FUN DIY CHRISTMAS CARDS

White Pines Workshop on the Go

 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.

Supplies Used

White Pines Cardmaking Workshop on the Go 

Cashmere Exclusive Dye Ink 

Cranberry Exclusive Dye Ink 

Fern Exclusive Dye Ink 

Black Exclusive Dye Ink 

3D Foam Tape 

 

GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS PART 1

Christmas in July Cards

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.

Supplies Used

Yuletide Carol Paper Packet 

Picture My Life Pear and Partridge Cards 

Black Exclusive Ink Pad 

EZ Dots Adhesive  

Happy Crafting!

ADVENTURES WITH MY CRICUT VIII

Bicycles, Flowers, and Many Thanks

This was an easy page of cards to assemble, and I decided to use the bright, and floral, Blossom paper packet.

Everything I used was from the paper packet and the matching embellishments. Links to all of the items I used can be found below the video.

All cards were cut out at the recommended sizes, and put together per the cartridge directions. 

These cards can be customized in lots of ways. I hope you will experiment and make these cards your own.

Supplies Used

Blossom Paper Packet

Blossom Compliments

3L Easy Dots Adhesive

Craft Paper Trimmer

Happy Crafting!

 

Adventures with My Cricut VII

Artfully Sent Cricut Page #7

 

Page number seven is all about cupcakes and celebrations. It was a really fun page, and the cards were very easy to put together.

I used my favorite paper collection, Brushed, and added a few stamped images. I hope you enjoy the video below with all of the cards I made.

Supplies Used:

Brushed Paper Packet 
Pear Exclusive Dye Ink 
Pixie Exclusive Ink 
Canary Exclusive Dye Ink 
Black Exclusive Dye Ink 
Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge 

Happy Crafting!

 

A TASTE OF SUMMER

Playing with New Paper and Stamps

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.

Supply List

A Taste of Summer Paper Packet 

A Taste of Summer Stamp Set 

Black Exclusive Dye Ink 

Pear Exclusive Dye Ink 

Hollyhock Exclusive Dye Ink 

Thistle Exclusive Dye Ink 

Red Enamel Hearts 

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please comment below, and let me know what you would make with "A Taste of Summer."

ADVENTURES WITH MY CRICUT V

Artfully Sent Cartridge - Page 5

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.

 Supplies

Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge

Jackson Paper Packet
Brave Enamel Shapes 
For a Friend Stamp Set 
Paper Fundamentals - Whimsy Assortment 

Thanks for visiting my blog. Happy crafting!

ADVENTURES WITH MY CRICUT IV

Artfully Sent Cartridge Page #3

Part three in my ongoing series on the Cricut Artfully Sent Cartridge is all about hot air balloons, and fun sayings.

I really love the way each card turned out, and can't wait to give a few to special people. 

If you have been on the fence about buying this exclusive cartridge, I think these cards will convince you. 

I filmed a video, and will have ordering information for the products used following the video.

Supplies Used

Close to My Heart Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge Collection 

Seaside Paper Packet 

Oceanside Sequins 

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. As always, your purchases help me donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

 

 

ADVENTURES WITH MY CRICUT III

Artfully Sent Cartridge Page #2

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.

 Supplies Used

Cricut Artfully Sent Cartridge

Jackson Paper Packet

Fundamental Paper Pack in Basics

 Terra Cotta Exclusive Cardstock

Canary Exclusive Cardstock 

Silver Sequins Assortment 

Let me know in the comments section below if you have any questions, or have a cartridge you need to work through.

THE GIFT OF HANDMADE CARDS

Stationary Folder

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.

 Supply List

Blossom Paper Pack
Sure Cut Deluxe Paper Trimmer
Non-stick Micro Tip Scissors
Liquid Glass Adhesive
Bone Folder
Ribbon of your choice

I hope you will give this simple project a try. Stay tuned for Part #2 to learn how to make the simple, heat embossed cards. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below. Thank you, as always, for your support. 

ADVENTURES WITH MY CRICUT II

Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge 

Page #1

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.

IT'S A HAUL Y'ALL ~ APRIL 2015

Stamps, Paper, Sequins, and Twine

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. 

Product List

Dizzy Circles Stamp Set

April 2015 Stamp of the Month ~ Typed Note 

Thistle Extra Thick Twine 

Oceanside Sequins 

Coral Reef Extra Thick Twine 

Boardwalk Washi Tape 

Carnival Washi Tape 

Blossom Card Making Workshop on the Go 

Jackson Scrapbooking Workshop on the Go  

Washi Tape Dispenser

I hope you have a great holiday weekend planned. If you have any questions, or comments, please leave them below. Thanks for your support.

AWESOME DIY EASTER GIFT BAGS

  Putting a Personal Stamp on 'em

 

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. 

