Sunday 5 July 2015

Christmas In July - and all the news!

Warning - LONG POST!!
The months are just ticking by and Stamping Sensations challenge this time is called 'Feature a Creature'. Little Claire are our sponsors too so as always a fab prize offered!
I confess that this was a stern challenge for me as would you believe I hardly own ANY animal stamps at all! Scratched my head a little then remembered this Hedgie Trio which would you believe was part of a challenge win!
They're actually quite a cute little triplet I think - so I stamped with Versamark Ink onto a piece of scrap card, coloured them with Promarkers and then fussy cut.

It seemed a little bit strange for me getting out sparkly card stock at this time of year - I am not the 'make Christmas cards all year round' kind of person and it's usually December before I even start thinking about it!
I just cut out a couple of 'slopes' then stamped the image again onto the slope using Stazon- which I've found is the only ink I don't smudge when stamping direct onto glitter  card - so I got the marks left in the snow by the sledge. With the snippets of glitter card used my 'Country Landscape' die to cut out some houses and trees - really fiddly sticking them individually but it provided the effect I wanted!

The blue 'sky' paper is from my stash.
I used up the rest of the scraps of sparkly card for the snowflakes.
Sentiment also stamped with Stazon

Challenges -
Paper Creator - Christmas in July
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything Goes
Crafty Calendar - Christmas In July
CSAYL - Snow/Glitter
Kitty Bee - Christmas In July
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Simply Create 2 - Get ahead for Christmas
Winter Wonderland - All that Glitters
and am also popping across to Pixies Snippets Playground this week.

So what have I been up to  recently - following on from the England Senior Ladies in Leamington, I then went to Hamilton Scotland for the Senior Men's Internationals. Another great win for Team England who took the title from the Scots in their own back yard - someone commented to me that 'even Dick Turpin wore a mask'!!!!!
After that a couple of games -and then home. Yesterday was our Macmillan Fundraiser Bowls Competition at Heaton Park in Manchester - I can report that my team actually won the competition (pic below)  but the real winner was MACMILLAN as in just one day we raised an ENORMOUS £1030!!!! One of our members can get 'match funding' from Barclays Bank so our current fundraising efforts now amount to just short of £3,500!
 
I am home for a few days now - time to catch up with everything (including the washing and ironing and housework (sadly) ) but am determined to find some 'me' time and make messy in the crafty space! 

Thanks for stopping by  and have a great day whatever you're doing! x

36 comments:

vic said...

What a sweet Christmas card well done for making one the hedgehogs look like they are having a blast on that sleigh :)
Hugs
Vic x

Lynne K said...

The Hedgies are certainly very cute, Viv! You must have a lot of patience to cut out all the individual houses and trees, but it was definitely worth the effort. I love the crisp blue and white. A gorgeous card!

Lynne x

brenda said...

Always a tricky one stamping onto glitter VIv, but looks like it worked well and a really cute Christmas card. Like you my animal stamps are limited and is always a bit of a challenge.

Hope you have a good Sunday.

B x

pinky said...

Very cute card, lovely little scene Viv. I'm like you, not a lot of animal stamps, well none I can think of lol. God knows what lurking in the back of my stamp stash! I do have this stamp though and totally forgot about it.

Sarn said...

Such a cute festive make there Viv.

Hugs, Sarn xxx

Meggymay said...

A fantastic Christmas card Viv. I'm with you on leaving these cards till later in the year.
Yvonne

Eve said...

Hi Viv
Oh! I love your hedgie card and I have a real soft spot for PB hedgies!
I hope that there is a soft landing at the end of that slope!! LOL!!
Hope you have a lovely weekend.
xx

SYLVIA-ANNE said...

Hi Viv - well done for remembering this adorable Hedgie trio - they are Soooo cute! Love the card - amazing fussy-cutting -too!
Sylvia x

McCrafty's Cards said...

Gorgeous Christmas card Viv, I love the scene you have created
Kevin xx

Gibmiss said...

Hi Viv
Love this PB Stamp...,fabulous Christmas card
Hugs Sylvie xx

Sally H said...

A totally gorgeous card, Viv! I love it! Wonderful use of that fab die and the cute stamp too

Sue said...

This is gorgeous Viv, such a sweet image and I love the sparkly scene you have created.
Sue xx

Kathleen said...

