July 2018 - Joyful Stars Blog Hop!

I have been given the honor of being asked to join the Joyful Stars CTMH Blog Hop!  Thank you to the lovely Joyce Houck for thinking of me!  This will be my first time joining a blog hop so I'm looking forward to stepping up my artwork as well as seeing some beautiful work by my fellow posters.  If you've come here from the talented Betty's Blog, you've come to the right place!

The card that I've created for July is actually a very simple one, but one that I hope would bring a smile to someone's face.  The sentiment can also be changed to one of sympathy and work well for this card.

Although the lighting isn't perfect, hopefully you can tell that the background has an ombre effect.  Many times CTMH comes out with a B&T paper in one of their paper packs with an ombre look which is lovely as a background for a scrapbook page.  I decided to try it for a card, and I thought it gave this one from the Adventure Fundamental Paper Packet (soon to be retired) just the right touch!  The additional background piece, i.e., the scalloped frame comes from the Cricut Artbooking Collection.  I simply cut this frame out three times in White Daisy cardstock and layered them on top of each other to provide dimension.

For the centerpiece of the card, I used the Cricut Flower Market Collection.  This has been by far my favorite cartridge ever!  The choices and details on so many of the flowers are just right up my alley and provide me with so much inspiration.  Obviously this is a tulip from the collection, and I used Raspberry, Blossom (soon to be retired), and Willow cardstock to cut the flower and pop it with foam tape.  The sentiment, stamped in black, comes from the beautiful Thoughtful Bird stamp set.  Finally, I used white dots from my favorite embellishment, Black & White Dots, to add a subtle touch to the card.

Here is a side view of the card so that you can see the layers.

Next up, check out our next talented blogger on the hop:  Krista's Blog!

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Stampaganza 2018!

It's that time of year - time for Stampaganza 2018!  Whether you've been waiting to get your favorites or see a few sets on the retiring list that you just have to have before they're gone, this sale is for you!  During the month of July, you can buy any two My Acrylix^® stamp sets at the full retail price and get a third stamp set of equal or lesser value free!  You can choose from stamp sets in the current Annual Inspirations or Seasonal Expressions 2, plus the popular Solos number and letter stamp sets that Close To My Heart brought back just for July!  Solos stamp sets can also be purchased in two different bundles, one for letters and one for numbers, for even more savings!

And that's not all!  If you host either an online or in person party during the month of July that reaches the third level of Hostess Rewards or higher, you can choose three number Solos stamp sets, FREE, in addition to the standard Hostess Rewards! Finally, you can also choose three number Solos stamp sets, FREE, if you take the challenge and join my team during the month of July!  It's a win all around!

Check out the our current stamp sets to choose your favorities!  And don't forget to take a look at the Solo number and letter stamp sets or Solo bundles to get the best deal suited for you!

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Convention 2018 and Retiring List

Close To My Heart Convention 2018 is officially over!  Although there is much news to share, "mum" is the word until September 1.  Trust me, though, the wait will be worth it!

I created and shared the following card with some of my closest convention friends.  The hearts were cut with the Thin Cuts-Stitched Hearts dies using the ten colors in the Adventure color palette.  The "Close to my Heart" sentiment was cut on Black cardstock using the You Are Here CTMH Cricut cartridge with a piece of White Daisy cardstock adhered behind.

As you may be able to tell from this close up of the card, I popped the sentiment and all the hearts with foam tape to add a bit of dimension.  I love the colors of the rainbow that this palette provides.

The sad news is that some of the colors that I used in this card are on the short list of retiring colors.  Please get your coordinating cardstock, ink pads, and reinkers before it's too late as they are only available through August 31 and while supplies last.

 

Finally, there is more than these beautiful colors set to retire.  Please review the following list for any of your favorites before they're gone!

