Monday 19 December 2016

Merry Christmas



Wishing everyone a Happy and Peaceful Christmas.

The photo above is Kings Collage Chapel Cambridge taken from The Backs. I went to a small C of E school in a little village just outside the City so that gave the pupils the privilege of attending the annual Carol Service which is broadcast on TV at this time of year, it was always a very special occasion and seemed to mark the start of Christmas for us when we were young.

I am posting this now as the family start to arrive later this week for the Festive Season so I'm likely to be otherwise occupied, there will be between ten and eighteen of us most days so there will be plenty of preparations to be done. I've tried to get ahead and have made and frozen down things like cranberry sauce, stock for gravies and so on, but there's lots more that will need doing last thing.


And I also have a Penny Black share, shame on me as I forgot to post my mid way card yesterday, did the one on the challenge blog but not my own and only just realised, sorry teamies !!

So here it is using Penny Black Venetian Summer and using pink as my 'plus one' colours with black and white.


And last but by no means least my Snippets Playground share, it's a two week challenge this time as it's the school holidays and Miss Di needs a break from all the end of term activities. I used three small offcuts of Fabriano, cut them to the same size, fixed together to stamp the Daisy image from Stamps by Me and a bit of paint flicking, then spaced and matted them into a triptych design.

Happy Christmas.

69 comments:

Carole said...

Beautiful photo and your card says Paris in the spring.....a promise to come...Spring that is. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas and New year, you sound as though you will be very busy!

SewPaperPaint said...

Brenda, I hope your family gathering is monuments and oh so lovely and filled with joy! Enjoy every moment. Thanks for sharing this gorgeous photo and card. Christmas blessings, Autumn

Unknown said...

Hallo liebe Brenda,
wunderschönes Foto,sieht alles so friedlich aus und gleichzeitig aber auch sehr romantisch,leider liegt ja kein Schnee und so werden wir wohl eine grüne Weihnacht feiern,diene Karte ist wieder ein Traum,wünsche dir noch schöne Tage bist zum Fest,
liebe Grüße von Ulrike

Viv said...

A lovely card Brenda.
And what a beautiful photograph. All I want for Christmas is 3 points and Mr K.
Have a lovely time
Big hugz.
xxx

Wendy L said...

Have a wonderful time with all your family Brenda, I envy you that. Gorgeous card and Venice is my fave place in the world.
Merry Christmas. xxxx

Janette said...

Gorgeous card, love the photo, just beautiful....May you enjoy Christmas,have fun.x

Tinka's paper wonderlland said...

Wow, what a beautiful photo, the Chapel and all around it looks so amazing in white!!!
Thank you for sharing your childhood memory :)
Lovely card, love how you have added the pink coloure!!
♥Hugs Valentina♥

Glennis F said...

It sounds like you are going to be very busy, I hope you get a lot of help from your visitors.
Have a very happy holiday season, and thank you for all your inspiration during the year

KarinsArtScrap said...

Wishing you a Merry Christmas Brenda and your Family.

it's a beautiful elegant card

gr karin

Joan said...

Hope you have a fabulous Christmas with your family Brenda


Joan x

Barb said...

A lovely card Brenda. She's a beautiful stamp.

Wishing you and yours a very happy Christmastime Brenda. See you in the new year. Barbxx

cuilliesocks said...

Absolutely stunning card Brenda, lovely image and colours, makes a lovely change from Christmas cards. I love listening to the Christmas music from Kings and have one of their CDs. Have a wonderful time with your family, wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, and Prosperous New Year, Kate x

Robin said...

What a beautiful card and photo! I love the snow scene in the photo! Your scene in the card is just gorgeous! Merry Christmas to you and your family! Hugs, Robin

Helen said...

what a beautiful scene, Brenda! Happy Christmas to you and yours, too. Hope the festivities go to plan and there is fun food and ....frollicking?? or maybe I should wish for several "free pointers" ..(sorry!)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful card!!!
Merry Christmas to you too!!!
Hugsss, Gaby

Stamps and Paper said...

Lovely photo and cad Brenda wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas

Anne

Becca Cruger said...

Tres chic! A very merry Christmas to you, too!

Liz said...

Gorgeous card, Brenda, so elegant. Love the photo too, so festive.

Enjoy celebrating Christmas with your family. xx

Pat said...

