Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Introducing CTMH Artbooking A Little Sneak Peek!

Yesterday a box of Close To My Heart goodies arrived at on my doorstep!  One of the best things in that big box with a plastic bag with the new Artbooking Cricut Cartridge.  Available from my website on August 1st, this is just a little sneak peek at what you can do with it.

It has been such a hot summer here in Philadelphia, that I thought it would be fun to make a winter card.  Notice the lattice work mat?  Well, that is one of the terrific features you can create using the new cartridge.  Contained within the cartridge are countless overlays and scrapbook pages.  The beauty of the cartridge is the programing...You select the size of the scrapbook album you wish to make and hit real dial size and everything on the key will fit.  No more wasted paper or miscuts!  WOW!!!  You know how much time and money that will save?

Now, this is a card you say, not a scrapbook page.  Yes, it is!  I didn't have time to create a layout, so I did a little figuring and converted one of the layout overlays into card size.  Artbooking is not for scrapbooks alone.  In the near future, I will post how I figured it out.  In the mean time, a few more fun facts about this card...the snowflake was also cut using the Artbooking.  That adorable polar bear is in one of the soon to be released stamp sets.  He was stamped using the Archival Black ink and lightly colored with the CTMH Alcohol Markers.  By the way, that is Prisma Glitter and Liquid Applique on the bottom to create the snow.

Keep checking back before August 1st for more peeks at upcoming new CTMH products.  When you purchase the new Artbooking Cartridge, remember, is works for both scrapbooks and cards. And, it is not always about the price...it is about the customer service and the friendships you build while using Close To My Heart products.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

Monday, July 15, 2013

CTMH For Always Workshop

Once again, I am on the run, but I did want to share another card that I got done today for my upcoming workshop featuring For Always.



This may look like a simple card, but it has some really fun techniques.  I decided that I wanted to feature For Always this month at my card workshop.  The sketch come from the Make It From The Heart Volume 1 book...well know if that isn't a hit about upcoming things in the new Idea Book!  Yes, there is a volume 2 coming and I actually have a copy of it that I won as a door prize at Convention!  :o)  These are terrific books and if you don't already own them, please consider them.  They are only $7.95 and contain all kinds of sketches for both cards and scrapbook layouts.  You can see Volume 1 on my website now, and beginning August 1st, you can see Volume 2!

Anyway, the black mat with the writing is actually card stock covered in the For Always textiles.  Love the coordinating textiles and with some of the other fun items coming August 1st, the fabrics are going to be an even better purchase. 

You don't think of using fabric on a card so, I thought I would give a quick mention on how I did it without creating a great deal of bulk on the card. 
1.  Cut the card stock to the desired size of the mat.
2.  Cut the fabric 1/2 inch larger than the piece of card stock...yes you can cut the fabric with your paper cutter...  :o)
3.  Run a  line of tape adhesive close to the edges on 3 sides of the card stock.
4.  Position the fabric over the card stock.  By only having adhesive on 3 sides, it allows you to straighten the fabric.  This is especially important when using patterned fabric that needs to to straight.
5.  Run a strip of adhesive on the other side of the card stock on all 4 sides.  Overlap the extra fabric and attach. 
6.  Cut (miter) the corners so that it lays flat on your card.

I hope this makes sense.  This mat of fabric was attached to the card base without any excess bulk!  Doing it this way will avoid any bulky corners.

Now, off to my meeting and wishing you fun creative time.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

Thursday, July 11, 2013

A Card Challenge and CTMH For Always

For those of you who don't realize this, I often help out with challenges over at the Crafting By Designs Challenge Blog.  It is a group of very talents ladies who weekly offer up some really fun challenges.  This week, it was my turn to host the challenge.  I decided that I wanted to do a "Thank You" card challenge, but I haven't been much help to those lovely ladies recently in addition to saying thank you to the many many participants on the blog.

