2009 is at the door.....

Remember,

Life is short,

Break the rules,

Forgive quickly,

Kiss slowly,

Laugh uncontrollably,

And never regret anything
that made you smile!


In 2009 I have made new friends including all you guys.
Been happy to see friends deliver much wanted children.
Found old friend & started new journeys with them online.
Sadly said goodbye with a heavy heart to people I have lost.


Hope 2009 brings you & yours

Health, Wealth & Happiness.

And all your hearts desires...

Much love

Teen xxx

Cold & Cobwebs

Brrr....it is cold today again,
was -7 this morning when I got up to feed Poppy Dog.





the Cobwebs are not in my head or craft room ......
(I know what kinds things Evil Elf's say !!!)


Looks like some fairies have been out
sprinkling the garden & washing with glitter!!
Yes I did hang washing out the other day,
on a dry day and forget about it!
And now it's in the tumble!!

It was quiet stormy the other night we lost the cover for our BBQ
despite it being weighted down with several large rocks....
and while on her last walk round the block, Poppy found this!!



And she pushed it the whole way home! took her a good ten minuets !

It has provided her with much fun ever since....
I have no idea where it came from.
At least one of us is doing a new keep fit regime after the excess of Christmas!!

Beautiful Frost

It was such a beautiful day here, cold but beautiful!
Minus 8 degree's C at it's lowest.
Had a lovely woodland walk with Poppy Dog.

I was happy taking pictures with my new camera.......
She was happy with a wee stickie.

I love how everything is dusted with the frost that
shimmers as the sunlight breaks through the trees.

You would like that it would be too cold to lie down
and chew a stick....
But it seems not!

Apart from the two DT cards I made yesterday
I have done very little crafting.
I did however sort out my craft area,
put away my new goodies,
and sort out stuff in my new storage thingy.......


Then made these wee Thank you Tag cards with my new Sizzex die.


Here are a few that are finished ready for posting.

keep warm xxx

Bling it up baby!

I made this card using my Faith looks Sure stamp from The Crafty Pad

For our second challenge at the Crafty Pad we want to see your bling!

This week there is another prize up for grabs:

14 sheets of 6x6 Laura Ashley Traditional papers and matching ribbon stickers with glitter..:) :)

So ....come on over and join us....add some bling baby!!

Xmas Pictures

Hope you all had a lovely time over the festive period.
We did!
We had a lovely time at home, first time since we got together 16 years ago,
just ourselves,
in our own house.

Just wanted to show you one of our favorite gifts, which we got from Emma Elfie

Poppy had great fun unwrapping her toy from Santa, so we re-wrapped it a few times for her!

In fact she helped us unwrap all our gifts too, and then played with the papers.

This is us snuggling on the sofa!


It was all too much for Poppy!

I have done no crafting this last few days.
I need to do my thank you cards, but have family coming to visit tomorrow,
but I did manage to get my DT cards done.

Christmas Wish xx

my friend Ayoub posted this earlier today....

My wish for you this Christmas:

May peace wrap around your shoulders like a comforting cloak,
May joy enter your heart, and make itself at home,
May luck welcome you under her protective wing
And may love carry you through every storm

Dare to dream, have the courage to feel, and the heart to love all!

How beautiful is that!

I wish it for you too

much love

Teen xxxx

hope you have been good!

cause Santa is watching you know!
Maybe he has already been to some of your house's!

Wish you a wonderful time, what ever you celebrate!

much love Teen xx

smells all Chrismassy!

Our house smells of baking cakes and cookie, of cinnamon and mixed spice !

We have been busy making goodies for Christmas Hamper that we give away as gifts.
Some will be delivered this weekend and some on 23rd and 24th.



We have made all sorts of goodies during the year, jam's, chutneys, pickles, jellies.
Flavoured oils for making dressings, that have chillies and herbs in them.

Andrew had a wee drop of Christmas cake mixture left after making my mums cake,
she don't like booze in hers so we leave it to the last minuet to make.
We made tiny bite sized Xmas cakes with leftover mixture.

They are sooooooooo cute!

Will drizzled a wee drop icing on top and mini decorations on them.
We have a friend who loves Xmas cake but never manages to get through a whole one so we made her one using a can that used to contain the sponge pudding you steam in the tin.

Two friends are gluten intolerant so we make them a Cake each using gluten free flour.


I must admit I usually take more time to decorate them, but since I still had a few bits to do I am really deciding what really needs doing and not doing what doesn't!

I am determined to make this Christmas as stress free as possible. And if that means saying no to people then thats what I will do. Not easy thought is it?

We give our neighbours a couple of jars of our preserves & this year added a wee selection of our home made goodies.
I have been making batches of truffles rolled in either chocolate strands or toasted coconut,
mini millionaires shortbread bites, coconut cookies.



One neighbour and I always swap a wee jar of home made preserves through out the year.
Then at Xmas she adds something like sweeties with our jar of something and this year I have got her a goats cheese she likes to go with our apple and rowen jelly.

