A Christy Production

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Project Organise Craft Desk: Complete!

The organisation of my craft desk has been evolving for quite some years now. There have been many different ideas, storage items, boxes, baskets, tubs, drawers, racks & caddy's!

The biggest turning point in my organisation began when I bought my big desk! It is 1m x 2m and it has given me a nice and large space to work with. I don't need too much actual work space, and it is probably best that way so I don't spread out too much mess! I needed a large desk so I could store lots of goodies on it!

A couple of months ago I bought my 4x2 Expedit shelf from Ikea to sit on my desk. It was to replace the hutch shelf I used to have on there. It wasn't able to hold very much so it just got in the way in the end and needed to be replaced with something more functional!

After the Expedit shelf arrived, I got myself some drawers & baskets to hold the awkward items, and arranged them in the cubby's.

All that was left to organise was my cardstock & ribbon. And that is where Colcraft comes in! Col makes custom designed craft storage units. You tell him what you want, and he can make it for you. And for an EXCELLENT price too folks.

Col made my A4 cardstock units & my ribbon holders. They match in beautifully with my Expedit!!

All that is now left to do organisation wise my in craft room is to sort out my drawers a little better. I tend to be messy with drawers so if I can find a better solution I can see myself going for it!

So if you need some help with your craft desk organisation, duck over to Colcraft and scroll through the albums to get some ideas flowing!

And now, I'm about to pull out all my bits and bobs and make a mess of my desk and create some beautiful things! :)

Monday, November 18, 2013

Retrospect

I have had a busy day today and haven't had time to work on today's blog post until now. The good thing about that is, I have had the whole day to be thinking about what I could blog about. There aren't any new promotions or specials or sales to tell you about at the moment, so I was thinking about what I've been working on, and what I could share with you. I was thinking about events in the future, Christmas projects, decorating projects... there were so many option to choose from. But the one thing that stood out in my mind was thinking back to where I started.

Made on: 23rd May 2010.

I started to craft when I was engaged. We had a very very small budget to pull off two engagement parties (one in the USA & one in Australia), so I decided to make my own decorations. And that is how it all really got started. This is what got my fingers itching to do more. Not long after getting married a friend invited me to her Stampin' Up! workshop (she is a demonstrator, and is my upline). This was my first exposure to card making & paper crafting and before I knew it I was buying bits and pieces off her, and picking up craft supplies from the store. Fast forward a couple of months and I was papercrafting at home in my free time and I was attending & hosting workshops in my home (trying to earn free products mostly hehe).

Made on: 28th September 2010.

Fast forward again another month or two, and I was ready to try my hand at selling what I was making. At that time, I was really nervous about selling my work. But with the assurance of my husband and my family & friends who all were impressed at what I was making, I gave it a go and started to advertise selling cards here on this exact blog just over 4 years ago! Things went well, and I sold the majority of cards I was making. As time passed I bought more and more products: ink pads, stamp sets, designer papers, cardstock, embellishments, ribbons... My craft stash literally EXPLODED from a desk to a room. Whoops.....

Now to the point of what I was thinking about today.

I HAVE COME SO FAR! It's so easy to get caught up in the now. Caught up in the disappointments, in the could have's, in the should have's, in the I thought that would have gone differently's, and in the I wish it happened the way I planned's.... (I love making up words). I still get disappointed, I still wish things went differently, I still wish I had more exposure & more customers & more sales. But you know what, I've done pretty darn well for myself, and I'm proud of myself.

Made on: 3rd April 2012.

I've accomplished so many things. I have established myself in the social media world in such a huge way. I have a great blog, and I have lots of beautiful followers & readers. I have a great following on my Facebook page and enjoy interacting with people on there. I am having a great time in Instagram & Twitter also!

Made on: 18 November 2013.

I still have so far to go to reach my goals, and I will always strive to achieve bigger and better things, but today as I've thought back over the past few years I have been able to see my growth & accomplishments, I've been able to look back on lessons I've learnt through trial and error, and know that I can achieve my goals. It can only get better from here!!

Thank you for all you do to support me in my business! :)

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Sketch Layout Challenge!

I am part of a small family of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators. I have some wonderful uplines & downlines. Recently we decided to start doing some challenges in our group for some fun, and to help stretch the imagination and creativity a little. I was the first person to select a Sketch Challenge for the group and here it is.

Only a couple of members of our little group had time to put together a design, and I'd love to share them with you because I love them all!

This first design was done by Debbie Williams (you can find her website here). She made her design using MDS and I absolutely love it.

This design was created by the lovely Ingrid of Inky Ingrid (you can find her page here). I love the colour combo and that she has used some of the new burlap ribbon which I absolutely worship.

This card was designed by the talented Kristy Coromandel (her page can be found here). I love gold so much right now, so naturally I'm loving this card design!

This beautiful fresh design was made by the talented Rochelle of Lille Parti (her page can be found here). I really love the simplistic clean layout & colours she has chosen for her design.

