Mojo 435 Peace on Earth Card

I made this Christmas card to emphasize the important Christmas message the angels brought to simple shepherds at the birth of Christ -  Peace on Earth. Each time I read this sentiment my mind begins singing "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" which has this phrase. I combined the sketch at Mojo Monday and the colors of the inspiration at the Christmas Card Challenge #11.

 

 

I cut the gray panels using Cricut Artbooking, using old CTMH colors, Gray Flannel and Gray Wool. The pink embellishment was cut using Cricut Artiste with Pixie and Hollyhock cardstock. If you'd like to use my cut files on the Cricut Explore for flower and snowflake panels you can find it here in two sizes.  The white embossed sentiment from "Peace on Earth" stamp set byVerve is stamped on a very dark blue Bazzill cardstock. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the white background. Bitty sparkles, a clear sparkle on a silver sequin, and silver shimmer trim are the final embellishments.

I'm sharing this Christmas card with the following challenges:

A Snowflake's Promise #16 - anything Christmas/winter

Addicted to Stamps #120 - die cuts

Christmas Card Challenge #11 - Christmas card with optional color challenge

Dream Valley Challenge #125 - sparkle, bling, embellish

Everybody Art Challenge #356 - techniques - embossing, 2 kinds

Holly Jolly Christmas #65 - emboss it

Mojo Monday #435 - sketch

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #117 - anything goes/twist-sentmental

Gold Noel Card with "Twinkle"

It's about time that I got in the mood for making Christmas cards! October weather has been beautiful, but chilly. A reminder that cold, frosty days are on the way. Our home remodeling project is far enough along that hubby moved my scrapbook tables and many shelves to our lovely new room so I have room to craft again.


Here's my second card using the White Pines paper pack and the CTMH October Stamp of the month, "Twinkle." Yesterday's Christmas card was bold, today's is softer, a little more vintage.

I heat-embossed the ornament as well as the sentiment on vellum with Princess Gold embossing powder. I attached the vellum with one glue dot on the left and covered it with a Cranberry clip from the new Fundamental Assortment. I also added a strip of gold shimmer trim on the left and under each of the corners of the frame. I wanted some texture on the frame but the ornament was attached waiting for some ribbon. I used an embossing folder a new way, similar to the way we used to use embossing plates. I taped two edges of the frame inside one side of a CTMH Damask embossing folder. I pressed the back side of the frame's cardstock into the design using a wide embossing tool, then inked the raised portion on the front using the light tan Cashmere ink. All of the other edges of the papers were also sponged with that ink.  The frame and ornament are from Cricut Art Philosophy, the doily is from Cricut Artiste, and the green Topiary bough (from Paper Fundamentals, Adventure) is from the new Cricut Artistry.

I altered the width of the Art Philosophy ornament and frame so it would match the ornament stamp, which was meant to go with one from Artiste.  Using Cricut Design Space, you can unlock an image and alter the width or height. I determined what it should be by covering it with the correctly sized Artiste ornament and adjusting the dimensions until the ornaments were the same size. I wouldn't have worried about that except I liked the two attached so I could tie a ribbon around the attachment.

I used the leftover scraps to frame the sentiment inside. I think it's one I printed last year from Laurie Wilson at Doodle Pantry. I always love her sentiments, especially the ones that share the joy and love of the message of Christ at Christmas!

Thank you for visiting. Next week I'll share cards using some of the other images in this stamp of the month:

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
A Snowflake's Promise Challenge #6 - Christmas or winter
Aud Sentiments Challenge #141 - Christmas
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Festive decor
Christmas Card Challenge #43 - anything goes
Crafty Boots - Gold or Silver
Crafty Cardmakers and more... #148 - make it sparkle
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - anything goes
Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #275 - Anything Christmas
Where the HeART is Challenge #1 - add some text
Word Art Wednesday #203 - anything uplifting

Christmas Love Card with Twinkle

It seems every year CTMH introduces a stamp of the month geared toward Christmas. This is a reminder that I need to stop procrastinating and make a serious start on my Christmas cards! The new one this year, "Twinkle,"  has so many Christmas possibilities. Here's my first card. It's really simple and uses heat embossing with the CTMH Fine Detail Silver embossing powder. I used the larger ornament stamp and the circle sentiment.

 The ornament is from Cricut Artiste and the frame was cut using Cricut Art Philosophy. The Pear background cardstock has swirls, one of the new designs in the Paper Fundamentals Adventure Collection. The Cricut Artistry branch cut is from Topiary cardstock in the same collection. The fun silver embossed bow is one of the shapes from the Fundamental Assortment, Cranberry collection. I used silver Shimmer Trim and the slimmer Silver Foil Tape together on the left. The sentiment, Christmas Love, cried out for a few enamel hearts. 

