Monday, February 25, 2013

February SOTM: Home Muslin Bag



Helpful Hints

To create the techniques featured in this artwork, follow the helpful hints outlined below.

  • To create a pink bag (or any color of your choice), add drops of re-inker and water to a zipper bag, mix the re-inker and water together, submerge the muslin bag into the mixture, and seal the zipper bag, making sure the zipper bag is tightly sealed. Once the zipper bag is securely sealed, knead the muslin bag in the mixture, making sure all areas of the muslin bag are covered, as desired. With a gloved hand, remove the muslin bag from the zipper bag and set it aside to dry on a protected surface. (Note: To create a softer color, add more water and less re-inker drops. To create a more vibrant color, add more re-inker and less water.)
  • Once the muslin bag is completely dry, stamp the sentiment with pigment ink.

Monday, February 18, 2013

February SOTM: 5 1/2" × 4 1/4" Home Sweet Home Card



Helpful Hints

To create the techniques featured in this artwork, follow the helpful hints outlined below. Then use the Make It from Your Heart®: Pattern 21 information found on page 43 in our how-to publication for inspiration.
  • To stamp the chevron background paper, ink the chevron image from the In the Background stamp set in Cotton Candy ink and stamp it three times.
  • To create your own faux denim paper, sand distress Outdoor Denim cardstock.
  • Add visual interest by creating a paper-pieced home using papers and embellishments, as desired.
  • Embellish with paper accents and accessories, adding dimension with 3-D foam tape as desired.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

OWH VCMP Saturday Challenge #4

This challenge is featuring Things With Wings.  Those of you that know me, know that I love all things butterfly so I cannot wait to share my project with you

All products are CTMH unless otherwise noted....





This card features the Dotty for You paper pack once again!  Can you tell I am in love with it yet?

I used the paper pack as well as the Cricut Artiste cartridge and coordinating stamp set that are exclusively available through Close to my Heart!  So simple and easy.

I hope you enjoyed my project and please check out my blog for the other challenges that I have created this weekend.  Happy hopping!

OWH VCMP Sunday Challenge #7

The theme of this challenge is Caffeine.  Let's face it caffeine is a drug that most of us need to not only make it through the morning but survive through the day as well.  I am a coffee drinker so I immediately grabbed for my coffee supplies :-)

My project is a card.  All supplies are CTMH unless noted.


I used this super cute stamp set Cup of Cheer to create it:



I created my own background paper by stamping the coffee cup on Cashmere cardstock with Saddle ink.  I stamped the beans in Cocoa ink to create a border.  The tag was cut out using the exclusive Art Philosophy cartridge.

I hope you enjoyed my project and happy hopping!  Remember to come back and see what I create for the rest of the challenges!

OWH VCMP Saturday Challenge #5

For this challenge, we are to use a sketch and create 6 cards using ONE 12 x 12 piece of patterned paper.  It is called Disappearing Act with Sketch 63.

Here is my card (x6).   All supplies used are from CTMH unless otherwise noted.



This card can be used for several different events so it makes it a perfect option for the troops to use.  The paper is again from last year's Dotty for You paper pack.  Can you tell that I love it?

The tag is cut from the Art Philosophy cartridge, exclusively available from CTMH and the stamp used comes withe the cartridge!  In fact, 3 exclusive clear acrylic stamp sets and chipboard come all together in this package.

Happy Hopping and don't forget to come back to see what else we create along the way!

OWH VCMP Saturday Challenge #2

Yay!  The next challenge is here!  This challenge is called "All Creatures Great and Small; Cards for Kids"   I am loving this challenge as I get to use my Create A Critter cartridge.

Here are my creations...



The first card I created was the turtle but after seeing all the other cute critters I couldn't stop a just one!  The papers used were not CTMH but I did use the Pun Fun stamp set for the stamped sentiments.

Happy Hopping and please stop by to see what I create for challenge #3!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

OWH Virtual Card Making Party Challenge #1

Hip Hip Horray!  I am so excited that there is a virtual card making party for the long holiday weekend over at Operation Write Home.  If you do not know about this wonderful organization. please go visit them today to find out more!

The first challenge was to Zig Zag your card.  I love, love, love this trend and could not wait to dive in!

Luckily I am a paper hoarder and had some Dotty for You paper left over from last year's promotion from Close to my Heart.

Here is my creation....sorry about the lighting


This card was super easy to make.  The supplies used are as follows (all CTMH):

  • Colonial white cardstock (base)
  • Dotty for You paper pack for both background papers
  • A Tree stamp set 
  • Lagoon Ink pad
  • Smoothie Ink pad
  • Slate Ink pad
  • Sorbet marker

Thank you for looking and please continue to follow along as we create all weekend long!




