Posts

Showing posts from October, 2012

Capture the Date with November's Stamp of the Month!

Image
Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!   This month we are featuring Capture The Date , a set of 72 stamps.   If you have come here from Helen Onulak's  Blog you are on the right path!   The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way around.    If you get lost along the way, you'll find the complete list of participating consultant's HERE   We have over 60 consultants participating in the hop. Following the hop is easy, just click on the link at the end of the post and it will hop you right over to the next blog! Wow!  Another month gone by and here we are looking forward to Thanksgiving!  Where has all the time gone? With November's Capture the Date , you have the perfect set to make note of that special date you want to remember! ***IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!***  To show our support of Red Cross relief efforts for those areas of the US  severely affected  by Hurricane Sandy,  Close To My Heart will donate $1 for every S

Christmas for Merry Monday

Image
I really liked my card I created yesterday with the Perfect Fit - Frames stamp set so I used it for my 2nd card.  This time I used the sketch from the Merry Monday Challenge .  This challenge has great sketches.  If you check this one out every Monday all year long, by November you'll have plenty of Christmas cards to send!  I'm a little late discovering Merry Monday, but I've added them to my weekly 'Favorite Challenges' list. Here is the sketch: Here is my card: For this card I used mostly cardstock and a piece of pattern paper from the Pear & Partridge paper pack (X7162B) .  I LOVE the striped frame from the Perfect Fit - Frames set (D1527) .  I stamped the frame with Olive ink onto Colonial White cardstock and used the coordinating stamp set Perfect Fit - Holidays (B1412) for the center of my frame.  The frame was cut with the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge (X1686) .   The measurement and page number to find the key that cuts the shape are listed

Warmest Wishes for Paper Players

Image
I was so excited last night because I finally had a chance to sit down and work on some cards for a couple of challenge blogs!  It's nearly November and I'm a little behind on making Christmas Cards.   I love this sketch for The Paper Players  challenge this week.                                                              I used their sketch for this card I made last night. Close To My Heart's  Pear and Partridge paper (X7162B)  makes a great backdrop for this card.  I pulled out my  Perfect Fit - Frames (D1527)  which I have been dying to use!   This set goes coordinates great with 2 other stamps -  Perfect Fit - Holidays (B1412)  and  Perfect Fit - Halloween (B1413) .  The little 1 1/4" circles and sentiments nest inside the frames.  I used Perfect Fit - Holidays for the center of my frame.   I cut the frame with my Art Philosophy cricut cartridge so the stamped imaged fits perfectly! Here is a closer view of my frame. I stamped the frame with Ol

Masking Technique and Mystery Hostess Party

Image
CHECK OUT THE LATEST TUESDAY EPISODE OF CLEARLY THE BEST! Also make sure the see the details for my Mystery Hostess Party!  You could be a lucky winner of $20 in FREE Product! I just love watching the "How To" videos on My Craft Channel! This week's video was about the Masking Technique.  This is so simple to do and really makes for great finished artwork!  I especially love how they created the last layout they show.  Watch the video now. This week Clearly the Best and My Craft Channel are giving away the My Acrylix Set - Words of Comfort.  I LOVE this set and have already used it several times.  You still have a chance to win!  Go to My Craft Channel Blog (HERE) .  Scroll down to find the Close To My Heart Give Away and follow the instructions for entering!! Now a special announcement from me!!    I'm having a Mystery Hostess Party!   No need to dress up, fix up or even get out of your your house!  You can shop in the comfort of your own

More Birthday with Dakota

Image
Here is another Birthday Card I made with the Dakota Paper pack.  I used the Pal's Paper Arts sketch for this card.  When I saw the sketch I saw burlap immediately. Are you surprised?  (BTW, I did order more burlap yesterday - My roll of burlap is getting so small, thank goodness I will get more before it's all gone!) Card Recipe 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 White Daisy Card Dakota Paper Pack (X7157B) Sentiment - Casual Expressions (D1525) Frame - Frame It Up (D1524) Burlap (Z1760) Durables Round Studs (Z1706) Artiste Cricut Cartridge (Z1790) (Oval Shape) Here is the sketch I used.

Merry Christmas for H2H

Image
This card was inspired by a card I saw in the new Paper Craft's Holiday Cards & More issue that recently hit the shelves.  I look forward to this issue each year and couldn't wait to get my hands on my own copy.   As soon as I saw the card created by Kimberly Crawford on page 27 of the magazine, I knew I had to lift it and put my own spin on it.  You can see Kimberly's card on her blog  HERE . Here is my take on the card: There is that wonderful burlap which I love so much!  The burlap is probably the first thing that drew me to the card. The textured paper I used for my card is from the  Scholastic (X7159B)  paper pack which looks great with burlap.  Kimberly used felt for her poinsettia. I used the Artiste Cricut Cartridge (Z1790)  to create mine.  I cut three different sizes using the <Merry Christmas> Accent 1 key.  I creased the center of each petal and bent it just a bit for more dimension   In the center of the poinsettia are three small bling gems

A Dakota Birthday Wish

Image
Two posts in one day!  Not usual for me - I like to spread them out but I wanted to get this card posted to the Freshly Made Sketches challenge before the challenge closed.   When I saw this sketch I didn't have to think too long about what I wanted to do or what paper to use.   It immediately shouted out DAKOTA and BURLAP!  Any chance to use burlap on a project is a PLUS for me!  2nd note to self - order more Burlap!  I still have plenty but I always have that fear I'll run out before I get more - it's comforting to me to know I have enough backup on hand. So, I pulled out my Dakota paper pack (X7157B)  and Burlap and went to work.  My Dad's birthday is coming up soon and I thought the colors of the Dakota paper (Barn Red, Outdoor Denim and Whisper) would make a nice 'manly' card. Here is what I came up with:   I used the Artiste Cricut cartridge (Z1790) to cut the star and the paisley round shape. The paisley shape is glued to a coordinating dime

