Handmade Christmas Cards

I made and sold three little packs of 10 Handmade Christmas Cards this week.

These cards were made on 10cm x 10cm white card stock.

With little angel stickers.

I have started my own little shop on my blog.

Click here if you would like to take a look.

Alicia xx

Catch Up With Project Life - Progress Report

The Catch Up Project Life class was fantastic and I am sorry its over!

Challenge # 7 was Mining for Stories
I managed to complete my goal of finishing Journalling for July 2013.  This mean my 2013 Album is complete!!!

Challenge #8 was Batch It
I managed to print and insert all the photos for Nicky's Baby Album.  This was another one of my goals completed!

Still some catching up to do though....one day I'll get there.

Thank goodness for the Collect App and the new Project Life App.
I could not continue with this project without the flexibility of photos on my phone!

By the way... my blog is currently getting a make over!
Stay tuned for a fresh new look coming soon!!

Alicia xx

World's Greatest Teacher Cards

In Australia it is almost the end of the school year 

and that means time to say "Thank You" to your child's teacher.  

I had a play with these fun stamps and papers from Close to My Heart 

and came up with this set of three cards.

I love the red chevron the best!

These cards were featured on Chris' Blog here.

I hope you have a beautiful day.

Alicia xx

5 Quick and Easy DIY Christmas Card Ideas

I have been very busy over the past few weeks preparing for a Christmas Card making session with a group of children from a local school.  I ended up making six designs.  Five of which I am sharing today.  The last card I will be sharing later this week.  I have completed Step by Step Instructions for that card and so it will be in a separate post.

These cards I designed with Simplicity and budget in mind. 

The first card (above) is a simple design, but it took awhile to come together.  I cut red banners and embossed them first.  Then I layered the banner onto green paper.  Next I bought stickers from "Riot" which I placed in the middle of the banner and then added a red bow.  Finally I layered the banner onto silver card and then onto the base white card.  I love the silver card, but it is quite expensive.  It looks glittery, but it doesn't have a gritty texture.  It is actually smooth to touch and it went perfectly with the silver on the stickers.

For this set of 30 cards I cut a variety of papers from my stash (great to use up lots of old sets that only have bits and pieces left).  I started with the circle die cut.  Then I added a snowflake sentiment (from Riot) and stuck that to the centre of the circle.  On top of the snowflake I glued a snowman sticker (again from Riot).  The sticker has a silver border which I really like.

Then I used my old Top Note Die Cut (that I haven't used in ages) and cut out 30 of those in a variety of papers.  Then I cut some strips to go down the middle of the card and layered the die cut on top.

I stamped a sentiment on white card and attached to the front.

This is my least favourite, only because it has way too many patterns going on here.  It makes my eyes a bit dizzy!! But hopefully with the kids cards I will match the papers a bit better!!  I completed this one in a bit of a rush!  So many other projects going on at the moment!!

This is my favourite of all the cards because it is so simple and so cute!

One square of Kraft card layered onto one square of red card.

Then an angel sticker and a Merry Christmas sticker from Riot adhered to the centre.

(Maybe I should approach Riot about sponsoring me seeing I seem so in love with their stickers lol!  These stickers came in a huge barrel with sets of thirty and fifteen of each design for only $6!!!)

This card was very simply made with embossed star background.  I picked green card because I have oodles of it in my stash that never get used.  (You could use something much nicer like Kraft or white and change the colours a bit.)  Three trees - sorry about the pencil marks, this was the first one I made and after this I realised it is better to draw the template on the back of the paper.  Three stars punched out and three silver sequins.  The "Wish" sentiment was cut from paper.  Each card will have a different sentiment as the paper was full of all different Christmas Words in a variety of sizes.

For this one I created the paper myself. It was plain blue and I stamped snowflakes to make it look Christmas.  I stamped the sentiment on white card and layered it with Teal card.  Then added a silver ribbon and a teal gemstone.  Quick and easy.  This card could be made with any paper or colour scheme and a snowflake stamp.

So thats five simple Christmas Card ideas that you could easily reproduce yourself in some way.

My card making session with the children is today!

So wish me luck!!!

Alicia xx

The Monday Message

This has been the state of my crafting desk for about three days while I have been trying to pump out Christmas Card designs.  Don't know if I could have done it without the help of the products at Riot (a crafty store in Australia).  I purchased some great stickers from there that really helped me put the six designs together as simply as I could.

