Christmas Card!

More Christmas stuff?? Don't worry, we'll be starting in on Valentine's Day soon!

I fell in love with that broad ribbon a month or so back and purchased it figuring I'd add a nice big bow to my door wreath... but what do I do with the rest of it? Cut it down, pull out the wire and make a CARD out of it, of course!

Edit: As suggested I entered this (for the second time ever in my life of crafting) in a challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments! The irony here is that I didn't actually use any stamps! No ink even!

I used a chipboard snowflake and pre-stickied blue pearls from Close to My Heart, a Martha Stewart snowflake edge punch and then cardstock and shimmer spritz from Stampin' Up.

We're using our 12 Days of Christmas calendar with the kids... I put their evening vitamins in it (which are like gummie bears anyway). The only issue is that my 2 year old wants to pick the number SHE wants, not the sequential number. That and keeping it somewhere they can see it without being able to touch it. That many vitamins won't do them any harm, but it'll certainly make them feel uncomfortable!

Christmas Ornaments

I fell in love with Close to My Heart's "Dimensional Elements: Ornaments" (no word of a lie, I bought 4 packs!). You get six ornaments (2 large, 2 teardrop, 1 oblong and 1 small) to play around with and tons of options on how to decorate them.


Take, for example, the pink one I've got here. The chipboard design is partially covered with the design paper (Jingle paper, inked with tulip) to set it apart from the other three I have (four packs, remember? hehe). I added some flowers and a butterfly from Spring Blossom flower pack. And, of course, for my little diva... some bity sparkles!


For the larger ornament I used the Mistletoe paper, chocolate ink and some pearls. I decided to add the top piece of chipboard on an angle to better frame the faces of my husband and youngest. On the back of each ornament I've put the names of those in the photo and the date. I won't say who is getting which ornaments since I know my mom reads this blog (hi mom!) but I think they'll be well recieved.


Thanks for checking in! I'm not posting as frequently right now because I'm working on a new commission piece. So excited!

Another rejected card

Close shave for this guy, but he didn't quite make the cut. (Don't you just love it when people mix metaphores!) Once again I'm using the Mistletoe paperpack, with the stamp set Nature's Gift.

The bear is popped up and she's been sprayed with Stampin' Up's "smooch spritz" and I used Stampin' Up punches to back the sentiment and do the scallop border. The rest of the materials are Close to My Heart.

Were I to do this one again I think I would either use a lighter green on the tree (I'm using New England Ivy here) or do the Stamp Off technique (thank you Colleen for the suggestion).

I'm going to go back to using the Jingle paper pack and do a whimsical card for the fourth card in my kit.

Rejected Card: Christmas Card Extravaganza

I'm probably being too picky. But well, this is my first time hosting as a Close to My Heart consultant so I'm nervous!

This had a chance to be a great card, but it seems over balanced to me. I used "Father Christmas" and the "Mistletoe" paperpack. The red stamp is popped up. (Crappy photo is crappy, I'm sure you've heard enough about my phone and it's phototaking).

Were I to redo this card I I think I would do the "Postcard" stamp in gold emoboss and perhaps add a bit of ribbon.

The 12 Days of Christmas

My son, Koen, was born on the Epiphany, or the 12th Day of Christmas. I think that's kinda cool. So instead of making an Advent calendar (my kids prefer the chocolate kind anyway) I thought it would be nice to make a 12 Days of Christmas calendar that can double as a "how many days to Koen's birthday" calendar.

I haven't added the title yet because I haven't decided what it will be. The tins are attached with pre-stickied velcro dots. I used the cricut for the numbers (and will again for the title). I used up paper and embellishments that haven't seen the light of day for years! The tins themselves came from Lee Valley (love Lee Valley).

The whole thing measures 12x12 and has a kickstand on the back so I can rest it on a table. I plan to place an encouraging message in each tin, and perhaps with a piece of candy for each child.

Thank you for checking in!

Card Three - Card Extravaganza

Slowly but surely I'm making headway on the cards I plan to use in the card kit for the Christmas Card Extravaganza with Colleen.

Alas I'm still using my phone for photos.

This card uses the Mistletoe paper pack and "Captured Moments" stamp set. Super simple with just a touch of distressing on the New England Ivy cardstock. It's finished off with some gold embroidery floss.

If you would like to attend the gathering please make sure to sign up no later than tomorrow night! In order to make the right number of kits we have to cut off the sign up early enough!

Thank you for checking in, I love reading all your comments.

Card Two - Father Christmas

This is the second of four cards I'll be using for the Christmas Card Extravaganza on Nov. 14th.

The card base is Colonial White though it might not show well in that picture (again, sorry... iphone photo, camera is broken!). The image is from Father Christmas (Close to My Heart) stamped in brown stazeon, which just happens to match the chocolate ribbon from CTMH. I used stazeon in case the people at the party wanted to color the santa later on.

The patterned paper is from Magnifique and the coloured card stock is Pacifica (as is the stamped sentiment). It's hard to see but there's a few silver brads added.

I'm rather happy with the effect. It's a super simple card (the cutting only takes a minute) and still says "Christmas" without using the more traditional red and green!

With today being Hallowe'en I may not get a post out for tomorrow. I have little kids to take trick or treating!! But I promise to post photos of the cuties (even though Kerowyn is now refusing to be one of the three pigs, even after I suggested "princess pig").

Thank you for stopping in!

Card Making Party

On November 14th I'll be participating in a Christmas Card party with Colleen from DragonFlyInk Creations. We'll each be preparing kits that include 3 each of 4 different designs (12 cards) that the folks attending put together themselves. The afternoon starts with a potluck, and finishes with the card making.

This is the first of my four designs, it uses the Tannenbaum and Peace on Earth stamp sets and the Jingle paper pack. The sentiment reads, "What if Christmas doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas means a little bit more. - The Grinch"

The party has limited space and is only for Calgary residents. If you'd like to go send me a note or comment or check out the Facebook event.

Again, pardon the picture quality, phone vs camera.

Camera is hooped

I give up trying to fix my camera! Please excuse the quality of photos, I'm using my phone to take photos now. This is the card I was going to post in my last entry. I used CTMH "Magnifique" paper and the stamp set "Winter Wonderland" also CTMH.

I know it's still a bit early for Christmas, but this is when us card crafters make them... well in advance so we can get them made and in the mail!

On a totally unrelated note, I wanted to thank all of you for your patience as I neglect my blog. Things are starting to get back into alignment and you can expect to see more posts from me. Now that I've given up on the camera and just started using my phone, I have no excuses for not posting. Woot!

Christmas in... May?

I'm working on a "supr sekret" project right now, so you get to see some more older images. One of the most satisfying card types I've worked on is the acetate card, again from Splitcoast. It takes a bit longer to make because you have to wait for the craft ink to dry (can't tell you how many pieces of acetate I wasted on smudges!) This is a card I got in a card exchange that I thought was hilarious and kept. I don't have the lady's name any longer, unfortunately. Definately a card I'd recreate, cause... well... some of my best friends ARE flakes! Love you guys!

This beautiful card is typical of Leisa Hubley (her site is linked on the side of the page) and uses my favourite Christmas stamp set, same one that I used on the acetate card. Lovely card Leisa, thank you!

Now off to work on that secret project! Check back over the next few days to see what I've come up with!