Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Cricut Art Philosophy Images

Here are all of the images on the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge available exclusively through Close To My Heart.

(Click on images for larger view)








The Cricut Art Philosophy Collection includes everything you see below. Be sure to check the Fall/Winter Idea Book for more stamp sets that co-ordinate with this great bundle. Order yours today!


Friday, August 12, 2011

Another Sonoma Birthday Card - with Ribbon Roses

While I had my Sonoma paper out, I thought I had better make another birthday card (there seem to be a lot in August). I realized that I hadn't made a card with hand made ribbon roses in a while so decided to make some of those for this card. I followed the Sketch #127 at Card Patterns.




Supplies - Card size is 5 3/8" x 5 3/8"

Paper - Sonoma & Mistletoe designer paper, Bamboo & Desert Sand cardstock (all CTMH)
Stamps - Happy Birthday (C1257)(CTMH)
Ink - Bamboo, Smokey Plum (CTMH)
Accessories - Opaques - Pearl (CTMH), cream lace (Kaisercraft), seam binding ribbon (May Arts - The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store), 1/4" & 5/8" satin ribbon (Offray)
Other - Spellbinders Lacey Circles & Plain Circles Small, Butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), ticket corner punch (SU), needle, thread, 3D foam

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Sonoma Birthday Card And A Great Clear Box To Put It In

I made this birthday card for a dear friend of mine using one of the new paper packs from Close To My Heart called Sonoma. I love this paper pack, it lends an elegant feel to projects made with it. I used a Viva La Verve sketch by Andrea Ewen at SCS.

I am so excited about some new product that I received yesterday from The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store. The wrinkled seam binding is only one of hundreds of ribbons that Sharon sells and the clear boxes are awesome. Now I can store my cards safely and easily until I am ready to use them and the presentation is incredible. See below for pics.



Here is the sketch that I used:


Supplies - All products are CTMH except where noted - card size is 6 1/2" x 4 3/4"

Paper - Sonoma Designer Paper, Olive & Colonial White cardstock
Stamps - Live Inspired (C1408), Gracious Greetings (D1265)
Ink - Smokey Plum, Bamboo
Accessories - Wrinkled Seam Binding (May Arts), Heirloom Assortment
Other - Border Punch (EK Success), Spellbinders Classic Oval Small & Large
3D foam

Here is a picture of the card in its clear case and also a picture of my Roxie birthday card in a clear case.



Sunday, August 7, 2011

H2H Challenge - Roxie Bday Card with Altered Embellishments & Paper Rose

As soon as I saw the Roxie paper pack in the new Fall/Winter Idea Book from Close To My Heart, I knew I wanted to make a birthday card with it. This card actually turned out as I envisioned it (this doesn't always happen).

All products used on the card are CTMH except the little feather. I have created a video to show how I created the fan, rose and the altered embellishments. Check it out below. You can view my original Paper Rose Tutorial here.





*** Just a quick note - In the video I explain how I made the fan - after folding and adding liquid glass between each pleat I wrapped a rubber band around the end to hold it together just until the liquid glass dries - *** Remove the rubber band when dry ***

Supplies - All products are CTMH except where noted - Card size is 4 3/4" x 6 1/2"
Paper - Designer Paper - Roxie, Vanilla Cream, Black, Juniper cardstock
Stamps - Picture Perfect (D1363), Birthday Script (B1208)
Ink - Jet Black (Staz-On), Desert Sand, Smoothie, Juniper
Accessories - Pin - Bling Assortment, Charm - Heirloom Assortment, Rhinestone Designer Brads, Sparkles, Color Ready Kraft Borders, Black Organday Ribbon, feather (dollar store)
Other - liquid glass, fine wire, 3D foam, Spellbinders Labels 10 & Plain Oval

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

New Stamp of the Month Program - Free Extra Stamp in August!

If you have had a chance to browse the new Idea Book which went live on August 1st you probably already know that the Stamp of the Month Program has changed.

