Christmas Ornaments

Just popping in quickly to show you this cute fella with his baubles. I coloured him up to match the decorative paper and used a jumbo eyelet and ribbon to jazz-it up. Greeting and two punches later, it was done. Voila!

Hope your Christmas-card making is more advanced than mine! Instead of making cards, I've been trying to clear out some household bric-a-brac and I'm on quite a roll. But do you think I can find anyone to take a large box of quality toys? We're not talking incomplete/lost/broken here, but good stuff. These days many charities accept only new items. Our toys just want to be loved and played with. To suit toddlers, a mix of boys and girls stuff. So if you're local to me (North West Suburban Sydney) and can use them, they're all yours. Just email me or leave a comment.

Back to card-making soon; my son finishes his current school year next week and the kids exchange cards and treats so I need to magic up 20+ items real soon.

Love from Crafty Kim

Polar Bear

Like the icy blue polar bear? Nothing could be further from Christmas in Australia but I still love these snow scenes and images. One day I hope I'll enjoy the novelty of a White Christmas, 'til then I'll make the cards for my Northern Hemisphere friends.

My photography isn't up to showing you but there are tiny dots of glitter at the bears' paws and on his purple-and-green scarf.

Thanks for stopping by,

Love from Crafty Kim

Gingerbread Hugs

Back to Christmas cards. I love gingerbread; to stamp and colour that is, not so much to eat (I'm more of a shortbread girl). I've had this gingerbread stamp and matching sentiment for a long time so I coloured it up. I used a glossy accent on the hearts in the centre of the little men. I decided to continue the heart theme - what I really wanted was a heart embossing folder but nothing suitable in my stash so I made do with some heart punches.

I've loved the loopy border punch since I first spied it. Christmas cards need something sparkly so I added some small rhinestones to selected loops along the border. Some ribbon finished it off nicely.

Thanks for looking.

Love from Crafty Kim

Christmas Cuttlebug / Big Shot Cards

Well, it's been a while. Lots of reasons, mostly been busy with work and fun stuff like school holidays including a trip to Taronga Zoo where we saw new-ish baby elephants, and to Canberra for a few days visiting friends and Questacon, Black Mountain and Floriade. But feeling a bit shabby with a cold this weekend so I'll cut straight to it.

Here are the cards I've been teaching recently. This class was very popular. I wanted to show different Cuttlebug / Big Shot techniques. The first one is using sponging blocks to apply ink to the raised part of cardboard which has been embossed with embossing folders through the Cuttlebug / Big Shot machines:

The next one uses ink applied directly to the Lace Tree embossing folder. The tree is then cut out and mounted on to a matt sponged with ink in the shape of the tree:

I love the Kraft coloured card with red and chocolate.

The third card uses card stock that has a coloured core. Meaning when you emboss it and then lightly sand it with a sanding block or even sand paper, you get this look:

I dusted off my deckle-edged scissors to edge the Kraft card behind the greeting panel and decided I should use them more often. Quick and easy alternative to a border punch.

Last one was the fast bonus card. It is a clean and simple card. The wreath comes as a die and embossing folder pair. I've done it in both red and green card, then cut the ribbon only out from the red one before applying it to the green. The white gel pen just adds a bit of contrast and dimension. I used glitter glue to simulate berries but I think small red beads (glued on) may look better, albeit more fiddly.

Note the embossed border around the image and greeting? Not done with a folder, but with a scoring tool. This can really add interest to the card and it's so easy and cheap.

Well I'm off to cough and splutter elsewhere. I've made a few cards in my absence from here, just need to upload them to the PC. My card reader died so I'm back using a cable and it's soooo slow for the high quality photos.

Thanks for looking, hope your week goes well.

Love from Crafty Kim

Christmas Punch Art Cards

Here are the cards that we made my Christmas Punch Art card class earlier this month. My favourite would be the polar bears, so cute! This isn't my original idea - there are some very creative punch artists out there who magically turn punchies into card features. These polar bears are popping up all over the place and I couldn't find where they were born :(

Next up is the Christmas tree:

This was made by layering pieces of paper which have been edged with a lacy border punch. These lacy border punches really are so versatile and useful (earlier this year I used one to create a flower, click HERE to look again).

