Starry snowflake and a tag ....

... we've been busy since my last post.  Yesterday evening Jonathan and I went to our Camera Club Christmas dinner.  It was really good fun - great to catch up with friends, particularly for Jonathan as he's not seen them since the end of October.  We had a super meal and the chairman, Chris, arranged for us all to do a quiz - one round per course.  The first round was to name all the gifts in "The Twelve Days of Christmas" - we had to put them in the correct order, and not one team got it completely right!!  The second round was on movies - he gave us a year and brief description - mostly easy, but one real toughie.  The last round was to name the No 1 records for certain years in the UK.  This time we were simply given the year.  And that was really tough.  Having said all that - our table won!  No prizes, just the fun of taking part :)

This morning, we all headed into Chester early to do some shopping for Christmas.  We got most of what we wanted, but didn't stop long as it was starting to get busy!!  Once home I finished off the shopping on the Internet - Amazon is fab!!

This afternoon we put the finishing touches to our Christmas tree.  Jonathan put it up yesterday, but jet lag caught up with him and we decided to leave the decorating until today.  Jonathan and Kathryn had a ball - our tree is has lots of lights, tinsel and baubles - it's a joy to behold!!!




 And I managed to get into my craft room and complete my card for the Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC07.  For this challenge Lynn wants us to use a star somewhere in the design.  This week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC78 features a star - brilliant!  This is the last challenge for the year, but runs on until 6th January.



Jeanne, my blog buddy, made a gorgeous tag for the WMSC78 challenge and she used the shape in the sketch.  I thought this was brilliant and had a go myself - thanks Jeanne.  I printed several stars in various sizes, attached them to some cardboard, cut them out and then painted them all with white acrylic paint.  I made my own backing paper by putting the stars randomly onto some white card and spritzing with silver cosmic shimmer spray.  I dried the sheet and stars, rearranged them and spritzed again this time with pink and then did it all again with purple.  I cut  a piece of the paper and mounted it onto purple satin card.  I used my nestie to cut out a purple doily which I placed behind my shimmery star.  On top of the star I attached a pink and purple snowflake.  Finally, I added a Christmas sentiment which I embossed with clear powder. 

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Around Christmastime, Compliments of the Season
Inks:  Versafine - Black Onyx; Distress - Seedless Preserve; Stampin' Up! - Melon Mambo
Spellbinders:  Lotus Pendant (S4-269)
Accessories:  Cosmic Shimmer Sprays - Silver, Purple Violet, Candy Pink; White acrylic paint; Card from stash

I also made a lovely Christmas tag.  Claire has a super competition on her blog the Christmas Tag Competition with a fabulous prize.  The winner will get FOUR stamp sets of their choice and I'm keeping everything crossed :)  I've left it late to make my entry - the competition closes tonight - but better late!!  I stamped the beautifully ornate Labels 18 stamp and embossed it with silver, cut it out with the coordinating nestie and coloured it with distress inks.  I cut out another shape to make the back of the tag, again I added colour with distress inks, some lines to write my message on and some decoration.  I used the really sweet "nice list" stamp - inspiration from Claire.  I used another of the circular sentiments to decorate the front of the tag, I cut out the shape first coloured it with the distress inks and then stamped the sentiment.  Finally I ran some ribbon through the eyelets.  Simple and elegant, and I think it's for Jonathan's present!




Stamps:  Very Vintage Labels No 18, Candy Jar Christmas
Inks:  Distress - Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans; Versamark
Spellbinders;  Labels Eighteen (S4-310) #5, Eyelet Circles (S4-304) # 2
Accessories:  Papermania Turquoise Ribbons, silver embossing powder, card from stash

I'm so pleased that I managed to find time to make the card and tag.  I've completed all twelve of the Christmas Card Challenges that Lynn set for us - but next year I'm going to make the cards each month instead of rushing to do them all at the end!!

That's all for today.  It's been a long day and I'm feeling really tired.  I think this evening is going to be a lazy one - coffee and some TV.  Hopefully, I'll be back tomorrow - see you then.