Freshly Made Watercolor

I definitely needed a bit of paper therapy today, so I stopped in to check out the new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I instantly recognized one of the shapes, so off I went...

I flipped this sketch 180 degrees to start.  Then I used a negative Cricut cut lying on my desk as my focal point.  It is from the new Close to My Heart Artistry Cricut Collection.

I had experimented with my CTMH watercolor paints and brushes a couple of weekends ago, so I figured it was time to use the results finally in a project.  This is the swatch of watercolor paper that I started with...

I just lined up the portion I wanted to show through the butterfly and used another section to back them both.

Love how the banner image fit this sketch so perfectly!  See the bit of sparkle in the sentiment?  I added a splatter of Grey Enamel Gems too.

The sentiment and star images are all found on the limited edition Hello, Life My Acrylix from Close to My Heart.  It is one of 3 coordinating stamp sets released for the celebration of National Stamping Month in September.  I absolutely love the chevron images on the sets!  I even used the heart as a little accent on the inside of my card...

That was some MUCH needed paper therapy...and I feel the need for a bit more coming on... Thanks for stopping in to see my card, and have a sparkly weekend!

Make it Colorful!

Just $13.95 each or save when you buy all three!

Damask Divas Nevermore Blog Hop!

Happy September!!!  You are hopping along with the Damask Divas Nevermore Blog Hop today, so lets get right to my creation...

If you came from Melissa's Blog, you are on the right track.  If not, you can find the entire line-up of talented Divas on the Damask Divas Blog HERE.

I am definitely not a Halloween person, so I chose to show you the softer side of this beautiful patterned paper in the packet...

This gorgeous bloom is one of the classic images in the September Stamp of the Month.  I stamped in three NEW Close to My Heart colors:  Eggplant, Fern, and Pomegranate.  Behind it run two strips of the new Silver Foil Tape!  I really love the metallic look mixed with the soft floral.  In order to give my flower some dimension, I used my stylus tool to create creases in the petals like this...

I used another image from the Stamp of the Month to create the background for my sentiment.  Then, I found this perfect sentiment on one of the National Stamping Month exclusive My Acrylix sets...

Bling required, of course!  I added some Silver Sequins and Silver Glitter Paper.

If you don't already have your own amazing Close to My Heart Consultant, then you are welcome to find all of these NEW products on my website HERE!

Now, you can link on over to Jennifer's Blog and hop all over from the beginning!  Remember, you can see the entire line-up of super-talented Divas over at the Damask Divas Blog!  Thanks for hopping with us!

Hello, Life!

Paper Garden, September 2015 Stamp of the Month

Last Day to Order!

It seems like yesterday that I received my copy of the first Annual Inspirations Idea Book, but believe it or not, TODAY (August 31st) is the last day to order most of the products inside!

Here is a peek at some of my favorite retiring products that we will say good-bye to...

Rainy Day

Antiqued finishes for Base and Bling

Current Fundamentals Patterns and ALL Washi Tape

Blossom Paper Packet and coordinating products

Jackson Paper Packet and coordinating products

Chalk It Up Picture My Life

For Always Picture My Life

Pear and Partridge Picture My Life

Seaside Picture My Life

Wanderful Picture My Life

Select Enchantment Palette Colors

Just click HERE to see ALL of the retiring products that disappear tonight!

Don't forget that these special deals also expire tonight!

August Stamp of the Month

FREE products with new organizers!

Make It From Your Heart Seaside Recreation

I promised to show you my finished Seaside Display Tray that I created after seeing it featured on the Make It From Your Heart Blog from Close to My Heart...so here it is!

Be sure to follow my link above to see the original tray by the artists over at Close to My Heart!

I didn't have any pieces of my Seaside Assortment left after I created layouts, so I used the retired Seaside Wooden Shapes from a few Idea Books back...

I used the images from Treasured Friendship and Seaside Greetings to recreate some of the embellishments in the original.

