Canterbury Tales

We had a fabulous weekend and it was wonderful to return to Canterbury after several years. The glorious Cathedral looked splendid in the autumn sunshine on Sunday morning. This post is very photo heavy so if you are just here to see my card just scroll to the bottom of this post.

The party we went to on Saturday night was in rural Kent and we stayed nearby overnight at a tiny hamlet called Elham. The bed and breakfast was an old Coaching Inn as it was on the London to Canterbury route. When we arrived in Elham we had a little walk just to look at the tiny High Street.

We had a taxi booked to take us to the party on Saturday evening, which was being held at a converted Kent barn.  It was such a pretty venue and these are the beautiful tables set up for the meal. This photo is a little blurred as not only had I already consumed a fair few glasses of Prosecco but it was taken with my phone.

We partied until 12.30am and it was the perfect night for the clocks to go back and have an extra hour in bed. We were so lucky that the next morning was clear and sunny as the forecast storm was not due to be at it's worst until Sunday night. We drove to nearby Canterbury after breakfast and spent a lovely few hours revisiting one of my favourite UK cities.

 The cathedral dates from 596AD but the building we see now dates from 1077 when it was rebuilt after a fire destroyed it in 1067. It is wonderful to see it peeking out from the tiny cobbled streets.

We had not been inside for many years and I must admit we did think twice as they now charge £9.50 each admission...ouch! Once inside though it is impossible not to be amazed by the interior

 The space and height of the pillars and detailed stonework is breath taking. Below is the Advent candle already in place and ready to be lit on Advent Sunday.

 Such gorgeous carving on the pulpit

 The tomb of the Black Prince

 The many stone steps which, after hundreds of years of feet walking down them, have a curve at the front through wear. I can just imagine the knights rampaging through here when they murdered Thomas Beckett in 1170, now that really is old history!

We also enjoyed a walk around the streets before we headed home.

 The crooked house below was mentioned by Charles Dickens in 1849 and remains as crooked as ever!

 Yes of course we had to pay a visit to CK

and how about a Caffe Nero in a building which dates from 1573.

It's wonderful to see how the ancient and modern exist harmoniously side by side in Canterbury.

I was able to buy my own Advent candle in the Cathedral shop so I decided that today's card has to be about waiting for Christmas. I have used one of my favourite characters ....The House Mice. I adore these little critters and there is such a fab blog hop going on over at the House Mouse Card Challenge blog that I just knew I had to join the fun.The theme is "anything goes with twine".
This stamp is from the Gingerbread Christmas set and for the first time I coloured my image using my Prismacolor pencils only on white card. I blended them with Sansador and really liked the muted effect it gave.

The papers are ancient from my stash, the sentiment is LOTV as is the little tag. I added a tiny pine cone and snowflake charm from my jewellery stash which I tied up with some fun red and white twine. Don't these little mice look cosy and warm in their sweet hats just waiting for Father Christmas? Here they are in close up.

I added some Glamour dust to the fur on their hat beds to give some shine. The dies cut holly leaves are my favourite Cheery Lynn holly leaves I added some red pearls as berries and a lush deep green organza ribbon too.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

 The Blog Hop over at the  House Mice and Friends Monday Challenge Anything goes with twine
Crafty Little Fairies Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments Designs Bingo My line is left side vertical ;red (pearls), punches (my round sentiment and the circle scallop around it have both been punched) and metal (my charms)
Crafts to Challenge you Christmas festivities and what they mean to me. This card is all about the anticipation of Santa coming down the chimney to fill your stocking on Christmas Eve. I have always adored Christmas and I still get this same feeling every year.As a child I would put my stocking up and in the morning would always feel such pure joy that there was something in it. I still hang a stocking on my bed and my dear Hb (Santa) always sneaks a present in there for me to find in the morning. The rest of our pressies nowadays are under our tree.
Die cut Divas Use an animal and/or autumn colours as a focal
Christmas cards all year round Getting ready for Christmas
Christmas at Sweet Stampin Cards for men
Emerald Faeries Sparkle
Sparkle Creations Bows
A Creative Romance Add metal
Creative Creations Inspired by a book mine just has to be "The night before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore
Make it Monday linky party #164
Pile it On embellishment crazy I have used die cuts, ribbon, twine, charms and red pearls
Cutie Pie Bingo my line is the middle vertical;  pearls, ribbon, charm
Sweet Stampin Leaves, trees or wood I have holly leaves on my card
Bunny Zoe ribbon
Rhedd and Rosie anything goes
Paper crafting journey anything goes

I am so glad that the storm, although fierce, was nothing like the Great Storm of 1987. A few trees came down locally but it has now passed and all is calm. The sun has even popped out...bliss. I hope everyone else stayed safe too. Happy Monday and thanks for visiting me. I will be back on Wednesday with a pre Halloween post.....woooooohhhh...don't get too spooked ;0)

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x