July Technique Blog Hop - Simple Shadows

Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop this month where we are featuring the "Simple Shadows" technique located on page 102 of the current Annual Inspirations.  Here is a summary of the technique as found in the idea book.

If you are coming from Debi's Blog, you are on the right track.  She happens to be the start of the hop where you can also find a complete list of participants.

I decided to use one our Design Creations Lagoon Paper Bags to make a holder for some photos I am giving to a friend.  I used the Artbooking Cricut cartridge, exclusive to Close To My Heart, for both the camera and sentiment images.

The camera image was cut out at 2 1/2" - both the Black and Cranberry pieces.  Smile was cut at 2" out of Black and Canary cardstock and staggered a bit as shown in the technique.  (I just realized I used the same image as the sample.  LOL)  The original sentiment says "Smiles" but I did cut off the "s" to just have "Smile".  I added some Light Gray Epoxy Bubbles, Pixie Extra Thick Twine, and a Bubbly Enamel Shape.

Here are the pages for the two keys I used - page 40 and 51:

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave a comment, if you choose.  Now head on over to Wendy's Blog to see her fabulous incorporation of this technique.

Happy Hoppin'!

H2H Challenge - Life is a Beach

This week the challenge at Heart 2 Heart is "Life is a Beach".  I am looking forward to the fun artwork that will be shared to align with this theme.

What better way to design artwork to coordinate with this theme than with the Seaside paper pack?  Two pieces of patterned paper were used and the Zip Strip was incorporated to blend the seam.  After adding that and the four stamped images, I decided all it needed was a finishing touch of Glacier Thick Twine.  The Beach Gear stamp set was used with the following ink pads:  Hollyhock, Sorbet, Glacier, Topiary.

I love the beach although I do not get to visit it often but will imagine I am there as I watch the beautiful creations shared through the challenge site.

Let's get this week off to a GREAT start!

Disney in Studio J!

In not carrying a current Disney-associated paper pack, I decided to use Studio J to create some 4" x 6" and 3" x 4" Picture My Life-type cards for some of my team gifts.  I am extremely pleased how they turned out and hope you love them as much as I do!

I cut them up and placed them in our My Creations Black Mini Album to give to my team members who have joined me for the national celebration at Disneyland.

I was excited to try this and then became a little concerned, not sure I could pull it off, but I did!  I will be doing this in the future, even using them as accents on scrapbook pages and cards.  Gotta love that you the possibilities are endless in Studio J!  If you don't know what Studio J is, click on the links provided to find out more or contact me!  I am happy to answer your questions!

Enjoying the Disney experience,

At the Happiest Place on Earth!

Yep, the time is NOW!  I arrived yesterday in Anaheim for Close To My Heart's 2015 National Convention in Anaheim!  We will spend the next few days at the Disneyland Hotel, consumed in fun, productivity, new products and fabulous artwork!  I am so excited and can't wait to share all the fun with you while I am gone and when I return.

I know there will be some new fun and memories made but here are some throwback photos of fabulous times enjoyed at previous Conventions with my team members who are also some of my dearest friends.  Most importantly, I am thankful to share in these fun times with my Mom who is also on my team!

AAt

I can't wait to create new moments with my friends.  Let the fun times begin!  Enjoy the rest of your week!

Operation Smile Stamp Set Blog Hop

If you are coming from Wendy's Blog, you are headed in the right direction!  You can find a complete list of participants by clicking HERE.

We are highlighting the "Happy Everything" stamp set which is totally fun and an exclusive set offered for purchase where a portion of the proceeds benefit Operation Smile.  Operation Smile is a worthwhile organization we proceed that benefits young children.  Click on the link to read more about it.

This card did not take long to create.  I love the simplicity of it and was able to produce it quickly for a friend who needed a birthday card.  The design came from a sketch found at Freshly Made Sketches.

Gotta love the minimal amount of paper used to create this card.  I used two pieces of cardstock - Canary and Lagoon - from the Paper Fundamentals paper pack and the diagonal striped item is a piece of the Smoothie Striped Washi Tape.  I stamped the sentiment multiple times on White Daisy cardstock using Black, Canary, Smoothie and Lagoon inks.  The letters were cut out and layered on the image stamped in Black ink so I was able to get the different colors.  The balloon was also masked, using the Paper Fundamentals paper, and three Coral Reef Sequins made the card complete.  I hope you agree!

As always, I appreciate you taking the moment to stop by and hope you enjoy my artwork.  Comments are always appreciated.  Now head on over to Melinda's Blog and check out her fun artwork!  She is always sure to impress!

Happy hoppin'!

H2H Challenge: Life is a Picnic

No better way to celebrate July than celebrating "life"!  I love the title of this week's challenge at Heart to Heart Challenges and have definitely put a little spin on my artwork.  While these photos do not reflect an actual picnic, they do contain photos of things that make me happy and allow me to enjoy life on a daily basis...the reason I consider my "life is a picnic"!

These photos were scrapbooked in Close To My Heart's In The Pink My Crush product line (these items are only available while supplies last).  It contains 7" x 10" pages and I selected photos from the Great American Scrapbook Convention I attended with some fabulous ladies in Arlington, TX a couple of weeks ago.

