Christmas Chevrons

My 4 Things finished school for the Summer Holidays on 6th December, and I'm afraid I never did get a chance to hold weekly card classes in November  as I'd hoped.  I'm sorry!  The last few weeks of school for the Things were back-to-back Carol Nights, Choir Concerts, Wind Ensemble Performances,  teacher gifts to plan and organise, two Things finishing school a week earlier than the other two Things, work Christmas functions for my husband (some hosted by us), plus a trip to Sydney with Thing 1 for her first interstate Fencing Competition.    Things have been crazy.  As they always are at this time of year.  As they are for you too, no doubt.

Here are a couple of cards I made weeks ago but which I haven't posted until now, both CASE'd from the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator magazine (again).  It is one of the perks of being a Demo - you are never in danger of losing inspiration, because they give you so many wonderful ideas.

holly jolly christmas card 

Tags 4 You Stamp Set; Cherry Cobbler and Shimmery White Cardstock; Season of Style Designer Series Paper Stack; Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pads; Linen Thread; Stampin’ Dimensionals; Chevron and Label Bracket Punches

Christmas Ornament Punch • 2013 holiday catalogue • item 132152 • $27.95 

Label Bracket Punch • 2013 holiday catalogue • item 132153 • $27.95 

Chevron Border Punch • 2013 holiday catalogue • item 132154 • $37.95 

Joyful Tidings card:

Christmas Collectibles and Christmas Messages Stamp Sets; Shimmery White Cardstock; Season of Style Designer Series Paper Stack; Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive Classic Stampin’ PadsTM; Silver cord (non-SU!); Stampin’ DimensionalsTM; Christmas Ornament Punch; Big ShotTM; Deco Labels FramelitsTM Dies; Chevron Border Punch; Paper Snips



Launch Recap Part 2 - Bec's cards

 One of the nicest things about being a Stampin' up! Demonstrator is the friendships I've made through stamping, with customers, downlines, uplines and sidelines.  Rebecca O'Gorman and I both have the same upline, so we call each other Stampin' Sistas.  She and Stephanie Pike (our upline's upline) have become such good friends to me that it is difficult to imagine not knowing them.  I love doing these events with these girls, they are so talented, hardworking and positive.  

Enough with the love fest!  Let's get back to the cards!

Here are the three cards Bec O'Gorman designed:

Card 1

This card truly looks much better in real life - the combination of Smoky Slate and Strawberry Slush is so pretty, and the Dazzling Diamonds glitter in the centre of the flowers in gorgeous and glittery.  Plus what's not to love with a flower stamp set and matching punch?  It features products from the main catalogue, including Flower Shop, and Bring on the Cake.

Paper:  Strawberry Slush, Whisper White, Smoky Slate
Ink:  Smoky Slate and Strawberry Slush
Fibres:  Strawberry Slush stretch ruffle ribbon
Stamps:  Flower Shop (Wood 130939, $41.95; clear 130942 $33.95) Bring On the Cake (wood 128490 $67.95; clear 121958 $53.95)
Punches:  Pansy (130698, $27.95) 1/2" circle punch (119869, $9.95)
Other:  Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439 $149.95); extended cutting pads (113478 $34.95); Tasteful Trim Bigs XL die (120893, $69.95); Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (117335, $13.95)
Dimensionals, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Card 2
This gorgeous card features the new Christmas Messages stamp set, Christmas Collectibles Stamp set and matching Christmas Ornament Punch, Very Merry Tags stamp set and beautiful new 1" stitched grosgrain ribbon.

Stamps:  Christmas Messages (Wood 131790 $49.95; Clear 131793 $39.95);  Very Merry Tags  (Wood 130393  $42.95; Clear  130402 $33.95);  Christmas Collectibles (Wood 131772 $37.95; Clear 131775 $29.95)
Ink:  Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler
Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso
Fibres:  Cherry Cobbler 1" stitched grosgrain ribbon (132135, $15.95)
Punches:  Christmas Ornament Punch  (132152, $27.95);  Petite Curly Label Punch (129405, $18.95); Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (119275 $27.95)
Other:  Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439, $149.95), Beautifully Baroque embossing folder 130917 $13.95

Card 3
This card features a stamp from the carry over list (they don't appear in the catalogue, but are still available to order), and one of the new Very Merry Tags Stamps that matches the Mosaic punch and embossing folder.  Love that !

