Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Stampaganza is almost over!


Stampaganza is almost over! You only have a few more days to get a free stamp set for every 2 that you purchase. Did you know that CTMH brought back some of the most popular retired stamp sets just for this month? One of my favorite sets is called Paper Bird. I used the butterfly in the set on this card. 

To make the card, I used Close to my Heart’s mini pigment ink pads. It was really fun. I started out by smudging some Crystal Blue Pigment Ink directly onto a piece of cardstock. Then I added a little Glacier, Juniper, and Lagoon ink. I used my finger to blend the colors together. It was really fun! It created a creamy, smooth background. I let it sit for a little bit and then hit it quickly with my Craft Heater.

Then I punched a bunch of different sized holes in a piece of vellum with some circle punches to use as a stencil. I laid the vellum stencil on top of the blue background and used White Pigment Ink with a Sponge Dauber to create the different sized circles which created the fun Bokeh pattern. (Make sure to overlap some of the circles, use various sized circles, and make some of the circles a little darker than others.)


Because the pigment ink is not easy to stamp on and when you stamp your sentiment first and then cover the stamped image with pigment ink, it looks faded, I decided to cut my sentiment from a piece of Cocoa cardstock. I used the Carolyna Pro Black font and created the “hello” sentiment in Design Space and then cut it with my Explore machine. I adhered it to the bottom with Bonding Memories Glue.

I stamped the adorable butterfly from the Paper Bird stamp set (which is only available until July 31st) onto a piece of vellum with Brown StazOn ink. I cut it out, bent up the wings, and adhered it to the cardstock by adding adhesive just to the body of the butterfly. I poked some holes in the cardstock with my Piercing Tool to create the trail. To finish it off, I adhered the entire piece to a Cocoa cardstock base.


Isn’t the Paper Bird stamp set cute? You can get it for free this month when you order two other stamp sets that are of equal or lesser value. Visit my website to see all of the stamp sets available to order through the end of July. Remember that you get a set free for every two that you purchase this month! 

Saturday, July 22, 2017

New Color of the Year Card with link to DS file

Along with many of my favorite products that are retiring at the end of the month, CTMH is also retiring the past year’s Color of the Year. This past year we have enjoyed a beautiful light blue/green color called Sea Glass. As sad as I am to see Sea Glass retire, I am over the moon about the new Color of the Year being released on August 1st called Bashful!


I created this card to share during a presentation that I gave at the CTMH Convention earlier this month. My presentation was on Basic Design Principles and Design Theory. This card showed the Visual Triangle principle. The idea is that by placing your elements in a triangle it helps to visually balance your project and create interest. I placed the large flowers in a triangle in addition to the small pearls in the center.


I used the new Bashful Cardstock to make the card, which has a lighter shade of pink on one side and a slightly darker shade on the other. (Spoiler alert: All of CTMH’s new cardstock starting August 1st will be two toned with a lighter shade on one side and a slightly darker shade on the other! Yay!) I cut 4 sets of the flower outline using the Flower Market Cricut cartridge, then adhered them together with Bonding Memories Glue to give them some dimension. I cut the flower background from a piece of the new Bashful Glitter Paper. Then I adhered the flower outline stack on top of the Glitter pieces with Liquid Glass. The sentiment is stamped in a new color called Espresso using a new stamp set called Eat Cake & Celebrate. I added some new self adhesive Bashful Pearls to finish off the card.

If you love the retiring Sea Glass color, be sure to order your favorite Sea Glass products before they retire on July 31st. Then get ready for beautiful Bashful to make its appearance on August 1st.


If you would like to make the card above, I have provided a link to the Design Space file for you here. Please note that you will need to have an Explore machine and the CTMH Flower Market Cricut cartridge in order to use the DS file.

Friday, July 21, 2017

Accessory Roll-Up to the Rescue


Many of my favorite products are retiring at the end of the month including the Accessory Roll-Up and the Marker Roll-Up. I have a few Roll-Ups that I have been using for multiple purposes. One of my Accessory Roll-Ups is used specifically for my jewelry when I travel. This has become a life saver for me! It helps keep everything separated and best of all, it keeps my necklaces from tangling with each other.

I have another Roll-Up that stores my Base & Bling items (which are also retiring at the end of the month.) 

And of course another that holds many of my embellishments. Don't forget to order one (or more) for yourself before they are gone.


Visit my website for other great storage solutions.


Saturday, July 8, 2017

It's Your Day Card - New Product Sneak Peek


I thought I would share a little sneak peek at some of the new paper that will be available next month in the new Annual Inspirations catalog. The floral paper is from the new Basics Fundamentals paper packet. (This is my new favorite!) You will also be happy to know that CTMH is bringing back vellum in the new catalog! Yay! I used a small piece of vellum for the top of the flower. A little tip when stamping on vellum is to use StazOn ink. I used the Brown StazOn on this card.


