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…

Ink It Up!

Here is a very good example that shows you how to use the new Close To My Heart markers. You will also see in this video the big difference between the "regular" water based inks and the brand new pigment inks...have fun watching

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 Word of Sympathy

Sometimes it is hard to find the right words to comfort someone. A beautiful handmade card with a wonderful phrase might just do the trick. Sadly I had to create a card like this last week. A very nice neighbor suddenly past away and some of my neighbors including us decided to give the family left behind a word of comfort in form of a card and some monetarily help.

Here is what I think turned out to be a wonderful solution:

I used one of Close To My Hearts Kraft Die-Cut Cards (6x6) as my base. I decorated the front with some paper that I had left from last season. I stamp a swirly border in chocolate ink around the paper and adhered it to the base. I placed a piece of Desert Sand, Chocolate and Bamboo card stock to the left side of the base. Each piece of card stock was cut about ¼ inch smaller than the one below. I used the small flower stamp from the Card Word Puzzle stamp set to create the background on the bamboo paper.

I had my Cricut machine cut out three sizes of the flower pattern from the Philosophy cartridge (1”, 1 ¼”, 1 ½”). They are inked at the edges and a brad is holding them together. The butterfly was also cut out and inked. I adhered it to the card with a couple of glue dots along the body of the butterfly. Pearls define the body on top and two foam dots give the wings support to stay up. I stamped the phrase on a piece of bamboo card stock and adhered it to the card as well.

I glued the ribbon to around the backside of the front piece so when the scalloped edge would close the card, the ribbon could go around it and hold it tide. The inside was simply decorated with a piece of white paper for some personal notes and another phrase.

Instead of having the dollar notes lying loose in the card, I created a little pocket on the right side of the inside. This way the notes could be neatly tucked away. Still visible, but not falling out once the card was opened.

I do like this design very much and I think it will work great on other occasions as well

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!