2014 in Reveiw!

 2014 is close to being a memory, with just 35 minutes until 2015 is ushered in.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Some personal highlights would be:

-My oldest, Kurt, graduated from high school and began University.

-We had our first family vacation without the entire family.....as our graduate decided to pass on our family vacation.

-We spent our family vacation in Disneyland, while I enjoyed Close To My Heart's annual convention.

-I turned 50!

I am excited for 2015.

-At the end of January, my husband Randy and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary! (I am still surprised he has put up with me for this long......we will have spent 24 years together)

-We will enjoy another vacation in Disneyland, at the CTMH annual convention in July.

-My youngest, Lexy, will graduate from middle school and move on to high school.

-My middle daughter, Amy, will move on to her last year of high school.

Well, I have exceeded the limit of 1 card for each month, but these are my favourite 2014 works of paper crafting art!

All supplies are Close To My Heart!

A little off kilter!

I am just about done cooking my Christmas turkey dinner......yes it is 3 days after Christmas! I relax on Christmas day; shop on Boxing Day, then usually cook my turkey dinner on the 27th. Things went a little astray this year, so I am cooking it a day late for our family!

I thought I would quickly check my email and create this post! This is another card I made while using my new favourite, Happy To be Friends.

The mats are Smoothie and Lagoon. I stamped with Smoothie; Lagoon; and Sunset ink for the flowers and Flaxen for the branches. I added Turquoise Shimmer Trim to finish it off......quick and easy.

All supplies are Close To  My Heart.
Paper: Hopscotch
Stamp: Happy To Be Friends
Ink: Black; Smoothie; Sunset; Lagoon; Flaxen
Cardstock: Colonial White; Smoothie; Lagoon
Embellishments: Turquoise Shimmer Trim

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish you a very

Merry Christmas!

Our family went the movies tonight and on Christmas Eve, we always drive around town to look at all of the light displays. Plus, for another year, I will be wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve! I guess it will be another night of South Park and Irish Creme Eve! (I hope some year soon I get my act together and wrap gifts before Christmas Eve!)

These cards were the 4th design I made for a customer and my favourite.

I used Glacier and Cranberry cardstock along with Snowhaven patterned paper.

 I cut a border from the opposite side of this gorgeous black snowflake patterned paper. The stamped images are from a retired set that I just love. I stamped the berries with Cranberry ink, then added some Red Glitz. I also stamped the little flower image with Glacier ink. Both shapes were cut with Art Philosophy.

I hope you have a Christmas filled with love.

I enjoy having my husband and kids to share our Christmas traditions. When I was a kid, my Mom always made onion chip dip for our Christmas Eve party. The chips were always left out overnight and my brothers and I would get up early Christmas morning and eat the remaining chips with whatever left over dip we could find. So, it is something we all enjoy sharing....onion dip with ripple chips. To make the dip special at Christmas, I add crab and chili sauce and we all endulge.

I was never able to open gifts Christmas Eve, growing up. When our kids were born, we started the pajama Christmas Eve gift opening. Now that all 3 are teens, they usually don't want pajamas.....so I might be the only one opening pajamas tomorrow before bed......yipee for me!
What traditions do you honour at Christmas?

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Snowhaven
Stamp: retired
Cardstock: Glaceir; Cranberry; White Daisy
Ink: Cranberry; Glacier; Black
Embellishments: Red Glitz
Tools: Art Philosophy

Happy to Be Friends

 It has been a crazy sleep week with my 6 am gym calls. Most days I come home and go to bed, then end up sleeping until 1 or 2 pm. Sometimes I can settle down to bed that night by 1 or 2 am. Other nights I go to bed when I would be getting up to go to the gym.....vicious cycle!

In addition to this, all of my Christmas cards I put out for sale at my friend's coffee shop Tuesday, were sold by Saturday. So, I stayed up the entire night making more to take in this morning. I dropped them off at 8am. When I stopped by for a coffee at 5pm, several had already sold!

This card I included in the non-Christmas cards for sale, while I was on my tangent making cards with, Happy to Be Friends set.

I used the lovely patterned paper from Heartstrings, with a ripped piece of Lagoon as a border and mat. I stamped the leafy image with Flaxen, however, you don't really end up seeing much of it underneath all of the flowers. I stamped them with Cranberry; Cotton Candy and Lagoon ink. I matted the stamped piece with Lagoon and Cranberry cardstock. I added a button and Black Hemp with the sentiment stamped with Black ink.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Heartstrings
Stamp: Happy to Be Friends
Ink: Cranberry; Cotton Candy; Lagoon; Black
Cardstock: Lagoon; Cranberry; White Daisy
Embellishments: Black Hemp; Button

Snowflakes falling......?

Well, there are no snowflakes falling here, in Victoria! I have lived here for 23 years and I think we have seen snow at Christmas no more than 3 times! So, I like to stamp snowflakes to help me remember what a white Christmas feels like!

 These cards are a colour copy of one I previously made, that was also a take on one Karen Day had made! I added retired Twilight and Sky cardstock for mats, along with Twilight and Crystal Blue ink. The top card was embellished with Silver Glitter paper. The bottom, with White Shimmer Trim.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamps: retired
Paper: Yuletide Carol
Cardstock: Colonial White; retired Twilight & Sky
Embellishments: Silver Glitter paper; White Shimmer Trim

Back to Christmas!

I was asked to create a card kit for a customer, with 4 different designs. Here is one of the 4 designs I created for Lesley.

 I started with a Ruby mat, then added patterned paper from  Yuletide Carol. The musical patterned paper and ornament piece are matted with Olive cardstock. The holly is stamped with New England Ivy ink, with an image from Hostess stamp, Sing Glory. I added some Red Glitz to the berries.

The sentiment is from Hostess stamp, Be Jolly and is stamped with Black ink. I coloured in the letters with my Shin Han Alcohol markers. I added Red Shimmer Trim and Cranberry Baker's Twine to finish the cards.

On the second card, I stamped 2 images from a retired set, with Ruby ink. I only did this extra stamping on my cards, just to switch things up a bit.

All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Paper: Yuletide Carol
Stamp: Sing Glory; Be Jolly
Cardstock: Ruby; Olive; Colonial White
Ink: New England Ivy; Shin Han Alcohol Markers
Embellishments: Red Shimmer Trim; Cranberry Baker's Twine; Red Glitz
Other: Memento Black ink

Cupcakes yummm........

I'm not eating cupcakes, but I am sure enjoying colouring them! This darling sentiment; cupcake and hearts are all from our very sweet December Stamp of the Month, Cutie Pie. You can have your own set until the end of December and also take advantage of our "Deal of the Decade", at the same time.

I paired Cutie Pie with new Heartstrings paper. I matted this luscious red pattern on Lagoon cardstock, then I drew black lines around the outside with my Black journaling pen. I stamped the sentiment on this newsprint pattern with Black ink, then did the same drawing. I also matted this piece with Lagoon cardstock, then added the scallop punched border at the bottom. I cut zip strips to size and added them to appear as another mat, underneath the Lagoon.

I coloured this sweet cupcake and hearts with my Shin Han Alchohol Markers. I added some Stardust Glitz to the cherry on top of the cupcake and Liquid Glass to the hearts. They are all cut out and the cupcake is popped up on our Thin 3-D Foam tape. I also added some of our new Extra Thick Pixie Twine.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Heartstrings
Stamp: Cutie Pie
Cardstock: Lagoon; White Daisy
Ink: Black; Black Journaling Pen; Shin Han Alcohol Markers
Embellishments: Pixie Extra Thick Twine; Liquid Glass; Stardust Glitz

Heartstrings is heavenly!

Well, it is crazy how you find something you really like and then it seems to be glued to your hands! This is what is happening with our stamps and patterned paper from our new Seasonal Expressions! I cannot seem to pull myself away from Heartstrings or Happy to Be Friends.

This Heartstrings paper pack has such a wonderful variety of patterns to choose from, I can't put it down! I started with Flaxen cardstock on a White Daisy base. Added 3 pieces of Heartstrings patterns in addition to a zip strip and another wee strip of Flaxen cardstock.

I stamped the branches from, Happy to Be Friends, with Flaxen ink. I used just one branch and stamped an overlapping circle with it to make it look like a wreath. The sentiment is stamped with Black ink and I added the dots with my Shin Han Alcohol markers. It is matted on Lagoon and Slate Cardstock. While Slate is not a suggested colour to coordinate, with CTMH, pretty much everything can coordinate! I finished the card with some Aqua Dots.


All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Heartstrings
Stamp: Happy to Be Friends
Cardstock: Flaxen; Lagoon; Slate; White Daisy
Ink: Flaxen; Black; Shin Han Alcohol markers
Embellishments: Aqua Dots
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

A new Favourite!

I am enjoying my time, now that I have finished my Christmas Craft Fairs, for this year. I didn't play with any of my new product from our Seasonal Expressions, until this week. Now, I have discovered a new FAVOURITE.......stamp set, Happy to Be Friends!

The good/bad thing about this, is I will be posting lots of pics showing how I used it! This first card I made for this week's Mojo Monday 375 Challenge.

I stamped the lovely leafy images in Flaxen ink on White Daisy. Then I stamped the flower images with Cranberry; Lagoon; and Hollyhock inks. You cannot see it, but I added Stardust Glitz to the centre of each flower. I stamped the sentiment in Black and matted the piece with Lagoon cardstock.

Next I added the newsprint patterned paper, from NEW Heartstrings, and matted it with Flaxen cardstock. Then came another pattern from Heartstrings and Lagoon cardstock. Those were also matted with Flaxen cardstock.

I added Ruby Chevron and Lagoon Heart Washi Tape, along with Turquoise shimmer Trim and Epoxy Dots.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Heartstrings
Stamp: Happy to Be Friends
Ink: Cranberry; Hollyhock; Lagoon; Flaxen; Black
Cardstock: Flaxen; Lagoon; White Daisy
Embellishments: Ruby Chevron & Lagoon Heart Washi Tape; Turquoise Shimmer Trim and Epoxy Dots; Stardust Glitz
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

Make it Sparkle!

A customer recently asked me to create a card kit for her, with 4 different card designs. I had lots of fun doing it and am posting this card first, since it fits perfectly with the "Sparkle" challenge over at "Just Us Girls" Challenge Blogspot.

I started with this lovely polka dot patterned paper from Snowhaven and matted it with some Cranberry cardstock. I cut the scallop circle and stamped the sentiment on Glacier cardstock. In the background, I stamped a "snowflake kisses" poem from a retired set, with coordinating ink.

I cut the lovely snowflake from Silver Glitter paper with Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. I tied the sentiment piece up with Ruby Baker's Twine.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Paper: Snowhaven
Stamps: retired CTMH
Cardstock: White Daisy; Glacier; Cranberry
Ink: Glacier; Black
Embellishments: Silver Glitter Paper; Ruby Baker's Twine
Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

December is here.......

I am so excited that December has arrived! Our Christmas tree and lights are up and on! I hope to start the baking today, for a fundraising event at my youngest daughter's school. Then I will bake because I love to do it....Christmas cookies are my favourite thing to bake. I am planning on Chocolate & Lemon Crack Cookies; Whipped Shortbread; Pecan Shortbread; and I hope to make one my Mom always loved, Almond Crescents. I do not have her recipe, but I am pretty sure they are just stiff shortbread cookies with crushed almond slices rolled in icing sugar. Time will tell and I plan on sharing some pictures this year, too!

Onward to Cutie Pie! This is the 3rd card is my Cutie Pie Workshop planned for January.

I used retired Dotty For You patterned paper along with some Slate & White Daisy cardstock. I coloured the cupcake and stand with my Shin Han Alcohol Markers. The sentiment is stamped with Black ink and the ribbon is our sweet Slate Diagonal Striped.


All supplies are Close To My Heart, unless noted.
Paper: retired Dotty For You
Stamp: Cutie Pie, Dec Stamp of the Month
Cardstock: Slate; White Daisy
Ink: Black; Shin Han Alcohol Markers
Embellishments: Slate Diagonal Striped Ribbon; Red Glitter Sparkle
Tools: Scallop Border Punch
Other: Memento Black Ink

Cyber Monday 20% OFF plus Cutie Pie SOTM

Today, December 1st, is an amazing day to shop on my website.

First, we are having a never seen before Cyber Monday Special for 24 hours only....Receive 20% OFF any or all Close To My Heart Exclusive Cricut Cartridge Collections!

