a christmas quickie

I am not a Christmassy kinda gal, not at all, I'm more bah-humbug.  

I hate Christmas shopping. 

I like present buying, but not at the same time a million other people are dithering over what to get Aunty Mable & Great Grandpa George.  Make your mind up BEFORE you leave the house people.

I also DO NOT make Christmas cards. 

I know lots of us crafty folks appreciate what goes into handmade items, but in all honesty they are hours I will not get back, and when our house is still upside down as the loft conversion is under way, I have more things to be getting on with. 

But yes, these are Christmas cards you see before you. 

Christmas Quickies.

I've made these for the ukscrappers home page as Mary-Anne likes to have a Christmas gallery on the homepage for December, and I said I would join in. 

Yes - I did groan at myself afterwards, wondering what the heck I was going to make. 

I know this is a stupid busy time of year all round, so I thought how about some quick, bright Christmas cards.  These took minutes to make (once I had decided what to make....)

I've used acrylic ink, scraped out across the card for that artistically modern background (did you spot that...artistically modern..oh yeah). If you use pearlescent inks it make it feel more festive.

I should also add at this point - use good quality cards that will take the ink. I get mine from Inspire Me Papers, or you could make them out of watercolour paper or similar.

Let the ink dry thoroughly while you put the kettle on. 

Once you have your cup of whatever you fancy, stamp away. Mine are done with archival ink, which you must heat set afterwards especially on the pearlescent ink.

Bobs your Uncle, a Christmas Quickie! 

Lists....

Oh heck, where did the time go!

I have been striving to be more organised, but the last few weeks it all feels as though it's gone very pear shaped on that front. December is about to kick in and I really need to pull my Christmas socks up (I don't have any actual Christmas socks though should you be wondering)

Right, first up I've just submitted my first set of DT work to Steph over at Indigo Mill. I was lucky enough to have the Snowy White Snow kit to work with. Here's a little sneak peek where I have also used some Prima Sultan centres. You'll find another one over on the Mill Pond and more will come over the next few weeks.

Next up - JYC 2009!!! Are you ready? We start tomorrow. I have a box ready to go, my extra page protectors have arrived so I just need to slice up that cardstock. I can't pre-plan much more than that as I discovered last year.

What else - oh yes, my crafty Advent box. A group of us on UKS are doing a swap this year, and I think just about everyone has their box of goodies ready to start opening. I found myself settling into a little routine last year around this. This years will go something like this....school run finished, print off the JYC prompt, make a coffee, open my present for the day and read the prompt. How does that sound for a nice start to the day?

I'm off into York tomorrow - assuming the weather is kind to us, to get some more Christmas shopping done and spend the evening wrapping the kids presents. I think I'm going to need more Christmas wrap though!

More Christmas prep....

Yep, more Christmas prep - all for Journal Your Christmas of course, although we have done more Christmas shopping over the weekend. I've just made my first order from the states with this set from Shabby Chic Crafts. Hope I've done everything i needed to and they arrive OK. Can't wait to see them in the flesh!

Planning Christmas...

I'll say the "C" word out loud. I'm not proud!! Yes, I have started my Christmas shopping, I have (in my mind) planned out my Christmas cards for this year so that I know what I'm making. I'm keeping simple, a bit of embossing and matting. Just got to get the supplies.

I also have started collecting my supplies for Shimelles Journal Your Christmas class this year. Oohh drool.... some lurvely American Crafts Merrymint. This little selection arrived the other day and it's now in a box marked JYC 2009. I have my album already - American Crafts D-ring 6x12. I did 8.5 x 11 last year, fancied the challenge of a different format and as I've never scrapped 6x12 before I thought why not?!

In addition to getting some JYC supplies together I've also booked tickets to see Humpty Dumpty at York Theatre Royal.

"Humpty sat on a wall then had a fall.

Not much of a plot even by Kaler’s standards - or is it? Let the team that brought you the acclaimed Dick Turpin stretch your imagination to Herculean proportions with a brand new hilarious version of this classic nursery rhyme.

Will the orphaned Humpty find a mother?

Can he protect the tiny Kingdom of Pantoloon from the evil Eggula?

What happens when our Panto Heroes are forced to venture into the real world?

Book now for the panto event The Sunday Times consistently rates one of the top five attractions to see anywhere in the UK during the winter season. "

Sounds good! Well, we think so anyway and judging by the number of tickets sold already, we're not the only ones.

I think that's enough of Christmas for now, especially as it's beautiful and sunny outside. Makes it feel wrong to talk about it.