Beware......

....... Some people who you genuinely send image swaps to don't respond and send theirs back. A bit one sided if it's supposed to be a swap don't you think? Even when emails are sent and no reply is received I think it's a bit much don't you? Just to warn you. But I'm not like that, if I say I'll swap with someone I will. So please don't be put off by this when it comes to these things, just beware.

Oh no....

still haven't received my goodies from Simply Cards & Papercraft yet. Will post a photo as soon as I receive it!! Am so excited, can't wait. Like a kid at Christmas. Almost ambushed the postie this morning!

Well Done Kath

When looking at issue 53 of Simply Cards & Papercraft (where my ribbon Christmas Tree is shown on the letters page!!) I noticed that the card designer of the year was none other than a fab lady who's blog I've been following for a while now. Well done Kath, excellent news. Why not pop over to her blog and have a look. http://www.kath-allthatglitter.blogspot.com/ She's got some fab candy to giveaway too but it closes today.

Wow Fabulous Award

Wow I won this fab award from my newfound blogger buddy Emma http://www.craftyemma.blogspot.com/, thanks hun. Why not pop over and have a look at her fab blog.

The rules are:

You have to give this award to five people and link to their blogs, they in turn most pass on to 5 people and link back to the person they received the award from. So here's my 5, enjoy ladies:

Han http://www.han1173.wordpress.com/
Lana http://www.sweetpeaspapercreations.blogspot.com/
Lea http://www.englishautumn.blogspot.com/
Susie http://www.susiescards.blogspot.com/
Denise http://www.craftycrafterdenise.blogspot.com/

You must also list 5 things you are addicted to, so here's my list:
1. Extreme Makeover Home Edition (Ty Pennington is fit!)
2. Family
3. Friends, including my newfound blogger buddies
4. Crafting of course, mainly cards but also soaps and ribbon Christmas trees.
5. Shoes & bags, what girl isn't?

Blog Candy Giveaway Closes 30th December

This fab blog candy is up for grabs so why not pay a visit to this wonderful lady's blog for a chance to win.... good luck.

http://kath-allthatglitter.blogspot.com/2008/12/big-blog-candy-fest-give-away-no-3.html#comment-form

Famous for 5 minutes

I'm so excited. I emailed Simply Cards & Papercraft about 6 weeks ago with my blue and green ribbon tree, after I'd seen it in their magazine. Well on Monday I got an email saying they'd printed my letter in issue 53. They wanted my address so they could send me a free copy of the magazine and some goodies. I was so excited I couldn't wait any longer so I bought a copy yesterday. Thought you might like to see the letter!! Will post a pic when I get my goodies so you can see them. Now I am feeling Christmassy.

what a classic picture

My little girl Emily came home from school with this last week and was so proud as she'd drawn it all on her own. It's the nativity. I could see what it was instantly. You know when you want to laugh and cry at the same time. That's how I felt. Of course, I didn't laugh at her. I love the camel. Mary & Joseph look like they've had a domestic. The angel is the blue one. The stable has a lovely star above it. Baby Jesus is crying because he's hungry. I think it's a wonderful picture considering she's only 4 and in her 1st term of big school. Captures the real meaning of Christmas. Hope you like it.

Blog Candy

Just a note to say I will be offering some blog candy in the New Year as I've nearly reached 3000 hits. Watch this space....

At last....

.... finally, I can relax and enjoy the build-up to Christmas (apart from working in Asda tomorrow evening and 3 hours on Christmas Eve). My dragon website is closed for the holidays and I don't have to wrap up any more parcels for posting, yipee!! Mind you, I still had 3 orders after last orders. Oh well, mustn't grumble, earning money is always a good thing.

Just thought you'd like to know that so far I've raised £190 for my charity by not sending Christmas cards this year. I'm supporting the Royal Marsden Hospital's Cancer Campaign to rebuild the Children & Teenage Unit, as my son Tim was treated there in 2002. Not bad at all I'd say.

Wishing you all a very Merry (not too merry!) Christmas and Happy New Year.

Hooray, I've finished my own ribbon tree

At last, only started it in November, but I've finally finished my own red and green ribbon Christmas tree. You're supposed to find a small tree ornament and stick it on top but I've not found one small enough. May have to make a gold star myself. Hope you like it, I'm really pleased with the end result.

If you would like instructions on how to make one of your own I can email them to you.

Christmas hugs, Clare x

Look what postie brought this morning

Thank you Clare.

I was so pleased this morning when a padded envelope arrived from a blogger friend in Wales. Thank you so much Clare, it really made my day that someone who I've only known for a short while and never met can be so kind and thoughtful. I love the card and the notepad is beautiful, far too nice to use. Emily's eaten her chocolate Santa lolly already!! I'm sure Tim's will be demolished fairly soon too, but he's only just got up, first day of the holidays and a lie in just has to be done!

Wishing you and your family in Wales a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Christmas hugs Clare x

My Christmas Tree and indoor decorations

Hi, well we finally got round to putting up our decorations inside and out this weekend. Usually do it at least a week earlier but what with manic dragon orders and everyone being ill it got postponed. Thought I'd post some seasonal pictures of my decorations inside for a giggle. Will post the outside ones later, when I've taken photos and my eyes have readjusted from the glare of all that neon!! Merry Christmas to you all. Will add some festive music to my playlist tomorrow....

Thanks

Just a note to thank to all of you who sent get well wishes to my kids & hubby. Fingers crossed.... say no more..... Poor hubby really wasn't well last week. He had a nasty ear infection and the tablets made him sick, poor man. Kids & hubby had nasty chest infections the week before. Let's hope they're over the worst now. Thank you to everyone who thought of us.

As to me, I'm still going.... Us mums have to keep going don't we? LOL. I've been working my tail off since October really with dragon orders but last week alone I had 21 orders. I had 51 orders in November and 26 in October. Not bad for a small business run from home with just me processing all the orders.

Anyway, thanks Emma, Susie, Clare!

Blog Candy - Closes 10th December

How about this for a "novel" blog candy. Some not yet released woodland elves stamps from http://pollycraftdesigns.blogspot.com/ in a truly unique presentation book. Pop over for a visit. Closes 10th December. I really want these. They look beautiful.

Crafting on Hold

Hi all, just to let you know I've decided to put my crafting on hold until after Christmas. I'm so far behind in my dragon orders that I can't do everything. I've had 19 orders just this week! Haven't even started them yet. Still catching up from last week. What with both kids being sick last week and hubby this week. He's had an ear infection which was very nasty. Now the tablets are making him sick poor man. So what with kids, work, dragon orders and sickness I'm not in the crafting mood. I may just finish my ribbon tree for my Christmas table but that's about it.

Promise I will blog again in the new year. Have fun. Wishing you all a very
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Blog Candy - Draw on Christmas Day

There's fab candy on offer at http://www.clairescraftycorner.blogspot.com/ to celebrate 5000 hits with 2 ways to enter. You can either leave a comment on her blog with a link on yours and/or make a card following the sketch. The draw will take place on Christmas Day so have a go, good luck.