Christmas Knick Knacks and Chocolates...

I have a few pictures to show you of things that I guess can best be classed as Christmas knick knacks, or maybe stocking stuffers. Some of them I bought for others, some I bought for myself ;-). Some were given to me at Christmas. Some are cute, some are yummy, some can be used for crafting, some can not. What ever their purpose...they made me smile!

Cute, shaped paperclips. Which I got from Pepe's Paperie, a lovely little shop that sells stationery and other papery goodies here in Canberra.

Groovy-doovey Valentine-themed masking tape...from Pepe's.

Pretty-coloured Jute Twine...also from Pepe's. I love Pepe's a lot!

Eco-friendly, easy stow-away shopping bags by Envirosax. I got these up in a little shop in Balgowlah in Sydney, but I have seen similar ones in several kitchen-type shops too. I love the pretty oriental designs on these ones.

Haigh's Chocolate Frogs. A lovely gift from my sister in-law. They even come in their own beautiful cardboard bookish-box! Drool....I have been very good, and haven't touched these yet at all.

...and last, but certainly not least...one of my all time favourites the Darrell Lea Christmas Nougat Pudding! They make these at Easter-time too....same delicious taste, just a different design.

Thanks for sitting through my little fest of pretties and yummies. I hope you got some lovely pretties and yummies under your tree this year too!

Papertrey December Blog Hop Challenge

Today I thought I might take part in my first ever Papertrey Ink Blog Hop Challenge:

The Challenge for this month is the:

...annual holiday leftovers challenge! Use scraps of wrapping paper, parts of holiday cards, recycle gift tags or bits of ribbon on a paper crafting project.  We all have plenty of it laying around after all the holiday excitement and this is your chance to incorporate some of those pretty little things into an amazing piece of art!

I wandered around the house, looked in my recycle bin, ummmed and ahhhed a good bit, then finally decided to use:

Now, I must add here, we had more than one box of these little yummies floating around the house this Christmas Season (Woolies had a special on them ;-).  This is just the only unopened one I had left!  I also checked on the box because I had no idea if these chocolates were an Aussie thing, but it seems they are made in Canada, so I am sure my O/S stamping friends have heard of them before too. I decided to use the leftover gold foil from the chocolates to add to my creation. With some ingenuity they could also probably be a chocolatey scratch and sniff accessory!

This is the card that I made for this challenge:

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White Cardstock (PTI), Kraft and Real Red (SU)
Ink: Timber Brown (Stazon)
Stamps: Believe (PTI)
Accessories: Both sides of the Background Basics: Diamonds Impression Plate (PTI), Embossing Pad Kit (PTI), All three of the Beautiful Blooms II #3 Die Collection (PTI), Fillable Frames #9 (cut down to size)(PTI), Pure Poppy Felt (PTI), Dimensionals (SU), Mini Glue Dots (SU), Tombow Adhesive (Penwa), Gold Cord (SU) and recycled Gold Foil (Ferrero Rocher chocolates).

I had fun making this card because every time I get my Cuttlebug out the kids flock to my craft table and ask if they can run various things through it. I have run the recycled gold foil dots through the Cuttlebug, to make them nice and flat for the card too.

Well, Thanks for dropping by today. I hope that you all had a lovely peaceful Christmas, and very best wishes for a happy 2011!

(Blogged to: Modern Love -  David Bowie, Don't Leave Me This Way - The Communards, and Absolutely Fabulous - Pet Shop Boys).

Scoopedy Scoops of Yummy Elf Poop...

I've been working on a little project to hand out to some of my work colleagues this Christmas. I finally managed to get them all done today, and I'll distribute them tomorrow. I think they'll put some smiles on some dials :-)...

