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Saturday, 24 December 2011

Merry Christmas

From my house to yours!
I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Creative New Year.
Here is my Christmas tree, out for its 35th outing. I didn't think I  liked artificial trees until one day in 1976 when my husband arrived home from work in Virginia, where we were living at the time, with a very large box on the roof of the car, which contained this tree. It has graced our living rooms each year since that time and I love it. I was amazed to see that today real trees cost about £55, so apart from doing its bit for ecology, it has also saved us a lot of money over the intervening years.

The final challenge for this year from "Less is More" is the recipe of  
Just one word
and  it will run for 2 weeks.
Here are my contributions.
I've had this stamp out on my desk to use for a Christmas card for weeks, but this is the first time I've managed to use it this year. I love these Penny Black ducks, they have such great expressions on their faces.
This one was coloured with Copics and a touch of Glamour Dust was added to the letters. The edging was cut with a Spellbinders die.
You probably recognise the style of this one as I've used it many times before. Fab Artemio trees in a masked and sponged strip where I used the Natural range of inks from SU EArly Espresso, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake and Sahara Sand ... with white of course. The birds are Hobby Arts and the sentiment is part of a SU one which I masked with Selotape before inking so as to get just one word!

This is a retired SU stamp which has the word 'Hello' as part of the design. I think it's a really pretty stamp. It has been coloured with Promarkers.




This one is another SU stamp... a heart this time, mounted on a Nestie with a backdrop from Pink Petticoat... I think, but I wouldn't  like to swear to that!









We will be sharing our Christmas celebrations with our daughter and her family and are so looking forward to being with them all. Daisy is really excited! I hope that you have a Wonderful Christmas wherever you you may be!
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46 comments:

  1. Sheila in Cyprus24 December 2011 at 08:17

    Chrissie, these are amazing. How busy you must have been doing these as well as Christmas preparations. I love them all but if I had to choose one it would be the 'Peace' one, maybe because of the colours.

    May peace be with you and yours over the Christmas period.

    Happy New Year.

    Love Sheila x

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  2. Mandi24 December 2011 at 08:39

    Sensational cards as always Chrissie

    Your tree looks fabulous, as does your home, so welcoming

    Happy Christmas
    xxxxxxx

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  3. Elaine24 December 2011 at 08:43

    Lovely to see your tree and its place in your family Christmas rituals. I absolutely love that peace card, utterly beautiful. I just got up early to make my OH his card, we always exchange them on Christmas Eve evening - now that design would have been so perfect for him!

    Thank you for your insipration throughout the year.


    Happy Christmas.

    Elaine x

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  4. Cyprus Anne24 December 2011 at 09:16

    Chrissie a gorgeous selection of cards as usual.
    I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your family.
    We really must try to meet up next year.

    Anne

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  5. Kathyk24 December 2011 at 11:05

    FABULOUS selection of cards - couldn't possibly pick a fave!

    Your tree looks just lovely.

    Merry Christmas and thank you to both you and Mandi for such fab challenges in 2011 - looking forward to more in 2012!

    Kathyk

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  6. Jan 24 December 2011 at 11:15

    Fabulous cards Chrissie have a wonderful Christmas & New Year. xx Jan

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  7. Suzi B24 December 2011 at 11:18

    Fabulous cards Chrissie the peace card is awsome!
    Thank you for the LIM blog which has introduced me to the CAS style! which I now love... although still striving to achieve "any thing like!" :o)

    Happy Christmas to you and your family.
    Suzi b x

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  8. Christine L24 December 2011 at 12:12

    Beautiful cards, fabulous tree and story, lovely house......
    Happy Christmas to you all too!
    Hugs
    Christine
    (PS think Santa may have an octaganol organiser in his sack this year (wink)!!

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  9. Fiona24 December 2011 at 12:34

    All super cards Chrissie, so difficult to choose a favourite. Thanks for all your inspiration and hard work with the LIM challenge this year.
    Merry Xmas.
    x

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  10. Kim S24 December 2011 at 13:09

    We just went artificial a few years ago and I am absolutely thrilled that those of us with allergies didn't spend December sneezing!! I love "natural" cards and your trees are stunning! The other three cards are so sweet and simple...wouldn't have thought of the hello stamp but I may have to pull out that set!

