Monogram Cards

I suppose an entire week is enough to make you wait for the big reveal after Sneak-Peak Saturday...I won't keep you hanging any longer.  This is one of my favorite new products from our recent Idea Book release--the Monogram stamps.  I ordered mine right away so I could play with it.  The colors in the Avonlea Paper Pack sure do speak to me, so I listened to them and made a few.

I used the following supplies to make these striking 4 x 4 notecards:

Avonlea Paper Pack
Kraft Cardstock
Monogram K
Shimmer Trim
Art Philosophy Cartridge

These products are ALL available now on my website for you to create your very own personalized notecards!


Also, with a new month comes a new Stamp of the Month!  For the entire month of August, you can purchase the Stamp of the Month for $17.95 OR you can get it for only $5 with a $50 product purchase!  This one is called Baroque Borders.  I can't wait to get mine so that I can create my Stamp of the Month Blog Hop project.  I will be participating in the blog hop on August 18th, so put it on your calendars and plan on popping by!

Damask Divas August Blog Hop!

Welcome to my blog!  Today I am part of the Damask Divas August Blog Hop.  We are showcasing the fabulous new Paper pack, Avonlea from Close to My Heart.  If you came from Cydney's page, you are in the right place.  If you have jumped here and just discovered our blog hop, feel free to check the list at Damask Divas to find out where you are in the order.

I had stumbled upon an adorable little mini book project in one of my facebook groups recently, and decided to make one for the blog hop.  The embellishments that coordinate with Avonlea lend nicely to the overall effect.  Here is the video that tells how to make the simple 3 x 3 book with just one piece of paper.  Just click on the one that says "valentine mini book" in the lower left corner of the page.  Tim really makes it easy to duplicate, and then the rest is all up to your imagination!  Without further adieu, here is my take on the one sheet mini album:

This was a super-fun and easy project that looks sooooo beautiful and polished when completed.
I just HAD to use the new Shimmer Trim to adhere the binding of the book.  It is a self-adhesive ribbon that was very easy to work with.  I used the strip of paper off the Avonlea B&T Duos for the middle of the spine.  The glittery medalion is from the Slate Mini-Medley Accents, as well as the button in the center.  Also, the two small bling are from the Sparkles Assortment--round--black and grey.

I had been wanting to use the Vintage Type Alphabet and this was the perfect opportunity.  It really went well with the old style feel of the papers and colors.  I also added Milepost Shapes throughout the mini book and distressed them with Chocolate or Slate Ink.

This is the first pull-out from the two pockets I kept for my version of the book.  You can see the foundry clip and a pin from the new Slate Mini-Medley Accents.  I also used a bit of the AWESOME new Burlap Ribbon we have now!  I LOVED the effect with the pin!

These are another brand new and exciting product--the Color-Ready Canvas Alphabet.  I inked the letter U in Slate and left the ME in the original color to make it pop.

Another newbie!  Olive Baker's Twine from the Harvest Baker's Twine collection!  Also, the new Sparkles assortment--Round--brown and tan!

This page is one of my personal favorites in the book--love how all the floral came together.  The two metal pieces and flower on the right are from the New Antiqued Gold Mini-Medley Accents.  The one on the left is a Pewter Badge Button adhered to a piece from the Avonlea Canvas Compliments.

Now you can see the second pull out from pocket number two.
 

The final page...more accents from the Slate Mini-Medley.

What a great way to use those old school pictures that sit around after you pass them out to the relatives!  Or maybe the relatives will get lucky and get a beautiful little mini book to treasure their pictures in.  ;)

Thanks for stopping in and checking out the Damask Divas first EVER Blog Hop!

From here, you get to visit Crissy Worthen!  Have a great time discovering all the great ways you can use this beautiful Avonlea Paper!  If you get lost, just pop on over to Damask Divas Blog for directions.  Thanks for stopping by!

Join Me Tomorrow!

Guess what?  

Tomorrow is the official Damask Divas Blog Hop for August!  

Hope you can join us for the premier of the Autumn/Winter Idea Book!

Yes, you can order Artiste online tomorrow HERE!  ;)

Sneak Peak Saturday!

I got it!  The monogram stamp came, and I whipped up some note cards as soon as I had a chance to lock myself in my studio.  ;)  Here is a sneak peak to get your creative juices flowing!  More details to come!  Hint:  one of my FAVORITE new products is used....

Remember!!!  You only have until the end of July to contact me and pre-order your Cricut Artiste Collection for only $99 plus tax and shipping.  When you do, you will receive your very own monogram stamp of your choice as a FREE gift and also the brand new Autumn/Winter Idea Book!!!  Hurry, because when August gets here, this offer is OVER! 

All this for only $99 + tax and shipping!

LOVE this Layout!

Hello fellow paper junkies!  Well, a couple of treats for you today.  First, I was able to get my hands on the BRAND NEW how-to-publication from Close to My Heart!  This is the series that replaces our former Hardcover books like Reflections and Originals.  It is a catalog-style book called Make It from Your Heart Volume 1 and features 16 two-page layout patterns, two single-page patterns, and 12 different card patterns inspired by Jeanette Lynton's Let Me Show You How philosophy.  I was sooooo excited to see this, and let me tell you, I am very pleased!  The framed page on the front of the cover even inspired me to make one just like it!  I spent the better part of the night working on it.  This is the cover photo:

And this is my version!  :)

I used my Art Philosophy Cartridge and Cricut Expression 2 to cut out an entire sheet of 1" circles on Colonial White and Smoothie Cardstock.  I chose Tulip as the base of the page and centered the sheet of cut Smoothie over it after trimming.  Finally, I added the 1" circles strategically between the two.  I used a temporary adhesive to tack the Smoothie sheet onto the retiring Tulip (sniff) until I had all the circles down tight.  I LOVE the effect!!!  The matting on the right side of the page was also cut on my cricut in Colonial White and Chocolate.

