January Three Amigos Blog Hop

Welcome to the Three Amigos Blog hop.  We are three Close to My Heart Independent Consultants with a love for stamping and scrapping and would like to share our creative ideas with you.  On the 3rd of each month we feature a different CTMH product and create a card, layout, or other project.  There are only three stops on this hop so it will only take a few minutes to hop through.

This month we chose to use any type of embossing on our projects. Since I used embossing folders and heat embossing on my projects last month, I decided to show something a bit different this month by combining the two.

Several weeks ago, I saw a tutorial for a gift card/candy box here and thought it would make a cute valentine. I pulled out my Heartstrings Paper Pack (again) and the January Stamp of the Month, This Moment, and got to work.

The base of the belly band is whisper cardstock punched with the scallop border punch. The stamped images, ribbon, and a few glitter gems are all attached to the belly band. The box opens by sliding the belly band down a bit (no need to remove it completely).

Opening the box reveals a pocket that slides up and holds a gift card. I embossed this piece using the heart embossing folder. I added a small amount of Bonding Memories Glue to each heart, sprinkled clear embossing powder on, and heat embossed. As a result, the hearts look like they've been frosted.

A candy bar will fit behind the gift card pocket. Here's a picture with the pocket pulled out. Just slip a candy bar inside and slide the gift card pocket in front of it.

A tag could be placed in the pocket in lieu of a gift card, or even in addition to it! 

Thank you for stopping by today. Now hop over to Lisa's blog and Donna's blog to see what they created for you.

Supplies Used:

X7193B Heartstrings Paper Pack

S1501 This Moment

C1604 Forever in My Heart

Z2172 Whisper Ink Pad

Z2170 Ruby Ink Pad

Z2644 Pixie Ink Pad

Z1807 Pink Glitter Gems

Z1987 Striped Twill Ribbon

Z3018 Heart Embossing Folder

Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape

Z553 Bonding Memories Glue Pen

Clear Embossing Powder (Retired, but you can use Z2088 Ranger Clear Super Fine)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I was all set to post yesterday, but I got distracted by this beauty...

Over the last two weeks, my husband has been upcycling a piece of furniture that was given to us years ago. He completely refaced the front and customized it for my paper and stamp storage. I was so excited when he moved it into my studio yesterday!

The paper storage units slide in where drawers used to hide behind the doors. Brian is finishing up the final unit that will go in the upper left space. Once completed, I'll have 46 slots for paper! I plan to store complements and dimensional elements in the spaces next to each paper storage unit.

There was a space between the doors and the drawers when we removed all of the original molding, so Brian added a hidden shelf.

Each drawer will hold about 150 stamp sets! Brian added a divider between the rows so they don't slide around. Are you ready to see what we started with? Unfortunately, I didn't get a before photo of the Armoire, but I do have pictures of what the drawers and doors looked like.

I would say the finished product is one thousand times better! I can't wait to fill it up!

Thanks for stopping by today. Be sure to come back tomorrow for the Three Amigos Blog Hop!

Three Amigos December Blog Hop

Welcome to the Three Amigos Blog hop.  We are three Close to My Heart Independent Consultants with a love for stamping and scrapping and would like to share our creative ideas with you.  On the 3rd of each month we feature a different CTMH product and create a card, layout, or other project.  There are only three stops on this hop so it will only take a few minutes to hop through.

This month we are featuring products from the new Seasonal Expressions book. I decided to take the Heartstrings Workshop on the Go cards up a notch. The kit includes a D-size stamp set, Stuck On You Puffies, and Pixie Extra Thick Twine.

The workshop card were nice as designed, but with a few added elements, I think they really stand out. On the first card, I created a front panel that is slightly smaller than the card base. I heat embossed the heart and the sentiment using Slate and Lagoon Pigment Inks and clear embossing powder. The panel is adhered to the front of the card with Thin 3-D Foam Tape. The heat embossing adds a little shine and dimension to the stamped images.

I heat embossed the sentiment on the second card as well, then added a few sequins dressed up with Red Shimmer Trim and Liquid Glass.

The third card also has a panel that is slightly smaller than the card base. I used the Damask Embossing Folder to create an elegant background for the sentiment piece. I added liquid glass to the petals of the roses and pink glitz gel to the hearts.

Thanks for stopping by today. Hop over to Lisa's blog to see what she created this month.

Supplies:

G1090 Heartstrings WOTG

Z2173 Slate Ink Pad

Z2195 Lagoon Ink Pad

Z2644 Pixie Ink Pad

Z2503 Basics Mini Pigment Pad set (Slate)

Z2501 Adventure Mini Pigment Pad set (Lagoon)

Z2088 Ranger Clear Super Fine Embossing Powder (I used our retired clear detail embossing powder)

Z555 Craft Heater

Z1848 Red Shimmer Trim

Z1927 Damask Embossing Folder

Z679 Liquid Glass

Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape

Pink Glitz Gel (Retired)

Hole punch

Another FUNN Challenge

Just before Thanksgiving, I received FUNN mail from Mary Gunn containing December SOTM/Heartstrings mini kits for a FUNN team challenge. My kit included a 6x6 piece of white daisy cardstock, two 3x6 pieces and one 1x6 piece of Heartstrings background & texture paper, a 3" piece of the arrow zip strip, stamped and colored images from the Cutie Pie Stamp of the Month, a puffy heart from the Chalk It Up assortment, and a sticky note from the My Crush In the Pink assortment.

I added a few scraps of Flaxen cardstock, a small length of the new Pixie Extra Thick Twine (LOVE!) and a tiny piece of Pink Shimmer Trim.

