Billy and the trees 2020

 Well hello everyone it's Billy here because yes you guessed it's that time of the year when trees walk inside the house. The last time I wrote for Jane's Journal was way back in the summer when it was so hot. If you missed that post you can catch it here.

Well all that summer sunshine has gone and it has turned really chilly here. I am spending more time on my green chair where I can watch the world go by. So this is what happened this year.

There was a knock on the door and a man appeared wearing a mask...what is it with all these masks this year? I noticed Jane and her Hb seem to wear them when they go out. Are the humans all trying to look like masked crusaders or something? Anyone would think there is some dreaded illness out there? 

So back to the knock on the door, there was lots of rustling and then

yes it was a new Christmas tree who told me his name was Dave. I was pleased to meet him and asked why he was wearing a hair net, were hairdressers still shut? He smiled and winked at me and at that point he was brought into the dining room. What is it with human....I know they have had such a strange year, but are even trees not allowed outside now and must self isolate?

Well at this point I heard a whistle from the garden and Baby choc was calling me and told me that he too was about to be walked indoors so I quickly got out of the way.

I chatted to Baby choc as he was carried in, he has grown lots since last Christmas. Look at all those new green shoots.

Dave was in first and was quickly relieved of his hair net.

First on were those rows of lights that come out of the loft every year. I am always scared when they open the loft hatch as my dreaded carry basket lives up there and you know what that usually means...yes the V-E-T...but phew it stayed there which must mean I am safe for now. 

Dave and I had a great time chatting and I warned him that on Christmas Eve we would be joined by the Big Man in the red suit and that the reindeer he brings will make a heck of a noise on the roof but not to be worried. 

He started looking really grand and very twinkly, just as all good Dave's should be I guess.

Out came all those shiny baubles from years back and on they went. Dave was standing up very tall and proud as they were all placed carefully on him. A couple of times I saw him twitching a bit as he was a little ticklish, especially under his lower branches. 

I know this is Jane's favourite, it dates from 1968 and her Mum bought her and her brother one that Christmas. She has a real "thing" about moons doesn't she.

It took over2 hours to hang all the baubles and then it was Baby Chocs turn. Jane puts lots of her oldies here, from her parents 1950s ones.

 to ones owned by her grandparents. 

So eventually everything was done and my how handsome Dave and Baby Choc both looked.

I am really enjoying chatting to this pair every night. 

We try to put the world to right and we hope that by this time next year the humans will have managed to sort out their virus problems. 2020 has been very tough for them. Mind you I am not complaining as I have never had so much company from Jane and her Hb. Working from home seems pretty good for me, my food is very prompt and on tap all day, all I do is meow and they provide.

Recently Jane bought a new set of cat stamps by a man called Tim Holtz (I wonder if he knows Dave) and cutting out things, I think she calls them dies. She has even named some of the cats...she calls the one below Billy after me. She has shared these cards on Instagram, if you want to see them you can follow her here

But in case you haven't seen them 

this apparently is me...hmmmm

and another pose, yes I do need a candle if it's dark, just to make sure I can see properly of course. 

and this is her old cat Cilla up to mischief. First she tried catching the robin but burnt her  paws on the lantern

so then she borrowed a set of wings. Whatever next, doesn't she know that cats can't fly? As you can guess the robin just laughed at her antics and flew off just as she landed.

Below is a new card Jane has not shared yet. She has also called this stamp Cilla as she feels it is another "pose" of the  stamp above. Now Cilla really has not got the hang of decorating a Christmas tree has she.

Even I know that mittens go on paws, most definitely NOT on trees or tails. Heavens above whatever next....

Jane says she would like to enter this into a couple of challenges, she doesn't often get a chance to do this these days!

Pixie's snippets playground #392

Simon says stamp Wednesday favourite technique I know that blending and then adding some water to oxide backgrounds is a real favoruite of Jane's techniques. She says it's simple and effective. I wonder if my paws would manage it?

