Treasure Trove Transformed!

Well, have I ever fun with the bonbon loot I spoke of in the last post.
To start this post I am putting a picture of my cuttlebug machine to show folks who have never seen one how these items are made as I have had folks ask me.
Here it is poised ready to cuttle one of the red sheets of bonbon paper.

This piece is on the first card pictures and is from the Cuttlebug Winter Wonderland set - as are the other two folders I have used.


The pendant dies in the middle are from Spellbinders - one is a Fleur de Lise and the other is the Lattice.
The Nestablities were Labels Four and Labels Eight. I just loved the white card stock and the red on the bonbons. One of the red cards has an embossed holly on it and it came like that on the bonbons.

Stamps are from Stampendous and Holly Pond, I bought them in Brisbane over ten years ago now, so not sure if still available

I have used the lovely toppings on the bonbons. and the cardstock and the ribbons to make over a dozen cards for next Christmas!

Yes! I know some folk may be "Christmassed" out by now.

However I like to get in early because once the count down begins in July or so I will run out of time,

I had most of this years done by then and will do the same this time around and have made a really good head start.... and just think I may have done that so far, for this last day of 2010 lets hope and pray I keep this way onto the New year!!

I pray God will bless each of you for this New year of 2011 with health and His special blessing for each of you!

Cardmakers Treasure Trove

Well, it has been a lovely time with the family ! I do hope that you all enjoyed your time together too, safely and in a God blessed way!











Here are a few pickies of the competition we set up after Christmas lunch impromptu like to design the snazziest design with the table sprinkles! here are two of the ones we did ..





Not yet the time for making cards, but spent today sorting through the treasure trove I collected from the bonbons this year - wow! just take a look....
They were amazing, did not realise till I took them all to bits just how nice it will all be to make cards for next year's Christmas season.
I am itching to get into it already. I tried one sheet of the white frosted card to see if the cuttling would take out the very minor folds left in it after trimming it - and if you click on the pickie above you can see it came out beautifully (debossed this time, as I put it in the folder that way)!

I will use the cardstock pieces with my Nestabilties cutters too!

Brayer, Stamps and Cuttle a Quick card

Well, only a few days as we count down so before the final onslaught, so thought I would do one quick post with this card.
I love the brayer and its versatility. For this card I have used a Kaleidocolor stamp pad called Fruitcake (rather appropriate for this time of year), and I love the Kaleidocolor as they blend so smoothly with the brayer. Used it with a Top Note die cut-out by Stampin' Up (bought pre-cut off eBay as I don’t have one of them). This is one was done in kraft paper.

  I dried it with a heat tool as they get very wet on the kraft paper, it really drinks it up; then stamped the arrangement of stamps with the white chalk stamp pad. Mounting it with a hand-cut cut out of white card, and the Holly Cuttlebug folder in red card stock and onto some more white linen card and it was finished. I was tempted to add a ribbon but I am still not sure on that score? I do like simplicity.

 I love the words on this card -  WISE men ... still seek Him.

  

Well, everyone have a very happy safe and blessed time this Christmas and till next time may God watch over you and everyone you love, especially on the busy and not always safe roads.

Card, with a cuppa from Rwanda!

Well, I wasn't going to post tonight but this card which came today blew me away, so just had to do a post and show you!.

This card is simple, yet very beautiful. The colour of deep eggplant of the background looks blackish no matter what I did, but think this was the best photo.

So let me describe it to the best of my ability.

There is the deep eggplant cardstock, and on this is mounted the two simple wire shapes in the star and the baby Jesus in the manger (a soft wire is used, not being a handyman don’t know what sort). These are stitched on with the same silver thread that is used to radiate the light from the star.

I dare say they may have had a nailed on wood shape to twist the wire into the shapes?

This is mounted on woven, white paper mount with a deckle edge, and then a card with the printed inscription of Emmanuel (which means) “God is With Us”.

Then there was a special touch inside the card apart from the welcome greeting from my dear friends who are missionaries in Rwanda, were two tea bags with Rwandan tea.

Ah! Dear Chris and Fi, I will think of you and all those dear folk you work among. I read in your newsletter of hand made objects for sale made by the ladies there and wondered what they were like, now I have some idea! well done!

May God bless and keep you in the labour for the King of Kings over there, and all the dear folk among whom you work!

God bless till next time,

Shaz.x

Sunny days are here again!!

Well,  I am all excited as Christmas time draws  ever closer (as well as perhaps a "leetle" stressed!).

This photo shows the youngest member of our family Thomas and mummy.

He lives in the big smoke ( Sydney) with his mum and dad. This photo was taken when they were here in March, 2010.
Here he is taking his first visit to the beach and paddling in daddy's pool with mummy's help! :)
 I am all excited because Thomas is visiting us this Christmas time, along with mum and dad and a few other “rellys” [Aussie for relations :) ].
After all, won’t we have fun with little feet running around!  Let alone the trips to the lovely white sandy beach to play!


Card making at present is going full steam ahead! I have two down and one to go and then can at least get into my own cards once these final orders are done.
Hope to post them later, I have red ink all over my fingers from the final one which is the red, black and white card, all birthday orders for December.
I think we make more of Christmas as a family time down here as we have not had any major family celebrations like other countries for ages (e.g. Thanksgiving, etc.) so Christmas day is a very big family event here, even if it is not necessarily the Roast Dinners of the Northern hemisphere. We generally have cold meats, prawns seafood and salads at our Christmas lunch. I can only remember one when I was eight years old at my English Grandmothers when we had a baked dinner.

Till I post again may God bless, and strengthen you in the happy hustle and bustle of getting ready for the big day.

For Christmas - Nesties, Cuttlebug with Vellum

Well, this will be quick post as one is flat out this time of the year but thought I would just put up the three cards that I have made with the vellum. Two of the cards are with cut-outs of rectangular Nesties to insert the snowflake vellum done on the Cuttlebug. then I placed more Snowflakes Nestie adornments. These are simple but effective.

I have done two -  one in silver with square format and the other is in the blue.The pictures do not show as well as I would like but maybe after Christmas my pickies will be better.. a new camera is on my list, the one and only list actually! as have put myself on a craft buying ban for present.. :)

This is simple one with a computer print out on top of music gold vellum, which was done with cuttlebug folder and really like the simplicity of it, and the sentiments expressed on it also.

Happy crafting, and may God bless you all as we prepare to celebrate the birthday of our dear LORD Jesus.