Welcome to StencilGirl and Imagine Christmas in July 3 week long Bloghop!
Yes you heard me 3 inspirational weeks of Christmas in July using Stencils.
If you haven't been playing along, hop on over to the StencilGirl blog and start hopping. Rememebr you have to be in it to win it!

Welcome to Christmas in July – the month of good intentions of getting ahead of the festive crazies and prepare for a magical and peaceful time during the holidays. And with all the gorgeous Christmas Kaisercraft releases we can expect this year, it sure is going to be a glitzy affair! 

One that I am really excited about. I love the festive season mostly for its wreaths. Yes I am that girl that can have a million wreaths around the house all years long and still love them come Christmas time. So what better way than to create a little festive magic with a miniature wreath on a pennant that can welcome guests at the front door or be used on the fire place, heck anywhere that something can hang – this peaceful pennant can bring good cheer to all who sees it.

I started off by using the beautiful Silent Night Christmas paper to create a pennant base. Then added paper strips and punched borders to complete the look. On top of the pennant is a cut out Santa, more paper strips and a beautiful pennant created from the patterned papers and collectables pack.

step 1 - Punch a selection of leaves from the Kaisercraft Silent Night paper.

step 2 - On a pre-made circle element, add a circle of Tombow Mono Multi adhesive and place the leaves in a circle all around it. I used two different patterns and shades of green of leaves to create interest.

 step 3 - Add Tape Wormz foam tape to the back of another circle element from the collection pack.

step 4 - Adhere the element over the leaves on the base element. The dimension gives the wreath a beautiful 3D look.

step 5 - Create the pennant from a base paper. Add a strip of high tack tape to the top of the pennant.

step 6 - Adhere a strip of ribbon to the tape for a really permanent hold.

Over on The Wholesaler blog you can read all about my Christmas Exploding box - perfect to impress those crafting skeptics and make a statement. This truly is a magnificent piece that cause everyone to ooh and ahhh. So go on and give it a go...

 Making gift boxes has become a rather important and easy thing to do – so if you are a crafter then you really have no excuse, other than to have a fabulous gift box for treats and small gifts alike.

Years ago when I first made my first exploding gift box I turned it into a mini album rather than a box. I was pretty impressed with it and it had huge impact on everyone that viewed it. But nowadays I am much more of a simpler kind of crafter. So instead of making it complicated like we do, I made the same box using a festive theme.

I will use the box for a small gift or chocolaty treats instead and afterwards the recipient can recycle it and turn it into gift tags by simply cutting it apart, punching a small hole and adding some ribbon. This way no one will be stuck with something that can’t be used, gathering dust and adding clutter to their lives. A gift within a gift I say.

Decorating for the festive season shouldn’t be stressful. This year I am using what I already have plus maybe a few extras to create beautiful and meaningful decorative elements that will fit right into my home effortlessly. 

Read all about it on The Wholesaler blog here

and see how I used my embossing folders, Cuttlebug and die to create this gorgeous bunting.

So quick and easy - just use what you've got!

And remember you can buy all the goodies directly off of The Wholesaler website and have it delivered to your local scrapbook store. Now that's what I call service with a smile!
Just going the extra mile.

Creating beautiful Christmas cards do not have to cause you headaches anymore. To be honest I am not sure what we used to do without our Cuttlebug machines and embossing folders, do you?

Here’s how I created my card
Use your Cuttlebug and embossing folder and emboss the image twice on two pieces of white cardstock.

Use red chalk paint and a sponge applicator and lightly paint over the embossed raised areas of the one embossed card.

On the second embossed card, use black chalk paint and a sponge applicator and paint the entire image using the black paint – make sure the entire surface is covered in paint. Leave to dry thoroughly.

Use a cloth or your finger tip to burnish the chalk over the entire surface. This will soften the look of the chalk and also give the black paint that traditional chalk board look.

Matt the panel onto green cardstock, add a strip of washi tape and then sew around the edges of the panel to add texture and finish off the look. Add diamante, buttons and ribbon bows to finish off your card.

Here’s to making a quick embossed chalkboard Christmas card in a few minutes using the Cuttlebug and all those beautiful embossing folders.

