Little Gift-card Purse

Someone from CTMH posted a purse a while back, and I've wanted to make one ever since. This will be for a gift card my grandson will give his teacher for Christmas. She likes purple, so I've used the CTMH Sonoma paper. Using the AP cartridge, I cut the purse, and then as several other CTMH crafters have suggested, I cut off the handles and replaced them with ribbon. I used a Nestabilities label for the purse flap, and it's held with a flat magnet disk.

I wish I could remember who made the purse...but thank you for a cool idea!

Snowman Soup

Silent Auction for the school scholarship this week, and I have made some quick sale items. They look cute all together. The big baskets donated by staff were wrapped today by my National Honor Society members and the students did a fabulous job. Even the guys got involved and enjoyed the bow competition the girls started. They are really such fine young people...I am very blessed to be at this school. Each hallway selected a theme (Teddy Bear, Family Night, Pasta Night, Welcome Baby, Holiday Baking, etc.), and staff members brought in an item to match their theme. NHS will monitor the tables during conferences. Hope we will make lots and have a big scholarship to award in June!

Snow Angel for D2D and JUGS112

(click photo for a larger view)

This sweet little 3X3" card and envelope set is for two challenges this week. The Just Us Girls challenge is 3D/template - make cards and a matching holder. This box was cut from Olive card stock on my Cricut at 7 1/2" using the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge. It holds six 3X3" cards and envelopes. I ran the bottom portion of the card fronts through the Cuttlebug with a Swiss Dots folder. The designed paper is from CTMH Everlasting Creative Basics (retired).

The image is a very darling stitched snow angel from Designed to Delight. Their Saturday Design challenge is SNOWMEN.

Pinecones

For years I have collected pine cones. I have dozens, and display them each year with fresh pine and cedar arranged around bisque Santas my mother painted. What a fun surprise to see a tutorial here for making paper pine cones for my cards! They are easy and another absolutely clever way to use that beloved scallop punch.

Punches and Dies

Sweet Stampin'Challenge is to use punches and dies. Nothing sweeter than the Close To My Heart Art Philosophy cartridge with matching stamps! For this card I cut two shapes at 1 3/4" from Colonial White card stock. Stamped one with New England Ivy ink, the other with Chocolate ink, and cut away the striped portions. (CTMH stamp: December 25th set, C1469) The New England Ivy card stock was scored and sanded. For the label behind I used Nestabilities (Labels One), and stamped the Colonial White piece with Cranberry ink. The Chocolate ribbon was pulled through holes punch at either end of the label.

Anything Goes D2D

Delightful Inspirations at Designed 2 Delight. I just love the detail in this poinsettia. I printed the digital image several times on green and red CTMH papers from the Mistletoe collection (retired). I cut them out and layered them, curling the flowers a bit. I used a white gel pen to make the centers.

Welcome Baby!

Baby cards seem to be in demand this month for family, friends, and colleagues at school. I have used Sketch #142, Card Patterns. Though after I put them together, I realized the sketch has the ribbon more to the left. Mine are OK, but they would have been more balanced if I followed directions!

These two cards use retired CTMH papers (Key to My Heart and Paisley). The baby is from an old SU! wood set; lace and ribbon from the local craft store, crystals and pearls from CTMH. The inside sentiment reads 'precious little BABY'

Love Art Philosophy cartridge!

I decided to be brave and try using my Cricut on designed paper instead of card stock as I've seen other talented people do. Wow! It was perfect. I have so many beautiful pieces of paper left from retired CTMH collections, and now I can create quick, easy gift projects using them.

These little gift bags were a perfect fit for this week's 'Student of the Week' awards. So many kids at school are showing up with coughs and colds as the weather changes to windy and cold.

Next I'm going to attack the stack of Christmas paper scraps I have, and try out some other shaped boxes that are on the CTMH cartridge.

Christmas Card Flip

Really like the new CTMH papers - they have designs on both sides of the card stock. Take a sketch and you can make two very different looks with the same measurements. The 2 1/4" X 5 1/2" pieces on the card front are simply flipped over. I did change the color of the mat from Holiday Red to Topiary. A quick card, and could be made without the button for flatter mailing.

