A weekend in the woods

I am back with some last photos from our recent Winter Wonderland Centre Parcs' visit. We went with our children, their partners, Daisy and Bear, my son's dog. If you have never been, there are sweet wooden villas dotted all around the Parc. It's a huge area set around a giant lake with a central plaza and so many activities. We stayed up in the Firs, in 2 nearby villas. It's just like living in the woods but with the luxury of central heating, a dishwasher and every other mod con. It doesn't look much from the outside but it's like a tardis inside and so cosy.

Bear loved sitting by the log burning fire.

And our villas were close enough that Daisy could pop over for her dinner.

 From our patio we could see a little duck pond and most mornings we saw them waddling around.

You can either walk, cycle or get the train around the Parc. No cars are allowed on site after you have unpacked on the Friday night. For the Festive season the train was decked out for Christmas

We enjoyed the challenge of archery.

My son actually came 3rd in the tournament, not bad for someone who has never picked up a bow before!

 He was rewarded with a certificate.....such fun!

We held a little party for my son in law's birthday on the Friday night...lots of chat and family laughter..and of course birthday cake. My son took on the role of bar tender ;0)

We enjoyed the winter wonderland, pottery painting, swimming and also a lovely evening out on the Saturday. Daisy had a babysitter.

I love this photo of Daisy my sweet granddaughter standing on the ice bench. Her coat with the mittens is so cute.

Our Saturday night meal out in Cafe Rouge.

On the Sunday our son in law cooked a delicious roast. We had such a brilliant time together. When it was time to go home this was our decorated chalk board we left behind in our villa. (Every villa has one on the wall and chalks are supplied) .Over the weekend we had added to it. I snapped a photo of it as we left.

Such  perfect family time and memories. It was really special as we will not all be together for Christmas at the same time this year.
I decided to make a Moment for my journal using the photo of my little Daisy above standing on the ice bench.
One of my favourite challenge blogs, Scrap Across the World are sadly closing this month and I decided to use their inspirational photo to make my Centre Parcs Moment.

This is their photo


For my inspiration I used the gold lettering, the gold glitter, the greens of the leaves in the flowers and the gorgeous rich pink/purple/red colours.  The mood of the board is a celebration of life and I took that mood to create my journal page. I cut down a very large rectangular paper from my stash to make a 9 1/2 X 9 1/2" square keeping the mistletoe bough in the centre above the photo of Daisy. This represents all the love and kisses we shared during that holiday. It is so hard to show the real shine that this has...IRL it sparkles and shines so well.

Here are some close ups
I stamped my Tim Holtz trees using shades of distress inks to represent the woods and added Frantage for a Christmas effect.

I stencilled a gold Christmas border using Wendy Vecchi's amazing gold embossing paste and added a pearl in the centre. The chippie is part of a Dusty attic one which I gold embossed. I could only use that word couldn't I? The photo was die cut using my Memory box stitched border.

The eagle eyed will spot that I used the left side of a recent master board I made recently was used to layer up my photo. 

I cut some strips and added them using foam to give some depth. I added various foliage die cuts and a CL icicle, 

I matched Daisy's gloves with my Memory box precious mittens die cut using glitter card and put some tiny red hearts on them for love.
I went round the edge of the paper with Treasure Gold to add even more shine and golden glow!

Here is my Moment once more in all its entirety, there is a lot of sparkle and shine here including the smile on Daisy's face.

I would like to enter my Moment into the following challenges; the future is certainly bright with Daisy and my wonderful family in my life.

Scrap Across the World December and grand finale mood board thanks guys and I wish you all the very best. I will really miss this challenge and wish I had found it earlier than this summer!

Simon says stamp Wednesday die crazy
The Craft Barn Trees
Memory Box season's greetings I have used the stitched rectangle to cut my photo and the precious mittens die.
Love to create anything creative/mixed media #25
Visions of Sugarplums 2015 Christmas/Winter

Inspiration Emporium 'tis the season

Noor Winter wonderland

Pixie's snippets playground #207 I was able to use snippets of card and even a chippie for my Moment.
Bunny Zoe 2/3 Sparkle
Country View create a scene
Wow Winter my sentiment and decorative edge are both heat embossed with Wow embossing glitter powder and I have also used some embossing for snow on my trees

I am off today to meet my dear friend Karen for our last lunch before Christmas. I also hope to finish the very last of my shopping...fingers crossed as there are just 8 days to go now............are you ready?
Thanks for visiting me today.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

Festive pottery painting

As promised I am back with a post to share our weekend away. There was one activity we booked at Centre Parcs which we could all take part in....Festive pottery painting. The 7 of us arrived at the Painting studio and chose what we wanted to paint. My son, his girlfriend and I all chose the snowman tree ornament, my Hb chose a reindeer, my daughter chose a gingerbread man plate and her Hb and Daisy also chose plates.

