a little advent idea that you still have time to make...

if you've not got yet created your own advent calendar...you might like to try this idea that i've posted onto IACW today :0)

sorry for the lack of posts lately...i'm struggling a bit with my chemo...but my brain is storing up ideas in the middle of the night {when i really would like to be asleep...} and there will be lots of things coming in the New Year :0)

a little beading project...

this is the necklace i made for my advent swap with Katy...a really pretty {i think, anyway!} beaded necklace on a green thong, with silver fastenings...a simple and easy project to do in front of a film or when DH is waffling on about the state of the nation or some other rant...he does love his soapbox my darling hubby!

its a shame the picture is so lame {apolgies to all you photographers out there} but i think in close up you can see some of the details...i have simply knotted the thong between each cluster of beads to keep them in place and have used two threads to add a bit more movement and interest...i hope you like it Katy...i was almost tempted to keep this one for myself!!! ;)

Mum's christmas crafting!

i've been staying at my Mum's since Christmas and having a wonderful time teaching her to use her new mp4...no mean feat...but it think we cracked it in the end! lol *so proud of you Mum* xx

those of you who know us will know my Mum is not a scrapper...not a card maker...can't sew on a button let alone make clothes...she basically thinks she has no crafting ability...neither has she the inclination most of the time...but the festive spirit seems to have come over her this year...and i had to share this gorgeous table decoration she made for our Christmas table...isn't it beautiful? and Mum...you see what you can do when you just give it a go!! ;)

i love and miss my family very much living so far away from them all...so i felt totally spoilt having 10 days with Mum...not to mention a family gathering of 18 on boxing day! but when i got home and was reunited with my hubby...i was spoiled all over again opening the lovely crafty gifts my friends has sent me! this is a Christmas that goes on giving lol

this lush collection of goodies was a stocking swap with one of my UKS teamies...Thanks so much Sue...i love it all and will have lots of fun playing with it all...then relaxing in a lovely scented bath...blissful...

i recieved more crafting goodness from several other friends...thankyou Rosie, Ruth, Jaki, Wendy and Paula who sent me a fabby blank calendar to alter! You girls are so good to me :0)

as if all that wasn't enough...i was given these yummy stamps sets...thanks to Julie, Rosie and Ruth...watch out for them in a Craft Stamper near you soon...lol ;)

i have never had so many crafting goodies in one go before and it is such a treat to have some many lovely things to play with...tomorrow i might even share the goodies Katy gave me...she and I do an advent swap so there were 25 little beauties from her...and i think they deserve their own post, don't you?

i hope you all got lots of yummy goodies too...and thankyou so much to all my friends...i love you one and all xxx

now...i'm off stamping!

don't think i've not been busy in the craftroom...

its just that so many things i make at this time of year...i don't want to spoil the suprize by sharing them before the recipient has opened them!!

here are a couple of advent gifts i can share tho...as they have been opened now {at least they have if i've got my numbering system right!!}
they are a handbag/doorknob charm and a little notebook for my buddy katy...she is the queen of handbags and so i made a gift to go on the outside...and one for the inside too!! lol


hope you like them, hon xxxx

a ribbon frenzy...

one of my lovely uks teamies very generously sent me a bundle of ribbons this week...actually it was about a month ago...but another lovely chum held them hostage...so i only actually got them this week!! i love ribbon and couldn't resist picking out the reds and greens and making a cute christmas wreath for my lounge door. even hubby likes this one!

if you like it too...its super easy and quick to make {had to be this week or there was no way i'd have even got started} i started with an old embroidery hoop and simply glued buttons in groups of three all around the edge sort of like clock numbers...i then glued assorted bows in between the buttons and added a big red bell to the inside of the hoop in the middle of each bow. a few red gems on a few of the larger buttons...a loop to hang...and its done!

these gingham bows are my absolute favourite...i love the naive charm of gingham...it goes well with my own primitive or rustic sense of style!! nothing fancy here...just cute charm :)

oooh and today in the advent calendar of bonkerness? a travel size L'Occitane Verbena shampoo! *loves*

oooh almost forgot to say...have you seen this month's Craft Stamper yet? i've got an article in it on making really quick christmas cards...but there are lots of really lovely non-christmas makes too...enjoy!

grotty and snotty with spots on my botty!!!

oh my...i seem to be going from bad to worse healthwise the last couple of weeks...now i have a monster cold and a rash on my bum!! pml so glamourous being me ;)

having a hoot with the daily advent ritual tho...i made this fabric calendar years ago, you've probably seen them in your local craft shop? anyway...i love it...and so do my mum, my sister and now my hubby...so we take turns to fill it up and send it to each other...

this year...i am the lucky one...and mum has filled it with the most amusing and unexpected gifts ever...we have a hoot every morning wondering what we'll find today...so far i've had...a lovely candle in the shape of a flower, some anti-viral tissues {quite handy given my current state of snottiness!}, a flannel hook in the shape of angels wings...and my personal favourite...some fish stock cubes {!?!} i know...seriously...have you ever had fish stock in your advent calendar??? lol

great job mum *love you*
xxxxx

On the 6th day of advent...

Katy gave to me...a mini easel and canvas!! How absolutely adorable...can't wait to play with them :) Thanks...again Katy xx

on the 2nd day of advent...

Katy gave to me...2 yummy sheets of Basic Grey from the Mellow collection! Thanks, I love them :) I haven't seen them before...they look like this.

On the 3rd day of advent...Katy gave to me...Mr. Butterball! lol Check him out here! Thanks, hon...I will use it on Christmas Eve to get me all relaxed before the big day!!