Blue Christmas for Muse Challenge

Happy Halloween!  And now, let's jump to Christmas!  ;)

I am BACK in the challenge saddle!  I had a chance to goof around a bit after doing what I HAD to do today, and it was quite the cram session!  All the cards I made have a similar theme, but they have completely different FEEL.

The first one is for the current Muse Challenge.  The Muse card is by Janet Ribet...

Muse Card by Janet Ribet

I just love the cool winter color scheme she went with for her card.  Also, I happen to HAVE that embossing folder!  A plan began to evolve in my head, so I tried to get it onto paper just as fast!

You might recognize this design from an earlier Christmas card I made with these same Close to My Heart stamps, Tree Delights and Framework Alphabet.  I stamped them here in Crystal Blue ink before using my embossing folder over the image.

At the bottom of the card, I tore pieces of White Daisy CS and layered them into a snowy landscape.  I actually had a wonderful spool of trim to use along the bottom as in the Muse card as well. 

This star is from the Sparkle Holiday Shapes, a NEW item in our Holidays from the Heart Gift Guide!  I adore these sparkly outlines!  I noticed that the Muse card also uses some iridescent glitter, so I added some Stardust Glitz Glitter Gel to the stars on the tree.  A few Sparkles, and the tree was done!

I can't wait to show you my other two cards like this...the same, but different!  ;)

Color Dare Reminder and a New Record!!!

Get your creations in for this week's Color Dare by Thursday the 26th at NOON!

I just whipped this little CAS card up in 40 minutes FLAT!!!!  If you know me, you realize this is a totally record-breaking moment, lol!  I am celebrating by linking it up to CAS-ual Fridays CFC115 and the Color My Heart Color Dare right NOW!  ;) 

I used two fantastic Close to My Heart My Acrylix stamp sets for this one:  Cityscape and Perfect Fit Thanksgiving.  I simply (no pun intended....ok, so yeah, it is intended) ADORE this sentiment--"give thanks" in that petite little font.  Isn't it amazing?  The Olive Twine is from the Harvest Baker's Twine Assortment, and I cut that tiny tag from the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge.  :)

Can you see the sparkle that I HAD to add to the tree leaves?  Gotta love that Glitter Glitz!  This color is the Almond variety.

I used the three challenge colors and then used the neutrals Champagne, Colonial White, and Cocoa.

I am sooooooo in love with the CAS style right now!

ALSO!!!  In case you read an earlier post about my Aunt who has been battling some health issues, I wanted to let you know that this card is for her--after so many weeks, she is HOME!!!!  The docs are optimistic that they removed all the cancer, and she is eating her way back to her old self!  Praise God for all He has given and provides...give thanks!  :)

Cricut 101...with Chocolate! Time is running out on the August Stamp of the Month!

Happy weekend everyone!  I just had the revelation that it is the LAST DAY OF AUGUST!  GASP!

That means it is the very last day to get the August Stamp of the Month for FREE!!!  Or even get it AT ALL since it will be gone when August is over!!!!  You don't want to miss this little beauty...

I used this set at my Cricut 101 class last night for the projects we made...and it was so much fun!!!

Here is a picture of the projects we made as we learned about the difference between REAL and RELATIVE dial size...the ladies who came cut out the white CS pieces for each project on their own Cricut machines and did a fantastic job!  :)

The corrugated star is not available on my website any more, but the almond glitter glitz gel we used to glam it up is on there!  I do have a couple of packages of the corrugated shapes left, so let me know if you need one! 

These cuts are almost all from the Close to My Heart Cricut Art Philosophy Collection.  The adorable cherry is the only one from Artiste.  This super-simple happy birthday sentiment from Holiday Tags My Acrylix was MADE to go on a banner like this...

This stamp we added to our envelope is from A Chocolate Affair!  Loved how easy it was to trim out each part of the stamped image to make a yummy cupcake with a Pink Glitter Gem on top!

How cute would this tag be attached to a mini package of Oreo's?  SO fun!  Again, we used the August Stamp of the Month--only available through today!!!!  I adore the bronze shimmer trim touch at the bottom of the banner and the twist tie added to the top...

We used the Babycakes Paper Packet for the pattern papers in each of the projects...and the retired Dotty for You yellow polka a dot paper for the icing on the card!

Don't wait until tomorrow to grab this stamp of the month for FREE with any $50 purchase from my website...it won't be there!!!  Click on the link above to order it today along with any of the products I used in the projects seen here, or email me at mimimyselfandi.outlook.com to place an order.

Color Dare #28, Um, Whatchamacallit! ;)

Hello Color My Heart Fans!  What a great way to close out January....a crazy color scheme!  ;)  This was so much fun to try, you really need to give it a go!  Here is a rainbow list of colors to include this week:

Ruby, Cotton Candy, Goldrush, Juniper, Twilight, and Gypsy  (whew!)

What to do with a crazy color scheme?  Well, random stamping, of course!  ;)  I created an 8 x 10 shadow box framed piece of art.

I random stamped with the retired Close to My Heart Rugged Flowers My Acrylix stamps on a sheet of White Daisy Cardstock.  I could then carefully choose which section of the paper best suited the area of the shadow frame that would show around the quote I was adding.  I popped up some elements of the images and added Bitty Pearls to the centers of some of the small flowers.

I double matted this wonderful sentiment from the brand new My Acrylix, Scrapbook Sentiments--Poets.  This beautiful set is available from Close to My Heart beginning February 1st!  Alas, I was so excited while making the shadowbox, that I accidentally grabbed a sheet of Crystal Blue Cardstock instead of Twilight or Juniper!!!  Oh my....

Can you see my sparkle?  Glitter Glitz Gel added a great bit of shine to the Juniper colored flowers.

Well, since I did kind of inadvertently cheat on the first project by adding a new color to the mix, I decided to use the rest of the patterned paper to create some sympathy cards as well and play by the rules, lol.

I cut two scalloped borders from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge on Juniper cardstock. 

I wanted to give it a bit of dimension, so I stamped this flower again and cut it out to pop up with some foam tape.  The sentiment is from the beautiful Close to My Heart Words of Comfort.

Then I remembered to do what I have been wanting to do with my cards--FINALLY!  I added a little floral stamp, also from Words of Comfort, on the inside of the card, and also to the envelope flap.  I love how that simple image ties everything together.

Now it's YOUR turn to sparkle!  Go ahead and make a paper project using these colors from Close to My Heart (or similar if you don't have them) and link it up to the Color Dare over at Color My Heart.  You have to link up by Thursday the 31st before 9 pm CST.  Don't forget to add a link to the Color My Heart Blog if you enter!  You could be the next one sporting the Color Dare badge on YOUR blog!   ;)  See you soon!

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 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)