Joyful Stars Blog Hop- ConGRADulations!

Welcome to our monthly hop!

We're excited to share our creativity with you using PRODUCTS

from Close To My Heart!!

Come on in and see what BEAUTIFUL projects my crafty friends have creating using the AMAZING products from Close To My Heart!!

 This blog hop is easy to do…just click on the link at the end of the post to go to the next creation!!  If you get lost along the way, CLICK HERE to see the list of this month’s hoppers! 

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If you have arrived from Betty's blog you are right on track.

  Let's check out the card I want to share with you today! 

I needed a handmade graduation card for my nephew's graduation & I was determined to create something a bit unique. I was VERY happy to find this different fold of a card - it's called the "Double Triangle Fun Fold" card! :) 


For the front of the card, I used our Documented paper pack...take a look at the beautiful colors in this kit. 

I pulled out the neutral tones for a more masculine card....I even got to use the ZIP STRIP at the bottom of the card! :) 

Take a closer look at these stars...

I used our Star Thin Cuts (metal dies) and cut them with our silver foil paper.  While you can't really see that on the photo - in real life it's LOTS of fun!!

Now...for the inside....ta-da!!

Isn't that neat?!?!  :)  

It is a regular 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 card size when closed, but it opens up in a different way! :) 

Here's a close up of the inside too :) 

Creating this card was QUITE easy! :) 

Take an 8 1/2x 11 paper & score it at 5 1/2". 
Turn the paper vertically...and now score it at 4 1/4. 
(this gives you 4 rectangles) 
NEXT, take your paper trimmer (or in my case I took a LONG ruler & an xacto knife)  and diagonally cut your 81/2 x 11 piece of paper from corner to corner.  This will create 2 triangles. 

When you are finished, you have 2 card bases with fun TRIANGLE folds! :) 

I used 3 stamp sets for this card...
ConGRADulations (B1564)
Splash of Color (D1733)
Smarty Pants - retired (C1649)

I also was happy to use the  "Stitched Circle" Thin Cuts.  I just LOVE that stitching around the edge! :) 

That's all for today....thanks for stopping by, and I hope you were inspired to go CREATE something on your own! :) 

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Now it’s time to Hop on over to Michelle's  blog and see what beautiful, crafty item she has to share with us!

Happy Hopping and we’ll see you on the 9th next month, when the Joyful Stars team members will be sharing more artwork using Close To My Heart products!    

Blessings to you for BEAUTIFUL day!!!

Krista Hershberger

Die-Namite Blog Hop

Welcome to this 
Special Blog Hop!

Today, we will be featuring our EXCLUSIVE Promotion "Die-Namite!!"  This AMAZING special is taking place during the month of MARCH here at Close To My Heart.   

There are many Die cuts (Thin Cuts) to choose from!  You can see the ENTIRE list of items on sale by CLICKING HERE.   

Now, to continue with this special Blog Hop....

If you have come here from the talented,  Wendy's  Blog, you are on the right path!   If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants by clicking HERE…

  

This month we have  17 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing items they created using these FABULOUS new products.   This hop is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Wahoo!! 

Here we go!

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For the card I created with Thin Cuts today, I used TWO Thin Cut Sets that are on SALE this month at Close To My Heart! 
The "Sweet Baby" Thin Cut bundle set AND the Scallop Border Thin Cut.   

Take a look....

The special thing about the Sweet Baby Bundle set - is that not only do you have a Thin Cut to cut out the cute elephant & balloons BUT...you also have this ADORABLE, coordinating stamp set to go along with the cut out shapes!

The paper used to create this card was the Whimsy Fundamentals collection.  I also used some gold foil paper too!   
  
Take a peek at this ADORABLE stamp set that is INCLUDED in the Thin Cut bundle!!   

You may have also noticed the "splashes" of ink blots in the background of my card.  This is my favorite background stamp set at the moment - and is called "Splash of Color".  

In this photo, you can see the Scallop Border Thin Cut  - it's cut from our Whimsy Fundamentals paper.  

