My Secret Santa ...........

has arrived

Christmas cards with a money/gift card pocket

I always struggle what to give the nephews for Christmas, but for the last few years, we have given cash - but let's face it, just slipping cash into a card is so ......................... blah!

So, if I am giving cash, or a gift card for that matter, I try to make it as fun as possible.

This year, I came across this blog post in my search for a suitable card with a money pocket, and here are the cards I made

 

 

I had fun with these - I rummaged through my Christmas stash and found suitable embellishments - the boys seemed pleased when they first saw them, and even more pleased when they were opened (we did increase the money to $40  :) )

These cards are submitted as a little bit of inspiration for my final UnstampaBelles challenge.
My posts HERE and HERE show some more cards, and ofcourse, the UnstampaBelles Challenge is HERE


Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

UnstampaBelles Challenge #30 - more inspiration

It is that time of the month again - halfway inspiration - OK, so I am a bit more than halfway :)

As I posted previously, this is my last post as a member of the Design Team :(

I have decided to step down and concentrate of some other things.  

There are some changes in the wind for UnstampaBelles in 2014 - our founder Merry is also stepping down, along with myself and Lauren, but do not stress, the Unstampabelles challenges will continue in the very capable hands of Susan starting January 2014 with a New Beginnings challenge. How apt is that. :-)

So, here are the details for Challenge #30 - Christmas (no stamps)

Remember, All entries are subject to the Design Teams discretion.

Prize for December Challenge includes:

Laser cut cards and card fronts - Christmas Designs

Card front designs pre-holed ready for stitching.

Card front designs with the stitching pattern printed on the card.

Christmas stickers.

3 types of star brads

Christmas foil shapes

Four pads of Sticky Notes

You can find our rules here for further information.

Please remember .............

Any form of paper creation will be accepted as long as NO STAMPS (Digital or Rubber) have been used.  Due to graphic technology any entry with a graphic image will be subject to the Design Teams' discretion and we will contact you if we feel the entry does not meet the ethos of our challenge blog.

For further information, see our rules here.

The December challenge closes Friday, 3rd January 2014 and Winners will be announced Monday, 6th January 2014 - Remember we are working on Aussie Time.

Just as a reminder, our current Design Team is as follows, please feel free to visit and say hello ;-)

Current Design Team Members - July - December 2013

Beth - Design Team Member since January 2012 and is also a member of CraftMad
Cathy(me) - Design Team Member since inception and is also a member of CraftMad
JanR - Design Team Member since January 2012
Lauren - Design Team Member since July 2012
Merry - founder of Unstampabelles and member of CraftMad
Sarah -  Design Team Member since July 2012
Susan - Design Team Member since January 2012

Now onto my halfway inspiration :)

I needed some cards for a card swap on CraftMad - our theme for this swap was White with bling :)  I love bling!

Trees cut out of pearl paper and embossed with Cuttlebug, highlighted with kindy glitz and bling! Christmas sentiment sticker.
I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Less is More - where you can choose any previous challenge - I pick 140 - white on white

The Lollipop Ladies - challenge #82 - photo inspiration - white icing and the big cupcake iced like a tree on the top row :)

Clean & Simple - inspired by the 3 centre elements in the sketch 

My Time to Craft - white on white

Pearl cardstock run through Cuttlebug using snowflake folder, highlighted with bling, Christmas sentiment sticker added.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Less is More - where you can choose any previous challenge - I pick 140 - white on white

My Time to Craft - white on white

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Happy Birthday Greg

It was Mr Fixit's brother's birthday yesterday - we celebrated with cake and champagne :)

He loves sailing - he has even competed in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race :)

Items Used to make card:
PSX G1479 Sailboat stamped in Black Staz On, highlighted with kindy glitz.  layered on corrugated black card, and placed on white glossy card.  Silver dolphin charm added to silver cord.
Gloss card, white and black cardstock from BlueEdgeCrafts.

I would like to submit this card for the following challenges:
Less is more - metallic with one colour (kindy glitz is coloured, but does not show up very well in the photo)
Here come the boys - #66 anything goes
Allsorts Challenge - anything but Christmas



Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

UnstampaBelles Challenge #30 - Christmas (no stamps)

It is that time of the month again :)

Time for the UnstampaBelles Challenge - which sadly, will be my last as a member of the Design Team :(

I have decided to step down and concentrate of some other things.  

