Frugal Scrappers Unite!

OK, I admit it, I can be a cheapskate about the weirdest things. I skipped buying the Back Country papers from CTMH when they came out this summer, because I couldn't think of enough reasons to use it (you know, "I have enough masculine patterns already") and couldn't justify spending the money even though I liked it.

As luck would have it, I pulled out our pictures from Canada at Epcot yesterday and immediately said "DA*N! I know just what paper would be perfect for these!" Of course I didn't have any because I didn't NEED it. Or did I? CTMH is kind enough to allow consultants to purchase sample rings of all new papers for each catalog, and I always buy one. But the pages are only 6x6, and they have a hole punched in one corner (for the ring). But I was determined to give it a try, because I'm too impatient to wait until next time I place an order to scrap these pictures! With some creative cutting of paper and covering of holes, I managed this 2 page LO with only 2 sheets of 6x6 pattern added to my CS!

All papers are from Close To My Heart. The tree border in my title area is cut with the Cricut, Plantin Schoolbook cartridge. Indivdual trees were cut using the Happily Ever After cartridge and Cricut Design Studio. The image is part of the Snow White section, and I stretched it in CDS to suit my purposes. (I just cut one taller tree and cut it in half with my paper trimmer.) Title is Mickey Font.

Kits, Clubs, and Crops, Oh My!

UPDATE: my blog design had to be changed back to normal for my standard posts, making the newsletter pretty much unreadable here! To see the full thing, just contact me with your email address! Following is a copy of my latest email newsletter. Use the link at right to sign up and receive it on a regular basis!

Close To My Heart Independent Consultant August 17, 2009 In This Issue Open House & Crop New Kits New Clubs Sunday, August 30th Informal Crop & Open House Stop by anytime 12pm - 6pm and see all that's new: new products, new workshops, new clubs, and new incentives! Or, stay all afternoon and stamp or scrap (just let me know you're coming so I have enough seats available). Plus, see our National Stamping Month card kit to Delight in the Everyday! Snacks & drinks will be served, and everyone is eligible for prize drawings. Bring a friend (or 2 or more) for extra entries. Quick Links Shop Online 24/7 My Website Visit My Blog Join Our Mailing List Greetings! I have a ton of fun things to share with you this time, and I hope you'll be as excited about them as I am! I'm hoping to save us all time & money, while still having a good time enjoying our hobby, and trying some new things. I know both time & money are tight in my house right now, and probably in yours as well. It makes scrapping and stamping even more important for me, as it's something fun I can do with friends or on my own that doesn't have to cost a lot of money or take up all of my precious "me time". I hope I can help you enjoy your hobby a little more also; read on to see what's coming up! Sincerely, Lori Brown Close To My Heart Independent Consultant 815-478-5119 Workshops on the Go All new & revised! I love our new Workshops on the Go! Newly redesigned workshop kits make it easier than ever to participate in workshops at my home OR on your own. Each month, I'll now be able to offer both a scrapbooking AND cardmaking workshop from the same Basic kit. Choose to attend one or both for one price. Here's the best part: the more you want, the more you save! Close To My Heart is packaging these kits with an exclusive stamp set, not available separately, and giving the Basic kits a great discounted price. In addition, I'm offering some special discounts with each workshop kit you purchase during this Idea Book. For your first kit purchase, you'll receive 10% off any Best items and Tool items you purchase. (I'll provide a list of Best and Tool options for each WOTG.) For your 2nd, you'll receive an additional 10% off the Basic kit as well as 10% off Best and Tool items. For the 3rd kit, you'll receive 15% off the Basic, Best, and Tool items. And for the 4th kit, you'll receive 20% off the Basic, Best, and Tool items. Each month, I'll feature a specific kit for the month's workshops, but you can purchase the kits whenever you want to receive the discounts. Keep reading to see how you can combine the workshop kits with my new Hostess Club to receive even more for your money! Reap the Rewards! Join the Autumn/Winter Hostess Club Earn Hostess Rewards the easy way. Just commit to placing a $30 order each month September through December and during your "hostess month" you receive $25 worth of free product. (Host a home gathering during your month to increase your rewards amount.) In addition to the Hostess Rewards, you will also receive our current Petite Perks stamp set as well as our current Connections Club reward. You'll also receive a project email each month featuring some special projects I'll share just with club members. Club orders will be due by the 5th of each month. This ensures plenty of time for December orders to arrive for Christmas. Thank you for reading again this month. I hope you'll love all the new things in store from Close To My Heart as much as I do! Lori Brown Close To My Heart Independent Consultant 25340 Shannon Dr Manhattan, Illinois 60442 815-478-5119

