Reflections

'Santa Claus - The Magical World of Father Christmas' Book

I've had a few queries about the book I mentioned in this post and that I read with our boys in the lead up to Christmas. Rather than answer each one individually, I thought I would share a few pics of what the book itself is like and why my boys have loved having it read to them each and every year!

Inside, each page is not only full of delightful pictures and information but there are also interactive elements as well!

Here's a couple of close-ups of the detail that is included on 'The Sleigh' page! 

It's a gorgeous book and one that explains every little detail about 'Santa Claus' and his very *magical* world!

Until next time,

Merry Christmas!

I realised a short time ago that I hadn't got around to sharing a photo of our Christmas Tree - shame of me! Luckily, I left my camera and tripod all set up and Santa took one for us once he'd finished tucking all the Christmas presents neatly underneath our tree!

Here's hoping you all have a truly memorable Christmas day!

Until next time,

 

Merry Christmas - 'Aussie' style

From our home to yours - I invite you to take a moment to watch this 'Aussie' version of Jingle Bells - it includes stunning Australian photos taken by the very talented photographer - Ken Duncan! I just love his work!

With the fondest of wishes for the festive season!

 

'Christmas Spirit' Award

My fellow blogging friend Suzanne, has awarded me the 'Christmas Spirit' Award.

Such a pretty award too! Thanks Suzanne!

 

Christmas Spirit Award rules:

• You must be a true Christmas lover to receive this award.

• The person to whom you give the award must also be in love with Christmas.

• You must link back to the person who gave you the award.

• You must list 5 things that you love about Christmas.

• If you can't limit it to 5 things, then keep going till you run out of space!

• Pass the award along to as many people as you like.That can be 1 or 45; it's up to you. But, you must pass it on to at least one person in order to keep the Christmas cheer going!

• Let your recipients know that you have tagged them by leaving them a comment.

OK - here's 5 things that I love about Christmas time.

1. Watching the anticipation and smiles on the faces of children whenever the name 'Santa' is mentioned - Adam still believes 100% but I think James is starting to wonder about it all!
2. Reading 'Santa Claus - The magical world of Father Christmas' with my boys. This has been a favourite bedtime story in the weeks leading up to Christmas for a number of years now. Adam inparticular can't wait until we read another page!
3. Christmas baking, cooking and craft projects
4. Wrapping Christmas presents and laying them under the Christmas tree
5. Listening to Christmas Carols - I have some wonderful ones that my dear French penfriend Martine gave me a number of years ago!
6. Receiving Christmas cards and reading letters of the lives of family and friends this past year.
7. Relaxing and spending time with family - maybe even having a dip in the pool too!

Now - to tag some fellow bloggers!

1. Jill
2. Toni
3. Mandy
4. Linda
5. Sarah
6. Sarah
7. Tina
8. Peet
9. Sharon
10. AND also to Paula - although I can't share her link publically, I do think she is very deserved of this award too!

Until next time,

  

Teacher's Gifts - Decorated Notebooks

Yay! James' Teacher's gifts are all complete too! I've done basically the same thing as what I'd featured yesterday with Adam's ones, except the inside of these of course, features a photo of and message from James!

You might notice on the above stamped flowers that some of the petals have been attached with double-sided foam tape AND others have been stuck flat to the page - I do this to add a little dimension! I've then finished each one off with a little flower mounted on foam tape in the centre as well!

The vines and pinwheel style flowers have been stamped directly onto my backgrounds and a few KaiserCraft pearls have been added to flower centres and along some of the stems for a little visual interst as well!

Until next time,

Teacher's Gifts - Decorated Notebooks

Another item on my 'To Do List' was Christmas gifts for the boys teachers and this year they both wanted me to make decorated notebooks.

Here's what I came up for Adam's two teachers using some of the gorgeous KaiserCraft pattern papers I had left from the magazine projects and my stamps once again!

The letters were American Crafts plain chipboard ones that I inked lightly in brown and I added KaiserCraft pearls to the flower centres and stems for a little visual interest as well!

The inside of each notebook has a photo of Adam, a quote about a teacher AND a little thank-you message from him too! Now to get stuck into the ones for James' teachers!

Until next time,

Scrapbooking & Off-The-Page *Sneak Peaks*

I've been working on a collection of 5 projects that I was asked to do for a cover of an 'Aussie' Papercrafting Magazine - of course I just couldn't say no to that offter, but it does mean that I can't share the completed projects just yet!

I will however, give a few sneak peaks!

I was so thrilled with how this collection of projects came together! I just love this blue and brown combination!

As you can see, I got busy with quite a bit of stamping on these projects too!

I promise to share these projects in full once the mag is out BUT you might have to wait a while - infact - you'll have to wait until April next year! *grin*

Until next time,

Baby Guinea Pigs

Today, I thought I would share some individual pics of Adam's baby guinea pigs. James, who is 9 years old, is holding them, so that will give you a little indication of their size too!

This first one is the one that James would like to keep - providing it is a girl though - *grin* - he's going to be so disappointed if we take them into the pet shop next week and the lady tells us that this one is infact a boy!

Oh so cute! The next one is the more active of the 3 little babies - this one is a real handful to hold because 'it' just likes to be on the move - hence the slightly blurred photo!

And the last, cutest and most placid of all the little babies is this little one! Ohh!

In other news - it's time to announce the winner of my little blog giveaway from this post - it was to go to a lucky person who commented on my 3rd Blogoversary and 400th blog post!

That lucky person is infact SUZANNE!

Congratulations Suzanne! Please drop me an email and let me know your postal addy and I'll get my little gift in the mail to you!

Until next time,

Would you believe - more Christmas Cards!

Here's another group of Christmas cards that I made last night - these ones feature more of the Alison Ellis Designs pattern paper as well!

Each card features a different little metal charm that I applied some gold metallic rubon to and then sealed with a matt spray to stop it coming off!

Here's a little close-up too!

Until next time,

More Christmas Cards!

Things sure are busy at the moment - between meetings, luncheons, school activities, normal domestic duties, creative projects for a magazine request, Christmas organisation and finishing off cards and the like, I just seem to be on the go all the time!

I seemed to have heaps of time to get done all the things I wanted to, but now time is rapidly slipping away from me! Do you get that feeling at this time of the year?

Anyway - I needed just a few more Christmas cards and so decided to whip up these quick ones last night!

I just love these Hambly Screen Prints rubons!  All I added to them was a little bling!

This next card features some cute glitter Alison Ellis Designs pattern paper and some silver sticker trim!

Until next time