New Traditions

Today, I'm celebrating my birthday. The last in my thirties. I think I'm starting a new tradition of taking a picture of myself every year on my birthday. Last year I took the picture myself, this year Renee was my assistant. She couldn't look through the lens, but she could press the button on the remote very well. Here's the one I chose to publish:

I got lots of nice presents. Most importantly David, Rebecca, Ruben and Renee each made a card for the me. They are all gorgeous. Furthermore I got a dress from Monsoon, a cooking book, a gift voucher for a beauty treatment and lingerie.

I haven't been posting my December Daily, as I'm lacking any energy to take pictures. I have updated it up until the 12th, so I've got a bit of catching up to do as well.

Very very last minute, I made some Christmas cards for the teachers:

Renee has already finished school, while Ruben and Rebecca have got their last day today. This morning Renee and I made a little angel for the Christmas tree:

Got to run to pick-up Ruben and Rebecca. Thanks for stopping by and have a nice weekend.

Birthday Wishes

Today my niece, Fleur turned 8. Quite a big girl already. I created a real girlie girl card for her. For the shape I used a page from a chipboard album from Basic Grey and cut around it with an x-acto knife.



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill Basics, PP, rub-on, brad and sheer flower - Imaginisce, stamp - Melissa Frances, ink - Stampin'Up, white flower - Heidi Swapp, ribbon - garden centre, tag - Staples.

Earlier today, Fleur told me on the phone she got some lovely presents, so I trust she had a great birthday.

Also, the past 4 days I've been a guest designer on this blog. I didn't get much feedback (thanks Ingrid for leaving a comment everyday :-D). Here's a photo summary of the sketches, cards and LO I created. If you would like the read the complete posts and see the supply lists, you can read them here, here, here and here.

That's all from me today. I've caught up with my December Daily today, but haven't taken any pictures since day 3. Have a lovely weekend and thank you for stopping by.

Thank You Cards

Besides sending out Christmas cards, I also had to create Thank You cards for everyone that gave Renee a present for her birthday. Since I had to make 34, I decided to keep it simple and make them in Photoshop. To make it more personal I altered the content of each note. As the 'Thank You' is from Renee, I had her write her name herself using my Wacom tablet.

(For privacy reasons, I've deleted the content of the note).



Supplies: mainly Mindy Terasawa's 'Beautiful Me' kit

Tomorrow I'm catching up on my December Daily album. I'll already be dismantling it, as I've got several things I want to add.

Guest Designer Sneak

I just wanted to give you a head's up that I'll be guest designer on this blog, which is linked to this shop. I'll be posting 4 consecutive days, starting next Tuesday. Here's a sneak of what I've created:



Want to see more? Go check it out from Tuesday.

P.S. One of them is a LO!!

December Daily: 2-3

Currently I'm living day by day, finishing few tasks each time. Yesterday it was the Christmas cards, as more than half of the cards need to go overseas and I still needed to inform everyone of our new address, in case they want to return a card. Today, I had to prepare for Sinterklaas, whom will be bringing the children presents in their shoe tomorrow morning. Besides that, I needed to bake two cakes for both schools, which will be sold during their Christmas fair. Even though Ruben and Rebecca go to the same school, Rebecca wanted both of them to bring something in. So, we (Rebecca was a tremendous help) ended up baking one victoria sponge cake and two Dutch apple pies.

Here's a catch up on my December daily:




Supplies: clear stamps - Fancy Pants, Art Warehouse, white pen - Kikki.K, no. 2 - Elle's Studio, PPs - Making Memories, punch - Fiskars.



As I was sending the Christmas cards that day, I will include one for my records into this album. I will probably be adding a few more things as I go along. Since I already bound my album, I will rebound it at the end of the month to include the things I've added throughout the month.

Supplies: journaling paper and circle tag - Elle's Studio, our Christmas card made on a Mac using iPhoto.



Renee had her Christmas play with school today. Her drawing of an angel was on the front of the program. I've cut it out and stuck it on the back of the Christmas card to include in my album.



Supplies: digital stamp and brush - Katie Pertiet at Designer Digitals, edge brush - Rhonna Farrer at 2Peas, PP and number - Making Memories.

Oh, regarding that moving note. I've made it almost 3 months ago, but it has been on my desk since. I thought I'd show you what it looks like (for privacy reasons, I've erased the address details):



Enjoy your Thursday! I'm off wrapping a few chocolate letters...

December Daily: 1

I find it quite astonishing that it's December already. This means we've been back in the UK 5 months, but it surely doesn't feel that long. I realised I didn't give you a supply list last time I posted my 31 days of December album, so I'll add as I post each day.



Supplies: PP, ribbon, button and paint - Making Memories, cardstock edge - Bazzill, chipboard numbers - Maya Road, snowflake die - Cuttlebug, clear stamp - Heidi Swapp, ink - Stampin'Up, scrapper's floss - Karen Foster, Dimensional Magic - Royal Coat, Dymo label maker, bind-it-all machine and ring, corner rounder - EK Success.



Supplies: PP and holly - Making Memories, epoxy sticker - Anna Griffin, digital brushes (on picture) Rhonna Farrer, digital 'December 1' overlay - Ali Edwards @ Designer Digitals, clear stamp - Basic Grey.

On Sunday I totally forgot to post a card I made for Renee's friend, Julliette. She was born 10 days after Renee and was therefore also celebrating her 5th birthday. I made this card, before I made Renee's... Renee asked to get exactly one like it, but I did make it a little different. Here's the card I made for Julliette:



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill Basics, PPs, brad and die cuts - Basic Grey, rubber stamp - Hero Arts, white ink - Staz'On, chipboard number - Maya Road, paint - Making Memories, dimensional magic - Royal Coat, flower and bling - Prima Marketing, border punch - Martha Stewart, ribbon - local haberdashery.

Until tomorrow.

Advent Calendar

I'm so excited... last night I finished the Advent Boxes, which were inspired by Ali Edwards. Just like the December album, I wasn't too sure that I was going to be able to finish it. I was short of patterned paper and cardstock. I didn't have enough chipboard numbers to do all of them. How and where am I going to put them? Lots of questions I kept asking myself, but as the project was evolving, things seemed to come together.

On Friday I went to the art shop to buy a piece of foam board (size A1) and the postman delivered the cardstock I needed to fold the last boxes. By the way, if you want to know how to fold the boxes, you can find it here. I adhered the boxes to the foam board with double sided tape. And I ended up punching two holes in the top left and right corner and used ribbon to hang it on a wreath hanger that fits over the door.







Everyday also contains a little note. Today's note reads (in preparation of Sinterklaas):



Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill, PPs - Basic Grey, die cuts - Sizzix, Cuttlebug, buttons - unknown, butchers twine - supermarket, ribbon - local haberdashery, stamp - Art Warehouse, Basic Grey & Fontwerks, tag - newsagent.

Have a great Monday!