Cape May Crop

I had such a wonderful time scrapbooking with my convention buddy & fellow Close To My Heart consultant, Judy, in beautiful Cape May at the Crop Classix crop. It was great to meet some new friends and share ideas throughout the weekend. In particular, I wanted to share some of the beautiful cards made by one of our scrapping friends, Janice Corrado. She was very humble and insisted that these were 'nothing special' since they were mostly "scrap lifted", but I beg to disagree since each one was personalized with her own style and artistic touches. They were simply gorgeous. As usual, photos do not do them justice, but I hope they provide you with some ideas and inspiration. I know they did for me! Thanks for allowing me to share these, Janice. They're wonderful!

Purity Spring Workshops

Less than 10 days until I'm packing up for Purity. I can't wait! I really love the Purity Spring scrapping event and am putting the finishing touches on the workshops I'll be holding.

I'll be doing a couple of classes that I hope will introduce my friends at Purity to a few new techniques and give them a little sample of what can be done with the new CTMH Cricut cartridge - Art Philosophy. I will be doing a couple of wintery themed workshops (photos below) and also teaching a class to demonstrate an interactive technique from our 'Magic' layout book (photos coming soon!).

I have a limited number of spots available for these workshops, so if you're coming to Purity and see something you like, please e-mail me to pre-register.

Here are some photos of the two 'Holiday Jump Start' classes:

Festive Holiday Cards Workshop 12 cards & envelopes (4 each of 3 designs)

Saturday, 4:15pm - Cost: $20.00

Wintery Fold Out Box Album

Friday, 4:00pm - Cost: $15.00

Wow! Great Stamps at Great Prices!!

Oh my goodness... Just wait until you see all the exciting new stamp designs offered in the new Idea Book. They are truly unbelievable! And with the new LOWER PRICES (yes, you heard it!!) you can have all the ones you love!!

A size - 6.95

B size - $$9.95

C size - $13.95

D size - $17.95 ($5 lower!!)

E size - $29.95

I just loved this card when I happened to flip the catalog open to this page, but love the stamp set even more! You can change your wreath design to match the season. So cool!!

(Please excuse the quality! I'm rushing!! :)

July Campaign - Bang For Your Buck!

The Close To My Heart special for July is called Bang For Your Buck - - and you really DO get one!! Just purchase a minimum of $50 and you will get to select one of five sets for only $1. And don't forget - that will also qualify you for the Stamp of the Month set for only $11.48. That's 50% off!

For more details, please click on 'July Special' tab above or click here to place your order!

H2H Challenge - Apr 18th

Happy Spring!! The wonderful team at H2H Challenge blog has decided to do their first blog hop. They're calling it a Bunny Hop and it will feature projects with Easter or Spring themes. Well, I decided that a Bunny Hop project would just have to include - what else?? - a bunny! What says Easter or Spring better than cute little bunny rabbits?

I'm so excited to see how the H2H Bunny Hop works and am very happy to be participating. I can't wait to see what all the talented people out there create. Be sure to visit them all!

All materials are Close To My Heart. Click here to order!

Stamps: March SOTM - Sensational Season

Paper: Sophia papers and CS

Ink: Chocolate, Pear, Tulip

Accessories: Pink Button Collection, White Waxy Flax

H2H Challenge - Mar 7th

This week's challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog is to create a scene using 3 different stamps. Wow! This really was a challenge, but it was SO much fun! I had started out wanting to do somethingwith my rainbow stamps and create a card for St. Patrick's Day, but just couldn't quite get what I was looking for. Maybe the lack of creative juices stemmed from the fact that I couldn't really get excited about a St. Patty's card...? I'm not sure, but it wasn't happening!
Anyway, I knew I wanted to use the cloud toput my sentiment on and was using the masking technique to try to make the rainbow come thru the cloud and have the sun behind it when inspiration struck! Ah-Ha!! Perfect time for a clear card!! So the moral of the story is, whenever you're making a card and think 'masking technique', try thinking 'clear card' instead. Let me know if it works for you!

All materials are Close To My Heart. Click here to order!

