National Papercrafting Month Starts TODAY!!

Oh what FUN this new kit is! I have mine and can't wait to put it together! I'm talking about the "Whoo's Your Valentine" Kit - Close To My Heart's special purchase to celebrate National Papercrafting Month. This incredible kit retails for $40, but can be yours for JUST $10 with a $35 purchase from the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book! You can see just how cool it is, and everything that's included, by watching the following video! Contact me to get yours today!

Just For Fun - Part 3

Well, I definitely couldn't let today go by without some sort of mention - we won't see another 12/12/12 in our lifetimes, so I hope everyone enjoyed theirs! I had plans to get TONS of stuff done today - the last of my Christmas shopping, grocery shopping for all of the yummy baking I plan on doing, maybe a little wrapping - because this was my only day off from work this week. Well, wouldn't you know, my daughter ended up staying home sick from school today - for the third day in a row. So much for best-laid plans. So given that both my daughter and my husband are sick, and I am still recovering from a sprained ankle from last week, the best I could think to do to celebrate the day was order pizza & breadsticks for dinner, and make Shirley Temples to wash it all down. I must admit, it was a tasty dinner (and drink), but not at all what I had envisioned.

Anyway, I thought one more little thing I could do would be to post the Christmas/Winter artwork that I had done for my Open House...being that Christmas is a mere13 days away! So sit back, relax, grab yourself a "special drink", enjoy the artwork inspiration, and toast 12/12/12!

Let's start with the Advent Calendar (better late than never!). This project is actually a Close To My Heart Workshop on the Go - it comes complete with everything you need, except the Cricut, and our Exclusive Artiste Cricut cartridge. The Artiste cartridge has the cut for the boxes that slide into the cubbies. The only other thing you need is black ink and adhesive (and little goodies to fill the boxes!).

This cheerful card uses the "Merry & Bright" stamp set, along with the "Pear & Partridge" patterned paper (wow - say that five times fast!). The pearlized "Opaques" really add to the texture and dimension of this card.

Looking for an adorable little gift bag to bring to your neighbor or teacher filled with treats? Look no further! This festive bag uses the "Pear & Partridge" paper, as well as cuts from the Cricut Artiste cartridge (the bag and the topper). The red polka-dot frame is from the "Perfect Fit - Frames" stamp set, and "Warmest Wishes" is from the "Perfect Fit - Holiday" stamp set.

Here's another fun way to use both of the above-mentioned "Perfect Fit" stamp sets. The cute baskets were made from a cut on the Cricut Artiste - I cut it twice for each basket - once in red, and once in white. I then glued them together, scored the fold lines really well, and assembled the baskets. This way, the top scalloped edges that fold over the top show white and not red. The "flowers" were made with stamped images from the "Perfect Fit" stamp sets adhered to drinking straws that I painted with white craft paint, then wrapped with thin, gray cardstock strips. These would be super-cute wrapped with red cardstock to look like candy canes!

These three gorgeous cards were also made using a Workshop on the Go, just as the Advent Calendar was. These are from the "Pear & Partridge WOTG Card Kit". It makes five of each of these three designs. The paper, cardstock, stamp set, ribbon, and red bling all come with the kit - just cut, stamp, adhere and send! Whoohoo! One-quarter of my Christmas cards are done!

Lastly, but certainly not least, is this adorable card, made with the "Flakey Friends" stamp set. How fun!! The card is only 3" x 3", which makes it even cuter (if that's even possible!). You could emboss the snowflake background with white embossing powder, or use our White Daisy pigment ink to achieve this custom effect. I just love the bright colors!

Well, this has been a fun way to end my didn't-go-as-planned day. I hope this has inspired you to drag out those dusty, old stamp sets and create something fun & festive this holiday season - there's still time!! And HAPPY 12/12/12!

Just For Fun - Part 2

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so I thought that the next batch of projects I showed you from my Annual Open House should be the Fall-themed ones. Some of these would make perfect gifts or take-home favors for your Thanksgiving-day guests. Let's start with a simple, yet elegant wine bottle wrap:

 

Simply wrap the bottle in Desert Sand or Cocoa cardstock, secure a length of Cocoa ribbon around that, then stamp two leaves and the acorn from the "Fall Harvest" stamp set in Desert Sand or Cocoa ink on Colonial White cardstock. The images were cut out, but were sponged with various fall colors before doing so. Use Glue Dots or hot glue to adhere the leaves & acorn to the ribbon. What a nice way to dress-up a bottle of wine for the dinner host or hostess.

