Saturday, November 30, 2013

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - December: Special Care

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we’re featuring the December set Special Care, a set of 6 stamps. If you have come here from Mary Eisen's blog, you’re in the right place! There are more than 50 independent Close to My Heart consultants sharing artwork made using the Stamp of the Month and other great Close to My Heart products. Hopping is simple to do – just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one.

The Blog Hop is a great big circle. Start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way you’ll find a complete list of participating consultants here. You can use this list to pick up where you left off.

Off we go!



How do you take a beautiful stamp set (one of my favorites from this Idea Book) that seems perfectly appropriate for scrapbook pages for babies and small children and use it in a way that is the exact opposite? It wasn’t as challenging as I originally thought.

The fact that my assigned paper packet was Frosted helped. The blues and grays lend themselves well to the water/wash theme, but the Jute Ribbon and Champagne cardstock added warmth. Once I added the pop of color with the Teal Jewels and Aqua Dots, I had a card that was both cool and comforting.


Here is what I used. All products are Close to My Heart:

S1312 Special Care stamp set
X7175B Frosted paper packet
1388 Colonial White cardstock
Z2117 Crystal Blue Exclusive Inks stamp pad
Z1891 Base & Bling Teal Jewels
Z1883 Base & Bling Floral Accents
Z1853 Aqua Dots
Z1732 Color-Ready Seam Binding Ribbon
Z1867 Jute Ribbon
Z1686 Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection


Now “Hop” on over to Susan Brooks’ blog to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s blog to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas! Don’t forget, this exclusive stamp set is only available through December 31st! Click here to order yours today!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Why Switch?



Discover why now is a fantastic time to make the switch and join the Close To My Heart family. Make a fresh start, discover great products, and earn a real income when you become a Close To My Heart Independent Consultant!

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Artbooking Made Easy: Cross-Cartridge Collaboration (S01E11)


While each Cricut® collection from Close To My Heart is a treasure trove all its own, together they offer an unmatchable selection of borders, overlays, photo mats, and much, much more! The thousands of both classic and trendy die-cuts found within this terrific trio will ensure that the projects you make are always uniquely your own. Mix 'em, match 'em, and love 'em!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Artbooking Made Easy: Freedom Layouts (S01E10)


The Cricut® Artbooking cartridge from Close To My Heart has shapes you'll love for your patriotic layouts and cards—and for all celebratory layouts and cards after that! Get great ideas from this video for using the freedom-themed keys to make sparkling titles, photo mats, overlays, and accents for any project.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - November: Illuminate

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we’re featuring the November set Illuminate, a set of 15 stamps. If you have come here from Haley Dyer’s blog, you’re in the right place! There are more than 50 independent Close to My Heart consultants sharing artwork made using the Stamp of the Month and other great Close to My Heart products. Hopping is simple to do – just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one.

The Blog Hop is a great big circle. Start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way you’ll find a complete list of participating consultants here. You can use this list to pick up where you left off.

Off we go!


I really wasn’t sure how I felt about this set when I first saw it. It’s not my typical style, and so I thought about what I was going to do for the Blog Hop for a while - nothing solid, just ideas bouncing around in my head.

When I actually sat down to work on my card, I decided I should look at papers again. I had originally thought I’d pair Illuminate with the Sparkle & Shine paper (which happens to be the assigned paper pack for the person using the Stamp of the Month for my team’s Display Board Swap), but I wasn’t sure. I went through my paper samples a couple times and realized that this particular pattern from Laughing Lola was speaking to me. The paisleys look to be made of gold and sort of twinkling like lights! (The color is actually called Laughing Lola Gold, but if you see the coordinating cardstock it’s also got a slight green hue to it.)




I think I ended up with another simple, yet elegant result.

Here is what I used. All products are Close to My Heart:

S1311 Illuminate stamp set
X7170B Laughing Lola paper packet
1388 Colonial White cardstock
44751 Archival Black Exclusive Inks stamp pad
Z2162 Honey Exclusive Inks stamp pad
Z2167 Crème Brulee Exclusive Inks stamp pad
Z1862 Black Mini-Medley Assortment
Z1335 Opaques Licorice Adhesive Gems
Z1809 Black Shimmer Trim


Now “Hop” on over to Krista Hershberger‘s blog to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s blog to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas! Don’t forget, this exclusive stamp set is only available through November 30th! Click here to order yours today!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Artbooking Made Easy: Festive Mini Albums (S01E09)


With the Cricut® Artbooking cartridge from Close To My Heart, your photos will find a cozy home on the pages of a dazzling holiday mini album. Watch the video to gather your own ideas on how to use its themed keys to create merry and bright holiday projects that last.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Trendy Trims


Your layouts, wall hangings, goodie bags, and other projects will come to life with some fun new trims from Close To My Heart! Whether used as pattern pieces, background designs, or accents, these trims are sure to add a lot of zest and dimension to your papercrafting.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Artbooking Made Easy: Everyday Layouts (S01E08)


Combine cuts from a variety of themes from Close To My Heart's Cricut® Artbooking cartridge to make original papercrafted masterpieces. Watch the video to kick-start your ideas!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Artbooking Made Easy: Fall into Artbooking (S01E07)



Fall for the autumn-themed projects you see in this video, all made with the Cricut® Artbooking cartridge from Close To My Heart!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Holiday Gift Guide Blog Hop 2013

In honor of Close to My Heart's new Holidays from the Heart Gift Guide, some members of the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop have decided to do a special hop featuring these new and exclusive products. If you have come here from Jody Gustafson's blog, you're in the right place. There are 22 Close to My Heart consultants participating in this Hop. If you get lost, click here to find your place again.



The 21-page Holidays from the Heart Gift Guide is a festive supplement to the Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book. Inside you’ll find all-new products, offered for a limited time only, including papers, project kits, embellishments, stamps, and more to pull off a memorable holiday season!

Any regular follower of the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop has probably noticed that I almost always make a card. I don't necessarily do this on purpose, but many times I don't have as much time to create as I'd like so I find that a card is a faster project than anything else. That being said, I made a conscious effort to create something different (different for me) for this Hop.

I generally prefer more traditional Christmas colors, but I am loving the varied shades of greens and reds in the Sparkle & Shine products. The Juniper, Ruby, and Slate have a sort of 50s feel to them, and I really like that. I also love the designs of the Sparkle & Shine Complements, so I decided to make a Christmas layout. I might as well have at least one done ahead of time, right? I hadn't used any of the layout patterns out of Make It From Your Heart Vol. 2 yet and that was another thing on my to-do list. Here's what I came up with:



I used the Sparkle & Shine paper pack (X7176B), the Sparkle & Shine Complements Dimensional Elements (X7176C), and the Ruby Mini-Medley Accents Collection (Z1861).

Now Hop on over to Judy Faye Garner's blog to see what she's created for you! Don't forget to go all the way through the Hop so you don't miss out on any of the artwork!

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Babycakes Birthday Card Workshop

Babycakes isn't just for babies! I chose 12 card patterns and added some Gypsy, Lagoon, and Honey cardstock to the Buttercup, Sunset, Slate, and Chocolate that came with the paper pack. I used the Cricut® Artbooking Collection to create some of the frames and other accent pieces, and then I added in a little Lagoon and/or Slate Washi Tape, the Slate Striped Twist Ties, and the Slate Mini-Medley, and ended up with some fun cards!













If you'd like more information on how I made these cards, or if you'd like a kit, please contact me and I would be happy to help you!

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Tools of the Trade


The right tool can make all the difference in your artistic scrapbooking. See what tools Close To My Heart has to offer to enhance your creative experience!

Friday, October 11, 2013

Artbooking Made Easy (S01E06): Designed Décor Flip Stand Album



With the help of the Cricut® Artbooking collection and Designed Décor flip stand album, Close To My Heart will make a home decorator out of you! Watch as simple icons, shapes, and titles from this cartridge are transformed into works of art perfect for display in your home.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Artbooking Made Easy (S01E05): Halloween Mini Albums



Close To My Heart will bring your projects back to life with the Cricut® Artbooking cartridge. Watch this video to learn how to use it while making your own fun Halloween mini albums.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - October: Scandinavian Wishes

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we’re featuring the October set Scandinavian Wishes, a set of 12 stamps. If you have come here from Alyson Mayo’s blog, you’re in the right place! There are more than 50 independent Close to My Heart consultants sharing artwork made using the Stamp of the Month and other great Close to My Heart products. Hopping is simple to do – just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one.

