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.