Gift Exchange...CTMH Style!

All of our gifts for our gift exchange...I'm always amazed by the talent on our team! Click on each image to enlarge for better viewing.

Randa opened a gift by Michelle - a coupon book, and more!

Kimberly opened a gift by Julie - a medallion wreath

Vicki opened a gift from Randa - a 6x6 mini album

Francine opened a gift from Vicki - a pampering kit filled with all sorts of goodies

Michelle opened a gift from Peggy - a wooden box with cards & tags

Peggy opened a gift from Kimberly - a cover for her Cricut machine

Oh...I don't have a picture of me opening my gift from Francine - the travertine tile coasters seen here

We has SO MUCH fun at our Christmas celebration! I'm already thinking of gifts for next year!

Merry Christmas!

Travertine Tile Coasters

I just LOVE these coasters! My friend, and team member Francine made these for our gift exchange. I'm so happy I got them...I really needed them! During our Christmas party, just about everyone asked me for a coaster for their drinks...and I didn't have but one to offer...so this was a perfect gift for me!
Stamping on travertine tiles is simple. Purchase the unfinished, travertine tiles at any Home Depot or Lowe's. Francine used Brown StazOn ink for the stamped images from the Treasure Life set. Then take a sponge dauber and blend different ink colors along the stamped images. Lightly spray the tiles with a sealer...this does take some of the moisture soaking ability from the tiles, but protects the stamped images from moisture. Finally, add felt feet on the bottom to protect furniture from the stone tiles. A set of four wrapped in a bow, make the perfect gift! Thanks, Francine!

Medallion Wreath

When I saw a similar wreath (made by Corina Mitchell) at our CTMH Convention this year...I knew I had to give it a try! I just didn't realize how long it would take to make the medallions! Here it is, the gift I gave away for our gift exchange. I'll show the gift I received on Wednesday, so stop by again!

My wreath is made up of 19 different medallions, using colors from the Wonderland paper packet. The 5 largest medallions make up the base using 3"x12" strips of paper (2 strips per medallion) scored at 1/2" increments. Keep making medallions using 2-1/2" x 12", 2"x12", 1-1/2"x12" and 1"x12" strips of papers, until you have enough to cover the metal wire base.

Then comes embellishments...have fun with it! I used several different products for the centers of each medallion, from Shimmer Brads, Bigger Brads, Bling Assortment, and Pearl Opaques. I also cut out several snowflakes (pg.22) from the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, and covered them in Prisma Glitter for additional sparkle! I created the hanger for the wreath by including a 36" piece of Dark Chocolate Striped Grosgrain.

Countdown to Christmas

During our annual team Christmas party, we played "Name that Tune" using Christmas Carols as our tunes. The winner, earning the most points for the correct name (and artist) of the Christmas song only after 15 seconds of listening time, got this treat box as a prize. This fun Countdown to Christmas treat box was inspired by fellow CTMH consultant, Lisa Stenz.

You guessed it...another use of the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. Simply cut an 8-1/2" image from the (shift) Font Layer (pg.21) for the 3-D Petal Box. This is the perfect size to fit 9 pieces of Reese's peanut butter cups into the base. I topped each peanut butter cup with a circle stamped with images from the Countdown stamp set. I tied it all up using Sweet Leaf Stitched Grosgrain ribbon. Add a quick tag to finish it up!
Congratulations Vicki for winning this prize...you earned it!

Candy Purses

Everyone who came to our Team Christmas Party got one of these as a little party favor. The inspiration came from here...but of course, I had to adapt it using CTMH products.

If you have the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, you can make them too!. I used the Shape8 (pg.47) cut at 5-1/2" for the Holiday Red base, scoring one end at 1-3/4", and fold over for the flap. I used the same shape cut at 5-1/4" for the Believe striped B&T, cutting off each end (approximately 1-3/4") for the flap of the purse. On the scored line, create two 1/2" slits for the ribbon to be inserted, and secure with a glue dot on each end. The cello bags I had on hand, measured 3-1/2" wide, and 8" high. I trimmed the bags down to 5-3/4", filled with candy and folded over and secured between the flap of the purse with a staple. Embellish as desired.

Snowman Candy Bar

Everyone enjoys a Hershey chocolate bar, right? Next time you're in need of a quick teacher gift or co-worker treat, I hope you'll try making one of these! They are so fun and easy to make!

Take a piece of cardstock (mine is White Daisy) measuring 5-1/2"x 6". On the 5-1/2" side, score at 1-1/4", 1-1/2", 3-3/4" and 4", creating the "body" for your snowman, and the cover for your candy bar. Secure the bottom of the body with adhesive and crimp the end closed, leaving the top of the body open to insert the candy bar. The hat is a 6x6 piece of B&T paper; starting from the bottom, fold it over 5/8" and then again, creating the brim of his hat (our B&T paper is printed on both sides). Then I wrapped the hat around the candy bar and secured it with strong adhesive. The hat sits on the body of the candy bar about 1-1/2", leaving plenty of paper to pinch and gather forming a hat, secure with waxy flax and a button. Using scissors, cut thin slits from the top of the hat to the gathering to create a pom-pom like top.

