Friday, May 1, 2015

Friday the First!

Happy May the 1st!  This day marks so many things like the last month of school (cry, cry, cry), the spring FINALLY feeling like spring (yes, yes, yes), and...

...the kick off to National Scrapbooking Month with the Close to My Heart Taste of Summer Campaign!  


Fruity fun for your summer layouts and cards!

The fun JUST begins when you order your Taste of Summer paper packet.  I have several card and layout patterns to share with you to USE these papers--and they are yours FREE!  I will send them to you via email after your purchase!  I will be showing them off in the weeks to come, so stay tuned!

Get this matching D sized My Acrylix for just $17.95!

I literally JUST got my hands on this coordinating stamp set, so stay tuned for more with that too!  :)

In case you were wondering, OF COURSE we still have a new Stamp of the Month to bring you for May...and it is PERFECT for pocket pages like the Picture My Life system of scrapbooking!

Just Sayin' you can get it HERE!  ;)

Looks like it's going to be a GREAT month!!!  :)

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Another Look at the Blosson Workshop on the Go Cardmaking Kit

Today is my talented friend, Becca's last day guest designing on my blog...but she is going out with such a BANG!!!  Wait until you see what she did with one of the Close to My Heart cardmaking kits!  Here she is...

I have one simple rule when it comes to purchasing a Workshop on the Go from CTMH:  I'd better have lots of ideas of what to do with it once the paper and embellishments are gone.  The Blossom WOTG is that kind of set.  Here's a picture of what comes in the kit.

I can see using those stamps over and over and over again...like this!





Below are supply lists broken down by cards (with links for your shopping convenience) as well as instructions that might not be self-explanatory.  The two things you will need for all cards are the Blossom WOTG, Foam Tape, and White Daisy Cardstock.

1)  Make a Wish
I stamped the line flower/circle twice in Canary, rotating a bit between stamping to give the frayed edge look.  I used the larger of the two dot clusters to fill in the centers with Canary, and then I stamped in Honey with the smaller dot cluster to add depth.  The stem was stamped in Topiary, stamped off on scratch paper, then rolled in Topiary around the edges. 

2)  You are worth celebrating
Sorry about the photography.  I don't understand why it turned out so grainy.  This one was pretty easy except for the sentiment.  I started by cutting the top panel at 5.5"x4.25".  I drew a straight line with a ruler and pencil about 1" from the bottom, stamped the candle in a gazillion colors, cut at the pencil line, and trimmed off about a 1/4" from the bottom piece.  I carefully inked just the "YOU" and stamped it on the top panel.  Then I carefully inked everything but the "YOU" and stamped it underneath...and then I stamped it again on the shimmer trim to cover up the mess I made.  It would have made things easier to cut the stamp in two, but I just now thought of that!

3)  Happy Birthday
Ever since I saw the popsicle stick, I've wanted to create a woodgrain on it using the stamp from the Pathfiding WOTG.  If you don't have that set, though, you can still create a bit of texture by using the stamps that come in the Blossom WOTG.  On this card, I inked the candle in Cashmere, inked the popsicle stick in Champagne, pressed the popsicle stick onto the inked candle, then stamped. It was a little fussy because both images are so small.   The "4 you" tab was stamped on a scratch piece of White Daisy paper.  I stamped it leaving about 1/4" of blank space above the straight edge of the image so, when I cut it out, I had space to glue.  I used the Sanding kit to smooth down the edges after I cut it out because I can never cut a smooth circle.

If you have questions about anything, please leave a comment and then come back for the answer.

It has been such a pleasure to guest design for Amie Kiger, and I can't believe I've come to the end of my time.  I'll be taking a break from all design team duties until I get my next novella written (half done and my characters have simply stopped talking to me!! Eeeek!), and I get moved to hubby's next duty station in Alaska.  I'll still be making cards and other projects, so I hope you'll come visit me at my blog.  Since I'm really hoping you'll do that, I'll sign off with my customary...

Until next time,
Becca
--

Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous creations, Becca!  

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Rain or Shine Sympathy Card

It isn't ever easy to make a sympathy card for a friend.  It is always a good idea to have one on hand in case of sudden events, so come to my workshop on Saturday and make this card that is versatile to use for numerous occasions.


I used the rock and roll technique for the sun--did you know it is super easy to stamp in two colors?


