Saturday, August 31, 2013

Poster Tidings - September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Hello friends!  It’s that time.  The end of a month means a new stamp of the month is soon to be available.    This blog post is part of a ‘blog hop,’ which means that you can see artwork for this stamp set created by nearly 60 consultants this month from the same stamp set.  It’s a big circle so once you start hopping, you’ll end up back at my blog.    If you’re on the right track, you’ve just come from {Mary’s blog}!
This month’s set is two giant stamps.  You can purchase this set alone for $17.95 or get it for just $5 with a $50 purchase.  And you get to double dip!  That very same $50 purchase qualifies you for the “You are My Happy” triple stamp set for just $10.  More on that below.  Let’s stay focused on the Poster Tidings stamp set for now. 

Sep13-PosterTidings

P1060622-001
Since there’s only 1 stamped image and no fussy cutting, this card is quite quick to make!  I think the hardest part is getting the small pieces of scotch tape on the back of the leaves to hold the shimmer trip!  Below are the details.   You can keep reading or you can hop on over to {Gina’s blog}. 

I used the the swipe technique to ink my stamp.  Click here for a video tutorial.  Swiping created streaks in the ink.  They're most visible in the larger words “FAMILY” and “BLESSED.”  Doing this streaked technique, I only used the end or corner of the inkpad, giving me more control of how wide of stripe of ink I am applying.  That way I could apply several colors over the whole stamp.  I used Crème Brulee, Honey, Goldrush and Sunset ink pads.  You always want to start with the lightest color first (Crème Brulee).  That way if any color is picked up, it will not contaminate the next ink pad. 
After stamping, I used my stipple brush which is part of the Texture Tools set.  I applied Sunset ink with this brush.  That wasn’t quite dark enough so I took the wrapper off of my Barn Red ink pad that I bought a while back and did it again.  I squeezed my ink pads so ink is transferred to the lid.  I used that ink on the stipple brush to swipe on the edges.  The stipple brush is the one brush that has bristles instead of a sponge/foam head.   It still wasn’t dark enough so I pulled the edge of the cardstock across the Barn Red inkpad to give a crisp dark edge.  Now it looked as I had envisioned!
I mounted the stamped image on Olive green cardstock.  I cut the leaves from the leaf border on Artbooking on page 72 or on the “b” key.  They were cut at 1.75” real dial size.  They were cut from the Barn Red B&T paper from Huntington and backed with a small square of the new Bronze Shimmer Trim.  (LOVE that stuff!)  I just taped it on to the back of the leaf with some scotch tape.  I added a strip of the Bronze Shimmer Trim along the stamped sentiment and then topped it with the burlap baker’s twine.  The burlap baker’s twine & the button are from the Wooden Collection of Mini-Accents.    I inked the button with olive ink using a wedge of our Round Sponge.   I actually threaded the baker’s twine through the button.  That’s very easy to do if you have a dental floss threader.  They’re for people with dental work like braces or a bridged crown.  They’re just like a huge needle threader and used in the just same way.  All of this was mounted on a colonial white card base for a beautiful fall card!

I’ll be posting more info about the You are My Happy Promotion very soon.  Check out this video to see the details now.  If you qualify for the SOTM, you’ve already qualified for the You are My Happy! 

Friday, August 30, 2013

Have a Crush?

I mentioned the My Crush books in my newsletter earlier this week.  I thought it was fun that they did a feature on it so I’m sharing it with you!  Did you receive it?  If not, you can subscribe here.  This is a teaser from next month’s CTMH generated newsletter.  I thought it was too good not to share with you since we have this wonderful new product!

This isn't your grandma's Smash Book.  Crush it!

Fall in love with quick and easy memory keeping

With our two new My Crush™ books, Modville and Bluebird, preserving everyday memories and mementos is a snap! The little things that normally get lost in the busyness of life will be safe within your book’s pages. With just a little tape, glue, or even a paper clip, you’ll be able to preserve life’s adventures as they happen — ticket stubs, receipts, photos, and fast journaling
And thanks to the coordinating My Stickease® images, journaling spots, alphabets, and envelope pockets in the four My Crush assortments, you’ll make beauty in no time at all. Fall head-over-heels for the ease of scrapbooking on the go with our new, handy-sized My Crush books!