Friday Mash-up Meets Color Throwdown

Image
Hello there! I got home from my annual MAD trip on Wednesday. After getting the 'mundane' house things accomplished (and catching up on sleep!), I finally had time to play along with some challenges! Armed with a list of challenges I had printed out, I went to work.   This week's Color Throwdown color drew me in right away because they had some colors from my FAVORITE paper pack - Flirty (X7160B) .  Note to self - Purchase another pack of this beautiful paper!!  I combined these colors with a sketch from Friday Mash-up for this card. I added Pear cardstock to Flirty's color's of Goldrush and Flirty Raspberry.  A great combination!   I used the new Artiste Cricut Cartridge for the banner, balloons and star.   The Artiste collection includes a stamp set that perfectly matches all three!  The banner is just the size for the Dimensional Elements - Banners that are ALSO included in the Artiste collection.   I used the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge to make

SPOOKY Treats for Halloween!

Image
Happy Saturday!   Here are a couple of more treat ideas using Close To My Heart's new Artiste Cricut Cartridge!   The little treat bag on the left was a snap to make!  So quick and easy.  The finished size of this treat bag measures 4 1/2".  Using the <Halloween> 3-D Object key, I set the measurement to cut at 4 1/2".  To cut the eyes, I used <Halloween> 3-D Object and "SHIFT KEY" keeping the 4 1/2 measurement set on the dial.  (Do Not select "Real Dial Size").  The Artiste cartridge will cut the eyes in proportion to your bag size.  I added some Black Button Brads to the eyes.   My stamped medallion is from from Perfect Fit - Halloween (B1413) and I used some bitty black sparkles from the Sparkles Black and Grey Assortment (Z1754) .  The shimmery ribbon is from the Silver Shimmer Trim (Z1799). To the right of my treat bag is a cupcake treat!  Ok - if you look really close you will see it is a rolled up sock trying to act lik

Boo From the Crew! - Halloween Card

Image
Here is another fun Halloween card using the Creepy Creatures Stamp set!   For this card, I cut a doily from the Artiste Cricut Cartridge <1> Accent 3 and layered it behind Sweet Leaf Cardstock stamped with a border of bats and stars.  I stamped two ghosts and layered one on top of the other by using the Adhesive Springs (Z1725).  Here is a close up: How fun!  The ghost jiggles!  The ribbon across the front of the card is our Silver Shimmer Trim (Z1799).   This ribbon is adhesive backed and so easy to apply! Creepy Creatures Stamp (C1522):

Fangs for the Memories

Image
Hello!  I'm away on my annual MAD trip so I've schedule a few posts to keep you company while I'm gone!    MAD stands for Mother and Daughters.   Each year my mom, three sisters and I take a break from work, families and our busy lives we lead to spend a few days together doing something fun.   This is our 11th year for this trip. I'll have lots to tell when I get back but for now, here is a Halloween card to share! I love this cute little Creepy Creature Stamp (C1522)  set!  I cut the spider web border using the Artiste Cricut cartridge <Spooky> Accent 4 key.  I used an embossing tool to make my lines in the Slate Cardstock and sanded them to bring out the white core.  Next I strung the black hemp randomly around the piece of Slate Cardstock.   The little black skulls are from the Haunted Assortment (Z1741) . Thanks for stopping by!  Stay tuned, I have more cards to share with this set! Creepy Creatures Stamp Set:

Creepy Coffin and Bat Treats!

Image
Halloween is just around the corner! Everyone is planning their parties and digging out their Halloween decorations.  Use Close To My Heart's new Artiste Cricut Cartridge to make a fun coffin filled with treats for your next Halloween Party!   I made this coffin for my Extravaganza display at convention back in July.  This finished coffin measures 7.5".  I cut the top and bottom from one 12x12 sheet of Slate Cardstock.  I used the <Eek> and <Halloween> keys to cut  the spiderweb, spider and the word "Spooky" using the Artiste Cartridge also.   I cut "Spooky" from Black and Smokey Plum cardstocks (both at same measurement) then layered and offset them just a bit so that the Smokey Plum showed from underneath.   I used skull brads at each corner of the coffin lid.  The brads and epoxy gem (on top of the spider's back) are from the Enchantment Assortment. Here's a great Party Favor idea! - Cut the finished size down to 5&quo

A Grateful Heart - Fall Card

Image
I do believe Fall is finally here!  I leave for work very early and lately it is still dark when I leave the house and quite chilly.  As I was driving home yesterday, I really noticed that the leaves on the trees were beginning to change.  I love watching the trees change color.  Everyday it seems a little more vibrant. One of my new stamps has leaves on it and I've played with a few times. But this time I wanted to try a clean & simple card to accent the leaves.  I left out all my pattern paper (and not using my Flirty paper pack was hard to do!).   I used White Daisy Cardstock for my base and added the cut out leaves I stamped with Autumn Terracotta and Olive inks. Of course - what is a Fall Card without a little Burlap Ribbon (Z1760)!  I added Twine from our  Harvest Assortment (Z1751).   The sentiment  "A Grateful Heart"  is from the stamp set Abundance (D1519) . Stamps Used: Fall Harvest C1504