There's Gnome Party Like a Gnome Party!

Did you read the title and hear the "buh dum bum" in your head?  I have seen so many play on words with gnomes, I could not resist.  The gnome craze has been so popular!  I would seriously be negligent if I did not make something with any of the Close To My Heart gnome sets.  A good friend of mine had a birthday, and since she loves gnomes, I finally took the plunge!

 

If the card looks familiar to you, you may have guessed that I took my inspiration from the Queen Cardmaker herself, Jennifer McGuire!  Thanks to her, I was able to create this card using Close To My Heart products.

I won't go into all the details of this card because I followed Jennifer's perfect instructions for the bulk of this; however, you can find her video here.  I will state that I did use the full size of 4.25" x 11" to cut the inside piece and cut a square window out at 3.75" x 5" using my paper trimmer.  I also used a retired stitched frame die cut to overlay the inside window.

To make this card, I used the following:

• Mini Garden Gnomes Stamp + Thin Cuts [CC9215]
• Birthday Borders Stamps [C1872]
  
• Deck the Palms Card Front Thin Cuts [CC112111]
• Stitched Rectangle Frames Thin Cuts [Z4260]
  
• Spectrum Noir Triblend Markers
• Green Apple cardstock
• Kentucky Green cardstock (long retired)
• White Daisy Cardstock [1385]
  
• Intense Black Ink [Z4189]
  
• VersaFine Onyx Black Ink 
• Ranger Clear Super Fine Embossing Powder [Z2088]
  
• Bitty Sparkles [Z1263]
• Clear Shimmer Brush [Z3293]
  
• White Cards & Envelopes [X254]

 

I hope you all enjoyed looking at this card as much as I enjoyed making it!  Questions?  Ask Jennifer!  Just kidding!  I will help in any way I can if you decide to make a card like this.  Thank you, Jennifer McGuire!!!

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Happy Halloween 2021!

Happy Halloween!  There are so many cute Halloween stamp sets, I had a difficult time choosing what to use for my card this year.  So I ended up having fun and combining a couple of sets!  And I knew I wanted to use Distress Oxide inks so got inky doing some blending.  😀

For this card I first stamped Ezra from the Halloween Buddies - Ezra stamp set onto White Daisy cardstock using Intense Black ink.  I colored the image with Spectrum Noir Tri-Blend markers, then cut the image using the corresponding thin cut.  Next I stamped the skull image from the Halloween Buddies - Joey stamp set onto Linen cardstock using Intense Black ink then cut the image using the corresponding thin cut.  Using Pewter ink, I daubed a bit of the ink over the skull.  To finish up the stamping, the Happy Haunting sentiment from the Halloween Buddies - Ezra stamp set was stamped onto a scrap of Black cardstock using Versamark ink and embossed in Ranger White Super Fine Embossing Powder.

For the background cuts, first the fence was cut multiple times using the thin cut from the Halloween Buddies - Ezra stamp set and from wood grain paper (note that although the paper I used is retired, the Wood Grain Paper Packet would also serve this purpose just as well).  Next, using the Cricut, I cut the grass out of Charcoal cardstock, the spooky house out of Black cardstock, and the moon out of retired Sunkiss Yellow cardstock.  I also used a sponge dauber to add a bit Pewter ink onto the moon.

To prepare the background I blended the following Distress Oxide inks onto White Daisy cardstock   Abandoned Coral, Seedless Preserves, Villianous Potion, and Black Soot.  I then assembled everything as depicted in the photos.  To add a bit of shine, I added the Autumn Sequins to the area by the fence and Clear Shimmer Brush to the moon.

Happy Haunting!

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October 2021 Stamp of the Month - Wildflower Friendship!

Have you ever purchased a stamp set because it was beautiful, then once you had it, struggled with what to do with it?  I must admit the October 2021 Stamp of the Month, Wildflower Friendship, fit that scenario with me.  Unusually for me, I looked around for inspiration, but nothing felt right for my personal style.  I played with a couple of ideas, but none seemed to work to my satisfaction.  Finally, I hit upon an idea that felt more like me.

 

For this card, I knew I wanted color, but did not want to do all the coloring myself.  Using a Misti, I stamped the floral owl with Mink ink onto Mink cardstock.  Then I took a Spectrum Noir Tri-Blend marker and shaded the owl in gray.  I took another Spectrum Noir Tri-Blend marker and colored in all the flowers in a pink color.  Next I put the stamped image back into the Misti, re-stamped with VersaMark ink, then embossed with Ranger White Super Fine Embossing Powder.  I fussy cut the image and put it aside.

