Lots of News!

Hi there hope everyone is well and excited about the weekend looming up!!  I have just found out that I have won Janet's Christmas Candy on her blog Pink Gem - thank you so much Janet!!  My next bit of exciting news (well for me that is) is that I have been asked to join the DT for Delightful Challenges for 6 months starting in January - whoppee!!  It is the first time I have ever done anything like this and I am so excited at the same time as being a wee bit nervous and apprehensive but I am sure they will all look after me and the other "newies" that will be starting!!  Who'd have thought 6 months ago??  I only started my blog at the end of July after I had retired.  It was a way to develop my love of crafting and also to help me as my husband has been undergoing surgery and then radiotherapy for cancer.  So, although the year has been quite fraught emotionally, I have met so many nice people in the blogging community and it is a great way of learning about your crafts and developing and learning new skills.  Anyway on a lighter note my husband has now finished his treatment and just needs 3 - 6 monthly checkups (due on the 22nd this month) so we can put it all behind us now and look to the future.

I have made a card for Christmas for my sister.  She loves antiques and her house is full of all sorts of treasures so I am hoping she will like this card:

This must be about the 15th picture I have taken!!  I did stop at 10 and cropped it and everything and then loaded into my blog and realised I hadn't put the pin in so I had to start all over again grrrrr!!  The image is from my Tuscan Rose CD and I have added some Liquid Pearls to the image where it is snowing to accent it.  The lace is from Wild Orchid and I have made the pin.  I have sanded the edges of the coredinations card stock to distress it a bit.  The Clock Die is by Tim Holtz and I have put some True Snow and Art Institute Glitter on it to make it look a bit frosty.  The pine cones, leaves and rose are made from my new (I'm in love) Tim Holtz pine cone die - wowzer that thing is brilliant!  I have added some True Snow and Art Institute Glitter to those as well so they look frosty - brrrrrr!!  It is difficult to get the colouring right in this light, there is either too much shadow but the paper colour looks right or no shadow and everything is a bit wishy washy.  IRL there is a bit more colour to it however it is quite a softly coloured image and so is the paper so I have done the best I can!!  I would like to enter the following challenges:

By the Cute and Girly - Let it Snow
Charisma Cardz - Spots (I've put spots of snow on)
Crafty Purple Frog - For Someone Special (the card is for my Sister)
Digital Delights - Let it Snow
Craft your Passion - Tis The Season
Kaboodle Doodle - Bundle up for Winter
Sparkles - Vintage Christmas

We're off to Manchester tomorrow to look round the markets and a bit of Christmas shopping if my back holds up and then a spot of lunch - yummy.  Hope you all have a nice weekend I will come round everyone's blogs and catch up later as I haven't had chance the last couple of days.  Enjoy your weekends whatever you are doing, take care xx