Fighting a terrible cold today but I am not going to let it win, I have too much to do.  So I was trying to figure out what to do with the gift cards I purchased for my sons and their wives this year.  Tired of the same old wrap them in little boxes or put them in something else and then wrap it or the plain gift bags.  So with that said I realized I have the Close to My Heart Cricut Artiste Cartridge which has a bunch of three dimensional objects and I remembered the little purse, perfect for the girls.  Now what to do with the boys.  Why not a Christmas cracker, so I whipped out the cartridge and within a few minutes I had these great little gift card holders each as unique as my beautiful children.

So yesterday I was motivated to learn how to make paper roses.  I mastered it and was thrilled.  However, this morning I realized I still had not even started on my most important Christmas card, the one for my wonderful and amazingly supportive husband.  So I got busy and here is what I came up with.

For the large roses I used the EK Success Large 5 petal flower punch (there is a great video on u-tube it is Paper Rose Tutorial by jjshowers) I had forgot how hot hot glue gets LOL.  The little roses were super easy.  They are from the Close to My Heart Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge and you simply roll them up and glue.  I cut the tag and the red swirl (which I ran an embossing tool around the ends of the swirls to make them 3D but it doesn't show well in the pic) from the Art Philosophy cartridge as well.  The base white ornamental piece is from the Ornamental Iron 2 Cricut Cartridge.  Loved making this now I have to figure out how to make a box to present it in.  Merry Christmas and keep crafting.

Ok so I promised some pictures when I finished the new Cloud Nine Card Making Kit and here they are.

 

This was the kit out of the box.

 

Here it is after I have cut out pieces per the instructions (see that large pile in the center, that is the extra paper left over that you can play with some more).

 

 

Here are the finished cards, 2 each of 5 different designs

 

I never use a kit just once, here I took the leftover washi and glitter tapes along with some other left over embellishments and three sheets of paper from a Laughing Lola paper pack (just love this paper) and I have cut out the stuff needed for three each of five different cards.

 

 

I really liked how this birthday card came out.  I will be making more of these I am sure.  Happy crafting!!!

So excited.  Close to My Heart is offering a special for one month only in January.  A card kit that makes 2 each of 5 different designs for just $15 with a $35 purchase.  As a consultant I got to order one in December and it came today.  Can't wait to start making these (I love Christmas but I am sooo ready for something else) and these are just the ticket.  Bright spring like colors.  Also, I will post pics when I finish along with the pics of others I will make using other papers and just the guide from the kit.  I always keep the instructions and remake them to fit other color selections etc.  So here is a pic of the kit and if you are interested it can be ordered after January 1st, so feel free to visit my website as well at www.craftwithronnie.ctmh.com

Starburst Christmas Cards

Just learned how to make these cute Starburst cards.  Here are some pics and instructions.  Hope you like them.

Start by selecting four different papers (I used the Close to My Heart Sparkle and Shine Paper pack) and cut each into a piece that is 1 1/2 x 4" and cut each on a diagonal from the top right to bottom left corner.

 

 

 

 This is what it looks like cut, do that to all four pieces

 

Next, turn cut pieces so the large piece is on top and alternate the colors as shown below.  Cut a piece of cardstock (any color) 5 x  2 3/4" and make the center mark at 2 1/2" on the top and bottom.  Cover the cardstock with glue.

 

Center the first two pieces for each side of the starburst on the marks you made at 2 1/2" and glue down

Continue to work around both sides until all pieces are glued down.  When complete and project dry cut away excess from the cardstock

 

I decided to add a little border trim as well and just took a piece of coordinating paper and cut it to a length of 5" and a width of 1 1/4" and put a little punch around one side.

 

I then glued both the trim and the cardstock to an A-2 card base.

I made my sentiment using the same papers from the Starburst and the Close to My Heart Artiste Cartridge and Holiday Tags stamp set.

 

Place the sentiment on the card using dimensional dots to give it a lift. 

 

Finished project takes no time and looks great.  All the products listed can be found on my website at www.craftwithronnie.ctmh.com

 

 

 

More Christmas cards

 

This one was made using embossing folders and my cuttlebug (instructions for this technique posted previously).  I added some Close to My Heart sentiment stamps, a little ribbon and of course bling.

 

These are the final result of the Frosted Card Kit from Close to My Heart.  I was pleased with how well they turned out and how fun and simple they were to make.

 

I used the Santa's Greetings mini stamp from Close to My Heart (at just $2.95 it is a steal) some fun papers and markers and I think they turned out great.  These are tri-fold cards (instructions for this technique are posted in a previous blog).  Well back to crafting.  Have fun!!

