Thursday, December 9, 2010

Everyone loves a Sale!

Check out my website for discontinued items at DEEP discounts! New items will be added all the time so check back often!

Click the shopping cart to the right to go to my site. Then click on Shop online, and discounted items!

Happy Shopping!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

New Year New club!

Welcome 2011! I know I am a little early, but it is that time of year again! Time for a new club to start!

What is a club you ask? Well, let me tell you!

My paper crafting club meets the 2nd Friday of the month. We meet at my house and make a variety of wonderful paper crafts! From Scrapbook pages, to greeting cards, to home décor items! Past club projects have included the Workshops on the go from Close to my heart, the THANKS banner seen here, Gift card holder for the holidays as seen here, and many more!

Here are the details… It is a 6 month commitment for 6 individuals. Each month you will purchase your workshop kit or place a minimum $25 order. 6 members at $25 per person is $150 in sales which is a “Party”. As you know when you host a home party you earn free and 1/2 price items. The club takes the place of the “home party”. You don’t have to gather up people and clean your house and provide a bunch of refreshments to get your free goodies! Each month one club member will be the “hostess” and will receive a minimum of $25 in free products! During your “hostess” month you can get outside orders to boost your sales and in turn boost your free and 1/2 price items! It is a win-win!

The other great benefit to joining a club is that you have a scheduled night out to craft with friends new and old!

If you are interested in joining my club please email me. In addition each new club member will receive a special stamp set free, just for joining!

Happy Holidays!

P.S. Here is a sneak peek for January!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Plenty for Twenty!

Close To My Heart's December campaign is Plenty for Twenty! 

When you shop my website and spend $20 or more (before shipping and tax) on wonderful Close To My Heart products, you'll receive a free D-size stamp set valued at $22.95 for free—that more than doubles your value!  And on top of that, Close To My Heart will select random orders to have an additional little travel buddy with them…STICKY BOY! If you haven't heard about the legendary Sticky Boy yet, watch this short video to get yourself acquainted.
This special runs from December 1 - December 31, and there is no shipping/handling or tax assessed on the free stamp set.  The free stamp set will be selected by Close To My Heart, so you won't know what set you are getting until you receive your order. 
So click here or on the shopping link on the right and get your free stamp set today!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

It’s workshop time again!

So as I was saying in my last post, I had that old saying “Give a man a fish feed him for a day, Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime” on my mind when I was thinking about my next card workshop. I thought I would love to show how to make a variety of gift card holders! It’s a skill that can be used all year long, but especially during the holiday season!

So I have come up with 5 different cards/gift card holders that we will make. Here are some examples of the kind holders we will make! At least one will be a birthday themed holder.  These are all holders that I have made for Christmas.

Please excuse the poor lighting on my photos.  I am almost done with my light box for taking better photos of my cards and such.. Just need another light or two, then I will have beautiful pictures!

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Matchbook style

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Beanie hat style

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Present style

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Tresa’s gift card holder style

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And my Cup o’ Joe style!

For you local gals if you would like to come to my workshop here is the info!

Where: My house (email me for address)                    When: Sunday Nov. 28th 2pm
Why: Because the holidays are coming and there's always someone you give a gift card to!
How much: $15 or Free with a $25 CTMH order! 
RSVP: by Nov. 20th so I can be sure to pre-cut enough supplies for everyone! No need to bring anything. I will have everything pre-cut and ready to go!

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Blogtoberfest is over… now what?!

So Blogtoberfest was challenging and fun! I can’t believe that I was able to post every Sunday during soccer season! Whew! Well, there is only one weekend of soccer left then I can breathe for a while before the craziness comes back… That means I can get crafty again! Yay!

I have been thinking about another workshop but I don’t want it to be a big production just gather a bunch of gals and teach them something useful. I was thinking of the saying “give a man a fish feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for life” And that got me thinking… That should be the goal of my next workshop! I am going to teach how to make gift card holders. They are very useful! Not just holiday ones but for every occasion! Then the ladies can take their new skill and go home and make many many more!

What do you think, is it a good idea or what?!

Finished Cup closed.This will be one…

Finished cup openHere is the inside…

IMG_1359This will be another one…

IMG_1363Here is the inside.. Thanks Tresa!

