>>> 365 Cards: Day 304 <<<

This is my last challenge (of the year) for 365 Cards. I can't tell you how happy I was when I was asked to join their talented design team. I'm definitely looking forward to more challenges next year and Pam has some interesting stuff lined up for the site too. Roll on 2010! :)

Today's challenge is entitled 'Sounds Great'. You are supposed to take inspiration from this CD called Glee. Here's the image:

Here's my take on it:

What I did was use it as a centrepiece for my card. The '1' became a standing lamp and the words became the stamped image and sentiment. The stamp set is called Comfy Cozy by Unity and is currently available to new subscribers of KOTM or existing members. It will be released to the public later. White cardstock was cut using a scalloped Nesti and brown patterned paper embossed with Cuttlebug script embossing folder. Patterned papers by October Afternoon Hometown and WRMK Boho Chic Fancy Free collections.

Excuse the shadows... again taken in the wee hours of the morning. Have a great day and thanks for dropping by! TTFN!

>>> Sharpie Blog Candy! <<<

Fancy winning a goodie bag of Sharpie markers worth £35? Check out the deets here! I do adore these markers. TTFN!

>>> On Display! <<<

I did a few canvases for my relatives as Xmas pressies. This was one of them. Happened to find a photo of my niece taken during Halloween so I created one in a halloween theme. Made use of a halloween stamp set by Little Yellow Bicycle.

Sprayed the background with Cosmic Shimmer with Tim Holtz' spider web mask in the background. Then simply layered the rest on top!

Here's the side:

Stamped and dated!

Thankfully she liked it! Now need to do one for my boys individually. TTFN!

>>> H{ippity} Hop! <<<

Check out my H{ippity} Hop on my {ippity} blog! TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards: Day 302 <<<

The challenge for today is based on this sketch:

Have to say, I struggled with this sketch. Maybe it's the festive season... too much choccies and food that put me in a slumber mode! It took me a while to come up with something but this is my card:

Recently received my Dec KOTM set recently and saw this clock image. I decided to create a New Year card for a friend. The swirl came from Unity's Nov store kit. Added a bit of tulle for good measure! :) Music background image came from Unity as well.

Here's the inside:

Alphabet stamp set is from Studio G. They do quite a few alpha sets for a mere 99p!

Thanks for dropping by. Hope you are enjoying the festive period. Not long before 2010 hits us! Where did this year go??? TTFN!

>>> Merry Christmas! <<<

There's nothing like watching your boys' faces when opening their pressies! Words cannot describe the feeling. They were definitely pleased with what they got, mainly Lego stuff ... both spent the day building them.

'Santa' brought them their fav toys!

We had our Xmas dinner in the afternoon. In-laws came over along with MIL's sister. Hubs cooked a goose instead of turkey. Dinner was well-received and it was fantastic! There was a lot leftover so I guess we'll be having another Xmas dinner tomorrow!

FIL did the honours of cutting it up. Frankly, it tastes like duck and I luv duck!

TTFN!

>>> Christmas Eve! <<<

Hubs got up early and went shopping for last minutes items. The boys and I had a good lie-in. It snowed again last nite and it's just so bitterly cold that I've got no desire whatsoever in going out! Spent the day wrapping up pressies as hubs had to go out and visit some friends. The boys took turns going out with him. As for me, I was busy creating a canvas for my nieces and nephews... which incidentally form part of their Xmas pressie!

Boys went to bed early without a murmur and was fast asleep before 9pm! Shock horror! It was midnite last nite before they went into la la land! I guess telling them Santa was gonna deliver their pressies did the trick. They still do believe in Santa, bless them. As for me, spend the evening wrapping up their pressies as we had hidden them in the garage. The boys are smart to look for stuff in the house hence, we didn't dare leave them around. So glad we got their Lego toys early as I read that it was one of the toys that sold out quickly and was selling at inflated prices on auction sites! Madness! Can't go wrong with Lego for boys! It was in their wish lists!

Oliver's pressies

Zac's pressies

It may appear a lot but some came from friends, relatives etc. Looking forward to seeing their faces tomorrow when they open them!

Merry Christmas everyone! Enjoy while it lasts! TTFN!

>>> On Display: {ippity} Stamps <<<

Here's a recent project created using an {ippity} Stamp set entitled 'Because of You'.

