Christmas All Year Tab

Be sure to check out the Christmas All Year tab at the top of this blog to see more 2017 Christmas Card ideas!

Christmas 2017

As I write this, we are still on the road in a caravan, doing the Big Lap around Australia. It is a fascinating thing to do and we are taking our time, staying a week here and a week there, till we are ready to move on to the next place. Caravan crafting has been less frequent than I would like, especially when we are free camping without power (so no heat tool, glue gun etc can be used) and water (so messy paint/inking and other things needing water cleanup are not a good idea). Still, I have been Christmas crafting! In this caravan!

I got to craft with Sharon in Qld when we stopped at her house awhile, which was fantastic, but after that I have not met up with many other papercrafters. 🤔 There was that lovely afternoon we crafted in the caravan making birthday cards, Chloe and Maddie, in the NT. Now I am in WA! I do hope to meet up with some more crafters pretty soon down south of Perth. Look out, Mandy!😁

So what have I been doing?

I took some Stampin' Up! kits with me this time, so I have had all the supplies and a good deal of the work packaged for me ☺ What a great idea these kits are for traveling crafters!

They are also good for people who are just starting out, building up their supplies and not wanting to make a huge outlay all at once.

They are great for beginning crafters too. The design work is lovely.

So, what have I been making?

1. Christmas cards!

One day I sat down with the Watercolour Christmas Project Kit. I had purchased the A Watercolour Christmas stamp set before I left home and had some ink and adhesive with me. I simply needed my paper snips, bone folder and a place to work and I was set. There are four designs in the kit, making 20 cards altogether. What a quick and fun project this was! I got them all done in an afternoon. Here are the four designs:

Aren't they cute? Easy to make, easy to mail, AND they come with gold foil lined envelopes too.

I then got busy on my own design of CAS (clean and simple) cards  to make in bulk. Armed with some of this pretty designer series paper from the Quilted Christmas bundle....

And the Wise Men from Afar stamp set, plus some Quilted Christmas ribbon and some die cuts for the sentiments which I made altogether, I made 15 cards with the same basic design. I stamped images directly on the dp and added ribbon, then popped up the layered sentiments. Afterward I added a single star sequin above the palm trees. Here's a couple of cards so can see how they turned out:

I thought they were pretty cute, and each one had a different background paper. I didn't have to repeat any one pattern at all.

2. Christmas Decorations!

Then I decided to make some decorations for the caravan. Now you cannot have a Christmas Tree in a caravan very easily. But you can make room for a banner and a string of lights! I had the Be Merry tag Kit for that! I didn't want tags though as our family and friends decided no presents were very practical to send to someone in a caravan, and also hard for someone in a caravan to gather and send, SO, I turned them into a banner. Here are the individual tags:

And here are all 12 made into a banner, with a string of lights shining over the top of them:

I really like them 😁

I hope your December is full of crafty fun like mine has been so far!

Susan

#quiltedchristmasbundle
#bemerrykit
#wisemenfromafarstampset
#watercolourchristmaskit

World Cardmaking Day 2017

World Cardmaking Day (WCMD) was on October 8th this year. Never heard about it before? Read more on PaperCraftCentral.

I was making cards for WCMD in a caravan this year since hubby and I are traveling around the country for a year or so, I decided to go simpler and found a basic card sketch I liked, then made three cards to celebrate the day and add to my birthday card stash.

You could use this sketch to make a card for any occasion though. You could also substitute designer series paper for the lower section, or add loads of bling, or add luxurious ribbon, or pop up images on your feature panel. The possibilities are endless, really :)

Here are my three cards:

I really liked them all.

All supplies used are from Stampin' Up!

New Holiday Catalogue!

Did you know the new Holiday Catalogue is available now? It is! It is! You can see it online at the catalogue page on  SusanSalutations and can order from it in the SusanSalutations Shop 24/7!

I already started with a few purchases and just need to find time in our caravan for me to craft with them. Can't wait. I keep thinking about that french horn die done in gold metallic for Christmas cards. How sumptuous THAT would be! Lol!

Of course, there is a lot more than Christmas covered in the new catalogue. The products in it are only available till January 2nd or till stocks run out, so do check them out to see if there is anything you need. Check out the lovely design ideas too to CASE using your existing supplies. It's always fun to look at new ideas!

Happy crafting!

