Sneak Peek of the Close to My Heart Picture My Life Collection

Hi everyone!  I have the most exciting news!  Corporate has released some brand new images of the new Picture My Life scrapbooking system that will debut in the next Idea Book!  I wanted to share the amazing pics with all of you!

For those of you familiar with the Project Life scrapbooking method, this will look pretty familiar.  I had been looking into it myself to see if I could incorporate any of my current CTMH supplies to that system--and now I won't even have to since Close to My Heart is so amazingly awesome at keeping up with the current trends!  :)

Here they are!

What do you think?!  I didn't caption the pics on purpose because I want to see if you notice anything about these papers...does anything look familiar to you?

These are all based on current or past Close to My Heart Paper Packets!!!  How awesome is that?!  These coordinate with Avonlea, Babycakes, Chantilly, Later Sk8ter, Laughing Lola, and Surf's Up!

Want to be one of the first to get your hands on one of these kits?  I know I do!  Well, right now, when you join my team and sell your first $300 of product by March 31, 2014, YOU can choose one of these amazing programs for FREE!  Each set features 122 double-sided cards, a 12 x 12 cover page, plus 10 unique memory protectors to capture your life as it happens.  There are 8 different themes to choose from (yep, they are keeping two of them under wraps,) and each one is based on a popular My Reflections paper packet!  Do you think there is a chance we will see one with Stella's beautiful papers?  A girl can dream!  :)

Are you a die-hard CTMH scrapbooker?  Bonus #2 for signing up to be a consultant is that you just won't have to wait so long to get your hands on this awesome new product plus you receive an instant discount!  The program goes live to the public next February, but as a consultant, you can already purchase your kits at the consultant price in January to play with and get to know your new products!  
Bonus #3 for becoming a consultant on my team, Been There, Blinged That, is that you will receive all the help and guidance you need to get your business up an running from me!  I can help you with the behind the scenes experience to get off on the right foot.  It doesn't matter if you live near or far either.  Technology has made it possible for us to stay connected in ways other than a face to face group meeting, so you can totally learn that way if you so choose--I did!  My upline lives over halfway across the country!  That didn't stop me from learning from her though, and made me take charge of some of my own resources.  My team has their own FB page were we can all learn together and stay on top of the action!  :)

If you would like any more information about this opportunity, please do not hesitate to contact me here or at mimimyselfandi@outlook.com.  I am here to help!

Heart 2 Heart Design Team Sunset Debut!

Hi everyone!  I am here for my DT debut with Heart 2 Heart Challenges, and boy did we have a hum-dinger to start with!  This was sooooo much fun to make, so you guys just HAVE to play along with me and the rest of Team Sunset at H2H this week! 

The Challenge is Mix & Match and all you have to do is use 3 or more different papers and/or 3 or more different stamp sets in your project!  WOW!!!  While you start to digest that, let me show you my card...

Can you guess which three CTMH paper packs I used?  Here is a hint--two of them are names!  I will tell you in a bit!  ;)

Which SIX CTMH My Acrylix stamp sets did I use?  Hee, hee!  Here is a hint...some are retired (sorry!)  Keep reading!  ;)

Three or more buttons, too!  ;)  Stock up on your button needs, because you won't see them in the next Idea Book! 

Alright, I'll let you off the hook.  Here is my complete creative formulary:

Artiste Cricut Collection

CTMH Claire, Tommy, and Later Sk8ter Paper Packets
Storybook Numbers (ret.), Sightseer, Wheel of Life, Rock the Block (ret.), Love Life, and Fast and Furious My Acrylix stamp sets

Black and Honey Exclusive Inks

Black, Green, and Blue Buttons Assortments

Black Waxy Flax

So, what do YOU need to do to join in at H2H?  It's easy!  Just make a project using three different papers or stamp sets, use mostly CTMH products or order some from out fabulous designers, and link your post up with us at Heart 2 Heart Challenges Mix and Mingle!  :)  See you there!!!

Playing in the Puddles Again

Alrighty, so I wasn't quite finished playing with my new toys...I have one more card to show you made with my MCT dies and stamps and my Later Sk8ter Plaid B&T paper.  You can see two other cards I made with these HERE and HERE if you missed my prior posts.

These cards were my inspiration for the following one that I designed.

Can't you just feel the wetness of the rain dripping off the umbrella?  I broke up the white space at the top with some clouds.  The Lifestyle Crafts Tide Embossing folder was just right for this version of a windy, swirling cloudy sky.

Seriously, folks, when I first laid eyes on this MCT Stitched Umbrella Die, I knew it would be mine!   I used Outdoor Denim CS and a plaid B&T Duo from Later Sk8ter to create this one.  I added a silver vinyl for the handle that the dies cut like butter.  You will be seeing more of this vinyl in the next few days!  ;)

This puddle stamp with the raindrops has got to be the cutest thing ever! 

I just cannot wait to use these again!  :)  Thanks for dropping in to see!  (See what I did there?)  ;)

If you like this paper that I used here, check out the Damask Divas team Blog Hop!  Several of us have projects using the papers in this packet!  :)  Later, Sk8ter! 