Heading back to the shops today to get some silver card and a few other bits and pieces.  Then it will all be finished and ready to go for Thursday.  I promise to share photos later this week of the designs.  They are very simple and made out of papers I had  in my stash...nothing recent and fresh from this year.  A good way to use up old papers thats for sure!

A fresh new week people...what are you creating this week?

Alicia xxx

Catch up With Project Life - Second Three Challenges

Challenge #4 - Change Your Time Perspective

This challenge was about considering if your time perspective is holding back your progress. 

In Nicholas' Baby Album I was having trouble sticking to my original plan of one page per month of his first year.  There was way too many photos I had to include.  So I set a new rule for myself that as long as I could keep the photos to an extra page or two its all good.  This made my progress easier and I managed to choose all the photos for this album.  The photos are all inserted now and I just have to go back and do all the journalling.  This could take quite awhile!

Challenge #5 - Get Back on Track

This Challenge was all about getting back into it!

Slipping photos into pockets and making a start.

I put the photos I had from the Collect App for July and August in my album.

 Challenge #6 - Use 3 Products

As the name suggests, you could only use three products for this challenge.  I chose letter stickers, Journalling Cards and Photos...very very simple!

Two weeks down in this class and only one to go.

I really don't want it to end.  It has been very inspiring.

I only wish I had more time to focus on it.  But I have been trying to make the Christmas card templates as well and cut up all the materials and emboss and stamp and buy supplies.  It has taken a lot more time than I first thought.  Probably a good thing as I might not have said yes!!  

I have decided on six cards.  The 30 children will be split into three groups and there will be three adults to direct a group each.  Each adult will demonstrate how to make two cards and assist the children in their group to do so.  The groups will rotate and in total the children will make six cards each.  This will make 180 cards in total which they wish to sell at the Carols on the following evening.  Mass production!!!

Hope you are having a lovely weekend,

Alicia xx

Quick and Easy Cards using Baby Cakes

I used some materials left over from the Picture My Life Baby Cakes Scrapbooking Program to make some cute little cards.

The first one is a baby card.  Gender neutral with this big white bow.

The second one is an "anything" card with this "smile" sentiment.

The third one is a birthday card with this quote.  There wasn't a lot of room for decorating so I simply added some gold ribbon and gold sequins.

The fourth one is another Happy Birthday card.  Very simple in design.

All featured on Chris' blog here.

These cards I took as a present on Melbourne Cup Day.  Everyone had to bring a $10 present.

The presents got mixed up around the table and everyone had one to open. I hope the recipient enjoys sending out these cards : )

Nicky and I have been swimming every day this week.

He is loving being in the pool.

We are doing our own DIY swimming lessons.  So far they are going really well.  

We have bought him a life jacket which he is wearing in this photo.  

He thinks smiling is sticking his tongue out! 

We have to work on this!!  Not the best photo, but you get the idea ; )

Thanks for stopping by,

Alicia xx

Project Life Catch Up - First Three Challenges

I am taking The Project Life Catch-Up Class, and I started out strong!

The first three challenges I organised in the Pre-Class time.

Challenge #1 - Set Some Goals

This was easy enough.  I know the gaps I have that I need to fill.

I quickly jotted them down.

At this stage I can cross off "Slip in photos for July and August" because I have done that - yay!!!

Nothing else has been achieved so far.  I am having trouble dividing my time between this and my Christmas Card preparation for the school activity next week!  Eek! Where has the time gone???

Challenge #2 was Print your photos.

I spent lots of time going through the photos from Nicky's first year and selected and printed all of the photos I wanted.  This took some time.  Ben took thousands and thousands of photos that year so there is a lot to sort through.  But its done! The next step for me is to put all the photos in the Album.

Challenge #3 was organise your supplies.

This didn't take much for me to get together.  Everything was already here.

For me it is just dedicating the time to get it done.

Last week was Challenges #4, #5 and #6.

I have completed #4 and #5 just need to photograph my evidence and start #6.

Participating in the challenges is a great way to keep you on task.

I thought I would share it on my blog too.

More accountability!

Maybe your encouraging comments will spur me on!!!!!

Alicia xx

The Monday Message

I am starting to think Christmas.

I find if I don't get started early it all seems to snowball on me and I feel the panic feeling rise.

