So incredibly CUTE. . .and a great deal!!

You're going to love our special this month!  For only $10, you can purchase this kit, which includes an exclusive stamp set, these adorable pre-cut cardstock boxes, the clear treat tubes and additional cardstock (including our new silver glitter paper).  Click on the video link below to see what you can make with this wonderful kit. 

http://youtu.be/sH8QXSbKDBQ

You can order this fantastic kit--including this adorable stamp set--now through the end of January.  It's only $10 with a $35 purchase!!!  You can contact me or order it directly through my website, http://christina.ctmh.com (click on SHOP).

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Every year, Jeanette Lynton (founder and CEO of Close to My Heart) sends out a beautiful card and gift to her Directors!!  I just had to share this card with you.  Wish I had seen this a couple weeks ago--I definitely would have added it to one of my workshops.  This card is such a clever way to use our Cricut cartridge borders.  I believe most of them are cut at 3/4" and then just trimmed to fit across the card front.  I think I'm going to try this technique on a year-round card SOON!

I thought it might be a bit too late to make cards in my December clubs, but I knew my gals would be up for some tags!  I was inspired to make these tags by some posts I saw on Pinterest. . .the Santa tag is definitely a straight copy, but I'm not sure of the original source.  His face is just a 1 3/4" circle.  His beard is a 2" scalloped circle (cut on my Cricut), folded in half (you can open it up and put the message under his beard).  His hat is a 1 3/4 x 3 inch rectangle of red cardstock, cut diagonally, then folded down.  The trim on his hat is one of our scalloped borders cut with the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge (1/2 inch size).  We have a moustache image on our Cricut Artiste Cartridge--that would have been fun to add to the Santa!!

The other tags are cut with our Art Philosophy and Artiste Cricut cartridges.  I used papers from our current Pear & Partridge card kit as well as the now-retired Elemental paper pack. 

Sharing a couple of great projects from my team Christmas party

I host a Christmas party for my Close to My Heart team every year, and the highlight of the party is our handmade gift exchange.  Each of the gals makes a handmade gift item and wraps it up.  We play the game where you can open a gift or steal someone else's gift, and we can get competitive with it.  But, in the end, it's all good, because we each go home with something fun and we ALL get to see some great project ideas--because we have such wonderfully talented Consultants on our team!   Here's a couple of my favorites from this year:

This framed button Christmas tree was made Rhonda Leeper.  It's such a fun way to use our beautiful buttons and sparkles!

This decorative wall hanging, made by Gwen Fillinger, was probably the most "stolen" item of the evening!!  I don't think that my photo really captures how beautiful this was.  Gwen started with square wooden bases that she painted.  Then, she layered cardstock and stamped papers, our Dimensional Elements Album Pages, and images she cut on the Cricut with the Artiste cartridge.  The result is stunning!  I think you can see the layering in the photo below.

Origami Christmas Tree Tutorial

I recently made one of these origami tree cards, and it was SO much fun!!  And, it's not nearly as hard as it looks (yea)!  I thought I'd give you some step-by-step instructions so you could make one on your own.  For my card, I used paper from the Pear & Partridge paper packet.  I like a nice heavyweight patterned paper (but not cardstock) for the tree.

 

To start, I cut four squares from my green patterned paper:  1 1/2", 2", 2 1/2" and 3".  You can use larger squares, just make each one 1/2" bigger than the one before.

 

By the way, I HIGHLY recommend a bone folder tool for these projects--we carry a great one in our catalog (Z1204 for $4.95).  Your folds will be so much more crisp with this tool.  Anyway, begin by folding one of your squares in half diagonally (desired pattern on the outside).  Open it up and fold it again diagonally in the opposite direction.

 

 

 

At this point, your paper looks like the roof of a house.

Squeeze in two opposite sides of your roof and fold the roof down into a triangle.  Your piece will now be a triangle with two "layers."  You may need to use your bone folder or fingers to work it into a nice point on the top.

 

Set your triangle down and fold one of the layers on the front of your triangle down toward the middle.

 Fold the other side of front flap toward the middle as well--so that both folds meet at a straight line down the middle.  Fold all of your remaining squares the same way.

 Once your squares are folded, glue your SMALLEST piece to the top of your base card/project.  Then, tuck the next piece slightly inside of it and glue it down.  Continue on with the next bigger piece and then, finally, the largest piece. 

December Stamp of the Month--a year full of fun!

 

Your'e going to love our December Stamp of the Month because it has images for the whole year!  These would be great for quick cards (think 3 x 3) or wonderful on an Event Calendar or calendar scrapbook pages.   You can purchase the Stamp of the Month anytime during the Month of December--and it's only $5 with a $50 purchase (or you can purchase it at full retail for $17.95 with no additional purchase required)!   To order it, visit my website, http://christina.ctmh.com.  While you're there, be sure to check out our awesome "while supplies last" clearance items--and get some super deals!