Friday, December 2, 2016

December 2016 Stamp of the Month - Thoughtful Flowers

Posted on by Joyce Gough

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I was really looking forward to working with the December Stamp of the Month, Thoughtful Flowers.  I don't know why, but flower stamp sets are just something I tend to gravitate to.  Maybe it's the versatility of where and how they can be used; maybe it's the variety of colors and coloring options; maybe it's just that flowers make me happy!  Regardless, this stamp set did not disappoint!


I stamped the flowers in black pigment ink, and embossed using clear embossing powder.  I then colored using alcohol markers and cut them out.  Using the darker markers, I also colored the sparkles as well for the middle of the flowers.  The individual flowers were then adhered to Lemon and Lagoon cardstock on a black card.  The sentiments were stamped with Versamark and heated with white embossing powder.

Here is a picture of the stamp set and how you can get it:



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.  Otherwise, you can purchase this set outright for $17.95.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Holiday Card Workshop 2017!

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Need a break from shopping this weekend? I am co-hosting a Holiday Card Workshop at the Hampton Inn on Saturday, Nov. 26, with three of my fellow consultants. Come join us for to make a dent in your card making plans and make some cute tags to boot! We will have refreshments, prizes, and fun! More details on our Facebook invite found here, but you contact me directly as well if you're interested!  Here is a sneak peek!



Sunday, October 30, 2016

Color My World!

Posted on by Joyce Gough

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Color seems to be the "new" buzz word in the paper crafting industry. It's everywhere you look. There are an abundance of examples of cute, outline imaged-stamps colored in with alcohol markers or colored pencils. And look at all the watercoloring done as background motifs. Or ink pads that are used for multiple layers of color. Whether with markers, pencil, watercolor paints, or inks, the colors abound!

I have been enjoying a bit of coloring myself. No, I'm not into the coloring books, although I certainly can see how it can be therapeutic and relaxing to enjoy that particular hobby. Despite having some fun dabbling with various watercolor painting techniques, I do really greatly enjoy markers and pencils. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that a couple of weeks ago, I was so inspired by the colors and stamps associated with the now retired Florence papers, I pulled out my Ornate Blossoms stamp set and colored the images with my CTMH Shinhan markers and Spectrum Noir markers to coordinate with the paper pack. Here are the fruits of my efforts:


I haven't yet done anything with these images, but am looking forward to doing so. Now I'm chomping at the bit to get started on our new CTMH 2017 Planner! There is a page to color at your heart's content for every month of the year. Choose your favorite medium and sit and relax with your a color combination that you love.

 

Want to have a planner of your own? You can purchase the Everyday Life Planner Pages Bundle with a Sea Glass Album or Stripes Album. Or if you love your album from last year, you can purchase the Everyday Life 2017 Planner Pages without an album. Don't hesitate to get yours now because once they're gone, they're gone!

And speaking of coloring, some of you may have previously purchased some of our exclusive stamp sets in outline designs that are fun to color in.  Close To My Heart has provided some new Thin Cuts to help you with cutting out some of these stamp sets. If you own or would like to own any of the following, please click on the links below to see the coordinating Thin Cuts to help make cutting these images ever so much easier!
  • My Acrylix® School Kids (D1706) - coordinating Thin Cuts School Kids (CC1158)
  • My Acrylix® Sweet Birthday (B1532) - coordinating Thin Cuts Sweet Birthday (CC1156)
  • My Acrylix® Swirly Seashells (C1664) - coordinating Thin Cuts Swirly Seashells (CC1155)
  • My Acrylix® Wreath (A1193) - coordinating Thin Cuts Wreath (CC1157)
New Thin Cuts

Saturday, October 1, 2016

World Card Making Day 2016!

Posted on by Joyce Gough

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Hopefully all card makers out there are aware that today is World Card Making Day!  I killed two birds with one stone this morning by making a card with the October Stamp of the Month, Yuletide Joy:

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.  Otherwise, you can purchase this set outright for $17.95.

I decided I wanted to use the new color of the year, CTMH Sea Glass, with the star stamp. So I worked from the bottom up. I used the new Sea Glass Glitter Paper as the base on my card. Next I took a slightly smaller piece of white, glossy cardstock and sponged over it in Sea Glass ink. While still a little wet, I brushed some iridescent Perfect Pearls over top, although it is difficult to see from the photo. I then ran this piece of cardstock through my Cuttlebug using the Snowflakes Embossing Folder. Next I worked on my sentiment. I knew I wanted something on the larger side, so cut four identical "Joy" sentiments from the CTMH Artbooking Cricut cartridge. I cut these in White Daisy cardstock and layered them atop each other to give some thickness to this sentiment. Using Versamark and white embossing powder, I heat embossed the sentiment four or five times, unfortunately dropping it a couple of times during the process leading me to have to repeat again. Finally I cut the star slightly larger than the stamp set recommends using the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge. I stamped the star on Sea Glass cardstock using the White Daisy Pigment Ink Pad and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I used foam tape to pop the star on the card and added some Clear Sparkles to embellish.

