LAST DAY FOR CHANCE TO WIN FREE PRODUCTS!

Just a quick reminder. This is the last day of my Mystery Hostess Online Gathering! Join today here for your chance to be chosen as hostess for this gathering and earn FREE hostess rewards.

Any order gets you into the drawing for hostess rewards.

And any order $35.00 and above from the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book earns you a FREE A-sized stamp set or TWO FREE monogram stamps.  You can choose from the stamp sets I've listed on my previous post.   With the $35.00 order, you are also eligible to purchase the Whooo's Your Valentine kit for just $10.00!  Wow... and WHOOO can pass that up?

Here's a cute little treat tube I made for doggie treats!  So cute. Could make it for kitty treats too.  I used the owl outline from the cute stamp set that comes with the kit for the doggy head and added floppy ears (cut freehand).  The chevron pattern and heart are also from the stamp set that comes with the kit (see my December 11th post for a picture of the stamp set).

Here's a closeup of the doggy head.  I used large sparkles for the eyes with a dot of black using a Sharpie marker, used some felt for the hose, and drew on the mouth.

You have until 11:59 p.m. tonight (Dec. 31st) to shop and join this online gathering, but I would order earlier to avoid the last minute rush of MANY consultants putting in their last minute orders for the quarter.

Let me know via email which stamp set you would like, if you do place a $35.00 order.

HAVE FUN AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

MYSTERY HOSTESS ONLINE GATHERING!

Just a quick note today! I've decided to have a Mystery Hostess Online Gathering. It starts today and ends at midnight on December 31st! For anyone who orders any amount of product, I'll enter your name in a drawing and if your name is chosen, you will be my "mystery hostess" and will earn FREE hostess rewards! As the "mystery hostess" you don't have to do anything but win! I've sent out the EZ Invites today. If you didn't receive one, just go to my website and "join" the Mystery Hostess Gathering.

For anyone who orders $35.00 in products, I am offering a FREE A-sized stamp set ($6.95 retail value) or TWO monogram stamps ($5.90 retail value)! Wow... how neat is that? (And as you know, if you do purchase $35.00 in products from the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book, you can purchase the Whooo's Your Valentine kit for just $10.00!)  For another $5.00, you can purchase the December Stamp of the Month which is Year-round Cheer , a $17.95 value.

Below are the A-sized stamp sets you can choose from and the darling monogram stamps.  Remember, you receive TWO FREE monogram stamps of your choice with your $35.00 order, or any ONE FREE A-sized stamp set below with your $35.00 order.  Many of these A-sized stamp sets will be retiring at the end of January, which I've indicated.

If you do order, please just email me with the stamp set you would like for FREE!

Monogram stamps:

ANY TWO FOR FREE WITH YOUR $35.00 ORDER!

 A-sized stamp sets:

WILL RETIRE AT END OF JANUARY, 2013.

WILL RETIRE AT END OF JANUARY, 2013.

WILL RETIRE AT END OF JANUARY, 2013.

WILL RETIRE AT END OF JANUARY, 2013.

WILL RETIRE AT END OF JANUARY, 2013.

WILL RETIRE AT END OF JANUARY, 2013.

WILL RETIRE AT END OF JANUARY, 2013.

WILL RETIRE AT END OF JANUARY, 2013. I LOVE THIS TREE!!!!!

WILL RETIRE AT END OF JANUARY, 2013. DARLING TULIP BORDER!

WILL RETIRE AT END OF JANUARY, 2013.

WILL RETIRE AT THE END OF JANUARY, 2013. LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS HEART!

WILL RETIRE AT THE END OF JANUARY, 2013.

WILL RETIRE AT END OF JANUARY, 2013.

WILL RETIRE AT END OF JANUARY, 2013.

TYPEFACE STAMP SET.  VERY HANDY TO HAVE.

As I looked through these A-sized stamp sets, I realize how many I still want! They are so adorable and would have so many uses, like coloring with the markers, using for borders, and cute little trees to use in all kinds of settings.  

Go to my website, join the Mystery Hostess gathering and be eligible to earn FREE products, and also a FREE stamp set.

Have fun!

QUICK AND EASY CARDS.

Note: Before I begin this post, I want you to know that I have placed a special prayer on the top of the home page of my blog, for the families of the Newton tragedy. My heart hurts for them and everyone affected.

I had all of my cards done and ready to mail the other day, when I realized I was short one card! Plus... I had put everything away! Here is what I did to get one more card made in very short order, maybe less than 10 minutes: 

1. Found a piece of kraft card stock, 81/2 x 11 in size. 

2. Went through some papers I had purchased and found a gorgeous piece of black glitter paper (not CTMH). 

3. Dumped out all the little extra shapes I'd cut using my (new) Cricut Expression (that I just love!) and pulled out a couple of tags and a few stars. 

4. Laid out a quick design on the kraft card (made 5x7 in size) by cutting my kraft paper 10 x 7 and folding it in half. 

5. Distressed edges with cocoa ink on the kraft paper and red ink on the cream card stock.. and I had already stamped a greeting on some cream card stock tags. Here is what I came up with!

 

I added a little twine bow and a piece of leftover ribbon (not CTMH) that I had. I used the CTMH Pear & Partridge papers for the tags which is still available. I hated to cut into it but made a bunch of other cards using it and they came out gorgeous!

I had previously cut some cream stars and green glitter paper stars of different sizes, so just put two together, distressed the edges in red and put a little jewel on top.  I stuck the green star flat, and put 3D foam tape under the cream star to make it stand out.  

On the inside, I stamped a blessing on cream card stock, distressed it and stuck it on.

This is the Christmas Love stamp set from Autumn/Winter 2011.  LOVE IT!

I'm loving my new (reconditioned) Cricut Expression!  I had cut extra tags and stars when I was playing around with sizes, etc.  This was a good lesson learned because then I could just pick through what I already had!  Neat!  I think I'll have little baskets of my shapes for the different holidays or seasons.  I've already started a scrap box with just Christmas scraps and a little basket with Christmas tags, labels and shapes.

It took longer to explain how to make this card, than it actually took to make it!

Here's another fairly quick card I made using the Dakota  paper.  I love the wood grain and tweedy design on the back! This paper will be so versatile so I bought the bulk pack.

I distressed the edges of the card in cocoa ink, red on the cream card stock and used the Nature's Gift stamps (from Autumn/Winter 2011).  I had a scrap of this cute snowflake ribbon and put a little twine bow on.

I used 3D foam tape to lift up the little tag, and used green glitter paper that I purchased elsewhere.  I LOVE GLITTER PAPERS! I matted the tweedy design with some red paper I had already cut and it fit perfectly!

Used some more of my extra stars, with 3D foam tape behind them, and a few sparkles.

 VOILA!  There are my two quick cards.

There's still time.................. get busy!  (as if you didn't have enough to do right?)


 

WHOOPIE! DECEMBER SPECIAL ALMOST HERE!

I just couldn't wait to show you the December special, which starts on December 13th!!! 

It's a special to celebrate National Papercrafting Month in January. What an INCREDIBLE DEAL! The Whooo's Your Valentine kit (CC1022) for only $10 with a $35 order!

HERE IS THE DARLING STAMP SET! AND THE CONTENTS OF THE KIT.

(You can order online from my website any time beginning December 13, 2012 all the way to the end of January, 2013. Once you place your $35 order from the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book, you will be asked if you want this kit and at that time, if you do want the kit, enter "add item".)

SEE MORE PHOTOS BELOW.  I HAVE THE ACTUAL KIT IN MY HOT LITTLE HANDS!

HERE'S THE REAL KIT. SEE THE CUTE LITTLE CANDY TUBES, PRE-SCORED BOXES IN 4 COLORS, THE STAMP SET AND TWO OF THE PAPERS. THERE IS ALSO A SHEET OF DARK PINK AND SILVER GLITTER PAPER!

CLOSE-UP OF THE PRE-SCORED BOX.

OMG! AND THE SILVER GLITTER PAPER IS GORGEOUS!  IT'S VERY HEAVY.

We consultants at Close to My heart are ALL HOPING that the Spring Idea Book will come out with more colors of the glitter papers!  We can hardly wait!

Here are three close-ups of the completed precious little treat kits.

THE PINK BOX HERE MAY HAVE BEEN STAMPED WITH A TEXTURE STAMP. I'M NOT SURE ON THAT.

Go check out Amy's Art from the Heart blog for some card ideas using this cute stamp set.  She has used some blue papers for a more masculine card.