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge #519

ABC Christmas x and y my favourite things are obviously these Tim Holtz cat stamps and dies!

Die cut divas anything goes

Cute card Thursday anything goes

Chocolate Baroque anything goes

Well that's it for another year from me. My paws get very tired with all this typing. No doubt I will be back next summer when Jane has her mad summer day when she makes something for Christmas on one of the hottest days of the year. Thanks for reading to the end and wishing you a very happy Tree Christmas. 

After all this hard work I am going to take things easy now.

Purrs....and zzzzzzzz

Billy xx

(Jane says she will be back soon).

Billy and the Trees 2019

Well hello all it's Billy here, Jane's cat and yes it is that mad time of the year when she brings trees inside and dresses them up in all sorts of finery.

Thank goodness she doesn't do that to me. A good chin tickle does me fine thank you very much.

 Now Robby the robin told me how the trees got here as he spotted Jane and her Hb up at the local garden centre last week.

He said there were lots of trees all tied up and waiting to be chosen.

Robby says these 2 were chosen as "The Ones"and got parcelled up ready for their journey to Jane's house. 

 Well anyway, the doorbell rang last week and I sat up in my green chair, as look who arrived.

 Yup....a new tree. He introduced himself as Frank. Jane's Hb stood him up in his stand and gave him a nice long drink. I think it was water but you can never tell at this time of the year, there is an awful lot of sherry around.

I said my hellos to Frank and then got out the way.

I kept order from the comfort of my green chair

He got unpacked and a string of magical lights placed on him. Then all the ornaments were hung from his splendid branches. 

But the excitement didn't stop there...I got up again as I heard a shrill call from the hall.

I went out to investigate and met the newest choc tree. 

Meet Little Choc.

Now Jane mentioned something about pot grown so I assume that might mean he might hang around in the garden this year after Christmas. He was very excited and kept shaking with excitement in his little net.

He also got dressed up, the chocs added and the vintage family ornaments added which Jane owns. Some date back to her Granddad...now that must make them ancient. Just look at Little Choc, doesn't he look handsome. I kept telling him not to dance about too much, he has precious cargo on board.

And here is Frank all dressed up for Christmas.

You can see some of Jane's ornaments and Silky the fairy who climbed to the top. She is very camera shy and you can only see her feet here but she says hi. It's always good to catch up with her. 

So there we are Jane is all ready for the final countdown to Christmas, apparently it is only 12 days away now. 

Frank, Little Choc and I are really enjoying our evenings together. They keep daring me to climb into their branches but at 11 I am far too old and dignified to subject myself to such kitten behavior. I will stay on ground level and wait for the man in the red suit to show up soon. I might though have a quick sip of the sherry and a nibble of the mince pie if no one is watching. I won't tell if you won't 😺

Oh I nearly forgot Jane wants to enter a card into some challenges. I chose this one from her recent makes. 

It is the one she made for my fur-less brother aka her son and I think it's very apt as it is a good depiction of what I see on Christmas Eve. Rudolf and his team have become good friends of mine, they just need to be a bit quieter when they land of the roof. I'm surprised Jane never wakes up!

She wanted me to show the sparkly stars there too so this is a close up.

She says the stamps are all by Visible Image and the inky background was make using distress inks, I can vouch for that as I have to get out of the way when she gets inky. I don't want to end up distressed too! I notice that she ticked the nice box for Matt...hmmm I am not sure I would agree with that but I will ask Father Christmas when we catch up.

She would like to enter her card into the following challenges;

A vintage journey a holly jolly Christmas

Shopping our stash 1/3 Happy holidays

The Funkie Junkie boutique challenge It's the holidays

Christmas at sweet stampin 1/3 Critters

Time Out Merry and cheerful

Simon says stamp Monday stars

Cute card Thursdays 1/3 anything goes

Not just cards 1/3 anything goes

Craft stamper take it make it 3/3 December

Crafty sentiments 2/3 anything goes

OK my paws are nearly exhausted from all this typing so I will bid farewell for this year. I hope you and your furry friends enjoy a peaceful Christmas and that Father Christmas has you on his nice list too.

