C9 Summer Camp Arts & Crafts Class

One week ago I was participating in Concord & 9th's virtual summer camp. Our last class was all about 3D items. The paper wreath was fun to make, but I love the 3D cards and building the scene. The best thing is they fold flat to mail in a standard A2 envelope. This was the best summer camp I ever attended!

Paper Lighthouse

Yes this lighthouse is made of paper! It's from SVG Cuts Seaside Kit. There's a place to store a battery operated candle in the top. The middle section also comes off the base. I made this as a gift and put some mini candy bars in it!

Supplies:
Seaside SVG Kit (SVG Cuts)
Cricut Explore and Design Space
Seaside Paper Pack (retired Close To My Heart)
Colonial White Card Stock
Sorbet Card Stock
Vellum Paper
Quick Dry Glue (Elmer's)
Embossing Folder and Cutlebug

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

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

Change!

I just heard about Ali Edwards One Little Word. This idea intrigued me. You can see her post about it here. I thought about it yesterday and decided on my word for 2014. It is "change".

I'm reminded of the quote attributed to Albert Einstein "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." To find success in some areas of my life I know I need to change the way I'm doing things! Simple right? Yeah, not so much. Change is often times uncomfortable and stressful.

Then I think,"Without Change, There Would Be No Butterflies." I do love butterflies!

"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose". I did take four years of French in high school! So the more things change the more things stay the same. I'm not going to change things just for the sake of change, but I'm going to be open to changing the way I do things, looking at the world around me, and seeing changes in me.

I decided to use Close To My Heart's Designed Décor Colonial White Frame to display my word. I'm imagining this as a display that will inspire and showcase the items related to my One Little Word.

The first thing I am doing is changing the way I'm looking at scrapbooking. Often times I don't feel like I have any reason to scrap since I'm single and don't have children. Who would I scrap? Well I'm changing that thought process! It's for me. It's my story. I enrolled in a Big Picture Class: Becky Higgin's Project Real Life. The cards attached to my frame are for the first week of class that begins on January 9. If you're interested in joining me the link is here. I'm eager to get started!

Joyful Stars June Blog Hop

Welcome to the first ever Joyful Stars Blog Hop!  We're excited to share our creativity with you using our favorite Close To My Heart products. If you have arrived from Stephanie B.'s blog you are right on track. If you are just happening by, that's ok follow the links and circle around until you get back to my blog. See below for the list of all our blog hoppers this month!

For my project I wanted to use one of my favorite product lines from Close to My Heart, My Creations. This is the My Creations™ 6" X 6" Canvas Display. I wanted to display a now and then photo of my parents, my brothers and myself. The Avonlea Complements Canvas Shapes are a perfect match with the theme. Other embellishments I used are the Durables Square Studs in antique gold and the Dark Chocolate Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Now hop on over to Stephanie H.'s blog.

Here is a listing of all the blogs on the Joyful Stars June blog hop.
Joyce                                    
Krista                                     
Nickie                                                     
Nancy                                   
Stephanie B.                                                       
Crystal - You are here!
Stephanie H.                                           
Elizabeth                                             
Betty                                                            
Jean                                   
Meridith
Helen

Pinwheels!

This is a door prize donation for the Spring Card Making day this Saturday in Barto, PA sponsored by several Close To My Heart consultants (including me!). If you are interested in attending please email me, antcrys at aol.com!

Supplies:

Chantilly Paper Pack (Close To My Heart)

My Creations Kraft Container (Close To My Heart)

Pinwheel -May 2013 Stamp of the Month (Close To My Heart)

Pink Glitter Gems (Close To My Heart)

Blue and Green Epoxy Bubbles (Close To My Heart)

Exclusive Inks - Cotton Candy, Pear, Black (Close To My Heart)

Assorted Brads

Foam

Raffia

3D Pinwheels purchased and cut from Cricut Craft Room 

Home Sweet Home Frame Project

Today I attended a unit meeting at Joyce's house (my upline). I had a great time crafting with my Close To My Heart friends! This is the project Joyce had for us. It was the first time I used the February Stamp of the Month. I love the sentiment. This project is an awesome idea for gift giving. Just take the glass off an inexpensive frame to put your 3D artwork on display.

Winter Wreath

This weekend all of the Christmas decorations came down. We were in need of wreath for our door. I re-purposed this Christmas wreath by removing the poinsettias and plaid red and green ribbon. I kept the pine spray and pine cones. Then I glittered Close To My Heart's Snowflake Dimensional Elements. I randomly glued them to fill in space once they dried. Next I added the Boyd's plush snowman that I had in my collection. The final touch was a ribbon bow using the Slate Satin Polka Dot Ribbon. I love the way this turned out, and best of all I used what I had on hand instead of spending money!

Operation Smile Auction

At every Close To My Heart Event I've attended there is an auction to benefit Operation Smile. This past weekend I put the highest bid on the picture frame. My friend Stephanie had the highest bid on a set of cards. She shared the sunshine card with me. Such inspiring artwork and for a worthy cause!

Did you know every time you purchase a My Acrylix stamp set a portion of the proceeds is donated to Operation Smile? You can shop the complete line of my Acrylix stamp sets here.

Papercrafting for Your Wall

Sure papercrafters are known for scrapbooking and making cards, but those same supplies can be used to create works of art for your home. These two pieces were made by Stephanie Brown and Jolene Barron. Thank you for the beautiful pieces that are in my room. You two are the best!

Springtime Wreath

Edited to add: I just discovered that the challenge at Heart2Heart Challenges is Easter / Spring Theme. So I'm going to enter. If you made it to this post through that link, Welcome!

In the fall I made this wreath. At the time I purchased two foam circles at the store. I used the second one to create this wreath. I started with the Paradise Paper Flowers. I cut additional flowers using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. The centers of the flowers are a mix of embellishments: Shimmer Brads, Rhinestone Brads, Sparkles Red, Pink, & Purple Assortment, Sparkles Blue & Green Assortment. Check the monthly specials tab to see the special offer I'm having on embellishments this month!

It is a springtime wreath so added some adhesive springs with butterflies from the Color-Ready Garden Shapes with Opaques Licorice Adhesive Gems! 

Finally I've been inspired by consultants that have used shapes cut from the Cricut cartridge to make Easter bunnies. Here is my version. He'll sit in the middle of the wreath greeting all our Easter visitors.

Paperweight Project

Joyce, my CTMH upline, had us create this project at our unit Christmas party a couple of weeks ago. We started with a 3 1/4 inch circle and created a 3D image. Of course I picked a purple flower! Everything was cut using the Close To My Heart Art Philosophy Cartridge! I added glitter to the elements and adhered the dome with liquid glass. I'm not sure where Joyce got the glass domes,but I found this place with a search. I think it's a great gift idea. Hmm, maybe for convention roomie gifts. I know you visit my blog! What do you think? Probably too heavy for airline luggage weight restrictions!

The Four Seasons Wall Hangings

At my upline's unit Christmas party this is the beautiful gift I received made by my sideline Stacey R. I  think I will be displaying them all at the same time in a grouping. They're too pretty to only have one at a time for 3 months!

Autumn Wreath

I had a gift certificate to Michaels and used it to buy a wreath form. My vision was to make a wreath with the "chrysanthemum" flower on Close To My Heart's Art Philosophy cartridge. It's finally finished and hanging on my front door! Well maybe not finished, I may add a few more flowers to fill in, and I'm thinking about Opaque gems for the centers.

If you're in the area have fun watching the snow fall tomorrow! It's going to be a wet snow so I'm thinking about a snow jack o' lantern!