Sunday 11 December 2011

Christmas starts here!

Well, with having my works Christmas dinner and dance on Thursday and putting up our Christmas tree, it really does feel like the Christmas season has started. We all dressed up in 'posh frocks' for the dinner, and I even put nail varnish on for the first time in years, much to Tim's dismay (he objected to the smell!).
The dinner was lovely with fantastic food, great company and a good dance.  The DJ wasn't great, but that didn't stop us all having a great time as you can see. 
This weekend we had fun putting up our Christmas trees, yes, I do mean two trees!  They are both fibre optic trees, one of which we have had since Tim and I moved into our first tiny house and needed a little tree.  That one now sits on our dining room table as shown! 
We bought a bigger one a two years ago and that one is now in our sitting room.  I much prefer traditional trees, but Tim doesn't like them so we compromised with this which actually looks quite pretty. As well as putting the trees up Alex had a party this weekend and for the first time I was able to leave him there and come back and get on with things.  I don't think he ate much other than crisps and biscuits, but once in a while I guess it doesn't matter!
This morning we had a 'Toy service' at church and then this afternoon we went into town in the rain to see the Christmas lights.  Alex was most impressed with the ball tree
and then had a brief romance with a little girl on the merry go round - they held hands for a lot of the time whilst going round, despite having never met before.  It brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'whirlwind romance'!
Crafting wise I have been busy making Christmas tags.  These first two give a nod to Tim Holtz 12 tags of Christmas (loosely), and are vintage in feel.  I used distress inks for both of them. For the lefthand one I used Crafty Individuals santa image and background words stamp, hand cut, folded and sandpapered the holly leaves, used stickers and gold embossing to finish it off.  The righthand one used entirely Just Rite stamps. I am entering the lefthand one into MTTC 'vintage Christmas', Simon says stamp 'vintage photo collage inspiration', Crazy4Challenges 'santa' DYSU 'something old' and the righthand one into CCT 'anything goes'.
This next one used distress inks, silver embossing and free stamps coloured in with promarkers. This one fits with Pollycraft 'Christmas fun', Crafty cardmakers 'Heat embossing', and Delightful challenges 'blue Christmas'.
The next tags are all simple present tags made by stamping, colouring and embossing white squares of card and layering them onto folded green or red card.  Very quick and easy! The top two cards I am entering into DCM 'Nordic Christmas' (red, white and reindeer) and All sorts 'white and 2 colours' (red & black). The next two I am entering into Colour Create 'red, white and green' & Meljen's 'use green', and the bottom two into cards for men '2 of something' (they are a pair).
The next set I am entering into Fussy & Fancy 'photo inspiration' challenge and Tuesday Throwdown 'Celebrate the season'.
The next set I am entering into Paperplay 'snowman', Creative Card Crew 'Tis the season', SCSC 'all creatures great and small' and PTW 'anything goes'
The final set will be entered into Fresh Brewed 'Christmas', Aud Sentiments 'Winter Holiday sentiment' and Penny's challenge 'Merry Christmas'. That is all from me for now...I guess I now need to go and wrap the presents that these tags are going on!  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

30 comments:

WencheP said...

WOW - you have really been busy! Fabulous work. Thanks for joining us at Do You Stack Up.

-Wenche

Tracy Heaton said...

Wow, you've bee so busy. Thanks for taking part at CFM
Tracy x

Tracy Heaton said...

Me again! Still lovely cards,
thanks for joining us at SCSC
Tracy x

Deb said...

Fabulous pics!
Many thanks for joining in the Cute Card Thursday Challenge this week!
have a fabulous, crafty weekend, Debxx

Unknown said...

Firstly may I say how stunningly beautiful you look in your 'Christmas' photo. Glowing with happiness - or is it Christmas 'spirits' of the bottled variety. You jewellery suits you - did you make it.

Your cards are gorgeous and your tags fantastic.

Such wonderful posts on your blog - really getting me into the Christmas.

