September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We are featuring the September Stamp of the Month (SOTM), "Limited Edition", a set of 21 images.

 

If you have come here from Brae's Blog you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here.

This month we have approximately 61 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

I created this 6x6 card using our NEW Kraft Die Cut Cards & Envelopes.  I incorporated the Elemental paper pack and Zip Strip (yellow border) as well as our NEW Milepost Shapes and Stars Dimensional Elements.  The tag itself was cut using our NEW Cricut Art Philosophy catridge. 

I had fun making this cheery card and hope you like it as well!

Thanks for stopping by. "Hop" on over to Mary's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the SOTM is only available until the end of this month!

Supplies used : X7141B, Level 2 Elemental Paper Packet, Z1474 Kraft Die-Cut Cards & Envelopes, Z1464 Milepost Shapes,  Z21680 Stars Dimensional Elements, Pewter Brads, Inks: Pacifica, Sorbet, Desert Sand, Cranberry, 3-D Foam Tape.

 Happy Hoppin',

Technique Blog Hop

Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop!  This month there are 13 of us highlighting the "Glossy Dimensions” Technique as shown on page 23 in the Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book!  This blog hop is a great big circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique.  If you would like to start from the beginning, please visit this link.  While there, you will also find a listing of all participants and their blog addresses if you should get lost or want to reference a blog along the way.  Let’s get started!

If you are coming from Marianne's Blog, you are on the right track!  

I have been wanting to make a Recipe Box since they were released and never have.  In starting a new school year next Monday, I thought the box, decorated with the NEW Elementals paper pack which coordinates with our school colors, would be perfect for maintaining student and parent contact records.  And what better way to bling up the Alphabet Dimensional Elements than using this technique?

I was a little intimidate by the technique initially.  While I loved how it looked in the Idea Book, I was a little hesitant on mixing Liquid Glass and Reinker!  YIKES!  But it worked out just fine and I'll look forward to using this technique again on future projects.  (I was sure to rinse out the Craft Jar and my Embossing Tool immediately after use and wiped it dry with a paper towel.  It is ready to use next time!)

Supply List: Z1322 My Creations Recipe/Photo Box, X7141B Elementals Paper Packet, C1464 Blue Ribbon stamp set, D1491 Hooray Bouquet stamp set, Z1680 Stars Dimensional Elements, Z679 Liquid Glass, Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy Collection (CTMH Exclusive), Pacifica ink, Creme Brulee ink, Sponge Daubers, 3-D Foam Tape.

Thanks for stopping by!  Please continue onto Kelly's Blog where you will find some additional artwork highlighting this technique!  Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you thought of my variation and happy hopping!  

 

Open House - THIS Saturday, August 13th

Open House - S. Arlington, TX
Cost:  FREE
When:  Saturday, August 13th - 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Where:  Angie's Scrapbooking Shop, 5720 Forest Bend Drive Suite 101, Arlington, TX 76017
No RSVP is needed but it is greatly appreciated.  If you RSVP by Thursday, August 11th, I will have an extra "goodie" for you as appreciation for your thoughtfulness. 

Close To My Heart has released their new catalog and since we can’t contain ourselves, I am co-hosting an Open House at Angie’s Scrapbooking Shop on Saturday August 13^th from 1 – 5 pm. Be one of the first people to come see, touch and feel many of the new products!

We are offering the following:

• New Catalog introduction, review of new products & FREE Make & Take – on the hour! 
• Demos of the new Cricut Cartridge – on the half-hour! The Cricut Art Philosophy Collection bundle has stamps and chipboard shapes to coordinate, not to mention the fabulous flowers that you can make!
• Door prizes - every half hour!
• First 10 guests to arrive receive a free gift!
• Grand Prize to the person who brings the most guests and crops for the day!  (Just $15 to crop! CROP SPACE IS LIMITED SO PLEASE RSVP IMMEDIATELY FOR THIS.)

I look forward to seeing you there!

Mini Stamp of the Blog Hop

Welcome to our inspirational blog hop, where we are sharing creative ideas with you showcasing this month's Stamp of the Month.  This month's Stamp of the Month is called "Wicked".  It contains 9 images and is available for just $5 with a $50 purchase!   

I have some wonderful Consultants joining me in this hop which works as a circle.  So begin "hopping" and feel free to leave comments along the way.  Here is a list of the participants and their blogs:

1. Melissa Robinson - http://mlisrobinson.blogspot.com  
2. Neely Dean - http://neelydean.blogspot.com
3. Cherri Hardcastle - http://craftwithfeeling.blogspot.com
   
4. Lorus - http://becauseofmychildren.blogspot.com
5. Sheila Wilkerson - http://ezscrapbooks.blogspot.com
6. Marianne Hancock - http://thescrapbookchick.blogspot.com  
7. Lisa Lawson - http://somescrapstuff.blogspot.com

You may have started here or may have come from Lisa's Blog.  Let's get started!

