DAY THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX - Cake Fancy

 

Good morning, a very early start for me today.  Awake since 4am but managed to stay in bed till nearly 5am then it was up, a cuppa and a catch up on what has been happening whilst I have been sleeping.  Not much it appears.

If I am staying up to see the New Year in then I will be having a couple of hours nanny nap later today otherwise I wont last.  Its obviously an age thing.

Here is a card that was made recently and sent out to a neighbour.  I have all the elements ready to make another half or dozen, I just need the time to sit and put them all together.

I used the Cake Fancy stamp set from Stampin' Up! which is still available with lots of different colours.  A winter birthday card is a bit tricky but I thought that this one is perfect for all year round.  As the stamp set is photopolymer (clear) it was easy to see where to place each individual stamp and there are quite a few in the set. 

I got everything out, pastry rolled, mince pie cases filled and put them in the oven.  They cooled down and I made tea and shouted hubby in to the kitchen for a taste of the first batch.  Oh my goodness, they were awful.  So bitter and the pastry had a tang to it.  It was the first time I was gifted some festive mince meat from a well known supermarket but it wasnt to our taste at all.  Upon reading the ingredients it included

Vegetable Concentrates (Radish, Carrot, Cherry, Sweet Potato, Apple)], Ruby Port (3%), 

Next year I will use the Robertsons Mincemeat, as I always have done.  These mince pies ended up in the bin and I went and purchased a box.  

I know the year soon passes by but here we are again, the last day of another year and what a year it has been.  Lots of wonderful memories made and I am so looking forward to 2025 to making more.

Thank you so much for having a read today and I wish you and your family a very Happy New Year.   x

 

 

 

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE - Today is all about you

 

Good morning, no lie in for me today.  I woke up a few times in the night and so got up early to make a start on a few chores.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a later start.

I am still working through my 34,122 photos and I am still enjoying it.

Here is a card that I made recently for a birthday girl.

 The colours were purples and pinks which I believe she likes.  I started off with the stamping first as I discovered that if you do your blended background first, then the stamped images change their colour which is what I didnt want.

The die cut and the sentiment have been retired from Stampin' Up! but they will stay in my stash and they are so very useful.  I thought the little brushed brass butterfly finished the card off.

My spare room has become a dumping ground again so that is my first task this morning before going to the craft room to start photographing the crafting items that I have for sale.  It is a shame to let things go but I just dont have the space to keep it all.  

I hope you have a lovely day and thank you so much for having a read.  Tracey x

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE

 

So today is a definate Twixmas, that is the time in between Christmas and New Year when you dont know what the day is, what the time is and if you should eat a meal or not.  This is just how I felt this morning and it most certainly doesnt feel like a Saturday at all.

I have spent the day catching up on some little jobs that needed to be done, emails to be sent and having a bit of a sort out.  Just a few things left to do from our activities last night.

Last Night the monthly crafty club, Derby Dabblers had their Festive evening.  We played games, passed the parcel, bingoed with some naughty inuendos, reverse raffled and had a secret santa.  We laughed and laughed and I think everyone left feeling a lot happier than when they arrived.  It was amazing and I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful group of ladies that grows and grows each month.

We all had photos taken with props and here is a selection of the many that we all took.

 If you ever fancy coming along and joining us, we meet on the last Friday of every month in Alvaston, Derby.  I will be very happy to give you more details.  You will be made to feel very welcome.

Well, I had best get on with my day of catching up.  Hope you have a wonderful Saturday.  Tracey x

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO - The last Friday of 2024

 

 

Good morning.  I have just got back on to sorting out my photographs, can you believe that I have 34,184 that all need sorting.  It really is a never ending task but it is something that will get done eventually.  I had to empty my telephone photos to release some space, as you do.

After a wonderful day with sister and co yestersday, today is going to be a busier one but so much fun.  

 

Oh here is the cake that I took with me yesterday too

It was a chotolate sponge cake with a chocolate icing, no cream at all.  Made with oil as I still stick to the Cypriot cake recipes as I find them very light.  It certainly went down a treat and there wasnt too much left either.  The little ones ate it with pink custard!!

I purchased some Hyacinth bulbs from a wonderful garden center I went to in Denestone with some friends a couple of months ago.  I have never purchased them before but I got them home and put them in fresh soil into some extremely pretty plant pots that I have in the conservatory. 

I have watched them grow and taken such pleasure in watching the bulbs get leaves and then the flowers opening up.  I do wish I could bottle up the smell of the conservatory. Every time I walk in it smells wonderful.

Quite a few folk have had birthdays in December and here is one of the cards that was sent out.  

The card was created using the Stampin' Up! bundle (a stamp set and dies) called Attention Shoppers.  There are so many diffferent cards that you can make with this set it is just perfect for almost any occasion.  

I started off with the card base and a piece of Basic White card.  I added a layer of Basic Black card between the card base and the Basic White.

Using various blenders I coloured in die cuts of the wine bottle, flowers, plant pot,  and shopping bag.  The trolley is in two secions, the wheets and the basket so this was cut out of Smoky Slate.  The Happy Birthday sentiment was stamped in versamark onto Basic Black card and heat embossed with white before trimming it down.   I had a great afternoon of die cutting lots of elements and colouring them in and now they are all ready and waiting to be used on cards everytime I want to make one.    Full details of what I used are below but if you would like to make a card similar please, do get in touch and you can join me in the craft room to create one. 

Thank you so much for having a read today,Tracey x

 

If you would like to pop into the Craft Room to see what is available please on the sales dresser, do let me know and you can call in for a brew and a browse, it would be lovely to see you.   If you are not sure where I am, let me know and I can send you my address .

If you click on the image below a new window should open up and you can have a browse through the September - December brochure.

If you click on the image below a new window should open up and you can have a browse through the Scrapbooking September Brochure.

 

Should you wish to place an order online, you can click on the image below and a new window will open up where you can have a browse through the shop. Please do get in touch with me if you would like any help.  My contact details are at the end of the post and I really am happy to help as much as I can.

 

If you would like to get in touch with me, here is where I can be found.  

I would love to hear from you.

Product List

Attention Shoppers Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[163640]

£19.00

Attention Shoppers Dies

[163643]

£23.00

Attention Shoppers Bundle (English)

[163644]

£37.75

Balmy Blue A4 Cardstock

[147007]

£10.75

Basic Black A4 Card Stock

[121688]

£10.75

Basic White A4 Cardstock

[159228]

£13.00

Card Stock A4 Smoky Slate

[131291]

£10.75

Jet Black Stāzon Ink Pad

[101406]

£10.00

Jet Black Stazon Ink Refill

[102566]

£7.00

Versamark Pad

[102283]

£9.00

Versamark Refill

[102193]

£6.75

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[154974]

£5.75

Bone Folder

[102300]

£7.50

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

£27.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

£4.00

Stampin' Pierce Mat

[126199]

£4.75

Paper Snips

[103579]

£11.25

Color Coach™ (English)

[166481]

£11.75

Basics Embossing Powders

[155554]

£17.00

Embossing Additions Tool Kit

[159971]

£26.00

Clear Block Bundle

[165674]

£56.75

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE - Boxing Day

 

Today is a bit of a quiet day.  Off to sisters for a Christmas lunch with her, my brother in law, my neices, great neice and great nephew and this evening I hope that I shall be making some thank you cards for the wonderful gifts that were under my tree yesterday. This of course will depend on what time we get home.   I most certainly was on Santas nice list going by all the presents under the tree and I cant wait to have a play and use everything.  

After a bit of a tidy up and putting things away I shall be baking a chocolate sponge cake to take with me as my great neice and great nephew dont like Christmas pudding.  

Did you know that Stampin' Up! still have lots and lots on the Last Chance list which can be found in the shop.

Here is a link to make it quicker for you to find.  If you sort by lowest price to highest you can grab some great deals, including some kits at silly prices.  Should you like me to order something for you please, do get in touch.  I shall be placing my next order on Saturday and can add it to that.

Here are more Christmas cards, table favours, money wallets, gift cards etc.  that I have been making over the last year.  They have all been sent out and hopefully received by now

A big thank you goes out to all those that have inspired me each month to create these cards.  I have had such great fun with them and look forward to starting my cards next year at the first 2025 Festive Friday.

 

Thank you so much for having a read today.  I hope you have a most enjoyable boxing day.  Tracey x

 

 

 

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY - Merry Christmas

Good morning and a very merry Christmas to you all.  Was it a last minute dash or did you have it all ready well in advance?  I do wonder.

