Favorite projects of 2013

Happy 2014!  I hope your year is off to a great start!   I just ran out of time last year to show you some beautiful artwork so I’ll just keep sharing them with you this year!  These are my a few of my favorite projects that I personally designed.  They are posted in the order I created them not the order of popularity. 

This stamp set Girls Rock was featured on the front page of the 2013 Spring & Summer Idea Book that was released to consultants in late December.  I immediately envisioned this project as I had been wanting to try my hand at a cascading card.  The stamp set is compatible with the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge and so very versatile. 

I never dreamed that black flowers and leaves would look so amazing.  But it does.  This is the same stamp set as above.

This Easter box had no stamping.  It was all Cricut cuts.  Super fun to put together.  Click here to see the inside.

I learned a lot about rolling roses from this one rose.  When you rough up the paper and it frays and cracks, just add ink to hide the the ugly.  The ink transformed this flower from broken to beautiful.  It was much better than the basic, simple rolled flower without frayed edges.   There were lots of happy mistakes that came together to make a beautiful creation.

I bought a stamp set just for this sentiment.  The rest of the stamp set is beautiful too.  See Fabulous You.

Spinner Cards are so stinkin’ easy that it’s almost a crime {if you have Cricut and software or similar die-cutter to create that slot.}  You can do it with a circle punch and a paper trimmer but it’s not nearly as fun.  You can see the card in action on my blog.

Embossed resist is truly a fun technique! 

I reworked an earlier card design using that exact same stamp from Casual Expressions almost a year earlier.  This time I used the Artbooking cartridge to make the elegant damask background.  It was a crowd pleaser.  The slate polka dot ribbon, the creamy white seam binding ribbon and the For Always paper are discontinued this month.  I’ll really miss them.  Here’s my original blog post with a bunch more pix and tricks to making this card. 

 

 

Have a fabulous new year.  Let me know your favorite project of this collection or what you’re hoping to create this year in the comments below. 

Celebrate today with Artbooking

Happy Friday!  Here’s one of the cards from last month’s Fun & Fab 4th Friday card workshop.
I used the same stamp and card layout as I did a year ago with this card. 

Wanting a little different background, I grabbed my Artbooking handbook looked for an elegant overlay.  I found this damask one. 

I sized it in Cricut Craft Room, but it wasn’t really going to fit on an A2 card perfectly. And then I noticed I was almost out of Smokey Plum cardstock.  To stretch my paper stash for 12+ of these cards I squashed the design so it was only 3” wide while keeping the height at 5.25 inches tall.  This allowed me to save a bit of paper and get the Smokey Plum label shape to fit on the same 12x12 piece of cardstock.  This is how it looks in CCR.

I was able to fit 6 overlays and 5 label shapes on one sheet of paper!  The 6th label fit nicely on a scrap.  No worries there!
After cutting the overlays on my Cricut, I cut them roughly in half with my scissors.  (Don’t use a paper trimmer!  It could tear the overlay and perfection isn’t needed.)  I lined up each half to the edge of the card and covered the gap with the For Always B&T paper.  Once it’s all adhered together really well, nobody will know that this is what it looks like on the inside!

I embellished the Seam Binding Ribbon bow with a new embellishment from the Mini-Medley Accents from the Rosewood Collection.  I love this collection and it has just a touch of pink that compliments the Smokey Plum so nicely!


Love this card?  Here’s the Cricut Craft Room & Gypsy files for you!  Please show some blog love by leaving a comment before downloading this file. 
I exported the Gypsy file from Cricut Craft Room.  I did not proof it on my Gypsy.  It should work but I’ve heard that they don’t always convert correctly. 


Hope you have a crafty weekend!

Summer Fun & Sun with Artbooking

I cannot believe how fast I created this layout last night on my Cricut.  It didn't take any time at all to cut the honeycomb backgrounds, the sun, frames and the title.

