Simply Inspired Blog Hop- Christmas Kraft Container

Welcome to our Simply Inspired

Close To My Heart Blog Hop!

This month we are highlighting Handcrafted Holiday items. As the Holidays are approaching, there are so many items that are fun to create to brighten up the festivities! 

If you have come here from Lisa Stenz's Blog, (and her gorgeous artwork) you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants HERE.

Its super simple to hop along with us - just click on the link at the end of each blog post to move to the next one!

Here we go! J

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I thought it would be FUN to create something special for the Christmas Holiday…take a peek ~

This Kraft Container can be used in SO MANY ways!!  

I LOVE the My Creations items that Close  To My Heart carries in our Idea Book!!  There are 17 different base items, ready for you to add your paper, ink & embellishments to create your OWN handcrafted item!  My Creations items make WONDERFUL gifts for EVERYONE, especially as Christmas is approaching!!

I planned to use our FABULOUS new washi tape on this project, but I wanted to use it in a different way...so I used the red chevron washi around the lid at the top (the normal way), AND the juniper (green) colored washi at the bottom of this container.

  Hmmm, the green washi- do you see it??  It’s not straight at the bottom, why is it scalloped??? J

I adhered the washi to a piece of white cardstock, and then cut around the dotted circles to create a border with the washi tape!!! FUN!!

I enjoyed using an older, but still orderable stamp set A Holiday.  The price point is AMAZING- just $6.95!!

  Did you know that single stamp sets (not in a kit) that coordinate with our Cricut cartridges are still available to order??  Check out the list on your consultants website!!!

On the lid & base of this container I cut my holly leaves with the Art Philosophy cartridge and then stamped away!  How QUICK & EASY!!

***This container would be the PERFECT gift to fill up with yummy goodies and give to a neighbor, teacher or friend…however, my mind went in a different direction.  J

I thought...Why not create something for children...maybe for your Sunday School children or even nieces or nephews…

SO - I made something to fill this container J …

fun packets of sparkly, Christmas pencils with an ADORABLE tag!!!

By using our scallop punch, 1 1/4” circle punch and some FABULOUS stamp sets (see list below) it was quite easy to create these toppers and adorable tags!!

I can’t WAIT to hand these out to little people!!  (Actually, I’d even like one myself..LOL!! J)

Here is the list of supplies, so that  you can create a Merry Christmas container too!! J

Products Used:

Sparkle & Shine paper pack, My Creations Kraft Container, Art Philosophy Cricut collection, Artiste Cricut Collection, D1560 Holiday Tags, C1567 Santa Claus, B1412 Perfect Fit-Holidays, A1115 A Holiday, Silver & Red Shimmer Trim, Sparkle & Shine washi collection, Ruby Mini-Medley, Neutral Baker’s Twine, 2” Scallop Punch(retired), 1/4” Circle punch, Scallop Border Punch, Liquid Glass

inks used: Ruby, slate, juniper

Now "Hop" on over to Michelle Snyder’s Blog  to see her AMAZING work!  Be sure to visit all the Consultants in the Hop to get some great crafting ideas!

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings to you for a wonderful day!!!

Krista J

Christmas Card Making Day cards–2nd post

In case this is the first time you happened upon our Card Making Day post – you’ll want to make sure to take a moment and go back to the other TWO posts prior to this! J

CLICK HERE to read the 1st post explaining all about our annual Christmas Card Making Day.

CLICK HERE to see the 1st set of cards we created that day!

TODAY, I will be sharing the 2nd set of cards we created in the afternoon of Christmas Card Making Day!!!

Here are the SIX cards we created during the 2nd part of our ANNUAL Christmas Card Making Day!!!

DETAILS….

Martha Zook’s Card




This card was created using our Kraft Cardstock…I have been using Kraft Cardstock as a card base more and more!!  I love the rustic feel it brings to my creations.


