wanted to. I have distressed with Stampin' Up! inks for the background and love the way the cards turned out. What do you think?


and here is a close up of the pink one, (pink at Christmas)

You can tell that the pressure is off because I have posted on the blog for the last three days running. I think I feel another New Years Resolution being added to the list. That will make two up to now.

Hope you have a great day whatever you are up to and dont forget, I love to read your comments.

Last night we finally went into the loft to get the tree and decorations out, so now the tree is up and decorated. I am very late this year is doing this but at least it is ready for when the grandchildren visit later this afternoon. Just in the nick of time.

I have a busy day ahead of me but one that I am looking forward to. We are off into town to get the last minute pressies and then I am meeting some friends for coffee. Hopefully I will get back home in time to put my feet up for an hour before our grandchilden arrive for pizza.

Here are another couple of cards that I have been making this year.

some cuties.


This is something that I took into work earlier this week. They were scrummy. I think you will have to click on the picture to make it bigger. You will then be able to see how much sparkle I put on them. As I work in an office full of men, it was amusing to see them walking around all day with glitter on their faces and clothes. And here is a picture of the box that I put them in

Have a great day, whatever you are up to and thank you for having a read today.

Tracey

Brrrr Winter Arrived

Did you get snow yesterday? We did and for a while it was lovely outside, snow falling, everywhere turning white, really Christmassy.....and then the sun came out. This morning it is so cold that I know that Winter is here. More snow forecast today but we all know about weather forecasts.

Another Friday and the last weekend before Santa arrives. I hope that everyone has been good so that Santa brings them lots of pressies. The thing that I most want is a light box to take decent photographs, which you must all agree that I need. As you can see from these pictures, a light box would make everything look so much nicer. Here are some more handmade cards that I have received

This is from Helen

This is from Sandra

This is from Elvie

I was busy making Christmas cards for the most of November and December and there has got to be an easier way. How can I make myself get the cards ready throughout the year? Any help/advice would be most welcome. Next December I would love to go to a box, take out a card and write it, not rush around making them all.... is this to be a New Year's Resolution? Here is a photo of one of the cards I have sent out this year. I have used the Winter's Post and lovely as a tree stamp. I got the original idea from blog land and have just changed it. Lots and lots of glitter, well you have to as its Christmas.



Thank you for having a look and a read. If you have time to post a comment, I love to read them.
Be careful if you are out today, its very icy.

Tracey

Nearly ready for santa

As I am sure you will know, life has been hectic getting ready for Santa's visit. I don't know why it gets harder each year and takes longer but it does.

The majority of the Christmas presents are wrapped, the cards are just about done, the letters have been written and sent. Just got presents for 2 people to buy, a few bits for Paul to wrap and to hand out cards at the weekend. Decorations are coming out of the loft tonight so will make a start putting them up over the next couple of nights. Then I will be ready, phew.

The postman has been busy delivering cards to me and the UPS man has been dropping off parcels from Stampin Up daily but I think that I have received everything now. I just need to get it out to all my crafting friends so if you are reading this, please get in touch.

I thought I would share with you some of the wonderful cards I have received so far.


this is from Liz and a close up


this one's from Pam


I got this from Jackie

P.Ann sent this cutie

And finally for today, this is from Valli


I will photograph the cards that have come today and post them tomorrow.

It was my friends birthday yesterday, Pam and here is the card I made her


This card was one from the workshop that I did on Monday night. I cased it from Elizabeth who has some fantastic cards and inspiration on her blog. Well worth having a cuppa and a look through her stunning projects.

The other card I think was a bit too fiddly but, you have to learn as you go along and I promise not to have fiddly cards at the workshop in future lol. I believe that I have shown it on here before.


Hope I havent bored you with lots of pictures and rattling on. Thanks for stopping to have a read and a look. I will be back tomorrow with more to share with you.

Tracey

e
The weekend is here and I have had a lie in this morning which is very unusual for me. I must have needed the sleep. I really must get chores hurried along and stay in the craft room to get xmas cards done today. I have a couple of birthday cards to get made as well. Will I ever be organised?

The good news is that Paul is home yeeeaaahhh. Hopefully he will be home now till Christmas Here is a card that I made with Gina Martin a few weeks ago on a fantastic day out.




Thanks for having a read today, Tracey

Granddaughter's Birthday

Hollie was 3 earlier this week, where does the time fly?

Here is a card that I made for her, a little cutie, both the card and Hollie that is.



Yesterday was such a busy day and, as I said in my post yesterday, I was shattered by early evening. I went up for a bath around half 7 and I fell asleep in it. I only woke up because I was cold and tried to pull the covers over me lol.

I have another busy day at work and tonight I really, really, really must get on with some Christmas cards.

Have a great day and thanks for having a read.

Tracey

Good morning and its silly o'clock again. I was expecting to see frost everywhere but not today. Its 6 degrees outside which is a big difference compared to yesterday morning.I have a hectic day ahead of me so an early start wont hurt, although I expect I shall be flagging by tonight.

I have held a couple of workshops over the last week and I have a few photographs to show you. I totally forgot to get my camera out for the first workshop, sorry ladies.

Two cards were made and as it's coming up to Christmas I gave everyone the choice of either making a Christmas card, feminine or masculine card. Here are photos of the first set.





And here are some pictures taken of some of the ladies on the second workshop with their cards




Thanks for having a read (or a look at the pictures, which is what most of us do). Please feel free to leave comments as I love to go through them to see what you think.

Tracey