December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - Candlelight Garden

Welcome to our December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!   If you have come here from MICHELE'S BLOG, 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 on Melinda’s Blog:  http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/p/stamp-of-month-blog-hop-list.html.

This month we have over 30 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

I thought this stamp set just begged to be used with our watercolors.  I stamped the image with our Memento Ink on watercolor paper then used my watercolors to color everything in.  I mounted on a piece of Slate cardstock and matted it with some Georgie paper and Sunset cardstock.  A little bit of Glacier twine adds a little somethin' somethin'.  I did not add a sentiment to the front of the card.  I wanted to artwork to stand out.  I'll add something inside when I send it to someone.  

Thanks for looking!  

Now "Hop" on over to MAUREEN'S BLOG to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the December SOTM is only available until the 31st!  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount!

Cricut Snowman Ornament

                         

I pinned this idea some time last year.  Since then I've seen variation of the idea including mounted on a card.  Thanks to original inspiration from Chelsea's Creative Corner . 

Here is how I made this Snowman ornament:

Face – Artiste – Page 50, 2”, white daisy card stock.  Cut 2, used double sided sticky tape to adhere the ends together.  You can get 6 to a page if you cut 5 first and then unload the paper and use the scrap for the 6^th.

Nose – Artistry – Page 17, Icon 2, 1 ½” . Yes, it is the ice cream cone icon.  I trimmed the edges of the ice cream off. 

Holly Leaf – Artistry – Page 48, Icon 1, 1 ¾”, discard the berries.  I used New England Ivy card stock.

Berries – Art Philosphy – Page 46, 1 ¾”, red glitter paper. You could also use red gems.

Hat – 2 ½ “ by 1 1/2 ", brim is 4" by 1/2 " – black card stock.  Overlap and tuck in some silver shimmer trim.

Eyes – ½ “ circle from black card stock. You could also use googley eyes, buttons, black gems or pearls.

2 inch circle punch – or any 2” circle for back to hold rosette together

Make rosette by folding on the score lines and using double sided sticky tape to adhere the two ends.  Use the 2 inch circle with lots of Liquid Glass to glue the rosette together. This will be the back of the ornament.   If you want to stamp a “to and from” on the circle, do this before gluing.  Add nose to front with liquid glass.  Assemble hat using shimmer trim, holly and berries and then glue to face at an angle with liquid Glass.  Punch hole at top in one of the rosette folds and thread string to make an ornament.  Thanks for looking!

Artistry Hello watercolor card

Watercolor card using our new watercolors.  I did a gradient wash over the water color paper with some bold colors.  I masked off the edges of the paper with some washi tape to get the crisp edges and then mounted on sapphire card base. The Hello cut from our new Artistry cartridge just sets off the card. 

Fundamental Scrapbooking

Christmas Card Workshop

Hello!  I wanted to give you the information on my Christmas Card workshop.  This class is Thursday, November 12th at 6:30 pm.  Always remember if this date does not work for you I would be happy to schedule this class at  a convenient time for you.  Just gather a few friends together and you can come to my house or I can come to yours. This year we'll be using the White Pines paper packet and coordinating embellishments.  We'll make 15 cards (5 each of 3 designs).  I'll also show you some variations using this month's Stamp of the Month "Twinkle".  You can also add on 4 of our super simple Cut Above cards for only $6 more. 

Below are the details.  Please let me know if you are interested or have any questions.

What – Christmas Card Workshop – 15 cards – (5 each of 3 designs)

When – Thursday, November 12^th 6:30 PM

Where – My house

RSVP and pay before Wednesday, October, 21st

Cost :   

Option 1  - $29.00 (Includes Shipping & Handling and tax) – Includes all contents of the Workshop on the Go (Stamp Set – D Size, 2 sheets of White Pines paper, 5 sheets Cardstock – 2 Fern, 2 White Daisy, 1 Cranberry, 15 White Daisy Cards and Envelopes, 1 pkg Bitty Sparkles, 1 pkg Fern Thick Twine, Instruction Brochure). 

Option 2 – $23.00 - NO STAMP - Includes all the above but no stamp set included

               ADD ONS – Add on a set of 4 Cut Above Cards (2 of each design) for only $6.00 more for a total of 19 cards

You’ll have use of all my inks and blocks, assembly instructions and helpful tips.  We will also be using the October Stamp of the Month – Twinkle – to make some variations on the cards. 

Bring basic tools to class  – Paper Trimmer, Sharp scissors, adhesive, Glue Dots or Liquid Glass, 3D Foam Tape.

 

Nevermore Fun Fold Card and Blog Hop

Welcome to our Holiday Expressions Blog Hop!  We will be featuring items that can be found in our Holiday Expressions mini catalog.  If you have come here from Michelle's Blog, 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. 

I decided to feature the Nevermore paper pack.  I got the idea for this fun fold card from the Autumn 2015 CardMaker Magazine on page 83.  I have some instructions below on how you can make your own card.

 Here are some different views of the card.  You can see how the card folds.  

Now "Hop" on over to Jen's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the papers featured in the Holiday Expression book are only available until December 31st.  You can see the whole catalog here.  

