Thursday, September 29, 2011

Blog Hop! October Stamp of the Month: "Holiday Magic"!

Welcome to the Blog Hop! I am excited to show you what I created using the October 2011 stamp of the month which is called "Holiday Magic" (a set of 18 stamps). I have been looking forward to this one for a while because it is one of my favorites stamp sets AND I am going to use it for my own personal Christmas Cards this year!

Here is how the hop works. If you follow the link at the end of this post it will take you to the next blog in the hop and you can hop from blog to blog to see all of the examples and ideas that Close to my Heart Consultants came up with using this same stamp set! You will be inspired! If you are hoping then you came from my friend Casandra's Blog to arrive at mine.
















 





































Hope you like what I created. Here is a list of the supplies that I used! (October Stamp of the Month "Holiday magic", White Daisy Card Stock for card base, Cranberry Red Card Stock for layering, Cranberry Red Ink Pad, Pear Ink Pad, CriCut and Art Philosophy Cartridge to cut out stocking shape and postage stamp shape, red and white bakers twine)


If you would like to own the October Stamp of the Month let me know! Click Here to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount! When you place an order for $50 the SOTM set is only $5! This is a great time to stock up on supplies to make your Christmas Cards and recieve a discounted stamp set to use on them too!

Now "Hop" on over to Jean's Blog, Stampin' Maui, to see her work! Be sure to visit all of the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and see other fun examples!

Friday, September 23, 2011

FanFare 1 Page How-to Class


I created this scrap book page for a class that I am teaching Friday night at a local church's Ladies Night event. I wanted to share it with you, because even if you cannot attend the class, you can follow this recipe to see how I did it- and then make your very own.

I selected the paper pack called "Fanfare" because it is a great theme for us to scrapbook some of those photos we took this past summer. Maybe 4th of July, a parade, pool photos, etc? Also, the colors are suitable for a boy or a girl, man or woman!

List of Supplies used:
- White Card Stock as Base 12x12 (#1385 White Daisy 24 sheets, $9.50)
- Fanfare red B&T due paper cut to 4x12 (Fanfare Kit)
- Fanfare star B&T duo paper cut to 5x10
- Pacifica Blue Card Stock Border: Use Art Philosophy Cartridge set at 1 3/4" and use button settings:
  Font/Shift/Ticket-Arrow (bottom row)
- Cranberry Red Card Stock cut to 4 1/2 " x 6 1/2" x 2 (these are the mats for your 2 4x6 photos- no
   photo trimming required)
- White Card Stock Stars: Use Art Philosophy Cartridge set at 2 1/4" and use button settings: "Star 3"
   Shift button is 5 across 3rd down, this will match your star stamp perfectly
- Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge (#Z1686 $99.00)
- Sunny Yellow Ink Pad (#Z2152, $5.25)
- Glue Pen (#Z553, $4.50)
- Prisma Glitter (#Z134, $4.25)
- Craft Tray (#1764, $7.95)
- Cranberry Red brad x1 (#Z1361, $4.95)
- Piercing tool (#Z1114, $5.95)
- Micro-Tip Scissors (#Z534, $9.95)

Step-by-Step Guide:
1)      Glue the red 4x12 paper vertically along the RIGHT edge of your white card stock base
2)      Glue the star 5x10 paper horizontally along the BOTTOM edge and LEFT edge of your white card stock base
3)      Glue the blue scallop border along the top edge of the star paper. Line up at the corner. Scissor trim any extra along the left side of the card stock base
4)      Stamp star shapes with Yellow Ink and let dry. Line up star stamp with the center of the white card stock star cut out
5)      (set up glitter station) Use the glue pen to highlight areas of the star you would like to glitter. On the example all of the yellow was glued in, but you make make dots or glue the edge- up to you. NOTE: The glue will appear blue until it is dry. Will dry clear.
6)      Set wet glued star face up inside the craft tray and sprinkle with prisma glitter, shake off excess, tap or biff your star while holding it over the glitter tray (all access glitter will be returned to the glitter jar and used again) [Repeat 5 and 6 until you have 3 stars]
7)      Glue your three stars to the right red area of your scrap book page. You can group them closely or spread them out and turn them to slightly different angles
8)      BE CAREFUL! Use piercing tool to create a hole for your cranberry brad at the corner where your blue border and star paper meet. Place the foam under your paper. Press piercing tool through the paper. The tool is very sharp and WILL stab through the foam if you push hard enough. Be sure to do this on the table and NOT your lap! Place your brad.
9) Personalize with your 4x6 Horizontal Photos! Display proudly in your Scrap-Book Album!

