September 365 Christmas Cards Update

Well September was busy and mostly gold! Here are a few (5) of my creations.

Card 1:

Stampin' Up (SU) cardstock in crumb cake, sahara sand lucky limeade. DCWV gold metallic cardstock. Tree fussy cut from Crate Paper 'snow day'. Embossed frame is from SU and I highlighted the dots with Wink of Stella clear.

Card 2:
SU cardstock in very vanilla and crumb cake. SU glimmer paper 'champagne'. Websters Pages patterned paper.  PSX stamp in crumb cake highlighted in Wink of Stella clear. This is a very sparkly card in real life!

Card 3:
SU cardstock in delightful dijon. SU glimmer paper 'champagne'. Blue/grey and patterned paper from stash. Spellbinders 'create a flake' die. Kaisercraft adhesive pearls.

Card 4:
SU cardstock in delightful dijon and very vanilla. Websters Pages patterned paper. SU 'holiday ornaments' in various metallics and foils from stash. SU glimmer 'champagne'. DCWV glimmer 'gold'. SU embossing folders. Bits of gold braid. SU itty bitty punch - circle.

Card 5:
SU cardstock in delightful dijon and very vanilla. Websters Pages patterned paper. SU 'holiday ornaments' in various gold metallics from stash. SU glimmer 'champagne. Cuttlebug 'swiss dots' and 'snow dots' embossing folders (bottom ornament). Pointsettia border embossing folder (magazine freebie).

It was fun restricting myself to a colour palette and encouraged me to 'explore' texture. Give it a go!

On a Personal Note -

Losing weight really well. Very happy! Still quite a ways to go - but at least the scales are finally heading in the right direction! The dog is also very happy because we are back walking again.

The weather is warming up and the flower shops are full of spring blooms and smell amazing. I walked passed one the other day that had a large bucket of jewel bright poppies on display out the front. I wanted to run away with the whole bucket!!

My attention has turned to the garden and the delights of al fresco dining. I am having some girlfriends over for a brunch next weekend so will be doing some serious 'tidying' and beautification so we can sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. Might just have to buy me some poppies for the table!

My thoughts are also turning to the serious end of Christmas prep. Lots of lists being made! The Christmas decorations are just starting to appear in the shops. My heart goes pitter pat in anticipation!! The stall prep is moving into fever pitch gear - trouble is I keep having more ideas of things to make and there just isn't the time or space! (More lists I am afraid).

I hope all is well in your part of the world.

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

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

Babies Again

Started making some more baby cards. Spring is soon, so will need them! Both my children are late spring babies. Not quite 'Christmas lucky bonus result' as some people have!

1. Stampin' Up (SU) cardstock in whisper white and calypso coral. SU stamp sets 'fox & friends' and 'teeny tiny sentiments'. Ink - Momento tuxedo black and Tombow markers. Embossing folders - SU frame, Tim Holtz 'birch trees' Cuttlebug 'swiss dots'. SU word window punch.

2. SU cardstock in whisper white and so saffron. Stamp sets - SU 'animal crackers', Azardi 'for baby' (very old). Ink - SU chocolate chip, Tombow markers. Darice 'starry night' embossing folder.

3. SU cardstock in whisper white and pirouette pink. SU stamp sets 'fox and friends', 'a word for you'. Ink - SU early espresso. Punches - SU small heart, Other tiny heart. Cuttlebug 'floral fantasy' embossing folder.

4. SU cardstock in whisper white and certainly celery. PSX 'sheep border' stamp (very old) in Momento black. Cuttlebug 'swiss dots' embossing folder.

5. SU cardstock in whisper white and pink pirouette. Stamp sets - PSX 'bunny safety pin' (very old), Annette Watkins quote (very old) both coloured with Tombow markers. Cuttlebug 'swiss dots' embossing folder.

6. SU cardstock in whisper white and bashful blue. Stamp sets - PSX 'boy teddy' (very old), Azardi sentiment (very old). Ink - SU baked brown sugar, SU and Tombow markers. Cuttlebug 'swiss dots' embossing folder.

On a Personal Note -

Well our team got trounced again! Also some extremely ignorant morons have been racially abusing one of our best players by booing every time he gets the ball. It's been happening for some weeks now but last Sunday was the worst. The sports code and the teams have said it's to stop - but of course some of the minimally intelligence challenged shock jocks and their listeners/callers have been espousing all sorts of justification for the behaviour. Very disappointing. In my son's words ' I really thought our society had moved on and become more mature'.

