Sizzix Christmas Projects

My Sizzix dies have really saved me this Christmas. Like most of you I find that I have lots of ideas of the handmade projects I want to create during the holiday season, but just not as much time to dedicate to crafting as I would like! But using my dies really saves a lot of time because the projects virtually create themselves! Here's a sneak peak at just some of the Christmassy things I've made using my Sizzix dies....

This one was a fast favourite. The Festive Bird die makes a fun set of cards, especially when you jazz them up to become shaker cards! You can check out the whole tutorial post (with VIDEO) on the Sizzix blog HERE.

You might have seen this project as a timelapse video on my Instagram account (or reposted by the Sizzix Lifestyle Instagram account) but these tags made with the Woodlands die was a quick save for my present wrapping. You can catch the tutorial on the Sizzix blog HERE.

I used a couple of die sets on this glittery card. The Poinsettia from the Poinsettia Pillow Box set, and the Holly from the Festive Fancies set were just the extra bits and pieces I needed to complete this card with style :-) Find the tutorial on the Sizzix blog HERE.

And even the non-Christmas dies can be used for Christmas projects! I set to and made a whole new Advent 'Calendar' for the kids this year. The Every Occasion box die has been the perfect size to fit some really fun gifts in, and the kids have had a ball opening one each day. I've got this project featured in the latest Issue of Jot Magazine which you can download and read for free HERE.

December Jot Mood Board Challenge

Sequins and glitter and sparkle and bling.... these are some of my favourite things!
I have to admit, one of the things I love most about Christmas scrapping is that it gives me the perfect excuse to add as much of these as I possibly can! It's probably the only time of year I can get away with it!

So when I saw the black and white quote in the Jot Magazine December Mood Board I knew immediately how I wanted to create my card. 

I found the same quote on Pinterest and then printed it out before adhering it to the inside of my card. I die cut a small circle into the front of my card so that just the first part of the sentiment peeks through. Then you get the full fun reveal when you open it up!

From there it was a simple task of covering the front of my card with as much glitter as it could handle. I used some cute holiday-themed Sizzix dies for the poinsettias and holly, and you can find the whole tutorial and reveal of my card on the Sizzix UK Blog HERE.

We would love for you to join in on this challenge at Jot Magazine. Our friends over at Cocoa Vanilla Studio are sponsoring the prize for the lucky winner so this is definitely one you're going to want to play along with. The Jot Girls had the honour of creating with one of their collections for a showcase in the latest issue of the Magazine and it was soooooo totally gorgeous. I'll be sure to share everything I made for that real soon too.

In the meantime you can find all the details for the challenge HERE!

May Project Life Spread

Way behind on sharing my Project Life spreads here I'm determined to do a bit of a catch up. And yes, I'm aware I've said that before! :-)

So let's just start here with the May spread. I'm doing double-page spreads monthly for my album. Clearly I couldn't commit to anything more than that! So for each one I try to make sure I include photos of each of the kids.

I typically start off with one of my Studio Calico Documenter Kits - usually the one that corresponds with the month I'm scrapping, and this usually sets the tone for the colour scheme of the spread.

Then when I need to branch out to include other supplies I'll head to other older kits (Documentor and Scrapbook) that include similar colours.

It's a great way of using up old scraps and stash-busting whilst mixing and matching products to give them a fresh look.

I'm always conscious to leave plenty of space to journal out lots of stories because that's really important to me.

More catch up coming soon :-)

November Jot Mood Board Challenge

Oh how I love the Mood Board this month at Jot Magazine!
Those colours are so bright and calm, and I adore the pop of lime green - it's my absolute favourite colour at the moment!

In fact, that's exactly where I started when I sat down to create my card. The very first element I decided I wanted to include on my project was a decorative frond cut from glitter foam using my one of my Sizzix Garden Green dies.

Once I had that sorted I took the overall inspiration for my card from the image of the alphabet. It got me singing the Jackson 5 song "ABC" and once that got stuck in my head there was no turning back!

As you can see from these sneaks I've used lots and lots of die-cut embellishments. In fact, the whole card ended up ONLY being made from die-cut pieces, and they're all from my Sizzix stash.

So you might have guessed by now.... I'm actually not going to show you the finished card here today. Instead I want you to pop over to the Sizzix UK blog where not only will I reveal the end result, but I'll actually share the whole tutorial and what dies I used along the way so that you could recreate it yourself! You can find it HERE!

Studio Calico Sonnet Reveal

I love the excitement as the new month clicks over because it means it's time for another Studio Calico Reveal! The November kits are called 'Sonnet' and it's full of warm colours as cozy as your afternoon tea.

I'm creating with the Cardmaker Stamp Sets this month. I was sent the three 4x6" sets and charged to make at least one card with each. It's been such a busy lead up to the due date that I'm afraid I've only done the bare minimum .... so far! But the month is still young!

The first card I whipped up uses the Postage stamp set (love that pun!) I decided on a classic grid-like pattern of postage stamps - filling each one with a different miniature image from the set. I used Staz On Ink for all but one of them so that I could colour them in with whatever medium I wanted. I kept the focal sentiment slightly different by embossing it in gold instead.

Then I decided to do something completely foreign to me and I coloured the images in with a simple neutral scheme of grey and beige. I'm usually fighting the urge to add every single colour of the rainbow!

