Wrapping Christmas Presents

I thought I'd squeeze in one more post before the BIG day.  And, this time, I wanted to tell you about another of my great loves.....  wrapping Christmas presents!!!

Wrapping gifts at any other time of year is just a chore.  No fun at all!  My love is strictly reserved for wrapping CHRISTMAS gifts.  I've always loved this job - and everyone who knows me knows it!  My Dad has had me wrapping his presents for my mom since I was 10 years old!!!  Do I mind???  Not one bit.  In fact, I think I'd be rather offended if he didn't ask one year.

What's more fun than setting up your own North-Pole-style Christmas workshop on a winter's evening, and filling it with presents, papers, bows, tags, Christmas tunes, and a nice cup of tea and a mince pie (or two)?!?  I like to take my time over it, and spread the fun over several nights.    

Now my work's all done, and my workshop's closed down until next December.  

Here's my final batch of wrapping, waiting to be sent off to Santa Claus (for sleigh-loading).....

Before I go, I just want to wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!  I hope your stockings'll be filled with crafty treats on Christams morning.....

Carly

x 

Old Favourites

Hello, lovely blog readers!  

Thank you SO much for your lovely messages following my last post.  I'm feeling a lot better now - and it feels so good to be out of hospital!  We drove back to the UK for Christmas on Sunday (I was worried that the doctor would put a stop to our plans, but he said travelling would be fine).  So now I'm being spoilt and well-looked-after by Simon AND all of my family!!!

Every year, when we're back home for Christmas, one of my first tasks is ALWAYS to find all my 'old favourite' decorations on my parents' tree - the ones I remember most from my childhood.  This time, I thought I'd take a few photos and share a few of them with you..... 

[This one's my all-time favourite!  He's a lot older than me - and very delicate and precious!] 

[I think this one's just fun!  It was the first ever non-glass decoration that Mom permitted on to our tree] 

[This is the sparkliest of them all!  It's older than me, again, but still glistens beautifully when the fairy lights are on!]

Well, I took a few more photos that I wanted to share with you.  But the light didn't want to play nicely yesterday (it barely got light all day long), so lots of them didn't turn out.  Never mind!  I can show you some more another time. 

Do you have favourite Christmas decorations that you look forward to seeing each year???

Carly

xxx

Buttons, Buttons and More Buttons!

Can you guess where I'm writing this from?  No, it's not exciting!  No, it's not fun!  I'm blogging from a hospital bed (well, I couldn't let Simon have all the special treatment, could I???).  I've been here since last Wednesday (so my apologies for not having been a good blog-visitor this week).  I don't want to go into details, but I had an operation on Monday and feel much better now.  I hope to be able to leave tomorrow.  Please keep your fingers crossed for me.....

So, as I'm not at home with access to my camera and crafty projects, I'm going to have to show you some older makes.  As I know that some of you share my love of buttons, I thought I'd show you these.....

Hopefully, my next post will be a jolly, christmassy one.....

Hugs,

Carly

xxx

Christmas Cards

A couple of weeks ago, I introduced you to my new best friends - my cute little letter stamps! You lot obviously know me well, as most of you guessed that I was making Christmas cards with them.

I've been having so much fun!  Dragging out my collection of pretty papers, finding my tiniest buttons, and seeking christmassy inspiration from staring lovingly at our beautiful Christmas tree and listening to my favourite carols.....  Can anyone think of a better way to spend a few wintery evenings?!?

Here are a few of my favourites cards, all packeted up and ready for their first showing (at the school Christmas Fair):

And here's a little peek at my stall at the fair:

What a brilliant success the Christmas Fair was!  The lovely (and VERY hard-working) ladies who organised the event did a truly amazing job.  It was such a fun and festive day - and I sold a fair few bits and pieces too (including an order for some cards)!

As I look out of the window right now, the snow's looking pretty deep, and it's not showing any signs of stopping yet.  So I'm feeling very christmassy at the moment!

I hope you're all getting on well with your Christmas preparations and are starting to get into the spirit of the season!

See you soon.....

Carly

x