CTMH Swan Lake and the September STOM

Another week has gone by and it is my turn to post a project using the new Close To My Heart paper packet called Swan Lake (X7212B) and the September Stamp of the Month called Blessed Beyond Measure (S1609.)  Swan Lake is featured in the Seasonal Expressions book.  It is a versatile packet that includes a sheet with swans, others with fall designs and still others with coordinating abstract patterns.  The STOM is Thanksgiving themed with a pumpkin, leaves and several sentiments.

I got energetic this morning and decided to create an easel card.  I haven't done one of these is quite a while so let's review the measurements.  First cut a base measuring 4 1/4 x 11 inches.  Score it at the 2 3/4 inch and 5 1/2 inch mark.  Cut another sheet that measures 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches.  This sheet will attach to the 2 3/4 inch folded tab.  When assembled, this makes a perfect A2 card (5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.)  This will make more sense when you see the card!

Clear as mud...right?!?  :0)

Now you can see how the card folds along the score lines.  When unfolded, and placed flat, it will fit perfectly into an envelope.

I had fun making this card because I used so many fun tools, techniques and colors.  I used the CTMH Artbooking cartridge to cut the pumpkin in Fern Card Stock.  I then stamped the pumpkin on White Daisy using the rock and roll inking techniques.  First I inked the stamp in Flaxen and then rolled the edges in Poppy to create the 2 tone look.  I cut out the stamped image and the attached it to the Fern pumpkin leaving the stems showing.  Also using Artbooking, I cut out the leaves in Goldrush and then stamped the veins using Fern Ink.  I sponged the edges lightly with Poppy ink to give the fall like appearance.  Helping to hold up the focal mat is a strip of gold shimmer tape.  The smaller leaves also act as a wedge to help stabilize the fold.  Here is the front of the card again so hopefully this makes some sense.

I you remember, my friend Karen and I are taking turns showcasing CTMH products.  Don't forget to hop over to her blog to see what she has created.  By the way, Swan Lake will only be available through November and the Stamp of the Month will only be available during September.  Check out my website for more information.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

Close To My Heart Flower Market Cricut Cartridge

Good Morning and I hope everyone has had a great week!  I had a fun time visiting Fort Desoto near Tampa (right where the Gulf of Mexico meets Tampa Bay) and I created a cute hostess gift.

First, let me share the little hostess gift.  Close To My Heart has a new Cricut Cartridge called Flower Market.  The images span the spectrum of creativity by including anything garden, 3D flowers, words and an alphabet font.  I love the 3D flowers because not all of them need to be rolled.  This is great because you can achieve the texture without all the "work."  CTMH has also come up with a new program called "Color of the Year."  This color is not in any of the established color groups and will be only available for the duration of the Idea Book.  This year the color is called "Sea Glass" and it is a wonderfully pale aqua as the name suggests.

The purse was cut using one of the retired CTMH Cricut cartridges.  Love Artiste...  Anyway, the hibiscus was cut with the Flower Market Cartridge, Cotton Candy, Hollyhock, Fern and Black card stock.  It is so simple.  You just cut out the layers and glue the pieces together.  The dotted paper behind is from the Calypso paper packet that is available in the current expressions mini book.  It is a fun packet that includes pineapples and pink flamingos.  Check it out on my website.  Please hurry if you like pink flamingos as the Calypso (X7210B) is only available until August 31, 2016. 

Now, for a little about Fort Desoto State Park.  The park is located in Pinellas County Florida and was originally the home to a US Army Costal Artillery Company.  Today, it is home to hundreds of species of birds and over 1100 acres of beach plants and trees.  In many circles, Fort Desoto is considered one of America's Best Beaches.

I have had a fun week!  Don't forget my friend Karen over at My Paper Studio.  She always has some fun things posted.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

A CTMH Happy Easter

I don’t know about you, but once Easter is here, so is Spring.  My heater just kicked on BUT tomorrow is Easter so it really is Spring.  Keep repeating it to yourself if you live in one of these areas where it is still chilly.
I haven’t had a chance to post must recently but I wanted to share a project we made in our April Workshops.  I have to admit that I got the idea from the recent Joyful Stars Blog Hop.  Krista is so talented and creates such wonderful projects.  Anyway, I modified her idea and made it work as a “bonus” project for my workshops.

The gals all loved making this little Easter Hanger.  Well, time for me to run off to work.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Altered Bird Cage

Yesterday was a snowy cold day so I decided to work on something that was bright and cheery.  Because of the color coordinating system, matching stamps, great embellishments and quality products, Close To My Heart makes creating so easy! 
I set out to create something different…a 3D item that would utilize all kinds of products.  I had this metal bird cage that was just screaming for some decoration.