CTMH: Believe, X7145B

Wedding Decoration

One of my workshop stampers wanted a pennant to tie on the chairs of the bride and groom at her son's wedding reception. This is what we made using CTMH Art&Philosophy cartridge for letters (cut @ 31/4"), and bling and pearls. I made the flower using directions from Brenda - wet and crumple white daisy scallop circles, plaint with Create a Shade Pearl paint, and I used liquid glass to attach lots of little pearls to a large flat brad for the center of the flower. I free hand drew and cut the little bow tie. The ribbon is black with black polka dots - very elegant. I am so pleased with how they turned out and can't wait for her to come pick them up tomorrow!

Honor All Veterans

Thank you to all the men and women who have served our nation, and to those who are now giving so much for us all.

So Grateful

This card uses a new stamp from Close To My Heart. It's only $9.95! So Grateful, B13395.
I cut the tag using Colonial White paper with the Art & Philosophy cartridge for my Cricut. Papers are from retired collections...I really loved the textured papers, and am glad I purchased them before they were retired. This card is one we will make at my card workshop this afternoon. The inside reads "Plant smiles, Grow laughs, Harvest Love" from the Treasure Life set, D1306 (one of my all-time favorites).

Read...Explore Bookmark

Today I am going to do a craft make'n'take at the library! The Friends of Bonney Lake Library sponsor an event each month and asked me if I would like to do something for November. So today they will make a fall card and this bookmark. It's such an easy yet unique design. I made this one using a 3 1/2" square of CTMH Elemental paper. Fold down two corners and decorate. There is a card stock triangle glued on the back over the folds to keep it sturdy. To use, just tuck your page into the pocket. Hope they enjoy making this, and that I might find some new people interested in joining my monthly card workshops.

Birthday Kitty

I experimented with using odorless mineral spirits with my Prisma pencils. You place the printed image on a towel or paper towels and pour over a teaspoon or so of spirits. While the image is damp you can color and shade. Wow! It makes the paper smooth as silk and the pencils apply almost like markers. It dries within 20 minutes or so, and if you get impatient, the heat gun speeds up the process. I really love coloring, but can't afford Copics yet. So I believe this will be my 'poor man's' version :)

Bugaboo image, $1 bin sentiment, stash ribbon, silver embossing powder,a tiny bling for the flower center, sliver brads, and a square off a 4"x4" textured pad of colors I bought years ago.

Sometimes it's fun thinking of ways to use up what you have!

Happy crafting!

Season's Change

One of my all time favorite sentiments from Close To My Heart! Someone on Less Is More posted a card that used SU! watercolor crayons on watercolor paper. The technique was to draw stripes and then rub over with a wet sponge. My attempt here wasn't anything like their lovely paper...but it was fun and when I get more watercolor paper, I will certainly try again. I matted it with Chocolate card stock, used a Kraft card base, and using CTMH liquid glass, attached several leaves from a HUGE bag I purchased last year from the local craft store....Do you pick up things with wonderful ideas swirling in your mind, and then just stash the items away? I have far too many things like that. Sigh. My dream is of days that require nothing but crafting and using up 'the stash' :>)

Boo Boo

Totally simple today. Less is More challenge this week is polka dots. I'm going to see if this flies!! A student broke her finger over the weekend, and I wanted to make a quick card for her. Picked up this little stamp at Ms** out of the $1 bin. All things come together for good :-)

It's a small white 4 bar card; I stamped the image again on CTMH Creme Brulee card stock and cut out the band aid and popped it up with some foam tape. I added the little red heart.

More Captured Moments

This card used another image from the Captured Moments set. I stamped it with Chocolate ink on Colonial White card stock, matted with Chocolate, and mounted on a Kraft card base. The color on the image is chalk. Inside I have a Colonial White piece with a border of leaves stamped along the bottom using Sunset and Autumn Terracotta inks.

Captured Moments

A card made from CTMH stamp set Captured Moments (C1423). The Halloween card uses paper from the CTMH Mischief collection (X7144B). Inside I have stamped the cat from August stamp of the month set, Wicked, and the sentiment 'Boo to You.' The card seems a little plain - could use some embellishments. Sometimes I have trouble with this because many of my cards go in a Donations display at my hair salon, (Last year gals contributed over $175 for American Cancer Society) and they don't take cards with 'bumps.' I've noticed during the two years I've done this that they leave behind those cards that will be troublesome to mail. Hence the plain version.