Combine your love of papercrafting with the contents of this kit. There are SO MANY ways you will be able to use the stamps and papers and you can add other colors if you want to.

THIS KIT RETAILS FOR $40.00! Your $35 order must be from the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book.  This kit offers you a sneak peak of two new products for the Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book: the treat tubes and the silver glitter paper!  (Shipping/handling may apply. Offer valid December 13, 2012 to January 31, 2013. Maximum of one Whooo's Your Valentine kit per qualifying order).

HOPE YOU WILL LOVE THIS KIT AS MUCH AS I DO!!!!!
 

NEAT TECHNIQUE - CLUSTER STAMPING!

Oh My! 

Close to My Heart just posted this neat stamping video (only about 6 minutes long) on their website and I wanted to share it with you. It's called "cluster stamping", which is putting lots of single acrylix stamps onto one block, and stamping them all at once! Ingenious!

(If you receive this post by email, then to watch the video, you need to click on the blog title above, which takes you directly to my blog.  There you will find the video.)

Try this out... 

Here's a sample that I tried, using one of my CTMH stamp sets (retired). It was so easy.  I just placed all the little stamps on my piece of card stock, smooth side up, then pressed the block on top of them, lifted up, and voila! they were all adhered to the block!  

Then I inked, and stamped in red.  I did this several times on several pieces of card stock.  I also tried it with gold pigment ink on purple card stock! So pretty!  I would be able to stamp 20 little sheets of card stock for 20 cards, lickity split!

This was so quick! Much better than placing one stamp at a time on a block and trying to place it in the exact same place on each piece of card stock!

Then I took the little holly stamp on a separate little block, used green ink and placed the holly wherever I wanted it.

I did this really fast and would place my stamps probably in a better display. I could even put some scrolls on the edges.  Once done, then place your 20 (or however many you did) on a red card and you're done!  

If you have any questions, please comment here or email me.


HAVE FUN CLUSTER STAMPING!

USE YOUR SCRAPS AND PHOTOS FOR CARDS.

Hi all, 

PLEASE BE SURE TO READ MY PREVIOUS POST

ON THE CLOSE TO MY HEART

CHRISTMAS SALE GOING ON NOW! 

Here's a quick post to show a couple of neat little Christmas cards I made. One is a photo card and one is using some little bits of paper scraps that I always have tons of!  In fact, my drawer is so full of small scraps of paper that I can't bear to get rid of, that I have to figure out a way to use them!

Here's my "scrap" card!  I just love it! I didn't use all Close to My Heart papers as I have tons of "other" papers that I used before CTMH, but the plaid and red are CTMH papers and the card base is green card stock from one of my Close to My Heart paper packs. 

I used a design from the Make it From Your Heart, Volume I, page 42, and reconfigured it somewhat. Everyone should have one of these Make it From Your Heart magazines. I think this will become a regular on each new Idea Book. It has so many beautiful designs and ideas.

Page 42 from Make it From Your Heart, Volume I.

As you can see, instead of little squares on the top, I punched round circles, using my 1" punch. I do not have a square punch and DID NOT YET have a Cricut die cutting machine.. but I do now!  I just got it a few days ago (finally!).   I'll have to post some more photos later this month of things I make using my brand new Cricut Expression machine!  For this card, I had to improvise.. I do have a stamp set with letters, but they were too big for the little 1" circles, so I just wrote my own NOEL using a red sharpie pen.. added some glitter around the edges, and punched little red circles to go underneath each letter to give a shadow effect.

I just love the antiquey look of this card!  I distressed all the edges with Cocoa ink, and stamped some little gold ornaments at the bottom using the Christmas Love (D1492) My Acrylx Stamp Set from last year's Autumn/Winter Idea Book, and used more gold glitter on the ornaments.  The Happy Holidays is from another retired stamp set.

Here's a photo card I made using some of our alpaca pictures, a white card base (from "other" store) and the striped stamp from the November special, double stamp set (stamped on the sides).  This was quick and easy. I used the neat little program Smilebox to create my little photo display with sentiment, that is mounted on top of the white card.

 As you can tell, I'm hooked on photo cards and Smilebox!  If you have any questions on how to use Smilebox, just email me.

Added a little sparkly ribbon and a bow, and done!

 THESE WERE JUST FOR FUN!  HAPPY SCRAPPING!