The Glacier Extra Thick Twine was tricky to tie in knots with short lengths, but I was determined to make it work!  The Oceanside Sequins were a BREEZE to add, though!  ;)

Here are some of the other CTMH supplies I used:
Display Tray
Seaside Picture My Life 
Seaside Workshop on the Go
Keyboard Uppercase Alphabet
White Embossing Powder
White Daisy Exclusive Ink
Desert Sand Exclusive Ink
ShinHan Touch Twin Alcohol Ink Markers

LOTS of super CTMH items are retiring in just a few short days, so better check your wishlists before they disappear!  :)   LIST OF RETIRING ITEMS

BUT, remember, there are also lots of NEW products coming too!  If you want to see some that I added to my Display Tray, check it out over on my Facebook Page now!

When August is gone, so is Framed!

Freshly Made Seaside Celebration!

Looks like I picked the PERFECT weekend to get crafty again! 

Freshly Made Sketches is celebrating their 200th sketch challenge just in time for me to jump in and play along...

I made this card to give my oldest as she heads off this week for another year away at college--on the beach.  What can I say, she has it rough, lol. 

I used one of my favorite papers right now, the soon to be retired Seaside Paper Packet from Close to My Heart.  I added some Champagne CS for the sand, Desert Sand and Cocoa Exclusive Inks, and a wonderful fence image from the Seaside Greetings My Acrylix to recreate the sketch.  Then I added my chosen sentiment from the Documenting Moments My Acrylix by not inking up the last word on the stamp.

Congratulations to Freshly Made Sketches on their 200th sketch!!!  A great BIG THANK YOU for keeping me inspired!

Be sure to come back on Wednesday to see the Display Tray I re-created that proved to be my inspiration for the background on this one! :)

FREE stamp with the new Marker Roll Up this month!

Fancy Fold Pinwheel Card with Zoe

Whew!  We have just about made it through the first week of school at my house, and that means it is time to get crafty for me tonight, hahaha! 

Before the week is over, I wanted to share a quick fancy fold card that I learned how to make from several YouTube videos and blogs.  Just search "Pinwheel Fancy Fold Card" and I am sure you will find all sorts of ways to create one.  Let me show you the one that I created with the versatile NEW Zoe Paper Packet from Close to My Heart...

The Zip Strip on this pattern paper is actually PERFECT for the belly band I made to decorate the card.  It doesn't NEED one, per se, but I have seen many with this type of embellishment--and had just the right "parts" to pull it off.  I attached the Zip Strip to a thin strip of Kraft CS and hid the seam of the paper with this great birthday sentiment from the August Stamp of the Month, Framed.  I stamped the images in Slate and Sweet Leaf Exclusive Inks to coordinate with the colors in the Paper Packet.

The shape to match the framed sentiment image can be found on the NEW Cricut Artistry Cartridge.

Isn't it just PERFECT for a birthday card?

Inside the card, I mounted some matted CS and simply stamped another image from the stamps that accompany the Cricut Artistry Collection.  I will be adding a gift card to this one, so it fits quite nicely.  :)

The inside of the card is super easy to decorate.

 You really HAVE to give this one a try!  Super fun and easy!  :)

Only in August!

FREE new products!!!

Another First Day of School!

Zoe papers, drooooool.

Sooooooo today is the very first day for a few things...it is the FIRST day of the 2015/2016 school year for me and my two youngest kiddos.

Zoe Workshop on the Go Scrapbooking Kit

It is ALSO the first day that my two youngest are both in the same school again!  YAY!!!

Finally, it is my VERY FIRST "first day of school" working in my position as a 1:1 Paraprofessional!  I wasn't hired until September last year, so I missed all the "firsts" involved when a school lets the kiddos in on day one--and I am SO excited to see this year from beginning to end! 

All of the gorgeous paper in these projects are a FIRST, too!  It is the FIRST time CTMH has released some BRAND NEW products a bit early!  I have been making a few fun projects with the NEW products to come, but I can't show you those here just yet.  You CAN see them over on my Facebook Page, though, so be sure to come follow me to see some GREAT firsts from the new Idea Book coming in September!

If you can't wait, then I have some great news:  you can actually pick up some of the new organizing products THIS MONTH, AND get some freebies when you do!  Here are some pics with links, and I will be back later this week to show you mine!  :)

Get the Base and Bling sticker sheets FREE with the organizer in August ONLY!

Get the My Acrylix Balloon Wishes FREE with the Marker Roll Up in August ONLY!

YES, there IS an August Stamp of the Month!