Summer Mini Catalogue & December frenzy promtion

Our brand new mini catalogue has been released. It has some great new products so take a look by clicking in the copy on the side bar. I just adore the new bird cage stamps Avery on pg. 13 and will three little boys a set I will use a lot is Grunge Rock pg 22. We have some new punches and big shot dies and two new Hostess sets. If you would like to make a booking for Next year just let me know. Sale-a-bration Jan 25 to 31st March is a great time to host a workshop. For trhose of you who would like a hard copy of the catalogue. Please email me and I will mail it

to you cmccumstie@bigpond.com.au

We have a new promotion running from December 1st to 29th. Their are 24 products up to 50% off. Some lovely stamp sets at reasonable prices. Might make a lovely christmas gift for your crafty friends. You can view the full promtion here!

http://www3.stampinup.com/au/ena/7921.asp

Thanks for visiting.

Back soon to share my 2010 December daily. Here is what Ali Edwards is up to http://aliedwards.com/2010/12/december-daily-2010-simple-tips-thoughts-on-the-first-of-december.html

xoxo Cassie

December Daily 2009

Day 18 to 22

December Daily 2009

Days 13 to 17

Some more pages from my 2009 december daily. I have tried for the last hour to get this photo turned the right way. I am so over blogger right now !!!!!

You get the idea anyway.

December Daily 2009

Day 7 to 12

Here are some more pages of my 2009 December Daily.

December daily 2009

Today I have pages 1 to 6 of my 2009 December daily to share. I will continue to post the other pages this week. I am really happy to hear some of you are already making your 2010 December daily. Mine should be finished next week, if I can find my mojo!!!!

If you are still a bit lost of ideas in creating your album. Have a look at what some of the other Ali Edwards fans have put together. Warning...............there is 174 Links.

http://aliedwards.com/2010/11/december-daily-2010-are-your-foundation-pages-on-your-blog.html

Some of you are playing with the idea of using an old book. Some are keeping it simple and using a prepared album like this Making memories Album.

Another suggestion from a friend is Shimmelle Journal your Christmas. This is a online class including digital downloads for approx $35. The great thing about this class is once you participate you can do every other Journal your Christmas class at no extra cost.

What ever you do, Have FUN with it!

Cassie xoxo

Twelth Day of Christmas

Day Twelve

This is my December daily 2009. It is an album that documents the month of December leading up to Christmas. I love everything about this project. I love the memories captured, I love the photos, I love the stories, I love watching my kids pick it up and laugh at funny thing they did last Christmas. They are only young once so I want to treasure every second of it.

This year will be my fourth December daily. I treasure everyone of them and can't wait to share each with you over the up coming weeks. All four are inspired by the very famous Ail Edwards. She is the master of this project and I can't really do it justice so I will link you to her web site where she explains the entire process.

Creating a December daily

http://aliedwards.com/2008/10/creating-a-december-daily-album-part-one.html



Ali Edwards 2010 December daily

http://aliedwards.com/2010/10/december-daily-2010-creating-a-foundation.html



Two tutorials on album covers

http://aliedwards.com/2010/10/december-daily-2010-creating-a-foundation.html

http://aliedwards.com/2010/10/december-daily-2010-cover-option-one-step-by-step.html



I think this will be plenty of information to get you started.





My 2009 Album is a Donna Downey canvas album, given to me by a very beautiful friend Michelle. I have simply decorated it with felt, alphabet stickers and buttons. I love how simple the cover is. This project is not about learning fancy techniques or spending hours over you Christmas break putting pages together, it is a simple mix of photos and words to capture how magical Christmas can be. As Ali describes so well, one of the keys of success for this project is having the album structure completed in advance, so you can enjoy enjoy your Christmas break. It is not meant to be stressful. It is a fun was of documenting Christmas and celebrating along the way.


I hope this inspires you to have a go at this projest. I must admit I was a little intimidated by the work require at my first attempt in 2007. I had a 4 month old baby and 3 year old twins and my hubby had moved to sydney for work (two hours from home). But I am so glad I made the time, becuase every time I pick it up and read it my heart melts. I just LOVE it!!



I look forward to posting the pages from my 2009 December daily over the next week, and will reveal my 2010 album very soon.


Thanks everyone for following my 12 days of Christmas and for all the lovely feed back I have been given.



xoxo Cassie

Eleventh Day of Christmas

Day Eleven

Today I have a home decor project to share with you. I must admit this one dose take a while to do. I spent a rainy day last week making all of the flowers......I lost count how many, but their is a lot!!!

