Happy New Year!

I did something different this year for my Christmas cards. I made a photo card :) I set the timer on my camera to capture this pose and changed it to black and white, then added the glitter snowflake in PSE. I forget which designer this snowflake came from. I used Ponderosa Pine cardstock (love this color) and accented with silver glitter paper.

Last winter I saw a shirt in a catalog with the "Advice from a snowflake." I thought it was so clever and used that inspiration for this card. It was my message inside:

Keep your cool. Appreciate small wonders. Let your plans crystallize. Take time to chill. Sparkle! Celebrate your uniqueness. It's OK to be a little flaky!

Great advice to start 2014!

Gingerbread House

Last night I went to dinner with my coworkers to celebrate the holidays. We always celebrate with a Pollyanna gift exchange. My gift was a "Waiting for Santa" cookie tray with cookie mixes. I decided Monday night to make this Gingerbread house from SVG Cuts as a gift box for the cookie mixes. This was a lot of cutting with my machine and time to put together! But I love they way it turned out and the person who got the gift said they have the perfect place to display it. Now I need to make one for myself!

Silent Night Church

SVG Cuts has a collection called Silent Night. One of the cutting files is this church, My friend and fellow CTMH consultant Stacy Stokes made this for our gift exchange last Saturday and I was honored to be able to take it home!

SVG Cuts is having a sale right now, 25% off. So now I bought the file for myself. I'm thinking change up the paper and embellishments and I can make an Easter version!

What does the card say?

Have you heard that song "What does the fox say?" If you haven't search for it on YouTube! I took a play on that song to create this gift item "What does the card say?" As a card maker I often struggle with finding a stamp for the inside of the card, and I'm not always sure what to write. I searched for card sentiments for various occasions and made this flip stand book. It was my gift for a Close To My Heart Team gift exchange. The fox is a digital image from the Winter Woodland freebie collection I'm getting emailed to me as part of The 12 Days of Winter by Scrap Orchard.

Check out these Close To My Heart items I used for this project.

Designed Décor Flip Stand Album

Babycakes Paper Packet

Babycakes My Stickease

Free Download from Close To My Heart

During this holiday season, bring joy to those around you! Download our free holiday gift tags to add an extra touch of joy to gifts for neighbors, friends, and family. Available for download through December 31.

Presenting a Gift Certificate!

I am the chairperson of a bingo event, benefiting the school where I teach. This is the third bingo event for me, and this time we decided to add some raffle prizes. I am donating a gift certificate as a Close To My Heart Independent Consultant. Instead of putting the gift certificate in and envelope, I wanted the presentation to be a WOW!

This is the first My Creations® Bracket Frame I completed. I used the Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the Laughing Lola Paper Packet for the frame. That made this project a snap! I kept the embellishments simple since the paper is a busy pattern. Black Shimmer Trim, a Burlap Ribbon flower, and a jewel from the Laughing Lola Assortment is all this project needed.

A Scrapbook Layout ABOUT a Crop?

Of course we need to scrapbook pictures of our time scrapbooking or cardmaking! This past summer I attended a 12 hour crop with several CTMH consultant friends. It was a great time of fellowship and working on projects.

Now you might be looking at the paper and elements and saying how is it a Studio J layout? It's true that the paper and elements are not Close To My Heart. They are from Harper Finch Designs "I Craft Kit".  The templates are from Jen C Design's Pot Pourri Volume 1 and 2 I love that I can create a layout with Photoshop Elements and load into Studio J with the No Limits pattern. That way I can create using anything and still benefit from the professional printing and JPG files that Close To My Heart provides.

Characters, a Studio J Layout

I took advantage of having some unused Studio J credits to create this layout! Studio J is Close To My Heart's online digital software. In a few quick and easy steps you can design a two page layout and purchase it for $6.95. That includes professional printing and JPG files to download for archiving your work. You do need to purchase a minimum of 4 layouts for shipping purposes.

A laughed so much creating this layout! I think I can rival any Disney character with my animated facial expressions and poses! Good times!

Once Upon a Time, a Studio J Layout

I had Disney World pictures from July that I didn't scrap yet so I took advantage of having some unused Studio J credits! Studio J is Close To My Heart's online digital software. In a few quick and easy steps you can design a two page layout and purchase it for $6.95. That includes professional printing and JPG files to download for archiving your work. You do need to purchase a minimum of 4 layouts for shipping purposes. One of the great things about Studio J is the ability to access retired paper packs like this kit.

Butterflies, a Studio J Layout

About a week ago I got an email that I had unused Studio J credits. YAY! Studio J is Close To My Heart's online digital software. In a few quick and easy steps you can design a two page layout and purchase it for $6.95. That includes professional printing and JPG files to download for archiving your work. You do need to purchase a minimum of 4 layouts for shipping purposes.

One of the great things about Studio J is the ability to access retired paper packs. This kit, Discovery predates my becoming a consultant. I remember buying it as a customer! It works so well with these pictures I took this past summer when my backyard was "invaded" by butterflies!

