Hi Everyone,

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends in the U.S.!  Enjoy your turkey and stuffing and all the wonderful celebration that goes with it.

Remember how in an earlier post I was stating that this year I was going to enjoy the Christmas preparations more and not allow myself to get so frazzled?  Well this project is part of my plan.  It is a Christmas Planning Box!  It can sit on my table and look pretty, all the while holding my receipts as well as my book of to-do lists.

Be forewarned, there are several pictures!  This next one shows the top in detail.

I used my new Spellbinders Pointsettia Die to make the pointsettias and then stamped them with the Heartfelt Creations Petite Pointsettia stamp that coordinates with it.  Worked like a charm.  The beautiful, delicate snowflakes were cut with a Memor Box die, Frosty Border, which I then cut up into smaller pieces to fit the Close to My Heart box.  The pine needles are a Martha Stewart punch, and the pinecones (which are my personal favorite) are hand-made after watching this wonderful tutorial.  They're unbelievably easy - with the main tool being a scallop circle!  Then I coated everything with lots of CTMH Stardust Glitter Gel because I love lots of sparkle.

Here's the notebook tucked away ready to use at a moment's notice.

The notebook itself is just a little book I picked up at Walmart called "Fat Little Notebook".

There wasn't room in the box to put tags on the notebook so I made corner bookmarks to mark it off in sections.  You know...gifts to purchase...things to do....grocery list...

And a little note to remind me not to lose sight of the magic.  :)

Papers used were Close to My Heart - "Believe" and the stamp set was also

CTMH - "Christmas Love".  The labels were cut with the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.  So easy to use and so many labels to choose from.

In the coming days, may your Christmas have never ending magic!

Linda

November CTMH Stamp of the Month: "Cherish the Day"

This great stamp is available this month for $5.50 with a $55 purchase!  It can be used to feature any special day that you want to acknowledge.  It also coordinates with an image from the Arts Philosophy Cricut cartridge so the cutting's done for you. 

Stamp away!!

To get your stamp while it's available (November only) click on my shopping cart or send your order to me: gpekrul@telusplanet.net

This is a fabulous example of a masculine birthday card which was done using this set  as well as another set, Card Chatter D1475 $19.95.  This card was created by Allie, a Close to my Heart independent consultant.  She has a great blog with lots of art displayed, as well as some cool tutorials.  You can access her blog here. 

Be sure to check it out and become a follower!!

Preparations for Christmas Begin

Hi Everyone,

We're just about half way into November and preparations for Christmas have begun in a big way.  Cards are being crafted, gifts created, lists made, and baking begun.  As I sat thinking about the weekends left before Christmas and how they are rapidly filling up, I decided that this year I want to enjoy the process more and not worry so much about all the details.  As we enter into the busy holiday season, I hope that you too will have a calm, yet joyous November and December ... 

"As Christmas comes, soft and still,

May the spirit of peace gently fill

Your heart and home with love and goodwill."

Linda

This card was created by the design team at Close to my Heart.  The title is from the stamp set "Everlasting Life"  D1440 $19.95,

while the picture is from "Glory to God" D1483 $19.95.

Did you know that a $25 purchase of CTMH stamps this month 

will qualify you to add this beautiful

D-size set called "Holiday Wishes" for only $5. 

That's a savings of $14.95!

As a creative bonus, all of the images outlined in red coordinate with the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge for added cutting and stamping fun!

Get yours by clicking on my shopping cart and start creating!!