Another cute card, the reindeer here from punch guru, Debra Clarke:

I have to say I'm loving the grass edge border punch; very useful.

And the last quick one at the end of the night is Santa, original punch art designed by Ros Davidson:

Thanks for visiting.

Love from Crafty Kim

Looking Back at Christmas 2009

Hello. Yes, I'm still breathing. Thanks to those who have written emails to me in recent times and also to those who kindly sent me Christmas cards. I received some lovely hand-made cards, a selection is shown above. I apologise for not sending out many cards this year, hopefully I can surprise you with a card sometime this year. The last month has been very eventful and not always in a good way but most of it ended well and, hopefully the future path is less arduous. One of my New Year's resolutions is to start making my Christmas cards in January; all of my unfulfilled ideas are still fresh in my mind.

I've not been creating lately. My craft room has been in such a mess that the thought of having to tidy it first was enough to put me right off. That's another of my resolutions...to cut down on 8 years worth of clutter and not just in my office, but in the whole house. Watch out for some give-aways and 2nd-hand items for sale, most of my items are lightly or never-used and these days, I'm realistic enough to know when I'm never going to use my stash (as much as I would love to).

Anyway, I thought I would share a couple of Christmas highlights for me. The first being the humorous picture below. I love suburban Christmas light displays and my son and I spent more than a few hours trawling my local area looking at house lights.

This photo was sent to me by a friend but there was a similar situation in my very own suburb of Westleigh. When I spied it, I didn't have a suitable camera with me. I managed to snap this photo with my I-Phone (new to me, still trying to master its operation):


I went back a couple of days later but clearly the neighbours had got to the witty individual who was brave enough to twist a rope of lights into the shape of an arrow and the word "Ditto".

For the last two years my boy Ashley has been asking me to build and decorate a gingerbread house with him. I finally gave in and alot of lollies and sugar later, here it is:

This side decorated by Ashley

and this end decorated by me

I always feel a little sad when Christmas is done, the tree gone and the decorations wrapped up and stowed away. I hope you had a good celebration and are still out there enjoying our holiday period.

Love from Crafty Kim

Scalloped Edge Medallion Cards

Well after that flurry of recent posts, I suddenly went quiet. I thought I'd better get back to Christmas since it's not far away. This is one of the techniques I demonstrated at our Christmas Craft Day. Using a scallop border punch (which is very popular so many of you will already own one), I made the medallion-style matting for the greeting. It is VERY easy and you can learn how to do this here.

You can also rotate the square so that it is a diamond, as shown below in a card created by Kirrily Matthews:

(Card design and photography with thanks to Kirrily Matthews)

Both of these cards also use the Square Scallop Punch as well which you can currently receive FREE with qualifying orders, for more details, please click here.

Of course, you can put anything on the scalloped medallion, circles or squares with greetings or images. It's up to you now.

Love KimT

Quick Plug for Digitally-Created Beagle Christmas Cards

Remember these cards? Well, I didn't make as many Christmas cards as the Beagle Rescue organisation could use so they've supplemented what I made with some digitally-created cards.

In an effort to spread the word far-and-wide, I'm posting the details for the sale of these cards. Most of my blog visitors make their own cards but if you know anyone who might be interested in purchasing some cards for charity, please pass this message on. There are gift tags available too.

For more details of cards available and pricing, please click here.

Thanks for your attention,

Love from Crafty Kim

Christmas Cards Using Non-Traditional Colours

Well since I got back from Fiji, my little boy has developed a nasty stomach virus and so I've been at home mainly keeping him company, tending his needs and watching cartoons. Not all bad for me ;) It also means I've had time to post. I probably should be doing some work from home but I'll get to that next.

Anyway, to the craft. I made the above card from a stack of purple papers I found in the bargain bin of a local craft shop. I admit I was drawn to them because purple is my favourite colour. The paper made these cards quick work since I used them as background and for the greeting. Unfortunately the photo doesn't show you that the tree has been glittered using Heat 'n' Stick Powder then Dazzling Diamonds. So, in real life, the tree is sparkly deep purple. I stamped the envelope with a matching tree (but without the glitter).