There are so many different techniques and fun embellishments packed into this one bird cage.  Let me share a few…  the rolled flower at the top, matching “leaves” and base the bird is sitting on is from the For Always Textile set (Z1820.)  But those textiles are black and white you say…yes they are.  I dyed the pieces using Pear and Crystal Blue re-inker.  Speaking of the bird, he was cut twice using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.  I glued the pieces together so that he was 2 sided.  I added a tooth pick in the middle so that I could stabilize it in a piece of foam that was wrapped in the dyed fabric and hot glued to the bottom of the cage.


There are also cuts from each of the 3 CTMH cartridges.  There are so many different and creative elements that can be used on different projects.  If you consider all of the different elements in the 3, the total is over 2100 different images!


By the way, the bird cage is done entirely in CTMH products (except for the shred in the bottom of the cage.)  The burlap is product number (Z1760,) the ribbon is the Topiary Mini Chevron Ribbon (Z1929,) the badge button in the center of the flower is a retired item (but available on my website (Z1704,) and the spiral embellishments are the Slate Striped Twist Ties (Z1864) that have been twisted around a pencil.


Let your imagination run wild with all the creative possibilities that Close To My Heart has to offer.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH 3D Project–A Tea Bag Holder

This is just a quick post today before I head out to work.  So many of us are suffering with the cold, snow and ice.  So, I thought it would be fun to make a project that we could use to help us stay warm.

This is a matchbook style tea bag holder.  It works up quickly and is fun to make.

This is the inside with the tea bags inserted.  The pockets are also the perfect size for chocolate square too.  Think of this decorated for Easter or Halloween.  It would be perfect to give as a treat to neighbors or school children.  The directions to make this holder can be found here.
Well, it is off to work for me.  As you are trying to stay warm, give this cute little tea bag holder a try.  BTW, mine is made with all CTMH products.  Guess you’re not surprised about that.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge

I love the CTMH Cricut Cartridge. As a reminder, we have 3 different cartridges each with over 700 images!  Art Philosophy has flowers, a terrific font and great shapes.  Artiste is loaded with all kinds of 3D items.  And, Artbooking has actual scrapbook layouts.  All you need to do is select a LO, find the function keys, cut away and you've got a perfectly sized page or mini album.

Yesterday I had a 1st birthday party to attend.  Now, let's be honest, a 1st birthday party is for the family and friends.  Short of the cake smearing, the poor child is totally confused.  0:).  We weren't sure what to get for our friends' granddaughter so we gave a gift card.  A gift card?  This is the perfect opportunity to use the Artiste  Cartridge to make as special holder.

Artiste is loaded with all kinds of boxes that are just perfect.

This is the box found in the Artiste handbook on page 71.  The sentiment mat and overlay on the lid are also on the same page.  All I did was change the function key!  The rolled flowers and leaves are on page 54.

I also wanted to mention that the pattern paper is called "Chantilly.  It is Perfect for "little girl" projects.  Chantilly will be retiring at the end of the month.

If you are interested in any of the Cricut Cartridges or Chantilly, visit my website For more information on how you can purchase these items.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

Joyful Stars Blog Hop - Close To My Heart

It's time again for the Joyful Stars Blog Hop!  I really enjoy participating in this hop.  This month, the theme is Holiday Gifts or Tags.  Well, I've done several tags already so I decided to do a Holiday Gift for my home.  If you've arrived here from Helen's Blog you are on the right track.  So without further ado, here is my project.

I took a Glass Craft Block and filled it with Buffalo Snow, Snow Sparkles and a strand of 20 white cord lights.  Next, using Cashmere and Ruby Pigment Ink, I inked the edges, sprinkled with Clear Embossing Powder, Prisma Glitter and heated it, to give the effect of ice around the block.  The CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge has a key that includes the negative space "Peace" and the Poinsettias (page 80.)  I cut the sentiment in Champagne and the Poinsettias in Ruby with a Champagne overlay.  Each was sponged, lined with Prisma Glitter and attached to the block with Liquid Glass.  Last but not least, I wrapped the block with Deco Mesh and Ribbon and tied the big bow for the top.  Here is a picture of it in it's new home by my fireplace.

That's it in the lower right hand corner all lit up.  By the way, I used a great deal of Deco Mesh this year for my decorating and I will give some tips but that is for another post.  :o)  It's time to hop over to Elizabeth's Blog to see what she has created for us.  If you get lost along the way you can always head back to the Joyce's blog to find the full list of participants.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Thanksgiving and Artiste Cricut Cartridge

Right now, I have to admit, I've been focusing on my Christmas Projects; however, I did take some time this afternoon to make paper these cute place card holders for Thanksgiving Dinner. 

