Alpha Challenge #25 & #26 Independence Day & Xmas

The end of the Craft Barn's year long Alpha Challenge draws to a close. Both of the last letters "X" and "I" have been given to us with a deadline of the end of the month.

I have done both pages and must get to sorting out the pages into a book before the end of the year too. Perhaps I'll get to use my "Bind-It-All" from last Christmas for the first time then - LOL.

Anyway, I asked my son what special days to do and for "I" he said Independence Day. For the "X" I had to resort to Xmas despite the word smarting with me, and having done Christmas back in January! I have however added the definition for "X" on its own and as it can stand for Christ and the Cross so it isn't really a derogatory word for Christmas after all.

For Independence Day I had a play with the American "Stars and Stripes" flag, so I flipped through my latest Radio Times and tore out some "stars" for the corner. I curved a border stamp on my acrylic block for wavy stripes. The Statue of Liberty was printed from the internet.

For Xmas I sprayed my backing with Dylusions (at the same time making my sprayed backing for my 12 months zine - well don't get my spray booth out that often so had to make the most of it!). I have been trying to use up bits and bobs I have hoarded over the years (Christmas and otherwise) so after some stenciling I stuck those on.




So there we go, a wonderful challenge has come to the end. It has been great, many thanks to the Craft Barn - next challenge starts 12th January 2014.

WOYWW #235 - Christmas Shopping

Bit late today - no internet yesterday as Demon lost a server and today I popped into town for a few Christmas things, which are now on my desk!

Oh YUM some Thorntons! A couple of cats and sheep for packing up and sending off, and 3 curious creatures on the left too - gotta love those.

Oh and some red DST, washi tape and silver pens just jumped into my bag too - how did that happen? I have nearly written all my Christmas cards, what else do you do when you have no internet?

So pop over to Julia's to join in the fun.

12 Months - December Garden

The garden is definitely looking a bit sad now we come into December.

Other than the Lime tree behind us, there are a lot of leaves yet to be shed.






The Magnolia is doing its usual insidious trick of dropping its yukky brown leaves whilst still looking like it has a full set left!









And for the last couple of nights "something" has taken a liking to toppling off our bird bath!

Naughty rascal!

First Sunday in Advent.

I opened the first of my Advent Swap parcels today and got a super Psalms Calendar and Diary, some chocolate and 6 little envelopes to tide me over to the second Sunday in Advent.














I popped the little envelopes in the pocket Advent wall hanging as I haven't got anything for it myself this year.

Although I have put some of the Christmas ornaments in there to be hung on the tree each day.

Advent means "coming" and is a time for preparation. The first candle of Advent reminds us of God's people, who in every age, watch for his coming.

12 Months Autumn Round Up & Cats!

Desperately trying to catch up in my 12 months journal with finishing off the Autumn section and starting the Winter one. Won't have much time at the weekend as it will be tree and decoration time for the start of Advent.

Anyway, here's my Autumn garden photo pages, and my Autumn pocket and tag page.










My Winter title page, and my December calendar pages too.




And just for the record, the cats I décopatched last week when I felt much worse but you don't really need to think to décopatch which was a plus point.

I also did some items for an Advent SWAP but I guess I can't show those until after Christmas.

WOYWW #234 - Ashburnham

Still not recovered fully from my wisdom tooth removal. Hampered slightly by having been on a weekend away last weekend, but it was with church and had been booked for nearly a year! My husband and son came too and we all had a good time at Ashburnham Place. It was cold but the sun shone and the grounds were magnificent in autumnal colours. My son and I did a scavenger hunt on the Saturday and he even won too which was great.

So to my desk, the 3 pipe cleaner stick people were made at the weekend in one of the worship sessions, the 3 pockets and tags are to go in my 12 months journal. I have finished off my November pages too.

I bought the coaster at the weekend and am going to try my hardest to live by its words.


I have also done my Alpha Challenge page for the Craft Barn, and the letter "S" for St Swithin's Day.


So yes another week of the WOYWW mega blog hop round the world of crafters. Have a good one.

12 Months - November

Catching up a little I have finished off the November elements in my 12 months journal.  Can't believe it will be December on Sunday and deep into WINTER!

I didn't have much inspiration for the pages (partly due to still feeling horrid since having my wisdom tooth out a fortnight ago plus having a cold on top of all that!) So I just rummaged through my tin of left over/practice pieces and collaged them with some Autumnal papers. And added some scraps of ribbons too.

The 4 photos came off a swap card I received many years ago, it was nice to include that.

Following on I did my tag for the November pocket, using stamped tissue and a cutting from a local magazine for remembrance day.

Alpha Challenge #24 - St Swithin's

OK so my special day wasn't in my dictionary but I couldn't miss this special day here in the UK.

St. Swithin's Day is 15 July, a day on which tradition says that whatever the weather is like that day, it will continue so for the next forty days.

