Sending Love Your Way

New artwork from the CTMH Annual Inspirations catalogue! I recreated this card I saw in the Idea Book - so cute.

Materials Used:
CTMH Shin Han Twin Touch markers
CTMH Geometric Washi Tape
CTMH "Lifting Spirits" stamp set
CTMH cardstock & ink

CTMH Circle Spin Cards

Hey everyone - - hope you are all having a great weekend!   I was sifting through pics on my computer and came across a few projects that I realized I hadn't yet shared here on the blog.     I wanted to share with you a super fun product CTMH carries for card-makers - - Circle Spin cards.    These cards just add a little something extra and bring your homemade cards to the next level!     Each card has a square cutout window and there is a cardstock circle, suspended with string inside the window.   You decorate both sides of the little cardstock circle.   When you open the card, the circle spins around - so fun!   

Here are a few examples:

CTMH Frosted collection

CTMH Laughing Lola collection

CTMH Laughing Lola and Proplayer collections

CTMH Babycakes & Huntington collections

CTMH Proplayer & Laughing Lola collections

Here are some of the other products used on these cards (don't you love these super cute stamps - only $2.95 each!):

You can find all of these products on my WEBSITE.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for March

Welcome to the CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for March.  This month we are featuring a gorgeous new stamp set called "Floral Happiness".  

Hope you'll join us this month - we have CTMH consultants from across the US and Canada who have created a variety of projects for you featuring this month's stamp set to inspire you!

If you've come here from Susan's Blog - then you are on the right path.  If my blog is your first stop, that will work too! Just keep hopping until you get back here again!  You'll find a link at the end of each post to move to the next site.  Enjoy :-)

My creation for you today is a card created from Pattern 27 in CTMH's latest sketch book "Make it From Your Heart Volume 1".  I was also inspired by a similar card I spotted on Pinterest from Betsy Gully.

My card features the new classy paper pack "For Always" and some Red Glitter Gems.   I stamped the flower in Cranberry ink and used first & second generation stamping to achieve the two-toned effect.   My leaf is stamped in Olive ink, using the same technique.   The flower and leaf were fussy cut using my microtip scissors.   I also used white daisy and cranberry cardstock to complete my card.  

The March stamp of the month is available from your consultant (or from me) from March 1st to 31st.   Purchase it for $17.95 or qualify to add it to your order for just $5 with every purchase of $50 or more during the month of March.  

To see more great artwork using this stamp set - please continue to Dawn's Blog to see what she has created!   

Valentine Card & Treat Box & a Sneak Peek!

***Click Here for my CTMH Giveaway***

My goodies from the Spring/Summer 2012 CTMH Idea Book have arrived (did you know that as a consultant you can order a month before the catalogue is 'live'?!)  I had some time to play tonight so I created a cute little Valentine Card and Treat Box that will be my make & take project for the ladies attending my all-day scrapbooking crop this Saturday in Calgary!

The card was inspired by artwork in the new Idea Book.  The treat box is just one of the great 3-D items you can cut with the CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.

Inside view of the card.

Close-up view of the treat box. 

I used a Valentine sentiment in the card, but you could change up the sentiment and easily use this as a wedding or anniversary card as well!  The treat box is the perfect size for a few little sweet treats - your favourite chocolate or some cinnamon hearts perhaps?

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):
Patterned Paper - Stella (coming February 1st in the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book)
Cardstock: Cocoa, Colonial White, Tulip
Stamp Sets: Card Chatter Love, Love Clusters (coming February 1st in the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book)
Ink: Tulip, Cocoa
Ribbon:  Cocoa Grosgrain
Embellishments: Clear Sparkles
CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy: Heart cut at 3", Scalloped border cut at 1.25", Treat box cut at 6"
Other: Foam Tape

Mojo Monday Congratulations

It has been forever since I played along with Mojo Monday.  Mainly because I've been doing more scrapbooking than cardmaking lately.  But this week I was in need of a card to congratulate friends of ours who just became engaged . . . and Mojo Monday's sketch provided me with the needed inspiration!

