FINAL INCHY CHALLENGE

It's our final inchy challenge over at inchy blog this week as I've decided to close the blog - not an easy decision but I think it needs fresh legs. My choice of word for our final one is BLUE. Here's my inchy :

On a brighter note - my hubby and I went out with some friends to Winchester last evening for a skate around the ice rink and then some dinner. I'm not a very confident skater but I did enjoy it - and enjoyed watching those who can skate whizz by me! I'm just so grateful I didn't fall over!

White Glitter and Christmas Markets

This is a card I did for some of my Christmas cards last year and I really enjoyed doing it so thought I'd do some more this year - I'm also putting it in for the theme of White Glitter over at Gingersnap Creations

I met my friend Karen today (Missy K) and we went for lunch in Wincester and had a good old natter and put the world to rights. Its also the time of year when the Christmas Market is held at Winchester Cathedral and they also have an ice rink. We will be enjoying the delights of the Ice Rink on Monday evening - gulp!

Check out Erika's fab blog candy she's offering - you'll find it here

INCHY BLOG CHRISTMAS TAG SWAP

Here are the tags for our last ever inchy swap on inchy challenge blog - we had a gorgeous and varied selection of Christmas Tags all sporting an inchy.

BRRRR - COLD

Our challenge word this week on inchy blog is Cold - couldn't be anything else this week here in the UK. I hope you are all coping ok with the bad weather. Global warming - got to love it! lol!

Here's my inchy for the challenge - only one more week to go on the blog before it closes - although it may be taken up by a few of the other ladies - I wish them luck - it will be nice to play along and not have to do the thinking!

WINTER ANGELS

Whilst blog hopping this week I came across a gorgeous Winter banner and was inspired to make my own. The theme at Wednesday Stamper this week is Angels and my little angels on the banner fit the bill.

You can download the banner with the kind permission of Inka - you'll find her blog here

SNOW DAY

My son was so pleased this morning when he woke up to snow and could have a snow day off college. They're never too old! Here are some snowy pictures of Hampshire:

This is the Christmas Tree in our back garden - when we moved in 4 years ago it was tiny - but now look at it - it looks so pretty.

This morning I helped out at our village pub to put up the Christmas Decorations - there was a real festive atmosphere and we all stayed much longer than we should have - this is the pub with the snow on it - the thatch also looks very pretty at this time of year.

...and another

Meredith Scraps is also holding a Christmas card challenge - as she's in Australia though she doesn't want any snow cards! Here's a present card - inspired by Kristina Werner again.

MORE CHRISTMAS CARDS

I came across a new challenge blog today - called Christmas Cards All Year Round - their challenge was to do cards with the word Santa or a picture of Santa on - and if you do 5 you get entered into a monthly draw. I looked through the cards I've done recently and indeed had 7 with Santa on them - I've had to use my camera to photograph them as the scanner isn't working very well:

INCHY BLOG - GIVING

I have decided that its time to give up the inchy challenge blog that I run - its been going for over two years and I've met some great cyber friends and real friends. The blog will run its last challenge on 20th December and there will be a farewell prize being offered.

The challenge this week in the meantime is Giving - and here's mine:

Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year but this year it is more poignant as its my first year without my mum who died in May. Its also the first year my daughter Emma has been away from home as she is at Uni - so only one chocolate for me to put in the Advent Calender this year - and I've had my orders that I can't put the Christmas tree up until she comes home to help. A year of changes in our household.

I've been inspired by Kristina Werner to make some Christmas cards - you'll find her here I've not been crafting and have got rid of a lot of my craft stuff but I just couldn't bear to part with the Christmas stamps and papers and Kristina helped me find my mojo - I love having her on in the background - it makes crafting less lonely. She does a countdown of cards for Christmas and I've followed her 2009 and 2010 one this year and made similar cards - I'll try and show a few per day. I've also used my own handwriting on the blue card - inspired by Kristina - I don't think it turned out too bad.

The Robin card can be entered into the Saturday Surprise challenge - their theme is home for the holidays and the Take a Word challenge - their word is Home.