Christmas Greetings

Good morning all.

Well, only one sleep now 'til the big day!!  This post is being added to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a blessed New Year.

We are on our way to have a break with all our family so are really looking forward to that.

I will be in touch when we return, so until then "May you all know God's blessings in a very special way."
It is a wonderful time of the year as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, what an amazing Christmas present that was many years ago.

With love to all and do travel safely,

Betsy xxx

Kaisercraft's Tropicana Cards

Hello again to all my blogging friends.
Well, Christmas is fast approaching now and it will be so lovely to be with our families again.
All the break-ups are behind us, so we are almost in holiday mode!
 I share a birthday with another friend, so a group of us are going out for lunch tomorrow to celebrate the occasion. When one gets to my age, it would be nice if we could just forget all about these milestones - anyway, we can be so thankful for the years that God has given us to enjoy!.
Now, these are the last of the cards which I have done for the Kaisercraft Workshop Magazine, for December.
It is a collection which is quite different for me but I could imagine if you have been to Tropical Islands or know someone who has been, it would be very appropriate. See what you think ladies!

Does it make you want to go where it is warmer?
It is bitterly cold here today after having had a very hot day yesterday. We hope for an improvement tomorrow. The weather is so unpredictable lately!
Hope you have enjoyed seeing what I have been busy doing and that you will maybe get some ideas for your projects. I'm actually on holiday from now on, for this year, as far as making cards!! Dare say I will be getting itchy fingers before too long!

Happy crafting to you all, many blessings and if travelling, do drive safely.

Betsy  xxx

Secret Admirer Cards.

Hello there my blog friends.
As promised in my previous post, I will add another of Kaisercraft's ranges that I so enjoyed working with, being another one of their three that they brought out for the December Workshop Magazine. Liz tells me it is her " all time " favourite and I have to agree - the colours are just fabulous, very bright and cheery!

This is a  template I bought from Sara, at Cardmaking Paradise.

Don't you agree the collection, being Secret Admirer, is very Springlike and has a happy feel?
All from me today ladies, hope you enjoy and get some ideas that you can use for your projects.
Thanks so much to all who check out my blog and also for the lovely comments that you leave - I really do appreciate you all. Do click on the photos for a clearer image.

Happy crafting. ( I've been told today that it's fourteen days 'til Santa arrives) so it doesn't leave us many days to get all the all the pre Christmas bits and pieces done!! Trust it's all going well at your place!

May you know God's blessing,

Betsy  xxx

Cards With Forget-me-not, Kaisercraft

Good morning to all my blogging friends, and what a lovely morning it is.
We had a fabulous day, on Saturday, at Artfull Crafts, it being the Christmas Celebration day. Thirty three ladies were there and it was lovely seeing many of my special friends.
Now, I am going to share the cards I made for the Kaisercraft Workshop Magazine, for December, with  the Forget-me-not collection. I do love this range but then I do say it about most, don't I!! The designers just seem to get better and better and all their collections are gorgeous!

Well ladies, isn't it a lovely colour range? Navy, mustard with apricot. Using the collectables makes card making so much easier and quicker, with having them already cut out.

As Kaisercraft are now bringing out three collections a month, it has kept me rather busy but I do enjoy it! I will share the next two, for this month, when I do future blog posts. Do click on the photos to get clearer images.

I have had the responsibility of preparing for our patchwork Christmas dinner, so that is the next event on my calender! It all keeps one young!! Well, I like to tell myself so!

Happy crafting to you all and many blessings at this busy time of the year.

Betsy  xxx

Kaisercraft's Pickled Pear Cards

Good morning all.
Another week has flown by - I haven't a clue where they are going to!!! Christmas seems to be looming up with all it's associated business, but it is great to get with family at this time of year. I am looking forward to that.
I am sharing the cards today that I made with Kaisercraft's lovely Pickled Pear collection, for their Workshop Magazine, for this month. I really love this vintagey range of papers so did have fun working with it.

