HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Happy New Year to all of my readers!!

Thanks for your comments and for visiting through out this past year. I hope you all have a good night tonight and stay safe if you're going out. We're not, we'll stay up and watch the fireworks on the telly.

I shall get back into cardmaking again once the table is cleared of everyones Christmas presents! They like keeping them all in one place for a while, lol.

See you in the New Year!

A photo of us...

Darryl took this of me and Justin at dads on Christmas Day. My hair has really grown! Three years ago my hair was shaved to a number one on the back and sides, and the longest setting on the top... I have no idea what that number is, lol. 

Oops, forgot this pic!

I forgot to add this photo of Matthew and Daddy outside for Matthew's first attempt on his bike. 

Our Christmas...

Was great! 

Below is Darryl, Abby and Matthew ready and waiting for our Christmas Eve buffet patiently. We had lots of scrummy things to eat. 

Abby left around 7pm to get to her nan and grandad's. Telly wasn't very good this night, and Justin had a headache and spent 3 hours in bed!!

Matthew went to bed at 10.30pm and "Father Christmas" started bringing the presents down and under the tree at about 11.30pm. We also had to get Matthew's new bike from the garage and wrap that up! Justin made us a cuppa. We went upstairs to bed at about 1am. I placed some little pressies like chocolate Santa's and other little bits under Darryl's tree and in his little stocking hanging on the door and then Justin went and got Matthew's stocking, after putting a couple of bits under his tree. Justin bought his little stocking in our room and then MATTHEW WOKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We heard him whispering "Santa's been, Santa's been." He then came in to tell us, by now we had the stocking in bed with us, lol. Matthew then went to the loo so Justin chucked the stocking on Matthew's bed, lol. Matthew said that Darryl's stocking had things in, but the strangest thing is that his was missing, lol... then he saw it on his bed and laughed. We told him it was far too early to be going downstairs, but he could open the little presents in his room. We heard him ripping little bits of paper for ages. I think he got up once more in the night, and so did Darryl as he couldn't sleep!

We got up at 6.35am.

Matthew LOVED his bike, and he said it was a big shock, lol. We all got lots of really nice presents. Justin got me a Betty Boop watch, pen, and charm bracelet, Leona Lewis CD, a Liliput lane pub cottage, and more! Darryl bought me a large Forever Friends rubber stamp/stickers set, Mamma Mia on Blu Ray and The Mist, Bendicks mints, two books and more. I got my lovely suede boots and pyjamas at dads, a bottle of Bacardi, chocs. I got two new Trollbeads from Justin's dad and step mum, a gorgeous deep red one and a silver spacer bead.

Justin loved his Ipod Touch, he also got Jack Daniels, Titanic book and Formula One books, Killers CD and more. Darryl loved his camera and printer, his Rocky bathrobe, dvds/blu rays etc. We got tons of stuff, don't know where it's all going, and it's still a tip here at home.

We went to dads at 11.30am and opened more presents! Dad liked all of his, he had two CD's - G4 and The Priests, some Apple and Damson chutney, new slippers, etc. Dinner was lovely as usual. As I type this, I could eat all of it again right now. 

Justin, dad and Matthew went to check on the dogs and let them out after we'd washed up. I stayed at dad's with Darryl. When they came back we watched Wallace and Grommit Were Rabbit. We watched the Christmas Doctor Who special and then came home. Home looked like a bomb had hit it and still does! We watched the soaps, Eastenders and Coronation Street - Eastenders being the best acted and storyline. 

We crashed in bed about midnight... and we all put our Ds's on and played Mario Kart together, lol.

Boxing Day. We had a brief walk into town and Darryl and Matthew bought some things with their Christmas money. Darryl a blu ray, and Matthew a couple of books.

Darryl went to his dad's for the afternoon, and took Matthew out to the garages behind us to have a go on his bike... it's going to be a while before he can ride it. We're going to take off the peddles so he can just push himself round till he gets his balance - I suppose he should of had a bike years ago! Darryl came back about 8.30pm, and we watched The Polar Express in 3D - see photos below.

I hope you all had a good Christmas, and thanks dad for a gorgeous dinner!

Christmas Eve buffet

A mince pie and milk for Father Christmas.

