New Year's Card

I love the wording on this card

"Through each passage and each season you must trust the goodness of life"

We should take only the good from the 2008 and be empowered for 2009.

Each day we have blessings and we should remember to count them all.

I had received a simliar, smaller card for Christmas and loved the overall design of it. I used stamps from Close to My Heart stampsets, Olive and Smokey Plum cardstocks (sanded lightly), and inks . The ribbon was from a secret sister gift and I have been waiting for the perfect project for it.

Stamped the envie and we're done!

It's New Year's Eve, travel safely. If you are superstitious remember whatever you are doing at midnight you will be doing all year, so be sure it's something that makes you strong and happy!

I will officially wish you a New Year tomorrow.

Altered Puzzles & Soot Stamping

Same stamp- 2 separate projects.

Everyone loves puzzles sometime! Teens, younger kids, seniors and even us!

Alter single pieces for jewelry or card/ scrapbook embellishments or do an entire puzzle! Even use them for a card!

They come in a variety of sizes and thicknesses. The above photo is full puzzle that will be slightly attached to the card for the receiver to take apart if they like.

This puzzle was heavily gloss coated, I sanded lightly to remove some. It is not finished, I will remove some of the brown chalk on the limgs, stipple in more winter coloring to the background and go over the white areas again. Because I am using chalks and inks to color I have sealed some in between.

I love this stamp and have used it a lot in the past few years, but find it hard to color-shade correctly. And it is larger!

I was multitasking and did some puzzles, as the inks were drying I did soot stamping on glossy cardstock.

I love soot stamping. Use glossy cardstock and a candle. Hold the cardstock directly over a burning candle until coated, stamp and it will remove only the soot it touches. Spray with a sealer and wala! Be careful handling while stamping and sealing if the soot touches anything it will remove it until sealed. I use a spray sealer in a well ventilated area.

Easier to do smaller stamps when you try it, less area for mistakes. Sometimes your edges may catch on fire and that's fine it adds some character and age to your art.

Accordian Album

9 x 9 accordian album. I didn't over embellish as I am not sure what photos or journaling will be added. Yes another gift.

I love accordian albums they are super for holding a lot of photos and being compact!

They are wonderful opened on a dining table or mantle or closed as a coffee table book.

Album, papers, inks, stock are all Close to My Heart.

Photo Family Tree

This also was a gift for a family member. They are quite fun to make! Not my original idea.

It's a Family Photo Tree with very old and new photos.

Since I am not a carpenter I cheated and used balsa wood, cut in pieces to make the tree effect. (21" x 16" finished)

Ideally it should have 5 photos on each side of the bottom, 3 on the next row, 2 , and 1 for the top. Due to the photo I selected I altered it a bit. The tags can be embellished, embossed, double matted, papered etc as you like. You can even write names or info on the back of the tags.

The great thing is this requires minimal space, so easy to put on a ledge, shelf, mantle or table to display and little space to store when not in use. Want different photos, just change the tags.

** The less people and things you have in the photos the easier to crop to a nice size.

Altered CD Folders

For about 4 years I have made cd folders for gifts. (sorry gang, no beaded ones this year)

We have many in our family that make cd's for gifts. Music, photos of family events through out the year, and other themes~ so a great gift is a personalized cd folder.

This is for a special someone. This folder was brayered, has a chipboard mat for a photo on the cover, and some prisma. I did put liquid glass over the prisma because I didn't want it loose on the cd. Added a bit of silver trim and a few flowers.

The inside has an embossed mat and some tags for photos or journaling of the cd contents or events. And has a stamped saying. You can also attach tags or additonal pages to the center.

The one above is for a fun loving cousin and we have a running joke. Gotta have those people in the family! We dig at each other and tease so I really wanted something funny for his.

Inside reads "Guilt~ the gift that keeps on giving" . We visited in the spring and I will enclose a cd of the photos taken with them on our visit.

The one below is for a teen birthday and her party. Not finished yet but you should get the idea.

Has a mini album on the cover and opens up for journaling , autographs, or special photos.
As you can see the sky is the limit as to what you can use these for and do to them! Add 3 or more together for a book, make it a recipe holder, kids school event and add what you like, have fun with it!
All papers, inks and ribbons were Close to My Heart.

Candle Surround

This project is so easy and great to do most any theme with! Fun for birthdays, a romatic dinner, or a holiday.

It's made from Close to My Heart Cardstocks, Blossum Blocks stampset, inks and vellum. I also pierced some holes to allow a little more light to show through. These can also be made in various sizes. This one is plainer as it's for a friends mantle I am making 9 in 3 sizes to be used with her black & red decor.

