Thanks A Minion!

My school is participating in "kindness week" along with thousands of schools across the country.  To a paper crafter, this is an open invitation to GO MAKE SOMETHING!!!  :)

Well, I made MINIONS, lol!!!  (My CTMH website is undergoing maintenance as I type this, so I can't add the links with product names yet, boo!  I will get them added asap tomorrow!)

I used the New CTMH Paper Packet, Penelope, for the stripey background paper on this super-cute 3x3 thank you card.   HERE is the link to find directions on making these adorable Minion clips.  I found a really easy (and sparkly!) way to attach them to a card with my Shimmer Trim...

Looks like it is time for a new blade on my trimmer!  ;)

I used the A Thousand Thanks My Acrylix and a brand new Alphabet stamp set called Block Uppercase to create a custom sentiment for my card...and I eventually found the combination of Pacifica and Canary I liked the best.

I popped the letter "A" up on a simple punched shape.

These are such a great RAK gift!!!  I hope the ladies in the cafeteria like them!  :)

Don't forget to check the CLEARANCE section on my website today--they just added TONS!!!  Paper packets for $3 and $6 along with embellishments for less than $3!!!!  You can even search by category now!  :)

Planners Gotta Have MINIONS!

Hey everyone!  I am back with another post about how I make the adorable little Minion clips for my planner.  If you missed it, you can see my original post HERE with my first directions on making them with the NEW Close to My Heart Thumb Notch Punch. 

Well, I watched the Minion movie over the weekend, and realized I need to make BOB!  I whipped up another batch and took a few pics and measurements to help you out with creating YOUR minion army!  Hope this helps...

Here's Bob!

I found the best thing to use for holding these guys together was my trusty Liquid Glass.  I applied it on the back side of his head, lay the paperclip on top, dabbed a bit more LG, then added the Canary CS head.  A bit of pressure is all you need, being careful to wipe off any excess glue that squishes out.  

 

  

There wasn't an issue holding it together when I was just making the one minion, but since I had several to make this time, I needed a process to free up my hands.  These clips worked perfectly since there is a notch the keeps them from touching the glue!

This notch keeps the clips from sticking to the glue!

Now, here are the sizes for adding the googly eyes:

2-eyed minion: 1/4th inch size eyes and a 1/8th inch wide strip of black
1-eyed minion: 3/8ths inch eyes and a 3/16ths inch wide strip of black

The final step is to give your little guys some character by adding a grin and some hair!

Thanks so much for stopping in today!  If you have any questions about these guys, just ask!  If you want to make your own, just pick up a Thumb Notch Punch and some Liquid Glass from my website and start creating your OWN minion army!  :)  I used the Pacifica and Canary CS if you are interested in the exact colors.  See you soon!

Only in January!

This month ONLY!

Moon Phases on Monday

Hi everyone!  I wanted to share a quick project that showcases one of the reasons being a crafty mom with a Cricut cutting machine ROCKS!!!  ;)

My youngest needed to make a model of the moon phases, and one of the choices was to make a mobile.  Now, I am NOT the mom that DOES my kiddos homework for them (good golly I already had to go through school once, I've done my time!)  I just showed her how to put the images on the mat on the iPad and size them, and away she went!!!  I hardly had to give her any direction after that except to supervise proper mat insertion (seriously, these kids have a built-in iChromosome these days!)  Here is her finished project!

The entire mobile hangs from a tube hanger...

 She colored in each dark side of the moon...

She chose Topiary and Pacifica CTMH CS

The Earth is found on the Close to My Heart Artistry Cartridge, while the Moon and Sun are found on my CTMH Art Philosophy Cartridge.

Canary CTMH CS

I wish I could tell you the mobile made it to school tangle-free, but that is a strory for another day!

Raise your hand if YOUR kiddos have helped create a school project with a Cricut cutting machine!
This was not our first, and I am SURE it won't be the last!  ;)

Thanks for stopping in today!  Have a STELLAR week! 

How to Use the NEW Close to My Heart Thin Cuts with a Sizzix Big Shot

Welcome back to my blog!  I am super-excited to say I have a new video to share with you today!

Have you heard about the NEW die cuts made by Close to My Heart?  They don't have anything to do with a Cricut Machine, but work beautifully in your embossing machine!  I happen to have a Sizzix Big Shot, but they will also work in a Cuttlebug and other similar machines.  Here is a quick little picture tutorial followed by the video.  Hope this is helpful!

First of all, you will notice these thin, metal dies come already detached from each other and on a handy magnetic storage sheet.  Two thumbs WAY up before I even cut with them!  I used the Stuck on You stamps and dies for the following pics...

The matching stamp set shows you which stamped images have matching cuts with a BLUE line...

These dies work just the OPPOSITE as cricut cuts--you stamp these images FIRST, and then cut them out precisely which is fantastic for all my fellow perfectionists out there!  ;)  I stamped my images with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored them with my ShinHan Alcohol Ink Markers.  I use washi to hold the dies in place on my cutting platform.

I have it all layered like this: magnetic platform on the bottom, then the clear cutting plate, then the CS, die (held in place with washi), and finally the second clear plate.

I really like being able to get my image centered just like SO!

Now, see the fabulous NEW Thin Cuts dies in action on my short video!  I use the Spring Critters Dies and My Acrylix Sets in the following video.  Thanks for watching!  :)

Planners Gotta Plan Blog Hop!

The Blog Hops with Heart team is BACK today with more crafty goodness!  This time, we are getting serious with PLANNERS!!!!  Our hop is one big circle, so just click on the name of the next blogger at the end of each post to see the next fantastic PLANNER idea.  I have included the entire list of talented bloggers at the end of the post if you should get lost.

