Workshop Wednesday

Awesome news!  I have a new workshop in the making scheduled for Sept. 7th and 8th.  Nope, it isn't a sleepover, lol--I am just offering it on two days at two different times so that whoever wants to participate can fit it into their schedule a bit more easily.  I designed a set of cards from the Avonlea Card Workshop on the Go contents for us to make.  Here are some pics of the set: 

Each person will make four thank you cards with envelopes and a cute magazine file to hold them.  It would make an awfully cute gift set to give away.  I am mixing it up a bit by letting YOU design one of your cards with the supplies I provide!  Cannot wait to see what you come up with!  Here is the adorable magazine file cut that will hold your cards.

The cost of this workshop is $12.  You may order extra sets of the four cards for $7.50 per set to stamp and then assemble at home.  Please let me know soon if you are coming so that I can prepare your spot.

CTMH Consultant August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

Welcome to our August CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! Each month we will showcase the Stamp of the Month which can be purchased exclusively through a Close to My Heart Independent Consultant (like me!.)

We're so excited to be doing this hop and we have a fabulous lineup with some very talented ladies. There are lots of fun projects to see along the way.

This month we will be showcasing the August Stamp of the Month "Baroque Borders."  This stamp can be used in so many different ways, and we hope to inspire you with our creations!

If you just happened to come to my blog, you should start at the beginning at Lucy's Blog.    Otherwise, if you came over from Carolyn's Blog and are already on your merry way, welcome!

I am soooooo excited to share my project with you!  I wanted to do an altered frame with this stamp set, because the large corner stamp would be so much fun to embellish one with.  I purchased a simple wooden frame for $1 at a local craft store, and covered it with one of the B&T Duos from the Avonlea Paper Packet.  I am pleased to share how it turned out!

These Avonlea Papers are extremely versatile.  This particular B&T pattern made a fabulous backdrop for the large corner stamp in Baroque Borders which I stamped in Slate Ink.  The edges of the frame are also inked in Slate.  I used the Artiste Cartridge to cut a 3.5 inch flower on another Avonlea B&T paper, and also cut two leafy vines at 1.75 inches in Avonlea Green.  Then I had a bit of fun coloring the leaves in with our brand new Olive Alcohol Ink Markers.  Shading has never been easier!   The new Black and Grey Sparkles Assortment added just the right amount of bling.

I LOVE to get feedback on my creations, so take a minute to let me know what you think!  I always like to pick up some new followers, so if you like what you see, feel free tag along with me! 

The next stop on your blog hop fun is Ryan at www.pieceandpaper.blogspot.com.  Enjoy her fantastic creation, and thanks for hopping along with us today!  :)

Here is the list of all the talented consultants who are participating in this months blog hop:

1. Lucy ~ http://www.love2createitall.com
   
2. Darla ~ http://www.stampingunderdoctorsorders.blogspot.com/
   
3. Judith ~ www.grammiejudys.blogspot.com
   
    
4. Carolyn Heniges http://www.nuts4scrappin.blogspot.com/
   
5. (me!) Amie Kiger ~  http://www.mimimyselfandibykigz.blogspot.com
    
6. Ryan  www.pieceandpaper.blogspot.com
   
7. Joanne http://josiesjoy.blogspot.com
   
8. Pam Stewart - http://i-candy-scraps.blogspot.com
   
9. Kindred Hearts - http://itmakestotalcents.blogspot.com
   
10. Julia Hammond  http://youcancreatectmh.blogspot.com/
    

Mojo Monday 254 and Color My Heart Color Dare #11

I finally got back on track with another challenge, and this one is a double doozey!  I used the sketch from Mojo Monday 254 and the color scheme from Color Dare #11.

So, the color scheme made me cringe at first as do many that have so many colors to work with.  It included Ruby, Goldrush, Sweet Leaf, Honey, Indian Corn Blue, and Cocoa.  At first, I thought I was going to have to sit out another week since I had no Ruby at all yet.  Then I realized that I have the paper sampler with some of each color and could use that!  I added Colonial White, and then focused on one of the colors that I had a background paper for and ran with it from there.  I decided that the colors actually reminded me of fall so pulled out my Harvest Happiness My Acrylix set.  Here is what I came up with:

My background paper is from the retired Lucy Paper packet.  This gorgeous ribbon is also in sweet leaf and can be found in the Designer Ribbon Green Assortment.

My favorite part of this one is the Cocoa Cardstock stamped with the Colonial White Ink in the leafy swirls.  I covered it with gold embossing powder and heated it.  The effect was fabulous!  I also love the bit of added hemp in the leaf cluster.