I had so much trouble with my design and I am still not 100% happy with it but I still like it! Here is what I used to make it.

Cardstock: Whisper White (#106549), Soft Suede (#119982), Garden Green (#108605), Cherry Cobbler (#121681)

DSP: Seasons of Style DSP Stack (#132181)

Ink: Garden Green (#126973)

Ribbon: Soft Suede 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon (#122967)

Big Shot: Bitty Banners Framelits (#129267)

Other: Tea Lace Paper Doilies (#129399), Regals Designer Buttons (#130029), Neutrals Designer Buttons (#130031), Frosted Finishes Embellishments (#132150).

Monday, November 11, 2013

It's the MOST wonderful time, of the year!

Last week I hosted our fabulous annual Christmas Stamp-a-Stack Class!! We had such a lovely time at both our Daytime & Evening events. We even had some lovely ladies participate in the class by mail. I'm not going to bore you with details, rather I'd love to share with you what we made!!!

Baubles Card

Cardstock: Whisper White (#106549), Bermuda Bay (#131286), Smoky Slate (#131291)

DSP: Winter Frost DSP Stack (#132183)

Ink: Bermuda Bay (#131171), Smoky Slate (#131179)

Stamp Sets: Christmas Collectibles (#131775), Magical Season (#134777)

Punch: Christmas Ornament Punch (#132152)

Ribbon: Silver 1/8" Ribbon (#132137)

Other: Rhinestone Basic Jewels (#119246).

Mrs Clause Dress Card

Cardstock: Whisper White (#106549), Real Red (#126949), Basic Black (#121688)

DSP: Silver Glimmer Paper (#124005)

Ink: Real Red (#126949), Staz On Black (#101406)

Stamp Sets: Be Very Merry (#132815), Label Love (#130622)

Punch: Artisan Label Punch (#130920), 1" Circle Punch (#119868)

Big Shot: Dress Up Framelits (#130101), Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (#117335).

Naughty or Nice List Card

Cardstock: Whisper White (#106549), Real Red (#126949), Basic Black (#121688), Crumb Cake (#121685)

Ink: Staz On Black (#101406)

Stampin' Write Markers: Real Red (#100052), Crumb Cake (#120967)

Stamp Sets: Santa's List (#131811)

Big Shot: Circles Collection Framelits (#130911), Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (#132175)

TO ACHIEVE SANTA'S SKIN COLOUR: Crisp Cantaloupe (#131176), Blender Pens (#102845).

Mr Snowman Card

Cardstock: Coastal Cabana (#131302), Whisper White (#106549)

DSP: Seasons of Style DSP Stack (#132181)

Ink: Crumb Cake (#126975), Chocolate Chip (#126979), Coastal Cabana (#131175), Pumpkin Pie (#126945)

Stamp Sets: Snow Day (#131895)

Other: Linen Thread (#104199).

And just a little something extra... the card my 4 y.o. niece made during our Daytime Workshop while we were all busy making our cards. Sweet, isn't it?

Thursday, November 7, 2013

NEW Thinlit Card Dies

They've been called flip cards, flip flop cards, swing cards, and more - but they have always been a bit tricky to create. Not anymore! The amazing new Thinlit Card Dies cut and score to create a card that flips in just one simple step!

There are two different types of Thinlit dies to choose from. On the left is the Label Card Thinlit Dies (#133479) and on the right is the Circle Card Thinlit Dies (#133480). These new card dies come with an extra die pieces that have versatile designs, so you can use them on other projects, not just flip cards.

The Label Card Thinlit Dies come with a total of 9 dies and the Circle Card Thinlit Dies come with a total of 10 dies. With the number of dies you're getting, plus the die that creates the card itself, the price is such great value, at just $55.95.

Here is a great video Stampin' Up! released to teach us more about how these Thinlits work.

If you'd like to order your own set of Thinlit Card Dies, just send me an email or you can order them online here!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Best of Sale-a-bration

It's a new month, which means we have a new fabulous Best of stamp set. This month we have the Best of Sale-a-bration stamp set.

Product code: #134393

There are 5 great images returning to this stamp set plus 1 brand new image just for fun. The stamps co-ordinate with the A, B & C clear blocks. The "for you" poppy stamp co-ordinates with the 1-3/4" scallop circle punch.

Do you have a favourite stamp? I love the "BLISS" stamp and loved the stamp set it belonged to. I wish it had carried over somehow! It was such an amazing set.

If you would like to purchase this stamp set (it is only available in clear mount) it costs just $25.95. You can order it here!

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Introducing: Envelope Punch Board

Product code: #133774

I can't tell you how many times I have silently pleaded with Stampin' Up! to come up with an affordable, easy to use envelope making system. Well it turns out they have been hearing my telepathic begging, because the day I have been dreaming of has arrived. Introducing the brand new Envelope Punch Board. Before I tell you all about it, I would recommend you learn the basics about it by watching this great video.