Supply List
Glacier Exclusive Ink Pad
Black Exclusive Ink Pad
Pixie Exclusive Ink Pad
Canary Exclusive Ink Pad
Hopscotch Paper Packet
Brushed Paper Packet
Seaside Paper Packet
Shinhan Marker in Barely Beige
Shinhan Marker in Cerulean Light Blue
Shinhan Marker in Cherry Pink
Shinhan Marker in Clay
Shinhan Marker in Golden Yellow
Shinhan Marker in Leaf Green
Shinhan Marker in Peony Purple
Shinhan Marker in Tender Pink
Shinhan Marker in Marine Blue
Hopping by Holiday Stamp Set
Bonding Memories  Glue
Liguid Glass - liquid glue



Did you make Easter gifts, bags, cards, etc for someone special? I would love to hear about your creations in the comments below.



PICTURE PERFECT PICTURE MY LIFE CARDS

More Than Just Scrapbooks

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. 

Supplies Used

Chantilly Picture My Life Cards

Seaside Picture My Life Cards

Hopscotch Picture My Life Cards

Heidi Swapp Project Life Cards can be purchased at craft stores

Bind-it-All and coils can be purchased at craft stores

Let me know any ideas you have, or things you have already done, with your PML/PL cards other than scrapbooking.

CLOSE TO MY HEART NEW CONSULTANT KIT

Take a Look Inside the Cardmakers' Kit

The latest Team Crafts for a Cure member, Audrey, agreed to do an unboxing video to showcase all of the great products she received. You will get a look at all of the items ($360 value) that come in the cardmakers' kit. There is also a Scrapbookers' kit available if that is your preference. It would be really hard for me to decide.

 

Cardmakers' Kit

Scrapbooker' Kit

 Close to My Heart is running a great special during the month of March. If you become a consultant, purchase one of the kits for just $99 plus shipping, you qualify for a couple of great prizes. The first prize is a shoulder tote which will come in your consultants' kit. You can also receive the rolling tote simply by having $300 in sales within your first 40 days as a consultant.

I think Audrey did a great job with the video, and I am very grateful that she was willing to let me film her. As you all know, I prefer to be a hand model in my videos. We are now discussing what we will make first from her kit. She is giving me a look like she may not want to share. It's a good thing I am very persuasive.

I hope you enjoy the video, and all of the products Audrey received. If you have any questions about becoming a consultant, please email me at dedraclutz@hotmail.com, or go to my Close to My Heart Website.

PAPER CRAFTING TOOLS - PART ONE

The Basics for Beginners

I did not follow the advice I'm about to give you. I still struggle not to over buy when all the new paper collections come out, there is a sale, a new tool looks too cool to pass up, or a new Close to My Heart catalog becomes available. 

You can really get started scrapbooking, card making, etc. with very few supplies. Some tools don't have to be top of the line, but other items you really should splurge on to get the best results possible. I hope my list will help you make some informed decisions, so that you don't waste money, or time.

There is nothing worse than working hard on a handmade card, and having the layers fall apart because your adhesive didn't stick. Also, cheap paper will let you down. I have some scrapbook layouts that I have to re-do because of cheap paper, and ineffective adhesive.

Adhesives

• A liquid adhesive with a great hold will allow you a little time to adjust the placement of your pictures, etc. My preferences are Tombow (available at craft stores), and Close to My Heart's  Liquid Glass.
•  You will want double-sided tape, or a tape gun. I use the Teresa Collins Xyron tape runner because I find it easy to load the refills, it gets the job done, it fits my hand, and it's pink. 
• Mini glue dots will help you adhere very small items without making a mess. I use Micro Glue Dots.

Paper

•  CTMH paper packs are great because they have  double-sided prints, and solid colored cardstock, that coordinates.
• CTMH Workshops on the Go are the same coordinating paper packs, along with a stamp set, an embelishment, and instruction booklet.
• Graphic 45 comes out with paper packs with a lovely vintage feel. The big box craft stores don't carry a lot of Graphic 45. Amazon has the best price I have found.
• Bo Bunny is another paper manufacturer that has great quality, and interesting themes. Again, try Amazon for the best price.
• I do not often buy pads of paper. This is because I usually only like about half the papers in the pack. I'm then stuck with papers I don't want to use. I learned this the hard way, of course.

Seaside Workshop on the Go

Scissors and Trimmers

• My all time favorite scissors are the Tim Holtz Ionic scissors. They are sharp, have a nice point, are comfortable to use, and the blades stay clean. They would be perfect if they came in pink.
• The slicer that I have, finally, settled on is the Sure Cut Deluxe Paper Trimmer. I tried lots of trimmers, but this one has a nice wide base, and the replacement blades are inexpensive. 

Scrapbooks

• You can purchase scrapbooks inexpensively at any craft store, but I would not recommend buying them. I have a few that are not in very good shape now.
• I now use Close to My Heart Scrapbooks. They come in D-Ring, and post bound.  
• I have seen some nicer scrapbooks, in the section of the craft stores near the Project Life supplies. I can not endorse them, as I have not tried them.
•  Remember, you will work hard to put together layouts to preserve your memories. You want them to be protected.

