Thanks, Santa!

Happy Christmas, everybody! It's the big day! I'm guessing you've dressed and stuffed your oversized bird of choice, and now you're dressed and ready to be stuffed in the company of family and friends. As this is a scheduled post, I have no idea what we're doing right now but I'm hoping we're all sitting down to a civilised feast, wearing silly hats, telling silly jokes and remembering pre-war Christmas celebrations, faithfully recounted by ageing relatives  ... it's what we do every year!

This is just a quick post to share with you a thank you card I made for my Santa. As a highly skilled "detective" (i.e. nosy-parker) I could not help but stumble upon the stash Santa kept hidden from me... in the linen cupboard of all places! Overcome by gratitude (and a guilt) I made this quick thank you card and left it by the fireplace. Here it is:

The papers and image are from PolkaDoodles Gingerbread Twist CD. The image is pre-coloured which made it possible for me to put this card together in a tick.  This ia great CD for the holidays... a must-have!
Instead of milk, my Santa got a generous serving of something spiritual - Jamaican Rum.

I used Spellbinder dies to cut out the Circles and Scalloped Circles. The greeting is from WaltzingMouse's Compact Sentiments set, stamped in Memento Cottage Ivy. The twine is from Doodlebug's Christmas collection. 

On the inside I gave myself plenty of room for a message.

The sketch for this card came from MojoMonday #273. I'm also playing with Tuesday Alchemy #46 "Anything Goes"; LEJ Designs #34 "Santa's Coming To Town" and Deep Ocean Challenge#41 "Santa Is Coming To Town".

Thanks for stopping by. Now get back to your families and enjoy the rest of this most blessed of days. I'll be back later with a gift basket... Intrigued?







Have a safe and joyous Christmas, y'all! I'll leave you with a glamour shot of Rosie, our resident reindeer. She's showing you her best side!

Beijinhos!

The Light of Christmas

This may very well be the last Christmas card I make this year. I haven't been blogging or visiting much since Thursday because life has been super crazy around here. It all began on Wednesday evening with our choral recitation. The big Christmas gala presentation we've been practising for since October. It went well, very well actually. We are very pleased with ourselves, and our choir mistress is rightfully relieved!

Then on Thursday morning, off to the veterinary hospital for our Rosie's ear surgery. It was scheduled to take at least 4 hours. The surgeon called late in the afternoon to say that all went well and we could see her later during visiting hours. She looked so well, considering what she had just been through and she was totally doped up! Friday morning we got the call we've been waiting for, Rosie had a very good night and looked well enough to be discharged. We raced over and brought her home. Yay!

I still have a mountain of chores to get through...plus all of Rosie's meds to chart, schedule and execute so that nothing is missed during these next few days of madness! Without further blah-blah, here's my card:

The papers are from KaiserKraft's "Christmas Tradition" paper collection. The stamp is from Chocolate Baroque's "Stained Glass Christmas" stamp set. It's not obvious in the pic, but I've got 3 purple blings down at the right hand corner.

Here's a close-up of the image. I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured it with SN markers. I traced the ironwork with Kuretake Silver pen and applied Diamond Stickles on the flames and light. I made one mistake, though. For colouring with alcohol markers I use either Neenah or Westcountry but this time, due to my increasing festive blindness, I used just plain ol' cardstock. I only realised when the colours wouldn't blend properly...but was just too tired, lazy, frustrated to restart.   

View from the side. I matted the image on some old gold CS and popped it up on some foam tape.  I don't know why but my old gold looks more like bronze or rust.

Inside I used a sentiment from WMS Compact Sentiments and stamped it in Memento Elderberry. I love this sentiment because very often we get caught up in the materiality of Christmas that we fail to feel it in our hearts.  

The sketch for this card came from Tuesday Morning Sketches #177. It's their last for this year and I'm determined not to miss it! I'm also playing along with Top Tip Tuesday #92 "Anything Christmas"; Just Add Ink #148 "Just Add Christmas"; WordArt Wednesday #59 "Glory to God/Anything Goes" because God's light never goes out and Play Date Cafe #162 "Gold, Teal Mint & Lavender".














