Christmas Crafting

I have just loved going in to visit Liz's new shop this week. If you are in Timaru, you just have visit Artfull Crafts - just recently moved in next to Shine. It's fab! I bought this lovely Kaisercraft wreath after seeing Louise working on hers. I loved putting it together and I entered it in Liz's challenge which I WON! Yay! It was a draw. I think it needs a lot more "bling" added - I have bought chipboard lettering and ribbons to dress it up.
The prize was a gorgeous set of Christmassy papers, so now I have to come up with something nice to use them for.

Liz's challenge this week is to create party favours. I have these $1 scratchies for guests on Christmas Day and I wanted to dress them up. Matthew thinks they look good as a crown! But I made little wallets to slide them into. I thought of going with the Christmas theme - red and green, Santas, snowflakes etc - but the scratchies are summery and bright, so I went with that instead. The jandal, sun and sunnies stamps are from a mini Inkadinkado set. I think they are cool and best of all they are quick - I want to make a fair few more. :-)If you have some ideas for Christmas party favours, mosey along to the Artfull Crafts blog and enter Liz's challenge - her prizes are always lovely!

Christmas Crop

We had such a lovely time at the Christmas Crop last Saturday. 12 keen scrappers and 3 consultants gathered at the SBS centre from 1-6 and some amazing pages were made. I did a demo of the new Creative Cuts system for making lettering and other shapes, and this was the page that my lettering was popped onto to show it all finished off.

I just love the build up to Christmas. I have already mentioned how disorganised I am... but finally yesterday we went and picked out our tree. Hurrah! It finally feels as though the Christmas season is off and running!

Thankful to God

This week's Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge is to create something which expresses your thankfulness to God. I am so so so thankful for my children. They are beautiful and perfect and just so loving, and my heart swells when I cuddle them or play with them. Emma was baptised a couple of weeks back and her Godmother is Michele, who unfortunately couldn't be here as she lives in the UK, so this gift is to be sent for her.

This is the first time I've tried making an expanding album (again, thanks to Helen for your inspiration!) and I just ADORE it. I love everything about it... the size, the surprise the recipient will get when they open it, the fact that it will be so easy to send... just everything. It's such a lovely way of showing off special photos of a special event. Now I have to make a few more... suddenly I know what Mum and dad are getting for Christmas!

For this project I used all Strampin Up products. I used their lovely Bella Rose DSP, with Chocolate Chip and Pink Pirouette cardstocks for the bases. I strengthened the covers by covering some pieces of cardboard.

I'm pretty peeved that some of the photos are coming in sideways, and seem at a loss to rectify this... any ideas?

Meeting Santa Everyday Display

I made up this Everyday Display with a lovely photo of Matthew and Alfie meeting Santa last year. It was so nice to get the boys together with Santa, although neither of them seemed all that fussed!

I used the Cheerful Christmas Additions pack, because I love the bright colours for kid pages. The lettering I cut from Green cardstock using the new Creative Cuts lettering tool - this is very very cool! As many letters as you want out of whatever colour you want. And it's getting easier and easier to use every time I pick it up.

A Little Christmas Gift

I have had fun at my Christmas workshops this month, teaching people how to make these little hanging Coffee Holders. They are a simple little gift for people such as workmates or customers. They will look fabulous hanging on the tree!

At the Christmas Crop next weekend I will give them as gifts to our attendees, and also the ditrections for how to make them.

I have used brick and green apple cardstock, along with the embellishments from the Very Merry pack.

Christmas 2009

When I saw the Reminisce Christmas additions pack, I knew at once that they would suit this photo. It's a lovely family one we received last Christmas, with beautiful deep tones and a lovely traditional tree. I used Brick and French Vanilla cardstock to complement the papers, and lettering from the Brown Sophisticate ABC. I would have loved to do the stitching for real, and maybe add some more around the border and across the ripped edging, but didn't trust myself to get it even enough, so it's just drawn on.

Now I don't know if pages are allowed, but I was looking at the Clean and Simple sketch challenge blog and Brenda Dean's gorgeous hanging ornaments were the inspiration for the top left corner of my page... so I have entered this page in the C&S challenge this week. I'm actually not too sure about the ornaments - I think they are a bit too funky and retro for such a traditional styled page, but I still liked them so on they went!

Hurrah for Christmas!

I just love Christmas! This year I feel totally unprepared. However, I managed to finally get a few things done this weekend.

I went to a Stampin Up class of Helen's last week and she showed us how to make these adorable Santa cards. I had to rush home and try it for myself immediately. I have made about ten so far, and want to make a few more. I just love punch craft, adn these cards mainly make use of punching and shaping tools. I have used the Creative memories ovals and other tools, and Stampin Up's cardstock in Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White and Pink Pirouette. The moustache is an absolutely fantastic way to use the SU two step bird puch - honestly, who came up with that?! It's just magic!

I have entered the ABC Christmas challenge for the FIRST time, even though I've followed it all year... seriously, next year I will be more organised. This is such a good way of getting cards done early!

