Lucky

I had so many ideas for this paper, but I finally settled on just "Lucky".  This layout uses Hello Lovely paper and flowers from the Circut Flower Market cartridge. I'm sure I'll make several more pages using this beautiful spring paper.

Hello Lovely Paper Packet (X7216B)

 

Hello Lovely Complements (X7216C) 

Cricut Flower Market cartridge 

(physical cartridge Z3285, shown) 

(digital Z3290, no cartridge, includes paper and stamp sets)

I scream for ice cream!

I love the new paper "Sugar Rush". It's perfect for birthdays, Valentine's Day, and lots of other celebrations. I love ice cream cones, so this was the perfect paper to create a birthday layout to celebrate those delicious treats.

I used  Thin Cuts-Celebrate (Z3256) to create the title and the Word Search Embossing Folder (Z3250) to create the background behind the ice cream cone.  I lightly sanded the word "sweet" to reveal the white core found inside all Close To My Heart cardstock. The ice cream cone was cut from Cricut Artistry (Z3167) and the cherry on top is from Cricut Artiste (retired).  Other small shapes such as hearts and arrows were cut from Flower Market (Z3285)and Artbooking (Z3169).

You can find all the "Sugar Rush" paper, embellishments and coordinating stamps on my web site.

January is National Papercrafting Month and when you place a qualifying order of $60 you can get this Welcome Home Wreath Kit (link) for free PLUS you are eligible to get the Stamp of the Month, "Adore You" (S1701) for just $5.

Watch this video on the Close To My Heart YouTube channel.

  How to assemble your wreath kit.

Jeepers Creepers!

Are you ready to take fabulous Halloween photos and put them on a cute layout? 

This layout is quick and easy using Close To My Heart's "Jeepers Creepers" paper pack (X7211B) and a quick stamped title with two colors layered over one another.  The bat and the friendly monsters were cut using the Artistry Cricut cartridge (Z3167).  Try adding some googly eyes for a touch of whimsy. There is a wide variety of paper and embellishments in the Jeepers Creepers line of products.

Do you have more than four photos?  (I know I will.)  Add some Flip Flaps for an interactive page and space for even more photos.

Left page: 1"x12" Slate is 3" from top.  Below that, 5"x12" Jeepers Creepers monsters and 2"x12" Slate.  Right page:  1"x12" Slate on the right.  Beside that, 5"x 12" Jeepers Creepers monsters.  Across the page, 1"x12" Pansy 2" from bottom of page.  All photo mats are 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" (Lagoon and Black).  Photo embellishment uses the "zip strip".  Journaling card is 3 1/2" x 4 1/2".  Bat and monsters are from Cricut Artistry.

Jeepers Creepers products

Jeepers Creepers paper packet (X7211B)

Jeepers Creepers Complements (X7211C)

 

Jeepers Creepers Assortment (Z4009)

 

Jeepers Creepers Washi Tape (Z4010)

 

Jeepers Creepers coordinating cardstock (Z7211D)

April Opportunity

If you've ever thought about becoming a Close To My Heart consultant, now is the time.  We've just unveiled a new consultant kit and if you join in April you have an opportunity to earn a free Circut collection or $100 in Select Product Credit when you have $350 in sales within your first 30 days!  Learn more.

Cyberweek 2015!

It's Cyberweek and Close To My Heart has something special for you!

For five days only, a selection of items from Close To My Heart’s current product inventory can be yours for 25% off retail price! Get supplies you’ll need to make handcrafted gifts and cards for the holidays, including our Cricut® Artfully Sent Collection, at an amazing discount! This offer is available for a limited time only, so hurry and make the most of your holiday preparations!
* Offer valid Monday, November 30, 2015 (9:00 am MST) through Friday, December 4, 2015 (4:00 pm MST) while supplies last. Shipping/handling is calculated based on the full retail price of any discounted items.

Get 25% off selected items, including:
Cricut® Artfully Sent Collection (Z3168)
Designed Décor Red Magnetic Chalkboard (Z2006)
Designed Décor Display Tray (Z1750)
Picture My Life™ Going Places Scrapbooking Program (Z3180)
Designer Creations Buttoned Bag (Z2053)
Designer Creations Short Stack Album (Z2028)
Designer Creations Ruby Paper Bags (Z2038)
Cut Above™ Dapper Giraffe Card Kit (Z3147)
My Creations™ Pint-Sized Container (Z3137)
Scallop Border Punch (Z1851)
Triangle Border Punch (Z1997)
plus many more!

