Monday, October 31, 2011

Mojo Mondays

This is the last Monday in October so this is our last Christmas Card idea!

Check out this cute owl from the Bundled Buddies stamp set
He is one of a bunch of adorable scarf and sweater wearing woodland creatures!
I was inspired by a fellow CTMH consultant (whose name I could not find.)

Here are a few close ups


Come back tomorrow to see how I made the cute red scarf accent on the card!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Fun on Fridays

We are heading to a wedding this weekend!
The color for the wedding is gold so here is what I came up with
A little CTMH mixed with gold accents from Michaels

Here are a few close ups of the details


Have a great weekend!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Tips for Thursdays

Here is another simple tip for a very versatile tool!

Use the opposite end of your paper piercing tool
to press your brads flat on your paper - like so

This helps reduce bulk and lumps when you put your project together.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Words for Wednesdays

"Friendship is a sheltering tree."

Samuel Coleridge               

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Technique Tuesdays

Here comes Santa Claus
looking cute as ever!
Want to know how to make Santa beard and fur trim so fluffy and fun?

Liquid Applique! 
You just take your stamped image and squeeze while
you draw on your hair and fur pattern.


The Liquid Applique has a yellow tint when wet.
Now you break out your handy dandy heat embossing tool and heat it until
the Liquid Applique puffs up and dries nice and white - like so.


One of the really great things about this product is it can be used for so many different things - hair, fur, feathers, frosting - you name it.
Since it has a nice small tip you can choose how little or
much you want to put on your image
and even better since it can be tinted with reinker
if you really, really want pink frosting on your cupcake you can have it!



You should really ask Santa to bring you some Liquid Applique this Christmas!!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Mojo Mondays

Our Christmas Card theme continues,
Today you will see a super cute gift card holder made with the
Believe Workshop On The Go kit!
(the super cute Santa image is a must have!)
Check him out!
Using a great tutorial video I found online here:
I created this super cute pocket card with envelope.

Here is the inside of the card with the gift card pocket
 Here are some more close ups of the completed project.



Can you believe one sheet of 12" x 12" paper, some ink, stamps and one more item** is all it took to make this super cute creation?

Come back tomorrow to hear how easy it is to make Santa's beard and fur trim 3D!
(** this will feature our secret item!)

Friday, October 21, 2011

Fun on Fridays

On of my dear friends Sheryl has recently gone through treatment for Breast Cancer.

She happens to love Russian nesting dolls
(or as I like to call them Babushkas - which is so fun to say!)
I couldn't resist this adorable Paper Smooches stamp to make her some cards!

Look how cute the Roxie paperpack worked for my
Pink Babushka Thank You cards!


I think these turned out just adorable!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Tips for Thursdays

Ready for another great use for your paper piercer?

Did you know Close to My Heart has come out with a fantastic new stitching ruler?

Not only can it be used to stitch but you can use it to
line up your brads in a perfectly spaced line!

Now here is how your paper piercer can save your fingertips and frustration.

Use it to separate the two prongs of the brad!
(saving your fingertips from lots of poking!)


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Words for Wednesdays

The bird a nest,
the spider a web,
man friendship.

William Blake                           

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Technique Tuesdays

Making a fantastic Z fold card is easier than it looks.


Here is how to create the base:

1.  Cut a piece of cardstock 4 1/2 " by 12"
2.  Score cardstock at 5 1/2" and 8 3/4"
3.  Fold card at scores with short piece in front

From there it is all about your creative choices!
Your stamps, your paper and a card that is creatively you!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Mojo Mondays

Here we go with another Christmas card that could easily be made in large numbers!

This classic beauty was inspired by fellow Close To My Heart consultant
Diane Tuggle.

This is how it looks closed

Its a "Z" fold card so this is what it reveals when all the way open.

Here are a few close up details


Come back tomorrow for the measurements
and
instructions to create the Z fold base of the card.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Fun on Fridays

Close To My Heart has so many fabulous products in the My Creations line.
Here is one of my favorites - the My Creations Banner!
(click on image to view larger)


I made a super cute birthday banner.  The fun thing banners can be made for anything - a baby or wedding shower, a kid's name for their bedroom wall or a inspirational "CREATE" banner for your craft space!


Here are some detail shots





If you want to hold a banner workshop for you and some of your friends just email me and we can discuss details!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Tips for Thursdays

Last week we reduced the frustration of using sparkles by seeing
how to use the paper piercer to move them.

Today the tip is equally as simple but a huge time and frustration saver as well.

When you use foam pop up squares sometimes getting the tiny bit of paper covering the sticky side off can be an exercise in futility.

Guess what?  Just use the tip of your paper piercer to lift up a corner and the whole thing pops right off!!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Words for Wednesdays

"The world is round so that friendship may encirle it."

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Technique Tuesdays

Let me show you how to make help your sparkle say put.

I stamped the wreath in Chocolate ink
and then stamped the berries with White Daisy pigment ink. 

Then I sprinkled a mixture of clear embossing powder and prisma glitter.


After dusting off the extra powder with a fine brush
I heat set the mixture with my heat embossing gun.

Come back tomorrow for another quote about friendship!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Mojo Mondays

October's Mojo Mondays are all about Christmas card inspiration!
Today I created a wintery, sparkly beautiful card
inspired by one of my favorite crafting bloggers, Vicki Wizniuk.  

Take a look at this pretty little thing!
(click on picture to view larger)
I used CTMH 6"x6" Kraft cardstock card base, the Wonderland paper pack
and my current favorite stamp set - Remarkable Wreath.

Here are a few of the close up details

Its tough to capture how sparkly the berries are


Check out the card that was my inspiration at

Tomorrow come back and I will show you how I added sparkle that will stay put!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Fun on Fridays

First let's just have a good chuckle! 
I found this photo of my husband from a few years ago on Halloween
when we decided to surprise some friends at their front doors!

He is a total hunk (wink, wink!)

Have you figured out your costume yet?

Now for something really girly!
This is a layout I put together about my niece when she was in a particularly girly phase and was only interested in pink, dresses and sparkle!
Have a wonderful, sparkly pink weekend!!


Thursday, October 6, 2011

Tips for Thursdays

This month we will be talking about different ways you can use your paper piercer.
Today I am going to show you my all time favorite trick for this little tool!

I love using Sparkles but until I knew this trick moving them from their carrier sheet to the project was an experience in frustration. I would try with my fingers or tweezers and find them shot across the table, stuck to the cat and all kinds of other goofy things.

Then one day someone showed me how to use my paper piercer to pick up and place sparkles onto my works of art.  Let me give you a visual!



Just use your finger to hold the press down and hold the sparkle where you want it while slipping your paper piercer out from under the sparkle.

Its as simple as that
and I promise after this month
you will never create anything
without your paper piercer within reach at all times!