The Everything ABC's Blog Hop Letter D



Welcome to the Everything ABC's Blog Hop!

For this hop we will be featuring the letter D. This may be the name of a paper, a stamp set or an embellishment. Whatever the crafter has chosen as their D element will be featured in their post.


 This is the BEGINNING of the hop so you are in the right place!

My project featuring the letter D is for Dave Ramsey!


By now many of you have heard of Dave Ramsey and the Total Money Makeover, if you haven't check it out HERE Well, I have not taken the class but I have decided to try the envelope system that he talks about.  Of course I can not have plain ol' fuddy duddy envelopes so I created some fancy schmancy ones of my own using a template found HERE and printing it on Close to my Heart paper. 

I chose to use an older paper pack that I have been wanting to use up called Emporium.  The great thing about our paper packs is that they coordinate so well together that it was a cinch to whip these up.  Here are the steps that I did:

  1. Choose paper pack and cut down to 8 1/2 x 11.
  2. Using template print out onto paper.
  3. Cut out template and using Tombow adhesive adhere bottom and side flaps.
  4. Print out labels from same site and punch out with 1 1/4" punch. (I printed mine out on Avery sticky label paper to save time)
  5. Adhere to 1 3/8" punched scallop circle (or use Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge to cut out scallops).
That's it!  Super easy, super fun and super fancy.  The labels I chose are groceries, gas, fun, haircuts & personal care, and eating out.  You can make as many envelopes as you would like to fit your needs.


Here is a peek into my grocery envelope. 

 I did not want to create an envelope for each week so  I used 3 x 5 index cards folded at different points to put four weeks into one envelope.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and let me know if you have used/plan to use the envelope system.
Your next stop on our Everything ABC'S blog Hop is Lucy of Love 2 Create.

Here is the complete lineup in case you get lost along the way:


1. Amber La Mons ~ Scrapper's Therapy (YOU ARE HERE)
2. Lucy ~ Love 2 Create
3. Theodora~ Celebrate Crafts
4. Linda ~ Scrappy Therapy 
5. Shalana Glass ~ Scrappin with Shalana
6. Shelly Nemitz ~ Just One Piece 
7. Alicia Petitt ~ Serene Scrapping with Alicia 
8. Kathy Johnson ~ Kathy's Creative Corner 

Monday, February 11, 2013

February SOTM: Love at Home page



Helpful Hints

To create the techniques featured in this artwork, follow the helpful hints outlined below. Then use the Magic: Now You See It—Right™ (altered) pattern found on page 23 in our how-to publication for inspiration.
  • Stamp the chevron image from the In the Background stamp set twice with Cotton Candy pigment ink; set it aside to try and then use the 1 1/4" circle punch to create four circles.
  • Create two more 1 1/4" circles from papers of choice.
  • To create the chevron circle faux flower in the lower middle portion of the page, cut 8 slits in three of the chevron circles, making sure the scissor blades do not go all the way to the center of the circle; layer the three circles and adhere together in the center. Save the remaining chevron circle for the paper accent in the top left corner of the page.
  • Add visual interest by making a paper banner by cutting three pennants from Blush cardstock. To add an extra touch, sponge the edges with Cotton Candy ink. Attach the banner to baker’s twine using Glue Dots and attach to page with clothes pins.
  • Embellish with your choice of stamped accents, paper accents, and accessories, adding dimension with 3-D foam tape as desired.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

CTMH Consultant Blog Hop

Home Sweet Home


Welcome to our February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  This month's stamp set from Close to My Heart is "Home Sweet Home" and is available exclusively through your Close to My Heart consultant from February 1 - 28, 2013.  You can purchase this stamp set for only $5 with a qualifying purchase.


If you have just hopped onto my blog, please start at the beginning at Lucy's blog – Love 2 Create  

If you came from Darla of Caution: Crafting is Contagious then you are in the right place!







For this card I used the brand new paper pack Chantilly.  When I saw the satmp of the month, Home Sweet Home, I just knew that this paper pack was a great match.  It was fairly simple to create and I used the following products:


  • Chantilly paper pack (X7163B)
  • Home Sweet Home stamp of the month (S1302)
  • Miscellaneous brads (Z1366)

Instructions:

  1. Cut Champagne cardstock to standard card size 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches.
  2. Cut patterned cardstock to 4 x 4 3/4 inches
  3. Cut Buttercup cardstock to 3 x 3 inches
  4. Cut twilight card stock strip at 1 x 1 inch (does not fully go under Buttercup)
  5. Choose image from February Stamp of the Month "Home Sweet Home" and stamp in Twilight ink on Buttercup cardstock
  6. Assemble card as shown
  7. Using small hole punch or Crop-a-Dile, punch holes in Twilight cardstock
  8. Insert brads

Your next stop on our "Home Sweet Home" hop is Jennifer of 4 Hearts Scrapbooking.

