Christmas Cards using Wonderland paper pack :)

Are you excited to see some MORE Wonderland artwork? J  I have two more cards from the swap to share with you today…

     a 6x6 card and a 5 ¼ x 4 ½ holly card! J

When I first looked through the new Fall/Winter Idea Book – I quickly noticed on page 83 the new stamp set called “Glory to God”.  I LOVE this stamp set and was excited to be able to use this beautiful set to remember Jesus’ birth! So, this was a set I was planning to use for my Wonderland swap!

The 6x6 card design for this card was found in our Wishes how to book and it’s called “Open Outline”

To start, I needed to cut the circle out of the center of my card…so I dusted off my Coluzzle circle shape swivel blade & mat! J I do pull this out occasionally because I love how this little system works.  However…in this day and age, someone could probably give me a tip on how I could have cut out that circle shape by using my Cricut machine? J  I believe I might have been able to use the “Center Point” button on my Expression?  Anyone have any tips on that? J

I used our Cocoa Embossing powder to stamp the silhouette of Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus and the star.   I had to jog my memory for some tips as I was embossing…don’t forget to have a used fabric softener sheet to wipe across your base paper prior to embossing! J This helps to take away static that loose embossing powder likes to cling to.

I loved the Scripture verse that comes along with this stamp set…but it was too big to stamp on the front of the card – sooo, I used the verse as a background stamp and stamped the verse in Cocoa ink onto the Twilight cardstock to give it some texture.  The “Merry Christmas” stamp is from the new stamp set called, “Holiday Cheer”. (can’t wait to create with this set too! LOL!)

In completing the card, I used our NEW Choc. Striped 1 ½” ribbon and our Antique Copper Designer Brads.  Of course, using the Bronze Glitz Glitter Gel finished off the card! J 

The 2^nd card I used one of new A-size Stamp sets called “A Holiday”. 

The first thing I LOVE about this set…it coordinates with the Cricut!!!  Yay!!!  So, I got my Cricut buzzing and cut out a bunch of the holly shaped leaves.  Next, it was easy – I did some stamp rolling of my holly leaves on my PRE-CUT Cricut images J…I inked my holly stamp in Crystal Blue ink and then rolled the outer edges of the holly stamp in Twilight ink. I love the look that stamp rolling gives! 

Can you see where ELSE I used a pre-cut Cricut image on this card? J…Look closely…The grey flannel scallop border is a Cricut image!  This image was actually a double sided scalloped border that I cut in half and used the other half on my next card!

Take a look and you’ll see that I sponged Grey Flannel ink quite a lot too!  I inked the edges of the card in grey flannel as well as the edges of all the cardstock pieces. It is hard to see in this  picture, but the lightly sponged edges really added a nice extra touch to the completed card. 

Did you notice the background in the top of the card?  Yes – that’s right…it’s the holly border stamp that comes in this A Holiday stamp set!! J It was fun to be able to use almost ALL the stamp images in this set on one card!

Instead of using the holly berries stamps on this card, I chose to use our pewter Bigger Brads for the berries.  You will find the bigger brads AND many more adorable pewter embellishments in our new pack of Pewter Mini-Medleys. I love the extra touch that Pewter brought to this card. J   I also used one of the ribbon slides that come in the mini-medley pack, and a piece of Twilight ribbon from the Blue Designer Ribbon pack – to add an extra touch at the bottom of the card. 

So – what ideas has this card brought to your mind?  I believe I might try adding a color into this card…hmmm, maybe as part of the border?  What color would you add to this combination? Cranberry?  Smokey Plum? J

If you are interested in creating these card designs on your own, please feel free to go to my website by clicking here J. 

Here is a COMPLETE list of ALL the items used on these two cards!! 

Have a great night!

Nativity 6x6 card

Wishes ~ “Open Outline” ~ pg. 98

D1483               Glory to God

B1381                Holiday Cheer

X7146B             Wonderland level 2

1385                  White Daisy Cardstock

Z2111                 Chocolate ink

Z891                 Versa Mark ink

Z1483                Bronze Glitz Glitter gel

Z1088               Chocolate Waxy Flax

Z1410                Antique Copper Designer Brads

Z1617                Dark Chocolate Striped Ribbon

Z1246                Cocoa Embossing Powder

Z1294                Sanding Kit (file)

Z1298                Foam Tool

                        Coluzzle

“Merry Christmas” holly card –

Wishes ~ “Simple Expression” ~ pg. 40

A1115                A Holiday

X7146B             Wonderland level 2

1385                  White Daisy cardstock

Z1686                Cricut AP Collection (scallop border

Z2124                Grey Flannel ink      5.3 – “fit to length”)

Z2160               Twilight ink      

Z2126                Heavenly Blue ink

Z1487                Pewter Mini Medley

Z1385                Blue Designer Ribbon

Z697                 Sponge

Z1151                 3D Foam Tape

Wonderland Swap Items

Thank you for your patience as I was creating away! J  I know a BUNCH of you commented that you can't wait to see the finished items...I am EXCITED to share these items with you!  I am privileged to be a part of a swap that is held by Karen Morris…thanks so much Karen! J 

I chose to use the new WONDERLAND paper pack!!!  What a FABULOUS winter paper pack! J  I love snowflakes…so this paper is a GREAT one for me! J 

As part of the swap, we had to create 5 items; 1-12x12 page and 4 other specific cards.  Here are the 5 items I created…

Today I’ll give you details on the 12x12 layout. J

I used our AMAZING how-to-book, Reflections, for my layout design.  You will find this layout on page 29 in this book and it is called “Bottom Border Base”.  I can’t BELIEVE how much TIME I save by using our hows to books !!!  I never thought I’d be a how-to-book gal, J…but I am AMAZED at how much faster I can create my layouts just by using a simple design to get started!!! Thank YOU Close To My Heart! J

For this 12x12 layout, I used the Cricut Art Philosophy Collection (AP) a LOT more than I was planning on J, but this FABULOUS Cricut cartridge has made my creating so much Faster. Simpler and Easier!!!  This snowflake is a 2” snowflake on page 22 of the AP booklet.  I used the base image and cut that in white, and then used the Spring Iris cardstock and used the base image + shift +Layer button on the keypad to create the top snowflake.

 The sparkly button and pearl stick pin on top of the snowflake comes from our NEW Bling Assortment pack!!!  Love, LOVE the sparkle and glitz this embellishment brings to any creation! J  I also used our White Daisy Grosgrain ribbon to bring a bit more to this layout. 

One thing you will notice at the top of this 12x12 page – I did some heat embossing too!  I used the silver embossing powder to stamp the border from the stamp set, Snowflakes, at the top of the page. Doesn’t the silver just add some glam to this page?

Take a look at how quick & easy it is to add Top Coats to any creation!  I LOVE the new Top Coats Icing Overlays!  You’ll notice I also used the Cricut AP to add another snowflake on top of the topcoat!  I used Heavenly Blue cardstock and the snowflake image on page 27 of the booklet.  After I cut out the snowflake, I used our Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel on top of the snowflake to bring in some more sparkle. 

If you look closely, you’ll notice that in the center of this Top Coat – I used one of our NEW Rhinestone Designer Brads…hmmm, but it’s not the normal clear color – it’s Twilight?  Did you know that you can “paint” these designer brads as WELL as the items in the Bling Assortment and our CLEAR sparkles too!?!?!!!  

It’s so EASY to paint these items – take one CTMH’s clear craft jars, put in a quarter size of Liquid Glass, add 2-3 drops of a re-inker color of your choice, and use a paintbrush to mix together.  Next, take off any access “paint” on your brush and then “paint” your rhinestone designer brad!  It is as SIMPLE as that! J You can create ANY colored item to coordinate with your creations – as long as you have the re-inker color! J

Check out this next picture of the word “snow”…let me give you the details on how I created this sparkly title J

I used the Chocolate Large Alphabet – an alphabet set I use over and over again!  I actually embossed these alphabet letters.  I made my own mixture of embossing powder J…I took a bit of our Clear Embossing powder and then mixed in some of our prisma glitter. I stamped the letters in the Versamark ink and then sprinkled my mixture over top and used the heat tool to emboss the letters.  I used our cutting knife to cut out the alphabet letters.  I wasn’t sure that the title had enough sparkle, so I did use some of our Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel to add a bit more shine to these letters.  To complete the title, I added a Large sparkly button from the Bling assortment. J

Finally, I stamped these ADORABLE mittens to hang from my bow. J  Can anyone find what stamp set these mittens are from????

  Yes, you got it – the Wonderland Workshop On the Go kit!  This stamp set is an EXCLUSIVE stamp set ONLY found in the Wonderland WOTG!!!  You’ll want to join my Workshop Class on Monday, December 12^th to get this Workshop Kit and Exclusive stamp set for yourself. J

To complete this layout, I used CTMH’s SILVER Glitz Glitter Gel around all Grey Flannel Cardstock pieces.  I have been using ALL of our 4 colors of the glitz glitter gel to finish off many of my creations.  It adds sooo much, just by using the simple application of the glitz gel! J  

I hope you enjoyed the details of this 12x12 page and stay tuned for details on the rest of my swap items! 

Enjoy your day! J

FINAL days to RSVP for Christmas Card Making Day!

A reminder that Christmas Card Making Day RSVP date is coming up rather quickly!!!  Please RSVP by Monday, Sept 5^th as we need to order the supplies for this card making day!!

We are excited, because as today – we have the HIGHEST amount of attendees ever! J  We have a few more spaces available – so please let me know if you were planning to join us on this FUN, CREATIVE day!

All of the information you need to know is located on the flyer posted below.  This is an INCREDIBLE day of creating Christmas cards with Close To My Heart’s BRAND new 2011 Fall/Winter items!!!

A YUMMY lunch, door prizes for all, a NEW fall/winter Idea Book, goodie bag, 10-12 completed cards and MANY new creative ideas – are included in the amazing price of just $30!!! J

What a GREAT day to decide what your Christmas card design will be for this year – or maybe even next year! (I know some of you work that far ahead!!!)  Please contact me with any questions you may have and I look forward to seeing you soon! J

Just click on the picture to make it larger :)

I've been busy...

the past week and a half and  I haven't had time to post creative items on my blog.  So, I thought you might like to see a few sneak peeks of what I'm working on. J  

I will post more details and the COMPLETE photos when these items are in the mail and on their way to the swap in Nevada! J

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!

Hooray Bouquet stamp set coordinates with Cricut!

I LOVE Close To My Heart's videos!!! They are so helpful and FULL of helpful information! 

Take a few minutes to watch this video showing how our stamp sets can coordinate with our new Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge!  The Hooray Bouquet stamp set shown in this video, is one of my FAVORITE new stamp sets! :) 

Enjoy!

Make n Take projects from Open House

Thank you to each one of you that participating in Thursday & Friday’s Open House!  It is always so FUN to see each of you and share about Close To My Heart’s newest items!

                        

I want to share with you the two make n takes I had at my Open House. 

The first card was a card we created using the August Stamp of the Month! J  I was sooo excited when I came up with this design!!!  It is AMAZING how you can use CLEAR stamps in so MANY ways that would be very difficult or nearly impossible with wood stamps! J 

What stamp image (from the Wicked – August SOTM stamp set) was used in creating this card??? J  

Yup – you got it!!!  I used the witches broom to create the flower in this card! J  So FUN!!!!  I was SO EXCITED when I discovered this trick!!! 

I stamped the top of the witches broom 3-4 times in sunset ink until I made the flower look like I wanted it to look.  Then I used olive ink to stamp the “base & stem” of the flower.  The stamped leaves did come from another stamp set – our new set called Unscripted.  I can’t wait to create items with this stamp set.  Believe it or not, I’ve only used the little leaf so far from this set! J

Ok – back to the card.  You may realize I also (once again) used the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge on this card!!! J  I cut out <shape 2> on page 36 of the manual in 2 different colors.  The desert sand shape was cut at 1 ¼”.  I then used one of the three stamp sets that comes with the Art Philosophy Cricut Bundle and stamped the “wishing you a wonderful…” right on top!!!  Yay!!  Cricut, did the hard work of cutting out this shape for me J

Next I cut a sunset <shape 2> at 1 ½”.  I used our ORIGINALS how-to book (pg. 59) for the design of the card…and I used the New Mischief paper pack.  I added a few of our Mocha Opaque gems and to finish it off – I had to pull out some of our FABULOUS BRONZE glitz glitter gel! J  LOVE THIS STUFF!!! 

For the 2^nd make and take, I wanted to create an item using the Cricut Art Philosophy (AP) in every way possible J  So…I designed this pillow box!!!

We used the new Roxie paper pack. (I can’t get enough of this paper pack – especially the plaid! J)

The pillow box was cut at 5”(pg. 28 in manual).  The black scalloped edge border was cut at 1” to make this border 6 ½” in length (pg. 62) and the scalloped vanilla cream circle was cut at 2” (pg. 41).  I used the Art Philosophy Tag stamp set (that comes with the bundle) to stamp the “Thanks you’re…” image directly on top of that 2” scalloped circle! J  Love it, LOVE IT!!

I wanted to show my friends/customers J…how NEAT the 3D flowers are on the Cricut – so we added a 1 ½” rose (pg. 68) to this pillow box.  With this rose, we inked the edges with black ink prior to rolling it up.  Then I also used my paper piercer to “roll back” the petals of this rose to help it look more real.  THEN – we finally rolled up the flower to the middle.  We used Liquid glass to adhere it to the base, and touched up the petals by again using the paper piercer to roll back the petals. 

I did create this board below, so that you can see the 6 different kinds of flowers that you can create with the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge! J 

Keep in mind – the flowers on this board were cut out with the Cricut, rolled up and held with a glue dot.  There was no inking, no shaping the petals; no anything….this is exactly how they would look when you use our white-cored, CTMH cardstock to create a flower using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. 

click the picture to see it larger...J

1^st row –  Tulip Cardstock

                   3”               2”               1”

2^nd row – Vanilla Cream Cardstock

                   4 ½”                    3 ½”                    2 ½”

3^rd row – Petal cardstock

                   4”               3”               2”

4^th row – Goldrush cardstock

                   4 ¾”           3 ¾”           2 ¾”

5^th row – Sunset cardstock

                   3 ¾”                    2 ¾”           1 ¾”

6^th row – Crystal Blue Cardstock

                   4 ¼”           3 ¼”           2 ¼”

Here is one more pillow box – the same design, colors as the make n take – but I used the stamp set “Pair-A-Phrase”!!! 

Don’t miss your chance this MONTH to get this Pair-A-Phrase stamp set for FREE when you place a $75 order!!! J 

AND…don’t forget about the SPECIAL that runs until August 31^st…

If you purchase the August Stamp of the Month set for $5 (when you place a $50 min. order) you will receive the Wicked stamp set PLUS an A-size stamp set – Typeface- for FREE too!!! J 

How many stamp sets will you receive when you purchase $70 in products and add on the August SOTM for ONLY $5.00??

FOUR stamp sets for $5.00!! J

You will receive the…

***August SOTM for $5.00 with a qualifying order (retail value: $17.95)

***A-size Alphabet – Typeface for FREE (retail value: $6.95)

***Pair-A-Phrase Stamp set for FREE (retail value $35.90…and just a side note - there is no limit to the number of free sets you can receive per order!!!  If you place a qualifying order of $150, you will receive 2 My Acrylix^® Pair-a-Phrases stamp sets for free. J)

These FOUR stamp sets are a RETAIL value of $60.80!!! J 

CLICK HERE to get these AMAZING specials today! J