Have started a new really strict and minimal eating plan. Started Sunday and must admit I am really hungry!! It's under medical supervision so I know I am receiving the correct nutrition. No carbs whatsoever - my kryptonite!! Once my knee heals I will commence a walking schedule and yoga. Hopefully in 12 months - a new forever me! I am making myself a fridge sign that will say 'The Bigger Picture', to remind myself when I want to give up or try and calm myself down with food.

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

It's Freezing..sooo...Snowflakes!

Our cold weather has upped the ante again and there is snow in parts of Oz that haven't had it for over 30 years. Roads closed - and lots of hot chocolates being consumed I'm guessing. In honor of the weather I am sharing some of my snowflake featuring cards from the last month. (8 in all)


1. Stampin' Up (SU) cardstock in bashful blue and whisper white. Patterned paper from a magazine. Hero Arts stamp in bashful blue ink. White snowflakes - MFT, Blue paint chip snowflake - Cheery Lynn.

2. SU cardstock in whisper white and wild wasabi. 'Snowflakes' fussy cut from Kaisercraft 'north pole'. Cuttlebug 'swiss dots' embossing folder.

3. SU cardstock in whisper white. SU silver glimmer paper. Patterned paper from stash. SU 'snowflurry' die.

4. SU cardstock in whisper white and basic grey. Patterned paper scraps from stash. SU 'snowflake soiree' stamps coloured with markers.

5. SU cardstock in very vanilla and lucky limeade. SU 'festival of prints' patterned paper. Mixture of snowflake dies from Spellbinders, MFT and Cheery Lynn. The darker snowflakes are from a paint chip.

6. SU cardstock in marina mist and whisper white. Patterned paper from a magazine. SU silver glimmer paper. Spellbinders and Cheery Lynn snowflake dies. Scallop scissors. Cuttlebug 'swiss dots' embossing folder.

7. SU cardstock in perfect plum and very vanilla. Pink glimmer paper from stash. Couture Creations 'tuscan tile' embossing folder. SU 'snowflurry' die - but this time I fussy cut the negative space (ie leftover piece from diecut) to make a new snowflake.

8. SU cardstock in wild wasabi and whisper white. Patterned paper from stash. MFT 'jumbo snowflake' die cut out of a paint chip. Wplus9 'hand lettered holiday' die.

On a Personal Note -

Big football weekend this weekend. Our team is up against the team that beat them in the Grand Final last year. This is their second match up for the season. We won the first one so here's hoping for a repeat of that win.

My son is live blogging the game so we won't be at the stadium. He is working steadily at building a body of work to help him get into his chosen field of sports journalism. At this stage it's all unpaid but that seems to be what you have to go through these days. He works two other paying jobs - one full time and one part time. I really admire his 'get up and go'. He has a lot of self discipline - something I did not learn til much later in life!

My daughter is off on a road trip with her boyfriend to deliver some things for her father and his partner. They are going all the way to Queensland. I suggested they go the inland route because there is less traffic (ie big trucks!) but now with all the icky weather/snow I think the coastal route will be safer. I know I need to trust that they will be okay - they are young adults after all - but I am still anxious! (Motherhood)

Hope you are warm where you are.
Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

The Man Himself!

Hello. Thought I would show today some of my Santa cards. Some current stamp sets and some 'ancient'.


Stampin' Up (SU) cardstock in whisper white and cherry cobbler. SU ink in real red, cherry cobbler and chocolate chip. Cuttlebug 'swiss dots' embossing folder. Wplus9 'word balloons' die. SU stamp sets '25 & counting' (santa), 'no peeking' (rudolf).

SU cardstock in very vanilla. Scraps of decorative paper for sentiment and banner. Quikutz 'diamonds & dots' embossing folder. Kaisercraft Santa stamped in tuxedo black and coloured with markers.

SU cardstock in lucky limeade, sahara sand and river rock. Patterned paper from stash. Paper Smooches stamp set 'santa paws' in tuxedo black and coloured with markers.

SU cardstock in cherry cobbler, lucky limeade and whisper white. Patterned paper from stash. Hero Arts stamp in tuxedo black and coloured with markers.

