It seems January is just flying by and I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that it's 2013 already!! And that I probably should start looking at flights to go to Romania in the summer and for the family holiday somewhere and the list goes on and on....

Before I realized the first month of this new year is nearly finished, December nearly slipped between my fingers; but somehow managed to send out all the Christmas cards....well, for reasons I will not mention, some of you might have gotten your cards in the New Year (It was the post's office, nothing to do with me :-)....)

I might partially blame that on a Trade Show we had to go to in Florida in November and on a wonderful week we got to spend down in San Diego with Jamie's mum. See previous post. Oh, and did I mention that post??

Ok, now onto more serious stuff I actually got to finish before Christmas! Which was quite amazing seeing as I had quite a few weeks when I couldn't craft at all...

Christmas Ornaments I made for the teachers at school and for 

my swap with my crafty friends

 

And quite easy to make....if you have a few spare hours :-)

 

And some of the Christmas Cards I made....I did not get a chance to photograph all before sending, but many of them are already tagged in the Christmas Label I think.

Might actually have posted enough pictures for one post, what do you think?

Hope you enjoy them, I will not post every single item used for the cards and the Christmas ornaments, but they are pretty much all Stampin Up. (I know the buttons on the ornaments and the red glimmer paper for the Christmas globe are not)

Hugs and hope you enjoy this longish post :-)
Renate

Hi,

It's Wednesday and that means a new sketch at FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES. Lesley has made this wonderful sketch to work with:

 As you might have noticed, lately I am stuck in a neutral phase and still loving it!!!
So as soon as I saw this sketch I thought neutrals and gold glitter paper! I was not sure on the stamp set, but with gold and glitter I kinda of thought Christmas would be a perfect theme!

Last week at Dynamic Duos Challenge there was an early espresso and crumbcake theme. i just carried that to this sketch to keep in line with my obsession at the moment :-)

So here is my CARD!

 Side view of the lovely bow with the Antique Brad:

 Hope you can see the 3D of the sentiment and the star in this pic:

I have seen a beautiful card on a newly discovered blog: Stamp With Paula. She had a lovely card for the Dynamic Duos challenge and I just loved what she did with the bow. So this is my inspiration for this bow, but I thought the glitter paper needs royal treatment so obviously I went to the Antique Brad!


Really hope you like this card, I am SUPER happy with how it turned out, it is much better than what I imagined, which is always awesome :-).

Supplies used (all SU unless noted):

Chocolate Chip and Crumb Cake Card Stock
Gold Glitter Paper (from stash)
Antique Brad
Sponges for the edges
Chocolate Chip Ink Pad
Big Shot
Framelits Labels Collection
Scallop Trim Border
Modern Label Punch
Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder
FAVOURITE TOUCH: Champagne Mist  Shimmer Paint!
Ribbon (from stash - this particular one came from a gift bag. As soon as I saw the bag all I could think was the lovely ribbon that would be perfect for cards! I do keep and use Everything!)
Stamps: Come to Bethlehem


Hope you like this card, and I appreciate all of your lovely comments :-)


Hugs,
Renate

I have had an order for a calendar from someone in Australia and I was wanting to make one for my lovely mother in law for her birthday. Well, I had enough time for hers seeing as her birthday is is July, but because she was over at our place in California, and I was making the other one to send with her back home, I was only natural that I make 2 at the same time. Actually, make that 3, as I also finished one I was meant to send to another girlfriend of mine back in Connecticut. (dropped it off as I stayed with her for a while while visiting). Sorry it has taken me so long Rebeca :-(.

This was a great opportunity to use some new stamps I had acquired from a friend's friend who was getting rid of her stamping stuff. I do have to say I was in stamping heaven when I saw all this girl was wanting to get rid off....Do I have to even say I bought a lot of it? And I mean A LOT! So this was a fab opportunity to use some new stamps...

 Mum got to choose the design of her cover, seeing as she was there...

 Beachy summery theme for January (retired Sealife stamp set)

Lovely as a Tree stamp set used for the Woodland wonderland for the winter months...

Funky Four, Fox and Friends, and Owl Builder Punch used for this page

Printed Petals and Mixed Bunch Sets

 Changed the stamp set for the Christmas month to Come to Bethlehem and I have to say I wish I had used this one for mine. I LOVE how it turned out!!! The snowflakes are from Snow Swirled, the set I used to January in my calendar. The wise men and the snowflakes are embossed with gold, silver and pewter embossing powder. This really makes them pop off the page.

Mum liked it so much she wanted one for one of her girlfriends back home. I loved that she told me then and there rather than a few months later. So much easier doing 3 at the same time rather than at 3 different times.

Hope you enjoy it,

Hugs,

Renate