Here is a photo of the card I posted on my Instagram site:


A photo posted by Joyce Gough (@jgough7ctmh) on

Recipe:

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Monday, August 1, 2016

New Annual Inspiration 2016 and August 2016 Stamp of the Month

Posted on by Joyce Gough

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It's that time of year again!  Yes, the new Annual Inspirations is now available!  We have tons of new products available!  Take a look!  Please contact me for your very own copy!


http://joycegough.closetomyheart.com/ctmh/products/online-idea-book.aspx 



It's also time for a new Stamp of the Month!  The August Stamp of the Month, Purr-fect Halloween, is not only a cute Halloween stamp set but also fun for cat lovers and whimsical artwork!  Note that it is also compatible with the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.


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. Otherwise, you can purchase this set outright for $17.95. 

I wanted to try making a card that was not Halloween oriented.  So I embossed the cat in black pigment ink onto a piece of Florence B&T paper.  Matting it with coordinating B&T paper and cardstock, then adding the Florence sequins and some googly eyes did just the trick!  Hope you like it!


Recipe:

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Retirement Party and TBT!

Posted on by Joyce Gough

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On a hot day like today, how does one of these sound?


Come join me and my fellow consultants for a glass or two!  We are honoring the end of another era.  That's right, the end of the CTMH 2015/2016 Annual Inspirations Idea Book.  Just like New Year's Eve, we are saying goodbye to some old friends and ringing in the beginning of 2016/2017 with some new ones!  And why not do it in style with an ice cold mimosa!

Here are the details:



In honor of saying adieu to the old and since it is TBT, I also wanted to share my latest post from my Instagram site.  For those of you who were able to attend the workshop, thank you so much for joining me that day!  We enjoyed crafting, eating, and giggling our way through the day.  You all were workhorses, too, in getting all of those projects completed!  Congratulations to you all!

A photo posted by Joyce Gough (@jgough7ctmh) on

Monday, July 25, 2016

Happy Monday! Years & Years - King (Official Video)

Posted on by Joyce Gough

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Most people feel that Monday's are the most dreaded day of the week. My day was especially hectic today, but this song always makes me smile and makes me want to move!  The video itself is a bit "artsy", which I'm usually pretty pathetic in interpreting.  For the curious, the song and video are explained by the lead singer and writer:  "It's about being in a relationship with someone and how that can feel really intoxicating, but that can be really addictive and you can feel like a king. You know it has to end and you feel it's going bad, but you don't feel strong enough to end it yourself. You want the other person to end it. That's what I felt like I was going through over the period of a year, and then towards the end, I wrote the song."

Sunday, July 24, 2016

July 2016 Stamp of the Month

Posted on by Joyce Gough

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The July 2016 Stamp of the Month, From the Notebook, is a wonderful set to use for scrapbooking, particularly for school-based photos and memorabilia. However, there are many examples online where cards were made as well using this set. I decided to make a little gift card using the set. I don't make enough of those, but they are certainly quick and easy cards to make. Here is my sample from my Instagram site:


Recipe:
  • S1607 - From the Notebook (July 2016 Stamp of the Month)

  • D1629 - Just To Say... Stamp Set (exclusive from the Artfully Sent CTMH Cricut Collection)

  • X7209B - Magical Paper Pack

  • 1272 - Cranberry Cardstock

  • 1386 - Black Cardstock

  • Z2116 - Cranberry Stamp Pad

  • Z2105 - Black Stamp Pad

  • Z3095 - Whisper Thick Twine

  • Z2010 - White Enamel Stars

    • Note that this stamp set works with the Cricut Artistry cartridge. Here are the images from this stamp set:

    http://joycegough.ctmh.com/Retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=8784&ci=5785

    Saturday, July 23, 2016

    New Look!

    Posted on by Joyce Gough

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    My blog has gotten a new facial today! I've been steering away from blogging because I was struggling trying to get my last template to look correct, and I was so embarrassed every time I accessed it. So today, I found a simple template that I truly like (thanks, eblogtemplates.com!). I hope you like the new look! I will get back to posting here shortly, but please follow me on Instagram to see my latest artwork!

    Saturday, March 19, 2016

    March 2016 Stamp Of The Month

    Posted on by Joyce Gough

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    March's Sunshine Birdies Stamp of the Month screamed color and embossing to me.  For the following sample from my Instagram account, I used the retired Dotty For You paper pack because I thought the colors married so well with the colors I had in my head for this stamp set. I embossed all stamped elements and used the ShinHan Touch Twin markers to color the images.  I was also able to use papers I had in my stash to make a beautiful, colored card for a special person to whom I wanted to send a card.

    A photo posted by Joyce Gough (@jgough7ctmh) on

    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. Otherwise, you can purchase this set outright for $17.95.

    Recipe:

    • S1603 - Sunshine Birdies (March Stamp of the Month)

    • D1616 - Have a Happy Day Stamp Set (retired)

    • Dotty For You Paper Pack (retired)

    • X5639 - Sweet Leaf Cardstock

    • X5758 - Sunset Cardstock

    • Z3088 - Coral Shimmer Trim

    • Z2088 - Ranger Clear Super Fine Embossing Powder

    • Z2503 - Basics Exclusive Inks Mini Pigment Pads Set

    • Z5555 - Craft Heater

    • ShinHan Touch Twin Markers
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