That's all from me today. I'm going to see a man about a "bird". (Yes, I forgot to pre-order mine!)  Then see to my little Rosie's meds and then....oh the list goes on. I wish you all a peaceful Christmas. I'll be back before the big day... I hope! Thanks for stopping by today. I'll leave you with a picture of our Rosie.

Beijinhos!

Here's Rosie during visiting hours at the hospital on Thursday. We went for a short walk and then stayed in the play area with her until we had to say goodnight. She has to wear an Elizabethan collar until the stitches are removed and the ear is completely healed. The vet warned us that this is a very painful procedure. So we need to keep an eye on her and help her manage the pain. She is such a brave little soldier... 

Holiday Mini Bailout #12: Christmas Presents

Here we are, my friends. The last day of my Holiday Mini Bailout series....Day 12, Card 12. I started this series because I realised I wasn't unique in trying to juggle 10 balls only to find I've dropped half of them including my drawers! So why not drag my readers along on my journey of redemption. The plan: post a-card-a day until the 19th, giving you 12 cards to meet any last minute requirements. There's a card for every skill level... and all of which took me less than 15 minutes to complete, and let me tell ya, I am no expert.

Admittedly, when I started making these cards I was literally tearing my hair out with panic and soaked in cold sweat. I'm happy to say every gray strand is where it should be, I'm fresh as a daisy, the cards have all been mailed out and most have already reached their destinations. Another Christmas disaster averted. There's just one more thing to sort out... how do I explain that I forgot to order the turkey!? Maybe  I could get a large chicken and call it a mini turkey...  Another mini bailout in the making. Watch this space, folks!
 
In the meantime, here's my last "Holiday Mini Bailout 2012" card for you!

Another stamp from the Holly Hobbie Joy of Christmas set. I saved her for my last 2 cards because she reminds me of them good ol' days. No patterned papers - just red CS embossed using the Swiss Dots folder.  I cut the image out with Spellbinders Labels 14 - my very first Spellbinder die.  It was love at first sight and my collection has grown, quite a bit, since that fateful encounter! Did some stencilling with TH's Antique Linen and adhered some cream lace to complete the old-fashioned feel. 

As with yesterday's image, I coloured this one in the same dotting technique and minimal blending in the small areas. In her patchwork dress, the areas are small enough that with dotting and flicking, the colours blend themselves. I used these SN colours: Cream - EB1, EB2;  Red - CR8, CR10;  Green - JG4, JG6; Blue - IB1  Brown - TN6, TN8;  Yellow - CT4;  Skin - FS2

The sentiment is from Chocolate Baroque's Warm Winter Wishes set, stamped in Memento Rose Bud. 

Taking my old fashioned card to the following parties: Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge "Vintage Christmas"; ABC Christmas "Fave Die / Punch", Use it Tuesday #45 "Christmas" , Creative Belli #159 "Christmas" and Divas by Design #66 "Anything Goes".

I hope you have enjoyed these cards as much as I have enjoyed showing them. You don't always need to send out large cards. A mini packed with love is all you really need for Christmas. (At 5' 1", 83lb would I say any different?! )

Enjoy your day, my friends. Hopefully the sun is shining where you are and all your loved ones and safe and healthy.

Beijinhos!


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(Too much) Port wine, (too many) dark chocolates and

2012 Holiday Mini Bailout - the story so far:
Day #11 : Christmas Flowers
Day #10 : Christmas Dolly
Day #09 : Good Boy
Day #08 : Christmas Star
Day #07 : Little Red Robins
Day #06 : Seasonal Sweeties
Day #05 : Rudy
Day #04 : Snowman
Day #03 : O Christmas Tree
Day #02 : Jolly and Bright
Day #01 : Twinkle Twinkle

Holiday Mini Bailout #11: Christmas Flowers

Ok, here we are my friends. Day 11 of my Holiday Mini Bailout series. 12 mini cards, some easy, some with a little bit more effort but all quite quickly executed. These cards measure 4x3.5" and the limited real means decorations can be minimal. Today's card is just that - a focal image and ... that's it

Here's my card, inspired by gifting flowers for Christmas:

The background paper is a scrap piece from an old Doodlebug collection. The focal image is a free stamp that came with a crafting magazine. I added some bling at the corners just because it's Christmas. 

