The "Seasonal Expressions 1" book is here

Celebrate the new crafting year 2017 with some new products from Close to My Heart. Here is the brand new "Seasonal Expressions 1" book...

... super cute brand new paper packs and embellishments. Stamps and thin cuts that are a must to have and so much more. If you can't wait to get your personal copy, CLICK HERE and see the Seasonal Expression 1 book online and start shopping.

Please contact me if you like to get a personal copy of the new book!

Boxing Week Sales - Final Day

We are down to the last and final day 5 of the super special Close to My Heart year end sales!

Everyday you will find new products at 5 pm (EST) while others go away, so make sure to check back very day to see whats on sale. 

Click Here ... and see all products that are currently on sale!

More New Boxing Weeks Sales - Day 4

We are down to day 4 of the super special Close to My Heart year end sales!

Everyday you will find new products at 5 pm (EST) while others go away, so make sure to check back very day to see whats on sale. 

Click Here ... and see all products that are currently on sale!

Card Making Class of 2016

Another year went by so fast. A big "Thank You" to all my lovely card making students. You ladies are wonderful and I am bless to be able to teach you every month some new techniques. 

All the fun and laughter we have, in good times and in bad times you are there for each other. 

It is an honor for me to be part of this group.

I wish all of you a 

Happy and Healthy New Year

and I am looking forward to some wonderful times together in 2017!

Thank You all from the bottom of my heart....

Carolyn, Debbie, Jackie, Jan, ...

 ... Karen, Lin, Linda, Margie, ...

 ... Marsha, Maureen, Nancy, Nikki,... 

... Pam, Ruth, Sandy, Shirley and Vicki!

If you would like to join our group, please contact me. We would love to have you join our fun Wednesdays.

Merry Christmas ... Frohe Weihnachten

From our house to yours

we wish you 

A Merry Christmas 

and

A Happy and Healthy New Year

Thank you all for your support during the year. Many of you have join my blog this year and many more have were engaged in the blog hop throughout 2016.

I hope I could inspire you along the way. Keep crafting and I am looking froward to meeting you here again in 2017.

Thank You and God Bless my friends!

Look out for "Boxing Week Sale"

Christmas is almost here and to make your crafting even more special, Close to My Heart is surprising you with some super special deals right after Christmas. 

The super sales will start on Monday, December 26th at 3:00 pm (MST) so 5:00 (EST) and last until Thursday, December 30th 2:59 pm (MST)/ 4:59 pm (EST). 

During this sales event, you will be able to order a selection of current and retired products for 50% off! You will be able to order these products directly from my website....CLICK HERE!

The fun starts at 5:00 pm on Monday, Dec 26th and will run each day for 24 hours, which means everyday up until Dec 30th will be filled with new product special. They only last while supply last and only for 24 hours, so make sure to submit your order before the 24 hour of that day run out. Yes, every 24 hours new 50% off products for you to choose from. I am sure there will be something in it for everyone. No email orders, all orders have to be placed directly on my website....CLICK HERE to get to the site!

Remember, every day new offers starting Dec 26th and ending on Dec 30th!

Have fun shopping! 

Christmas Card in Red

Here is a wonderful example of a simple but so versatile stamp set. This set is called "Perfectly pine" (A1191) from Close to My Heart and I used it a lot this season. If you are interested in this set, make sure to order it before Dec 31st, otherwise it will be gone!

Now back to the project:

I started this card with a white card base and a piece of red cardstock about 1/8" smaller on each side than the base.

I used a piece of grey cardstock for my stamping. First I stamped the pine branches in white pigment ink onto the grey. I stamped around two edges of the rectangle and let it dry overnight. I also stamped a few snowflakes in second generation stamping over the entire piece.

After everything is dry (the white ink needs to be super dry otherwise your second color will smear) I took my "New England Ivy Ink" and stamped the branches on top of the white, slightly offset of the white one.

You want to offset the second color so the white shows through and it looks like there is snow on the branches and needles.

To enhance the impression of snow, I used a white gel pen and added a few strokes on the selected branch parts and needles.

I die-cut the ornament out of red metallic paper and added a little piece of silver thread to the top. I adhered the threat on the back with some tap and adhered the grey cardstock to the center of the red piece. I created a little bow from an extra piece of silver thread and added it to the top of the card.

All that is left it to stamp a sentiment on the inside and decorate the envelope and this Christmas Card is done.

Christmas Card - Oh Deer

"Oh Deer" is one of the seasonal paper packages of this years Close to My Heart Seasonal Holiday book..... the name is so funny and the paper is so cute. So here is a card I made with this special paper:

 For this card I pulled my Cricut machine out and tested the new Close to My Heart exclusive cartridge "Flower Market" plus one of the others.

I had the machine cut out the shape of the ornament (desert sand cardstock) and the pine branches (new england ivy).

The snowflake was cut with the new thincut dies (glacier).

I used a piece of "Oh Deer" design paper for the top of the card and a piece of glacier cardstock for the bottom. A piece of golden glitter paper brings both parts together.




I used a clear shimmer pen to add some sparkle to the snowflake and a glitter gel pen to add the detail to the top of the ornament.

The ornament is attached with some foam dots to the card. I decorated the pine branches and snowflake as seen in the picture and added a little bow from white-gold twine to the top. 

 Last but not least, a nice stamp was placed to the inside and this little gem is done.

Love to find out more about these and other techniques and products? Would you like to join on of my monthly classes and create cards and more on your own? Please contact me for more information and schedules. I would love to hear from you. 
You can also leave me a comment below.

Stay tuned for more to come.....

Golden Christmas Ornament Card

Here is another favorite die-cut of mine. I picked it up together with the bells...and I am glad I did. :-)
Wonderful ornament that make each card even more special.

I started out with a cream colored card base. Next I picked a dark green cardstock, yes it is dark green and not blue. I stamped little pine branches in white ink around the edges of the paper and added it in the center of the base.

The top layer is a piece of cream cardstock. I stamped the pine branches with the cones in green and added the phrase to the bottom. 

The ornament is cut from gold foiled cardstock and adhered underneath the branches. A little red bow is added to the top of the ornament and another beautiful card is done.

Please contact me if you have questions about techniques, products, ....
I would love to hear from you. Or simply leave me a comment below...