A Christmas Border

I had a wonderful time this weekend up in Christchurch. Mum and I started crafting on Friday night, and basically just kept going. This is a border I have created for a 12x12" page. It uses Cranberry red and Apple green cardstock, and the Very Merry embellishment pack.

Just Add... Birthdays!

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is "birthdays", but the idea is to think a bit outside of the norm and come up with something a bit different (from a card, I guess).


Have a look at this site: http://just-add-ink.blogspot.com/2010/10/just-add-ink-41.html
You just have to see Bronwyn Eastley's awesome cupcake box!

Here's my little attempt. It was Emma's birthday not so long ago, her big FIRST, and I decorated my Everyday Display with photos of her. I used the gorgeous new Creative Cuts tool to make the letters out of Simply Beautiful papers. The background papers are also Simply Beautiful, from the birthdays pack, as are the paper ribbon and paper flowers.

We Stamp For Lara

This looks like a really worthwhile cause that I would like to support. However, I don't seem to be getting any crafting done recently! I have some blogging to catch up on that I must get done this week.

If you want more information it can be found here: http://just-add-ink.blogspot.com/

Home Away from Home

I have been busy busy busy with my albums, but not posted anything, for reasons that are clear to many of you... my album is a (surprise) gift for someone! However, I've decided to post a few pictures so that you can see what I have been working on. I have been using the new page planner templates HEAPS, which is speeding up my project no end. Thank goodness for that... I have a very definite deadline, and it's coming up fast! I have 10 more page spreads to complete, and 10 days to do them in... one a day doesn't sound that hard, does it?!

This page features use of the new page planner templates, the Creative Cuts tool (loving it!), and the Simply Beautiful colours - papers, ribbons and flowers.

Everyday Display

I have finally got myself an Everyday Display instead of just borrowing Mum's and having fun putting it together for her! I wanted to make up a layout to have on display for the Open Day at the Bay Lounge on Saturday, so I've used some photos of Victoria's graduation with the new "Wishful" border kit. I love the starry theme, and I think it goes really well with Graduation photos. I need to add a title or some journalling, but other than that, it's finished. One of the reasons I really like the Everyday Display is that none of this is stuck down - the magnets are holding it all together... so everything is reusable in my albums!

Emma's First Year

I have created a page a bit like this one for Matthew's first year, and I have been looking forward to doing one for Emma. When I made Matthew's page I used the small circular templates for the photos, but this time round the Jumbo Circle Template is out and I wanted to use it to make one large mat. It was actually a bit of a fiddly design, but I do like the overall effect. It is rather "busy", and I would love to use the same idea again sometime with fewer photos. If I was only trying to fit in 6 instead of twelve for example, I could leave little gaps between each section of the pizza.

First Cinema Visit

I loved completing this page. Matthew and his best friend and worst enemy Alfie had a trip to the cinema in July to see Toy Story 3. They both loved it, and so did the mums. What a great movie!

The Toy Story Additions were perfect for creating this page, since they continued the Toy Story theme so beautifully. I used the brand new Embossed Star Maker for the embellishments.

Loving the Jumbo Patterns

My next installment in the series of blog entries about the CM Jumbo templates! This week I used the Jumbo wavy frame to scrapbook my double page layout about Matthew's swimming lessons. Really appropriate for water themed photos. I have commemted before about crossing the centre line of the book, which I love doing in order to bring the two sides together nicely. I didn't do it this time by cutting the photos, but by continuing the frame across the two pages.

I love this layout and the colours used.

I used papers from the Jewel Summer additions kit along with Dark Blue cardstock. The Jewel Summer additions are aprt of CM's awesome Multi-buys sale this month, so fill up now!

Sketch challenge results and September's challenge

I feel like I am getting little or no chance to blog at the moment, but I still just have to take a moment to share with you the two gorgeous entries I had for this month's sketch challenge. (Yes - only two again! I will make the next one even easier for you to enter...)

Linda's page:

Robyn's page:

Ladies, these are just so stunning. I entered your numbers into THE HAT and up popped number 2... so congratulations, Robyn, a little Creative Memories gift is coming to you with your August order.

Okay, for my September challenge I won't give you a sketch, but a theme: CIRCLES. You can interpret that any way you like; bubbles, circular punches, circular photos, circles on your papers, circular cardstcok pieces... anything at all.

All you have to do to enter my challenge is make a scrapbook page inspired by this theme. Complete it at or before my September workshops. Bring it to the workshop in your area (or email me a picture if you can't be there this month) and I'll put you in the draw... it's that easy!
I would love you to have some CM product on your page if you have it... but if not, please don't let that stop you (after all, you just might just have some after entering...)

My September workshops are:

Christchurch, Saturday 11th 2pm.

Timaru, Friday 17th 7.30pm.

Contact me to book your place.

Large CCS Templates

This is my absolute favourite page layout at the moment. It was created using the Jumbo Circle Template which Creative Memories released a few months ago. Since then they have also released a jumbo oval, a jumbo wavy frame and next month they will be releasing a fourth in the series.

