Wednesday 25 January 2023

January Rudolph Days Challenge

Welcome to the first Rudolph Days Challenge for 2023. This is always an exciting month...a month to set new crafting goals, to plan some new cardmaking or scrapbooking ideas and designs, and to just have fun!

I have some news to share as well. We had several entries for the design team opening, and I finally got Al to draw the winner. I would like to welcome Marjeta from Marjetina ustvarjalnica (Marjeta's Creative Company blog), to our team. She will partner up with Sam who has been such a champ about being short a partner! Once you arrive at Marjeta's blog, there is translate button near the top that you can press to get an English version to read. Sam and Marjuta will be our designers next month.

Our designers have been busy creating cards to inspire you! First up is Jenny at Cardsarus blog. Jenny's first card features this pretty wreath! It looks to me that she has stamped the images individually in a circular mannner, and added some of the same stamps in the corners. I love the look of this and also love the matching images on the envelope! I am going to try to match my envelopes this year too, as I thnk it makes the card look fabulous!
Jenny made a second card in the new long, slim card style. This style is very popular over here right now. My local store has all sorts of dies and stamps etc in the slim sizes. I think Santa likes them too, as he brought me one of each this year! I quite like the glitter card Jenny used for the background. It makes her images pop off the card front! I am thinking these might be upcycled images but we will have to pop over to Jenny's blog to know for sure. Be sure and leave her some praise while you are over there!
Sue has been very busy as well. Sue has made a series of cards in differing background shimmery colours. They feature a very pretty Christmas bauble die. It always amazes me how many cards Sue makes for us to view. Be sure to pop over to Sue's blog, Sue's Crafty Corner, and leave her some praise! I am looking forward to reading about this very pretty die!
My first card showcases an image that was a gift from a friend, many years ago. I like the quiet, peaceful feel of this little scene. The image is embossed in black embossing powder and colourd with copic inks. l applied lots of star dust stickles on the trees and used a sparkle pen over the image and setiment. I used a snippet of quite thin copper mirri card from the $ store for the mat, and used another snippet of snowflake DP for the background. That background paper was from a really old kit that I picked up at the $ store as well.

My second card features a Hunky Dory cardfront. I love assembling these when I am bored! They always perk me up...The background is from my snippet files and the card itself is a 5x7 inch card. I managed to get red 5x7 envelopes this year but forgot to take a photo of the card with the envelope before it was delivered to our neighbours.

I only use these Hunky Dory cards for hand delivered cards. All the layers tend to make the cards too thick to mail with normal postage. We usually see the same group of family and friends during the Christmas season, so I bring these layered type cards along when we meet up for coffee, cards, or just meet up for fun, during the lead up to Christmas.

Al is still working on his recovery. He has a heart imaging test coming up in February that will hopefully tell if he is a candidate for a surgery to correct his aortic heart valve. They have ruled him not well enough for a valve replacement, but are testing to see if he could perhaps get a stent there instead. Fingers crossed, as that would give him more energy as aortic stenosis is very draining. After having already been through the quadruple bypass bypass surgery a bit more than a year ago, he would be quite happy to only have to deal with a stent this time!

Our prize this month is this Sizzix, Tim Holtz die set, Holiday Brushstroke #3.

44 comments:

Sarn said...

Hi Mo

Long time no play! Your two Christmas cards are both so lovely and so different.

I hope the Powers That Be consider the surgery for Al so that he has more energy and feels better.

Hugs, Sarn xxx

Di said...

Super cards Mo. And here's hoping that Al can have the stent. Hugs, Di xxx

mamapez5 said...

lovely cards Mo. I agree with you about Hunkydory cards being too thick and heavy for posting, but they do have some lovely images.
I am wishing well for Al and his having a stent. I am sure it would help him a lot.
As usual I am only playing for fun, not the prize draw. Kate x

Linby said...

Beautiful cards, the scene on the first one is so sweet. Fingers crossed for a stent for Al.

Sandra H said...

lovely set of cards for the first challenge of 2023 and Al did well picking your newest team member well done and congratulations she will be so inspiring as all of your Dt's have been, hope all goes well for Al sending lots of love xx

Lynne said...

Both lovely card, but the top one is my fave, love that little scene. Hope hubby gets good news x

Anita van Deur said...

Welcome Marjeta as a DT member.
Fingers crossed for Al, for the upcoming test. Beautiful cards.

Jenny L said...

Hi Maureen,
Happy Rudolf Days.
Your cards are fabulous and you can't beat Hunkydory for wonderful images can you.
Yes you are right the decoupage are fro hand deliveries or boxes.
I have been over to Marjeta's blog to welcome her.
Hope Al gets sorted soon Tony had five stents in his arteries and felt so much better and they lasted for 20 odd years.
Lots of crafty love and hugs. Jenny L.

ellyscard creatief said...

Lovely cards. Thanks for the challenge.

Kath said...

Happy Rudolph Day. Lovely cards Mo, from you and your DT - I'll be linking mine as soon as I've made it! I hope Al has his surgery soon.
Kath x

Marjeta said...

