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.

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

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

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!