Please Santa.....

I had this idea in December last year but it was a little bit too late so I stored the idea away for this year.  Of course I had to make 2 of these books, both inspired by the Forever Friends Bears.  Here are the covers of the 2 books which I bound using my Bind It All and I added the new Christmas ribbons from Crafty Ribbons and charms and beads from my stash.

Inside the cover I added a photo of each of the girls and as they are my little princesses I had to give them both a crown.  I designed the pages on my pc and the story so far reads

'Santa'  -  'I've been so good, I'd like a ......and....'

Lines have been included for the girls to add the details from their wish lists and there is even room to paste a picture of the item.

the story continues on the second page -

'I've seen this  - that looks so cute'

then on to the third page -

'and this is nice - if you have the room'

onto the next page and

'then there's this little list'

and on to the last page -

'Thank you Santa xxx'

Inside the back cover I had embossed a heart containing the word love and then cut these out and added the girls names.

on the back cover I have put the year as their mummy plans on saving these in the girls' memory boxes.  It will be nice for them to look back when they are grown up and remember their early Christmas' and to show these to their own children.

and here's the prize in all it's glory..

Three photos from the Bad Taste Bears' event - firstly the prize the kids won for best shield....

My d-i-l with their winning shield and artist Peter Underhill.


Peter Underhill signing the shield.

Nanna, havent you ever had a bad hair day???

Thought you could all do with a Sunday morning smile.

For a dear friend

We lost a good friend yesterday - hard to believe these photos were taken last month when we all celebrated his 65th birthday. Paul we miss you already, sleep gently dear friend.

Paul with his precious wife Jackie.

Arn and I with Paul

Shield and more - Update we won .....

Update on my post below - we won first prize, I am so darned chuffed, never won anything before. Thankfully the prize is a very rare Bad Taste Bear which the kids will be adding to their display cabinets - phew thought for a minute they might make me display it here. Picture of the prize is shown on my post of the 29th July. There are only 24 of these worldwide.

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Crafters get lots of 'strange' requests and when my grown up kids decided to enter a Bad Taste Bear competition they asked me to make them a blank shield they could decorate. Well stupid here made a good job of it and out of the kindness of their hearts they decided I could do the complete thing (or was it that they thought good old mum, she'll do it?). Anyhow here it is in all it's 'glory' - the latin motto round the outside has it's English translation round the bottom and reads 'United we stand. United we eat.....one another' hence the crossed knife and fork. The bears were drawn freehand from actual models and then 'adjusted' to suit my needs. The finished shield stands 3feet tall and is 2 feet wide. If they win do I get the prize?? - definately not, I wouldn't have one of those revolting ornaments in my house.

Daisy ribbon challenge

I was selected by Crafty Ribbons to participate in another of their ribbon challenges. A beautiful bundle of daisy ribbons duly arrived and the challenge was to make 2 things using the ribbons. So I set about making a couple of cards and then a nest of little boxes. I didn't photograph the inside of the boxes (oops forgot) but inside each I had made a glazed base using chips of coloured glass and beadlings and set a silver charm into the glaze. The tiniest box also had a little scroll with a quote on it. I think the boxes took longer than the cards to make, but each piece was a joy to put together so a big thank you to Ali and all the crew for another lovely challenge, just hope you like my entries.

my girls ......

are growing up and changing. Mya loves to play with my jewellery and doesn't seem to get the 'less is more' theory.

she looks so much older than 2 1/2 in these photos.

and our little Grace is developing into a giggler, she is such a contented and placid baby.

she smiles at everyone and everything.