New Catalogue Blog Hop

With the launch of the new catalogue, a group of us have decided to arrange a blog hop - we know how much everyone enjoys them .... this one is a simple hop around 10 blogs ... if you've just arrived from Ros Davidson's blog you know all about it; but if you have just arrived here, hop on board ... and get inspired.

With October almost here my attention is turning to Christmas cards.  I've used the new Cherry Cobbler cardstock (isn't it just the most perfect Christmas red) and Jolly Holiday designer series paper to create a side step card.

This was quite easy to make - although this sample doesn't fit into the usual sized envelope ... have to make another one that fits :)

I've used the Punch Pals stamp set and stamped and coloured the little snowman, pressies, penquin and Christmas tree .... colouring them in with the Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive markers .... I wanted to them to look sketched.

And here's one of my favourite new products .... taffeta ribbon - it is so yummy and luxurious ... okay so you think I am mad falling in love with ribbon ... I know, I know I need help.

The little sentiments are from the Tiny Tags for word Merry and the Punch Pals for the Happy Holidays and there are a few little self adhesive sparkles there too - yes Stampin' Up! have finally included bling and pearls to their list of accessories :)

Hope this has inspired you to make a start on your Christmas cards.  It is now time to hop along to see Christine Blain and her marvellous creations.

 

 

ESAD Christmas In July Blog Hop

I hope you’re ready for the ESAD Christmas in July Blog Hop!  I love Christmas and I love that in Australia I get to celebrate it twice :)

You have arrived from Sharlene Torres site (Sharlene is the lovely lady who puts all of the ESAD hops together for us - thank you), but if you haven't, don't worry - a hop is a circle so there is no beginning or end, hop on here and enjoy the ride.  So firstly I need to let you know what ESAD is all about.  Well ESAD stands for Extra Special Australasian Demonstrators and it is an online group just for Australian and New Zealand demonstrators for Stampin’ Up!

We so love what we do and not only do we love to share it with our customers, friends, and wonderful blog visitors but we share our love for what we do with each other as Demonstrators.  We run swaps, challenges, tutorials, product know-how and cyberstamps and we are always there to help and support each other when its needed.  So if you are a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand then please feel free to click here to join our wonderful group.

 

Regulars to my blog will know I am a scrapbooker so whenever we have these hops I use it as an 'excuse' to get another page done LOL.  So this page is of Christmas day in 2006 - I'm still in 'scrapbooking catch-up mode' and when I complete a page like this I am so pleased .... another momentous day captured!

I've used Baja Breeze textured card stock for the base as it matched Olivia's dress perfectly, and Rose Red for the accent colour to match Olivia's PJs. 

The ribbon detail has been made using the double rectangle punch - I've just punched it several times along the bottom edge - just using the edge of the punch as a guide to keep it 'evenly-ished' spaced and then I've threaded a piece of 1/4" Whisper White grosgrain ribbon through.

Stamp sets used are Season of Joy and Punch Pals, which I have stamped using the marker pens in Basic Grey and Rose Red, and I've added some little snowflakes along the top using a Versamark pad.  The Tag and Scallop Circle punches make these really easy little embellishments to make - the flowers of course of hand cut.

The sparkly letters are of course, the Timeless Type Big Shot Alphabet - an absolute must for a scrapbooker ... I love being able to create any title that comes to mind without have to worry that I don't have all the letters.  I've then used the Two Way Glue pen and some Dazzling Diamonds to add some Christmas sparkle.

Journaling has been written freehand with a white Signo pen - I think handwriting is so important on our scrapbooking pages - in years to come my children and grandchildren will have heaps of examples of my handwriting ... so no matter how much you hate your writing ... you just have to include some on a page every so often.  And the Journaling reads:

Big smiles, young faces ...

Skinny 'ribbins' and transfer tattoos ...

Laptop, PSP, camera, fish tanks, Guinness Book of Records and lollies!

So there you have it - hope it inspires you to grab some Christmas photos and record the moment.  Now's the time to hop along to Clare Mcilhatton I've just found her site - yes by linking it here (and spent half an hour just having a little look around - Clare has made some beautiful things) ...

So thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave a comment.

 

Happy Christmas

Yes, Mum's card has arrived and she loves it.  I knew she would .. it is so sparkly and very traditional.  Thanks to Claire Daly for the inspiration. 

And here are Olivia's card for the family ... she whipped these up one night whilst I was out ... love the non traditional colours she has used.

 There's a little Punch Pal penguin peeping out the sparkly window!

 Love the bow tying too ... much better than me!  And the handwritten greetings.

 And the Punch Pal snowman and scallop circle stamp .... lovely.

Well that wraps up the cards and festive projects for another year ... I do hope that you have been inspired.  I have received more handmade cards this year than ever before ... from Iris folded Christmas Trees to glittery sparkly Season of Joy cards, from the UK and from my aussie friends ... it is great to see so many people participating in this addictive hobby!