Retire List Annual Inspirations 2017-18
Item #	Description
Z3185	My Legacy™ 1" Album Posts
Z9979	Everyday Life™ Album—Stripes
Z3026	Memory Protectors™ Variety Pack
M1185	Thank You
M1186	Happy Birthday
M1187	Thinking of You
M1188	Celebrate
Z3394	Cut Above® Tag Kit—Golden Moments
Z3395	Cut Above® Card Kit—Golden Moments
Z3350	Whimsy Fundamental Paper Packet
Z3354	Inspire Complements
Z3361	Whimsy Ribbon Pack
Z3351	Adventure Fundamental Paper Packet
Z3355	Happy Moments Complements
Z3362	Adventure Ribbon Pack
Z3352	Enchantment Fundamental Paper Packet
Z3356	All-Star Complements
Z3363	Enchantment Ribbon Pack
Z3353	Basics Fundamental Paper Packet
Z3357	Better Together Complements
Z3364	Basics Ribbon Pack
C1690	For You Darling
Z3375	For You Darling Stamp + Thin Cuts
B1537	Birthday Sparkles
B1564	ConGRADulations
D1731	Eat Cake & Celebrate
B1532	Sweet Birthday
B1558	Baby Animals
Z3374	Sweet Birthday Stamp + Thin Cuts
D1726	Sweet Baby
Z3376	Sweet Baby Stamp + Thin Cuts
B1573	God's Blessings
C1693	Many Congratulations
D1747	Happily Ever After
C1685	Inspire
B1536	All the Thanks
B1563	Sending Prayers
C1687	Southern Sass
A1189	Short & Sweet
C1684	Inked with Love
B1557	Thanks a Million
B1565	A New Adventure
A1192	Happy Heart
A1192F	Happy Heart
A1192S	Happy Heart
C1661	Heartfelt Thoughts
D1732	We Are Makers
D1740	Inspired Words
D1728	What Matters Most
D1706	School Kids
C1667	This & That
C1669	Emojis
D1727	Cat's Meow
D1725	For All Seasons
D1703	Nature's Wish
B1561	Faithful Friends
B1571	Hunting for Words
D1739	Thoughtful Bird
Z3377	Thoughtful Bird Stamp + Thin Cuts
D1741	Beautiful You
Z3384	Beautiful You Stamp + Thin Cuts
D1733	Splash of Color
M1150	Little Leaves
M1178	Delicate Flower
M1179	Shells & Stars
M1180	Paws
D1749	Flourishes
D1742	Constellations
A1210	Created to Create
B1568	Wild Backgrounds
A1182	Etched Alphabet
D1729	Colorblock Alphabet
E1027	Framework Alphabet
E1035	Bistro Script
E1036	Flowering Alphabet
E1030	Handwritten Print
B1484	Jennifer's Hand
B1539	Pen Pal Alphabet
E1032	Typography
E1033	Inked Alphabet
E1034	Marker Alphabet
A1212	Bonne Fete
A1213	Merci
C1697	Island Patterns
C1698	Kia Ora
C1699	Much Aroha
C1700	Avec Amour
C1701	Invitation
A1211	Aussie Greetings
B1579	Vamos a Celebrar
B1580	Quinceanera
C1694	Felicidades
C1695	Go Wild
C1696	This is Paradise
M1189	Gracias
M1190	Te Quiero
Z3344	Thin Cuts—Basic Tags
Z3345	Thin Cuts—Basic Banners
Z3347	Thin Cuts—Heart Border
Z3348	Thin Cuts—Scallop Border
Z3349	Thin Cuts—Ribbon Border
Z3358	Thin Cuts—Family
Z3359	Thin Cuts—Hi There
B1572	Banner Love
B1574	I Made This
Z3329	Thin Cuts—Basic Stars
D1750	In The Background
Z3346	Embossing Folder—Alphabet
X5941	Cardstock—Bashful
Z2263	White Daisy Reinker
Z2508	Exclusive Inks™ Mini Pigment Pad—Bashful
Z2719	Exclusive Inks™ Re-inker—Bashful
Z2819	Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad—Bashful
Z2504	Exclusive Inks™ Mini Pigment Pads Set—Whimsy
Z2506	Exclusive Inks™ Mini Pigment Pads Set—Adventure
Z2505	Exclusive Inks™ Mini Pigment Pads Set—Enchantment
Z2509	Exclusive Inks™ Mini Pigment Pads Set—Basics
Z3146	Watercolor Paper
Z3360	Glitter Paper—Bashful
Z3369	Bashful Pearls
Z3381	Gold Heart Clips
Z3095	Whisper Thick Twine
Z3216	White Twine
3505	Watercolor Pencils
Y1012	4" × 5" My Acrylix® Block
