Have I mentioned that I LOVE watercoloring?

Adult coloring is all the rage right now...but I feel like I have been doing this for 13 years.  Yes, stamping and coloring is therapeutic and relaxing for me and many of my customers and friends.  Guess what, so is watercoloring.  I will admit, I was a little hesitant about adding this medium to my papercrafting repertoire but I am so glad I didn't let that get in the way. 

With just a bit of water, a few colors, and a bit of water color paper, this card background was simple to create and capture the colors of this fall season.  The stamp images are added in archival black to give a bold sentiment. 

Want to try watercoloring?  I am hosting a Ladies Night out on Thursday September 24th 6:30-8:30.  Stop by and give watercoloring a try.  RSVP is helpful and bring your own adhesive.  The create and take is FREE. 

Products used to create watercolor cards are found on my website and shown in the collage below.

Happy painting,
Michele

Cricut Artistry Collection

This new collection from Close to My Heart helps you to create cards, scrapbook pages, and all sorts of paper crafts with a variety of icons, shapes and an OH SO cute font! 

You can see my artwork using this cartridge by going to the index in the right hand column and clicking on Artistry.  And better yet, you can watch this 10 minute video that will show you the details of the cartridge, stamp sets and the added Enchantment Paper to complete this collection. 

View Video Here

If you are interested in adding this cartridge to your creative tools, ask me how you can get it at a discount! 

Chirp, Chirp,

Michele

Nat'l Stamping Month Brings You...

Trendy, fun stamps that capture the celebration of life. 

Hello Life is a set of three coordinating stamp sets, although each has a special paper crafter in mind. 

As I created my artwork, I couldn't help but use them interchangeably and I am really loving the watercolors.  Such a fun new technique to play with.  

 The products I used to create this card are shown below.  And, thanks to Jen Patrick for the inspiration to create this card.  To see more artwork, visit the consultant blog hop starting here. 

Stamping and painting,
Michele

National Stamping Month: Hello Life Blog hop

Not one, or two but THREE fabulous stamp sets were created by CTMH to celebrate Nat'l Stamping month.  Are you ready to see some fun!  These stamps sets really celebrate life!

 If you have arrived here from Darlys' Blog you are hopping right along.  When you have finished here, you will move on to Paige's Blog for more artwork.

The three stamps sets were created with individual styles of paper crafting in mind, one for card making, scrapbooking and pocket scrapbooking but together, the coordinate beautifully and you get a discount when you purchase all three.

I pulled out my archival ink, new watercolors and brushes and started stamping away.  I love the camera in the scrapbooking stamp set so I used it to create the borders on my pages.  I then created my title, using images from all three stamp sets.  The Enchantment Fundamental paper packet helps to add a bit of texture and the final touch is the watercolor paints to accent the words.

 

 Celebrate Nat'l stamping month with Close to My Heart during the month of September.  The three Hello Life stamp set.  Each set is $13.95 but when you purchase all three you pay only $34.95, a discount of $6.90.  To order, visit your consultants website or, if you do not have a consultant, purchase here from me.  

Some details.  

Below is a list of the products I used to create these layouts.  And remember, when you are done here, visit Paige's Blog to see what she has in store for you.

Thanks for stopping bye and here's to a great month of stamping!

Michele

So much goodness!

September brings a few of my favorite things!  I am so excited to share them with you.

FIRST
The premiere of the 2015-16 CTMH Annual Inspirations idea book AND Holiday Expressions.

Chock full of brand spankin' new paper packets, stamps, embellishments and workshops.  How can you get yours?  When you place an order on my website, you can add the Annual Inspirations book for $6 and the Holiday Expressions for free!  Want the Annual Inspirations for FREE too?  Ask me about becoming a part of my Reap the Rewards club or hosting a creative get together with your friends.

SECOND
It is National Stamping Month!  Hello Life!  During this celebration, you can purchase these exclusive Hello Life stamp sets.  Each stamp set is designed to fit with a specific type of papercrafting, whether that's traditional scrapbooking, cardmaking or pocket scrapbooking.

Hello Life- Cardmaking

Hello Life- Pocket Scrapbooking

Hello Life- Scrapbooking

These sets are $13.95 each or if you purchase all three, they are $34.95 a savings of $6.90.  You can purchase these on my website here.  Watch my blog (subscribe to get updates in your inbox), CTMH blog and Facebook (Like my page and check "get notifications" to stay up to date) for artwork throughout the month. 

THIRD
Paper Garden stamp of the month!  This gorgeous stamp set is available through September 30th and is $5 with a qualifying purchase.  To see more artwork, stop by the consultant blog hop.  You will surely be inspired!

