Truly out of the doldrums, who cares about …. eyes really bad …. oil running out and no heating for a week , oil man coming tomorrow …. snow, nearly all gone thank goodness, we managed to get the car off the drive and into the village yesterday first time in two weeks, …. got the best news ever on Friday …. Andrew’s holiday’s have been OK’d and we are off home to the UK for Christmas …. can’t remember the last time I saw the grandchildren opening their presents on Christmas day …. I’m so happy oh so happy and more good news the elusive birthday cards turned up …. only 4 days late but worth waiting for …. three were handmade which was a surprise.

I am really going to miss Andrew’s company, he has worked from home for the last two weeks, we truly get on so well together …. we even share the craft room, even though he still calls it the office …. he has a desk in the corner and selfish me has all the rest of the space.

My daughter-in-law’s birthday card inspired me for this week’s Sentimental Sundays Challenge , Let It Snow …. just not here. Her card looked sooooo pretty and she used material on it which she knows I love, so this is my DT card for the challenge and it is also Clare & JP’s Christmas card …. hope she likes it …. JP won’t he always says haven’t you heard of KISS Mum …. keep it simple stupid. They have four cats in the household which is why I added the little pussy and blinged it up with lots of diamond dust, the charm in the centre of the sentiment was silver so I coloured with copics. Still playing around with my backgrounds.

I think most of us fell in love with the snow sentiment this week from Ann at Raindrop Echo designs, you can find it here from Whimsy Stamps. Oooo nearly forgot don’t forget to pick up your freebie while there, Lisa chose the set of three sentiments for you and they are beautiful …. thanks Lisa.

Here is Clare’s card isn’t it just adorable, and I know that material it’s from Cath Kidston one of my fave designers, thanks Clare.

Getting the hang of making background paper this one turned out so pretty I am going to print it off and if it looks good make a card with it.

Entering for:
Pear Tree Designs – Christmas

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear Shirley …. sorry just had to do that because I really feel like Billy no mates today …. not one birthday card has arrived for me, boo hoo. Oh well I’d better confess and tell you the whole story before you all think that I have been sitting here well and truly down in the dumps …. had no post for a week because of the weather. Good news is I get to open them after my birthday …. eh not sure about that one.

Wow have I been experimenting with the backgrounds for my cards …. what do you think of the image above …. now some are going to hate it but me personally I love it. Made the background paper from my card then cut and pasted the image into the centre of the paper.

This is another freebie Christmas image from Digital Two For Tuesday isn’t she so adorable. Background paper is from K & Co, Swell Noel and have covered the left hand corner with vellum …. you can just see the little church showing through. Made the bows from a Hot Off The Press template – Fold-It-Bows – they look really pretty …. bit different from all the paper flowers I keep using. Oops forgot to say I coloured the image with watercolour pencils.

Entering For:
The Creative Cottage Challenge – Untraditional Christmas Colours
Allsorts Challenge – Light Up The Night – you have to have a candle or other light on your card …. maybe you do have to get the binoculars out but there are two candles on the tree
Daring Cardmakers Challenge – Turquoise is December’s Birth Stone – Sponsors for this challenge are Flourish With A Bling Baby It’s Cold Outside
Lollipop Crafts – Welcome Winter
Sweet Stampin Challenge – Wahoo there is a challenge …. Make Your Own Paper