Seasonal Expressions 1, Blog Hop

Good morning! Thank you for joining our hop where we are featuring artwork using our newest products contained in Seasonal Expressions 1.

Products inside this beautiful supplement were released on January 1st and you get a copy when you place an order on my website.

If you are coming from Haley's Blog, you are on the right track.

I am addicted to the Sugar Rush product line including the ADORABLE stamp sets that coordinate. If you haven't checked them out you must do so now! :) All of it is great for birthday celebrations or just sprinkling goodness on anyone who needs it!

This is a fun birthday card I created, totally CASEd from the Seasonal Expressions that serves as a phenomenal Idea Book and point of inspiration (or copy - LOL).

I incorporated washi tape as well as three glitter Sugar Rush Dots. A little 3-D Foam Tape is always great for adding dimension to artwork.

I would love to know your thoughts on this card before you head over to Brenda's Blog to see what she and the other Consultants have created to share with you.

Thank you for stopping by today. Have a wonderful weekend and happy hoppin'!

Participant List:

1. Carol Ellis Loftus

2. Julie Howe Scott

3. Erica Haskin

4. Haley Bell Dyer

5. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE

6. Brenda Lapp

Frosted Fun!

My "Blog with Friends" gals, and I, are focusing on the theme, "Frosty Fun", today. Each of us has various types of focuses on our blogs and were able to interpret the theme as it applied. I will share more about their posts towards the bottom of this feed but let's start with my creations, shall we?

I loved the opportunity to use our Sugar Rush Stamp Set and Thin Cuts to make these delicious paper-crafted donuts. Don't they look yummy enough to eat?! I chose to title my post as "Frosted Fun" because of the perfect frosting on the donuts - and it can be any color and flavor of your choice. LOL

Here are some close-ups of the cards:

Sprinkled with Love

Happy Birthday with Sprinkles on Top!

Donut Know How I Forgot Your Birthday

If you love these cards and would like to have some of your own - whether you make them or I create them for you, let me know. I do kits-to-go or am happy to mail you finished cards that you can put to use by giving to that special someone.

http://MlisRobinson.CTMH.com

NOW...Check out these blog titles from my Blogging Friends and go check out what they have to share. I see some tasty and valuable content. We would appreciate your sharing/liking of our posts, be it on any social media platform. 

• Karen at Baking in a Tornado: "Angel Cake with Chocolate Whipped Cream and Berries"
  
• Kia at Language Learning Ideas: "Language Learning Activities"

• Eileen at Eileen's Perpetually Busy - "Easy Fleece Hat"
  

• Revonda at Spatulas on Parade: "Frosty Fun Double Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Filled Bundt Cake"

• Lydia at Cluttered Genius: "Have Fun Inside"
  
  

Have a blessed day and week!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Season of White

This week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge is titled, "Season of White". We got some snowfall here in the Dallas area which made for some pretty, but very treacherous roads due to the freezing temperatures. I will say it was good to see it but I would have been okay with the after-effects. LOL The great thing about it...it was a good reason to stay inside and papercraft all weekend.

I love the cleanliness of this card created by adding just a few things. I did add a piece of white cardstock on top of the white card base to provide for some added dimension. It may not be reflected in a quality way in this photo.

The sentiment comes from the stamp set, "Good Thymes", and was stamped in Black ink. I cut the bow from the Artiste Cricut Collection (now retired) and then added some glitter gems from our new Sugar Rush Dots bag of embellishments. 

The center of the bow, although difficult to tell, is a gold sticker that came from this month's campaign, Welcome Home Wreath.

I look forward to seeing your creations as you link up to this week's challenge.

This card design was CASEd by Tailored Expressions.

Seasonal Expressions 1 NEW Product Blog Hop

It's a great time of the year...not only because it is the start of a new chapter in our lives...but because Close To My Heart has NEW PRODUCTS! That is something BIG for papercrafters to celebrate, like you and me. ;)

We have a new supplemental catalog, called Seasonal Expressions, that is 60+ pages of goodness to include new paper, stamp sets, artwork and more! (The front cover is pictured above.) Get in your comfy space for a moment, with your fave drink, and peruse the pages online (or contact me if you would like a hard copy sent to you) and then check out all of our artwork showcasing what you see. You will love everything! I am already a bit addicted but don't tell anyone... 

If you are coming from Melinda's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a list of all participants by clicking here.

Realizing the fox image is pretty popular these days... Okay, who am I kidding? You see them everywhere! LOL I decided to use it on my card and pulled paper from the Hello Lovely (fan pattern on far left) and Dreamin' Big (pieces on fox) packs, as well as Sea Glass cardtock, for my artwork. I also added some of the heart-patterned washi tape from Sugar Rush and ribbon from the Uptown Ribbon Pack.

This stamp set, Some Kinda Wonderful - Cardmaking, was used for both the fox and the sentiment. I used a Cuttlebug to create diecuts for those images (indicated with blue around them).

Here is what the Thin Cut images look like; a solid image of the stamp design.

How to paper-piece:

To create the fox as you see on the card... I actually cut two of them, one on White Daisy and the other on patterned paper. 

Then I cut out the areas of the fox, as you see here, and glued them onto the white image. This technique is called "paperpiecing" and is a fun way to add "texture" to your stamp images.

Pretty cool, huh? The sentiment provides for a variety of reasons to celebrate. What do you think of my card?

Head on over to Gina's Blog to see what she has created using new product! I am totally excited to make the hop myself to check out everyone's creativity.

Happy hoppin'!

