Wish Upon a Star - Heart 2 Heart Challenge

Merry Christmas eve and welcome to the last Heart 2 Heart Challenge of 2018! Can you believe it?! It's been a great year seeing the artwork associated with these challenges. I hope you will continue sharing your creations with us.

This week's theme is "Wish Upon a Star". I look forward to seeing your interpretation. Be sure to include Close To My Heart product(s) in your creation.

I created this card using the Oh What Fun product line which will go away this month. I may or may not be shedding some tears over that. ;) I love the bright, non-traditional Christmas colors in this paper packet. (This was a card designed by the CTMH Art Department.)

I love the added star and sparkle images stamped on this card, in Pixie ink, that just add a fun little touch for a simple card that is cheerful. 

You can find those related products, for Oh What Fun, by clicking on the link. 

Connect up with us at Heart 2 Heart! See you there! 

Wishing you a blessed day, however you choose to spend it. Enjoy this Christmas season! 

In Any CASE...with Melinda & Melissa

Join us twice a month as we CASE, “Copy And Selectively Edit”, artwork created by the Art Department of Close To My Heart as showcased in the current Idea Books and our Make It From Your Heart How-To Books.

On the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month, at 7 pm CST, we will direct you towards a piece of art and recreate it using the exact products or others that compliment its initial design. Tips, techniques and assembly directions will be shared in detail to help you recreate them on your own.

As you reproduce the items we have shared, post them on social media using the hashtag #ctmhinanycase. We will randomly search that hashtag and reward those who CASE our items. Winners will be announced on our blogs so be sure to follow us!

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I hope you are doing GREAT and had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Because were were enjoying the holiday with our families, we took a little break from our CASEing, but...we are baaaaaaack!

Today, I am coming to you to highlight this handmade card found on page 70 in Holiday Expressions Idea Book. 

As a reminder, the majority of the products contained within the book are set to retired on December 31st. If there is anything you still have to have from the book - I'm having such a hard time preparing to say goodbye to some of them! - then be sure to get them soon as they are only available while supplies last! You can SHOP HERE. 

I love every little thing about this card including the fact that it's super easy to reproduce, can be used for various occasions (stamping a different sentiment, rather than the believe, if necessary), AND uses scraps you may have from other projects! 

The paper is from the Oh What Fun paper pack and I look forward to creating more projects with it through the rest of this month. While it contains some fabulous Christmas-themed paper, it definitely has many papers that can be used otherwise. 

While I only used the "believe" banner from this coordinating stamp set, I have definitely enjoyed using the other images on different artwork. 

I wanted to show you how it was super easy to include the Raspberry Baker's Twine on the packages, as faux ribbon. I find by using some Scotch tape, that I just adhere the edges of the ribbon to the back of the presents, forming a cross. Then, I took a separate piece to tie the bow and frayed the ends a bit. 

This approach is easier than having to try and keep the twine as one piece. 

Here is a close-up of the packages and other dimensional items.

The Glacier heart, in the top right corner, is from the Complements. The Raspberry heart is a white dimensional Complement that I sponged, using a Dauber, with Raspberry Ink. That was a slight edit from the original artwork in that I had already used one of the Glacier hearts for some layouts I made. I did 3-D the gifts and banner for some added dimension.

Here are the measurements to create this card design. Consider switching it out with other papers, images, etc. It can definitely be used for birthday cards!

My partner in CASEing, Melinda Everitt, has this card to share with you today! She'll do so on her blog so follow the link now!

We look forward to you CASEing artwork from Close To My Heart. When you do, tag it with #ctmhinanycase. We'd love to gift you a goodie for doing so!

I hope you are having a wonderful week wherever you are! Thank you for stopping by. Always choose joy!

It's a Holly Jolly Christmas - Blog with Friends

Welcome to this month's "Blog with Friends" post where I, and a few friends from around the country, share some fun topics associated with the theme, "Jolly". 

At the bottom of this post, you'll see links to those friends blogs. Show them some blog love by visiting their sites and leaving the a comment. You can see some great topics reflected in the above visual. 

I am here today to share something Jolly with you. Santa, an ugly sweater and hot cocoa all say "Jolly" to me. What about you?

Making handmade greetings cards and other fun treats is my joy and that totally rings true during the Christmas season! Keep scrolling as I share a couple of jolly creations with you!

Not only do I enjoy this Santa image, I love this card design a friend of mine shared with me. (Thanks, Pam!) 

You can see that it's almost like a "faux" front, with a hidden message. This is how it looks inside. While simple, it is something a bit different from a typical card and that makes me love it.

 I paper-pieced the red parts of the ornament and Santa Claus which means... I cut those images out of the respective papers and glued them on top of the image stamped in Black. It's a fun technique that is perfect for some images.

