Christmas Vacation

Here's a peek at what I've been up to instead of crafting -- for Christmas, we visited Disney for the first time! Now I'm gearing up for some fun projects in the weeks to come. Stay tuned!

My family on Christmas Eve

My daughter and me with Ariel

At Hollywood Studios on December 26 -- It was COLD once the sun went down!

My daughter and me with our Minnie ears :)

Christmas Ornaments - Part 2

More ornament fun! This idea has been making the rounds among the CTMH consultants. Again, I can't claim it as an original idea, although the design is mine. These could not be easier to make! Grab your reinkers, Prisma Glitter, and some clear ornaments, and off you go!

Take the hanger off the ornament, and put a couple of good squirts of reinker in the clear ornament. I used Cranberry in one ornament and Olive in another. Carefully swirl it around until the entire inside is coated with color This may take a little while to get comlete coverage. I set the inked ornament on an empty container to let extra reinker drop out of it.

Add a generous amount of Prisma Glitter to the inside of the ornament. Cover the opening and SHAKE until the inside is covered with glitter. It's amazing to see what looks like a dark color (like the Olive reinker) turn lighter and glittery!

After the ornament was "glittered  up," I decorated each one using the Winter Cheer Glitter Rub-ons. The rub-on itself is a type of sticky substance. It can be a little challenging to see the image you're cutting out, so hold the sheet at an angle to be able to see the pinkish outline. After the rub-on is in place, cut a small piece from the included glitter paper and rub it over the adhesive. Like magic, the sparkly image appears!

Sorry that the quality of these pictures is rough. The ornaments are challenging to photograph since they are so reflective.

Cranberry and Gold:

Olive and Silver:

The Cranberry ornament on the tree. The lights shine through it and make it beautiful!

Products used:

• Z134 - Prisma Glitter - $4.25
• Z2216 - Exclusive Inks Reinker (Cranberry) - $4.25
• Z122 - Winter Cheer Glitter Rub-ons - $13.95
• Clear ornaments (Michael's)
• Silver ribbon (retired)
• Total - $22.45 (enough to qualify for a FREE D-size stamp set of CTMH's choosing!)

Optional add-ons:

• Z2237 - Exclusive Inks Reinker (Olive) - $4.25 (or any color you'd like to use!)

Art & Soul: Stencil, Sparkle & Shine!

I just enjoyed watching a recent episode of Art & Soul that focuses on fun ideas for blinging up your cards and scrapbook pages. The video is available on my website, and so are previous episodes. Each one takes about 15 minutes to view and is full of great ideas! Click on the Art & Soul icon to go to my website and be inspired. The next episode airs December 21.

Christmas Ornaments - Part 1

I promised you a project that is around $20 so you can take advantage of the Plenty for Twenty offer on my website! I saw this idea on another consultant's blog (Creating with Christine) - many thanks to Christine Adams for sharing her amazing ideas! Disclaimer - I made my ornaments almost exactly like Christine's because I loved what she did! These only took me a couple of hours to make, and they would make a wonderful gift. Remember to save all the little pieces you punch out - these make the stars and flowers in the center of some ornaments.

A complete product list will follow the photos, but I only used the Dimensional Elements Ornaments, ink, embossing powder, and Prisma Glitter. Super easy! (And more than a little messy -- you will sparkle for days after using the Prisma Glitter!)

Products used (including prices):

• Z1337 - Dimensional Elements Ornaments - $4.95
• Z1336 - Pearl Opaques - $2.95
• Z134 - Prisma Glitter - $4.25
• Z2192 - Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad - Pacifica - $5.25
• Z2194 - Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad - Sky - $5.25
• Silver ribbon (retired)
• Total - $22.65 (which qualifies you for a FREE D-size stamp set that CTMH will select!)

Optional add-ons

• Z669 - Silver Embossing Powder - $3.95
• 1764 - Craft Tray - $7.95
• 1512 - Bonding Memories Glue - $6.95
• Z891 - VersaMark Pad - $9.95
• Z555 - Craft Heater - $29.95
• D1243 - Peace on Earth - $22.95
• D1440 - Everlasting Life - $22.95

You don't have to stop with just inks -- the Dimensional Elements handle embossing and distressing and look great with paper, too! Because the ornaments are layered, you can place a photo in some of the ornaments. Let your creativity flow!

Close To My Heart just released a selection of products at a huge discount on my website. Some items are up to 90% off! Remember that with a $20 order until December 31, you'll receive a FREE $22.95 stamp set! Don't wait -- these items will sell out quickly!

Click here to check out the selection! Be sure to check back as items are updated!

H2H: Gifts!

'Tis the season of gift-giving, and the H2H Challenge Team has a challenge this week to showcase gifts. I have been making these little books to give to the nieces when we all are at Disney this Christmas. I thought they could use them for autographs from the Disney characters, or they can just have a little memory book of the trip. I used a board book and a Level 1 kit to make this sweet little book! (Product list after the pictures) I tried to keep it simple because I have a feeling the book will be handled a LOT! The 6x6" size is perfect for smaller hands. 

This page is a pocket page for autograph cards, ticket stubs, or other keepsakes.

Products used:

• My Creations Board Book
• Zippidee Level 1 kit
• Fancy Fuzz Zippidee Borders
• Zippidee Level 2 My Stickease
• "T" Dimensional Elements Monogram
• Stardust Flexi Labels
• Picture Perfect
• Thrill Ride
• Just the Ticket

If you're looking for more gift ideas, here are links to two previous posts with gift ideas:

Christmas card with detachable ornaments


Pop-top Surprises

Do you like surprises?

Then you'll LOVE Plenty for Twenty! Close To My Heart is offering Plenty for Twenty in December!

From December 1st - 31st, when you place a $20 order on a MyCTMH website, you'll be rewarded with a popular, retired D-size stamp set for FREE! That's a $22.95 value, plus there is FREE shipping/handling and no tax on your free stamp set. The surprise comes when you open the box, because CTMH will select the free stamp set for you.

Grab Plenty for Twenty in December by visiting my website and making a qualifying purchase today! Or -- you can do what I do -- give your wish list to your significant other and send them to my website to do some Christmas shopping!