Cafe Christmas Class ...

Tonight, I had the real privilege of running a Christmas craft evening at my wonderful friends' Renee & Pete's cafe!

Along with the Santa box, the beautiful & handsome crew of 21 made the following two card designs.

New Year's Resolution? ... pluck up the courage to try and run regular classes! Love love LOVED IT!

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Card 1

Paper - Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla

Stamp - Delightful Decorations

Ink - Cherry Cobbler

Other - Dazzling Diamonds, Red / White wide grosgrain ribbon

Card 2

Paper - Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Close To Cocoa (retired), Very Vanilla

Stamp - Dark Room Door 'Christmas'

Ink - Real Red

Other - Dazzling Diamonds, Real Red ribbon

Christmas loot boxes...

I really do have to stop taking my photos after midnight! I just don't have the right light!

Anyways.... having created the Santa box at another fantastic class with Sue Dean, I realised the casing potential of these cute little boxes, suitable for lollies or small gifts.

OK - so the snowman, with his enlarged head looks a little scary!  (Scope for Halloween!) but I'm generally stoked with the result of these punch art friends - Miss P's favourite is the angel, whilst Miss M likes the reindeer :o)

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19 sleeps to go!...

Inspired by Liam Pucher's use of the scallop square punch, I used Martha Stewart's new Holly punch to create this smart little card.
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Ahoy Shipmate!...

OOO-aaaar - a simple yet special card put together for one of Miss P's little pre-school friends  :o)

No idea where stamp is from but wherever little boys are concerned, my little pirate is usually called upon!

Used a gold pen for trail and 'X marks the spot' - always always always forget how messy those pens can be if shaken without lid on!

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Deevine...

I had a wonderful afternoon with Sue Dean and friends last weekend and we made this divine stationary kit - perfect perfect Mother-In-Law giftee!

Although I am a little disappointed with the colour I chose (it's nice... but I had colour envy with my class mates' choices!) I think the set - complete with cards, tags, notebook, stamp pocket and pen holder - is 'gorjus'

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Floral Shimmer...

This Elegant Lines embossing folder from SU is just luxury and needs very little dressing up to look gorgeous.

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Rocket...

Yonks ago, my lovely friend Cassie googled some Sweet Treat Cup card ideas and I'd admired one by Sarah Klass ever since... finally I had the PERFICK opportunity to make my 'case' for a gorjus little man, Archie, on the event of his first birthday. He really is a superstar so this stratospheric card seemed ideal ***swoon ***

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Papers: 2009/10 SU brights
Stamps: SU Pun Fun, Party Pieces
Punches: SU 1" 3/8 circle, KZ mini star

Christmas creations...

I LOVE this time of year when I can 'heads down' with a real purpose and get those Christmas cards flying out the door!  A crafty mum's dream time!

Here's a little collection of festive fun...

First up, a gorgeous stamp from Dark Room Door "Christmas Reindeer" set, teamed up with classic SU colours, Chocolate Chip and Real Red...

Next up, another from the DRD series combined with Cuttlebug's script embossing folder.  I've never used black in my cards before but think the effect is pretty striking...

This card is my case of one from the glorious Sue Dean...

And finally (... for now!!) a simple yet effective embossed card, embellished with SU's Tiny Tags...

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Punched Art Skier!...

My first genuine punch art original!  Ain't he shweet!

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Punches used...

Ornament (face & body)

Window (skis, pole, arm, scarf)

Circle (feet)

Large heart (hat)

Scallop (hat fluff)

Cropadile (nose & hat bobble)

Make mine a frothy one, please...

Not a great pic as taken in situ, but here's my grown up 'installation' at Pete's

Place - due to open next Monday 11 October!

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triptych in mixed media (acrylic and impasto) size 36"x60"

Bad weather? CRAFT ROOM! ....

Making, making, making!  Casing casing casing!

In the event of rainy weather, just call me on 0800 craft room!

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... wanted to use my new embossing folder and used up some left over card stock to boot...

... a cute wee template I cased from Planet Papercraft...

... and another! ...

... and some beautiful cards cased from SU with the best stamp set in the universe, A Rose Is A Rose ...

Finished!!

Yay! ... or boo? Finished the mural... Fave bit on mural is the little bird, added as a final adieu!

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Blue moon...

Having not faired so well with the brayer at a recent class, I used sponges to create this merged, hazy effect - just quietly... I love it!

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Robots...

For the first time in many moons, I am ready to post off my wonderful nephews and niece's birthday pressies - important dates which all fall over the next couple of months.

After some serious blog hopping and idea-pilfering, I produced the following two cards for the boys...

Sir M's card features an SU 'bot, layered onto a fantastic technique I picked up from blogger Allison Ohran.  Simply emboss a design on card stock (here I used SU Lots of Bots bolts) then covering with tin foil, run the piece through the Cuttlebug and, voila!  A great metallic watermark effect!

These cute little guys are from Maya Road and have been coloured in with brush markers, accented with a little Kindy Glitz for good measure!

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Pinafore...

Ooooh!  I took this idea from a local craft shop and am so pleased I was able to memorise the basic layout as to take a photo in store was a BIG no-no!

Using My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary paper matched with some trusty Bazill, this easel card is a pretty alternative to the usual 'Congrats on your new baby' card.

Made with love for a new princess in the world (welcome Miss Emily Grace xx) I spiced some of the punched flowers with SU Dazzling Diamonds and some diamond gems.  The ribbon is SU Old Olive.

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10 cards quick...

... exactly what it says on the tin!  10 cards.... super quick!

Princess Pippa's Party...

My youngest princess turned 5 last month and having spent two of her few birthdays travelling, it was time to give her something special for a wonderful party with her preschool friends!

Using Bazill Bling, the beautifully simple Heartsong from Dream Street Papers and the gorgeous Palace stamp from Kaszazz, I created a party collection for the party poppet.

... above - Top Note die cut from Stampin Up - SO versatile...

kx

A little bit clarrssy...

Oooooooh, I love this Razzleberry colour from Stampin Up!

kx

Flower Fairy...

I've taken the sweet treat cup to a different level and cosied a little fairy in for a birthday girl!

Inside reads... 

"Open me and take me out,

And we can play together,

I'll bring you sunshine everyday,

No matter what the weather"!

kx

Top notch Top Note

This SU Top Note diecut is awesome for making super-simple tiny
notelettes as well as embellishing cards / scrapbooking.
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Mini-me

My gorgeous daughters love to join me in the 'craft room' where we
create-away together.
My big girl has seen me take pictures of cards before I send them so
she took this herself!
I love you, Mx

Baby Ella

Here's a variation of a card learnt from the gorgeous Sue Dean.
Welcome to our world little Ella Jane xxxx