Test tube gifts

I have another little gift idea to share with you today. These are little plastic test tubes which I have filled with Hot Chocolate Drink and Marshmallows in the double holder and Raspberry Flavoured " Millions" chewy sweets in the Pink single one.

I made a simple acetate box with card top and bottom for the pink one. For the double one I used a template from over at Lisa Somerville's blog ( her work is incredible, go take a look at her creations here )

Christmas Welcome gift

Hi there

I thought I would share with you a little gift and card that I have made this morning. It is a very simple gift to make but I like the idea of matching card and bag.

Stampin'Up! makes this soooo easy with all the matching cardstock, ink pads and ribbons and it's one of the reasons I love their products.

Christmas Day table

I am feeling so pleased with myself today.

I hit upon the idea of these mini pillow boxes for on my dinner table on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. They are just the perfect size to hold an After Eight mint. I shall be having these instead of crackers this year.

Mini matchbox storage

I have seen lots of these matchbox storage towers used as advent calendars and set out to make one of my own. However once I had the basic tower built I decided that it was too nice to only use as an advent one so I have decided I am going to have it on my shelf in my craft room to store mini embellishments.

I made a folded origami box for the top ( I made the bottom of the box smaller than I usually do when I am making a gift box as I need the lid to lift off very easily so it does not pull the bottom of the box up off of the platform bit) This gives me an additional storage area for other little bits and bobs. Obviously I still have a few extra embellishments to add to the side panels for decoration but I just wanted to share it with you asap.

If anyone knows of a REALLY CHEAP blank and empty matchbox supplier here in the UK I would be thrilled if you would let me know. I paid £2.10 for the 24 matchboxes I needed and although this is not massively expensive for such a cute finished article, I am at a loss as to what to do with the 960 matches that were inside lol. I just know that I am going to want to make lots of these little drawer sets so any advice would be gratefully received.

Season of Joy Red version

And here is the Red version

Season of Joy

Hi there

I thought I would share this morning's creations with you . I fancied making some Z - Fold cards so have made 7 so far today.

I think these will all be for my neighbours ( I try to make all of my neighbours cards using the same stamp set and each year I make a note of which image I have used so the designs change every year)

I have got a couple of calendars to put together this afternoon so I am determined to have a productive day today.

Season of Joy

Well I have been on a roll again today. I made 12 Christmas cards (mainly just one design but different colourways) before lunchtime and then this evening I have made a further 8 Christmas cards in this design ( with added extra of white ribbon on the left side). Can you tell that I am now feeling quite desperate in my bid to get my cards made lol.

The only drawback of being a card maker is that everyone expects a handmade creation these days. I just KNOW that I would get looks of horror if I were to try and palm people off with shop bought cards now.

Oh well 20 cards completed today to go with my 10 mug gift sets I made yesterday.....now that is not a bad achievement for just two days

How many days do I have left ha ha ha.............................

Stocking filler gifts

Here is a picture of what I got up to last night. The inspiration came from various blogs and galleries on the Internet.

I went out yesterday and bought a selection of mugs in Asda. Last night I made 10 of these gift sets with chocolate drink, marshmallows, bar of chocolate and scallop covered Elizabeth Shaw chocolates. They are for my family and friends as stocking filler pressies but they would also be perfect as standby gifts for unexpected visitors.

Bright, white world today

Well we certainly have snow today. It all looks rather beautiful and I am just glad I don't need to go anywhere today.

I now have a perfect opportunity to get cracking with my christmas cards. I made some lovely stocking filler christmas gifts yesterday and will upload a picture later.

Silent Night

Thought I had better get a move on with some Christmas cards.......otherwise I can see I will be the one and only card maker who hasn't sent any handmade creations this year. I usually have ALL my 100+ cards made and posted by the end of November but time has got the better of me this year. This is a quickie card to start me off, using one of my all time favourite SU sets "Silent Night"

So for the rest of this week I will be frantically making all those that need posting and getting them in the mail by Monday next week. And then I will have to concentrate on the more intricate "Family and Close Friends" cards and gifts that are just ideas buzzing around in my brain at the moment.

