March SOTM Blog Hop - Happy Place

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  We will be featuring March's SOTM, which is Happy Place(S1403), a set of 7 stamps.  If you have come here from the fabulous creations of  Wanda Riley'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 here.

This month we have 53 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!

  

So, to start my project, I started by stamping out a full sheet of images, which will give me 8 sets of cards, with 2 different designs.  I used Archival Black Ink to stamp the images, as it will not bleed when using our Alcohol Markers.

I used Outdoor Denim, Cotton Candy, Cyrstal Blus, Honey, Buttercup, New England Ivy and Ruby Markers to color the Nesting Dolls.

This first card, I used both sides of the Ariana B&T Paper and the Zip Strip and Crystal Blue Cardstock.  I used a tag that was cut from the Artiste Cartridge that I already had in my stash, and outlined it twice with my journalling pen after stamping the sentiment in Ruby Ink.

This second card, I used the Ariana B&T paper and Crystal Blue Cardstock along with some Kraft paper.  I stamped the sentiment uing the Archival Black Ink as I find it shows better on the Kraft paper.

These dolls were very fun to color, and I find it very relaxing.  My youngest daughter even wanted in on the fun. I should mention that she is only 3 years old.

Now "Hop" on over to Kathleen Androlewicz'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, March's SOTM is only available during this month, so don't wait to get your hands on this super cute stamp set.  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!

Gratitude for AHSC #44

This week's sketch was one of my first sketches, and I had created a card using this sketch for one of my card classes in the fall using one of my favorite paper packages, Huntington. Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year because I just love the colors, so I think that is why I love this paper so much.

Here is the sketch for this week:

Here is my card:

I hope you will now take the time to pop over to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and see all the lovely creations by our super talented Design Team.

Creating with my husband

So over this past weekend I decided with the kids away that I wanted to make the cards from the 2 NEW card kits in our current Idea Book, Ivy Lane and Lollydoodle.

My husband was watching the replays from the Olympics, and then he decided he wanted to come and make some cards for his own personal stash. Now the reason behind all this is he claims he can't buy me cards any more where I am making them now, and he can't see going out and spending that kind of money on cards when I can make them for considerably less.  

So he sat at the table and watched as I cut all the pieces for each kit, and I asked him to then seperate all the pieces that would be needed for each card.  We then made cards together.  I wish I had thought about taking photos of him creating with me, but maybe I'll do that next time.

My hubby did all the stamping, and assembled the cards based on the instructions in the kits.  Here are the cards from Ivy Lane.  

My cards

My husbands

Next is the Lollydoodle cards, and he is getting more confidence.

My cards

My Husbands

The card kits come with enough product to make 15 cards, 3 designs, 5 of each design.  I even have left over paper and embellishments to use on other creations.  All you need is a paper trimmer, blocks, inks and adhesive for the Lollydoodle, and the same for the Ivy Lane with the exception that you will also need the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.

If you would like to purchase the card kits featured here, or any items mentioned you can shop on my website here, or maybe you'd like to earn some product for FREE....contact me to learn how.

Sketch #43 Smiles, Laughs & Love

I really had fun making this card.  It is a technique that I have not really used before.  I love how it turned out, and plan on using this technique again.

Here is the sketch:

Here is my card:

I started with a Colonial White Card Base.  The next step for this card was I took another piece of Colonial White Cardstock and some post it notes and made a frame.  Inside this frame I took Bamboo Ink and sponged the color onto the cardstock, then I took the retired stamp set Treasure Life(D1306), and stamped the leaves and vines in Olive, and the flowers in Autumn Terracotta, once in 1st generation, and the then 2nd generation. The sentiment is stamped in Cocoa Ink.  After removing the post it notes this is how it looks.  I matted the Colonial White Cardstock onto a piece of Olive Cartstock, adhered it to the cardbase.

I hope you liked my card, and will take a few moments to check out the other creations from our Design Team.

Friendship Layout with Artbooking

So, I have a scrapbooking class coming up on Friday and I've got my layout complete except for adding the photos.

I've used the artbooking cartridge to create this layout, and all the cuts are found on page 78.  You might even recognize this layout from one very similar found on an episode of Artbooking Made Easy.  I started with Slate Cardstock as my base, and then added a White Daisy Mat spritzed with Blush Re-inker.  Then added the overlays.  The large photo frames are 4x6 and cut from Soothie, and the film strip frames are cut from Lagoon, and will fit 2x2 photos.

The remaining cuts can all be found on page 78, from the flourish cut in Whisper to the Friends Forever Brackets cut in Crystal Blue, and the flowers are cut from Blush Cardstock. The finishing touches are Juniper and Silver Washi Tape.

So here is what I've come up with.

I hope you like it.  I know I can't wait to add photos of my girls to complete this layout. If you would like to attend any of my classes please contact me here. If you would like to purchase your own copy of the Artbooking cartridge you can shop now on my website, or you can host a party, and if your party reaches $250 or more, you can earn $40 in Hostess Rewards plus 1 item at 50% off which includes any of our 3 cartridges.

My Favourite Things Blog Hop Across Canada

Welcome to our February Blog Hop featuring creations using products that will we love.  To purchase any of the items seen in our blog hop today, contact your local consultant to place an order.

We hope that you will take the time to leave comments on our posts, as we love to get feedback from our viewers....whether it was something that you really liked or some new technique that was used that you would like to learn how to do....by leaving us comments, we get to hear what you like, and what you want to see. Thank you… now on to our hop! 

If you have just hopped onto my blog, you can start here as this is a circular hop,plus I am the first person on this hop across Canada.  We always start on the East Coast. If you have come from Kathy's Blog then you are in the right spot.

My Project is a Valentine's Day card I made for my husband using some of my favorite products.

This card measures 5x7 and I used one of my favorite papers that has been carried over into the current Idea Book, Laughing Lola.  I took one piece of this paper and covered the entire front of the card and then cut 3 strips of paper 1 inch wide and 3 strips of black cardstock 1 inch wide.  Using the scallop border punch, I punched each strip and layered them, finishing the top piece off with a band of Black Shimmer Trim.

I used the m-size stamp Dotted Love for the sentiment, and stamped it twice, once on white cardstock and then on the plaid pattern found in the Laughing Lola paper pack.  I cut out the heart from the plaid and paper pieced it onto the white Cardstock.  Using CTMH Alcohol Markers in Gypsy I added some color blending it to create a ombrage look.

The finishing touch is to use the Zip Strip that is found at the top of each piece of pattern paper, and add it to the seal of the envelope.

Your next stop on the Cross Canada Hop is Krista of Simply Creating Together.

Here is the line-up incase you find yourself lost along the way.

Michelle ~My Creations With Michelle

Krista ~ Simply Creating Together

Brandy ~ Canadian Scrappers

Terry Ann~ Terry Ann Diack

Famida ~Get Scrappin' with Fami

Kristine ~@ Home With Studio K

Candra ~ Paper Dragon Fleur

Kathy ~ It's a Girl Thing

Thanks for hopping along with us - we hope we were able to inspire you to get creative using some of the designs, products and techniques seen along the way. Join us again in March when we will be featuring card boxes. We hope you will join us again on March 15th, 2014.

Love This Sketch #42 AHSC

It's been a cold winter here on the East Coast which means I'm not outdoors much.  That translates to I'm in my craft room alot more lately.  Most of the time I'm in there cleaning up the mess I've made....but I do get to create every once in awhile.

Here is the sketch for this week:

Here is my card:

I started with Outdoor Denim Carstock, and used my bonefolder and scorpal to add dry embossed stripes on the cardstock.  This just gives it a bit of texture.  I then choose to use the New Arianna paper.  I even used the Zipstrip from this sheet to add a sort of balance to the card.  I colored some Color Ready Seam Binding Ribbon(which is now retired, so sad) with Ruby reinker.  The sentiment and flower come from the Love This Stamp Set(B1432).  I used Sorbet, Sweet Lead and both shades from Ruby as well as my Alcohol Blending Pen to color the flower. The sentiment is stamped in Slate.  The mat is Crystal Blue and I used my sanding file to distress the edges.

I hope you like my card, and will take the time to head over to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge to see the design teams awesome creations.

Embossing is Boss with CTMH

February is an exciting month at Close To My Heart.  Not only is the 2014 Spring/Summer Idea Book now available for you to order from, but we also have an amazing promotion for you too.  

During the month of February, you qualify to receive a free embossing folder for every 2 packs of bulk cardstock (single color or combo) you purchase! That is a savings of $8.95! Select from 5 new embossing folder designs—dot, chevron, quatrefoil, damask, or stripe—when you submit a qualifying order. To view the embossing folder designs click here!

Julie has a quick video explaining how to use our new embossing folders with our White Core paper to get the best results. 

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. You can also purchase it at full retail price $17.95.

To purchase these promotions, or any other product you can shop with me here, or maybe you would like to host a party and earn some free product.  You can start earning rewards as soon as your party reaches $150.  Contact me to book your party!

New Product Blog Hop - Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book

Welcome to the New Product Blog Hop.  At the bottom of the post you will find links to all the entrants participating in this Blog Hop featuring new product.  There are so many things that I am excited about that I wasn't sure where to start.  But yesterday my oldest daughter and I got out the new base and bling line and made some chains.  

These are a few of the new pieces for creating your chains. The chains are 30" and have a 2" extender with lobster claw clasps.  They come in 2 finishes, Faux Antiqued Gold and Faux Antiqued Silver.  There are 4 charm assortments plus a Rhinestone collection to choose from.

Here are the chains that we made:

 This first chain uses one of the many stickers found on the Storyteller Style Sheet. It features the Eiffel Tower, which has a matching charm in the Storyteller Charm package. Each of the Charm packages includes 6 charms, 3 designs, 2 of each design.  These charms come in both finishes, one of each.  I also added the extender piece and and used the heart charm with the word love to finish it off. Best of all, with a little liquid glass I was able to attach the glass cover which gives it that polished look.

My daughter decided she wanted to use the sticker from the same collection, featuring the word Daughter, and also decided to use the last charm from the StoryTeller collection.  She asked if she could raid my bling and accessory collection to dress her chain up.  She grabbed this felt flower from a past collection.

If you are interested in making a chain of your own, you can find the product on my webpage here, or if you would like to hold a jewellery bar party you can contact me here.

Term 2 with AHSC, Sketch #41 Happy Birthday

So, I was playing around with this sketch for awhile, and I really had some issues with some of my creations.  I finally have one that I'm happy enough to share.  I kept this very clean and simple, just using Black and White for my colors.

Here is the sketch:

I'd really like to know what you think of my creation.  I used the Love Doily(B1418) once again, and stamped it on White Daisy CS using Black ink.  Then I used Holiday Tags(D1560) which has tags and sentiments. The tags coordinate with cuts found on our cricut cartridges.  I cut the matching shape out twice, once in Black 1/4 larger than the piece in White Daisy to give it a mat, then stamped the tag shape and the sentiment in black.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you stop by Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge to check out what creations our Design Team has provided, plus you'll get to see some creations from our new Design Team members.