I used Confetti Cream cardstock (106558 $17.25 for 40 sheets A4) to make my flowers. You need approx 4 sheets of A4, if you want to use 12x12 pattern paper allow 3-4 sheets. The other essential item is a hot glue gun. You need this to make the flowers and attach them to the tree. My polystyrene Christmas tree, I bought from a cheap shop for $2. It is approx 10 inches tall.

Once I made my flowers they were sponged with soft suede ink (115657 $11.95), such a great colour for distressing. Then glued on to the tree.

Don't forget to visit tommorrow for my 12th day and final day. I have something very special to me, to share with you all!!!

xoxo Cassie

Tenth Day of Christmas

Day Ten

This is a fun project you can do with your Kids or Grand kids. My boys just love them, I think it particularly appeals to little boys sense of humour!!! They will give one to each child in their class as a Christmas gift. It was so much quicker that making cards and writing on each of them.

The bag topper is once again the Top Note Die (113463 $42.95). If you fold in long ways, it fits our Medium Cello Bags (102757 $8.50 for 50) and folded short way, it fits our Small Cellophane bags (103104 $7.50 for 50). I would recommend the small as you end up using a LOT of Choc Chips!!!

I have used the reindeer from Sparkly & Bright stamp set (121568 $31.95), he is stamped in Chocolate Chip (very appropriate I thought....LOL) and his nose coloured in with a real red Marker (100052 $5.75)
He fits nicely in the 1-3/8 circle punch (119860 $30.95) and the 1-3/4 Scalloped Circle punch (119854 $33.95)

The verse on the Back reads:-

I hear you have been naughty

So Listen.......here's the scoop!

Instead of getting coal this year,

You get Reindeer POOP!

Merry Christmas

Thanks for visiting,

xoxox Cassie

Nineth Day of Christmas

Day Nine

Today I have a layout to share with you all "Let it SNOW". Once again I have used Snow Swirled stamp set (115868 $45.95) I wasn't lying when I said it was a favourite of mine. I stamped the snow flake background with white ink. This is a different ink pad to our normal classic inks pads. It is called craft ink, it thicker and needs to be left overnight to dry. The snowy trees are made using the heat and stick powder technique found here. You don't need to use Versamark with this craft ink pad, as it is moist and sticky.





The wreath is made from one of our Sale-a-Bration stamp sets called Vintage Labels. For those of you who don't know what sale-a-brations is, it is our biggest sale of the year. Runs over Jan & Feb and every $100 you spend, you choose a free stamp set from the sale-a-bration catalogue. It's a great time to host a workshop as your guest always love getting things for free!!! If you would like to book a date with me please contact soon, as spots are filling fast. You girls know a bargin when you see it!!!!
You may have noticed I am using the same stamp set in a lot of different ways. In fact I only own three Christmas sets. I wanted to show you how to use you non-Christmas products in a festive way. Like your Bigshot dies, punches & non-Christmas sets. Get creative and see what you can come up with. I recently saw someone used the deer from Forest friends (116881 $24.95) and turn him into a reindeer. Put a Santa hat on anything (like my owl in day eight) and it become Christmas.

My journaling reads:-

"Well it's no surprise there is no snow at Christmas here in Australia,

but every year at the most amazing house in Thornton they have the best faux snow.

There are children everywhere squealing with excitement

as they get covered with snow.
Connor is standing in the middle"

December 2009

Thanks for following along. Tomorrow I am sharing my Boys Christmas gift to their school friends........it's very cute!!

xoxo Cassie

Eigth Day of Christmas

Day Eight

Today I have a Christmas card to share with you. It is my Embellies inspired card. I went along to their "Have you got the Bug!- Cuttlebug" Class recently and can't stop embossing everything...LOL. I have to admit I don't have the BUG, but instead I LOOOOOOOVVVVEEEE my Bigshot. A little bias I know but a far superior machine in my opinion. If you would like Santa to pop this into your stocking, please contact me cmccumstie@bigpond.com.au, and I will provide a complementary lesson as well. You can find more info on the Bigshot at this link:-http://www3.stampinup.com/au/ena/7385.asp and http://piecesofmebycassie.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-mini-catalogue-autumn-winter.html

Oh I should mention as well I do gift cards, which are beautifully decorated !!!!

We had so much fun embossing everything and I mean everything!!! Liz & Lisa run great classes which are very reasonably priced, if you Live in the Hunter area come and check them out.

OK, now back to my card. The background is some retired DSP & vellum embossed with the Perfect Polka dot folder (117335 $15.95) I have backed this with white CS to emphasise the snowy hills. My Christmas tree is embossed with Vintage wall paper folder, I love this folder!!!!(120175 $15.95) and embellished with clear rhinestones (119246 $9.50)

My Santa Owl is made with our Two step Extra large Owl punch (118074 $33.95) and the Heart to Heart punch (119881 $33.95) for is hat.