Guess who is going to be up til midnight or later on Christmas Eve this year ?

Plain and Simple

Another red and white simple colour combination card.

The Z card design is one from a class I attended with Jenny over at Stamping Moments. I just changed the colours and the stamp set used. Her work always inspires me and her blog is full of great ideas, tips etc

A new creation at last

It has been a while since I last made a card but I have finally managed to put one together tonight. Hooray..... I thought my creativity had deserted me for good. This may not be the best card I have ever made but I am still pleased to have made it lol.

The border is the Stampin' Up! So Swirly wheel. I bought an un-inked cartridge and inked it using versamark liquid. I then stamped the design and embossed the design using white embossing powder. I am loving the "crisp" look of red and white at the moment so will certainly be using those colours on a few of my christmas cards this year.

Back from hols

Hi there

Sorry for my lack of posts in the last couple of weeks or so.

I have been away on holiday in Cornwall. I will hopefully get some time towards the end of this week to be creative and will post my creations as soon as I can. I need to get a move on with my christmas cards and to play around with some natty ideas I have for stocking filler pressies. Watch this space !

Halloween

Well 2008 has seen a 1st for me. I dressed up in fancy dress and went trick or treating with my Great Niece Jessica and lots of other kiddies. My friend Vikki arranged the trick or treating with a party to followand we all had a lovely time. Here is a picture of Jessica and I .

U Stamp Holidays 08

I am delighted to say that UStamp have now opened for their Holidays 08 online classes.

For amazing inspiration, fun projects, video tutorials, chat and to join in with other like minded crafters head off over to Ustamp (Just click on the UStamp banner to the right of my blog)

New Catalogue

Wow it's here....and it's gorgeous.

I am of course talking about the NEW Stampin' Up 2008/9 Ideas book and Catalogue which launched today.

There are lots of brand new stamp sets, designer papers and accessories. The ideas book is packed with so many beautiful samples, I guarantee your wish list will be as long as mine.

I am looking towards starting a Stampers 10 club shortly so if you want to know more about how this works and how you can qualify for Hostess Benefits AND Free Catalogue goodies please email me using the link on the right hand side of this page.

If you would like to purchase the New Catalogue please see my earlier post about the free gift I will send out as a special welcome from me to you.

Old Fashioned Christmas

I have been having a play today with Stampin' Up! Old Fashioned Christmas stamp set. I am pleased with how they look and I am even more pleased that I now have my FIRST 5 Christmas cards made for this year........I really do need to get myself more organised lol

New Catalogues...

Did I mention that the new Stampin'Up! catalogues are here ? I think I may have mentioned it lol.

My copy of the catalogue is already looking a wee bit dog eared as I have been through it soooo many times since it arrived. There are just so many things that you have to go back and look at again and my wish list grows bigger every day.

Well I thought I would share a sneaky peek of the goody bag I have put together for anyone who purchases the new catalogue from me. For £4.95 plus postage you get the scrummy new catalogue, the bag and gifts you see in the picture ( plus I do believe there are 2 or three other items still inside the bag which are a secret) All in all great value for money and your pack is just waiting for you.

Can you tell I am still loving the colour combination of Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla ?

Ooh I almost forgot to mention I got the goody bag template from the wonderful one I received on my birthday from Jenny over at Stamping Moments. I will post a picture of that one very soon....it was lovely.

Bashful Blue and Chocolate Chip

Well ......

I have always had a soft spot for brown and pink together but my new favourite combination has got to be Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla....could this be something to do with the new catalogue inspiring me ?

This is a mini card I put together just to see how the colours worked together......and the answer is YES.

Well THEY DO for me !

Birthday Cards for Father in Law

I thought I would share with you the two cards I made for my Father in Law's birthday which was yesterday.