I haven’t added pictures yet because I’m on a time crunch and THE PIX ARE TAKING TOO LONG to get ready to print locally.  I’ve decided to upload them in a new Studio J blank page and have them printed the next time I order Studio J.  I can now print my photos in Studio J that will fit my classic scrapbooking pages.  3x3 photos, here I come!  They still arrive on a 12x12 page, so I’ll get lots of photos on one page, I’ll just have to trim them apart when they arrive.  It’s also cheaper than going to Walgreens when ordering a 5x7 and other miscellaneous sizes.  More about faster & cheaper photo printing with StudioJ later. 

This layout is going to hold pictures I took this Monday & Tuesday.  I’m excited to see pix in a layout so quickly!


The foundation of my page is from page 67 of the Artbooking handbooking.


As we don’t have palm trees on Washington beaches, I decided to drop that element.  I opted for a sun (it’s very exciting when we see that here) from page 53.  I also brought over the title from that page.  The sun was cut at 7” based on the handbook page that it was on.  It turned out to be about 4.5.”  I used Center Point to put the swirl in the center of the sun.

The title fun&sun was lost on the honeycomb background so I added the summer from page 52.  It’s a mini-book page.  I used fit to length and cut it to fit the fun&sun shape I had already cut. 


I used the Surf’s Up paper pack.  Love how I didn’t have to dig through my stash to find coordinating papers.  I also used the Mini-Medley Accents Wooden Collection. 

My pre-order for Artbooking is starting next week.  Read why I’m waiting here—It’s to your benefit!

Your Friendship is like Coffee

When a coffee themed stamp shows up around here, it’s exciting!  Living in the shadow of Seattle, Starbucks stores are more common than McDonalds.  We loved this stamp set. 
Last month we created this card using Buzz & Bumble papers (already sold out) and the Cup of Cheer stamp set.  Inside the coffee bean border continues across the bottom with a steaming latte or tea cup. 


Click here to see the whole stamp set

I have a few of kits for this card left over from my June workshop.  I’ll be posting them and others for sale on my Facebook page next month.  In the mean-time you can order your stamp set today!  Click here to get started.  

Dog gone good day

 

I made a lot of guy cards in May, as that was the theme of our workshop “Guys, Dads & Grads.” 

I have an addiction to Pinterest.    For the last 2 years (I started using it when it was invite only, buggy and super slow), I’ve collected all sorts of card ideas, inspiration and more to my Pinterest  boards. With all of these ideas, it’s often hard to create because of too many ideas.   For this card I unplugged and just created.  It was fun to call this card truly “mine.”   Since then I’ve actually created several unique cards.  One reason it’s wonderful to just create is because there’s no comparison.  You can’t compare it to anybody else’s work.  I encourage you to give it a try!

Paper:  Later Sk8r

Stamp set:  A Bowwow

Accessories:  Chalk Marker, Whisper Exclusive Inks® Marker Set, Opaques Licorice Adhesive Gems

You Make Me Smile with Chantilly

 

 

I created this card this spring and I’m so happy to see that all the elements of this card are going to be around a bit longer.

 

Stamp set:  Hooray Bouquet  It’s Cricut Compatible so even if you don’t see it in the Idea Book, it will be available to purchase!

Paper:  Chantilly 

Embellishments:  Just Blooms Flutter Paper Shapes & Sparkles Clear Assortment

How To Book:  Wishes Card Making How-To book –I’m very excited to say that this is coming back in Soft Cover format for $15 as of August 1st! 

July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop {Sweet Life}

Hello!  It’s blog hop time! This month’s stamp of the month is “Sweet Life.”  If you've already been hopping, you've just come from Priscilla’s blog. 
My project is a magazine file cut from the Artiste Cricut Cartridge with a 3D rose cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge in Cotton Candy pink.  I’m using up some of the fabulous Dream Pop paper left over from the May promotion.  I stamped the sentiment in white and embossed over it with white embossing powder because my white wasn’t white enough.   I think it’s time to get a re-inker for my white pigment ink pad.  The polka dot ribbon is our Slate Ribbon.  All the sparkle comes from our Stardust Glitz.  I love our glitter gels.  They’re so economical and they go a long way. 

Sweet Life is only available in July.  It’s a D sized stamp set for $17.95.  However, when you order $50, you’re eligible to receive it for $5!  Here’s what the whole stamp set looks like.

