Last Christmas Card...and FREE Shimmer Trim!

So, I have one last Christmas Card to show you that I created using the Yuletide Carol Paper Packet from Close to My Heart.  I also used the matching Complements for this one...

I matted and cut out the sticker Complements to pop them up with some Thin Adhesive 3D Foam Tape.  It came together so quickly!  About the only thing missing from this card is some SPARKLE!

Need some SPARKLE to start off your year?  I have JUST the right thing!  For every order of $25 on my website or made through me, I am giving away my favorite thing...SHIMMER TRIM!

Why, without Shimmer Trim, you can't do THIS...

or THIS...

or even THIS!

I sure don't want that to happen to YOU!  So get your orders placed before the end of December so I can send you a FREE roll of Shimmer Trim--you can even choose the color!  Don't add it to your shopping cart if you shop at my website HERE: www.mimimyselfandi.ctmh.com.  Just let me know what color you would like after you order, and I will get it to you separately!  :)

You only have TWO MORE DAYS to take advantage of my offer AND to land this cutie-pie Stamp of the Month!

Don't delay!  You might miss the DEAL OF THE DECADE!  :)

Christmas Card Workshop Time!

I am so excited to host my annual Christmas Card Workshop!  I am even MORE excited to show you the first card we will be making!  It features my favorite new My Acrylix stamps set from Close to My Heart for Christmas...Sing Glory.  This is only offered as a Hostess Reward, so this is one of the few ways to be able to use it!

I combined two beautiful paper packets for this one:  Pear and Partridge (retired) and Yuletide Carol.  Does the card look familiar?  I used the example on page 7 of the Annual Inspirations Idea Book as my inspiration.  Close to My Heart Idea Books are intended to be just that--IDEA books!  Use the artwork inside for your own creations and take the agony out of designing.  :)

This angel stamp has so many details that I love!  Do you see the stars and snowflakes?

If it's a Christmas card, then it's gotta have some bling!  I chose the Sequins Gold Assortment to help us out with that...

A simple Merry Christmas sentiment can be stamped inside...

I am really happy with the way this one turned out.  We will be using the standard A2 side fold cards for these, not the top fold like in my pictures.  I designed it at an all day crop and cut my paper the wrong way for this one, lol!  ;)

November Stamp of the Month

Try Studio J and win prizes doing it! 

$5 Studio J Layouts in November!

So, I found out about the $5 layouts and had an INSTANT party in my brain, lol!  I KNEW in a flash that I would be creating my Christmas cards this year with the fantastic, free, photo scrapping software!

If you have never tried Studio J from Close to My Heart, you can set up your very own FREE account with no strings attached right HERE.

If you choose the NO LIMITS layout, you can create 4 - 4 x 8 inch photo cards on each page of the layout and still have room for two 4 inch square photos!  :)  Here is what I whipped up today with the Pear and Partridge Papers...

Wait a minute, I can hear what you are thinking...isn't Pear and Partridge RETIRED???  You bet it is...in paper form!  There are MANY of your favorite retired paper packets still available right there in Studio J for your scrapbooking pleasure!  This includes the Stickease and color coordinated embellishments like ribbon and buttons!  There are literally so many possibilities I lost count, lol!

I made my daughters graduation announcements in the spring with Studio J after learning about the photo card idea from my upline, Mandy Leahy.  There have been so many improvements to the system since they started it, so you really need to give it a try!

ALSO!  CHECK THIS OUT!

November marks the five-year anniversary of Studio J^®, and that means it’s your lucky month, with five amazing ways to win through Studio J and Close To My Heart social media!

First, throughout the month of November, all layouts purchased in Studio J are $5! That is a savings of over 25% off of retail—an unprecedented deal!

Your second chance to win big must come by sheer luck: every fifth order placed in Studio J during November receives a FREE surprise Close To My Heart accessory in its shipping box! The accessory has a retail value of $5 or more.

If luck doesn’t smile on you in that way, you might stumble upon it by finding a little extra something in your Studio J box. Five “golden tickets” will be sent out during the month of November with randomly selected Studio J print orders! This “golden ticket” is redeemable for one of Close To My Heart’s new D-ring albums* loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors™.

For a fourth way to win, simply create new, gorgeous layouts in Studio J, select your favorites, and then post pictures of them on Close To My Heart’s Facebook page using the hashtag #ctmhlucky5. After November 30, five lucky winners will be selected from the entries based on their artistry and creativity and each of these winners will receive their own D-ring album loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors!

And there is one last way to win: take your new Studio J artwork and post a picture of it on Instagram using the hashtag #ctmhlucky5. Just as it is with Facebook, after November 30, five lucky winners will be selected from the entries to receive their own D-ring album loaded with 10 Top Load Memory Protectors!

Get in the Game, Santa Clause!

Where, oh where is the time evaporating to???  I can hardly believe November is already over halfway through!

I think it's time to mix things up with a game theme over at Heart 2 Heart Challenges before we all get swept away in the hubub of the Holidays.  Are you game? I hope so, because we want you to use a GAME for your inspiration for this one!

