Saturday, August 31, 2013

Autumn is arriving, with the September Stamp of the Month- Blog Hop

Welcome to our monthly
Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

Today we will be featuring September’s Stamp of the Month (SOTM), which is called “Poster Tidings”, a set of 2 BEAUTIFUL stamps. 
9-13 SOM Image
I LOVE this stamp set, and I see SO MANY possibilities, even though there are only TWO stamps!!  I can’t WAIT to see how the rest of these blog hoppers have used this stamp set! J 

So, let’s get right to the Blog Hop…

If you have come here from Krista Ritske’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 HERE

This month we have over 55 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's stamp set!! 
So, sit back and enjoy your tour as you click on the link at the end of the post to see what EACH Consultant has created!!
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I loved BOTH of these stamps in this set, but decided to share my fall card with you today. (You are welcome to come back to my blog later on this month, to see other cards I created with this set!) J
Here is my autumn card… 
Sept 2013 SOTM_Poster Tidings_autumn card
The Artbooking Cricut cartridge created some fabulous cuts on this card! 

Here are the Artbooking keys I used-
The border was created using the F key…
F key- Artbooking
The leaves were created using the B key…
B key- Artbooking_autumn leaves
If you would like to check out the ENTIRE Artbooking handbook - CLICK HERE.

I LOVE the effect the autumn leaves have by cutting the base of the leaf with our Glitter Paper, and then using cardstock for the leaf top!
Sept 2013 SOTM_Poster Tidings_autumn card_close up artbooking border
Sept 2013 SOTM_Poster Tidings_autumn card_close up jute ribbon 
I also love the look it is to use our PIGMENT inks to stamp on our NEW Jute Ribbon!

How did I get just the word FAMILY inked with our New England Ivy Pigment ink? Use a sponge dauber!!! 
Sept 2013 SOTM_Poster Tidings_sponge dauber-jute ribbon

I was excited when I remembered a card fold I haven’t used in a while….so I used it on this card!!!  Check it out!! 
Sept 2013 SOTM_Poster Tidings_autumn card_full open card
Sept 2013 SOTM_Poster Tidings_autumn card_open card
Look at all of the extra room to write something J, or I could have added some more leaves inside too! 

I hope this has inspired you to try your own tri-fold card!  Measurements for this card are 5 1/2” x 10 1/4”.  Then you will score your card base at 4 1/4” and 7 1/4”…ta-da! J

Products used on this card
Huntington paper pack
Kraft Cardstock 
(only $9.50 for 24 shts!)
Autumn Terracotta & Olive cardstock
12x12 Brown/Tan Glitter paper
Z2503 Enchantment Pigment Inks 
  
Ink Colors: Desert Sand, Barn Red, Autumn Terracotta


I hope you enjoyed my card and now head on over to  Jen Rubio’s Blog  to see what she has created using this stamp set!

Be sure to visit ALL the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas!


****Remember, the September SOTM is only available
until September 30th! J
Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here if you need a consultant J) to see how you can get this EXCLUSIVE stamp set FOR ONLY $5!!  You won’t want to miss out on this ADORABLE stamp set!!


Blessings to you for a WONDERFUL day!!!
Krista J

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Artbooking in August Blog Hop - week 4



Welcome to week #4 of the 
Artbooking in August Blog Hop!
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Today is our FOURTH & last week L of sharing items with you that we created with Close To My Heart’s NEW Artbooking Cricut Cartridge!! 

As you may know, all 3 of CTMH’s Cricut cartridges have 700 images (not sizes…) AND they coordinate with MANY of our stamp sets -allowing us to have BEAUTIFUL, but quick & easy creations!!!
Cricut-ArtbookingBundle



I KNOW you will have fun browsing the MANY ways you can use our NEWEST Artbooking cartridge!!! J



come on in and continue on this hop…
If you have come from Mary Gunn’s Blog…you are on the right track!  

This week I wanted to share with you  
a giftable item that I created.

I created a very simple gift - that can be used for ANY occasion!!! 
A decorated pillow box!
Pillow box_huntington DSC_2335
I LOVE Close To My Heart’s GIFTABLE items that are ready for us to create by adding paper and embellishments!  

Click HERE to see the VARIETY of My Creations items that we carry at CTMH.

I used our clear pillow boxes - they are ONLY $2.95 for a set of 3 of these boxes!!  I love that you have SO MANY options to fill this box!

Here are just a few ideas in filling this box…
  • chocolate candy to brighten someone's day
  • Bath salts to treat a friend to a relaxing break
  • potpourri to scent the room your in
  • a teacher’s gift to say “Thank You” for a job well done 
  • FUN embellishments & sparkles for your creative friend
Pillow Box_Huntington_close upDSC_2337
Read on for details on the creation of this box….


The flower was created from "Key D" of the Artbooking cartridge...
I'm so THANKFUL that CTMH chose to continue to have a 3d flower on the Artbooking cartridge!!  



The flourish of leaves, comes from the "Key 9" of this cartridge.  



The Frame Flair stamp set coordinates with the Art Philosophy cartridge...and I used the Square 5 shape. 


I hope this has INSPIRED you to create your OWN giftable item!



Now, hop on over to Kimberly Hill’s Blog to see what she has created using this NEW Artbooking Cartridge!! 