I will have to come up with a couple more but this is a start! Wish me luck!

Sunday, October 31, 2010

THANKS Banner instructions!

We had a great time at the two workshops making this banner! Now that they are done I can share the instructions with you all! There are a few fun techniques that I used in the making of this banner… There are crumpled flowers, box pleat paper ribbon,(better known to the workshop attendees as the “little skirt”) Emerging color, and two-toned custom made patterned cardstock! I of course learned all of these from The Stamp Goddess! If you would like to have this in a printable format leave me a comment or send me your email address and I will send it to you!

I am looking forward to getting my craft on again soon! I love workshops but they put the breaks on my creative time. : /  

So incase you haven’t seen the banner here it is in all it’s glory!

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THANKS Banner Instructions

Cutting

Cut 3 of the following

· Sorbet CS 3 ½ X 3 ½ - ink edges with Barn red or chocolate

· Chocolate CS 3 ½ X 3 ½ - Round the corners of this paper then distress edges

· Olivia paper variety 2 ½ X 2 ½ inch squares (flower )

Cut 2 of the following

· Reddish Olivia paper 3 ¼ X 3 ¼ - ink edges with chocolate or barn red then stitch around the paper about ¼ inch from the edge place a brad in each stitched corner on both pieces.

· Green Olivia paper 3 ¼ X 3 ¼ - round the corners then ink with chocolate

· Colonial White CS 3 ¼ x3 ¼ See special instructions below.

Cut 1 of the following

· Orange/yellow Olivia paper 1 X 12 (paper ribbon)ink edges with desired color

· Sorbet CS 2 ½ X 2 ½ inch square(Flower) – cut scalloped circle with Cuttlebug

· Chocolate CS 2 ½ X 2 ½ inch square (Flower) – cut scalloped circle with Cuttlebug

Stamping On Colonial White CS

One (1) tree in chocolate ink from Grown with love and rough cut it out then use a permanent glue stick and completely cover the back of the tree and adhere it to a piece of Chocolate cardstock then cut out. This saves you from cutting it out twice.

Several multi colored leaves from timeless… cut out

1 two tone sunflower from Something Splendid. Base color is a yellow and top color should be chocolate, cut it out.

On 1 of the 3 ¼ X 3 ¼ piece of card stock random stamp a variety of leaves from Timeless. First in Versa mark then the color then onto the paper… scrub and repeat with different leaves and different colors. Then add clear embossing powder and set. After it has cooled for a minute you will use a sponge with Barn Red ink and rub all over the cardstock! You just made your own custom cardstock! Isn’t it cool! Now Stitch around the perimeter and add brads.

On the other piece of 3 ¼ x 3 ¼ CW CS Random stamp flourishes from Cherished flourishes in Olive ink, then sponge or brayer with olive ink.

Assembly

[T] Glue 1 red Olivia paper centered on 1 sorbet paper. Tie Hemp around the stem of the T and add foam tape to T and attach. Then Select 2 felt leaves and attach using liquid glass. Attach the whole thing on to one of the Clear pages of the album… first day of school 2010 044

[H] Sponge one chipboard page with garden green re-inker until desired coverage is reached. Glue one (1) green Olivia paper to one (1) chocolate CS Tie hemp to H and add foam tape. Arrange the H and the tree with the leaves falling into a pile on the Green Olivia paper and attach it all on the Green chipboard page.

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[A] Attach the custom made leaf cardstock to one (1) piece of the sorbet CS. Tie Hemp to the A add foam tape and attach to the leaf CS. Tie more hemp onto 3 buttons and cluster next to the A with glue dots

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[N] Sponge one chipboard page with garden green re-inker until desired coverage is reached. Attach the custom made Green flourish CS to 1 piece of the Chocolate CS. Tie Hemp to the N add foam tape and place on the Green flourish CS. Spritz all your scalloped circles with the mister, then wad them up. Un-wad them and stack them and fluff them up, poke a hole in the center of the flower and add the filigree charm. Then use the heat gun to dry your flower before attaching it to the Green flourish CS. Take the ¾ X 12 inch strip of orange/yellow paper and box pleat it to make the ribbon. Attach a piece of Chocolate ribbon along the edge of the paper ribbon. Attach the ribbons to the bottom of the finished piece before you add it to the Chipboard page. Add the N and the flower.

