Psst! A Gnomes for Winter Giveaway!

Gnomes for Winter #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhgnomesforwinter #gnomesforwinter #wintergnomes #winterscrapbooking #winterscrapbook #wintercardmaking #wintercards #giveaway #free

Delivering on our promise of having A Gnome for All Seasons, we are excited to share our newest collection—Gnomes for Winter!

A few months back, we introduced the four-season paper collection series, A Gnome for All Seasons, beginning with the Gnomes for Autumn collection. We indicated that just weeks before every new season we would release a new gnome paper collection correlating with the upcoming seasonal period. Here we are, gearing up for winter with these mystical little creatures!

Much like its autumn-themed predecessor, the winter-themed patterned papers and sticker sheet are mainly that, seasonally themed. We love our gnomes but also understand that too much of a good thing can be overwhelming. If you look closely at the patterned papers and the sticker sheet, you will find that only one of the six 12″ x 12″ paper designs is sprinkled with gnomes, and there are only two gnome stickers on the coordinating 12″ x 12″ sticker sheet. So, even if you’re not into gnomes as much as we are, you can very much enjoy this beautiful collection of products in your scrapbooking and cardmaking projects!

Pair the patterned papers and sticker sheet with a set of coordinating, two-toned cardstock, for effortless color matching; a stamp set designed specifically for cardmaking, with sentiments for both inside and outside your cards; a stamp set with coordinating dies designed for scrapbooking, including large, themed titles; and a set of white acrylic snowflakes to complete the look!

For our friends who would like to add more gnomes to the mix, we have a set of Gnomes for Winter Thin Cuts dies that will cut the paper shapes necessary to assemble a 4½” gnome, enjoying himself in a pair of ice-skates!

This whimsical, fun-loving gnome has made his way onto the pages of our Gnomes for Winter scrapbooking workshop layouts!

Gnomes for Winter #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhgnomesforwinter #gnomesforwinter #wintergnomes #winterscrapbooking #winterscrapbook #wintercardmaking #wintercards #giveaway #free
Gnomes for Winter #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhgnomesforwinter #gnomesforwinter #wintergnomes #winterscrapbooking #winterscrapbook #wintercardmaking #wintercards #giveaway #free

The Gnomes for Winter scrapbooking workshop kit comes with materials to make three 12″ x 12″ two-page layouts. We have two kit options, one including the ice-skating gnome dies and the scrapbooking stamp and dies set and another without these. For a less gnome-themed set of layouts, you can easily follow the instructional guide and skip the part where it says to die cut and add the gnomes. Also, our patterned papers are double-sided. That means that where the gnome-themed paper is used on a page, you can flip those pieces over to use the design on the back instead.

Gnomes for Winter #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhgnomesforwinter #gnomesforwinter #wintergnomes #winterscrapbooking #winterscrapbook #wintercardmaking #wintercards #giveaway #free

Naturally, we also have a Gnomes for Winter cardmaking workshop! The kit for this workshop comes with materials to make 16 cards, two each of eight designs!

You’ll notice that the gnomes are not very visible in these cards. Just like we suggested for the scrapbooking workshop layouts, flip some of the paper pieces over! (Or even swap them if you’d like!) The guide is exactly that, a guide. Make the cardmaking and scrapbooking workshops your own with paper choices and embellishments that work for you, showing less or more of the winter-themed gnomes.

We want everyone to have a chance at enjoying creating with this collection, so we are giving away 10 FREE Gnomes for Winter paper packets and sticker sheets, here on the blog! PLUS, so you can really get into the gnome theme without skipping a season, we will also include a FREE Gnomes for Autumn paper packet plus sticker sheet with every winner! That means that TEN lucky readers will get two paper packets and sticker sheets, one each from the winter and autumn gnome collections!

For an entry into this contest, there are two requirements: first, you must be subscribed to this blog. (It’s an easy step that often gets overlooked, so make sure that you are actually subscribed because we do check!) Second, share this blog post on Facebook with the hashtag #ctmhgnomesforwinter. That’s it! You have from now until 3 pm (MT) on November 22 (7 am AEST on 23 November). The winner will be notified via email after the contest is closed.

Good luck!

A Gnome for All Seasons

A Gnome for All Seasons #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhgnomesforautumn #ctmhagnomeforallseasons #gnomecards #gnomescrapbooking #gnomelayouts #gnomepapercrafting #gnomes #autumngnomes #fallgnomes

Just like there’s a gnome for every home, we’ve got a Gnome for All Seasons!

That’s right! These universally cute, peculiar little creatures, with their whimsical and endearing qualities, are trend setters with a lot of staying power, and we have invited them into our scrapbooks and cards!

Popular since the late 18th century, gnomes have been making their way into our gardens and crops, delivering good luck and providing protection against unwanted thieves and pests (or so the folklore goes 😉).