There are some changes in the wind for UnstampaBelles in 2014 - our founder Merry is also stepping down, along with myself and Lauren, but do not stress, the Unstampabelles challenges will continue in the very capable hands of Susan starting January 2014 with a New Beginnings challenge. How apt is that. :-)

So, here are the details for Challenge #30 - Christmas (no stamps)

Remember, All entries are subject to the Design Teams discretion.

Prize for December Challenge includes:

Laser cut cards and card fronts - Christmas Designs

Card front designs pre-holed ready for stitching.

Card front designs with the stitching pattern printed on the card.

Christmas stickers.

3 types of star brads

Christmas foil shapes

Four pads of Sticky Notes

You can find our rules here for further information.

Please remember .............

Any form of paper creation will be accepted as long as NO STAMPS (Digital or Rubber) have been used.  Due to graphic technology any entry with a graphic image will be subject to the Design Teams' discretion and we will contact you if we feel the entry does not meet the ethos of our challenge blog.

For further information, see our rules here.

The November challenge closes Friday, 3rd January 2014 and Winners will be announced Monday, 6th January 2014 - Remember we are working on Aussie Time.

Just as a reminder, our current Design Team is as follows, please feel free to visit and say hello ;-)

Current Design Team Members - July - December 2013

Beth - Design Team Member since January 2012 and is also a member of CraftMad
Cathy(me) - Design Team Member since inception and is also a member of CraftMad
JanR - Design Team Member since January 2012
Lauren - Design Team Member since July 2012
Merry - founder of Unstampabelles and member of CraftMad
Sarah -  Design Team Member since July 2012
Susan - Design Team Member since January 2012

Now onto my DT submission - with my first Christmas card for the year :)

I started with a sketch from Feeling Sketchy #75 (flipped upside down, Miss Pat) and used a square card as a base, layered with 6x6 DP, hand cut Christmas Trees from scraps, decorated using a method seen on Splitcoast Stampers, Kindy Glitz added and snowflakes cut with the CraftROBO placed on Kindy Glitz whilst still wet.  Ribbon and pre-made embellishment & gold sticker stars added.

The small snowflakes are 2cm (3/4 inch) across!  

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Feeling Sketchy - sketch #75 (flipped upside down)
Less is more - Sparkle
Crafty Hands - Sparkle & Bling
Fairy Tale Challenge - Snowflake photo

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Happy Anniversary

Well, it is the BIL's and SIL's 23rd Wedding Anniversary tomorrow - even though we will be celebrating tonight  ;-)


Front of card made with items from a kit bought a few years ago at a craft fair - Jenni B - the rub-ons have deteriorated, but the rest of the kit is good :)  The sentiment is stamped.

I thought it rather fortuitous that the 23rd Anniversary present is Silver Plated and I used a silver plated heart on the front.


The inside verse is printed on a patterned vellum that is similar to the shape of the flower on the front - and this is submitted as halfway inspiration for the UnstampaBelles Challenge #29 - Vellum.


Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Happy 50th Birthday

It is my SIL's 50th Birthday on Monday, but we will be celebrating tomorrow.

Ofcourse, I made a card - however, it took quite some time for me to settle on a design - being for her 50th, I wanted it to be special.  Once inspiration hit, it was an easy task - my SIL is known for her love of shoes, shopping and cake - she also loves coffee too, but that is a theme for next birthday ;-)


I was inspired by Betty's card HERE which was submitted for a challenge HERE

Seeing Betty's card reminded me I had some 8 x 8 scrapbook paper which would be perfect for the background.



I created the text for the birthday topper in Silhouette Studio and utilised Betty's cut file for the label shape.  I also enlarged the label and inserted a verse for the inside.

Left over strip from front, stuck in place on the inside to make a money pocket.

Pink bling was the perfect size for the front.

I would like to submit this card to the following challenges:
CAS(E) this sketch - #54

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

I feel the need .............

............ the Need4Bead  (sorry, couldn't resist :-))

I have been dabbling in beading for a little while and make the occasional necklaces and bracelets for friends and family - I have even sold a few things in my store.  I realise it won't make me a millionaire, but I enjoy it very much.

My beading bug has been newly awakened, I happened to see on Facebook an 'Inspiration Pack' special run by Need4Bead and was quite impressed.  I asked them to put one aside for me, and I picked it up a few days later.

taken from their Facebook page

PACK INCLUDES
Amethyst Large Chip, Red White Agate Medium Nugget, Seagreen New Jade Trapezoid, Marble Light Blue Nugget, Redline Marble Teardrop, Lodolite Xtra Large Chip

what I actually got

WOW - These beads are all so much nicer in real life ;-)  I have already made myself a bracelet with the Lodolite large chip ;-)


Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

UnstampaBelles #29 - Vellum (no stamps)

Challenge #29 - Vellum
 Scrap pages, cards, journal pages, origami etc. are all welcome.