Here's the stamp sentiments:

Love you to the core

Sweet as cherry pie

You're a peach

[LIVE THE] Sweet Life

Friendship is the sweetest of fruits

Love is to the HEART what SUMMER is to the farmers orchards, it bring a harvest to one's soul.

Now hop on over to  Tamytha Jenkin's blog to see her amazing artwork.

There could be lots of breaks in the hop this month as people are traveling home from our annual CTMH convention today.  They aren’t to check on their links for a few more days.  Here’s a complete list of hoppers so you can keep going! 

First & Last Name	Blog URL
Helen Onulak	http://www.hookedonstamping.com
Kathleen Androlewicz	http://BowlOfStamps.blogspot.com
Nikka Geers	http://www.nikkageers.blogspot.com
Alyson Mayo	http://createwithalyson.blogspot.ca/
Angel Sawyer	http://RunningwithScissorsDesignCo.blogspot.com
Jill Lucas	http://scrapwench.blogspot.com
Wendy Coffman	http://www.stampingrules.blogspot.com/
Michelle Jones	http://www.michellejonesva.blogspot.com
Michelle Johns	http://www.myflightsoffancy.com/blog
Traci Godbee	http://www.createwithtraci.com/
Priscilla Gotham	http://www.priscillaspaperie.com
Lalia Harris	http://www.craftylalia.blogspot.com
Tamytha Jenkins	http://www.paperheartist.com/
Annette Green	http://AnnettesCreativeJourney.blogspot.com
Nancy Brown	http://creativelyartsygallery.blogspot.com/
Mary Eisen	http://mestamp2.blogspot.com
Traci Pasqualone	http://ScrapiTraci.blogspot.com
Dawn Heuft	http://stamptildawn.blogspot.com
Angela Tutton	http://www.tuttonstreasures.blogspot.com
Shirley Ross	http://www.momnmescrap.blogspot.com
Georgia Hauglid	http://inkygeorgia.blogspot.com/
Haley Dyer	http://inkyscrapper.blogspot.com
Vicki Price	http://priceofpaper.blogspot.com
Joy McHargue	http://www.studiowowjoy.com/
Melissa Laverty	http://www.fancymelissa.com/blog
Krista Hershberger	http://kristascraftycorner.blogspot.com/
Maureen O'Sullivan	http://somethingtoscrapabout-maureen.blogspot.com
Melinda Everitt	http://www.ifyoublingit.blogspot.com
Sheila Bennett	http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com
Allisa Chilton	http://rockymtnpapercrafts.blogspot.com/
Brae Montgomery	http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com
Maria Myers	http://www.stampmomma.com/
Pamela Ellison	http://pamsclearlycraftycorner.blogspot.com/
Tamra Pope	http://tamrascraftypapercreations.blogspot.com/
Jen Rubio	http://JenRubio.blogspot.com
Lori Brown	http://www.savingmine.blogspot.com
Wanda Riley	http://Creatingwithwanda.blogspot.com
Teresa Scrivens	http://www.creatingwithinkypaw.com
Laurie R. Newton	http://www.scrapsfromthebeach.com
Michelle Loncar	http://michelleloncar.blogspot.com
Lisa Sargent	http://www.lisasargent.net
Sarita Schraeder	http://www.blessedscrapper.com
Susan Brooks	http://stampingintheopen.blogspot.com
Judy Burger	http://www.makingtimeformemories.blogspot.com
Katy Taylor	http://www.scrappinkaty.blogspot.com
Dawn Ross	http://iamahappystamper.blogspot.com
Adeline Brill	http://www.adeline-brill.blogspot.com
Elizabeth Mindemann	http://www.ejoym.blogspot.com
Gina Brandstetter	http://gmbscrapper.blogspot.com/
Kim Schnoor	http://www.creativehands-hearts.blogspot.com
Nancy Womersley	http://nancysheart2heart.blogspot.com
Pam Jarrett	http://www.pam-jarrett.blogspot.com
Jean McNulty	http://stampinmaui.blogspot.com

Hook & Loop

Need a temporary closure for your papercrafted projects? Hook & Loop dots are perfect for enclosing memorabilia, sealing a purse, securing a box, and more!
I used them on the purses I created this spring.  See the blog posts here. 
Here’s two more purses: 


Now watch this video featuring the hook & loop dots that I used to secure these bags. 

