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Since we're at home relaxing toniIght (in between bad dancing to the Just Dance wii game - yikes!) I thought get one more post in for 2009, since it seems weird to to write about Christmas cards in January. I'm here to show you some of the Christmas cards I made to send this year. I was very late in starting my cards, but am happy to say they all got out eventually (back to Scotland...if you haven't got yours yet, I promise it's on the way!).
I felt like making square cards this year & this is what I came up with... 
Again, I turned to 'Snow Swirled' for the image – love it! I realised that the large star/snowflake fitted the new 1 ¾ inch circle punch from the Summer Mini, so that set the scene. Then I realised that I didn't have a bigger punch to mat it, but happily, I used my new Circle Scissor Plus (also from the Summer Mini) to cut a 2 inch choc chip circle (or 30), then added a rhinestone brad (red or clear) to the centre. The punched circle greeting (from a SU US set whose name escapes me now) was matted on a 1 inch circle. The base is riding hood red & I used various papers from the 'Holiday Wishes' & 'Ski Slope' DSP packs. I wrapped some choc chip grosgrain around the top & added the circles on top. The finished fronts are 9.9cm x 9.9cm (approx 4 inches). Anyway, I hope the recipients liked them.
Again, I turned to 'Snow Swirled' for the image – love it! I realised that the large star/snowflake fitted the new 1 ¾ inch circle punch from the Summer Mini, so that set the scene. Then I realised that I didn't have a bigger punch to mat it, but happily, I used my new Circle Scissor Plus (also from the Summer Mini) to cut a 2 inch choc chip circle (or 30), then added a rhinestone brad (red or clear) to the centre. The punched circle greeting (from a SU US set whose name escapes me now) was matted on a 1 inch circle. The base is riding hood red & I used various papers from the 'Holiday Wishes' & 'Ski Slope' DSP packs. I wrapped some choc chip grosgrain around the top & added the circles on top. The finished fronts are 9.9cm x 9.9cm (approx 4 inches). Anyway, I hope the recipients liked them.
Some of the wonderful cards I received
I wanted to show you some of the lovely handmade cards I received this year ...as they're too pretty not to share. Since I try to keep my blog Stampin' Up! only, I'm showing the ones using mainly SU, but I loved all the handmade cards I received. Thank you so much to everyone who sent me a card, whether handmade or not, though. I loved receiving them. Hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I did.
Super Santa by Sam,
Pretty Poinsettia by Karen, my blogging SU buddy,
Shiny Tree by Jean, my gorgeous cousin & Scottish SU Demo too
A Hug of Snowmen by my SU Team member Andrea, 
Snow Swirled Tree by my new SU team member, Lyndell
Crackers & Christmas Classics Baubles by my SU sister Leanne
Christ is Born by Janine, my lovely SU upline
Well, it's almost midnight, so not much of 2009 remaining. Before I go though, I'd like to send a huge thank you to everyone who visits my blog & especially to all the lovely ladies who leave lots of comments. It really makes my day when I receive them. I wish you all a wonderful 2010, full of love, happiness & many blessings. Talk to you again in the new year.
I wanted to show you some of the lovely handmade cards I received this year ...as they're too pretty not to share. Since I try to keep my blog Stampin' Up! only, I'm showing the ones using mainly SU, but I loved all the handmade cards I received. Thank you so much to everyone who sent me a card, whether handmade or not, though. I loved receiving them. Hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I did.
Super Santa by Sam,
Pretty Poinsettia by Karen, my blogging SU buddy, Shiny Tree by Jean, my gorgeous cousin & Scottish SU Demo tooA Hug of Snowmen by my SU Team member Andrea, Snow Swirled Tree by my new SU team member, Lyndell Crackers & Christmas Classics Baubles by my SU sister Leanne Christ is Born by Janine, my lovely SU uplineWell, it's almost midnight, so not much of 2009 remaining. Before I go though, I'd like to send a huge thank you to everyone who visits my blog & especially to all the lovely ladies who leave lots of comments. It really makes my day when I receive them. I wish you all a wonderful 2010, full of love, happiness & many blessings. Talk to you again in the new year.
Inky hugs
Di
Di
Supplies: my Christmas cardStamps: Snow Swirled
Card/Paper: riding hood red, chocolate chip, kiwi kiss/baja breeze/old olive, whisper white card, Holiday Wishes & Ski Slope DSP
Ink: riding hood red & chocolate chip ink pads
Accessories: chocolate chip grosgrain, red/clear rhinestone brads, silver brad
Tools: 1 ¾ inch, 1 inch, ¾ inch circle punches, Circle Scissor Plus, Piercing tool & mat
Card/Paper: riding hood red, chocolate chip, kiwi kiss/baja breeze/old olive, whisper white card, Holiday Wishes & Ski Slope DSP
Ink: riding hood red & chocolate chip ink pads
Accessories: chocolate chip grosgrain, red/clear rhinestone brads, silver brad
Tools: 1 ¾ inch, 1 inch, ¾ inch circle punches, Circle Scissor Plus, Piercing tool & mat
These are a great way to send a photo, letter or gift card. At the class, I showed how to make a photo & gift card version. Gift cards are such a popular gift item, but can sometimes seem a bit impersonal, so I like to present them nicely, to suit the recipient.The basic pocket is a normal half A4 sheet of riding hood red card scored on the long side at 4.5cm & 14.5cm, which makes a folder 10 x 14.8cm. The pocket is secured with 2 brads, but you could also use double sided tape. For this one, I scalloped a strip of olive card, & then attached it & some Holiday Wishes DSP to the top flap. I stamped the greeting image from Season of Joy twice, once in riding hood red & once in old olive, then punched or cut out part of the image. I mounted the stamped piece to some olive card, then to the front with dimensionals. 
