Stamp Scrap Fever!

January Paper Trail Blog Hop is Wonderland

2012-01-02T00:08:00.004-05:00

Welcome to the January Paper Trail Blog hop. This month we are featuring our beautiful wintery Wonderland paper pack, full of beautiful blues and browns with a touch of purple. Lovely snowflakes adorn three sides of these papers and polka-dots, plaid & stripes adorn the other three sides. I love these colors & patterns!

Terri's My Frame of Mind may have brought you to my blog. As usual, Terri has some fantastic art to share. If you arrived here by other means, not to worry, the blog hop is circular and you'll come back to her blog.

I designed a luminary with Wonderland using the 6x6 Kraft Die Cut Cards as a base. Using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge I cut snowflakes from the paper and created 3 panels to wrap around the base. A jewel hangs in the center of the snowflake and six little diamonds are at the inner points.

I used battery style tea lights to light the luminaries. Here are three with lights and different papers for the main body.

With out the lights. The color of the papers are more true in this photo.

My other offering today is a set of tags I made for an exchange. Again cutting snowflakes from the paper, glittering and adhering to a tag. I stamped snowflakes under the glitter snowflake cutout. On the back, the "to" and "from" and a snow border from Winter Joy.

I hope you've enjoyed what you've seen here. Now hop on over to Lynne's blog, Field's Finery for some more wintery delights, and some Studio J magic.

December Paper Trail blog hop - Roxie!

2011-12-01T02:05:00.001-05:00

I'm late! I'm late! I'm late for a very important date!

December Paper Trail blog hop has started and I am still working on my contribution! I'm so sorry and I hope you'll stop by tomorrow to check it out as I PROMISE I will have it posted by then. I'm finding that the project I decided to do is just a tiny bit trickier than I anticipated. But I think you'll like what you see when you come back!

So if you've arrived from Linda's blog, The Paper Taylor, never fear, you are indeed on the right track.

And to keep you on track, hop on over to If You Bling It by Melinda Everitt. She is our guest blogger this month and she's got an awesome project for you.

And until tomorrow when I post my "real" project, here are some things I've done with Roxie already. I may or may not have shared them before....

Gift card holder, inside

2nd gift card holder

Recipe/treasure box

Don't forget to come back tomorrow!

Ciao!

Let Me Make You an Offer (or 2) You Can't Refuse!

2011-11-11T13:06:00.001-05:00

Have I ever mentioned just how much I love Love LOVE Close To My Heart?

Well, I do!

Here are two more awesome reasons why!

One for now: Holiday Wishes!

When you place a minimum order of $25 in My Acrylix^® stamp sets in November, you can purchase a new D-size Holiday Wishes stamp set for only $5! That’s significant savings off the full retail value of $17.95. And here’s a bonus: many of the images in the set coordinate with our Cricut^® Art Philosophy cartridge for added cutting and stamping fun! Offer valid November 1- November 30, 2011.

And an offer for later: Rock the Block (I can't wait for this one!):

My Holiday Wishes is on it's way and I can't wait to show you what I create with it. As for the Rock the Bock.... tapping my fingertips on the table..... If you want these amazing offers yourself, order them at my Close To My Heart site, Paper Boutique or contact me at betsygully@gmail.com.

Starting to Feel a Lot Like Christmas

2011-11-08T12:15:00.000-05:00

I know, it's too early for Christmas, right? But for crafters it's a holiday we think about and plan for all year long. We may not have our homes decorated the day after Halloween, but our minds are busy with ideas and plans!

With that in mind I am going to share some photos of my class projects for A Very Cricut Christmas I: Bags & Tags. These were all assembled by my very talented daughter and fellow consultant, Alyssa. Some items are from our Idea Book and others are her own creations. Enjoy!

Dreamin' of a Paper Trail Blog Hop

2011-11-01T09:35:00.001-04:00

Hi, and thank for stopping by! If you arrived from Terri's My Frame of Mind blog you are on the right path. If you are just getting started, enjoy!

This is the November Paper Trail blog hop and this month we are featuring "Dreamin'." It's one of my favorite Level 2 Paper packs by Close to my Heart. I love Love LOVE the rich fall colors and warm textures.

I have so much I want to share this month but I may have to do it in smaller blog bites. Lets get started with this:

I love making these boxes that feature four more little "drawers" inside. They are so easy to make despite how complicated they appear. This one was made as an auction item for the Highpoint Crop benefiting Operation Smile. It would be great if you could join us!

I have to tell you, though, I got a little excited at the Detroit Regionals last month and gave it away to be auctioned off there. Oops! I can happily tell you it raised $65 for Operation Smile. The great thing is I can make another for Highpoint!

Next up is Mary's Road to Peace of Mind or Escape? blog. Enjoy your travels, these ladies have some great stuff to show you!

Studio J Layouts

2011-10-06T00:54:00.001-04:00

I'm preparing for the Close to my Heart Regional Celebration in Detroit. Part of the registration is a 5 pack Studio J gift to be completed & picked up at Regionals. Oh what fun I had making the layouts according to their directions and then redoing them to suit my photos and my tastes. In fact I had so much fun I decided to share.

You can click on any of these layouts to enlarge it and see more detail.

If you haven't played with Studio J, you really should! It's so much fun and so easy. And it cost you nothing to play. You only pay when you decide to order what you've designed. How easy and risk free is that?

Get a Fab Freebie in October

2011-10-04T19:41:00.001-04:00

Get a Fab Freebie in October

Become a Consultant in October and get one add-on collectionFREE*!

SIGN UP AS A NEW CONSULTANT BETWEEN OCTOBER 1–31 and receive oneNew Consultant Kit add-on collection of your choice FREE! Add-on collectionsare priced at $40 each and have a retail value of up to $130, making this anincredible deal!

For just a $99 enrollment fee, you'll receive a New Consultant Kitpacked with business essentials and new products valued at over $280, plus aFREE add-on collection to enhance your kit! Then you can choose to buy one orboth of the other add-on collections for just $40 each. It's an incredibledeal!

Roxie Add-On Collection

Includesa Workshops on the Go™ Roxie Kit, Rhinestone Designer Brads, Foundry® PinClips, My Acrylix® Instant Memories Stamp Set, My Acrylix® Unscripted StampSet, Tulip Exclusive Inks® Pad, Cocoa Exclusive Inks® Pad, and a 2" * 6 V" My Acrylix® Block.

Elemental Add-On Collection

Includes a Workshops on the Go™ Elemental Kit**, DimensionalElements Banners, Décor Journaling Spots, My Acrylix® Love Life Stamp Set, MyAcrylix® Happy Clusters Stamp Set, Olive Exclusive Inks® Pad, and a Desert SandExclusive Inks® Pad.

**Cricut^®Art Philosophy cartridgerequired to complete workshop layouts and bonus project.

Studio J^®Add-On Collection

Includes a 12-month Studio J® membership and five Studio Jlayouts (must redeem within first 3 months).

This is too good to resist! To join my Stamp Scrap Fever team sign up here or contact me at betsygully@gmail.com

Paper Trail - Believe

2011-09-30T23:14:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the October Paper Trail blog hop. If you arrived from Connie's blog, Scraps & Stories, you are right on path. If you are just getting started with me let me tell you, you have some great art in store!

This month our featured Close to my Heart paper packet is "Believe." I know, I know, it seems a bit soon to be bringing out the Christmas papers already. However, as an experienced paper crafter, you know that when it comes to Christmas, it's never too early to start!

I'd like to share the Christmas Activity Box we are making in one of my October workshops. The My Creations Memory Game is a box filled with 24 chip board "coasters." I made a pocket on each coaster to put a little tag in. The tags have an activity for every day from December 1st to Christmas eve. What a great way to build excitement through the season and make the focus on whatever you wish by the activities you include.

My numbers, shapes and tags on each coaster, as well as the "ho, ho, ho" on the lid are all cut with our cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. Can I just tell you my cricut has had such a work out since I got this cartridge? I am loving it!

Finally, here is a broad view of the papers included in the Believe Level 2 paper pack. I love the fun & brightness of this holiday paper!

Now follow the trail on over to Pam's blog, P-Inks, for some more holiday inspiration!

Sonoma, September's Paper Trail Blog Hop

2011-09-01T10:30:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the Paper Trail blog hop featuring Close to my Heart beautiful papers! If you came from Field's Finery you are on the right track. If you are just getting started let me just say you have some amazing artwork ahead!

Our Sonoma paper pack is full of deep rich colors. I have been having so much fun playing with them and mixing and matching the patterns. Every combination is so pretty.

My contribution to the Paper Trail blog hop is the My Creations Card Box and cards to fill it. My box was inspired by the sample on page 120 of our Fall/Winter Idea Book. My intention was to copy it. But as usual it wasn't long before I was off on my own direction.


Top/front view

With the release of our new Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge there was no question that I would be using it in some manner with my Sonoma creations. I had to keep myself from getting carried away. I cut a beautiful swirl and embellished it with Mocha Opaques and two flowers also cut from Art Philosophy.

Front of box

The pretty gem dangling from the front closure and the third smallest purple flower on the top of the box are from our Heirloom Assortment. I love the elegance the gem drop adds. The metal corners on the front are from the Pewter Mini Medley Accents. Sweet, right?

Flower detail

How gorgeous are those flowers showcasing the complementing front and back of the background/texture paper?

Flower detail

I can't get enough of them....

Open box with cards

This card box can easily hold 10-12 cards and would make a sweet gift for a friend or just a darling box of cards for your own use.

Card inside

And inside my card is a bit more Art Philosophy. Note the swirlies in the corners. I am love Love LOVING my Cricut more than ever with this new cartridge!!

Thank you so much for dropping in. Now, please hop on over to My Frame of Mind and see what Terri has created for you. See you again, soon, I hope!

Close to my Heart Customer Testimonial

2011-08-30T15:52:00.000-04:00

I really don't like posting a blog without any artwork or photos so here is a card created by CTMH Consultant Mary Jane Bedel. She doesn't have a blog to share her beautiful artwork, but she soon will. This card is made using our Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.

What I want to share with you is this testimonial by my friend, Capri. Many of us have wanted a Cricut and have waited... for the price to drop... for the technology to get better... for someone to gift it to us... for a lot of different reasons. One of which, for me, was to wait until I decided I really needed it.

Capri is one who has waited. I just love that the exclusive Close to my Heart Art Philosophy cartridge may have been her tipping point!

Didja Notice Anything New?

2011-08-29T23:14:00.001-04:00

My blog has some new features that I'd like to bring to your attention. Just below my blog title is a dark stripe containing tabs to other pages. The first tab after the Home page tab says Workshops, Classes & Crops. If you left click on that tab you will be taken to my calendar of upcoming events. How cool is that?

When you are on my calendar page each event that is highlighted and italicized has its own page. If you left click on an event you will be transported to that event's page with all the details you need to know about it.

The tab bar remains visible no matter which page you are on and you can easily return to my mail blog just by left clicking on "Home."

Do you like it? I sure do!

Art Philosophy, the Cricut Cartidge That Comes with a Whole Lot More!

2011-08-29T14:10:00.001-04:00

If you are looking for the perfect cartridge to complement all your projects look no more!! Art Philosophy and CTMH have teamed up to bring you just what you've been asking for!

What can one little key on the Cricut key board do for you? Just look!

That's just one key, there are 49 more! And that swirl isn't just a swirl, it's a flower! Check out this petal box:

That pinkish rose is made from just such a swirl.

And of course the petal box itself is an Art Philosophy cut!

3x3 card combining Art Philosophy cuts with our matching stamps. So easy & so cute!!

What do you get in the bundle? 3 My Acrylix stamp sets ($53.85 value), 3 Dimensional Elements chipboard sets featuring a variety of shapes to match the stamps ($14.85 value), and of course the Art Philosophy Cartridge ($89.95 value)

Shop for this amazing deal at my CTMH website, Paper Boutique.

Until the last day of the month, August 31st, you will also receive, for just $5 more:

Wicked Stamp of the month ($17.95 value), so cute!

A Typeface font stamp set ($6.95 value), sweet!

Pair-a-Phrase ($35.95 value), so versatile!

That a value of $60.80 for only $5!! So what are you waiting for??

Wedding & Roxie Gift card

2011-08-23T12:24:00.000-04:00

These are cards I made when on my trip to Seattle last week. This first one is for my nephew's wedding. I was told their colors were brown & teal so I chose Chocolate, Twilight & Colonial White CS. The pattern for this card is in our Wishes book.

I did two cards with Roxie papers. These are gift card holders and I love the design! The first is for our niece and her husband who were our fabulous hosts during our stay in Seattle.

The second is for show & tell at my upcoming open house. And yes, you are invited!

Thanks for stopping by! If you are in the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area I hope to see you at my open house.

August Paper Trail Blog Hop

2011-07-31T22:00:00.011-04:00

Welcome to the August Paper Trail bog hop! If you arrived here from Vicki's blog, The Wizard's Hangout, you are on the right path. We have some awesome new artists joining our hop this month. Be sure to show them some love by leaving comments.

In July Close to my Heart consultants from all over the US and Canada came together in Anaheim, California for our annual convention. Beautiful new papers were introduced and I am so excited to share them with you over the next few months. But for August our artists agreed to an "anything goes" hop since we had so little time to order, receive and use our new products. I'm going to "cheat" a bit and give you 8 little peeks of the new papers I got to use on 3"x3" cards we made in our Leadership training.

Mischief (L) and Elemental (R)

Dreamin' (L) and Sonoma (R)


Roxie (L) and Typeset (R)

Believe (L) and Wonderland (R)

Hope you've enjoyed these little cards. Now hop on over to Linda's blog, The Paper Taylor, and enjoy some more paper candy.

