I did get to play!

I did find some time yesterday to play with my new Big Shot machine. I have realised that things like this and my sewing and knitting machines are actually my toys and using them is my playtime.

I know they are functional and make useful things but the truth of the matter is I really enjoy using them.  Sometimes, when I only have a few moments I will get some scrap fabric and sew, trying out the different stitches.  Using my machines is pure enjoyment for me.  So, that's why I have deemed them to be toys.  I guess I am still a kid at heart even though when I look in the mirror I see otherwise!

So yesterday, I tried doing embossing and cutting out.

I have some Christmas cards that I will never send so they were perfect to try the embossing on and make cut outs from.

I even progressed to felt and cut out my first gingerbread man ready to sew.

When I first tried it I misunderstood the instructions, I thought that you placed the 'sandwich' in between the flaps.  So I placed it on the third section then folded the flaps back over.  Needless to say it wouldn't go through the roller.  A quick search on Youtube pointed out the error of my ways.  The big dies do not go on the removable platform either.  I sussed it eventually.

I opted for the plain white one as when we purchased it, it was on sale.  I really liked the pretty ones but this one apparently is the latest model.

Embossing, my husband and I both agreed that the snowmen looked better from the back.

The gingerbread man came with a Merry Christmas cut out as a bonus!

My felt gingerbread man

The machine in all it's glory

I have a couple of other dies I haven't tried yet, a snowman and a Santa head.  One step at a time.

Now I am on the look out for some dies for shapes like squares and circles.  Will wait for them to come on sale, I have plenty to be working on right now.

I really love this machine.

Merry Christmas to me!

It's the 27th already and maybe, just maybe, I will get to play with my new prezzie today!

It's been a hectic couple of days, Christmas day was busy with opening presents and playing with the dogs with the new toys and going to our neighbours.  The dogs didn't fare too well from the ham bones we bought them.  Boris was sick and Maggie got the poops.  So lot's of cleaning up after Boris and running outside with Maggie.  They both seem Ok now thankfully.

To make matters worse, we got a puncture Christmas Day.  We were at the neighbours when one of them came and asked if we knew our tyre was flat.  It was OK when we left the house because my husband always checks the tyres when we go anywhere.  The neighbours are only half a mile away so we must have got it between ours and theirs.

They pumped it up for us and we got home with it after a very enjoyable afternoon at their place.

Yesterday, I was able to drive it into town to get it looked at. We had to replace it, the tyre wall was damaged.  They tyre bay was heaving, it was like everyone from miles around needed their tyres fixing, so that took quite a while.

We also sat and watched the final Hobbit movie, that was very enjoyable and the Dr Who Christmas special.

So one way or another I never got to try out my new Big Shot machine.

But today is the day!

Pictures will be added when I have it up and running and tried it.

'Tis the Night before Christmas.......

Christmas is just about here.  I love Christmas time, always have.  I think it stems from Happy childhood memories.  My husband really isn't into it much but he goes along with it for me.  It took a while for me to get into the spirit this year.  In fact, until yesterday. Oh I did all the things, sent cards, put up the tree, bought the presents and wrapped them, bought the usual Christmas food extras (except for dinner as we are going to have dinner at our neighbour's house). Nothing seemed to work. But yesterday, when driving to town, Maggie and I listened to Christmas music on Sirius and all of a sudden it hit me. Yeah for me!

To continue in the spirit today I am ecstatic. I tried to make fudge three days ago, using my Mum's recipe.....it didn't work, it wouldn't set.  I put it all back in the pan and boiled it some more and more and more.  I put it into pans and put some pecans on the top, at this stage it was going to be hard toffee and not fudge but I thought at least with the nuts in it would be pecan brittle.  Well, again it didn't set.  All I got was sticky toffee.  I covered it in cling film and let it sit until today.  I needed the pans for shortbread.

What to do with the gooey mess?????

Bin it or try and resurrect it?????

Nothing ventured, nothing gained as they say. So I put it all back in a pan with the nuts in and slowly heated it up.  Now I wasn't sure how the nuts would take to being boiled so I started picking them out and putting them on a plate.  Lo and behold they started to set like fudge.  Joy oh joy! And it is delicious.  Not sure what happened as it didn't get to boiling point, it just all melted then started setting correctly.  Must be that Christmas spirit at work!

So now I have a dish of pecan fudge cooling.

Shortbread next to make. Butter is softening as we speak.

I will take some of both to our neighbours.  They always do a huge spread and there's always way too much, but I will take it anyway.  They will get round to it eventually.

I am already planning for next year as I will have my die cutting machine tomorrow and I will be itching to make something.

I hope to more productive next year with my crafting.  Maggie is settling down a lot and doesn't need the constant supervision she did.  She will be 20 weeks this coming Monday. I have still been making granny squares for our blanket so the last few months haven't been a total bust.

I have made some great blogging friends this year and they have inspired me more than they can ever know.

So, I wish them and any one else who reads my blog, a Very Merry Christmas and a wonderful, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Ho, ho, ho

A little bit of sewing, a few granny squares, some winter cleaning, writing of Christmas cards, some online shopping and a partridge in a pear tree

Well, been a busy couple of weeks.  Several hospital appointments, (done now till the new year), lots of puppy chasing, Christmas shopping, house cleaning, etc. etc. etc.

Christmas cards are all written and will be mailed tomorrow.  Most of my Christmas shopping has been done online, not very personal but oh so convenient!  I didn't make any Christmas gifts this year, next year I plan to make at least our own Christmas cards and some ornaments.

I did make a Christmas bag for our newest grand baby, Vivi.  I sewed on the letter 'V', as I have sewed on each grandchilds's initial on all the other bags, but it looked a bit bare, needed something to make it pop.

On a trip into town I found some lovely Christmas buttons on closeout for 10c each.  I bought them all up, about 22 of them and sewed four onto the letter V as below. Popped it right out!

Maggie is 17 and a half weeks now and a right royal pest sometimes, but still adorable.  She has gone past the cute puppy stage into the gangly phase.

A couple more granny squares done and that about sums up the past few weeks.