WOW! How happy does he look??

The presents under the tree.

Rocky! I mean Darryl!

Matthew and his bike.

Christmas dinner.

LOL! Flashback to the eighties.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - The Philippine Madrigal Singers

Here's some pics of our room.

Here's what our room looks like this morning. I've put the festive tablecloths on, lol... children's Christmassy types. The candle centrepiece on the main table is what my aunt and uncle bought for us. Underneath the coffee table tablecloth are the tins of Roses, Cadbury's chocolate biscuits, Celebrations, and auntie Janet's mince pies!! 

I uploaded the tree again.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

I hope everyone has a  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Last night we extended our table and now it looks massive! My Auntie Janet and Uncle Jim popped round with pressies and mince pies for us. They also left us a gorgeous candle with plants and glittery things centre peice which I love, I also have some mince pies and a card for dad from them as well. 

Darryl and Abby had a lovely Christmas dinner out at Frankie and Benny's and both full when they got home.

Today I'm going to cook our turkey crown for tonights buffet, I also have sausage rolls, cheese puffs, quiche, hot rolls and a zillion other things to prepare for tonight. 

Justin thinks he may not finish work until 5.30 tonight, which is annoying as he normally finishes around 2pm on Christmas Eve... then he cooks the sausage rolls etc... so I've got to try hard not to burn them, lol.

Where have the frosty mornings gone????

I'm annoyed! I hope it's going to be frosty on Christmas Day! It's been freezing here most mornings for around the last month, and now the temperature goes up 10 degrees C.

Matthew had a Christmas party/disco at school during school hours today which they knew nothing about. They had some party food too so that added to their enjoyment. They also got a treat from the teachers dressed in drag, lol. The teachers performed Jack and the Beanstalk their way. I wish I'd of seen it. Matthew's teacher said he doesn't know how women can walk in high heels... mind you, neither do I!

Justin had today off work and we went to Tesco's with dad. Justin HATES shopping and gets quite stressed going round the shop... then after there we went to Iceland to get some frozen gateaux, cheesecake, ice cream etc. We were glad to get the shopping finished. I still need to get the fresh salad stuff, but what I don't have after that then it's tough.

Darryl won a prize!!

Darryl entered a competition that was in the "Myvue" cinema magazine. It was to win some Quantum of Solace stuff, and there were to be 5 winners. He spent £10 on his mobile sending text messages trying to win. He never heard anything from them until the postman came this morning and delivered them! He won a massive cinema poster that's in the tube, an excellent jacket, a cap, and in the case is a cocktail shaker and two Bond cocktail glasses. He was very surprised. Well done Darryl!!

You are not seeing things if you can see the little Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles on my tree, lol... Darryl got them as a little boy, so they have to go on the tree each year... although I think I've managed not to have them on the last couple of Christmasses, but he got Matthew to put them on this year, lol... and yeah, my little pink mouse from Cleethorpes is still on there. I've forgotten again how old it is... but it's about 34 years old. 

First ever batch of cards made.

Below is the first time I've ever made a batch of cards in one go... and I half feel like I've cheated, lol. I needed to make a few flat cards so they weren't going to cost an arm and a leg to post because of having a jewel on or something, and here's what I came up with.

I used my fav Santa stamp and stamped in both red and black. Mounted on either red or blue card, then gold for the red ones, and silver for the blue. I then mounted some of them on top of snowflake embossed card. I added either glittered trees or snowflakes, or peel offs and then added glitter to those too. Each pair of Santa's glasses are glittered either red or blue. I'm actually quite pleased with them. 

How's this for blog candy??!

WOW! How amazing is this????!!! I would LOVE to win these stamps. 

Have a look at the past challenges too, and maybe have a go next time?

Friday Sketchers 32.

Here is my entry for this weeks Friday Sketchers challenge. 

I used my favourite Christmas stamp along with papers from Dovecraft, Bazzill Basics cardstock, snowflake embossing folder, Prima flowers, Kanban Bling, 2 die cuts cut from the Joys of the Season Cricut cartridge and glittered, and a sticker from stash.

Claire's Blog Candy.

Wow! Check out Claire's fab blog candy giveaway!!! While you're at it, have a look at some of her fab creations too! 

Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells - Yello

Walk like an Egyptian.

For school today, Matthew had to dress as an Egyptian... so last night I got busy ripping up a brand new sheet to come up with this effort, lol. He did actually look quite good this morning... He had fun and looked the part along with all the other kids, and his teacher looked pretty much the same as this, but without any trousers!! Bet his legs were cold, it's been freezing here all day long!

I also made a card today, shock horror!!! I'd cut out some Christmassy shapes with the Cricut E and sat and glittered them. I then made ONE card... I still can't believe how much stuff you have to get out just to make one card, and all the mess... or maybe it's just me that makes all the mess, lol. I need a craft room... 

I'm feeling much better now, and looking forward to looking around all the blogs on my blog list again, I've missed seeing all the gorgeous creations.

Darryl had his Christmas lunch at work today... He had 2 soups, 2 turkey dinners, 2 Christmas pud and custard, 2 mince pies, 2 bottles of beer, and 2 red wines... his table were told that if they could eat two, they would get their dinner for free instead of paying a fiver... I'd of paid the fiver!

I have a beef casserole cooking in the oven, and it smells scrummy. (Darryl doesn't want any tonight, lol) I'm going to enjoy my dinner tonight with dumplings as well. Oh, I have to mention Matthew, lol... At 3am on Wednesday morning, Matthew woke up and couldn't get back to sleep, so instead of just laying in bed, he got up and went downstairs, turned the Christmas tree lights on, got a drink, layed under some crocheted blankets on one of the settees and watched Deck the Halls Christmas film... then he turned it all off at 5am and went back to bed. I wouldn't have dared do that when I was his age, not that we had video's/dvd's back then lol, but I'd of been scared!!! He was very tired last night when he went to bed, lol, and didn't get up to watch a film again last night.

Secret Crafter Challenge.

Wow! I've made a card!!!!!!!!!

This one is for Saturday's Secret Crafter challenge... I'm late, I know... but you know how the saying goes.

So here is the card...

I used the Cricut cartridge Joys of the Season to cut out the snowman and the larger snowflakes, and used an X Cut punch for the little one (on the ribbon - cut out of acetate). I glittered all the snowflakes with Crystal fine glitter. I dry embossed the background with my snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder used in the Sizzix machine. Papers were from old stash that I have had for ages. Oh, I also used some Anita's snowriter stuff along the button and glittered that too!

Thanks for a great challenge!!

Feeling much better!!

So much so, that I actually went out on my bike for the first time today... I only went to pick up a parcel and had to walk some of the way when there was a slant in the path going up hill, lol, but it's a start!! It really was only a slant as well... I'm so unfit!

Tomorrow I'm HOPING to get a few cards made... it's so hard finding the time now. I think next year I'm going to try and make some every month... I'm sure I said that last year!! I have missed making the challenge cards these last few weeks, and today is the first day without having to take painkillers for my throat! WOOHOOOOOOOOO.

I hope everyone is well, and thanks for the awards I've been given lately. I'm not sure I can pass them on though, coz everyone seems to have them already, but I'll have a look to see.

Christmas is coming... isn't it exciting???!!!

It's beginning to look...

Happy December!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well! I've STILL got throat problems, it's not sore anymore, but it hurts when I swallow but mainly on the sides and my ears... but then it alternates which side hurts, so I'm rattling with painkillers, Strepsils (thanks dad!), and gargling in Asprin. My voice has also gone since dad was here for dinner tonight.

I still haven't made a card, but I did get the blanket finished finally!! I'd used 6 100 gram balls of pink, and 5 50 gram balls of black eyelash and Merce was very pleased with it. I'm SO glad it's finished. 

I'm almost finished my Christmas shopping, just an odd present left to buy still. I've got them all wrapped up as well! I'm so organised this year. Matthew's bike is still in the garage of course, and we will attempt to wrap that up on Christmas Eve at about 1am when Matthew's finally asleep, lol. 

Here are some pics of our trees etc... we do also have a little lit tree in our room but not photo here. Justin bought it last Monday, and it makes the bedroom nice and cosy, lol.

Our main tree in the lounge.

Darryl's tree in his bedroom.

Matthew's tree in his room.

Garland on unit.

Advent candle.

Candle arch in window.