More Christmas Cards

Whoops, it took me a little longer than I'd hoped to get back to my blog - what can I say?  the Silly Season has started early this year!  I have been stampin' up a storm though, so I have lots to show you (it has taken ages to upload and edit the photos, I think my puter is starting to get a little difficult in her advanced age).  I'm pretty sure I haven't uploaded these yet, anyway!  None of them have the traditional green and red colour scheme (I must be subconsciously rebelling?).

Stamps:  Delightfully Decorative
Ink:  Sahara Sand, Tempting Turquoise
Paper:  Sahara Sand, Tempting Turquoise, Brushed Gold, Whisper White
Other:  Ornament Punch, Dimensionals, Linen thread

Stamps:  Delightful Decorations
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Sahara Sand, Tempting Turquoise
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, Brushed Gold, Whisper White
Other:  basic rhinestones, ornament punch, linen thread, dimensionals

This was a design I CASEd from Paula Funston, I think I saw it on SCS?
Stamps:  Hello Again, Winter Post, Short & Sweet
Ink:  Bashful Blue, Real Red
Paper:  Real Red, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Other:  Trio of Hearts Punch, Crimper, Dimensionals, stapler, scallop edge punch  

Also - this weeks' class is about making Christmas presents, which I need to do with only a few weeks left of school !  Come along and make some gifts for teachers, neighbours, etc.

I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth, I promise....!

I've just been busy with Life stuff! Holiday, packing for holiday, unpacking from Holiday.....you know the drill.

I have a couple of things to show you. First, a card I made for my parents' 40th Wedding Anniversary (do you recognise the layout and colour scheme from page 21 of the IB&C?)

Congrats, Mum and Dad!

Ingredients: (All Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated)

Stamps: En Francais, Cheer & Wishes, Botanical Blooms (retired),

Paper: Certainly Celery, Garden Green, Regal Rose, Whisper White

Ink: Garden Green, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Certainly Celery

Accessories: Edge Distressing Tool, Pastels, Sponge Dauber, Nestabilities Oval and Scalloped Oval Dies, Cuttlebug Machine, pearls from Pretties Kit.

Next is a "Stepper Box" I saw on Sam Post's blog - the directions are from Stampin' Terri's blog here - it was quite easy, but looks hard. I'm going to make more of these, they are fun! I used Baja Breeze DSP, Baja Breeze cardstock, ribbon and felt flower, baja corduroy button, plus a flower from the Pretties Kit to decorate the lid.

Next is a double 12 x 12 page scrapbooking layout I did of our New Zealand holiday. It is based on a Becky Higgins' Sketch (from the US Magazine, Creating Keepsakes). I like using sketches on 12 x 12 pages, because I feel overwhelmed about where to start otherwise. Becky's sketches are usually for multiple photographs too, which I love, as I can never take less than 100 photos of any occasion. All paper and ink is Stampin' Up! Here's a detail of the accents and embellishments I used - a snowflake stamp from "Occasionally" and "Short & Sweet" with Kaisercraft adhesive rhinestones, and snowflakes I die cut out of vellum with my Cricut Expressions machine. I also used the Cricut to cut out the title.

Ingredients: Baja Breeze 12 x 12 Cardstock, vellum, Whisper White and Basic Black Cardstock, Stayzon Opaque White ink, Kaisercraft adhesive rhinestones, Accents and Elements Cartridge, Doodletype Cartridge, Cricut Expressions.

I have a few more things to show and tell, but that's for another post.

Have a wonderful week!

Another OSW - this time with A4

Mae Collins also created a template for an A4 One Sheet Wonder, that I had to try.  You can find her template here

I stamped the gorgeous (and retiring!) Bodacious Bouquet stamps randomly on some whisper white cardstock.  I looked to the SU! Colour Wheel to help select the colours, and came up with Ruby Red, Handsome Hunter, Cameo Coral and Groovy Guava with chocolate chip for mats and contrast.  I LOVE the way these cards turned out!  I thought I had taken better photos of these cards, but it looks like I didn't.  If I do, I'll edit this post later to put them in.   As you can see, I got 7 cards from one A4 piece of cardstock.  Makes an excellent gift for someone or a quick way for you to make a few cards in advance if you know you have a few birthdays coming up.