Now, onto making Frosty come to life! LOL I used the All Decked Out stamp set (it has lots of pieces to use for your snowman) to create his face, and used brads for his buttons. His scarf is made by taking a piece of coordinating B&T (or ribbon works too!) measuring 1/2" x 6". Take 2 more pieces 1/2" x 2-1/2" for the scarf ends. I used a corduroy brad to secure the scarf ends to the scarf. Remember to cut thin slits on the end of the scarf too for fringe.
I know your friends will just "melt" for one of these! LOL

Santa & Snowflake Ornament

Our team had our Annual Christmas party on Saturday, and it went off without a hitch...in fact, it was a beautiful sunny day! We played silly Christmas themed games, had a gift exchange and a fabulous meal together! I promised I would share some of the goodies that I made for prizes and our gift exchange (I'll save that one for last!), and this week I will do just that.

First up, is a Santa & Snowflake Ornament made using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. Here's how I did it: Cut Circle3 (pg.41) using Decorative Layer (shift) at 4-3/4" in Holiday Red. Next, I used the Believe B&T and cut Circle1 (pg.21) at 3-1/2", and finally cut Circle1 at 3" with White Daisy cardstock. I stamped the jolly Santa image from the Believe WOTG stamp set and colored in with markers. Of course, you can use any stamp image.
I created a dangle snowflake using Snwflke1 (pg.22) in White Daisy at 2-1/2", and a Layer (shift) Snwflke1 in Sky cardstock at 2-1/2". I assembled the dangle snowflake to the ornament using mono-filament. Did you notice, I took the negative image from the snowflake shape and added it to the santa image above? Have fun creating your very own...

A Holiday

Each year, I like to send handmade cards to family and friends for the holidays...and they expect it! LOL I usually send out 60-80 cards, so the design has to be simple, yet make an impact. I've learned from experience, if it's too detailed, the recipient won't receive them until after New Year's! Again, I'm using product I have on hand...I should never have to buy paper again, but I know I will! I wanted to use the A Holiday stamp set (#A1115, $6.95) and I was inspired by fellow consultant, Vicki Wiznuik, and this card.

The holly leaves are images cut on the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, making this card come together quickly! The berries are accented with Red Glitz Glitter Gel (#Z1484, $2.75) for alittle bling. The paper, Evensong, is an oldie but goodie and no longer available (apparently it was a favorite, since I have so much of it! LOL)

I'll be able to share 3-D artwork and more Christmas goodies next week...see you then!

Holiday Wishes

My sister-in-law asked me to make Christmas cards for her clients...and I was honored at the opportunity. The design, Triple the Fun, was the inspiration for this card, and can be found in the Originals Card Confidence Program (#9032, $21.95). This 5x7 card uses the Holiday Wishes stamp set (last month's special), and I chose to heat emboss the tree, and the "star" on top. It appears that I had to cut these images, but the tree and the starbursts are images on the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge! What a time saver!

Season's Greetings sentiment can be found on the Peace on Earth stamp set (retired). I've been consumed with purging my supplies and using what I have on hand. The paper is Evensong, which is long retired as well, but I still like the traditional Christmas color scheme.

Christmas Love

If you stopped by today to check out the fun goodies I promised, sorry...you'll have to wait another week...we had to reschedule our Christmas Party due to weather and dangerous driving conditions. I need to keep it a secret until Saturday! I will bring it to you next week.

In the meantime, I hope you'll like this 3.5"x8" card using the Believe (#X7145B, $9.95) paper packet, and the Christmas Love (#D1492, $17.95) stamp set. The design for the card, Simply Said, came from Wishes Card Confidence (#9033, $21.95) program. I've been busy making different Christmas cards this season. I'll show them to you this week.

I stamped the sentiment (which included the holly leaves and berries) in Topiary ink on textured cardstock, but didn't want green holly berries...so I used Red Sparkles (#Z1326, $2.95) to bling the berries! I needed some additional embellishments on the upper corner, so I used coordinating buttons to create a small cluster.

December Stamp of the Month Artwork

Today, I'm sharing my team swap using the December Stamp of the Month, Mad About You (#S1112). When I see this stamp set, I automatically think of using it for Valentine's Day...but our artwork shows the versatility of this set.
(Click on picture to see more detail)

Artwork by: Bertha MacMillan (Believe), Julie Nilsson (Dreamin), Randa Wacaster (Sonoma), LeAnne Dudley (Elemental), Vicki Price (Typeset), Angie Petersen (Roxie), and Kimberly Denies (Believe)

This set can be yours for only $5 with a $50 order, or you can purchase it for just $17.95. Make sure to click on the tab in the menu bar above to see all images and other artwork using this set!

Make sure to stop by next week - I've been creating lots of goodies for our team Christmas party on Saturday...but I need to keep it all a secret until then! See you next week!