Then, we have the kick off of, Deal of the Decade! With any $50 purchase, you can choose as many "D" and "C" sized stamp sets from our Annual Inspirations Idea Book for just $10!

Today is also the launch of our NEW Seasonal Expressions. It is packed with all NEW products for you to feast upon.

If that isn't enough, we have a really sweet Stamp of the Month for December, Cutie Pie, for just $5 with your $50 purchase!

Here is a card for my January Wokshop featuring December's Stamp of the Month, Cutie Pie.

I used some lovely Dotty For You retired patterned paper with Lagoon; Sweet Leaf; and Black cardstock. I coloured the cupcake with our wonderful Shin Han Alcohol Markers. I used the Colorless Blender to create the stripes in the icing. The Alphabet is one that comes with the NEW Artfully Sent Cricut Collection.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: Cutie Pie, December Stamp of The Month
Paper: retired Dotty For You
Ink: Shin Han Alcohol Markers; Black ink
Cardstock: White Daisy; Lagoon; Sweet Leaf; Black
Tools: Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge; Scallop Border Punch

It's The Little Things......for Christmas cards!

First, let me say "Happy Thanksgiving" to all of my U.S. friends. I hope you have a wonderful and blessing filled day!

I don't normally show more than 1 or 2 cards per day, but wanted to share what I created for a last minute class I'm holding this Sunday. I used our wonderful November Stamp of the Month, It's The Little Things, to create some unique Christmas cards.

This first one is my favourite! I used the leaves to create poinsettia looking flowers, to go along with my random stamped sheet.

The cardstock colours for this one are Lagoon and Juniper. I stamped the leaves with Flaxen and Ruby ink on White Daisy cardstock. The sentiment is stamped with Ruby ink and I added some Turquoise Shimmer Trim, along with Aqua Dots.

Next, are two more of the cards I made with my random stamped sheet, created with It's The Little Things. This card has Cranberry cardstock with Gold Shimmer Trim accent. I also stamped and cut out shapes that have some Stardust Glitz on the center, but you cannot really see it. I stamped the sentiment with Lagoon ink.

The next card has Ruby cardstock and Red Shimmer Trim. You can sort of see the Stardust Glitz on this one, because it makes the ink bleed slightly. I stamped the sentiment in Juniper ink. For the last card and this one, I stamped the leaves with Flaxen and used my stylus to add a vein to make the leaves look more realistic.

Finally, here is a larger piece showing what the random stamped sheet looks like. I used Cranberry ink (that was swiped on the stamp before stamping); Ruby; Juniper; Glacier; Flaxen and Lagoon ink. I do love how this turned out and are my slightly unconventional Christmas cards. 

 All supplies are Close To My Heart.
Stamp: It's The Little Things - November Stamp of the Month
Ink: Cranberry; ruby; Juniper; Glacier; Flaxen; Lagoon
Cardstock: Juniper; Lagoon; Ruby; Cranberry; White Daisy
Embellishments: Gold, Red & Turquoise Shimmer Trim; Stardust Glitz

Supeer fast Christmas cards

It has been a crazy past couple of weeks for me, as I was getting product ready for sale at an annual craft fair I vendor at. That one ran this past Saturday, but I managed to get a spot at another fair this coming Saturday, so I am hunkered down preparing for that one.

I needed some quick Christmas cards and found that one beautiful patterned paper in Yuletide Carol and coordinating Complements, make for some wonderful quick cards.

I added Cranberry and Topiary cardstock for matting. Some Ruby Baker's Twine, then Stardust Glitz to the holly Complements. It really doesn't get much quicker than this, to put together a vintage looking card.

Here is second card utilizing another section of this one piece of patterned paper. I stamped the sentiment with Cranberry pigment ink, from Merry Merry. I added Cranberry striped ribbon and Ruby Baker's Twine, along with a Topiary mat. I also used some Desert Sand ink to distress the edges of the pieces of this card.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.

Stamp: Merry, Merry

Paper: Yuletide Carol

Cardstock: Cranberry; Topiary; Colonial White

Ink: Desert Sand; Cranberry; Cranberry Pigment

Embellishments: Cranberry Striped Twill Ribbon; Ruby Baker's Twine; Stardust Glitz