I am NOT going to tell you my inspiration for this card yet...but don't worry, because I bet you can guess!

Did you get it right away?  The second I thought about the circles on the game of Twister, I knew I wanted to use the circles and rings in the Perfect Fit Holidays My Acrylix set from Close to My Heart.  

My color scheme was pretty obvious, but I just wasn't convinced I could pull it off with a Christmas theme or feel...until I saw the jolly Santa Clause in the new My Acrylix stamp set named for the jolly old elf himself!

I stamped in Topiary, Pacifica, Honey, and Ruby Exclusive Inks, and backed the White Daisy CS with a mat of Topiary.  I decided to tilt the focal panel off to the side instead of centering it on the mat...after all, Twister is anything but balanced!  I used some of the leftover circles in the inside to round it out...lol...pun intended!  ;)

Soooooo are you game?  Ready to get YOUR game on?  Come on and get your head in the game!  Alright, I am out of punny phrases...lucky for you!   Please do come play along with us over at Heart 2 Heart though, and use a game as your inspiration for a project.  GAME ON!  :)

Christmas Card Workshop Wrap-up!

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

Mine started off with two back-to-back Christmas Card workshops that were amazingly fun to say the least!  I don't think I mentioned how much I love my job...of course I have!

Here is a wrap-up of the wonderful Christmas cards we made!

I can't wait until next year!  :)

A Simply Stamped Christmas Card

I am back with another card for my Christmas Card Workshop!

This one was created in a moment of inspiration taken from the Frosted Workshop on the Go Cardmaking Kit that I had so much fun with over the weekend.  The card is ONLY stamped images on the card base.  That's it.  Nothing else except my sparkle pen...have a look!

I used the tree image from the Frosted Cardmaking Kit for the lovely row of trees.  I stamped each set of trees in New England Ivy Ink twice before I re-inked, using the first and second generation images to create an illusion of depth.  LOVE that technique.  I also ADORE this sentiment from the NEW Mary and Babe My Acrylix from the Holidays from the Heart Gift Guide...I stamped it in Cocoa.

Now for the grand slam...this is the image that takes this card from awwww, to YES!!!!  The star is also on the Mary and Babe stamp set.  I used my Bamboo Ink to stamp it and then traced over it with my Stardust Glitter Pen.  Suddenly, the row of tranquil trees stands at attention in the night as they see the star for the first time announcing His birth.  This is probably my favorite card this year so far!

 What do you think of adding a strip of Bronze Shimmer Trim to the bottom?  ;)

I KNOW!  I couldn't decide either!  Thanks for popping in today!

My local peeps can make this card at my Christmas Card Workshop on November 8th at 7pm and the 9th at 10 am.  Who's with me?  :)

Hexagons on a Christmas Card? Yep. And HOW!

Welcome to my blog!  I have a fantastic Christmas Card to share with you today that is rather contemporary, I have to say.  I was absolutely wanting to challenge myself to use Close to My Heart's brand new Irresistibles Hexagons on a card...and my head is stuck on designing Christmas Cards for my upcoming Christmas Card Workshop....so guess what I did?  Yep!  Combined the two for one SUPER card!

I would have never thought hexagons would belong on a Christmas Card, so what gives?  I honestly do not know!  You really just never know!  I might as well throw a few sparkles into the mix, right?

The honeycomb embossing folder is from Provo Craft and the Woodgrain paper is a scrap I had left from the 6 x 6 MME Dolled Up Pad.

Now, this sentiment is fantastic, and I even used it on another card HERE.  It is from the Cricut Artiste Cartridge, and is backed with a slim strip of Green Glitter Paper.  Doesn't it add just the right something?  That green Hexagon is also a leftover cut from the retired Victory Paper Packet.  I have one pack left in my Flee Market if you are looking for this one!  :)

This is my last link up with this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge...because it is already Wednesday again!!!  ;)

Want a chance to win the Cricut Artiste Collection that I used here?  Check out my new Reward Club for some great deals on Close to My Heart products and a chance to win!  :)

Another Chrismas Workshop Card!

I have really kept you waiting for these, and I apologize!  I finally have my Sparkle and Shine paper, so I am ON it!  :)

Here is the second card for my Close to My Heart Christmas Card Workshop in November.

I used an unusual My Acrylix set for Christmas--it is called Patterned Pennants, and really meant for summer time fun!  I love that I was able to make is more versatile!  Pink Glitter Gems adorn the tree.

A little tree trunk of Bronze Shimmer Trim is the perfect touch at the bottom, don't you think?  We will have to practice some light Glitz Glitter Gel application for this one!  ;)

I am linking up with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge for Christmas Cards!

I heard a rumor that my next card is for the birds...we shall see!  ;)

REMINDER!!!!  The October Stamp of the Month is a FANTASTIC Christmas set, so be sure to pick yours up before October is over if you like it!  ;)  It even coordinates with the Art Philosophy Collection! 

