My Christmas Cards 2011

Well It’s time I showed some of MY Christmas cards. I’ve been trawling the net for weeks looking at the creations of others and being truly inspired, now I had best show mine before Christmas is a distant memory!

This one I gave to a few special people who came to my classes during the year. I know you can’t tell by this photo, but the Xmas tree has been stamped with White craft ink and heat embossed with the new Iridescent Ice embossing powder. When you angle it  in the light, you see all that sparkly goodness!

Here is the one that I sent to family and friends, a simple design where I just let the Stitched Stockings and matching builder punch be the star, adding family names just to personalise it a bit.

This year I treated myself to the Welcome Christmas stamp set, tried out a few different things and here is one of them. My frame has been punched out with the Scallop Trim Border and just for something different for the ladies in my class, it’s been applied around the outside. Not an easy feat round an oval!

I have long wanted to try one of these Festive doors since I saw one years ago in a card magazine. I think I just had to wait until I had a wreath stamp. Any way I quite like how it turned out.

Gone for Garden Green with this fairly simple but I hope effective design.

You can tell I’ve gotten a lot out of this set. This time the wreath and ‘Joy’ are heat embossed in white. I just love that effect on a darker colour especially at Christmas time. Also looks great with Cherry Cobbler if I do say so myself.

Some thing in Baja Breeze now. I think this colour and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter go really well together at Christmas time. Also love the  new matching Seam Binding Ribbon.

Another stamp set I treated myself to this year was Jolly Bingo Bits.

I haven’t really had a good chance to play with this set, although  most of the ideas in my head involve lots of fussy-cutting out the little images, hence I haven’t found the time. There is always next year for that.

I have seen other clever people using these images to create the words ‘JOY’ and ‘JOLLY’ so I thought I would have a go at that too and here is my creation.

Hope you have enjoyed seeing my Christmas cards. I enjoyed making them when I had the time.

Merry Christmas to you and a Happy New Year, thats when I’ll be back. Till then,

Jen

GIANT CRAFT SALE!

It's on again!

The Stampers Anonymous team and I are getting together to have our fourth Annual Giant Craft Sale Day. 

We have cleaned out our cupboards, and have lots of Craft Goodies that need to find new homes. There are retired stamps and scrapbooking supplies, ribbons, embellishments, plus handmade cards and gifts too (perfect for Christmas!), and lots lots more! 

Everything will be priced to sell, so come along and grab a bargain! We'll also have Lucky Door Prizes every hour to be won. 

When: Saturday, 19th November

Time: 9:30am -1pm

Where: NEW VENUE! Toongabbie Public School Hall

(cnr Fitzwilliam St and Binalong Rd Toongabbie, opposite the IGA.)

Please spread the word to anyone who may be interested, and I hope to see you there!

Jen

All in one go

It’s been a while since I last blogged, so I’ll show a few things all in one go.

Back in July, our team held a Stamp camp and I was asked by Marelle to present a shoebox swap with ‘My Friend’. This was very similar to something I saw on the net, although have no memory of who the original creator was. I really love the use of colours, I think that was the attraction for me.

Don’t adjust your screens, yes it’s meant to be a little off centre. This is a shadowing effect or as some people call it ‘ghosting’.

I’ve been meaning to have a play with this for a while and a good solid stamp like Medallion background is a good one to use. The solid stamp is stamped with Whisper White and dried with a heat tool. Then stamp the same colour as your card stock over the top, except a little offset. A Stamp-a-ma-jic should help out nicely here. I cant resist running my hand over the top of this and I hope it comes across that way.

I made this card a few months ago after I saw Mary Fish do this kind of thing with Clearly For You.  I thought it was a good way to show off a lot of the little stamps in the set. So I set off making a blue version similar to Mary’s green one. Mary had used one of the little silver keys in the centre of her flower, but when I made mine we didn’t yet have access to the keys in Australia so I used a gold one that I had long had in my craft stash. Of course a few weeks later our new SU catalogue came out in September and there of course were the silver keys!

Not sure what you call this water colouring effect, but I know I love doing it on on Fifth Avenue Floral. I never get tired of how the re-inker pools when you dot a little bit on your misted image with a brush. I can make 10 of these roses at once and not one of them looks the same. I thought it would look good with the matching embossing folder and can you tell I love those butterflies!

Thanks for stopping by. The last couple of weeks have seen me making Christmas cards for classes, so I should be showing some of those soon.

Jen

Old And New

I meant to post these the other night before our new Catalogue came out but got a bit busy, any way they mix one of the new In colours with last Catalogues stamps. I love Wisteria Wonder and from the feedback I have received, so do a lot of others.

This card uses a previous Hostess stamp ‘Fast & Fabulous’ and a saying from ‘Friends 24-7’ and the bird punch, which is now called Bird Builder punch.

This card uses another Hostess ‘Because I Care’. I always felt that this Hydrangea was crying out for a mauve/lilacy colour, enter Wisteria Wonder! Teams terrifically with Elegant Eggplant. Other colours used, Pink Pirouette and Cherry Cobbler, have been selected using my updated ‘Colour Coach’. Some of the other stamps used on this card are ‘Friends 24-7’ and the script from ‘French Foliage’.