Jack O Lantern Treat Box

This awesome Jack-o-lantern box is from SVGCuts Gimme Candy Boxes SVG Kit. I made eight of these tonight for my students. Instead of candy there is a mini-puzzle, yo-yo, rubber ball, and tattoos. The paper is from Close To My Heart's retired Spellbound kit.

CAS Card with FSS Growing Together

Fred, She Said came out with a new design this week. We are certainly experiencing fall, but it's always great to celebrate the idea of spring - new beginnings and a time of growing! That's what this set is about "Growing Together."

I love the texture these digital stamps have. I designed the layers in PSE and printed it twice. The dragonfly and purple flower are cut out form the second printing and applied to the base with foam tape. I also added glitter pen details to the dragonfly. A CAS card, my favorite kind.

Growing Together

InLinkz.com

SSS November 2012 Card Kit

I subscribed to Simon Says Stamp's monthly card kit a year ago. I have several kits waiting to be made. Since I have a three day weekend I decided to give some time to card making. I used various stamp sets and some fun Close To My Heart embellishments to complete the cards.

Surf's Up Assortment Sparkles Brown & Tan Assortment Mini-Medley Accents Rosewood Collection Mini-Medley Accents Black Collection Base & Bling Word Accents

InLinkz.com

A "Why So Serious" Birthday Card

This weekend I needed to craft a birthday card for my niece. It wasn't until I thought about it that I remembered she is turning 21 years old! My initial thought...Seriously? So of course I went with that theme and even used the digital kit "Why So Serious" from Harper Finch Designs.

I Love Fall Layout

A digital layout I complete yesterday using Photoshop Elements, a template from ChrissyW's Sample Pack 31, and Fab Fall digital files from Harper Finch Designs.

Notecards with FSS Fall Flowers

To celebrate the first day of autumn this weekend I'm crafting with Fred, She Said's Fall Flowers digital images. I used PSE to layer the flowers and sentiment on these beautiful watercolor papers from my friend Wendy's Etsy store. I love how the set of notecards look together.

Supplies:

PreColoured - Fall Flowers & Paper Pricking Template Sheet from Fred, She Said

Uplifting Sentiments from Fred, She Said 

Watercolor Ombre Rainbow Digital Paper by Picky Chicken

Christmas Card Making Day

card designed and taught by Stacy

card designed and taught by Betty

card designed and taught by Lori

card designed and taught by Stacey

card designed and taught by Micki

card designed and taught by Regina

card designed and taught by Joyce

card designed by Joyce

card designed by Joyce and taught by me

card designed by Joyce and taught by me

Last weekend Joyce, my upline with Close To My Heart, organized her annual Christmas Card Making Day. We helped attendees create the ten beautiful cards shown. If you have any questions about the products or techniques used for these cards please contact me!

A Birthday Card

Today is my brother Sean's birthday. This card was made entirely with digital images. I started with this awesome marbled paper in PSE and layered the watercolor frame. This items are from my friend Wendy's Etsy Store (links are in the supplies). Then I created the text box for "Happy Birthday". I wanted a few embellishments. I found the buttons and brown ribbon from a kit I recently downloaded.

Supplies:
Vintage Books Digital Paper from Picky Chicken
Watercolor Frame from Picky Chicken
Owl Always Love You age Kit from Stacy Carlson (Downloaded as a member of Gotta Pixel Club)

Hello Card with FSS Fall Flowers

Now that school has started and the first week of September is coming to a close, I feel like crafting for autumn! The sunflowers and mum come from Fred, She Said's Fall Flowers set. I didn't want to cut them out and adhere to paper so I used Photoshop Elements to layer the flowers on digital paper from Picky Chicken's Carnival Wood. I stamped the sentiment and colored it in with Copic markers. To add dimension I used a black Glaze pen by Sakura to the center of the sunflowers. Then finished it off with a wooden embellishment.

A Card from Close To My Heart Corporate

"Every three minutes a child is born with a cleft. One in 10 of those children will die before their first birthday. The children who survive are often unable to eat, speak, socialize or smile. In some places, they are shunned and rejected. And in too many cases, their parents can't afford to give them the surgeries they need to live a productive life."

This year at convention I was able to bid on a set of sticky boys (a highly coveted stamp by consultants) during the Operation Smile Live Auction. My bid as well as those from my fellow consultants will be able to provide life changing surgeries. I was happy to be able to afford to do this and walk away with a treasured stamp set. Then yesterday I received this gorgeous card made by Close To My Heart's art department and signed by the Executive team to show their appreciation. It's a beautiful card!

Crafting With Crystal September Giveaway

This month's giveaway is the My Crush™ Modville book (pictured). Perfect for perserving everyday memories and mementos! With just a little tape, glue, or even a paper clip, you’ll be able to document life’s adventures as they happen — ticket stubs, receipts, photos, and fast journaling. There are coordinating My Stickease® images, journaling spots, alphabets, and envelope pockets in the four My Crush assortments. I've included the Besties Assortment in this giveaway! Giveaway ends September 15, 2013.

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