quick xmas cards


Because the year seems to have run out ahead of us all - and there is no time for doing a Christmas card class like last year I have put together some quick and easy cards. And as a bonus built some stash to send to the girls on our stamping group.
These Father Christmas stamps are some of the nicest I have seen in a while. They are either too nasty and angry looking or the detail is lacking - but I simply love these guys and the detail is amazing when stamped with Versafine ink.


The totally gorgeous vintage Christmas tickets used on the cards are a free download from
www.misscutiepiegoes80s.blogspot.com.
She has an amazing talent and I simply love her stuff. Go and grab
some of these tickets to use on your own Christmas goodies.

The stars were cut on my Silhouette machine and came in handy as a quick
embellishment for these cards.
What other die-cuts do you have that can be used on quick cards like these?

Old faithful inchies card - with bits and pieces and stuff. The inchie Christmas stamps I got with a magazine last year. They are cute images and can be used on tags and labels perfect for small gifts.

Strips of patterned paper and cardstock always work well as a quick background.


My ultimate favourite thing to use is old book paper and now vintage sheet music - I recently laid my hands onto a stack of really old vintage sheets complete with moth-eaten holes and all.

So there you have it - at least 8 people will receive a Christmas card from me this year! The rest...well we will have to wait and see.

supplies: Cardstock Bazzill Basics & Paters Papers. Patterned paper Making Memories, Webster's Pages & Graphic 45. Stamps Artistic Outpost. Ink Versafine Onyx Black. Christmas tickets downloaded from Miss Cutiepie.




photo collage - life is so fragile...

Last week was this special guy's birthday! well special guy in my life - and since life is so fragile I made a collage style layout with some of his favourite photos and special moments we have spent together over the years. I loved how it turned out using only black and white photos and some special patterned paper and quotes - less is more after all.
And then on Saturday i got an e-mail about a dear friend who passed away on his birthday! i think of all the good times we had, the serious chats about life, abundance and lack, faith and friendships and creativity and stuff....and just spending time together while we have fun. she truly was a special person and will be dearly missed by family and friends. My prayer is that the Lord will give her family peace in this trying time.

"abenteuers" fur Christiaan



for those of you in the gauteng area and elsewhere and looking for a thrill....head on over to


my sister and brother in law runs this fun adventure out at Hartbeespoortdam - a mere 40 minutes from JHB and Pretoria on the Lanseria airport road. The most fun you can have up in the sky...after SKYDIVING of course (my sport of choice)
so for Christiaan in Germany who desperately wants an update on some of the family...check out Paul and Anita on the website to see what they are up to lately! Lots of fun working in nature and having the thrill of their lives I imagine.

I am honored to have gotten this from amanda who tagged me this week and gave me this honest award ...the idea is to list 10 honest things about yourself...mmm a tough one
1. I have no maternal instinct at all! And that's ok!
2. I love being alone in my own quiet space - too many people too much c(*&p
3. I hate people who think they are better than others
4. I absolutely love the ocean and crave water
5. When i was young and stupid and a rebel I got a tattoo
6. I am addicted to collecting patterned paper
7. If God takes you to a place He will also give you the grace to go through it
8. I hate shopping with a passion
9. I am not a housewife - I hate cooking and cleaning
10. I craft because it is a God given talent not to be taken for granted
and I pass this award onto the following girls to be honest
4. Melani de Groot

wrapping paper cards

i got a roll of this gorgeous wrapping paper from Benice and felt totally inspired by the stunning images. So I made some cards - really quick and easy.
The first card is square and measure 16cm x 16cm. With all the cards I adhered a piece of the wrapping paper onto plain white card stock using a glue stick. Once dry i cut the paper to size to use as a layer on my card or as the entire background. I combined the wrapping paper with a strip of book paper and a simple stamped image. The brads were distressed using my Tim Holtz texture hammer.
This card uses the wrapping paper as a folded card. I then carefully trimmed two of the hearts out of a piece, matted onto dark green matching card stock and finished it off with a vintage button. The centre part was matted onto craft foam for dimension.

For this card I added a strip along the left edge stamped with a Cavallini bird stamp and finished off with coloured diamantes and another vintage button.

For the inside of this card I added an extra piece of metallic pink card stock that is slightly bigger than the folded card itself. On the front I stamped a bird cage, matted it twice and added two texture brads. Really easy cards with style and flair! thanks again for the inspiration Benice!

supplies: wrapping paper Mr Price Home. Stamps Cavallini & Co. Other card stock, ink, buttons, brads & diamantes.

Christmas gift ideas - a class

Towards the end of the month I am teaching a Christmas gift ideas class at Sweet Scrappins in Pretoria. So, come along and make some really cool and usefull gifts for friends, mom, granny and even dad. There's something for everyone...and every budget!
In this class you will learn how to make 3 different kinds of notebooks in different sizes and styles. All you need is some patterned paper, cardstock, adhesives and some embellishments.

Supplies: Patterned paper K&Company. Stamp Crafty Individuals. Ink Versafine. Metal Tim Holtz. Pearls Kaisercraft.

Xmas gift box filled with cards

i've been quite busy the last couple of weeks and can hardly believe it is November already! Time sure does fly when you are having fun. Anyhow just wanted to finally share the little project I did at Stamp Camp this year. It consists of a box built with two covers and a clear acetate box inner. Inside we made a selection of cards - a great gift for those unexpected guests over Christmas time don't you think?

Does anyone remember this range of American Crafts paper? Wonder if Mike can even recall this line? Anyhow I had loved the idea of combining red, green - so wonderfully traditional - with the bright pink. The stamped Santa is from Artistic Outpost stamped in Versafine onto a die-cut Spellbinders shape and matted.

The red flowers was a bargain buy from Prima - a whole bag of flowers ...somewhat scrunched and distressed ...but loved them. Bling on the other hand can fix any dreary looking bloom...

Here's one of the cards I showed the ladies. For these quick gifts you want a selection of cards that are easy but still look like a million bucks.


Buttons are always a winner! they are inexpensive and work withanything! PS. I am hoping to share some wonderful news in the coming months so watch this space! All very exciting ...

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