The sentiment is from Look to the Light...


I also used Rain or Shine, another My Acrylix that sneaked right by me in the Seasonal Expressions 1 Idea Book--but will always be available for purchase due to the cricut shapes it can stamp (the cloud is on Artiste!)   :)


Here is another example of using these images on a card...


You can do a lot with this one!




Monday, April 27, 2015

Let's Talk About MOTHERS!

It's almost May, so that means you need to start thinking about that special lady you might have in your life--your MOM!  My upcoming card workshop features a beautiful combo of papers from the Brushed Paper Packet in a card just for her!

Brushed


This sentiment surrounded by fabulous green glitter is from the Happy to Be Friends My Acrylix that was introduced in the Seasonal Expressions 1 Idea Book last fall.  Don't worry if you didn't notice it then--I finally realized its full potential!  ;)  Plus, you can use whatever sentiment you like for this one at the workshop if you don't need a Mother's Day card! 

Happy to be Friends
Green Glitter Paper
Wait a minute, though...we don't HAVE any green sequins yet...how?  OH, yep, I sure did color this one with my Leaf Green ShinHan Alcohol Ink Marker!

Leaf Green ShinHan Touch Twin Alcohol Ink Marker



I started off with a white one from the Coral Reef Sequins Assortment...


 RSVP soon for my workshop if you need to!  :)

Typed Note


Friday, April 24, 2015

Typed Note for National Scrapbook Day Card Workshop

Hey there!  Becca will be back for one more visit on my blog, but for now, enjoy another card you can make at my upcoming workshop on the evening of May 2nd.  This one uses the April Stamp of the Month from Close to My Heart.  It is SUCH a versatile set!  You will be able to choose from several sentiments to make a little card kit for this one to keep on hand for any occasion!

I used the Seaside and Snowhaven Paper Packets for this one--opposites attract!  

A sprinkle of Oceanside Sequins makes any card sparkle!

I based this design off my earlier creation using the same stamps--but I made it workshop friendly with a cute little knot of Black Striped Twill Ribbon.  You can see my original creation with these same supplies HERE.

For my workshop, you can stamp several "sheets" of typing paper with different sentiments.  Later, you can just add them to the card as needed.  I used glue dots and a couple of squares to pop it up and give it a 3D feel.

This is one of my FAVORITE sentiments in the set!  I wonder why?  ;)
Anyway, I am super excited to host a National Scrapbook Day crop followed by a card workshop on May 2nd.  RSVP to save a spot so you can make this card!  :)


Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Washi Wednesday with Paper Bird

Welcome back to my blog and another week with washi fun!  I have a wonderful nature-themed card to share with you today for Earth Day.

Did you know there are two NEW hostess rewards stamp sets that debuted with the Seasonal Expressions 2 supplement from Close to My Heart?  Yep!  Here is my favorite...Paper Bird.



This set is super-versatile.  I used it to design this sympathy card for my upcoming workshop.


The bird is really a lovely image to use on this sort of card.  I used Glacier and Desert Sand Inks along with Flaxen CS matting the White Daisy panel.  A length of Gold Polka Dot Washi Tape runs behind it on top of the Seaside Pattern Paper.  I also inked the paper edges with Desert Sand.  I really love how the ink color mimics the gold in the washi.


This card is great to use for men OR women, so it really is perfect to have on-hand. 

If you want to make this card along with others I will be showing soon, just RSVP to my National Scrapbook Day Card Workshop being held on Saturday, May 2nd at 7pm.  :)

Only in April!

Monday, April 20, 2015

Makeover Monday with Typed Note and Mini Calendar

Yes!  It is time for another one of my favorite days to post--Makeover Monday!

This week, I have a real treat for you.  I used the April Stamp of the Month, Typed Note, AND the size M Mini Calendar stamp to makeover one of the Picture My Life pocket cards.

Before...

This card is found in the Chalk it Up Picture My Life Kit.


...and after!


Isn't it a great little way to document the dates in your scrapbook?  I used White Daisy and Slate CS to stamp the images in Black ink, then trimmed them out.  SUPER easy!

I used this as a little make and take at my crop this weekend, and they loved it!  I have a few more to show you later.   :)

Pick up this adorable set in April before the month is over!  :)
Pick up the stamp of the month for just $5 on my website with qualifying purchase!  :)
Pi