T Stands for.....the second and more!

Happy New Year everyone, whatever 2024 brings I hope it's good (or at least easy to deal with if it's not so good)

I'm starting my post with my first visit to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's The Altered Book Lover blog and T Stands For Tuesday

Last week hubby and I wanted to go for a walk at Lyme Park, we also had vouchers for free coffee at a nearby garden centre so called there first.

I took my little journal bag with me as it's usually quiet and we can take our time. Well of course, not many folk work between Christmas and New Year so it was quite busy. There was a big table for 6 with two ladies on so I asked if we could sit at the other end of their table - it was fine, so I sat near the window and got my journal out while hubby queued for drinks and cake!

When he came with my flat white coffee it was in a paper cup as the cafe's dishwasher had broken down.

As you can see my journal is quite small and I used tape and stickers to make my page. You can also see my tiny journal that dangles from the zipper on my bag.

So, off to Lyme Park we went, the car park was so full that folk were parking on the road and there was a volunteer worker guiding cars to empty spaces in the overflow car park.

On the way the views on the edge of the Peak District were spectacular. 

...although rain clouds were gathering

We had a little walk and then decided to go and get some lunch.....no chance - the queue was out of the cafe door!

We went off to another nearby garden centre and had some delicious soup and toasted ciabatta.

Then to our final destination...another garden centre for coffee and cake.

The sun was just going down

There wasn't much choice (it had obviously been as busy as everywhere else we visited) so we had the last two pieces of these cakes, hubby also ate most of mine (not that I couldn't eat it.... I just knew I shouldn't!) I did enjoy a gingerbread latte though, while hubby had tea.

When we came out it was darker but still looked beautiful.

Of course all the garden centres had sales so we did get a few little bargains too!

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Now for a Second Look On The 2nd - also at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's The Altered Book Lover blog.

This is from the 7th January 2015 and is a challenge Elizabeth and I used to love entering 

I'm so excited about this - Dragons Dream Tag it On is one of my favourite Challenge blogs and at the start of this new year they have a totally new set of themes for their challenges - I'd love it if you took the trip on the link here to see it and possibly take part!

When I won a top three with my 'J and Diecuts' Elizabeth asked me if I would like to be a Guest Designer for the new theme I'm afraid to say I shamelessly jumped at the chance!

The challenge is tag based and as you know I love making tags.
The theme (although I hope you have already checked it out!)is 'Turquoise and Bling' - this is not the tag I made at first - it was a bit Christmassy and the challenge has been delayed slightly so I made another in a similar vein

The background was distress inked with Broken China and Black Soot then stamped in black and white using a Prima swirly stamp. The tag has a die cut panel using some of my MAMBI paper, rubbed over with Broken China. The Umbel is from Woodware, the grasses are from Paper Artsy Eclectica by Darcy 
The bottom corner die(from a corner set by Spellbinders) has been cut down a little as I felt it was a bit overpowering

As you can see the MAMBI paper has a lovely silver sheen to it!

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I wondered if you might like to see the platters I made for our family Twixtmas party?

There were also some other plates of hot and cold foods 

This sweet tray went down well too, as well as a couple of family favourite desserts made by me!

Thanks for looking, Chris