Tuesday 31 July 2018

July Rudolph Days Challenge...a little late but better than never!

We are back home from 30 glorious days away in Britain. Twelve of those days were spent on a cruise round the British Isles. Although this was our fourth trip, we saw so much more of Britain than ever before. Will tell you all some details of that trip on my next few posts, but it is now finally time to have our errant July Rudolph Days Challenge!

1.  This July challenge will run from Aug 1st until midnight on Aug 7th, 2018.
2. The theme is always Anything Goes, as long as it is Christmas.
3. One entry per person and you just need to enter one Christmas card or Christmas project.
4. You may combine your entry with other challenges (maximum of 10 in total).
5. Your card (or Christmas project) should not have been previously posted to your blog. It should be posted to your blog during the current months Rudolph Days Challenge, (between the 25th and last day of the current month)
                                                     AMENDED RULE #5
for this July challenge only: Your card can have been posted to your blog anytime between July 25th and Aug 7th, 2018
6. Please link back to or at least mention, the Rudolph Days Challenge.
7. Please leave a comment on the challenge post.
8. The winner will be selected by random draw and announced on the first day of the following month. Prizes will be mailed anywhere in the world.
9. A special draw will be held at the end of the year, in December,  for all those who submitted a card or project every month that year, January to November. 
                                                    AMENDED RULE #9 
This errant July challenge will not be included into the special draw. If you miss this month, you are still eligible. 

 I  would like to take this opportunity to point out that some people forget to leave a comment on this post, thereby disqualifying themselves if they were chosen by random org. (see rule 7)

My Rudolph Days Challenge designers have this month off as I have made several cards for your perusal. I hope you will get some inspiration from them. 

First up is this sweet Sylvia Zet pre coloured angel image.This card was made from snippets. The gold mirri scalloped mat was cut with care from a snippet just large enough to fit the die. The corner pieces of the offcut were tucked away to eventually become corner elements for another card.

The mauve snowflake DP is a left over from a 12x12 scrapbooking  page and the white glitter border strip is a leftover from a previous card. The snowflakes are from my files of snippets that I have already die cut and punched into various shapes. (I try to do this task whenever I am bored, and stuck with a hopeless mojo). It is so fun to open the teensy file boxes and pick and chose what is needed to finish up a card. A little WOS gave them a bit of Christmas sparkle! The largest, glittery fabric snowflake is from a dollar store package that I bought several years ago. It was a large package of them and I have barely dented the numbers! I used my Fiskars fussy cut scissors to trim off the overlap. 


The inside is just another scalloped circle which I chalked to get the right shade of pink. I did not center this sentiment mat, but raised it a little on the card  to allow room for signatures on the card base below it. 



My second card is made with a Sue Wilson die that I bought at the May paper craft garage sale. There are at least 4 of these sales each summer, with about 30 vendors and hundreds of shoppers! I think I paid 7 or maybe 8 dollars. I made up four of these cards all the same colours, copying the vendors sample card. They were so quick and easy to make up! I think I am going to make up another 6 with red mats, either with red card or perhaps a very small, lightly shaded red pattern. Will post that group once finished. 

 I have not put a sentiment inside. This is a lovely flat card, perfect for mailing to family in Britain. I think I will just write a short letter in each one, and just let the front sentiment be the only one. That way, I can squeeze more news into the letter itself!


Next up is one of my upcycled thrift shop cards. I picked up a "new in package" sealed packet of  20 Christmas cards and envelopes for $1  This is the style of card where you slide a photograph into a premade frame. I usually buy sets like this if the envelopes are gilded inside, just to get the envelopes at such a good price. But, as I opened them, I spied a snippet of embossed green card in the front of my green file and noticed it was just barely the right size to slide into the pocket!


I sliced the frame off the card, and then slid the green snippet inside and with great care, dug my tweezers in to unpeel the two sided tape I had placed on it. It took a couple of tries to get the long one out! Next time I will just use my long needle tipped glue bottle...it would be easier, methinks.

I added a few blue and white snowflakes from the same filing boxes I mentioned on my first card. They are so handy to keep on hand. Various sized rhinestones give them a little bling.

Luckily, my Sue Wilson Let it Snow die fit quite nicely onto that embossed green snippet...what luck! I mounted this now finished topper onto a white card blank, and  this card was done.  Quite a good use of a 5 cent topper frame and envelope!

