Merry Christmas one and All!

 Hello Blogging Friends and Visitors, I hope you are well and staying sane in this run up to Christmas.

We have everything done and dusted, presents bought and wrapped, food bought, and house given a once over, so a relaxing day tomorrow.

So, I'm popping in to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hoping you have a wonderful day, and best wishes for a happy, healthy and contented 2024. 

I'm hoping that the New Year will bring peace throughout the world. It's just heartbreaking what is happening in so many  countries around the world, especially in Palestine.

I'm finishing the year with  my Snowman card , made from my friend Fiona, she adores The Snowman and I've made her one for many years now,

 I've made a shaker card this time, and the Snowman and his little friend are enjoying a hoolie  with their other Snowman friends.

Just a bit of time now to visit your blogs and see what you've been doing, take care of yourselves and see you next year,

Anything Goes for the CCC! Bringing Gifts!

 Hello  Friends and Visitors, It's been a while since I was last on the computer to go to Blogland, but here I am, late, but nevertheless here with the final card for the Christmas Card Club and the theme is Anything Goes,

 I've used a selection of sets from Card-io stamps. I just love this tall, lanky snowman, he's so sweet and he's welcoming his little friends who have brought gifts for him. I've used lots of glitter and gel pens.

It's sad the the CCC is stopping, but for lots of different reasons we are all finding it difficult to get around to creating the cards, and over the last few years our numbers have dropped. so it was time to call it a day. I will still be making Christmas cards all year round as Christmas cards are my favourite kind to make.

I'm also not blogging so much these days either, I just don't seam to get around to do it on a regular bases, but I do like to pop in and see what you are all doing, but don't go back on all the days that I've missed, so sorry if I miss you out, but I think I manage to comment on my usual friends fairly often.

I hope you are all well and getting through your Christmas preparations with out too much hassle. I got all my cards written out and posted today, that's the biggest chore. Next the the parcel wrapping, which I hate doing now. 

Hopefully we will manage to get the tree up and decorations, and this coming Saturday, the Choral Society have their Carolthon, we always look forward to that and this year we will be collecting for Crocus which is a Children's Bereavement organisation.

Thank you all so much for the lovely comments you left about my last card, I really do appreciate them.

That's me for now, take care of yourselves and hope to see you soon,

 

Christmas Catkins!

Hello Everyone,  hoping you are all well and keeping cosy.  Very cold here,  the other morning it was -8, temperature picking up a bit today. 

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my coloured page. 

This new card was inspired by Elizabeth  from Delbello  design team member Elizabeth, using Lavinia Stamps,  Posca pens  gel pens,  elements ink and holographic embossing powder. 

That's me for now.  Out at choral practice tonight,  rehearsing for the Carolthon in a couple of weeks.  It's lovely to be singing Christmas carols and songs again,  and of course The Messiah. 

Look after yourselves,  keep cosy and see you soon, 

Kate 💖

Christmas Gnome!

 Hello Friends and Visitors, I hope you are well and keeping warm. We are darn cold here, and there could be snow on the way.

I'm feeling like I'm coming down with flu, but I'm hoping it's just the result of having my covid/flu injections yesterday, have to say though, that I've never had a reaction before, if that's what it is. Arms are so sore too, they feel like I've had the muscles punched inside out.

Anyway, I have a coloured picture today, I've not picked up one of my colouring books in ages, so I thought I would do a Christmas page,

This is from Jim Shore's Holiday Traditions book.

So I've used Prismacolors, and a a Crafty Individual's snowflake stencil and Elements ink. Gel pens and Stickles for sparkle. I enjoyed colouring this up as I've not done one in a while.

Thank you so much for the lovely comments on  my last card.

That's me for now, keep cosy and see you soon

A Tomte Christmas for the CCC

 Hello to You All, I hope you are well and that life is good.

These fortnights  really seem to come around so quickly, blink of an eye stuff. Anyway, here we are again with our cards for the Christmas Card Club and this time the theme is Gnomes/Tomtes. 

