3 of a kind ATCs and new pic of Sunflower

Another grey and foggy day here in North Yorkshire. I am really wishing for some sun soon. I could use a vitamin D fix. Today we had to take the car for some new tires so there were a few hours to pass at the shoppes. We happened to find this awesome store "Home Sense". We browsed the isles and found some nice things. I love finding bargains and boy did we find some great ones.

So on the creative front my ideas are still slow at coming but I finally finished my ATCs for the 3 of a kind ATC swap on UK Stampers Forum. Here they are. Sorry the first picture is not too good but my flash is acting up.


The 3 red flowers on the first ATC are my 3 of a kind there. I stamped them on a blank napkin using Close to My Heart stamps then added them to the card using a gloss medium that came with my Napkin kit. The background is stamped with a clear script text stamp from unknown origin. I also used distress inks to color the background.
The second flower ATC has Roses done the same way using napkins and an unknown rose stamp(it is the rose from the middle of a circle stamp) the napkin was colored using shimmer paint that also came with my kit. The background is stamped with a mesh stamp from the Stamp Man (Christmas set)It is embossed with Gold and inked with Distress inks. The edges are foiled with gold. I was going to use the Rose stamp as my 3 of a kind but I am not sure if it qualifies since they are overlapping so I added something else. The 3 of a kind on this ATC are the 3 orange gems.

The 3rd ATC using a Close to my Heart Seahorse stamp inked in walnut ink then embossed with Moonglow Angel Wings gold. the background is Distress inks and the edges are torn strips of napkin edges. My 3 of a kind here are the Seahorses.

So this is the extent of my creative projects so far. Maybe tomorrow will bring some more ideas. Thanks for stopping in and have a wonderful day. Angela

A little Bit of Crafting

Today Belle went to work with her father for a bit so after the housework was taken care of I got to sit up in my craft room for a little while and sit I did ....sit and stare at my desk. I seem to be having a hard time coming up with anything creative. Maybe it was too many cookies or too much baileys over the holiday???I do not know. So off I went on the web to check out some of my favourite stops....maybe they can help? Anyway Over at UK Stampers Forum I found an ATC swap and weekly challenge so I decided to take a go and here is what I turned out......

My tag is created for the Week 39 challenge where there was a list of ingredients to use:

Stamped text background

Found object

Image of an angel
My found object is the paper ribbon on the bottom of the tag. It is from Anna Griffin. I just happend to find a spool of it in my box of gems so I guess that makes it a found object. the text backgroun is an unknown clear stamp I picked up a while back at the Harrogate show. I also used Stormy Sky and Dusty Concord Distress ink over the text stamp. The Angel is from a Stampin Up set and coloured with Promarkers and distress inks. Her wings are embossed with Moonglow Angela Wings Turquoise as are the snowflake stamps from Tim Holtz down the side.

My next little creative project are 3 misc ATC's. I decided to play with my US Artquest Napkin collage kit I bought from the Stamp Man a while back. I really love my kit and had alot of fun making these. the napkin images are really nice. I am still working on my ATC swap for the UK Stampers forum 3 of a kind swap.

Well I am still not feeling it though so maybe tomorrow will bring a more creative outlook. Maybe if the sun came out it would help a bit. It seems to be cloudy and foggy every day lately.
thanks for stopping in and have a wonderful day. Angela

Christmas project and photos

This Christmas one of my projects was to make my daughters Christmas dress. Of course she had to design it so I was left to get the finished product complete. The material she chose was absolutely horrible to sew. It had a bit of stretch to it so it kept puckering and jumbling up the stitches. I am happy with the final product though, as was my daughter as you might be able to tell. Not bad for working from a child's sketch and no pattern. she wanted it to look like Belle's Christmas dress from the Beauty and the beast Christmas movie. I think it looks somewhat medieval.

Here is a view (or at least part of)the back of the dress.

Christmas was pretty quiet around here except for the kiddies being all excited with the pressies. the biggest kid of all was our furbaby Sunflower. She seemed to have gotten more pressies than anyone.

I think this is her favourite time of the year

She loves her pressies. Especially her new collar. See it on her? She did not want to take it off.

Now here is another thing my daughter talked us into over the holiday. Have you ever hear of the little fishes at "Happy Feet" that eat away the dead skin from your feet to make them softer? Well they just opened one in York and my daughter convinced us to go. It was so weird. The fish just go crazy attacking your feet like little piranhas without teeth. It really tickles but does work. Although I do not know if I could sit through it again. My daughter loved it. Definitely a weird experience.