Can’t see the video?  View online here. 

Purchase the hook & loop dots here. 

2013 Retiring List—“Get them before they’re gone!”

It’s that time of year again!  CTMH has put us on notice of which products won’t be returning in the next catalog which means “get them before they’re gone!!!”
This card is made 100% retiring product.  (Not that I had planned it this way) 
Avonlea papers, Just Blooms paper flowers (already in While Supplies Last), Wrangler Assortment, and A Friend Like You stamp set. 

Here’s the link to the whole list for your printing convenience. 
Here’s the scoop!
*Paper packs, embellishments, tools, organization, ribbons, albums, My Creations items etc. ----  When it's gone, IT'S GONE!!!!!
*Stamp sets - are manufactured at CTMH, thus all stamp sets will be available until July 31st! 
My recommendation:  If there’s a non-stamp item that you need, get it NOW!   If you love our New England Ivy Green Leather Albums, get them now.  They will probably sell out in the next week or two.  The Workshop on the Go also tend to sell out quickly.  Except for the Canvas one, order them now!  The Canvas WOTG will be on sale next month.
Here’s a couple other notable items that are being discontinued:

• All Waxy Flax colors
• All Buttons
• All Brads
• All colors of embossing powder except clear, silver & gold.
• All paper packs except For Always, Chantilly, Tommy and Surf’s Up. 

Freebies: 

• Spend $25, including a stamp set, get My Creations Milk Cartons FREE ($4.95 value).  This will automatically ship in your order from CTMH. 
• If you place $50 in orders with me since the last Idea Book, I will send you the Autumn/Winter Idea Book for FREE next month!!!
• Join my “Free Gift” gathering and you’ll get freebies from me too! 
• Order $99 in any combination products (including Cricut Bundles) and you can get a $30 Workshop on the Go or 3 free paper packs from me when you join my “Free Gift” Gathering!  (This promotion is only available from Lalia Harris).  expired

Start shopping now!  

Here’s the list for you to browse:  I have crossed off some items as they were discontinued.  I do not maintain this list on a regular basis.