I've had this fabulous Chocolate Baroque stamp set for a while so I thought this is the very challenge to use it.

The Tomte image and snowflakes are both from Chocolate Baroque, and the tree is one of Lavinia Stamps new releases. The sentiments are also from Lavinia. All embossed with WOW Silver EP. Elements Ink and water colour pencils. Lots of sparkle and splats.

Just a short post today, thanks so much for the lovely comments on my last card.

Take care of yourselves and see you soon,

Magnificent Magnus!

Hello Everyone, seems a while since I was here, so I hope you are all well, but if not sending healing thoughts to all who need them.

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on Alistair's birthday card, as always you are so kind.

I have a birthday card for a male friend tonight,

 This card was inspired by Melissa Crook who is on the Delbello design team.

Lavinia's beautiful Magnus stamp and pine trees. Elements ink to make the sun and a Lavinia sentiment.

I didn't add any sparkle as it's for a man, just a bit of white gel pen for highlights.

A fairly quick and easy card to make, could be a Christmas card too.

That's me for now, take care of yourselves and see you soon,

Alistair's Birthday Card!

 Hello Friends and Visitors, I hope you are well. Mid week again, I must have blinked and missed the last few days since the weekend.

Been a quiet few days here, weather not all that good, dark and wet, but better today, clearer skies and temps up a notch.

Anyhow, I said that I would post Alistair's birthday card, his birthday was on Nov 5th so here it is,

The compass stamp is by Lavinia Stamps, and the small compasses in the background are from a Creative Stamping magazine as is the main sentiment. Elements ink to colour a background.

Off to have my Vit B injection this afternoon, this is always a nippy one, not my favourite way to spend some of my afternoon time.

Thank you for your lovely comments on my last post, always appreciated.

That's all for now, take care everyone and see you soon

Sparkle and Shine for the CCC!

 Hello Everyone, hoping everyone is well and keeping cosy.

The last two weeks have gone by so quickly and it's time for the Girls from the Christmas Card Club to show their latest creations.

This time the theme is Sparkle and Shine, here is what I've come up with,

Meet Starr, she is one of the new Fairies from Lavinia Stamps, she is just gorgeous, Coloured with Kuretake Clean Colour pens and gel pens, with lots of sparkle. The sentiment is also one of the new stamps. Background is one of the Scene Scape papers, really handy when your short of time.

Sadly, the Christmas Card Club is coming to an end, we have only

another two cards left to make. The membership has fairly dwindled over the years for one reason or another. I know I'm finding it difficult to create cards, and the commitment, although only a fortnight,  sometimes  it difficult to keep up. So everyone was in agreement to call it a day. I've enjoyed being part of the club as Christmas cards are my favourite kind of cards to make, and it's a great team to be part of. Things change though.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my last card, you are so very kind.

That's me for now, take care and see you soon,

Watching the Sunset!

Hello Friends and Visitors, I hope today finds you well and that you've all enjoyed your weekend.

we have enjoyed a lovely weekend weather wise, glorious sunshine and not too cold. We weren't hit either too much with the last storm like many  areas were, we are so lucky with our weather, being sheltered by the mountains.

It's been a weekend of celebration here, on Saturday it was our 28th Wedding Anniversary and yesterday was Alistair's birthday. Although we didn't do much it was still lovely. We went out for lunch yesterday to Beauly to a rather favourite hotel, and had a carvery, I suffered later though enjoyed it at the time. I still don't manage to take on board that I can no longer eat big meals.

Anyway, here is the anniversary card I made for Alistair,

Lavinia of course, two little Pixies watching the sunset. The toadstools are however from Card-io stamps. Elements ink, gel pens and a Lavinia sticker sentiment.

I'll post his birthday card another day.

I have only one birthday card left to make for this year, quite glad about that as it's for another male one.

