12 days of Christmas: day 11

Lots of very subtle details on this card that you might not be able to see clearly from the photo - the card was dry embossed using the tulip border folder, then a double frame ripped out of the centre with a pink pirhouette frame poking through the rose red. Three shades of pinks were used to ink the "Something for Christmas" stamp, then I've used glitter to create a shimmer effect over the top. A nice girly Christmas card in some non-traditional colours - and another way to use this great stamp :-)

12 days of Christmas: day 10

Whoops! Time completely got away with me and I missed posting the last 3 days of Christmas! Never mind ... they'll give you some extra ideas for next year :-) This card uses the christmas tree stamp from "Season of Joy" and a monochromatic colour scheme of old olive and whisper white. I was really into monochromatic cards this year - maybe you'd noticed? I think they have a classic, elegant and simple look to them - and it's much easier to have things matching!

12 days of Christmas: day 9

Just as there are days where everything comes together, there are days when things just don't, and with this card, they just don't! Saying that, I do love the "Dasher" stamp, and think it came up really nicely when embossed in the Cherry Cobbler embossing powder. I was also keen to try this ripped window effect, but feel that something is just ... missing. Never mind! Today's mistake is tomorrows inspiration for further creativity :-) I'll keep trying and see what I come up with!

12 days of Christmas: day 8

This bright and cheerful card has been done in quite traditional Christmas colours - garden green and real red. It has been stamped with good ol' reliable "Season of Joy" - so versatile! - with the different colours added using Stampin' Write markers instead of inkpads. Nice, quick and easy - winner!

12 days of Christmas: day 7

Some days, despite your best attempts, your cards just don't turn out the way you'd envisioned, while other days, everything goes acccording to plan and you're left satisfied with the end result. Today, I'm glad to report, is one of the latter days! I'm just so pleased with how these nativity cards turned out! They both use the "Tidings of Joy" stamp set, with greetings from "Season of Joy" and "Short & Sweet". One had a background dry embossed on Very Vanilla cardstock using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder, while the other used "Petals-a-Plenty". I coloured the images using Chocolate Chip ink and a blender pen and accessorised with hemp twine and Vintage Trinkets. Both are on a base of Chocolate Chip cardstock. I hope you like them as much as I do :-)

12 days of Christmas: day 6

Welcome back! Today's post is my spin on the card we made at Kirrily's launch party back in September. I've still used the "Something for Christmas" stamp, but have inked it onto some cutouts using the Top Note die and the BigShot. It really helps the image pop out, and I just love it!

12 days of Christmas: day 5

Today's card comes curtesy of my upline Kirrily, who demonstrated this layout at her recent launch of the new Stampin' Up! Idea book & catalogue. It uses one of my favourite "a la carte" stamps (stamps that you can buy individually), "Something for Christmas". The "a la carte" stamps are perfect for people new to card making or scrapbooking, who want to give it a try without spending a great deal of money to get started. We used the Stampin' Write markers to ink the different colours on the stamp, and finished off the design with some Chocolate Chip scallop dot ribbon. So pretty! Come back tomorrow to see my spin on this great design!

12 days of Christmas: day 4

Today's cards come from my very first workshop (thanks Larissa!), and feature some non-traditional Christmas colours - Not quite Navy, Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler. We used embossing folders to create the textured background, and the "Season of Joy" stamp set - so versatile! - to do all the stamping. End result - quite striking cards that would suit a variety of people!

12 days of Christmas: day 3

This stunning card comes curtesy of Juliette Chapman (http://juleskraftikrafts.blogspot.com/. I was lucky enough to receive this beauty at our team card swap and just love it! It uses the "Dasher" stamp along with the Mocha Morning Specialty DSP, and looks so elegant! The photo doesn't do it justice, but the colours are wonderfully rich and opulent, and make me think of chocolate for some reason :-) Enjoy!

December frenzy!

Don't forget about all the great savings to be had with the current Stampin' Up! promotion - December frenzy. Lots of stamp sets are up to 50% - what a good idea for that last minute Christmas gift! Email me if you would like to get some more information about these deals or if you would like to place an order!

12 days of Christmas: day 2

Today's card is quite simple, and uses whisper white cardstock, embossing folders, brushed silver cardstock, the Delightful Decorations stamp set and coordinating ornament punch. Enjoy!

12 days of Christmas: day 1

With only 12 days until Christmas, I thought I'd post some last minute Christmas card ideas. Not all of these are mine, but hopefully you'll enjoy them! This first one is a card I received from Marelle, my up-up-upline :-) It is quite simple and understated in its design and use of colour, but beautiful and effective at the same time. I love the little bit of "bling" at the top of the tree - nice to have something "sparkly and bright" to celebrate Christmas!

Team Christmas Party

Late last week our team all got together at Marelle's place for a Christmas party. As there were around 20 of us all gathered together, spirits were high and excitement was in the air! At each place setting we found a gorgeous array of goodies - chocolates beautifully packaged, a Christmas cracker sporting the Stampers Anony-mouse, and a lovely, sparkly serviette ring (all curtesy of some very talented ladies!). Earlier in the week, we had all sent cards to our Secret Santas to give them a taste of what was to come that night. I sent this card (top right) to my Secret Santa Sue, and received this amazing easel card in the mail. Needless to say I was very keen to find out who my talented Santa was! We had a beautiful dinner, and then amidst copious "Oooohhs!" and "Aaaahs!" watched as each person unwrapped their present and guessed who their Santa was. It was so much fun to see the creative and imaginative ways that people presented their gifts, as well as checking out all the great gifts themselves! After seeing what everyone else came up with and how they used some of the SU products I've previously ignored, there are a few more items on my ever growing wish list! Here are some of my favourite creations ... this masterpiece from Marelle - she made an elf, angel, christmas tree, reindeer AND santa using a stack of different punches and the petal cone die for the Big Shot. This glittery, girly handbag by Michelle (note the glimmer paper - now a firm favourite and on my wish list!)

This wooden sleigh with some just perfectly made boxes using the Mocha Morning Specialty DSP - you just have to see and feel this paper to appreciate its gorgeousness! Here is the stunning gift from my very clever and talented Santa, Cheryl. She only started making it the night before, but it is truly amazing, and chock full of goodies - of both the chocolate and craft variety! And here is what I whipped up for Sue:

If you've ever been tempted to join Stampin' Up! then I'm sure this post will tempt you even more! If you are keen to join up you will become part of a fantastic team that is made up of many types of demonstrators - some who run a business, others who do it purely for hobby and others who mix a bit of both, but best of all they are all wonderful, inspiring and friendly people.

January and February are a great time to join - so email me to ask more!