Know anyone who can use a little sprinkling of hot cocoa and the extras as we enjoy the cold weather? Coworkers, teachers, neighbors? This is a fun way to gift them a little goodie. And the sayings on the "Ugly Sweater" stamp set! LOL I love them!

Which is your favorite sentiment? They all kind of make me giggle.

I created this based on the information provided on this blog of Do Stamping with Dawn.

You can see that it's filled with a packet of hot cocoa, candy cane and then I took a plastic jewelry bag and filled it with some marshmallows (with clean hands, of course)!

I will be teaching how to make this hot cocoa treat on Thursday, December 13, 2018 in  my VIP Group on Facebook. Join me there, if you currently do not have a Close To My Heart Consultant (or are not one 😘). That's where I share all the crafty goodness!

Now...check out these fabulous blog images, associate with awesome content, and check out my Blog with Friends links! I see how all of them perfectly connect to what I had to share with you.

Make it a jolly day, week and month!

Karen of Baking in a Tornado

Dawn with Spatulas on Parade

Tamara of Part-time Working Hockey Mom

Lydia of Cluttered Genius

Jules of the Bergham Chronicles

Merry Christmas Blog Hop

Thank you for joining us for this Blog Hop where we are featuring Christmas-related artwork!

It's hard to believe Christmas is right around the corner so there is no time to delay! There is no doubt you will be inspired by all you see, as you click on the related links and make your way around the circle.

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

I have been making Christmas cards but decided to make a new one for this blog hop, trying out a pattern my friend had shared with me. I totally love how it came out!

Using the Oh What Fun - Cardmaking stamp set, I combined it with the 'Tis the Season paper pack. A little bit of paper-piecing and the

This is how the card opens, with the focal point on the front of the card hiding the stamped greeting on the inside. I love that!

Santa is a bit blinged up with the addition of the Clear Shimmer Brush.  

Thank you so much for stopping by on this Friday night! Head over to Melinda's Blog to see what she has created for you, as well as the rest of the ladies participating in this hop.

Have a blessed weekend!

In Any CASE...with Melinda & Melissa

Join us twice a month as we CASE, “Copy And Selectively Edit”, artwork created by the Art Department of Close To My Heart as showcased in the current Idea Books and our Make It From Your Heart How-To Books.

On the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month, at 7 pm CST, we will direct you towards a piece of art and recreate it using the exact products or others that compliment its initial design. Tips, techniques and assembly directions will be shared in detail to help you recreate them on your own.

As you reproduce the items we have shared, post them on social media using the hashtag #ctmhinanycase. We will randomly search that hashtag and reward those who CASE our items. Winners will be announced on our blogs so be sure to follow us!

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Today I am CASEing this beautiful card from page 45 of the Holiday Expressions Idea Book. Don't have a hard copy? You can view a digital copy online or you can get one FREE with an order! Contact me with questions. 

Do you see the stitching?! Yes I did include it and love how it turned out! Did I use a sewing machine? Nope, I sure didn’t! I used our Stitch Guide – IN THE CLEARANCE SECTION, while supplies last – and a PiercingTool to make the holes in the cardstock. Then I took a needle and some of our Silver Embellishing Thread to stitch through them as shown. Pretty fun, right?!

To add some texture to that top gray strip, I stamped the arrow image repeatedly in Charcoal ink from the related stamp set shown here. The butterfly image came from the stickers included with the Grateful Heart Complements. While I don’t have the new Cork Images just yet, I included some hearts that are from a retired package (and also available in the Clearance Section). 

As you can see, on the original artwork, there is a little bit of color behind the sentiment. They used the Mint Shimmer Brush to add it. I don’t own that color yet but it’s on my next order! I chose, at this time, to use the Watercolor Paints to add the splash of color. 

I love the simplicity of this card design which allows you to use scraps of paper, besides the main patterned piece in the background. I can see great potential for it!

My partner in CASEing, Melinda, is taking this week off but will back with us next week! You are always welcome to check out the artwork she shares on her blog.

When you CASE artwork from us or CTMH, please be sure to tag it with #ctmhinanycase, on social media. We would love to send you a goodie for doing so! 

Wishing you a great end to your work week! 

In Any CASE...with Melinda & Melissa

Join us twice a month as we CASE, “Copy And Selectively Edit”, artwork created by the Art Department of Close To My Heart as showcased in the current Idea Books and our Make It From Your Heart How-To Books.

On the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month, at 7 pm CST, we will direct you towards a piece of art and recreate it using the exact products or others that compliment its initial design. Tips, techniques and assembly directions will be shared in detail to help you recreate them on your own.