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Real Red, Kiwi Kiss Textured, Whisper White, Basic Black and Blush Blossom cardstock (all from SU)
Punches: 1 3/8" Circle, Two-Step owl, Curly Label, Boho Blossoms, 5-Petal Flower and Scallop Oval (all SU)
Accessories: Real Red Stampin' Pastels (SU), White Gel Pen, Black Stampin' Write Marker (SU), Crystal Effects (SU), Dazzling Diamonds (SU),  Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon (SU), Diamonds Impression Plate (PTI), Spellbinders Nested Labels 8 (Bizzy Becs), Mini Glue Dots (SU), Dimensionals (SU), Tombow Adhesive (Penwa), Medium Cello Bags (SU) and Malteesers (Milk and Dark Chocolate).

The Elf Poop verse is all over the net...I've no idea where it started. The punch art elf head is the same as that used in my Elliot Elf Christmas cards, and was sourced from Marie Shaughnessy.

Thanks for visiting!

(Blogged to: Great Southern Land - Steve McNaughton and Around the World - Daft Punk).

A present for the kindy teacher...

I have lots of projects in various stages of disarray here...but its organised disarray if you know what I mean? To the untrained eye....my desk and surrounds would certainly look like they were in disarray...but I KNOW what's what! Seriously!!

Just thought I'd pop on here quickly and put up a few pics of the gift I made for Miss 6's Kindergarten teacher this year:

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Old Olive and Very Vanilla (All from SU)
Accessories: Jolly Holiday DSP (SU), Small Oval Punch (SU), 1 3/8 inch Circle Punch (SU), 1 1/4 inch Circle Punch (SU), 1 inch Circle Punch (SU), Gold Cord (retired SU), Brights Collection Designer Buttons (SU), Twill Tape (SU), Mini Glue Dots (SU), Dimensionals (SU) and Tombow Adhesive (Penwa).

The gorgeous earth-toned focal beads on the bracelet are from SueBeads on Etsy, and were a custom order (this teacher wears lots of earth-tones and they suit her beautifully). The silver is all Sterling, and the crystals are from Swarovski. I really hope she likes it!

If you check out the photos closely you will see that the bracelet is slightly different in pictures 2 and 3. You are not imagining things, I needed to make it smaller for her, so had to take out a few beads.

Better get back to my other project now...15 bags of Elf Poop ;-).

(Blogged to: Watcha Say - Jason Derulo and Babooshka - Kate Bush).

Kim's Christmas Goody Bags...

We had an afternoon tea get-together here on Sunday. It was mean't to be a dinner BBQ, but with the weather being as poopy as it has been, and more rain and thunderstorms forecast for Sunday afternoon I downgraded the event to afternoon tea...which of course ENSURED that not a single drop of rain would fall at all on Sunday ;-).

I thought I'd show you the lovely little goody bags that Kim brought to hand out to the kids:

Kim has blogged the full list of ingredients that she used to make these gorgeous little creations here on her blog!

Thanks so much Kim! And, now that I've managed to photograph them...I can let the kids rip in to the bags of home cooked goodies that she stashed inside (aren't I a mean mummy for making them wait this long? ;-).

I also wanted to let you know that yesterday I managed to reduce the size of Kim's birthday bracelet. I only NEEDED to remove a few beads from the ends, but I dropped the whole dang thing on the floor. I then spent 10 minutes on my hands and knees trying to find the tiny silver and crystal beads that were scattered liberally about, and then reconstructed the design using my blog photographs (thank goodness I had the photos to use as a reference). I was also very pleased that they fell on a carpeted floor....I am sure it reduced the bounce and scatter factor significantly!

Okey dokey....almost time for school pick-up, better run. Have a good one!

(Blogged to: Girl U Want - Devo and Sweat - John Tejada).

Birthday Gift and Hair Elastic

I finally managed to catch up with a friend today, Kim, and pass along her very late birthday present!

Here are some pictures of her gift, the card and wrapping:

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Tempting Turquoise (textured) and Whisper White
Ink: Elegant Eggplant Classic Ink
Stamps: I wish I could remember what sets those two Happy Birthday sentiments are from, but I can't. I can't even tell if they are SU or PTI. If you know, please do tell!
Accessories: Carrot Felt (Felt on the Fly), Vintage Cream Felt (PTI),  Picnic Plaid Impression Plate (PTI), Blossom Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Beautiful Blooms II #1 Die Collection (PTI), Hawaiian Shores Buttons (PTI), Pretties Kit (SU), Eyelet Border Punch (SU), District Ribbon Originals (SU), Tag Punch (SU), Crop-a-dile, Mini Glue Dots (SU),  Sticky Strip (SU), Tombow Adhesive (Penwa) and Dimensionals (SU).