I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black an coloured them in with SN markers. Because the image in small, you don't need to be precise with the blending. These are suggestions of colour. The pointsetias: CR8, CR10, JG5. The pinny and bonnet: EB1, EB2. The dress: TB1, PP1. Floor: GB8, GB10. Shoes: TN8. Red fabric: DR5. I cut it out with Spellbinders Classic Oval and inked the edges with TH's Faded Jeans.
  

Sticking to the girlie theme, I stamped the swirls with Memento London Fog and the greeting, from Chocolate Baroque "Warm Winter Wishes" , with Memento Rose Bud.

I find colouring small images easier simply because it's easier to hide "mistakes"...not so glaring, especially when the blending is off. I coloured this image in under 5 minutes...and I did not rush. Give it a go, practice with a few simple images because it is a sure fire way to make your card look complicated without it being so. And you can be super simple with the background because the image will pop.

I'm playing along with The Die Cutting Divas #9 "More Holiday Spirit"; Paper Pretties Monday Challenge #70 and Simon Says Stamp and Show "Inspired by Gift Giving".

Thanks for stopping by today. We've got one more card in this series... come back tomorrow!

Beijinhos!



2012 Holiday Mini Bailout - the story so far:
Day #10 : Christmas Dolly
Day #09 : Good Boy
Day #08 : Christmas Star
Day #07 : Little Red Robins
Day #06 : Seasonal Sweeties
Day #05 : Rudy
Day #04 : Snowman
Day #03 : O Christmas Tree
Day #02 : Jolly and Bright
Day #01 : Twinkle Twinkle

Have a Cracking Christmas

It's Mojo day, my friends. Monday is probably my least favourite day but I do look forward to making and posting a Mojo card. Before I say / write anything else I just want to say thank you so very much, from the bottom of my heart, for all the encouraging comments and emails for Rosie. She comfortable and her surgery has been (re)scheduled for Thursday 20th.

On to today's Mojo card... I must admit I'm not terribly enthusiastic about my effort. It's ok, I guess but I feel like I'm running out of festive steam. Next Monday is Christmas eve...aaaargh!!! I still have presents to wrap...what am I saying?! I still have presents to buy!

The sketch for my card is from MojoMonday #272. Then there is the last 52 Christmas Card Throwdown challenge for the year. The theme is "Christmas Crackers". Also playing along with Come and Get It "Anything Christmas", Platypus Creek Challenge 22 "Anything Christmas" and Brown Sugar Challenge #20 "Red, Green, Cream".













Here it is:

The patterned papers are from Dovecrafts Back to Basics Vintage Christmas. 8x8 pad. For the central panel I used vellum from Papermania's Signature A4 pad. The background paper is actually rows of Christmas trees, but with the central panel I thought they looked like the tails of Christmas crackers. Have I mentioned that I think I'm going blind? Daisies looking like snowflakes, Christmas trees looking like crackers.... yep, definitely going bonkers too. 

I made 3D ornaments using Spellbinders 2010 Heirloom Ornaments die. I adhered gingham ribbon and shimmer brads on top of each ornament and outlined them with Stickles for a bit of shine.

I tied a bow with red baker's twine and popped the entire central panel on foam tape.  The greeting is from Chocolate Baroque's "Warm Winter Wishes" set, stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa.

The sentiment is from WMS "Compliments of the Season" set, stamped with Brilliance Cottage Ivy.