 

They were actually quite simple and worked up quickly, especially with the convenience of the Artiste Cartridge.  I punched 6 2 inch scallop circles for each.  They using the cartridge, I cut the base leaf and the leaf endorsement for the top.  After sponging them, I folded each in half and using Liquid Glass I attached the 6 circles.  Before I attached the last circle rounds together, I inserted a pin clip with the leaf stem inserted in the precut hole.  I love these pin clips and am sad to say that they are currently for sale as "why supplies last" on my website.  Anyway, I snipped off the bottom so that the pumpkin would sit flat and used Liquid Glass to attach it to the bigger leaf I cut.  Easy!

 

I know it is probably a tad late to try these if you don't have the pin clips, but picture them with boxes cut from the Artiste as Christmas Place card holders.  Visit my website so that you can get some of these fun pin clips before they are gone.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

Close To My Heart Christmas

I just love the CTMH Holidays from the Heart Gift Guide!  There are papers, kits, WTOG's, washi tape and even an album.  I've been playing around with some of the items and want to share them!

 

 

These are two of the Season's Tweetings Gift Bags (Z1913.)  They come in a kit that contains 6 fabric gift bags, 9 tags and a B size stamp set.  They are so cute and work up so easily.  What fun for office or teacher's gifts.  By the way, the images pictured here were colored with my CTMH alcohol markers and had a little Red Glitz Glitter Gel added for an accent.

 

 

 

This card is made using the same stamp set that is included in the Gift Bag kit and the Sparkle and Shine paper packet (X7176B.)  It also has some washi tape, turquoise dots and prisma glitter.  I love the stamp set and being able to also use it for cards or even scrapbook layouts just proves the value in CTMH products.

 

If you would like to give these projects a try, visit my website and order a set.  For Now, Happy Crafting!



CTMH Frosted - Joyful Stars Blog Hop

It's that time again...  the 9th of the month means the Joyful Stars Blog Hop!  I enjoy participating in the hop and seeing the work of so many talented fellow CTMH Consultants.  This month, our theme is either Fall or Christmas using new CTMH products.  If you got here from Stephanie's Blog you are on the right track.

I got this stamp called Christmas Village (D1554) shortly after Convention and hadn't really used it that much, but loved it from the moment I saw it.   I've wanted to make a project using this wonderful stamp and thought our blog hop would be the perfect time.

 

 

 

Each of these cute little houses are in the stamp set.  I stamped each one on Cashmere card stock and cut them out.  I did the same with the 6 evergreen trees using Olive and New England Ivy.  Each image was colored with my pencils and then highlighted with Prisma Glitter and Liquid Applique.  The road was made from a torn strip of Cocoa, sanded and then accented with Liquid Applique.  It was built on sanded Crystal Blue that was accented with clouds that are from a retired set.  The wooden frame was painted with Pearl Paint colored with Champagne re-inker, the front was covered with a sheet of Frosted paper and then accented with the sparkle flourishes and the sentiment stamped with pigment ink and heat embossed.  Foam tape was used to give the 3D effect.

 

It's time to hop on over to Helen's Blog and see what she has created for us.  If you get lost at any point, head back to the start at Joyce's Blog.  Thanks for stopping by and For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH My Creations Bracket Frame

I think that I mentioned that I am teaching paper crafting at the Main Line Night School this fall.  This is the CTMH My Creations Bracket Frame that we will be making on the class scheduled for November 9, 2013.

In this class, we are going the be reviewing how to cover chipboard, making paper flowers, making burlap flowers and how to place embellishments for the most visual impact.  The frame is covered with CTMH Victory and features cuts from the Art Philosophy and Artiste Cricut Cartridges.  This class promises to be a great class and the students will have a handmade gift for the Holidays!

If you are in the Philadelphia PA area, visit the Main Line Night School area and sign up for this great class!  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Designed Decor Frame

One of the things that I love about Close To My Heart is the product diversity.  There are all those pretty patterned papers, wonderful white core card stock, the stamps, the embellishments and now, a full line of Home Décor Items.  These Home Décor items are designed to work up easily using your paper crafting skills.  One of my favorite in the new Idea Book is the Designed Décor Frame Kit.

What a value it is!  For $35.95 (plus s/h and tax) you receive a large frame with chicken wire embedded in it, a stamp set, 33 die cut shapes, mini clothes pins, bakers twine and all the instructions you need to complete a great gift or decoration for your home.

