Crisscross Boxes

Friday is the last day of the summer camp program I'm teaching. I wanted to make a little something for my assistants to let them know how much I appreciated their help this summer. I downloaded the template for the crisscross box awhile ago here. I used Basic Grey paper that I had on hand and a great new stamp set that will be available from Close To My Heart in September, Tag the Occasion.

Finding Inspiration

Every year the children at my school help plant a garden in the spring. Our sunflowers haven't bloomed yet this year, but I included a photo from a few years ago. I'm using it as inspiration for some papercrafting projects. I'm also joining the Color Inspiration Party at Tresa Black's blog featuring the color yellow.

First here's a card using August's Stamp of the Month, Something Splendid.

I've been a fan of Close To My Heart way back when it was called D.O.T.S. and I've kept a few I've my beloved wood mounted rubber stamps, including sunflowers!

 

So if you're looking for some inspiration for you craft projects. Look out your window at nature's beauty, or try sticking to a particular color for a fun monochromatic look.

2, 4, 6, 8! Who do we appreciate?

Close To My Heart has a wonderful customer appreciation sale. For 8 days, August 4 through August 11 (while supplies last), you can purchase select My Stickease® Assortments for only $2,  My Reflections® Level 1 kits for only $4, and My Reflections® Level 2 paper packets for only $6 online. These deals are so great, we know you’ll want to shout for joy, too! Click here to go to my website to grab these deals.

The paper collection in the photo,Twitterpated, is on sale.

Something Splendid

I needed a quick card to mail to a friend and fellow Close To My Heart consultant. I decided to use the August Stamp of the Month. This is going to be one of my favorites. If you read posts on my blog before then you know I'm not a fan of stamped images that need to be colored. I much prefer base and shade stamping. It's Faster. Simpler. Easier. (That's the Close To My Heart Motto!)

Base and Shade Stamping Technique:

 

Hay There!

I love puns like the ones in the stamp set Howdy. The card base is from a clear card pack that will be in Close To My Heart's Autumn / Winter Idea Book and Catalog. On the front is the bale of hay and sentiment. Then when you open the card you see this.

So cute! The trick is hiding the adhesive on clear cards. I'm still trying to perfect that.