You might recognise the bracelet...I blogged it ages ago here, and it has been sitting in its little box ever since. The lampwork beads are by Avaline at imakebeads on Etsy. I have to re-size the bracelet for Kim's wrist...because as it is, it just slides right off (Oooppps...sorry Kim!).

While I'm rambling about handicrafts, I thought I'd show you some simple Christmassy hair elastics I recently made for Miss 6...who is going to be a Christmas Kangaroo in her school end-of-year concert:

The red and green felt are both from Felt on the Fly, and the buttons are Pure Poppy from PTI.

 Hope you had a lovely weekend!

(Blogged to: Send Me an Angel - Real Life, I Got You - Split Enz and I'm Still Standing - Elton John).

Elliot Elf gets stuck...

...up a chimney! I am sorry if you are over Elliot Elf by now, but I'm having fun with him. I seem to be spending at least part of each night where I can't sleep (almost 31 weeks now and the belly is getting, well, you know, BIG) thinking about what Elliot can get up to next. I have another one on the back burner...not sure about it yet though....we'll see.

Anyway, this is Elliot stuck up a chimney. Easier to do than the others because I didn't have to work out his arms juggling presents...that's the hardest part of Elliot IMO.

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Real Red, Chocolate Chip (plain and textured), Basic Black, Close to Cocoa, Glossy White, Shimmery White, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Blush Blossom and Brushed Gold (all SU)
Ink: Real Red, Blush Blossom and Kiwi Kiss Classic Inks and Whisper White Craft Ink
Stamps: Merry, Merry (retired SU)
Punches: 1 3/8" Circle, Two-Step owl, Word Window, Curly Label, Boho Blossoms, 1/ 1/4" Square, Eyelet Border, 5-Petal Flower and Small Star (retired) (all SU)
Accessories: Woodgrain Emboss Folder (Craft Concepts), Dashing DSP (retired SU), White Gel Pen (Misc), Gold Cord (retired SU), Real Red Brads (SU), Dazzling Diamonds (SU), Crystal Effects (SU), Basic Black Marker (SU), Stampin' Sponges (SU), Real Red Stampin' Pastel, Basic Black Stampin' Pastel, Sticky Strip (SU), Dimensionals (SU) and Tombow Adhesive (Penwa).

Once again, the instructions for making this cute little elf can be found on Marie Shaughnessy's blog here.

Thanks again for all the lovely comments on my other Elliot cards. Your time and feedback is always really, really appreciated :-).

Well, its gonna be hot here today...only 27 degrees celcius, but my body seems to be adding 5 - 10 degrees...so I'm going to be doing my best to not do much!

Hope your day is a good one.

(Blogged to Good Thing - Fine Young Cannibals, Bust a Move - Young MC and Tik Tok - Ke$ha).

Elliot Elf at the North Pole

I had so much fun making the last Elf scene I thought I'd make another one. I am pretty happy with how it turned out, except for the back of Santa's sleigh...its looking a bit too 2D for me. But as it IS only 2D...I guess that's not such a biggie ;-).

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Real Red, Brushed Gold, Whisper White, Shimmery White, Kiwi Kiss, Blush Blossom and Chocolate Chip (all SU)
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom, Night of Navy and Real Red Classic Inks (all SU)
Stamps: Merry, Merry (retired SU) and Evolution Magnetic Alphabet (Making Memories)
Punches: 1 3/8" Circle, 1 1/4" Circle, Two-Step owl, Oval Extra Large, Oval Medium, Word Window, Butterfly, Curly Label, Boho Blossoms, Paper Piecing (retired), 1/ 1/4" Square, Eyelet Border, 5-Petal Flower, Small Star (retired) and Scallop Oval (all SU)
Accessories: Ski Slope DSP (retired SU), Brayer (SU), Crystal Effects (SU), Dazzling Diamonds (SU), White Gel Pen (Misc), Real Red Stampin' Pastels (SU), Dimensionals (SU) and Tombow Mono Adhesive (Penwa).

