Sunday, December 9, 2012

Winter Birthday


 
This card was inspired by one in the most recent edition of Paper Craft magazine.  Their card had a spectacular sled...which I didn't have.  But I loved the colors and so here is my version.  All CTMH products used - even though lots of it has been retired- except for the print piece which is just a page from an old book that I cut with Cricut.  I cut the little mittens also using the CTMH Artiste cartridge.  It's a fun, light-hearted card. Makes me smile...until I remember it is Sunday night and I haven't looked at my homework this weekend. 

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Christmas Workshop...continued

Click for close up

This is today's work - both a new and a change up.  I did like yesterdays branches, but wanted to give it a little punch, so I added a few red glitter berries.  It helps I think.  Then, there are ladies who do not need Christmas cards. They will make the black matted version with either the Happy New Year or another sentiment. I have both a Happy Birthday and a Sympathy sentiment that fit in the same spot.  They will choose their own. I'm just loving the sparkly on those branches! Just realized they might work for CASology challenge "#22 - Sparkle" this week.

The Christmas card below uses CTMH Partridge and a Pear Tree paper, a Cuttlebug embossing folder, Custom Crafts stamp from Michael's, CTMH Colonial White, Cranberry and New England Ivy card stocks. 

After a hectic school week, it feels marvelous to be crafting.  My house isn't cleaned or decorated, I've not finished shopping/ mailing gifts, or finished assembling what I need for my big trip...but I am in my happy place with paper + inks!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Simple Christmas


This card was inspired by one I saw - I have searched all my usual blogs, but cannot locate it again. 
The branch and sentiment are from CTMH Workshop On the Go, Partridge and a Pear Tree.  I stamped and matted with Cocoa, sponged with Twilight and Sky inks, traced the branches with Liquid Applique and dosed the whole with MS* crystals.  It really is more sparkly in real life, and I love all the white space. I think my stamping group will like making this on the weekend.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Scholarship Auction Items


Made some fun little items for the "Buy Now" table.  My school will have a silent auction to raise funds for scholarships.  Staff members contribute items, my Honor Society students will wrap them all beautifully in clear wrap and bows. Last year we gathered more than $1200.  Later in the year, staff nominate and vote for a senior to receive the funds.  I've made a dozen Snowman Soup mugs, lots of cute candy snowmen, some cards sets, and then will add these as well.

Love the easel holder for post-it notes.  The directions were for something a bit more elaborate, but I streamlined for quick and simple.  Makes a cute, and useful, stocking stuffer.
 

Monday, November 26, 2012

Quilting with Paper

CLICK on any photo for a more detailed view.



A few years ago I was addicted to making quilt cards...it is really fun to piece tiny scraps of paper!
They have been appearing on blogs again with a beautiful new twist-- running the pieced panel through an embossing folder. Voila! It appears to have been quilted.  So...I am off the wagon and paper quilting again.  Needing to create some Christmas cards for my group though, so I just love the simple Slate, White, and Ruby Red card with CTMH's luscious satin dotted ribbon.  My favorite is the one with the tag...DH and MIL like the one with bow.  What do you think?





 

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Snowman Scott from A Day for Daisies



This darling little snowman is a digital.  A Day for Daisies has some lovely new digis, and they offered this little man free if you design and post a project using the image.  I colored with CTMH Crystal and Desert Sand, embossed the panel with Cuttlebug Snowflakes folder, and added some MS* glitter. Crystal and Kraft card stock are CTMH. The snowflake panel and the image are both popped a bit with foam tape.  I just love this image and the sparkle.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Chevron CASE



The craft room is now cleaned and somewhat organized.  Hoping this will mean a return of the creative mojo....Meanwhile, the first thing I made was a CASE of a fellow CTMH consultant's card here.  Dorothy's chevron card is so cool! I like the idea of being able to have some dimension and still flat for mailing.  It was easy to follow her directions (five 1 1/2" X 1/2" strips).  My card uses CTMH Elemental paper (retired), Cranberry, Olive and New England Ivy card stocks.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving!


It has been very busy here...the downstairs bathroom is in the middle of a total remodel. Vanity and tile stacked in dining room...new toilet, faucets, cabinets in living room...
So we are taking Thanksgiving dinner to my son's house in Seattle.  He is cooking his first ever turkey!  I have been baking and preparing all the other dishes to take along tomorrow.  We'll meet up there with mother-in-law, sister-in-law, dad, other son and his wife and my two grandsons.
I saw this darling turkey here - you really should go see. Her blog is fabulous, and she gives step-by-step instructions.  Mine just needed more inking perhaps - and most certainly, better photography!  It looks much better in real life alongside my little paper pumpkins. 
The pie on the left is a layered pumpkin and the other is apple-cranberry. 
Wishing my blog friends a very blessed Thanksgiving!
It is my favorite of the holidays.  Such a wonderful day to be grateful for the gifts of family and friends, a warm home and shared foods.
 