Art Philosophy!

2011-07-31T15:58:00.001-04:00

Art Philosophy by Cricut, exclusively for Close to My Heart

Art philosophy (Z1686) is available on August first through my website, Paper Boutique. I am so excited for you to see all the great images to use alone or with our stamps. Great 3-D projects, too!! The Art Philosophy package includes three exclusive D-size stamp sets and three sets of Dimensional Elements designed to perfectly coordinate with images on the cartridge, a total retail value of over $120!

Check it out here on Hello Thursday. Click on the blue box next to the origami flowers to see more images and ideas.

The Sticky Boy Story

2011-07-24T11:43:00.001-04:00

The story behind Sticky Boy:

Sticky Boy started out as a wood stamp in the DOTS (pre-Close To My Heart) days called "What's Up?" When we introduced My Acrylix, David Lynton wanted to call the product line "Sticky Boys." Here is the introductory video they showed when they were introduced...

After that for a few years, David dressed up as a giant Sticky Boy and the stamps were hidden treasures to spot at events, the tradition continues. Sticky Boy is our Mascot.

**Thanks to Bren Yule for providing this information & video. As a long time consultant I clearly recall where & why Sticky Boy came into existence, but I completely spaced this awesome video.

Gadgets & Gizmos

2011-07-23T16:26:00.002-04:00

I'm back from the Close To My Heart convention in Anaheim and so excited about all that's new! Actually, I've been back nearly a week but my head is still spinning & twirling with all the ideas and new products, I feel like I may still be in one of Alice's Magic Tea Cups!

Alyssa, Mickey & Me

Anaheim of course, is home to Disneyland so our very first order of business was stopping in and saying hello to Mickey. I credit him for the awesome warm days and cool evenings and so much fun we almost didn't want to stop for convention. But we didn't lose our heads completely!

Me & Sticky Boy!

One of the highlights for me was finally finding a Sticky Boy! He's the prototype of our My Acrylix stamps and has attended every convention since we introduced My Acrylix. Every consultant wants to find him and there are many clones of him to be discovered. But having attended many conventions this is the first time I got so lucky.

Hangin' out with Sticky Boy

Right now he's hanging out on my window over my kitchen table and watching me as I've been catching up on convention create and takes.

Art Philosophy. Just of few ideas of so many more!

Have you heard our big news? I mean REALLY BIG news? Close To My Heart now has an exclusive Cricut cartridge, Art Philosophy! I am so excited!! It has over 700 images including a font, shapes that fits some of our new stamps, 3-dimensional flowers & projects and so much more! It comes with three exclusive 'D' size Close To My Heart stamp sets and three 9x12 sheets of Dimensional Elements, that all coordinate. Awesome!!

And now that I have swapped all my swap cards I'll give you a peek at what I swapped. Many thanks to Alyssa and Mary Jane for being part of my production line.

Sweetheart Gift Holder

Sweetheart Gift Holder open

Card with Mayberry Papers and Bless this Nest

Cards with Lucky Papers

Sophia Gift Holder

Sophia Gift Holder open

Paper Trail Blog Hop, Fanfare

2011-07-01T00:01:00.043-04:00

It's July already and time for a blog hop! If you arrived here from Karen's blog, Inky Fingers, you're on the right path.

This month we are using Fanfare, a red white & blue collection perfect for scrapping your 4th of July photos. I used Studio J to do a military layout of my nephew, a Navy Corpsman.

Click on photos to view original size

I also did a Father's Day card for my husband. You may have noticed by now that I love the tri-fold shutter card and tend to use it quite often.

Lastly, I did a series of cards using a simple sketch and mixing up the papers and stamps.

The stamp set is called "Horizon" and I love the images!

I hope you found some inspiration here. If you like what you see please leave a comment and let me know! Now you are on your way to Lynne's blog, Field's Finery. Enjoy the hop!

Free Jpeg from CTMH!

2011-06-26T20:43:00.001-04:00

At my CTMH website, PaperBoutique, you can create a Studio J layout and get the jpeg absolutely free! It's not only easy it's fun! This is the layout I made and what you are looking at is my free jpeg.

Click photo to enlarge

A Little Bit of a Tease

2011-06-26T20:27:00.003-04:00

I've been working diligently on my Convention Swap Cards and I am so excited to show you! However, I can't reveal them before convention.

It's in "The Rules."

Besides, if I revealed them now I would be stalked the moment my toes touch down in California.

Really.

They are that awesome.

I will, however, leave you with just a tiny peek....

A Little Something with Sophia

A Little Bit of Lucky

June Paper Trail Blog Hop featuring CTMH "Lucky"

2011-06-02T15:14:00.006-04:00

Welcome to the Paper trail blog hop! If you arrived from Terri's blog, My Frame of Mind, you are on the right path!

This month we are featuring Close to my Heart's Lucky paper pack. It's perfect for doing masculine projects, cards or layouts with it's earthy tones. I absolutely love these papers, so rich feeling, they make me want to smell them for a their smokey outdoorsy scent... which of course won't be there. But they make me feel it!

My project is a gift holder made with a lunch sack. I've put a gift card in it, but you can also use this pattern for other gifting, such as small stamp sets, cookies or other sweet treats, a handful of photos or just anywhere your mind can take you, as long as it fits.

The lunch sack is folded in half and the beveled bottom turned up to make a matchbook type folder. A note card slips into the top for your message. So cute, don't you agree?

Below is a sample of the individual papers you get in this set. There are 24 sheets of paper in the pack total - 12 (2 each of 6 designs) pattern papers and 12 sheets of card stock in coordinating colors. I love the range of versatility of our paper packets!

This month I used our Lucky Workshop on the Go kit. Not only do you get all the paper shown above, but you get an exclusive stamp set made just for this pack, and 2 full size packages of embellishments, Natural Hemp and Designer wooden buttons. I used my Sunset Exclusive Inks pad to turn my hemp from natural to Sunset to coordinate even more with my project.
Instructions for the 3 cards you see here are also included in the Lucky Workshop on the Go in the full color guide, as well as instructions for a beautiful 2 page layout.

I hope you are enjoying what you are seeing today! Now hop on over to Mary's blog, The Road to Peace of Mind and see the amazing things she has whipped up for you!

The Postman/woman is my Friend!

2011-05-10T13:07:00.003-04:00

Who doesn't love real mail? The kind that you open and hold in your hands and read, pick it up later to appreciate again? This is the mainstay of card stamping. I love my "Cardies" because they are the people that keep this art alive. Really, aren't you tired of nothing but bills & ads in your mail box? Let's get stamping, folks. And even if you don't want to stamp, think about just sending out a little, "Hello, how are you?" note to a friend. You know they will appreciate it!!

I received this card from my friend, Mac yesterday in a manila envelope with some other goodies. Isn't it sweet? It also uses our Mayberry papers which we are featuring in our Paper Trail blog hop this month. I love Love LOVE these papers!!

Other items in that fun envelope are a collection of gorgeous papers she picked up recently and decided to share with me. Am I a lucky girl, or what? These are all very vintage looking and I just can't wait to play with them! Can you tell that the little brads in front are sock monkeys? I literally laughed out loud when I saw them. We have a little family joke (at least my nuclear family thinks it is) about sock monkeys. And you have to say it a certain way, too. Way too cute and I can't wait to use them!!

Shout out to Mac for making my day!! And remember, if you want to receive snail mail, it's important to send snail mail! Get stampin' ladies!!

Mayberry, May Paper Trail Blog Hop

2011-05-01T01:57:00.017-04:00

Welcome to the Paper Trail Blog Hop featuring Close to My Heart papers. If you arrived here from Lynne's blog, Field's Finery, you are on the right trail. I hope you have enjoyed what you have seen so far.

This month we are featuring the Mayberry Paper Packet. Unfortunately, I realized too late that I hadn't ordered it. Oops! So instead I am using just the colors used in the Mayberry papers, Cocoa, Olive, Honey & Smoothie. I love the combination, it's a little unexpected but feels very homey.

I made a double slider card/gift card holder. The photo at the top of the blog is the card closed. By pulling the clip on the right hand side of the card, a slider pulls out with the clip and at the same time another slider "magically" slides out of the left side of the card.

Just to make it special, I added a little pocket to hold a gift card. This would be very cool for a graduation card, right?

Close up of right hand slider.

Close up of left hand slider. Below are the beautiful papers that make up the Mayberry collection. You can order this package at my CTMH website, Paper Boutique.

Next stop on the trail is Mary's Blog, The Road to Peace of Mind. I am sure she has something wonderful lined up for you!

Grandma's Secrets Box (April Paper Trail Blog Hop)

2011-04-02T11:41:00.008-04:00

Welcome to the April 2011 edition of the Paper Trail blog hop. If you found your way here from Karen's Blog, Inky Fingers, you are on the right trail! Aren't her layouts adorable? And these papers are so perfect for scrapping about a chocolate lab!

I chose to make up a My Creations Recipe/Photo Box with this month's papers, Bliss. However, I will be using my box for card storage, making sure I always have a few cards on hand for all sorts of occasions. Aren't the papers elegant and vintage looking? I LOVE them!!

I used our Kraft Color Ready Borders along the bottom of the darker brown texture paper. They come in 25 different patterns, each ready to be sponged with the color of your choice. I chose to leave it the kraft brown as it works so well with these papers. Bonus: They are self adhesive so no sticky mess when using them! I also sponged some Villa Chip Board Irresistibles with chocolate brown and attached to the corners and as a lock frame. Cute!!

For a bit of whimsy I added the key shaped Villa Chip Board Irresistible under the lid, using distressed paper ribbon as an additional accent, and topping it off with another Kraft Color Ready border.

I am so pleased with the results!! You can find the Bliss Level 2 Paper Pack and the other products used on my website, PaperBoutique.myctmh.com. A perfect companion with this paper pack is the Blessed April Stamp of the Month set. Price varies depending on your purchases.

I'd also like to mention that the wonderful people at Close to my Heart have put together a stamp set of which 100% of all profits will be donated to the Red Cross for aid in Japan. Check out Hope for Japan.

Bliss Level 2 Paper Pack

Thanks for stopping by today and here's the link to continue on your way to Lynne's blog at Field's Finery. She's new to our group so be sure to leave her some love. Her cards are gorgeous!

Birthday Cards!

2011-03-17T14:19:00.005-04:00

Time to share some home made Birthday love! Cup cake card is by my friend Mary Ann who just gave me the best present of all!! She invited me to her home outside of Seattle in Washington state (which is totally spa/retreat-like) for a few days of crafting and chillaxin.' Returning to Kentucky was incredibly hard!! I'll be sharing some of our crafting results a little later. She is an amazing artist in many areas, not just paper crafts.

Cat Mosaic card is by my friend Barb. I try to sit close to this friend whenever possible and just pray that her talent will fall off onto me. Does osmosis work for humans? Love the musical tape on the envelope. Those little touches are what call out to me, "open me first!!"

This card is from the Crazy Cats Card Club, or something like that. I am sooooo far behind in this club, but they haven't dropped me yet - thank goodness!! This card is 3D dimensional and the envelope is the old fashioned tissue type envelope and stamped with very old 'Air Mail' stamps of 5 cents and such. So stinkin' cool!!

There were many more birthday wishes and cards but I thought I'd touch on the highlights. It made reaching the double nickel landmark much more bearable!

Scrappin' online with Studio J and Loving It!

2011-03-15T16:44:00.006-04:00

I met the nicest woman on my way home from Seattle. We sat next to each other on the flight to Chicago. Sadly, I never asked her name.

During the time spent chatting I mentioned my blog and gave her the address. In particular I wanted to share the layouts I created with Studio J. It occurs to me that I haven't shared these with anyone who reads my blog yet so the timing is perfect!

For my blog friends and my anonymous flight friend - these are for you. Click on the photo for larger/closer view and enjoy!!

You can play with Studio J on my website, Paper Boutique, for free! It cost absolutely nothing to play, you only pay when you purchase! Have fun!!

March Paper Trail - Miracle Paper Pack

2011-03-03T23:09:00.003-05:00

Welcome to the March Paper Trail blog hop! If you have arrived from Karen's blog, Inky Fingers, you are on the right track.

This month we are using the Close To My Heart Miracle paper pack. I love these colors, Heavenly Blue and Sweet Leaf, I think they are so pretty together. I made this banner using the My Creations Banner. I'm taking this to Seattle with me for my friend who is hosting a craft weekend. Hope she likes it!

This beautiful Miracle paper package can be purchased on my website, just click on its name. Now, you must hurry over to Terri's blog, My Frame of Mind, to see what she's been up to with the Miracle papers!

Just One of the Reasons I LOVE Studio J (Online Scrapbooking!)

2011-02-24T15:40:00.005-05:00

Normal scrap booking area when finished with a project:

Scrap booking area when finished with online scrapping:

I think the photos say it all!

My layouts are beautiful! Not only do they get printed and shipped to me (including page protectors!), but I also receive jpegs via email so I can print more on my own or send them via email to my friends and family.

I'll never give up paper & tape scrapping, but this does have some great features. With my laptop and wireless connection, I can scrap and watch movies with my family at the same time.

You can play with Studio J (online scrapping) at no cost. If you like what you do, you can then purchase it. Go play with it here: Paper Boutique.

The Amazing Things You Can Do With A Lunch Bag (one of)

2011-02-22T15:40:00.007-05:00

At IOD last night Margy shared a gift from a friend that was made with a lunch sack as a gift holder. It was so stinkin' cute!! I did up a simple version, not nearly as awesome as the one Margy shared, to help me remember what it was like. Think matchbook cover.

