CTMH January SOTM - S1601 2nd Generation Stamping Technique

I am loving the January Stamp of the Month!  It is such a versatile stamp set.  I can see myself finding uses for it all year long.  There are 14 stamps in the stamp set and it includes the following sayings:

• You mean so much to me
• Love You!
• Thinking of You
• Happy Valentines Day!
• Hugs, kiss and Valentine wishes.
• Love is not a matter of counting the years, it's a matter of making the years count.

At my workshop this month I showed the Second Generation Stamping Technique.  This technique is perfect for this stamp set and really helps you to get the most out of your stamp pads.  You can create additional shades and add depth to your projects.

On the first card we used the little sprig in the set.  While I was working with a Valentine theme, you could ink this sprig with a variety of colors and use it all year long.  

• Ink your stamp in the color of your choice and stamp it on your card.
• Before you reink, move your hand over slightly and then stamp it again.  
• The lights, darks and varying shades add more interest and depth to your project.

On the second card we played with the base and shade stamp sets.  While you can stamp them in any order, I like to start with the solid stamps first, then stamp the detailed stamps on top.

Ink your stamp in the color of your choice and "stamp it off" on scratch paper.

Then stamp your image again on your project.

Ink up the detailed image and then stamp it on top.  

Tips for lining up the stamps:

Use a block that is a little bit bigger than your image so that you can see excess block all the way around the edge of your image.  This will help you to see through the blocks for proper alignment.

I find that it helps if I stand up so that I can look straight down on my image.

Look for a particularly distinguishing characteristic of the stamp and use that to align it.  On the rose, I used the two leaves/petals that have that v shaped cut away between them.

Practice makes perfect.  Experiment a few times on scratch paper until you get the hang of it.

You can purchase the stamp of the month, papers and inks featured on my website.  

Workshop Kits featuring CTMH new Thin Cuts

I am so excited to share Close To My Heart's new Thin Cuts at my workshop Saturday.  While I am a big fan of Cricut and I can't imagine crafting without it... there are many who can't afford the machine or think it is too "techy" for them....well Thin Cuts might be the perfect answer!!

You can use the thin cuts in your die cut/embossing machines like cuttlebug and Big Shot.  I will be demonstrating how to use them and incorporating them into my projects at my workshop this weekend.

We will be using the Springtime Wishes Thin Cuts


Along with the Springtime Wishes Stamp Set





I welcome your business!  You can purchase all of these items on my retail website.  Please let me know if you have any questions!

Having fun with the CTMH Tommy Paper Pack at my Workshop

I have been having so much fun with the Tommy Paper Pack!  I have created:

• Pages for my Sunday's with Daddy scrapbook
• Scrapbook pages
• Father's Day Cards

and I still have a few more ideas running around in my head.

Here's a fun photo collage I put together for my card kits.

And here are some close-up versions....

Do you have any projects that you would like to use the Tommy Paper Pack for?

You can order your paper pack here.

CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Project - Vinyl on Cups

I held a scrapbook retreat for my customers at Rabbit Hill Ranch back in June and I still have projects and updates to post about it.

This was one of my favorites! 

Forgive the crazy photo...we had to hold up a black hoodie to make a makeshift backdrop in order to get the cups to show up in the picture. LOL.  We forgot to take a picture before a few of the cups went home. 

I like to put little goodies out on the tables throughout the weekend so I kind of collect things in the weeks and months leading up to the retreat.  Thanks to my buddy Candace, I was able to pick up these acrylic tumblers.

I had planned to put a cute tag or something on them and then at the last minute I had a brainstorm....

Why not cut their names on the cricut with the Art Philosophy cartridge and personalize them??

So I enlisted the help of my husband and we quickly put the names on the night before the retreat.  I still had plenty of vinyl leftover so I turned it into a vinyl lesson at the retreat and let my customers cut out the design of their choice to add to their cups.

They turned out so cute and it ended up being a fun project!  So fun that I will be helping the girls at church to decorate their water bottles for camp tomorrow night.

Workshops Available! - Contact me to book your own Cricut Vinyl workshop in the San Diego area.

Super Mario Party Layouts

My customer, Jeanne, brought some adorable photos from her Grandson's Super Mario party to scrapbook last Friday.  As soon as I saw the colors, I knew we had to use the Superhero paper packet.  I had so much fun helping her create these layouts that I begged her to let me post pictures on my blog.  I think they turned out so adorable.

Jeanne is doing a 9x9 birthday album for each of her grandchildren and she wanted to add more interest to her layouts this month so we pulled out the Imagine How-To Book.  Since her pages are smaller, I told her to ignore how many photos were pictured on the sample pages and just look at page layouts that she liked.  We had to adjust the measurements by 75%, but mostly we just kind of eyeballed it.  If something was 3 x 12, we made it 2 x 9. 

I think they turned out GREAT.  What do you think?

 

Supplies Used:
X7152B Superhero
9030 Imagine How-To Book
Sunflower cardstock
Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

CTMH Cruisin Mini Book

Here's the cute mini book we made at the last workshop.

Supplies Used:
5x5 blank board book
G1039 Cruisin Workshop on the Go (Stamp set and paper. Kit also includes dimensional elements numbers and bottle caps)
Cricut Art Philosophy (oval, circle, tabs, pennant...)

Click here to order the featured Close To My Heart products

Book Card Video Tutorial

I taught this fun card at my workshop a couple of weeks ago and my customers asked me to create a video so they can watch it again later.

I aim to please...
so here we go....