Would love to know your verdict on these ladies!!!
For the month of November, I have also used the same collection and made the " Miss Betsy Kit " for Artfull Crafts - that cards are all different to these ones and the kit is available at Artfull Crafts. I know you'll enjoy making it up, as I did.
Do hope you get some inspiration from seeing these.
Happy crafting or whatever you have in mind for the day and may you all know God's blessings.

Betsy xxx

A Thank You Card

Good morning ladies.

Another Arts and Plants weekend is behind us and what  a busy weekend it has been! There are so many people converge on our little village for the three days, and there is so much hype and excitement! The patchwork display is a priority, there really is such a build up all year to get projects etc completed - it is all well worth it when the lovely work is viewed by so many people and the comments are always very positive.
Well done again, to all my patchwork friends.
The weekend before last, I had the privilege of tutoring an amazing group of ladies at Timaru, making Christmas cards. I really can't understand why they needed a tutor, as you will agree when I show you the lovely thank you card, that was presented to me. Thank you so much Wilson Street Baptist ladies.

It is beautiful and someone even knows my favourite colour combination!!
The photo seems a trifle out of focus but do click on it for a clearer image. It is well worth it.
All from me today, do remember to check out Artfull Craft's competitions etc as it is always a fun time of the year there and lots of prizes can be won.
Happy crafting to all and may you know God's blessings,

Betsy xxx

Kaisercraft's Periwinkle Cards

Oh, what a beautiful morning, Oh, what a beautiful day - well ladies can you hear me singing?
It sure is a stunner here in Geraldine today, I should really be outside enjoying it but have work to do inside!! As I have just put a blog post up for Artfull Crafts, thought I would add one here as well. My daughter rang last night as she had been checking my posts and found I hadn't added one for a while and just wondered if all was well. It's great that they keep an eye on the oldies!!
Well, here are the cards I would like to share today.

This collection is Kaisercraft's lovely Periwinkle - the colours are just perfect! A very simple 5 1/4" square card. I find I am making more of this size now as they seem to be easier to embellish. Kaisercraft have brought out packs with cards and envelopes to match, for this size card. Great buy!

What would one do without Martha Stewart punches?

Don't you agree with me about the colours in the collection? Just lovely. More Martha Stewart punches, Tim Holtz Rosette die, bakers twine ( can't get enough of that!), and the resin flowers from Kaisercraft.

Lucky last!  The main shape was cut out with a Spellbinders Labels 8 die, the trellis is a Cherry Lynn die FRM115, Martha Stewart monarch butterfly punch and Kaisercraft's blooms. The seam binding was tied using my bow easy which I wouldn't be without!
Well ladies all from me today, hope you enjoy what I have to offer.
It is lovely receiving all your comments and emails and I thank you for them. I appreciate you all.

Enjoy your day, happy crafting and God bless,

Betsy  xxx

Prima Romantic Novel Cards

Hello to all.
Another lovely day in Geraldine, New Zealand - hope it is the same where you are! As promised, I will add another couple of cards for you all to have a look at, and maybe you will get some ideas that you can use.

This card is made with the lovely Prima Romantic Novel collection. I have used the Marianne Scallop Circle Die  LR0112 which is lovely and I do use it a lot. The measurement of the card is 5 1/4" square as is the following one. The little trinket I bought at Artfull Crafts.

Now this card was made with the same collection but I tried to get a more masculine look - I think I did achieve it, don't you? After I cut out the clock,  using Tim Holtz's Weathered Clock Die, I coloured it with my copics then I covered it with Dimension, which has given it a shiny look and it has also given it a bit of stability.
Thank you lovely people for checking out my blog, and thank you to the ones who kindly leave comments - they sure are appreciated.
Off to Timaru tomorrow to see the girls at Artfull Crafts and I usually make a day of it, out for lunch with my friends etc.
All from me tonight, happy crafting to you all and many blessings,

Betsy xxx

Patchwork Wallhangings

Hello to you all - hope you're Labour Weekend went well. I know the weather was atrocious but apart from that, trust you all had a nice break. It is a lovely day today, so all is forgiven!!
Now, just to prove I do have a life apart from cardmaking, I am posting a couple of wallhangings that I have made.