Here is it open with a mini stamp set and one of our new spray pens inside. Just needs a few little tweaks and details and it'll be awesome!!

If you are attending MAC's stamp retreat in Washington next month, please forget you ever saw this....

IOD Challenge

2011-02-22T15:17:00.009-05:00

Just want to give a quick share of what we are doing in IOD (Ink or Dye) this year. Last year our monthly swaps were theme based. This year the challenge is for everyone to take home the same stamped image for our card exchange and a specific item to be used for the ATC exchange. Both the stamp and the ATC items are supplied by the gal who is also doing the technique or presentation that month. This photo is the image we were assigned for the card this month, and the paper is the item assigned for the ATC.

What I really liked about this challenged was knowing that we'd all be using the same things therefore I really wanted to think outside the box and do something that was either unexpected or unusual.

After I chalked up the image I decided to chop it in half and use layers of papers for my accents in completing the card. I am pretty happy with the results.

The paper for the ATC was full of grasses and flower petals. I decided to salvage the 2nd bird that I didn't use from the stamped image. I then tore the paper to make ragged pieces and create a nest (of sorts, lol!) with the little bird adding a bit more.

It was really a fun challenge.

Sweetheart - February Paper Trail

2011-02-03T02:28:00.008-05:00

Welcome to the February Paper Trail blog hop! If you arrived from Karen's blog, Inky Fingers, you are on the right track! And didn't you love Love LOVE the cards she made with these papers?

This month we are featuring work created with Close to my Heart paper packet "Sweetheart." I think the combination of pinks, reds & blacks is just stunning. I particularly love the reverse sides that are black on black patterns. So cool & sophisticated!!

I decided to do up a couple of little Valentine gift card holders. You don't have to have a romantic love in your life to give or appreciate getting Valentine gifts. I think I'll be giving these to my daughters on Valentines day. I know they'll love them!

I chose the red plaid paper for the outside of this because I wanted to make it a bit less girly. On the flap is the reverse side of the same paper with edges sponged in red. I used the Sweetheart Level 2 Assortment which is the black polka-dotted epoxy stickers to embellish.

When open you'll find two pockets, one the perfect size for a Starbucks gift card (or any gift card of your choosing), and the other with a little insert to write a sweet note to the recipient. I love this style of GC holder. It has a very substantial feel to it.

This second GC holder is a simple tri-fold, embellished with sparkles and images stamped from the exclusive set that comes with the Sweetheart Workshop on the Go.

And again, my Starbucks gift card tucks nicely inside. So quick & easy!!

This last card is by my daughter, Alyssa. She wanted to show that the papers can be used very differently than the reds & pinks suggest. The blackish polka dotted paper at the top of this card is from the same packet as the first two items, but the card has an entirely different look. Great job, Alyssa!!

Thanks for stopping by. You're on your way to Erica's blog, From the Heart, now for some more great ideas. Just click on her blog name.

January Paper Trail Blog Hop, WINGS

2011-01-03T16:50:00.007-05:00

Welcome to the January 2011 edition of the Paper Trail Blog Hop! If you've arrived here from Mary's blog Road to Peace of Mind, I am sure you already have fallen in love with the new Wings paper and how she used it on her beautiful project!!

I was challenged this month to use a Level 1 Wings kit with our new black accessories and our 12" assortment Flip Flaps. I'll be honest with you, I am not so big on scrapping as much as stamping and card making, so this was more challenging than I really want to admit!

First photo is my project with the Flip Flaps closed. I used 2 12x6" Flip flaps and attached them to open like French doors with the equivalent of a double layout being revealed as shown below. I created two paper flowers from one of the included B&T papers to embellish the front. The letters on the front and inside layouts are part of the Stickease assortment included with the Level 1 Wings kit.

I chose my husband's parents' gardens as my subject, using photos I took when we were out in Seattle the summer of 2009. Their garden is full of fruits and vegetables which adorn their table all summer and into the fall. Much is canned for the winter months, too. Bee keeping has been a hobby for my father-in-law for many years. We love all the gifts that we receive from their wonderful garden!

(Remember, you can click on any of these photos for a larger view)

I cut a tag from one of the pre-printed pages and made a little pocket behind one of the center photos for my journalling. I'm thinking this may be a little small for all I want to say about their garden, I may have to add to it.

Since I was a bit behind on getting my items ready for the Paper Trail blog hop my daughter, Alyssa (also a CTMH consultant), jumped in to help with a couple of cards done with Wings. She also used the January Stamp of the Month Set, "Find your Style" and our new Bohemian alphabet.

All these items can be found on my Close to my Heart website in our January Inspirations brochure. Click on the photo in the lower right corner when you visit my website, Paper Boutique. There are some deep discounts on the stamp sets when you purchase the Wings Workshop on the Go. Please go look, you won't want to miss out!

Now to see more with Wings, go visit Erica at From the Heart.

Paper Trail December Blog Hop - Magnifique!

2010-12-01T00:01:00.005-05:00

Welcome to the December edition of the Paper Trail blog hop! This month we are featuring Close To My Heart's "Magnifique" paper packet. If you arrived here from Karen's blog, Inky Fingers, you are on the right trail!

One of many things I particularly like about the Close To My Heart papers is their double sided patterns. These four cards were designed for my Holiday Card Workshop using Magnifique. The sky blue monochromatic side of the papers was perfect for a wintery feeling. Stamps featured in this card are from the Father Christmas My Acrylix stamp set.

Large patterns of peacock feathers are disguised as a random design when used in small pieces and perfectly accent the card. Winter scene is from Captured Moments.

I broke one of my rules here and used more than one or two stamp sets. But when you already have them and the card just needs that little more.... Sometimes you just gotta break the rules. My Acrylix stamp sets used are, Ice Crystals, Unity, and All the Best from the Mistletoe Workshop on the Go.

My final card is not so holiday-ish but is a winter card. I love this stamp set, Nature's Gift.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've enjoyed my cards. You're on your way to Mary's blog, Road to Peace of Mind or Escape now for some more great ideas.

Cyber Monday CTMH Sale!

2010-11-26T23:50:00.004-05:00

Did you stay home and warm on Black Friday but now need a start on your shopping? Cyber Monday is coming and I have some great offers for you!

When you submit an order of just $30 you receive your choice of any embellishment or supply item up to $3.00 for free! Look for Opaques, Sparkles, Envelope Flats and more!

When you submit an order of just $60 you receive a second choice of any embellishment or supply item up to $4.00 for free! Look for Filigree Charms, Waxy Flax, My Creations A-door-ables and more!

When you submit an order of just $90 you receive a third choice of any embellishment or supply item up to $5.00 for free! Look for Mini-Medley My Accents Collections, Brad Assortments, Dimensional Elements and more!

When you submit an order of just $100 you will receive all of the above and the November Constant Campaign, “A Little More Thanks,” also kicks in! You receive the Stamp of the Month, “A Little Thanks,” for free and a second stamp set of your choice, also for free!

This Cyber Monday special is available only through me, personally. Please email me (betsygully@gmail.com) with your order from 8:00am through 11:59pm on Monday, November 29th only. Close to my Heart requires that I collect shipping & handling and tax on all free items. This sale is NOT available through my website.

Need ideas for the scrapper or crafter in your family?

Studio J 5-pack is a great introduction to digital scrapping. A Studio J® 5-pack, priced at $55, includes 5 two-page layouts, 5 Memory Protectors®, and free shipping and handling. It’s the perfect way to try out Studio J for the first time, and it makes a great gift. (3 and 12 month memberships are also available at even greater benefits and savings.)

Protect and showcase your treasured scrapbook pages for a lifetime in one of Close To My Heart’s archive quality My Legacy® albums. Just $24.95 they are available in six contemporary colors. Our post-binding albums are more beautiful and durable than ever.

A Close To My Heart gift certificate is always a wonderful gift to allow your favorite scrapper or crafter to choose exactly what she wants with no uncertainties about color, duplicates or personal tastes. A Gift Certificate can be purchased in any amount. Gift Certificates do not count toward Cyber Monday sales.

Stocking Stuffers!

2010-11-23T23:27:00.008-05:00

I love Christmas. Besides looking forward to seeing family, shopping, eating, partying and honoring the birth of Jesus, it's also a great time to be a paper crafter. I get to design and make my own Christmas cards. I love sending out cards that mean more to me than a pretty picture and a pretty saying. I know that not all recipients appreciate the time and effort it takes to make my cards, but the process of making them and thinking about the friends and family I'll be sending them to is very important to me, a tradition I adore.

Besides making cards there are so many other holiday things to make by paper crafting. I'm certainly not as creative as so many of the crafters I admire, but I do have fun! This photo is of five items we are creating in my next workshop. They can be small gifts for people you want to acknowledge with a little something or they can be stocking stuffers, or perhaps, like the ornament or notebook, you can keep it for yourself. However they are used, they are sure to be appreciated!

Let the holidays begin! I so love this season!!

Happily Exhausted!

2010-11-20T20:39:00.004-05:00

Today was the final of my three holiday card classes. It's been a long three days as we tried to squeeze so much fun into each class. Hm... Might try for a little less fun next time!

Our prepped cards were all lined up on the piano one through ten. Grab a box, pass it around and we're off!

This is our Saturday class, number three. Alyssa, my partner in crime, managed one end of the table and I managed the other. It was her first time to really teach and she was fabulous!

Without a doubt all the stampers were tired at the end of the class, but happy with their cards! My favorite quote of the day? "There's not a single card I don't love!"

Holiday Card Workshop

2010-11-18T19:00:00.008-05:00

Today we had the first of three Holiday Card workshops. Every participant received a thank you gift from me before we jumped in and made 20 holiday cards, ten designs, 2 of each. We had yummy Christmas cookies and non-stop Christmas tunes. Don't shame me for breaking out the Christmas tunes too early, it's necessary to have the appropriate music when making Christmas cards! We had so much fun!

There are some workshop plans in the CTMH book "Wishes" but I felt uninspired by them. Instead, Alyssa and I looked at all the cards in "Wishes" and picked out individual cards that appealed to us. It was a little more work but I am so pleased with what we came up with!

All these cards use the Mistletoe Level 2 paper packet and the Creative Basics Mistletoe Collection. The card above was my design, focusing on the papers themselves. The pretty little poinsettias are part of a collection called Mistletoe Level 2 Assortment. I adore them! The sentiment is from the Tannenbaum My Acrylix stamp set.

This card is Alyssa's design. The sentiment is from Christmas Melodies.

This is also Alyssa's design and also uses the Christmas Melodies My Acrylix stamp set. On both cards the berries are filled in using red stickles. So cute!

Another card by Alyssa. Did I mention I am starting to feel inadequate? LOL! I really love this stamp set, I Believe. It also has a reindeer, santa and sleigh, stocking & snow flakes. Very versatile!

And this card was designed by..... you guessed it! Alyssa! She used the My Acrylix stamp set, Adorn-able and added the pearl Opaques for a little added pop.

Final card was my design (finally!). If it seems familiar it's because it's one of the cards I featured on the November blog hop. This tree is alway a hit! The stamped and glittered trees are part of the Holiday Trinkets My Acrylix stamp set. The second generation stamping gives the appearance of depth, as if the trees are fading off into the mist.

If you are counting you may have noticed that I have only posted six cards. The final four are being held back and will be revealed December 1st for the December Paper Trail blog hop. Mark your calendars and check back for the remaining workshop cards. Thanks for stopping by!

Holiday Cards - Do You Still Send Them?

2010-11-09T11:49:00.005-05:00

I've been participating in some craft shows this fall and along with my other items presenting cards for sale. They are not moving as well as I would have liked. I hope that doesn't mean people are not sending Holiday cards... I so love getting them!!

This is one of my favorites made with Mistletoe Level 2 paper pack. The glittery ribbon came with my Mistletoe Creative Basics. I've been investing more & more in corner and border punches, totally in love with them! Mary Jane taught me to do the accordion flower a few months ago and I have made tons of them since. Do you ever get "stuck" on something so fun you just have to keep making it? This card also includes My Acrylix stamps, St. Nick and Peace on Earth.

Did I tell you? Martha Stewart corner & border punches used for this card. I just can't resist! The beautiful musical paper is another part of the Mistletoe Level 2 paper pack. My Acrylix stamps are A Timber. Its a very sweet little set!

Two of our new colors are featured on this card, Pacifica and Sky. I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the card stock with snow flakes and then lightly sanded the top, leaving the white core to show. I love how easy it is to get this beautiful effect. My Acrylix stamps used on this card are from the Ice Crystals set.

This is one of my favorites! I love round cards and CTMH makes it so easy! I added paper from Magnifique Level 2 paper pack, using the pretty light patterned back of a much bolder pattern. I used the strip of embossed Pacifica cut off of the One of a Kind card and added my sponged, colored & glittered image from My Acrylix Snow Days and Thank You.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you are sending real cards out this holiday season. Snail mail means so much more!

November Paper Trail Blog Hop - Mistletoe!

2010-11-01T14:23:00.010-04:00

Welcome to the November edition of the Paper Trail blog hop! We are a group of Close To My Heart consultants working together to bring you cards, layouts, and other art featuring a different Close To My Heart paper packet each month. If you arrived here from Terri's My Frame of Mind you are on the right trail!

This month we are featuring the paper packet Mistletoe and it's beautiful holiday papers. I did some paper folded Christmas tree cards. The inspiration comes from Joyce. You can see her video here.

My daughter Alyssa got busy with Mistletoe and created a mini-album. It's a perfect size to put in a CD envelope and mail some holiday memories to family or friends.

A small Velcro tab holds the album closed.

Plenty of room for some journaling on the left - photo on the right.

Every page has room to tell the story of the photos you place inside.

The very center has room for 3 photos.