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Flirty X 2

Both cards follow Pattern #21 in the Make It From Your Heart  book, and both were made with the Flirty paper pack.   Love those patterns - quick, easy cards with cutting dimensions supplied.

 

Monday, November 12, 2012

Christmas Advent Calendar

Close To My Heart has these marvelous cubby boxes, and though they offer a kit for putting one together, I went on my own and used some CTMH consultants for inspiration.  Each compartment holds a 2 1/2 X 2 1/2" box cut using the Artiste Cricut cartridge.  The fronts are decorated with a mixture of Cricut cuts, dimensional stickers, stamped images, punches and dies.  My stamping friends worked all afternoon putting theirs together.  Really a labor of love! Mine will go to grandson's - now I am collecting things to put inside each day. 
Nicole's calendar is below.  She used three colors for her boxes, and I love how the blue looks!
 

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Autumn Blessings


The leaves are red and orange and yellow on the maples that line my street.  The wind is blowing and the air is crisp.  Autumn has most certainly arrived in Western Washington.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I send almost as many Thanksgiving cards as Christmas cards.   Here's a Thanksgiving card we will make tomorrow at my home workshop.  I stamped in Creme Brulee, then used ink daubers of Autumn Terracotta and Cranberry. The sentiment was inked with CTMH's new  Saddle. I added a few sparkles.  The card stocks are Colonial White and Saddle.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Pumpkin

Well, I may be back...at least this week. It has been a harrowing school start due to a variety of issues- new eSchool program for attendance and grades, last minutes schedule changes involving me teaching a new-to-me course in addition to my two expected courses, new students entering every day (even this week in the 8th week of instruction!), an advisor position for a second club that is fundraising for a big trip to national conference in January, and many new union issues.  It means I haven't been able to craft or read for months :-(
But next weekend I am having a card/project workshop and am so happy for the excuse to create.  This little project isn't all that new - I've seen things like this around the blogs. But it is so easy and cute. 
  •  cut 10 strips of Autumn Terracotta at 1", stamp them in the same color ink, brush the edges with that ink also
  • stack the strips, and a 6" x 1/4" strip of green,  punch a small hole at each end, and secure with a brad
  • stamp leaves and cut out
  • dry emboss a small strip of Chocolate CS, sand and roll it, cut about a 1/2" slit in three spots and spread out the cut 'tabs'
  • glue dot the stem tabs to the pumpkin, glue dot the leaves to cover those stem tabs
  • tie a 16" length of raffia in a bow and split the bows and ends
  • cut the 1/4" green strip down the middle until you get close to the top (don't cut all the way) and roll up to create the vine
  • insert small battery candle

Just seeing falls colors and the beautiful trees has been a sweet part of this week.  Time for pumpkin pie, baked apples...Make some time to enjoy it.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Monogram Card Set


This set was made for my sister-in-law's birthday next month.  I wanted to keep things simple and flat for mailing.  The Monogram stamp is a fabulous bargain in the new Close To My Heart Idea Book at only $2.95!  I have several others to create personal card sets.  The new Slate paper will not photograph the color accurately...this looks tan/brown and the blue paper not color-correct either  :-(   In real-life all 12 cards are Slate on the fold and patterned paper on the right from both Stella and Avonlea collections.   The frame was stamped with Grey Flannel (retired CTMH color), and I added small pearl embellishments. I used the CTMH White Daisy card bases and envelopes. The band was cut at 12" X 2 1/2" and scored to have 3/4" depth.  All 12 cards with envelopes fit nicely inside.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Heart 2 Heart Color and Tuesday Sketch #80


A Thank you card.  {sigh}   I am not very thankful that summer is nearly over.   The sun has stopped coming around until noon now in my shady yard.  And I've had to begin the setting of the alarm... About half of my back-to-school treats are made, so I will still have an excuse to spend time in my craft room!  But the classroom calls.  The start of the year anticipation has always been dreadful, but actual school I do love. 
Heart 2 Heart has a color challenge this week - Lagoon, Pear, and Sunset - which you see above.  I used the long-ago Key to My Heart set for flourishes, and a brand new set for the sentiment, Paradise flower assortment and the Sunset mini-accessory pack for brad and ribbon. 
The sketch is from Try Stampin on Tuesday blog.  Now I realize I need more stamps with flourishes!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Avonlea Cards