On this left-hand page, I only included the photos with White Daisy mattes, some stickers included with the Assortment to note the year, and three Gold Sequins.  The Washi Tape you see on the left...yep, part of the page pattern, as are the flourishes.

I added a little bit more to this right page, including the "Ice-Cold Summer" stamp set images seen in the bottom right.  The stamp set is so fun; I love being able to piece together the lemonade glass with all the extras.  I cut out the envelope from the Artfully Sent cartridge at 2 1/4".  I did cut off the flap of the envelope because I did not want it to extend into the photo.  I added the Gold Polka Dot Washi Tape as a tab to the journaling card, also from the Assortment.  (I did journal on the backside of the card.)  The ladies' names were added on small strips of Cotton Candy cardstock and then dovetailed.  Three Gold Sequins finished off this page.  Oh!  And the tag where the sentiment and lemonade glass is on...another printed piece in this gorgeous book!

Here is where you can see the details of the embellishments on this page.

Check out the other artwork provided by the Design Team Members and those who have participated in the challenge by clicking HERE!  Thanks for stopping by and I would love for you to leave of a comment. 

Life IS a Picnic,

Jump On It July Stamp Sets

As promised yesterday, I am providing photos of the stamp sets that you can get this month for just $5, with every $25 qualifying purchase.  Click here to be directed to complete details regarding this campaign.

Should you want to know, here are my favorite three stamp sets that are being offered to you at this phenomenal price!

#1 - This is my absolute favorite!  I love the girls and the sentiment!  You cannot pass this one up!  Search "Better with a Friend" in the search window on my blog and you will see some fun cards I have made with it.

#2 - I have made several tags with this stamp set.  The tags coordinate with our Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, making it easy to cut, stamp and design.  And...aren't the sayings too fun?!  Search "Tagged with Love" on my blog and you will find cards made with this stamp set too.

#3 - I used these sentiments on my Christmas cards and will do the same again this year.  I love the fun and whimsical look of them.  They would look great on our handmade Christmas cards too!  ;)  You guessed it!  Search "Be Jolly" and see what cards I am referring to!

Here are the stamp sets that are available through this fabulous offer:

Click on image for an enlarged view.

There are some fabulous stamp sets you just cannot pass up with this fabulous offer!  Place your order now by clicking HERE!

Be sure to start your holiday weekend off right today by doing something fun!  I plan on creating all day!  How will you spend your day  Post your answer below!

I'm Excited to Share...

I have been selected to serve on the Design Team for Heart 2 Heart Challenges from July to December!  I am honored to have been selected and look forward to helping celebrate the Close To My Heart love shared by so many papercrafters!

I encourage you to visit the Heart 2 Heart Blog and see what it is all about.  Consider sharing your artwork created with Close To My Heart products.  It always wonderful to see what others have been inspired to create with some of the products you might already possess...or need to order!  ;)

I join these fabulous ladies on the team:
Haley Dyer
Lauren Moore
Brandi Robinson
Angela White
Laurie Levorson
Nikka Geers
Allison Kostiuk
Cynthia McCloud
Alyson Mayo
Paige Dolecki
Heather Jane Schmuckal

Blessed,

Jump On It July - July Campaign

This month Close To  My Heart is hosting a fun campaign highlighting several of my favorite stamp sets that are typically not available to all customers.  Here are the details:

When you purchase $25 in current, retail priced stamps, you qualify to receive either the July Stamp of the Month, "Life is Wonderful", FREE or any one of the Hostess Rewards stamp sets featured in Annual Inspirations 2014-2015 or Seasonal Expressions 2 for only $5!  That is a savings of up to $17.95!

The July Stamp of the Month is a lovely, very versatile stamp set that is a great match for your cards and layouts that celebrate all the wonderful things - big and small - that life has to offer.  Additionally, the Hostess Rewards stamp sets have previously only been available as part of the Hostess Rewards program, which means now is the perfect opportunity to get those special stamp sets you've had your eye on!  Want more than one of the stamp sets available?  You get a choice of one for EACH $25 you spend.  That's right!  Spend $100 and you can get the Stamp of the Month FREE and buy the other three for just $5!  (That's a savings of $56.80!)

Here is a list of the Hostess Reward Stamps that you can get for just $5 each:
C1614 My Acrylix® Tagged with Love
C1613 My Acrylix® Paper Bird
B1477 My Acrylix® Exotic Flower
D1615 My Acrylix® Sweet As Sugar
B1454 My Acrylix® Thanksgiving Wreath
C1596 My Acrylix® Happy Hexagons
C1587 My Acrylix® Sing Glory
B1455 My Acrylix® Be Jolly
C1593 My Acrylix® Hats Off
A1169 My Acrylix® Well Wishes
D1608 My Acrylix® Better with a Friend
B1458 My Acrylix® Cuddly Salutations
A1163 My Acrylix® Practical Planning

To view these online, click on the links below and turn to the pages indicated to view these fabulous stamp sets:
Annual Inspirations - pages 5-10
Seasonal Expression 2 - pages 4-5

Photos of the stamp sets will be posted here tomorrow.

To get your FREE stamp set or your $5 Hostess Rewards stamp set, simply place an order of $25 or any current, retail priced stamps on my website.  This offer is available only during the month of July and applies only to the July Stamp of the Month and current Hostess Rewards stamp sets so spring into action and jump on this deal before it's gone!

Have a wonderful July!