Close up of right side of center & Santa
.

I love the ornaments designed for a journaling spot!

And a lovely sentiment for the last page.

Thanks for stopping by. You're on your way to Karen's Inky Fingers blog now for some more great ideas. Just click on her blog.

Bricks Along the Journey

2010-10-10T22:44:00.003-04:00

Today was the silent auction called Bricks Along the Journey. It raises money for Breast Cancer. I am pleased and proud to tell you that both my brick and Krissy's bricks were bid on and went for $70 and $25 respectively. YAY!! We are so happy to do anything we can to help find the cure for this dreadful disease.

I am already looking forward to participating in next years auction and planning my brick. I may even find a brick and start now.

Close To My Heart Jewelry

2010-10-08T13:58:00.005-04:00

Yes, that's right - I did say jewelry. Nothing fancy, just simple and fun to wear! Again I have used papers from the Olivia paper packet. I can't help but be drawn over and over again to the rich autumn colors of these papers!!

Each pendant starts with an every day metal washer. I used some Liquid Glass and covered the front of the pendant with my paper of choice. Once it dries, simply trim around the paper. So easy! For a little more finished look you can leave 1/4" of paper and wrap it around to the back of the washer and stick it down with more liquid glass. Snipping the paper into the washer every 1/8" inch or so will allow it to wrap nicely without any crinkles.

This first pendant I then sprayed with some shimmer mist. It doesn't show in the photo but it adds a real pretty sparkle!

After the paper is adhered to the washer and shimmer misted I then covered it entirely with a layer of Liquid Glass. This pendant I misted heavily with the shimmer mist. It dries in little pools this way, but I love the marbley look it made!

This last one I added some Opaques prior to the Liquid Glass. They could also be added when the LG is wet, but I wouldn't add them after it sets. Once the Liquid Glass has set completely (I usually give it over night before I start playing with them again) add a cord and any other accessories you may want. Fun to make, fun to wear! Let your imagination go wild with ideas!

And Yet Another Pumpkin! (Tutorial)

2010-10-06T12:50:00.008-04:00

Welcome to my first ever photo tutorial. This comes as a result of my friend Shawnee asking that I post directions for this pumpkin on my Facebook page, Paper Boutique. I tried to take photos of every step and then decided that was far too many photos. I tried to weed a few out, but I still have a lot on here. How many it too many? I'm pretty much a visual person so that's a very hard question for me.

This is most of the supplies used for the project but a few more will come into play as we go along.

3" Terracotta Pot
"Olivia" Paper Packet: 1 - 12" x 12" Backgound & Texture (B&T) paper (text weight) for pumpkin shell and 1 - 12" x 12" Terracotta color Card Stock (CS) for stem. B&T scrap for leaves
"Many Thanks" Stamp Set
Liquid Glass
Paper Trimmer
Circle Cutter
Spritzer

Putting together the pumpkin shell/base:

Select your B&T and cut a 7" x 12" piece. Then cut this piece into 7" strips. I cut mine into different thicknesses, of 1/2", 3/4" and 1". You can cut them into random thicknesses or all the same. One of my favorite qualities of CTMH B&T is that it's double sided. When putting my pumpkin together, the backside of the paper will show through and be a pretty orange, rather than plain old white. If you use paper that is white on the backside, consider sponging some color onto it.

Add a thin line of liquid glass to the back side of the end of one paper strip. Press it on the inside of the lip of the terracotta pot. Continue with each strip around the inside lip of the pot until all strips are used. The pieces should overlap a little. Be sure the 'right' side of the paper is all facing toward the middle of the pot. Liquid Glass is the perfect adhesive to use here. It dries very quickly so you don't have to hold the paper against the pot more than a few seconds. It also makes a very strong bond!

Turn the pot upside down and glue the strips to the bottom with more Liquid Glass. I placed my pot over a jar to keep the paper from being squished around the top. An alternate way to adhere the paper to the bottom is to put a long (1" or longer) brad through the hole in the bottom of the pot, punch a small hole in the end of each strip and secure it over the brad. Don't fret if your strips don't seem to be perfectly aligned. This is art, and the charm is in the imperfections!

Making the lid & stem parts:

Cut a 4" x 4" piece of B&T and CS and glue together. From this piece cut a 3-1/2" circle. Cut a second 3" circle from CS. Cut a 1-3/8" x 12" strip from CS. Score this strip every 1/4" and fold accordion style.

With Liquid Glass, glue the ends of your accordion strip together making a tube. Place a circle of glue on the smaller circle of CS using a thick, strong craft glue (I used Scotch Quick Dry adhesive). Flatten the accordion circle and place it over the glue on the circle. You can use a heavy object to hold it in place while the glue sets up.

This is how your accordion tube will look flattened out and glued to the circle of CS.

Make a cone using a scrap of CS. My scrap was about 3" x 4". I used redline tape to glue my cone.
Cut the large end of the cone to make an even opening.

Cut off the small tip of the cone and make short cuts up into the cone, about 1/2" and about 1/4" apart.
Bend these short pieces outward like a sunburst.

Place the narrow end of the cone on the center back of the large B&T/CS circle. Place a pencil inside the cone and draw a circle on the CS using the narrow end as your template.

Remove the cone. Using an exacto knife, make cross cuts from edge to edge through the pencil drawn circle. Bend back the points and flatten them against the CS using a folding tool. This is the hole that your stem will eventually go through.

Using Liquid Glass or the thicker Scotch glue, run a line around the edge and the inner edge of the large end of the cone.

Place the gluey edge on a scrap of CS and hold in place until secure. Allow to dry thoroughly.

When dry, trim off the scrap paper close to the cone. Sponge some ink onto your cone to create a distressed look for your stem.

Close the cuts of the smaller end of the cone and insert it into cut in the large B&T/CS circle from the B&T side. Open up the starburst cuts of the cone on the CS side and glue to the cardstock. You now have a stem & top to your pumpkin!

Making the leaves and vines:

I have to say this is my favorite part of the pumpkin process!! Stamp out three leaves in Pear ink on the lesser patterned B&T. I used the rock n roll method: ink up the stamp and lightly stamp it off on scratch paper. The "roll" the edges of the stamp only on the ink pad. Now stamp your image on the paper you want.

Cut two 12" x 1" strips from the green B&T. Cut out the leaves. Notice the pretty color on the back of the leaves. Again, this is what I love about CTMH papers. The leaf in the middle is turned over so you can see how the back complements the fall leaf look we are going for. How cool is that?

Now spray a leaf with the mister. Soggy is okay. Wrap a small portion of the leaf around a smooth slender object. I used my piercing tool. Any thing of this shape will work as long as it won't be damaged by heating. Using a heat embossing tool, heat the leaf until it's dry. The leaf will stay in the shape it is dried in. Experiment with twists and curves, it's so much fun and so perfect for autumn leaves! Repeat for all three leaves.

Spray one of the strips of B&T. Soggy is okay. Gently begin twisting the paper at one end and work your way to the other end being careful not to tear it. Try to get the underside of the paper to show in places as well.

Once the strip of paper is twisted, wrap it around the tool and set it with the heat embossing tool. It takes a little longer than the leaves because of the thickness. When it's set you can pull on the coil and it will bounce back. It it's not bouncing back heat it a little longer. You can take it off the tool to heat once it's got it's basic shape.

Final Assembly!

It's time to assemble the lid and embellish with leaves & vines! Run a line of thick glue around the bottom of the circle holding the stem, about 1/2" or more from the edge. Attach the accordion circle so that the accordion is between the two circles. Attach the leaves and vines to the top in a manner that appeals to you. I usually uncoil the vines slightly and wrap a little way around the base of the stem.

View of the lid from the bottom.

View of the lid from the top.

The completed project!

Lovely Olivia! October Paper Trail Blog Hop

2010-10-01T15:11:00.010-04:00

Welcome to the October edition of the Paper Trail blog hop! This month we are featuring the Close To My Heart "Olivia" paper packet. If you arrived here from Mary's blog you are on the right trail! Aren't her layouts with Olivia and the other CTMH products amazing?!?

I absolutely adore this paper. The colors are so cheerful and yet so autumny. Makes me want to start a bonfire or bake a pumpkin pie!

Although we already featured a packet perfect for all your Halloween scrappin' and card making, I decided there was still time for more, so my first card is for Halloween. It's a little different take on the colors, but I like how it turned out!

My next card is for Thanksgiving and I have to say I am in love with this cornucopia stamp. I wish you could see the touches of Liquid Glass I added. The tomato (apple?) and grapes are all bright and shiny and I tried to dab tiny little dots on the corn to make it look kernelly. The glittery large metallic brads are one of my (many) new favorite items!

Thanks giving card inside.

My last item, for today anyway, is this paper pumpkin candy dish. I love how it turned out, too. Can't wait to try it with some of the other Olivia papers. I like how the double sided paper affects the over all look.

Candy dish, lid off.

Hope you have enjoyed my items made with the Olivia pack. Now step on over to Karen's Blog for some more beautiful Olivia layouts featuring photos of the Close To My Heart convention. What a great time we had there!!

More Memos

2010-09-27T13:32:00.003-04:00

Another round memo board done with "Boom-di-ada" paper pack. These are so fun to do!! The ribbon is simply threaded through the buttons to make a hanger. Since it is not attached in any other way, the ribbon can be shortened if desired, by simply pulling more through the button and trimming off the excess.

Close up of the shabby paper ribbon which I hand stitched through with floss. The four magnets are covered with paper and given a coat of Liquid Glass for a beautiful shine.

An outline of Liquid Glass around the letters gives them a pop & sparkle.

September Ink or Dye

2010-09-22T19:31:00.007-04:00

Taking a moment to share what I did for the Ink or Dye meeting this month. We didn't swap last month so we had double the swaps this month. The first is my take on "Free Wheeling." Makes you think of Max the pig, right?

Next is "Yikes Stripes!" For this one I did something I never ever did before - I used a sketch from a blog! Made it so easy to create the card. See the sketch here.

When I was making this card, I forgot about the square behind the circle so one of the two had no square... ooops!

I felt a little less than inspired by the ATCs I created. This one is "Rock n Roll Heaven." I printed out the words to the song, stamped the image on vellum and - well, you can see how it went together.

Last of all is the ATC I did for "Movie Props."

Paper Bundles

2010-09-17T15:41:00.005-04:00

My altered art group (Altered Reality) did paper bundles last night. I was a bit apprehensive about this project. It came from Cloth Paper Scissors and was suggested by Sandi. It was a bit outside my tastes as garden or yard art.

The idea behind the paper bundles is not yard art, however. I know, you are wondering what this bundle of paper is doing hanging from my tree if it's not yard art, aren't you?

Let me explain....

We started with book board or some sort of heavy duty card board. We painted that with acrylic paint on both sides and then added some shimmer mist or other medium to it.

Next we grabbed an assortment of papers and scribbled on them with water soluble crayons. Stack those papers up and bind them to both sides of the book boards. Very pretty don't you think?

It's okay to say, "no."

Then it's all strung together with wire & twine, or ribbon or whatever you choose... remember, altered art is all about making it your choice... there is no right or wrong. We added dangling objects - suggestions were found objects, but I stuck more to some large leaf shaped beads I had, with a couple of metal washers and a key.

And then you hang it on a tree.

Or a fence, a nail, a flower pot hook - whatever you can hang it on outside to get weathered.

Weathering is the key to the project. Wind will rumple and tear at the papers. Rain will cause the crayons to run and blend together and drip. Sun will fade, yellow and make brittle. Wire will rust, oxidize and patina (is that a verb?).

Sometime down the road - I think we settled on January, we'll take our bundles down and take them apart. As a result we will have entirely new distressed papers for some future altered art project. In the meantime, I think I am actually beginning to enjoy my paper bundle as yard art. No one in my neighborhood has anything quite so unique!

I'll post more pictures as the project progresses.

September Paper Trail

2010-09-14T18:42:00.009-04:00

Welcome to the first edition of the Paper Trail blog hop! We are a group of Close To My Heart consultants working together to bring you cards, layouts, and other art featuring a different Close To My Heart paper packet each month. If you arrived here from Erica's blog you are on the right trail!

This month's featured paper packet is Hooligans, a bright and festive paper packet that is perfect for Halloween. I made a little 4x4 wallet album that is perfect for all your hooligans' little Halloween photos.

I couldn't decide what stamps to use so I used everything I have!

The Boo Crew - C1421

Party Animal - D1437

Fright Night - B1359

Childhood Portrait (tree) - D1373

Thanks for stopping by. You're on your way to Mary's blog now for some more great ideas. Just click on her name.

This blog hop is scheduled for Sept. 15th - if all have not posted yet, please check back.

"Bricks Along the Journey"

2010-09-09T00:04:00.004-04:00

Bricks Along the Journey is a silent auction to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. Artists in the greater Cincinnati area receive bricks to decorate in any manner they want. These bricks are then auctioned off raising money for various, local Breast Cancer agencies.

This is the brick I created, using paper as my medium of choice. I created a shabby chic flower and filled the center with seed beads. Twisted paper creates the vines to which I attached leaves and butterflies of vellum.

Each entry must have a pink ribbon somewhere on it. I used one of the pink ribbons we made into pins for Harriett's funeral.

This brick was created by my daughter, Kristen, who had a very special bond with Harriett. When we first moved to Kentucky we fell in love with the cardinals and Harriett chose to sit in our sun room where she had a wonderful view of all the birds and animals that visit our yard daily.

Our bricks honor our friend/sister/mother Harriett Milburn, Nov. 10, 1949 - June 19, 2009.
**Click the link to Bricks Along the Journey to read more about the history of this auction. You can also see bricks auctioned off in the past and some of the current bricks to be auctioned this October.

