December Stamp of the Month

It's time for my December stamp of the month samples. Here are a few cards, a box and a layout that I created using Mad About You.

I feel this set was designed to use for Valentines Day cards. And I did make one card, but I wanted to show different uses for these stamps...so I created a box you can put goodies in that says, "you're sweet" and a card that says, "mad about you". These can be used for every day. The box is a pillow box I created using our Cricut Cartridge. YEA! It's so fun!

Then I made this cute baby layout using paper from our Wonderland kit. When I saw this paper, not only did I see winter, but I also saw baby! So I took our December Mad About You stamp set and created this layout.

How appropriate is "Over the moon in love with you" for pictures of your new baby! Then I used our newsprint rub ons for "welcome little one". I have to tell you I really really love these rub ons! Every time I put them away, I find myself pulling them back out! LOL I think I will just leave them out! The heart is from the stamp of the month and then the giraffe is from our Zoology stamp set. It also has a lion, elephant and a cute little hippo in it. It is on page 30 of our Autumn/Winter 2011 catalog. And, it's only $9.95. This is a must for all those pictures of your "little ones". Not to mention for a trip to the zoo!

Remember, the December stamp of the month is ONLY available in the month of December. You can either purchase it for $17.95 or order $50 in products and get it for just $5.

December Group Pages

If you are in my December Groups, here are the pages you will be making.

If you are NOT in my groups...come join us as a guest! I still have room in a few of my groups...check out my "upcoming events" tab here on my blog for the dates in December....then call or email me to reserve your space. I do have limited space, so call or email soon!

These layouts I am using our Believe workshop kit. The directions to make this layout are in the kit along with the stamps, accessories and a full color guide. If you don't live in the Omaha area, and would like to make these layouts...you can order this workshop kit (or any of our workshop kits) for just $29.95. These kits are only available until February 2012, so make sure you get them soon.

The second layout is from our Magic How to Book. The layout is called Levitate.

If you want to get a head start on your Christmas layouts (or get some past pictures on layouts) just email or call me to be a guest at one of my groups OR order your kit today!

Customize your Pattern Paper

Ever wish you had just the right pattern paper in just the right color? Well you can! Just use STAMPS!

These cards here are using our Two Step Background stamps. They are in our Spring/Summer catalog on page 92. I also used our Remarkable Wreath stamp set on page 88 of our current catalog.

I just took one of the background stamps and stamped it, then took the other stamp that is the second stamp and got a coordinating color and stamped it over the first one. Very cool, very easy and now you can have whatever color cards you want! The colors combinations are endless! If you have this stamp set...get it out and start creating!

Scrapbooking in Pink!

FINALLY I get to scrapbook in PINK! lol

Last year I was on the Close to my Heart Advisory Board and we had a meeting in Park City Utah. They spoiled us, worked us hard and even bought us PRESENTS! One of the gifts we got was matching PINK pj's! Here we are posing of the camera in our jammies! I just got around to scrapbooking these pictures and found that I had some extra pieces of our Sophia kit. So I took some scraps from Sophia and off I went. USING WHAT I HAD! YIPPEE! I love it when I can consume it and not collect it. Paper does get dated, so you want to use it up. And, I don't want to have to find more storage for all these extra paper kits I have...so I USE IT UP!

The other layout is of the matching shirts CTMH gave us. I LOVE this color. And that photographer followed us everywhere! LOL We did get some cool pictures from him. This layout I used our Typeset kit (again using leftovers). I stamped a flourish in desert sand on it too.

I really like how you can take a kit and make something totally different with it then what you think. This kit has large alphabets and letters on 2 of the sheets, but I used the other side and this is the outcome.

So remember, get out those 1/2 finished kits and FINISH THEM! You don't want to add on to your house because you have too much paper!! lol

Snowman Candy Bar Holder

Need a cute quick idea that holds CHOCOLATE? Here it is. This cute snowman candy bar holder. It holds a Hershey's chocolate bar.

Here's how to make it. Take a piece of white cardstock cut at 5 1/2 x 6.