Extra Entry! Print out this coupon & bring it with you to my open house for an extra entry in the prize drawings. Forward this email to a friend - each person you send it on to can also receive an extra entry! Limit one extra entry per person. Offer Expires: August 30, 2009

Recessed Window Card

After reading this week's Weekly Inkling from Split Coast Stampers, I just had to try the Recessed Window technique with a "new" stamp set I've been wanting to play with ever since it came. I'm super happy with how this card turned out, especially after all of the attempts to make my dandelion "fuzzy". I think this one finally got it right!

Using the Recessed Window turorial from Split Coast Stampers, I created a 6x6 card in Sweet Leaf cardstock. (Note: all products used in making this card will be available on September 1st, on my website.)

After creating the recessed window, I cut my pattern papers for the front and inside of the card. The paper I used is a B&T Duos paper from the new CTMH paper pack Twitterpated. The multicolor pattern is on one side, and the blue tone-on-tone pattern is on the other.

I stamped my main image using White Daisy pigment ink and embossing with white EP. I stamped the stem using Sweet Leaf dye-based ink. After embossing, I used a two-way glue on the centers of each "puff" on the dandelion and pressed on some white Fun Flock (by Stampendous). Note that when using two-way glue, you'll only want to do a few at a time so you press the Fun Flock in while the glue is still blue.

After stamping the main image square, I added my Tombow adhesive to the recessed area, and slid in my image. Next, I stamped the "Make a wish" sentiment at the top of the patterned paper frame using Chocolate ink. I also sponged all edges of both the frame, and the remaining center (used on the inside of the card) with the Chocolate ink. For embellishment I knotted a sheer satin-edged ribbon at the bottom, and added 3 self-adhesive pearls. (The pearls are the Autumn/Winter Connections Club reward.)

On the inside of the card I again sponged all edges with Chocolate ink. I adhered my patterned paper to cover the back of the recessed window, and I stamped and embossed a few dandelion "puffs" on the inside as well. I stamped my sentiment in Sweet Leaf on Coloial White CS, sponged the edges with Chocolate, and adhered to the center top of the card.

Not shown, I also stamped a single "puff" on the card back where I like to sign my cards.

I hope you enjoyed this little preview of things to come in September with the new catalog. This stamp set is available in September only, so don't wait! I'll be hosting an Open House and informal crop on Sunday August 30th. For more information, sign up for my email newsletter. All information will be in the next newsletter, going out within the next few days (or upon receiving your signup request).

It's Your Day birthday card

I made this fun birthday card using Close To My Heart's stamp of the month set for August, It's Your Day. It's a fun 8" x 3.5", perfect if you're gifting money!

I like the fun designs in this stamp set, and my favorite part is that all of the parts are separate pieces. Notice that my cake is 5 layers high, more suitable for a tall card like this. Two layers might be great for a small enclosure card, or 3 for a standard size card.

I used CTMH's Good Times papers for the card, and stamped in the matching colors. To get the nice multicolor look, I stamped on White Daisy CS, then colored in the white parts with markers. To make my life easier, the little strip covering where the two papers meet is cut from the matching MyStickease sheet, but you could easily use another paper, or some fun ribbon for texture.

My circle phrase is layered on chipboard. You can cut your own shapes from CTMH's plain white chipboard, or try one of the precut design sheets. Mine is just the plain chipboard, cut into the proper size circle with the Cricut. The multicolored look is easy again by stamping on the white CS. The green & yellow are 2 stamps that fit together, and I just used the brown to stamp on top. It's easy to stamp on top of a lighter color with a darker color like brown, with no show through. And I love that the clear stamps make it so easy to line the designs up! I added a single Sparkle to the exclamation point for bling, and the front is done.

I did just some simple sentiment stamping on the inside of the card. I added a couple of Sparkles again to tie the design in with the front of the card, and it covered up the "holes" in the design of the oval stamp. (If I was using this stamp elsewhere, I might have made it a separate layer and used brads here to attach it, but it wasn't necessary on the inside.

