November 27, 2013

Happy Autumn

The nights are getting shorter and chillier as we walk through this season.  The warmth of nature’s colors brings me joy. 

CTMH-ClosetomyHeart-Happy Autumn-Huntington-puddle pad

This card was created using a puddle pad of Crème Brulee, Autumn Terracotta, and New England Ivy.  You can get details on this technique here

CTMH-ClosetomyHeart-Huntington-Artbooking-CricutThe stamp set used here comes from the Artbooking Cricut collection.  

Products used to create these cards. 

X7174B D1550  Z1906Z1857 9042  z2201Z2235 Z2267

November 25, 2013

Huntington and Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving approaches and family comes to town, I am excited to capture some of the special moments and scrapbook them!  If you have purchased the Artbooking Cartridge, contact me and I will send you the Cricut Craftroom File to create your own layout. 

CTMH-ClosetomyHeart-Huntington-Artbooking-Cricut-Happy AutumnCTMH-ClosetomyHeart-Huntington-Artbooking-Cricut-Happy Autumn-leftCTMH-ClosetomyHeart-Huntington-Artbooking-Cricut-right

Here’s what I used to create this page. 

X7174B Z1906 Z1849 Z18819042

November 22, 2013

Artbooking for all seasons and reasons

Two more videos with tips and ideas for using the Artbooking cartridge. 

Watch this video to learn how to use it while making your own fun Halloween mini albums.

 

With the help of the Cricut® Artbooking collection and Designed Décor flip stand album, Close To My Heart will make a home decorator out of you! Watch as simple icons, shapes, and titles from this cartridge are transformed into works of art perfect for display in your home.

November 20, 2013

Time for more!

Artbooking videos.  I am so excited that Close to My Heart is giving us ideas and instruction on this cartridge.  It adds such great value to this assume product.  Need help with your ideas?  Contact me and I will show you how!

 

Z1906

November 18, 2013

Ho, Ho, Ho!

CTMH-Close to my heart-Artbooking-Cricut-chipboard5- Santa's Greeting-Sparkle and shine

I love how this card turned out.  Simple with the products listed below, and if you want to see how I made my own chipboard frame (hard to see the dimension in this photo), visit my Facebook Page here

Products I used include:

M1028 X7176B Z1851 Z1900 Z2502 Z2432

November 15, 2013

I hate to say it but…

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  If you have attended any of my workshops, you know that we have been creating Christmas cards and Holiday décor for a few weeks.  Although I don’t like to rush the holidays, I do like to “get r done” so that I can enjoy them without the stress of working on projects. 
So, here are some of the cards that I have made.  If you would like to create cards or holiday décor or gifts, let me know.  It is definitely not too late!  And I would love to help you. 
This selection of cards was created by my team for a swap we did.  Love to share ideas with these talented people. 
CTMH-Close to My Heart-Artiste-Sparkle and Shine-Cricut-
Created by Gail Hopkins using the Artiste Cricut Cartridge
CTMH-Close to my heart-Sparkle and Shine-Tim the tree-Art Philosophy-Cricut
Created by Tracie Cassidy using the Art Philosophy Cartridge
CTMH-Close to my heart-Sparkle and Shine-Washi tape-Perfect Fit Holidays
Created by Jessica Booth using 1 1/2 “ punch.
CTMH-Close to my heart-Sparkle and Shine-Washi tape-Santa Claus
Created by Barb Landguth using the Santa Claus stamp set. 

Items used to create these cards can be found in the Close to My Heart Holiday guide and purchase on my website here.  

November 13, 2013

For Always Wedding Card

 

I created this card for our neighbors who were married at the end of September.  It went together super fast with the For Always paper packet and Stickease.  I added Lagoon color highlight as Silver Shimmer trim to dress it up. 

Congrats to Walter and Amy!

CTMH-Close to my heart-For Always-WeddingCTMH-Close to my heart-For Always-Inside

As a reminder, this is the last catalog cycle for this paper packet.  You can see other items and color highlights here.  It truly is a versatile kit.  If it is one of your favorites, don’t wait too long to order so you don’t miss out. 

X7165BX7165CZ1799_400X400

You can purchase these items on my website.

November 11, 2013

Even more excitement

I can’t help but be even more excited as I learn about the new scrapbooking line coming from Close to My Heart.  Picture My Life is going to be a fast, versatile, and fun way to keep your memories and photos so you can share with your family and friends. 

Here’s just a tidbit from the home office: 

“Love documenting memories in minutes? Then you’ll love the new Picture My Life™ scrapbooking program, meant for quick and beautiful memory-keeping. This program comes in eight themes, all based on the gorgeous designs of some of our most popular paper packets. Whether you choose to embrace a single theme or mix and match for a truly unique look, you’ll love the ease, affordability, and beauty of the Picture My Life programs. Your own photos are all you need to add to make astounding artwork—in no time at all!”

And here’s just one sample of what this gorgeous product will look like.

1311-pml-avonlea

Remember the Avonlea paper packet last fall.  Here is is again in Picture My Life. 

More about Picture My Life to come!