Celebrate Summer with a Lemonade Stand

We always thought we were going to make it big with our lemonade stand.  We'd set up a table in the front yard and hang a sign.  What happened next was different every time, but every time it was the best day ever. I added some limes to mine . . . cold and refreshing!

Celebrate your Lemonade Stand adventures with a colorful layout using "Taste of Summer" papers.  

(Magic: Parlor Trick,  Magic How-to book - 9040)

My title was cut using Cricut Artfully Sent (Z3017) (weld text with -5 spacing and 1 inch tall).  I cut it once from white daisy and once from Taste of Summer and layered the white behind (slightly offset) to give a highlight.

The journaling spot is cut from Cricut Artbooking (Z1906) bundle stamp set "Sweet & Lovely" (D1571). Juniper ink coordinated very well with this paper line.

Taste of Summer is available in May for just $8.95 - no qualifying purchase is necessary.  Product CC1038 - Taste of Summer paper.  (hurry while supplies last)

 In addition, a coordinating stamp set is available for $17.95.  Product CC1039 Taste of Summer stamp.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Dimensional Elements + Cricut = mini album

I recently took out some of the amazing products that came with my Cricut Artiste collection and created a mini album using the Dimensional Elements Album pages and some Close to My Heart papers that I had on hand.  It was easy to do using the matching Cricut cuts.  Here's my album.

There is one page for each season plus one for Christmas (or other holiday of your choice).

Dimensional Elements Album Pages (Z1791) $4.95

 


















Cricut Artiste (Z1790) $99.00

Christmas - Advent Calendar

For years I've been looking for a nice Advent Calendar for my kids.  I've always bought the ones I've seen in the craft stores that have a small piece of chocolate behind each little cardboard flap.  When I saw the new CTMH Advent Calendar Workshop I knew that was exactly what I needed!  These kits are easy to make.  The boxes are cut using the Cricut Artiste cartridge.

The Advent Calendar Workshop includes:
     1 – My Creations® Cubby
     1 – My Acrylix® Advent Calendar Workshop Stamp Set (C-size)
     15 – Cardstock Sheets (3 ea. of 5 kit-exclusive colors)
     1 – Bitty Sparkles
     2 – 12" × 6" Dimensional Elements In Color—Frames Sheets
     1 – Instructional Brochure
You supply black ink, stamp blocks, and adhesive.

The best part is, once I had the stamp set I was able to make another calendar with my own design. The My Creations® Cubby can be purchased separately.  For the second calendar I used Cranberry, Desert Sand, Olive and Smoothie cardstock as the draw bases.  Pear & Partridge paper was used for the drawer faces (2 1/4 inch squares, cut out notch).  The frames are a combination of round and square shapes.  The round frames are made using the 2 inch scallop punch.  The square frames use a shape (page 33) from the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge (cut at 2 in).  The numbers are stamped on round (1 1/2 inch) or square (1 1/2 inch) Cashmere cardstock (from Pear & Partridge).

My drawers each contain a few Hershey kisses or a mini candy bar (think left-over Halloween candy) but you probably have many other creative ideas. (drawers are 2 1/2" x 2 1/2")

Cute Treat Boxes

I recently got my new Cricut Artiste cartridge and just couldn't wait to start trying out some of the fabulous 3-D items.  Here's what I made. There are many other 3-D boxes available on this great cartridge. What a crafty way to share holiday desserts.

The pie box (and coordinating lid) is on page 70 of the instruction booklet.  The booklet even gives you suggested cutting sizes.  This box was cut at 6 inches using Wonderland paper.

The decorations on the lid include a stamp from the October Stamp of the Month "Very Merry Christmas" which is stamped on a coordinating Cricut Artiste shape found on page 79 in the instruction booklet.  It is layered on a circle which was punched using the 2 inch scallop punch.  The snowflake accent was also cut from Cricut Artiste (page 79).  The background and overlay were cut from the same paper and I just flipped one over to the reverse side for contrast.  (The small brown snowflake is the left-over center from the mitten on page 79.  I used the mitten for something else, but kept the 'scrap' to use here.)  The snowflake is accented with some mini gems.

Featured Products
October Stamp of the Month "Very Merry Christmas"

Spend $50 and get this Stamp of the Month set for just $5

Cricut Artiste Collection

Host a gathering with sales of $250 or more and get this item for half price!












2 inch scallop punch

New Autumn Winter 2012 Idea Book

It's here!!  Oh, I can't decide which is my new favorite!  Take a look and see what you like best.