Here's a cute, little centerpiece cut with the Cricut Artiste cartridge and stamped using the "Harvest Happiness" stamp set. All of the pieces were cut with the Cricut, so it's just stamp & glue - no scissors required!

I love this adorable little gift box, also created with the Cricut Artiste cartridge. The pinwheel on top was made using the "Flirty" paper pack, and the pumpkin and sentiment came from the "Abundance" stamp set. What cute favors these would make - and could double as place cards if you replace the sentiment with your guest's names!

Here's another item which uses the "Flirty" paper pack and the same sentiment from the "Abundance" stamp set. The "trees" are actually wooden leaf & stem shapes from the Color-Ready Accents - Arbor Wooden Shapes pack. Since I didn't have a marker available, I colored my leaf pieces by pressing them into and running them over my Topiary ink pad. They take the ink really well!

Ask me how much I LOVE the Cricut Artiste cartridge! This is yet another example of a project cut from that cartridge - a beautiful card & matching envelope. The image is called "Quick Cards - Bountiful Season", and it is a single stamp with both the image and sentiment. I sponged the leaf as I did with the wine bottle leaves, then added some extra dimension by adding another piece from the Color-Ready Accents - Arbor Wooden Shapes pack. Very cute!

This last really pretty card was cut with - you guessed it - the Cricut Artiste cartridge. It also uses the "Abundance" stamp set and our brand, new alcohol-based markers. I must admit, when I first saw/used the new markers, I didn't think I'd like them - but I was SO wrong! I love coloring with these super-smooth markers! I can't wait until all of the colors are available so I can get every set.

Well, that's the end of the autumn segment of my artwork. The next installment will be winter/Christmas! Until then - Happy Thanksgiving!

Card & Envelopes with Cricut Artiste!

Oh boy - this is your lucky day! Another video from my favorite gal Kristine from Close To My Heart! Check out the incredible cards and coordinating envelopes you can create using the new Cricut Artiste cartridge - available exclusively from CTMH!

Stamp Kissing!

Don't worry - you don't have to use your lips for this cool technique! Just watch Kristine & Monica in the newest episode of "Clearly The Best", and soon you'll be a kissing expert!

Choosing Joy

Hello there!

I hope everyone had a safe & fun Halloween. I just wanted to take a moment to share something that I just received in my email inbox from Close To My Heart. It comes from their "Weekly Wisdom", and the title is "Did You Choose Joy?" This particular article really "spoke" to me, and I think it will be especially important and worthwhile to think about now that the chaos of the holiday season is upon us. So let's all make a pact to "choose joy" today - and who knows - it may even carry over to tomorrow! Enjoy!


"Positive Results from Your Choice
“Did you remember to choose joy today? You know, after you picked up the kids from practice and stopped at the grocery store, did you choose joy? … Susan Iida-Pederson…says that, “When you feel good about yourself, you take action and when you act from a place of excitement and joy, your results are positive.” The key word in the phrase, “Did you choose joy?” is choose. Joy isn’t something that happens to us, it’s a choice. We can wake up every morning and be angry that we ran out of coffee, or that we were stopped by every red light on our way to our daily tasks. Or we can choose joy. We can choose joy at having another day to wake up to. Joy that we have a car with working brakes to stop at the stoplights. …With the latter attitude, …others will feel your joy. It’s infectious. …

Put it in Practice
Sit down right now and write down ten things that give you joy. Your children, your pets, your spouse, whatever. Then write down ten things that frustrate you. Look at that list and then make one last list changing those ten frustrating things into ten things that could be joyful – and then throw away the list of the frustrations. Spend a minute every morning for a week reading out loud the list of things that give you joy. When we make joy a conscious effort rather than sitting around waiting for the joy to come, we see the joy more prevalent in our lives – and so will others."

