Friday 16 December 2011

Christmas in London

My countdown to Christmas is dashing along and here we are with only 9 days to go until the big day. I have got all my presents bought and wrapped and I have spent this afternoon after work making some of my crackers. I will show some photos when there is enough daylight over the weekend to take some shots. I would like to first show you all my latest card challenge using my favourite Christmas colours, red and green.

I used a new Lili of the Valley image called "Moonlight Wishes". I think this is such a gorgeous stamp.As you know my Mum and I do love the "Man in the moon."
I stamped the image out and coloured it using my trusty ProMarkers. I love the holly backing papers I used they are SO festive!




I really enjoyed colouring this stamp I kept it very simple as I think it suits the drawing.



















I added a  die cut poinsettia (in red of course!) and a red foil star to give some depth. I also added a die cut fir branch. The matting card has lovely embossed holly leaves.












I finished off with a round sentiment and put some punch cut embossed holly leaves around the edge.









I am entering this card into the following Card Challenges;

ProMarkers  Mega Christmas Challenge
Joanna Sheen's Christmas Wishes
Papertake Weekly challenge "I'm dreaming of a (your fave colour) Christmas" My colours are red and green
Paper Sundaes Anything Christmas
Party Time Tuesdays Red and Green Christmas
Papercrafting Journey; Christmas Challenge
Creative Craft Crew "Tis the Season"
Scrapbook Sisters Two colours My two colours are red and green.

I would also like to mention the lovely red ribbon give away on the Ribbon Girl Blog here. I would love to get my hands on that stash!

I had a wonderful evening out on Wednesday when I was treated by my Mum to a festive visit to see The English National Ballet perform The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum. I love London even more at Christmas. Despite the crowds everyone seems much more cheerful. I took the tube to The Embankment and got some fun photos.





I rather like the fuzziness of these shots, it was very dark and very cold so it was difficult to keep my camera still. There is a sense of bustling in this shot.






















































Embankment Tube Station is very close to the Strand and Trafalgar Square. I had a few minutes to spare I took a stroll with my camera and took some festive shots.





Shop fronts all decked out for Christmas




























And here is the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square which is an annual gift to the UK from Norway for the help we gave them during the War.
Beautiful isn't she






And towering up above me in the dark was none less than....

















.................Lord Nelson...
You can just make him out as a shadow at the top of the plinth. It was a very chilly night so I did not hang around for long and walked the few minutes to The Coliseum. I actually think I prefer The Coliseum to the Royal Opera House. It is smaller and more intimate and the seats are more comfortable!













It's a lovely old building and inside was heaving with excited people ready to see this wonderful ballet. The Nutcracker has to be one of my favourite ballets to see at this time of the year. It really has such a Christmas feel about it.























At this point there was no more photography allowed so my Mum and I settled back to an evening of pure delight. The dancers were superb, the scene changes spectacular, the orchestra stunning and the costumes...on my ...what a treat. I have found myself humming " The dance of the sugar plum fairy" ever since.

The weather has really changed here in the South of England over the last day, we even had sleet this morning and temperatures of -2oc are forecast over night. Much as I know how it does disrupt life here I can't help but also be humming...
"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!"

I hope everyone is keeping warm and snug, this is the last weekend of work before we can finally greet Christmas. As we are all reminded .......Keep Calm (but Carry on having Fun!)

Billy is certainly managing to do so ;0)

Back soon,

Bye for now.

