Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

 Hi everyone!  I know this is a looooong hop, so keep your strength up and refill that mug!  There are about 67 consultants participating in the hop this month!  (The links in this hop will be active starting on August 1st, so bear with us!)

You should have arrived from Peachy's Blog.  If not, WELCOME!!!  This hop is in a circle, so just keep on going!

We are all featuring the ADORABLE new August Stamp of the Month from Close to My Heart--What A Hoot!

For my project, I wanted to show you how this "Halloween" themed My Acrylix set is actually quite versatile.  I created a set of thank you cards that span the seasons...

There are three products that I used most notably on these cards:   the fabulous line of Close to My Heart Washi Tape, the ShinHan Touch Twin Alcohol Markers, and the True Thank You size M stamp. 

In this adorable little 3 x 3 card, I used the Topiary Striped Washi, Golden Yellow Marker, and the Marigold Marker.

The next contains an unexpected twist--I used the Carmine Marker to color my Gold Sequins for the holly berries!  This works best if you work quickly and only go over the surface ONCE with the marker--otherwise it starts to erase itself where you already colored.  It will NOT rub off when dry!  They look fab paired with this Ruby Chevron Washi...

I ADORE this new Lagoon Heart Washi!  I used the Tender Pink, Light Orange, and Vivid Green markers for this flower.

I was sort of stumped at first, I must admit, when it came time to figure out the summer card.  I finally realized this "owl eye" would make a great dandelion.  Yes, I am totally insane, so I also used the owl's leg to make the stem, hee, hee!  Sometimes you just have to drive your Barbie like a truck, right, Kristine?  ;)  LOVE this Sunset Chevron Washi Tape!

 There are a few other pretty helpful tools I used from Close to My Heart:

Non-Stick Micro-Tip Scissors
2x2 inch My Acrylix Block
1x1 inch My Acrylix Block
NEW Thin Foam Tape
NEW!  Score Board
Bonding Memories Glue Pen

That is all I have for you today, so head on over to Lela's Blog to see what she whipped up today!  :)  Thanks for hopping by!

You can also find the entire line up of on Melinda's Blog!

See it HERE!

Damask Divas Chalk It Up Blog Hop!

Hi everyone!!!  Welcome to the Damask Divas Chalk It Up Blog Hop!

If you arrived from Kelly's Blog, then you are on the right path.  If not, you can head on over to the Damask Divas Blog to find the entire line up!

August is always a super-exciting month for my kiddos with new school supplies and clothes and all, but this month is even better for me with the release of NEW Close to My Heart products to share with you!!!  :)

Today we are featuring the NEW Chalk It Up Paper Packet, so come see what I whipped up with mine...

I thought this would make a fantastic card to send my youngest child's teacher at the end of the first week of school.  Do you have any idea how hard they work?  I can imagine that first week is especially rough, so this will be a great little pick-me-up.  :)

I ADORE paper piecing, and this little owl from the August Stamp of the Month, What A Hoot, is the perfect guy to use this technique on!  I thought the arrows in this pattern make cute feathers...

If you have had a chance to look at the new embellishments available, then you saw these!  I love the NEW Enamel Stars and Gold or Silver Sequins!  I would have LOVED more sequin colors, but since there aren't, here is a quick tip:  COLOR THEM!  You read that right--use the new ShinHan Touch Twin Alcohol Markers to give those light silver sequins a whole new look to coordinate with any of your papers!  :)  You only want to go over it once with the marker or the color begins to lift, so practice and have some fun!  Pssst...try it on the White Enamel Stars too!  ;)

Complete Creative Formulary:

X7184B Chalk It Up Paper Packet
August 2014 Stamp of the Month:  What A Hoot
M1029 A True Thank You
Z1996 Woodgrain Embossing Folder
Z2012 Sequins Gold Assortment
Z2013 Sequins Silver Assortment
Z2010 White Enamel Stars
Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape
Z2466 ShinHan Touch Twin Peacock Green Marker
Z1836 Non-Stick Micro-Tip Scissors
X254  5 1/2 x 4 1/4 White Cards and Envelopes Value Pack

(Links will be live on August 1st.)

Well, I can't keep you too long, so you are off to Michele's Blog for another look at the versatile Chalk It Up Paper Packet!   Enjoy the Hop!

Get it HERE!

Find all the details HERE!

Last Chance for these Throwback Thursday Favorites!

Hey everyone!  Just want to pop in and remind you that TODAY is the very last day to order several items in the Close to My Heart Spring and Summer Idea Book.  Here are some of my faves in the most monstrous version of Throwback Thursday if there ever was one!!!

Marquee White Enamel Shapes--GOTTA HAVE THESE!!!

Burlap Ribbon--AMAZING TEXTURE!!!

My friend Dana made this one!  :)

Zipper Lace in Lagoon and Hollyhock!  Yummo!!!

Ruby and Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon!

Chocolate Woodgrain Washi Tape!  STOCK UP NOW!!!

The Lollydoodle Workshop on the Go Cardmaking Kit!!!  OH THAT SENTIMENT!!!  And the SEQUINS!!!

Laughing Lola Papers and the Cityscape My Acrylix Stamp!

