Holiday Gift Guide Artwork Blog Hop - Christmas Projects

Welcome to our Holiday Gift Guide Blog Hop! We are thrilled to introduce you to the BRAND NEW products from our Close To my Heart Holiday Gift Guide, available October 15-December 31 (or while supplies last). I am very honored to have been invited to be part of this hop because as you'll see as you hop from one blog to another, this little hop is full of great artists!  If you have come here from the fabulous Brenda Rose's Blog (I'm also VERY proud to say that she is one of my downline), you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you'll find the complete list of participating consultants here.

It's super simple to hop along with us. Just click on the link at the end of each blog post to move to the next one.

Here we go....

For my projects, I decided to make a set of items that use the Christmas tree from the cute "Trim the Tree" (only $6.95) stamp set. I also love that we have coordinating Sparkle Holiday Shapes that add the perfect extra bit of sparkle to your projects. I chose to create a border with the tree by alternating it in a line right side  up, then upside down.  I did that with my Slate Stamp Pad and then added one tree in a pop of color (either Ruby or Juniper).  I also created the background paper on these projects by using the "Holiday Cheer" stamp from the Season's Tweetings Gift Bag Kit (this kit includes the stamp set, 6 fabric gift bags and 9 die cut tags for only $14.95!). All of the stars on the trees were stamped with Honey ink. I have included complete supply lists for each of the projects following the photos, including links right to the products on my website for your convenience.

You can purchase any of these projects on my website.  You can also view the Holiday Gift Guide page by delicious page here.  Don't forget that for every $100 order (from the Gift Guide, the current Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book, or a combination of the two), you get to choose one of the products in the gift guide with a star next to it FREE! Cool beans!

Ruby Tree Card (5 1/2" x 4 1/4")

Juniper Tree Card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"):

12" x 12" One Page Layout:  Sour Cream Sugar Cookies (this will go in a family recipe scrapbook I've been working on.  I've even included a detail close-up shot of the recipe for the cookies and frosting for you to use yourselves!):

Gift Tag:

Close To My Heart Products used on each project:
Ruby Card: Trim the Tree Stamp Set, Season's Tweetings Gift Bag Kit {stamp set}, White Daisy Cardstock, Ruby Cardstock, Slate Stamp pad, Ruby Stamp Pad, Honey Stamp Pad,  Sparkle Holiday Shapes, Keyboard Kraft Alphabet, Scalloped Border Punch, Round Sponge, 3D Foam Tape 
Juniper Card:  Trim the Tree Stamp Set, Season's Tweetings Gift Bag Kit {stamp set}, White Daisy Cardstock, Juniper Cardstock, Slate Stamp pad, Juniper Stamp Pad, Honey Stamp Pad,  Sparkle Holiday Shapes, Keyboard Kraft Alphabet,  Scalloped Border Punch, Round Sponge, 3D Foam Tape
Layout:  Trim the Tree Stamp Set, Season's Tweetings Gift Bag Kit {stamp set}, White Daisy Cardstock, Ruby Cardstock, Cashmere Cardstock, Slate Cardstock, Slate Stamp pad, Ruby Stamp Pad, Honey Stamp Pad,  Sparkle Holiday Shapes, Sparkle and Shine Complements Dimensional Elements, Keyboard Kraft Alphabet, Scalloped Border Punch, Corner Rounder, Cork Color Ready Alphabet {retired}, Round Sponge, 3D Foam Tape
Tag: Trim the Tree Stamp Set, Season's Tweetings Gift Bag Kit {stamp set}, White Daisy Cardstock, Juniper Cardstock, Slate Stamp pad, Juniper Stamp Pad, Honey Stamp Pad,  Sparkle Holiday Shapes, Keyboard Kraft Alphabet, Scalloped Border Punch, Round Sponge, 3D Foam Tape

Now hop on over to cool  Carolyn Johnston's blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all of the Consultants in the hop to get some great crafting ideas. Remember the Holiday Gift Guide is only available until December 31. Contact me or shop directly from my website to get your holiday products today. Thanks for stopping by! Hoppity, hop, hop, hop!

Sneak Peek! Holiday Gift Guide Card

The Holiday Gift Guide goes live on October 15.  Be watching for a link to it on my blog that day. Also, I am participating in my first ever blog hop on the 15th!  Several amazing Close To My Heart artists have gotten together to form a blog hop with new product from the Holiday Gift Guide.  I was honored to be invited to participate. So, like I said, be sure to check back here on Tuesday, October 15 for that and a link to the guide.

In the meantime, here's a little sneak peek to wet your whistle!  This is not one of the pieces of art I'll be sharing on October 15 for the blog hop, but one I will share later next week.  How 'bout that cute washi tape tree?

October Stamp of the Month Layout, German Pancakes Recipe, and Our Week

October Stamp of the Month (Scandinavian Wishes) Layout

 One whole week since my last post? Where did it go?  I know....