The flower image is from the Prickly Pear—Scrapbooking stamp set which is only available through the end of July. (You can even get it free with the Stampaganza promotion this month! For every 2 stamp sets you purchase, you will get an addition set of equal or lesser value for free!) The sentiment is from the Flower Market Cricut Collection. The self adhesive Gold Pearls will be available next month, along with a few other colors! 

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

July Project Kit - Party Time Cut Above Layout Kit


This month’s project kit is the Party Time Cut Above Layout kit. This quick and easy kit is a great way to scrapbook your birthday parties!

This month's local class will be on Thursday, July 20th at 7pm. If you are not local or unable to attend and would like to order a kit to be shipped directly to you, select the shipping option below. Basic kit is $15.

Materials to make 2-page 12" x 12" layout and (2) additional double-sided pocket pages includes the following:
  • Die Cuts
  • Sticker sheet
  • Photo placeholders
  • (2) 12" x 12" Memory Protectors
  • (2) Divided Memory Protectors
  • (12) Coordinating pocket cards
  • Step-by-step instructions
 Create this festive layout to highlight a fun party.


Use the pocket pages and pocket cards to add even more photos.


All pieces are pre-cut for you making this a quick and easy project to make. 
You can even use any leftover pieces to make cards!


Contact me for more information or to sign up for this month’s class. Please contact me no later than July 10th if you would like to join us for the local class. All kits need to be paid for in advance. Thank you for your understanding.

Kits ordered by July 10 will be mailed by July 15th.
Kits ordered after July 10th, will be mailed within two weeks.

To order a kit(s), you may either send me cash or a check, or pay securely online with a credit card or your PayPal account by using the “Buy Now” buttons below. If you would like your kit(s) shipped, please choose the shipped option. $6 will be added for shipping. (Kits can only be shipped to U.S. addresses per CTMH policy. I apologize for the inconvenience.)


Party Time Cut Above Layout Kit - Local
Local pick up - $15


Party Time Cut Above Layout Kit - Shipped
Shipped - $15 ($6 will be added for shipping)


To find out more about my monthly “no-commitment” Creative Club, click here.
You do not need to be local to participate. *Ü*

July Promotions

Happy July everyone! I am excited to share with you the fabulous specials this month!

Stampaganza is back!



Let Stampaganza 2017 begin! Buy any two My Acrylix® stamp sets at full retail price and get a third stamp set of equal or lesser value FREE! Choose from any stamp set in the current idea book, plus a collection of popular sets that we have brought back just for Stampaganza!

PLUS, CTMH has brought back one of my favorite collections specifically for this sale! The monthly Word Puzzles. You can purchase them separately or in a bundle for a great discounted price! Visit my website for details.


Hostesses and New Consultants can even earn this awesome bundle for free!

For New Consultants: Anyone who signs up as a New Consultant in July and submits $300 in commissionable sales by August 31, 2017 will earn the Word Puzzle Bundle FREE! The Word Puzzle Bundle is a set of 12 classic D-size stamp sets and is valued at $215.40 — a great incentive for new Consultants! Visit my New Consultant FAQ page for more information on signing up.

For Hostesses: Hostesses who host a gathering in July that reaches the fourth level of Hostess Rewards or higher can receive the Word Puzzle Bundle FREE! The Word Puzzle Bundle is a set of 12 classic D-size stamp sets and is valued at $215.40 — a great incentive for potential hostesses to book a party! Hostess orders must be submitted no later than August 7, 2017 to receive this special offer. Contact me to schedule an in-home party or an online party today.

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Retiring Products



I just returned from the Close to my Heart annual Convention where the new Annual Inspirations catalog was unveiled to Consultants. (Lots of fun new goodies coming your way!) In order to make room for all of the new products, CTMH must retire some of our old favorites. Many of the products in the current Annual Inspirations catalog will be retiring at the end of July and will only be available until then while supplies last. To see which products will be retiring, hop on over to my website here.

Visit my website to order your retiring items today.


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July Stamp of the Month — Storybook Alphabet



With a minimum qualifying purchase, get your D-sized Stamp of the Month set for just $5! Add the stamp set to your cart here at full retail price ($17.95) or, with your qualifying order of $50, get it for just $5!



Set of 26
Recommended My Acrylix® block: 2" × 2" (Y1003)


Click here or on the image below to order your Stamp of the Month.


*Stamp of the Month is only available July 1– 31, 2017.