Scarecrows Are My Fall Favorite - September SOTM Blog Hop

I don't know about you, but I just LOVE Fall!  The crisp weather and the harvest smells are just fabulous, so I was very excited to use September's stamp of the month set and I can't wait to see what all the other consultants have made this month.  If you have arrived here from Gina Brandstetter's blog, or if you are just starting out, you are in the right place!  When you're done here, you'll head on over to Katy Taylor's blog and see what awesome project she has whipped up for us this month.

I decided to focus on that super cute scarecrow, and I had great fun coloring him.  (I used my Copic markers on this one, but I can't wait until ALL of our new CTMH alcohol markers are available, so I know my colors are going to coordinate perfectly!)  Here's the fun card I made using that scarecrow:

 

 I started with a 5" x 7" card base from Indian Corn Blue CS, and sponged all of the edges with Indian Corn Blue ink.  The pumpkin image is also stamped in Indian Corn Blue.  I stamped the scarecrow image once on a 3" x 4" panel, and matted it with Sunset CS cut to 3.25" x 4.25", also with its edges sponged in Sunset ink.

You can see here, I stamped my image a second time on a scrap.  I colored in only the scarecrow and crow on that image and cut them out.  For the image stamped on the panel, I colored in everything except those items, then colored them in with just a gray marker so  it wouldn't be stark white.  I added snips of embroidery floss for the scarecrow's "straw", which I adhered on his back using Liquid Glass.  After that dried, I adhered the scarecrow and crow to the main image using 3-D Foam Tape.

I also sponged Sunset ink on my Color Ready Seam Binding (AFTER I tied the bow) to give it a more uneven and rustic look than if I had colored it with a marker beforehand.  Adding to the Fall in the country feel are that fabulous Burlap Ribbon and a ribbon slide from the Mini-Medley Accent Pewter Collection.

Here's a list of everything I used to create this card:

• Cardstock in Indian Corn Blue, Sunset, and White Daisy
• Archival Black ink pad
• Copic Markers (until all of my CTMH markers arrive!)
• 3-D Foam Adhesive
• Sponge Daubers
• Liquid Glass
• Burlap Ribbon
• Color Ready Seam Binding
• Mini-Medley Accents Pewter Collection
• Embroidery Floss
• Fall Favorites - September Stamp of the Month (get yours for only $5 with any $50 purchase!)

I'd love to hear what you thin of my card before you go.  Now, be sure to head on over to Katy Taylor's blog for her awesome project!  And be sure to come back for the National Stamp Month "It's Your Day" blog hop later! 

Back To School with Close To My Heart

Today is my last project as Guest DT member at Heart 2 Heart Challenges, and this week's theme is Back To School.  My kids started school last Monday, and already had their school pictures taken during the first week.  It's been quite a while since I've had a little "brag book" for my purse, so that's what I decided to make for today's project.

This was super simple to make using the Artiste Cricut cartridge from Close To My Heart.  This folded-up little booklet is made using the Card feature with the cut on page 60 of the handbook.  Also on this page are 6 different page styles that will fit in this book.  I chose to cut all three of my pages (one for each kid) using the Accent 1 feature for a simple page style.  Everything is cut at 3.9", which is the largest size that will fit on a 12"x12" mat.

So, the outside first!  I used the Scholastic papers and the stamp set from the Workshop on the Go.  The image is stamped in the new Ruby ink (I am in LOVE with this color!)  I trimmed the mat to leave off the sentiment part of the image, cut it to a 2" square and added the epoxy numbers from the new Memo Assortment.  I used round Durable Studs (rather than the square ones that come in the WOTG kit) to cover the little holes in the flap because I chose to close it a different way.  The little remaining adhesive was taken care of with a bit of baby powder.  I reinforced the larger binding holes using some eyelets from my hoard and made a simple tied binding.  For the ties, I colored some Color-Ready Seam Binding that I colored with the new CTMH Alcohol Markers in Ruby.

 Now, for the  inside!  I left the inside covers alone, except for this simple bookplate, stamped in Ruby.  I thought it was a neat little touch!

Since I want the pages to hold up to handling, I cut a set of pages from some clear plastic (recycling some heavy plastic packaging) as well as from my papers.  I used a thin line of Liquid Glass around the edge of the "front" side of the papers and adhered them to the "back" side of the plastic pages.  I cut photo mats from the Outdoor Denim CS in the paper pack and adhered them to the front of the plastic pages.

