Monday 12 December 2011

Santa Bags

Another simple idea for Christmas is buying som mini Santa chocolates and making a bag tag for it.   All I did was use the Sweet Shoppe Alphabet and punched out the letters and then used the star from Jolly Bingo Bits in Real Red.  I think kids really like seeing something with their own name on it.

Reindeer Food

I got this idea from a fete I went to in September.  I thought it was so simple but so cute.  All it is is rolled oats and some glitter.  I printed out the words 'reindeer food' and punched it out using the 'Decorative Label ' punch and matted it.  I then stamped the reindeer from the Jolly Bingo Bits.  So simple.

People still have birthdays in December

Do you have a friend that has a birthday in December?  My poor sister is a December baby and always hated it when people said "This present is for your birthday and Christmas combined."  So when I was making a present for a young boy I know, I made sure his birthday was very separate from his Christmas present.



I made him a wooden letter and made a matching card.  For the card, I decided to use my Stampin'Up! pewter embossing powder and a greeting from the Hostess Set So Many Birthdays.  I must say, I was doubtful that the powder ould pick up something as fine and intricate as the 'Happy' on the stamp, but have a look at the close up- it worked perfectly.

Sunday 11 December 2011

The end of an era

Three lovely girls I know are 'graduating' Primary School.  I put the word in inverted commas as I don't know if you technically graduate or just finish.  Anyway, 2 girls I tutor, (Amelia and Amelia!!) and my niece Sophie are all finishing up any day now.  I made them each a card to mark the occasion.


I was trying to think about what stamp set would mark the occasion, but didn't really have a 'graduation' stamp as such, so pulled out a retired set called 'Define Your Life' which is a large set with definitions in it (obviously).  I then cut out panels of the Designer Series Paper called Beau Chateau- it is a lovely coordinated paper set combining Pink Pirouette,  Soft Suede, Very Vanilla and Marina Mist.  I added the bird from the Notably Ornate set to add to the design.

It will be bittersweet watching them go off to high school- part of me wishes they'd stay as is forever!  It is not to be...

Ness xx

Friday 9 December 2011

Christmas in Neutrals

I stumbled upon a lady's blog called Stamping Still.  Her name is Kathy (don't know her last name) and she lives in Tasmania.  She makes lovely cards and I have CASEd 2 of her designs as I loved them so much.


 I used Crumbcake cardstock and stamped onto Very Vanilla.  I used the sets: Merry & Type (the bauble with the 25 on it), Pendant Park (For the swirly leaves) and Winter Post for the rest.  I then punched out a part of the design.  This is called 'spotlighting'.  I felt very clever 'spotlighting' each element.  I might try this design in other colours and see if it looks any good.




The card above is also CASEd from Kathy@stampingstill.  It uses the combination of Almost Navy, Very Vanilla and Crumbcake cardstock.  I like the lattice folder for the Big Shot, which gives a look of hessian.  Three of the images are from Winter Post, but the swirly leaves are from Pendant Park.

Not many sleeps now 'til Christmas!

Ness xx

Thursday 8 December 2011

Speaking of Reindeers...

As I wrote in my last entry, I am loving the reindeer stamp for the Winter Post set.  The reindeer has struck again and I made a few more money folders with it. 

We made two of these at my both cardmaking days. It was great fun making cards listening to Christmas songs.  Monday night was a funny night as I had 4 people cancel for reasons beyond their control, so it was just my friend Janet and me!  She recieved one on one coaching and is now my top student!

Is this a silly question?  What's the difference between a deer and a reindeer, anyway?

Ness

This Year's Christmas Card

Well, I have finished my Christmas Cards for this year and am thrilled.  I would have liked to have sent them out earlier as I like to enjoy looking and the cards that people have sent me.  It is a little strange sending homemade cards to other cardmakers, as you feel like you are in some sort of contest with them!

I CASEd this design from stamping Royalty- Tenielle Williams.  CASEing is a cardmaking term I learnt this year- it means Copy and Share Everything.  From what I can gather, it is ok to copy designs you see on the internet as long as you give the creator credit,   I also like to change mine ever so slightly so as to not just do exactly the same thing.

For this card, I used a stamp set I have just recieved recently which is Winter Post.  Yes, everyone knows it doesn't snow here at Christmas, but who doesn't love a reindeer?  I have been stamping my reindeer everywhere!