FOURTH
School is in session!  What are you doing with your summer memories?  Stop by my calendar of events and see if there is a class, crop or workshop that is right for you!  In September I will be creating with the Zoe paper packet and will be introducing the new watercolors. 

Remember, you can shop for all this goodness on my website!  And always, let me know if I can help you with your creative projects.




Here's to your favorite things,
Michele

September Blog Hop: Paper Garden

Welcome to the September Blog Hop with the Paper Garden stamp set.

If you are coming from Traci's Blog, welcome!  I know you have enjoyed some beautiful artwork!  When you are finished here, you will be traveling on to Paige's Blog to see what she has shared with you. 

I was inspired by this set to try out the new watercolors that are featured in the new Close to My Heart Annual Inspiration idea book.  (That is another blog post!)  As you will see, I tried two different techniques of stamping the images;  first I stamped in Archival Black ink and then watercolored over it and second, I heat embossed the image with clear detail embossing powder before watercoloring.

Here are a few tips and tricks that might help you.  If you heat set the Archival ink before watercoloring, the black ink stays darker.  You might also try the black Stazon ink as well.  When I used the water colors over the heat embossed image, I blotted the paint off the image.  I found that if I rubbed at all, it removed the embossing, therefore the image had less contrast.  I am not sure if this was because the paper was still wet from the paint or a characteristic of the watercolor paper.

You can purchase the Paper Garden Stamp set from your consultant or me for $17.95 or $5 with a qualifying order.  You can see the products I used to create these cards in the collage below and you can shop for them on my website.  Also, if you are local, I will be offering classes.  You can view the calendar of events here.

Now don't forget to hop on over to Paige's Blog for more artwork!

Enjoy the flowers,
Michele

Last Chance: Blossom Reitres Aug 31st

This beautiful paper packet will retire at the end of August.  It has been a flexible set of paper for so many different occasions.  Below is the scrapbook layout that I created for my workshop.   I will be offering this workshop on Friday September 11th at my school day crop.  If you would like to attend, please contact me by August 30th to order your supplies.  Because they are retiring, I cannot guarantee the availability of the products so order soon. 

I created 4 double page layouts and look forward to adding photos from my recent visit with my daughter in Colorado. 

You may have seen this first layout before.  I used the Artfully Sent and Art Philosophy cricut cartridge to create the title elements for this page. 

Thanks for stopping in and remember to order your kit before it is gone. 

Creating feeds my soul,
Michele

Supplies I used to create these layouts can be purchased on my website. 

How do you get back to being creative after a hiatus?

I have been away from my creative space for just over two weeks and 7 days of that was also being completely unplugged and off the grid.  Oh my soul was thirsty when I got home!  I even had three boxes of new product waiting for me when I got home but I didn't know where to start...

Where would you start? 

Here's what I did...I had a set of pieces cut for a Ladies night out that I hosted just before I left.  The stamps were still on the blocks, the inks were stacked (thankfully closed up) next to the basket of paper pieces and the sample was sitting there too. 

My first thought was to just finish up the set of cards like the sample but then I remembered one of the ladies who attended had made the card COMPLETELY different from my sample.  I complimented her on it as it was beautiful!  She said "I didn't know I was supposed to copy yours."  Of course she wasn't supposed to do anything but enjoy being creative!  What a great lesson. 

So I took those pieces and let the creativity flow and made these four additional cards. 

Which card do you like best? 

Now my creative juices are flowing, I am going to clear off the desk after I finish this post and I am ready to open those boxes! 

Here's to letting yourself be creative.  It is good for the soul.

Michele

Below is a collage of the products I used.  Keep in mind that "Framed" stamp set, S1508 is the August stamp of the month, coordinates with the Artistry Cricut cartridge and is only available until August 31st, 2015.  Visit my website to purchase yours today for $5 with a $50 purchase or $17.95. 

One final Sampler in our year long series

I have had so much fun creating a seasonal sampler for each month of this past year.  Our final workshop will be in September but the products must be ordered by August 30th as they will retire at the end of August.  Don't wait to contact me if you would like to create this sampler.  Of course, if you cannot make the workshop, you are welcome to order the kit to go and I will email you the instructions. 

Back to School Sampler

Celebrate the beginning of the school season with this sampler.  Great for school teachers as well as home decor.  The sampler is $15 and must be order by August 30th. 

Workshop date is Friday Sept 11th 9:30 a.m. or Sunday Sept 13th 7 p.m.  

Now here's a review of the samplers we have created through out the year.

October

November

December

 January

 February

 March

 April

 May

 June

July

August:  Sports

Soccer

Seaside

I just love seeing them all together and I look forward to putting my samplers up each month again this year. 

Watch for more home decor and gift ideas this upcoming year as I offer workshops through out year with giving in mind.

Happy creating,
Michele