Watercolour Crayon Upsy Daisy

This is the card that we made at my Hostess Appreciation Night earlier this month. I thought i would do something a little different for my lovely hostesses and create a card using the Watercolour Crayons which none of them had ever used before. They are lots of fun but take a little bit of practice to perfect. The trickiest thing is knowing how much water to use but once you work that out you get a fantastic effect.
I have used the Rich Regals Watercolour Crayons to create this card with the Upsy Daisy stamp set. I have tied in the colours of the card with the colours of the crayons i have used - Handsome Hunter, Rose Red and Regal Rose. I have stamped the image on the Stampin' Up! watercolour paper which in my opinion gives you better quality images than other types that i have tried.
I have used the Scallop Edge, Scallop Oval and Wide Oval Punches for decoration, the mat pack for some extra effect and the card is done.
If you check out my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website the details for this card will be in the projects page www.christiewallace.stampinup.net

Handmade Bag and Card Gift

This is the gift i gave to my upline and my downline this year. It is a little bag containing 4 cards and when you open it up i have placed a notepad and pen and a little voucher.

I have chosen a Basic Grey, Whisper White and Baja Breeze colour scheme and used the new Butterfly Prints Stamp Set and the Retro Fresh Wheel on the cards. I have punched out the greeting with the Scallop Oval Punch (which is still available!) and layered it onto the wide oval punched Baja Breeze for definition. I am thankful that they both loved it.

Hand Made Christmas Cards

I wish you all a happy and safe Christmas day and hope that it is filled with good things for you all.
I have been so lucky to recieve lots of beautiful handmade christmas cards this year. I am honoured to show you the lovely cards made for me by friends, customers and other Stampin' Up Demonstrators.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Inventory Clearance Sale

Stampin' Up! are having a great sale at the moment. Many of their stamp sets are reduced with one of my favourite bargains being alphabet sets at 50% off. This sale will run through till January 24th or while stocks last so if you would like to check out the bargains and place an order click on the clearance flyer and email your order to Christies_stamps@yahoo.com.au

Merry Inkers Christmas Gathering Creations

Last monday we had the Merry Inkers Christmas Gathering. This is the team of my upline Merryl Blacker. It was really lovely. We got to make (by my special request) one of Merryl's fabulous edible belly Santas. It has a sweet treat centre containing Jaffa's and a choccie nose. Aren't they just great? If you check out Merryl's site she has also created a similar reindeer and snowman. I would like to make a couple more of these for christmas day for my neice and nephew but time is running out quickly!


We also made this great keyring. It was so cute. It has an embossed flower from the Fifth Avenue Floral set on it and we also made it personalised by adding our initial.

The other thing that Merryl got us to do was a challenge card. She gave us all the same sizes and colours of cardstock with only a few ink pads, markers, ribbon and stamp set and we all had to come up with something. I will save this card for another post so make sure you check back to see it.

Rasberry Sweet Treats

Here are more Sweet Treats.
This time i have Rasberry filled cups made into a pretty flower girly card with a Pink Pirouette and Pretty In Pink colour scheme. I have used the Sweet Treats set and decorated the card with buttons from the Button Bouquet.

Summer Mini Catalogue Regionals Creations

In late November i attended Stampin' Up's Regional Training. I showed you the swap card i made and today i am sharing with you the make and takes that we made there supplied and created by Stampin' Up!
We recieved the stamp set Hello Again and the Retro Remix wheel as part of the trainning. We made a 6x6 scrapbook page, a 6x4 card and matching envelope a trifold card and a small match box. It was loads of fun with lots of demonstrations and inspiration. I can't wait till next time

Sweet Treat Handbag and Back to Normal Posting

This is a bag that i created using the Sweet Treat cups and the Pick A Petal Stamp Set. It was really really easy. I stamped the petals in Real Red on Whisper White card stock and i then used the Large Oval Punch to punch them out. After sticking the Sweet Treat Cup on to the box that i had made i stuck the petals directly over the outside edges of the cup.
I then created a handle for the bag using the Pacific Point cardboard as well as a Real Red strip of cardboard that i had punched on both sides with the Scallop Edge Punch to give it a decorative feel.
Hope you like it and welcome back to my normal posting schedule!

We are famous! Girl's Night In in print!

Just a quick additional post today before returning to normal posting tomorrow. I just couldn't resist sharing with you all a link to some photos and talk about the Girl's Night In that we had in October.
The Editor of Australian Cardmaking, Stamping and Papercraft came to visit us and she took some photos and details to write about in the magazine.
Visit the link here.
Check out the photo's because i can see lots of my lovely friends and customers in it!

