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!  :)

Spreading Some Sparkle One Card at a Time

Alright, you guys, I have a mission for you!  I stumbled upon this little boy with inoperable cancer on my Facebook feed yesterday.  He is turning 6 on July 25th but all he asked for this year is a BOX full of birthday cards!  It wasn't too long before I realized I had a way to help!  I MAKE cards.  Of course I can send him one!

Danny Nickerson age 5

Then it hit me again...I have a CARDMAKING BLOG!!!  I can write a post to get more cardmakers to send him a card!  So here I am sending my fellow crafty peeps out into the world to spread some sparkle by sending Danny a birthday card for his birthday on July 25th.  Remember, when you spread sparkle, you are bound to get a bit on yourself, and let me tell you it is definitely the truth! 

Here is the address to send the cards:

Danny Nickerson
P.O. Box 212
Foxboro, MA 02035

If you want to read about Danny's story, follow this link:   http://abc7chicago.com/society/5-year-old-boy-with-cancer-hopes-for-birthday-cards/201492/

Whatever you do, PLEASE just take a moment to find a bright, happy, cheery, birthday card to make this little fellow's wish come true!  It sure would do his momma's heart some good to be able to see his smiling face as he opens each one, don't you think? 

Here is the card I sent...

I admit that I already had this card made and in my stash--but I JUST made it this past week and had a ton of fun coloring it in with the new ShinHan Touch Twin Alcohol Markers that Close to My Heart will be featuring in the new Annual Inspirations Idea Book.  

The stamp set is a special My Acrylix from Close to My Heart called Hoppy Birthday was made especially for our Australian Consultants and friends down under!  It doesn't show up normally on my website, but YOU can get it by following the link above.  :)

I used the Skylark Paper Packet, Aqua Dots, Lagoon Ink, and a great little SPARKLE shape from the Cricut Art Philosophy Collection.

Happy Birthday, Danny!!!!  May your wonderful wish come true!!! 

Makeover Monday on Tuesday with Artbooking and Timberline

Hi there, blog friends! 

If you are reading this, then you made it through the title of my post in one piece, so congrats!  Or maybe you just skipped it, lol, so thanks for sticking around.  ;)

Makeover Monday is usually on, well, Monday, but the past two weeks have been irregular for me, so this week we just have a slight delay.  Today I want to show you how I switched up my layout from the Damask Divas Timberline Blog Hop in order to use it for my latest Cricut Artbooking Workshop coming up on Saturday! 

Here it was BEFORE the makeover:

And here it is AFTER the makeover!

Can you tell what I swapped out?

Mostly JUST the papers--I replaced the different patterns from the Timberline Paper Packet with one of the patterns from the Skylark Paper Packet!

See how you can use either papers with these same pics for a fantastic layout?  There are always so many different choices to make when scrapping your pictures--and sometimes there isn't a bad one!  Don't let that decision making stop you from getting those layouts finished!  :)  I don't know this from experience or anything...

Check out this month's special offers over on my Close to My Heart website to go along with these great products...

June Stamp of the Month

Celebrate 30!

Here are the 6 Collections to choose from!  They are each yours for just $30 with a $50 purchase!

Delightful Ribbon and Trim Collection--a $54 Value!

• Hemp Black
• Dark Chocolate Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
• Color-Ready Seam Binding Ribbon
• Party Washi Tape 3-Pack
• Sparkle & Shine Washi Tape 3-Pack
• Colonial White Rosette Ribbon

Extraordinary Embellishments Collection--a $50.55 Value!

• Mini Medley Accents Antiqued Gold Collection
• Just Blooms™ Floret Paper Shapes
• Pixie Glitter Alphabet
• Glamour Glitter Alphabet
• Color Ready-Canvas Alphabet
• Chalkboard Shapes
• Durables Round Studs
• Durables Square Studs
• Colonial White Rosette Ribbon

Accessory Coordinates Collection--a $53.55 Value!

• Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
• Dark Chocolate Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
• Huntington Complements
• Chantilly Complements
• Huntington Assortment
• For Always Assortment
• Tommy Assortment
• Surfs Up Assortment
• Chantilly Assortment

Holiday Happiness Collection--a $64.55 Value!

• Season’s Tweetings Gift Bags (2 sets)
• Frosted Paper Packet
• Frosted Complements
• Frosted Assortment
• Sparkle & Shine Textiles
• Sparkle Holiday Shapes
• Sparkle & Shine Complements
• Sparkle & Shine Assortment

Papercrafting Possibilities Collection--a $61.25 Value!

• Color-Ready Seam Binding Ribbon
• Bronze Glitz Glitter Gel
• Almond Glitz Glitter Gel
• Colonial White Die-Cut Cards
• My Creations™ Cubby
• My Creations™ Collage Cubes
• My Creations™ Star

Gifts and Kits Collection--a $64.70 Value!

• Hemp Black
• Glamour Glitter Alphabet
• My Originals™ Matchbook Card Kit
• Chantilly Textiles
• Seasons Tweetings Gift Bags (2 sets)
• My Creations™ Collage Cubes

Of course, since it is my birthday month, don't forget my OWN little special!

ONLY from ME!

Happy Easter!

Hoppy Easter My Acrylix Stamp Set B1423

Just wanted to take a quick moment to wish you all a joyous Easter!  He is risen!  :)

Glitter and a FREE Cricut Cartridge Make Everything Better!

Hi everyone!  I have REALLY got some news today to Make YOUR Monday!  :)

FIRST, let me show this fabulous little card I made for Simon Says Glitter It...yes, a glitter challenge!!!  Tell me it didn't have my name all over it!  ;)

I used my Close to My Heart Skylark Paper Packet and the newly released Mamma Elephant set, Just Hatched.   Check out the gorgeous patterns in this packet...

You probably couldn't see the glitter too well, so here is a little shot of it on the egg shell.  I just used my Wink of Stella Glitter brush to add it to the teal stripes...

Alright, on to the FREE CRICUT COLLECTION!

If any of you have EVER thought about joining Close to My Heart as an Independent Consultant OR Hobbyist, then APRIL is the month to do just that!  When you purchase the $99 starter kit in April, you will get to choose one of our Cricut Collections ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!  It will come with the kit right to your door!  This is an incredible opportunity, and they haven't offered a free cartridge since I signed up TWO YEARS ago!   I wanted to let you know early about this opportunity so you have time to decide.  They will not be back-ordering the Cartridges, so you will have the best selection early in the month until they run out of stock.  I would love to help you get your own business off the ground, so think about it!  Hobbyists are also welcome to join at this time. 

Remember, this offer begins on April 1st.  For $99, you will receive over $425 worth of products and supplies!  AND, you can even earn the $99 back by reaching your Straight to the Top goal of selling $1200 in your first 90 days as a consultant.  Here is a look at the rest of the Consultant Kit...it includes that brilliant Skylark Paper I used for my card today, and you can find out more details HERE on my blog.

Last Call for Color Dare Featuring Skylark

Well, I managed to squeak out another Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge this week.  This was definitely an easy one since I adore the colors in the Skylark Paper Packet.

Aren't these colors just gorgeous together?  I knew EXACTLY what to do with them, too...I found this great sketch over at Operation Write Home this week!

I love how my card turned out using the Close to My Heart Skylark Papers...

I even found a way to use my Picture My Life cards ON a card!  This sentiment is cut from one of the smaller cards in the kit.  I stamped one of the chevron images from the Charming Chevrons My Acrylix in Desert Sand on a new MCT stitched die cut chevron.  Then a added one of the awesome Sparkles Chevron Shapes to highlight it.

I thought this one definitely called for some inside flair...so I added a strip of the Picture My Life card and another blinged-up, die cut chevron on the inside...

Thanks for stopping in and taking a peek today!  You can find all the items I used in this card on my website: mimimyselfandi.ctmh.com.  Don't miss the new specials for March, too!  :)

You'll Flip for the Flip Stand Album!

Ready for more Close to My Heart Flip Stand ideas?  Great!

This page was actually the very first one I created...because I loved the cover of our Spring and Summer Idea Book so much!

Since the Flip Stand pages I am making have a base of 5.5 inches by 6 inches, I had to make a smaller version of the 12 x 12 layout it features.  I used most of the same elements for mine...

I used papers from the Balloon Ride, Timberline, and Skylark Paper packets. 

The True to Life My Acrylix set is a GREAT neutral gender choice for scrapbooking.  None of the images scream "boy" or "girl" so you can use whatever ink colors you like to make it lean either way...or none at all like this cover page!

I accented the stamped images below with the Baker's Twine Neutral Metallic Assortment and a Grey Epoxy Bubble.

Isn't that wood grain paper from Timberline a fun print to tear?  This tab and the tag shape that go along with the True to Life images are cut from the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge exclusively available through Close to My Heart.

See those cute feathers?  They are stamped with the brand new Feathers My Acrylix.  I love the versatility of these great on-trend embellishments!

These alphabet stickers from the Keyboard Kraft Alphabet are one of my favorite things to use on layouts for labeling and journaling.  

Do you ever use the projects from the Idea Book to create your own pages?  We absolutely encourage you to!  It is a fantastic resource for your scrapbooking and cardmaking, so be sure to ask your Close to My Heart consultant how to get one today!  If you don't have a consultant, you can purchase one on my website along with any of these products featured in my layout here on my website:

 mimimyselfandi.ctmh.com

Cards for Comfort

I made a couple of cards recently that I would like to share with you.  They were not easy for me to make, but unfortunately, sometimes these are the cards that we MUST make.  Each card features the Be Still My Acrylix, and the new Skylark Paper Packet from Close to My Heart.  This is a gorgeous set of papers, take a peek...

One of my goals with this versatile paper was to have both a male and female version of the card, but after I finished, I realized that they could both really work either way.

This first version is made for CAS-ual Fridays Challenge 127:  Over the Edge.

It is a little hard to see in the picture, but the pattern paper extends past the right edge of the Kraft card base.  The inside of the card is lined with a piece of White Daisy CS that is the usual A2 size, so it creates a lovely border when closed.

I stamped the sentiment in Cocoa Ink to contrast the colors of the paper distinctly.

The only embellishment I added here are the bronze and gold sequins from the Ivy Lane Workshop on the Go Cardmaking Kit.  The rest is just included in the pattern of the paper, which I love.  I especially wanted this sunburst pattern to go with my sentiment.  The faux Washi is a brilliant touch.

The second card was intended to be a more feminine version using the same basic elements, with a bit of glitter added.

This Bronze Shimmer Trim from Close to My Heart is a truly gorgeous color.  I love it paired with this paper.  I also used the zip strip and flip side from the same pattern paper as a banner/flag element in this corner.

Just a few more sequins in the bottom corner.

 And a little detail inside...

What about you?  Do you think you can get away with sequins and sparkle on a card for a guy?  I think these can for sure.  I really love how this pattern paper lends itself to stamping a sentiment right on the pattern.