Part	Description	Category	Family
Z1366	Brads Metal Assortment	Accessory	brads
Z1410	Antiqued Copper Designer Brads	Accessory	brads
Z1704	Pewter Badge Buttons	Accessory	Buttons
Z1703	Wooden Badge Buttons	Accessory	Buttons
Z1821	Buttons Black Assortment	Accessory	Buttons
Z1371	Buttons Blue Assortment	Accessory	Buttons
Z1370	Buttons Pink Assortment	Accessory	Buttons
Z1358	Buttons Basic Assortment	Accessory	Buttons
Z1369	Buttons Red Assortment	Accessory	Buttons
Z1372	Buttons Green Assortment	Accessory	Buttons
Z1773	Color-Ready Noted Canvas Shapes	Accessory	Color Ready
Z1718	Color-Ready Garden Wooden Shapes	Accessory	Color Ready
Z1450	Cork Color-Ready Alphabet	Accessory	Color Ready
Z1719	Color-Ready Evergreen Cork Shapes	Accessory	Color Ready
X7164C	Buzz and Bumble My Stickease® Assortment	Accessory	Complements
X7155C	Avonlea Complements Canvas Shapes	Accessory	Complements
X7167C	Later Sk8r My Stickease® Assortment	Accessory	Complements
X7166C	Claire Complements Canvas Shapes	Accessory	Complements
X7156C	Clementine Complements Canvas Shapes	Accessory	Complements
X7157C	Dakota Complements Silver Foil Images	Accessory	Complements
X7159C	Scholastic My Stickease® Assortment	Accessory	Complements
Z1326	Sparkles Red, Pink & Purple Assortment	Accessory	embellishment
Z1327	Sparkles Blue & Green Assortment	Accessory	embellishment
Z1710	Just Blooms® Paradise Paper Flowers	Accessory	Flowers
Z1612	Paper Clip Pins	Accessory	foundry
Z1755	Posh Journaling Spots	Accessory	Journaling
Z1734	Irresistibles™ Persnickety Journaling Spots	Accessory	Journaling
Z1831	Buzz and Bumble Assortment	Accessory	Level 2
Z1813	Claire Assortment	Accessory	Level 2
Z1810	Later Sk8r Assortment	Accessory	Level 2
Z1748	Brocade Assortment	Accessory	Level 2
Z1794	Cottage Assortment	Accessory	Level 2
Z1766	Memo Assortment	Accessory	Level 2
Z1780	Wrangler Assortment	Accessory	Level 2
Z1487	Mini Medley Accents Pewter Collection	Accessory	mini medley
Z1697	Mini-Medley Accents Smoothie Collection	Accessory	mini medley
Z1489	Mini Medley Accents Olive Collection	Accessory	mini medley
Z1798	Black Tulle Ribbon	Accessory	Ribbon
Z1088	ChocolateWaxyFlax	Accessory	Ribbon
Z1089	BlackWaxyFlax	Accessory	Ribbon
Z906	BambooWaxyFlax	Accessory	Ribbon
Z1081	ColonialWhiteWaxyFlax	Accessory	Ribbon
Z1096	EmbroideryFlossNeutralAssortment	Accessory	Ribbon
Z1347	12 x 12 Post Bound Album- New England Ivy	Album	album
Z1827	My Creations™ Paper Pouch - Small	Crafts	gift
Z1828	My Creations™ Paper Pouch - Large	Crafts	gift
Z1740	My Creations® Bookmark Album	Crafts	My Creations
Z1739	My Creations® Milk Carton	Crafts	My Creations
Z1774	My Creations® Canvas Journal	Crafts	My Creations
Z1736	My Creations® Mini Banner  (Already sold out)	Crafts	My Creations
Z1267	Paper/StampOrganizer8.5x11(3)	Organization
Z4200	AccessoriesOrganizer	Organization
Z4136	ExclusiveInksOrganizerCarryingCase	Organization
Z1474	6" x 6" Kraft Die-Cut Cards & Envelopes	Paper Product	cards
Z1724	6” x 6” Kraft Envelopes	Paper Product	Cards
Z1412	10-Things Pocket	Paper Product	cards
Z1722	4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Kraft Envelopes	Paper Product	Cards
Z1723	5” x 7” Kraft Envelopes	Paper Product	Cards
Z1721	3” x 3” Kraft Envelopes	Paper Product	Cards
X7155B	Avonlea Paper Packet	Paper Product	Level 2
X7157B	Dakota Paper Packet	Paper Product	Level 2
X7156B	Clementine Paper Packet	Paper Product	Level 2
X7159B	Scholastic Paper Packet	Paper Product	Level 2
X7167B	Later Sk8r Paper Packet	Paper Product	Level 2
X7166B	Claire Paper Packet	Paper Product	Level 2
X7164B	Buzz and Bumble Paper Packet	Paper Product	Level 2
Z4134	Handle and Swivel Base	organization
Z724	EmbossingPen	Tool	coloring
Z670	EmbPowderBlack	Tool	coloring
Z673	EmbPowderWhite	Tool	coloring
Z1246	EmbPowderCocoa	Tool	coloring
Z672	EmbPowderRed	Tool	coloring
Z1351	embossing powder dutch blue	Tool	coloring
Z659	Emb Powder Cranberry	Tool	coloring
Z656	EmbPowderOutdoorDenim	Tool	coloring
Z655	EmbPowderOlive	Tool	coloring
1771	WaterbrushMedium	Tool	coloring
Z1350	embossing powder topiary	Tool	coloring
Z1392	2" Scallop Circle Punch	Tool	cutting
Z578	Corner Rounder (being replaced with new style)	Tool	cutting
Z608	Embossing Stylus Medium	Tool
G1061	Workshops on the Go® Chantilly Cardmaking Kit	WOTG	Card
G1060	Workshops on the Go® For Always Cardmaking Kit	WOTG	Card
G1062	Workshops on the Go® Canvas Art Kit	WOTG	home décor
G1053	Workshops on the Go® Chantilly Scrapbooking Kit	WOTG	Layout
G1054	Workshops on the Go® Buzz and Bumble Scrapbooking Kit	WOTG	Layout
G1057	Workshops on the Go® Later Sk8r Scrapbooking Kit	WOTG	Layout
G1055	Workshops on the Go® For Always Scrapbooking Kit	WOTG	Layout
G1059	Workshops on the Go® Surf's Up Scrapbooking Kit	WOTG	Layout
G1056	Workshops on the Go® Claire Scrapbooking Kit	WOTG	Layout
G1058	Workshops on the Go® Tommy Scrapbooking Kit	WOTG	Layout

