Merry Christmas
It is very quiet here at the moment. I have some last minute preparations to do for lunch today but thought I would take the opportunity to pop in and say Merry Christmas and wish everyone a wonderful day. I am going to be spending the day at my daughter’s home celebrating with most of my family. We are very lucky to have so far escaped a threat from bushfire. It’s been a tough couple of months in Australia with many fires burning right across the nation. The temperatures have been very high and the winds strong. The smoke in the air is thick over many towns and life has been very scary. Thanks to the efforts of our Fire Fighters the loss of homes has been minimal considering the conditions. Unfortunately, some have paid the ultimate sacrifice. My thoughts are with those that have suffered losses and with those who are still on alert. Take care to stay safe and keep cool and if you are travelling on the roads, please be careful.
Once again, Merry Christmas.
Bye for now,
Kris
Holly Christmas
Well it’s Christmas Eve and I am spending the day, doing some cooking for tomorrow and finishing off some last minute gift wrapping. Otherwise, I am ready to spend time celebrating Christmas with my family. I hope you are ready to relax and enjoy the day as well.
Today I thought I would share a couple of cards that I created using the “floating” technique. I have tried this technique a couple of times but was never really satisfied with the outcome. I saw someone (sorry I can’t remember where or who), create a floating card using the holly image from the Christmas Gleaming stamp set. Sooo, I sat down and stamped lots of the holly image onto Whisper White card using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. 
I coloured the images using the Light Mossy Meadow and Light Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Blends and cut them out. Once they were cut out, I laid them onto a card front sized panel of Whisper White card. You want them to be close together but not actually touching. Next you take a piece of Glad Press n Seal and lay it over the top. This paper is sticky and so you can attach both the images and the background piece of card to it. Once that was done, I ran the panel through the Big Shot cutting the middle away using one of the Stitched Rectangle Dies. 
Then I trimmed down the remaining piece of card so that it created about a 2cm frame. Now you remove the images only from the backing Whisper White card and add dimensionals to the back of the images – I used Mini Dimensionals – and then you attach the images onto the Whisper White panels and remove the Press n Seal. You need to remove the Press n Seal slowly and carefully so that you don’t tear the images. That’s the fiddly bit.
To create the first card, I stamped “Seasons Greetings” from the So Many Stars stamp set onto the bottom of the front of scored and folded Thick Whisper White card using Mossy Meadow ink.
I attached the rectangle holly panel to a Mossy Meadow rectangle cut using the Stitched Rectangle Dies and then the card front. To decorate the inside of the card, I stamped the holly image from the Christmas Gleaming stamp set onto the top right hand corner of Whisper White card using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.
I coloured the image using the Light Mossy Meadow and Light Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Blends.
For the second card, I took the holly frame and attached it to a piece of Whisper White card. I stamped “Merry Christmas” from the Merry Christmas To All stamp set inside the frame using Cherry Cobbler ink.
I also stamped the small holly leaf image from the same stamp set using Mossy Meadow ink. The whole panel is attached to Mossy Meadow card and then scored and folded Thick Whisper White card. To decorate the inside of the card, I stamped the holly image from the Christmas Gleaming stamp set onto the top left hand corner of Whisper White card using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. The image is coloured using the Light Mossy Meadow and Light Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Blends.
I really love how these cards turned out, although I think the Seasons Greetings card is my favourite. What about you? Which one do you like?
Bye for now,
Kris
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I can’t link to the Christmas Gleaming or So Many Stars stamp set, so I guess everyone loved them just like me and they have sold out. Sorry.
Christmas Chocolate Sliders
These are the Christmas Chocolate Sliders I made for my customers and downline who attended my Christmas Party this year. I created the chocolate sliders using the basic instructions you can find on my Free Tutorials Page. The base piece is cut from Pretty Peacock card and the top is punched with the Scallop Tag Topper Punch. Because the box is a little wider, I cut away the side pieces from the bottom of the punched edge. I used Tear and Tape to assemble my boxes because it is a little sturdier and I like to think that these boxes will be re-gifted instead of just being thrown away. To decorate the front of the sliders, I stamped the Christmas Bauble image from the Christmas Gleaming stamp set onto Whisper White card using Pretty Peacock ink. 