I designed each page trading card style, so there can be things written on the back.  I'm thinking I will have each one sign their name & list their favorite food, favorite song, etc.  "Holly Grade" is stamped using the A Typeset alphabet stamp set in Outdoor Denim.  The "4" is stamped with Rustic Numbers in second generation Chocolate ink.  (This stamp set is discontinued, but there are other large-sized stamps that will work just as well.  The other stamps are both from the Scholastic WOTG kit stamp set, with the number border stamped in Ruby and the dates stamped in Chocolate.

Here is how they look front-to-back in the book.  And there is still room to add another page for each kid if I decide to give them more room to write!

Finally, this is how I keep it closed.  If you look carefully, you will see a little white circle near the center point.  That is one of our new Hook & Loop Dots - its partner is hidden behind the stamped image on the front cover for a bit different style of closure.

I hope you like this little project from the Artiste cartridge!  I had SO much fun making this, and it went together very quickly. 

Don't forget, if you haven't bought your copy of Artiste yet, I have a special offer going on.  For every ten people that order the cartridge, one of them will win their cartridge purchase price back!  All you need to do is visit my website and join the gathering that mentions Artiste - 1 in 10 wins and order your cartridge.  (You can of course add other items to your order, like the stamp of the month, National Stamping Month special double stamp set, or whatever.  But if you win, only the cartridge price is refunded, not the entire order.)

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you enjoyed my monthly journey with the Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog; I know I sure did!  And I hope to see you again soon!

1 Sketch + 1 Paper Pad = 2 Looks

Do you ever wonder how you're going to use a single paper pad and manage to get a variety of looks from it?  Luckily, the 6" x 6" pads from My Minds Eye make it easy, and I have a few additional tips for you to carry it through.

I started with the Miss Caroline Dilly Dally paper pad and this weeks sketch from Mojo Monday.  --Just an FYI, I am the Queen of Sketches!  I love to take a sketch or pattern and use it to make my own creations. Sometimes I will just use it for the basic idea and completely change things up, but other times I will use it pretty much as is to make my life easier.  So, as I was recovering this week from a self-inflicted foot injury, I decided the easier my life, the better!  Here's the sketch I used for my two cards:

Using this sketch, I decided to make one masculine and one feminine card.  I left them sentiment-free for now so I can use them for whatever in the future.  Since the MME papers are double-sided, I used a single sheet of paper for each card (plus a small scrap for my flower center).  I made my cards 5" x 7", as  I prefer the larger size, and cut each panel to 3" x 5".  So, here are my two cards:

Even with the same overall design, kraft base, and distressing, I think they look pretty different.  The difference is all in the pattern paper I chose from the pad and the additional supplies I chose to use with them.

 For a more masculine look, I chose a more graphic paper, with a fairly simple pattern on the other side.  I added metal embellishments, which I distressed with a W5 Copic Marker.

I added trims in basic neutral colors, leaving frayed ends on the ric-rac and tying a simple knot in the hemp cord.  My additional embellishments were basic tickets, repeating the graphics from the paper without adding anything frilly.

For the more feminine look, I chose a floral pattern with a happy polka dot on the back side. I added some vintage crochet trim, sparkly glitter tape, and some paper flowers colored with Glimmer Mist.  The flower center is a clear button backed with a paper scrap and a few Kaisercraft Pearls in the center.  To enhance the feminine look even more, you could leave off the distressing and sponge the ink around the edges of the papers rather than the direct-to-paper techniques I used.  But I love a vintage look, especially paired with sparkly bling, so I kept the distressing. It reminds me a bit of my grandmother's kitchen!

I hope you enjoyed today's cards!  If you decide to follow my lead, I'd love to see your cards too.  You can snap a pic and send them through to the Cutters Creek Yahoo Group where we can all ooh and ah over them!

Supplies from Cutters Creek used for these two cards:

• My Minds Eye 6" x 6" paper pad, Miss Caroline Dilly Dally
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Tea Dye, Fired Brick and Evergreen Bough (Winter LE set)
• Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz stamps, At The Movies
• American Crafts Glitter Tape (currently a club-only item)
• Glimmer Mist, Patina
• Copic Marker, C5
• Glue Dots
• ATG adhesive
• Kaisercraft Pearls in Yellow
• Scotch Pop-up Foam Squares

Birthday Card with Gift Card Holder - and Color Challenge

Today is week #3 of my Guest DT stint over at Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  This week is a color challenge, and I'd love if you have time to play along!  Our challenge is to use Lagoon, Pear, and Sunset in our projects. I think these are some super fun & cheery colors, so I decided to use them to make a birthday card "plus".

