Close To My Heart Christmas Card and the New Stitch Guide

A few weeks back, I got the new CTMH Stitch Guide (Z1852.)  I have been anxious to try it since it was introduced at Convention and just hadn't had the time.  Time, I found the time.  All be it, I squashed it in between washing the kitchen curtains, windows and walls, raking leaves, designing a card class for my Michaels schedule and having my car inspected and walking home a mile instead of waiting for it to be done. 

Well, let me tell you, it didn't disappoint!  I used in to make a Christmas Card with Frosted (X7175B) and Yuletide Greetings (D1553.)  Let me describe the stitch guide...  It is a plastic ruler with multiple holes in patterns that you can use to pierce the paper and then stitch with embroidery floss or some sort of fiber.

The guide is several inches long and contains several patterns suitable for a 12 x 12 scrapbook page.  But, because I was doing a card, I used just a small flourish.  It worked beautifully!  I was able to pierce the paper and easily stitch the design.  I used Flower Thread for the stitching...a single ply fiber that was in my cross stitch stash.  I want to share a few tips I learned while doing the stitching....

1.  If you are using embroidery floss, separate the individual threads...any more than 3 will tear the paper.  Hemp and baker's twine are probably too thick.
2.  Make sure you don't pierce the paper too close to the edge. 
3.  Keep your thread short.  This will keep it from tangling as you stitch.
4.  Hold the ends down with adhesive....Tombow or ATG work great.
5,  Pierce your holes lightly...you can always enlarge the holes to accommodate you thread, but you can't make the holes smaller.  :o)

A few more fun things about this card...I used my CTMH Alcohol Markers and Black Archival Ink.  And, the multiple layers of mats are cut only 1/8 of an inch instead of the customary 1/4 inch.  This give just the hit of color.

Even if you're not a sewer, don't be afraid to try the Stitch Guide.  It is easy and adds yet another fun dimension to your scrapbooking and card making.  You can see it on my website.  For Now, Happy Crafting!.

CTMH Frosted - Joyful Stars Blog Hop

It's that time again...  the 9th of the month means the Joyful Stars Blog Hop!  I enjoy participating in the hop and seeing the work of so many talented fellow CTMH Consultants.  This month, our theme is either Fall or Christmas using new CTMH products.  If you got here from Stephanie's Blog you are on the right track.

I got this stamp called Christmas Village (D1554) shortly after Convention and hadn't really used it that much, but loved it from the moment I saw it.   I've wanted to make a project using this wonderful stamp and thought our blog hop would be the perfect time.

 

 

 

Each of these cute little houses are in the stamp set.  I stamped each one on Cashmere card stock and cut them out.  I did the same with the 6 evergreen trees using Olive and New England Ivy.  Each image was colored with my pencils and then highlighted with Prisma Glitter and Liquid Applique.  The road was made from a torn strip of Cocoa, sanded and then accented with Liquid Applique.  It was built on sanded Crystal Blue that was accented with clouds that are from a retired set.  The wooden frame was painted with Pearl Paint colored with Champagne re-inker, the front was covered with a sheet of Frosted paper and then accented with the sparkle flourishes and the sentiment stamped with pigment ink and heat embossed.  Foam tape was used to give the 3D effect.

 

It's time to hop on over to Helen's Blog and see what she has created for us.  If you get lost at any point, head back to the start at Joyce's Blog.  Thanks for stopping by and For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Frosted and Christmas Village

I have wanted to try CTMH's Christmas Village since I got it right after Convention.  Finally, today, I had a little time to play so out came the stamp set.  CTMH Frosted is perfect for this stamp. 

 



Christmas Village (D1554) is a terrific stamp set that has 6 charming Victorian look buildings along with a size appropriate tree, snowman and fence gate.  It even has a nice sentiment (not the one I used on this card.)  The minute I saw it, creative possibilities began swirling in my mind.  Everyone knows how I love to color and each of the stamps is a line stamp just perfect to color and shade.  Each of the buildings are individual so I can image a full village.  Love it!

This card is made with CTMH Frosted (X7175B,) Champagne, Twilight and Crystal Blue card stock along with Silver Shimmer Tape, sparkles and baker's twine hemp.  The sentiment is from a current set called Holiday Cheer (B1381.)

Stop by my website and take a look at this terrific stamp set.  How many possibilities can you think of?  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Frosted Card Workshop On The Go

Can I begin to tell you what a wonderful deal the Close To My Heart Card Workshop on the Go (WTOG) for the Frosted paper packet (G1063)?  First off, Frosted is absolutely beautiful.  It is shades of blues, grays, champagnes with coordinating colors of Olive, Ruby, Cocoa and Kraft.  In you kit, you receive a "D" size stamp set (WOW), sparkles, pattern paper, card stock, 15 card blanks, bakers twine and the great instructions.  There is so much more in the kit than past years and the best part is the price has been reduced to $24.99!!!