Loving Olivia

2010-08-31T14:08:00.006-04:00

Now that I finally have all the new paper packets I've begun creating with them. Hm... creating isn't quite the right word because what I made is entirely by the directions that came with the Workshop On The Go kits. I'm going to share with you anyway because they are so so beautiful!! Instructions for these three cards are in the kit.

The WOTG kit comes with a complete Level 2 paper packet, an exclusive set of stamps, a full set of designer embellishments and color directions for making a 2 page layout and six cards (2 each of 3 designs). When you are done making all those items you still have at least a half packet of paper to create more with. I love these kits.

I haven't completed the 2 page layout because I really need to decide what photos to add before I finalize with a title and the remaining embellishments. But I had to show you anyway. I simply adore these colors. I can't describe the pleasure I feel when looking at them.

Thanks for stopping by. I'll post the layout again at a later date when I decide what photos to use and complete it.

Triple Play

2010-08-28T20:06:00.007-04:00

I've made up one of the mini albums from the National Stamping Month Triple Play by CTMH. This kit includes EVERYTHING!! Pages for three mini albums, die cuts, inks, stamps ribbon and a complete color instruction booklet. It's in there! You have to love when the die cuts match the stamp - no cutting!! The kit can be yours for as little as $5 with a qualifying purchase on my website.

These are pics of my first mini put together with photos left over from the convention albums I made for roomie gifts. I haven't done the journaling yet, still looking for a pen.

Metal Embossing/Embellishing

2010-08-24T14:54:00.004-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I took at class at the Stamp-a-way Convention in metal embossing. I have to say I fell totally head over heels in love with this craft!! The teacher grew up in Mexico City where her mother started their business. She has written a book, which I purchased and had signed, and is so knowledgeable. She was so patient with her group of students and it's no wonder I fell in love with a new art!

I won't even tell you what I spent in her booth that night {wink-wink} but I am ready to play some more!!

In class we made a journal cover. I wasn't able to put my hands quickly on the correct size that we made the cover for, so I adapted mine to a larger book. I used some retired CTMH papers that I felt accented and enhaced the piece and.... ta-da!! I may have to go back and add some ribbons... Her sample covered the entire front of a small journal.

Pizza Tonight?

2010-08-17T01:00:00.011-04:00

This magnetic memo board was inspired by a similar one seen at convention in July. It's pretty quick & easy and fun to use and display.

The base of the memo board is a pizza pan! I found a set of two at Ollie's for somewhere in the $5 range. You can't find a memo board for that little, much less a really sweet one like this!

This next photo is a close up of the hanger as it's attached to the front. The pizza pan is designed with a pattern of 1/4" holes punched through it. I threaded the ribbon through one of those holes from the back of the pan and then through a button on the front side. The tension of the ribbon through the button holes is enough by itself to keep the ribbon in place. Repeat on the opposite front side with the other end of the ribbon.

The letters were cut on my Cricut and then "fussy glued" which is a technique I learned from this blog: The Craftiblog. (you'll want to peruse her blog and probably bookmark it while you are there!) The top layers of the letters are offset on purpose to contrast the green & blue.

This close up shows my magnets covered with co-ordinating paper & a layer of Liquid Glass. You can also see the details in my seams, the border punch used on one seam and rough-ruffled paper ribbon on the other. The papers used for this project are all from the Emporium Level 2 packet.

My August Yoga Class

2010-08-04T20:44:00.004-04:00

These are the two cards I am teaching for my August Yoga Class. Enjoy!

August Constant Campaign$2, $4, $6, for 8...It’s YOU We Appreciate!

2010-08-03T22:58:00.004-04:00

We want to show how much we appreciate you and to do so, we are bringing a Constant Campaign with SUPER deals to you for 8 days only.

From on August 4 at 9 am (MDT) through August 11, while supplies last, you can purchase selected:

My Stickease® assortments for just $2

My Reflections® Level 1 kits for just $4

My Reflections® Level 2 paper packets for just $6!!

The deals are amazing and available only on my Close to my Heart Consultant website.

Here's what you'll find for sale...

X7045A My Reflections Vintage Travel Level 1 $4.00

X7045C VintageTravel My Stickease $2.00

X7056A My Reflections Discovery Level 1 $4.00

X7060A My Reflections Heirloom Level 1 $4.00

X7060B My Reflections Heirloom Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7061A My Reflections Floral Impressions Level 1 $4.00

X7061B My Reflections Floral Impressions Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7061C Floral Impressions My Stickease $2.00

X7062A My Reflections Laid Back Level 1 $4.00

X7069A My Reflections Just Chillin Level 1 $4.00

X7069C Just Chillin My Stickease $2.00

X7070A My Reflections Simple Pleasure Level 1 $4.00

X7070B My Reflections Simple Pleasure Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7070C Simple Pleasure My Stickease $2.00

X7071A My Reflections Best Friends Forever Level 1 $4.00

X7072A My Reflections School Zone Level 1 $4.00

X7072C School Zone My Stickease $2.00

X7073A My Reflections Abundance Level 1 $4.00

X7073B My Reflections Abundance Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7073C Abundance My Stickease $2.00

X7075A My Reflections More To Adore Level 1 $4.00

X7075B My Reflections More To Adore Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7075C More To Adore My Stickease $2.00

X7076A My Reflections Sonata Level 1 $4.00

X7076C Sonata My Stickease $2.00

X7077C Sweet Harmony My Stickease $2.00

X7078A My Reflections Cutie Pie Level 1 $4.00

X7078C Cutie Pie My Stickease $2.00

X7079B My Reflections Rough n Tumble Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7079C Rough n Tumble My Stickease $2.00

X7080A My Reflections Route 66 Level 1 $4.00

X7080C Route 66 My Stickease $2.00

X7081A My Reflections Majestic Blue Level 1 $4.00

X7081B My Reflections Majestic Blue Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7081C Majestic Blue My Stickease $2.00

X7082A My Reflections Expedition Level 1 $4.00

X7082C Expedition My Stickease $2.00

X7083A My Reflections Let's Get Together Level 1 $4.00

X7084A My Reflections Floral Tapestry Level 1 $4.00

X7085A My Reflections Everlasting Level 1 $4.00

X7085B My Reflections Everlasting Paper Packet $6.00

X7085C Everlasting My Stickease $2.00

X7086A My Reflections Caprice Level 1 $4.00

X7086B My Reflections Caprice Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7086C Caprice My Stickease $2.00

X7087A My Reflections Enchanted Level 1 $4.00

X7087B My Reflections Enchanted Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7087C Enchanted My Stickease $2.00

X7088A My Reflections Free Spirit Level 1 $4.00

X7088B My Reflections Free Spirit Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7088C Free Spirit My Stickease $2.00

X7089A My Reflections Lifes Delights Level 1 $4.00

X7089C Life Delights My Stickease $2.00

X7090A My Reflections Silhouette Level 1 $4.00

X7090B My Reflections Silhouette Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7090C Silhouette My Stickease $2.00

X7091A My Reflections it’s a Guy Thing Level 1 $4.00

X7091B My Reflections it’s a Guy Thing Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7091C it’s a Guy Thing My Stickease $2.00

X7092A My Reflections Good Times Level 1 $4.00

X7092B My Reflections Good Times Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7092C Good Times My Stickease $2.00

X7093A My Reflections Sweet Pea Level 1 $4.00

X7093C Sweet Pea My Stickease $2.00

X7094A My Reflections Paper Garden Level 1 $4.00

X7094C Paper Garden My Stickease $2.00

X7095A My Reflections Boom-Di-Ada Level 1 $4.00

X7095B My Reflections Boom-Di-Ada Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7095C Boom-Di-Ada My Stickease $2.00

X7096A My Reflections Blue Ribbon Level 1 $4.00

X7096B My Reflections Blue Ribbon Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7096C Blue Ribbon My Stickease $2.00

X7097A My Reflections Game On Level 1 Kit $4.00

X7097B My Reflections Game On Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7097C Game On My Stickease $2.00

X7098A My Reflections Sarsaparilla Level 1 Kit $4.00

X7098B My Reflections Sarsaparilla Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7098C Sarsaparilla My Stickease $2.00

X7100A My Reflections Perfect Day Level 1 $4.00

X7100B My Reflections Perfect Day Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7100C Perfect Day My Stickease $2.00

X7101A My Reflections Magic Moments Level 1 $4.00

X7101B My Reflections Magic Moments Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7101C Magic Moments My Stickease $2.00

X7102A My Reflections Notebook Level 1 $4.00

X7102B My Reflections Notebook Paper Packet $6.00

X7102C Notebook My Stickease $2.00

X7103A My Reflections Aspen Level 1 $4.00

X7103B My Reflections Aspen Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7103C Aspen My Stickease $2.00

X7104A My Reflections Evensong Level 1 $4.00

X7104B My Reflections Evensong Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7104C Evensong My Stickease $2.00

X7105A My Reflection sEmporium Level 1 $4.00

X7105B My Reflections Emporium Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7105C Emporium My Stickease $2.00

X7106A My Reflections Unforgettable Level 1 $4.00

X7106B My Reflections Unforgettable Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7106C Unforgettable My Stickease $2.00

X7107A My Reflections That’s Amore Level 1 $4.00

X7107B My Reflections That’s Amore Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7107C That’s Amore My Stickease $2.00

X7108A My Reflections Daydream Level 1 $4.00

X7108B My Reflections Daydream Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7108C Daydream My Stickease $2.00

X7109A My Reflections Stardust Level 1 $4.00

X7109B My Reflections Stardust Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7109C Stardust My Stickease $2.00

X7110A My Reflections Back Country Level 1 $4.00

X7110B My Reflections Back Country Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7110C Back Country My Stickease $2.00

X7111A My Reflections Moon Doggie Level 1 $4.00

X7111B My Reflections Moon Doggie Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7111C Moon Doggie My Stickease $2.00

X7112A My Reflections Animal Cookies Level 1 $4.00

X7112B My Reflections Animal Cookies Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7112C Animal Cookies My Stickease $2.00

X7113A My Reflections Tinkerin Level 1 $4.00

X7113B My Reflections Tinkerin Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7113C Tinkerin My Stickease $2.00

X7114A My Reflections Bella Level 1 $4.00

X7114B My Reflections Bella Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7114C Bella My Stickease $2.00

X7115A My Reflections Jingle Level 1 $4.00

X7115B My Reflections Jingle Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7115C Jingle My Stickease $2.00

X7116A My Reflections Sweet Home Level 1 $4.00

X7116B My Reflections Sweet Home Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7116C Sweet Home My Stickease $2.00

X7117A My Reflections Grace Level 1 $4.00

X7117B My Reflections Grace Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7117C Grace My Stickease $2.00

X7118A My Reflections Twitterpated Level 1 $4.00

X7118B My Reflections Twitterpated Level 2 Paper Packet $6.00

X7118C Twitterpated My Stickease $2.00

*Available August 4-11, 2010; while supplies last

Re-Carding?

2010-07-31T20:53:00.007-04:00

I recently received a very pretty hand crafted wedding invitation. Designed with pretty pale blue glimmering paper and accented with glimmery black paper which had been embossed with a beautiful vine and bird embossing folder.

The papers were so pretty together I thought I really wanted to re-use them to make the wedding card I would give back to the bride and groom. However, I was at a bit of a loss as to whether it would be okay or if it would be tacky. Such a dilemma!

The invitation was clean & simple aka Classy. It was adorned with a single layered stamped medallion, which meant a fair amount of usable paper. Here is the original invitation both front and inside.

The embossed black strip & medallion are part of the back of the card and fold over the front from the back. That flap was three layers of heavy card stock and the black was nearly impossible to strip off. It certainly limited how I could use the piece.
The inside has a pocket for all the important little things you must include with invites... directions to the church, RSVP card, etc. That piece was also most firmly attached. Since I did have a bit of trouble separating them I had to alter from my original idea. Perhaps for the best.
My finished card. I used Twilight card stock from CTMH for the card base. A strip of the embossed black was attached to the lower edge. I cut two pieces of the shimmery pale blue and edge punched them. One was centered on the front over the black and the other was used inside the card to write my message on.

The flower was more difficult in trying to match the color. I used dream coat white paint and an old CTMH re-inker, Cloud Blue. I was hoping for more variation in depth of color but starting with such a light color it's hard to get very dark. After dabbing on paint and ink I sprayed it with shimmer mist, dried it with the heat tool and cut three different size flowers with my Cuttlebug. I scrunched the flowers up, un-scrunched them and added a thin coat of Liquid Glass. Although not exactly the result I was looking for I am pleased with it. It looks a little "rubbery" almost like I made it from Naugahyde.

I also tinted a large brad then clipped all the three flowers together with it. Layered with a black and thinner blue ribbon and three leaves cut from Twilight card stock and Ta-Da! my re-carded wedding card. Then, just before I was ready to put it in the envelope I added a bit of glitter to the brad. You can see that in the top photo.

I was still feeling a little unsure about 're-carding' but those fears went away at the reception. My family shared table with two couples, of which both the women are avid stampers and scrappers. I shared my secret with them and guess what.... they both made their wedding cards for the bride and groom from the invitations!! I hope I get a chance to see them!! By the way, the photo makes the flower look pinkish - it's not.

Super Secret Swap Cards!

2010-07-17T14:07:00.007-04:00

I can't believe after all this time of dying to share my swap cards with you, I totally spaced it! It's been almost a week since I've been back from convention and I am just barely beginning to feel like my old self. Wow, no one told me "recovery" takes so much longer once you break that 50 year mark!

The first card I created for convention swapping was designed using a stamp set I am absolutely in love with. I love the card, as well, but the logistics soon proved to be far too much for my feeble time frame. I embossed the Key and Key Hole in gold on Cocoa and then cut them out, including the hole in the handle of the key. FAR too much work for mass production.