Here is the complete lineup in case you get lost along the way:

  1. Lucy ~ Love 2 Create 
  2. Darla ~ Caution: Crafting is Contagious 
  3. Amber ~ Scrapper's Therapy (YOU ARE HERE)
  4. Jennifer ~ 4 Hearts Scrapbooking
  5. Priscilla ~ Priscilla's Paperie
  6. Theo ~ Celebrate Crafts 
  7. Traci ~ Paper Crafting 101
  8. Ryan ~ Piece and Paper
  9. Michelle ~ My Creations with Michelle 
  10. Donna ~ Diary of a Scrapbook Addict 
  11. Stephanie ~ The Quilted Scrapper 
  12. Jane ~ Jane's Scrap Shack 

 Thanks for hopping along with us - we hope we were able to inspire you.

Monday, February 4, 2013

February SOTM: Home Swet Home

February 2013 Home Sweet Home

fpo
Home Sweet Home, set of 4
Recommended Blocks:
3" × 3" (Y1006)

Beautiful Stamps, Amazing Discounts

Each month you can enjoy a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5—that’s over 70% off retail! When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

February 2013: Home Sweet Home (S1302A)

Spend $50 and get this Stamp of the Month set for just $5.


Incredibly Cool Crafts

In love with the artwork we created with this stamp set? Get ready to make it yourself! Purchase the materials listed here along with your deeply discounted Stamp of the Month set to get started!
Materials Needed
  1. My Acrylix® Home Sweet Home
  2. Later Sk8r Paper Packet
  3. Whisper Exclusive Inks® Pad
  4. Adventure Exclusive Inks® Mini Pigment Pads Set
  5. Hollyhock Zipper Lace
  6. Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon
  7. My Creations™ Muslin Drawstring Bags

Required Tools
  1. My Acrylix® In the Background
  2. Blush Cardstock
  3. White Daisy Cardstock
  4. Black & Grey Glitter Paper
  5. White Daisy Exclusive Inks® Pad
  6. Cotton Candy Exclusive Inks® Re-inker
  7. Enchantment Exclusive Inks® Mini Pigment Pads Set
  8. Later Sk8r Assortment
  9. Claire Assortment
  10. Mini Clothes Pins
  11. Buttons Black Assortment
  12. Baker’s Twine Neutral Assortment
  13. Slate Polka-Dot Washi Tape
  14. 1 1/4" Circle Punch

Saturday, February 2, 2013

The Everything ABC's Blog Hop Letter C



Welcome to the Everything ABC's Blog Hop!

For this hop we will be featuring the letter C. This may be the name of a paper, a stamp set or an embellishment. Whatever the crafter has chosen as their C element will be featured in their post.



Today I am bringing you a project featuring the use of Cereal boxes!  I saw a post on Pinterest showing an organizer for the fridge.  We are a very heavy paper clutter household so I jumped on the opportunity to create this fun and easy project pictured ...





Here is how I made my project:

  • Remove all flaps from top of cereal box
  • Make a cut at 45 degrees on each side of box from top back to front
  • Cut paper for covering box to size, your dimensions may vary depending ont he size of box you choose.  For my Fiber One box it was 8" (h)  x 11" (w)
  • I then scored the paper at 2" and 9" to make it easier to wrap around the box
  • Using tombow adhesive I lined up the paper and adhered it to the box
  • For the inner covering, I used the scraps from my original 12 x 12 paper and cut to size.  I used a square for each angled cut and glued half to the inside and the other half to the outside.

This was a super easy project and you can hang it with magnetic clips or place your magnets inside your box as I did.  I hope you enjoyed this project and it helps you to corral extra papers as well!

Your next stop on our Everything ABC'S blog Hop is Lucy of Love to Create.

Here is the complete lineup in case you get lost along the way:

1. Amber La Mons ~ Scrapper's Therapy (YOU ARE HERE)
2. Lucy ~ Love 2 Create
3. Linda Norman - Scrappy Therapy
4. Kathy Johnson ~ Kathy's Creative Corner
5. Joanne Barnes - Josie's Joy
6. Kelly Lane ~ Paper Petal Memories
7. Shalana Glass ~ Scrappin with Shalana
8. Theodora~ Celebrate Crafts
9. Shelly Nemitz ~ Just One Piece
10. Alicia Petitt - Serene Scrapping with Alicia
11. Alicia Hill Olson ~ Love Stamping