Christmas Card Workshop

Finally created cards for my annual Christmas Card Workshop in October. This year, the workshop will be offered on Friday evening, October 9 (starting at 7 pm) and also Saturday afternoon, October 17 (at 1 pm). Normally, the Friday and Saturday workshops are on the same weekend - but my schedule does not allow that this month. Whichever date you choose to attend, the cards will be the same. You will create 5 cards each of 3 different designs - a total of 15 cards and matching envelopes for $15. All supplies are included and pre-cut for you. You just need to bring your own favorite adhesive, stamp your images, and assemble your cards.

The first card uses the new Welcome Home stamp set from Close To My Heart. The fireplace image is used on the front of the card - and the card is actually a pocket. Patterned paper is from the That's Amore paper packet.

Use the circle 'handle' to slide the insert out of the card. The sentiment is completed on the insert. Also, the pocket is convenient for holding a gift card or $$ cash.

Pastel colors are used with the New Fallen Snow stamp set to create a soft, sparkling card.

The sentiment is from the Peace On Earth stamp set and is completed on the inside of the card, along with some more pastel snowflakes.

Holiday Warmth is the stamp-of-the-month (SOTM) and is only available during the month of October. You can earn it at a substantial discount or even FREE with an order from CTMH. Sentiments used are from the December Word Puzzle.

The unique opening of the card uses the 'z-fold' technique.

Please let me know if you would like to attend one of the Christmas Card Workshops in October!

An Open Window ...

With the nice fall weather, our windows are open - our cats love to sit in the open windows! And it was funny this evening as I walked through the house and found all three cats in their own window.

Mac was checking out everything happening in the front of the house.

Toklata refused to turn around, but you can tell by the 'tilt of her ears' that she is listening intently. :)

Moxie learned how to "window sit" from the other kitties.

This picture made me laugh - looks like she is sticking her tongue out!

And then there is Mac posing with the 'Alfred Hitchcock' look.

You may notice there is not a "cute" picture of Toklata - probably because she is such a 'grouch' most of the time.

Hello There - exclusive WOTG stamp set

Close To My Heart has some great new Workshop-on-the-Go (WOTG) kits that can be used to create scrapbook pages and cards - and each one contains an exclusive stamp set that is only available with purchase of the kit. This first kit is named Twitterpated and the super cute Hello There stamp set includes an adorable hedgehog. Who knew that a hedgehog could be adorable!?

Each kit contains a complete paper packet, an exclusive stamp set, a Workshop Guide, and a coordinating embellishment. Each item in the WOTG - except the exclusive stamp set and the Workshop Guide - can be purchased separately. However, if you purchase the basic kit for $29.95, you will be saving between 10% and 15% off the retail value. The Workshop Guide is a full-color 6-page brochure which has complete cutting and assembly instructions for 2 scrapbook pages and 6 cards (2 each of 3 designs). Also included are pictures of 2 additional scrapbook pages and 3 additional cards. More information about the additional projects is available in the Workshops On The Go section of MyCTMH website.

These are the cards that I created by following the instructions in the Workshop Guide, and using some of the embellishments from the "best option."



And the sample scrapbook pages that can be created:
You can think of the WOTG kits as a "project in a bag" since the papers, stamp sets, embellishments, and instructions are all included - the only extras you need are adhesive, inks, and blocks to use the stamps. Chances are you already have these extras at home just waiting for a new project to work on! Contact me to order your WOTG project - these special kits are not available to order through the MyCTMH website.

Treetops - birthday cards

The little trees in the Treetops stamp set are just so quick and easy to stamp - and they are so cute too! The colors used are Sorbet, Olive, Honey, Bamboo, and Chocolate. The sentiments are from the Happy Birthday stamp set, which is a great set with about a dozen birthday sentiments in a variety of fonts and styles. These cards were all inspired by samples posted on our CTMH Bulletin Board by Tanya Roskopf. What she created was so cute that I had to "stamp-lift" her cards and make some of my own based on her samples.

All of the scalloped edges were made using the Corner Rounder. When you punch with the plastic guard removed, you get a nice single scallop. Hold the punch upside-down so that you can see the edge of the cutting scallop, and line the top corner up with the existing cut and punch again - repeat until you reach the edge of the paper.

Welcome Home - picture frame card

Using the masking technique shown on page 13 in the new Autumn/Winter Idea Book is an easy way to stamp a portion of the couch stamp inside the picture frame. Add a pillow and a lamp from the Welcome Home stamp set and the scene is complete. The background paper on the card is from the Sweet Home paper packet. Notice that the end of the pull-chain for the lamp is actually a Bitty Brad, and the pillow was cut from another piece of patterned paper. It's the little details that give a nice finishing touch.

Merry Monsters - silly card

Just a silly card I made using the bicycle from the Welcome Home stamp set and one of the adorable little guys from the Merry Monsters stamp set. You can interpret the "I'm Sorry" (from the Dainty Thoughts set) in many ways - I'm sorry you had a bike wreck, I'm sorry your bike was stolen, I'm sorry that monsters are invading the earth and destroying bicycles. You get the idea - the card can be used for just about anything!

And after I finished coloring the cute little monster, I realized that I used the red & yellow Kansas City Chiefs colors - so maybe the little guy is a Chiefs player. :)

Treasures - September's stamp-of-the-month

Treasures is this month's stamp-of-the-month from Close To My Heart, and it is one of my favorites. It has some wonderful unique sentiments along with dandelion flowers, including adorable little "fly away" puffs.

The colors used for this card are Honey and Cocoa, along with a background paper from the Grace paper packet. Some Prisma Glitter was used to add a little sparkle to the flower and the end of the sentiment. The Pearls are a special Connections Club reward being offered this year.

For a different look, strips of colored cardstock were placed together and then the images embossed with White embossing powder.

Be sure to visit this month's Blog Hop for lots of great ideas using the Treasures stamp set.

Treasures (September SOTM Blog Hop)

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! September's stamp-of-the-month (SOTM) from Close To My Heart is Treasures. The stamp set features a beautiful dandelion along with some unique sentiment styles. If you have come here from Pamela's 'Cherish Your Memories' Blog, you are on the right path!

This month we have over 65 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!


For this card, the large "fluffy" dandelion was embossed using new Cocoa color embossing powder. Papers are from the elegant new Grace paper packet and the ribbon from the Colonial White Ribbon Rounds.

And I just love the little "fly away" dandelion puffs, so had to include them on the inside of the card.


Now "Hop" on over to Adeline's 'Sweet Aline Designs' Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the Treasures stamp set is only available until September 30! Let me know if you would like to find out how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free.

If you get lost on the hop or find links that aren't working, there is a complete list of participating blogs on Jena's 'Live, Love, Laugh, Scrapbook!' blog.