Saturday 17 November 2012

Christmas is coming

Well here we are in mid November with only 38 days to go until my favourite day of the year. Yes Christmas this year seems to have appeared again in no time at all. My Mum and I enjoyed our annual visit to Harrods to see their Christmas department, which is always such a joy. This year was no exception and I actually remembered my camera. Last year I had to make do with my phone for photos. I also took some photos of the amazing food hall which I will share in another post soon,

This enormous Harrods Bear was standing at the entrance to the Christmas department, he was taller than me and was a huge (literally) talking point.




We try to visit first thing in the morning before the crowds arrive. The displays are always breath taking. All the decorations are set out in "themes". Now this year I am really "into" gingerbread men and as my Mum always buys me a new decoration we went looking for a gingerbread man.













There was a whole "candy" selection and we found so many lovely things to choose from.















There were lots of gingerbread men (and women ;0) to choose from


















and the festive displays were so delightful. I love this one with the Harrods logo. So which one did I chose.......







Here he is...don't you think he looks so real. He is made from a fimo type resin but I think he looks edible. The "sugar" even glistens! I can't wait to hang him on my tree in December.
Here are a few more shots from the Christmas department.







Now I have been looking for a fun gingerbread stamp for ages and have not been successful. I found a lovely PMX stamp by searching Google images only to find that it has long been discontinued. The ones that appear on Ebay seemed to be reaching ridiculous prices. However a couple of weeks ago I found one as a Buy it Now on Ebay.com and even with the shipping charge from the USA if was half the price of the ones being sold here. I was delighted  when it arrived.


Here he is, a wood mounted stamp which nowadays is quite a rare way to buy stamps. He has such a happy smile and I had a play with him last weekend, trying 4 different cards. I tried colouring him on white card stock and also just stamping him onto  Kraft card. For one of the cards I even tried cutting him out.


Would you like to see my cards....I have made a little sneak peek collage...










My card challenge creation today is one of these cards and it is this little fellow.







He was coloured with Promarkers and highlighted with Prismacolor pencils. He has a sweet little  red heart gem in his middle. I "made" scrabble pieces from a download by the very generous Fuzzimo He has some amazing freebies. Do try his embosser he designed, it is such fun.
I added some festive die cuts and a punched snowflake. The tag is LOTV and the small square stamp is Whimsy.  This card is already sold but I do have another in my Etsy shop here and I also have a few more to make for orders.




I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;
Paper Crafting Journey anything goes
Craft room Challenge Punches and die cuts
Whimsy Card Challenge 3rd and final entry Traditional Christmas colours
Divas By Design Anything Goes #61
My Mum's Craft Shop Winter wonderland #84
Joanna Sheen Cold and Frosty I also had the exciting news this morning that I won their blog candy ;0)
Stamping with the Dragon So cute
Forever Friends Monthly challenge anything goes
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challege Use something more than 6 months old #99 Well the stamp I bought is so old it is retired but also my faithful snowflake punch, which I use again and again is at least 3 years old.
Penny Black and More any die will do my die is the lovely snowflakes by Memory Box

It has been a pretty dark damp day here but tomorrow is forecast to be cold and bright. Today went t o a little Frost Fayre being held in Wimbledon. I really enjoy Christmas Fayres and try to visit a few as you can often buy such unique presents and little stocking fillers. There is also a Cath Kidston in Wimbledon so I popped  my head in there too. Everywhere is beginning to look very festive and there are already a lot of Christmas shoppers out and about. Have a lovely weekend everyone and for those who enjoy Strictly .............keep dancing...we are learning a new Samba at the moments...such a fun dance ;0)

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x








49 comments:

  1. Hi Jane, it looks like you're having a very gingerbread Christmas! Thanks for showing us the fun things on your shopping trip! I love the addition of the of the gingerbread man to your cards! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. Looks as if you had a good time at Harrods. I love your gingerbread stamp and what you've done with it on your delightful cards - thanks for entering my CHNC challenge 99 - hope to see you again soon. x

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  3. Hi Teresa, perhaps I should think about making some gingerbread too ;0) Enjoy your evening,
    Jane x

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  4. I had a fab time at Harrods Hazel. Thanks for visiting,
    Jane x

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  5. Christmas, it doesn't seem possible but it's coming and I'm starting to get excited; right after Thanksgiving it all starts here. Love your purchases and I love both your "Gmen" I could definitely see being confused with the ornament, it looks so real and perfect with a cup of tea! So nice you have this tradition with your mom.
    Have a great weekend, xoRobin❤

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  6. With no Thanksgiving here we are just going full steam ahead to Christmas Robin ;0)I so love my annual trip to Harrods with my Mum. We have been doing it for years. Happy weekend,
    Jane x

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  7. hi Jane thanks for the fab photos!
    Lovely and cute creation.
    Thank you for sharing at Craft-Room Challenge.
    Good luck for the draw;-))m

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  8. Hi Jane,

    I used to visit Harrods with my dad at christmas time so was nice to see all your photos, it is such a magical place this time of year.

    The gingerbread stamp is just adorable and the scrabble pieces work so well.
    A really beautiful card.
    Tracy
    Whimsy Digital design team.

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  9. I hope you enjoyed your Harrods re visit with me Tracy. Thanks for liking my card,
    Jane x

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  10. I love your little gingerbread man, he really does look edible, the little Harrods bag looks gorgeous too. Everytime I think of Harrods and Christmas I think of my lovely Harrods 1999 bauble that the security staff at Heathrow managed to break!
    :(
    Your gingerbread man (men??) cards are brilliant Jane I especially love the one with the scrabble letters!!
    Enjoy the rest of the weekend, what a great Strictly it was from Wembley!
    V xxxxxxxxxxxx

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  11. A fabulous card, love the gingerbread man, so sweet...thanks for joining us at Divas!
    Helen x

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  12. I hope my happy gingerbread man can give you a happier memory now Vivienne ;0) I really like my scrabble letters and have been playing with them lots on my recent cards. Strictly tonight was fab wasn't it. Night, night!
    Jane x

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  13. Good Sunday Morning, Jane!
    Harrods must be amazing this time of the year! How can your ever choose what to buy? Your ginger man is so real! I would like to try with Fimo but it would take too long time.
    I'm happy you found the stamp you were looking for; it makes wonderful cards!
    We han non-stop rain from Friday, thunder and more rain. Dogs can't go out and other small problems.
    I wish you lovely Sunday! x Teje

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  14. There is the most amazing choice there Teje. It took quite some time to choose him. I am delighted with my stamp and enjoying making cards with it. Keep dry!
    Jane x

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  15. Looks like you had a wonderful time!! Years since I went to Harrods, always mean to, but having the kids with me seems to mean I never get time.

    Me and DH are hoping to nip down to the "smoke" for a day without the kids (shush dont tell them) over the hols so here's hoping....

    Helenxx

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  16. Oooh Helen you must come down. Christmas in London is very magical. I always go up to meet my Hb after he finishes work at some point in the next few weeks just to savour all that is going on there.
    Jane x

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  17. afternoon Jane, wow wow that candy tree is fabulous must have one of those, although think a bit big for our home :)

    lovely collage of cards, love how you have tried many ways with him and he looks great on them all

    Re the bow maker, I bought a wooden one at the Doncaster Dome craft event, it is a block of wood with holes in it and two pieces of dowling in it, simple but very effective, there are many on the market, I think they all do pretty much the same thing

    take care

    Kate xx

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  18. Thanks Kate I have often thought of trying a bow maker? Perhaps that is something to add to my wish list ;0)
    Jane x

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  19. Hiya sweetie I just love to come and visit you, you make me happy with your tales and your wonderful photographs, always produce a wonderful tale, and its always so interesting!!! llove your gingerbread man he is soooo cute, I liked that harrods green bag too, ooh what a wonderful shop, I visited it once when I went to london, but its a long way from newcastle!!!! your cards are sooo sweet hunnie just like you, thanks for the cheer up, and the shop, big huggies June xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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    1. Im so glad I made you smile June...please get better soon.
      Jane x

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  20. Hi Jane such lovely photos of so many beautiful Christmas decorations! thanks for sharing!

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  21. Harrods is wonderful isn't it, do you know I have never thought to take photos when I go!
    glad you got your stamp and at a good price, so nice when you finally get something you have been hankering after. He has made a lovely card too.
    Thanks for sharing with us at Penny Black & More this month.
    Lynn x
    DT

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  22. Lots of shops don't allow photography Linby but Harrods are fine with it. It's such an amazing store. I am delighted with my stamp!
    Jane x

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  23. It sounds like the perfect Christmas shopping trip Jane and great photos as well.

    Another lovely Christmas card, thanks so much to joining in with our Any Die Will Do theme at Penny Black and More challenge this month.