Tips & Tricks From Studio J!

I just watched a really cool new video on CTMH TV. It gives some really fun and innovative ideas for customizing your Studio J layouts - and it's even Halloween-themed! And don't forget - there's still time to take advantage of this month's Studio J Special - purchase 9 layouts, and get the 10th FREE! Check out the video right here:

Just For Fun - Part 1

Every year, my Close To My Heart Annual Open House has a distinctly "holiday" feel. However this year, I ended up with a lot more "everyday" projects than I did holiday projects...not that that's a bad thing! I just had so much fun creating with the new "Artiste" Cricut cartridge and our newest stamp sets...I may have gone a little overboard. Therefore, the "just for fun" everyday artwork that I created will come to you in three different posts (there's a LOT!), and I'll save the best for last! Let's jump right in!

What a fun, cute card this is - especially for a child's birthday. The stamp set used for this and all of the cards I will be showing you in this post is "Pun Fun". It's a very cute and versatile set. The grass was freehand cut from green cardstock, and the clouds were created by using the negative space of a cloud Cricut cut as a stencil. I then used a sponge dauber and Sky ink to form the clouds. Pretty cool, huh?

These next cards were all completed as a project we did while I was at this year's Convention in Dallas. A lot of them use "Pun Fun", along with the "Flirty", "La Belle Vie" and "Dakota" paper packs (they really mixed things up!). Notice the dress here was created by stamping once on the tag, then once on patterned paper from "La Belle Vie". The dress was trimmed out of the patterned paper, then adhered to it's "place" on the tag. Black Sparkles were added along the waistline for a little flair!

This card in the series doesn't use the "Pun Fun" stamp set - but it does use "Dakota" & "La Belle Vie" patterned paper! It also uses those adorable rose stick pins from the new "Slate Mini-Medley Accents Collection"...along with some Sparkles for shine!

Here's that cute turtle again! This time we've used the actual cut cloud shapes and edged them with Slate ink for pop. The cool silver sparkly ribbon below the pink patterned paper is the new "Silver Shimmer Trim". What makes it so cool is that it's self-adhesive! LOVE that!

This card uses cuts from the "Artiste" Cricut cartridge to create a cool, one-of-a-kind background! The cut pieces were also stamped in second-generation Slate ink with the library card image from the "Approved" stamp set - just to give it some added visual interest and texture.

Wow - this card uses a multitude of different products! I spy the Slate Mini-Medley Accents Collection, Sparkles, Silver Shimmer Trim, "Approved" stamp set, and the "Flirty" paper pack. The flowers were cut directly from one of the pieces of patterned paper and used as the focal point of the card! Great idea!

Ah, yes - what a wonderful way to use up all of those little paper scraps you have laying around! All of these hearts were cut with the Cricut, as well as the "Love You" - but look how we used the negative of the cut instead of the actual cut letters...way to stretch your paper usage!

Lastly, this card was the one that we created as a Make & Take at my Open House. OK, it was a little ambitious for a Make & Take, but everyone who took the time to do it did an awesome job! This uses the "Pun Fun" stamp set, as well "Perfect Fit - Frames", "Love Life", and "Merry & Bright".

Whew! And this has only been part one! There's LOTS more fun artwork to come, so please check back for the next installment of "Just For Fun"!

Spooky Artwork!

I has occurred to me just recently that I have yet to post my Close To My Heart Open House artwork from the end of August! How I could have overlooked this is beyond me. So, let's start now by showing you the artwork that I had done with a Halloween theme.

This adorable coffin treat box was created using the Cricut "Artiste" cartridge - available exclusively from Close To My Heart. I don't know if you can tell, but there is a tiny black Sparkle at the bottom of the exclamation point, and a Licorice Opaque for the spider's body - it's the little things, you know? How cool would these be for your child's class party?! You could put stickers or tattoos or vampire teeth in them in lieu of candy - fun!

Here's another really fun project - not only great for holding candy sticks, but would make a great gift card holder, too. This project used the Cricut Artiste cartridge as well, along with one of my favorite new stamp sets, "Magic Potions". There's also some black Sparkles on the left one, and some adorable brads from the "Haunted Assortment" dressing up the two of them (yes, the tiny little skulls are brads!). You could use this stamp set for all sorts of fun Halloween-themed projects, from cards to apothecary jars. And the best part is that every image in the set has a coordinating cut on the Cricut Artiste cartridge! Whoohoo! Put away those scissors!

