Tree ornaments

Sooooo, every Christmas I make my two children a new Christmas tree ornament for their Christmas stockings. Some have been embroidered, cross-stitched, beaded, allsorts! This year, they both had a little button wreath. Unfortunately, I didn't take a photo of my son's before it was packed away, and so- here's the pretty pastel one I made Miss Little Legs-

Yes, her tree is pink. Yes, she has her own tree, we all do...... The buttons are simply threaded onto wire and decorated with ribbon bows. Easiest of easy peasy instructions, slightly tricky to get the shape and fall of the buttons right, but worth it! The tall one had a more traditional green one with a red spotty bow. Next December, I'll take a photo, lol.

Being slightly obsessed with beading over the festive period, I got well ahead of myself and made one of next year's decorations- I can now spend all year saying I've already got a Christmas present, hee hee. Here it is!

From the front.

And the back view. It's teeny tiny, about the size of a 50p.

It took an evening to do, in front of the television, so I guess if I'd been concentrating and not eating choccies at the same time......it might have taken a couple of hours? I think it's fab.

Way too late, but still pretty!!!!

Oof, that was a bit of a blogging break. Busy bee before Christmas, recharging bee batteries over Christmas, slightly fed up bee without much buzz after Christmas. So. January. 2014. Hmmmmm.

I still have makes to show you from before Christmas, some of which I couldn't show in case the recipients spotted the posts, and most of which I didn't show because blogging wasn't top of the vast to do list. So excuse the inappropriate timing, but I have a few pretties to share.

As with every December, my beading bag came out, and some sparkly things were made- this is a fuzzy pic of a favourite bauble, beaded for the lovely Emma.

Christmas cards were simple, and I didn't make that many- time and inclination both deserted me in the end. I refuse to get stressed about Christmas cards, so I made what I made, and settled for that.

I had a couple of stamps that made me smile and some lovely slightly vintage papers.

Oh and some preprinted topper panels. Never used any before, but these were sweet, and quick, and easy, and I liked them!

So, that was some of Christmas in my crafty world. More tomorrow! Hope your Christmas was peaceful and, well, what you wanted it to be x

WOYWW- It's Chrrriiiiiiiissssttttmmmmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssss!!!!

Ok, not really, but it is close, and Noddy Holder is from round here, so I get to do Slade impressions from now until the big day, 'K?

Haven't been at all well this week, so I'm a bit behind. I've had a horrid cold, cough, sore throat, you name it. It's stolen my mojo a bit, so I've resorted to a beading kit I picked up from the NEC.

On my desk today, are some images I'm working on for my I Brake for Digis DT, some cough sweets and the finished beading kit- a little bauble for the Christmas tree. Here's the bauble in close up on my hanging display string.

It's quite teeny and took me about 2 days to bead. I really enjoyed doing it, which is good cos there's another one to do in the kit. I got them from Spellbound beads, and I'd recommend them, they're lovely to do and the instructions are great. Can't wait to put it on the tree- we're putting it up on Friday night, a little bit later than I'd have liked, but hopefully I'll feel up to it by then.

Righto, for more WOYWW madness, hop over to Julia's Stamping Ground. I'm off to prepare for Sir Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas, can't wait to see what he comes up with this year!

Christmas traditions

My lovely Docrafts friend and Stamp Man team member Janet wants to know about our Christmas traditions. She's offering a Christmas Stamp set, so it's worth taking a look at her Christmas Preparations blog.

My little tradition is that I always make both of my children a Christmas ornament for their trees. When my son was born I was a cross stitcher, so there are several stitched ones, plus a few sequinned ones. This year I've found these fabulous beaded decorations, so these will be appearing on this year's trees.

There are quite a few people leaving from my work this year- most of whom I've worked with for many, many years, so I'll be making a few more of these little blingy stars to give them when they retire.

What other traditions do we have? Well, there's the letter to Father Christmas that goes up the chimney, and he always writes back!! We watch lots of Christmas films, particularly It's a Wonderful Life and listen to lots of Christmas songs. We always go to the candlelight carol service at the local church- such a lovely chance to have a good old sing song and get a good dose of what Christmas is all about.