Stamps: Over the Rainbow, Month of March, Month of April, Doodle Alphabet, Card Chatter-Birthday

Paper: Cherry-0, Sweet Leaf CS, White Daisy CS

Ink: Vineyard Berry, Pacifica, Sweet Leaf, Sunflower, Gypsy

Accessories: Clear Cards, Splendor Designer Brads

H2H Challenge - Feb 28th

Wow! I love color challenges because they show us so many great combinations that we wouldn't normally have thought of. I'm not a huge fan of purple, but just love how the CTMH Gypsy color looks when mixed with Creme Bruele and Black.

Gorgeous! Thanks, H2H, for once again pushing us outside our comfort zone.

All materials are Close To My Heart. Click here to order!

Stamps: Delightful Things, Card Chatter-Birthday

Paper: Black, Gypsy & Creme Brulee CS

Ink: Black, Gypsy

Accessories: Black Opaques

H2H Challenge - Feb 21st

Well, a week has flown by and I'm posting again thanks to the fun challenge posted at the Heart 2 Heart Challenge blog.

This week's challenge is to design something that makes you think COLD. I've been having fun this week working with my rubber brayer to create skyscapes and this was a perfect challenge to create something against a chilly, winter sky. The color in my photo isn't quite true - - it's actually a very rich midnight blue - - but I think you'll get the idea.

All materials are Close To My Heart. Click here to order!

Stamps: Nature's Gift

Paper: Outdoor Denim CS, Sky CS

Ink: Black, Outdoor Denim, Versamark

Accessories: Sparkles, Clear Embossing Powder

February Gathering Projects

What a fun morning I had in my craft room, preparing new projects for some gatherings I have coming up! I'll be doing one for my friends from my old neighborhood & am really looking forward to teaching them a little about scrapbooking, then spending the rest of the night gabbing and solving the world's problems (we're really good at that - just ask us!! *Ü*). I miss seeing them every day! I'm also doing one for my friend, Laura, and her friends & family. She loves the Wings paper, so I know she'll enjoy making these projects.

I love making sample art for my Workshop On The Go workshops, but it's so nice to start with a blank (well, almost! :) slate and just create. Working with the Wings papers is so fun - the colors are vibrant and the designs are really unique. Projects practically create themselves!

Using one of my favorite layouts designs, 'Creative Rhythm' from the Cherish layout book, I made this layout then added some embellishments using the Stamp of the Month for February, 'Friendship'. The stamps in this set are so versatile! As you can see, I stamped one of the larger flower designs twice to create the butterfly and stamped the smallest one across the thin strip of Vineyard Berry cardstock. They're also great for creating background designs - - try stamping them on a darker cardstock with Versamark ink for a very subtle, classy result!

With my scraps ('Don't collect it - Use it!'), I then created this card which is a variation of one created by Lynn Como. Take a good look at the subtle background behind the sentiment... When I teach classes, I always remind people that "there are no mistakes, just happy accidents". Well, this is a perfect example! I had tried using Vineyard Berry ink first, but didn't really like how it came out. I thought I had cleaned my stamp before changing to Juniper, but apparently hadn't :{ Because I was using the 3rd generation stamping technique, there wasn't very much VB left on there anyway, but it created just a hint of red in the design which actually enhanced the soft, watercolor effect and looked great! I just hope I can recreate it at my gatherings!!

All products used are Close To My Heart. Click here to order!

Paper: Wings, Vineyard Berry Cardstock

Stamps: Friendship

Inks: Juniper; Vineyard Berry; Black

Accessories: Pearl & Black Opaques

H2H Challenge - Feb 7th

What an appropriate challenge for Valentine's Day -- Kissing!! Isn't that fun? 'Kissing' is a stamping technique used to transfer one stamp image to another. If you want to watch a terrific YouTube video demonstrating this technique, just click here.

Inspired by CTMH's beautiful new Bohemian alphabet, I wanted to try adding patterns or images to other alphabet stamps. In this project, I used the Rustic alphabet and a small heart image from the Over the Rainbow stamp set. To create the pattern, I inked each letter with Blush ink, placed the block on my work mat ink side up, applied Vineyard Berry to the heart stamp and stamped it carefully onto the letter. I repeated this multiple times, then stamped the letter.

