A few photos and the usual chit chat.

Christmas was the usual early morning/late night/bleary eyed occassion that it is.

It didn't stop Ben smiling though.

Chaos ensued and I went into cardboard recycling mode

aka neurosis overdrive (again)!!

The tree fell over...it was my fault for letting Georgia hand out the presents!

And we enjoyed our Annual Boxing Day meal with the cousins.

The New Year brings exciting adventures to New Zealand so I don't know when I will be posting next but make 2012 a good one for yourselves and your family.

Love and suitcases

Ruth xxx

Happy New Year

I wanted to give my work colleagues their christmas presents, with a touch of my crafty magic, and went for the old decorated bottle trick...why buy boring wine carrier bags when you can make these for free!!

I used brown parcel paper, border punches, string and shrink plastic (for the neck of the bottle)

 and a  Circular Catslife Press stamp from Happy Daze.

The large tag stamp is from PaperArtsy.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.

Love and Rose'

Ruth xxx

A Cute Christmas Couple and a couple of catch ups !

I made this card as a momento for a couple who are celebrating their First Christmas Together.

 It was commissioned by one of their Mums.



The card opens out and says inside:

 " Love is the real thing the rest is just tinsel"

(what a cool quote!!)

I used Webster Pages 6x6 Die Cuts, and a Happy Holidays sentiment stamp from Happy Daze and a Papermania Stamp Set.

I hope they like it xxx

This year I have decorated my mantle piece like a curiosity shop. It is full of all those little things rather than one big swag or ornament. I have finally found an excuse to display my red flocked Pierrot doll!! It's tacky and kitch like the flocked reindeer but I love it!!

I don't think I have blogged this little altered frame.
 |It also has a 50's kitch ornament in it and is made with Websters Die Cuts. You can see it on the HappyDaze Facebook page.

The Father Christmas is Gisella Graham and I found it in a charity shop.

The elves behind are this years new additions and look like they are from The Grinch movie.

and finally my tree is up with only a couple of new additions this year, 3 White flocked polar bears and some more white felt hearts and Bens train from Santa.

Being train obsessed we have been on a Santa train ride....it wasn't quite the Polar Express so he was a little disappointed!

..and Georgia has been doing the rounds caroling with the local choir.

If I don't catch up with you before the New Year have a lovely Christmas and I will see you in January...and also some lucky peeps will see me in Febuary in New Zealand!!!!

eeeeeeeccckkkk can't wait..it's more exciting than Christmas..almost..lol

Love Ruth xxx

This months challenge at HappyDaze is an "Explosion of Colour" and is a theme I have really struggled with.

I love colour as much as the next person but I like my colours to compliment and co-ordinate, finally after a period of crafters block I was inspired by a photo on Pinterest.

I cannot claim the credit for the Colourful Doiley Bunting idea, but I did come up with the idea of using Cosmic Shimmer Chalk Mists all on my own!

The transformation from cream to gleam was instant and incredibly satisfying...and my bunting looks as bright and kitch as a 50's Tupperware party......which is exactly how I wanted it to look!

I think I may now be a convert to brightly coloured doileys as you can see the beautiful patterns more clearly and truly appreciate the work that someone has put into making them.

Cosmic Shimmer Mists are available in a huge range of colours from only £2.95 each.

You can enter this months competition and find the rules here, to have a chance of winning a £15.00 voucher to spend in the HappyDaze shop.

Good Luck

Ruth xxx



Come fly with me....

Pink Paislee papers (from Happy Daze), have come up trumps again for me with the Amber Road range. 

 There are some rich, elaborate autumnal papers in the collection that reminded me of a Scottish Hunting Lodge at christmas.

The super cute reindeer antlers are also from Happy Daze and only cost 35p each.

I inked and glittered the naked wood.

TFL

Tiny little miniature birdhouses by the DT.

Moira at Happy Daze had the fab idea of sending each of us a miniature birdhouse to alter as a christmas decoration.

You can see the incredible design team results HERE.

I used the beautiful Pink Paislee Parisian Elements paper, a wooden spool, Kaiser Craft wooden picket fence, and Prima flowers, I also used a chalk spray, ultimate glue and gesso.

Mine is a one off but I love the idea of making them as place setting name holders to have on the dinner table...good job there are only four of us!

Love and tiny things
Ruth xxx

Photocute...photocube.

I have had a 5 inch cardboard photocube left over from a kit for about 3 years and when I needed to find a way to scrap my friends six children for her it was the 6 sided photocube that sprung to mind.

I used some Basic Grey papers from the sale at Happy Daze and altered my selected photos with the "Picnik" programme to give them all the same tones.

I'm not used to working with such bright colours but for this many kids it was definately the easiest option!

.....and finally my little namesake Lucie xxx

Love and large families

Lucy-Ruth x