Damask Divas Tommy and Later Sk8ter Blog Hop!

Hi everyone!  I am so excited to participate in another blog hop with my teammates!  This month we have chosen to use either Tommy or Later Sk8ter for our projects.  I was not sure which to go with, but settled on Later Sk8ter since it is more fun to type the name!  ;)

If you came from Mandy's Blog you are on the right path, but if you need to check out the order or start at the beginning, please refer to the Damask Divas Blog HERE.

I decorated this $1, 4 x 6 (picture size) wooden frame for my Dad with the wonderful blue hues of Sk8ter.  :)  It is purely coincidence that the picture matches the papers, because I found it AFTER I finished the frame!  Seriously though, I am not a bit surprised as all my projects seem to have a bit of the "NO WAY" factor to them, lately lol.  Here is my fabulous frame for my birthday!  OH, I mean Father's Day (same day this year!)  I was actually born on Father's Day, and as the oldest of those three stunning females in the picture, I am the reason my dad got to celebrate that Father's Day!  ;)  We get to celebrate together again this year!  :)

I used Mod Podge to attach the paper to the wooden frame.  When I traced it to fit, I flipped it and the paper upside down like this to get the shape right...

Next, I sanded the edges in a downward motion with my sanding kit to get it even with the edge of the frame.

My dad has a blue truck and LOVES to grill!  (AND he doesn't have internet, so my blogpost is safe!) I just so happened to have the perfect Close to My Heart My Acrylix stamp sets to embellish my frame, C1542 Perfect Fit - Dad and D1541 Fast and Furious.

Let's start at the top with the Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon.

I made a little award ribbon using The Perfect Fit - Dad My Acrylix, the 2 inch scallop punch, my liquid glass, and a couple of CS circles...I am a visual learner, so I made up a little picture tutorial for you!

You just have to be patient and let it all dry really well.  :)  If you don't have the patience, then pull out a stapler!  While it was drying, I cut a .75 inch high strip of grass on Pear CS from the Cricut Artiste Cartridge on my E2 and I made this truck with the Fast and Furious My Acrylix, brads, black buttons, liquid glass, and foam squares...

It was easier than I thought it would be to snip off the tines of the brads with my scissors.  I used an OLD pair though, not my micro-tips!  I pushed the sharp ends back into the head of the brad, inserted a foam square, and used liquid glass to attach it to the flat side of the button.  ;)  Here is a pic of what I did...

I decided to use one of the zip strips in the Later Sk8ter Packet to frame out the picture.  I like how it adds some more interest and color to the frame.  

I hope you have a good time on our hop today!  There will be a lot of beautiful artwork to take in, so take your time!  I'll put a list of all the fabulous CTMH products I used to make this at the bottom if you would like to duplicate it.  ;)

Your next stop along the hop is Traci's Blog.  Can't wait to see the rest of the projects myself! 

If you get lost at all, you can always find the complete list of Divas participating in this month's hop on the Damask Divas website HERE.  :)

Happy Hopping!

Shopping List:
Wooden Frame
Mod Podge 
Later Sk8ter Paper Packet
Fast and Furious My Acrylix
Perfect Fit - Dad My Acrylix
Buttons Black Assortment
Silver Brads
Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon
Outdoor Denim, Lagoon, Cocoa, and Black Exclusive Inks
Cricut Artiste Collection

In Stitches at Heart 2 Heart

Ha ha!  I did it!  I used stitching on a card without stitching!  Did I loose you yet? 

Stay with me a little bit longer and I will show you!  Heart 2 Heart Challenges is having a Nip and Tuck challenge to get us all to incorporate some form of stitching in our project this week, so of course I am linking up.  Um, I feel like a stubborn 2 year old as I whine, stomp my foot, and say, NO, I don't want to stitch!  I papercraft--I do NOT sew!  My mother sews really well, but that gene seems to have skipped a generation.  So what's a girl to do? 

Stamp.  With Stitches!  ;)

I created a downpour with the Close to My Heart My Acrylix set C1459 Stitched Together.  The clouds are cut with my Cricut Artiste Cartridge and inked with Whisper a bit on the wispy/sloppy side. 

I used the Later Sk8ter Paper Packet for the plaid pattern in the umbrella...my favorite one in the pack!  

I made this sentiment using the C1494 Card Word Puzzle My Acrylix and the C1540 Hello Blooms My Acrylix.

I used a brand new toy for this card that I have been WANTING so badly to try.  It is a wafer die from My Creative Time.  If you look closely, you will see....MORE STITCHING!!!  I love it when a no-sew plan comes together!  ;)  Not sure if you can see it, but I also used a silver vinyl for the handle. 

So, about the time I was photo editing, I realized I had seen raindrop stitches before, but WHERE???  A quick glance back at the H2H April Challenges gave me the answer!  My crafty Diva friend, Jayma Malme had used hand drawn stitches in her DT example!  Go see it HERE.  LOVE!  Thanks for the awesome subconscious inspiration, Jayma!  :)