Damask Divas Balloon Ride Blog Hop!

Hi everyone!  Welcome to the Damask Divas Blog Hop!  This month, we are showing you projects we created using the Balloon Ride Paper Packer from Close to My Heart.  The hop officially starts on May 1st, so bear with us until our links are all ready to go--thanks so much!

If you came from Melissa's Blog, then you are on the right path!  If not, you can start from the beginning at Mandy's Blog right HERE, and see a complete list of all the Divas hopping over at the Damask Divas Blog!  :)

For the hop today, I made a set of cards using Balloon Ride and the beautiful Polka-Dot Vellum from the NEW Free to Be Me Paper Packet available only in May for National Scrapbooking Month!

The soft, muted colors in Balloon Ride are lovely for a set of cards!  When I saw the sentiments on the NEW May Stamp of the Month, You've Got A Friend, I just knew they would go together like peaches and cream!  ;)  Here is a look at the entire Stamp set...

The paper that features the hot air balloons really coordinated perfectly with this sentiment below...

Check this out...the gold polka-dots on the vellum are SILVER on the reverse side!!!  (Thank you, Stephanie, for enlightening me!)  BOTH the metallic hues go well with the colors in this particular paper, so I used them both.

The little flag embellishments I added to each sentiment box are made from Silver or Bronze Shimmer Trim and the Zip Strips from Balloon Ride.  What are those, you ask?  Well, Close to My Heart has a unique half inch strip attached to the side of their 12 x 12 patterned papers called a Zip Strip.  They coordinate with all the papers and are a fantastic bonus embellishment!  Just use your paper trimmer to easily cut it off to use--there are no annoying perforations to deal with at all.  :)

Please tell me that the sentiment below makes you sing the song from Toy Story too...because I just cannot stop!

Now, this next sentiment shows the OTHER reason these two products worked so well together--the french theme of this blue patterned paper!  See the Eiffel Tower peeking out?

There you go!  I just love how Close to My Heart makes so many coordinating products like these--they really think of EVERYTHING!  If you are in a rush to get on through the blog hop, then your next stop is Jamie's Blog!  I bet you can't wait to see what this Diva cooked up!  :)

SOOOO, if you are still with me here...you might be wondering about the REST of that Free to Be Me Paper Packet?  Oui?  Take a look!

This last pic shows the two vellum prints with the reverse side of the gold! 

There they are!  The 12 x 12 papers include six double-sided patterned papers, six double-sided solid cardstock with an embossed resist pattern on one side, AND two gorgeous sheets of vellum!  It will only be available for the month of May for our National Scrapbooking Month celebration, so don't wait!  You get all of the paper and cardstock (an $11.95 value) for just $5 with a $50 purchase!  Visit my online store HERE to shop for it now!  I will be showing you more great projects with these colorful papers this month, so tune in again soon!  :)

Close to My Heart Designed Decor Display Tray with Ivy Lane

*A Side Note*  Are any of you who subscribe via email getting notifications from my blog?  Would you please let me know.  Thanks.  I think there is a glitch with Blogger.  OK, on with today's post! 

I have been putting this off for a bit now, but only delaying the inevitable.  I can't change the date of graduation just by not posting my project pics, lol.  Sigh.

My Display Tray turned out really different than I originally intended, but I love that it did!  Sometimes you just have to be flexible with a project, even if you think you have it all planned out.  I thought I would put one picture for each year of school since there were 12 slots.  I did not take into account that fact that my daughter would nix some of those pics, lol!  I did allow her to have a say in the final product, including the Ivy Lane theme, and here it is!  (Lots of pics...sorry!)

Our Designed Decor Display Tray is SO versatile for cherishing and documenting your precious memories.  I used both retired and current products to create each of the different boxes.  This one features the Ivy Lane Complements and a flower from the retired Frosted Assortment.  I love when older products combine well with new ones!

A girl needs glitter!  Well, this girl does anyway...so I was sure to use the Pink Glitter Paper to back this picture along with the retired Glamour Glitter Alphabet.  The pic is popped up with our foam tape which is hard to see with all that sparkle!  ;)

I adore this little tag I created with one of the Complements stickers and retired Cherish the Day My Acrylix stamp set.  I used some retired Color Ready Seam Binding Ribbon and Bitty Sparkles to glam this one up...

Banners are just beautiful ways to display a name, and this one turned out JUST right.  The flowers are from the retired Bitty Buds Assortment...I know, I know, I wish they were still available too!  The pennants are cut with the Art Philosophy Cartridge.  There is still time to get this amazing staple Cricut Cartridge FREE!  Click HERE for all the details...

It ended up being SUPER-easy to add the banner to the Tray with these clothes pins that I attached using my trusty, must-have-on-hand-at-all-times, Liquid Glass...

The overall feel of this frame is very elegant, so I used flowers from the Ivy Lane Assortment and the retired Frosted Assortment, AND was sure to add a very romantic Sparkles Flourish to this box...