Z1143	Brown StazOn™ Re-inker
Z2046	Piercing & Embossing Tool Kit
Z555	Craft Heater
Z889	Black StazOn™ Re-inker
Z892	VersaMark™ Re-inker
Z899	Black Memento™ Ink Pad
Z3372	Adhesive Runner
Z1834	Large Organizer
Z1897	Daubers Foam Insert
Z1898	Pigment Inks Foam Insert
Z4138	Small Organizer
Z4139	Medium Organizer
Z4140	Craft Boxes Foam Insert
Z4141	My Acrylix Blocks Foam Insert
D1751	Punny Pals
2017 Holiday Expressions
Item #	Description
Z4029	Bronze Sequins
Retire List Seasonal Expressions 2
Item #	Description
A1219	New Adventures
B1604	It's a Grandbaby
A1221	Hearts Background
B1605	Dino-mite Birthday
Z9979	Everyday Life™ Album—Stripes
X7233B	Beautiful Friendship Paper Packet
X7233C	Beautiful Friendship Complements
X7233D	Beautiful Friendship Coordinating Cardstock
Z4195	Beautiful Friendship Bows
G1153	Workshops Your Way® Beautiful Friendship Scrapbooking Kit
C1720	Beautiful Friendship—Cardmaking
Z4180	Beautiful Friendship Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts
D1779	Beautiful Friendship—Scrapbooking
D1774	Build-a-Picnic
G1157	Workshops Your Way® Festive Birthday Cardmaking Kit
X7232B	Fresh Air Paper Packet
X7232C	Fresh Air Complements
X7232D	Fresh Air Coordinating Cardstock
Z4170	New England Ivy Burlap Ribbon
Z4185	Fresh Air Shapes
G1152	Workshops Your Way® Fresh Air Scrapbooking Kit
C1722	Fresh Air—Cardmaking
Z4186	Fresh Air Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts
D1783	Fresh Air—Scrapbooking
D1781	Let's Go Fishing
G1156	Workshops Your Way® In My Heart Cardmaking Kit
X7231B	Central Park Paper Packet
X7231C	Central Park Complements
X7231D	Central Park Coordinating Cardstock
Z4178	Central Park Sequins
Z4197	Central Park Alphabet
G1151	Workshops Your Way® Central Park Scrapbooking Kit
C1715	Central Park—Cardmaking
Z4179	Central Park Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts
D1775	Central Park—Scrapbooking
G1155	Workshops Your Way®  Cheers to You Cardmaking Kit
X7231E	Picture My Life™ Cards—Birthday Cheer
X7234B	Documented Paper Packet
X7234C	Documented Complements
X7234D	Documented Coordinating Cardstock
Z4171	Documented Titles
Z4177	Documented Dots
G1154	Workshops Your Way® Documented Scrapbooking Kit
C1719	Documented—Cardmaking
Z4172	Documented Cardmaking Stamp + Thin Cuts
D1772	Documented—Scrapbooking
G1158	Workshops Your Way® Sweet Friends Cardmaking Kit
X7234E	Picture My Life™ Cards—Love Us
Z4199	Cut Above® Layout Kit—Family Ties
Z4167	Cut Above® Kitchen Traditions Bundle
Z4168	Cut Above® Recipe Kit—Kitchen Traditions
Z4169	Cut Above® Recipe Kit—Kitchen Traditions (with Memory Protectors™)
D1770	Kitchen Traditions
C1718	Heartfelt Thanks
D1777	Canadian Vacation
D1778	US Vacation
D1776	On Holiday
D1782	Real Heroes
C1723	Ribbon Warrior
Z4184	Ribbon Warrior Stamp + Thin Cuts
A1220	Be You
C1724	Nights of Lights
M1205	Mini Independence Day
M1206	Mini Canada Day
A1222	Stamped with Love
C1721	Shell Sentiments
D1780	Aloha Spirit
Z4183	Summer Fun Paper Doll Stamp + Thin Cuts
D1788	Movie Night
D1787	Music Speaks
B1598	Petits Bonheurs
B1601	Landmarks
B1602	Mi Familia
B1603	Birthday Key
B1617	Koala Adventures
B1618	Le Temps des Vacances
C1717	Cinco de Mayo
S1805	Classic Summer Bash
S1806	A Bushel & a Peck
S1807	Highlight Reel
S1808	For the Love of Crafting
D1751	Punny Pals