The Blog Hop is a great big circle. Start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way you’ll find a complete list of participating consultants here. You can use this list to pick up where you left off.


Off we go!



I have seen so many cute cards made with our new White Daisy Circle Spin Cards but hadn’t had a chance to play with them myself. I finally got my chance! I was going to try to use a non-traditional paper pack, but in the end I decided that I really needed to use Frosted. I love how there is a coordinating snowflake on the new Artbooking cartridge!




This is really a pretty basic and simple card, but I think it turned out beautifully. I cut the piece for the front, attached it with a tiny bit of repositionable adhesive, and then opened up the card and traced the cut-out so it would be placed perfectly. I cut it out by lining up the pencil lines with the wire on my trimmer and got a perfect square which I then flipped over and attached to the inside of the card. I also added a sentiment to it.




To finish off the rest of the card I cut out circles of cardstock to cover the white spinner circle, attached them, and then cut out the matching snowflake on my Cricut. I stamped “Joy” in Twilight ink, cut around it, and then attached it with 3-D Foam Tape on top of one of the snowflakes. Lastly I applied one more snowflake, added a few Sparkles, and that was it!


Here’s what I used. All products are Close to My Heart:

S1310 Scandinavian Wishes stamp set
X7175B Frosted paper packet
Z1866 White Daisy Circle Spin Cards & Envelopes
1388 Colonial White cardstock
Z2174 Champagne Exclusive Inks
Z2160 Twilight Exclusive Inks
Z1752 Sparkles Clear Assortment
Z1906 Cricut Artbooking Collection
  

Now “Hop” on over to Krista Hershberger‘s blog to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s blog to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas! Don’t forget, this exclusive stamp set is only available through October 31st!  Click here to order yours today!

Friday, September 27, 2013

Artbooking Made Easy (S01E04): Spooky Halloween Layouts


It's easy to add some creative spook to your projects with the Cricut® Artbooking collection from Close To My Heart. View a few creepy creations and learn how to make your own in this video.

Artbooking Made Easy (S01E03): Summer Mini-Albums


From grilling to swimming, camping, and road-tripping, Close To My Heart makes it easy for you to capture your summer memories in fun, unique mini-albums. See how they're made with the new Cricut® Artbooking collection.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Eight Great How-to Helps


Get the best in scrapbooking and cardmaking inspiration from the blueprints, cutting diagrams, instructions, tips, and full-colour artwork of Jeanette Lynton's how-to publications! Watch the video to see these must-have books and contact me to learn how to get them for yourself.

Artboooking Made Easy (S01E02): A+ School Layouts



Close To My Heart's new Cricut® Artbooking collection will give you what you need to score an A+ on back-to-school projects! See how to make your own in this video.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Artbooking Made Easy (S01E01): Getting Started with Cricut Artbooking



Close To My Heart's revolutionary Cricut® Artbooking collection will take your papercrafting to a new level! Learn how to use the new collection to turn your themed layouts and mini scrapbooks into beautiful works of art.

Join us each week for the Artbooking Made Easy series from September 2013 through April 2014. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, bookmark Jeanette Lynton's blog, and follow us on Facebook to stay in-the-know!

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

National Stamping Month - You are My Happy

September is National Stamping Month, and we're kicking off the party with a blog hop and the You Are My Happy stamp set trio! If you have come from Jean McNulty's blog, you're in the right place. 

The You Are My Happy stamp sets arrive on three D-size carrier sheets in two envelopes and are stylistically designed so all images coordinate to help you celebrate your happy times all year!


I'm not ready for summer to be over yet, so I was very drawn to the sunshine and coordinating sentiment. I chose a color palette that was bright and sunny as well.



Here's what I used to create my card. All products are Close to My Heart:
You Are My Happy stamp set trio
X7171B Sarita paper packet
1385 White Daisy cardstock
X5754 Creme Brulee cardstock
X5758 Sunset cardstock
Goldrush Exclusive Inks
Creme Brulee Exclusive Inks
Chocolate Exclusive Inks
Z1849 Bronze Shimmer Tape
Z1853 Aqua Dots


When you place an order of $50 or more you qualify for this whimsical triple stamp set of cheerful sentiments, images, and an alphabet to complement life’s silly, sweet, and serendipitous moments. Visit my Online Business Address today to get your own You Are My Happy stamp set trio for just $10 — a savings of $37.90 over retail value! Offer valid September 1–30, 2013.

It's time to hop on over to Krista Hershberger's blog to see her delightful artwork!

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - September: Poster Tidings

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we’re featuring the August set Poster Tidings, a set of 2 stamps. If you have come here from Maria Myers‘ blog, you’re in the right place! There are more than 50 independent Close to My Heart consultants sharing artwork made using the Stamp of the Month and other great Close to My Heart products. Hopping is simple to do – just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one.

The Blog Hop is a great big circle. Start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way you’ll find a complete list of participating consultants here. You can use this list to pick up where you left off.

Off we go!


After much thought about what I wanted to do for this month’s hop, I decided that I wanted to basically deconstruct one of the stamped images. I chose 5 colors from the Huntington color palette and stamped my selected image onto Colonial White cardstock in each of the colors (Autumn Terracotta, Olive, Barn Red, Cashmere, and Slate). Once I did that I set about cutting these word puzzles into strips.

My next step was to play with the pieces until I figured out how I wanted them to look. When I had my basic layout I switched out words in different colors to come up with the final design. I attached all the strips to the gorgeous Barn Red pattern from the Huntington paper packet and added some embellishments to finish the card.


Here’s what I used. All products are Close to My Heart:

S1309 Poster Tidings stamp set
X7174B Huntington paper packet
1388 Colonial White cardstock
Z1375 Kraft cardstock
Z2101 Autumn Terracotta Exclusive Inks
Z2137 Olive Exclusive Inks
Z2104 Barn Red Exclusive Inks
Z2175 Cashmere Exclusive Inks
Z2173 Slate Exclusive Inks
 Z1874 Trinkets Wooden Shapes
Z1837 Wooden Mini-Medley Accents



Now “Hop” on over to JudyBurger‘s blog to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s blog to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas! Don’t forget, this exclusive stamp set is only available through September 30th! Click here to order yours today!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Hostess Rewards: Better Than Ever!



Take advantage of the opportunities from Close To My Heart to earn Hostess Rewards stamp sets; must-have sets, just for you! Watch this video to see one of these adorable stamp sets in action and learn how to get your own.

My favorite is the Washi Wonder set. What's yours?

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Fall/Winter 2013 New Product Hop

Have you seen the fun and exciting new products in the Fall/Winter edition of the Close to My Heart Idea Book? Whether or not you have, our New Product Blog Hop is a terrific way to see a lot of that new product used in many different ways.

The hop features more than 30 independent Close to My Heart consultants and some of their latest work. If you have come here from Karen Fullam‘s blog, you’re in the right place!

The Blog Hop is a great big circle. Start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way you’ll find a complete list of participating consultants here. You can use this list to pick up where you left off.

Off we go!

I frequently try to kill two birds with one stone when making a project for this hop. With each new catalog our local group of consultants holds what we call a Shoebox Swap. Each participant creates just one card and then cuts as many pieces as are needed for all of the participants to duplicate that card. We use some sort of container to hold all of the ink pads, stamps (already on blocks), card bases, embellishments, and all other pieces needed for our card. When we get together to swap, we pass our box to the left and then keep passing until we’ve all created each other’s cards. This last time we each came home with 10 new cards plus our own for a total of 11.

I took inspiration from one of the cards I’d noticed in the new Idea Book and decided to design my card without any patterned paper. I did, however, choose to use the color palette from the new Sarita paper pack. It includes Cotton Candy, Goldrush, Gypsy, Outdoor Denim, and Lagoon. I combined this with the fun new One-Way Borders stamp set, as well as one of the stamp sets from the new Cricut Artbooking cartridge to come up with this colorful and playful card.


To finish the card off I added a couple of the Pink Glitter Gems and a piece of the Sarita Textiles rather than using ribbon. I also added a couple pieces of our new Washi Tape.


I’m actually sharing a second project this time, which is the Designed Décor Frame Kit. I recently attended an overnight crop with my CTMH sisters and put this kit together using photos from my family’s recent trip to California.


I love this kit, but I also love that you can buy the frame separately and then use our Cricut cartridges to cut out more photo frames and banner pieces to create a whole new piece of artwork!


