This lovely cardmaking kit has directions, and basic supplies, to make 15 Christmas cards.
The directions are clear, and it only took me a few minutes to make each card. I'm really impressed with how my cards turned out, and can't wait to mail them to my friends and family.
You will only need a few different ink colors, stamp blocks, and adhesive, to complete these cards.
There were so many things I wanted to purchase from the new Holiday Expressions Catalog that it was hard to decide what to get first.
I decided to go with some Halloween goodies as I have a project I need to get started on a.s.a.p.
I've started a tradition of making countdown gift boxes or bags for major holidays for my grandchildren. To my grandchildren Halloween is a major holiday.
I made a video showcasing the items that I purchased for this very important project.
If you would like any of these awesome items for yourself I have included the links below.
I hope you all have some great Halloween crafting planned.
Every January I promise myself that I will start preparing for Christmas early, so I can just sit back and enjoy the fun with everyone else. This year I may actually get my act together.
I'm starting my Christmas prep with a few easy Christmas Cards. I hope they will inspire you to start your Christmas planning early.
This is the first in a series of videos, and blog posts, showing how I am getting my act together early this year.
If you are like me and always promise to start early, but just never seem to, join in and let's see if we can have a more relaxed holiday season this year.
Whew! I made it to page 10 in the Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge. This page has "Thank you" cards with pretty flowers in pots.
This might be the easiest page I have done so far. I used the Blossom paper packet again. I love this paper packet! I'm now down to scraps, and contemplating ordering more before it is no longer available.
Soon I will be able to see all of the new products coming out in September, and I can't wait. I am sure there will be lots of new goodies, maybe even a paper packet I love as much as this one.
As always, I have filmed a video to show you the cards I made, and links to the products I used.
The latest craze on YouTube is the Pocket Letter. You simply take a baseball card sleeve and fill each pocket with crafty goodies. You then send your pocket letter to a swap partner, and receive one in return.
My first pocket letter had a Christmas theme. I love Christmas, so this made my first exchange even more fun. I pulled out everything in my Christmas stash, including my favorite Close to My Heart papers from the Yuletide Carol collection.
Yuletide Carol Paper
The pocket letter I received from my pal, Lolis, is beautiful. I hope she enjoys her pocket letter as much as I'm enjoying mine.
I am planning on doing more of these exchanges in the future. I will be putting all of the pocket letters I receive in a three ring binder, so that I can enjoy them for a long time.
I filmed videos of the letter I sent to my pocket pal, and also of the one I received. Pictures can't really show everything clearly.
Here are links to the Close to My Heart products I used, in case you would like to order them for yourself.
Page 6 of the Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge is all about shopping and good friends. These were fun cards to put together, and they went perfectly with the Wanderful paper collection from Close to My Heart.
I usually do not care for a Paris themed card or scrapbook page, unless someone has actually been to Paris. However, I do think that these cards would be wonderful for a birthday that includes a gift card, or shopping trip.
I made a short video to show all of the cards from page 6 of the Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge, and have put links to the products used below.
You will not be disappointed in these cards, as they are easy to make and will impressive the recepient.
I finally found time in my schedule to play with some new papers and stamps. The summery, fresh fruit theme is just what I needed as it rained, and rained, and rained some more, this past week.
I didn't have any card sketches to work from, but the ideas flowed, and they came together quickly.
As usual, I filmed a video so you can see the cards better. After the video you will find a list of the Close to My Heart supplies I used to make these summery cards.
I actually started playing with the Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge back in September 2014. I made the cards on page 4, and then hopped around a bit.
When I started playing with the cartridge again this year, I decided to start with page one and create a series of posts, and YouTube videos. I really wanted to get the hang of this unique cartridge, and thought this would be the best way.
This week I made all of the cards on page 5, and they are all about foxes and friendship. I chose the Jackson Paper Packet, which I thought fit the theme.
If you missed page 4 back in September, it can be found HERE.
As always I made a video showing how I used the card shapes. There are many ways to change things up simply by changing the colors, embelishments, adding stamped images, and more. I hope you will take my suggestions as a starting point and create some unique cards of your own.
Following the video I have a list of the supplies I used, and the dimensions for the pop-up card.
This month I'm on a tighter crafting budget, but still managed to make a few fun purchases. It certainly helps that I get a discount on my favorite Close to My Heart products.
I hope May is starting out wonderfully for you, and, hopefully, you are able to make a few crafty purchases of your own, especially since this is National Scrapbooking month.
I made sure I ordered the "Taste of Summer" stamp set and paper packet to celebrate. The paper packet, along with the coordinating stamp set, will only be available this month.
I made a short video so that you can see the items I purchased. I love everything I added to my craft room this month.
Here are the links in case you find you need any of these items for yourself.
This week is brought to you by the number 2. As I work my way through the Close to My Heart Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge, I'm filming a video, and sharing the products I use.
This is really helping me get familiar with the cartridge, and all of it's features. I highly recommend doing this with cartridges you thought you would love, but almost never use, or cartridges with tricky features.
I hope you enjoy the video, and it gives you some ideas for this fantastic card making cartridge.
A collection of handmade cards is a very nice gift to give a friend, even if (s)he is a paper crafter. I love to have cards on hand for every occasion, and receiving them as a gift is even better.
This stationary folder just takes a few minutes to make, requires minimal supplies, and looks like it took a lot of effort.
