It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas ......

I'm feeling happy and bright and festive today, I can really feel that Christmas is coming and it's such a lovely time of year don't you think? I love the opportunity to be with my friends and family, to celebrate and to whip up some Christmas treats. We love putting up the tree and Paul and the boys are also planning to decorate the house again.

It's an exciting time team wise as well. We've got our Kris Kringle happening on my team forum and next Friday night we are all heading out to celebrate a fabulous fun year for the Art with Heart team. We have such a great team, and have lots of fun together. If you're looking for a fun team to join to be a a part of our team forum, training days, sharing and creating and nights out, just email me. I now have downlines actively building their teams right throughout Melbourne, from Sunbury and Melton in the West to Aspendale in the south and Healesville in the East, plus rural areas throughout Victoria and all states of Australia except Queensland, so there will be someone close by who can take you under their wing and help you get started. I'd love to put you in touch with them. Anyone who joins as one of my level 1-5 downlines, also has the benefit of my own mentoring and support as I am regularly on our team forum posting ideas, training tips etc for all my level 1-5 downlines. You also get access to all my tutorial instruction packages for free. Interested in finding out more? Just email me or call me on 03 97352946.

One of my gorgeous downlines Anita, sent me an email this morning showing me this cute as pie Christmas ornament she had made for her Etsy shop. OMG - how fab are they!! I had to have one right then and there. A couple of hours later Anita knocks on the door and hand delivered it as she's only just down the road. I just love Christmas ornaments, and especially those with meaning behind them. Lovely to have one hand crafted by a friend! I can't wait to put my tree up now!

I hope it's starting to feel like Christmas at your house too!

I choose the good stuff ...

I've had a hard day today. The type that comes out of left field. You know what though? So many amazing things happened today as well and that's what I choose to remember today by. I've just seen on the news how the medical teams at the Royal Children's Hospital have successfully separated the co-joined twins after a marathon operation. Let's pray for their continued good progress. I picked my son up early from creche and he ran towards me with his arms outstretched, so excited to see me. My husband walked in the door and gave me a hug and cooked tea for us all. A special friend was there for me (thanks :) ). In the end it was a good day.

Some of my fab team popped around to stamp and chat today as well. I did a couple of simple make and takes while we chatted. This first ones uses Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Series paper which I will be so sorry to see go at the end of this month! The stamp set is Fifth Avenue Floral.

This one is a simple one using Circle Circus showing some different embossing techniques, clear embossing, white embossing and emboss resist.

 That's all for now. Have a great day and see you next time,

Claire xx

Claire's Stampin' Up! 12 Days of Christmas Day 12 - Tree Trimmings

Here we are at day 12, my last card of the series. Time for some glitter don't you think? This card uses Tree Trimmings, one of the sets from the Stampin' Up! Spring Mini Catalogue. These products are only available until November 30th, so get in quick!

I have used the Rock and Roll technique on the feature bauble and then added some Dazzling Diamonds to all three baubles using my Two Way Glue Pen. Before I adhered the feature bauble with Dimensionals (and before I added the Dazzling Diamonds), I masked the two base baubles and stamped the En Francais background stamp over the top in Sahara Sand (stamped off once). I also stamped this background without stamping off) on the base card layer (and let's just pretend I stamped it straight OK?).

So here's a run down of the Stampin' Up! supplies I have used in this card:

• Stamps: Tree Trimmings (only available until November 30th), En Francais, Best Yet.
• Ink: Sahara Sand, Pretty in Pink, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip
• Cardstock: Kraft, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip
• Paper: Holiday Treasures
• Punches: Large Oval, Scalloped Oval (only available until November 30th), Scalloped Border
• Other: Vintage Brads, Dazzling Diamonds, 2 Way Glue Pen, Valet Ribbon Originals.

I hope you have enjoyed my 12 days of Christmas cards fro 2009 and you are well on your way to making your own cards. If I can help you with any supplies, just give me a call on 03 97352946 or email me. Lots of the items for making and giving Christmas gifts are on the Christmas Gift Giving Guide, so you could score yourself a free Scallop Square Punch or Boho Blossoms Punch. View the guide by clicking HERE.

Until next time, happy creating!

Claire xx

 
 

Claire's Stampin' Up! 12 Days of Christmas - Day 11: Vintage Christmas

And now for something completely different! This one came completely out of left field! I just felt like doing a very shabby chic or vintage style Christmas card and I wanted to use the bird from Friends 24/7. Who would have thought you'd ever see that birdie on my Christmas cards hey?

I've used LOTS of bits and pieces on this one. Lots of stamping off on the naturals Ivory cardstock using Sahara Sand (loving Sahara Sand ink on natural and kraft cardstock!), build a brad and lots of inking and distressing. The sentiment is from Best Yet level 1 hostess set, and it fits perfectly in the large oval punch. I have then nested that on the scalloped oval. If you don't own that punch you only have until the end of the month to buy it, along with anything else in the Spring Mini Catalogue.

Here's a full run down of the Stampin' Up! supplies I have used on this card.

• Stamps: Friends 24/7, Winter post, Best Yet
• Ink: Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Black Stazon
• Cardstock: Kraft, Naturals Ivory, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke
• Paper: Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red Prints DSP
• Punches: Large oval, scalloped oval, horizontal slot, 1/2" circle
• Other: Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain, Build a Brad, Vintage Brads

I hope you like todays installment. See you back here tomorrow with day 12!

Claire

Claire's Stampin' Up! 12 Days of Christmas Day 10 - Gift Card Holder

Today we have a nifty little gift card holder which is very easy to make with some cutting and scoring. You can get the pattern from me, or you own Stampin' up! Demonstrator if that's not me. I have decorated mine using stamps from Stampin' Up! Season of Joy, Winter Post and the I Wish Simply Scrappin Kit.

As usual, here's a full run down of the Stampin' Up! products I have used:

• Stamps: Winter Post and Season of Joy
• Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
• Paper and elements: I Wish Simply Scrappin Kit
• Other: 1 3/8" circle punch, Designer Label Punch, Stampin' Write Markers (Chocolate Chip and Real Red)

I hope you enjoy todays gift card holder. I'll be back tomorrow with day 11. Until then have a great day,

Claire xx