To prep the card base, I used Linen cardstock, cut an oval out of it using my Cricut, then dry embossed using the Botanical Embossing Folder.  I also used the Cricut to cut an oval frame in Silver Foil paper.  Using Wild Berry cardstock, I cut a frame slightly larger than the embossed Linen cardstock to layer behind without showing through the oval.  I adhered the Wild Berry cardstock frame to a White card base, then adhered the embossed Linen cardstock and Silver Foil paper oval frame on top.  The floral owl was attached to the base using 3-D Foam Tape.

To finish the card, I stamped the "I Appreciate Everything you do!" sentiment onto a scrap of Wild Berry cardstock with VersaMark ink and embossed with Ranger White Super Fine Embossing Powder.  I adhered the sentiment to the base using 3-D Foam Tape.  Finally I decided to dress up the floral owl with Wild Berry Floral Sequins and Bitty Sparkles.

Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5 - that's over 70% off retail!  When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.  Or you can get it for FREE as a VIP Customer! Otherwise, you can purchase this set outright for $18.95. 

This month’s set is only available October 1–31.

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World Card Making Day: Slimline Celebrations - Fishy Greetings!

Happy World Card Making Day!  Close To My Heart has really outdone themselves with the latest special in honor of us stampers!  Ever since I saw the Slimline Celebration, the ideas have been flowing, so I'm hoping to do at least a couple of posts with these cute stamp sets, dies, and sentiments.  Even if you're not into the slimline style cards, this special has something for everyone!

My immediate thought when I saw the circle die was that I wanted to do a rainbow die cut inlay.  The fish images in the Fishy Greetings stamp set seemed perfect for doing rainbow colors.  I also thought the Dreamy Holographic Paper would perfectly simulate bubbles.

To make this card, I first did a rough measure of scraps of card stock for each section of the Circle Cluster Thin Cuts using the following colors:  Wild Berry (color of the year), Papaya (new for 2021), Shortbread (new for 2021), Green Apple, Bluebird, and Grape.  I took each of the scraps and cut out the sections from the die, carefully putting all the pieces, including the tiny "intersectional" pieces in a bowl.  I then used the whole die to cut out a piece of Dreamy Holographic Paper.

 

For the card base, I cut a 7" x 8" piece of White Daisy cardstock, scored it in half at 3.5" to make a 3.5" x 8" card base.  After adhering the holographic die cut to the card base, I inlaid the cut scraps into the holographic circle die cut.

 

Next I used a Misti to stamp the various fish as shown onto White Daisy cardstock using Intense Black ink.  Using Spectrum Noir Tri-Blend markers, I colored the fish to coordinate with the colors of card stock.  I then placed the stamped fish back into the Misti and heat embossed with VersaFine Jet Black ink and Ranger Clear Super Fine Embossing Powder.  Using the individual fish dies, I cut out each of the fish, noting the that trio of fish were fussy cut since there was not a die available for that stamp.

 

To finish the card, I used the Misti to stamp the "Swimming by to say..." sentiment on the card front.  Then I adhered each of the die cut fish onto the card base where they coordinated with the inlaid color card stock.  Finally I randomly adhered Lagoon Loose Gems around the card base.

I love how the holographic paper, embossed fish, and loose gems make this card shine!

 

Note that the Slimline Celebration special ends is only available through October 31, 2021, so get it before it's gone!

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September 2021 Stamp of the Month - Grateful for This Life!

If you like sentiment stamp sets (and who doesn't?), then the September 2021 Stamp of the Month - Grateful for This Life is a great addition to your collection.  Although the timing is a natural fit for Autumn and Thanksgiving, this set can be used all year round.  Due to the size of the sentiments, it's also great for scrapbook page titles.

Do you ever imagine a card when you are away from your craft room?  I actually imagined this card as I laid down to go to sleep one night.  I started by cutting a piece of Distress Watercolor Cardstock, then using a ruler, I drew lines with an Embossing Ink Pen.  I periodically stopped in the process to add Ranger Gold Embossing Powder and heat embossed.