One of the images I mentioned previously that I like most from this stamp set is the "honeycomb" image.  It definitely makes for a fun background and will be very versatile.  The "hats off to you" saying does is as well.

To add a little more texture to the card, I created the "stripe" on the Black cardstock using my Embossing Tool/Stylus (Z608) and the sanding block from our Sanding Kit (Z1294).  Using my paper trimmer, I created the 1/4" stripes and then sanded them, exposing the white core in our cardstock.  Too fun!

I decided to incorporate the "ghosting" technique, as highlighted on page 45 in the current Idea Book, with the "hat" image.  Using the Versamark ink pad (Z891), I stamped the image on Desert Sand cardstock and then sponged on some green chalk to the image.  It magically "exposed" the hat for this soft look.  Then I stamped the stamp in black, over the chalked image to create a "watermark".  To finish off the card I added a photo clip and some buttons.   

This card was made based on the "Center Accent" pattern in Originals, page 13. 

Thank you for stopping by.  Now hop on over to Neely's Blog where she will show you her creative use of this stamp set!  Happy hoppin'!

Me and the characters

No, I'm not talking about my team members this time!  LOL  Just kidding, girls!  

This was the first time visiting Disneyland, Disney World, California Adventure or Universal Studios that I had the opportunity for a photo op with so many characters!  I loved every minute of it and can't wait to scrapbook these photos.

Goofy

 

My Mom and I take a moment to pose with the Mickey statue in front of the Disneyland Hotel.

Awww...my niece and I with Mickey himself!

The girls with Hop!

Minnie Mouse

Curious George

Scooby Doobie Doobie Doo!

Fievel, from An American Tail, takes an adorable photo with my niece.

Dora with the kids!

Uh...I forget his name.  Someone help!  LOL

The girls take a picture with Woody Woodpecker and his better half.

You know I don't have kids when I had to check on the names of a couple of the characters.  LOL  What fun memories to scrapbook!

August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We are featuring the August Stamp of the Month (SOTM), "Wicked", a set of 9 images.

If you have come here from Traci's Blog you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here.

This month we have approximately 61 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

If you have been reading my blog much, you know I have loved our Clear Cards but I have a renewed love for them now because of Close To My Heart's exclusive Cricut cartridge, Art Philosophy!  I always wanted a more decorative card, using the Clear Card as my base, but didn't want to spend the additional time to create them as so.  With Art Philosophy...this dilemma is no more! 

By pushing one button on the Cricut, and adjusting the size to 4 1/4", I was able to cut this cute scallop background!  It took only as long as the Cricut cutting it!  Gotta love that!  I also used the Cricut to cut the 2" circle - no more Coluzzle or other "trying" cutting systems!  And...check out the cube "frame" around the saying... Yep!  You guessed it!  Cut from the Cricut!  I didn't have to worry about tracing a template, cutting neatly around it..  Again just a push of a couple of buttons and I was able to stamp this staying on it and use 3-D Foam Tape to attach it - for added dimension.

I am thrilled that this stamp set, which could be seen only as Halloween-themed, can be used for many other things as you see here.  Because I do not already own "Mischief", the paper pack that would coordinate with this stamp set, I solely used cardstock.  I stamped the "honeycomb" image in Black ink on Desert Sand cardstock and then stamped the cat in Black on Sunset cardstock.

But to add a more striking presence to the cat, I re-stamped the image using Versamark and then poured clear embossing powder and heat set it - for a glossy effect.  This may be difficult to see through the photo but it did add to the overall appeal.

Thanks for stopping by.  If you would like to check out my supply list and source of information, read below.  Otherwise, "hop" on over to Doreen's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the SOTM is only available until the end of July, 2011!

Artwork created based on the "Up in the Corner" card design in our "Wishes" how-to program.
 
Supply List:  Wicked SOTM (S1108), Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy Collection (only available through CTMH Consultants), Black Ink, Versamark Ink Pad (Z891), Clear Detail Embossing Powder (Z821), Black Brad Buttons (Z1393), 3-D Foam Tape (Z1151), Cardstock colors - Barn Red, Black, Desert Sand & Sunset, Cricut.

Happy Hoppin',

Thankful for my "ears"...

Mickey ears, that is!

One of the events I have looked forward to, since becoming a Director with Close To My Heart, is being treated to dinner and some fun during our National Conventions.  This is just one of the perks of being a leader in this awesome company.