And I also made this co-ordinating card as well using different paper within the same range.

This time the tree is pale gold in colour. In SU! speak, it is almost River Rock in tone (a retired In-Colour ink).

Well I hope these help to inspire you make some of your own Christmas cards, time is running out to make cards. It's a slippery slope to Christmas from here on.

Love from Crafty Kim

Christmas is Coming...Give a gift, receive a gift

(Click on the image to enlarge)

Stampin' Up! have a Christmas Extravaganza promotion to help you with your Christmas gift shopping.

All you have to do is find $85 worth of goodies from the following list for you and/or your friends and a SQUARE SCALLOP or BOHO BLOSSOM punch (valued at $30.95) will be yours for FREE.

The qualifying products are:
Simply Scrappin Kits
Petal Party $36.95 113059 Pg 136
Rock-a-bye girl $36.95 112165 Pg 137
Rock-a-bye Boy $36.95 112172 Pg 137
Sweet Nothings $36.95 113925 Pg 138
Hoppy Memories $36.95 113936 Pg 138
I wish $36.95 112193 Pg 137
Ribbons
Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon $14.95 109054 Pg 151
Riding hood red 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon $19.50 111374 Pg 150
Dress Up Ribbon Originals $24.95 114317 Pg 150
Valet Ribbon Originals $24.95 114318 Pg 150
Pigtails Ribbon Originals $27.95 114316 Pg 150
Simply Sent Kits
Thanks x 2 Simply Sent Card Elements and More Kit $48.95 116809 Pg 142
More Thoughts simply sent kit $83.95 116810 Pg 143
2U simply sent card elements and More Kit $48.95 116808 Pg 142
No one like you Simply Sent Kit $83.95 116811 Pg 143
Stamp Sets
From the Kitchen of Stamp set $52.95 115810 Pg 93
Just Jawing Stamp set $45.95 115828 Pg 67
Punches and Tools
Curly label punch bundle $65.95 112966 Pg 153
Cutter Kit $33.95 106958 Pg 155
Spiral Punch $20.95 108341 Pg 152
Buttons
Button Latte Designer Buttons $15.50 114333 Pg 151
Button Bouquet Designer Buttons $15.50 112092 Pg 151
Cardstock
Kiwi Kiss A4 cardstock $10.50 116204 Pg 126
Whisper White A4 cardstock $13.50 106549 Pg 127
Real Red 12 x 12 cardstock $14.50 106545 Pg 128
Bold Brights A4 assorted cardstock $14.50 106560 Pg128
Markers
Real Red Stampin’ Write marker $5.75 100052 Pg128
Brilliant Blue Stampin’ Write Marker $5.75 100057 Pg128
Glorious Green Stampin’ Write Marker $5.75 100047 Pg128
Other Items
Small flat cellophane bags $7.50 103104 Pg 130
On Board 5 x 5 Art Journal $13.50 108495 Pg 147

It's also a good time to get your husband or mother shopping for you. The offer closes on the 14 December 2009 so please get in contact (phone 0402 347 010 or email me) before then.

Love from Crafty Kim

Lay-Out Challenge from Christmas Craft Day

The second challenge I gave the participants at the Christmas Craft Day was to make a Christmas card or page using the following sketch as a lay-out:

Sketches are a great way to start a card or scrap page. If you're like me, you've got so much in your stash that you could use that it's almost overwhelming. A sketch narrows the range down, not that you can't take some liberty when you interpret the sketch. If you're keen to try a sketch, head over to MojoMonday - there are some "Mojolicious" cards to spy as well.

The card at the top of this post is my response to the lay-out challenge. I've made those flowers using the Scribble This stamp set. I originally got the idea from Margaret Crawford (thanks Margaret). They are really easy to make, please visit Michelle Dyson's web site for instructions. I've used some paper that I disliked when I first saw it in the catalogue. I think the Poinsettia side of the paper put me off Holiday Treasures but having had a play, I found the paper really versatile and the colours rich and warm. I'll be posting some more cards using it soon so if you're feeling inclined to stock up on some Christmas paper, I've got plenty of ideas for you.