Stamps:  Very Merry Tags  (Wood 130393  $42.95; Clear  130402 $33.95);  More Merry Messages  (on the carryover list!  (Wood 126400 $56.95; Clear 126402 $45.95)
Ink:  Smoky Slate; Bermuda Bay
Paper:  Whisper White, Bermuda Bay
Punches:  Scallop Edge Border Punch, Mosaic Punch. 1/2 "Circle punch
Other:   Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439, $149.95) Mosaic Embossing Folder
Basic Pearls

Didn't Bec do a great job?  Remember to go visit her blog heartandcraft.com.au and give her some comment love.

As usual, you can order any of these products from me at my online store:  Lou's Online Store

Holiday Mini Launch Recap Part 1

I'm back!  Sunday was a full-on day of card making, chatting, shopping and eating at our Mini Catalogue Launch at the Banyo Bowls Club.  Food FX catered the event, and as always, they did a magnificent job.  My kids love to feast on the leftovers (if there are any) after our events.  If you are looking for a caterer I can heartily recommend them.  Here's their website:  Food FX

These are the cards I designed for our Launch featuring gorgeous new Holiday Mini Catalogue products.  Apologies for my photos, I was taking them at night in bad lighting (really I do know better!).

The first card features the new Chevron Border Punch, Winter Frost DSP Paper stack, White Stampin' Chalk Marker (for the faux stitching) and the Love & Joy stamp:

Cardstock:  Crumb Cake; Winter Frost DSP stack (132183, $11.95)
Ink:  Versamark
Stamp:  Love & Joy (wood mount only) (131865, $18.95)
Other: Pool Party embossing powder, heat tool, White Stampin' Chalk Marker (132133, $5.95), Chevron border punch (132154, $37.95), Dimensionals

Nothing too complicated about it, but it is an easy one to mass-produce.  If you are like me, Christmas cards MUST be capable of mass-production, unless you are only planning to send two cards!

The second card showcases the new Seasons of Style Designer Washi Tape, Oh, Goodie! Stamp Set, Silver ribbon (it is so pretty!) and Christmas Messages stamp set.

Stamps:  Oh, Goodie! (wood 131886 $18.95, clear 131889 $14.95) , Christmas Messages (wood 131790 $49.95; clear 131793 $39.95)
Cardstock:  Old Olive A4, Whisper White A4
Ink:  Raspberry Ripple (or alternatively Old Olive)
Other:  Seasons of Style Designer Washi Tape (132155 $8.95)
Ribbon:  Silver 3.2mm ribbon (132137, $8.95)
Deco Labels Collection Framelits (130102 $42.95)
Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439 $149.95)
Magnetic Platform (130658 $69.95)
Basic Rhinestones (119246 $8.95)
Glue dots (103683 $8.95)

Lou's Tip:  The Magnetic Platform is fantastic when trying to exactly line up a stamped image or sentiment in a framelit.  I used to do the "Post It Note" trick where a post it note was used to temporarily anchor the framelit in place.  Not any more!  To see a video of the magnetic platform in action, look HERE.

And last of all, Christmas Messages stamp set and Tape It (from the main Catalogue).

Stamp:  Christmas Messages (wood 131790 $49.95; clear 131793 $39.95); Tape It (wood 130712 $46.95, clear 130715 $36.95)
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler A4, Whisper White A4
Ink:  Sahara Sand, Cherry Cobbler; Baked Brown Sugar, Gumball Green
Fibres:  Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon (120992, $11.95); Whisper White Baker's Twine (124262 $4.95)
Other:  Chalk Talk Framelits (129983 $42.95)
Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439 $149.95) Magnetic Platform (130658 $69.95)
Basic Rhinestones (119246 $8.95) 

Again, a simple card, that works out to be extremely affordable because you are stamping the Washi strips instead of using tape.  Of course, you could reproduce this card with Washi tape if you like, but it will be expensive if you are planning on making 20-75 cards.  This way is cheaper, and you can make the Washi tape any colour you wish.

As always, if you'd like to order these products so you can make these cards yourself, email me, or else head on over to my Online Store to place an order.  Click to go to Handmade By Lou's Store

Next post I'll be showing Rebecca O'Gorman's cards - they are so pretty!