Upon arriving at this year's dinner, our places were reserved with Mickey ears which had been embroidered with our name!  I was so surprised to see such a cool "place card", completely fitting for the location of our Convention, Disneyland!  To accompany our "ears, we also had a beautiful, handmade card - decorated with rosettes made from our NEW exclusive Cricut Cartridge (stay tuned for more fun artwork made with it) - which contained our Twilight pass to California Adventure!  Being a junkie for amusement parks, I could not have been more happy. 

We were treated to a delicious dinner and dessert and then I met up with some friends and headed over to the park.  We had some time to play and then were to receive a VIP viewing of the "World of Color". So, off we went to play!  I was thrilled that all of us liked thrill-rides so we were sure to catch several of them!

My downline, Joy and I, with sportin' our Mickey ears.

Fellow Directors, Tiffany, Sharryl and Joy as we wait in line for the Little Mermaid.

Joy and Sharryl in their seashells, awaiting Ariel's adventure.

Sharryl and I became action figures for 2 minutes.

And then we met up with all other Directors for a rice krispy treat, shaped like Mickey - his ears dipped in chocolate, for the World of Color viewing.  It was phenomenal! 

Thanks to Close to My Heart for making this journey a wonderful one.  If you would like to become a Consultant and eventual Director with CTMH, I'd love to share the opportunity with you!  

Team Breakfast at Convention

There is no better place to kick off Convention with breakfast with my team members and friends!

Maria Elena, Karen, Melissa, Joy, Michelle, Grissell, Lulu, Tawnya, Cherri, Debi, Debbie, Sheila, Lisa & Marianne

We joined Thursday morning at the Tangoroa Terrace (Disneyland Hotel) for some fellowship in anticipation of the new Idea Book and product release to take place in a couple of hours!  We had a great time laughing and enjoying the good breakfast.  The highlight was Joy receiving THREE PLATES of scrambled eggs instead of three eggs!  We all found it quite comical. 

Here are some fun photos from the breakfast.

Grissell, Tawnya, & Cherri

Debi, Debbie & Sheila

Lisa, Maria Elena, & Marianne

Joy, Michelle & Grissell

Melissa, Joy, Maria Elena, & Michelle

Debi & Debbie sportin' their ears

Michelle, Grissell, Tawnya, Cherri & Lulu

Lulu & Marianne

Join us at Convention 2012, in Dallas, where we are sure to have a Texas-sized team celebration!  You have to be a team member to participate!  SIGN UP NOW!  :0) 

I am extremely blessed!

I have not posted since leaving for Convention for various reasons, all which have to do with numerous blessings - I was not sure what to share first!  :0)

I had a blessed and enjoyable time at Close To My Heart's annual Convention in Anaheim, enjoyed spending time with my family afterwards, and am looking forward to great things on the horizon with my family, my profession and my business!  I am thankful you are apart of my journey as a viewer of my blog.

Giving gifts is one of my joys of being a part of Close To My Heart, a company which allows me to make inexpensive, handmade gifts which are made from my heart.  This year I had the pleasure of making quite a few gifts for my team members, fitting for the theme of our Convention - "When You Wish".

This was a fun layout I made (there's were made with some modifications) but I had fun making this Minnie Mouse, out of the Cricut, to coordinate with our Convention colors.  (Oh!  Did I mention that Close To My Heart has a new and exclusive Cricut cartridge?!  It is totally awesome and I am awaiting the arrival of mine!  I will be sharing more on the Cricut in the next few days so watch for those details!)

Then, I found these cute acrylic crowns at GASC and figured they would make a cute goodie for my team members - as bag tags - also to coordinate with the event colors.

This was a fun make 'n take we made at GASC and I solely participated with the idea that it too would make a great treat for my team members and friends.  I used our scallop circle punch and circle punch to create the topper and one of my club members blessed me with Mickey Mouse image punch. 

These clear bags can be purchased from ClearBags.com and were super easy to fill (with the help of my Dad).  Thanks Dad!

I enjoyed distributing the team and friend goodies and appreciated the kind responses I received from all.  It was fun to put a smile on their face.  I do enjoy giving.

I am looking forward to a blessed and prosperous CTMH year!  Keep watching my blog for important campaigns, creative ideas and so much more!

Convention 2011 Bound!

I am California-bound attending this year's CTMH Convention in Anaheim, CA - specifically to be held at the Disneyland Hotel!

Tomorrow our Convention kicks off with Leadership Day - an opportunity for Managers and above to gain useful tips and information into training and leading our teams!  That evening we will attend team events and get ready to find out all the new products and policies CTMH has to unveil to us!

The first official day of Convention is one of the favorites as the new Idea Book is released and there are thousands of screaming women demonstrating their excitement for the new products. 

I'm looking forward to spending the rest of this week with my roomies/friends and family (my Mom is my downline and I'm rooming with she and my Dad during my stay).  I will provide updates as possible and look forward to sharing and celebrating this new CTMH year with you!