    Merry Christmas!

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  11. Marlena M.24 December 2011 at 13:39

    Gorgeous selection of cards, Chrissie! You have a beautiful tree and home. Have a blessed Christmas. ;)

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  12. Toulouse24 December 2011 at 13:54

    Lovely cards as usual. Have a lovely Christmas and mojo filled 2012!
    Hugs from Toulouse, Donna x

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  13. Bonnie24 December 2011 at 14:27

    The card in the neutrals just takes my breath away! Thank you for all the inspiration you have provided both personally and through this challenge.

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  14. Sally24 December 2011 at 15:51

    Such a beautiful tree Chrissie, lucky you to space for a big tree. I have looked at all of your one word designs & thought my fave was going to be the duck greeting but then I saw the cute hello one & absolutely loved it. Sooooo simple but elegant at the same time. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family,
    Sally x

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  15. Suze Bain24 December 2011 at 17:54

    Beautiful cards Chrissie, love those ducks. Have a fabulous christmas and thanks for a great weekly challenge. xx

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  16. Jenny24 December 2011 at 18:48

    Merry Christmas from me to you Chrissie and you've made such a fabulous array of cards again! Thanks for making it two weeks, I should be able to join in then and a 'Thanks' card might be in order :)
    So glad I found your brilliant Challenge blog.
    Jenny x

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  17. Rosemary24 December 2011 at 21:48

    once again you have provided some gorgeous inspiration!! i love the second card... it is stunning! merry christmas to you and your family (and WOW... you have had your fake tree since 1976??? that is amazing and it looks great!!)

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  18. Mummylade24 December 2011 at 21:52

    it's gorgeous, we have a fake tree too and I think the most positive thing is that I don't have to hoover the whole house when we take it out =)

    Have a lovely Christmas

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  19. Christine25 December 2011 at 07:49

    Gorgeous card Chrissie.
    I hope you & your family have a wonderful Christmas & a Very Happy & Healthy New Year

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  20. Tara Cardwell25 December 2011 at 23:25

    Brilliant cards as always - I adore those quirky ducks!
    Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks so much for a year full of wonderful challenges.
    Tara x

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  21. Pretty Paper Junkie27 December 2011 at 21:13

    Love the Ducks! Love the Hello. Love the Friend. Love, love, love the Peace. The landscape is so awesome. Just perfectly beautiful.

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  22. ~ Ali Robertson ~27 December 2011 at 21:48

    Beautidul creations as always Chrissie...hope you had a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for 2012

    Ali x

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  23. Victoria27 December 2011 at 23:53

    I love the peace card and pulled out last month's Craft Stamper as I remembered seeing something similar - well, I love that version you made too!
    I hope you had a lovely Christmas with your family.

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  24. Linby28 December 2011 at 10:22

    Fab cards as always, love the tree too. Thanks for your good wishes, hope you had a lovely Christmas.

    Linbyx

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  25. Viv28 December 2011 at 14:59

    Happy Xmas Chrissie, more loveliness from you again what super duper cards. My fav is the trees one I think this week.What a lovely Xmas tree you have too, we also have an artificial one.I did like my daughters real tree though, was looking at it enviously lol :O) Viv xx

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  26. cathi13929 December 2011 at 17:46

    wow, your cards are amazing!!! I love them all!!! You are such an inspiration, thank you
    cathi

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  27. Sasha29 December 2011 at 18:40

    Hi Chrissie,

    All of your cards are gorgeous in their own way, but your second one with the treescape is amazing!!
    Hope you had a lovely Christmas! x

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  28. Carol29 December 2011 at 23:10

    Gorgeous cards Chrissie. Must admit the Noel stamp was the first to come to mind when I read the challenge - then I scrolled down and saw you'd used it! Hope you enjoyed Christmas and all the best for 2012. Carol x

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  29. AmethystCat30 December 2011 at 06:43

    beautiful cards! I love the cute ducks and also the trees - stunning effect! I enjoyed playing along with the challenge blog for the first time. I appreciate your kind comment on my card. I have had some problems with spammers so had added the word verification. I'll consider taking it off. Thanks for the note!

