Bright & Beautiful Christmas Cards

Here are some Christmas cards I made using the Bright & Beautiful stamp set for my team and various people.  If you received one I hope you liked it. 

Merry Christmas to everyone, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

 

 

And here they are a bit closer up

 

 

 

Supplies:



Card 1 is Lost Lagoon & Pistachio Pudding - Card 2 is Old Olive & Cherry Cobbler

Cardstock: Lost Lagoon, Whisper White, Old Olive

Stamp set: Bright & Beautiful

Ink: Lost Lagoon, Pistachio Pudding, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler

 

Sunburst Christmas Card

Here are a couple of Christmas cards I made using the sunburst technique.  It is very easy but as you can see, rather effective.  For these ones I have used our Trim The Tree DSP stack which is awesome value for just $14.50. 

This particular pack, I find is also good for guys cards which can be so hard to make.  Make sure you order yours soon though because it will soon be retiring to make way for some fabulous new products coming out in January - keep watch for details. 

 

If you'd like to know how to make these fun cards contact me today.  I'd be happy to help you host your own workshop and with sale-a-bration coming up very soon, you can earn even more hostess dollars. 

 

 

Supplies:

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White

DSP: Trim the Tree DSP stack

Stamps: Bright and Beautiful

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

 



10 days until Christmas

I overheard my husband telling my girls this morning that there are 10 mores sleeps until Christmas - ahhhh, that sent me into a spin because I feel like I still have so much left to do.

So anyway, I needed a quick gift today so our muslin bags to the rescue.  I filled them with Donovans Wild Berry Clusters, and if you haven't tried them they're delicious - as my team will no doubt tell you.  I put a packet of them on my fruit platter for our Christmas gathering on Saturday and they went down a treat. 

Inspiration for the card came from here.  I cased only the top portion of her slider card and made it into a 3x3 gift card.

 

Supplies:



Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White

Stamps: Holiday Home, Bright & Beautiful

Ink: Cherry Cobbler (yes I did the card Real Red and the bag cobbler - I thought the cobbler would stand out better on the bag than Real Red), Old Olive, Early Espresso, Garden Green, Smoky Slate, Soft Sky

Other: Mini Muslin bags, 1 3/8" circle punch, Mini Star Punch (Itty Bitty Accents Punch pack), Red Glimmer Paper,

Elsa from Frozen

So, who figured out my clue from my last blog post?  "You won't want to Let It Go".

Yes it was Frozen - Elsa to be specific.  Here I made a punch art Elsa for a birthday party my youngest daughter was going to.  The birthday girl's Mum said she likes anything to do with Frozen - and who doesn't in that age group these days it seems.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Lost Lagoon, Soft Sky, Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight & Whisper White
Ink: Crip Cantaloupe, Tuxedo Black, Rich Razzleberry
Punches: Bird, Elegant Butterfly, Cupcake Builder, Stocking, Boho Blossoms, Owl, Artisan label, Ornament (old style retired)
Other: Dress up Die, Rhinestones, Glitter, Heat & Stick Powder, Decorative Dots EF, sponges, dimensionals,

Happy Birthday

And finally here is hubby's card.  I have made part of it suspended in the circle for something different. 

There will be a few more birthday cards coming as I have a couple more to make, but if you have kids between the ages of about 3 and 10, make sure you check back for something special in the next couple of days.  I'll give you a hint.... you won't want to Let It Go.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Wild Wasabi
Stamp: Label Love
Other: Stars framelits, Artisan Label punch, Circles framelits, Bakers twine, Square Lattice Embossing folder (retired)

To continue with my birthday cards, here is a quick one I made for hubby's Dad

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Night of Navy
Stamps: Work of Art, Serene Silhouettes, Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Old Olive, Baked Brown Sugar, Pacific Point (all stamped off once), Night of Navy, Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: Bitty Banner Framelits, Pearls, Night of Navy Blendabilties

Birthday madness

November is my mad birthday month - don't we all have one of those?  Anyway its my Mother-in law, husband's and Father-in-law's birthdays all within a week of each other so there'll be a few cards to post over the coming days.  Firstly MIL:

Card and Present - don't you love this dsp I made the gift envelope out of

Close up of the card

Happy Birthday Dad

It was my Dad's birthday last week and this is the card I made him.

 

 

Inspiration for this card came from here and you'll see her inspiration came from another similar card which she has linked to. 

 

I didn't have the right colour yellow for mine for the sky so I decided on a pink sky instead.   Dad liked it and that's the main thing. 

 

Supplies:

Cardstock: Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Basic Black

Paper: Moonlight DSP stack

Stamp: Serene Silhouettes, Little Friends (Sentiment - retired) 

Ink: Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Lost Lagoon, Island Indigo, Old Olive, Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Other: Itty Bitty Banners Framelits, Owl Punch (for the tiny black dots), Sponges

Christmas Market

We will be here at the Christmas Market.  I know of two more stallholders who come to Matakana on a Saturday who will also be there - should be a great night.  Come along if you're in the area:

What to put inside your Stampin' Up! Curvy Keepsake box

So you've bought yourself the Curvy Keepsake die - good for you!  Now you may be wondering what to put inside these fantastic little boxes, and what will fit and what won't? 

