Sunday, December 20, 2009

12 Cards Of Christmas - Card 12

Finally, this is the last of the Christmas cards this year. I hope you have enjoyed them!

You can't see very well from this angle, but the December 25 square has a dimensional under the white scallop square and than another one under the actual Baja Breeze December 25 Square. I was originally going to use 5 different pieces of paper for the squares, but it was just convenient to use the same one (me just being lazy lol)

I've used some of the products from the Pretties kit to make this a little more elegant.

I will be taking some time off from my blog until the New year. I'll be spending time with family and recharging my batteries. I wish you all the best for the Christmas season and the New Year. Be Safe and I'll see you all Next Year! (I may pop in with some un-craft related posts between now and then).

ENJOY

Supplies:

Ink: Baja Breeze
Stamp Set: Spotlight on Christmas
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Punches: 1 1/4" Square, 1 3/8" Square, Scallop Square, Eyelet Border
Other: White Taffeta Ribbon, Pretties Kit, Paper Piercer

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Needs Stamps - at HALF PRICE?

Stampin Up have just announced an Inventory Sale, running from December 15, 2009 (today) until January 24, 2010. There are some great bargains to be had, some stamps are at 50% OFF! Also in the list are some Designer Series Paper, Glitter, Alphabets stamps, Ribbon and Hodgepodge. These are only while stocks last, so make sure you get in quick, once they are gone, you wont be able to get them at this fabulous price again!

You can click HERE to be taken to the list of whats included.

BE QUICK!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

12 Cards Of Christmas - Day 11

Today I just wanted to show you some hand-made gift ideas. Stamping on Candles. You don't need to make them specifically Christmas related, perhaps just use their favourite colour, something to suit their home decor, or a theme that they like. Wrap it up in some clear cellophane, add some co-ordinating ribbon and you're ready to go!





ENJOY

12 Cards Of Christmas - Day 10

Today's card I wanted to create a Christmas Bauble using the new Sweet Treat cups. I've used the Baroque Motifs at the 'leaves' up the top and used the flowers to add a bit more colour. Speaking of colour, I'm using Always Artichoke and Ruby Red. Can you believe this is the first time I have use this green! I usually grab Old Olive or Kiwi Kiss if I'm using green, but like the darker depth the Artichoke has.

ENJOY!

Supplies

Ink: Always Artichoke, Ruby Red
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Ruby Red, Whisper White
Stamp Set: Baroque Motifs, Warm Words
Other: 1 3/4" circle Punch, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Linen Thread, Dazzling Diamonds, Sweet Treat Cups
, Cinnamon Tic Tac's

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

12 Cards Of Christmas - Day 9

I had planned to show you how to make this as part of DAY 5's CARD HERE, but ran out of time, So it gets its own day, TODAY!
These are called Sunny Boy containers here in Australia, but others may know them as Sour Cream container. And here's to make one!

I am using a 6 inch x 6 inch, approximately 15cm x 15cm square of transparency. You can get this from your local office supplies shop, look for overhead projector film. You can also use paper, or cardstock. I'm using a transparency sheet so that it matched the card I made on day 5.

I'm going to be embossing on the sheet, and I cant stress enough....... you will need to use an embossing buddy (Stampin Up sells them) to wipe over your sheet. This will stop any static, and stop any stray bits of embossing powder from sticking to your sheet.
Next, take your Versamark ink and stamp the images you want on it. I'm using images from the Snow Swirled set. You can barely see them, but they're there. Now, I'm also going to use Dazzling Diamonds, so I'll be using the Heat and Stick Powder first.
My preference, and this is just personal preference....do what works for you.....Since my whole sheet has some ink on it, I like to pour a decent line of the embossing powder, in this case Heat and Stick Powder, across the top of the page. Then tilt my sheet and let the powder fall downwards. I find I get a good coverage this way. you can always touch up the small bits that get missed.
Once the whole sheet is covered, in your powder, make sure you heat gun is plugged in....I find that handy (note to self). Because you need to only JUST melt the heat and stick powder and get the Dazzling Diamonds on to it pretty quick, I like to work in sections. You can see in the photo below, that I have heated, until just melted, the top right hand corner area. Then I put the dazzling Diamonds just on that corner and brush off the excess (keeping it away from the other un-melted sections. You might find just doing half a sheet at a time easier, find your rhythm. Continue to heat, melt, glitter-ise and set until all the sheet is done.

