Geese and Spiders

 This morning we noticed that some geese had landed in the field behind out shed, they were pecking away at what little grass they could find under the snow.  I got a couple of sneaky shots before they spotted me and flew off.

While I was out there I noticed that we had some amazing spider webs.  You would think that spiders wouldn't be out and about making webs in this cold, but they have been very busy and the frost makes the webs look particularly pretty.

We are due to get some more snow this evening although it is a little milder than it has been in the past couple of weeks, it seems to feel colder particularly when the freezing fog sets in.

Merry Christmas to all my Blog readers

I hope you all have a fabulous holiday season and that you have the celebration that you would wish to have. Janice

Everyone has snow!

Yes, I know everyone in the UK has snow, but I thought I'd show you mine anyway.  We had quite a heavy snowfall yesterday and a very heavy frost last night which looks like it will last for quite some time.

 

It was lovely at midday, but as soon as the sun started to drop in the sky, the freezing fog started to creep in from the river.

The New Edition of Papers and Pixels is out!

Papers and Pixels is a FREE digital magazine with lots of tutorials and ideas for both paper crafting and digital scrapbooking.

This is the first edition in which my work is featured as part of the Creative Team, this time it's digital but I am hoping to do some paper crafting for the January edition.  

Get your copy HERE

Drumlanrig Castle - the walk!

Walkies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the visit to the Christmas Fair, we set off on one of the walks round the estate.  We have had some snow but most of the white is frost and ice.

 

A light dusting of icing sugar!

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Serious ice on the River Marr.

See what I mean about Narnia?  This is one of the 'Striding Arches' made by local and internationally renowned sculptor, Andy Goldsworthy.

 

 

Sun breaking through the cold and icy landscape

Drumlanrig Castle

Drumlanrig Castle Christmas Fair

Yesterday, I met a couple of friends and we went to the Drumlanrig Castle Christmas Fair and Farmers Market.  It was cold day but the sun was out so as long as you kept moving it was fine.

Here are some of the stalls,  I bought one of those big stalks of brussel sprouts, the guy said to pick them from the base and then put the stalk in water and it would keep for longer.

 

This is Mary the Fairy, she granted me a wish and sprinkled me with fairy dust!

They were also serving beer from Sulwath Brewery, one of the beers was 

served after putting a hot poker in it.  It made the beer hot in the middle and cold on the outside, fab!

There were some people there from Palaeoquest a company that specialises in training in hunter-gatherer living skills!

And this little fellow was available for photographs for a small donation.  Isn't he gorgeous?

I'll blog the walk in the woods tomorrow - it was very Narnia!!!

A little Birdie told me....

My Great Aunt will be 90 on the 9th December.  We were supposed to be going to visit her and go out for lunch tomorrow, but will all the snow on the east coast of Scotland the celebration has had to be cancelled.  However, this is the card that I have made for her.

I used a photo mount which was covered in gesso, Dylusions paints and inks and stamped with Graphicus stamps.  The Birdie is from Tando Creative also decorated with inks and paints and some bling.

The other side of the birdie was inked and stamped with a Cornish Heritage Farms 'lace' stamp and decorated with some shisha glass and some gold round the edges.

As my Great Aunt is one of the people who really enjoys my crafty creations so, I put the birthday message on the back of the card so that she could enjoy it after her birthday too.

Digital Scrapbook Designs by Athena - New Kit

There's a new kit out from DSD by Athena, available at Digital Design Den and Inspiration Lane.

When I saw the muted mauve colours I immediately thought of my Mum's fabulous, big, pink hat, which she wore to my son's wedding. 

Papers & Pixels Online Craft Magazine

I was thrilled when Laura Boetto asked me to join the Creative Team for Papers and Pixels On-line Craft Magazine.  

Papers and Pixels Magazine is created for digital and paper scrappers, card makers, and anyone who loves to create their own gifts. When we handcraft a gift for a friend or loved one, our signature stamp is on it… telling the recipient it was made with care, thought, and love. It’s a very special gift indeed when we give something we have made by hand. Yes, it takes a little more time to create a card or special gift for a friend or family member, but it is well worth it when you see the smile on their faces. It’s a gift that will be loved and treasured.

There are so many things you can create –

• Cards for every occasion
• Scrapbook pages and mini albums to remember the events in our lives and to share them with family
• Mini Albums for that special event or that special person
• Boxes and baskets and gift ideas … oh my!
• Printed photo albums of a trip, vacation or special event
• So much more

Whether you love paper crafting, digital crafting or a combination of the two, you will find plenty of ideas in our magazine. Not only do we plan to inspire you with beautiful scrapbook pages, greeting cards and fun 3D projects, we'll show you how to make the projects yourself. Because time is something many of us don’t have enough of these days, you will learn how to make your own handmade items easily and quickly.

We’ll be meeting some wonderful people who will share their ideas with you as we ask them about their style, their creations and their own products. We’ll talk to digital scrapbook designers, paper crafters, product inventors and more.

Join us as we meet crafters from all over the world. Share in our journey of learning, inspiration and fun. 

The November issue is still available to download and the December issue will be published on 15th December.  I'm doing a bit of digi scrapping for the magazine this month but will also be working on hybrid projects and other paper crafts - if I ever get my craft area built!!!!