Winter solstice 2019

The winter solstice occurred at precisely 4.19am this morning here in the UK.The word literally means "sun stands still" and the sun is at it's most southerly point and we are the furthest away from it. Although today will have the least number of daylight hours from tomorrow the nights will get shorter as daylight starts to slowly return. Hooray!

There are also just 2 more sleeps until Father Christmas takes to the skies on Christmas Eve. To me this really is the most wonderful time of the year and keeps me in good spirits at such a naturally dark time. I am not religious but I always put the crib, which I have had and added to for years, and I bought some star lights last year in the sale which light it perfectly.
It sits on the shelf looking out to the hall and I love looking at the scene and remembering all my Christmases past, present and those yet to come.

My trees are looking gorgeous and I love to see the lights twinkling on them when I come down on these dark mornings. 

We have some last last food shopping to do before the big day but other than that we are all ready. 

I promised I would share my handmade crackers so here they are all ready for the dinner table.

Here are a few of them.

I used a cute Lili of the Valley simply print reindeer and some die cuts. The colours are to match the table ware.

Shhh don't tell anyone but these are some of the gifts inside...the boys are going to have such fun with those emergency mustaches.

I would also like to share my latest card challenge card, a late addition to my shelves at Dotty's Teahouse, Carshalton, SM5 2AE , where my cards are sold

It is another of my popular traditional Christmas cards. I so love this image. The papers are old from my stash and the dies are by Memory Box and Cheery Lyn. The tag was stamped using an ancient Lili of the Valley set I own. 

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

Pixie's snippets playground #368

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas #469

Cute card Thursdays 2/3 anything goes

Simon says stamp It's Christmas card day!
As you like it 1/3 favourite die and why mine is this old bells die  (I am sorry I don't know the maker.) It works for any celebration, not just Christmas
Mod Squad 1/3 Christmas/Winter

A vintage journey a holly jolly Christmas

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

Moving along with the times 1/3 anything but a card

Simon says stamp Wednesday party time

Try it on Tuesday 1/3 Christmas is coming

The cutie pie challenge 1/3 Christmas cuties

Enjoy the lighter days from tomorrow and all your last minute Christmas festivities.

I will be back on Christmas Eve with my last countdown to Christmas post.

Bye for now,

Jane x