Beautiful photo Brenda and lovely card with a gorgeous image. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

Pat xx

Sharon said...

Have a fantastic time with your family Brenda and best wishes for the New Year.
Sharon x

Fikreta said...

beautiful poto
very nice card!
happy holidays!
hugs

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Merry Christmas, Brenda!! Auguri di Buon Natale!! Spero che tu passi delle belle feste con la tua famiglia!
Hugs and Love

Kathleen said...

Beautiful photo and I went to Ethan's Carol service last week and it was wonderful.
Fabulous card, just love the touch of pink.
I am certain that you will have a fabulous time with your Family.

Kath x

Marianne's Craftroom said...

Love this image. You will be husy, hope you have a wonderful Christmas

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

A gorgeous card and frosty photo Brenda. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family and try not to work too hard.

Sue xx

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Beautiful card and photo. Wishing you all the best for the season and a wonderful 2017. Shirleyxx

Unknown said...

This is stunning! Gorgeous soft colouring!
Lucy x

aussie aNNie said...

Merry Christmas to you too B, love the pic. I was looking for your PB card, now I see it and it's stunning.xx{aNNie}

Greta said...

Absolutely gorgeous, classy card, Brenda! Love the beautiful photo--thinking I actually went to Cambridge when I was in England nearly 40 years ago, but was there in the summer. Enjoy your family & have a blessed holiday season. Warm hugs, Greta

CdeBaca Crafts Gallery said...

So lovely!

Shylaashree said...

beautiful photograph and card brenda. enjoy every bit.Wishing you too a peaceful and happy christmas

Shirley said...

One very busy girl Brenda but how lovely that you still found time to show us a beautiful Christmas photo and two gorgeous makes.

Pace yourself and have fun with the family sweets.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

Dora said...

Two beautiful cards. I love the second one, what a beautiful, playful flowerstamp.

Di said...

Fabulous card Brenda - love the PB one and the triptych one is lovely! Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas!

Hugs

Di xx

Gerrina said...

Sounds like fun and bussy days!
Merry Christmas! Enjoy all the little things! And good luck with all the preparations!
Your cards look beautifully fresh (just as the weather here) Hugs, Gerrina

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Thinking of you B. and praying for strength and reasonable health to enjoy everyone being home. I'll be posting in a couple of hours, but saw you'd posted and popped over.
Great cards to share too, lovely work ... I'm really sad we no longer get Kings carols programme on the ABC they took it off, old fashioned and all that ...sigh....
I really looked forward to it, with decent singing to join in with amd Bible readings.
Thanks for sharing,
Shaz in Oz.x

{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

Crafting Queen said...

Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas. Thank you for your kind words about Skipper.

Paper Profusion said...

YOu are a wonder woman Brenda making sauce etc from scratch!! I'm sure everything will be delicious. The two cards are really lovely too. Enjoy all your time with family and have a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas. Take good care of you as well as everyone else! Nicola x

Sarn said...

Hi Brenda . . . I just LOVE both these cards, but most esp. the second one with the splatters!

Wishing you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. Will raise a glass of something festive to you with Parsnip and the gang behind the bike sheds!

Hugs, Sarn xxx

crafty-stamper said...

Sending best wishes for a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year--love both beautiful cards-love the water colouring effect
Carol x

Sarah said...

Love the spring colours on these pretty cards Brenda. What a gorgeous photograph, really Christmassy. I was lucky enough to sing at Wells Cathedral on three Christmas Eves back in the 70's!! Wishing you a blessed Christmas Brenda and a peaceful New Year xx

Caro´s kreative Welt said...

Hi Brenda, the cards are very great.
I wish you a merry Christmas.
Hugs Carola

rachel said...

stunning work as always Brenda and I adore that photo. Sounds like you are going to be very busy! Enjoy it all xx

KT Fit Kitty said...

Hello, Brenda! I'm finally here for a visit and to get caught up! I hope you have been doing okay these days, my friend! Sounds like you and your family have some wonderful festivities planned and I hope you are able to feel well enough to enjoy them! Your cards are gorgeous - as always!

Linby said...

I did wonder where you post was, but I know you are a busy lady. Enjoy your Christmas with the family and wishing you a happy new year. Love your Venetian lady card and the triptych looks fab too. Lynn x

Craftyfield said...