• 2 scrapbooking classes to teach
• trip to Cedar City to watch Easton play football
• marketing meetings
• webinars
• church meetings
• General Conference 
• decorating for Autumn
• and just every day life

I'm sure you're all busy in your lives too, so thanks for stopping by and taking the time to follow my blog!  I'll share a few photos from this week at the end of the post but first, let's take care of a little business and special reminders:

1.  The layout you see above was made with the beautiful October Stamp of the Month (Scandinavian Wishes).  As you may remember I am working on putting together a scrapbook of my favorite family recipes.  I try to make at least one page per month for this book.  This one is my Aunt Sheila's German Pancakes.  We have them every Christmas morning (recipe below).  The October Stamp of the Month is only available in October (hence the name!) and is only $5 ($17.985 value) with a $50 order.  You can order through me, or directly through my website.  Here's a detail shot:

Detail shot

October Stamp of the Month: carrier sheet actual size is 6" x 6"

Aunt Sheila's German Pancakes
Makes one 9" x 13" pan

Prehead oven to 400*

Put 6 T. butter in a 9" x 13" baking pan (I like pyrex ones for this) and put in oven to melt.

Mix well in blender (use a blender because it makes the mixture more airy so it will puff up better than if you use a mixer):
6 eggs
1 C. flour
1 C. milk
1/2 t. salt

Pour in hot pan of melted butter. Bake 15-18 minutes.

You can top them with butter and syrup, powdered sugar, fruit and whipped cream, yogurt, or just about anything.  Have fun!

CTMH products used on layout: October Stamp of the Month, Classy Doily Stamp Set, Smoothie Cardstock, Lagoon Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock, Frosted Paper Pack, Slate Stamp Pad, Smoothie Stamp Pad, Lagoon Stamp Pad, Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape, Pink Glitter Gel, Silver Metallic Marker, Blending Pen, 3D Foam Tape.

2.  Don't forget that the Holiday Gift Guide goes live on October 15 and you can order from it through December 31.

This little book is full of holiday goodness. There is a GREAT special that goes with it too. For every $100 order you place from this little book (or the Autumn/Winter Catalog) between October 15 and December 31, you get a FREE item. You can choose from any of the items in the Holiday Gift Guide that have a star next to them as your FREEBIE! WOO HOO!  Be sure to check back here on my blog as October 15 nears for artwork I've created from products int he guide as well as a link to view the guide page by delicious page.  I'm also happy to mail you one. Just email me (pedermom@aol.com) and let me know you want one, and be sure to include your mailing address and I'll drop one in the mail pronto!

3. A few quick photos from this week. We also got some pictures from Dawson, who is serving a 2-year mission for our church in Australia that I'll include. 

Our little Sage turned 2 months.

Some of my girls and I at the football game (Daysha {Easton's wife}, me, and Brookley {Tannon's girlfriend} on top.  Sage on the bottom.  She was giving raspberries to let you all know what she thought of the game. We lost. RRRRRRGGGGGHHHH! We were missing our other girls, who must be our good luck charms. Kori, Daci and Livvi, we missed you! 

Fall Decorations. Kori, Daci, Livvi and Street came to help. Kori and Daci were a big help. Livvi and Street mostly decorated my house with graham crackers instead. :)

Dawson's first baptism

P-day (they get one day off a week. It's called P-day {stands for Preparation Day}. They usually do their laundry, grocery shop, prepare for the next week, and do something fun on p-day. They went to the jungle this time.

Just another day in Australia...

 Have a great day, everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

October Specials with Close To My Heart

Hello, October!  There are 2 great specials happening in October with Close To My Heart and I'll tell you about both of them today.

1.  October Stamp of the Month
2.  Holiday Happenings Guide and Special

1. October Stamp of the Month: This month, as every month, Close To My Heart has created an exclusive stamp set only available during the current month. October's set is not only holiday themed, but has a hint of Scandinavia rolled in too!  This stamp set has a retail value of $17.95 but is yours for only $5 with a $50 order (before shipping and tax).

Here's a detail shot of the card above as well as a products used list.  You can shop for these, and hundreds of other amazing products on my website, 24/7...even in your jammies!

CTMH products used:  October Stamp of the Month (Scandinavian Wishes), Colonial White Cardstock, Slate Cardstock, Lagoon Cardstock, Smoothie Cardstock, Slate Stamp Pad, Smoothie Stamp Pad, Scalloped Border Punch, 3D Foam Tape.

Carrier sheet actual size is 6" x 6"

2. Holiday Happenings Guide and Special:  For the first time ever, Close To My Heart is releasing a Holiday Gift Guide. This guide is full of GREAT holiday and non-holiday products that go hand-in-hand with our already beautiful products in the regular catalog. This guide doesn't go live until October 15, but  here's a little sneak peek of what it looks like:

YUMMY!  There is also a GREAT special that goes with this little guide of gorgeousness that I'll announce as it gets closer.  Be watching as we near October 15 for that tasty little morsel of savings!

If any of you would like to have me mail you one of these guides for FREE, just email me  (pedermom@aol.com) and let me know. Be sure to include your mailing address and I'll drop one of these in the mail to you PRONTO!