(Jane will be back very soon).

 Lots of purrs,

Billy 😻 x

Billy and the trees 2018

Hello everyone, it's Billy, Jane's cat here which can only mean one thing...yes those trees are back!

I told you back in the summer in this post that that I would be back with my annual report and here I am.

So this is what happened this year.....there I was lying in my box fast asleep when I was rudely awoken by the door bell ringing.

I hopped out of my box and trotted downstairs

and caught sight of this outside, a delivery truck with captured Christmas trees in their netting.....

I noticed that this one had been carried inside the porch and rested himself up again the wall. "Hi there New Tree", I said and I heard a muffled reply from inside the netting. "Hello you must be Billy, it's good to be here". 

However there was another more shrill hello from the porch and I realised that a new Little Choc had also been brought inside. "Tee hee" she said, "Did I make you jump Billy?"

Now those of you who have read my posts over the years know that last year Old Choc went to the big woods in the sky...well actually the truth of the matter is that Jane put him out for recycling and he disappeared before the van came! So he is obviously living out his golden years in a field somewhere! (or someone else's garden)

So in came New Tree and Little Choc and Jane and her Hb set to decorating them.

First the lights and and then the decs.

 They were both so pleased to meet Jane's extensive collection of Christmas baubles, her newest Harrod's snowman jumped aboard first. 

He is so polite and tipped his hat to me.

I saw all my old favourites jumping onto New Tree. Of course Jane's favoruites  are from the 1960s, Mr and Mrs Moon. They don't look bad for 50 do they? 

Before long everything was done. New Tree told me he was delighted with his Christmas outfit. He is getting ready to look after all the presents when Santa arrives down the chimney. 

New Choc holds lots of Jane's vintage ornaments....and of course.....Chocolate. I think I saw her eyes glinting a little when she looked at her beloved Nan and Granddad's decs, they have a very special place in her very large Christmas heart. 

New Choc told she felt very proud to be wearing all that history.

I had a quick word with Candle Man last night ..he tells me that Holly Fairy was the inspiration for Jane's latest card

Hmmmm I'm not so sure...

and I beg to disagree.....I wonder who was the real inspiration 😼 

This is her latest card challenge card. 

I have the all the details to share...hang on, these claws are a bit slippery on the keys and I need glasses, now that I am 10, to read her instructions.

OK I've go them on....here goes.... she says she used a stamp called the Cheshire Cat by Visible Image to make it and she coloured him with Zig watercolour pens. I must admit he's quite a bright tabby cat but he certainly looks pleased with himself doesn't he. She used another of the windows she made using acetate (what the hell is that.....I wonder if it's edible?) She also says she made an alcohol ink background on Yupo paper....hmmm that might be the tipple she is leaving out for Santa soon.
She also die cut lots of leaves and snowflakes, poor things fancy dying for your craft! I also spotted Santa and the reindeer there too.....not long now!

She likes to enter card challenges, this is the list (now my paws are getting quite tired)

Pixie's snippets playground #341
Fashionable stamping 1/3 winter
Stamping sensations 3/3 winter sparkle
Penny Black and More 3/3 traditional Christmas colours
Winter wonderland 3/3 anything goes
Alphabet challenge 2/3 s is for season's greetings
Creative artiste 1/3 anything goes
Craft Stamper take it make it 1/3 December
The cutie pies 1/3 add a little sparkle
Shopping our stash 1/3 tis the season
Time out 2/3 joyful

So it's a Christmas wrap from me and until Jane goes potty again and thinks it's Christmas some time next summer I will be resting my paws

and dreaming here....on my green chair.

Merry Christmas friends.

Jane will be back very soon,

Big purrs from,

Billy xxx