When opened into an easel card there was more detail work in the form of torn paper, brads, Cuttlebug cut circles (Nestibilities), sigh... I just didn't have the time to devote all that attention to too many cards. I ended up with a few more than 20 of this design.
Moving on to what I thought would be less time consuming I created this:

I started with wedding coasters I purchased on clearance at Michael's and covered them with our papers. I used A Tweet for the stamped image and negatively sponged a hot little sun in the background.

I wanted an item that was a souvenir of convention so I used my Cricut to create the Washington DC frame on the back and more CTMH stamps for the month & circled days. I love how it turned out!
And to me, the best, most fun part of all, is that it's not a card, but a fan! I don't know about anyone else but mine did get a little action during general session. I can always count on being too warm sometime during the events!

Brain on Overload!

2010-07-16T15:21:00.007-04:00

Close to my Heart convention never fails to hype me up and inspire me.

Then I return home.

Oh My Gosh. So much to see and do and make... I simply have not been able to assimilate it all yet. Not to mention we got to DC three days early to spend time sight seeing in very hot weather. You know that feeling that you need a vacation to recover from your vacation? Um, yeah....

As usual, Close to my Heart has some super great things coming up with the September release of our Autumn/Winter Idea Book and I can't wait to share it all with you. But for now I will remain mum and share what I made for roomie gifts instead. I created 3 mini albums using the tri-fold shutter card as the base. I love Love LOVE how they turned out!! I snuck out one afternoon to get photos printed and placed in the albums before I gave them away. That part may have been a mistake... not that it didn't make the albums more special, I think it did, but I absolutely hate missing any of convention!!

The paper I used for this album was from our Notebook pack. It always stumps me at first when I try using this pack, but I always love the results!

This is what the album looks like with just the front flaps open.

When the mini album is fully open, this is the left "wing" including the center photo, on the far right.

Here is the right wing, with the center photo now on the far left.

This is the center shot of the album. I didn't write on the tag slipped behind the center photo. I thought the recipient of the album should use it to write their own thoughts about convention and their roommate experience. The back of the album is quite plain, but I did stick a photo of me on the back and write a short, very brief note.

A Bit of Eye Candy

2010-07-01T17:25:00.005-04:00

Seems like all I have been doing is getting things ready for the Close to My Heart convention which is about to happen in Washington DC. It's taken my attention away from making things I can share. Instead I have been in the land of top secret swap cards and roomie gifts. If I show you any of that stuff before the opening of convention, I'd have to kill you - and we wouldn't want that!!

Since Jackpot June has come to an end I thought I should do something with the July Stamp of the Month and show you just how stinkin' cute it is. So I made up a couple of cards for your crafting pleasure....

The set is called "Happy Forever" and features four of the cutest little ground hogs. The first card I did with our Passages papers. I used glitter on all three butterflies, but alas, glitter is shy when it comes to being photographed!

This second card was done with our Top Stitch papers. It was originally one of my lesser loved papers, but after using it I have come to appreciate it and moved it way up on my list of favorite papers. So cute!

Oh My!! Time Flies When You Are Having Fun!!

2010-06-17T10:07:00.006-04:00

I came home (from stamping with a friend, of course!) yesterday to find a smallish package on my door step. I was puzzled since I hadn't ordered anything... why else do packages come other than from online shopping or my CTMH orders? Even stranger was the return address DID say CTMH. I had already received my convention logo order and hadn't noticed anything back ordered...? Hurry inside and rip that baby open!!

Inside was a velvet jewelry box so of course my heart started thumping even harder. When I opened the box it revealed the gorgeous pin you see above and a lovely letter congratulating me on my 15 year association with Close To My Heart!!

Did it really say 15 years??? Oh my. It's been so much fun, it feels like I just started yesterday. But when I think of all the changes and wonderful new things that have come along in all those 15 years, it seems like we've been together forever... like an old married couple.

When I joined Close To My Heart the actual "Close To My Heart" family wasn't even in the picture yet. That child came along later. We were a rubber stamp company called DOTS, which stands for "Dozens Of Terrific Stamps" (we had hundreds, though - not just dozens!).

There is not much left of the company that really reminds me of DOTS. Our conventions are bigger an glitzier, our products have changed dramatically as an industry leader. Our Idea Books (catalogs) are gorgeous and so very user friendly and come out not once but three times a year. We've really grown up into an incredibly awesome company.

But the most important thing is what hasn't changed over all those years, the people. Jeannette Lynton, the founder and CEO of the company is one of the warmest nicest people you could ever hope to meet. She has an amazing team of artists and business people who are constantly developing and on the lookout for the very best products and the very best programs to make us, the consultants, successful!!

The friends I have made in my association with CTMH are simply the best I have ever had!! They live in every part of the country, heck, the continent, and even overseas if they are in the service. They are the glue for me. Not all of them are still with CTMH, but they are all still in my heart and still a part of my life through venues like Facebook or MySpace. But we started as friends long before the social networks. We started in an AOL chat room and met face to face year after year at conventions. We came to put real names and faces behind AOL monikers like CUStampin, Joy2NoHim, DOTSQueen and many many more. We made up groups in our local areas and called ourselves "Cousins" when we got together to stamp and share ideas. Or we had cross country groups we called "Kin" as our tiny 2 person units did card exchanges to share ideas. We have our "ice cream social" nights at convention to this day to reconnect and celebrate those long ago friendships that still exist but in different ways.

Yes, it's been 15 years. 15 wonderful years full of such great memories and friendships. I truly love being part of Close To My Heart!

July 4th Project

2010-06-14T22:45:00.003-04:00

This patriotic looking item was made for the Quarter Bid Auction which is tomorrow. Gosh, sometimes I feel like that is all I work on.... sigh. The papers are all CTMH but they've been long retired. The pretty star strip on the red box was done with my Cricut - so glad my hubby goaded me into using it - so fun!!

Viewed from above, you can see the inner space is all lined with perfectly coordinating card stock. Bigger Brads and several glue dots hold the boxes together to make one unit. Do you know what it is yet? Or have you known all along?

It's a picnic caddy for plates, napkins & flatware! I hope it's a hit - but somehow I keep seeing it tossed in the garbage as soon as July 5th.... sad.

Anything but Cards

2010-05-28T13:55:00.007-04:00

I really struggle with coming up with ideas for the quarter auction. This time around I had some help from my friend, Ruth, and other ideas from the other auction ladies. Only time will tell what the appeal of these items are. Let me know what you think. I'm posting photos of the item and a second photo of how I will present it.

Recipe holder includes pot holder & towels. Add some of your favorite recipes for a wedding shower gift.

Coupon folder gift set includes a calculator, pen & scissors.

Snack jars filled with yummy treats.

Getting the Most from your Stamp Pad

2010-05-26T13:44:00.007-04:00

I taught a class designed to show my students just how versatile our old friend "stamp pad" can be. These are some of the cards they made.

It's so much fun to stretch my creative muscles looking for (or recalling) the very many ways we can add color and depth to our cards with nothing more than the stamp pads we use.

And what I love most about teaching was seeing the reactions and delighted expressions of my students as they discovered these "new" ideas for themselves. It really is the reward at the end of the rainbow.

This first card was done by cutting a reverse stencil of the flower stamp on scrap paper. We tossed out the flower and used the hole, placing it over the stamped flower. Then we sponged color from our stamp pad onto the flower. The layers and subtlety of shading are one of the great benefits of this technique.

Did I say we tossed out the flowers we cut out? Oops! I did encourage my students to use them inside their cards to continue the theme. So pretty!

This card was probably the class favorite. There was a lot to putting it all together, but we learned so much on this card! Too much detail to relate here, but I hope we all learned about thinking outside the box.

I designed this card after I had the parts. My friend, Mary Jane, let me borrow her Cuttlebug and I whipped out the textured pieces to take home and play with. The results were so quick and easy and I think the look is fabulous! Some students were dismayed that the pad left color in areas other than the embossed lines. But then they looked back at my sample and saw that it looked burnished with color- very cool.

Something I don't have a sample of to show you is using the same technique on the back of the embossed piece. Try it sometime.

We did one more card using the water brush with our stamp pads. It's like having a perfectly matching marker. Perhaps I'll post that one tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Happiness is a Beautiful Card

2010-05-25T17:47:00.004-04:00

This is one of my favorite cards. I love the tri-fold pattern which makes the card even more beautiful when it is opened, as well as these beautiful Close to my Heart papers, Creative Basics, Veranda Collection.

Most of the CTMH paper packets include several sheets and colors of solid card stock as well as 6 different designs of patterned paper - 2 of each double sided design. It's a wonderful value.

But... the Creative Basics collection introduced with each catalog? Only 2 double sided designs, six sheets of each, and 4 yards of coordinating ribbon. Perfect for card makers like me, it means more sheets of the designs I love!!

Here is the opened card. Isn't it gorgeous? I find these colors and patterns so beautiful, I don't think I could go wrong with them.

I first saw the pattern for this tri-fold shutter card when a friend posted a photo of her card using this pattern. I played around with some paper until I figured out the cuts and folds and used it for my Christmas Card (2009). Recently I had the opportunity to share the pattern with a stamp club I am a member of. It was so fun to see what everyone did with the same basic start. I'll be teaching this exact card this week in my Yoga Class. I am so excited!

This final view is the flower detail. I sponged the white paper flowers in the same colors of the papers (Juniper & Garden Green). I was a little stuck on what to do for the center of the flower because I was not at home - away from collections of stampin' & scrappin' do-dads. So I took a thin strip of solid Juniper card stock and wound it around a embossing stylus to make a tight swirl. I attached it to the center of the flower with Liquid Glass. I love how necessity stimulates creativeness!

Flutter by, Butterfly!

2010-05-24T21:24:00.004-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted any of my work - didja miss me?

I guess I have to admit to being lazy. Why? Because I have been crafting, but not posting. Shameful!! Because I have issues with blogspot & photos I am not going to try to post everything at once. But do come back often because I have "stuff" to share!!

Tonight I'm sharing a card I put together for a class. I knew I wanted to use this explosion technique and that became my starting point. The rest of it stressed me. My final card was not the first attempt. I started with computer paper and thought I had it all worked out. Surprise... even then I had to rip it apart and rearrange. Hope you like the final results!

This is with the explosion open. Inside is a dandelion "puff" and the words "Make a Wish." It's all mounted on a regular size card base. Although it would be just fine post-card style, the card gives the sender plenty of room to write a note.

NKY WINS 25 Cent Aution at Legends

2010-04-17T21:51:00.009-04:00

The auction is coming up again and I thought I'd share a little of what I've been working on. This is a gift jar inspired by a link a friend sent me. I plan on doing some more filled with journaling prompts, which is what the link showed. But for auction, the crowd seems a little less crafty so I'll fill this one with candy and promote it as a Mothers' Day gift.

Here you can see some of the lid detail. I distressed most all the paper. For the lid, I used the reverse side of the paper, clear embossed a butterfly on it and swiped some dreamcoat paint lightly over it to make it pop.

The lid itself is sponged with brown stazon and has a couple more paint swipes along the edges.

This is a write on, wipe off memo board made simply with a 12x12 layout frame. The glass simply wipes clean just like a white board.
All paper, ink, stamps & embellishment products used in these two projects are Close to My Heart. The frame & jar came from Hobby Lobby.
Thanks for stopping by!

A Bit of Show & Tell

2010-03-29T17:31:00.004-04:00

This is a flip flop card I did showing the different stages of flipping and flopping. All the products (except the beads on the pull) are retired CTMH. I really miss some of our old papers!! The final photo in the series is a close up of the pull with the beads on the ribbons. I love this pattern & it's so easy to make!
This is a tag pop-up card first shown closed and then open (free standing!). Again I focused on using some of my retired CTMH products. This is another very easy card design with awesome results. Both cards fit easily into a standard invitation size envelope and can be mailed with no problems.

Blackmail is Such a Nasty Thing!

2010-03-23T22:33:00.006-04:00

Today my friend emailed me photos she took of my craft room on Monday and gave me 48 hours to post them or she would do it herself. Gah!! The room is finished, at least on the surface, but there was still too much clutter! You know those last little bits of things that just can't seem to belong in any particular place? So tonight I either designated homes for the clutter or move it out long enough to get some photos. So, here it is at last! My craft room from the shaky start to finish, in photos!

Here are the 'before' photos. I really don't have anything to say about them, other than it was actually worse before we put the cupboards in - if you can believe that...
Kind of like a bad episode of "Hoarders" right?
This next set of photos are the 'during' photos.

The first thing we did was remove all the boxes and furniture from the room. Amazing how much bigger it began to look!
You may not have noticed in the before photos that there were several tables in the room. They came out, too. Everything was removed except the cabinets that were permanently installed by my husband in his efforts to help me get organized.
Then we started bringing it all back in. We set up tables in the center of the room and every box was unloaded and sorted and put away in it's very own place. What a concept!
The final set of photos are the 'after' pics. This is my oasis!

The door into my craft room, aka "Girl Oasis" is a double door. This view is from outside the Oasis with both doors open looking in.
Entering the Oasis on the left are my cupboards. At the end of the cupboards is my paper storage. Cards are displayed over head. In the foreground are three tables set up for classes.
This is the view of the wall opposite the door. I love the big storage unit which is also my media unit but I think it's not really the best use of the space. I'll be pondering its future for a while. Some of my first DOTS & CTMH catalogs are in frames on top and will eventually hang from the wall like they should.

This is the wall opposite the big white cupboards. The drawers clear to the left are for all my ongoing projects. The additional paper storage is all retired CTMH background/texture papers with just a few sheets of "non" mixed in. Below the table are drawers of beads and beading tools. The table is my Cricut station and also home to all my inks.
The wall the door is on has the table that is home to my "office." My business tools, computer, printer, pens, stapler, etc.
Looking back to the door you'll see my 4 month calendar, my bookcase full of inspirational books & magazines and my many many totes. Hooks are going up soon for my totes. They will be hidden behind the doors when they are open.

Bailey follows me where ever I am in the house and is my constant companion in the Oasis.

Zori also loves to visit, but is a little shy when others are here.

Thanks for stopping by and taking the tour!

Steppin' Out!

2010-03-23T00:11:00.005-04:00

These are a couple of little stair step cards I made recently. The first using a few retired CTMH products... papers and the quote stamp. The little bird in the foreground is current. He was fun to stamp. I inked him up in Sweet Leaf, stamped him off once and then rolled just his head and back in Cocoa. Love how he turned out!

This card is a Thank You for one of my good customers. Papers are the Veranda Creative Basics pack and the stamps are April's Stamp of the Month set, Flower Pot. There is a lot more depth to this card that the photo shows.

Easter Baskets

2010-03-17T17:29:00.005-04:00

I made these four little Easter Baskets with CTMH cardstock, stamps & accessories. Then I fashioned a little 6"x6" tray to nestle them in. I filled with some crinkled paper and plastic eggs for an auction item for our NKY WINS group. I think they are just adorable!!

Each little basket has a different stamped Easter Bunny (B1324 Bunny Love) colored with our fabulous exclusive markers.

I used a couple of little clear beads and some smaller dots of Liquid Glass as the "bubbles" this bunny is blowing.

Love this little guy curled up in an egg shell!

Cute little lady bunny with daffodils! A tip on making your white critters "pop" is to use a very light gray or blue marker an outline the image on the inside of the lines (sorry I didn't get a better 'straight on' shot of this one).

As well as different colored punched out flowers on the handles of the baskets, the backs are decorated with colorful blooms layered and accented with a bit of bling! Depending on the side you decide to face out, the baskets can be either cute or elegant. So much fun!!

Birthday Cards!

2010-03-11T13:59:00.004-05:00

I joined a Birthday Club wherein we send hand made cards to each other on our birthdays. I want to share with you what I received - it was so much fun getting these cards! L-R from top down: Carolyn L., Esther H., Tracy, Ramona C., and Susan E.

Heather S., Nancy R., Mary B., and Kathy M.

Thank you Ladies for the beautiful cards and birthday fun!!

More Veranda!

2010-02-24T13:15:00.012-05:00

I absolutely LOVE the Close to my Heart Veranda paper! They are so pretty and fun to work with!

This little card uses the February Stamp of the Month set, Piece of Cake. Alyssa and I made it for a hands on project for her gathering. With our left over supplies I think I'll turn some of them into party invitations for a quarter auction.

Isn't it cute?? And so easy it's a crime!

This card I did for the Ink or Dye stamp club I joined. (Awesome and talented ladies, can I just say?) Our 'theme' was a round card for a square envelope.

I wish I would have taken photos of the other cards the ladies did. It was fabulous to see how many different ideas there are for one theme.

This pop up card was our Ink or Dye project. Again, I used the Veranda papers & colors. I can't wait to use this template for Easter cards.... Stay tuned!!

Networking projects

2010-02-14T23:21:00.005-05:00

Tuesday, provided we are not snowed in, I will be participating in an event that I hope will be another step in promoting my CTMH business. I am working on some items for the event. First is a framable layout. I picked up an album frame at Michael's for $4.99 which is just 1/2 inch bigger @ 12.5" x 12.5." The back is spring loaded which allows nicely for my raised embellishments. The layout photo is prior to it being placed into the frame.

This layout is inspired by the Veranda Workshop on the Go project. I thought providing photos would make a better "sell" so I simply printed photos of my daughter on copy paper with the laser printer and cropped them to fit. The recipient of this item will just replace my photos with his/her own.

My second item(s) is a set of 6 cards - 2 each of three designs. I took these directly from the Workshop on the Go guide. So pretty and easy to make.

I need 2 more projects before Tuesday night so stay tuned and see what I come up with. Whatever it is will most likely use paper from the Veranda set because I am totally in love with it - GORGEOUS!

Clean Sweep - Reality not-for-tv comes to Betsy

2010-02-02T14:29:00.008-05:00

Yesterday, at the weekly IFOS meeting we welcomed a new "member," Capri's old friend and my new friend, Ramona. We had a lot of fun, as usual, and Ramona insisted on a house tour, which eventually included the Craft Cave. (Click on their names to see their craft blogs.)

Here's where it gets ugly. After a year and a half in this house I am far Far FAR from being organized in my craft cave. It's still floor to ceiling with boxes, many of which don't even belong in there, I am sure, and what is unpacked is scattered [what appears to be] randomly throughout the room. I have four tables in the room, none of which has sufficient surface space to work on, that is providing I could access them without risking a broken limb. No photos today, but I promise I will post some in the future.

I don't know how it happened, it might have occurred during a weak moment, but these two women apparently tackled me, threw me to the ground, tied my arms behind me and waved craft supplies in my face as torture. They proceeded to inform me that I would not be allowed to play with, purchase or even look at another craft item until I agreed to their terms. These terms are not pretty and cause extreme stress for me... I would have to allow them access to my craft cave to sort, organize and rebuild from scratch. They made me pick a date and put it on my calendar. Excuse me, I have to find an inhaler - I don't think I can breathe!!

This made Capri very happy as she has been trying to twist my arm to do this for a while. I suspect that is why Ramona joined us yesterday - Capri knew that it would take an intervention of more than just herself to achieve results of any type.

Springing the news on my husband resulted in shouts of joy. He is so on board with this. He's willing to cook gourmet meals for the crew, build shelves, just about anything to get that room into shape and usable.

My palms are sweating. I can feel a flush moving up my neck. There are going to be people going-through-my-stuff. I don't know if I can take this!! The big day is February 27th. I think I'll have to learn yoga or some sort of mediation techniques before it gets here.

This is where the photos come in. I will post before and after. But no *before* until *after* has come. It will be worth the wait. In the meantime, enjoy the slide show of my newest downline's (lovely daughter, Alyssa) acrylic album. Btw... the card at the top of the page is hers, too. She made it yesterday after claims of not having made a card in years. I think she's really talented and "Wishes" by Jeannette Lynton is an awesome book for those (like her and me) that want some inspiration.

The Stamp Goddess

2010-01-28T00:24:00.006-05:00

We interrupt this blog to give a big old shout-out to the Stamp Goddess. As much as I wish I was the Stamp Goddess, that actual honor goes to my friend, Tresa Black.

I know we all love to see one another's artwork through our blogs, but today I am going to share Tresa's studio tour with you. It's a well organized workshop and I am sure you will find some great ideas to glean from her! Please enjoy....

You can find many more of Tresa's Fabulously Artsy videos on YouTube.

Close To My Heart Convention

2010-01-22T15:00:00.004-05:00

The Close To My Heart convention is coming up this July. In case you don't know, that is a big deal to us consultants! There are a lot of different reasons to go and all of them good. It's a great time to get information and training from the "big dogs" (sorry ladies) and experts in crafting, sales or marketing. It's a time to get the first preview of the 2010 Winter Catalog & Idea Book. It's a fantastic networking opportunity. We get to play with new product and make things. And probably my favorite part, we get to catch up with people we haven't seen since the last convention and make new friends!! I loves my Close To My Heart friends!!!

Who wouldn't want to be part of that? My daughter wanted to so much she even signed on to be a consultant! I am so excited to be sharing this experience with her! And early in March she will have her first gathering. We are X*Cite*Ted!!

Part of convention is a scrapbook contest. It has specific instructions for six 2-page layouts. I thought it would be Fun to participate in the contest this year and my entry has to be there by May. I need some help, though. I have three subjects I can scrap around and I am at a loss which to use.

First I thought of my darling daughters and milestones in their/our lives. Obviously I have LOTS of photos and mementos to work with on that subject. However, photography is part of the evaluation and some of those old photos are not so good!

Second subject is Harriett and our family's relationship with her. She was not ever a particularly willing subject when it came to capturing her on film, but I have some ideas to make pages about her that are not necessarily photos of her.

Third is my Mom. I have been wanting to do a tribute album to her for a long time, too. Unfortunately, she can't appreciate it like she would have had I gotten to this earlier. As a subject she offers me an amazing amount of topic to work with.

I am so undecided. All three of these really appeal to me and eventually I will do them all. But I don't know which one would be best to do first or offer the best potential to winning or placing in that contest! HELP!!

Anniversary Card

2010-01-20T15:11:00.005-05:00

I am thinking I better get busy and get some crafting done - the kind I can share with you!!

This is the 25th Anniversary card I made for my husband for our anniversary. I am very pleased with how it turned out!

Liquid Glass!

2010-01-10T19:56:00.006-05:00

One of my very favorite products from Close To My Heart is Liquid Glass. You might think this is a funny choice... it has no colorful component to please my eyes, it doesn't coordinate with other papers or embellishments, it just adds little accents here and there or works as a strong adhesive.

EXACTLY!! It can highlight a little swoosh or swirl, it can make a word *pop* out from other words, it can add the tiniest bit of shine to a spot that "just needs something" like a little tear drop. I love it!

It also thinks it's glue. I try to tag my new Christmas tree ornaments each year with the year and the name of the giver. It gets a little tricky to get the tag tiny enough to be nearly invisible and then to find an appropriate place to adhere it. Liquid Glass to the rescue this year! All new tags were easily placed and no worries that they will fall off! My daughter even used it to fix the broken frame of her glasses for a week or two until she got new ones. Yes, I am serious.

Now I want to tell you what you can do with a little bit of ribbon, some glue dots and some waxy flax that will enhance your Liquid Glass.

Some crafters, unlike me, are very organized and never ever misplace anything. You know the ones, they always have exactly what they need at their finger tips! With Liquid Glass that one thing you need is a pin to reopen the passageway for the Liquid Glass to flow. For a while I just kept the pin in the bottle and didn't use the cap, but that can create problems if you want to leave home with it.

So today I took a length of ribbon (Juniper from the Jingle Creative Basics package) and used glue dots to adhere it to my bottle of Liquid Glass. I made a couple of ribbon loops in the middle and pushed them to one side. To be sure this ribbon would stay on my bottle for a long time (hopefully until it's empty) I tied a piece of waxy flax over the top of it.

Then, the really cool part!!

I pushed a safety pin through the ribbon, where the loops are, and closed it. I will never ever be looking for a pin to unstick the tip of the bottle again!

I feel so clever!!

Christmas Cards

2010-01-01T15:29:00.005-05:00

Now that Christmas has come and gone I can share the cards I sent out this year. If you didn't get yours let me know and I'll check into it. It could be because I didn't get one from you so I had no return address to mail to.... That's my little attempt at humor today.

I was so intent on getting my cards all mailed out before Christmas, a change I decided to implement this year, that I forgot to take photos of this one. A big thanks to Susan and Dennis for emailing me a photo of their card.

When I began running short on time I switched over to a set of cards designed by my friend Shari. Her awesome instructions allowed me to crank out another 20 cards in record time. I tweaked in a couple of places but most of the cards are a straight stamp lift. I apologize to anyone who received on of these and thought it was my original work, which it was stamped as on the back, but only because I wasn't able to find a stamp with simply my name. My apologies to you, too, Shari.

...and the Shoppers Rush Home with Their Treasures!

2009-12-15T17:06:00.009-05:00

What a month it has been! Or a couple of months for that matter! I thought I had my Christmas all "wrapped up" at the beginning of the month but I find myself busier and behinder than ever as the days march along. How can this possibly be??

I signed up for a recipe swap at the last possible minute. What kind of fool am I? Being an ace procrastinator and a struggler of ideas, I thought it would behoove me to go another step and sign up for three spots. I think I need my head examined. Oh, did that already, too.

Because I was terrified to let my husband know I had committed to another thing, I was trying to be sneaky about working on this swap - like in between stamping gift tags and Christmas cards. I didn't quite get away with it and he found me out... but not until I was almost completely done. I got them into the mail only one day late. That could be some sort of record!

The swap was 6x6 Crock Pot Recipes, CTMH products only since the players were all CTMH consultants.

Chicken soft tacos is my submission for the Main Dish category. I chose the colors based on the Mexican flag.

German Potato Salad is my Side Dish entry. Also based on flag colors, Germany this time, Black, Red & Gold.

My final submission is in the Desserts category, Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding in shades of browns. I should get 5 more back in these categories - I'll share them when I do.

Merry Christmas!!

YAY for me!!

2009-10-09T17:42:00.005-04:00

It's official!

I finally have one thing....

Yes

ONE

thing....

thing...

organized in my craft room!!

My beautiful Close To My Heart papers are comfy & cozy in their own special slots. Each one marked with the color and name of the paper. How special are they??

My husband put in three of these double door units for me a few months ago. You can see they just fit below the lowered section of the ceiling. We wanted to keep them away from the wall on the right because of the air intake. It occurred to me that taking my paper rack off the table and re-orienting it to stand up and down in the corner would fill the space in question and still not block the intake. It also means more work space on the table!! It meant taking apart and rebuilding the rack but I love the results!! I turned the slots vertical on the botton two cubes and have a great place to store my Close To My Heart eyelet case, ribbon case, acrylix blocks case and a few other items.

Although it doesn't appear so, I do have paper in every single slot!

While cutting the tags for IDing my papers, I also made up the season color cards for the wall. Now that they are there, I am not sure what their purpose is... **blushing** but they are in order of the catalog listing and also stored in the same order.
OMHeck, I feel so dang organized!!!!!

