Monday 24 December 2012

...and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even.....

Billy....
my sweetest boy is dozing as we wait for the family to arrive. I opened the last window of my nostalgic German advent calendar, no surprises what was was there ;0) It has been such a joy to see these vintage pictures behind every door for the last 24 days.

Everything is ready. My food delivery arrived on Friday night and the fridge is stacked full. My parents, my daughter and son-in-law, my son and his girlfriend will join us tomorrow for lunch at 1pm. Christmas is such a special time for me. Today is actually quite relaxed and I have made some more mince pies. I have used lots of different cutters this year to decorate them (and yes of course there has to be a pig amongst them, thank you dear Mia x)
Yesterday, despite the flooding on the A27, we managed to make it to the Christmas Carol service in Chichester Cathedral. My son in law was a chorister there between the ages of 7 and 13 so it holds some old memories for him. I do like to attend a carol service at this time of year too and we were invited to join him and my daughter there. The cathedral was packed and it was the perfect place to sing the carols I have known and sung since I was a child.
Afterwards we walked to the cloisters and enjoyed a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie in a very atmospheric setting




My last challenge card before Christmas has a special greeting.(A quick edit added, do you remember my Tradition Santa card here... I just found out it made Top 3 on one of my challenges I entered..woop woop!)


I have used one of my dear Lili of the Valley stamps called Angels with crib. What a sweet stamp this is, just so peaceful. I coloured it using my Promarkers and highlighted with Prismacolor Pencils. I added stamp dimension to the wings to make them stand out. The pine branch die cut is Marianne and the snowflake is from my stash. The papers are Papermania from last year...Enchanted Forest. I so loved them and now have very little left. I added some lovely new ribbon I bought in festive red and green with a gold fleck. I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Sweet Stamping Seeing Double my double are this sweet pair of angels but I also have 2 pine branches here too so perhaps I am seeing double double!
Lili's Little Fairies something new my new is my new festive ribbon I bought.
Totally Gorjuss Easy does it #163 I think that the baby Jesus is really taking it easy in his manger ;0)
Stampin for the weekend anything goes #24
Natalie and Amy Anything Christmas
Cutie Pie #34 Christmas
Really Reasonable Ribbons anything goes #34
Simon Says Stamp Merry Christmas
Divas by Design anything goes #66
Papercrafting Journey anything goes
Winter Wonderland wish upon a star
Crafts and Me Bumper Christmas Challenge
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challengeanything goes #104
Woopsi Daisy Celebrate
A+T Emerald Faeries #38 Christmas

This is my last post before that most wonderful day of the year for me. Thank you for sharing my Countdown to Christmas 2012 and for all the wonderful comments you took to time at this very busy time of the year.I would like to wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas. I hope that wherever you are in the world and whoever you share the day with, as my card sentiment says,

"May Christmas bring friends to your fireside,
Peace to your pathway
And success in your New Year"


My daughter and her husband will arrive around 5pm and my Hb has a half day at work so he will be home soon. We are going to wander down to the pub for a winter warmer and then watch the new Snowman and Snowdog animation on TV.
On Christmas day I will raise my glass to everyone in this world and also remember those who are no longer with us. Celebrate the joys of all the Christmas' past, present and yet to be.  Cheers!
All is at peace in Jane's World.

See you all very soon and I hope that if you have been good that Santa slips something very special in your stocking tonight ;0)

Bye for now,

Jane x


39 comments:

  1. Hi Jane, Lovely post and what Christmas is all about. Have a wonderful time with your family. love Lesley

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  2. Lovely to see you here Lesley, wishing you a wonderful Christmas too,take care,
    Jane xx

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  3. Looks and sounds like you are all ready for tomorrow Jane! Your mince pies look great, I love the little piggy one ( I got a puss, Mia figured I would have very bunny cutter ever made and she was right!!!) We enjoyed carols and mince pies yesterday evening too!
    Wishing you and yours a fantastic Christmas my dear friend, see you the other side,
    Vivienne xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  4. Good morning Jane...Oh my, there are too many coincidences going on in our lives...(my favourite Xmas poem!)
    I love your festive post Jane which captures the whole atmosphere of the season perfectly...it's always a treat to visit you..Wishing you and your family a wonderful and peaceful Xmas (and sending Billy a special hug!)
    Susan x
    P.S Love your latest card as always!

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  5. I love my cutter Viv and I didn't have a piggy one ;0) Yes I am all ready, hubby due home really soon. I am enjoying this last day so much. Have a Merry Christmas my dear and yes "see" you really soon,
    Jane x

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  6. We do have so many coincidences in our lives don't we Susan. Merry Christmas to you and your and take care. Billy is now sitting on my keyboard and making it very difficult to type ;0) he sends a big purr.
    Jane x

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  7. Jane, a special Christmas wish for you and your family coming to you from over the seas here in Australia.

    May 2013 hold exciting and creative things for you.