On the 5 1/2 side, score it at 1 1/4", 1 1/2", 3 3/4", 4". I used our All Decked Out stamp set (page 75 of our current catalog). This stamp set has 29 pieces of the snowman in it. I stamped the white cardstock with the snowman pieces. Adhere the bottom and back, crimp the bottom and you are ready to dress your snowman.

The scarf is just coordinated ribbon but the hat...it's a baby sock! YES! A baby sock.

What I did was cut the toe part off (just a little bit so you don't lose the length) then I cut little slices and tied it in the middle so it looks like a hat. The elastic for the top of the sock becomes that bottom of the hat. Too cute huh!

Then I put my candy bar in it and ready to give to a favorite friend! Make some for your chocolate loving friends!

Personalize it!

Have you ever looked for the perfect paper to scrapbook your memories? Here's a way to personalize your pages. On these Cranberry & Black pages, I wanted to make some Nebraska Football pages. Nebraska football is VERY popular here. So I took a set of football stamps and stamped white cardstock. But I also wanted to make it even more personal but adding the word "Nebraska". Did you know Close to my Heart makes personalized stamps? They do! So I had one made that said "Nebraska". How cool is that! I just stamped "Nebraska" just above the Football stamp and now it says, Nebraska Football. You can do it with whatever you have.

Do you have volleyball stamps? Baseball stamps? Hockey? Etc. Then get a personalized stamp that says your team name, or the school your child goes to. How about getting one with your child's name on it! The possibilities are endless!

This other page I made one with a local schools name on it and stamped white cardstock with baseballs all over it. Very fun and NOT very expensive at all! Personalized stamps start at just $5.95.

You can even personalize cards too! Just get the stamp you want and then start personalizing your own stationary or some for your friend.

Some other ideas for personalized stamps... "from the desk of..., from the library of, Merry Christmas from ____. The possibilities are endless.

Have fun with it!

November Monthly Group Layouts

If you are in one of my monthly groups, these are the pages we will be making this month. We are using our Dreamin kit which is perfect for those fall and Thanksgiving pages.

I just love fall, the colors are so beautiful and the weather is great.

That fall crisp air, perfect for sitting out by the fire pit making Smores. I think I am going to take some pictures of that for these layouts!

If you are NOT in my groups, you are welcome to either come check it out and make these pages or you can also join a group where you make 4 pages each month and you will get free stuff for being the host of one. It's so fun. If you would like more information or would like to come to one of the groups, please email or call me and I will find a group for you!

November Stamp of the Month

It's time for the new stamp of the month and here it is. It's called Cherish the Day. I wasn't sure I was going to like this one very much, but once I started to use it, I LOVE IT! They are rectangle stamps one for each month. Then we have all the numbers too. So you stamp the rectangle with the month on it, then stamp the date in the circle area. I like to stamp the date in a different color so it really stands out.

If you look at my Santa card, you will see an arrow. I cut that arrow using...yes, you guessed it...our CTMH Cricut Cartridge!! And also the tags too! Can you see that I am using the Cricut Cartridge A LOT! lol And as a little sneak peak, the top left card is also using the December stamp of the month! Too cool!

Here is my favorite. The layout I made using our Thanksgiving stamp set. This is not what I set out to make, but I really love how it turned out. I also cut some leaves and branches with the cartridge. If you look at the close up picture of the pilgrims...on the branch there...I even cut the branch of that leafy branch using the cartridge! Dang...that cartridge has EVERYTHING on it! lol But a little warning...the branch is VERY delicate...so pull it off your mat carefully. I ruined 2

before I got all that I needed.

The other cool thing

about this stamp set is

you can use your CTMH Cricut Cartridge to cut a "ticket" shape that fits these shapes. I didn't use it in these samples, but the stamps are marked and tells you how big to cut it if you choose to use it.

I hope you enjoyed my creations using the November stamp of the month...and remember, you can only get this stamp set in the month of November. They are either $17.95 or $5 with a $50 purchase!