Aaah I love this time of year.  Rather relaxed pace.  Kids are having fun playing with their presents and we don't have much on the calendar.  I'm in the middle of book 2 of a 5 novel series - bliss!  We had some friends from overseas staying over the weekend so our house is even tidy for a change.  (Well - tidyish, wink.)

Just popping in to share my Christmas card for 2013 - rather belatedly but I'm a bit slow at unloading the camera.  Now as usual mine was a rather late production line and this year I just posted a few.  I've been loving MDS this year for my cards so thought I'd use it for my Christmas card too. 

Only took me 5 - 10 mins to put it together once I'd picked out a photo, then I saved it as a jpeg file, pasted 4 of them to an A4 word document page and printed it on Whisper White.  A trim, some Cherry Cobbler matting and a Pool Party base and all done.  I used MDS to make up a little insert too with some pics from the year and a little family news. 

I shrank it a little and squeezed 16 to a page for some family Christmas tags too for our gifts.  Very handy. 

You can see one on this gift. 

I think this was one of my favorites.  It was from Hannah and she'd worked so hard at it.  She'd bought something from Spotlight with her pocket money and had taken it to mum and dad's to start work on it.  Then I was banished from the living rooms for an afternoon while she used the sewing machine to finish it off (with some help from Aunty Lisa.)  It turned out to be some Christmas ornaments she'd covered in fabric and decorated, and a festive fabric bag she'd made.  Such a lot of care and love had gone into her surprise.  A gift to treasure. 

We had a lovely Christmas.  A seafood dinner and great night with my side of the family Christmas Eve.   Santa found us all at mum and dad's and we enjoyed opening gifts together and having breakfast.  Then John, the kids and I headed to Bunninyong to celebrate with John's side of the family.  A delicious lunch, time with all the family and yummy leftovers for tea.  A thoroughly enjoyable Christmas 2013. 

Do you have any Christmas traditions?  I love to get a photo of my two in front of the tree each year.  Sometimes it is a challenging task!

My two munchkins did cooperate long enough to snap a nice one this year - perhaps this'll be the shot for next year's card. 

Don't they grow up so quickly.  In a blink it seems some days.  This is a time of year for counting blessings and being thankful isn't it. 

I hope you and yours had a lovely Christmas and that 2014 brings you much joy and happiness. 

Are you doing OLW (One Little Word) for 2014?  I'm mulling words today and seeing if anything pops out to me as a focus or theme for the New Year. 

Cheers, Sue

Instead of a papercraft project today I thought I'd share with you some pictures of a beautiful mosaic that I've been watching grow over the last few months at the school my children attend.  What a labour of love. 

The children were involved in making some of the Australian native animals featured. 

Got any crafty plans for January?  I'm hoping to get some scrapbooking happening. 

Cheers, Sue

Sharing a gorgeous gift today that I received from one of my lovely class regulars Denise. 

She made this beautiful box that holds tea bags.  Isn't it lovely.  There's a little gap at the bottom to take out the bag and make your cup of tea.  Hmmm - might be time to put the kettle on I think!   Thanks Denise.  Much appreciated.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone.  I read a greeting from a friend the other day that I just loved - may Christmas be a joyful ending to your year and a wonderful start to the new one. 

I'll see you soon for some more craft inspiration.  Safe travels to all those on the roads this Christmas.

Cheers, Sue

Another of our class cards from November and yes - Pinterest again for the inspiration. This time I CASEd this card from Stamps Well With Others. 

Here's Santa's List stamp set playing nicely with the new Circles Flip Card Thinlits.

I wanted our card a little longer with a flap you could open to leave room for writing a longer Christmas message.  So I used a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock 8 1/2 inches long and a shade narrower than 5 1/2 inches wide.  Pop it underneath the Thinlit but tuck the edge that'll be the flap OVER the thinlit so that part doesn't cut.    It'll score a nice line so you can do this .....

Add a bit of festive DSP and some stamping and voila.  All done.  Here's another of the patterns in this DSP pack.    The 2 1/2 inch circle punch is a great one to have if you're getting this Circle Card Thinlit.  It fits so well inside the circle - leaving just a nice border around the edge.  The scallop circle comes in the Thinlit pack along with a few other bits and bobs. 

Now speaking of making a list and checking it twice - I'd best be off to check my lists!!  And make sure my addle brain hasn't forgotten anyone. 

Happy almost Christmas!

Cheers, Sue

Was having a browse on Pinterest a month or so ago and came across this card by Felicity.  Loved it so we tried it at class last month. 

Don't forget to stock up on those pretty sparkly Frosted Finishes embellishments before the Holiday Catalogue finishes late Jan. 

It looked good with a Vintage Faceted Button too. 

I hope your Christmas preparations are going well.  I still haven't written on or posted my cards - bit slow this year! 

We're off to mum and dad's Christmas Eve for a seafood dinner with my side of the family - yum yum yum!  All bunking in for the night before the excitement of Christmas morning.  Jack is counting down the days!

Then Christmas Day we're heading to Bunninyong to John's brother's place for the gathering of the clan. 

What are you up to this year? 

Cheers, Sue

This was one of our November class cards - inspired by this one. 

Features the colour Island Indigo, the stunning Christmas Star stamp and a greeting from Delightful Dozen.  Plus a new embossing folder with diagonal stripes. 

To make the star pop out you just score all the lines and fold up and down alternatively.  Easy but a nice snazzy touch.  We attached it using glue dots at the points of the star.

Here's a slight variation using the new embossing folder with the script. 

If you tire of card inspiration and would like to see what I've been wasting a few hours on today - our new guinea pigs now have their own blog. You can find it here:  It's A Guinea Pig Life

Hope your December is going well.

Cheers, Sue

Just popping in quickly to tell you that Stampin' Up Australia are having a Clearance Blitz Sale.  It is due to start at midnight tonight (as soon as it clicks over to Tuesday 10th December.) 

Find it here: Clearance Rack

You'll find retired products at up to 80% off.  Sounds like there'll be some bargains.  This is a 'while stocks last' sale and if last year is anything to go by, things will sell out fast. 

UPDATED:  We have some more information through now and so here's some further details.

The clearance rack is not a promotion and has no end date.

All products in the Clearance Rack section are retired, discontinued items. No current products will be sold in the Clearance Rack.

Clearance Rack items are only available while supplies last. Items will be removed and new items will be posted depending on inventory levels. There is no set time for availability.

All Clearance Rack items will be listed only on the online store.

All sales of Clearance Rack items are final. No returns or exchanges will be accepted, except in the case of defective product.

The quickest way to get your order in is online.  Pop over here:   Sue's Online Store  and you'll see the Clearance Rack section where you can browse through the bargains. 

I'll be home after 4.30pm tomorrow if you'd like to order by phone or email.  (But I'd go with online for this one though - I'm expecting some 'sold outs' early.) 

How is your December going?  Have you sent cards this year or still in the production line (or yet to start or giving it a miss?) 

My two munchkins are further along than me - Hannah made good use of the Festive Flurry bundle for hers.  And Jack loved Santa's List for his. 

Whatever your December plans are I hope they're going well and you're getting into the festive spirit in amongst all the hustle and bustle of the end of the year. 

Cheers, Sue