Dotty For You

This week at Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog they are looking for Dots and Stripes.  So I thought this would be a great time to remind everyone that there are only 2 weeks left for the Dotty For You paper special from CTMH.

If you purchase $35.00 from our Spring/Summer Catalog you can get the fantastic Dotty For You paper pack for only $5.00.  It is such a great deal for only $5.00 you get 24 sheets of double-sided paper.  See my CTMH Specials Tab for more information.

Hurry, it is while supplies last.

Here is my creation using the Dotty For You paper:

I used four colors from the Dotty For You paper pack and I used the Pemberley WOTG Stamp set to random stamp the remaning four squares.  The sentiment is from the April Stamp of the Month "You Are...".  The flowers are from the Z1710 Paradise Paper Flowers $5.95 for 68 flowers.  Then I added a Grey Wool Adhesive Gem to the center.  They come in the Z1335 Licorice Opagues Adhesive Gems $2.95 for108 gems.  I used Grey Wool stamp pad to stamp the sentiment and ink distress the edges of the squares.

This card design is from the April 23rd Mojo Monday #238 sketch.  Unfortunately I didn't post in time for the sketch, but I love how this turned out.  Some of my clubs at the end of April made this card.

Have a great day!

Mother's Day Gift

This week at the Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog they are looking for Mother's Day cards or gifts.  I'm posting the project that we did for my Workshops last month.  It is an Easel Card Box with a set of 4 cards.  I thought that it would be a perfect gift for Mother's Day.  I want to thank the so very talented Vicki Wizniuk for the inspiration for the top of the box.  I just loved a card she made and had to copy it for the top of the easel box.  Here is a link to her black and white card.

Here is my project:

Here is a side view.  The top raises up and stands like an easel and the drawer slides open.  It holds a set of four cards and envelopes.

Here is a picture of the four cards.  I made them really simple borrowing from the card on page 23 of the current catalog.

Here are the instructions for making the easel box and the cards.



For the Box Drawer:

8 ½” x 9 13/16” Blue Pattern Pemberley paper pack

Score at 1” and 2” around all four edges

Cut out the “L” shapes on all four corners and the flaps.

For Drawer Pull:

3 ½” piece of ribbon
Fold under the ends of the ribbon and use Tombow adhesive to secure.
2 Bamboo colored brads
Poke a hole in each end of the folded over ribbon and place the brads through.  Measure 1 ¼” from the edge of the box front on both sides and poke a hole through the drawer front.  Slide the brads through to secure the ribbon to the drawer front.  Tape all four corners of the box using red lines tape to build the box.  Fold sides in and use red lines to secure.

For the Outer Box:

12” x 8” Bamboo Cardstock
Score at 1” and 2 1/8” along the long edge.  Turn 90 degrees and score at 2 ½”, 3 5/8”, 8 ¼” and 9 3/8” along the short edge.
Cut out the folds and flaps as seen in picture.  Using Red Lines, tape the flaps to build the back edge of the box.  Insert the drawer in the box and use red lines tape to secure the seam of the bottom of the box making sure that you have it loose enough for the drawer to easily slide in and out.

For the Decoration on the top of the box:

