Christmas Medallions

Okay, so medallions aren't really the right word for what I've come up with.  This one worked out to be a little bigger than I thought, but it'll fit around a bottle of cheer, the top of a gift box or on a 5X7 card base.  The snowmen can be inked long ways and it will wrap around a quart jar or the My Creations Kraft Container.

Extra Project

The November workshop is Thursday, November 21st, 5:30 - 7:30pm.  Cost is $5.  I've been a little slow in getting the designs created but here's a rejected attempt with instructions.  I like the project but it didn't fit with the designed uses for our workshop.

From cranberry cardstock, cut a 5" empty circle, Art Philosophy cartridge, page 21.  Punch various sized circles (or cut from the Cricut) from 1 1/4" to 2" in size.  Use paper from the Sparkle and Shine paper pack, some daisy white and a few from silver glitter paper.  Stamp a Santa from the  C1567 Santa Claus stamp set, and his Ho! Ho! Ho!.  The middle sentiment is from Artiste, 2.25", page 80.   Make a circle of liquid glass around the empty circle, and place your circles in a pleasing pattern.  Start with 4-2" circles across from each other.


Then add your smaller circles as wanted.  Test your spacing and add a little glue when needed.  Also suggested is placing your circles, then taking a picture (which I DIDN'T do) and reassemble.

Color Dare #68

Entering the Close to My Heart Color Dare again!

Just a simple card, sunset cardstock for the back, stamped with the baby rattle from D1561 B is for Baby, a strip of buttercup yellow from the babycakes paper kit, and a canvas sticker from X7173C Babycakes Complements.  The bottom border is in chocolate cardstock, cut from ArtBooking cartridge, page 61, 11".  The cut piece was just a little longer than I needed for this card, so I wouldn't recommend a sizing adjustment.

I also made this one, using the November SOTM.  The script stamp and light lantern on the sentiment is second generation slate.

Link up your own creation at Color My Heart. 

Distressed Edge

There is an artsy technique for distressing your papers.  You wet the edges and the crumple them, the dry them.  It makes your paper wrinkley, and it buckles it some, but if you glue the paper down instead of taping it (where you have done this technique), your pages can still be quite flat. 

I love this soft snowflake design on the Frosted paper (X7175B), its not even obviously snowflakes.  Because I knew I wanted to show more than just a little of the background paper, I first tore my top layer.

Then I wet the paper with my fingers and pinched the wet edges.  After drying with a heat gun, I measured the empty space, and cut the background to fit.  I just needed a 6X6 for behind the torn spaces, saving the rest for other things. 

I carried the technique over to the other page, this time with a center tear.

I wanted to use the nativity scene from the Glory to God stamp set (D1483).  Using my white paper again (thin pages that don't work for scrapping), I stamped in grey wool and rough cut the pieces, just for placement options. 

I ended up with this layout that I liked.  I took a picture and then my scrapbooking got delayed for several days.  I didn't go back to my picture, and ended up with the final product you see in the first picture.  I actually like this layout better, so I wanted to share.

I like these light pages for my Christmas photos, because the pictures are usually very colorful and busy.  This way my pages don't compete or overpower the memories.  Some more photos of the detailed groupings.  

 

 

Embellishments include:
     Black & Grey glitter paper (Z1829) Snowflakes cut from Art Booking cartridge, page 76.
     Wooden (Z1837) wooden swirls
     Antiqued Gold (Z1786) lace flowers
     Licorice Opaque Adhesive gems (Z1335) blue and silver dots
     Sparkles Clear Flourishes - Small (Z1812)
     Frosted Assortment (Z1890) small felt white flowers

Happy Halloween

Thanks to all who came to the Crop on Saturday.  We trick or treated each other with cool little tin buckets decorated with Halloween scenes from the Artbooking Cartridge.

Frosted Flakes

I love this Frosted Paper!  So elegant.  The arrows on page 73 of the Artbooking cartridge made me think of a snowflake.  These were cut at 11" as was the JOY.  I cut it in slate as well, giving it the shadowy effect.  (Slate makes a great color combo with this kit.)  The second pages border was the border on the silver paper after I cut the giant snowflake.

The little snowflake is the shift border arrow page 73 cut in half.  No stamping on this one, but a little room for journaling or other embellishments after I pick (or take) the right pictures.

Frosted is the featured kit for the October crop - Saturday, October 19, from 9 am until 9 pm or anytime in between. 

Color Dare 61

Using up more scraps from the Huntington kit for the Color My Heart Dare of the week.

Some leftover olive Huntington paper (after I cut out leaves for the scrapbook pages and the candle) fit the bill just right.  I randomly sponged autumn terracotta and goldrush ink on colonial cardstock, then glued the cutout down.  It's just wrapped with autumn terracotta bakers twine with a few sparkles.  Sentiment - C1555 Count your Blessings.

Halloween Treat Workshop

In the October workshop, you will assemble these cute treat tubes for your favorite trick or treaters.

• Thursday, October 24
• 5:30pm - 7:30pm
• RSVP by October 6th
• Cost - $10
• Candy is included

Country Flair

Just another notebook, with mostly discontinued stamps and papers.   What can you do with your stash?

Christmas Wish List

There are so many great new things in this Fall/Winter catalog.  And starting October 15, there are a few more goodies coming!  With the help of your family or friends, I think we can get some of these great items into your stocking this Christmas!