I cut out the bauble using one of the ovals from the Layering Ovals Dies before attaching it to the front of the slider. I punched the same sized bauble from Copper Foil card using the matching Gleaming Ornaments Punch. The Copper Foil bauble is embossed using the Hammered Metal Embossing Folder. The Copper Foil bauble is attached to the stamped oval, partially covering the stamped image. I stamped the holly image from the Christmas Gleaming stamp set onto Whisper White card and coloured the image using the Dark Poppy Parade and Light Pretty Peacock Stampin’ Blends. I cut out the holly image and attached it over the top of the Christmas baubles using Mini Dimensionals. I used a length of 1/4″ Copper Trim to tie through the box to pull the chocolate out.
I love making these sliders, they are so much fun, I use the small chocolates that you can buy at Aldi, I think they are in a pack of five. You can of course create these sliders for any chocolate, large or small. You are only limited by you imagination and your mathematic skills.
Bye for now,
Kris
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Snow in Oberon
Today’s page is a really simple one. These are photos of my Mum in the snow at Oberon (Blue Mountains, Sydney for my overseas friends). They were taken when she went with my Dad in the PMG Truck on a delivery run to Oberon. My Dad’s mother and lots of his relatives lived there and so it was an opportunity to visit with them. I have to add some journaling which I will do in strips across the bottom when I get the full details from my Mum, like maybe a date. Anyway, I began by adding strips of the Mossy Meadow paper from the Neutrals 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper. I cut the strips at 1-7/8″ so that there was a gap between each strip. I wrapped the bottom of the Designer Series Paper with Gold 3/8″ Metallic Edge Ribbon. I added Mossy Meadow card mats for the photos before attaching them to the page. I cut the title from Mossy Meadow card using the retired Large Letters Dies. (Did you know that these dies are now available on the Clearance Rack? So if you need them, place an order ASAP so you don’t miss out)/ I will print my journaling onto Whisper White card and cut into strips which I will attach to Mossy Meadow card. The journaling will be attached to the right of the title.
No close-ups today because the page is so simple, but I hope you like it.
Bye for now,
Kris
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Cards for my girls
I am a lucky Mum to two wonderful girls who are the best daughters, wives and mothers anyone could wish to know. Anyway, I thought I would share the cards I made for each of them and their husbands this year. I created the same card for them both. You know you can’t play favourites! I began by embossing Cherry Cobbler card using the Subtle 3D Embossing Folder and attached it to the bottom of Whisper White card. I attached one of the die cuts from the beautiful Christmastime is Here Specialty Designer Series Paper above the embossed card. These are only partial images as they are on the edge of the paper but you can still use the co-ordinating Roses Die to cut them out. I wrapped the join between the floral image and the embossed card using the Gold 1/4″ Shimmer Ribbon. 
The whole panel is attached to scored and folded Mossy Meadow card. I tied a bow in another length of ribbon and attached it beneath the flower using a Mini Glue Dot. I stamped the greeting from the Christmas Rose stamp set onto Whisper White card using Early Espresso ink. 
I cut out the greeting using one of the labels from the Roses Dies and attached it to the card front using dimensionals.
To decorate the inside of the card, I fussy cut another of the images from the edge of the Christmastime is Here Specialty Designer Series Paper and attached it to the bottom of Whisper White card. I stamped one of the greetings from the Christmas Rose stamp set onto the top of the panel using Early Espresso ink.
I truly love this gorgeous Christmastime is Here Product Suite and despite what I told you last week, these products are still available while stocks last. (Sometimes, it pays to read the fine print!) So please, do yourself a favour, and purchase these gorgeous products before they disappear.