C1494 Card Word Puzzle stamp set
Pemberley Workshop on the go stamp set
Buttercup Marker
Indian Corn Blue Marker
Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint
3-D foam tape
4” x 5 ¼” Bamboo Cardstock
3 ½” x 3” Blue Pattern paper  glue to front of Bamboo cardstock piece approx.. ½” from the top and side edges.
3 ¼” x 2 7/8” Colonial White cardstock to be random stamped using Outdoor Denim ink pad and the small flower and the butterfly images.  Ink distress the edges.  Glue on top of the blue pattern paper lining up the bottom edge.
4” x 1 ¼” Colonial White cardstock stamp the border along the bottom edge and “Grateful for you” on the right hand side using Outdoor Denim ink.
4” x 1 ¼” Blue Pattern Paper use scallop punch across one long edge and adhere to the back side of the colonial white piece.
(2) 1 ½” x ¾” Outdoor Denim Blue cardstock cut a “V” to make banner edge and adhere to back side of the bottom edge of the colonial white piece.
(1) 1 ½” x ¾” Buttercup cardstock cut a “V” to make banner edge and adhere to back side of the bottom edge of the colonial white piece.
(2) 1 ½” x ¾” Colonial White cardstock, random stamp, then cut a “V” to make banner edge and adhere to back side of the bottom edge of the colonial white piece.
Use 3-D foam tape to attach the colonial white piece to the card front making sure that the banners do not hang down past the bottom edge.
2 ½” x 2 ½” Colonial White Cardstock scrap stamp the rose image using Outdoor Denim ink pad.  Color in the rose using buttercup marker and Indian Corn Blue marker for the center.   Cut out with scissors.  Paint on a light coat of the Pearl Paint.  Attach to the card front using tombow and 3-D Foam tape.

Easel Mechanism:

4 ¼” x 11” Outdoor Denim Cardstock
Score at 5 ½” and 8 ¼” along the long side.  Using Outdoor denim ink pad and a sponge, ink the edges of the cardstock so the white core is not showing.  Attach to the top of the box.  Attach the card front to the front scored area using red lines tape.

For the Inside of the Easel Card:

4” x 5” Colonial White Cardstock stamp the small stemmed flower in the lower right hand corner.  Color in using the Buttercup marker.  Adhere to the inside of the Easel card.
4” x ½” Border from Blue Pattern Paper Use the sponge and Outdoor denim ink pad to distress the edges.  Adhere to card front approx.. 1 ½” from the bottom.  Add three Large Pearls on top of the border.

For the set of Four Cards:

(4) Standard sized 4 ¼” x 5 ½” Colonial White Card bases and envelopes  Put a piece of scrap paper across the top 2” of the card base and Random stamp the large Rose image using outdoor denim ink pad.
(4) 4 ¼” x ½” Pieces of Pattern Paper Attach one to each of the card fronts.
(4) 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” Outdoor Denim Cardstock attach one to each of the card fronts either centered or to the left side approx.. ½” down from the top edge of the card.
(4) 2” x 2 ½” Colonial White Cardstock stamp each one with a different sentiment and image of your choice.  Adhere to the front of the card on top of the Outdoor denim cardstock.  Add embelishments as desired using Buttercup Organza Ribbon and White Pearls.

**Items highlighted in red are the supplies you will need to complete this project.

You have me in Stitches...

This week on Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog they are looking for anything with sewing on it.  It can be handstitching, machine, or "faux" stitching.  Today I'm sharing with you a card that I had made awhile ago, but haven't shared yet.

It's hard to tell, but I did some machine stitching around the outside edge.  I used the Stella paper pack (one of my favorites this year), the flowers are part of the Paradise Paper Flowers and I also used the Bitty Pearl Gems too.  I used the Cricut AP cartridge to cut out the center piece.

Here is a close up of the stitching.

Now let's see what kind of stitching you can add to your projects.  Have a great day!

Lucky Challenge

This week on Heart 2 Heart Challenges they are having us share our Good Luck with all.  The challenge is to create a project for someone that shows them how lucky you are to have them in your life.  Plus, there is a step up challenge: use the color green!

I was also able to incorporate the Mojo Monday Sketch #232 for this week in my card as well.

So here is wishing everyone a Lucky Day!

I dug deep in my stash to find all kinds of stuff that has been retired, but I need to use it too.  Here are the products that I used on my card:

Paper pack is the new CTMH Footloose paper pack X7151B (it's not just for summer fun and beach pictures).  CTMH stamp sets are:  C1008 (retired) Top O' The Morning set for the cute guy.  C1236 (retired) Solo "L" for the word Lucky.  D1335 (retired) Intrinsic Backgrounds for the X pattern on the frame.  D1482 Love Life for the pattern stamped on the Desert Sand paper.  Love that set.  Ink Colors are New England Ivy, Desert Sand, Sweet Leaf, Creme Brulee, and Sunset for the hair color.  I added some retired New England Ivy Ribbon.  I also used my Cricut and the CTMH AP cartridge to cut out the funky square shape cut at 2 3/4", matching frame cut at 2 3/4" and the cute little tag with the shamrock cut at 1 1/4".

