True Meaning of Christmas

I feel saddened when I walk around the shops and see Santa Claus everywhere. Sure, it may be nice for the kids to have a bit of fun but the true meaning of Christmas is usually no where to be found. What is Christmas all about?.... JESUS! God sent His one and only Son to be born, grow up (living a sinless life on earth), and to die on the cross for our sins. If we acknowledge that we are sinners and believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins (1 John 1:9), we can ask Him to come into our hearts and forgive us. We are then made whole and we know that we will go to heaven (once our life on earth is over) to live eternally with God. 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Below is a Christmas card that I made that has the verse Matthew 1:21 "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins", another verse that points to the true meaning of Christmas.

Here is my card:


I entered this card in:
(1) Word Art Wednesday - Challenge #55 - Anything goes; and
(2) Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Challenge #167 - Last Challenge.

Copics: BV25, BV23, BV00, E43, E44, E47, E57, E55, E25, E00, E11, R20, B000 and 0
Stamps: Stampendous Nativity Cast and Our Daily Bread Designs Christmas Verses
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Creativ Plain, American Crafts Christmas, Merci Vintage Romance, Kaisercraft Turtledove and X-Press It Blending card
Dies: Sizzix circles, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 17, Sizzix scalloped circles, Spellbinders edgeabilities classic scallop
Other: Double sided tape, Premium craft brown ribbon, Fiskars rotary trimmer, Scor-pal, Creativ gold metallic leaf, Creativ paper flower, Sharpie white poster paint pen, compass, ruler and acrylic stamping block.

Christmas Mice

I enjoyed colouring and making this Christmas card - such a gorgeous stamp. I entered the card in Stampin Sisters in Christ - Challenge #167 - Last Challenge. Sadly this is their last challenge - discovered the site a bit too late! Challenge was to make a Christmas card.

Here is my card:



Copics: R20, R29, R83, R81, R85, N5, N4, N3, N2, N1, N0, G05, YG23, B32, B34, B12, B14, B16, Y11 and 0
Stamps: Gillian Roberts "Mistletoe and Mice"
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Crushed Olive and Memento Tuxedo Black 
Cardstock: Creativ Plain, KaiserCraft Turtle Dove and XPress-It Blending card
Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 17 
Other: Double sided tape, fiskars rotary trimmer, scissors, Artwrap gold paper raffia, paper towel, scor-pal, Papercraft pearls, Atyou Spica #03 Red, #06 Melon, Sizzix Big Shot and arcylic stamping block.

Beary Happy Birthday

I originally started making this card for a competition but didn't get to finish it in time. Thought I'd still share it with you.



Inside the card:




Copics: YR18, YR15, R20, R24, 0, E42, E44, E49, E41, E47, Y11, Y28, E43, E00, BG11, BG13, BG15, BG18, N3
Stamps: Crafter's Companion Popcorn the Bear Birthday Collection Set #1, Inkadinkado "Good news" and Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Series 1
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
Cardstock: DCWV Textured Neturals, Creativ, X-Press It Blending card and Creativ Plain
Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities Lacy Squares
Other: Fiskars rotary trimmer, Sizzix Big Shot, Scor-Pal, Fiskars twist and flip round corner punch, double sided tape, stanley knife, ruler, Pebbles Pearlescent Chalks, sponge daubers, Atyou Spica #00 clear, #01 Lavender, #03 Red, #06 Melon, #08 Turquoise, #09 Blue, #23 Pitch Black, Carl Craft CP-1 Bear punch and acrylic stamping block.

Christmas and chipboard

This is the second Christmas card I have made and I decided to use "chipboard" on this one.

I've never used chipboard before and didn't have any of the really thick chipboard, so I cut up an empty cereal box and used my Sizzix Big Shot to die cut the chipboard to make the wreaths and frame for my sentiment. I painted the chipboard with white acrylic paint and let it dry. I then sponged versa color ink followed by Tim Holtz distress ink over the painted chipboard, sprayed with a little water and let dry. I finally stamped Christmas decorations over the chipboard, glued on some flowers and attached to my card.