Lovely photo of the chapel (and ice covered tree!) Merry Christmas to you too, at least you've been organised so you should have less panic than totally unprepared little me... xxx

Ellibelle said...

What an amazing picture of the church! And your cards are so pretty too!
Wishing you a Merry Christmas Brenda, hope you get to spend a relaxing time with your loved ones!

Sandma's Handmade Cards said...

Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family Brenda. You are an amazing and very talented lady, and an inspiration to us all! I wish you the very best of everything in 2017. Much love always, Sandra xx

Sue said...

Such gorgeous cards Brenda.
Wishing you a Happy Christmas.
Sue xx

Tracy said...

Fabulous creations Brenda. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your family.
Happy Christmas
Tracy x

MaryH said...

Merry Christmas and what a lovely serene place in which to celebrate the True meaning of this holiday. Thanks for sharing that. Loved both of your cards, but especially liked the way you've handled #2. Appreciate the explanation of the how-to-s. Enjoy your loved ones, have a good rest after all the labors of preparing for them to be with you. We're in Sunny, 80+ degree Fla, lovely soft breeze, and so pretty to see the sunshine and green. Big hugs, thanks for your friendship! TFS

Paper Profusion said...

Popping back nearer the day Brenda. Enjoy all the festivities... Merry Christmas to you and yours, Nicola x

Debbie said...

Wow, 2 really beautiful and inspiring cards dear friend. I love them both. Each is special in their own right. Have a lovely Christmas with your family Hun. Enjoy. Hugs xx

KandA said...

Two beautiful cards Brenda and a fabulous photo too.
Hope you're having lots of festive fun with the family and enjoying some relaxing time too. Merry christmas to you all xx

Dora said...

Hello Brenda,
Wishing you a merry christmas with your family! enjoy.

cebelica said...

First of all let me wish you a magical Christmas and a wonderful New Year. I hope 2017 will be a great year for you! Enjoy time with your family!

As always, your cards turned out beautifully. Hugs! Xx

Tina Z. said...

wow, two beautiful cards, I love your design.
happy holidays.

Marjeta said...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Slovenia. Once again I admire your work. Gorgeous card as I can say.

Have a nice holiday, Marjeta

Maarit at Violets Corner said...

Gorgeous subtle colours on both the cards Brenda, they are very pretty. Hope you're having a great Christmas!

Love and hugs
Maarit

Gail said...

Hope you had a wonderful holiday with family & friends!
Wishing you the best in 2017!
Hope you're well & had lots of help & didn't over do it!

Darnell said...

Both cards are beautiful, Brenda! I do love your snippets design very much! I hope you are enjoying a terrific Christmas holiday with your family and I wish you all the best in the new year! Hugs, Darnell

Tinka's paper wonderlland said...

Hello!! Yust poping by to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hopping that you are spending it in lots of love!!
♥Hugs Valentina♥

Wynn said...

Lovely post Brenda. Your picture of Kings was a memory jogger. My OH hails from Cambridge and we visited Kings a couple of years ago.....beautiful city. We live in Cyprus now so visits are rare. Thank you it was sooooo lovely to see and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends. Wynn xxx

susiestacey said...

Beautiful cards Brenda and oh my word sounds like you have had a house full you must have been very busy. Happy New Year x Susan x

Berina RGA said...

Beautiful cards Brenda. I happened to see a few videos of the Kings college choir on YouTube and I loved it. I'm a traditionalist, when it comes to Hymns and Christmas carols. That seems to be very rare nowadays. My husband is not a fan of choral music. So I play those videos when he's not home :)

Berina RGA said...

Oh and hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends. Wish you a very happy new year.

pinky said...

Beautiful cards Brenda. I hope you had a lovely Christmas with all the family. Trying to get back into the swing of things again here, needing to kick my own bottom lol. Happy New Year to you and the family. Hugs
Pinky

scrappymo! said...

What a beautiful photo! I enjoyed the background story as well
I went to a small all girls school and we too had some wee artistic privileges. Seats at the Symphony in the Christmas season. You brought me back some lovely memories today! Thanls for that.

Your cards are so pretty. The Penny Black with the sunrays background looks wonderful . the second card looks lovely with the image cut in threes like that!

ALI said...

Beautiful Brenda.