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):
Wings Level 2 paper pack (retired)
Veranda Creative Basics paper pack (retired)
For Every Occasion acrylic stamp set  (best EVER stamp set for cardmakers!!)
Soul Mates acrylic stamp set
Spray Pen (with Pearl Paint, Vineyard Berry Re-inker, and water)
Licorice Opaque Gems
Colonial White Waxy Flax
Black Ink
Cardstock: Black, Juniper, Colonial White, Vineyard Berry
Foam Tape

Have a great weekend!

You're my Inspiration

So many challenges, so little time!  This card was inspired by the Clean & Simple Stamping sketch #156 and also by the Heart 2 Heart "Die Cuts" challenge!

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):
Roxie Level 2 Paper Pack
Rosy Regards Stamp Set
Cocoa Ribbon Rounds
Cocoa Cardstock

Quick post today -- getting back into the fall routine with my kids is killing me!!!  I'm exhausted!

CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for April - Blessed

Welcome to the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for April - featuring the gorgeous stamp set "Blessed".

Along this month's Stamp of the Month hop you'll find dozens of fabulous creations using this stamp set - all brought to you by a very talented group of CTMH Consultants! If you've come here from Wendy's Blog, you are on the right path. If this is your first stop on the hop, that will work too (just keep hopping till you get back here again)!

To continue along the hop, just follow the link at the end of each post to go to the next site. We hope that following the hop will give you lots of inspiration and ideas for using your "Blessed" stamp set, along with the many other great CTMH products you'll see in each post!

My creation for you today is a card measuring 5" x 7".   I love the "Base & Shade" stamping technique used with this stamp set.  One stamp is the outline of the image, and a second stamp is the 'inside' of the image.  Simply stamp your base and the shade in two different colors of ink & you already have a coloured image - - no colouring required!  It is difficult to tell in the photo, but I have 'pop-dotted' the center sqaure to give further emphasis to the flower. 

Card design was inspired by the pattern "Center Squares" in the CTMH Originals Card Program book.

Materials Used (all CTMH):
Magnifique Level 2 Paper Pack
Blessed acrylic stamp set (April 2011 Stamp of the Month)
White Daisy Grosgrain
Cardstock: White Daisy, Cranberry
Ink: Pacifica, Cranberry, Black

The "Blessed" stamp set is available from your consultant from April 1st to 30th! You can earn this stamp set at a discount or even FREE with every CTMH order placed in the month of April!

Thanks for stopping in!! To continue on the hop, visit Michelle's BLOG to see what she has created for you!

A Rose for You!

A clean and simple card for you today  . . . there is something about a single red rose!! I didn't think this card needed any sentiment.

Hope you had a fabulous weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Even more CTMH Bliss & New Clearance Items!

My Bliss paper pack is getting lots of use.
Another wedding/anniversary card - this time with a classic colour combo:

Materials Used:

Bliss Level 2 Paper Pack

Bliss acrylic stamp set available as part of the Bliss Workshop Kit)

Licorice Opaques Gems

Ribbon from the Black Designer Ribbon Rounds (retired)

Foam Tape

Ink: Black, Bamboo

Cardstock: Colonial White, Black

Also wanted to let you know today that a few new items have been added to the "While Supplies Last" Section of my Website, including these cute chipboard accents, priced now at just $1.25 CDN for a pack of 27 accents:

Or these great Summer Posies paper flowers - on now for $4.50 Cdn for a tube of 100 flowers and leaves!!

Check it out!!  And remember - you can combine clearance items on an order with regular priced merchandise to make the shipping worthwhile :-)
While you are shopping, be sure to take advantage of our March special!
Spend $30 or more on ANY stamp sets and you'll get a bonus FREE acrylic block (you choose 3x3 or 2.5x6 size)!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Together - Hand in Hand

More inspiration using the new Bliss paper pack.  Here I combined it with some great Sorbet paper from the retired Twitterpated pack for a pop of colour.

Linking up to the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Trio-tastic

Wee Memories #47 - Spring Theme

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

Bliss Level 2 Paper Pack

Twitterpated Level 2 Paper Pack (retired)

Bliss acrylic stamp set (available as part of the Bliss Workshop Kit)

Aspiration acrylic stamp set

Chocolate Designer Ribbon (retired)

Chocolate Bitty Brads

Ink: Chocolate, Sorbet

Cardstock: Chocolate, Vanilla Cream

CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for March - Sensational Season

Welcome to the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for March - featuring the adorable stamp set "Sensational Season".