Here are the acrylic stamps included in this month's stamp of the month.

 You can get it for the full price of $17.95 or you can do what I do and get it for $5.00 with a $50 purchase. Please continue to check back on my blog for more ideas tomorrow. You can also check out the artwork of other consultants in my group who are having a blog hop starting here.


I'm sharing this Christmas card with the following challenges:
A Snowflake's Promise Challenge #6 - Christmas or winter theme
Aud Sentiments Challenge #141 - get started on Christmas projects with Sentiment (they've had 2 free Christmas sentiments the last two weeks!)
Christmas Card Challenge #43 - anything goes
Crafty Boots Challenge - Gold or Silver
Crafty Cardmakers and more... #148 - make it sparkle
Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #275 - Anything Christmas
Where the HeART is Challenge #1 - add some text
Word Art Wednesday #203 - anything uplifting

Textured Paper Garden - Thinking of You Card

I think it's so important to let people know that we're thinking of them when they need support and prayers. I usually keep them blank inside so I can individualize the messages.

Here's my second card using Paper Garden, the CTMH stamp of the month for September.

I used the two larger blossom and leaf images stamped on Cricut Artiste die cuts. I inked the blossom stamps with Hollyhock then rolled the edges in Pomegranate. Instead of having the white edge of the Cricut cut, I sponged more Hollyhock on the blossoms. The leaf stamps were inked with Fern, stamped off on scrap paper and re-inked around the edges for second generation stamping. I curved the edges of the leaves and flowers and adhered them with glue dots in the middle and pop dots under the raised portions.

The center of the large flower was stamped with Honey and attached. On the smaller ones I dotted the centers with a "Marigold" Shin Han Touch Twin marker and added a Gray Enamel Gem in the center of each.

The kraft frame was cut using Cricut Artbooking, then embossed with the 5" x 7" CTMH Woodgrain embossing folder. The Colonial White mat under it was also embossed using the CTMH Floral embossing folder.  The sentiment banner was cut using the new Cricut Artistry cartridge. I stamped the Colonial White layer with the background stamp from this set using Sweet Leaf ink.  The sentiment came from Happy to Be Friends.

If you have a Cricut Explore and the Artiste, Artistry, and Artbooking cartridges, feel free to use my cut file to easily make the elements in this card in Cricut Design Space:

https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/30910668

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
CraftyCardmakers #146- no patterned paper
Creative Knockouts #105 - Flower power
Paper Shelter #217 - any kind of embossing
Southern Girls Challenge #118 - Flower power
Word Art Wednesday #199 - anything uplifting

CTMH September Stamp of the Month "Paper Garden"

September Stamp of the Month, Paper Garden, pictured above:  Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5 — that’s over 70% off retail - when you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products. You can also purchase it at full price, $17.95.

CTMH Happy to be Friends

 

Cricut Artfully Sent and a Cricut Artiste Card

I was so excited to find out that the Cricut Artfully Sent cartridge is now available through CTMH consultants. It's especially for card makers and I'm ordering mine today.  If you're interested, I'm attaching the description below. I can't wait to see what card shapes are included. I guess I'll have to get ready and use that excitement by making cards with my other cartridges which may get lonely once the Artfully Sent cartridge arrives!

I had just made this card using the Artiste cartridge when I read the announcement. I loved the unique shape on the front of this card with the cut-out heart. The card was cut using the <6> card key and the butterfly with the <k> shift accent 4. I used the Scaredy Cat paper pack, which obviously isn't just for Halloween. I used one of the "30 Years of Happy" stamps that are a special this month. It was quick to use my 2" scalloped circle punch on this one. I embossed the card front with the CTMH 5" x 7" Damask embossing folder.
Thank you for visiting!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:


A Creative Need Sept. Challenge - texture and/or patterns
Art Impressions Stamps Challenge #144 - purple, orange, black
City Crafter Challenge #228 - Butterflies
Cuttlebug Mania - anything embossed (Damask embossing folder)
Divas by Design - anything goes
Moving Along with the Times - add texture
Nutcrafters #76 - B is for . . .(butterfly)
Paper Shelter Challenge #173 - embossing
QKR Stampede Challenge #104 - things with wings
Sister Act Card Challenge #74 - anything goes
Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes
Wonderful Wednesday - anything goes