Here is my card:


Copics: None this time
Stamps: Fynmark - Fundamentals FX55, Stamp-It "Flowing Christmas" sentiment
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versa Color #151 Sand beige, #171 Pinecone, #21 Green, #14 Scarlet, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Crushed Olive, Frayed Burlap and Fired Brick
Cardstock: Creativ Plain, Hot off the Press, Merci - Vintage Romance and chipboard
Dies: Sizzix decorative frame set - wavy layered and doily
Other: Craft Concepts Candy Canes embossing folder, Papercraft pearls, lace and brown ribbon (from my stash), Inkssentials Glossy Accents, Stickles Xmas Red and Star Dust glitter glue, double sided tape, Helmar acid free glue, flowers (from my stash), scissors, Sizzix Big Shot, Fiskars rotary trimmer, Scor-Pal, Tsukineko jumbo daubers, X-Press It high tack foam mounting tape, other (thicker) foam mounting tape, paintbrush, KaiserColour white crafters acrylic paint, water in spray bottle, Inkssentials cut and dry foam and acrylic stamping block.

Christmas is getting closer...

Made my first Christmas card for the year. With only 4 1/2 weeks to go I better hurry up! Entered this card in:
(1) The Shabby Tea Room - Week #141 - 'Tic Tac Toe' (colours inspired by the following picture and I chose "Stitching (faux or machine)", "Pearls/Gems" and "Glitter" from the Tic Tac Toe (or Noughts and Crosses as I know it) board (see link); and


(2) Incy Wincy Designs - Hip to be square (had to make a "square" creation).

Here is my card (no flash):


Here is my card (with flash so you can see the glitter):


Copics: E50, E51, E55, E53, E33, E35, E43, E31, G21, G24, G28, N3, 0, R27, R20, R24, R29, R89, C0, C2, B41 and Y28
Stamps: Stamp-It "Flowing Christmas" and Penny Black "Jolly Follies"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Creativ Plain, Kaisercraft Precious Moments and XPress-It Blending card
Dies: Spellbinders nestabilities "Lacy Squares"
Other: Double sided tape, scissors, compass, Staedtler triplus brown fineliner, fiskars rotary trimmer, Sizzix Big Shot, Papercraft pearls, Atyou Spica Glitter Pens #00 Clear, #03 Red, #05 Lemon, #06 Melon, #23 Pitch Black, Stickles Xmas Red Glitter Glue, scor-pal and Sharpie white poster paint pen.

Happy Birthday - cake and card

Had fun this week making my daughter's birthday cake and card.

Cake was based on a picture from a cook book my mum lent me - Cadbury's Novelty Chocolate Cookbook.

Picture of front of cake:


Picture of back of cake:


I'm far from a professional cake maker (so don't look at it too closely) - but I had a lot of fun making this cake. I've never tried painting food colouring on a cake before - but found it was quite effective. Painted the grass, windows and door. Yellow icing is rolled fondant (recipe from Planet Cake's cookbook). Decorations are royal icing (there is also a recipe in Planet Cake's cookbook - but I used a recipe from my mum). The only bought decorations are the "pretty" flowers (ones that actually look like flowers!) you can see from the front of the cake photo, flakes (and crushed up for the "ground") and chocolate buttons (plus the unedible butterflies). Filling of the mushrooms is a recipe from Cadbury's Novelty Chocolate Cookbook. The cakes (for the mushroom house) are light fruitcakes (recipe from The Cake Decorator's Bible - by Angela Nislen and Sarah Maxwell).

Card I made for my daughter (no flash):


Card again (with flash so you can see the sparkle):

The patterned paper to the very left that you can see in this photo is the envelope I made using my scor-pal with scor-envi (which I love - makes it soooo easy)!

Inside of the card:



Copics: V01, V17, YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97, B000, E25, E31, E40, E41, E42, E43, E50, N1, 0, black multiliners 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mm.
Stamps: Whimsy Wee Stamps - Silver Fairy, "Happy Birthday" from Humphrey's Corner Collection - Birthday Girl, "Jesus loves you" from Inkadinkado - Good news and Bible verse from Our Daily Bread Designs - Scripture Series 1.
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Versa Color #69 Bamboo.
Cardstock: DCWV - Textured neutrals, Creativ plain, Kaisercraft - Chapter One and Merci - Vintage Romance.
Dies: Sizzix "swirly"
Other: Atyou Spica #00 clear and #14 Blossom glitter pens, Sizzix Big Shot, Fiskars rotary trimmer, scor-pal, scor-envi, scissors, double sided tape, double sided foam, fiskars twist and flip rounded corner punch, fiskars flower border punch, Carl CP-7 corner rounder (with heart) punch, Papercraft pearls and Tsukineko jumbo dauber.

