Christmas Poinsettia

Hello Crafters, 

are you gearing up for Christmas? 
Since Thanksgiving is being celebrated much earlier and very differently in Germany, I am concentration fully on Christmas preparations, even though there are a lot of family Birthdays coming up in the next few weeks as well.  I am determined not to let it get as bad as usual, especially since last Christmas was extremely stress full. 

We decided to move at the end of October, used all of November for packing boxes, received the new keys on the 1st of December and then had to paint the place and move. I think we first slept in the new place round about the 20th of December 2018, surrounded by packing boxes and chaos.

So, this year's motto is: get it ready early, I'll fall behind my schedule soon enough anyway.

For my girls I pretty much already have all the gifts I'll need. I may still add small things I find during December, but if nothing comes up I'll be fine with what I have. But I still need lots of things for the advent calendar, and those I will need by the week-end.



All the small children in the family shouldn't be too difficult either. There is now 5 of them between ages 2 months and 4 years. 

I also have an idea for my Ex and my sister and I arranged years ago, not to give anything among the grown-ups, only the children. So that's done. 

But my in-laws and parents will be tough. And I would really like to get most things during Black Friday week.

For my close friends here in our new town, I actually got the present back in May. We went to a sales exhibition and there was this booth of a local board game company, so while we were there we got them an expansion set for a board game they already have. 

My other close friend doesn't want me to spend much money, because she knows about my car which has just needed very expensive repairs. So she is wishing for handmade stuff, a set of cards for herself, handmade pet snacks for her daughter, who volunteers for a local animal shelter. They always have rabbits and guinea pigs in the garden for that organisation. And I thought we might take a walk in the woods and find some natural materials, like large pieces of bark to hide and chew. If the weather clears up anytime soon. And for the boys she'll have to come back to me.

So there is still lots to do, especially since I still need a cartload of cards to send out myself, in addition to the cards for my friend, I better get moving.


This one will certainly not go into mass production, though I like how it turned out a lot. During the process it gave me so much trouble, I almost gave up. 

I used my ZIG markers to colour the image and added some shading with grey alcohol markers, for more dimension. Then I added the gold embossing over the completed image and along the edges and adhered the image to a simple black card base.

I added a Christmas red envelope and embossed the outline on it. 

I love that stamp, I think I might have to challenge myself to try a white poinsettia as well. 

Lots of Love
Ela



Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More: #368 Holiday
Creative Friday: #244 red and gold
Always fun Stamping: #138 Anything goes
TCP: #363 Holidays