Thank you so much for the well wishes for Alistair, he is recovering well, just feels tired and is taking a nap in the afternoons, but hey ho, nothing wrong with that and he is 78 years young now.

Thank you too for the lovely comments on my last card, your comments are always so kind.

Going to have a look now at what you have all been creating.

Cheerio for now, and take care,

Rufus and the Red Berries for the CCC!

 Hello Friends and Visitors, I hope all's well with you and you are enjoying your weekend, especially having that extra hour.

I've been a tad busy since I was last here as Alistair was taken into hospital last week suffering pain in his abdomen, turned out it was a hernia, but it could have been his appendix as was thought at the time. I had a scaring drive to the surgery with him and he was blue lighted from there. So no vacuuming for him or lifting anything heavy for a few weeks, so I'm exhausted with doing his share of the chores  as well as my own. Anyway, he's on the mend, and he had excellent treatment in Raigmore hospital, even although they were on red alert.

so, this is the first time I've been near my computer for ages.

Anyhoo, it's time once again for the Christmas Card Club to show their latest cards, and this time the theme is something beginning with R, I've taken a bit of artistic licence with my card,

This is Rufus looking up at the Red Berries, so two lots of Rs, cheating a bit I know. 

Rufus and the berries are from Lavinia Stamps, and the little branches are from Card-io. Sentiment from Chocolate Baroque. Fluffy Puff stuff for the snow, glitter and white Posca pen. I used Glossy Accents on the berries. 

Thank you for the lovely comments on my last card. Hoping to get around to visiting some of your blogs to see what you've been up to. 

Cheerio for now, take care,

Autumn Foliage!

 Hello Friends and Visitors, I hope you are all keeping well, but for those who aren't here's a Big Hug!

I'm just popping in with a short post to show this card,

This design was inspired by Elizabeth Schwabe from Del Bello's Design Team.

I didn't manage to find a real leaf, so I used the Lavinia Stamps leaf Sticker Stencil, Fairy Toadstool, and the Autumn works stamps. Elements Ink, gel pens and Gilding Flakes.

It's not quite turned out as Elizabeth's . but it's not all that bad.

Thank you so much for the lovely comments on my last card.

That's all for now, see you soon, take care of yourselves,

Wings and Things for CCC!

Welcome Friends and Visitors, I hope all's well with you and that you are enjoying the weekend.

It seems impossible that two weeks have gone by and it's time for another Christmas Card Club Challenge and this time the theme is Wings and Things,

 Sorry about the poor photography. 

I have Rory and Darcy, aren't they so cute, surrounded by trees and Christmas charms with snow falling. I inked up my round gel press for the background. I've added some sparkle gel pen and tiny gems. 

I'm sure fairies have Christmas too.

There we are, another card for the box. We are marching so quickly towards Christmas, it's frightening.

That's me for now, take care of yourselves and see you soon,

Autumn Pumpkins!

 Hello Friends and Visitors, I hope you are well. 

It seems a while since I was last here, finding difficult to get to the computer these days, but here I am now with a card using one of the new stencils from Sweet Poppy Stencils,

This design was inspired by Robin Reilly from Dell Bello Designs, she's a fabulous designer.

I've used the new Pumpkin Stencil and Elements inks to colour them with a Lavinia stencil to make the pattern on the pumpkins. Lavinia sentiment down the side of the card and finished off with a glitter gel pen

Well that's me for now, I'll be back at the weekend with the latest CCC card, take care of yourselves, oh and thank you for the lovely comments on my last card, so kind as usual.

March Calendar Page !

 Hello Everyone, I hope all is well with you and you are enjoying life. 

Autumn has really settled in here, the leaves are falling fast now, still some warmth around though. Getting dark earlier now.

Anyway, I've finished another page in my 2024 calendar, here is the page for March,

 I was thinking of March hares for this one so, I've got Lupin and Logan having fun with the Top Hat, I wandered into the Mad Hatter with this one. Fairy Thistles and some foliage.  Coloured with Zig Clean pens and gel pens. A sticker sentiment, Love Life which I thought went well with the hares having fun.