November 08, 2013

From the Craft Room to the Dining Room

Create a beautiful tablescape for Thanksgiving with items in your craft room.  Here, I used the idea from the Close to My Heart catalog, to create a *candle “holder” decorated with leaves.  All the items were cut using the Artbooking Cricut cartridge.  The lattice was cut four times and then hinged together with matching cardstock.  The leaves were cut from a variety of papers from the Huntington Paper packet and then I added faux stitching for detail.  The place card was made using the Cricut Craftroom and welding together a shape to also create a folded piece and then added the overlay for a border. 

Happy Thanksgiving was stamped from the set “Perfect Fit:  Thanksgiving” 

CTMH-Close to my heart-Artbooking-Cricut-Huntington-Thanksgiving

Faux stitching is really easy with the two different rulers Close to My Heart offers. 

First, our basic ruler functions as a measure tool as well as a basic stitch guide and useful to align and space embellishments such as sparkles or brads.  Use the paper piercer and pad to poke starting holes. 

Z1114  z1471  Z1852  Z1859  X7174B

Second, our stitch guide has multiple stitch options as well as shapes such as hearts, circles, and stars.  You can use this to create holes if preparation for stitching or just create a pattern with the holes as a background on a card or scrapbook page. 

Finally, after creating my stitch line or pattern, I connect the dots with a fine tip marker to mimic a thread and thus create a faux stitch look.  Fast, simple and easy with the tools from Close to My Heart. 

*I would recommend that you only use the “battery operated” candles in these holders to prevent fire.

Keep a look out for my next tablescape idea:  placemats. 

November 07, 2013

Catching you up on Artbooking plus more!

A couple of weeks ago I shared the first two Artbooking videos…and I want to catch you up with number three and four, but first, as not to miss the season, I am also going to share a more recent one showing a Christmas mini album.  I got to see these albums in person last month and they are gorgeous.  If you want to create one, let me know and I can help you out!



November 06, 2013

The Pumpkin Patch

Going to the pumpkin patch is one of my favorite fall family outings.  I love the contrast of the bright orange against the green stems and muddy brown dirt.  And of course, the surrounding trees with their colorful leaves.  All of these things are signs that it is time to start hunkering down with a hot drink and enjoy family indoors. 
Here is a layout I created with the Huntington Paper packet, Framework Alphabet and Artbooking cartridge.  I was inspired by Michelle Snyder’s layout and pumpkin she created.  If you want to see more of her artwork you can visit here
CTMH-Close to my heart-Artbooking-Cricut-Huntington-Layout
If you want more information about preserving your family outings, contact me for information about workshops and kits.

November 04, 2013

Personalize your table for Thanksgiving

Using my paper-crafting supplies for more than just scrapbooking and card making is so satisfying.  I love the idea of creating my Thanksgiving tablescape with items I can make.

These burlap bags are easily decorated by stamping on them with pigment ink or decorating with ribbon and paper as I have done. 

CTMH-Close to my heart-Artbooking-Cricut-Huntington

You can using this at the place setting to hold the napkin and silverware or give a hostess gift if you are going to celebrate with family or friends. 

The leaf is cut from the Huntington Paper Packet using the Artbooking Cricut cartridge.  The bow is created with the brown stripe ribbon sold by CTMH.  I stamped the image from the Thanksgiving Perfect fit stamp set.

November 01, 2013

Can you Picture This?

1311-cc-picture-your-life

When you join the Close To My Heart family from November 1st – December 15th, and submit qualifying personal sales, you will receive a stunning new product , the Picture My Life scrapbooking program.  Select from eight darling themes, from vacation to friendship to childhood.  Each collection features 122 double sided cards plus 10 unique memory protectors to capture it all!

Picture it—then capture it. 

What are the other benefits of joining my team:

Enjoy creating with a group of people who love to share their ideas, tips and techniques.

Attend exclusive events just for team members and Close to My Heart consultants.  (Convention, retreats, celebrations.)

Get the first look at new product with each new catalog release.

22% discount on the products you love

And so much more!

Joining the Close to My Heart family was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  I love the independence to create a business at the level I want to work.  I love the friends I have made along the way, the laughter, smiles and memories we have shared.

Want more information about joining?  Visit my website to answer your questions or contact me. 

Can you picture this? 

ConsultantKit-Essentials

Artbooking Layout: Winter Wonderland

I created this layout using the overlay feature of the Artbooking Cricut cartridge and a pattern from the Make It From Your Heart idea book.  I cut the overlay at 9” real dial size and then save the snowflakes from the cut to decorate the rest of the page.  I used the Frosted paper packet. 

I cut additional snowflakes from the Close to My Heart glitter paper which cut super well in the Cricut.  Love that!  I popped all the glitter snowflakes with foam tape to add even more dimension. 

“Winter” is stamped in the Framework Alphabet which is my new favorite from the Fall/Winter Idea book. 

CTMH-Close to my heart-Artbooking-Cricut-Frosted

CTMH-Close to my heart-Artbooking-Cricut-Frosted-Glitter

Want to create this layout?  Contact me for information about hosting a workshop or attending one I host.