Same Sketch - Different Look

It can sometimes happen that when you have a large batch of cards to make you fall into the trap of thinking that you have to 're-invent the wheel' for each card. What I am proposing is - use the same sketch and create difference with your colours, papers, diecuts and embossing. The sketch I used for these cards is just a basic one panel arrangement. By swapping the side that the panel is on and the size of the panel (as well as the other variations mentioned above) I was able to create a selection of cards that don't all look the same. Here are four of them:

Card 1: Stampin' Up cardstock in perfect plum and blushing bride. Bo Bunny 'altitude' paper. Cuttlebug 'snowflake' embossing folder. Stampin' Up edgelit. Magazine freebie and Cheery Lynn snowflake dies cut out of a pearlized paint chip.

Card 2: Stampin' Up cardstock in old olive and cherry cobbler. Kaisercraft spotty paper. DCWV gold pearlized cardstock cut with large scallop scissors. Quikcutz "dots" embossing folder. Tim Holtz "joy" die. Stampin' Up circle punch. Pale green gel pen.

Card 3: Stampin' Up cardstock in very vanilla, always artichoke and cherry cobbler. Authentique 'free bird' paper. Stampin' Up embossing folder. Tim Holtz 'peace' die.

Card 4: Stampin' Up cardstock in whisper white, real red, old olive and early espresso. Paper from stash. Spellbinders edging die. Poppystamps 'starburst' nesting dies. Paper Smooches 'christmas words' die.

Give it a go - you will be surprised at how quickly you can come up with variations.

On a Personal Note -

Well I am three weeks post surgery and all is going well. Am losing weight (Yay!) and my ever present demon of insatiable hunger is being reined in. Have started eating purees and introducing protein. I find at the moment that I can only tolerate a little - but that's okay. I am still in the healing phase. The stick blender that the children gave me for Mothers day is getting a good workout! Am going to try making some moroccan pumpkin soup with lentils tomorrow. Got everything except the lentils!

Have been working on plans to remodel the front garden. It is currently a dust bowl. We are surrounded by large trees, so no sun for any lawn to grow, and the roots suck all the moisture so very difficult to grow anything! My plans are to put fake grass down over weed mat (to keep the tree roots at bay) and put shade loving plants like ferns, violets and hostas in trough pots around the edges. I have bought some garden lights and hope to have it all done before our annual Christmas party. I really want to utilise the yard more this summer.

Winter has returned with a vengeance - very cold, windy and icy rain.

Hope it's warm where you are.
Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

August 2015 365 Christmas Cards Update

Whoa! Another month passed, another month closer to Christmas. Seemed to be making mainly tree cards this month. Here is a selection.

Stampin' Up cardstock in certainly celery and primrose petals. Quikutz 'diamonds & dots' embossing folder. Kaisercraft  'silly season' paper.

Stampin' Up cardstock in gumball green and certainly celery. Pink pearlized paint chip sample. Kaisercraft 'mint twist' collectibles.

Stampin' Up cardstock in wild wasabi and blushing bride. Patterned paper from stash. Reverse/negative diecut from Wplus9. Iridescent glitter. Small diecut leftover from a snowflake centre in pearlized paint chip.

Stampin' Up cardstock in wild wasabi, cherry cobbler, whisper white and summer summerfruit. Stampin' Up stamp set 'snow much fun' coloured with various markers. Stampin' Up 'square lattice' embossing folder. Darice 'stars' embosing folder. Sizzix 'ornaments' embossing folder. All embossing highlighted with Wink of Stella 'clear'.

Stampin' Up cardstock whisper white and real red. Stampin' Up stamp set 'contempo christmas' coloured with markers. Patterned paper from stash.

Stampin' Up cardstock in whisper white and poppy parade. Stampin' Up sentiment in ridinghood red. Kaisercraft 'mint twist' collectible diecut. Spellbinders 'edgebilities' zig zag trim. K-Kingdom 'plaid' embossing folder.

Stampin' Up cardstock in wild wasabi. DCWV gold foil cardstock. Sizzix embossing folder. Diecut from a magazine.

On a Personal Note -

Spring has sprung here and the days are lovely and balmy and there is blossom and jasmine everywhere. You cannot help but feel uplifted when it's as beautiful as this.

Had a little stay in hospital for an operation to help me get a handle on my weight problem. I managed to lose 17kg on the pre-operative phase so hopefully there are many more lost kilos to come. I have a huge amount of weight to lose just to get into a healthy range. This quest is not for vanity or attainment of some beauty ideal. Rather it is for health. I had reached a stage where it was really starting to have an adverse effect on my health and well-being: both physically and emotionally.

Once I have recovered I am going back to my yoga practice. At the moment I am as flexible as a brick!

Hope life is treating you well.

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

RSPCA cupcake day

In August my daughter held an event as part of the annual fundraiser for the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). The idea is to have a cupcake event and raise funds. My daughter chose to host an afternoon tea. She charged an entrance fee and had a donation box. She did all the organising and baking herself and raised over $500.00. Here are some pics of her efforts:

The poster showing what the donations would fund.

The spread

Red velvet cupcakes with vanilla bean cream cheese frosting

Chocolate mud cupcakes with oreo frosting and mini oreos

Lemon cheese cakes with edible gold glitter

Chocolate mud cupcakes with ganache and malteasers

The "Neapolitan" plate - Brownies, Rice Krispie treats and Coconut ice

The drinks - juice, soda stream and water.

Plus - The Milkshake Bar.

She also had cupcakes to sell and animal themed cards.

All the cupcake picks, table scatters and labels were made using Stampin' Up supplies. Except for the sausage dog which was from Paper Smooches.

Very proud of her!

On a Personal Note -

Please forgive the hideous Kitchen colour scheme. Not of my choosing - it's a rental!

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie