Holiday Cards Using Frosted Paper

Here are 2 more cards from my Holiday Card workshop on Friday. Both use the Frosted Paper. 

I cut Twilight paper 8 1/2 x 4/1/2 (scored at 3 inches) and 7 x 3 (scored at 3 1/2 inches). I cut the Frosted paper 5 1/4 x 4, 2 3/4 x 4, and then 3 1/4 x 2 3/4 twice. The final piece was a 1 inch circle punch in Frosted. I stamped using twilight ink and the stamps from the Frosted card kit. The circle is adhered with 3-D foam tape so the paper can tuck underneath and hold it closed. I finally accented with a few bitty sparkles. 

It is really easy to put together once you figure out the dimensions. 

I'm thinking about doing something like this for my family Christmas card. I can add a wallet size picture on one inside flap and a quick family update on another. Then have everyone sign right in the middle.  

This is a quick and easy card using Frosted  and Ruby paper. The Noel is cut from the Artiste Cricut Cartridge. The tree is stamped in slate ink using a tree from the Always Grateful set. The card base from the Colonial White Value Pack. Add a little Glitz at the top for the star and we are good to go.

Are you planning on your Christmas cards yet? Or is it still too soon? I plan and plan and yet don't actually make them until the end of November or early December. I seem to like the planning stage more than making them all in bulk. 

Hope you have time to craft today. Be sure to have fun with paper at every opportunity.

Holiday Cards Using Sparkle and Shine Paper

Last night I held a Holiday Card Workshop. 8 card makers came to make 15 cards (3 each of 5 different designs). It was a great way to get a start on holiday cards. Here are 2 of the designs which uses the Sparkle and Shine paper pack found in the new Holiday Gift Guide. 

This card uses the October Stamp of the Month-- Scandinavian Wishes. I cut the ornaments using the Art Philosophy cricut cartridge. The papers are Sparkle and Shine, Daisy White, Juniper, and Ruby (all of the papers come in the Sparkle and Shine Paper Pack). I stamped the juniper paper in juniper ink with the dots from the Frosted Card kit. The fibers are the cranberry bakers twine and the chevron ribbon. 

There is just a couple of days left to order the October Stamp of the Month. It is yours for just $5 with a $50 order. This stamp set is gone after October 31.

Isn't this a cute little Christmas tree? This stamp doesn't come in a set but by itself as a mini stamp. The paper used is Sparkle and Shine (the stripe is the back of the polka dots in the above card), New England Ivy, and Daisy White. I added a little shimmer trim in silver and a bitty sparkle. The image is stamped in New England Ivy and then I used a marker to color one of the trees.

Scandinavian Wishes- October Stamp of the Month

Sparkle and Shine Paper Pack- The pack also comes with 6 card stock sheets.

Tree Delights

Final Cards From the Holiday Extravaganza

These cards were designed by Jeanette Matthews

Supplies:
Frosted paper pack
Christmas Village stamp set
Floral Accents
Stardust Glitz

Supplies:
Quick Cards- Bright All Night-- Hostess stamp set only
Shimmer Trim- Silver
Treat cups
Embossing powder
Frosted Workshop on the Go Scrapbook Kit
(snow flake stamp)

Supplies:
Frosted paper pack
Christmas Village stamp set
Cricut Artiste Collection 
Mini Medley Wooden Accents (hemp twine)
Bitty Sparkles

Another Holiday Card from the Holiday Extravaganza

I love this card created by Kristina Baldwin (http://sunnydaymemories.com/).

Kristina uses the Cityscape stamp set and the new scallop border punch to create this beautiful effect.

Gingerbread House Card

A fun holiday card, designed by Shawn O'Neill for our Holiday Extravaganza, uses the Candyland stamp set and water color pencils.

Are you thinking about your holiday cards yet? 

Another Thanksgiving Card

The last Thanksgiving project from the Holiday Extravaganza is this card that I designed (sort of). I actually took a design from the Idea Book and modified it. The Idea Book is a catalog but it really is an Idea Book. There are so many ideas. You can use them as is or use them as a jumping point for your own creations. Take a look at the Idea Book with a pen in hand and make notes on things you would like to do and like to change. Use that as a guide and inspiration.

AND-- there are recipes available on line for all the projects in the Idea Book. Take a look here.

The paper on this card is from the Huntington Paper pack. The stamp set is Count Your Blessings. I used CTMH's alcohol markers to color the cornucopia and accented with a touch of Bronze Shimmer Tape.

Hope you have fun with paper today.

Fall Luminary

Ready for some fall decorations? This luminary, one of our Holiday Extravaganza projects,  is perfect for your fall centerpiece.