Let me help you out...

Chocolate /Food

• Whittakers Mini Slabs (4)
• Cadbury Favourites (4)
• Cadbury Crispello Chocolates (2)
• Cadbury Mini Moro bars (2)
• Cadbury Caramels (4)
• Cadbury Fudge Duets (4)
• Cadbury Roses Chocolates (4)
• Hershey's Kisses
• Scorched Almonds
• M & M's
• Fudge (misc wrapped) (2)
• Mini Cupcake (1)

 
Kids

• Stationery Set - half size pencil, rubber, pencil
  
  sharpener, mini notebook
• Small toy
• Lego Minifigures
• Hairclips & hairties
• Mini books
• Kinder Surprise

 

 

Beauty

• Mini handcream 
• Lipgloss
• Nail polish
• Manicure set
• Small soap
• Bath tablet

Stampin' Up! Products (of course!)

• Stampin' Up! Mini punches (3) - i.e. Itty Bitty Accents - note here that these are a tight fit - the side may not slide all the way over the keyhole but it goes over and stays closed - just!
• Dazzling details / Reinker (1) - Unfortunately the bottles are just too long to fit 2 in.  They don't fit one on top of the other and whilst they do fit side by side they stick out and you can't close the side.  Reinker bottles are just that bit longer again and you've got to be clever about how you close it up.  The bottle has to be on just the right angle. 
• Embossing Powder (1)
• Stampin' Spots (2)



Mini Punches - see how the box doesn't close properly

Other ideas

• Christmas Decoration
• Mini Photo Frame
• Candle
• Jewellery
• Money 
• Gift voucher

Diamonds are a girls best friend but the
little girls will love you for this kind too

 And to leave you with one last sample - don't be afraid to mix and match when you cut your two pieces - they look fantastic 2 toned as I've done here.

So I hope I've helped in your quest for ideas for these cute little boxes.  I'd love to hear what ideas you've come up with for your Curvy Keepsake Box in the comments below.

Sympathy card

Last week I needed a sympathy card for someone on our team.  Horror of horrors I realised I didn't really have an appropriate image that was current so I have had to turn to an image that is retired, but I'm happy with how it turned out. 

The sentiment though is current and its from Wondrous Wreath - would you have thought to use a Christmas stamp for a Sympathy card?  That's the great thing about our Stampin' Up! products - their versatility.  Also did you know that if you want a piece of plain white bakers twine you can take a piece of any colour and pull out the coloured strand.  You end up with a plain white piece of twine like I have used here to tie the ribbon to the tag. 

I have also used an 'extended' artisan label from the artisan label punch.  Ask me how if you'd like to learn how to do this.

 

 



Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss
Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Garden Green
Paper: Moonlight DSP stack
Other: Blackberry Bliss ribbon, Bakers Twine

Curvy Keepsake projects

This weekend I'm teaching at the Creative Inkers Team Auckland Extravaganza.  This is a fabulous event put on by 16 of our awesome team and is a half day event including 5 gorgeous projects to make, afternoon tea and door prizes.  Everyone has a fabulous time.  If you missed out on this one, be sure to keep in touch for details of the next one.

Anyway, our project will be using the Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits Die and we are busy putting together samples and ideas for other ways you can use it and we'll have the results on display. 

Here are a few that I've put together:

Thank you to Jomina Creations for the inspiration for this amazing little Caravan

Real Red & Silver (left)  Cherry Cobbler & Gold (right)

Stay tuned for another post I'm putting together with ideas and inspiration for all the things you can fit inside these fabulous little boxes.

Craft Night Fundraiser

Are you in the Hibiscus Coast area?  Do you fancy a craft night tomorrow night?  We are doing a fundraiser for Orewa North School - here are the details:

Please let us know asap if you'd like to join us so we have enough kits prepared.

Extra Christmas goodies

 

 

Do you love our Christmas catalogue?  This year Stampin' Up! have provided us with extra Christmas themed products in a Merry & Bright Christmas supplement. 

Click here to see it.  The products in this catalogue are only whilst stocks last so you need to be in quick. 

I am placing an order on Wednesday night 22nd October, so if you'd like to order anything, please let me know.  Or you can place an order through my online store any time. 

Christmas Blog Hop

Welcome to another blog hop by the Creative Inkers Team - this time our theme is Christmas. 

I've chosen two cards to share with you this time - the first one I found online somewhere and I don't remember who to credit but if its yours I love it.  It uses some gorgeous glittery stars and it looks equally gorgeous in green.  The second is the very clever wreath from the Holiday Catalogue.  If you've not had the chance to see these new products up close then let me know - they are fabulous.




Please leave us comments as you go along - we love to hear what you think!
  
If you've been following the blog hop you will have come from Ria Kaire's blog.  Your next stop is Kathe Oldham's page.   If you get 'lost' there is a list of all the blogs at the bottom of this post. 

When you're ready click next to hop on over to Kathe's blog and I hope you enjoy all the fantastic projects our team have created.