Products used: To You & Yours stamp set, Dakota paper pack,Black ARCHIVAL ink, Cranberry Alcohol marker, Honey alcohol marker, Harvest Baker’s Twine, Metal Brads,












Nickie Hoffer’s Card

I love this card design that Nickie came up with!  The tag circles, are popped up with 3D foam tape, and the tag shapes are cut from the Artiste Cricut Cartridge!!!

Products used: Perfect Fit-holiday stamp set, Cricut Artiste Bundle, Inks used…Topiary, Sweet Leaf, Pear & Cocoa, Clear Sparkles, 3D foam tape


Brenda Rutt’s Card…

To create this card, Brenda used the stamp set from the Pear & Partridge Workshop on the Go (WOTG) SCRAPBOOKING kit!!!

Check out this EXCLUSIVE stamp set on page. 65 in current Idea Book!  This stamp set is ONLY available when you purchase the Scrapbooking WOTG kit – Item G1052 ~ you receive this WONDERFUL kit for a cost lower than retail price! 

Products used: Pear & Partridge WOTG stamp set, Pear & Partridge paper, Pearls, Prisma glitter, Liquid Glass


Stephanie Huber’s Card…

I love using non-traditional colors for Christmas cards.  La Belle Vie paper pack works VERY nicely with this card!

Products used: Merry & Bright stamp set, La Belle Vie paper pack, burlap ribbon


Gennette Feagan’s card -

This was a favorite by all during Card Making Day– lots of GLITZ and GLAM to make this a completely SPARKLY Christmas card!

Did you notice – it’s a postcard like card, where the band slides away from the actual card…

This card was completed by using the ARTISTE cartridge!!! LOVE how easy Artiste makes creating!!!

Products used: Ornamental Cheer stamp set, Moonlight paper pack(yes the halloween paper J), Cricut Artiste Bundle, Bling assortment, Clear Sparkles, Red Glitz Glitter Gel, Green Glitz Glitter Gel


Krista’s card…
 
Again, a simple and easy card – thanks to the Artiste Cricut Bundle & the Art Philosophy Cartridge!!!

I love to use colors different from the traditional Christmas colors and was happy how this turned out!

Products used: Frame It Up stamp set, Christmas Joy stamp set, Glory to God stamp set, Scholastic paper pack, Avonlea paper pack, Artiste Cricut Bundle, Cocoa cardstock, Outdoor denim cardstock, Silver shimmer ribbon, Silver Glitz Glitter gel.

I hope you enjoyed our “tour” of Christmas Card ideas!!!

Now – OFF To create your own Christmas Cards J OR maybe you would like to purchase some new items to complete your cards? 

October is my MYSTERY HOSTESS month ~ and YOU could be one of my 3 Mystery Hostess’s earning anywhere from $30-$60 in CTMH products!!! !!

EVERY $25 in purchases you make (on the special LINK!) on my WEBSITE during the month of October– YOU will be entered into my personal Mystery Hostess Drawing!

This is a special that I, Krista Hershberger, am giving to my CMTH friends!!!

You will have until Oct. 31st to place your order, earn tickets and get YOUR chance to be one of my THREE Mystery Hostess winners – winning FREE Close To My Heart Products!!!

(Studio J orders DO count and can EARN you tickets too! This month’s special – purchase 9 Studio J layouts, get the 10th FREE!!!)

CLICK HERE for all the details!!!

Happy Creating!

Krista J

Christmas Card Making Day ~ 1st set of cards

I’m back – ready to share the 1st set of items we created from our Christmas Card Making Day which was held on Sat, Sept 22nd.

If you didn’t get a chance to read the first post about Christmas Card Making Day – CLICK HERE.

Today, I will be sharing 6 out of the 12 items made at this Annual Day held in Lancaster County!!

Our GOAL as we designed cards for this day was …
~ to use ALL of the new paper packs in the current Idea Book (whether they were Christmas like or not)

~to use AS MANY of the NEW EMBELLISHMENTS as possible!!

 We COMPLETED our GOAL!!!

We divided up each of our customers into six different groups of ladies.  Each group stayed together all day and rotated  to a NEW table every 20  minutes.  Once there – they used different techniques AND created a brand new CARD or 3D item!!!