I included 2 cards for a greeting & photo/gift card. I forgot to take a pic of the gift card side, but the white panel was punched on either side with the slit punch to hold the gift card. If you'd like some more ideas for pocket cards, you can see some more 
The second class project was an explosion box & matching tag. I like how the base of this box opens up like a greeting when you take the lid off.
Again, I used more riding hood red card & Holiday Wishes DSP – there are so many different designs in this pack that you can create lots of different looks. The finished box lid is 6 x 6 x 2.5cm & the stamped base is 5.8 x 5.8 x 5.8cm, so you get a good snug fit with the lid. I made a matching tag using the 'Curly Label' punch bundle, which includes the curly label punch & matching 'Cute & Curly' stamp set, which I think looks really good with this DSP pattern. I tied some choc chip taffeta around the box & through a slot in the tag made with the horizontal slot punch. This way, you get a nice flat knot & can slide the ribbon off without untying it. Here's a close up of the finished tag.
One more Gift Card Folder I made this folder with the leftovers from the explosion box just for the sake of playing & showing the girls at the class! The base card piece was approx 21 x 13cm.
With this version, you fold in & partially seal a centre flap & use the word window punch to make an opening to hold the gift card.
After making this one, I adjusted the design, so that the card flap folds back on the left side to make a pocket & I included a panel for a greeting on the right, which I liked better. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pics before giving them to a customer (oops), but at least Renee & Annette will know what I'm waffling about (hi girls).
The colours are riding hood red, kiwi kiss & vanilla, teamed with the 'Snow Swirled' set, & 'Holiday Wishes' DSP. You can't miss the gorgeous striped ribbon from the Spring Mini too.... & lots of dazzling diamonds glitter, which you can hopefully see here.
3 cards for the time of 2
For the second design, I decided to make some square cards. Since we also needed to be very productive (it was already November after all), everyone got to make 6 square cards of their choice, in these designs (or their own variation). The card fronts are 9.9 x 9.9cm, so you get 3 cards from one sheet of A4 cardstock, instead of 2 normal sized ones. The designs were really simple too, so you could make lots quickly.
& the second view...
...& the third...
...& the fourth.
It's a long time until Father's Day, but you might like to make one to intrigue a birthday boy in your life with a never ending card. Thanks for visiting anyway! 
...& this is the second view 
& the third (sorry about the wonky colour)
& the fourth
& here's a close-up of us back to the front (with rock & rolled butterfly).
If you haven't made a never ending card yet, you'll find 
I really enjoy making tr-shutters, as they look complicated but are very simple once you know how. I used the 'Sweet Stems' stamp set & Raspberry Tart DSP (surprised). All the class attendees got half a pack of this DSP so they could choose their own DSP designs to use on both projects.
This tri-shutter card is smaller than the 
On the front, I stamped one of the 'Sweet Stems' & coloured it with pretty in pink, regal rose & certainly celery Stampin' Write® markers. I stamped a greeting from 'Great Friend'. I wrapped a filigree brad & pink rhinestone brad around some celery grosgrain, attached it to the stamped piece & rose red mat.
Here is a closer version, so you can see his colouring better. Note: I stamped Mr Snowman is basic brown ink (I think it's softer than black & suited the DSP colours) & colour washed the white parts with sahara sand ink to give a bit of depth. You can see him better here:
Next up is another very popular choice with the girls - a penguin trio. 
The penguins are stamped & coloured in basic grey ink (again, not as harsh as black I think) I used riding hood red ink for the red scarf & wcw crayons for the other colours.
This tree card was probably the quickest & easiest card to make. I got the idea for this one from a similar card in the US Idea Book. I stamped the tree in old olive ink, then coloured them with the olive wcw crayon. While the old olive ink pad is not waterproof like the basic grey & basic brown ink pads, it's fine to colour with, so long as you don't use too much water to colour – very easy with the aquapainters). 
It's hard to see, but Mr Penguin is cut out & raised on dimensionals. You may be able to see better in this pic. 
Going off SAS for a mo, here is a square, kiwi kiss version of this card that I made while playing with the set.
I punched some riding hood red & old olive squares, laid them out checkerboard style on the base, then added a punched snowflake with dimensional. The greeting & scallop edge were then butted against the squares. This one took a bit longer than it looked.
In hindsight, I think I should have added some background snowflakes to the bottom part of the base to add a bit more detail.
For this one, I used the Circle Circus set. This is not a Christmas set, but when I first saw it in the catalogue back in April, I thought it would be great for Christmas baubles, as well as an opportunity to go mad with punches (& regular class goers will know how much I loooove bauble cards & punches, not to mention getting the most from the stamps in my collection).
And one more quickie card I made at the same time. 
The front is 9.9cm x 9.9cm, which sounds like a weird size, but it means you can get 3 square cards from one sheet of A4 card. The card has a part oval punched out of the side, with another part olive oval inside with a ribbon knot attached.