This is a really fun card as-is, but there is more to this than just a card...

Open it up and, ta-da! It's also a gift card holder! The card is cut with the Artiste Cricut cartridge using the Card feature on page 59 of the handbook.  You just have to adhere together the sides and bottom of that center section so the gift card doesn't slide out, and that's it.  Now you can move on to decorating it.  The interior sentiment is also on the cartridge, on page 70 of the handbook.  I used my Cricut Gypsy to select the sentiment twice, then hide one word from each one so I didn't waste paper when I cut it in two different colors.

The balloons are also cut from the Artiste cartridge, then stamped with the coordinating stamps that come in the collection.  The balloon shape is also on page 70 of the handbook, and is cut at the size indicated on the carrier sheet for the stamps.  The Pear colored balloon is popped up with foam adhesive tape.  The other two balloons have their strings stamped on, but the pear balloon has a real string of Black Hemp tied on.

The "h" and "b" are Irresistibles Eclectic Chipboard Die-Cuts colored by sponging on Sunset ink.  On either end of the Lagoon CS strip, I added a Lagoon Sparkle for bling.

Products used to make this card:

• Artiste Cricut cartridge collection
• Cardstock and Stamp Pads in Lagoon, Pear, and Sunset
• Cardstock in White Daisy
• Black Hemp
• Foam Adhesive Tape
• Sparkles Blue & Green Assortment
• Irresistibles Eclectic Chipboard Die-Cuts

That's all for today!  I hope you find some time to play along with us at H2H this week!

Just a quick note, I managed to injure myself this weekend (lost a toenail and all!) and the first day of school is tomorrow.  So, I do plan to have posts this week, but since I don't want to injure myself further hobbling around the craft room, they will likely be projects I managed to finish over the last few weeks.  They are mostly more random scrapbook layouts, but I DO finally have that layout with the Clear Scraps embellishments finished so look for that this week!

I hope to see you again soon!

Carta Bella, Cricut, and Close To My Heart, Oh My!

I've been wanting to play with the Paris Girl collection from Carta Bella, and I finally find some time yesterday to make a sweet little project.  It's a mini-album from the new CTMH-exclusive Artiste Cricut cartridge, and I chose to make it for my niece who just had her first baby.  I figured it could be a cute little brag book to show off some fabulous pics from her first photo shoot.  Here's the outside:

August Challenge with Graphic 45

In case you didn't know, Graphic 45 has been running monthly challenges, where you upload a picture of a themed project to their Facebook page.  This month, the theme is Summer Scrapbook Layouts.  I've always got plenty of pictures to scrap, and I am absolutely in LOVE with Tropical Travelogue, so I was all over this challenge!  (I even went out and bought a whole new pad of the TT papers because I've been using them so "freely".)

So, here's my Summer Scrapbook Layout:

It was a little difficult to get a good picture of the blues for some reason, so I hope you can see it well enough. I love the look of a variety of strips of the patterns in different sizes!  Here are some closeups of some parts:

I used one of the stamp sets and chipboard that coordinate with the papers, and added hemp ties to the chipboard pieces.  The cardstock & inks are from CTMH.

I colored the flamingo image with my Copic markers and popped it up with foam tape.

More chipboard with hemp ties, and a stamped title.  All papers were sponged with coordinating inks from CTMH for added dimension.

I always have so much fun with these papers!  Hope I find some time (and pictures) to play with them again soon... although I do have another little project with them calling my name too.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope to see you again soon!

Kids Day!, part 2

Next up for Kids Day is Sarah.  She's a little more accomplished, as she has been crafting since she was about 3 years old.  Here are her cards for the Cutters Creek contest:

Well I used greeting farm stamps,memento ink, copic markers, and a little stickles.  Well and card backings.

Note from Mom: I know, I can't believe I let her use my Copic markers either... still shaking my head...

Kids Day!, part 1

Today, I'm turning over my blog to my girls for a bit.  They wanted to participate in the kids crafting contest at the Cutters Creek blog, so they're each writing their own post today!  I hope you (and the kid in your life) enjoy!

First up, Holly, age 9:

I used these stamps to the picture. I stamped with momenoto ink and colored it with stickels.