 

 

Next, I chose three colors of watercolor paint and painted in between each of the embossed lines, going over the sections multiple times and drying in between.  To finish the card, I stamped the "Grateful" image from the September 2021 Stamp of the Month - Grateful for This Life stamp set onto Black cardstock using VersaMark ink and heat embossing in the same Ranger Gold Embossing Powder.  I fussy cut the sentiment, leaving a bit of a border.  Then I adhered the sentiment to a piece of Vellum paper that was cut a bit wider than the watercolored panel.  I carefully put dots of Tombow glue to the back of the Vellum paper behind the areas covered by the sentiment, then adhered it to the watercolored panel, wrapping the ends around the panel.  The watercolored panel was then adhered to a slightly large piece of Black cardstock and adhered to a white card base.  To finish the card I scattered and adhered a few Gold Sequins to the card.

Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5 - that's over 70% off retail!  When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.  Or you can get it for FREE as a VIP Customer! Otherwise, you can purchase this set outright for $18.95. 

This month’s set is only available September 1–30. 

                              

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August 2021 Stamp of the Month - Tutti Frutti Summer!

The August 2021 Stamp of the Month, Tutti Frutti Summer, has been so needed for the current times.  It is such a cheerful stamp set!  The whimsical nature is perfect for a pick-me-up for a special friend or family member.  The funny thing is for most of my life I've never been much of a fruit eater, but for the last 5 or 6 years, I have really started craving strawberries.  I eat them all the time - with my breakfast bagel, with my Lean Cuisine lunch, or as an afternoon snack.  So when I saw this set, I knew I had to use the strawberry, and boy, did I ever!

I started by cutting out four panels from the soon to be retired Multi Circle Windows Thin Cuts, one from Candy Apple cardstock, and three from White Daisy cardstock.  Next, I temporarily centered one of the White Daisy cardstock panels onto a White card base to use as a guide for my strawberry placement.  By carefully inking the berry side of the strawberry image in Candy Apple ink and the leaves side of the image in Clover ink, I stamped the images in the center of the circles in the panel.

Next, I removed the die cut panel from the card base, then adhered all four die cut panels together, with the Candy Apple panel on top.  The stacked panels were then adhered to the card base, ensuring the stamped strawberry images were centered in the circle cutouts.

To finish the card, I stamped the Hell(o) image from the set using VersaMark ink onto Black cardstock and masking off the pineapple image from the sentiment.  The sentiment was then heat embossed using Ranger White Super Fine embossing powder.  On a scrap of White Daisy cardstock, I again stamped the strawberry as described above, but then embossed the image using Ranger Clear Super Fine embossing powder.  I carefully trimmed the image and adhered it at the end of the sentiment.  The sentiment was then attached to the card base with 3-D Foam Tape.  Finally, I added Bitty Sparkles to each of the stamped strawberries (yes, it was a lot of sparkles!).

Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5 - that's over 70% off retail!  When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.  Or you can get it for FREE as a VIP Customer! Otherwise, you can purchase this set outright for $18.95. 
This month’s set is only available August 1–31. 

                              

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2021 Retiring List!

It has been a whirlwind of work and little play, but occasionally I find time to do a little crafting to relax!  Believe it or not, experimenting is a form of relaxation to me.  I don't always get a card made, but for me, it's about the process journey and not necessarily the end result.

I made the following card for my sister's birthday using a number of items on the upcoming Close To My Heart retiring list for 2021.

 The fun thing about this card is that not only is it a shaker card, but it is a see through shaker card!

To make this card, I simply cut two panels from the Multi Square Windows die, cut a rectangle out of a white card base, and then sandwiched the Silver Star Confetti in between with some additional foam tape.  The Birthday Borders stamp set was stamped with Intense Black ink on the outside of an additional white card base, colored with Spectrum Noir markers, and adhered to the shaker card base.  The confetti from the set was stamped with Grape, Raspberry, and Lemonade inks.  The two sentiments were stamped with the retired Sending Smiles stamp set using VersaMark ink on Grape cardstock and embossed with Ranger White Super Fine Embossing Powder.

