Just in case you’re wondering who won the loot!

The lucky chickee is…….

LYNDA S!!

Congrats Lynda.. I think your letterbox is about to be overfloweth with SU pressies!!!

Great effort to everyone who managed to comment on all THIRTY blogs!!!

Don’t forget, the current Spring Mini catalogue finishes on 30 November. The “Summer Mini” will be released 1 December and contains some lovely new and fresh goodies! As a demonstrator, we get to have a look and play with these earlier than the 1 December release date! If you would like to receive the new summer mini catalogue in the mail, email me today andrea.eppingstall@gmail.com.

I decided this year, instead of buying a chocolate advent calendar for each of the kids, I’d buy a kaiser craft kit and make my own.

Tip for those embarking on doing the same thing, put it together then paint it. I thought it would be ‘easier’ to paint the pieces and put it together, wrong!!

I’ve used paint similar to ‘real red’ ‘chocolate chip’ and ‘gold’. I will ’scrapbook a xmas page and pop it in the middle. If you take out all the little boxes, you can use it like a ’shadow box’ for little ornaments on the wall. It’s so cute!!

 Here’s a few different Christmas decorations I have made with paper. The little diamond and round shapes have been made with lots of scallop circle punchies, and scallop square punchies.

The ‘ball, is actually a Kusudama Ball, made using 60 pieces of 3 x 3 designer series paper that are folded into petals. Each 5 petals made a flower, then the 12 flowers are stuck together. I was inspired by Jayne Mercer’s  Kusudama ball, which has a link to a tutorial. It took me around 3-4 hours, from start to finish. Not sure if I’ll make another one, but they are gorgeous!!

Well I’ve been flat out during the last week! Little DS turned 4 yesterday and we had his party over the weekend. This is a pic of him yesterday at ‘kinder’ with the ‘birthday hat’ on.

I’ve got a number of things I want to share with you.

This first one, I stumbled across at Jackie Thomas’ website. She inspired me to make my own!! These are so cute. I’m thinking of making some for pressies this year. I’ve put together my own tutorial, with step by step photos. It only takes 1 piece of 12 x 12 cardstock (plus decorations!)

Here’s another one I have been working on, using the same kit contents as the ’snow swirled’ kit above. I’m offering a Christmas Card Kit by mail, consisting of most of the things you see in the picture, plus a few more things! I estimate you can make over 50 cards with the kit. I have only included 20 envelopes, so you can buy more if you need to.
 

• 3 markers (suggest ruby red, old olive, and choc chip)                         
• glue pen                                            
• tub dazzlin diamonds                          
• sheet of dimensional (approx 100)       
• 1/4 pack of clear rhinestone brads (approx 20)
• 1/4 pack of silver or gold brads (approx 50)
• 10 pieces of A4 white or very vanilla cardstock
• 24 pieces of A4 coloured cardstock (suggest 6 ruby red, 6 old olive, 6 choc chip & 6 baja breeze)
• 3 sheets of Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper (12 pieces 6 x 6)
• 20 Envelopes (very vanilla or whisper white)                 
• 1 metre hemp twine                             
• 2 metres ribbon 1/4 inch (suggest 1 metre of choc chip and 1 metre old olive)

All of this, for just $65. If you wish to order ink pads instead of the markers, it will cost $83.

If you wish to add either of the stamp sets “Snow Swirled” or “Christmas Classics”, click this paypal button: $110 with marker option, or $125 for the ink pad option. 

Types of kits available:

Card kit with markers $65.00 Card kit with inkpads $83.00 Card kit with markers & Snow Swirled Stamp set $110.00 Card kit with markers plus "Christmas Classics" stamp set $110.00 Card kit with ink pads plus "Snow Swirled" stamp set $125.00 Card kit with ink pads plus "Christmas Classics" stamp set $125.00

Here’s some samples I came up with, using the kit:

I’m offering a Christmas Card Kit by mail, consisting of most of the things you see in the picture, plus a few more things!  I estimate you can make over 50 cards with the kit. I have only included 20 envelopes, so you can buy more if you need to.