Christmas Cards for Troops Drive

Ahh! It is so nice to be retired and able to fulfill a life-long dream to travel right around Australia! Hubby and I are doing just that right now!

But I didn't want to forget about the Cards for Troops Drive while I am a gray nomad.

I have a wonderful friend who will help out while I am traveling with collecting and dispatching any cards sent to her before October for inclusion in our Christmas cards for the Troops drive. You can read all about it at PaperCraftCentral.

I do hope you can send a few cards ☺ And thank you to those who do, in advance! (Advance, Australia fair?)

The New Stampin' Up! Catalogue is HERE! And a Special!

The beautiful new Stampin' Up! annual catalogue is here! There are some returning favourites in it but wait till you see all the new stamps, In-Colours, embellishments, tools, paper and so much more! I ordered a Big Brown Box full of new goodies today and can't wait till they get here. 😋 I hope it comes next week as hubby and I are traveling around Australia in our caravan, and I am crafting as I go. We're in this one spot for another week or so, so I can hopefully receive my order of new items. Can't wait!

Now for the Special!

Just because it's a new Stampin' Up! year, I am going to send anyone who orders from me at SusanSalutations  before July 9th using the special Hostess Code N47AR9UH a little gift! It will be a surprise just from me! 'Susan, how can you do that while you are traveling?' I hear you ask. Don't worry, I will be able to see online who orders as I travel and will send your little gift from wherever I am in Australia. Isn't that amazing?? Maybe I will be near YOU when I send it!

Don't forget to add a copy of the new catalogue to your order. If you are like me, I love to see the pictures and mark them with sticky notes and go back to my catalogie again and again for ideas and inspiration. I never throw away my old catalogues as they are still wonderful for ideas!

Happy Stampin'!

Easter Message Stamp Set

I know Sale-A-Bration is over but maybe you bought the Easter Message stamp set and want to make a card this weekend. Maybe you also earned the pretty glitter paper. Maybe you would like an idea for how to use those supplies! I made this card for some of my family this year and thought I would share it with you.

I used the masking technique for this card. I stamped my cross first then masked it off and added the sun rays and palm fronds.

I mounted the main image on Sweet Sugarplum glitter paper and some designer series paper from the Succulent Garden paper pack. The card base is Rich Razzelberry.

May the peace and assurance of Christ's sacrifice at Easter time all those years ago rest with you this Easter.

Supplies List:

Cardstock –  Rich Razzleberry card base 15cm x 10.5cm scored portrait style, Oh So Succulent Designer Series paper 14 x 9.5cm, Sweet Sugarplum Glimmer paper 13 x 8.5cm, Whisper White cardstock 12.5 x 8cm, Card insert  14x9 cm

Ink & Daubers – Memento Black, Early Espresso, Soft  Suede, Crumb Cake, Rich Razzelberry,Pear Pizzazz, Crushed Curry, Sweet Sugarplum

Stamp Sets – Easter Message, Kinda Eclectic

Stamp Blocks – E, D

Tools – Watercolour pencils, clear Wink of Stella, aqua painter

Accessories & Adhesives – Envelope, Post-It notes, liquid Tombow Multi and double-sided tape

We're In The Last Days Of Sale-A-Bration - Ending 31st March 2017

 If you have been meaning to stock up on some cardstock, inks, adhesives or even treat yourself to some new goodies, make sure you get in now!  Sale A Bration is nearly over!

That’s right!  Sale A Bration is in the final days but there is also some GREAT news!

Stampin’ Up! have released 8 more items you can get as your FREEBIES with your order!

Remember that for EVERY $90 you order, you’ll get to choose a FREE Sale A Bration item, and the new 8 items are items from current catalogues.

So here’s the list.

Simply pop the item code in as your Sale-A-Bration item when you shop online, Or contact me at SusanSalutations to place your order!

There’s more info about Sale-A-Bration and all the ways you can benefit on my specials page HERE

And remember that you can still Join Stampin’ Up! with the amazing Sale-A-Bration extra value that you can read about HERE

Happy Stampin’ & Sale A Brating!

Susan 😊

Sale-A-Bration Ends March 31st

Sale-A-Bration is that time of year where you can earn a FREE product with every $90 order you place, but it is coming to an end on March 31st. Some of the popular rewards are already sold out! If you have had your eye on something from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue, be quick to order or you could miss out.

Forever!

