Christmas Wrap Up and Happy New Years

Morning everyone, I am just wanting to share all the beautiful handmade cards we received this christmas.  So wonderful to think that someone spent their time creating something for us. :-)  The cards are in no particular order…..if any order it is as the computer sees fit.  :-)

So first card off the mark is this beautiful card from my equally beautiful friend Helen using Stampin Up products.

This is from the lovely Gail of 'Gails Blog'.  A piece of christmas fabric highlighted with a glitter frame and foil stars attached.

This is so glittery in real life, from the always smiling Jan of Craftmad….album here.

The talented Sherry sent me this wonderful cracker card.  So elegant with the bow.

This very Christmassy card is from the Kerry of 'Kerry's Place to Escape' and Craftmad (album here)

A clever christmas stocking card from a lady that always inspires me…..my Mum.  :-) Those little holly leaves have been glued on individually.

How lucky am I to receive this special card from the creative lady Susan of 'Time to Play'

This card is from the amazing Kaye of 'Crafty Kayes Room' and Craftmad (album here) who comes up with something new all the time.  Be sure to pop over to her blog today to see Santa and his holly leaves.  :-0

This a simply stylish card is very eye catching from the lovely Cathy of 'Cathy's Creative Corner' and Craftmad (album here)

The first Christmas card I received was from the artistic Annmaree of 'Follow the Paper Brick Road'.  I love the Aussie feel of the card.

This beautiful poinsettia card is from the imaginative Mandy owner of Craftmad (album here).

My lovely Aunty Barb made this card and is relatively new to card making and each year it is so wonderful to see how she has improved and what new things she is trying.  The wreath is 3D paper tole.

This just arrived in my mailbox from the kind Schnookle of Craftmad (album here)

How lucky am I this is from my Secret Santa over at Craftmad as you can see I have lots to keep me busy this year. 

I was so lucky and received a second Secret Santa this year.  This is such a special present and I am all set for cards next year as this folder contains everything I need to make 24 cards.  It has the cards, 3D adhesive foam, die cut images, stickers, etc

The inside.

Our dog Scruff getting a bit of sun whilst in his Christmas garb.

And that is Christmas 2013 for me.  Thanks to everyone who made it so special and thanks to all who have visited my blog throughout 2013 and left beautiful and encouraging comments.  Wishing you all a fantastic 2014.  

See you next year. :-)

The last of my Christmas Creations for 2013

These are my last Christmas cards for 2013.  Once again I have used Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler card stock, then a 'Happy Holiday' card topper from Blue Edge Crafts,  Stampin Up christmas patterned paper and this pretty 3D paper tole from a mini book.

This photo shows the layers.

Same materials but different patterns.

This card I have attached a 'Holly Leaf' card topper from Blue Edge Crafts.  The tree is from a card I received sometime in the past.

My sister-in-law put some money into our account for the kids.  To give them something to open on Christmas Day I made this envelope box with my new Envelope Punch Board.  Literally took about 5 mins to make the box.  My husband walked in while I was making the first box and asked what the board was, I said……"Just the best crafting tool ever".  Hubby then proceeded to sit and watch me make the second box and even took some photos.  It is unheard of my husband showing interest in my crafting but he was impressed.  :-)  Wonders never cease to amaze me.   Inside, each box I just put a print out note explaining what their Aunty had done.  They did like the element of surprise.

Tomorrow I hope to share all the beautiful handmade cards I received over Christmas.

Country Santa Christmas Card

Hi everyone, almost the end of my Christmas cards this year.  I think I may still have another post on Monday to finish off.  I don't normally like to use things that say 'Happy Holidays' but I was keen to use the Kraft colour when making my Christmas cards this year.  Blue Edge Crafts had these card toppers all cut and ready to go along with the holly leaf card front.  I thought this would make for a quick and easy card.   I teamed them both with Bazzill card stock and found two Santa's in my stash to finish off….the one on the left is a sticker and the other a rub on.  Had to add a little glitter so I used Kindy Glitz on the berries.