Here is a view of this card in action:

Recipe:

• Multi Square Windows die [Z4023] (retiring 8/31)
• Birthday Borders stamp set [C1872] (retiring 8/31)
• Sending Smiles stamp set [D1708] (retired)
• Silver Star Confetti [Z2900]
• Spectrum Noir markers
• Intense Black ink [Z4189]
• Grape ink [Z6524]
• Raspberry ink [Z2812]
• Lemonade ink [Z6517]
  
• Grape Cardstock [X6054]
• VersaMark ink [Z891]
• Ranger White Super Fine Embossing Powder [Z2068]
  
• White Cards & Envelopes [X254]
  

 

 Here is a list of the retiring items from the 2020 Close To My Heart Core Catalog:

 

Page	Item #	Description
8	X8015B	Lovely Paper Packet
8	X8015C	Lovely Coordinating Cardstock
8	X8015S	Lovely Paper Packet + Sticker Sheet
10	X8016B	Party Time Paper Packet
10	X8016C	Party Time Coordinating Cardstock
10	X8016S	Party Time Paper Packet + Sticker Sheet
12	X8017	Wood Grain Paper Packet
14	X8018	Silver Foil Patterns Paper Packet
15	X8019	Gold Foil Patterns Paper Packet
17	D1974	Par-tay
18	C1872	Birthday Borders
18	Z3780	Birthday Borders Stamp + Thin Cuts
19	D1931	Wishing You Everything
19	Z3779	Wishing You Everything Stamp + Thin Cuts
20	C1861	Stitched Florals
20	Z3698	Stitched Florals Stamp + Thin Cuts
21	D1954	So Happy Together
21	Z3765	So Happy Together Stamp + Thin Cuts
22	D1955	Florals & Flutters
22	Z3764	Florals & Flutters Stamp + Thin Cuts
23	D1956	Lovely Borders
23	Z3763	Lovely Borders Stamp + Thin Cuts
24	D1957	Nursery Days
24	Z3766	Nursery Days Stamp + Thin Cuts
25	A1253	Cutest Baby
25	A1254	New Grandbaby
25	A1255	Born in Our Hearts
26	D1952	Let's Paw-ty
27	D1953	Cattitude
28	D1947	From the Funny Farm
29	D1964	Garden Gnomes
29	Z3781	Garden Gnomes Stamp + Thin Cuts
30	C1869	Flourishing Details & Background
30	M1277	Swirly Happy Birthday
30	M1279	With Deepest Sympathy
31	C1868	Floral Details & Background
31	M1276	Thank You Kindly
31	M1278	In Your Time of Need
32	D1975	Paw Prints on Your Heart
33	C1870	In My Prayers
34	D1969	You're My Jam
35	D1976	Seasonal Borders
36	B1724	Summer Scene
36	B1725	Spring Scene
37	B1722	Autumn Scene

Page Item # Description
37	B1723	Winter Scene
38	C1862	Pennant Banner Alphabet
38	D1894	Inline Alphabet
38	D1965	Simple Serif Lowercase
38	D1966	Simple Serif Uppercase
38	E1057	Marquee Alphabet
38	Z3762	Pennant Banner Alphabet Stamp + Thin Cuts
39	A1243	Teeny Tiny Type
39	C1811	Whimsy Alphabet
39	C1863	Farmhouse Alphabet
39	E1058	Hokey Pokey Alphabet
39	E1059	Floral Alphabet
41	Z3603	Melissa Esplin Penmanship Bundle
42	D1867	Today by Melissa Esplin
42	D1868	Joy by Melissa Esplin
43	E1046	Months by Melissa Esplin
48	Z4282	Story by StacyTM Story Starter Workshop Kit Bundle
51	Z3678	Stitched Hexagons Thin Cuts
51	Z3689	Large Bow Thin Cuts
51	Z3691	3-D Flower Thin Cuts
51	Z3692	Leaves Thin Cuts
52	Z3679	Olive Branches Background Thin Cuts
52	Z3680	Hearts Background Thin Cuts
52	Z3681	Stitched Lattice Background Thin Cuts
52	Z3693	Floral Background Thin Cuts
52	Z3758	Background Thin Cuts Bundle
53	Z3685	Tabbed Doors Card Front Thin Cuts
53	Z4021	Multi Circle Windows Thin Cuts
53	Z4023	Multi Square Windows Thin Cuts
54	Z3631	Stitched Brackets Thin Cuts
54	Z3639	Scalloped Circle Thin Cuts
54	Z3687	Stitched Simple Brackets Thin Cuts
54	Z3688	Stitched Scalloped Brackets Thin Cuts
54	Z3757	Stitched Brackets Thin Cuts Bundle
55	Z3683	My Whole Heart Thin Cuts
55	Z3684	Thanks Thin Cuts
56	Z3760	Simple Serif Uppercase Thin Cuts
56	Z3761	Simple Serif Lowercase Thin Cuts
56	Z3865	Simple Serif Bundle
59	Z3625	Happy Birthday Shaker Window Thin Cuts
59	Z3759	Window Thin Cuts
60	Z3682	Fancy Borders Thin Cuts
61	Z3694	Spring Blossoms Embossing Folder
61	Z3695	Cascading Dots Embossing Folder
61	Z3696	Wood Panel Embossing Folder