Gorgeous card, love the image and the scene you have created.

Kath x

Stamps and Paper said...

Lovely Christmas card Viv

Anne

Carole said...

Lovely card Viv...clever stamping on to glitter card...I have never thought to try that one! Like your little houses and trees too. I am a bit like you in that I can't seem to think Christmas this early, but you have at least made a start. have fun in the playground...doubt you will be sledging though! lol

Di said...

Brilliant card Viv! I'd never have thought to stamp onto glitter - clever you! A great 'action' card with loads of clever tricks used.

Lovely photos too - well done on the fundraising and so on.

Hugs

Di xx

Pat said...

I love your hedgies sliding down that glittery slope Viv and the pretty snowflakesky with the added sparkly die cut snowflakes. Lovely to see what you have been up to, and what a busy schedule - it's a wonder you know whether you know if you are on your head or your heels ..lol. Glad it is going well though and what a great amount of money has been raised so far for Macmillan! x

Jacee said...

This is a great festive design Viv, lovely!
Great photo's too.
hugs Jacee
Simply Paper Card Design

Jackie said...

Congratulations on your wins and fundraising Viv, what a splendid job you are doing.
I love the scen you have created on this gorgeous card :O)
Jackie xx

Pia S said...

Well this was well worth all your effort. It's a great snowy scene you've created for these cute hedgehogs. Unlike you, I love making Christmas cards all year round, I prefer to avoid the stress in December and just relax and enjoy:)

Jac’s Playground said...

What a fabulous festive scene you have created for these adorable hedgies, thanks for joining us at Crafty Catz this week, Jac x

Canonbury creations said...

Love this card Viv and I may have to case the way you used that die for the interest on the hills! Enjoy the rest of your tour!
Val x

Sarn said...

WAHOOOOO . . . you did SO WELL . . . winning matches and raising so much money for an excellent cause. TOP WOMAN.

Love Darn Sarnie xxx

Irish Cherokee said...

How wonderful you are getting some "me" time. Love the image of the three hedgies is adorable. Love the card completely. So nice to hear from you. Take good care of yourself.

Love, Hugs and Blessings
Jim

Crafty Moone Cards said...

Beautiful card, thanks for sharing with us at CSAYL.
Sue x

Vic said...

Brill card...love those little hedgehogs...really looks like they are having fun! Thanks for sharing you creation with us at Glitter n Sparkle this week, in our Anything goes challenge - Vic, DT x

aussie aNNie said...

Fabulous everything Viv, they have said it all above.xxx{aNNie My Personal Blog}

Creations by Shirl said...

Those hedgehogs are super cute...Thanks for joining Kitty Bee Aloha Friday Challenge!

cotnob said...

This is a fabulous card Viv, such an adorable image - you have created a wonderful winter scene.
Thank you for joining us at Paper Creator this month.
Pauline
x
I am having a little giveaway on my blog if you would like to take a look - http://craftingwithcotnob.blogspot.co.uk/

Jennifer said...

Wow Viv, your card may have involved a lot of 'fiddling', but it was certainly well worth the effort...I love it!!

Thank you for joining us at Winter Wonderland for our 'All That Glitters' challenge, and good luck in the draw.

Hugs
Jennifer. x

Jennifer said...

P.S., Viv, I also meant to say "well done with all the fund-raising...a wonderful result".

Hugs
Jennifer. x

Jules said...

Hi Viv

Been having a catch up on your lovely blog and gosh .. .. you have worn me out!!

What a "gad about" you are!!

Loving your cute Christmas card .. .. I haven't made a single one yet this year!!! Eeeekk!!

Love Jules xx

Gerda said...

What a beautiful card!! Love it!! Thanks for joining us at “Simply Create Too”, hope to see you next time again.

DT-Member SCT
Gerda
http://cardscreations.blogspot.com

Planetsusie said...

This is a cracking card Viv - I love how you've made the scenery with your dies. Great image too!!! Thank you so much for entering the Crafty Calendar (Christmas in July) Challenge this month, lots of luck to you.

Hugs Sue Pxxx DT

Jo said...

Love this Viv, gorgeous little scene! Thanks for joining us over at Crafty Calendar this month & good luck!
hugs Jo x

Linby said...

I'm so behind with looking at blogs! This caught my eye - love how you used the die in the background. Well done on your fundraising too.
Linbyx