Memories of the Workshop Classes in 2012

A very special Thank You to 

Bev, Carolyn, Debbie, Jan, Judy, Karen, Linda, Nikki, Ruth, Sandy and Sarah

for attending my card workshop in 2012

Linda for providing us with an awesome space to craft and a cute dog for entertaining

to my mom and my friend Elke for joining the crowed while visiting

to all my loyal customers from Close To My Heart 

and to all my followers on the blog, keep spreading the word 

To all of you Thank You so much for your support and I hope to see you all again next year.

Happy New Year

Tags for the Season

Do you sometimes wonder what you should do with all the little pieces of leftover papers that are just too nice to throw away? Well… how about creating some tags for gifts and presents?

Here are some examples:  

 Outside and inside decorated



How about a round tag?

The small ribbon is sandwiched between the front and back side. Foam squares create a space, just wide enough for the ribbon to follow around. 







More Tags ....

Need an idea for some beautiful name tags for your Christmas dinner table? How about this little card/ tag-stand...

A Christmas Tree decorated with red, green and clear glitter glue and some little rhinestones:

At last a simple idea for a nice little gift tag:

So never throw out all these beautiful paper pieces. Use them all year round for tags and little Thank You notes....

More Card Club Creations

Here are a few more cards our Card Club made this year……

Snowflakes used in different ways:

 


Or how about our funny little  Snowman:

 

Last but not least, a little Gift Card :

 


Please contact me for instructions....Thank You!

Christmas Ornaments

This card base it the same one that I used for the Christmas tree card. A piece of design paper from the Pear & Partridge paper pack from Close To My Heart cut at 4” x 5 ¼” and edged with some chocolate ink. A piece of red 8 ½”x5 ½ card stock is used as the base for this card (fold to the left) and a piece of 3”x4” colonial white card stock for the sentiment.

I stamped the sentiment and the branch, which goes along the top of the colonial white piece, in chocolate ink. The stubble texture tool and olive ink was used to create the sprinkles throughout the card center. I had my Cricut machine cut out the ornaments in 1 ½” and 1 ¾” from red card stock. I stamped stars and other decorations on them with watermark ink and embossed them with white embossing powder. I used the new metallic markers from Close To My Heart to create the tops of the ornaments and for the final touch; the all got decorated with a sparkle. I placed them with foam dots on the card.

Here are some samples of the same card ides, but with different papers. I also changed the way on how I attached the ornaments. I used ribbon on one card to have the ornaments hanging from the card and in another card I used a row of pearls instead the ribbon….many many ways to alternate the card design. Have fun playing around with it and sent me a picture of it. I would love to see what you came up with…

A Christmas Tree

The design paper I used in this card is from the brand new Pear & Partridge paper pack from Close To My Heart. A piece of red 8 ½”x5 ½ card stock is the base for this card (fold to the left). The design paper was cut at 4” x 5 ¼” and edged with some chocolate ink. The Christmas tree was stamped with topiary ink onto a piece of matching topiary card stock and cut out. The sentiment and the Christmas package were stamped in cocoa ink onto a piece of 3”x4” colonial white card stock. 

I colored the package in with some color pens and used the stubble texture tool with olive ink to create the little sprinkles. I rounded the edges and adhered it to the top area of the card. The tree was adhered with foam dots to the left lower corner of the card. Sparkles are places randomly on the tree and your card is done.

Stockings on the mantel

Here another example of reusing your old stamp sets. This beautiful mantel with stockings is too cute to pass on.

I used a white card stock base with the fold on top. I cut a piece of cocoa card stock at 4”x5 ¼” and placed it in the center of the card. The design paper was cut at 3 ¾”x5” and also placed in the center of the cocoa piece. (Remark: during my class, two of my ladies used a fringe scissor and one cut right at the edge of the cocoa paper, the other did it on the design paper. Both varieties were great and made the card even more interesting). Next I stamped the mantel and phrase in chocolate ink onto a piece of colonial white card stock. The stockings are stamped in ruby, olive and topiary ink. 
I still wasn't quite pleased with the design. I added the little centerpiece on top of the mantle. But still, something was missing. I used the black stubble texture tool that comes in the set of four texture tools and the olive ink to create the little sprinkles you see on the detailed photo. 

