The Artful Stampers Holiday Catalogue Blog Hop #5

Welcome from Anna’s blog. 
This week our Theme Challenge was Aussie Christmas. 
This was a challenge as I didn't really know which direction to go but after a bit of experimenting and searching through my Pinterest boards, this is what I came up with: 

CASE'd from Lorri Heiling @ Confessions of a Stamping Addict.

I am glad for the Kangaroo on the Animal Expedition DSP as I think that is what is making this look that little bit Aussie. And I just had to add the Aussie traditional bon bon paper crown on her head. The little koala gazing up at the star on top of the tree is a little bit cute as well, don't you think?

PROJECT RECIPE 
Stamps 
- Tabs for Everything - 143907 (AC)
- Make a Difference - 146676 (AC)
Cardstock & Ink 
- Gray Granite
- Cherry Cobbler
- Daffodil Delight
- Early Espresso
- Wood Texture DSP - 144177 (AC)
- Animal Expedition DSP - 146902 (AC)
Stampin’ Up! Accessories 
- Ruffled TIEF - 143699 (AC)
- Celebrate You Thinlits - 146840 (AC)
- Wood Crate Framelits - 143730 (AC)
- Linen Thread - 104199 (AC)
- Suite Season Specialty Washi Tape - 148079 (OC)

Next on the hop is Tina, lets go see what creativity she has come up with this week. 

The rest of the contributors are:
Nicole Wilson
Anna Foster
Jane Riches - YOU ARE HERE
Tina Hewett 
Alisa Tilsner

2014 Christmas Cards

This week I managed to make and send my Christmas cards.

I CASE'd this card from here. I loved the idea of using the Wondrous Wreath stamp & die set and really liked the idea of using the wreath to hold the card together. In hind sight I should have made the bottom panel higher, as I didn't realise until I went to write in the cards that that would be the space for the writing to go. It made it a little squeeze to try and fit much in there. 

Base is 5 1/4" (scored at 4 1/8")x 5 7/8" 

Bottom panel should be 1 1/2" x 5 7/8" (mine is 1" x 5 7/8")

PROJECT RECIPE

Stamps

- Wondrous Wreath - 135047 (Holiday Catalogue 28/8/14 - 5/1/15)

Cardstock & Ink

- Pistachio Pudding

- Garden Green

- Cherry Cobbler

- Season of Style DSP - 132181 (Holiday Catalogue Aug 13 - Jan 14)

Stampin' Up! Accessories

- Wonderful Wreath Framelits Dies - 135851 (Holiday Catalogue 28/8/14 - 5/1/15)

- 2-Way Glue Pen - 100425

The 2-Way Glue Pen is great to use when gluing word die cuts as you just write with it like a pen and get the glue exactly where you want it to go.

These cards were a lot of fun to make and I look forward to hearing what my recipients think of them.

Until next time :o)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Happy Christmas everyone. I know that most of you will not be reading this on Christmas Day but my best wishes go to you all anyway. Firstly I would like to show you what my lovely Spirit of Christmas swap partner gave me....

They all blend lovely with our Christmas decorations. I love the coasters and they will be put to good use. I also love the dish cloth with the coffee cup pattern. I had seen these on her blog and hoped one would find its way into my package. Blossom also has such beautiful stitching that is so neat and even and the Santa hanging is lovely and finally the little angel which is so cute is hanging up in the lounge room. Thank you so much blossom your gifts are truly appreciated.

These are the gifts that I sent to her...

The small round one is a pin cushion that has steel wool in the top to sharpen her pins and needles. 

And some things for her girls...

These are little post-it note pads and chocolates.

I really had a lot of fun putting this together.

Well we are about ready to go to our families house for lunch so I had better sign off. 

Here's hoping you all have a lovely day and remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

8o)

What I've been Up To

Look at what I got a couple of weeks ago....

Yes the next installment for my Pincushion of the Month, and no I haven't made the last one yet but I had decided that I would save them for the holidays as I have 4 weeks off, although the first week is Christmas week so I won't have much time for making things for myself.

We started our Christmas shopping yesterday, yes I did say started, and we got most of it done. I am having difficulty in coming up with something for my sweetheart but I am sure I will think of something. My 11yo son and I are going to be doing the Christmas cooking tomorrow, we are going to make Almond Cresents, Malto Balls and Gingerbread men. I will post photos of the finished products. These are things that are only made at Christmas time so as to make them special and things to look forward to having.

I may not have a chance to post again before Christmas so if not I wish you all a very happy day and would like you to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Can't Believe It's Christmas...