I'm not getting through these pages as quickly as I thought I would, need to step up if it's to be finished for next year.

Thank you so much for the lovely comments left on my previous post, you are all so kind.

That's me for now, going to visit and see what you have all been creating. Take care of yourselves, bye for now,

Christmas in the Forest for CCC!

Hello Everyone, hoping all is well with you and that you are enjoying the weekend.

A fortnight has passed and it's time again for the Christmas Card Club ladies have been busy making their latest cards with the theme of Christmas in the Forest, here is mine.

 All Card-io stamps and the stencil also. Inspired by Wendy from Card-io, except that I had to use some different stamps and stencil as I don't have the ones she used, I've used stamps from various sets and coloured with Versacolour ink, gel pens and lots of sparkle.

Just a quick pop in today, we are going to get out for a walk in between showers, take care and see you soon,

Notelets!

 Hello to You All, I hope all's well with you and that you're looking forward to the weekend.  We have nothing planned except food shopping a chore and putting it all away is an even bigger one.

Anyway, time for another card, well a few really all going towards a gift for my friend Fiona. 

These three cards are using all Lavinia Stamps and sentiments. Elements Inks for background, then the square is embossed with Wow clear embossing powder'

These cards are using stamps from Card-io, Lavinia sentiments and the panels embossed as the above.

I made a box for them and will give her them next week when we meet for a coffee and a catch up. She is doing so well, in fact she looks marvellous and is even back at work, but just a couple of days a week. 

Thank you so much for the lovely comments on my Mooch card.

That's me for now, take care and see you soon,

Mooch and the Spider!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are doing okay and that life is treating you well. 

Lots of rain in our neck of the wood, and some days quite cold in the house, I've had to put some heating off, I was trying to keep it off until October, but needs must.

Thank you so much for the lovely comments on my last card, I appreciate each and every one of them.

Here's today's card; inspired by one of the Dell Bello Team Members, sorry can't remember who.

With an Elements Ink background I've then stamped lovely Mooch sitting on a pile of Spell Books with a broom leaning against them, looking at a Spider. No worries though because in Lavinia Land the animals don't fight, or eat each other, lol.  I've swirled white chalk around the cat and added glitter. Lavinia sticker sentiment. I am really pleased with how this turned out, hope you like it.

That's me for now, take of yourselves,

Falling Leaves!

 Hello Everyone,  I hope you are well,  but sending hugs to those who are not so good. 

Well, it's almost time to look out the warmer clothes,  Autumn is really settling in up here in the North.  I even had to put some heating on the other day,  very grudgingly I have to say,  but it'd rained all day and I just couldn't get warm. 

Anyway,  here's my card for the Lavinia stamps creative challenge,  Falling Leaves,

I've stamped Honeysuckle Cottage a few times and added some little pixi houses to create a village. Tree of Courage and lots of leaves.  Added sparkle with Autumn colours. 

Thank you all for your lovely comment on my  post. 

Take care and see you soon, 

Red and Gold for the CCC!

 Hello Everyone, I hope you are all well, and enjoying this last bit of sunshine and warmth. We have had some really lovely days here in Inverness.

Christmas Card Club challenge once again, they come around so fast, and it's a card with Red and Gold colours on it.

I've used Lavinia Stamps Robin Sticker Stencil for this one, and the swirly stamp embossed in Gold powder. A stencilled background and some Gold Mica splatters to finish off. Matted on to gold card.

Of course you can always use the Anything Goes if you can't manage the theme. 

Thank you for the lovely comments on my journal page.

That's me for now,  take care of yourselves and see you later in the week,

Let Your Dreams!

 Hello Everyone, are you melting yet? Boy what a heat!

I really welcomed the pool when at aqua Zumba this morning, so refreshing. I hope you are all keeping hydrated.