The easiest way to learn how to make this folder is seeing it done, so I filmed a short video for you.
Following the video is a list of the supplies I used, and links to purchase them on my shopping site.
I have decided the best way to learn all of the ins and outs of the newest, Close to My Heart Exclusive, Cricut Cartridge is to start at the beginning, and work through each page.
This week I made the cards from page one. I chose a paper collection, so that all of my cards would coordinate. First, I pulled out the Confetti Wishes Paper Packet .
Next, I looked over the cards, and picked two solid colors for my first card. The cards came together fairly easily, though I did find the pop-up card on this page a little tricky. Hopefully, my tips will make these cards even easier for you.
If you would like to purchase the Artfully Sent Cartridge you can follow this link to my shopping site for all of the details.
I always find videos helpful, and I hope you will also.
Do you have a favorite Cricut Cartridge? I think this one will become a go to for cards that impress.
I love the Close to My Heart April 2015 Stamp of the Month. The Typed Note stamp set is full of fun sayings, with a vintage feel.
I made a couple of masculine cards, which is not my forte, and they are two of my favorite cards.
I hope you enjoy the video below, and it gives you some ideas for using this versatile stamp set. Below the video is a list of the supplies I used, and the dimensions of each card. Do you like to make masculine cards? I think I'm getting the hang of it.
Card Dimensions Grey Card Base is 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded at 4 1/4" Grey fundamentals paper layer is 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" Stamped layer is 3 1/2" x 4 1/4" Edge of stamped area smudged with Black chalk distress ink Image stamped in Basic Black Lagoon Card Base is 4 1/4 " x 11", score and folded at 5 1/2" in Lagoon cardstock White stamped area is 4" x 2 3/4" Twill ribbon cut at 4" and notched Edge of stamped area smudge with Black chalk distress ink Stamped image in Basic Black Thank you for your support. My goal is to donate $12,000 this year to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Each and every purchase you make is greatly appreciated.
I picked out my favorite products from the new Seasonal Expressions 2 catalog, and ordered them ASAP. I could not share them with you until April 1st, and it's been really hard keeping them to myself.
I've created a few things to share in a later post and, of course, video. The stamps have been a dream to work with, and they inspired more than a few cards.
April Stamp of the Month
Dizzy Circles Stamp Set
Keep an eye out for future creations, and tutorials. Which stamp set would you prefer? Fortunately, I didn't have to choose between the two.
Get a Free Catalog
After the video there are links to the items I have highlighted in the video. If you need a new catalog for yourself, simply email me at dedraclutz@hotmail.com, and I will put one in the mail for you.
I have had this sweet, mini, catalog for nearly a month, and had to keep it to myself. I will be sharing the items I chose to order with you in a later video, but for now lets take a look inside the new Close to My Heart catalog. First, the catalog is active from April 1 through July 31.
There are two new paper packs, lots of stamps, and embellishments. Something I have been wanting is a paper collection with a masculine feel, and I found that with Jackson.
Blossom is a fun floral for spring/summer. It has coral/orange, greens, and blues. There are no pinks, but I suppose I can get over that. The last two floral paper packs had plenty of pink, so maybe you needed a break. I never need a break from pink, but maybe the rest of you did.
I hope you enjoy the video below. I always get excited about new craft supplies, and this catalog did not disappoint.
Anyone who emails me at dedraclutz@hotmail.com and sends me their mailing address, along with the words "Seasonal Expresions 2 is here!", will receive a free copy of the catalog. This offer is only good through April, so don't delay.
As always thank you for watching, and reading. I appreciate your support of my efforts to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
I hope my grandchildren think the gift bags I have made them are awesome. I picture them looking at the bags lovingly, and exclaiming "Wow! Bamma made the bags just for us?"
Of course, that is a dream. They are not likely to spend much time looking at the bags since there are gifts inside, and they are only six and eight years old.
However, I really enjoyed thinking of their personalities, and preferences, as I made the bags. It also gave me another opportunity to use an adorable Easter stamp set, and some of my favorite papers, and inks.
Hopscotch Paper Packet
Some of the gift bags are made from scrapbook paper, and others are ready made bags I decorated. I hope you like both styles, and get some ideas of your own.
From Bags to Riches
It really makes a gift special when it is in a handmade gift bag with a handmade card. You don't have to purchase expensive gifts, when you take the time to personalize the wrappings and card, the gift becomes special.
Hopping by Holiday Stamp Set
I'm not sure if my grandchildren will ask for countdown gifts for Independence Day, but I'm sure I will have to make some for Halloween. Don't tell anyone, but I'm really looking forward to Halloween Bags.
I've Got This One in the Bag
I recorded two short videos to show the different types of bags. I used Cricut cuts, stencils, stamps, and more. Below the videos I have included links to the Close to My Heart products I used.
I appreciate all of you who take the time to watch my videos, read my blog, and especially those who help me donate to the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society with your purchases.
I love to use my pocket scrapbooking cards to make greeting cards, and recently I made some adorable mini books for my grandchildren.
The books will be part of their Easter haul. Yes, at this point it is a haul. I started out with just a couple of small gifts, and it snowballed into a Dollar Tree shopping binge.
I have quite a collection of PML cards, and really need to start using them more often. There are so many different styles to choose from. How else can I justify purchasing more?
CHANTILLY PML CARDS
I hope that you all will start thinking outside the box regarding your Picture My Life/Project Life cards.