Check out the Heart 2 Heart challenge page for more wonderful ideas using this fun, creative technique. Thanks for stopping by and have fun kissing! xx

All products used are Close To My Heart. Click here to order!

Paper: Black & Colonial White Card Stock

Stamps: Rustic Alphabet; Over The Rainbow; Amore

Inks: Vineyard Berry; Blush; Black

Accessories: White Organdy ribbon

H2H Challenge - Jan 31st

I loved the sketch for this week's H2H Challenge! I was thinking of doing some type of medallions or flowers down the side, but since we're getting walloped with yet ANOTHER snow storm, well... We can't fight it, so might as well embrace it, right??

Here's the H2H sketch I was working from. Hop on over there and try one yourself!! Thanks for checking out my blog!!

All materials are Close To My Heart. Click here to order!

Stamps: Snow Flurries; Unity

Paper: Magnifique

Ink: Colonial White; Pacifica

Embellishments: Organdy White Daisy Ribbon; Sparkles

Get Sketchy #72

This Friday's Get Sketchy design was a lot of fun to work with. I don't usually vary from the standard 4.25x5.5 card size, but this challenge inspired me to break out of that habit. That's what these challenges are all about - - pushing you out of your comfort zone!

The ribbon border around the stamped flower was a new technique for me, too. I punched out a circle and put adhesive around the perimeter, then worked the ribbon around the edge, gathering it as I went. This is definitely something I'll try again!

Here's is the Get Sketchy design I was working from:

All materials are Close To My Heart. Click here to order!

Stamp: Delightful Things

Paper: Veranda

Ink: Tulip, Juniper

Embellishments: Organdy Ribbon with Satin Trim, Juniper Brad, Juniper Bitty Brads

Get Sketchy #71

See! I told you I'm addicted!!

This will be my third and FINAL challenge that I participate it. Well, for now anyway! :)

I really love making butterflies with this month's Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month - 'Find Your Style'. I used it on the banner I have hanging in my craft closet, too. (see 'Let's Get Organized' post) LOVE IT!! If you love it, too, please leave a comment!

All materials are Close To My Heart:

Papers: Magnifique

Stamps: January Stamp of the Month - 'Find Your Style'

Inks: Pacifica, Lagoon, Chocolate

Embellishments: Green/Blue Sparkle Assortment

Mojo Monday #175

I'm really having fun trying my hand at these challenges! The fact that there are certain guidelines to follow takes some of the decision making away, which really speeds up the design process. I like it!!

Here's my submission for MojoMonday - January 25th:

I've been working with the Close To My Heart 'Bliss' papers, so already had them out on my work table. I'm a little disappointed about how the 'You're Amazing' stamp came out in the photo. It's actually Grey Flannel and matches the grey in the papers, but came out very green in the photo. Adjusting it just made the rest of the card look wrong, so you'll have to use your imagination.

I'm already looking forward to next week! :)

All materials are Close To My Heart.

Paper: Bliss

Stamps: Unity

Ink: Grey Flannel, Chocolate

Embellishments: Colonial White Organdy ribbon; Pewter Mini-Medley brads; Bliss MyStickease; Mocha Opaques

H2H Challenge - Animal/Bird Card

This is my first challenge entry and I had so much fun doing it! I'm hooked!! This week's challenge on the Heart 2 Heart Challenge blog is to create a card using an animal or bird. I love the Nature's Gift stamp set and thought it would be perfect to create a more masculine Valentine's Day card.

I used paper from the Bliss collection. It's one of the new paper collections available as of February 1st. I love the versatility of the colors - - they are mostly earth tones, which makes it easy to use any other color with them. It is my featured Kit of the Month for February and I'm challenging my members to bring photos of themselves with their husband or boyfriend to use in the workshop to celebrate Valentine's Day.

All supplies used are from Close To My Heart. Click here to order!

Paper: Bliss Level 2 Paper Pack

Stamps: Nature's Gift, Amore (Retired-I have limited supply available)

Inks: Cranberry, Chocolate, Brown Staz-On

Other: Clear Cards, Mocha Opaques, Glitz Glitter Gel