 

 

I made this as a memento from my Convention trip to Disney World.  Several of us took one of the evenings and headed out to Magic Kingdom.  What a great time we had.  The die cut shapes and stamp set were perfect for this fun outing.

 

 



Another great feature of the Designer Frame Kit is that there are plenty of die cuts and embellishments, that you can change out the design when you like.  I added a special touch to mine and using Velcro, attached a piece of CTMH Fabric from the Chantilly line (Z1819.)  By using the Velcro, I'll even be about to change that when I like.  I used some left over fabric to make that cute flower in the top corner too. 

While the Décor Frame might seem like it is a difficult thing to make, it really isn't!  Look closely, the stamping is done using all of the regular techniques I often talk about....the use of threes and working in triangles.  If you need a unique gift, especially with the Holidays coming or just want something fun, do consider making a Décor Frame.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Huntington...Joyful Stars Blog Hop

Hi Everyone.  It's time for the Joyful Stars Blog Hop.  I really love participating in the hop.  This month, our theme is anything fall.  Huntington is one of the new CTMH paper packets and it so versatile.  Last month, I used it for a heritage layout and this month I'm using it to help us get ready for Thanksgiving.  I often think that in today's world, Thanksgiving gets forgotten.  Believe it or not, as a floral designer at Michaels, I've already started making Christmas decorations.  Yup...what I have made for fall is all that there is going to be.  So, I thought I should pay a little attention to this wonderful family holiday.

If you've arrived here from Helen's Blog you are on the right track.  Without further ado, here is my project...

I wanted to do something that we get everyone ready for a great dinner.  Huntington (X7174B) and the Perfect Fit - Thanksgiving (B1427) are perfect for the Dinner Invitation, Napkin Ring and Place Card.

 

The card is an 8 x 3 1/2 inch card.  BTW - I love this size.  Did you realize they fit into a business envelope?  The sketch comes from the Originals "how to" book.

 

The napkin ring uses the CTMH burlap ribbon for the flower and the actual ring around the napkin.  Love our burlap ribbon!

 

Last but not least is the place card.  I made the leaves by cutting them on the Cricut using Artbooking.  I then sponged them with Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta and Barn Red Pigment Inks and heat embossed with clear powder.  I repeated the process to give the almost enameled look.

Well, I hope you are enjoying the Joyful Stars Blog Hop.  It's time to head over to Elizabeth's Blog to see what she has created for us.  Thanks for hopping by and For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH Home Decor and Frosted

Hold onto your hat, but I actually had a little free time to create today!  I know, I can't believe it either.  :o)  When we were at our Post Convention Team Meeting the other week, one of our creative projects was to make the make one of the CTMH My Creations Stars along with Karen (the PaperDolls fearless leader) teaching us to may a rolled flower.  Well, I never had the chance to make my star at the meeting, but it is such a wonderful project that I was determined to make one. 

Why is it so difficult to get a decent picture of the best things?  I used the new "Frosted" paper packet (X7175B) to cover the chipboard star (Z1803).  A template is available to use to cut out the individual "legs."  What I learned from this is when using 2 different papers, you need to remember to have the template facing the same way for 5 of the points and the opposite way for the other 5.  Otherwise, you will wind up with miss matched papers.  Not a problem, you just need to remember this.

Now for the Polka Satin Ribbon (Z1802)) Flower in the center.  When Karen taught us how to make the flower, she used the burlap ribbon (Z1760).  I looked at the satin ribbon and wondered would it work.  Well, it did!  :o)  Cut two pieces of ribbon...one to measure 12 inches and the other measuring 24 inches.  When using burlap, you only need 12 inches for each length.  Fold the lengths in half and glue the edge using a hot glue gun (don't burn yourself.)  Begin to roll the 12 inch length tightly and hold together with the glue.  You want a tight roll so feel free to add glue from the selvage to the top.  This is the center of your flower.  Next take the 24 inch length, attach to the base (salvage) edge of the flower center.  Make sure that you only glue the bottom portion.  Begin to wrap around the flower center and randomly pleat the ribbon so that it fans out to look like a flower.  When you are close to the end, fold in the edge to keep the ribbon from fraying. If you are using burlap, you may fringe it to give the petal effect.  This is why you need less ribbon when you are using the burlap...the fringing forms the petal look.  Cut two shorter lengths of ribbon to attach to the bottom to form your "leaves."  Very easy and a great effect.  What do you think?

I love these stars and can see me making several for Holiday Gifts.  For Now, Happy Crafting!