All entries are subject to the Design Teams discretion.

You can find our rules here for further information.

Our Sponsor this month is our very own Beth 
with this gorgeous prize

Prize pack from Beth - Huggies Crafts

 consists of:

·         15 x A4 Sheets of card-stock

·         Jenni B Ovals

·         2 pkts of 12 Felt Christmas Icons

·         1 x Making Memories Sheer Frame

·         1 x 1mx9cm Wide Burlap Ribbon

·         1 pkt crafty bitz

·         1 pk Forever Friends Elements

·          2 Pks say it with Crystals

·         1 Pk Bazzil Basic Organza flowers.

Please remember .............

Any form of paper creation will be accepted as long as NO STAMPS (Digital or Rubber) have been used.  Due to graphic technology any entry with a graphic image will be subject to the Design Teams' discretion and we will contact you if we feel the entry does not meet the ethos of our challenge blog.

For further information, see our rules here.

The November challenge closes Friday, 29th November 2013 and Winners will be announced Monday, 2nd December 2013 - Remember we are working on Aussie Time.

Just as a reminder, our current Design Team is as follows, please feel free to visit and say hello ;-)

Current Design Team Members - July - December 2013

Beth - Design Team Member since January 2012 and is also a member of CraftMad
Cathy(me) - Design Team Member since inception and is also a member of CraftMad
JanR - Design Team Member since January 2012
Lauren - Design Team Member since July 2012
Merry - founder of Unstampabelles and member of CraftMad
Sarah -  Design Team Member since July 2012
Susan - Design Team Member since January 2012

Now onto my DT submission.

A plain sheet of vellum has been embossed using the cuttlebug and Stylised Flowers folder, attached to some red card with brads, a ribbon added and a rub-on sentiment, then layered on a white card.

A bling heart added :)

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

UnstampaBelles Challenge #28 - Stitching

Ooh, just noticed ........... blog post #400 and over 44,000 page views ;-)


Challenge #28 - Stitching
 Scrap pages, cards, journal pages, origami etc. are all welcome.

All entries are subject to the Design Teams discretion.

Just for this challenge, any form of creation will be accepted (it does not have to be papercraft)
as long as NO STAMPS (Digital or Rubber) have been used.

You can find our rules here for further information.


Our Sponsor this month is Blue Edge Crafts
with this gorgeous prize

Be sure to visit here and see all the other goodies they have to offer.

Please remember .............

Any form of paper creation will be accepted as long as NO STAMPS (Digital or Rubber) have been used.  Due to graphic technology any entry with a graphic image will be subject to the Design Teams' discretion and we will contact you if we feel the entry does not meet the ethos of our challenge blog.

For further information, see our rules here.

The October challenge closes Friday, 1st November 2013 and Winners will be announced Monday, 4th November 2013 - Remember we are working on Aussie Time.

Just as a reminder, our current Design Team is as follows, please feel free to visit and say hello ;-)

Current Design Team Members - July - December 2013

Beth - Design Team Member since January 2012 and is also a member of CraftMad
Cathy(me) - Design Team Member since inception and is also a member of CraftMad
JanR - Design Team Member since January 2012
Lauren - Design Team Member since July 2012
Merry - founder of Unstampabelles and member of CraftMad
Sarah -  Design Team Member since July 2012
Susan - Design Team Member since January 2012

Now onto my DT submission.

once again, I confess, I have been very preoccupied with doing some serious stitching on the A4A Quilt Along (SEE my sewing blog HERE), but have found some photos of cards I have made in the past and would like to show these by way of inspiration for you.

cheating ;-)  pre-stitched embellishments

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Thinking of You | With Sympathy

Sadly I have been in need of some more Sympathy cards this last two weeks

both for fellow Camera Club friends, both for the loss of their Mother :(

for Gillian

for Joy

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Quiz Night Donation

some of you may remember in 2011 I donated some purses to the Pregnancy Loss Support organisation (Teddy Love Club).  Well, they recently approached me with a request for another donation for their South Australian Annual Quiz Night - I couldn't say no ;-)

So, after a bit of thought on what would be a suitable prize, I thought a card pack may go down well, and initially thought a 'thank you' card pack would be nice.

I got my supplies out and started planning - but the lovely colours of the cardstock determined what type of cards I made ;-)

















This card pack is donated in memory of Shaun Robert Gibbens.

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.