Jane x

34 comments:

  1. Gorgeous card, love the holly backing papers and the die cut star amd the image is so cute
    Lindsay xx

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  2. Thanks Lindsay this card was made for my dear Mum and Dad :0)
    Jane x

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  3. Another beauty Jane, I love the backing paper it really is gorgeous and of course the little poisettia is lovely. :)
    Your photos of a festive London are great, I really must try to get to London at Christmas some year! So glad you enjoyed the ballet. :)
    Have a great weekend and stay warm, it's pouring here,
    Vivienne x

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  4. Vivienne you must come over at Christmas it's such a great atmosphere. It's freezing tonight and a heavy frost is forecast here. Keep snug and have a wonderful weekend too.
    Jane x

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  5. Jane,
    Thank you for the lovely visit to London. I so enjoyed the Square and the gorgeous lit Tree. I can imagine the ballet in that beautiful building, what a lovely thing to see with your mum. Try to keep warm and snuggly this last weekend before the Big Day!!! xoRobin❤

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  6. I love your card.. love the sparkly gems on it too! Again, thank you for taking me around London with you.. I may never get there myself but would so love to visit.
    :¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:
    *M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
    :¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  7. It was a very special festive evening Robin. Keep snug too!
    Jane x

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  8. Thanks Teresa you would love London. Glad you enjoyed your virtual visit !
    Jane x

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  9. Thanks Ginny and hello!
    Jane x

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  10. Beautiful card (good luck with the competitions!) and beautiful photos!

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  11. This is such a sweet card. I love the coloring on the cute image and I think the star is my favorite part of the card. Love it. Thanks for playing at Party Time Tuesdays this week.
    Renee
    PTT DT

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  12. Beautiful card Jane. Thanks for joining us at PfP for our mega Christmas challenge, good luck.
    Tracy x

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  13. Hi Nelli, thanks, keep your fingers crossed for me!
    Jane x

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  14. Hi Renee, thanks for the challenge and for visiting me here,
    Jane x

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  15. Hello Jane! Thank you for sharing those wonderfully Christmassy London pictures....I do love all those night time city lights at this time of year. And another lovely card too, with lots of interesting images and textures. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
    Helen x

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  16. The lighting really makes it doesn't it Helen. I am feeling SO festive now and it was a wonderful treat.
    Jane x

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  17. Beautiful card! Thanks for playing along at CCC and good luck!
    Hugs, Ani

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  18. Lovely shots, Jane, thank you so much for sharing! Those pictures are full of that lovely Christmas spirit and I love all those lights and sparkle...

    Only week to go, I LOVE IT! I am trying to take it easy, and I am following Billy's lead: no stress!

    Happy Saturday, dear friend!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  19. Jane, I think this is my "newest favorite" card you've created! What a sweet little celestial scene!
    It just doesn't seem like the holidays until I hear music from "The Nutcracker." How fun that you were able to attend the ballet! Happy Holiday countdown to you and Billy, too! :o)

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  20. Thanks Ani and great to see you here,
    Jane x

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  21. Yes just one week left now Mia and Billy is leading the way in showing us how to behave at this time of the year! Enjoy your pressie wrapping and have a great rest of the weekend,
    Jane x

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  22. Thanks so kind of you Michele..my Mum and Dad did love it! I am still humming the music from The Nutcracker, it was a most magical evening,
    Jane x

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  23. This is so pretty Jane! And some beautifl pictures too!! Thank you for joining us at Papertake Weekly and hope to see you again :)

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  24. Hey, how come Norway doesn't give the US a tree? Didn't we help too? Love the photos. I'm glad you had such a lovely evening at the ballet :)

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  25. Thanks Lisa...London at Christmas is even more stunning than normal.
    Jane x

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  26. Linda I'm sure you could share a branch or two with us ;0).
    The ballet was a perfect festive visual feast and the music...wonderful!
    Jane x

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  27. Great photos and great card! Thanks so much for joining our 'Anything Christmas' challenge at Paper Sundaes.

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  28. Thanks Jenny, glad you enjoyed your visit here!
    Jane x

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  29. stunning card jane.i love the image and your colouring and design is beautiful :D
    thanks for joining us in our mega christmas challenge at PFP :D

    xx coops xx

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  30. Thanks Coops, have a very Merry Christmas, nearly there now!
    Jane x

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  31. A beautiful card, thanks for joining the Joanna Sheen monthly challenge.

    Wendy -x-

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  32. Thanks Wendy, the challenge has been great fun.
    Jane x

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Jane x