365 Cards Catch-up!

I had a little bit of time tonight to work on cards and was able to complete a few challenges at 365 Cards.

Day 204- Super Sketchy Sunday

Here is the sketch

I designed and cut this card with Cricut Design Studio using the Home Accents and Stretch Your Imagination cartridges. This was my 1st time creating with Design Studio and it was fun!

Day 211- Super Sketchy Sunday

Here is the sketch

I used Close to My Heart Jingle Level 2 Paper and the Connections Club Clear Shapes from Spring 2009. The stamp set is Close to My Heart My Acrylix Grown With Love and is stamped with Tulip Exclusive Inks.

Day 212- On the Fringes

The challenge is to use some kind of fringe to at least 2 sides of your card.

I used Close to My Heart Jingle Level 2 Paper again for this card. (I am in the Christmas mood!) I stamped the word Jingle with My Acrylix Holiday Jingle in black ink. The pom-pom fringe is from a JoAnn's Christmas collection that I have had in my stash of ribbon for years.

Day 213- In Pieces

This is a paper piecing challenge and you are supposed to use parts of this pattern:

I used Close to My Heart Grace Level 2 Paper and orange cardstock from my stash.

Tuesday Triplets

The challenge at 365 Cards is to use 3 of everything on your card. I instantly thought of the new Close to My Heart Holiday Trinkets stamp set, because I love the shape of the ornaments. I random stamped snowflakes onto the white 6x6 card with Gray Flannel ink. The ornaments were stamped onto separate paper in Blush and Tulip inks, cut out, glittered, sponged along the outside edge, and adhered to the card front. I then stamped the strings in black ink. I know that it is plain, but sometimes simple is a good thing (and rare for me when it comes to cards)!

Color Scheme

The challenge at 365 Cards is to create a card inspired by this color scheme:

When I saw this palette of colors, I instantly thought of fall and the changing leaves. The teal stood out to me, so I chose to make that the accent color. Here in a month, the view out the window of my conference room at work will be beautiful. It overlooks a wooded hill and is just beautiful. While fall is not my favorite season because of the weather getting colder, I look forward to the beautiful yellows, oranges, and reds that the leaves turn to.

I made this 6x6 card using Close to My Heart My Acrylix Many Thanks Stamp Set, and Barn Red, Autumn Terracotta, Gold Rush, and Twilight Close to My Heart Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads. The frame is a scrap of the negative space left over from a Cricut cut for a card a few months ago. I pop-dotted it up and tied hemp to make it look like a sign.

Cricut Celebrates 100 Cartridges!

I love my Cricut, and I love even more when they release super cute new cartridges like Winter Woodland! My favorite things on the cartridge are the cute little forest creatures. I see endless possibilities of combining them with the new Close to My Heart Twitterpated line. The other thing I like on the cartridge is that you can create a Christmas Town scene by cutting and assembling 3D buildings. All in all, this is a great cartridge and is already on my wish list.

The best news with this new cartridge? Cricut is giving 100 cartridges away over the next 5 weeks. To enter the drawing you just have to leave a post on their message board. For an extra entry, leave a link on your blog to the cartridge details like I have done here.
http://www.cricut.com/shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?id=361&s=1&sc=2

Thank you ProvoCraft and Cricut!

Crossing Borders

Close to My Heart has a new episode of Art & Soul online. This episode is titled Crossing Borders and teaches you how to make borders using non-border stamps. How fun! It also explores the beautiful new Grace paper, how to use the new soft eyelet setter, and new ideas of how to use rub-ons.

Check it out here: http://www.closetomyheart.com/ctmhtv/channels.aspx

Please Note:
I do not have a myCTMH website at this time, but I will still honor the special pricing on the My Acrylix Delightful Things. Contact me to order it! I have to say that when I got a sneek peek at the new Autumn/Winter 2009 Catalog, this was the 1st stamp set that I wrote down to order. It is beautiful!

Scrapbook & Share Reminder

Just a reminder that I am hosting a Scrapbook & Share on Saturday, September 19th. It is from 11 to 5 and is FREE. Come and work on your scrapbooking and card making. Or just come and see what I have set up. You will be able to preview the Grace Workshop on the Go, Stamp of the Month sets, and receive details on upcoming Christmas Card Workshops. Please contact me if you need info on the location.

September Stamp of the Month

I can't believe that September is already halfway over! Today I wanted to share the September Stamp of the Month named Treasures. I absolutely love this one- it is beautiful.

This stamp set is available with the following pricing options based on the subtotal of your order:

Purchase Outright for $22.95

$25 Order = 25% off for $17.21

$50 Order = 50% off for $11.48

$75 Order = 75% off for $5.74

$100 Order = Free!

(The best deal is to place a $60 stamp order, and then you receive the Everyday Celebrations Card Kit FREE and the Stamp of the Month for half price!)

Please feel free to contact me by leaving a comment or emailing if you are interested in this stamp set. I can ship from Close to My Heart directly to you.

A 2 page layout:

Cards:

A few cards my mom made using the stamp set (visit her blog)

Everyday Celebration Card Kit

The Everyday Celebration Card Kit is AWESOME and is only available through the end of September! You receive supplies to create 16 shaped cards.
-16 shaped card bases and envelopes
-6 sheets of patterned paper
-2 distressing ink pads, chocolate & dutch blue
-My Acrylix Stamp Set
-Mini Medley Accents- chocolate collection
-3D Foam Squares
-Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon

-Step by Step Guide

I had fun making some cards using the guide and shaped card bases. That’s right- use the guide, stamp set, and distressing inks again and again to make countless beautiful cards!
How to receive the kit:
-Order $60 of stamps and receive it free
-Host a home gathering with $400 in sales and receive it free
-Sign up as a new consultant during September
-Purchase outright for $39.95

Close to My Heart is also running a contest where they are giving away a card kit each day! How to enter? Place an order through your consultant (or me!). Visit the site to see who has won so far.

Feeling Blue

The challenge at 365 Cards today is titled "Feeling Blue" and you are supposed to use 3 shades of blue on your card.

I picked up scraps laying on my table and went to work. I added the scraps of Twilight (patterned is from Emporium), Outdoor Denim, and Crystal Blue to a Colonial White base. The butterfly is from the Close to My Heart Simple Beauty My Acrylix Stamp Set and the trail is made using the 1/8" Long Reach Punch. I added my favorite product- Liquid Glass to the butterfly and the trail. The "Thanks" and hearts are from the June Stamp of the Month and are stamped in Outdoor Denim ink on Outdoor Denim cardstock to give it a tone on tone subtle look.

Movie Monday

The 365 Card Challenge for Monday August 31st is Movie Monday and should be inspired by the movie Pretty In Pink. I am not very familiar with this movie, but have seen bits and pieces of it. I remembered something about the story having a "wrong side of the tracks" theme because the girl was less fortunate financially and that she wanted to go to prom and made her own dress. I made the card pink with a vellum window. I added flowers and the sentiment "dream" because I thought it fit the movie well.

The card is made following the Open Outline recipe/sketch in The Close to My Heart Wishes Card Confidence Book. (an absolute must have for any card maker!)

Supplies Used:

-Card recipe from Wishes Open Outline

-Pink flowered paper from my stash

-Close to My Heart My Acrylix Aspiration Stamp Set

-Close to My Heart Blush Ink Pad

-Close to My Heart Just Blooms Big Pinks

-Vellum from my Stash

-White Cardstock 6x6 Card Base