Friday, August 31, 2012

September Stamp of the Month Bloghop

It's hard to believe school is beginning next week.  The kids are ready (sort of), and I am SUPER ready!

Welcome to the September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  If you've arrived here from {Wendy's blog,} you're in the right place!  I hope you take the time to hop from blog to blog and check out the great cards, scrapbook layouts and 3D items the 50+ consultants have created for your enjoyment.

The September Stamp of the Month, Fall Favorites, is perfect for fall cards and scrapbook pages.  




I really like the small strip of vegetables.  I made a border and colored it with watercolor pencils, and blended it with the Blending Pen.  I love how the Blending Pen makes the colors pop!  I've been seeing lots of people use the Burlap Ribbon.  Such a great addition to the CTMH lineup!

The  new Antiqued Gold Mini-Medley Accents are pretty neat, too.  

The paper is from Flirty, which is the paper with the big pink flowers.  It works great for fall!










Front and back sides of the Flirty paper pack

At first I was disappointed there was no "official" fall paper this time.  But I think these Flirty papers and colors work nicely for fall-themed cards!

The bright pink color is called Flirty Raspberry and the yellow colored paper is Flirty Yellow (catchy names, aren't they?)  They are trendy colors, which are currently only available in this paper pack.  No stamp pad, card stock pack or markers are available separately.  This allows Close To My Heart to incorporate great trendy colors, without the long-term commitment that a full complement of products requires.  It's better for us, because we can incorporate and use the "hot" colors, and it keeps costs down (they won't have to stock the color after it's gone out of fashion.)  It's kind of like putting semi-permanent hair dye in your hair.  It washes out after 5 shampoos.  (or one or two Idea Books)  haha!

Supplies Used:
Fall Favorites (September Stamp of the Month) S1209, $17.95 or $5 with your $50 purchase
Casual Expressions (D1525, $17.95)
Cricut Artiste Cartridge (Z1790, $99)  (I cheated and cut my shape out by hand, but it IS a Cricut shape)
Flirty Paper Pack (X7160B, $9.95)
Card Stock:  Chocolate, Colonial White
Burlap Ribbon  (Z1760, $7.95)
Inks:  Autumn Terracotta, Cocoa for sponging
Watercolor Pencils
Blending Pen
Mini-Medley Accents - Antiqued Gold (Z1786)
Foam Mounting Tape
Glue Dots





But you don't have to use a fall theme for this stamp set, "country" works, too!  To make the "quilty" background, I just cut 1" squares in half, into triangles, and arranged them in a quilt pattern.  I think it would work to make a entire quilt background, but it was 1:00am, and I didn't feel like it.


Supplies Used:
Fall Favorites (September Stamp of the Month) S1209, $17.95 or $5 with your $50 purchase
Casual Expressions (D1525, $17.95)
Pemberley Paper Pack (X7148B, $9.95)
Inks:  Outdoor Denim, Cocoa for sponging
Markers: Buttercup, Vanilla Cream (retired), Bamboo, Lilac Mist (retired), Dutch Blue (retired), Tulip (retired), Smoothie, Chocolate. Desert Sand, Olive
Mini-Medley Accents - Antiqued Gold (Z1786)
Foam Mounting Tape

If you're loving this stamp set, you can shop now on my website.  You could also come to a card class if you're in my neighborhood.  Don't forget, you can still get the It's Your Day stamp set for $5 with your $35 order - now through the end of September!


Now, hop on over to {Sheila's blog}.  Thanks for hopping by!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Christmas, already?

I participate in a new-stamp-set swap.  I was assigned the Buttons, Bits and Bobs stamp set (B1408, $9.95).  I thought it would be fun to use the new CTMH Cricut cartridge, Artiste with the set, since all the button shapes in the stamp set are on the Cricut cartridge (yay!).


I used the new Pear & Partridge paper, which I love.

I used the Cricut to cut the buttons and card base (a gatefold card, but with semi-circular flaps.)  I like that the Cricut makes little cut marks where you're supposed to fold.  I have a friend who doesn't like those little cut marks, and "removes them" in Cricut Craft Room.



Since this card's left and right flaps fold into the center, I thought it would be best to make a "seat belt" for the card.  It slides up so that the card can be opened.  I wanted to put a piece of card stock in the center panel of the card, so there would be a place to write a sentiment, but I didn't want to cover up the pretty green pattern on the inside of the birdy paper.  

CTMH's use of the Smoothie color for the birds was (I thought) a little unusual.  I don't usually think of pink with Christmas.  Anyway, it's beautiful.  

I used foam mounting tape to pop the buttons up.  

I liked the Archival Black ink for this card, because the 'regular' black was kind of wimpy looking on the Olive card stock.  It wasn't as solid of ink coverage as I would have liked.  The Archival Black is a nice compromise between 'regular' and Staz-On, which I don't like to use.  (stinky, plus it stains my stamps forever...)

Hope you don't mind that I was thinking about Christmas (already)...
(Actually, I've already planned my Christmas Card Workshop cards, happening on October 6 & 7.  Yes, I am crazy...)

Supplies Used:
Pear & Partridge Paper Pack (X7162B, $9.95)
Buttons, Bits & Bobs (B1408, $9.95)
Pear & Partridge Workshop On the Go - Card Making Kit (G1043, $29.95)
Cricut Artiste Cartridge (Z1790, $99.00)
Card Stock Colors:  Olive, Smoothie, Blush, Cashmere, Olive
Ink Colors: Archival Black, Hollyhock, Cranberry, Olive, New England Ivy
Sponge (Z697, $1.25)
Bitty Opaques (Z1707, $2.95)
Waxy Flax:  Olive (retired), Chocolate (Z1088, $3.95)
Baker's Twine - Harvest Assortment (Z1751, $4.95)
Piercing Tool Kit (Z1114, $5.95)
Foam Mounting Tape
Glue Dots


Lisa


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Stamp & Scrap Garage Sale this Sunday (9/2) from noon to 3pm


I have too much good stuff! Come by my Stamp & Scrap Garage Sale for some free make-n-takes, snacks, and discounted paper crafting supplies.  (Plus, if you're not doing something more exciting for the Labor Day weekend, you can come and hang out with us for a bit!)  [Email me if you need my address.]



You can check out the NEW Close To My Heart Catalog! Lots of beautiful papers and stamps. What does that mean for you?  Deep discounts on retired goodies.  It's out with the old and in with the new!  (My craft-filled house can only take so much...)

I also have a personal, customer-special right now - Place a qualifying CTMH order and get FREE stuff! from me! 

It's my Last Ditch Effort Sale to earn the Close To My Heart Incentive Cruise!  I only need 3,000 more points -- I can do this, but I need your help!  

Even if you can't come to my 'Garage Sale' you can still take advantage of my customer special!

Order $100*      GET     Anything in the catalog priced between 
                                        $18 and $20 for FREE**

Order $75*        GET     Anything in the catalog priced between 
                                        $12 and $14 for FREE**

Order $50*        GET     Anything in the catalog priced between 
                                        $9 and $11 for FREE**

To get the most bang for your buck - Order a minimum of $35 in product and you can buy the It's Your Day/National Stamping Month double set (a $35.90 value) for just $5!  If you spend $50 in product, you can buy the August Stamp of the Month ($17.95 value) for just $5, too!  Now is a great time to shop! 

If you were wanting the Cricut Cartridge (700 wonderful shapes!), you could buy that, add the two $5 special stamp sets (spending $109*) and get up to $172.85* worth of stuff!!  Cool!!

The sale is open to ALL customers and hostesses!

* Order total before shipping and tax
** Customer pays shipping and tax on free item

If you decide to shop online, remember to "Join" the Last Ditch Effort party.  Your goodies will ship to you directly, and I will mail you a check for you the cost of your free product.

I hope you can stop by my Stamp/Scrap Garage Sale on Sunday, September 2.  It's from noon to 3:00pm.  I'd love to see you!

You can also check out the brand new Thirty-One catalog and goodies! woo-hoo!!


Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Stamping Month Blog Hop - It's Time to Celebrate!

Hi, all.  I love a celebration - especially if it involves discounted stuff!!

Did you know September is National Stamping Month?  And Close To My Heart is celebrating NOW!  Starting August 15, and through September 30, you can get the SUPER cute stamp set, It's Your Day, for just $5, when you make a $35 minimum purchase!  (The stamp set is worth $35.90.)

If you've arrived here from Judy Faye's blog, welcome!


I love this set, and I think it coordinates nicely with the May National Scrapbooking Month paper pack, Dotty for You, so if you still have some left, try pairing the two together!

I loved the bicycle right away, so I decided to start with that image.  I like the circle sayings, too, so I decided to incorporate that.





I cut the butterflies (buttercup and sunset card stock) with the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge, and embellished them with the Mini Opaque pearls.  I also stamped the polkadots on the top butterfly (second generation).

For the "roadway" I used the NEW Adhesive-Backed Chalkboard Sheet (Z1789).  It's really cool.  It's a 12x12 sheet of black plastic-y paper with adhesive on the back. It's kind of rough, like a chalkboard, and made of smooth plastic.  If you use regular chalk with it, it will rub off, but if you use the NEW CTMH Chalk Marker (Z1767), it works great.

I cut a 1/2" strip, and drew the dottled line for the road.

I also put some silver Bitty Brads in the center of the bicycle wheels.  So cute and easy!  Stay tuned for more cards with this great set.  :)

Don't forget to check out my "This Month's Specials" tab for some great deals on this and other products!  If you want to shop right now, click here!

Now hop on over to Kristine's blog to see what treats she has for you to see!  Thanks for looking! 

Supplies Used:
It's Your Day - National Stamping Month Stamp Set (just $5 with your $35 order)
Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge (Z1686)
Adhesive Backed Cardboard Sheet (Z1789)
Chalk Marker (Z1767)
Card Stock and Ink Colors:  Pear, Pacifica, Buttercup, Sunset, Creme Brulee
Mini-brads
Bitty Opaques
Liquid Glass (as an adhesive for the butterflies)
Piercing Tool for the brads




Sunday, August 5, 2012

New Product Blog Hop!

Welcome to the CTMH New Product Blog Hop!  I'm so excited about the NEW Fall/Winter Idea Book - especially the new Cricut Artiste cartridge!!!  700 shapes - and lots of 3D items!  

If you've arrived here from Susan's Blog - you're in the right place.  Welcome!!  Lots more variety with this blog hop, because we're not all working with the same stamp set.  It's for ANYTHING that's new in the new Idea Book.

I wanted to work with the new Clementine paper pack.  It's so gorgeous...a little bit of a country feel, but it's not limited at all.  I just like the Twilight/Sorbet combination for some reason.  The pack includes three new colors - Champagne, Saddle and Cashmere, but I just used Desert Sand as my coordinating color.

Here's my first project - a card holder box that looks like a magazine box.  The top of the box has the big swoopy sides, and base of the box is a rectangle.  They are separate pieces.  I made the base out of Twilight card stock - I thought the heavier-weight paper would support the box better.  I used Clementine for the top piece.


I thought it would be fun for a birthday gift - a box o' cards.
I really like the stamp set Casual Expressions (D1525, $17.95)


They're almost all Cricut shapes in this stamp set, which is wonderful.  Did you know the stamp sets that coordinate with Cricut shapes have the size of the shape to cut AND which cartridge to use them with printed right on the plastic carrier sheet?  Lovely!!

Here's a close up of the outside of the embellishments:


I used Mini-Medley Accents, Antique Gold (Z1786) and Just Blooms Floret Paper Flowers (Z1764). 

Inside the card box, I will be enclosing cards, like this one!


I used the FUN stamp set that comes with the Cricut Cartridge (Artiste) - it has the banner and the cupcake.  I put Liquid Applique and gold dragees (sugary balls for cake decorating) that I had hanging around my pantry (they are WAY too old to eat).  Here's a close up of the cupcake:



A word of caution.  I put the Liquid Applique and dragees on last night, and let it dry thoroughly overnight.  I think I should have pushed the balls in further.  One came off.  :(

If you look closely, I edged the cupcake.  I used the new Mini-Pigment Pad Sets (1" each square, comes in a set of 10.)  Pigment Inks are more vibrant and much slower drying than our (usual) water-based stamp pads.  Here's the Adventure Set (Z2501, $19.95).  They are stackable.  I used the orange-y one (like Sunset).  What I liked, and was a little surprised by, was how I liked the spongy texture of the pad.  It made it easy to edge the cupcake.   A lot easier than the 'regular' sized pads.



Here's the stamp set I used from the Artiste collection.  There are two MORE great stamp coordinating sets that come with the cartridge.  Did you know Close To My Heart's Cricut cartridges are the only ones that come with coordinating stamp sets?? YAY!!



One more thing I made was the Cricut Cupcake Box.  What a wonderful thing to add to my birthday-gift!  Just add cupcake!  :)


There's three pieces to it - even a frosting-saving holder on the inside.  And you know, the frosting is the most important part!!  I still have to add the plastic 'dust cover' for the inside of the lid.  I'm thinking of putting some flowers on it, too...and maybe repeating that Happy Birthday banner that I put on the card.


I hope you liked looking.  Stay tuned for more projects, with different paper packs and stamp sets.

Supplies Used:
Cricut cartridge - Artiste (Z1790, $99 and includes 3 coordinating stamp sets and 3 coordinating chipboard sets)
Clementine Paper Pack (X7156B, $9.95)
Casual Expressions (D1525, $17.95)
Mini-Medley Accents - Antique Gold (Z1786, $5.95)
Just Blooms Paper Shapes - Floret  (Z1764, $5.95)
Ink:  Twilight (Z2160, $5.25), Sorbet (Z2164, $5.25), Mini-Pigment Pads (Adventure, Z2501, $19.95)
Card Stock: Taffy (retired), Twilight, Colonial White, Sorbet, Kraft
Adhesive for the boxes:  Redliner tape - Terrifically Tacky Tape
Liquid Applique (Z308, $3.95)
Foam Mounting Tape
Glue Dots

Don't forget, if you want to buy anything you've seen here, you can start shopping now!  

Also, don't forget to come back on August 15 - to check out the National Stamping Month Promotion Blog Hop!!  

Now hop on over to Elizabeth's Blog.  Happy hopping!