 

 The Sale-A-Bration items have never been offered in other catalogues, so once they are gone, they are gone! 😭

I hope you get what you want!
Images © 1990–2017 Stampin’ Up!®

Awesomely Artistic Dragonflies

This little card looks kind of complex but it is actually quite easy to make! You gotta love stamping. I stamped the card base, background mat AND the main image, then the envelope and inside the card too! The flowers were coloured with the new Stampin' Up! watercolour pencils and an aqua painter. I don't know if you can see it, but the flower centres are shimmering with gold Wink of Stella. 

Here is how the inside turned out. That dragonfly is so pretty! I love dragonflies. Well, I love butterflies too, and ladybugs and beetles...loads of images, actually. Good thing Stampin' Up! has such a variety of beautiful images to choose from!

I ❤ Stampin' Up!

Get all the Supplies to make this card from my SusanSalutations Online Store:

Cardstock – Tangerine Tango Card Base, 2 x Cajun Craze mats (13cm x 9cm and 8cm square) , Whisper White mat 8cm x 12cm, Whisper White scrap 9cm square for main image

Ink – Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake, Black Stazon

Stamp Set – Awesomely Artistic

Stamp Blocks – C, D

Big Shot – Stitched Framelits

Tools – Watercolor Pencils, Aqua Painter

Accessories & Adhesives – Gold Wink of Stella, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Double Sided Tape, Card insert & envelope, Stazon cleaner

Three New Sale-A-Bration Items Added!

Did you know Sale-A-Bration is still in full-swing? You can earn a FREE reward for every $90 in products you order till the end of March 2017. Today three new reward items were added! I am loving that stack of glimmer papers but there is a medallion stamp set and something else too... See what everything looks like on the Specials Page at SusanSalutations 😊

Images © 1990–2017 Stampin’ Up!®

Cards for the Troops - Mother's Day 2017

Do you like crafting for causes? I run a drive to make cards for our Troops about twice a year. It is time for us to make Mother's Day cards to get them in the mail by the end of March so they can go overseas to our deployed troops in time to send out to their mothers and wives for Mother's Day. Of course, they also need birthday cards, thinking of you ones, anniversary and birth and just about every other type of card. Even blank ones (inside) with no sentiment attached are appreciated. If this interests you and you would like to help, read more about the drive here:  Cards for Troops Drive 2017

Thank you for any help you can give our Troops.

Thoughts and Prayers

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The Thoughts and Prayers stamp set allows you to send some pretty special greetings. There are sensitive words in it for expressing sympathy, sending get well wishes, and letting them know you are thinking of them and praying for them. At card class today I taught stampers how to use the emboss resist and masking techniques. It was a fin class.

The card first posted relied only on white embossing and sponging with inks, but the second card included stamping over the top of the embossing and sponging.

I liked them both.

All supplies listed below are available for you to purchase from my SusanSalutations online store.

Supplies:

Cardstock –  Whisper White 9 x 14cm, Whisper White Thick cardstock base, Marina Mist  9.5 x 14.5

Ink & Daubers – Marina Mist, Versamark, Pool Party sponge dauber

Stamp Set – Thoughts and Prayers

Big Shot – Ovals framelits

Tools – Heat Tool

Accessories & Adhesives – White Embossing Powder, paper to catch powder, large Post-It notes, Washi Tape, soft tissues, Stampin’ Dimensionals, double-sided tape or liquid glue (Tombow), wooden skewer

Little Flowers Watercolour Card

Create a lovely and cheerful little flower card with none other than the Rose Wonder stamp set! The little flower in that stamp set makes a beautiful pattern when stamped repeatedly and coloured with an aqua painter.

All current supplies are listed below and are available for you to order from my SusanSalutations online store.

Supplies:

Cardstock – Watercolour paper 7x8cm, Mint Macaron Card Base, Peekaboo Peach mat 7.5 x 8.5, Designer Series Paper Sycamore Street  (retired) 9 x 15cm

Ink – Stazon Black, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Sweet Sugarplum, Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Pool Party, Peekaboo Peach, Tangerine Tango, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red

Stamp Set – Rose Wonder

Stamp Blocks – D, E

Accessories & Adhesives – Aqua Painter, Gold Wink of Stella, Peekaboo Peach Ruched Ribbon, Frosted Embellishments Sequins, Pick Up Stick, Fine tip glue pen, Glue Dots