Supplies:
Stars Card:
Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink: Real Red
Stamps: Sassy Salutations
Other: Lucky Stars Embossing Folder, Star Framelits

Wreath Card:
Cardstock: Pistachio Pudding, Blackberry Bliss, Real Red
Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Garden Green, Real Red
Stamps: Wondrous Wreath
Other: Wreath framelits, banner framelits


In case you get lost along the way - here is the list of those of us participating in the blog:

Narelle Hoggard
http://handmadebynarelle.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/creative-inkers-christmas-blog-hop/

Jackie Noble
http://www.creativejax.co.nz/2014/10/19/creative-inkers-christmas-2014-blog-hop/

Bev Poultney
http://www.stampandscrap.co.nz/christmas-blog-hop/

Sally Williams
http://sallystampingdelights.blogspot.co.nz/2014/10/creative-inkers-christmas-blog-hop_19.html

Bernice Collins
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home..._blog_hop_2014

Irene Wardlaw
http://kowhaihavencrafts.blogspot.co.nz/2014/10/creative-inkers-christmas-blog-hop-2014.html

Sharon de Vos
http://sharonsstampingsnippets.blogs...iday-blog.html

Jacque Williams
http://stamphappy.typepad.com/stamp_...-blog-hop.html

Delys Cram
http://delysc.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/creative-inkers-blog-hop/

Rachael Knight
http://knightstamper.blogspot.com/20...-hop-2014.html

Lisa Bullock
http://daffyscrapper.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/christmas-blog-hop/

Paula Reid
http://yellowbearnz.blogspot.com/201...-blog-hop.html

Heather Stewart
http://stamping-craft.blogspot.com/2...-hop-2014.html

Ria Kaire
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/qraftyqueen/blog

Kathryn Tyrrell
http://www.aspotofstamping.co.nz/2014/10/christmas-blog-hop.html

Kathe Oldham
http://jorjarose.blogspot.co.nz/2014...-blog-hop.html

Happy Birthday Aimee

Today is our youngest daughter's 4th Birthday.  Where oh where did that time go?  One of her favourite toys is a monkey that used to be her Daddy's when he was little and Daddy calls her his little monkey, so a monkey card it had to be. 

I was surfing the web last week and came across Kim Score's Raggedy Ann.  It was so cute and just the technique I needed for my monkey.  This is my version - I hope you like it.  Let me know what you think and if you try this technique for yourself I'd love to see your creations.

 

 

I have a video to show you how it opens and folds flat however as I went to add it to this post I discovered I need hubby's expertise to make the file smaller.  I will add it as soon as I can.

Thanks Stampin' Up!

Stampin' Up! are fantastic and they really support their demonstrators.  Last month Stampin' Up! donated product to my daughter's Kindy Gala - Ducky Derby.  I was able to make 4 fantastic raffle prizes from the items they donated and here they are:  Thanks Stampin' Up!

 

Stamp, Stock & Save

Now is the time to stock up on your supplies.  To celebrate World Cardmaking Day Stampin' Up! are offering discounts on select stamps, ink, paper, envelopes & adhesive.  Wow!  Check it out below.  It's only until the 6th so make sure you contact me with your order before then.

Butterfly birthday card

My daughter had a birthday party to go to today so here is the card I made for the birthday girl who will be turning 7.

Its a larger card than usual as I wanted to use all the rainbow colours.  I quite like how it turned out.

Supplies:
Cardstock & Ink: Whisper White, Real Red, Tangelo Twist, Hello Honey, Garden Green, Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry, Strawberry Slush
Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Sassy Salutations
Other: Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder, Bitty Butterfly punch

Skirt from Something for Baby - Name Badge

Last weekend I was able to attend my first regional training day put on by Stampin' Up!.  We were each asked to make name badges before we went and it was hinted there may be a prize or two as well.

This is what I came up with.  Rather than pinning something to my clothes I went with a lanyard style badge.  To showcase a new use for the Something for Baby set I made a skirt using the hood from the baby carriage.   What do you think?

Congratulations to Julia Leece plus 3 others (sorry I don't remember who you all were) for winning the badge competition.  Everyone made a fantastic job of their badges - there were some really great ones there and the judges had a hard decision on their hands.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Strawberry Slush
Ink: Strawberry Slush, Blackberry Bliss, Basic Gray
Stamps: Something for Baby
Big Shot: Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Baby's First Dies, Wonderful Wreath Dies,
Other: Artisan Label punch, Word Window punch, Scalloped tag topper punch, Blendabilities, Dazzling Details, Blackberry Bliss 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon, Early Espresso Bakers Twine,

Icecream Cone Cupcakes

I thought I'd share with you the cupcakes I made for my daughter's kindy gala this weekend. 

She wanted blue and pink icing.  Short of using an entire bottle of blue food colouring which I wasn't going to do we got more of a green colour than blue but they still looked cute.

They're not the easiest thing to transport we discovered but we solved that problem by turning some tinfoil trays upside down and cutting some holes in them.  These ones got a bit squashed when the lid came down on them before we thought to poke kebab sticks in the tray to hold the lid open.