Thinking of You

Made the below card for the Flourishes 4 ways to win progressive challenge. Step 1 was to use the following sketch:


Step 2 was to use the above sketch plus a monochromatic colour scheme.
Step 3 was to use the above sketch + monochromatic colour scheme + splash of decorative paper.
Step 4 was complete steps 1-3 above and add some sparkle.

(I made another card just for step 1 - you can see the card here.)

Here is my card (no flash):


Card again (with flash - so you can see the "at you Spica" glitter pens on the writing and cherry blossoms):


I have terrible trouble tying nice bows (no matter how many you tube videos I watch!) - this was the best I could do at the time!

Copics: RV21, RV14, RV25, YG13, YG17
Stamps: Flourishes "Cherry Blossoms"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Creativ Plain, X-Press It blending card, Creativ mini paper stack
Dies: Sizzix circle framelits
Other: Fiskars rotary trimmer, scor-pal, scissors, Pebbles pearlescent chalks, at you Spica #14 Blossom and #00 clear glitter pens, Papercraft rhinestones, Creativ ribbon, double sided tape, double sided foam, Helmar acid free glue and Tsukineko sponge daubers.

Especially for you

Made this card with the Flourishes Progressive Challenge 4 ways to win challenge. Step 1 was to use this sketch:


Steps 2 - 4 can be found on the above link but this card is just for step 1.

Here is my card (no flash):



Card again (with flash):



Copics: Y02, Y06, Y23, G21, G24 and G28
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versa Color #21 Green
Stamps: Flourishes "Bloomin Aussie Florals" (Love these stamps! The clear photopolymer stamps are of excellent quality and they stamp a clear image every time!)
Cardstock: Creativ Plain cardstock, DCWV Textured cardstock, X-Press It blending card
Dies: Sizzix Circle Framelits, Sizzix oval framelits
Other: Fiskars rotary trimmer, scissors, scor-pal, double sided tape, X-Press It high tack foam mounting tape, olive ribbon and Sizzix Big Shot.

Shabby Autumn

Entered the card below in The Shabby Tea Room's Week #139 - 'Shabby Autumn' challenge. This was the inspiration for the colours:

Also had to include a pumpkin and make it shabby. Had a little trouble with having a "pumpkin" on the card, but after several designs finally settled on this one. Didn't have a pumpkin stamp or sticker of any sort so decided to draw and colour in my own :-)

Here is my card (no flash):


Card again - with camera flash - so you can see the glittery paper and "at you Spica" clear glitter pen on the "you" and pumpkin.


Copics: 0, W00, W1, W3, YG91, YG93, YG95, YR21, Y23, E40, E41, E42, E43, black multiliner 0.3 and 0.5 mm.
Stamps: Stamp-It siset014 "thinking of you" sentiment
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Tim Holtz Frayed Burlap Distress Ink
Cardstock: DCWV Textured neutrals, X-Press It blending card and Merci Vintage romance
Dies: Spellbinder nestabilities wonky rectangles
Other: Sizzix Big Shot, Scor-pal, scissors, Francheville white ribbon (coloured with copics), Creativ gold metallic leaf, Papercraft pearls (coloured with copics), at you Spica clear glitter pen, double sided tape and X-Press it high tack foam mounting tape.

Thank You #2

Entered the card below in:
(1) Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Challenge #164 - Colossians 1:3-5; and
(2)  Incy Wincy Designs - Giving Thanks with Saturated Candy challenge

Here is my card (no camera flash):


Picture of card with flash:


Close up so you can see the sparkly chalk and Stickles glitter:


Copics: 0, N1, BV00, BV01, BV02, BV04, R22, R29, YR04, YR09, Y02, Y06, YG11, YG23, YG25, B000, B12, B14, B41 and black multiliner 0.1 mm
Stamps: Penny Black "Touch of Whimsy" and Stamp-It "thank you" sentiment
Ink: Versamark watermark stamp pad and Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Creativ Plain blue and yellow cardstock and New Deco Designs Spring
Dies: Sizzix oval framelits (#657563)
Other: Pebbles pearlescent chalks (jewel tone shades), Creativ blue diamontes, Fiskars twist and flip corner punch, Stickles Glitter Glue "Stardust", double sided tape, X-Press It high tack foam mounting tape, scissors, Fiskars rotary trimmer, Sizzix Big Shot and Scor-pal.