Also - the baby elephant was colored using our ShinHan alcohol markers.  I don't consider myself a good color-er - but am always pleasantly surprised at how well it turns out when I use ShinHan alcohol markers! :) 

In this picture you can see a few more close up images...let's check out the details. :) 

1. "baby" - this was embossed with gold embossing powder & looks so much better in person!! :) 

2. On the left side of this card, I used our Gold Foil paper....but rather than using it plain, I used my CTMH scoreboard to create some diagonal lines in it. 

3. The rainbow colored shimmer trim at the bottom of the card.  Yes - that WAS White Shimmer Trim ;)...but once I got out my watercolor paints & added some color - it now is rainbow colored!! 
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I hope you enjoyed this card, and were INSPIRED today!! :) 

Now it's time to "Hop" on over to Miss Carrie's Creations Blog to see her beautiful creation!

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Be sure to visit ALL the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas!   We LOVE to hear any feedback you’d like to share as well, so feel free to take a moment & leave a comment. 

Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here if you need a consultant :)) 

so that you can get in on the FUN and get this AMAZING discount on our FABULOUS Thin Cuts here at Close To My Heart!! 

Blessings to you for a WONDERFUL day!!!

Krista 

Joyful Stars blog Hop - Life Together page

Welcome to our monthly hop!

We're excited to share our creativity with you using PRODUCTS

from Close To My Heart!!

Come on in and see what BEAUTIFUL projects my crafty friends have creating using the AMAZING products from Close To My Heart!!

 This blog hop is easy to do…just click on the link at the end of the post to go to the next creation!!  If you get lost along the way, CLICK HERE to see the list of this month’s hoppers! 

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If you have arrived from my friend, Andrea's blog you are right on track.

Today, I'll be showcasing the 1 page make n take that I created for my September all-day crop! :)  Let's take a look! 

I was VERY excited with how this page turned out, & YES...I will be creating a 2nd page for it ;)....I just haven't taken the time to create that yet! ;)  The pattern design came from our NEW Make It From Your Heart - vol 3 collection!!  This is pattern #13. 

At this year's Sept All-Day Crop, this page was a FREE make n take for those that attended! :)  It's always a FUN day of creating together, and what a FUN, added BONUS this page added to their day! :)  

As I was creating, I wanted to use new products from Close To My Heart - because our crop was my DEBUTING event of the NEW Holiday Expressions mini -book.  
What FUN!!!

The first NEW goodie I wanted to use...was the BEAUTIFUL stamp set called "Oh Snap!".  Take a look....

Oh this stamp set just caught my eye...so many fun images in this stamp set!!  I just HAD to use, that adorable camera...so after stamping it in our NEW Nutmeg color, I decided it needed some sparkle, to make that flash shine :)  So...out came the gold foil paper AND the Gold Shimmer Brush!! 

Next, I wanted a title for the page.  I REALLY liked our new "Together" thin cut die....so I cut that out of NUTMEG cardstock. 

AND...as I continued to look at the title, I REALIZED that the word "life" in the stamp set -had a VERY similar font to the thin cut die!! Why not create the title "life together"?  Oh WOW!!  Yay for a brainstorm!! LOL!! ;) 

Did you take notice of the embossed leaves at the bottom of the photo?  I used our  BEAUTIFUL, NEW, Leaves Embossing Folder!!  It's perfect for this time of year!  

If you click on the picture & zoom in....let me share another tip with you regarding these leaves :) :) 

I was DETERMINED to emboss my leaves, & that they remained facing upright....and the leaves wouldn't turn & be impressed sideways.  


Hmmm, I had to think awhile HOW was I going to do this with our 5x7 embossing folder?? 

(I included this photo, to help you see what I mean ;) )

 I LOVE that there is a slit in the top of all of our 5x7 folders, allowing us to create a 4x 12 strip of embossed paper if we'd like....but the way the leaf images were placed on this embossing folder...I could emboss the horizontal strip with the leaves going sideways.  

So...I got to thinking....why not cut a 10" long strip of paper - and fold it in half and run it through the embossing machine???  

I did this....and then inked up the leaves with our NEW Almond ink color!  The ink color really helped to blend it together, so you don't notice the "impressing" and "depressing" of the 2 different  embossed images! :)  

When you look at this close up photo - you CAN see the difference, but looking at the layout once again, it blends right together & no one will know that they are different. :)  Oh the FUN of creating!!! 

Other items I used in this project, and didn't list above...
Falling for You paper collection
Cats & Bats paper collection
Gold Shimmer Trim
September Stamp of the Month
Splash of Color stamp set
Fern, Almond & Nutmeg inks

  That's all for today....thanks for stopping by, and I hope you were inspired to go CREATE something on your own! :) 

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Now it’s time to Hop on over to my friendJoyce's  blog and see what beautiful, crafty item she has to share with us!

Happy Hopping and we’ll see you on the 9th next month, when the Joyful Stars team members will be sharing more artwork using Close To My Heart products!    

Blessings to you for BEAUTIFUL day!!!

Krista Hershberger 

Joyful Stars blog Hop - 40th Birthday Card

Welcome to our monthly hop!

We're excited to share our creativity with you using PRODUCTS

from Close To My Heart!!

Come on in and see what BEAUTIFUL projects my crafty friends have creating using the AMAZING products from Close To My Heart!!

 This blog hop is easy to do…just click on the link at the end of the post to go to the next creation!!  If you get lost along the way, CLICK HERE to see the list of this month’s hoppers! 

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If you have arrived from Joyce's blog you are right on track.

In case you HAVEN'T heard, you'll want to check with your Close To My Heart Consultant ...because the NEWEST release of our "B-I-G" Idea Book was released on August 1st!!  

It's BEAUTIFUL, & has loads of NEW PRODUCTS! :) :) If you click on the photo of the Idea Book, you can view the online version of this fabulous book! :) 


Today I created a card that uses soon-to-be-retired product as well as brand NEW goodies too! :)  

I had the honor of making my baby brother a 40th birthday card this week, and I was EXCITED to use this new stamp set called "Hunting for Words" .  What a GREAT outdoors/nature Stamp set!!!  LOVE this new set! :) 

Ok...now that we saw this beauty, let's take a peek at the card I created!  
  

A simple card, but perfect for my brother who is a big outdoors-man. :)   

I used our FABULOUS How-To-Book, Make It From Your Heart, vol 1, pattern #26 for my inspiration of this card design.  However, if you have this book, and take a look at the pattern, it will look a bit different than this card.  I used the patterns as my "starting point" & LOVE that by doing this, it SAVES me so much TIME!! :)

I chose NOT to color this "big guy" in....but instead I used our NEW stamp set - "Splash of Color" & added some background images with a NEW COLOR - Mink.    

I then used another NEW product....eekkkk...all these FUN, new goodies! :) 
We have MORE "Thin Cuts" (metal dies for those that aren't familiar with CTMH language ;) ) 

We have LOTS of new dies, but in this case I used our "Basic Banners - Thin Cuts".  
Then, I used the "Marker Alphabet" stamp set, and stamped the 40.  
The word "happy" came from the "Hunting for Words" stamp set - and I handwrote the "th" with my black journaling pen. :)    

What about the paper?  Which paper pack did I use for this card?  
Do you want to guess?? :) 

This is our "handsome" Jack paper collection!  AND...this is the item that is RETIRING soon!!  This paper collection will be retiring on August 31, 2017, so make sure you have enough of this to last a lifetime! :) 

  That's all for today....thanks for stopping by, and I hope you were inspired to go CREATE something on your own! :) 

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Now it’s time to Hop on over to my friendBetty's  blog and see what beautiful, crafty item she has to share with us!

Happy Hopping and we’ll see you on the 9th next month, when the Joyful Stars team members will be sharing more artwork using Close To My Heart products!    

Blessings to you for BEAUTIFUL day!!!

Krista Hershberger