Crafted by Grace

Adding Beautiful Embellishments to your Artwork TWO DAYS LEFT!! I sure have enjoyed sharing my art and my heart with you this month. I am still crazy about Christmas. Though there is a lot of stress and commercialism going on, it still seems to be the one time of year that people stop to think of others, to worship, and to actually make sense. What a precious time of year. Our Craft Challenge today will be all about the Details ! If there is anything I have learned through my Close to My Heart experience, it is how to beautifully finish my work through embellishments. With a few simple touches, we can turn a card into a heart-warming piece of art! Many of the details are free, quick techniques that you can add to any paper crafting project. For instance, the torn edges of the tag (above) add wonderful texture. It is also nice to sponge the edges in coordinating stamping ink to just give it that professional, yet hand-made appeal. Here in this 4 x 4 card, I have also added...

Mini Album Gift! Here's another simple way to put together a thoughtful hand-made gift. I used two or three sheets of cardstock, cut to 6" ... then scored again at 6" vertically, which makes four pages for each half sheet of paper! I used a few coordinating pieces of paper cut to 6" widths inches or heights. Our Level 2 paper packs are a perfect match every time!

Don't Forget the December FREE STAMPS Special - - AND y ou can DOUBLE DIP!!! ALL December orders of $20 or more at rebeccalaird.myctmh.com will automatically qualify you for a FREE stamp set worth $22.95! Even AFTER Christmas, this great sale will apply - but don't miss it - special ends Dec. 31st. Wondering what the free stamps might be? I was THRILLED with my bonus stamps - - D1110, Give Thanks is a Thanksgiving/Pumpkin oriented set was one theme I actually did NOT have! YAY! They even cover the shipping on the stamps:) AND here's the Double Dip - - remember that EVERY ORDER placed on my site through the end of this year, 2010, ALSO qualifies you for my personal contest!! One lucky friend of mine will receive a BEAUTIFUL prize from Close to my Heart - drawing to be held for the New Year 2011. I wont' be entering myself in the contest - - but I just might place another order!

Create an Ornament! Last year I was inspired to make a keepsake ornament using my scrapping and stamping supplies. They turned out really cute so I am sharing them with you! I used our Close to My Heart cardstock - cut into two nesting ovals. Using the scissor distressing technique, or an Edge Distressor, I roughed up the outer edge of the background piece, and punched a hole in the top. On my inside White Daisy oval, I stamped this image from our Childhood Portrait D1373 stamp set. I love the silhouette look for these stamps, so I used black and embossed clear on top for a more lasting, decorator look. Then I added a first and second generation snowflake, topped with Liquid Glass Z679 and a sprinkle of Prisma Glitter. I sponged the edge with Ponderosa Pine to match the background and give it a softer look. To assemble - I placed 5 3-D foam squares on the back of my image piece and attached it to the base. Through the hole I threaded Cranberry grosgrain ribbon - and tied it ar...

Take Time to READ! My Inspiration Challenge to you today is to stop everything and read the Christmas story! Over the years we have accumulated several Christmas books, which I now house in a big basket that used to sit unused in my basement storage! I threw a Christmas towel or cloth napkin to line the basket, hanging over the edges, and fill it with all the Christmas stories. Then it sits, along with all the Christmas stuffed animals people have given us, in a handy corner of the living room for the children to enjoy. Each day we pull out different stories - old copies of The Grinch , Mud Flat, Winnie the Pooh, the 12 Days of Christmas I found at the dollar store. Several of them are beautiful old books I got free as library discards! We enjoy them all. BUT don't forget - the BEST and only story that really matters this season. The Christmas Story. We have several versions from toddler board books with lift-the-flaps, to The Manger Where Jesus Lay, but the bible versions...