Inexpensive Gifts for Anyone!

I am excited to have joined a group called "Blog with Friends". Each month we agree on a theme and design blog posts to align with it, or varying topics. Links to their associated posts are at the bottom of this feed. I hope you take a moment to check them out.

This month's theme is "Warm and Cozy" and I had fun creating some fun, inexpensive and last-minute Christmas gifts that I hope you can use as you finish checking names off your list.

These are the fun items I created and I hope you love them as much as I do. I am mindful of giving gifts that serve a purpose and I think these totally fit these requirement. They work great for co-workers, neighbors, your child's teacher...anyone who would enjoy chocolate; be it in candy or cocoa.

 Joy to the World Bottle
The bottle is simply a Starbucks Frappuccino Bottle. I had the pleasure of emptying it (and did wash it LOL) and then altered it with some scrapbooking paper.

The sentiment is a stamp image. I added a bit of bling for some visual appeal, including gold ribbon and some clear sparkles. I colored the sparkles with a red marker to serves as the berries on the holly.

Filled with green and red M&Ms...we have a great gift that was cost-effective and served dual purpose.


Monogram Ornament

These PLASTIC ornaments were purchased at Michael's. They can be purchased individually or in packages of four.

Using one of our exclusive Cricut Collections, I cut monograms out of black vinyl (also purchased at Michael's) and placed them as shown. 

M&Ms fit nicely in the neck of the ornament and a bow was added as the finishing touch.

Mug with Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

You can purchase an inexpensive coffee mug at various stores. Then, make some homemade hot cocoa mix (recipe provided below), place in the mug (in a plastic bag LOL) and include a festive tag. Talk about a purposeful gift!

I handmade the tag using a stamp set and colored in 'snow' with the same marker as referenced above. And...you guessed it...another bow! It always makes for the perfect finishing touch, don't you think?!

This recipe was shared by friend and fellow CTMH Consultant, Tricia Leahy.



Hot Cocoa Mix

• 4 cups powdered milk
• 21.8 oz box Nestle Nesquik
• 16 oz instance coffee creamer
• 1 cup powdered sugar (you can adjust this to taste)

Mix all of this together in a big bowl. Pour into a storage jar or canister.

To make a cup of hot cocoa, fill must with water or mil and heat in the microwave. Add 3-5 heaping tablespoons of mix (adjusted to taste) and stir well. Then...enjoy!

THANK YOU so much for stopping by! I hope you found some inspiration from what I shared with you. Let me know if you have any questions or need any other altered and handmade gift ideas. Be sure to follow me on social media (links provided below) because I would love that! You can VISIT MY WEBSITE at http://mlisrobinson.ctmh.com. Now...

Grab your favorite drink and check out these fun blogs, aligned with the "Warm and Cozy" theme, and HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

• Karen, at "Baking In A Tornado", for "Sweet Potato Pecan Cake with Maple Glaze". Doesn't that sound (and look) delish?

• Rabia, at "The Lieber Family Blog", to learn how to make a mermaid or dragon tail blanket. 

• Kia, at "Think in English", where she shares ingenious ways people "stay warm around the world".

• Kayla, at "That One Birch", shares a recipe for "A Very Merry Fruit Pizza"; a great alternative for something sweet for the holidays.

• Kristin is highlighting "Cozy Winter Afternoons and Tree Lighting Traditions".

• Lydia is "Get[ting] Cozy with her Blogging Friends" at Cluttered Genius.
  

Creating Memories Anytime Soon?

Check out these fun layouts made with the retiring, City Sidewalks product line, perfect for preserving those Christmas memories of 2016 (or any year up to now). I love the fun whimsical colors that make these layouts fun and festive. (I have used 'fun' in these first few sentences quite a bit. That word describes them perfectly. LOL)

While the above layouts were designed by the Close To My Heart Art Department, I used the pattern from CTMH's Blog to create this additional layout.

You can create these layouts, too, in the comfort of your own home (I do provide to-go kits) or you are invited to join me for my physical event on Monday, December 19, 2016. This event will be held in Mansfield, TX.

Click HERE for details on the event or you are always welcome to contact me for more information.

I hope you have enjoyed a wonderful weekend and that your week starts out in a great way!

Melissa

While Supplies Last...

We have quite a few products that will retiring at the end of the month (or until they last - and some have already been retired). If there is anything on your list from the Holiday Expressions there is an urgency for you to get it NOW! I am really sad to see some of these things go but with retiring items comes new products and they are just around the corner! WOOHOO!

Some of the retiring products include the Halloween, Fall, Christmas and Winter-themed product lines which are totally awesome! (The only items NOT retiring are the Black Shimmer Trim (Z4012) and White & Gold Twine (Z4014).)

This is a card I made with the City Sidewalks paper pack. I LOVE its festive colors! The Merry & Bright sentiment comes from a well-loved stamp, "Perfect Presents". 

I hope your night is merry & bright! I am nice and cozy, in TX, where I am papercrafting! Stay warm if you are experienced some chilly temperatures like we are! It's a great excuse to stay inside!

Melissa

CTMH Technique Blog Hop - Ravishing Ribbon

Today we are focusing on ribbon and Close To My Heart released some fun and exclusive Ribbon Packs and I love them...ALL OF THEM! It will be fun to see how the Blog Hop participants chose to incorporate it into their artwork.

If you are coming from Tammy's Blog you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants at the bottom of this post, if you were to get lost along the way.

To highlight the ribbon, I chose to keep my card simple and that it is! Just four pieces of patterned paper cut in 1.5" squares, some ribbon, and a stamped sentiment. TADA! It cannot get any simpler than that, can it?!

