It Snowed

Yesterday we went to - wait for it - another Christmas Market.  Where?

This is a photograph Paul sent me which he took - you can see the snow falling

(I have removed my photograph of the Wheel as Paul's is so much better)

Quite close to home - Manchester - not really a holiday but I am putting this blog under that category because it does not fit anywhere else.  Met my friend Paul and did the markets.  My how it has grown!  If you go to the Manchester City Council website you can see a list of all of them, all within easy walking distance of one another.

We started off in St Ann's Square with Paul having a hot chocolate (a mug of hot milk with a "stirrer" which had a humongous blob of chocolate on the end of it which melted as he stirred) and then proceeded to a Gluhwein stall where I had to partake of a mug.

What did I buy?  Various German sausages (bargain bag of them for £10), three Cheese Truckles, Italian Nougat (chocolate and pistachio), Sweet Garlic and Ginger and some chocolates.  Notice, all foody things!

We ended up having a cup of coffee by the Big Wheel and it started to snow.  It was lovely sitting there in the warmth looking at the wheel all lit up with the snow falling gently in the dark sky behind.

After 'oohing' and 'aahing' over the gorgeous papers in Paperchase we walked up to Piccadilly (making a stop to look in Hotel Chocolat) where they have a huge toboggan run and a "tent thingy" where you can bounce up and down on one of those wired harnesses.  No, we did not partake in either.

Paul took some more photographs with his camera and has promised to send them on to me so watch this space.  A great afternoon out with one of my favourite men - thanks Paul for showing us YOUR Manchester and for your delightful company.

Another of Paul's photographs

I loved this modern tree just by Piccadilly Gardens

ASIDE:  Craft Stamper have a blog giveaway of Sharpies markers - to be in with a chance follow the lilnk.

Final Banner - Or is It?

Now done my fourth and last challenge on Ready Steady Stamp for the banners but am toying with the idea of doing a fifth one.  Got to think of some elements to include which have not been used before.

These are the ingredients to be used this time.

I was a bit stuck with the Music Score but on searching through my stash I found some gorgeous paper which was more or less in the colours I had been using so that was a relief.

I already knew which Santa stamp I was gong to use as I love this Stampfrancisco image so I stamped and embossed him cutting the edges off to make a circle.  First of all I edged him with a Gold Dabber (not bright enough), went over this with a Gold Krylon (still not happy) and finally mounted on gold mirror card (using my Spellbinders circles).  Happy.

My torn paper was a simple piece of computer paper, 'scrumpled' up with Adirondack Rust, Terra Cotta and Ginger (each added after drying one off and then 're-scrumpling') and finally Encore Gold.  It was then ironed, torn and added.  The background looked a bit plain in comparison to my previous banners and so I stamped some raindrops on the background, masking out the music score.

I only had two stick on pearls so one went on Santa's hat and another on my sentiment which was one I had stamped in America at my friend Mary's.  My banner was complete, all elements added, but there was something else I had to do.  I added some German Scrap to the top as I felt when the four were put together the "Joy" one looked out of place.

So now I have to put them together in a "string" but first of all I think I will make it an odd number and do at least one more.  Watch this space!

Boxing Clever

I should not really be doing Challenges at the moment as there is so much to do around the house but I can't resist.  Even if it means getting up early in the morning I have this compulsion to enter two challenges each week if at all possible.  I'd never cope with lots of them but I do admire people who do.

This is my entry for the Lots to Do Challenge organised by Hilda.  The subject was "boxes" - now, I have a weakness for boxes, buying them, making them and decorating them - so I just had to hold off icing the Christmas cakes and decorate a box which I had made a while ago (with Chezzie at Vicky Stampers).  It's made from 8 x 8 paper - like the Bargello ones I did once at Stamp Camp - now did I put instructions on my blog at the time?

This is the top of the box

This is the front edge - I decided to call it "box" - keep it simple!

This is another side - as it will hold all manner of things I've made little notices for the sides

Another side

and the final one - tried to think of words for "things" - think this is a northern word

As you will see I have put my Cuttlebug and the Spellbinders dies to good use and used some of my favourite ones - namely clocks, locks and keys.  Whilst doing this I thought "hmm, wonder if they will ever make a die with lots of cogs and gears" - I could really use one of those for this type of thing.

If any of you have enough spare money for a Cuttlebug, Oyster Stamps have a good deal on at the moment.  The Cuttlebug plus the red rubber designed by them (worth £6.50) for embossing, a free 5 piece embossing/diecut "Celebration Stamps" set and free post and packing.  All for £58.  Can't be bad.

More Blog Candy - The Stampman

Hurry on over to The Stampman, there is some more delicious blog candy to be given away.

Made It - with Time to Spare

What with all the prep for Christmas, the cards I had to make etc I didn't think I would get my banner done in time for the Challenge over on Ready Steady Stamp.  I just had to do it, especially with it being a follow on from the last two challenges and, I guess, there are more people like me finding it a struggle to fit it in as there aren't many takers this time.

Hey, Ho, I got up early this morning and did it.  Whether I will stick stars on like I have done on the previous two I don't yet know as stars don't really go with holly which is my dry embossed background.  Maybe I would have been better doing baubles with my Elusive Images stamp but I do like the Fragments that Tim Holtz uses and I have been addicted to putting paper or cardstock behind them since I did the Distressed Palooza with him a couple of years ago.

Lucky for me I found some narrow gold cord to hang my baubles with and I managed to tie a smallish bow with some organza ribbon.  I put some German Scrap on the top as it looked quite plain and that seemed to help fill it out a bit.

Where Have I Been?

Not had any time for blogging - been busy finishing off my Christmas cards and now, thankfully, most of them are in the post.  Just a couple more to do and then that bit is over.

Yesterday we decided to put our tree up and today we decorated it.  Might not suit everyone but it has been our tree for the past few years - inspired by trees I saw at Newbold Garden Centre.  Mind you, if I had lots of money I would love a different tree every year, done in a theme like the ones at Bents Garden Centre.

This trumpet and the Treble Clef are amongst my favourite decorations

The spiky decoration is our newest addition

Can you see these two little Angels - had them a while but I love them - they are so cheeky

Our topper is a bunch of eucalyptus leaves

One year, when I have the time I might put our traditional tree, complete with wooden decorations, Danish Style, in the hallway.  Am sure, if I do, my daughter in law will compare the house to "Albert Square" in Eastenders.

Bah Humbug!

A Tag and a Link (Oh, and a Trip)

The Stampman is giving away one of these sets - to win simply visit the blog and follow the instructions.

Not much time today as I need to write my Christmas cards and I have to go and do some last minute shopping.  Would you believe I went shopping yesterday and didn't get a single thing I wanted?

Went out for OUR "Annual Christmas Chinese Buffet - the Pensioners Trip" - with Jeannie and Mo.  We always start off in The Range and despite getting there at just gone 11 am it was 2.25 pm when we left.  We had only done the craft and kiddies section!  A great day out, lots of laughs, full tums and aching backs we returned to our house and drank coffee.  Too full for anything else to eat - but I think someone had a mince pie!

Jeannie (left) and Mo in the Chinese Buffet

The three of us when we got back to our house just before they left

I realised Chas could take a photograph of the three of us - explains why they have their coats on

Anyway, here is a tag I finished off from Saturday's session with Diane.  Love this colour combo which was Pine Needles and Broken China (Distress Inks).  When I saw all of Diane's TH stamps I realised I need to get buying.  Oh dear!