The beginning of the Christmas Cards

 

This one used stamps from this years Close to My Heart Frosted Cardmaking Kit and some left over paper I had.  Of course added some "bling" in the sky to look like it is snowing.

 

Sidestep card for Mom and Dad

Ok so I am on a roll today.  I love this new Close to My Heart Cricut cartridge.  I can't stop with these cool 3D items.  Here is a cute gift bag for Fathers Day and this little purse is awesome (made the bow from the cartridge also and used it as the closure as well, just tucked the top of the purse down into it).  The purse would be a great gift card holder.

 

 

 

Here are some cute swing cards I made.  They took just minutes but look very classy.  Made them using my Artiste Cricut cartridge from Close to My Heart (there are over seven hundred items on the cartridge including several of these)view on my website at www.craftwithronnie.ctmh.com  I just love how these turned out.

This one was made using an embossing folder and then I sanded the embossed part to give it an aged look.  Also used an EK punch to do the cute little flowers.

 

These were very simple clean cards.  Used my "Just a Number" stamp set from Close to My Heart for the sentiments:  "Over the hill?  What hill?  Where?  When?" and then on the inside it says "I don't remember any hill."  The other says" Inside every older person is a younger person... " and on the inside it says, "wondering what happened."  A little twine and ribbon and they are beautiful

 

These were made using my Artiste Cricut cartridge from Close to My Heart.  Love the swing card (bottom left) it looks like a man's shirt pocket and the stamp that comes with the cartridge is perfect with it.  I really had some fun with these cards.

 

Finished up the cards I was making for my mother-in-law for Christmas.  I made her a total of about 45 cards.  These are some of them.  Now I need to get busy with my Christmas cards.

 

 

Ok need a break from the simple so let’s try a

Tri Shutter Card

Select three patterned papers and two solid colors to use.  Cut card base to 5 ½ x 12”, score at 2”, 4”, 8” and 10”.  Go 1 ½” into card base and cut from 2” to 10” and then move card over to 4” in and cut from 2” to 10” again.  Now fold card up and down and up and down on each of the score marks.  Push the middle score lines in the opposite direction.  Now adorn card with solids cut 1/4” smaller than the base areas and then with patterned paper that is cut 3/16 inch smaller than the cardstock.

 

 

 

I am continuing the journey of card making for mom’s Christmas gift.  These instructions will make one of each of the cards in the photo.   I selected the Huntington B&T (background and texture) paper from Close to My Heart (CTMH) for the main stage on this card.  I just love this paper and knew mom would also.  I also used the CTMH sunset and topiary cardstock on the card.  It was a very simple card to make.  I started by cutting the long panels to widths of  ¾” and 1 ½” (one each of the sunset and topiary cardstock), I then ran it through my Cuttlebug with a swiss dot embossing folder (my favorite folder because it is so versatile).  I then cut 2 of the Huntington B&T at 2 ¼”.  Now cut all of the long panels to a length of 6 ¼” and mounted them on a plain white base that’s finished size is 5 x 6 ½”.  Next I cut three each of the sunset and topiary cardstock to 1 ½” square and three each of them again at 1 ¼” square.  Now I cut 6 pieces of white cardstock at 1” square and stamped with a simple stamp.  Added the sentiment which I stamped from CTMH Holiday Tags Occasion’s set and of course some bling and there you have it. 

For Christmas this year my mother-in-law requested a box of handmade cards.  She did have an additional request that they be simple and without a lot of embellishments and three dimensional items (seems she was not happy with paying from $.66 to over a $1.00 to mail some of the ones I had previously given her).  So I embarked on the journey today to do simple (very hard for me).  But here are some of the ones I came up with.  These embossed ones were very simple, just used my Cuttlebug and some embossing folders.  Cut the white cardstock to 4 ½ x 6 ½” and ran it through the embossing folder from the top to about 1 ½” then took it out and moved the folder to the bottom (leaving about a 1 ½” area that was not embossed) and embossed.  I then took this white cardstock out and put it upside down on my score-pal (you can see where it is embossed and where it is not) and drew a nice crisp line at the top and bottom of the un-embossed area.  Then I stamped the message I had selected.  Added ribbon and twine and mounted and there you go, nice simple, clean cards that will mail off fine with a first class stamp.

 

 

Will work on more tomorrow.  Have a great day and keep on crafting!!!!!!!!!!!!

 



This is another easy project.  I used 4x6” clear plastic photo frames (picked them up at the dollar store).  I cut paper to 4x6” (I used Close to My Heart papers – Frosted – which is used on both the blue and pink ones since all the CTMH papers are two sided and Huntington was used on the orange and green ones) and slid it inside the photo frames.  I printed little calendars off the internet and cut them out and mounted them and the post-it notes using heavy duty tape.  Add a ribbon, flower or any other embellishment that tickles your fancy and you have a great little gift item.  Keep on crafting.