I did glue the ends of the strips of ribbon to the back of the packages and then tied a separate knot and glued it on top of the wrapped box. The sentiment is stamped from the "Very Merry" stamp set. (Did you know we have some stamp sets that are also offered in French and Spanish? This stamp set is one of them!)

Thank you for visiting my blog and joining us on this hop. Please head on over to Wendy's Blog to see how she incorporated ribbon on her project.

Wishing you a terrific Tuesday!

Melissa

List of Blog Hop Participants:

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE*

2. Wendy Kessler

3. Haley Dyer 

4. Michelle Johns

5. Janna Brown Gray

6. Michelle Loncar

7. Catherine Farnsworth Nowak

8. Tammy Lubick

CTMH Paper Blog Hop - City Sidewalks

Thank you for joining us as we highlight the City Sidewalks paper pack from Close To My Heart. This fun and whimsical paper pack has fun holiday/Christmas patterns, perfect for preserving your holiday memories, creating greeting cards, or for any other project you desire to create. Check out the full product line of City Sidewalks by clicking here.

If you are coming from Debi's Blog, you are on the right track. You can find a complete list of participants at the bottom of this post.

This wreath patterned paper is one of those included in the paper pack. Isn't it fun? It's definitely festive and perfect for the holiday season. While this card is of simple design, the Cricut-cut star and three red enamel gems help add some "sparkle". (Don't tell anyone but I think I have fallen in love with the colors, Willow (green) and Peacock (blue). They are so vibrant.)

The sentiment is from the stamp set, "Perfect Presents". It is intended for gift tags cut with the Cricut but you can see how they can be used otherwise. I stamped the image in Peacock ink pad and then used the ShinHan Turquoise Blue Marker to color in "Merry &". Of course I had to add in some doodling using the Journaling Pen.

Thank you for checking out our blog hop. Now head on over to Katy's Blog where you are sure to be inspired.

Happy hoppin'!

Melissa

List of participants: 

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE*

2. Katy Taylor

3. Anna Robinson

4. Debi McBain

Let's Celebrate My 18th Year Anniversary!

I celebrated my 18th year anniversary as a Close To My Heart Consultant and you can reap the fun of that for a week! Details are provided in this visual and outlined below.

Here is another closeup of my artwork creation - both inside and outside of a frame. While it looks pretty good photographed, I guarantee you that it is much better in person! 

To take advantage of this offer, simply place an order of at least $25, before the end of the day on the 27th, on my website and then I will email you to see if you want the link to my Design Space file - to create this home decor item on your own - or if you want me to make it and ship it to you (frame not included). Note: In order to use the Design Space link, you have to own the City Sidewalks Digital Cricut Collection. 

If you have any questions please contact me. 

I hope you are experiencing a blessed Friday and gearing up for an enjoyable weekend. I know I am!

Make It From Your Heart,

Melissa

City Sidewalks CRICUT Blog Hop

Thank you for joining us on this Blog Hop as we feature our newest Cricut Collection, City Sidewalks. It is a mini digital collection that contains 30 holiday images you will love.

If you are coming from Cat's Blog, you are on the right track.  You can find a complete list of participants if you click here.

I had such a fun time creating this home decor item to fit an 8" x 10" frame. It has been a big hit for those who have seen it in person and the frame, purchased at Hobby Lobby, was perfect.

After sizing and designing it in Design Space, with the help of my friend, Pamela Thorn, I layered all the pieces together and this was the result. White Glitter Paper was placed behind the snowflake-filled Glacier cardstock (difficult to tell from the photos).

I ended up providing this as a gift at a Stamp Camp I recently attended so I will have to make another for myself. I love being able to create a fun and festive home decor item at a very reasonable price. That is one of the things that drew me to papercrafting. 

Consider letting me know what you think of my artwork before heading on over to Michelle Jones's Blog to see what she created with this City Sidewalks Digital Collection.

Happy hoppin' and remember...Make It From Your Heart!
Melissa

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Perfect 10

Welcome to this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge with the theme, "Perfect 10". It will be fun to see how everyone interprets it because I think it is very broad. I hope you will join us! Be sure to use Close To My Heart products when you do.

I love how this card turned out. Keep reading to find out why I consider it a "Perfect 10".

I am calling my artwork, this card, a "Perfect 10" because it has three qualities I appreciate in artwork I create:

1. It is simple.
2. It came together easily.
3. It has bling. 

In my opinion, that makes for perfect artwork! LOL I used two colors of ink: Glacier and Raspberry. The Raspberry really made the sentiment pop and coordinates well with the patterned paper from City Sidewalks and the sheet of Peacock cardstock. The photo really doesn't do it justice, in my opinion. I used this stamp set, "All is Bright" and cut the Silver Shimmer Trim vertically, down the middle, to make it more narrow. I love that we can do that!

Consider linking up to this challenge and share your artwork with us! 

Have a wonderful week!

Melissa

Holiday Expressions Blog Hop

We are featuring new product that was released in our Holiday Expressions. It debuted September 1st and contains Halloween, Fall, Christmas and Winter-themed paper! It is full of fabulousness! You can click here to view its contents online.

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

I used the patterned paper from City Sidewalks, and made a banner out of Peacock cardstock. The stars were random-stamped with Glacier ink using "All is Bright" stamp set. The sentiment was stamped in Raspberry ink and I, of course, had to add some Shimmer Trim to finish it off. I absolutely love how this card turned out. I hope you like it too!

Head on over to Melinda's Blog to see what she has in store for you, using some of our brand new products.

Happy hoppin'!
Melissa