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April 2018 Bash My Stash - Kraft Paper and Colored Pencils

I'm on a mission to "Bash My Stash".  Using items I've purchased in the past but not yet used is a personal goal of mine.  So I've decided to make an effort to use one or more items to make a paper crafting project each month to achieve that goal.

For this inaugural month, I chose a stamp set that I have been dying to use, and it's now a year old!  I've also had some beautiful colored pencils that were a birthday gift, and I thought they would be perfect to use with this stamp set.

I've seen so many samples of cards using colored pencils to color images stamped on Kraft-style paper that I wanted to give it a try.  Using my CTMH Kraft cardstock, I stamped flowers and leaves from the Keep Dreaming stamp set and embossed them in white.  Note that I masked as I layered these as well as used a stamping tool to achieve the same pattern on opposing corners of the cardstock.  Next I used the colored pencils to blend color on the images.  The sentiment was stamped on black and embossed in white using the Birthday Sparkles stamp set.  Using a white gel pen, I added a few dots around the flowers and finished up with some Clear Sparkles.

Although I'm a novice at color blending, I think it turned out OK.  It also elicited fond memories of coloring with my mom and sisters!

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Happy Easter 2018!

First and foremost, I want to wish everyone a happy, blessed, and healthy Easter!  It's a little cloudy here today, so I thought it might be nice to share a very Spring-like Easter card I made.

For this card, I used the new Easter Animals stamp set.  I embossed the chicks in black then used my ink pads and a blending pen to color them.  The bonus is that by doing this, I can match my paper!  Using the Gimme Some Sugar Paper Packet as my paper and palette for the card, I thought the White Burlap Ribbon would coordinate very nicely, especially from a textural perspective. The Cricut Artbooking cartridge came in handy to cut multiple versions of the "Happy" portion of the sentiment such that I could cut them in the size I wanted.  Using the Gold Shimmer Brush added a perfect pop of sparkle!  I masked off a portion of one of the sentiments with the word "Easter", embossed it in black, then popped it off the card.  My Marigold Shinhan Marker was used to color the Clear Sparkles in the corner to match the card perfectly and give it just the right finishing touch!

Here is a look at the overall card:

 

This close up shows the embossing and coloring of the chicks as well as the beautiful shimmer on the "Happy" portion of the sentiment:

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March 2018 Stamp of the Month - Birthday Time!

When I saw the Birthday Time stamp set, I knew immediately what I would do with it.  This set of stamps have "quick and easy" written all over them!  Being a huge embossing enthusiast, I knew that would be where I would go first with this set.  Because the images and sentiments are so bold, I chose to keep the colors fairly monochromatic, using Poppy as my base color with highlights in black and white.  The Poppy striped B&T paper comes from the Stargazer Paper Packet.  In fact this card took no time to put together!  And I already have a recipient in mind.  ;)  The images would also be wonderful for scrapbooking!  What ideas do you have for this set?

 

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.

 

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March is Die-Namite!

I never thought I would love dies.  My Cricut machine tends to get a lot of use, so I wasn't sure I wanted to bite the bullet on the Thin Cuts dies introduced by Close To My Heart.  However, since many of the dies are compatible with our stamps, I inevitably gave them a try.  And of course, I fell in love!  The wonderful thing about dies is the versatile ways you can use them.  I am a technique junkie and love to play in my craft room.  And dies are now a go to item for trying something new.

This first card uses the Thin Cuts-Block Alphabet set.  I did some stamping using the Beautiful You stamp set, first on a sheet of White Daisy cardstock, then on a "burlap-style" piece of the Basics Fundamentals Paper Packet.  (Note that I used a stamp positioning tool to ensure the stamping was done on the paper in exactly the same spots.).  After placing the two pieces of paper directly on top of each other, I taped down the dies for letters in "HUGS" and ran them through my die cut machine.  While I had my die cut machine ready, I cut three more sets of "HUGS" in White Daisy cardstock.  Next I adhered the negative portion of the "burlap-style" paper to a white card base.  I then took the three extra sets of non-stamped, "HUGS" letters and adhered them on top of each other.  The last layer, i.e., stamped White Daisy letters, was then adhered to the top of the stack.  Taking these stacked letters, I then adhered them to the negative "burlap-style" paper, so that it gives a fun illusion to the eye.  I then finished it up with a stamped sentiment from the stamp set and some of the white dots from the Black & White Dots embellishments.

This next card starts with using the Sweet Baby Stamp + Thin Cuts.  Using a piece of White Daisy cardstock, I cut out three balloons as shown to use the paper as negative space.  I then re-cut the balloons from three different colors from the Whimsy Fundamental Paper Packet.  Next I used the tail end of the Thin Cuts-Ribbon Border die to cut the strings from the negative space of the paper with the balloons.  Using foam tape, I adhered this white cardstock to a Black Cardstock mat.  I then popped the colored balloons down through the negative balloons.  Finally I finished the card with a sentiment from the Many Congratulations stamp set and added a ribbon from the Whimsy Ribbon Pack.

 

Here is a photo of the card from the side to show the layers resulting from the dies and added foam tape.

 

The good news is that Close To My Heart is having a 25% off sale on many of the Thin Cuts dies and 30% off Thin Cuts bundles.  For more information on the sale, please see this promotion on my Close To My Heart website.  Note that this sale is while supplies last and through March 30, so please act now to get your favorites!

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