Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring November’s SOTM, “Capture the Date” which is  a set of 72 stamps. If you have come here from Dawn’s blog you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here on Helen’s blog.
This stamp set is $17.95 or just $5 with a $50 purchase.

To show our support of Red Cross relief efforts for those areas of the US severely affected by Hurricane Sandy, Close To My Heart will donate $1 for every Stamp of the Month set sold as a part of this promotion during November.

Don’t think plain Jane….Think VERSATILE!!!

I cannot wait to use this at my scrapbook retreat that starts in just over a week.  This is will be my go-to stamp set that weekend!  I’m also going to enjoy a unified look to my scrapbook when I use this set consistently throughout a whole series of layouts!

I completed this layout a couple months ago but hadn’t done the journaling.  This stamp was perfect for that!  I cut a couple coordinating rectangles with my Artiste Cricut Cartridge and stamped them in Slate ink.  I like using the gray ink so it doesn’t overpower the layout.  It’s softer than black. 
November SOTM CTMH Capture the Date Artiste Cricut Dotty For You

I wish I had this stamp set when I did the year.  It would have been so much faster!  I’m not going to go back and “fix” a layout.  Onward and upward!
November SOTM CTMH Capture the Date Artiste Cricut Saturday tag date label journaling
I don’t even mind my messy handwriting when it is in little doses.  Let’s not do all of it on the computer. And it’s sooooo much faster this way.  Love it!
November SOTM CTMH Capture the Date Artiste Cricut Sunday journalling

But wait!  There’s more! 

When purchase this set for $5 in the month of November, you’ll also be able to purchase any stamp set for 50% off!  That’s any A,B, C, D, E or M sized stamp set.  (Stamps that are in bundles or custom ordered are not included)
50% off any stamp set when you purchase the November Stamp of the month
Now "Hop" on over to Hayley's beautiful blog to see her work or continue reading to find out how to order your own kit or template! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the October SOTM is only available until the 31st!  Contact me  to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Cricut Craft Room: My newest favorite tool, especially for the CTMH Advent Calendar.

From day 1 of Cricut ownership I’ve owned a program to help me get the most from my cardstock when cutting on my Cricut.  First it was Design Studio.  Then it was a Gypsy (which I still love) but now it’s Cricut Craft Room (CCR) because it’s faster and I can easily share my projects with you. 
Last month I shared my beautiful Advent Calendar with you which is only available as a workshop with purchase.  Today’s a freebie! 
If you are getting ready to cut out the Advent Calendar Workshop on the Go, this is for you!
CTMH Advent Calendar Workshop on the Go WOTG with Artiste Cricut
If you cut two boxes without Cricut Craft Room, it’s going to look like this and you’re going to be left with 2 scraps that are approximately 2.5 x 8.5.”  That’s not much useable paper.  You may end up tossing the whole scrap if you don’t have the time to salvage the scraps. 
image

Here’s Cricut Craft Room to the Rescue!
(Edited:  Cricut Design Space too!)

By flipping one of the boxes, you’ll have a beautiful piece of paper with.  It’s about 5.5 x 9” long.  So it can be either a large scrap of paper or an A2 sized card base!  It’s also cut along with your boxes so your scrap is pre-cut!  How wonderful is that????

advent with rectangle on Cricut Craft room Artiste CTMH Cricut
How about a swing card?  It’s found on the keypad under the letter “S” and fits right between the two boxes.   That’s like getting a free card with every sheet you cut for the Advent Calendar! 
CTMH Artiste Swing Card with Pear and Partridge B&T with Merry and Bright Acrylix Stamp set
Wondering what this swing card is all about?  See my post here.  They make up beautifully and are a lot of fun!   I’ve also rotated the boxes so that the repeated cutting doesn’t ruin your mat.  You’ll be cutting 15 sheets to make the Advent calendar, this is a great way to keep your mat in good condition. 
advent with swing card on Cricut Craft Room CCR Artiste CTMH Cricut

So that’s my little Cricut Craft Room tutorial for today.  The best part is Cricut Craft Room is 100% free.  You still have to own the Cricut Cartridge you’re cutting with.  (You can purchase Artiste here.).
The Cricut Craft Room file that I’ve described today is free too! 
Click here to download the Cricut Craft Room file. 

Click here to access the Design Space file

Please leave a comment if you appreciate free files.  Smile

P.S.  Here's a peek at the Advent Calendar Workshop I created.  (That file & workshop instructions are just $8!)

Monday, October 8, 2012

S is for Swing Card!

Swing cards used to be just for expert crafters.  Not anymore! With the Artiste Cricut, you have a card at the touch of a button.  In the past you had to measure, cut, measure some more and make internal cuts, stopping just so.  I had just watched a YouTube 10 minute tutorial a couple days before Artiste was released. I’m so glad I didn’t have to go to all that effort. 

This beautiful card was created by my upline Michele Rowley for our team meeting and project swap in September.  Check out her blog at http://evergreenmemoriesandart.blogspot.com/

Pear and Partridge Artiste Swing Card with Merry & Bright CTMH Stamp set outside

Want to see it in action?  Here’s a short clip so you can understand why it’s called a swing card.  It’s my first YouTube video and it’s all of 8 seconds!

This card is so simple to put together yet looks so elegant.

Supplies used

Artiste Cricut & Art Philosophy Cricut Collections

Pear & Partridge Paper Packet X7162B

Merry & Bright stamp set C1510

Red Glitz Glitter Gel Z1484

 

Pear and Partridge Artiste Swing Card with Merry & Bright CTMH Stamp set inside

Here’s all the swing cards from the Artiste Cricut cartridge.  We have 9! 

image

 

Want to make some?  Shop now or come on over! 
We’ll be making them at the November Fun & Fabulous 4th Friday Workshop on November 23rd starting at 6pm.  Yes, that’s the day after Thanksgiving.   It’s going to be quite the workshop that night. 

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Imagine scrapbooking your entire summer in an hour!

Get your summer memories captured, organized an printed this morning. 

Scrapbook in as little as 10 minutes with CTMH’s Express Collections in Studio J.  Just add photos and text and you’re done!

 

Don’t forget:  October’s Studio J special.  Order 9 layouts, get 1 more free!  (There’s no limit on the free ones so don’t wait until the end of the month!)
Through the end of 2012, when you order 10 layouts, I’ll give you a free 10 pack of memory protectors!

To get started click here ----->>>>>  Studio J

Get a 10th Studio J layout free when you buy 9!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Dauber Dynamite—Getting Perfect Precision from Your Inks

Discover the beauty of sponge daubing. When you ink your stamps with sponge daubers, you can create a soft, shaded look that is perfect for a page or card!

image

see more.

Shop now for a great selection of inks and our daubers!