• 3 markers (suggest ruby red, old olive, and choc chip)                         
• glue pen                                            
• tub dazzlin diamonds                          
• sheet of dimensional (approx 100)       
• 1/4 pack of clear rhinestone brads (approx 20)
• 1/4 pack of silver or gold brads (approx 50)
• 10 pieces of A4 white or very vanilla cardstock
• 24 pieces of A4 coloured cardstock (suggest 6 ruby red, 6 old olive, 6 choc chip & 6 baja breeze)
• 3 sheets of Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper (12 pieces 6 x 6)
• 20 Envelopes (very vanilla or whisper white)                 
• 1 metre hemp twine                             
• 2 metres ribbon 1/4 inch (suggest 1 metre of choc chip and 1 metre old olive)

All of this, for just $65. If you wish to order ink pads instead of the markers, it will cost $83.

If you wish to add either of the stamp sets “Snow Swirled” or “Christmas Classics”, click this paypal button: $110 with marker option, or $125 for the ink pad option. 

Types of kits available:

Card kit with markers $65.00 Card kit with inkpads $83.00 Card kit with markers & Snow Swirled Stamp set $110.00 Card kit with markers plus "Christmas Classics" stamp set $110.00 Card kit with ink pads plus "Snow Swirled" stamp set $125.00 Card kit with ink pads plus "Christmas Classics" stamp set $125.00

 Here’s some examples I’ve made using “Snow Swirled”:

I love this stamp set! It’s called “Holiday Lineup” $38.95 RRP. It’s great to watercolour. I have coloured both of these images using markers directly onto our watercolour paper. I’ve used basic black ink, various markers, and real red and old olive cardstock.

I’ve looked and looked for a gift card holder template that I like, without luck. Today I have spent the last hour creating my own version. I am going to put together a tutorial shortly. I really love how it’s turned out. I have used chocolate chip, baja breeze, old olive, and holiday DSP, as well as 1″ circle, corner rounder and word window punches.

I am offering a detailed step by step, 5 page tutorial for purchase at AU$2.50. Click on the ‘buy now’ paypal button, and I will email it through to you in pdf format.

Have you signed up for my newsletter?? Well you need to, to go into the draw to win this gift card holder as FREE blog candy. The winner will be announced Saturday 10th October. I will have some other fabulous Christmas crafted items which will go to the blog candy winner!!

I’ve been a busy all day, creating all different “Christmas” gift card holders.

Here’s a group of them! 

 On a serious note, my heart goes out to all those affected by the Samoa Tsunami. My dh came across his ex teacher’s photo on ‘The Age’ website, as one of the Australians that died in the disaster. Her facebook page is so sad.. she had shared that she was looking forward to her trip to Samoa.. then there were a number of people who posted on her wall to say ‘please check in asap so we know you’re ok’. She didn’t survive Our hearts go out to her family and friends.

The Christmas themed designer paper, lends itself to mixing and matching a variety of SU colours; particularly real red, old olive, chocolate chip, whisper white, kraft, and silver. 

If you need it all, I’ve put together a special!  If you buy this pack from me today, it will cost $300. The $300 includes approx $375 of SU value, including postage and a level 1 hostess stamp set which also has a christmas salutation!! If you don’t already have a demonstrator, order from me (anywhere in Australia) and pay via paypal, and the package should be to you in the next 10 days via Australia Post.

If you click on ‘kits by mail’ you can look at the list of items included in the pack. If you have one or two of these things already, you may substitue it for something of the same value or more. If you have lots of these goodies, and just want to add a few, simply email me at andrea.eppingstall@gmail.com and I’ll work out a package just for you.

During the coming months, I will post lots of different things I have made using the kit, so you can see it’s versatility. The kit also includes a ’simply scrappin’ kit’ which is Christmas themed. This can be used on cards and scrap pages alike.