Anyway, back to the Christmas Craft Day challenge...would you believe the winner of the Colour Challenge, Suzanne, also won the layout challenge with this card:

And no, it wasn't rigged. The voting was anonymous so Suzanne took away two prizes, and I'm sure felt very happy to have her work recognised by so many like-minded individuals. That's half the fun isn't it, sharing our craft creations with others who get it?

Well done Suzanne.

Love from Crafty Kim

Our Little Reindeer

Howdy,

Here's one of the make-and-takes from our recent Get Ready for Christmas Craft Day.

It's a 6 x 6 inch photo board decorated with Ski Slope paper from the current Spring Mini Catalogue. Teamed with some stripey red grosgrain ribbon.

The photo is from my son's first Christmas. He was a February baby so he's about 10 months old in the picture. He's 7 years old now and more excited about Christmas than ever. How time flies.

I thought this project would make an ideal Christmas gift for grandparents or other relatives. It proved popular at the Christmas Craft Day. If you would like the instructions, please email me. It's quite adaptable, I've used the format previously as shown here. And if you want to update the photo, it's a simple as squeezing the clip and replacing it with the new happy snap.

Love from Crafty Kim

Colour Challenge from Get Ready Christmas Craft Day

On Saturday 10 October, we hosted our second Get Ready For Christmas Craft Day at the Epping Creative Centre. We welcomed 41 guests for a day of crafting which included morning tea of scones with home-made jam; three craft demonstrations from Carolyn Gibbs, Clare Mcilhatton (fondly known as Crafty Cow), and myself; lunch; four make-and-takes, three challenges; lucky draw with super prizes and afternoon tea. Guests were treated to hand-decorated coffee mugs, a goodie bag, lollies and a large wall of inspiration containing many cards and scrap page samples. Somewhere in amongst that, we managed to raise funds for the breast cancer cause (more on this in a future post).

I want to acknowledge the contribution of my Mum, Robyne Staples, both ahead and on the day. Mum is always there when I need her. My downline, Carolyn Gibbs was also an invaluable extra mind and pair of hands. Without the help of these key people, the day would not have happened! Of course, thanks must also go to all of the participants who came along and had a blast, especially those who helped us set-up and pack-up...thank you Nicky Adamson, Karen Fowler, Paula Perna and Cathy Howe. Needless to say, we were all exhausted afterwards...

Now one of my tasks for the day was to set the challenges. The first was a colour challenge:


My response to this challenge is shown at the beginning of this post. We had a great response to the challenges set and I was impressed with all of the entries. However, the winner of this challenge (as determined by vote) was my friend, Suzanne Leverton with this card:

Congratulations to Suzanne who won a Simply Sent Kit which had been kindly donated by Stampin' Up!

There's so much more I could share from the day but I must sign off for now (promise to return with more).

For those who placed orders with me on the day, thanks again for these and deliveries will be made in the next few days.

Thanks for your interest.

Love from Crafty Kim

Cards for Beagle Rescue (Attention Animal Lovers)

A couple of months ago, I was asked if I would consider making Christmas cards to raise funds for an animal welfare group known as Beagle Rescue. You can learn more about this cause here.

My association with this organisation has been as a foster carer for Beagle dogs in need of a new home. These dogs are generally rescued from death row at council pounds or other animal welfare facilities. I've fostered several dogs and it is very satisfying to see them find their forever homes in happy and safe places, especially the older dogs like Ellie who had a mammary tumour when we took her into care. It made for some very interesting times like when I cared for a 4 month old puppy so thin that he could walk right through my fencing. I still help Beagle Rescue when I can, however, I'm no longer fostering dogs. But I kept a souvenir:

Pictured with my son Ashley and his cousin Ciaran, this is our adopted (versus fostered) tan-and-white boy Beagle, Toby, or as he is frequently referred to, NORTY DOG. I did try to re-home him to a lovely couple with a very pretty girl Beagle but he busted out and tried to come back to me so he was obviously meant to be part of our family.

Sadly, there are too many people out there who don't consider the responsibilities of pet ownership before taking the plunge and the casualties are the animals. So I set out to make some cards to help this organisation. It was quite a challenge since they asked for cards with a distinctly Beagle character. Alas, a too-busy life intervened and I didn't make anywhere near what I had hoped but here's what I have managed:












I've never been one to be able to make cards on mass so these took me some time to complete (I made a few of each design). And you know my motto, never-a-naked-envelope, so each card has a co-ordinating envelope. I had a "light-bulb moment" while stamping and decided to make use of a cute Beagle photo as the main image as an alternative to stamping. I'm happiest with the first card shown, with the blue background. I'm still struggling to like the Glorious Green card (shown last), but I think it's the colour, it's never been to my liking.

I'm hoping if I start earlier, I might be able to make more next year, perhaps with the help of some other animal-loving paper-crafters. As I've said many times before, you can never start your Christmas cards too early.

Thanks for your attention to yet another worthy cause. So many worthy things to fill the day with...

Love Crafty Kim

Dates for your diary

Just popping in quickly to ask you local crafters to save the following dates:


Saturday 8 August, from 2pm - 8pm, at Cherrybrook. I am holding a launch party for the new Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue which runs from August through to November 2009. More details will follow in an invitation to my newsletter subscribers (if you're not on my database, please email me.). Come when you can, go when you must!



Saturday 10 October, from 9:30am - 5pm, at Epping. It's time for the Getting Ready for Christmas Craft Day. Remember last year's event? Invitations will be issued shortly but places are limited so feel free to register your interest now by emailing me.

I hope you can join in the fun.

Love from Crafty Kim

Notice of Holiday Period

Hello Everyone,

Well Christmas is almost upon us and the end of 2008 is near. I'm taking this opportunity to advise closure dates for Stampin' Up! which are as follows:

"Stampin' Up!'s offices and operations (including picking and shipping of orders) will be closed Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 24-26 December for Christmas and Boxing Day. SU! will resume all office operations starting Monday, 29 December until 3.00 pm on Wednesday, 31 December 2008. The office will again close from 3.00 pm on Wednesday, 31 December (New Year's Eve) and will reopen on Monday, 5 January 2009."

I will be at home and able to receive phone calls and emails during the above holiday period so you are welcome to place orders with me during this time but delivery is unlikely to occur until after Monday 5 January 2009.

On Thursday 8 January, my close friend, Leanne Jarmyn, and I are flying to Africa for the holiday of a life time, including a safari to meet Africa's wonderful wildlife. We'll return to our families on Australia Day (26 January) . Wish us luck!

If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to ask me.

Love from Crafty Kim

Christmas Bargains

As well as the Stampin' Up! Marker promotion running until 9pm tomorrow (= 14 December 2008), Stampin' Up! is also offering 20% off selected stamp sets and accessories when you spend $20 or more on any Stampin' Up! merchandise.

Festive Favourites stamp set (p.27) was $45.95 now $36.76

Crazy For Christmas stamp set (p.28) was $39.95 now $31.96

Snow Flurries stamp set (p.29) $20.95 now $16.76

Tag Time stamp set (p.43) $53.95 now $43.16

Many Merry Messages stamp set (p.111) $64.95 now $51.96

12"x12" Days-to-Remember Calendar (p.133) was $20.95 now $16.76

6"x6" Days-to-Remember Calendar (p.133) was $18.95 now $15.16

Winter Bright Simply Scrappin (p.138) was $36.95 now $29.56

Three for You Punch Box (p.143) was $85.95 now $68.76

Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (p.146) was $14.95 now $11.96

Very Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (p.146) was $14.95 now $11.96

White Square Aluminium Metal Edge tags (p.147) was $7.50 now $6.00

For full details of the promotion, please click here.

Offer ends on the 31 December 2008.

Thanks for reading,

Love from Crafty Kim

Christmas Lights on Show

Hello,

I'm finally back. Thanks for your patience and I hope to be posting more frequently.

