Flamingos for a Fabulous Graduation Day!

It's time for a fun little graduation card...this one happens to be a gift card holder turned money holder...

It just so happens that I used several "disappearing" products that Close to My Heart just announced would be retiring at the end of July...or whenever they sell out!  It is rather ironic, because I made the card days before they shared the list with consultants.

I used a Picture My Life Black Overlay on the front of this gift card holder that I cut from the Cricut Artiste Cartridge.  Both are favorites of mine that will soon disappear.  The Tickled Pink My Acrylix and Thin Cuts (back in stock around June 10th) make the CUTEST little flamingos! 

Mine was stamped in Cotton Candy and Pixie Exclusive Ink and then I added a sparkly black glitter paper cap cut with my Lawn Fawn steel dies.

That Pink Shimmer Trim will unfortunately not be returning, and neither will the Clear Sparkles I added to the Calypso Sequins...

 Here is a view of the inside of the card--you can add a gift card OR even cold, hard cash!

I can't wait to see my niece to give this card to her this weekend!  :)

Fundamentally Happy Times Layout

On Fridays I just can't help but sing the praises of the Close to My Heart Fundamental Papers and coordinating products.  THIS Friday I also threw in a bit of Happy Times!

It has been a crazy week, so sorry for the lack of commentary!  Here are the Close to My Heart products I used for this simple and sweet layout:

Paper Fundamentals Adventure Assortment
La Vie En Rose Paper Packet 
Picture My Life Overlay Black 
Happy Times My Acrylix Stamp Set
Life in Pictures (April 2016 Stamp of the Month) retired
Black and Grey Glitter Paper
3D Foam Tape
Red Enamel Hearts
Black Exclusive Ink Pad 

Have a SUPER weekend!

 

Sparkle and Shine Volleyball Themed Birthday Card

Thanks so much for stopping in today!  I had a few minutes to myself this weekend in between keeping an eye on my hubs (recovering from hernia surgery) and enjoying the fantabulous weather! I decided to play along with the current Sparkle and Shine Challenge while creating a birthday card for my volleyball-playing niece. 

I used the beautiful watercolor-like purple paper from the Close to My Heart Kaleidoscope Paper Pack.  The Play Hard--Volleyball images were just what I needed to make a personalized card.  This Wish sentiment is always one of my favorites...
 

See the silver #6?  I embossed my niece's uniform number in silver to go with the inspiration theme!

I stamped the volleyball image in second-generation Black Exclusive Ink--which is actually stamping the image two times without re-inking...I usually do a lot of practice stamping to see which way I want to use my stamps and inks...

I think the sentiments on the Birthday Funnies Hostess Reward My Acrylix stamp are hilarious...so I picked one for the inside of her card.

 

 Remember to conserve your glitter paper by only using what actually shows!  Look at all that I saved!!!  ;)

My Jamberry nails accidentally matched my glitter paper!

If you want to play along with this challenge, here is the challenge inspiration photo badge and the link!

Sparkle and Shine Challenge!

 Here are some of the other sport-themed Play Hard stamps from Close to My Heart that will retire after July...there are also sets for gymnastics, swimming/diving, and cheerleading!

Only available in April!

Damask Divas Zoe Blog Hop!

Welcome to my blog and the Damask Divas Zoe Blog Hop!  If you came from Jamie's blog, then you are in the right place.  If not, you can check out the rest of the amazing blog line-up over at the Damask Divas Blog HERE.

There is something SO refreshing about a NEW Idea Book FULL of new, well, IDEAS! Of course, the NEW PRODUCTS are just icing on the cake, and ZOE is an icing I couldn't wait to take a taste of!  ;)

For my project, I made a card for my latest Hostess with the Mostess to thank her for opening her house for me to share our fabulous Close to My Heart products.  I even found a clever way to use the new Zoe Complements that allows her to use them AGAIN on a project!  Take a look!

See those stars and the striped horizontal strip behind the sentiment?  They are actually stickers included in the new Zoe Complements!

The sentiment and frame are images from the August 2015 Stamp of the Month--Framed!

I trimmed them out with my Non-stick Micro-Tip Scissors with a border so I could leave them on the backing and attach them to the card.  Now my hostess is free to use them on one of HER creations!  :)

The border is printed right on the carrier sheet, so super easy to trim out!

