All wrapped up...

...in a pretty box.

Sometimes it can be quite difficult to present a gift in a pleasing way without spending a fortune on boxes, bags and wrapping - but that doesn't have to be the case.

I wanted a pretty box to wrap a necklace in and this is what I came up with...

...the box was created using just a single sheet of A4 Centura Pearl CS (the white with a hint of gold) and then I decorated it using one of Ignacio's images from the "Vintage Xmas Greetings Cards (ladies)" collection.
I trimmed the image to fit onto a pale blue matt...

 ...that had been punched along the lower edge with a MS border punch.
The image was beautiful as it was, colour-wise, so all I did was add...

 ...some crystal stickles to the feather on the hat and the neckline of the dress.
The embellished corner consists of...

...3 small off-white roses, a couple of die-cut poinsettias and a music print heart (from the Craftwork cards 'Christmas Post' collection) and pearls.
You can find this collection of wonderful images as well as many others over at the Nicecrane Design site. If you are interested in this particular set, you can find it here.

Don't forget to hop on over to the Nicecrane blog to take a look at all the latest creations that the DT have produced.................................................

Holiday Chaos...

...is the 7 day challenge that has been running over at Catch the Bug.

There has been a different fun challenge every day and I sooooooooooooo wanted to play but I really don't know where this week has gone.

If I get a chance I will add in the other days.

Day 1 - Sketch

Day 2 - Gift wrapped...

 ...anything but a card - so it could be a gift tag, wrapping paper or a gift bag...

 ...as you can see, I went with a gift bag. I have bought a few Christmas presents from that well known coffee shop that I am rather fond of. The gifts have been packaged in seasonal gift bags but they looked a bit bare - this one has been jazzed-up with a label coloured using coppery shades.

Day 3 - Cosy up by the fire. This challenge had a number of options to choose from. I decided to go with "Christmas treats & Glass of milk" which required the use of non-traditional colours & bling. There was also an image provided. The PP is "Rose tinted Christmas" by DCWV - a range that consists of pink/grey/white/black/mauve...

 ...I made a mini step card to display this cute little mouse miss...

 ...and as you can see, in addition to the stickles on her jumper...

...there are also a few mirror tiles.

 

 Day 4 - Ugly Sweater

Day 5 - Favourite Holiday Treat

Day 6 was a photo challenge that coincided with the "Friday Freebie"...

...I've tried to keep to the colour scheme of the photo and the overall snowy feel...

 ...I used some snow covered acetate and attached the image inside against a blue background of snowflake PP.
A Marianne Design tree die-cut attached to the outside...

...was kept fairly simple with just some tiny mirror tiles dotted over it.

Day 7 - Anything goes for Christmas. I used some more of the DCWV PP...

...and the image was coloured using Spectrum Noir pens in shades of pink and grey.
There is some 'bling' using a silver Sharpie to colour the bauble and silver mirror tiles to catch the light...

...and overall quite girly without any frills or flounces.

As I said, I had been hoping to join in all the challenges but unfortunately, life got in the way....................................................................

EDT: I thought the challenge ended this weekend but apparently I have until the 13th to up load my efforts, so I might just make it LOL.

Deck the Halls...

...or in this case - Offices.

Loads of photos folks so grab another cuppa and get settled...

At my regular office in Stratford I am normally the first to get their section decorated and I always have the decs up for the first working day of December. As I wasn't going to be there on Friday, they had to go up on Thursday. This is what we have this year...

 ...trees & parcels on the cupboard next to my desk...

 ...the wrapping paper came from a freebie that Kerryanne English gave last year as part of Simply Christmas - if you go to this year's Simply Christmas button over to the right-hand side you will see that she has offered the links again this year.
Silver, White and a splash of Red...

 ...but as you can see - our section was the only area decorated. However, I think this motivated everyone and by lunchtime on the Monday the whole of our wing was decorated - which was commented on by a visitor from HO who asked why there weren't any decs elsewhere LOL
This wreath hangs by my desk...

 ...the bells jingle and the red lights twinkle.
I love this...

...I found it in the 99p Store last year - perfect for our colour scheme but I hope it doesn't!
Travelling to 3 different sites I get to see lots of different decorations - I've already shared with you the Southend High Street lights. This is what I came across in one of the Malls in Chelmsford...

 ...created in aid of a local Hospice...

...everything on the tree has been knitted or crocheted.
Oh, and Southend now have the tree up...

 ...the blue lights look lovely after dark but it looks pretty lame during the day.
This is the centre-piece in the Mall at Stratford...

 ...surrounded by little trees...

 ...all heavily decorated...

 ...blue & white seems a popular theme this year...

...the walkways this year just have loads of icicle lights - no "Swags & tails" this year.
Outside the Mall on the square in front of the station...

 ...is the Stratford tree...