I am rather partial to poppies, hence this wallhanging made with dyed fabrics. It hangs in my kitchen and really brightens up the room. It is all machine sewn and appliqued.

These are six artist boards which I have done. They are from a kit that Mckenna Ryan has  produced and the fabrics are all hers, as well. I actually did nine as there are that many in the collection but my daughter took off with three of them. Again all machine sewn and appliqued and I love the subtle colours of these.
Perhaps, by clicking onto the photos, you will get a more detailed look.
Hope you enjoy seeing something different, other than cards!!
Happy crafting, will be back soon with some more cards no doubt.

Blessings to you all,

Betsy  xxx

Prima, Romantic Novel

Good morning to all my friends, and what a lovely morning it is! It is hard to believe that it is over a week since I last blogged, time just gets away on one! We did have a lovely few days down with our Cromwell family, taking Ella, our grand-daughter from Christchurch, with us. A great time was had by all and it was good to catch up with our two grand-children there and observe their accomplishments, first hand.

I would like to share three cards, made for orders, that I have made with the lovely Prima, Romantic Novel papers. I love this very soft collection - as the title suggests, it is certainly Romantic!! The colours are gorgeous.

I am very fond of the Webster's cameos, in fact any cameos! Having bought the resin and moulds, I can now make my own which is a lot of fun. These is available at Artfull Crafts for anyone who is interested.

A very simple thank you card - the papers don't need much embellishing. The flowers are all Prima, they tie in so beautifully with the papers.

I have torn two different papers here and used sepia ink on the edges to age them. Seam binding ribbon which has been sprayed with glimmer mist, otherwise a simple card.
All from me today ladies, must keep up the good work - and there seems plenty of that!!
Thank you for checking out my blog - really do appreciate the time you take and that you do get some ideas for you cards.
Happy crafting, many blessings to you all,

Betsy  xxx

Kaisercraft's Just Believe Cards

Good evening to all my blogging friends.
As we are in Christmas mode, I will add another few cards that I have made for Kaisercraft, with perhaps, one of my favourite Christmas collections called, Just Believe. I love the colours in this range, especially the minty blue colour.

Don't you agree with me about the colour? A simple step card and the flowers were all made with punches. I'm sure the stamp was part of the same collection.

This card was made using my Grand Calibur. The flower was from a serviette which I stabilized  and cut out. The seam binding was a perfect match.

I used an EK Success punch for the border, Spellbinders Labels die to frame the picture and Stamped a Just Right stamp for the circle which I then cut out. Kaisercraft wooden die cut for the leaves and a handmade flower. The photo isn't as clear as it could be but maybe if  you clicked on it to enlarge, you  would get a clearer image.

Good old St Nick peeping through the window! There are three Kaisercraft's wooden flourishes here - Peace, the window and the holly and leaves, all coloured with my copics. They have an amazing range in their wooden flourishes now.

Again the bird and leaves are a wooden flourish from Kaisercraft, the corners are a cuttlebug die, one of my very original ones.
As it is a big day tomorrow with me teaching at Artfull Crafts, had better retire and get some beauty sleep.
Have to be at my best for these lovely ladies!!

Happy crafting to you all and God's blessing,

Betsy xxx

Twig and Berry Cards

Good morning to all.
When out and about the other day I noticed a sign with 59 days 'til Christmas! Oh dear, I don't know where the year has gone,  just seems like yesterday we had last Christmas!
Anyway, we have to do the appropriate cards, so here are some Twig and Berry ones that I did for Kaisercraft. Do hope you enjoy and get some ideas for your own cards.