So I am trying to be onto it this year.  You know, organised, within budget, presents wrapped, tree up,  cards sent, all that sort of thing!!

We put our tree up yesterday...and it was much more fun than ever before because Nicholas is finally getting into Christmas!  Last year he really didn't show any interest at all.  Now, at 2 1/2 years old, he is learning!  This will be his third Christmas.

I know it is traditionally too early to put the tree up, but I am making my own rules, because if I leave it till the 1st of December it just doesn't give me enough time to get into the swing of things.  If my tree is up then I buy presents and wrap them.  

No tree...it just doesn't happen for me.  I am a bit weird like that!

We saw Santa on the weekend at the shops and Nicky told him he wants a "Boat House" which is from the Fireman Sam show.  He was so brave talking to Santa, his eyes were watery and his lips were quivering but he was determined to do it! I was so proud of him because he really doesn't warm to strangers at all...and often doesn't want to talk to my friends to my dismay!

I saw an "Elf on the Shelf" today at the shops so I picked that up and I am very excited to really get into the spirit of the season this year and start creating some traditions for our little family.

How are you feeling about Christmas?

Too busy to think about it?  Looking forward to it? 

Do you break tradition and put your tree up early?

Alicia xx

A Wedding Card for a Friend

One of my friends is going to a fancy wedding and requested an elegant wedding card.
I made about four designs and then finally came up with this one that I was happy with.

It is simply one piece of designer paper matted onto black card.  Then layered onto gold card and adhered to the black card base.  I printed the sentiment off my computer onto the gold card and layered it onto black again.  I adhered the sentiment in the lower third of the card and then I added two gold embellishments.

Very simple, but elegant.

I am busy working behind the scenes on some easy Christmas Designs for a school activity day.  I have been asked to come and make cards with some young students in a couple of weeks. I am busy making up kits.  I think I will have 30 children in the group and I am looking at making between 5 and 8 different designs.  I promise to keep you posted with what I come up with.  They might give you a little inspiration or motivation with your own Christmas cards.  Christmas is only 50 sleeps away now I think!!

Are you making your own Christmas cards this year?

Alicia xx

How to make 3 Bright, Quick and Easy Cards

Have a lovely Day!

I hope you have a lovely day today!

These cards are for you!

I made these cards quickly and easily and Chris featured them on her blog here.

A very simple design...repeated for all three cards.

Here's how to make them:

Step 1 - Cut two strips of patterned paper for each card. (Six altogether)

Step 2 - Cut three strips of paper from pink, green and red paper.  Adhere the paper strips to a base white folded card.

Step 3 - Use a frame die to cut matching frames out of the red, green and pink paper.

Step 4 - Stamp "Have a Lovely Day" sentiment to white card.  Cut the sentiment out with a smaller label die cut.  Adhere the two labels together.

Step 5 - Adhere half a doily to the middle of the middle paper strip.  Attach gold glitter ribbon to cover the doily edge and tie a purple ribbon around.

Step 6 - Adhere the framed sentiment with mounting tape.  Add a few gold sequins.

Alicia xx

The Monday Message

"The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice" Peggy O'Mara.

A thought for me today... sometimes you can get so caught up in life and yourself, that maybe you forget the big picture.

Arguably my most important job in this lifetime is to look after Nicholas and help him grow into the beautiful person he is destined to be.

Sometimes its easy to let other things take precedence over this important role.

So today, I want to pause for a moment and remember the mother I want to be...patient, loving, happy, a good role model, someone who can be relied upon, carefree and honest.

Like every Mum out there I just want to do my best.  I would like my son to grow with love, to treat others with respect and be able to relate to people.  To have confidence and to believe in himself.  To know what an amazing person he is.

So this is how I am starting this week.  With the big picture in mind.  With what is important.

I hope you have a beautiful week.

Alicia xx

Project Life App Update

I am still happily playing away with the Project Life App. 

 Just experimenting with it and having fun really.

Getting a bit creative with colours and journalling cards.

For this Layout I turned all the photos black and white and added some cards from the Amy Tangerine Plus One Kit.

I am thinking this will be a very quick and easy way to keep up to date with Nicholas' Albums...which are on the list of catch-ups.

The Catch-Up Project Life Class starts today!!!!

See my link in the side-bar if you would like to join in.

What photos are on your list of to-do's?

Have a beautiful day,

Alicia xx