It really took me ten minutes to make this card,and I simply love the effect achieved. Here’s how i created the background effect
step 1
Select 3-5 colours of ink pads from the Chiswick range – I used a selection of Pearlescent and Dye ink pads. Place the ink pads on your white cardstock and apply pressure to get a coloured square. Ten move onto the next colour of ink pad overlapping colours as you go along.
 step 2
Immediately after “stamping” the ink onto your cardstock, apply a layer of clear embossing powder over the ink squares.
step 3
Heat set the clear embossing powder using your Chiswick heat gun. Remember that once the powder turns shiny it is done.
 The embossing creates a shiny dimensional look making the colours more vibrant.
 For my focal point I stamped a Christmas bauble in a multicolored ink pad and raised it using foam squares for dimension. A baker’s twine bow finishes off  the top of the bauble nicely against a diamante strip.
 Some sewing around the edges of my card adds a nice finishing touch as well as texture. See the texture of the embossing and the interesting effect created by overlapping the ink pad colours? Love it!
 A quick ten minute Christmas card in a few easy steps.
And a list of the products i used from Chiswick
Assorted foam squares sb4430
Pearlescent Ink Pad – Brown rs3350
Pearlescent Ink Pad – Black rs3365
Pearlescent Ink Pad – Green rs3325
Dye Ink Pad- Red rs3291
Heat gun cr1350
Plastic Bone folder cr1200
Remember to contact Denise should you have any problems getting hold of any of our products on 27(0)31 569 5673
Visit our website www.chiswick.co.za to view to entire range of products – or visit your nearest craft store today

Each year I try and make a quick Christmas card in the hopes of re-producing it into mass and sending it out to family and friends – well each year the task just seems bigger and bigger and in the end I am happy with nothing and just leave it all together!

But this year I think I may have a winning formula with some of my favourite products! I think we have a winner people (shouting voice)!

And the bonus this really is a ten minute card if you work in batches creating all the bits and pieces. Here’s how I am tackling this card design to make a quick production line…

Sharing some ideas from my Christmas photo shoot in 2013 for The Christmas Magazine. Each year i hope to get organized and start prepping for the festive season really early (don't we all) - although the commercial side of it does put a damper on it all, there still is that magical true meaning side to it all.I love these rusty ornaments and especially this cake stand from my home - so I incorporated it into my decor and filled it with my handmade fabric wrapped baubles.

The photos were all taken on my old farmhouse style table i inherited (or got) from my dad's parents. I painted it white and sanded it to get just the perfect amount of chippiness to it.

more rusty urns filled with sweets and decorated with berry garlands

and finally some handmade quick and easy kid friendly decorations for the tree - Using buttons and ribbon to create miniature wreaths - add them to candles, around serviettes, on cupboard doors - and when you are done recycle them to create something else

Strips of torn fabric wrapped around and pinned to the top of a polystyrene ball and then a ribbon loop added with a decorative pin

simple gift wrapping ideas with brown paper and paper garlands to string on the tree

and an old recycled curtain ring covered in ribbon and a festive berry - quick and easy and earth friendly decorating

are you planning anything for Christmas in July to help you get an early start to your special season?

the thing about December daily is that it is real - it's about the real things we do in our everyday lives.so day 3, 4 and 5 is random things happening - some fun and some still work. both for which i am very grateful. we are blessed! day 3 was well received with a great big gift parcel filled with home baked Greek goodies! they are amazing.

day 4 saw us watching Ice Age 4 for a bit of R&R. just chilling. i pulled an image off the internet and printed it onto photo paper. i added a till slip from groceries. my patterned paper choice for this fun day was the SN@P range by Simple Stories. i love the bright fun and festive colours in the range. the keep calm and snap on bit was cut from the packaging found on the album cover.

...snap on was also the theme for day 5 as we headed off to a photoshoot for some work related design work. we booked some studio time and spent most of the day doing what i love most -  playing with cameras! i used the invoice from the studio as part of my background and filled in bits and pieces using Teresa Collins, simple stories, American crafts and kaisercraft.

how's your december daily going? i am keeping it simple - it's not about the what but about the story behind the everyday, the extraordinary ordinary things.i do this for myself - to capture at least one month a year showcasing bits of our life just in case we forget....how very blessed we are.

