Casual Santa ...

HO HO HO !!

This is Santa here just to say "Bye" for this year as my work is done.

All you good little boys and girls will have got your gifts and now it's time for me to head off back to the North Pole. 

I just had a few little repairs to make to the sleigh and then the reindeers will be able to take us home.

Christina took this picture of me while I was busy mending the sleigh ... not my usual attire but the red suit is for special days.

Mrs Santa will be waiting with a nice roast dinner and the red suit can be washed and ironed ready for next year.

The Elves will also get some time off  ... until they have to start making next years toys.

Be good and take care ...

Santa  xx

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Footnote from Christina

The image is from Just Inklined and I thought it would make a really good Santa out of his normal outfit. He has been colored with Spectrum Noir and his glasses are Glossy Accents.  I have even smudged a little black on his skin to look dirty.

Colors used ...

FS2 FS3 IG2 IG3 IG6 TN2 TN4 EB4 TB6 TB7   Blender pen

P.S.   Thank you for entering into the spirit of todays card and especially to Elaine who wrote this lovely reply to Santa and I hope she won't mind me adding it here:

Dear Santa 
Thank you so much for all your hard work 
All the Little Boys and Girls are so happy with the New Gifts they have
You did a grand job .

I hope the repairs to your sleigh are not too major 
and you have a good journey back to the North Pole 
then the reindeer can have a good long rest .

Mrs Clause will be so pleased to see you 
back home and will spoil you 
with good hot dinners 
after traveling all over the world .

Christina has taken a very good Picture of you 
( she has a new camera you know and has been practicing , isn't she doing well ? )
it is nice to see you without your splendid red suit 
but to be honest i would have known your lovely face anywhere .

Anyway Santa 
I just want to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year .

Take Care 
Elaine H X

So pleased ...

Hi Everybody,

On Christmas Day I had all my family around at my house for dinner and a very jolly affair it was too. One by one they all arrived ..  laden with gifts to be exchanged.  It was full of loud chatter and much laughter.

Griff bought himself a Christmas sweater with a big Snowman on the front ... but my youngest daughter out did him by wearing a sweater that had lights in the Christmas tree that actually twinkled.

My youngest Grand daughter Robyn ... who is 21 ... couldn't wait to get through the door to tell me her good news.  Her boyfriend Jamie had proposed to her and  given her an engagement ring as part of her Christmas surprise.

They make a lovely couple and seem so happy together and everybody was really pleased at the news.

And today I have made this card for them in  Robyns' favorite color of deep purple.  Inside here is a little tag with their names and the date on it and I know she will love it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

My gift ...

Hi Everybody,

I had to show you this beautiful gift that my Grand-daughters give to me on Christmas Day

I was not allowed to open it until they where both with me and I was so touched by this lovely gift.

It is not a card but a large picture frame and it is created by Emma Ogden

She can be found on Facebook at Made by Emma Ogden

They had it specially made and have added all our family names to it.

This includes my husband Griff, my two daughters Amanda and Victoria, two grand-daughters Ashleigh and Robyn, one grandson Jamie and one great grand-daughter Isabella.

And I love it xx

This is Isabella playing with some of her gifts at my house.

Both of my daughters are in the photo and the one bending down is grand mother to Isabella.

We had a lovely time playing with her  and the keyboard was so much fun.

And I had quite forgotten how much mess one little girl can make ripping open presents.  She couldn't wait to get to the next one ... kids !!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Card Winner ...

Hi Everybody,

I hope you are all enjoying your Sunday.  I know that some of you are in deep snow and although it looks pretty it is not my favorite thing ... especially if you need to be going somewhere.  The UK seems to grind to a halt whenever we have snow.

Here in the North West it is cold ... but the sun is shining and the sky is blue

Because I was late adding the post for last weeks Friday Freebie I have allowed it to run on until today and this morning a name was chosen

The winner of the bright and sunny yellow card is ...

Ann Morris

so if you would email me 

christina@card-making-magic.com

your postal address as soon as you can I will get the card in the post to you straight away

I hope you will visit on New Years Day as there is going to be a really huge Blog Hop and the chance for you to win lots of  "Goodies" from the many designers and suppliers that are taking part in it.

It is a really nice way to show readers that they and their comments are very much appreciated and I have a lovely prize that will be on offer. 

You will be able to click links to go to other blogs and all you need to do is leave a comment.  You will find blogs that will become your favorites as you hop along ... but please come back to me as you do ... I don't want to lose any of you wonderful people 

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Made for me by Gracie and Margaret

Hi Everybody,

I have a little tutorial going "Live" today on the   Spellbinders Blog   so I hope you will pop over and take a look ... click the link on their page to expand the tutorial

Before the end of the year is with us I wanted to show you two more cards that have been made and sent to me by my readers.

All these cards are so special and I really do appreciate the time and care taken to make them for me.

The largest one in this photo was made by Grace and she is a lady who lives opposite me.  It is very pretty in silver and white.

It is layered with silver paper and a lovely silver bow has been added.

The smaller cards is a beautiful hand painted picture of Grasmere Church

It came to me with a little note to say that this water colour ... painted by Margaret ... was sent to me because Margaret doesn't feel that any of her cards are good enough.

I think it is beautiful and I have taken it from the card Margaret and I have a silver frame that I am going to add it too

It will be a permanent reminder that although we have never met you took the time to paint this and send it to me and I thank you very much.




And as final note to this post can I say to all you cardmakers out there in the world .... NEVER ever under estimate your own work ... it is all wonderful .

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx