Christmas Cards finally posted!

Each year I endeavour to make a selection of Christmas cards to send to those friends and family that I won’t see over the Festive Season. I hope the Postie strike won’t hold them up too much from reaching their destination!

This year my design included a background made using the Credit Card Technique, with some Inque Boutique Stamp swirls and sentiments cut from my Pazzles Cutter. I was very pleased with the results.

Christmas cards with credit card painting technique background

For a few years, I had become very discouraged making my handmade cards; they take a lot of work and noone seemed to appreciate them. A few years ago, at Beachhouse Boulevard Stamp Camp, one of the ladies commented how she had noticed that if someone sees a handmade Christmas card, on your shelf, amongst all the store bought ones, the handmade one will be the only one that is picked up and examined and admired. That got me thinking. Prehaps my cards had been appreciated, by those receiving them and others as well. So I’m back into making my Christmas cards each year.

I usually begin making my Christmas cards about September and try not to fuss too much over the design. The credit card technique was the perfect method for creating these backgrounds as I got them finished fairly quickly and I got quite a few done. I used old papers from a conference journal, which wasn’t going to be used for anything else. It had interesting text and diagrams that can still just be seen, if you are looking closely. The text underneath also creates that first layer to provide the layers of paint and stamping a little more depth. The swirl stamps are my absolute favourite at the moment, and with a little metallic ink, they help to convey the Christmas-y feel. These layers were all stuck together with double-sided tape, onto ivory, semi gloss card.

Wishing all of you a wonderful end to 2009, regardless of what you celebrate at this time of year. Hope you have a very crafty 2010.

Lots of smiles and laughter,

Michelle

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Shopping Lists

This year I made some (last minute) shopping list for my Grandma’s, using my Zutter binder. I had a lot of fun with the covers.

Shopping Lists as Gifts

To make the covers, I took some chip board and painted with Gesso. Added some stamping with Staz-on (and heat set, just in case!). Then I collaged with some paper scraps and dress pattern tissue. When the glue was dry, I gave each one a coat of paint, then added Gesso over the top, to reduce the intensity of the colour. In some places, I wiped back the paint, to the first coat of Gesso. Added the label, which I attached with glue (the chipboard was too thick for the brads I had). Here is a close up:

Shopping List close-up

To bind it altogether, I had to split the sheets into several lots so they would fit into the Zutter. I also added some printed sheets for interest adn th break up the plain paper.

Printed sheet

They turned out great. I did think about adding magnets to the back, so they could be put onto the fridge, but they are quite thick, so I didn’t think the magnets would hold them up.

Happy crafting,

Michelle

No time this week…

Last week I had joined into both the Mixed Media Monday and the new Gothic Arches challenges. This week I haven’t had the time. so rather than continue to worry and fuss about it, I’ve decided that there won’t be any challenges for this week, or next week. After that my school work will be complete and I’ll only have Christmas to worry about.

Usually for Christmas I make my own cards. This year I thought I’d have some more time on my hands and make presents for the boys’ teachers and for family members. With my youngest at both Kinder and Daycare this year, he needs 5 presents on his own – at least son #1 has only one teacher!

Just to make my time-challenged life a little more challenged, I’ve been offered a part-time job. It is exactly what I’m after; part-time, close to  home, an “ethical” industry and using my Engineering/Quality skills … it’s just going to take up more of my time.

Something will have to give – probably the housework!

Hope your creating is going well!

Michelle