I'm off to play nurse-maid to my little furball, then wrap some pressies and sort out our tree. We managed to put in the fairy lights. Now we need to make it look purty... by that I mean I do the work while my beloved gives a running commentary from the sofa. Same story every Christmas! Thanks for stopping by.

And don't forget...Day #11 of my Holiday Mini Bailout tomorrow. See ya!

Beijinhos!


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Chocolate eclair and

Holiday Mini Bailout #10: Christmas Dolly

We're down to the last three cards in my Holiday Mini Bailout series and today I have Card #10 for you. This series is all about quick makes and since the cards measure only 4"x3.5"you can get away with scraps of papers and left over embellies. There simply isn't enough room for frills and fancies. More importantly, with Christmas only a week away, there isn't enough time.

Here's Card #10:

No patterned papers, just cream CS embossed with Swiss Dots for the background. The focal image is from PolkaDoodle's Gingerbread Twist  CD,  layered on some green CS cut with Spellbinders Beaded Oval die. To finish, a  twine bow.

Here's a close-up of the image. I coloured her with SN marker. You could use a pre-coloured  digi and this card can be finished in a flash.

Inside I stamped a simple sentiment from Chocolate Baroque's "Warm Winter Wishes" set. 

I'm also playing along with Sparkles Christmas Challenge #23 "Button or Bow; Party Time Tuesday #98 "Kid's Christmas"; Challenges for Everybody #4 "Anything Goes" and Sparkles Monthly Challenge #39 "Anything Goes".

Thanks for visiting. Tomorrow we have my penultimate card in this Holiday Mini Bailout series. How fast time flies when you're having fun completely stressed out! See you tomorrow, ladies...

Beijinhos!

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Chocolate Truffles and

2012 Holiday Mini Bailout - the story so far:
Day #09 : Good Boy
Day #08 : Christmas Star
Day #07 : Little Red Robins
Day #06 : Seasonal Sweeties
Day #05 : Rudy
Day #04 : Snowman
Day #03 : O Christmas Tree
Day #02 : Jolly and Bright
Day #01 : Twinkle Twinkle

Holiday Mini Bailout #9: Good Boy!

Here we are my friends, we've reached Day 9 of my Holiday Mini Bailout series. Until the 19th I'm posting 12 easy cards measuring 4" x 3.5" that you can make quite easily. If you find yourself in an unexpected festive deficit these project might give you a few ideas... hopefully.  I'm also using up my hoarded stash and sometimes, bits and pieces that I find lying about my craft room. So join me while I tidy up my messy "studio".

Today I have this little idea for pet-lovers:

The background paper is from my local craft shop. I fished it out of the bargain bin a couple of years ago and a stack of 50 assorted A4 sheets cost me 50cents. It really is a bargain because these papers a embossed in silver. Not obvious in the photo but the raised design is shiny silver. Can't understand why I waited so long to use it!
The little dog is "Scottie" by Adam Pescott and I layered him on red SC cut with Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Rectangles die.

Close-up of Scottie. I coloured him with SN markers.  Dog: IG1 & IG2. Antlers: TN7 & TN8.  Vest, hairband, bauble: CR9 & CR10. Bell: GB2, CT4 

Here's the inside. The sentiment is from WMS Seasons of Love Tags stamped with Rhubarb Stalk.

This is a very easy card and I made half a dozen in one evening and promptly sent them out the next day. Since I decided on a white Scottie, the colouring is simple and minimal.

Scottie and I are joining these linky parties: Paper Pretties #69 "Red, Green, Choice"; Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Callenge #103 "Anything Goes Christmas"; Card Crafters Circle #53 "Red White and Green" and Freshly Brewed Designs #125 "Christmas".

So that's another quickie done and dusted. Thanks for dropping in. I have three more cards to show you, so join me tomorrow for the final furlong! See ya!