Guest Blogger Suzanne with some Christmas Boxes

You may all remember my Reindeer and Santa triangle boxes that have been featured on the blog this year. Well one of my lovely customers Suzanne made her own boxes and i was so impressed i just had to share them with you!
Suzanne made smaller triangle boxes which are a perfect size to fit a few lollies for a work colleague or friend. Suzanne is a teacher and is making these for her whole class! Aren't they so lucky?
Suzanne has also created a snowman box to go with the santa and reindeer. I just love his scarf, it is very clever.
I hope you enjoyed these boxes and thank you so much to Suzanne for allowing me to share them with you!

On the 12 Day of Christmas

For the last day of the 12 days of Christmas i have a few things to share. I held an appreciation night last week for all of my lovely hostesses and these were some of the gifts i made them. I was inspired by my upline Merryl who did a similar thing (and you MUST check out her Rudolph/Snowman and Santa Sweet Treat characters) recently.
Firstly there was a 7's box called so because they are really easy to make. You just score vertically at 7cm, 14cm, 21cm and 28cm and then horizontally at 7cm and 14cm to create the box. I decorated these boxes with the new Butterfly Prints stamp set which i punched out with the Butterfly Punch from the Summer Mini Catalogue. Inside there was a mixture - chocolate, stamps and ribbon.
Then there was a Sweet Treat Christmas Decoration. I think that the Red and White Polka dot Ribbon is just perfect for both Christmas and Valentine's Day.
Finally my favourite project is the Recipe Card which i attached to some Chocolate Mallow Fudge. I really love the recipe set and i can see that it is something i will use for years to come. I think that it is lovely to recieve a recipe card with some yummy sweets and i know i would love to recieve something like this.
My final special is 15% off the From the Kitchen set. This special will expire at midnight tonight. Remember that this set is also included in the Christmas Extravaganza and so if you purchase it you are well on your way to a free punch! Email me at Christies_stamps@yahoo.com.au to place your order

On the 11th Day of Christmas

I have a Sweet Treat Cup card for you today! Someone said to me recently that they wouldnt want to ruin a gorgeous card by opening the edible treat. This is a different way to use the cups rather than put something sweet in it. I have the cup as a Christmas Bauble and used Chunky Glitter inside it to give it the look of snow. Even though we don't have snow at Christmas here is Australia, i still like cards with snow or snowmen cause they are very cute. I did try this with the Dazzling Diamonds and Fine Supernova Glitter but found that the Chunky Glitter was much more pleasing to the eye.
I have used the Season of Joy with Bashful Blue and Night of Navy card stock and ink and the Silver Encore Ink Pad. The top of the bauble is just metallic silver card stock punched out with the Large Oval Punch and cut in half. It is popped up on some dimensionals and tied with Night of Navy Grosgrain Ribbon.
Hope you enjoyed today's card!

On the 10th Day of Christmas

Today i have made another bauble christmas card. I was inspired by Stampin' Up! themselves for this card, i saw something similar in one of their publications. Stampin' Up! have so many circles so i couldnt' not take advantage of them. I have used the new 1 3/4" circle punch, the 1 3/8" circle punch and the 1 1/4" circle punch and for the largest circle i have used the Circle Scissors Plus.
I have chosen a Rose Red, Always Artichoke and silver colour scheme for this card. I have used the Encore Silver Ink pad. I have used the En Francais background stamp, i find this stamp so useful as it is perfect for any occassion. I have also used the Season of Joy stamp set and the star from the Christmas Classics set is punched out perfectly with the large Star punch.

Today's special is 10% off all background stamp sets (i encourage you to add En Francais to your collection). This special is only valid until midnight tonight the 6/12/09)

On the 9th Day of Christmas

This is the card we created for stamp club last week. I have used the Circle Scissors Plus once again to create a circular mask for this card. I have then used Bashful Blue and a sponge to create a circular effect. The images from the stamp sets A Wish For Peace and Lovely as a Tree have then been stamped in Classic Black ink and coloured in with the Stampin' Pastels. The Christmas greeting is from Many Merry Messages. I hope you like this card!

I have a giant SPECIALl for you today. I will give you 10% off sponge daubers, Stampin' Pastels, Old Olive 12x12 cardstock and the A Wish for Peace Stamp set all used in this card. Purchase all 4 and you will get to pick a marker in the colour of your choice absolutely FREE. So email me with your order at Christies_stamps@yahoo.com.au. The special will end at midnight tonight.