On a Personal Note -

Well! We got through the Antarctic Vortex unscathed! Nothing as severe as the Northern Hemisphere Polar Vortex, but very cold for us. Did have the heater on for the weekend for the first time this winter. Just too cold to only rely on a lap rug.

Panther and Schnitzel took up very appreciative residence around the heater! You know it's cold when the animals don't want to go outside!

Had a girly morning tea on Sunday for some of my friends. I got to try out some new recipes and my daughter made some of her super yummy chicken pies. The ladies loved them! We also had caramelized onion and mushroom tartlets, raspberry brownies and homemade palmiers.

Sunny today but still quite crisp. Was going to try and sweep up some more leaves but my knee is still giving me grief. Well really it's my whole leg - but mainly the knee. Off to the GP tomorrow to get it looked at.

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

Baby, Baby...

My daughter asked for some help making some 'welcome baby' cards and it got me all inspired! I have stuck to traditional colours and made the same card but for different genders. I find that I almost always reach for my tiny spot embossing folder when making baby cards so this time I tried a couple with different ones - both Cuttlebug.

Number 1: Stampin' Up (SU) cardstock in very vanilla and pink pirouette. Cuttlebug embossing folder 'distressed stripe'. PSX stamps (very old) in SU baked brown sugar. Tombow and SU markers to colour.

Number 2: SU cardstock in very vanilla and bashful blue (ret). Cuttlebug 'hail spot' embossing folder. PSX bear stamp and Azardi sentiment stamp (both very old) in SU baked brown sugar - coloured in Tombow and SU markers.

Number 3: SU cardstock in very vanilla and so saffron. Cuttlebug 'heart block' embossing folder. SU stamps in early espresso - coloured with so saffron.

Number 4: SU cardstock in very vanilla and pink pirouette. Cuttlebug 'hail spot' embossing folder. PSX bear stamp and Azardi sentiment stamp (both very old) in SU baked brown sugar - coloured in Tombow and SU markers.

Numbers 5 & 6: SU cardstock in very vanilla, bashful blue (ret) and pink pirouette. Cuttlebug 'hail spot' embossing folder. SU 'teeny tiny sentiments' stamp in basic black. PSX 'sheep border' (very old) in basic black. SU 'itty bitty punch pack' - 4 petal flower. SU 'word window' punch.

On a Personal Note -

Well the weather this last week has been swinging between low 20'sC and mid teens. Never know how to dress! Nights are cold though so the throw rug is getting a lot of use. I rarely turn the heater on - preferring instead the 'wear socks and put a sweater on' method. Better for the environment and my purse! We are lucky enough to live in a climate that makes this an option.

Things are moving on apace with the stall prep. Next week my daughter and I are going on our annual trip to the Craft Show. I am hoping for lots of new ideas and will sign up to do some classes. It's a fun, albeit an exhausting day!

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

Male Birthdays

Male birthday cards are often difficult to design and not be boring with just a sentiment!

With these I have tried some different techniques - fussy cutting, die cutting and direct to stamp colouring. I have also tried to mix the colours up a bit from the 'traditional' blue, brown and green!

This first one uses Stampin' Up (SU) cardstock in wisteria wonder and whisper white and an SU sentiment in wisteria wonder. The fish are fussy cut from a Kaisercraft paper pad. The patterned paper is a mystery one.

Stampin' Up cardstock in crumb cake, chocolate chip, tangerine tango and very vanilla. An SU sentiment in chocolate chip and tangerine tango. American crafts patterned paper and a Tim Holtz 'tattered leaves' die cut that I crumpled.

Stampin' Up cardstock in sahara sand, bashful blue and very vanilla. An SU sentiment in chocolate chip, summer starfruit and bashful blue. The patterned paper is from my stash.

So, some 'boy' cards that don't rely on trucks!

On a Personal Note -

Another 'fine tune' of medication in progress. Let's hope it's a step forward!

This week I have been working on my Christmas stall stock and 'spring' cleaning my bedroom. I should really call it autumn cleaning! It is 7/8ths done. Just have to turn the mattress, remake the bed and buy myself a new bedspread. (I see IKEA in my future..) Also have to finish hanging some new artwork. Will be very happy once it's complete.

Next stop the Livingroom - under/behind the couches,,,ugh!

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

Add Some Sparkle and Shine

Hello, Bonjour, Gutentag - the sum total of my languages learnt at school! Since then I have picked up a smattering of Italian and Spanish, flirted with Japanese and still hope to learn Gaelic. I love language and languages.

What I also love is sparkles! My family used to call me a 'sequin junkie' because the things I gravitated to were sparkly. I still adore beading on fabric and glitter on paper. A new product I came across at Christmas was the Wink of Stella range. I have only used the clear version so far - but how wonderful it is! It comes in a pen type applicator with a soft brush tip. Very easy to use.

The following cards have all been anointed with Wink of Stella. You can add sparkle and shine also with glitter, glitter glue, glimmer paper, shimmer paint and sprays and metallic cardstock and foil. And don't forget rhinestones, pearls etc. The sky's the limit!!

This first card uses Stampin' Up (SU) cardstock in very vanilla and so saffron and champagne glimmer. The patterned paper is from Websters Pages. The glimmer snowflakes are a MFT die. The metallic gold cardstock is from my stash. I coloured the raised portions of the SU embossing folder with Wink of Stella - clear. 

Stampin' Up cardstock in very vanilla and baked brown sugar,and gold brushed metallic cardstock. The music paper is from my stash. 'Noel' is a Tim Holtz die. Again - I coloured the raised portion of a Sizzix embossing folder with Wink of Stella - clear.

Stampin' Up cardstock in whisper white, basic grey and poppy parade. SU edgelit for the pinking frame and the patterned paper is from Authentique. On the grey embossing of the Cuttlebug folder the Wink of Stella is more subtle.

Last but not least! Stampin' Up cardstock in sahara sand and lucky limeade. The pattern paper is from my stash. A Memory Box die made the pine needle border. The stamped images are from 'heirloom ornaments' and 'tree trimmings' from SU and stamped in lucky limeade. I coloured the non-inked portions of the images with Wink of Stella - clear.

On a Personal Note -

We are having lovely crisp autumn days so far this week. Sunny but brisk with the temperature taking a nose dive about 3pm. Definite sock weather - and throw rugs in use!

The cat has discovered my daughter's electric blanket and barely moves from her room. She doesn't leave it on during the day but he laps up the residual warmth from overnight and burrows under her covers to milk as much as possible!

Hope you are fairing well in your climate zone.

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to all of you out there. It's nice to be appreciated isn't it! My two are way past the craft/gift stall at school (way past school in fact) but I still remember their delight at how 'clever' they felt when presenting their gifts in the morning. As I have been solo parenting them for most of their lives my earlier breakfasts in bed usually consisted of cornflakes and a juice but the delight and love shining in their faces was the best part of breakfast!

Now, many years later, the breakfasts are more elaborate but the love and tenderness is still there. I count them as the best thing I have done in my life. They are loving, caring and empathetic, hardworking and have a wicked sense of humour. Great fun to be around. Lucky me.

I think Mothers day is important not for the gifts (although they are nice!) but for the chance to just have a day to breathe and take stock of the amazing little people that we have created. To just bond and snuggle and remember why we all love and need each other. These things can be hard to remember in the almost never ending treadmill of daily life. The dust bunnies can definitely wait!!

Anyway - as promised - here is the card I made for my mum.

The products are SU and the colours are very vanilla, blushing bride, strawberry slush and certainly celery. Stamp sets are 'circle circus' 'kindness matters' and a general greetings set. The patterned paper is  Tea42 and the embossing sets are also from SU. The only non-SU product is Wink of Stella - clear, which I used to make the embossed areas subtly sparkly.

On a Personal Note -

I had a lovely Mothers Day yesterday. A cooked breakfast in bed and a coffee then 3 rounds of Bananagrams before we all met up with my mum and niece and nephew at a local coffee shop/bistro for a yummy lunch. We scored a table under the heater so it was nice and toasty!

When we got home my son and I started watching the football together but I promptly fell asleep. Nanna nap time for me!

They catered dinner as well and were generally solicitous throughout the day. I felt very nurtured and loved.

On Saturday I had a brunch for some girlfriends to celebrate our Mum-ness. Much laughter and reminiscing. Here are a couple of photos of the table courtesy of my daughter. She was an absolute rock helping me get ready.

Mini almond and raspberry friands

Apple rose pastries - thank you Pinterest!

The savouries - mini salmon or ham quiches and spanakopita.

Will definitely do this again as it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed getting in and doing some serious baking and then 'playing ladies' with my vintage china and napery.

I hope your Mothers day was filled with love and laughter.

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie