Be of Good Cheer Christmas....

 

This is another quick and simple yet effective Christmas Card, that's easy to mass produce, which at this time of the year, when I haven't yet sent any cards, as I am still to make them,  is a good thing.

 

 

This time I've used Be of Good Cheer DSP from the IBC and the Christmas sentiment from a hostess set.

 

 

Stamps:  Wacky Wishes

Ink: Gumball Green, Very Vanilla

Card stock: Gumball Green

Other: Be of Good Cheer DSP, Gumball Green Ribbon, Cherry Cobbler button and Bakers Twine, Festive Paper Piercing Pack, Windo Frames Collection Framelits.

 

Happy Stamping....Manda 

 

Stamp-A-Stack 3

 

This is the last card that we made, and again I've used the Festival of Prints DSP Stack.....I love this for quick and simple Christmas Cards. 

 

I've stamped the 2 longer baubles straight onto the base card and then stamped the smaller bauble onto some scrap and used the Holiday Ornaments Framelits to cut it out and pop it up.  I've hand drawn the strings holding up the baubles....the straight line is in Raspberry Ripple (and I've used a ruler), the freehand curvy line ins in Lucky Limeade.

 

Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, Petite Pairs

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Raspberry Ripple

Card stock: Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple

Other: Festival of Prints DSP Stack, Raspberry Ripple Ribbon, Basic Pearls (I've also used Dazzling Diamonds and it looks great too), large oval punch and Lots of Tags Sizzlits.

 

Happy Stamping....Manda

Stamp-A-Stack 2

 

This is the second card we made at the Christmas Stamp-a-Stack.

 

This one is so simple and elegant, and a fantastic one to mass produce.  And it's easily adapted to the DSP from the Stack in the Mini......just change the colour of your ornament, matting and ribbon.

 

Stamps : Ornament Keepsakes

Ink: Gumball Green

Card stock: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green

Other: Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Extra Large Pearls, Festival of Prints DSP Stack

 

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Stamp-A-Stack 1

 

Hi there....

 

Thought I'd share the first card from my Christmas Stamp-a-stack this year. This one is my favourite of the 3 that we did, not sure why, but I just love it.

 

Stamps: Daydream Medallions, Heart of Christmas

Ink: Island Indigo, Baja Breeze, Rich Razzelberry

Card stock: Island Indigo, Baja Breeze, Rich Razzelberry, Whisper White

Other: Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Basics Glimmer Brads, Labels Collections Framelits

 

Happy Stamping.....Manda

It's beginning to look a lot like......

CHRISTMAS!!

 

 

And now that I'm on holidays, I'm slowing getting my creative mojo back....Yay!!

 

 So the first thing I thought I'd share with you are some gifts that I made this year.

 

 

I made a set of these magnets for each of the staff members who I work with at school, and they were also the gift that I gave to the ladies who attended my Christmas Stamp-A-Stack.

 

They are based on an idea shared by my stamping sister Bec at a team meeting earlier this year.  The base of the magnet is a beer bottle top from the home brew section of the supermarket.  Run it through the Big Shot and it makes a cool embellishment with a bit of DSP and some Crystal Effects.  I've also used Crystal Effects to glue a magnet to the back of the bottle top and then packaged them up.

 

Happy Stamping.....Manda xx

 



Don't fall off your chair.....

Yes.......I am posting on my blog. 

 

I've just finished my pile of assessment marking for the end of year, and tomorrow I'm going into school to start the reporting process.  So I thought I'd take a moment to share with you my project for the year.

 

As you've seen from previous posts, I've been making name frames for my own children to give to their friends as birthday gifts.  Well, I decided that it would be a good idea to make each of my 26 class members a frame as their Christmas gift from me.  We had our gift-giving session on Friday, so I can now show you the completed projects, just in case I have any parents who cast a glance over the blog - waves if you are!! 

 

These projects have been on the go since the June holidays.  Boys frames were made from a variety of stamp sets and dies, but the paper is retired Travel Journal DSP.

 

 

Colours are Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue and Pumpkin Pie.

 

The girls frames were made using the Island Oasis retired DSP.

 

Colours are Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Rose Red and Old Olive.

 

As you can see, each one is slightly different, but all variations on a theme.

 

It was very rewarding to see the joy on the faces of my class when they opened their gifts.  They all put their frames on their desks for the day, which looked fantastic. 

 

The quote of the day came from a group of 5 girls who told me "Mrs Saffery, you made a mistake.......our names are proper nouns and they need a capital letter!"  Phew, I have taught them something this year!!  I had to giggle......

 

Hopefully, over the next few weeks I'll get back to blogging more regularly.  I have 1 more week of work and then holidays.  And let me tell you, there is going to be some serious crafting going on!!

 

Happy Stamping.....Manda xx

Bye Bye Pocket Silhouettes......