Vellum, anyone?  One of my new favorite things is vellum!  I stamped this image from School Years with White Daisy Pigment Ink and zapped it with a heating tool to dry.  You always have  to be careful about placing adhesives on your vellum because it will show through.  One of my favorite methods for dealing with this is embellishing right over it!  I used the Rosewood Mini-Medley A here to do just that.  This picture was a true 4 x 6 which fit perfectly when chopped right down the middle due to the pose. 

And now my favorite Embellishment!  Ever since I got my hands on these White Marquee Enamel Shapes, I have loved the look of backing them with patterned papers.  I did that here to replace the "O" in this clever play on the word, "BEAUTIFUL" that I stamped with the Framework Alphabet.  My daughter is by no means afraid to be herself, and I am very grateful for that blessing.  This sums her up in one word perfectly.  

There you go!  This has been my ultimate labor of love project!  I just need you all to help me out with ONE little detail!  I cannot for the life of me decide what to do about the middle two boxes behind the banner.  Should I leave it black or add these green papers?  I don't like being so indecisive, and I really love it both ways, but what do YOU guys think!?  Please, please leave me a comment to let me know your thoughts!   :)  I will chose a winner at random from all the comments to send a little thank you gift to at the end of the week, ok?  Ready, set, go! 

ALSO!  Speaking of vellum...I wanted to show you a sneak peak of something you will see on tomorrow's Damask Divas Blog Hop project!  I have been waiting forever to share!  Are you as excited as I am?  :)

AND last but not least at all, today is THE LAST day to purchase the new consultant kit and receive your choice of Cricut Collection absolutely FREE!  No strings attached, I promise!  :)

Click HERE to see more or sign up for the kit! 

AND it is the LAST DAY to get your hands on the AWESOME stamp of the month on my website!

Can you handle one more?  AND it is the FINAL day to make any purchase and be entered to win the Mother's Day My Acrylix!!!  SHOP HERE on my website today for these deals!

Another Page in My Cricut Artbooking Ariana Mini Album

Welcome back!  I hope you stopped back in today to see more of my Ariana Mini Album that I made with the awesome Artbooking Cartridge from Close to My Heart.  This one uses my favorite pattern in the pack!  :)

This page was so fun to embellish!  I started with the title cuts found on Artbooking.  The fishtail flag cuts just like this from the cartridge, and I backed it with Tan Glitter Paper with a thin layer of Liquid Glass. 

The single chevron Marquee Enamel Shape is a great addition since it pops off the pattern paper.  Some Sparkles and the tiny bow from the Ariana Assortment are wonderful feminine touches.

If you want to play along with us at the Color Dare this week, click HERE!  

What if I told you that until the end of the month you can actually get the Artbooking Collection for FREE???   It's true!!!  Anyone who purchases the New Consultant Kit in April can choose a FREE Cricut Collection!  Whether you have your sights set on starting a business, or just starting up a collection of products at a great discount, you are welcome to join Close to My Heart this month.  There has never been a better time to join!  There are only THREE days left to take advantage of this amazing offer, so READ HERE if you have any questions!  If you already know you want to take advantage of this offer, then CLICK HERE to become a part of team Been There, Blinged That!  :)

Here is everything that comes in the New Consultant Kit (over $300 value!):

Read Me First Letter, Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Books (qty. 10), Hostess Order Forms (qty. 25), Customer Order Forms (qty. 25), Close To My Heart Color Swatches (W471), Spring/Summer 2014 B&T Duos™ Sampler (W1127), Petite Perks Delicate Wings Incentive Stamp Set (qty. 5) (W2028), Reflections Scrapbook Program (9037), Originals Card Confidence Program™ (9036), Workshops on the Go™ Skylark Scrapbooking Kit (G1072), Skylark Complements Dimensional Elements (X7177C), Skylark B&T Duos™ Bulk Paper (BULK322), Skylark Bulk Resin Flowers (BULK340), Durables Triangle Studs (Z1928), Teal Shimmer Trim (Z1918), Lagoon Exclusive Inks™Pad (Z2195), Desert Sand Exclusive Inks™Pad (Z2118), Slate Exclusive Inks™Pad (Z2173), My Acrylix™Hopscotch Alphabet Stamp Set(E1028), My Acrylix™True to Life Stamp Set (C1575), My Acrylix™Believe in Yourself Stamp Set (C1574),3" x 3" My Acrylix™Block (Y1006), 4" x 5" My Acrylix™Block (Y1012), 2" x 6 ½" My Acrylix™Block (Y1010), Non-Stick Micro-Tip Scissors (Z1836), My Acrylix™Stamp Scrubber (Z1782), My Acrylix™Spritz Cleaner (1778), Bonding Memories™Glue (1512), Sponge (Z697), Liquid Glass (Z679), and Cello Bags (qty. 25) (W1152)

A Cricut Artbooking Mini Album with Ariana

Hi everyone!  I am soooooooo excited to be guest designing for the amazing ladies over at the Color My Heart Color Dare this week!   I haven't had much time to jump in on any challenges lately, so this one really got my juices flowing.  This week, the challenge is to use the beautifully coordinated colors in the Ariana Paper Packet from Close to My Heart.