On the 8th Day of Christmas

On the 8th Day of Christmas i have this very blue christmas card for you. I was really happy with the way that this one turned out. It is a little different from your average christmas card with a Pacific Point and Night of Navy colour theme.. I have used the stamp set Snow Swirled as the feature peice the bauble. I have used the brand new 1 3'4" punch to punch ot the largest snow flake and have then used the brand new Circle Scissors Plus to create a larger Night of Navy circle. I love the Circle Scissors Plus and the freedom it gives you to make any sized circle. As a very special thank you to all of my previous hostesses i gave them a fantastic special of 20% off the Circle Scissors at my Hostess Appreciation Night last night. I will be holding a Hostess Appreciation Night every 6 months for all people who hold a workshop in that period. As my guests can attest, last night was lots of fun with loads of gifts, exclusive specials, make and takes and a game thrown in for good measure. Make sure that you qualify for my next Hostess Appreciation Night by booking in a workshop. You can email me at Christies_stamps@yahoo.com.au to make a booking (and don't forget that Sale-A-Bration is around the corner)

Project Recipe
Stamp Sets: Snow Swirled, Short and Sweet, Polka Dot Background
Card stock: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Pacific Point
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Night of Navy, Pacific Point, Whisper White
Whisper White Tafetta Ribbon
Punches: 1 3/4" circle, 1/2" circle, Small Oval, Large Oval
Circle Scissors Plus
Dimensionals

On the 7th Day of Christmas

On the 7th Day of Christmas i wanted to show you how easy it is to create lovely packaging. This is a christmas gift tin. The tin itself is the packaging that the Stampin' Up! Felt Flowers come in so we are making christmas packaging super cheap by recyling! I have embossed some snowflakes onto the tin using the Snow Swirled stamp set and Silver Embossing Powder (I got this idea from the very talented Marelle Taylor who did this earlier this year). I then used a scrap of Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper which i adhered to the bottom of the tin lid and then placed some of the Die Cut Stickers from the I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit over the top of the tin. Voila, christmas packaging so nice you couldn't buy it in the shops!
Don't forget that the I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit is part of this month's Holiday Extravaganza Promotion in which you can earn yourself a FREE Punch!!! Visit my Stampin' Up! website for more details http://christiewallace.stampinup.net

On the 6th Day of Christmas

Thank you for all of your lovely comments yesterday. It was alot of fun. Today i have a christmas gift card holder to show you. The tutorial for this gift holder is available on my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website http://christiewallace.stampinup.net

Sometimes at christmas it is a good idea to give a gift card. Whether it is because you have to send the present, travel with it or because like one of my nephews, the recipient is at an age where he would be wrapt to go to a surf shop and choose his own clothes. This gift card is really easy to make and can be adapted to any occassion.

I have used Old Olive card stock and Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper. The stamp set i have used is Snow Swirled which ihave co ordinated with the 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches and a Rhinestone Brad to add dimension. The Scallop Edge Punch finishes off the project nicely. As i mentioned this tutorial for this project is on my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website so make sure you check it out!
PLUS i have a christmas special for you today. 15% off all brads! Valid for today only you must email me by 11pm today 2/12/09

On the 5th Day of Christmas + ESAD Blog Hop

The 5th Day of Christmas is special, not just because i am sharing one of my favourite projects, but because today is the day of the ESAD Mini Blog Hop! ESAD (Extra Special Aussie Demonstrators) is a Demonstrator Only forum that i am part of that is a wealth of information, support and all around fun. If you are an Australian Demonstrator you are eligible to join - just click here for more information.

Now on to the project! As i said it is a favourite and it is using some fantastic new products from the Summer Mini Catalogue which starts today! I have made this gorgeous Christmas Wreath using the brand new Something Sweet stamp set (which is exclusive to the Australia/New Zealand market ie. not in the USA!!!) and the fabulous Sweet Treat Cups which i have filled with M&M's. You will be seeing alot of these Sweet Treat Cups around as they are really popular and make the most fantastic little Christmas gifts. They fit perfectly inside the 1 3/4" circle punch which is also new in the Spring Mini Catalogue (if you would like a copy just email me and i'll get one in the mail to you). Do you like the Ribbon? Yes that is new too, it is Real Red Polka-Dot Grosgrain and it has polka-dots on one side and it is double stitched on the other side for more versatility.
The greeting is from the ever so handy set at this time of year Many Merry Messages which i have stamped in Whisper White Ink

As i mentioned earlier i am participating in the ESAD Mini Blog Hop today. There are 30 demonstrators participating and if you visit each blog and leave a comment you will be eligible for some fantastic blog candy which is full of a great range of Stampin' Up! products (Just send an email to leonie@stamp- a-latte.com when you have commented on all 30 blogs). The next blog on the hop is Claire Harrison's. I hope you enjoy the blog hop and make sure you check back tomorrow for the 6th day of christmas!