We are off on our holidays in a couple of days time so this little piece of cyberspace may be a little quiet for a while (I've a few things lined up for you but not many) - but I will be back in full swing mid January with news of a new monthly blog hop with the Art With Heart Team, Saleabration and of course I really must get cracking with some new Summer Mini projects too.

Hoping that you and yours have a lovely festive season ... keep safe and I'll be back in 2010.

 

   

Making Merry Monday # 23

I hope you enjoyed the ESAD summer mini hop - it was so much fun and as I hopped around the 30 or so blogs I was amazed and inspired by the new range of goodies ... and yes my little conservative shopping list suddenly grew to quite a long list of 'must haves'!

As we are now well and truly into December and at the pointy end of the year where everything now needs to be quick as the days and weeks seem to speed up fly by faster than ever ... I have created a Christmas card using the new butterfly punch. 

This is actually another ATC swap but I made a few extra and turned them into Christmas cards ... I made 14 of these in just a couple of hours.

The butterfly punch has been cut into two and then layered to make up the tree.  Word Window punch has been used to create the tree stump and the wording and of course the star just tops it all off.  I've sponged all the edges with Craft White and then the two way glue pen to add some dazzling diamonds.

Stamp sets used are Punch Pals for the words and Winter Post for the snowflake.  Cardstock colours are Old Olive, Real Red, Basic Black, Silver (for the star), Chocolate Chip and Whisper White.

Same punch art tree just a different coloured cardstock for the card base ...  

CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA ENDS VERY SOON

Just a reminder that the Christmas Extravaganza will be finishing on 14 December (this time next week), this is the last date that orders can be placed for a guaranteed pre-Christmas delivery.  Click here for details of this very special offer - and earn a free gift for yourself too - remember you get to choose either a scallop square or boho blossoms punch work $30.95 for free. 

So if you are thinking of buying some Stampin' Up! items for Christmas please make sure you contact me before this date - and don't forget I can also make up a beautiful gift voucher if you aren't sure what your recipient would like.

Back in a couple of days with more ideas.

 

Making Merry Monday # 22 and Summer Mini News

I can't believe it has been a whole week with no blogs - you must have thought that somebody had gagged me :o)  I reckon that Twilight card zapped me of my energy to be crafty!  So sorry - back now though!

It's almost December and the start of the silly season!  How is your card making going?  If you've been playing along since the start then you should be well on your way - have you started writing them yet?  

We, the Sadler Family, include a newsletter and some photos every year ... talk about making a big job into a huge job ... lol ... but from all the emails and letters we receive after Christmas I think the extra work is worth the effort ... the rewards are great!  I love to catch up with old friends and as we are well travelled (thanks to the Navy) we have friends scattered everywhere - it's great to catch up on their news - only the other day we received a card from one of our neighbours in Scotland with news of the families who we shared our lives with for six years - it was the highlight of last week - thank you Una.

So as today is the very last day for orders for the Spring Mini I thought I'd post my last card using Tree Trimmings.  I love this set ... and will be sad to see it disappear ... I think it is perfect for Christmas and at only $24.95, its not too expensive either.

Colour are Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and Whisper White - the swirls are from Baroque Motifs.

And just because it's the last day of the Spring Mini, I've also included another card using the beautiful Ski Slope paper $16.95; if you love this paper you need to call me now to place your order - we have until about 9pm tonite to place orders.

This one uses the Square Scallop punch which is a freebie if you purchase some products from the Christmas Extravaganza before 14 December ... click here for details. 

Colours are Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze - I've just bought the Crop-o-Dial - wow - an eyelet set through some grosgrain ribbon and two layers of card - like slicing through butter ... why has it taken me so long to buy one of these gadgets?

And here's the inside:

Isn't that little snowman cute and the little tag on the front - both are part of the Punch Pals set that I purchased recently ... that's a set that Olivia wanted to buy ... she's been making some stockings for the family cards ... I'll show you those in a week or two.

As we say goodbye to the Spring Mini with the Scallop Oval punch, corduroy buttons and my all time favourite the Great Friend stamp set (such a beautiful butterfly) ... there is much excitement in the Stampin' Up! world because tomorrow marks the launch of the new Summer Mini ... it contains some very beautiful summery things, including some beautiful new papers and a fabulous punch ... I can't wait to show you.

To mark the launch of this new catalogue, starting at 6am on Tuesday 1 December, some of the ESAD Team will be hosting their very first Blog Hop showcasing items made using products from the Summer Mini Catalogue, so don't forget to come back tomorrow.  It doesn’t matter where you start as there will be a link to the next blog in the chain all the way along till you finally finish where you started.  And if you leave a comment on each and every blog in the chain you'll be entered into the draw to receive some Blog Candy - woo hoo!

So see you back here bright and early tomorrow and don't forget if you just have to have any of the items in the Spring Mini make sure you phone or email today :o)

Hope you have a very Merry Monday.