Page Item # Description
61	Z3697	Floral Lace Embossing Folder
63	Z3442	Blue Belle Glitter Paper
64	Z4244	Stencil Sheets
65	Z3401	Chipboard Monogram—0
65	Z3402	Chipboard Monogram—1
65	Z3403	Chipboard Monogram—2
65	Z3404	Chipboard Monogram—3
65	Z3405	Chipboard Monogram—4
65	Z3406	Chipboard Monogram—5
65	Z3407	Chipboard Monogram—6
65	Z3408	Chipboard Monogram—7
65	Z3409	Chipboard Monogram—8
65	Z3410	Chipboard Monogram—9
65	Z3411	Chipboard Monogram—#
65	Z3412	Chipboard Monogram—@
65	Z3413	Chipboard Monoram—A
65	Z3414	Chipboard Monogram—B
65	Z3415	Chipboard Monogram—C
65	Z3416	Chipboard Monogram—D
65	Z3417	Chipboard Monogram—E
65	Z3418	Chipboard Monogram—F
65	Z3419	Chipboard Monogram—G
65	Z3420	Chipboard Monogram—H
65	Z3421	Chipboard Monogram—I
65	Z3422	Chipboard Monogram—J
65	Z3423	Chipboard Monogram—K
65	Z3424	Chipboard Monogram—L
65	Z3425	Chipboard Monogram—M
65	Z3426	Chipboard Monogram—N
65	Z3427	Chipboard Monogram—O
65	Z3428	Chipboard Monogram—P
65	Z3429	Chipboard Monogram—Q
65	Z3430	Chipboard Monogram—R
65	Z3431	Chipboard Monogram—S
65	Z3432	Chipboard Monogram—T
65	Z3433	Chipboard Monogram—U
65	Z3434	Chipboard Monogram—V
65	Z3435	Chipboard Monogram—W
65	Z3436	Chipboard Monogram—X
65	Z3437	Chipboard Monogram—Y
65	Z3438	Chipboard Monogram—Z
65	Z3439	Chipboard Monogram—&
66	Z3800	Blue Belle Shimmer Trim
67	Z3568	Black Velvet Ribbon
67	Z3569	Sangria Ribbon

Page Item # Description
67	Z3570	Wisteria Ribbon
67	Z3676	Blue Belle Loose Sequins
67	Z3872	White Flower Sequins
67	Z3874	Springtime Flower Sequins
67	Z3875	Black Bursts
68	Z3668	Wood Buttons
68	Z3847	Black Acrylic Arrows
68	Z3866	Wood Arrows
68	Z7000	Blue Belle Pearls
68	Z7001	Blue Belle Glitter Gems
69	Z3804	Yellow Acrylic Stars
69	Z3844	Love Today Wood Titles
69	Z3845	Love This Wood Titles
69	Z3846	Wood Stars
69	Z3848	Hugs & Hello Acrylic Sentiments
69	Z3849	Happy Birthday Acrylic Sentiments
69	Z3850	Pink Acrylic Hearts
69	Z3851	Love Today Acrylic Titles
69	Z3852	Love This Acrylic Titles
69	Z3867	Hugs & Hello Wood Sentiments
69	Z3868	Happy Birthday Wood Sentiments
69	Z3869	Wood Hearts
75	Z3809	Blue Belle Shimmer Brush
75	Z3811	Peacock Shimmer Brush
76	Z1142	Brown StazOnTM Ink
76	Z888	Black StazOnTM Ink
76	Z890	StazOnTM Cleaner
78	Z3326	Permanent Adhesive
78	Z3327	Permanent Adhesive Refill
80	Z3824	Night Gloss Spray
80	Z3836	Antique Linen Distress OxideTM Ink Pad
80	Z3838	Black Soot Distress OxideTM Ink Pad
81	Z3882	Stencil Pack 1
81	Z3883	Stencil Pack 2
81	Z3884	Stencil Pack 3
81	Z4247	Palette Knives
86	Z3577	Old Gold Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl
86	Z3582	Red Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl
86	Z3876	Red Heat Transfer Vinyl
86	Z3877	Light Pink Heat Transfer Vinyl
86	Z3878	Pale Blue Heat Transfer Vinyl

 

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