Easy Mini Clipboards

Mini Clipboard Instructions

 

I decided to play around with a couple pieces of my favorite Close to My Heart papers (I selected Huntington and Laughing Lola for these) and this is what I ended up with.  They are simple to make.  The mini clipboards can be purchased in any office supply store (I got these at Staples).  I selected the papers a wanted to use and purchased coordinating acrylic paints.  I painted the edges of the clipboards (in about 1”) all the way around with two coats.  When dry I cut my papers to fit, rounded the corners, selected my sentiments and embellishments and started to play.  They came together in no time.

I had some folks wanting to know how I made the Christmas Gatefold Card I posted earlier (the blue snowflake one posted earlier so here you go:

Christmas Gatefold Card – (see photo on 10-18 blog)

Cutting Instructions:

Cut cardstock for base at 8 x 5 ½” and score at 2 and 6” and fold. 

Cut 4 each cream cardstock at 1 ¾ x 5 ¼” and 2 each cream cardstock at 1 ¾ x 1 ¾”, Cut 4 each patterned paper and 1 at 1 ½  x 5” and 1each 3 ¾ x 5 ¼” (frosted cardstock CTMH), Cut 2 each silver cardstock at 2 x2”, Cut 2 each blue cardstock at 2 ¼  x 2 ¼”

Stamping Instructions:

On the 1 ¾ x 1 ¾” stamp (stamps are from the Workshop on the Go Frosted Cardmaking Kit) with snowflake and Peace and Joy (twilight ink).  Distress edges of each using twilight ink and a sponge dauber. 

On the cream patterned side of the frosted cardstock stamp sentiment and snowflake from the stamp set from the Workshop on the Go Frosted Cardmaking Kit.

On a 4 ¾ x 5 ¾” ivory envelope (invitation size) stamp a coordinating snowflake on the bottom right corner (always coordinate envelope and card for a finished look).

Assembly:

Center and glue patterned paper to four cream strips (blue pattern facing up) now glue these to the four gates of the cards (2” fold over inside and outside the card).  Center and glue sentiment (3 ¾ x 5 ¼” piece to inside of card.  Center and glue snowflake and sentiment onto silver cardstock then center and glue that onto blue cardstock.  Place glue on left half of sentiment and glue to left gatefold (do not glue onto right gatefold or card will not open).  Place glue on right half of snowflake and glue to right gatefold.

 

The Frosted Cardmaking Kit from CTMH not only made me 15 beautiful cards I had paper left over to make several more cards.  Check out the kit at www.craftwithronnie.ctmh.com

As I prepare my holiday cards I am becoming obsessed with the gatefold card.  They are easier than you might think. (See the photo below)

Select the cardstock you wish to use for the base of your card (here I selected a nice Christmas red) and cut it to 8 x 5 1/2".  I then used my Scor-Pal and scored and folded the card at 2 and 6". This gives you the basic gatefold card.

Next I selected the first layer for my gates (a nice Christmas green here) I cut 4 each at 1 3/4 x 5 1/4" I also cut a piece of the green at 4 1/4 x 5 1/4" for the inside of the card.

Now the fun, select the pattern paper you want to use on the project and cut 4 each at 1 1/2 x 5".

I then selected the embellishment I wanted to use and the sentiment.  I started with the fact they needed to be no larger than 4" wide but other than that it was pretty open.  I started by stamping my sentiment on a piece of cardstock that was 3 5/8 x 1 1/4 which I then layered onto a piece of green that was 3 1/2 x 1 7/16 which I then placed on red cardstock that was 3 3/4 x 1 3/4 (the key here is to make sure both the embellishment and the sentiment are the same width and look good on the card, the rest of it can be eyeballed).  For the embellishment I selected one I had in my stash and started to build.  I started with red card stock that was 3 3/4 x 2 1/4" layered on silver cardstock that was 3 10/16 x 2".  Now just assemble (for the verse inside I printed one from the computer on a nice coordinating paper that was 4 x 5 1/2") just start layering the project and adhering everything together, the embellishment stack and the sentiment stack should be adhered last.  First glue only the left half of the embellishment to the left side gate, now glue only the right side of the sentiment to the right gate (this allows the gates to be opened and the sentiment on the inside to be read).  And here is the finished project.

Decided to see what else I could create using the stamps and left over paper from the Frosted Cardmaking Kit.  Not to bad if I do say so myself.  (Instructions above)