July 365 Christmas Cards Update

Got a new die in July and had fun playing with it! It is the Couture Creations 'holly flourish' and is quite beautiful and easy to use. I have a Big Shot and don't have any quick release paper (though I am tempted to try it for some other dies I own!) - but this die worked really well and was not tricky at all.

Here are a couple of the variations I used and some other cards from the July output. 7 in all.


1. Stampin' Up (SU) cardstock in sahara sand and mint macaron. Patterned paper from stash. Couture Creations die - popped. Metallic gold cardstock from stash. Various single hole punches.

2. SU cardstock in real red and certainly celery. Patterned paper from stash. Couture Creations die - popped. Sentiment cut from DSP. Red gems from stash.

3. SU cardstock in real red, gumball green and whisper white. Patterned paper from stash. Couture Creations die - popped. Red gems from stash.

4. SU cardstock in certainly celery and whisper white. Cuttlebug ' swiss dots' embossing folder. Couture Creations die. Gold foil from stash. Various sizes of single hole punch. Topper from magazine freebie.

 5. SU cardstock in delightful dijon and very vanilla. Sizzix 'nordic sweater' embossing folder. Tree die cut from Kaisercraft 'mint twist' collectibles. I pierced the edge of the vanilla piece with the tree on it

6. SU cardstock in primrose petals and certainly celery. Gold foil from DCWV. Cuttlebug 'snowflakes' embossing folder. Cardstock topper from a magazine freebie.

7. SU cardstock in whisper white and melon mambo. Kaisercraft stamp coloured with melon mambo and a Tombow marker. Tree die cut from Kaisercraft 'mint twist' collectibles.

On a Personal Note -

Really miss eggs and toast!
The eating plan is now into its fourth week and I am into quite a routine. Never really conscious before about how often I was eating - sort of unconscious situational consumption. Now I am being really structured. Still don't totally trust myself in social settings so have been sort of avoiding them. Also not going to football as don't feel strong enough yet to resist the urge to eat 'footy' food. Very weak when it comes to resisting food habits!!!

Have not dared to weigh myself yet. Terrified I will be disappointed and go on a 'bender' (food - not alcohol!).

The weather is warming up and jasmine can't be too far away. Love. love the scent of jasmine and Elicheer jonquils. Also love the pastel fragility of poppies. Spring - mmmm. Warm, balmy days and the joys of al fresco dining. The birds have really upped the ante with chirping and are starting about 4.30am these days. I find quiet joy in waking up to that sound.

Hope the world is treating you well.
Happy Crafting!
Cheers

Susie

My First Christmas Ornament of the Year

This was an idea I saw on that marvelous resource called Pinterest. The pin that inspired my version was from 'paperedcottage.blogspot.com', but there are many variations out there. Just remember to set yourself strict time limits when entering the 'rabbit hole' of Pinterest. Trust me - you can lose hours if you are not careful!

Anyways - here is my interpretation of the ornament. It uses graduating lengths of double-sided scrapbooking paper/DSP. The best glue to use is tacky craft glue and a clothes peg to keep each layer in place until it 'grips'. Doesn't take long.

I fussy cut and popped my stamped image and pierced the edge of the vanilla circle. I have now made several of these at this size and am now going to have a go at making some 'giant' ones.

On a Personal Note -

The eating plan is progressing well. I am less hungry this week than I was last week and am enjoying working out ways to make my 2 cups of veges per meal taste yummy. I am also on a protein shake for each meal too. As I said before - this is under medical supervision.

It was my birthday this week and usually my children go all out with a yummy breakfast in bed and lovely dinner and scrummy cake. Could not do that this year so we celebrated a fortnight early! My daughter made strawberry french toast rollups for breakfast and chicken yakatori for dinner with asian salad and her amazing toasted sesame dressing. My cake was an extravaganza - see below!

Couldn't have cake pictures without the obligatory one of Schnitzel looking hopeful!

It was a marbled butter cake with cream cheese frosting, wafer biscuit surround and mini m&m's. Very yummy!

Hope you have been, or will be, spoiled on your birthday.

Happy Crafting!
Cheers

Susie