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Snowhaven cards

Snowhaven Workshop on the Go

Check out the awesome cards you can make with the Snowhaven Cardmaking Workshop on the Go kit.  These make great additions to your Christmas cards for your friends and family.


I love the Red Enamel Hearts.  These little additions really spruce up the cards or any project.   And don't forget my favorite ribbon, Shimmer Trim.  We now have eight different colors!



Last Chance: Cutie Pie


Don't miss out on this month's Stamp of the Month.  For only a $50 order, you can purchase this stamp set for only $5!  That same $50 order qualifies you for the Deal of the Decade.  If you've had your eye on any C and D sized stamp sets, this is the best time to get them.

December SOTM: Cutie Pie

Yuletide Bells and Stockings


This card came together pretty quickly using a few of the tools that CTMH has to  make things easier.  The bottom New England Ivy pattern was created using the Scoreboard, with the arm closed at the angle.  The bells are cutouts from the pre-printed Picture My Life kit.


Holiday Happenings collection can be used just like the Picture My Life cards.  Use them to decorate more than the Crush books.  They work great on Christmas cards too.  The above card was inspired by Patricia, one of the new consultants from the Australasia group that moved to CTMH last year.  She used the Snowhaven kit to create her card.  I switched it up to use the Yuletide Carol Workshop on the Go kit and the Holiday Happenings Assortment.  The "NORTH POLE EXPRESS" was stamped on a cut out from the Cricut.

Quilling Tool


Even though it is the middle of winter, and most things are hibernating or dead, flowers remind us that everything is not dead.  Decorate your house with lovely variations of paper flowers using the Artise Cricut cartridge and the quilling tool.  Check out the video below to learn how to roll flowers to add to your projects.


The Quilling Tool from Close To My Heart helps you create gorgeous rolled paper projects and embellishments that are simply stunning. The tool comes with two sizes - one on each end - to help you achieve as tight or as loose a roll as you would like. The Quilling Tool makes rolling up and curling cut flowers, like our Cricut-cut shapes, quick and easy, so your flowers stay tightly would before you release them and add your adhesive. Take one end, slip it on to your paper and roll away. Just like that. Now both ends of the tool feature tapered ends so that as you roll, the completed portions ease onto the barrel without ripping, of course. Then you simply slide the completed flower off of the end and apply adhesive to both ends and add to your projects.

Yuletide Carol Pop-out


The Yuletide Carol paper kit has several beautiful images, including the bird image above.  I didn't have to add anything to this image, beyond a little glitz with the Shimmer Trim in the corner.


The scoreboard comes in handy when creating cards, in this case, a pop out card.  Scoring at the fold for three separate pop outs makes an easy place to adhere the J-O-Y.

CTMH Scoreboard

Snowhaven Home Decor



Even though we don't see snow in South Florida, we've seen snow because our family lives in the Great White North or we take vacation in the colder weather. Snowhaven is a perfect kit to decorate for the holidays or to bring a little bit of the cooler weather into your home, without the actual cold temperatures.


Yuletide Carol Ribbons

  

Scraps left over tend to make interesting cards.  Adding banners, or bits and pieces can add dimension and texture to cards.  Also, tags can be a way to pop out your sentiment.  This card, layout found here,  uses both a tag sentiment and scraps as ribbons, even my favorite Shimmer Trim.


 

Layering the different scraps, stamping bits, even adding doodads like Badge Buttons, sequins, and fibers, make cards more interesting.  The above card has everything.  Using a sketch from LilyBean Paperie, I stamped on B&T paper, cutouts from the Cricut, Badge Buttons, and different ribbons.  This card has a lot going on, but I love how it makes the eye travel is so many different directions.


Yuletide Carol Tickets


Four of the stamps in the Yuletide Carol Workshop are ticket shapes with different sayings. These are great, especially when stamped on pre-cut papers from the Cricut cartridges.  I built this card based on a tea card from Peggy. I love how adding stamps to Close To My Heart's Background and Texture Paper creates a unique background no one else has.  It added the right kick to my card base.  Then, the fun tickets stamped in Ruby and New England Ivy finalized this cute card.

 

Making my own backgrounds is a favorite of mine, so that I can create unique cards.  Melissa shows a technique to make a ticket background.  With this set, four different tickets made for an easy background in New England Ivy, Desert Sand, and Ruby, showcasing my favorite saying, Oh, What Fun.

