A Winter Post Christmas and Christmas Craft day approaches!

I fell in love with the Winter Post set (p 33, $47.95 115902) when I saw it in the catalogue, it has so many elements that you can use in combination or separately. I know some people don't like the wintery theme for their Christmas cards, but I've never had a problem with rugged-up Santas and snowflakes! Probably because I prefer to be able to get warm near a roaring fire in winter, rather than trying to beat the stifling heat of a Sydney summer! Tradition is probably another factor, as I do like to celebrate with the hot roast dinner followed by pudding - again this would be much more suited to a chilly climate...

On to the card, I wanted to create a vintage look and to use the fabulous Postcard and Postmark stamps, so I have created a postcard lookalike using a Kraft cardstock base, sponged with Chocolate Chip ink around the outside. over this is a piece of Confetti Cream cardstock, and the stamps are inked with Close to Cocoa ink.

For the skaters image, I stamped onto Watercolor paper, and used Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa inks and a blender pen to colour the image. This is matted with Riding Hood Red, and the edges have been put through the postal service wringer by applying my distressing tool.

The greeting comes next, and I have used a sentiment more usually placed on the inside of a card, from the Many Merry Messages set, stamped in Chocolate Chip ink, as if it were writing on the postcard.

A strip of Kraft taffeta ribbon completes the almost monochrome look, and I added a smidge of bling in the form of a "fire" square rhinestone en pointe, threaded through a small felt flower from the felt Flower Fusion Too set.

The final touch was dropping my inkpad on the finished card, while trying to close it. Hmm. I guess Aussie Post were a touch heavy handed with the ink in the postmarking machine, what do you reckon?? LOL!

And onto other important news, it is now less than ONE MONTH until our "Get Ready for Christmas Craft Day" on October 10th at Epping Creative Centre, Dence Park. If you would like to come along, please get in touch with Kim Tonnet or myself to have an e-invite forwarded to you.

The details:

When: 9.30am - 5pm on Saturday 10 October 2009

Where: Epping Creative Centre (Dence Park), 26 Stanley Street, Epping.

What we'll provide: Morning tea, lunch and afternoon snacks, juice, tea, coffee and water (BYO other drinks). Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements. There will also be a huge selection of stamp sets, punches and papercrafting tools available to borrow, along with loads of inspiration and samples. Great prizes too!

Bring your own: Basic tools and adhesives and projects to work on. Coins/small notes to pay for extra make-and-takes (all takings will be donated to the NSW Cancer Council Breast Cancer Cause, in honour of Pink Ribbon Month).

Cost: $35 *Early Bird Price. Payment required at the time of registration. Methods of payment accepted are cash, cheque, bank deposit, PayPal or credit card (MasterCard or Visa).

Registration: Please phone Michelle on 0403 175 790 or email us. *Early Bird Registrations close Wednesday 23rd September. Full Price Registration fee is $40. Full Price Registrations close Friday 2nd October 2009.

PLACES ARE LIMITED, SO PLEASE BOOK IN NOW! We have been collecting items for goodie bags, some of which are limited in number, so the sooner you register and pay, the plumper it will be... Why not come with a group of friends and enjoy a great day creating?