It's My Month to Sparkle!

A little birdie told me recently that I had not updated my blog in a while...and oh my word was that bird right (thanks, Gallery!!!)  I was pretty shocked when I logged in to find that I missed an entire month...or three! 

Today I want to give a little shout out to my crafty peeps who are caught up in the midst of unwanted changes or challenges that are pushing you to your limits and eating up your time and energy--keep pushing through!  You are not alone.  You can do this.  I did not really think about it much before, but some wonderful people have shown me recently that your previous circumstances may also be able to give someone else the hope they need to get through THEIR climb. 

Moving on to some crafty news...this month is my birthday month!  For every order of $25 or more on my Close to My Heart party HERE, I will be sending YOU gifts!  I want to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for sticking with me lately...my creative mojo is making a comeback soon I am sure!  I was actually born on Father's Day...and will be celebrating together with my dad again this year!  I am hoping to put together the You're the Best Mini Album to give him as a gift.

Take a look at this new June-only special which gives you a FREE two-page layout kit with the purchase one of four different stamp sets available now!  The Best Moments Are Free promo directions for the layouts are actually...wait for it.................................................................................
FREE to download with or without a purchase!  Just follow the link above and scroll down to the bottom of the page.  :)

Lastly, let's talk about the June Stamp of the Month--It's Your Day to Sparkle....

Can you EVEN think a better themed set to have for my birthday month????  If you have been following along with my crafty antics for a while, then you know I am all about the sparkle.  My motto most days is "Never Let Anyone Dull Your Sparkle!"  I've been allowing myself some grace to have some very UN-sparkly days as of late, but I am working up to living it daily again.

As always, you can add the Stamp of the Month to a $50 order for just $5.  Just add $50 worth of CTMH products to your cart first, and then it will prompt you to add the STOM. You can always order it at full price during the month of June as well if your wish list isn't that long.

I would LOVE to add some sparkle to your day by sending YOU a little gift for my birthday month, so be sure to visit my Close to My Heart website in June to place a $25 or more order!

MCT Designer's Challenge Birthday Card Using the Artiste Cartridge

Good morning me hearties!  Oh, that's right, it isn't "Talk Like a Pirate Day" anymore, ooops!  ;)

Today I have a cute little, FAST card to share with you.  Besides the adorable Stitched Cloud Dies from MCT, my favorite part about this one is how QUICKLY it came together!

I used a sheet of Sky CS and sanded down the edges and into the the paper a little ways to soften up the background.  The two shapes for the sun are cut in Buttercup and Honey CS with the Close to My Heart Cricut Artiste Cartridge on my E2 cutting machine.  The sweet, floating red balloon is an image on the same Cartridge.  The matching balloon stamp comes with the Artiste set, and fits the cut perfectly.  There is normally a little "shine" cut out in the balloon shape, so I used the Cricut Craft Room to hide it.  The balloon string is even a stamp!  I was able to bend it to just the right shape since the stamps are clear acrylic.  So versatile!

Speaking of versatile and QUICK, the sentiment is found on the CTMH Holiday Tags My Acrylix...one of my go-to stamps right now!  

I am linking up today with the My Creative Time Designer's Challenge: Birthday!  :)

Did I mention how this card came together LICKITY-SPLIT!?  ;)

Happy Birthday, Daddy! Bazinga!

Hi there!  I have a fun and trendy birthday card to share with you today!  I apologize profusely for not knowing any better, but my father LOVES the show Big Bang Theory.  I, however, have never even seen it!  Oooops!  I googled his favorite character, Sheldon, and all I could find was this word-- BAZINGA!

Well, there was only one thing to do!  Phone a friend!  Hahaha, I did, and thankfully she is a fan of the show too, so sent me the link to a great little Bazinga-fest on YouTube.  Thank you, Beth!

I decided I had only one choice....go BAZINGAS!  ;)  Here is the final crazy card I made for my daddi-o's birthday...

Lots of hip and happening stuff going on here!  Arrows are hot right now, so I had to use them.  One of the trendsetting new My Acrylix in the Autumn/Winter Close to My Heart Idea Book is One Way Borders.  I stamped one of the arrow themed borders in Whisper in both on the front of the card and on the inside to tie them together.  Also, I had recently invested in some sequins to expand my sparkle inventory--SO excited to use them!!!

Here is a quick tip for lining up your lettering...use a sticky note!  This totally works, trust me!

There is a pretty nifty "dirty" stamp in the Laughing Lola Workshop on the Go Cardmaking Kit.  I really like the added grunge to this card when I stamped it in Whisper Ink.

How do you like my Twist Tie lightning zig-zags?  I loved combining all the different elements into a totally new look for me!  The cork shapes are in the Color Ready Midtown Cork Shapes.   I just left them cork color.  ;)

  Just as I did on the front of the card, I used the Kraft Keyboard Alphabet to make the sentiment on the inside.

I hope he had one BAZINGA of a day!  :)

Babycakes Birthday Card and a New Twist on Washi!

Hi everyone!  I am so excited to share this with you!  I was making a card to show off our amazing Liquid Glass when I ran full speed into a wall.  Oooops.

BUT...I am happy to report that I not only overcame, I blew that wall into smithereens!!!  Oh, yeah!

I discovered a brand new way to use our Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape, which is, by the way, one of my FAVORITE new products this month!  :)

Here is the idea...wrap it around the new Slate Striped Twist Ties!

I just LOVE the new look and color it adds!  What about you?  Suddenly your Twist Ties can be any color washi you have!  :)  They still twist up nicely and hold their shape.

If you linked over from the Damask Divas Blog, then you read about how I used my liquid glass to make faux enamel dots.  They are still drying in this picture, and a bit "foggy" still...

...but here they are completely dry and clear!  LOVE!

Here is a list of the Close to My Heart products I used with links to my website.  Remember, the August Stamp of the Month is FREE this month with a $50 order!  Don't wait until August is over or it will be too late!

Babycakes Paper Packet
Chocolate CS
Colonial White Card Base
Lagoon Dye Ink
D1560 Holiday Tags
Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment
Slate Striped Twist Ties
Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape
Aqua Dots
Liquid Glass

Halloween Birthday Bash!

Alright, yes, I have not been posting much lately because I have been prepping for a certain girlie's Halloween-Style Birthday Party.  Here are some quick shots of what I did, and can I just say, "I {heart} Pintrest!"


Mummy Bars

M&M Tubes with a tag I made with the Mini Monsters Cricut Cartridge.

Back of the tag has a little "thank boo."

Making Mummy Dogs

Yummo!

Pumpkin Bowling

 Rice Krispie Treats!

The birthday girl as Benny the Bull

 Me.  Lost my Cruella wig and had to improvise.  Yikes!

Better go hide the puppies!!!