I think this might just be my favorite paper pack right now.  (Have I said that before?)  ;)

Anyway, I was super excited to use this paper packet to make the adorable 8 x 3.5 inch Love Mini-Album on pages 48 and 49 of the Cricut Artbooking Cartridge. 

My oldest daughter graduates from high school next month, so I made this album using all the "yearly" photos I have left over from other albums so far.  I will be displaying it at her graduation party for everyone to see her transformation into the beautiful young lady who starts college in the fall.  (Take a peek while I run for the tissues!)

I don't think I will ever run out of tears over this!  Just when I think I am good, they flow again.  Sigh.  Focus on the paper, Amie...FOCUS...focus....

One of the reasons I adore Ariana is that it has a wonderful pack of coordinating Chipboard Complements available to adorn the pages of your scrapbooks.  I added some Bitty Sparkles to the flowers here and backed the banner cut from Artbooking with my Tan Glitter Paper.

Artbooking is truly a scrapbooker's dream come true!  I simply set the dial at 8" and chose the papers to cut each shape.  You don't have to figure out any other sizes unless you want to!  Otherwise, they each fit perfectly on the mini album pictured above when cut at 8" with Relative Dial Size.  (Real Dial Size turned OFF)

The "My First" and "Little One" sentiments are found on p.50 and 51 of the handbook and I cut them just the size I wanted with Real Dial Size in Outdoor Denim CS.

The album is simply bound with these jump rings, with pieces of Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon and Retired Color Ready Seam Binding Ribbon tied to them for a softer feel.

This is only the cover page of my album, there are many pages left to be seen!  Tune in next week to see more of them!  :)

I have had a FABULOUS time Guest Designing for the challenge this week!  Thanks so very much for asking me!  :)

Please come play along with us over at the Color Dare by creating something with the colors of Ariana!

Need some Ariana?  Check it out on my website, mimimyselfandi.ctmh.com!

My Creations Clear Pillow Box Treats for Spring

I love making little treats for people to say thanks, or just to let them know I am thinking about them.  Close to My Heart has several different creative options for me to use to do that, including these Clear Pillow Boxes.  They come in sets of three for just $2.95 and are food safe.

I decorated this pillow box in a spring theme for my daughter's teacher and added a gift card and some candy inside...

The little boxes measure about 5.75 x 3.5 when assembled.  They are the perfect size to hold a bit of candy and a gift card.

I embellished this one using the Skylark Textiles, Balloon Ride Paper Packet, and Gold Polka-Dot Washi Tape.  The eggs are cut from the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge and then I added a layer of Liquid Glass for an enamel look.  You can find the directions for my nest tag HERE.

There are really so many ways to make a super-fun gift for people using your CTMH craft supplies!  What little containers do you like to use for spreading a little sparkle?

Want to pick up the supplies to make this treat box AND spread some sparkle to a mom for Mother's Day this year?  Any order placed on my website this month qualifies you for the drawing to win this awesome Mother's Day stamp!  Click HERE to shop and win!

Who Needs a Hot Glue Gun?

I thought this was super-fun to share with you today...just had to alter it a bit since I try really hard to never have to use a hot glue gun...

Hee, hee!  I love my Close to My Heart Liquid Glass, and it can do the same things a hot glue gun can...and you will still have fingerprints!  ;)  Check it out if you haven't!  Now is the perfect time to try it because...

Easter Monday Wrap-up!

Hey everyone!  How was your Easter?  Mine was really nice with sunny skies and gorgeous weather.  I could not be more grateful right now for the time spent with family outside.

Here is a little wrap-up of my Easter crafting...

Here are the simple projects I was able to make with the Close to My Heart Cricut Artiste Collection.  I was able to modify my strawberry sucker sleeve to hold one of those EOS lip balms that two of my kiddos are addicted to.  :)

 Here is that super-easy-peasy egg holder made from a cupcake wrapper cut!

I made these cutie-pie bunny boxes for my nieces...just the right size for a couple pieces of candy.

I used White Daisy CS and cut them at 2.5 inches.  Then I cut the grass border at 1.5 inches.  I had just the right amount of grass from the one cut to fit on two sides of each bunny box!  Perfect!  I had this awesome American Crafts ribbon laying around that matched the grass AND the rose from the Ivy Lane Assortment that I attached to the center!  :)

My oldest is a bit trickier...I created this adorable gift bag decor with a doily cut from the same Cricut cartridge and a tag I had created last year with the retired My Peeps My Acrylix...love that bling on the clothespin--and she did too!  :)

It really is that easy to dress up a plain kraft gift bag!  :)

What did YOU craft for Easter this year?