A Stamptildawn Crop

I always forget to take pictures at my crop, and truth be told, my customers are a bit camera shy. But I actually pulled out the camera a took a few pictures towards the end of this months crop. I won't identify my buddies and maybe they'll let me take more pictures next month. ;-)

Every month I bring my cricut. Occasionally someone will use it, but mostly it just sits in the corner, lonely as can be... until Art Philosophy!! Tammy saw J trying to trace one of my cards so she could make more and "ratted her out." We had to stage an intervention and teach J how to use the cricut. I don't think anyone got to talk to J the rest of the day. She was too busy cutting and cutting and cutting... I think she and the cricut are good friends now.

I put together a few little cardpacks for my card makers. The pieces were pre-cut and based on the samples I posted here, but I told them they could stamp whatever images they wanted. Here's what Tammy came up with. Aren't they adorable? She used images from the Pair-A-Phrase (Earn your own FREE Pair-A-Phrase set.  Here's a post I did about the specials this month.) set and miscellaneous sentiments from other sets. Great job Tammy!! (She always improves upon my designs!)

While I offer special projects and workshops during my crop, I also provide space for everyone to work on their own projects. Here's a little picture of someone creating 100 candy bar wrappers. We are a productive group! (If you look closely you can see the original See's Candy wrapper in the picture, the tip of a "Junk Journal" (workshop coming soon) and a little corner of the wall hanging we did this month)

My next crop/workshop is September 10th, 2011. I'll be featuring the Mischief paper pack and I have a Halloween workshop that I'll be posting soon. My workshops are located in Lakeside, CA (east side of San Diego County). See the calendar and workshop tabs above for more information.

Workshop - My Creations Memory Showcase

It's finally here!  Ever since I created the Christmas present for my inlaws using the 9x9 My Creations Memory Showcase, I've had people requesting a workshop to create their own... well I finally sat down and created it. Woo Hoo!

Here are a couple of sneak peeks...of course you'll get full instructions and get to see the whole thing when you order the workshop!

I plan to offer a couple of different days/times.  My first one is scheduled for this Friday, March 26th at 7:00pm.  Email me right away to reserve your spot. Fee is $15

Kit Contents:
9x9 My Creations Memory Showcase
Pre-cut papers to decorate all 8 surfaces
Little baggie with an assortment of photo corners and other embellishments to decorate your album

Take this workshop at my home and you can use my stamp set to decorate your album.  Ordering this to go?  I used the stamp set in the Veranda Workshop on the Go kit.  You can order your own WOTG kit and use the stamp set, or embellish with a different set.

Valentine Workshop - Part 1

I did a mini valentine workshop at the house on Saturday (4 people).  It was fun.  I loved putting it together and spending the afternoon with some great ladies!!

Here are two of the projects we did.  I still need to photograph the other two...ooops....

I used a Wishes pattern to create the front of the card....

And the inside pops out.  Too cute and super easy!!

The card below was designed by my good friend Gail.  I had to change it up a little to use stamps and products I had on hand...but it's pretty close to the one she swapped at our unit meeting.  Thanks Gail!!

Supplies List:

All supplies are Close To My Heart

X7107B That's Amore Paper Pack

A 1103 A Love Stamp Set

D1191 Friendship Blessings Stamp Set

Ink: Chocolate, Hollyhock and Blush

Z1263 Bitty Sparkles

Z1127 Chocolate Ribbon Rounds

Weekend Fun!

(Despite asking my customers to REMIND me to take pictures. LOL

This is the only one I took. But what a cute picture of Chris and Shelli!!)

My weekend started out great with another fun crop with my friends/customers!! I just love the wonderful group that comes to my crops/workshops. They help and encourage each other, share ideas and bring the most amazing food. Yummy!!!

This month we did the Caboodle Workshop on the Go from Close To My Heart. And as you know...if you've been following my blog lately... I was a LITTLE obsessed with this paper pack. I kept creating and creating and creating.... I added some neutral cardstock for extra card bases, but I only used the patterned paper and colored cardstock included in the kit and check out what I made!!!!

The board has the layout and cards featured in the WOTG kit. There are six cards and a two page layout. Then I made 12 more cards....

But before I start making cards, I use the extra papers to create two additional layouts each month (4 pages). I had to add 2 pieces of Buttercup cardstock for the first layout and you can use any color cardstock you want for the second layout because it's completely covered. I believe both of these are from Imagine. One is Salsa...and I can't remember what the other one is called....

I try to make sure at least one layout is quick and simple.

A Good Day

I'm tired and I need to head off to bed, but since I've been so good about updating, I think I need to keep up on it and post real quick.

Today was one of those days where you think "ahhh, it was a good day."

I had a great group at the crop today. Hopefully I won't get in trouble for posting this picture.... I won't name names...how's that... I absolutely love the great smiles on the two that are closest in the shot. I keep looking at the picture and it just makes me smile!



Thank you for the comments Justaman and Patti. I didn't know I had to approve them so it took a while for them to show up. Sorry about that.

And... I was all set to post a picture and brag about my silverware caddy success. I pulled it out of my crop container, set it on the table and saw...escaping silverware. Sheesh.... so much for attempt number two.



Have a great night!

Sneak Peek for Tomorrow

Here's a sneak peek of what we're doing at tomorrow's workshop/crop.

Coluzzle Purse
It's a purse, it's a card, it's a scrapbook. I love the purse coluzzle and never get tired of using it. Since tomorrow is all about coluzzle, we must do a purse!


Swing Card
Another coluzzle favorite. I'll be demonstrating how to make this card.


Coluzzle Storage
I found these cute document boxes in the Target dollar section and they are perfect for storing acryllic blocks and my coluzzle templates.


Coluzzle Tip
Here's a fun tip to help you cut on the right line. Use colored sharpies to trace each ring. Then you can easily see where to start and stop... and it's fun to play with sharpies!!