December Card Gathering

     I've been busy crafting the past few days.  I've been trying to come up with ideas for our December Gathering.  I also had a gift to finish up.  I made a set of 4 different cards to give to a friend, but I needed to make a holder.  I tried making one I learned at my July Team Meeting.  I had trouble at the Team Meeting putting it together.  I watched a video over and over and finally got it to work. 

      Our next gathering is this week.  We will be making a card using the December SOTM.

This card uses the Brushed paper, some of the ShinHan markers, and the floral embossing folder.  I used the new white shimmer tape which is in the new Seasonal Expressions mini catalog that began on December 1st.  I was inspired by a card from a blog by Patricia Manhire.  I think she heat embossed the white doily.  I just used White Daisy ink (which does take awhile to dry).

We also will be making a small bag which will hold this card plus 3 or 4 more cards and envelopes (see below).

The bag is made with one sheet of Brushed paper.  It was hard to figure out, but I finally have it down. It will make a nice Christmas gift for someone or you can keep it yourself.  The bag can be used to hold some cards or you can even put a few cookies inside or some candies or whatever small item that you'd like!  All of the supplies are CTMH products except the ribbon handles.

If we have time, we will make a quick Christmas card, too.  If there isn't time, you'll get to take it home to make.

December Gathering Details:

Date:  Thursday, December 11th
Time:  7:00 p.m.
Place:  My house
Cost:  $5   or  FREE if you order $25 or more
RSVP by emailing me (Click on Contact Me on the top, right side of the Blog.  You can 
        always join my Facebook page titled Diane Bradner - Close To My Heart Independent       Consultant and send me a note through there.)

Seasonal Expressions 1:

On December 1st, CTMH introduced the Seasonal Expressions mini catalog.  The items inside are available from December 1st through March 31st.  

There are two new papers available through March 31st or until they run out of supplies.  The first one is called Heartstrings (see below).

The second paper is called Hopscotch (see below).

Here is a card I created with the Hopscotch paper and a new stamp set from the Seasonal Expressions called Happy to be Friends.  This stamp set has stamps to make a wreath plus many words.  There are a total of 17 stamps.

This card was designed by me and entered in a swap at my team meeting.  I was so surprised that I won second place!  We will probably make this card at one of our gatherings coming up.  I like the Flaxen Extra Thick Twine that I used on the card.  It also comes in Pixie.

     Remember that CTMH has the Deal of the Decade for the month of December.

If you spend $50 in December, you can buy the SOTM for $5 plus you can buy any C- or D-size stamp set from the Annual Inspirations idea book for only $10.  What a savings!

     Let me know if you'd like a Seasonal Expressions 38-page catalog, a full Annual Expressions idea book, or if you can attend the CTMH Gathering on Thursday.  I hope to see you there!