WOYWW - Christmas Still Abounding !

With November now over half way gone, the pace picks up at the Christmas production line that is my work-desk this week ! Now I know how Santa's Elves must feel beavering away to hit the Dec 25th deadline !

So on my desk you can see some Christmas stamps ready for action along with ink-pads & embossing powders !
Much beloved has very kindly printed out some photos for me to catch up on Journal 52 - this on the theme "Thinking of You" which was for the week including Remembrance Day when my Great Grandfather who was killed in Flanders was very much on my mind.

Well if you think my desk is messy you should have seen the amazing happy creative mess we made at Craft Club last week ! All of us who had been to the NEC brought along our goodies so we could all have a go playing with each others new stash !

We had a great fun evening all working on something new and sharing supplies, chatter & ideas !

Sorry I didn't get to visit many desks last week but I was away for a few days - it was rather a mixed experience !
We went to Bath Thursday which was a disaster as it rained all day & the disabled access was mostly dreadful - every shop seemed to be up two steps & so completely inaccessible for Much Beloved and the pavements had no dropped kerbs so we had to walk in the roads ! Oh the pleasures of disabled living ! We did have lovely Thai meal in the evening to redeem the day !
Friday was better - would you believe the sun came out - 1 day too late typically as we had moved onto to Bristol by then !
And we got some Christmas shopping done, had a fun supper at a microbrewery pizzeria and enjoyed our annual jaunt to see Jools Holland in concert !

Back home at my Desk more Christmas cards made an appearance as I got to play with new stamps, embossing powders and I have come to think that there is no card that can't be enhanced with the judicious use of Stickles !!

Here are some of the latest efforts !
Here Lynda had shared her fun snowman stamp which I enjoyed colouring in !

I saw cards very similar to these below on the Card-io stand at the NEC & just HAD to have this Pinecone mini stamp set .. so here's a Christmas Tree with ribbons ...

And more Pine-cones with ribbons !

Here I used the Pine-cones with some Inkadinkadoo branches stamps and some cute mini robbins from Little Claire's Designs ...

 And rather than black & white monochrome here's navy & white !

And it wouldn't be me this Christmas without a bit of cute decoupage !

I also got to play with Lynda's new Clarity stencil at craft club last week - and trudging around Bath in the rain I did find a Market we could get into which had an amazing ribbon stall.

I just loved this ribbon with the Winter Trees on it and this open weave black one too !

The idea for this Journal page just leapt to mind & insisted on being created !!

So here is my page called November, November The Year's Sad Daughter ... inspired by Eleanor Farjeon's poem - she lived much of her life in Sussex near where I hail from - so maybe this is why this poem has been lurking in the deep recesses of my mind !

 My Dad loathes November - he always says it is the dreariest month of the year - so the sentiments of this poem reflect his views !
Here's November,
The year's sad daughter,
A loverless maid,
A lamb for the slaughter,
An empty mirror,
A sunless morn,
A withered wreath,
The husk of the corn,
A night that falls
Without a tomorrow,
Here's November,
The month of sorrow.

Enjoy your week ! Love Ali xx