This is one I made, trying to use a number of the lovely papers. I zig zagged it with my sewing machine.

I cut this one out using the Sizzix, Flower Flip-its die. Very simple but very effective! The flower was made using Kaisercraft's paper flowers, misted then crushed together.

I love those rosettes - made with Tim Holtz's Rosette Die. Spellbinders Labels 8 dies were used to cut the papers out then cut to fit the card.

The last one is very simple. A Christmas scene cut out with the circle cutter then hung in a slightly bigger circle. Another love, is that seam binding - it bows so beautifully, using my bow tie, into a double bow.
This is a lovely collection from Kaisercraft and it is available at Artfull Crafts.
Well, all today, hope South Canterbury residents are enjoying the holiday.
Thank you so much for checking out my blog, it sure is appreciated, also the lovely comments.
Happy crafting to you all and many blessings,

Betsy xxx

Grandparent's Card, Baby card and Anniversary Card

 Hello to all my blogging friends.
Spring sprung here a few days ago but my, it is cold today!! Do hope all you ones further South are managing to keep warm and that there aren't too many lambs about yet. It is sure a shock after the lovely days we have had. I was listening to the radio this PM, and heard a discussion about these people that don't keep their blogs up to date!! My conscience smote me, hence the new post.
Babies seem to be in vogue at the moment, so here are a couple of cards I would like to share.

This first one is for a " over the moon " couple, who welcome their first grandchild - a little girl.
I have used the lovely Graphic 45, baby collection. Don't you love it?!

This next one is for friends who have just had a little boy. I couldn't put his name on it, as I usually do, because my dear husband couldn't remember the name - thought it started with "I" - so helpful !! Again the Graphic 45 baby collection. The pram is cut out with a Marianne die and the rosette is Tim Holtz's die. My grand calibur was used to cut the main card out.

A change this time! Using the lovely Bonjour range from Kaisercraft. I made this card for 60th anniversary.
I am very fond of this colour combination.
I have been busy today doing up the September Card Kit for Artfull Crafts and have it all completed to take in tomorrow. Hope the management approve!! It is a Christmas range from Kaisercraft, called Twig and Berry - gorgeous!
Thank you all so much for checking out my blog, and also special thanks to all my followers. It is lovely to know you are all there. Hope you aren't disappointed  with the content! Remember to click on the image to get a clearer view of the cards - more detail does show up.
Well, happy crafting, hope you are all keeping warm wherever you are,and may God bless each and every one of you.

Betsy xxx

Three New Orders

Well ladies, doesn't time fly!! I see by looking at the previous post that it is well over a week since I last blogged. Life is just very busy but always interesting. The older one gets the faster it goes!!
Today I have three cards to share that I have just completed for orders. Hope you like them.

This card was made for an elderly lady who apparently enjoys walking and also loves flowers, hence the mountain daisies. I did find the photo on the web and thought it was very appropriate. Martha Stewart optic punch was used to make the border.

This second one was made for a young couple who are getting married. I love this Marianne die which I have used for the background. Martha Stewart punch for down the front edge. The recipient was thrilled with it.

Lucky last - as you will notice, lately I have been making 5 1/4" square cards a lot. This one was made with one of my grand calibur dies. I have used another Marianne die to cut out the front ( well, what will I call it!) circle. This is a lovely shape - slightly off centre. The previous card has the centre of this die underneath the flowers. It has so many uses.

What a lovely day we are having today - it really is Spring! Makes the whole world look brighter, and I do love seeing the spring flowers starting to bloom. Mind you my roses will not flower for a while as I have really pruned them back to knobs - they had got so unruly. They certainly don't look very attractive at the moment!

Talking of Spring, Artfull Crafts challenge for this month is "Spring Has Sprung", so do enter some of your projects. We love seeing what you  do and of course you could be in, to win a prize.

All from me today, thanks for checking out my blog and I so appreciate your comments.
Enjoy the sunshine, happy crafting and God bless,

Betsy xxx