Here's a fun treat bag using the "Perfect Fit - Halloween" stamp set. The bag was cut with the Cricut Artiste cartridge, then I "fussy cut" the top edge of it to better fit the theme. What a terrific way to use up your paper scraps! The banners were created using the "Moonlight" paper pack - such fun and versatile patterns! (I just love Halloween!)

The last Halloween-themed project I did was to create the "Spellbound" Workshop-on-The-Go:

This thing was awesome! And I had SO much fun doing it! This WOTG is specifically designed to use with the Cricut Artiste cartridge - you cut just about EVERYTHING with it. All of the paper is provided - including six patterns that are exclusive to this kit:

Well, that ends the spooky artwork that was featured at this year's Open House, but...I have one more really cool, spooky card to share. This wasn't at my Open House, but it will be the Make & Take project we do at my next Gathering this month (if you haven't RSVP'd yet, what are you waiting for?! We're going to have a BLAST!)

This card uses paper from the "Moonlight" paper pack, and images from the "All Hallows Eve" stamp set (another very cool spooky set). I stamped the spider web in Whisper ink, and the crow/candelabra in Black.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this spooky inspiration! For more fun project inspiration, tune into "Clearly The Best" on MyCraftChannel.com! Here's a link to the latest episode: Clearly The Best! Enjoy!

Less Than One Week Left!

There's less than one week left to get your National Stamping Month "It's Your Day" DOUBLE Stamp Set from Close To My Heart! This set includes TWO D-sized stamp sets (a total value of $35.90), and can be yours for just $5 with a $35 purchase in full-retail products! Here's what you'll get:

Right away, the bicycle image was my favorite! So as soon as I got my set, I did this card:

So simple, yet so effective, with the second, third, and fourth-generation stamping of the bike after the first to create that sense of movement. Next, I was dying to do something with the chevron pattern:

I just love how bold this is! I stamped and cut out the butterfly image, which is included as well, for this one, then layered on a little bling to brighten it up! I also used the "swipe" stamping technique for my sentiment, which makes it look like it was colored with colored pencils (see "Swipe Hype" post from September 12). How fun! Lastly, I decided to use one of the word stamps as a fun border:

And just to make things more interesting & fun, I stamped one of the "LOL!s" into a speech bubble (also included!), and layered it on top of the border with 3D Foam Tape.

I would love to see what you come up with using this set! Email me your creations at aafaa@charter.net - you may see them posted here later! But don't forget - there's less than a week to get it!! Go to my website at funforyou.ctmh.com and order yours TODAY!

"Swipe Hype!"

I hope you are watching Close To My Heart's new online webisodes at www.mycraftchannel.com. If not, here is the link to the newest video, "Swipe Hype" (There used to be a link where I could embed the video in this post for you, but I couldn't find one this time - sorry!): SWIPE HYPE!

I just love this technique, and have used it before with gorgeous results. Let me share a card I did using the swipe technique:

 

This card goes back to January 2011, and uses the "You Are Beautiful" stamp set. Let's see if I can get in closer so you can see the "swipe" better:

It looks like I colored the flowers with a colored pencil, doesn't it? But I didn't. The stamp set is a base/shade set, where there is an outline stamp of the image, and then a solid stamp of the image to "fill it in". All I did was stamp my outline images, ink up my solid stamps, swipe light & quick across the surface of the ink pad, then stamp inside the outlines. I just love the results! I must admit, though, I have not tried the zig-zag or circular swipes that Monica talked about in the video - now I'm going to have to experiment! I just love using my stamps in new ways! Have fun doing the same!

See What You Can Do - Try Something New!