Cricut® Artfully Sent Collection Product Description

Cardmaking has never been easier or more fun! With our newest Cricut® collection, you can make handmade masterpieces in no time at all. Choose from cards with sentiments cut directly into them, or combine several cutouts to create your own pop-up scenes. Featuring more than 25 different card themes and 5 different card formats including dynamic interactive designs, this cartridge has a card for any and all occasions—even if the occasion is "just because"! Card styles include pop-ups, scenes, sentiments, sleeves, and pocket cards.
Collection includes: 1 – Cartridge (700 images: Cards and Font)
3 – My Acrylix® D-size stamp sets (sentiments, frames, alphabet)
1 – 12" × 12" White Daisy Cardstock Pack

Item Number: Z3017 $99.00   ($4.50 S&H if ordered here)

Here are cartridge images (sorry they're so small!)

layered cards

Font:

Pop-up Cards:

Icons:

Scenes:

Sentiments

Sleeve

Pocket:

If you'd like to order this cartridge, please visit my website here! If you have questions, feel free to email me.

Twist of Faith #61 - Card and Envelope

Our theme for you this week at Twist of Faith is to make a matching

POSTCARD/CARD and ENVELOPE/PACKET!

For this challenge, your creativity really comes into play because you can interpret that any way you like....you can make a pocket card...or a postcard...or a card with matching envelope - the sky is the limit!!!

Remember our 'twist of faith'... your creation should also include a Scripture, or quote,  or an uplifiting sentiment.

Our sponsor is StampArt Design by Kathryne at Whimsy Stamps.

 

I chose to use two lovely Scripture digis that I thought went well together. I claimed this verse over the weekend when I wasn't feeling well, had to go to the city and got lost, had too many chores to do, then had to go home and finish cutting paper for a scrapbook and card workshop for the next day. I knew I couldn't do that much in my own strength, and that only a loving God could give me that strength. By 2 a.m. I was amazed at how much He helped me accomplish! I just have to praise Him for His frequent gifts of grace and mercy.

 

I used the Cricut Artiste cartridge to cut matching card and envelope from the fun, energetic CTMH, Laughing Lola paper pack. It works especially well because one side is very colorfully patterned and the other side is monochromatic with a subtle design- perfect for the inside of the card and the outside of the envelope.

 

 

I love the way it cuts matching cards and envelopes. You put in the size of the card and when you cut the matching envelope that same size, it adjusts it to the slightly larger size it needs to be. I also loved this particular card cut because of the fun scallop with tiny hole cut-outs on both the edge of the card and the envelope.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for visiting. I hope you'll share your own wonderful creation with us at Twist of Faith. I can't wait to see your combination!

May God bless you with renewed strength when your own seems to wane.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenge:
Word Art Wednesday #103 - anything goes with uplifting verse etc.

Sweet Music - Teaching Little Fingers Layout

My family was always very musical and so was my husband's family. I have a theory that children who grow up in church-going families have more exposure to singing and are more likely to be able to sing or play an instrument. My mother-in-law played the piano and organ until her eye-sight was compromised. She taught piano lessons for many years and was the choir director at church for 40 years. I had to scrapbook photos I took of her as she instructed two great-granddaughters who are just beginning to learn to play the piano.

It seems that all three of my granddaughters often wear purple and I don't often have purple scrapbook papers. In this layout I turned over some Halloween "Hooligans" paper to use the "Gypsy" purple back side, another one of my attempts to USE IT UP! I got 24 of this sheet just to use the purple?? What was I thinking? I combined it with some Crème Brulee "Veranda" strips and ric rac seemed to go well with the pattern. All of the supplies used are from Close To My Heart, although the papers have been long retired.

Here are close-ups:

I cut the black scalloped oval with Cricut Art Philosophy. I used Cricut Artiste to cut the blue circular shape (p. 42), it's Wildflower magenta mat (p. 35), and the butterfly (p. 58). I traced the butterfly and fussy cut it to make a mat-type shadow. The letter stickers are Glamour Glitter Alphabet.

The stamp set I used, Sweet Music, is retiring at the end of this month. I stamped the piano key border with 2nd generation black. I used all of the sentiments that were in the set, however, I plan to use the other instruments in the set for my son's photos taken when he played the trumpet and viola. He had two friends that played the sax so these images are perfect for scrapping our many concert and contest photos. Here are the other three that I stamped:

I'm sharing this layout with the following challenges:
A Little Bit Crafty - "Die-ing" for it - used lots of die cuts
Bloggers Challenge - Things with Wings
CCEE Stampers 1329 - Sing, Sing a Song - reminded me of "Dancin' in the Street" lyrics:

All we need is music, sweet music,
There'll be music everywhere

Creative Creations #15 - Anything goes
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything goes
Make It Monday #150 - Anything goes
My Craft Creations - Die cut shapes
Our Creative Corner - Captured Memories
Simply Create Too #42 - Anything but a Card
Sparkle and Sprinkle July Challenge - Anything But a Card
Use It Tuesday #60 - What was I thinking? (24 sheets of the same Hooligans pattern)


 

Use It Up - Avonlea Christmas Cards

It's time for Christmas in July! I've been trying to post this for three days and our internet finally cooperated today!