In line with the modern farmhouse trend and Scandi movement in décor design, gnomes continue to appeal to all of us, so much so that they have moved out of our gardens and into our homes—onto bookshelves, mantles, counters and tabletops, hallways, staircases, the occasional Christmas tree, and so much more! (Let us know in the comments below where your gnomes hang out in your home!)

Today, we are delighted to share with you our new Gnomes for All Seasons—Autumn paper collection!

Just a few weeks before the beginning of every new season (autumn, winter, spring, and summer), we will release a new Gnome for All Seasons collection that correlates with the upcoming seasonal period!

Our first set of products are themed for autumn and are available now and through September 30. The Gnomes for Autumn collection includes a paper packet and sticker sheet, a set of coordinating cardstock sheets for effortless color matching, a stamp set designed specifically for cardmaking, a stamp set with coordinating dies for scrapbooking, a standalone set of dies to cut the layers of a mysterious little gnomess (a female gnome!), and a set of adhesive-backed autumn cork shapes.  

We are absolutely captivated by these small pop culture icons but understand that perhaps not everyone feels the same about them.

If you look closely at our designs, you’ll notice that the gnomes are only found on one side of the six paper design options, in just two of the stickers on the 12″ x 12″ sticker sheet, and in the Gnomes for Autumn Thin Cuts set of dies. What remains outside of these exceptions, are beautiful, coordinating seasonal products. Even if you don’t like gnomes (why wouldn’t you??–no judgment), you can still enjoy these gorgeous products in your scrapbooking and cardmaking projects.

The cardmaking and scrapbooking workshops available, also feature gnomes in their designs. If you would rather not, simply flip the gnome themed paper over to the autumnal side, without any gnomes, and use that in your artwork.

A Gnome for All Seasons #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhgnomesforautumn #ctmhagnomeforallseasons #gnomecards #gnomescrapbooking #gnomelayouts #gnomepapercrafting #gnomes #autumngnomes #fallgnomes

The Gnomes for Autumn scrapbooking workshop kit comes with materials to make three 12″ x 12″ two-page layouts and one single-page layout.

Use the materials in the Gnomes for Autumn cardmaking workshop kit to make 16 cards, two each of eight designs!

If you love this collection as much as we do, remember to check back early, before the start of every season! The Gnomes for Autumn is just the beginning of a four-season collection. We will be doing a winter, spring, and summer gnome collection, too, each with a similar product offering, where gnome motifs will be sprinkled throughout but will not overwhelm the seasonal designs.

Celebrating All Things Slimline Cards!

National Stamping Month is here! Celebrate with us in a Slimline Celebration! With so many great deals on slimline stamps and Thin Cuts metal dies, it’s bound to be one of the biggest bashes of the year!

The Slimline Celebration special includes three exclusive stamp and Thin Cuts sets, one stamp set of just sentiments, and two exclusive Thin Cuts dies, all of which have been designed specifically for slimline cards! Let’s take a closer look at all the amazing stamps and Thin Cuts available through this Slimline Celebration!

One of the stand-out stamp and Thin Cuts sets in the Slimline Celebration is the Mini Garden Gnomes set! Some of our most popular stamp sets over the past year have been from our gnome collection, and this miniature gnome set is sure to be a fast favorite.

With a fun assortment of sentiments, images, and icons, the Mini Garden Gnomes Stamp + Thin Cuts is the perfect way to step up your slimline creations!

Along with our mini gnomes, we also have Thoughtful Critter Stamp + Thin Cuts! This adorable set includes a variety of woodland creatures with a handful of playful sentiments.

These stamps and metal dies make it easy to create unforgettable slimline cards that dazzle every time!

In addition to the too-cute Thoughtful Critters, our Slimline Celebration also includes the Fishy Greetings Stamp + Thin Cuts. This stamp and Thin Cuts set is yet another way to add some whimsical delight to your slimline cards!

The last stamp set included in the Slimline Celebration special is the My Acrylix® Slimline Sentiments stamp set. This set includes twice as many stamps as a normal set would have and is comprised entirely of sentiments tailored specifically for slimline cards!

These sentiment stamps include options for both vertical and horizontal cards, and look incredible no matter where they’re placed! These stamps are perfect for card fronts and interiors, alike, making them a quick, easy, and versatile option as you create your own slimline cards!

For some extra pizzaz, the Slimline Celebration special also includes two stand-alone Thin Cuts (dies) to help you create gorgeous backgrounds. With the Stars Cluster Thin Cuts, it’s quick and easy to create a stellar foundation for your card, while the Circles Cluster Thin Cuts allows for versatile creation right from the start.

