Freshly Made for Dad

I was sitting in my craft cave having some VERY needed paper therapy this weekend when I remembered the Freshly Made Sketches design this week...

I also remembered this scrap of watercolor scenery I had created previously, but not used...so I guess it was time to use it!

The sketch is pretty wide open this week, but I stuck really close to the original...

I used a leftover Cricut Artistry shape that I had lying around for the sentiment.  I'm a keeper, what can I say?  ;)  This particular sentiment is from the new Close to My Heart Day for Dad My Acrylix, but it looks a bit different than the original thanks to my handy dandy Micro-Tip Scissors!  I did it again--I snipped my stamp to suit my needs.  It is one of the BEST things about clear, acrylic stamps.  :)

My dad is going to get a pretty good chuckle out of this one.  I was actually his firstborn AND born ON Father's Day!  PERFECT!!!

Here are the rest of the supplies I used for my card...

CTMH Watercolor Paper and Watercolors
CTMH Black, Canary, and Sunset Exclusive Ink
Pretty Pink Posh Sequins
Two retired stamp sets for the sunburst and sunshine  ;)

Check out the new June Stamp of the Month!

Close to My Heart FLASH SALE!!!

Here it comes!!!  All month long, tune in to my website on Fridays at 4:00pm CST for a new round of SALE items!!!  I have no idea what will be included in the bundles...this is all we know:

"During the month of June, we’re offering great deals on bundles of discounted Close To My Heart products every weekend! Check back each Friday during June to find a new set of bundles. There will be lots to choose from at various discount levels and price points, but you’ll need to snatch them up quick, because they’re only available through the following Monday while supplies last!"

Here are the dates and times (just add an hour for CST and two hours for EST!):

Friday, June 3, 2016 at 3:00 pm (MDT) – Monday, June 6, 2016 at 3:00 pm (MDT)
Friday, June 10, 2016 at 3:00 pm (MDT) – Monday, June 13, 2016 at 3:00 pm (MDT)
Friday, June 17, 2016 at 3:00 pm (MDT) – Monday, June 20, 2016 at 3:00 pm (MDT)
Friday, June 24, 2016 at 3:00 pm (MDT) – Monday, June 27, 2016 at 3:00 pm (MDT)

ALSO!  I hear that Close to My Heart will be bundling products that work well together in these Flash Sales...and there will be little sneaks into what they will be over on the CTMH Instagram and Make It From Your Heart Blog!!!

Happy Times Sunshine Layout

Here is the last of my Happy Times projects I can sneak in before the month is up!  I made a cover layout for my family Christmas Album from last year.  This was the first album I printed using the Project Life App on my phone, and I have to say it was quite an easy task!  I am now using some of my other embellishments to liven it up a bit with some dimension...which I will show you later!

For now, enjoy the cover layout...with some sneaky peaks of the new June Stamp of the Month, The Long Way Home, available now!

I cannot get enough of the watercolor trend...this is one of the new pocket cards in the Picture My Life Watercolor Cards--Gold Kit...

A strip of Zoe and Canary Fundamentals along with some Glitter and Enamel Dots complete the banner cluster.

Playing with my watercolors has definitely payed off...I adore the title for my album!  I accented it with gold foil stickers in the Fundamentals Basics Stickers...

The 1/2 inch Zip strips from the Happy Times Papers are amazing!

If you want to learn how to do some watercolor lettering of your own, check out this great video!

Smile! One More Day for Happy Times!

Oh my...there is only ONE more day left in May--but I have so much more to share with you from the Happy Times Paper Packet and My Acrylix stamp set.  I better get a moooooove on!

First, I made this sweet little watercolor card...

I used a small round waterbrush and my watercolor paints to practice some lettering and brushstrokes.  I added the Happy Times paper, Thistle CS, and Happy Times stamped images in Fern, Thistle and Gypsy as well as some Gold Foil Tape.

The little gold dots in the flower centers were easy to create with my hole punch...

Don't wait to get your hands on the Close to My Heart Happy Times Paper for FREE on my website!
Just add $60 in products to your cart and you will be prompted to add it!  Happy Shopping!  I will be right back tomorrow morning with a new layout using this gorgeous paper!

Flamingos for a Fabulous Graduation Day!

It's time for a fun little graduation card...this one happens to be a gift card holder turned money holder...

It just so happens that I used several "disappearing" products that Close to My Heart just announced would be retiring at the end of July...or whenever they sell out!  It is rather ironic, because I made the card days before they shared the list with consultants.

I used a Picture My Life Black Overlay on the front of this gift card holder that I cut from the Cricut Artiste Cartridge.  Both are favorites of mine that will soon disappear.  The Tickled Pink My Acrylix and Thin Cuts (back in stock around June 10th) make the CUTEST little flamingos! 

Mine was stamped in Cotton Candy and Pixie Exclusive Ink and then I added a sparkly black glitter paper cap cut with my Lawn Fawn steel dies.

That Pink Shimmer Trim will unfortunately not be returning, and neither will the Clear Sparkles I added to the Calypso Sequins...

 Here is a view of the inside of the card--you can add a gift card OR even cold, hard cash!

I can't wait to see my niece to give this card to her this weekend!  :)

Close to My Heart Retiring Products

Well, it is THAT time of year again...the Close to My Heart retiring products list has been revealed and let me tell you there ARE some surprises.  Here are some of my favorites.  If you want any of these products, they are only available while supplies last...

Rolling Tote

Shadow Box Frame in both colors

Display Tray

Hinged Display Tray

Extra Thick Twine in all 4 colors

Pink, Teal, Blue, Purple, and Bronze Shimmer Trim (waaaaaah!)

Cricut Art Philosophy Collection

Cricut Artfully Sent Collection

Cricut Artiste Collection

Well, that was a difficult revelation...but it just makes room for MORE amazing products to create with in the future!  :)  As I said, these (and many other products) are only available while supplies last now so when they are gone, they are GONE!  If you would like a complete list of retiring products, just comment with your email address and I will send it to you.  I won't publish your information for all to see, no worries!

ALL the albums are retiring to make way for new!

FREE paper in May only!

Only available in May!

Mermaid Monday

This post is a little late, but it IS still Monday (as I type), right?  Summer finally arrived today and the kids needed to eat, lol, so I was a bit distracted! 

I made this "do not disturb" sign as a request from a special customer for her daughter's birthday.  It was going to be hung on the birthday girl's front door to ward off any interruptions to her crafty time!  (What a GREAT MOM!!!!)  :)

Anyhow, I was absolutely tickled with how it came together--even better than I originally imagined!  I can finally share it since the day has passed, lol!

The Close to My Heart Zoe paper packet has a houndstooth pattern that worked beautifully as mermaid scales along with Glacier, Lagoon, and Crystal Blue CS, and some Teal Glitter Paper.  The Champagne CS is the best peachy flesh-tone I have found, so I cut the door hanger on it using the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge.

Now, a bit more about those scales...they were another PERFECT creation with the CTMH Thumb Notch Punch!   Remember the Minions I made HERE?  SO many uses for this bad boy...

I used my Cricut Explore to write the sign (my customer thought of the PERFECT wording!) and cut out the seashells...

I colored some retired Rosette Ribbon with my Peacock ShinHan Marker for a nice finish to her tail.

Yes, yes, that IS a little bellybutton, HAHAHAHAAAAA!  She needed to have one!  I just LOVE it when a plan comes together!  :)

While supplies last!

Only in May!

Only in May for National Scrapbook Month!