Here is the picture of the Mojo Monday Sketch:

Good Luck and be sure to play along with the challenges, I would love to see your creations!

Spring Color Challenge at H2H

Hi Everyone - How is it already Wednesday and I just feel like I'm getting my week started.  Anyway, here is this weeks challenge at Heart 2 Heart challenges blog.  It is a Spring Color Challenge.  The actual challenge is to use the CTMH colors Sunkiss Yellow, Sweet Leaf green and Sky blue.  Unfortunately I do not have the Sunkiss Yellow color - What you say there is a CTMH color that I don't have  - yes it is true.  So I used Buttercup Yellow instead.
Here is my springy card:

The cute bee stamp set is from B1374 Bee Happy and the flower border is from a retired set called C1308 Be True.  I just cut one piece of cardstock from each color at 1 5/8" x 4", inked the edges with the same color ink and laid them out together on my stamping surface.  Then I stamped the flower border using black ink.  I then glued them to the front of my standard white cardstock base leaving an even border around each piece.  I used my Marvy 2 1/2" scallop circle punch to punch out a white daisy piece and a black piece.  I stamped the bee and sentiment on it and then used my waterbrush to color it in and used a sponge to ink the edges in Sky blue.

It's hard to tell in this picture, but I used my dry embossing stylist to go around the scalloped edges which made them curl up and then attached it to the black scallop circle off-setting the edges so the black shows. 
Then I just used 3-d foam tape to attach to the card front.  Last I had to add some sparkle, so I used the Z1313 glitz Stardust on the wings, and the dots on the flower border.
Thanks for looking and I hope spring comes soon!

Consultant signup FREE Cricut Collection!

Have you ever thought about becoming a CTMH consultant?  If the answer is yes, do not wait any longer to sign up.  For the month of March CTMH is offering a fabulous special for all new consultants.
Here are the details:
Now is a great time to join Close To My Heart because when you sign up as a new Consultant between March 1–31, you’ll receive a FREE Cricut^® Art Philosophy collection! The collection’s retail price of $99 adds incredible value to your New Consultant Kit and will give you hours of creative fun with the included exclusive Cricut^® cartridge, three coordinating My Acrylix^® D-size stamp sets, and three sheets of matching Dimensional Elements shapes. Already own the collection? You can always give your free one as a gift or choose to receive $100 in select product credit** instead. Now is the time to embrace the philosophy of fun—Consultant and Cricut^® fun!

*Offer available March 1—31, 2012. No additional tax is charged on the Cricut^® collection when ordered during enrollment.

**Additional requirements and limitations regarding the redemption and shipping of Select Product Credit apply. Select Product Credit is added to new Consultant account following approval of enrollment

Click Here to go to my website to sign up on my team.  If you have any questions please feel free to email me at debistampnfun@hotmail.com

 

New Idea Book Starts Today!

Get your very own 2012 Spring/Summer Idea Book.  It is filled with beautiful pictures that will spark your creativity.  The new paper packs and stamp sets are fantastic.  Email me today to find out how to get your very own copy.

Here are some of the wonderful paper packs available starting today....
My favorite is "Florintine - X7153B"

 "Cruisin' - X7154B" Great for summer vacation photos....

Sweet "Pemberley - X7148B"

and the fabulous "Stella - X7147B"

There are 4 other paper packs too and wonderful stamp sets that go with them......  Enjoy!

3-D Challenge

Good Monday Morning to you all!

This week at the Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog they are having a 3-D Challenge.  That means anything that is dimensional - basically anything but a card.