Our prize this month is a choice of this Memory Box Batavia Stitched Snowflakes die


or this Inkadinkado Christmas Silhouettes stamp




55 comments:

Kath said...

Fabulous cards and I'm looking forward to hearing more about your trip - glad you enjoyed it!
Kath x

Kathyk said...

As you say, better late than never!! Hope you had a wonderful cruise too

Kathyk

Tina Z. said...

wow, I am the first, I have just made my card :))).
I love your image with angel, great use of non-traditional colours. and I love this Sue Wilson die, it is amazing and such a lovely scene on the third card. wow, stunning inspiration!
have a great summer and I can't wait for your posts about your cruise, this must be such a fantastic trip :))
hugs xx
treebug

LesleyG said...

Glad you had a lovely time, can't wait to hear more about it! Lovely projects, and that Silhouettes stamp looks rather gorgeous! Happy RD xxx

Lynne said...

Lovely cards, I especially like the little Sylvia Zet angel. I must try and upicycle some of my old Christmas cards. I always save quite a few, but tend to forget about them. Thank you for the challenge x

Jane Willis said...

So it was YOU who brought the scorching hot weather to the UK! I hope you had a great trip. Glad to see you back

Carole Pollard said...

Beautiful cards and a great challenge Love and hugs Carole x

mamapez5 said...

I have five minutes or so before my family arrive from the airport, so I am quickly linking this up. Fortunately I have it ready to go on 25th July! I hope you enjoyed your well-deserved holiday. I think your first image is gorgeous. It's a good idea to have some embellishments prepared in advance. I think about doing it, but that's as far as it gets! Plenty of inspiration in your lovely cards. Kate x

Carol L said...

Welcome back from your well-deserved vacation, and I hope you had a wonderful time! I look forward to more details and photos :) Those are some really cute cards you made this month, and I just love that little angel in pink! Thanks for the inspiration and for another Rudolph Days too!

Sally H said...

Gorgeous Inspiration from you, Mo! Great to hear you really enjoyed your trip and I look forward to reading all about it x

Di said...

What fabulous cards Mo - i really don't know how you made them as well as preparing for your holiday! I think I'll pass on the prize draw stamps - a lovely friend kindly gifted me the same stamp set very recently :) But I do so love those snowflakes - had not idea MB did stitched ones! And you really are super human to have just got back home and then raced to sort out this post.

Hugs

Di xx

ionabunny said...

Yeah Rudolf Days. I'm in. Merry Merry everyone. Hugz

Gail said...

Welcome back -thank you for the new challenge and for showing us your lovely makes - hoping the DT has a nice break - your trip was wonderful- have a blessed week

KT Fit Kitty said...

Thank you for a new linky, Mo! It sounds like you had a wonderful time on your vacation! I'll be back shortly to link up my card! All 3 of your cards are absolutely adorable! Ooooh I just looked at the prize and I'm in love with those stitched snowflakes! Will be sitting on pins and needles waiting for the winner to be drawn! Thanks so much for the monthly inspiration!

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Three beautiful card, great use of your scraps and upcycled shop card! :)Love the sweetness of the little angel in the first one and the elegance of the second one!

Christine Alexander said...

I'm so glad I got to play this month, and love the super sweet cards :)

Liz said...

Beautiful creations by you and your DT, Maureen.

Looking forward to finding out about your trip to the UK. xx

Verna Angerhofer said...

Wow! Your cards are all so beautiful! I love the varied looks of each. And, sounds like you had a great adventure with the trip you took. I can't wait to hear more about it.

Greta said...

Sounds like a fabulous vacation, Maureen, but glad you're home safe & sound! Inspiration overload today & totally worth the wait! Being a lover of pink & angels, the first card stole my heart, but I love them all! What deals you get! I need to shop with you--haha!

cuilliesocks said...

Wonderful selection of cards Mo, great inspiration, Kate x

Pat said...

So please you had a lovely holiday in the UK Mo and love your three beautiful cards, all so different but all so pretty. I thought I would be earlier entering for a change, mind you, it did help that it is later than it would normally be. x

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

These cards are all wonderful Maureen, especially the upcycled Thrift Shop find.

Sue xx

Debbie said...

Hope you had a lovely holiday.Beautiful inspiration too. Hugs xx

Kathleen said...

Super cards Mo, love the pink non trad. card with the lovely little Angel.
Great green and white card with the lovely die.
A really cute third card.

Kath x

Sandy said...