Now “Hop” on over to Haley Dyer’s blog to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s blog to get some great crafting inspiration and other unique ideas! The current Idea Book is good through January 31, 2014.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Project Inspirations: Ombré Technique




Carlie shows you how to create the latest color trend - the Ombre Technique! You're going to want to try this on your next project.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

The 2013 Autumn/Winter Idea Book is Here!

It's August 1st, and that means the release of Close to My Heart's latest Idea Book! Click here to view it online, and then contact me to get your FREE copy!


Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Get Organized!



Learn how to use Close To My Heart's large organizer to organize your crafting supplies. This organizer is sturdy, see-through, stackable, and can hold up to 40 stamp sets!

The fact that they are stackable is my favorite feature. The best part is that the tops and bottoms actually fit just slightly inside each other to prevent slipping and falling over.

What would you use the Large Organizer for?

Thursday, July 18, 2013

You Are Welcome Here!



Jeanette Lynton, founder and CEO of Close To My Heart and a leader in the stamping and scrapbooking industry for nearly 30 years, invites you to join in a creative and rewarding business opportunity. Close To My Heart's steady business tactics and love for creativity make this opportunity one of a lifetime! Watch the video to learn why now—more than ever—is a great time to celebrate creativity, preserve memories, and join the Close To My Heart family! You are welcome here.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Background Stamps



Monica brings us this short video on fun and creative ways to use background stamps. I know I love learning new techniques and different ways to use old things!

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - July: Sweet Life

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we’re featuring the July set Sweet Life, a set of 9 stamps. If you have come here from Haley Dyer‘s blog, you’re in the right place! There are more than 50 independent Close to My Heart consultants sharing artwork made using the Stamp of the Month and other great Close to My Heart products. Hopping is simple to do – just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one.

The Blog Hop is a great big circle. Start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way you’ll find a complete list of participating consultants here. You can use this list to pick up where you left off.

Off we go!




This month I was able to use this card for two projects: the Blog Hop and my monthly card swap. The tricky part was that with the card swap I have guidelines to follow. I had to figure out how to use the Surf’s Up paper with detailed images of fruit!



In the end I decided to use the stamp with the peaches and the floral patterned paper. I think the little flowers in the paper look a lot like the peach blossom on the branch!  

Here's what I used. All products are Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:

S1307 Sweet Life stamp set
Z1375 Kraft Cardstock
X71638B Surf’s Up paper packet
Z2111 Chocolate Exclusive Inks stamp pad
Z1760 Burlap Ribbon
Z1336 Mocha Opaques Adhesive Gems
Z1151 3-D Foam Tape


Now “Hop” on over to Melissa Laverty’s blog to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s blog to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas! Don’t forget, this exclusive stamp set is only available through July 31st! Contact me to get yours today!

Friday, June 21, 2013

Irresistibles!



Learn how to create irresistible papercrafting projects with Close to My Heart's Irresistibles™ Frames! These chipboard frames have embossed patterns that resist ink so that you can create card accent, scrapbook embellishments, and more.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Ribbons and Trims



This short video is jam-packed with so many great ideas for using ribbons and trims. From different uses for Baker's Twine to how to color different ribbons, you're sure to find a new use that you love!

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Summer Party Contest



Hurray for summer! Watch this video to find out how to enter the contest. 

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Marker Magic



Coloring has never been so fun! Learn how to use Close To My Heart's alcohol-based marker sets to magically create smooth, even coverage on your colored images.

If you love to color, these markers are for you. They are available in a wide range of colors for all your coloring needs. Order yours today!

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Hook & Loop



Discover the ease of creating a temporary closure on a papercrafting piece with Hook & Loop dots Velcro adhesive from Close To My Heart. Hook & Loop dots are perfect for enclosing memorabilia, sealing a papercrafted purse or box, and more!

Contact me to get yours today!

Friday, May 31, 2013

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - June: A Flowering Bunch

Welcome to the Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month we’re featuring the June  set A Flowering Bunch, a set of 10 stamps. If you have come here from Elizabeth Mindemann's blog, you’re in the right place! There are more than 50 independent Close to My Heart consultants sharing artwork made using the Stamp of the Month and other great Close to My Heart products. Hopping is simple to do – just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one.

The Blog Hop is a great big circle. Start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way you’ll find a complete list of participating consultants here. You can use this list to pick up where you left off.