These can be made in various sizes also. This was a trial run for the 9 (3 sizes) we are making for a friend to use on her mantle w/ her decor.

I used a tea light as depending on size votives can be hotter.

Flip Album

This is also a gift.

I have family members and friends who are various types of artist- painters, potters, etc. To many of us Art is a way of life.

"To send light into the darkness of men's hearts, such is the duty of an artist"

I wanted a more artsy cover and got a bit nutsy and cut up several chipboard pieces to get the look I wanted, then inked them.

I have filled this with artist quotes.

When you open 1/2 the pages swing right, 1/2 swing left. Really neat.

The back has an accordian spine. Close to My Heart Perfect Day papers, stock, inks, cd font and twill ribbon (inked to match).

Super fun project!

Coaster Ornaments

Many of us use chipboard coasters for projects. I wanted something more than the standard stamped image & paper. So I started playing around. The shot glass was used to elevate the ornament to photo.

I took (2) 4" coasters, cut a square from the middle of each. Papered the first one with Close to My Heart papers.

Cut the second square in 1/2 diagonally, paper, added the ribbon and then adhered to the first coaster. I used liquid glass to adhere as I wanted it very secure.
You can hang charms inside to dangle from the ribbon. Be sure to make a tie to hang. Maybe attach mistletoe to the bottom and hang it for the holidays.

Memory Accordian Album

This is a gift for a special friend who lost her husband a few weeks before Thanksgiving. A wonderful man. We had the pleasure of spending time with them about a month prior.

I wanted to make something special, but smaller that she could carry with her in a purse or set out if she liked. I did not over embellish as I wanted her to have room to add photos she holds dear, or special journaling.

Papers are Rusty Pickle, ribbons, inks, font are Close To My Heart.

The cover reads "Your memory strings from heaven and attaches to my heart"

The last page "You have opened the music in my heart"

Love you Julie!

Embossed Metal Card

This was a lot of fun! I took metal and ran it through a cuttlebug file.
Love the shine and the unexpected texture and overall effect it adds to the card.
I tried organdy ribbon and it was too soft for the look of the metal, added the silver metalic ribbon.
It could be for any occassion, I am using it for a Dec. Wedding. Add a couple of rings or hearts to the bow. If you use the metals be very careful the edges are very sharp!
You could also emboss the base cardstocks, stamp, or add other papers depending on the look you like.

Reindeer Deer Tin

This is a gift for a friend that loves eyeglasses!
The tin was covered with Close to My Heart papers, the reindeer came from a kids coloring book traced onto white cardstock, he was sponged & chalked to highlight his face. Eyes were liquid glass, and a dot on the nose for glisten and to secure the glasses. He has some tiny piercings around his cheeks for more dimension.
Antlers were cardstock sanded and distressed around the edges. Added the tiny bells and ribbon. The glasses are a real pin and can be taken off to wear! The tin will be filled with other goodies also.

Santa Tag- Gift holder

I needed a large tag for an odd shaped gift and found a Santa face from a coloring book. He was made with Close to My Heart cardstocks, liquid glass for the eyes ( sorry they are not perfect).

Santa's face and features were chalked in.

The tag is about 10" long and 4 " wide as you can tell from the money next to it. I had seen a small card using silk flowers for a beard. I love the Close to My Heart paper flowers as it adds layers. I used liquid glass and prisma for the dots. You could emboss his suit, stamp on it or use some random papers for a totally different look.

Santa's head opens to house money or a gift card, certificate etc. So the tag alone can be used as a gift. Great for a neighbor, paper carrier, child or anyone on your list!

Chipboard Embellishments on Greeting Cards

Chipboard comes in many shapes, colors and thicknesses. I decided to add a few pieces to some cards to add deminsion.


The chipboard flourishes were direct to paper inked to color. All other products are from Close to My Heart.
I really like the overall look, play with a few pieces for your cards and see what you get.

Stamped Tile Coasters

Ceramic tiles are wonderful to create with. They come in many textures, sizes and colors. Many are not level and that adds some character to your piece.
This stamp was from The Angel Company. Outline was done with Stazon and filled in with inks.
Tiles should be coated with one or more coats of sealer.

My Apologies...

My Apologies to everyone. My blog got deleted by accident and I had to get it set back up. I will be changing some of the images and background in the up coming days. So please change your link to the new one and come back to check on my progress. Thanks for looking.

Cathy