Welcome back Mo. Hope you had a lovely cruise. Sounds like you've had cruise weather in Britain lately.
All your cards are so pretty, and you've managed to create them in different styles so it looks like a whole DT was on duty.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

I entered in the challenge. Thank you for all the inspirations :)

Darnell said...

Beautiful trio of schparkly cards for us, Mo! You are a whiz at designing with your snippets and bits! So glad you had a wonderful time on holibobs and look forward to the photos! Playing just for fun! Hugs, Darnell

Sue - said...

Glad you enjoyed your trip around our island! Some great cards there too!

Greta said...

Thanks for letting me know I forgot to add the RD link to my post. Left that off the reminder I wrote to myself & sure enough--I forgot.

Donna said...

Glad to see that I didn't miss the challenge for July. Your inspiration is awesome! So many different designs. How did you manage that while being away? Thanks for sharing!

SHartl said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Darlene said...

WOW your trip sounds FABULOUS! Thanks for sharing such wonderful holiday inspiration! What FUN on both counts!

Karenladd said...

Awww, that sweet little angel on pink is just adorable and I love all the extra sparkle from the snowflakes and gold scalloped frame!

Twórcze pasje Danki said...

Twórcze pasje Danki podziwiają Twoje sliczne kartki i przeylączaja się do zabawy.

AlisonC said...

Your cruise sounds wonderful. I think I would like to do that. Your cards are varied and inventive as usual. Thanks for running the challenge. x

Helen said...

Fabulous cards Mo!
Helen x

Carole Pollard said...

Sounds like a superb holiday Thanks for the great challenge and fab design team inspiration Love and hugs Carole x

Gloria said...

Hello Mo! I hope you have a wonderful trip.
I'm very happy to join this month challenge.
DT cards are so pretty!
Hugs, Gloria

Aquarius said...

Some great seasonal ideas here - thanks

brenda said...

Just checking in Mo. Hope you have a super holiday, you certainly saw some very unusual sunny weather here in the UK.

B x

Sandra H said...

Welcome back so nice to see the challenge up and running and that you had an amazing time xx

Bonnie said...

I'm glad you enjoyed your holiday and are safely home! Love your cards with the sweet angel, classy die cut, and clever use of a picture card! All are delightful as usual!

Janis said...

Love all your cards, Mo, but am particularly impressed with your thrift store makeover cards!! Such a great idea to look for the fancy envelopes in the card section of the thrift store. I would never have known what to do with those "window" cards....this is genius. Thank you for another fun challenge. Glad you had a chance to get away.
<3 J

jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

cuilliesocks said...

Hi Mo, brilliant DT inspiration, entering the challenge this month, Kate x

Joan said...

Fab DT inspiration, just managing to scrape in at last minute this time

Joan

Susan Renshaw said...

Hope you enjoyed the trip...hear you caught up with Sue T on your travels!
Lovely cards!

rachel said...

gorgeous makes Mo - and I actually managed to link up for a change!!

Megan J said...

Hi Mo, I hope you had a marvellous holiday and enjoyed the trip.... have a wonderful week... thank you for the inspiration... Megan

Jenny L said...

Hi Maureen,
so glad you had a lovely holiday.
Your cards are so pretty and beautifully created.
Love them all especailly the the Sue Wilson holly die one that is a gorgeous die, and it's a super design card.
The little Angel is so sweet and the upcylcled card form the thrift shop is a super idea.
Just made the challenge as still having Internet drop outs.
I blooming wish they would find the cause of it apparently it's happening all over my town.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

Lady Joyful said...

Wonderful inspiration! Hope you enjoyed your trip.

Anonymous said...

sounds like a fantastic vacation, Mo! oh my goodness, we designers may have had the month off, but you've provided plenty of inspiration here with three beautiful cards with some lovely details and variety!

MaryH said...

Hi Mo, this time Rudy Day almost sneaked by me, but had a heads up from Pat about the challenge. Enjoyed your trio of wonderful cards, and as always, delighted by your marvelous finds! How clever to think of using the picture aperture type card to decorate in your own charming way. I'm envious of your SWilson die finds too, and did you ever make something gorgeous with that great buy. Loved the sweet little angel, which at first thought was an LOTV one. Well done, YOU! Great inspiration on these cards. TFS & Hugs

Valerija said...

Wonderful creations. I'm very happy to join this time.
Hugs, Valerija xx

Cheryl said...

I love your cards! That angel is gorgeous.

Lynne in NI said...

Beautiful cards! I LOVE your little angel :)