You get plenty of supplies to complete at least 15 cards and here is one of them...

This is a terrific card that works up very quickly.  It features a great technique called second generation stamping.  You ink the trees and stamp on scrap paper.  Using the ink remaining on the stamp, you stamp on the actual mat.  Then you re-ink the stamp and stamp directly onto the paper over the previously stamped image.  See how that creates the illusion that there are trees in the background?

The stamp set included in the kit are so usable that I wanted to create other cards to show off the versatility of the set.  The first card features a Cocoa card base.  For a twist, I've added Slate and the Silver Shimmer Trim (Z1799.)  An unexpected combination.

 

This card is an features Ponderosa Pine instead of the CTMH suggested Olive.  Ponderosa Pine is a blue shaded green and I really like how it works with the blue grays of Frosted.  I've added just a touch of Ruby Shimmer Tape and Baker's Twine for fun.  By the way, the holly in the upper corner is from one of my favorite Holiday Stamps called "To You and Yours" (B1403.)  The leaves have been colored with my CTMH markers.



 

I am really pleased with the CTMH Frosted Card workshop.  Stop by my website to check it out further and see what you can create.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Home Decor and Frosted

Hold onto your hat, but I actually had a little free time to create today!  I know, I can't believe it either.  :o)  When we were at our Post Convention Team Meeting the other week, one of our creative projects was to make the make one of the CTMH My Creations Stars along with Karen (the PaperDolls fearless leader) teaching us to may a rolled flower.  Well, I never had the chance to make my star at the meeting, but it is such a wonderful project that I was determined to make one. 

Why is it so difficult to get a decent picture of the best things?  I used the new "Frosted" paper packet (X7175B) to cover the chipboard star (Z1803).  A template is available to use to cut out the individual "legs."  What I learned from this is when using 2 different papers, you need to remember to have the template facing the same way for 5 of the points and the opposite way for the other 5.  Otherwise, you will wind up with miss matched papers.  Not a problem, you just need to remember this.

Now for the Polka Satin Ribbon (Z1802)) Flower in the center.  When Karen taught us how to make the flower, she used the burlap ribbon (Z1760).  I looked at the satin ribbon and wondered would it work.  Well, it did!  :o)  Cut two pieces of ribbon...one to measure 12 inches and the other measuring 24 inches.  When using burlap, you only need 12 inches for each length.  Fold the lengths in half and glue the edge using a hot glue gun (don't burn yourself.)  Begin to roll the 12 inch length tightly and hold together with the glue.  You want a tight roll so feel free to add glue from the selvage to the top.  This is the center of your flower.  Next take the 24 inch length, attach to the base (salvage) edge of the flower center.  Make sure that you only glue the bottom portion.  Begin to wrap around the flower center and randomly pleat the ribbon so that it fans out to look like a flower.  When you are close to the end, fold in the edge to keep the ribbon from fraying. If you are using burlap, you may fringe it to give the petal effect.  This is why you need less ribbon when you are using the burlap...the fringing forms the petal look.  Cut two shorter lengths of ribbon to attach to the bottom to form your "leaves."  Very easy and a great effect.  What do you think?

I love these stars and can see me making several for Holiday Gifts.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Frosted Sneak Peek

This is just another quick and simple sneak peek at another product to be released in the August 1st Fall/Winter Close To My Heart Idea Book.  As usual, I have to run off to work in a little while and actually have a long day.  After my floral shift, I have a paper-Ed class with 3 lovely ladies.  I won't be home until the store closes.  I was able to get this card done first thing this morning.

OK, what are you seeing new here...  :o)  The pattern paper is from the upcoming paper packet called "Frosted."  The minute I saw it I went nuts over it.  Wait until you see more.  It is terrific.  The candle image and sentiment are also from one of the new My Acrylix sets, too.  Love, Love, Love.  When I first saw Frosted, I immediately thought of Ponderosa Pine card stock.  CTMH does not feature it with this color, but I think it works.  What do you think?  That is the beauty of Frosted...so many possibilities.

Getting excited about the new Idea Book?  I sure am thrilled with it.  Don't forget to keep checking back as August 1st draws near.  By the way, don't forget that some old favorites will be discontinues effective July 31st, so if you are in need of any current supplies, stop by my website and get them before it is too late.  For Now, Happy Crafting!