Makeover Monday A Cut Above Boughs and Berries

I have loved these Cut Above Kits from Close to my Heart since our amazingly talented designers introduced them last year!  Here is one of our new kits called Boughs and Berries...

The kit includes practically everything you need to make the 10 cards including the bases and envelopes.  Choose your own sentiment to add such as the This is Christmas size M My Acrylix Stamp, and add adhesive!

You don't have to stop there, though!  I find myself adding my own personal touches on most any pre-made kit, including this one! I used my Chocolate CS and the Woodgrain Embossing Folder to add a little wooden frame to mine...

I wish I had the same light studio set up at home that they have over at CTMH!  They make my edited pics look pretty pathetic, lol!  You can come and make my version of this one at my Christmas Workshop coming up in November!  Watch for more details at the end of the month!  :)

Remember!  October is almost over, so make sure you get a jump on your Christmas crafting and pick up the wonderful Christmas themed  Stamp of the Month--Twinkle before it's too late!  :)

Freshly Made Twinkle

I adore the simple-TASTIC sketch that Jen B. came up with over at Freshly Made Sketches this week, so was absolutely thrilled to have a chance to play along today. 

This is a totally foreign style to me, but the trend towards gold has captivated me lately as I think about Christmas coming.  Of course, the mod style of this one is not my usual either, but with a CTMH stamp set called "Twinkle," and a bit of Ranger Princess Gold Embossing Powder, I think I managed to sign my name all over it...

The Fundamentals Embellishments include these darling pre-made bows ready to add to just about anything!

I KNOW that I have said this before, but you guys have got to use this little trick to conserve your glitter paper!  It is absolutely one of my favorite tips!  I also have a separate trimmer for JUST glitter paper.  I don't need to change the blade so often this way.  :)

I used the Close to My Heart Red Glitter Paper.

Thanks so much for the fabulously fun sketch this week, Jen B.!  Thanks for stopping in to see my entry this week!  :)

One more week to get your Twinkle on!

Scrapbook Challenges Sketch 454 with Georgie

You might be wondering what happened to Fundamental Friday...well its HERE!  It just also happens to be my very first time entering the Scrapbook Challenges Blog!  I used their super-fun Sketch 454 along with my Close to My Heart Georgie Papers to create a title page of sorts for my new album.

LOVE the grey chevrons on this pattern from Georgie!  The Paper Fundamentals Enchantment pattern in Saffron makes the perfect sunshine cut from the CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy Collection.

Oh my word, I am in love with the gold and silver overlays in the NEW PML Cards!  They sure aren't just for pocket pages!  My clusters include bits from the Grey Enamel Gems and Gold Glitter Paper...

Can you see the shiny embossed pattern on the Fundamentals Paper sunshine?

This sketch was the perfect jump start to my album...and I can't wait to play along again!  Thanks, Scrapbook Challenges!  :)

Only in October!!!  :)

My CTMH Cricut Display Board: Artistry Collection

Let's have another look at my Close to My Heart Cricut Collection Display board, shall we?  We shall!

Today we are zooming in on the upper left side of the board and the newest collection:  Artistry!

The very first thing you need to know about the Cricut Artistry Collection is that it is available WITH or WITHOUT the actual physical cartridge!  CTMH is offering the collection for the first time with Explore and CCR users in mind, and you can purchase it at a discount with no physical cartridge--instead the digital code is provided for online use in Cricut Design Space (specifically for the Cricut Explore Machine) and Cricut Craft Room (for non-Explore users.)

Also available with digital cartridge!

Now, here is a look at my board with a sampling of some of my favorite images on Artistry...

Notice in the middle I used a sample of the written font available to Explore users!  Also notice that darling cup of JAVA!!!  I HAD to use that sweet kitty too!

Alright, I have a confession to make!  This adorable "no-holes" font has grown on me over the past couple of years since first being released in stamp form, the My Acrylix Hopscotch Alpha.

I especially LOVE using it to cut titles for my layouts.  Here is a sneak peek of a project I am currently working on...

Isn't the font FABULOUS!!!?

