An opportunity

 Today I took the opportunity to get my hands painty......and with something not Christmasy! I have thoroughly enjoyed my Christmas makings but it's now time to move on!

 In this corner you can see my Gelli plate background..started with yellow stripes and then pink swirls made with one of the Catalyst tools

Stampotique Designers current challenge is "something new, something old"

My something new is these Catalyst tools, I was lucky enough to win them in a give-away on the Gelli Arts blog.......they are perfect to use with the Gelli plate.....which is also pretty new to me too

Merry Christmas

I am done with my Christmas makes for this year....well, craft ones that is, now it's over to the food and drink makes!

So, I would like to wish everyone that happens to stop by my blog a very 

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Eat, drink and be merry!

This image is one of my very favourites......it's by Arthur Rackham.

It was the Winter Solstice yesterday

but I was too busy to post this!

 So, SOLSTICE GREETINGS......

each day is now getting longer and lighter......yes it is, really:)

 Here is my MidWinter offering.....a tribute to the pagan Gods all our ancestors once believed in.

It started out as a cute reindeer decoration and a plastic skull.....thought I had pics of it but can't find them!

 Used leaf stick pins and little bells painted red to represent berries.

I thought I might hang this in the apple trees at my allotment  (to scare away evil spirits and ensure a good harvest next year)  but the other allotment holders already think I'm nuts so maybe not the best idea!

The fairy on my tree

 This started out as a metal frame coat hanger thingy shaped like a tree......I added card to the back of it..........it looks quite blue in these pics but in fact it's more green......hard to get good pics in these darker Winter days.

 I was going to hang the doll at the top with a ribbon around her neck but she looked like she was being hanged.....literally! So she ended up sitting on a bent spoon......a lot more dignified!

 A birthday candle and holder light her way!

I'm sorry......well, only a bit......if you are getting fed-up with my "scary" dolls Christmas......I can't seem to get enough of them! In fact, I've never made so much Christmas themed stuff before, it surprises me but I'm really enjoying it!

Did you know it's Christmas?

I've been asked a few times what my Christmas tree looks like so I thought I'd show you! 

It seems to be assumed it will be covered in skulls and all sorts of other dark things.......it has a couple those type things but otherwise I think it's quite normal!

 Not that my son would agree......when we first bought this tree his comment was "where's the rest of it?"

Well, we like it! Lots of space for hanging things!

 A few more bits of my Christmas decorating......am a bit obsessed with mercury glass

 ....a big bowl of baubles........the red ones with the white decoration belonged to my Grandma

 and I love this Eastern European Santa......he came from Riga.

Shopping in Chester on Friday I bought this glass dome......once I got it home I had to find something to go inside.......

 can you see him peeping out??

 It's Santa baby!!

This little bod was actually made last year........you can see him here.....I just recycled him to sit in the dome!

What's that on your beard?

 These supermarket Santas became these!

 As soon as I saw them with that big open beard space I knew they were perfect for adding a little something.

I A Good Girl

 This is my entry for the  STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS CHALLENGE this week where they want to see a non-traditional Christmas, that is to use non Christmas stamps for a Christmas piece

 I have used Marci who is desperately hoping that Santa will come to her house.....she is standing in the snow with her party hat on ready and waiting and has written her very simple, to the point, letter!

 Letter to Santa!

Angelic?

 Bought these metal angels from Sainsburys recently

 I took off the arms, the heads and the hangers.......added doll heads and a big spoon to the back of each as halos

 and this is how they ended up!

 I sort of promised a friend that I wouldn't make these "too weird" but I'm sorry Burnice I just couldn't not do it......I just don't know how to do sweet/cute/twee!