Deepest Sympathy

Sympathy cards are hard for me to create.  There’s always so much emotion behind them.  I find that it’s best to have a couple always on hand so they can be sent when needed.

This cards is nearly an exact copy of the one featured in our 2013 Spring & Summer Idea Book.  Why copy?  It’s an Idea Book, not just a catalog. 

I also created it with a birthday sentiment and they were just as lovely.

This card is great for scraps, and tiny scraps at that!  The papers are from Claire & Surf’s Up. 

The stamp set is Card Chatter – Sympathy and Girls Rock, one of my most-used stamp sets ever. 

Better blending

Learn how to make your stamped images stand out by using the alcohol blending marker and Exclusive Inks^® marker sets for better blending! Watch the video to discover all of the tips and tricks.

If you cannot see the video, click here to view it online. 
Markers are sold 2 per package so you will always have the perfect color to blend with.  See them online.

Fluttering By Card

Today’s beautiful card is also taken almost directly from the 2013 Spring & Summer Idea Book.  This was a very popular card and has been requested again for another workshop.  It features embossing and our new alcohol markers.  I love this combination!  The embossing makes a beautiful raised glossy “bumper” that’s easy to color in!  It’s much easier to color within the lines and it is color fast.  The alcohol markers will not cause the black ink to bleed.  For the embossing, I used our black pigment ink cube and clear embossing powder!  I love embossing with the pigment inks because you get 10 colors per set and it only takes 1 type of embossing powder:  Clear Detail! 

I must apologize for the awful pictures.  I was trying a different photography setup and it didn’t work.  The colors of this card are much more vivid in real life! 

I changed the card from what was shown in the Idea Book by substituting this amazing bow from the Artiste Cricut Cartridge for the For Always textiles that they used.  It’s a great pop of color and it’s flat which means it will mail nicely.  It keep the flow from squishing flat, I added 3D foam tape inside the loops to give it stability.  

 

 

Tomorrow is Flag Day:  Remember to fly your flag with pride. 

We have 3 Patriotic Stamp sets now thru July 31 to celebrate our nation and Canada.  Get them now!  $3-5 will be donated to the USO for every set purchased.

Fabric 3D flowers cut on the Cricut

Back in April I blogged about cutting our Chantilly textiles on the Cricut.  Here’s that post.  It has great tips and a link to a tutorial on how to prepare your fabric for the Cricut mat. 

Today, I’ll show you the flowers I promised.  Just like the fabric bows, they were cut on the Cricut.  The only difference between these flowers and paper ones is getting them glued together.  I prefer to use Liquid Glass when assembling paper 3D flowers.  These required hot glue.  I needed that instant bond because the fabric doesn’t have a memory.  If you roll it up and let go, it wants to unroll and does it quickly!  Thus the hot glue.

I discovered that imperfect flowers are the best. See the one on the top right? I had to fix the center and it crumpled. It looks the best of all the flowers I made that day.

 

Hope this inspires you to create today! 

Summer Party Contest

Summer is the time for barbeques, pool parties, family reunions, and other get-togethers with loved ones. If you are looking to throw the perfect party, we've got great news for you! You can be one of 20 winners to receive BOTH My Acrylix® Patterned Pennants and My Acrylix® Tropical Paradise stamp sets. All you have to do is tell us your favorite way to party with your friends and family this summer. Watch the video to learn more about the contest and to see some of the fun summer party favors you can create with these stamp sets.

If you can’t see the video, click here to view it online.
Make a comment on the CTMH Facebook, Jeanette Lynton's blog, or YouTube before June 30, 2013 for your chance to win! Bring your parties to life—Close To My Heart style!