    B x

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  24. It looks like Harrod's is an event to experience. I'm fond of gingerbread people too. Lovely cards :)

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  25. *sigh* not been to Harrods for years! I was talking to a chap yesterday at Newmarket, he collects teddies, about my trip there years ago to buy my then unborn son, a real bear! I love the gingerbread men, that ornament is so cute! Great cards as always Jane...now musing about Gingerbread beads! x

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  26. Hello Jane I loved seeing all your Christmassy pictures! The gingerbread man is one of my favourite images too :) And I am also rather keen on gingerbread houses this year. I really like your new gingerbread man stamp and the very festive card with the fab scrabble pieces!
    Hope you have a happy week.
    Helen x

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  27. Good evening Jane...All this candy and gingerbread is making me feel very festive...such wonderful displays!
    I love your gingerbread man cards too and I'm sure they will be very popular in your shop!
    Ashley was displaying her bag charm on a new bag she purchased in Madrid over the weekend when on Skype...(carefully passed on by sister Leah)It looked so lovely and she was thrilled with it...Thank you again Jane...Ashley will be home for the weekend in 2 weeks so we are all very excited!
    Happy New week,
    Susan x

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  28. Harrods is so unique Linda...such a fab store,
    Jane x

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  29. Gingerbread men beads would be fabulous Laney, you should give them a go,
    Jane x

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  30. I love gingerbread men and snowmen as Christmas images Helen. I was delighted with my scrabble pieces,
    Jane x

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  31. I am so pleased that Ashley loved her bag charm Susan. I am now thinking of trying to find some gingerbread charms, they would look super cute for a festive bag charm,
    Jane x

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  32. Dear Jane,

    What a lovely post again! I LOVE seeing Harrods inside, thank you so much, and in this time of the year it seems even more magical to me... And gingerbread men! They're my close second to the best-ever Christmas-things (snowmen are the best for me as we all know :) already), and those you found are just adorable! Lovely, lovely cards!

    Happy days, dear friend, the best of all year are ahead of us! And SO CLOSE!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  33. What fabulous pictures Jane...they really got me excited about Christmas. Reminds me of the stores in NY...they really go all out at Christmas. Gorgeous Gingerbread cards...I love them all but especially the one stamped on kraft cs...something I MUST try soon! xx ps why not enter them in our Snowflake challenge? pps almost didn't recognize you...love the new picture...Billy looks quite happy up there lol ppps Did I tell you I'm going to be a grandma :-O xxxxxx

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  34. Hi my dear Mia, yes Christmas is just around the corner and I know how excited my fellow Mrs Christmas will be getting. I thought you would love the gingerbread men cards but I know your first love are snowmen ;0) Keep snug,
    Jane x

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  35. Good morning Kerry aka grandma to be...Harrods is the place to see at Christmas, their displays are just spectacular. I can't enter this card into your challenge as it was posted before the challenge started...LOL..remember your rules Queen Ladybug ;0) but I willl be entering soon. You are the only person who spotted my photo change....how observant.
    PS You haven't told me you are going to be a grandma? ;0)
    Jane x

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  36. Rules schmules...I'm the boss aren't I lololol. Now you know why I have Lisa doh! ps...I'm going to be a grandma!!!! xx

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  37. Gorgeous cards, love the cute little gingerbread man. Thanks for joining us at Paper Crafting Journey. Hugs Lisa xxx

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  38. Jane! I LOVE love love your recent posts..gosh, it makes me want to zoom to Christmas and take a flight to visit England at Christmastime. Harrods is on my "must-see" list in life and now I think i shall try during the holidays. Oh, from your cinderella slippers to James Bond and now to your sweet gingerbread man..what a visual delight it must be to shop there. I am sending a warm thanksgiving greeting to you and yours as we prepare for our big day tomorrow. I am so grateful for your friendship. Hugs!

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  39. Kerry are rules just for breaking then? LOLOLOL! Good job Lisa cracks the whip ;0)
    Jane x

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  40. Hi Lisa thanks for liking my gingerbread man, I really love him ;0)
    Jane x

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  41. Ahh Shirley you really must come over the pond and visit. London is fab and Harrods is a delight any time of the year but especially at Christmas. Happy Thanksgiving my friend, enjoy your family time,
    Jane x

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  42. Gorgeous photos! You would seriously never get me out of there, lol. I love your gingerbread man :-). Thanks for joining in with our Die Cuts & Punches theme.

    Maria, Craft-Room Challenge DT

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  43. Gorgeous photos! You would seriously never get me out of there, lol. I love your gingerbread man. Thanks for joining in with our Die Cuts & Punches theme.

    Maria, Craft-Room Challenge DT

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  44. Cute gingerbread man! Looks like you had a great time at Harrods! Thanks for joining the challenge at Forever Friends, Lisa (DT) x

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