 ...at least it is dressed for day & night (I'll try and get a photo of it lit when I'm next there).
Southend office has limitations when it comes to decorations - the lights have sensors all over the place so you can't really hang stuff from the ceiling but it didn't stop us...

 ...one suitably decorated tree & table...

...I've even had them making the folded trees out of old magazines so most of the desks in our section has its very own little tree. Plenty of space on this table for sweets & nibbles.

I'm not at Chelmsford until Friday but I've heard that someone objected to some decs that went up in the office as the person claimed they shouldn't be up earlier than 12 days before Christmas...Bah, humbug or what! I think the person must be walking around with their eyes shut as most of the stores have been decorated since mid-November. It will be interesting to see what there is when I visit tomorrow.......................................................................

'Tis the Season of Giving...

...and the lovely Enfys has some super goodies to giveaway.

Over on her "Going Buggy" blog she has goodies for 3 lucky folk - they are a selection of fabulous goodies from Polkadoodles.

Do hop on over there and take a look at what is going on.................................................................

Pinch, Punch...

...first day of the month.

Yep folks, it's 1st December and the start of Advent so I thought it was time to get the bloggy decs up (the real decs at home may take a while longer LOL).

So, did you all open the first window, box, stocking on your advent calendar?

Hope you got some nice goodies - also hope those of you with chocolate advents have behaved and not emptied the complete contents in one go **giggle**

How are the preparations going?

Kerryanne's "Simply Christmas" is in full swing over at the Shabby Art Boutique.

Mrs Dunnit (the lovely Julia) is making a list and checking it twice over at the Stamping Ground.

...and...

UKS have started their countdown to Christmas - there will be a new project every day until the 23rd December.

Oh, and if you fancy the chance to win yourself some digi goodies - there are 7 days of Holiday chaos over at Catch the Bug.

Have fun.....................................................................................

Robins, Snow and...

...my new Spellbinder nestie - "A2 Filigree Delight".

Now usually I'm not a great fan of birds on cards but this collection of Christmas Birds from Nicecrane Designs is absolutely beautiful...

...you can grab these for yourself by hopping over here.

I have wanted a fancy frame die for ages but most of the ones that I had seen needed an A4 cutting machine - something that I do not have. With it being 30% off weekend last week at Pinnacle crafts, I asked Andy for his advice about some dies that I had seen - unfortunately, they didn't have them in stock but he suggested this one and I love it. The "A2 Filigree Delight" is beautiful - the set contains 5 dies including fancy corners and a sentiment banner but I know it is the frame that I will be using the most. The frame has an oval centre which can be left solid for mounting on to, or cut out (the oval die is provided) so that the frame can sit over an image or something that you want to highlight.

I used the frame with the centre cut out to make this...

 ...a tent-fold A5 card. The card blank is smooth white CS and the blue background PP is from the Papermania Christmas range "Noel" - it has little glittery snowflakes all over the surface (which don't show up too well in the photo). I used one of the Christmas Birds images that Ignacio had sent me and laid the frame over the image...

 ...I used some crushed silk ribbon across the card behind the image and to create a nice big bow.
The card was finished off with some glittery snowflake stickers...

...just to keep with the Wintery look & feel. The blue in the image goes so well with the shade of the background PP.

Ignacio's DT have been very busy so please pop over to the blog and see all the lovely things that they have been making....................................................................................

Quick...

...but not so easy!

Last Friday, on my second (or was it third) wander around Pinnacles...I know we had done the 'time out' for coffee...I gave in and bought the Papermania Alpha stamps from the current DoCrafts promotion and the matching x-Cut dies.

I have been attracted to them since I saw them in the Creativity magazine and had been umming & arhing as to whether I should get them or not - well with it being Members weekend and the carrot of 30% off, it would have been rude to say no.

So two packs of dies and two packs of stamps jumped into my basket with very little encouragement. If you haven't seen these items - the alphabet is split, hense the two packs of each (there is a set of numbers too but I thought that would be pushing things LOL).

Now I have to say that I thought things would be pretty easy but it turned out to be a bit more fiddly than I originally thought.

I tried stamping the letters first, then cutting them out...and I tried cutting first, then stamping - which ever way, it wasn't that easy to 'line' things up (anyone else played with these? did you have the same problem or do you have a super tip to make things easier?).

Anyhoo, I am pleased with the way they came out and this is what I made...

...flash on...

...flash off.

Using a 5x5 kraft card blank that was edged with gathered twigs Distress Inks and wrapped with some gold lurex covered wire - the letters were mounted on 3D foam.

The letters were stamped in gathered twigs onto cream CS...

...and once cut out they were sprayed with gold Spray & sparkle.

I think all the travelling for work is catching up with me as all I seem to want to do when I get home is curl-up in front of the TV and/or go to sleep. So apologies for the lack of crafting on here - I really need to get stuck in because Christmas is just around the corner........................................................