‘25 Magical Days Until Christmas’ Advent Calendar

This Advent Calendar was a huge hit in our house this year in the lead up to Christmas Day.  It is based on the Advent Calendar that was featured in the Close To My Heart 2013 Holidays from the Heart Gift Guide and is created using the Snowhaven Paper Packet.  

Ingredients:

Designed Décor Black Frame

Snowhaven Paper Packet

Cricut Artiste Collection

October Stamp of the Month ‘Home for the Holidays’

Magical Days stamp set

Slate Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Cranberry Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Glacier Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

White Daisy Pigment Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Thin 3-D Foam Tape

Mini Glue Dots

Ruby Chevron Ribbon

1” x 1” My Acrylix Block

1” Circle Punch

25 Mini Pegs

Instructions:

1.  Cut 25 boxes.  The boxes are cut from the Cricut Artiste Cartridge p. 80, 3D Object, cut at 1.75” (Relative Size).  You can cut 3 boxes from each piece of paper or cardstock (with leftovers for stamping and creating the backings for the numbers).  Use the following quantities of cardstock/paper for the boxes: 2 sheets Glacier Cardstock, 1 sheet Cranberry Cardstock, 2 sheets Whisper Cardstock, 4 sheets Snowhaven B&T Paper (NB. Only cut 1 single box from the 4^th sheet of paper to make 25 boxes altogether).

2.  Fold and assemble the boxes, using Mini Glue Dots to stick them together.

3.  Stamp each of the numbers from the Magical Days stamp set using your choice of colours on white or coloured cardstock. (N.B. Many of the numbers can be stamped twice using different colours and then cut out and layered).

4.  Punch or cut out the numbers (1” circles or squares)

5.  Punch or cut out contrasting backings for the numbers (1 1/4” circles or squares).

6.  Use adhesive and Thin 3-D Foam tape to layer the numbers and backings on the boxes.

7.  Create the topper for the Advent Calendar with the “dreaming, believing, wishing” stamp from the October SotM using the Cranberry stamp pad and the Ruby Chevron Ribbon. Adhere to the frame using Mini Glue Dots.

8.  Put the completed boxes on the Frame with the Mini Pegs.

9.  Fill the boxes with delicious treats and fun surprises!

Happy crafting,

Denise :o)

Can't get enough of these CUPCAKES!!

This was a quick and simple card that I created as a fun, free Make 'n' Take activity at my recent "Christmas Cheer @ The Crafty Shed" event.  It features the gorgeous December 2014 Stamp of the Month, Cutie Pie and one of my favourite new stamp sets from the Seasonal Expressions 1 Idea Book, You're the Bomb.

These cards also feature Confetti Wishes Paper Packet, Junebug and Stuck on You Puffies, Marvy Uhida LePen Journalling Pen and ShinHan Touch Twin Markers.  The cards below are two variations of this simple card created by one of my beautiful crafty gals Anne.

I hope you are still having lots of fun using the December Stamp of the Month Cutie Pie to create beautiful projects.  If you'd like to be inspired by lots of different projects featuring this sweet stamp set, then feel free to visit my CTMH December 2014 Stamp of the Month board on Pinterest as there are so many idea on there that you will love! :)

Sweet crafting wishes,

Denise :o)

Cutie Pie: CTMH December Stamp of the Month Australasian Blog Hop

Hello and welcome aboard our CTMH December Stamp of the Month Australasian Blog Hop. If you have arrived here from Loretta's Creating Memories, then you are in the right place. If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post. 

Today I would like to share with you a special little project which features the December Stamp of the Month 'Cutie Pie' which is available exclusively throughout December 2014 for $27, or for just $5 when you spend $75. This stamp set is the latest of 12 glorious, exclusive Stamp of the Month stamp sets featured in our brand new CTMH 2014- 2015 Annual Inspirations Idea Book!

My “Cupcake Smiles” card project is based on the card idea on page 16 of the CTMH Annual Inspirations Idea Book.  I just love how bright and fun it is.  A perfect birthday card or a car for a special friend.  I am totally in love with the Paper Fundamental Whimsy Assortment right now and find I am using it on so many of my card projects.  The colours are just so fresh and clean and they suit so many themes and occassions.