I included the rhyme about this on my page.

And to keep in line with the The Craft Barn's Alpha Challenge and word definitions I added a couple of "SW" words which are in keeping with my theme; for the rain > Swim and for the sunshine > Swell and Swelter.

WOYWW #233 - Cards & Decopatch

Not felt like much this week after last week's Wisdom Tooth Extraction. Still quite sore.

On my desk, I have just taken delivery of my décopatch order. They are always so prompt, a delightful on-line store I must say.

One thing I noticed is that all the items to décopatch are made in the Phillipines so helping their economy each time I buy.

The pink tags are from a Magazine Freebie, yes sucked in again, but they came with a set of 3 nesting tag dies so who could resist. The magazine - Papercraft Essentials Issue 100.

I did manage to stick and finish off my 3 quilling cards but had no mind to make any more quilling items.


I did make some other cards, but they were more out of necessity than anything else.

First a card for my son's friend's 14th birthday. I cheated a little and copied my son's of last year as they play the same computer games.


Next up a couple of "New Home"cards. One for the UKPC craft club swap and the other for one of the members who was moving. Oh I guess you'll all know by now as she is a WOYWW lady too. Hopefully she'll be settled enough to join in this week - Hi Elizabeth!

So that's me folks, pop along to Julia's "new look" blog for links to desks around the world.

WOYWW #232 - Wisdom

Bit in the wars today as I had a Wisdom Tooth out yesterday - ouch. Took him 3 goes and 3 injections but eventually it came out - unfortunately they threw it away :(

I even missed my son's investiture at Explorers last night as I felt so horrid, have more badges to sew on now though.


Anyway here's my desk with the fallout from Monday's Craft Club where we did Christmas Quilling. I didn't manage to get round to sticking any on cards but did lay them out.

I also dug out my own quilling stash now I am in the mood - so to speak.

Sad news is that this club is finishing with next month's session which is a big shame as I really enjoyed it and it is close to me and in the daytime. Oh well it was good whilst it lasted.

Also on my you'll spot my Timmy Tag for the month, wasn't taken by the technique this month but the finished tag is growing on me.

There's my November zine for 12 months in view, along with the pocket and tag. Love the poppies.

Over on my dressing table is my knitting basket now with SIX sheep, also my Alpha Challenge page for "Q" and Quarter Days. You'll spot last years Attitude of Gratitude journal above too.

Think that is me for this week, pop over to Julia's for more WOYWW desk hopping.

TH #11 - November Tag

I wasn't totally taken by this month's Tim Holtz Tag technique but I try each tutorial regardless, well you never know do you.  Slightly lacking in the specific stash but had a bash anyways.

I cut myself a tag from black card - jolly glad I bought the tag die!

I used a plan stamp and a leaf stamp trying to copy the blueprint stamp used in the tutorial.

I think the best bit was the misting of the Pumice Stone ink after applying it to the white card for the label. Not something I tend to do but it left a lovely speckled texture.

I added some fluffy fibres for more texture.

12 Months - November Zine

A hat trick of posts today, my 3rd being my November Zine for the 12 Months in View Challenge.
I used a freebie stamp of some fungi as we'd lots on our way to the Remembrance Parade today.

I was particularly taken with the first poem on our November quote sheet so I wrote that one out.

Alpha Challenge #23 - Quarter Day

Well would you know the reason we sometimes pay bills quarterly goes back to the middle ages where 4 days are known as Quarter Days.

The perfect special day for my Craft Barn Alpha Challenge Page and the letter "Q".


The days are close to the Solstices and Equinoxes and are:-

Lady Day - 25th March
Midsummer's Day - 24th June
Michaelmas Day - 29th September
Christmas Day - 25th December

My dictionary definition even had this meaning in it so I highlighted it with glossy accents.

Remembrance Sunday

Today, for the first time, we went to our village remembrance parade.















Our son was taking part as an Explorer.










It was a cold but beautifully sunny day.

12 Months - Poppy Giveaway

Yes it is the flower of the month giveaway on 12 Months today, so I printed off the notes page to make up my pocket, and cover the back of my tag.


The poppies on the notes page were too big to decorate my pocket so I printed it off half size as well.


I had the bigger ones left over and some small ones too so stuck them on the opposite side of my calendar page, which balances it nicely.


Yep - loving the poppies this month.

WOYWW #231 - Late Entry

Oh dear, just couldn't go to bed after remembering I hadn't posted my desk today, so here it is.

I have made 4 sheep so far after attending the new knitting club last week.

I didn't go again today as Mother Nature is playing tricks on me and I felt wretched and I needed to sleep to enable me to function at Parents' Evening at our son's school today.

I have made a few things this week including my Alpha page for the Craft Barn Challenge; some items for a craft group stall and some Christmas decorations.



My November garden is here.



Happy WOYWW everyone, what's left of it.

BJ the late.........sigh.