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[K] Same as T

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[S] Same as H. add a button with hemp to the center of the sunflower before adding to the finished page.

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[Display] Either string the whole thing on a long piece of Jute and hang it up or you can attach the jump rings and make a table top standing piece!

Supplies

Everyone

Supplies

Item number

 

Olivia Level 2 paper pack

X7128B

 

Mix and Mingle mini album

Z1334

 

To Share

Supplies

Item number

Needed per person

 

Heartfelt Wonder die cuts

Z1210

2 green and 2 brown

 

Filigree Charms (set of 8)

Z1269

1

 

Basic Craft buttons

Z1206

5

 

Chocolate ribbon

CON063

6 inches

 

Chocolate cardstock

X5643

1 sheet

 

Sorbet cardstock

X5751

1 sheet

 

Pewter Brads (100)

Bulk153

12

 

Hemp

Z280

For knots on letters and buttons

 

Tools to complete project

Inks

Stamp sets

Other supplies

· Olive

· Barn red

· Chocolate

· Sunset

· Sunny Yellow

· Garden Green

· Something splendid. Aug 10 SOTM

· Cherished flourishes

· Grown with love

· timeless... Olivia WOTG

· sponges

· Cricut and story book cartridge.. Cut at 2.5 on shadow

· Clear embossing powered

· Heat gun

· Sewing machine

· Corner rounder

· Brayer

· jute.. I have some to share.

· Cuttlebug

· Nesties Scalloped circle

· Piercing tool

· Liquid Glass

· Glue dots

Sunday, October 24, 2010

A busy busy week….

Ok, so I know I was supposed to post another tutorial today but… well it was one crazy busy week! Yesterday we had 3 soccer  games, a trip to the Corn Maize (yes it is spelled maize) and a trip to Nana and Papa’s! That pretty much sums up the week. With two kids in soccer, evening classes and extra hours at work, I just didn’t get my craft on this week. I did have my monthly club meeting were we made the THANKS banner, it was a huge hit and I am working on a reverse side for winter! If I ever get it done I will post pictures for you all!

So today was a lovely Oregon fall day. Rain and wind and laundry and grocery shopping… I did get inspired to make these Salted Carmel Brownies!

So I apologize for the lack of a tutorial this week. I will try for one next week but with 3 soccer games again next weekend and Halloween I am not sure what I will get done!

For your drooling pleasure here is a peek at what I did do today!

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Just so that you know I only ate one… and maybe a half… I am taking the rest to work with me tomorrow. I swear… Have a great week!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Pencil box re-do.

So I was looking for pencils in the workroom at school when I saw this almost empty box! Oh how my mind began to race thinking of all the wonderful uses for this very cute little box! So I took the last of the pencils out and brought this little baby home with me. I could hardly believe my luck! I had this great box and 3 days off from work! WOO HOO! So of course I had to make this my next Tutorial! It looks long but it took me less than an hour to figure this little guy out. I hope you can get your hands on one of these boxes too!

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From this…

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To this!

First thing you are going to need is an OfficeMax pencil box. It comes with 96 pencils in it. I found this one at the kids’ school. Then found out that my Mom’s work also uses these boxes! SO I have two!

Cocoa Card Stock:

  • 1 - 10” x 8½” , 1 - 8½” x 5”

White Card Stock.

  • 2 3/8” x 11”

Mistletoe Red snowflake paper:

  • Front – 7 5/8” x 2 5/8”
  • Back – 8” x 2¾”
  • Ends – 4” x 2 5/8” -  cut two
  • Front flap – 8” x 1 ½”

Mistletoe light green with trees paper:

  • Top – 8” x 5”

Mistletoe striped paper:

  • Inside bottom - 7½” x 4”

Xacto knife

Bone folder

Scor-Tape

Chocolate ink

Sponge

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First you need to open up the box.

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Take out the bottom thingy…Sorry I can’t think of what it is called.

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Gently pull the box off the outer wrapper. It should come off pretty easily.

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Now you have all the parts separated.

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Here is another view.

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Mark the front of your box. It is the one with the little magnet on it.

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Take the outer part of the box and turn it over. You will now be working on the bottom of the box.

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Add Scor-Tape around the perimeter of the bottom of the box.The bottom is the part with the barcode.