See the faceted cut on the round accent from the Zoe Assortment?

Here is a complete list of products I used...

Value Pack White Daisy 4.25 x 5.5 Cards with Envelopes
White Enamel Stars
Black and Grey Glitter Paper
Zoe Paper Packet NEW!
Zoe Assortment NEW!
Zoe Compliments NEW!
Canary Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
Slate Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
August 2015 Stamp of the Month--Framed NEW!
Cricut Artistry Collection NEW!
Cricut Artistry Collection DIGITAL!  NEW!!!

You made it to the end of the hop!  You can start at the beginning with Mandy's Blog HERE.  I hope we really got your juices flowing with these amazing new products!  Remember, you can find the entire line up of Divas participating over at the Damask Divas Blog!

Here are the page numbers to find these cuts and the size to set the height on your Cricut or in DS and CCR!

Fundamental Friday!

I made this one last month with some new toys I purchased with my birthday money...

Paper Fundamentals Basic Assortment

Black and Grey Glitter Paper

This is how I colored the White Daisy CS with my Sparkle Watercolor Gel Crayons!  I just colored directly on the paper and then went over the crayon with my Blending Pen.

I purchased these on Amazon with a gift card because, let's face it, they had MY NAME on it!  ;)

Last call for JUMP ON IT IN JULY deals for the month!!!

Spend $25 in STAMPS, get a $5 Hostess Rewards Stamp!

This sale is only through 5 pm MST!!!

UPDATE!!!  The Studio J sale has been extended to August 3rd at 11:59PM MST!!!

FREE Stamp of the Month, YES, PLEASE!!!

Lawnscaping Challenges with MORE Critters!

Alright, I already professed my enduring love for Lawn Fawn critters...so another entry this week for the current challenge at Lawnscaping Challenges should really come as no surprise!  ;)

THIS guy is my all-time FAVORITE critter from LF so far...

the YETI!

I just LOVE this Bokeh look paper from CTMH in the Brushed Paper Packet!

I absolutely adore everything about him from his fangs to his toes!  The fantastic sentiments in this set are just perfect paired with his mysterious nature...

Can he pull off the glitter paper look, or what? 

I was so curious to see if I could successfully stamp him onto the paper--and used Memento Ink to find out.  I could see the image from the SIDE view but not by looking directly down at the paper.  I just used a black Sharpie to make the lines darker and then fussy cut his parts that I wanted to stay white.  Glue dots are totally the way to go when you are trying to get something to stick to glitter, just sayin'.

I started to outline his image with Sharpie at the top...

I have been having an absolutely FANTASTIC time getting back into my crafty groove, so stay tuned for a few more!  ;)  Stay sparkly! 

Ice Cream Dream just for June!

Christmas Card Workshop Wrap-Up

Happy weekend!  My Christmas Card Workshop has arrived, so I wanted to do a quick wrap up of two more card creations.  I shared them over on FB, but not on my blog yet...

I used the fabulous new nativity themed My Acrylix set Reason for the Season
and the Yuletide Carol Paper Packet.

Here is a retired product for the starry bling along with a Bling Gem from the Gold Assortment...

Next up is a little Pinterest inspired card that you can find HERE...

I used my old favorite, Cricut Art Philosophy Collection to cut out the shapes, the new Dots embossing folder for the Cranberry CS texture, my Hostess only My Acrylix set called Be Jolly, Silver Glitter Paper, and sparkles...

I will show you the last card on Monday for Makeover Monday, and the gift card holder as soon as I get my pics taken!  :)

I have some SUPER news for my CTMH customers!  Now through the end of January, when you place an order with me or on my website HERE,  you can add the Seasonal Expressions 1 AND the Annual Inspirations Idea Book for FREE!  Yep, there is no catch and no minimum order for this one...AND you can even combine it with the December Deal of the Decade and Stamp of the Month special going on right now!

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween my crafty peeps!  I made a cute little card for my goblin's lunchbox today with the Scaredy Cat Paper Packet and my amazing Cricut Artfully Sent Cartridge...

 Of course it sports not one, but TWO colors of our fantastic Glitter Paper!

I cleverly disguised the inside of the card where I used the Glitter Paper...

SO much fun! 

TODAY is the very last day to get the October Stamp of the Month, so get it now if it is on your wish list!  :)

Have a safe Halloween!  :)