Have a wonderful time.

Anne said...

You looked lovely ready for your night out Caro- though I am sure you always do. Your trees are very pretty. We are getting ours on Wednesday after visiting Auntie. My DS has bought an artificial one this year, he went for a real tree but they were so expensive. He has spent quite a lot on a realistic one. I think DH and I may have to conssider doing the same next year if things keep going up as they are.
The tags you have made are beautiful. Anne x

Gale said...

Love all you tags and thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures!
Thanks for sharing with us at Fresh Brewed Designs
Happy Holidays!

:) Gale, DT

Franz♥ said...

So amazing work, love your little creatures!

Thank you for playing with us at Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge this week, hope to see your amazing works again!

Hugs, Franz.

p.s.: I have some candy if you like!

brenda said...

What a fabulous collection of Christmas tags Caro.

Thank you so much for joining my ‘It Takes Two’ theme at Allsorts Challenge this week and good luck.

B x

Jan said...

Great! Thanks for joining us at CCC xx Jan

Mandy said...

Wow you have been busy,lovely photos....And your tags are all beautiful....Thansk for joining in with us at Cards for Men...
Mandy x

Shell Shearer Swinscoe said...

All just gorgeous, fab ideas!

Thank you for sharing with us at Delightful Challenges this week, good luck!
Hugs Shell xx

Julie said...

Lots of great cards. Thanks for joining us at Aud Sentiments
Hugs,
Julie

downrightcrafty said...

what a gorgeous choice of a little creature, and beautiful creation, thank you for sharing your lovely work with us at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge
Hugs Kate xx

Kathleen (Kath) B. Hernandez said...

Wonderful Christmas cards! Love the hollies & the embossing!

Thanks for joining us at Penny’s Paper-Crafty Merry Christmas Challenge!

Kathleen – Guest Designer
Blog: Creo by Lady Katutz at http://creobyladykatutz.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Each one of these is great but the polar bears are my favorite. Thanks for joining us at Tuesday Throwdown this week.

Angie said...

Cute Christmas cards love the images and the colours. Thanks for joining us at Papertake weekly
Angie x

Digi Darla said...

Fantastic works....

Thanks so much for sharing! XXX~DigiDarla PS. Have you seen my challenge blog?
www.digidarla.com

Melissa Bove said...

Wow! All of your tags are just fabulous!! You have been 1 busy girl!! Awesome work!!

Thank you very much for joining us this week at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog!

Happy Holidays!

Hugs...
Melissa

Natty said...

Wow, what a fab array of projects! Thanks for playing along with our Nordic dare this week. :D

Sharon (glitterangel) said...

Lovely tags! Thanks for joining in with the Daring Cardmakers this week x

Lisa xx said...

beautiful work, merry christmas and thank you for joining us at aud sentiments

Sharon said...

Gosh you have been so busy! What beautiful creations :) Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos too!

Thanks for joining us at Colour Create for the Green, Red & White Challenge!

Sharon x

Victoria said...

Busy bee! I love your creations. I am rushing to finish my cards and you've given me some inspiration!

Lesley said...

You have been busy! Lovely tags! Thank you for taking part in MTTC's Vintage Christmas challenge xx

Mummylade said...

What a fantastic creation, I love the embossing! Thank you so much for playing along with us at Allsorts this week and good luck!

deesdesigns said...

Wow! You've been busy!!! Everything is just lovely. Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy holiday season to share your creativity with us for our Winter Holiday sentiment challenge at Aud Sentiments!

Debs said...

WOW so many gorgeous tags - you have been busy!
Thanks for playing along with us at Allsorts this week.
Good luck.
Debs xx

Robin Parker said...

Love the clean and simple look to your Holly cards. Thanks for sharing on the Meljen's Design Challenge of Green.

Ren-Yi said...

You've been a busy bee! But i looks amazing - every little card! Thanks for playing along with us at DYSU.