Tuesday 18 November 2014

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


22 comments:

  1. wow, you've done more in a week when you've been away than I have being here all the time (apart from that annoying thing called 'work' of course)... love the cards, that snowman is fab, and your card-io inspired designs are wonderful. xx

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  2. Wow! How come you have made more out of the stash that I bought than I have? Lol....my favourite card is the black and white wreath with the robins... You are so creative.. I am regretting not buying some of those stamps myself x

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  3. Hi Ali, love the cards, not sure where you find the time. Still enjoying our time with the family and finding time for craft shopping, only ten minute drive from michaels and joanns!!

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  4. I do like the fat little robins! Great selection of cards you have made and the craft club seems to have gone off a treat. Sorry to hear both the weather and the terrain were not good for you and DH in Bath. A friend received her parcel from the USA the other day...from September, so the mail is slowly getting back on track. I will start harassing my local PO today. I will wait till after Christmas now to post yours, they are still not accepting outgoing parcels.

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  5. LOVE the pine cone stamp and all the beautiful cards you used it on. Sorry to hear about the rain spoiling your trip, and we could use that rain here so bad!
    Hope your week is a GREAT one!
    No# yet
    Krisha

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  6. Awesome stamps and projects. I am looking forward to seeing more of the cards. Have a great week. Vickie #17

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  7. Morning, Ali - what a lovely idea, getting together to share all the new goodies. I love the pine cone pieces - beautiful. And the mouse cards are always a delight. Sorry the outing was stressful, but glad you enjoyed the concert. I would love to go to a JH one. Happy WOYWW, Chris # 8

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  8. Gorgeous cards and it makes me want to get started.
    Sandra de @21

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  9. Happy WOYWW. Yet again I am amazed at the level of your productivity. I have not managed to make a single Xmas card for over a month. When my craft room is finally ready for me, I will have to spend some serious time in there. That tree ribbon is gorgeous - will have to hunt some down. Ali x #42

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  10. Wow, your cards are awesome! I am in love with that wreath wit 3 robins. Awesome!
    Cheers
    Gabriele 26

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  11. Jools Holland, yay!! I love his band so much, we've seen him many times too :-). What a shame about Bath though.....maybe you need to write to the Chamber of Commerce or the Tourist Board about your problems. They need telling!
    Love the messy table at your craft club, happy days, eh?
    Hugs, LLJ 18 xx

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  12. Love all your pinecone cards! VERY creative!! My favorite is the wreath with the 3 birds. And the poem is yes, very somber, as is November (and February). But this morning we were blessed with the sun! Just for a short while though, as the snow gets ready to fall. Oh well! Lindart #60

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  13. Your craft club sounds like fun! Lovely cards! zsuzsa @ InkyDinkyDoodle #39

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  14. What a great craft club, sounds like you all enjoy sharing your stash which is lovely.
    The cards are a lovely collection. Have a great crafty week, Angela x 28

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  15. Stunning Christmas cards, love those pine cone stamps! Your craft club looks like so much fun. TFS and have a great week, and thanks for stopping by.

    Karon #49
    Karon's Krafty Korner

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  16. Your Craft Club looks like great fun! And love the pine cone stamps! I've never seen that poem before and it is definitely sad. Hope you have a happy WOYWW! Thanks for popping by!
    Carol N #48

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  17. Looks like you all had a fab time with the new stash.

    I love the various cards.

    Thank you for stopping by my blog earlier.

    Happy WOYWW
    Sue #71

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  18. Beautiful Christmas cards, and a great variety too. Sorry to hear half your trip was a disaster, it's always frustrating for the disabled when access to shops is difficult or impossible even. I think that's why we resort to Internet shopping so much.

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  19. I love to see someone digging into the stash. Those pinecone masterpieces will have me riffling mine to see if I have a stamp?....hear the wheels turning in my mind now. Thanks for the inspiration, keep smiling and creating.

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  20. Your cards are lovely! That cone stamp is very versatile. looks like a lot of fun at the craft club. All the best! Thanks for stopping by.

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  21. I really enjoyed reading your blog. Yes, Bath is a nightmare, even for an able bodied person. By the sounds of it you found the indoor market. They have a great ribbon stall.
    Did you enjoy Jools Holland? We too used to go every year (we lived in Keynsham for 22 years) and he always has very interesting 'guests' and warm-up band.
    The pine cone stamp is amazing! You've done some really beautiful things with that. But my favorite is definitely your journal page. That is stunning!
    Thank you for letting me look over your shoulder.
    I'm a bit late, but as most people know, I take my time to read through everybody's blog. I love looking at photos, and clicking on links and even reading previous posts.
    Have a good week,
    Lisca#24

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  22. Oh my! I can't believe how busy you've been and more to come by looks.

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