In this style

 Every year I have a calendar that hangs on a door in the kitchen.......last year I had an Alice in Wonderland one. When I replaced it with this years I didn't want to throw it out so cut it up and got lots of pieces to use.......watch this space for another piece using lots of them ......

 but in the meantime here is a quick and simple journal page using one of the pages.......the illustration is by Arthur Rackham......I love Rackhams work so didn't want to cover too much of it up, luckily there was a big area of sky that I could play in:)

used tickets to echo the one in the Hatters hat.......in this style!

 look at that face:)

First Alice piece of 2013!

Die cuts

are not among my fav things to use.

 I find the actual cutting process very frustrating......I have a Cuttlebug and I can never remember the combination of plates to use with each die, end up with part cut pices, or not cut at all then try another combination bla bla bla......and end up thinking "I can't be bothered!"

 That said I made this page with a couple of die cuts I did manage to cut! 

The reason I persevered is that Stampotique Designers challenge this week is to use die cuts.

What the heck is that?

is the question my husband asked when he saw this little bod! And the answer.......well, I don't know either really, it is just one of those things.......a little bod! 

The first thing I made in 2013!

  

 A little bod with an amber bead (I love amber) and a heart hanging from the end of his nose:)

 He is made from some left over clay from another project, the eyes came from the doll below and he is moulded around the top of one of these light bulb bottles

Happy New Year

To all reading this I wish you a happy and prosperous New Year!!

Last night we went to the Allendale Tar Barrel parade! 

Despite it being freezing cold it was great fun and a cool way to usher in 2013.

It was kinda hard to get photos as the brightness of the fires seemed to confuse the camera but I like the slightly blurry, surreal look of these!

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!