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  30. Sally H30 December 2011 at 11:33

    These are all stunning Chrissie, but my favourite has to be the trees one. Such gorgeous smokey colours. Hope Santa brought you some lovely goodies and a very happy new year to you

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  31. Hillie30 December 2011 at 14:53

    Thank you for the comment on my blog!
    Your cards are really great.

    A Happy New Year for you and your family!

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  32. SYLVIA-ANNE30 December 2011 at 22:08

    Beautiful cards Chrissie. Absolutely LOVE the "Peace" card - the sentiment is perfect with the tree scene.

    Wishing you and yours a very happy and Peaceful 2012!
    Sylvia x

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  33. Michellem30 December 2011 at 23:17

    Chrissie - LOVE that Peace card! Your use of neutrals just made my heart happy!!

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  34. Val31 December 2011 at 01:15

    Beautiful cards, as always.

    Love
    Valxx

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  35. Sarn31 December 2011 at 15:33

    Absolutely gorgeous work here Chrissie. I just love your style.

    Wishing you a great 2012.

    Hugs, Sandra x

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  36. Squirrel1 January 2012 at 07:25

    Chrissie, you truly are an inspiration. I WISH I could do trees like yours. The Peace one is absolutely gorgeous.

    A Happy New Year to you, and thank you again for thinking up LIM!
    Rosey x

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  37. Diane2 January 2012 at 16:51

    Hi Chrissie, I have been lost in blog space for some time but have been watching from afar! Your cards look wonderful and I love the tranquility of the "Peace" card. Looking forward to joining you LIM challenges again
    Happy New Year.
    Diane

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  38. G Peplow2 January 2012 at 19:13

    Hi Chrissie, Happy New Year to you and yours:0) I love your cards, these are no exception, simply wonderful, Gay xxx

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  39. Kerry2 January 2012 at 21:21

    Wow, fantastic selection of cards.

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  40. Helen Laurence2 January 2012 at 22:47

    Happy New Year!!

    I hope 2012 brings you all the crafty-ness you dream of ;0)

    I'm starting the new year with a Half Price Sale on all my craft products HERE

    Hugs Helen x

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  41. Susan3 January 2012 at 20:26

    LOVE your cards! I totally CASEd one of your cards..the trees! The Noel card is just adorable too!! Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!

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  42. Vicky Hayes4 January 2012 at 15:53

    Hi Chrissie, hope you had a lovely Christmas. I must say your tree looks very impressive! I can't believe I've only just managed to get to see these four gorgeous cards. They're all fabulous but I will never tire of those trees and I love the pink heart number too. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2012, Vicky x

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  43. Julie5 January 2012 at 10:07

    Well they all look fabulous!
    I do like the sponged scene! Lovely. The pink and white hello is cute as well.
    Your tree is lovely Chrissie.

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  44. Aileen5 January 2012 at 20:07

    Gorgeous tree. Ours is down now and all the decos away.

    Lovely cards as always. Really like the NOEL with the cute ducks. x

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  45. Mary Jo6 January 2012 at 03:13

    Beautiful cards as always. I particularly love the Artemio trees card. Just wanted to say thank you for all the hard work and time you give to all of us with your creativity and challenges. Last year was a lucky year for me as I stumbled upon your challenge blog. LIM is one great place to visit and browse every week. May the New Year bring you much success and happiness!

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  46. Stephanie Lanzalotto6 January 2012 at 14:51

    Happy New Year Chrissie! As always, your cards are wonderful. I especially love the trees - you have such a way with ink! Your Christmas Tree looks gorgeous as does your home - very warm and inviting. I hope your holidays were merry and bright. Thank you always for your inspiration.

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Thank you so much for popping by, I appreciate your comments!
Thanks,
Chrissie