RUNNING IN CIRCLES - AND MORE CIRCLES.

My where does the time go? It's been a week since I posted! This time of year always passes me by and I'm always running to try to keep up!  Sometimes I feel like I'm running in circles.

Here in central Oregon, I'm still in the "Fall" mode, and we're looking at getting snow next week. We are so fortunate here not to have the horrible storms that are happening in the Northeast and along the East coast.  It seems so calm here.... maybe the calm before the storm?

I had a fun class last week making some of my beloved paper flowers, plus we made some of those delightful altered wooden clothespins, which I blogged about HERE - PLAYING WITH PINS, which everyone loved.

After my class, my crafting "mojo" kind of went dry for a few days..... I felt like I was running in circles. I just couldn't think of anything creative.  But, all I have to do is try something different, and my mojo usually comes back.  

THIS IS ME WITH NO MOJO!

I was watching a video on YouTube (those wonderfully imaginative and creative videos on YouTube really inspire me), looking at Cricut Craft Room tutorials, and happened upon some little decorated Christmas trees. Hum.m.m.m.m. I thought, those are really cute.

 Here's one from "TheFuzzyDragon1". She used ribbon folded in squares for this one. It's really pretty, but I really wanted to make one using paper.  Her YouTube link is: FuzzyDragon1.



I felt some inspiration coming on, but the ones I saw were either the rosette trees, or trees covered with lace or folded ribbon.  I wanted to make trees using paper.

Nope.. those looked like they took too long to make.  I wanted something fun, quicker and easier.  

Then a light bulb went on. Why not use paper circles! I LOVE paper circles!  I know.... you wondered where the title of this post was leading, right?

So I picked out some of my older Christmas paper and started punching a BUNCH of 1" circles. I probably punched at least 50 circles.  (Didn't want to use my good papers until I knew how this thing would turn out).

And I made a little paper cone, and started gluing the circles on, from the bottom up, kind of like you would put shingles on a roof.  You've done that before right?  

And here's my little creation!

I think it's pretty cute!  It's about 5 or 6 inches tall (I say "about" because it's in the other room, and I'm too lazy to get up and go measure it - sorry, it's late).

 

So I think I've made a full circle, from NO mojo, to a lot of mojo!  I have lots of ideas for my little trees.  I'm going to try punching holes in it and putting a little battery tea-light inside so it will glimmer in the dark.  A few sitting on my kitchen table or mantle would look really sweet.

The results of the tea-light idea will be my next post.  And I'll also do a short tutorial on how I made this.  I was smart enough to take some pictures of it as I went along.

See why I love circles?

WANDER AIMLESSLY.

I was sitting at my computer the other day, daydreaming, and feeling a little anxious that the holidays are just around the corner! The time is just speeding by! 

Where did Fall go?

The leaves that were there two weeks ago, are gone!

 

Do I have THIS (below) to look forward to already???  Our weather forecast says SNOW tonight!

I wish I didn't feel so panicked this time of year, wondering how I will get everything done (that I want to do - not that I HAVE to do, but what I WANT to do).

I picked up a little book that sits by my desk called "Songs of the Earth", that I found at our local second hand store, and was flipping through the pages. 

This verse (below), by Maya Angelou, hit me right between the eyes! 

I decided to make a little framed verse to hang on my wall, right above my computer, to remind me to spend some hours of "aimless wandering" during this holiday season.

I wanted to share this verse with you.  You are welcome to print it, and gaze at it now and then to remind yourself to slow down, and "wander aimlessly", even if it's only in your mind.


Marilyn

HIDDEN TREASURES.

Lest we forget.... I want to remind you of Close to My Heart's "hidden treasures".  

ALL of Close to My Heart's "Cricut Compatible" stamp sets (that match cut images on our three exclusive Cricut Cartridges) are ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE!  (even when they aren't listed in the current catalogs).  How cool is that?

The grayish lines around the three ornaments, means there are matching cuts on the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge.

HERE ON MY WEBSITE is the page where you can view all of the stamp sets that are always available, even when they aren't listed in the current Idea Books. Some of these stamp sets came out two or three years ago, but CTMH still carries them.  You know...... they are the ones in the catalogs that have a red line around them, which means there is an image cut from one of our Cricut cartridges that exactly matches the stamp.

And remember too, stamps are not just for stamping on cards or scrapbook pages.  How about making your own wrapping paper with a big roll of Kraft paper that you can get from the discount store (like Bi-Mart, K-Mart or Walmart), and stamping it with your favorite images?  If you're on a budget, this is easy on the wallet.

I used CTMH's Red Chevron Ribbon to wrap this pretty package, and topped it with another red ribbon bow and some of my "shabby flowers".

 
I thought I would share with you the Christmas stamp sets that you may not be aware that Close to My Heart still carries... .and thus.... they are truly hidden treasures!

Wow... think of all the holly leaves you could cut, using the Art Philosophy cartridge!

These cute little stamps go on circle cuts from the Art Philosophy cartridge. And look at all of the other cute saying you get!

Oh my, you get tag cuts with our Art Philosophy cartridge plus cute sayings and "to", "from", ornament and tiny snowflake.

I especially like this one, using the Art Philosophy cartridge - you get cuts for the stocking, tree and tag.

A nifty tag cut from our Art Philosophy cartridge plus pretty ornaments, and look at that beautiful Merry Christmas font!

Two gorgeous snowflake cuts using our Art Philosophy cartridge and look at the pretty border!

This one has one tag cut, but the other darling Santa, sayings and tree stamps are so classic.

This stamp set is my ALL TIME FAVORITE and I am glad it will ALWAYS be available! There is a cut for the tag using the Art Philosophy cartridge, and look at the artwork on the train, stocking, and rocking horse! What fun to color these with our markers or colored pencils. Anyone have a son, spouse, nephew, grandson, who works for the railroad??? I do!

I thought I would show you a Thanksgiving/Fall stamp set that is always available, using our Art Philosophy cartridge. Leaves anyone?

There are MANY other stamp sets that are always available. Be sure to check out the link above. It is so good to know that we have these, just in case there is a certain type of stamp set that you want which isn't listed in the current Idea Book.  

 

Don't forget these hidden treasures, and many more listed HERE.  I'm so happy to say that ALL of the Monogram stamps will always be available!  I love the idea of using one monogram stamp to begin a word, such as "M"erry "C"hristmas! At only $2.95 each, I want them all!

None of the above stamp sets are listed in the current Autumn/ Winter 2013 Idea Book! (but pssstttttt..... they are ALWAYS available!)

Clearly The Best Video: Crafts for Your Curls

Here's a recent video from Close to My Heart, for you fabric lovers out there!  (Note, you must be on my blog page to view this video).  There are some great tips here for making fabric flowers to dress up your "curls" (hair!) or to use in your crafting.

PLAYING WITH PINS.

I've had so much fun this week with a new project! I think I'm getting into the Christmas spirit!

ALTERED CLOTHESPINS! 

I'm in love with these cute little things. I don't know why! They are just plain, ordinary clothespins, not the cute little minis, but regular sized, dull, plain, wood clothespins. 

But oh how pretty they look all dressed up!

I think I'm smitten. They are not ordinary anymore!

Months ago, when I saw our new  Designed Decor Colonial White Frame, I knew I would eventually HAVE to get it, and decorate some little clothespins to clip on the wire in the frame, to hold some of my vintage photos for Christmas, for holidays, or just for fun.  (I LOVE vintage seed packets, so hum.m.m.m.m...... that is another project).

Each one is a mini work of art.

 

In painting and glittering up these little sweet things, I realize how many other uses they will have, like hanging my Christmas cards on a ribbon strung across my fireplace. I can now see decorating them for every holiday!

What I did:

I took the spring clips off. I painted two red.  I stamped on two using a vintage script stamp (using Staz On ink).

On the two I painted, I glued design paper on the top.

 

I then Mod Podged over the entire pins and let them dry.

On one of the stamped pins, I glued on a piece of lace, a holly button, a green paper bow that I made and some little pearl strands (using hot glue).

On the other stamped pin, I put some red tulle and a wreath button.

On one of the red pins, I glued it all over with clear glitter glue, then adhered a little plastic white snowflake (that I painted beige and put glitter glue on) and a red candy cane button, made a teeny tiny bow and glued them on with hot glue.

On the other red pin, I glued on a lace "fan" (that I stitched along one edge and pulled up the gathers), a holly button and a little silver glitter snowflake cut from my Cricut.

On some of the pins, I put self-adhesive gems on the top and bottom.

 

These look so pretty in the soft candlelight.  See how they glitter and glow?  They dress up a picture frame very nicely... in fact, I think I'll make a bunch more to clip on some of my other picture frames on my mantle, and............... well, just use your imagination!

 

Illuminate in November! Stamp of the Month.

Hi all, a quick post today to show you the NOVEMBER ILLUMINATE Stamp of the Month set from Close to My Heart. It is darling and great for Christmas and other occasions.

OH SO DARLING! What cute sayings. And yours for only $5 with any $50 order (in Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book and/or Holidays from the Heart Gift catalog.)

Here are a few projects from other CTMH consultants using this stamp set. You can also search google for "CTMH Illuminte" for great ideas!

Darling card from Jen Rubio. I love how she distressed the edges of the teal paper.

Sweet little tags from Michelle Johns at My Flights of Fancy. How cute would these be to put on our Christmas gifts?

Such a pretty card created by Alyson Mayo. She used the Laughing Lola papers. Look at the tiny candles she made using white cardstock and (I think) gold glitter gel. What a great idea!

And don't forget, November's "Rediscover Close to My Heart" FREE DOWNLOAD can be found HERE on my website. Be sure to download this darling little wall art printable.

Be sure to download this from the website I linked to above, as the resolution will be high enough for a very nice printable.... perfect for framing!

Oh, one more thing I wanted to show you. This is "just for fun".  My friend and fellow consultant, Michelle Johns at My Flights of Fancy made the cutest Advent Wall Calendar using the Magical Days stamp set in the Holidays from the Heart catalog. The papers she used are the Sparkle & Shine papers. I just had to show you!

How cute is this? Each white cardstock "strip" holds 4 pockets. Each pocket holds a little tag with a cute saying on it for that day.  Darling idea. The Magical Days stamp set is a cute "box" shaped fancy number, for the 25 days of the month. Many of the numbers could be used for other occasions. Thank you Michelle!

Magical Days stamp set. You can earn this one for FREE with your $100 order!

Until next time............ happy crafting!

Marilyn