Artistry also features fantastic versatile overlays for scrapbooks or cards like the tree on my display board and this sweet raindrop background...

Take a peek back at the three stamp sets that come with the Cricut Artistry Collection.  The Life Is Sweet My Acrylix set features several on trend banner shape coordinating stamps.  Let me share this tip I learned while I was playing with mine...make sure you turn your cut the right way before you stamp!  ;)

I am so excited about our new Cricut Collection!  Did you notice ALL the collections come with the white core Close to My Heart Cardstock now?  It cuts like buttah' in the Cricut machines, so I highly recommend it!  I just ink up the edges of the paper when I don't want the white core to show through!  :)

Don't forget that this month's Christmas themed Stamp of the Month, Twinkle, features cuts found on the Cricut Artiste Collection I featured on my blog last week.

Here is a link to my post--and also remember if you order the Artiste Collection through me (contact me here or at mimimyselfandi@outlook.com) this month, I will add the Twinkle Stamp of the Month to your order for FREE!!!

Have a FABULOUSLY crafty week!  :)

Freshly Made Aqua Shimmer Trim

Do you ever just NOT have enough time to make everything you want to with your paper stash?  I have totally been in those shoes lately, but feel like I made it out a little slump today.  I was able to use the fabulous sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches to make a darling little card for my Aunt.

I usually don't give this mush sway to the shapes on a sketch, so I am kinda proud of myself for stretching my imagination on this one.  :)   Would you believe that every single piece of paper/vellum on this card was already cut or lying on my desk?  Yep.  It all came together in a shabby chic sort of conglomerate, lol. 

I used my alcohol ink marker to color in one of the Gold Bling Gems.

Here is a list of supplies I used to make this one...

Close to My Heart:
For Family My Acrylix Stamp Set
Artfully Sent (flowers), Artistry (twigs), and Art Philosophy (sentiment shape) Collections
Hopscotch, Snowhaven, and Seaside Paper Packets (retired)
Black and Lagoon Inks
Aqua Shimmer Trim
Glacier Extra Thick Twine
Gold Bling Gems
ShinHan TouchTwin Alcohol Ink Marker Peacock Green

Other:
My Creative Time Doily Die

Get Twinkle in October!

Fabulous Fundamental Friday!

Fundamental Friday has officially become my FAVORITE day of the week!  How about you?  OK, yeah, Friday is pretty much the BOMB!  ;)

Today I have another layout to share with you from a special project I am working on so lets get to it!

One of my new favorite ways to use the Close to My Heart Fundamentals Papers is as a background to my scrapbook pages.  I am especially fond of matting my pictures in White Daisy CS to take full advantage of the POP it provides.  I am also LOVING these clips that come in the NEW Fundamentals Assortments...

This white clip comes in the Fundamentals GOLD Assortment.

If you like hitting the easy button for your scrappin' then check out the new alphabet letters in the Paper Fundamentals Sticker Assortments!  

The Sapphire colored letters are in the Enchantment Sticker Pack!  ;)

Thanks so much for always stopping in to see what I have been up to in my craft cave.  Have a FANTASTIC weekend!  :)

Don't forget to get the October Stamp of the Month...AND see how you can get it FREE from me HERE!

My CTMH Cricut Display Board: Artiste Cartridge

It's been a while since I shared another section of my CTMH Cricut Display Board, so without further adieu, HEEEEEEEEEERE'S ARTISTE!

See all those little 3D objects in the bottom right?  ALL from Artiste!  Even the cute little bow on the card!

You might have noticed that ALL of the Close to My Heart Cricut Collections now come with a combo pack of Cardstock.  I LOVE the change from the chipboard shapes because now you can see how smoothly the CTMH CS cuts...just like buttah!

Artiste was the second cartridge released by Close to My Heart, and they didn't waste any time adding 3D objects to their line-up!  Artiste is filled with gift boxes, rosettes, cupcake liners, and even 3D pop-up cards!  I LOVE the variety of themes available on this one!