So that was a little of what we have been up to over the past few days. I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas. I am hoping to get to some crafting tomorrow , it is supposed to snow so I am hoping for a bit of a snow day. Not too much just enough to make it a nice day in. Have a great evening and thanks for stopping in. Angela

Countdown to Christmas day 23-25 and Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas today! We have had a lovely day at home just the 4 of us and lots of skyping. How did you spend your christmas?
Well today is the final day of the Countdown to Christmas Matchbox swap. This has been such a fun swap. so now onto the matchboxes I received for days 23-25

Day 23 is from Kelly and is adorable with a little snowman and tree. Inside is a really cute little paper doll sheet and pin.

Day 24 comes from Nancy P. and is a cute little scene. I love little miniatures.

And now the final Day 25 comes from Hope, one of my previous swap partners from the Mussie Tussie swap at A swap for all seasons. Hopes matchbox is so sweet with a liitle house and window scene. Inside is an adorable little wooden snowman ornament.

Thanks Kelly, Nancy and Hope. I love them.
Well this has been a great swap I have had a wonderful time. Thanks also to Linda for organising and running the whole swap. I cannot wai to see what Linda has in planned for her next swap. Thanks for joining me throughout the Matchbox reveals . Hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas. Angela

Countdown to Christmas swap days 19-22

We are almost there in the Countdown to Christmas Matchbox swap. Day 25 is just around the corner. This swap has been so much fun, I just wish I had a bit more time to browse all the wonderful blogs of those participating in the swap. Well at least the presents are wrapped and the cleaning done so there is a bit extra time in the schedule. So now for a bit of catchig up on my part again, here are my matchboxes received for days 19-22.

Day 19 is from Francie and contains a beautifully festive pair of earings. I love the little snowflake charms on the box too! so pretty.




Day 20 is very unique and comes to me from Mary. Inside is a cute little ornament.
Day 21 comes from Wendy and is another unique design timmed with gold ruffle and festive fabric. Inside it is hidden a cute little stocking ornament.

and finally day 22 ceoms from Pam. It is decorated with a decorative flower and fancy flower pull. Inside is hidden not 1 but 2 little ornaments!

Only 3 more to go now so be sure to check back for the final 3. Thanks for stopping in and wishing you a wonderful day. Angela

Countdown to Christmas days 14-18

Well it has been a very busy week here so I must apologise for not posting my matchboxes all week. Monday was spent with rescheduled driving lesson, picking up DH from the train station and of course work at school. Tuesday was school then baking and cooking for the cookie swap...Here Belle is preparing her cookies for the swap. Gingerbread cut outs.

and here they are all finished and iced in blue of course.

The wednesday was Craft day at school then home to prepare for the cookie swap that evening. There were lots of yummy cookies baked by all...

and lots of yummy food to eat before the sweets.

Everyone had a great time and left wit plenty of yummy cookies and recipies.

So my cookie swap has been inspired by my friend Zandra back in the states. She is having her this weekend which I am sadly missing this year. I am sure the girls back home are having a great time at Zandras cookie swap which is awesome. I will be missing them all.

Thursday was a full day of work at school, then helping with the crafting activities in the Christmas church night at the village hall followed by teaching my last class for family craft night.

Then Friday was school again and helping out at the kids carol event at church then home to crash for a little bit before posting. Which leads me to now....my Countdown to Christmas Swap mathboxes for days 14-18.

Day 14 is from Michelle and contains a sweet little bottle cap magnet.

Day 15 paris inspired by Lyneen and contains a sweet pin and ribbon.

Day 16 is from Valerie and contains a cute little ornament.

Day 17 is from Jenny and contains a cute star ornament.

And finally number 18 is from Michele with a beautiful little pendent.

Thank you Michelle, Lyneen, Valerie, Jenny and Michele. I will be by shortly to visit your blogs. Now I must bid you good night as there is another full day of running around tomorrow. Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful evening. Angela

Countdown to Christmas swap Day 13

Another wonderful box to open today in the Countdown to Christmas matchbox swap over at A swap for all Seasons. Todays Matchbox comes to me from Bonnie and is beautifully decorated with Santa and silver trimmings.

And inside a beautful little handmade ornament. Thank you Bonnie.

Now for a full day of driving lessons, work and picking up DH from the train, Oh and yeah I have to fit making cookies in there somewhere as well as cleanign the house. Wish I had a few more hours in the day. why does chistmas time always have to sneak up like this. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day. Angela