It's All About Santa

 Yes it is! Our new theme at Try It On Tuesday is 'It's all about Santa'. 

We all know that Santa has many helpers, some even dressing as Santa which is why our Design Team has a great array of different Santas! Please take a look here.

I have had this old Christmas card for quite a few years - kept because it made me smile and was from a special friend. I decided it was time to use it in a journal along with a piece of snowy paper that I think is even older (I really am trying to use up old stash) I stamped a vintage calendar page and added it along with a strip of music paper.

The text stamps are some from my Christmas stamp box and the holly is from Tim Holtz's Holiday Greens thinlets from Sizzix.

This is our last TIOT challenge of the year but we'll be here with the top 5 for 'Winter Wonderland' on the 20th December and our spotlights of the year on the 27th December.

I am also joining in at Art Journal Journey with my happy Santa, for Jo's 'Snowy Winter' theme

Thanks for looking, Chris

Calendar Journal

Hi everyone,  I'm really late posting  this so I'll keep this short! 

I used distress inks through a couple of stencils then added the snowmen (main outline stamped onto white paper and fussy cut) and some washi tape.

Here is November's calendar page all filled in. 

I'm sharing this at Art Journal Journey and Jo's 'Snowy Winter' theme.

I'll be here again soon.

Thanks for looking,  Chris 

Let It Snow (and Paris in Winter)

 Hi everyone, I know it's been a while but hubby took me off to Paris last week for an early birthday present (my birthday isn't till next week)

He thought it was good idea to be there for free museum weekend but it was so cold we didn't feel like standing for ages to get in so changed our plans. Well, we thought it was so cold but we came back to temperatures below those in Paris - -5 Celsius(23 F).

We did have a wonderful time though and more photos will follow soon.

First I have a journal page for Jo's Art Journal Journey theme - 'Snowy Winter'

We were in Monoprix in Paris when I spotted these napkins with village scenes on. If you would like one please say in the comments and I'll send it.

I used a journal with black pages and added some blue pigment powder and a spritz of water. Half of the napkin was torn in two, they overlap very well.

I added punched snowflakes. some spatters of paint and a Tim Holtz die cut sentiment. I also added gold to the windows.

It didn't snow in Paris (although we were prepared)but the Christmas atmosphere was definitely around.

Thanks for looking, off to warm my hands up now, Chris

Snowy Winter

I can hardly believe it's December already and it's time for a new theme at Art Journal Journey. 

Bleubeard and Elizabeth really have hosted an amazing month where there was so much fantastic inspiration, and I was wishing I could conjure some extra time to join in more often.

Here we are with our new host - Jo from Let's Art Journal and another fabulous theme - 'Snowy Winter'.

I bought some lovely CiaoBella Wintery papers in Paris at the Version Scrap show and have been itching to use them. I used Tattered Rose distress ink to make a watery background then stamped some berries in the same ink. 

The papers were cut out and arranged with some Stampers Anonymous TH Holly - I think I use this set more than any other set for Winter projects.

A final spatter with Paper Artsy Fresco Snowflake paint and I was finished.

The light had faded so on went the daylight lamp.

We hope that you will join us this month at Art Journal Journey  for Jo's theme.

There are a few rules to guide you here and as long as you have a blog some of us will definitely visit you and hopefully be able to leave  comments

Thanks for looking, Chris

T Stands For - The Guided Tour

 Hi everyone, we've had a busy week and the sort of good news is that my blood sugar levels have dropped..but only because I have been put back onto the tablet I dropped when I went onto the double dose of the new one - which seems a bit of a backward step - it will be reviewed again in a few weeks!

My son's 40th went well..eventually, and I am getting good night's sleep once more!

I thought you might like to see where my son and DIL have bought a Manoir in the Perigord region...

This room is my favourite as it gets the sun - it still needs the ceiling fixing and a lick of paint and there are some things that may be changed!

Most of the Manoir is in need of fixing but hopefully some rooms will be in a better state on our next visit and I will take more indoor photos.

There are lots of outbuildings - Elizabeth would love to get in here I think.

Most of these items were found in the house and outbuildings - including this wine press...

...and lots of bottles including some with wine in - no, they are not going to try it!

The cattle shed is fascinating - these will have some work done on them and stay as feature. 

More outbuildings.....

..a well...

..and the front....

Our bedroom was the one above our car.

The view from our bedroom window looked like an old painting...

..and was better with the window open.

The view was different every morning

The roof will hopefully be done this year.

There is a lot of land around the property too.

The building down the hill is theirs too

It really is in a lovely spot, it's a pity that my son and DIL have to spend most of their time there working.

We plan to go and help out this year - looking forward to it!

My TSFT pic this time is from a place we stopped at on the way back up to Northern France.

We had a pasta dish and our drink as usual was water - the yellow is hubby's napkin behind the jug.

We are joining the T gang for T stands For Tuesday over at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog 'The Altered Book Lover.

Off now for a rest and little bit of TV watching.

Thanks for looking, Chris