The images on this set were perfect for a project I had in mind:

Check out the deets here.

TTFN!

>>> On Display: Banana Frog <<<

A few items that I created using Banana Frog stamps. Luving their new stamp sets that came out recently:

Kawaii Kokeshi set

Swirls & Butterflies set

Here are my samples:

That cat is just too cute for words.

A tag that I created

A Xmas card using the Butterflies set

A frame

Finally, dug out the Retro Space set and created this canvas for my nephew as part of his Xmas pressie:

Played with some paints. Wanted to use orange but didn't have any so made use of red and yellow paints together. Those circular images in the background represent planets, in keeping with the Retro Space theme.

Got 2 more canvas to make and I'm done. Update on my car.... got it back eventually and the Garage apologised for their shoddiness and waived the charge for the water pump. However, they had to change the alternator belt and some other stuff and wrote a list of things that needed looking into! Thought a full service covered it but apparently, all they do is check but not fix! The latter comes with further charges!!! Sheesh! I can kiss goodbye to any Xmas gifts.... but I do need my car badly... public transport in my area is pathetic! TTFN!

>>> Livid Beyond Words! <<<

My car was due for MOT, servicing and needed a change in timing belt. So I booked with Renault, settled the price at £500 and got hubs to bring it in today. First sign of trouble came when he called me this morning to inform me that suddenly the price shot up to £400ish for timing belt + water pump! When did water pump come into the picture? Checked with him in the afternoon and more bad news. Bloody workman took the car apart and then found out they ran out of the specific part needed. Then more calls to hub's mobile informing him of other parts that needed changing otherwise it wouldn't pass the MOT. It suddenly became quite messy! So hubs went to collect the car in the evening only to be informed it wasn't ready. Needless to say he was furious and asked to speak to the manager. The manager offered to look into the case but I'm livid as I need the car tomorrow to run errands! Now if I don't get my car tomorrow, the head office in Renault is gonna get a very nasty complaint at the poor service. I'm extremely appalled at the shoddy service and the amount of calls they made. Each time they called, it was something that needed changing then they realised it wasn't and something else was mentioned! Not sure what game they were trying to play but we got proof of their shoddiness. I can tell you for sure my next car wouldn't be a Renault! Just as well, they didn't speak to me as I'm ten times more vocal than hubs and would have given them a piece of my mind! TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards: Day 297 <<<

Today's theme is 'Bring Back Spring'. Bascially, create a card with a Spring/Summer theme, giving no hint that it's December. Well, had a good think of it and came up with this:

Recently received this new stamp image and I just had to use it! Also most marriages tend to take place in the Spring/Summer period. Anyway, that was what I had in mind! Incidentally, images are from Unity, a set offered to KOTM members first before they are released to the public.

Excuse the shadows as it was taken at nite. With daylight hours shortening during this period + gloomy overcast skies (so common in this country), it's hard to take a photo in natural, good lighting. TTFN!

>>> Butterfly Craft: Challenge 25 <<<

I don't often get to do LO challenges these days but came across this one in particular and knew it was gonna be an easy one.

Challenge 25 is going to be about what your child or children like to do

Well, did this LO that reflected it: 

My boys were begging to put up the Xmas tree so on 2nd Dec, we took the tree down from the loft and gave i t to them to decorate! They luv it! That will be their job from now on! Made use of {ippity} Kissmas & Mistletoe stamp set. You can get the set here. 

TTFN!

>>> Still Cold! <<<

Catching up on blog posts!

Well, it's the first day of the Xmas break. Had to nip out to the PO for some last minute posting... some people will be getting their pressies/cards quite late this year. Well, at least I've sent it! The boys chilled out at home, playing with their DS and watching TV. As for me, was busy finishing up an assignment. Thank goodness we are not booked to go anywhere this Xmas. We had talked about it but I didn't fancy going anywhere. Just as well as the snow here has caused chaos in airports and on the roads. Once again, this country cannot cope with the amount of snow that has fallen the past few days. I pity those having to wait at airports, or other places, hoping to get to where they wanna go. I know what I'm gonna do for the next 2 wks... I'll be vegetating at home with my boys who also show no inclination of going out! TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards: Day 295 <<<

Today is Super Sketchy Sunday and here's the sketch:

Here's my take on it:

I turned the sketch to suit this particular image. The stamped images are from Unity's Nov store kit, coloured with Promarkers.