Off we go!



I love the style of this stamp set, like someone just sat down and started doodling. It's fun and playful and has so many possibilities. On the other hand, as much as I really like this set, I wasn't sure how I wanted to use it. I started out by placing the stamp set next to various papers and knew when I saw it with this pink pattern from the Chantilly paper pack that this was it.




The flower offered a great opportunity to use several different colors, as well as a chance to use up some of the buttons I have collected over the last few years. I found that the delicate lines of the flower needed some help in standing out from the background, so I layered each one with cardstock of the same color.

Here is my Supply List:
S1306 A Flowering Bunch stamp set
1385 White Daisy cardstock
X7163B Chantilly paper packet
Z2193 Cotton Candy Exclusive Inks stamp pad
Z2170 Ruby Exclusive Inks stamp pad
Z2155 Topiary Exclusive Inks stamp pad
Z2197 Pear Exclusive Inks stamp pad
Z2191 Sunset Exclusive Inks stamp pad
Z2110 Buttercup Exclusive Inks stamp pad
Various Close to My Heart Buttons
Z1081 Colonial White Waxy Flax


Now “Hop” on over to Michelle Johns' blog to see her work, and be sure to visit each consultant’s blog to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas! Don’t forget, this exclusive stamp set is only available through June 30th! Contact me to get yours today!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Claire Cards with Cricut Images & Dimensional Elements

I will admit it. I got both the Art Philosophy and Artiste Cricut cartridges almost as soon as they were available; however, even though they each came with three exclusive stamp sets and three sheets of Dimensional Elements shapes, I didn't use them. A few months ago I realized that I really needed to create a workshop where I put those stamp sets and chipboard pieces to use. 

First I decided which two stamp sets would be most appropriate for the project I had in mind. I chose one from each cartridge, and they both contain sentiments. Next I decided I wanted to use my trusty old Wishes book that's full of great card patterns and ideas, and I decided that the Just Because Workshop would be perfect for my project.

In the end I made 14 cards with the Claire paper packet, each one with a different sentiment. I love how it all came out!








If you'd like more information on this project, please feel free to contact me! I'd be happy to show you how!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Love Your Layout: May 2013



Use Studio J®, Close To My Heart's online scrapbooking software, to create a beautiful layout in just minutes by watching this month's Love Your Layout(sm) video. You'll learn creative techniques on how to layer My Stickease® images, use black and white photos, and add borders for a summery layout in the Surf's Up kit. Log in to Studio J to create it yourself while you watch!

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Packed with Punch



No Cricut? No problem! Learn how you can use Close to My Heart circle punches to create beautiful artwork. It's a great way to pack some punch into your papercrafting!

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Studio J® Custom Photo Wells



If you thought Studio J was great before, wait until you discover the creative potential of being able to add and customize photo wells on your Studio J layouts.

If you've never tried Studio J, there's never been a better time to see what it's all about. The best part is that you can play as much as you want - for FREE! Absolutely no purchase necessary.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Stamp Scrubber



Learn how to use the My Acrylix® stamp scrubber from Close To My Heart to clean My Acrylix® stamp sets and keep them in tip-top shape.


I cannot tell you how much I LOVE this new scrubber! If you're looking to replace yours, I highly recommend giving this one a try!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Later Sk8er Birthday Card Workshop

 
About every other month I teach a project to fellow consultants at our local team training. For May I designed a birthday card workshop using the Later Sk8er paper packet, Washi Tape, Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon, Epoxy Bubbles, and both the Joyful Birthday and Perfect Fit - Birthday stamp sets. I also wanted to highlight just a small portion of the many great card bases that can be cut with the Art Philosophy and Artiste Cricut cartridges.



Card 1
 
Card 2

Card 3

Card 4


Card 5


Card 6

 

Even though this paper has a masculine theme, I tried to make some of the cards more feminine.
 


Card 7

Card 8

Card 9

Card 10

Card 11

Card 12

 
I'm new to using Washi Tape. I know it's been around a while, but until Close to My Heart added some to the catalog, I just hadn't tried it. I had fun using it in various ways on the cards. My favorite is the one where I put two rows of it across the bottom of the card. (Card #8)
 
If you'd like to know more about now I created these cards, please feel free to contact me!