    Cheers,

    Kasey ~ in Oz

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  8. Bless you Kasey, many thanks for your good wishes. A very Merry Christmas to you and yours too, "see" you soon,
    Jane x

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  9. What a lovely Christmas post, Jane, thank you for sharing your Christmas with us! Your card is lovely as well, thanks for sharing it with us at the Simon Says Stamp challenge! Merry Christmas!

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  10. I hope you have a wonderful time with your family Jane, and a fabulous 2012! Bethx (thelinencat).

    Ps, I could ALL your mince pies right now, they look delicious ;)

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  11. A very merry Christmas to you and your family
    Beth, thanks for all your visits. Sending you a virtual mince pie ;0)
    Jane x

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  12. Hope you have a beautiful Christmas
    Victoria xx

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  13. Love all your pictures and also your delightful card - thanks for entering my CHNC challenge 104 - hope to see you again soon. Happy Christmas. x

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  14. Lovely, festive and beautiful post Jane! I really have enjoyed your Christmas-posts and I am a bit sad to see them to end BUT I am so so so happy that we're only just started our this year celebrations! We have opened the presents and spend the lovely day together with all the nearest and dearest, and now it's time for some quiet enjoyment, a great book, shimmering tree, some chocolates... I wish you'll have a truly wonderful day tomorrow (and many to follow)! Enjoy your long holidays, dear friend, and we'll talk soon again! Kisses to Billy!

    Yours,
    Mia

    P.S. I love to see the little piggy in action!

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  15. and you too Victoria, nearly time!
    Jane x

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  16. I am so glad you had a wonderful day dear Mia. Enjoy your peaceful time. We are about to go to bed and wait for Santa;0) I have so enjoyed the countdown to Christmas again.....as you say we will have a new year to look forward to. Take care,
    Jane x
    (and yes doesn't my piggy cutter look fab, thanks so much, you know me so well ;0)

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  17. Merry Christmas to you and yours,Jane.

    May you have a day full of mince pies and gingerbread men!!
    Enjoy your days off from work.

    with best wishes,
    Anne
    PlumCreek22

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  18. Thanks so much Anne, it's 11.20pm here and we are off to bed...Santa is on his way! Merry Christmas,
    Jane x

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  19. Wishing you every joy that you've anticipated for so long! I wish I could sample one of those mincemeat pies. Mmmm :)

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    1. Merry Christmas Linda....Santa has been ....!
      Jane x

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  20. Dear Jane, what a lovely post with so many wonderful things in it. It sounds like you're having the perfect English Christmas! I only wish someday I could be in your wonderful country during this season.

    ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
    *M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
    ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉

    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. It's now 7am Teresa....yipee my Christmas day 2012 has begun. Merry Christmas! Jane x

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  21. Dear Jane, your Christmas sounds most wonderful! It has been great to follow your countdown and these beautiful photos are the perfect end for that! Visiting that church is a lovely tradition!
    Presents have been opened and there was real English Marshmallows!
    Enjoy your time with the family! x Teje

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  22. Hey Jane!

    Your card is absolutely darling!

    Thanks for joining us at Whoopsi Daisy "Celebrate" challenge!
    I wish you a happy New Year!

    Hugs, Sande xx

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  23. Great card, love the layout!

    Thank you for sharing with us at
    Emerald Faeries & Natalie & Amy's Monthly, good luck!
    Hugs Shell xx

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  24. This is a beautiful Christmas card Jane, I love all of your photographs especially your gorgeous cat - he looks so peaceful.
    Thank you for joining us at Whoopsi Daisy this week.
    Pauline
    x

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  25. I love your kitty photo - we have countless sleeping kitty photos too - so many interesting poses. We were near you just a few weeks ago in Arundel - such a great area of the country. Have a wonderful new year!

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  26. Thank you for joining in our challenge at Sweet Stampin' with your beautiful card.

    Pam x

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  27. what a gorgeous interpretation of our theme, thank you for joining us at the Winter Wonderland
    hope you had a great Xmas and wishing you a fabulous New Year
    Kate xx

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  28. Thanks everyone for your Christmas wishes, we had such a wonderful time. Back soon with a new post,
    Jane x

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  29. What a great card and a beautiful image. Thank you for joining us at The Emerald Faeries. Good Luck xoxoxox

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  30. Beautiful card Jane - love the image and the traditional colours - love Billy too!

    Thank you for joining us over at Totally Gorjuss and the very best of luck.

    I hope you will be able to join us for the next challenge.

    Wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

    Toodles

    Hazel x

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  31. Hi Jane, such a sweet image and a gorgeous card.

    Thanks for for joining in with us this time at The Cutie Pies.

    Sarah

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  32. Fabulous card and beautiful colouring . Thank you for joining us over at Whoopsi Daisy this week.
    Joan x

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  33. Stunning creation and thanks for all the other beautiful architectural images. Thanks also for playing at Whoopsi Daisy this time:)

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  34. Gorgeous celebration card. Love the design with the embossing, leaves and sparkly snowflakes. Thanks for playing at Whoopsi Daisy and good luck. Hope to see you back monday for a new challenge. Bettina xx

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