 These beautiful flowers are from the new Just Blooms Floret Paper Flowers.  I also used the Tulip ribbon from the soon retired Designer Ribbon Red Collection.  A brad and an Opaque Gem made perfect additions to the centers. 

 New My Acrylix Stamp Set Alert!!!  I used Frame It Up (available Aug 1st!) to stamp the outside of this Bible verse from the He Is Risen set.  Both are in Cocoa Ink...the Chocolate just wasn't dark enough for me, so I mixed the papers and inks.  Also seen above are the new Sparkles Assortment Brown and Tan!  LOVE!  The green swooshes are from the Stella Compliments which will still be in the new Idea Book--yay!

I decided to journal all the when, where, and who on these flags.  The bottom sentiment is from another new My Acrylix--Love Blooms.  To balance the corner with the flowers, I added this lovely cross which I stamped in Cocoa from the He is Risen My Acrylix set.

Are you brave enough to give this background a try?  ;)

OK, so I said at the beginning that I had two treats for you, so here is the second:  During the month of August, you can join my CTMH team for only....are you ready for it......$49!!!!  YEP!  You can start your own business for only $49!  But wait, there's MORE!  There were some absolutely adorable bags that they gave the consultants at convention this year...and you will receive one when you sign up absolutely free until they run out!!!  Do not wait to jump on this offer.  Here is what you will receive in your Essentials kit for $49:

The FREE Bag!

 

 Approximately $130 retail value!

Only $49!
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.)

Now, If you want even MORE business supplies to start out with, you can get the $99 Master kit with the following added:

Includes everything in the Essentials kit
plus more supplies and 5 Studio J® layouts. Approximately $280 retail value!

Only $99!

Current Idea Books (qty. 7 more), You Are Welcome Here
Recruiting Brochures (W1151) (qty. 25), The Rewards Come Now
Hostess Brochures (W1150) (qty. 25), 5 Studio J® Layouts (redeem within 3 months, not shown), Studio J® Brochures (W111/W111C) (qty. 5), Hostess Order Forms (W122/W122C) (qty. 20 more), Customer Order Forms (W101 / W101C) (qty. 20 more), Petite Perks™ Nature’s Delight Incentive Stamp Set (W2023) (qty. 4 more), Cello Bags (W1152) (qty. 25), My Acrylix® Stamp Scrubber (Z1782), My Acrylix® Spritz Cleaner (1778), Bonding Memories® Glue (1512), Sponge (Z697), Liquid Glass (Z679), Chocolate Exclusive Inks® Marker Set (Z2434), and Micro-Tip Scissors (Z534). (Some items may not be shown. Contents subject to change.)

Who's in on August 1st?!  :)  Contact me or click HERE for more info!

Personalized Name Plaque

Well, I cannot believe I haven't posted this yet!  Back near the end of the school yeat, a friend asked me to make some wall art for her girls' rooms.  She even had a bible verse chosen for each one as well.  I was eager to get started, but with the start of my CTMH business it got pushed back a bit.  I did finish them a while later and managed to share one on a post on my Facebook page, but I never did get them posted up on my blog somehow!  It was wonderful designing these and I really would love to make more in the future.  If I could figure out a good way to ship them, I would even sell them online.  If any of my readers are experienced at that sort of thing, shoot me a message for sure, thanks!   Here they are!

Color Dare #8 and Heart 2 Heart Sketch Challenge July 2012

One card for two contests!  Yep, that is what busy girls do--get the most out of your mileage!  I made this card for both the Color Dare Challenge #8 and Heart 2 Heart Sketch Challenge for July 2012.

For the Color Dare, we were to use the split complimentary pastels sky, pear, and smoothie.  The Heart 2 Heart sketch looks like this:

Here is the fun card I came up with combining the two challenges:

I just received A Tulip size A My Acrylix stamp set with my Stampaganza order and wanted to give it a go.  I peeked into my scrap drawer and found the negative of this flower cut from the Art Philosophy Cartridge.  Perfect!

The border stamp was a challenge in the White Daisy Ink, but I am happy with the final look.  

Here is my supply list:
Pear, Sky, Smoothie, White Daisy and Kraft cardstock
A Tulip My Acrylix Stamp Set (not available after July 31st!)
Smoothie ribbon from the Pink Collection (not available after July 31st!)
White Daisy and Pear Exclusive Ink Pads
White Daisy Crochet Flowers (no longer available, but easily substituted)
Paradise Assortment Baker's Twine in Smoothie (not available after July 31st!)

You might notice that there are a few items not available after the end of this month.  Here is a complete list of the COLORS going away with the new Idea Book launch on August 1st.  If you want any inks or papers in these colors, you need to act now!  The ad faces are my favorites of these that I will miss.  :(

Amethyst

Baby Pink

Brown Bag

Dutch Blue  :(

Garden Green  :(

Garnet

Grey Flannel

Grey Wool  :(

Heavenly Blue

Holiday Red

Key Lime

Lilac Mist

Moonstruck  :(

Pansy Purple

Parchment

Petal

Spring Iris

Sunflower

Sunkiss Yellow

Sunny Yellow

Taffy

Tulip  :(

Vanilla Cream

Vineyard Berry