Great cards. Wish Al all the best. Fingers crossed.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Welcome to Marjeta! The inspirations from you and the team are fabulous and so different!
My best wishes for your hubby's surgery and a speedy recovering!
Hugs

LesleyG said...

Wow what lovely inspiration again, well done team and happy Rudolph Day! Take care and hope Al gets his op xxx

KarinsArtScrap said...

what lovely and beautiful cards the dt ladies has made

gr karin

Loll said...

Inspiration cards as always! Thanks again, Maureen, for running this great challenge that keeps me on track with my Christmas card making. Hope Al's test goes well and he can get the stent soon. xx

Sandy said...

Never heard of Hunky Dory cards, but that's one really cool card. Hoping things goes well for Al.

Sarn said...

Meant to say I’m just playing for fun xxx

Pauline C said...

Gorgeous cards Mo - fab selection. Hope all goes well for Al with the stent xx

Helen said...

Such lovely DT cards!
THanks for the fin challenge & inspiration!
Best wishes to Al!
Helen x

Suzanne H said...

I hope Al is able to get the stent. Good thoughts coming your way. Fabulous inspiration!

Liz said...

Welcome to Marjeta as a new member of your DT, Maureen. Wonderful cards from you, Marjeta and Jenny, lots of inspiration for us all. Hope it won't be long before Al gets his op. xx

Eemeli said...

Fabulous inspiration from all of the talented DT members!
Best wishes to Al, hope all will go well with the stent.

Hugs,
Eemeli

Lia said...

Great inspiration of the DT! And I wish all the best for Al!
Lia xx

Margreet said...

Great DT inspiration.
All the best for Al! My hubby has a pacemaker/ICD for 3 years and today we have a control visit at the hospital. He has had bypasses 2 times.
xxx Margreet

Trijntje said...

Veel sterkte voor jullie. En het allerbeste. Groeten Trijntje

Dr Sonia S V said...

It is always wonderful to drop by your site and see the inspiration. I am back to bogging after a hiatus and its good to visit my blogger pals
Cheers, Dr Sonia

Tina Z. said...

wow, so much of beautiful inspiration.
warm welcome to Marjeta, my friend.
Best wishes to Al!
crafty hugs xx

Sue - said...

Wonderful DT cards!

Barbara Godden said...

I don't make resolutions but I have a plan, I'm going to be keeping up with one card a month for Rudolph Days!! I was very slack last year but started out in January with a renewed spirit. Love the prize btw, And all the inspiration cards are gorgeous.

Valerija said...

Wow, wonderful inspiration from the DT.
Best wishes to Al!
Amazing prize too. Thanks for the chance.
Valerija xx

Carol L said...

Happy Rudolph Day, it's been a while. Sending prayers for Al so they can give him the stent he needs to recover and regain his strength. Loving all the inspirational cards you ladies have made. Take care and have a good rest of the week!

meg said...

Wonderful inspiration from the DT,Best wishes to all for 2023

Karenladd said...

Thank you to the DT for beautiful card samples, as always! I'll keep you and your husband in my thoughts for a stent in 2023, because that would certainly be the easiest option out of all the possibilities. He's been through so much in the past several years that you both deserve a break.

Robyn Oliver said...

Great to be back starting the new year with Christmas cards for my stash and a big thanks for the inspiration from the at Rudolph Days, everyone enjoys that little push at the end of the month... So very best for Good Health and Creative Days for 2023, Robyn

Denise Bryant said...

Wonderful cards! I am wishing everyone a happy and healthy year! Sending good thoughts for Al!

Marja Sch said...

Beautiful cards. Wishing you a happy and healty year. Greetings Marja

Darnell said...

Thank you for continuing another year, Mo! All the cards are just beautiful and I appreciate the inspiration. I wish Al all the best with his appointment next month. I hope he can have a procedure that will help him and give him more energy.🙏 Huge hugs, Darnell

Vicky Hayes said...

It feels wonderful to be back getting the Christmas cards made for another year! Thank you for the great inspiration here Maureen. I love your little peaceful village card and the beautiful Hunkydory card looks incredibly complex! Best wishes to Al and sending up prayers for the stent option. Here's wishing you a peaceful year. Vicky x

Pat said...

A great start to the new year with these beautiful cards from Jenny and Sue and yourself Mo, and welconme to the new team member Marjeta and hope that Al is eligible to have the procedure which would make things that much better for him. x

Pat said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Barbara said...

It's been a loooong time since I last made a card and I am so happy to get moving again as early as January. Thank you for taking the time to host this blog with the wonderful inspirations!

ionabunny said...

Happy Rudolf days everyone. Hoping to join the fun every month this year. Hope you and Al get the go ahead. Take care. Hugz

KT Fit Kitty said...

Hello, Maureen! I made it! Thank you for your challenge and for all of the beautiful inpiration from you and your team! Fortunately I had my card already made ahead because now I've been dealing with vertigo. I hope Al's test next month will have a good result so that things can go ahead for his procedure. Hugs and prayers for both of you from Nova Scotia! Congratulations to Marjeta as the new DT member!

Greta said...

What beautiful cards by all of you! Lots of variety for inspiration! Sure hope your hubby is a candidate for a stent to help with his endurance.