Here’s some more pix: 

Bluebird edition

 042 – My Crush Modville Beauty

See the mini-album on the left page?  That was created using our mini-flip flaps! 

 

Modville edition  I really like this image below…. It features pix from my neck of the woods… Seattle & a local tulip festival. 

Modville Crushbook from CTMH
Check out the new My Crush™ books »

 

Here’s my $0.02 on these books:  They are fabulous.  My set arrived last week and I was amazed! 

See that big spiral?  They’re going to have lots of room to “Crush” your goodies in and they’ll still close flat.  (Psst… the other company has a little itty, bitty spiral, I peeked last week.  Does that sound naughty, it wasn’t supposed to!)

The books are affordable at only $12.99. 

The two accessory packs are $4.95 each.  Have you seen the price of the extras at the stores in town?  They’re $5.99 and lack variety! 

In each assortment you get a ton of product and a fantastic variety: 

16 – Journal Spots
4 – 4" × 4" My Stickease® Sheets
2 – 4" × 4" Alphabet Stickers Sheets
4 – 2" × 2" Envelopes

They are going to make fantastic gifts for young and young at heart!  Don’t forget to buy one for yourself too!

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Introducing…. The Happy Customer Club

image
I’m very excited to announce the Happy Customer Club.  It’s fabulous club that rewards YOU my customers! 
Have you seen these adorable Hostess Only stamp sets?  Or wanted to get a CTHM Cricut Cartridge for Half Price?  You can earn both through this club.
029 – Hostess Rewards – Wintry Wishes
What’s a club?  A club is where you (or with your friends) earn hostess rewards as  you would by hosting a gathering by purchasing off your wish-list each month.  It’s budget friendly because you make a purchase each month and there is no set minimum purchase requirement.  You can also reap rewards when you refer a friend!  Your friends can add to your club earnings or you will be rewarded when they join & fulfill their first club membership.


Each month I will feature a mini-kit that will teach a new technique or product. I'll post the project on my blog and email all club members the details.  They'll be free with a $40 purchase or a nominal fee for club members.

When your are ready for rewards, we’ll total up your purchases (prior to tax & shipping) and see what hostess rewards you are eligible for based on the hostess rewards program in the CTMH Idea book.

You’ll also be able to take advantage of each month’s CTMH specials including Stamp of the Month and our Constant Campaigns.
clip_image005

Are you ready to start earning and receive a complimentary Idea Book from me? 
  Click here for details & to sign up!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Chocolate understands, do you?

There’s only 4 more days left to get this fabulous stamp set!  And it could be free!
919634_504085506335256_129534115_o
Fill this little purse with chocolate goodies!  I created this using our Artiste Cricut Cartridge & the Babycakes paper packet. 


Aug13-AChocolateAffair

Here’s a few more pieces of artwork I’ve been keeping from you this month.

1116132_508216262588847_663443286_o
This little coffin is on the Artiste cartridge.  The paper is Laughing Lola.  I totally CASEd this idea from my friend Susan at Just Crazy Blessed
1120016_504220792988394_561251819_o
These stamps work beautifully with our new Bronze shimmer trim.  I love that stuff even more than the new red color.  And that’s hard to believe! 
Last, but not least, there’s some amazing artwork on my website created by the Close to My Heart Artists.  There’s even instructions on how to create it!  (Silly me, I completely forget these pix are here.) 


When you click this link, just keep scrolling…  Halfway down you’ll see this.  It’s just text so it’s so easy to skip over. 

image

Hurry & get your set today.  It $17.95, the same price as our D-Sized stamp set or FREE with any (and EVERY) $50 purchase this month!  (Order $100, you're eligible for 2, just remember to add them to your cart!)
Shop now to get your CHOCOLATE!