Along this month's Stamp of the Month hop you'll find dozens of fabulous creations using this stamp set - all brought to you by a very talented group of CTMH Consultants! If you've come here from Annette's Blog, you are on the right path. If this is your first stop on the hop, that will work too (just keep hopping till you get back here again)!

To continue along the hop, just follow the link at the end of each post to go to the next site. We hope that following the hop will give you lots of inspiration and ideas for using your "Sensational Season" stamp set, as well as the many other great CTMH products you'll see in each post.

I have two creations for you today! 
I have found that the key to success for me when stamping and then colouring images, is to use the proper ink to stamp your image.  Regular inks are made with water based dyes and will often bleed using many colouring methods (markers, waterbrush, blending pen, etc.).  So whenever I'm going to colour a stamped image - I stamp the image using CTMH Archival Black ink.  

This first card measures 5"x7" and the design is "Sentiment Secured" from the CTMH card design book WISHES.

My second card measures 4.25" x 5.5" and the card design is "Simple Expression" from the CTMH card design book WISHES.

Materials Used (all CTMH):
Card 1:
Olivia Level 2 Paper Pack
Sensational Season stamp set (March 2011 Stamp of the Month)
Black Mini Medley Accents
White Daisy Grosgrain Ribbon
Ink: Archival Black
Markers: Desert Sand, Sunset, Pear
Cardstock: White Daisy, Black
 
Card 2:
Sophia Level 2 Paper Pack
Sensational Season stamp set (March 2011 Stamp of the Month)
Holiday Hoopla stamp set (retired)
Ink: Archival Black
Markers: Tulip, Pear, Cotton Candy, Desert Sand
Cardstock: White Daisy, Tulip, Cotton Candy
 
The "Sensational Season" stamp set is available from your consultant from March 1st to 31st!  You can earn this stamp set at a discount or even FREE with every CTMH order placed in the month of March! 

 
Thanks for stopping in!! To continue on the hop, visit KATY's BLOG to see what she has created for you!

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

A cute pocket card for you:

I'm entering this card in a few current blog challenges:

Heart 2 Heart Challenges - show us your heart

Cupcake Craft Challenges - at least one heart

Crazy 4 Challenges - Hearts

Frosted Designs - the word "Love"

Cute Card Thursday - Hearts & Flowers

Just Add Ink - Just Add Love

Stampin Royalty Challenge - Hearts, hearts & more hearts

Sisterhood of Crafters - In love with Valentines

Papertake Weekly - Have a Heart

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

Childhood Portrait acrylic stamp set

Holiday Hoopla acrylic stamp set (retired)

Priceless Love Word Puzzle acrylic stamp set

Soul Mates acrylic stamp set

Sweetheart Level 2 Paper Pack

Pink Buttons

Black Waxy Flax

Blush Ribbon Rounds (retired)

Cardstock: Cotton Candy & Black

Ink: Cotton Candy & Black

CTMH Grace Valentine for my Hubby

Great sketch over at Get Sketchy this week . . .  This also fits several more of this week's challenges that have a 'seasonal' flavour!  Tthis week's challenge over at Frosted Designs to make a valentine without pink or red (burgundy doesn't count as a red, does it?!?), the challenge at Raise the Bar is to use hearts on your card, and the Crazy 4 Challenges challenge is to create a Valentine themed project.

inside of the card:

 

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

• Grace Level 2 Paper Pack
• State of Mind Acrylic Stamp Set
• Childhood Portrait Acrylic Stamp Set
• February Word Puzzle Acrylic Stamp Set (retired)
• Dimensional Elements - Hearts
• Cardstock: Bamboo, Twilight, Colonial White, Cocoa

CTMH Grace & Mojo Monday #107

Here is my card for this week's sketch over at Mojo Monday.

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

• Grace Level 2 Paper Pack
• Childhood Portrait Acrylic Stamp Set
• Cardstock: Twilight, Cocoa, Bamboo, Textured Twilight
• Inks: Cocoa
• Brads - Autumn Harvest Assortment