Lastly, just for an extra little touch, I added a stamp from the set to the back of the card. This is where I normally put my "made by" stamp, but I like it when I can coordinate with the rest of the card.











To see more ideas using this same stamp set, visit the Artwork page of my CTMH website. I have a variety of items from different consultants posted there. You can also see the actual stamp set design by clicking on the link on the front page of my website here. Any questions? Just leave a comment, or send an email through my website!

Free Cricut CUT File

I managed to squeeze in some time to play today, and created a vinyl phrase cut for our dining room/living room area. This area is right as you enter the house, and even though we don't use it much (we don't really have much furniture for these "extra" rooms yet!), I've been trying to decorate bit by bit. This wall is directly across the room from the front door, so people tend to look here first. I've wanted to fill in some space without adding more "stuff", so I've added some vinyl.


First, let me point out that I did NOT do the tree. I don't have that much patience, LOL! I bought that from my Stampin' Up! rep last month. It came in multiple pieces and it was a cinch to put up. I created the phrase in Deign Studio using the Lyrical Letters cartridge. "Together" is welded, and I will say that it was a bit of a challenge to get it on the transfer paper with all of those loops! The rest was much easier to place; I actually love that the transfer paper has a grid on it to help line up the letters. I've never used it for the smaller things I've done before, but it really came in handy here. The overall length of this phrase is about 40".

Now, on to what you really want: the CUT file! I've uploaded it to 4shared where you can download it for free. Here's the link: http://www.4shared.com/file/123183012/aedfce54/Together_LL_weld.html

Leave me some comments & let me know what you think! I like sharing this kind of thing, because the time involved seems more worthwhile if it gets used more than once!

Guilt Trip Photos

Wow, it's been over a month since I've added anything to the blog! I feel SO guilty! Probably like yours, our family has had a very busy July with little downtime for creating or blogging. We've been to a huge 4th of July celebration, a family reunion, blueberry picking, and a day at Chuck E. Cheese's (due to a weather-related zoo cancellation!). We also had a week of evening Bible School, and we got to drive the youngest to Speech once a week and hang around waiting for him.

So, to get over this guilt trip I've been on about not blogging, I treated myself to some scrapbook time over the last several days so I would have some new things to share here. I'm STILL scrapping our trip to Disney from last January, so that's what I've been working on. I almost have our adults-only day at Epcot finished finally, and here are the results of the last few layouts I've finished.

Here we have beautiful Germany, land of my ancestors! I used the Cricut Blackletter cartridge for the title. CS is from Close To My Heart, and patterned papers are from Daisy D's and Bo-Bunny. Crocheted flowers and all brads are also CTMH; paper flowers are Prima & unknown.

Up next is wonderful Italy! All papers are Heidi Grace from Fiskars (Wild Daisy Road). The title was cut using the Cricut Calligraphy Collection cartridge, Matrimony font. Scalloped border punch, swirly stamping wheel, and sparkly brads all from Stampin' Up!, and all other brads from Close To My Heart.

Lovely Japan! This LO uses REALLY OLD papers from Close To My Heart. So old, I don't even remember the name, and the images were punch outs instead of stickers. Also uses Circle Window Charms, and Edge Anchors from CTMH. The cute little Japanese girl is a clear stamp from Hero Arts, the ribbon is unknown, and the title is cut with the Cricut cartridge Caligraphy Collection, Inspiration Blackout font.


Finally, mysterious Morocco. You may notice this LO design looks familiar. I unintentionally used the same design as Germany, but they are far enough from each other in the album that I don't think most people would notice! CS is from Close To My Heart. The 2 patterned papers are from Basic Grey's Boxer line, as are the chipboard accents. Uses brads from CTMH, and the Believe upper & lower stamp sets from CTMH for the title. Notice my little arch I made? I used Cricut Design Studio to stretch an image from the Fabulous Finds cartridge so it mimics an architectural arch, and positioned the design and paper so it only cut into the bottom edge of my piece. (I was really pleased with how well this idea turned out!) I used Bamboo ink from CTMH for distressing and shadow effects for the archway.

Well, that's it for now. Hopefully, it won't be another month until I post again! School starts soon, and I finally have 2 of my 3 gone all day. Little man Drew will go to Preschool 3 mornings a week. We've yet to hear about Speech Therapy sessions from the school district; hopefully that can be scheduled the other two days so he's not completely overwhelmed with school!