Thanks for stopping by and next time I post I will definitely have something from our new Catalogue.

Jen

Fathers day class

I held a class for Fathers day this week. Now, I would have loved  to have used the new stamp set ‘Best Dad Ever’ but my dilemma (and  other Australian demos as well) is that this set isn’t released until next Thursday the 1st Sept in our new Catalogue. So we can’t get our hands on it just yet and Fathers day is on the  4th of Sept.

The ladies who come to my class have already had their fill of ‘Totally Tools’ for Dads cards, so I’ve gone ahead and used these 2 great stamps from our NOW finished Autumn/Winter Mini.

For ‘Sail Away’ I have used the ‘Sanded’ background, one of our soon to be retired sets, the sentiment comes from ‘Teeny Tiny Sentiments’ Don’t know what I would do without this set!

The popular ‘Motor Cycle’ has been used here. My silver panel has been made by putting a panel of Basic Gray through the ‘square lattice’ embossing folder, then saturating it in my Versamark ink pad and heat embossing it with silver powder. I think It really brings out the metal look.

Well the ladies loved the cards and I’m sure ‘Best Dad ever’ will certainly get a work out from me in the next 12 months when we do get it! 

Thanks for stopping by

Jen

Christmas In July

Here in Australia we love our ‘Christmas in July’. It’s the coldest month of the year and we get to experience what a Northern Hemisphere Christmas is like, minus the snow of course unless we live up in the mountains!

I’ve seen a few Christmas in July projects being shown on Aussie Blogs, that prompted be to think of something I could show. I haven’t been working on any Christmas projects but do have something I made last Christmas (the real one back in December).

In my travels I had seen wreath cards similar to mine using the Two-step Bird punch branch. However, when I sat down to make one my self, it didn’t look right. So I sat down and had a play and this is what I came up with.

I ended up cutting off the single leaf on one side, trimming the branch and arranging them on a pencil drawn circle template. Next I did a second layer to cover up the spaces of the first one. This is what I came up with and here is a close-up of the wreath.

I used some red rhinestones that I had and some retired stripy ribbon that reminded me of candy canes.

Thanks for checking in and ‘Happy Christmas in July’ to you!

Jen

I'm late, I'm late!

Well here we are at the end of July and the end of another Mini Catalogue. I haven’t blogged for a while but recently I held a class highlighting stamp sets from this mini and here is what I came up with.

I got inspiration for this card with the recent ribbon promotion featured this month. I used the new ‘Sweet Buttons’ Embosslits (love ‘em, will be using them lots in the future) instead of real buttons and the green ric-rac in the background is something I had in my craft stash.

I was channeling Darrel Lea chocolate shops with this one. They’ve been around in Australia a lot longer than I have. When I was young, the shop assistants in Darrel Leas used to wear floral smocks as part of their uniform with a big pink satin bow on the front, any body old enough to remember that? I think the whole outfit was meant to resemble a chocolate box.

This set has some lovely elements in it. I used the flourish to create the border, Love that flourish! A beautiful set and supporting such a worthy cause!

For the next two cards I had a play with ‘Clearly for you’ and the new ‘Beveled Windowpanes’ I also had a go at reverse embossing with the big shot and ‘Vintage Wallpaper’ embossing folder.

Some Demos may recognise this card from our monthly Stampin’ Up! publication we receive every month. It uses another product I love, Elegant Soiree DS paper. How sad will I be when this goes at the end of next month!

Thanks for looking in, I hope to show a few more things from the Mini before it finishes.

Jen

Birthday Cake Bounty

Hello all!

Yes, I know there has been a lot of these awning cards featuring the Birthday Bakery Hostess Set. I’ve checked out a few I’ve seen on the net and this is the inspired card I have come up with.

This card I sent recently to my Niece, who I know is partial to a piece of cake.... or two! Not unlike myself!

Here’s to cake

Cheers

Jen

Taking Care Of Birthday Business

Major apologies for the lack of blogging lately. I had meant to blog the following nearly 2 weeks ago, Well here I am now!

I had a bit of a surprise almost 2 weeks ago after my birthday on May the 16th. I received a lovely birthday card from Stampin’ Up, which was a bit special since it had ONLY just been announced a few days before at the recent Convention that all demonstrators would be receiving a card on their birthday! 

I was especially chuffed because I knew that I was one of the 1st recipients of the birthday card and that it meant I could receive a further discount on 1 item ordered in addition to the discount we demos already receive! Happy Days!... and what to choose!

I was going to show all of my card and then I realised that would spoil the surprise for other Demos, so here is just a snippet. 

Another birthday treat was going off to Adriano Zumbo’s cafe in inner city Rozelle. Something I had been wanting to do for a while. If you watch 'MasterChef Australia' you will certainly know who I’m talking about.