As you reproduce the items we have shared, post them on social media using the hashtag #ctmhinanycase. We will randomly search that hashtag and reward those who CASE our items. Winners will be announced on our blogs so be sure to follow us!

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Today I am recreating this fun and simple card made with new products from the Oh What Fun product line. In the Idea Book it is showcased with other beautiful pieces of artwork so go check it out on page 65.

If you don't have a hard copy, don't worry! You can flip through the virtual pages of the Idea Book by clicking here. Want a hard copy? Contact me for details on how to get one in your hands!

My partner in CASEing, Melinda Everitt, is highlighting a fun card - that you will love - so be sure to keep reading to the bottom of this post.

Sometimes "simple and clean" is best, in my opinion. That is exactly what is taking place with this card design.

Just a 1 1/4" piece of the striped pattern paper, three die cut ornaments - and an adorable stamp set, and some Rasberry Baker's Twine are all it took to create it. Isn't that awesome?!

I have already created quite a few layouts and cards using this stamp set, Oh What Fun Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts. I especially love, and can appreciate, the Thin Cuts that coordinate. They make it so easy to add these fun images to your creations. (You can also purchase the stamp set by itself.)

The cheerful colors of the paper, stamp images and twine create for a fun and festive Christmas card that is super easy to make!

Supply List:
X7238B Oh What Fun Paper Packet
Z4240 Oh What fun Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts (or C1746 for just the stamp set)
Z4216 Raspberry Baker's Twine
Inks: Glacier, Pewter, Pixie, Raspberry

Melinda is making ⬆THIS⬆ card and tells you how on her blog. Go check out Melinda's creation. We love for you to leave comments so let us know what you think.

Tag your CTMH-CASEd artwork with #ctmhinanycase. We peruse social media and are ready to mail some goodies!

Enjoy the end to your week and be sure to... Make it from your heart!

Holiday Expressions NEW PRODUCT Blog Hop

It's here, it's here! Our NEW Holiday Expressions Idea Book which means...NEW PRODUCT! WOOHOO!

And...not only is it NEW product, it's FABULOUS NEW product that you are going to love! Trust me...grab a notebook and pen as you make your way around this hop where we showcase many of them! I'm sure you'll come across some products that are a must-have so be sure to read through the posts and the supply lists so you don't miss a thing!

Would you like to see the new Idea Book? You can do so by flipping through the digital version on my website, by placing an order, or contact me directly (if you don't already have a Consultant) and I will get one mailed to you ASAP!

If you are coming from Michelle's Blog you are on the right track. If you were to get lost along the way, you'll find the participant list here.

I can't wait to show you what I created!

I'm so in love with the stamp set I used, the paper pack, AND the new Texture Paste we are carrying. All were incorporated into this card I made. I hope you love it too! 

I used the "Oh What Fun" stamp set, and coordinating Thin Cuts - no fussy-cutting for me! I love these fun images and have already made a few other cards I will be sharing at a later time. (You can also choose to buy the stamp set without the Thin Cuts, if you would like.)

The paper pack used is called 'Tis the Season. As you can tell, it has the traditional Christmas colors. 

And the new Texture Paste...❤❤❤ To create Santa, as I did, I actually stamped him three times:

• Once in Archival Black Ink on White Daisy cardstock (the base Santa). Using this ink removes the "bleeding" process. 
• Once in Candy Apple Ink on White Daisy cardstock where I cut out just the red parts you see - his hat and coat. Those were glued on top of the base Santa. 
• Then, once in Black Staz-on Ink on our NEW Stencil Sheets. This allowed me to create a stencil where I cut out the parts you see covered in paste. Fun, right?! 

I used Opaque Texture Paste on this Santa (and am looking forward to playing with the other types).

The stars and bursts were stamped in 2nd-generation Candy Apple, providing for a lighter hue. And a few Bitty Sparkles provided just the right amount of bling. 

Supplies Used: 

• Z4240 Oh What Fun Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts
• X7239B 'Tis the Season Paper Packet
• Z4014 White & Gold Twine
• Z4245 Opaque Texture Paste
• Z4247 Palette Knives
• Z4244 Stencil Sheets
• Z1263 Bitty Sparkles
• Cardstock: Candy Apple, Fern, White Daisy
• Inks: Black Archival, Black Staz-On, Candy Apple
• Markers: Barely Beige, Pastel Peach, Warm Grey 4

If you currently don't  have a CTMH Consultant you are working with, I am showing how I made this card in my VIP Group on Thursday, September 13, 2018. Contact me if you would like me to add you. 

I would love to hear what you think of my card, if you have a moment before making your way around the rest of the hop. Then, please go check out my friend, Melinda's Blog, to see what fun she created!

We are glad you are here! Happy hoppin'!