For each of my cards this month I've pre-emptively made the envelopes they'll go in when they finally make it to a recipient. I'm working through my stash of plain and embossed cardstock, and then I've chosen one of the patterned papers from this month's 4x6" Paper Pad to work as a coordinated envelope liner.

My second card features the Thistle stamp set. This is my favourite set for the month because I think it's going to be so completely versatile. I love that Studio Calico have gone with this quite floral and leafy design in November since it'll be perfect for Fall themes, Thanksgiving themes and then Christmas as well! So many wreathy possibilities!

This was my first experiment with this double-layered-wreath kind of idea, stamping above and below the diecut circle for some extra dimension. I think it's got lots of potential, and I want to take this idea a little bit further in the future.

It was all kinds of polka dots at the ready for the matching envelope this time. And shade upon shade of green!

My last card for the Reveal uses the super-fun Double Decker Bus stamp set. I don't believe for one single minute that you'll have no use for this set unless you've visited London... after all... I never have! But for a start it makes for some great Farewell or BonVoyage type of themes, and that's just using the bus and travel icons. The set also includes some cute tea-cup images as well which opens up the possibilities even further!

I have to admit, I haven't had the courage yet to extend myself beyond the typical red for this bus, but I'm thinking you could do it in the whole spectrum of brights for something a bit fun!

It was an obvious choice of patterned paper for the envelope liner as the Paper Pad includes this London style piece that's just perfect!

I hope you'll join us for the whole Reveal, the Creative Team have done a stellar job and their work in the Gallery is so original.

You can shop for all the Kits HERE.
And find all the new shop items HERE. 

 PS. Speaking of stamps, have you caught up with the newest subscription to hit the Studio Calico store? It's a Stamp Kit!! The November kit is absolutely amazing, designed by Ali Edwards! Check out all the details HERE.

Studio Calico Sonnet Sneaks

This month I've changed hats again slightly as I create for Studio Calico with their soon-to-be-released Cardmaker Stamps that are coming on November 1st. I can't show you the full projects just yet, but I sure can share some sneaks! ;-)

There are 3 different 4x6" stamp sets coming in November and I have been lucky to be playing with each of them. Trust me when I say you are just going to love them and will instantly think of a thousand different ways you could use them.

Take this Thistle set for example. It's my favourite for the month! It's full of leaves and greenery and sprigs and thistles (of course!) which could so easily be used for so many occasions. For those wanting Fall-themed products then this could be exactly what you're after! But I'm also thinking this will be great as we head into Christmas as well ;-)

And here's a little look at the way I've been using the Postage stamp set. I've been experimenting with something that's so completely foreign to my rainbow-loving heart and that's to keep it to a monotone colour scheme! Of course, the hint of gold really helps!

Here's what the Mood Board looks like this month. Of course, this is hinting at the different themes and colours and patterns etc scattered throughout the whole of the different kits. For example, that top right pic? That's a big hint in the direction of the 3rd stamp set that I haven't shared a sneak of yet!

But not too much longer to wait now anyway.
The Creative Team Sneak Gallery is up and running, and the Reveal is set for the 1st of November!

Adelaide Adventure Project Life spread

Back at the start of April we took a brief family trip to Adelaide. Sure, it's probably not considered amongst the top 10 exotic holiday locations to chose from, but it was a much needed break away from reality, and an even better excuse to catch up with some long 'lost' friends! 

Obviously I was going to have to document our adventure in my Project Life album at some stage, it's just that I'm about 6 months behind in my chronological scrapping ;-) LOL!

 

The good news about being 6 months behind is that when I get any of my Studio Calico Documenter Kits that are seasonally inspired - they actually hit the spot and I can use them straight away! And this double-page spread has been made with the recent Pool Party Documenter Kit which is very much a Summer themed kit, but which turned out to be perfect for what I needed.

I tried a bit of a new-for-me design tactic for this spread which was to include lots of lots of those little sub-headings with the red vellum alpha stickers. I think I like the idea of being able to quickly identify the different activities we did on our holiday, and the alphas were just the right size.

Turns out I once bought a whole packet of page protectors which include these 4x4" pockets and I'm not entirely sure that I'm such a huge fan. Mainly because there's no ready-made cards (in my stash at least) that will fit, and that means I've actually got to do "work" of cutting down patterned paper. I know I know.... #firstworldscrappingproblems right?!

So much of the story was documented on this double page spread so I'm pretty happy with the end result. Lots more catching up to do yet. Stay tuned!

Jot Magazine October Mood Board

 

We're celebrating Spring at Jot Magazine with the release of another fabulously bright and sunshiney Mood Board Challenge designed by our Jot Girl Raquel Bowman. Here's what it looks like...

The way I usually approach my projects for these mood boards is to find an old kit or a collection that has similar colours in it and then start gathering a little pile of supplies. I usually end up with way more things that I'll ever be able to use on one project, but it sure is fun trying to fit as many of them in as possible!

Somewhere along the line I'll find something that can act as a centrepiece for my card - on this occasion I found two pieces - that Studio Calico wood veneer floral arrangement, as well as the Dear Lizzy butterfly. And from there I start to build up a background behind it, making sure to try and represent all the major colours from the Mood Board in varying proportions.

Now you know why my cards always end up with so many layers!

Will you join in with us this month over at Jot Magazine? You can find all the details on the challenge right HERE!