DIY Handmade Wreath

Every January, we celebrate National Papercrafting Month as a way of acknowledging the pure joy of playing with paper! We scrapbook with it, we make cards with it, we decorate with it—in short, we craft with it! This January, we’ll be celebrating the joys of paper-crafted home décor with the beautiful Welcome Home wreath kit. 

This kit comes with pre-cut pieces you can simply pop out and attach to the sturdy chipboard wreath base, embellishing with gold foil accents, making a welcoming décor piece for your home. 

Here are the four ways you can get the wreath kit!

• Buy it for $18.95 - no qualifying purchase required! 
• Get it for FREE with a qualifying* $60 purchase! (*Must be full-priced retail product not including tax and shipping)
• Get it for FREE by hosting a party that reaches the second level ($250) of Hostess Rewards. This can be a physical event (if you live within reasonable driving distance from me), a catalog party or a Facebook party. You can earn this FREE and much more!
• Get it for FREE when you sign up to be a Consultant this month!

No matter how you get your Welcome Home wreath kit—or how many you get—you are going to love how easy this kit makes it to add a little more papercrafted beauty to your life.

Here is a video that will show you how simple it is to assemble this kit. It truly is although it takes a little longer than this video. LOL 

I do suggest you purchase these two products in order to make assembly of better quality:

• Liquid Glass; the adhesive used for flower assembly (It is fabulous for various uses!)
• Quilling Tool; the tool used to roll the roses

Contact me with any questions or view details on my website. Look under Promotions.

"Sprinkles of Fun" - Nat'l Papercrafting Day CROP

I am celebrating National Papercrafting Day and I would love for you to join me! (Don't live in the DFW area to attend the physical event?! That's okay! You will have the opportunity to participate remotely through my VIP Facebook Group at http://bit.ly/MlisVIPs. More information will be shared as the event approaches. There will not be a fee for remote participation, outside of the DFW area.)

Here are the details:

On Saturday, January 28th, we will spend the day consuming ourselves in papercrafting as we gather at Stacy's Furniture in Grapevine, TX. (For those of you who have never joined me for an event there, we will be cropping in a meeting room. More details will follow, to the registered participants, as the event approaches.) There will be goodies, games and prizes as well as an opportunity to participate in a wreath class. Lunch is included. (More details will be provided as the date nears. We will gather for dinner after the event concludes, at a nearby location, if you interested in joining us. It will be dutch treat.)

The crop fee varies based on how you choose to participate so keep reading and let me know which option you choose! Plus...there is an Early Bird Registration Gift that will be presented at the Crop to those who RSVP and pay the fee on or before the end of the day, January 10, 2017. (RSVP deadline is January 14, 2017.)

OPTION #1 - CROP FEE: $25
Pay a crop fee of $25, to include lunch, and all the goodies and fun that are promised. (If you are one of my current team members, the crop fee is just $20 - Option #4. If you join my team before the event, read Option #3.)

OPTION #2 (there are two options)
Sign up for the "Welcome Home Wreath" Class, that you can create whenever you choose to during the crop. I will provide an overview and tips for assembly at 2 pm. (It takes approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours to assemble the wreath. You can choose to assemble at a later time.)

OPTION #2A: CROP FEE: $10
Purchase the wreath kit for $18.95, ($22.15 with shipping and tax), and your crop fee is just $10! (You need a strong liquid adhesive like Liquid Glass and a Quilling Tool. Let me know if you would like to add them to your kit.)

OPTION #2B - CROP FEE: FREE!
Purchase $60 (in qualifying product) and you will get the wreath kit FREE, PLUS your crop fee is on me, in appreciation for your business. For this option, place your order on my website and be sure to click on the option for the FREE wreath. The order will be delivered to your doorstep and be sure to bring it with you to the event. (You need a strong liquid adhesive like Liquid Glass and a Quilling Tool.)

OPTION #3 - CROP FEE: FREE!
If you join my team before the event, you can attend the crop for FREE as my special guest. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about this opportunity and would love to have you join the fun CTMH journey with me. You can find some details about the Consultant opportunity by clicking here or contact me and I will email you some additional information.

RSVP and pay the crop fee by the deadline of January 14, 2017.

Choose an option:

Option 1 - Crop Fee $25.00 USD Option 2A - Plus Wreath $32.15 USD Option 2B - $60 Order $0.00 USD Option 3 - New Team Member $0.00 USD Option 4 - Current Team Member $20.00 USD

I have some fun things planned for the day and am looking forward to celebrating our love for papercrafting. Please contact me with any questions. Space is limited.

Heart 2 Heart Challenge: Silver & Gold

HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome to the first Heart 2 Heart Challenge of 2017, "Silver & Gold". We look forward to you sharing your creativity with us, as you incorporate Close To My Heart products in your artwork.

Our Uptown Fundamentals paper pack screams Gold to me so was an easy pick for this challenge. I love this big gold and white striped paper and decided to incorporate this month's special stamp set, "Adore You", to make for a thank you card.

 I used our watercolor pencils (but did not apply water this time) to color in the flowers and added a few Clear Sparkles. The black and gold ribbon is from the Uptown Ribbon Pack.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today. I look forward to viewing the artwork of the challenge participants this week, month, and throughout the year.

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - Adore You

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop using this beautiful stamp set, "Adore You". It is only available through this month for $5! (It is valued at $17.95.) You can view more details about it by clicking here.

If you are coming from Tracie's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants by clicking here.

To create this pattern on the paper, I took the ink colors of Pomegranate and Blossom and repeatedly stamped the heart image to create the background. To keep this card simple, yet practical, I stamped the sentiment and added the ribbon and knot. 

This stamp set is way too fun. I hope you agree!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. Head on over to Michele's Blog to view her artwork using this stamp set.

Happy hoppin'!