Hi again,

I have been hanging out to show you some of the Christmas cards I made in the last month or two (in between all the other things!!).  Maybe if you are the truly organised type (not like me!!) you may even be thinking about starting your 2012 cards already!  If you make one a week, you'll have around 50 to post in December!

I love the simplicity of this card - very similar to some we made in 2010. Just some strips of paper to make borders and the popular Dasher stamp with a spot of red gel pen for his nose! The Designer Series Paper is from the specialty pack Mocha Morning and the card stock selected is Real Red, Soft Suede and Crumb Cake, all from Stampin' Up!

The next card is very similar, just adding some Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper, Wild Wasabi Card Stock and a stamped and punched ornament from the Tags Til Christmas stamp set.

I also made up a stack of cards from my Christmas in July mega card class from 2011.  This was such a huge class, and I really loved the Simply Scrappin' Kits we used (now retired). I had enough pieces left over to recreate several cards and just changed the tiniest things on them.

One of my favourite techniques continues to be inking up the stamp with various Stampin' Write markers, for a multi-coloured image, and it just works so well with Stampin' Up!'s Christmas stamps, particularly this word stamp from Season of Joy stamp set.  Don't you love how clever it is?

This card uses Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler and Marina Mist Stampin' Write markers and card. The patterned papers are from a retired Christmas Simply Scrappin' Kit.

I have another lot of bright and cheery Stocking Punch cards to show you - while the stocking punch is still available to buy from the Summer Mini Catalogue.  I'll be back in a day or two to share those with you. 

Cheerio!

Hi Everyone!

Hope you had a lovely Christmas and for those of you having family holidays at this time, I hope you're having a really relaxing and wonderful time!

Our lead-up to Christmas was intense with all the things we needed to get done before our holiday break, but we have just enjoyed two wonderful weeks touring around my little island home visiting family & friends and doing several beautiful bushwalks.  The weather in Tasmania was gorgeous, and it was such a relaxing and fun holiday - a real reward after an amazingly busy year.

I wanted to share a couple of happy snaps with you - especially this funny one!

Yes, at Waratah, down in the west, we found a Stamper Mill! But it wasn't the kind of stamper I am used to!  Very interesting piece of history though, and an incredibly pretty little town, with a waterfall right in the centre of town!

We had a lovely three day Christmas party with many of our extended family, which included 17 people at Nan's for Christmas lunch, and then 16 family members on a river cruise for 5 hours on Boxing Day - lovely way to spend some time catching up.  Here's a couple of pics of some of my Nan's Christmas Decorations, they are SO gorgeous!

I love that silver tree with the tiny metallic ornaments - so simple & elegant.  And did you notice those stunning Gladioli?  Dame Edna would love them! My uncle grew them in a plot at his work and brought them home on Christmas Eve.

And how are these two gorgeous little guys?  Just a sample of the lovely things my grandmother has collected to display during the festive season.

A very enjoyable part of our journey was a three night stopover at the gorgeous east coast town of St Helen's where we stayed with my delightful stamping friend and team member, Elaine Hannam and her very genial host husband Fred.  Thank you both so much for a wonderful stay!

Dinner at Fred & Elaine's included fresh fish which Fred had caught - delicious!!

And of course, what would a visit with a stamping buddy be, without STAMPING!!  What a fantastic room Elaine has, and she is SO extraordinarily talented - I will be borrowing stealing lots of ideas! Thanks again so much Elaine & Fred for your fabulous hospitality - we loved our "little house" and will be inviting ourselves back soon!

Well the new year is in full swing already. Thank you all for such wonderful support in 2011, it was an awesome year, and I wish you all a very happy, successful and safe 2012 with lots of stamping in it! I will be back soon - I have lots of things to show you - so many projects from Christmas and some sneak peaks for Sale-a-bration - see you soon!

Kathryn.