Dec. 2013 CTMH Cross Canada Blog Hop

Welcome to our December Blog Hop featuring creations  that we plan to give as gifts this Christmas.  To purchase any of the items seen in our blog hop today, contact your local consultant to place an order.

 

We hope that you will take the time to leave comments on our posts, as we love to get feedback from our viewers....whether it was something that you really liked or some new technique that was used that you would like to learn how to do....by leaving us comments, we get to hear what you like, and what you want to see. Thank you… now on to our hop! 

 

If you have just hopped onto my blog, you can start here as this is a circular hop, but if you want to follow us across Canada then please start at the beginning and join Michelle Stewart at http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca/2013/12/christmas-gifts-blog-hop.html  If you came from Nancy Klein of http://nancyklein.blogspot.ca/2013/12/december-cross-canada-blog-hop-gift.html  then you are in the right place!

 At Christmas I love being able to create a few handmade gifts with just a few supplies.

 Here are two that I've been working on:

First: Christmas Countdown

Close to My Heart Products used: 1 Sheet Sparkle & Shine Paper ($9.95 / paper pack),  1 Sheet Chalkboard Paper ($4.95/ sheet), Chalk Pen ($2.95), Sparkle & Shine Washi Tape ($14.95 for 3 rolls), Glitter Tape ($4.95 / roll), Clear Sparkles ($2.95/ 108 piece set), Ruby Mini Medley Accents ($5.95/set), Embossing Stylus (this item is now disc, but a bone folder or ball point pen would work as well).

Plus: A 9"x12" canvas dollar store frame, edges painted with black acrylic paint and a "borrowed" piece of chalk from my son.

 

I have a chalkboard Art addiction.  I know I've discussed it on here before.  I love it!  And, creating a project like this is super easy with CTMH 12" x 12" Chalkboard sheets.  I simply create the basic design as a "word" document and print it.  I then trace over the text onto the chalkboard paper using the stylus, pressing hard.  You then go over the embossing on the Chalkboard paper with the chalk pen.  You tracing disappears and the whole thing looks hand done.  Then you can add a few hand drawn embellishments as you like.

 

I Matted this chalkboard sheet on Spark & Shine paper (had a tough time deciding which design as they are all so lovely).  Then I used washi tape and the bakers twine in the "Ruby Mini Medley" pack to create the banner.  I used the laundry clips to secure the banner ends.

 

Each snowflake has a sparkle in the middle.

 

All you have to do is erase the # each day and re write with real chalk.  Everything else is permanent so you don't have to worry about wiping away.

Second: Christmas Cracker

Close to My Heart products used:  Sparkle & Shine Paper ($9.95 / pack), Santa Claus Stamp set ($13.95, Black Glitter paper ($5.95/ 3 sheets), embossing stylus, Glue dots and disc. Black fishnet ribbon.

 

Non- CTMH: Snaps - Michaels, Various little gifts, joke and tissue hat

 

I love making Christmas Crackers - I make them with the kids and they love the "poppers" (I start looking for .as soon as Michaels puts out their Christmas as they always sell out, I usually buy several packs as they are only $2.95/ dozen).

 

Start with a 6"x12" piece of paper, using the embossing stylus, create a fold line 3.5" in from each short end.   Before rolling up, I attached the Ruby cardstock that I overstamped with the "Ho, Ho, Ho" in Ruby ink.  Then I rolled the paper up, securing the long edge with Sook Wang (or other really sticky tape).  Feed the "snap" through the tube and secure at one end with a glue dot.  using the embossed fold line as a guide, crunch the paper in and gather tightly, secure one end with ribbon.  Fill the cavity in the middle with goodies and then secure the other side with ribbon.   Now you may add any embellishment you like.

 

I am making these with my Sons kindergarten class next week.  Super easy and fun for the kids!

 

Thanks for taking the time to look at my projects.  I love your feedback!

 

Merry Christmas! 

 

Karen

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Candra Holmes of http://www.paperdragonfleur.ca/2013/12/cross-canada-blog-hop-december.html

 If you get lost along the way, you can head to Michelle Stewart's Blog, http://mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca/2013/12/christmas-gifts-blog-hop.html, as she has the complete blog list.

Michelle ~mycreationswithmichelle.blogspot.ca

Carol ~ craftycarol55.blogspot.ca

Cheryl ~ scrappercheryl.blogspot.ca

Brandy ~ canadianscrappers.blogspot.ca

Janet ~ worksofheart2011.blogspot.ca

Kathy ~ Kathy-itsagirlthing.blogspot.ca

Chantal ~ itsahootpapercrafts.blogspot.ca

Nancy ~  http://nancyklein.blogspot.ca/2013/12/december-cross-canada-blog-hop-gift.html

Karen ~ clearyprecious.blogspot.ca

Candra ~ http://www.paperdragonfleur.ca/2013/12/cross-canada-blog-hop-december.html

Thanks for hopping along with us - we hope we were able to inspire you to get creative using some of the designs, products and techniques seen along the way. Join us again in the New Year when we will be featuring some of the products that will be retiring, so if you see anything you would like to create, this could be your last opportunity to purchase them.  We hope you will join us again on January 15th, 2014.