Confession time:  I have ALWAYS kept a paper calendar, even after I got my first "smart" phone.  IMHO, paper is WAY better than tech in this respect.  I have to be able to SEE my week or month spread out in front of me to make it work.  (Those fantastic alerts you can set on the smart phones are a WHOLE other ballgame--LOVE those!)

Now that Close to My Heart has a the new Everyday Life Planner System, my paper-craft life is just about complete!  She is a real beauty with a gold foil inlay on the cover.

I do, however, also have a playful side that likes many other things than pretty paper...like MINIONS!  I would have minions if they were an actual thing.  I would!  But, until then, I made my own with Close to My Heart's new Thumb Notch Punch...

It was CRAZY easy to make this little man.  I just folded a piece of Pacifica CS in half and then put the FOLD side into the Thumb-Notch Punch.  That made his little pill-shaped body.  Then I used a little scrap of Canary CS to punch out two pieces--one for his head and one for the back side to attach over the paperclip using Liquid Glass.  It was just as easy adding the single eye over a short length of Silver Foil Tape.  I also added additional directions and measurements for these guy on THIS POST.

I stuck this little guy right on the date for our hop!  :)

Seriously, could they get any cuter???

That's all I have for you today.  I like things short and sweet these days, and I am guessing you might too!  You are off to Kelly's Blog to see what incredibly clever planner creation she has to share today.  Thanks for hopping by!  :)

Here is the entire list of the Blog Hops with Heart Team participating today in case you get lost...

Amie (that's ME!)

Kelly

Becca

Stephanie

Amy

Enjoy!

P.S.  These PML pocket cards are available this month that match the Planner!  Get them, and the calendar pages (on SALE!) while they last!  :)

FREE Copy Just for YOU!

Happy Saturday!

Did you know you can get your hands on a copy of the new Seasonal Expressions 1 Idea Book for FREE???  Yep!  Place any size order from my website, and Close to My Heart will prompt you to add your very own copy full of amazing products and IDEAS! 

Always be sure to check for new specials to add before you check out--they change every month!  :)


I will be back later today with a new blog hop from Blog Hops with Heart!  See you soon!

La Vie En Rose Layout with So Many Smiles

I have been waiting to share this layout...soooo long in fact that I can't even remember if I shared it yet.  The struggle is real, you guys.  There must be a slow leak in my brain since I turned 40, lol.

So here it is in case I haven't shown it to you, and if I actually HAVE, then Throwback Thursday it is!  ;)

This is one of my personal faves from my big girl's first year at college.  I practically survived her being so far away by stalking her on FB (seriously, I have no idea how my mother survived my college years without social media stalking) and stealing every last one of her pictures.  I have successfully compiled them into an album for her now, and by golly, I think Mikey likes it!  ;)

I discovered this FANTASTIC second use for my Picture My Life Overlay cards--in my regular layouts!  LOVE!  These Green Glitter and Enamel Duos triangles are super little bits of bling added to the other shapes from the stamped images of So Many Smiles on the page...

Oh my word, you just have to see this black and white paper from La Vie En Rose in person.  But trust me that it is actually dizzying to stare at too long!

Only available in January!

PML Cards only in January!

Where's My iPhone Charger????

Oh my word, I have no idea how we got to this point.  We have charging cords coming out of our ears over here, but you can never find one when you need it.  Then, there is the constant debate over which cord belongs to who's device.  Well, I learned early on to personalize my cord the SECOND it walked through my door!  ;)

Here is my latest Makeover Monday personalization which features one of my ALL time favorite Close to My Heart products:  Shimmer Trim! I picked this little tidbit up from the fabulous Katy Taylor--she's pretty brilliant!  :)

I love the White and Aqua colors--AND they happen to match my phone case!  :)

There are a literal rainbow of self-adhesive colors available now, so you can customize your own cords with your faves...which ones would you use?

All of the glitter, none of the mess!  Get your Shimmer on HERE!

Beloved Bouquet

Limited Edition Picture My Life Cards to coordinate with the Everyday Life System!

CTMH Perpetual Calendar: January!

Since it is January already, I think it is high time I share the month of January in my Close to My Heart perpetual calendar.

This was THE PERFECT sentiment to light up my January!  You can find it on the Diamonds Are Forever My Acrylix stamp set over on my Close to My Heart Website.  I just adore pairing it up with a touch (or more) of SPARKLE!  On this particular day, I chose to use my Gold Glitter Paper, Gold Sequins and Bling Gems.

I used the Stamp of the Month, Cheers! 2016, from November to ink those cute little triangle banners in Peacock Exclusive Ink.  You never know when you will use an "old" stamp set!  ;)

Here is the current set only available in January...

Beloved Bouquet

Live Your Day

CTMH Everyday Life Planner System

The pictures are FINALLY uploaded!  :)

I had so much fun putting my planner together while we drove to FL and back over Christmas Break.  It was really the perfect "on the road" crafty project!  You might have caught a few more of my road work projects if you followed me on Instagram using the #carcraftingwithamie. 

Here are some close ups of the planner itself...

How adorable is this matching washi tape?

I LOVE this pocket!!!

THEN, I added some goodies to personalize it from the My Crush Pages and Picture My Life Memory Protector pocket pages available separately...

I didn't add this one--it shows one of the different patterns on the tabbed months.

These cards are from the PML Kits Live Your Day and Beautiful You.

These are too!

I even recorded our travels for my scrapbooking later!

How do you use YOUR planner?  Do you have one?

Only available in January!