It was very civilised as we were able to put in a drinks order and get teas and coffees delivered to our table from the cafe next door. What a great idea!
 Just look at the concentration of my family.....

 Below is Daisy getting set up at the beginning by my daughter

and my daughter snapped this of Daisy and I in full swing...I was in my element being with my family and crafting!

We spent an hour and a half concentrating on our work.....

Here is mine pre firing.

The pieces were kiln fired over night

and the next day we were able to collect them......below is my son and his GFs....I thought they did a brilliant job.

and this is my Hbs reindeer

And here is mine is hanging on our tree, it was the first ornament I hung yesterday.

My card today features a Christmas tree.  I found this wonderful digi on the Graphic Fairy site. I added Cheery Lynn icicles and tiny snowflakes. the stitched frame is Memory box, the candles and branch is Marianne. I found a snippet of holly satin ribbon in my stash and a little piece of tree paper which matched perfectly.

I also think the sentiment is perfect for the season.

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

Pixie's snippets playground  1/3  #206
Sparkles Christmas 2/3 die cuts for Christmas

Memory box Season's Greetings my rectangles are cut with the stitched frame.
The Funkie Junkie 3/3 'Tis the season
A vintage journey  vintage Christmas

Our creative corner Wish upon a star there are stars around my stamped sentiment.

That's Crafty 1/3 Season's Greetings
Country View Create a scene
Ribbon Girl 1/3 anything goes
The Craft barn presents and show something red there are presents on my tree paper and there is red on the holly, presents and the heart gem.

Talking of trees Billy (my sweet cat) says he has been busy typing....it's slow going but he says he will back with a post. It's that time of year when he has spotted trees being smuggled inside houses and his old friend Old Choc seems to be wearing some rather smart lights ;0) He wants to tell the tale.....

Thanks for visiting me here today ....only 19 days to go now in my countdown to Christmas. We had a wonderful evening out at Kew on Friday night. I will share that soon.

Billy will be back very soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

The meeting with the Man in the red suit

We really did have such a great time at the weekend at Centre Parcs. I have downloaded my photos and I plan to share a few posts amongst my Christmas Countdown.

Here we are at 2nd December with just 23 days to go until the Big Day.

Daisy and I had an appointment with the Man in the Red suit on Saturday afternoon. Centre Parcs do Christmas so well and the Village square gets transformed into Winter Wonderland complete with singing reindeer, real reindeers and Santa's appearing in his Woodland Workshop.

 Daisy and I wrote her letter and already you can see she started looking a little bit apprehensive...

We walked into a little waiting room with a festive scene of snow creatures which she really did love.

 She even allowed me to put her down and she sweetly touched all the little creatures including Olaf the snowman

 and a penguin

However when her turn came and the door open to reveal Santa, she leapt back into my arms and said "Door Nanna door".......and wanted to go straight out the way we had come in. No amount of gentle persuasion, even with a soft toy bunny Santa was giving her would make her stay.

We stood over near to Santa, had a quick photo and went out again. Bless her there was no way I was going to make her stay so we had a very brief hello. This photo really makes me chuckle, just look at the expression on Santa's face

 This was us about to head for the door. There was no way Daisy would even look at him yet alone sit on his lap!

 She did make us smile....as soon as we got away she was keen to find her little soft toy bunny and even told her Mummy and Daddy that Santa gave it to her. 

Here she is a the train stop clutching her bunny ;0) 

We took the train back to our villa and enjoyed a lovely meal out.

And to prove that she had a wonderful time, despite a few tears with Santa, here is a happy smiley photo of my little sweetheart. 

My card today just has to feature Father Christmas. This is actually for sale in my little Etsy shop here and if you live in the UK it will be delivered in time for Christmas and comes with a matching gift card.

Here is the set

and the gift card in close up

The image is by Nicecrane.

The dies are Spellbinders and the tag is Sizzix

I have hand stamped the sentiment and little stamp sentiments which are by Whimsy. The background of the card has been embossed and I found some snippets of ribbon to finish them off.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges and the tag if it's allowed!

Simon says stamps work it Wednesday 3/3 holiday/Christmas 

Pixie's snippets playground  2/3 #205 I have used all the snippets from my card for the tag!

Crafty card makers 'Twas the night before Christmas my line is "he was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot.
Frilly and Funkie 1/3 Tis the season
Crafty hazelnut use die cuts or punches
Christmas card challenges anything goes #52

Winter wonderland sparkle and bling
Papertake Weekly 1/5 anything goes

Words 2 scrap by 'Twas the night before Christmas.... my line is "he was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot.
Artistic Inspirations anything goes/Christmas

I'm glad you enjoyed seeing my vintage Advent calendar on my last post....I got a candle in number 1 window and bunny this morning. 

We're off to choose our tree today after work...it's being delivered at the weekend...so exciting.

Thanks for visiting and I will be back really soon continuing my Countdown to Christmas 2015.

Bye for now,

Jane x