For even more fun, all the stamps and Thin Cuts you’ve seen here today are available together in the Slimline Celebration Product Bundle at a 20% discount, and to top it all off, we’re also hosting a special National Stamping Month virtual event on September 24, via Facebook Live!

This event is open to all crafters to watch, but in order to fully participate, viewers will need to purchase the Slimline Celebration Cardmaking Workshop Kit (CC92112), which includes all the stamps and Thin Cuts available through the Slimline Celebration special, along with Clear Sparkles, cardstock in various colors, and 12 slimline cards and envelopes.

As a special treat, we’re giving away five Slimline Celebration Cardmaking Workshop Kits to five lucky readers! All you have to do to qualify for this giveaway is make sure that you’re subscribed to this blog and leave a comment below telling us about your favorite part of the Slimline Celebration special, or who you’d love to give a slimline card to! You have until noon on Friday, September 3 (MST), to subscribe and leave a comment. All winners will be notified via email (the one you are subscribed with!).

Good luck and happy National Stamping Month!


Recipes

3½” x 8½” Swimming by To Say Card (Vertical)
CC9217 Fishy Greetings Stamp + Thin Cuts, CC9214 My Acrylix® Slimline Sentiments Stamp Set, X5978 Glacier Cardstock, X6062 Harbour Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z3885 Distress Watercolor Cardstock, Z2895 Lagoon Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4521 Mermaid Lagoon Distress Oxide™ Ink Pad, Z5030 Lagoon Loose Gems, Z2481 Coral TriBlend™ Marker, Z2486 Dull Green TriBlend™ Marker, Z2519 Gold Yellow TriBlend™ Marker, Z2474 Ice Grey TriBlend™ Marker, Z2480 Orange TriBlend™ Marker, Z2496 Pale Pink TriBlend™ Marker, Z3557 Cool Mint Stickles™ Glitter Glue, Z3563 Diamond Stickles™ Glitter Glue, Z3789 Hibiscus Stickles™ Glitter Glue, CC9218 Circle Cluster Thin Cuts, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine, Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots

3½” x 8½” Happy Birthday Card (Vertical)
CC9216 Thoughtful Critters Stamp + Thin Cuts, CC9214 My Acrylix® Slimline Sentiments Stamp Set, X6057 Capri Cardstock, X6062 Harbour Cardstock, X6063 Papaya Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2481 Coral TriBlend™ Marker, Z2478 Earth Brown TriBlend™ Marker, Z2519 Gold Yellow TriBlend™ Marker, Z2496 Pale Pink TriBlend™ Marker, Z3563 Diamond Stickles™ Glitter Glue, Z3789 Hibiscus Stickles™ Glitter Glue, CC9219 Star Cluster Thin Cuts, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine

3½” x 8½” You’re the Best Card (Vertical)
CC9215 Mini Garden Gnomes Stamp + Thin Cuts, CC9214 My Acrylix® Slimline Sentiments Stamp Set, X6053 Avocado Cardstock, X5951 Espresso Cardstock, X5978 Glacier Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z3885 Distress Watercolor Cardstock, Z6523 Avocado Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4521 Mermaid Lagoon Distress Oxide™ Ink Pad, Z5026 Clear Loose Gems, Z2475 Brown Grey TriBlend™ Marker, Z2481 Coral TriBlend™ Marker, Z2486 Dull Green TriBlend™ Marker, Z2478 Earth Brown TriBlend™ Marker, Z2476 Fair Skin TriBlend™ Marker, Z2519 Gold Yellow TriBlend™ Marker, Z2496 Pale Pink TriBlend™ Marker, Z3557 Cool Mint Stickles™ Glitter Glue, Z3789 Hibiscus Stickles™ Glitter Glue, Z5038 Die-cutting & Embossing Machine, Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots

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Gnome Matter What Card & Sponging Technique

Today we are assembling this incredibly endearing Love You Gnome Matter What card! To help us get things just right, we asked our Creative Arts Manager and trusty friend, Karen Pedersen, to join us!

If you’d like to assemble your card along side Karen as you watch her in action, you will need to prepare a few things first.

Using the Gnome Matter Stamp + Thin Cuts, stamp the gnome with the pointed hat and the toadstools with flowers on white cardstock using Archival Black ink, then die-cut the shapes. For the hill, cut a half-circle out of Sage cardstock and stamp it with a few small flowers using Sage ink.

Karen talks about how to color your stamped images, and also shares some tips for using Stickles™ glitter glue. (If you’d like to duplicate our card exactly, we used Silver and Christmas Red Stickles™ glitter glue, and Dull Green, Earth Brown, Light Yellow, Pale Pink, and Fair Skin TriBlend™ markers.)

The first thing Karen will show us in the video below, is how to recreate the beautiful sky background of this card using a simple sponging technique. For this step, you will need a blank card base, Carolina and Bluebird stamp pads, a round sponge and scissors, sticky notes, and several cut-out cloud shapes. (We made our clouds using Cricut® shape #M412A0C, from our Artistry Cricut® collection.)

If you’re all set (and even if you’re not and just want to watch a video for some inspiration) here’s our friend Karen recreating the Love You Gnome Matter What card:

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FREE Card Pattern from the Happiest Place!

Free Card Pattern #ctmh #closetomyheart #freepattern #cardmaking #cardpattern #happiestplace #free

We’ve got a FREE card pattern for you today to get you thinking outside the theme park as you craft with our magical Happiest Place collection!

With so many unique elements and designs, the Happiest Place collection is simply bursting with creative potential. When you combine that with a versatile card pattern, it’s easier than ever to create the cards of your dreams!

Free Card Pattern #ctmh #closetomyheart #freepattern #cardmaking #cardpattern #happiestplace #free

The pattern we’re sharing today made its original debut years ago with the Pear & Partridge cardmaking Workshops on the Go®. This classic pattern helps you take the Happiest Place collection to new heights and provides the perfect starting point for truly great cards.

Free Card Pattern #ctmh #closetomyheart #freepattern #cardmaking #cardpattern #happiestplace #free #koala #koalatyday

Pattern and color combinations like the ones in this “You’re the Koalaest” card are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what can be done with the Happiest Place collection and the Pear & Partridge card pattern.

By combining the My Acrylix® A Koala-ty Day stamp set with the fun abstract designs and eye-catching silver foil stars on the Happiest Place papers, you’re left with an absolutely adorable card! Part of this card’s charm is the simple Glacier on Glacier color scheme, relying on the variation in patterns to set them apart.

Free Card Pattern #ctmh #closetomyheart #freepattern #cardmaking #cardpattern #happiestplace #free #gnomematter #gnome

If you want to get a bit more adventurous with your color combinations, then cards like this “Gnome-body Loves You Like I Do” card are a great way to go!

This card was also made using the Pear & Partridge pattern but with a completely different effect than the Koala card. By using the same pattern and simply switching up the color combinations and stamped images, you can easily create a countless number of unique cards. For this example, we chose the delightful My Acrylix® Gnome Matter stamp set paired with some brighter colors. Even though the Gnome Matter stamp set isn’t part of the Happiest Place collection, they fit together like two peas in a pod!

All it takes to create a card that’s all your own is a great pattern and a little imagination.

Free Card Pattern #ctmh #closetomyheart #freepattern #cardmaking #cardpattern #happiestplace #free #floralcelebration #august #stampofthemonth

Using the exact same pattern from above, we created this sweet “Celebrating You” card. In order to get some added milage from your card patterns, consider turning them on their sides, changing the orientation from landscape to portrait.

With simple color combinations from the Happiest Place collection, the Pear & Partridge card pattern, and our Floral Celebration—August Stamp of the Month (available August 1–31), this adorable card has it all!

Proof that less is more, the timeless Pear & Partridge pattern is a great starting point for any card maker, regardless of experience. Click on the link below to download this free pattern and gear up for some serious crafting fun!

Download Free Card Pattern Here.


Recipes:

4½” x 5½” Celebrating You Card (Vertical)
S2008 My Acrylix® Floral Celebration—August Stamp of the Month, CC7202 Happiest Place Paper Packet, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z6517 Lemonade Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2482 Citrus TriBlend™ Marker, Z4304 Silver Loose Sequins, Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots, Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

5½” x 4¼” Gnome-body Loves You Like I Do Card (Horizontal)
C1855 My Acrylix® Gnome Matter Stamp Set, CC7202 Happiest Place Paper Packet, CC7203 Happiest Place Coordinating Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4235 Gold Loose Sequins, Z2497 Dark Red TriBlend™ Marker, Z2489 Blue Turquoise TriBlend™ Marker, Z2482 Citrus TriBlend™ Marker, Z2478 Earth Brown TriBlend™ Marker, Z2486 Dull Green TriBlend™ Marker, Z2476 Fair Skin TriBlend™ Marker, Z2485 Light Green TriBlend™ Marker, Z2477 Tan TriBlend™ Marker, Z3293 Clear Shimmer Brush, Z3515 Black Journaling Pen (.01), Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape, Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

5½” x 4¼” You’re the KOALAest Card (Horizontal)
C1851 My Acrylix® A Koala-ty Day Stamp Set, CC7202 Happiest Place Paper Packet, CC7203 Happiest Place Coordinating Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4304 Silver Loose Sequins, Z2475 Brown Grey TriBlend™ Marker, Z2478 Earth Brown TriBlend™ Marker, Z2485 Light Green TriBlend™ Marker, Z2483 Light Yellow TriBlend™ Marker, Z2477 Tan TriBlend™ Marker, Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape

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