Some of my favorites:
Cricut Artiste Collection

Cricut^® Artiste Collection (Z1790)
$99 (retail value of nearly $125)
1 – Cartridge (700 images: themed projects, cards, font, shapes, 3-D items)
3 – My Acrylix^® D-size Stamp Sets*
3 – 12" × 9" Dimensional Elements in coordinating shapes

New Workshop on the Go kits
Advent Calendar Workshop on the Go (G1044)

$44.95
Included in this kit:
1 – My Creations® Cubby
1 – My Acrylix® Advent Calendar Workshop Stamp Set (C-size)
15 – Cardstock Sheets (3 ea. of 5 kit-exclusive colors)
1 – Bitty Sparkles
2 – 12" × 6" Dimensional Elements In Color—Frames Sheets
1 – Instructional Brochure


Avonlea Card Making Workshop on the Go (G1041)  $29.95

Included in the kit:
1– My Acrylix® Avonlea Cardmaking Workshop Stamp Set (C-size)
2 – Avonlea B&T Duos® Papers
4 – Cardstock Sheets (Slate, Smokey Plum, Chocolate, Avonlea Off-White)
15 – Colonial White Cards & Envelopes
1 – Slate Epoxy Bubbles (108 pieces)
1 – Grey Organdy Ribbon (5 yards)
1 – Instructional Brochure 


Are you ready for Back to School?


My Reflections paper - Scholastic (X7159B)  $9.95

June 2012 Stamp of the Month "Life is Tweet"

June is one of my favorite times of the year.  We have had a glorious spring here in Delaware and I'm hoping that June will be equally wonderful.  I'm looking forward to the end of school just as much as my kids.  No homework!  That doesn't mean there will be less to do, though.  It's just more fun!  We're all looking forward to vacation at the beach.  It wouldn't be summer without some time spent on the Boardwalk.

This page uses stamps from June's Stamp of the Month "Life is Tweet" and paper from "Dotty for You".

"Life is Tweet" features stamps that coordinate with the Cricut Art Philosophy.  The "life is tweet" flower embellishment on this page was cut from Colonial White cardstock, stamped, and adhered with pop dots.  The title letters were also cut using Cricut Art Philosophy.
 

I used the border stamp to create a frame around the page and stamped the birds in second generation* black in an attempt to make them look like seagulls.  My husband says seagulls are not gray.
I disagree :-)





*Second generation stamping: Fully ink your stamp.  Stamp off onto a scrap paper first. Without re-inking, stamp onto your project.  This creates an image with a lighter shade of the color.



Featured products:
June 2012 Stamp of the Month - "Life is Tweet" - Available June 1 - June 30 2012
"Dotty for You" paper - Available through May 31, 2012 for $5.00 when you spend $35
Cricut Art Philosophy 

I also made some fun cards using "Life is Tweet".

I stamped the balloons in a variety of rainbow colors, cut them out and used them as a simple border on a plain white card with rounded corners.  Inside says "Celebrate". (ink colors: Tulip, Goldrush, Buttercup, Olive, Pacifica, Smoky Plum)

The second card uses a scrap of Mayberry paper and Honey cardstock as the mat.  The bird is stamped in Goldrush on Honey cardstock and is cut out and adhered to the card front over the legs which are stamped separately in black. The bird's eye is accented with black marker.  Inside I have plans to include a small yellow feather and the words "I've made sure he won't be telling anyone else."  (tee hee)

Featured products:
June 2012 Stamp of the Month - "Life is Tweet" - Available June 1 - June 30 2012

National Scrapbooking Day 2012

This has been a fun and busy weekend.  Yesterday I participated in the Creative Crop at Big Picture Classes in celebration of National Scrapbooking Day.  There were video chats and 12 great challenges. Here's a sample of a few of the pages that I made.  It will be a long time before I get this many pages done in one weekend again.

The challenge was to "grab a photo from a few years back and a photo from today and tell a story about the way things are different or the same."

 

The challenge was to "scrapbook a favorite memory from your childhood."

This is me at age 2 helping my Nana water the flowers. 

The challenge was to "Add a mini flag to your layout."

The challenge was to "Use a pocket on your layout."

Photo and ticket stub are in an envelope pocket. Go Phillies!

The challenge was to "Feature a photo with a fanciful frame."

I had lots of fun using my Cricut on this one.

The challenge was to "Use iPhone photos".

I created embellishment flowers to mimic the ones in the background paper.

The challenge was to "Use a twine technique on your layout."

The tassel on the mortar board is my twine technique on this page.

(I still need to finish the journaling on this one.)

The challenge was to "Use photos and/or page accents to create a page that talks about
reflection, literally or figuratively."

The journaling says "The reflective glass in the karate studio is a natural place to capture the true emotions of the day whether it's boredom or disappointment."