Don’t they look gorgeous together?
Bye for now,
Kris
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Christmas Gift Tag
Today I am sharing a small gift tag which I was inspired to create after seeing this card on Pinterest by Tracy Marie Lewis. I have used this die many times and never thought to use it in this manner. So clever Tracy. I used the die from the Tasteful Backgrounds Dies to cut Whisper White card. I stamped the greeting from the Itty Bitty Christmas stamp set below the die using Pear Pizzazz ink. I attached the die cut card to scored and folded Pear Pizzazz card. 
I tied a knot in a short length of Silver 3/8″ Metallic Edge Ribbon and attached it to the bottom of the die cut. I added Basic Rhinestones to the image and a Star Designer Element to the top of the die cut. Doesn’t it look just like a Christmas Tree? I stamped To/From and another greeting from the Itty Bitty Christmas stamp set onto Whisper White card using Pear Pizzazz ink. This panel is attached inside the card. To give you some idea of the size of the tag, the Whisper White card is 7.5cm x 10cm. So this is quite small, but perfect to add to a gift.
So thanks again Tracy for the inspiration.
Bye for now,
Kris
PS: Sorry for the quality of the photo of the inside of the gift tag but I just couldn’t get it any better. Hopefully you will get the idea.
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Happy Birthday Abi
My eldest granddaughter celebrated her 15th birthday yesterday and I thought I would share the card I made for her. I embossed Whisper White card using the Hammered Metal 3D Embossing Folder. I attached a piece of Perennial Essence Designer Series Paper across the bottom of the embossed card and wrapped the top of the Designer Series Paper using Gold 1/4″ Shimmer Ribbon. 
I stamped the image from the Beautiful You stamp set onto Whisper White card using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and coloured the image using Blackberry Bliss and Ivory Stampin’ Blends. The panel is attached to scored and folded Blackberry Bliss card. The inside of the card is a Pop and Twist so I decorated the four panels using more images and greetings from the Beautiful You stamp set.
The colouring is done using Blackberry Bliss, Petal Pink and Ivory Stampin’ Blends. The stamping for the greetings and the outline of the coloured images is done with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Each of the panels is layered onto Sahara Sand card before being attached to the Pop and Twist Panel. I added another piece of the Perennial Essence Designer Series Paper to the top section of the card base and Whisper White card to the bottom section so I could write my message.
I created a belly band from Blackberry Bliss card. To decorate the belly bank, I stamped the greeting from the Beautiful You stamp set onto Whisper White card using Blackberry Bliss ink. I punched Blackberry Bliss card using the Decorative Ribbon Border Punch and attached a strip to each side of the greeting panel. I punched each end of the greeting panel using the Triple Banner Punch before attaching it to the centre of the Belly Band.
I love making these interactive type of cards, they are so much fun and I know Abi loved it too.
Bye for now,
Kris
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Very Versailles Birthday
Today’s card is one I made for a friend who recently celebrated her birthday. I stamped the background image from the Very Versailles stamp set onto Whisper White card using Crumb Cake ink and sponged around the edges with the same ink. The stamped panel is attached to scored and folded Blackberry Bliss card. I stamped the leaf image from the Very Versailles stamp set onto Whisper White card using Garden Green ink. I stamped the image several times without re-inking to give even more depth to the image. I cut out the leaves using one of the Stitched Rectangle Dies. 
I attached the stamped panel to a Stitched Rectangle cut from Blackberry Bliss card before attaching the panel to the card front. I stamped the filigree image from Very Versailles stamp set onto scrap Whisper White card using Blackberry Bliss ink and cut it out. The image is attached to the centre of the leafy panel. I stamped “Birthday Wishes” from the Itty Bitty Birthday stamp set onto Whisper White card using Blackberry Bliss ink and cut it out using one of the Stitched Rectangle Dies. 
I attached the greeting to a Blackberry Bliss Stitched Rectangle and then the card front using dimensionals.
