A Re-Purposed Tray

This white tray with the red trim is a souvenir from someone's New York trip. It ended up in the kitchen at my work and was marked to be thrown away. A coworker gave me the idea to re purpose it with scrapbooking supplies.

On Thanksgiving my nephew and his wife asked me to take some photos. When I was looking through the photos I was inspired to create this. I will be giving it to her for her birthday next weekend!

Supplies
Swan Lake Paper Packet
Swan Lake Complements
Swan Lake Coordinating Cardstock (Glacier)
Assorted Paper Flowers
Gold Glitter Gems

Black Friday Special

Love getting a great deal on crafting supplies to add to your stash? For Black Friday this year, you’ll have the opportunity to get amazing crafting supplies at an amazing price with Close To My Heart! For 24 hours only, we’ll feature themed mystery boxes filled with retired Close To My Heart products, all at a major discount! These mystery boxes will have five different price points ranging from $35 to $150, with some mystery boxes being offered at 50% off the retail value! All mystery boxes will be available beginning November 25, 2016 at 12:00 am (MST) while supplies last—so grab a box for your stash before they’re gone!

Birthday Card with Anna Griffin Products

My friend Jean introduced me to the beautiful products of Anna Griffin Designs so I made this for her birthday card. My favorite products are the flower stickers and the flocked paper.

Joyful Stars September 2016 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars September 2016 Blog Hop. This hop is a circle, so it doesn't matter if you are coming from from Nickie's blog or if you start here on my blog. Just continue around until you're back at the blog you started on to make sure you see all the fabulous projects. The leader of the Joyful Stars team, Joyce, has the list of all our bloggers for the month. You may want to keep her blog open in a tab just in case you get lost along the way!

The only things I've been creating with Close To My Heart cardstock lately have been items for my classroom. Here are photos of my bulletin boards also using content from Cricut access. 

This bulletin board uses some glitter paper including the newest color: Sea Glass Glitter Paper!

Thanks for hopping along this month. Your next stop is Helen's blog.

Watercolor Thank You Card

It's been a long time between crafty projects! I needed some thank you cards and was inspired by a fellow Close To My Heart Consultant. The background was a smoosh technique with our watercolors. The sentiment "thanks" was easy to add because it is a thin cut!

Getting a Jump on Fall Scrapbooking

I know we are still in the thick of the summer heat, but I'm dreaming of cool, crisp Autumn days. It's my favorite season! I decided to use my July 4th week of vacation combing through my stash and using up fall paper packets. This is Olivia, a retired pack from Close To My Heart. My favorite part is the bronze shimmer trim!

I love bronze shimmer trim and am sorry to see it go at the end of the month. I will be grabbing a few rolls for sure. Check out all the retiring products here.

Joyful Stars July 2016 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars July 2016 Blog Hop. On the 10th of each month a group of Close To My Heart consultants and friends share artwork using some of our favorite products. This hop is a circle, so it doesn't matter if you are coming from Debi's blog, or if you start here on my blog. Just continue around until you're back at the blog you started on to make sure you see all the fabulous projects. The leader of the Joyful Stars team, Joyce, has the list of all our bloggers for the month. You may want to keep her blog open in a tab just in case you get lost along the way!

Last month I went away for a weekend retreat to the Hamburg Hideaway with some CTMH friends. One of the projects I worked on was the Simply Fundamental Scrapbooking Workshop. This was a special from Close To My Heart in November 2015 with the Enchanted Collection. I loved that workshop so much that I changed it up using the Whimsy color palette. This past week was my last of vacation before I start teaching summer camp. I spent some time printing pictures of my summer adventures so far and used these layouts.

All the supplies are retiring and while supplies last. 
Paper Fundamentals Whimsy
Fundamental Stickers Whimsy Pack
Fundamental Assortment Glacier

If you missed the Simple Fundamental Scrapbooking Workshop and would like to get a copy in pdf format leave me a comment and email (if I don't have it already). Thanks for hopping along this month. Your next stop is Betty's blog.  

Christmas Cards in July

Z3149 Cut Above Deck the Halls Card Kit

M1129 Holiday Greetings

Christmas in July - It's never too early to work on your handmade Christmas cards! Right now item Z3149 Cut Above Deck the Halls Card Kit is $4.35. The kit makes 10 cards. All you'll need is a stamp set like M1129 Holiday Greetings $2.95. 

Cricut Artiste Collection Retiring Soon!

With Close To My Heart's Artiste Cricut Collection you can make several different gift boxes and rolled flowers to decorate them. This is one of my favorite cartridges, and it's retiring the end of this month! Check out all the items going soon!

July 2016 Stamp of the Month

July 2016 Stamp of the Month is "From the Notebook." Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5. When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

Flash Sale

This month flew by and there are only a few hours left to take advantage of the flash sale on my website. This project bundle is $29.14 (plus tax and shipping). Create the display tray for your home decor or it would make a great gift item! crystal.ctmh.com

A Father's Day Card

Magical Paper Packet
Sapphire Cardstock
Day for Dad Stamp Set
Black Ink
Blue Shimmer Trim (retired)

Joyful Stars June 2016 Blog Hop

Aloha! Welcome to the Joyful Stars June 2016 Blog Hop. On the 10th of each month a group of Close To My Heart consultants and friends share artwork using some of our favorite products. This hop is a circle, so it doesn't matter if you are coming from my dear friend Nancy's blog, or if you start here on my blog. Just continue around until you're back at the blog you started on to make sure you see all the fabulous projects. The leader of the Joyful Stars team, Joyce, also has the list of all our bloggers for the month. You may want to keep her blog open in a tab just in case you get lost along the way!