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Remove the outer paper on the Scor-Tape

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Line up the 8½ x 5” piece of Cocoa Card stock on the bottom of the box. you will have about an inch on both ends of the bottom.

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I like to use my brayer to press the paper down nice and tight.

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Run the brayer off the edges to show the edges of the box on the paper. This will help you when it is time to fold the paper over.

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Turn it over.

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Fold the Cardstock at the edges of the box bottom. so you can see the fold lines.

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To make the mitered corner you will cut the corner off here. Don’t cut all the way to the corner of the box. You want a little space there. You will see why later… I made a boo boo… Do this to both corners.

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This is what it should look like. Now add Scor-Tape as shown.
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Fold over the CS and seal it down. Do both ends first then the long side.

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This is a good corner…

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This is not… See my boo boo…: ( bummer. Oh well, it happens. Just pull up the edges here and put another little piece of CS there. Then ink the edges with the sponge.. No one will notice.

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Ok Now it is nice and covered.

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Attach the Scor-Tape all around the inside of the box wrap. Make sure you add some around the window too.

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Now take the 10” x 8½” piece of CS and line it up leaving about and inch of over hang on each end just like you did on the bottom. Remember you are working on the opposite side as the bottom.  I didn’t get a picture of me laying it on… sorry… Here you will score the folds you can use the straight edge or your bone folder to do this.

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Turn the wrap over and you will see that the CS is on the inside of the box wrap. Miter the edges again. Don’t make the same mistake I did on the bottom.

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I used the bone folder here to fold the edges over. It makes nice crisp lines.

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Turn it over and press your finger all around the window. This will give you a guide line for cutting it out.

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Use your Xacto knife to carefully cut out the cardstock covering the window. Don’t press too hard.

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Sand the edges and then ink them to give them a finished look.

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Now ink up the edges of the red papers.

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Line up your end pieces first.

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Wrap the ends around the Front of the box.

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See the wrapped ends around the front

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Attach the 7 5/8” x 2 5/8” piece  to the front.

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Now that you have the red paper on the front and the two ends you will turn it over so you are looking at the bottom. Put Scor-Tape around the perimeter of the bottom of the box. IMG_1249

The box will sit on the bottom of the wrap. I should have taken a picture of the wrap laying there so you could see, sorry. You will attach it to the small part that is not covered with the cocoa cardstock.

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Line the box up and press. Rub the inside flaps on the box to make sure you have it stuck down good.

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Now for the top. Take your 5X8 piece of paper for the top.

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Turn the paper over. Now using a ruler and a pencil. Mark the paper at 4”

 

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and 7¼. Then 1½” on the top and 1 1/8” from the bottom. Your window opening will be 2 ¾” tall.

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Then cut out the window with your Xacto knife.

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Turn it over and ink up your edges.

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When you attach your top, make sure you line up the window and the ends. There will be some over hang on both of the long sides, this will give the front and back a finished look when you add those pieces...

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Attach the 8 x 2¾ red piece to the back.

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and the 8 X 1½ red piece to the front flap..

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Put the striped paper in the bottom of the box.

If you want to divide the box you can by making this simple divider.

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Take a white piece of card stock 2 3/8” x 11”.IMG_1281

Score at 3 ½ from one end and 4” from the other. Then place inside the box.

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See now you have 2 little compartments.

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Now attach your Velcro Dot. I would put it on the lid first. Here I put it on the box first and it was too high. The lid didn’t close nicely. So when you do your box, take your dot, remove the paper from the rough side and put it on the lid flap where you want it.  Then remove the paper backing from the soft side while it is attached to the rough side. and simply close the lid. That will give you the perfect placement and your dots will be all lined up!

Here it is….Please excuse the messy desk in the background.. I don’t pretend to be a neat crafter…

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Here is the finished box.. Well, it is covered anyway. Now it is a free for some embellishing! I haven’t decided how to decorate mine yet. I will work on it when I have some time. Next week I will make cards to fit inside! Other ideas would be Cocoa or tea packets and a small mug… Cards on one side treats on the other… the options are endless. If you can get your hands on one of these boxes please show me what you came up with!

*I apologize for the crummy pictures. I need a big cardboard box so I can make a light box to take pictures of my finished projects! Have a great week!