Another week down and now it is only 28 sleeps till christmas. We will be keeping to the Riches Stitches tradition of putting up our tree and decorations on Monday 1st December we feel that 1 month is long enough for having these things around. Quite a few of the decorations are handmade by me and have become favourites. Up until last year (when we got a new and bigger christmas tree) nearly all of the tree ornaments were handmade. I used to put on christmas bears, which I remember making I think for No.1 sons first christmas and also plain gold and red tartan bows. I must admit that I think it looked pretty nice... I managed to dig up a photo.

Now it is covered with coffee, latte and purple coloured baubles and coffee coloured tinsle. I had thought of making some cappuccino cup ornaments but they were going to be too heavy so still have to think that one through not to mention the amount I would need to make so that it doesn't look tacky. The only "odd" ornaments are the baubles that are for "Our first Christmas" and "Baby's First Christmas", I really like to have a neat and coordinated tree otherwise I think it looks messy. I also made a Christmas tree skirt for the bottom to hide the stand. It is a Bareroots pattern that was in Homespun No. 30 Vol.6 No.4. I think it looks lovely under the tree. 

The kids favourite is the advent calendar. This was also from a craft magazine but I  can't remember which one it was. I did change it from the original as I didn't like santa on it as we believe that Jesus it the reason for the season. It is hard coming up with new ideas to put in the little stockings each year but I think the last year was a hit with using Cadbury Favourites.

And lastly (for now) is the angel wall hanging that hangs by the front door. For the rest of the year it hangs upstairs in the foyer to our bedroom.

It is kind of sad that we put in a lot of work and effort on these projects and they only get seen for such a short period of time. But I guess thats one of the things that make the season special.

8o)

When a Handbag is not a Handbag (but something way more cute)

Look what arrived in my mail box today....

Isn't it wonderful? I love everything about this kit and the wonderful thing is that there is enough materials to make both the pincushion and the needle case. Notice the needle topper, it has a little house on it and is really cute. This was one of the sneak peeks that made me sign up for the pincushion of the month club in the first place. I can't wait to get making this one and will hopefully have a finished product to show you soon.

I also wanted to show you what I get to play with every Friday morning at craft.....

I love this machine it is so easy to use and is so much fun, it makes me feel as though I am a real barista. I find it a real joy to serve the ladies at craft each week and it is a real privilege to make them cafe style drinks. I honestly enjoy doing this as much as making craft items. I guess it is a craft in itself anyway. I guess that one of the things that God has gifted me with is a passion to serve people and I just love doing things for others. It makes me feel good to know that I can use this gift each week and put my whole self into it.

Hope you all have a great weekend. I am looking forward to hearing from Janet at Wildcraft farm to see who I am partnered with for her "Christmas Spirit" Swap. Entries are now closed.

8o)

Christmas Swap Open

Janet at Wildcraft Farm has opened the Christmas Swap till the end of the week as she was inundated with response from blogland (over 50 people). Because she can't possibly swap with everyone she is going to be pairing people up, so if you would like to join in, just jump on over to her site and sign yourself up.

8o)

Day After Craft Fair

I made it to the craft fair yesterday although I didn't really get to stay quite long enough. I was on a bit of a time schedule as I had to be back to help with Cafe Church. I ended up going with my lovely mum which was really great as we haven't been able to spend much time together lately. I only made a few purchases ....

I bought this lovely pattern for a Quilters Pocket from Blue Willow Cottage. I also bought some pretty Ric rac and three lots of cute buttons. I am looking forward to using all of these items. Unfortunately I didn't get to buy any fabric as I ran out of time. I did get to meet the lovely Sarah from Quilt Fabric Delights. It is really quite strange to meet people in real life that you read all about in blogland, you feel as though you have already met before as you have been reading all about their lives over a long (or short) period of time.

On another note, I have joined a one on one Christmas swap with Janet from Wildcraft Farm. She was so busy with life that she didn't get to sign up for the Secret Santa Swap held by Chooky Blue this year so sent a call out for someone to swap with her. As I didn't get to sign up either (I thought about it for too long and left it too late) I volunteered to swap with her. It seems that she had a few responses so she will now be very busy. I am looking forward to sending off some special gifts to her and hope that she likes them.

Merry Christmas Table Runner - Lynette Anderson Designs

Lynette Anderson wants us to show some of her projects that we have made from a while ago. I made her "Merry Christmas Table Runner" in 2003. 

I think I should have ironed it before taking this photo but I am a bit impatient sometimes.

This pattern was in the Christmas in July 2003 issue of Homespun Magazine. I wanted mine to look exactly the same as Lynette's but I couldn't find the bauble buttons that she had on hers, so I made my own using Sculpy clay. I think that this would be one of my favourite patterns that I have made and I think the end result was pretty good. I did leave off the Merry Christmas on the ends as I wanted to be able to use it all year round.

8o)