A little Christmas gift for you

I know you're going to say "does she ever stop" when I tell you that we've been making Christmas cards the last few evenings. But I do enjoy crafting guys and I love making cards each year. This year I seem to have more time on my hands because Amber, bless her has already made the Christmas cake:

and a trillion jars of mincemeat too. So that's a huge job out of the way and, bless her even more she spent a sick day off school last week going through various cooking magazines and books and she's planned the menu for the festive season. We have godparents coming up on 16th and she's planned what we'll cook and she's done Christmas Eve, Day and Boxing Day too. Mind you I am going to put on about two stone with all the things she wants to have.

So food lists and whatnot over we sat and made some cards which I finished off this morning:

as usual I'm using old Christmas stamps:

but I've made the cards more elaborate this year (last year's are here). Amber has actually made some to sell if anyone is interested. I thought I might take them down to one of the shops in town and see if they wanted any.

Looking at the mountain of stamps I seem to have acculmulated I thought it might be nice to share a few so with that in mind I rushed around and put together this:

a jar of mincemeat (with a recipe for mince pies of course); some dried orange slices, a handful of old stamps and a Christmas card. Here's a close up of the card and stamps:

If you'd like this little lot just leave a comment at the end of this post and I'll send it off to you on Monday morning so's you can get it in time to make some pies and cards.

I'm away this weekend visiting parents on Saturday and on Sunday the highlight of our week has to be a trip to the theatre to see The Nutcracker Ballet. I've been waiting until the children were old enough for this and finally it's come. I am so excited and we're going to make a day of it in Brum because there's a German Market in the City that weekend. Ooh I hope they have lots of Lebkuchen there.

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PS Email me if you're interested in buying Amber's cards. They are basically like mine and are £1.50 or $3 each plus p&p. I'll can send you some pics of the different sorts. Here are a couple though:

Excuse the bad pics in this post today but - guess what - it's bucketing outside and nice and dark inside. If it weren't Christmastime I'd be mighty depressed about the weather ....................

Comments

[Georgia]

Good to see I'm not the only one who uses old stamps on cards. I just LOVE them. I've been sick for 2 weeks, so haven't finish posting all my OS cards...must do soon. Thanks for the email. When I finally get better I'll give it a go. Amd OMG I'd love some of that Christmas fruit cake...mmmmm. Have a good weekend.

[Denise Ridgway]

Simmy you never fail to delight,reading your posts always puts a huge smile on my face
thanks
Denise
xx

[Teresa]

Your idea for using old Xmas stamps is brilliant. I've seen the dried orange slices on a couple of blogs lately and would love to try them out for myself. Love your blog, full of inspiration and I'm full of admiration.

[carol]

I have been wracking my brains trying to think which country Brum was in - and then I realized - Birmingham! Gosh I have been away a long time - too long obviously. Enjoy the German Markets - and take plenty of photo's to share with us here. It sounds fun.
I have a day to myself today - and its raining at last, a perfect day to bake. The oven (no aga here unfortunately) will be going on soon and I have several oranges from a neighbors tree to cut up and dry along with some cakes to bake. Thanks for the recipe for the dried oranges. Love the cards - a good way to use old Christmas stamps as some of them are just so pretty.

[Sequana]

A gift? Really? I do love mince pie.

[Alice]

I love reading your blog Simmy, your cards are really lovely-are they used Christmas stamps or did you buy them to save for cards? I also meant to ask a few days ago but forgot, where did you get that Gorgeous advent calender from? I only discovered your blog e few months ago when you were thinking of stopping blogging and I crossed my fingers and checked everyday and was soo please when you decided to keep writing!! You are a real inspiration
Alice

[Annie]

I have never had mince pie, always wanted to try it though! I love your cards :)

[simone]

Everybody needs an Amber!

[lina]

Very cute cards, but I'm a million miles away and won't qualify! I will start making mince pies and freezing them this weekend! Can I ask you how you dry your oranges - low temp in the oven I'm guessing?

[Barbara]

Your cards are great. Fab idea to use old stamps.

Well done to Amber for the cake. It looks gorgeous.

I too have been waiting til my daughter is old enough to take her to see the Nutcracker. My mother took me when I was 11 and my daughter is 10 so I guess next year we'll be doing this too. I hope you have a lovely time.

[Lil' d]

Great cards. The sight of your cake and the thought of mince pies has been making my mouth water. Unfortunately I'm stuck in California and I think there's all sorts of customs rigmorale just to get fruit stuff into the State. I wish I was spending Christmas back home in the UK! Have a lovely time at the ballet.

[Lil' d]

Great cards. The sight of your cake and the thought of mince pies has been making my mouth water. Unfortunately I'm stuck in California and I think there's all sorts of customs rigmorale just to get fruit stuff into the State. I wish I was spending Christmas back home in the UK! Have a lovely time at the ballet.

[dottycookie]

Lovely cards and cake! And, oh, the Nutcracker! Ours are not quite big enough but we read the story over and over in the run up to Christmas. Along with a gazillion other Christmas/winter books. I love it all - bring on more festive posts say I!

[Lea]

Simmy, here in the States we would call you the Energizer Bunny... you just keep going and going... not sure when you sleep dear!

...The cards are absolutely lovely!! And mincemeat... yum... I haven't had that since I was a child..no matter if I don't win the wonderful give away I'll still have to give a hand at a mincemeat pie...

[katie]

Wow- those are great stamps! I love getting ready for Christmas, it's the best part of the holiday especially when I make things with my kids.

[Marie]

Wonderful Cards Simmy. I Love them! I have always wanted to go to a German Christmas market. Hopefully one day I will get the chance! Don't work too hard over these next few weeks. Don't forget to take a few minutes just for Simmy! (((HUGS)))

[Lizz]

How wonderfully festive and fun!

[SARA]

I went to the Nutcracker last Sunday. It was amazing better than ever. Have a great day.