Mine arrived in the post today and I have just had my first fiddle and I am thoroughly impressed. I have plans to be making lots of envelopes to co-ordinate with all my Christmas cards! I love that it is an all-in-one system. You don't need to own any extra punches, you don't need a scoring board & extra scoring tools. Everything that you need is included and incorporated into the board.

And the versatility in sizes it can create!! Oh my! Up to 66 different shapes and sizes, not mention a million different colour and pattern options depending on the paper you want to use! Even tried & true envelope sizes will only take you moment to create. As you saw in the video, it is super easy to use. Like most "tools" this may look a little intimidating but I assure you, using it is a breeze.

One of the features I'm most impressed with is it is small and lightweight. This means it is easy to store as well as take with you to craft days, scrap camps, or to lend to a friend.

Here's the part you've all been wondering about. How much does it cost? I was expecting it to be quite expensive when I first found out about it (because of how fantastic it was). I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was only $31.95. Isn't that a fantastic price?

This tool will carry over into the new catalogue next year so it is here to stay.

To order your very own Envelope Punch Board either contact me or order it online here.

Create some Pretty Christmas Packages for 20% off!

Are you a package and gift box person?? Do you love the way a neat and tidy beautiful gift box looks? I know I do! I am starting to use gift boxes more and more, and leaving the wrapping paper in the cupboard.

From 29 October through till 30 November 2013 Stampin' Up! is offering you 20% off their exclusive Tag It Bundles. As you can see in the above picture, there are two different kinds of boxes that come with the bundles. Let me tell you a little more about the differences in these specially designed bundles and what the kits include.

On the left: Decorative Window Gift Box Bundle
Included in this bundle is a pack of 6 Window Gift Boxes. These gift boxes are food safe and made from kraft cardstock, which means they are really sturdy. The boxes are 3.8 x 10.2 x 10.cm. The Stamp a Tag kit (which is pictured below) includes enough materials to make 24 gift tags!! So not only will you be able to use the kit to decorate your gift boxes, but other Christmas gifts also. You will receive the 2 stamps from the Stamp a Tag stamp set, Classic Ink Spots in Cherry Cobbler & Old Olive, Whisper White die-cut cardstock tags, and then a roll of Baker's Twine in both Cherry Cobbler & Old Olive. And just when you thought it couldn't get any better, you will also receive a roll of 1" Cherry Cobbler Stitched Edge Grosgrain Ribbon (10 yards).

If you were to buy these 3 products separately it would set you back $43.85. With this promotion the bundle is 20% off which brings the price down to just $34.95!

Product code for this bundle: #135811

On the right: Extra Large Box Bundle

Included in this bundle is a pack of 3 Extra Large gift boxes. These boxes are also food safe and made from kraft cardstock, so they are able to hold a decent amount of weight and will hold their shape really well. The boxes are 11.1 x 15.2 x 15.2cm. The Stamp a Tag kit (which is pictured below) is again included into this bundle. So to refresh your memory, it includes the Stamp a Tag stamp set, Classic Ink Spots in Cherry Cobbler & Old Olive, Whisper White die-cut cardstock tags, and then a roll of Baker's Twine in both Cherry Cobbler & Old Olive. Also included is the roll of the beautiful Cherry Cobbler 1" Stitched Edge Grosgrain Ribbon (10 yards).

If you were to buy these 3 products separately it would set you back $41.85. With this promotion the bundle is also 20% off which brings the price down to just $32.95!

Product code for this bundle: #135812

If you'd like to get yourself organised and order either one of these great bundles you can either get in contact with me or order for yourself online here.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Sewing Machine Storage

I love my sewing machine & overlocker. But oh boy, they take up a lot of room and can be so awkward to store. Unfortunately the only place my two machines will fit, is on top of my big 4x4 Expedit shelves.

A few years ago I bought a big wooden tray in a op shop for no real reason other than I thought it could look cute it I repainted it and used it on display for something one day. As usual the restoration project never really happened and the tray was put in the cupboard.

Then one day I needed to take my overlocker somewhere for a sewing day/evening and there is no carry handle or hard cover case on my machine. Then I saw my wooden tray in the cupboard, and thought oh that will be a great way to transport it for the occasion. I ended up keeping it in the tray once I returned home again because it was so much easier putting up and and pulling it down again off the high shelf.

It didn't take me long to realise that I had stumbled across what I think is a fabulous idea. And as you can see above, I have found myself another wooden tray for my sewing machine too! I find it so handy having the trays with manoeuvring my machines around my house to use or to take somewhere to use.

I even keep the machines inside the wooden trays while I'm using them. It makes no difference at all unless you want to take your sewing machine tray on and off.

Now if I could just get around to painting them so they don't look so dorky, then we would have ourselves a "happily ever after" tale to tell...

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

25% off 25 Stamp Sets

Yes you read that right. This week only (22-28 October) there is 25% off 25 stamp sets. There is no time for talking, let me show you which ones are on sale.

I will list the stamp set name & sale price under each picture.