Christmas Card Workshop Washi Wonder!

I am making plans for my annual Christmas Card Workshop scheduled for November 8th and 9th.  I wanted to share my first card design with you!  This one is super-easy for stampers of all levels of experience.  :)

I just adore this Washi Wonder My Acrylix stamp set!  There are 24 different strips of washi just waiting for you to stamp it in any color you like!  I formed these into the shape of a Christmas tree for this fantastically simple-to-make card.  Then, I added a pennant banner stamp from the All the Details My Acrylix for the top triangle of the tree.  I love how the shape finishes it tree off so nicely!

I stamped the Noel sentiment from the retired Christmas Love My Acrylix in Chocolate Ink as the trunk of the tree. 

This star is created with the best non-mess glitter on the PLANET!  I cut it out of the Close to My Heart Tan Glitter Paper!  :)

I used every shade of Close to My Heart green Exclusive Inks for the tree--Sweet Leaf, Topiary, Ponderosa Pine, Pear, Olive, and New England Ivy.

Who wants to make this one?  I do!  :)  RSVP for my workshop early!

Want to earn this Hostess exclusive My Acrylix?  Contact me at mimimyselfandi@outlook.com  to schedule your own in-home or online gathering!  Don't want to host a gathering?  No problem!  Any order over $150 (including those amazing cricut cartridges) qualifies you to earn this stamp set FREE!  You MUST contact me to place your order in order to receive it because it isn't available on our CTMH website.

Don't forget to check out the October Stamp of the Month--Scandinavian Wishes--available this month only on my website!!

Muse Challenge #36 with Cityscape

I am so sorry for all the double daily posts lately!  Thanks bunches if you subscribe to me via email--I promise there won't be so many after this daily card challenge is over.  :)

I have been looking for new challenges to try, and I happened to find two of them that worked out perfectly together.  The first is called the Muse Challenge.  Each challenge uses a different card creation as inspiration for yours.  They can explain it much better than I can over on their blog, so head on over and check them out!  The second challenge I found is a sketch challenge called CAS(E) this Sketch!  I have been really enjoying the Clean and Simple style, so wanted to give it another go.

Here is my card...I am absolutely THRILLED with how it turned out!!!

Alright, so the Muse card is by Karen M. and is gorgeous!  Take a peek...

Muse Inspiration Card by Karen M.

I knew immediately which parts of the card inspired me--the embossed resist technique she used and the fantastic colors of the background!   I also knew what my scene would look like!  I grabbed my Close to My Heart Cityscape My Acrylix stamps and got straight to work.

I used my black pigment mini ink to stamp the buildings, and then quickly sprinkled them with clear detail embossing powder before shooting it with my heating tool.  With these juicy pigment inks, you only need to have clear powder on hand to emboss in any color (and we have 40!)  LOVE that shine!

Next, I used my Versamark Inkpad to stamp the snowflakes on the background.  I again used the clear embossing powder and heated it up.  Now for the inky fun!  I used my sponge daubers to randomly pat Outdoor Denim, Gypsy, and Indian Corn Blue over the top of the snowflakes.  To keep the windows of the buildings nice and brightly lit, I learned quickly to cover them with a piece of CS when I was stamping near them.  When I was happy with the ink coverage, I added Bitty Sparkles to some of the biggest snowflakes.

My banner with the word, "PEACE," was cut from my Close to My Heart Artiste Cartridge on White Daisy CS and backed with silver Shimmer Trim.  I thought it was the perfect sentiment to complement the scene, and a super addition for rounding out the CAS(E) sketch!

I think this makes a wonderful city-themed Christmas Card!   How about you?

WAIT!!!  Don't forget about my giveaway from earlier today HERE!  :)  

Two Chevron Cards!

I was a true overachiever yesterday after missing a day of the Card-A-Day Challenge.  BUT in true form, I did not make up the day I missed, oh no, lol...I made TWO chevron cards for day 10!  I love chevrons, so why not?  ;)

Today I am sharing the Christmas card...

I used the Frosted Paper Packet and WOTG Cardmaking Kit.  All the papers are edge distressed with Whisper Ink.

This wonderful sentiment is second-degree stamped in Twilight Ink.  That means it was stamped once on another sheet of paper before I stamped it here again...it just gives it a less BOLD color.

Did you know you can trim up those Sparkle Flourishes?  I used these remnants that I had from other projects for this card, and they were perfect!  

I really wanted more bling than just that, so I also trimmed this zip strip with the dark grey in the Black and Grey Glitter Paper.  I love how it is sort of a blue tinge.

My entire card design comes from Pattern 20 in the Make it From Your Heart Volume 2 How-to book from the new Close to My Heart Idea Book.  There are two different volumes now, and they have 18 scrapbook layout patterns and 12 card patterns that are inspired by Jeanette Lynton.  I love how easy they make the design process when I am in a hurry or in a slump creatively.  Check it out!  :)

My second chevron card uses a pattern from this same book, and I will show it to you a bit later!  See you soon!