A CTMH Pear and Partridge Christmas Card

I feel so badly for my friends in New Jersey.  Hurricane Sandy and wreaked a path of destruction up and down the East Coast.  Here, just outside of Philadelphia, we had a share of damage, too.  I was lucky...only lost the cable for a day.  But there are many still without power and even without their homes.

I wanted to take a break from CNN and the Weather Channel, so I decided to work on a Christmas Card. 

Who doesn't enjoy seeing a Christmas Wreath on their front door?  To make this card, I cut a piece of Cranberry Card Stock and scored and sanded it to mimic a door frame.  I mounted it on Cocoa card stock to mimic the door frame.  The wreath is from the stamp set that I will be using to create not only my monthly workshop but also my next "Project Pieces" card kit.  The set is called "Merry and Bright" (C1510).  I stamped it in Olive on Colonial White and then colored the flowers with Cranberry alcohol marker.  The "wall" is cut from Cashmere and the pattern paper is from Pear and Partridge.  Love this year's Christmas paper!

 

I always like to make sure that the details are taken care of...if you look closely, there is a brad for a door knob and Jack Frost is nipping at the door windows.  That is Cranberry Baker's Twine acting as the garland.

 

Check back as I continue to develop my card kit for the month, a card similar to this one may just appear.  Again, my heart goes out to those caught in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.  Please, everyone, be safe.  For Now, Happy Crafting!









Another CTMH Card Making Kit

This is my second Close To My Heart Card Making Kit!  It is designed for Thanksgiving and features pattern paper from a terrific paper packet called "Moonlight."  The pumpkin is from "So Grateful" (B1395).  I rock and roll stamped the pumpkin and cut him out.  For convenience in the kit, I also cut out the stem and leaf, assembled the pumpkin and then attached it to the card mat. 

 

This kit has a pile of goodies in it...hemp, all the mats and the card bases and envelopes.  It even has a completed card to use as a guide.  And, as with each kit, I have full instructions and tips and techniques used in this card.

 

The full details can be found at the top of my blog under the "Project Parts" tab.  Let me know what you think of "Project Parts."  What I can do to make them better or what type of kit you would like to see me put together.  For Now, Happy Crafting!



"Project Parts" Are Here!

I have been doing Workshops and teaching scrapbooking and card making for quite a while now.  I have a great time doing it and my students enjoy my classes.  So, I decided that I would offer the same types of kits and projects that I do with my students to those who aren't able to physically attend my Studio classes!  That was my big announcement mentioned a few days ago.  And, here is my first kit...

This kit includes everything (except adhesive) you need to complete 4 of these great Holiday cards.  I've done the stamping and you take the credit! 

I future plans are to have kits that will range from beginner to advanced.  Some will have all the "parts" completed and all you need do is assemble the project.  Others will have paper packets and stamps so that you can have all the fun completing the project.  I will keep them reasonably priced so that you can enjoy Close To My Heart products.

I hope you like "Project Parts."  Check the tab at the top of my blog for complete details on this  kit along with a PayPal button.  Check it often as I plan on introducing many more kits.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

Busy With Close To My Heart!

I know, I know...where in the world have I been?  Busy with Close To My Heart and all sorts of other things, I must tell you.  :o)  Since my last post, I have designed and taught 4 classes at Mike's, completed and taught my monthly Studio Workshop, been up to my elbows (literally...you should see how scratched my arms are) in Christmas Wreaths at Mike's AND I've come up with a new project that I will be announcing here in just a day or two.

Just to get back on track, here are a few of the cards that we made on Saturday at our workshop.  I love completing kits and helping people travel along the creative path. 

 

 

I am having a terrific time teaching and making kits for everyone.  Watch for my big announcement here in just a few days!  For Now, Happy Crafting!

Operation Write Home World Card Making Day Blog Hop

http://operationwritehome.org/starsandstamps/

I am thrilled to be participating in the Operation Write Home World Card Making Blog Hop!  The Hop officially starts tomorrow morning, but I am posting a tad early to ensure that all of my links work. 

 

I have 2 totally different projects to share with you today.  Who doesn't like "treats" at the Holidays?  This first project is perfect for sharing all of the Holiday goodies.  The box, along with the tag and the leaves and flower were all cut using the CTMH Cricut Cartridges called Artiste and Art Philosophy. 

My next project is totally different and was actually made to be used as a store sample at the Michaels where I teach scrapbooking and cardmaking (along with being their floral designer.)  The stamps are from Inkadinkadoo and have been colored using my Copics.

It's World Card Making Day and it's the Annual Operation Write Home Blog Hop.  I know that we are all busy, but take a few minutes to check out the wonderful projects made by fellow supporters of this terrific organization.  If you click on the link just below the OWH banner, it will take you back to the list of participants.  For Now, Happy Crafting!







Rock and Roll Stamping the Close To My Heart Way

Things are finally beginning to settle down after the Operation Smile Crop last Saturday.  What a great event and I just keep thinking of the smiles that we have created!  Anyway, it is about time I get back to working on some fun creations for my workshops.  For inspiration, I decided to check out both Mojo Monday and Heart 2 Heart Challenges for the week.  As soon as I saw both the challenges, I knew what I had to do...

It feels like I just finished up with my main monthly workshop, but alas, it is time to start planning for October.  I had already decided that I was going to "treat" the club to the September Stamp of the Month and feature the CTMH paper packet called Moonlight.  At first, I wasn't taken with Moonlight, but the more I study it, I really like it.  It features some of my favorite colors...Smokey Plum, Autumn Terracotta and Sweet Leaf.  The challenge at Heart 2 Heart this week is to do "Rock and Roll' Stamping.  Love it...not heavy metal, mind you, just taking your stamp and inking it with one color and then rolling it into a separate color.  In this case, I used the background stamp from the Clementine Scroll Workshop on the Go and rock and rolled it in Sweet Leaf and Autumn Terracotta. It was then stamped on the circle (cut using the Artiste Cricut Cartridge) and the long banner shape on the bottom.  I dug out my sponge daubers and inked all the edges. 

A few more fun things about this card...The tag was stamped using the new CTMH pigment inks and then the pumpkins were colored using the CTMH alcohol markers.  The pigment inks did, indeed, work with the markers!  The ribbon is actually the CTMH Color Ready Seam Binding inked with Sweet Leaf and Autumn Terracotta.  Oh, by the way, here is the Mojo Monday sketch...

This was a fun card to complete and I was able to get it done before I headed out to work this morning.  And, if you come to my monthly workshop, I'll teach you how to make it!  For Now, Happy Crafting!