Thank You #1

Had fun making the card below this morning. My daughter decided to have a huge morning sleep (very unusual) giving me plenty of time to design and make this card :-)

Entered this one in:
(1) Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Challenge #164 - Colossians 1:3-5; and
(2) Incy Wincy Designs - Giving Thanks with Saturated Candy challenge

Here is my card:



Copics: 0, C0, C3, C5, W00, W1, E0000, E00, E09, E11, E25, E31, E42, E43, E50, E55, BV00, BV01, BV02, BV04, V12, R00, R81, R83, R85, YR09, YR21, YR23, Y06, YG11, YG17, YG23 and G28
Stamps: Whimsy Wee "We Love you bunches", Penny Black - Critter Party, "Thank you" rubber stamp
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Versa Color #16 Peony
Cardstock: DCWV Matchmakers Textured Brights and KaiserCraft Precious Moments
Dies: Sizzix Circle Framelits (#657551) and Sizzix Nesting Swirls Set #2 (#656066) - Swirl Nesting #5
Other: Inkssentials Glossy Accents, Stickles Star Dust, Stickles Crystal, Sizzix Big Shot, Double sided tape, Foam tape, olive ribbon, Creativ brown diamontes, Helmar acid free glue, scor-pal, fiskars rotary trimmer and scissors.

CR84FN66

Entered the below card in the CR84FN Color Challenge - CR84FN66

This is the inspiration:

This is my card:


Copics: 0, C0, C2, C3, C5, N1, N3, W00, W1, E00, E11, E31, E33, E35, E40, E41, E42, E43, E53, E55, R00, YG11, YG17
Stamps: Penny Black - Slapstick Stamps "Nose to Nose", KaiserCraft "Happy Birthday"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versa Color #154 Bark and #151 Sand Beige
Cardstock: DCWV Matchmakers Textured Neutrals, Creativ Plain
Dies: Sizzix Circle Framelits (#657551), Sizzix oval framelits (#657563)
Other: tan ribbon, double sided tape, X-Press It high tack foam mounting tape, Sizzix Texturz "Lattice", Sizzix Big Shot, Fiskars rotary trimmer, scor-pal and scissors.

Hey Pumpkin

I entered the card below in the Shabby Tea Room's - Week #138 - 'Hey Pumpkin' challenge. Had to create a card or project inspired by the colours from the picture (see link) and include a flower(s).



Copics: 0, 110, W00, W1, C0, YR02, YR04, YR07, YR09, YR21, YR23, YR24, Y06, Y23, YG11, YG17, YG23, G24, black multiliners 0.3 and 0.5 mm
Stamps: Sizzix and Hero Arts Stamp and Die cut sets #657852 and #657778, Whimsy Wee Stamps - sentiment "you brighten my day"
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Wild Honey and Crushed Olive, Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Creativ Plain cardstock, KaiserCraft "Save the Date" paper, X-Press It Blending card, DCWV Textured Brights cardstock
Other: X-Press It high tack foam mounting tape, Fiskars twist and flip round corner punch, Sizzix Big Shot, some dies from Sizzix and Hero Arts Stamp and Die cut sets #657852 and #657778, Spellbinder Nestabilities S4-306 "wonky rectangles", yellow/orange ribbon, orange rhinestones, double sided tape, Helmar acid free glue, scor-pal, fiskars rotary trimmer, scissors, Mask It by X-Press It.

Update: 5 November 2012
The card above was in the top 10 "Honorable mention cups of tea" over at The Shabby Tea Room (I was Elizabeth #26). There were some fabulous cards entered. Check the original link to view the other entrants.

Colours, Burlap and Time

I made this card for Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #163 - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - challenge was "Time" - to use clocks/watches, calendars, sundials etc. OR black and white only (to represent night and day)

The colours I chose were:
 


This is the finished card:


I am fairly new to card making and very new to copics. This was the first card that I have used my copics to colour embellishments. Used them to colour the ribbon, magenta flowers (used RV17 not the RV19), pearls, rhinestones and some of the burlap.
 

Copics: C0, C3, N3, RV19, YR02, RV17, YG11, YG17 and black multiliner 0.1 mm
Stamps: Digital Stamp "Wood" by Marianne Walker from CD included with Copic Colouring Guide Level 2: Nature
Ink: Versa Color #156 Raspberry
Cardstock: Creativ Plain grey cardstock,  Creativ paper pack - pink, X-Press It Blending card
Other: Burlap, paper flowers, Sizzix "swirly" die, Sizzix Big Shot, Papercraft rhinestones and pearls gem stickers, computer printer, microsoft excel (to make the calendar), X-Press It high tack foam mounting tape (the wooden sign picture is raised up - hard to see in photo), double sided tape, Helmar acid free glue and Fiskars twist and flip round corner punch.