Festive Good Wishes and a Happy New Year

Hi and a very belated Merry Christmas and best wishes to everyone for a very happy, peaceful and prosperous new year. Sorry I haven't been around much or visited many blogs in the last couple of weeks work has kept me busy.I did though have a wonderful day off work on Christmas day spent with my husband and daughter which was great and have been busy at work since but I'm off today and thought I would catch up with friends and fellow bloggers as its been a while. I hope everyone has had a lovely time over the festivities with family and friends.We had a lovely time and I also got my husbands birthday off on the 28th which was another great day.I didn't get many opportunities in the past few months to post many of christmas or other cards so thought I would make my last post of 2013 the christmas card I made for my daughter this year; unlike most of the christmas cards I made this year which where quite simple;I kept this more traditional and cute...who could resist such a sweet snowman. I bought the stamp when I was at the NEC in November(my birthday treat);My daughter loves anything dotty hence the theme...I also bought a lot of Annmarie Designs dotty and gingham card packs and other bits an bobs when at the NEC including some lovely flowers and stems that I have yet used.This was the first time I used the card it and it is wonderful quality and range of colours is fab. The cute snowman  postage stamp is from a Papermania set.

Wishing you a very Happy Christmas 

Close up snowman 

cute snowman charm 

I used the following

6x6 square craft card 

black and white cardstock -layering and die cut trees

various papers/card - including cream dotty card- Annmarie Designs 

'Bertie' snowman stamp - Hobby Art -coloured Copics/Promarker and added WOW embossing glitter

snowman stamp- Papermania Urban Stamps - Noel

die-cut Christmas trees

sentiment stamp - Me to You stamp set- Winter Wonderland( magazine freebie )

from stash

white satin ribbon

Craft Candi- spots added with white gel pen 

snowman charm- local bead shop

wooden snowflake 

I wish everyone well and hope you have a lovely time and that 2014 brings much happiness. I'm hoping to have a bit more free time and to blog more...we will see what the new year brings! All the very best and lots of crafty hugs to everyone...thank you for taking the time to visit and I hope to come see you soon..off fora blog hop before I make dinner.

Andrea X

I wish to take part in the following challenges 

Make it Monday #172 - Anything Goes 

Challenges 4 Everybody- Challenge#36- Anything Goes 

Christmas Card Challenge#5- Anything Goes 

Dream Valley Challenges#72- Christmas

That Craft Place Challenge-Last challenge 2013 -Anything Goes 

WOYWW 237

woyww wishes to everyone and apologies as I haven't been around for a few weeks; work has gone from bad to worse with staffing and unfortunately I haven't had the time to craft or post or visit anyone in days... actually its been weeks! I'm off work today which is my last day off until Christmas day (fingers crossed as still to confirm staff cover) I've never had to work Christmas day and hopefully that wont change this year! I have lots to do including catching up with housework and ironing and wrapping pressies, but couldn't not post as having severe withdrawals... what from you ask WOYWW of course...go to Julia's at the Stamping Ground and check it out...you wont be dissapointed.

The craft room is an exceptionally Christmas free zone..Christmas crafting has been all put away and other than some boxes for cards that I MUST make today...as going tomorrow to the recipients.My craft room is very neat and tidy...the card in progress is for a friend who's birthday is on New Years day.I found some paper packs and chipboard's that came free with a magazine. which should make for an easy and quick card to make. Hubby's birthday is on the 28th... eek!...I haven't a clue what to do or when I will have the time to make his but I'm sure I will manage it somehow. 

I have been naughty and sneaked in a photo of my christmas tree(sorry Julia)...I had to as hubby excelled himself this year... he always does the tree and I came home last week very stressed from work to this years masterpiece... how could I not be happy...  I do love Christmas... I also sneaked in a photo of one of my many christmas tags... like my cards this year I haven't photographed most of them,haven't had the time.I have so many and probably enough for next year too!.. I think I got carried away and enjoyed making the tags as they where simple and quick to do. I hope you have great week and are all ready and organised for the festivities. I will visit later today once I've finished some of my many chores...lots of crafty hugs and if I dont post next week have a very Happy Christmas and lovely time whatever you do and whoever you are with. Crafty hugs... Andrea X

WOYWW 235 ...Messy Desk Alert!

Work soon so a quick post again this morning before work. I had to change my days off work at the last minute this week,which means I've just had the last two days off work...unplanned...but on a positive note it has given me the opportunity to get some Christmas shopping done and make a start on my Christmas tags...(I seem to get so much more done when off on a week day)...I've made quite a few tags already and unlike last years the majority are much more simple design and I'm having fun in the process. My desk looks like a bomb has hit it...be warned it is unrecognisable as mine!

mess in action !

I dont usually leave everything out but as I'm popping in and out and the tags are quick and easy to make it makes sense to leave everything I need to hand(I didn't realise just how many christmas stamps I have!)...You would think making something so small as a tag would create less mess!...but I guess that's work in progress for you !

The rest of the desk !

Why am I showing you my desk you ask?...its What's on Your Work Day Wednesday of course...hop over to Julia's at the Stamping Ground to take part.Share what's on your workdesk each week and best of all get to snoop on everyone else...once you start you wont want to miss it. As usual off to get ready for work soon and I will be back later today to visit everyone...hopefully I will do better than last week; it was the weekend in some cases before I visited WOYWWers. 
I hope you have a  great day and week ahead... thanks for visiting...lots of crafty hugs Andrea X

other side-no escaping the mess !

Some finished tags :-)

Proud Parent

A quick post this morning and its not a card,that will hopefully be later today after household chores are done.On Thursday we had a lovely time at my daughters graduation ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral. It was a bit of a rush getting there late Wednesday night and then back late Thursday evening for work on Friday  but well worth it. It was a lovely day, the service in the Cathedral was very well done and the perfect setting... they all looked wonderful (cold but worth it).

I just had to share a quick photo. Doesn't she look good (biased I know). I look short...I was being sensible in flat shoes!... as you get older comfort beats vanity every time!...thankfully there aren't too many photos of me as I was taking most of them...(I so dislike getting my photo taken some people are just not made photogenic!) 

It was her day and she looked as always beautiful and I'm a very very proud mother. Well done Claire and I wish you a wonderful, happy and fulfilled future in whatever path you choose to take. Love you  lots mum X