This is a long post today

Well Sunday (just gone) was Mothering Sunday and I had quite a few cards to make - 5 of them are what I sent out cos I do my Gran (who brought me up), my Mother in Law, my Dads Girlfriend (who he has been with for almost 20 years), my Mum and my Nan....quite a list.

The first is the one I made for my Mother in Law using some more of the beautiful lace.

Next are the cards I made for my Grandma and my Nan. I embossed using the cuttlebug, the gold card oval with scalloped edges is a nestie and the bird is a stitchels stamp that I watercolour painted.

The next 2 are the ones I made for my Mum and my Dads Girlfriend. The purple cards are embossed using the cuttlebug and the images are Pink Petticoat.

Next is one I made for a friends Mum. I did the card as a favour because he mended a chip in one of the alloy wheels on the mini and would not take payment, so one good turn deserves another. I used the stitchels again

I took the photograph of the card and then later took another look and decided something was missing so the bird got a lovely swarovski crystal for an eye (only I didnt have chance to take a photo of the change)

The next 2 cards were for an order...the only specification was that they had to have tabby cats on them, so the images are clip art, the diamantes are swarovski and the flowers are stitchels...there is also some of the beautiful lace once again.

The next ones are for some friends of mine.

Image is Pink Petticoat, crystals are swarovski

More Pink Petticoat images

And me....well I had a lovely card from Callam that he drew himself.

My outfit for the Christmas party

Well I am sorted for the Christmas party on Saturday...I think. Quite nervous though and hoping I don't have a huge panic attack because that will be sooooo embarrassing.

First, here is my gorgeous 'Star by Julien MacDonald' bag that Cliff bought for me (looks a bit odd in the photo but the feathers do hang properly when the bag isn't laid on its side) the strap is quite short - the sort you hold or put over your wrist, not to put over your shoulder

This (below) is a snapshot of my dress from Next- not all of it just the waist to give an idea of what it is like (although it is completely black - the pink is from my top that I was wearing when I took the photo)

I went shopping last night as I was not happy with the jewellery I have made to wear for Cliffs Christmas party this coming weekend. I really love the set that I have made but when I tried it all on with my dress it doesn't really stand out ( having seen a close up of my dress I am sure you can imagine why it doesn't really stand out) and here are the originals and what I have replaced it all with:

This is a headband I bought (only £2.94 from La Senza) I am not sure whether I will wear it on Saturday but if Idon't then I haven't spent a lot on it so it won't matter...don't want to get to Saturday afternoon and think 'I wish I had got that headband'

I replaced these green earrings (below) that I made with green swarovski and Czech firepolished crystals.......

....with these sparkly dangly earrings which only cost 98p from primark

I replaced this green bracelet that I had made using green swarovski and Czech firepolished crystals........

...with this sparkly pair of bracelets which cost the huge amount of £2.94 from Primark

I replaced this green swarovski and firepolished crystal choker (below) that I had made........

......with this gorgeous necklace (below) from Jane Norman (a bargain at £10.00, although once the vat had been adjusted it was a very odd total of £ 9.78)