My Handmade Christmas Cards...GASP!

That's it! I have made my decision!! next year will be different!!!

Because of my restricting disability I got most of my shopping done early this year for Christmas! I went into panic mode in November and did a lot of online shopping which was very pleasing. Then on my better days when I felt I had the energy and Kev with me we went shopping together and happily by the beginning of December it was all done and dusted which is an absolute first for me. Trouble is that put other things out of sync as my focus was on the presents! so here I am on the 16th of December with only 5 handmade Christmas cards completed. I am not stressed this year about the prezzies but I am stressed about the cards. As I am quite a good card maker everyone expects a really nice card from me and this year I just cannot do that for everyone as I am not feeling very well either. Therefore I have had to bite the bullet and commit to only making handmade cards for a few of my many friends and church family. I have actually bought two packs of shop Christmas cards !!!GASP!!! the truth is I spent more time thinking about them and viewing Pinterest than getting down to doing them, oh dear!
BUT next year will be different! I have decided to make 4 Christmas cards per month so that when the time comes I should already have at least 40 cards made plus any more I make as a batch in October / November. Maybe I will join one of those card challenges especially for Christmas. have any of you done that? did it motivate you?
I don't make new years resolutions as they always get broken I make a kinda bucket list instead and this is definitely going on it for 2015!
not sure how much blogging will get done over this next 3 weeks but I do wish you all a very happy and blessed Christmas and New Year.
Sending special thanks and Christmas wish of peace to all my followers xxx

Poinsettia Christmas Table Papercraft

I mentioned in my last post that I have been busy making table and individual name place settings for my church Christmas fellowship meal, We had a fabulous time this evening, I really enjoyed celebrating Christmas with my church family. I love them all at Fylde Christian Service Church in St Annes, Lancashire.

 Firtly it was so encouraging to see that the same colour theme of red gold and green had been used for the table runners and crackers etc. 

Here's a close up below of an individual place name setting..

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the poinsettia and a punch for the holly leaves. the sizzix banner die cut in gold holographic card made a good background for the name which was printed using my laptop with castellar font onto cream card. Inside each one I stuck a tiny envelope (which I made using a punch) with a scripture inside...

the table names were made with the same poinsettia and holly but the lovely lacy gold background was cut using a spellbinders die (ornate squares) I just made a kind of triangle to make it all stand up

We had a lovely evening which was finished off with singing carols.
The organising had been seamless, everything ran so smoothly, the food was lovely and everyone was blessed. Many of us at church have had struggles and trials this year. we have loved, prayed and encouraged each other through it all just like a family should. we have cried and we have laughed together as we have celebrated many victories and happier times too. none of us are perfect (not even me LOL) we have all contributed somehow to the church using our gifts which God has graciously given us and this is one of my gifts, the creative ability to make stuff thanks you God for that x

hello everyone
I'm just popping in to day hello and to say sorry for being AWOl !
My card making and challenge entering had to stop for a while as I used my time to help with some craft projects at church, Firstly I made some star decorations for an event, then as the the church Christmas meal was being organised I volunteered to create 70 place names and 7 table names!
I wanted to do a good job as this is the first Christmas meal in our new building, previously we had gone to a local hotel for our Christmas fellowship meal but this year is extra special.
well it's taken me a lot longer than expected, I am not as quick as I used to be but to be fair there was a lot of work it was like doing a wedding! I have to say I am blessed to be able to do it for the church, a lot of folk have prayed me through my illness and encouraged me and Kev when we were so in need of help they were all there for us and now its time to give a little something back. I will pop back at the end of the week with photo's of thesename places and maybe even some photo's of the meal too, I am so looking forward to this blessed time of fellowship together.
now although I have most of the prezzies sorted for Christmas I still have loads to do, can you believe I have only created 2 cards so far? GASP!! think I need to get a move on LOL

see ya soon