         
 Two cards made with Close To My Heart Avonlea paper collection.  For the top card, I used pattern #27 from the new 'Make It From Your Heart' publication.  This book has 18 patterns (including cutting measurements) for scrapbook layouts and 12 for cards.  It is available in the new Idea Book. The sets used for this card are Beautiful Friendship and Universal Backgrounds, stamped with Chocolate and Slate inks, and an opaque pearl. 
            The second card features Avonlea paper mounted on a White Daisy die-cut card base. The sentiment stamp is from the Artiste collection placed on a rosette made from Twilight card stock and CTMH Color Ready ribbon sponged with Twilight ink. Simple, but that lovely paper does all the work!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Dakota Versatility

Almost did not buy this new Close To My Heart paper thinking the colors were too dark...then I saw the jeans pocket stamp next to it in the new Idea Book.  Years ago CTMH had a pocket set and I regretted not buying it for years!   I have made several versions of my hankie-in-the-pocket card now and just love the stamp and the paper.  These cards show how versatile the paper pack is, and that you can get some very different looks with shape, color, and embellishments.  We made all three at my workshop yesterday.

Card, flowers, and sentiment cut with CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge
The round card was cut from
Sky card stock, the mat for the Dakota paper was cut from Pacifica card stock. The ribbon is from CTMH Blue collection. Barn Red ink used for the sentiment.



















For this card I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder, matted the Dakota paper with some Whisper card stock. The sentiment was stamped with Indian Corn Blue. The paper color is a very pretty blue...my camera has not done it justice.











And the most recent version of my pocket card.
I wanted to have them use the sanding/distressing and rock n' roll techniques.



Friday, August 17, 2012

Celebrate National Stamping Month!

This is one of the cards I made with the double set offered by Close To My Heart. I used Honey, White Daisy and Outdoor Denim inks and card stock, and a strip from the Pemberley  paper collection. Inside sentiment is 'Happy Birthday.'


To celebrate National Stamping Month in September, Close To My Heart is offering a double stamp set promotion! You can get the exclusive, new My Acrylix® It’s Your Day double stamp set for just $5 when you place a minimum order of $35 in full retail products from August 15 through September 30, 2012. You’ll love this double set—two D-size sets in one envelope—which includes nearly 50 trendy images that makes it easy to capture the everyday moments in your life. The double set has a retail value of $35.90, which drastically increases the value of your qualifying purchase! Have twice the fun stamping during National Stamping Month with our new, exclusive It’s Your Day double stamp set!  You can click on the CTMH 'Shop with Me' image on the right sidebar.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Just Us Girls: Ribbons Scraps= Wicked Fun


Do you love ribbon?  Oh my, I can't have enough!  The spools always look pretty heaped in the $1 bin or lined up in rainbow rows...as cute as kittens. Once they are home in the craft room they misbehave almost as much as those kittens, too!  I've yet to discover an organizational method that keeps them from unrolling.  I have a blue bin, a white/cream bin, a red/black, a pink, a brown/chocolate, a yellow/orange, a green, and a miscellaneous....AND a drawer of little tube collections long retired from Close To My Heart.  Most of those have less than 5-6", and I'm afraid this card did not make a very serious dent in the collection!
But it was fun.  I didn't have a die or stamp for shoes so I drew them and cut them out from black card stock.  The ribbons were adhered to strips of white card stock.  I used some small sparkles for shoe buttons, and some of CTMH's new tulle and a bling button, and used foam tape on the shoes and front panel.

FOR JUGS #149 Technique Challenge: Use Up those Ribbon Scraps

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Sweet Purse


There are several designs for darling little purses on the new CTMH Artiste cartridge.  This is one I cut in Dutch Blue card stock (retired) and decorated with a little tag.  Inside are six  design paper wrapped Nuggets.  Quick, sweet door prize for my card group next weekend.  I am making one each of the purse designs. 

Saturday, August 11, 2012

CFC 65 Square Card




CAS-ual Fridays challenge is a square card this week.  I inked up my new Close To My Heart quick card Bountiful Season. I sponged with Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta and Cranberry inks, and then rolled in Chocolate ink. The PTI card stock is cut to a 4 1/4" square.  I used the embossing stylus to create a border around the image.
Love these 'Quick Card' stamps!  This one is A1130 in the new Idea Book, and only $6.95. 