Sorry, comments left on my blog will not be entered. 

Enjoy the little things

In February, my card workshop featured cards from our Idea Book.  This is one of them.  I modified each of these cards to make them a bit more workshop friendly.  Not all of us have that much time as the CTMH designers do.   I love how the washi tape allows the color to show through!

We used Tresa Black’s faux stitching technique to stitch around the card. No string or needle required. It’s by sanding our white-core cardstock and then piercing stitching holes along that line.

 

Card Chatter—Focus On The Little Things

Washi Tape

Durables Artisan Studs

Piercing Tool kit

Sanding kit

 

Don’t forget:  this month with every $25 purchase with a stamp set (sizes A-E) you get a free mini banner set included!  2 stamp sets on a $50 order = 2 free banners!

June Stamp of the Month & Blog Hop

Hello friends!  Tomorrow starts a new month and a new stamp of the month! This post is one of 60+ blogs that are featuring this one stamp set “A Flowering Bunch” which is only available in the month of June.   If you’re new to blog hops, don’t worry; they’re fun & simple.  There’s a link down at the bottom of my post that tells you where to go. When you’ve completed the hop, you’ll be back where you started! 
If you’re already hopping, welcome! You should have just come from Georgia’s blog.

I used the emboss resist technique on my card.  Here's the steps to recreate this card:

• Stamp the long flower border two times with Versamark Watermark ink on our White Daisy paper and heat embossed it with Clear Detail Embossing Powder. 
• Apply ink to the paper strip using sponge wedges and sponge daubers to apply ink over the embossed areas.  
• Start with Crème Brulee, (lightest color first!), followed by Honey & Sunset.  
• Distress the edges of the strip of cardstock with our Edge Distresser 
• Ink the edges heavily with Sunset.  
• Rub over the embossed area with a tissue to remove any ink so the flowers were bright white again.
• Stamp the sentiment on the bottom of the card base in Sunset ink
• Adhere the strip to the card base.  
• Add Bitty Sparkles!

Give this technique a try:  I suggest keeping it confined to a 2” strip of paper makes it very easy.  (A whole card will be a lot of work).  I prepared this card as part of a consultant workshop this spring and it was fast & easy.  It was much faster than any of the cards that required detail scissor cutting that night.  Some of the fancy cut card ended up going home in baggies to be finished another day!




This set is available only in June.  It’s $17.95 or just $5 with a $50 purchase.  You can order your set now or keep on hopping! 
Hop on over to Wanda’s blog to see the next creation using this very same stamp!

Spinning Pinwheel

If you’ve known me for any length of time, you’ll quickly realize that I love cards that are not the typical A2 flat rectangle.  Last month’s card workshop I help 12 friends create this cascading card.  This month my 3D card was much simpler but just as fun!  In fact, it was shocking to a few of my gals how simple it was.  While it is still an A2 card, it spins!

Would you like your very own spinner card? 

• Place an order on my website & join my “Celebrate with Lalia” gathering and I’ll send you one of these cards and another one from my stash!  Keep reading for more info. 
• Request the Cricut Craft Room File from me to DIY!

 

What’s so special about this card?  Check out this video below to see it in action.  Click here if you don’t see the video. 

I learned how to make this card from a gal named Michelle at a Western Washington team meeting last summer.  Sorry I can’t think of your last name at the moment; I’ll update this post when I find it.  Earlier this year, I was surfing Pinterest and came across this card by Simone Collins.  It was a pinwheel card which was perfect inspiration for the May Stamp of the Month!  She has a full tutorial on how to create the slot with punches and how to assemble the card.  It’s quite good and I’m not going to duplicate her efforts here.

I am a Cricut lover so I created a Cricut Craft Room (CCR) file.  It uses the Cricut Craftroom Basics cartridge that comes with CCR so anyone can use it.  Contact me to request this CCR file. 

You can cut 6 card fronts with a slot on a 12x12 mat. Your project should look like this when you load it in to CCR. 

 

This Pinwheel stamp is only available in May from Close to My Heart so hurry, time is running out!  Here’s a link to see it online. 