Here is how to make this fun fold card:

Cut an 11 3/4" x 6" out of B&T paper.  

With the long edge horizontal, score at 3 1/4" and 5" on the CTMH score board. Turn the paper and score at 3 1/4" and 5" again.  Fold panel along score lines, creating valley folds at first and last scorelines and mountain folds at the center score lines.

Cut a zip strip to 11 3/4" and score the same way.  Attach to the bottom of the card.

Cut 3 Spider Webs from Black CS at 4 1/2" (Artbooking, pg 54, Real Dial Size)

Cut Boo from Black CS at 1 1/4" (Artbooking, pg 54, Real Dial Size)

Cut 2 circles at 3 1/4" and 1 circle at 4" from the grey B&T.

Cut 1 circle from Whisper CS at 2 1/2" to stamp your Little Monster on.

Cut shape for Spooky Cute stamp from Eggplant at 1 1/2" (Artfully Sent, pg 29)

Layer the 4" B&T grey circle behind one spider web for the front of the card.  Attach the stamped Whisper circle to the front.  Stamp Happy Halloween on the 3 1/4" B&T circle and attach Boo to the other 3 1/4" circle. Attach these to the front of the spider webs.  

Adhere layered spider webs to card as shown lining them up so they match, creasing along score lines of left and right panel.

Tip:  Make sure your spider webs are all lined up before you adhere anything to them or adhere them to the card.  They are not symmetrical and you'll want them to "disappear" when the card is closed. 

October Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - Twinkle

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  This month we will be featuring October's  SOTM, which is "Twinkle".  If you have come here from Jessica's Blog, 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 on Melinda’s Blog:  http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/p/stamp-of-month-blog-hop-list.html.

This month we have over 40 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

I chose to use the new CTMH watercolor paints on this Christmas card.  I did a color wash in reds on watercolor paper.  Then I spattered some green from my paint brush and finally, I used a cotton swab dipped in alcohol and touched to the surface of the watercolor.  The watercolor jumps away from the alcohol and creates those white rings.  I mounted the finished piece on a 5 x 7 piece of Cranberry Card stock and attached it to a card front.  I then added some velum snow flakes from the White Pines Complement package. Some are glued directly to the watercolor and some are popped up with foam tape. 

Here is a tip to get your stamped image to show through the watercolors:  First I stamped the frame image in Archival black ink on watercolor paper and then I stamped the sentiment "Peace" inside the frame.  Then I used Elmer's Rubber Cement to paint over the stamped image. Let the glue dry and THEN use your watercolors.  When everything is completely dry you can rub away the rubber cement and the stamped image remains underneath.  See the example on the below card.

Now "Hop" on over to Jilena's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the SOTM is only available until !  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount!

National Stamping Month "Hello Life" Blog Hop

Welcome to our National Stamping Month Blog Hop!  We are featuring artwork from the three exclusive Hello Life stamp sets available only in September.  If you have come here from DONNA'S BLOG, 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.  

This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here is my card:

There are actually three different stamp sets available this month designed to fit with a specific type of papercrafting.  I love making cards so I chose the Cardmaking Stamp set.  I also used our new watercolors and watercolor paper.  I took one of our clear acrylic blocks (the 1 x 3 1/2) and used my paintbrush to load it up with a vibrant pink color and stamped it at the top of the card.  I cleaned off the block and then loaded up the orange shade and stamped it below the pink.  Then a yellow and a green.  The image turned out very messy - not all all like stamping with our inks and a stamp - more organic.  And it doesn't matter that the colors bled into each other.  That's the whole idea with watercolors - they blend together.  AND I think they work!  The "Hello" stamp works perfectly with it too.  I stamped it with Archival Black ink on a tag and matted it on black cardstock.  Tip:  Make sure you use the Watercolor paper to stamp the "Hello" instead of just White Daisy cardstock, there may be a slight color variation.  

Now "Hop" on over to CAROL'S BLOG to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, these three exclusive National Stamping Month stamps are only available in September.  Click HERE to your yours. 

September is National Stamping Month, and this year Close To My Heart has something to help every kind of papercrafter say a big “hello” to life! Available only during the month of September, these exclusive C-size My Acrylix^® Hello, Life! stamp sets can be purchased for $13.95 each! Or, for an even better deal, you can purchase all three for only $34.95 —a savings of $6.90! Each stamp set is designed to fit with a specific type of papercrafting, whether that’s scrapbooking, cardmaking, or pocket scrapbooking. However, all the stamp sets coordinate with each other and can be used together to create dynamic artwork. These stamp sets also coordinate with shapes from the new Cricut^® Artistry collection to help expand your artwork options even further. Remember, these stamp sets are available for one month only, so get your orders in for one stamp set—or all three—before these gorgeous stamps disappear! 

September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  We will be featuring September's SOTM, which is called Paper Garden.  If you have come here from Terrie's Blog, 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 on Melinda’s Blog:  http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/p/stamp-of-month-blog-hop-list.html.

