Happy 2014

I'm still making Christmas cards while I've still got the stamps out (once they go away, I won't get them out until November), but in between times I made this card for a few challenges.

STAMPlorations are having a Stamps and Silhouettes challenge and, while I don't start my Design Team gig until January, I thought I'd play along.  There are only a few days left for the challenge and design team call, so if you're still thinking about it, get a move on!

STAMPlorations are also sponsoring this week's CASology challenge, where the cue word is party.

CAS-ual Fridays are having a Happy New Year challenge,

There's a photo inspiration challenge at Just Us Girls:

And the challenge at Less is More is to choose a previous challenge.  I've gone for Week 42, Silhouette.

Here's the full view of my card:

I stamped the silhouette image, then masked it while I stamped three rows of 'happy'.  I left the mask in place while I flicked some Evergreen Bough and Mustard Seed Distress Inks onto the card square, then mounted it onto gold card, then onto the card base and added the numbers.

Stamps: STAMPlorations VIGNETTE Ever After, VIGNETTE Chevron and Arrows
Dies: Sizzix Girls are Weird.

Merry Christmas!

Have a wonderful Christmas, everyone!

Christmas Cupcake and Days 21 and 22 Advent Village

I had this cupcake left over from last Christmas, and I had a spare faux wood panel, so I put them together to make this card.  I like the monochrome theme with just the pop of red and green for the holly.  I can't find any challenges to fit, so it's just for your viewing pleasure.

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Days 21 and 22 Advent Village

Wooden Snowflake and Day 20 Advent Village

Here's another Christmas tree decoration, this time courtesy of Marks & Spencer in their half price sale.  It's a beautiful burnt orange colour, so I wanted a neutral background to show it off.  I just repeat-stamped a background using the Christmas Calligraphy stamp from Crafty Individuals and Versafine Smokey Grey ink. 

I'm entering it into the Curtain Call Sweet Snowflakes challenge,

and Nonni's Stamp a Happy Christmas, which is open until Christmas Eve.  It's sponsored by STAMPlorations - and I'll be on the Design Team, starting January 2014 (yay!).  Shery is looking for a couple more people for the DT - why not try for it?

and Simon Says Monday Challenge, Stamp out 2013.

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Day 20 Advent Village

Subtle Snowflakes and Days 18 and 19 Advent Village

At the risk of boring you with cards that are all similar, I've been playing with Distress Ink backgrounds again, but this time in subtler colours.  Including Black Soot (very subtle).  I was actually aiming for monochrome but the other colours fought their way in and Black Soot got relegated to a smudge in the centre of this piece.  The images and sentiment were stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and highlighted with a Gelli Roll Stardust Clear Star pen - yummy.

I'm entering this into Simon Says Monday Challenge (to use a stamp) and Simon Says Wednesday Challenge (Bling It On).

ETA:  I'm also entering into The Curtain Call - Sweet Snowflakes which I hadn't spotted till I started trawling through my blog reader catching up - that's what comes of going away!

Here's something else we got up to in Glasgow - you're never too old for the funfair!

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Days 18 and 19 Advent Village

You can see the both sides of the entire Advent Village in this post, but since then I've adorned it with fairy lights and put it on the mantlepiece, and this is what it looks like now:

Parents, Glasgow and Day 18 Advent Village (or not)

I've made this card for mum & dad for Christmas. Even though they have a computer they don't look at my blog (probably because I've never mentioned it to them!).  Dad has a PC, mum has a laptop, a Kindle and an iPad (so that she can FaceTime every Saturday with her one-year-old great grandson who lives 200 miles away.  He already knows how to work an iPad and my nephew (his dad) caught him the other day trying to swipe the TV to change the picture :)

So with all of that technology in the silver surfers' hands, guess who is kept busy with technical support?

Dad was a Scots Guard, complete with red tunic and busby, standing guard outside Buckingham Palace amongst other duties, so I like to do a military-themed card when I can.  I had the idea for this card at 2 a.m. when I couldn't sleep - which further prevented me from sleeping while I was working out the details in my head.

Poor photo, sorry - should have got my photo tent out.  The background is faux distressed wood using Weathered Wood and Black Soot.  I love how the grooves show through the image.  The red/white twine is from a tag set from Marks & Spencer (got quite a few bits and pieces for present wrapping at half price and a bargain bag for a fiver because they couldn't find out how much it was).  But I digress.  The snowflakes are stamped in Versafine Smokey Grey then dotted with a Gelli Roll Stardust Clear Star pen. 

I'm entering it into Simon Says Monday Challenge (to use a stamp) and Simon Says Wednesday Challenge (Bling It On).

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We had a little jolly up to Glasgow as a Christmas treat.  We'd never been before, and were really impressed.  The agenda was to see the Jack Vettriano Retrospective at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, and to visit The Willow Tea Rooms which were designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.  There are two tea rooms - one in Sauciehall Street, and one in Buchanan Street - we went to both.  I can recommend the haggis.

Room de Luxe, Sauciehall Street - love the leaded glass panels!

The Gallery, Sauciehall Street

The China Room, Buchanan Street

Lighting in The China Room

Lighting in The White Dining Room, Buchanan Street

Upholstery, The White Dining Room

The White Dining Room, Buchanan Street

Kelvingrove Art Gallery

Interior - Kelvingrove Art Gallery

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I've had enough of uploading photos for one night, so I'll double up on the Advent Village tomorrow. Sweet dreams.

Day 17 Advent Village

 I changed things up a bit and put a burgundy roof on today's house for the blue village.

But the burgundy looks almost black in the pre-assembly pic!

Normal service should be resumed tomorrow and I'll be back to card making.

Day 16 Advent Village

 Another cardless day while I'm busy with other things, but here are the houses for Day 16:

You can see the Stickles and gems on the blue house better in this pre-assembly photo: