Damask Divas December Blog Hop ~ Pear and Partridge

Ho, Ho, Ho!  Welcome to the December edition of the Damask Divas Blog Hop!  This month we are showcasing our gorgeous Reds and Greens of the Pear and Partridge Paper Packet just in time for Christmas.  If you came from Mandy Leahy's Blog, then you are on the right path!

I decided to make decorations for my Christmas Wreath with the different B&T Duos from the Pear and Partridge Paper Packet.  I have been wanting to make poinsettias for this wreath since last year, and with the proper motivation of a blog hop, I finally did it!

All of the shapes for the decorations were cut from the Close to My Heart Art Philosophy and Artiste Cartridges.  For the first poinsettia, I layered different sized flower cuts on Cranberry Cardstock and a red patterned B&T Paper from Pear and Partridge using foam tape.  I also added a layer of White Daisy which is actually a snowflake cut.  I stamped an image from the Snowflake My Acrylix Stamp Set in Cranberry Exclusive Ink (dye ink.)  The center is fastened with a gold Shimmer Designer Brad.  These brads will be retiring next month, so get them while you can!

I dotted the points with Almond Glitter Glitz for some added sparkle and shine.

I made these two other poinsettias as well using the same supplies.  The leaves were super-fun to make and are another pattern paper from Pear and Partridge.  I used a stylus to "draw" the veins on the leaves, and then I colored over the impressions with my Ponderosa Pine and Olive Alcohol Markers to give it some depth.

I love how the foam tape placed at the outer edges of the petals gives the flowers more "POP!"  I sponged Cranberry Ink onto the edges of all the petals as well.

I also wanted to use other decorations on the wreath, so I strung up this pair of mittens.  This striped B&T (Background and Texture, in case you were wondering what that stands for...) is also in the Pear and Partridge Packet and looked great as a knit pair!  They have Shimmer Trim on the cuffs, and a cute little snowflake adorned with a big, clear sparkle on the body.  A length of Olive Baker's Twine holds them together.

What to do about a bow???  OF COURSE!  Our new Burlap Ribbon was the perfect choice for added visual interest.  I used liquid glass to form three 18" loops, and then wrapped a short piece around them in the middle.  The liquid glass is THE best adhesive to keep bigger embellishments in place.  After it dried, I attached it to the wreath with some thin wire.

One more space remained, so I decided to hang an ornament shape with more Baker's Twine for balance.  The image is also from the Snowflake My Acrylix and stamped in Cranberry Ink after cutting the coordinating shape on my Cricut Expression.  O Shimmer Trim, O Shimmer Trim, how silver are your sparkles...sing with me.  ;)  Come on, you knew I would add some, didn't you? 

I hope you have been inspired to create your own Christmas decor and paper projects using some of the products you have seen along our hop!  I only wish I had more time to make EVERYTHING that pops into my head!

DON"T FORGET to make sure you enter the Rafflecopter drawing on the Damask Divas page at the beginning of our hop!  I am giving away the beautiful Christmas My Acrylix set, Blessings of Peace.   This is a fabulous time of year to use it!

Don't miss your chance to win if your mailing address is in the USA!  :)

Your next stop along our merry hop is Melissa Thompson at My Love 4 Creativity.  I can't wait to see her gorgeous creation! Remember, if you get lost on our hop, just check the Damask Divas Blog for a list of participants.  :)

Christmas Tag Blog Hop!

Hey everyone!  Well, the leftover turkey and stuffing is gone, the tree is up, and the Christmas CD's have officially come out at my house.  Time to get ready for my favorite time of the year!  In celebration, some of the Damask Divas are having an impromptu Christmas tag blog hop to help you get ready!  

We are featuring something that EVERYONE needs at this time of the year--gift tags for Christmas packages!  So grab a cup of hot chocolate, sit back, and enjoy as we share our creations with you!

I went a little "tag happy" actually this year as it is my first Christmas with Close to My Heart.  I have made sooooo many, but blogged so few!  Here are a few of my faves that I made.  They are all created with cuts from the Cricut Art Philosophy or Artiste Cartridges along with other fabulous Close to My Heart products.

Artiste and Very Merry Christmas S1210

Art Philosophy and Holiday Wishes CC1015

 Shimmer Trim and Sparkles too!

Art Philosophy, Perfect Fit Frames D1527, and Countdown B1390

Art Philosophy, Snowflakes D1480, Universal Backgrounds D1477, and Very Merry Christmas S1210

Hmmmm...it is kind of crazy, but guess what I feel like doing now?  Making more Christmas tags!
Hop on off to see the other amazing creations while I get busy!  Thanks for hopping with us!

Your next stop is Traci Williams at Paper Crafting 101.

If you get lost along the way, here is a list of participating blogs:

Mimi, Myself, and I --you are here!

Paper Crafting 101 --your next stop!

Crafting with Carolyn

The Gypsy Chic

Cutesy and Sills Crafts

Creating Fun Crafts

Enjoy the fabulous creations!

Tag, You're It! Capture the Date!

Happy Cyber Monday!  I have been getting into the Christmas Spirit and making some festive projects.  Here is a simple, yet unforgettable tag to help you find your Christmas Mojo!   I used some retired Close to My Heart paper and ribbon that I just couldn't resist stocking up on when they left.  BUT, I also used current products including this month's Stamp of the Month, Capture the Date.

The snowflake is cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge available exclusively through your Independent Consultant (like me!)  I used the Snowflakes My Acrylix Stamp set to stamp the image that perfectly fit the shape my cricut cut out.  This snowflake looks fantastic with the paper in our  Sky Ink.  I love adding the Bitty Sparkles to just about anything this time of year!

Guess what?  You can get the Stamp of the Month I used for this tag right now for only $5 with a $50 purchase from my website!  Guess what else?  You can also get ANY stamp set of your choice for 1/2 off when you do!  AND GUESS WHAT ELSE???  My Black Friday sale is STILL ON!!!  Check this out!

Spend $25-$34.99 before tax----------------->   Get a free Monogram Stamp of your choice A-Z!

Spend $35-$49.99 before tax-------------------->  Get a free Ink Pad of your choice!

Spend $50-$74.99 before tax------------------------>  Get a free size A stamp set of your choice!  OR GET YOUR STAMP OF THE MONTH SET FREE!!!! (contact me to place your order!) PLUS you qualify to get the Stamp of the Month: Capture the Date for only $5 if you don't take it as the free item PLUS any other Stamp Set for only HALF PRICE when you do!!!

Spend $75-$99.99 before tax-------------------->  Get a FREE Paper Packet or size B Stamp Set of your choice, PLUS you can add the Stamp of the Month, Capture the date for only $5 and any other stamp set for HALF OFF when you do!

Spend $100-$149.99 before tax------------------------------>  Get a free size C stamp set of your choice!!  PLUS you can add up to two Stamp of the Month, Capture the date sets for only $5 each and any other stamp set for HALF OFF when you do!

 Spend $150 or more before tax----------------------------->  Get a FREE size D stamp set of your choice,  $25 of qualifying hostess rewards, AND you can add up to three Stamp of the Month, Capture the date sets for only $5 each and any other stamp set for HALF OFF when you do!!!  YOU MUST contact me directly to order so that you can receive your free hostess rewards!!!  You can find my contact information on my website.

BUT WAIT!  There's MORE!!!  Every person who orders through "Amie's Christmas Card Workshop" link on my Close to My Heart website will be entered to win a FREE Workshop on the Go of their choice!!!  Yep!!!  I will draw the name on Sunday, December 2nd and announce the winner on my blog, right here!

WHEW!!!  You may place your orders directly through my website (unless the offer says to contact me) and remember to join Amie's December Christmas Card Workshop to qualify for the drawing above.   Click HERE to do this now.   I will contact you personally for your free item choice as outlined above.  If you are coming to my Christmas Card Workshop, bring your wish list and I will get it all taken care of there (as well as enter you in the drawing.)  I am so excited to be a business owner on my very first Cyber Monday!  ;)  I hope you all enjoy your shopping and saving, and good luck in the drawing!

Rudolph the Treat-Nosed Reindeer

I simply could not wait to share this little guy with you.  He is one of the very first additions to my brand new Etsy Shop:  

AmieKiger Mimi, Myself, and I Designs


This tag took a bit of time to create, and I have a stack of "not quite right" versions to prove it!  Getting everything all lined up was super-tricky.  It actually started out as a card idea that I saw somewhere, but I decided to turn it into a tag instead.

Isn't he cute?  I used CCR (the Cricut Craft Room free online design software at cricut.com) to manipulate the shapes on the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge.  I finally got everything sized just right so that it all fits together.  Assembling the little guy is pretty easy, actually after all the time it took designing him!  This is what the back looks like:

You pull the little tab out at the bottom to open up the window in the back.  This way it is easy to get to the candy without destroying the whole tag.  The pull-tab is snug enough that it won't fall out too.  I stamped the "To" and "From" in Cranberry Ink from the Very Merry Christmas My Acrylix set which was the Stamp of the Month for October.  Even though it isn't available anymore, you can still win this stamp set at my Christmas Card Workshop!  ;)

I would love to offer this design for others to use, so anyone who includes these Treat Cups (Z1778) as part of their order from my website or locally through me will be emailed the CCR file I used to make them!  You must have a Provocraft Cricut Expression, Expression 2 or Imagine Machine to use the file.  Also, you need to have the Art Philosophy Cartridge from Close to My Heart since all the cuts are on that cartridge.

Guess WHAT!?!?  I even made a video tutorial on how to make these!  :)  *squeals*

For my fellow consultants in the USA who might be interested in this cut file, I have put together a simple kit containing all the paper pieces needed to make one tag.  You may supply your own treat cups this way.  I will mail you the kit in an envelope and email you the CCR cut file so that you may make more!  The price of this kit is only $6 and includes the rights to make these with your customers at your own workshops.  The cut file is designed to cut enough pieces to make ten tags at a time, saving you paper and time!

Just click on my button below to get yours and make them yourself in no time!

Black Friday Starts TODAY!!!

 I have two questions for you:

1.  How many of you are are braving the crowds at 4 am on Friday???    NO WAY!!!  To each his own, but not me!  ;)

2.  How many of you want to get up at 4 am Friday to place an order with me for my Black Friday Sale???    ME EITHER!!!  My favorite thing to do on Black Friday is SLEEP IN!  ;)

Sooooooo my Black Friday specials start TODAY!!!!  Yep, you heard me right!  From right now until Dec. 1st (because seriously, shouldn't Black Friday be EVERYDAY?) my sale is ON!

Here are the fantastic deals you can take advantage of now through Decmeber 1st!

Spend $25-$34.99 before tax----------------->   Get a free Monogram Stamp of your choice A-Z!

                                                      

 Spend $35-$49.99 before tax-------------------->  Get a free Ink Pad of your choice!

Spend $50-$74.99 before tax------------------------>  Get a free size A stamp set of your choice!  OR GET YOUR STAMP OF THE MONTH SET FREE!!!! (contact me to place your order!) PLUS you qualify to get the Stamp of the Month: Capture the Date for only $5 if you don't take it as the free item PLUS any other Stamp Set for only HALF PRICE when you do!!!

Spend $75-$99.99 before tax-------------------->  Get a FREE Paper Packet or size B Stamp Set of your choice, PLUS you can add the Stamp of the Month, Capture the date for only $5 and any other stamp set for HALF OFF when you do!

Spend $100-$149.99 before tax------------------------------>  Get a free size C stamp set of your choice!!  PLUS you can add up to two Stamp of the Month, Capture the date sets for only $5 each and any other stamp set for HALF OFF when you do!

Spend $150 or more before tax----------------------------->  Get a FREE size D stamp set of your choice,  $25 of qualifying hostess rewards, AND you can add up to three Stamp of the Month, Capture the date sets for only $5 each and any other stamp set for HALF OFF when you do!!!  YOU MUST contact me directly to order so that you can receive your free hostess rewards!!!  You can find my contact information on my website.

BUT WAIT!  There's MORE!!!  Every person who orders through "Amie's Christmas Card Workshop" link on my Close to My Heart website will be entered to win a FREE Workshop on the Go of their choice!!!  Yep!!!  I will draw the name on Sunday, December 2nd and announce the winner on my blog, right here!

WHEW!!!  You may place your orders directly through my website and remember to join Amie's December Christmas Card Workshop to qualify for the drawing above.   Click HERE to do this now.   I will contact you personally for your free item choice as outlined above.  If you are coming to my Christmas Card Workshop, bring your wish list and I will get it all taken care of there. I am so excited to be a business owner on my very first Black Friday!  ;)  I hope you all enjoy your shopping and saving, and good luck in the drawing!

Don't Forget!!!  For every Stamp of the Month set purchased as part of this month’s promotion, Close To My Heart will contribute $1 to the American Red Cross relief fund for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Now THAT is a WIN, WIN, WIN!

HUGE Announcement!!!

Are you ready???



Are you sitting down???



Here it is, the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

My Etsy Shop is officially open for business!  You heard me right!  It took a bit of prodding and poking (right, Kate?)  Ok, more than a bit, but I finally buckled down and set up shop!  After all, what better time to open up than Black Friday/Cyber Monday?  ;)

I hope you go visit HERE and see my paper crafts that I have created to offer there.  Many, if not all, are specially listed for the Christmas Season.  I sure hope you find something you like!  Check back often as I am adding new things each day for a while!  :)

I did it! Pumpkin Treat Box Tutorial Success! :)

Well, I finally figured out how to edit my tutorial on iMovie.  While this is very exciting for me, it is also a mixed bag of emotions because I am my biggest critic, lol.  I also realized that I am definitely a talker!  I hope this tutorial helps you understand how to make this cute little box.  Enjoy!  :)

CHRISTmas Card Close Up

Over the next couple of weeks I will be posting up the Christmas Cards and tags that are available to make at my upcoming Workshop.  You can already see them by clicking on the Christmas Card Workshop Tab at the top of my blog.  I hope you are inspired to make some cards this year!

This is one of my favorites so far.  You probably hear me say that a lot though, lol!  I love the bicycle stamp so much from the Close to My Heart La Belle Vie Workshop on the Go.   The present stamp is from the Christmas Love My Acrylix Set.  I used my micro-tip scissors to carefully snip it from the sentiment.  Sometimes my lack of inhibition scares me.  ;)  I really have no qualms modifying my stamps.

Here is a closer look at that beautiful sentiment.  I used my Bow-easy for the darling little bow, of course!

Here are the other supplies I used in creating this wonderful Christmas card:

Pear and Partridge Paper Packet
Cranberry Grograin Ribbon
Almond Glitz Glitter Gel
Green Glitz Glitter Gel
Black Exclusive Ink (Dye Pad)

Cricut Artiste Slider Christmas Card

Happy Wednesday!  I have been wanting to make a slider card ever since I saw the gorgeous example they had at Convention.  Here is a video for you to see the one they made!

Now, I wanted to make mine with a Christmas theme, so I changed it up a bit.  I cut the card at 3 inches by tricking my E2 into thinking it was working with a 12 x 24 inch mat and rotating the image 90 degrees.  ;)   I used Close to My Heart White Daisy, Sweet Leaf, and Cranberry Cardstock.  Silver and gold together at Christmas with Shimmer Trim and brads. 

I used a sentiment from the October 2012 SOTM for this one.  The set is no longer available to order, but you can win it at my Christmas Workshop on December 1st!  The poinsettias are cut out with the Artiste Cartridge as well.  I used a stylus to create the veins and then folded and inked them with Cranberry Dye Ink.

 Here is the card as you pull out the slider...

Here it is in the inside...I just used the remnant from the White Daisy "holder" on the inside as a base for my sentiment.

I see many more possibilities for this type of card and cannot wait to experiment some more!  Next time, I am going to random stamp some Christmassy images in White Daisy and add some glitz.  :)

Thanks for taking a peek!

Advent Calendar Finale

Hi everyone!  Happy Veteran's Monday!  Did you know the banks are closed?  Hee, hee, yep--found that out in the drive through, lol...

Anyway, I held my Advent Calendar workshop yesterday and had so much fun with my ladies.  It was a small group, and we sure did a lot of laughing!  I used the design of a friend consultant, Lalia Harris, and added my own touches to end up with a work of art that all my ladies should be very proud of accomplishing!  That took some serious commitment to finish, and boy did they!  Here is the finished product...

These are the boxes that I tweaked to add my own touches...

Congrats to Beth, Barb, and Debbie for their hard work and perseverance!  You did it!  :)

Happy Birthday to Carisa!

I really wanted to share the gift that I sent along with my Mojo #266 card.  I used one of my favorite retired papers from Close to My Heart, Wonderland.  It coordinated nicely with the card, so I wanted to show you how much bang you can get out of matchy-matchy cards and gifts.  ;)

I thought of a totally new way to use my shimmer trim!  I added it as a little tag loop to attach it to my Slate Satin Polka-Dot Ribbon.  I only removed the backing from the adhesive where it would touch the tag, not where the embroidery floss threads through.

Here is the other side.  The little box closes with a hook and loop dot.  Then I embellished it with a flower and button.  This is the same little box cut from the Cricut Artiste Cartridge that I used for my pumpkin boxes for Halloween--seriously!  ;)  HERE they are in case you missed them.  And yes, I am still trying to figure out how to edit the video tutorial I made.   :(   I need a tech department, lol.

I didn't take a picture of them, but I added some of my homemade gift tags inside the box that my friend had admired on my facebook page.  She is such a sweetheart!  I hope she has a fabulous day!  :)