Give it a try!

Back to business........

Back to school/work/routine now everyone?  It has been fun getting the children back to school and starting Kindy.  I think we were all ready for it!   In the past week we've had visits from the Tooth Fairy, swimming lessons started again, and a bite from a (non-venomous) spider so it has been a bit crazy around here.

I've made a few quick cards, hope you like them!  I must say I'm enjoying the bold colour combinations in the Bali Breeze DSP (from the Summer mini, which ends 28th February).  I love Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red and Tempting Turquoise/Taken with Teal.  I hadn't ever used them before this DSP I must admit.    I made the first one, and then decided to use the scraps to make a second card while I was at it.  

  

And notice the co-ordinating brads and Felt Flowers?  

I was feeling inspired to try out my Bundle of Joy stamp set and made this sweet little baby card.  

I used my new spiral punch on the side there  and stamped some cute sprinkles for a bit of interest in the background.  I also coloured the main teddy bear with my blender pen and ink and finished off with some of the wide rose ribbon from the Mini Catalogue. I mounted the main teddy on dimensionals and stamped the sentiment with one of my favourite sets, short and sweet.  (Seriously, it is such good value! )

And, while surfing around Splitcoast Stampers I found a tutorial for a gable box, so I tried it, and it was really easy!  I added a card to the front of mine.  Yes, it is very yellow - I hardly ever use yoyo yellow cardstock and thought I'd give is a go.  Could make a cute party bag for a child's birthday party or hold a small gift?  When you go wandering through the excellent tutorials over at SCS be prepared for hours to pass without you realising.  It is a wonderful resource.

I've a few fun things happening in the next month or so, but you'll have to wait and see as I don't want to spoil the surprise.    Insert Evil Laugh He he he!

 And I missed Australia Day on my blog - hope all the Aussies had a good one.  Have a slice of   (home made by me!) Pavlova :

Keesh's Sketch Challenge

Yes, I am doing a lot of challenges lately, instead of things like, oh, laundry for example.  Why do you ask?

Makeesha made a sketch challenge, and I needed to make a card for a new baby girl, so.....here it is!

Bad blogger!

OK, I know its been a little while since my last post - lots of busy life stuff, plus bad storm activity here has meant no time to post.  I haven't been idle however!

Here are the cards we were supposed to be making at our Christmas Card Class last week - unfortunately, it was cancelled due to hail.  Hopefully Mother Nature will be in a better mood this week.  

The card on the left uses a technique known as "reverse masking" which is very easy, but looks effective.  The card on the right uses heat embossing - I know many of my "card ladies" have been keen to try this technique!  I've used stamps from Crazy for Christmas, Short & Sweet, Lovely As A Tree, and Occasional Greetings (just to make a change from Season of Joy!).

I'm also working on a 8 x8 scrapbook for both sets of grandparents for Christmas (Shh! don't tell!) and finally added another couple of pages today.  I've used Ahoy Matey, and Matey's Map (jumbo wheel) to make my cute little pirate baby page.  So quick!  I'm all about quick these days, LOL.

Finally, I've made a scrapbook page of my daughter using the Round Up Simply Scrappin' Kit.  I was amazed at how easy it was to put this together.  I also made the medallion embellishment using a stamp from the Wanted stamp set - it matched up perfectly with the scallop circle punch!  Ahhhh, I LOVE it when things work together like that!

Just a quick reminder - we are now in the last days of the Spring Mini Catalogue, and the November promos (rub ons and single markers) so you'd best order ASAP or you will miss out!