I use my brush from the Powder Pals to brush off any extra glitter. At which point my husband gives me that look of 'you've got glitter on your face AGAIN'!
OK, and that's all there is to embossing on Acetate. I also tried using the Supernova Glitter on it, and it looks even better than the Dazzling Diamonds I think. Just that burst of colour, does it for me.

OK, now for the assembly of the container. You will need to use Sticky Strip or VERY heavy duty double sided tape. Regular double sided tape just wont cut it I'm afraid. You will want to add it to 3 sides only, trying to keep as close to the edge as possible.
Next, remove 2 of the backings from the Sticky strip, making sure one of them is the one that is opposite the side that doesn't have any adhesive. Make an L shape with the adhesive. You could remove all the backing at this stage, but It makes it easier to fill the container later if you don't.
Now, you need to roll you sheet, so that the side that doesn't have any adhesive, meets the opposite side that does. Think of it this way, its going to look like a toilet roll (but only for a few seconds).
Now with your toilet roll, I mean cylinder, squeeze the end with adhesive together to form a seal.
This is the point that you will want to add your goodies, I'm using 'Colombines', my favourite lolly/candy to eat at Christmas time (even though they are available all year round). Once they are in, you can seal your other end. Just make sure that when you are sealing the end, that you seal it in the opposite direction to the other end. This is what gives it it's unique shape.

Decorate as you like. To this one I've added ribbon to each end, and a Christmas tag care of the Curly Label Punch Bundle available in the Australian/NZ Catalogue.
**NOTE: You can choose to have the embossed glitter on the outside or the inside of the container. If you want the glitter on the outside, make sure you add your adhesive to the non embossed side. Just be aware that the glitter can flake off transparency, so if your goodies are unwrapped, like M&M's or similar, I would keep the embossing on the outside.

**ANOTHER NOTE: If you are in a hotter area, like me in the southern hemisphere at the moment, if you choose to use transparency to make one of these, I suggest making it just before you go, as the heat does tend to open up the seals. alternatively, you might like to add some brads, eyelets or stitching to keep the seals closed for longer.

ENJOY!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

12 Cards Of Christmas - Day 8

We're on the home stretch now, only four more cards to go after this one!

Today's card is SO super easy, and doesn't really use any Christmas products (except the greeting). The paper is from the Pink Flamingo Designer Series pack.

My Christmas is all about RED!! At no other time of year can I get away with using so much red. I have added Dazzling Diamond glitter to the centre of each flower and embossed THE greeting with white embossing powder .

My theory is.....take a Christmas colour, add some glitter, some ribbon and viola, you have yourself a Christmas card! Thanks for stopping by!

ENJOY


Supplies

Ink: Versamark
Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White
Stamp Set: Many Merry Messages
Other: Pink Flamingo DSP, real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Jumbo Grommets, Scallop Border Punch, White Embossing Powder

Monday, December 7, 2009

12 Cards Of Christmas - Day 7

I almost didn't make it today, but here it is! Sorry the lighting on them is so bad, I'll take some more photos tomorrow in the daylight tomorrow and update the post.

Today's card is a simple, rustic looking card. I've also used some simple origami folding to make the tree.

Here are some of the different angels of the tree.

ENJOY

Supplies

Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla
Stamp Set: Weathered, Many Merry Messages, Occasions For All
Punches: Wide Oval, Designer Label, Double Rectangle
Other: Good Morning Sunshine DSP, Haiku DSP, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Riding Hood Red Tafetta Ribbon

Sunday, December 6, 2009

12 Cards Of Christmas - Day 6

I'm cheating a little today, I'm re-posting a a Christmas card I made in July. You can see the original post HERE.

This is the card I'm talking about.
If you would like to make one for yourself, HERE is a link to a YouTube video tutorial that you can follow.

ENJOY