Here are the 6 items we created in the morning…

( As I finished typing this post – I realized…these were not exactly the 6 cards we created in the morning!  Sorry about that!  Rather than re-taking pictures to include just the morning pictures, I thought I’ll just share these 6 cards and go from there.  Thanks for understanding! J)



Let’s start with Nickie Hoffer’s card…

There was a lot of embossing on this card, so Nickie took it upon herself to pre-emboss some of the items to make it less stressful for our customers.  They still did their own embossing, and learned how to do it…but were able to get the card completed and not be frustrated by the time restraint.

Products used: Pirouette stamp set, Perfect fit-Holidays stamp set, Avonlea paper,  Silver Shimmer Ribbon, Embossing Powder, Boutique Assortment, and Pigment inks


Next we have Sheri Reiff’s card…


A elegant and beautiful card using a “non-Christmas” stamp set! 

Products used: Love Blooms stamp set, Merry & Bright stamp set, Pear & Partridge paper, Almond Glitz Glitter Gel, Brown & Tan sparkles


Kate Fisher used the new Blessings of Peace stamp set


Kate created the burlap bow a different way too – and that was quite the hit with our customers!  I only have a cell phone picture of this bow…pardon the bad quality – BUT I thought it may be very helpful to share to show you how many DIFFERENT ways the Burlap Ribbon can be used!!!


Products used: Blessings of Peace stamp set, Clementine paper, Twilight Cardstock, burlap ribbon, almond glitz glitter gel, square durables


Brenda Rutt’s card is next…

Brenda & I found a card created by fellow consultant Lisa Stenz similar to this card design.  Brenda loved the idea, and from there went with it and created THIS card!  I LOVE the changes she made, and how she turned it into a soft, BEAUTIFUL Christmas Card!!!

Products used: Monogram C stamp set, Perfect Fit-Frames stamp set, Everlasting Life stamp set, La Belle Vie paper and Clear Sparkles


Gennette Feagan’s item-

We wanted to do some type of 3D item, and because of that – we chose to use the Flirty paper pack to create a fall like gift bag!!  The ARTISTE Cricut Cartridge is the PERFECT solution to creating something Fast and easy!!!

Products used: Artiste Cricut Cartridge, Casual Expressions stamp set, Olive cardstock and Black Tulle



We will end with the first card I created for this day! J 

 I love trying to think of a TECHNIQUE that may be new to some…so I put on my thinking cap and tried it on this snowman card! J  Did you notice the edging around the card base?  Can you guess how we created that look?

I used Whisper re-inker & our stipple brush!!!

This was something that I was taught how to do at the Scrapbook Spa Getaway that I won from CTMH two years ago!!!  What a FUN time with Kristine, Monica and my 9 wonderful CTMH friends!!! 


Any way – by dabbing your stipple brush in the re-inker, wiping off the access ink – you can create this look! 

1. Lay your card on top of scrap paper

2. Ink up stipple brush

3. Starting from scrap paper – PULL brush TOWARDS card base.  Your brush marks will START on the scrap paper – and end up on the edge of the card base as well.

I hope this makes sense – if not, let me know and I’ll try and get some pictures to share with you!!!

Also, by taking sand paper and sanding off an area, it gives a GREAT background to stamp a word directly over that white spot!!!

Products used: Flakey Friends stamp set, Avonlea paper pack, Slate Polka-dot satin ribbon, sanding kit, stardust glitz glitter gel

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Thanks for stopping by to see the 1st part of our Christmas Card Making day!!  Make sure you come back at the beginning of next week to see the other 6 cards we created!!!

As you start creating your OWN Christmas cards, don’t forget about my Mystery Hostess Contest that is going on NOW! This is a special that I, Krista Hershberger, and giving to my CMTH friends!!!

You have until Oct. 31st to place your order, earn tickets and get YOUR chance to be one of my THREE Mystery Hostess winners – winning FREE Close To My Heart Products!!!

CLICK HERE for all the details!!!

Have a BLESSED weekend!!!

 Krista J