Happy New Year 2009!

I don't have any cards to post, but wanted to wish everyone and Happy Healthy 2009! I'm making my first resolution right now, to do more crafting in 2009 (I have to keep up with Jessica!). Anyway, all the best to everyone.....

Merry Christmas to all and to all a snowy night!

Well, all that gearing up for 1 day... now it's over! Not quite up on my postings, but at least I can use the holidays as an excuse. I had a great time with family and of course watching Grant (my nephew) opening his gifts. My Dad dressed up as Santa and Grant wasn't quite sure about it. We got to have a skype chat with my sister and niece, Kira from New Zealand. It would be great to get us all together one year..... As much as I liked having a White Christmas, things are getting a little ridiculous. I shoveled the driveway TWICE today. It snowed 5 inches in 2 hours, and that's on top of everything we've gotten in the last 5 days. I stepped into the snow in the backyard and it's up to my knees! CRAZY! This may be the first year I LOSE weight at Christmas!

I got a Christmas bonus this year which was nice. Not used to that! I'm just trying to figure out what to do with it now... I'm thinking maybe Copic markers or the ones from Stampin' Up. Any thoughts????????? Or maybe an iTouch??? Hmm or a Wii??? Oh the choices....... Did anyone do any Boxing Day shopping?

I was going to craft today, but that hasn't happened. Maybe tomorrow. I'd like to make some Christmas Thank-you cards..... I'll try not to wait 3 weeks to update again. Oh and you'll notice that in New Zealand they DON'T have a White Christmas!

Get into the Groove.......

It's been my usual week or so since I posted anything, in that time we got our Christmas tree, decorated it and that's about it. I'm not sure why it's taking me so long to get into the holiday spirit. Gord's working tonight so I figured I better get started on cards....... I feel like I got alot accomplished since the cards I made are so easy.

The first one is something I saw on the Impress website. This was the first stamp company that got me addicted to crafting. I have to say that I've neglected their stamps a bit since I got into the Amuse ones (and I don't see a whole lot of them up here) but they have GREAT ideas. Maybe I'll have to go on a crafting weekend to Seattle in the New Year (after all the bills are paid!). Anyone else want to go???????? Anyway, back to the cards..... I used a small leaf punch for the antlers and a red embellishment for Rudolphs nose. I backed it onto a red scalloped rectangle and attached to the card with pop-dots. Not too much bling, but I like it that way. MUCH simpler than Jess' cards, but then I'M also much simpler than her!

The second card is a bit fancier. I saw this on an Amuse website and loved the colours. The original I saw had ribbon instead of "bling". I think the tape covered with glitter adds a little something extra and complements the stickles on the dove. Again, EASY (that should be my middle name, oh wait, that sounds bad, I mean I like EASY cards!). Enough of the blog, I better get some cards done before I get out of the groove.

Stamps by Amuse.

Punches by Punch Bunch and Marvy.

Blue Madeira paper by Amuse.

Stickles.

Thoughts?

Here are a couple cards I made tonight. I love the Hippie Snowchick from Amuse! I like it framed by the Label classic stamp from Stampin' Up, but again, wasn't sure where to go with it. I decided to use the colours of the flowers in her hair to "frame" the frame. It's not the usual Christmas colours but I like that.

My Dad wanted a "religious" type Christmas card to send a few people and thought it would be a good time to use my Amuse Bethlehem stamp. I bought it last year and although I must have seen a card made with it, I didn't know what to do. I used a tiny Amuse creative candy twinkle sticker star above the stable to add a little something. I also used pop dots on the matted design to add some dimension.

If you have any thoughts on these cards I'd appreciate the feedback. THANKS!


Stamps by Amuse.
Blue card by Memory Box.

Tomorrow's December!

Ok, so it seems that I'll be updating once a week, but at least I'm still at it! I can't believe tomorrow's already December 1st! I guess I should get going on those Christmas cards... I should also think about sending my niece's gifts as she lives in New Zealand! She'll get them in time, but it'll cost me $$$! Oh well, I always have great plans to get it all done early, guess not this year.

Here's a couple cards I've made. I finally got my all my orders from Jessica so I'm excited to get going! This first one is a card I made for Helena for her engagement. I like that it was simple and quick. I'll probably make more using other Circle of Friendship stamps as they come in different sayings for different occasions.

The second card is one I saw on Splitcoast Stampers. Again, VERY quick and easy. I think I'll be asking for some GOOD pencil crayons, watercolour pencils or felts. The ones I have don't seem to have great colour, guess that's what you get when you buy cheap! I've thought about the Copic markers, but haven't decided yet.

Anyway, that's what I've done so far. Funny thing is, I didn't use any of the stuff I picked up from Jes. Gord works tomorrow and Tuesday night, so hopefully I'll get back into it. I also want to start decorating for Christmas so we'll see what happens.

Stamps by Amuse and Stampin' Up.

Crystals by Amuse.

Yay, I did some crafting!

I said I'd get some crafting done and although I didn't get ALOT done, I did complete a couple cards I needed.

Gord needed some Thank-you cards which I had a bit of trouble coming up with. I wanted them to be "gender neutral" which can be difficult. I saw a card similar to this on Splitcoast Stampers, made by Julie Ebersole. I like that its clean, simple and easy. I coloured the trees with a white gel pen making it look more like a "rustic" birch tree.

The Christmas card is one I made at Carrie's Stampin' Up party. I love the snowman, but had to stop myself from buying it as I have TONS of Christmas stamps already. Maybe next year. I did buy the paper though as I love the colours together. I think I'll make some of my Christmas cards similar to this but with a different stamp. I also learned a new trick to attaching ribbon. You knot it, then glue dot the edges to the back of the top layer. ALOT easier than trying to tie a bow.

The last card pic is of a birthday card and matching gift card holder. I have a problem using patterned paper. I either don't WANT to use it cause I like it so much or I don't know HOW to use it. I covered the gift card tin first, then decided to make a the matching card, problem being that since I usually make cards with patterned paper, I didn't know what to do! I cut 2 squares of the paper (one using the pink side as a border for the patterned side) but didn't know what to do from there. I ended up cutting a few flowers out and attaching them with pop-dots to add some dimention. It still seemed to plain, so I added some crystal dots to add some bling. I figured Jenny was worth the bling AND the patterned paper (see Jes, I DO use my "special stuff" sometimes...).

Stamps by Amuse and Stampin Up'.

Paper by Bazzill, Stampin Up' and Scrap Works.

Crystals by Amuse.

Ribbon by Stampin Up'.

Copic Candy!

Check out Debbie's blog, she's giving away Copic Markers (among other stuff!) for reaching almost 12,000 hits! I LOVE the paper............ Oh, and all the other stuff!