Beijinhos


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 2012 Holiday Mini Bailout - the story so far:
Day #08 : Christmas Star
Day #07 : Little Red Robins
Day #06 : Seasonal Sweeties
Day #05 : Rudy
Day #04 : Snowman
Day #03 : O Christmas Tree
Day #02 : Jolly and Bright
Day #01 : Twinkle Twinkle

The Jolly Bishop

Christmas is under 10 days away! Really? That soon? It's scary how fast the days are slipping by and before we know it there'll have a brand new year to deal with. I hope it's a good one.

I'm still making cards for friends, baking festive goodies to give as gifts, making boxes to house these goodies, buying presents and wrapping them. And in the middle of this there's choir practice for our big performance next week. So yes, I'm bouncing from pillar to post.

However, over at Eclectic Ellapu, all is calm, all is bright. Our lovely Lady Boss Elaine, has decided to host a challenge that is a firm favourite with everyone: "Anything Goes". And, the best part is this challenge is open until January 5, 2013! So you have plenty of time to make a card, tag, layout, 3D project or whatever your heart desires.
   
My contribution to the challenge is this card I made for my German friend. She's had a rough year and I thought I'd send St Nick over to cheer her up. Santa Claus we know and love today evolved from St Nicholas, a 14th century Greek saint and bishop of Myra, now Turkey. He is known for his many miracles and generous gift-giving. Over the centuries St Nicholas morphed into Santa Claus, a rotund cheerful man in a red suit. I suspect in the beginning the Jolly Bishop would have looked something like this:

The card base measures 4"x 3,5". The patterned paper is from Dovecraft's  Back to Basics  Christmas Vintage Collection 8x8 pad.  The stamped image of St Nick is from WMS's Nutcracker Sweet set.

Here's  a close-up of St Nick. I stamped him with Memento Tuxedo Black  and coloured him with SN markers. Then I cut him out with Spellbinders Wonky Rectangles die and inked the edges TH's Antique Linen. 

On the inside, a nice little Christmas greeting in German with Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink.

Although this is a small card and the sketch is a simple one, the colouring took awhile... well worth the effort for a special friend.

I'm also sharing is card with: Card Makin' Mamas "It's a Holiday"; The Squirrel and The Fox #33 "Christmas";  My Time to Craft #201 "Santa" and Reasonable Ribbon #62 "Anything Goes with Ribbon".

You have plenty of time to play along. So why not start with a tour of the DT members' blog and be inspired. I'm looking forward to seeing your creations for Eclectic Ellapu Challenge #10. 

Off to bed now...it's been a  long day. I'll see you later today with Card #9 of my Holiday Mini Bailout series. 

Beijinhos!

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Holiday Mini Bailout #8: Christmas Star

Welcome to Day 8 of my Holiday Mini Bailout series. Each day until the 19th I will post a simple mini card measuring 4"x3.5". These are 12 easy cards that I put together quickly when I realised I hadn't made enough! You might find a couple of ideas in my hurried creations and be able to whip up a few last-minute wonders. For ooomph I'm depending on strong colours instead of my usual embellishing doodads and ding-dongs.... you know what I mean.

Today I offer you a Christmas tree, a different version of the one I made on Day #3.

No patterned papers, just an embossed background. To mimic the hearts in the tree I used Crafts Too Hearts folder.  The cut the tree out with Spellbinders Resplendant Rectangles die and inked the edges with TH's Antique Linen.

Here's a close-up of the tree from WMS Nutcracker Sweet stamp set. I coloured it with SN markers and added a bling on the star.

Here's the inside. The greeting is from WMS Seasons of Love - Tags set, stamped with Memento Bamboo Leaves. 

I'm playing with: Winter Wonderland "O Christmas Tree"; My Heart Pieces "Vibrant Colours"; Pixie Dust Studio "Christmas Traditional Colours" and Paper Play "You're a Star".

That's Day #9 all wrapped up. Thanks for stopping by. Tomorrow's guest star is a little cutie-pie. Curious? Come back tomorrow and find out! See you soon.

Beijinhos!