Ingredients

December Stamp of the Month ‘Cutie Pie’

White Card and Envelope (Value Pack)

5 1/4” x 4” Paper Fundamentals Whimsy Assortment (Canary Chevron)

3” x 3” Lagoon Cardstock

5 1/4” x 1 1/8” White Daisy Cardstock (for stamping sentiment)

2 1/2” x 2 1/2” White Daisy Cardstock (stamp cupcake x 2 and heart x 3)

Archival Black Stamp Pad

Tender Pink ShinHan Touch Twin Marker

Golden Yellow ShinHan Touch Twin Marker

Marigold ShinHan Touch Twin Marker

Carmine ShinHan Touch Twin Marker

Cerulean Blue ShinHan Touch Twin Marker

Thistle Diagonal Striped Ribbon

Pink Glitter Gems

Thin 3-D Foam Tape

Marvy Uchida LaPen Journalling Pen

Instructions

1. Stamp the cupcake 2 times and the small love heart 3 times on the White Daisy Cardstock in Black Archival ink.  Leave to dry for at least 15 minutes before colouring in with the ShinHan Touch Twin Markers. 

2. Draw a freehand line close to the outside edge around all sides of the Canary Chevron paper with the journaling pen and adhere it to the card base.

3. Draw a freehand line close to the outside edge around all sides of the Lagoon cardstock and adhere it to the Canary Chevron paper.

4. After stamping the sentiment on the long, thin piece of White Daisy cardstock, dovetail one end and draw a line close to the outside edge using the journalling pen.

5. Tie the Thistle Diagonal Ribbon on the left side of the sentiment and adhere it to the card using Thin 3-D Foam Tape.

6. Cut out the stamped and coloured images using your Non-stick Micro-tip Scissors.  The cupcake is created by cutting one out in full and then cutting only the top off the second one and mounting with Thin 3-D Foam Tape to create a 3D effect.

7. Adhere the cupcake and hearts to the card.

8. Add the Pink Glitter Gem to the top of the cupcake to finish your card.

The December Stamp of the Month 'Cutie Pie' is only available until 31 December 2014 from your CTMH Consultant.  

Thanks so much for dropping by to check out my latest card project.  I'm really interested to hear what you think about it, so I'd love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop on our Australasian Blog Hop, Doris Taylor's  Creative Inspirations.  


Do come and visit me again soon as I have lots of ideas to share with you this month! 

And don't forget about our AMAZING Deal of the Decade this month. 2014 marks the 10-year anniversary of Close To My Heart’s revolutionary My Acrylix® clear polymer stamps, and we can’t wait for you to celebrate with us! 

With a qualifying purchase of $75 during the month of December, you will be eligible to purchase ANY C- or D-size stamps from the Annual Inspirations 2014–2015 idea book for only $10. That’s up to $17 of savings on a single stamp set! Plus, when you place a $75 order, there is no limit to the number of eligible stamp sets you can purchase at this discounted price. Remember, a purchase of $75 will also qualify you to receive the December Stamp of the Month for only $5, so if you purchase both the discounted Stamp of the Month and additional stamps at this special campaign pricing your savings will really start to add up! It really is the Deal of the Decade!

Don't forget to keep hopping to the next stop  on our Australasian Blog Hop, Doris Taylor's  Creative Inspirations. 

Warmest crafting wishes,
Denise :) 

Cheery Bear Christmas Card

Ingredients:

White card and envelope, Value Pack

4” x 4” Cranberry Cardstock

2 5/8” x 3” Whisper Cardstock

2 3/4” x 3 1/8” Black Cardstock

Scrap White Daisy cardstock (for stamping bear and sentiment)

4” x 1.5” strip of Snowhaven B&T Paper (Striped side for strip at the bottom)

4” strip of Silver Shimmer Trim

October Stamp of the Month, Home for the Holidays

Holiday Tags Stamp Set

Cranberry Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Glacier Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Damask Embossing Folder

Clear Sparkles

Thin 3-D Foam Tape

3L E-Z Dots Adhesive

Instructions:

Stamp the bear from the Oct Stamp of the Month, Home for the Holidays twice in Cranberry 

Ink and once in Glacier Ink.

Cut around the outside of one of the Cranberry stamped images.  Leave a small white 

border.

Cut the red scarf from the second Cranberry stamped image.

Cut around the inside square white frame on the Glacier stamped image.

Use Thin 3-D Foam Tape to layer all three parts together as shown in the picture above.

Mount the layered bear image onto the Whisper and then the Black Cardstock.

Stamp the frame from the Holiday Tags Stamp Set in Cranberry and the sentiment in Black.  

Cut around the outside leaving a small white border.

Emboss the Cranberry Cardstock using the Damask Embossing Folder.

Adhere the Embossed Cardstock and strip of Snowhaven Paper to the card base.

Add the Silver Shimmer Trim and stamped images to complete the card.

Crafty wishes,

Denise :)