I'm going to share with you the Candy Bar Wrapper that we made at my Stamp Clubs this month.  It is a fun way to give a simple chocolate bar to someone you love....

Then when you pull up the ribbon on the top, the candy bar slides up....

Here are the instructions to make this fun craft.

Measurements are for a regular size Hershey’s Candy Bar:
6” x 5 ½” Tulip Cardstock
Score along the 5 ½” edge at – 1 ¼”, 1 ½”, 3 ¾” and 4”
1” x 5 ½” Zebra Paper
Spiral Flower (pg 69) cut from AP Cartridge at 3”
Scallop Heart Punch from Black Cardstock
Heart1 (pg 26) cut from AP Cartridge at 2”

Directions:

Random stamp, using the swirl image, with Tulip Ink all over the outside of the Tulip Cardstock.

Adhere the Zebra Paper approx. 1 ½” from the top of the Tulip Cardstock. Fold along the scored lines.

Wrap the Cardstock piece around the candy bar and use Red Lines adhesive to attach at the seam along the back.

Take the candy bar out of the wrapper and use a large hole punch to make a hole in the center along the top of the cardstock wrapper.

Thread the ends of the ribbon through the holes all the way and then insert the candy bar back into the wrapper making sure that the ribbon is around the bottom of the candy bar as you slide it all the way to the bottom of the wrapper.

Tie a knot in the ribbon at the top of the wrapper. Now when you pull it up the candy bar will slide up and out of the wrapper.

Twist the flower cut from the AP Cartridge around starting at the outside edge and going inward. Once you get it all curled let it go and shape it into a flower as desired.

Use a hot glue gun to glue the flower in place, by making a puddle of glue in the flat center then pushing your spiral flower into the glue. Hold until glue sets.

Embellish with a black or white pearl in the center.

Stamp your sentiment on the colonial white heart and adhere it to the black scalloped heart shape.

Adhere the heart shape to the front of the wrapper and then adhere the flower above that.

You can make these for any occassion - Enjoy!

Picture This with a Mojo Monday Twist

This week on Heart 2 Heart Challenges they are hosting a Picture Challenge.  Here is the picture for inspiration.

And here is my card:

I used the Roxy paper pack for the animal print background paper.  In the middle section I used Desert Sand Cardstock and lightly stamped the script words from Universal Backgrounds stamp set.  I cut the leaves and the little tags using the Cricut and the CTMH AP Cartridge.  I felt like I needed to add a splash of color, so I stamped the heart shape using Cranberry ink from the Love Life Stamp Set and cut it out.  I also used the Mojo Monday Sketch to make this card.  Here is the sketch:

I really had fun making this card today.  Thanks Heart 2 Heart Challenges for the Picture Inspiration and the Sketch from Mojo Monday.  Have a great day!





Snowy Bird Card

Today we woke up to about 2" of snow.  Luckily for my kids both of their schools cancelled classes today.  Unfortunately the rain has begun and the snow is melting quickly.  My daughter doesn't care though, she will play outside until she is soaked through.  Oh, to be a kid again.

Today's challenge on Heart to Heart Challenges blog is perfect for the feeling of melting snow.  It is a color challenge using Amethyst (light purple) and Crystal Blue (med. clear blue).  Here is my card:





 I used A Tweet (A1104) stamp set for the bird and branches.  Then for the musical notes background I used Universal Background (D1477).  Inked it up in both Amethyst and Crystal blue before stamping on the white cardstock.  I matted the bird in both colors of cardstock and then adhered to the front using 3-D tape to raise it up.  The sentiment "A Note for you" is from the new stamp set that will be available next month.  Last I added both colors of Waxy Flax along the side.

Here is a close-up of the bird.

I inked the solid bird stamp using Chocolate ink by rolling it around the edges.  Then I used my Waterbrush to fill in the bird with Crystal Blue ink and Amethyst.  It is hard to get a good picture of it, I like how it looks like a watercolor painting.  Then I added a copper bitty brad for the eye.

Thanks for looking - and I hope that you enjoy your day!