I've got another Journal Page today,

The sea has been made using water colour paints by Gansai  Tambi paints, and Elements Ink for the sky. The stamps are all from Creative Stamping magazine, from a few years ago, and the images have been coloured with various gel pens. First time I've used this stamp set, they are really lovely.

Well, Sweet Poppy Stencils are about to come on the craft programme, so I'm off to make a cuppa and settle down to watch.

Thank you all for the lovely comments on my last card, you are all so kind.

Take care and keep cool,

Trees for the CCC!

 Hello to You All, I hope your weekend is going well and life is treating you well.

We're having a bit of an Indian Summer just now, just as I was getting ready to pull out the winter cloths, oh well enjoy it while it lasts.

Another Christmas Club Challenge today and it's cards with Trees that's wanted of, Anything Goes.

Now I was inspired by Laura Wenn from Card-io stamps,  she creates the most wonderful cards and has them on You Tube.

Laura used a 7x7 card, but by mistake I pulled out an 8x8, way too big, I tend to only do smaller cards because of the postage. Anyways, I've used stamps from the following Card-io sets, Home for the Winter, Nice-icicles and Icicles and Holly Hid-Away.. The first two sets are from a Card-io new collection. Lots of different green inks and glitter. My large tree is a bit wonky, I think I need more practice  in using the branches.

Thank you so much for the lovely comment on Neptune, really appreciate them.

Apple pie making this afternoon, our tree is abundant with fruit this year, plums too. 

That's me for now, take care of yourselves,

Neptune!

 Hello Everyone,  I hope you're enjoying your weekend and not being washed away with the rain ☔ as we are.. I don't thinking it's stopped since midday yesterday.  Alistair has cabin fever as he's not been out today,  even Teallach doesn't want to go out.

Anyhoo, I've created another page in my journal, 

Neptune from Pinkink Designs. Unfortunately,  he is too big to get all of him on my page,  but nevertheless there's a good bit of him here. I think he's a real handsome guy.  Coloured with  Zig Clean colour pens,  Gansai Tambi Opal watercolours. Gel pens. Elements ink for the background. Quite pleased with it. 

Thank you for your lovely comments on my last card.

Have a good evening and see you soon,  take care, 

Kate 🐬💖

Having a Snooze!

 Hello there Everyone. I hope you  are well and your week is going along nicely.

Just a short post today to show my latest card,

I've used Holly Hide-away for this card. I love this little fox having a sleep and his little mouse friends beside him, they are from Card-io Stamps and various little bits of foliage to make the wreath from Lavinia Stamps. A Lavinia stencil in the background, gel and Posca pens too.

Loved making this and I think this little fox is going to become a favourite.

Off to the doctor now for my Vitamin  B/12 injection, there's always something.

Take care of yourselves and see you soon,

A Purple Christmas for the CCC!

Hello Again, I hope all's well with you and that your weekend is a good one.

It's the Christmas Card Club challenge time once again and this time it's a Purple Christmas that's wanted.

Here is what I've managed,

This card was inspired by Lainey J from the Card-io design team. I didn't have the same stamps, or Pan Pastels, I just used what I had. The stamps are though from Card-io. Inks are Elements Ink and I've used gel pen and Pebeo foil for the stars. Lots of glitter too.

So thank you for the inspiration Lainey.

Thank you all for the lovely comments on  my Gus card.

That's me for now, enjoy the remainder of your weekend, take care,

Gus!

 Hello Everyone, I hope all is well with you and yours and that your week is going well.

Just a short post tonight to show this card made with one of Lavinia Stamps newest stamps,

Meet Gus the owl, he's so sweet. Coloured with Zig Clean Colour pens and gel pens. I've stamped him on to one of the Scene Scapes papers and stamped the owl words stamps down the side. Some foliage stamps and Posca pen.

Thank you so much for your lovely comments on my previous card, always appreciated.

That's me for now, take care and see you soon,