Christmas cards from friends, a little giveaway and Happy New Year!

I’ve always loved receiving Christmas cards, but since I joined the Hero Arts Flickr Group and started receiving cards from friends there, my delight in receiving Christmas cards has increased tenfold! There really is nothing like a handmade card and even though I’ve oohed and aahed over countless cards I’ve seen on various websites and blogs, there’s nothing like holding one in your own hands and being able to truly see the amazing detail and work that has gone into creating it.

Anyway scattered through this post are the beauties I was so lucky to receive this year.

Card A


They were sent to me by these very lovely and talented ladies (in alphabetic order) - Barb, Ivy, Lai-Yoke, Linda, Maureen, Paula, Sally, Sue and Trinh – thank you so much ladies, I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to receive these wonderful Christmas cards from you!

Card B


I thought it might be fun to have a little game and giveaway with them. All you have to do is guess who made each card!

Card C

Just post your guesses in the comment box or email me by 11.59pm PST on Saturday 7th January.

Card D


If you sent me one of these cards, please email me your guesses using my email address, Flickr mail or by using the contact me button on the sidebar, otherwise it might make it too easy for everyone!

Card E


Whoever guesses all or the most correctly will win a little prize. It there's a tie, I'll do a draw. I’ll send a surprise (at the moment it’s a surprise for me too as I’ll only get to my LSS next week to buy the goodies!) and also make a brooch like the one in this post, in whatever colour you'd like.

Card F


So have fun guessing and I’ll post the answers and winner on Sunday 8th December.

Card G


To finish up I just want to say a great big thanks to everyone for visiting over 2011 – I know I haven’t exactly been great for posting, especially in the last few months!

Card H


I really appreciate your visits and the lovely and encouraging comments you have left.

Card I


Hope you all have a fun time celebrating New Year’s Eve and I wish you all of the very best for 2012:):):)

Happy Christmas!!

I just wanted to pop by and wish you all a very Happy Christmas! Hope you all have a fantastic time with your family, friends and of course furry family members!


Toby Claus

I just have a couple of Christmas cards to share today. Anita is brilliant for organising fun card swaps and I was delighted to take part in the one she put together for Christmas over at the Hero Arts Flickr group. The card below is the one I sent to Greta about 4,500 miles from here. I was in such a hurry to get Greta's card to her that I forgot to take a photo of it, so Greta kindly took one for me - thanks again, Greta!


Stamps (Hero Arts) - Stunning Snowflakes, Decorative Ornament & Very Merry Christmas

In the exchange I received this wonderful card from Ivy! Thanks again Ivy, I love it:)


As well as receiving a gorgeous card in the swap, it has been great getting to know Greta and Ivy a bit more. Now I'm off to watch one of my favourite Christmas films, Home Alone with the lads and I think there might be some hot chocolate, popcorn and chocolate involved - yummy!

Happy Christmas everyone!

A Gift Card Hidden in the Snow

The current Hero Arts challenge includes a pocket card category, so I thought I’d make a little card for a gift token I’m giving at Christmas.


Stamps (Hero Arts) – Snowy House, Magical Background, Friendly Flags and Very Merry Christmas.

For the front of the card I applied tumbled glass distress ink to white card and using the same ink, stamped it with the magical background. The ground was embossed with snowflakes and some stickles added for a bit of sparkle. I coloured the house with a ProMarker and watercolour pencil, layer it and added stickles for yet more sparkle – lol went a bit sparkle mad on this card! I loved the way Kelly Rasmussen used one of the flags from the Friendly Flag set for Christmas trees on this gorgeous pocket card. So I decided to use a flag with a scallop pattern for my tree here. I layered the tree to add some dimension and added some pink gems and a star to finish. The sentiment is embossed in white.


The inside of the card was made in the same way as the outside, except instead of sticking down the snowdrifts I just attached them to the card on three sides using machine stitching.


My little fella is hoping for it to be as snowy here as on the card on Christmas Eve\Day to make it easier for Santa to get here. Although we've had flurries of snow and a cold snap over the last little while, it's supposed to get warmer during the week. Do you think you will have snow in your neck of the woods for Santa next week??

Santa Mitten

Yikes it’s been quite some time since I posted, but here I am back again after a fun but busy time for the craft fair.

After a very mild November the weather has changed here with a bit of snow this week and decidedly colder weather. So it’s back to the gloves, hats and scarves again. This reminded me of a pair of mittens I knitted a few years ago for a friend’s little one, which she always called her Santa mittens. Now she’s all grown up (12 1\2!) and I hope she likes her Santa mitten Christmas card.


Stamps (Hero Arts) – Holly Flourish, Stunning Snowflakes and Small Variety Alphabet.

For the background I applied tumbled glass distress ink to white card and using the same ink stamped the Holly Flourish Background. On another piece of white card I white embossed the snowflakes, applied barn door distress ink and cut out a mitten shape. For the top of the mitten I knitted a piece in single rib pattern using wool left over from making the original mittens - I really shouldn't hoard things! I made a little pocket at the back of the mitten to hold the gift card and attached the ho ho ho sentiment (stamped in barn door distress ink) to it so the gift card could be pulled out.

Hopefully it won't be another month before I post again!