For some strange reason, I was organised, no last minute panics and no rushing around today.  I even got a Christmas card handed over to hubby way ahead.  I have been known to get up early on Christmas day just to add the finishing touches but not this year?  

Cherry Cobbler and gold from Stampin' Up! were the colours for his card this year along with all the greens, Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Garden Green to name but a few.  The bauble isnt quite right and does need a little more practise but I loved making this on watercolour card and even though it isnt perfect, he loved it.

So today we are having a very relaxed morning, a turkey lunch which I shall enjoy cooking and its just the two of us.  We shall pop over to see mum and dad and I am so pleased to say that she came home from the hospital rather late last night.  It is too early to call to see how she is but once the turkey is in, we shall have a drive over.

Santa arrived, there is no room under my tree to put anything else.  Both Paul and I shall have fun opening pressies shortly.  

The postman delivered so many beautiful handmade cards to us this year that I actually made a reel to share them all.  I am hoping to put it below but as you know, me and technology dont always get along.

I have had an amazing time making Christmas cards throughout 2024 and as you can guess, I have already got a date to start my 2025 Christmas cards.

So if you are free on Friday 3rd January and fancy making a very early start on your Christmas makes for 2025 please, do let me know and get yourself booked in. Space is limited.  

The following Friday we shall have Kit Night and wow, what amazing kits we have to put together.  I am also doing the wreath of blooms kit that is currently in the sale.  At £6.50 it is a bargain and shouldnt take too long to make up, leaving time to natter, eat cake and perhaps start another kit.

I do have some kits on the sales dresser and if you would like to come to see what there is, you are very welcome.  Get in touch to let me know so that I can be sure I am home and to pop the kettle on.  Just a reminder that you will have to book if you hope to come along as space is limited.

 

Well, I had best go and see what is under the tree.  Thank you so much for having a read and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Day today x

 

If you would like to get in touch with me, here is where I can be found.  

I would love to hear from you.

 

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE - Its starting to look a lot like Christmas

 

Good morning.  I am sure that you have realised I haven't been keeping on top of the blog and for those that already know, the blog is the first thing to get put to one side when life gets a little hectic.  

Mum is in hospital again.  We have had another scare but fortunately, yesterday she seemed brighter, able to eat and is desperate to be home in time for Christmas so we are keeping fingers crossed.  It seems that the doctor stopped a medication that she was put on last time she had a hospital stay.  This caused her heart not to work as well as it should which lead to getting an excess of fluid in her body, including lungs.  All she needs now is time.

We are in full Christmas mode at the moment, the cards have been written and sent.  The presents are wrapped although I do have a couple of shops to visit for another purchase or two for Mr. A.  The house is decorated and clean and everywhere is rather festive.  I have a few visits to make, folk to see to pass on presents which is always a lovely thing to do.

Here are a few of the Christmas cards I have sent out this year but there are still a few more for me to share with you over the next couple of days.

I have been receiving so many wonderful hand made cards this year so I thought I would photograph them all and then create a reel on Christmas Eve to share them.  Now that is easier said than done but I will certainly give it a go.

Here is a plan of what should be happening, in the new year in the craft room.

We all need to start with a plan, even if it changes along the way.  If you would like a little more information about any of the events, please do get in touch.  All my contact details are below.

Stampin' Up! has lots of wonderful things happening at the moment including the Last Chance Products sale

If you click on the image above, a new web page will open up and you can view everything that is available.  These products really are only available whilst stocks last.  Once they have gone, thats it. 

There is the Mini Catalogue available for you to have a browse through, some of these products are in the Last Chance Products section. If you click on the image below a new window should open up.

Dont forget the Scrapbooking brochure from September.   Again, if you click on the image below a new window should open up and you can have a browse through.

 

Should you wish to place an order online, you can click on the image below and a new window will open up where you can have a browse through the whole shop and place an order. 

Please do get in touch with me if you would like any help.  My contact details are at the end of the post and I really am happy to help as much as I can.

 

If you would like to get in touch with me, here is where I can be found.  

I would love to hear from you.

 

Thank you so much for having a read today.  I do hope you have a terrific Thursday x