Wouldn't you know I JUST talked MYSELF into some of these again!!!  ;)

A Final Peek at the Cricut Artfully Sent Collection

It's me again!  ;)

I have just one more card to show you from convention that we made using the Cricut Artfully Sent Collection exclusively from Close to My Heart.  (Holey moley, the peeps over at corporate had a LOT of cutting prep work to do!)  ;)

THAT'S RIGHT!  The new cartridge has SWING CARDS!  These are just fantastic!  There are all sorts of cuts to use in decorating them as well.  I have some ideas for embellishing the black wreath die cut here, just haven't been able to DO it yet, lol.  THIS card is created with the brand new Flaxen CS.  We stamped tone on tone to create the beautiful floral pattern.  So, I guess that means you just had a sneak peek at the new Lovely Birthday My Acrylix stamp set too!  ;)

Alright, I am so stoked for this cartridge to be released!  Are you?  If you are as excited as I am to get your hands on it, just leave a comment with your name and contact info so I can let you know as soon as it is available!  I won't publish your information, only use it to let you know when this is going to be released (fingers crossed for mid-August!)  :)

A Tip for Tuesday!

Hey everyone!  I forgot to mention this in my post for the MCT Designer Challenge, so I wanted to be sure I shared!  I had to fussy cut a stamped image and thought of a clever way to start cutting out the part in the middle of the image...well, I think it is clever!

Instead of trying to poke a hole with your scissors, risking bending or creasing your image, just use your hole punch!  ;)

Ta daaaaa!  Hope that is a useful tip!  Happy stamping!

Another Look at the NEW Artfully Sent Cricut Collection!

Hello, Sunshine!

I know it is ANOTHER Monday, but cheer up, Buttercup!  I saved this card to show you today to perk you right up out of the blues!

This adorable card is just one of the MANY you can cut with the soon to be released Cricut Artfully Sent Collection...

You must forgive my fantastic editing skills when it comes to this Kraft paper.  It just doesn't like the camera!  BUT this newly-available-individually-in-August GOLD shimmer trim DOES!

Did you happen to catch the golden rays of those SEQUINS???  Yep!  Coming soon, and no adhesive required because it is already there!  ;)

Alright, there are JUST FIVE more BRAND NEW and not-yet-released Close to My Heart products to find on this one!  Can you guess what they are?   The first non-consultant who guesses them ALL correctly will win one of them!!!!  EEEEK!  :)

Ready, Set, GOOOOOOO!

July Stamp of the Month!  See it HERE!

COMING SOON TO A CTMH WEBSITE NEAR YOU!!!

The NEW Cricut Artfully Sent Collection!

Always Wear Your Invisible Crown

Alright, how many of you have bought a stamp set or an entire kit just for ONE thing or just ONE stamp?  COME on, admit it!!!

I know I have, and I am FINALLY getting around to using it, lol!  The Lollydoodle Workshop on the Go Scrapbooking Kit is AWESOME!  I initially fell in love with it for ONE reason--the sentiment I used for this card!

Now, I planned on using this for scrapbook pages FOR SURE since I have two princesses and PLENTY of pics to scrap.  BUT I thought it would make a great little encouraging card as well!  :)  I stamped it in Whisper Exclusive Ink.

I had tons of little paper scraps lying around on my table from soooooo many projects that I had yet to clean up.  As I finally tackled the mess, I realized these just needed a tiny trim to fit together in a cute little cluster!  They are scraps from three retiring patterned papers from Close to My Heart including Skylark, Lollydoodle, and Balloon Ride.  These are going fast so grab them quickly if you are waiting to get them! I am going to tell you that if you like making cards with flowers on them, you MIGHT want to have some Skylark lying around to use with one of the new products coming in the Annual Inspirations Idea Book.  ;)

OK, so I knew I wanted to put this crown on my card.  Inside?  Outside?  And then it hit me!   BOTH!

I used Versamark Ink to stamp the image and then sprinkled it with clear embossing powder.  See how the crown fits just inside the little window?  I actually was able to bend in the sides of the crown to make it fit before I stamped it since the acrylic stamps are so easily manipulated.  A little heat with my heating tool makes it almost invisible except for the shine!  Starting in August, Close to My Heart will have embossing powders BACK in our Annual Inspirations Idea Book!  :)

A strip of Silver Shimmer Trim, a few sequins from the Lollydoodle Cardmaking Kit, and Black and Grey Sparkles completed my theme.  Here is another look at the entire card with the crown not in the shadows...

I am so glad you popped in today!  Have a fantastic weekend!  :)

Sneak Peek of the Cricut Artfully Sent Collection from Close to My Heart

Ready for another look at the AMAZING NEW Cricut cartridge coming from Close to My Heart?  ME TOO!!!  :)

Artfully Sent

We made three cards from Artfully Sent at convention, and I think this is my favorite of the three.  There are POP-UP cards on the cartridge! 

Isn't that sentiment beautiful!  No stamping required for those of you without inky fingers.  ;)  This card features two NEW colors of CS!  Do you know what they are?  Here is one pictured below...the one on the right!  ;)  The other new color is called Glacier.  YUM!

Here is a tip for you when we finally get our hands on this cartridge...when making these cards, PLEASE pay attention to where you apply adhesive, lol, TRUST ME!  ;)

I blinged mine up with some new Gold Shimmer Trim and Sequins!  :)

Leave a comment with your name and contact information (I won't post it) if you want to be informed when this FANTASTIC new cartridge is available!  I will let you know right away when I get the info.  :)