Wrap it up!

Hello all, just a quick post today, and then I hope to get some hopping done later on...


I have a stinking cough/cold/aches + pains bug which has been slowing me up somewhat, but I'm looking forward to catching up with you all.


Just wanted to share a couple of photos of how I gift-wrapped some of the presents I gave.


They're very simply done - still in the neutrals/naturals world I've been inhabiting recently.  Don't worry, there's some colour on the way shortly!

I wrapped the gifts in plain brown parcel paper.  I've wrapped my presents in this for years, varying the decorations I add to it... and this year, for the first time, I had stamping available to liven it up.


I used the Artistic Outpost set Snowy Woods, which is a whole A4 sized sheet of wonderful images.







I've always loved the Robert Frost poem that's quoted on this one, and it's perfect applied to poor Father Christmas trudging his way through the snowy landscape.








The images are stamped very simply in Coffee Archival, and then I used some of the tree trimmings to top them off.

I've often used trailing ivy in the past, but I loved the echoing of the gorgeous fir branch stamp in the background, with the real thing next to it.








Finally some curly white string for a hint of snowiness and we're done...

Happy to have got that in before the end of December, at least.  I hope you're all enjoying the quiet time between Christmas and New Year - it's a lull I love (in the years when I don't have to go charging back to work in between).

I'm hoping I'll feel up to some crafting at some point, but at the moment I'm mostly curled up with a hot water bottle and a large box of hankies, feeling very sorry for myself.  Wicked how it robs you of the will to craft... but I'm looking forward to seeing what you've all been up to.

I'm entering this in the Artistic Outpost December Referral which is Anything Goes using an AO stamp.

Each day comes bearing its own gifts.  Untie the ribbons.
Ruth Ann Schabacker

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep. 
Robert Frost

I'm entering this as my second piece in Top Tip Tuesday's challenge - Anything Christmas... with a tip: Use some natural Christmas greenery on gifts to make them look fresh and beautiful - it has to be done on the day though!