A Simply Sketched Christmas

What with 18th birthdays and Stampin' Up conventions I've been a bit distracted lately but I woke up yesterday morning with a sudden realisation that it'll be Christmas very soon! I do have quite a pile of Christmas cards but not nearly enough... and anyway, the 'Make a Christmas card featuring a bird' challenge at Less is More was calling to me and I needed a card for Sarn's Rudolph Day challenge too. Here's what I've come up with:

There are loads of gorgeous birds in the Stampin' Up catalogue and I've chosen this one from the Simply Sketched hostess set.  I stamped him and coloured him in like a robin before cutting him out popping him up with a dimensional.

 I've sat him on this branch from the same set which can look very Christmassy or not depending on which colours you use. I used markers to colour everything on this card - including...

... the sentiment - a real favourite of mine from Delightful Dozen. Do you like the way I've made the robin look up at it?!

Here's what you'll need to make this project

Stamps: Simply Sketched, Delightful Dozen

Ink: Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso, Baked Brown Sugar, Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe, Raspberry Ripple, Sahara Sand - all in markers

Card stock: Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White

Other: Essentials piercing template, mat and tool, paper snips, stamp-a-majig

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but if you have any queries, or prefer to speak to me, I'm always happy to help.

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Yesterday I mentioned a bit about my trip to Stampin' Up's annual convention - well here's some more if you're interested. And if you're not, do scroll down to the bottom for news of a give away - YAY!

I was staying in the beautiful Midland Hotel along with lots of other demonstrators so, after doing full justice to a full English breakfast, we were able to pop across the road to the convention centre where things were already buzzing. Everyone was carrying their convention bags...

... which were beautifully designed and very practical. They contained free stamp sets and other goodies and became very full as Prize Patrol kept handing out more and more freebies throughout the day!

There were the most stunning displays everywhere of cards and other projects - you really had to be there to get the full impact of these. There were also stations where you could play with some of the new products like the amazing new Undefined kit seen in this short video:



Do you think it looks hard to do? Well it's not I promise you and just think of all the special things you could make! The kit costs £17.95 and I think it would make a unusual Christmas present for almost anyone!

Anyway, back to convention! All through Friday and Saturday there were technique and product demonstrations, as well as business talks, and you could dip in and out and choose whether to go to these. There were some brilliant presentations, some funny, some quite emotional but all incredibly inspiring.

On Friday evening we dressed up in frocks and heels and gathered to cheer ourselves silly while those that had won awards went up on stage. The night ended with a 25th anniversary party with food, music and dancing!

Thank you for reading my ramblings! It's difficult to describe how much fun convention was and how spoilt I felt with all the freebies and wonderful gifts but I'd love to share a bit of that feeling with my customers: I have wrapped up three different gifts which three lucky winners will receive in the post in time for Christmas! I'll have all the details tomorrow so do check back to see!

See you tomorrow,