This month Calypso is the featured paper packet from Close To My Heart. One of the stamp sets in the Seasonal Expression 2 catalog featured with Calypso is Hawaiian Hibiscus. I used this stamp set to play with different coloring techniques. I can't deny I love using alcohol markers, but I also love using the waterbrush. There are 3 waterbrush sizes in the Seasonal Expression 2 catalog! My favorite way to use them is with ink pads.

using the ShinHan Touch Twin markers

Using the blender pen and ink pads

Using the waterbrush with watercolor paints

Using the waterbrush with ink pads

What's your favorite technique for coloring in stamps? I would love you to leave a comment and share before you hop on to Marie's blog.  

Joyful Stars May 2016 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars May 2016 Blog Hop! On the 10th of each month a group of Close To My Heart consultants and friends share artwork using some of our favorite products. This hop is a circle, so it doesn't matter if you are coming from Donna's blog or if you start here on my blog. Just continue around until you're back at the blog you started on to make sure you see all the fabulous projects.

My projects feature the Happy Times Paper Packet that you can get free with a qualifying purchase only during this month.

My first project is what my students created to give to their moms for Mother's Day. I purchased photo cubes from Oriental Trading and had my students Mod Podge squares of the Happy Times paper packet to them. Although Sticky Boy is pretty cute each of their  photo cubes had a photo of them. The students also made a card for their mom using the new Cut Above card kits.

My next project is a gift bag. A fellow consultant shared a tutorial on how to make these adorable gift bags here. I took her measurements and tweaked them a bit so the seems meet on the sides of the bag. If you know me well, then you know that I had to make it a Design Space project! I think it needs a bit of work yet, but if you're interested let me know I'd be happy to share the link.

Thanks for hopping along this month. Your next stop is Joyce's blog. Joyce also has the list of all our bloggers for the month. You may want to keep her blog open in a tab. just in case you get lost along the way!

Spring Fling Cardmaking Day

Yesterday I helped my upline and sister Close To My Heart (CTMH) consultants at our annual Spring Fling Cardmaking Day. We hold this event to share new paper collections and stamp sets with CTMH customers. Each attendee made one of the new awesome Cut Above cards pictured above and one of each of the following cards.

My first card using Calypso Paper Packet and Tickled Pink Stamp Set.

My second card I taught using Calypso Paper and One in a Melon Stamp Set.

One of Joyce's cards. Pictured is Calypso, but attendees made it from Happy Times.

Another of Joyce's cards using Magical Paper Pack and Carnival Fun Stamp Set.

Another of Joyce's cards using Florence Paper Pack and A Bunch of Love Stamp Set.

Stacey's card using Florence Paper Pack and A Bunch of Love Stamp Set.

Another of Joyce's cards featuring the special May paper pack Happy Times.

Another of Joyce's cards featuring Magical Paper Pack and  Hawaiian Hibiscus Stamp Set.

New Products from Close To My Heart

The Seasonal Expressions 2 Catalog debuted on May 1. I love the summertime feel of the Calypso paper pack. My favorite stamp is the adorable flamingos, and I'm so happy there are coordinating Thin Cuts for die cutting. 

These are the two cards that I will be sharing on Saturday at my upline's annual Spring Fling Cardmaking Day.

April 2016 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars April 2016 Blog Hop! On the 10th of each month a group of Close To My Heart consultants and friends share artwork using some of our favorite products. This hop is a circle, so it doesn't matter if you are coming from Donna's blog or if you start here on my blog. Just continue around until you're back at the blog you started on to make sure you see all the fabulous projects.

Picture My Life (PML) cards are designed for pocket scrapbooking, but they can be used to create traditional layouts, mini books, and even cards! These cards I made were inspired by a consultant that was featured on Close To My Heart's blog.

The PML cards and stamp set I used are from the Seasonal Expression 1 catalog. Don't forget this is the last month to order from that catalog!

Supplies:
Our Story PML Cards
Glacier Cardstock
Springtime Wishes Stamp Set
Peacock Stamp Pad
Glacier Extra Thick Twine
Clear Sparkles

Thanks for hopping along this month. Your next stop is Joyce's blog. 

Card for Jeanette

The CEO and Founder of Close To My Hear is celebrating a birthday. The company has asked everyone to make a card and post it on social media with #cards4jeanette. This is my contribution!

Supplies:
White Daisy Cardstock
Penelope Paper Pack
Springtime Wishes Stamp Set
Springtime Wishes Thin Cuts (sold out / retired)
Memento Stamp Pad
Juniper Stamp Pad
ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Markers: Warm Grey 4, Pale Yellow, Turquiose, Tender Pink, Peony Purple, and Lavender
Clear Sparkles

Penelope Workshop Your Way

Close To My Heart introduced the Workshops Your Way in the Seasonal Expressions 2 catalog. Each kit makes 3 two page layouts, 1 pocket scrapbooking layout, and a set of cards. This month's featured collection is Penelope. Perfect for the season. Grab yours here! It's only available through April 2016.