This month we have over 30 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

                            

I got the directions for this card on Cardmaker Magazine's current issue.  It is one of the Fun with Folds cards.  I cut a piece of Glacier card stock to 7.5 x 3.5.  I made a pencil mark along the right edge 1.5' from the top right corner.  Then made another pencil mark along the bottom edge 3 inches from the bottom left corner.  I connected the marks and cut off that triangle.  Then I used the background honeycomb stamp to stamp along the edge with Versamark ink.  Then I sprinkled white embossing powder and heat embossed.  Place the panel of card stock on your Score board with the long edge at the top, stamped side down. Score the panel at 3", 3.5", 5" and 6 1/8".  Accordion fold along the score lines beginning with valley fold at 3 inch line.  Below picture shows the back side of the Glacier card stock after stamping and scoring. 

Here is an up close shot of the fold with the embossing.

 I then cut the leaves and the two flowers using the new Artistry cartridge and stamped them in Glacier and rolling the edges in Canary ink.  The leaves are stamped in Sweet Leaf.  I used a little foam tape to pop up the flowers and added some Sorbet Shimmer trim.

Now "Hop" on over to Gina's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the SOTM is only available until !  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount!

CTMH September News - New Catalogs, Stamp of the Month and National Stamping Month

I can't believe it is September already!  Let me tell you what's happening in September with Close to My Heart,

1. September brings not one but two new CTMH Catalogs! The first Catalog is called Annual Inspirations and it will give you ideas all through out this year and into August 2016.  The 2nd catty is called Holiday Expressions and it features Christmas and Halloween ideas. Here is how you can get these catalogs -1. Contact me and I'll drop one off to you.  2. Place an order on my web site and get a FREE Holiday Expressions and purchase the Annual Inspiration.  Just add it to your order when you check out.

2. September brings another exclusive stamp of the month called "Paper Garden".  Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5—that’s over 70% off retail! When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing. Check out my facebook page or my blog for upcoming artwork.

3. September is also National Stamping Month, and this year Close To My Heart has something to help every kind of papercrafter say a big “hello” to life! Available only during the month of September, these exclusive C-size My Acrylix^® Hello, Life! stamp sets can be purchased for $13.95 each! Or, for an even better deal, you can purchase all three for only $34.95—a savings of $6.90! Each stamp set is designed to fit with a specific type of papercrafting, whether that’s scrapbooking, cardmaking, or pocket scrapbooking. However, all the stamp sets coordinate with each other and can be used together to create dynamic artwork. These stamp sets also coordinate with shapes from the new Cricut^® Artistry collection to help expand your artwork options even further. Remember, these stamp sets are available for one month only, so get your orders in for one stamp set—or all three—before these gorgeous stamps disappear! Make certain to follow Close To My Heart’s blog, Instagram, and Facebook page for artwork inspiration featuring these lively stamp sets all month long. You can post your own artwork to your social media channels using the hashtag #ctmhHelloLife.

Artristry Blog Hop

Welcome to our Artistry Blog Hop featuring the newest exclusive Cricut cartridge from Close To My Heart.  We will be featuring artwork made with Artistry!  If you have come here from MARIA'S BLOG, 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 on Melinda’s Blog:  http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/p/stamp-of-month-blog-hop-list.html.

This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

Here is the card I made.  I used the negative space from the background image on page 14 and then used foam tape to pop up the cut out.  I also used the Center Point feature on my Cricut.  Just make a light pencil mark in the center of your card where you want the image cut, maneuver the blade over to this pencil mark, press the Center Point button and then the keys for your image and the Cricut will cut the image in the center.  Easy Peasy!  I used Sapphire cardstock for the background and it is about 1/8 inch smaller than my card base so a little shows as a border.   I cut the little deer out from the same page added some white shimmer trim and stamped "Just Because" in black.  

Sapphire is one of the new card stock colors that come with your Artistry Cartridge. You get 3 coordinating stamp sets and a package of of 24 sheets (2 each of each color) of Adventure Cardstock and of course the Cricut Cartridge and booklet.  See it all HERE 

Now "Hop" on over to SHEILA'S BLOG  to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas!

The new exclusive Artristy Cricut Cartridge is available now HERE. 

August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - Framed

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  We will be featuring August's SOTM "Framed", which is a set of 12 stamps.  If you have come here from ANGELA'S BLOG, 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 on Melinda’s Blog:  http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/p/stamp-of-month-blog-hop-list.html.

This month we have over 30 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

This is the card I made for my nephew's birthday.  He was born on the 4th of July and is serving in the Army stationed in Washington State.  I am so proud of him!   I used our Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge to make the 5 x 7 card on page 20.  I made a card liner for the inside of the card and traced some of the words lightly with pencil onto it. This gave me an outline to back each word with a different color of card stock, washi tape, some glitter paper or shimmer trim.  Below is what the card liner looks like before I adhered it to the inside of the card. I stamped one of the frames from the STOM set with Holiday Red ink and trimmed out and then used the sentiment "happy birthday" stamped in black for the inside of the frame.

Now "Hop" on over to MICHELLE'S BLOG to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the SOTM is only available until !  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount!