Autumn Winter New Product Blog Hop

Welcome to our Autumn-Winter new product blog hop!  Our new Autumn-Winter 2013 Idea Book just went live August 1st and we thought this would be a super opportunity to show off some of the new product.  Today I am going to give you a small sampling a few of the amazing new product in the Idea Book.  I am in love with the new M-size stamps.  I also have been wanting to use the Ombre' technique and I knew "A True Thank You" (M1029) would be the perfect stamp to work with this technique because of the open letters!  Here is the featured stamp:

I am also featuring the LAUGHLING LOLA papers and the Laughling Lola Complements Dimensional Elements:

If you have come here from Tamra Pope's Blog you are on the right path. This Hop we have almost 40 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations from the new Idea Book. The hop is simple to follow - just click on the link provided in the post to move to the next blog!

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My project is a 4.75" x 4.75" card that I was planning on entering into a couple of online challenges but alas, a day late and a dollar short as the saying goes. 

Just a quick mention that I used the following Freshly Made Sketches # 98 and was going to enter it into there challenge but I missed the deadline.  Oh well...

The next photo actually shows a close-up of the Ombre letters created with our Alcohol Markers and the blending pen.  You also get a better look at the dimension of the Laughlin Lola Dimensional Elements and the bling!

Papers:  Laughling Lola Paper Packet, Laughling Lola Gold, Black, and White Daisy Cardstocks
Stamps:  M1029 A True Thankyou
Ink:   Black Exclusive Inks; Gypsy Alcohol Marker set, Blender Pen
Embellishments:  z1754 Black & Grey Sparkles; z1809 Black Shimmer Trim; Laughling Lola Complimentary Dimensional Elements
Other:  Scallop Border Punch

Now it is time to hop on over to Sheila Bennet's blog and see what eye candy she is flashing your way!  Happy Hopping!

August SOTM Blog Hop - A Chocolate Affair

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for A Chocolate Affair!  Not only does the new Idea Book go live today but this month, but you can get this super Stamp of the Month FREE!   The stamp of the month is S1308 A Chocolate Affair--a set of 16 delightful images shown below.  They are available only thru August 31st.

If you have come here from Sarita Schraeder's blog you are on the right path! You can find a list of all the participants (in case you get lost) here: http://bowlofstamps.blogspot.com/p/sotm-blog-hop-list.html  This month we have almost 60 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this set. The hop is simple to follow - just click on the link provided in the post to move to the next blog!

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This stamp set said 3" x 3" card, oh yes!  My intent was to produce 8 cards, however, we had to pause this mission for the birth of my new granddaughter Sophia born July 30th at 4:31 PM.  Here is the little peanut at 3 hours old.

Now, on with the show.  Here are all the cards I did complete, all 3" x 3".  You can click on any of the  pictures to see greater detail.

Below are each one separately to show details:

Papers:  Chocolate, Blush, Hollyhock, and Colonial White cardstocks
Stamps:  S1308 A Chocolate Affair
Ink:    Chocolate, Blush and Hollyhock Exclusive Inks;
Embellishments:  Silver Shimmer Trim;  Pink and Crystal Glitz Glitter Gels; shimmer brads (retired)
Other:  Wishes Card Confidence Program NOW available in the new Idea Book was used for all 3x3 patterns

Time to hop on over to Dawn Ross's Blog to see her beautiful eye candy! Be sure to visit all the Consultants' Blogs to get some great crafting and other fun ideas! Remember, the SOTM is only available thru August 31st! Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set for FREE this month!

Happy hopping!

My WOTG Canvas Art

As you may have seen Close To My Heart has an absolutely wild special going on only through the end of this month for the Canvas Art Workshop On The Go.  Now, my scrapbooking skills are limited because I tend to be a cardmaker, but the $40 kit is $19.95 through the end of this month and I could NOT pass up a deal like that. 

First I started out with the WOTG kit:

Here is what you get for that great price!  A 12"x12" canvas with a chevron design, the C-size stamp set (normally $13.95), Sparkle Flourish ($4.95), 10 large size gems, Cashmere Bakers Twine (1 yard), Dimensional Elements (enough for 2 canvas's if you wanted) and fully illustrated instructions.

Since I knew what pictures would be used (my daughter-in-law's grandparents came to visit and it was so special to her).  So I cropped the pictures to the suggested sizes of the dimensional elements and printed them out.

I then punched out all the dimensional elements and filed and sandpapered the little nubbies left from punching them out.  I then laid them out on my canvas with pictures in the little dimensional element frames and took a picture before I did anything stamping.  This is what it looked like:

Note that even the jewel swirls are still on their acetate and no popped up tape added.  I just wanted to have an idea of balance.  So then I stamped everything and added dimensional tape where needed and this is the finished project:

I am SO pleased with how it turned out.  To see details you can click on it the picture.  Here is one last picture zero-ing in on the dimension.

If you have never tried a home-décor project like this, you can't beat the deal that Close To My Heart is offering this month!  Get yours here!

Background stamping

Discover tips and tricks for using background stamp sets to create continuous images, personalized patterned papers, and nested designs.

Stamp sets used in this video -  D1540 In the Background:

D1544 Distressed Backgrounds:

Masculine Card Workshop

I always find it difficult to come up with masculine card ideas when birthdays and father days roll around.  So with today's post I decided to get a jump on some birthdays.  The extent of my creativity is limited so while I exercised that creativity to the extent it would go, I also garnered ideas from some very talented fellow consultants and will give them credits where due.  If you are interested in purchasing one of these kits, see details at end of post.

This is from my masculine card workshop.  Here are the 6 cards we created:

This first card is my own creation that was inspired by a mustache card by Jen Rubio.  I thought it was so cute and of course, "DAD" could be replaced by "golfer" "grandpa" "griller" or even something like "day".  Those mustache cards are SO fun!  Click to see details.

Papers:  LaterSk8r WOTG, Outdoor Denim, Pear, White Daisy, and Slate cardstocks

Stamps:  C1542 Perfect Fit-Dad (images below)

Ink:    Outdoor Denim, Pear Exclusive Inks

Embellishments:  Durables Artisan Studs; Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon 

Other:  CTMH Cricut Artiste cartridge, 2" scallop circle punch

The next card was inspired by Allisa Chilton who is another amazing and creative consultant!  The card is  meant for a masculine youth birthday.

Papers:  LaterSk8r WOTG, Outdoor Denim, Lagoon, and White Daisy cardstocks

Stamps:  LaterSk8r Stamp Set (images below)

Ink:    Outdoor Denim, Slate Exclusive Inks

Embellishments:  White Twill Ribbon

Other:  CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge

The next card was again inspired by Allisa Chilton and is intended as a small child masculine card.

Papers:  LaterSk8r WOTG, Outdoor Denim, Lagoon, Pear, and White Daisy cardstocks

Stamps:  Fast and Furious (images below); Art Philosophy Stamp Sets (Happy Birthday)

Ink:    Outdoor Denim, Pear, Lagoon Exclusive Inks

Embellishments:  Slate Baker's Twine; Durables Artisan Studs

Other:  CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge

Now we move into the Tommy WOTG cards.  My first card was inspired by one that I made for Father's Day for my son-in-law.  Making these little shirts with the Artiste are SO much easier than trying to find the right size origami shirt and lies so much flatter!

Papers:  Tommy WOTG, Outdoor Denim, Honey, and White Daisy cardstocks

Stamps: Card Chatter - Birthday

Ink:    Outdoor Denim Exclusive Inks

Embellishments:  Natural Hemp; Durables Artisan Studs

Other:  CTMH Cricut Artiste cartridge, Tim Holtz Embossing Folder

The next card was pretty much a shameless copy (because I loved it SO much) from Michelle Bowley-- another very talented consultant.

Papers:  Tommy WOTG, Outdoor Denim, Cranberry, and White Daisy cardstocks

Stamps: Card Chatter - Birthday

Ink:    Outdoor Denim Exclusive Inks

Embellishments:  Burlap Ribbon;  Durables Artisan Studs; Cranberry Baker's Twine

Other:  Spellbinders pennant die

The final card was inspired by Brittany Sanfillippo.  I was looking for a card that used the outdoor denim, honey and white strip B&T papers of Tommy.  She had a beautiful card that fit the bill.

Papers:  Tommy WOTG, Outdoor Denim, Cranberry, Honey, Kraft, and White Daisy cardstocks

Stamps: Tommy WOTG Stamp Set (images below); CTMH Cricut Artiste Stamp Set

Ink:    Outdoor Denim, honey,  Exclusive Inks

Embellishments: Durables Artisan Studs

Other:   CTMH Cricut Artiste cartridge

I hope this helps to give you a few ideas for masculine cards.  I have a few kits for sale that can be ordered.  Kits will come with all pieces stamped and ready to be put together for the 6 cards shown above.  Instructions included.  The cost is $15 plus postage.  You can find my contact information on my shop on line site here:

Happy 4th of July!

July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Happy Freedom Month and welcome to the July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  This month the featured stamp of the month is S1307 Sweet Life--a set of 9 images featuring fruit.  Below are the images in this stamp set that are available only thru July 31st.

 

 

If you have come here from Helen Onulak's blog you are on the right path! You can find a list of all the participants (in case you get lost) here: http://bowlofstamps.blogspot.com/p/sotm-blog-hop-list.html  This month we have over 50 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this set. The hop is simple to follow - just click on the link provided in the post to move to the next blog!

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My item is a 4" x 5.5" card. When I cut out the paper for the card, I cut it at 5.5" x 8" (instead of 5.5" x 8.5").  So, what's a quarter of an inch right?  I thought I would feature the Dakota papers which will soon be retiring.  I love the look of this paper with black cardstock!

Next a closer look at the sparkle tape:

Papers:  Dakota WOTG, Black cardstocks
Stamps:  S1307 Sweet Life
Ink:    Black Exclusive Inks; Cranberry and Topiary Alcohol Markers
Embellishments:  Black Shimmer Trim; Black Mini Medley (while supply lasts) 
Other:  Art Philosophy cartridge

Time to hop on over to Nikka Geer's Blog to see her beautiful eye candy! Be sure to visit all the Consultants' Blogs to get some great crafting and other fun ideas! Remember, the SOTM is only available thru July 31st! Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set for $5!

Happy hopping!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful father's who have stepped up to be the greatest dad's ever!  Don't you just love these card occasions?  Today I honor both my son and son-in-law for the amazing Dad's that they are.  I wish my own Dad was here to see them!

On the cards below, both were made with Cricut Artiste cartridge.  All the pieces of the cards come from p. 75 of the Cricut booklet and the shirt was cut at 4.25".

The first card was made from the Buzz and Bumble WOTG kit and is a standard size card:

The next card is made with the Tommy WOTG kit:

Here is a side view:

And next is the inside view:

Normally, I hate to think of making a card without stamping but I decided to relent.  Both of these cards have no stamping.

I hope you all have the best days ever with your Dad's!  Best wishes to all Fathers!!