If you get lost along the way CLICK HERE to view the entire list of Artbooking creators! 

 
Happy Hopping and make sure to JOIN US again next Monday for our LAST week of items created using this FABULOUS Artbooking Cartridge!!
  
Blessings to you for a WONDERFUL day!!!
Krista J

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Artbooking in August Blog Hop - week 3

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Welcome to week #3 of the Artbooking in August Blog Hop!







Today is our THIRD week to share with you items created with Close To My Heart’s NEW Artbooking Cricut Cartridge!!  

As you may know, EACH of CTMH’s Cricut cartridges have 700 images (not sizes…) AND they coordinate with MANY of our stamp sets -allowing us to have BEAUTIFUL, but quick & easy creations!!!

I KNOW you will have fun browsing the MANY ways you can use our NEWEST Artbooking cartridge!!! J So come on in and continue on this hop…

If you have come from Mary Gunn’s Blog…you are on the right track!  


Our challenge during the month of August was to create 4 different projects using the Cricut Artbooking cartridge and we could use any CTMH paper pack. 
We will each be creating one of the following items each week…
1. 2 page layout
2. Card
3. Mini Book
4. Home décor or “giftable” item
We were able to choose which of these 4 items to create and choose which Monday to post it.  This is a circular hop, so if you get lost along the way CLICK HERE to see the complete list posted on Adeline’s (our fearless coordinators) blog.

This week I wanted to share with you  
a mini album I created

With the Christmas season quickly approaching, I ventured to create a Christmas mini album!! 
Christmas mini-album_Artbooking DSC_2998
I wanted this album to be QUICK and EASY
and to me, quick and easy means NO STAMPING or INKING!
If you know me well - you then know how HARD it was for me to create an album in this fashion. J

Instead of using my “normal” items of stamps & inks - I chose to make sure there was some type of sparkle or glitter on each page. J FUN!!!

For the majority of this album, I  used the O key…
key O- Christmas mini album
and the P key in the Artbooking cartridge booklet.  I kept the size on the suggested size of 10” as I created this album.
key P- Christmas mini albumI am still AMAZED at how this Artbooking Cricut cartridge makes creating mini-albums and 2 page layouts as easy as 1…2….3!!!!   It’s WONDERFUL!!!!



Here is a close up of the cover of the album.
Christmas mini-album_Artbooking pg1 closeup DSC_2998
I did cut out TWO Barn Red base pages.  I then cut out the 3 ornaments of the 2nd base page so I could give some depth to my ornaments on the cover.  I also glued the entire barn red base page to the olive “december” base page, instead of making two separate pages.


Christmas mini-album_Artbooking pg2 DSC_2998

For the 2nd page, I chose to use just cardstock, accented with some glitter paper. 

I LOVE the way the mini-albums have so many “see through” aspects! 



You can see the swirl peeking through the circle with merry…you’ll see where that comes from as we turn to the 3rd page.












Christmas mini-album_Artbooking pg3 DSC_2998 For the 3rd page I took a wider shot of the album, so that you could see how you COULD use ALL sides of this album!!

  At this time, I chose not to do that…but I would like to add to this album in the near future and create on the left side of my pages as well! 

Did you notice the swirl??  Just a simple accent added to the photo mat. 


Christmas mini-album_Artbooking pg3 closeup DSC_2998
I love how EASY it is to layer  shapes to add dimension to any item!!!  Here I built a star - and added some 3D foam tape to give it a “pop”! 

The metal swirl AND the sparkle center - all come from the Rosewood mini-medley collection. 







The4th page is a mini page…and I LOVE how the glitter border (cut from the O Key) turned out on this page!  

 Our 12x12 glitter paper can be placed on your cricut cutting mat, and you can CUT away!!!(make sure the blade setting is on the highest of 6)
  Glitter paper REALLY ADDS an extra touch to ANY creation!!!  Christmas mini-album_Artbooking pg4 DSC_2998
How EASY - and SIMPLE this 5th page turned out to be!!!  I LOVE the scalloped edged photo frame - which comes from the “2 of a kind” key!

Christmas mini-album_Artbooking pg5 DSC_2998 
By filling in the holly cut out with glitter paper…it completes this page. 


The 6th page, and final page, is again simple…but still looks GREAT even though there is no inking or stamping!
Christmas mini-album_Artbooking pg6 DSC_2998
I believe this reindeer is going to become famous J and will be used often in many creations.  The photo mat (another favorite design of mine) comes from the “snow” key. 


I hope you enjoyed this album, and can see how QUICK & EASY this NEW Artbooking Cricut Cartridge makes our creating- without taking away the beauty of the creation!! 
Christmas mini-album_Artbooking- cover DSC_2998
In case you would like to try to create an album similar to mine, here is a list of the items I used on this album- or feel free to contact me with any questions you may have !J


Products Used on my MINI-ALBUM…
Now, hop on over to Kimberly Hill’s Blog to see what she has created using this NEW Artbooking Cartridge!! 

If you get lost along the way CLICK HERE to view the entire list of Artbooking creators! 


Happy Hopping and make sure to JOIN US again next Monday for our LAST week of items created using this FABULOUS Artbooking Cartridge!!
  
Blessings to you for a WONDERFUL day!!!
Krista J