Tempus Fugit

Never have I been so pleased about a year ending and a new one starting. 2012 has been one crazy rollercoaster ride for me, so need a fresh plate to draw on. I do not dare to make New Year's resolutions, but rather "Carpe Diem" and make the most out of every day, as one never knows what tomorrow brings.

 

Happy New Year 2013 - may your wishes come true in the new year.

Whoops I Forgot My Camera.....

.... oh wait, there is a camera in my iPhone, hence not so good quality.....

OK, not as exotic pictures as yesterday's - but could not resist taking the photos. Mr. Heron was less than 3 feet away from me when I took the pictures. It is his usual spot watching passers-by on a little bridge in one of the local parks - as long as people are not loud and do not try to touch him, he just sits there quietly.

Seizing the Unexpected Chance

I am one of those people that can spend a LOT of time in museums' Egyptian sections amazed by that old civilization that created those huge structures - and loving Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile" because of the scenery (both at land and on the boat).

When suddenly getting the chance to actually stand in front of pyramids - being able to stretch my arm out and just touch the lover stones, feeling incredibly tiny and humble - I seized it. This was merely a couple of days ago and the experience has not completely sunk in yet. It was so hectic and the surroundings likewise, but never felt uncomfortable one single moment.

December Tea Swap - Part 1

When Fran called the December 2012 Tea Swap, the following was announced:

Optional color for December Tea Swap: Christmas colors (red, green, gold)

Optional theme for December Tea Swap: Anything but a card

 

I had just bought several boxes of Celestial Seasonings' SUGAR COOKIE SLEIGH RIDE holiday tea so my mind immediately started to figure out how to use this for the optional theme.

Now you might think that I ended up doing a card anyway - actually I did, but this was on THE creation - noel sentiment from Lost & Found Christmas - design paper from Panduro Hobby and digi Santa stamp is from Birdie Brown's Happy Santa stamp set.

No, not a card, but a box cover for the tea, where you can slide the teabox off/on the tea box.

Some details.....

The only thing I regret, or see as a beginner's mistake, is that the edges around the little openings in each side (enabling you to grap the tea box and gently pull it out of the cover) is that the edges should all have had a thin white edge around the cut out.

Glad that the creatin has finally savely arrived Melanie's (this month's swap partner) mailbox and that the chosen tea was unknown to her and the box made her dream of snow.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

My Santa Music Box (Twelve Days of Christmas)

Santa Clause has the right idea: Visit people one a year.

Victor Borge

Waitng For Christmas

Schools are now closed for the Christmas holiday - and for most kids it is going to be a long waiting time to the night of the 24th (our Christmas - dinner - dancing around the Christmas three and then the presents).... I was no different back then, so was always hunting ideas to make more Christmas decorations.

I stumbled across these cone guys the other day by Mr. Printable - just look wat you can do with a computer, printer, paper, scissors and some glue...... I bet it will spur some creative thoughts with some kids and they will try to make their own unique designs. There are actually a couple more cone guys on that webpage

When snapping the top photo I saw a little resemblence with one of my favourite Christmas ornaments - think he is inspired by Father Frost, and now he has got a new friend :o)

Where Did All the Snow Go?

... well it melted.... :o(  Hopefully we will get a new batch, so we can have our white Christmas. I did get a little snow in the shape of this sparkling card from Karen

Not only does this card have the cold winterly look outside, you should see the inside!!!

Karen, love those winter dies used inside and the glossy paper, can see that your Sizzix founds it's purpose to the fullest.

Got some goodies with this card, one of them in particular made me laugh and are now in use on my noteboard :o) Thank you Karen and Merry Christmas.

 

Rudolph the Red Nosed Rein.....Duck

Think photo says it all.... and this little fella is now bringing that old song some changed lyrics :o)

Timely Santas

 

Two things lured me to buy these: Love the green colour of those Santas and After Eight is my favourite chocolate flavour - do not eat chocolate very often, but these were indulged very quickly :o) A true Christmas treat.

The Fir

Spotted this on December 1st. Must admit that I was stunned to see a yesteryear's fir on that balcony.... it's all brown and most likely shedding a lot of needles if moved.

H.C. Andersen's fairy tale "The Fir" sprung into my mind - and so did a thought; Maybe a child lives in the appartment behind those windows, and that child have heard/red the fairy tale thus refusing to let the fir on the balcony face the same destiny as it's fairy tale counterpart?

It's Beginning to Smell a Lot Like Christmas

 

When I saw this add two weekends ago, I did not believe my own eyes: Christmas scented dish washing liquid??!! Had to ask friends from both the US and New Zealand to find out, if this country was just late in adapting this - the answer was a "no".

Must confess, that my curiosity won, so those two bottles are now to be found in my kitchen. The gingerbread one smells wonderful when using it, the other only have a faint scent of Christmas spices. I can not help me wonder, if these are introduced, since a lot of people are too busy to make homemade cookies etc. - the store bought ones simply does not add the Christmassy smell to your house - and they miss the wonderful scents connected to Christmas?

 

I have not done any Cgristmas baking yet, but the scents from my Christmas teas fills up my appartment with wonderful scents of Christmas.....

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

When I woke up early this morning, it was the upstais boy(he is 3 years old) that was up and about playing - well living in an appartment building, that is just part of daily life, but comes in handy when you have actually planned to get up early and work on those Christmas cards. Then realising, that something was missing.... it was very quiet outside...

SNOW!!! :o) Suddenly I felt like a giddy 3-year old and rushed with the breakfast, so I could get out in the snow with my camera. What a wonderful way of starting a day with a 1 hour walk, feeling the crispy snow under my winterboots and with Christmas music in my iPod.

 

Below picture is actually the same street as the first snowy picture in this post captured yesterday afternoon.

 

AnneMarie - wanna come play with me in the snow? Will share :o)

 

Time Management?

Have soo many projects in the air right now, that my calendar has a hard task of accomodating enough time.... but with the holiday season rushing towards us, I have to get those Christmas cards done soon.

Card Crafter's Circles challenge this week is about bearing gifts - and this Santa from Birdie Brown's Happy Santa stamp set seems to be looking for the receiver of the gift in his hands :o) As usual colored with COPICS. Design paper is from Panduro Hobby and layered sentiment from Lost & Found Christmas.

 

Also entering the card to this week's Winter Wonderland Challenge: Santa Claus is coming to town.