Christmas celebrations have begun and I wanted to share something special with you. In my local area, the Baynie family has created a wonderful Christmas light show in their front yard (at 47 Oakleigh Drive, Thornleigh) for all to enjoy. The display, which the family have been producing for a few years now, is dedicated to the memory of their daughter whom they lost to leukemia when she was aged only in her twenties.

Their neighbours have joined in as well so there are three houses to view. So if you're located somewhere in North West Sydney suburbs, it is worth the trip. Lights are on from sunset until 10.30pm. They are lovely people and most welcoming. While you're out this way, please take a tour of my suburb, Westleigh, lots of families have got into the act, including our family's modest efforts. Please email me for more details of the streets.

If you're not in my local area, there are other light displays all over Sydney. Please visit the 2GB web site for details of the Christmas Lights Hot Spots (make sure you scroll down past the advertisements to see the various homes and locations) and to vote for your favourite display (no prizes for guessing who I'm voting for).

I'll be back posting about paper-craft next.

Love from Crafty Kim

Checking In

Hello everyone,

Yep, I'm still breathing. Please accept my apologies for the absence of posts in the last week. Thanks to those faithful blog followers who keep popping back hoping to find a new post from me.

I've been keeping busy in the last week. I hosted my Get Ready for Christmas paper-craft event last weekend and today was the official Pink Ribbon Day (to raise funds for breast cancer research and patient services). I'll be posting news about these soon.

But first, some housekeeping. Remember this image? I am pleased to announce that Robyn A, Carolyn and Robyn L determined the stamp set to be Always from the SU! Spring Mini Catalogue. The card came from Yvonne Campbell, and here it is in full:


Clever Yvonne has used her Garden Green and Real Red markers to colour the stamp. Then after stamping, she has applied Crystal Effects to the red berries to give them shine and dimension. Thank you to Yvonne for sharing her card idea.

Robyn A, Carolyn and Robyn L will each be receiving a sample of this card and a small selection of Accents and Elements (Christmas stickers) which are also from the SU! Spring Mini Catalogue. Now, my camera is currently out-of-action so I can't photograph these stickers for you but with thanks to my Stampin' Up! family of demonstrators, I can show you some creations from another SU! demonstrators to give you an idea. Here they are:

(With thanks to Sharon Davis for idea and photo)

Gorgeous aren't they? Thank you again to Sharon for helping me through my current camera drama.

I've got lots to share so please keep checking back, there will be plenty of new posts to view this week. But for now, I need to unpack and sort my supplies after the recent Christmas event. And some housework and sleep might be needed too.

Love you later,

Crafty Kim

Making Christmas Cards from Non-Christmas Stamps

So you thought I was here to persuade you to purchase Christmas-themed stamps, right? Not exactly*, please read on.

I guess I've been in the Christmas frame-of-mind for weeks now because Michelle Dyson and I have been busy preparing for our Get Ready for Christmas Event coming up this Saturday (25 October 2008) - only 5 sleeps to go. When you consider it, many images from various Stampin' Up! stamp sets can be used to create Christmas cards. Here's a Christmas card where I have used Baroque Motifs:


And here's another where I have used Little Pieces:


Of course, it helps to stamp a Christmas greeting to make the festive connection abundantly clear but there's no doubt even in my muddy mind that these are Christmas cards. What other SU! stamp sets do you like to use to make Christmas cards? Here's one that another demonstrator (who will remain anonymous for now) thought of:

(Photo courtesy of a mysterious but very talented stamper)

Stamp sleuths out there, which stamp set is this image from? And for the technically-minded, how did the stamper create this image? Please leave a comment or email me to let me know. I will reward the first three correct readers with a surprise prize (in keeping with the element of mystery). Offer is not available to those who already members of the Stampin' Up! family but overseas entries most welcome.

And at the Get Ready for Christmas Event on Saturday, I will be demonstrating how to use masking and circle punches to create Christmas cards. If you want to find out more, we'd love you to come along. We're still looking for more people to attend so please don't be shy, phone me on 0402 347 010 or email me!

Love from Crafty Kim

* I happily sell any SU! stamps :)