Merry Christmas!!

This month did not go as planned.  I had lots of ideas and hopes of many a crafty day, but unfortunately things did not quite go that way.

I have managed to keep up with JYC for about the first 6 days. I am still determined to finish this Album though. This is what I have done so far.

  (blank spaces are for photos not yet printed)

However things are back on track and it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas

and just in time too!

I have been leaving festive messages around the house. The smell of Sparkling Cinnamon is currently filling the air.  These candles are everywhere. :)

The presents are wrapped and the stockings are filled! Louie does not understand that he has to wait until tomorrow so he has been sitting under his stocking crying....poor pup.

I will be missing my family in South Africa a lot over the next few days.  It does make Christmas in the UK bittersweet being without them. Thank goodness for Skype and living in a digital age!

Merry Christmas and

Best wishes for a Happy New Year to you all!!

Love

Cindy xx

JYC - It is nearly here!

For the past two years I have been taking part in Shimelle Laine's Journal Your Christmas.  It is such a fun project to work on if you really love this time of year.  It starts on the 1st  December and I am a little late in getting prepared for one of my favourite projects of the year, but I am nearly done. So pleased that this year I am able to dedicate an area in my craft room solely for this project. It just makes it easier not to have to put everything away and just pick up where I have left off the previous day.

My Kit arrived from Shimelle last week and I just LOVE it!

I am determined to finish my 2012 Journal as we work our way through December, but if I don't then that is OK too. As long as I keep my journal and photos up to date (as I have done in the past) it should be fine.

 The American Crafts 8x8 album worked well both times before so I will be using one again this year.

These are a few pages form my 2012 Album.

I have been super organised this year and completely prepared for the Silly Season so I am hoping to keep you updated as my album progresses during the month of December and into January. 

I am looking forward to drinking lots of hot Chocolaty drinks, snuggling up with winter woollies and looong hot bubbly baths after a good work out!!

Thank you for stopping by!

Cindy x

...too early to talk Christmas?

Nooo!  I love Christmas.  My checklist started on the 1st September already! - True story..

Last year my lovely mum bought me a chipboard Holly Wreath from Kaisercraft for Christmas and it was top of my list to finish as part of our home decorations this year. It took me a while to get started though as I thought it was going to be hard work - cutting and sanding etc. (most chipboard projects scare me a bit)

After "breaking" the pieces apart I sanded the edges where they were joined smooth.

I chose the Darling Dear 6x6 Designer paper pad from My Minds Eye.  It is an older collection, but I had it in my stash for some time now and think it is so cute. I drew the shapes out on the paper and then cut them out.

I used Mod Podge to glue my paper pieces to the chipboard and inked the edges with "vintage photo" distress ink from Tim Holtz. 

I then painted the wooden ring and edges with Silver paint.  At this point it was late and with crossed eyed tiredness mixed in with bad lighting a lot of the paint ended up on the actual leaves!  That is OK though. It looks like I meant to do that.

I am so happy with the result. I love it and can not wait to decorate the house! 

 Even I have to wait to the 1st December though....

Are you currently working on any crafty Christmas projects?

Thank you for stopping by today!

Cindy x

A visit to Italy....

Wow!  Another busy month here and it has just flown by. I am getting very excited though as it means another month closer to Christmas. When the leaves start changing colour here in the UK I always feel a kind of giddy excitement. I love Autumn and the lead up to Christmas. (but we won't go there just yet)

We were in Italy this month to try and find that last bit of summer and sun before the long winter starts.  We had nice weather. Not too hot and not cold at all.

When we got to Naples we travelled down the beautiful Amalfi Coast.  We also took a boat ride when we reached Amalfi to see the coast from a different angle. Just amazing.

We then travelled to Pompeii to visit the ancient city.

We hiked up to Mount Vesuvius which is still an active volcano. We were able to look right down into the crater. Then it was off to Sorrento for some shopping, pizza and ice cream! 

We also visited Montecassino and the British War memorial, dedicated to the soldiers who died there during the war.

We travelled further up North to Tuscany where we visited Assisi, St Mary of the Angels and Lake Trasimeno

I was really looking forward to visit Rome and so glad we finally made it there.

We ended our stay in Italy by travelling to Florence. I finally got to see the real "David" as sculpted by Michelangelo.

We had a great trip and met some lovely people on our travels.

Now it is planning for the new season and I am smiling from ear to ear with excitement!!

Thank you for stopping by today!

Cindy x 

September - what a month!

This has really been such a busy, full month!  I also had the wonderful surprise of my mum coming to visit!  Can not believe Matt and Mum kept this one a secret!

Mum and I tried to make the most of our short time together and first on our list had to be a crafty affair!

So off to the lovely Jackie Da Silva we went for an afternoon of card making with a stamp from the new Stampin' Up! Catalogue. Jackie runs classes in Card Making and Scrapbooking and you can be sure you will love what you make!

We visited the historic market town of St Albans and then hopped on a boat for a cruise into the Chilterns down the Grand Union Canal.

A trip to London is always on the cards.  Mum and I went strolling along the river path and South Bank admiring the bridges over the River Thames in the City.  Who knew that Waterloo Bridge was re-built mostly by woman during the war years?

 

Portobello Market  was our next stop.  After living in the UK for nearly 10 years this was my first visit, but I would definitely want to go back for a shopping spree soon!

In between all this I had to go for my final step in receiving my British Passport...The Interview.  Good news though I received it two days later!  Super quick! I baked cakes and we  probably drank way too much coffee!

I have been looking forward to the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace for months and so lovely that mum got to go with me. 

Very sad that all good things must come to an end, but what a great end to mum's visit.

Love you Moekie!

Thank you for dropping by today.

Cindy x