Thanks for visiting,

Tommorrow I have a beautiful Christmas page to share.

xoxo Cassie

Seventh Day of Christmas

Day Seven

Today I have another ornament to share with you. Some of you my recognise it from my Christmas Extravaganza Class I taught last year. I really love this ornament, especially how it is stored in it's own box.

I have been asked if I am running another Christmas Extravaganza workshop this year, sorry to say I am a bit short of time, but I would be happy to do any of these projects as a class or workshop for you and your friends. Contact me for more information.

cmccumstie@bigpond.com.au

Now back to the ornament. It is made from a retired DSP (sorry I can't think of the name right now) but i am sure you all have lot's of Christmas paper in your stash!!!! You can make it with two sheets of double sided paper.

This is my son holding it out of the box. It looks complicated but really is quite simple to make.

I want to acknowledge the original creator, Leanne Griff. She has put together a fantastic tutorial over on her blog on how to make the ornament and the box.

http://flowerbug.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/12/tutorial-ornament-in-a-box.html

Thanks Leanne for the inspiration, you will see I have modified mine a little.

She has some amazing tutorials so have a look around her site while you are their.

oxox Cassie

Fifth Day of Christmas

(Sorry I am having trouble with blogger !!!! Please scroll down for day SIX)

Day Five

Today I have some more ornaments to share. These sweet butterflies are made from the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die (114507 $42.95) another exclusive SU die. The green butterfly is made from six layers and the red one is four. The more the better in my opinion as it give more dimmension. I was able to cut all six layers at once and then adhered them together with ribbon or string at the fold. I tied some bells at the end of the ribbon just to finish them off.

I am really happy with the end result. You could make these from any symmetrical punch or die you have.

Thanks for visiting my 12 days of Christmas. Be sure to come again tomorrow to see my Gift Card holder.

xoxo Cassie

Sixth Day of Christmas

Day SIX

Today I have a gift card holder to share with you! It is made from a Stampin Up! pattern paper pack called Love Letter ( 117162) $16.95 for 12 sheets. This is my absolute fave!!! I just Love the colours the designs, everything about this set. Probably because I love red!!! I plan on using them a lot for christmas, but they are beautiful for any theme. I have stamped dasher (121592 $14.95) and made him sparkle with dazziling diamonds (10203 $8.50). You can find a tutorial on this technique HERE!

Inside the gift card I have a envelope made from the the scallop envelope bigz die, another exclusive SU die. The other side is a pocket for writing your christmas wishes.

Thanks for Visiting

oxox Cassie

Fourth Day of Christmas

Day Four

I have a christmas card to share with you today. It was cased from a recent issue of cardmaking & stamping magazine. The tree is made from the branch of the 2 step bird punch. This is such a versatile punch not only dose it make the cutest little birdies, but the branch and wing can be used for all sorts of things. Have a look here

http://piecesofmebycassie.blogspot.com/2010/04/blind-scrap-challenge.html

http://www.peanutsandpepperspapercrafting.com/2010/04/stampin-up-two-step-bird-punch-tulips.html

http://annscreativemoments.com/2010/03/20/easter-flower-with-the-bird-punch-heliconia/

I have to say if you have a xyron it makes glueing all the leaves a lot easier. I have embellished with some red rhinestones and a small piece of brown ribbon as the trunk.





Make sure you visit tommorrow for some more ornaments.





xoxo Cassie

Third Day of Christmas

Day Three

Today I want to share with you some handmade ornaments. I love these as you can display photos of your beautiful families or even make as a gift for family or friends to hang on their Christmas tree.

Each ornament has a photo on the front and felt backing. I first made these back in 2007 with Theresa Faranda at our local scrapbook store in Newcastle, I loved them so much I wanted to have a go making them again with more current photos of our family.

I have used the Big Shot and the Top Note die and cut out 1 piece of chipboard, 1 piece of felt and a photo of your choice. I have used my new Simple alphabet Bigz die to cut the word 'JOY' from cream felt and glued it to the back and just finish off with some hand stitching. I have used my Crop-A-Dile to set a Jumbo eyelet in the corner. It can cut a hole through all of these layer with ease. What a fantastic tool!!!!

This one is made from the circles 2# die following the same technique as the Top Note die. I have just punched a Tab using the Tab punch and set the eyelet through that.

Thanks for visiting my 12 Days of Christmas,

xoxo Cassie