For my friends who want to use up their paper packs, I made four Christmas cards last night using my remnants of Close To My Heart Avonlea paper, a little extra cardstock, and the Christmas stamp sets that will be discontinued at the end of this month. The first two cards use "Blessings of Peace."  I masked the first line of the sentiment so that only the last two would show. The New England Ivy mat under the image and sentiment was cut using Cricut Artiste at 2.5" <3 key> Accent 3. The sparkles are Sweet Leaf, a pale green.

I was inspired by challenge #13 at Fusion, using both the sketch and the inspiration picture for this first card. I liked the Clean and Simple design of this one.

I'm sharing this first card with these challenges, too:
Card Makin' Mamas #72 - Monochromatic
CAS on Sunday #12 - Christmas in July (clean and simple)
Pattie's Creations #71 - Monochromatic ( include an image)

 

 



 

 

 

I used the card sketches from CTMH Make It From Your Heart Volume 1.  The first one is Pattern 22 and uses the other stamps from the "Blessings of Peace."  I also used the Basic Assortment of buttons and Chocolate Waxy Flax that are about to be discontinued at the end of July.

I'm sharing this 2nd card with Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #179 - Christmas in July.

The last two cards use sentiments from the Everlasting Life stamp set that will be discontinued. I made this 3rd card so it could be mailable!! There are no bulky embellishments, only the wonderful tan collection of glitter papers that I was able to cut on the Cricut with Art Philosophy. I used sketch 21 from Make It From Your Heart Vol. 1, and rotated it 90 degrees clockwise.

I'm sharing this 3rd card with the ABC Christmas challenge this week - N for NO embellishments.

 

 

This last card uses another one of the sentiments from Everlasting Life with one of the angels from Angelic Blessings. I added some flourishes on the edges using Instant Memories. All three stamp sets will be discontinued. I used the dark teal and Smoky Plum cardstocks with this card for a different look. I used sketch 25 from Make It From Your Heart Volume 1.  I cut the oval for the sentiment using Cricut Art Philosophy using the Oval 2 key at 1.5" and the Decorative layer using the same key at 2."

 



 I'm sharing this last card with the Totally Papercrafts Challenge #175 - All of a Flutter (wings) and with Crimbo Crackers Challenge to make it Girly.

 

I hope this gives you a few ideas for starting your Christmas cards. There will be more posted in the near future!
 

Use It Up!! . . . Claire for Mojo Monday 301

My friends who are in my scrapbook workshops are beginning to want to make cards with their scraps that are left over. This month I'm showing ways to use up paper packs that will no longer be available after July 31st. I also want to highlight stamp sets that are being retired at the end of this month because I know how it feels to plan to get a stamp set later only to discover it was "retired" and no longer available. (You can find the soon-to-be retired list on my previous post here.)

I'm also going to give you the measurements that I used at the end of the post in case it will help you use up your Claire paper pack. All of the pieces I used were from my Claire scraps that I left in the Claire bag, except for some of the cardstock mats. I keep most of my paper scraps filed by color in 8 drawers. It really helps when I need a small piece, like the Outdoor Denim for the oval.  I'll post other cards and projects using this set later this week.

This first card uses the Mojo Monday sketch for this week:

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Catered Crop - Buttons
Challenges 4 Everybody #24 - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Fridays #110 - Anything Goes
Mojo Monday #301 - sketch
No Matter Which #11 - Anything Goes
Penny Black and More July challenge - punches and die cuts
Pile It On - Food
That Craft Place - Ribbons (and/or lace)
The Ribbon Girl - Add a bow
Wags 'n' Whiskers #107 - Cute as a Button



Here are the details and measurements I used for a 4.25" x 5.5" card:
The white background was embossed with hearts.
Flowered strip - 3 3/4" x 2 1/2"    Hollyhock mat - 4" x 2 3/4"
2 smaller panels   - 1 1/2" x 3 3/4"    Hollyhock mats - 1 5/8" x 3 7/8"
White circle for stamping - 1 3/4"
Outdoor Denim scalloped oval cut with Cricut Artiste - 3 3/4" Accent 1, Shift <2>
(The final piece is only about 2 5/8, but is sized to fit on a tag that is 3 3/4, so that is the size you enter. If I had been using my head, I would have used the real dial feature!)