The cafe itself is tiny as far as seating goes, but the kitchen, otherwise known as the ‘Lab’ is huge with a large glass spying window so you can check out where the magic happens. It did appear that there was a class going one with lots people in their Chef whites having a bit of a play. Closer inspection revealed the Master himself working away at the other end of the Kitchen. Bald head down and working furiously at maybe, a V8 cake??? Now, at this point, I confess to being a bit starstruck somewhat and straining to look while I trying to point him out to our kids in excited tones. I’m sure I amused the locals who were dropping by for their pastries and coffee.

Well I didn’t get to try a V8 Cake although I have put in an order for  my 50th in 5 years time. Instead we had some pastries and a selection of the famous Macarons to take home.

I believe here we have the likes of Strawberries and Cream, Satay, Pear Pistachio and Lychee Bubble tea to name a few....Yum!

Thanks for listening to my ramblings this time around, next time I will surely be back to business with some cards I have been working on.

Cheers

Jen

Late Mother's Day

Better late than never I say! Last weekend was Mother’s Day, the week has flown past and I’m just getting around to blogging the card I sent my Mother-in-law in NZ.

 For this card I got the ‘Blues’. No, not the melancholy kind but ‘Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze and Marina Mist. Added the ‘Very Vintage’ Wheel for a.....well vintagey look.

I did make a separate card for my Mum, but after I made it I gave it straight to her before I photographed it. Anybody else do that?Never mind I will show the same card soon in the form of a thank you card.

I cant wait to find out how this years SU Convention went. I wasn’t able to make this year in Melbourne. I bet those who went had a  great time and I look forward to reading about it on other blogs.

Until next time.

Jen

Hope your weekend was EGGStra special!

Well ours certainly was. This Easter has been about catching up with friends and family. We attended an Easter Egg hunt with lunch with friends on Good Friday, and then on Easter Sunday we attended another lunch and Egg hunt, this time with extended family. Gosh there’s a lot of chocolate hanging around the house!

Monday saw us staying at home and quietly reflecting on ANZAC day commemorations. Our extra holiday today has also been quiet and hanging around the house. It tends to be rainy and gloomy at Easter time in Sydney, so it has been a bit of a task to photograph these, but here they are.

Here is a close-up of the little nest. I CASE’d this from Qbee’s Quest and here is Brenda’s original. The little eggs I found at Darrell Lea’s. I thought they were the most authentic eggs around, although not so sure about the blue one!

Enjoy what’s left of your Break and I’ll be back soon with some Mother’s Day cards.

Jen

CASE'ing Zindorf

I finally got around to casing Michelle Zindorf’s work. I’m sure most people are familiar with her work, especially her brayer work. Like most of you all out there, I have long admired her and have always wanted to have a go at CASEing one of her cards, but always felt a bit unconfident. So when she did her ‘golf card’ a while back, I thought that would be a perfect male card I could give Hubby and My Uncle too.

You can see Michelle’s version here And I’m happy to say both Hubby and my Uncle Ernie thought my card was pretty special and spot on!

Jen

Find your Bliss

Hi all.

This card was part of a recent ‘Sale’A’Bration’ class I held showcasing what you could do with SAB sets. Part of my inspiration  for this one came from a picture in the SAB catty and the colour inspiration came from the Colour Coach.

SAB ends tomorrow, Geeez! Where does the time go? I’ll sneek in another SAB card again soon.

Thanks for stopping by in my corner of the world.

Jen

Punch an owl

A simple but cute card today.

I only just bought the owl punch recently and can’t wait to make more cards. I’ve used the Sale’A’Bration set Punch bunch and decided to go with Bold Brights for a fun birthday card.

Used the scallop circle punch to create simple clouds and the little cup cake comes from Crazy for Cupcakes. I thought I’d give stick on googly eyes a go and I think they look alright!

Hope you like and thanks for stopping by.

Jen

Where have I been?

Well... the last 4-5 weeks have been spent focusing on my Mum’s  80th Birthday celebrations! 

Mum and her twin Brother Ernie had a wonderful 80th Birthday lunch attended by family and friends up at Port Stephens (approx 2 hours north of Sydney).

The location was ‘The Beach House’ right on ‘One Mile Beach’ near Nelson Bay where Uncle Ernie and his family live. The beach itself was only a short stroll past the restaurant.

My job for the big event was of course making  the thank you cards for those who attended. There was a beach theme for the lunch, and everything was decorated beautifully by my cousins as you can see with these photos. The thank you cards had to be beachy, so I used a stamp that I’ve had for a long time. No, not a Stampin’ Up one, but one that was very fitting for the occasion.

The Frangipanis used for decoration came from the tree in our front yard which I’ve shown on my blog previously. It was a bit of a challenge transporting them up to Port Stephens, but the effect on everybody’s tables looked lovely.

Here is the kid’s table with my two pictured, just before all the kids demolished the sand castles. My cousin Andrew and his talented wife Amanda put all this together, and as a treat for the kids there was treasure in the form of chocolate coins buried underneath the Sand Castles.

And of course here is the birthday couple (Ernie and Thelma) cutting their cakes. I don’t yet have a photo of my mother’s 80th birthday card. I will blog that in the near future.

Jen