Coming up for air........

Good evening folks.
It has been a long time since I've been around hasn't it?  It wasn't really intended that way; just a combination of new job, full time hours; trying to work with the dreaded lurgy too and Christmas planning left very little time for crafting other than a little bit which I couldn't share until after Christmas. So, today I had finally a moment to myself and wandered myself off down to the studio for a little sorting out time.......oh how I had missed it.
I didn't have much time today so I was just clearing the decks ready but I thought I could share a couple of bits with you from my pre Christmas crafting. I didn't have time to make my crackers from scratch this year so had to content myself with tarting up some store bought ones. I wrapped each cracker with  mesh and ribbon before adding a chipboard sled which I had coloured with Distress Ink (Gathered Twigs) and embossed with Faded Ivory Frantage powder.

 Inside each cracker I placed one of these little decorative matchboxes

 Pull the bell to open and inside of each box there is a small journal....

 The basic journal consists of blank pages and a decorative cover made from inked paper and a piece of Washi Tape to cover the staple and create a spine.

 To make the closures for the book I glued a piece from a bracelet onto the front

 Threaded some baker's twine through as seen and knotted off to form a loop  through which the other end could be pulled through and back to wrap around the front to secure

 That's my little bit of creativity up till Christmas.
 I hope that you all had a good Christmas too. I had a lovely time, Both my daughters were home and I had 2 days off in a row; a real treat let me tell you LOL. I was spoiled with a delightful and quirky pile of gifts from the family. They know me so well. Loving my new Instamatic camera and all the other treats.

 And yes; that is a dragon LOL. Destined to be transformed.......

 It's been good to catch up and I'll be back soon again.
Take care everyone.