I love the effect of focusing your eye on the photos, as though you are looking through a telescope. Plus the black and white photos look so classic and timeless. Here you can see the layout pinned up on my Everyday Display... this is currently my "Dream Wall", plus also a great space for displaying my recent pages.

Come on, scrappers!

For my July layout challenge I only had two entries!!! Come on, ladies, get those creative juices flowing! "The Hat" randomly chose Rebecca from Timaru as the winner and ta-da... she received a sheet of CM's Birthday stickers to further beautify her pages.

Here are the two lovely entries I received...

Rebecca (Timaru)

Robyn (Christchurch)

So in order to give you heaps of time to get your pages together I have decided to release August's sketch early... here it is!

Large CCS templates

I am loving using the extra large templates for our Custom Cutting System. I have so far tried only the circle and oval, but there is also a wavy frame, and... here's a sneak hint... there will be a brand new extra large shape available in August too!

I created this double layout at my July workshop with a wedding theme, and love the geometry of it. The oval frame is a timeless classic, and I do love crossing the centre line with my photos. I think it brings both sides of the layout together so beautifully.

If you are interested in trying out the extra large templates for yourself, do join me for my August workshops. Christchurch August 7th and Timaru August 12. The theme this month will be "Kids".

Mojo Monday 147

I had such a great night last night. I went over to a friend's place and did a little babysitting while they got to go out, and I got to do some uninterrupted crafting! I got three cards done and have three challenges to enter. Hurrah! It's been a long time since I managed to enter a challenge or two.

Here is my entry for the Mojo Monday challenge. It is my favourite of the three cards. I love the bird punch, but also the puzzle maker looks fabulous here. I love the Cottage Wall DSP and the purple colours.

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge 120

This is my Taylored Expressions card for sketch 120. I was on a roll last night with the same theme and the same papers, so there is quite a lot of similarity!

Clean and Simple 98

Here is my card for the Clean and Simple Challenge 98. With all the gorgeous papers that both Stampin Up and Creative Memories produce, I can see me using my punches more and more, and putting less and less in the way of stamping on my cards! That's fine, since there is less mess to clear up.

Here I have used SU's Cottage Wall papers and Whisper White, with the two step Bird Punch. So quick and so easy! There was a discussion on Just Add Ink the other day about everyone's favourite adhesive. Mine is definitely Creative Memories' Precision Point Adhesive. I use so many little fiddly bits now, and the PPA is great for those little bits of paper.

Baby Girl Cube Page

Have I posted this before? I don't think so... and it's such a cute idea that I'd post it again anyway. I was reminded of it yesterday because someone emailed me for the directions to make a cube photo page. In this one I took the same idea and created three cubes, looking as though they are stacked. I interspersed it with papers because I felt that having all nine slots filled with photos would be too busy.

Ingredients used: Creative Memories brand Baby Girl Delight papers, Delight paper ribbons, Delight paper buttons and Delight paper flowers.

If you would like a guidesheet for making this page, email me at jo.farmer@clear.net.nz and I will be happy to send them out to you!

July's Sketch Challenge

A new month - time for a new sketch challenge!

All you have to do to enter my sketch challenge is make a scrapbook page inspired by this sketch. Complete it at or before my July workshops. Bring it to the workshop in your area (or email me a picture if you can't be there this month) and I'll put you in the draw... it's that easy!

I would love you to have some CM product on your page if you have it... but if not, please don't let that stop you (after all, you just might just have some after entering...)

My July workshops are:
Christchurch, Saturday 10th 2pm.
Timaru, Thursday 15th 7pm.
Contact me to book your place.

Here is a picture of the page that inspired the sketch. Very simple and very geometric... don't you just love those accurate trimmers!

For the Boys

Finally a card challenge! I haven't entered any for about two weeks - I feel as though I'm not getting anything done at present, and crafting seems to be the first thing to go. However, I had a little space yesterday and I found two challenges to hit in one go: One Stop Craft Challenge (85) provided the theme (For the Boys) and Stamping 411 (156) the sketch.

Colours used are Not Quite Navy and Baja Breeze, with Not Quite Navy ink. The papers are from the lovely Urban Gardens set. Very masculine!

Flat Belli Challenge

I'm thrilled to tell you that I won the Creative Belli Blog's challenge a couple of weeks ago with this card:

I'm not intentionally being humble, but maybe the good cardmakers were busy that week? What I mean is that I am painfully aware of how much I have yet to learn about cardmaking, and I am blown away by the samples I see on these blogs.

However, all that aside, I am stoked to have my first award to post on my blog - hurrah!

June Sketch Challenge Results

I had some lovely entries for my first sketch challenge... thank you for your participation! Here are some of my faves...

Christine

Carol

Val

Rebecca

Helen - Helen, yours is so gorgeous I had to feature it here anyway! I hope you don't mind.

I used "The Hat" (an awesome little bit of software) to randomly draw two winners, and they are... drumroll... Val in Christchurch and Christine in Timaru. Woohoo! Well done ladies... a little prize pack is winging it way to you in the post, with some ABC lettering and papers.