One of my favourite, and I think most versatile, stamp sets is Pocket Silhouettes, which is unfortuanetely retiring at the end of the month.  So I thought I'd best share this set of thank you cards that I created in a similar style to these ones a little while ago.

Pool Party

Calypso Coral

Wisteria Wonder

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Happy Birthday.....

To the stripe lover....here is your frame as requested. 

Hope you have a wonderful day.

Stamps: Awash with Flowers

Card stock:  Lucky Limeade, Concord Crush, Watercolour Paper, Melon Mambo

Ink: Stazon Black

Other: Stamp'n'Write Markers in Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade

Other:  Pink Glitter, Hostess DSP (the name escapes me at the moment) Butterfly embosslits.

Happy Stamping.....Manda



Faith in Nature......

I want to have a stash of gift card sized thank you's at work.  So here is a collection that I've made up using the Faith in Nature hostess set in.........

Peach Parfait

Pear Pizazz

Pink Pirouette

As you can see, all the same layout, just a change of colour, and featured image.

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Birthday calendar

This is another thing that I've made for the classroom......a birthday calendar.  I've used 12 sheets of different retired DSP, all featuring Real Red.  I've made a strip along the top of each with the month writen on, and then taken photos of the children in my class and put them onto the appropriate page. (I've laminated the months so that they can be reused each year)

Happy Stamping.... Manda

Classroom things......

I've returned to teaching after a break to raise my family, which is why I have been a little quiet on the posting and stamping lately.  I have realised though that I haven't posted photos of the things that I've made for the classroom.

These are my lolly jars, decorated with Spice Cake DSP from the last Mini catty, as well as the big buttons to match.  The jars are coffee jars that I've recycled.  The lid is also decorated with the Triple Treat flower stamp which I've stamped and layered and then inserted into the inside of the lid.

Happy Stamping.....Manda

John's Birthday

I have another birthday card for you.  This one is for John, who had his birthday last week.  I'm just late in posting this. 

Another simple card, with not much stamping, which seems to be my style at the moment, though that may be due to lack of time.

I wanted to use my new SU! dies, but thought they were a little femine in shape.  Add some brads, and problem solved.   Also loving the Mocha Morning Specialty DSP and the Baja Breeze Seam Binding.

Happy Stamping.....Manda xx

Laura's Birthday

It was Laura's birthday on Sunday just past, so here is the gift.  Yes another frame, but this time a bigger version in silver (I've cut out the frame in the picture, sorry, but the glass put glare on the photo). 

I've used Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink and the Flirtatious Specialty DSP, with the silver glitter paper. 

Happy 10th Birthday, Laura.

Happy Stamping......Manda xx

Babies in the air......

A couple of my friends are having babies at the moment.  This card is for a lovely lady in my teaching team at school, who is leaving at the end of this term to have her first baby. 

I've made the card much larger than usual (A5) as this is for all the staff to sign.  I've used Elebration, an Al a Carte stamp from the current SU! catalogue, but the image actually has a piece of cake with a single candle on it.  I used a small square punch to make my present and carefully cut my coloured image to insert the corner of the gift under Ele's foot.  I thought it looked more appropriate than the cake.  Love the Ele though!!!!

I've water coloured him with markers and aqua painters, and then gone over the ears and balloon with Champagne Shimmer Paint, using the aqua painter to paint it on.  I've actually cut the balloon out of So Saffron card stock, then painted on the shimmer paint, then used my crop-a-dile to make the spots with Bashful Blue card stock.  Then I've used Crystal Effects to  make the spots shine.  Hope you can see it.

Stamps: Elebration, For My Family

Card Stock: Watercolour paper, Bashful Blue, So Saffron

Ink: So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Stazon Black

Other: Champagne Shimmer Mist, Crystal Effects, Bakers Twine, Bashful Blue Satin Ribbon, DSP (retired).

Happy Stamping.......Manda xx

Next in the gift parade......

DS has been invited to "my best friend from kindy, Jeremy"'s birthday party very soon.  As today is a public holiday in not so sunny Queensland, I took the opportunity to make up the gift for the birthday party.  There is a story behind the rockets.......DS's kindy sheets have rockets on them and Jeremy had to have rocket sheets as well.  His poor mum has been all over town looking for rocket sheets......only to discover that DS's grandmother made his sheets for him from a doona cover!

Anyway.......hopefully Jeremy will like this rocket instead!!

I have borrowed the rocket image, and the paper is retired SU! Celebrations DSP.

Card Stock: Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: SU! stamp'n'write markers in Real Red, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango

Other: Champagne Shimmer Paint, Big Shot alphabet dies.

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Thanks in Wisteria

I recently had occasion to sit down at my craft desk and make a set of 12 thank you cards.  I just needed simple, quick and elegant.

This is what I came up with.

Please excuse the quality of the photos, they were taken at work on my desk - not the best lighting for photographing purple - 'sigh'.