Use the Artbooking Cricut cartridge to cut the panels. I used Autumn Terracotta paper. I set the cricut machine for 5 inches, real size dial. Click the overlay button and "e" and you're set. You need 3 panels to create the round luminary or 4 panels for a square. 6 panels can fit on 1 12 x 12 piece of paper.

Take the edges of the left over paper and cut 3 (or 4 if making a square) 5 inch by 1/2 inch strips. These will be used as the seem to hold the panels together. If you are making a square, fold the strip lengthwise in order to make a crisp edge.

Use a good adhesive, such as liquid glass, to attach the panels together.

Decorate the panels with leaves. I used leaves cut with the Art Philosophy cartridge. The paper used was Huntington, barn red and New England ivy. The last decoration is the jute ribbon at the bottom.

Add a candle in the middle-- I used a Party Lite 3 inch pillar candle but any votive or tea light will work as well.  And you are ready. Make a few luminaries in different fall colors for a perfect centerpiece.

Halloween Fun

This candy dish was designed by Shawn O'Neill for the Holiday Extravaganza.

 We used the Eek, Shriek, and Be Scary stamp set. I love that cat. I have said that before. If you have seen previous posts on Halloween, you have seen me use this cat. When I first saw it in the new Idea Book, I knew I had to have it. So, when Shawn showed off this candy dish, I loved it immediately.

The paper was all cut using the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge. The house is made with Laughing Lola paper.

More cricut cuts here using the Artbooking cartridge. There were no stamp sets used but Shawn did use a bit of ink to texture the paper. 

Time to turn on my Cricut and start playing with my paper. I need to make a few more Halloween treat bags!

Christmas Card

Here's a beautiful card created by Deanna Cave from our Holiday Extravaganza this past weekend. 

Love the paper. This is from the new paper pack, Sparkle and Shine.  I really love this paper pack- the ruby and juniper paper look great with it. The stamp set used is Merry and Bright. Deanna added a few Bitty Sparkles as well because after all we always need a little bling.  

Merry and Bright stamp set

This paper is in our new Holiday Gift Guide. This book is filled with great holiday products. Click here to take a look. Plus we are having a special. When you place an order or $100 or more between now and December 31, 2013, you can get a special "star" item from the gift guide free. This includes the paper pack and stamp sets. These items are here only for a short time and only while supplies last so don't wait! Get them while you can. 

Sparkle and Shine paper pack

Holiday Extravaganza

Yesterday's Holiday Extravaganza was a great success! 5 Close To My Heart Independent Consultants (including me) hosted 40 paper crafting woman to make 15 holiday projects. We had 6 hours to work and broke for a short time for a yummy lunch of pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, cole slaw, fruit, and treats. What a great day!

In January, we will hold a similar event-- Crazy For Cards! We will make 15 cards. Registration has begun. Sign up today.

Over the next few days, I will post all 15 of the Holiday Extravaganza projects. Let's begin with my sunset card.

I love this technique that I found on Pinerest and learned to do it from Sheila Bennet.  

Start with a piece of Colonial White paper. Sponge Honey ink in the center. Then sponge Slate ink around the edges. Remember that while using a sponge, you need to keep moving. Make circle motions while applying the ink. If you just stamp the sponge it will look like a sponge mark.

It takes a little while for the ink to become dark on the paper. Several of my customers did a light coating of ink and it turned out really nice too. You need to play with the ink and decide what shade you would like. 

Next, add Sunset ink in between and blend the colors together. Since the inks are water based, they blend together nicely. At this point you need to decide if you need more ink, more blending, or be done.

When you have the sunset the way you want it. Stamp your trees. I used the Grateful Trees stamp set.

Love these trees! I stamped one tree with black ink and then stamped again without re-inking (second generation stamp) making it look like that tree is farther away. 

The card is backed on barn red paper and a little burlap ribbon is added as decoration. Adhere the burlap ribbon with liquid glass to make sure it sticks well.

And there you have it! The complete card! It takes a little time to blend the colors but it really quite easy. Give it a try today and have some fun with ink and paper. 

Artbooking Made Easy: Designing with a Flip Stand Album

Here's a quick video on the Flip Stand Album. I haven't tried this one yet. But after watching this video, it is going on my next order. I think I should make a couple Christmas gifts for the grandparents using this album.

This video also highlights the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge. Remember that the cuts using Artbooking are set to coordinate with the whole page. So if you want a 4 inch photo frame, be sure to click the real size dial button. Otherwise you will get a photo frame that coordinates with a 4 inch page.

Enjoy! And have fun with paper today!