December Blog Hop:

"Christmas Gifts"

Welcome to another blog hop! A "Blog Hop" is a circular link between a group of bloggers (in this case my fellow CTMH consultant team members).  No matter where you start, you can view all our blogs in this blog hop.  If you have come from Julie's blog then you are on the right track.

This month we are showing you some ideas to use as Christmas Gifts.  The photo below shows the Christmas decorations I have made and will add to the presents I will give to my daughters teachers and other friends and family.  It adds a nice personal touch, and is something they can keep and bring out each year with their other Christmas decorations.

It might look difficult but it is really very easy.

Firstly cut a strip of patterned paper 12" long x 1" wide.

Using the Score board, score every quarter inch.

Next, concertina fold the strip all the way to the end.

Using liquid glass, stick the two ends together to form a circle.

Push the circle down flat.Put liquid glass in and around the center hole and adhere to a round circle of cardstock on the under side of the decoration (see below).

The size of my circle is 1 and a 1/2 inches and is cut from Cranberry cardstock.

The circle on the front is 1 and a 1/4 inches and I used the Red Glitter Paper to add some sparkle.  Adhere the circle with more liquid glass and hold the front and back circles for a minute to make sure they have bonded enough to sit aside.

The beautiful top on this decoration is our Base & Bling jewellery.  I have used the Gold circle pendant in the decoration above, but have also used the Silver circle pendant on others.   The Christmas designs in the middle are from the Base & Bling Jolly Holiday Style Sheet.  I finished it off with the Circle Glass Cover.

Rather than reinvent the wheel, I will redirect you to a CTMH youtube video which explains how to put together the Base and Bling pendant.

You will need to adhere the Base & Bling using more liquid glass.  Other bonding adhesives are not strong enough to adhere to the glitter paper.  This needs 10-15 minutes to properly adhere.

To finish off, use some Thick Twine (I used Fern, Poppy and Glacier) to be able to hang the decoration.

I think these decorations are beautiful and were very quick and easy to make.  I made them with customers at our recent Christmas workshop and they loved them.

Thanks again for visiting my blog.  If you want to view more of the Close To My Heart products, just go to my website www.wendywatson.ctmh.com.au. 

Now, for more great Christmas gift ideas, 'hop' over to Cindy's Blog to see what she has created this month.

Happy crafting!
Wendy

December Stamp of the Month:

"Candlelight Garden"

  

The Stamp of the Month for December is the beautiful "Candlelight Garden".

I really enjoyed using this stamp to make some cards.  These are my two favourites and my inspiration for them came from cards made by Denise Tarlinton and Wendy Coffman.

I stamped the jar and flowers on the right hand side of the front of the card, then fussy cut around the stamping to reveal about an inch of the inside of the card.  On the right hand side edge of the inside of the card I had adhered a strip of B&T paper from the La Vie En Rose paper pack.  

Using freehand, I drew a line around the front of the card using the Journaling Pen.  To colour the flowers and water in the jar, I used the watercolour paints that I featured in my last blog.    They are so easy and fun to use.  The three purple hearts under the "Thank You" sentiment, are from the Purple Hearts Enamel & Glitter Duos.

It is such a pretty stamp set and can be yours for only $5 with any order $75 or more, but only during the month of December 2015.

If you want to view more of the Close To My Heart products, just go to my website www.wendywatson.ctmh.com.au.

Happy crafting!
Wendy