Happy New Year ! And finally... Round II Cards 48, 49 and 50 Phew!

Hope you all have a special evening tonight as we ring in the New Year. Seems 2014 flew by!

Checked my ticker goals at the top header of my blog,  and I sure failed miserably on the plan to use up 365 flowers. Well, actually I guess I did use up even more than that...cuz I gave about one third of my flower stash away to the thrift shop! Not sure that counts though...lol

Today, I am showing 3 snippets cards that I made this summer for the  aquafit instructors up at the resort. They are all volunteers and do a fabulous job, giving up their mornings to keep us fit...well...fitter anyways!

Rain or shine, they are up at the adult pool, willing to encourage us to keep up with our workouts. They drag all the weights and pool noodles out for us, as they come early to set up their music. We all try to pitch in and put everything away for them...but still, it is a lot of work,  day in and day out. I really appreciate their dedication and made up these cards for them.

We had a potluck luncheon to thank them so I made these cards for us all to sign.

Very simple cards. Just a  couple of snippets of card stock, a Memory Box Thank You and butterfly die stuck onto some prefolded VOS card sets (from my stash). The navy flourish cards are a few years old and the black and white is so old, I can't remember!

I added a generous lick of stardust stickles to highlight areas of the Thank You die, but completely covered the butterflies so they really sparkle! Added a die cut Memory Box butterfly to each envelope, just to finish them off.  This last green trimmed card was for a fellow so I left off the sparkle and tried to make the colours a touch more masculine...no trim on his envelope either!

These three cards finished my goal to make an additional 50 cards using my stash,  while on a consumables spending spree. I did allow myself to buy adhesives and cardstock. Non consumables were fair game so I did have dies and stamps to choose from.

Altogether, I made 100 cards or projects while on the freeze. I felt good and was actually easy to do !

I am entering these cards in the following challenges:

1. Pixies Crafty Workshop - must use snippets.

Rudolph Days Challenge Rules 2015

As many of you already know, Sarn at Stamping For Pleasure wanted to step back from sponsoring the Rudolph Day challenge. We all have had so much fun there creating Christmas cards every month We were really able to be prepared for the Christmas season.

I offered to take over the challenge as I did not want to see it end. I have made so many lovely friends there and wanted to keep those friendships blooming.

So Rudolph Days will continue on this blog, much the same as it was in the past on Sarn's...with one exception. I am going to return to the one card rule Sarn originally used. You will only have to make one card to enter and of course only one entry per person!

I have collected some lovely Xmas stamps, and even some Memory Box Xmas dies, for prizes this year. We will start off the January challenge with this Memory Box Die, MERRY.

Here is a brief recap of the rules:

1. Rudolph Days will start monthly on the 25th and will close on the last day of the month.
2. The theme is always Anything Goes, as long as it is Christmas.
3. One entry per person and you just need to make one Christmas card.
4. You may combine your entry with other challenges (maximum of 10 in total).
4. Prizes will be shipped anywhere in the world.
5. The winner will be selected by random draw and announced on the first day of the following month.

I am hoping Rudolph Days keeps the friendly atmosphere it has so enjoyed in the past. I do not want it to become that type of challenge where you drop off your card and flee. I envision it remaining the type of challenge where you meander through the other entries, leaving some comments for them when possible.

I can tell you that in most cases, the blogger you leave a comment for eventually returns a comment on your post too. Rudolph Days is just that kind of challenge!

You can submit your January entry between Jan25th and Jan31st. Winner will be announced Feb 1st .
Here is a photo of the January prize.

Off to figure out how to load the linky tool to my blog! See you all on the 25th...

Wise Men Still Seek Him - Round II Card 46 and 47

As it gets closer to Christmas Day, I thought I would try to refocus on the main reason we celebrate Christmas. Our family honours the Christmas Season right up to and including Epiphany.

This is such a season of giving and refocusing on what is really important. Our youngest daughter has been busy making up hampers for two Christmas families who needed some help this year. The grankids have a hand in this as well and each also make up a box for the Shoebox campaign. This is something we usually take part in too, but have stepped back this year due to the move. We are living vicariously through our girls this year and will make up for it next year!

Our eldest just posted the most heartwarming story about how she made up a stocking for a homeless fellow who had the added burden of being wheelchair bound. She found him on the street and stopped to chat casually with him, as he opened his gifts.  Once he was done, she wished him Merry Christmas and set off and he called after her to thank her for stopping long enough to chat with him! She makes up the gifts during the year and stores them in her car. Then when she spies a likely candidate or two, she is prepared. She focusses on things like candy, wool socks, toques and gloves as it can get very cold here in the midst of winter..

My card today showcases my new Taylored Expressions Nativity Border. I had to use a very dark charcoal textured paper for it as I have already packed my black cardstock! The sky is a snippet of aqua glitter paper and the sand dunes are snippets of beige pearlescent textured card.

I chalked the edges of the dunes to create some depth and used a black Momento Ink to stamp a Hobby Art Small Parts, Wise Men sentiment. I wish I had a small jewel in the shape of a star to place over the star above the diecut stable...I actually do have one, but it is packed as well! Oh my!

I made two the same...well almost the same. I never have enough religious ones made and sometimes run short as I am mailing my cards off. Thought I would be better prepared this year! These have been happily mailed out to some friends from church.

Off to the hospital in the city today for a spinal nerve root block. Fingers crossed it gives some pain relief as it will be easier to finish the packing with a bit less of an ouchy back! lol  It sometimes leaves me a bit under the weather for a couple of days, so if I am a wee bit late responding to comments this time, I hope you will understand.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

1. Pixies Crafty Workshop - must use snippets
2. Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge - Anything Goes Holiday Blitz, Challenge 131
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