Card Stock: Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder

Ink: Wisteria Wonder

Stamps: Elizabeth, Fabulous Phrases

Other: Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Grosgrain ribbon, Scallop oval punch, large oval punch, dimensionals, sponge.

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Happy Mother's Day

This card ended up being the favourite, which surprised us, as it used the paper we liked least to start with.  But it just came together so easily.   Don't you love it when that happens!!

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, retired sentiment

Ink: Island Indigo, Riding Hood Red

Card stock: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red

Other: Twitterpated DSP, Satin ruffled ribbon, punches

Happy Mother's Day!!!

and Happy Stamping.....Manda

Mother's Day Part 4

This card is a CASE.

Simple, elegant and stunning. 

We used some textured white card stock from the stash for this one.

The flower has a black shadow punched and mounted underneath, which you can see in the image above, but not so clearly below. 

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, retired sentiment

Ink: Black Stazon, Riding Hood Red, Blushing Bride

Card stock: Whisper White, Black, other textured white card stock

Other: New ruffled Riding Hood Red satin ribbon from the Autumn-Winter Mini.  Love it!!

Happy Stamping....Manda

Mother's Day Part 3

Next in the Mother's Day card line up.  This beautiful pattern from the Twitterpated DSP.  It was so gorgeous that we didn't want to hide it.  Very simple, yet elegant.

Stamps: Elements of Style

Cardstock: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red

Ink: Riding Hood Red

Other: Twitterpated DSP, White Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), circle and scallop punches.

Happy Stamping....Manda

Mother's Day Part 2

This Mother's Day card uses some products from the new Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue, Twitterpated DSP and Mixed Bunch stamp set.

We made 9 of this card.

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, retired sentiment

Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizazz

Card Stock: Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizazz, Whisper White

Other: Twitterpated DSP, Pear Pizazz Ribbon, Ice Rhinestone Brads

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Mothers Day 2012 Part 1

One of my friends has been asked to provide 100 Mother's Day cards to her daughters school's Mother's Day stall.  So I recently went over to help her make some cards.  I think we ended up making 50 cards in one night......yes it was late!

Over the next few posts leading up to Mother's Day, I'm going to show you some of the designs we came up with.  Some of them are CASEd, and I apologise for not having the originals to link.  I will however let you know when the card is CASEd or if it's an original.  We also pulled out a lot of retired sentiments, so apologies for that. 

Having said all that, this card is an original!!  It is a classic layout that always looks great.

I think we made 9 of this card.

Stamps: Posy Punch, sentiment retired

Ink: Pear Pizazz, Blushing Bride

Card Stock: Blushing Bride, Pear Pizazz, Whisper White

Other: Nursery Nest DSP, Blushing Bride Ribbon, Ice Rhinestone Brads, Fancy Flower Punch

Happy Stamping.....Manda

More Paisley....

Again, a bit late in posting this card, as the paisley stamps are now retired from the Summer Mini Catalogue....but I do still love them.

Dimensional Banner

Love it......if a bit busier than my usual style of late!!

Happy Stamping....Manda

Next in the birthday present series....

I've decided that this is a fantastic birthday gift for all the children's friends this year.  Personalised for each child. 

DD2's friend again, this time favourite colours are pink and green. 

BTW - this is a great way to use up all that retired DSP that is loitering around my house.  And I still love Raspberry Tart DSP.

Please excuse thumb nail on the edge.....I had to hold the frame at the right angle to get rid of the glare on the glass.

This is a close up of the girl, who I coloured with Copic Markers.  Sorry, can't tell you which markers or what the stamp is as both were borrowed while at a friends house.



Happy Stamping.....Manda

Sale-a-Brate Easter, just a little late......

Hmmmmm.......not very organised am I?????

Anyhoo....better late than never.

These are a couple of the chocolate pull boxes that I made for my children's teachers for Easter.  I found a great special on Lindt chocolate just before Easter, so I decided to go this way rather than the traditional Easter Egg gift.  As I'd bought 70% cocoa dark chocolate, they were rather well received!

These are just 2 versions, that I remembered to take a photo of before sending said children off to school with the other versions, but I did use the Everyday Enchantment DSP from the SAB catalogue for all of the others as well.

I also made these cute acetate boxes for my last technique class.....had to buy the Easter eggs for this one, but then it doubled as a gift for the next door neighbours!

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Sweet Sunday Birds.....

A card from me, for a challenge, as a result of a personal challenge (hi Michelle and Cassie).

This one is for the Sweet Sunday Sketch #156

Cardstock: Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Very Vanilla

Stamps: Carte Postale (retired, but I NEEDED to use the bird image), sentiment from Cassie's collection

Ink: Pool Party, Lucky Limeade

Other: Everyday Enchantment DSP, assorted dies from Cassie's collection.

Happy Stamping.....Manda