I like the country feel to these cards.

Have a great day and weekend.

Reindeer Christmas Cards

So how was your Christmas?  

Time to really relax now and eat all the leftovers.  :-) Or do like my daughter and brave the Boxing Day sales.

Some more cards I created this year.  This time using a lovely reindeer die cut from Blue Edge Crafts.  Teamed with my Stampin Up card stock and design papers.  I added a little red and white bakers twine to each reindeer and one guy ended up as Rudolf with a red nose.  Finished with gold sentiment stickers from the Sticker Store.  Again the lighting is bad in the photos as I finished these at night time and keen to get them into envelopes.  So couldn't wait until for the morning light.

Merry Christmas and Plum Pudding Cards

I so loved the Christmas Plum pudding card that Beccy shared on her blog I just had to have a try.  So I created a circle easel card using my Spellbinder dies.  I ran the brown circle through my cuttlebug to give it some texture.  Hand cut some custard and holly leaves for the top of the puddings.  The pearl bling were white but used my copic pen to colour them red.  The sentiment is computer generated.  These were so fun to put together and I think my favourite Christmas card for the year.

Merry Christmas to you all.  As the song says " May your day be Merry and Bright" and what you planned.  :-)

Gingerbread Man Christmas Card

I have wanted to make gingerbread men cards for a while now.  So when Mandy gave us a card to create (you can see in this post) with one on our Craftmad get together I knew what I would be ordering from Blue Edge Crafts…..these wonderful die cut gingerbread men.

I teamed the gingerbread man with Stampin Up card stock and design paper and had a fun time creating all these cards.  Best thing is they are the same but all different. :-)  Love double sided papers.  I used a white gel pen to add the icing lines to the gingerbread man and added some bling for his buttons.  Finished the card with a gold sentiment sticker from Sticker Store.

Sorry for the lighting and shadows in these photos but I completed them at night time and had to get them enveloped and ready to be mailed.  So couldn't wait for the morning light. 

Well one more sleep to go.  I hope that everyone is feeling organised so they can enjoy the moment.  :-)

For me, I have one present to buy but that is an easy one.  Potato salad to make, boil some eggs, make a bit of white christmas, wrap a couple of presents and deliver a present and some cards.  In between spend time with the family, relax and eat.  :-)  I hope to check out some christmas lights tonight too.

Well have a good one everyone.

Christmas Snowflake Wreath Cards

As well as using my Christmas stash up this year I decided I would copy some cards from friends blogs that I admired.  Gail has been posting a variety of Christmas Trees which I just loved and went over to see which one I would try.  But saw a lovely snowflake wreath and got sidetracked.  You can see Gail's here in blue and white, so pretty.

I found some Bazzill Card stock for the base cards.  Dug out my paper punches that have not been used since forever.  Punched enough gold (two shades) paper for two layers of snowflakes on the wreath and then added a layer of gold stars. Pearl bling for the snowflake centres and then found some charms and brads to which I attached a little gold thread to hang in the centre of the wreath.  Finished with a gold sentiment sticker.

The maroon strip across the top of this card fixed a silly mistake I made.  Yes, I made the whole card front upside down.  So I just cut the folded section off then attached this small folded section of maroon to the top of the card…..all working correctly now.

This is my favourite of the wreaths….just love the shape and size of the heart.

Only 2 more sleeps….so exciting.

Thanks for visiting.

Country Reindeer Christmas Cards

Time to show a couple of my Christmas cards this year.  For all my cards this year I have been trying to use what I already have in my stash.  For my christmas cards I was trying to do the same so I did buy a few items to help use my stash.  I bought these wonderful die cut reindeers and 'Happy Holiday' card fronts from Blue Edge Crafts.  I have enjoyed seeing people use Kraft colours in their creations so it's my turn.  I started with a white base card, the Happy Holiday card front with red card under the wording.  Then a layer of the red card stock with the patterned paper.  Both of these papers are very special as they are from gift bags when we bought items in Japan for our family holiday a couple of years ago.   Then I added some ribbon, the die cut reindeer and some gold sticker stars.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, I did sing that as I typed it.  :-)

Have a terrific Friday and I will be back again Monday.