To decorate the inside of the card, I stamped the leafy image from the Very Versailles stamp set onto the top left hand corner of Whisper White card using Garden Green ink. Again I stamped the image several times to create a little more depth. I stamped the greeting from the Perennial Birthday stamp set beside the leafy image using Blackberry Bliss ink. I must apologise for not taking a photograph of the inside of the card before I wrote my message, so it’s a bit blurry but you get the idea.
I love the vintage feel this card has, what about you?
Bye for now,
Kris
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For my Grandfather
Today’s page showcases a scanned copy of the actual photo my Grandfather carried with him in his wallet during World War II. When I saw this paper in the Peaceful Poppies Designer Series Paper I just knew it would be perfect for this photo. I cut the Peaceful Poppies Designer Series Paper in half, isn’t that clever, it is just a perfect border. I cut Poppy Parade card multiple times using the border image from the Painted Labels Dies. 
I attached the borders to the back of the top edge of the Peaceful Poppies Designer Series Paper before attaching to a 12″ x 12″ Whisper White page. I attached my photo to Basic Black card and attached it to the left hand side of the page. I stamped the image from the Painted Poppies stamp set onto the right hand side of Whisper White card using Memento Tuxedo Black ink before printing my journaling. I coloured the image using Poppy Parade and Light Mossy Meadow Stampin’ Blends. I also stamped “always remember” from the Peaceful Moments stamp set at the end of the journaling.
I love how this page turned out and I know that you are all going to love this beautiful product suite from the Handmade for You Mini Catalogue when it is released in January. If you don’t have a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator and you live on the Northside of Brisbane, contact me, so that we can organise for you to get one of these Mini Catalogues.
Bye for now,
Kris
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Elfie – Four Ways
Today I am sharing a set of cards that I made, some time ago now, using the Elfie stamp set. When I was doing my pre-order for the Holiday Catalogue, I just couldn’t go past this gorgeous stamp set. It’s a great set for kids but it appeals to adults as well.
Anyway, I decided to use a card sketch that I had saved to Pinterest to create four cards using each of the Elves in the stamp set. All of the cards begin with an Old Olive card base. Two card bases are portrait and two are landscape. 
I attached a piece of Real Red card to Whisper White card and embossed each piece using the Wood Planks 3D Embossing Folder. You need to make sure that you get the orientation right for each style of card. Greetings for the two portrait cards are created by stamping the greeting from the Itty Bitty Christmas stamp set onto Whisper White card using Real Red ink. The greetings are cut out using one of the dies from the Stitched Rectangle Dies and attached to an Old Olive rectangle cut using the same dies. 
For one of the landscape cards I stamped another of the greetings from the Itty Bitty Christmas stamp set onto Whisper White card using Real Red ink, this time I punched out the greeting using the Classic Label Punch and trimmed the ends square with the greeting. This greeting is attached to a narrow piece of Old Olive card. The fourth card comes with it’s own greeting on the stamp with the elf. 
I stamped each of the elf images from the Elfie stamp set onto Whisper White card using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I coloured the images using Real Red, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Ivory and Bronze Stampin’ Blends. The images for the portrait cards are cut out using the Stitched Rectangle Dies which are layered onto an Old Olive rectangle, cut using the same dies. For one of the landscape cards the image is cut using one of the ovals from the Layering Ovals Dies and attached to an Old Olive scalloped oval cut using the same dies. 
The last image is cut using one of the squares from the Layering Squares Dies and attached to an Old Olive scalloped square cut using the same dies. Each of the images is attached to the card front using dimensionals and the greetings where necessary are attached using dimensionals so that they sit partially over the image panel.
To decorate the inside of each of the cards, I stamped the greeting from the Elfie stamp set onto Whisper White card using Real Red ink.
I love this set. The images are really cute and I think these traditional colours make the cards bright and happy. What do you think?
Bye for now,
Kris
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Stamping with Kris 