OK, truth time. How many of you acrylic stamp users have accidentally put your stamp on your acrylic block with the wrong side facing out? Then when you stamped it, you were shocked to see a large area of ink where you expected to see your image? Yeah, we've all done it. But today, I'm going to show you a technique where you're going to do just that - on purpose! I saw this technique/design by Julie Campbell in “Stamp It! Cards – Volume 9”. Here's how we'll make a cool "shadow-stamped" card:
 
Step 1: Place your stamp onto your acrylic block backwards, so that the flat side of the image faces out. Stamp the image onto your background in second-generation* ink (I used Close To My Heart's "Love Blooms" stamp set with Honey ink). (*To stamp in second-generation, ink up your stamp, stamp once onto scrap paper, then stamp the image onto your project.) Repeat this step in the bottom-right corner of the cardstock.

Step 2: Create a mask for your image by stamping it on a piece of scrap paper or a sticky-note, then cutting it out. (Originally I had this as Step 3, which is why you see that the next step is already done in the photo. But if you do this now, it saves you having to switch your stamp around again to create the mask.)

Step 3: Turn your stamp image around so that the correct side faces out, and stamp your image on top of the "shadow" you created. Use first-generation ink in the same color for this step.

Step 4: Cover your image(s) with the mask(s) you created, then repeat steps 1-3 with the smaller flower image, overlapping the larger flower several times. (I used Sunset ink). Remember to stamp your "shadow" in second-generation.

Step 5: Using the masks you created for the flowers, repeat the stamping technique with the leaf image (I used Olive ink). Here is the completed background:

Step 6: Now all that's left to do is build your card! To finish mine, I pierced holes around the edges of my background, then mounted it to my Sunset card front. I then tied some Olive Baker's Twine around the front of the card, stamped a sentiment in Olive ink from the "Casual Expressions" stamp set, mounted it to an oval piece of Sunset cardstock, then mounted that with 3D Foam Tape to the front of the card. I think it came out really nice, and I didn't have to hand-color a thing!

So the next time you accidentally stamp the wrong side of your image, remember that you can turn it into a beautiful work of art! Who knew?!

"Clearly The Best"!

Hello everyone!

Whew! I spent so much time preparing for my Open House last Friday night, that now all I want to do is ...nothing! So, until I get myself back together (which should be very soon!), please enjoy this episode of "Clearly The Best" - a new series from Close To My Heart on www.mycraftchannel.com. Christine and Monica are the BEST! Talk to you soon!

Don't Wait! Act NOW!

I know I just posted about National Stamping Month, but this news required another post to update you. I mentioned in my August 1st post that this gorgeous Damask Tote Bag was being offered for FREE to new Consultants who signed up in the month of August...WHILE SUPPLIES LAST:

Well, that hasn't changed, and neither has the fact that you can now sign up as a member of my team for as little as $49! However, as of yesterday, the supply of these bags was down to 38% - and that was yesterday. Again, what have you got to lose?! Get over $100 of incredible product, plus this gorgeous bag for $49? Why would you wait?! Go to my website at funforyou.ctmh.com and sign up TODAY...before your chance to grab one of these bags is GONE!

Celebrate National Stamping Month!

Wow - the summer is flying by! It's the middle of August already, which means it's time to start celebrating! No, not the start of school in a couple of weeks, I mean National Stamping Month! Close To My Heart is starting the party early (NSM is actually September) with an incredible promotion! It's the double-D-sized stamp set, "It's Your Day". You will get almost 50 stamps between the two sets - and the best part...it's ONLY $5.00 with the purchase of $35 in full-retail product from Close To My Heart! That's incredible! I have this set, and it's adorable. Here are the images:

Was I wrong?! How cute! And if just seeing the images wasn't enough, here's Monica from CTMH's Corporate Office to show you some artwork:


Hopefully you will get a change to see this set in person (and order your own for just $5!) at my Open House on Friday evening, August 31st, from 7-9pm. Contact me for more details! Enjoy!

August is Awesome!

My head is about ready to explode from all of the incredible new things being offered this month from Close To My Heart. The NEW Autumn-Winter 2012 Idea Book is HERE!

And if all of the INCREDIBLE NEW PRODUCTS within it's pages weren't enough, there's also a brand new option for those of you who have been dying to sign up as a Consultant - the Essentials Kit.