Note from Mom: yes, I really let my kids use Stickles, and they still seem to last forever!  Here's a closeup of her colored in people:

Dog Days of Summer

This is my second week as Guest DT member at Heart 2 Heart Challenges, and I am so excited to be playing along again!  This week's challenge is Dog Days of Summer, so the challenge is to feature an animal in your project - bonus points if you use a dog.  Here's what I made for this week:

I just LOVE this cute little dog stamp!  And since he's part of an 'A' size stamp set, he's pretty frugal as well.  I made a standard size notecard based on one of the sketch patterns in the new "Make It From Your Heart" volume.  The papers are also new, from the Flirty paper pack.  I colored my cut little dog in using Copic markers (C1, C3, C5) - our new CTMH alcohol markers are a great budget-friendly alternative to Copics, and they work the same way (and of course work WITH them as well).  After assembling the card, I added some shine to his nose and eye with a little Liquid Glass.  I also added some clear Sparkles to the corners for a little bling!

Items used to make this card:

• Make It From Your Heart, Volume 1, $7.95
• Colonial White card base - you can get a 50 card/envelope value pack for $14.95
• Flirty paper pack, $9.95
• A Bowwow, $6.95
• Clear Sparkles, $2.95
• Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad, Black, $5.25
• Copic Markers - I used C1, C3, C5 for the dog; CTMH alternative could be alcohol markers in Slate & Whisper, $5.95 each 2 marker set (available soon!)

Thanks for stopping by today.  I'd love it if you leave a comment or become a follower or email subscriber, and I hope to see you again soon!

Curious Decor with Graphic45

It's once again my turn to post at Cutters Creek!

 

I recently hit the local Goodwill again, and found another item begging to be altered.  I found this cute (but boring) little silver-toned tray for a whopping $1.99, so I threw it on the ever-growing pile in my cart.  Once I got it home, I pulled out some supplies from Graphic45 and turned it into a fun piece of art.

Using the Olde Curiosity Shoppe 12" x 12" paper pad, I started by cutting four strips of the polka dot paper at 5/8" and pleating it.  I did this by hand rather than using a scoring board for a more random look to the pleats.  I adhered it around the inner edge using 1/4" Scor Tape.  I then used my Cricut to cut an oval approximately 5" x 7" from the red & cream number paper to fit the center of the tray.  I distressed the edges of the paper with a distressing tool, then rubbed a Distress Ink pad in Tea Dye along the edges for an aged look.

I cut the center panel and the "45" piece from two additional papers, and distressed the edges with both the distressing tool and a Distress Ink pad in Antique Linen.  I backed the center panel with black cardstock and adhered it to the tray with adhesive foam. I then adhered an embellished chipboard tag and the "45" piece using more adhesive foam.

I decorate the top of the tray using 2 sizes of metal butterflies from Graphic45 Staples and a butterfly image cut from one of the papers.  Once I had my image cut, I used some Ranger Inkssentials Crackle Accents over the entire image.  When dry, I pierced the center and stacked it with the metal butterflies on a G45 Staples metal brad.  It is adhered to the tray using adhesive foam and Scor Tape.




Finally, I added some additional embellishments from my stash, and it is ready to display.

I hope you enjoyed my little piece of art decor!  If you'd like to make something similar, you can use as few or many of the following supplies as you'd like.

Available from Cutters Creek:

• Graphic45, Olde Curiosity Shoppe 12" x 12" paper pad
• Scor Pal, Scor Tape
• Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Tea Dye and Antique Linen
• Scotch Pop-up Foam Squares
• Ranger Inkssentials Crackle Accents

Other Supplies Used:

• Graphic45, Olde Curiosity Shoppe Chipboard Die-Cuts 1
• Graphic45, Staples metal butterflies and decorative brads
• Tim Holtz, Idea-ology, Clock Key
• black mesh ribbon and "feathery" flower - from my stash

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope to see you again soon!

Heart 2 Heart Sympathy

I am honored to be the Guest DT member at Heart 2 Heart Challenges this month, as I was picked as June's "Top Chick"!  The first challenge for this month is sympathy cards, and I thought the new Avonlea patterns and colors were perfect for the theme.