I colored my image with Sorbet and Cotton Candy alcohol ink markers. The acrylic stamp set called "Pun Fun" is retiring. I'll make more cards with these throughout the week.

Also retiring is the set of 68 flowers in the Paradise paper flowers that I used. I stacked two of them and added the button. The flower looked even better when I pop dotted it onto a navy blue satin ribbon bow (not CTMH).

And last, most of the buttons are retiring, sob, sob! I used the Blue Assortment tied with Sunset baker's twine from the Paradise assortment.

I hope you'll use this to make lots of cards to give to those you hold dear and to encourage others!

 

Use It Up!!. . .Avonlea for Mojo Monday #300

I've been cleaning out my scraproom and discovered I have so much more paper and embellishments left from scrapbook workshops than I ever imagined. Before I add to the collection with the newest items being released on August 1st from Close To My Heart, I thought that during the month of July I'd show projects I'm making to USE IT UP!! I plan to highlight stamp sets, paper, and embellishments that are being retired. (Check out the retired list I posted earlier today-some of the items I used are already on the "Unavailable" list.)

The first card uses Avonlea papers and the Mojo Monday sketch for this week. I wanted to add more texture, so I found that the green panel fit one of my 5" x 7" embossing folders, Cuttlebug "Mary Ann."

I rotated the sketch 90 degrees clockwise. The Avonlea papers were matted on Chocolate cardstock and all papers were scissor distressed, highlighting the white core. I added some purple pansy cardstock for the sentiment mat that I cut using Cricut Artiste (Accent 3 Shift "B" at 2.5"). I had really overlooked the sentiment in the past because I had it filed away with my Christmas stamps instead of my Faith stamps. It is such a beautiful verse of encouragement that can help in many situations. Trusting God with ALL of my heart to work out situations is not an easy task as an adult. Having faith like a little child, envisioning Him as a father, reaching out a little hand to take His to be led where He takes us, gives me new perspective.

Other retiring embellishments include the Chocolate Waxy Flax and silver edged button that I placed on top of the already retired Petal (lavender) button and the lace flower which I placed on a circle that I cut out of one of the patterned papers in the Avonlea pack. The Stamp set is called "Everlasting Life."




I hope this project will help you USE IT UP, too!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks #149 - dry embossing (green panel Cuttlebug "Mary Ann")
Charisma Cardz #26 - lace (the lace flower)
Crafting with Dragonflies #5 - vintage with layers and lace (lace flower)
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
Creative Stamp Friends - Circle, button, and lace (lace flower)
Inky Chicks #7 - Anything goes
Mojo Monday #300 - sketch
Scrapper's Delights  - die cuts and punches (from Cricut Artiste)
Sister Act Card Challenge #14 - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #87 - anything goes/ scripture


 

Clearly Digi Stamps Freebie Giveaway!

Here is a project I made as an end of the year gift for my grandson's teacher. She once told me she'd like to be a reading teacher like I was. She definitely made an avid reader out of our 4th grader. So I'm giving her a Thank you card, bookmarks for all the kids and a container to hold them that was cut on Cricut Artiste. 

 

                                                  

 

Today and tomorrow on the Clearly Digi Stamps website you can get this set of stamps with 2 digi papers free with any purchase. The set is called Books and Apple. If you're a teacher or have children in school, it's a really great set for cards, bookmarks, or teacher gifts.

 

 

 

The yellow polka dotted paper is double sided with the blue/green pattern. It was a CTMH special called "Dotty for You."  It took two pieces of the paper to cut out the box (using Cricut Artiste) which is assembled from two pieces. 

The card front was cut using Cricut Artiste and was embossed with a Paper Studio embossing folder.

I'm sharing this project with the following challenges:
Country View Craft Challenge #4 - Die cuts
Craft Lovin Challenge #2 - Anything Goes
Desert Islands Crafts Challenge #56 - The Card uses 1. die cut, 3. patterned paper, 5. ribbon, 7. dry embossing, 10. sentiment
Digi Makeover Challenge #93 - Punches/Dies (Cricut box and notebook paper die cuts, scalloped circle punch)
Hiding in My Craft Room #102 - Die Cuts
Melonheadz Friends Challenge - Die Cuts
Really Reasonable Ribbon #74 - I'm seeing Dots (on yellow dp box & bookmark) and ribbon