This was the missing piece. I adhered the finished piece to a piece of cocoa card stock, cut about ¼” bigger than the colonial white one. I centered the piece with some foam dots on the card and added a bling in red to it.

From My House to Yours

I know this is way too early to start with you Christmas Cards you might think! Well, since our card classes are once a month, we have to start a little early to be ready to send them out in early December.

Don’t we all have left over papers from previous Christmases at home? Well this time I used some newer Close TO My Heart stamp sets as well as some retired once, just to show that there is always a use for everything.

A red card stock base along with a 4x4” piece of Christmas paper starts out this card. I first cut a piece of ribbon and made a bow at one end. I adhered the ribbon with a couple of glue dots to the card. Now the design paper and both layers of red and white card stock are centered on top of the card. I stamped the house in black StazOn ink so I could color it in with my watercolor pens without smooching things. The phrase came on one stamp and I decided to split it up and stamp it on three little pieces.

So many greetings from my house to yours ….

A wreath of leaves...

Sometimes we create all these wonderful cards and have so many papers left. What can you do with all the leftovers? When I prepared my class for the gift card holder, I ended up with many sweat leaf green paper strips. So I decided to give my Card Club Members a little thank you note.

I used a 3 ½ x 7 piece of the sweat leaf cardstock leftovers and folded it in half. The Close To My Heart stamp set “Remarkable Wreath” (C1473) was just the right one for this project.

I stamped the base stamp (branches) in chocolate ink first. The leave part needs to be stamped twice, since the stamp comes in a half circle. I used Autumn Terracotta, Olive and Cranberry Ink to create the leave colors. Simply use a sponge dauber for each color and daub the color in a stripe pattern onto the stamp. Stamp on one half of the base wreath and repeat with the other half.

The Thank You note was also stamped in chocolate ink and cut out. I adhered it with some foam dots to the card and my little “Thank You” note was done.

Leaves are falling...

Falling leaves…

This card was fun to make and it was even more fun to see what my card club ladies came up with. You need a colonial-white cardstock base of 8 ½ x 5 ½ folded in half. A 4 x 1 ½ piece of the same cardstock color will be stamped with cocoa ink and edged with chocolate ink. I also used a 2 ¼ x 5 ½ piece of burlap ribbon and 9-10 stamped leaves in different colors. (I used Garden Green, Olive, Sunflower and Autumn Terracotta). Now cut your leaves out and start to play.

You can either attach the leaves as seen on the card, then use glue dots to adhere the burlap ribbon. Glue the sentiment onto the burlap and your fall leave card is done.

Here are some varieties my card ladies did…

1) Place burlap and sentiment onto the card and adhere just 4 leaves to the card. 3 in the upper right corner and partial tucked under the burlap and one leave in the lower right corner.

2) Push your leaves all together in the middle of the card. Cut about 1” off of the burlap ribbon and center it on the card above the leaves. Your leaves will only peak out around the ribbon.

3) Have your leaves go over the edges of your base, just as if they were falling of the tree and landing on your card. The only problem with this version is that you can’t use a standard envelope anymore.

4) Just try your own layout and let me know what you came up with…

Missing the right pumpkin size?

Pumpkin Card II

Did you ever run out of the right size pumpkin stamp? I am sure many of you have different sized circle punches or even a cutting machine to be able to cut circles in different sizes. No matter what you use, you will need 5 circles to create this funny pumpkin.

I start with an 8 ½ x 5 ½ colonial-white cardstock base folded in half. I attached one 5 ¼ x 4 piece of design paper to it. Center a 4 ¾ x 3 ½ piece of cocoa cardstock onto the design paper.

Take five 1 ½ circles and edge them with chocolate ink. Fold one of the circles in half and cut a little bit of the circle off, ink the edges and the fold.

I stamped a sentiment in the lower right corner of a 4 ½ x 3 ¼ piece of colonial-white cardstock. Now glue two of the circles on the left side of the cardstock piece. Make sure they are in line and just a little bit apart from each other. Now stamp the leaves and curls onto the cardstock. Use foam dots to attach the next two circles to the card. Both circles have to overlap in the middle by about ⅓. The final, smaller circle is also attached to the card with some foam dots to cover up the overlapping part. If you are not certain were to place the circles, try to lay them out without glue first.

I used the black sponge tool from the Close To My Heart texture tools(Z1298) to create the little sprinkles on the card. This will make the card a little bit warmer and combines all elements better.

Let me know what you think of this idea…. I love it!

A "Thank You" with flowers

Flower “Thank You” …

I loved the idea of creating a beautiful flower with two sizes of hearts, how clever is that. Again the card base is 8 ½ x 5 ½ colonial-white cardstock folded in half. Further you need one piece of 4 ¼ square sorbet cardstock, 3 ¾ square saddle cardstock, 3 ½ square cashmere cardstock and a 4 ¼ x 1 ¼ piece of design paper. Edge the squares with chocolate ink and adhere them on the right side of your card base. Sides flush with the base sides. Place the design paper on the left side of your card base. I placed a strip of cardstock border on the seam between design paper and cardstock. You can use ribbon as well if you like or leave it as is.

Now to the fun part, you need hearts sizes 1 ¾ and 1 ½ four of each size. I cut mine from Indian Corn Blue cardstock and edged them with the same ink color. Adhere the hearts onto cashmere cardstock piece. I placed my glue just in the v-shaped bottom of the heart. Make sure that all heart bottoms touch in the middle. For best results dry fit them on the card first. I then adhered the smaller hearts onto the bigger once in the same fashion. This will give you the possibility to curl the “paddles” and make the flower look more dimensional. I placed a 1” flower cut from sorbet cardstock and a paper flower with mini brad in the middle of my blue heart flower. Stamp a little phrase on your tag, put some ribbon on and you are done. Don’t you love this heart flower idea??? Oh and don’t forget, you can use this design as an upright version as well, go ahead and try it.

Again thanks for the idea and creation to both ladies from the “Ink outside the box” card swap. Thank you so much for the inspiration….

Back on track with "Happy Toughts"

It was a little quite here for a few weeks, but I had a very good reason. My parents were visiting us from Germany and I wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. Since we only get to see each other about twice a year, you can imagine how much catch up we have to do. I can’t believe they are already gone home…

Our September card club date was a little short noticed and due to many reasons I am now finally able to post the cards we made. If anyone is interested to join us each month please let me know. It is always so much fun with the ladies.

The first two cards I will show here are the idea and creation of two ladies from the “Ink outside the box” card swap. Thank you so much for the inspiration ladies….

Happy Thoughts…

For this card you need a piece of 8 ½ x 5 ½ colonial-white cardstock folded in half. I glued a 5 ¼ x 4 piece cocoa cardstock to the center of the front. I divided a 5 x 3 ¾ piece of white cardstock into 3 ¾ x 2 and two pieces 2 ¹⁵/₁₆ x 1 ¹⁴/_16.   The design paper is cut at 3 ½ x 1 ¾ and two design paper of 2 ¹⁰/₁₆ x 1 ¹⁰/_16.

The sentiment tab is cut with the Cricut machine and the Close To My Heart Philosophy Cartridge; the cocoa piece at 1 ½ and the colonial-white piece at 1 ¼.

You can place the sentiment either in the middle as seen here or you can use the card upright and place it in the middle or lower half. One of my ladies places it offset and leaning, which made the card look completely different. Have fun and play around with it.

The fourth card of our August card club is a gift card holder. Again, all inks, cardstocks and stamps used in this card are from Close To My Heart.

A little ribbon closes the card and makes sure nothing is falling out. Once the ribbon is removed and the card is opened, your gift card will stand up in the middle. I love these little cards, since they convert a simple gift card into a wonderful personal gift.

Pleasecontact me if you like the instructions to make this gift card holder.

“Thank You” to Lind Loew for her inspiration.