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Artbooking Sentiments List

I've been playing with Artbooking this weekend, trying to make a card only using the cartridge and the Frosted paper pack.  It shouldn't be that hard, really but there's so many great sentiments!   I've been having trouble keeping track of them and remembering where they were on the cartridge.
I created this little guide that has all of the sentiments listed in alphabetical order! Enjoy!

{Right Click the image / Open Link in New Tab to see it full size and print it}

Friday, August 9, 2013

Oh Baby! An Artbooking Mini-Album

Last month, I took my Cricut and brand new Artbooking cartridge on vacation.  It wasn’t any exotic vacation; we went back to our hometown to see family, attend a wedding of my not-so-little nephew.  While there I created this album using some cardstock that I brought along.  I used Lagoon, Gypsy, Cotton Candy, Buttercup, Sweet Leaf and Crystal Blue. 
This album is for an upcoming baby girl.  I know her mom isn’t too fond of pink or frills but loves purple, teal and other bright, non-pastel colors.  The baby’s room is beach themed.  Our Under the Sea stamp set worked perfectly for the simple album that I created. 
It was so SIMPLE!  I started on page 50 & 51 of the Artbooking handbook with the 8x6” baby album.  I set my Cricut dial to 8” and started cutting.  I cut every mini-album element on page 50-51 aside from the lion and giraffe.  I started assembling the pages and creating the book.  I then went back and added elements from other pages  to fill in the “gaps” and add personality to the book.  
I’ve explained what I added to each below:
On the cover I added this cute banner that I found on page 85.  I believe I cut it at 8” instead of the 11” suggested for a 12x12 layout in the handbook.  I used scraps of paper to fill in the banner. 
Artbooking baby mini-album from CTMH by Lalia Harris
On page 2, I added the scalloped film strip that I found page 27.  I say 27 because I love how we have all the shapes shown in a quick view guide at the beginning of the handbook.  It ultimately led me to pg 78.  It’s for 2x2 photos on a 12” layout.  The handbook indicated that I could cut it at 11” (NO real-dial-size) and it would be perfect!  I know that there’s a couple of these film strip cuts.  I picked this one to keep the scallop theme.  The cute tags, pocket, and lattice were all cut at 8” because they were already part of the baby album.  I grabbed “Sweet” from page 49 and cut it 8” as well. 
Artbooking baby mini-album from CTMH by Lalia Harris
The borders and overlays fit perfectly!  No trimming required. 
Artbooking baby mini-album from CTMH by Lalia Harris
The palm tree is from the 12” beach layout on page 67.  I looked at the example layout on that page and decided it looked like the perfect size for my album.  I moved the dial up to 11” and cut it.  I didn’t want to use  real dial size since the trunk and the palm fronds have to be cut in proportion with each other. 
Artbooking baby mini-album from CTMH by Lalia Harris
I cut “family” from page 67.  I used “fit to length” on this one to get it to fit on the tag.   This was probably the most difficult part of the whole album.  I wasn’t really sure what size I wanted.  Decisions, decisions!  I really liked having those decisions made for me!
Artbooking baby mini-album from CTMH by Lalia Harris
For this scalloped page, I jumped to page 40 of the handbook and found another 8x6” mini-album!  More fun pages to cut and they matched exactly! 
Artbooking baby mini-album from CTMH by Lalia Harris
The wave frame were cut from the beach 12x12 layout on page 67.  It was for a 5x7 picture on a 12” layout which would be way too big for my little 8x6 album.   I wanted it only 4.5” wide so I used fit to length at 4”.  I also cut additional waves from the border feature on that very same page, also cut in the same way.  I added Stardust Glitz to the top most layer. 
P1060581
For the back page I used that same frame but cut even smaller. 
Artbooking baby mini-album from CTMH by Lalia Harris

I bound the album with Lagoon baker’s twine.   Don’t bind it too tight so the pages tear! 
This album was truly a snap to put together.  I can’t wait to make more!  It was the perfect project for being on vacation because it was simple!

I’m continuing my pre-order sale through August 17th!  Get $10 off the Artbooking bundle & receive the August Stamp of the Month for free! 
08 – Cricut Artbooking Bundle
chocolate affair sotm S1308