Each of the pieces is inked with the Cocoa to bring a sense of cohesion to the crazy color scheme.  ;)  In fact, I was so distracted by the colors that I neglected to add any black to the colors for the whole lesson on shades that Sara gave us on her Color My Heart Blog!  Wooopsie!  Sorry, Sara!  :O

Get Ready for National Stamping Month!

That's right!  There IS such a thing, lol!!!  And I can't think of a better way to celebrate than a special My Acrylix set from Close to My Heart.  This is a Double D set (ok, go ahead and giggle, I did too!) set with a retail value of $35.90--BUT you can get it for JUST $5 with a $35 purchase from August 15th through the end of September!  Here it is:

 I know, you are thinking, "NO WAY!!!"  Well, YES WAY, it is true!!!  Here is my tribute to this amazing set of stamps that is perfect for scrappin'.  I combined the specials from National Scrapbook Month (Dotty For You paper pack) and National Stamping Month (It's Your Day My Acrylix Stamps) to make this crazy-fun layout:

Sorry for the glare.  I don't know if you can tell, but the swimsuit she is wearing in this one has chevrons on it!  Now tell me that it wasn't begging to be in a layout!

These dots are so much fun to add as a background.  I think the 'love this' arrow is going to get quite a bit of use out of me!

This circle is just the right size for a 1.25" circle punch!

I added this bit of twine after the fact--what do you think?  Twine or no twine?   Either way, I just HAD to make these fun letters with the dots on them from the Art Philosophy cartridge, then I popped them up with foam tape to add some dimension.

 I think I am addicted to tags for a journalling box as much as I love matting my photos now!  ;)

Remember, this special starts WEDNESDAY, August 15th (tomorrow!)  :)

A Team Name!

Happy Monday!  Or maybe happy recovering from the weekend?  That is what I am doing after a busy few days, anyway!  I wanted to share with my fellow blog readers that I finally chose a name for my CTMH Team!  I chose....wait for it...

Been There, Blinged That!  

Super-fun name for a super-fun team!  I can't wait to get rolling!  Actually, if you have ever even thought for a moment about becoming an Independent Consultant for Close to My Heart, then now is the PERFECT time!!!  You can get started for as little as $49, and receive this gorgeous $50 value tote for FREE!  You did read that correctly!

Here is the $49 Essentials Kit that you would receive:

 

 Approximately $130 retail value!

Includes a Read Me First Letter, Current Idea Books (qty. 3), Hostess Order Forms (qty. 5), Customer Order Forms (qty. 5), Close To My Heart Color Swatches (W471), Autumn/Winter 2012 B&T Duos® Sampler (W1115), Petite Perks™ Nature’s Delight Incentive Stamp Set (W2023), Avonlea Complements Canvas Shapes (X7155C), Workshops on the Go™ Avonlea Scrapbooking Kit (G1045), My Creations® Recipe/Photo Box (Z1322), Color-Ready Canvas Alphabet (Z1777), Chocolate Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2111), Slate Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2173), My Acrylix® Glamour Lowercase Stamp Set (D1522), My Acrylix® Perfect Fit—Frames Stamp Set (D1527), 3" × 3" My Acrylix® Block (Y1006), and a 2" μ 3½" My Acrylix® Block (Y1009).

(Some items may not be shown. Contents subject to change.) 

 

You can find out more details on my website HERE, or feel free to leave me a comment along with your contact info or find me on Facebook HERE and I can answer any questions!  :D  Did I ever mention how much I LOVE my new job?  ;)

Must be in the Genes ;)

Hi there!  Today I just HAD to share two moments with my children.  The first is a card that my oldest made for her friend's birthday.  She eyed my Shimmer Trim and had it in her hands before I could grab it!  Here is what she did, and I am quite impressed!

 Look at the cute pocket she made on the inside!  I might have to CASE this one!  ;)

OK, so the next picture is the logo on my new glasses.  I had not had them for very long when my middle child saw them and said, "Mom, I can't believe you got CRICUT glasses!  You are so addicted!"  Can I just say I about fell down laughing!!!  ROTFL!!!  Does my kid know me, or what?  ;)

Time for a Tip Tuesday! What's a Girl to Do?

I have  a scrapbook layout to share with you that presented a bit of a problem for me.  I had a certain color scheme in mind to work with, and there were these bright purple pails in two of the photos that just did not work.  I could not crop the pics without it looking funny, so I came up with a way of hiding the purple.

Before--Now you see them...

After--Now you don't!

I hope my post inspires you to find ways of making your pics work for you!


I used the following products from Close to My Heart for this layout:

White Daisy, Twilight, Cocoa, Lagoon, and Garden Green (retired) Cardstock
Footloose Compliments (retired)
Foundry Pin Clips
Cocoa Ribbon Rounds
Edge Distresser