Christmas Colors ~ "Use Your Stash" Blog Hop

This month, the challenge for those of us participating in the "Use Your Stash" Blog Hop was to create a project using Christmas colors from our stash.  It can be traditional, or a more unusual color combo for the Holiday.   So you will see a wide variety of projects and colors while visiting each post along the Blog Hop.             

If you have come here from 'NJ Stamping Queen', you are right on track for the "Use Your Stash" Blog Hop.  Blog Hopping is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one, or visit each blog from the list at the end of this post.  

Using some patterned paper from the Yuletide Carol kit along with Ruby and New England Ivy cardstock, this birthday has more of a masculine feel than Christmas.  Images from the Holiday Tags stamp set were used along with the new Vine Embossing Folder and some Striped Twill ribbon.  The sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches (FMS167).       

Now "Hop" on over to 'Scrappin Katy' for more projects using Christmas colors.   

"Use Your Stash" Blog Hop participants:

• Sheila's Stamping Stuff - (here)
• Scrappin Katy
• NJ Stamping Queen

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Christmas Card Workshop

It is the time of year to start thinking about creating your handmade Christmas cards.  If you would like to enjoy some creative time with your friends at a Christmas Card Workshop, contact me at sheilabennett@comcast.net and we can schedule an hour or two just for you! 

With the new Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge, creating unique cards is faster than ever.  For this bi-fold card, the base was cut from Whisper cardstock and a piece of patterned paper from the Snowhaven kit was used to cut the inside piece which includes a cut-out sentiment.  You simply fold the card in half, and then fold the front flap back to the edge so that the ornament section with the tree is shown.  An oval was cut from a piece of green Glitter Paper and adhered to the back of the ornament section to give it a pop of color.  Before adhering the sentiment paper on the inside of the card, two small strips of Washi Tape were strategically placed to appear behind the small tree and the teardrops beside the word 'have.'  To add a bit of shimmer to the ½-page front, strips of Silver Geometric Washi Tape were added and then trimmed to expose the ornament section.  

The 5"x7" card opens like a large 'z' and is an impressive card without much effort.  A few Epoxy Bubbles and Sparkles add a bit of bling.  Since NO Stamping was used, this is a perfect entry for this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge blog.

Paper from the Yuletide Carol kit gives an elegant look to this card.  An evergreen tree image from the Always Grateful stamp set was used along with a 'Merry Christmas' sentiment from the Just To Say... stamp set.  To add a bit of shine, a piece of red Shimmer Trim was added behind the main image.  For the tree topper, some color was added to a clear Sparkle using the Marigold ShinHam Touch Twin marker.  A big "thank you" to fellow CTMH Consultant Michelle Loncar for her design and inspiration for this card.

Just To Say... (included with Artfully Sent cartridge)

Just To Say... is a fabulous stamp set which is included with the Artfully Sent Cricut Collection.  With more than 30 different sentiments, it is a stamp set that you will use over and over again - either creating cards with this cartridge, or with any of your other stamps.    

If you need to create quite a few cards, this one goes together quickly and is a nice holiday card.  Only supplies needed are some White Daisy and Desert Sand cardstock along with the Merry Merry stamp set for the wreath and sentiment.  Add a piece of Topiary Mini Chevron ribbon along with some Sparkles and the card is complete.      

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Seaside Greetings

Created another card to share with the CTMH Blog Boosters Blog Hop, which features new products available in the Close To My Heart Annual Inspirations idea book.  A thumbnail of each participant's creation is shown in the Linky list below.  Simply click on a thumbnail to go to their blog post with detailed information. 

Peace and relaxation is what came to mind when I saw this sailboat image in the Seaside Greetings stamp set.  For this 5"x7" card, a subdued patterned paper from the Yuletide Carol kit is used along with Sunset ink and Chevron Washi Tape.  A bit of Baker's Twine and some Triangle Studs complete a masculine look.     

Be sure to visit all the blogs to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas!  

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

The Invisible Man

Received a box from Close To My Heart today, full of new product available in the Annual Inspirations book beginning August 1.  Included in the box was the new Woodgrain Embossing Folder and the "Just Us Girls" Challenge blog Trend #249 is to use woodgrain, so that was the inspiration for this card.  Hats Off is a new stamp set which is available only as a Hostess Reward item.  So if you would like this adorable stamp set, gather some of your friends and invite me over to introduce them to the wonderful stamps and papers from CTMH.  

Even though the background paper is from the Yuletide Carol kit and is intended for Christmas, it is a very neutral pattern and is perfect for this truly masculine card.  The bowler hat, glasses and mustache are so cute that nothing else was required.  Pattern #25 in Make It From Your Heart Volume 2 was used for the card design.  

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355