2012 Holiday Mini Bailout - the story so far:
Day #07 : Little Red Robins
Day #06 : Seasonal Sweeties
Day #05 : Rudy
Day #04 : Snowman
Day #03 : O Christmas Tree
Day #02 : Jolly and Bright
Day #01 : Twinkle Twinkle

Holiday Mini Bailout #7: Little Red Robins

Hello, my friends. It's time for another Holiday Mini Bailout and today I have a super simple card for you.... so simple that you could do it blind-folded with your hands tied behind your back. Ok, the last bit is an exaggeration but who's to say it an't be done! I want to call it CAS but given my tumultuous history with all things CAS, I hesitate. What I can say for sure is If you are in a hurry this is the card for you. A cute background paper is all you need. I'm sending this card to friends who are fans of fur and feather at our local animal shelter. 

The paper is an old Papermania Christmas collection called "Festive Frolic".  The little birdies are so darm cute, no? To compliment I used sheer red ribbon.

The greeting is from WMS "Season of Love Tags" set, stamped with TH's Barn Door ink, cut with Spellbinders Standard Circles and layered on red CS cut with Spellbinders Scalloped Circle die. A little bow on top and we're done!

Here's the inside... again very simple.

I'm linking this up with Creative Inspiration "Inspired by CAS"; ABC Christmas "Fave Punch / Die (I love my Circle dies) ; Stampin with the Dragon Challenge "Heard a Bird Sing#" and Do You Stack Up #102 "Christmas".

Thanks for dropping in on me! Tomorrow I'm serving up Card #8.... wanna guess what it could be?

Beijinhos!

2012 Holiday Mini Bailout - the story so far:
Day #06 : Seasonal Sweeties
Day #05 : Rudy
Day #04 : Snowman
Day #03 : O Christmas Tree
Day #02 : Jolly and Bright
Day #01 : Twinkle Twinkle

Birthday at Christmas

It's Friday and that means time for another challenge at Polka Doodles Challenge blog. This week  is Challenge #50 and the theme is "Birthday at Christmas / Birthday of Young Adult". A birthday at this time is easily overshadowed by the festive lights and glitter but it doesn't have to be so.

I made this card for a good friend whose birthday falls on the 23rd of December.  Like me, she has a sweet tooth and I had no problems whatsoever deciding on a theme for her card. The season is full of sweet things and so what better excuse to use the pre-coloured gingerbread man image and patterned paper from the PickNix Gingerbread Twist CD. I've been eyeing these pre-coloured images in this CD because they look good enough to eat! As an added bonus, they  really do make light work of a card, if you're short on time (or ideas!)

I did not go out of my way to ignore all things Christmassy simply because my friend is a huge fan of the season and of gingerbread men.

Here's what I've come up with:

The image and green plaid patterned paper are from the Gingerbread Twist CD. I just added some lace, brads and twine from my stash to jazz things up.

Here's a close-up of the pre-coloured image. Isn't he just delicious! I poked a couple of holes on the present, threaded some twine over the box and tired a bow for a 3-D effect.  For the greeting I used tiny alpha stamps from my local office supply. store.

The card is flat for easy mailing.

I also adhered  a sentiment from the Gingerbread Twist CD and made some room for a personal message. 

Although the Gingerbread Twist CD is essentially about Christmas, there are quite a few images, sentiments and other accessories that can be used to create birthday cards and friendship cards. It's quite a versatile collection. 

Stop by at the rest of the Design Team and and be inspired by their lovely creations for this week's Challenge. And then show us what you come up with to make a birthday at this time special. Remember, the winner walks away with a cool prize!

I'm playing along with Bunny Zoe Crafts "Celebration"; Inspire Me Fridays #89 "Anything Goes"; Simply Create Challenges #14 "Linky Party"; Love to Create #45 "Anything Goes"; Sieze the Birthday #1 "Celebrating Birthdays""; Challenges4Everybody #9 "Anything Goes" and Card Crafters Circle #53 "Red White Green". 

That's all from me today. Thanks for stopping by and I can't wait to see your take on this week's challenge. See you again real soon!

Beijinhos!

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