***Repeat this page in mirror image to make this into a two page layout if you like.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

NEW While Supplies Last Discounts on my website!

My website has NEW While Supplies Last discounted items! Here are a few examples of the savings you can find there! I have already seen some great deals get away! You will want to see what is still available right away.

Ink Cubes, only $0.25!

FanFare Level 1 Paper Pack, only $7.00!

Twinkle Brads, only $1.00!

Dimensional Elements Borders, only $2.00!




Monday, September 12, 2011

I LOVE Thirty-One Products

Thirty-One: All-in-One Organizer holds CTMH stamp sets perfectly!
I "LOVE" Thirty-One Products! What is not to love about purses, bags, luggage, containers and organizers!? So, when I found out my friend Jessica was going to sign up to be a Consultant I was so excited! Now that I am in direct sales with my Close to my Heart business, I have even more desire to support my friends in their endeavors too! It is my way of helping them out a bit, while also "buying local". I will probably do a fair share of my gift shopping this year with my direct selling friends!

If you want to see all the new things that "Thirty-One Gifts" has in the new catalog, please view Jessica's website online here! She is currently holding a catalog party, so let her know if you need anything! (I would LOVE to surprise her with some orders). If you are like me and you take a look at the catalog and feel yourself saying "I want it all", then you may want to consider hosting a home party with her for your and your friends. As the hostess you will be able to earn special items for FREE and discounted prices!

Jessica is a great Consultant choice. She is excited about the products and very professional and organized. She really takes care of her hostesses!

I want to share a brief review of my favorite items that I have owned and tried and tested for a while now.



First, is the "All-in-one Organizer". (Page 36 of the online catalog) I get very, very, excited about products that seem to be "made for" an item I needed a home for desperately. THIS is just such a bag. I discovered that my Close to my Heart Stamp pads fit into this bag perfectly! I have 27 in mine! You can fit 25-30 stamp sets in this bag, depending on how loose or tight you prefer your finger space to be as you put them in and out. The ends of the bag have mesh pockets that are perfect for small embellishment packs such as buttons, twine, brads, and pens.



Second, is the "Fold-and-Go Organizer with Notepad". (Page 44 of the online catalog) I also get very, very, excited when I find a product that has a solution to something in my life that has long needed an organizational makeover. When it comes to my shopping lists and coupon cutting THIS is IT! I will look no further! It folds open to reveal the notepad are for list making (a hobby of mine). I use the pocket on the inside of the left flap to hold a pocket sized photo album. I sort my grocery coupons into the clear pages that I have labeled for different areas of the store; frozen, canned, paper goods... The photo album fits perfectly into the pocket. Then on the inside of the right flap is an elastic pocket. I use this area for a calculator, coupons I have clipped that need to be sorted, AND a place to collect the coupons I use as I am shopping. It fits just right into the front of the cart, where I can read it and reach it easily. This system is perfect for me.


I hope some of the ideas and products I have mentioned here can inspire YOU to conquer any organizational challenges you are working to solve in your life!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

First Blog Hop! September Stamp of the Month, "Limited Edition"

Hi everyone! This is my first time ever participating on a Blog Hop! I am excited to show you what I created using the September 2011 stamp of the month which is called "Limited Edition" (a set of 21 stamps). If you follow the link at the end of this post it will take you to the next blog in the hop and you can hop from blog to blog to see all of the examples and ideas that Close to my Heart Consultants came up with using this same stamp set! You will be inspired! If you are hoping then you came from Wendy's Blog to arrive at mine.

Here is my creation! I call it "Wedding Gift Tag, Embellished with Flower and Bow" :)



I created this tag to use on a gift for an upcoming Wedding that my Husband and I will be attending. I know the Bride really likes pink tones so I used "Smoothie" Card Stock. I stamped the tag shape in White Daisy Pigment based ink. I used Tulip ink to stamp the word "Congratulations", the flower petals, and the vine type accents. I used a smoothie brad to act as the center of the flower. White Daisy grosgrain ribbon accents the tip of the tag shape with a small bow and a tie-able length tail. (The flower was created with the leaf shape from the Sonoma Kit stamp set). Hope you like what I created.


If you would like to own the September Stamp of the Month let me know! Click Here to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount!

Now "Hop" on over to Jean's Blog, Stampin' Maui, to see her work! Be sure to visit all of the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and see other fun examples!