I {HEART} You!

The Whooo's Your Valentine kit from CTMH is available for just one more day!
The stamp set that comes with the kit is super cute & so versatile!

I was able to showcase this great stamp set when I created this card for my make & take for the ladies attending my crop last Saturday.
I was inspired by a card I pinned HERE on Pinterest.  (Unfortunately, when I clicked through to visit the original site and creator of the card - the domain no longer exists, so I'm unable to give proper credit to the artist).

Here is my version:

I wanted to show the ladies at my crop how easy it is to create trendy banners for their cards & scrapbook pages using circles.   No die-cutter needed.   Everyone has circle punches or cutters, right?     I gathered some scraps of paper in the same colour tones (I used CTMH's Sweetheart, La Belle Vie, and Lucy papers, all retired, and punched 1.25" circles out of each of them).    To make a bigger banner - simply cut/punch bigger circles.   Cover the back sides of your circles in adhesive and simply fold in half along a length of twine to create your banner.    Adhere the banner to the front of the card, as desired & then trim the ends as needed.   Stamp a few images and a sentiment and voila - a super cute & easy Valentines Day card for your sweetie!

Still time for you to get your hands on the Whooo's Your Valentine stamp set & treat box kit!
Orders of $35 or more placed on my WEBSITE before January 31st (while supplies last) qualify to add on this great kit (value $40) for just $10!

Five Fabulous Finds!

Happy Friday -
I have five fabulous finds for you today:

1)   The CTMH special this month is a fabulous Valentine kit to make super cute treat boxes (you can check it out HERE).   But I just LOVE what a few very creative consultants have done with the kit - check out these three gorgeous layouts:    Layout 1, Layout 2, Layout 3.

2)   I'm always on the lookout for amazing craft room inspiration - - here is one I came across recently that is a must share:   Kewl-Beans Studio Tour

3)  Neutrals are anything but boring!  Love this AMAZING set of cards created by Jody Gustafson.

4)  I am a big organizing junkie - so I love this crafty post on IHeartOrganizing:  Scraptastic Paper Storage.

5)  And now I'll leave you with a tiny sneak peek of new Spring/Summer CTMH product - - love what consultant Vanessa Turo has done here with a new alterable container and the For Always paper collection.   So many great things coming February 1st!   Can't wait to share them all with you!

Have a great weekend!

CTMH Victory "Eyes that Know Me"

One of the songs up on the playlist this month at Scrap it With a Song is "Falling Slowly" from the film ONCE - another Oscar winning song.  I absolutely LOVE this song - but my favourite version of it is not the original - it is actually the version that was recorded by Lee Dewyze & Crystal Bowersox for American Idol.    They sound amazing together!   Have a listen:


Here is my layout inspired by a line in the lyrics (you can click to view larger):

Appropriate for my Valentines Day post, don't you think?

Linking this layout up to the following challenges:
Scrap it With a Song - "Falling Slowly"
Scrapbookers Paradise - Musically Inspired
Frosted Designs - Sketch Along Tuesday #34
Frosted Designs - Fabulous Friday - the word "Love" on your project (check out the paperclip!)

Materials Used:
CTMH Patterned Paper - Victory
CTMH Cardstock: Barn Red, New England Ivy, Kraft
CTMH Hemp
CTMH chipboard banners
Cardstock banners cut with CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge
CTMH pewter hinge & brads (retired)
CTMH paperclip (retired)
CTMH ink: chocolate
Prima Alpha Stickers

Hope you had a fantastic Valentines Day!

CTMH Kids Valentines

The kids and I finished up their Valentines for their classmates this weekend.   Each of them got REALLY involved in the whole process, which was great!   I think the key to making crafts with your kids a success is keeping it simple!!  Don't overdo it! 

For my four year old - we made 'cupcake' Valentines.  I cut the cupcake pieces and the heart using the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.   He glued all of the pieces together and glued them to the 3x3 card bases.  He also added the sparkles!   Inside the cards, the sentiment reads "Be Mine Sweet Friend".  He did the stamping all by himself!! 

For my eight year old - she decided on a theme we saw while blog surfing.   She did these pretty much all by herself - doing all of the stamping and assembling the card pieces.

All of the materials used including the cardstock, stamps, inks, etc. are CTMH. 

The kids are very excited to hand these out to their friends this week - - I think extra excited because they are so proud of having made the cards themselves.  I LOVE that!!

Looking for more kids valentines ideas?  Be sure to check out the ones we made last year HERE and HERE.

Shop for CTMH products on my website!

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

CTMH's Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for December

Welcome to the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for December. This month we are featuring the stamp set "Mad About You".

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 Fancy Melissa'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 this month's stamp set, along with the many other great CTMH products you'll see in each post!
 
My creation for you today is a Valentine card measuring 5" by 7".  My creation was inspired by a card I saw HERE on Splitcoast Stampers.  This card could easily be adapted to a wedding or anniversary card by simply changing the sentiment.
 



 Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):
Roxie Level 2 Paper Pack
Made for You stamp set (December 2011 Stamp of the Month)
Colonial White Designer Ribbon
Hearts & circles cut with the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge
Vanilla Cream cardstock, Black Cardstock
Tulip Ink, Black Ink
Foam Tape
 
The "Made for You" stamp set is available from your consultant from December 1st to 31st! You can purchase it for the great low price of $19.95 or get it for just $5.50Cdn with every CTMH order of $55 or more placed in the month of December!

Thanks for stopping in!! To continue on the hop, visit Traci'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

Open House Make & Take Projects

Everyone joining me at my Spring/Summer Open House this Friday will have the opportunity to make these cute Valentines for their loved ones.

Card #1: (I didn't get a photo of the inside sentiment, which says "You & Me")

Card #1 (Variation with alternate paper & eyelet embellishment):



Card #2 (inspired by Angela Tutton):

Can't wait to see everyone tomorrow!!

Materials Used:

Sweetheart Level 2 Paper Pack

Childhood Portrait acrylic stamp set

Sweetheart acrylic stamp set (available as part of Sweetheart Workshop Kit)

Soul Mates acrylic stamp set

Priceless Love Word Puzzle acrylic stamp set

Bitty Sparkles

Soft Set Eyelets

Kraft Colour Ready Borders

Red/Pink/Purple Sparkles

White Daisy bulk cards & envelopes

Cardstock: Cotton Candy, Black

Ink: Black

Anything for You

All done the Valentines for this year - - this one is for my hubby!!

The design is from the Sketch & Stash challenge blog (I used my brand new Sweetheart paper pack from my stash!!)
(If anyone knows a trick for photographing acrylic cards without a glare - - please tell me the secret!!)

I'm entering this card in the following Valentine themed challenges:

Raise the Bar - Hearts

Craft us Crazy - Anything Goes

Crazy 4 Challenges - Valentine

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Seeing Red

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

Sentiment - Priceless Love Word Puzzle acrylic stamp set

Sweetheart Level 2 Paper Pack

Acrylic Cards

Heartfelt Whimsy Die Cuts (red felt heart) - Retired

Cardstock: Black, White Daisy

Ink: Tulip

More Valentines for Kids!

20 more Valentines done!!  My son is in preschool  - so I wanted something fun and playful for his little friends!

Quick & easy! These little cards measure 3" x 3" - -so you can cut 8 cards out of one 12" x 12" sheet!
I used some retired paper on these (Animal Cookies Creative Basics) -- but you can still pick up the cute CTMH stamp set with the frog & some other equally cute creatures - it is called Fun Times. 

Grade 2 Valentines

Here is the Valentine design my daughter and I came up with to give to the kids in her class!  She did all the heavy lifting on these - she chose the stamps to use and was in charge of the stamping and 'punching'.  I did cutting and gluing!!  We made 25 cards total! 
I think they turned out pretty good - hope her friends like them :-)

The stamp set we used for the main focal piece here is from the new Sweetheart Workshop Kit!  So cute!!

Simple Kid's Valentines

My daughter and I made 23 of these little cuties for her to hand out to the kids in her class.  Super simple & easy to make (perfect for bulk cards!).  The inspiration for these great little 3x3 Valentines came from the very talented Vicki Wizniuk.  (Be sure to check out the great variety that she created!)

Materials Used (All Close to My Heart):

• Thoughtful Seasons Acrylic Stamp Set
• Holiday Hoopla Acrylic Stamp Set
• Cardstock: Cranberry, White Daisy
• Inks: Cranberry, 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 More to Adore Simple Valentine Card

Had a little time to play today . . . I love starting with the Clean & Simple sketches to get me back into 'creative mode'.  Here is my take on Natasha's Fall-To Layout #76.

 

 

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

• More to Adore Level 2 Paper Pack
• Love Always Acrylic Stamp Set (Dec 08 Stamp of the Month)
• Blush Textured Cardstock from the Winter Cozy Combo Pack (Currently on sale Buy 1, Get 1 Free - until Feb 28th!!)
• Dimensional Elements Hearts
• Hollyhock Organdy Ribbon (retired)
• Foam Tape

CTMH More to Adore Valentine Treat Box

2nd post for today! Woohoo!!  Scroll down to see more!

This past week's project at the Project Tuesday Blog inspired me to create a little valentine treat holder.   This project uses just one sheet of 8.5" x 11" cardstock and some folding!! How easy is that!! You can find the instructions for this box here.  Love how this turned out! 

The side view:

The back of the box:

Materials Used (all Close to My Heart):

• Preprinted base page from the More to Adore Level 1 Kit
• Cardstock: Colonial White, Chocolate
• Inks: Blush, Hollyhock, Chocolate
• February Word Puzzle stamp set (the set I used is retired, but there are lots of great Valentine themed sets available including In the Month of February, All My Love, So Lucky, and Love Language)
• Ribbon is from the Heartfelt Ribbon Rounds Collection (retired)