OLW 100 Transportation



I had fun playing with One Layer Wednesday, the challenge is here on Cheryl's blog this week. The theme is transportation, and I had two thoughts...My CTMH set A Journey had not been inked yet, so I used it to create the trees. First stamped in the new Slate ink, and then again second generation.  I added another layer of trees with second generation Ponderosa Pine ink.  After adding the text, it looked plain, so I made another card and added the little car from a  set called The Neighborhood (retired). It made me happy - just last week we drove into the WA rain forest with the car stuffed full of camping gear.
My second card - because I adore the quote, and I wanted to try a technique I've seen often on one- layer cards.  I cut out a rectangle about the size of my stamp text and sponged inside the frame.  Then I stamped with Outdoor Denim ink.  I like it...not sure if the area needed to be a bit larger or smaller...but if I keep doing samples, I'll never post!!  Hopefully, someone will feel free to give me some advice about this.  The sentiment is part of a Wordsworth set.

Both card bases were cut from luscious, thick PTI card stock.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Cake a la Artiste


I have begun exploring the amazing new Close To My Heart Artiste Cricut cartridge.  Like the Art & Philosophy cartridge, it is packed with wonderful shapes that coordinate with many CTMH stamps, but it also has dozens of 3-D projects.  This yummy piece of cake is made with Florentine papers and coordinating card stock.  The cartridge comes with all the cutting and assembly directions, too! 
This was really easy to put together, and it will be a drawing prize for one of my workshop gals next weekend, and a project class offering later this fall.  I can imagine a whole cake in chocolate as a special gift - each piece could hold something - a scarf, socks, gloves, a bracelet....It would also be a fun way to package favors for a child's birthday.

Flowers were cut from Vanilla Cream (retired) and Creme Brulee card stock sponged with Goldrush and Autumn Terracotta ink.  Leaves cut and I used my embossing stylus to draw some veins and then sponged with Olive ink. 

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Week #5 at CASology -Pond

So happy to have a few crafting minutes today. I have been so busy with family and vacation fun, I did not get to play along last week at CASology.  The theme this week is Pond, and there are some very fun cards being shared here on their site.
For my card I dug into my Stampin' Up! box and found the Stampin'Around Lily Pond and their set Unfrogettable.  I used CTMH Black, Topiary, Sky and Cotton Candy inks.  The sentiment stamp is from the CTMH set called A Tree.  Had to add a bit of sparkle to that fun dragonfly.

Off to a movie and good-bye dinner now.  My oldest son returns to his work/home in Japan tomorrow. I get choked up just thinking of saying good-bye once again...he's my oldest son, and a very good friend as well. 

H2H Deepest Sympathy


This week the challenge here at Close to My Heart is to create a sympathy card.  For this card I stamped the flower in black over spray 'splotches.'  Cruising blogs recently, I saw someone suggest this. Unfortunately, I did not write it down and so am unable to give credit for the idea.  But it really looks marvelous, and I will be trying out my other reinkers with this soon...thinking autumn leaves might look great using this technique.

Stamps: Card Word Puzzle, Card Chatter-Sympathy
Paper: Colonial White base, textured Black, Crystal Blue, Watercolor
Inks: Crystal Blue reinker, Black
Sparkles: Blue & Green Assortment
Spray pen

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Some Things Go Together





I've been away. We all went camping and it was marvelous to hike, canoe, and just sit around the camp fire.  The little grandsons hiked the whole 4 mile Quinault Loop  trail. and earned every bit of the ice cream cone at the end of the trail. There was a day out at the coast as well. It was very hot upstairs in my craft room today, but I have missed all my toys and really wanted to cut some paper!
This image has always made me happy, and I've used it quite a lot.  Today I changed the sentiment and added a sweet quote from the book by that name inside.  Cuddling with a book has got to be one of the nicest things to do!

FOR TWO CHALLENGES:    Stella Says Sketch #116 at Catch the Bug
                                       Sweet Stampin' - use text, Books, and stamp

Image: Bugaboo digital; sentiment computer generated
Papers: Close To My Heart, Scholastic collection; Barn Red, Desert Sand, Outdoor Denim    and White Daisy
Inks: water brushed Barn Red, Outdoor Denim, Olive, Buttercup
Ribbon: Stash grosgrain and CTMH Outdoor Denim twill
Tools: punch, edge distressor, sewing machine; Cuttlebug cut Nestabilities 

Monday, July 30, 2012

SSW #164 Rugged Dude




The new products from Close To My Heart go live August 1st and this is a peak at some of the fun new things.  When I saw the sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday, I knew right away I wanted that pocket to be the center panel.  It took a bit of playing with colors to get the jeans just right - some rock 'n roll technique and distressing helped.  After cutting the star, I turned it over and used my embossing stylus to create the points, and then put double foam to keep the dimension.  The new burlap ribbon is going to be out a lot on my next projects - just love the texture!  I cut off the binding on each side and pulled a few threads.  I hand cut the paisley paper for the handkerchief.
Inside, repeated some papers, and added the message.
Products: CTMH Dakota Paper Collection;
                                                                                        Burlap ribbon; "Rugged Dude"stamp set.