Enjoyed this sketch... will probably use it again. TTFN!

>>> Saturday Nite! <<<

Managed to get MIL to babysit the boys, well, they stayed over at her place and we went off to a Ladies Nite at hub's club. It was good to be alone for once and to enjoy the nite out. Didn't bother buying new clothes... just couldn't brave the crowds and managed to find a dress which I had not worn before.

Can you believe that dress is actually a UK size 6??? What on earth possessed me to buy that size unless it was bought years ago!!! I'm amazed that I can still fit into it although I have to admit it was tight in some areas. Well, at least I got thru' the nite without splitting the dress! LOL!

Had a great time. Food was good... a traditional Xmas dinner consisting of turkey, stuffing, spuds and cauliflower baked in cheese. Dessert was lemon cheesecake which I didn't fancy much. The highlight was the raffle draw. We won, not once but three times! When they called the last prize number, I didn't realised it was my ticket as no one responded. Then I look and saw I had the number called. But we gave it up as it was quite embarrassing winning so many times. I had picked a basket of choccie hamper and a lovely vintage box of wines. The third prize was a hamper of smellies (which I know I probably won't use so just as well I gave away!)

The raffle prizes!

Check out the wine box... how cool is that! I'm more interested in the box than the contents! There were a lot of hampers consisting of booze which I certainly didn't care for. Hence, had to go for one with food. That box of wine was chosen as all the food hampers were gone. Saw the box and I just fell in love with it.

Well, they say good (as well as bad) things come in threes... I certainly have been lucky this month: winning a lunch for 2 in a hotel at the Xmas Fayre in my son's school, winning a prize on Tim Holtz' blog, knowing he gets 3000+ comments! and finally winning at tonite's raffle, not once but 3 times! Maybe I should just get a lottery ticket..... TTFN!

Edited: I was asked what 'smellies' were.... oops, after living here for a while, kinda pick up the Brit slang. Anyway, for those interested to know, they are 'pleasant-smelling toiletries' (according to the Wiktionary definition). :)

>>> Unity's Friends with Flair <<<

Hooray, it's the last day of term today. Can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to this day.  It's also the time to give out cards and teachers' gifts too. For my boys' Xmas cards, I made tags instead as it's easier and tags are kept rather than thrown out like cards! Seeing that I had to make about 50 tags, I kept the process simple. I made use of Joy & Wonder stamp set as it's far easier to cut out 50 Xmas trees!

The tags were embossed with Cuttlebug Xmassy-type embossing folders. It was then sprayed with glimmer mists. Background Xmas words were stamped with other stamp company as I don't have a Unity stamp in that image. The Xmas tree was adhered using foam dots and lace trimming was added at the bottom of the tag. Tag was finished off by tying fibres at the top.

As for main teacher's gift, I did a winter survival kit present and added a mug, gloves, sachets of chocolate drink and a chunky kit kat bar. The gloves were plain black ones and I jazzed it up by stamping a heart stamp onto felt and sewing it onto the gloves.

Heart image came from November store kit (one of my favs as it has lots of adorable images).

Here's a closeup of it. Excuse my sewing.... I'm awful at it but still trying!

Finally, made little boxes to store choccies in it for the others. Got the template from Stampington template site. Made use of Nov store kit and {ippity} Kissmas & Mistletoe set (snowman & snowflake).

Cardstock was sprayed with cosmic shimmer onto  a glimmer mist snowflake stencil. Then it was decorated using the stamps.

Can't believe the end of the year is coming soon. Have a merry Christmas and see ya again in the New Year! Thanks for dropping by! TTFN!

>>> Snow! <<<

It was predicted that it would snow today and it did! I was coming out from my son's school and then I saw  little flake of snow. It does excite me somehow, to see snow! Then suddenly, out from nowhere, there was this torrent of snow that just came falling down! One minute it was bright and sunny, the next, a snow storm! Not surprising, it didn't take long for the entire scenery to change.

A flurry of snowdrops

A sudden snowstorm (felt like a sudden downpour of rain, I know as I was standing outside)

All white... in less than 5 minutes!

My boys were delighted with the snow and they went running out to play with it. They wanted to build a snowman but there wasn't enough snow to do one. In the end, they snowballed each other!