It’s just $5 with a $50 purchase or $17.95.  Either way, it’s only available until May 31. 

To celebrate this month, anyone who places an order on my website will receive 2 free cards this month.  Would you like one of these cards?  If you order $50 or more, you’ll receive hostess rewards valued at 10% of your product order! 

Shop now. 

Pinwheels

Hello friends! 
I’m loving the May Stamp of the Month:  Pinwheel.  It’s fun & best yet—most of the shapes are compatible with my Artiste Cricut Cartridge. 
This card was designed by Jayme Malme.  I had a chance to create one at our March team meeting.  We each designed a card and brought enough for everyone to create one.  We had a little rotating card workshop where we created one of each card that was brought that night.  It was so fun to learn new techniques and quickly create new artwork!  I’m rarely the workshop attendee, I’m usually the workshop designer. 


Pinwheel is only available in May.  You can order it for $17.95 or get it for just $5 with a $50 purchase. 
 

If you order on my website this month, join the “Celebrate with Lalia” gathering and you’ll get 2 free handmade cards from me.  If your order is over $50 you’ll receive 10% of your order total in Hostess Rewards.  That means you’ll get a minimum of $5 in free product.  That’s a minimum of an ink pad, reinker, markers or My Stickease!  Shop online or contact me to place an order if you’re local.  I’m closing out an order this week! 
Would you love to be part of my CTMH team?  It’s been very exciting this month!  We’ll be swapping artwork and getting together each month (n person or virtually) to share ideas.  Click here to get more details about being a consultant. 

Teacher Gifts

For the last 3 years I have participated in a homeschool Co-op for our son.   This co-op doesn’t replace his home curriculum.  It enhances it.  Think of it as a morning full of elective classes and fun for both of us.  It’s wonderful to be part of an amazing group of women and their children.  As a co-op, we do everything ourselves, including lead classes.   As the year was wrapping up, the leadership  wanted to thank the moms who taught spring quarter.  Here’s how we celebrated our moms/teachers this last Monday…

There’s a story behind these boxes and how they were inspired.  Our fearless leader Libby found this adorable teacher thank you gift on Pinterest. Here’s the original post on www.skiptomylou.org.

It looked so simple to replicate. Gloves: Check! Seeds: Check!   Chalk board adhesive vinyl:  CTMH sells that too!  Container: Ikea is 50 miles away and affordable options at local stores were not found.  
I also really disliked the thought of investing in something that could end up being tossed.
The perfect solution…. I love cutting boxes on my Cricut with my Art Philosophy or Artiste Cricut cartridges.  However, I rarely have anything to put inside of them.  Oh joy!  Now I can play with paper and make something purposeful.  Or 21 purposeful items in this case!
The pillow box and the 3D flowers were cut using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.  I cut and rolled 2 dozen flowers while watching a movie one afternoon.  With the quilling tool that CTMH recently added to their Idea Book, it was a cinch and didn’t take my full concentration.  Everything else was assembled by our advisory team around my dining room table one evening last week.  It was quick and simple.  There was plenty of laughter and chocolate too. 

The flower and sentiment is a magnet keepsake.  The magnet, seed packs and pillow box are all held together with twine.  The recipient could easily reuse or recycle this pillow box. 
Inside the box are quality gardening gloves just like in the original picture and CHOCOLATE which seemed to missing in the original teacher gift.  (do you see a theme here?)

I love how these two Cricut cartridges are so versatile and go far beyond scrapbooking and card-making to blessing our hardworking teachers of our Co-op. 

I've just added this to the Heart to Heart Challenge blog for this week:  Teacher Appreciation week.  It was entirely made with Art Philosophy and Artiste Cricut shapes and some retired green paper.  Sorry, no current CTMH product except for Liquid Glass.

Dakota: Happy Birthday with a country flair!

Another simple card!  Perfect for the guy, horse lover or friend who loves all things country. 
Dakota was introduced in 2012 so it will only be around for a couple more months.  Get it now before it’s gone!

Paper:  Dakota
Ink:  Pacifica Exclusive Inks
Bling:  from last year’s Avonlea card kit (discontinued)
Stamp:  Joyful Birthday
Shop online to get these great products!