I started with a 5" x 7" card base and covered the entire front with the small circle pattern.  I then cut a panel from the medallions paper at 2 3/4" x 4 1/8", matted it with Avonlea Teal CS cut at 3" x 4 1/4", and adhered it approximately 5/8" from the right and flush with the top.  Next, I cut the medallion shape on page 56 of the Artiste Cricut cartridge handbook (Accent 1), sized as indicated on the Pirouette stamp carrier sheet, from Avonlea Green CS.  I then stamped the Pirouette stamp in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I also cut the double-ended banner on page 68 of the Artiste handbook (Shift-Accent 4) sized at 3/4", and stamped it with a sentiment from the new Words of Comfort stamp set in Chocolate ink.  I adhered the medallion shape to the left side of the card, then attached the sentiment to the back of a small metal medallion from the Brocade Assortment, and attached both so the metal medallion was centered in the CS medallion.  I added two Durables Round Studs to the matted panel and the design was complete.

I hope you enjoyed my card, and I hope you'll leave a comment and play along with us at Heart 2 Heart Challenges this month.  If you're interested in any of the products I used here, simply follow the links above.  If you are interested in other products, current specials, or seeing how to receive this awesome $50 bag when you join my team, just visit my website!

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope to see you again soon!

You're Doggone Super! - New Product Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our Close To My Heart new product blog hop!  We are featuring some of the fabulous new products in the Autumn/Winter Idea Book that just went live August 1.  If you've arrived here from Dawn Ross' blog, or if you are just starting out, you are in the right place.  When you're done here, you'll hop along to Judy Faye Garner's blog and see what great item she has cooked up for us!

I'm sure you will see a lot of projects this time featuring our more-than-awesome NEW Cricut Cartridge collection, Artiste.  But of course I could not resist adding just one more.  I also wanted to feature our new Clementine papers, totally because I did not think I cared for these papers when I saw them in the book!  But as soon as I saw them in person, I was totally converted and I hope you will love them too!  Here is my project:

You may recognize our cute pup stamp from a previous catalog, but I think he is SO cute I had to use him.  Plus, an image like this is great to color with our new alcohol markers (available soon)!  They weren't available yet when I created this, so I used my Copic markers, but if you want a less expensive alternative, ours are just the ticket! For just $5.95 you get TWO markers, the named color plus a shade lighter or darker (as indicated in the catalog).  The colors I used here would be similar to Saddle and a combination of Twilight and Crystal Blue.  You can choose any pink/red for his tongue.  Then I used some Liquid Glass to make his nose and eye look shiny.  I just love how he looks with those new Clementine papers!

Now, for that fabulous Artiste cartridge!  One of the things I got most excited about was these awesome swing cards!  There are 9 different designs on page 52 in the handbook.  I chose the card that uses the "Card" key on the keypad (so you press the "Card" key, then press "s") and cut it at 5.5".  That makes an approximately 4.25" x 5.5" card, and that center design is just slightly larger than the stamp of that shape that comes in the collection. (I stamped it in Twilight.)  If you look in the handbook on page 35, you will see that same shape, plus a banner shape that is perfect for making both my sentiment banner and making the center shape look like an award ribbon.  I cut all three of them at .75", two from pattern paper and one from Colonial White CS.  To cut this shape, press the keys Shift Lock, Accent 4, then "5" on the keypad.

But WAIT, that's not all!

Pull the left side of the card to the left and, voila!  The card "swings" and the image flips to something new.  I cut another of that center shape to cover the award ribbon tails I attached to the back of the front one, and stamped the coordinating image.  Next, I also cut the star shape at the size indicated on the carrier sheet for the "Super" star stamp and stamped the image in Sorbet ink.  I lined the inside of the card with Sorbet CS and stamped my sentiment, from A Little Thanks stamp set, in Chocolate ink.  I made sure to line up the sentiment so it would be hidden behind other card elements when the card is closed.

Note: To cut the pattern paper for the front/inside left of the card, I used a 6X6 piece of the paper on my cutting mat and cut the card shape again at 5.5" - and stopped it once it finished the "front" half of the card so it wouldn't cut into my mat too much.  Then I just trimmed a bit off of each side to leave a border.  When I assembled all the pieces, I popped the star image up with 3-D foam adhesive tape and attached the dog image with an adhesive spring.

I hope you enjoyed my project, and I'd love to hear your comments!  If you have questions about any of our new (or existing) products, just let me know.  I'm "the consultant with the know-how to show YOU how" and I love to answer questions.

Next, it's time to hop on over to Judy Faye Garner's blog and check out her project!  I hope to see you back here soon.