I messed up part of the white cardstock and ended up cutting it down to 3x6 to use a a base for the tag. I used the scallop punch to dress up the bottom edges of the tag base and front flap.

The inside of the tag has space to sign or write a little note. Wouldn't this tag look adorable on a package for your little cutie pie? Totes!

Thanks for stopping by today! You can find the Heartstrings Paper Pack and Pixie Extra Thick Twine in the Seasonal Expressions book along with tons of other fabulous products! Be sure to come back and check out the Three Amigos Blog Hop tomorrow!

Cyber Monday and Happy December!

So much to share today!

1. Cyber Monday CTMH Special- Time Sensitive- TODAY ONLY!
All CTMH Cricut Collections are 20% off today!

2. Deal of the Decade- now through December 31, 2014

CTMH is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the introduction of My Acrylix stamps.

When you make a $50 order in December, you qualify to purchase as many C-size or D-size stamps sets featured in the Annual Inspirations Idea Book for only $10 each.

3. New Seasonal Expressions- starts today through March 31, 2015

Forty pages full of new products and ideas from CTMH!

4. December Stamp of the Month- Cutie Pie- now through December 31, 2014

You can purchase the SOTM for only $5 with a $50 order! Come back tomorrow to see a cute card challenge from my upline, Mary Gunn!

5. Snowhaven Shopping List for January Workshop

Now is the perfect time to order your supplies for the January Scrapbook Workshop!

Supplies needed:

X7188B Snowhaven Paper Pack

X7188C Snowhaven Complements

Z3024 White Shimmer Trim (from the NEW Seasonal Expressions)

Z2009 Red Enamel Hearts

Layouts will be available soon!

6. Drawing for Heartstrings Paper Pack and Complements- now through December 31st.

When you make a $50 purchase now through December 31, 2014, your name will be entered into a drawing to WIN the NEW Heartstrings Paper Pack and Complements featured in Seasonal Expressions. I will draw for a winner EACH time I get $300 in sales. After I draw, the sales tally starts over!

Three Amigos November Blog Hop

Welcome to the Three Amigos Blog hop.  We are three Close to My Heart Independent Consultants with a love for stamping and scrapping and would like to share our creative ideas with you.  On the 3rd of each month we feature a different CTMH product and create a card, layout, or other project.  There are only three stops on this hop so it will only take a few minutes to hop through.

This month we are featuring the new Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge. I fell in love with the "hello" card on page 18 of the Annual Inspirations Idea Book and decided to make a similar version using the Pretty Petals stamp set.

I cut this sleeve card at 5 1/2" using the "1" key. The sentiment is from a pocket card design on the same key cut at 4". The card front is backed with whisper cardstock. Using the back side of the front cut-out, I sponged slate ink to add dimension. I used all of the flower stamps and one of the center stamps to create the various designs on the card. The large flower stamp has a different design on each petal (see the palm leaf, heart, and swirl designs?) The dark purple glitter paper adds a little sparkle and the grey epoxy bubbles add a little bling. The sentiment is popped up using thin 3-D foam tape.

Thanks for stopping by today. Hop on over to Lisa's blog to see what she created this month!

Supplies Used:

C1599 Pretty Petals

X7190B Brushed Paper Packet

X5929 Whisper Cardstock

X5758 Sunset Cardstock

X5769 Thistle Cardstock

X5643 Chocolate Cardstock

Z2644 Pixie Ink Pad

Z2640 Thistle Ink Pad

Z2173 Slate Ink Pad

Z1935 Black and Grey Epoxy Bubbles

Z1989 Slate Diagonal Striped Ribbon

Z1992 Purple Glitter Paper

Z3107 Artfully Sent Collection

Three Amigos October Blog Hop

Welcome to the Three Amigos Blog hop.  We are three Close to My Heart Independent Consultants with a love for stamping and scrapping and would like to share our creative ideas with you.  On the 3rd of each month we feature a different CTMH product and create a card, layout, or other project.  There are only three stops on this hop so it will only take a few minutes to hop through.

This month we are featuring the Hostess Rewards Stamp Sets shown on pages 5-10 in the Annual Inspirations Idea Book. Become a hostess and earn products free or at a spectacular discount beginning once the order total reaches $150. I used the Better with a Friend stamp set featured on page 9 of the Idea Book. My Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge arrived the day I sat down to start my project, so I decided to use both for my card. 

The base of the card uses the Scene function on the "5" key cut at the recommended size. The foxes are cut from the Icon function on the same key. I cut the paper ribbon from Pathfinding paper using the Artiste cartridge.

The darkest brown from the Brown & Tan Glitter Paper was used to back the cut-out tree trunks. I tried several different patterned papers, but the glitter paper kept the focus on the two adorable foxes. I used scraps of the Pathfinding paper to back the ears, hearts, and tails, and solid cardstock behind the eyes and paws. A little Liquid Glass on the hearts and a Rosewood sparkle on the bow add to the shimmer of the glitter paper. You're probably wondering where I used the "Better with a Friend" stamp set.

The sentiment perfectly fits this card! I lined the inside of the card with more Pathfinding paper. The sentiment is layered on two mats, all of which are cut from the Artfully Sent cartridge (Icon Function, key "l", real dial size). Matting the sentiment makes it a focal point.

Everything IS better with a friend! Now hop over to my dear friend Lisa's blog to see what she created for you!

Supplies:

D1608 Better with a Friend

X7186B Pathfinding Paper Packet

Z2111 Chocolate Ink Pad

Z3017 Artfully Sent Cricut Collection

Z1790 Artiste Cricut Collection

Z1830 Brown & Tan Glitter Paper

Z1857 Rosewood Mini Medley Accents

Z679 Liquid Glass

Z1151 3-D Foam Tape