Creative Basics Jingle - Part II

2009-10-09T17:20:00.004-04:00

Seems like today may be a good time to get back to business here and follow up with those 6x6 cards I started with the Jingle Creative Basics pack.

NOTHING could be easier than creating cards with the ideas and instructions found in our Wishes book. Fabulous is the best way to describe the results!!

Switched this one up with a different stamp set. I love the snowflake 'O' in the word and how fun is it to add brads? Don't forget, in this case a spool of Juniper colored ribbon is included with the paper!

The beautiful colors of Tulip and Juniper and the patterned paper really make a nice composition without too much embellisment. In this case I tried my hand with the glitter rub-ons. I need a little more experience with them!

I truly love Love LOVE my liquid glass!! And have I ever mentioned that I am still using up the very first bottle I bought? Sometimes I think it's a magic bottle that will never become empty. It simply goes so very very far!! I dotted the ornaments, stars and decoratios on all three little red trees. So pretty in person!

I simply love this ornament stamp set. The saying is available in English, French or Spanish. I can hardly remember the last time I actually used my markes to color in anything. I almost forgot how fun it is!

More coloring with markers! Once I started it was hard to stop!! When I cut the central ornament out I also sponged a little juniper around the edges to make it look more round. In the background I masked the 'front' ornament to stamp the 'back' one. Then, without removing the mask I also sponged a little shadow between them for added depth.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you like what you see!

Evolution of scrapbooking - a personal story

2009-09-30T17:23:00.009-04:00

I don't recall much fuss being made about scrap books when I was a kid. Although it's true that my mother saw most of her vacations and travels through the view finder of her camera, she stuck mainly to slides, which don't elicit much response when attached to the pages of a photo album. Even as a kid I found those family slide shows much too boring to sit through. I have to wonder why we forced those events upon family, friends and neighbors. Not only the blurry out-of-focus photos or 12millionth view of the same subject, but the monotone voice of the man or woman behind the slide machine droning on and on and on and . . .

It can only be described as extreme delight that I discovered Mom did keep a photo album of her years in college. What a happy treasure to have! It covers her college life and summers from the late 1930's to the early 1940's. Black and white photos with within white borders, adhered with photo corners to black pages with descriptions written in white. All bound in an embossed album adorned with a decal of her school, Washington State College, many years later to become Washington State University or WAZZU as we fondly like to call it.

I'm about to share pages from this album with you. I doubt I'll have a lot to comment on and I am sure they mean a lot more to me than to you. But this is not only part of my ancestry, it's part of the evolution of scrapping in my family.

The first page which appears to be an untitled title pages is an aerial view of the Washington State College campus most likely taken in the late 1930's.

College dorm mates of Steven's Hall ready for their first formal dinner. My mom is the woman in the lower left corner.

My mother always claimed to have no artistic ability but this album proves that she is more creative than she gives herself credit for. Notice the left page photos of campus scenes form a "W" for her school.

All dressed up for the "Masqued Ball." I like how Mom cut out some of the figures in this layout.

I think the use of different size photos really adds interest to this album. She was very good about labeling the photos, although I wish she had spent a little time journaling, too.

Mom was a veterinary student and I love that she has photos from her lab classes! In those days it was very unusual for a woman to study in this field.

More veterinary labs....

I really appreciate that Mom put a lot of photos of herself in her album. This is something a lot of women neglect to do! I particularly like this photo. Mom had the honor of standing up with the other woman in the picture when she married. 60 years later I drove Mom to the 60th Wedding anniversary of this same friend.

One of Mom's old flames in the upper right. I don't know who drew the little guy diving into the water but I love it!

More little sketches accent the page.

I love how she put the photos together on this page.

Mom went to school a long way from home (for those days). The couple in the upper photo are her parents (my grandparents) on Dad's Weekend in 1941. The girls in the lower photo are from the cross state rival school... you may have heard of the University of Washington Huskies...

Love the caption on this page... if you can't read it, it says.... "How the Old Maids Club amused itself on the weekends."

Sophomore year (1942) back in the animal anatomy lab.

Another one of my favorite pages.... Mom's sister and brother in law, Aunt Jean and Uncle Ernie.

I like how Mom grouped the photos of herself dressed up for the Veterinarian Hobo Dinner.

Another grouping of photos that I really like.

This page really amuses me. She captioned it, "Snow Scenes" but seems to have cut much of the snow out of the photos! LOL

Once again, I really appreciate the number of photos Mom included of herself in her album. And on this, the last page I will share with you, I love her photo montage in the upper right.

Creative Basics - Jingle

2009-09-29T13:22:00.004-04:00

When I ordered my new toys from the CTMH Winter 2009 Idea Book I got a paper packet called Creative Basics Jingle Collection - page 30 if you want to follow along in the book... Last night I cracked open my Wishes Card Confidence program and selected the Celebrations Workshop to use this paper with. This workshop uses only 2 sheets of the background texture papers, 2 coordinating sheets of cardstock and 6 more cardstock for the 6" x 6" cards bases. With that, I can create 12 beautiful cards, two each of 6 designs.

I chose White Daisy, Juniper, Hollyhock & Tulip for my bases. Since it was pretty late in the evening all I did was cut all the papers according to the cutting guide in Wishes and organize the bases with the cut pieces. I decided to not do the same color bases for the 2nd card of each design to see how different they would look. I had time to make up three of the 12 cards. Take a peek!!

The Juniper grossgrain ribbon is included with the Creative Basics Jingle Collection papers. I tied the white craft buttons with natural hemp and sponged them with Tulip and Juniper inks.

More natural hemp (sponged with Juniper ink) knotted and attached to the card with Liquid Glass. Pretty glittery Twinkle Brads adorn the center of the snowflakes.

The Holiday Trinkets My Acrylix stamp set is what I have used for all of these cards. I really like the simplicity of this card, and distressing paper is one of my very favorite techniques!
I have nine more cards to do with this project... hurry back!!

Be still my heart!

2009-09-22T22:27:00.009-04:00

I've got two workshops coming up in October using the new Twitterpated Workshop On The Go kit. Putting these layouts and cards together with the kit was a snap and so much fun!! The colors are soft and warm and the patterns so pretty. I think you'll like them!

First the kit... I love Love LOVE this!! Everything in the kit is full size... no skimpin' on the product! It includes a full package of Twitterpated Level 2 papers, a My Acrylix(TM) stamp set made just for this kit, a full package of Designer Ribbon Rounds(TM) Chocolate Collection ribbons, and full color instructions with a cutting guide for making the projects shown here. The full value is $35.95 but it costs only $29.95. After making these projects I still have a full half package of paper and lots of ribbons for other projects.

Next the projects...

This is the two page layout. My workshops for these classes are free after you purchase the kit. There are other fun options to choose, too, like the Dimensional Elements in Color... the little chip board buttons. Cute!!

And of course my favorite thing is always the cards. Instructions are for six cards, two of each of these. Other items used on these other than what I've already mentioned are brads, buttons and natural hemp. So pretty, right?

If you are interested in either of these workshops or just purchasing the kit (instructions included!) just let me know!

Scrap book workshop is on October 7th - sign up ends tomorrow

Cards workshop is on October 14th - sign up ends on September 30th.

Thanks for dropping in!

...and it doesn't stop there!

2009-09-13T12:17:00.005-04:00

I needed a quick card for a friend and believe it or not, I had NONE just lying around. But wait, I just made a gaggle of new cards with the CTMH Everyday Celebration card kit, right? I grabbed an unused card base from the kit and used it as a template to cut a new card and *snap* I was in business!!

So when you purchase this kit be sure to make yourself at template from the card bases, save those instructions, and you are in business for any kind of card you need for anytime you need it. Don't be fooled into thinking you can only make those cards with the papers, stamps & embellishments included in the kit - you can make an unlimited number of cards with other stamps, papers & embellishments substituted for the kit supplies...

Now I ask... just how AWESOME is that???

My New Toys

2009-09-03T10:55:00.010-04:00

While I have been on my mental vacation the rest of the world didn't stop and wait for me. That's okay, because it means the latest and greatest Close to my Heart Idea Book/Catalog has been released!! It's online now for you to peruse (drool over) or you can contact me personally for a hard copy that you can take anywhere. Follow this link to my Paper Boutique, click on the photo of the new Idea Book in the lower right corner - sit back and enjoy!

Along with our exciting new Idea Book coming out this month we are also celebrating National Stamping Month with our Everyday Celebration card kit. Here's what I got in my kit. It was simply amazing to open this kit and realize that the only... and I do mean ONLY... things not included were a tape runner, paper cutter and postage stamps to mail the cards. The papers are bright and beautiful, the stamp set so versatile, and all other embellishments, inks and tools are included and ready to use, including color instructions to make 16 beautiful cards!!

I had so much fun making these cards with so little fuss. I have no doubt you'll love this kit, too!! The flyer is here, Delight in the Everyday, and you can order the kit either online or contact me.

There is so much more to share, but please forgive me, I really have to get back to playing. Thanks for coming by!

Fight like a girl

2009-09-03T10:45:00.004-04:00

It's true, I have been missing in action for more than a month. I was actually surprised to see that I have NO blogs for August what-so-ever. I'm thinking I have a lot of making up to do!!

I went to the Kentucky State Fair last month but sadly forgot to take my camera. No fair photos or layouts will be forthcoming. We saw all types of livestock and crafts and so much more that it's hard to remember.

This little card did arise from my fair experience, however. I saw the saying on a T-shirt a woman was wearing and begged my daughters to help me remember it. From that little saying, a card was born.

Of course all supplies are Close to My Heart. Thanks for stopping by!

Missing in Action?

2009-07-21T13:12:00.003-04:00

I'm still alive and kickin' in my Kentucky home. Things have been busy and won't be getting "back to normal." I am sad to tell you that we lost our very good friend, Harriett, to breast cancer in June. That precipitated a trip to Seattle for her funeral. Then back to Kentucky and a gajillion things to catch up or get started on. Please stay tuned for some fun stuff to be posted... I've got some cards to share and will be working on some memorial pages about Harriett.

The new Close To My Heart catalogs will be released soon... Can't wait to see exciting new product and the incredible artwork (IDEAS!!) that always accompany it.

Don't change that channel!!

Harborside Picnic

2009-05-31T13:08:00.009-04:00

While I am 'experimenting' with my new layout I hope you will be patient with my new posts. My main goal was to have my blog fill the entire page instead of just the the center half of the page. In doing so, the formatting for my past blogs appears really odd. Please bear with me while I learn my way around the new format.

The pages I want to share with you today are more created by my daughter, Alyssa. Last summer we attended a picnic at the nursing home where my mother is living. We had a fun time with G'ma, acting like teens and taking goofy pictures. Can I just say that all the fun photos our kids take today with their instant digital results are just not adult friendly? Okay, maybe it's just me, but someday I will learn that "goofy" needs to stay with the younger generation and out of my life!

These layouts have really grown on me. Although I hated the photos of me, I've come to enjoy them once they have been assigned to a layout lovingly created by my daughter. It's funny how an awful photo in hand becomes a treasure in the scrapbook. I may have to start being a little easier on myself!

My favorite page of all is this one, my mother and my daughter. I have threatened to steal it from her scrapbook and frame it for the wall. Aren't they sweet?

...and I think I am liking my new blog layout, how about you?

Most products in these pages are Close to my Heart with a few contraband embellishments that my daughter picked up somewhere else... gah!!

Longaberger Trip

2009-05-30T20:22:00.007-04:00

Last winter before Christmas my oldest daughter and I took a trip to the Longaberger factory in Ohio. It was a fun bus trip arranged by Longaberger consultants. When we got on the bus we had gift baskets waiting for us (empty - LOL) and bags of goodies to help us keep our energy up throughout the long day.

The drive there was very long which was quite alright since it was so dang early I was already planning my first nap. "Santa" had dropped off some goodies for us and they were delivered as well during the ride.

We had a blast shopping and touring the Homestead. Lunch was provided, a full hot meal. Then into town for more shopping and the Christmas parade. I don't think snow was expected, but it did snow the entire day which made the day just that much more special.

These layouts are all done by my daughter. She's just beginning to get into scrapbooking and I am so pleased with her results. All products are Close to my Heart.

Another birthday

2009-05-26T14:17:00.005-04:00

Although this card will be late for the recipient, I can lift my shameful head a little for having made at least one more card for the May birthdays.

This card was done using the Tickled Pink National Scrapbook Month promotional kit. The idea, but not the actual design is from our new Card Program, "Wishes." It was a very fun card to make, especially with so much great help and products!

Here's the inside... lately I have been doing insides that are almost as nice as the outsides. I like the results.

This will be off to my mother in law right away. She did receive the box of cards for her birthday and the reviews were great!!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope to post some layouts my daughters have been working on, soon.

The rest of the gift...

2009-05-19T23:40:00.006-04:00

Tonight I finished the box to hold the cards I shared with you in the last blog. Of course if the cards are a gift, they need a nice box, right? The base of this project was a small box which held a trio of votive candle holders. It's just slightly larger than the cards making it a perfect candidate.

What I didn't consider is how flimsey the cardboard actually is, how much bulkier it would be covered with the extra heavy duty textured card stock, and how difficult it would prove to be covering the exposed edges.

Once I bit the bullet and covered some of the problem areas with unsightly packaging tape, I made an agreement with myself to be okay with the outcome. Even though I don't feel that it us up to my standards construction-wise, I know my mother-in-law will love it. I hope.

I actually think it looks better in the photos than in real life... that's contrary to how I feel about most of my photos v. projects.

Thanks for visiting!

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