 
You might have notices that I am using an awful lot of For Always right now.  Well, that is because my monthly workshop features this paper packet and I have been busy designing card to include in class.  This card features last month's CTMH Stamp of the Month, Lagoon and Pacifica card stock and For Always.  I colored the flowers using our Alcohol Markers and the Sentiment was Rock and Roll stamped with Lagoon and Pacifica inks.

So, if you are in the mood to make a Thank You card, click on over to Crafting By Designs and add your creation!  For Now, Happy Crafting!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Joyful Stars Blog Hop

I was so excited when I saw Joyce at Convention and she asked me to join in on the Joyful Stars Blog Hop!  Joyce and I are sort of neighbors...she doesn't live that far from where my Studio (the house that I grew up in) is located.  It is so nice to know someone from my old stomping ground.

Anyway, if you've arrived here from Jeanie's Blog you are on the right track.  For my first post in the hop, I've completed a card featuring For Always (X7165B) and Fabulous You (C1533.)  I stamped the main image with CTMH's archival black ink (44751) and colored it using several of our alcohol markers.  I love our markers!

 

 
For my first post, I wanted to share some of my favs...the paper packet, the stamp set and our markers.  It's time to hop on over to Meredith's Blog and check out what she has created.  Enjoy the hop.  For Now, Happy Crafting!

CTMH For Always and Mojo Monday

I was able to finish a card before I ran off to work today!  :o)  I haven't played along with the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge in quite awhile and this weeks sketch caught my eye.  It went along perfectly with the For Always (X7165B) and Fabulous You (C1533) stamp set.

 
 
I have always loved sketch challenges.  I love to see how everyone makes the sketch their own.  For this card, I used as I said For Always and the Fabulous You.  I also added a stamped sentiment for Lace Doily (B1418), Whisper, Slate and Lagoon card stock, and colored the main image with my CTMH alcohol markers.  I love the markers.  I really find them easy to use and for a full post on how to use them, head over to my older post on Papers Pads and Pictures.
 
I enjoyed playing along with Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge and thank them for another great sketch.  For Now, Happy Crafting!


Monday, July 8, 2013

What Else Do I Do With My Time

Besides being an active Close To My Heart Consultant, I am also the floral designer at my local Michaels.  So I thought it would be fun to post a wreath a recently made.  This way, when I say I have to run off to work, you will understand.  :o)
 
So, have to run off to work.  For Now, Happy Crafting.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

CTMH Scrapbook Layout Featuring Claire Paper Packet

Alas, I have to work the Michaels Crop this afternoon, but before I headed out, I wanted to create something.  Not having much time, I needed to do something quick and simple and yet did my pictures justice.  This is what I love about Close To My Heart.  Everything coordinates...the stamps, the papers and the embellishments.  One of the new tag lines for CTMH is Rediscover Scrapbooking and that is just what I intend to do.
I was able to make this layout very quickly but it does include several techniques and elements.  I've tone on tone stamped in the corners and added just a touch of Prisma Glitter for some bling.  I also tone on tone random stamped the hollyhock strip down the middle for just a little movement.  And, I sponged all the card stock edges for depth.  The title was made using CTMH self adhesive Felt Letters.  Quick, easy and yet still celebrates the magic of Disney at night.
 
Just a quick list of the CTMH products I used...
Champagne, Blush and Hollyhock Card Stock
Hollyhock, Pacifica and Champagne Inks
Blue Sparkles
Prisma Glitter
Pacifica Mini-Medleys (retired)
Pacifica Felt Letters (retired)
Rock The Block Stamp Set (Retired)
May 2013  Stamp of the Month
 
I purposely used some retired products not to frustrate you if you liked them, but to show you that even though a product may be retired, it is still usable and coordinates beautifully with the current product.  When CTMH retires a product, they always seem to come out with something new that is even bigger and better.
 
Stop by my website to see the Claire paper packet along with all of the other fun products.  For Now, Happy Crafting!