Some of my favorite images on Artiste are very simple...a cloud, a thought bubble, a torn sheet of notebook paper.  Artiste even has a simple font that is super-versatile.

I instantly fell for this little guy...it was PERFECT for my kiddo's October birthday party invitations.

Guess what!?  The Stamp of the Month for October, Twinkle, COORDINATES with Artiste!  YEP!  This crazy-adorable stamp set has images that you can cut with Artiste!  :)

Place your order for Artiste through me this month, and I will send you the Stamp of the Month for FREE!   You MUST contact me to place your order to take advantage of this offer, so shoot me a message at mimimyselfandi@outlook.com OR leave a comment with a way to contact you here--I won't publish it, no worries!  :)

Fabulous Fundamentals Friday!

So you know I can't live without these NEW Fundamentals patterns from Close to My Heart by now...and I just might run out of my first selection of them before long if I keep up this pace!

Here is my latest layout...

I used the Whisper and Champagne patterns in the Paper Fundamentals Basics along with the Pacifica pattern in the Adventure Assortment.

I added assorted sequins from the Gold and Coral Reef Sequin Assortments.  Ok, maybe a retired Oceanside sequin or two as well...

I just loved the squared off layout, but I grabbed a cloud border that I had already cut out from the NEW Cricut Artistry Cartridge on my Explore Machine just to experiment with some curves...and oh my word was it the perfect addition!

Have you had a chance to play with the Paper Fundamentals line?  See even more fantastic ideas for them over on the Close to My Heart Blog HERE!

Give them a try this month on my website, link up to my FREE Gift with order when you check out, and I will send you some embellishments to go with them!  :)

Need to know how to JOIN your order to a particular giveaway on my website?  Watch this short video!  Be sure to turn the volume up...

Freshly Made Sparkle and Shine!

Oh my goodness, where did the weekend go?  I had an amazing time with my friends at the Crafty Souls all day event...and then caught up with a tiny bit of housework before I stole away to play along with a couple of my favorite challenges.

I used sketch 206 from Freshly Made Sketches along with the inspiration photo from the Sparkle and Shine Challenge to create a wonderfully whimsical watercolor card!

I knew I was going to be giving my card a hefty sprinkling of my new sequins from Pretty Pink Posh, so I grabbed an equally sparkly sentiment from the Close to My Heart Diamonds Are Forever My Acrylix stamp set.

I ALSO experimented for the first time with a little bit of watercolor paint splatter on special watercolor paper...

This is my slogan!  I stamped it in Versamark Ink and heat embossed with Ranger Super Fine Silver Powder BEFORE I painted...and then matted the watercolor paper on a piece of White Daisy CS trimmed with Silver Foil Tape after the paper was completely dry.  I used my heating tool to dry it a bit faster.  I adore how the two silver features complement each other!

I love how the yellow splatter ran the blob of color!

It was super fun to get my feet wet again (oh yes, I did!) and play with my new watercolors.  I have to work on my splatter technique and play some more!  Thank for stopping in!  :)

Grab the Twinkle Stamp of the Month while you can and get a free gift from me!

Fundamental Friday AND a Makeover!

I created this layout using the gorgeous artwork created by CTMH corporate as my inspiration.  It is actually the very layout they used to feature my daughter's senior pictures...

I don't have those actual pics printed in the same sizes, so I created a totally new twist on the layout...

I used a variety of colors from the Paper Fundamentals Packs...New England Ivy, Sapphire, Fern, and Whisper.  The colors complemented my assorted pics SO well, and I just can't get enough of the pop of white matting!

I just LOVE using the Mini Stapler to attach elements of a layout.  It is a super alternative to adhesive!

The variety of colors in the Fundamentals Stickers will allow you to find just the right combination for your layouts...

Another new addition to the Fundamentals line--Assortments...I used the Gold to add a great little bow and glittery hearts...

The wooden heart embellishment is ALSO included in the Fundamentals Assortment!

This was one of the most fun layouts to put together lately, but it could be the excitement and fun of the subjects at college, lol!  Have a FANTASTIC weekend, my friends!  Remember...

Twinkle is only here for ONE month!