Happy Birthday Eric - Cars and Trucks

This card is for a 6 yo boy Eric who I have watched grow through wonderful photos his Mum shares.   Thanks to Craftmad his Mum and I have gotten to know each other over a lot of years………well 6 at least. :-)

The papers, stickers and card are all from Blue Edge Crafts.  Isn't this a great style of card.

Yesterday, my son and I finished off the last of the Christmas present shopping…..well almost.  This year I have left the house with dread each time, thinking what will I get and I am very happy to say that everything just fell into place and I am thinking I have done well with the presents.  

One present to go and about four cards.  Woohoo!  Now on to the food. :-)

Hoping your Thursday is a good one.

Sympathy Owl Card

My mum's cousin passed away the week before last.  I made this Sympathy card to send to her family.  Her name was Joy, a red head full of fun and stories.  She will be sadly missed.  Where Joy lived she often had birds visit and land on the railings of her front verandah.  So when I saw this lovely owl I thought of her.

Mum has two brothers so Joy was like the sister she never had. 

One time when we had a lot of family over and hubby was taking all the kids for ride in the small trailer towed behind the ride on mower.  Well, Joy could not resist and had a ride.  So up the small hill they went and when they returned into view there was Joy with a big smile on her face and her teeth in her hands. lol Yep, her falsey's fell out when hitting a bump.

Well take care and catch you all tomorrow.

Last Craftmad Quilt Block swap for 2013

This is the last of my Craftmad Quilt Block swaps for 2013.

November we had to do 'Road To California' blocks.

Yes, I was very slow with this one and didn't mail them off until last week.  I had run out of fabric so struggled at finding time to get into Spotlight.  I really enjoyed this block, easy to put together but very effective.  Next challenge is to put the all the blocks I have sewn and received together and form a quilt.  For that matter I still have to put together the 2012 quilt blocks.  :-)

Next year our plan is to swap blocks each month using christmas fabrics.  This all came about as my daughter suggested we should have a Christmas quilt on the lounge instead of the regular throw we have all year round. 

Have a great Tuesday everyone.  :-)

Halfway Inspiration for Unstampabelles Challenge #30 - Christmas

Not that inspiration is really needed as we have 46 amazing entries already this month.  Actually, I think the entries are inspiring the Design Team. However, the Design Team have come up with a couple more Christmas paper craft creations to inspire.  Please check out the post at Unstampabelles and join in the fun to be in the running for the terrific prize on offer from 'me'.  :-)

I have actually combined two challenges.  Christmas for Unstampabelles and White and Bling for Craftmad December Card Swap.  I saw some pinwheels and decided to make a christmas wreath of them.  So I cut 4cm squares from white pearl paper then held my tongue the right way as I folded and glued each of the corners to the centre.  A little fiddly when they are so small.  Then I added these lovely bling pieces to the centre.  The pinwheel wreath is attached to white pearl card stock which is attached to white card stock that has been embossed with 'Swiss Dots.  The sentiment is a rub-on.

You can enter here at Unstampabelles.

Have a wonderful Monday.

Rainbow Lorikeets in the Umbrella Tree

Click on the photos for a larger view.  Yesterday, the rainbow lorikeets discovered the Umbrella Tree in our yard.  So a couple more wonderful photos from hubby.

Isn't this a great shot with the rainbow lorikeet taking flight.

Lorikeets

Remember click on the photos for a larger view.

Just had to share these photos that hubby took yesterday.  A flock of rainbow lorikeets (info here) have decided to visit the neighbourhood.  There a couple of trees they seem to be hanging out in our neighbours yard.  Yes, they found a couple in ours to enjoy too. They are feeding on  a palm tree flower.

Aren't they so beautifully coloured.  The thing that amazes me with all these colours most times they are hard to spy in a tree.  You can hear them before you see them.  I think because the back of them is green they blend so well with the leaves.

Natures chandelier.