Poppy and I went round to drop off a calendar and some truffles to Sue who we met out on our walks, when she is out with her Westie called Brodie.
Poppy flirted, he nibbled her ear and then he showed her his bits! ......

She slapped them!!

She is a naughty visitor! But he started it!

I am feeling happy with the makes we have done, and hope they are enjoyed.
Oh and the sooner we give them away the sooner I stop eating the truffles!!!!

The Holly King's Song

The Holly King

Through smiling eyes to you I say,
'Blessings on this Yuletide day!'
For though my reign is at an end;
Good cheer and joy to you I send.
Celebrate now, the return of the sun/son!
The Oak King's reign has just begun.
Through the turning wheel of time,
Each will have their turn to shine.
So relax. Be still, for this Yuletide spell;
Send love to all and all will be well!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As you may know, I tend to lean towards new age/pagan/celtic beliefs.......
all mixed up thoughts on spirituality rather than any particular religion.

I have in the past found that some people in my life have felt the need to challenge me on this and even try to convert me.....usually leading to arguments and sometimes tears.

But I feel much more comfortable in myself now and have made it quiet clear that my feelings my beliefs are my own and if they want me to respect their right to their beliefs
this mean I have the right to my own.

I wont argue it, I wont defend it, I have no need or desire to.
An adult discussion as far as I can see is two people discussing their feelings or options
without one having to be right or wrong.
Agree to disagree.... be nice, be polite...be prepared to listen..... or B... off!


This year we have been celebrating Yule more than Christmas.
The card above is for my lovely friend Nan & Paul and family who are Pagans,
they have given me insight into a fascinating way of life.

They never judge others, and like myself have many friends who are various different religions...
Christian, Catholics, Muslims, Mormans, Jewish and non belivers.....

To me...your faith is your own. Whatever one you feel is yours.
Believe it, live it, be supported in it and have it in your heart.

I find the whole Winter Solstice fastinating.
In Celtic mythology the Holly King was said to rule over the half of the year from the summer to the winter solstice, at which time the Oak King defeated the Holly King to rule for the time until the summer solstice again.

love & light to you all

Blessed Be & Happy Yule!


xoxoxox

decked my tree with lots of fairies....fa la la la la la la la la laaaa

Warning!

Long waffling post!

So at long last my poor tree which has sat naked in my living room for several day now

..................is at last decorated!

In the last few days I have seen lots of beautifully decorated trees both online & in friends houses. Some have matching decoration , handmade wooden or felt!
Beautiful black tree's or blue lights! Some of them have been just stunning!

My tree has a miss match of decs. But this is for a reason.

I take out the decorations each year and they remind me of a time or person who I have loved.

Here are just some of them....... in no particular order!

Next to me Peace Love & Joy Bauble, which I bought last year to celebrate the fact I was at 36 happy in my own skin and life, is a glass icicle that I made when Andrew bought me a day at a glass blowers in a charity auction! I had great fun that day!



This wee fairy was on a gift we got the only Xmas out beloved Niece Katie was alive.She died the following spring aged only 7 months. She had beautiful flame red hair.

This one we bought two years ago, it is a blonde Angel like our Goddaughter who was killed in a road accident the month before Xmas.

This one is a happier one, although to be honest I don't feel sad when I see the above two decorations, I loved Katie and Amy very much, I miss them, and think of them everyday.
The pink bag was given to me in by a friend who I worked with in the Hospice.
It was my dream job, I loved it, and it was the last place I worked as a nurse.

Behind it is one of the envelopes containing cards I made to give gift vouchers in.

Ok back to my tree!

The pink star was given to my by my lovely mate Gill, along with a few other decs that are also on my tree, I met her a good few years ago and don't see her in person more than once every two to three years, I love her and her family to bits!
The same is to be said about the red dove that was hand made by my wonderful mate Briony!
And she sent me the pink fairy too!
I did think about saying to folk I swap gifts with at this time of year, if you are ever stuck for ideas, get me a tree dec, just one, one that reminds you of me...

I wonder what I would end up with!

The glittery dog is also from Gill but I love it so much as it is a terrier like my beloved Gizmo who we lost last year, she was the reason we didn't have a big tree for many years!
she loved to chew things and wrapping paper was ripped to shreads!!!
The red and blue bauble below it says I love my dog! We also bought a doggy ornament for our beloved Tilly who also died the same year Gizmo did, in fact only 3 months apart.
I don't have it's picture. must have missed it on the tree!

The pink spike one was bought for Gizmo as it is pink like her collar and spikey like her temperament! The two penguins were a gift for me and Andrew from my sister !

And last but not least is my beautiful felt fairy who sits on the top of the tree.
She has the most beautiful wings and was given to me by Shelagh who is an Angel to me!
I don't actually put this fairy away after Yuletime, she sits on my book case.
Too pretty to go away!


So here you go, my tree.

I dont have all the pressie wrapped yet, but teh few I do are under it!
Poppy-dog is very suspcious of this tree!
She scuttles past it and gives it a look of distrust!

I do love my tree!

Jingle Bells Tilda

This card is not my usual style, but love how it turned out.

I printed off the Jingle Bells paper which I found online on a mottled creamy brown paper & tried to distress it a bit .
Andrew asked "how did you make it all scruffy?"
The scrolled edges I have seen done by Emma and Debs.
So thanks for that girls!



I started out trying to make something for Weekend Taggers Challenge this week which is Brown and Aqua.
I found the beautiful aqua & gold hand made paper I had bought ages ago.....
but in the end didn't want to chop it up! how sad is that!!!
I think I have another small bit I will use for the tag challenge....

I am going to enter it for One Stop Craft Challenge. This week Guest DT Claire has asked for buttons or bells.... The teddy on it started life as a Button too!

And I am entering it for Artzy Girlz Challenge who are asking what your fave medium is ...
well it used to be watercoloured pencils but now it has to be my promarkers....
I am really enjoying the results form them now I am getting used to them.
I love how you can colour the flowers with promarkers, just as well as I had no aqua flowers to go on here.

I also have doen a beter job of adding a wee spot of colour to Tilda's cheeks using blush promarker , it did look a bit like she was having a hot flush when I tried it before with a darker pink! Less is more I think!

AND last week they wanted frames.....if you look above it on some of the featured cards....
It's my Poppy in in the window frame that I entered last week!! Woooooo Hoooooo!

How could you not love Poppy-dog!!! Everyone dose ......And boy she knows that!



I am not sure the flower is very Christmassy but I do like the card I ended up with.

I think I have made and sent all I need to now.....so need to stop making Christmas cards now.

Kath's Festive Candy Give away!!!

Go check out what award winning Kath is giving away on her blog !!!!
While you are there have a good look at her site and see why she won

SIMPLY CARDS & PAPERCRAFTS

CARD DESIGNER OF THE YEAR 2008 COMPETITION

Well done Kath!!! xox

Belle and sneaky peeks.

SO both the blogs I am a DT on have challenges out soon!

NOW I am expecting to see you there trying out our challenges and joining in with us!!!
here are two more wee sneaky peakies for you!!!

Firstly Crafty Pad is out on Sunday 15th ..........




Crafty Muse challenge is out on Wednesday 17th!

So , don't let me down!!!!

Now, I can show you this piece that I have finished.....

I have been making calenders for some people instead of all Chrimbo cards.


This is my effort for Emma Elfie, I took this at Belle's 3rd Birthday party
and gave this to Emma tonight and since it has her child on it,
I asked it was ok to show it here before posting the picture.

I am pleased with the end result.
And my lovely wee fairy friend Belle gave me these pictures this evening......

Beautiful butterflies!!!

and purple too!!!

Poppys post!

I have at long last been to the post office with every thing I needed to post except the last 6 cards which I need to parcel up with some gifts once I find the tissue paper!


Then, unless I get any surprises in the post I am all done posting stuff!!!!

Woooooooooooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

I have stuck a "Poppy post" sticker on them all!!
Thank you for cards that I have recieved so far, you know who you are!

I am not gonna photograph them and post them on here as there too many
and I better start not what I will fail to continue!!!

But I have to show you this!!!

It is for Poppy! from the wonderful Dawn's furries Peaches & Pepsi!

blue!

Making note to self.....

I am gonna buy all my cards next Christmas!!!

Honestly!

I am almost there!
But will need a small bank loan to post them all.....

Anyway.... I managed to get a challenge done,
using my new Sugar Nellie Stamp from Leanne,

Cute Card Thursday wanted you to use a punch.....
that will be the snow flakes punched out of dark blue vellum.

Just Christmas and Birthday cards had a sketch on Monday which is the card below,
and then on Wednesday they asked for it to be all one colour.....so its blue!
Well apart form her hair, but I drew the line at her hair being blue!!

This Thursday, it's all about....wanted naughty but nice,
so I used the pictures from Poppy's dog class ,
of her playing with her boy-dog Blue.
Well they are naughty, they are ment to be concentrating but it's cute !

Although , last night at class, she was ment to be doing a recall......
you call her, she returns to you....and she ran straight to Blue....several times!



And lastly, I have finished my DT card for Sammi's Crafty Muse....


Want a wee peek.....do ya?

So gonna come and join us at the Crafty Muse to join in with us?

Go on...you know you want should!

The Crafty Pad!

The lovely Debbie is starting a new challenge blog over at The Crafty Pad
and I am one of her four DT members!!

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooo hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

The first challenge shall take place Sunday 14th December
so be ready for our first challenge..:) :)

want a sneaky peek at my card???

Debbie is introducing her new stamps who is called Faith, so go check her out!

I have been busy doing my card for Crafy Muse's fortnightly challenge
and finishing of my mountain of calenders,
and Xmas cards,
sorting some Birthday
and Wedding
and Anniversary cards......
stamping up for an image swap or two......


and my craft space looks like real tip!!!

Ach I will sort that out tomorrow!!!