• Step 1 - Send me your complete wish list (dream BIG!)
• Step 2 - Give my email address to your friends and family when they ask "What would you like for Christmas?"
• Step 3 - Enjoy the goodies on December 25th!

I will remove anything you order from your wish list, keeping it current.
I will help anyone wishing to purchase CTMH products as your Christmas gift decide on the best options.
I will wrap and deliver the gift to the giver.
I will keep what's in the box a SECRET!

As I will have your list, you don't need to share your wish list, unless you want to.  Just make sure they contact me before December 10, so Santa can arrive on time.



This Holiday catalog will be available online October 15 but you can get your copy at the October crop!

Great Mojo

Ever have those days where you just can't get started on scrapping?  Or everything you work on just doesn't turn out like it thought it would?  I have those days.  And then, I have days when the mojo just flows and the work turns into art work.

I love these Huntington pages.  They incorporate leftovers from the fall candle I decorated.  The leaf background is what was left from a barn red page after I cut all the backs out for my leaves.  I carried over the theme on the next page with 3 more cutouts from another page of barn red cardstock.  That's the cutout (overlay) on top a duo paper from the Huntington kit.  I just pieced the background from scraps on the right side, beneath the 3 cutouts (not a full sheet). 

left page



right page

A few tricks on these pages.  In the above (right page) the giant colonial white leaf in between the pages will be used for journaling or a date.  I liked the natural hemp addition.  I made a little bow with 3 loops on either side and then tied it close with another piece.

Then I folded the bow in half, put a dot of liquid glass on the knot and tucked it under the edge of  the mat and pumpkin.  The pumpkin is popped up with cardboard (further notes on cardboard below).

You can grab and recycle a cardboard box.  Cut a piece quite a bit smaller than the mat you are using.  Tape the cardboard to the back of the mat, then tape it down to your page.  It gives depth to your picture, and allows you to tuck embellishments under the edge, so they peek out.

Hunting for a Candle

I love these candles I get from the Limestone Flea Market.

Not only do they smell good, they are only $20 for 5.  I dressed this one up with the Huntington kit.

On the lid, I just used a sticker from the Huntington Stickease Assortment.

 

For the pumpkins, I used orange paper from the Buzz and Bumble kit and the Art Booking Cartridge.  If you set the real dial size for this layered piece (page 73) your top and bottom don't match up.  So I ran it without the real dial size, at 9", 8", 7" and 6".  You can see the separate pieces in the top left of this picture.

I did the same thing with the leaves on page 72, with the different printed paper in the Huntington pack, and red barn cardstock for all the backs.  I threw in a few leaves from the Brown and Tan glitter pack - the lightest color.  I glued the fronts to the back with Bonding Memories glue.  I made a lot, not knowing what I would need, and had plenty to play with.

I just taped the big pumpkin down with a strip of tape in the middle, then tucked the leaves in and taped a side down as I got happy with the positions.

Halloween Party Crop

Come join us for the September all day crop from 9am until 9pm or anytime in between.

September 21

Featured Kit - Huntington.

Bring a side dish if you like to go with the fall favorites of turkey, green beans and sweet potatoes.

If you need supplies, please submit your order by September 10.

$5 fee or no charge with any $10 or greater order.

Lunch, snacks and drinks are provided.

See you there!

Stamp-a-stack

Thursday, September 12 our workshop will be Stamp-a-stack of Christmas cards.  For $10 you will create 10 Christmas cards of the same design.  Bring your address list and your cards will be done and ready for posting in early December.  Cost includes stamped envelopes.  You must RSVP by September 5th, as each person will have their own unique design.  For those of you who have already RSVP'd, I have the following designs ready.  If you like one, comment here and I'll reserve that set for you.  Designs can also be picked the day of the workshop.  Specify Santa, Snowman, Bow or Peace if picking your design on line.

National Stamping Month

September is National Stamping Month and to celebrate Close to My Heart is offering a triple stamp set for $10 with each $50 you spend.  The set contains

One alphabet (upper and lowercase)

One sheet of 9 encouraging, friendship sentiments

One sheet of 15 cheerful images great for a variety of life’s occasions.

This is a limited edition stamp set, available September 1-30 only.



The September crop will be on Saturday the 21st, from 9am until 9pm or anytime in between.  The featured kit is Huntington.  Orders are due by September 10.  This is an Ink Club month, and your $50 purchase also qualifies you for the September stamp of the month for only $5!

Back to School

Saturday was our Back to School Crop - thanks to every one who joined us!  (We missed you, Kristen!).  The only thing "back to school-y" about this crop was the timing and the sack lunches.  I like it when I can use my scrapping stuff to dress up the ordinary.

Laughing Dragonflies

The August crop is this Saturday - 9am until 9pm or anytime in between.  The featured kit is Laughing Lola.  This layout is my own creation, but you can recreate it with the following supplies:

Laughing Lola paper pack

Brown & Tan glitter paper

Artbooking cartridge

Art Philosophy cartridge

Adhesives

It's the same gold and black paisley paper on both side, my lighting was just a little off.

The honeycomb overlay is from the Artbooking cartridge, page 41, 11".  I randomly cut it apart and used it on both sides of the layout.  The dragonflies are a variety of sizes from the Art Philosophy cartridge, page 24,

 from 2.25" to 1.75" on the dual dragonflies, 

and down to half an inch for these tiny ones.  The actual colors are much better in person than I was able to capture in the photos.  Drop by and check it out on Saturday!