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!

A Little Family Project

Hello, Blogosphere!  Today I wanted to share a little SECRET project that I am working on.  My hubby's Grandmother will be the big 9-0 this summer and we are planning a big shindig!  I wanted to come up with a little something to give her for this milestone birthday.  I decided to make her a book about the family using the Close to My Heart My Creations Bookmark Album.  Don't worry, I don't think she reads my blog, lol!

I recently completed the cover and would love to share it with you.  Here it is...

What do you think?  I thought that the Avonlea paper was the perfect look I wanted for a classic family heritage feel.  What better representation of family than the timeless tree symbol.  I hand cut this one and pieced it carefully to the front.  The trunk is formed with one of the B&T Duos in the Dakota Paper Packet.  The greenery of the tree is made with B&T Duos from both the retiring Flirty Paper Packet and the Pear and Partridge Paper Packet.

This flap is held shut with a magnetic closure.  When you open it up, this is what it looks like underneath.

Why yes, those ARE Jamberry nail sheilds!  ;)  I have been trying them out lately.  I added a strip of Shimmer Trim here because it really needed some sparkle at this point.  

How cute is this little guy?  He is stamped from the Whooo's Your Valentine Kit My Acrylics stamp set.  You can only get this kit while it lasts!  The deal ends when supplies run out or on January 31st whichever comes first!  My sources tell me there is only 15% left!  Let me know ASAP if you want to get this fantastic kit for only $10!!!  Details HERE!

I am super-excited about this process and will definitely be sharing more of this project as it progresses, so stay tuned!  Now go leave some glitter in your path!  :)

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas I Say, "MERRY CHRISTmas!!!"

I wish each of my readers a very Merry CHRISTmas!  I appreciate you all being interested in what I have to make and say.  :)  Enjoy the day doing whatever you do to celebrate!  Here is my Christmas card to share with you this year.

I used a few different stamp sets (and altered two of the stamps!):
D1492 Christmas Love
D1483 Glory to God
D1440 Everlasting Life
D1522 Giggle Lowercase Alphabets

Can you guess which two I altered?  ;)

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)

Mojo Monday 256

I was able to get my Mojo back on yesterday and finished my card just before midnight, yay!  My tired eyes could not find my camera in my craft room, so I used my phone to take the pic this time.  The quality is definitely fantastic, but not sure how to get the sizing right now.  Hopefully this works!    Here is the sketch for Mojo Monday 256:

I really wanted to try out the round shape to mix up my usual repertoire, and am glad I did!
I think it turned out fabulous and am in love with the sketch now.  What do you think?

The background of the card is from the Pear and Partridge Paper Packet.  The patterns in this packet are definitely more versatile than just for Christmas!  That being said, I also can't wait to use it for Christmas Cards though!  ;)  I am very happy with the way the Archival Ink worked with the new Alcohol Markers.  I made sure that it was completely dry before I colored it, and the black did not smudge at all.  I do need to work on my coloring skills though--glad I no longer have to stay within the lines!  ;)

Here is a complete list of the supplies I used:

Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge
White Daisy and Black Cardstock
Pear and Partridge Paper Packet
Beautiful Friendship My Acrylix
Love Blooms My Acrylix
Archival Black Ink
Black Ink
Smoothie and Olive Alcohol Markers
Shimmer Trim
Slate Satin Polka-Dot Ribbon
Liquid Glass (to seal the cuts on the ribbon)