Scene from my back garden. So beautiful but gosh, so cold too.

I had warned them about throwing those snowballs at me!

Oliver, the snow angel!

In the evening, the boys received their grading results for their martial arts class. Both are now up another belt, much to their delight.

One more day to go.... wish it didn't snow that early.... roads are gonna be treacherous if they have not been gritted! TTFN!

>>> Xmas Play! <<<

It was Zac's year group to perform the Xmas play and it was a good production. Hats off to the teachers who worked hard to get them to perform. They showed Xmas being celebrated in different countries. I enjoyed the production. Didn't manage to get the front seats so went to the back so that I could stand up and take photos. Typical, didn't check my external flash batteries and it went dead on me. So had to rely on the flash in the camera which doesn't take well from afar and in that particular lighting too. Still, managed to get quite a few good ones.

My little mite doing his dance on stage. He was in New York for Xmas.

Yay, two more days before the term ends.... not that I'm counting! TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards: Day 290 <<<

Today's challenge is entitled 'Tuesday Trio'. The challenge is to include these 3 items in the card, at least 1 of each: chipboard, blossom & button. I've got loads of chipboard so I kinda welcome the use of any of them. Here's my card:

A chipboard frame, poinsettia and 3 buttons. Patterned paper by Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses (I still have loads left so they need using up!) Stamp images are from {ippity} Kissmass & Mistletoe.

As long as Christmas is around the corner, I'll be doing Xmas cards as I'm so in need of them. So much for doing in advance and still not having enough at this stage! Urghh! TTFN!

>>> Meeting Santa! <<<

Met up with SIL and her family today and we ended up at Woodlands Garden Centre as hubs wanted to get a chiminea. There was also a Santa's grotta there too so we braved the 1 1/2 hrs queue to see him. We adults took turns to queue while the rest browsed the store. I was disappointed not to find a craft area in the store but there was the Works there and managed to secure a book for my son's Xmas pressie. Finally, after a long wait, we got to meet Santa!

Boys with their cousins.

He had a chat with the boys, asking them what they would like for Xmas and then gave each of them a pressie, which they lost no time in opening it!

Lunch was at a pub which served fantastic pub lunch food! Wow, food was really good and I finished off with a lovely chocco brownie and vanilla ice-cream! Sod the diet.... good food come first! LOL! TTFN!

>>> On Display: BackPorch Memories <<<

My kit from BackPorch Memories arrived yesterday and I got started immediately. Mails from the US are now taking much longer to arrive in the UK. Anyway, after sacrificing a nite's sleep (only 'cos I was on the ball and had ideas flowing), I got my LOs done. I was given the Medley kit to play with. Here's this month's kits:

Solo kit - Lily Bee Vintage Poppy

Medley kit - Bo Bunny's Persuasion, October Afternoon's Farm Fresh & KI Memories' Flourish

BPM's December stamp set

(had no chance to play as it wasn't ready when the kit was sent but I can foresee a lot of uses for them)

Unity's December store kit

(can only be bought from selected stores selling them, and not from Unity's. Can't wait for mine to arrive. Such cute images.)

Here's what I've done with the Medley kit:

This LO was based on a DT sketch by Becky Fleck. Here's my interpretation of it.

My youngest having curry... so proud of him as he never ever wanted to eat it but decided to have a go and enjoyed it. This dish I cooked happened to be a tad spicy but he still ate it, with loads of water in between.

The boys playing at Swanhurst Xmas concert, organised by their music teacher.

My last project: a card using Unity's Nov store kit.

Excuse the lighting on the photos. Took it this morning where there was sunshine and the rays were caught in the photo. Couldn't find a shady spot that was dry (it's been raining a lot here). Had fun doing them! TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards: Day 288 <<<

It's Super Sketchy Sunday today and here's the sketch:

Pam do come up with some interesting sketches for cards. Anyway, here's my interpretation of it: 

Not so circular in design but close to the sketch. Made use of my latest Unity November store kit that came yesterday. Patterned paper by Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses.

Writing out my Xmas cards and realised I still need more.... so much for starting in advance! Looks like I've gotta to start early next year, like in January!!! Another busy day again... out with relatives.... I certainly could do with staying in and crafting! TTFN!