thankful!pretty much sums up my day today. driving home from class today, i was stuck in traffic again for way toooo long in fourways. way too many people irritated and driving, way too many people consumed by the rush of spending money they probably don't have. way too much of ugly. i am so thankful for making it through this year, for the opportunities and the blessings bestowed on me in this tough year, but i am glad it is heading towards the end. i am thankful for the small little things that are the big things in my life, since the big things really are just things and can be taken away in an instant. i am thankful for just being. and so thankful for the people who share my creative journey in so many ways - so that means you if you are still reading.

i am also so thankful for being able to work with beautiful stuff - for the little inspiring projects like wrapping a gift in some prettiness. i love graphic 45 paper so much, but find it hard to work with - what i do like is that embracing the "differentness" of the papers and turning it into the unexpected and the different makes the product blossom even more. so i loved wrapping gifts in the papers, with special bows and gorgeous gift tags.

so this means that my colour scheme for this festive season is bold and bright and totally happy. it's filled with pretty and delicate and glitter and bling. here's wishing you a 'thankful' ordinary day and may your preparations for the silly season be reasonable and sparkly and keeping the spirit of caring alive. have a thankful day! i am playing catch up with my December Daily project...stay tuned

I am so not ready for Christmas to be here again. every year it comes around *no surprise there - but it just seems like it is here too quickly each and every year. i have been busy with Christmas projects and articles since July so i am sort of done right now. all i want for Christmas is peace on earth, for people to stop gossiping, stop making fun of others, stop with all the pettiness going on and just do something nice for someone who doesn't owe you anything. i am trying to do my part and just do something nice for someone who doesn't deserve it - the quote that constantly plays on my mind...."because everyone is fighting their own battle". it doesn't make their battle more or less important than yours - it just means that you actually don't know what the next person you meet is going through so why add to the agony of life. lets be nice again!let God shine through  us again!

I had the privelage of doing some simple Christmas crafts for The Christmas Magazine this year. a publication dedicated to shopping ideas, gifts, recipes and crafts to keep the kids busy. it is available from most outlets so why not take a look - you may be inspired.

and then as we wind down towards December, with 2 class sessions behind us for Scrapbookex and 1 left in Cape Town on December 8th - i can't wait to share the projects with you. i simply loved working with the beautiful product and meeting up with some wonderful and familiar faces. i am always so happy to see so many dedicated scrappers still loving the craft and still loving what i do, learning some small techniques that have a BIG impact. i still love teaching! i am also toying with the idea of another December Daily album and am hoping to get some product this week, which puts me behind schedule already - and i can't decide if i should clear my work table first from months and months of project stuff or just work around and in between the mess and dust? mmmm priorities.

i love it when simple ordinary things become an idea and turn out totally awesome. as crafters/hoarders there is a reason why we never throw things out right? right! 'cause there's always a light bulb moment. to make things out of old things and strange things...as was the case with this little project i recently did for a local television show recently. when my car went for a service and the little rear light bulb was replaced - it stayed in the garage for over 2 months before it was put to good use. add 2 other totally useless (dunnu why i bought them) light bulbs, some wood glue and glitter and there you have it. a totally rad new way of getting some 'up-sized' Xmas lights around the house as part of your decorations.

these are so easy to make. i simply squeezed some wood glue directly onto the bulb and spread the glue using my fingers. the shake on some glitter and let the bulb stand (and yes they can) upright on a smooth surface and leave to dry. shake off the excess glitter and let your light shine! the thing is that i didn't even use my expensive glitter - but instead opted for the kid's version - a much coarser version.

the paper bauble consists out of punched circles glued together to form a dimensional paper decoration. easy enough for the kids to do and nice enough for grown ups to want to hang on the tree.

this little reindeer fellow was made out of a Styrofoam ball cut in half. it was placed on a base made out of different paper layers and then attached to the lid of a plastic container using glue and brads. the reindeer antlers were cut from grey felt and glued inside small slits in the Styrofoam. the rest is some googly eyes, pompoms and little gold bell. the inside of the tub is filled with strips of old book paper that will hide a little gift.

an old coffee tin becomes a quick gift box. simply cover it with decorative paper, add a ribbon and some brads. the top is decorated with the same 'circle' paper bauble made as before. this time it is adhered to the lid using glue.

hope you are having a creative festive season. i have been sorting and purging some old products that is in need of a new home...and cleaning and re-organizing again! truly a never ending job...