National Papercrafting Month Starts TODAY!!

Oh what FUN this new kit is! I have mine and can't wait to put it together! I'm talking about the "Whoo's Your Valentine" Kit - Close To My Heart's special purchase to celebrate National Papercrafting Month. This incredible kit retails for $40, but can be yours for JUST $10 with a $35 purchase from the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book! You can see just how cool it is, and everything that's included, by watching the following video! Contact me to get yours today!

Just For Fun - Part 3

Well, I definitely couldn't let today go by without some sort of mention - we won't see another 12/12/12 in our lifetimes, so I hope everyone enjoyed theirs! I had plans to get TONS of stuff done today - the last of my Christmas shopping, grocery shopping for all of the yummy baking I plan on doing, maybe a little wrapping - because this was my only day off from work this week. Well, wouldn't you know, my daughter ended up staying home sick from school today - for the third day in a row. So much for best-laid plans. So given that both my daughter and my husband are sick, and I am still recovering from a sprained ankle from last week, the best I could think to do to celebrate the day was order pizza & breadsticks for dinner, and make Shirley Temples to wash it all down. I must admit, it was a tasty dinner (and drink), but not at all what I had envisioned.

Anyway, I thought one more little thing I could do would be to post the Christmas/Winter artwork that I had done for my Open House...being that Christmas is a mere13 days away! So sit back, relax, grab yourself a "special drink", enjoy the artwork inspiration, and toast 12/12/12!

Let's start with the Advent Calendar (better late than never!). This project is actually a Close To My Heart Workshop on the Go - it comes complete with everything you need, except the Cricut, and our Exclusive Artiste Cricut cartridge. The Artiste cartridge has the cut for the boxes that slide into the cubbies. The only other thing you need is black ink and adhesive (and little goodies to fill the boxes!).

This cheerful card uses the "Merry & Bright" stamp set, along with the "Pear & Partridge" patterned paper (wow - say that five times fast!). The pearlized "Opaques" really add to the texture and dimension of this card.

Looking for an adorable little gift bag to bring to your neighbor or teacher filled with treats? Look no further! This festive bag uses the "Pear & Partridge" paper, as well as cuts from the Cricut Artiste cartridge (the bag and the topper). The red polka-dot frame is from the "Perfect Fit - Frames" stamp set, and "Warmest Wishes" is from the "Perfect Fit - Holiday" stamp set.

Here's another fun way to use both of the above-mentioned "Perfect Fit" stamp sets. The cute baskets were made from a cut on the Cricut Artiste - I cut it twice for each basket - once in red, and once in white. I then glued them together, scored the fold lines really well, and assembled the baskets. This way, the top scalloped edges that fold over the top show white and not red. The "flowers" were made with stamped images from the "Perfect Fit" stamp sets adhered to drinking straws that I painted with white craft paint, then wrapped with thin, gray cardstock strips. These would be super-cute wrapped with red cardstock to look like candy canes!

These three gorgeous cards were also made using a Workshop on the Go, just as the Advent Calendar was. These are from the "Pear & Partridge WOTG Card Kit". It makes five of each of these three designs. The paper, cardstock, stamp set, ribbon, and red bling all come with the kit - just cut, stamp, adhere and send! Whoohoo! One-quarter of my Christmas cards are done!

Lastly, but certainly not least, is this adorable card, made with the "Flakey Friends" stamp set. How fun!! The card is only 3" x 3", which makes it even cuter (if that's even possible!). You could emboss the snowflake background with white embossing powder, or use our White Daisy pigment ink to achieve this custom effect. I just love the bright colors!

Well, this has been a fun way to end my didn't-go-as-planned day. I hope this has inspired you to drag out those dusty, old stamp sets and create something fun & festive this holiday season - there's still time!! And HAPPY 12/12/12!