Spend just $55 on CTMH products and you can purchase the Stamp of the Month for only $5.50. To celebrate this new program Close To My Heart is throwing in a free alphabet stamp if you order the Stamp of the Month 'Wicked'

Free stamp set - 'A Typeface'

Stamp of the Month - 'Wicked'

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Fabulous New Cricut Cartridge Coming to CTMH

In just a few days Close To My Heart's Fall/Winter Idea Book 2011 goes live to customers. One of the exciting changes to our product line is the addition of an excluseve Cricut cartridge that co-ordinates with many of the new stamp images in the new Idea Book. I have held off purchasing a Cricut, but this may be the extra push I need to finally pick one up. Here is a CTMH video describing the Cricut Art Philosophy Collection.



Fellow consultant Amanda Leahy has also created a great video to view the images on the cartridge.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Monday, July 4, 2011

Making Hand Cut Paper Flowers

Making hand cut paper flowers isn't new, but I thought I would share with you some of the flowers I have made lately.



I absolutely love how this Sympathy card turned out. The flowers are meant to be Florida Clematis. The flowers were made using good quality copy paper for the petals and printed paper from the retired paper pack Paper Garden.
Check out the video below to see how I made these flowers. For the flower centers please refer to my video tutorial 'Button Carnations' and for the leaves check out my picture tutorial 'Paper Roses'.

Paper sizes for flowers -

Large clematis - 1 - 3" x 3" white copy paper
1 - 1" x 6" designer paper for center

Small clematis - 1 - 2" x 2" white copy paper
1 - 5/8" x 6" designer paper for center



Supplies - All CTMH except where noted - card size is 7" x 5"
Paper - Good quality white copy paper, White Daisy, Ponderosa Pine and Gypsy cardstock, Designer paper - Paper Garden (retired)
Stamps - Card Chatter - Sympathy
Ink - Black, Hydrangea (retired), Grey Wool, Ponderosa Pine, C1 - Copic Marker
Accessories - black brads
Other - Embossing Folder (Provo-Craft), embossing stylus

Here is another 6 petalled flower I made using paper from the paper pack Magnifique


Paper sizes for Magnifique flower -

1 - 2" x 2" multi print
1 - 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" - peacock feather print
1 - 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" - peacock feather print



Eight Petalled Paper Flowers

Below I have another video tutorial for creating 8 petalled hand cut flowers.


Paper Sizes for pink flower -

2 - 2" x 2"
2 - 1 3/4" x 1 3/4"
2 - 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"


Paper sizes for 'Wings' flower -

Large - 1 - 2" x 2" - black print (Wings)
1 - 2" x 2" - pink print (Unforgettable - retired)
1 - 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" - black print (Wings)

Small - 1 - 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" - black print
1 - 1" x 1" - pink print
1 - 1" x 1" - black print


Paper sizes for Black Eyed Susans -

Large - 2 - 3" x 3" - sunflower print - (Magic Moments - retired)
1 - 1" x 9" - cocoa print - (Magic Moments - retired)for center

Small - 2 - 2" x 2" - sunflower print - (Magic Moments - retired)
1 - 5/8" x 6" - cocoa print - (Magic Moments - retired)for center
(can use 3/4" x 6" for center)



I hope you enjoyed these video tutorials. By altering the shape of the petals, the number of layers, the papers for each layer and what you choose for the flower centers you can create an endless variety of flowers. Try glitter, heat embossing etc. for even more variety.

Have fun! I would love to see what you create!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

CTMH July Campaign - Bang For Your Buck

We are entering the final month for the current Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book. Our new Fall/Winter 2011 Idea Book will be available August first. So this is your last chance to order some of your favourite paper packs and accessories. The following Level 2 paper packs will carry forward to the new Idea Book, all other Level 2 paper packs and co-ordinating accessories will retire.

- Sophia
- Mayberry
- Lucky
- Fanfare

When you place your order for your favourite products this month take advantage of our July special


Spend $50 on product from the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book and you can purchase one of the following items for only $1

Eligible $1 Bonus Items:
• Creative Basics® Mistletoe Collection (original retail: $9.95)
• Creative Basics® Animal Cookies Collection (original retail: $9.95)
• My Originals® Bits & Pieces Card Kit (original retail: $14.50)
• My Originals® It’s Your Day Card Kit (original retail: $14.50)
• My Originals® Around the Holidays Card Kit (original retail: $16.50)

Click here for more details