Christmas in July 2013

Warning this post is very photo heavy so I suggest you make yourself a cuppa and then settle down for a read. This is a very apt title for today's post as yes it is that time of the year when I make a "Christmas in July" card (Vivienne please don't choke on your tea ;0). But also today I plan to show you my wonderful goodies I bought at the Coronation Festival at Buckingham Palace on Friday. My card today is my 3rd Guest Designer card for over at the Loves Rubberstamping challenge. The challenge this week is Christmas is July.  As my regular blogging friends know I am Mrs Christmas and if there is any excuse for me to mention the "C" word in the summer I do not need a lot of persuading. I also find it great fun to get out my Christmas stash when we are enjoying the heat of summer. The weather for the last week or so has been in the mid 30s...gorgeous. Here is my card.

I have used Mo Manning's Little Elf Mim. These stamps are sold by Penny Black and I bought her last year. I coloured her with my Promarkers and highlighted her with my Prismacolor pencils.

Here she is in close up. I fussy cut her out and added some diamonds glitter to her hat and top for extra sparkle. The die cut bells are Marianne as is the fir branch peeping out. I added a really lush red and green satin ribbon and a second thin red ribbon with the words Happy Christmas.

This is my first card for my Christmas stash and I think I will start making a few each month as life gets so busy, Also this year our grandbaby will be making an appearance in early November so I need to be even more organised for Christmas than I usually am.





I would like to enter my card into the following card challenges;



Crimbo Crackers Girlie
Penny Black Christmas in July
Visible Image Inspired by a song of course my song has to be the carol "Ding dong merrily on high"
Winter Wonderland Baby's First Christmas
Papercrafting Journey Christmas in July
Stamp and Create Christmas in July
Crafty Ribbons anything goes with ribbon
As you like it Favourite occasion and why Obvious as I have written above my favourite occasion is Christmas....it is and always will be. I think it is the gathering of the family, the decorations, the winter and just the whole season which inspires me every single year. And if you want to know there are only 161 days to go ;0) Vivienne will have passed out by now ....
Totally Gorjuss Sweet
Merry Monday Christmas card challenge anything goes



I would also like to give a shout out to the lovely Ribbon Girls who have a giveaway at the moment. Take a peep here

So I know you have all been wanting to see my goodies brought home from my day at Buckingham Palace. If you want to read about it have a look at this post here

There were so many things to choose from all the Warrant holders who were exhibiting, this is what we came home with;

Beautiful bound note books for Hb and me which were personalised as we waited

We were able to choose our books and watch the letters being added in gold leaf. I bought a plain notebook for me to add my little thoughts and sketch and ideas when I am down in my studio. The paper is beautiful quality

and of course it has the Royal Warrant under the Queen's crest.

 Bendick's had produced a special limited edition tin which contained mints and a set of playing cards...very useful in our household at Christmas.

Sutton's seeds also had a super tin so this went into a bag too

Martini had a great stand as it is their 150th anniversary this year. I am a Martini Rosso girl and they had a really great limited edition offer

Their stand was also very popular......

 on the subject of drink.... Moet and Chandon had a fab stand too, we enjoyed a great chat about buying vintage champagne

We also had to buy the Festival Guide as it will be something to show our grandchildren.

It has such beautiful quality photos and paper

Tom Smith (the Christmas Cracker people) were exhibiting. There was nothing to buy, it was to show the commissioning of special crackers. However the man there took a shine to me and gave me a little Christmas goodie bag. He thought I was making it up that I am Mrs Christmas until I showed him the countdown app I have on my phone. Yes seriously I have one. 

They make special crackers each year for the Royal Households as well as for other clients.

This was their stand, it really was Christmas in July on one of the hottest days of the year. I loved this stand and spent ages here.











How about these for bespoke crackers. My family will just have to make do with my hand made ones I'm sorry to say !

Now last, but most certainly the most special of our purchases... As you know I am also a silver smith and attend classes at college once a week during term time. I really enjoy my hobby and some time ago we tried our hands at enameling. I did make a pretty necklace but I soon recognised that enameling (and stone setting) are things I tend to leave to the experts. There are very difficult and very time consuming.  Some years ago I bought my Hb a set of cuff links for Christmas by Fiona Rae, a very talented enameler. As we were nearing the end of the festival I noticed that she had a stand....yes she has received the Royal Warrant no less! We went into her booth and saw some of her amazing work.

Fiona is the sweetest person you could meet and we spent ages talking to her. And yes I am sure you can guess.....my Hb bought me the sweetest pendant and I bought him another set of cuff links. These have been so difficult to photograph as they reflect the light so much, but in real life these really are quite exquisite.

Here is my sweet enamelled birdie complete with nest and sapphire egg.

and here are my Hbs cuff links. They represent the sun and in the centre is a tiny blue face

Yes I know I am a very spoilt, lucky girl but it is our 32nd Wedding Anniversary on 25th July so I could pretend they are for our celebrations :0)

It really was the most remarkable and memorable day and we have treasures to treasure for years to come.

I hope you are enjoying the sun as much as I am ( and this gorgeous one above)

Thanks so much for your kind visits and all the comments you take the time to leave me. It really was Christmas in July for me last week in more ways than one.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x