Seeing in the new year

Well hello everyone!

Christmas is finally done and the new year is almost upon us. My doesn't time fly!!

I was sitting here reading other blogs and before I knew it I'd clicked on blogs they follow, and then blogs that they follow and 2 hours had passed me by and I'd added about 10 new blogs to my follow list! Does that happen to you?

So I thought I'd tell you about my plans for 2013. Firstly, lets say that I am only too pleased to see the back of 2012. It has been a very tough year, with hard and dark times. I spent nearly 4 months of the year in hospital. I'm now fully recovered but will always need to be careful and try not to get too stressed! On the plus side, the year has ended really well. We have just moved house and I am starting a new job on 7th January (just so happens to be my birthday too!).

The house and job are going to keep me busy but I was thinking about my spare time and how to make the most of it.

I really want to do more card making this year. I love it with a passion. I've been selling cards and attending gift fairs for a while now, but want to really push it more. Not sure how yet though, so any ideas gratefully received.

Next is baking. I've been well and truly bitten by the baking bug. I find looking at and reading recipes just as therapeutic as making them. I'd like to blog my baking too, so this blog will be more of a card making/baking/cooking/crafting kind of blog. 

Simon bought me a bread maker and a slow cooker so I shall be using those a lot too. I need to go hunting for slow cooker recipes. I'm sure there are lots out there. The trouble is, Si is a very fussy eater, so trying to find recipes that he will eat is a another ball game completely. That is a challenge in itself!

Finally...films. I know this probably sounds odd, but we were never much of a film watching family when I was growing  up. My mum and I watched LOTS of musicals on a Sunday afternoon, but other than that my film viewing is limited. A few years ago, Simon bought me about  10 DVDs, saying that these were some films I needed to see. They included Forrest Gump, Castaway, The Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption, Falling Down, Philadelphia, Hotel Rwanda and a film about Steve Biko that I cannot remember the name of. I've watched all those and we have been to the cinema and seen more recent films but there are still loads and loads that people say are great that I've never seen. For instance I've not seen any of the Star Wars films, Batman, Spiderman or super hero films, Harry Potter etc etc.
Today though, whilst blog surfing I watched The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock. I felt I needed to watch it as it is classed as an 'iconic' film. I have to say though, that whilst I enjoyed it, it just seemed to end. Why were the birds there in the first place? Did they ever go away? 

Anyway, that's about enough rambling. Let's see if I can keep up with my free time plans. Have you made any and what are they?

Speak soon
Ally
xx

Being away

Hi!!!!!

Hopefully you've all been wondering where I have been. As you know I was moving house. Well this eventually happened and we are settling in nicely.

I have been so busy that I haven't been able to any crafting of any kind. I am hoping to be back either just before, or just after Christmas.

See you soon!

Ally
xx

Purple Easel Christmas Card

Hi everyone,
So I said I wanted to really get on and make cards over the half term whilst I could and I think I've done that. At last a reason top feel pleased with myself!

So here is today's card

 Close up of image

 stamped snowflake in silver

 side view

Before you say anything, yes I know the circle on the front that holds the card up is not in the middle. I need to change that! 

This is an image I've used before called Nativity Phoebe from Pink Gem and I have coloured her with promarkers.

I'm entering this card into the following 2 challenges:
crafts 4 eternity - colour recipe
Totally Papercrafts - Twinkle twinkle Christmas star

Hope you like it
Ally
xx

Christmas card

Good morning everyone. I'm so glad Halloween is over. I really don't like it and disagree with it on so many levels. Rant over!

So today I am showing you another Christmas card (I think I will be showing you lots from now on). This one is quite plain and simple.

 Close up of the image

This is another digital image that I found on pinterest and downloaded for free. There are loads and loads out there if you fancy giving it a go. As usual I have coloured the image with promarkers.

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:
I love promarkers - cute
Fab n Funky - die cuts/punches

This card will be available in my weebly shop here: http://lovinglyhandcrafted.weebly.com/

Hope you like it
Ally
xx

Snowman step card

Good morning everyone. I hope you are all good. Hopefully any of my followers from the US are all safe and well. We're thinking of you.

I have a step or stepper (depending what you want to call it) for you today. 

 Here is a close up of the image

 And this a side view

I found the digital image on pinterest and coloured it with promarkers. I added a couple of baubles to the side panels.

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Twisted Tuesday - Anything goes
ABC Christmas - vibrant colours
Divas by Design - Festive
My mums craft shop - Bold and bright

Sothere we have it.
Hope you like it
Ally
xx

Christmas card for a girl

Hi everyone,

Following on from yesterday's post, today I'm showing you a Christmas card for a girl. I have used exactly the same card blank and layout as yesterday's card but changed the image and papers to suit a girl.

 Close up of the image

 Inside the card

The image again is from Pink Gem and is called Jodie With Gift and I have coloured her with promarkers.

This card is available in my weebly shop here: http://lovinglyhandcrafted.weebly.com/

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Totally stampalicious - anything goes
Party Time Tuesday - anything goes

Hope you like it

Ally
xx

Christmas card for a boy

Hi everyone,
It's not quite so cold here this morning and it was lovely taking the dog out.

Today I have a Christmas card to show you.

 Inside of the card

 Close up of the image.

The image is from Pink Gem and is called Winter Philip. I have coloured him with promarkers.

This card will be entered into the following challenges:
Paper Pretties - masculine card
I love promarkers - Christmas is coming
Charisma Cardz - Don't be square
Crafty Catz - male card
Whoopsidaisy Challenge - Punch it out


I shall be putting it in my shop http://lovinglyhandcrafted.weebly.com/


I hope you like it. 
Ally
xx