Snowhaven


 This month's featured kit is called Snowhaven, and uses some of my favorite colors.  Cranberry is a long-standing favorite of mine, and the new color Glacier is a great, versatile color.  The Snowhaven kit uses Cranberry, Glacier, Black, White, and Whisper colors in combination with lovely snowflake images. It is perfect for Christmas images or fun snow day photos.


While I do make it back to Ohio to visit, and take photos of the snow, I don't have many snow photos.  But, this kit can be used for other images.   Pair it with the Red Enamel Hearts for a Valentine's theme.  The Nordic images are perfect for a trip overseas.  Add a little Kraft cardstock, and the kit makes a great nautical kit.


Seasonal Expressions

It’s finally here, the idea book you’ve been waiting for! 
Full of unique ideas and bright, detailed photos, this themed seasonal book is sure to delight! From now through March, you can order some of the most charming Valentine’s- and spring-inspired papers, stamps, and embellishments you’ve ever seen. The vivid colors and patterns will give your layouts and cards a fresh look and plenty of pizazz. See the contents for yourself now in Seasonal Expressions 1!

inkysquid.myctmh.com

Everything from the 2014/15 Annual Expressions will be available until July, 2015.  The Seasonal Expressions Idea Book is a little different.  Several items are very limited edition, and available only for the amount of time the Idea Book is live (December through March).  They are designated with a little clock next to each item.  All of the other items are available for longer time, beyond the Idea Book life.

Deal of the Decade


Celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Close To My Heart’s revolutionary My Acrylix® clear stamps with us! 
With a qualifying purchase of $50 during the month of December, you are eligible to purchase ANY C- or D-size stamp sets from the Annual Inspirations 2014–2015 idea book for only $10. That’s up to $7.95  of savings on a single stamp set—and there is no limit to the number of eligible stamp sets you can purchase at this discounted rate. Remember, a purchase of $50 will also qualify you to receive the December Stamp of the Month for only $5, so if you purchase both the discounted Stamp of the Month and additional stamps at this special campaign pricing, your savings will compound! It is truly the deal of the decade.

*Shipping and handling are calculated based on the full retail price of the discounted items (C-size stamp set: $13.95, D-size stamp set: $17.95).

Christmas Gift Cards


 

Living away from family and friends makes it more difficult to deliver special packages.  We send more gift cards now, which are easier to mail, and the receiver can decide what they want.  My husband doesn't like to give the cards in a plain envelope, so I make many gift card envelopes.  Close To My Heart has several Gift Bags, that make it easy to add to cards.  The inside of this card is the Ruby Gift Bag, folded in half so the open end allows for you to slip a gift card inside.  The right side of the bag is left unattached, so a little sentiment and signature can be seen.  The front of the card is a stamped wreath, using the two pine boughs from the Yuletide Carol Workshop. 
 
http://inkysquid.ctmh.com/Retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=8028 

Paper Bags can also be used on the outside of the card.  Check out the Christmas version of Kelly Janes that I created using the Yuletide Carol kit.   Simply fold the bag in half to fit on the card front, wrap with Baker's Twine, and adhere to the card front.

http://inkysquid.ctmh.com/Retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=8028

This layout lets you slip the gift card inside the bag on the front, and still leave a signature and little note on the inside.


SOTM: Cutie Pie



Add a little frosting to your order this month!

It’s a sweet, sweet December deal: Place an order totaling $50 or more and you’ll qualify to receive the December Stamp of the Month, Cutie Pie, for just $5! This set of sugary stamps will be perfect on your cards and layouts featuring your favorite sweet faces. It’s available only during December—so act fast!

December Stamp of the Month: Cutie Pie




One Day Only! Cyber Monday Sale


For the first time ever, Close To My Heart is offering a Cyber Monday Sale today. There has never been a better time to buy Close To My Heart’s exclusive Cricut® Collections for 20% off the retail price. Whether you love scrapbooking, cardmaking, or creating 3-D projects, our four exclusive Cricut® collections make the perfect addition to any craft room! Sale started at midnight (MST) and ends at 11:59 pm tonight. Make sure you share the news about this sale with all your friends and family members, too!

You will be able to take advantage of this special deal at my online shop, inkysquid.ctmh.com.  While you are there, check out the "While Supplies Last" area for great deals on retired products.  Also, take advantage of  December's "Deal of the Decade" on C- and D- sized stamps and you could save even more!  Orders must be submitted between 12:00 am and 11:59 pm (MST) on Monday, December 1 in order to get the discount on your selected Cricut® collections. Enjoy extra savings on Close To My Heart's exclusive Cricut® collections this Cyber Monday!
Offer Valid from midnight (MST) until 11:59 pm  on December 1