 

 

Misc.

• A bone folder is a nice item to have. You can see an example of one here. They help you make a nice crease on your cards.
•  I love my scoring boards. If you are a card maker, I think they are a must have. I have two, because one is for big projects, and one is more portable for travel. The large one I use is the Martha Stewart score board. The travel size I use is the Close to My Heart score board.
• Having a nice mat to put down on your table is a good idea. The Versamat is a nice choice. This will help protect your table. One side is cushioned for stamping, and the other is self-healing for cutting. The grids also come in handy when lining up projects.

 

These are just the basics. As you continue crafting, I'm sure you will want to add stamps, inks, ribbon, twine, buttons, markers, and all sorts of embelishments. The trick is to buy what you need for each project, and not just everything that is "too cute to pass up." 

 

I will continue this series with more items that you will want to explore as you become more crafty.

 

You also might want to stay tuned as I work on getting my craft room, and office space, in order. It is something I struggle with, besides wanting to buy all of the "too cute to pass up" items.

 

Let me know if you agree with my beginners list. 

 

    

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS

November Stamp of the Month

"It's the Little Things" Stamp Set

 I had a lot of fun just playing around with the November stamp of the month. I really did not have a plan, and it may show. The only measuring I did was to cut a basic stamp base of 5 1/2" x 4 1/4", a printed paper layer at 5 1/4" x 4", and the stamped layer at 5" x 3 3/4". 

I also used this stamp set to decorate the first page of my new Social Media planner. If any of you have a blog, YouTube channel, Twitter, etc you know it can get confusing to keep up with it all. I decided if I had to keep track of the information, I might as well have a pretty planner.

 I hope that you will enjoy the short video I made showing the supplies I used. 

Supplies

November Stamp of the Month

Dye Ink Pads

Acrylic Stamp Blocks

Brushed Paper Packet

Wink of Stella Clear Glitter pen on Amazon

Gelly Roll clear glitter pens are available at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc.

I'm sure you can think of many things to do with this cute floral stamp set. Let me know what you would do with these stamps.

REVIEW ~ HEIDI SWAPP MINI STENCILS

Having fun with a new product!

  

I found these cute, mini stencils at my local Michael's, and they were on sale. These stencils come in four different designs; patterns, frames, shapes, and words. They are the usual great quality that you can expect from Heidi Swapp products.

I was only able to locate the frames, and patterns, packs. Each package comes with six different stencils, and six 3 x 2 pieces of white cardstock. 

I did a little experimenting with them today. I think they are well worth the $8.99, especially if they are on sale, or you use a coupon. I hope you will enjoy my video demo below. I really enjoyed these stencils, and I know I will be using them in future projects.

I was able to take a Heidi Swapp class at a Scrapbook Expo, and she is really very sweet. I have some of her color change products, about 8 color shine sprays, and have made a few of her folder mini albums. I think my favorite are the color change items.

 I hope you enjoy the video below. Let me know if you have any Heidi Swapp products, and if so, which are your favorites?

NOVEMBER STAMP OF THE MONTH

It's the Little Things

There are so many project ideas in my head for the November stamp of the month. I know I will be doing some layering of flower parts.  Here are a few of the project examples from Close to My Heart designers. 

The best part is this stamp set is just $5 with any $50 purchase during the month of November. Don't delay because this stamp set will go away at the end of November.  I will have a video up soon showing how I'm using this versatile stamp set. 

What would you do with this set?  Cards, scrapbook layouts, or home decor items? 

MONTHLY GIVE A WAY REMINDER

It's Almost Time to Select the October Winner!

Home for the Holidays Stamp Set

Each month I randomly select one of my newsletter subscribers to receive a free gift. Next week someone will win this adorable stamp set. This set is perfect for Christmas Cards and gift tags. If you have already purchased this stamp set, you can simply choose a different set.

My email subscribers receive weekly updates about current specials, and upcoming events. If you want to stay in the loop, and have a chance to win free products, simply fill in the newsletter subscription box at the upper right of this page.

I hope to have a video or two posted next week showcasing this great stamp set, so keep an eye on this blog, or my YouTube Channel. 

 I hope everyone is enjoying some cooler weather, and looking forward to all of the upcoming holidays. 

 

CHRISTMAS 2014 ~ GETTING THINGS DONE

A Simple Holiday Layout and Matching Cards

There were a few projects that I didn't complete during the Close to My Heart Waco, TX incentive trip. Actually, I didn't even start most of them. I'm finally getting around to making a few things, so I thought I would share. I hope you enjoy the video below. It is the first of my Christmas videos. The videos are getting a little easier to make, so hopefully I can post a few each week. I need the incentive to get my Christmas Cards finished. After the video I will have links to all of the products used.

Products Used

Yuletide Carol Paper Pack
My Crush Holiday Happenings Assortment
Gold Sequins Assortment


Thank you for your support. I hope the rest of you have gotten a start on your holiday planning. I am behind as usual. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I would love to hear all about your holiday plans.