The 'snow' is shimmery white cardstock, the night sky has been brayered in (with a combination of Baja Breeze and Night of Navy Classic Ink), the moon was masked out with the 1 1/4" Circle, and those little blobs of Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds in the sky are supposed to be stars...I am thinking I could have found something better to make stars (maybe next time ;-).

Again, thanks must go to Marie Shaughnessy for her terrific elf-making inspiration and instructions, which you can find here.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend,

(Blogged to: Let it Snow, Let it Snow - Michael Buble and Sleigh Ride - KT Tunstall).

Just Add a Christmas Elf...

I have to say right up front....I didn't read the instructions for the Just Add Ink #43 Challenge - Just Add Christmas very carefully at all! I made this card (that I am about to show you) yesterday, and then last night when I was browsing the Just Add Ink homepage I noticed that they say ' we can't wait to see what fantastic designs you are mass producing'. Can I just say here and now....neither THIS card, nor the one I posted the day before yesterday...will be mass produced. I don't have that many years left in me ;-). Sorry for not reading the instructions fully girls!

The next thing that I need to say is that I owe a vote of thanks firstly to Ros Davidson for the inspiration for this card. When I saw her creation here, I knew I had to CASE the elf design, and as Ros mentions in her post, thanks must also go to the fabulous Marie Shaughnessy for the design and full instructions for making the elf, which you can find here. While you are visiting, check out the rest of Marie's awesome punch art here, the girl is absolutely amazing! I have saved many of them to my TO BE CASED folder! Thanks so much for the inspiration Ros and Marie!

Now for my card...and yes, this one took an age to make and was incredibly fiddly, but I love the end result so much I don't care! Giving it away is going to be the hardest part...

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Real Red (Textured and Plain), Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, Blush Blossom, Basic Black and Brushed Gold (all SU)
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink, Old Olive Classic Ink and Blush Blossom Classic Ink (all SU)
Stamps: Merry & Bright (PTI)
Punches: 1 3/8" Circle, Two-Step owl, Oval Extra Large, Oval Medium, Word Window, Butterfly, Curly Label, Boho Blossoms, Paper Piecing (retired), 1/ 1/4" Square, Eyelet Border, 5-Petal Flower, Small Star (retired) and Scallop Oval (all SU)
Accessories: Dashing DSP (retired SU), White Gel Pen (Misc), Gold Cord (retired SU), Real Red Brads (SU), White Liquid Applique, Dazzling Diamonds (SU), Crystal Effects (SU), Basic Black Marker (SU), Stampin' Sponges (SU), Sticky Strip (SU), Mini Glue Dots (SU) and Tombow Mono Adhesive (Penwa).

Marie's design called for the Ornament punch for the head...which I don't own, so I used the 1 3/8" Circle instead. Marie also used the Modern label punch for the elfs pants, but I don't have that either, so I used the retired Paper Piecing punch. I also used the Boho Blossoms for the his hands, instead of the small circle punch like Marie did. I used the medium and large circles from the Two-Step Owl punch for his eyes and nose.

I love that you can almost always find another punch to give a similar effect if you don't have the exact punch that someone else has used...this said, I MUST get myself a Modern label punch soon. I think I NEED it!

I will also add that you can't see the Liquid Applique on my elf anymore. I put it on his hat and pompom, but I think my tube had been open for too long (two years) because it never went puffy, it just dried smooth like gloss paint. So I added Crystal Effects over the top and sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds over that. Problem fixed!

Well, that's about it I think. Like I said, this one took forever, but I love his adorable little face so much! I've forgotten to blush up his cheeks...but you get that!

Have a great day everyone, and thanks so much for stopping by at my blog.

(Blogged to: Jingle Bells - Diana Krall and Happy Holiday - Bing Crosby).