Put your best foot forward

Last year Bugaboo Stamps had this delightful image of witch legs and shoes. I colored them and somehow they never were made up into cards. The buckles have glitter. I think they are so cute, and the new CTMH Halloween stamp provided a perfect sentiment. The sketch is from Lily Pad's current challenge.

Northwest rainy day....perfect for enjoying my craft room.

A Guy Card

It is more difficult to make cards for men...this one worked because of the rich colors of the Mischief paper from Close To My Heart. The tag and mat were made using the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge in the Cricut and stamps from the September Stamp of the Month. The birthday sentiment was from one of the coordinating stamp sets included in the AP package.

Thanks a Bunch!

So many things to be thankful for lately. Students, family, grandsons, colleagues, friends...and crafting. It feels like there is never enough time to get in my craft room. So the week before my 'card club' ladies come each month is wonderful. I have to create five things for them, and so I can justify my hours having fun.

This card was such a breeze because I could load a 12" X 12" into my new Cricut and select fill the page! The new Close To My Heart cartridge (Art Philosophy) comes with coordinating stamps. It can't get easier!! I used the 2" leaf cut in Bamboo, Mayberry paper, Kraft card stock cut at 9 1/2" x 5 1/2'"scored at 2", 5 1/4". I used Honey and Smoothie inks for the leaves and sentiment, with a little piece of chocolate backing the sentiment; a small wooden button tied with waxy flax for embellishment.

Birthday Girl

A dear friend asked if I would make 35 invitations for her birthday celebration. We got together and designed and this is the finished card. It is a tall-skinny (3.5" X 8"). I used CTMH White Daisy, Lagoon, Black and Wings papers, ribbon from stash, and the Cricut to make all the tags. The sentiment on the front was done on the computer, the tag sentiment is from the new stamps that match the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge shapes. I just finished all 35...whew! I have two more big projects for gatherings this month.

Our strike is over, thank goodness, and it worked out well. Sometimes civil disobedience is the only option. It has been good to get back in the classroom.

CASE

This is a card that can be seen on page 17 on the Autumn/Winter CTMH Idea Book. The paper used is the new Typeset collection. I am loving the new cards with the cut front. It has been a crazy week - my district is on strike. Being an active union member now means something else again. In 22 years I've never been in this position. We will stand strong. Just hoping it will be settled quickly. Tomorrow will be day 4. So forgive me for not creating - just enough energy to enjoy crafting and my peaceful room.

Welcome

Another card made with CTMH new Elemental paper packet and the cutest new product- Journaling spots. They come in a packet of 12, two of each color. So fun to tags, journaling, gift card enclosure, book marks....The stamp set is new also, Zoology, and Typeset for the sentiment inside.

The design is a version of the card on page 30 in the CTMH Autumn/Winter catalogue.

Remembrance and Thanks

Watching the documentaries has been both uplifting and heart-wrenching. As we remember those lost and pray for comfort for their friends and families, we also say thanks to the first responders, the police, fire fighters, EMTs and doctors who did so much that day.

This image is free today at Catch the Bug. I rotated the Card Patterns sketch for this week.

Happy Day...I got to craft today!

It has been such a long time...I have missed crafting in the uproar that is the start of school. This year has been a bit more troublesome because my district wasn't able to negotiate a contract. As a building union representative, I have been very busy organizing support for the negotiating team. We went back to work without the contract, but this Monday will take a strike vote since there has been no movement on the part of district administration. So sad. I LOVE my new classes and students, but a strike may be what we must do to be sure we maintain quality education for them.

Meanwhile, I have designed this set for my stamping workshop tomorrow. I used my brand new toy (Cricut!!!) for the bag. Close To My Heart has a fabulous cartridge for Cricut now, and it comes with coordinating stamps. Many of the new stamp sets in the current catalog match the cutting images on this cartridge as well. I have never used a Cricut before, and was surprised at how simple and quick it was. The bag and patterned paper for the cards all cut from one sheet of 12" X 12". The half circle on the thanks card is from the handle of the bag. It's a cute little gift bag, and I will put some miniature chocolate bars inside, too.

Products used: CTMH Elemental paper, Kraft, Pacifica, Sorbet, and Colonial White card stock; Blue Ribbon stamp set; Sorbet and Pacifica inks; crimper; brads + ribbons.

Thanks and a Bugaboo Challenge

Thank you so much to Brenda for the kind award!! Brenda's talent has inspired me, and her encouragement and support of my paper crafting has been so uplifting. Such is the admiration of her followers, I have gained four new followers upon her recommendation of my blog. I will try to live up to her faith in me! Thank you so much, Brenda, and welcome new friends.

This is my last true day of summer break...tomorrow I begin classroom preparations and two more days of training before our students arrive on Thursday. So I have been busy creating today, and will share them through the week. First up is a fun digital image from Bugaboo stamps. Their challenge this week was "warm colors and paper piecing" - so I have used some CTMH papers in Sunflower, Hollyhock, Sunset and Black. The sentiment is from Wicked, the CTMH August stamp of the month. My friends from the east coast (Massachusetts ) will get the extra meaning...'wicked' is like saying awesome/great. So have a wicked day everyone!

D2D Flowers - a tiny bit of summer left...

Got to love the Internet....when it works. Mine has been off for a week! It's been very difficult trying to get repairs. Hopefully, it will stay fixed this time. During the week my brand new Close to My Heart products arrived and I have begun playing with those and should have some things to share soon.

This week's digital image from Designed to Delight was so easy to work with, and lends itself to clean & simple. I made several cards and they all looked great. Check them out and enjoy!

These use CTMH card stocks: New England Ivy, Goldrush, Black, and Sweet Leaf. I printed the image on 120 weight watercolor paper. On the top card, I used opaque pearls for the centers of the flowers - I was hoping for a sunflower look.

Back and ready to play! D2D and MoJo Monday

The trip to Japan was incredible! I even found a few craft stores there...more on that later.

I did miss the weekly digital image at Designed 2 Delight, and was happy to buy in this week with a pretty stitched pumpkin. The images are free if you make/post a card each week. I used the MojoMonday sketch for this week as well. I printed the D2D pumpkin and border design and paper pieced them. All other supplies Close To My Heart. papers: Lucky and Felicity collections, pewter embellishments and wood button.

The craft room is piled high with ideas, and new products from Close To My Heart arrive this afternoon! So much to play with....but school will begin soon. So I must divide my time between preparing for classes and crafting. And grandchildren :>)

Going away for 27 days...

(click the image for a larger view)

Time has come for my biggest travel experience - Japan! So I won't be posting here for a while. I return Aug 8th. I thought this card had the perfect sentiment for this post. I found it at the Impress store and fell in love. The little dog is from a CTMH set, I drew in the leash and put some bling on the collar.

'See' you in August.

Just because I love Bella

Inspired by Connie's flowers, I made this card. If you want to make your own flowers, you really must check out her blog and Brenda's for the most wonderful ideas AND excellent tutorials/directions.
I used Just Blooms for the larger flower, but made the purple center with CTMH Bella paper. I folded a 1" x 12" strip in half (following Connie's directions) and only needed 10" for the flower. The small piece was sitting on my table and I just used it on the card. I made the leaves by running a folded piece of Garden Green card stock through the crimper at an angle and then cutting the leaves. I brushed some Olive ink along the edges to add some dimension/contrast.

D2D Strawberries

Designed 2 Delight digi challenge this week is a summery image of strawberries. Our Northwest summer has been so slow in arriving, we are just now harvesting these glorious berries. Yummy!

The sentiment is from a retired CTMH set called Summer Sweetness. I have used Colonial White, Tulip, and New England Ivy card stocks, and the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder.

Wacky Wednesday #9

Over at Catch the Bug and PCP there is a challenge every Wednesday...yes, I know it is Friday but I'm still catching up! This week it was a sketch. I had fun pairing this Bugaboo image and Zippidee CTMH papers. The colors used are CTMH Indian Corn Blue, Cranberry, and Honey.