Scrapped Santa

No, I don't mean that my children are so naughty that there will be no Santa this year (though it is still a useful blackmail threat!) I mean that I scrapped a photo of Santa!

I kind of had no plan with this page, in that I just started doing it without having a finished product in mind, other than that I wanted to use white ink on the red cardstock.  I made a little pocket behind the photo for a hidden journalling tag, and the embellishments are made with ink, punches and brads.

I used a retired Christmas stamp set Crazy for Christmas, that I can't bear to part with, as well as Spotlight on Christmas, and I was going for a Christmas tree made out of words (from Many Merry Messages). I used my SAMJ for the "Christmas Tree", but free-styled it for the other stamps.

It does actually look nicer in real life; this is a photo I took with my iPhone.

Hello, *tap* *tap* this thing on?

It has been so long since I've updated my blog that I am sure there is no one out there who remembers me, LOL!

To tell the truth, I was so wiped out after WCMD that I took a mental health break away from my craft lair to recharge a bit.

Fortunately I've found my mojo again, and I have been back to the craft lair creating lovely Christmas Cards. (which I'll show you soon) I've also been working on swaps for our Regional conference here in Brisbane at the end of the month, but as they will use NEW products from the Summer Mini (starts 1 December) I can't show them to you yet.

Also I've been playing with my Stampin' Up! Website (click on the picture on the LEFT over there) and trying new ways of communicating with my customers.  I'm a bit of a Luddite, so it takes me a while to get the hang of computer things!

November Specials and Promotions - I've just emailed my customers an e-card with those, and if you would like to join my mailing list, you can easily do so with the click of a mouse on the Stampin' Up! Website.  Alternatively, you can email me on louisesutton@internode.on.net and I'll put you on the list.
Here are the current promotions:

And the Recruitment Promotion is still running:

Classes - I'm holding a Beginner Class this Sunday (2pm-4pm) for anyone (Brisbane) who has thought about making their own cards but doesn't know where to start.  If you are on my mailing list but haven't made it to any of my other classes yet because you think they sound too difficult, this is the class for you!  Let me know if you'd like to attend a Beginner Class but can't make it on Sunday, I'm sure we can come up with another time that will suit.

For the next four Sundays after that, I'm running Christmas Card Classes.

The cost for the Beginner Class is $10, you don't need to bring anything at all.  The Christmas Card Classes will be $15, bring your own basic kit (adhesives, bone folder if you have it, paper snips if you have them, etc).

Bring on the photos!

Here is a lovely little box I made recently (it's a UStamp project) with gift tags and cards inside:

 
I used Riding Hood Red cardstock, RHR DSP, a stamp from the Curly Label Punch Bundle (which is featured in this month's specials), the lovely wide RHR and Very Vanilla ribbon (about to go for good when the Spring Mini finishes).  The cards inside use A Flower for All Seasons (fun to colour!) and the tags use Spotlight on Christmas.


I gave this pack away as a Lucky Door Prize at WCMD.  I hope they liked it!  Another door prize I made was this sweet bundle of notecards made with A Flower For All Seasons.

Watercolour paper really makes a difference when colouring your images with your aquapainter.

I shall have to show you my recent projects a little later as I need to dash now to get my daughter to the dentist!

Simple Christmas

Here is a recent Christmas Card I made using my latest purchase "Spotlight on Christmas."  I'm a sucker for a stamp that goes with a punch - this set has mutiple stamps that were made for SU punches.  Makes for a quick and easy project, especially if you are making a lot of them!  The base card is Kraft, which I stamped randoml with the swirl in Sahara Sand ink.  I crimped the chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red band (I'm on a Crimping kick lately!).  For the rest and I used Riding Hood Red ink on Very Vanilla card.  I punched out the Poinsettia with the 5 petal flower punch.  and the "joy" circle was punched out with the 11/4 circle punch and matted on a RHRed circle which was punched out with the 13/8 circle punch.   A couple of red brads finished the main flower, and I was done!  I utilised the "rule of three" here:  3 poinsettia, 3 brads, and the band is placed on roughly a third of the card.

I'm pleased with the way it turned out; simple enough to mass produce, but enough detail to keep it interesting.

Here is a beautiful Thank you card from my clever friend Barbara.  Isn't it gorgeous?  She's used the Polka Dot background stamp with Cheep Talk.  Love how she has cut out and popped up the pear.  So cute!