With this new kit, you can join the CTMH family for just $49! Forty-nine dollars! It includes approx. $130 in retail value products! You will have what you need to get started, but if you feel like you need more, there's also the Master Kit, which includes approx. $280 in product, for $99. Feel like you need more? Well, you're in luck, because when you sign up to be on my team in August, you will receive this gorgeous Damask Tote Bag that every Consultant received at Convention this year - FOR FREE!

Isn't it beautiful? And very roomy, too. I was able to carry around multiple 12" x 12" projects, as well as all of the tools, blocks & ink pads that I needed in its spacious interior. And there is a water bottle pocket on each side of the exterior, as well as a shoulder strap and backpack straps! It's fantastic, but also WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!!! This is not an offer you want to wait on - these bags are going to go FAST! You can sign up for ONLY $49 right from my website at http://funforyou.ctmh.com. What have you got to loose! $130 in product PLUS the gorgeous bag for $49 - it's a win-win!


Beyond this amazing new option for new Consultants, there are SO many incredible new products in the new Idea Book (wow - how many "new"s is that?!) - but the most phenomenal is the (here it is again) NEW "Artiste" Cricut Collection!

Oh my goodness, "Art Philosophy" is incredible, but the "Artiste" Collection puts it to shame! The three D-size stamp sets you get with the Collection are super cute, and one of the three Dimensional Elements sheets you get with it is a mini album - the pages for which are cuts on the cartridge! Oh, I just can't tell you how cool this new Collection is! There are 20 different cupcake wrappers alone! With Bags, Boxes, Shaped Cards & Envelopes, plus tons of themed sets (Halloween, Birthday Boy & Girl, Mother's & Father's Day, Christmas, and more!), you will find something for every occasion in this new Collection! You get the Cricut cartridge, three D-sized stamp sets (see pictures below), and three Dimensional Elements sheets for $99 - and trust me - once you've seen what you can do with this Collection, you'll know what a bargain that is! Come to my Open House on August 31st from 7-9pm and see just what the Collection can do!

I am SO excited about this new Idea Book and Cricut Collection - I have to get creating! You can see the new Idea Book in its entirety right here: http://funforyou.ctmh.com. Enjoy!

BIG Changes to Studio J!

OK, last time I posted (admittedly, quite some time ago), I mentioned my Studio J homework for Convention. Well, I attended Convention in Dallas earlier this month and received my printed layouts - they are gorgeous!! I love Studio J so much. And now, you can, too! Close To My Heart has announced that they are doing away with Studio J memberships, so now EVERYONE can enjoy ALL of the kits and patterns available (no more "members only" tags!), AND get member PRICING on all printed layouts! That's right! You can use Studio J at NO COST at all, but if you choose to have your layouts printed, they're only $6.95 each - that's only $3.48 per page! Fantastic!

Here are some other fantastic changes:

- The price of a Studio J 5-Pack (includes 5 two-page layouts plus shipping & handling) has been reduced from $55 to $39.95! That's a huge reduction!

- You can now choose to purchase your layouts as JPEG files (instead of the printed layouts) for just $2.95 each.

- Express Collections! As if Studio J wasn't already fast & easy enough, Express Collections include 10 unique 2-page layouts - plus a front and back page - all designed with embellishments, My Stickease clusters, and custom color combinations. Just drop your photos in, add your journaling, and you've completed a custom album in minutes. There are six different themed collections: "All About Me", "Little Man", "Little Miss", "School Days", "Travels", and "Year in Review". Head over to Studio J and check them out! Here's one of the layouts from the "Little Miss" Collection:

- You can now add your Studio J order to any open gathering listed on your Consultant's website! Your order will count toward that gathering's sales and help the Hostess with her Hostess Rewards! In addition, Studio J layouts can now be a part of your Hostess Rewards!

- If you are ordering printed layouts from Studio J, there is a minimum order of 4 layouts required - BUT the maximum number of layouts that you can order for the low, low shipping price of just $5.95 has increased from 20 to 50 layouts! Unbelievable!

As you can see, there have been a lot of great changes and improvements to Studio J. I encourage you to create a FREE account and start playing. Once you do, you'll find that even if you are a "traditional" paper scrapbooker, you'll find a place for Studio J - you might even get a little caught up! Have fun!